News for
Wesley Snipes

advertisement

IMDbPro offers the latest entertainment industry news from the Hollywood Reporter. Sign-up for a two-week free trial today. Click here for a free trial!

Goldberg: "Snipes Is A Victim"
29 April 2008 (WENN)
Whoopi Goldberg has defended jailed actor Wesley Snipes and insists he has been used to "set an example" to the American people. Last week, the Blade actor was handed a three-year jail term by Florida Judge William Terrell Hodges after, he was convicted of failing to file his taxes for five years. But Goldberg is convinced Hollywood stars who break the law are being used as scapegoats by the U.S government in a bid to deter other people from criminal activity. She says, "This is not unusual. With tax evasion, (the Irs) gets very, very agitated and if you're famous they are putting you behind some kind of bar."

Snipes Requests New Jersey Prison
28 April 2008 (WENN)
Wesley Snipes has requested he be allowed to serve his three-year prison sentence at a facility near his New Jersey home. The Blade actor was handed the term by Florida judge Judge William Terrell Hodges after he was convicted of failing to file his taxes for five years. His legal team have asked the judge and prison officials to house him in a federal prison as close to his home as possible - and officials have vowed to accommodate his wishes. Bureau of Prisons spokesperson Felicia Ponce says, "We try to house inmates within 500 miles of their residence so they can maintain ties with their family and community."

Snipes Sentenced to Three Years
25 April 2008 (WENN)
Hollywood star Wesley Snipes has been sentenced to serve three years in jail for tax evasion. In February the Blade actor was convicted of failing to file his taxes for five years. The star was acquitted of tax fraud and filing a false claim, as well as three misdemeanor counts of willful failure to file a tax return. But on Thursday in Florida, U.S. District Judge William Terrell Hodges sentenced Snipes to three years imprisonment. Earlier this week, Snipes' famous friends, like actors Woody Harrelson and Denzel Washington, sent letters to the judge as character references. The actor's attorneys argued that Snipes' crimes did not warrant a prison sentence, and that the star should be given probation. Details of when Snipes will have to surrender to prison, and where he will serve his sentence have not been released.

Denzel & Woody Offer Snipes Aid
24 April 2008 (WENN)
Denzel Washington and Woody Harrelson have come to troubled pal Wesley Snipes' aid in a bid to keep the Blade star out of prison. The two stars have written letters to the judge overseeing the actor's ongoing tax fraud case, urging him to be lenient on their friend as he passes sentence on Thursday. In February, Snipes was convicted of failing to file his taxes for five years. The star was acquitted of tax fraud and filing a false claim, as well as three misdemeanor counts of willful failure to file a tax return, but he still faces three years in prison. And Snipes' legal team hopes glowing character references from his famous friends will help keep the actor out of jail. In his letter, obtained by Tmz.com, Oscar winner Washington calls Snipes "a mighty oak." And TV judge Greg Mathis writes, "Unfortunately, it was his honest nature that forced him into these legalities." His TV colleague Judge Joe Brown adds Snipes is "one of those rare individuals possessed of an extremely developed social conscience."

Prosecutors Recommend Snipes Serves Three Years For Tax Evasion
16 April 2008 (WENN)
Hollywood star Wesley Snipes will serve three years behind bars and fined $5 million for tax evasion charges, if U.S. prosecutors get their way. The Blade actor was convicted of failing to file his taxes for five years in February, and now prosecutors want a Florida judge to make an example of the star - by handing him the maximum sentence possible as punishment for showing a "brazen defiance" of American tax legislation. In legal papers filed in a Florida court on Monday, U.S. Attorney Robert O'Neill says, "This case cries out for the statutory maximum term of imprisonment, as well as a substantial fine, because of the seriousness of defendant Snipes' crimes and because of the singular opportunity this case presents to deter tax crime nationwide." While Snipes was found guilty of not filing his tax returns, he was acquitted of the more serious charges of tax fraud and filing a false claim, as well as three misdemeanor counts of willful failure to file a tax return with the Internal Revenue Service . Snipes has yet to comment on the prosecutors' recommendation. He is due to be sentenced on April 24.

Snipes Convicted For Failing To File His Taxes
4 February 2008 (WENN)
Wesley Snipes faces three years behind bars after he was convicted of failing to file his taxes for five years in a Florida court on Friday. The Blade star was acquitted of tax fraud and filing a false claim, as well as three misdemeanor counts of willful failure to file a tax return. But now he must wait to see if he faces prison for not declaring his income from 1999 to 2004 in the proper manner, costing U.S. tax authorities millions of dollars. Outside court, after he was freed on bail, a relieved Snipes told reporters, "I'm feeling great (but) a little confused... It's nice to be out here with you right now." During the course of the two-week trial, Snipes' attorneys agreed the actor was "dead wrong" not to have paid taxes, but no fraud was perpetrated and that a trial was a waste of time.

Snipes' Confident Lawyers Don't Call a Single Witness
29 January 2008 (WENN)
Actor Wesley Snipes' defense team in his tax and conspiracy trial rested on Monday after not calling a single witness. The Blade star stands accused of conspiring to defraud the U.S. out of millions of dollars in 2000 as part of a conspiracy scheme with co-defendants Eddie Ray Kahn and Douglas Rosile, and then failing to file tax returns. But Snipes' legal team is so certain the case against the 45-year-old will be thrown out of court, no defense witnesses were summoned to take the stand. The prosecution rested its case on Friday. Snipes' attorney Daniel Meachum says, "We chose not to call witnesses because there was no need to. The government prosecutors have put on a case that simply does not come close to meeting the standard of its burden of proof. It was obvious after we went over the evidence the government presented that we could move on to closing arguments immediately and get a just acquittal for Wesley on all counts listed in the indictment." Snipes faces up to 16 years in prison if convicted, while Kahn and Rosile both face a maximum 10 year sentence.

Snipes Warned by Advisors About Tax Evasion
17 January 2008 (WENN)
Movie star Wesley Snipes has been accused of ignoring warnings from his advisors about not paying his taxes. The Blade star is currently on trial in Ocala, Florida, on charges of conspiring to defraud the U.S. of millions of dollars in 2000. Snipes, 45, and two other men, Eddie Ray Kahn and Douglas P. Rosile, stand accused of tax fraud and conspiracy. The star is also charged with willfully failing to file tax returns from 1999 to 2004, on the advice of Kahn's tax protest groups American Rights Litigators and Guiding Light of God Ministries. Snipes was allegedly convinced by his co-defendants that a loop hole in the law meant he didn't have to pay tax on his multi-million dollar earnings. But prosecutors insisted in the trial's opening arguments that Snipes was warned by his longtime advisor Kenneth Starr that there was no merit to the claims that he could escape paying tax. Snipes faces up to 16 years in prison if convicted. He recently failed in his bid to move proceedings from Ocala, after insisting the townsfolk were racist, and he wouldn't be able to get a fair hearing. Before appearing in court, Snipes took part in a vigil with the leaders of several predominantly black churches, who then followed the actor to court.

Snipes Court Hearing Begins
15 January 2008 (WENN)
Movie star Wesley Snipes kicked off his tax fraud and conspiracy trial in Ocala, Florida on Monday. The Blade star's legal team interviewed almost 70 potential character witnesses as jury selection began. The bizarre list of names included boxing legend Muhammad Ali, moviemaker Spike Lee, Sylvester Stallone and Snipes' White Men Can't Jump co-star Woody Harrelson. Snipes, 45, stands accused of conspiring to defraud the U.S. of millions of dollars in 2000 as part of a conspiracy scheme with co-defendants Eddie Ray Kahn and Douglas Rosile, and then failing to file tax returns. Opening arguments in the trial are expected to start on Tuesday. Snipes faces up to 16 years in prison if convicted. He recently failed in his bid to move proceedings from Ocala, after insisting the townsfolk were racist, and he wouldn't be able to get a fair hearing. Before appearing in court, Snipes took part in a vigil with the leaders of several predominantly black churches, who then followed the actor to court.

