Entertainment

Abel Tesfaye has always known he wanted to pursue a career in cinema. He sees his meteoric rise to fame under the moniker The Weeknd as “a little detour” to make that happen. Nearly two years after he made his acting debut with HBO’s “The Idol,” the 35-year-old pop star says his experimental musical film “Hurry Up Tomorrow” “brought the joy back into filmmaking.” Tesfaye sat down alongside co-star Jenna Ortega and director Trey Edward Shults to speak with AP entertainment journalist Krysta Fauria about losing his voice in 2022, leaving The Weeknd behind — and learning from “The Idol.” “Hurry Up Tomorrow” hits theaters May 16.

“Andor” has returned to Disney+. The “Star Wars” series created by Tony Gilroy and starring Diego Luna tells the story of a growing revolutionary resentment against the Galactic Empire and the birth of the Rebel Alliance, leading up to the events of 2016’s “Rogue One.” The AP’s Andrew Dalton sat down with Gilroy, Luna and co-star Adria Arjona to talk about surprising turns in the story, creative freedom and the many layers of rebellion. The second season began this week with the first three episodes.

Ben Affleck says that while California has taken the movie industry “for granted,” he’s still trying to film in Los Angeles as much as possible. Affleck spoke with AP entertainment journalist Krysta Fauria at the premiere of “The Accountant 2" about production shifting away from Hollywood, Kevin Smith’s 1999 film “Dogma” — and his depiction of an autistic assassin in his new action thriller.

Ryan Coogler pushes his go-to lead actor to the next level in “Sinners.” Michael B. Jordan isn’t just starring in Coogler’s genre-bending big screen spectacle with blues music, vampires and Southern lore — he’s playing identical twins. The director and star, joined by co-star Hailee Steinfeld, spoke with AP film writer Lindsey Bahr about creating a unique theatrical experience, Jordan’s “mood swings” playing Smoke and Stack, shooting on film, and how the project brought Steinfeld closer to her family’s history.

Katy Perry says her new sci-fi-inspired world tour is “Disneyland on wheels.” The pop star kicks off her tour Wednesday in Mexico City after a whirlwind few months including releasing an album, campaigning for Vice President Kamala Harris and making a brief trip to space. She sat down with AP entertainment journalist Krysta Fauria at her Southern California rehearsal space to talk about the importance of live music, what fans can expect in the show’s sets and costumes — and her personal growth through the practice of transcendental meditation.

Filmmaker Alex Garland teamed up with former Navy SEAL Ray Mendoza to make a new kind of war film. “Warfare” is based on a real incident in Iraq in 2006 in which a surveillance mission went wrong. Garland and Mendoza reconstructed the day from the memories of those who were there, including Mendoza himself. The two filmmakers and the film’s stars — including Charles Melton, D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Will Poulter and Joseph Quinn — spoke with AP’s Krysta Fauria about taking on such a polarizing topic in film and bonding in the process of making it.

Before she kicks off her upcoming world tour, Katy Perry is reaching for the stars. The pop icon will join Lauren Sanchez, Gayle King and three other women on an all-female spaceflight Monday. Perry sat down with AP entertainment journalist Krysta Fauria to talk about yearning to fly, studying Carl Sagan and string theory and inspiring young women with the crew’s 10-minute spaceflight from West Texas.

“The Last of Us” star Pedro Pascal found his personal circumstances scarily similar to that of his character Joel Miller as he filmed the second season: “I was injured and exhausted and kind of in a low place,” the 50-year-old star says. He sat down alongside co-star Bella Ramsey to talk with AP entertainment journalist Leslie Ambriz about the hit video game-inspired post-apocalyptic series, Ramsey’s delight at being “battered and bruised” from action scenes, the surprising difficulty of taking breaks — and protecting co-stars from online hate.

Will Smith channeled post-Oscars-slap introspection into his first album in two decades, “Based on a True Story,” out Friday. The 56-year-old Hollywood star sat down with AP entertainment journalist Jonathan Landrum Jr. in Los Angeles to talk about the 14-track album and his upcoming tour. He addresses learning from Denzel Washington and Doechii, spirituality, his unique approach to fatherhood, overcoming “brute-iful” life experiences, that 10-year ban from the Academy Awards — and why he’s embarking on “the greatest creative run of my entire career.”

