ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

Katherine Heigl Reveals the "Sheer Panic" She Experienced During Her Postpartum Weight-Loss Journey. Like so many moms know, losing the baby weight doesn't just happen overnight. In fact, the weight-loss journey can include highs and lows for months and months. While Katherine Heigl may be a Hollywood star, the proud parent is opening up about her postpartum journey. Spoiler alert: It wasn't easy for her either. "In the seven months since Joshua Jr was born I have managed to slowly but surely drop my pregnancy weight with only 10 pounds left to lose. I gained almost 50 pounds during my pregnancy and I'm not gonna lie, I had moments of sheer panic that I'd never be able to lose it all," Katherine wrote on her Heavenly Days blog. "I had hoped to only gain 25-30 pounds like my mother during her pregnancies but found that just wasn't possible for me." She continued, "Despite starting my gestation out on a pregnancy friendly meal plan and hiking my butt off 5 days a week my weight kept creeping up. At a certain point, probably around 4 months I gave up the struggle and tried instead to respect my body's needs and trust my instincts. About ten days after Joshua Jr's birth I got back on the scale to see where I was at and how far I had to go." One month after giving birth to her third child with Josh Kelley, Katherine said that she dropped about 30 pounds. The rest of the weight, however, "has not disappeared quite so magically." "I have only lost 10 pounds since that first initial drop but that's ok because I decided from the start that I was going to lovingly but patiently reclaim my pre baby body, and forgive the glorious imperfections that would forever grace my new post baby body," the actress wrote. "This attitude of forgiveness and gentleness is the spirit with which I have embarked on my weight loss journey and it's made all the difference in the world." Katherine says EatingWell has become one of her favorite go-to healthy meal planning sites. She has also been trying out Hello Fresh, which is a food delivery service that provides healthy meals that one can cook in about 30-45 minutes. While every woman's journey is different, Katherine has some valuable advice that anyone may find useful as they embrace their body. "My best weight loss advice is to start every morning by saying out loud a positive mantra of your choice about your body. Mine is 'I am easily, with good health, inspiration, grace and gratitude losing weight faster than I can even imagine with harm to none.' Then I say my gratefuls. Thanking my body for its perfect health, strength, limberness, vibrancy, youthfulness and beauty," she explained. "Whether I always believe these things about myself and my body or not, I say them. By saying them out loud with love and gratitude I have found that I not only start to believe them, but my body exhibits what I say and believe." (Eonline)

Speidi are saying "aloha" before welcoming their baby boy. Expectant parents Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt took in the sights and sounds of Kauai, Hawaii in late July during their babymoon. The Hills alums celebrated being 7-months pregnant with a romantic getaway -- and a rainbow! A source confirmed to PEOPLE in April that Montag, 30, and Pratt, 33, are expecting their first child in October. Since the news broke, Montag has shared several social media photos of her pregnancy belly. She has also been sure to post sweet shots and clips of Pratt, 33, serving as a doting dad-to-be. On Wednesday, Montag congratulated her former MTV costar Lauren Conrad on the birth of her son Liam James, whom she welcomed on July 5 with her husband, lawyer William Tell. (People)

Zedd Reveals the Bad Part About Dating Selena Gomez. Zedd's short but "nice" relationship with Selena Gomez was no picnic for his loved ones because of her massive amount of fame. The DJ and the pop star first fueled romance rumors in 2015. She is featured on his "I Want You to Know" single and music video. Selena, 25, said in a radio interview that June that she had had a "thing" with Zedd, whose real name is Anton Zaslavski, and that it was "nice." In a cover story interview with Billboard, posted online Thursday, Zedd, 27, recalled the bad part about dating Selena. "Reporters were calling my parents. People were hacking my friends' phones. I was pissed. [Though] I kind of knew what I was getting myself into," he said. "She is one of the most talked about people in the world, but I had no idea how much that would change my life." Zedd did not revealed if he is currently dating anyone. Selena has since moved on with fellow singer The Weeknd, 27. The two have been dating since at least January. Selena talked to InStyle magazine in July about her love life and said she is happy. "I don't depend on one area of my life to make me happy. It's really important for me to love and nourish my friends and family and to make sure that I never get influenced by a guy," she said. "I've wanted to be in a strong head space for years, and I really wasn't. Before, I was so young and easily influenced, and I'd feel insecure." "You want someone to add to your life, not to complete you, if that makes sense," Selena said, adding about The Weeknd, "I'm lucky because he's more of a best friend than anything else." (Eonline)

Leah Remini Questions Why Elisabeth Moss Continues to Support the Church of Scientology. If Leah Remini finds herself running into famous Church of Scientology members, she may not expect a warm hello. As the star of A&E's Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath documentary series, the actress has been more than critical of the organization. But after receiving an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Informational Series or Special, Leah will likely find herself mingling with fellow nominees. If the opportunity came to cross paths with Church of Scientology member and fellow Emmy nominee Elisabeth Moss, Leah shared her perspective. "Elisabeth Moss believes that she can't talk to me," Leah shared with The Hollywood Reporter. "There's a thing in Scientology called 'acceptable truth.' It means you only say what's acceptable to the public." She continued, "But she believes that I'm an antisocial personality -- because I've spoken out against Scientology. So she isn't allowed to talk to me. And me knowing that, I wouldn't put her in the awkward position." The publication went on to ask Leah what could happen if they come face-to-face at the Governor's Ball after they won awards in their respective categories. Would she congratulate her fellow winner? "I would, of course," Leah shared. "I don't hold anything against Elisabeth Moss other than she's continuing to support a group that is abusive and destroying families." She added, "That's for her to learn -- just as I needed to learn it." Elisabeth is nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her role in The Handmaid's Tale. The Church of Scientology continues to fight back against Leah's critiques and allegations about the organization. In addition to encouraging readers to learn more about the church by visiting its website, a spokesperson called Leah's behavior "dangerous and irresponsible." "Leah Remini's false attacks on the Church of Scientology, in an effort to drum up publicity for her equally false 'docuseries,' is truly despicable. Leah Remini's 'reality' show Aftermath is really Leah Remini: After Money. It is nothing more than a scripted, rehearsed, acted and dramatized work of fiction," their statement read in part. "Like the other anti-Scientologists in her program, she was expelled from the Church years ago for unethical conduct." The statement continued, "Sadly, Remini continues to spread her false allegations in an effort to garner publicity for an equally false program. Remini has continuously harassed and maligned her former religion, which she herself admits provided her help and support for most of her life." A new season of Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath begins Tuesday night at 9 p.m. on A&E. (Eonline)

