Top News
Travis Kelce has joined the cast of Ryan Murphy’s new horror series “Grotesquerie.”
The Kansas City Chiefs tight end has been cast opposite Niecy Nash-Betts, Courtney B. Vance and Lesley Manville in the FX series, which will premiere this fall. Although character details have not been revealed, this marks Kelce’s first major acting role.
Kelce confirmed the news in an Instagram Story featuring a video of himself and Nash-Betts.
“Guys, guess who I am working with in ‘Grotesquerie’?” Nash-Betts asks in the video before panning over to Kelce.
“Stepping into new territory with Niecy,” Kelce adds.
The NFL...
The Kansas City Chiefs tight end has been cast opposite Niecy Nash-Betts, Courtney B. Vance and Lesley Manville in the FX series, which will premiere this fall. Although character details have not been revealed, this marks Kelce’s first major acting role.
Kelce confirmed the news in an Instagram Story featuring a video of himself and Nash-Betts.
“Guys, guess who I am working with in ‘Grotesquerie’?” Nash-Betts asks in the video before panning over to Kelce.
“Stepping into new territory with Niecy,” Kelce adds.
The NFL...
- 5/8/2024
- by Michaela Zee
- Variety - TV News
Isabelle Huppert will preside over the main jury of the upcoming Venice Film Festival.
The revered French actor has a longstanding rapport with the Lido, having won Venice’s
Coppa Volpi for best actress twice, first with “Story of Women” in 1988, and subsequently with “La Cérémonie” in 1995, both directed by Claude Chabrol.
Huppert – who has made a total of eight films with Chabrol – also has a close bond with the Cannes Film Festival where in 1978 she won the best actress statuette for Chabrol’s “Violette.” In 2001, Huppert won her second best actress award at Cannes for her tour-de-force performance as a sado-masochistic music professor in Michael Haneke’s “The Piano.” In 2005, Huppert was honored by Venice with a Special Golden Lion for her titular role in “Gabrielle,” Patrice Chéreau’s costume drama about an imploded marriage.
In 2017 she gained her first Academy Award nomination for her role as a rape...
The revered French actor has a longstanding rapport with the Lido, having won Venice’s
Coppa Volpi for best actress twice, first with “Story of Women” in 1988, and subsequently with “La Cérémonie” in 1995, both directed by Claude Chabrol.
Huppert – who has made a total of eight films with Chabrol – also has a close bond with the Cannes Film Festival where in 1978 she won the best actress statuette for Chabrol’s “Violette.” In 2001, Huppert won her second best actress award at Cannes for her tour-de-force performance as a sado-masochistic music professor in Michael Haneke’s “The Piano.” In 2005, Huppert was honored by Venice with a Special Golden Lion for her titular role in “Gabrielle,” Patrice Chéreau’s costume drama about an imploded marriage.
In 2017 she gained her first Academy Award nomination for her role as a rape...
- 5/8/2024
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety - Film News
Mubi has kicked off its 2024 Cannes Film Festival early and in style, acquiring worldwide rights to one of the buzziest films set to premiere in competition.
The arthouse distributor, production banner and streamer has landed Coralie Fargeat’s body horror “The Substance,” starring Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley and Denis Quaid, picking up all rights for North America, U.K., Ireland, Germany, Austria, Latin America and Benelux, where it will release theatrically this year. Mubi has also acquired the rights for Turkey and India. The Match Factory, owned by Mubi, is handling sales for all other territories.
Written and directed by Fargeat, who made a noise with her debut, 2017’s action-thriller “Revenge,” “The Substance” goes into Cannes with a significant amount of intrigue, having been produced by Working Title, the Brit banner best known for rom-coms and prestige dramas.
“Have you ever dreamed of a better version of yourself?” reads the...
The arthouse distributor, production banner and streamer has landed Coralie Fargeat’s body horror “The Substance,” starring Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley and Denis Quaid, picking up all rights for North America, U.K., Ireland, Germany, Austria, Latin America and Benelux, where it will release theatrically this year. Mubi has also acquired the rights for Turkey and India. The Match Factory, owned by Mubi, is handling sales for all other territories.
Written and directed by Fargeat, who made a noise with her debut, 2017’s action-thriller “Revenge,” “The Substance” goes into Cannes with a significant amount of intrigue, having been produced by Working Title, the Brit banner best known for rom-coms and prestige dramas.
“Have you ever dreamed of a better version of yourself?” reads the...
- 5/8/2024
- by Alex Ritman
- Variety Film + TV
Susan Buckner, an American actor best known for her role as Patty Simcox in the 1978 musical “Grease,” died May 2. She was 72. Her death was confirmed by her publicist.
At the age of 25, Buckner was cast in the role of the Rydell High cheerleader, joining a cast that included John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. As Simcox, Buckner played a solider of school spirit, with an iconic cheer cemented into fans’ minds: “Do the splits, give a yell! Show a little spirit for old Rydell! Way to go, red and white! Go Rydell, fight, fight, fight!”
Buckner continued working as an actor with guest credits across several television shows, including “The Love Boat,” “B.J and the Bear” and “The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries.” She co-starred in the ABC series “When the Whistle Blows.” Among other notable feature credits, Buckner appeared in Wes Craven’s 1981 horror film “Deadly Blessing” opposite Sharon Stone, as...
At the age of 25, Buckner was cast in the role of the Rydell High cheerleader, joining a cast that included John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. As Simcox, Buckner played a solider of school spirit, with an iconic cheer cemented into fans’ minds: “Do the splits, give a yell! Show a little spirit for old Rydell! Way to go, red and white! Go Rydell, fight, fight, fight!”
Buckner continued working as an actor with guest credits across several television shows, including “The Love Boat,” “B.J and the Bear” and “The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries.” She co-starred in the ABC series “When the Whistle Blows.” Among other notable feature credits, Buckner appeared in Wes Craven’s 1981 horror film “Deadly Blessing” opposite Sharon Stone, as...
- 5/7/2024
- by Jack Dunn
- Variety - Film News
The “Blade Runner” series in the works at Amazon Prime Video has cast Michelle Yeoh in a lead role, Variety has learned.
The series, titled “Blade Runner 2099,” was ordered at Amazon in September 2022. It serves as a sequel to both the original “Blade Runner” film and the followup film, “Blade Runner 2049.” Exact plot details are being kept under wraps, but sources say Yeoh will play a character named Olwen, described as a replicant near the end of her life.
Amazon declined to comment on specific character details.
Yeoh won the Academy Award for best actress for “Everything Everywhere All at Once...
The series, titled “Blade Runner 2099,” was ordered at Amazon in September 2022. It serves as a sequel to both the original “Blade Runner” film and the followup film, “Blade Runner 2049.” Exact plot details are being kept under wraps, but sources say Yeoh will play a character named Olwen, described as a replicant near the end of her life.
Amazon declined to comment on specific character details.
Yeoh won the Academy Award for best actress for “Everything Everywhere All at Once...
- 5/7/2024
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety - TV News
Some breaking news from Westeros: The Game of Thrones prequel series A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms has added a major talent from Black Mirror to serve as its debut season’s lead director, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.
Owen Harris has boarded the HBO drama as an executive producer and will also direct the first three episodes, establishing the directorial vision for the series. Harris is best known for helming two of Black Mirror‘s finest episodes — “Be Right Back” and the widely acclaimed “San Junipero.”
In addition, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms‘ episode count has now been revealed: The first season will be six episodes, making for a tighter opener than the 10-episode first seasons of Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon. The run time seems appropriate given Knight is an adaptation of George R.R. Martin’s 160-page novella The Hedge Knight rather than one of his 900-page epic novels.
Owen Harris has boarded the HBO drama as an executive producer and will also direct the first three episodes, establishing the directorial vision for the series. Harris is best known for helming two of Black Mirror‘s finest episodes — “Be Right Back” and the widely acclaimed “San Junipero.”
In addition, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms‘ episode count has now been revealed: The first season will be six episodes, making for a tighter opener than the 10-episode first seasons of Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon. The run time seems appropriate given Knight is an adaptation of George R.R. Martin’s 160-page novella The Hedge Knight rather than one of his 900-page epic novels.
- 5/7/2024
- by James Hibberd
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Primates will rule (the box office) again!
