Reuters Entertainment News Summary

Following is a summary of current entertainment news briefs.

Nicolas Cage transformed ‘from within’ for ‘Madden,’ co-star Kathryn Hahn says

Nicolas Cage so fully ​transformed himself into NFL legend John Madden for the new biopic “Madden” that co-star ​Kathryn Hahn says she spent an entire production with him ‌without ​ever feeling she had met the real Cage. Hahn, who plays Madden’s wife Virginia, said Cage remained covered in prosthetics throughout production, transforming him into Madden more than just physically.

Skydance details cost cuts, sets streaming bundle for early next year

Skydance on Monday detailed plans to deliver $6 ‌billion in cost savings from its Warner Bros Discovery acquisition and said it would launch a streaming bundle of HBO Max and Paramount+ early next year. Shares of the company dropped about 2% to $8.50 in after-hours trading.

The rise and fall of Russell Brand

Russell Brand was once considered so culturally important that the opposition leader hoping to be Britain's next prime minister went on his ‌online show, while former US Vice President Al Gore was happy to be interviewed by him. A comedian and presenter turned Hollywood actor and then unlikely political activist, Brand was one ‌of the most recognisable and sought-after figures in the British entertainment world from the late 2000s until the mid-2010s.

'The inner child in me is screaming': Jamie Campbell Bower on joining 'Lord of the Rings' series

British actor Jamie Campbell Bower said joining "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" fulfilled a childhood dream as the cast gathered in London for the global premiere of the fantasy series' third season on Tuesday. Speaking to Reuters, the "Stranger Things" and "Harry ⁠Potter" star ​recalled receiving the email offering him a role in ⁠the series.

UK children's author Walliams named as subject of sexual allegations by media

Two media groups named British comedian and bestselling children's author David Walliams on Tuesday as the high-profile figure who had tried to prevent allegations ⁠of sexual misconduct being published by saying he would take his own life if they were revealed. The Guardian and ITV News said that Walliams, formerly a judge on music mogul Simon Cowell's "Britain's Got Talent" television show, ​had sought an injunction against the newspaper and the broadcaster ITN, which produces ITV News.

Actor Stacy Keach, known for playing Hammer, Hamlet and Hemingway, dead at 85

Actor ⁠Stacy Keach, who portrayed rugged characters such as fictional detective Mike Hammer and legendary American novelist Ernest Hemingway, died on Tuesday at the age of 85, his wife said in a statement to Hollywood trade publication Variety. Keach died ⁠in ​Poland "after a long and difficult battle with a serious heart condition and heart failure," Malgosia Tomassi said in a statement to Variety.

Take-Two lifts annual revenue, profit forecasts as 'GTA VI' launch nears

Take-Two Interactive raised its annual revenue and profit forecasts on Monday, as the videogame publisher banks on the launch next week of the much-anticipated "Grand Theft Auto VI" to drive strong ⁠demand. The company's shares rose 4% in extended trading with CEO Strauss Zelnick saying pre-orders for "GTA VI" were tracking far in excess of initial expectations, even as Take-Two stuck to ⁠its bookings forecast for the year.

The rise and ⁠fall of Russell Brand

Russell Brand was once considered so culturally important that the opposition leader hoping to be Britain's next prime minister went on his online show, while former US Vice President Al Gore was happy to be interviewed by him. A comedian and presenter turned ‌Hollywood actor and then unlikely ‌political activist, Brand was one of the most recognisable and sought-after figures in the British entertainment ​world from the late 2000s until the mid-2010s.