Michael Jackson's family has defended the singer days before the premiere of the explosive HBO docuseries "Leaving Neverland", which focuses on longtime accusations of child sex abuse against Jackson.
The family said the documentary, which had its premiere at Sundance to great critical reviews, is an attempt at cashing in money from the late singer's estate.
The kin -- elder brothers Jackie, Marlon and nephew Taj -- came forward in Jackson's support and said his "naivete was his downfall" in a clip from an interview with Gayle King on "CBS This Morning".
The four-part documentary, directed and produced by Dan Reed, revolves around Wade Robson, 36, and James Safechuck, 40, who were close to Jackson and had sleepovers at his Neverland ranch when they were minors.
Taj said the singer's "sleepovers" with children had nothing odd about them.
"You know, I think, to the outside world, yes, I think it can be odd. I mean, I'm not oblivious to what it sounds like. But when you're actually there 

'Leaving Neverland' claims 'all about money': Michael Jackson's family

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Oscar-winning Mexican filmmaker Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu will preside over the jury of the official selection competition at Cannes this year, the festival announced Wednesday.
It is for the first time that a Mexican filmmaker is headlining the jury at the prestigious festival, which will run from May 13-25.
"Cannes is a festival that has been important to me since the beginning of my career. I am humbled and thrilled to return this year with the immense honour of presiding over the Jury," the "Birdman" director said in a statement, posted on the official website of the festival.
Cannes has played an instrumental role in Inarritu's career. His 2000 international hit "Amores Perros" won the Critics' Week sidebar.
Inarritu was awarded the best director honour for his 2006 film "Babel" in the festival. He returned to the festival with "Biutiful" in 2010 and in 2017 with his virtual reality film "Carne y Arena".
"Cinema runs through the veins of the planet and this festival has been ...

Mexican filmmaker Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu to head Cannes competition jury

Nathan Lane has joined Showtime's upcoming drama series "Penny Dreadful: City of Angels".
According to EW, the actor will play Lewis Michener, a wise and ruthless LAPD veteran who is the partner-mentor of the central character, Detective Tiago Vega.
Daniel Zovatto is attached to Vega.
Described as a spiritual descendant of the original "Penny Dreadful," the new series opens in 1938 Los Angeles.
When a grisly murder shocks the city, Detective Tiago Vega is embroiled in a story that reflects the history of Los Angeles: from the building of the city's first freeways and its deep traditions of Mexican-American folklore, to the dangerous espionage actions of the Third Reich and the rise of radio evangelism.
According to a press release, "Penny Dreadful: City of Angels explores an exciting mix of the supernatural and the combustible reality of the period, creating new occult myths and moral dilemmas within a genuine historical backdrop. This chapter is a bold new vision that will employ all 

Nathan Lane cast in 'Penny Dreadful: City of Angels'

After "Stree", Rajkummar Rao is set to star in another horror comedy, "Rooh-Afza".
The film revolves around a singing ghost who puts grooms to sleep so it can possess their brides.
Every time there is a wedding in town, local women come together to keep the groom awake through the first night in a bid to avoid the wrath of the ghost, read a press release.
Co-produced by "Stree" producer Dinesh Vijan and Mrighdeep Lamba, director of the "Fukrey" franchise, "Rooh-Afza" features Rajkummar in the lead along with Varun Sharma.
The film will be set in Uttar Pradesh's Moradabad and will see another ghost trying to capture newly-wed men.
The leading lady and director will soon be finalised.

Rajkummar Rao's next a horror comedy titled 'Rooh-Afza'

Sony has booked a 2021 Christmas release date for the fourth chapter in the "Hotel Transylvania" franchise.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the CG-animated picture has been green-lit and will open December 22, 2012.
This is the first time the studio has gone for a date in the year-end holidays.
"Hotel Transylvania 4" will clash with Universal's "Wicked" and less than a week after "Avatar 3" hits the screens on December 17.
Featuring Adam Sandler as Count Dracula, the last installment, "Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation", grossed the highest USD 528.6 million following its release last July.
The series consists of an ensemble cast, also led by the voices of Andy Samberg and Selena Gomez.

'Hotel Transylvania 4' locks 2021 Christmas release date

"Shazam!" actor Zachary Levy has come out in defence of Brie Larson-fronted "Captain Marvel", which has been hit with fake reviews online, saying there is no competition between the two films.
Larson's movie, which is set to bow out on March 8, has been subjected to fake reviews on the site Rotten Tomatoes with many people pitting the Marvel movie against Levy's "Shazam!".
In a video message, currently being circulated on social media, Levy expressed his disappointment over the "fictitious" posts against Larson and her film, which he described as "inflammatory" and "defamatory".
"There are people out there making inflammatory, defamatory, and completely fictitious like reviews and posts of Brie Larson's 'Captain Marvel' and trying to pit 'Shazam!' against it, you know saying they're going to support us and not them, because of things that by the way they are making up - things that they're saying, they saw some screening and this, that or the other is in the movie.
"I just found this .

