‘Game of Thrones’ returning in April
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The eighth and last season of “Game of Thrones” finally has a date with destiny.
HBO said Tuesday that the series will return in April 2019 with six episodes to conclude its run.
The fantasy series based on the George R.R. Martin novels has been one of HBO’s most successful shows.
A video touting the show’s return next year included clips from seasons past showing both living and dead competitors for the crown of Westeros but didn’t give a taste of the final episodes.
HBO isn’t getting out of the “Game of Thrones” business. A prequel created by Martin and writer-producer Jane Goldman is underway, with Naomi Watts set to star, and other spinoffs are possible.
Indian film stars wed at Italian villa
TREMEZZINA, Italy (AP) — Bollywood stars Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh are getting married at a villa on Italy’s Lake Como with screen credits of its own.
The couple’s wedding today at Villa Balbianello coincides with the fifth anniversary of the release of their first movie together.
The lakeside mansion has been a location for films that include installments of the Star Wars and James Bond franchises.
The bridal party and guests arrived by boat and all wore shades of white.
Padukone and Singh met co-starring in the 2013 film “Goliyon Ki Rasleela Ram-Leela,” a modern take on “Romeo and Juliet” with an Indian twist. They have been in two more movies together, “Bajirao Mastani” and “Padmaavat.”
Padukone is the only Indian actress to be on Time magazine’s “Most Influential People in the World” list.
Ventura visits next Minnesota gov.
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Jesse Ventura returned to his old workplace to advise Minnesota’s next governor on transition issues — and took the opportunity to talk up legalizing marijuana.
Ventura said he was invited by Democratic Gov.-elect Tim Walz to a meeting Tuesday at the Capitol. Ventura went through a similar transition after his election upset two decades ago and says he knows how hard it is.
The former wrestler-turned-politician found a receptive audience in Walz, who has expressed support in the past for legalization of marijuana for recreational use. Ventura says Minnesota is “missing the boat” on the economic benefits.
Minnesota currently has a medical marijuana program.
NYPD helps family get into ‘Hamilton’
NEW YORK (AP) — A family from Ireland is thanking a New York City police officer for helping them see the Broadway musical “Hamilton.”
The NYPD writes on Facebook that a woman waited in line for four days for tickets only to find out she was $20 short. That’s when she turned to Officer Ricardo Dicandia of the Times Square unit for help.
The officer pulled a bill out of his pocket to cover the $20 difference so “she didn’t have to throw away her shot.” That’s a reference to a song in the show.
The women sent a thank you note to Mayor Bill de Blasio’s office. She wrote her “eldest daughter was crying” and said it was “without doubt the best night” made possible by the officer’s generosity.
