"The Talk of the Town"
Actor and comedian Russell Brand has been charged with one count of rape, one count of oral rape, two counts of sexual assault and one count of indecent assault, the Metropolitan Police in London announced.
The charges relate to four separate women. The alleged crimes span from 1999 to 2004 or 2005, authorities said.
Brand, 50, is due in court in London on May 2.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
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It’s official — Prime Video is headed back to Middle-earth.
The streamer has renewed The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power for a third season, it confirmed Thursday. In fact, season 3 is currently in preproduction and will begin filming this spring at its new production home, Shepperton Studios in England.
Additionally, Prime Video announced three directors helming this new season, including returning directors Charlotte Brändström and Sanaa Hamri. Stefan Schwartz will mark his first involvement with the series.
“The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power continues to captivate audiences worldwide, and we’re thrilled that a third season is underway. The creative team has an extraordinary vision of what’s to come with stories that have left us enchanted and enthralled,” the head of television at Amazon MGM Studios, Vernon Sanders, said. “We look forward to continuing this epic journey, for our global customers, delving even deeper into the legendary tales that shaped Middle-earth.”
According to the official logline, season 3 will feature a time jump. “Jumping forward several years from the events of season 2, season 3 takes place at the height of the War of the Elves and Sauron, as the Dark Lord seeks to craft the One Ring that will give him the edge he needs to win the war and conquer all Middle-earth at last,” the logline reads.
The second season of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power premiered on Aug. 29 and finished dropping episodes on Oct. 3. The show stars Morfydd Clark, Robert Aramayo, Charlie Vickers, Sophia Nomvete and Markella Kavenagh.
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There are another 104 days of summer vacation.
Disney released the first trailer and premiere date for the revival of Phineas and Ferb on Thursday. This marks the return of the genius stepbrother duo to the small screen 10 years after the original show’s run ended.
The new season of the beloved animated show debuts with a two-episode premiere June 5 on Disney Channel. The first 10 episodes of the season will then premiere June 6 on Disney+.
Phineas and Ferb follows brothers who set out to make the most of every day during the summer. Their older sister, Candace, tries to bust them for the extraordinary tasks they take on, while their pet platypus, Perry, lives a double life as a secret agent.
According to its official synopsis, in the new season “Phineas, Ferb and the crew tackle another 104 days of summer and are set for exciting new adventures featuring some unforgettable milestones. The boys will break several world records, Candace will take her driver’s license test, and Perry will finally make a trip to the vet!”
Phineas and Ferb won five Emmys over the course of its original run. It was created by Jeff “Swampy” Marsh and Dan Povenmire, who also voice Major Monogram and Dr. Doofenshmirtz on the series, respectively.
The show is celebrated for its songs, including hits like “Gitchee Gitchee Goo” and “Busted.” To celebrate the new season, Disney has announced a brand-new LOFI album and soundtrack. LOFI: Phineas and Ferb releases on May 9, featuring 10 songs from the original series reimagined into a lo-fi style, while this new season’s original soundtrack will be available on June 6.
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Anika Noni Rose, the actress who provides the voice of the Disney Princess Tiana, is expressing her disappointment about the recent cancellation of the Disney+ TV series centered around her character.
In a post to Instagram on Tuesday, Rose shared a statement to fans of her character and the 2009 film The Princess and the Frog who were looking forward to the show, which was called Tiana, centered on her life as a new princess.
“I too am deeply disappointed that the continuation of Tiana’s journey in series form has been cut short,” Rose wrote. “The series was a long time coming, and a lot of beautiful work was put into it by all of the creatives involved, including but not limited to long time champion Jenn Lee, our wonderful writer/director Joyce Sherri, some fabulous animators and an amazing music team.”
Tiana was first announced in 2020. It was canceled earlier in March 2025. A short-form project based on The Princess and the Frog is now being developed at Disney+.
Walt Disney Animation Studios pulled the plug on the series after it decided to no longer prioritize original longform content for streaming. The Hollywood Reporter first shared the news of the show’s cancellation, confirming that there would be some layoffs as a result of this shift in business strategy.
“As hurtful as it is for anything you’ve put your heart and soul in to be prematurely ended, my hope is that when what is now to be a Tiana Special Event airs, that all of you beautiful, loving, loyal fans who’ve been championing not just the series, but a Princess and the Frog sequel, tune in,” Rose wrote. “Show your love and your desire in the numbers. Make that desire an undeniable and real thing. Until then, we will be continuing to work hard to bring you the most beautiful content we can.”
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