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| Japanese author Ryu Murakami dies at 74 | Japanese author Ryu Murakami, whose award-winning debut novel Almost Transparent Blue launched a decades-long literary career, died at his home on Oct. 17, his publisher announced Friday. He was 74. Murakami's death was announced in a joint statement by his literary office and Japanese publisher Gentosha. A cause of death was not disclosed. "We pray that he may rest in peace, having spent his life at the forefront of his era," the statement said. The publisher said a private funeral was held for family members and asked the public to respect their privacy. Born in Nagasaki prefecture in 1952, Murakami rose to prominence in 1976 with Almost Transparent Blue, written while he was a university student. |
| Ehrenreich: 'Murder' foe Mirren is disarming, down-to-earth in real life | Tony Award-winning actor Alden Ehrenreich says he wanted to star in the psychological thriller, A Talent for Murder, because it allowed him to work with Helen Mirren and play two completely different characters. The film adaptation of Joanna Murray-Smith's 2014 play, Switzerland, casts Ehrenreich as Edward Ridgeway, an editor for a New York publisher sent to persuade the renowned novelist Patricia Highsmith (Mirren) to write "one more masterpiece," a final installment in her Tom Ripley series. While Edward is an unwelcome guest at Highsmith's remote Swiss cabin, he and the cantankerous author craft a story together in which nice-guy Edward is imagined as a Ripley-type con artist and serial killer. |
| 'The Gentlemen' Season 3 begins production, will reunite Wood, Bloom | Production is underway on The Gentlemen Season 3. Netflix announced the news Friday, along with eight new cast members, including Lord of the Rings co-stars Elijah Wood and Orlando Bloom. The Gentlemen is a crime comedy-drama created by Guy Ritchie and set in the world of his 2019 film of the same name. Theo James stars as Eddie Horniman, a British duke who learns there is a secret cannabis farm beneath his newly-inherited estate. The farm is owned by crime lord Bobby Glass (Ray Winstone), whose daughter Susie (Kaya Scodelario) forms an uneasy alliance with Eddie. Wood and Bloom will reunite in Season 3, which also features new cast members Robert Carlyle, Dexter Fletcher, Bruna Marquezine, Ed Speelers, Saffron Burrows and Bugzy Malone. |
| Hilary Duff releases 'Holiday Things,' her first Christmas EP | Hilary Duff is gearing up for the holidays. The singer and actress, 39, released Holiday Things, her first Christmas EP, on Friday. Holiday Things is a follow-up to Duff's 2002 full-length holiday album, Santa Claus Lane. The new EP includes covers of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and "Last Christmas," along with the original songs "I Guess It's Christmas," "All You Want for Christmas is Me" and "I Want (A Few Small Things)." "Everyone who knows me know I lovvvve and also have a complicated relationship with Christmas and the holiday season. I live for the Christmas spirit ... traditions, music, decorations, sweaters, shopping, gingy bread houses and more more more ... |
| Babymonster releases 'Deserve,' new single amid Rami's absence | South Korean girl group Babymonster is back with new music. The K-pop stars released a single and music video for the song "Deserve" on Friday. The "Deserve" video shows the members of Babymonster perform the emotional pop ballad against a backdrop of exploding buildings, car crashes and fireworks. In the lyrics, the group addresses an ex who deserves "better" and "someone that loves you right." "Deserve" follows the release of Babymonster's EP Choom and the song "Sugar Honey Ice Tea" earlier this year. In social media comments, fans voiced concern for Babymonster member Rami, who does not appear on the new single and remains on hiatus from the group. "We understand that you need to keep Rami's information confidential. |