Page 31 - Entertainment Culture

Tracee Ellis Ross to play lead in 'Daria' spinoff 'Jodie'

Actor Tracee Ellis Ross will voice the lead role in "Jodie", an animated comedy spin-off of "Daria". According The Hollywood Reporter, "Jodie" will be first in a series of spin-offs slated by Viacom's cable network MTV Studios. The show, which was previously titled "Daria and Jodie", revolves around two friends who deconstruct pop culture, social classes, gender and race. It is written by Grace Nkenge Edwards, who also penned the original sitcom. Ross and Edwards will also executive produce "Jodie" alongside MTV's Trevor Rose, Morgana Rosenberg and Amy Doyle. The original "Daria" was created by Glenn Eichler and Susie Lewis Lynn and ran for five seasons on MTV from 1997-2002.

MGM TV adapting young-adult novel 'Aurora Rising' into series

MGM Television has announced a new series based on young adult sci-fi novel "Aurora Rising". The science-fiction bestseller, written by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman, was published in May this year, reported Deadline. Set in the year 2380, the story revolves around cadets of the Aurora Academy who wake a girl from cryo-sleep only to find out that she is a catalyst for a war millions of years in the making. MGM Television will produce and MGM will internationally distribute the series. Bill Todman Jr. and Edward Millstein will executive produce with Limor Hakim co-producing for Level 1 Entertainment.

Anshuman Jha ensures sensitivity in playing gay man

Actor Anshuman Jha, who features with Zarine Khan in a unique story of love with two central homosexual characters, says he wanted to steer clear from the conventional "Bollywoodisation" of such a role.

This child drummer holds seven world records

Six-year-old Devaagyh Dixit is drumming up records - quite literally.

Diddy on ex Cassie's pregnancy: 'I wish you all nothing but love'

Hollywood rapper, Sean Combs, aka Diddy congratulated his ex-girlfriend Cassie after the latter confirmed that she was expecting her first child with boyfriend Alex Fine.He posted a lovely message on her Instagram account."Congratulations Cassie and Alex. I wish you all nothing but love and happiness. God bless L O V E," he wrote on Instagram alongside a photo of Cassie cuddling with Fine.Didi and Cassie split eight months ago after dating for 11 years.Didi is a parent to three sons -- Quincy, 28, Christian Casey, 21, and Justin Dior, 25, and three daughters, Chance, 13, D'Lila Star and Jessie James, both 12 -- from previous relationships.Cassie announced her pregnancy on Instagram alongside a slideshow of photos of herself and Fine sitting in a car."Can't wait to meet our baby girl. Love You Always & Forever," she wrote."I will be the first man in your life and will show you the greatest love and affection now and forever," Nice wrote in a letter to the couple's unborn daughter

Bradley Cooper in talks to star in Del Toro's 'Nightmare Alley'

Actor Bradley Cooper is in negotiations to headline filmmaker Guillermo del Toro's next feature, the remake of "Nightmare Alley". According to Variety, actor Leonardo DiCaprio was previously circling the project but has since passed it. Sources told the outlet that Cooper, who most recently directed and acted in Academy Award nominated film "A Star is Born", has received an offer for the project. It is not yet known whether he has struck a deal for it. The new film will be del Toro's first time directing a feature since his Oscar win for 2017's "The Shape of Water". The filmmaker will direct the new film from a script he will write with Kim Morgan. The movie is based on the 1946 novel of the same name by William Lindsay Gresham. The story follows Stanton Carlisle, an ambitious young con-man who teams up with a female psychiatrist who is even more corrupt than he is. At first, they enjoy success fleecing people with their mentalist act, but then she turns the tables on him, ...

Malayalam actor Vinayakan booked for "abusing" woman activist

Award-winning Malayalam actor Vinayakan has been bookedfor allegedly verbally abusing a woman activist over phone, police said here Saturday. The case was registered based on the complaint of the woman, hailing from Pambady in Kottayam district, alleging that the actor had talked in an obscene manner and used abusive words when she had invited him for a function here in April, they said. The woman activist's Facebook post in this regard had created a furore on social media recently. A police official said the case was registered against the "Thottappan" actor under IPC sections 509 (word, gesture or act intend to insult the modesty of a woman) and 294 (B) (uttering obscene words) and section 120 (O) (causing nuisance to any person by repeated or undesirable or anonymous calls) of the Kerala Police Act. Though the woman had lodged the complaint in Kottayam, it was transferred to the police station here as the alleged incident happened here, the official added. Known for ..

