People: The Force to TV may come
The Force may soon be coming to a television near you.
George Lucas is planning a live-action television series spinoff of the “Star Wars” film franchise.
Lucas told The Los Angeles Times he has “just begun work” on the series, which will not include the films’ major characters Luke Skywalker or Darth Vader.
“The Skywalkers aren’t in it, and it’s about minor characters,” Lucas said on Tuesday. He wouldn’t reveal details but joked that the series would be about “the life of robots.”
Lucas, 63, already has another television series in the works. Lucasfilm Animation has been working for months on the computer-animated “Star Wars: The Clone Wars.”
Pet group left licking its wounds
Ellen DeGeneres‘ dog days continue. On Tuesday, the comedian delivered an on-air tearful plea to a pet-rescue group to return a dog she had adopted to the family she had passed it on to. The group confiscated the dog, charging that DeGeneres had violated the contract.
Now comes word that Marina Batkis and Vanessa Chekroun have received voice mail and e-mail threats of death and arson, disrupting business at Paws Boutique store in Pasadena, where they handle the volunteer, nonprofit rescue agency, attorney Keith A. Fink said.
Ill winds blow in Afghanistan
“The Kite Runner” author Khaled Hosseini is glad that the film version of his book will be released late. Movie distributor Paramount Vantage delayed the debut for six weeks, until Dec. 14, after three of its adolescent male stars said they could be targeted for their participation in a homosexual rape scene.
It’s a see-through Spice tour
Britain’s Spice Girls are as famous for their sexiness as their, uh, talent. The quintet’s greatest-hits album, due out Nov. 13, will be sold initially through Victoria’s Secret – at stores and the lingerie company’s Web site.
The Spices – Geri “Ginger” Halliwell, Victoria “Posh” Beckham, Melanie “Sporty” Chisholm, Emma “Baby” Bunton and Melanie “Scary” Brown – will hold a reunion tour starting Dec. 2 in Vancouver, B.C.
Como se dice ‘He’s motivated’?
Surrounded by hundreds of shrieking female fans, Ricky Martin beamed on Tuesday as he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. “My work has been recognized. It will stay here forever, hopefully,” the 35-year-old singer said. “I’m so motivated right now, we’ll see where this takes me.”
Martin is one of Puerto Rico’s top-selling artists, with hits such as “Livin’ la Vida Loca.” The Grammy-winning singer has sold more than 60 million albums as a solo artist.
The birthday bunch
Singer-guitarist Chuck Berry is 81. Actor Joe Morton is 60. Actress Pam Dawber is 56. Actress Erin Moran (“Happy Days”) is 47. Actor Jean-Claude Van Damme is 47. Jazz trumpeter Wynton Marsalis is 46. Actor Vincent Spano is 45. Bassist Tim Cross of Sponge is 41. Singer Nonchalant is 34. Guitarist Peter Svensson of the Cardigans is 33. Country singer Josh Gracin is 27. Actor Zac Efron (“High School Musical”) is 20. Actress Joy Lauren is 18.