Reuters Entertainment News Summary

An actress who accused Los Angeles police of mistreating her due to her race during an arrest last year pleaded no contest to disturbing the peace over the incident on Monday and was ordered to write an apology letter to the officers, officials said. Daniele Watts, best known for her role in Quentin Tarantino's 2012 slavery western "Django Unchained", made headlines last September when she said she had been accosted by police largely because she is black and her boyfriend is white.

Costumes and replicas, fans fete 'Star Wars' as new release nears

From building Lego spaceships to dressing up as Jedi Knights, fans around the world have celebrated Star Wars Day ahead of the release of the much-anticipated next installment of the galactic space fantasy franchise. In Australia, "Star Wars" enthusiasts built a five-metre wide replica of Han Solo's Millennium Falcon ship, made from around 250,000 Lego bricks.

Samsung, Marvel use virtual reality for 'Avenger' movie ads

Samsung and Walt Disney's Marvel introduced a marketing campaign that uses virtual reality to promote "Avengers: Age of Ultron" as more studios look to the new technology to push movies. The Avengers ad campaign, launched last week, employs VR that immerses a user in a 3D world and makes them feel as if they are in the action.

'Avengers: Age of Ultron' Scores Second Biggest Opening With $187.7 million

"Avengers: Age of Ultron" scored the second-biggest domestic opening in history this weekend, kicking off summer blockbuster season with a mammoth $187.7 million debut. Globally, the film is a juggernaut, pulling in an estimated $627 million in 12 days of release. At that pace, "Avengers: Age of Ultron" should pass $1 billion, particularly after it opens in China on May 12.

Bold and colorful prevail at Met Gala for fashion's big night out

Bold and colorful designs prevailed on the red carpet at the Met Gala on Monday, where celebrities showed off their frocks for one of the biggest nights in fashion. Madonna, Lady Gaga, Naomi Campbell and Anna Wintour were among the big names attending the annual ball at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, which debuts its new exhibition "China Through the Looking Glass".

Las Vegas battery case against singer Chris Brown dropped

A misdemeanor battery case against R&B singer Chris Brown has been dropped after the man who accused the performer of punching him during a game of basketball in Las Vegas decided against pressing charges, police said on Tuesday. News that the Grammy-winning recording star was off the hook in his latest brush with the law came as Brown celebrated his 26th birthday.

'Satisfaction' guaranteed - Stones' bassist Wyman sells cars

A Mercedes-Benz sedan and a Citroen with a Maserati engine that Rolling Stones bass player Bill Wyman says he used to drive to recording sessions and to visit artists and writers in France, will be auctioned off in June, Bonham's said on Tuesday. The cars, a 1966 Mercedes-Benz 250 S and a 1971 Citroen Maserati SM, are to be sold at a car auction in Chichester, England on June 26, the auction house said.

Elizabeth Banks takes director's chair in 'Pitch Perfect 2'

"The Hunger Games" actress Elizabeth Banks makes her debut as a feature film director in the musical comedy "Pitch Perfect 2" and hopes to inspire more women to get behind the camera. Banks also appears in the sequel to the 2012 "Pitch Perfect" box office hit about a girls college singing group. The new film stars U.S. actresses Anna Kendrick and Hailee Steinfeld and Australian Rebel Wilson.