Robert Redford talks of role in Captain America

Plus: Phil Ramone dead at 79; India.Arie laughs off skin-lightening talk; Rolling Stones headline Glastonbury; Wachowskis to debut TV series.

Robert Redford has confrmed that he will be in the next Captain America film. Pascal Le Segretain / Getty Images
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1.Redford talks of role in Captain America

Robert Redford has confirmed that he'll appear in the next Captain America film – and insisted he's not selling out. The 76-year-old co-founder of the Sundance Film Festival will play a senior leader in the film's secret government agency SHIELD. "I told you, there's no money in those films," Redford joked when asked about the new role at an independent film event in Los Angeles this week. "I like the idea of stepping into new territory. I'm excited by it. This is the kind of film I'd love to have seen as a kid." – AFP

2. Phil Ramone dead at 79

Phil Ramone, the Grammy Award-winning producer who worked with Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra and Paul Simon, died of complications stemming from heart surgery on Saturday. He was 79. Ramone won 14 Grammys and one for lifetime achievement. He produced for the likes of Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney, Elton John, Madonna and Billy Joel. "So much of my music was shaped by him and brought to fruition by him," Joel said in a statement. "I have lost my greatest mentor." – AP

3. India.Arie laughs off skin-lightening talk

India.Arie is laughing off talk that she may have lightened her skin. The R&B songstress is known for singing about celebrating one's true self. But some have accused her of lightening her skin after seeing a publicity photo for her new song Cocoa Butter, in which she looks several shades lighter than her dark brown complexion. India.Arie took to Twitter to deny the accusations, saying she has no desire to bleach her skin because she loves her brown skin "more than ever". She also said that "magnificent lighting" is the cause for her "glow". She added that she'd like to keep the conversation going. – AP

4. Rolling Stones headline Glastonbury

The Rolling Stones will play at Britain's Glastonbury Festival, the world's largest greenfield music and performing arts spectacle. The group have not played at the festival before. Mick Jagger tweeted: "Can't wait to play Glastonbury. I have my wellies and my yurt!" The festival will take place during the last week of June with the Stones headlining on Saturday. "We've tried or talked about getting the Rolling Stones to play Glastonbury throughout my entire life – I can't remember a year it hasn't been wished upon," said the Glastonbury organiser Emily Eavis. Other acts among the 200 confirmed include Mumford & Sons, Arctic Monkeys and Elvis Costello. – AP

5. Wachowskis to debut TV series

Andy and Lana Wachowski, the siblings behind Matrix and Cloud Atlas, are creating their first television series, to be distributed on the internet video-streaming service Netflix in late 2014. A statement said the show, Sense8, is "a gripping global tale of minds linked and souls hunted". Netflix recently branched out into original programming with House of Cards starring Kevin Spacey. The Wachowskis start work next month on the movie Jupiter Ascending, starring Channing Tatum and Mila Kunis. – AFP

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