News Briefs

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Thursday, Aug. 22, 2019

Weinstein to be rearraigned as DA seeks actress' testimony

In this Oct. 11, 2018, file photo, Harvey Weinstein enters State Supreme Court in New York. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)

By Michael R. Sisak & Tom Hays

NEW YORK (AP) --

Prosecutors are bringing a new indictment against Harvey Weinstein in an attempt to bolster their case with testimony from an actress who says he raped her in 1993 .

The disgraced movie mogul is set to be arraigned Monday on the revised charges, which Weinstein's lawyers called an unfair ploy to smear him during his upcoming trial with allegations too old to be prosecuted under New York law.

Prosecutors have said that the new indictment is meant to fix a technical problem with the existing indictment and won't result in additional charges. Nor should it delay Weinstein's trial, which is scheduled to start Sept. 9, they said.

Weinstein, 67, has pleaded not guilty to charges that he raped a woman in 2013 and performed a forcible sex act on a different woman in 2006.

The legal maneuvering has to do with charges accusing Weinstein of predatory sexual assault, which requires prosecutors to show he had a history of past sex crimes More

Thursday, Aug. 22, 2019

Peppa Pig to get new owner: GI Joe maker Hasbro

In this April 27, 2018 file photo, a woman reacts to a Peppa Pig mascot during the Global Mobile Internet Conference (GMIC) in Beijing, China. Hasbro is going whole hog on Peppa Pig. The maker of Monopoly and GI Joe will pay about $4 billion to buy Entertainment One Ltd, a British entertainment company that produces "Peppa Pig," "PJ Masks" and other animated shows for preschoolers. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan. File)

NEW YORK (AP) --

Hasbro is going whole hog on Peppa Pig.

The maker of Monopoly and GI Joe will pay about $4 billion to buy Entertainment One Ltd., a British entertainment company that produces "Peppa Pig," ''PJ Masks" and other animated shows for preschoolers.

"Peppa Pig," which stars a pink cartoon pig with a British accent, airs worldwide and is translated into over 40 languages.

Hasbro Inc., based in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, says the deal will help it turn more of its toy brands into shows or movies. Many of its brands, including My Little Pony and Transformers, already appear in TV shows and movies.

The deal is expected to close before the end of the year.

Thursday, Aug. 22, 2019

Hidden Empire Film Group to receive LMGI Humanitarian Award

Hidden Empire Film Group's (l-r) Robert F. Smith, Roxanne Taylor and Deon Taylor.

LOS ANGELES --

The Location Managers Guild International (LMGI) has named Hidden Empire Film Group’s Roxanne Taylor, Deon Taylor and Robert F. Smith as recipients of the 2019 LMGI Humanitarian Award for their philanthropic reach across the globe. The 6th Annual LMGI Awards highlight international features, television and commercials in which the creative use of filming locations set the tone, enrich the character and enhance the narrative. Winners will be revealed during the formal ceremony on Saturday evening, September 21, at the Eli & Edythe Broad Stage in Santa Monica, Calif.

“The Hidden Empire Film Group’s deep compassion and active engagement in raising awareness of human rights and social issues is a unique, and inspiring hands-on brand of activism,” said LMGI VP and Awards co-chair Lori Balton. “Their commitment to advancing social change, improving education, and promoting human dignity is seemingly endless. HEFG is about helping people find a More

Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2019

Harvey Weinstein wants to move trial out of NYC

In this Oct. 11, 2018, file photo, Harvey Weinstein enters State Supreme Court in New York. A lawyer for Weinstein has asked that the disgraced movie mogul's upcoming criminal trial be moved out of New York City, saying he can't get a fair trial. In a longshot motion filed with the state appellate court on Friday, Aug. 16, 2019, attorney Arthur Aidala suggested the trial be moved to upstate Albany County or Suffolk County on Long Island. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)

NEW YORK (AP) --

A lawyer for Harvey Weinstein has asked that the disgraced movie mogul's upcoming criminal trial be moved out of New York City, saying he can't get a fair trial.

In a longshot motion filed with the New York State appellate court on Friday, attorney Arthur Aidala suggested the trial be moved to upstate Albany County or Suffolk County on Long Island.

The motion cited the intense media coverage and circuslike atmosphere surrounding Weinstein's past court appearances in Manhattan, even noting that Weinstein's name was mentioned online on the New York Post's gossip column Page Six more than 11,000 times.

"It is safe to say that New York City is the least likely place on earth where Mr. Weinstein could receive a fair trial, where jurors could hear evidence, deliberate, and render a verdict in an atmosphere free of intimidation from pressure to deliver a result that the politicians, the activists, the celebrities and the media demand," More

Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2019

Marvel's involvement in "Spider-Man" movies may be in doubt

In this June 26, 2019 file photo, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige arrives at the world premiere of "Spider-Man: Far From Home" at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles. Marvel Studios may be stepping away from its cross-studio partnership with Sony Pictures that has allowed the Spider-Man character to appear in Marvel Cinematic Universe films like “Avengers: Endgame.” The Hollywood trade Deadline reports Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2019 that there was a disagreement over the profit-sharing structure. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)

By Lindsey Bahr, Film Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP) --

With great success comes great re-negotiation. In the wake of the announcement that "Spider-Man: Far From Home" is now the highest-grossing film ever in Sony Pictures' history, reports surfaced that Marvel Studios may be stepping away from the cross-studio partnership.

The Hollywood trade Deadline reported Tuesday that there was a disagreement over the profit-sharing structure.

According to a person close to the deal who was unauthorized to speak publicly, negotiations are not yet final. But the suggestion that Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige may not produce future live-action "Spider-Man" movies and that the character itself might not appear in any more Marvel Cinematic Universe films quickly turned into a trending topic.

