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Will.I.Am Joins the "X-Men" | Entertainment | BET.com

Posted Feb. 20, 2008 -- Eclectic hip-hop artist will.i.am can add superhero to his resume. Twentieth Century Fox has added him to the cast of "X-Men Origins: Wolverine," joining additional newcomers Ryan Reynolds and Taylor Kitsch, reports Variety. The Black Eyed Peas frontman is set to play John Wraith, a mutant who has the power to teleport, and is another test subject of the Weapon X program that created Wolverine and other mercenaries. It would be his first film role.

Hugh Jackman reprises the role of Wolverine in the "X-Men" spinoff that Gavin Hood is shooting in New Zealand, Australia and New Orleans. Look for it to hit the big screen on May 1, 2009.

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"Madea" Goes Animated

Want more Madea? Tyler Perry is teaming with animation company Exodus Film Group to adapt his most memorable character into an animated series, reports The Hollywood Reporter. The writer-director-actor will executive produce 22 episodes of the series for distribution on a television network, on DVD, or both.

Mabel ''Madea'' Simmons was originally a character in a play by Perry and has previously been adapted into hit movies, including Madea's Family Reunion and Diary of a Mad Black Woman. The next Madea feature, Meet the Browns, is due out next month. The series will be the first foray into animation for Perry, who says his plan is to adapt the more adult-oriented Madea into something more suitable for a younger audience.

Style Orders More Kimora

The Style channel has given a second-season pickup to the Kimora Lee Simmons' reality series "Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane," which ranks as Style's highest-rated original series ever, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

In addition, Simmons is set to be part of sister channel E! Entertainment's red-carpet team for Sunday's "Live From the Red Carpet: The 2008 Academy Awards" special, airing from 6-8 p.m. EST, and will serve as one of the hosts of E!'s "Academy Awards Fashion Police," airing at 8 p.m. Monday.

Fab Lane" follows Simmons as she juggles her career, including her world travels, with being a mom to two daughters. Season 2 will find her taking on the expanded role of creative director at Phat Fashions and feature birthday parties, public appearances, ad campaign shoots and insider meetings at the Phat Fashions offices. It's set to premiere at 8 p.m. April 20.

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