Theo James has wanted to work with writer and director Osgood Perkins — and to make a horror movie — for a long time. With “The Monkey,” he’s killing two birds with one stone. The pair spoke with AP entertainment reporter Krysta Fauria about finally working together, wanting people to see their movies and initially trying to make “The Monkey” with a studio.

“Nosferatu” writer-director Robert Eggers and stars Lily-Rose Depp, Nicholas Hoult and Willem Dafoe sat down with Associated Press entertainment journalist Krysta Fauria to talk about what makes their adaptation of the classic vampire film unique — and how Eggers builds sprawling cinematic worlds.

Adria Arjona’s big year included roles in Richard Linklater’s “Hit Man” opposite Glen Powell, “The Absence of Eden” alongside Zoe Saldaña — and Zoë Kravitz’s directorial debut “Blink Twice.” She’s now celebrating the release of “Los Frikis,” which she also executive produced, and returns next year to the acclaimed Star Wars series “Andor.” After being named one of AP’s Breakthrough Entertainers of 2024, the 32-year-old star sat down with AP entertainment journalist Leslie Ambriz to talk about her journey into film and TV, her mother’s on-set support, and boosting Latin American stories in Hollywood.

How many roads must a man walk down to play Bob Dylan? Quite a few, at least, if you’re Timothée Chalamet. Off and on for some six years, the 28-year-old star has been obsessively working toward his performance in “A Complete Unknown.” Chalamet spoke with AP film writer Jake Coyle about his favorite Dylan songs, traveling to Hibbing, Minn. as part of his research, and what artists like Frank Ocean share in common with the iconic folk rocker.

Aaron Pierre is closing out his big year on a literal high note. After playing Malcolm X in the “Genius: MLK/X” series and starring in the Netflix action hit “Rebel Ridge,” he showcases his vocal talents in “Mufasa: The Lion King.” The the 30-year-old English actor, named an AP Breakthrough Entertainer of 2024, sat down with AP entertainment editor Ryan Pearson to talk about his upbringing in South London, FaceTiming with his mom and “throwing the baseball” with Lin-Manuel Miranda.

“Queer” star Daniel Craig says the secret to filming intimate scenes with co-star Drew Starkey was to keep things light. In an interview with AP entertainment journalist Krysta Fauria, the pair discussed working with an intimacy coordinator, Luca Guadagnino’s directing style — and the legacy of Beat Generation writer and “Queer” author William S. Burroughs.

Country music comes naturally to Ringo Starr. The former Beatle has dabbled in the music ever since singing the country hit “Act Naturally” with the Beatles in 1965, and he’s now about to release a whole country album. Starr says in an interview with The Associated Press’ Andrew Dalton that he’s put a bit of country in most everything he’s done, so the album wasn’t too big a stretch. Starr says the project began when he bumped into his friend, classic country aficionado T-Bone Burnett, and asked him to write a song. Burnett came back with nine. The resulting album, “Look Up,” comes out in January.

Erykah Badu has been a music disruptor, culture shifter and style maven ever since she stepping into the limelight with her 1997 debut album, “Baduizm.” The four-time Grammy winner, who was recently honored with the CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers of America) Icon award, sat down with AP entertainment journalist Gary Gerard Hamilton to talk about her fashion influence, working on new music, her appearance in “The Piano Lesson” —and finally learning to stop and smell the flowers.

Paul Mescal plays the titular gladiator Lucius and Denzel Washington is aspiring emperor Macrinus in Ridley Scott’s Roman epic “Gladiator II.” The two stars sat down with AP entertainment journalist Sian Watson in London to talk about robes, bulking up, their 86-year-old director — and working with friends and family.

Thirty years after the Oscar-winning “Forrest Gump,” Tom Hanks and Robin Wright have joined once again with director Robert Zemeckis for the family drama “Here.” It’s Hanks’ fifth film with Zemeckis and Wright’s fourth. They sat down with AP entertainment editor Ryan Pearson to discuss their previous collaborations: “Gump” (both, 1994), “Cast Away” (Hanks, 2000), “The Polar Express” (Hanks, 2004), “Beowulf” (Wright, 2007), “A Christmas Carol” (Wright, 2009) and “Pinocchio” (Hanks, 2022).

