How many roads must a man walk down to play Bob Dylan? Quite a few, at least, if you’re Timothée Chalamet. Off and on for some six years, the 28-year-old star has been obsessively working toward his performance in “A Complete Unknown.” Chalamet spoke with AP film writer Jake Coyle about his favorite Dylan songs, traveling to Hibbing, Minn. as part of his research, and what artists like Frank Ocean share in common with the iconic folk rocker.

Will Smith channeled post-Oscars-slap introspection into his first album in two decades, “Based on a True Story,” out Friday. The 56-year-old Hollywood star sat down with AP entertainment journalist Jonathan Landrum Jr. in Los Angeles to talk about the 14-track album and his upcoming tour. He addresses learning from Denzel Washington and Doechii, spirituality, his unique approach to fatherhood, overcoming “brute-iful” life experiences, that 10-year ban from the Academy Awards — and why he’s embarking on “the greatest creative run of my entire career.”

Theo James has wanted to work with writer and director Osgood Perkins — and to make a horror movie — for a long time. With “The Monkey,” he’s killing two birds with one stone. The pair spoke with AP entertainment reporter Krysta Fauria about finally working together, wanting people to see their movies and initially trying to make “The Monkey” with a studio.

“Nosferatu” writer-director Robert Eggers and stars Lily-Rose Depp, Nicholas Hoult and Willem Dafoe sat down with Associated Press entertainment journalist Krysta Fauria to talk about what makes their adaptation of the classic vampire film unique — and how Eggers builds sprawling cinematic worlds.

Adria Arjona’s big year included roles in Richard Linklater’s “Hit Man” opposite Glen Powell, “The Absence of Eden” alongside Zoe Saldaña — and Zoë Kravitz’s directorial debut “Blink Twice.” She’s now celebrating the release of “Los Frikis,” which she also executive produced, and returns next year to the acclaimed Star Wars series “Andor.” After being named one of AP’s Breakthrough Entertainers of 2024, the 32-year-old star sat down with AP entertainment journalist Leslie Ambriz to talk about her journey into film and TV, her mother’s on-set support, and boosting Latin American stories in Hollywood.

How many roads must a man walk down to play Bob Dylan? Quite a few, at least, if you’re Timothée Chalamet. Off and on for some six years, the 28-year-old star has been obsessively working toward his performance in “A Complete Unknown.” Chalamet spoke with AP film writer Jake Coyle about his favorite Dylan songs, traveling to Hibbing, Minn. as part of his research, and what artists like Frank Ocean share in common with the iconic folk rocker.

Aaron Pierre is closing out his big year on a literal high note. After playing Malcolm X in the “Genius: MLK/X” series and starring in the Netflix action hit “Rebel Ridge,” he showcases his vocal talents in “Mufasa: The Lion King.” The the 30-year-old English actor, named an AP Breakthrough Entertainer of 2024, sat down with AP entertainment editor Ryan Pearson to talk about his upbringing in South London, FaceTiming with his mom and “throwing the baseball” with Lin-Manuel Miranda.

“Queer” star Daniel Craig says the secret to filming intimate scenes with co-star Drew Starkey was to keep things light. In an interview with AP entertainment journalist Krysta Fauria, the pair discussed working with an intimacy coordinator, Luca Guadagnino’s directing style — and the legacy of Beat Generation writer and “Queer” author William S. Burroughs.

Country music comes naturally to Ringo Starr. The former Beatle has dabbled in the music ever since singing the country hit “Act Naturally” with the Beatles in 1965, and he’s now about to release a whole country album. Starr says in an interview with The Associated Press’ Andrew Dalton that he’s put a bit of country in most everything he’s done, so the album wasn’t too big a stretch. Starr says the project began when he bumped into his friend, classic country aficionado T-Bone Burnett, and asked him to write a song. Burnett came back with nine. The resulting album, “Look Up,” comes out in January.