Disney’s “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” is aiming for $50 million to $55 million from 3,700 theaters in its domestic debut, which will easily be enough to tower over the box office chart. Those ticket sales are roughly even with two of the three prior installments in 20th Century’s rebooted “Planet of the Apes” franchise: 2017’s “War for the Planet of the Apes” opened to $56.2 million and 2011’s “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” opened to $54.8 million, while 2014’s “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” notched a series-best $72 million.
At the international box office, where “Apes” movies tend to make the bulk of their revenues, this installment is tracking to collect $80 million to $90 million. Based on those projections, the film should end up on Sunday with a solid $130 million to $140 million at the global box office.
Directed by Wes Ball,...
Disney’s “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” is aiming for $50 million to $55 million from 3,700 theaters in its domestic debut, which will easily be enough to tower over the box office chart. Those ticket sales are roughly even with two of the three prior installments in 20th Century’s rebooted “Planet of the Apes” franchise: 2017’s “War for the Planet of the Apes” opened to $56.2 million and 2011’s “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” opened to $54.8 million, while 2014’s “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” notched a series-best $72 million.
At the international box office, where “Apes” movies tend to make the bulk of their revenues, this installment is tracking to collect $80 million to $90 million. Based on those projections, the film should end up on Sunday with a solid $130 million to $140 million at the global box office.
Directed by Wes Ball,...
- 5/7/2024
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety - Film News
Iranian filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof has been sentenced to eight years in prison, according to his lawyer.
In a post on X, the filmmaker’s lawyer Babak Paknia wrote that Iran’s Islamic Revolution Court sentenced Rasoulof to eight years of imprisonment, flogging, a fine and confiscation of property. The judgment was confirmed in a Court of Appeal and the case has now been sent for enforcement, Paknia wrote.
The lawyer added that the main reason for issuing the sentence were Rasoulof’s public statements and making films and documentaries, which in the court’s opinion, are “examples of collusion with the intention of committing a crime against the country’s security.”
The news comes in the wake of Iranian authorities exerting heavy pressure on Rasoulof to pull his latest work “The Seed of the Sacred Fig” from the Cannes Film Festival by harassing the film’s producers and actors were...
In a post on X, the filmmaker’s lawyer Babak Paknia wrote that Iran’s Islamic Revolution Court sentenced Rasoulof to eight years of imprisonment, flogging, a fine and confiscation of property. The judgment was confirmed in a Court of Appeal and the case has now been sent for enforcement, Paknia wrote.
The lawyer added that the main reason for issuing the sentence were Rasoulof’s public statements and making films and documentaries, which in the court’s opinion, are “examples of collusion with the intention of committing a crime against the country’s security.”
The news comes in the wake of Iranian authorities exerting heavy pressure on Rasoulof to pull his latest work “The Seed of the Sacred Fig” from the Cannes Film Festival by harassing the film’s producers and actors were...
- 5/8/2024
- by Naman Ramachandran and Nick Vivarelli
- Variety - Film News
An HBO concert special based on Lady Gaga’s 2022 “Chromatica Ball” tour will premiere on the network on Saturday, May 25 at 8 p.m. Et/Pt and will be available to stream on Max.
stream 'chromatica ball tour' on max $9.99/Month
The special was filmed before a sold-out crowd of 52,000 people at Los Angeles’s Dodger Stadium in September of 2022 and features the Grammy and Oscar-winning artist performing such hits as “Bad Romance,” “Just Dance,” “Poker Face,” “Shallow,” “Rain On Me,” “Stupid Love” and more.
Nina Rosenstein, HBO executive VP of programming, late night & specials, says: “Lady Gaga is a complete powerhouse.
stream 'chromatica ball tour' on max $9.99/Month
The special was filmed before a sold-out crowd of 52,000 people at Los Angeles’s Dodger Stadium in September of 2022 and features the Grammy and Oscar-winning artist performing such hits as “Bad Romance,” “Just Dance,” “Poker Face,” “Shallow,” “Rain On Me,” “Stupid Love” and more.
Nina Rosenstein, HBO executive VP of programming, late night & specials, says: “Lady Gaga is a complete powerhouse.
- 5/8/2024
- by Jem Aswad
- Variety - TV News
Magnolia Pictures and Participant have released the trailer for “The Grab,” a new documentary from “Blackfish” director Gabriela Cowperthwaite.
“The Grab,” described as a global thriller, follows journalists from The Center for Investigative Reporting as they try to uncover the money and influence being used by countries, corporations and members of the uber elite to control the planet’s most vital resources. The film takes you “around the globe from Arizona to Zambia, to reveal one of the world’s biggest and least known threats,” per the official logline.
“’The Grab’ is a thrilling look at urgent threats to our national security and our very way of life,” said Courtney Sexton, Participant’s executive vice president, Documentary Film and Television. “We are proud to help bring this incredible film to life and are excited that it is part of our legacy.”
Last month, Variety exclusively reported that Participant was shutting down after 20 years.
“The Grab,” described as a global thriller, follows journalists from The Center for Investigative Reporting as they try to uncover the money and influence being used by countries, corporations and members of the uber elite to control the planet’s most vital resources. The film takes you “around the globe from Arizona to Zambia, to reveal one of the world’s biggest and least known threats,” per the official logline.
“’The Grab’ is a thrilling look at urgent threats to our national security and our very way of life,” said Courtney Sexton, Participant’s executive vice president, Documentary Film and Television. “We are proud to help bring this incredible film to life and are excited that it is part of our legacy.”
Last month, Variety exclusively reported that Participant was shutting down after 20 years.
- 5/8/2024
- by Michaela Zee
- Variety - Film News
Pinewood Studios has sold its minority stake in the Dominican Republic’s horizon water tank facility, which has been renamed Lantica Studios after its now sole owner, Lantica Media.
Formerly known as the Pinewood Dominican Republic Studios, Lantica Studios is undertaking the building of a fourth soundstage, measuring 16,000 sq.ft., and two additional workshop spaces of 12,000 sq. ft each, mainly dedicated to housing camera, grip and electric equipment vendors. These are set to open by the Spring of 2025.
The landmark expansion comes as the 10-year-old studio has seen record growth in international and local production, which has led to the...
Formerly known as the Pinewood Dominican Republic Studios, Lantica Studios is undertaking the building of a fourth soundstage, measuring 16,000 sq.ft., and two additional workshop spaces of 12,000 sq. ft each, mainly dedicated to housing camera, grip and electric equipment vendors. These are set to open by the Spring of 2025.
The landmark expansion comes as the 10-year-old studio has seen record growth in international and local production, which has led to the...
- 5/8/2024
- by Anna Marie de la Fuente
- Variety - TV News
Pinewood Studios has sold its minority stake in the Dominican Republic’s horizon water tank facility, which has been renamed Lantica Studios after its now sole owner, Lantica Media.
Formerly known as the Pinewood Dominican Republic Studios, Lantica Studios is undertaking the building of a fourth soundstage, measuring 16,000 sq.ft., and two additional workshop spaces of 12,000 sq. ft each, mainly dedicated to housing camera, grip and electric equipment vendors. These are set to open by the Spring of 2025.
The landmark expansion comes as the 10-year-old studio has seen record growth in international and local production, which has led to the availability of more skilled crew in the Dominican Republic (Dr), either trained on the job or in regularly held workshops. “We’ve grown from hiring locals at an average rate of 400 – 500 a year to 2,000 a year,” said Albert Martinez, CEO of Lantica Studios.
With the closure last year of the Baja Film Studios in Mexico,...
Formerly known as the Pinewood Dominican Republic Studios, Lantica Studios is undertaking the building of a fourth soundstage, measuring 16,000 sq.ft., and two additional workshop spaces of 12,000 sq. ft each, mainly dedicated to housing camera, grip and electric equipment vendors. These are set to open by the Spring of 2025.
The landmark expansion comes as the 10-year-old studio has seen record growth in international and local production, which has led to the availability of more skilled crew in the Dominican Republic (Dr), either trained on the job or in regularly held workshops. “We’ve grown from hiring locals at an average rate of 400 – 500 a year to 2,000 a year,” said Albert Martinez, CEO of Lantica Studios.
With the closure last year of the Baja Film Studios in Mexico,...
- 5/8/2024
- by Anna Marie de la Fuente
- Variety - Film News
Bradley Cooper is teaming up with PBS to produce a documentary about the millions of people who provide unpaid care to family members.
