“Peaky Blinders” creator Steven Knight is set to write the screenplay for the untitled “Star Wars” movie that Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy (“Ms. Marvel”) is attached to direct, as original screenwriters Damon Lindelof and Justin Britt-Gibson have departed the project, Variety has confirmed. The movie is widely expected to be among Lucasfilm’s first “Star Wars” films since…

The newly launched independent music publishing, rights management, and catalog marketing company AMR Songs has acquired by catalogs of former Lovin’ Spoonful frontmany John Sebastian — including such songs as “Daydream,” “Summer in the City,” “Do You Believe in Magic” and “Wecome Back” — as well as Grammy-winning reggae group Soja. Founded by industry veteran/ CEO…

Norman Steinberg, screenwriter of films including “Blazing Saddles” “My Favorite Year” died March 15. He was 83. His other credits include the film “Johnny Dangerously,” the TV movie “Free to Be…You and Me,” and the TV show “Doctor, Doctor.” Born in Brooklyn, Steinberg went to college at the U. of Maryland and law school at…

This article contains spoilers for “Swarm.” The first image of the debut episode of the serial killer series “Swarm” is a spin on classic Hollywood disclaimer language: “Any similarity to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events, is intentional.” It’s a provocative start to the kaleidoscopic pop culture satire, created by Janine Nabers and…

Bernardo Rondeau, senior director of film programs for the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, is exiting to take a similar job as curator of film programs at the under-construction Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in downtown Los Angeles. Tuesday night’s screening of “Lawrence of Arabia” was the final film he introduced as head of film…

Becoming princess Ariel for Disney’s live action “The Little Mermaid” required Halle Bailey to be in the water for 13 hours straight on set during some days of filming, the actor revealed in a new Edition magazine profile. The film, directed by “Chicago” and “Into the Woods” helmer Rob Marshall, used practical water tanks and…

After 25 years, “Mission: Impossible” fans may finally find out whatever happened to William Donloe, the CIA analyst from the original movie who was supposed to be watching highly classified documents before Ethan Hunt drops from the ceiling and steals them in the now famous scene. On his Instagram account Wednesday, “Mission: Impossible – Dead…

Erik Lomis, a longtime film distribution executive who worked at MGM, United Artists Releasing and the Weinstein Company, died at his home in Santa Monica, Calif. He was 64. His cause of death is unknown. During his three-decade career in Hollywood, Lomis handled the theatrical release of Oscar-winners and big-budget blockbusters, as well as developed long-standing relationships…

Actor and comedian Dick Van Dyke sustained minor injuries after a single-vehicle car accident in Malibu, Calif., last week.   Shortly after 11 a.m. on March 15, responding officers found the 97-year-old had driven his silver Lexus into a gate amidst heavy rain, CNN reported.   The Malibu Sheriff Department confirmed that Van Dyke appeared to be…

Lindsay Lohan, Jake Paul, Ne-Yo and rapper Lil Yachty are among the eight notable names who have been hit with Securities and Exchange Commission charges for violating securities laws in touting crypto currencies. The SEC on Wednesday disclosed that charges were filed against eight celebrities in connection with the broader investigation of crypto entrepreneur Justin…