Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens will be released on DVD, Blu-ray and digital at the start of next month. The digital version of the record-breaking seventh film in the Star Wars saga, which was partly filmed in Abu Dhabi, will be available to stream on April 1, with the DVD and Blu-ray on sale on April 5. While J J Abrams has ruled out an extended director's cut, there will be plenty of other special features, including at least seven deleted scenes; footage from the first table-read of the script; an inside look at how some of the characters – including new droid BB-8 – were created; and how John Williams scored the movie. The Force Awakens has made more than US$2billion (Dh7.4bn) at the box office, and fans are already looking forward to the next films in the series. Rogue One – a stand-alone movie set before the original 1977 Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, which tells the story of the rebel mission to steal the plans for the original Death Star – will be released on December 16. Star Wars: Episode VIII is due out in December next year. A second stand-alone film, about the early life of Han Solo, is due in May 2018, with Episode IX expected the following year. – The National staff
Lena Dunham in hospital with ruptured cyst
Girls creator and star Lena Dunham was hospitalised during the weekend and will undergo surgery after an ovarian cyst ruptured. "Lena Dunham has been very public with her personal bouts with endometriosis," a representative for the writer and actor said. "Lena will be undergoing surgery at an undisclosed hospital." Endometriosis is a painful condition in which tissue that normally lines the inside of a woman's uterus instead grows on the outside. Ovarian cysts are a common complication. Dunham said in a recent Facebook post that she would not be doing interviews to promote the fifth season of Girls due to health reasons. "As many of you know I have endometriosis, a chronic condition that affects approximately one in 10 women's reproductive health," she wrote. "I am currently going through a rough patch with the illness and my body (along with my amazing doctors) let me know, in no uncertain terms, that it's time to rest." Dunham created, writes and stars in Girls, an award-winning HBO comedy-drama that tracks the adventures and misadventures of a group of 20-something female friends in New York's Brooklyn. – AFP
The big winners at the Zee Cine Awards
Some of Bollywood's biggest names turned out for the annual Zee Cine Awards at the weekend, including Ranveer Singh, Sonakshi Sinha, Kriti Sanon, Akshay Kumar, Salman Khan and Sonam Kapoor. The awards show, which debuted in 2004, recognises the very best in the Indian film industry. In the Bollywood category, Best Actor went to Salman Khan for Bajrangi Bhaijaan, which also won Best Film. Deepika Padukone won Best Actress for her role in Bajirao Mastani. In the best supporting roles, the awards went to Shweta Triphati and Sanjay Mishra, both for Masaan. Prem Ratan Dhan Payo was named Song of the Year. Stunt choreographer Veeru Devgn, who has worked on more than 80 Hindi films, received the Lifetime Achievement Award. – The National staff
Harper Lee’s friend writing her memoir
A longtime friend of Harper Lee says he is writing a book on the Pulitzer-Prize winning author of the American classic, To Kill a Mockingbird. Wayne Flynt said he expects the book, a mix of memoir and biography, to be finished by the end of the year. Lee died last month at age 89. Flynt, a history professor, says he has known Lee for about 35 years. He eulogised her during a memorial at the First United Methodist Church on February 21. At the time, Flynt said he delivered a eulogy that Lee requested years ago – a tribute Flynt originally gave in 2006 when Lee won the Birmingham Pledge Foundation Award for racial justice. – AP
