50 Cent has teamed up with boxer Floyd Mayweather, Jr. to launch a new film production company.

The rapper has delved into acting in recent years, with roles in Righteous Kill and Twelve, while he also runs a film firm called Cheetah Vision.

He is now tightening his grip on the movie industry by launching Mayweather Productions with the sportsman, and they announced the news at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah this week.

50 Cent tells MTV.com, "We're just celebrating the launch of Mayweather Films."

Mayweather, Jr., adds, "We're going to do what we normally do: sit in a room and b...

Rapper-turned-actor 50 Cent has landed a whopping $200 million in funding for his film company Cheetah Vision.

Rapper and producer Randall Emmett, who launched the venture with 50 Cent last year, negotiated the multi-million dollar sum for a 10-picture deal, backed by George Furla's Hedge Fund Film Partners. The cash injection will enable Cheetah Vision bosses to produce roughly five films a year, with a budget of about $20 million, reports Variety.

And the In Da Club hit-maker, real name Curtis Jackson, has already begun production on his first film as part of the deal - he's set to s...

50 Cent is to shock fans with a dramatic change to his muscular physique - the rapper is losing a staggering 65 pounds for his forthcoming movie "Things Fall Apart."

The hitmaker co-wrote the screenplay about a college football player suffering from cancer, and he has signed a deal to bring the project to the big screen through his Cheetah Vision Films.

And in order to accurately portray the role, the chiseled star is shrinking his bulging biceps and downsizing his diet.

Co-producer Randall Emmett tells Variety, "Fifty is in the process of losing 65 pounds for the role."

"Things...

Entering theatres with a torrent of bad buzz, "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra" has all the makings of a big-time flop - not necessarily a shock given the thin source material.

What is surprising, however, is the appearance of indie stalwart and critically acclaimed actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt in the role of Cobra Commander. It's not the kind of fare he's normally associated with, but he isn't the first good actor to show up in a bad, bad film.

Why does this happen? There are myriad reasons, but these are the most popular:

Material temptation: It's not easy turning down a $20 million ...

The action-flavored buddy comedy Pineapple Express concerns two pot-smoking friends who unwittingly become involved with a vicious gang of drug dealers. Also on DVD: Bangkok Dangerous, Babylon A.D., Righteous Kill, Disaster Movie, and The Wackness.

That was the year that was! A year of babies, blockbusters, Bond and Batman - but were you paying attention?

As the Tinseltown gossip merry-go-round prepares for its final spin of 2008, we thought we'd offer you a Christmas feast of posers from the year's big stars, films and events.

So, prop up a plastic palm tree, tell granny to take a break from the Botox and get ready for a little light-hearted befuddlement.

Eyes down...

1. What are the names of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's twin babies?

a. Emme and Max

b. Vivienne and Knox

c. Maddox and Shiloh

d. Bill an...

Rapper 50 Cent is hoping Barack Obama's election victory will help his budding acting career - by striking a blow against racism in Hollywood.

Fiddy claims that, despite the success of African-American stars such as Will Smith, Samuel L. Jackson and Denzel Washington, there is still a black and white divide within the movie industry. But he is hopeful the presence of a black man in the White House will help tear down some walls.

The star - who has appeared in movies Get Rich or Die Tryin' and Righteous Kill - says, "There's two Hollywood. There's white Hollywood and there's blac...

1.) Starpulse user Dave stof asks, "When are we gonna see another super cool Robert De Niro movie?.... He is the world's best actor in my opinion, but I haven't seen anything from him in ages."

De Niro just starred in "Righteous Kill" with Al Pacino, which opened in September, and What Just Happened, which opened last week. He has several upcoming films, including The Winter of Frankie Machine, Everybody's Fine and I Heard You Paint Houses.

2.) Allison Parker asks, "Do you have any pictures of Zac Efron with his shirt off?

3.) weeblemama asks, "Is Steven Tyler married...

50 Cent exploded onto the music scene with his blockbuster debut Get Rich Or Die Tryin'. Now he's set to deliver his fourth major label album, Before I Self Destruct (Shady/Aftermath/Interscope), on December 9, 2008.

For the explosive Before I Self Destruct, 50 Cent returned to working closely with Dr. Dre and Eminem as he did on his first album. But Before I Self Destruct is more than an album. The package also includes a DVD with an original, gritty, feature-length movie he wrote, directed and starred in. 50 Cent proves with Before I Self Destruct that no one on the hip-hop sce...

There's a saying in Hollywood that goes, when a woman turns 40 her career is over, when a man turns 40 it's just beginning. Sex appeal seems to be the driving force in most stars careers and the perception of most men is that they get sexier with age. Thanks to plastic surgery and changing attitudes women have a fighting chance of keeping their share of the sexy spotlight. But what about the men of Hollywood?

In a not-so-popular film called "I'll Do Anything" Nick Nolte plays an out of work actor who's sleeping with a casting director and lands an audition for a show she's working on. ...

50 Cent is overjoyed to be honored with his own day in Bridgeport, Connecticut - and plans to celebrate it with "a nice picnic."