Snipes "Owed Taxes on $38 Million"
14 January 2008 (WENN)
Actor Wesley Snipes failed to pay taxes on his $38 million income, court papers have revealed. The Rising Sun star is due to stand trial on charges he fraudulently claimed tax refunds of almost $12 million in 1996 and 1997. He is also accused of failing to file tax returns from 1999 to 2004. But documents filed ahead of Monday's trial claim he paid no federal taxes on $38 million in income from 1999 to 2004, even after he was informed he was being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service. The papers, filed by the prosecution, also claim Snipes sent the U.S. Treasury a "fictitious bill of exchange" totaling $14 million on three occasions. Snipes, 45, is due to stand trial on Monday in U.S. District Court in Ocala, Florida, where prosecutors say Snipes lived at the time of the suspected fraud.

Snipes' Application To Have Trial Moved Fails
10 January 2008 (WENN)
Actor Wesley Snipes has failed in a third motion to have his tax evasion trial moved out of Ocala, Florida. The New Jack City star is due to stand trial on charges he fraudulently claimed tax refunds of almost $12 million in 1996 and 1997. He is also accused of failing to file tax returns from 1999 to 2004. Snipes' lawyers last month argued the African-American cannot get a fair trial in the city of Ocala due to racial prejudices and that he has the right to a trial in New York - where he was living when the alleged offences occurred. But the request was declined. The star filed a motion at a federal appeals court in Atlanta, Georgia, claiming the decision was erroneous. But the motion was denied by the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday. The court also granted a federal prosecutors' motion to dismiss a defense request seeking to move the trial out of Ocala, about 80 miles north of Orlando.

Foxx Jets Off to JET for 40th Celebrations
19 December 2007 (WENN)
Oscar winner Jamie Foxx will take over Las Vegas' JET nightclub on Friday to celebrate his 40th birthday. The Ray star has been planning the party for months and plans to recreate his favorite film, New Jack City, at the bash. In a recent interview Foxx said, "I want to dress up as Wesley Snipes' character Nino Brown in an electric-blue suit, without a shirt on, carry a bottle of Dom Perignon (champagne), have some rottweilers next to me... I can't wait." The Las Vegas bash will be Foxx's fourth - he partied at the Delano hotel in Miami, Florida earlier this week after fronting two private celebrations.

Snipes: "I'm a Victim of Racism"
17 December 2007 (WENN)
Actor Wesley Snipes has slammed the media for portraying him as a "bad guy" after he was charged with tax fraud, claiming he is a victim of racism. Snipes, 45, is due to stand trial next month in Florida on charges he fraudulently claimed tax refunds of almost $12 million in 1996 and 1997. He is also accused of failing to file tax returns from 1999 to 2004. But the star has blamed the press and its racial prejudice for over-exaggerating the scandal, and depicting him as a villain. He says, "It was easy for people to jump on the 'Wesley's the bad guy' bandwagon. That's where I think the systematic racism comes in. We're conditioned in this country to believe that if there's a problem, the black man is the culprit." Snipes also blames discrimination for the box office failure of his 2004 movie Blade: Trinity. He adds, "There are so few guys who do action and do it well. Even fewer who are African-American. Even fewer who have classical-theater training. So a cat like me coming in, I'm bringing all of that to an action movie. Since there are so few people that do this and have that pedigree, people disregard their contribution."

Snipes' Court Racism Bid Fails
22 November 2007 (WENN)
Prosecutors have rejected Wesley Snipes' claims he won't get a fair trial in Florida on tax evasion charges because of racial prejudice. Snipes is due to stand trial in the city of Ocala in Marion County in January, on charges he fraudulently claimed tax refunds of almost $12 million in 1996 and 1997. He is also accused of failing to file tax returns from 1999 to 2004. His legal team attempted to get the case moved to New York, alleging Ocala is "a hotbed of (Ku Klux Klan) activity" and that prosecutors chose it so Snipes would face an all-white jury. But the claims have been described as "baseless" by federal prosecutors. Attorney Robert O'Neill filed a complaint on Tuesday that reads, "Defendant Snipes' motion hurls scurrilous and baseless accusations at the prosecution and citizenry of Ocala in an overwrought attempt to have this case dismissed or transferred to another venue."

Snipes' Attorney Fights for Court Change on Racism Grounds
9 November 2007 (WENN)
Attorneys representing Blade star Wesley Snipes are attempting to move the actor's upcoming tax evasion trial from a Florida court because they fear their client will be judged on his color. In a motion filed in U.S. District Court, Snipes' lawyer argued that the U.S. Attorney's Office willfully selected the Ocala courthouse in Marion County because it's one of the "most racially discriminatory venue available." Lawyer Robert Bernhoft claims the court was picked because the locally-selected jury is likely to be made up of "an all-white Southern jury", adding the area is a "hotbed of (Ku Klux) Klan activity." The attorney asks for the charges against Snipes to be dismissed, or the trial moved to New York. Snipes was served with federal indictment charges for fraudulently claiming tax refunds totaling almost $12 million in 2006. The actor, 45, was also charged with failure to file tax returns for the five years following 1999. His trial is scheduled to begin in January. Chief Assistant State Attorney Ric Ridgway has dismissed the racism claims, stating, "That's perhaps the most outrageous claim I've ever heard made in open court."

Snipes' Tax Evasion Trial Postponed
15 October 2007 (WENN)
Wesley Snipes' tax evasion trial has been postponed until early next year after the actor fired his legal team. U.S. District Judge William Terrell Hodges accused Snipes of deliberately delaying the trial during a hearing in Florida on Wednesday - but conceded it was within the public interest to postpone the date. The star of the Blade trilogy was last year accused of fraudulently claiming refunds totaling nearly $12 million for income taxes already paid between 1996 and 1997. He was further charged with failure to file returns from 1999 through to 2004. Snipes was expected to stand trial on October 22, but fired attorney William R. Martin last week. Snipes' new lawyer, Robert G. Bernhoft, previously represented him in a paternity case.

Judge Ignores Snipes' Request To Postpone Court Date
8 October 2007 (WENN)
A judge has refused Wesley Snipes' request to postpone his upcoming tax evasion trial, accusing the Hollywood actor of deliberately attempting to avoid facing the charges. The star of the Blade trilogy was last year accused of fraudulently claiming refunds totaling nearly $12 million for income taxes already paid between 1996 and 1997. He was further charged with failure to file returns from 1999 through to 2004. Snipes' new head lawyer, Robert G. Bernhoft, filed the motion to postpone the star's October 22 court date because they feared his former attorney Daniel Meachum would not be physically fit to carry out his responsibilities in the trial. And according to the legal documents, Snipes also felt that trial attorney William R. Martin was ill-prepared for the case. But Senior Judge Terrell Hodges dismissed the claim on Wednesday, saying: "This series of events would lead any reasonable person to suspect that the defendant's dismissal of able counsel is nothing more than a ploy designed to force a continuance of the trial. In any event, it will not have that effect." Snipes will now have to appear in a U.S. court to face the federal charges.

Snipes Ordered To Pay Up in Talent Agency Battle
20 September 2007 (WENN)
Hollywood star Wesley Snipes has been ordered to pay $1.7 million in fees to a talent agency who helped him land roles in four films, according to court documents released on Tuesday. The Blade star, 45, must hand over the outstanding amount to the United Talent Agency (UTA), which filed a lawsuit against the actor in Los Angeles Superior Court last year. It is the latest financial wrangle involving Snipes, who faces a court case in Florida later this year on tax evasion charges. The court documents claim UTA helped Snipes secure film roles in Blade 3, Chaos, Middle Man and The Shooter. Under an agreement with the actor, UTA was to be paid 10 percent of any money he received for the roles - but the lawsuit alleged the star failed to hand over the cash.

