James Bond will return ... within three years, says MGM

Plus: Katy Perry and John Mayer split; Paulina Rubio leads The Voice kids; Affleck may direct Bunker Hill film; HBO ending Enlightened.

Daniel Craig has been signed on to star in two more James Bond movies. Photo by Francois Duhamel

The movie studio MGM said on Tuesday it expects to release the next James Bond movie within three years, and hopes to soon announce a new director now that Sam Mendes has moved on. MGM's chairman Barber said the studio was developing the screenplay for the 24th movie in the 50-year-old franchise about the British secret agent. "We are hoping within the next three years it will be released," he said. He gave no details about the casting but Daniel Craig has already signed on for the lead role in two more films. Mendes announced earlier this month that he wanted to focus on his theatre projects in the foreseeable future. Barber said Mendes "did an amazing job on Skyfall. We are very thankful for the work that he did". – Reuters

Katy Perry and John Mayer split – again

Katy Perry and John Mayer have broken up for the second time, sources confirmed to Us Weekly. The pair began dating in June last year, then split up in August before reconciling a month later. Perry has been busy recording her third studio album in Los Angeles, while Mayer – who is still recovering from recent throat surgery – is preparing for a forthcoming concert tour. Perry finalised her divorce from Russell Brand in February last year. – IANS

Paulina Rubio leads The Voice for kids

A children's version of The Voice is arriving in the US, with the Mexican pop star Paulina Rubio as one of the coaches. Telemundo Media named Rubio on Monday as the first of three music coaches on the network's Spanish singing competition, La Voz Kids, scheduled to premiere this year. The new spin-off of the hit reality show will feature 7- to 14-year-old contestants. The winner will receive a recording contract with Universal Music and a scholarship. Rubio was previously a judge for Mexico's edition of The Voice. – AP

Affleck may direct Bunker Hill film

Warner Bros has bought the rights to Bunker Hill: A City, A Siege, A Revolution, a new book by Nathaniel Philbrick, as a possible next directorial gig for the recent Oscar-winner Ben Affleck, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Argo's screenwriter Chris Terrio has already signed on to write Bunker Hill's script. The story focuses on the Battle of Bunker Hill, which took place in 1775 during the Siege of Boston early in the American Revolutionary War. Affleck recently announced that he is working on a film adaptation of Dennis Lehane's Live by Night, which he will direct, produce and star in. – IANS

HBO is ending Enlightened

HBO says the Laura Dern series Enlightened won't return for a third season. In a statement, the network said it was proud of the show, and called cancelling it a "very difficult decision". Enlightened, created by Dern and her co-star Mike White, was critically acclaimed but low-rated. Last year, Dern won a Golden Globe for Best TV Comedy Actress for her role as a manic-depressive who becomes an activist. The show also starred Diane Ladd and Luke Wilson. – AP