It is unlikely to make quite as big a splash as The Force Awakens, but the first trailer for the first Star Wars stand-alone film – Rogue One – caused a ripple among those who feel "The Force" when it was released online over the weekend. The 100-second teaser, which was unveiled on Thursday, led to a frenzy of speculation over the similarity between film's female lead, Felicity Jones and The Force Awakens hero Rey, played by Daisy Ridley. Fans have been trying to work out Rey's place in the Star Wars family tree since December, with speculation that she could be Luke Skywalker's daughter or Obi-Wan Kenobi's granddaughter. But many people took to Twitter to suggest that Jones' character, Jyn Erso, could be Rey's mum. The events of Rogue One take place shortly before those seen in the original Star Wars movie, Episode IV – A New Hope, and tell the story of the mission to steal the blueprints for the Death Star, which Princess Leia hid in R2-D2. Others debated whether or not a scene from the trailer showed a station on the London Underground's Jubilee Line, while many praised the appearance of strong female leads in two consecutive Star Wars films. The music included a snippet of the original film's Imperial March, used to herald the approach of Darth Vader, hinting that he will make an appearance in Rogue One, which is due for release on December 16. – AFP
N.W.A. join Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
N.W.A. entered the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. They were joined for the ceremony at Barclays Centre in Brooklyn, New York, by their fellow inductees, 1970s-era rock acts Cheap Trick, Chicago, Deep Purple and Steve Miller. N.W.A.'s rough-hewn tales tilted the balance toward West Coast rap in the late 1980s on songs such as Boyz-N-The Hood and Straight Outta Compton. Following their split, Dr Dre became one of music's most in-demand producers and a billionaire with a high-tech headphone company, while Ice Cube alternates between music and a successful acting career. For all the success, some traditional rockers have opposed the inclusion of rap acts into the hall of fame, including Kiss's Gene Simmons, whose band was inducted last year. "I want to say to Gene Simmons, hip-hop is here forever," said MC Ren. "Get used to it." – AP
Anne Hathaway welcomes baby son
Hollywood star Anne Hathaway has had her baby, it has emerged. The Oscar-winner's first child, Jonathan Rosebanks Shulman, was on March 24 in Los Angeles, according to E! Hathaway confirmed this year that she and husband, actor Adam Shulman, were expecting a baby. US media, however, had already leaked the news in November. Hathaway, 33, earned an Oscar in 2013 for her performance as Fantine in Les Miserables. Some of her other best-known films include the family-friendly comedy-drama The Princess Diaries in 2001 and the hit 2006 comedy The Devil Wears Prada. Hathaway married Shulman, 35, in 2012. – AFP
Charlize Theron to star in Fast and Furious 8
Mad Max: Fury Road star Charlize Theron will get back behind the wheel in the eighth instalment of the Fast and Furious series. Universal Pictures announced the casting on social media. Theron, who also showed off her car skills in The Italian Job, will join Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson and Michelle Rodriguez in Fast 8, set for release on April 14 next year, with Straight Outta Compton director F Gary Gray at the helm. Theron's character will be the "crew's greatest adversary ever", although the plot was not revealed. The seventh Fast and Furious film, the latest of which was partly filmed in Abu Dhabi, have grossed US$3.9 billion globally since the series was launched in 2001. – AP
Motley Crue star accused of battery
Motley Crue frontman Vince Neil has been accused of grabbing a woman's hair and pulling her to the ground at a Las Vegas resort. Mobile-phone video footage provided to the celebrity website TMZ.com appears to show actor Nicolas Cage restraining Neil before police arrived. Las Vegas police officer Michael Rodriguez said on Friday the incident happened a little before 5.30pm on Thursday outside the Aria resort. He confirmed that Cage was at the scene but not accused of a crime. Police issued the 55-year-old Neil a misdemeanour battery summons and he is due in court on June 17 court. He was not jailed. – AP