Sony has held the rights to the Marvel character since 1985, but in 2015, announced a partnership with Disney and Marvel that would allow Spider-Man to be used in MCU films like "Avengers: Endgame." It also More

Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2019

Facebook rolls out tool to block off-Facebook data gathering

In this July 30, 2019, file photo, the social media application, Facebook is displayed on Apple's App Store. Facebook is launching a long-promised tool that lets users block the social network from gathering information about them on outside websites and apps. Facebook said Tuesday, Aug. 20, that it is adding a place where users can see the activity that Facebook tracks outside its service. If they want, they can turn it off. (AP Photo/Amr Alfiky)

By Barbara Ortutay, Technology Writer

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) --

Soon, you could get fewer familiar ads following you around the internet — or at least on Facebook.

Facebook is launching a long-promised tool that lets you limit what the social network can gather about you on outside websites and apps.

The company said Tuesday that it is adding a section where you can see the activity that Facebook tracks outside its service via its "like" buttons and other means. You can choose to turn off the tracking; otherwise, tracking will continue the same way it has been.

Formerly known as "clear history," the tool will now go by the slightly clunkier moniker "off-Facebook activity." The feature launches in South Korea, Ireland and Spain on Tuesday, consistent with Facebook's tendency to launch features in smaller markets first. The company did not give a timeline for when it might expand it to the U.S. and other countries, only that it will be in "coming months."

What you do off Facebook is among More

Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2019

New "Matrix" film set with Keanu Reeves and Lana Wachowski

In this Feb. 4, 2014 file photo, Lana Wachowski attends the Chicago International Film Festival's screening of "Jupiter Ascending" at the AMC River East theater, in Chicago. Keanu Reeves and Wachowski are returning to the world of “The Matrix.” Warner Bros. Pictures Group chairman Toby Emmerich says Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2019, that a fourth “Matrix” is in the works. (Photo by Barry Brecheisen/Invision/AP, File)

LOS ANGELES (AP) --

Keanu Reeves and Lana Wachowski are returning to the world of "The Matrix."

Warner Bros. Pictures Group chairman Toby Emmerich says Tuesday that a fourth "Matrix" is in the works.

Reeves will be reprising his role as Neo and Carrie-Anne Moss will return as Trinity in the film that will be co-written, directed and produced by Wachowski, who co-created "The Matrix" with Lilly Wachowski.

Lana Wachowski says in a statement that the ideas of "The Matrix" are more relevant than ever now and she's happy to have the characters back in her life. Emmerich says Wachowski is a true visionary.

The first film hit theaters 20 years ago and spawned two sequels that cumulatively made more than $1.6 billion at the global box office.

No release date has been set.

Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2019

Judge to rule on tossing suit against Smollett in October

In this March 14, 2019 file photo, "Empire" actor Jussie Smollett, stands before Cook County Circuit Court Judge Steven Watkins where he pled not guilty at the Leighton Criminal Court Building, in Chicago. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune via AP, Pool)

CHICAGO (AP) --

A federal judge hearing the city of Chicago's lawsuit against Jussie Smollett says she'll rule on the actor's request to toss the suit in October.

The 10-minute status hearing Tuesday was the first since the civil case was moved to federal court from state court. The former "Empire" actor didn't attend the hearing in Chicago.

The city accuses Smollett of staging a racist and anti-gay attack against himself in January. It sued to force Smollett to pay $130,000 in police overtime and other expenses after state prosecutors dropped charges accusing him of filing a false report.

The defense motion to dismiss earlier this month calls the bid to recoup costs a "perverse tactic" since charges were dismissed. They maintain the attack was real.

The next status hearing is Oct. 22.

Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2019

25th Bond movie gets a title: "No Time to Die"

In this April 25, 2019, file photo, actor Daniel Craig poses for photographers during the photo call of the latest installment of the James Bond film franchise in Oracabessa, Jamaica. (AP Photo/Leo Hudson, File)

NEW YORK (AP) --

The 25th James Bond movie has a title: "No Time to Die."

Producers announced the moniker Tuesday for the film that has long been referred to simply as "Bond 25."

"No Time to Die" returns Daniel Craig to the role of 007. Lea Seydoux, Naomie Harris, Ben Whishaw and Ralph Fiennes return as cast members. Rami Malek plays the villain.

"No Time to Die," directed by Cary Fukunaga, is to be released in the U.K. on April 3, 2020, and in the United States on April 8.

A few setbacks have marked the production. An explosion during shooting at Pinewood Studios in June injured a crew member and damaged the sound stage. Craig hurt his foot in May while performing a stunt in Jamaica that required minor ankle surgery.

Friday, Aug. 16, 2019

"After the Wedding" was a family affair for Julianne Moore

In this Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2019 file photo, director Bart Freundlich, left, and wife, actor Julianne Moore, attend a special screening of "After the Wedding" in New York. The film, written and directed by Freundlich, is a remake of director Susanne Bier's hit Dutch movie of the same name. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

By Ragan Clark

NEW YORK (AP) --

Julianne Moore is accustomed to working with her husband, director Bart Freundlich, on set, but it was a real family affair when their daughter joined them for their latest collaboration.

Liv Freundlich, 17, was a production assistant on "After the Wedding," which was released earlier this month.

"We loved having her around more than she loved being around," laughed Freundlich. "The best part of it was just getting to be with each other constantly."

The film, written and directed by Freundlich, is a remake of director Susanne Bier's hit Dutch movie of the same name. To put his own stamp on it, Freundlich swapped the gender of the two leads to women, using Moore and Michelle Williams. Billy Crudup plays a role that was portrayed by a woman in the original.

In the movie, Williams plays Isabel, an orphanage volunteer living in India who comes to the United States to ask Moore's character, Theresa, to fund her organization. She More