AP Entertainment SummaryBrief at 12:19 p.m. EST

AP Breakthrough Entertainer: Chase Sui Wonders’ Harvard astrophysics detour led her to Hollywood

NEW YORK (AP) — Chase Sui Wonders always thought she was “kind of funny,” but it was officially confirmed after booking “The Studio” after just one audition. It's been an eventful year for the AP Breakthrough Entertainer who plays the hyper ambitious, cutthroat assistant-turned-creative executive Quinn Hackett on the Emmy-winning comedy. But a Hollywood career nearly didn’t happen for the magna cum laude graduate who switched her major at Harvard from astrophysics to film studies after being “humbled” by quickly falling behind. The 29-year old has several projects in the works including “I Want Your Sex” starring Olivia Wilde and A24’s horror thriller “October.”

Here are 10 TV shows from 2025 to catch up on before it's 2026

If you're staying in this holiday season, it's a great time to catch up on some of 2025's standout TV shows. “Dept. Q” features Matthew Goode as a detective solving cold cases. “Paradise” stars Sterling K. Brown in a sci-fi drama on Hulu. “Love Island USA” continues to entertain with its seventh season on Peacock. “The Pitt” brings Noah Wyle back to TV as a doctor. Seth Rogen's “The Studio” offers a comedic take on Hollywood. Netflix's “Adolescence” and “The Beast in Me” deliver gripping drama. “St. Denis Medical” and “The Paper” provide laughs, while “Forever” explores young love.

Movie Review: Death, family and Christmas in Kate Winslet’s directorial debut ‘Goodbye June’

Kate Winslet has directed, produced, and starred in a new film written by her son, Joe Anders. The movie, “Goodbye June,” is in limited release this weekend and will stream on Netflix on December 24th. The film is a family drama about terminal illness and estranged siblings. It features a distinguished cast, including Helen Mirren and Johnny Flynn. In her review for The Associated Press, Lindsey Bahr writes that Winslet makes her feature directorial debut with a simple, character-focused approach. While it may not be for everyone due to its sad subject, it offers moments of grace, humor, and insight.

AP Breakthrough Entertainer: Danny Ramirez's entrance into Hollywood began on the soccer field

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Danny Ramirez's acting career began unexpectedly on a soccer field. Now, he's earned a spot as one of The Associated Press's Breakthrough Entertainers of 2025. Known for his roles in “Captain America: Brave New World,” “The Last of Us” and more, Ramirez first began acting while sidelined with a sprained ankle when a production assistant invited him to be an extra in Mira Nair’s film “The Reluctant Fundamentalist.” Seeing actor Riz Ahmed portraying a soccer player on set inspired Ramirez. He’s set to produce, write, direct and star in his directorial debut “Baton,” and other upcoming projects.

How the Mariachi Rams band turned the NFL game day into a personal Los Angeles soundtrack

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Mariachi Rams are reshaping NFL game day by blending traditional Mexican music with Los Angeles’ hip-hop and rock influences. Crystal Hernández, the only woman in the NFL’s first official mariachi band, is the daughter of José Hernández, the Grammy-nominated artist who founded the ensemble in 2019. The 10-person ensemble plays classic mariachi and reimagined pop and hip-hop anthems. Members balance careers in education, banking and more during the week. Their presence has become integral to the Rams’ game-day rhythm, reflecting the city’s culture and expanding the NFL's cultural connections.

Disney invests $1B in OpenAI in deal to bring characters like Mickey Mouse to Sora AI video tool

Disney is investing $1 billion in OpenAI to bring characters like Mickey Mouse and Luke Skywalker to the AI company's Sora video tool. Announced on Thursday, this three-year licensing deal makes Disney the first major content partner for Sora. Fans can generate and share videos featuring over 200 Disney, Marvel, Pixar, and Star Wars characters. Disney and OpenAI emphasize responsible AI use to protect creators' rights. Some user-generated videos will be available on Disney+. Disney also sent Google a cease and desist letter for using Disney content without permission to train its AI models.

Oscars recognize casting for the first time, offering a spotlight on a key job in the movie industry

NEW YORK (AP) — Casting directors have long been the unsung heroes behind films like “Wicked.” Bernard Telsey and Tiffany Little Canfield are among those who helped populate the two-part movie. Casting directors will finally get Oscar recognition next year with a new award category. Telsey explains that casting is often invisible but crucial to a film's success. He and his team work across various mediums, from theater to TV. Despite challenges, they strive to find the perfect actors. Telsey believes good acting transcends mediums, and technology has changed the casting process, making it more global and fast-paced.

Our AP Breakthrough Entertainers of 2025 take a survey

The youngest is 16. The oldest are 40. Two are newly minted Emmy winners. Two had dreams of professional soccer. Two count Tom Cruise as a pivotal co-star. But there’s one thing all five have in common. That's a banner 2025. The Associated Press has named Arden Cho, Owen Cooper, Danny Ramirez, Chase Sui Wonders, and Tramell Tillman as its 2025 Breakthrough Entertainers. In interviews, they shared the impact of fame, the importance of supportive relationships and their thoughts on artificial intelligence. Each entertainer reflected on their childhood dreams and how their careers have evolved.

'Star Wars' and 'Indiana Jones' rarities are in Lawrence Kasdan's university archive

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Documents that detail Lawrence Kasdan’s career have been donated to the University of Michigan, the writer and director’s alma mater. Archivists are about a quarter of the way through cataloging the 150-plus boxes of material. Included are scripts, photographs, audio recordings, call sheets, props and more. One rarity is pictures of Kevin Costner on the set of the 1983 film “The Big Chill,” before his scene was famously cut. Kasdan also wrote “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and a number of “Star Wars” films. Kasdan directed “Wyatt Earp” and “Body Heat.” The 76-year-old's papers join those of fellow filmmakers Orson Welles, Robert Altman and Jonathan Demme at the Ann Arbor school.