Jolie asked, turned down Fifty Shades of Grey gig

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In this film publicity image released by Universal Pictures, from left, John Tui, Taylor Kitsch and Rihanna are shown in a scene from "Battleship." (CP)

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Pop star Justin Bieber. (AP PHOTO/ALEXANDRE MENEGHINI)

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(POSTMEDIA)

ANGELINA Jolie is denying reports that she'll direct the movie version of chick-porn best-seller Fifty Shades of Grey.

She is not, however, denying that Focus Features and Universal Pictures approached her about the gig. So either she wants more money or she's truly not interested.

The steamy book, about a submissive female journalist and a kinky billionaire, has sold 10 million copies. Focus/Universal paid $5 million for movie rights.

Deadline Hollywood says author Erika ("E.L.") James will be involved in choosing a scriptwriter, producer, and director.

No casting yet, but starlets Amanda Seyfried, Kristen Stewart, both Lucy Hale and Ashley Benson of Pretty Little Liars, Shailene Woodley, Felicity Jones, and many others have all expressed interest or been mentioned.

There's no casting news for the male lead, either, but Ian Somerhalder and Alexander Skarsgard have both put their hands up.

Paré's Mad Men role 'like looking in a mirror'

DEADLINE Hollywood asked Mad Men star Jessica Paré -- Don Draper's new wife -- if she relates to her character Megan, since both are from Montreal and have professors for fathers.

She answered that taking the role was "like looking in a mirror. A really flattering mirror. I think the Montreal thing was written for me. You know Matt (Weiner, the show's creator)... loved Montreal... Megan's maiden name is Calvet which comes from an inn that Matt stayed at in Old Montreal...

"The major trait that Megan and I have in common, and maybe it's not unrelated to being from Montreal, is that she has a real joie de vivre. It's a very positive outlook... that's sort of what she and I share."

(Positive outlook? Paré obviously hasn't been home lately.)

Bieb's B-ball flick not a slam dunk?

JUSTIN Bieber's first movie has been delayed. He's supposed to star with Mark Wahlberg in a basketball picture: rookie star, grizzled veteran, pretty girl, big game. I feel like I could write it myself, before lunchtime, but Marky Mark says he's not happy with the script

"The Bieber movie?" Wahlberg told MTV News, "I saw 115 pages. Just waiting -- I want to send it to them once it's perfect... it's a process... building a movie career is a difficult thing."

Hmmm. Is that the sound of cold feet and second thoughts?

Says the Biebster: "I'll be hooping, I got to get back in the gym, I haven't played basketball in a while."

No more R-Patz on the back, please

ROBERT Pattinson tries to lift himself one rung up the Hollywood status ladder with this summer's Cosmopolis. (I know; a David Cronenberg picture isn't everyone's idea of career progress, but at least Pattinson doesn't have fangs this time. And the movie was popular at Cannes.)

Anyway now R-Patz tells the Guardian, in England, that he's sick of that nickname:

"When I got this (Cosmopolis) part, every single article that came out was 'R-Patz's struggle for credibility!'; I don't understand who invented that thing, 'R-Patz'. I want to strangle them."

Happily ever after for Mr. and Mrs. Smith?

WILL Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith have been working overtime to disprove the divorce rumours that started late last year. Now they're talking up their 15th anniversary, though it won't arrive until New Year's Eve.

"Fifteen years! It's amazing, isn't it?" Jada told People mag. She mentioned hearing of a couple married 59 years, which made her realize that "15 years ain't nothing, you know?' It's just the beginning."

Who can tell what this means? Either these two are back from the brink, or the rumours were wrong, or else papers will be filed any minute. That covers all the possibilities, I think.

He's 43, she's 40.

Hey, sensible film-goers... you sunk their Battleship!

DIRECTOR Peter Berg, speaking at some film-industry conference the other day, tried to explain why his movie Battleship, released this spring, was such a stinker:

"It was a movie that I tried as hard as I could to get inside of. But the concept is so big and powerful, and the money is so big and so powerful, that the movie is going to run away with itself."

Let's see: based very loosely on a simple old board game. International naval fleet, trapped by alien spaceships, tries to fight back. Lots of special effects and explosions. Humans win. Yay! Total budget: $209 million. Total North American box office: $60 million.

So, Mr. Berg, the word is not exactly "powerful". Try "moronic."

(OK, OK, if you add in overseas ticket sales, the picture has made close to $300 million. Foreigners will watch anything.)

If you find some change between the sofa cushions

IN 1997, fashion king Gianni Versace was gunned down by some loony right on the steps of his Miami Beach mansion, called Casa Casuarina.

Since then the place has been a boutique hotel, and then a boutique restaurant/hotel. And now it can be yours, for just $125 million.

Billionaire Peter Loftin, who paid $19 million for the joint in 2000, calls it "an iconic oasis for the rich-and-famous... in the middle of South Beach." Translation: only the Versace connection makes it worth six times what he paid.

Back in 1992, Versace got the house for less than $3 million, but spent $33 million fixing it up. The pool, 16 metres long, is said to be lined with 24-carat gold.

Richards, Sambora split after fight about Charlie

DENISE Richards and Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi have split again, this time after a big shouting match at a Nashville hotel, E! News reports.

They were arguing about Charlie Sheen, Denise's ex. Sheen recently told a Rolling Stone interviewer that he still thinks about going back to Denise; she says she thinks of him as "another one of my children." (They had two kids together.)

Sambora reportedly asked her to end all contact with Sheen; she refused; they argued.

They separated last January, too, but not for long.

She's 41. Sheen's 46. Richie's 52.

Cameron Diaz Enterprises... how may I direct your call?

CAMERON Diaz is writing a book, not usually something people do in the prime of their careers. On the other hand, it's a nutrition book aimed at young girls, not a memoir, so we guess she's not retiring quite yet.

Nameless Insider tells E! Online that Diaz has "been inspired" by the way her pal Gwyneth Paltrow "uses her fame to influence and help people. Now Cameron wants to do the same."

Translation: Cam knows that Paltrow is making a nice buck from her website, Goop.

Cam is 39.

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition June 17, 2012 ??65524