Curtis Hanson, who directed Toni Collette and Cameron Diaz in 2005’s “In her Shows, has died. Hanson was probably best known for 1997’s “L.A. Confidential”, which was nominated for nine Oscars, including for best picture and best director and won for Best Supporting Actress and Best Adapted Screenplay (Mr. Hanson and his co-writer, Brian Helgeland). As Sasha Stone at AwardsDaily wrote earlier today, he was also a director of great women. Hanson had an ability to bring out fierce performances in his actresses – from Kim Basinger, who won an Oscar in LA Confidential, to the absolutely fantastic Rebecca De Mornay in the Hand that Rocks the Cradle. She should have gotten an Oscar nomination for that movie. And what can you say about The River Wild except that it’s a much better movie than it’s been given credit for, thank in large part to Meryl Streep – but also Hanson was a good director of thrillers, usually those that revolved around female characters, but he also directed 8 Mile with Eminem which came close to getting a Best Picture nomination. Edit: Toni Collette released a statement on Mr. Hanson’s passing on her Instagram account:

Oh Curtis, I am so lucky to have worked with you and known your friendship. The greatest director. The most curious and beautiful mind. You were a great liver of life and will always inspire me. I’ll miss you. I hope wherever you are it’s widescreen…

Hot on the heels of news about a Moulin Rouge musical, another famous Australian property is heading to the stage, this time courtesy of Global Creatures and Sydney Theatre Company. Directed by Simon Phillips, Muriel’s Wedding The Musical is scheduled to play a limited engagement November 6, 2017 through December 30 at Sydney’s Roslyn Packer Theatre. Featuring a book by PJ Hogan, music and lyrics by Kate Miller-Heidke and Keir Nuttall, with songs by Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus and Stig Anderson, originally written for ABBA, the show is based on Hogan’s 1994 movie Muriel’s Wedding, which starred Toni Collette and Rachel Griffiths. Sets and costumes will be by Gabriela Tylesova. In Muriel’s Wedding The Musical, Muriel Heslop is back! And this time she’s singing. Stuck in a dead-end life in Porpoise Spit, Muriel dreams of the perfect wedding—the white dress, the church, the attention. Unfortunately, there’s one thing missing. A groom. Following her dreams to Sydney, Muriel ends up with everything she ever wanted—a man, a fortune and a million Twitter followers. That’s when things start to go really wrong.

This one has been finished quite fast. Among of Toni’s upcoming films, “Imperium” has been announced last and will be released first – next month already! Here’s some additional tidbits from Vanity Fair: The film follows Daniel Radcliffe as Nate Foster, an idealistic fed who shaves his head and ditches his Harry Potter specs in order to go undercover, by order of an agent played by Toni Collette. (And who can blame him—anyone among us would play neo-Nazi if Toni Collette asked us politely, right?) Once there, he encounters violence, swastikas, and all manner of angry white men; think Death Eaters targeting mudbloods, but, you know, real. The nail-biter of a film—just the latest example of Radcliffe taking on a role that pushes him out of his comfort zone—premieres in theaters and On Demand August 19.

The Dallas Film Society will honor Toni Collette at their “The Art of Film” event this November. Here’s their press release: The Dallas Film Society is thrilled to honor Emmy® and Golden Globe® award-winning actress Toni Collette at The Art of Film on Friday, November 21, 2014. We invite you to join us for this elegant fall evening that kicks off under the glamorous lights of the red carpet. You’ll mingle with cinematic-minded friends during our cocktail reception before enjoying an intimate, hourlong discussion with our honored guest. Afterward, we’ll sit down to a lavish banquet and raise our glasses to celebrate the filmmaker’s craft. The complete press release and more information can be found at their official website.

Toni Collette, has joined the international humanitarian organization, Concern Worldwide, as its first official Global Ambassador.

I am deeply honored to join Concern as their first Global Ambassador,” says Ms. Collette. “I know I am becoming part of a global team of men and women committed to transforming care and empathy into real, direct and effective action that creates lasting change in the lives of some of the world’s poorest people.

As a Global Ambassador, Ms. Collette will work to shine a light on the challenges facing those impacted by poverty, war, conflict, and natural disaster. In this role, Ms. Collette will travel to Concern’s program areas, which include 25 countries across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Caribbean, to bring much-needed attention to the conditions of those living in extreme poverty and in emergency and conflict environments. “We’re so grateful that Toni has agreed to make Concern Worldwide her chosen cause because we know that she can have a transformative impact on our work,” says Dr. Joseph Cahalan, CEO of Concern Worldwide U.S., the organization’s affiliate headquartered in New York City. “Toni has a rare ability to translate concern into action, having helped us reach countless new friends and donors as part of our Concern Gifts program in the last two years. Now, as our ambassador, she can help us reach millions more and strengthen our effort to change the lives of the world’s poorest people.” In 2012, Ms. Collette lent her celebrity to Concern’s global campaign to fight malnutrition and hunger and later to a holiday appeal to make a difference to families across the world through gifts such as livestock, clean water, and health care. Together, the campaigns raised money that helped Concern fight poverty, hunger, and disease, and ultimately save lives.

There’s a new job for Toni (which has already been wrapped) to release cinemas in 2014. She co-srars alongside Melissa McCarthy, Susan Sarandon, Allison Janney and Kathy Bates in Ben Falcone’s “Tammy”. The story revolves around a small-town woman, Tammy (McCarthy), whose life falls apart after she is fired from her burger-joint job and then comes home to find her sleazy husband in bed with another woman. She wants to hit the road, but her car has broken down. “She kind of loses every reason to be tethered to this town and she wants out,” says McCarthy. “She doesn’t exactly know where to go. But she doesn’t want to be there. The only way out is with her grandmother, whom she’s not particularly fond of.” The grandmother, Pearl, is played by Sarandon, who McCarthy says is part of the “bionic cast” that Falcone helped assemble including Allison Janney, Kathy Bates, Dan Aykroyd and Toni Collette – who’s most probably playing the best friend role. Falcone and McCarthy made comedy magic in the hilarious air marshal scene from the 2011 box office smash Bridesmaids. In Tammy, the two tango when Falcone makes an appearance as her terrible boss. “Tammy” hits US theaters July 2.