Game of Thrones season eight will be the last
HBO programming chief Casey Bloys has confirmed that the smash-hit fantasy drama Game of Thrones, based on the novels by George RR Martin, which recently completed its sixth season, will end after two more seasons. "If I could get them to do more, I would take 10 seasons," Bloys said. He added that HBO was following the wishes of the showrunners, David Benioff and D B Weiss, who had previously hinted that there would only be two more seasons. "We want to take their lead with what they could do and what the best version of the show is," Bloys said. It was previously announced that season seven will only have seven episodes, rather than the usual 10. The number of episodes for the final season has yet to be revealed but it is rumoured that it will have six. – The National
Constance Wu blasts Hollywood “whitewashing”
Fresh Off the Boat star Constance Wu is the latest celebrity to speak out in the "whitewashing" row over Matt Damon's casting in the China-set blockbuster, The Great Wall. The Taiwanese-American actress added her voice to the chorus of criticism surrounding the casting of a white actor in the movie's lead role. "We have to stop perpetuating the racist myth that only a white man can save the world," Wu wrote on Twitter after watching the trailer. "It's not based on actual fact. Our heroes don't look like Matt Damon. They look like Malala, Gandhi, Mandela," she added. The film, the most expensive shot in China, is a US-Chinese co-production, directed by leading Chinese director Zhang Yimou. It will be released in China in December, and in the United States in February. – The National
Isla Fisher: “I’d love to play Prince”
Aussie actress Isla Fisher (Now You See Me) has revealed an unexpected desire to play musician Prince. Fisher, the wife of Ali G star Sacha Baron Cohen, told Guardian.com she is a huge fan of the late singer-songwriter and would jump at the chance to play the star on the big screen. "We are the same height, which I do not believe is a coincidence," Fisher said. She also credited Sophie Kinsella's book Confessions of a Shopaholic with changing her life, as it gave her first ever leading role in a movie. "I bought it at an airport and fell in love with Rebecca Bloomwood," she said. "The movie was a breakthrough career-wise, my first role as a leading lady." Fisher adds that her worst role was in the Australian soap, Paradise Beach: "It was a 1990s Aussie soap. I had to wear a bikini the whole time – including during funeral scenes," she said. – IANS
Dishoom star finds TV role “daunting”
Jacqueline Fernandez, who will make her small-screen debut as a judge in the ninth season of the Indian reality-TV celebrity dance contest Jhalak Dikhlaa Jaa, says that it is "a daunting task". The actress, who can currently be seen on the big screen in Bollywood action movie Dishoom, which was largely filmed in Abu Dhabi, added: "It is a huge responsibility because these contestants are celebrities ... and have a huge fan following. They are really very talented so for me, it's kind of like, how do I judge them? How do I judge people with so much talent? And at the same time, how can I help them to fulfil their dreams? It's very tricky and a very daunting task, but it's also an exciting experience." The contestants on the ninth season of the Colors show include Arjun Bijlani, Shakti Arora, Helly Shah, Surveen Chawla, Karishma Tanna, Gaurav Gera, Nora Fatehi, Chef Harpal Singh Sokhi and Sidhant Gupta. – IANS
Jusitn Bieber turned down Republican convention gig
Canadian singer Justin Bieber was offered US$5million (Dh18m) to perform during the Republican Party's National Convention in the US this month, but turned the offer down after his manager threatened to quit. Celebrity news website TMZ says the multimillion dollar offer was the largest the singer has received but the gig came with strings attached – the singer wouldn't have been permitted to say anything negative about the Republican party or its presidential nominee, Donald Trump. He would also have been forbidden to hang banners reading Black Lives Matter. – The National
Joe Biden set for future in TV?
Outgoing US vice president Joe Biden appears to be making plans for life after The White House, after lining up a role in TV crime drama Law and Order: Special Victims Unit. "While in New York, the vice president will tape an appearance on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit on efforts to end violence against women," the White House confirmed. Biden appeared alongside Law and Order: SVU star Mariska Hargitay at a gala in May in support of Hargitay's Joyful Heart Foundation, which aims to educate and empower the survivors of sexual assault and domestic abuse. Biden has a history of campaigning for the survivors of sexual assault – in June a letter he wrote to the anonymous victim of the Stanford University "champion swimmer" attack went viral and won widespread acclaim from campaigners. The National