Shar Jackson is apoplectic that Chris Massey accused her of abusing his 2-year-old daughter (Shar's granddaughter) ... saying her very public history as a parent is more than proof she'd never hurt a child. Shar bristled at Chris' claims she hit his daughter, Mariah, last month and left a razor blade cut on her forehead. Shar -- who also had 2 kids by Kevin Federline -- says the claims are boldfaced lies and she's now got her own plan of attack ... against Chris. As for the alleged razor blade injury to Mariah, Shar says the girl accidentally cut herself during a Facetime between her mom (Shar's daughter) and Chris back in May. Shar says she wasn't even there. We've reached out to Chris ... so far, no word back. UPDATE: A rep for Chris tells TMZ ... Shar has every right to respond however she'd like, but Chris and his family are choosing to settle this in court and not in the media or on TV. (TMZ)

Taylor Swift's Mother Andrea Breaks Down in Tears at Groping Trial. Taylor Swift 's mother Andrea Swift got emotional in a Denver federal court Wednesday as she testified at her daughter's trial against former DJ David Mueller, accusing him of sexually assaulting the singer. The 27-year-old pop star maintains that backstage at one of her concerts in 2013, he reached under her dress and grabbed her butt while they posed for a photo together. Mueller, 55, has denied her allegations and also says they led to him losing his job. He sued Swift for $3 million in damages, accusing her of fabricated the groping story and having one of her security employees tell it to his boss, which allegedly led to his termination. She countersued him for assault and battery. A trial over both lawsuits began this week. "I knew what happened, I heard it from her, I heard it from my daughter's mouth. He sexually assaulted her, right there, that guy," Swift's mother said in court, pointing at Mueller. Andrea said Swift told her, "Mom, a guy just grabbed my ass in the meet-and-greet.'" She said her daughter told her the man said he was "with the radio station." Andrea broke down in tears as she recalled what Swift told her about her initial response to Mueller taking part in the photo op. "She couldn't believe that after he grabbed her, that she thanked them for being there," she said. "It was just destroying her that she said that...as a parent it made me question why I taught her to be so polite in that moment." She said they did not report the incident to the police because she did not want it to "define" Swift's life. "I did not want her to have to live through the endless memes and GIFs and anything else that tabloid media or trolls would be able to come up with...making her relive this awful moment over and over again," Andrea said. "I was upset to the point where I wanted to vomit and cry at the same time," Andrea said about hearing about the encounter, adding, "We felt it was imperative to let his employers know what happened." Swift has been attending the trial proceedings. On Wednesday, she sat mostly cross-legged at the defense table seated next to her mom and seemed relaxed and smiled a few times before the jury came in. Swift wore a white blouse and matching mid-thigh-length white skirt, paired with a black blazer and beige sandals and her signature red lipstick. She took notes on yellow Post-Its and shared them with her mother and lawyer throughout the proceedings. Mueller had moments earlier testified that during the encounter with Swift, he had his palm down and only recalled touching her rib cage with his knuckles. "I know it went behind her," he told Swift's attorney Douglas Baldridge. "And at that point I don't know where my hand went and that's why I would say it was an accident." "Do you know where your hand was not?" his lawyer Gabriel McFarland asked, to which he replied: "It was not on Taylor Swift's rear end." "Because I was a larger person I thought it would be a good idea if I closed my hand so I didn't poke Taylor with my fingers," Mueller said. The jury, made up of six women and two men, was shown a photo of the picture taken of Swift and Mueller, which also includes his girlfriend. Mueller's hand is behind the lower end of Swift's body. Mueller said in court the pic looks "awkward" and "weird." The singer's attorney asked him if he could have put his hand on her shoulder. "I didn't want to hurt Miss Swift," Mueller said. "I thought it would go straight across but it ended up going down," he said. "My hand didn't start out at rear end level. It started higher...I slid across and it came into contact with her ribs." (Eonline)

DMX went to visit his family ... and he could go to jail as a result. The rapper is out on bail in his tax evasion case, and one of the conditions was that he must give the judge a heads-up if he blows out of town. He left New York to see family in St. Louis, without telling hizzoner ... and that could be a deal breaker. DMX's attorney, Murray Richman, tells TMZ ... it seems like X just forgot, because he was preoccupied with the trip. Richman says X usually notifies his probation officer if he's leaving New York to perform, so this is unlike him. He's guessing the judge will show a little mercy and just up the restrictions -- like requiring an ankle bracelet -- but Richman vows to fight it. Nicholas Biase, a spokesman for the US attorney for the southern district of NY, tells us X is set to appear in court later this week. We broke the story ... DMX is facing 14 counts of evading more than $1 mil in federal taxes. (TMZ)

Kevin Hart is being sued by a fan who claims the comedian's security beat him to a pulp, threatened to taze him and called him a "bitch, pussy, coward." Jay Collins claims in a new lawsuit he was an invited VIP guest at Kevin's Philadelphia concert on August 29, 2015 when he was "aggressively approached and detained by stadium security." He does not say in the lawsuit why he attracted the attention and ire of the hired muscle. The suit claims stadium security handed him over to Kevin's personal security, and that's when the brutality began. Collins says Kevin's security threatened to taze him and then jammed the prongs of the tazer into his face, neck and back. Collins says it didn't end there. Security then threw him to the ground and struck him in the head, neck and shoulders, and kneed his rib cage for bad measure. On the way out he says they called him a "bitch, pussy, coward." He wants more than $50k ... probably a lot more. He's suing Kevin because he says the comedian has to take responsibility for his people. We reached out to Kevin's rep ... so far no word back. (TMZ)

THE OTHER STUFF . . .

Selena Gomez Just Designed Her Very First Coach Bag -- How It All Went Down. Because who wouldn't want to carry a little (read: medium-sized) piece of Selena Gomez with them at all times? The Fetish singer is finally giving the world what it wants -- a gorgeous collection of Coach handbags (available globally beginning September 1, 2017 at Coach stores), co-designed by the brand's creative director Stuart Vevers and hers truly. "I'm very excited for everyone to finally see the design Stuart and I worked on together," Selena said of the collaboration. "I can't wait to carry it -- it's totally versatile, perfect to wear day-to-night and it goes with everything." And because you have already seen 'The Selena Grace' bag, InStyle was the first to reveal in their pages). (Eonline)

