Entertainment Tidbits

Director Peter Jackson is partnering with Colossal Biosciences to bring back extinct species like the woolly mammoth, dodo, and dire wolf. Jackson, who invested $10 million in Colossal in 2024, actively contributes creative ideas to the project. Colossal made headlines for gene-editing wolf pups, with plans to implant woolly mammoth embryos by 2026. (Complex)

Scott Speedman has landed the lead role in in ABC’s upcoming pilot RJ Decker, based on Carl Hiaasen’s novel Double Whammy. The one-hour drama follows RJ Decker, a former newspaper photographer and ex-convict turned private investigator in South Florida. Speedman is currently best known for his roles in Grey’s Anatomy and Animal Kingdom. (Variety)

Daisy Edgar-Jones is set to star in a new adaptation of Jane Austen’s novel Sense and Sensibility. The story follows sisters Elinor and Marianne Dashwood as they navigate love and financial challenges. Edgar-Jones, known for her role in Normal People, announced her involvement on Instagram. The role of Marianne Dashwood is yet to be revealed. (Variety)

Allison Williams discussed her experience with Botox injections during an appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show while promoting her film M3GAN 2.0. Williams, 37, talked about her podcast and the topics it covers, including aging, hormones, and Botox. At one point, Williams jokingly called out Clarkson for checking her forehead for signs of Botox. (Us Weekly)

During a recent episode of Jeopardy!, contestant Emily Croke from Denver, Colorado, made a surprising revelation when she correctly answered a Final Jeopardy question related to her namesake distant relative, Emily Folger. Host Ken Jennings expressed amazement at the familial connection, which helped Croke secure the win with $13,201. (EW)

The Library Of Congress has obtained the extensive collection of renowned musical theater composer Stephen Sondheim for preservation. This collection includes around 5,000 items like manuscripts, notebooks, music and lyric drafts, and scrapbooks from his many popular shows like Company, Sweeney Todd, and Into the Woods. (Variety)

Steve Burns, known for his role as the original host of Nickelodeon’s Blue’s Clues, is set to launch a new podcast titled Alive. The podcast, scheduled to debut in fall 2025, will explore topics such as mortality, masculinity, loneliness, and success. Burns will also be performing a solo live show for adult audiences titled Steve Burns Alive in July. (Variety)