Ray Liotta 1954-2022

►"The epitome of a tough guy who was all mushy on the inside." Ray Liotta, the intense actor from New Jersey best known for his turn as the hustler turned mob rat Henry Hill in Martin Scorsese’s GoodFellas, has died. He was 67.

Publicist Jennifer Allen told THR that the actor died Wednesday night or early Thursday in his sleep in his hotel room while in the Dominican Republic making the movie Dangerous Waters. His fiancée, Jacy Nittolo, was with him. The obituary.  

—"He was so uniquely gifted, so adventurous, so courageous as an actor." Hollywood stars were heartbroken over the news of Ray Liotta’s death on Thursday and took to social media to pay tribute to the late actor. The likes of Robert De Niro, Martin Scorsese, Lorraine Bracco, Jennifer Lopez, David Chase, Jamie Lee Curtis and more all remembered the "brilliant" Liotta. The reaction.

—"I found him the most electric American actor of his generation." One of Liotta’s last completed roles before his death was in Black Bird, an Apple TV+ limited series that’s set to premiere in July. In a wonderful and funny tribute, Black Bird writer and executive producer Dennis Lehane remembers Liotta giving a "master class" as Big Jim Keene, a role he felt only Liotta could pull off. The tribute. 

Indiana Jones Shows Up at Lucasfilm's 'Star Wars' Celebration

►Nerd heaven. Thursday's Star Wars Celebration at the Anaheim Convention Center turned out to be rather newsy as Lucasfilm used the event to tease The Mandalorian season three, the just released Obi-Wan Kenobi, the upcoming Andor and also reveal more info on Spider-Man helmer Jon Watts’ Star Wars series. There were also surprise drops from other Lucasfilm properties, including the Willow Disney+ series and a tease of Indiana Jones 5. The recap. 

—Still got it. On the subject of Indiana Jones 5, Harrison Ford shocked the Star Wars Celebration with a surprise appearance, walking to the stage with John Williams’ famous Indy theme blaring (with the composer himself conducting a full orchestra). Regarding the film, Ford said he is "really proud of the movie that we made." The story.

—Space Law. Jon Watts' long-rumored Star Wars series is very real, now has a name and a lead. Jude Law is set to topline Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, written by Watts and Christopher Ford. Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni are executive producing. The story. 

More from the Star Wars Celebration...

—Willow trailer updates classic property for Disney+

—Andor trailer shows gritty side of Star Wars galaxy

The Sweet and Sour Legacy of 'The Ellen DeGeneres Show'

►"No one, not even someone who is paid to make us laugh, can be wholesome or lovable all the time." With The Ellen DeGeneres Show coming to an end after 19 seasons yesterday, THR critic Robyn Bahr reflects on the talk show and Ellen DeGeneres' place in the culture, arguing that the comedian and TV host has always tried to play the Everywoman, an approach that worked its magic but came at a cost. The critic's notebook. 

—"Viewers may find the opening scene of episode 1 distressing." Netflix is adding a last-minute content warning to the fourth season of Stranger Things in the wake of the devastating elementary school shooting in Texas this week. The story. 

—What a get. Jodie Foster is returning to television with HBO's True Detective. The Oscar-winning actress and director, following a prolonged round of negotiations, has been tapped to star in the fourth season of the police drama. Foster will also be credited as an exec producer of the anthology. The story. 

—One and done. Anthony Anderson is not returning to Law & Order for season 22. The actor, who reprised his role as Detective Kevin Bernard on season 21, had a one-year deal and will not return for the next season. The story. 

—C'est magnifique. HBO Max has signed Lupin star Omar Sy to a first-look television deal. Under the exclusive pact, the French actor and the streamer will develop series projects together in his home country of France as well as for the U.S. and other parts of the world. The story.

Johnny Depp Gets Unfavorable Decisions on Jury Instructions 

►Key ruling. Jurors in the defamation trial between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard will not consider whether Adam Waldman, Depp’s former attorney who was kicked off of the case, had free speech protections when he made allegedly defamatory statements against Heard. 

THR's Winston Cho writes that in a key ruling on jury instructions, the judge overseeing the case sided with Heard’s lawyers on Thursday that Waldman does not qualify for privilege, a defense from defamation, because his statements were not in response to anything Heard said or wrote. A ruling the other way could have led to jurors outright denying Heard’s $100 million counterclaim against Depp. The analysis.

—Charged. Kevin Spacey has been charged with four counts of sexual assault against three men by U.K. authorities. The alleged offenses occurred between 2005 and 2013 in London and Gloucestershire, England. When the charges were announced on Thursday, Spacey was in Manhattan federal court for the civil case brought against him by actor Anthony Rapp, who is suing the disgraced actor for assault, battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The story. 

