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| Famous birthdays for April 18: Hayley Mills, Vanessa Kirby | Those born on this date are under the sign of Aries. |
| Live-action 'Ferngully' in development with director Marielle Heller | Amazon MGM Studios announced Friday that it is developing a live-action film based on the animated Ferngully: The Last Rainforest. Marielle Heller will direct. 1992's Ferngully was about a logger shrunk down to the size of the magical fairies of the rainforest. He learned about the harms caused by deforestation. It featured the voices of Samantha Mathis, Christian Slater, Robin Williams, Tim Curry, Jonathan Ward and more. Elton John, Raffi, Thomas Dolby and Jimmy Buffett wrote original songs for it with John, Sheena Easton, Ton Loc and cast members performing. Bill Kroyer, director of the animated film, spoke with UPI for the film's 30th anniversary, and said the film's environmental message was "more critical than it has ever been. |
| Anitta returns with 'Equilibrium' album, 'Desgraca' music video | Brazilian singer Anitta is back with new music. The music artist, 33, released her seventh album, Equilibrium, and a music video for the single "Desgraca" on Friday. The "Desgraca" video shows Anitta hosting an an outdoor party lit by candlelight. Equilibrium features music in Portuguese, English and Spanish, and includes collaborations with Marina Sena, Liniker, Luedji Luna, Melly, Os Garotin, Shakira and other artists. "It's so special to finally be able to share this with you," Anitta said of the album on Instagram. The singer called the album "the greatest blessing of my life" after performing the new songs "Choka Choka" and "Varias Quejas" on Saturday Night Live. |
| Christopher Meloni thanks fans after 'Law & Order: OC' cancellation | Law & Order: Organized Crime star Christopher Meloni thanked fans Friday following news of the show's cancellation. Meloni, 65, played Det. Elliot Stabler on the Law & Order: SVU spinoff for five seasons after portraying the character in the first 12 seasons of SVU. "I wanted to take this moment to say thank you to the fans who not only helped give the character of Elliot Stabler life and longevity, but for sticking with him and welcoming him back," the actor said in a video on Instagram. "Good ride. It was a good ride. Had a great time playing him ... but thank you. You helped give me a career that I never dreamed of [for] 17-odd years," he added. |
| 'Dexter: Resurrection' adds Bokeem Woodbine, Nona Parker Johnson | Dexter: Resurrection is expanding its Season 2 cast. Paramount+ said in a press release Friday that Fargo Season 2 actor Bokeem Woodbine and Mayor of Kingstown actress Nona Parker Johnson have joined the show's upcoming season. Dexter: Resurrection is a sequel to Dexter and Dexter: New Blood that follows vigilante serial killer Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall) and his son Harrison (Jack Alcott). Johnson will play Fiona Mixon, a nepo-baby training officer in the homicide unit who becomes a new love interest for Harrison, while Woodbine will portray Fiona's father, the unit's captain. |