US actor Ned Beatty, known for his roles in Deliverance, Superman and many other films, has died at the age of 83.

According to his manager, he died on Sunday from natural causes “surrounded by his family and loved ones”.

Born in Kentucky in 1937, Beatty was Oscar-nominated in 1977 for playing a corporate CEO in Network, a role he filmed in a single day.

He also appeared in All the President’s Men and was heard as menacing teddy bear Lotso on Toy Story 3.

Lee Unkrich, director of that 2010 animated film, said it had been “a joy and an incredible honour” to work with him.

Beatty made his screen debut in 1972’s Deliverance, in which his character is brutally assaulted during a canoeing expedition.

He went on to appear in a number of films with that movie’s star, Burt Reynolds, and was also seen in Robert Altman’s Nashville.

In 1978’s Superman he was seen as Lex Luthor’s bumbling assistant Otis, a character that returned in 1980’s Superman II.

His other roles included playing Irish singer Josef Locke in Hear My Song, for which he was nominated for a Golden Globe in 1992.

A prolific actor known for his stocky build, Beatty believed those in his profession should never turn down work when it was offered.

“I worked a day on Network and got an Oscar nomination for it,” he once observed, though having an extensive number of credits did have a downside.

“For people like me, there’s a lot of ‘I know you! I know you! What have I seen you in?'” he remarked in 1992.

Once nicknamed “the busiest actor in Hollywood”, his final film before retirement was 2013’s Baggage Claim.

Beatty – who was not related to his namesake Warren – is survived by his widow Sandra Johnson and the eight children he had with his previous three wives.

Nashville will be seen in cinemas again later this month as part of a BFI retrospective of Robert Altman’s work.

Arie Esiri and Chuko Esiri’s critically acclaimed directorial debut ‘Eyimofe’ (This is my Desire) is set to premiere in Benelux nations; Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.

According to reports, distribution rights to the film was acquired by Belgian distribution company, MOOOV. The Nigerian feature’s theatrical release has now been set for the Spring of 2022.

Speaking on the acquisition, MOOOV’s Artistic Director, Marc Boonen, said: “In EYIMOFE, we follow Mofe and Rosa in the Nigerian metropolis of Lagos. They lead different lives but have the same dream of building a new life in Europe.

“The film is a migrant story without migrants, because even though the film consists of the chapters Spain and Italy, we don’t get to see anything from either country. Therefore, Eyimofe is a carefully observed story about dreams. MOOOV is honoured to distribute in the BENELUX this refreshing full-length debut and introduce the Esiri brothers, two young and promising talents.”

‘Eyimofe’ first premiered at the 70th Berlin International Film Festival. Following its impressive reception, the film continued its film festival run with selections in over 10 prestigious festivals including the BFI.

The latest acquisition comes just weeks after the feature was acquired for North American distribution by Janus films.

Artists from around the world who have overcome adversity have joined forces in a new recording of 1990s song “You Gotta Be”.

Deaf British dancer Chris Fonseca and Brazilian musician Johnatha Bastos, who has partially formed arms, are among the 13 contributors to the track, released on Monday.

“We’ve all shared the same pain as well of maybe being invisible in life,” Fonseca, who dances by feeling the vibrations of music he cannot hear, told Reuters through a sign language interpreter.

“It’s increasing visibility, making people see that we are visible and if we get the chance we can do incredible things as well.”

Filming the music video online proved a logistical challenge given the artists recorded their parts from different countries.

“When you start recording and you get the bits, it’s not so easy to just say, ‘hey, come round again on Tuesday and replay your guitar part’,” said Dr Sydney Tan, the video’s creative and music director.

“We do need a lot of patience. But … the artists are so patient. We have nothing to complain (about). We’re just so happy.”

Other contributors include American deaf singer Mandy Harvey, Grammy-nominated musician Raul Midon and Japanese wheelchair dancer Kenta Kambara.

The video shows the artists performing the song, originally released by British singer Des’ree, as well as going about their daily lives.

“We can’t look just to the problems of our lives,” Bastos, who plays guitar with his feet, said.

“I hope people can look to the video and think … if these people … are singing, playing the piano or the guitar … so I can do it, I can achieve my goals, I can be happy. I can be a person that will make (a) difference in the world.”

In the Heights,” the acclaimed adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Broadway show, didn’t hit all the right notes in its box office debut.

The Warner Bros. movie generated a wane $11.4 million from 3,456 U.S. theaters in its first four days of release, below expectations heading into the weekend that suggested the film would reach $20 million. “In the Heights” also opened on HBO Max, the streaming service owned by the studio’s parent company WarnerMedia, though the company didn’t report its digital viewership.

The disappointing commercial reception is puzzling because critics embraced the film, showering it with some of the best reviews of the pandemic era. Moreover, Warner Bros. put substantial marketing heft behind the picture, and director Jon M. Chu and Miranda devoted a great deal of energy into promoting the movie, which compensated for the fact that its cast was comprised of mostly unknown stars and emerging actors.

The film’s hybrid release on HBO Max likely affected in-theater turnout, but it isn’t the sole reason that inaugural ticket sales for “In the Heights” came in under projections. Recent Warner Bros. releases like “Godzilla vs. Kong,” “Mortal Kombat and “The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It” still pulled in solid receipts despite being offered simultaneously on streaming. But, as audiences are slowly making their way back to theaters, box office charts are indicating that people have been more inclined to show up for properties with more brand recognition. Though the Tony Award-winning “In the Heights” isn’t an original property like “La La Land” or “The Greatest Showman,” it’s not as well known as Miranda’s other musical sensation “Hamilton,” or even “Rent,” “Les Miserables” or “Cats.”

To that end, box office prognosticators believe “In the Heights” can find an audience over the summer, similar to the box office sleeper hit that was 2017’s musical “The Greatest Showman.” The Fox movie debuted to a muted $8.8 million, but audiences fell in love with the soundtrack and Hugh Jackman’s charisma and returned to theaters over and over again. It tapped out with $174 million and $438 million globally, a huge result. Though “In the Heights” isn’t expected to reach those box office heights, it doesn’t have much competition on the horizon and could continue to play on the big screen.

Based on the 2008 Broadway show, “In the Heights” follows a bodega owner named Usnavi (Anthony Ramos), who discovers that his mom-and-pop stop-and-shop has sold a winning lottery ticket. As the lively neighborhood of Washington Heights in upper Manhattan reaches sweltering hot temperatures, friendships, relationships and dreams are put to the test. The ensemble cast also includes Melissa Barrera, Leslie Grace, Corey Hawkins and Olga Merediz. Quiara Alegra Hudes, who wrote the book of the musical, penned the screenplay. “In the Heights” carries a $55 million production budget.