Entertainment News Roundup: Sweden rebuffs Trump over US rapper charges; 'The Laundromat' and 'Joker' vie for the top prize at the Venice film festival

Following is a summary of current entertainment news briefs.

'Peppa Pig' owner Entertainment One says producer Mark Gordon to stay on with firm

Entertainment One Ltd, which makes the popular children's television show "Peppa Pig", said award-winning producer Mark Gordon will continue to develop and produce content for the company, following a multi-year production deal. Investors had been skittish after reports last month said Gordon was leaving the company, which Entertainment One denied.

The 1975, Dave among rockers and rappers nominated for Mercury Prize

Rock bands The 1975 and Foals, as well as rappers slowthai and Dave, are among the 12 acts nominated for this year's Mercury Prize, organizers of the British music award said on Thursday. The annual 25,000-pound ($31,252) prize, which is seen as less mainstream than the BRIT Awards, shortlists a dozen albums of the year released by British and Irish acts in the UK.

Sweden rebuffs Trump over US rapper charges, saying courts independent

Sweden on Friday dismissed an angry outburst from U.S. President Donald Trump after prosecutors charged U.S. rapper A$AP Rocky with assault, saying the country's judicial system was independent of political interference. Best known for his song "Praise the Lord", the 30-year-old performer, producer, and model, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, was detained about three weeks ago following a street altercation with two men in Stockholm on June 30. A$AP Rocky, who was charged on Thursday, will go on trial next week.

'Brady Bunch' cast hangs wood paneling and beaded curtains to remake TV home

A renovation of the house seen in classic TV show "The Brady Bunch" meticulously replicates the famous wood-paneled living room, the orange and green kitchen and even Greg's groovy attic, actors from the series said on Thursday. Cast members who played the six Brady children reunited to remake the home for a series called "A Very Brady Renovation," which will debut on Discovery Inc's HGTV network in September.

Rapper A$AP Rocky to face trial in Sweden, Trump outraged

U.S. rapper A$AP Rocky will go on trial for assault in Sweden on July 30 over his alleged involvement in a street brawl in Stockholm, the Swedish public prosecutor announced on Thursday, prompting an angry response from President Donald Trump. Best known for his song "Praise the Lord", the 30-year-old performer, producer, and model, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, was detained about three weeks ago following an altercation with two men on June 30. Polanski,

'The Laundromat' and 'Joker' vie for the top prize at the Venice film festival

A space odyssey starring Brad Pitt, Steven Soderbergh's financial thriller "The Laundromat", Joaquin Phoenix's stint as "Joker" and Roman Polanski's new movie on the Dreyfus affair will vie for the top prize at next month's Venice film festival. Other titles competing for the Golden Lion include "Marriage Story", starring Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver as a couple in crisis; "Wasp Network", a spy thriller with Penelope Cruz; and the French-Japanese co-production "The Truth", with Catherine Deneuve and Juliette Binoche.

A Minute With: Jason Statham and Idris Elba on 'Fast & Furious' spin-off

Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham return as agent Hobbs and outcast Shaw in "Fast & Furious: Hobbs & Shaw", their own spin-off in the hugely successful film franchise. The two characters, who strongly dislike each other, must join forces against villain Brixton, played by Idris Elba.

Actor Janice Dickinson's defamation suit against Bill Cosby settled by insurer

Actor Janice Dickinson reached a settlement with Bill Cosby"s insurance company on Thursday, ending a civil lawsuit she filed against the comedian after his representatives disputed her account that he had raped her, her lawyer said on Thursday. Dickinson, a successful model in the 1970s and 1980s who also appeared in several television shows, is one of dozens of women who have accused Cosby of sexual assault. Some of the allegations date back decades.

Top world film makers to honor 25th Sarajevo film festival

Some of the world's top filmmakers, including two-time Oscar-winning director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, will show their movies and hold master classes honoring the 25th Sarajevo film festival in August, the festival director said on Friday. The Sarajevo festival was founded by a group of enthusiasts in 1995 as an act of defiance against the 43-month siege of Sarajevo by Bosnian Serb forces. It's the largest film competition and industry platform in a region stretching from Vienna to Istanbul.

Climate activist Thunberg teams up with rockers The 1975 for music track

Swedish teenage activist Greta Thunberg has teamed up with rockers The 1975, warning about climate change on a new track for the British band's upcoming album. The 16-year-old, who has inspired young climate protesters around the world, speaks about the dangers of inaction and global warming against a soft musical backdrop.

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