Keanu Reeves in financing talks for directorial debut (Reuters)

By Joshua L. Weinstein Joshua L. Weinstein – Tue Aug 9, 8:59 pm ET

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) – Keanu Reeves is in negotiations with China Film Group and Village Roadshow Pictures to get funding for "Man of Tai Chi," a Mandarin-and-English-language movie that Reeves will star in and direct, individuals familiar with the project told TheWrap.

Reeves also wrote the martial arts film, which, if it goes forward, will mark his directorial debut.

"Tai Chi" also stars Tiger Chen, a member of the kung fu team in "The Matrix."

The "Speed" star plays the villain in the movie, which includes some serious fighting scenes.

Reeves showed off his martial arts chops in "The Matrix" films and recently finished filming "47 Ronin," Universal's adaptation of the Japanese martial arts picture.

Representatives for Reeves and Village Roadshow declined comment. Representatives for China Film Group could not be reached.

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Fox stays mum on Jennifer Lopez, "Idol" talks (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Jennifer Lopez's future as a judge with "American Idol" is still up in the air, after Fox television on Friday declined to confirm or deny reports that she had signed on for a second season.

Fox entertainment president Kevin Reilly told a meeting of TV critics he had no headline-making announcements -- "maybe like confirm Jennifer Lopez or something. No luck there."

The return of Lopez for the upcoming 11th season of "American Idol" has been in doubt after the singer said earlier this summer that she was undecided about doing a second year.

Several news reports, all citing unnamed sources, have reported that Lopez is ready to sign up, and this week, showbiz website TheWrap.com said a deal had been finalized that would pay Lopez just over $20 million.

Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler and veteran record producer Randy Jackson are already confirmed as judges when the talent contest resumes on Fox in January.

Lopez and Tyler joined the judging panel this past season, helping to boost flagging viewership for the aging "American Idol" and maintain its status as the most-watched show on U.S.

TV.

The show has also been good for Lopez. She topped People magazine's "most beautiful" list earlier this year and had a top 10 hit with her dance single "On the Floor."

However, Lopez announced in July that she was divorcing her husband of seven years, Latin singer Marc Anthony, with whom she had twins in 2008.

(Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)

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Jennifer Lopez talks about split from Marc Anthony (AP)

NEW YORK – Jennifer Lopez tells Vanity Fair magazine that she still believes in love despite her split from her husband of seven years, Marc Anthony.

The singer and actress gave the publication her first interview since announcing her divorce earlier this month.

Lopez says she is an "eternal optimist" and describes love as her "biggest dream."

The 42-year-old, who has had a string of high-profile relationships, says she's learned to walk away from something when it isn't right.

One thing Lopez says she and Anthony do right is work together, saying "together we make magic."

The couple has two children, twins Max and Emme.

The September issue of Vanity Fair goes on sale nationwide Aug. 9.

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Boys II Men singer talks band's early days (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) – Boys II Men singer and "The Sing-Off" judge Shawn Stockman said his group was brought together more by music than friendship.

"When me and the guys first started singing, we sounded so good, like, we didn't even like each other," he said at the Television Critics Association summer press tour Monday. "Seriously: We were singers before we were friends. But we sounded, to us, so good together that it was addictive. We wanted to sing together all of the time."

Stockman described the early days of his group to make a point about the power of music.

He and fellow judges Ben Folds and Sara Bareilles agreed that the acapella music featured on the show can be less lucrative than other musical forms -- so the people who do it, do it for love of their art.

Stockman said Boys II Men used to sing together in subways for the acoustics -- and turn people down when they tried to give them money.

"The harmonies would go for miles and people would try to give us money and we were like, we don't want it. It wasn't about money," he said.

"The Sing-Off" returns for its third season in the fall.

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