Filmmaker Rian Johnson has defended the portrayal of iconic "Star Wars" character Luke Skywalker in "The Last Jedi" after being criticised by a user on social media.
The "Knives Out" filmmaker, who helmed the penultimate movie in the beloved franchise's nine-part Skywalker saga, was accused of "destroying" the fan favourite character by a user on Twitter.
"This is the best written explanation I've seen of how (Johnson) completely destroys the character of #LukeSkywalker and almost derailed the franchise," the user wrote.
The man also hailed JJ Abrams, the director of latest instalment "The Rise of Skywalker", for undoing many of Johnson's creative decision.
Responding to the user, Johnson said it would be sad to reduce a hero to the level of a video game avatar and not explore his humanity.
"I understand that point of view but I completely disagree with it. In fact I think it disrespects the character of Luke by treating him not as a true mythic hero overcoming recurring wounds & ...

Rian Johnson stands by his treatment of Luke Skywalker in 'The Last Jedi'

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French actor Claudine Auger, best known for starring opposite Sean Connery in 1965 James Bond film "Thunderball", has passed away. She was 78.
The news of her death was shared by her talent agency Time Art, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Born on April 26, 1941 in the French capital, Auger started her career as a model at the age of 17. She represented her country at the Miss World in 1958, securing the first runners-up spot.
The same year, Auger started her film career with "Christine", in which she made a brief appearance opposite actors Romy Schneider and Alain Delon.
She followed it up with movies such as Jean Cocteau's "Testament Of Orpheus" (1960), "Le Masque de fer" (1962), "In the French Style" (1963) and "Yo Yo" (1965), among others.
Auger's international breakout moment came with "Thunderball" opposite Connery. She became the first French actor to feature as a Bond girl in the franchise and was later followed by the likes of Lea Seydoux, Eva Green, Sophie Marceau, ...

'Thunderball' star Claudine Auger dies at 78

Jane Fonda was arrested by the police for the fifth time for climate change protest here.
The Hollywood veteran recently started "Fire Drill Friday" initiative which involves weekly protests for climate change in Washington, DC.
On Friday, Fonda was taken into custody along with 137 other demonstrators inside the Hart Senate Office Building, reported The Washington Post.
Her latest arrest comes a day before she turns 82.
As she was shackled with plastic handcuffs by Capitol Police, the crowd broke out into a rendition of "Happy Birthday" as Fonda was being led away. The actor was released later in the night.
Fonda has been protesting weekly during her "Fire Drill Fridays" since announcing she was moving to Washington "to be closer to the epicenter of the fight for our climate." Her participation has ended in multiple arrests.
In Friday's protest, Fonda was joined by Rosanna Arquette, Gloria Steinem and Casey Willson.
Previously, Sally Fields, Ten Danson, Kyra Sedgwick and Diane Lane ..

Jane Fonda arrested for fifth time

"Spider-Man: Far From Home" star Marisa Tomei has boarded the cast of Netflix's revenge action film "Sweet Girl", starring Jason Momoa in the lead.
To be directed by debutante filmmaker Brian Andrew Mendoza, the film is about a grieving husband (Momoa) who vows to bring justice to the perpetrators of his wife's death, while protecting the only family he has left, his daughter, the streamer said in a statement.
Tomei, 55, will portray a US senator, while Isabela Merced will essay the role of Momoa's daughter.
The film's cast also includes actors Adria Arjona and Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, who most recently featured in Netflix actioner "6 Underground", as well as Justin Bartha, among others.
Brad Peyton and Jeff Fierson, who worked on Momoa's "Frontier" series, will back the project via their ASAP Entertainment banner, along with and Momoa and Mendoza.
Gregg Hurwitz and Philip Eisner have written the screenplay, with Will Staples revising the latest draft.
Martin Kistler is attached to ...

Jason Momoa's revenge drama 'Sweet Girl' adds Marsa Tomei

Academy Award winner Olivia Colman will topline Sky and HBO's upcoming crime drama series, "Landscapers".
The show will be directed by Alexander Payne, the Oscar-winning director of "The Descendants" and "Downsizing".
Colman's husband, Ed Sinclair will pen the teleplay, Sky said in a statement.
The 45-year-old actor, who most recently featured in the third season of Netflix's "The Crown", will portray Susan Edwards, who along with her husband Christopher, were convicted of killing her parents. The couple had buried their bodies in the back garden of their Mansfield home.
The crime remained undiscovered for over a decade. The series is based on hours of interviews of the couple who have always maintained their innocence.
"I love Ed's scripts, which is just as well as he cooks many of my meals. No, the truth is it's quite rare to be desperate to play a part on the first reading of a script, but that was the case here. The writing is brave, but subtle and tender too - a joy for any ...

