Jennifer Lawrence to star in war biopic Actress Jennifer Lawrence will play war photographer Lynsey Addario in a film directed by Steven Spielberg, based on Addario’s memoir*. The Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist has photographed victims of conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq, Darfur and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). She was also kidnapped in Libya. Williams denies copying Gaye music Pharrell Williams told a jury on March 4 that he was trying to evoke* the feel of Marvin Gaye’s music but did not copy the late singer’s work when he made the 2013 hit “Blurred Lines.” Williams said he grew up listening to Gaye’s music and was familiar with his song “Got to Give It Up,” but did not use it as a basis for “Blurred Lines,” which was a hit for him and collaborators* Robin Thicke and T.I. Williams, Thicke and T.I. are being sued by Gaye’s children who claim “Blurred Lines” infringes* their father’s copyrights for 1977’s “Got to Give It Up.” ‘Beauty and the Beast’ casting Dan Stevens Dan Stevens, the actor from “Downton Abbey” and last year’s action movie “The Guest,” is in negotiations to play the Beast/Prince in Disney’s live-action retelling of “Beauty and the Beast.” Stevens will join Emma Watson, who is playing Belle, the “Beauty” in the title, while Luke Evans is in talks to play the villain Gaston. Bill Condon is directing the all-British cast production while David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman are producing. Kevin Spacey to receive Olivier Award Just before he steps down* this fall as artistic director of The Old Vic, Kevin Spacey will be presented with a special award at the 2015 Olivier Awards, Britain’s equivalent* of the Tonys. The special honor is in recognition of Spacey’s critically and commercially successful 11-year tenure* at The Old Vic, covering his work there as actor, director and producer, as well as his overall contribution to British theater. Spacey’s leadership is widely acknowledged to have made the once flagging* Old Vic a relevant* stage institution again.(SD-Agencies) | 