MUMBAI: Here we bring exciting updates from Hollywood industry to keep you amused. Read on.

Oldman, Hammer to star in opioid thriller

Actors Gary Oldman, Armie Hammer and Evangeline Lilly are set to star in Nicholas Jarecki‘s opioid thriller titled Dreamland.              

Principal photography is underway in Montreal and Detroit. German actress Veronica Ferres also features in the film, reports variety.com.

In Dreamland, three stories about the world of opioids collide: a drug trafficker arranges a multi-cartel Fentanyl smuggling operation between Canada and the US; an architect recovering from an OxyContin addiction tracks down the truth behind her son's involvement with narcotics; and a university professor battles unexpected revelations about his research employer, a drug company with deep government influence bringing a new "non-addictive" painkiller to market.

Dreamland is written and directed by Jarecki as his follow up to Arbitrage, which earned a Golden Globe nomination for its star, Richard Gere.

"The devastating impact of the opioid crisis reaches all corners of society. Gary, Armie, and Evangeline are the perfect performers to bring the human face of this epidemic to audiences everywhere," said Jarecki.

Oldman won the 2018 Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Actor for his role in Darkest Hour. Hammer was nominated for a Golden Globe for his role in Call Me by Your Name.      

Lilly was nominated for a Golden Globe for her role in Lost.

Levy Tran joins 'MacGyver'

The Haunting of Hill House actress Levy Tran has joined the team of action drama series MacGyver.   

She plays a new character that would help fill the void left by the departure of the series co-lead George Eads, reports deadline.com.

Tran will play Desiree Nguyen (Desi), who joins the Phoenix Foundation to protect MacGyver (Lucas Till) and his team on their global missions. The first episode featuring the actress will air internationally on 15 February.

The show is aired in India on AXN.

Lily Allen dedicates 'F**k you' song to Liam Neeson

Singer Lily Allen has dedicated her song F**k you to actor Liam Neeson over his racist remarks.

During the No Shame Tour here on Tuesday, Allen slammed Neeson over his comments that he once wanted to kill a random black man after a friend was raped, reports dailymail.co.uk.

"Normally, I dedicate this song to Donald Trump, but tonight I'm dedicating it to Liam Neeson," Allen said before she started her performance.

The song F**k you includes the lyrics: "You're just some racist who can't tie my laces. Your point of view is medieval."

Later, the 33-year-old singer took to Instagram and wrote about Neeson saying she does not believe in the Taken star's "racist anecdote".

"I don't believe Liam Neeson's racist anecdote, which makes it even more disgusting," she wrote.

"I don't know a woman who hasn't been harassed and I have never heard of an instance where a man has actually gone out to defend her honour. It just doesn't happen."

BSB shows have gotten a little bit bigger, says AJ McLean

The Backstreet Boys were formed over 25 years ago and the pop group's member AJ McLean feels their shows have gotten a little bit bigger than before.

On the biggest difference in their shows from the 90s to now, AJ said in a statement to a leading publication, "I think our shows have gotten a little bit bigger."

His bandmate Howie Dorough added, "More refined".

To which, AJ agreed and said, "And, you know, more refined. I think we've been a lot more involved, I think, now more than ever as far as the creative process - like building the stage.

"You know, back in the day there was just a stage that was set up. We would obviously talk about the set list but now we're like literally sitting there with our entire team building it. I mean, we are building the stage."

 Brian Littrell also pointed out "one big difference".

"It's that we don't go down on our knees when we're dancing anymore. You know, we try to take that out. You know, in the 90s it was easy," he added.

The band, which also consists of Nick Carter and Kevin Richardson, are thrilled about their eight Grammy nominations. The Don't go breaking my heart hitmakers have been nominated for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.

"Having a Grammy nomination 25 years in, is pretty special. We're honoured, we're blessed, we're humbled, we're surprised...," said Kevin.

The band was last nominated for a Grammy in 2002.

"'Don't go breaking my heart', Stuart Crichton - we really feel like he took a chance with us and gave us something that was something that we were searching for - for a very long time - which was, we like to say a 'lightning in a bottle' song," said Nick.

"We knew we were going to only get one - we felt as if we're going to only get one chance to impact radio and for people to hear us and we needed that song and now, a Grammy nomination is recognition and I think that... that - it just means so much to us, especially because the way it came about with the song."

Friends of 'Scrubs' actor rally to raise funds for him

Friends of Scrubs actor Sam Lloyd have started a fundraising campaign to help him cover the costs of his fight against cancer.

The 55-year-old actor, known for his portrayal of lawyer Ted Buckland in the medical comedy series, was diagnosed with cancer after doctors discovered a tumour in his brain last month, reports aceshowbiz.com.

They subsequently discovered the tumour was too intertwined to be removed and that it had metastasised from his lungs. The cancer is also in his liver, spine and jaw.

The new GoFundMe page has raised over $16,000 towards the $100,000 goal to help pay for "medical, childcare and other expenses".

'LGBTQ community's greatest ally' Madonna to be honoured

Singer Madonna will be honoured at the 30th annual GLAAD Media Awards for accelerating acceptance of the LGBTQ community.

The awards ceremony by GLAAD, a LGBTQ media advocacy organisation, will be held in New York on 4 May, reports leading publication.

The singer will receive the Advocate for Change Award and become the ceremony's second person and first woman to ever receive this honour.

The award was previously given to former US President Bill Clinton in 2013 for his advocacy work to overturn the anti-LGBTQ Defense of Marriage Act and advance marriage equality nationwide.

"Madonna always has and always will be the LGBTQ community's greatest ally and it is only fitting to honour and celebrate our biggest advocate at GLAAD's biggest event ever," said GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis.

"From the HIV crisis to international LGBTQ issues, she fearlessly pushes for a world where LGBTQ people are accepted. Her music and art have been life-saving outlets for LGBTQ people over the years and her affirming words and actions have changed countless hearts and minds," Ellis added.

The organisation credits the pop singer for continuously supporting the LGBTQ community, given that she has performed at AIDS benefit concerts and also speaking out against anti-LGBTQ laws, policies and practices.

(Source: IANS)