BV Entertainment Newswire July 17

Keys To The Castle

Alicia Keys is Hollywood swinging -- for real.

The nine-time Grammy Award winning neo-soul wunderkind has signed a multi-year first look film production deal at Disney, with her producing partner and manager Jeff Robinson.

According to 'Variety,' the first project will be a remake of the 1958 film 'Bell, Book and Candle.' Keys, 26, is slated to play the role originated by Kim Novak. James Stewart and Jack Lemmon also starred in the Richard Quine-directed comedy about a modern-day witch who likes her neighbor but despises his fiancée, and then enchants him to love her instead, only to fall in love with him for real.

The duo reportedly chose the remake as a starting vehicle after Robinson watched the original and saw potential for Keys, who said the goal is to create vehicles that will prevent her from falling into predictable roles.

"I never wanted to play myself, not in the first role or even the second. I want to do the unexpected," she said.

Through their company, Big Pita, Little Pita, Robinson and Keys will aim to develop live-action and animated projects at their company.

Robinson said the company’s name is an acronym for the way he and Keys refer to each other: "It's big pain in the ass, little pain in the ass, and on any given day, I could be the Big Pita, or vice versa."

An office will be opened on the Disney lot, but their base of operations will be in New York City, where Susan Lewis has been hired to run the company.

Keys, who did some minor acting before being signed to Clive Davis' J Records, will make her feature film debut in Joe Carnahan's 'Smokin' Aces,' as an assassin. The Ben Affleck action flick, due out this fall, also stars Common, Ray Liotta, Jeremy Piven, Jason Bateman and Taraji P. Henson.

Keys also recently wrapped 'The Nanny Diaries,' based on the best-selling Nicole Kraus novel of the same name.

Reigning King

Regina King is planning a big return to network television.

The former '227' star is set to join Fox's hit drama series '24' as a regular next season.

She will play Angela Palmer, a powerful advocacy lawyer who is the sister of Wayne and David Palmer.

For those of you who are in the dark about the 12-time Emmy nominated series -- Dennis Haysbert played the U.S. President David Palmer -- D.B. Woodside has had a recurring role on '24 as Wayne Palmer, the strong-willed brother and former chief of staff.

According to 'The Hollywood Reporter,' he will reprise his character -- who will be elected president.

King, who voices the two main characters on Aaron McGruder 's animated series 'The Boondocks,' has starred in a string of movies including 'Jerry Maguire,' 'Ray' and 'Miss Congeniality 2.'

The 36-year old Los Angeles native recently wrapped the Mike White drama 'Year of the Dog.'

Whole New 'World'

The groundbreaking ensemble comedy 'A Different World' will get another go, with its addition to the Nick at Nite line-up.

The Bill Cosby-produced sitcom was the first of its kind, introducing viewers to life at a historically black college and tackling social and political issues rarely explored on television.

Originally created as a spin-off for 'The Cosby Show' regularLisa Bonet, 'A Different World' kick started the careers of Jasmine Guy, Kadeem Hardison and Dawnn Lewis. The sitcom also jumpstarted the career of Marisa Tomei -- a former soap opera actress who went on to win an Academy Award (1992's 'My Cousin Vinny'). 'C.S.I.' heartthrob Gary Dourdan also made his acting debut on the show.

Sinbad, Mary Alice, Loretta Devine, Tisha Campbell, Cree Summer, Glynn Turman, Jada Pinkett and the late Ted Ross also starred in various roles over the course of the series' six year run. Diahann Carroll, Richard Roundtree, Patti LaBelle and Ron O'Neal also made cameos, with Debbie Allen serving as director and producer.

"A Different World is a ground-breaking series that truly had one of the most talented ensemble casts on television," stated Nick at Nite President Larry W. Jones. "Filled with cultural vibrancy, the show explored so many important issues of our time and we are proud to add it to Nick at Nite's line-up."

'A Different World' will officially get the Nick At Night roll-out July 19, with a four-hour marathon beginning at 10 p.m. ET/PT. The series will air in its regularly scheduled timeslot of 10 p.m. from Monday-Friday beginning July 22.