News Briefs

"Black Panther" director Ryan Coogler is joining LeBron James and the "Space Jam 2" team.

James' production company SpringHill Entertainment tweeted Wednesday that Coogler will produce the sequel to the 1996 movie that featured Michael Jordan alongside Warner Bros.' animated characters.

"Random Acts of Flyness" creator Terence Nance will direct James, and Bugs Bunny, in the film.

According to The Hollywood Reporter which first reported the news, production is tentatively slated to being in 2019 during the NBA off season.

SeaWorld and two former executives on Tuesday agreed to pay more than $5 million to settle federal fraud claims that they misled investors about the negative impact the 2013 documentary "Blackfish" had on business.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filed the complaint in federal court in New York as well as the proposed settlements, which are subject to court approval. The SEC's complaint alleged SeaWorld and former CEO James Atchison made misleading and false statements or omissions in SEC filings, earnings releases and calls about the documentary's impact on the company's reputation and business from December 2013 to August 2014.

During the first three months of 2014, Atchison sold stock as part of a trading plan he had entered into before that period, allowing him to avoid losses of almost $740,000, according to the complaint.

In August 2014, SeaWorld for the first time made a filing with the SEC that revealed the company was facing declining attendance following the movie's release. The company's stock price plummeted by a third and SeaWorld's stock was downgraded by analysts, causing an $830 million loss in shareholder value, according to the SEC complaint.

"The defendants should have known that the 'Blackfish' effect, if and when such occurred, would be material to investors," the complaint said.

Directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite, "Blackfish" chronicled the life of Tilikum, an orca that killed a SeaWorld trainer during a performance in Orlando in 2010.

In a statement, SeaWorld said the company neither admits nor denies the allegations under the settlement.

"The company is pleased to have resolved this matter and to continue to focus on delivering superior guest experiences, world-class animal care and rescuing animals in need," said the statement from corporate communications director Travis Claytor.

Online court records didn't show attorneys for Atchison or Fred Jacobs, SeaWorld's former vice president of communications.

Under the settlement proposal, SeaWorld would pay a $4 million penalty, Atchison would pay more than $1 million for a penalty and pay-back and Jacobs would pay $100,000 in pay-back.

A Rhode Island town is considering asking its departments to refrain from purchasing Nike products, one of a handful of local governments or agencies that have called for boycotts in recent weeks.

The North Smithfield Town Council plans to discuss a resolution Monday evening. Council President John Beauregard is a former state trooper who is upset with Nike's decision to use former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick in an ad campaign. The town's administrator didn't know of any specific Nike products that municipal departments are currently using.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island said the town could be held legally and financially liable for violating the First Amendment and told members of the council: "Just don't do it."

The mayor of a New Orleans suburb recently rescinded a similar directive based on an attorney's advice.

Kenner Mayor Ben Zahn, a Republican, had issued a memo saying that Nike products could not be purchased for use at city recreation facilities. It also required the parks and recreation director to approve all athletic purchases by booster clubs using the facilities. The order prompted a protest that included three members of the NFL's New Orleans Saints and hundreds of others.

And Mississippi's public safety chief said over the weekend that state police would no longer buy Nike products, saying that Nike doesn't support law enforcement and the military. It wasn't immediately clear how much gear the state police agency buys from Nike, though the department has bought shoes, shirts and tactical training uniforms from the company. Republican Gov. Phil Bryant lauded the decision.

A Nike spokesman said Monday he couldn't comment on the various governmental actions.

Kaepernick began kneeling during the national anthem in 2016 to protest police brutality and social injustice.

Beauregard said he proposed taking a stance in North Smithfield because he feels Kaepernick has been disrespectful toward police. He said it's not about kneeling during the anthem. The resolution would be nonbinding.

Argentine authorities say they have seized about $3 million in cameras, lenses and other film equipment stolen in Hollywood and New York.

Security Minister Patricia Bullrich said Friday that Argentine authorities worked in conjunction with the FBI, the New York Police Department and the U.S. Embassy in Buenos Aires.

Authorities said they were able to break up a criminal gang that stole the equipment from Hollywood producers and rented it on the black market for movies in Argentina.

Dozens of cases with costly cameras marked with the word "seized," as well as tripods, lights and other professional film equipment were displayed at a news conference Friday in the Argentine capital.

Argentine Federal Police Chief Nestor Roncaglia said 17 people are being investigated as part of the operation called "Hollywood Stolen."