Twitter Has No Chill Over Brandy's Birthday Post for Whitney Houston and Now She's Blaming Monica. There's some drama surrounding Brandy Norwood and Monica Brown, but this time it's been ignited by Twitter. It all went down after Monica shared a birthday message honoring Whitney Houston early this morning. She posted a black and white photo of the late icon with the caption, "Happy Heavenly Birthday Nippy ... You still inspire many & touch hearts daily... You will forever be the greatest .... You will forever be missed." Several hours later, Brandy took to Instagram to share her own post, which included a collage of photos of herself and Whitney together. She captioned the post, "Lord have mercy on my soul!!! Happy Born Day Whitney. You live on in me... I can feel your Spirit inside of me and all around me. My angel, my friend, my fairy God Mother. I love you forever... thank you for trusting me with the torch!!! I remember every moment with you and I and I will cherish these miraculous moments forever and ever! I love you.... 8/9-2/11 #WhitneyHouston." The post reignited the feud between Brandy and Monica as many of Monica's fans were among the people to immediately start shading Brandy for her seemingly "self-centered" post. People also inundated her Instagram post with comments, which she addressed to in a long response directed at Monica. "Monica needs to really check her evil ass fans," Brandy began. "It's so much stuff I can post about the hateful things they say to me... but I will never have time for that. Always thinking something is about her. It's not!!!!...Me and Whitney have nothing to do with anyone but the two of us...we made history and I cared more about being with her than I did about anything else." She continued, "I'm heartbroken that she isn't here and the things I say about her are my true feelings and based on the things she said to me. #Torch is a purpose and it is an understanding to help me get through the fact that she passed period the way she did and passed on my birthday. I'm crushed for life because of it. It's petty for everything that I say about Whitney for someone to have the audacity to think it's about someone else other than her." Brandy also suggested Monica stop her fans from attacking her, noting they're "low key Brand fans anyway." "Come get your hating ass pigeons and put them in their place the way I did for you when the starz was out of place. They're low key Brandy fans anyway... always lurking and always creating new pages talking to Me. I'm not to be F--ked with today! If this was rap or hip hop you would be praised for speaking your mind but since it's rnb you have to take the so called high road... well because I can rap just look at this as my high road." Brandy concluded her rant, writing, "Too real to be fake and because this is my idols birthday, I'm allowed to defend my position in her life and hers in mine. That's what I have to hold on to." (Eonline)

Lauren Conrad is on course to have the lowest-selling cover in the history of People magazine. Sources tell us that last week's issue of the legendary glossy -- with the cover line "How love changed me" and offering exclusive photos of the "Hills" star's new baby -- has sold just 300,000 copies, according to early figures. A People spokesperson said, "It's way too early to tell how that issue sold since it is still on newsstands. It is ridiculous to speculate on final numbers, and we aren't worried about it." Still, she's in good company: Other People bombs include Pope Francis (which reportedly sold 450,000 copies) and Hillary Clinton (which did 500,000, according to reports). (Page Six)

Beyonce Knowles and her parents Tina Knowles and Mathew Knowles Getty Images. Beyonce and Solange's dad, Mathew Knowles, has sold his Houston-based Music World Entertainment property, where Destiny's Child recorded their early hits -- sparking buzz that he's broke and estranged from his daughters. A former employee at the Rice Mansion on Hadley Street recently posted photos of the dilapidated building, which holds a place in music history. In June, a sad-looking Knowles uploaded a video of him packing up memorabilia, including several plaques of Destiny's Child. "The bulk of everything is temporarily in storage. And no, I'm not broke. Just tired of managing the block of property," he wrote. Knowles sold the property to Group 1 Automotive in September and vacated the property earlier this summer. A source said the space had fallen into disrepair and "from a security standpoint, it became a haven for all sorts of less-than-desirable activity. The family wanted to do away with it." Knowles has been downsizing his life since he got into enormous credit card debt and was hit with child-support lawsuits by multiple women. A Knowles insider told us that his relationship with his daughters hit a rough patch when he cheated on their mom, Tina, but that they are not currently estranged and he does not rely on them for money. But "he does struggle with not being their manager anymore. There's a fight to remain current and relevant." Knowles did not respond to our requests for comment. (Page Six)

TV's "Dog Whisperer" Cesar Millan caused a bigger commotion than 50 Cent in front of the Bowery Hotel on Tuesday. "Paparazzi swarmed [Millan] outside the hotel, and no one noticed 50 Cent in his convertible [Rolls-Royce] out front at the stoplight . . . They eventually snapped him in the car, but all eyes were on Cesar," a spy told us. Millan and 50 Cent weren't the only ones making the rounds on the Bowery. Jessica Simpson was spotted having drinks. (Page Six)

Usher needs to lighten up by doing the opposite of lightening up -- he needs to start dating big girls ... at least that how Problem sees it. We got Problem Wednesday at LAX and he had a clear point of view -- Usher should not turn his back on babes who got back. As we reported, Usher claims he never slept with the woman who is suing him for allegedly exposing her to herpes ... the one who appeared at a news conference with attorney Lisa Bloom. But as quickly as Problem admonished Usher, he trashed-talked big women, saying their chances increase the later it gets. (TMZ)

Lamar Odom's seriously considering a basketball comeback ... and his sights are set on Ice Cube's BIG3 league -- so says a man who's been tight with L.O. since college. TMZ Sports spoke with Lamar's Rhode Island coach, Jim Harrick -- who says he just talked to Odom the other day -- and says the basketball star is pumped about the idea of joining Cube's 3-on-3 league. It's actually a change of heart for Odom -- who previously told Harrick he wanted to hang up his sneakers for good ... "but this 3-on-3 has got him excited!" Coach says Odom still has a ways to go health-wise ... but "if he can get in shape, he can play with anybody." Odom says he's sober now -- and vows to stay clean for his family. (TMZ)

Speaking out. Tamra Judge opened up about the drama between her and her estranged daughter, Sidney, while honeymooning on Wednesday, August 9. As previously reported, the Real Housewives of Orange County star, 49, renewed her wedding vows with her husband, Eddie, one day after Sidney slammed her in a Facebook post. "We had a great last day in Aruba. Rented a jeep and drove around the Island. Ended our night at the Brazilian steak house (we ate way to much) So many wonderful memories made. Although bittersweet," Judge captioned Instagram pics from their getaway. "I want to say thank you to everyone that has reached out to me to see if I'm okay. I/We are trying our best to enjoy our vacation. Thank you to my Mom who is not taking this very well and feels the need to defend me. I love you Mom," she continued. "I love my daughter and I would NEVER abuse, hurt or neglect her in any way. I ask that you do not send Sidney negative messages or comments, Direct them at me if feel the need. Thank you for all your love and support #godhasthisinhishands." The Bravo star had Sidney, 18, with ex-husband Simon Barney. (The exes are also parents of son Spencer and daughter Sophia.) In her Facebook post, Sidney claimed that she never took her father's side during their 2011 split. "I want to start by clearing some things up as my mother continues to talk about me despite me requesting her to stop speaking of me publicly [sic] as I don't want to be associated with her or the show," she wrote on Monday, August 7. "I actually chose my mother's side when my parents separated. This was due to the fact that my mother, the true parent alienator, would constantly talk negatively about my father in front of me and my siblings, putting us kids in the middle of my parents arguments. She even called us Simon or 'mini Simon' when we did something bad or told us that we were 'acting like your father.'" She added: "This parent alienation caused me to resent my father and take her side. However as I got older I realized what she was doing along with other things that were toxic." (US Weekly)

