The big three Hollywood stars of Peter Jackson's $200 million King Kong are already in awe of the project before the cameras roll next month. Oscar-winner Adrien Brody, Australian actress Naomi Watts and comic actor Jack Black, now in Wellington rehearsing and having camera tests for costumes and make-up, have toured Jackson's studios as he prepares to shoot his ambitious remake of the 1933 classic. [More]

Matt in Minneapolis writes: Naomi Watts appeared on Leno Thursday night. She mentioned that she loves monkeys and then they brought one out for her. Then she mentioned meeting Fay Ray. She went with PJ and Fran to the top of the Empire State Building, and much higher than most people get to go.

Director Peter Jackson – in the midst of preparing to shoot his version of King Kong in Wellington – said he felt "an enormous sadness" over the death of Fay Wray, star of the original 1933 film. [More]

Peter Jackson's movie King Kong, which begins shooting in Wellington next month, will be a reunion of the director's dream team from The Lord of The Rings. King Kong's crew includes cinematographer Andrew Lesnie, production designer Grant Major, art director Dan Hennah, conceptual designer Alan Lee, Weta special effects whizz Richard Taylor, visual effects director Alex Funke, visual effects supervisor Joe Letteri and composer Howard Shore. [More]

Ringer Spy Silmarien sends along the latest issue of 'Hutt News' featuring this article on Andy Serkis working on King Kong. [More]

A 10-metre-high wall of King Kong-sized building blocks has gone up to create a backdrop for Peter Jackson's latest NZ$200 million movie. Filming is due to start next month on Jackson's remake of King Kong and work is two-thirds finished on a state-of-the-art $12 million sound stage in the Wellington suburb of Miramar. [More]