FROM MTV.COM: Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning spent this past summer playing bandmates on the set of "The Runaways," the upcoming biopic about the '70s-era all-girl rockers. It was quite a change from the two characters they portrayed months earlier in "New Moon": a girl from rural Washington and a vampire who can psychically inflict incapacitating pain on others.

During filming on "New Moon," however, the two actresses became good friends. "I knew Kristen a little bit before this, and I'm going to be working with her in another movie this summer ['The Runaways']," Fanning said in an interview conducted in the midst of shooting and provided by studio Summit Entertainment. "So we've gotten to know each other really well and she's so great. I've had so much fun with her."

Continue reading 'New Moon' Star Dakota Fanning Had 'So Much Fun' With Kristen Stewart

There's a rumor on the street that "New Moon" actress Dakota Fanning is slipping on Dorothy Gale's ruby red slippers for a twisted take on "The Wizard of Oz," based on a line of action figures from "Spawn" creator Todd McFarlane -- but the toymaker himself has heard nothing of the sort.

While McFarlane verified that such a film is in development, he told Empirethat he's completely unfamiliar with the rumors of Fanning starring in the movie, though he's not necessarily against the idea. Read more...

On the heels of yesterday's Volturi reveal, a few more images have surfaced. They're not promo shots though. The new hotness consists of three actual "New Moon" stills showing more pale-faced Volturi craziness. Little Dakota Fanning -- who isn't so little anymore! -- is especially creepy with her red eyes and her dead-serious expression. Michael Sheen's Aro is also looking particularly creepy. If nothing else, these images stand as yet further proof that fans can expect a far superior movie in "New Moon" than "Twilight" was.

-- Ian McKellen told attendees at an all-night "Lord of the Rings" screening that an actor has been selected to play Bilbo in "The Hobbit." There are no further details than that, though McKellen also mentioned that he'll be getting the script "within the next week." This falls very deeply into the rumor territory for now, though I have little doubt that a script exists or that there's a Bilbo short list. Especially since "Hobbit" director Guillermo del Toro told us as much in an interview. (TheOneRing.net)

-- The word is the "Fight Club" and "Zodiac" director David Fincher is all set to direct the Aaron Sorkin-penned "The Social Network," also known as "the Facebook movie" in some circles. As you might expect, the story follows the rise of the beast that we call Facebook and its founder, Mark Zuckerberg. Sorkin and Fincher make for odd bedfellows; I'll definitely see this one. (End of Show, via /Film) Read more...

"The Runaways" have found their Lita Ford, and the band is now officially complete. According to Variety, Scout Taylor-Compton (Rob Zombie's "Halloween") has joined Floria Sigismondi's biopic as the Runaways' lead guitarist and future solo rock goddess. Earlier reports had pegged actress Alessandra Torresani for the part, and Taylor-Compton for bassist Jackie Fox, but they've either switched roles or deals have fallen through.

Ford joined the Runaways in 1976 along with Cherie Currie, a year after the band was formed by Joan Jett, bassist Micki Steele and drummer Sandy West. Ford remained with the band until their break-up in 1979, and enjoyed a very successful career as a solo artist. Read more...

FROM MTV.COM: Not only has Kristen Stewart embraced the role of Joan Jett by dying her hair black and cutting it into a mullet for her role in the upcoming film "The Runaways," now she's been spotted at a Los Angeles studio with Runaways founding member Joan Jett.

The duo — along with Stewart's "New Moon"/ "Runaways" castmate Dakota Fanning — hit Sunset Sound studios on Monday, where they were recording for the biopic, about the seminal all-teen-female 1970s rock band of the same name. While the Runaways, founded by Jett in 1975, never achieved large-scale commercial success, they were a galvanizing force on the Los Angeles punk scene, not to mention the first widely recognized all-female teen rock group and the spawning ground for the subsequent solo careers of Jett and guitarist Lita Ford.

Continue reading 'Twilight' Star Kristen Stewart Hits The Studio With Joan Jett

Floria Sigismondi's punk girl biopic "The Runaways" may still be short a few bandmembers, but the director may be making room for a boy: Michael Shannon, the buzzed-about character actor who finally snagged an Oscar nomination this year for his performance in "Revolutionary Road." Scheduling conflicts could keep him from rocking out in "The Runaways," but The Hollywood Reporter reveals that Shannon is currently "in negotiations" to play alongside Kristen Stewart's Joan Jett and Dakota Fanning's Cherie Currie.

What's not specified is which of the few male roles Shannon is interested in. It is possible that the actor might be playing music producer Kim Fowley. While the idea of an all-girl band really belonged to Joan Jett and Sandy West, it was their associations with Fowley that helped them recruit other the other band members. Fowley's marketing helped The Runaways become a phenomenon, but rumors abound about his treatment of the musicians. In the 2004 documentary "Edgeplay," members of The Runaways accused him of pitting the girls against each other professionally, as well as subjecting them to verbal and sexual abuse.

A controversial character like Fowley is certainly something an actor like Shannon could sink his teeth into. However, there are other men who were involved in the personal and professional lives of The Runaways, so this is all speculation on my part. For now, let's just be happy that the biopic is attracting such a variety of talent.

MTV readers: are you looking forward to "The Runaways"? Who else would you like to see cast in the all girl band? How do you feel about "Twilight" star Kristen Stewart or Dakota Fanning being on board?

Contributed by Jeff Sneider

Dear Dakota Fanning,

You’ve been acting since you were 6 years old, popping up on popular (and bloody!) TV shows such as “ER” and “CSI.”

Since then, you’ve proven yourself to be an exceptionally talented young actress in films like “I Am Sam” and “The Secret Life of Bees.”

But one thing that stands out about your impressive filmography is that you’ve never done a proper horror movie, although you have certainly flirted with the genre. Read more...

Kristen Stewart's Joan Jett may finally have her Cheri Currie. Variety reports that Dakota Fanning is in talks to play Currie for "The Runaways," the biopic of the groundbreaking punk rock band.

This could be the mature role that finally convinces audiences that Fanning is all grown up, and ready to be taken seriously. Though only fifteen, she's the same age Currie was when she made her debut with the band in 1975. In her lingerie and blue eyeshadow, she indulged in drugs and hard partying before leaving the band in 1977. But she made her mark while she was fronting it -- the Runaways' biggest hit, "Cherry Bomb, was written for the singer when she auditioned for the band. Read more...

We haven't heard a peep from the "Twilight" cast on the rumors that Dakota Fanning is being considered to play Jane in "New Moon." But, last night at Dakota's "Push" premiere actions spoke louder than words.

Now, let me be clear that this doesn't officially mean anything, but when almost the entire supporting cast of "Twilight" shows up to the premiere of "Push," which stars a certain blond haired starlet, it has to mean something! Right?

At the very least, it displays solidarity in their preference that Dakota get the role over Lucy Hale. Kellan Lutz, Ashley Greene, Rachelle LeFevre and Edi Gathegi were all in attendance last night in Los Angeles, and although they didn't pose for photos with the "Push" star, they were all smiles and posed with each other. (Take a peek at select photos after the jump, and check out the whole "Push" premiere photo gallery here.) Read more...