Gotti film just scored a huge star

As if it weren’t cool enough that Lindsay Lohan was going to get to be in a film with John Travolta, the movie biography of John Gotti has just cast an even bigger star: Al Pacino.  Pacino is slated to take on the role of Neil Dellacroce, a colleague of Gotti’s who had many ties to the Gambino crime family.

Although this means that Pacino is not in one of the lead roles, Dellacroce is still an important figure in Gotti’s life, so hopefully this means mare than a little screen time for Pacino.  He has tended toward overacting in recent projects, but he’s still one of the finest actors out there for my money, and I’d pay to see any movie he’s in, even if it does have Lindsay Lohan in it.

Nick Cassavetes quits Gotti movie

The upcoming film about the life of John Gotti, starring John Travolta as the man himself, had Nick Cassavetes attached to it as director, but sadly Cassavetes has had to pull out of the project for scheduling reasons.

Filming is due to begin in the fall, but Cassavetes has a previous obligation, and the two projects simply can’t be reconciled.  So now the question is, who will producer Marc Fiore get to direct the film? Martin Scorsese seems like an obvious choice, but that guy’s so busy I doubt if he’d have time to do it, either.  They need someone who can keep that kind of storyline from turning corny, as well as someone who can fit it in their schedule.

Lindsay Lohan still employable

Just when you thought you’d never have to see another film with Lindsay Lohan in it, along comes Victoria Gotti to say that she wants Lindsay Lohan to play her in the upcoming film about John Gotti’s life.  Lindsay is currently the frontrunner for the role, beating out Hollywood A-listers like Blake Lively and Sienna Miller, and frankly, she does have the perfect look to play Gotti’s daughter.

If all goes as planned, John Travolta will be starring in the movie, which should make it at least halfway interesting to watch, and if Lindsay can stay out of legal trouble long enough to film her scenes, this movie might actually happen for her.

John Travolta has a new son

Almost two years after the death of their teenaged son, Jett, John Travolta and Kelly Preston have had another baby boy, named Benjamin.  The baby is a healthy eight pounds and everyone is doing fine, a spokeswoman reported.

The Travolta family are about due for some good news, as not only did they lose their firstborn son to a seizure in the Bahamas in January of 2009, but they had to deal with a $25 million extortion attempt against them while they were grieving, and then they also lost their two dogs earlier this year as a result of a fatal accident in an airport.  Let’s hope the curse is broken now and they can move forward with their lives

John Travolta Dogs Killed in Tragic Airport Accident

This is just so sad! While it can’t compare to the pain of losing their son Jett last year, John Travolta and wife Kelly Preston are being forced to deal with yet another tragedy in the family after losing two of their beloved pets.

John Travolta and Kelly Preston (publicity photo)
John Travolta and Kelly Preston (publicity photo)

Kelly Preston and John Travolta’s dogs were reportedly killed in a terrible freak accident at the Bangor, Maine airport last week. According to a press statement released by airport director Rebecca Hupp, the two puppies were accidently run over while being walked after a flight.

“At approximately 1 a.m. on Thursday, May 13, 2010, an airplane carrying members of the John Travolta family landed at BIA. While there, two small dogs were taken for a walk by someone who is not a family member,” Hupp said in the statement.

“An airport service pickup truck was approaching the airplane to service the plane and did not see the dogs. Unfortunately, the dogs were struck and killed. The airport is investigating the accident. Out of respect for the family’s privacy, the city will make no further comment.”

We would be crushed if anything happened to our ‘babies’ – we know John and Kelly must be heartbroken!

>> Previously:  Lindsay Lohan New Girlfriend Photographer Indrani?

John Travolta Extortion Case Ends in Mistrial

Juror misconduct is at the heart of the ruling by a Bahamian judge to declare a mistrial in the John Travolta extortion case. The ruling came after the judge discovered local politician had announced one of the defendants had been acquitted – before the verdict was read.

john-travolta

Former Bahamian Senator Pleasant Bridgewater and accused accomplice Tarino Lightbourne were on trial for allegedly attempting to blackmail Jon Travolta and wife Kelly Preston. The two allegedly attempted to force Travolta to pay them money to keep quiet about details related to the death of the couple’s son, Jett Travolta.

Closing arguments in the Travolta extortion case ended this morning and jurors were sent out to determine a verdict. Before the jurors could reach a decision, Senior Justice Anita Allen declared a mistrial in the case. Apparently, a local politician announced in a radio and TV speech that defendant Pleasant Bridgewater was “a free woman.” The announcement came before the jury had reached a verdict, prompting the judge in the case to suspect a juror had leaked information to the politician.

“The dilemma that we face is great,” Allen told the court. “I am erring on the side of caution. Justice must be transparent.”

A date has not yet been set for the retrial, but John Travolta plans to continue his campaign against his alleged blackmailers. “Mr. Travolta has and will continue to cooperate with the Bahamian authorities in the prosecution of the defendants for extortion,” a rep for the actor said in a press statement.

