December 5, 2018 6:00AM PT When it comes to performing movie musicals, there’s one thing Emily Blunt and Hugh Jackman agree on: “You’ve got to commit to it so hard,” the “Mary Poppins Returns” and “Greatest Showman” actors said during their chat for Variety‘s Actors on Actors. “I think it’s a very difficult balance between a
Month: December 2018
Companies in the media sector are generally progressive in embracing digital tech to adapt their businesses — but they are more reluctant than other industries to move forward with artificial intelligence, among other emerging technologies, according to new research from PwC. Per PwC’s survey of 1,000 U.S. executives for its “2019 AI Predictions” report in
Chas Smith, general manager of Roku’s hardware business, plans to retire and is expected to leave the company at the end of the first quarter of 2019, Roku announced. The company said it has a search underway with an executive-placement firm to find a successor for the exec. Smith is senior VP and GM of
Edgard Tenembaum’s Paris-based Tu Vas Voir, producer of “The Motorcycle Diaries,” and “Ixcanul,” has boarded Argentine writer-director Rodrigo Guerrero’s “Venezia,” a tale of a grieving woman’s discovery of a larger freedom. Tu Vas Voir will co-produce “Venezia” with Cordoba’s Twins Latin Films but leaving all international territory rights open outside Argentina, including those to France,
There will be a new “Queen of Great Britain” crowned when a U.K. version of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” starts on the BBC next year. The British pubcaster has ordered a local version of the unscripted hit for its online channel, BBC Three. It marks the first time that the series, which sees drag artists compete
MADRID — 1844 Entertainment has acquired U.S. rights to Benjamín Naishtat’s “Rojo,” whose theatrical and home entertainment release will be handled by Distrib Films US, headed by François Scippa-Kohn. Theatrical releases in New York and Los Angeles are planned for spring 2019, followed by main other markets nationwide, said Distrib Films US president Scippa-Kohn. Closed
Twitter has unveiled its top-trending topics and tweets of 2018, with Lady Gaga, Barack Obama, and BTS commanding the most popular posts. Leave it to Gaga to write a tweet six years ago that becomes the third-most-quoted tweet of 2018. In 2012, the singer tweeted a random string of numbers and capitalized letters, which has
Singapore-headquartered production company Cre8 Productions has announced a six-film co-production and co-financing deal with ABS-CBN Films, the filmmaking arm of the Philippines leading media conglomerate ABS-CBN. The first film of the slate, Mikhail Red’s “Eerie”, had its world premiere at the Singapore International Film Festival on Monday. The rest of the slate includes a zombie
Studiocanal has signed a milestone deal with PCCW’s HK Television Entertainment to have the Hong Kong-based company distribute three English-language series on its free-to-air channel ViuTVsix next year. The deal, which marks the first collaboration between PCCW and Studiocanal, takes in three English-language dramas from Studiocanal-owned RED Production Company: the thriller miniseries “Trust Me,” which
Versatile Egyptian auteur Ahmad Abdalla is well known on the fest circuit for “Microphone,” about Egypt’s hip-hop scene, “Rags & Tatters,” which exposed the country’s deep post-revolution poverty, and female identity melodrama “Decor.” In “EXT. Night,” which is his 6th feature, he returns to Egypt’s darkness with a wry comedy in which a young film
The Singaporean government is to launch a new scheme to fund film co-production in Southeast Asia. It will offer grants worth S$250,000 (US$183,000) per film. The initiative was announced Wednesday by Minister for Communications and Information S. Iswaran during the Singapore Hour at the Asia TV Forum. The ATF is part of the annual Singapore
Michael Vick Urges Kareem Hunt To Get Help … ‘He Can Always Reach Out To Me’ 12/5/2018 12:30 AM PST EXCLUSIVE Michael Vick says the only way Kareem Hunt can get back to the NFL is if he gets serious help … and the ex-QB tells TMZ Sports he’s willing to be a part of
R. Kelly’s ex-wife Drea says that she believes a gun threat that caused an evacuation at a New York City screening for Lifetime’s upcoming documentary series “Surviving R. Kelly” was connected to the singer. “I can’t speak to what he would or would not do because I don’t know what his mindset is right now,” she told
Kevin Hart is ready for his Oscar close-up. And now the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences president John Bailey tells Variety that he’s “very excited” to see what the funny man will do when he makes his hosting debut next year. “First of all, he’s a very kind of warm and loving and
December 4, 2018 10:00PM PT “Bumblebee,” the sixth installment of Paramount’s “Transformers” franchise, will rumble into Chinese theaters on Jan. 4, 2019. That is two weeks after its U.S. outing. The prequel is set 20 years before 2007’s first “Transformers” film, and follows the story of a government agency chasing down autobot Bumblebee and the teenage
