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

Chad Michael Murray joins 'Riverdale'

Actor Chad Michael Murray has been cast in the recurring role of Edgar Evernever in the drama series Riverdale.

The A Cinderella Story star, also known for his role on One Tree Hill, will play the enigmatic leader of the cult-like Farm. He arrives in Riverdale to spread his teachings and heal the ravaged soul of the once-wholesome town, reports leading publication.

The teen drama follows Archie Andrews, Betty Cooper, Veronica Lodge and Jughead Jones in this re-imagined spin on the Archie comics. Its third season premiered on 10 October 2018, and was renewed for a fourth installment in January.

Edgar had been mentioned in the show previously, and his daughter Evelyn played by Zoe De Grand Maison was introduced as Betty's classmate.

 Murray previously made appearances on Sun Records series, as well as Agent Carter and the series Chosen.

Deepa Mehta to be feted with Lifetime Achievement Award

Acclaimed Indo-Canadian filmmaker Deepa Mehta will be given the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television.

A post on the official Twitter account from The Canadian Academy read, "We are thrilled to announce that Deepa Mehta will be given the Lifetime Achievement Award. We are proud to recognise the artistry of Ms. Mehta and the tremendous impact she has had on the fabric of Canada's entertainment industry."

Mehta, best known for her Elements Trilogy - Fire, Earth and Water – replied, "Thank you so much The Canadian Academy. You made my day - hell, my year!"

The Canadian Screen Awards are awards given annually by the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television recognising excellence in Canadian film, English-language television, and digital media productions.

Mehta's Earth was submitted by India as its official entry for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, and Water was Canada's official entry for Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Earth was the first to receive an Oscar nomination.

In May 2012, Mehta received the Governor General's Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement, Canada's highest honour in the performing arts.

Liam Neeson is not racist: Michelle Rodriguez

Actress Michelle Rodriguez has defended actor Liam Neeson, who came under fire earlier this week for admitting that he once wanted to kill a black person for revenge, saying he is not racist. 

In an interview to leading publication, Neeson's Widows co-star Rodriguez said Neeson can't be racist because he "made out with a black person".

"It's all (expletive). Liam Neeson is not a racist. Dude, have you watched Widows? His tongue was so far down Viola Davis' throat. You can't call him a racist, ever.

"Racists don't make out with the race that they hate, especially in the way he does with his tongue - so deep down her throat. I don't care how good of an actor you are. It's all (expletive). Ignore it. He's a loving man," leading publication quoted Rodriguez as saying.

During the promotions of his upcoming film Cold Pursuit a few days ago, Neeson made a controversial statement.

He said, "I went up and down areas with a cosh, hoping I'd be approached by somebody - I'm ashamed to say that - and I did it for maybe a week, hoping some  'black bastard' would come out of a pub and have a go at me about something, you know? So that I could kill him."

Shortly after the statement, he received backlash on social media and people started calling him racist.

European Film Market officials keen to work with India

As the India Pavilion was inaugurated at the 69th Berlin International Film Festival, officials of the European Film Market (EFM) expressed interest to work with India and collaborate for the golden jubilee celebrations of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI).

The India Pavilion was inaugurated by Matthijis Wouter Knol, Director, EFM. Paramita Tripathi, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of India in Berlin, and Peter Domsch, Head of Sales and Technical Department, EFM, were also present on the occasion. The poster of IFFI 2019 was also inaugurated during the inaugural ceremony.

Members of the Indian delegation, including Chaitanya Prasad, Additional Director General, Directorate of Film Festivals, and G.C. Aron, Director, Films, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, apprised the EFM representatives about the significance of the golden jubilee celebration of IFFI, the recent policy initiatives of the government to ensure ease of filming in India, setting up of Film Facilitation Office, launch of the web portal www.ffo.gov.in for online application for film shooting at a single point and efforts of the government through amendment to the Cinematograph Act to tackle film piracy.

Knol said the stakeholders of EFM would actively consider participating in IFFI this year. He also underlined that the participation would pave a way forward for a more proactive interaction between the Indian stakeholders and the industry with the organisers of Berlinale in future.

Tripathi said the Indian mission in Berlin would undertake constant engagement in future with Indian and German stakeholders at the EFM to promote a viable exchange in all areas related to participation in IFFI 2019 and the Berlin Film Festival along with working towards widening prospects of shooting of films in India.

Prior to the inaugural ceremony, the Indian delegation interacted with Carlo Chatrian, Festival Director Designate, Berlin Film Festival, regarding future collaborations of participating in IFFI Goa 2019. He expressed hope that there will be more active participation from the Indian government and other stakeholders in the future editions of Berlinale.

Woody Allen sues Amazon Studios

Director Woody Allen has filed a $68-million suit against Amazon Studios alleging that the online streaming platform has refused to distribute one of his films and abandoned a multi-picture deal.

Allen claimed that Amazon has breached the signed contract and has refused to release his latest film, A Rainy Day in New York due to "a 25-year-old, baseless molestation allegation against him", reports leading publication.

"Allegation was already well known to Amazon (and the public) before it entered into four separate deals with Allen - and, in any event it does not provide a basis for Amazon to terminate the contract.

"There simply was no legitimate ground for Amazon to renege on its promises," the lawsuit read.

He has been accused of sexually assaulting his step-daughter Dylan Farrow when she was a seven-year-old in the early 1990s. Allen has steadfastly denied the allegations.

(Source: IANS)