AP Entertainment SummaryBrief at 12:41 p.m. EDT

Don Schlitz, storied country songwriter behind such hits as 'The Gambler,' dies at 73

NEW YORK (AP) — Don Schlitz, the storied country music songwriter known for “The Gambler,” died Thursday at a Nashville hospital. He was 73. The cause of death was not immediately known. A press release from the Grand Ole Opry describes it as a sudden illness. The two-time Grammy Award winner was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Country Music Hall of Fame. He made his Grand Ole Opry debut in 2017 and was later inducted in 2022. The historic venue’s Saturday night show will be dedicated in Schlitz’s honor. Schlitz wrote songs recorded by Kenny Rogers, Randy Travis and The Judds.

What to know about singer D4vd's arrest in 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez's killing

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Seven months after a 14-year-old girl’s body was found in D4vd’s towed SUV, authorities say the alt-pop singer has been arrested on suspicion of killing her. Los Angeles police say detectives arrested the 21-year-old, whose legal name is David Burke, on Thursday on suspicion of murder in the investigation of the killing of Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Authorities had not publicly named Burke as a suspect until his arrest. Investigators are expected to present a case to prosecutors on Monday, police said. Burke’s lawyers have declared his innocence.

'Avengers: Doomsday' footage, 'Mandalorian' opening unveiled at CinemaCon

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The Walt Disney Co. has staged a major presentation at CinemaCon, showcasing new footage from upcoming films. They revealed the opening of the new Star Wars movie and scenes from “Avengers: Doomsday,” featuring Chris Evans as Captain America and Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom. The new Star Wars film, directed by Jon Favreau, opens on May 22. Disney also introduced “Toy Story 5” and a live-action “Moana.” Disney's releases dominated the box office in 2025, and they continue to impact the industry despite facing challenges like recent layoffs.

Who should be the next James Bond? A few out-of-the-box ideas

NEW YORK (AP) — When a new James Bond is announced, it will be the first time in more than two decades that a new 007 is minted. So we should cast a wide net, and have some fun with it. There are a few presumed favorites, but let’s shake them up like a martini. Here are some out-of-the-box candidates, ranked from least plausible to kind of legitimate. What about Steve Buscemi? Or Hugh Laurie? AP Film Writer Jake Coyle has some ideas — mostly bad ones — on who should inherit one of the movies' most iconic roles.

After a paralyzing stroke, a South Korean pianist recreates himself as a one-handed performer

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — In 2012, South Korean pianist Lee Hun suffered a major stroke that left him with a right-sided paralysis. That could have ended his music career. But inspired by his mentor who told him about the abundance of piano pieces for the left hand alone, Lee later returned to the piano and made a comeback as a professional left-hand-only pianist. He’s so far given only solo recitals. But in a new challenge in his career, he is to perform with an orchestra at an international music festival next month. They’ll together play Ravel’s “Piano Concerto for the Left Hand,” the masterpiece in left-handed piano music.

Before Beatlemania, George Harrison visited his sister in Illinois. The house is now for sale

In September 1963, before Beatlemania, George Harrison visited his sister in the southern Illinois town of Benton. He went camping, had a drive-in burger, shopped for records and bought a guitar. Fewer than five months later, Benton residents and millions of others saw Harrison with his band, the Beatles, make their American debut on “The Ed Sullivan Show.” Now the Benton house at 113 McCann Street is for sale and Beatles fans hope a buyer doesn't raze it. In 1995, a state agency bought it to make a parking lot, but local investors stepped in to save it and ran a bed-and-breakfast for more than a decade.

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.

'Spaceballs' sequel, 'Thomas Crown Affair' previewed at CinemaCon, but no Bond updates

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The cast and filmmakers behind the “Spaceballs” sequel, including Bill Pullman and Rick Moranis, brought humor to CinemaCon in Las Vegas. Mel Brooks announced the title, “Spaceballs: The New One,” with his usual wit. The film is expected in theaters next year. Amazon MGM Studios also showcased other projects, including Peter Farrelly’s “I Play Rocky” and Michael B. Jordan's “The Thomas Crown Affair.” The studio plans to release 15 movies a year by 2027. Their hit “Project Hail Mary” continues to perform well globally. However, there was no new information about the next James Bond film.

In address on media ethics, former Washington Post editor worries about fading moral compass

NEW YORK (AP) — During a contentious era, one of journalism's leading figures says he's concerned about news outlets that may be losing their moral compass. Former Washington Post editor Marty Baron, during a speech about media ethics this week, singled out breaches by leaders of CBS News, advocacy journalists and also mainstream reporters who failed to aggressively cover former President Joe Biden's fitness for office in the early part of this decade. It's a pressure-filled environment: less than 24 hours after Baron talked at a New York University event, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was criticizing reporters for allegedly rooting against the United States with its questioning of the Iran war.