Snipes: "Race Influenced Tax Charges"
11 June 2007 (WENN)
Hollywood star Wesley Snipes has accused prosecutors of targeting him on federal tax evasion charges because of the color of his skin. The star of the Blade trilogy was last year accused of fraudulently claiming refunds totaling nearly $12 million for income taxes already paid between 1996 and 1997. He was further charged with failure to file returns from 1999 through to 2004. But Snipes believes he is the victim of "unscrupulous tax advice" and his attorneys will argue that prosecutors filed additional tax evasion charges against him and not against two other defendants because they are "Caucasian, while Mr. Snipes is African-American." According to the indictment, Snipes' taxes were prepared by accountants with a history of filing false returns to reap payments for their clients. A federal judge is set to consider the motion.

Snipes Set Free After Posting Bail
11 December 2006 (WENN)
Actor Wesley Snipes was set free by a Florida judge on Saturday morning after posting $1 million in bail related to federal tax evasion charges leveled against him. The 44-year-old star appeared in a federal courthouse in Ocala, Florida after flying in on a private jet from Namibia where he is filming the cowboy movie Gallowwalker. He pleaded not guilty to charges he fraudulently claimed refunds totalling nearly $12 million from taxes he paid in 1996 and 1997. The federal indictment accuses Snipes of using an accounting firm known for filing false returns in exchange for 20 percent of all the money refunded and he is also charged with failing to file any tax returns from 1999 to 2004. Snipes' attorney Billy Martin said outside the courthouse, "Mr. Snipes left America to begin filming Gallowwalker long before this indictment was returned. We want to make it clear that he did not avoid returning to the United States. He's always been ready to return and he did not flee." Snipes added, "I wanna say thanks to everybody, thanks to all of the fans out there for showing support. I look forward to clearing my name and resolving this issue post-haste." The actor is returning to Africa to continue working on the film. He faces up to 16 years in prison if convicted on the charges.

Snipes Arrested
8 December 2006 (WENN)
Hollywood star Wesley Snipes has been arrested by police in Orlando, Florida, on charges he avoided paying $12 million in tax. The 44-year-old actor handed himself over to cops, almost two months after he was indicted while shooting movie Gallowwalker in Namibia. The Internal Revenue Service has reportedly been investigating Snipes for the past four years - but the star claims he has been targetted because his celebrity attracts public interest, and in actual fact he is the victim in the case. He recently told an Orlando newspaper, "It appears I'm to be the scapegoat, because there's more public interest in celebrities gone bad than rich people being taken advantage of. I will abide by the law, seek the protections the law affords me and, as always, seek the advice of competent council in an effort to resolve this issue. I'm not running, I'm not a fugitive, despite the misrepresentations in the press."

NY Times Snipes at Variety Report
7 November 2006 (StudioBriefing)
Daily Variety reporter Patrick Frater has acknowledged that he failed to fully check out a story in which he claimed that Wesley Snipes had reached a deal with U.S. authorities to pay $13 million allegedly owed in back taxes on an installment plan. Frater told today's New York Times that although he spoke to three associates of Snipes, he did not speak to prosecutors. The trade publication was embarrassed today (Tuesday) when a spokesman for U.S. Attorney Paul Perez said that no deal had been made to drop tax fraud and conspiracy charges against Snipes, who currently is filming a movie in Namibia. Frater told the Times that any blame for inaccuracy for the article -- which was cited in numerous accounts all over the world -- should rest on Variety editors "who put it through." The Times said that it had been unable to reach Variety editors for comment. It is highly unusual for one news outlet to point up so directly apparent deficiencies in the editorial oversight of another.

Snipes Reaches Settlement on Tax Charges
3 November 2006 (WENN)
Wesley Snipes has reached a settlement with the Internal Revenue Service in the US regarding his tax fraud charges. The agreement will likely see Snipes surrender to federal authorities when he next returns to America. In return for agreeing to a payment plan, Snipes will not be jailed and will be allowed both to continue working and to travel abroad. According to a October 17 indictment, Snipes tried to unsuccessfully claim nearly $12 million in false refunds for taxes he paid in 1996 and 1997. The Blade star had his taxes prepared by accountants with a history of filing false returns to reap payments for their clients. Snipes is currently in Namibia shooting the horror film Gallowwalker. The film's director Andrew Goth says, "We are happy that he continues to turn up on set each day. If his indictment creates this amount of press, it shows he is a star."

USA Not Seeking Snipes Extradition
25 October 2006 (WENN)
Authorities in the US have made no attempt to extradite Wesley Snipes from Namibia on tax fraud charges, according to the African nation's government. The Blade actor was indicted last week on eight counts of tax fraud over allegations he tried to cheat the US government out of $12 million in false refund claims. But he has been shooting new horror movie Gallowwalker in Namibia since August and has no immediate plans to return to America, where a warrant has been issued for his arrest. Lidwina Shapwa, Namibia's Ministry of Justice permanent secretary, insists there has been no American contact seeking extradition, and that the two countries do not have an extradition treaty. Writer/producer Joanne Reay said on Monday, "We are shooting and we are continuing to shoot. We are aware of the issue around the tax charges but we are not discussing it."

Snipes Stays Put in Namibia
24 October 2006 (WENN)
Defiant movie star Wesley Snipes is refusing to return to America and face tax fraud charges, insisting he'll continue shooting new film Gallowwalker in Namibia. Tax officials have issues a warrant for the Blade star's arrest, but the actor has decided his career must come first. Screenwriter Joanne Reay insists Snipes is filming in the Namibian desert and has no plans to flee justice before he completes the shoot. She says, "We are shooting and we are continuing to shoot. We are aware of the issue around the tax charges but we are not discussing it." Snipes has been indicted on eight counts of tax fraud, accused of trying to cheat the government out of nearly $12 million.

Snipes in Africa Shooting Movie
23 October 2006 (WENN)
American actor Wesley Snipes has yet to be arrested on eight counts of tax fraud because he is in Africa filming a movie. The White Men Can't Jump star stands accused of trying to cheat the US government out of millions of dollars in false refund claims. He also allegedly failed to file tax returns for six years between 1999 and 2004. Snipes was thought to have so far evaded arrest because authorities cannot find him - but this is because he is in Namibia shooting action film Gallowwalker, according to the head of the country's film commission. Edwin Kanguatjivi tells the New York Daily News, "He is in the country shooting a film called Gallowwalker. They're in the third week of shooting." Snipes could face up to 16 years behind bars if found guilty of the tax offences, which total nearly $12 million in fraudulently claimed refunds on income taxes paid in 1996 and 1997.

Snipes Indicted for Tax Fraud
18 October 2006 (WENN)
Actor Wesley Snipes has been indicted on eight counts of tax fraud over allegations he tried to cheat the US government out of millions of dollars in false refund claims. The White Men Can't Jump star also failed to file tax returns for six years between 1999 and 2004, according to legal documents filed in Tampa, Florida. He could face up to 16 years behind bars if found guilty of the tax offenses, which total nearly $12 million in fraudulently claimed refunds on income taxes paid in 1996 and 1997. Snipes has so far evaded arrest because authorities cannot find him. In 2002, the Justice Department sued a Florida tax preparer who it said filed bogus tax refund claims, including a $7.3 million demand for Snipes. The actor was not named as a defendant in that case.

No More 'Blade' for Biel
21 August 2006 (WENN)
Jessica Biel has reluctantly hung up her vampire hunting costume after learning plans for a spin-off to Blade: Trinity have fallen through. The actress teamed up with Wesley Snipes and Ryan Reynolds in the third Blade movie last year but insists she won't be coming back for more. She tells website JoBlo.com that the proposed Blade: Trinity spin-off movie, Night Stalkers, which she was slated to star in with Reynolds, won't be happening anytime soon. She says, "I think that's over with. Nothing ever came really with the Night Stalkers. I actually thought that, maybe we would do an adaptation of that, but I just don't think that Blade: Trinity did so well. It just didn't do as well as everyone would have hoped, so no one was interested in rethinking those characters. But I'm open to it; I'm open to other comic book adaptations or big action. I mean, I like action movies, I like doing action movies, I think they're fun."

