Whitaker may call for 'The Butler'

WhitakerForest Whitaker and David Oyelowo are in negotiations to star in Lee Daniels' "The Butler," with Whitaker playing the title role and Oyelowo as his son. Based on the Washington Post report by Wil Haygood, story follows Eugene Allen, the butler who served at the White House under eight presidents from 1952 to 1986. As previously reported, Oprah Winfrey is in early talks to play Allen's wife. Daniels is helming his longtime passion project from a script he penned with Danny Strong. Denzel Washington was originally attached to star with Sony distributing, but the gears never meshed and Washington and Sony fell off. Pamela Williams will produce through Laura Ziskin Productions along with Hilary Shor. Financing still has to be arranged, so no deals are set and no distributor is in place -- but sources say the money should be figured out shortly with a plan to begin shooting this summer. The casting plan is similar to Steven Spielberg's "Lincoln" pic, with a large group of supporting players portraying famous figures while Whitaker, Oyelow and Winfrey get the most screentime. Whitaker has stayed very busy of late, with several films already wrapped and awaiting release including Lionsgate's "Last Stand" and "Pawn." Oyelowo has also kept hard at work since his breakout role in Fox's "Rise of the Planet of the Apes," grabbing roles in Paramount's "One Shot" and "Lincoln." He was also recently featured in Fox's "Red Tails" and can be seen next in Daniels' "The Paperboy." Whitaker is repped by WME and Brillstein Entertainment Partners. Oyelowo is repped by ICM, Inphenate and Hamilton Hoddell. Contact Justin Kroll at justin.kroll@variety.com

Jesse Schoenbaum dies at 86

Jesse Schoenbaum, former controlling director of Minneapolis' famous Guthrie Theater together with a vital estimate the increase of nonprofit professional theaters inside the U.S., died in California, Fla., on Feb. 24. He was 86. Born in NY, Schoenbaum examined theater at USC under William DeMille. Carrying out a stint becoming an actor in Hollywood, he needed to pointing and creating efforts, founding the touring Repertory Players company in Omaha, Neb., in 1958. Together with director Adrian Hall while others, Schoenbaum started Trinity Repertory Theater in Providence, R.I., where he offered as controlling director. Schoenbaum left couple of years later, in 1965, because he received his second Ford Foundation grant, that certain to examine the inside workings in the Guthrie Theater. By 1969 he was the Guthrie's controlling director, a publish through which he ongoing to become for 21 years, throughout they introduced the organization's expansion right into a surgical treatment with year-round options. Under Schoenbaum, the Guthrie received a distinctive Tony Award for theatrical excellence at regional theaters in 1982. In the statement, Guthrie director Joe Dowling mentioned, "Don Schoenbaum was one of the true heroes in the Guthrie, controlling it through good occasions and bad -- but always aware of the artistic and institutional points of interest.Inch Schoenbaum outdated to California in 1986 but ongoing to become associated with theater there. Children include his wife, Patricia Nygaard three sons a stepson and four grandchildren. Contact Variety Staff at news@variety.com

Leonard Nimoy Becomes Large Bang Theory's "Dream" Guest Star

Paul Wesley, Ian Somerhalder When The Vampire Journals showed towards the first 1900s to educate yourself regarding Stefan's ripper roots, Damon was greatly absent from his brother's existence. When the CW series travels compared to that era again, audiences will dsicover the way the rift involving the Salvatore boys was created. Vampire Journals Photos! Costly back a hundred years to "1912" "You realize the rebirth of Damon Salvatore and where he's at 1912," Ian Somerhalder notifies TVGuide.com. "You study a lot in regards to the dynamic of Stefan [Paul Wesley] and Damon and the way it changed." The Vampire Diaries' Daniel Gillies: Elijah taking Elena hostage was the very best disgrace Despite the fact that pair has received more than a hundred years of pros and cons, Somerhalder is for certain that the potency of their brotherhood surpasses their versions - even individuals which involve a specific brunette named Elena (Nina Dobrev). "These males could've destroyed each other 100 occasions and so they can't. They just cannot finish it," according to him. "Those are the main two that know each other and understand each other ... at the conclusion throughout your day they're doing love each other and they have to think about proper proper care of each other." The Vampire Journals returns with new episodes on Thursday, March 15 at 8/7c round the CW.