HISTORY HAS BEEN MADE DIRECTOR AVA DUVERNAY MAKES A FIRST.

Selma director Ava DuVernay is set to break a major milestone: she will become the first woman of color to direct blockbuster movie with a budget of at least $100 million when she gets behind the camera for her upcoming film, A Wrinkle in Time.

DuVernay joined the production earlier this year, and in doing so, became one of a select group of filmmakers, ones who directed a major movie with a budget in excess of nine figures. According to the LA Times, she’s also part of two much smaller groups: women who have directed a film of that scale, as well as directors of color.

The milestone is a notable one: it demonstrates the faith a studio has in its director, and puts DuVernay’s name before a wide audience. The film will be written by Frozen co-director Jennifer Lee and will star Oprah Winfrey. Winfrey is an executive producer for DuVernay's OWN show Queen Sugar.

DuVernay pointed out that she wasn’t the first woman of color to be capable of directing such a feature.

She noted that the milestone comes with a downside: audiences have certainly missed out on the visions of numerous other directors who could have come before her in another tweet.

KERRY WASHINGTON COVERS INSTYLE MAG & WHY SHE TOOK A BREAK FROM SOCIAL MEDIA

 Sometimes all the information is simply overwhelming.

That's why Kerry Washington felt the need to drop her social media connections, albeit briefly, in May, the Scandal star explained in her cover interview for InStyle magazine's September issue, due out August 12.

'I started to feel overwhelmed, like there was too much noise,' the 39-year-old said. 'I felt like I had to get back to who Kerry really is.'

The star, who is expecting her second child, said it was her success - and her unborn baby - that forced her to pull back a little.

'I think that's where the need for quiet is coming from. You arrive at a certain place of achieving and suddenly you feel like your goals are being dictated by other people,' she said.

'Right now, as I get ready for this second baby, it's really about me being in touch with what I want.'

The actress is expecting her second child with her San Francisco 49ers cornerback husband, Nnamdi Asomugha.

The couple, who married in 2013, already share two-year-old daughter, Isabelle.
And she looked stunning in the cover shot and two others that InStyle released on Thursday, all showing her from the chest up.

 In a second picture she posed in a black Bottega Veneta bra-top with spaghetti string straps and draped a Prada black and white plaid coat over her shoulder.

 In the third she wore a white Celine T-shirt with a black sequin design on the front and statement Leigh Miller earrings. Her hair was slicked down to appear as if she had just got out of a swimming pool.

SUICIDE SQUAD PREMIERE WILL SMITH, VIOLA DAVIS & MORE

He's a dead ringer for Deadshot. Will Smith was joined by his lookalike son Jaden on the red carpet for the world premiere of Suicide Squad in New York on Monday.

The 47-year-old looked sharp in a charcoal suit, with a lighter grey shirt and tie, finishing in gleaming brown shoes. Worst heroes ever: Will was joined by co-stars Margot Robbie and Jared Leto - who play Harley Quinn and The Joker - on the (black) red carpet.  Bad guys: Viola Davis and Joel Kinnaman also joined the trio. 

Over the top Margot Robbie stunned on the red carpet premier of her latest film Suicide Squad in New York.

Wearing an Alexander McQueen unicorn sequin maxi dress that shines and dazzles. She looks absolutely divine and the center of attention in her $12,000 above. Suicide squad in theaters this Friday.

 

VIDEO: MALIA OBAMA DANCING AT LOLLAPLOOZA

Being a teenager...It was a historic week at the Democratic National Convention, but Malia Obama skipped the event altogether in favor of Lollapalooza.

Fans captured footage of President Obama’s oldest daughter attending the four-day festival at Chicago’s Grant Park. On Friday, she and her friends were spotted on the side of the stage dancing during Mac Miller’s set (to his hit “Donald Trump,” no less)

FIRST COMES DIVORCE & THEN COMES MARY J. BLIGE ANNOUNCES NEW TOUR WITH MAXWELL

R&B veterans, Mary J. Blige and Maxwell, are hitting the road this fall for the King & Queen of Hearts World Tour. The duo’s first joint venture is set to kick off on October 15th in Frankfurt, Germany before making subsequent stops in Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam.

Maxwell is currently already out on tour, having hit the road earlier this summer with singer Ro James. Together the pair picked up Fantasia, who joined their tour last month in North Carolina.

As for Mary, she’s reportedly finished recording the follow-up to her highly acclaimed 2013 album The London Sessions. Early rumors have her debuting new songs on the tour.

And, as I’m sure many of you have already heard, Mary will have lots to share thanks to news of her divorcing Kendu Isaacs, her husband of twelve years.

Mary’s rep released a statement a few moments ago, which you can read below.

Ms. Blige is saddened to say it is true that she has filed for divorce, saying sometimes things don’t work how we hoped they would… but there is a divine plan and a reason for everything,” the statement read. “Mary will continue writing and working on her album, which is due out later this year, along with her world tour. She thanks and appreciates her fans for their support and love through this very difficult emotional time.

REALITY STAR! TOYA WRIGHT BROTHERS MURDERED IN NEW ORLEANS

Senseless...Reality star Toya Wright has lost two of her beloved brothers to gun violence  The two young men were discovered shortly after midnight Sunday inside a car near the corner of Pauger and North Miro streets in the city's 7th Ward. 

Both had been shot multiple times and pronounced dead at the scene, New Orleans police said. Less than an hour later, a man was shot to death in the Seabrook neighborhood of New Orleans East.

Police have not released any information about a motive or possible suspects in either fatal shooting

Wright, a New Orleans native, is the ex-wife of Lil Wayne and is one of the stars of "Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars" on We TV. She is also a musician, author and owner of a Magazine Street boutique. 

She could not be immediately reached for comment but she did release a statement on Instagram.  So we ask does Black lives matter?  Our prayers go out to her family.

To be continued...details are still coming in...