The rapper/actor - real name Curtis Jackson - filmed new movie Righteous Kill in the state, which he also calls home.

Now authorities have decided to give him the key to the city on October 12 - which will officially be known as Curtis Jackson Day.

But instead of going overboard with his celebrations, the star has something more peaceful in mind.

He says, "I'd probably just have a nice picnic! But everybody should have a block party - with just...

Robert De Niro's daughter Drena was reportedly left red-faced at the New York premiere of her father's film Righteous Kill when security staff branded her an imposter and banned her from the event.

The actress showed up in support of the Hollywood icon and his co-star Al Pacino at the event earlier this month, but was allegedly turned away at the door.

According to the New York Post, guards at the premiere dismissed Drena after a group of girls passed through security checkpoints claiming to be the actress and her pals.

De Niro reportedly produced her driver's license to pro...

Jon Avnet's thriller Righteous Kill stars Al Pacino and Robert De Niro as a pair of Big Apple police officers investigating a series of murders committed by a serial killer. Continue Summary

Pictures / Cast and Crew / More

This isn't to bash rappers, nor is it to say that these artists aren't allowed to pursue different paths in Hollywood. With so many prominent rappers acquiring roles in big movies though, it begs the question-why?

It's not as if rappers in movies are a new thing. In 1991, Mario Van Peebles cast Ice-T as a cop in "New Jack City," a film that is beloved by many. That same year, director John Singleton cast Ice Cube as a Los Angeles gangbanger in "Boyz N the Hood." These two movies helped open the floodgates for rappers to enter the world of acting.

Soon, Will Smith went from rap...

Hollywood heavyweight Al Pacino will be honored with a Marcus Aurelius Lifetime Achievement Award at the Rome Film Festival in October.

The prize will form part of the festival's tribute to the New York Actors Studio, for which Pacino is a board member. Pacino says of the honor, "Thank you for bestowing your acting award on me. It is a further indication of the homage to the work of the Actors Studio, and I am very honored to receive it."

A number of the actor's movies will be screened at the event - but not his new collaboration with Robert De Niro, Righteous Kill, which has be...

Is Connecticut the new Hollywood? Probably not, but it has become a hotspot for filmmaking. The quaint, colonial towns and Yale's impressive architecture led director Steven Spielberg to direct a portion of his highly anticipated "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" in New Haven. Director Sam Mendes admits that the state is a central character in his latest movie, "Revolutionary Road," starring Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio.

Sure, the New England state is beautiful in the fall with its crimson leaves, pumpkin patches, and white picket fences. It features beautifu...

Hollywood star Robert De Niro has reportedly pulled out of forthcoming film New Orleans - only to be replaced by his Heat co-star Val Kilmer.

De Niro was due to team up with rapper/actor 50 Cent in the Charles Winkler-directed movie, about a police officer who uncovers a trail of deceit and corruption in the police force as he searches for the killer of his former partner. According to Kilmer's official website, he will be taking on the role of "a burly rough but loyal cop. 50 is my partner..."

It is not yet clear whether De Niro is still attached to the project, reports Movieho...

Two-time Dancing With The Stars champ Cheryl Burke has split up with her actor boyfriend of one year, Matthew Lawrence, brother of television star Joey Lawrence.

Robert De Niro is set for his first front cover on urban magazine Vibe - he'll appear alongside Righteous Kill co-star 50 Cent on the front of the upcoming issue of the publication.

Confectioners Jelly Belly Gourmet Jelly Beans have created a one-of-a-kind portrait of Oscar nominee George Clooney made from 10,000 Jelly Belly beans. The sweet portrait will be unveiled during Oscars week at the company's gift suite at the L...

Rapper/actor 50 Cent hopes to enjoy movie-making success - after setting up his own production company. The star - real name Curtis Jackson - has teamed up with producer Randell Emmett and longtime manager Chris Lighty to form the as-yet-unnamed company, after announcing the collaboration at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah on Saturday.

Emmett has produced films such as 2005's The Amityville Horror as well as Jackson movies Home Of The Brave and Righteous Kill, while Lighty manages an esteemed list of clients including Jackson himself, Missy Elliott, LL Cool J and Diddy.

-Fiddy...

Rapper 50 Cent attacked a co-star on the set of his new movie Righteous Kill, according to reports. The hip-hop star - real name Curtis Jackson - allegedly got into a "heated argument" with actor Frank John Hughes after he confronted Jackson about not knowing his lines.

And the altercation was so fierce, production staff called for paramedic's assistance.

A source tells MediaTakeOut.com, "Frank tried to correct (50 Cent) and he got really upset... Before it was all over (50 Cent) had Frank on the ground pummeling him.

"The paramedics looked at Frank and he's OK. It's everyon...

Rapper 50 Cent was honored with his own day in Bridgeport, Connecticut, on Friday. Mayor John Fabrizi bestowed the "In Da Club" hitmaker with the key to the city as the generous star donated $25,000 to a local community center.

The rap star is currently shooting new movie Righteous Kill with Robert De Niro and Al Pacino in Bridgeport.

-50 Cent Pictures

(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)