Nick Nolte to 'Gangster Squad'

NolteNick Nolte is rounding out the cast of Ruben Fleischer's period crime pic ''The Gangster Squad.''Nolte will play LAPD chief Bill Parker in the Warner Bros./Village Roadshow film, set to begin shooting on Sept. 7 in Los Angeles. Nolte's deal closed Friday.''Gangster Squad'' stars James Brolin, Ryan Gosling, Sean Penn, Emma Stone, Anthony Mackie, Giovanni Ribisi, Michael Pena, Robert Patrick, Frank Grillo and Holt McCallany.Kevin McCormick and Dan Lin are producing the Will Beall-scripted pic through their respective banners Langley Park. Jon Silk of Lin Pictures is co-producing.Project is based on the Los Angeles Times' seven-part series ''Tales From the Gangster Squad,'' which Warner acquired the rights two years ago. The articles, penned by Paul Lieberman, chronicled the LAPD's struggle with increasing crime and corruption in the 1940s by forming the Gangster Squad to keep East Coast organized crime figures out of Los Angeles. Nolte will be seen next in ''Warrior'' and he's been shooting ''Parker'' with Jason Statham, Jennifer Lopez and Michael Chiklis. He's repped by CAA. Contact Dave McNary at dave.mcnary@variety.com

DreamWorks Animation pacts with China's Youku

China's biggest online video streaming site, Youku.com, has struck a deal with DreamWorks Animation for online distribution of the "Kung Fu Panda" film franchise, the first time the studio's films will be available online in China. Both "Kung Fu Panda" titles are available for on-demand viewing on Youku Premium paid content platform and will subsequently bow on Youku's Hollywood Movie Channel after the paid viewing window closes, Youku said in a statement. Youku is effectively China's answer to YouTube, which is banned in China. The company listed on the NYSE in December. Earlier this month, the company reported its second quarter revenue nearly tripled from a year earlier, though it continued to operate at a loss. The "Kung Fu Panda" franchise has grossed more than $1.25 billion B.O. to date, and "Kung Fu Panda 2" was China's biggest movie in the first half of the year, taking $92 million in B.O. It has been a big hit in China, despite dealing with kung fu, pandas and Chinese history and folklore, subjects that are normally considered the exclusive terrain of Chinese filmmakers. The DreamWorks Animation artistic team visited China to obtain cultural references for the films. "It is particularly satisfying that Chinese audiences have responded so enthusiastically to the cultural references within our franchise and we look forward to making both 'Kung Fu Panda' movies available to more and more consumers in China through Youku," said Kelley Avery, DreamWorks Animation head of worldwide franchise strategy and distribution. Youku chairman and CEO Victor Koo said agreements like the "Kung Fu Panda" franchise deal allowed Youku to expand on the traditional movie release roadmap. "Both titles have a proven track record of success with Chinese audiences, and we look forward to expanding our alignment with Hollywood studios in the future to offer even more compelling content," he said. Contact Variety Staff at news@variety.com

Our Idiot Brother Red Band Trailer: What an Effing Moron

Red band trailers are the Movieline reader’s one-stop shop for swear words, PG nudity, and otherwise offensive dialogue. They’re the Costco of cusses. In the new red band trailer for the pleasant-seeming Our Idiot Brother (read the Movieline review here), Paul Rudd befuddles his parole officer, interrupts some schtupping, and survives the cutting commentary of his sister Elizabeth Banks. It’s all very red, you know? I’m guessing this will contain the same amount of laughs as Horrible Bosses, the summer’s other completely literal comedy title. Like Bosses, it employs vulgarity to a certain degree, but it mainly amps up the outrageousness of its characters for the biggest payoff. I’m wary of Elizabeth Banks as a pill and Zooey Deschanel in goofy, cutesy roles, but I’d be surprised if this turned out to be, say, less than enjoyable. In fact, I’d prefer it be really fucking enjoyable. VERDICT: Sold. [via Moviefone]

ABC Bans Weinstein Company's 'Our Idiot Brother' Commercial (Video)

ABC is refusing to broadcast a commercial spot for the R-rated comedy Our Idiot Brother unless certain cuts are made, the Weinstein Co. announced Thursday.our editor recommendsPaul Rudd in 'Our Idiot Brother': Director Jesse Peretz Talks CastingWatch Paul Rudd in 'Our Idiot Brother' Trailer ABC is asking for three cuts: a visual of an exchange of what is assumed to be drugs; a visual of Paul Rudd's character using a juice box to depict urination; and various references to getting high and smoking. Asked for a comment, ABC said: "The ABC Television Network approved and accepted multiple spots for Our Idiot Brother, and has aired spots for this film. The network did not accept spots that violated our long-established Ad Guidelines." FILM REVIEW: Our Idiot Brother The television ad that ABC is refusing to run is already airing in its current form on other broadcast and cable networks. The move prompted Harvey Weinstein to cut a new red-band trailer for the comedy, which opens Friday at the domestic box office. PHOTOS: 'Our Idiot Brother' and Other Sundance Buzz Films "We'd like to dedicate our new red band trailer for Our Idiot Brother to censorship everywhere," TWC co-chairman Weinstein said. "Enjoy!" Our Idiot Brother is about three sisters -- played by Elizabeth Banks, Zooey Deschanel and Emily Moritmer -- and their incurably optimistic sibling, played by Rudd. The ensemble comedy also stars Steve Coogan, Hugh Dancy, Kathryn Hahn, Rashida Jones, Shirley Knight, T.J. Miller and Adam Scott. Check out the NSFW red band trailer below. Related Topics Elizabeth Banks Emily Mortimer Paul Rudd Zooey Deschanel My Idiot Brother NSFW