Real Housewives of Orange County alum Lynne Curtin's daughter, Alexa Curtin, has been awarded $2.25 million in her lawsuit over an alleged sexual assault, according to court documents obtained by PEOPLE. In a special verdict form signed and filed Aug. 4 to the U.S. District Court, a jury -- who reached a unanimous verdict -- awarded Curtin $1.25 million for "past physical, mental and emotional pain and suffering" and $1 million for "future physical, mental and emotional pain and suffering." On Tuesday, a deputy clerk signed the judgment. "I'm grateful to the jury who believed in me and believed that the Sheriff's Department should be held accountable. This has been the hardest thing I've ever gone through. Nothing is going to change what happened that night and the impact it has made on my life," Curtin said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE. "I came forward because I don't want other women to suffer like I have. I want them to know they're not alone and should not be afraid to speak up if they've been sexually assaulted even when the perpetrator is someone who is supposed to protect you." Curtin's victory comes more than a year after she first filed the civil rights suit on March 30, 2016, against the County of Orange and deputy sheriff Nicholas Lee Caropino, who she testified raped her in 2014. A public information officer for the County of Orange issued the following statement to PEOPLE: "The County does not condone the alleged conduct of former deputy Caropino. The criminal investigation that was conducted by the District Attorney's office resulted in no charges against Caropino." According to court documents obtained by PEOPLE (Plaintiff's Statement of Uncontroverted Facts and Conclusions of Law), "in the early morning hours of June 27, 2014 sheriff's deputies responded to dispute between Plaintiff Alexa Curtin and her husband." Curtin was 21 and married at the time, but was living separately from her husband. Deputy Caropino and his trainee, deputy Chapple, were dispatched to the scene, according to the documents, and arrived at the front door of the home. The deputies proceeded to take the couple outside, where they separated them for questioning; Caropino spoke with Curtin. "After investigating, the deputies concluded no crime had occurred, and the couple should part ways for the night. ... the deputies told [Alexa's] husband to remain inside the house and not to contact [Alexa]. They also instructed [Alexa] not to go inside the house," according to the documents. Caropino proceeded to order Curtin "to get in the back of his patrol car and he then shut the car door, and drove her to where she had parked her car-a couple blocks away from the house." Upon arriving at her vehicle, "Caropino instructed [Alexa] to get out of the car and lean against the hood of the patrol car, with her hands behind her back" and told her to give him her car keys. She complied to both. According to the documents, "Deputy Caropino told [Alexa] that he would not let her leave until he saw her license and registration" and did not allow her to touch her purse. "Apparently not finding her license and registration in her purse, deputy Caropino told [Alexa] that he needed to search her car," the documents state. "After searching her car, deputy Caropino approached [Alexa] and said 'I couldn't find your license or registration but I did find some'-'a pair of wet panties. Can you explain this to me?' [Alexa] testified that she was shocked and confused, and told him that she did not know what he was talking about," the documents state. Caropino proceeded to give Curtin the keys to her car and she got inside. According to the documents, Caropino told Curtin not to leave and threatened her if she did. The documents state that "Caropino then drove away. [Alexa] testified that at that time she called her parents, her sister, her grandmother-'basically everybody, but it was 2:00 a.m., so nobody was answering.' " Upon returning to Curtin's vehicle approximately 20-30 minutes later, Caropino instructed her to "unlock the door." According to the documents, Caropino entered the vehicle, where he sexually assaulted and raped Curtin. "When asked if he was acting under the color of his authority at all times during his interactions with [Alexa], including when he sexually assaulted and raped her, deputy Caropino asserted his Fifth Amendment right not to answer," the documents state. "This was a major victory, not just for Alexa, but for all sexual assault victims. This demonstrates courage on her behalf and provides a great example for all sexual assault victims who may feel afraid to go after the police," Curtin's attorney, Daniel Balaban, exclusively told PEOPLE. "It's also a major victory in changing the very dangerous and reckless police practice. Police departments are on notice that they should consider protecting the public's interest in the same way that they're considering protecting the police officer's interest." The Orange County District Attorney's Office confirmed that Caropino was under investigation for criminal charges and issued the following statement to PEOPLE: "In 2016, the Orange County District Attorney's Office (OCDA) conducted a thorough investigation into sexual assault allegations brought against former Orange County Deputy Sheriff Nicholas Caropino. When brought to the office's attention, the OCDA conducted a proactive investigation of all of his law enforcement contacts made with civilians. As a result, three additional incidents of potential misconduct were identified involving the deputy and after an in-depth review of each incident, the allegations could not be proven beyond a reasonable doubt." "The OCDA examined the following OCSD investigative actions: the police reports as well as videos from the patrol unit and surveillance camera. In cases where the video was taken from a distance, the OCDA technical support unit worked to enhance the quality of the video in an effort to validate or negate the claims. There was no forensic or physical evidence to corroborate their statements. Investigators went through great lengths to interview the accusers and left numerous voicemails, made house visits, reached out via certified mail, and made requests for interviews through their legal representation with limited response. Cells phones and computers were examined in an effort to locate text messages and call logs. The scope of the OCDA investigation was focused on criminal conduct and did not address possible issues relating to policy, training, tactics, or civil liability." The statement concludes: "Based on all the evidence provided to the OCDA, the facts garnered, and pursuant to the applicable laws, there was a lack of sufficient evidence to support the filing of criminal charges." (People)

