Actor Leo Woodall has been confirmed as part of the cast of The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, calling the role a "boyhood dream" in interviews around the May 2026 New York premiere of his film Tuner. Warner Bros. first announced his casting at CinemaCon in April. Woodall, 29, will play Halvard, a new Dúnedain character created for the film. Andy Serkis will direct and reprise his role as Gollum, with Elijah Wood and Ian McKellen also returning. Jamie Dornan has been cast as Aragorn (Strider), replacing Viggo Mortensen from the original trilogy, and Kate Winslet will play Marigold. The project is produced by Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens, draws on material in Tolkien’s appendices, and is set between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogies. Filming is scheduled to take place in New Zealand in 2026 and the film is slated for theatrical release on Dec. 17, 2027. Separately, Stephen Colbert is developing another Middle-earth film that is expected to follow this release.

British reality star Katie Price has said her husband Lee Andrews, a Dubai-based businessman, has been missing since May 13 after failing to join her on a planned UK TV appearance. In the days that followed Andrews reportedly sent messages and a short video claiming he had been bundled into a van, hooded and detained at a so-called ‘black site’. Accounts have been contradictory: Andrews’ father told UK media his son was ‘under arrest’ in Dubai, while Dubai authorities have not publicly confirmed any detention. Price has published messages she says came from Andrews, later acknowledging he told her he had been arrested while using a secret third phone. Friends and former partners have accused Andrews of fabricating aspects of his life, including alleged fraud and fake social media images. Family members filed a missing persons report at the British Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the UK Foreign Office said it is supporting the family and liaising with local authorities. Online activity linked to Andrews’ phones and Instagram has prompted fresh public scrutiny and speculation over whether the disappearance is genuine, staged or the result of legal action in the UAE.

Queen Latifah returned to the American Music Awards on May 25, 2026, taking solo hosting duties at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas more than three decades after co‑hosting the show in 1995. The 56‑year‑old opened the ceremony with a career‑spanning monologue that paid tribute to veterans and reflected on her trajectory from rap pioneer to film star. Latifah arrived on the red carpet with partner Eboni Nichols and their six‑year‑old son, Rebel. The live, fan‑voted show featured a star‑studded lineup including Billy Idol, Karol G, Darius Rucker with Hootie & the Blowfish, The Pussycat Dolls with Busta Rhymes, Keith Urban, Maluma, Sombr and others, while Taylor Swift led nominations with eight. Ahead of the broadcast Latifah discussed new music plans for 2026, celebrated an upcoming Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Early Influence induction and signaled continued high‑profile projects, including joining The Voice as a coach.

Taylor Swift did not attend the American Music Awards held May 25 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas despite leading this year’s nominations with eight nods. The 36-year-old pop star was up for major prizes including Artist of the Year, Best Female Pop Artist, and Album of the Year and Best Pop Album for her 2025 release The Life of a Showgirl. Her single "Fate of Ophelia" received nominations for Best Pop Song, Song of the Year and Best Music Video, while "Elizabeth Taylor" was listed in the new Song of the Summer category. People and other outlets reported Swift was in New York with fiancé Travis Kelce, and Kelce was not expected to attend the ceremony either. Swift enters the night as the most-awarded artist in AMA history with 40 career wins and could still add to her total even while absent. The decision to skip the live show follows a busy stretch of releases, tours and public appearances, and comes ahead of her June 11 Songwriters Hall of Fame induction.

Drishyam 3, the third instalment of Jeethu Joseph’s thriller franchise led by Mohanlal, has continued a strong theatrical run since its May 21, 2026 release. Trade trackers Sacnilk and industry estimates put the film’s worldwide gross at about ₹156.14 crore after five days, up from ₹141.34 crore after four days. Domestic figures show India net collections of roughly ₹61.80 crore and a gross of about ₹71.74 crore; overseas receipts are reported near ₹84.40 crore. Day‑by‑day reported India nets were: Day 1 ₹15.85 crore, Day 2 ₹11.05 crore, Day 3 ₹13.70 crore, Day 4 ₹13.95 crore and Day 5 ₹7.35 crore. The Malayalam version remains the main contributor, with Tamil, Telugu and Kannada dubbed releases adding smaller shares. Reports cite a production budget near ₹100 crore, though producers have not formally confirmed that figure. The franchise’s future looks active: lead actor Mohanlal has signalled potential further sequels, and a Hindi remake is scheduled for October 2, 2026. Numbers are based on trade estimates widely circulated in industry trackers and media reports.