Entertainment News Roundup: Netflix Asia productions; Spice Girls reunion tour; EU approves Disney buy from Fox


Devdiscourse News Desk | Updated: 08-11-2018 11:01 IST | Created: 08-11-2018 10:28 IST
Entertainment News Roundup: Netflix Asia productions; Spice Girls reunion tour; EU approves Disney buy from Fox

Following is a summary of current entertainment news briefs.

Netflix plans to make 17 more original productions in Asia

Netflix Inc plans to make 17 more original productions in Asia as it seeks to boost international subscriber numbers, Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos said on Thursday. The plan announced at Netflix's content showcase event in Singapore comes after the U.S. firm reported bumper quarterly earnings last month, driven by gains in international subscribers.

EU approves Disney buy from Fox if makes TV divestments

Walt Disney's $71.3-billion offer to buy Twenty-First Century Fox Inc's entertainment assets won approval from the European Commission on Tuesday, subject to Disney selling interests in factual TV channels in Europe. The EU competition regulator said in a statement that Disney had committed to divest its interests in channels including History and Lifetime in the European Economic Area (EEA) to avoid harming competition following its purchase from Fox.

Britain's Idris Elba named People mag's 'sexiest man alive'

Actor Idris Elba, who James Bond fans are campaigning to be the next person to play 007, was named the sexiest man alive on Monday by People magazine. The London-born actor, 46, said he didn't believe it when the magazine told him.

Michael Douglas joins dad Kirk with star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

Michael Douglas celebrated his 50th year in showbusiness on Tuesday with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame near that of his screen legend father, Kirk Douglas, now 101. Douglas, 74, best known for his Oscar-winning turn as Gordon Gekko in "Wall Street," was accompanied by his father - star of 1960 gladiator movie "Spartacus" - his actress wife Catherine Zeta-Jones and "The China Syndrome" co-star Jane Fonda.

Excited Spice Girls say reunion tour will feel strange without "Posh"

British pop band the Spice Girls joked on Wednesday about their plans for a new album after announcing they would reunite for a UK tour next year but said it would feel strange performing without "Posh Spice" Victoria Beckham. Fashion designer Beckham posted on Instagram on Monday that she wouldn't join the other four Spice Girls on stage again, but wished Geri Horner (Ginger Spice), Melanie Brown (Scary Spice), Melanie Chisholm (Sporty Spice) and Emma Bunton (Baby Spice) well for their six-date tour next year.

5 become 4: the Spice Girls reunite, minus 'Posh' Victoria Beckham

British pop band the Spice Girls said on Monday they would reunite for a British tour next June although there was no mention of whether Victoria Beckham would take part. "Breaking Spice news," the band said on Twitter. "Tickets on sale Saturday 10.30am."

Director Steve McQueen says `Widows' not just a heist movie

At first glance, Steve McQueen's latest film, "Widows", looks like a fast-paced heist movie, but the award-winning British director says he wanted his Chicago-set movie to take a deeper look at the current political and social-economic climate. Adapted from an 1980s television series by British crime writer Lynda La Plante, "Widows" follows a group of women who plan a heist to pay off a large debt left by their dead husbands' crimes.

(With inputs from Reuters)

(With inputs from agencies.)

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