Freida Pinto boards Ron Howard's 'Hillbilly Elegy'

Actor Freida Pinto is the latest star to join the cast of filmmaker Ron Howard's next directorial venture "Hillbilly Elegy". The project, which hails from Netflix stable, is based on the bestselling memoir of the same name by author JD Vance. Pinto, who most recently featured in "Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle", joins Amy Adams, Glenn Close, Haley Bennett and Gabriel Basso in the project. According to Variety, actors Bo Hopkins and Owen Asztalos have also boarded the cast. The film's story, described as a modern exploration of the American Dream, follows three generations of an Appalachian family as told by its youngest member, a Yale Law student forced to return to his hometown. Howard, best known for films such as "A Beautiful Mind", "The Da Vinci Code" and "Rush", will direct the film from a script by Vanessa Taylor. The director will also produce the project alongside Brian Grazer and Karen Lunder, while Vance and Julie Oh will executive produce.

'Charlie's Angels' reboot will depict working women: Elizabeth Banks

Elizabeth Banks says her upcoming directorial, the reboot of "Charlie's Angels", will explore the themes of women at work, which also includes movements like #MeToo and Time's Up. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the 45-year old actor-director said she wants to show that women have more complex things going on in their lives than their relationships with other people. "I went back to the original idea in 'Charlie's Angels', which was that women were in the workforce. And all of the things that I feel are happening in the women's movement right now, whether it be #MeToo, or I say this in a time of dire straits for women's rights in this country right now but I feel like all those things are happening because women are in the workforce in greater numbers than ever in human history," Banks said. "I just wanted to make a movie about women at work, working together. I wanted to make a movie that was not about their boyfriends that they didn't see enough, or the cats they ...

Dia Mirza shares issues she faced while shooting for 'Kaafir'

Actor Dia Mirza along with an array of stars attended the special screening of her web series 'Kaafir' on Friday. Mirza, who is playing the role of a Pakistani woman, is making her digital debut with the series.After impressing the fans with her stellar performance in films, the actor is all set to enthral the fans with her magical performance once again.The actor spoke about the hurdles and challenges she faced while shooting for the series. "I was really excited about the new project and more than that I was happy that the series was initially to filmed in Kashmir. But unfortunately due to the 'Pulwama problems' we just couldn't shoot there," she said."We were denied shooting permission in Kashmir. Then we had to begin shooting in Himachal which is also known as mini Kashmir and which is near the Tibet border. So we shot in Sangla and Kalpa villages," she added.The story, written by Bhavani Iyer, breaks the stereotypes and mentality of the people regarding cast and religion. The ...

Chris Brown expecting baby with ex-girlfriend Ammika Harris

Singer Chris Brown is expecting a baby with ex-girlfriend Ammika Harris. This is the couple's first child together."Chris isn't dating her and they broke up a few months ago," US Weekly quoted a source.Page Six first broke the news in May when the singer commented on a photo of Harris "BM BAD" an abbreviation for 'baby mama'.The 'Wobble Up' singer shares a daughter with Nia Guzman.

Akshay urges fans not to start 'negative trends' online

Actor Akshay Kumar has urged his fans not to indulge in any negative practice on social media regarding his upcoming film "Sooryavanshi".

Anupam Kher admires Anushka's 'cool attitude'

Veteran actor Anupam Kher recently had a chit-chat session with his "favourite" actress Anushka Sharma in London.

Ana Ortiz to star in Disney+ adaptation of 'Love, Simon'

Actor-singer Ana Ortiz has boarded the cast of Disney's series adaptation of 2018 feature "Love, Simon". According to Deadline, the series will be launched on the studio's soon-to-be-launched streaming service, Disney+. The 2018 film, featuring Nick Robinson in the lead, follows Simon Spier, a closeted gay high school boy who is forced to balance his friends, his family, and the blackmailer threatening to out him to the entire school, while simultaneously attempting to discover the identity of the anonymous classmate with whom he has fallen in love online. The movie was based on Becky Albertalli's young adult novel "Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda". The new series will follow a different young character, named Victor. Ortiz, best known for starring in shows such as "Ugly Betty" and "Whiskey Cavalier", will portray Victor's mother, Isabel. Elizabeth Berger and Isaac Aptaker, who wrote the screenplay for the film, will be penning and executive producing the series.

