Rod Stewart's 30th album, Bieber loses right to defend himself, 'Game of Thrones' actor to play Elton John's manager and other Hollywood updates

Take a look at the exciting and hot happenings that are going on in the world of Hollywood.  

Rod Stewart's 30th album to hit stores in September

Legendary singer Rod Stewart will release his 30th album, "Blood Red Roses", on 28 September.

"Blood Red Roses" is a personal 13-track collection of originals and three covers.

The album's first single, "Didn't I" is about the damage drugs can do from a parents' point of view.

This new album, his first in three years, follows international bestsellers "Another Country" (2015) and "Time" (2013).

"I always think I make albums for few friends and this record has that intimacy," Stewart said in a statement to a leading publication.

"Sincerity and honesty go a long way in life and the same is true in song-writing," added the Grammy winner.

Co-produced by his long-term collaborator Kevin Savigar, "Blood Red Roses" moves easily from acoustic driven folk through pop/R&B to rock 'n' roll and ballads.

Bieber loses right to defend himself in vandalism case

Pop star Justin Bieber has lost the right to defend himself in court after blowing off depositions over his vandalism case. According to court documents obtained by a website The Blast, the judge overseeing the pop star's battle with his former neighbour Jeff Schwartz has sanctioned Bieber for failing to sit for his deposition on multiple occasions.

Schwartz urged lawmakers to issue a warrant for the singer's arrest after Bieber skipped a deposition last month to hang out with his fiancee Hailey Baldwin, according to media reports.

The judge declared that since Bieber had refused deposition requests, he will not be allowed to "testify on his own defence".

The jury will also be told that Bieber "refused to appear for his deposition", and now it will be admitted as fact that Bieber is liable for the infamous 2014 egg attack on his ex-neighbour's home - and that he did so "with malice".

The judge also ordered the star to pay Schwartz $7,500 in sanctions for missing the depositions.

Edgar Hansen found guilty of molesting minor

Deadliest Catch fame actor Edgar Hansen has been found guilty of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl.

The 47-year-old reality TV fisherman received a 364-day suspended jail sentence and was ordered to pay court fines and fees of $1,653. He will have to undergo a sexual-deviancy evaluation and treatment according to media reports.

As per the probable cause affidavit filed in Snohomish County District Court last week, Hansen's victim identified as Jane Doe told her therapist in October that Hansen had sexually assaulted her on 30 September, 2017 at a home in Mountlake Terrace, Washington.

On 11 July, Hansen admitted touching the girl's genitals last September and making her touch his as well.

"I committed this assault for the purpose of my own sexual gratification. I am very sorry for that conduct and I have commenced treatment to ensure that nothing like this assault ever happens again," Hansen wrote in a statement.

Hansen's guilty plea comes less than two weeks after his older brother Sig Hansen received a one-year deferred sentence and probation for assaulting an Uber driver after a night of drinking last year.

Deadliest Catch viewers know Hansen as the deck boss of the Northwestern, the Seattle-based crabbing boat he navigated through the Bering Sea with his brother. The brothers rose to fame with their co-starring roles on the long-running Discovery Channel series.

‘Breaking Bad' cast reunites for 10th anniversary

The Breaking Bad team reunited in honour of the 10th anniversary of the drama, which premiered in January 2008.

The cast reunited at San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) 2018, according to media reports.

The team -- creator and show runner Vince Gilligan and leading men Bryan Cranston (Walter White) and Aaron Paul (Jesse Pinkman) -- was brought out on stage by the host.

Also onstage were co-stars Anna Gunn (Skylar White), Dean Norris (Hank Schrader), Betsy Brandt (Marie Schrader), R.J. Mitte (Walt Jr.), Bob Odenkirk (Saul Goodman) and Giancarlo Esposito (Gus Fring).

Nobody knew who we were. I knew we started to make an impact when the directional signs started to be stolen," Cranston said, referring to signs telling where cast and crew should park.

"I kept thinking, 'Not only am I getting lost, but something is happening'," Cranston added.

Markle's 'Suits' co-star says she'll do 'incredible things'

Suits star Patrick J. Adams said his former co-actor Meghan Markle will be able to do incredible things as the Duchess of Sussex.

Adams said he has "been texting" with the entire cast of Suits, wishing them luck according to media reports. Adams played the role of Mike Ross on the show.

