Catch up: Jake Gyllenhaal turns Pittsburgh into NYC and Maggie is an Honourable Woman

Good to see you all! I'm back from one lovely long holiday in Cornwall (having returned looking like a radioactive lobster) and now getting ready for another jaunt to Rome. Jake Gyllenhaal is working through his summer, with shooting continuing on Pittsburgh into next month at least.

This report from Pittsburgh shows how the city is being transformed into NYC, complete with billboard posters of Jake's - or Hope's - next fight:

'The former Saks building is being turned into Madison Square Garden for the movie featuring Jake Gyllenhaal, Rachel McAdams, 50 Cent, and Lupita Nyong’o. A banner advertising “the light heavyweight championship” boxing match between Gyllenhaal’s Billy Hope and another boxer hung outside the building. New York City taxi cabs and police cars were also seen on Smithfield Street. The film is shooting in Pittsburgh through early August. The film previously shot in Indiana, Pa., in June.'

If you want to be an extra, there may still be time!

Maggie is making a bit of a splash on British small screens at the moment with the well-received The Honourable Woman. To mark its screening, Maggie was interviewed in the Guardian with this, less that controversial, comment about Jake: 'Understandably, Gyllenhaal discourages speculation about sibling rivalry. "He's one of my best friends and I really adore him,"' Incidentally, Maggie's English accent in The Honourable Woman is impeccable.

Thanks to IHJ for the new stills from Enemy. I love these posters.

I hope you're all having a good summer/winter!

Jake Gyllenhaal to make his Broadway debut with Constellations and begins Demolition talks

Jake Gyllenhaal might be busy at the moment filming Southpaw in Pittsburgh but there is some big news from New York City. Jake has repeatedly mentioned how much he enjoys acting on stage and following on from his 2012 success Off Broadway with If There Is I haven't Found It Yet (not to mention his huge success on the West End Boards in 2002 with This Is Our Youth), Jake is now to make another debut - this time on Broadway.

Jake is due to take to the Broadway stage with Constellations, a play that has a great deal in common with If There Is - same writer (Nick Payne), same director (Michael Longhurst), and both enjoyed great success during their London seasons.

The Guardian tells us about the play: 'It considers the idea of a multiverse – parallel universes with slightly differing possibilities – where the play's central couple sometimes live harmoniously in love, sometimes fractiously'.

Constellations will begin previews on 16 December at the Manhattan Theatre Club and opening night will be on 16 January. More details here. Looks like a busy birthday and Christmas for Jake again!

An interesting sidenote from the Guardian: 'His actor sister Maggie will also make her Broadway debut this year, opposite Ewan McGregor in Tom Stoppard's comedy The Real Thing.'

Demolition

In other news, Deadline has reported that Jake is in early talks to appear in Demolition directed by Jean-Marc Vallée of Dallas Buyers Club fame: 'The story centers on a young investment banker struggling to understand his emotional disconnect after the tragic death of his wife. He begins to tear apart his life in a distraught effort to see where he went wrong but ultimately is rescued by a woman he meets in a chance encounter.'

Ubuntu Education Fund

On 5 June, attended the 2014 NYC Ubuntu Education Fund Gala at Gotham Hall, which celebrated '15 years of life-saving work in South Africa,... We honored Frank and Janice Lipman, dedicated supporters of our work who truly embody the ubuntu spirit. It was an unforgettable evening spent dancing to Hugh Masekela with our inspired guests & dedicated supporters!' More details and photos here.

Boxing Training

Jake continues with the boxing research for Southpaw. On 7 June, Jake and Rachel McAdams,  his co-star in Southpaw, both went to a match between Miguel Cotto and Sergio Martinez at Madison Square Garden. You can see photos on IHJ.

Includes photo from IHJ.

Jake Gyllenhaal and Colm Toíbín: In Conversation - The Year of James Baldwin

Here it is, Jake Gyllenhaal in conversation with Colm Toíbín as part of Columbia University's celebration of author James Baldwin. It's over an hour long so sit back in a comfy chair, kick off your shoes (if it's safe to do so) and enjoy. But be warned. The event took place on 1 May so there's been no facial pruning as yet.

Jake Gyllenhaal stars with Beyonce and Jay-Z and says goodbye to the long hair and beard! Plus movie news

Barely a year goes by without Jake Gyllenhaal making an appearance in a music video and 2014 is proving no different. Jake has been seen frequently in the company of Beyonce and Jay-Z and so it was a pleasant surprise to see him also pop up in the promotional video for their upcoming 'Run' tour.

The video also features WDW favourite Emmy Rossum, a fine singer in her own right. You can watch the video here.



But the big news is that Jake has decided to part company with the long hair and shaggy beard, as can be seen in the photos of him shopping in NYC yesterday! He's also back to chewing the headphone lead - just like the old days. Pap photos are no longer posted here so just follow the links.

The extensive barbering means that Everest is finished but there is more movie news this week. Nightcrawler has been picked up at Cannes by Open Road, which is also looked after End of Watch so well.

Finally, this weekend, if you're in the neighbourhood of Indiana, why not audition to be in Southpaw alongside Jake, or more precisely cheering him on from the other side of the ropes? Details here. Filming then moves on to Pittsburgh, the home, of course, of Love and Other Drugs. This might give Jake the chance to brush off that tattoo...

Jake and Maggie Gyllenhaal at the Met, a literary discussion and a May round up

The big event over recent days is the appearance of Jake Gyllenhaal with his sister Maggie at the Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on 5 May. The theme for men this year was white suits and I'm glad to say that Jake did what he was told. For women, the theme was flowing dresses. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I do like Maggie's blonde do. Unfortunately, my invitation arrived too late.

