Entertainment News Roundup: U.S. driver Jessi Combs killed in bid to break land-speed record; Scarlett Johansson tackles painful divorce tale in 'fated' drama 'Marriage Story'

Following is a summary of current entertainment news briefs.

Shark Tank star involved in Canada boating accident that killed two

Dragons' Den and Shark Tank star Kevin O'Leary said on Wednesday he was involved in a boat crash in Canada that resulted in two deaths. Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) said the incident happened late Saturday night on Lake Joseph, in the Muskoka area of Ontario.

K-pop guru questioned by police amid gambling, sex scandals

The music producer behind some of South Korea's biggest K-pop stars was questioned by police on Thursday in connection with an investigation into illegal gambling and prostitution that has rocked the music industry. According to police investigators, a network of pop stars, businessmen and police are alleged to have colluded and enabled tax evasion, bribery, and prostitution at some of the glitziest clubs in Seoul's swanky Gangnam district.

Brad Pitt says space epic 'Ad Astra' his 'most challenging film'

Brad Pitt has fought in wars, pulled off robbery heists and confronted rivals in the boxing ring during his career, but the Hollywood star says his most challenging film yet is playing an astronaut on a life-saving mission in the space epic "Ad Astra". The 55-year-old actor takes audiences to the far reaches of the solar system in his role as Roy McBride after a new threat causing disastrous power surges threatens Earth.

Deneuve, Binoche face off in Kore-eda's family drama 'The Truth'

For his first movie directed outside of his native Japan, filmmaker Hirokazu Kore-eda traveled to Paris to work with two of France's top leading ladies in "La Verite" (The Truth), a drama fraught with family tensions. Catherine Deneuve and Juliette Binoche face off as mother and daughter whose fragile relationship resurfaces as they reunite when the former publishes her memoirs.

Almodovar gets lifetime achievement award at Venice Film Festival

Spanish director Pedro Almodovar added a Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement to his list of accolades on Thursday, when the Venice Film Festival presented him with the prize for a long and illustrious career. The 69-year old Oscar winner, known for acclaimed films such as "Talk to Her", "Volver" and most recently his loosely autobiographical portrait "Pain and Glory", made his debut at the festival in 1983 with the comic drama "Dark Habits".

Scarlett Johansson tackles painful divorce tale in 'fated' drama 'Marriage Story'

Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver play a couple in crisis in "Marriage Story", an emotional tale of a relationship falling apart and a project the Hollywood actress said she felt was "fated" as it came about as she went through her own divorce. The "Avengers" regular and "Star Wars" actor portray actress Nicole and theatre director Charlie, who go their separate ways when the former, feeling unfilled, returns to her native Los Angeles with their son to shoot a television series pilot.

Saudi director al-Mansour eyes female empowerment in 'The Perfect Candidate'

A young Saudi Arabian female doctor seeks to change conservative mindsets in "A Perfect Candidate", a tale of a woman tackling gender-based obstacles while running for local office. The movie by Haifaa al-Mansour, one of only two female directors in the 21-strong competition line-up at the Venice Film Festival, reflects recent changes in the kingdom's heavily criticized guardianship system, beginning with protagonist Maryam driving in her car.

Venice Film Festival director, jury head disagree on gender quotas

"Offensive" or the best available option? The festival director and jury head disagreed on Wednesday on whether gender quotas would help redress an imbalance of women directors featured at the Venice Film Festival. Only two women out of 21 filmmakers are in the running for the top Golden Lion prize at this year's festival, up from one last year, and the matter has clouded the run-up to the Aug. 28 - Sept 7 event.

U.S. driver Jessi Combs killed in bid to break land-speed record

Race car driver Jessi Combs, host of the television series "All Girls Garage," was killed in a high-speed crash while trying to set a new land-speed record, her family said on Wednesday. Combs, 39, was attempting to become the fastest woman on Earth when she was killed while racing on Tuesday on the Alvord Desert, a dry lake bed in southeastern Oregon, the family said in a statement.