Zachary Levy bats for 'Captain Marvel' after film is hit with fake reviews

Woody Harrelson says playing himself in "Lost in London" was "one of the least likable characters" he ever took up.
The 2017 film, written and directed by Harrelson, recounted an infamous 2002 incident when he had landed in jail for breaking the ashtray in a taxi after a heavy night-out drinking in a London club.
In an interview with Metro, the 57-year-old actor described the one-shot film, which was broadcast live into cinemas, as "wonderfully liberating".
"This is probably one of the least likable characters I've ever played and I'm playing me. So I wish I had made some reason to like him a little more," Harrelson said.
"I gotta say it was something so wonderfully liberating about everything working out. You get a shot at redemption. It's a pretty glorious thing because what it taught me, and what the theme of the movie is, is that you've gotta feel pretty lucky for what you have you know? I was made aware of how lucky I was and hopefully I haven't taken it lightly since then," he ..

One of the least likeable characters: Harrelson on playing himself in 'Lost in London'

Ellen Page has revealed that after she found fame, she was asked by people in Hollywood to hide her sexuality.
The 32-year-old actor, who is married to Emma Portner, became a known face in Hollywood after she starred in films such as "Juno", "Inception" and "X-Men: The Last Stand". She came out a homosexual in 2014.
In an interview with Net-A-Porter, Page said she was initially directed by the people in the industry to never talk about her sexual orientation in public domain.
"I was distinctly told, by people in the industry, when I started to become known: 'People cannot know you're gay'. And I was pressured  forced, in many cases  to always wear dresses and heels for events and photo shoots.
"As if lesbians don't wear dresses and heels. But I will never let anyone put me in anything I feel uncomfortable in ever again," she said.
Page is a vocal advocate for LGBTQ issues and had most recently called out Chris Pratt for following an "infamously anti-LGBTQ church".

Ellen Page says she was told to refrain from revealing her sexuality

Kevin Feige has revealed the Marvel series on Disney's upcoming streaming service, Disney+ will be connected to the overall Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The company had recently green-lit a stand-alone series based on popular Marvel comics character Loki, played by British star Tom Hiddleston in the MCU.
The studio is reported to be planning similar shows on characters such as Scarlett Witch, Winter Soldier and Falcon.
Feige said the proposed show will be a Marvel Studios production.
"These will be Marvel Studios productions. They will be entirely interwoven with both the current MCU, the past MCU, and the future of the MCU," the Marvel Studios head told ComicBook.com.
When asked about the future production from the studio after the release of "Spider-Man: Far From Home", Feige said, "As we've been doing for years, (we) aren't going to announce anything post 'Avengers: Endgame' or 'Spider-Man: Far From Home' until post 'Endgame' and 'Spider-Man'."
"Avengers: Endgame" will hit worldwide .

Kevin Feige says Disney+ Marvel shows will be connected to MCU

The Pakistan government on Tuesday said no film from India will release in the country as it has called for a ban on Indian content after the Indian air force destroyed a terror training camp in Balakot.
The country's information and broadcasting minister Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said the country's film exhibitors association will be boycotting the Indian films.
He also said that he has instructed the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) to crack down on "made-in-India advertisements".
"Cinema Exhibitors Association has boycotted Indian content, no Indian movie will be released in Pakistan. Also have instructed PEMRA to act against Made in India Advertisements. #PakistanTayarHai" Hussain tweeted.
The minister's comments came on a day when India bombed and destroyed Jaish-e-Mohammed's (JeM) biggest training camp in Balakot in Pakistan's restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, about 80-km from the Line of Control (LoC).
The bombing resulted in killing of a "very large ...

Indian films will not release in Pakistan: Pak govt after Indian air strikes

Singer Ariana Grande will be headlining the LGBTQ festival Manchester Pride in the UK this year.
According to BBC, the gig will mark the pop star's first show in the city since she performed at her One Love Manchester charity concert that took place in the aftermath of the suicide attack at her Manchester Arena gig.
The festival recently released its official 2019 lineup which also features British synth-pop band Years & Years and a number of LGBTQ artistes.
Grande had previously said she would be doing a "a special show" in Manchester as part of her European tour in August.
"We are of course coming and we love you," she told fans in Manchester in December when the other tour dates were announced.

