The Grapevine: Zach Braff, Orlando Bloom, Niecy Nash, Jon Hamm

Zach Braff Joins ‘Oz’ Prequel Movie

Actor Zach Braff, best remembered for his work on the television comedy Scrubs, is in the final stages of signing on to the Wizard of Oz 3-D prequel, according to deadline.com.

Disney’s Oz: The Great and Powerful will feature Braff in the role of Frank, the “loyal buy underappreciated” assistant to Oz, who will be played by James Franco. Other stars in the cast include Michelle Williams as Glinda the Good Witch, Rachel Weisz as Evanora the Wicked Witch of the East, and Mila Kunis as Theodora. Filming will begin this July in Michigan, with a targeted release date of March 2013.

Niecy Nash Marries in Malibu

Television personality Niecy Nash, whose projects include a spin on “Dancing With The Stars” and former host of the Style network’s home makeover show Clean House, married electrical engineer Jay Tucker in Malibu, Calif., this past Saturday.

According to People magazine, bridesmaids included Nash’s famous gal pals Sherri Shepherd (The View), Holly Robinson-Peete (“The Talk”), and actress Sheryl Lee Ralph, who was the matron of honor. Preparations leading up to the big day were all captured on film for Nash’s two-hour TLC special “Niecy Nash’s Wedding Bash” to air on June 4.

Jon Hamm To Direct Mad Men Season Premiere

Jon Hamm, 40, who stars as the very dapper Don Draper on the hit AMC television drama Mad Men will direct the fifth season’s premiere episode according to a report from tvline.com.

“The wheels have officially been set in motion to make that happen,” Hamm told TVLine. “It’s a very exciting challenge that I’m looking forward to with a mixture of utter fear and excitement.”

The new season will begin production in August, and will premier in March of 2012.

Orlando Bloom Joins Cast of The Hobbit

British actor Orlando Bloom, who originated the role of elf-prince Legolas in the Academy Award-winning epic trilogy The Lord of the Rings, will join the cast of the prequels being planned, including “The Hobbit” which is underway.

The news was reported by The Hobbit director Peter Jackson on his Facebook page: “Ten years ago, Orlando Bloom created an iconic character with his portrayal of Legolas. I’m excited to announce today that we’ll be revisiting Middle Earth with him once more. I’m thrilled to be working with Orlando again. Funny thing is, I look older—and he doesn’t! I guess that’s why he makes such a wonderful elf.”

This project also reunites Bloom with former “The Lord of the Rings” cast mates Ian McKellen, Andy Serkis, Elijah Wood, and Cate Blanchett. The first “Hobbit” film is planning for release Dec. 14, 2012, according to a joint press release by New Line Cinema, Warner Bros. Pictures, and MGM.


Compiled by Michele Goncalves, Epoch Times Staff