UPI NewsTrack Entertainment News
Published: March 19, 2008 at 2:00 PM
Author Arthur C. Clarke dead at 90
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, March 19 (UPI) -- Famed British science-fiction author Arthur C. Clarke has died in Sri Lanka, a message posted on the Arthur C. Clarke Foundation's Web site disclosed.
Clarke was 90 when he died in Sri Lanka, his adopted home of more than 50 years, according to a biography on the foundation's Web site.
Best known for writing the sci-fi classic "2001: A Space Odyssey," Clarke also penned dozens of other works of fiction, as well as numerous scientific books and papers.
Born in Minehead in Somerset, England, Clarke had a lifelong interest in space and science.
He served in the Royal Air Force during World War II and afterward earned degrees in physics and mathematics at King's College in London.
The writer and scientist was knighted by the Queen of England in 1998 for all of his contributions.
Minghella's film debuts the day he died
LONDON, March 19 (UPI) -- The London premiere of Anthony Minghella's adaptation of "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" books went on as planned despite Minghella's sudden death.
The "Cold Mountain" and "The English Patient" filmmaker died Tuesday morning of a hemorrhage, days after undergoing surgery for cancer of the tonsils and neck. He was 54.
Minghella co-wrote and directed a film version of Alexander McCall Smith's Botswana-set "Detective Agency" novels, which is to air on HBO and the BBC, and serve as a pilot for a TV series.
The movie, which stars singer and actress Jill Scott, premiered Tuesday night as scheduled with the blessing of Minghella's family, the BBC said.
"It was a bittersweet occasion last night," Smith told BBC News Wednesday. "It was very, very moving and made all the more moving by the sad circumstances -- but what a beautiful film he's made. The remarkable thing is that Minghella didn't really have great experience of Africa before he did this. He went there and he understood, he really understood."
Report: Ledger family fighting over estate
PERTH, Australia, March 19 (UPI) -- Heath Ledger's uncles claim the father of the late Australian film star has a history of mishandling estates and shouldn't be in charge of the actor's money.
When Ledger died in January at the age of 28, he left everything he had to his parents and sisters in a will written before he fathered his 2-year-old daughter Matilda with ex-partner Michelle Williams.
However, his father Kim's brothers are now criticizing Kim for handling their grandfather's estate so badly 15 years ago he was removed as executor.
"It plunged into enormous debt," Mike Ledger told People magazine. "Our only vested interest is to assure that Matilda is well looked after."
Although Kim Ledger recently vowed to see to it that Matilda "will be taken care of," his brother Mike said, "When you are talking about large sums of money like this, it should be an independent executor, but Kim hasn't chosen that way."
Kim Ledger's brother Hayden told the magazine Williams' father asked him if Kim Ledger was capable of managing Heath Ledger's estate.
"I just said, 'No, not if he handles it like ours,'" Hayden said.
Yoda, Anakin to appear in new cartoons
LOS ANGELES, March 19 (UPI) -- Hollywood filmmaker George Lucas said his new "Clone Wars" animated movie and TV series will feature familiar "Star Wars" characters like Yoda and Anakin.
Lucas told Entertainment Weekly he also is planning a live-action TV series that would be set in the "Star Wars" universe, but feature a new cast of characters.
Asked where the live-action series would fit into the "Star Wars" narrative, Lucas told the magazine, "It's completely separate.
"('Clone Wars') has all of the characters that everybody knows -- everybody from Yoda to Anakin to Mace Windu to Obi-Wan -- everybody's there," he explained. "The live-action has nobody there, because it's after 'Episode III,' so everybody's dead, basically, or hiding somewhere. You hear about the Emperor, just like you do in 'Episode IV,' but it's mostly about a whole different world. I mean, there are a million stories in the big city -- you've only seen one of them."
The animated "Clone Wars" film is scheduled to open in North American theaters Aug. 15, while the "Clone Wars" series of 30-minute cartoon "mini-movies" is slated to premiere on Cartoon Network this fall, with episodes of the animated show to be rerun on TNT.
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, March 19 (UPI) -- Famed British science-fiction author Arthur C. Clarke has died in Sri Lanka, a message posted on the Arthur C. Clarke Foundation's Web site disclosed.
Clarke was 90 when he died in Sri Lanka, his adopted home of more than 50 years, according to a biography on the foundation's Web site.
Best known for writing the sci-fi classic "2001: A Space Odyssey," Clarke also penned dozens of other works of fiction, as well as numerous scientific books and papers.
