newsmakers

newsmakers

Fisher to reprise Leia in ‘Star Wars’ films

NEW YORK

Carrie Fisher says she’s coming back as Princess Leia for the new “Star Wars” films.

The actress confirmed that she’ll return as the iconic character in an interview posted Wednesday with Florida’s Palm Beach Illustrated. Casting for the films has yet to be announced, but Fisher answered a simple “yes” when asked if she would be reprising Leia.

The Walt Disney Co. is producing a new “Star Wars” trilogy to take place after George Lucas’ original three space epics. J.J. Abrams is directing the first film.

The 56-year-old Fisher joked that Leia is now at “an intergalactic old folks’ home.” More seriously, she imagines Leia is “just like she was before, only slower and less inclined to be up for the big battle.”

Cyrus the Great artifact in U.S.

WASHINGTON

A nearly 2,600-year-old clay cylinder that’s been described as the world’s first human-rights declaration is being shown for the first time in the U.S.

The Cyrus Cylinder from ancient Babylon will be displayed beginning Saturday at the Smithsonian’s Sackler Gallery in Washington. It begins a yearlong U.S. tour with exhibitions planned in Houston, New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

The cylinder carries an account of how Persian King Cyrus conquered Babylon and would allow freedom of worship. It also confirms a Bible story of Cyrus’ releasing people held captive to return to their homes. This would include the Jews’ return to Jerusalem.

It’s being shown with U.S. President Thomas Jefferson’s copy of a book about Cyrus, illustrating how the Persian king inspired the Founding Fathers.

Art found in garage appraised at $30M

BELLPORT, N.Y.

Works by an obscure Armenian-American abstract impressionist discovered in a New York cottage have been appraised at $30 million.

In 2007, the new owner of a bungalow in Bellport, on Long Island, found thousands of paintings, drawings and journals by Arthur Pinajian in a garage and attic. News 12 Long Island says Peter Hastings Falk valued the works. He once appraised art from the Andy Warhol estate.

Some pieces already have sold for $500,000. Fifty of his landscapes are on exhibit at Manhattan’s Fuller Building.

A recently published book by art historian William Innes Homer calls Pinajian’s abstractions among the best of his era.

The run-down bungalow and one-car garage were purchased in 2007 for around $300,000.

Vindicator wire services