Johnny Depp and his pirate friends Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley are keeping all the box-office treasure for themselves.

Depp’s “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” remained the top movie for the third straight weekend, hauling in $35 million and lifting its total to $321.7 million after just 17 days, according to studio estimates Sunday.

The Disney sequel passed the $305 million domestic total that its predecessor, 2003’s “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl,” rang up during its entire six-month run.

“Dead Man’s Chest” easily beat back a rush of new movies, which were led by Sony’s family film “Monster House,” a spooky animated tale that debuted at No. 2 with $23 million. The movie follows the adventures of a group of children at a mysterious neighbor’s scary home.

Opening in third was M. Night Shyamalan’s “Lady in the Water,” an adult fairy tale from Warner Bros. that took in $18.2 million. Starring Paul Giamatti as an apartment manager who discovers a water nymph (Bryce Dallas Howard) living beneath his complex’s swimming pool, the movie was the weakest debut for writer-director Shyamalan in a string of wide releases since 1999 that included the blockbusters “The Sixth Sense” and “Signs.”

Kevin Smith’s “Clerks II,” a Weinstein Co. and MGM follow-up to his 1994 independent-film hit about two slackers on the job, premiered at No. 6 with $9.6 million.

Uma Thurman and Luke Wilson’s “My Super Ex-Girlfriend,” a 20th Century Fox comedy about a superhero taking revenge against the boyfriend who jilted her, debuted at No. 7 with $8.7 million.

On its 16th day of release Saturday, “Dead Man’s Chest” became the fastest movie to cross the $300 million mark, beating the previous best pace of 17 days set last year by “Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith.”

Within a week, “Dead Man’s Chest” is expected to top the $339.7 million domestic take of “Finding Nemo” to become Disney’s top-grossing movie.

“There are lots of plateaus for us to continue to strive for,” said Chuck Viane, Disney’s head of distribution.

Guy Ritchie is continuing his established habit of directing gangster films by signing up for a new project called Static.

The film will follow the experiences of a gangster who is wrongly imprisoned and has to testify against the corrupt officials who sent him to jail, The Guardian reports.

Static will be the director's fourth foray into the onscreen criminal world, as he previously helmed Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Snatch and Revolver.

M. Night Shyamalan has spoken about the possibility of working on one of the remaining Harry Potter films.

The Lady in the Water writer-director was forced to turn down an offer to direct the first film, and although still open to idea he sees that there are some obstacles.

He said: "You know, that Harry Potter dance has gone on a long time. The problem is that it is a living breathing thing now, all by itself. When it comes over to my camp, it needs to be kind of handed over, adoption papers and everything. That's a tricky move."

"I haven't met with J.K. [Rowling]. The first one was offered to me, but that conflicted with Unbreakable, which was unfortunate. I would definitely, but I think probably before that I would adapt a book. I've gotten close a few times to adapting books," he added.

Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger sings about Joss Stone in her first track away from the pop band.

The star, who is currently working on her own album, has recorded a track written by Joss's ex-boyfriend Beau Dozier - focusing on his relationship with the soul singer.

A source revealed, "Nicole recorded a track called Lie About Us with American urban star Avant. It was meant to be held back for her solo album, but his people insisted it go on his record. The tune is doing the rounds in the US and is shaping up to be massive, thus the ideal launchpad for Nicole's solo project.

"Lie About Us was written and produced by Beau about his love for Joss and how he was dating a girl but fell head over heels for Joss and finished things."

Joss and Beau split last winter after spending two years together.

The insider added, "Beau has written for Joss's next album. He went to Barbados to work with her the week Lemar left after he recorded their duet together. Nicole knows who Lie About Us is for and she's a big fan of Joss."

Bob Geldof is furious after learning that daughter Peaches has been approached to star in a film about her late mother.

The former Boomtown Rat has branded producers of Nick Egan's film "filthy opportunists" for contacting Peaches to get involved in the project. The movie will explore Paula Yates's relationship with Michael Hutchence.

A source said: "Peaches is doing a lot of work in the media and is making a very favourable impression, that's how Nick's team discovered her. And certain well-placed types are after Peaches for a cameo in the film about Paula's relationship with Michael.

"Obviously they know it will be difficult ground for her so they are offering to create a part where she doesn't have to interact with the two leads. They are thinking that she could play a photographer so she would be removed from the main plot. But as she's under 18 they know they are going to need Bob's approval and at the moment that's not going to happen."

George Michael's wedding has been cancelled after he was caught in a sexual encounter with a stranger.

Michael and lover Kenny Goss were due to mark the tenth anniversary of their relationship with a wedding ceremony, but the couple have called it off for now after the singer was seen emerging from a London park with a van driver.

According to a source: "They are reassessing their relationship at the moment so there are no immediate plans. Things are very much up in the air."

Jake Gyllenhaal is to play record Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong. Maybe that’s why the two have been spotted together like they’re joined at the hip.

A Sony biopic of Armstrong, seven-time Tour de France winner is being developed and Gyllenhaal is to star. The Brokeback Mountain actor is said to be a perfect choice for Armstrong’s story.

Lance recently took off on a trip to help promote the Tour de France—and brought Jake along for the ride.