The documentary, Caregiving, is in production and is set to air in 2025 on PBS stations. Weta, the public broadcasting station in Washington, is producing the film with Cooper’s Lea Pictures and Ark Media (Finding Your Roots).
The film will examine both systemic issues within the care system — where more than 50 million Americans provide unpaid care to family members — as well as tell personal stories of people who care for loved ones.
Cooper’s involvement also stems from personal experience: “When my father was diagnosed with cancer, that was a wake-up call for me, one that really opened my eyes to the world of caregiving,” the Oscar nominee said in a statement. “Everyone will end up caring for a loved one at some point in their life.
The documentary, Caregiving, is in production and is set to air in 2025 on PBS stations. Weta, the public broadcasting station in Washington, is producing the film with Cooper’s Lea Pictures and Ark Media (Finding Your Roots).
The film will examine both systemic issues within the care system — where more than 50 million Americans provide unpaid care to family members — as well as tell personal stories of people who care for loved ones.
Cooper’s involvement also stems from personal experience: “When my father was diagnosed with cancer, that was a wake-up call for me, one that really opened my eyes to the world of caregiving,” the Oscar nominee said in a statement. “Everyone will end up caring for a loved one at some point in their life.
- 5/8/2024
- by Rick Porter
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Marc Summers claims that he was blindsided by the filmmakers behind “Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV” when he went in to be interviewed, causing him to leave. However, that’s not what happened, according to filmmakers Emma Schwartz and Mary Robertson.
“We’re clear with each participant in our project about the nature of our work,” Robertson said on the latest episode of Variety‘s “Awards Circuit” podcast. “The vast majority of our participants have left the project feeling incredibly happy.”
Schwartz added, “I also want to be clear that nobody ever walked out on set...
“We’re clear with each participant in our project about the nature of our work,” Robertson said on the latest episode of Variety‘s “Awards Circuit” podcast. “The vast majority of our participants have left the project feeling incredibly happy.”
Schwartz added, “I also want to be clear that nobody ever walked out on set...
- 5/8/2024
- by Emily Longeretta
- Variety - TV News
Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei has echoed Live Nation CFO and president Joe Berchtold in arguing against the potential breakup of Live Nation and Ticketmaster as part of a potential lawsuit from the Department of Justice.
“The DOJ investigation appears focused on specific business practices within divisions of the company, not the merger or the business structure. Live doesn’t believe the breakup of Live Nation and Ticketmaster would be a legally defensible remedy,” Maffei told analysts during a morning call on Wednesday. The CEO’s remarks amplified comments by Berchtold during a Live Nation conference call on May 2.
Live Nation is set to hold talks with senior DOJ officials to avoid a potential separation of Live Nation and Ticketmaster. The original Live Nation merger with Ticketmaster that took place in 2010 was approved by the Department of Justice.
Liberty Media, the firm controlled by John Malone that owns such assets...
“The DOJ investigation appears focused on specific business practices within divisions of the company, not the merger or the business structure. Live doesn’t believe the breakup of Live Nation and Ticketmaster would be a legally defensible remedy,” Maffei told analysts during a morning call on Wednesday. The CEO’s remarks amplified comments by Berchtold during a Live Nation conference call on May 2.
Live Nation is set to hold talks with senior DOJ officials to avoid a potential separation of Live Nation and Ticketmaster. The original Live Nation merger with Ticketmaster that took place in 2010 was approved by the Department of Justice.
Liberty Media, the firm controlled by John Malone that owns such assets...
- 5/8/2024
- by Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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Costume designer Jacqueline Demeterio didn’t have to look much further than her own Silver Lake-residing friends when pulling inspiration for Anne Hathaway’s Sólene in “The Idea of You.”
In the buzzy new rom-com, Hathaway stars as a 40 year-old art gallery owner and divorcee who falls in love with the 24 year-old heartthrob singer of the boy band August Moon, played by Nicholas Galitzine. Aside from the whirlwind age-gap romance, first depicted in Robinne Lee’s 2017 novel of the same name, the film’s most compelling aspects are the high-fashion ensembles worn by both Sólene and Galitizine’s Hayes. And as the pair jets from Coachella to New York to Paris, the clothes also ground their fantastical affair in reality.
“I know people that live in Silver Lake and...
Costume designer Jacqueline Demeterio didn’t have to look much further than her own Silver Lake-residing friends when pulling inspiration for Anne Hathaway’s Sólene in “The Idea of You.”
In the buzzy new rom-com, Hathaway stars as a 40 year-old art gallery owner and divorcee who falls in love with the 24 year-old heartthrob singer of the boy band August Moon, played by Nicholas Galitzine. Aside from the whirlwind age-gap romance, first depicted in Robinne Lee’s 2017 novel of the same name, the film’s most compelling aspects are the high-fashion ensembles worn by both Sólene and Galitizine’s Hayes. And as the pair jets from Coachella to New York to Paris, the clothes also ground their fantastical affair in reality.
“I know people that live in Silver Lake and...
- 5/8/2024
- by Anna Tingley
- Variety - Film News
Dissident Iranian director Mohammad Rasoulof has received an eight-year prison sentence, as well as a fine, confiscation of his property and flogging, by an Iranian court, Rasoulof’s lawyer Babak Paknia announced in a post on X (formerly known as Twitter) on Wednesday.
Paknia said the verdict was issued by 29th branch of the Islamic Revolution Court and confirmed in the 36th branch of the Aina Court of Appeals. According to Paknia, the court found that Rasoulof’s public statements, as well as his films and documentaries “were examples of collusion with the intention of committing a crime against the country’s security.”
Rasoulof’s sentencing comes ahead of the Cannes film festival, where the director’s latest feature, Seed of the Sacred Fig Tree is set to have its world premiere, screening in competition. It was already doubtful whether Iranian authorities would allow the director to travel to France for the festival.
Paknia said the verdict was issued by 29th branch of the Islamic Revolution Court and confirmed in the 36th branch of the Aina Court of Appeals. According to Paknia, the court found that Rasoulof’s public statements, as well as his films and documentaries “were examples of collusion with the intention of committing a crime against the country’s security.”
Rasoulof’s sentencing comes ahead of the Cannes film festival, where the director’s latest feature, Seed of the Sacred Fig Tree is set to have its world premiere, screening in competition. It was already doubtful whether Iranian authorities would allow the director to travel to France for the festival.
- 5/8/2024
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The world’s largest live music contest is back. The Eurovision Song Contest, a springboard to fame for some of the biggest acts in the world – legendary Swedish band Abba, or more recently, Italian glam rock band Måneskin, for example – will return to screens on Saturday, May 11, to do what it does best: providing the most eccentric performances Europe has to offer.
From perfectly garish outfits and heartfelt ballads to synchronized dance numbers and heavy metal guitar solos, the event is set to feature the wackiest of the continent’s music scene as thousands of fans flock to the Malmö Arena.
Sweden became host after its homegrown star Loreen triumphed last year in Liverpool, England.
But this year’s Contest – like in 2023, where Ukraine was forced to pass hosting privileges onto the U.K. – is one backdropped by war. However, the threat of mass boycott has not, to the outrage of some,...
From perfectly garish outfits and heartfelt ballads to synchronized dance numbers and heavy metal guitar solos, the event is set to feature the wackiest of the continent’s music scene as thousands of fans flock to the Malmö Arena.
Sweden became host after its homegrown star Loreen triumphed last year in Liverpool, England.
But this year’s Contest – like in 2023, where Ukraine was forced to pass hosting privileges onto the U.K. – is one backdropped by war. However, the threat of mass boycott has not, to the outrage of some,...
- 5/8/2024
- by Lily Ford
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
In January 2022, Casey Wilson was a guest on The Deep Dive, a podcast hosted by her longtime friends and frequent comedy collaborators June Diane Raphael and Jessica St. Clair. The episode kicked off what the pod was calling their Lifelong Learners Series, an only moderately satirical moniker for their discussions dedicated to everything from tablescaping to mixology; Wilson — known for her highly popular Real Housewives-centric podcast Bitch Sesh — was enlisted to discuss what they called The Art of Small Talk. She and St. Clair, both professed experts in chit-chat, riffed about their favorite places to approach strangers (in line at Home Goods, in an elevator) and offered a few of their well-weathered tips (keeping it light, pivoting away from so-called energy vampires).
“The response to that specific episode was pretty wild and I got all sorts of DMs from people saying they wished it was longer, that they secretly wanted...
