The career of Robert Downey Jr: Early roles, superhero blockbusters, an Oscar win and more

CJ Sansom, author of the best-selling historical Shardlake novels, which have been adapted for TV by Disney+, has died aged 71. He passed away on April 27 after being diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2012. 

Jamie Lang International Emmy-winning French animation producer-distributor Dandelooo has closed a deal with Korea’s Dream Factory Studio for the latter’s new CG preschool series “PongPong Dino.” Targeted at 2-4-year-olds, “PongPong Dino” is a new IP produced by Dream Factory and directed by animator Tacken Chae. In the show, the audience is invited to a world where playing with your food is an important part of each meal.

several sexual assault allegations.“Yesterday I got baptized and it was an incredible, profound experience,” Brand said in an Instagram video shared Monday.“Many of you will have had your own experiences of baptism and will therefore know what I’m talking about. Many aspects of it were very intimate and personal.”“The truth is this, as a person that has in the past taken many, many substances and always been disappointed with their inability to deliver the kind of tranquility and peace and even transcendence I always felt I’ve been looking for, something occurred in the process of baptism that was incredible, overwhelming — literally overwhelming because I was obviously underwater, and it was the River Thames — at some points.

admits he’s no saint when it comes to his 35-year marriage, said life was “pretty good” for him when Bon Jovi skyrocketed to global stardom.“I got away with murder,” the “Livin’ on a Prayer” hitmaker told Michael Strahan in the “Halfway There” ABC interview special. “I’m a rock and roll star, I’m not a saint.

Justin Timberlake has officially kicked off his Forget Tomorrow World Tour and the setlist is filled with so many incredible hit songs.

Rachel Bilson has had some famous boyfriends over the years and we’re taking a look back at her dating history.

the brand announced that it would be relaunching today (April 30) with an online store containing 20,000 vinyl, merchandise and a range of hi-fi and audio equipment.To celebrate the launch, Our Price have shared more details about their plans to return, as well as what music lovers can expect to see in the coming months.“Sadly, like many institutions, Our Price faced the winds of change, and the unstoppable force of online retailing,” it began. “Yet, in a lucky turn of events and out of the ashes of nostalgia, entrepreneur, musician, writer and dreamer Paul Harris, along with two DJ friends, acquired the Our Price domain at an online auction.

The Sheffield DocFest will open with Academy Award-winning director Kevin Macdonald’s latest doc Klitschko: More Than a Fight, while Roger Ross Williams, the first African American director to win an Academy Award, is Guest of Honor.

Jerry Seinfeld has shared his thoughts on what’s caused the current state of TV sitcoms – see what he had to say below.In an interview with The New Yorker published on April 28, Seinfeld spoke about the current state of comedy – both onscreen and offscreen. According to the actor, writer and comedian, the state of comedy is currently fairing much better onstage and that comedy written for TV suffers from “P.C. [politically correct] crap”.Seinfeld said to The New Yorker when asked how the current state of the world and politics affect comedy: “Nothing really affects comedy.

Dissolution, Winter In Madrid and other best-selling novels, has died.His publisher confirmed that he had passed away aged 71, following a diagnosis of multiple myeloma in 2012.This comes just before the release of Shardlake, which is the upcoming television adaptation of Dissolution, Sansom’s 2004 historical mystery novel. The series, which stars Sean Bean and Arthur Hughes, will premiere on Disney+ on May 1.

Massive Attack have announced the artists that will be joining them as part of the huge ‘Act 1.5′ show in Bristol this summer.Details of the homecoming gig were first shared in December, when the trip-hop collective confirmed that 2024 would see them perform at an all-day “large-scale climate action accelerator event” – celebrating 25 years of climate activism for the band.The gig will take place on August 25 at Clifton Downs in Bristol, and will mark the first performance that Robert ‘3D’ Del Naja and Grant ‘Daddy G’ Marshall have played on UK soil in five years.In keeping with the environmental theme, the event is also set to be the lowest carbon show of its size ever staged.Now, Massive Attack have announced the full run of artists that will be joining them as special guests for the all-day event. Three-time Grammy winner and political powerhouse Killer Mike will be among those performing on the day, with the event coming as an extension of the Run The Jewels rapper’s biggest solo tour dates across the UK.Mercury Prize-nominated and critically lauded Irish 4-piece Lankum are also confirmed as making an appearance at the event, as well as Sam Morton and a rare performance from the Wild Bunch’s DJ Milo.Tickets are on sale now, and you can visit here to find any remaining.A post shared by Massive Attack (@massiveattackofficial)“We’re chuffed to play our home city again and to be able do it in the right way,” Massive Attack’s Del Naja, AKA 3D, said in a statement last December.“In terms of climate change action there are no excuses left; offsetting, endless seminars and diluted declarations have all been found out – so live music must drastically reduce all primary emissions and take account of fan travel.

