U2 guitarist The Edge rocks Sistine Chapel

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The Edge, lead guitarist with the Irish band U2, has become the first rock star to play in the Sistine Chapel, a venue he described as "the most beautiful parish hall in the world". The performer, whose real name is David Evans, sang four songs for about 200 doctors, researchers and philanthropists who attended a conference in Vatican City on regenerative medicine called Cellular Horizons. Backed by a choir of seven Irish teenagers, and wearing his trademark black beanie cap, he played acoustic guitar and sang a cover of Leonard Cohen's If It Be Your Will, and versions of U2 songs Yahweh, Ordinary Love and Walk On. The Edge, whose father died last month from cancer and whose daughter overcame leukaemia, is on the board of foundations working for cancer prevention. — Reuters

Filmmaker Coppola cements legacy

Veteran filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola left a permanent mark on Hollywood, after his hands and feet were imprinted in cement to be displayed at the landmark TLC Chinese Theatre. The ceremony honoured the 77-year-old Oscar-winning director's 50-year career, highlighted by films such as The Godfather trilogy and Apocalypse Now. It took place during Turner Classic Movies' annual Classic Film Festival in Hollywood, which ended on Sunday and where Coppola's films were played. — Reuters

Civil War has box-office ringing

Disney and Marvel Studios' Captain America: Civil War opened to a massive US$200.2 million (Dh735m) at the foreign box-office, one of the biggest starts of all time and nearly matching the launch of Avengers: Age of Ultron. And in some individual markets, Civil War came in ahead of Ultron, while it scored the biggest debut of all time for any film, including Mexico, Brazil and the Philippines, according to Hollywood Reporter. The new film sees the Avengers fractured into opposing factions when the government wants to intervene and control the superheroes. One faction is led by Captain America and the other by Iron Man. The movie opens this weekend in UAE cinemas. — The National

The Flash’s director leaves project

Seth Grahame-Smith, who was supposed to direct the upcoming superhero film The Flash, has left the Warner Bros project due to "creative differences". Grahame-Smith, the author and screenwriter of Pride and Prejudice, Zombies and Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, was making his directorial debut with the upcoming film. The project will still use Grahame-Smith's script, which was written off an earlier treatment by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, reports hollywoodreporter.com. Grahame-Smith had signed the directing deal in October. The Flash, starring Ezra Miller in the title role, is slated to release on March 3, 2018. — The National

Ram Gopal Varma to make film on crime lord

Indian filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma is making a film titled Rai, which is based on the life of former underworld don Muthappa Rai. "Rai mega launch. First look of the film I am making based on the life of underworld don Muthappa Rai ... The greatest gangster ever," Varma tweeted on Sunday. The director of Satya, who currently awaits the release of his forthcoming film Veerappan, also shared information about the budget of Rai and mentioned that it would be his "most expensive film ever". He said the movie will be filmed in Mangalore, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Dubai, London and Kazakhstan. — IANS

Comedian Amy Schumer faces off with fan

Amy Schumer says she will still take photos with "nice" fans after a scare in South Carolina earlier this week. As Schumer, 34, explained in a Saturday Instagram post, a man (pictured in the post) had "just run up" to her on the street in Greenville and scared her, according to people.com. "Put a camera in my face. I asked him to stop and he said, 'No, it's America, and we paid for you'," Schumer wrote in her caption, adding that the man was with his daughter. "I was saying stop and no. Great message to your kid. Yes, legally you are allowed to take a picture of me. But I was asking you to stop and saying no," Schumer wrote. "I will not take [pictures] with people anymore and it's because of this dude in Greenville," although she later relented. — The National