Entertainment

First lady Melania Trump hosted a private White House screening on Saturday of a new film documenting her life in the 20 days leading up to President Donald Trump’s second inauguration, the White House said.

The movie, “Melania,” is set for a global release on January 30. Saturday’s showing was the first time the president, her family and close friends saw the film in full, said Marc Beckman, the first lady’s outside adviser and agent.

The film offers rare behind-the-scenes access to the first lady, who has kept a low public profile during her husband’s second term. The trailer opens on Inauguration Day in January 2025, showing her donning a navy wide-brimmed hat for the ceremony at the U.S. Capitol. It also depicts her role as an adviser to the president, including a moment in which she encourages him to emphasize “peacemaker and unifier” in his inaugural address.

Saturday’s East Room screening followed the president’s tariff threat to Canada, defense of federal agents after a fatal shooting in Minnesota, and preparation for a winter storm barreling through the southern U.S.

About 70 people across the cultural spectrum attended, including former professional boxer Mike Tyson and Jordan’s Queen Rania, who is featured in the film’s trailer, a person familiar with the event said.

Other attendees included Amazon’s CEO Andy Jassy, Amazon MGM Studios head Mike Hopkins, and film director Brett Ratner, as well as Larry Culp, the CEO of General Electric.

Beckman, who produced the film, oversaw the $40 million movie deal with Amazon MGM Studios, plus a follow-up documentary series set for release later this year focusing on some of Melania Trump’s priorities, including children in foster care.

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“This is not a political film at all,” Beckman said in an interview this week, adding that the first lady spearheaded the film’s creative direction.

The movie highlights her fashion choices, diplomatic engagements and the operations surrounding her Secret Service protection. Beckman said viewers also will see moments that capture the president’s sense of humor.

Ahead of the public theatrical release of the film next week, the president and first lady will attend a premiere on Thursday at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, renamed the Trump-Kennedy Center by the Trump-appointed board of directors.

The first lady is also scheduled to ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange on Wednesday to promote the film.

Source:adaderana.lk

Variety reported on Thursday that the late “Black Panther” star will be honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce on November 20.

Chadwick passed away in 2020 after a four-year fight with colon cancer.

Before his death, Chadwick became a beloved figure to Marvel fans after joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Black Panther in 2016, making an appearance as T’Challa in “Captain America: Civil War.”

He went on to star in his own Marvel movie, the successful “Black Panther” in 2018, before joining the phenomenal “Avengers: Infinity War” and “Avengers: Endgame.”

He has also starred in “21 Bridges” as Andre Davis, “Da 5 Bloods” as Stormin’ Norman. He also joined the cast of “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” as Levee.

He was supposed to reprise his role as “Black Panther” in the sequel movie in 2022.

(Source - GMA Integrated News)

A rare UK-Canada natural history co-pro will follow inhabitants at the world’s largest baby elephant sanctuary.

Channel 4 and CBC are making Baby Elephant School, charting happenings at the 30-year-old Udawalawe Elephant Orphanage, which cares for up to 80 orphaned calves at any one time and has returned more than 170 elephants to the wild, many of whom have gone on to have calves of their own.

Two different versions will be produced. The UK version will be hosted by Welsh biologist and elephant researcher Lizzie Daly, while the one-hour Canadian version for CBC’s The Nature of Things is led by Anthony Morgan. Both follow the rehabilitation of 60 orphaned elephant calves preparing for their return to the wild.

Baby Elephant School, which has pre-sold to Arte in France, is a rare factual co-pro between the UK and Canada and comes from Canada’s Serial Maven-backed Cantina Media and the UK’s Big Wave Entertainment.

Big Wave boss Kirstie Mclure said: “From the outset, Baby Elephant School has embodied everything we stand for – access-driven storytelling, global collaboration and deep respect for the natural world.”

Serial Maven exec Julia Chang added: “Projects like this come to life through creative deal-making, strong international partnerships and a shared commitment to getting bold, important stories off the ground, and we’re proud to be part of a co-production that brings together such an outstanding group of partners.”

Source:adaderana.lk

Squid Game star O Yeong-Su has been acquitted of sexual misconduct charges by a court in South Korea.

The 81-year-old was charged in 2022 with sexually assaulting a woman twice. The allegations said that he hugged the woman and kissed her on the cheek against her will.

