Village Roadshow Entertainment Group, the production company involved with films including “Joker” and Sandra Bullock’s “Ocean’s 8,” has promoted its longtime general counsel Kevin Berg. Berg’s expanded title will now include director, creative diversity and inclusion — with an eye toward content that appeals to LGBTQ+ individuals and other underrepresented groups worldwide. He will continue
admin
The stock market drama surrounding GameStop is getting the Hollywood treatment. A film version of the still-unfolding social-media driven financial scenario is in the works, with a script by Oscar-winner Mark Boal (“The Hurt Locker,” “Zero Dark Thirty”). Noah Centineo is attached to appear in a major role in the untitled film. Known for his
Clifton Collins Jr. doesn’t believe in half measures. For “Jockey,” an intimate drama about an aging rider, the actor shut himself off from friends and family to get in the mindset of his loner character. He needed to access the pain and emotional baggage of a man who is grappling with failing health, as well
Looking at the top of the album chart, you could almost believe you accidentally clicked on a landing page for the Republic Records roster. The label is enjoying an almost ridiculous level of dominance at the moment, with its lineup claiming all four of the top spots and six out of the top 10. All
Along with the news that legendary singer Tony Bennett is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, the singer’s team revealed that he and Lady Gaga recorded a follow-up to their chart-topping 2014 album, “Cheek to Cheek,” even as Bennett battled the disease. The news, confirmed by a rep for Bennett, was revealed in the AARP magazine article
Carey Mulligan’s performance in Emerald Fennell’s “Promising Young Woman” has been beloved by critics and audiences alike since it debuted at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2020. She has been considered one of the top contenders in the best actress race, which is among the most competitive of all-time, with no shortage of talent
MONDAY, FEB. 1 Palm Springs International Film to Honor Leslie Odom, Jr. Leslie Odom, Jr. will receive the Palm Springs International Film’s spotlight award, actor for his performance in “One Night in Miami.” “Leslie Odom, Jr. is a truly talented performer. In his latest project, ‘One Night in Miami,’ Odom, Jr. brilliantly portrays singer Sam
“Soul” is in, but “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” is out: That’s the message the Academy’s music branch is sending to members who began voting today for the shortlists for both song and score. Disney-Pixar’s “Soul” has been declared eligible for the original-score Oscar, but the song from Netflix’s “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” was missing from
In celebration of Black History Month, AMC Networks has launched its 8th annual Black History Month PSA campaign, once again partnering with the NAACP and members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), Variety has learned exclusively. The 2021 PSA series features four thematic spots that feature AMC Networks talent Colman Domingo (“Fear the Walking Dead”)
Over 170 Black and Jewish leaders from all over the entertainment industry have banded together to launch the Black-Jewish Entertainment Alliance (BJEA), a joint initiative devoted to countering racism and antisemitism, and release a unity statement. Among them are several high-ranking music executives including Aaron Bay-Schuck, co-chairman and CEO of Warner Records (pictured at left);
YouTube tapped veteran executive Craig Hunter, most recently with Sony Pictures Television, as global head of preschool content for the internet platform’s originals team. In the newly created role, Hunter is in charge of all preschool content that falls under the kids and families vertical for YouTube Kids & Family Originals. Currently based in London,
Director Ronny Trocker, whose second feature “Human Factors” world-premiered at Sundance on Jan. 29 in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition, was born in Bolzano, Italy, capital city of the autonomous province of South Tyrol where German is the first language of most of the population. Early in his career, Trocker moved to Berlin where he worked as
Jennifer Lopez is set to star in the upcoming Netflix film “The Mother.” Niki Caro, who recently helmed Disney’s “Mulan” remake, is in talks to direct. “The Mother,” which Lopez will also produce, centers on a deadly assassin who comes out of hiding to protect the daughter she gave up years before. “Lovecraft Country” showrunner
Naomi Watts is set to headline “Infinite Storm,” the highly anticipated film from Polish helmer Malgorzata Szumowska (“Never Gonna Snow Again”), with Bleecker Street and Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions on board. Bleecker Street will take U.S. rights while Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions is handling international rights on the film. Production will begin later this month.
