John documentary lands at Disney
Elton John is preparing to say goodbye in fabulous splendor, with the help of a documentary crew and the Walt Disney Co.
Disney Original Documentary and Disney+ said recently that the film, entitled “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road: The Final Elton John Performances and the Years that Made His Legend,” will serve as the definitive and official feature on John’s life and career. Including unseen archival footage, new interviews and a present day look at him and his family, it’ll culminate with his final North American show at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles in November.
Oscar-nominated filmmaker R.J. Cutler is directing the film alongside producer and director David Furnish, who is married to John. No release date was revealed for “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,” but the companies teased a festival run and a theatrical release before it streams on Disney+.
Speaking of documentaries, Lizzo’s getting one too:
Lizzo is getting the documentary treatment at HBO Max in an untitled project that “shares the inspirational story behind her humble beginnings to her meteoric rise with an intimate look into the moments that shaped her hard-earned rise to fame, success, love and international stardom,” the streaming service recently announced.
The flute-playing singer, 34, released two albums before her breakout 2019 record “Cuz I Love You,” which earned her eight Grammy nominations at the 2020 ceremony; she won three.
“Growing up I never dreamed I’d get to experience all of the things
I’ve accomplished in my life, and I’m just getting
started. I’m so excited I get to share and relive my journey with my fans and HBO Max,” Lizzo said in a statement.
Cole to play basketball in Canada:
Rapper J. Cole will play another season of pro basketball, this time in Canada. The Canadian Elite Basketball League tweeted Thursday that the Grammy-winning rapper, 37, will join the Scarborough Shooting Stars in the season starting May 25 as a guard. Cole, whose full name is Jermaine Cole, played with the Rwanda Patriots in the Basketball Africa League in 2021.
Daughter of von Trapps dies:
Rosmarie Trapp, whose Austrian family the von Trapps was made famous in the musical and movie “The Sound of Music,” has died. She died May 13 at age 93 at a nursing home in Morrisville, Vermont, Trapp Family Lodge announced.
Rosmarie was the first daughter of Austrian naval Capt. Georg von Trapp and Maria von Trapp, and a younger half-sibling to the older von Trapp children portrayed onstage and in the movie. When
she became a U.S. citizen in 1951, she signed her name as Rosmarie Trapp, leaving out von, according to the lodge.
Actor Schulenburg dies: Marnie Schulenburg, best known as Alison Stewart on “As The World Turns,” died May 17 at age 37. Schulenburg died from breast cancer at a New Jersey hospital, Deadline reported. Schulenburg was diagnosed in May 2020.
She joined “As The World Turns” in 2007 and appeared through the soap’s final episode in 2010. Later, she starred in a reboot of “One Life to Live” in 2013. The actor also appeared on several prime-time shows, including “Fringe,” “Blue Bloods,” “Royal Pains” and “Elementary.”
May 23 birthdays: Actor Barbara Barrie is 91. Actor Joan Collins is 89. Actor Lauren Chapin is 77. Comedian Drew Carey is 64. Actor Lea DeLaria is 64. Actor Melissa McBride is 57. Musician Phil Selway is 55. Singer Maxwell is 49. Singer Jewel is 48. Comedian Tim Robinson is 41. Director Ryan Coogler is 36.