Month: October 2024

A San Diego doctor pleaded guilty on Wednesday to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine in connection with the death of “Friends” actor Matthew Perry.

Mark Chavez, 54, appeared in court before Judge Jean Rosenbluth in Los Angeles and pleaded to conspiring to distribute ketamine to Perry. Despite the plea deal, Chavez, who was part of a group federally charged in Perry’s death in August, faces up to 10 years in prison upon his sentencing, which will take place on April 2, 2025.

Chavez, who had operated a ketamine clinic, sold ketamine lozenges to Dr. Salvador Plasencia, 42, who then distributed them to Perry. Plasencia, a Santa Monica-based physician known as “Dr. P,” has pleaded not guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine. Perry was found dead in his jacuzzi at his home in Pacific Palisades, California nearly a year ago this month.

The other individuals charged in connection with Perry’s death include the actor’s live-in personal assistant Kenneth Iwamasa, 60, and Erik Fleming, 54, a friend of Perry’s who authorities described as a “street dealer.” Both have pleaded guilty and await sentencing. Also charged is Jasveen Sangha, 41, an alleged drug dealer known as the “ketamine queen” who has pleaded not guilty.

In his initial appearance in September, Chavez surrendered his medical license and agreed not to practice medicine. remaining free on a $50,000 bond.

Editorial credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com

Hulu released a teaser for its upcoming sci-fi series Alien: Earth, which depicts a terrifying looking space creature baring its teeth along with the caption: “The perfect planet for the perfect organism.”

The series, set to premiere in 2025, takes place in the same universe as the iconic Alien film franchise from Oscar-winning filmmaker Ridley Scott, led by actress Sigourney Weaver.

An official synopsis for the series reads: “When a mysterious space vessel crash-lands on Earth, a young woman (Sydney Chandler) and a ragtag group of tactical soldiers make a fateful discovery that puts them face-to-face with the planet’s greatest threat.”

Noah Hawley (FARGO) will serve as the showrunner for Alien: Earth, with the cast including Alex Lawther, Timothy Olyphant, Essie Davis, Samuel Blenkin, Babou Ceesay, David Rysdahl, Adrian Edmondson, Adarsh Gourav, Jonathan Ajayi, Erana James, Lily Newmark, Diem Camille and Moe Bar-El.

See the trailer for Alien: Earth: HERE.

Editorial credit: Tinseltown / Shutterstock.com

Paramount Pictures has released a new trailer for Smile 2, featuring Naomi Scott. The cast also includes Rosemarie DeWitt, Kyle Gallner and Lukas Gage, and is written and directed by franchise creator Parker Finn.

Smile 2 is a sequel to the 2022 horror film Smile, with the franchise revolving around a supernatural entity that appears as smiling people, leading the person who sees it to shortly commit suicide. The new film follows Skye Riley (Scott), a global pop star about to embark on a world tour when she begins experiencing increasingly terrifying and inexplicable events. An official synopsis reads: “overwhelmed by the escalating horrors and the pressures of fame, Skye is forced to face her dark past to regain control of her life before it spirals out of control.” 

After Skye Riley sees her friend (Gage) take his life in front of her, the trailer depicts her slowly being driven mad as more smiling faces and disturbing events unfold. However, a researcher of the curse reaches out to help her, cryptically saying she needs to die in order for the curse to be broken.

Scott released a song for the film, “Blood on White Satin,” back in June. You can take a listen: HERE.

Smile 2 opens in theaters Oct. 18. See the trailer: HERE.

Editorial credit: DFree / Shutterstock.com

Netflix’s upcoming Peaky Blinders film is officially in production. The streaming service announced on social media: “By order of the Peaky Blinders… Tommy Shelby is back,  Cillian Murphy and Steven Knight are reunited on set as production officially starts on the upcoming Netflix film.”

Netflix had recently announced that the Peaky Blinders movie will include Oscar-nominated actor Barry Keoghan, becoming the latest high-profile name set opposite star Cillian Murphy, 48 in the Tom Harper-directed film. Keoghan was nominated for a Golden Globe Award in 2023 for The Banshees of Inisherin, and in 2024 for Saltburn.

Deadline exclusively revealed last month that Rebecca Ferguson (The Greatest Showman) has also been cast; with details of both roles being kept under wraps. As  previously reported, Netflix greenlighted the Peaky feature in June with Murphy in a return to his iconic role of Tommy Shelby, leader of the eponymous Birmingham gangster family. Murphy portrayed Tommy Shelby in the British series, which ran for six seasons.

The upcoming project is based on the popular Netflix series, which sees Murphy portray Thomas Shelby, a war hero-turned-gangster who works his way up in the world of crime in 1900s Birmingham, England. While the film is described as a “continuation” of the beloved series, all other plot details are being kept under wraps for the time being.

Editorial credit: Fred Duval / Shutterstock.com