Music history is littered with projects planned, anticipated, even completed — and then scrapped

NEW YORK (AP) — Bruce Springsteen isn't the only musician to complete or launch anticipated album projects, then to see it never see the light of day. Springsteen is releasing the “Tracks II: The Lost Albums” box set with reams of so-called lost music on Friday. There are many reasons for albums to be abandoned. Those include perfectionist or easily distracted artists, nervous record executives, and sometimes material that is literally lost. Dr. Dre, the Beach Boys, Prince, Green Day, Neil Young and others all had their stories. But as Springsteen notes in explaining while one of discs was dropped: “I always put them away, but I don't throw them away.”

What to know about the next James Bond movie now that Denis Villeneuve will direct it

In the 50-plus years of James Bond, the wait between films has never gone longer than six years. The next entry, and first since Daniel Craig’s dramatic exit, may test that — but things are speeding up. On Wednesday, Amazon MGM Studio announced that Denis Villeneuve will direct the 26th Bond movie, putting the franchise in the hands of one of the most respected big-budget filmmakers. Villeneuve, the 57-year-old French Canadian director, is still expected to film the third “Dune” film before he turns his cameras on Bond. And there's still a big open question: Who will take over as 007 after Craig?

How ‘Sorry, Baby’ writer-producer-star Eva Victor made the year’s most exciting debut

Barry Jenkins knew Eva Victor was a director before they did. Jenkins and his production company Pastel produced Victor's debut “Sorry, Baby,” which opens in New York and Los Angeles Friday and expands in the coming weeks. Victor wrote, directed and stars in the story about the aftermath of a sexual assault which debuted earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival and quickly became one of the breakouts. Victor, who goes by they/she pronouns, says “Sorry, Baby” is a “sensitive film" and they hope it finds people when they need it.

These are the celebs who are attending Jeff Bezos’ Venice wedding

VENICE, Italy (AP) — Oprah Winfrey is among the celebrities who has arrived in Venice for Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez's star-studded weekend wedding. Winfrey’s private jet landed at Venice’s Marco Polo airport on Thursday morning. Former American footballer Tom Brady arrived shortly afterwards. The bride and groom pulled into the Aman Hotel on the Grand Canal on Wednesday. Other guests include Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner, Mick Jagger Katy Perry and Leonardo DiCaprio. Italian media has also reported the arrivals of Microsoft founder Bill Gates, Kim Kardashian and Diane von Furstenberg.

Prosecutor says Sean 'Diddy' Combs thought he was above the law as he led a racketeering conspiracy

NEW YORK (AP) — A prosecutor has begun two days of closing arguments at Sean “Diddy” Combs' sex trafficking trial by telling a jury that the music mogul used “power, violence and fear” to rule a criminal enterprise for two decades. The closing on Thursday was delivered by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik in Manhattan federal court. The defense will get its turn Friday. Afterward, another prosecutor will deliver a rebuttal closing argument before Judge Arun Subramanian instructs the jury on the law so it can begin deliberations. Combs has pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy charges. The trial is in its seventh week.

Denis Villeneuve to direct next James Bond film

NEW YORK (AP) — Denis Villeneuve is going from “Dune” to Bond. Amazon MGM Studios announced Wednesday that Villeneuve will direct the next James Bond movie. The untitled film will be the first since the studio took creative reins of the storied film franchise after decades of control by the Broccoli family. Producers Amy Pascal and David Heyman had maintained that before the next Bond is cast, they would develop a screenplay and find a director first. Now, they have one of the most respected blockbuster makers in Hollywood who’s coming off a pair of widely acclaimed “Dune” films. In a statement, Villeneuve called Bond “sacred territory” that he intends to honor.

Cassie, Jane, Cudi and freak-offs: How Sean 'Diddy' Combs' sex trafficking trial has played out

NEW YORK (AP) — During weeks of testimony at the sex-trafficking trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs, nearly three dozen witnesses took their turns in front of a federal jury. Key witnesses included two former Combs’ girlfriends — Cassie and “Jane” — who spent 10 trial days describing being forced over the last two decades to have sex with other men while Combs watched and sometimes filmed the encounters. Other witnesses included rapper Kid Cudi and several former Combs’ employees. Combs has pleaded not guilty. He played an active role in his defense, consulting frequently with his lawyers and influencing their work.

Vatican unveils last of restored Raphael Rooms after 10-year cleaning that yielded new discoveries

VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Vatican Museums has unveiled the last and most important of the restored Raphael Rooms. These are the spectacularly frescoed reception rooms of the Apostolic Palace that in some ways rival the Sistine Chapel as the peak of high Renaissance artistry.Officials said Thursday that a 10-year project to clean and restore the largest of the four Raphael Rooms uncovered a novel mural painting technique. Raphael used oil paint directly on the wall, and a grid of nails embedded in the walls to hold in place the resin surface onto which he painted. The Raphael Rooms were never fully closed off to the public during their long restoration, but they are now free of scaffolding.

Issey Miyake transforms the Cartier Foundation into living sculpture garden with light and movement

PARIS (AP) — Issey Miyake’s menswear line has returned to Paris Fashion Week with a dazzling show at the Cartier Foundation. The collection, themed “Dancing Texture,” blends futuristic menswear with kinetic artistry inspired by ceramicist Shoji Kamoda. Models moved like dancers through shimmering light in Thursday's show, showcasing designs that rippled, shimmered, and transformed. Miyake died in 2022, but his legacy has been carried forward by designers Sen Kawahara, Yuki Itakura, and Nobutaka Kobayashi.