This Week: Meghan Markle’s Netflix Renewal, Stolen Masterpiece Found and Harper Lee’s Unpublished Stories
These and more stories you need to know about culture from around the world
I don’t know if I was more shocked by the extreme art exhibition by the Chilean artist Marco Evaristti - glad those piglets are safe now - or the leaked trailer of the cancelled Powerpuff Girls series - what were the writers thinking?!
In any case, happy Sunday and happy Sunday reading because one must be in the know with all things cultural before the start of a new week. No?
So from my DMs to yours, here are the culture stories that made major headlines around the world between March 1 – 9, 2025.
Enjoy.
Art
Controversial Art Exhibit in Denmark Shut Down After Activists Rescue Starving Piglets
Chilean artist Marco Evaristti's Copenhagen exhibition And Now You Care? intended to starve three piglets to highlight factory farming cruelty. Animal rights activists, including Evaristti's friend Caspar Steffensen, rescued the piglets, leading to the exhibit's closure.
Sources: AP
Christie’s first AI Art Auction Surpasses $728K in Sales
Christie’s first AI auction featured 34 AI-generated artworks, surpassing estimates with $728,784 in sales. The Augmented Intelligence auction has been the centre of some contention when an open letter calling for Christie’s to cancel the auction garnered almost 6,500 signatures. The auction went ahead on March 5 with pieces from artists such as Refik Anadol’s work selling at $277,200.
Source: The Art Newspaper
Stolen Masterpiece Found in Dutch Museum
A 17th-century Flemish masterpiece by Pieter Brueghel the Younger, stolen from Poland's National Museum in Gdańsk in 1974, was recently found in the Gouda Museum in the Netherlands. The painting entitled Woman Carrying Embers had been on loan from a private collector. Poland has officially requested its return.
Source: The Guardian
Caravaggio Masterpieces Unveiled at Rome's Palazzo Barberini
A new major exhibition of master Italian painter Caravaggio at Rome's Palazzo Barberini is showcasing 24 masterpieces, including works from private collections and pieces not seen in Italy for centuries. Highlights include Ecce Homo rediscovered in Spain in 2021, and one of his most well-known works Self Portrait as Bacchus. The exhibition runs until July 6.
Source: Reuters
Literature
HarperCollins to Release Previously Unpublished Harper Lee Stories and Essays
HarperCollins will publish The Land of Sweet Forever: Stories and Essays by Harper Lee on October 21, 2025. The collection features eight previously unpublished short stories Lee wrote before To Kill a Mockingbird and eight nonfiction pieces from 1961 to 2006. Discovered in her New York apartment after her 2016 death, these works offer insights into Lee's development as a writer.
Source: People
Longlist for Women’s Prize for Fiction Announced
The 2025 Women's Prize for Fiction has announced its longlist which features 16 novels, including Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's Dream Count, Miranda July's All Fours and Elizabeth Strout's Tell Me Everything. The shortlist will be announced on April 2, with the winner of the £30,000 prize will be revealed on June 12.
Source: The Guardian
Romance Novel Pulled Over Controversial Character Dialogue
Romance novelist Sophie Lark's forthcoming book Sparrow and Vine was pulled by her publisher, Bloom Books, after backlash over controversial lines praising Elon Musk and perpetuating racist stereotypes. Lark apologised, explaining that the lines were meant to depict a "flawed" character but acknowledged the harm they caused.
Source: The Independent
Writers Angry After Australian Publisher Asks for AI Agreement Signatures
Melbourne's Black Inc Books has angered Australian writers by requesting rights to use their works for AI training, offering a 50/50 revenue split. The Australian Society of Authors criticized the move as unfair and exploitative, proposing a 75% author share instead.
Source: The Guardian
Entertainment
'With Love, Meghan' Renewed for Second Season Amidst Criticism
Netflix has renewed Meghan Markle's lifestyle series With Love, Meghan for a second season, despite being poorly received by critics. The next instalment has already been filmed and will air sometime in the fall. The first season, which premiered on March 4 and is currently sits at No. 7 on the Netflix Top 10 chart, features Markle engaging in cooking and lifestyle activities with celebrity guests.
Source: Variety
Oscars 2025
The 97th Oscars took place on March 2 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles with the film Anora receiving the most awards. Read all about the winners, viral moments, red carpet fashions and why I think the ceremony is so out of touch in The Culturelist’s Oscar 2025 Report.
Harry Potter Series Close to Casting McGonagall and Snape
HBO is closing in on casting two more main cast members for its Harry Potter series. Allegedly, Oscar and Emmy nominated actress Janet McTeer is in negotiations to play Professor Minerva McGonagall while Emmy nominated actor Paapa Essiedu is currently closing a deal to play Professor Severus Snape. They are set to join actor John Lithgow, who is set to playing Professor Albus Dumbledore.
