1. J.J. Abrams is having a big week. In addition to helming the new installment of the “Star Wars” franchise, the director is working on a biopic of controversial cyclist Lance Armstrong, with Bradley Cooper eyeing the lead role. Cooper recently told BBC News that he found Armstrong fascinating and would be interested in playing him. The film will be based on “Cycle of Lies: The Fall of Lance Armstrong,” a book proposal written by New York Times sports reporter Juliet Macur. [ET]
2. Is a “Mean Girls” musical on the way? According to Tina Fey, the answer is reportedly yes. On the red carpet at last night’s Screen Actors Guild awards, Fey said she was trying to develop the musical with her husband Jeff Richmond, who does all the music on “30 Rock.” This could be a long way off, but with “30 Rock” ending this Thursday, Fey suddenly has a lot of time on her hands. [Vulture]
3. The shortlist for the Man Booker Internation prize has been announced, and includes Marilynne Robinson, Lydia Davis, Russian author Vladimir Sorokin, China’s Yan Lianke, and more. Philip Roth won the biennial prize in 2011 and drew controversy; critic Carmen Callili withdrew as a judge over the controversial decision. The Man Booker prize is unique in that it awards a writer’s body of work rather than just their latest book. [Guardian]
4. It’s January, which means even when you lead at the box office you’re not really a winner. “Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters” took the number one spot over the weekend with $19 million, far under the projected grosses for the film. “Mama,” the horror-thriller starring Jessica Chastain, took second place with $12.9 million, and “Silver Linings Playbook” took third place with roughly $10 million. “Parker,” the Richard Stark adaptation starring Jason Statham flopped, taking in just $7 million and landing in fifth place. [Artsbeat]
5. Watch the video for “Full of Fire,” the almost ten-minute epic new track from Swedish electronic music siblings The Knife. The clip, directed by “feminist porn creator” Marit Östberg, is filled with motorcycles, gender bending, and a whole lot more. Ostberg, in a statement, said the “film…consists of a network of fates, fears, cravings, longings, losses, and promises. Fates that at first sight seem isolated from each other, but if we pay attention, we can see that everything essentially moves into each other.” [Pitchfork]
Previously: “Girls,” J.J. Abrams, Flaming Lips, Netflix, Umberto
Image: Bradley Cooper/Tiziani Fabi/Getty Images
