Biopic of INXS frontman in the works

Plus: Marc Anthony supports Dominican orphans, Downton Abbey given fourth season, Chevy Chase departs from sitcom Community and Elvis watch up for auction.

A film is being planned about the life and times of Michael Hutchence, the frontman of Australian rock band INXS who died 15 years ago.

Former Hollywood screenwriter Bobby Galinsky, best known for his work on the 1990 Kiefer Sutherland thriller Flatliners said casting was expected in the new year.

The movie will be called Two Worlds Colliding, based on the book "Just a Man - The Real Michael Hutchence" penned by the singer's mother and sister, after Galinsky obtained the rights. INXS continued as a band without Hutchence, but decided to quit touring earlier this month * AFP

Marc Anthony supports Dominican orphans

Singer Marc Anthony is coming to the aid of an orphanage in the Dominican Republic.

A foundation run by Anthony with music and sports producer Henry Cardenas plans to build a new residence hall, classrooms and a baseball field for the Children of Christ orphanage in the eastern city of La Romana. Anthony attended the groundbreaking ceremony Friday with his model girlfriend Shannon de Lima.

Anthony's Maestro Cares Foundation has raised $200,000 (Dh734,000) for the orphanage. * AP

Downton Abbey given fourth season

The British television channel ITV has confirmed that hit drama Downton Abbey will return for a fourth season.

Filming of eight new episodes for the award-winning period series will begin in southern England's Highclere Castle and London's Ealing Studios early next year.

ITV said the opening and closing episodes will be feature-length, and there will be an extended special episode for next Christmas.

Downton Abbey has won fans worldwide and an average of 11.9 million viewers in Britain watched its third season, which will premiere in the U.S. on PBS in January. * AP

Chevy Chase departs from sitcom Community

The NBC series Community will finish the season without Chevy Chase.

Sony Pictures Television said Wednesday that the actor is leaving the sitcom by mutual agreement with producers. His immediate departure means he won't be included in the last episode or two of the show's 13-episode season, which is still in production.

Chase had a rocky tenure playing a bored and wealthy man who enrolls in community college. The actor publicly expressed unhappiness at working on a sitcom and feuded last year with the show's creator and former executive producer, Dan Harmon. * AP

Elvis watch up for auction

A watch which was one of Elvis Presley's last Christmas presents and a corset worn by Madonna on her 1990 Blond Ambition tour will be featured at a London auction.

The watch, estimated to sell for £6,000 (Dh35,340) or more, is a diamond-set Rolex given to Presley by his longtime manager, Tom Parker. It is engraved, "Elvis merry Christmas your pal Col. Tom Parker." It was the last Christmas for Presley, who died the following year.

Madonna's corset by Jean-Paul Gaultier is estimated to sell for for at least £10,000 (Dh58,900) * AP