Page 673 - Entertainment Culture

Lena Dunham to adapt refugee survival story for Spielberg, Abrams; faces backlash

Lena Dunham has been tapped to pen a survival story of a Syrian refugee by co-producers Steven Spielberg and JJ Abrams. Dunham will adapt Melissa Fleming's nonfiction "A Hope More Powerful Than the Sea: One Refugee's Incredible Story of Love, Loss, and Survival", Variety reported. The film will chronicle the true story of Doaa Al Zamel, a mother of two fleeing Egypt for Sweden by boat. Shipwrecked along the way, Al Zamel survived for days in open water holding two children in each arm with only the support of an inflatable water ring. Dunham took to Twitter, saying she was looking forward to the film. "Very lucky to have this job, to tell this story, to support this truth with these people," she said. But social media was quick to express displeasure at Dunham's selection as screenwriter questioning how could the writer-actor accurately narrate the story of a Syrian refugee. One of the users appealed to two actors of colour, Riz Ahmed and Mindy Kaling, to use their influence to stop ..

Liam Neeson to star in comedy 'Made in Italy'

Veteran actor Liam Neeson has been cast as the lead in comedy "Made in Italy". The film will mark the feature directorial debut of actor James D'Arcy, best known for starring in movies such as "Cloud Atlas" and "Dunkirk". He has also penned the screenplay for the film, reported Variety. Neeson, 66, will play a bohemian London artist who returns to Italy with his estranged son to sell the house they inherited from his late wife. The film's cast also include Micheal Richardson, who most recently featured in Natalie Portman-starrer "Vox Lux". The project, which will start production in April next year, will be produced by Pippa Cross, Sam Tipper-Hale and Nicola Serra.

'Crazy Rich Asians' team heads to China for sequel

The producers of "Crazy Rich Asians" are planning to shoot the sequel of the hit film in China.

Charlie Hunnam, Mel Gibson join action thriller 'Waldo'

Actors Mel Gibson, Charlie Hunnam and Eiza Gonzalez have been roped in to star in Tim Kirkbys action-thriller titled "Waldo".

Tough to be working mom in Hollywood: Mulligan

Actress Carey Mulligan says it is "incredibly difficult" to be a working mother in Hollywood.

Kate Hudson joins 'Blood Moon' team

Actress Kate Hudson is set to star with Craig Robinson in "Blood Moon".

'The Grinch' to release in India in November

Benedict Cumberbatch's "The Grinch" will release in India on November 8, a day after Diwali.

Dunham to write Syrian refugee story for Spielberg

Actress Lena Dunham will write for the big screen the harrowing survival tale of a Syrian refugee stranded at sea.

Muschietti to direct 'Attack on Titan'

After the record-breaking box office run of "It", director Andy Muschietti has found his next project.

'Raajneeti' got me instantly stereotyped: Shruti Seth

Shruti Seth's role in "Raajneeti" was an image breaker of sorts for the actress but it stereotyped her again.

Bollywood actors without backing gain more respect, says Amyra Dastur

Talents coming from a non-Bollywood background and standing on two feet in the industry gain more respect from the audience, says actress Amyra Dastur.

DuVernay working on documentary on Prince

Filmmaker Ava DuVernay is working with Netflix on a documentary on late American singer-songwriter Prince.

Veteran Marathi composer Yeshwant Deo dies

Veteran Marathi singer, lyricist and music composer Yeshwant Deo passed away after a brief illness here on Tuesday, family sources said. He was 91.

Zoe Kravitz secretly engaged to Karl Glusman since February

Actors Zoe Kravitz and Karl Glusman are engaged. Kravitz, who has been dating her fellow actor for two years, said 'yes' after he popped the question in her living room in February. "I'm engaged. I haven't told anyone yet - I mean, I haven't told the world. I wanted to keep it private," she told Rolling Stone magazine. The "Big Little Lies" star said Glusman was planning to propose to her during a romantic trip to Paris, but decided to pop the question while they were at home due to work calls. She recalled the moment saying she was in sweatpants and was "a little drunk". "I could feel his heart beating so fast - I was like, 'Baby, are you OK?' I was actually worried about him!" Glusman then started to get down on one knee and Kravitz assumed he was stretching to calm his heart down. But instead he went on to pull out a ring box. "He nailed it. And I love that it wasn't this elaborate plan in Paris. It was at home, in sweatpants," she added. The couple met through mutual friends.

Arshad makes cameo in 'Aankh maare' remix

Actor Arshad Warsi has shot for a cameo in the remix version of "Aankh maare" song that will feature in Rohit Shetty's next "Simmba"

Gays hold influential positions in Bollywood but don't support community: Onir

Filmmaker Onir says the film industry is "full of double standards" where a lot of the influential people belong to the gay community but are not forthright in their support. Onir, who has spearheaded movies with LGBTQ+ narratives, says the industry is full of homophobes. "Industry is full of double standards. A lot of people of influence belong to the community but you don't find that forthright support come in. There are a lot of people who are also homophobic. Politically everyone will say the right things but in action that's missing," Onir told PTI. The filmmaker was speaking on the sidelines of the 20th edition of JIO MAMI Mumbai Film Festival with Star, Monday. He was part of a panel discussion 'Pushing the envelope on LGTBQ cinema in India'. The "My Brother... Nikhil" director says the reason big stars have shied away from featuring in a film with LGTBQ narrative as a lot of them are "not comfortable with that idea". "Today, how many people actually supported the SC verdict? ..

I fear not trying: Aamir Khan

From "Lagaan" to "Rang De Basanti", from "Taare Zameen Par" to "PK", Dangal" and now "Thugs Of Hindostan" -- actor Aamir Khan, who has experimented with genres and looks galore in his movies, says he is scared about not trying something new.

Shakeela to make cameo in biopic

Adult film star Shakeela will be seen in a cameo in her biopic. The film features Richa Chadha as Shakeela, who was one of the biggest stars of the '90s from Kerala and has acted in several adult films in languages spanning Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada. The biopic is being helmed by Indrajit Lankesh. The director said besides the cameo, the South Indian star was an integral part of the film who gave the team interesting insights - be it her life or the art direction. "It was nice shooting her for Shakeela biopic, though I have shot with her before for my another film in 2003. That sparked an interest in me to make a film on her and in 2015 after conceiving the idea of making a film on her I met her and realised my dream," Lankesh said in a statement. "I feel every woman and girl who wants to be an actress should see her story, to know what she went through to become an actress and how it was such a compelling rags-to-riches-to-rags story of her life," he added. The director ...

Dev Patel to make directorial debut

"Slumdog Millionaire" actor Dev Patel is set to make his directorial debut with revenge thriller titled "Monkey Man".

Pharrell Williams asks Trump not to play 'Happy'

Singer Pharrell Williams has warned US President Donald Trump against playing his "Happy" song, after it was used at a rally just hours after the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting.