Month: June 2022

On Wednesday, a Fairfax County, Va., jury reached its verdict in the ‘Johnny Depp v. Amber Heard’ defamation trial, ruling unanimously in favor of Depp.  After six weeks of testimony and deliberating for nearly 13 hours, the jury found that Heard intentionally and maliciously defamed Depp when she wrote her 2018 op-ed in the Washington Post about her experiences as a domestic abuse survivor. Heard filed her own $100 million countersuit, claiming Depp and his legal team defamed her by calling her allegations a hoax.

The jury unanimously found “clear and convincing evidence” that Heard defamed Depp when she wrote the op-ed, and acted with actual malice, and awarded $10 million in damages to Depp in terms of compensatory damages, relating to jobs and opportunities lost, and $5 million in punitive damages. There were three statements at issue in Heard’s counterclaim, and the jury found one statement defamatory, awarding Heard $2 million in damages.

Depp was not present in the courtroom to hear the verdict saying ‘previously scheduled work commitments had him watching from the United Kingdom.”   Depp released the following statement after the verdict, saying in part: “Six years ago, my life, the life of my children, the lives of those closest to me, and also, the lives of the people who for many, many years have supported and believed in me were forever changed….And six years later, the jury gave me my life back. I am truly humbled.”

Heard released a statement as well, saying in part: “The disappointment I feel today is beyond words. I’m heartbroken that the mountain of evidence still was not enough to stand up to the disproportionate power, influence, and sway of my ex-husband. I’m even more disappointed with what this verdict means for other women. It is a setback. It sets back the clock to a time when a woman who spoke up and spoke out could be publicly shamed and humiliated.”

Editorial credit: Matteo Chinellato / Shutterstock.com

Disney+ released the first trailer for the upcoming live-action film ‘Pinocchio’. In the teaser, Tom Hanks appears as Geppetto, the woodcarver who crafts the puppet who embarks on a journey to becoming a “real boy.”  Back in March, Disney+ released the first look at Hanks as Geppetto, with Hanks completely unrecognizable in full character.

The film, directed by Academy Award winner Robert Zemeckis, also stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Jiminy Cricket, who serves as Pinocchio’s guide as well as his “conscience,” Cynthia Erivo as the Blue Fairy, and Keegan-Michael Key as “Honest” John. Lorraine Bracco plays Sofia the Seagull, a new character, and Luke Evans is The Coachman. The movie’s cast also includes Kyanne Lamaya as Fabiana (and her marionette Sabina), Giuseppe Battiston as Señor Stromboli, and Lewin Lloyd as Lampwick.

Pinocchio will debut on Disney+ on September 8. Take a look at the trailer – here.

Editorial credit: Tinseltown / Shutterstock.com

Vin Diesel announced on Instagram that Rita Moreno will be starring in ‘Fast X’ as his grandmother. Diesel said in a video that includes Moreno and fellow Fast and Furious franchise star Michelle Rodriguez: “It’s been my dream forever to work with Rita Moreno and the fact that she’s here playing my grandmother makes my soul smile. I’m so blessed.”  Moreno replied:  “I think my old age was waiting for you to invite me.” 

Fast X, the 10th installment in the Fast and Furious series, is set to debut in theaters on May 19, 2023. Filmmaker Louis Letterier replaces Justin Lin as director, who exited the project in April.  The film also stars Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris, Sung Kang, Nathalie Emmanuel, Jordana Brewster, Charlize Theron, Jason Momoa and Brie Larson.

Editorial credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com

Kevin Spacey will “voluntarily” appear in the United Kingdom to face four new sexual assault charges that were brought against him last week. If Spacey does not voluntarily appear in the U.K., British authorities plan to seek the actor’s formal extradition from the U.S. Spacey can be formally charged only following his arrest in England or Wales.

The 62-year-old actor provided a statement to “Good Morning America” on Tuesday, in which he says he is “confident” he can prove his innocence: “I very much appreciate the Crown Prosecution Service’s statement in which they carefully reminded the media and the public that I am entitled to a fair trial, and innocent until proven otherwise. While I am disappointed with their decision to move forward, I will voluntarily appear in the U.K. as soon as can be arranged and defend myself against these charges, which I am confident will prove my innocence.”

The charges against Spacey in Britain were announced last Thursday by the U.K.’s Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), which has spent over a year reviewing a file passed to them by the Metropolitan Police. Rosemary Ainslie, head of the CPS Special Crime Division, said: “The CPS has authorized criminal charges against Kevin Spacey, 62, for four counts of sexual assault against three men. He has also been charged with causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent. The charges follow a review of the evidence gathered by the Metropolitan Police in its investigation. The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against Mr Spacey are active and that he has the right to a fair trial.”  Some of the charges are believed to stem from Spacey’s time at the Old Vic theater in London, where he served as artistic director from 2004-2015. Following multiple allegations of sexual assault against the actor in the U.S., the theater undertook an internal investigation which resulted in 20 victims coming forward who claimed he had behaved inappropriately toward them.

Editorial credit: Yannik Bikker / Shutterstock.com