Top Entertainment Headlines

Tuesday, June 16

Good afternoon Wypierdalaj,

Below are the latest entertainment news stories.

Sean Penn will direct a movie about a police officer who was at the Jan. 6 Capitol riot in 2021, Warner Bros. announced Tuesday.

Following his Oscar-winning performance in “One Battle After Another,” Penn will direct the as-yet untitled film from his own script. Bradley Cooper is in talks to star, though no deal has been finalized.

Representatives for Penn and Warner Bros. didn’t comment Tuesday on the movie’s protagonist but said he’s based on a real person.

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Raspy-voiced pop singer Bonnie Tyler has emerged from a month-long coma but continues to be “very unwell” and in intensive care at a hospital in Portugal, her family said in a statement Tuesday.

Tyler, best known for belting out the 1980’s power ballad “Total Eclipse of the Heart,” had been placed in a medically-induced coma last month after undergoing emergency surgery to treat a perforated intestine.

“Although her condition is improving it is a slow process,” Tyler’s family said in a statement. “Her doctors remain confident that she will make a good recovery but it is going to take time.”

Best Asian pop and Latin song are among the five new categories being added to the Grammys next year, alongside updated eligibility criteria for the best new artist and best album categories.

The best Asian pop performance category will recognize “artistic excellence” in performances originating from or widely recognized within Asian markets, the Recording Academy said. That includes K-pop, J-pop and C-pop songs featuring meaningful use of one or more Asian languages.

The additional categories announced by the Recording Academy on Tuesday also include best R&B collaboration or duo/group performance, best traditional folk album and best traditional pop vocal performance.

A lightsaber with Luke Skywalker’s severed hand from “The Empire Strikes Back” that is expected to sell for seven figures headlines an upcoming auction of valuables from movies, music and other corners of pop culture.

The Hollywood & Entertainment Signature Auction presented by Heritage Auctions announced Tuesday and held July 13-17 also includes hats from “The Wizard of Oz” and “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” hoverboards from “Back to the Future II,” rugs from “The Big Lebowski” and a pair of Rocky’s boxing boots.

A major Beatles artifact will also be up for sale: John Lennon’s handwritten lyrics for “If I Fell,” written on the back of a Valentine card while he was in New York for the Fab Four’s first appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show” in 1964. The bidding for it will open at $500,000.

McDonald’s is frying up some apple pies to honor America’s 250th birthday.

The company said Tuesday it’s bringing back fried apple pies for the first time in more than three decades. They’ll be available at most U.S. restaurants for a limited time starting June 23.

McDonald’s is one of several fast food companies offering semiquincentennial treats. Burger King recently debuted its Firecracker Cookie Pie, which has a sugar cookie crust and red, white and blue star-shaped sprinkles. Sonic is offering a red, white and blue slush float for $2.50. Hardee’s has an iced Star-Spangled Biscuit with red and blue sprinkles.