It's a work in progress, says Taapsee Pannu on becoming a Bollywood star

Taapsee Pannu says she feels secured as an actor in the film industry today but still has miles to go in order achieve her dream of becoming the quintessential Bollywood star. The 31-year-old actor says acting always keeps her on her toes and she absolutely welcomes it because she does not want to feel too relaxed. "I'm very secure as an actor, but not as a star. I don't know where will I be sent back to if a couple of my films fail at the box office. But I think that is fine because it keeps me on my toes to find something new. "If I start feeling too secure and comfortable, I might just relax, and then keep doing what I'm good at, knowing that it will work. So I think I'm fine with it not being that comfortable. That's the joy of this profession, it keeps you on your toes," Taapsee told PTI in an interview. Becoming a star is a work in progress, says the actor, who wants that in future audiences should be able to identify a film just by her name and she has been working towards it ..

Taylor Swift's surprise performance at landmark LGBT site Stonewall Inn

After dropping 'You Need To Calm Down' from her upcoming studio album 'Lover' that includes shout-outs to GLAAD and the LGBT community, singer Taylor Swift, gave a surprise performance at LGBT landmark Stonewall Inn in New York's Greenwich Village.The electrifying performance by Swift included songs from Sara Bareilles, including a version of 'Brave, which made the audience sing along with her.Thanking 'Modern Family' star Jesse Tyler Ferguson for inviting her, she said, "I heard this is Jesse's favourite song to do at karaoke -- which is an incredible rumour, I really want to believe it's true," Variety quoted her as saying."So if there's anything you feel like you want to jump in on, a part that you're really good at, just sing, dance and be yourself -- this is a really safe space!" she continued.Co-host of the event AEG gave a check of USD 50,000 to Stonewall to support its Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative's (SIGBI) development of an LGBTQ+ anti-bias training standard in ...

Rishi Kapoor looks fitter, better

Veteran actor Rishi Kapoor, in a latest picture, looks fitter and better.

Nick Cannon to host show on 'Power 106'

Comedian-actor Nick Cannon is all set to join Los Angeles' top hip-hop radio station, KPWR-FM ('Power 106'), as host and producer.The show 'Nick Cannon Mornings' will be launched on June 17 and will air from 5 to 10 am. The show replaces J Cruz's 'The Cruz Show', reported Variety."Power 106 is one of the most substantial fixtures in our hip-hop culture that has proven time and time again that they are No. 1 and not going anywhere. I am just honoured for the opportunity to make our community and culture proud," Variety quoted Cannon as saying."Nick Cannon is that fresh sound we were looking for on Power 106," said KPWR programme director E-Man."Nick is an incredible entertainer who embodies hip-hop, pop culture, comedy and community all in one," added E-Man.On the work front, Cannon is hosting Fox's reality singing competition 'The Masked Singer' and 'Wild 'N Out' on MTV. Previously, he emceed 'America's Got Talent' for seven years.

Bradley Cooper may replace Leonardo DiCaprio in 'Nightmare Alley'

The 'Star Is Born' director Bradley Cooper may replace Leonardo DiCaprio in Guillermo Del Toro's 'Nightmare Alley'.Cooper is in early talks for the male lead, however, it is not clear if Cooper's deal will close at this stage, reported The Hollywood Reporter.'Nightmare Alley' will be based on William Lindsay Gresham's novel which was earlier adapted into a Fox feature starring Tyrone Power and Joan Blondell.The film's story revolves around a con man who teams up with female psychiatrist for a mentalist routine but discovers that he was manipulated by her.Written by Del Toro with Kim Morgan, the film will be produced by J Miles Dale.

'Sui Dhaaga' to compete in Shanghai

Varun Dhawan and Anushka Sharmas "Sui Dhaaga - Made in India" has been selected in the competition category at the Shanghai International Film Festival The Belt and Road Film Week.