'Looper' filmmaker Rian Johnson to write/direct 'Star Wars: Episode VIII'

LOS ANGELES: "Looper" filmmaker Rian Johnson will write and direct "Star Wars: Episode VIII," the second installment in the new trilogy of "Star Wars" films produced by Walt Disney Co, a source with knowledge of the plans said on Friday.

Johnson, 40, who also wrote and directed 2005´s "Brick" and 2008´s "The Brothers Bloom," will also write the initial script for the third installment of the trilogy, "Episode IX."A Disney spokesman did not respond to a request for comment.

"Episode VIII" is the second of three films that Disney announced after purchasing "Star Wars" creator George Lucas´ Lucasfilm in 2012 for $4.05 billion, and will follow "Star Wars:Episode VII," currently in production with director J.J. Abrams.

The films are expected to expand the saga that was first released in 1977 and has become embedded in pop culture.

Disney will also produce stand-alone "Star Wars" films that will be released between the three new trilogy films, the first of which will be directed by "Godzilla" filmmaker Gareth Edwards.

Zee, Star part ways from distribution JV to follow TRAI order

Zee and Star have parted ways from their channel distribution joint venture MediPro as sectoral regulator TRAI has prohibited bundling the channels of different broadcasters into one bouquet.

Zee Turner and Star Den Media Service, which had the 50:50 JV, will now establish independent affiliates for the sales of their channels.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India had issued a regulation on February 10 prohibiting distributing houses to bundle channels of multiple broadcasters into one bouquet.

“In the light of new regulation, both partners have decided to build independent affiliate sales (network),” Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (ZEEL) Managing Director and CEO Punit Goenka said in a statement.

He said the JV was set up to address “various anomalies in the analog market, to curb piracy and introduce transparency for the benefit of all the stake holders. Thanks to the commitment of both the parties the JV had delivered exceptionally well on both the sides.”

ZEEL and Star had joined hands in May 2011 to combine distribution of their respective channel bouquets in India.

Zee Turner is a 74:26 joint venture between ZEEL and Turner International Pvt Ltd for distribution of their group of channels.

Similarly, Star Den is an equal venture between Star India and DEN Network.

There were allegations of abuse of market dominance by MediPro. The Competition Commission of India had however rejected the charge in April last year after finding no evidence of that.

Former U.S. wrestling star The Ultimate Warrior dies at 54: WWE

The Ultimate Warrior, one of U.S. professional wrestling's most celebrated names, has died at the age of 54, days after being inducted into the World Wrestling Entertainment Inc Hall of Fame, the company said late on Tuesday.

"WWE is shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the passing of one of the most iconic WWE Superstars ever, The Ultimate Warrior," the Stamford, Connecticut-based company said on its website.

The Ultimate Warrior, whose given name was James Hellwig, began his WWE career in 1987 and rose to become one of the biggest stars in WWE history, the company said, highlighting an "epic encounter" in which he defeated Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania VI to become a WWE Champion.

The cause of his death was not given. He was added to the Hall of Fame on April 5.

"We are grateful that just days ago, Warrior had the opportunity to take his rightful place in the WWE Hall of Fame and was also able to appear at WrestleMania 30 and Monday Night Raw to address his legions of fans," World Wrestling Entertainment said.

The 6-foot, 2-inch tall, 280-pound (127 kg) wrestler commanded the ring in his signature neon garb and long, blond hair, and face paint, WWE said.

His family could not immediately be reached, and an email sent through his website was not immediately answered.

In a statement on his website peppered with sarcasm, Hellwig expounded on philosophy and funneling energy from the ring into writing, motivational speaking, and his family life after retiring in the late 1990s.

"Ultimate Warrior ran because I was running him. He was intense because I already was. Whatever I am doing - wrestling, writing, working out, speaking, even weaving pot holders - I am going to do it with action and intensity," Hellwig wrote.

"I have built an incredibly empowered life on my OWN terms. As a devoted husband and father, I could not have custom-ordered a more loving, healthy, spirit-filled, and happy home life," he wrote.

Fans, supporters and wrestlers took to the internet to express their respect for the wrestler, who is survived by his wife Dana and his two daughters, WWE said.

"Shocked and very saddened to hear about Ultimate Warrior passing. Prayers go out to his family! RIP. Loss for words," wrestler Curtis wrote in a Twitter message.

"RIP WARRIOR. only love. HH," Hulk Hogan tweeted.

"Tomorrow is promised to know one!!" fellow Hall of Famer Rowdy Roddy Piper tweeted. "My love to The Warrior and family. RIP."

"Icon and friend," WWE Chief Operating Officer Triple H wrote in a Twitter message.

Scotland star Laidlaw agrees Gloucester switch

LONDON: Scotland halfback Greig Laidlaw has agreed a deal to leave Edinburgh and join Gloucester next season, the English Premiership club announced on Tuesday.
The 28-year-old, who can play at scrum-half and fly-half, will replace Freddie Burns, who is due to join Leicester from Gloucester.
Laidlaw has operated at scrum-half for Scotland during the current Six Nations campaign, but Gloucester rugby director Nigel Davies intends to make full use of his versatility.
"He's likely to be first-choice 10, but we've got a few combinations there," said the former Wales coach.
"We see him very much as a nine-come-10, which he has done at Scotland. He's played 40 percent of his games at 10 for Scotland.
"He's the right type of character that we need to bring into this group. He's a natural leader, and he impacts games very positively. He's a true 80 percent-plus goal-kicker, so we're very excited about that."
Renowned for his pinpoint kicking, Laidlaw made his Scotland debut in 2011 and has to date won 27 international caps. He follows New Zealand front-row forward and Wales hooker Richard Hibbard in signing for Gloucester.
England squad fly-half Burns has seen his form fall away since he agreed to join Leicester, with his goal-kicking accuracy slipping from close to 75 percent last season to 57 percent in the current campaign.

Katy Perry auditioning to star alongside Vin Diesel

According to the Daily Star American singer Katy Perry may star in forthcoming instalment of Vin Diesel’s ‘xXx’ franchise.Diesel has reportedly invited the 29-year-old singer to audition for the lead role in the forthcoming instalment, which is rumoured to called ‘The Return of Xander Cage’. Reports reveal it was Diesel who approached Perry on Twitter first by posting: “As you know, the new xXx script finally comes in next month... and just this morning people ...

Preity Zinta: Alia Bhatt to be brightest star

Bollywood actress Alia Bhatt has garnered all-round praise from the film industry for her performance in Imtiaz Ali’s ‘Highway’. After receiving heaps of praise from celebrities including Javed Akhter, Shabana Azmi, Parineeti Chopra and Sidharth Malhotra, the latest to join her fan list is Preity Zinta. According to the Indian Express, Zinta took to Twitter to praise the young talent and strongly recommended the audience to watch the film.