Take his Korean-American mother's eyes and skin tone, mix those with his British-American father's height and cheekbones, and you have Daniel Henney --the current "it" man of Asian modeling and television. According to a Bean Pole official, Paltrow's elegant and intellectual image combines with Henney's exotic features to provide an excellent representation of Bean Pole's premium Collection Line... Daniel graduated at University of Illinois in Chicago with a business major.

It looks like Gwyneth Paltrow and Daniel Henney are teaming up for another round of ads for Bean Pole International, a Korean fashion brand and affiliate of Samsung. Gwyneth, 33, and Daniel, 26, teamed up late 2005 for their first Bean Pole advertising campaign. Earlier on today, Gwyneth and Daniel were spotted filming another ad campaign in Mayfair, London. In between takes, Gwyneth spent time with her four-month-old son Moses.

Samuel L. Jackson said that though his "Poker Night" project with his "Star Wars" co-star Hayden Christensen is dead, he might be re-teaming with Christensen for something else. Jackson says Christensen might be joining him in Doug Liman's "Jumper", Based on the Steven Gould novel of the same name. It follows a kid from a broken home who discovers that he has the ability to teleport. In his quest for the man he believes is responsible for the death of his mother, the kid draws the attention of the National Security Agency and another youth with the same abilities. Jackson will play the NSA agent tracking the jumper, and may have ulterior motives for finding him.

Christina Aguilera says she’s toned down the sexuality on her new double-disc album, “Back to Basics,” but has no regrets about the sultry image she’s projected in the past.
“The sexuality coming forward on this record is more softened,” she says in the July 24 issue of Newsweek. “It’s more pin-up, tongue-in-cheek. It’s playful. People take sex far too seriously.”

Aguilera said she was proud of the image she projected on her last album, “Stripped,” in part because it elicited strong opinions.

“If you liked it, you wanted to root for me — ’Look, she’s empowered.’ If not, well, you’d stick all those labels on me.”

Aguilera also told the magazine there was never a feud between her and a fellow ex-Mousketeer, Britney Spears.

“We were like best friends, but the media saw a navel and blond hair and had to create some drama,” she said.

A star-studded lineup that includes Richard Gere, Alicia Keys and the Barenaked Ladies will kick off the opening ceremonies for next month's International AIDS Conference in Toronto.

Other performers who will take to the Rogers Centre stage on Aug. 13 to help open the conference will include Blue Man Group and Canadian artists Our Lady Peace, Amanda Marshall and Chantal Kreviazuk
The program will begin at 7 p.m. with remarks from such luminaries as Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty. It will conclude with a keynote address by Bill and Melinda Gates, whose charitable foundation supports a variety of HIV/AIDS programs, followed by a performance by Canadian opera star Measha Brueggergosman and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.

The concert opening the six-day conference is to begin at 9 p.m., with proceeds from ticket sales going toward several AIDS-related groups.

"These two events in one evening at the Rogers Centre — the opening with the concert — promise to make this a memorable evening that will bring even greater attention to the AIDS issue here in Canada and around the world," said Andrew Pringle, board president for the Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research (CANFAR), one of the organizations hosting the concert to raise awareness and funds to fight HIV/AIDS.

Other major participants slated to attend the Aug. 13-18 conference include former U.S. president Bill Clinton and Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway, who is a UNAIDS special representative.

Besides the 25,000 tickets being given to conference delegates for the opening ceremony and concert, an additional 20,000 will be sold to the public.

Which celebrity's girlfriend has been warned about cashing in on her famous bloke's success? This steely-eyed bint knows the main chance when she sees it and is going for maximum exposure off the back of her fella's talent. Sadly her lack of talent may curtail her plans for world dominance.

Brad Pitt was spotted at the Country Natural Food Store in Topanga Canyon, California, ordering tofu sandwiches to go. They included grilled vegetables on whole grain bread and Brad told the counter girl that one had to be extra spicy. So what did Brad do while these ultra-healthy lunches were being prepared? He went outside and stood by his motorbike chain-smoking. Time to start jogging, Brad.

They've both been through the mill in one way or an addled other so its nice to see Pete Doherty and Colin Farrell smartening up their acts.

Babyshambles frontman Pete, 27, shocked onlookers at an M4 petrol station with his new look after returning from Spain.

Meanwhile, Farrell, 30, unveiled his look at a Beverly Hills party where he hit all the right notes with the ladies.

Someone should tell actor Karl Howman, 57, he could up those Flash floor cleaning adverts...

Matthew McConaughey rescured a pooch in serious trouble the other night. The actor was asleep in his Hollywood Hills home when he heard what sounded like a dog barking in fear and coyotes yelping wildly. He grabbed his baseball bat and took off wearing only his tennis shoes and boxer shorts. After spotting a neighbors dog being viciously attacked by a pack of coyotes, he bravely waded in wielding his bat and the predators took flight. It was only when he brought the pet back to its owners that he realised he was under-dressed.

Jeremy Piven may play relentless agent Ari Gold on HBO's hit show Entourage but in real life he hasn't been as lucky with the ladies - at least with Superman Returns star Kate Bosworth.

At Lindsay Lohan's 20th birthday bash the actor, 40, "was flirting like mad with Kate" as the two sipped 267 Infusions cocktails (a mix of rum, vodka, tequila and fruit). But after 15 minutes, Piven wasn't able to close the deal.