News

Lionsgate is continuing its partnership with Tyler Perry, scoring the film rights to his eleventh feature "Tyler Perry's Madea's Big Happy Family".

Adapted from his currently touring new stage play "Madea's Big Happy Family", Perry will reprise his signature role as the straight-shooting Madea for a sixth time on the big screen.

Lionsgate has already set a release date of April 22nd 2011. Perry's tenth film, "For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf", is scheduled for release on January 14th 2011.

Five of Perry's stage plays have yet to be adapted for film - his first "I Know I've Been Changed", 2003's "Madea's Class Reunion", and his three most recent plays before 'Happy Family' - "What's Done in the Dark," "The Marriage Counselor" and "Laugh to Keep from Crying".

R 'n' B songstress Mary J. Blige has been added to the cast ensemble of "I Can Do Bad All by Myself". Joining this Tyler Perry's next feature film for his Madea series, the nine-time Grammy winner will star alongside "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" actress Taraji P. Henson and portray a nightclub manager and singer who happens to be a good friend to Henson's character.

Famous for her singing career, Mary J. Blige made her acting debut as Ola Mae on The WB's sitcom "The Jamie Foxx Show". Her last guest-starring performance in TV shows were in "Ghost Whisperer" and "Entourage" in 2007. In the feature film department, she has been reported to take the role as famous American singer/pianist Nina Simone in "Untitled Nina Simone Project".

"I Can Do Bad All by Myself" is another feature film adaptation from Tyler Perry's plays. It will be...

Actor/director Tyler Perry has laughed off reports he will kill off his hit character Madea, insisting the outspoken family matriarch shall remain a key focus of his films as long as fans continue to flock to the cinema.

Perry's latest turn as the foul-tempered grandmother in Madea Goes to Jail has been a huge success - the comedy shot to the top of the U.S. box office chart last month with an opening haul of $41.1 million (£29 million).

But the star was recently said to be contemplating making his next Madea outing, Madea's Class Reunion, his last - because it takes too much effort to transform himself into the character.

He said, "I would love to see Madea die a slow death in the next film.

"(She's) a whole lot of fun to watch. But to do it is a nightmare. It's all one suit that I'm zipped into, so it's all heavy. The hips are heavy. And the more I sweat, the heavier it gets."

But Perry insists his comments have spun out of control.

He says, "I have been saying for years that the moment people stop coming to see her, she will die a quick death.

"For years I've said this. Now, all of a sudden, it's everywhere that I'm killing her off. That's strange to me..."

And he reveals the reports prompted one famous fan to personally write in demand Madea be kept alive: "I got a letter from The Queen of Soul herself (Aretha Franklin) saying, and this made me laugh so hard, 'There are two things that have brought you over. One is Jesus, and the other is 'Madea'. And you better not get rid of either one of them!'"...

While Tyler Perry reaps success with "Madea Goes to Jail", he couldn't hide the fact that he

wants to see Madea dead. In an interview while promoting "Goes to Jail", the actor/filmmaker fessed up of his idea, stating "I would love to see Madea die a slow death in the next film," but quickly said that he will keep the character alive as long as people want to see her.

As for the reason for killing Madea, Perry uncovered that though Madea is fun to watch, doing her is "a nightmare". "(She's) a whole lot of fun to watch. But to do it is a nightmare," he explained. "It's all one suit that I'm zipped into, so it's all heavy. The hips are heavy. And the more I sweat, the heavier it gets. I see why women have back problems who have large breasts. Holding those things upright can be tough.

Actor/director Tyler Perry wants to kill off his popular character Madea - because it takes too much effort to transform himself into the African-American matriarch.

Perry's latest turn as the foul-tempered grandmother in Madea Goes to Jail has been a huge success - the comedy shot to the top of the U.S. box office chart last week (ends22Feb09) with a haul of $41.1 million (£29 million).

It has become Perry's biggest ever opening weekend takings and is expected to become his largest hit to date.

But Perry is contemplating making his next Madea outing, Madea's Class Reunion, his last.

And he admits he sympathises with big-chested women after donning Madea's heavyweight costume for himself.

He says, "I would love to see Madea die a slow death in the next film.

"(She's) a whole lot of fun to watch. But to do it is a nightmare. It's all one suit that I'm zipped into, so it's all heavy. The hips are heavy. And the more I sweat, the heavier it gets. I see why women have back problems who have large breasts. Holding those things upright can be tough."...

Yes, it's a slow news day, and No, there wasn't any better story to carry. In fact, this whole weekend is looking pretty grim as far as celebrity and entertainment news is concerned. Proof positive of this: Tyler Perry's newest offering, "Madea Goes to Jail," is currently the #1 movie in America. The follow-up to "Madea's Family Reunion" and "Madea's Class Reunion," the film has already earned a 2-day total of $14.8 million, outgrossing its closest competitor, "Taken," by over $11 million. Like a kind of African American, transvestite version of the late Jim Varney, if the "Ernest" films are any sort of indication, Madea ...