Reuters Entertainment News Summary

08/31/2016 16:55

Following is a summary of current entertainment news briefs.

Opera house adds upmarket touch to Dubai's tourist appeal

Dubai, a tourist destination synonymous with shopping malls and luxury resorts, aims to add high culture to its attractions as it opens an opera house in the shadow of the world's tallest building. The 2,000-seat Dubai Opera welcomes its first guests on Wednesday night with a performance by Spanish tenor Placido Domingo. In coming months, performers from around the world will stage operas, ballets, concerts, musicals and a magic show there.

Musical about L.A. dreamers opens 73rd Venice film festival

Damien Chazelle's "La La Land," a musical comedy-drama about the joys and pains of pursuing one's dreams, opened the Venice film festival on Wednesday, kicking off days of screenings, parties and red carpet glamour. The movie, starring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, tells the story of a struggling jazz pianist, Sebastian, who falls in love with Mia, an aspiring actress in modern day Los Angeles. Sebastian is trying to get people, young and old, to care about traditional jazz, while Mia hopes one of her many auditions will finally land her an acting gig.

Gene Wilder, star of 'Willy Wonka,' 'Blazing Saddles,' dead at 83

Gene Wilder, whose wild curls and startling blue eyes brought a frantic air to roles in the movies "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory," "Young Frankenstein" and "Blazing Saddles," died on Monday at the age of 83, his family said. Wilder, whose best work included collaborations with director-writer Mel Brooks and actor-comedian Richard Pryor, died at his home in Stamford, Connecticut, from complications of Alzheimer's disease, the family said in a statement.

Wax figure of late Mexican-American singer Selena Quintanilla unveiled

Madame Tussauds Hollywood unveiled its latest wax figure double on Tuesday - a statue of late pop star Selena Quintanilla. Dozens of fans watched the unveiling of the life-size figure alongside the singer's relatives, which marked the 21st anniversary of "Dreaming Of You," Selena's final studio album.

Brazil's Gisele holds top spot in Forbes model list; Jenner jumps

Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen remained the highest-paid female model in the world with annual income of $30.5 million, while Kardashian clan member Kendall Jenner more than doubled her earnings, according to Forbes' 2016 list on Tuesday. Jenner, 20-year-old member of reality TV's Kardashian family, tied for third, up from 16th the prior year, and she was the biggest gainer on the 2016 list. Her salary increased from $4 million in 2015 to $10 million in 2016 in part due to partnerships with Estee Lauder and Calvin Klein, Forbes said.

Selena Gomez to take career break after panic attacks

Pop singer Selena Gomez said on Tuesday she was taking time out to deal with panic attacks and depression thought to be a side effect of her lupus disease. Gomez, 24, issued the statement in the midst of her Revival world tour, and about a year after revealing that she had been diagnosed with lupus.

Venice star-studded film fest set to open under heightened security

A musical with Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, Jude Law as a chain smoking pope and Mel Gibson's come back with a war drama are all tipped as must-sees at the Venice film festival which opens its 73rd edition on the Lido under heightened security on Wednesday. Top Hollywood talent and auteur directors will be vying for the Golden Lion at the world's oldest film festival which, after a period in the doldrums, is again seen as a launch pad for the industry's award season after premiering Academy winners in its last three editions.

Actor Jamie Dornan draws 'Fifty Shades' fans to war thriller premiere

Northern Irish actor Jamie Dornan said he was happy if his heartthrob status drew more young fans to watch his new World War Two film, "Anthropoid." "Fifty Shades of Grey" star Dornan was cheered by dozens of girls in London on Tuesday at the U.K. premiere of "Anthropoid," a period drama based on the true story of a 1940s operation to assassinate a Nazi officer.

Chris Brown arrested for suspected assault at L.A. home

Pop star Chris Brown was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon on Tuesday after a daylong standoff at his Los Angeles home that began with a dawn 911 call from a woman, police said. Brown, 27, denied any wrongdoing in posts on Instagram before he was taken into custody and said he had woken up to find police outside the property in the Tarzana neighborhood in Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley.

Flying pigs and prisms: Pink Floyd expo to open at London's V&A

A pink inflatable pig the size of a bus floated above London's venerable Victoria and Albert museum on Wednesday but unlike an infamous outing above Battersea Power Station in 1976 it did not break free and ground planes at Heathrow. Instead, it perhaps slowed traffic a bit, but most certainly caused passers-by to exclaim: "The pig!".

08/31/2016 16:55