IN just a few weeks Guy Ritchie and Jason Statham will start work on their new movie, Viva La Madness.
And I can exclusively reveal the gangster flick is getting a very special supporting character — in the form of Vinnie Jones.
Sign up for the Showbiz newsletter
Thank you!
Jason Statham and Guy Ritchie are working on a new movie togetherCredit: GettyGangster flick Viva La Madness will also feature Vinnie JonesCredit: Getty
The trio last worked together in the amazing 2000 film Snatch and now former footballer Vinnie is going to be front and centre in the new movie alongside Jason.
A source said: “Viva La Madness is writer J.J. Connolly’s sequel to Layer Cake but the film is going to be a standalone production.
“Guy is thrilled to be back at the helm. And to have Jason on board, as well as Vinnie, is going to make for cinematic gold.
“This project feels so brilliantly British. It’s going to be loud, fast and unapologetically patriotic.
“Jason and Vinnie are so brilliant together on screen and everyone working on the film was thrilled to hear that Vinnie had signed up.”
‘Come a long way’
I’m told the exact details of the plot are being kept under wraps but it’s expected to closely follow J.J.’s novel.
The book returns to the story of the shady anonymous drug dealer — played by Daniel Craig in the film of Layer Cake — who is pulled back into the criminal underworld after hoping to retire.
But this time, the deals get more risky — with high-level electronic fraud and a bit of money laundering for good measure.
It’s not surprising that Guy has brought Vinnie on board for the film, after casting him in the next series of his Netflix hit, The Gentleman.
Guy previously admitted he and Jason credited Vinnie for helping them when times were tough — before they made it big with Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels in 1998.
He said: “Vinnie was forever paying for taxis when Statham and I had no money.”
“We’ve come a long way since Lock, Stock.”
I absolutely loved Layer Cake so I cannot wait to watch Viva La Madness.
SEQUIN WHEN YOU’RE WINNING
MARIAH CAREY went into 2026 on Cloud Nine after her performance on Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve went off without a hitch.
Nine years ago, the superstar was on the very same stage when she was hit by technical difficulties, meaning she was off-beat when lip syncing.
Demi Lovato was on top form for Dick Clark’s Sin City gigCredit: GettyMariah Carey dazzles during her performance on Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ EveCredit: Getty
It got so bad that Mariah stopped pretending to sing, and said: “It is what it is. It just don’t get any better,” before stomping off stage.
This time around, fans watching in New York had a far better time, with Mariah – who wore a tiny pink dress adorned with sequins – sailing through her performance of her 2009 song, Obsessed.
Host Rita Ora stayed cosy in a leopard print coat as temperatures plunged to -2C in the Big Apple, while over in Las Vegas, Demi Lovato was on top form for Dick Clark’s Sin City gig.
She took to the stage in a shimmering sheer jumpsuit alongside stars including Diana Ross, Post Malone and 50 Cent.
Stars including Diana Ross also performedCredit: GettySinger Rita Ora stayed cosy in a leopard print coat for the occasionCredit: Getty
BUSY SIAN: I’M NOT WEDDY YET
Sian Welby is still no closer to walking down the aisleCredit: Brett D. Cove / SplashNews.com
THIS Morning and Capital Breakfast DJ Sian Welby got engaged to radio producer Jake Beckett two years ago, but they are still no closer to walking down the aisle.
When asked her if she has made any headway with preparations, Sian – who gave birth to daughter Ruby in June 2024 – admitted: “No, it’s an absolute shambles. I’ve honestly not got any brain capacity for wedding planning.
“I think what we’re doing: having a baby who’s waking up in the night, teething, the 4am alarms . . . combine that with trying to see friends and family up in the Midlands and the thought of trying to plan a wedding is quite daunting.
“I don’t want to be that person that’s engaged for years and years and I would love a big wedding, but it’s everything. Even the guest list fills me with anxiety.”
BACK IN THE PINK AFTER OP
Pink spent New Year’s Eve in hospital having surgery on her neck.Credit: Getty Images
THE brilliant Pink has told fans she spent New Year’s Eve in hospital having surgery on her neck.
Sharing a snap of herself from her hospital bed on Instagram, the So What singer, below, said: “I end the year giving reverence to, paying attention to, and to fixing my body.
“It may not be a fancy face lift, but I am getting two new shiny discs in my neck.
“A new scar – a reminder that I appreciate this vessel that I have and use it for all it’s worth.
“Rock ’n’ roll is a contact sport. And as I sit here by myself on New Year’s Eve in a hospital room while my family is happily snowboarding, I know that 2026 is going to be better because that is the choice that I have made.”
AFTER I revealed the Rolling Stones had cancelled their plans for a UK and European tour this year, Ronnie WOod says he just won’t be sitting at home and twiddling his thumbs.
Speaking at Jools Holland‘s Hootenanny, the guitar whizz said: “I just wanna play all the time, or paint. I have a big exhibition planned for the end of 2026 in Germany.”
NEW PIRATES? IT DEPPENDS
Johnny Depp could be set to star in another Pirates Of The Caribbean movieCredit: Alamy
THE fate of the Pirates Of The Caribbean franchise now rests in Johnny Depp‘s hands, it seems.
