Coronation Street and The Crown star James Laurenson dies as tributes pour in

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Rolling off the Cannes Film Festival where it won several awards, Mohammad Rasoulof‘s “The Seed of The Sacred Fig” has been acquired by a flurry of high profile distributors in major international territories. Films Boutique, which represents the critically acclaimed political drama globally, has sold it to Lionsgate for the U.K.

The new series of Love Island starts on Monday 3 June, and once again a group of young single people will jet out to Majorca to stay at a luxury villa in the sun where they will go on dates and complete challenges while hoping to find love – and have the chance to win a share of the £50,000 prize money. While the full list of contestants is expected to be announced on Monday 27 May, one person heading to the villa looking for love has been revealed as Nicole Samuel, a model described as “absolutely gorgeous” by one of her Instagram fans.

Leo Barraclough International Features Editor The Match Factory has finalized global sales for the Cannes competition title “The Substance,” directed by Coralie Fargeat and starring Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley and Dennis Quaid. The Match Factory has sold to Italy (I Wonder Pictures), Spain (Elastica Films), Scandinavia (Nonstop Entertainment), South Korea (Challan), Hong Kong (Golden Scene Company), CIS (VLG.FILM LTD.), Ukraine and Baltics (Adastra Cinema), Taiwan (Catchplay), Australia and New Zealand (Madman Entertainment), Poland (Monolith), Greece (Feelgood Entertainment), the former Yugoslavia (MCF Megacom), Bulgaria (Beta Film) and Romania (Independenta Film 97).

Susan Boyle looked completely unrecognisable as she walked the red carpet at The Pride of Scotland Awards at The Hilton Hotel in Glasgow last night (May 21).The singer smiled for photographs and wore a stunning pale pink jumpsuit that was embellished with feather sleeves and paired it with silver accessories. Susan wore her hair in a sleek bob and opted for glowy make-up.

Jack Dunn As part of Variety‘s Global Conversations Summit at the Cannes 2024 Film Festival, Variety executive editor Tatiana Siegel sat down with New Zealand Film Commission CEO Annie Murray and Philippa Mossman, head of International Screen Attraction at New Zealand Film Commission, to talk about the country’s thriving film industry. Murray’s most recent project with the New Zealand Film Commission is a pop-up intensive film school by writer and director Jane Campion. Campion has hand-picked a class of ten filmmakers from 300 applicants and is taking them through a two-year program where they will develop and shoot original short films.

The Beatles into stardom – has died. He was aged 86.The musician took the UK by storm in the ‘60s, and was once a household name in the country for his catalogue of music. He was born in the UK and grew up in Australia, before heading back to England in 1959 to take his career to the next level.His death was announced by close friend, music historian and journalist Glenn A.

Music legend Frank Ifield, who helped give The Beatles their start in the industry, has died of the age of 86.The Australian singer passed away peacefully in his sleep on Saturday night.The sad news was shared on Facebook by his friend, music historian and journalist Glenn A. Baker. He posted: "I just took a call from David Ifield, telling me that his brother FRANK IFIELD peacefully passed on this Saturday night, at age 86.There is so much to be said about this remarkable man, who had four number ones in Britain, three of them before the Beatles (who he had briefly support him in concert).

Strictly Come Dancing star Giovanni Pernice has denied allegations that he was 'threatening or abusive' during training sessions with Amanda Abbington and vowed to 'clear his name'. Sherlock star Amanda took part in last year's series of the BBC show, but withdrew from the dance competition citing 'medical reasons'.

Forbes has released its annual 30 Under 30 list for 2024 in Asia, which features the likes of Voice Of Baceprot, IVE and more.Released today (May 16), the annual Forbes 30 Under 30 list shines a light on individuals aged below 30 who have made a significant impact in their respective fields, including entertainment and sports, science and activism, entrepreneurship and more.This year’s entertainment and sports portion of the list is headlined by Indonesian metallers and stars of NME’s The Cover, Voice Of Baceprot. Trailing behind them are K-pop outfit IVE, Japanese pop-rock group Atarashii Gakko!, Filipino rapper Ez Mil, Indian rapper Arpan Kumar Chandel (aka King), Japanese singer Aina The End and Indonesia’s Mahalini Raharja.The list also includes Chinese-New Zealand actress Jess Hong, Thai singer-actor Vachirawit Chivaaree, also known as Bright, and Indian singer-songwriter Pavithra Chari.This year’s North American 30 Under 30 list featured the likes of Boygenius, Ethel Cain, Dominic Fike, Gracie Abrams, Latto, Reneé Rapp, Ice Spice, Peso Pluma, Trippie Redd, Kali Uchis and more.This year’s European 30 Under 30 list features PinkPantheress, Nia Archives, Cat Burns, FLO, Holly Humberstone and more.Last year’s Forbes Asia 30 Under 30 list included K-pop girl groups NewJeans and Le Sserafim, Cambodian rapper VannDa, Singaporean singer Shye, South Korean singer LØREN, Indian singer-rapper Ambika Nayak – known professionally as Kayan – and Hong Kong singer Michael “MC” Cheung Tin-fu.The entertainment and sports category of the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list was judged by ONE Championship co-founder and Group President Hua Fung Teh and Caldecott Music Group CEO and founder Kuok Meng Ru.

EXCLUSIVE: Since Warner Bros acquired the rights to make more Middle-earth films based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s works and the canon established by New Line’s original trilogy, Peter Jackson and his Lord of the Rings cohorts Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens hovered over the proceedings for a long time, as they mulled how to return, and much to involve themselves into another deep dive into Tolkien mythology.

EXCLUSIVE: Samuel Goldwyn Films has acquired Northern American rights for Joachim A. Lang’s historical drama Goebbels and The Führer (aka Führer and Seducer) for a fall 2024 theatrical and digital release.  

Katcy Stephan Bleecker Street and ShivHans have partnered to tak U.S. rights to the cosmic love story “Love Me,” written and directed by Sam and Andy Zuchero, and starring Kristen Stewart and Steven Yeun. Bleecker Street will co-release the film with ShivHans Pictures, with a U.S.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power,” which premieres on Aug. 29. Amazon unveiled the trailer and the premiere date in New York City on Tuesday as part of its upfront presentation to advertisers.

EXCLUSIVE: Deborah Ann Woll (True Blood, Daredevil) is set to star in horror-thriller The Cycle, which will be launched for sales at the Cannes market by The Exchange.

James Laurenson, the British actor whose 50-year career included roles in Coronation Street, Midsomer Murders and The Crown, had died. He was 84.

Amazon is getting into the talk show game.

Coronation Street and The Crown actor James Laurenson has sadly passed away at the age of 84 after a remarkable 50-year career in TV and film. Laurenson made his film debut back in 1969 with a minor role in Ken Russell's Women In Love, and also starred in The Crown in 2016. In the popular Netflix series about the Royal Family, he appeared as Doctor Weir – a Scottish physician and homeopath who served as the royal physician.The talented actor also made history by performing the first gay kiss on television alongside Ian McKellen.This groundbreaking moment occurred in a 1970 TV adaptation of Christopher Marlowe's Edward II, three years after homosexuality was decriminalised.

A new Lord of the Rings movie is coming in 2026, and we have details including a title!

Ariana Madix won’t stand for any negative comments about her new Love Island gig!

The Chromatica Ball special is coming, after all!