Entertainment

Rachel Cusk’s New Novel May Be Dark Portrait of Natalie Portman

• Rachel Cusk's new novel "Life of M" may depict Natalie Portman.
• Report claims Portman felt "betrayal" over the portrayal.
• Book, out 25 August 2026, centres on an actress and her biographer.

A report by Unherd writer Valerie Stivers has suggested that novelist Rachel Cusk's forthcoming book, "Life of M," may be a thinly disguised portrait of her friend Natalie Portman, drawing on "chatter in New York literary circles." The novel, due for release on 25 August 2026, follows a…

Xbox Game Pass just got the best Vampire Survivors clone in years

• Ascend to Zero launches on Xbox Series X, PC and Game Pass
• Roguelike blends Vampire Survivors combat with Hades-style visuals
• Features complex multi-currency progression and a 30-second run timer

Ascend to Zero, a new isometric roguelike from Flyway Games, has launched on Xbox Series X and Windows PC, and is also available via Xbox Game Pass. Polygon's early impressions single it out as a standout entry in the "auto-battler" genre popularised by Vampire Survivors, praising the inventive…

3 Songs From the 1990s That Will Instantly Turn You Into an Alt-Rock Fan

• Article lists three defining 1990s alt-rock songs
• Featured tracks: Weezer, Beck and Blues Traveler classics
• A nostalgic retrospective, not breaking news

American Songwriter has published a list-style feature spotlighting three tracks from the 1990s that the outlet argues capture the essence of alt-rock and could win over new fans of the genre. The piece is a retrospective, celebratory look back at the decade's alternative rock scene rather than breaking…

The hated guitarist Henry Rollins will always love: “As good as anyone”

• Henry Rollins praises Ted Nugent's guitar playing as exceptional despite grave reservations about Nugent's personal conduct and controversial history
• Nugent faces ongoing criticism for hunting practices and for becoming legal guardian of an underage girl to enable a relationship
• Rollins compartmentalises artistic merit from personal disagreement, treating Nugent's records as 'guilty pleasures' he can defend on musical grounds alone

The First-Ever Agatha Christie Adaptation Became a Real-Life Mystery

• Netflix's new "Seven Dials" revives interest in Christie adaptations
• 1928's "The Passing of Mr. Quin" was the first-ever Christie film
• Its plot diverged heavily from the original short story

Netflix has released a new adaptation of Agatha Christie's 1929 novel "The Seven Dials Mystery" (retitled "Seven Dials"), keeping alive the near-century-long tradition of reinterpreting the crime writer's work. Unlike most Christie stories, this one features neither Hercule Poirot nor Miss Marple, and its release has prompted renewed…

19 New Songs Out Today

• Article content was unavailable.
• The page appears to list 19 new songs.
• No song details could be verified.

The article’s contents are not available because the page displays a JavaScript and cookies verification screen rather than the news text. As a result, the specific songs, artists and any accompanying commentary cannot be summarised reliably. Based on its title, the article appears to be a round-up of…

As PlayStation declares nobody wants physical discs anymore, Gen Z is helping fuel a 16% surge in US music CD sales

• Sony is moving away from physical PlayStation game discs
• US CD sales rose 16%, boosted by Gen Z buyers
• Music and gaming industries are diverging on physical media

Sony has said it no longer plans to release disc-based versions of first-party PlayStation games going forward, framing physical media as a fading priority for the industry. Yet new sales data tells a more complicated story: US CD sales rose 16% in early 2026, driven largely by younger…

3 Fantastic Movies To Watch on Prime Video This Weekend (July 18-19)

• Collider picks three Prime Video films worth watching this weekend
• Horror title Do Not Enter leads the recommendations despite poor reviews
• Suggested as alternatives to Nolan's cinema release The Odyssey

- Do Not Enter (2026): A horror film about four "urban explorer" livestreamers who investigate an abandoned hotel rumoured to contain $300 million (25% on Rotten Tomatoes, 4.3/10 on IMDb), directed by Marc Klasfeld and starring Adeline Rudolph, Laurence O'Fuarain and Nicholas Hamilton, among others. - Two further…

Long before the Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake leaks, ex-Nintendo marketing leads were “scared straight” to keep the company’s secrets, feared they would “ruin the company”

• Ex-Nintendo marketing staff describe strict training to prevent leaks
• Some feared leaks could seriously "ruin the company"
• Comes amid recent Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake leak reports

An article looks back at how former Nintendo marketing executives were rigorously trained to protect the company's confidential product information, with some describing being "scared straight" over the risk that leaks could seriously damage the business. The piece frames this culture of secrecy against the backdrop of the…