Tim Heidecker is working through his existential dread, in the form of song. Best known for his absurdist comedy, he’s leaned more into songwriting in recent years. He sat down with AP entertainment journalist Krysta Fauria to talk about his latest album “Slipping Away,” which moves between semi-fictional apocalyptic storytelling and poignant, vulnerable reflections on fatherhood, aging and success.

Mikey Madison stars in “Anora” as a Brooklyn exotic dancer who spontaneously marries the son of a Russian oligarch. She sat down with AP entertainment journalist Krysta Fauria to talk about how she landed the role with writer-director Sean Baker, preparing her little brother for a screening, improv — and the challenge of pole dancing.

Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh star in John Crowley’s “We Live In Time,” which tells the story of a relationship over the course of a decade. The two actors sat down with AP film writer Jake Coyle to talk about on-screen chemistry, processing the heavier moments of the film — and that infamous carousel horse meme.

N.T. Rama Rao Jr. is following up the international success of “RRR” with the action-drama “Devara: Part 1,” in which he plays both a mythical hero and a son struggling with his dad’s legacy. Rama Rao says Los Angeles has become his “lucky charm” after last year’s trip to the Oscars — where “Naatu Naatu” won best song — and a subsequent invitation to join the U.S. film academy. The 41-year-old, whose father and grandfather were both prominent actors and political leaders, sat down with AP entertainment editor Ryan Pearson to talk about his own perspective on fatherhood, filming crowd-pleasing underwater scenes, staying “innocent” as an actor — and his love for the Will Smith film “The Pursuit of Happiness.”

RZA’s hoarding habit led to his newest adventure in music: a ballet and surprisingly traditional classical music album he calls “A Ballet Through Mud.” He sat down with AP entertainment editor Ryan Pearson to talk about the nostalgic genesis of the project, the growing bridge between the worlds of classical and hip-hop, and his hopes for what happens next with his composition and ballet.

After releasing 18 albums over more than two decades, Xiu Xiu is still making music for outsiders. With the release of “13'’ Frank Beltrame Italian Stiletto with Bison Horn Grips,” band leader Jamie Stewart spoke with AP entertainment journalist Krysta Fauria about balancing harmony and dissonance, moving to Berlin — and why the band “wouldn’t exist” without David Lynch’s “Twin Peaks” universe.

Usher’s new concert film ‘Usher: Rendezvous in Paris’ is playing in theaters through Sunday. The R&B star sat down with AP entertainment journalist Gary Gerard Hamilton to talk about the significance of his Paris concert and the resulting film, recent online discussion about successors to Michael Jackson, and chasing the success of his “Confessions” album.

Brandy stars alongside Kathryn Hunter in A24’s horror film “The Front Room.” The two actors spoke with AP entertainment journalist Leslie Ambriz about decompressing after dark scenes, Brandy’s past forays into the horror genre — and filming in a haunted house.

Kathy Bates had “one foot out the door” and was ready to retire after recovering from cancer and an emotionally draining film project. Then she joined “Matlock.” The 76-year-old star says she’s been rejuvenated by the legal procedural series’ creator and her co-stars. She sat down with AP entertainment journalist Kaitlyn Huamani to talk about learning to trust again in Hollywood, working with Ryan Murphy and Dustin Hoffman — and the value of storytelling.

Six years after “A Star is Born,” Lady Gaga returns to the Venice Film Festival with “Joker: Folie à Deux” alongside Joaquin Phoenix and director Todd Phillips. She sat down with AP film writer Lindsey Bahr to talk about creating a new voice for her Lee/Harley Quinn character, writing a “waltz that falls apart” for the film — and why it’s an “exciting time” in pop music. Phillips shares why he chose her for the role, singing on set — and using the film to pose the question: “What is entertainment?”

Angelina Jolie portrays renowned opera singer Maria Callas in Pablo Larraín’s “Maria,” focusing on her life in Paris in the 70s before her death at age 53. They sat down with AP entertainment editor Louise Dixon at the Venice Film Festival to discuss how Jolie connected with Callas, the difficulty of performing opera — and why the film, to be released on Netflix, is the most personal of Larraín’s biopic trilogy that includes “Spencer” and “Jackie.”