Ben Kingsley is set to join Ewan McGregor, Emily Mortimer and Dan Fogler in the indie thriller “Number Thirteen,” Chase Palmer wrote and will direct. Chase Palmer makes his feature directorial debut on the imagined story of the mystery surrounding Alfred Hitchcock’s lost and unfinished first film, “Number Thirteen.” Fogler will play the young director, who gets caught up in a Hitchcockian dilemma when he ends up in a love triangle with two crew members while making the film. When the lead actor turns up dead, the editor suspects the director and tries to uncover the truth. Shooting begins in January.Source: www.productionweekly.comRelated story: ‘Thirteen’ a lucky number for thesps – variety.com

You can now pre-order a mug designed by Ewan for £9.99 (approx. €14.78/US$18.83). The proceeds go to Trade plus Aid & Unicef. Each mug comes in a gift-box with a photograph of the artist/celebrity and a personal message from them. Mugs are expected to arrive by December 5, 2006. Link: www.whateverittakes.orgThanks to Roberta for the link 🙂

Brian PendreighOctober 22, 2006THE selection process to choose the new James Bond was so secretive that even Q ? the fictional head of the British secret service ? would have been proud.Now its cover has been blown with the revelation that Ewan McGregor, the prolific Scottish actor, was the first choice of producers to replace Pierce Brosnan as 007.The role eventually went to Daniel Craig, the English actor whose craggy, careworn features are believed by some traditionalists to clash with the character’s smooth image.Source: www.timesonline.co.ukRelated Stories:’Casino’ head: McGregor should be Bond – United Press InternationalEwan McGregor turned down Bond – The Hollywood NewsThanks to Roberta for the links!