Kaiser Chiefs drummer and songwriter Nick Hodgson has spoken to NME about his new band Everyone Says Hi, his songwriting work with the likes of Dua Lipa and how he discovered the lost chord.Hodgson’s new band, which shares its name with a 2002 David Bowie song, consists of an array of indie rock luminaries including Pete Denton formerly The Kooks, Ben Gordon from The Dead 60s and Glenn Moule of Howling Bells, alongside Leeds guitarist Tom Dawson.Having signed to Chrysalis, their debut single ‘Brain Freeze’ – a psychedelic lounge rock hinting at recent Arctic Monkeys and Tame Impala influences and featuring a sax solo from The Zutons’ Abi Harding – is out now.Speaking to NME, Hodgson explained how the lyrics – co-written with Justin Parker (who also co-wrote ‘Video Games’ by Lana Del Rey and ‘Stay’ by Rihanna) – are about going on a recovery mission to Ibiza after “not a relationship so much, just arguments, division, conflict – disagreements that occupy your life sometimes”.“I love Ibiza as well, so it sounds like I’m dreaming of going to Ibiza and living there,” said said. “I’ve always dreamt of escaping in a camper van and I did go away on my own in a camper van.

System Of A Down frontman Serj Tankian has announced a new solo EP, ‘Foundations’ – find out more below.Yesterday (April 29), Tankian took to social media to announce the EP, which is due for release sometime in the fall via Gibson Records, though a firm release date has yet to be announced. However, the track’s first single, ‘A.F. Day’, is due much sooner on May 17 alongside an accompanying music video.Tankian also shared a snippet of ‘A.F.

Starfield is getting a story DLC, Shattered Space, this autumn and a new, free update that will be announced in the next few days, according to Todd Howard.In an interview with Kinda Funny Games, with transcriptions from VGC, Bethesda director Todd Howard confirmed “Shattered Space is in the fall, but we have a big update that’s coming really soon for Starfield.”Shattered Space was announced last year, back in June, and comes included with the proce of Starfield‘s premium editions. Players who bought those should be able to download the DLC when it launches at no extra cost, while players who only have the base game or Game Pass version will be required to pay up.“There’s a lot of stuff… we redid the map stuff, so we have some city map stuff,” said Howard.

EXCLUSIVE: Here’s a hot one. Following their collaboration on hit horror Talk To Me, A24 and filmmakers Danny and Michael Philippou are re-teaming on original horror movie Bring Her Back, we can reveal.

EXCLUSIVE: Gilles Bannier, the director of the first seasons of hit series Blue Lights and Trigger Point is opening up a new drama indie, Alef UK. The London-based label will be a subsidiary of Alef One, Nora Melhli’s Paris-based prodco that counts Flight MH370 and doc Carlos Ghosn The Last Flight among its credits.

Outkast have paid tribute to late producer Rico Wade who died earlier this month.Earlier this month, Wade – who had been a longtime collaborator and producer for Outkast – died suddenly and unexpectedly at the age of 52. No cause of death has been revealed at the time of publishing.Last week (April 27), Outkast – the duo of Big Boi and André 3000 – celebrated the 30th anniversary of their debut album, ‘Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik’. In honour of the album, which Wade had numerous writing and production credits on, the duo paid their respects to their late collaborator.According to a Stereogum report, Wade was laid to rest on April 26, which marked the 30th anniversary of ‘Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik’.

