Ron Howard plans Beatles documentary
Ron Howard will direct a documentary on the Beatles that focuses on the band’s touring years during the early 1960s.
Howard announced the project Wednesday. The film is being made with the cooperation of Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Yoko Ono and Olivia Harrison. The Beatles company, Apple Corps, is co-producing the film.
The as-yet-untitled film is the second documentary directed by Howard, who said he’s long been a Beatles fan. Howard previously made the 2013 Jay-Z documentary “Made in America.”
The film will run up to the Beatles’ final concert in San Francisco’s Candlestick Park in 1966. Much footage for the documentary has already been gathered.
The movie is tentatively slated for release late next year.
HBO acquires Cranston play
HBO says it’s “All the Way” with Bryan Cranston reprising his role as President Lyndon Johnson in a TV adaptation of his recent Broadway debut.
HBO Films has acquired rights to the Tony Award-winning play that opened earlier this year to critical and popular success while also winning Cranston the Tony as best actor.
The company said Wednesday that Robert Schenkkan will adapt his play for HBO. “All the Way” focuses on Johnson early in his presidency after the death of President John F. Kennedy in 1963. HBO hasn’t specified an air date.
Cranston made his Broadway debut in the play fresh from the much-acclaimed finale of his AMC drama series, “Breaking Bad.”
Mraz announces New York tour
Jason Mraz is in a New York state of mind. The Grammy-winning pop singer announced Wednesday that he will tour the five boroughs of New York in September.
Mraz said at a press conference at the Empire State Building that he will kick off the tour Sept. 17 at the Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College.
The 37-year-old singer-songwriter, who is based in San Diego, attended college in New York in the 1990s.
“I left New York City and I said, ‘One of these days I’m going to come back with some songs and with a great show and with a great act.’ And I’ve done that many times, but this feels like a real homecoming for me,” Mraz said in an interview.
“The Five Boroughs Tour” will wrap with two nights at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on Sept. 22-23. His tour will also play in the Bronx on Sept. 18, in Queens on Sept. 19 and on Staten Island on Sept. 20.
The birthday bunch
Actor Donald Sutherland is 79. Actress-singer Diahann Carroll is 79. Rock musician Spencer Davis is 72. Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, is 67. Actress Lucie Arnaz is 63. Actor David Hasselhoff is 62. Actress Bitty Schram is 46. Country singer Luke Bryan is 38.