Mr O was found guilty in 2024 and given an eight-month suspended prison sentence, but said he would appeal against the verdict.

On Tuesday, a court overturned his sentence, saying he had undergone classes on sexual violence and suggesting that the alleged victim’s memory may have been “distorted”, considering how long ago the incident occurred.

The alleged assaults took place in 2017 when Mr O was staying in a rural area for a theatre performance.

The alleged victim filed a complaint against Mr O in 2021, but the case was closed in April the same year. The prosecution later reopened the investigation “at the request of the victim”, according to Yonhap agency.

In a statement reported by local media outlets, the Suwon District Court said there was “doubt” as to whether Mr O had committed the assault.

“There is a possibility that the victim’s memory has been distorted over time, and when there is doubt... the defendant must be given the benefit of the doubt”.

However, the statement also went on to say that it was possible Mr O had committed assault, as he had apologised to the victim.

The alleged victim later spoke out against the verdict, saying it would not “invalidate the truth or erase the pain I have suffered”.

“Despite today’s ruling, I will continue to speak the truth to the very end,” she said in a statement released through women’s rights organisation Womenlink.

Womenlink also criticised the ruling, saying they were “outraged by a ruling that once again conceals sexual violence in the theatre world”.

It is not yet clear if the prosecution will appeal.

Speaking to local media outlets after the court ruling, Mr O said he had “gratitude to the court for its wise judgement”.

Mr O rose to international fame after starring in Squid Game, a dystopian drama which sees people competing in deadly versions of traditional children’s games.

In 2022, he became the first South Korean actor to win a Golden Globe award for best supporting actor in a series, after his performance in the first season of the chart-topping Netflix thriller.

(Source - BBC)

Taylor Swift has become the youngest female artist inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

It follows a glittering few years for the 36-year-old pop superstar, who broke her own sales record with her latest album, The Life of a Showgirl, in October.

She is among nine songwriters within the 2026 class, which also includes Canadian-American singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette and Walter Afanasieff, known for his work with Mariah Carey.

The singer will be welcomed into the prestigious club during a private ceremony in New York later this year.

'Everything originates from the song and its creator' Founded in 1969, the Songwriters Hall of Fame honours those "whose work represents a spectrum of the most beloved songs from the world's popular music songbook".

It selects a small group of artists on an annual basis, and less than 500 people have been invited in over the last fifty years.

Announcing this year's inductees, chairman and Chic frontman Nile Rodgers said this year's line-up "not only showcases iconic songs but also celebrates unity across various genres".

"These songwriters have profoundly impacted the lives of billions of listeners worldwide, and it is our privilege to honor their contributions," he added.

Also among the 2026 class is Christopher "Tricky" Stewart, who was behind Beyonce's Single Ladies and Break My Soul, and Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons of rock band Kiss.

Footloose singer-songwriter Kenny Loggins and Terry Britten and Graham Lyle, who wrote Tina Turner's What's Love Got To Do With It, have also been inducted.

Taylor is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, reaching stardom with her 12 studio albums and four re-recorded "Taylor's Versions" albums.

Last year, it was announced she had bought back the rights to her first six albums, ending a long-running and highly publicized battle over the ownership of her music.

While her latest album secured the UK's biggest opening week of 2025, after selling 304,000 copies in just three days.

She has been decorated with a host of awards over the years, including becoming the first performer to win the album of the year Grammy four times.

(Source - BBC)

The global girl group Katseye say they have endured a wave of online death threats and harassment since their debut last year — a dark side to their rapid rise to pop stardom.

The six-member collective, recently nominated for Best New Artist at the Grammy Awards, told BBC News that the threats have at times extended to their families, weighing heavily on their mental health.

“I tell myself not to care, but when a thousand people are sending you death threats, it’s jarring,” said Lara Raj, one of the group’s vocalists. “Even if you know it’s unlikely to happen, it’s still heavy.”

Raj, a 20-year-old American of Tamil Indian and Sri Lankan descent, has also faced racist abuse and was even falsely reported to U.S. immigration authorities. The experience pushed her to delete her Twitter (X) account entirely.

“I realised I’m not the audience for other people’s opinions,” she said.

The group did not go into detail about the threats, but such behaviour is increasingly common in fan communities. Other artists, including Chappell Roan, Muna, and Doja Cat, have publicly criticized fans for harassment, spreading misinformation, and invading privacy.