'Machine Gun Preacher' Trailer Is 'Tricky,' States Director

There's certainly a skill to cutting a great movie trailer. A filmmaker should not wish to give an excessive amount of away, but naturally reveal an adequate amount of the film's plot in order to lure a crowd to purchase tickets opening weekend. For director Marc Forester ("Casino Royale," "Finding Neverland"), fine-tuning a clip for his new action drama "Machine Gun Preacher" was tricky business, for the reason that he desired to show the film's action and emotional sides. "Its a troublesome factor to create a balanced trailer," he told MTV News lately. "Im happy with the way it switched out because you need to give a difficult aspect of a clip since it is this emotional journey of the unlikely hero. You need to give a part of that, but simultaneously you need to give some the experience area of the movie too, so to obtain the balance was quite tricky." "Machine Gun Preacher" is inspired through the real-existence story of former drug dealer-switched evangelical preacher and activist Mike Childers (performed by Gerard Butler), that has been fighting their own war of sorts against warlord Frederick Kony and the violent Lord's Resistance Military. "For me personally, the interesting factor about [Childers] is he is not your perfect hero," Forster described. "He's this character that has very abusive characteristics, but simultaneously constantly put his existence at risk in order to save kids." "After I see clearly, I felt like I needed to tell the storyline because I felt a lot of us believe were powerless," Forster remembered. "This is a guy who's misleading, required energy in the own hands to alter peoples destinies in an optimistic way. ... Despite the fact that I do not always accept the way in which he's tried it, I still thought it was incredible," he accepted. "This can be a guy who's there altering lives, without any education, no financial assets, he required it upon themself to assist these kids and that i discovered that a tale worth telling." Inform us what you believe within the comments section as well as on Twitter!

Roy Keane When I View It

There is forget about spoken-about domestic footballer within the 2002 World Cup than Manchester U . s . and Ireland's combative captain Roy Keane--and that he did not even obtain a kick, after being sensationally told to go home by worldwide boss Mick McCarthy--but debate and head lines would be the regular food staple for that go-it-alone midfielder, and also the documentary When I View It verifies the guy themself could not care less. The film covers fairly well-trodden ground: his arrival at Forest, the ill-feeling that supported his proceed to Old Trafford, the trophies, the red-colored cards, that coffee problem, the injuries--their own and individuals he allegedly caused on others--through towards the Ireland bust-up. While it's certainly his side from the story, it is a hpv warts-and-all portrait. Yes, Keane's autobiography covers the important thing issues in greater depth, but this film provides action to balance the anecdotes, with footage covering from his earliest professional performances through to his development in to the new Bryan Robson in the centre of Mister Alex Ferguson's reborn U . s .--such as the 1999 Champions League campaign that saw Keane drive his side in to the final simply to lose out because of suspension.

Broadway B.O. holds steady

Enduring tuner Mamma Mia! climbed a bit a the B.O.Almost every Broadway show saw sales taper off a bit last week, but the overall cume managed to uptick, thanks largely to the newest addition to the boards, "Follies." The tuner played its first full week of eight perfs -- vs. the one preview during played the prior frame -- and brought in $725,062, playing to auds at close to 75% of capacity of the sizeable Marquis Theater. Those figures aren't whoppers, but they're certainly solid for a serious-minded tuner that didn't confirm a Broadway run until a couple of months ago. If all goes well, the continuing preview period could help seed word-of-mouth over the next few weeks. Only a handful of shows posted gains last week, and none were particularly notable. "The Book of Mormon" ($1,289,948) broke its 15th house record at the O'Neill Theater, hitting an average ticket price of more than $147. Another of last season's spring tuners, "Priscilla Queen of the Desert" ($674,867), also rose, whereas "Sister Act" ($700,644) dipped by about 9%. Play "Jerusalem" ($338,979) went up a bit, thanks perhaps to a jolt of last-minute biz prior to its Aug. 21 closing. Consistent tourist-magnet "Mamma Mia!" ($878,148), soon to celebrate its 10th anniversary on the Main Stem, also climbed a bit. Strong B.O. at that show may not hit the jaw-dropping heights of blockbuster emeritus "The Phantom of the Opera" ($986,477), but the Abba musical nonetheless seems to show a similarly enduring appeal. Otherwise, the majority of individual productions last week reported minor declines in a sign of the slight late-summer fatigue that can sometimes hit Broadway. It's hardly enough of a downturn to prompt concern -- few offerings were slipped more than a few percentage points, and some wavered even less than that. In general, the frame's numbers were still fairly robust, and seem certain to stay that way until the post-Labor Day slump. Overall cume rose by about $300,000 to $20.9 million for 24 shows on the boards. Contact Gordon Cox at gordon.cox@variety.com