December 4, 2018 9:20PM PT Global streaming giant, Netflix has acquired worldwide rights to Hong Kong-set horror-comedy series “Demon’s Path,” from Malaysia’s Astro group. The show is set to air from Dec. 22. The series follows a forensic pathologist who has the ability to see the last 10-seconds of life of the dead. Working together
December 4, 2018 9:07PM PT If you thought the idea of Bruce Springsteen following his grueling run on Broadway with an E Street Band tour sounded too good to be true, now it’s official: it was. Springsteen — who is set to wrap his show, “Springsteen on Broadway,” on December 15 — took to Twitter
Clover Pictures is getting ready to unwrap spooky Singaporean comedy “When Ghost Meets Zombie” in time for Valentines Day next year. The film stars local singer-actor Nathan Hartono, who made it to the grand finals of the “Sing! China” singing contest variety program in 2017. He was Jay Chou’s protege during that season of the
SAG-AFTRA members have ratified a three-year successor deal to the union’s contract with the major record labels with more than 99% support. Ratification voting was completed Tuesday afternoon. The contract is retroactive to Jan. 1, 2018, and expires Dec. 31, 2020. The major record labels covered by the agreement include Warner Bros. Records, Atlantic Recording Corporation,
Leslie Moonves is alleged to have misled investigators working on behalf of CBS Corp. and attempted to obstruct a probe into claims of sexual harassment during his time at and before he was employed by the company, according to a report in The New York Times. The Times says it has reviewed a draft of
UPDATED: A New York City screening for Lifetime’s upcoming documentary series “Surviving R. Kelly” was evacuated over a gun threat on Tuesday evening. A Lifetime rep tells Variety the event was evacuated as a precaution after the venue received two anonymous calls. Present at the screening and conversation, held at NeueHouse Madison Square in the Gramercy
WASHINGTON — Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s team is recommending that former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn get a lesser sentence, including one that does not include jail time, citing his cooperation with the ongoing investigation into possible collusion between Russian sources and the Trump campaign. “Given the defendant’s substantial assistance and other considerations set forth
Jazz musician, television actor and developmental research psychologist Roger V. Burton died Nov. 30 at his home in Santa Monica. He was 90 years old. Burton began as a professional jazz trombonist at the age of 11, playing in big bands and on studio film soundtracks. Earning himself the nickname “Schoolboy” for doing homework between
December 4, 2018 4:14PM PT Robert Schwentke, who received critical acclaim for his thriller “The Captain,” is in early talks to direct Paramount’s “G.I. Joe” spinoff, “Snake Eyes,” sources tell Variety. Evan Spiliotopoulos, who wrote “Beauty and the Beast” and “The Huntsman: Winter’s War,” penned the script. Brian Goldner is among those producing the feature
December 4, 2018 4:06PM PT After reports emerged that he was under consideration, Kevin Hart confirmed that he’s hosting the 2019 Oscars with a post on Instagram Tuesday evening. The show is set to air on ABC on Feb. 24. Jimmy Kimmel hosted the show for the past two years, but previously said he will
December 4, 2018 4:04PM PT Global producer and distributor, Fremantle has completed a deal with leading Philippines broadcaster ABS-CBN for the Fremantle and 19 Entertainment co-owned format “Idols.” The show is the world’s most successful search for a solo pop superstar. ABS-CBN is currently partner with Fremantle in the region on “Pilipinas Got Talent.” It
Few music executives have the range of Troy Carter, who over the past decade managed Lady Gaga from unknown status to superstardom, made big strides in smoothing Spotify’s relationships with the artist community, and continues to navigate complicated terrain as the special entertainment adviser to the Prince estate, which has resulted in a thorough archiving
In Tuesday’s roundup, the official trailer is out for Ellen DeGeneres’ first stand-up act in 15 years, and Netflix sets the premiere date for “Sex Education,” a coming-of-age teen dramedy. FIRST LOOKS The first official trailer has been released for “Ellen DeGeneres: Relatable.” The special marks DeGeneres’ return to stand-up after a 15-year hiatus, and
December 4, 2018 3:30PM PT Toby Kebbell has been cast in a main role in the upcoming M. Night Shyamalan thriller series at Apple, Variety has learned. The exact details of the plot are being kept under wraps, but sources say the show follows a married couple that hires a young woman to serve as the nanny
Anne Hathaway has been offered a starring role in Warner Bros.’ “Sesame Street” movie, sources tell Variety. Sources close to the situation say Hathaway has not decided whether she will film the movie yet as the actress is also fielding an offer for Robert Zemeckis’ ‘The Witches.” “Portlandia” director and co-creator Jonathan Krisel is set to helm
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