Our monthly round-up of trending entertainment news.

Amazon Prime’s Legally Blonde prequel TV series casts its Elle Woods

Amazon Prime Video is currently developing a prequel TV series to Legally Blonde, about main character Elle Wood’s high school years. It has found its Elle, first played in the movies by Reese Witherspoon, in Lexi Minetree, a showbiz newcomer. Witherspoon played a part in the casting process and broke the news herself.

This will be Minetree’s first major lead role after making cameos in several true crime drama series. While she’s certainly got the look, she’ll hopefully also bring that bright Elle Woods energy to the table. We’re expecting lots of pink, funny quips, and ditzy blonde moments when the show hits our screens.

The Brutalist director says he’s made no money from the film

In a — shall we say, brutal — revelation about the state of the film industry, director Brady Corbet explains that he’s made zero income from his last two films. And that includes his latest one, The Brutalist, which was nominated for several Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Screenplay, and Best Director.

Speaking to Marc Maron on the WTF podcast, Corbet says that he’s spoken to “many filmmakers that have films that are nominated this year that can’t pay their rent”. If you wonder why talented filmmakers sometimes turn to TV or action films or something you’d think is beneath them, just consider their financial precarity. Hey, everybody’s got to eat.

Scarlett Johansson calls for the US government to regulate AI after fake video of her surfaces

ScarJo can’t catch a break when it comes to AI. In yet another case of a deepfake video, her likeness and that of several other Jewish celebrities were used in a video response to Kanye West’s most recent anti-Semitic screed (yes, he’s had many). Noting that it doesn’t matter if AI is used for good or evil intentions, she writes in a statement that “we must call out the misuse of AI, no matter its messaging, or we risk losing a hold on reality”.

Her warning words in her statement are ominous: “There is a 1,000-foot wave coming regarding AI that several progressive countries, not including the United States, have responded to in a responsible manner. It is terrifying that the US government is paralysed when it comes to passing legislation that protects all of its citizens against the imminent dangers of AI.”

This is not Johansson’s first brush with AI abuse. She recently had a high-profile spat with OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, for the misuse of her voice likeness in a product launch.

Michael B. Jordan voices support for Jonathan Majors, says he is “proud” of the latter

In a GQ cover story, the Black Panther star recently praised Majors’ “resilience and strength through it all” and enthusiastically stated that he would work with him again. Majors was, notably, found guilty of two misdemeanour counts of harassment and assault against Grace Jabbari in late 2023 and sentenced to a year of domestic violence counselling. He has also been accused by at least two other former partners of abuse. Due to the allegations against him, Majors was dropped from his management team, his PR team, and even Marvel — he played Kang the Conqueror in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and was expected to figure heavily in Phase 4 of the MCU.

In the same interview, Jordan says Majors is “my boy”. They may have played fierce onscreen rivals in Creed III, but perhaps it’s a different case in real life.

Netflix’s popular The Sandman series to end with upcoming second season

News of Neil Gaiman’s alleged abuse of several women over the years broke out through an explosive Vanity Fair article early this year. The shocking revelations brought about public condemnation, which led to swift action. And this includes the announcement that the Netflix TV adaptation of Gaiman’s The Sandman graphic novel series will end with the soon-to-stream second season.

Gaiman first approached DC Comics to bring back Dream (aka The Sandman) for a revival series, and his graphic novels based on the character soon became literary sensations. But, ominously, he also penned a subplot involving a feminist male writer who has a muse trapped and enslaved for his writing exploits. Sounds a little familiar…

Buffy the Vampire Slayer revival/sequel series is in the works

Fans of the late ’90s/early ’00s cult-favourite series are now in a tizzy over the latest news that it is coming back for a sequel. Yes, more than 20 years after Buffy’s ending, we’re finally getting some new slayer action.

Sarah Michelle Gellar, the original star of the TV hit, will both act in and executive produce the show. In an interview with PEOPLE, Gellar admitted that the warm fan response has brought the pressure to do the revival series justice. She says: “I wish there was a better word than overwhelming. It’s heartwarming and exciting and also incredibly nerve-wracking at the same time.”

Oscar-winning director Chloé Zhao is set to direct it, and legendary crooner Dolly Parton will also return as executive producer. Did you know the latter was an uncredited producer of the original show and regularly sent gifts to the cast to let them know that she was proud of them? Now you do!

Beyoncé finally scores elusive Album of the Year award for Cowboy Carter at Grammys

Amidst controversy and anger that the Grammys were rigged comes a surprising development that will shut critics up (for now): Beyoncé scored Album of the Year at this year’s awards show for Cowboy Carter, making her only the fourth black woman in history to win the accolade. Country music fans of a certain stripe are outraged. Perhaps they are salty because she also took home Best Country Album for Cowboy Carter at the Grammys despite being snubbed at the Country Music Awards. Stay winning, Yoncé!