Fellow Katseye member Sophia Laforteza said the band accepts that fame comes with scrutiny but stressed that “it doesn’t change the fact that we’re human.”

Raj also highlighted the sexist nature of online criticism, where female artists are objectified and ranked by appearance or skill.

“People see us as women to rate — how we look, sing, or dance — and then assign us a score. It’s dystopian,” she said.

Despite the negativity, Katseye’s success has been remarkable. Their second EP, Beautiful Chaos, debuted at No. 2 on the U.S. album charts, driven by the viral hit Gnarly and its follow-up Gabriella, written by Charli XCX.

A Gap advertisement featuring the group went viral in August, gaining more than 400 million views and over 8 billion impressions online. The band went on to win Best Performance at the MTV Awards, and just last week, they made history as only the third girl group ever nominated for Best New Artist at the Grammys, following SWV and Wilson Phillips.

The members — aged between 17 and 22 — represent a truly global mix of cultures and backgrounds:

• Daniela Avanzini, a Venezuelan-Cuban American from Atlanta
• Lara Raj, an Indian-Sri Lankan American from New York
• Manon Bannerman, a Ghanaian-Italian from Zurich
• Megan Skiendiel, a Chinese-Singaporean American from Honolulu
• Sophia Laforteza, from Manila, Philippines
• Yoonchae Jeung, from Seoul, South Korea

They were chosen through The Debut: Dream Academy, a reality competition created by HYBE (home to BTS and LE SSERAFIM) and Geffen Records. The show narrowed thousands of applicants down to 20 trainees who underwent a two-year intensive program of vocal and dance training before the final six were selected as Katseye.

Their breakout single Gnarly, released in April, divided critics but exploded online, amassing over half a billion streams. The New York Times even called it “the future of K-pop.”

“We knew it would shock people,” said Avanzini. “That was exciting — we wanted to give them something thrilling.”

Now, as Katseye continues to rise, the members say they’re determined to use their platform to celebrate diversity and confidence.

“We’re proud that our group represents so many cultures,” said Bannerman. “We want girls everywhere to feel proud of who they are.”

Raj echoed that sentiment with a message to young artists from underrepresented backgrounds:

“Do it. Don’t hold back. Our skin, our culture — that’s our power. Use it and own it.”

Actor-turned-politician Vijay's much-anticipated film Jana Nayagan had its grand audio launch in Malaysia on Sunday. The film marks the final silver screen outing of the Tamil superstar. The event was a grand celebration, attracting huge crowds of fans and industry stalwarts. 

Atlee also made an appearance as one of the distinguished guests. He paid a heartfelt tribute to Thalapathy Vijay. The filmmaker acknowledged his contributions to the film industry and expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to work with him. The duo previously worked together in films like Theri, Mersal and Bigil. 

During the speech, Atlee addressed the sentiment of ‘one last time' of Vijay's role in Jana Nayagan. The Jawan director said, “I don't know how to define that ‘one last time'. The Vijay I know has done everything like it's the last time. He has given every shot thinking this is the last shot, I have to give my best." 

Drawing parallels between Vijay's previous roles and his current performance, he added, “That ‘one last time' was IPS Vijay Kumar. That ‘one last time' was Thalapathy Vetri Maaran. That ‘one last time' was Rayappan. And I think the ‘one last time' is Jana Nayagan.”

After the end of his speech, Atlee ran across the stage to hug Vijay. The gesture evoked enthusiastic applause and cheers from the assembled fans. 

Directed by H Vinoth, Jana Nayagan also features Bobby Deol, Pooja Hegde, Mamitha Baiju and Priyamani in key roles. The film's first-look poster featured Vijay dressed in a blue shirt and black denims. He was seen taking a selfie with an electrified crowd.  

Jana Nayagan is produced by Venkat K Narayana under KVN Productions. It is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on January 9, 2026.

Sam Rivers, the bass player and founding member of the metal band Limp Bizkit, which was one of nu-metal’s best-selling acts in the late 1990s and is credited with bringing a unique mix of heavy metal, hip-hop and punk into the mainstream, has died at 48.

The band confirmed Mr. Rivers’s death in a statement on social media on Saturday. The statement did not provide a cause, nor did it say where and when he died.

The band described Mr. Rivers as “the pulse beneath every song, the calm in the chaos, the soul in the sound.”

