Star Wars: Episode VII – casting wishlist revealed

Disney and JJ Abrams reportedly looking for 'smart, physically fit' actors to star in much-anticipated sequel

Zombie epic World War Z – another blockbuster turkey that refuses to die

Tom Shone: Brad Pitt's star power helps his new film avoid disaster. So what does it take to make a genuine modern mega-flop?

Second-screen TV heats up for Viacom, Twitter, Shazam and Gracenote

New attempts to reach smartphone and tablet-using viewers, and measure their engagement too. By Stuart Dredge

Google and privacy: European data regulators round on search giant

Data protection watchdogs are pushing Google in a co-ordinated campaign to force the company to improve protection for consumers

Expert advice: how to get the most out of big and open data

Data doesn't have to be intimidating but you need to know why you are using it and be transparent, says Abby Young-Powell

Richard Dawkins on memes – Cannes Lions 2013 video

Richard Dawkins coined the word 'meme' in 1976 – and now the concept is well established in marketing, he tells John Plunkett

James Gandolfini: his film career in clips

James Gandolfini died today; though The Sopranos was his defining part, he had a distinguished career on the big screen. Here we look back at the pick of his roles

Feedly reaches 12m users as Google Reader alternatives battle hots up

News-reading service launches Feedly Cloud ahead of Google Reader shutdown on 1 July, with MultiPLX, Digg and Flipboard also pitched as replacements. By Stuart Dredge

Sir Martin Sorrell: The NSA’s Prism programme surprised even me – video

WPP advertising chief says the commercial world is still getting to grips with the importance of the NSA leaks

Massive Attack vs Adam Curtis – watch the trailer for their Manchester International Festival show

Director releases trailer for show with Robert del Naja of Massive Attack that will premiere at the Manchester International Festival, and feature Elizabeth Fraser and Horace Andy

Films made in 3D are a marketing gimmick, says director Alan Parker

Great Gatsby was only made in 3D to get the money back on a $120m movie, Bugsy Malone director tells Kirsty Wark. By Mark Sweney

Soundwave hopes to shake up music discovery on iPhone and Android

Irish startup's app faces competition from Twitter #Music and others, but has Steve Wozniak and Stephen Fry in its corner. By Stuart Dredge

Fifty Shades of Grey: Sam Taylor-Johnson confirmed to direct

British director of Nowhere Boy is unexpected choice for film adaptation of EL James's bestselling erotic novel

Conan O’Brien: Twitter and Facebook were vital in launching my TBS show

Comedian and presenter says social media helped him rebuild an audience after he was fired from NBC's Tonight Show. By John Reynolds