Ariana Grande to headline LGBTQ festival Manchester Pride 2019

"Grey's Anatomy" star Ellen Pompeo's husband, music producer Chris Ivery has revealed he quit watching the hit medical drama as his wife's romantic scenes made him feel "awkward".
Ivery said Pompeo's character, Dr Meredith Grey currently has a new lover in Giacomo Gianniotti's Dr Andrew DeLuca - someone he knows in real life.
"There was a time back in the day that I watched it a lot, but then I didn't know if she had a lover," he told Us Weekly.
"I would say I'm not jealous. I'm really confident. But it's awkward. She's acting, but now she's got this new lover, which I know him, Giacomo. He's a great guy. I actually like him. And to be honest, I haven't watched those scenes because I feel like it can be awkward," he added.
Pompeo, who leads the one of the longest-running TV dramas, is also attached as producer. The actor made her directorial debut on the 13th season of the show (episode 18).
"Grey's Anatomy" is currently in its season 15.

Ellen Pompeo's husband reveals why he stopped watching 'Grey's Anatomy'

The Oscars have improved their ratings with a surge of 3.1 million or 13 per cent in viewership, courtesy a razor-tight runtime, performances from members of Queen and Lady Gaga and presence of films like "Black Panther" and "Bohemian Rhapsody" in Best Picture category.
The ABC Network said the 91st Academy Awards attracted 29.6 million viewers and clocked a rating of 7.7 in adult 18-49 demography.
In a statement, the network also said the Oscars, touted US TV's biggest awards show, stood well above other key award shows this year -- the Grammys and the Golden Globes.
The Grammys, held earlier this month, were viewed by 19.9 million viewers and had a rating of 5.6, while the Golden Globes clocked 18.6 million viewers with a 5.2 rating.
The 2019 edition is therefore US TV's most watched entertainment telecast in two years, and the first rise in viewership since Ellen DeGeneres hosted the awards in 2014.
The 2018 ceremony had marked the lowest point for the Oscars in its history with ...

Oscar ratings improve for first time in 5 years with 29.6 million viewers

French prosecutors have dropped a preliminary investigation into the allegations of rape against filmmaker Luc Besson.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the public prosecutor's office said on Monday that the investigation was dropped due to lack of evidence.
In May 2018, Besson, known for movies like "Leon: The Professional," and "Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets", was accused of raping a woman in France.
The complaint was filed by actor Dutch-Belgian actor Sand Van Roy at a Paris police station, saying that she had been repeatedly raped by the 59-year-old director during an on-off relationship.
The filmmaker's lawyers also confirmed the news.
"Mr. Luc Besson has satisfactorily noted the decision of the Prosecutor to dismiss the charges brought by Ms. Sand Van Roy, which he has always formally denied. This decision comes after a very thorough survey conducted by the prosecutor with which he fully cooperated," they said.
Besson had previously "flatly" denied the ...

French Prosecutors drops rape case against director Luc Besson

Sridevi's last theatrical outing "Mom" is set to hit the theatres in China on March 22, 2019.
The announcement comes barely two days after the late actor's first death anniversary.
Sridevi's husband, producer Boney Kapoor made the announcement Tuesday and said they wanted to showcase the actor's "most remembered last film" in the neighbouring country.
"'Mom' is a film that has connected with both, mothers and audiences, from every region. This is Sri's last film and our aim is to tell this beautiful story and showcase her most remembered last film to as many people as possible.
"Zee Studios International has been a part of 'Mom's success since day one and I am glad to see them take this film to heights even two years after its release," Kapoor said in a statement.
The Ravi Udyawar-directed revenge thriller follows a mother (Sridevi) who avenges a crime committed against her stepdaughter.
Sridevi was honoured posthumously with a Best Actress National Film Award for her performance in ..

Sridevi's 'Mom' to release in China on March 22

Pankaj Tripathi is set to return as the mysterious Guruji in the second season of "Sacred Games" and the actor says the scale of the hit crime-thriller web series is huge.
Guruji will play a pivotal role in unfolding a chain of events that shape the highly anticipated season, which was shot in India and overseas.
When asked about season two of the show, Pankaj told PTI, "As an actor, I can't talk in detail about the show. I've been asked not to. But yes, I can definitely say that the scale of the show is huge this time.
"The writing is fantastic and the show will be very interesting."
The first season of Netflix's first India original was directed by Anurag Kashyap and Vikramaditya Motwane. It featured Saif Ali Khan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui in the lead.
The sophomore season of the series, based on author Vikram Chandra's novel of the same name, will pick up from Sartaj Singh (Khan) pursuing his relentless battle of saving the city and Ganesh Gaitonde (Siddiqui) facing bigger challenges 

