Hello To Sue Over Brosnan Wedding Photos

Something always has to go wrong in the world of showbiz, especially when it’s attached to Pierce Brosnan’s recent wedding. Not only was the wedding delayed several times, but now there’s controversy over the ‘exclusive’ photos taken by English magazine, Hello! as the BBC has reported.

Hello! magazine is set to sue the Irish Star over the publication of what it believed were exclusive photographs of Bond star Pierce Brosnan’s wedding to Keely Shaye Smith.

On Thursday the paper published a set of photographs which Hello! billed in this week’s issue as world exclusives.

The magazine is looking for compensation for what editor-in-chief Phil Hall said was the “seven-figure sum” spent on the photo deal.

The Irish Star is 50% owned by Richard Desmond, the proprietor of OK! Magazine, a rival to Hello

If a settlement is not reached, legal action is likely to commence within the next week, according to magazine’s solicitors Charles Russell.

The Irish Star was unavailable for comment.

‘Seven-figure sum’

Mr Hall told BBC News Online of his reaction at seeing the photographs in the Irish Star.

“We were very, very angry,” he said. “We spent six months negotiating the rights and they cost us a seven-figure sum. I asked the editor of the Irish Star how he got the pictures and he said he didn’t know – that’s ridiculous.”

Chris Hutchings, solicitor for Hello! at Charles Russell told BBC News Online: “No negatives were supplied by our clients. One can assume that the pictures were scanned – but that’s speculative at this stage.”

Mr Hall dismissed the suggestion that anyone at Hello! might have been involved in scooping the exclusive. “There’s no way this could be an inside job – the photos were marshalled by a security officer at all times.”

‘Compensation’

Mr Hutchings said that the magazine would be pressing for a substantial settlement. “I can’t divulge the amount, but it was a very valuable feature and a very substantial sum was paid, and they will be looking for an appropriate sum of compensation for spoiling the exclusive,” said Mr Hutchings.

In 2000, OK! obtained an injunction against Hello! after the latter bought photographs of the wedding of Michael Douglas to Catherine Zeta Jones, to which OK! had obtained the exclusive rights.

Mr Hutchings said that if the Irish Star did not respond, legal action could follow swiftly. “They’ve had a letter of complaint, but we haven’t heard back yet,” he said.

“If we don’t have a satisfactory response with undertakings, legal action will be commenced in the next week.”

It sounds a lot like corporate bitching to me, and general pay-backs for the Douglas/Zeta-Jones wedding photos. Thanks to ‘Freemo’ for sending the article in!

Pierce Brosnan Wedding Photo's

Hello! Magazine have officially published images from inside Brosnan’s wedding in their latest edition, the cover is below, so you can find it on magazine stands now!

They look great together don’t they! We’ll get you more pictures as we can!

Pierce Brosnan's Honeymoon Cancelled

Nothing can seem to go right for Pierce Brosnan. He had to delay his wedding twice and now he’s had to cancel his honeymoon. As NJ explains;

I heard on FOX FM [a Melbourne Radio Station] this morning that Pierce Brosnan’s honeymoon had to be cancelled because details of that honeymoon leaked out.

I dunno where they were supposed to go, but they are now going somewhere else.

Well there you go! I hope they end up finding a nice and secluded space. Thanks to NJ for sending the news in!

Importance May Not Please Everyone

This news comes from Ananova who have reported that Director Oliver Parker, who is directed the 2002 release of Oscar Wilde’s “The Importance Of Being Earnest” which will star Dame Judi Dench, has admitted that the film may not please everyone.

Oliver Parker has admitted his new film version of the Importance Of Being Earnest may not meet with everyone’s approval.

Parker is directing the film which stars Rupert Everett, Judi Dench, Colin Firth and Reese Witherspoon.

He previously directed another Oscar Wilde film, An Ideal Husband.

Parker admits it’s hard because so many people know and love Oscar Wilde’s most famous play.

“You’re bound to make decisions that a lot of people won’t agree with,” he said.

“The thing that frustrates me about productions when I see them is that they tend to become the opposite of what I think is the play; they’ve become establishment property.”

Dame Judi Dench says she thinks her character, Lady Bracknell, is very flirtatious.

“She’s cheeky. There’s sex involved here; these lines are a lot more alive than I had thought,” she said.

“I mean, she’s frightfully flirtatious.”

The Importance Of Being Earnest is due to be released next year.

The IMDB reports that the film will be released in the United States in June 2002.

Brosnan's Number Plate For Wedding

Just a very small article;

"Pierce Brosnan turned up at the Abbey on Saturday in a Mercedes bearing the number plate "00NO7"

Source: The Mirror

Happy Birthday Michelle Yeoh

Happy Birthday today to Michelle Yeoh who was born on this day in 1962, she turns 39.