Spike TV's Biggest Hit Available for Free at iTunes Store
3 July 2006 (StudioBriefing)
Spike TV's premiere episode of Blade: The Series is being offered for free on Apple's iTunes Music Store until July 11. The drama, which stars Kirk "Sticky" Jones in the Wesley Snipes movie role, drew 2.5 million viewers last Wednesday, the biggest audience for any program in the channel's history. MTV Networks, which operates Spike TV, said that it is also offering additional programs from Nick at Night, TV Land, and the gay-oriented Logo channels for $1.99 per download on the iTunes site.

Spike TV Draws Record Ratings for 'Blade: The Series'
30 June 2006 (StudioBriefing)
Spike TV attracted its biggest audience ever Wednesday with the two-hour premier of Blade: The Series. According to Nielsen Research, the drama, which stars Kirk "Sticky" Jones in the Wesley Snipes movie role, drew 2.5 million viewers and outdrew a rerun of ABC's Lost (which recorded its worst ratings). It is rare for any cable TV show to attract more viewers than a broadcast-TV competitor in primetime.

Snipes Paternity Case Dismissed
10 October 2005 (WENN)
Actor Wesley Snipes has been cleared of fathering the child of a mystery woman after authorities dropped a claim against him. The Blade star stood accused of impregnating a woman in Chicago, Illinois, three years ago - but maintained the pair had never even met before the legal proceedings. The case was dropped by the New York City Law Department when another man took a paternity test establishing him as the child's biological father. It was also revealed the woman had a history of fabricating stories about celebrities. Snipes, who had refused to undergo a paternity investigation, said outside court, "The good Lord says 'Thou shall not bear false witness against thy neighbor'. These are the tenets I live by." The movie star plans to sue the woman next month over the false claims. His lawyer Robert Bernhoft says, "What we have here is factual vindication, legal vindication is still to come."

Snipes Detained in South Africa
15 July 2005 (WENN)
Hollywood star Wesley Snipes was held against his will in a South African airport last month after trying to leave the country using a fake passport. The Blade actor was attempting to return to his home in the United States on June 1 when immigration officials decided to detain him at Johannesburg International Airport. The star entered the country hassle free on May 23 but the computer system later rejected his passport identity number alerting officials to the possibility the passport was false. Home Affairs spokeswoman Nkosana Sibuyi says, "He explained that he had applied for the South African documents for himself and his family through his American attorneys. During the interview it was established that Mr. Snipes did have fraudulent South African documentation in his possession. Mr. Snipes and his attorney agreed to cooperate with the Inspectorate of the National Immigration Branch in their investigation in this matter. During this interview it transpired that Mr Snipes was in possession of a valid American passport." The actor was later allowed to exit the country but his immigration status has been reduced to 'undesirable' and the false passport confiscated.

Snipes Set To Lose Second Florida Home in Tax Sting
14 April 2005 (WENN)
Action man Wesley Snipes is reportedly set to lose a second Florida home in a tax sting. The Blade star lost one estate in 2003 through a foreclosure sale and now he has another property at risk near Orlando, according to US news show Celebrity Justice. Officials claim the fallen star owes more than $23,000 in back taxes, interest and fines on the house. The property, assessed at $257,843, was scheduled to be auctioned off on Tuesday, but the sale has been rescheduled to June. It's one of many headaches for Snipes, who is also in the middle of a two-year-old paternity battle with an Indiana woman. Lanise Pettis, claims Snipes is the father of her son, Israel, and has demanded the actor take a DNA test. When Snipes failed to show for a court-ordered test, a warrant for his arrest was issued. The actor will now be arrested if he sets foot in New York, where the case is being tried. Meanwhile, Snipes has filed his own appeal to get out of the DNA test.

Snipes Loses Bid To Overturn Arrest Warrant
27 January 2005 (WENN)
Blade star Wesley Snipes' request for a federal judge to cancel an arrest warrant stemming from an Indiana paternity case was rejected yesterday. US District Judge Loretta Preska threw out Snipes' suit asking her to nullify a warrant for his arrest in New York City, stating she had no jurisdiction in the state court matter. The actor's suit, filed last month in New York's Manhattan federal court, sought a ruling invalidating the warrant issued by a New York family court judge. Since Snipes lives in Florida, the New York court has no jurisdiction, the actor's lawyer argued. The warrant stemmed from a paternity suit filed in Indiana by a woman who claimed Snipes fathered her young son. In his suit, Snipes said the woman was a mentally ill former crack addict who has made similar claims against other celebrities.

Snipes "Threatened To Kill" Director
19 January 2005 (WENN)
Actor Wesley Snipes threatened to kill Blade: Trinity director David Goyer because he felt his all action character had been sidelined to make room for two new ones. The 42-year-old's co-stars, Ryan Reynolds and Jessica Biel, recently complained he had alienated himself from everyone working on the third installment of the vampire-fest, by remaining in character for the entire duration of the shoot. And movie insiders tell British magazine OK! that Snipes was so furious about his marginalized role, he made physical threats against Goyer. An insider confides, "Wesley made death threats against David. David was scared for his life." But a spokesperson for Goyer counters, "Wesley is a method actor. There's always a lot of tension on set."

Foxx Inspired by 'New Jack City'
19 January 2005 (WENN)
Wesley Snipes' performance in New Jack City triggered Jaime Foxx's quest for big screen stardom - because it made him realize black actors can succeed in white-dominated Hollywood. The film star, who has received rave reviews for his portrayal of late R&B great Ray Charles in Ray, insists 1991 movie New Jack City inspired his Hollywood career by proving black actors are not limited to stereotypical roles. The 37-year-old says, "My favorite film is New Jack City with Wesley Snipes. This was basically a black version of The Godfather and even though it was a hit it was more like an underground film. A lot of people don't know that Wesley Snipes played opposite Michael Jackson in the Bad video. He's the one who says, 'You ain't bad, you ain't nothing!' He went from that to this movie New Jack City and it was the first time you saw a black kid play a role like Al Pacino in Scarface or The Godfather."

Snipes Sues New York City
21 December 2004 (WENN)
Blade: Trinity star Wesley Snipes filed a lawsuit against New York City yesterday, charging its officials with having no jurisdiction to arrest him as part of an Indiana paternity case. The suit, filed in Manhattan federal court, seeks a court ruling invalidating an arrest warrant issued by a New York family court judge. The Manhattan judge took the action on an interstate paternity petition filed in Indiana by a woman who says the actor fathered her young son. In his suit, Snipes accused the woman of being a mentally ill former crack addict who has made other claims she's the mother of many celebrities' children. He claims the woman began having delusions about him after watching his movie Blade. Emily Sweet, a lawyer for the city says, "The city has seen preliminary papers in this case. We are evaluating them thoroughly, but cannot comment further, as this is now a pending legal matter." The suit also names LaPorte County, Indiana, as a defendant.

