American fantasy drama series; first TV adaptation of George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire (HBO)
The Harry Potter TV series has replaced Nicholas Hoult with Kit Harington to play Gilderoy Lockhart in the second season, adapting The Chamber of Secrets. The change follows scheduling conflicts and comes after fan backlash to Rowling’s involvement. Other cast updates include Paapa Essiedu as Snape and John Lithgow as Dumbledore.
Two Venetian islands are on the market, with Crevan offering a Napoleonic fort-turned-villa and Isola Santa Cristina described as an exclusive escape. Buyers are eyeing private villas, vineyards and heritage properties as Italy's lagoon and Adriatic coast attract high-net-worth interest.
The Royal Mint has unveiled two 50p coin designs, some in colour, to celebrate 60 years of Star Trek. The designs feature the Vulcan salute with the motto Live long and prosper and a second coin with four spacecraft spanning different eras. Mint and Paramount executives say the coins honour the franchise’s dedicated collector community; they go on sale September 3 with prices from 19.95 pounds.
The White House has put up arcade-style games on its site to promote policy, including a Tetris-inspired Build the Wall. Tetris Corp denies involvement and says it takes copyright infringement seriously; takedown reports follow as other games remain online.
Col Samantha Shepherd has been cleared by a military court board of a charge of conduct prejudicial to good order and service discipline in connection with the handling of sexual assault allegations raised by Gunner Jaysley Beck. Maj James Hook's trial continues as the case against both officers unfolds in North Yorkshire.
David Ellison has closed the roughly $110 billion merger that combines Paramount and Warner Bros. into a single company rebranded Skydance. The deal has folded HBO Max and Paramount+ together under one owner, brought CBS and CNN into the same corporate roof, and left the new firm carrying heavy debt while promising film release minimums and editorial safeguards.
Skydance has completed its $111 billion merger, uniting Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros. Discovery under one umbrella and creating a media giant that also includes CNN, CBS News, HBO Max and Paramount+. The deal promises a future of unified streaming, cost savings, and potential job impacts across film and news divisions.