Month: September 2020

There is a thin line between fact and fiction in German director Isabel Lamberti’s Dutch-Spanish co-production “La última Primavera” (“Last Days of Spring”) which, sold by Loco Films, is playing in the New Directors competition at the San Sebastian Film Festival. Shot in La Cañada Real, a shantytown outside Madrid, tensions are running high between
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Both “Family Guy” and “Bob’s Burgers” have been picked up for two additional seasons each at Fox. The renewals will see “Family Guy” run through Season 20, while “Bob’s Burgers” will run through Season 13. “’Family Guy’ and ‘Bob’s Burgers’ are key pillars of our network’s success,” said Michael Thorn, president of enteratinment for Fox
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“The Masked Singer” returns Wednesday with new costumes, a virtual studio audience, a socially distanced panel — and a host still weathering controversy. The Fox celebrity singing competition has been a ratings smash for three seasons, attracting an audience looking for family-friendly, escapist TV. That was especially true this past spring, when ratings soared as
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On stage, Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford is the self-proclaimed “metal god” but off, he’s a mere mortal, and ready to confess to all of his sins in a new autobiography. In “Confess,” co-written with Ian Gittins and out Sept. 29, the 69-year-old Halford dives into his humble beginnings growing up in a working class
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Def Jam Recordings has made three moves to “strengthen and refresh” its publicity team:  Lauren Ceradini has been appointed senior vice president, media and artist relations; Renata Muniz has been promoted to vice president; and Joanne Hunter has been appointed senior director (pictured above L-R, respectively), it was announced today by Gabe Tesoriero, EVP of
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The Hollywood Foreign Press Association will present “HFPA Philanthropy: Empowering the Next Generation” on Oct. 13 at 5 p.m. PT. This year’s virtual event will be available to stream on the Golden Globes’ YouTube channel and website. Hosted by James Corden, the philanthropy program will honor organizations that support young artists, filmmakers and storytellers. The
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Jacques Audiard, the French director of Palme d’Or winning “Dheepan” and Oscar-nominated “A Prophet,” is currently filming his next feature, “Les Olympiades,” near Paris. Audiard, who enjoys working with a mix of rising and well-seasoned talents behind and in front of the camera, wrote the script of “Les Olympiades” with two female auteurs, Léa Mysius
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Disney has postponed the release of fall blockbusters such as Marvel’s “Black Widow,” Steven Spielberg’s “West Side Story” and Kenneth Branagh’s “Death on the Nile” by several months. The results are bad news for the exhibition industry, which is facing fierce headwinds after closing for months due to coronavirus. The studio has kept the late
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With the spotlight on diversity and inclusion shining ever brighter, Hollywood’s emerging leaders of color take their responsibility for improving representation on screen and off seriously. “What I’ve been really focused on is trying to address diversity, equity and inclusion,” Aaron Edmonds, director of development and production for Lionsgate, tells Variety. “That’s through the content
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Gale Sayers, the Hall of Fame NFL runningback whose friendship with Chicago Bears teammate Brian Piccolo was memorialized in the 1971 TV movie “Brian’s Song,” has died at the age of 77. According to the Associated Press, which confirmed his death through the Pro Football Hall of Fame, relatives of Sayers confirmed that he suffered
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Producers of the 2020 CMT Music Awards belatedly unveiled the list of nominees for the long-postponed telecast, and among the leading contenders, there was a six-way tie for first. Three nominations apiece went to Dan + Shay, Ashley McBryde, Luke Combs, Kelsea Ballerini, Thomas Rhett and Sam Hunt. Artists with two nominations each are Carrie
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When Fox announced last month that its new singing competition “I Can See Your Voice” would launch this fall behind Season 4 of smash hit “The Masked Singer,” it surprised almost everyone. While most programs were still investigating how and when to get back into production during the pandemic, “Voice,” which debuts Sept. 23, had
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Dr. Brené Brown is launching a new podcast exclusively on Spotify, and her existing show will move over to the platform in early 2020 under a multiyear pact. It’s the latest push by Spotify to ramp up its steadily growing podcast biz. Brown, a renowned researcher, bestselling author and speaker whose work explores emotional facets
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Tahirah Sharif and Julian Feder have joined the cast of the upcoming thriller “Escape the Field.” The actors join previously announced stars Jordan Claire Robbins (Netflix’s “Umbrella Academy”), Shane West (“Gotham,” “Nikita”), Theo Rossi (“Luke Cage,” “Sons of Anarchy”) and Elena Juacto. The film is directed by Emerson Moore, who is billed as a co-writer
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Dallas-based rapper and producer FXXXXY died last week after complications while undergoing a routine medical procedure, a rep for his label, Interscope Geffen A&M, confirms to Variety. The artist, whose real name was Maudell Watkins, was 25. Services are being planned in his hometown of Dallas. More information will be forthcoming. “The family of Maudell
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Broadway may be shuttered due to the pandemic, but Variety is keeping its annual tradition of celebrating the world of stage with a digital event, “Legit! The Road Back to Broadway,” presented by City National Bank at 9 a.m. PDT Sept. 24 in the Variety Streaming Room. Panels will feature Variety’s Broadway to watch, playwrights
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