Born in Minehead in Somerset, England, Clarke had a lifelong interest in space and science.
He served in the Royal Air Force during World War II and afterward earned degrees in physics and mathematics at King's College in London.
The writer and scientist was knighted by the Queen of England in 1998 for all of his contributions.
Minghella's film debuts the day he died
LONDON, March 19 (UPI) -- The London premiere of Anthony Minghella's adaptation of "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" books went on as planned despite Minghella's sudden death.
The "Cold Mountain" and "The English Patient" filmmaker died Tuesday morning of a hemorrhage, days after undergoing surgery for cancer of the tonsils and neck. He was 54.
Minghella co-wrote and directed a film version of Alexander McCall Smith's Botswana-set "Detective Agency" novels, which is to air on HBO and the BBC, and serve as a pilot for a TV series.
The movie, which stars singer and actress Jill Scott, premiered Tuesday night as scheduled with the blessing of Minghella's family, the BBC said.
"It was a bittersweet occasion last night," Smith told BBC News Wednesday. "It was very, very moving and made all the more moving by the sad circumstances -- but what a beautiful film he's made. The remarkable thing is that Minghella didn't really have great experience of Africa before he did this. He went there and he understood, he really understood."
Report: Ledger family fighting over estate
PERTH, Australia, March 19 (UPI) -- Heath Ledger's uncles claim the father of the late Australian film star has a history of mishandling estates and shouldn't be in charge of the actor's money.
When Ledger died in January at the age of 28, he left everything he had to his parents and sisters in a will written before he fathered his 2-year-old daughter Matilda with ex-partner Michelle Williams.
However, his father Kim's brothers are now criticizing Kim for handling their grandfather's estate so badly 15 years ago he was removed as executor.
"It plunged into enormous debt," Mike Ledger told People magazine. "Our only vested interest is to assure that Matilda is well looked after."
Although Kim Ledger recently vowed to see to it that Matilda "will be taken care of," his brother Mike said, "When you are talking about large sums of money like this, it should be an independent executor, but Kim hasn't chosen that way."
Kim Ledger's brother Hayden told the magazine Williams' father asked him if Kim Ledger was capable of managing Heath Ledger's estate.
"I just said, 'No, not if he handles it like ours,'" Hayden said.
Yoda, Anakin to appear in new cartoons
LOS ANGELES, March 19 (UPI) -- Hollywood filmmaker George Lucas said his new "Clone Wars" animated movie and TV series will feature familiar "Star Wars" characters like Yoda and Anakin.
Lucas told Entertainment Weekly he also is planning a live-action TV series that would be set in the "Star Wars" universe, but feature a new cast of characters.
Asked where the live-action series would fit into the "Star Wars" narrative, Lucas told the magazine, "It's completely separate.
"('Clone Wars') has all of the characters that everybody knows -- everybody from Yoda to Anakin to Mace Windu to Obi-Wan -- everybody's there," he explained. "The live-action has nobody there, because it's after 'Episode III,' so everybody's dead, basically, or hiding somewhere. You hear about the Emperor, just like you do in 'Episode IV,' but it's mostly about a whole different world. I mean, there are a million stories in the big city -- you've only seen one of them."
The animated "Clone Wars" film is scheduled to open in North American theaters Aug. 15, while the "Clone Wars" series of 30-minute cartoon "mini-movies" is slated to premiere on Cartoon Network this fall, with episodes of the animated show to be rerun on TNT.
© 2008 United Press International. All Rights Reserved.
This material may not be reproduced, redistributed, or manipulated in any form.
This material may not be reproduced, redistributed, or manipulated in any form.
» Next in Entertainment:
CBS to air 'Secret Talents of the Stars'
Model Petra Nemcova arrives on the red carpet before a screening of the film "Un Conte de Noel (A Christmas Tale)" during the 61st Annual Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France on May 16, 2008. (UPI Photo/David Silpa)
61st Annual Cannes Film Festival
Full Photo
| Slideshow
Latest Headlines
- GM reaches pact with union in Delta strike
- Calif. wine pioneer Mondavi dies
- Stroke outcome helped by clot-busting drug
- Study casts doubt on high-salt diet risk
- Huckabee jokes about Obama gunman
- Flights at N.Y.-area airports to be capped
- Strike closes five Norwegian airports
- Senator: McCain's military roots limit him
Most Popular