AP Entertainment SummaryBrief at 12:06 p.m. EDT

With worries about WBD acquisition looming, Paramount takes the stage at CinemaCon

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Paramount Pictures is presenting its upcoming slate to theater owners at CinemaCon in Las Vegas. This comes amid its pending $111 billion deal to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery. The merger has sparked discussions about its impact on the exhibition business. Some filmmakers, like Denis Villeneuve and J.J. Abrams, oppose the merger, while James Cameron supports it. Paramount plans to release 15 movies in theaters and aims for 30 releases annually with Warner Bros. The deal awaits shareholder and regulatory approval. Critics worry about potential job cuts and reduced competition in the industry.

Box office powerhouse Disney to show theater owners what’s next

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The Walt Disney Co. is closing out CinemaCon on Thursday in Las Vegas. The company dominated the box office in 2025 with nearly $2.5 billion in domestic ticket sales. Hits like “Lilo & Stitch,” “Zootopia 2,” and “Avatar: Fire and Ash” led the way. This year, Disney has already boosted the box office with Pixar's “Hoppers,” earning over $355 million globally. Upcoming releases include “The Mandalorian and Grogu,” “Toy Story 5,” and “Avengers: Doomsday.” Disney's impact on the exhibition industry is significant, making up over 27.5% of the annual domestic box office last year.

Movie Review: 'Lee Cronin’s The Mummy' offers a teenage-girl mummy and a messy, overlong gorefest

“Lee Cronin’s The Mummy” attempts to revive the classic monster with a twist, but it falls flat, AP critic Mark Kennedy says. The film reimagines The Mummy as a teenage girl possessed by a demon, blending horror clichés with a disjointed plot. It jumps between Cairo and New Mexico, starting slow and ending in a chaotic bloodfest. Cronin, known for “Evil Dead Rise,” includes some unique elements, like an Arabic-speaking lead, but his indulgences, like inter-family cannibalism, feel unedited. The detective subplot adds intrigue but gets lost, Kennedy says. Ultimately, the R-rated movie lacks the terror it aims for, earning just half a star.

Anitta, like you've never heard her before. The Brazilian superstar talks new album, 'SNL' and God

NEW YORK (AP) — Anitta’s upcoming album “Equilibrium” showcases her roots with a vibrant mix of Brazilian funk, samba, bossa nova and more. “Equilibrium” is a departure from her previous album, “Funk Generation,” and includes diverse sounds and cultural influences. She calls it her “most Brazilian album.” It features collaborations with Brazilian artists and Shakira. Anitta sings in multiple languages, but Portuguese takes the lead in “Equilibrium.” She aims to celebrate diversity and unity, delivering deep messages in a pop package. The Associated Press spent time with the Brazilian superstar Anitta as she prepared to make her “Saturday Night Live” debut last week.

Movie Review: Bob Odenkirk's sheriff is new to town in the gory thriller 'Normal'

“Normal” stars Bob Odenkirk and is a goofy, gory good time, writes AP Film Writer Jake Coyle in his review. While it shares a lot of DNA with Odenkirk’s two “Nobody” movies, “Normal” is the best and most convincing showcase for Odenkirk as a butt-kicking action hero yet. It’s a hyperviolent Midwestern Western that cleverly inverts some genre standards. Odenkirk plays an interim sheriff in a small Minnesota town named Normal. But when a bank heist gets underway, Midwestern manners fall away and mayhem begins.

Christopher Nolan brings ‘The Odyssey’ to CinemaCon; Steven Spielberg previews 'Disclosure Day'

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Christopher Nolan has given theater owners a thrilling glimpse of “The Odyssey” at CinemaCon in Las Vegas. His adaptation of Homer’s epic, starring Matt Damon as Odysseus, is one of the most anticipated films of the year. It arrives in theaters on July 17. Nolan introduced an extended clip showing the Trojan Horse and the infiltration of Troy. The film is the first shot entirely on IMAX film, thanks to new cameras. It features a massive ensemble cast, including Anne Hathaway and Tom Holland. Nolan says the film is almost done and focuses on family and homecoming.

What to know about the Live Nation verdict and how it could affect concertgoers

Music lovers who have long complained about Ticketmaster fees for concert tickets are surely reveling in a jury verdict that found its parent company Live Nation has been running a harmful monopoly over big venues. But they will have to wait to see if the verdict leads to changes that make concerts more affordable. The lawsuit led by more than 30 states accused Live Nation of smothering competition. A federal jury in Manhattan found that Ticketmaster had overcharged customers $1.72 per ticket in 22 states, which a judge could order the company to pay back. That could cost Live Nation hundreds of millions of dollars.

Jury finds that Ticketmaster and Live Nation had an anticompetitive monopoly over big concert venues

NEW YORK (AP) — A jury has found that concert giant Live Nation and its Ticketmaster subsidiary engaged in an anticompetitive monopoly. The New York jury decided Wednesday on claims from dozens of U.S. states that the entertainment ticketing behemoth was a monopoly that cost concertgoers and sports fans. Live Nation Entertainment owns, operates or controls booking for hundreds of venues. Its subsidiary Ticketmaster is widely considered the world’s largest ticket-seller for live events. The civil case, initially led by the U.S. federal government, accused Live Nation of using its reach to smother competition. Live Nation said in a statement that the verdict was not the last word on the matter and promised appeals. A lawyer for the states called it a “great day for antitrust law.”

A reimagined 'Cats' on Broadway features a special cat — an actor from the original 1980s musical

NEW YORK (AP) — Ken Ard makes a triumphant return to Broadway in “Cats: The Jellicle Ball.” He starred in the original “Cats” and now returns after 25 years. Ard’s journey is one of redemption, echoing New York's recovery post-9/11. He struggled with PTSD and confidence after the attacks, but this show marks his first Broadway appearance since then. Ard was inspired by the vibrant reinvention of “Cats” into the Black and Latino queer ballroom scene. He now plays DJ Griddlebone, bringing energy and history to the production. Ard hopes this marks the end of his corporate kitchen days.