Mr. Rivers was born on Sept. 2, 1977. He began playing music as a teenager in Jacksonville, Fla., before he was scouted by Fred Durst, Limp Bizkit’s lead vocalist.

Mr. Durst, who at the time was 25, had a vision for a band with a specific style and sound, he said in a video he posted on Instagram on Sunday.

He came upon Mr. Rivers at a bar in Jacksonville and was so taken by his performance that “everything disappeared besides his gift,” Mr. Durst said.

After the show, he pitched Mr. Rivers on his band. Mr. Rivers responded quickly, he recalled, saying: “Killer, I’m in. Let’s do it.”

The two started “jamming, messing around,” before starting to look for more potential members, Mr. Durst said.

Mr. Rivers suggested that they recruit the jazz drummer John Otto. Wes Borland, a guitarist, joined the group to form Limp Bizkit in 1994. DJ Lethal, who acted as both a producer and a disc jockey, joined two years later.

The band’s 1999 album, “Significant Other,” was nominated for a Grammy for best rock album.

Mr. Rivers “had this ability to pull this beautiful sadness out of the bass that I’ve never heard,” Mr. Durst said on Instagram.

Information about Mr. Rivers’s survivors was not immediately available.

In an interview for “Raising Hell,” Jon Wiederhorn’s 2020 book about the lives of top metal musicians, Mr. Rivers said he struggled with his health because of excessive drinking.

He took a break from the band in 2015 and returned in 2018, ahead of the release of its sixth album, “Still Sucks,” in October 2021.

This summer, Limp Bizkit was on the lineup of the Reading Festival in England, where the band proved that they “can still recapture the intensity they had during the turn of the millennium,” the British publication NME said.

The group was set to begin a South American tour on Nov. 29.

“It’s so tragic that he’s not here right now,” Mr. Durst said in the Instagram video, at times holding back tears.

The group, he said, “rocked stadiums together, we’ve been around the world together, shared so many moments together.”

(NYTimes.com)

Walt Disney’s animated Zootopia 2 racked up an estimated US$556 million in global ticket sales over the US Thanksgiving weekend, providing a strong kickoff to Hollywood’s crucial holiday moviegoing season.

Nearly half of the film’s box office receipts from Wednesday through yesterday came from China, bucking a trend of Hollywood movies finishing behind locally made films.

The US$272 million tally made Zootopia 2Hollywood’s highest-grossing animated movie in China, surpassing a record set by the first Zootopia in 2016.

Also in theaters, Universal Pictures’ movie musical Wicked: For Good claimed US$92.2 million worldwide in its second weekend, bringing its total to US$393.3 million after 10 days.

The fervour for the two films provided welcome news for movie theater owners who hope audiences will pack cinemas through Christmas, the second-busiest time of the year for moviegoing. 

Annual box office sales have yet to recover to the pre-pandemic levels seen in 2019.

Zootopia 2 collected US$156 million of its worldwide total in the United States and Canada, making it the leader on domestic box office charts. 

The movie, set in a city of animals, tells the story of a bunny police officer, voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin, and her fox partner, voiced by Jason Bateman.

“It’s a proud moment for Disney Animation and all of us at Disney, not to mention a great way to start the holiday season,” Disney Entertainment Co-Chairman Alan Bergman said in a statement.

Year-to-date domestic ticket sales reached US$7.8 billion, up 1.2 per cent from a year ago but 23 per cent shy of 2019, according to data from Comscore.

Thanksgiving weekend sales are expected to rank among the top five of all time in the United States and Canada when final numbers come in today, said Paul Dergarabedian, Comscore’s head of marketplace trends. Coming releases include James Cameron’s third Avatar film just before Christmas.

“Think about how many people were in theaters over the past week being exposed to theater marketing and trailers,” Dergarabedian said. “Hopefully that creates the momentum that can give us a really solid home stretch of the year.”

(Source - Reuters)

Netflix recently released the first look at Man vs Baby, a new comedy starring Rowan Atkinson. This show is a follow-up to his 2022 hit series, Man vs Bee, and it is set to premiere on December 11, 2025.

Atkinson plays Trevor Bingley again, a man who always ends up in trouble. In the first show, he tried to protect a big house but spent the whole time fighting a tiny bee. This time, Trevor just wants a quiet Christmas, but nothing goes the way he hopes.

