‘Guardians Vol. 2’ blasts off with $145M debut

‘Guardians Vol. 2’ blasts off with $145M debut

NEW YORK

SDLqGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” rocketed to an estimated $145 million debut in North America, kicking off Hollywood’s summer movie season with something the movie business has been craving: a sequel more successful than the original.

Director James Gunn’s second “Guardians” film opened 54 percent higher than the 2014 runaway hit, according to studio estimates Sunday.

That release, which introduced the intergalactic band of misfits played by Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel and Bradley Cooper, debuted with $94 million in its first weekend.

Rounding out the top five at the box office were: “The Fate of the Furious,” $8.5 million, second; “The Boss Baby,” $6.2 million, third; “How to Be a Latin Lover,” $5.3 million, fourth; and “Beauty and the Beast,” $4.9 million, fifth place.

Netflix gives a Season 2 to ‘13 Reasons Why’

NEW YORK

Netflix has renewed the watercooler hit “13 Reasons Why” for a second season.

The streaming service announced Sunday that it has picked up the series revolving around the suicide of a high-school girl. Season two will debut on Netflix next year.

While Netflix doesn’t release ratings information, “13 Reasons Why” has proven a conversation-starting drama.

Some have criticized the show for glorifying suicide, which led to Netflix adding an additional warning ahead of the series.

The Selena Gomez-produced “13 Reasons Why” is based on Jay Asher’s young adult best-seller.

The second season will also be 13 episodes long.

Legend of ’77 Grateful Dead show lives on

ITHACA, N.Y.

The Grateful Dead performed one of their most fabled shows May 8, 1977, at a Cornell University field house.

Revered by Deadheads and honored by the Library of Congress, the Barton Hall show is back in the psychedelic spotlight on its 40th anniversary.

“Grateful Dead Day” will be rung in today with Dead tunes played on Cornell’s venerable bell tower. A new book on the show – “Cornell ’77” – is out. And a recording titled “Cornell 5/8/77” is being commercially released to complement bootleg tapes that have stoked the show’s reputation for four decades.

The Dead played an estimated 2,300 shows over three decades before frontman Jerry Garcia’s 1995 death.

Markle attends Prince Harry polo match

LONDON

American actress Meghan Markle has attended a celebrity polo match near London where Prince Harry was playing, increasing British press speculation about their relationship.

Photographs from Saturday’s Audi Polo Challenge in Coworth Park, 26 miles west of London, showed Markle on the sidelines. It is being described as her first public event with Harry.

The Sunday Telegraph published a grainy shot of Markle under the headline “It’s Getting Serious: Meghan’s High-Society Debut.” The Sunday Mirror said “Meghan Makes her Markle at Harry Polo.”

Prince Harry’s office at Kensington Palace did not comment on the images.

Prince Harry, 32, confirmed last year that he was dating 35-year-old Markle, who is known for her portrayal of paralegal Rachel Zane in the television show, “Suits.” She has also appeared on “General Hospital,” ‘’CSI: Miami,” ‘’Without A Trace” and “Castle.” The couple reportedly met in May 2016 when Harry was in Canada promoting the Invictus Games, a sporting event for injured members of the armed services.

Associated Press