On 1 May, Jake also took part in the discussion with Colm Toibin of James Baldwin's novel Another Country.  The event was part of Columbia University's Baldwin celebrations.

'On the afternoon of Sunday, May 4, 2014, Pioneer Works, Center for Art and Innovation will hold its first benefit fundraiser, The Village Fête. Our goal is to launch an annual coming-together of New York’s creative community and its supporters, a celebration of our founding mission for innovation in the contemporary arts and sciences. Bob Colacello, Maggie Gyllenhaal & Peter Sarsgaard, Sydie Lansing, Andres & Lauren Santo Domingo and Liv Tyler are chairing the event.' Jake was also there to lend a hand.

Over the last few weeks, Jake has been keeping up his boxing duties for Southpaw but he's been making sure to leave time for other sports. At the weekend, Jake watched the Brooklyn Nets take on Miami Heat in rather shiny company - Jay-Z and Beyonce. You can see a pic here and more on IHJ. Jake has also been seen out and about with Alyssa Miller in NYC on 10 May while on 8 May he was spotted wearing Mr WDW's jacket. No word yet on when we'll get it back.

Many thanks to IHJ for the wonderful new pics.

As WDW hits 7 years old, a catch up with Jake Gyllenhaal and an Italian and Welsh Interlude!

Today is the 7th birthday of Wet Dark and Wild! No longer a toddler, it's definitely moved on to the gin and tonic phase, especially if you consider that blog years are like dog years. They do rhyme, after all. As it is the anniversary, there's no better time than to catch up with Jake Gyllenhaal.

First off, thanks to IHJ, we can see scans of Jake on location for Everest in the June issue of Empire. I love this photo of Jake. Do click on them and they shall be embiggened.

With Everest in the bag, albeit a delayed and we might get to see it eventually bag, Jake is now moving onto other things and at the heart of it all appears to be Southpaw. Jake is in training mode, which can be seen by recent sightings and photos of him at the Mayweather Boxing Club in Las Vegas and at a boxing match. You can see more of these over at IHJ. I do have to say, though, that this is not a role, or a look, that warms the cockles of my heart.

Jake has found the time for other more relaxing pursuits, including dinner with sister Maggie in Santa Monica (I love Maggie's new hairdo) and a trip out to watch old favourites Arcade Fire on 21 April in West Hollywood. Jake looked seriously peeved to be papped so let's leave it with a link.

WDW Italian and Welsh Interludes!

I have been quiet of late due to a) holidaying in Italy and Wales and b) due to eating too many Easter malteser chocolate bunnies. I promised an Italian Interlude in the last post but I was waylaid by Wales, which was beautiful and warm and sunny by day but by night, in a tent, was so cold it introduced a touch of hypothermia to my sunstroke. I thought I'd share a few photos, first Italy (Campania - Naples, Pompeii, Herculaneum, Paestum, Amalfi Coast) and second Wales. I would normally say you'd be able to spot the difference but we visited for the first time on a fabulously sunny day the curious Welsh-Italian coastal town of Portmeirion - better known to me at least as home to The Prisoner - 'I am not a number!' and all that.....

 

Wales...

I hope you all had a good Easter break!

Jake Gyllenhaal in conversation with Colm Toíbín and is there to be a Source Code 2?

I'm back! And with a nose suitably roasted by the southern Italian sun. I hope you've all had a good week. Things have been quiet in Gyllenism while I've been away but my eye was immediately caught by this news:

On 1 May at 7pm, Jake Gyllenhaal will be joining Booker nominated author Colm Toíbín as part of Columbia University's Year of James Baldwin celebrations. The event, which is free and open to all, takes place in NYC. You can find full details of where and how to attend here. Columbia University is, of course, Jake's old stomping ground and it's good to see him maintain the links despite his F for dinosaur studies. With my book review hat on, it's also great to hear of Jake discussing literature with Toíbín.

Talking of going back in time, there is news this week that Source Code 2 might be on the cards. The Tracking Board tells us: 'It’s recently been confirmed that Vendome Pictures and the Mark Gordon Company are producing SOURCE CODE 2, a sequel to the original film that starred Jake Gyllenhaal and Michelle Monaghan. The sequel has been highly anticipated, as many fans loved the first film, but felt it was rather open-ended. How many answers the sequel will provide is of course the question, and writer Ben Ripley is slated to return to the project.... There is still no word yet on whether Gyllenhaal or Monaghan will return in any capacity, but the original film’s somewhat open ending could lend to that possibility. With all the alternate time-lines and plot twists, anything could be augmented to allow them small roles.' There also appears to be no word on whether this would be something Duncan Jones would be interested in doing. But all sounds interesting.

Finally, The Boxing Drama seems to be taking off. There is news that Forest Whitaker may be about to sign up for Southpaw alongside Jake. Forest would play 'Titus "Tick" Willis, forced to retire from the ring after losing an eye and now working as a trainer of amateur fighters'. Jake is playing 'Billy “The Great” Hope, a left-handed prizefighter who wins a title but suffers a tragedy soon after and must put his life back together to earn the respect of young daughter'. Details here. Jake recently appeared in a roundtable with Forest (among others), following their appearance together in the Jamie Foxx video Blame It all those moons ago (in the days of The Hat).

This post comes with a warning that I may well be adding a WDW Italian Interlude to it later today!