“The response to that specific episode was pretty wild and I got all sorts of DMs from people saying they wished it was longer, that they secretly wanted...
- 5/8/2024
- by Seija Rankin
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Josh Charles thought Ethan Hawke was punking him when he told him about appearing in Taylor Swift’s new music video.
During an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, the Dead Poets Society star reflected on his surprise role in Swift’s “Fortnight” music video, the first single of her recent album, The Tortured Poets Department.
“It was a really strange thing. Taylor knows Ethan’s daughter Maya and reached out to her. The title of the album, [is] obviously The Tortured Poets Department, and so I think it’s a little tip of the cap to Dead Poets Society, other tortured poets. She probably had this idea [that] it’d be interesting for us to be in the video,” Charles told Fallon of how his and Hawke’s appearances came to be.
But when Hawke reached out to him, Charles didn’t believe him at first: “Ethan reached out...
During an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, the Dead Poets Society star reflected on his surprise role in Swift’s “Fortnight” music video, the first single of her recent album, The Tortured Poets Department.
“It was a really strange thing. Taylor knows Ethan’s daughter Maya and reached out to her. The title of the album, [is] obviously The Tortured Poets Department, and so I think it’s a little tip of the cap to Dead Poets Society, other tortured poets. She probably had this idea [that] it’d be interesting for us to be in the video,” Charles told Fallon of how his and Hawke’s appearances came to be.
But when Hawke reached out to him, Charles didn’t believe him at first: “Ethan reached out...
- 5/8/2024
- by Lexy Perez
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Alexander Skarsgård has signed on to co-star alongside Harry Melling (The Pale Blue Eye) in Pillion, a new feature from Poor Things producers Element Pictures being pitched as a “fun and filthy romance with heart.”
Harry Lighton, who directed the BAFTA-nominated short Wren Boys, will direct Pillion from his own script, which is inspired by Adam Mars-Jones’ 2019 novel Box Hill. Cornerstone is handling worldwide sales on the films and will pitch the project to buyers at the Cannes film market next week.
Melling plays Colin, a weedy wallflower who is letting life pass him by until he meets Ray (Skarsgård), an impossibly handsome leader of a motorbike club, who him on as his submissive. Ray uproots Colin from his dreary suburban life and introduces him to a community of kinky, queer bikers, but as Colin dives deeper into Ray’s world, he begins to question whether the life of a 24/7 submissive is really for him.
Harry Lighton, who directed the BAFTA-nominated short Wren Boys, will direct Pillion from his own script, which is inspired by Adam Mars-Jones’ 2019 novel Box Hill. Cornerstone is handling worldwide sales on the films and will pitch the project to buyers at the Cannes film market next week.
Melling plays Colin, a weedy wallflower who is letting life pass him by until he meets Ray (Skarsgård), an impossibly handsome leader of a motorbike club, who him on as his submissive. Ray uproots Colin from his dreary suburban life and introduces him to a community of kinky, queer bikers, but as Colin dives deeper into Ray’s world, he begins to question whether the life of a 24/7 submissive is really for him.
- 5/8/2024
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
“Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” opens with Caesar lying in state, surrounding by a horde of mourning chimps, as his dead body is covered in flowers and ritually set on fire. The movie then cuts to the jungle, where a title informs us that it’s “many generations later.” In other words, the tale we’ve been watching in the last three “Apes” films — “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” (2011), “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” (2014), and “War for the Planet of the Apes” (2017) — is now ancient franchise history. I’m in the minority of viewers who would greet that news by saying, “Thank God.”
When classic IP gets remade, there is always a double agenda: tapping a new audience, but also serving the audience that has fond memories of the original. In “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes,” the center of dramatic action passes...
When classic IP gets remade, there is always a double agenda: tapping a new audience, but also serving the audience that has fond memories of the original. In “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes,” the center of dramatic action passes...
- 5/8/2024
- by Owen Gleiberman
- Variety - Film News
Tribeca has revealed the lineup for its “De Niro Con” three-day celebration of festival co-founder Robert De Niro.
“De Niro Con,” set to take place from June 14-16 during the 2024 Tribeca Festival, will feature screenings of 13 of De Niro’s films, often accompanied by conversations with his collaborators; an exhibit including never-before-seen items from De Niro’s personal archive and film-inspired activations and fan experiences.
Films screened include the world premiere of A Bronx Tale: The Original One Man Show, introduced Chazz Palminteri; Jackie Brown, followed by a conversation with director Quentin Tarantino and De Niro; Analyze This, followed by a conversation with De Niro and Billy Crystal, moderated by Whoopi Goldberg; Silver Linings Playbook followed by a conversation with director David O. Russell; New York, New York, introduced by Kathrine Narducci; The Good Shepherd, introduced by John Turturro; Goodfellas followed by a conversation with screenwriter Nicholas Pileggi, moderated by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon; The Deer Hunter,...
“De Niro Con,” set to take place from June 14-16 during the 2024 Tribeca Festival, will feature screenings of 13 of De Niro’s films, often accompanied by conversations with his collaborators; an exhibit including never-before-seen items from De Niro’s personal archive and film-inspired activations and fan experiences.
Films screened include the world premiere of A Bronx Tale: The Original One Man Show, introduced Chazz Palminteri; Jackie Brown, followed by a conversation with director Quentin Tarantino and De Niro; Analyze This, followed by a conversation with De Niro and Billy Crystal, moderated by Whoopi Goldberg; Silver Linings Playbook followed by a conversation with director David O. Russell; New York, New York, introduced by Kathrine Narducci; The Good Shepherd, introduced by John Turturro; Goodfellas followed by a conversation with screenwriter Nicholas Pileggi, moderated by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon; The Deer Hunter,...
- 5/8/2024
- by Hilary Lewis
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
A Channel 4 documentary unveiling the testimonies of 10 men who allege they were sexually assaulted by Kevin Spacey will air in the U.S. on Monday, May 13.
Spacey Unmasked, featuring a group of men detailing their first-hand accounts of alleged abuse at the hands of Spacey over the course of five decades, will premiere on Investigation Discovery and also be available to stream on Max.
The documentary aired in the U.K. on May 6 and 7, promising a “forensic look” at Spacey’s rise to fame and the allegations that have dethroned him.
None of the men in the program were involved in the London trial that saw the actor acquitted of nine charges in July 2023, and all but one have never spoken out before. The charges stemmed from alleged acts that occurred from 2001 to 2013; Spacey was artistic director of London’s Old Vic Theatre from 2004 until 2015.
On Tuesday, it was...
Spacey Unmasked, featuring a group of men detailing their first-hand accounts of alleged abuse at the hands of Spacey over the course of five decades, will premiere on Investigation Discovery and also be available to stream on Max.
The documentary aired in the U.K. on May 6 and 7, promising a “forensic look” at Spacey’s rise to fame and the allegations that have dethroned him.
None of the men in the program were involved in the London trial that saw the actor acquitted of nine charges in July 2023, and all but one have never spoken out before. The charges stemmed from alleged acts that occurred from 2001 to 2013; Spacey was artistic director of London’s Old Vic Theatre from 2004 until 2015.
On Tuesday, it was...
- 5/8/2024
- by Lily Ford
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Investigation Discovery has set the U.S. premiere date for “Spacey Unmasked,” as well as released a first look at the docuseries about Kevin Spacey.
“Spacey Unmasked” will premiere Monday, May 13, at 9 p.m. Et on ID and will be available to stream on Max.
Per the description, “‘Spacey Unmasked’ chronicles testimony from men in the U.S. and the U.K. spanning nearly the entirety of Spacey’s career — from experiences by actors and employees during his tenure at the Old Vic Theater in London to accounts of behavior on the sets of his television and film projects.” In addition to these testimonies,...
“Spacey Unmasked” will premiere Monday, May 13, at 9 p.m. Et on ID and will be available to stream on Max.
Per the description, “‘Spacey Unmasked’ chronicles testimony from men in the U.S. and the U.K. spanning nearly the entirety of Spacey’s career — from experiences by actors and employees during his tenure at the Old Vic Theater in London to accounts of behavior on the sets of his television and film projects.” In addition to these testimonies,...
- 5/8/2024
- by Michaela Zee
- Variety - TV News
Cate Blanchett has signed on to star in Alpha Gang, the new comedy from David and Nathan Zellner, the sibling duo behind wacky Sundance entry Sasquatch Sunset.
