Reuters Entertainment News Summary

Following is a summary of current entertainment news briefs.

Ex-pop star Gary Glitter pleads not guilty to UK charges of historical sex offences

Former British pop star Paul Gadd, better known by his stage name Gary Glitter, pleaded ​not guilty in a London court on Wednesday to eight charges of historic sex offences against a young girl. The 82-year-old, who rose to fame in ​the 1970s as a "glam-rock" star, is accused of abusing the girl between 1978 and 1981 when she was ‌aged ​between eight and 11-years-old.

French singer Bruel cancels tour after protests over sex crime investigation

French singer and actor Patrick Bruel, one of France's best-selling recording artists, on Tuesday cancelled a series of concerts he had planned from October following protests against him after he was placed under formal investigation for sex crimes in June. He says he is innocent and is ready to defend himself in court.

Meghan Markle casting reports spark buzz among stars at 'The Gentlemen' premiere

Reports that Meghan Markle had been in talks ‌to join Guy Ritchie's "The Gentlemen" sparked plenty of discussion at the Netflix series' season two world premiere on Wednesday, with lead actor Theo James saying he was "intrigued" by the speculation. While "Breaking Bad" star Giancarlo Esposito said someone with such a high profile could be "a great plus or a great negative", Hugh Bonneville dismissed the reports as "a genius piece of marketing".

Venice's Gyllenhaal says women directors face 'systemic' barriers

Venice Film Festival jury president Maggie Gyllenhaal said on Wednesday that cinema was inherently political and that women continue to face systemic obstacles in the film industry, questioning who gets to decide which stories matter. Speaking on the festival's opening day, Gyllenhaal said films foster empathy at a time of global turmoil and argued that female filmmakers ‌often struggle to secure financing because the stories they want to tell are not considered important.

Venice Film Festival turns to politics as Hollywood retreats

Hollywood is struggling with an industry crisis and has largely withdrawn from this year's Venice Film Festival, making way for a programme steeped in global politics and social upheaval, ‌the event's director said on Tuesday. Festival director Alberto Barbera said the gritty line-up reflected filmmakers' growing engagement with contemporary events, ranging from the conflict in Gaza and Russia's invasion of Ukraine to the rise of billionaires and immigration enforcement in the United States.

Entertainment platform aTwist launches with microseries as Hollywood chases mobile viewers

Microseries platform and studio aTwist launched on Thursday with 10 original series and curated library content, as shifting entertainment preferences drive a wave of demand for mobile-first short-form storytelling. Microdramas are gaining popularity as Hollywood production shrinks and streaming companies face competition from platforms such as YouTube, with the format expected to generate $1.5 billion in U.S. revenue this year, according to research firm Omdia.

A galaxy of storytelling comes to life at George Lucas’ new museum

While a trip to a galaxy far, far away may still be out of reach, the ⁠Lucas Museum of Narrative ​Art in Los Angeles offered a closer look on Wednesday at the art and storytelling ⁠behind George Lucas' Star Wars franchise and countless others. "This is a big celebration for us, because it's taken so long to get here," Lucas said during a pre-opening ceremony for the press at the museum, which opens to the public on September 22.

A CIA operative reckons with history in McDonagh's Venice film

Director Martin McDonagh said his dark comedy "Wild Horse Nine", which premieres at the Venice Film ⁠Festival on Thursday and centres on two CIA operatives before Chile's 1973 coup, feels unexpectedly relevant in today's turbulent world. The British-Irish filmmaker is known for crafting original stories that pair razor-sharp dialogue with bleak subject matter, including "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri" and "The Banshees of Inisherin", which opened at Venice in 2022.

CDs make a comeback, boosting US recorded music revenue

A resurgence in CD demand helped ​power a nearly 7% increase in U.S. recorded music revenue in the first half of 2026, the Recording Industry Association of America said on Tuesday. The jump underscores growing consumer interest in retro music formats, building on the revival of vinyl that has pushed more artists to release albums on ⁠the medium.

CD Projekt RED still has two unannounced projects in the pipeline, CFO says

CD Projekt RED has two unannounced projects in the development phase, the video game developer's finance chief Piotr Nielubowicz said during a post-earnings conference call on Wednesday. Poland's biggest game developer on Wednesday posted a 37% rise in its half-year net profit to 249.1 million zlotys ($66.75 million), beating analysts' expectations of 201 million zlotys seen in a Reuters poll.

Venice film shows ⁠Murdoch ​shaking up hidebound Britain

British director Danny Boyle's new movie "Ink", unveiled on Wednesday, examines how Rupert Murdoch's assault on Britain's media establishment was first embraced as a breath of fresh air before turning into a much darker story. "Ink" opens the 83rd Venice Film Festival, giving Boyle a high-profile launch for a project he joked many people initially thought was about tattoos rather than the newspaper industry.

Mexican musician, family members slain in gruesome shooting at upscale penthouse

A Mexican musician, his pregnant wife, 3-year-old daughter, a young domestic worker and the family's pet dog were tied up and shot dead in a gruesome scene at his penthouse in an upscale residential block outside Mexico ⁠City. Their 6-year-old son was found at the scene unharmed, local authorities said on Wednesday.

CD Projekt H1 profit jumps 37%, beats estimates

Poland's biggest game developer CD Projekt RED on Wednesday reported a 37% rise in half-year net profit compared with the previous year thanks to strong sales of games. Net profit was 249.1 million zlotys ($66.70 million) ⁠beating analysts' expectations of 201 million zlotys seen in Reuters poll.

Clooney tells Venice festival that ⁠AI threatens film and journalism

U.S. actor George Clooney warned on Wednesday that advances in artificial intelligence were making it increasingly difficult to distinguish truth from fiction, posing a challenge for journalists, governments and the public. Speaking at the Venice Film Festival, where he is receiving a Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement, the actor, filmmaker and political activist said deepfake technology and AI-generated content were undermining trust in information.

Brendan Fraser says WW2 drama 'Pressure' offers timely warning against questioning science

Brendan Fraser says Anthony Maras' new World War ‌Two drama "Pressure" serves as a cautionary tale that remains ‌relevant today, more than 80 years after the D-Day invasion. Speaking at the film’s European premiere in London on Tuesday, the Oscar-winning actor told Reuters that people "second-guess nature and science at (their) ​peril" - and yet, "science, physics, they don't care about our feelings on this planet."