Music

Blac Chyna Makes an Apparent Dig at Rob Kardashian in Belly's "P.O.P." Video. Blac Chyna has finally fired back at Rob Kardashian -- in her own special way, of course. The 29-year-old reality star modeled lacy lingerie in the new music video for Belly's "P.O.P. (Power of P---y)," which premiered on YouTube at midnight. Filmed in late July and helmed by Director X, the clip also features video vixens Kharris Macey, Delianna Urena and Isha van Dijk. Chyna lip-synced a little bit in the video, in addition to caressing her curves and licking her lips. Towards the end of the video, Chyna gave a smirk and an eye-roll as Belly rapped, "You were seduced by her sin / Don't let Lucifer in /She took you for everything / You let her do it again." Was Chyna sending a message to Kardashian? Many users on social media seem to think so. Chyna has not said whether the apparent Kardashian jab was intentional. But, the lyrics have raised some eyebrows, considering she is in the midst of a legal battle with her former fiance. Last month, Chyna was granted a restraining order against Kardashian in response to his social media outburst on July 5. In an interview with ABC News, she recalled feeling "devastated" after her ex published nude photos of her on Instagram, accused her of doing drugs and more. "This is a person that I trusted," she told broadcast journalist Linsey Davis. "I just felt betrayed." In his rant, Kardashian claimed Chyna used him for "fame and fortune," as Davis put it. But Chyna didn't agree with that theory. "I was already Blac Chyna before the Kardashians," she argued, insisting that she once really loved him. "Nobody was out to make a baby out of spite." In a recent interview with Complex, Chyna's BFF Amber Rose said that their having a child out of wedlock wasn't a "mistake," adding, "It wasn't an entrapment. It wasn't anything like that." "You know, people look at Chyna and they just go, 'Oh, she got Rob's everything. Child, she's taking Rob's money.' [But] she's not that type of person, and neither am I. We're not out trying to finesse mother f--kers. We have our own money! People fail to realize...me and Chyna got money. We're straight. I remember when her and Rob met, how they fell in love and how happy they were. They're just not happy anymore," the host said. "That's life. It just happens." So, where do the exes go from here? With an 8-month-old daughter to take care of, Chyna said, "We're going to do the best we can." (Eonline)

Pink Returns With "What About Us," the First Single From Beautiful Trauma. Pink has never been one to color inside the lines. On Thursday, she debuted the lyric video for "What About Us." It's the first single from her seventh studio album, Beautiful Trauma, available for pre-order before its Oct. 13 release date. "What about us? / What about all the times you said you had the answers? / What about us? / What about all the broken happy ever afters? / What about us? / What about all the plans that ended in disasters?" the singer roared. "What about love? What about trust? / What about us?" Addressing her 2.1 million Instagram fans, Pink said, "I could not be more excited right now." "I'm certifiably, insanely proud of this album. It's been a while, and I'm grateful for all the years we've had," the Grammy-winning singer wrote. "Looking forward to the next chapter with you." "What About Us" is available on Amazon Music, Apple Music, Google Play, iTunes and Spotify. In December, Pink welcomed her second child. The pop star -- whose biggest hits include "Get the Party Started" and "So What" -- took a break from the music industry to focus on her family. But now she's back and better than ever. Pink will perform at sold-out concerts in Berlin Friday and Saturday, and she has several shows scheduled in the U.K. and the U.S. through September. Pink most recently teamed up with Sia and Stargate for "Waterfall." Her last album, The Truth About Love, came out in 2012 and spawned six singles: "Blow Me (One Last Kiss)," "Try," "Just Give Me a Reason (feat. Nate Ruess)," "True Love, "Walk of Shame" and "Are We All We Are." (Eonline)

The drama seems to never end between Blac Chyna and Rob Kardashian. The 29-year-old Lashed Cosmetics entrepreneur appears in the sexy new music video for rapper Belly's new track "P.O.P" (Power of P -- -)-and shows of her moves as he delivers some pretty head-scratch-inducing lyrics. "You were seduced by her sin/Don't let Lucifer in/She took you for everything/You let her do it again," Belly raps in the video as Chyna gives a small smirk and an eye-roll. The mom of two shows up toward the end of the music video, caressing her body and dancing around in white lingerie under a fur-lined jacket Chyna shared the section in question on Instagram, simply captioning the post: "P.O.P. @belly." It is unclear whether the apparent Kardashian jab was intentional, but the lyrics (and Chyna's appearance) have raised some eyebrows as Chyna finds herself in a heated legal battle with her ex-fiance. Last month, Chyna was granted a restraining order against Kardashian, 30, in response to his social-media tirade on July 5 -- in which he posted nude photos of his ex-fiancee and accused her of cheating and using drugs, also alleging that he pays her bills. Blac Chyna Says She Is "Feeling Blessed" After Public Feud With Ex Rob Kardashian Blac Chyna Hits Red Carpet, Dishes On Life After Rob Kardashian Drama "I was devastated, of course. I'm like, 'How could somebody, like, post these pictures of me?' " Chyna (nee Angela White) said during an ABC News interview aired on Good Morning America in the wake of the attack. "This is a person that I trusted. I just felt betrayed." The former love birds, who are parents to 8-month-old Dream, have had their fair share of drama during their relationship. After a year of ups and downs, including screaming matches, a paternity test, and a fight that nearly ended their engagement right before Christmas, their romance finally came to an end. The social media tirade is just the latest in the couple's ill-fated love affair. But now, Chyna is focused on their little girl. "I might have one point of view, but hopefully Dream and King's fathers add theirs, and we can come together to build better people," she added. "I know right and wrong. I'm pretty sure they know right and wrong. We're going to do the best we can." (People)

Pink's 'What About Us' Single. Pink is back with an anthem for our times that asks the poignant question "What About Us." The first single from the singer's upcoming seventh album, Beautiful Trauma (Oct. 13) was co-written by Pink, Snow Patrol's Johnny McDaid and the track's producer, Steve Mac and it asks a variety of searching, urgent questions over an insistent beat. "What about us?/ What about all the times you said you had the answers?/ What about us?/ What about all the broken happy ever afters?" she sings on the song's soaring chorus. With lyrics that could be interpreted as commenting on the state of the world, or the state of the heart, the second verse adds, "We are problems that want to be solved/ We are children that need to be loved/ We were willing, we came when you called/ But then you fooled us, enough is enough." Pink co-wrote all 13 songs on the album, working with a variety of songwriters and producers, including Jack Antonoff, Shellback, Max Martin, McDaid, Mac, Julia Michaels, Greg Kurstin, busbee and others.

