Entertainment Tidbits
Andy Garcia confirmed he will reprise his role as casino owner Terry Benedict in Ocean’s 14. He said the film was scheduled to shoot in January 2026 but was delayed to avoid scheduling conflicts. The sequel, directed by Steven Soderbergh, will again star George Clooney as Danny Ocean along with Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle, and Julia Roberts. (Story URL)
Sally Kirkland, known for her Oscar-nominated role in Anna (1987), died Tuesday in hospice care in Palm Springs. She was 84. Kirkland’s decades-long career included roles in The Way We Were, Edtv, JFK, and The Sting. The New York native earned Golden Globe and Spirit awards for Anna, portraying a Czechoslovakian actress struggling to rebuild her life. (Story URL)
Mattel announced that writer and filmmaker Phil Johnston will create the script for a live-action View-Master movie with Sony Pictures. The film is based on the classic 3D image toy first introduced in 1939. Johnston, known for his work on Wreck-It Ralph, Ralph Breaks the Internet, and Zootopia, said the toy inspired his imagination as a child. (Story URL)
Idris Elba will reprise his role as Detective John Luther in a new Netflix sequel to Luther: The Fallen Sun. Co-stars Ruth Wilson and Dermot Crowley will also return. The story follows Luther as he is secretly called back to duty after a series of violent murders in London. Filming begins in February. The Luther franchise began in 2010 and ran for five seasons. (Story URL)
Matthew McConaughey and Michael Caine have signed agreements with AI audio firm ElevenLabs to create digital versions of their voices. McConaughey is also investing an undisclosed amount in the company. Caine joins ElevenLabs’ new Iconic Voice Marketplace, which also features voices including Liza Minelli, Judy Garland, Maya Angelou, and Babe Ruth. (Story URL)
Cleto Escobedo III, longtime bandleader on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, has died at 59. Kimmel called him “a great friend, father, son, musician and man.” The two had been close since childhood. Escobedo led the show’s house band since its 2003 debut, performing alongside his father, Cleto Escobedo Sr. He previously toured with Earth, Wind and Fire and Paula Abdul. (Story URL)
South Korean appeals court has overturned the indecent assault conviction of Squid Game actor Oh Young-soo, ruling that prosecutors failed to prove the 81-year-old actor’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Oh had been accused of inappropriately touching an actress several times between August and September 2017. Oh has denied all allegations. (Story URL)