The two-time Oscar winner is set to star as Alpha One, the leader of an alien gang sent on a mission to conquer Earth. She arrives disguised in human form together with her fellow extraterrestrials, posing as an armed and dangerous 1950’s leather-clad biker gang. But their ruthless plan is disrupted when the gang catches “the most toxic, contagious human disease of all: emotion.”
David and Nathan Zellner will direct Alpha Gang as well as produce. Blanchett and Coco Francini are also on board as producers, through their Dirty Films outfit. Other producers include Ryan Zacarias for Fat City, and Gina Gammell for Felix Culpa. The film is set to being shooting this fall.
“The Zellner brother’s work never fails to surprise and delight us,...
The two-time Oscar winner is set to star as Alpha One, the leader of an alien gang sent on a mission to conquer Earth. She arrives disguised in human form together with her fellow extraterrestrials, posing as an armed and dangerous 1950’s leather-clad biker gang. But their ruthless plan is disrupted when the gang catches “the most toxic, contagious human disease of all: emotion.”
David and Nathan Zellner will direct Alpha Gang as well as produce. Blanchett and Coco Francini are also on board as producers, through their Dirty Films outfit. Other producers include Ryan Zacarias for Fat City, and Gina Gammell for Felix Culpa. The film is set to being shooting this fall.
“The Zellner brother’s work never fails to surprise and delight us,...
- 5/8/2024
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Welsh actor, writer and director Celyn Jones has set “Madfabulous” as his next directorial venture.
The British indie is based on the true story of Henry Cyril Paget, fifth Marquess of Anglesey, who was once one of the richest men in Britain but died penniless and forgotten at the age of 29 in France.
“It’s full of pathos and humanity, it’s very much a character who wants to get the attention of his family who don’t want him and he keeps upping the ante with his spending, his flamboyance and his dancing,” Jones told Variety about the 1890s-set film. “What happens if you are a theatrical, and you are very gender fluid at a time when when people didn’t even know what that was? And you’ve got all the money in the world to do that. Well, of course, you buy a theater company, you buy...
The British indie is based on the true story of Henry Cyril Paget, fifth Marquess of Anglesey, who was once one of the richest men in Britain but died penniless and forgotten at the age of 29 in France.
“It’s full of pathos and humanity, it’s very much a character who wants to get the attention of his family who don’t want him and he keeps upping the ante with his spending, his flamboyance and his dancing,” Jones told Variety about the 1890s-set film. “What happens if you are a theatrical, and you are very gender fluid at a time when when people didn’t even know what that was? And you’ve got all the money in the world to do that. Well, of course, you buy a theater company, you buy...
- 5/8/2024
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety - Film News
Multinational studio Dori Media Group (Dmg) is presenting two episodes of its gripping new series “Amia” at the LA Screenings along with a notable lineup of scripted and unscripted series, encompassing various regions, languages and cultures.
Filmed mostly in Uruguay as well as Argentina, “Amia” is inspired by the terror attacks of 1992 on the Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires and in 1994 against its Argentinian Jewish community, specifically the Asociación Mutual Israelita Argentina (Amia), the Argentine Israelite Mutual Association.
“Amia” tracks the journey of a Mossad operative grappling with the loss of his sister in the 1992 Embassy attack. He joins forces with a local Argentine journalist to seek justice. The eight episodes of Season 1 delves into the period between the initial assault and the subsequent attack on Amia in 1994. It primarily features Spanish dialogue, with some English, Hebrew and Persian.
With the 30th anniversary of the Amia tragedy looming and current events in Argentina making headlines,...
Filmed mostly in Uruguay as well as Argentina, “Amia” is inspired by the terror attacks of 1992 on the Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires and in 1994 against its Argentinian Jewish community, specifically the Asociación Mutual Israelita Argentina (Amia), the Argentine Israelite Mutual Association.
“Amia” tracks the journey of a Mossad operative grappling with the loss of his sister in the 1992 Embassy attack. He joins forces with a local Argentine journalist to seek justice. The eight episodes of Season 1 delves into the period between the initial assault and the subsequent attack on Amia in 1994. It primarily features Spanish dialogue, with some English, Hebrew and Persian.
With the 30th anniversary of the Amia tragedy looming and current events in Argentina making headlines,...
- 5/8/2024
- by Anna Marie de la Fuente
- Variety - Film News
Multinational studio Dori Media Group (Dmg) is presenting two episodes of its gripping new series “Amia” at the LA Screenings along with a notable lineup of scripted and unscripted series, encompassing various regions, languages and cultures.
Filmed mostly in Uruguay as well as Argentina, “Amia” is inspired by the terror attacks of 1992 on the Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires and in 1994 against its Argentinian Jewish community, specifically the Asociación Mutual Israelita Argentina (Amia), the Argentine Israelite Mutual Association.
“Amia” tracks the journey of a Mossad operative grappling with the loss of his sister in the 1992 Embassy attack. He joins forces...
Filmed mostly in Uruguay as well as Argentina, “Amia” is inspired by the terror attacks of 1992 on the Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires and in 1994 against its Argentinian Jewish community, specifically the Asociación Mutual Israelita Argentina (Amia), the Argentine Israelite Mutual Association.
“Amia” tracks the journey of a Mossad operative grappling with the loss of his sister in the 1992 Embassy attack. He joins forces...
- 5/8/2024
- by Anna Marie de la Fuente
- Variety - TV News
“The Chi” has been renewed for Season 7 at Paramount+ with Showtime.
The news comes ahead of the series’ return for the second half of its sixth season, which will debut on Paramount+ with Showtime on May 10 before its linear debut on Showtime on May 12 at 9 p.m.Et/Pt. Like the first half, the second will consist of eight episodes. The seventh season will begin production in Chicago later this month.
“Lena Waithe is a generational storyteller, whose authentic and unflinching narratives in ‘The Chi’ resonate deeply, offering a powerful lens into both the complexities of life in Chicago as...
The news comes ahead of the series’ return for the second half of its sixth season, which will debut on Paramount+ with Showtime on May 10 before its linear debut on Showtime on May 12 at 9 p.m.Et/Pt. Like the first half, the second will consist of eight episodes. The seventh season will begin production in Chicago later this month.
“Lena Waithe is a generational storyteller, whose authentic and unflinching narratives in ‘The Chi’ resonate deeply, offering a powerful lens into both the complexities of life in Chicago as...
- 5/8/2024
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety - TV News
Showtime is keeping its presence in the Windy City.
The premium outlet, now known as Paramount+ With Showtime, has ordered a seventh season of its drama series The Chi. The renewal for the series, created by Lena Waithe, comes two days ahead of its return to Paramount+ With Showtime for the second half of season six.
Production on the seventh season is slated to begin later this month in Chicago.
“Lena Waithe is a generational storyteller, whose authentic and unflinching narratives in The Chi resonate deeply, offering a powerful lens into both the complexities of life in Chicago as well as the Black experience in America,” said Nina L. Diaz, president of content and chief creative officer for Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios and Paramount Media Networks. “On the heels of a record-breaking season and ahead of this week’s return, we’re excited to provide fans with the promise of...
The premium outlet, now known as Paramount+ With Showtime, has ordered a seventh season of its drama series The Chi. The renewal for the series, created by Lena Waithe, comes two days ahead of its return to Paramount+ With Showtime for the second half of season six.
Production on the seventh season is slated to begin later this month in Chicago.
“Lena Waithe is a generational storyteller, whose authentic and unflinching narratives in The Chi resonate deeply, offering a powerful lens into both the complexities of life in Chicago as well as the Black experience in America,” said Nina L. Diaz, president of content and chief creative officer for Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios and Paramount Media Networks. “On the heels of a record-breaking season and ahead of this week’s return, we’re excited to provide fans with the promise of...
- 5/8/2024
- by Rick Porter
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Alexander Skarsgard and Harry Melling are set to lead the cast of “Pillion,” described as a “fun and filthy romance with heart” and being produced by multi-Oscar-winning powerhouse Element Pictures.
The film — to be launched in Cannes by Cornerstone, which is handling worldwide sales — marks the feature debut of Harry Lighton, whose short “Wren Boys” was nominated for best British short at the 2018 BAFTAs, was nominated for a BIFA and had its U.S. premiere at the Sundance Film Festival.