Source: Deadline
Shrek 5 Teaser Trailer Sparkes Mixed Reactions from Fans
DreamWorks Animation has released the first teaser for Shrek 5 scheduled to premiere on December 23, 2026. The animated feature will see the return of actors Mike Myers as Shrek, Cameron Diaz as Princess Fiona, and Eddie Murphy as Donkey. Zendaya also joins the cast as Felicia, Shrek and Fiona's teenage daughter. The teaser showcases updated character designs, sparking mixed reactions from fans who feel the new animation style deviates from the original aesthetic.
Source: Independent, People
Leaked Trailer of Canceled Powerpuff Girls Live-Action Series Sparks Criticism
The trailer for the cancelled live-action series Powerpuff Girls based on the popular animated series has been leaked online. The live action series depicts the trio, played by Chloe Bennet, Dove Cameron, Yana Perrault, as disillusioned twentysomething year olds. The trailer of the series has received negative feedback by critics and been mocked online by fans.
Source: Variety
Fashion
Paris Fashion Week A/W 2025 Highlights
Paris Fashion Week A/W 2025 featured prominent designers showcasing their latest collections. Sarah Burton debuted at Givenchy, Haider Ackermann presented his first show at Tom Ford, Julian Klausner debuted at Dries Van Noten's Opéra Garnier show. Alessandro Michele unveiled his second ready-to-wear collection for Valentino after a successful January couture show.
Source: Wallpaper
PrettyLittleThing Allegedly Cuts Ties with Love Island Stars as part of rebrand
Clothing brand PrettyLittleThing (PLT) will allegedly no longer collaborate with Love Island reality stars, following the departure of Molly-Mae Hague from her £5m creative director role. The shift is part of a rebranding strategy to distance the brand from reality TV stars. This move is expected to significantly impact the earnings of former contestants, many of whom have built lucrative partnerships with PLT. The company plans to focus more on global brand expansion and digital-first strategies, marking a clear departure from its previous celebrity-driven marketing approach.
Source: The Sun, Independent
Forever 21 to Close 200 Stores Amid Bankruptcy Rumors
Forever 21 is set to close up to 200 stores amid bankruptcy rumours, as the company shifts toward a digital-first model. The potential bankruptcy filing would only affect its U.S. operations, aiming to restructure and position the brand for long-term success. The closures include layoffs impacting over 300 employees. Forever 21 was bought out of bankruptcy in 2020, and its new owners have since expressed regret over the acquisition.
Source: People
Victoria’s Secret Shifts Focus from DEI Goals to ‘Belonging’
Victoria’s Secret is shifting its focus from diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives to a broader concept of "belonging." The company aims to create a brand that resonates with all customers rather than emphasising specific DEI goals. This move comes as Victoria’s Secret struggles with declining sales and attempts to balance inclusivity with its traditional appeal. Critics argue the shift may dilute previous efforts to promote diversity.
Source: BOF
Pop Culture
Millie Bobby Brown Slams Media for Obsessing Over Her Appearance
In a recent Instagram video, Millie Bobby Brown condemned media outlets and journalists fixated on her appearance. Brown expressed frustration over analyses of her evolving appearance and the unrealistic expectations placed upon her. Brown emphasised her right to grow without being subjected to invasive commentary and urged society to allow young women to live and express themselves without fear of judgment.
Source: Bloomberg
Gene Hackman and Wife Betsy Arakawa Cause of Death Revealed
Academy Award winning actor Gene Hackman, 95, and his wife, pianist Betsy Arakawa, 65, were found deceased in their Santa Fe, New Mexico home on February 26, 2025. Autopsy results have revealed that Arakawa died around February 11 from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare virus transmitted by rodents. Hackman, who suffered from advanced Alzheimer's and severe heart disease, likely passed away approximately a week later, around February 18, from hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Due to his cognitive condition, Hackman may have been unaware of his wife's death and remained in the home until his own passing.
Source: CNN
Natalie Portman reportedly dating French music producer
Natalie Portman, 43, has reportedly begun dating French music producer Tanguy Destable following her divorce from choreographer Benjamin Millepied, 47. Portman and Destable were photographed together in Paris recently. Portman and ex-husband Millepied finalised their divorce in February 2024 after 11 years of marriage, amid allegations of Millepied's affair with climate activist Camille Etienne.
Source: People, Daily Mail
John Goodman injured on set of new Tom Cruise film
Actor John Goodman, 72, sustained a hip injury while filming an upcoming film starring Tom Cruise and directed by Alejandro G. Inarritu in England. The actor received prompt medical attention, which led to a brief shooting delay. Filming is set to resume next week after his recovery. The untitled film, set for a 2026 release, also stars Jesse Plemons and Riz Ahmed.
No person above 70 should be on a Tom Cruise set - it's a recipe for injury! 😂 Also the headlines for the Meghan renewal should possibly mention that 'it was already filmed'...