Lucy Liu signs up for ‘Afro Samurai’

Lucy Liu signs up for ‘Afro Samurai’

SAN DIEGO — Lucy Liu is set to embrace her inner warrior.

The 39-year-old actress will lend her voice to “Afro Samurai: Resurrection,” a two-hour sequel to the animated series starring Samuel L. Jackson, Spike TV announced.

Liu will play Sio, a seductive and sadistic mastermind out to destroy Jackson’s samurai.

“When we first created the character of Sio, we knew that Lucy Liu would be perfect for the role,” said executive producer Leo Chu. “We thought we owed it to ourselves to at least ask her, never dreaming that she would say yes.”

Liu’s most recent animated outing was in this summer’s “Kung Fu Panda.” Other credits include “Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle” and TV shows such as “Ally McBeal” and “Cashmere Mafia.”

Mark Hamill is also slated to star in “Afro Samurai: Resurrection,” playing a servant and protector to Liu’s character. The movie is set to premiere on Spike TV in January.

Russell Brand to host MTV video awards show

NEW YORK — MTV is staking its brand on a lesser-known one: Russell Brand.

The British actor and comedian will host this year’s Video Music Awards, set to air live from Paramount Pictures Studios in Los Angeles on Sept. 7, MTV told The Associated Press last week.

Brand recently co-starred in the Judd Apatow-produced comedy “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” and the Reese Witherspoon-produced fairy tale “Penelope.” He is currently filming the Adam Sandler comedy “Bedtime Stories,” slated for release later this year.

Brand told the AP that he hadn’t started thinking about how he would approach the assignment — not that there’s much planning to be done for the infamously anything-goes show.

“I’ve just been invited to do it,” Brand said in a telephone interview from London. “It’ll be good to preside over what is sure to be only vaguely coordinated televised insanity.”

Today’s birthdays

TV producer Norman Lear is 86. Actor Jerry Van Dyke (“Coach”) is 77. Singer Bobbie Gentry is 64. Singer Maureen McGovern is 59. Singer Juliana Hatfield is 41. Comedian Maya Rudolph (“Saturday Night Live”) is 36. Singer Pete Yorn is 34.