Olivia Colman to star in Sky, HBO series 'Landscapers'

Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, whose downfall started the global #MeToo movement, has been accused of sexually assaulting a former model when she was 16 years old.
A new lawsuit against the disgraced producer, who is trying to settle multiple claims of sexual abuse in a USD 25 million deal, claims that Weinstein assaulted Kaja Sokola, who came to the US from Poland to work as a model in 2002, the Hollywood Reporter said.
Sokola said she was introduced to the producer at an event related to her agency. Weinstein asked her to lunch, saying he will help her in acting.
She agreed for the lunch but alleges his driver brought them to Weinstein's apartment instead. There, she claims "he terrified and sexually abused her."
Sokola claims that prior to the assault, Weinstein told her to succeed as an actress "she would have to be comfortable doing whatever the director told her to do  including losing her inhibitions and getting naked" and afterward insisted "what had just happened was ...

Harvey Weinstein accused of sexually assaulting teen model in new lawsuit

Hollywood star Channing Tatum and singer Jessie J have reportedly broken up after a year of dating.
The couple, who started dating in October 2018, have reportedly gone their separate ways.
"There wasn't any drama. They just decided to part ways and are still good friends," a source told People magazine.
Another source close to the couple told the outlet that they broke up as they have "different priorities and focuses that don't really align".
"They had a fun relationship, but it just didn't work out. Channing needs to be in LA a lot so he can spend time with Everly. Jessie prefers England. They are still friendly though," it added.
Tatum started dating Jessie after his split from Jenna Dewan, his wife of 11 years. They ex-couple have a daughter.
Jessie was previously in a relationship with American singer Luke James which ended in 2015.

Channing Tatum, Jessie J call it quits

As someone who has made a space for himself in Hollywood by playing the Superman and a rogue CIA agent in "Mission Impossible: Fallout", Henry Cavill is not afraid of long-term commitment to fantasy drama "The Witcher", which marks his streaming debut.
Cavill actively pursued the role of Geralt of Rivia, a supernaturally-gifted beast hunter in the Netflix series, based on the books and stories of Polish writer Andrzej Sapkowski.
Created by Lauren Schmidt Hissrich, the fantasy show started streaming on Netflix from Friday. It has already been renewed for a second season by the streamer.
"I don't mind long-term commitments. It would be wonderful if that happens (multiple seasons). Geralt is a very important character for me and I'm a huge fan of the IP (Intellectual Property). If fans enjoy what we are providing, then I'll be very excited to play Geralt for many years," Cavill told PTI in an exclusive interview from Manila.
The 36-year-old actor said fantasy was one of the reasons for ..

Henry Cavill says he's up for multiple seasons of The Witcher'

Veteran actor Dr Shriram Lagoo was cremated with full state honours at the Vaikunth crematorium here on Friday.
Several prominent personalities from diverse fields, including theatre, films and politics, and thousands of others gathered at the cremation ground to pay their last respects to the actor.
Lagoo's son Anand lit the funeral pyre.
The 92-year-old theatre stalwart died at his Pune residence on Tuesday evening after suffering a cardiac arrest.
Before being cremated, the mortal remains of Dr Lagoo were kept at Balgandharv Auditorium here, where a number of people turned up to pay homage. Actor Nana Patekar, MNS chief Raj Thackeray, Pune MP Girish Bapat, state minister Subhash  Desai were some of them.
Born in Satara in 1927 and trained as an ENT surgeon by profession, Lagoo played an important role in the growth of theatre movement in Maharashtra and was known for his progressive and rationalist views.
After quitting practice and becoming a full-time actor, he tasted commercial .

Veteran actor Shriram Lagoo cremated with full state honours

James Cameron says "Avengers: Endgame" should enjoy its moment under the spotlight but when "Avatar 2" comes, he will reclaim the top spot of the highest grossing feature film.
In July, the superhero film became the world's highest grossing movie by earning USD 2.796 billion at the box office, breaking the long standing record set by Cameron's films "Titanic" and "Avatar".
"I think it's a certainty," Cameron told USA Today about "Avatar 2" eventually passing "Avengers" in theatres.
"But let's give 'Endgame' their moment and let's celebrate that people are going to the movie theatre," he added.
Cameron said he "really enjoyed" the superhero tentpole from Marvel Studios but at the same time, he believes the film edged out "Avatar" by "one quarter of a per cent".
"I don't want to sound snarky after I took the high road (by offering congratulations). But they beat us by one quarter of a percent. I did the math in my head while driving in this morning. I think accountants call that a ...