Yeoh came to the attention of the Bond community when she was cast as Chinese Agent Wai Lin in 1997's 'Tomorrow Never Dies'. Before Tomorrow Never Dies her films had been limited to the Asian Community. However, in the year 2000 one such Asian film won her a world wide recognition that not even Bond could give her. The film was Wo hu cang long aka. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

Yeoh recently talked of returning to the Bond films as Wai Lin and revealed her agent had contacted EON Productions about the prospect. Will we see her in Bond 20? We'll just have to wait and see!

Happy Birthday Michelle! And a big thank you to NJ for the tip off!

Post-Wedding Photos

Yahoo! has a few images available to view:

Irish-born James Bond actor Pierce Brosnan waves to local residents, who can be seen reflected in the car's windows, after marrying U.S. TV reporter Keely Shaye Smith in a private cermony at Ballintubber Abbey, County Mayo in Ireland, August 4, 2001. Photographers and local residents were prevented from seeing them by a team of private security guards. REUTERS/Paul McErlane

The car believed to be carrying Keely Shaye Smith arrives under cover at Ballintubber, Ireland, where she is due to be married to actor Pierce Brosnan, the current James Bond in the popular movie series, Saturday Aug. 4 2001. An intense security campaign was implemented to keep the media at bay. (AP Photo/John Cogill)

James Bond star Pierce Brosnan waves to the crowds from his car as he leaves with fiancee Keely Shay-Smith at Ballintubber Abbey County Mayo, Ireland, Friday Aug. 3, 2001. The couple were having their 6-month-old child Paris christened before their wedding on Saturday Aug. 4. (AP Photo/John Cogill)

Bond Star Brosnan Gets Married

BALLINTUBBER, Ireland (AP) – James Bond star Pierce Brosnan and Keely Shaye Smith exchanged wedding vows Saturday at an 11th-century abbey nestled in the emerald hills of western Ireland.

The bride and groom arrived separately at Ballintubber Abbey before the service, and left together in a white Rolls-Royce. The newlyweds cracked the rear window and waved as the car drove off.

Several hundred onlookers crowded the sides of the small street leading up to the abbey in hopes of getting a glimpse of the couple, but security officials used massive white sheets to preserve the exclusive photo rights of a celebrity magazine.

The reception was being held 20 miles away at 800-year-old Ashford Castle. Brosnan had visited the castle with his late wife Cassandra Harris, who died in 1991. An episode of the Irish-born actor’s former television series, ‘Remington Steele’, was also filmed there.

Few details of the reception were known. Castle staff signed confidentiality agreements, but reports said traditional Irish band ‘The Chieftains’ and an Irish dance troupe were expected to perform.

Brosnan, 48, met Smith, 36, a former correspondent for the television program ‘Entertainment Tonight’, at a fund-raising event for the protection of California gray whales.

The couple has two sons: Dylan, 4, and 5-month-old Paris, who was baptized Friday at Ballintubber Abbey.

Brosnan and Smith had planned to marry in May but postponed the wedding after Brosnan’s 16-year-old son Sean was seriously injured in a car accident.

Hello! magazine purchased the rights to the wedding photos for an undisclosed sum

Brosnan Before Wedding

I thought that as we're not going to see some photos of the wedding for about a week, that I'd post some of Brosnan and Keely yesterday.

The couple are to marry today in Bullytubber Abbey in County Mayo. The Abbey has been specially sound-proofed to keep the ceremony private. Afterwards, around 100 guests are to attend the reception at Ashford Castle.

An intense security operation has been mounted to keep media at bay because the couple have signed a deal with Hello! magazine for exclusive wedding pictures in exchange, it is reported, for nearly IR£1 million (£785,000).

Helicopters are to be on standby outside the castle to whisk photographs to London for immediate publication.

Limerick priest and Brosnan's friend Monsignor John Fleming, rector of the Pontifical Irish College in Rome, will perform the wedding ceremony.

The two men met while Brosnan was filming the Bond film The World Is Not Enough.

Source: Ananova
Pictures: Yahoo!

Peter Lamont To Open Film Studio In Great Britain

Peter Lamont, who as a Production Designer has worked on such films as The World Is Not Enough and Titanic, has announced plans to build a new studio complex in Britain with the intention of boosting Britain's film industry and creating 200 new jobs.

Lamont, now chairman of the newly-created Full Picture Company revealed that he is currently considering four sites in the south west of England to build the massive new centre.

Interest in the British film industry from private investors is currently growing at about 35%, with the industry in the UK alone worth about £230 million a year. With the country's homegrown talent of cast, crew, technicians and craftspeople, the company believes it can tap into a further £125 million a year.

Wherever it is based, once up and running in about four years' time, the site will include Europe's largest studio as well as state-of-the-art special effects facilities and TV stages. It will also include accommodation for film crews and a visitor centre, making it a major tourist attraction for the region as well as a working studio complex.

We'll let you know more news as it comes to hand.