“Pillion” follows Colin (Melling), a weedy wallflower letting life pass him by. That is until Ray (Skarsgård), the impossibly handsome leader of a motorbike club, takes him on as his submissive. Ray uproots Colin from his dreary suburban life, introducing him to a community of kinky, queer bikers and taking all sorts of virginities along the way. But as Colin steps deeper into Ray’s world of rules and mysteries,...
The film — to be launched in Cannes by Cornerstone, which is handling worldwide sales — marks the feature debut of Harry Lighton, whose short “Wren Boys” was nominated for best British short at the 2018 BAFTAs, was nominated for a BIFA and had its U.S. premiere at the Sundance Film Festival.
“Pillion” follows Colin (Melling), a weedy wallflower letting life pass him by. That is until Ray (Skarsgård), the impossibly handsome leader of a motorbike club, takes him on as his submissive. Ray uproots Colin from his dreary suburban life, introducing him to a community of kinky, queer bikers and taking all sorts of virginities along the way. But as Colin steps deeper into Ray’s world of rules and mysteries,...
- 5/8/2024
- by Alex Ritman
- Variety - Film News
Apple TV+’s highly anticipated adaptation of Laura Lippman’s mystery novel “Lady in the Lake” — starring Natalie Portman — will premiere with the first two episodes on July 19, the streamer announced Wednesday.
The seven-part limited series follows a bored Jewish housewife (Portman) in the 1960s, who divorces her husband and moves to Baltimore to work as an investigative journalist. She soon becomes fixated on the perplexing death of Cleo Johnson (Moses Ingram), a mother who struggled to provide for her family while navigating the political underbelly of Black Baltimore.
The book was brought to famed director Alma Har’el by the...
The seven-part limited series follows a bored Jewish housewife (Portman) in the 1960s, who divorces her husband and moves to Baltimore to work as an investigative journalist. She soon becomes fixated on the perplexing death of Cleo Johnson (Moses Ingram), a mother who struggled to provide for her family while navigating the political underbelly of Black Baltimore.
The book was brought to famed director Alma Har’el by the...
- 5/8/2024
- by Emily Longeretta
- Variety - TV News
French director Jonathan Millet riffs on manhunt tropes in “Ghost Trail,” the psychological thriller that will be the Cannes Critics’ Week opener.
Variety has been given an exclusive first-look clip from the film, which is inspired by real-life events.
“Ghost Trail” is the story of a Syrian man named Hamid who is part of a secret group pursuing fugitive leaders that perpetrated horrors in the name of the Syrian regime during the country’s civil war.
His mission takes him to France, on the trail of his former torturer. And he manages to tracks him down, as it appears from the clip.
“But with his judgment clouded by pressure, doubt and revenge, can he be certain of the righteousness of his own actions?” the synopsis reads.
Millet, who previously co-directed doc “Ceuta, Douce Prison” – about five migrants who leave their lands to try their luck in Europe and end up...
Variety has been given an exclusive first-look clip from the film, which is inspired by real-life events.
“Ghost Trail” is the story of a Syrian man named Hamid who is part of a secret group pursuing fugitive leaders that perpetrated horrors in the name of the Syrian regime during the country’s civil war.
His mission takes him to France, on the trail of his former torturer. And he manages to tracks him down, as it appears from the clip.
“But with his judgment clouded by pressure, doubt and revenge, can he be certain of the righteousness of his own actions?” the synopsis reads.
Millet, who previously co-directed doc “Ceuta, Douce Prison” – about five migrants who leave their lands to try their luck in Europe and end up...
- 5/8/2024
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety - Film News
Two years ago, Jimmy Donaldson, better known as MrBeast, ventured to Bentonville, Arkansas, with his management team to talk creators — and chocolate. Donaldson, a giant on YouTube (252 million-plus subscribers), was aiming to leverage his audience to build a real-world business: a candy line called Feastables. And Walmart, based in Bentonville, signed on as a launch partner.
Feastables now brings in nine figures annually in revenue, Donaldson told a conference last year, making it a textbook example of how a creator can monetize fandom. “I know for a fact that Walmart and a lot of these retailers are now going, ‘Ok, what Jimmy did in chocolate, what Logan [Paul] did in hydration [with beverage brand Prime], are creators building in other categories? And should we be more aggressive?” says Reed Duchscher, CEO of creator management firm Night Media, which had repped MrBeast in all areas until recently but now just reps Donaldson for his Feastables business.
Feastables now brings in nine figures annually in revenue, Donaldson told a conference last year, making it a textbook example of how a creator can monetize fandom. “I know for a fact that Walmart and a lot of these retailers are now going, ‘Ok, what Jimmy did in chocolate, what Logan [Paul] did in hydration [with beverage brand Prime], are creators building in other categories? And should we be more aggressive?” says Reed Duchscher, CEO of creator management firm Night Media, which had repped MrBeast in all areas until recently but now just reps Donaldson for his Feastables business.
- 5/8/2024
- by Alex Weprin
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Israel’s leading documentary co-production market CoPro is set to return next month for its 26th edition in a hybrid format amidst the ongoing war in the region.
Over 30 Israeli documentary projects will be showcased during the market, which is set to take place from June 3 to 6.
The event will also include a pitching forum, rough-cut screenings and one-on-one meetings.
Attendees for the online market include over 70 international representatives from broadcasting networks, production companies and distributors while a number will also attend the event in-person in Tel Aviv to participate in panels and events.
“During these heartbreaking and difficult times I believe our role as an international cultural institute is to promote diverse and complex stories, preserve freedom of expression and use film as a tool to bridge and create dialogue with audiences around the globe,” said Pnina Halfon Lang, CoPro’s executive director. “In the face of a complicated...
Over 30 Israeli documentary projects will be showcased during the market, which is set to take place from June 3 to 6.
The event will also include a pitching forum, rough-cut screenings and one-on-one meetings.
Attendees for the online market include over 70 international representatives from broadcasting networks, production companies and distributors while a number will also attend the event in-person in Tel Aviv to participate in panels and events.
“During these heartbreaking and difficult times I believe our role as an international cultural institute is to promote diverse and complex stories, preserve freedom of expression and use film as a tool to bridge and create dialogue with audiences around the globe,” said Pnina Halfon Lang, CoPro’s executive director. “In the face of a complicated...
- 5/8/2024
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety - Film News
Writer-director S. Craig Zahler (“Bone Tomahawk”) is set to reunite with his “Dragged Across Concrete” and “Brawl in Cell Block 99” star Vince Vaughn and Oscar winner Adrien Brody (“The Pianist”) for upcoming crime thriller “The Bookie & the Bruiser.”
Anton will introduce the film to international distributors at the upcoming Marche du Film in Cannes. UTA Independent Film Group and Range Media Partners arranged the financing and will be representing the North American distribution rights.
Set in 1959 New York, “The Bookie & the Bruiser” follows a pensive, Jewish fellow named Rivner and an oversized Italian-American tough named Boscolo from the Lower East Side, both of whom served overseas during WWII and returned changed men who no longer fit inside the lives they’d left behind. Uninterested in taking orders from bosses or playing by the rules of polite society, the two friends partner up as a bookmaker and an enforcer and...
Anton will introduce the film to international distributors at the upcoming Marche du Film in Cannes. UTA Independent Film Group and Range Media Partners arranged the financing and will be representing the North American distribution rights.
Set in 1959 New York, “The Bookie & the Bruiser” follows a pensive, Jewish fellow named Rivner and an oversized Italian-American tough named Boscolo from the Lower East Side, both of whom served overseas during WWII and returned changed men who no longer fit inside the lives they’d left behind. Uninterested in taking orders from bosses or playing by the rules of polite society, the two friends partner up as a bookmaker and an enforcer and...
- 5/8/2024
- by Alex Ritman
- Variety - Film News
NBCUniversal inked a deal with iHeartMedia making it the exclusive audio partner for the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
Under the agreement, iHeart will provide 24-7 play-by-play audio channels for select NBCU linear coverage of the Olympic Games. In addition, iHeartMedia will create an original iHeartPodcast for the Olympics hosted by Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers (of the popular “Las Culturistas” podcast) and produce Olympic-themed episodes for some of its top educational podcasts, including “Stuff You Missed in History Class” and “Ridiculous History,” as well as promote tune-in for NBCU’s coverage across TV and Peacock.
The play-by-play Olympics channels carried by...