Let's give 'Endgame' their moment: James Cameron confident of 'Avatar 2' breaking records

The first trailer of Christopher Nolan's "Tenet" has dropped and it seems the ace filmmaker is fiddling with time once again.
The film is being billed as a globetrotting game of international espionage and features a star-studded cast of John David Washington, Robert Pattinson, Elizabeth Debicki, Dimple Kapadia, Michael Caine, Kenneth Branagh and Clemence Poesy.
The trailer, which studio Warner Bros shared on the social media on Thursday, opens with Washington and Pattinson scaling up a building.
In a later shot, Washington, who as per Nolan is the hero of the film, is then welcomed into group called "Afterlife" that is trying to prevent the "World War III".
And this threat is much worse than the nuclear holocaust.
"All I have for you is Tenet," says the man who welcomed Washington as he is trying to understand the nature of the game he is getting into.
The trailer then gives a glimpse of Debicki as well as Nolan's former collaborators -- Caine and Branagh, who seems to be playing the 

'Tenet' trailer: Christopher Nolan's back with his time shenanigans in international spy epic

Singer Camila Cabello has apologised for using offensive language when she was younger, days after screenshots of her racist memes and videos surfaced on social media.
The memes and video were posted by Cabello on her now-deactivated Tumblr account. A user started a Twitter thread, posting various screenshots of the racist statements made by the singer.
After an uproar, Cabello posted an apology on Twitter, saying she is "deeply ashamed" of the videos that she made when she was a teenager.
"When I was younger, I used language that I'm deeply ashamed of and will regret forever. I was uneducated and ignorant and once I became aware of the history and the weight and the true meaning behind this horrible language, I was deeply embarrassed I ever used it. I apologised then and I apologise again now," the "Havana" singer said.
"I would never intentionally hurt anyone and I regret it from the bottom of my heart. As much as I wish I could, I can't go back in time and change things I said in ..

Camila Cabello apologises for 'horrible and hurtful' racist language

Oscar winner Adrien Brody will headline Epix's series adaptation of Stephen King's short story "Jerusalem's Lot".
According to Variety, the network has given a series order to show and production will start in May 2020.
The series, set in 1850s, will follow Captain Charles Boone (Brody), who relocates his family of three children to his ancestral home in the small, seemingly sleepy town of Preacher's Corners, Maine after his wife dies at sea.
However, Charles will soon have to confront the secrets of his family's sordid history, and fight to end the darkness that has plagued the Boones for generations.
"Jerusalem's Lot" will be executive produced by Donald De Line, alongside Jason Filardi and Peter Filardi, who are also serving as showrunners.

Adrien Brody to star in 'Jerusalem's Lot' adaptation at Epix

Director Nisha Ganatra is set to direct a film about an Indian boy band, inspired by the life of music producer and songwriter Savan Kotecha.
Ganatra most recently directed the Mindy Kaling and Emma Thompson-starrer "Late Night", which earned her rave reviews from the critics.
As per Deadline, the new film is set up at Universal and will be produced by Marc Platt Productions.
Kotecha, who has collaborated with some of the biggest names from the music industry including Ariana Grande, Katy Perry and The Weeknd, will also produce and oversee original music for the film.
Sanjay Shah is writing the screenplay.
Jacob Epstein, Zack Morgenroth, and Aleen Keshishian will executive produce alongside Sonny Takhar.

'Late Night' director Nisha Ganatra to helm Indian boy band movie

Actor Tyrese Gibson has boarded the cast of Netflix's "The Christmas Chronicles 2".
The film is a sequel to 2018's "The Christmas Chronicles", which featured veteran actor Kurt Russell as Santa Claus. His wife, actor Goldie Hawn, made a brief appearance in the movie as Mrs Claus.
Chris Columbus, who produced the first part, has co-written the script for the follow-up. He is also taking over the directing duties from Clay Kaytis, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Russell and Hawn will reprise their characters in the sequel. Darby Camp, Kimberly Williams-Paisley and Judah Lewis are also coming back.
The sequel will follow Camp's character, Kate, a little snowflake of a believer but now a cynical teenager, who is unexpectedly reunited with Santa when a mysterious and magical being named Belsnickel threatens to destroy Christmas forever.
Gibson will portray the boyfriend of Williams-Paisley, who plays the mother of Kate and her brother Teddy (Lewis).
Besides Gibson, actor Darlene Love .

