CELEBRITIES
Mirren, Ford join ‘Yellowstone’ spinoff
Helen Mirren and Harrison Ford will bring their combined star power to the newest addition to the “Yellowstone” TV franchise.
The pair will headline a Paramount+ series with the working title “1932,” which joins “1883” as part of what the streaming service called the “origin story” of its “Yellowstone” drama series.
The latest chapter in the Dutton family saga will be set in an early 20th-century Mountain West beset by drought and the Great Depression, among other ills, Paramount+ said. It will debut in December.
Writer-producer Taylor Sheridan is the creative force behind the hit franchise, which began with the contemporary drama “Yellowstone,” led by Kevin Costner. The “1883” prequel stars Faith Hill and Tim McGraw.
Wallace show moves to CNN: Chris Wallace will host a Sunday night interview show for CNN starting this fall, the network said Wednesday in announcing a new home for the best-known personality from the shuttered CNN+ streaming service. “Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace,” which will also stream on HBO Max, was the program he was doing for CNN+ before new owners Warner Bros. Discovery shut the service down after only a month.
Actor Eva Longoria, who had also signed up for the streaming service, will do a series for CNN where she travels in Mexico to sample the cuisine and culture. “Eva Longoria: Searching for Mexico” is by the same production team that makes “Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy.”
Brady set for Netflix roast: Netflix announced Tuesday that seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady will be featured first in a series of upcoming specials called “Greatest Roasts of All Time: GROAT.” Brady is the executive producer of the series, with his roast set to tape in 2023. “To quote my good friend, Marshawn Lynch … ‘I’m just here so I won’t get fined,’ ” Brady said in a news release, which refers to him as “Gisele Bundchen’s husband” and a “sixthround NFL draft pick.”
Baron Cohen drops lawsuit over billboard: Actor Sacha Baron Cohen has dropped his lawsuit against a Massachusetts cannabis dispensary that used an image of his character Borat on a billboard without his permission.
A document filed in Boston federal court on Tuesday said the two sides have agreed to dismiss the case brought last year by the “Borat” star. The legal filing did not mention any settlement in the case.
Clapton tests positive for COVID-19: Eric Clapton, a critic of coronavirus vaccines and pandemic restrictions, has tested positive for COVID-19 and canceled two European gigs. Clapton’s shows in Zurich on Tuesday and Milan on Wednesday will be rescheduled, he announced on his Facebook page and official online site. The rocker, 77, tested positive following his May 8 show in London.
“Eric is also anxious to avoid passing on any infection to any of his band, crew, promoters, their staff and of course, the fans,” the statement reads. He hopes to resume the tour starting in Bologna on Friday.
May 19 birthdays: Journalist David Hartman is 87. Actor Nancy Kwan is 83. Musician Pete Townshend is 77. Model Grace Jones is 74. Actor Jason Gray-Stanford is 52. TV personality Kim Zolciak Biermann is 44. Singer Shooter Jennings is 43. Comedian Michael Che is 39. Actor Eric Lloyd is 36. Singer Sam Smith is 30.