Entertainment Daypop Archives

Republic Records Group President Charlie Walk is no longer a judge on Fox’s singing competition show The Four: Battle for Stardom and will not be part of next week’s finale. “Out of respect for the contestants, my fellow judges and everyone involved with the show, I have made the decision not to attend the finale of The Four,” Walk said in a statement provided by his attorney Patricia Glaser. Republic Records also confirmed that they have opened an investigation. “Republic Records is committed to a safe workplace environment where employees are treated fairly and respectfully,” the statement read. Walk’s former Sony colleague Tristan Coopersmith accused the music mogul of sexual misconduct in an open letter on Monday, January 29, alleging that he sent her explicit text messages, groped her at business dinners and made unwelcome advances toward her. Walk has denied the allegations, claiming he worked with her 15 years ago “without incident.”

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s investigators say Robert Wagner is “more of a person of interest” in the death of his late wife, actress Natalie Wood, who died nearly 40 years ago under mysterious circumstances. Wood was found dead in the water in 1981, near Santa Catalina Island off the coast of California. She had gone on a yachting weekend with Wagner, as well as Christopher Walken, who at the time was starring with the actress in the movie “Brainstorm.” Wood’s death was originally ruled an accident, but the case was reopened in 2011. The coroner changed her cause of death to “drowning and other undetermined factors” the following year. An autopsy report indicated there were a number of bruises on Wood’s body that appeared to have been fresh at the time of death. Investigators said Wagner — who was married to Wood twice, first from 1957 to 1962, and again from 1972 until her death — has been uncooperative since they reopened the case.  “I think he’s constantly changed his story a little bit. And his version of events just don’t add up.”

Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes is returning to television with the period drama, The Gilded Age, which has been picked up to series by NBC and is slated for a 2019 debut. The network has ordered 10 episodes. Fellowes is re-teaming with Downton Abbey executive producer Gareth Neame for the series, which takes place in the glittering world of the wealthiest families in 19th-century New York. Jennifer Salke, president of NBC Entertainment said in a statement: “We’re thrilled that NBC and Universal Television will bring you Julian Fellowes delicious new take on both the emerging rich and the working class who were intricately entwined in opulent New York in 1882. It’s an addictive new universe of fabulous people with the same signature style, wit and emotional resonance for which Julian is famous.”

Three months after production was shut down in the wake of sexual assault and harassment allegations against star Kevin Spacey, “House of Cards” has resumed production on its sixth and final season, according to an official release from Netflix. Netflix also announced Wednesday that Oscar-nominated actors Greg Kinnear and Diane Lane have joined the cast, which will now focus on it’s star Robin Wright. The final season will feature eight episodes, and it is reported that Kinnear and Lane will play siblings. “House of Cards,” launched in 2013 and has received 53 Emmy nods over the years, with seven wins. No plot details have been released about the final season, though Wright’s Claire Underwood was sworn in as president toward the end of last season with Spacey’s character pushed out of office.

Tom Hanks is set to play Mr. Rogers in a biopic film about the children’s show host. TriStar pictures announced it has acquired the worldwide rights to the film Monday. It’s chosen Hanks to play Fred Rogers in the biopic, and filmmaker Marielle Helle will be the film’s director. The film, called “You Are My Friend,” is expected to focus of the friendship between Mr. Rogers and journalist Tom Juno who wrote a profile on Rogers that he said “transformed” his perspective on life. Rogers passed away in 2003 at the age of 74.  Production for “You Are My Friend” will start in September of this year, with the film expected to be released sometime in 2019.