Saturday, August 27, 2011

Stripper Flick 'Magic Mike' Continues To Add To Hottie Cast

Steven Soderbergh's highly anticipated upcoming stripper flicker Magic Mike continues to add to its cast, although it appears the A-level is complete and they're now signing on bottom feeders—and the ladies.

In addition to yummy Channing Tatum, Matthew McConaughey, Alex Pettyfer, Joe Manganiello and Matt Bomer, People en EspaƱol reports that full-figured Mexican-American comedian Gabriel Iglesias, somewhat known for his routine I'm Not Fat... I'm Fluffy and Hot & Fluffy, will play a club DJ. What a shame it's not Enrique or Julio Jr.

In addition, some women have joined Magic Mike, including Cody Horn, who will play the sister of an up-and-coming male dancer played by Pettyfer and Tatum's love interest. Horn is the daughter of former Warner Bros. Entertainment president/COO Alan Horn, who has used daddy's connections for bit parts on NBC’s The Office and FX’s Rescue Me, and a role alongside Jake Gyllenhaal in drama End of Watch.

Model/"actress" Riley Keough, 22, the daughter of Lisa Marie Presley (and obviously granddaughter of Elvis Presley), has also signed on. She co-starred in The Runaways with Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning.

In other Magic Mike tidbits: Lindsay Lohan had approached Soderbergh for a role in the movie, but was turned down flat... Jessica Biel refused an offer to be involved... Rumors continue to swirl that Demi Moore may have an integral role... Soderbergh is apparently casting three women to accompany the boys in the club... The director has alluded to full-frontal nudity as a must-have in a stripper flick. And how!

Of course, we were dealt a blow last week when a news report that William Levy had joined the cast proved to be premature. The telenovela actor had been offered a role—which surely would have propelled him to mainstream stardom—but inexplicably turned it down. Dumb!

The $20 million film, billed on IMDb as a comedy, is due in 2012.

Thursday, August 25, 2011

William Levy Covers 'People En Espanol': Still Stunning Sans His Hair

William Levy stuns with his new bald look on the cover of People En Espanol's 15th anniversary special edition for October 2011... but he remains stunning, thanks to a dozen other perfecto features.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

William Levy Refuses Role Of A Lifetime In Soderbergh's 'Magic Mike'

In a move that would have propelled him from minor-league Spanish-language telenovela hottie to legitimate Hollywood actor, William Levy has inexpicably passed on the role of a lifetime: joining the all-star cast of Oscar-winning director Steven Soderbergh's Magic Mike.

We reported Friday that he was joining the film, which stars Channing Tatum as a lap-dancing Florida stripper, along with Alex Pettyfer, Matt McCounaughey and Matt Bomer.

According to People en Espanol, he is instead "looking for other projects in Hollywood." Levy's manager Gladys Gonzalez—who should be fired for not guiding her client to stardom—confirmed that he received an offer to appear in the sexy flick, but "will not be involved."

So Will would rather always be known as "the guy in the Jennifer Lopez video"? As we know, Levy stirred a maelstrom of publicity as the entertainer's delicious beach boy in "I'm Into You," soon after which it was announced that JLo and Marc Anthony were divorcing. The ensuing press is the best thing that ever happened to Levy's career.

I am disappointed, but more so, dumbfounded. William has never shied from parading around in his skivvies and certainly has the bod to make the moves. Boo, hiss.

The Smoking Nun's Daily Feature Is Up To You: VOTE NOW!

Don't forget, cool cats.  I've posted a poll along the top right column here allowing you to vote on a daily feature intended to ever-so-gently coerce you to return to The Smoking Nun on a regular basis. What will it be: NYC Vintage? A Male Model A Day? My take on Radio and Records? Or something I've not even considered?

Polling closes Aug. 31 and so far... the response is utterly humiliating. Do you really want nothing but Rodiney Santiago and William Levy on The Nun (actually, considering the Most Popular Posts, noted on the lower right, I've answered my own question). Come to think of it, The Smoking Nun is an ideal moniker to evolve into a porn site. Sigh...

Friday, August 19, 2011

BREAKING NEWS: William Levy Joins Cast Of Stripper Flick 'Magic Mike'

After spending years acting in mid-rent Spanish-language telenovelas, William Levy's steamy presence in Jennifer Lopez's "I'm Into You" music video has helped propel The Smoking Gun favorite to the Hollywood mainstream, joining the cast of upcoming major motion picture Magic Mike, directed by Oscar-winning Steven Soderbergh (Erin Brockovich, Oceans Eleven, etc., Sex, Lies and Videotape), JustJared reveals.

The movie, which stars hottie Channing Tatum, is about the actor's days as a teen working as a g-string, lap-dancing stripper at Florida club Male Encounter, who schools a protege—played by former Gap & Burberry model Alex Pettyfer—on how to hustle on- and offstage.

