the early-evening news

Sean Penn and Matt Damon to Milk It

Photo: Getty Images

Penn and Damon Make Milk Movie: Sean Penn and Matt Damon have signed on to play gay San Francisco politician Harvey Milk and his assassin in an upcoming Gus Van Sant–directed biopic. [HR]

Coldplay Promise Not to Annoy Us Too Much: Chris Martin and band have posted a note on their official Website that claims their forthcoming Brian Eno–produced fourth album will be “a short record … No more than 42 minutes.” Hey, Coldplay, zero is less than 42! [Official site]

Kids These Days: According to a source close to the situation, the nude photo of 18-year-old High School Musical star Vanessa Hudgens that surfaced on the Internet last week was taken “a couple of years ago” and intended for Nickelodeon star Drake Bell (and not her current boyfriend Zac Efron — scandal!). This is exactly why we need Kid Nation. [People]

Right About Now, Rent Fatboy Slim’s Yacht: Since sample-heavy MOR big-beat electronica hasn’t paid the bills since 1998, DJ Norman Cook (a.k.a. Fatboy Slim) is renting his 100-foot luxury yacht for $40,000 per week. [Daily Star]

Blur to Reunite: Since performing with a fake band of cartoon monkeys hasn’t paid the bills since 2005, Damon Albarn has asked former Blur guitarist Graham Coxon to rejoin the group for their first album since 2003’s Think Tank. [NME]

Just Because This Is Awesome: Here’s Dostoyevsky’s Crime and Punishment reimagined in comic-book form to include more Batman. [Again With the Comics]

Sean Penn and Matt Damon to Milk It