Top Entertainment Headlines

Wednesday, March 18

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Below are the latest entertainment news stories.

A year after the actor’s death, a generative AI version of Val Kilmer will co-star in an independent film, in one of the boldest uses yet of artificial intelligence in moviemaking.

First Line Films announced Wednesday that Kilmer has posthumously joined the cast of a film titled “As Deep as the Grave.” The producers said that, before his death, Kilmer had signed on to perform in the movie but was unable to because of his health.

Kilmer’s estate gave permission for his digital replication, and is being compensated for it. Mercedes Kilmer, the actor’s daughter, said the role resonated with her father.

Taylor Frankie Paul, who is set to be ABC’s newest “Bachelorette,” spoke out Wednesday regarding reports alleging a domestic violence incident with her ex-boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen.

Paul, who helms Hulu’s “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” as the founder of “MomTok,” said on “Good Morning America” that “it’s been a heavy time to see the headlines,” alleging the investigation, just days before her season of “The Bachelorette” is set to air on Sunday.

The interview came after multiple reports surfaced on Monday alleging domestic violence.

The 98th Oscars hosted by Conan O’Brien saw a dip in ratings after several years of gains. The Walt Disney Co. on Tuesday said that just under 17.9 million viewers tuned into Sunday’s show, which aired live on ABC and was streamed on Hulu.

The ratings are down 9% from last year’s post-pandemic high of 19.7 million viewers who tuned in for O’Brien’s inaugural year as host, when “Anora” swept the awards. The show also yielded a more significant 14% decline from last year in viewership from adults aged 18-49.

Sunday’s Oscars saw a showdown between two Warner Bros. films, “One Battle After Another” and “Sinners,” with the former winning best picture and director. Michael B. Jordan won best actor for “Sinners,” the most nominated film in history, with 16, that also broke the record for the most losses by a single film, with 12.

Filming for Season Five of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” has been halted as the show’s star, Taylor Frankie Paul, and her ex, Dakota Mortensen, are involved in an “ongoing investigation,” three sources close to the matter told NBC News on Tuesday.

The Hulu reality show, which debuted in 2024, follows a group of Utah-based Mormon moms who popularized the online subculture known as “MomTok.” The show has documented Paul and Mortensen’s on-again, off-again relationship, as well as the “MomTok” group’s fallout and rebuilding over the years.

It has also led to Paul’s biggest role yet: She will be the lead for the new season of ABC’s reality dating show, “The Bachelorette.”

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences offered its support to Teyana Taylor after the “One Battle After Another” star was allegedly shoved by security while at the Oscars on Sunday.

Video circulated online of what seemed to be the aftermath of the incident, with an upset Taylor telling a man that he was “rude” for “putting your hands on a female.” She then explained to someone else that he “literally shoved me,” according to the clip circulating social media.

“Everybody is having a good time, but when you shove me, that’s a different story,” Taylor told a woman next to her in the video.

YouTube made a World Cup deal with FIFA on Tuesday that lets rights-holding broadcasters stream game action live on the video platform that offers global access to young viewers.

FIFA announced a “game-changing partnership” that encourages World Cup rights holders to broadcast the first 10 minutes of games during the June 11-July 19 tournament — in effect an appetizer encouraging young fans then to watch on traditional channels such as network TV.

In addition, broadcasters “will be able to stream a select number of matches in full on their YouTube channel, engaging global audiences and promoting where to watch more of the competition,” FIFA said.