According to Netflix’s story summary, “After a job looking after a high-tech mansion ended in disaster thanks to an irritating insect, Trevor Bingley has left the stressful world of housesitting for the quieter life of a school caretaker. That is, until a tempting offer to watch a luxury London penthouse over Christmas proves too hard to resist.”

But his peace is short-lived. “On the last day of term, when no one comes to collect the Baby Jesus from the school nativity, Trevor finds himself with another undersized and very unexpected companion,” the description continues. “With a penthouse to protect and a baby to burp, will Trevor be able to have the calm Christmas he hopes for, or will everything fall apart?”

New photos show Atkinson feeding two babies at once, standing beside a huge Christmas tree, and serving Christmas dinner. The show also stars Alanah Bloor as Maddy, Trevor’s daughter, as per The Mirror. She replaces India Fowler, who played the role before.

The four-part series was written by Atkinson and Will Davies, who also worked together on Johnny English. It is directed by David Kerr and produced by HouseSitter Productions.

Netflix says the show is “a lighthearted and family-friendly holiday story about responsibility, chaos, and laughter.” Atkinson, best known for Mr. Bean and Love Actually, brings his classic silent humor and expressive style back to screens, just in time for Christmas.

(Source - Hindustan Times)

Veteran Bollywood legend Dharmendra has died at the age of 89, media outlets confirmed on Monday. The actor passed away in Mumbai, only weeks after being discharged from Breach Candy Hospital, where he had been receiving medical care.

Dharmendra had been admitted earlier this month and was briefly placed on life support, according to sources familiar with his health. He was released from the hospital on November 12, with doctors reporting he was stable and arrangements made for continued care at home.

Born on December 8, the celebrated actor would have turned 90 next month. He had remained under close medical supervision in recent weeks.

Over a career spanning six decades, Dharmendra appeared in more than 300 films and became one of the most influential figures in Hindi cinema. He made his acting debut in 1960 with Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere and went on to deliver numerous iconic performances in some of Bollywood’s biggest hits.

He most recently appeared in the 2024 film Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya, alongside Shahid Kapoor and Kriti Sanon. His upcoming project, Ikkis, directed by Sriram Raghavan, had been highly anticipated.

Honored with the Padma Bhushan in 2012, Dharmendra remains remembered as one of the most beloved and enduring stars in Indian film history.

Anne-Marie doesn't play when it comes to baby names.

The “Ciao Adios” singer revealed that she and husband of three years Slowthai have given their 5-month-old baby boy a very unique moniker: Forever Sugar.

“His name is Forever,” she shared on This Morning Oct. 14. “Sugar is his middle name.”

And the infant’s name has an interesting origin story behind it.

“I had the diabetes thing that you get when you’re pregnant,” the 35-year-old shared. “So I thought, ‘What a perfect middle name.'”

Nine percent of all pregnant people in the U.S. are diagnosed with gestational diabetes each year, according to the American Diabetes Association. Like with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, it causes high blood sugar, which can affect the pregnancy and the baby’s health.

As for his first name Forever, Anne-Marie—who also shares daughter Seven, 19 months, with Slowthai (real name Tyron Kaymone Frampton)—explained that it came from her side of the family.

“My nan used to sign off every card with ‘always and forever,’” she said. “All the time. And now my mum does it and my sister does it, and I think 'Forever’ is just—it’s just a cool name.”

And Forever Sugar is certainly the apple of his older sister’s eye.

“She treats him like he’s her age,” Anne-Marie laughed. “So she doesn’t really get that he’s still super tiny.”

Although Seven can be a tad aggressive with Forever Sugar, the “2002” singer noted it is only because she “gets really excited.”

“They love each other,” she gushed, “stare at each other.”

And while having two kids under two wasn’t totally planned, it was something Anne-Marie was sort of preparing for.

“To be honest I do like psychics and I see a lot of psychics,” she explained. “And they all—all of them—said, ‘You’re gonna have babies either really close together or twins.’”

So when it happened, she thought, “OK, I think I’m OK with this.”

“And it is a beautiful thing,” Anne-Marie continued, “but it’s definitely hard.”

Of course, the “Rockabye” singer also took a moment to brag about her baby girl, saying, “she’s beautiful.”

“The most beautiful little thing,” she shared. “She makes me cry.”

For a look at more unique baby names, keep reading.

(Source - eonline.com)