Jude Law debuts portrayal of Vladimir Putin in 'The Wizard of the Kremlin' at Venice Film Festival

VENICE, Italy (AP) — Jude Law transforms into Vladimir Putin in “The Wizard of the Kremlin,” premiering Sunday at the Venice Film Festival. The film, directed by Olivier Assayas, adapts Giuliano da Empoli’s bestselling book about Putin's rise to power. Paul Dano plays a fictional adviser inspired by real political strategist Vladislav Sourkov. The film's release coincides with Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine. This marks Assayas’s English-language debut. Filming took place in Latvia due to restrictions in Russia. Assayas describes the film as a reflection on modern politics and its deceptive nature.

Lady Gaga will perform during the MTV Video Music Awards. Here's everything to know about the show

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Lady Gaga will take the stage at this year's MTV Video Music Awards stage. The “Mayhem” singer is the show's leading nominee with 12 nods, including artist of the year and best album. Gaga has a long-standing history with the VMAs, with 57 total nominations throughout her career. She joins a slew of artists already confirmed to perform. This year’s VMAs will air on Sept. 7 at 8 p.m. Eastern and will run live from the UBS Arena on New York’s Long Island. The show will be broadcast by CBS for the first time, and also simulcast on MTV and available for streaming on Paramount+.

Guillermo del Toro’s ‘Frankenstein’ premieres at Venice with Oscar Isaac and Jacob Elordi

VENICE, Italy (AP) — Oscar Isaac and Jacob Elordi walked the red carpet at the Venice Film Festival for the world premiere of Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein.” Isaac plays Victor Frankenstein, while Elordi is the monster in this adaptation of Mary Shelley’s classic novel. Del Toro has been dreaming about making this film for decades. The last time he was at Venice was in 2017 with “The Shape of Water,” which won the festival’s top prize. “Frankenstein” is up for big awards at Venice, competing with films like Yorgos Lanthimos’s “Bugonia.” Netflix plans to release it in theaters on Oct. 17.

Julia Roberts' 'After the Hunt' stirs #MeToo debate at Venice Film Festival

VENICE, Italy (AP) — Julia Roberts has made her Venice Film Festival debut with the psychosexual drama “After the Hunt.” And it's already stirring debate. The film, set in the world of higher education, premiered Friday evening. Roberts plays a beloved professor whose Ayo Edebiri-played mentee accuses her friend and colleague, played by Andrew Garfield, of crossing the line. Questions at the press conference revolved around complicity, #MeToo and even Woody Allen and fonts. Directed by Italian filmmaker Luca Guadagnino, “After the Hunt” is playing out of competition, so it won’t be up for major awards. Amazon MGM Studios plans an Oct. 10 theatrical release in North America.

Late crime-busting sheriff Buford Pusser inspired Hollywood. Investigators say he killed his wife

Tennessee authorities say a cold-case investigation reveals that a sheriff who inspired a Hollywood movie about an organized crime-busting law enforcement officer actually killed his wife in 1967 and led people to believe she was murdered by his enemies. Prosecutors said Friday that there is enough evidence that if former McNairy County Sheriff Buford Pusser were alive today, they would present an indictment to a grand jury for the murder of his wife, Pauline Mullins Pusser. Investigators also said they uncovered signs that Pauline suffered from domestic violence. Authorities acknowledged that the news may shock many who grew up as Buford’s fans and watched the 1973 “Walking Tall” movie he inspired.

A Broadway show asks a white actor to replace an Asian one. The backlash was swift

NEW YORK (AP) — Broadway's “Maybe Happy Ending” faces backlash for casting a white actor to replace an Asian lead. The decision has sparked criticism from the Asian American Performers Action Coalition and other prominent artists. They argue it's a step backward for representation. Over 2,400 people have signed an open letter urging the show's creators to reconsider. Critics say the role should remain with an Asian actor, given the show's themes and previous casting. The controversy highlights ongoing issues of representation in theater, where Asian actors hold a small percentage of roles despite significant community presence.

Trump is cutting 500-plus jobs at Voice of America and its parent agency despite legal challenges

WASHINGTON (AP) — The agency that oversees Voice of America and other government-funded international broadcasters says it's eliminating jobs for more than 500 employees. That word came late Friday and could ratchet up a monthslong legal challenge over the news outlets’ fate. A federal judge on Thursday had blocked the administration from removing Michael Abramowitz as VOA director. And the same judge earlier in the week had ruled that the Trump administration had failed to show how it was complying with his orders to restore VOA operations.

Music Review: Sabrina Carpenter's 'Man's Best Friend' is a sincere but still sexy breakup album

Pop sensation Sabrina Carpenter is out with her seventh studio album, “Man's Best Friend.” Last summer's “Short n’ Sweet” celebrated the start of a romantic relationship, and Carpenter's new release is where it all comes undone in messy pieces. The Associated Press' Kiana Doyle says “Man's Best Friend” is a sincere but still sexy breakup album. Doyle says the album goes through the stages of a breakup with candidness and vulnerability, but not at the expense of sexiness and with plenty of variety, catchy choruses and lyrics to make you blush. “Man's Best Friend” is out Friday.

Taylor Kitsch's 'The Terminal List' character gets an origin story in 'The Terminal List: Dark Wolf'

Prime Video's new series “The Terminal List: Dark Wolf” starring Taylor Kitsch is a spinoff of 2022's “Terminal List.” It follows Kitsch as Ben Edwards, a Navy SEAL in Iraq who ends up working for the CIA. With “Dark Wolf,” Prime Video is expanding "The Terminal List" universe and plans more seasons for both shows and possibly also standalone films. The franchise is based on novels by former SEAL Jack Carr. The first three episodes of "Dark Wolf" are now streaming and a new episode will drop on Wednesdays. Chris Pratt also reprises his role from the original series.

Movie Review: Murder, she solved — Helen Mirren channels Angela Lansbury in 'Thursday Murder Club'

A life of retirement certainly seems pleasant at Coopers Chase, a community of pensioners nestled in the English countryside. There's Sudoku, yoga, aqua aerobics — and the “Thursday Murder Club,” where a few retirees meet to solve cold murder cases. They're led by no-nonsense Elizabeth, played by always-formidable Helen Mirren, and things really pick up when a real murder happens in their midst. Directed by Chris Columbus, the film could definitely be sharper and the comedy livelier, writes Associated Press critic Jocelyn Noveck in her review. But you could do a lot worse than spend a few hours with Mirren and colleagues. It streams Thursday on Netflix.