Hollywood and television icon Ricardo Montalban has died at the age of 88. According to a report by the Associated Press, a Los Angeles city councilman confirmed that the L.A. resident and star of “Fantasy Island” passed away at his home.

Montalban, who was born in Mexico City on November 25, 1920, appeared in more than 160 roles during his 66-year career that spanned comedies, science fiction, voice acting, and regular roles in classic TV series.

Best known for his leading role as Mr. Roarke in the ABC series “Fantasy Island” from 1978-1984, Montalban achieved cult status in pop culture and among Star Trek fans for his portrayal of Khan Noonien Singh in the original TV series and later more famously in “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.” Read more…

Contributed by Silas Lesnick

Movie website href=”http://www.latinoreview.com/news/exclusive-mcg-wants-a-bad-boy-to-go-20-000-leagues-under-the-sea-5987″>Latino Review caught a nice scoop at the “Terminator: Salvation” preview in New York; it seems that McG already knows exactly who he’d like to see piloting the Nautilus in his recently-announced re-adaptation of Jules Verne’s “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea”: Will Smith.

These days, the name Nemo may call up images of an adorable cartoon clownfish but (while Smith has played a cartoon fish before) McG is looking at something a bit more faithful to the original novel, explaining that the charm of the character is in making him both hero and villain. Read more…

Remember when Sam Rockwell told MTV News about his new movie “Moon” way back last February? And his basketball film “The Winning Season” back in August? A year later, he’s ready to break both out at Sundance, and he’s not stopping there. A Sundance veteran, Rockwell is bringing two films to the Utah film festival this year—and much, much more.

“A lot of condoms. Chaps. A thong. Cowboy hat. I’m ready to go!” the “Choke” and upcoming “Iron Man 2” actor said in an exclusive interview with MTV News. If anyone has been to Sundance enough times to know what the standards are, it’s Rockwell.

“This is either five or six for me,” he estimated. “I’ve lost track. I’m in New York, going there Friday night. Going there for a week.” Read more…

We get them every year, especially at this time – the Oscar Winner team up movies.

But when you’re standing in the theater lobby, looking at a poster for a new movie that puts the words “Academy Award Winner” above an actor’s name, how do you know you’ll be getting “Million Dollar Baby” and not “Lions for Lambs,” “Evening,” or anything Cuba Gooding has made in the last 12 years? What message does “Academy Award Winner” send to a potential moviegoer?

“That we could be bad,” laughed double-winner Dustin Hoffman, whose “Last Chance Harvey” posters boast a pairing of Hoffman with “Academy Award Winner” Emma Thompson. “That there’s a thin line between success and failure.” Read more…

Recently, I ran my annual “Other Awards” article, celebrating the wacky, weird and sometimes brilliant movie stuff that slips between the cracks at traditional awards shows. So, when my path crossed with super-screenwriter David Koepp (“Spider-Man,” “Mission Impossible”), I had to ask him about what I considered to be the neatest gimmick of 2008.

“None whatsoever,” was his response when I asked him what source material he used for the new-to-DVD flick “Ghost Town,” which features the clever running gag that we sneeze whenever a dead person is passing through us. “We made that up.” Read more…

You have to hand it to the producers remaking “The Karate Kid.” If there’s a way to replace the gentle, iconic Pat Morita as Mr. Miyagi, it’s to cast bigger and more manic — and that’s just what they’ve done. According to Variety, “Rush Hour” star Jackie Chan is in final negotiations to train Jaden Smith in the delicate art of the crane kick.

They’ve also hired a director. Harald Zwart (”The Pink Panther 2’) will direct the film. The film will begin shooting early this summer in Beijing, and will obviously keep the original character names as well as the storyline. Read more…

F. Scott Fitzgerald is experiencing a revival in Hollywood — can John Steinbeck be far behind? Variety reports that “East of Eden” is getting a new adaptation (let’s not call it a remake, even if the first did star James Dean) that will be directed by Tom Hooper (”John Adams”). Christopher Hampton (”Atonement”) will pen the script.

Originally published in 1952, it’s one of Steinbeck’s most sweeping and ambitious novels. Set in California’s Salinas Valley, it’s a multi-generational story of two families, the Trasks and the Hamiltons, and the intertwining of their lives. But the main focus is on twin brothers, Aaron and Caleb, and their difficult relationship and rivalry that mirrors a certain Genesis story you might know. Read more…

Every actor idolizes Steve McQueen and cites him on their list of inspirations — so it’s fitting that some hot young guy is going to get the chance to play McQueen. Variety reports that producers Michael Cerenzie and Christine Peters are bringing a biopic of the rebellious actor to the big screen.

The film will be based on Marshall Terrill’s new biography “Steve McQueen: Portrait of an American Rebel” and has the cooperation of McQueen’s third wife and widow, Barbara Minty. The project will reportedly focus on McQueen’s Hollywood career, his off-screen fondness for drugs, fast cars, and motorcycles, and his three marriages, particularly his tumultuous marriage to Ali McGraw. Read more…

I’d never heard of “Mystery Team” before getting a few clips ahead of its Sundance premiere, and I gotta say…it looks pretty damn funny. The film follows three high school friends who start a detective agency, and needless to say hijinx ensue. Having only seen the footage below, it looks like a cross between the more farcical episodes of “Mr. Show” and the quirky banter of “Napoleon Dynamite.” I have no idea what that means but it’s good stuff.

Check out the fun below (note: there are two clips back to back).

Yesterday, I wrote about Drew Barrymore’s hair incident at the Golden Globes, and have since learned that apparently there’s a story behind it.

A tipster emailed in that Ms. Barrymore was shooting a commercial during the day for Ferrari. According to our source, Drew was racing the car down an airstrip against a Gulfstream G550, in an ad created by Dr. Rand Pink and directed by Giancarlo Bertolini.

I suppose a shoot like that’ll really do a number on your ‘do … ya know, wind and all. Read more…