In brief: Pedro Pascal joins Todd Haynes’ film ‘De Noche’ and more
Pedro Pascal saves the day. The actor has joined Todd Haynes‘ upcoming film De Noche. Pascal joins the cast of the movie in the role that Joaquin Phoenix exited last year. The love story will also star Danny Ramirez as Pascal’s detective character’s younger lover. Pascal took to Instagram to share the news of his casting. “De nada. #DeNoche #ToddHaynes,” Pascal captioned a photo carousel filled with stills from other Haynes films …
Joshua Jackson is set to star in a new series on HBO Max. Deadline reports that the actor will lead the cast of How To Survive Without Me alongside Ray Romano. The drama pilot follows what happens when a family’s matriarch passes away …
Chiwetel Ejiofor has joined director Mike Flanagan‘s upcoming The Exorcist film adaptation. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Ejiofor joins Scarlett Johansson, Jacobi Jupe and Diane Lane in the new movie, which is promised to be a “fresh and bold” take on the classic material …
Will Smith performs live onstage during the ‘Based On A True Story’ Summer Tour at Festhalle Frankfurt on July 18, 2025, in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Andreas Rentz/Getty Images
A former violinist and crew member for Will Smith is suing the actor and rapper, as well as his touring company, for wrongful termination and sexual harassment, claims that Smith’s lawyer is denying.
Brian King Joseph, who toured with Smith in 2025, alleged in a complaint filed Tuesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court that he was wrongfully terminated and retaliated against after reporting workplace safety hazards.
According to the complaint, Joseph said he reported to Smith and the touring company that someone had “unlawfully” entered his Las Vegas hotel room during the tour and allegedly left a handwritten note, among other items, including wipes, a beer bottle, a red backpack, a bottle of HIV medication bearing another person’s name, an earring and hospital discharge paperwork for someone Joseph did not know.
The note allegedly read, “Brian, I’ll be back no later [sic] 5:30, just us (drawn heart), Stone F,” according to the complaint.
Joseph said he reported the matter to the hotel, a local non-emergency police line and to Smith’s representatives, stating that he was afraid someone was going to return to his hotel room and try to have sex with him.
In the complaint, Joseph said a few days after notifying Smith’s team, he was terminated from his role with the tour and accused of making up the matter; another violinist was hired to replace him on tour.
Joseph also accused Smith in the complaint of allegedly “deliberately grooming and priming [him] for further sexual exploitation,” suggesting “a pattern of predatory behavior.”
Joseph said in the complaint that he experienced PTSD and mental illness because of the termination.
Joseph is seeking a trial and compensatory damages, attorney’s fees and other relief as determined by a jury.
Allen B. Grodsky, an attorney for Smith, pushed back against Joseph’s claims in a statement to ABC News Thursday.
“Mr. Joseph’s allegations concerning my client are false, baseless, and reckless,” Grodsky stated. “They are categorically denied, and we will use all legal means available to address these claims and to ensure that the truth is brought to light.”
Smith went on a global tour last year to support his Based on a True Story album, which was released in March 2025. Smith’s tour stopped in Las Vegas that same month.
Based on a True Story was Smith’s first full-length album in two decades.
Honoree/actor Aldis Hodge attends the ‘Cross’ and Award Presentation press junket during day 2 of the 14th SCAD TVfest at Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta on February 5, 2026, in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)
Aldis Hodge’s Cross has been renewed for a third season.
The Prime Video series, created by Ben Watkins and based on characters created by James Patterson, is comprised of eight episodes, continuing the story of Hodge’s detective, Alex Cross, and his pursuit of serial killers.
“From the beginning, Cross has captivated audiences with its layered characters, pulse-pounding suspense, and emotionally grounded storytelling,” Peter Friedlander, head of global television at Amazon MGM Studios, said in a statement. “Aldis has delivered a definitive portrayal of Alex Cross, anchoring the series with depth, intelligence, and heart. We’re thrilled to continue this journey with Ben, our collaborators at Paramount Television Studios, and the rest of the incredible cast to bring even more of James Patterson’s iconic world to our global Prime Video audience.”
The show’s second season, which also stars Matthew Lillard, Jeanine Mason and Wes Chatham, is available to stream on Prime Video.
Omari Hardwick attends the Los Angeles special screening of ‘Xeno’ at The Culver Theater on September 16, 2025, in Culver City, California. (Photo by Robin L Marshall/Getty Images)
You may know him as James “Ghost” St. Patrick in the Starz series Power, but in the upcoming action-thriller Empire City, Omari Hardwick will take on the role of Hawkins.
Hawkins will serve as the antagonist to Gerard Butler‘s Rhett, a firefighter “who, alongside his squad and his NYPD wife Dani (Hayley Atwell), must fight and navigate his way through the building to rescue captives trapped inside,” according to Deadline.
Mel Jarnson will star as Hawkins’ right-hand operative, Leda; Tre Hale, Michael Beach, Dominic Bogart, Stephen Murphy and Jack DiFalco will play members of Rhett’s squad.
The film, directed by Michael Matthews, is currently in production in Melbourne, Australia.
Omari is also set to star in Star Trek: Section 31, premiering Jan. 24 onParamount+; Prime Video’s Muhammad Ali series The Greatest; and the Bosch prequel series Start Of Watch for MGM+.