Metallica Rock Rihanna's 'Diamonds' & Ariel's 'Part of Your World' in 'Carpool Karaoke' Preview. If you haven't already realized that Apple Music's Carpool Karaoke: The Series is not your mother's Late Late Show bit, then next week's episode with Metallica will seal the deal. The Bay Area metal icons cram into a car with shout-y Billy on the Street comedian Billy Eichner for a ride that takes them to some weird places.. A preview clip for Tuesday's (Aug. 15) edition opens as you might expect, with the band doing a group sing-along to their iconic 1991 hit "Enter Sandman," before Eichner gently suggests they switch gears and try a gentler, more Disney song. Say, something from The Little Mermaid? Surely the dad rockers must know "Part of Your World?" 'Fraid not. Things get back on track, though, when they hit a grocery store for some actual karaoke courtesy of a few shoppers and deli workers. The clip ends with the most unexpected bit: a sing along to Rihanna's "Diamonds." Seriously. (Billboard)

Is Syd Working On New Music With Kelly Rowland? Kelly Rowland stopped by Beats 1 to chat with Kosine of Da Internz about her upcoming musical endeavors. Fans of The Internet will love to know that the R&B singer will be working with the group's front woman, Syd. "Syd's voice just sucks you in," Rowland said of the Fin musician. "Everything about her is just so effortless. I love working with her in the studio. I think I played that song ["Girl"] at least a thousand times. It makes me feel sexy, feminine, and easy." This will be Rowland's first solo LP since 2013's Talk A Good Game, and she said she is looking forward to continue growing as an artist, especially in regards to becoming a mother. Since having her son Titan, Rowland says she is realizing what she really needs to sing about. "Right after I had my son I didn't know what I wanted to talk about. I just found this place and found a groove and everything started to pop into place," she explained. "I'm really excited. I'm not in my 20s, but I'm not in my 50s. I'm in this really glorious time where I'm receiving a lot of information and I feel like I have to give that back out too. That's more than enough to talk about. My theme is the extraordinary simple life of me. It's a really colorful, beautiful record so far." (Billboard)

Movies

Glenn Close to Get Zurich Festival's Golden Icon Award. The acclaimed actress will present 'The Wife,' about a woman who decides to leave her husband while traveling to a prestigious award ceremony, at the Swiss festival. Six-time Oscar nominee Glenn Close will be honored with the Zurich Film Festival's Golden Icon Award, a lifetime achievement honor, at this year's event. Close, known for her roles in Fatal Attraction, Dangerous Liaisons, Albert Nobbs and TV's Damages, will receive her award on Oct. 1 in Zurich. "From her commanding portrayal of Patty Hewes in Damages to the glorious Marquise de Merteuil in Stephen Frears' Dangerous Liaisons via Alex Forrest and Cruella De Vil, Glenn Close has brought her extraordinary presence to countless memorable roles over a truly formidable career," said Zurich Festival co-directors Nadja Schildknecht and Karl Spoerri. Close will also present her latest film, The Wife, directed by Bjorn Runge and co-starring Jonathan Pryce and Annie Starke, at the Swiss festival. In an awkward bit of synchronicity, the plot of The Wife has Close playing the partner of an acclaimed writer (Pryce) who decides, while they are traveling to an awards ceremony, to leave her husband. The film's Swedish helmer Runge is perhaps best known for award-winning 2003 drama Daybreak. The 13th Zurich Film Festival runs Sept. 28-Oct. 8. (Hollywood Reporter)

Anna Paquin Joins Lesbian Romance 'Tell It to the Bees'. Holliday Grainger also stars in the film, which has now begun principal photography in Scotland. True Blood star Anna Paquin has boarded Tell It to the Bees, the period romance that has now started shooting on location in Scotland. The film -- based on Fiona Shaw's 2009 novel of the same name -- also stars Holliday Grainger (Tulip Fever, Cinderella), Kate Dickie (Game of Thrones), Emun Elliott (Star Wars: The Force Awakens), Steven Robertson (T2: Trainspotting), Lauren Lyle (Outlander) and newcomer Gregor Selkirk. Annabel Jankel is directing from a screenplay by Henrietta and Jessica Ashworth. Set in 1950s small-town Britain, Tell It to the Bees chronicles a lesbian romance between a single mother (Grainger) who is dealing with the breakdown of her marriage, and a doctor (Paquin), returning home to take over her late father's medical practice. The film is being backed by the British Film Institute, Motion Picture Capital and Creative Scotland, with Film Constellation looking after sales. Producers are Daisy Allsop, Nick Hill, Jankel and Nik Bower. Executive producers are Deepak Nayar, Alison Owen, the BFI's Lizzie Francke and Ben Roberts, and Sunny Vohra. Production companies are Reliance Entertainment Productions 8, in association with Taking A Line For A Walk, Archface Films, Riverstone Pictures and Cayenne Film Company and Motion Picture Capital. Filmgate AB, Film iVast and Twickenham Studios co-produce. (Hollywood Reporter)

Guy Ritchie to Receive Raindance Auteur Award. The 'Lock, Stock' and 'King Arthur' director is currently prepping Disney's live-action 'Aladdin.' From I, Daniel Blake to King Arthur. Guy Ritchie is set to receive the Raindance Film Festival's annual auteur award, following in the footsteps of Ken Loach, who was honored by the U.K. independent film festival last year. The director, who premiered his debut hit Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels at Raindance in 1999 and went on to helm Snatch, RocknRolla, the Sherlock Holmes franchise, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and this year's box-office disappointment King Arthur: Legend of the Sword, is currently prepping Disney's live-action Aladdin, to be shot at Pinewood later this year. "Guy has always been a great supporter of ours, having attended Raindance back in the early '90s," said Elliot Grove, Raindance's founder. "Guy has gone on to become a prominent figure in film, breathing new life into the British film industry when he exploded onto the scene with his cult crime comedies. Over the years, Guy has developed into a unique and stylish storyteller. We could not think of a more fitting artistic talent for this award." The auteur award will be presented this coming Tuesday. The 25th edition of Raindance will take place Sept. 20-Oct. 1 in London's West End and will screen over 200 feature films, documentaries, web series, music videos and virtual reality experiences. (Hollywood Reporter)