Movie Reviews: 'Blade: Trinity'
8 December 2004 (StudioBriefing)
Critics seem to agree that the new Blade movie, which opens today, is not exactly cutting edge. Stephen Holden in the New York Times writes that Blade: Trinity "is a choppy, forgetful, suspense-free romp that substitutes campy humor for chills." Stephen Hunter in the Washington Post observes that watching the movie "is like being rolled down a marble staircase in an oil drum. The movie is loud, dark, bumpy and not even a little fun." Several reviewers fault star Wesley Snipes, who portrays the "hybrid" title character, who is half-human, half vampire. "Snipes doesn't act -- he never delivers more than one simple sentence at a time -- as much as pose and swagger," writes V.A. Musetto in the New York Post. "Snipes punches the clock here, going through the wire-work somersault motions but delivering his hokey dialogue in a basso profundo drone," comments Ty Burr in the Boston Globe. Even critics who cheered the first two Blade movies are clearly disappointed in this one. Geoff Pevere, in the Toronto Star opens his review by remarking: "It's an irrefutable rule of franchise movie logic that, sooner or later, it's going to suck. ... The Blade series has most decidedly not sucked -- until now. ... Alas, with the third installment ... the suck principle is making up for lost time. It's almost bad enough to implicate its predecessors." And Roger Ebert in the Chicago Sun-Times, who also liked the first two Blade films, calls this one "a mess," explaining: "It lacks the sharp narrative line and crisp comic-book clarity of the earlier films, and descends too easily into shapeless fight scenes that are chopped into so many cuts that they lack all form or rhythm."

Snipes' Alienated 'Blade' Co-Stars
7 December 2004 (WENN)
Wesley Snipes alienated everyone on new movie Blade: Trinity, because he spent the entire shoot in-character. Snipes, who reprises his role as vampire-slayer Blade in the second action sequel, is a method actor and insisted on continuing on-screen relationships with co-stars when filming ends. Castmember Ryan Reynolds recently complained Snipes was stand-offish and co-star Jessica Biel agrees. She says, "It's weird to see him in the morning and not quite know what to say. I get a little response. Does he hate me? Is he p**sed at me? There's a bunch of questions that go through your head at first. "So I think it was a little unnerving for me. "I think for everybody who hadn't worked with him before it took a little while to get used to that type of process for somebody. You get used to it. You go about your day and you go about your work and your habits your own way. He didn't impose on me and I didn't impose on him either so he didn't necessarily make my experience negative to any extent. "I respected him for what he had to go through."

Wesley Pulls Out of Press Duty
16 November 2004 (WENN)
Wesley Snipes has pulled out of all press duties for his third Blade movie Blade: Trinity. The moody actor was so insistent on not talking to the media about the movie, he signed up for another film in Bulgaria as soon as shooting finished and he has been incommunicado ever since. Trinity producer Peter Frankfurt says, "Wesley is in Bulgaria shooting a movie. He's done three movies in Bulgaria. Actually I haven't talked to Wesley. Wesley won't return my calls? He hasn't called me to talk about it. If he was genuinely unhappy with the film we would have heard something. There's a lot going on in his life and he's got a lot of issues at hand so who knows. The guy is an awesome Blade. We've made three movies. Sometimes the paths of communication between us are fantastic and sometimes they're non- existent. If Wes doesn't want to do press that's a career choice he's made." Snipes also insisted on having total control on the set, green-lighting all scenes in which he appeared, and he stayed in character as the brooding vampire anti-hero throughout the movie. Frankfurt adds, "Wesley has script and director approval of all the Blade movies. He had to sign off on absolutely everything we were doing."

Lopez Cried, But Still Failed To Avoid Sex Scene
13 October 2004 (WENN)
Jennifer Lopez once broke down in tears in front of director Oliver Stone in an attempt to avoid having to film a raunchy sex scene. Lopez was terrified of shooting a love-making sequence, in which she appears topless, with co-star Sean Penn in Stone's 1997 movie U Turn. But, despite her theatrical protest, Lopez still ended up having to endure the uncomfortable moment. She says, "Urgh. Yeah, the sex scenes were bad. It was hard being the only woman on set with those strong men. I just started crying and fighting. But Oliver was like, 'Take off your top.'" Last week Lopez admitted her first on-screen sex scene in 1995 film Money Train with Wesley Snipes was "horrible".

Paternity Test Arrest Warrant for Snipes
2 March 2004 (WENN)
Hollywood tough guy Wesley Snipes is a wanted man, after twice refusing to submit to a paternity test. The Blade star is said to have fathered a three-year-old Indiana boy following a romp with Lanise Pettis, 32, in a Chicago crack house in 2000. Snipes, 41, had a warrant for his arrest issued by a New York judge on July 25 last year, with bail set at $250,000. Pettis, a former prostitute and cocaine addict who claims to have known Snipes "all my life", says, "I don't think he might be the father because he's refused the test. It's because he and I had sexual activity. I would have thought that anyone who has denied it to the hilt would have done anything to clear his name." Police are believed not to be actively searching for Snipes as the order is bench warrant in a civil case, reports American website Pagesix.

Wesley Snipes Named As Halle Berry Abuser
15 January 2004 (WENN)
Actor Wesley Snipes has been exposed as the abusive ex-lover of Halle Berry, who struck the actress so hard, she lost most of the hearing in her right ear. R&B singer Christopher Williams - who dated Berry in the early 1990s - has made the startling accusation against the Blade star after getting upset with the number of people who assume it was him who dealt the screen beauty the damaging blow. He tells entertainment news website Eurweb, "The stuff they wrote about (me) and Halle was totally false. They said something like I busted her eardrum, and I'm tired of it. I never said it (before) but I'm so tired of people thinking I'm the guy (who did it). Wesley Snipes busted her eardrum, not me." Williams, who has a child with ex-girlfriend Stacey Dash, also takes a swipe at Berry - insisting the twice-married star may have personality problems which have contributed to her string of broken relationships, most recently from Eric Benet. He adds, "I have (men) come up to me like, 'How could you just leave Halle Berry' I'm like, how could you just leave the last relationship you was (in)? (Halle) is just a woman, but because her name is in lights, people are damned near ready to bare their souls. "They would probably crucify Jesus again just to get with her. It's funny because the stars that get all of the good write-ups, you go and meet them and they are total a**holes."

'Blade' Star in More Financial Trouble
5 May 2003 (WENN)
Blade star Wesley Snipes is in more financial trouble after upsetting one of Hollywood's biggest talent agencies. The movie star lost his Florida mansion last year due to non-payment of his mortgage and now he's being sued for $100,000 by the William Morris Agency in payments. In a new suit filed against Snipes, WMA bosses claim he has failed to honor an agreement to pay them the money he owes. Ironically, the new suit comes days after the $1.7 million Florida home a court ordered foreclosure on last year was sold for just $685,000.

Few Sell-Out 'Signs' at Box Office
26 August 2002 (StudioBriefing)
In a weekend that confounded box-office analysts, moviegoers showed they were a choosy lot, returning a film that opened four weeks earlier to the top spot (Signs), showing little interest in two new films (Serving Sara, Simone), pushing a movie that opened 19 weeks ago into fourth place (My Big Fat Greek Wedding), and giving a film that opened primarily in urban markets a far bigger payday than anyone had predicted (Undisputed). But mostly, they stayed home -- there were 25 percent fewer admissions than there were during the same weekend last year and 22 percent less revenue. In an allusion to the top film, the Associated Press commented in its box-office report: "The signs are everywhere that summer blockbuster season has ended." Daily Variety called the total take of $63.9 million for the top 12 films "measly" and commented that the box office "is suffering a nasty case of the vapors." Particularly disappointing was the performance of Serving Sara, starring Matthew Perry, and Simone, starring Al Pacino. The former foundered in sixth place with just $6.1 million. The latter tanked in ninth place with $4.1 million. On the other hand, the indie My Big Fat Greek Wedding, now being called "the little film that could," continued to amaze as it added theaters and took in $7.6 million in the process, bringing its 19-week total to $66.3 million. Also, the urban boxing movie Undisputed, starring Wesley Snipes and Ving Rhames, which opened in only 1,100 theaters, nevertheless took in $4.7 million, more than what Miramax paid for it.

