Reuters Entertainment News Summary

Following is a summary of current entertainment news briefs. Box Office: 'Shazam!' grows to $53 million debut

The magic word at the box office this weekend was "Shazam!" Warner Bros.' latest DC superhero adventure easily topped charts in North America, pocketing $53 million when it debuted in 4,217 venues. Buoyed by positive reviews, "Shazam!" arrived ahead of expectations, which anticipated a start around $40 million to $45 million. The film, made by Warner Bros.' New Line division, also earned $3 million in advanced screenings, bringing its domestic haul to $56 million. Overseas, "Shazam!" dominated with $102 million from 79 international markets for a global start to $158.6 million. Bill Cosby settles defamation lawsuit brought by seven women

Convicted sex offender Bill Cosby on Friday settled a federal defamation lawsuit brought by seven women who said the former actor and comedian sexually assaulted them and wrongly called them liars when they went public with their charges years later. The settlement ends a court fight that predates the 81-year-old's conviction a year ago for drugging and sexually assaulting Andrea Constand, a former Temple University administrator, in 2004. Cosby is currently serving a 3- to 10-year sentence for that crime, though his lawyers plan an appeal. Chicago will sue actor Jussie Smollett after he refuses to pay for police overtime

Chicago will sue actor Jussie Smollett for the costs of police overtime spent investigating his claims that he was the victim of a hate crime, which prosecutors say were false, a city official said on Thursday. The lawsuit was being prepared after Smollett, 36, refused a demand by the city for $130,000, said Bill McCaffrey, a spokesman for the city's Department of Law.

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