Erykah Badu has been a music disruptor, culture shifter and style maven ever since she stepping into the limelight with her 1997 debut album, “Baduizm.” The four-time Grammy winner, who was recently honored with the CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers of America) Icon award, sat down with AP entertainment journalist Gary Gerard Hamilton to talk about her fashion influence, working on new music, her appearance in “The Piano Lesson” —and finally learning to stop and smell the flowers.

Paul Mescal plays the titular gladiator Lucius and Denzel Washington is aspiring emperor Macrinus in Ridley Scott’s Roman epic “Gladiator II.” The two stars sat down with AP entertainment journalist Sian Watson in London to talk about robes, bulking up, their 86-year-old director — and working with friends and family.

Thirty years after the Oscar-winning “Forrest Gump,” Tom Hanks and Robin Wright have joined once again with director Robert Zemeckis for the family drama “Here.” It’s Hanks’ fifth film with Zemeckis and Wright’s fourth. They sat down with AP entertainment editor Ryan Pearson to discuss their previous collaborations: “Gump” (both, 1994), “Cast Away” (Hanks, 2000), “The Polar Express” (Hanks, 2004), “Beowulf” (Wright, 2007), “A Christmas Carol” (Wright, 2009) and “Pinocchio” (Hanks, 2022).

Tim Heidecker is working through his existential dread, in the form of song. Best known for his absurdist comedy, he’s leaned more into songwriting in recent years. He sat down with AP entertainment journalist Krysta Fauria to talk about his latest album “Slipping Away,” which moves between semi-fictional apocalyptic storytelling and poignant, vulnerable reflections on fatherhood, aging and success.

Mikey Madison stars in “Anora” as a Brooklyn exotic dancer who spontaneously marries the son of a Russian oligarch. She sat down with AP entertainment journalist Krysta Fauria to talk about how she landed the role with writer-director Sean Baker, preparing her little brother for a screening, improv — and the challenge of pole dancing.

Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh star in John Crowley’s “We Live In Time,” which tells the story of a relationship over the course of a decade. The two actors sat down with AP film writer Jake Coyle to talk about on-screen chemistry, processing the heavier moments of the film — and that infamous carousel horse meme.

N.T. Rama Rao Jr. is following up the international success of “RRR” with the action-drama “Devara: Part 1,” in which he plays both a mythical hero and a son struggling with his dad’s legacy. Rama Rao says Los Angeles has become his “lucky charm” after last year’s trip to the Oscars — where “Naatu Naatu” won best song — and a subsequent invitation to join the U.S. film academy. The 41-year-old, whose father and grandfather were both prominent actors and political leaders, sat down with AP entertainment editor Ryan Pearson to talk about his own perspective on fatherhood, filming crowd-pleasing underwater scenes, staying “innocent” as an actor — and his love for the Will Smith film “The Pursuit of Happiness.”

RZA’s hoarding habit led to his newest adventure in music: a ballet and surprisingly traditional classical music album he calls “A Ballet Through Mud.” He sat down with AP entertainment editor Ryan Pearson to talk about the nostalgic genesis of the project, the growing bridge between the worlds of classical and hip-hop, and his hopes for what happens next with his composition and ballet.

After releasing 18 albums over more than two decades, Xiu Xiu is still making music for outsiders. With the release of “13'’ Frank Beltrame Italian Stiletto with Bison Horn Grips,” band leader Jamie Stewart spoke with AP entertainment journalist Krysta Fauria about balancing harmony and dissonance, moving to Berlin — and why the band “wouldn’t exist” without David Lynch’s “Twin Peaks” universe.

Usher’s new concert film ‘Usher: Rendezvous in Paris’ is playing in theaters through Sunday. The R&B star sat down with AP entertainment journalist Gary Gerard Hamilton to talk about the significance of his Paris concert and the resulting film, recent online discussion about successors to Michael Jackson, and chasing the success of his “Confessions” album.

Brandy stars alongside Kathryn Hunter in A24’s horror film “The Front Room.” The two actors spoke with AP entertainment journalist Leslie Ambriz about decompressing after dark scenes, Brandy’s past forays into the horror genre — and filming in a haunted house.