The top ten films for the weekend, according to studio estimates compiled by Exhibitor Relations: 1. Signs, $14.4 million; 2. XXX, $13.7 million; 3. Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams, $7.8 million; 4. My Big Fat Greek Wedding, $7.6 million; 5. Blue Crush, $6.5 million; 6. Serving Sara, $6.1 million; 7. Austin Powers in Goldmember, $5.6 million; 8. Undisputed, $4.7 million; 9. Simone, $4.1 million; 10. Blood Work, $2.9 million.

Boxing Wesley Took The Blows
13 August 2002 (WENN)
Wesley Snipes took a beating in his new boxing movie - because he wanted to know exactly how it feels to fight a heavyweight. The blows the Blade star takes from Ving Rhames in new film Undisputed are for real, and Snipes admits he went through days of mind-pounding pain to play a jailed boxer. He says, "When you get hit, you get hit and it hurts. You have to do that for two or three minutes at a time." Snipes even tried to follow a boxer's training regimes, working out for hours every day and giving up sex. He adds, "I tried my best to give it up. I gave it all I could give." The actor, who turned 40 on July 31, says despite his bumps and bruises, which took a while to heal, he feels like he's in the best shape of his life - and it's all down to a healthy appetite and his training regime. The fifth degree karate Black Belt, who practices hardcore Brazilian martial art capoeira, explains, "I feel like I'm in my 20s. It's all in your mind - how you eat, how you live, how you think. I'm a seafood guy - I see it and I eat it. I'm allergic to shellfish but I'll eat anything else."

Is IRS Sniping At Snipes?
24 May 2002 (StudioBriefing)
The Smoking Gun website [http://www.thesmokinggun.com] has posted a copy of Wesley Snipes' 1997 income tax return, in which the actor attempted to secure a $7.4-million tax refund. The return was one of several submitted in federal court in Tampa, FL Tuesday as part of the government's case against tax preparer Douglas Rosile Sr., who claims that a section of the Internal Revenue Code allows taxes to be collected only on foreign sources of income. (A similar suit has been filed against the Hanover, PA-based National Institute for Taxation Education, which cites the same IRS code in informing members that they need not pay taxes.) The government turned down Snipes' refund request. In papers filed in connection with its request for a restraining order against Rosile, Justice Department attorneys charge that Rosile has used such claims to under-report more than $36 million in income taxes. The Smoking Gun commented Thursday, "It is unclear what, if any, sanctions have been brought (or are being considered) against Snipes for his role in this scam."

Snipes' Slasher Wounds Self-Inflicted
29 March 2002 (WENN)
Wesley Snipes drew plenty of blood while filming vampire sequel Blade II - unfortunately most of it was his own. The musclebound actor managed to injure himself in a variety of interesting ways while filming the box office smash. He says, "I got stabbed through the hand, tore a meniscus cartilage in my knee. Got cut in the nose. It was rough. Rough and rugged." Snipes, 39, says he would be interested in doing a third Blade film after the huge success of the current movie in American cinemas, but draws the line at a fourth. He says, "Maybe three's the charm. Maybe let him spin off into something else. I think it'd be a great idea to have him visit other superhero films. So I'll go and visit the X-Men. Or me and Spider-Man might hook up for a minute. Why not?"

Snipes' Vampire Movie Leads Box Office
25 March 2002 (StudioBriefing)
The Wesley Snipes vampire movie Blade II took a $33.1 million bite out of the weekend box office in its debut, while the computer-animated Ice Age remained a cure for the common cold March by earning $31.1 million in its second week, according to estimates released by Exhibitor Relations on Sunday. The reissue of Steven Spielberg's E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial added yet another $15.1 million to the total take, which, at about $121 million, was likely to set a record for March, the box-office tracking firm said. The figure was 74 percent greater than a year ago.

The top ten films for the weekend, according to studio estimates compiled by Exhibitor Relations: 1.Blade II, $33.1 million; 2. Ice Age, $31.1 million; 3. E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial, $15.1 million; 4. Showtime, $8.2 million; 5. Resident Evil, $6.6 million; 6. We Were Soldiers, $5.8 million; 7. The Time Machine, $5.2 million; 8. A Beautiful Mind, $4.3 million; 9. Sorority Boys, $4.2 million; 10. 40 Days and 40 Nights, $2.7 million.

Wesley Snipes' Home Loss Nightmare
19 March 2002 (WENN)
Blade star Wesley Snipes has a good reason to be distraught about the collapse of the World Trade Center on September 11 - because he lost his home. The 39-year-old actor's fourth floor New York apartment suffered extensive structural damage, causing many of his precious belongings to be destroyed. Luckily, on the day of the devastating attacks, Snipes was at his other home in Marina del Ray, California, taking care of his third child Iset who arrived on her father's birthday on July 31st. He says, "My apartment got blown out. I lived right across the street from Ground Zero. The most damaged part of the building was where my baby boys slept. If my daughter hadn't been born, I would've been here. When I got back to New York, I was homeless for a while. No one believes me, but it's true."

Mumba Eyes Hopkins And Snipes
12 March 2002 (WENN)
Samantha Mumba is so elated with the success of her new movie The Time Machine, she already has her eye on Sir Anthony Hopkins and Wesley Snipes as her next co-stars. The Irish beauty, 19, plays Mara, Guy Pearce's tour guide after he blasts himself 800,000 years into the future in the flick, which shot straight to the top of the American box office since opening last Friday. And now the singer has her hopes set on repeating her movie chart victory with a few more A-list leading men. She says, "I absolutely admire Anthony Hopkins. I'd love to be in a film with him. I felt quite sorry for him in Hannibal because he was sweet in that one - he was absolutely in love with Clarice." She adds, "I'd love to do a real action-packed movie with Wesley Snipes. I think we'd kick a** together."

Snipes Angry At Reshoot
5 March 2002 (WENN)
Wesley Snipes was left fuming after movie bosses insist he reshoot scenes for his new prison flick Undisputed. Snipes plays a prison boxer in the movie - due for release in October - who has to take on the reigning World Champion, when he is locked up in the same jail. But Snipes is angry because producers have demanded he return to shoot additional scenes - even though the film has already been met with mass approval by preview audiences. According to Britain's OK! magazine, Miramax wanta to broaden the movie's appeal to white audiences and make Snipes' character more sympathetic.

Snipes Sniping At Miramax?
19 February 2002 (StudioBriefing)
Premiere magazine reported on its website Monday that Wesley Snipes is balking at orders to reshoot several scenes in his upcoming Miramax movie Undisputed in order to make his character more sympathetic to white audiences. In the film, Snipes plays the champion boxer at a prison where he is an inmate who is forced to confront the world's heavyweight title holder (Ving Rhames), who has been sent up for rape. According to Premiere, the film has tested well with black audiences but not with whites. The magazine said that Snipes has not been shown script changes and has said that he will refuse to agree to shoot them until he has.

Snipes "Love-Child" Mother Living In Poverty
29 January 2002 (WENN)
The woman who claims Wesley Snipes is the father of her 11- month-old son is living in poverty. Thirty-year-old Lanise Pettis from Indiana has brought legal action against the millionaire star, after claiming that she had an affair with 39-year-old Snipes two years ago - resulting in the birth of their son. Court documents now reveal that Pettis is forced to survive on $443 a month in food stamps and welfare payments. Snipes - who has a 13-year-old son, Jelani, with ex-wife April - has refused to comment on the allegations.

Wesley Snipes Burned On Set
24 April 2001 (WENN)
Hollywood star Wesley Snipes has been admitted to the hospital for burns treatment. The White Men Can't Jump actor is filming the sequel to vampire thriller Blade in Prague, in the Czech Republic. Wesley suffered from burns after spending six hours under spotlights on set. He complained that his skin was inflamed and his eyes kept watering.

