Entertainment News Roundup: Harry Potter park in Tokyo hopes to enchant Asian fans; Glenda Jackson, British actor turned politician, dies aged 87 and more

One of four daughters of a bricklayer and a cleaning lady in northwest England, Jackson never forgot her roots even as she made her name as one of the greatest women actors of her generation. New Spider-Man film will not screen in UAE, as region debates values The United Arab Emirates will not screen Sony's "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse", Vox Cinemas said on Thursday without explanation, amid debate online and among regional movie fans about the animated film's treatment of transgender themes.

Following is a summary of current entertainment news briefs.

Harry Potter park in Tokyo hopes to enchant Asian fans

Harry Potter fans will soon be able to take up their wands, put on their robes and immerse themselves in the boy wizard's world at a new theme park set to open in Tokyo on Friday. Built on the western site of the beloved Toshimaen amusement park, which shut in 2020 after 94 years, the Warner Brothers Studio Tour Tokyo recreates a number of iconic film locations, such as Diagon Alley and the Ministry of Magic.

Glenda Jackson, British actor turned politician, dies aged 87

Actor Glenda Jackson, a two-time Oscar winner who won acclaim for playing an English queen but later served as a socialist politician in the British parliament for 23 years, has died. She was 87. One of four daughters of a bricklayer and a cleaning lady in northwest England, Jackson never forgot her roots even as she made her name as one of the greatest women actors of her generation.

New Spider-Man film will not screen in UAE, as region debates values

The United Arab Emirates will not screen Sony's "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse", Vox Cinemas said on Thursday without explanation, amid debate online and among regional movie fans about the animated film's treatment of transgender themes. The film, a sequel to 2018's Oscar-winning "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse", was released on June 2 in the United States and was set for a June 22 release in the Gulf region.

'The Flash' dashes to theaters, starting the DC universe reboot

"The Flash" debuts in movie theaters on Friday after a series of delays and personal setbacks by star Ezra Miller, a key part of Warner Bros' battle for the summer box office that also starts the reboot of the DC Extended Universe franchise under its new co-chairman James Gunn. Miller portrays Barry Allen who, as superhero the Flash, uses his superspeed to travel back through time to try to prevent his mother's death. Miller plays both The Flash and his younger self throughout the film.

Netflix plans second season of 'XO, Kitty' as branding ties pay off

The Netflix romantic comedy "XO, Kitty" is returning for a second season, becoming the No. 1 streaming service's first television series to be spun-off from an original Netflix film, the "To All the Boys I've Loved Before" movie trilogy. Netflix's "Bridgerton" Regency period drama series has also spawned a spin-off, the "Queen Charlotte" prequel which became one of the platform's most popular series after its debut in May.

Soccer-Shelbourne goalkeeper leaves club for Love Island

Irish side Shelbourne are grappling with an unconventional transfer after goalkeeper Scott van der Sluis announced he was leaving to participate in dating reality show "Love Island". Van der Sluis, a former Wales youth international, is heading to Spain after requesting an early release from his contact to take a break from his professional career.

British actor Glenda Jackson, two-time Oscar winner then left-wing politician, dies aged 87

Actor Glenda Jackson, a two-time Oscar winner who later served as a socialist politician in the British parliament for 23 years, has died. She was 87. One of four daughters of a bricklayer and a cleaning lady in northwest England, Jackson never forgot her roots even as she made her name as one of the greatest women actors of her generation.

No evidence of UK TV star Schofield's 'deeply inappropriate' affair, says boss

The head of ITV said the UK broadcaster had done all it could to try to confirm rumours of an affair involving star presenter Phillip Schofield, but found no evidence of a relationship she called "deeply inappropriate". Schofield, 61, a TV fixture in Britain for more than three decades, resigned in May after admitting lying about a relationship with a young employee on his daytime show "This Morning".

'Rust' armorer may have brought live rounds on set -prosecutors

Prosecutors say they have evidence pointing to the possibility the armorer for the movie "Rust" introduced live rounds onto the set where a gun that actor Alec Baldwin was holding fired a bullet, killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in 2021. Prosecutors had previously said it might never be clear how live rounds, which are not allowed on movie sets, got to the "Rust" set in New Mexico. Charging documents had held Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who was working as chief weapons handler on her second film, was responsible for "allowing live ammunition on the set," but not for bringing in the live rounds.

Disney sets date for new 'Star Wars' film, delays 'Avatar' sequels

Walt Disney Co on Tuesday announced that a new "Star Wars" film will reach theaters in 2026 but said it would postpone the release of the next three installments in James Cameron's blockbuster "Avatar" series. The studio also pushed back the scheduled release dates for "Thunderbolts" and "Blade," two Marvel films that have been disrupted by the ongoing strike by Hollywood writers.