Sony developing live-action Barbie comedy

Also, Salman Khan's sister to marry Delhi actor; Marc Anthony to produce album in English; Tamasha with Ranbir and Deepika; Mel Brooks putting on a one-man show in LA; Ohio women held captive seek Joan Rivers’ apology.

Barbie is coming alive in a movie by Sony; the company believes the comedy has the potential to grow into a global franchise. Timur Emek / Getty Images
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Sony developing live-action Barbie comedy

Barbie is coming alive. Sony Pictures, Mattel and Parkes+MacDonald/Image Nation have partnered to create a live-action movie focused on the iconic doll. The companies said Wednesday the comedy will be written by Jenny Bicks (What a Girl Wants) and produced by husband-and-wife team Walter F. Parkes and Laurie MacDonald (Men in Black 3). Executive producers will be Parkes+MacDonald president Marc Resteghini and Julia Pistor for Mattel’s Playground Productions. Sony sees the film as a global franchise and plans to go into production by the end of the year. It’s the second collaboration for Mattel and Sony. The companies are developing the film adaptation of “Masters of the Universe,” based on Mattel action figures. – AP

Sallu’s sister to marry Delhi actor

Salman Khan’s sister Arputa Khan is engaged to Aayush Sharma, Bollywood Mantra reported. The Delhi-based Sharma has apparently moved to Mumbai to pursue his career in the film industry. Arpita Khan previously dated the Ishaqzaade star Arjun Kapoor, who once said in an interview that he told Salman Khan about it: “I was scared of Salman bhai [brother] and told him and the entire family ... He was taken aback, but he respects people and relationships” – The National staff

Marc Anthony to produce album in English

Marc Anthony’s latest Spanish-language album 3.0 is a hit, and his single Vivir mi vida topped the charts for 18 months. But Anthony isn’t satisfied. He wants to reconquer a broader market with a new project in English. Anthony announced at the 25th Billboard Latin Music Conference in Miami on Wednesday that he is working on a pop album. Anthony is nominated in 15 categories. Anthony says he doesn’t have a release date or a record label yet. Sony Music Latin has the exclusive rights only to his Spanish-language music. The “Newyorican” salsa singer has produced two albums in English, but much of his fame and success has come from his Spanish-language songs. – AP

Tamasha with Ranbir and Deepika

Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone have been signed on to star in the filmmaker Imtiaz Ali’s new film Tamasha, The Indian Express reported. The two actors, who were once in a relationship, have struck gold at the box office with a series of hits, including Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani and Bachna Ae Haseeno. Tamasha is produced by Sajid Nadiadwala and will be filmed in Europe. A R Rahman is the music director. – The National staff

Mel Brooks putting on a one-man show in LA

Mel Brooks has seemingly done it all in his illustrious show biz career. But there’s one thing he’s tackled only recently – a one-man show. Brooks will star in his first solo show Monday at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles. It’s being billed as an “an introspective retrospective.” The sold-out show will have only one performance. The 87-year-old writer and director of comedy classics including “The Producers,” “Blazing Saddles,” “Young Frankenstein” and “History of the World: Part I” has won Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony awards. – AP

Ohio women held captive seek Joan Rivers’ apology

Lawyers for two women held in a Cleveland home and abused for a decade say Joan Rivers should apologize for comparing living in her daughter’s guest room with the captivity they experienced. Rivers and her daughter were discussing their reality show Tuesday on NBC’s Today show when she complained about her living arrangements, saying, “Those women in the basement in Cleveland had more space.” A Wednesday statement from attorneys for Amanda Berry and Gina DeJesus calls Rivers’ remark hurtful and shocking. The attorneys say the women have endured painful media attention and the comment is “a new low” that warrants an apology. Rivers’ publicist hasn’t responded to messages seeking comment. Berry, DeJesus and a third woman, Michelle Knight, escaped last year. Their kidnapper, Ariel Castro, hanged himself in prison. – AP