McCartney, Sony reach rights deal
Paul McCartney and Sony have a reached a deal over who owns publishing rights to The Beatles’ songs, The Hollywood Reporter says. McCartney sought to regain the rights to 267 of the band’s classic tracks. He has been trying to get them back since the 1980s, when Michael Jackson famously out-bid him for the rights. Jackson’s debt-ridden estate sold the songs to Sony last year, along with others including the Ebb/Kander song New York, New York. “The parties have resolved this matter by entering into a confidential settlement agreement,” McCartney’s lawyer said.
Kim, Park depart Five-0
Daniel Dae Kim says his decision to leave Hawaii Five-0 stemmed from a contract dispute. The actor says on Facebook he and CBS were unable to agree on contract terms, so he made the “difficult choice” to exit the series. Kim, who played Chin Ho Kelly on the crime drama reboot, says the “path to equality is rarely easy,” without elaborating. He was unavailable for comment, a spokeswoman said. The departures from the show of Kim and Grace Park, who played Kono Kalakaua, were reported last week. Both had been with the show since it debuted in 2010. “Daniel and Grace have been important and valued members of Hawaii Five-0 for seven seasons,” CBS said Wednesday. “We did not want to lose them and tried very hard to keep them with offers for large and significant salary increases.”
Rights group protests Blind role
A disability rights group has criticized casting Alec Baldwin in the upcoming movie Blind. The actor, 59, stars in the drama as a novelist who loses his sight in a car crash that kills his wife. The Ruderman Family Foundation, which speaks out on behalf of disabled people, is angry that an able-sighted star has been hired to portray a blind person in the movie. “Alec Baldwin in Blind is just the latest example of treating disability as a costume,” said foundation president Jay Ruderman. “We no longer find it acceptable for white actors to portray black characters. Disability as a costume needs to also become universally unacceptable.”
Hometown salutes comic
Philadelphia is unveiling a giant mural of Kevin Hart near his childhood home. The city dubbed July 6 — his 38th birthday — “Kevin Hart Day.” The mural is displayed on the building that houses Max’s Steaks. The comedian wrote on Instagram that he was “blown away” by the announcement. Forbes recently named him the highest-paid comedian, taking in nearly $90 million from June 2015 to June 2016.