SHINee singer Onew has announced his upcoming solo 2024 ‘Guess!’ tour, featuring concerts in Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines and more.SHINee’s Onew and his label Griffin Entertainment announced the K-pop singer’s solo 2024 ‘Guess!’ tour on April 29. The tour will feature 11 concerts across seven countries in Asia from May to July this year.The idol will kick off his tour with a two-date concert in Seoul, South Korean on May 17 and 18.

Jeff Zucker and Gerry Cardinale’s RedBird IMI, the new Abu Dhabi-backed owner of All3Media, has pulled out of its deal to buy the UK’s Daily Telegraph following press freedom concerns.

Leo Barraclough International Features Editor Global Screen, the Munich-based international sales outfit, has boarded worldwide sales on “The Trek,” the upcoming first feature from leading South African cinematographer and director Meekaaeel Adam. The film is a horror-Western, in which starvation, suspicion and madness plague a family as they cross the Kalahari Desert under the eyes of primeval spirits.

Multiple Oscar and Grammy winner Billie Eilish has announced an 81-date world tour which is due to kick off in Canada later this year. Billed “Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour,” it will be in support of her upcoming album which drops on May 17. Tickets for the tour, which is currently set to run from September 29-July 27, 2025, go on sale Friday.

EXCLUSIVE: James Corden and SiriusXM boss Scott Greenstein will take to the stage at The Podcast Show in London next month.

Arnaud Lagardère, head of Vivendi-owned French publishing and travel retail giant Lagardère Group, has been forced to resign as CEO of the company following his indictment related to accusations of embezzlement.

Freely Launches In UK

Prince Harry is heading to London on May 8 for the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games – and royal watchers are wondering if his family will welcome him with open arms. The Duke of Sussex, who lives in California, is commemorating the games for wounded armed forces members, both serving and veterans. "There will be no senior members of the royal family to support Prince Harry," Kinsey Schofield, host of the "To Di For Daily" podcast, told Fox News Digital.

Naman Ramachandran Freely, the new free streaming service backed by Britain’s public service broadcasters (PSBs) that delivers live TV over broadband, has launched. The initiative is from Everyone TV, the organization which runs free TV in the U.K. and is jointly owned by the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Paramount Global’s Channel 5.

Naman Ramachandran “Joyguru,” a fictionalized account of the life of Indian mystic artist and music icon Parvathy Baul, will launch sales at the upcoming Cannes Film Market. Parvathy Baul is a leading exponent of the syncretic Baul minstrel music tradition that is hugely popular and culturally influential across eastern India and Bangladesh. Written and directed by actor-turned-filmmaker Soumyajit Majumdar (“#Homecoming”), the film will follow folk music icon Radhika Das Baul and popular Bollywood film music director Ritwik during their unlikely collaboration for a pioneering music album of Baul songs transcreated in Hindi, where they form a unique bond, a few days before her sudden and mysterious disappearance from her ashram near Shantiniketan, India.

Leo Barraclough International Features Editor Italian period drama “My Place Is Here” is being released in Italy by Adler Ent. on May 9, and is being sold at Cannes by Beta Cinema. Variety speaks to the film’s directors, Daniela Porto and Cristiano Bortone, and debuts its trailer (below).

Leo Barraclough International Features Editor Berlin-based sales agency Picture Tree Intl. has acquired the supernatural crime thriller “The Osha Rule,” and will start seeking distribution partner at the Cannes Film Market. The film will start principal photography in August 2024.

Stranger Things season four aired between May and July 2022, but fans will be waiting a while for more episodes as filming only recently began on season five.

Martin Freeman is speaking out to defend his movie Miller’s Girl amid backlash for the age gap between him and on-screen love interest Jenna Ortega.

Rachel McAdams is currently on Broadway for the first time and her run is coincidentally happening at the same time as the premiere of The Notebook‘s musical adaptation.

Desperate relatives of a Kelloholm granny tried to save her from being mauled by her dog in her garden.

John Higgins admits his emotions got the better of him after pulling off one of the all-time great World Snooker Championship Houdini acts against Mark Allen.

A driver who lost control of his car at roadworks caused a head-on crash in which he and another motorist were badly injured.

There was double success for the region at this year’s Scottish Veterans Awards.