SPLITSVILLE: B2K is B2Kaput.
The platinum-selling R&B quartet is splitting up after six years together, their manager said Monday.
“We’ve had a great run together making hit songs, albums and now movies. The kids are growing up and are interested in pursuing their own careers,” manager Chris Stokes said in a statement. “B2K was an extremely talented singing group that will surely be missed.”
B2K became a fan favorite with the hit “Bump Bump Bump.” Last year’s “Pandemonium!” (their second album) sold 1.2 million copies. But according to the statement, feuding between group members Omarion, Lil Fizz, J-Boog and Raz B led to the breakup.
Chicago fans can see them together one last time on the silver screen. The group stars in the dance drama “You Got Served,” which is set to open Jan. 30. The movie’s soundtrack may serve as the group’s last album together.
DRE. (RETIREMENT) DAY: As you read about on the back page, Dr. Dre is releasing a third solo album this year.
But the rapper and producer fueled speculation that he’ll retire after the album, “Detox,” hits stores. Jay-Z pulled a similar move in November, saying his “Black Album” would be his last.
Discussing Dre’s upcoming album, Billboard’s Geoff Mayfield told MTV, “I don’t know how seriously fans take it when rappers say they’re going to retire, but his last album sold well.”
SCRUBBING UP: Michael J. Fox is returning to the small screen.
The “Spin City” alum will guest star on two upcoming episodes of the NBC comedy “Scrubs.”
He’ll play an obsessive-compulsive doctor, TV Guide reports. In real life, Fox continues to battle Parkinson’s disease.
‘IRON’ WILL? Tom Cruise has apparently jumped on the superhero bandwagon and says he’s working on a deal to star in a Hollywood version of Marvel Comics’ “Iron Man.”
“He’s a fascinating character, but we’ve got to figure out how it’s going to work,” Cruise told Empire Online. “And everyone is doing a Marvel character these days.
“How do we make that new, create something fresh where it doesn’t feel like: ‘Oh, here comes another superhero story?’ “
Translation: How do I avoid becoming Ben Affleck in “Daredevil”?
Meanwhile, Cruise’s ex Nicole Kidman is said to be close to signing a deal to star in “Bewitched.” As reported here earlier, producers have been trying to pair Kidman with “Old School’s” Will Ferrell, who already is on board. Filming is scheduled to begin in April.
STAR POWER: Speaking of Nicole, she and Jim Carrey (who, by the way, turned down the “Bewitched” role before Ferrell accepted) were named the top box-office draws of 2003.
The results were based on a popular opinion poll conducted by Quigley Publishing Co., Variety reports. Carrey saw great success as the star of “Bruce Almighty,” while Kidman headlined “The Human Stain” and “Cold Mountain,” as well as the indie feature “Dogville.”
The rest
3. Jack Nicholson
4. Tom Cruise
5. Julia Roberts
6. Johnny Depp
7. Russell Crowe
8. Tom Hanks
9. Will Ferrell
10. Renee Zellweger
Catty corner
Halle Berry wants to be a cat woman, and not just on the big screen.
The “Catwoman” star is said to be so attached to the rare Bengal cat she shares the screen with in the movie that she wants to adopt it for herself, according to the World Entertainment News Network.
Warner Bros. bosses reportedly have promised the cat to Berry with the condition that she keep the feisty feline under control.
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Compiled from RedEye news services and edited by Leo Ebersole (lebersole@tribune.com) and Curt Wagner (cwwagner@tribune.com)