Asked whether Markle, who portrayed his on-screen lover Rachel Zane was one of the people he texted, Adam replied saying, "No, she's busy, I think. About to rule the entire world or something."

"It's amazing. She's coming into her power in an amazing way, and I know that she and Prince Harry are going to do incredible things together."

Markle and Adams departed the show after last season's finale.

Meanwhile, although Markle may have her hands tied with royal duties she has been missing being on the Suits set as much as Adams.

Four men indicted in XXXTentacion's murder

Four men have been indicted in rapper XXXTentacion's murder by a grand jury in Broward County, Florida.

The men were on Thursday indicted for first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of rapper XXXTentacion, reports a media portal.

Dedrick Devonshay Williams, 22, and Michael Boatwright, 22, were previously arrested in connection with the shooting and remain in jail. Trayvon Newsome, 20, and Robert Allen, 22, were also named in the indictment and are still at large.

The rapper, whose real name was Janseh Onfroy, was shot while leaving a motorcycle dealership on 18 June. The suspects fled after stealing a Louis Vuitton bag that authorities said contained $50,000 in cash.

Springsteen surprises fans at Billy Joel's special event

American singer Bruce Springsteen surprised the audience by making a special appearance with "Piano Man" fame singer Billy Joel on his 100th show at Madison Square Garden here.

The surprised audience loudly cheered "Bruce" when they saw Springsteen on the stage. Springsteen rocked his guitar and sang, while Joel worked hard on the piano. The duo teamed up for two Springsteen classics "Born To Run" and "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out", reports a publication.

The night on Wednesday marked a special occasion as 69-year-old Joel is now the artiste with the most lifetime performances at Madison Square Garden.

Joel's 2-year-old daughter also made an appearance at the special show at one point, sitting on his lap.

A photo of the singer and Springsteen performing together has also been shared on Joel's official Instagram account along with the post, "There were 100 shows' worth of memories at Billy's unprecedented 100th show at the Square Garden, including a special appearance by Springsteen. Thanks to all the fans who shared this magical night with us.

Argentine rocker Cristian Pity Alvarez accused of murder

Argentine rock star Cristian "Pity" Alvarez has been charged with murder in connection with the shooting of a man last week.

The rocker shot the man four times after having a row with him, reports an online portal.

Court documents described the victim, Cristian Diaz as an acquaintance of "Pity" Alvarez.

The lead singer with bands Viejas Locas and Intoxicados said he shot him in self-defence.

Alvarez allegedly told reporters he shot Diaz in self defence. "I killed him because it was either him or me. Any animal would do the same."

After the fatal shooting, he fled and got rid of the gun, which was later found in a sewer.

He handed himself in 24 hours later the crime.

His lawyer said he had had drug problems, but judge Martin Yadarola said he believed the musician knew what he was doing when he committed the crime.

The musician was ordered to undergo a drug addiction programme, but ordered that he must remain under arrest.

Alvarez left the band Viejas Locas in 2000 to found Intoxicados, but has since performed in both bands. They have released several successful albums in Argentina.

Kurosawa's screenwriter Shinobu Hashimoto dead at 100

Japanese screenwriter-director Shinobu Hashimoto, well known for writing Akira Kurosawa's iconic Japanese films including The Seven Samurai and Rashomon, is dead. He was 100.

Hashimoto died on Thursday from complications caused by pneumonia, suggests some media reports.

The screenwriter had also made his name in production. In 1973, he launched a production company Hashimoto Production.

Hashimoto wrote or co-wrote more than 70 screenplays, including many of late Japanese director Kurosawa's classics, also including The Hidden Fortress (1958).

He also directed three films during his long career, and also scripted for other directors, including Masaki Kobayashi ("Harakiri" in 1962) and Kihachi Okamoto ("The Sword of Doom" in 1966).

‘Game of Thrones’ actor to play Elton John's manager in 'Rocketman'

Richard Madden, best known for playing Robb Stark on Game of Thrones, is in negotiations to join Taron Egerton in Paramounts Elton John biopic Rocketman as the music icons long-time manager, John Reid.

Jamie Bell is also on board to play Bernie Taupin with Dexter Fletcher attached to helm the project. Lee Hall penned the script. Paramount Pictures will finance and distribute the picture, reports a publication.