—"There are those who wish for him not to act." In the wake of U.K. prosecutors charging Kevin Spacey with sexual assault, the producers behind the actor’s latest film, Peter Five Eight, have doubled down in their support for the double Oscar winner. The mystery thriller Peter Five Eight has already been completed and was being shopped at the Cannes market this week. The story. 

—It’s official. Lionsgate is holding talks with multiple bidders on a potential spin-off of its Starz premium pay TV and streaming platform from its studio operations. CEO Jon Feltheimer gave analysts an update on the studio’s plans to create two stand-alone companies so investors can value the Starz and studio assets separately. The story. 

—Signing off on top. The end of Ozark propelled the Netflix series back to the top spot in Nielsen’s streaming rankings. Grace and Frankie also jumped up the chart with the release of its final episodes. Ozark was far and away the No. 1 title on streaming for the week of April 25-May 1 — if not quite as big as when its final season debuted in January. The streaming rankings.

Film Review: 'Broker'

►"World cinema’s preeminent humanist always delivers." THR's chief film critic David Rooney reviews Hirokazu Kore-eda's Cannes Competition entry Broker. Song Kang-ho (Parasite) leads the ensemble in this story of crime and compassion, about a Korean alternative family looking to find a home for an abandoned baby. The review. 

—"A work of handcrafted beauty." David reviews Maryam Touzani's Cannes Un Certain Regard selection The Blue Caftan (Le bleu du caftan). The Moroccan writer-director’s stirring second feature maps a melancholy relationship triangle involving an artisanal tailor, his dying wife and his male apprentice. The review.

—"Sometimes exasperating, but a trip well worth taking." THR film critic Sheri Linden reviews Davy Chou's Cannes Un Certain Regard selection Return to Seoul. Six years after Chou’s Diamond Island screened in Critics’ Week, the writer-director returns to the Croisette with a drama about an adoptee’s uneasy exploration of her Korean roots. The review. 

—"A tender heartbreaker with a stunning lead turn." THR critic Leslie Felperin reviews Lukas Dhont’s Cannes Competition entry Close. The Belgian director explores the fragile world of childhood bonds in his second feature, starring Eden Dambrine and Gustave De Waele as 13-year-old best friends. The review.

—"Not pucking bad." THR's chief TV critic Dan Fienberg reviews Hulu's Shoresy. Jared Keeso's hockey-centric Letterkenny spinoff arrives with Keeso's previously faceless Shoresy at the center of an underdog comedy that strongly resembles Slap Shot. The review. 

Thank Pod It's Friday    

►All the latest content from THR's podcast studio.

—TV's Top 5. Lesley Goldberg and Dan Fienberg break down the latest TV news. This week the guys dedicate the entire episode — save for the Critic’s Corner segment, of course — to answering listener questions as part of our semi-regular Mailbag. Dan reviews Netflix’s Stranger Things and FX/Hulu’s Pistol.  Listen here. 
 
—Awards Chatter. Awards analyst Scott Feinberg talks to the great and the good of Hollywood. In this episode, Scott speaks to Courteney Cox. The prolific actress reflects on the early breaks that helped her land the part of Monica on Friends, how working with Wes Craven on several Scream films influenced her own directorial approach and why she feels her role on Starz's horror/comedy series Shining Vale is the most layered and challenging she has ever played. Listen here.

In other news...

—BTS to visit White House to discuss anti-Asian hate crimes and discrimination

—Josh Brolin refuses to believe Stephen Colbert has never seen Goonies: “That’s so sad”

—The new NYC piano bar in NoHo loved by Hollywood

—Cannes: War Pony poodle Brit wins Palm Dog Award

—Cannes: amfAR’s star-studded gala honors Robert De Niro, raises millions

—Cannes: Daniel Bruhl and Macaulay Culkin join Rich Flu

—Cannes: A24 takes rights to Lukas Dhont’s Close for North America

—Alan White, longtime Yes drummer, dies at 72

What else we're reading...

—Victoria Bekiempis asks a very important question, does the Johnny Depp trial have a point? [Vulture]

—Lots of interesting nuggets in Gabriella Paiella's profile of Elvis star Austin Butler [GQ]

—Glenn Kenny's piece on the late Ray Liotta and his performance in GoodFellas, a perfect marriage of actor and role [NYT]

—I never knew I needed this: "The oral history of Encino Man, Brendan Fraser’s caveman cult classic" [Inverse]

—Friday's list is a tribute to Andy Fletcher, here are 20 of Depeche Mode's songs ranked [Billboard]

Today...  

Today's birthdays: Paul Bettany (51), Lily-Rose Depp (23), Lorne MacFadyen (32), Bella Heathcote (35), Shanola Hampton (45), Joseph Fiennes (52), Peri Gilpin (61), Richard Schiff (67), Jack McBrayer (49), Cindy Sampson (44), Chris Colfer (32), André 3000 (47), Giuseppe Tornatore (66), Todd Bridges (57), Steven Brill (60), Brad Peyton (44), Gianni Paolo (26), Jamie Oliver (47)