Entertainment News Roundup: Tom Hanks saddles up for first Western in 'News of the World'; Jamie Foxx puts some 'Soul' into Christmas at the movies and more

Starring Jamie Foxx as an aspiring jazz pianist whose life has not turned out as he wished, family film "Soul" premieres on the Disney+ streaming service on Christmas Day. The show must go on: West End performers make music video to support colleagues Performers from London's West End have made a festive music video to support people in theatre pushed to the breadline by coronavirus restrictions.

Following is a summary of current entertainment news briefs.

Facebook removes Australian celebrity chef's page for COVID-19 conspiracies

Facebook Inc said on Thursday it has removed the page of Australian celebrity chef turned conspiracy theorist Pete Evans for spreading misinformation about COVID-19, the tech giant's latest move to police false content about the pandemic. Evans, a former judge on prime time Australian cooking shows with a large catalogue of cookbooks, has become one of the country's most prominent spreaders of baseless claims questioning COVID-19, calling it a "hoax" and "BS" to his million Facebook followers.

Tom Hanks saddles up for first Western in 'News of the World'

It's taken Tom Hanks more than 35 years to make his first Western so when he finally got on a horse and into a shootout, he wanted to make sure the movie had something special to say. Hanks, known for playing nice guys, stars in "News of the World," out in U.S. movie theaters on Dec. 25. He joked that he likes to think of the film as "'The Mandalorian,' without light sabers."

Jamie Foxx puts some 'Soul' into Christmas at the movies

"Soul" takes animated movies to new heights, not just with its philosophical themes about the meaning of life but as the first in Pixar's 25-year feature film history to feature a predominantly Black cast. Starring Jamie Foxx as an aspiring jazz pianist whose life has not turned out as he wished, family film "Soul" premieres on the Disney+ streaming service on Christmas Day.

The show must go on: West End performers make music video to support colleagues

Performers from London's West End have made a festive music video to support people in theatre pushed to the breadline by coronavirus restrictions. "Christmas Again (The Show Must Go On!)" celebrates the festive season, after a challenging year in the business for those on stage and behind the scenes.

Supermodel Stella Tennant dies suddenly aged 50

Stella Tennant, one of Britain's top models, has died at the age of 50, British media reported on Wednesday. Tennant was born into the Scottish aristocracy. Her unconventional, androgynous looks helped her break into the world of fashion in the 1990s.

Asian-American filmmakers dismayed at Golden Globe rule on 'Minari'

Asian-American filmmakers on Wednesday expressed dismay that South Korean drama "Minari" will compete for honors at next year's Golden Globes in the foreign language category, rather than the more high-profile best drama field. "Minari," the story of a Korean family that moves to Arkansas to start a farm in the 1980s, won the top prize at the Sundance film festival earlier this year and is expected to be a strong contender in the 2021 awards season.

Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch sold for knockdown price

Michael Jackson's famed Neverland Ranch in California has finally sold, more than 10 years after the death of the pop star who abandoned the property following his trial on charges of molesting a young boy there. Billionaire investor Ron Burkle, a former family friend of Jackson, recently bought the sprawling 2,700 acre (1,100 hectare) estate, his spokesman said on Thursday.

(With inputs from agencies.)