Melissa McCarthy on The Heat poster controversy

Plus: sequel to Pitt's World War Z is in works; Anna Kendrick in talks to play Cinderella; George Lucas weds longtime partner; Melissa McCarthy talks Photoshopped Heat poster

Melissa McCarthy, right, and Sandra Bullock in the UK poster for the film The Heat.

Melissa McCarthy has spoken up about the UK poster for her new film The Heat, in which her image seems to have been digitally altered to make her look slimmer. She jokingly blamed her husband, Ben Falcone. "Ben did it. We had a big fight because I wanted it 80 per cent smaller and he wanted it 70 per cent," she told The Hollywood Reporter. The film's director Paul Feig told The Huffington Post: "I have little to do with that, especially in the foreign markets. I love Melissa exactly how she is." The comedy, which also stars Sandra Bullock, opens in the UAE tomorrow. – The National staff

Earth, Wind & Fire to release new album

Earth, Wind & Fire initially wanted to release their new album around the presidential election last year, but the band said they weren't satisfied with the songs. Now, Then & Forever, the group's first album in eight years, will be released on September 10. The singer Philip Bailey explains that the 10-track album feels fresh, but it isn't a departure from the band's classic sound. Adds the bassist Verdine White: "It doesn't sound like we're trying to be anyone other than Earth, Wind & Fire." My Promise, their new single, was out on Monday. – AP

Sequel to Pitt’s World War Z is in the works

Paramount Pictures might develop a sequel to Brad Pitt's recent zombie thriller World War Z, a source said. World War Z, based on the novel by Max Brooks, was always intended to spawn a trilogy with Pitt in mind. But that seemed in doubt when the film ran significantly over budget, the ending had to be reshot and reports of turmoil among the filmmakers surfaced. When asked about the possibility of sequels in an interview last week, Pitt said there was plenty of fodder. "We've got so many good storylines stemming from the book and then just generated from our own powwows," said Pitt, who's also a producer on the film. "It might still be fun. We've got enough material, that's for sure." – AP

George Lucas weds longtime partner

A spokeswoman has confirmed George Lucas, 69, married his longtime girlfriend Mellody Hobson in a weekend ceremony at Skywalker Ranch north of San Francisco. Hobson, 44, is an investment firm president and contributor to Good Morning America. – AP

Anna Kendrick in talks to play Cinderella

Anna Kendrick is being eyed to play Cinderella in Into the Woods, a Disney adaptation of the Broadway musical being directed by Rob Marshall. The project has already attracted Meryl Streep, Johnny Depp, Chris Pine, Jake Gyllenhaal, James Corden, Emily Blunt, Tracey Ullman and Christine Baranski, who are all in negotiations to star in the movie. Into the Woods is a comic mash-up of classic fairy tales. – IANS

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