Talk of a sixth film has been swirling for years since the last instalment, Dead Men Tell No Tales, in 2017.
Now, actor Kevin McNally, who played seaman Joshamee Gibbs, has revealed the script is with Johnny, who starred as Jack Sparrow.
In an exclusive chat, Kevin said: “I would love to do a new Pirates movie. The only problem is that there are two realities in the world. There is reality, and there is social media.
“As far as social media is concerned, I started filming yesterday. As far as reality is concerned, tumbleweed, but I would love to be part of that again.
“The last two films weren’t great, but for me, if Johnny thinks it’s good enough and wants to do it, I will be there.”
While Kevin waits for the call, he is busy directing and starring in new sitcom Ketchup.
The series is based on author Joe Cawley’s More Ketchup Than Salsa memoirs and will follow a hapless British couple who attempt to run a bar on the Costa del Sol.
Salah delivered the corner from which Hugo Ekitike scored Liverpool‘s second goal in a 2-0 win at Anfield against Brighton and that was the cue for home fans to sing his chant.
He did a lap of the pitch at full-time in his final appearance before joining up with Egypt for the Africa Cup of Nations.
However, his comments after the Leeds game have put a question mark over his Liverpool future, especially with Saudi Pro League clubs interested in him and the January transfer window coming up.
Former Reds defender Jamie Carragher described Salah’s aside as a “disgrace”, while ex-Blackburn and Celtic striker Chris Sutton said the controversial remarks had caused “carnage” at the club.
Speaking before the Tottenham game, Slot said “we moved on” as he attempted to draw a line under the issue.
Jones added: “I get that there are certain ways you can go about things, but if a lad’s fine to just be on the bench and he doesn’t want to play and help the team, then I think that’s more of an issue.
“When there’s been any sort of anger from us, including myself, it’s always been from a good place.
“In the moment, it might not have come out in the right way, but it’s never been to affect the team, the staff, the manager, anybody like that.
“We’re past that now and we’re gelling well as a team, playing well and starting to win games.”
It was a game to remember for Londynn Jones. She played with confidence and showed her dribbling skills and displaying her all-around skills as she finished the game with a career-high 28 points in the USC women’s basketball team’s 86-39 win over Cal Poly on Thursday night at Galen Center.
In the first part of the game, Jones was perfect on offense while aggressively defending every time the Mustangs had the ball. When Cal Poly attacked, she came up with steals and completed the play with a field goal, sometimes even adding one more point on a foul.
“I’m just happy we’re figuring it out, starting to finally put the pieces together,” she said. “I know that’s something we’ve been emphasizing in practice, just watching films and putting the pieces together.”
Jones finished the game making 11 out of 16 field goals, and Jazzy Davidson scored 17 points and had nine rebounds.
The Trojans (8-3) looked sluggish in the first half, with Davidson making only three of 11 field goals, and the Mustangs (2-9) grabbing 15 rebounds. But as the game progressed, the USC defense forced Cal Poly to run out the shot clock on multiple occasions and caused 27 turnovers while scoring 39 points off of them.
“We sort of played the way we wanted to, for a majority of the game, and that’s encouraging,” coach Lindsay Gottlieb said.
After losing to Connecticut 79-51 on Saturday, Gottlieb wanted to see her team play with intention while defending, she wanted them to pressure on the ball, and she wanted to see participation from all the players on the court, at once.
Offensively, she wanted her team to do the simple things better. Gottlieb wanted them to create space and have better movement.
“I saw that in practice and I think we saw a lot of it in the game tonight, too,” she said. “But, it’ll continue to be a work in progress.
The Trojans started the third quarter with 10 unanswered points. Cal Poly scored only five points in the quarter, allowing the Trojans to extend their advantage, closing out the third quarter with a 43-point lead, 71-28.
The Trojans finished the game with 15 steals and the bench scoring 45 points. As a whole, the team finished the game with 44 rebounds, with the majority of them coming from the offense.
“I thought our defensive intensity created more open looks for us,” Gottlieb said.
Yakiya Milton was a big part of that with her eight rebounds with four blocks in 10 minutes of play. One of the four blocks came when she stopped a Mustang drive to the basket and protected the rim. Something that Gottlieb preached during practice, she said.
“I try to capitalize on any opportunity I’m given,” Milton said. “I’m trying to play with as much energy and intensity as I can.”
As the Trojans look ahead to a stretch of Big 10 games against Nebraska and UCLA, Gottlieb doesn’t see a starting five. She sees the strengths of her team to be how deep their roster is.
“No one played 30 minutes at all and maybe that’s a little bit atypical, but we do believe that we can play different kinds of lineups, different people who have different skill sets, different looks,” she said.
And with the help of Jones, who has been to the Final Four with UCLA and has played in big conference games, she knows the team will feed off her energy and play with confidence
“I mean, she was wearing the wrong colors or the other colors,” Gottlieb quipped. “But you know, she’s been in situations and that experience is premium.”
“She’s going to bring that confidence and swagger no matter what,” she added.