China Box Office: 'Wolf Warrior 2' Smashes All-Time Record With $571M Haul. The action movie, the biggest beneficiary of the summer blackout of Hollywood films in China, eclipsed the mark held by Stephen Chow's 'The Mermaid.' Wolf Warrior 2 became the biggest grossing film ever at the Chinese box office after collecting a massive $571 million after 14 days. The action movie took the crown from Stephen Chow's fantasy phenomenon The Mermaid, which earned $527 million during its theatrical run last year. Wolf Warrior 2 also relegated The Fate of the Furious, the most successful Hollywood title in China ever, down to third place. Wolf Warrior 2 started big with a $130 million debut, but it has really turned heads with its second weekend gross of $161 million. Wolf Warrior 2's performance is even starker as the first film in the franchise, released in 2015, made a so-so $89.1 million. Moreover, the film was released in the summer months in China, not traditionally seen as a period to make box office hay. The Chinese New Year holiday season, which usually falls in late January and early February, is still the most lucrative period in the release calendar and can turbo charge earnings as it did for The Mermaid did in 2016 and Jackie Chan's Kung Fu Yoga ($252 million) earlier this year. Despite its summer release, Wolf Warrior 2 has been the biggest beneficiary of the summer blackout of Hollywood films in China, an attempt by the authorities to give local productions a clear run. But the lack of foreign competition alone doesn't account for the stellar success of Wolf Warrior 2, judging by social media engagement the film has struck a chord with Chinese audiences with its overt patriotism and intense and top-quality action scenes. Written, directed, produced and starring Wu Jing, the film reportedly cost $30 million to make and co-stars Hong Konger Celina Jade and token Hollywood import Frank Grillo (an upgrade on Scott Adkins from the first film). The action takes place in Africa, where a team of Chinese special forces is tasked with freeing their compatriots being held by mercenaries. An undoubted domestic triumph, there are Hollywood fingerprints on the film. Joe and Anthony Russo, co-directors of the Captain America franchise and the upcoming Avengers: Infinity War, were consultants on the film via their Chinese studio venture Anthem & Song, which has a strategic partnership with Beijing Culture Media Company, one of the local production companies behind Wolf Warrior 2. The Russos' go-to stunt team, led by veteran action coordinator Sam Hargrave, were a key element behind the highly praised action and fight sequences in Wolf Warrior 2. Likened to Rambo, Wolf Warriors 2 unashamedly harkens back to the testosterone- and patriotism-fuelled Hollywood films of the 1980s, but this time with a Chinese hero saving the day. (Hollywood Reporter)

TV

Will & Grace Officially Kicks Off Production With a Cute Behind-the-Scenes Message. Honey, it's true, the gang is really back together. Will & Grace kicked off its revival season -- season nine if you will -- and officially began filming the new episodes. Series star Debra Messing marked the occasion on Instagram. Hey, she couldn't do that back in 2006 when the show ended. In her post, Messing and costars Megan Mullally, Eric McCormack and Sean Hayes hammed it up. "It's opening night," Messing said. "On Broadway," Mullally said over her shoulder. "No, wait, that's not right." The Will & Grace revival has been expanded -- and not just the episode count. NBC announced Will & Grace will be back for its second revival season, season 10 if you're keeping track. You might be wondering, how is Will & Grace back after the finale that saw them with kids and jumped years into the future? Well, it just is. And it will be joked about. "I kind of think the very... that was more or less a fantasy, it was a projection, that episode, into the future," David Kohan, the show's co-creator, told press at the 2017 TCA summer press tour. He said they looked at what they missed, which was the core of the show. "And I think what we missed was the dynamic between the four of them more than we missed the possibility of what their lives would be like as parents." "We never would've gone in that direction if we thought we weren't ending the show," co-creator Max Mutchnick added. "I mean, when we all came together and read, it felt like coming home. We laughed so hard. For the last year, at least I'll speak for myself, it's been a confusing time and I haven't laughed very much...It's just a crazy, beautiful thing that's happened," Messing said at TCA about returning to the world of Will & Grace. Will & Grace returns Thursday, Sept. 28 on NBC. (Eonline)

The Crown Season 2 Trailer Is Here and It's Filled to the Brim With Royal Drama. Queen Elizabeth II is sick of rumors starting. At least she is in The Crown season two, starring Emmy nominee Claire Foy as the monarch. The new season, which kicks off December 8 on Netflix, is set between 1956-1964 and will be Foy's final turn as the Queen of England. "The rumors still have not gone away. I have learned more about humiliation in the last few weeks than I hoped I would in a lifetime," Foy's Queen Elizabeth says in a voiceover in the new trailer. From the looks of it, Foy already clinched herself an Emmy nomination for 2018. The Emmy-nominated series also stars Doctor Who's Matt Smith as Prince Philip, Vanessa Kirby as Princess Margaret, Victoria Hamilton as The Queen Mother and will feature Dexter's Michael C. Hall as John F. Kennedy and Downton Abbey and The Good Wife veteran Matthew Goode as Antony Armstrong-Jones, a society photographer and love interest for Princess Margaret. Jodi Balfour will play Jaqueline Kennedy and Anton Lesser is taking on the role of Harold Macmillian, the one-time Prime Minister. The new season, which hails from Peter Morgan, Stephen Daldry and Andy Harries, begins with soldiers fighting an illegal war in Egypt and ends with the downfall of Harold Macmillan, the third Prime Minister to serve during Queen Elizabeth II's reign at the time. In a release, Netflix said "the second season bears witness to the end of the age of deference, and ushers in the revolutionary era of the 1960s." Season one of the drama won two Golden Globes and has been nominated for 10 Emmys in the 2017 award show. The Crown returns December 8 on Netflix. (Eonline)

American Horror Story: Cult Is Setting Up a Very Interesting Love Triangle for Sarah Paulson. Ryan Murphy may have teased a "love story for the ages" between Sarah Paulson and Evan Peters' characters in the upcoming American Horror Story: Cult, but his character Kai won't be the only one her Ally will be romantically linked to. As Paulson revealed to reporters during the show's panel at the 2017 Television Critics Association summer press tour, Ally will also be married to newcomer Allison Pill's character Ivy Mayfair-Richards! The scoop was revealed in rather roundabout way, as Pill vaguely referred to the occupants of the gorgeous two-story house that's one of this installment's central sets. "There are two women married to each other in that house," she revealed. "Yeah, but who are they?" Paulson joked before letting the cat out of the bag. "It's me and Allison." As for that love story with Peters? "I think it's going to reveal itself in surprising ways," the actress teased following the panel. The cast and producers remained typically tight-lipped for much of the session, but they did reveal a few more morsels of information. Returning Roanoke star Adina Porter revealed that her character was a "broadcast news journalist." Executive producer Alexis Martin Woodall admitted that the installment's much-talked about connection to the 2016 presidential election was "more about what's going on in the world around us...[a] streak of paranoia." And when asked for some words to describe a plot that's been so fiercely guarded, Woodall had this to say: "We've got bloody tension, a well-cooked meal, an exciting trip to a grocery store. I just think it is true to our brand, which is you're going to be in a whole new world all over again and fall in love with these really special characters and hate yourself for watching it right before you go to bed and love yourself in the morning for making it through the night." (Eonline)