Kurt Russell's 'The Christmas Chronicles 2' adds Tyrese Gibson

Organisers wanted to make it clear the 99th Miss America competition isn't your grandmother's beauty pageant, and their winner did just that on Thursday.
Virginia biochemist Camille Schrier won the crown just minutes after wowing the crowd with science. Dressed in a lab coat, she gave a colourful chemistry demonstration of the catalytic decomposition of hydrogen peroxide.
Schrier said she hopes to "break stereotypes about what it means to be a Miss America in 2020" by being a "woman of science".
No longer called contestants, the 51 women "candidates", who hailed from all 50 states and the District of Columbia, competed for a USD 50,000 scholarship and the "job" of Miss America, a one-year paid position they hope to use as a public platform for their "social impact initiative".
For the second year in a row, women will not be judged in a swimsuit or how they look in an evening gown. Instead, a series of interviews and talent demonstrations will determine who is best qualified to wear ...

Virginia biochemist Camille Schrier is crowned Miss America

As the hunger strike by a group of  FTII students over the fee hike by the acting institute  entered the fourth day on Thursday, their association demanded  immediate intervention of Information and Broadcasting  Minister Prakash Javadekar to resolve the issue.
Four Film & Television Institute of India (FTII)  student leaders - Aadhith V Sathwin, Vivek Allaka, Rajarshi  Mujumdar and P R Manikandan - are on a hunger strike since  Monday to protest the 10 per cent yearly fee hike and also the  "exorbitant" entrance exam charge, and demanding a roll-back.
The FTII Students Association (FSA), in a statement  here, said two more students joined the indefinite hunger  strike on Thursday "in response to the authorities turning a  blind eye towards their concerns".
It expressed concern over the failing health of the  agitating students and demanded Javadekar's intervention on  the issue of tuition and entrance exam fees hike.
The administration of city-based FTII, an academic  institute ...

FTII: 2 more join hunger stir; minister's intervention sought

The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences is contemplating about whether or not to go hostless for a second consecutive year.
A source told Variety the AMPAS and broadcaster ABC are currently exploring a compromise solution between having a top Hollywood name as host or choosing no one to emcee.
This year, the Academy went without a host after controversy around actor-comic Kevin Hart's past homophobic remarks resulted in him stepping down.
Different set of Hollywood names presented different categories, resulting telecast received strong reviews and solid ratings.
Oscars 2020 will air on February 9.

To go hostless or not: Question for Oscars 2020

Producer Julie Plec, best known for "The Vampire Diaries", is heading to forthcoming streamer HBO Max with an adaptation of author Melissa de la Cruz's book "Beach Lane".
The young adult drama will follow three local teens who work in the Hamptons' estates and exclusive beach clubs during one magical summer as their lives and hearts become increasingly intertwined with wealthy families who swoop in from the city for the season.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Erin Cardillo and Richard Keith will write the show and executive produce alongside Plec.
The project reunites Plec with producers Alloy Entertainment who also backed "The Vampire Diaries" and its spin-offs/prequel "The Originals" and "Legacies".
Actor Jenna Dewan will also exec produce via her Everheart Productions banner.

Julie Plec developing 'The Beach' young adult drama

Hollywood star Freida Pinto will topline the series adaptation of former US Marine captain Anuradha Bhagwati's memoir.
The book, "Unbecoming: A Story of Disobedience", was published in March this year and chronicles her journey from dutiful daughter of immigrants parent to radical activist effecting historic policy reform.
"Bhagwati spurned graduate school to join the Marines, but once there her GI Jane fantasy was deflated. As a bisexual woman of colour in the military, she ran up against misogyny, sexual violence and racism while pushing herself through the Corps' grueling Officer Candidates School.
"Following the end of her service, Bhagwati founded the Service Women's Action Network, which has brought attention to sexual violence in the military and pushed to repeal the ban on women in combat," the official logline read.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the 35-year-old actor will also produce the show which is set up at indie studio Entertainment One.
Besider her, the show ...

Freida Pinto to headline military drama series based on Anuradha Bhagwati's memoir

Awkwafina, Cynthia Erivo, Florence Pugh and Beanie Feldstein are among the emerging talents from Hollywood who will be honoured with the Virtuoso Award at the 2020 edition of Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF).
Besides the four, actors Taron Egerton, Aldis Hodge, George MacKay, and Taylor Russell will also received the honour.
They will receive awards on January 18 at Arlington Theatre in Santa Barbara, California, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The presentation will be moderated by Turner Classic Movies host Dave Karger.
"What they all have in common is that they shined in their respective films this year. They're the perfect additions to our exciting evening in Santa Barbara," Karger said.
Previous recipients of the Virtuoso Award include Claire Foy, Richard E. Grant, Thomasin Harcourt McKenzie, John David Washington, Timothee Chalamet, John Boyega, Mary J Blige, Daniel Kaluuya, Kumail Nanjiani, Dev Patel, Mahershala Ali, Saoirse Ronan, Casey Affleck, Viola ...

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