Reuters Entertainment News Summary

08/24/2016 16:55

Following is a summary of current entertainment news briefs.

Violinist Stirling says new album 'Brave Enough' therapeutic

American violinist Lindsey Stirling deals with love and loss in new album "Brave Enough," with overcoming adversity the backdrop for her latest work following a year that included her best friend's death and a cancer diagnosis for her father. The title track was the first the 29-year-old wrote after her friend Jason Gaviati died in 2015. She also penned "Gavi's Song" to honor their friendship.

Jason Statham promises plenty of action in 'Mechanic: Resurrection'

Jason Statham, Jessica Alba and Tommy Lee Jones join forces for action movie "Mechanic: Resurrection," a sequel to the 2011 thriller about an elite hitman. Statham reprises his role as the lead character Arthur Bishop, and promised fans plenty of action.

'Birth of a Nation' slavery movie stumbles in Hollywood

The American Film Institute has called off a Los Angeles screening of slavery movie "The Birth of a Nation" amid controversy over an old rape case involving the film's director just as Hollywood's awards season swings into gear. The screening, scheduled for Friday at the AFI, was to be followed by a question and answer session with director Nate Parker in what would have been Parker's first public event since it emerged last week that the accuser in his 1999 rape trial and acquittal committed suicide in 2012.

BuzzFeed splits itself into news, entertainment departments

Online media outlet BuzzFeed will split itself into two new departments that will focus on news and entertainment, CEO Jonah Peretti wrote in a memo sent to employees. The move to create two departments - BuzzFeed News and BuzzFeed Entertainment Group - comes at a time when online media companies are grappling with the balance between covering news and politics, and lighter fare like social media, entertainment and lifestyle.

Demi Lovato sued for copyright infringement

Singer and actress Demi Lovato has been accused by American indie rock band Sleigh Bells over copyright infringement. Alexis Krauss and Derek Miller of the Brooklyn-based band said in a lawsuit filed on Monday in California federal court that "Stars," a bonus track on Lovato's 2015 hit album "Confident," contains significant material taken from their 2010 song "Infinity Guitars."

21st Century Fox says Snider to start as film studio CEO in Sept

Twenty-First Century Fox Inc said Stacey Snider would take over as chairman and chief executive of its film studio business on Sept. 1 as Jim Gianopulos was stepping down earlier than planned. The company had said in June that Snider would replace Gianopulos in June 2017.

Jennifer Lawrence ranked world's highest paid-actress for second year

"Hunger Games" star Jennifer Lawrence on Tuesday topped a Forbes magazine list of the world's highest-paid actress for the second straight year, earning some $46 million, followed by Melissa McCarthy. Lawrence, 26, took the top spot largely through a slice of the profits from the final movie in the "Hunger Games" franchise, as well as a big upfront fee for her forthcoming space adventure movie "Passengers," Forbes said.

Mislabeled pills seized at Prince's home after his death: reports

Mislabeled pills were seized at the home of musician Prince after his death from an overdose of the powerful opioid fentanyl, according to media reports on Monday. Prince died on April 21 at his home and studio outside Minneapolis, and investigators are trying to establish how he ingested fentanyl, with one theory being that he may have accidentally taken the drug because it was not properly labeled.

Robert De Niro gets back into the ring with 'Hands of Stone'

Actor Robert De Niro has re-entered the ring in the new boxing drama film "Hands of Stone." But this time, he's not the one throwing the punches, he's training famed Panamanian fighter Roberto Duran, portrayed by Edgar Ramirez.

08/24/2016 16:55