All you need to know about Elton John, Star Wars and lot more

Following is a summary of current entertainment news briefs.

Judge bars parade of Cosby accusers at the sentencing hearing

A Pennsylvania judge on Thursday denied a request by prosecutors to allow additional women who have accused comedian Bill Cosby of sexual misconduct to tell their stories at his sentencing hearing on a sexual assault conviction. Cosby, 81, is due in Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas on Monday to be sentenced by Judge Steven O'Neill in the drugging and sexual assault of his one-time friend Andrea Constand, a former Temple University administrator, in 2004.

Elton John signs with Universal 'for the rest of his career'

Elton John has signed a deal with Universal Music Group for his back catalog and any new work as well as brand management, merchandising and licensing rights, the company said on Friday. Under the agreement signed with John's company Rocket Entertainment, Universal Music Group (UMG) will represent the veteran British singer's new music "for the rest of his career" on top of his work from the last 50 years.

'Bernhardt/Hamlet' offers modern Broadway twist on French diva

The life of French actress Sarah Bernhardt arrives on Broadway in a new play that brings a contemporary twist to her career as a woman who broke the rules of male-dominated theater. “Bernhardt/Hamlet,” a comedy starring British actress Janet McTeer, focuses on Bernhardt’s 1899 performance in Paris as the first woman to play Shakespeare's Hamlet.

'Star Wars' fans applaud movie release slowdown

Plans by Disney to slow down the release of future "Star Wars" projects are getting a thumbs up from fans, who also hope that new movies in the multi-billion dollar sci-fi franchise will be more creative. In an unexpected admission that the slew of "Star Wars" films and spinoff projects may be causing fan fatigue, Walt Disney CO. Chief Executive Bob Iger said it had been a mistake to release a new movie every year.

Prince vaults open up with jazzy 'Piano & A Microphone'

A nine-track album from Prince's vast vault of unreleased material goes on sale on Friday, along with a new video highlighting gun violence. "Piano & A Microphone" is compiled from a 1983 home studio cassette of the late musician playing jazz piano versions of some of his own songs and those of others, record company Warner Bros. said on Thursday.

Rap mogul Marion 'Suge' Knight pleads to manslaughter days before the murder trial

Rap mogul Marion "Suge" Knight pleaded no contest in a Los Angeles court on Thursday to a charge of manslaughter for a 2015 hit-and-run killing, accepting a 28-year prison sentence under a deal with prosecutors days before his murder trial was to begin. In pleading no contest, equivalent to a guilty plea under California law, the 53-year-old co-founder of influential hip-hop label Death Row Records admitted using a "deadly and dangerous weapon" when he ran down two men with his pickup truck.

Kenya lifts the ban on the lesbian film, making it eligible for Oscars

A Kenyan judge temporarily lifted a ban on an acclaimed film portraying a lesbian relationship on Friday, making it eligible to be entered for a Foreign Language Oscar, delighting the filmmakers but angering the sensor. "Rafiki" - "Friend" in Swahili - premiered at Cannes, the first Kenyan film to be selected by the prestigious festival.

Muslim rapper cancels Paris Bataclan concert after far-right protests

A French Muslim rapper said on Friday he was canceling two gigs at a Paris concert hall attacked by Islamist militants three years ago, saying he couldn't go ahead for security reasons after the far-right accused him of stoking divisions. Far-right leader Marine Le Pen welcomed the cancellation of rapper Medine's concerts at the Bataclan, where 90 people died in an attack coordinated by Islamic State, calling it "a victory for all the victims of Islamist terrorism".

Versace plays with prints and leather for its spring/summer designs

Italy's Versace played with bold prints, patchwork, and leather in its spring/summer 2019 women's collection in a star-studded show on Friday, the third day of Milan's fashion week. Singers Leona Lewis, Nicki Minaj, and Rita Ora, model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, actor Luke Evans, and Italian influencer Chiara Ferragni were all in the front row of an enormous industrial space in the modern CityLife neighborhood where the runway show was held.

Tom Hardy says on-screen 'Venom' stays true to Marvel comics

British actor Tom Hardy said on Friday he believes his new superhero movie "Venom" remains faithful to the Marvel Comics books in its portrayal of an investigative journalist whose body becomes the host for an alien with enhanced powers. Hardy, who previously starred in "Dunkirk" and "Mad Max: Fury Road," plays the sharp-toothed title character and his human alter-ego, reporter Eddie Brock.