Entertainment News Roundup: Netflix to create animation series based on Roald Dahl books; 'SpongeBob SquarePants' creator dies at age 57

Following is a summary of current entertainment news briefs.

U.S. cable TV and Netflix offer a stockingful of Christmas films

Pour the eggnog, decorate the tree and turn on the TV. Like glinting tinsel in a sea of dark TV dramas, the number of new, feel-good Christmas movies offered by U.S. cable TV networks and the global streaming service Netflix is off the charts. Among roughly five dozen original offerings this season are "Hometown Christmas," "Christmas at Graceland," "My Christmas Inn" and "A Shoe Addict's Christmas."

Bernardo Bertolucci of 'Last Tango' fame, dies in Rome

Italian director Bernardo Bertolucci, whose 1972 movie "“Last Tango in Paris" shocked audiences with a notorious sex scene that came back to haunt him in his later years, died on Monday. Bertolucci, 77, died at his home in Rome after a long illness, his publicist said. He had been in bad health for years and confined to a wheelchair since the early 2000s following a back operation.

Netflix to create animation series based on Roald Dahl books

Netflix Inc said on Tuesday it will adapt celebrated British children's author Roald Dahl's books such as "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and "Matilda" as animation series. The streaming company said it signed an agreement with the Roald Dahl Story Co, but did not disclose the financial terms.

Predator cities fight for survival in Peter Jackson's "Mortal Engines"

Oscar winning filmmaker Peter Jackson is returning to the big screen with adventure fantasy "Mortal Engines", a post-apolcalyptic tale of survival in his first feature film project since his award-winning adaptations of J.R.R. Tolkien's novels. The New Zealand-born director, known for his "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit" trilogies, produced and co-wrote the script for the film, based on the young adult book series by Philip Reeve.

YouTube shifts to make new exclusive shows, movies free to users

YouTube plans to make all future original programming available to users for free with advertising, as the video streaming unit of Alphabet Inc's Google seeks a bigger audience for shows and movies that had mostly been restricted to paid subscribers. The shift in strategy means that starting in 2020, a YouTube Premium subscription will no longer be the only way to watch most original programs, with all users having some access.

'SpongeBob SquarePants' creator dies at age 57

"SpongeBob SquarePants" creator Stephen Hillenburg, who brought the zany cartoon marine underworld of Bikini Bottom to television, the movies and the stage, has died at the age of 57, the Nickelodeon television network said on Tuesday. Hillenburg had said last year that he was suffering from the neurodegenerative disease ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. He died on Monday.

Julia Roberts backs London store selling presents for refugees

A pop-up charity shop backed by Julia Roberts has opened in London, letting shoppers buy food, clothing and even schooling for refugees around the world. The 'Choose Love' store, run by the Help Refugees charity, opened just off the capital's Carnaby Street - with a second one due to follow on West Broadway, New York on Tuesday.

Momoa and Heard take to seas in superhero film 'Aquaman'

"Game of Thrones" actor Jason Momoa brings the latest superhero spin-off to the big screen, this time "Aquaman", to tell the story of the DC Comics half-human, half-Atlantean character. The 39-year-old first made an appearance in the role in 2016's "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" but now has his own movie exploring the superhero's origins.

(With inputs from Reuters)