>> Previously: John Travolta Tried to Save Son Jett Travolta

Jett Travolta: Death By Seizure?

Jett Travolta’s autopsy was done quickly today, and the result listed the cause of as “seizure”. Various professionals are weighing in on both the accuracy and plausibility of the report. First, seizures themselves rarely ever cause death, even grand mal seizures. They may make a person pass out, but they almost never kill someone.

Controversy surrounding Jett’s psychological and physical issues has sparked great public interest in this extremely sad event. Was Jett Autistic, despite the denials of his family? Autistic people often have seizure-disorders, which is the one thing everyone basically CAN agree upon regarding Jett’s health. But Kawasaki Syndrome? Kawasaki doesn’t affect the neurological system, and doesn’t cause seizures. It’s very rare, even rarer in those over 8 years-old, and is almost never fatal. And then there’s the VERY politically-incorrect question…how does Scientology factor into all of this?

Jett’s body was cremated under the supervision of their family doctor immediately following the autopsy today. The Travolta family was not present. Dr. Cyil Wecht, a forensic pathologist, spoke on Larry King Live this evening and called the diagnosis:

“premature because ‘death by seizure’ is NOT a finding that could be visible to the naked eye. No matter how many autopsies a coroner has done, not even if they’ve done 5 million. It can only be determined through the exclusion of other causes, and then verified by looking at closely at slides and toxicology reports, which take days to process. There is nothing of significance to find, anatomically speaking. The only way you can make that diagnosis is if you rule out everything else, including drugs in a toxicology report. If that is the case, that could take a couple of weeks.”

Dr. Wecht said he was also quite surprised at the speed with which the Travolta family disclosed the cause of Jett’s death to the public, though the official autopsy report has not been released. The Scientology cynics among us are not at all surprised. Do not mistake what I am saying…this is a horrible, tragic, sad event. The worst thing in the world is to have to bury your child. But Scientologists are MASTERS of the coverup. We will never know what really happened to poor Jett.

2 years ago, Hollywood, Interrupted: eerily had this story:

A PLEA FROM HOLLYWOOD: JOHN TRAVOLTA – OPEN YOUR HEART! – April 10, 2006

On Friday, April 7th, Hollywood, Interrupted was treated to the Los Angeles premiere of “Normal People Scare Me” – a feature-length documentary about autism, co-directed by the high functioning autistic teenager Taylor Cross and his mother, Keri Bowers. The event was sponsored by an organization called Cure Autism Now (CAN) and the new magazine, The Autism Perspective (TAP).

This enlightening film was produced by b-movie actor/director/producer and former special education teacher, Joey Travolta. Joey’s brother and sister-in-law, “Battlefield Earth” co-stars John Travolta and his wife Kelly Preston, were not present. Too bad…

…Had John and Kelly been at the screening, they might have a better understanding of the disorder reportedly affecting their 14 year-old son, Jett. Sadly, the Scientology couple cannot even publicly admit that their son is afflicted with a neurological disorder, lest – according to the incontrovertible doctrine of Scientology founder L Ron Hubbard – he be labeled a “degraded being” that brought his affliction onto himself. Instead, the Travoltas have long blamed their son’s disability on Kawasaki Syndrome-related “environmental toxins,” specifically carpet cleaning chemicals.

Rumors about Jett Travolta’s disability have been floating around for years, but when no less than five sources (including a media rep from the Autism Society of America (ASA), an executive from Cure Autism Now, a major Hollywood producer and parent of an autistic child, and a Hollywood actor-parent) reported that Jett Travolta was afflicted did we decide to deliver this story. Scientology will not even recognize the disability, let alone the myriad therapies for treating it.

The CAN and ASA officials that spoke with Hollywood, Interrupted credited Sylvester Stallone and former pro football greats Doug Flutie and Dan Marino as celebrity parents of children with autism that have helped raise awareness of the malady. These celebs reportedly share their frustration with what they perceive as Travolta’s “denial” stemming from Scientology’s rabid hatred of psychiatry and judgment of those with psychological problems as lesser humans responsible for their own maladies.

The Hollywood actor interviewed describes having autism as “like being trapped within yourself, and having difficulty letting normal people know who you really are.” Now, imagine being trapped inside a mind-control cult that prohibits you from availing your child to the treatment available. No wonder Scientology has long been plagued by suicides, and wrongful deaths.

The movie producer that spoke with Hollywood, Interrupted reports: “Kelly Preston, in her heart, wants to do the right thing for her son.” “I bet it rips her heart out,” says the actor. “But,” says the producer, “John Travolta has so far, done nothing to help raise awareness about autism.”

Tragically, Scientology does nasty things to the heart. “And to the other families who are being torn apart by this disorder,” sighs the actor. “Let me know if I can help you appeal to his heart.” Hollywood, Interrupted believes that you may have done just that.

Such a tragedy, indeed. And another in the LONG line of inexplicable deaths tied closely to Scientology.