HBO lures Dustin Hoffman

HBO lures Hoffman

HBO continues to develop aggressively, with a new pilot starring Dustin Hoffman and a series pickup based on a line of bestselling fantasy novels.

The pay cable outlet announced Tuesday that it had committed to a pilot plus nine episodes of “Game of Thrones,” adapted from the “A Song of Ice and Fire” fantasy epic by screenwriter and novelist George R.R. Martin. The story concerns a violent civil war that racks a fictional land called Westeros. The cast includes Peter Dinklage and Sean Bean.

In the drama “Luck,” which is being developed by Michael Mann (“Heat”) and David Milch (“Deadwood”), Hoffman will play an ex-con who teams with his chauffeur (Dennis Farina) in a complex scheme at a horse track.

-- Scott Collins Cameron backs author

The halted publication of a book about the atomic bombing of Japan in 1945 has not prevented James Cameron from supporting its author or considering a film project based on the work.

Publisher Henry Holt and Co. is no longer printing or shipping Charles Pellegrino’s “Last Train From Hiroshima” because of doubts over facts in the book.

“All I know is that Charlie would not fabricate, so there must be a reason for the misunderstanding,” Cameron said in an e-mail statement Tuesday. Film rights for the book, released in January, were acquired by the “Avatar” writer-director. Pellegrino served as an advisor for “Avatar.”

Cameron said he has long sought to do a movie on the 1945 bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, “and still intend to do so, although I currently do not have a shooting script and no decision has been made to proceed in the short term.”

-- associated press Rapper’s court date delayed

Because of a mysterious basement fire at a New York City court building that left eight people with minor injuries Tuesday, platinum-selling rapper Lil Wayne’s sentencing on gun possession charges was postponed, a court spokesman said.

The setback marks the second time the 27-year-old’s sentence has been postponed this year.

In early February, Lil Wayne was scheduled to begin a yearlong prison term, after having pleaded guilty to attempted criminal possession of a weapon. That court date was delayed, however, because the rapper, known for his magnificently bling-encrusted smile, had a cracked tooth and needed dental surgery.

-- Chris Lee Country trio leads nominees

Lady Antebellum continues its ascent in country music circles, nabbing a field-leading seven nominations Tuesday for the 45th Academy of Country Music Awards, among them album, single, song and top vocal group.

The Georgia trio is the hottest act in all of pop music at the moment, having sold more than 1 million copies of its sophomore album “Need You Now” in the four weeks since it was released.

Lady Antebellum edged out Carrie Underwood and Miranda Lambert, who scored six nominations apiece, and Taylor Swift, with five.

Swift, who upset a slate of country veterans at last fall’s Country Music Assn. Awards in being named that organization’s youngest entertainer of the year winner, is in the running for the same trophy at this year’s ACMs. The other nominees are Underwood, Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith, Brad Paisley, George Strait, Keith Urban and the Zac Brown Band.

Awards will be handed out April 18 in Las Vegas, to be telecast on CBS.

-- Randy Lewis KUSC to air ‘Ring’ cycle

At more than 17 hours, including intermissions, Richard Wagner’s “Ring” cycle represents a sizable chunk of air time. But KUSC-FM (91.5) is up for the challenge of broadcasting the entire operatic epic in May and June.

The classical music radio station plans to air Los Angeles Opera’s production of the four-opera “Ring” cycle in installments, beginning May 29 with “Das Rheingold.” L.A. Opera said the broadcasts won’t be live but rather part of the series “L.A. Opera on Air.”

-- David Ng Finally

Follett miniseries: Starz Entertainment has acquired U.S. television rights to “The Pillars of the Earth,” an eight-hour adaptation of the Ken Follett novel set in 12th century England, and will air it this summer. The miniseries stars Ian McShane, Rufus Sewell and Donald Sutherland.