Wesley Snipes In Las Vegas Bust-up
5 February 2001 (WENN)
Action star Wesley Snipes flew into a furious rage when hotel staff asked him to change rooms - and landed himself in jail. The muscular actor had to be handcuffed and removed from the Mandalay Bay Hotel's casino last month after he "became belligerent ... and was harassing hotel guests, " the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports. An eyewitness told the newspaper, "Three security guards had his arms severely lifted behind him and they were heading toward ... a holding area". The paper adds that Snipes was held for a few hours before being allowed to return to his room. According to another paper, The Las Vegas Sun, the trouble began when hotel staff interrupted Snipes while he was playing cards to tell him he'd have to change rooms because of a reservation mixup. This news "caused Snipes to snap and launch a verbal tirade against the staff, " the Sun reported. After security was summoned, the martial-arts expert "began to wrestle with his subduers and a full-blown battle ensued, " the paper said. According to one witness, Snipes looked as though he had "been partying, " the Sun added. Earlier in the evening, he'd been at the "Soul Train" 30th-anniversary bash. The hotel's head of security refused to confirm or deny whether the incident happened.

Will Goss Die As Villainous Vampire?
29 December 2000 (WENN)
Scriptwriters are refusing to tell Luke Goss if they're going to kill him off in Wesley Snipes' Blade (1998) sequel. The actor plays chief villain vamp Nomack in Blade 2 (2001), which starts filming in Prague, Czech Republic next year, and Goss has agreed to sign a confidentiality agreement not to reveal anything about the plot. And, to make absolutely sure cast members don't blurt out the surprise planned ending, producers are refusing to give them details of what will happen. The role has forced Goss to pull out of plans to appear in another sequel, Matrix 2, The (2002), because it's being shot at the same time as Blade 2 (2001). Spokesman David Wood says, "The Matrix people have taken their time in coming back, and now there's no way Luke can fit both films into his schedule. We're not ruling out a part in Matrix 3, The (2003), however." Meanwhile, Goss teams up with Snipes on January 9th when they start filming "Zig Zag" in Hollywood. Again the former pop star plays a bad guy, this time a corrupt nightclub boss, in the hard-hitting drama.

Sean Connery's Naked Advice
19 December 2000 (WENN)
Wesley Snipes is set to take up filming half naked - in the manner of Scottish heartthrob Sean Connery. Snipes, who starred with the suave James Bond star in Rising Sun (1993), says Connery's top tip for staying cool in scenes where you're only shot from the waist up, is to remove your trousers. Snipes says, "When you're doing scenes in a car, you can actually do the scene with your pants off, just in your shorts or your underwear. "Because the camera usually never sees below the steering wheel, and you're usually dressed to a tee. The car is usually hot. This way you can be cool but have a tux up on top." He adds the advice was a revelation in the way he sees Connery's films. He says, "Chances are if you ever see Sean in a long scene where he's sitting at a table to sitting in a car, he's probably in his underwear."

Snipes Flies Past Apartment As New Son Flies Out
30 November 2000 (WENN)
Actor Wesley Snipes was passing his apartment window in a plane - at the exact moment his second child was born. Wesley checked his watch the second his incoming plane passed his apartment - and when he arrived home to meet his new-born son and asked for the exact time of the birth he was shocked to discover it tied up with his time check. He says, "It was amazing. I was literally flying past the window as he was coming out." And Snipes won't hesitate to recommend home births because he and his wife are very happy their plans worked out. He says, "It was the most beautiful thing. More countries are having home births - it's more natural. It wasn't as messy as I thought it was going to be. It's very clean, sanitary and very safe. She had her girlfriends with her, they kicked all the men out."

Something To Cheer About
29 August 2000 (StudioBriefing)
Proving that given the right script and cast, a teen comedy can still draw big crowds to the box office, Universal's Bring It On earned $17.4 million over the weekend, making it the No. 1 movie domestically. The film, opening against the Wesley Snipes thriller Art of War, The (2000), performed far better than analysts had expected. In a statement, Universal Pictures chairman Stacey Snider said, "Everyone worked hard to take this little film and work their magic so that we owned the weekend. It is especially gratifying to see this one being embraced by moviegoers." The Snipes film, from Warner Bros., took in $10.4 million, to land in second place. Last week's winner, New Line's Cell, The (2000), slipped to third place with $9.7 million. Ticket sales for the top 12 films were $75.1 million, virtually identical with the figure for the same period a year ago, according to Exhibitor Relations.

Universal Has A Lot To Cheer About
28 August 2000 (StudioBriefing)
Teens headed back to school vicariously over the weekend, flocking to see the cheerleader comedy Bring It On from Universal and pouring an estimated $17.4 million into the box-office coffers. Another new film, Warner's Art of War, The (2000), starring Wesley Snipes, landed in second place with $11.2 million. New Line's Cell, The (2000), which held the top spot last weekend, fell to third with about $9.6 million, a 45-percent drop. However, Warner's Space Cowboys (2000) continued to draw an older crowd as it wound up in fourth place in its fourth weekend with $6.6 million to bring its gross to $63.8 million. Another comedy targeting an older audience, Disney's Crew, The (2000), opened in seventh place with a disappointing $4.1 million. Meanwhile, The Original Kings of Comedy, which took second place last weekend, dropped to fifth with $6.1 million on only 875 screens, but nevertheless averaged nearly $7, 000 per theater -- an average exceeded only by Bring It On. After a monthlong downturn at the box office, the top 12 movies this weekend garnered an estimated $75.7 million , about equaling last year's figure.

The top ten films for the weekend, according to studio estimates compiled by Exhibitor Relations: 1. Bring It On, $17.4 million; 2. Art of War, The (2000), $11.2 million; 3. Cell, The (2000), $9.6 million; 4. Space Cowboys (2000), $6.6 million; 5. The Original Kings of Comedy, $6.1 million; 6. What Lies Beneath (2000), $4.5 million; 7 (tie). Crew, The (2000), $4.1 million; 7 (tie). Replacements, The (2000), $4.1 million; 9. Nutty Professor II: The Klumps, $3.3 million; 10. Autumn in New York (2000), $3.2 million.

Movie Reviews: The Art Of War
25 August 2000 (StudioBriefing)
Art of War, The (2000), starring Wesley Snipes, is being shelled by the critics. "A dog for the dog days of summer, " writes Joe Morgenstern in the Wall Street Journal. Geoff Pevere in the Toronto Star observes that if "war is hell, " then this movie is "hell on plot, hell on credibility and hell on basic good sense." Glenn Whipp in the Los Angeles Daily News finds the script "brainless" and concludes: "The script has its characters spouting a never-ending parade of cliches, apparently hoping that one of them sticks and becomes a catchphrase. Let us just say, that'll be the day, and then let sleeping dogs lie."

Wesley Snipes Gets Spiritual For Birthday
23 August 2000 (WENN)
Hollywood heavyweight Wesley Snipes snubbed the offer of glitzy parties for his birthday recently - preferring to do something "spiritual and private" instead. The actor who turned 38 at the end of last month, usually has massive parties at his Los Angeles home for his birthdays. Snipes, who regularly goes on long walks with his best pal Woody Harrelson to discuss spirituality, says, "I did something really simple and spiritual this year. Usually people throw a party for me and I pay the bill. This year I did something for me. Not every birthday has to be about pomp and ceremony - this was something spiritual, but it is too spiritual for me to tell you about it. It is private."

Snipes Slams Shaft
17 August 2000 (WENN)
Wesley Snipes has slammed Samuel L. Jackson's movie Shaft (2000) - branding it an insult to the African American culture. Snipes - who claims he was originally offered the role of Shaft - says he thought the proposed film was so offensive he refused to have anything to do with it. But although he thinks the remake was an insult to the legacy of Shaft, he insists he's got nothing to say against Samuel himself. He says, "There's only one Shaft - Richard Roundtree, and if you're going to do a remake there's only one person that can do that, period... I was never disappointed because I turned the movie down. I was offered the film and the script was terrible, horrible, and it was an insult not only to the African American cultures, but an insult to the icon of what Shaft was. But they didn't care, so I said, 'Fine, find someone else.' Sam is my man, and we've been talking about this and Sam knows I ain't dissing him, I'm dissing the movie."