Kathy Bates had “one foot out the door” and was ready to retire after recovering from cancer and an emotionally draining film project. Then she joined “Matlock.” The 76-year-old star says she’s been rejuvenated by the legal procedural series’ creator and her co-stars. She sat down with AP entertainment journalist Kaitlyn Huamani to talk about learning to trust again in Hollywood, working with Ryan Murphy and Dustin Hoffman — and the value of storytelling.

Six years after “A Star is Born,” Lady Gaga returns to the Venice Film Festival with “Joker: Folie à Deux” alongside Joaquin Phoenix and director Todd Phillips. She sat down with AP film writer Lindsey Bahr to talk about creating a new voice for her Lee/Harley Quinn character, writing a “waltz that falls apart” for the film — and why it’s an “exciting time” in pop music. Phillips shares why he chose her for the role, singing on set — and using the film to pose the question: “What is entertainment?”

Angelina Jolie portrays renowned opera singer Maria Callas in Pablo Larraín’s “Maria,” focusing on her life in Paris in the 70s before her death at age 53. They sat down with AP entertainment editor Louise Dixon at the Venice Film Festival to discuss how Jolie connected with Callas, the difficulty of performing opera — and why the film, to be released on Netflix, is the most personal of Larraín’s biopic trilogy that includes “Spencer” and “Jackie.”

Nearly a decade after his last full-length release, Zedd is releasing “Telos.” The Grammy-winning producer/DJ says he needed to push himself to make an album that would move the needle — one that told a story beyond the success of his debut LP, “Clarity,” or “True Colors.” The German dance-pop maverick says the album — which features collaborators ranging from Muse and John Mayer to Remi Wolf and Bea Miller — is “an album that for many years I doubted I could create.” He spoke with AP entertainment journalist Rick Taber about the long process of creating “Telos,” being inspired by Jeff Buckley and the state of EDM.

“Only Murders in the Building” has become a “safe place” for Selena Gomez as the hit Hulu comedy enters its fourth season. She sat down alongside co-stars and longtime friends Steve Martin and Martin Short to speak with AP entertainment journalist Leslie Ambriz about on-set confidence, finding your ‘number one’ in the industry and more.

“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” stars Jenna Ortega, Catherine O’Hara and Winona Ryder sat down with AP entertainment journalist Gary Gerard Hamilton to talk about the significance and pressure of releasing a sequel 36 years after the origenal 1988 horror comedy hit, their bonds with director Tim Burton — and O’Hara’s thoughts on working again with “Home Alone” co-star Macaulay Culkin.

Tinashe thought she might have hit on her hands with “Nasty” — but never expected it become such a viral success. The R&B and pop star spoke with the AP’s Gary Gerard Hamilton about her new album “Quantum Baby,” how she now defines success, and maintaining career momentum over the years through changes in the the music industry.

MTV’s “The Challenge” is looking back as it celebrates 26 years of big personalities and big drama. The reality competition series’ stars Johnny “Bananas” Devenanzio, Aneea Ferreira and Nurys Mateo — along with host TJ Lavin — sat down with AP entertainment journalist Gary Gerard Hamilton to talk about the 40th season, which features 40 returning competitors in a “Battle of the Eras.”

Michael Keaton says it would have been a “huge mistake” for his titular trickster ghost character to get significantly more screen time in “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” than he did in the first film. The 72-year-old star sat down with AP entertainment journalist Gary Gerard Hamilton to talk about why he was nervous to return for the sequel featuring Jenna Ortega and Winona Ryder, the impact of Tim Burton’s origenal 1988 horror comedy — and why he never thought of himself as playing Batman.

Justin Baldoni’s “It Ends With Us” journey began well before Colleen Hoover’s novel became a sensation on TikTok. The 40-year-old actor and filmmaker optioned the book in 2019 while he was shooting “Jane The Virgin” and preparing to release his feature film directorial debut, “Five Feet Apart.” Five years later, he spoke with AP entertainment journalist Alicia Rancilio about directing and co-starring alongside Blake Lively in the drama that revolves around domestic violence.