From director Lily Keber comes the feature documentary, Bayou Maharajah: The Tragic Genius of James Booker which explores the life, times and music of James Booker, the legendary New Orleans performer who Dr. John proclaimed “the best black, gay, one-eyed junkie piano genius New Orleans has ever produced.”

The film will be making its World Premiere at the 2013 SXSW Film Festival next month.

The project recently raised over $18,000 in completion and music rights costs, en route to its premiere.

The film includes Interviews with: Harry Connick, Jr., Hugh Laurie, Dr. John, Allen Toussaint, Irma Thomas, Charles Neville, Cosimo Matassa, Harry Connick Sr., Joe Boyd, Bunny Matthews, Ron Cuccia, Joshua Paxton, Tom McDermott, Reggie Scanlan, Ronald Markham, George Winston, and countless others.

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Hugh Laurie is in negotiations to play the villain in Tomorrowland, Disney’s top secret sci-fi project starring George Clooney and being directed by Brad Bird.

The plot of the movie project, which until a couple of weeks ago was being called 1952, is under lock and key, though it has been described as being in the vein of Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Steven Spielberg’s 1978 movie about a man searching for extra-terrestrials on Earth.

All that is known about Laurie’s character is that he serves as the movie’s antagonist.

Lost co-creator Damon Lindelof co-wrote the script with Jeff Jensen, an editor at Entertainment Weekly.

The pedigree of Bird and Lindelof, their standing in the geek community and the force field of secrecy enveloping the project have raised interest in Tomorrowland. 

Laurie is best known for his Emmy-nominated starring role as the brilliant but cold title character in Fox’s House M.D. which ran from 2004-12. The show kept him busy, but he did find time to appear in the ensemble drama The Oranges and to lend his voice to such animated fare as Arthur Christmas and Monster vs. Aliens.

He is repped by WME.

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Here’s proof that Hugh has been quite busy lately. He promised he’d make a new album if “Let Them Talk” did well and he’s kept his work. Gaby Moreno posted this lovely pic in her FB after recording some songs with Hugh.

House star Hugh Laurie has found his next gig.

The six-time Emmy nominee is near a deal to star in NBC’s action-adventure drama Crossbones, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

Laurie would star as famed pirate Blackbeard in the 10-episode drama based on Colin Woodard’s book The Republic of Pirates about the golden age of piracy in the 1700s.

NBC’s series takes place in 1715 on the Bahamian island of New Providence, the first functioning democracy in the Americas, where the pirate Edward Teach — aka Blackbeard — reigns over a rogue nation of thieves, outlaws and miscreant sailors. Part shantytown, part marauder’s paradise, the island is unlike any other and presents a mounting threat to international commerce. To combat the threat, skilled undercover assassin Tom Lowe is sent to take down Blackbeard, but the closer he gets, the more enthralled with the community he becomes.

Luther creator Neil Cross is on board to write and executive produce alongside husband-and-wife duo Walter Parkes and Laurie MacDonald (The Kite Runner) as well as Ted Gold (Three Rivers). The drama hails from Parkes/MacDonald Productions, indie studio Georgeville Television, Reliance Entertainment/Motion Picture Capital and Universal Television.

The casting marks Laurie’s return to primetime after his eight-season run as moody doc Gregory House on Fox’s House — which, like Crossbones, also hailed from Universal Television. The role earned him those six Emmy noms as well as two Golden Globe wins and two SAG Awards.

Laurie was attached to star in MGM and Columbia Pictures’ Robocop remake but dropped out in late August.

He’s repped by WME and Ziffren Brittenham.

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Hugh attended at VIP screening of Bond 23rd “Skyfall” yesterday evening in London. At the event, Hugh posed together (and having fun!) with Hugh Bonneville next to an Aston Martin. Enjoy the pics!

VIP Screening of “Skyfall” (London) – 10/24/12

Hugh was in the audience of last week’s “Later… with Jools Holland” enjoying the greatest jazz music performed by Ms. Diana Krall and Holland spotted him and his family and asked him some questions. You can see the video here.

The expansion helped bring more talent to the fest, according to fest chairman DaleStrack. Running Sept. 26-30, fest will screen slate includes headline films “The Oranges” (featuring Hugh Laurie, Leighton Meester, Catherine Keener), the Dustin Hoffman-helmed “Quartet” (with Maggie Smith, Michael Gambon and Billy Connolly) and comedy “Seven Psychopaths” (featuring Colin Farrell, Woody Harrelson and Sam Rockwell). World preems include thiller “Red Line” and “The Story of Luke.”

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