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Leonardo DiCaprio To Star In JFK Assassination Flick

In 'Legacy of Secrecy,' actor will play FBI informant who claimed that Mafia boss ordered president's murder.
By Eric Ditzian

Leonardo DiCaprio
Photo: Evan Agostini/ Getty Images

Perhaps Leonardo DiCaprio is planning to clone himself. That might be a wise move, considering the slate of potential projects he's been lining up recently.

The three-time Oscar nominee has already signed on for the Clint Eastwood-directed "Hoover," a biopic about the controversial FBI director. Then there's the potential for "The Wolf of Wall Street" with director Ridley Scott, Baz Luhrmann's take on "The Great Gatsby," a starring role in an adaptation of the best-selling nonfiction book "The Devil in the White City" and a slew of other flicks in various stages of development.

To that hefty roster, add one more project: DiCaprio is set to star in "Legacy of Secrecy," an adaptation of a book about the assassination of John F. Kennedy. According to Variety, he'll play FBI informant Jack Van Laningham, who allegedly learned that a Mafia boss had ordered the president's murder.

According to the book, which incorporates declassified FBI files detailing the FBI operation, Carlos Marcello, a known Mafia godfather, confessed to Van Laningham that he was responsible for JFK's assassination. Many of Marcello's associates were questioned in connection with the assassination, but Marcello himself was not named in the Warren Report, the official investigation into the tragedy.

Warner Bros. is planning a potential 2013 release, though there's no word about when production might begin. DiCaprio, who signed on to produce the film through his Appian Way slate after his father introduced him to the book, was last seen on the screen in this summer's "Inception."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

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Austin Film Fest adds 'The Company Men' and 'Boxing Gym' to line-up

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Emma Watson 'Very Proud' Of 'Deathly Hallows - Part 1'

'The story started with us, and I think it's right that it should end with us,' she tells MTV News.
By Kara Warner, with reporting by Josh Horowitz

Emma Watson
Photo: Stephen Lovekin/ Getty Images

The three main "Harry Potter" stars — Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint — have all grown up since we first laid eyes on them in "The Sorcerer's Stone." But even more amazing is a look back at the massive endeavor the cast, crew and studio undertook, bringing one of the world's most popular book series to life and doing so with the same actors over eight films.

When MTV News caught up with the lovely Emma Watson as she promoted "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1," we asked if she feels a sense of completion, having fulfilled the role of Hermione from beginning to end.

"I think 'Part 2' will be completion," she said. "I feel very proud of this movie, which is really nice. It's really a pleasure to promote it when I'm genuinely like, 'Wasn't it great?' I'm really genuinely excited."

Watson also pointed out that, in the seventh film, she and her co-stars are given the responsibility of carrying most of the film on their shoulders.

"I think it's really lovely that David [Yates] and Steve Kloves the script writer and everyone decided, 'Right, I think these guys are old enough now to carry this movie alone,' " she said. "And they really put that faith in us and gave us the space to really show what we can do. It's really fun that it's about the three of us. It's kind of like a road movie — without the car.

"The story started with us, and I think it's right that it should end with us," she said.

Check out everything we've got on "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1."

For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.

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Eddie Murphy, Brett Ratner Still Hoping For Fourth 'Beverly Hills Cop'

Director Ratner says proposed sequel is 'an important film' for Murphy.
By Eric Ditzian

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Photo: MTV News

Eddie Murphy and director Brett Ratner have been hanging out on Manhattan's Upper West Side recently, shooting exteriors outside the Trump International Hotel for their upcoming comedy, "Tower Heist."

During their downtime on the long-delayed film — when they're not enjoying some seriously fancy craft services courtesy of chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, whose acclaimed restaurant resides on Trump's ground floor — Ratner and Murphy have been discussing another long-in-the-works project: a fourth "Beverly Hills Cop" flick.

"Oh yeah, believe me, I'm all over it," Ratner told MTV News when asked if the duo chat about a new "BHC" film. "I am all over it."

Word of the project first dropped in the spring of 2008, with the primary motivator seemingly Murphy's desire to rescue the integrity of the franchise after a third installment that was, in the star's own words, "horrible."

But with an itch to resurrect a dormant franchise comes the pressure of creating a worthy successor rather than another stinker. And, as Ratner told us, Murphy is proceeding cautiously.

"He's sensitive about it," Ratner explained. "He made two great ones. The third one didn't really work. It's an important film for him. It's a character that's iconic. I don't think he goes anywhere in the world where someone — they're not going, 'Yo, Eddie Murphy,' they're like, 'Yo, Axel Foley!'

"It's his Clark Kent. His Darth Vader. His albatross," the director added. "He wants to go out with a bang."

But it is going to happen, right?

"It could. Hopefully he'll have a great experience with me on 'Tower Heist,' " Ratner said. "I'm happy he selected me as the guy to do it, but it's not an easy process and it's not going to be anytime soon."

Would you be excited about a fourth "Beverly Hills Cop" film? Tell us in the comments.

Check out everything we've got on "Tower Heist."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

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DreamWorks picks up film rights to W. Bruce Cameron bestseller 'A Dog's Purpose'

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