Now who you gonna call?
Sony has announced a new "Ghostbusters" film, possibly featuring Channing Tatum, that will compete with the studio's own female-centric version. The new film is being called a "counterpart" to Paul Feig's film starring Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Leslie Jones and Kate McKinnon. Sony says it's laying the groundwork for the two "teams" to work together in the future.
In a theater far, far away
"Star Wars: Episode 8" will be released May 26, 2017. . … Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, who produced the past three Oscar telecasts with uneven results, say they aren't likely to return in 2016. … Miles Teller ("Whiplash") plays real-life boxer Vinny Paz in "Bleed for This." … Kristen Stewart, Bruce Willis and Jesse Eisenberg will star in Woody Allen's untitled film, his next project after July's "Irrational Man" with Joaquin Phoenix and Emma Stone.
Paparazzi alert
Alec Baldwin returns to TV as the billionaire mayor of New York in an HBO series. … Samantha Bee is leaving "The Daily Show" to produce and host a TBS show similar to "TDS." … "The Bachelor" Chris Soules will be on the next season of "Dancing With the Stars."
Got to give it up?
The attorney for Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams says his clients will appeal the $7.3 million verdict that decreed they sampled a little too much from Marvin Gaye in creating "Blurred Lines." "We owe it to songwriters around the world to make sure this verdict doesn't stand," said attorney Howard E. King. Gaye's estate has requested that sales of the song be halted until the matter is settled.
Elephant in the room
PETA's letter to Tim Burton, director of a planned live-action "Dumbo," includes this odd statement: "We love the original 'Dumbo' because it tells the story of the heartbreaking abuse that elephants in circuses endure, and we hope you will keep this storyline in the new film." The organization adds that it hopes the movie has a "happy ending" that places the elephants in a sanctuary. Burton has said he plans to use a combination of live action and CGI in the movie, which has no release date yet.
CYNTHIA DICKISON
