The final preparations were being made yesterday for what could be the biggest movie debut in its history – tonight's hugely anticipated world premiere of Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens in Los Angeles. The film, which was partly shot in Abu Dhabi, will be screened in three cinemas. At one of the Hollywood Boulevard locations – the TCL Chinese Theatre, where the first Star Wars premièred in 1977 – fans started camping out over the weekend ahead of it US general release on Friday. Fans must spend at least 24 hours in the queue to earn a spot at the theatre's first public showing – but those who spend more time in line get better seats. Dozens of workers have been busily erecting a mammoth tent lining four blocks of Hollywood Boulevard. The premiere will also take over the nearby El Capitan Theatre and the Dolby Theatre, home of the Oscars. The regional debut of the film is on Wednesday at Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi, with the film going on general release here the following day. – AP
Actress Rose Siggins dies
Actress Rose Siggins, who starred as Legless Suzy in American Horror Story: Freak Show, died on Saturday at a Denver hospital after suffering complications from kidney-stone surgery. Many of her co-stars from the show posted tributes on social media. "The AHS family lost one of our own," Sarah Paulson said on Twitter. "Rose Siggins was an absolute light ... I will never forget your laugh or your beautiful eyes." A GoFundMe page had been created on Friday to raise funds to help care for her Siggins's son Luke, 16, and daughter Shelby, 5, while Siggins dealt with health problems. As of yesterday, the total raised stood at more than US$7,000 (Dh25,000). An update posted on Saturday said: "I'm sad to report that Rose has passed away this morning around 7.30am. All funds raised will now be directed to final expenses and the continuing support of her children." – The National staff
Singer Beyoncé tipped for A Star Is Born
Singer Beyoncé is reportedly on board for a remake of A Star Is Born, directed by and co-starring actor Bradley Cooper. A source said Beyoncé "is a go", Vanity Fair reported. A Star Is Born tells the tale of a romance between two performers: a young starlet and an ageing has-been. The story was first filmed in 1937 with Janet Gaynor and Fredric March, with a better-known remake in 1954 with Judy Garland and James Mason. It was remade again in 1976, this time starring Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson. The new version, Cooper's directorial debut, is due out in 2017.
Sunny Deol: My sons want to take up acting
Actor-filmmaker Sunny Deol says his sons, Karan and Rajveer, want to build careers as actors and will make their big-screen debut soon. While there were speculations regarding eldest son Rajveer's debut, Sunny, 58, who will be seen in the Bollywood movie Ghayal Once Again, says he is directing the youngest son's first film next year, which will be followed by Rajveer's launch. – IANS
Howard gets second star on Walk of Fame
Director Ron Howard has received his second star on the Walk of Fame on Thursday, honouring his award-winning career as a filmmaker. Howard, who won an Oscar for A Beautiful Mind, got his first star on the Walk of Fame in 1981 for his television acting career, which included roles in The Andy Griffith Show and Happy Days. Howard said he appreciated the accolades but his ambitions run deep and has the energy to keep going to achieve another star. The 61-year-old, who also directed Apollo 13 and The Da Vinci Code, was accompanied by his family and actor Michael Keaton, whom he has directed in several movies, for the ceremony on the famed boulevard. Howard's latest film is a shipwreck story, In the Heart of the Sea, which is in cinemas now. – Reuters
Rare Star Wars items fetch more than $500,000 at auction
Just in time for the release of The Force Awakens, movie fans spent thousands of dollars on hundreds of rare Star Wars collectables at auction. Sotheby’s in New York held the online-only sale on Friday that brought in more than $500,000 (Dh1.8 million). The 175 lots included more than 600 action figures from the collection of Japanese fashion-designer and entrepreneur NIGO. A set of seven mini action figures from The Empire Strikes Back fetched $32,500. Two Power of the Force coin sets that were only available on special request from the manufacturer sold for $27,500. A Luke Skywalker figure with double telescoping lightsaber sold for $25,000. – AP
Harrison Ford says he will not appear in Han Solo spin-off film
The stand-alone Han Solo film due for release in May 2018 will not feature Harrison Ford. When asked about the movie, the 73-year-old actor said it will revolve around Han's life before he became the smuggler we met in 1977's Star Wars, reports Tech Times. Ford joked that he could still take on the role of Han if he was portrayed as being in his mid-to-late 20s. Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy previously said that the movie will identify an event in Han's life that will shed light on who he is and how he ended up as the character fans know and love. – The National Staff
