Star Wars details revealed

Star Wars producer Rick McCallum has revealed a few small details of the sixth and final film in the long-running sci-fi series, currently known as Episode III.

Talking to Star Wars fans on the film's website, he said the movie would reveal how Darth Vader came by his name and that it would end on a sad note.

The film, which is written and directed by George Lucas, is halfway through production and is expected to be released world-wide in 2005.

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Brockovich is 'best screen mother'

Julia Roberts' Oscar-winning role as single parent Erin Brockovich is the best ever movie portrayal of a mother, according to a survey.

Molly Weasley, the mother of Harry Potter's friend Ron, played by British actress Julie Walters, came second in the poll of 4,000 Blockbuster video store customers.

Dick Van Dyke was voted favourite big screen father for his role as inventor Caractacus Potts in 1968 musical Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Jack Nicholson's terrifying psychotic character Jack Torrance from Stanley Kubrick's screenplay The Shining was voted worst film father, while worst on-screen mother was the character of Margaret White, the mother of Carrie in the 1976 horror film.

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Black star starts in Sex and City

Sex and the City's first major black character - Miranda's new boyfriend, Dr Robert Leeds - joined the US show on Sunday.

Leeds, a physician for the New York Knicks team, is played by actor Blair Underwood.

Cynthia Nixon, who plays Miranda, said all four of the show's lead players had lobbied for the inclusion of more characters from ethnic minority backgrounds.

Like its fellow New York-set series Friends, Sex and the City has been criticised for portraying the city as a white-dominated environment.

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Terminator's world domination

Terminator 3 has passed the $200m (£124m) mark in box office takings around the world.

The film added $16.1m (£10m) from about 6,400 screens in 50 international markets to raise its total to $219m (£136m).

The film has still to open in China -on 28 August - and Italy (19 September).

Elsewhere Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle added $2.2m (£1.3m) from 1,900 screens in 45 markets for a $145m (£90m) total.

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Tupac remix album due

Rapper Tupac Shakur is to be the subject of a remix album - the seventh release following his death.

Overseen by his friend and label head Suge Knight, the album - Death Row Presents 2Pac Nu-Mixx Klazzics - is due out on 7 October.

It will feature 10 of his best-known tracks, such as 2 of Amerika'z Most Wanted, How Do You Want It? and Hit 'Em Up, reworked by Death Row's production team Tha Row Hitters.

Knight said: "I think we accomplished our goal and I'm sure that, if he were alive today, 'Pac would love what we've done."

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Car comic drives on

A comic performer using his red Ford Escort as a venue at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival is adding some extra shows.

Alfie Joey's Mini-Cabaret has been one of the surprise hits of the Fringe.

Inside his parked car, the audience - of four - become chat show hosts who sit back and listen to his tales.

Joey has added two dates each on 20 and 21 August.