Match point for Scarlett
Her engagement to Ryan Reynolds is confirmed, and a friend says she won't wait four years like Morissette
Only a little over a year after splitting with former fiancee Alanis Morissette, actor Ryan Reynolds has decided to marry Scarlett Johansson.
The actress' publicist confirmed the engagement Monday but said the couple has not set a wedding date.
(AP files)
However, a BZ source close to Johansson told me Monday, ''it could be as soon as this Christmas. ... Scarlett has a bunch of projects on her agenda -- as does Ryan -- but it looks like they have a bit of a window when they could enjoy a nice honeymoon, early next year.
''Of course, like everything in the movie business that could change overnight!''
The announcement came as Johansson heads to the Cannes Film Festival to help promote her latest film for Woody Allen, ''Vicky Christina Barcelona.''
Reynolds -- who had been intrigued by Johansson for some time -- reportedly got a mutual friend to arrange a dinner party where he could meet the star of ''The Other Boleyn Girl,'' not long after his February 2007 split with Morissette.
The two immediately clicked -- leading to sightings of the cozy duo on both coasts over the past year. While there had been a number of published breakup rumors, most Reynolds-Johansson buzz was about an ever-escalating romance. When the actress moved a few personal items into Reynolds' L.A. house, the gossip intensified, ''and really got crazy when Scarlett was seen looking like she was shopping for a wedding dress,'' said my source.
That incident turned out to be Johansson accompanying a relative who was getting married.
Now that they're engaged, everyone will speculate on the actual trip down the aisle. ''While it's not happening tomorrow, I can tell you one thing: Scarlett has made it clear to Ryan that there won't be any four-year engagement'' like he had with Morissette, said the source.
One who praises the news is Hugh Jackman, who co-starred with Johansson in ''Scoop'' and ''The Prestige'' and teams up with Reynolds in the upcoming ''X-Men Origins: Wolverine.'' The Aussie actor and his wife, Deborra-Lee Furness, give ''a big thumbs up'' to the engagement. ''Ryan Reynolds is one of the funniest guys I've ever met,'' Jackman told ''Entertainment Tonight Canada,'' adding ''I'm giving my blessing, exactly.''
WHAT A LINEUP! I'm hearing about a reality show that could be quite the blockbuster. It's only in the very early talking stages, but reportedly there's talk of putting some of our biggest stage parents all together. The idea of Britney's mom, vLynne Spears; Lindsay's mother, Dina Lohan; Jessica and Ashlee's dad, Joe Simpson; Paris and Nicki's mama, Kathy Hilton, and Kris Jenner -- mother to Kim Kardashian and all her siblings -- on a single reality romp is just too funny.
I also hear Sharon Osbourne is being considered as the show's moderator/host. While it's still early, a good source says, ''No one's said no ... yet!''
TALKIN' TRASH: The guys from HollywoodStarTrash.com are at it again -- selling stuff from Britney Spears' garbage cans on eBay. (These are the folks who made headlines for snaring thousands for Paris Hilton's trash.) In the works: a reality show about the Star Trash fellows -- plus a full-length documentary about their journey in search of famous folks' castoffs.
SEEN ON SCENE: While in town to emcee the big Steppenwolf Theatre gala Saturday, Joan Allen stopped by the Tails in the City luxury pet boutique to pick up designer dog toys for her Boston terrier Pippi -- including ''Bite Me Spears'' and a ''Muttgarita.'' ... Dan Smith and Steve McDonagh, the "Hearty Boys'' caterers and Food Network stars, had a busy weekend -- both co-chairing the Chicago House ''Families for Families'' fund-raiser and cooking lunch for the VIPs involved with the taping of Ellen DeGeneres' show here. ... After David Blaine broke the Guinness record for holding his breath underwater on ''Oprah,'' the stuntmeister partied hearty at Y Bar, where (separately) Perry Farrell was spied. ... The new Fleming's steakhouse on Ohio already is grabbing fans, including recent diners Mayor and Maggie Daley, Chaz Ebert, Joli Burrell, Carolyn Chambless and Brenda Sexton. ... The theater set has been focusing on the 200 East Supper Club lately. Heather Raffo's''9 Parts of Desire'' team celebrated there Monday. The cast of ''Shout'' at Drury Lane Water Tower will toast their opening night Thursday, and last week the cast of Chicago Opera Theater's ''Don Giovanni'' production hung out -- taking turns singing with the band.
Bill Zwecker is seen at 5:50, 6:25 and 11:25 a.m. weekdays on WBBM-Channel 2.