Under the agreement, iHeart will provide 24-7 play-by-play audio channels for select NBCU linear coverage of the Olympic Games. In addition, iHeartMedia will create an original iHeartPodcast for the Olympics hosted by Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers (of the popular “Las Culturistas” podcast) and produce Olympic-themed episodes for some of its top educational podcasts, including “Stuff You Missed in History Class” and “Ridiculous History,” as well as promote tune-in for NBCU’s coverage across TV and Peacock.
The play-by-play Olympics channels carried by...
- 5/8/2024
- by Todd Spangler
- Variety - TV News
The phrase “we’re our own worst enemies” takes on a literal meaning in Apple TV+’s “Dark Matter,” based on Blake Crouch’s 2016 novel of the same name, and adapted by the author for television. A massive and intricate puzzle, the series is shocking and unsettling, but doesn’t quite satisfy in the end.
“Dark Matter” opens in present-day Chicago. Jason Dessen (Joel Edgerton), a scruffy physics professor, is living an unremarkable but happy middle-class existence with his wife, Daniela (Jennifer Connelly), and their teenage son, Charlie (Oakes Fegley). After a night out celebrating his friend Ryan’s (Jimmi Simpson) prestigious science award,...
“Dark Matter” opens in present-day Chicago. Jason Dessen (Joel Edgerton), a scruffy physics professor, is living an unremarkable but happy middle-class existence with his wife, Daniela (Jennifer Connelly), and their teenage son, Charlie (Oakes Fegley). After a night out celebrating his friend Ryan’s (Jimmi Simpson) prestigious science award,...
- 5/8/2024
- by Aramide Tinubu
- Variety - TV News
(This article is unintentionally a counterpoint to my colleague Owen Gleiberman’s considerably more-positive take on the Beatles’ “Let It Be” film, restored by Peter Jackson and released today on Disney+.)
When I was a Beatles-obsessed seven-year-old, my mother, in an act of selfless parental love, took me to a Fab Four film festival: “Hard Day’s Night,” “Let It Be,” “Yellow Submarine” and “Help!,” one after the other. My mom was a cool assistant professor of English at the local university who dressed “hip,” loved music and picked up some listening habits from her students. My obsession began after she brought home the “Sgt. Pepper” album a year or two earlier.
“Hard Day’s Night” was the Beatles the world fell in love with — sweet songs, charming cheeky personalities, matching clothes, screaming girls, moptops. But “Let It Be” was so different: the Beatles as grown-ups, real people who weren...
When I was a Beatles-obsessed seven-year-old, my mother, in an act of selfless parental love, took me to a Fab Four film festival: “Hard Day’s Night,” “Let It Be,” “Yellow Submarine” and “Help!,” one after the other. My mom was a cool assistant professor of English at the local university who dressed “hip,” loved music and picked up some listening habits from her students. My obsession began after she brought home the “Sgt. Pepper” album a year or two earlier.
“Hard Day’s Night” was the Beatles the world fell in love with — sweet songs, charming cheeky personalities, matching clothes, screaming girls, moptops. But “Let It Be” was so different: the Beatles as grown-ups, real people who weren...
- 5/8/2024
- by Jem Aswad
- Variety - Film News
North West, the daughter of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, has joined the cast of Disney’s “The Lion King at the Hollywood Bowl,” a live concert event that will be filmed across two performances and released as a special on Disney+.
West is set to star alongside previously announced cast members Jeremy Irons, Nathan Lane, Billy Eichner, Ernie Sabella, Jason Weaver, Jennifer Hudson and Bradley GIbson. Broadway actress Heather Headley and Lebo M. round out the cast.
The shows will take place on May 24 and 25 in celebration of “The Lion King’s” 30th anniversary.
Disney Branded Television and Fulwell...
West is set to star alongside previously announced cast members Jeremy Irons, Nathan Lane, Billy Eichner, Ernie Sabella, Jason Weaver, Jennifer Hudson and Bradley GIbson. Broadway actress Heather Headley and Lebo M. round out the cast.
The shows will take place on May 24 and 25 in celebration of “The Lion King’s” 30th anniversary.
Disney Branded Television and Fulwell...
- 5/8/2024
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety - TV News
It’s a frigid Sunday afternoon in April, and Andy Cohen is perched on a park bench, ruminating about the ups and downs — but mostly the ups — of his nearly 3-decade-long career in broadcasting. Occasionally, a passerby walks past and smiles, or shyly waves hello. This, it quickly becomes apparent, is a common occurrence for Cohen, 57, who seems to be something of the unofficial mayor of this cobblestoned, townhouse-lined neighborhood in downtown Manhattan, where he — and now his two children, Benjamin, 5, and Lucy, 2 — has been living for 27 years. Everybody, it seems, loves Andy Cohen. Well, not everyone, but we’ll get to that in a moment. He started his career in New York in his early 20s, a precocious, fiercely ambitious network executive with not-so-secret dreams of making it big in front of the camera as a TV host (despite being told by a mentor that he had “no charisma”). Today,...
- 5/8/2024
- by Maer Roshan
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Mubi has kicked off its 2024 Cannes Film Festival early and in style, acquiring worldwide rights to one of the buzziest films set to premiere in competition.
The arthouse distributor, production banner and streamer has landed Coralie Fargeat’s body horror “The Substance,” starring Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley and Denis Quaid, picking up all rights for North America, U.K., Ireland, Germany, Austria, Latin America and Benelux, where it will release theatrically this year. Mubi has also acquired the rights for Turkey and India. The Match Factory, owned by Mubi, is handling sales for all other territories.
Written and directed by Fargeat, who made a noise with her debut, 2017’s action-thriller “Revenge,” “The Substance” goes into Cannes with a significant amount of intrigue, having been produced by Working Title, the Brit banner best known for rom-coms and prestige dramas.
“Have you ever dreamed of a better version of yourself?” reads the...
The arthouse distributor, production banner and streamer has landed Coralie Fargeat’s body horror “The Substance,” starring Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley and Denis Quaid, picking up all rights for North America, U.K., Ireland, Germany, Austria, Latin America and Benelux, where it will release theatrically this year. Mubi has also acquired the rights for Turkey and India. The Match Factory, owned by Mubi, is handling sales for all other territories.
Written and directed by Fargeat, who made a noise with her debut, 2017’s action-thriller “Revenge,” “The Substance” goes into Cannes with a significant amount of intrigue, having been produced by Working Title, the Brit banner best known for rom-coms and prestige dramas.
“Have you ever dreamed of a better version of yourself?” reads the...
- 5/8/2024
- by Alex Ritman
- Variety - Film News
Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine banner is set to produce feature documentary Fanmade: Enhypen about K-pop group Enhypen and their fandom, Engene.
The new production shingle from Trainwreck: Woodstock ’99 filmmakers William Swann and Casey Feldman, Good-People, is set to produce alongside the Candle Media owned Hello Sunshine. Caroline Suh, who was behind K-pop doc Blackpink: Light Up the Sky, will direct.
The description of the film notes that the doc will highlight the band’s fans “putting them at the heart of the concert creation process.”
The synopsis continues: “The documentary highlights the Engene community, following five female fans as they co-create new material alongside the band, ignite the fanbase to collaborate, and revel in the joy of putting their passion out into the world. Dancing between Enhypen fans and the band themselves, the film utilizes unprecedented and intimate access alongside the band members as they travel across the...
The new production shingle from Trainwreck: Woodstock ’99 filmmakers William Swann and Casey Feldman, Good-People, is set to produce alongside the Candle Media owned Hello Sunshine. Caroline Suh, who was behind K-pop doc Blackpink: Light Up the Sky, will direct.
The description of the film notes that the doc will highlight the band’s fans “putting them at the heart of the concert creation process.”
The synopsis continues: “The documentary highlights the Engene community, following five female fans as they co-create new material alongside the band, ignite the fanbase to collaborate, and revel in the joy of putting their passion out into the world. Dancing between Enhypen fans and the band themselves, the film utilizes unprecedented and intimate access alongside the band members as they travel across the...
- 5/8/2024
- by Mia Galuppo
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Entertainment Squad has acquired worldwide rights to Midas and will release the film, the feature debut of writer/director Tj Noel-Sullivan described as “a fresh and socially relevant take on the classic heist genre,” in theaters in the U.S. on June 28.