Scale of 'Sacred Games 2' huge: Pankaj Tripathi

Lata Mangeshkar, Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar are some of the Indian film personalities who have hailed the Indian armed forces for carrying out air strike on terror launch pads in Pakistan on Tuesday.
The strike comes amid heightened tension between India and Pakistan following the February 14 suicide attack by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad terror group in Kashmir's Pulwama district that killed 40 CRPF soldiers.
The celebrities took to social media to share their reactions.
"I have been watching since morning and I'm very happy that our armed forces are so prepared and strong. I always say that India is there because of our armed forces. We live in this country and are very fortunate," Mangeshkar told a news channel.
"Respect @IAF_MCC Indian Air Force... Jai ho !!!" Salman wrote on Twitter.
Kumar said he is proud of the Indian Air Force for "destroying terror camps".
"Enter their territory and hit them! Quiet no more! #IndiaStrikesBack," he wrote on Twitter.
Ajay Devgn praised the .

Indian film personalities hail IAF air strike in Pakistan

Filmmaker Srijit Mukherji is set  to make a biopic on Swapna Barman, the heptathlete who did the  nation proud by winning gold at the 2018 Asian Games.
Actor Sohini Sarkar has been roped in to play the role  of Barman in the yet-to-be-titled film, Mukherji told  reporters here.
Sarkar, who had received acclaim for her performance  in 'Durga Sahay' and 'Criss Cross', will begin a "rigorous  workshop" to prepare herself for the role, he said.
"The film will focus on her life, struggles and  achievements. Swapna has made the nation proud at a young age.  From her humble beginning at Jalpaiguri, she could come this  far only with support of her parents, her grit and  determination," Mukherji explained.
Born with six toes on each foot, Barman hails from a  financially downtrodden family at Jalpaiguri in West Bengal,  where her mother worked for a tea estate and her father  Panchanan Barman was a rickshaw-puller.
The national award-winning director said that he has  spoken to Barman's ...

Srijit to make biopic on heptathlete Swapna Barman

Rami Malek says he grew up in a world where he never thought he would ever get a chance to play leading parts because people onscreen did not look like him.
The actor, who broke out with TV show "Mr Robot", said his immigrant roots helped him identify with Freddie Mercury in "Bohemian Rhapsody", a role that helped him win his first Best Actor Oscar.
Mercury, whose real name was Farrokh Bulsara, was of Parsi descent and spent his formative years in India before the family shifted to Britain. Malek's parents hails from Egypt.
"I grew up in a world where I never thought I was going to play the lead on 'Mr Robot' because I never saw anyone in a lead role that looked like me. I never thought that I could possibly play Freddie Mercury until I realised his name was Farrokh Bulsara, and that is the most powerful message that was sent to me from the beginning," Malek told reporters backstage after his Oscar win.
The 37-year-old actor said after knowing about Mercury's immigrant past, he ...

I felt like an outsider while growing up: Rami Malek on immigrant roots

"Sex and The City" star Kim Cattrall is returning to the small screen in another lead role.
The actor, who has been low key with her acting jobs in recent years, is headlining a Gothic dramedy from Fox called "Filthy Rich".
According to TheWrap, "The Help" director Tate Taylor is attached to helm the project.
Set in the American South, the show will focus on two women fiercely devoted to their families.
"When the wealthy CEO of the world's largest Christian network dies in a plane crash, his wife and adult children are stunned to discover he has grown, illegitimate kids who are also in his will.
"When the steel azalea matriarch of the family tries to pay them to go away, these newly legitimised heirs have very different ideas and insist on not only staying in town, but becoming part of the family empire," the synopsis read.
Cattrall was last seen in Swedish show "Modus" and web series "Tell Me a Story".

Kim Cattrall making comeback on TV

Filmmaker Pradeep Sarkar says he is still waiting for the right script to approach actor Vidya Balan, who made her debut with his film "Parineeta" in 2005.
There were reports that the director has approached her for a film on Binodini Dasi, a 19th century courtesan, who went on to reign the theatre scene in Kolkata for a decade.
When asked about that, Sarkar said he hasn't discussed that project with Vidya.
"In fact, we had discussed a film called Devi Chaudhurani long time back, not now. But nothing happened on that front. As of now, I have not really discussed a new idea with her. I haven't come up with a subject like that," Sarkar told PTI.
The filmmaker, who last helmed Kajol starrer "Helicopter Eela", will soon announce a film project.
"I am working on two-three scripts and projects together. I am running really mad handling them. I will soon make an announcement on what I'm working on."
Sarkar has currently shot "Neel Samandar", a music video featuring Richa Chadha and Ankit ...

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