Las Vegas Weekly

August 19, 2010 · 9:10 AM

Photos: T.I. and Hayden Christensen steal Takers red carpet

By Don Chareunsy

Michael Ealy, Hayden Christensen, producer Will Packer, T.I. and Jay Hernandez at the Las Vegas premiere of Takers at Lagasse's Stadium in the Palazzo on Aug. 17, 2010.

Photo: ImagesofVegas.com/IS Photography/Robyn Andrzejczack

By Don Chareunsy, Vegas DeLuxe editor

It wasn’t a typical Tuesday summer night on The Strip sidewalk in front of Lagasse’s Stadium in the Palazzo, as the crowd gathered was loud, excited and a bit unruly. What was typical: It was very hot and humid.

Hot because of the weather and hot because stars of the new bank heist film Takers directed by John Luessenhop hit the red carpet to the delight of film and music fans. The first star arrived about 10:45 p.m., and the evening’s cast included Luessenhop and Takers actors Tip “T.I.” Harris, Hayden Christensen, Jay Hernandez, Michael Ealy and Idris Elba.

Takers, a film about professional bank robbers who specialize in big robberies and are enlisted for one final job by a recently paroled colleague, also stars Matt Dillon, Paul Walker, Zoe Saldana, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Chris Brown and Johnathon Schaech.

Luessenhop said he was impressed with Brown. “He did all his own stunts. He didn’t want a stand-in.” The helmer is a big fan of Las Vegas and would like to do a sequel here. “I love Las Vegas. It has everything for a movie. It has everything these guys like in the movie.”

The crowd erupted when Brown’s name was announced as a star of the film and when T.I. arrived at the end of the night with a cigar in hand. Takers producer Will Packer and Peepshow star Josh Strickland also were on the red carpet, as was America’s Got Talent finalists Recycled Percussion, who literally generated sparks with a blowtorch and helmet. (T.I., Brown and Morris Chestnut are among the film’s executive producers alongside Packer.)

Christensen stopped for 2 seconds to pose for photographs at the end of the red carpet but did take a moment to wave to fans and autograph a large Takers poster held by a fan on the sidewalk.

Like the red carpet, Christensen made a drive-by appearance at the screening after-party at Lagasse’s Stadium, leaving about 20 minutes before midnight, as he had something else on his mind. As he headed toward the elevators with his small entourage and a security guard, he said, “I’m ready for the blackjack tables!”

Stephanie Pratt of The Hills walked the red carpet and then hopped upstairs to Lavo to celebrate her Runway magazine cover as part of MAGIC Fashion Week, and contributing photographer Scott Harrison captured her in sharp focus. The red carpet followed a screening of Takers at Rave Motion Pictures in Town Square.

Christensen and Hernandez were spotted in the Palazzo playing blackjack before the red carpet. All the Takers stars and crew on the red carpet were male -- no Saldana or Jean-Baptiste -- and most of them wore jackets in the sweltering heat. “Man, it’s hot,” Hernandez declared in the understatement of the night.

Judging by the crowd’s reaction to the celebrities, the fans felt the same way. Takers arrives in theaters Aug. 27.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.

Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.

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