Names and faces

Actor Russell Crowe and the makers of the big-budget film Noah attended Pope Francis’ general audience Wednesday but didn’t get what they most wanted: a papal meeting and photo-op. Crowe had lobbied hard for a papal thumbs up for his film and the ensuing publicity a Francis blessing would bring. The film has been banned in much of the Muslim world because of its depiction of Noah, who is considered a prophet, while U.S. conservatives have complained it took liberties with the biblical account of the flood. The Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, said the request from Noah’s producers for a private audience was immediately turned down. In an email Wednesday, Lombardi said there was similarly no scheduled “meet and greet” after Wednesday’s general audience, when VIPs can often get a quick word with the pope. Wednesday’s audience drew an estimated crowd of 80,000. Variety reported that the Noah delegation, including Crowe, director Darren Aronofsky, producer Scott Franklin and the vice chairman of Paramount Pictures, Rob Moore, had met with the pope. Variety cited a spokesman for Universal, which is distributing the film in Italy. But in an email, Paramount merely said the delegation “went to hear” Francis’ address at the Vatican City audience. Crowe was spotted in the VIP section of St. Peter’s Square, but was too far back to reach the pope. After the audience, Crowe tweeted: “Thank you holy father Pontifex for the blessing,” and “What a privilege, attended the Udienza with the holy father Pontifex.” Crowe had avidly sought Francis’ blessing for the film, tweeting in recent weeks: “Holy Father pontifex, it would be my deepest pleasure to bring the darrenAronofsky film to you to screen.”

The new Star Wars has an official timeline and one confirmed returning character: robot R2-D2. Director J.J. Abrams will begin shooting in May on Star Wars: Episode VII, which is set three decades after 1983’s Return of the Jedi, Disney chief executive Bob Iger said Tuesday. Speaking at the company’s annual shareholders meeting in Portland, Ore., Iger said the movie would feature “some very familiar faces along with a trio of new, young leads.” Abrams has a penchant for secrecy, and Iger said R2-D2 was the only “official cast member” he would announce. Episode VII is set for release in December 2015.