Inception star Cillian Murphy is set to star with Thandie Newton in new movie The Retreat, according to US reports.

The 34-year-old Irish actor, who is starring opposite Leonardo DiCaprio in Christopher Nolan’s new flick, will start filming the new feature later this year in Wales.

He will play the husband of Thandie Newton’s character in the movie, which has already seen Sony Pictures take its UK rights.

According to movie website Deadline, the pair will play a married couple who rent an isolated island cottage to try and repair their marriage.

But one day they find a man in a biohazard suit washed up on the shore near their house and he tells them that everybody on the mainland has been killed by a virus.

From Monsters and Critics

Actress Thandie Newton is lending her support to a range of cultural and campaigning events taking place this week to mark the 50th anniversary of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s independence from Belgium.

Congo Now! a campaign group that aims to create a greater public awareness of the DRC’s ongoing humanitarian crisis, is using today’s anniversary to launch a series of events that aim to celebrate the rich creativity of the Congolese people and raise awareness of the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis in the east of Congo.

The campaign, which is backed by more than 30 non-governmental organisations, is calling on the Government to revitalise its commitment to end the violence and the suffering of civilians in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

A highlight of the week is the launch of an e-petition calling on Prime Minister David Cameron to do more to protect Congolese civilians from violence and suffering.

Other events taking place this week include a Parliamentary roundtable discussion, a run in support of Congo’s women in Regent’s Park and a talk by activist Sam Roddick.

Film star Thandie, a key supporter of Congo Now, said: “2010 is the anniversary of 50 years of independence for the Democratic Republic of Congo – but isn’t it time now that Congolese people were truly free?

“Free from the violence of the conflict and free from unnecessary poverty when surrounded by such enormous natural wealth.

“I really hope that people take note of what is happening in Congo and that the British Government redoubles its efforts to create a safe and dignified future for the Congolese people.”

Labour MP Eric Joyce, a Congo Now! spokesperson, said: “Today sees Congo marking 50 years of independence, but for many in the eastern parts of Congo, there is little to celebrate.

“Some two million people are unable to go home as a result of the conflict, with rape and violence daily threats.

“It is tragic that this conflict has been forgotten for so long. We are calling on our politicians to mark this anniversary by doing more to help build a Congo free of violence.”

Congo Now! said an estimated 5.4 million had died in DRC from the effects of the conflict and more than 9,000 people were raped in the Kivu provinces of eastern Congo last year.

The UK Government is currently the largest bilateral donor to the DRC, with a commitment of £130 million for 2010.

However, Congo Now! is calling on the UK to maintain its funding and strengthen its political efforts on the DRC.

In particular it is calling on the UK to stop natural resources fuelling the conflict in DRC by adopting legislation to ensure that materials purchased by UK companies neither finance armed groups nor contribute to human rights abuses.

It also wants the Government to do more to protect civilians from violence; promote non-military and regional solutions to the conflict and address the devastating causes and consequences of conflict and sexual violence, particularly for women and children.

For more information about the campaign, to sign the e-petition or for further details of events visit www.congonow.org.

From Community Newswire

Thandie Newton “loves” her basic skincare regime.

The British actress – who is the face of the Olay Total Effects range – admits looking after her skin is a simple procedure and she has used moisturiser since she was very young thanks to her mother’s influence.

She said: “As soon as I was old enough to understand about moisturiser, my mum plunged a bottle into my hand.

“It’s taught me to love treating my skin well – I love putting the same care into my skin as I would my body. My skincare regime is simple: good food and lots of moisturiser. Olay Total Effects is usually all I need.”

The 38-year-old star plans to dish out the good advice to her own daughters Ripley, 10, and Nico, six, when they are old enough, urging them to treat their bodies with respect.

She told Stylist magazine: “I will tell my daughters, just as my mother told me, to treat yourself as a holistic entity: respect your body and you will be beautiful and celebrate that with a bit of glitter.”

Discussing her opinion of make-up, Thandie believes is should be worn as an “accessory”.

She said: “I think of make-up as an accessory, just as jewellery would be.

It’s a way to accentuate the attributes you already have, after all.”

From Stuff.co.nz

Huge, the hotly anticipated debut from British comedian Ben Miller starring BAFTA-winner Noel Clarke and Thandie Newton, will now screen at this year’s London UK Film Focus (LUFF). Appearing in the Breakthrough strand, Miller and his producers will be hoping to secure a sales agent at this year’s event.

Premiere’s at this year’s LUFF will include Cherry Tree Lane, the latest from Paul Andrew Williams (London to Brighton), Martin Kemp’s feature debut Exposé, Intandem Films’ UK/Spanish co-production Ways to Live Forever starring Ben Chaplin and Cosi starring Richard E. Grant and Mía Maestro.

LUFF will welcome over 120 international film buyers and festival directors to London for the four day event taking place from Monday 28th June to Thursday 1st July.

LUFF is a unique export initiative which has historically supported new UK films and UK film companies. Now in its seventh year, the event has expanded to also include a small selection of British films represented by foreign sales agents and non-British films from UK sales agents. This is in direct response to feedback from the industry following an independent review of LUFF commissioned by Film London and the UK Film Council.

An important annual event in the film industry’s international calendar, LUFF attracts buyers representing all world territories who come to see around 50 titles. The event generates significant income for sales agents and last year resulted in approximately $4m worth of sales, up $1m from 2008.

The Breakthrough strand will build on the success of last year which saw premieres and subsequent bidding wars for successful films such as Sons of Cuba and She, A Chinese. With an open application process, Breakthrough offers an important platform for emerging British film-makers seeking sales representation, plus providing a chance for international buyers to monitor upcoming UK talent. Alongside Huge, other highlights this year are Honeymooner from Director Col Spector who picked up awards and rave reviews for his previous feature Someone Else and short starring Keira Knightley, New Year’s Eve and Treacle Junior starring Aidan Gillen from BIFA nominated Jamie Thraves.

Helena Mackenzie, Head of Inward Investment & Business Development at Film London, commented: “I am delighted that LUFF has expanded allowing a wider selection of film-makers and sales agents can enjoy the benefits of this unique event. The changes to LUFF this year reflect developments in the industry and I believe it is important the event evolves and adapts to these changes to ensure it remains as popular and as relevant as possible.”

From 4rfv

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Beyonce Knowles and Thandie Newton have raided their closets to donate items to a Haiti charity auction. The “Crazy In Love” hitmaker has donated a pair of gold shoes from her “I Am… Sasha Fierce” world tour, while Newton has offered up signed a jacket she wore in last year’s movie “2012 (2009)”.

Other lots include signed DVDs from “The Wire” star Idris Elba and tickets to the semi-final of Simon Cowell’s hit reality TV show “Britain’s Got Talent”. All proceeds from the eBay auction will go to Britain’s Disasters Emergency Committee to help fund rescue work in Haiti, which was hit by a massive earthquake in January this year.

More and more benefit events to help Haitian relief effort have been held this year. Next month, a concert dubbed “Virginia Stand Up! A Call to Action” will be held at Commonwealth University’s Siegel Center on date 15. It will features Chris Brown, Keri Hilson, Trey Songz, T-Pain, Ryan Leslie, Mario and Juelz Santana.

From Ace Showbiz