Wesley Snipes In Legal Battle Over Guns
16 May 2000 (WENN)
Wesley Snipes plans to buy a huge swath of rural land and build a camp to train security guards for celebrity protection. The Blade (1998) actor is negotiating to buy 300 acres of land near Macon, Georgia, according to Victor McGauley vice-president of Snipes' production company, AMEN RA FILMS. He says, "Wesley is a high-profile person, and he saw that specific security needs were not being met." But Snipes has a fight on his hands to win permission for the idea, because local laws don't permit weapons storage on land designated as agricultural. Putnam County chief building inspector J.D. ADAMS said a security school is not permitted on the property. However, lawyers appealing the ruling say a firing range is a permissible use of agricultural land.

Famed Bloom Agency Shuts Down
21 July 1999 (StudioBriefing)
The J. Michael Bloom talent agency, whose clients have included Sigourney Weaver, Tom Hanks, Wesley Snipes, Ethan Hawke, Kathleen Turner and Alec Baldwin, has shut down after its new owners were accused of mismanagement and failing to pay artists that it represented, the New York Post reported today (Thursday). A former client told the newspaper, "The new owners New Canaan, CT-based Impact Holdings knew zilch about the entertainment industry. ... They never met the clients, they just weren't interested." The Post said that after learning that the agency had issued rubber checks to clients, the Screen Actors Guild took possession of all studio payments being issued to JMBA and distributed them to members on its own.

New Line Cuts Contract For Blade
3 February 1999 (StudioBriefing)
New Line Cinema has signed a deal with Wesley Snipes to produce and star in a sequel to Blade (1998), based on the Marvel Comics superhero.

John Wayne Remains Among America's Top Stars
6 January 1999 (StudioBriefing)
He may have died twenty years ago this month, but John Wayne remains one of America's favorite movie stars, according to an annual Harris Poll. In fact, the poll shows Wayne in second place behind only Harrison Ford He was ahead of Mel Gibson and Clint Eastwood who dropped from first place last year to share fourth place in this year's poll with Tom Cruise Also making the top ten among moviegoers between the ages of 18 and 24 were Sean Connery Brad Pitt Jack Nicholson Denzel Washington and Wesley Snipes The-highest ranked actress on the list was Julia Roberts at No. 15.

Movie Reviews: Blade
21 August 1998 (StudioBriefing)
The vampire/superhero Blade, the latest comic book figure to arrive on the screen, is getting a mixed welcome. Susan Wloszczyna in USA Today writes: "The trouble with most vampire thrillers is, even if they start with a bang of a fangfest, you know they will suck eventually." But Tom Maurstad in the Dallas Morning News observes, "Blade isn't about making you think; it's about making you go 'wow.' It does this often with sequence after dazzling sequence of rapid-fire, high-tech combat. ... Blade burns with cartoonish energy but never lapses into silliness." Those who are drawn to this sort of film are likely to employ the word "cool" a lot to describe it. Steven Rea in the Philadelphia Inquirer bludgeons the term: "There are cool time-lapse shots of Los Angeles' speeding cityscapes, cool shots of Snipes on his cool Blade-bike, cool shots of Frost's cool, decadent penthouse lair, but the story isn't cool." But Rod Dreher in the New York Post figures that story is not what draws audiences to see movies like Blade to begin with. "It's a surprisingly satisfying rock 'em, sock 'em escapist romp through a techno-styled urban nightscape, "he writes. "The ephemeral pleasures of Blade are all on the sleek surface, but what's wrong with that?" Well, plenty suggests Eleanor Ringle in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "This is a distressingly generic comic-book movie, " she writes, "that may do a lot for Wesley Snipes' bank account but does nothing to enhance his fading stature as an actor." Niki Kapsambelis' review for the Associated Press provides the reverse opinion: "The film deftly sidesteps clichés, she writes, "and delivers a complex plot that's quickly moved along with more intelligent dialogue than is typical for this genre." And Roger Ebert in the Chicago Sun-Times advises, "See it in comic-book terms, as an episode in a master-myth, in which even the most cataclysmic confrontation is not quite the end of things, because there has to be another issue next month."

Marshals In Hot Pursuit Of Titanic
9 March 1998 (StudioBriefing)
Showing signs at last of vulnerability, Titanic (1997) was overtaken at the box office for the first time Friday by the Tommy Lee Jones/Wesley Snipes starrer U.S. Marshals (1998). It nevertheless managed to steam ahead Saturday and win the weekend with an estimated gross of $18 million to Marshal's $17 million. It was the 12th consecutive week for the film in the number-one position. Only two films have held that spot longer, Tootsie and Beverly Hills Cop (1984), each for 13 weeks. Analysts forecast that Marshal's showing ought to be outdistanced next week by The Man in the Iron Mask, which features Titanic's lead, Leonardo DiCaprio -- who is being credited with drawing much of the repeat business for the blockbuster -- in not one, but two, starring roles. The top-ten films for the weekend, according to Exhibitor Relations:1. Titanic (1997), Fox/Paramount, $18 million; 2. U.S. Marshals (1998), Warner Bros., $17 million; 3. Wedding Singer, The (1998), New Line, $6.2 million; 4. (Tie) Hush (1998), Sony-TriStar, Twilight, Paramount, $6 million; 6. Big Lebowski, The (1998), Gramercy, $5.9 million; 7. Good Will Hunting (1997), Miramax, $5.1 million; 8. As Good As It Gets (1997), Sony-TriStar, $3.2 million; 9. Dark City (1998), New Line, $2.7 million; 10. Borrowers, The (1997), Polygram, $2 million.

Report: Studios Still Fear Black Man/White Woman Scenarios
2 October 1997 (StudioBriefing)
Interracial romance between black men and white women remain a taboo at major motion picture studios, the New York Post observed today (Thursday), noting that the upcoming film Kiss the Girls (1997) eliminates the love affair between the lead characters that was prominent in the book on which the movie is based. "It's fine for black men to kill as many white women as they want, but they can't be seen having sex with them, and they really can't be seen loving them, " CCNY professor Bel Hooks, author of Reel to Real: Race, Sex & Class in the Movies, told the Post. Indie filmmakers may be about to shatter the taboo, the Post suggested, in particular director Mike Figgis (Leaving Las Vegas (1995)), whose upcoming One Night Stand (1997), deals with characters portrayed by Wesley Snipes and Nastassja Kinski involved in a "one night stand."

Japanese Film Wins At Venice
8 September 1997 (StudioBriefing)
Drawing international attention to the eloquent evolution of Japanese film making in recent years, the Venice Film Festival awarded its Golden Lion award for best picture Sunday to Takeshi Kitano's Hana-bi (1997) (Fireworks). Only two other Japanese films have been so honored, Kurosawa's Rashomon (1950) in 1951 and Inagaki's Muhomatsu no issho (1958) in 1958. The festival jury named Wesley Snipes best actor for his performance in Mike Figgis's One Night Stand (1997). Robin Tunney won the best actress award for Bob Gosse's Niagara, Niagara (1997).

Race Controversy Over Chan's Pull Out
5 August 1997 (StudioBriefing)
Hong Kong superstar Jackie Chan pulled out of a deal to star with Wesley Snipes in Confucius Brown because he felt that his Asian fans might object to the interracial subplot of the movie, the New York Daily News' "Rush & Molloy" column reported Monday. Snipes was to play a half-Jamaican, half-Chinese man, related to Chan. The Chan character is reportedly now being rewritten for a woman, Bond girl Michelle Yeoh, with Chris Rock taking over the Snipes role. Snipes will continue as producer. A spokesman for Snipes said, "The movie is being made. ... Why Chan's not doing it doesn't concern us."