Live Wire

Jordana Beatty,a native of Australia,beat out hundreds of young girls for a role in the June release of the film,Judy Moody and the Not brummer Summer,a big-screen comedy based on the best-selling Judy Moody book series by Megan McDonald. The series follows the adventures of Judy Moody,a third grader. The 13-year-old actress,Beatty whose credits include guest appearances on Legend of the Seeker (an American TV show ) says that she had read a few of McDonald’s books before getting the film,and dug into the rest after being cast as Judy. “I like how Judy doesn’t follow anyone. She’s very independent and has a great imagination. And,even if things don’t go the way she wants them to,she turns the situation around and always makes the best of it,” Beatty says.

X-Men:First Class,one of the year’s best-reviewed wide-release movies took in $56 million at the North American box office over the weekend easily enough for No. 1. Facing audience and critical rebellion over the last two X-Men series,Tom Rothman,co-chairman of 20th Century Fox,took a few risks with this film that appeared to pay off,including casting untested young actors and approving a screenplay that includes Russian,French,German and Spanish dialogue,which is highly unusual for a summer blockbuster. The Hangover Part II was second with an estimated $32.4 million for a two-week total of $187 million,according to Hollywood.com,which compiles ticketing statistics and Kung Fu Panda 2 was third with about $24.3 million.

Ryan Reynolds,the 34-year-old actor who has been best known for his roles in romantic comedies like The Proposal,is now all set to appear in an action packed role in Green Lantern,which is based on the comic book character of the same name appearing in DC Comics. Green Lantern is this Canadian actor’s full-bore effect to prove that he can anchor a summer blockbuster replete with action figures,video games and theme-park rides. Though Reynolds had a supporting role in X-Men Origins: Wolverine,but last year,his thriller Buried flopped rapidly. Just as Green Lantern is an effort by Reynolds to redefine his career,the picture represents a bid by the Warner Bros studio to create a superhero franchise outside of Gotham City (fictional city appearing in DC Comics ). Batman and Superman are huge multiplex forces but Warner has tried and failed for years to bring the likes of Wonder Woman,Justice League and Green Lantern to the screen.