The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story Wants to Celebrate the Lives of the Victims. The Assassination of Gianni Versace is no People vs. O.J. Simpson. The cast and creative team behind the second installment of FX's American Crime Story anthology series addressed reporters during the FX portion of the TCA summer press tour and not only showed off the first eight minutes of the season, but also gave us a little bit of insight into what we'll see when the show returns in January. First of all, it's not going to be anything like the award-winning first season, which took place in a lot of court rooms after an infamous murder. Versace will spend its first episode exploring the murder, and then will go backwards to explore the lives of the people involved. "We're telling the story backwards," Murphy revealed. "The first episode obviously deals with the literal murder itself, and then we tell the story in reverse." "We really get to examine the victims," he explained, referring to not only Gianni Versace, but everyone affected by serial killer Andrew Cunanan. "In many ways, we're trying to bring to life and celebrate those people that Andrew Cunanan snuffed out." According to Murphy, the show will dive into why Cunanan (played by Darren Criss) killed the five people he killed, but it's also about the state of society in 1997. "I think it's more than why he was killed, it's sort of why it was allowed to happen," Murphy said. "We're tying to talk about a crime within a social idea...Versace, who was the last victim, really did not have to die." Ricky Martin, who portrays Gianni's partner Antonio D'Amico revealed that after reports that the real D'Amico disapproved of the project and Martin's portrayal, they spoke on the phone, and Martin did his best to prove it was a respectful portrayal. "I said yes to the project of course because I was invited by Ryan, but more than anything, there is a level of injustice with this story, that if I have the opportunity to even talk about it and shed some light on such an unfair scene for the world, I would not say no to it," Martin says he told D'Amico. "I want you to know, I told him, that I will make sure that people fall in love with your relationship with Gianni. That is what I'm here for...And he was extremely happy with it." The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story will premiere in January 2018 on FX. (Eonline)

Shannen Doherty Reflects on Returning to Set Amid Cancer Battle: "Grateful for Every Day." It's been a difficult battle for Shannen Doherty. Diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015, subsequently undergoing a single mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiation therapy, the Charmed actress announced via Instagram in April of this year that she was in remission. The star has been known to document her inspiring journey through social media, and is continuing to be open with fans about how the disease has affected her life even after receiving the good news. Doherty took to Instagram Tuesday to reflect on her battles as she returns to acting, filming her role in the upcoming Heathers series. "Was back on set today," she wrote. "It's been a rough two years. Fighting cancer. As an actor, people bench you. They assume you're too weak, not able... and yet it's something like work that invigorates and renews strength to conquer the unimaginable beast." Back in November, the actress was confirmed to join the cast of the television reimagining of the 1988 cult classic Heathers, in which she starred as Heather Duke. She continued her Instagram post by showing her gratitude for the project, "Thank you Heathers for letting me play someone else today." While the series has been in progress, Doherty has also been keeping fans excited by posting throwback photos from the original film and sneak peeks from the set. The reimagined Heathers series maintains the original film's status as a black comedy, but puts the characters who would have been outcasted by the first group of Heathers as the high school royalty title characters. Heather Duke is set to be played by Branden Scannell as a born male identifying as genderqueer, Heather McNamara will be a black lesbian played by Jasmine Mathews and leader of the pack Heather Chandler will be overweight and portrayed by Melanie Field. The series was picked up by TV Land in January, and is anticipated to premiere in 2018 on the Paramount Network, the upcoming rebrand of Spike. (Eonline)

NBC News is sparing no expense on its new star, Megyn Kelly, and the lavish spending is ticking off some of her new colleagues at the Peacock Network. Kelly is on a five-day nationwide tour to visit affiliates in major markets, and she is traveling on a charter jet with a support staff of five or six people, including a hairstylist, a makeup artist, a publicist and a security detail. "People are outraged over her divalike ways," one network source told me. "They wonder, 'When does NBC stop throwing money at her?'?" Kelly left Fox News in January to take over the 9?a.m. hour of "Today," which launches on Sept. 25 as "Megyn Kelly Today." Her salary is said to be $18 million a year. NBC hired new staff, built a new set and will be spending extra on a live audience for the show, which Kelly's been touting in Dallas, Houston and Denver. "She's working sunup to sundown every day -- some days, two cities a day," an NBC insider said, and shooting multiple promos and pieces for the new show. "It's a standard affiliates tour, which many new NBC News anchors have done before her. There's huge excitement for 'Megyn Kelly Today' in these markets, and it's a great thing that the show is covering people and places outside of New York City." The insider said most staffers for the morning show were already working for "Today," and that the expenses for the show's launch were all budgeted long in advance. Kelly's newsmagazine show "Sunday Night With Megyn Kelly" debuted in June to much fanfare, but had mediocre ratings and ended after eight episodes. It is expected to return after the NFL season and the Winter Olympics. (Page Six)

'Fauda' Creators Set Pair of TV Shows at Netflix. Lior Raz will star in an untitled CIA drama from Raz and Avi Issacharoff that is picked up straight to series as the duo also develop political espionage thriller 'Hit and Run' for the streaming giant. Netflix is expanding its relationship with the creators of critically acclaimed drama Fauda. The streaming giant has handed out a straight-to-series order for an untitled CIA drama from creators Avi Issacharoff and Lior Raz, starring the latter, and put in development a political espionage thriller called Hit and Run. Set to premiere in 2018, the untitled drama is inspired by actual events and follows a high-stakes global operation by the CIA and Mossad to track down and kill one of the world's most wanted terrorists. Issacharoff and Raz will executive produce alongside Principato-Young's Peter Principato, Itay Reiss and Kimberlin Belloni. An episode count has not yet been determined. On the development side, Hit and Run revolves around a happily married man whose life is turned upside down when his wife is killed in a mysterious hit and run accident. The political espionage thriller will be exec produced by Raz and Issacharoff alongside Principato, Reiss and Belloni as well as Mandeville Films' David Hoberman, Todd Lieberman and Laurie Zaks. "Lior and Avi are excellent storytellers and we're proud to expand our relationship with them," said Cindy Holland, vp originals at Netflix. "We're drawn to the global vision they have for their projects, each infused with drama, urgency, and relevance to our modern era." Fauda (Arabic for chaos) was created by Raz and Issacharoff. It is based on their real-life experiences serving in the Israeli Defense Force's special forces unit. The Israeli drama, which Netflix picked up in 2016, stars Raz as the commander of a mista'arvim, a commando unit trained to operate undercover in the Palestinian territories. Fauda became one of Israel television's biggest hits when its first season premiered in 2015. The show won six Ophir Awards -- the Israeli equivalent of the Emmys -- including best drama in June. Season two is set to hit Netflix in 2018 in all regions outside of Israel and France. "We are incredibly excited to start these projects with Netflix. It is an honor for us to continue our relationship with them and we are thrilled to be expanding our stories to be shared worldwide," Raz and Issacharoff said in a joint statement. Raz and Issacharoff are repped by UTA and Principato-Young. (Hollywood Reporter)