Also recently joining the cast: ever-delicious Matthew McConaughey, playing a stripper-turned-club owner named Dallas; White Collar blue-eyed beauty Matt Bomer and—on the verge of signing—True Blood’s Joe Manganiello, who would play stripper "Big Dick Richie."

A source told JustJared, “Will is ready to heat up the silver screen. Just wait till you see his stripping moves." Oh, I have been imaging just that for so many months.

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Daily Feature On The Smoking Nun: You Tell Me

Why do I blog? Foremost, it's to keep my writing skills razor sharp and to prompt me to stay up to date on everything about pop culture on the webbie. It's also become a portal for photography, which has grown increasingly gratifying since I purchased a Nikon digital SLR late last year.

I manage to attract between 400 and 500 hits a day, from all over the world (easy enough to see via the right-hand add-on gadgets). In that, of course, I want to make The Smoking Nun a constantly evolving blog that remains entertaining, interesting and perhaps compelling enough to check a few times a week. So I ask you, cool cats: What do you want to see as a daily feature over coffee and crumpets each morning?

For the last several months, I've had a blast with the New York Vintage Image of the Day... 84 in all. Before that, it was birthdays of celebs I've met and some of the stories behind them: the Starfucker Series.

Now it's up to you. I've posted a poll on the top right column allowing you to vote on a daily feature that will bring you back to the Nun... So what will it be? More NYC Vintage? A Male Model A Day? My take on Radio and Records? Or something I've not even considered?

I encourage you to add your comments to the bottom of this post, in addition to casting your vote. That said, if I end up with fewer than 100 votes by the end of the month, I'll recognize that no one is really paying attention after all—that the blog traffic really is all about William Levy and Rodiney Santiago's hot bods. I'll weep quietly... and then keep on keeping on. Thanks in advance for the input.

Monday, August 8, 2011

'Daily Mail' Gets Down & Dirty With William Levy & JLo Rumors

I thought we were done with the rumors that Jennifer Lopez was weak in the presence of beauty while filming her music video for "I'm Into You" with our dear William Levy. Apparently, the London Daily Mail has obtained some behind-the-scenes photos that show the pair chummy enough to perpetuate the tall tale... Come on, if you were JLo, and had this dreamy man in your grasp, wouldn't you want to hold on tight? It's only natural, really. No, really.

Friday, August 5, 2011

August: William Levy's Career Explodes (Oh, You're Very Welcome)

When we first met William Levy in October 2010, The Smoking Nun gushed, "He is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful creatures stalking the earth. The lips, the teeth, the hair, the eyes, that body… oh, and apparently he’s talented, too." Ultimately, he was our runner-up for Most Beautiful Man Alive in 2010, a close second to victor Rodiney Santiago.

At that point, Levy was best known for modeling in his skivvies and a burgeoning career in Spanish-language telenovelas: After high school, he studied business admin on a baseball scholarship and was then signed by Next Models and featured in two Telemundo reality shows in 2005. He studied acting, and was cast on Univision in the Venevision Olvidarte Jamas, before starring in a string of telenovelas.

What a difference a year makes. In addition to becoming the headliner on Telemundo's just-wrapped nighttime soap Triunfo del Amor, he gained instant notoriety when Jennifer Lopez hand picked Will to co-star in her music video for "I'm Into You."When Lopez announced her divorce from Marc Anthony earlier this month, the press had a field day suggesting that Levy and JLo were truly making beautiful music together during the vid shoot, especially since he and his D-level actress wife had recently parted ways.

Now suddenly, Levy is on fire, entertaining Hollywood film offers, developing a fashion line and appearing on Entertainment Tonight. I'm sure that The Smoking Nun's consistent monthly coverage of William has been the catalyst to push him over the edge toward true mainstream fame, right? No need for thanks. Happy to help!

And now for the news:
* Triunfo del Amor wrapped Aug. 1, as poor Levy met a tragic end. Despite the fact that his true love was all sickly and shit in a quarantined room, he lifted her plastic bed tent to hold her... and dropped dead within minutes. She really wasn't pretty. You'd think he might've waited until her antibiotics took hold. Alas!

* Dolce & Gabbana has discovered Levy's perfect form: He has reportedly signed a $300,000 contract that will toss him back in time to his early days as an undie model... mind you, with a few more 000's added to his winnings. Sweet!

* Levy is launching a line of clothing and accessories for women called Cuba that includes sunglasses, watches and lingerie. Apparently, he also has his own cologne coming in January 2012. Naughty thoughts, naughty thoughts...

* Will's birthday is this month! He will turn 31 August 29. We'll be celebrating his birth, for sure!