Reuters Entertainment News Summary

According to a filing in Manhattan federal court, Lively wants Baldoni and his Wayfarer Studios to cover her legal fees and pay damages for filing a "retaliatory" defamation lawsuit, which the judge overseeing their legal disputes dismissed last June. White ⁠House ​calls Mark Hamill 'sick' after actor posts Trump gravesite image The White House called "Star Wars" star Mark Hamill "one sick individual" on Thursday after an AI-generated image of U.S. President Donald Trump in a shallow grave was posted on one of the actor's social media accounts.

Following is a summary of current entertainment news briefs.

Democratic senators call early US review of Disney station licenses 'abuse of power'

A group of 10 U.S. Democratic senators on ​Thursday demanded that Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr explain why he ordered an early review of licences for ​Walt Disney's eight ABC stations. The senators -- including Ed Markey, Chuck Schumer and Maria Cantwell -- ‌called ​the action "the latest and most extreme step in your use of the FCC’s licensing authority as a cudgel against broadcasters whose editorial choices displease the president." Carr's action came just a day after President Donald Trump publicly demanded ABC late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel be fired for a joke he cracked.

Emmy-winning series 'The Bear' to end after Season 5

Season 5 of the Emmy-winning ‌series “The Bear” will be its final season, FX announced on Wednesday, with the final installment set to premiere on June 25. Created by Christopher Storer, the series debuted in 2022 and follows a fine-dining chef who returns home to Chicago to run his family’s struggling sandwich shop.

Warner Bros Discovery posts higher streaming revenue as HBO Max expands abroad

Warner Bros Discovery's streaming unit posted better-than-expected quarterly revenue growth on Wednesday, as HBO Max's expansion overseas boosted subscriber growth and engagement. The company's first-quarter net loss widened to $2.92 billion, including a $2.8 billion termination fee ‌paid to Netflix. The fee was paid by Paramount Skydance under the companies' $110 billion merger deal, but was recorded by Warner Bros as an obligation under the agreement.

Disney earnings beat estimates as new CEO outlines growth strategy

Walt Disney's new Chief Executive ‌Josh D'Amaro laid out his strategy for the entertainment company Wednesday, saying it would remain committed to creative excellence, strengthen its streaming business, capitalize on the power of live sports and continue to invest in its theme parks and cruise lines. "Our focus remains consistent -- improve the consumer experience, deepen engagement, and continue building a healthy and more durable growth business," D'Amaro said during the company's first-quarter earnings call, his first at the helm of Disney.

Rolling Stones celebrate coming launch of 25th studio album

The three surviving members of the Rolling Stones attended a red-carpet event in Brooklyn on Tuesday to celebrate the launch of the band's ⁠25th studio album, "Foreign ​Tongues," a follow-up to their Grammy-winning 2023 release. The 14-track collection will make its ⁠debut on July 10 as Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood mark the 64th anniversary of the blues and R&B-rooted English rock band that became one of the world's most successful, influential and enduring pop music acts.

India's Zee sues Reliance-Disney over alleged music copyright breach

India's Zee Entertainment has sued the ⁠Reliance-Disney joint venture, the country's biggest entertainment company, alleging it used Zee's copyrighted music after licence agreements expired, court documents show. Zee is seeking $3 million in damages, alleging unauthorised use and exploitation of works from its music division on the Reliance-Disney streaming platform and some of its TV channels, according to ​previously unreported court papers seen by Reuters.

Blake Lively vs Justin Baldoni dispute over 'It Ends With Us' has not ended, as she seeks fees

Blake Lively, who recently settled her lawsuit against Justin Baldoni's production company, is still seeking ⁠damages from the actor and director tied to their 2024 movie "It Ends With Us," Lively's lawyers said on Thursday. According to a filing in Manhattan federal court, Lively wants Baldoni and his Wayfarer Studios to cover her legal fees and pay damages for filing a "retaliatory" defamation lawsuit, which the judge overseeing their legal disputes dismissed last June.

White ⁠House ​calls Mark Hamill 'sick' after actor posts Trump gravesite image

The White House called "Star Wars" star Mark Hamill "one sick individual" on Thursday after an AI-generated image of U.S. President Donald Trump in a shallow grave was posted on one of the actor's social media accounts. "If Only" was inscribed on the image of Trump lying with his eyes closed adjacent to a gravestone, surrounded by daisies, with the inscription "Donald J. Trump 1946-2024." The image was posted on Hamill's verified Bluesky account.

Ted Turner, outspoken founder of CNN, dies at ⁠87

Ted Turner, the brash sportsman and entrepreneur whose ambition and instincts led to a media empire that included groundbreaking news network CNN, has died, CNN reported on Wednesday citing a press release from Turner Enterprises. He was 87. No cause of death ⁠was given.

Soccer-Shakira unveils official World Cup song 'Dai Dai'

Colombian singer Shakira unveiled ⁠the official song for the 2026 World Cup, "Dai Dai", on Thursday. The 49-year-old posted a video on Instagram on Thursday from Brazil's Maracana stadium to tease the track, which features Nigerian singer Burna Boy. The song will be released on 14 May.

Singer Bonnie Tyler recuperating after emergency surgery in Portugal

Welsh pop singer Bonnie Tyler is recuperating after undergoing emergency surgery in Faro, southern Portugal, ‌where she has a home, according to a ‌statement on her official website. The intestinal surgery for the 74-year-old singer, famed for 1980s power ballads such as "Total Eclipse of the Heart" and "Holding ​Out for a Hero", had gone well, the statement said.