Steven Spielberg on his faith in alien life, the future of the movies and the power of empathy
NEW YORK (AP) — Steven Spielberg's “Disclosure Day” returns Hollywood’s preeminent big-screen craftsman to one of his most abiding questions: Are we alone? Coming nearly half a century after “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” “Disclosure Day” is a grand bookend for one of the most cosmically-minded moviemakers of our time, whose dreams of extraterrestrial life have shaped all of ours. But while Spielberg grants his 1977 film was “speculative,” “Disclosure Day,” he insists, is the real deal. In an interview, Spielberg tells The Associated Press that his belief in alien life has turned into a conviction. “Disclosure Day,” he says, is too real to be called science fiction.
Scott Pelley fired from '60 Minutes,' deepening turmoil at CBS News
CBS News has fired longtime “60 Minutes” correspondent Scott Pelley. It came a day after he reportedly said Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss was “murdering the show” and accused its new producer of having “slender qualifications” for the job. The move deepened the turmoil at the nation’s most influential TV news program and the news unit that oversees it. Pelley had criticized the program’s leadership during an introductory meeting Monday between the show’s staff and Nick Bilton, the new executive producer named by Weiss last week. That was reported first on the Status website. In a termination notice obtained by The Associated Press, Bilton accused Pelley of carrying out an “ambush” against him.
Peabo Bryson, known for duets from Disney's 'Aladdin' and 'Beauty and the Beast,' has died at 75
NEW YORK (AP) — Grammy Award-winning R&B singer Peabo Bryson has died at 75. He was known for his Disney duets "Beauty and the Beast" and "A Whole New World." He died Tuesday after having a stroke. His family shared the news in a statement, expressing comfort in the love and impact he left behind. Bryson was born in South Carolina. He began his career in the 1970s with Moses Dillard and the Tex-Town Display before going solo. He had a stroke in May. In 2019, he had recovered from a heart attack.
BTS, Cardi B, Lainey Wilson, Muse, Snoop Dogg and others will perform at iHeartRadio Music Festival
NEW YORK (AP) — K-Pop band BTS, Benson Boone, Cardi B, Lainey Wilson, Major Lazer, Muse, Snoop Dogg and Zara Larsson are among the performers this fall at the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas. It will be broadcast live. The event will take place Sept. 18-19 at the T-Mobile Arena. The lineup also includes Weezer, Goo Goo Dolls and Kenny Chesney. Ryan Seacrest will host. Fans can hear it all on iHeartMedia radio stations or watch it streaming on Disney+ and Hulu. The general public can buy tickets on AXS.com starting at 2 p.m. EDT on June 12. Capital One cardholders will be able to access a presale beginning at 1 p.m. EDT on June 10.
Movie Review: ‘Masters of the Universe’ does not have the power
Nicholas Galitzine plays the '80s action hero He-Man in “Masters of the Universe.” The film from director Travis Knight tells an origin story about Prince Adam, the kingdom of Eternia and the villain Skeletor, who is played by Jared Leto. Camila Mendes, Idris Elba and Alison Brie also star. In her review for The Associated Press, film writer Lindsey Bahr writes that the movie might not know who its audience is, and seems embarrassed about its inherent silliness, always undercutting the Saturday morning cartoon aspects with a snarky joke. Rated PG-13, “Masters of the Universe” is in theaters Friday.
Recommended for you
Nas and Nicholas Britell help tell the story of the NBA Finals with spot debuting Wednesday
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — The NBA brought in Grammy-winning rapper Nas and three-time Emmy-winning composer Nicholas Britell to help tell the tale of this season’s NBA Finals. The league debuted a new spot promoting the finals early Wednesday, hours before the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks begin this year’s title series. Britell envisioned a piece that, the league said, “draws inspiration from the emotional progression of basketball, from anticipation and momentum shifts to the defining moments that shape outcomes.” Nas provides the voice, with nods to the 80-year history of the league and what it takes to get to the NBA Finals.
Jill Biden says she's sorry she didn't talk more about son Hunter's drug addiction
NEW YORK (AP) — Jill Biden says she's sorry she didn't talk more about son Hunter's drug addiction during her time in the White House. At her first big event promoting her new memoir, the former first lady said she now realizes that talking about his substance abuse and his recovery can offer hope to others. In a wide-ranging interview with “The View” co-host Whoopi Goldberg, Jill Biden says former President Joe Biden's cancer diagnosis has put life in perspective for her. She says she isn't angry anymore about the way the Democratic Party pressured her husband out of politics. Her memoir, “View from the East Wing,” was published Tuesday.
The show will go on: White House correspondents' dinner rescheduled for July, with Trump attending
NEW YORK (AP) — The White House Correspondents Association dinner has been rescheduled for July 24. The event was initially disrupted in April by an assassination attempt on President Donald Trump. Weijia Jiang, president of the White House Correspondents' Association, announced the new date and emphasized enhanced safety measures and new access procedures. Trump revealed on his Truth Social platform that the dinner would be held at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. He said he has accepted an invitation to speak, and called the rescheduling a sign of strength. Jiang highlighted the dinner's purpose as a celebration of a free press and democracy, despite some critics questioning whether it should be held at all.
Feeling a little bleak about the world? There’s a film festival for that
Bleak Week is a film festival celebrating “cinema of despair.” Ut started as a counter to the demand for feel-good movies after the pandemic. Programmers at the American Cinematheque in Los Angeles thought, why not do the opposite? The festival coincides with the city's June Gloom and features world cinema's most austere offerings. Five years later, Bleak Week has gone global, with events in 100 theaters across 73 cities. Despite its name, programmers say the festival is a celebration of the human experience. It includes a wide range of genres, from wartime to family-friendly films, but excludes documentaries.
Dua Lipa and actor Callum Turner are married
NEW YORK (AP) — Dua Lipa and actor Callum Turner are married, according to local officials in London. They tied the knot Sunday at Old Marylebone Town Hall. Photos of the couple leaving the ceremony circulated on social media, showing Lipa in a white skirt suit by Schiaparelli and Turner in a navy suit by Ferragamo. The pair sparked relationship rumors in early 2024. Lipa confirmed their engagement last year in British Vogue. Lipa, known for her disco-pop sound, has won three Grammys. Turner is recognized for his roles in the “Fantastic Beasts” movies and other projects.
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.