The Netflix dramedy “The Chair” is rounding out its cast. Bob Balaban, Nana Mensah, David Morse, and Everly Carganilla have all been cast in series regular roles, Variety has learned. In addition, Ji Yong Lee, Mallory Low, Marcia DeBonis, Ron Crawford, Ella Rubin, and Bob Stephenson have all been cast in guest starring roles. They join
The long-rumored “Frasier” revival could soon be a reality at Paramount Plus. Variety has confirmed with sources that a new iteration of “Frasier” in discussions at the ViacomCBS streaming service, though those discussions are said to be in the very early stages. Reps for CBS Studios and Paramount Plus declined to comment. Series star Kelsey
Two years after he was named co-head of Columbia Records’ Urban Music division, Shawn Holiday will be joining Irving and Jeffrey Azoff to launch a new record label and publishing venture, a rep for Columbia confirmed to Variety. The rep noted that Holiday will continue to work in an A&R capacity with Polo G, Chloe
Kevin Durant and Rich Kleiman are not only relaunching the website for their Thirty Five Ventures multi-media platform Boardroom today, but they’re also announcing some of its new programming. I can exclusively report that in addition to Nick DePaula’s video series about the sneaker industry I first told you about last week, Boardroom will also
Comcast launched a new destination with Black content, curated in partnership with the African American Film Critics Association, which is available to customers on Xfinity X1, Flex and Stream App at no additional cost. Dubbed “Black Experience,” the content hub at launch comprises more than 100 titles (and growing). It’s a mix of programming from
Check out the top new trailers released this week that you’ve gotta see! Let us know what you think in the comments below. ► Sign up for a Fandango FanAlert or Buy Movie Tickets: https://www.fandango.com?cmp=MCYT_YouTube_Desc Want to be notified of all the latest movie trailers? Subscribe to the channel and click the bell icon to
Neve Campbell has signed on for a leading role in “The Lincoln Lawyer” series that was recently announced at Netflix. She joins previously announced series Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, who will star as Mickey Haller, runs his law practice out of the back seat of his Lincoln Town Car. Campbell will play Maggie McPherson. Maggie is Mickey’s
Penned by Danish screenwriter Kim Fupz Aakeson (“Dancers”), HBO Europe’s new show “Welcome to Utmark” is one buzzy contender for this year’s Nordisk Film & TV Fond Prize, whose announcement on Feb. 3 marks one highlight at the Göteborg Festival TV Drama Vision. The eight-part series, produced by Norway’s Paradox, represents a clear bell-weather to
Linsey Davis and Whit Johnson have been named co-anchors of the weekend broadcasts of ABC News “World News Tonight,” filling roles in the wake of the departure of anchor Tom Llanas. In a memo sent to ABC News staffers Monday, James Goldston, the unit’s outgoing president, said Johnson will anchor Saturdays, while Davis will anchor
In today’s Global Bulletin, Amazon Prime Video and IMDb TV announce new casting for Season 2 of “Alex Rider,” investment is approved for Bottle Yard Studios in the U.K., the BIFAs announce Tom Felton will host this year’s online ceremony, NENT Studios UK sells three formats in Vietnam and Cruchnyroll picks up “Tsukimichi – Moonlit
Netflix’s hyper-specific categories have become something of a punchline over the years. For every general collection of “comedies” and “reality TV,” there are ones like “critically acclaimed LGBTQ TV shows” (“Queer Eye” and “Tales of the City”), “Feel-Good Reality TV” (“The Great British Baking Show” and “Dream Home Makeover”) and “Oddballs and Outcasts” (“Sex Education”
The team of Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross leads all nominees for the second annual Society of Composers and Lyricists Awards, the organization of scorers and songwriters active in visual media. The composing duo (who won an Oscar 10 years ago for “The Social Network” and an Emmy last year for “Watchmen”) received three nominations.
Sonic the Hedgehog is getting a brand-new 3D animated show on Netflix. The 30-year-old character will be featured in “Sonic Prime,” a kids-and-family series from Sega of America and WildBrain, set to premiere worldwide on Netflix in 2022. The 24-episode series features Sonic in an adventure where the fate of a strange new multiverse rests
Sony Music Entertainment announced it has entered into a definitive agreement with Kobalt Music Group to acquire Kobalt’s recorded-music operations, including AWAL, and Kobalt Neighboring Rights. The acquisition, for $430 million according to the SEC filing, is subject to customary regulatory and closing conditions. AWAL and Neighbouring Rights will become a new division within SME’s
Tony Bennett has revealed that he has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease, he announced via an extensive article with AARP magazine on Monday. “Life is a gift – even with Alzheimer’s.Thank you to [his wife] Susan and my family for their support, and AARP,” he wrote on Twitter. “The Magazine for telling my story.” Bennett,
CNN’s “Go There” live daily news show — after a year and half on Facebook Watch and just over 600 episodes — is ending its run on the social platform. Starting Monday (Feb. 1), news junkies will find “Go There” on CNN’s owned-and-operated outlets, including the news network’s website and mobile apps. With the move,