Reid, a legendary music manager in the '70s and '80s who also helped with Queen's rise to fame in the mid-'70s, managed John from 1970 to 1998. Along the way, the two also became lovers, but their romance ended after five years following the leak of a letter from John's accountants detailing Reid's spending that was uncovered by the Daily Mail, suggests some media reports.

The two would continue to work together professionally until 1998.

Matthew Vaughn and his Marv Films will produce, along with John and his Rocket Pictures partner David Furnish.

The role is a big win for Madden, who has been particular about the film roles he chooses since leaving Game of Thrones after Season 3. He did co-star in Disney's Cinderella as the Prince and also appeared with Idris Elba in The Take. On the TV side since Game of Thrones, he has starred in the Netflix show Medici: Masters of Florence and Amazon's Electric Dreams.

Lydia Hearst defends husband Chris Hardwick amid allegations

Lydia Hearst has defended her husband, Talking Dead host Chris Hardwick against allegations from his ex-girlfriend, actress Chloe Dykstra, that he sexually and emotionally abused her during their relationship that ended in 2014.

"I've known him to be nothing less than absolutely loving, compassionate, supportive, not just to myself, but to everyone he knows and works with," Hearst told a media online portal.

"He's a genuinely good man with a good heart," she added.

Hardwick's shows are only on hiatus and AMC is conducting an investigation into the matter and she and Hardwick are both "extremely optimistic about" the result, she said.

"I think fans can expect to see him back on the air soon and maybe hopefully back at Comic-Con next year," Hearst said.

The allegations stem from an essay Dykstra wrote for Medium in which she detailed a controlling relationship with restrictions on when she could go out and who she could befriend. After the breakup, she said Hardwick and an unidentified female colleague worked to get her blacklisted throughout the entertainment industry.

Although she never directly named Hardwick, Dykstra described the boyfriend in details that made it clear whom she was referring to.

"The man I married was not the man who was written about in that article," Hearst said. Hardwick has denied the accusations and said he was "blindsided" by the claims.

"As a husband, a son, and future father, I do not condone any kind of mistreatment of women," Hardwick said in a statement in June.

It popped out: Anderson Cooper on Trump comment

TV personality Anderson Cooper says his remark that US President Donald Trump's Helsinki summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin was "disgraceful", had just "popped out".

Cooper spoke about it when he stopped by The Late Show with Andy Cohen on Wednesday, according to some media reports.

"You have been watching perhaps one of the most disgraceful performances by an American president at a summit in front of a Russian leader truly that I've ever seen," Cooper had said following the press conference while covering the event for CNN.

When host Stephen Colbert brought up the comment, Cooper reiterated the sentiment before the audience cheered. "It just popped out," he said.

"I'm not saying it proudly or gleefully. It just popped out. It was the first thing I said. As soon as the press conference was done, it just sort of popped out of my mouth."

"But you heard he changed one of the words, right?" asked Colbert, in reference to Trump claiming he meant to ask why "wouldn't" Russia be involved with the 2016 election as opposed to why "would" it be involved.

"Yes, I did. Well, that all makes sense now. Yeah, it's very clear," said Cooper.

Cooper then jokingly agreed with Colbert that Trump's mix-up makes his performance "graceful" not "disgraceful".

Cooper added that "he has the best words, as he told us during the campaign", reports an online media.

Powell is very hard-charging: Justin Theroux

Actor Justin Theroux found stunt coordinator and second-unit director Gary Powell, who has worked in films including the James Bond and Bourne franchises, very hard-charging.

The two worked together in the action-thriller The Spy Who Dumped Me.

"When you're watching a comedy you maybe think, 'Oh it's going to be a little bit softer, a little bit lighter', but Gary is actually very hard-charging. That is his style. There are a couple of shots, the car chase with the motorcycle that takes one of the hardest hits I've ever seen on film," Theroux said in a statement to a publication.

The Lionsgate Production film also stars Mila Kunis and Kate McKinnon who get caught in an undercover agent trap after Kunis' on-screen spy and former boyfriend dumps her.

Director Susanna Fogel said, "It's important for me that the action be just as fearless as the action in a male-driven movie, and that we don't hold back, we don't try to like soften it."

The Spy Who Dumped Me is slated to release in India on 10 August.

 (Source :IANS)