“The film follows a charismatic college dropout who recruits his best friends to rob the health insurer that denied his mom’s coverage,” said Entertainment Squad, the boutique distribution company founded by industry veteran Shaked Berenson. “After things take a dark turn, the trio must wrestle with the limits of their greed.”
Starring Laquan Copeland (The Dirty South), Preet Kaur (Finding Tony), Federico Parra (series The Equalizer), Lucy Powers (Voyeur), and Bob Gallagher (Bad Senator), the movie was shot in Hartford, Conn., which is nicknamed the “insurance capital of the world.”
The Hartford Film Company, founded by Noel-Sullivan, produced the film alongside Kristina Cuello and Erik Bloomquist.
“Midas...
“The film follows a charismatic college dropout who recruits his best friends to rob the health insurer that denied his mom’s coverage,” said Entertainment Squad, the boutique distribution company founded by industry veteran Shaked Berenson. “After things take a dark turn, the trio must wrestle with the limits of their greed.”
Starring Laquan Copeland (The Dirty South), Preet Kaur (Finding Tony), Federico Parra (series The Equalizer), Lucy Powers (Voyeur), and Bob Gallagher (Bad Senator), the movie was shot in Hartford, Conn., which is nicknamed the “insurance capital of the world.”
The Hartford Film Company, founded by Noel-Sullivan, produced the film alongside Kristina Cuello and Erik Bloomquist.
“Midas...
- 5/8/2024
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Jerome Levy’s Vuelta Group, a private-equity-backed European studio, has acquired German production and licensing giant Telepool from Westbrook, the U.S. outfit controlled Will and Jada Pinkett-Smith.
Vuelta will merge Telepool with Munich-based SquareOne, the German producer/distributor it acquired last year. SquareOne CEO Al Munteanu, head of Vuelta Group Germany, will take over the running of the merged company, with Michael Heyd serving as CFO/COO.
Telepool has one of the largest rights libraries in Europe, with German-language rights to more than 1,200 titles, including such features as The Imitation Game, Drive, Olympus Has Fallen, Lone Survivor and French hit Intouchables, as well as Westbrook-produced features like Oscar-winner King Richard. Upcoming features include the Hellboy reboot The Crooked Man and Andrew Niccol’s Lord of War sequel, Lords of War, starring Nicolas Cage and Bill Skarsgård.
Yoko Higuchi-Zitzmann, who took over as CEO at Telepool two years ago, will leave the company.
Vuelta will merge Telepool with Munich-based SquareOne, the German producer/distributor it acquired last year. SquareOne CEO Al Munteanu, head of Vuelta Group Germany, will take over the running of the merged company, with Michael Heyd serving as CFO/COO.
Telepool has one of the largest rights libraries in Europe, with German-language rights to more than 1,200 titles, including such features as The Imitation Game, Drive, Olympus Has Fallen, Lone Survivor and French hit Intouchables, as well as Westbrook-produced features like Oscar-winner King Richard. Upcoming features include the Hellboy reboot The Crooked Man and Andrew Niccol’s Lord of War sequel, Lords of War, starring Nicolas Cage and Bill Skarsgård.
Yoko Higuchi-Zitzmann, who took over as CEO at Telepool two years ago, will leave the company.
- 5/8/2024
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
German distributor-producer SquareOne Entertainment, part of rising European film studio Vuelta Group, has acquired German film and TV production, distribution and licensing company Telepool, which was owned by Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith’s Westbrook.
The news was announced Wednesday by Vuelta Group chairman Jerome Levy and CEO of SquareOne and Vuelta Group Germany Al Munteanu.
Munteanu will spearhead the newly combined entity under the SquareOne banner with Michael Heyd serving as CFO/COO.
The newly combined SquareOne entity will boast a library consisting of over 1,200 titles such as “Drive,” “Intouchables,” “The Olympus Has Fallen,” “The Hitman’s Bodyguard,” “Imitation Game,...
The news was announced Wednesday by Vuelta Group chairman Jerome Levy and CEO of SquareOne and Vuelta Group Germany Al Munteanu.
Munteanu will spearhead the newly combined entity under the SquareOne banner with Michael Heyd serving as CFO/COO.
The newly combined SquareOne entity will boast a library consisting of over 1,200 titles such as “Drive,” “Intouchables,” “The Olympus Has Fallen,” “The Hitman’s Bodyguard,” “Imitation Game,...
- 5/8/2024
- by Elsa Keslassy and Leo Barraclough
- Variety - TV News
German distributor-producer SquareOne Entertainment, part of rising European film studio Vuelta Group, has acquired German film and TV production, distribution and licensing company Telepool, which was owned by Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith’s Westbrook.
The news was announced Wednesday by Vuelta Group chairman Jerome Levy and CEO of SquareOne and Vuelta Group Germany Al Munteanu.
Munteanu will spearhead the newly combined entity under the SquareOne banner with Michael Heyd serving as CFO/COO.
The newly combined SquareOne entity will boast a library consisting of over 1,200 titles such as “Drive,” “Intouchables,” “The Olympus Has Fallen,” “The Hitman’s Bodyguard,” “Imitation Game,” “Lone Survivor,” “Book Club,” “Transporter 3,” “King Richard,” “Maurice the Tomcat” and the recently released “One Life” among others.
“For over 60 years, Telepool has been one of the leading global content houses and we are proud of the work we did with the company,” said Westbrook CEO Kosaku Yada.
The news was announced Wednesday by Vuelta Group chairman Jerome Levy and CEO of SquareOne and Vuelta Group Germany Al Munteanu.
Munteanu will spearhead the newly combined entity under the SquareOne banner with Michael Heyd serving as CFO/COO.
The newly combined SquareOne entity will boast a library consisting of over 1,200 titles such as “Drive,” “Intouchables,” “The Olympus Has Fallen,” “The Hitman’s Bodyguard,” “Imitation Game,” “Lone Survivor,” “Book Club,” “Transporter 3,” “King Richard,” “Maurice the Tomcat” and the recently released “One Life” among others.
“For over 60 years, Telepool has been one of the leading global content houses and we are proud of the work we did with the company,” said Westbrook CEO Kosaku Yada.
- 5/8/2024
- by Elsa Keslassy and Leo Barraclough
- Variety - Film News
Fox Corp. beat Wall Street estimates with its fiscal third-quarter earnings report Wednesday, with revenue hitting $3.4 billion and net income growing to $704 million. The gain in profits was due to last year’s settlement at Fox News, combined with a gain on the value of its Usfl assets, which it merged with the XFL to create the Ufl.
Advertising revenue was down sharply in the quarter though to $1.2 billion from $1.9 billion a year ago, but that was because last year’s quarter included the Super Bowl.
In a call with Wall Street analysts, Fox CEO Lachlan Murdoch said that the company’s ad business was moving in the right direction.
“Overall advertising trends of Fox are clearly moving in the right direction, both in the scatter market and in early upfront discussions,” Murdoch said. “Demand for sports remains robust, trends at Fox News are improving across the board, including the...
Advertising revenue was down sharply in the quarter though to $1.2 billion from $1.9 billion a year ago, but that was because last year’s quarter included the Super Bowl.
In a call with Wall Street analysts, Fox CEO Lachlan Murdoch said that the company’s ad business was moving in the right direction.
“Overall advertising trends of Fox are clearly moving in the right direction, both in the scatter market and in early upfront discussions,” Murdoch said. “Demand for sports remains robust, trends at Fox News are improving across the board, including the...
- 5/8/2024
- by Alex Weprin
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Fox Corp. said it swung to a profit in its fiscal third quarter despite slumps in advertising revenue, largely due to the absence of charges associated with a massive legal setback tied to Fox News Channel and a boost in affiliate fees.
The owner of Fox News Channel and the Fox broadcasting network said overall revenue fell to about $3.45 billion, compared to approximately $4.08 billion in the year-earlier period.
Fox was crimped by comparisons with the year-earlier quarter, which featured a Super Bowl broadcast, but it was also boosted by the lack of charges associated with a settlement of more than...
The owner of Fox News Channel and the Fox broadcasting network said overall revenue fell to about $3.45 billion, compared to approximately $4.08 billion in the year-earlier period.
Fox was crimped by comparisons with the year-earlier quarter, which featured a Super Bowl broadcast, but it was also boosted by the lack of charges associated with a settlement of more than...
- 5/8/2024
- by Brian Steinberg
- Variety - TV News
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