In adapting Chelsea Cain’s novel “One Kick” into an episodic drama, Matt Lopez had a tall order on his hands. The protagonist of the book, Kit “Kick” Lannigan is a survivor of a childhood abduction and child pornography ring, who, despite never fully healing from her formative years’ trauma, works with the FBI as an
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Rami Malek took a tumble off the Oscars stage after accepting the Academy Award for best actor on Sunday night. Malek appears to have accidentally slipped while trying to exit the stage after the live broadcast had panned away from him. The “Bohemian Rhapsody” star had to set his Oscar down on the edge of
Welcome back to Tune In: our weekly newsletter offering a guide to the best of the week’s TV. Each week, Variety’s TV team combs through the week’s schedule, selecting our picks of what to watch and when/how to watch them. This week, “Better Things” debuts its third season and “Leaving Neverland” premieres on HBO. “The
February 25, 2019 10:20AM PT [embedded content] A new “Detective Pikachu” trailer drops tomorrow, and actor Ryan Reynolds is promoting it with a hilarious “Inside the Actors Studio” spoof documenting how he got into the role of the yellow Pokémon (hint: it involves some mild child neglect). Bringing “Detective Pikachu” to the big screen is
It’s not unusual — in fact, it’s often the standard drill — to see Oscar night come down to a duel between two best-picture contenders, each of which embodies a dramatically different set of values. At the 1995 awards, “Forrest Gump” vs. “Pulp Fiction” incarnated the tension between mainstream Hollywood and a newly powerful indie-film
A “Gremlins” animated series is in development at WarnerMedia’s upcoming streaming service, Variety has learned exclusively from sources. The potential series is said to be a period piece that would follow Mr. Wing, the Chinese grandfather played in the films by Keye Luke, as a young man as he goes on adventures with the friendly
Vivien KillileaGetty Images With the weather taking an ominous turn and the planet in serious peril, we know fossil fuels, factory farming, and single-use plastics are major problems, but what if what we’re wearing is also to blame? With throwaway plastic components, landfill-ready packaging and unethically sourced materials the norm, should we only wear vintage?
February 25, 2019 9:54AM PT Lupita Nyong’o made a significant statement with her choice in jewelry at the Academy Awards. The “Black Panther” actress wore a “Wakanda Forever” bespoke ring, which was designed specifically for the actress, who wanted to honor her Oscar-nominated film, as well as her work with the Time’s Up movement through
A Paris court has dismissed rape allegations against French director Luc Besson for lack of evidence after a nine-month investigation, Variety has confirmed. The preliminary investigation was launched last May after Dutch-Belgian actress Sand Van Roy filed a report accusing Besson of raping her in a Paris hotel room. The French prosecutor’s office said Monday
Felix Mallard has been cast in a recurring role on the upcoming Netflix adaptation of “Locke & Key,” Variety has learned exclusively. Mallard will plays Lucas Caravaggio, a charming teenager in the town of Matheson whose exposure to magic leads to serious complications. The Australian actor is currently starring in the CBS comedy “Happy Together”
R. Kelly has pleaded not guilty to all 10 counts of criminal sexual abuse leveled against him at hearing in Chicago Monday morning. Judge Lawrence Flood kept the singer’s bail at $1 million, with $100,000 required for him to bond out, according to the Associated Press. Steven Greenberg, the singer’s attorney, said over the weekend
Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson told “Good Morning America” on Monday that there is “a lot more evidence” to support the police case against Jussie Smollett for allegedly staging a hate crime attack last month. “There’s a lot more evidence that hasn’t been presented yet, and does not support the version he gave,” Johnson told
February 25, 2019 8:21AM PT Digital star and actor Lilly Singh announced that she is bisexual, eliciting a warm wave of love and approval on social media. In a tweet Sunday, the popular Canadian YouTuber listed herself as “female,” “coloured” and “bisexual,” accompanied by a positive message encouraging fans to embrace their own identities as
February 25, 2019 8:15AM PT On a night when music was arguably the big winner at the 2019 Academy Awards, British actor Taron Egerton gave a preview of his performance in what could be the next big song-heavy blockbuster, the Elton John “fantasy musical” “Rocketman.” At Elton’s annual Oscars party, which includes an auction to
February 25, 2019 8:02AM PT Google is getting ready to release its upcoming budged phone any day now, judging from a series of new filings that surfaced Monday morning: The company filed a number of applications with the FCC for a new smartphone that very likely the much-rumored Pixel Lite. Google spokespeople didn’t immediately respond
February 25, 2019 7:55AM PT NBC’s new drama takes itself too seriously to be all that interesting. “The Enemy Within” is, painstakingly and obviously, built to scratch a certain itch. NBC’s new drama is for anyone who ever picked up a paperback thriller at an airport, ripped through it in a single flight, and promptly
As R. Kelly remains in jail in the wake of his indictment Friday on four separate charges of sexual abuse, a woman involved with his 2008 child-pornography trial — of which he was ultimately acquitted — has written an op-ed in the New York Times in which she recounts her experience and concludes, “This will not
February 25, 2019 7:17AM PT Walter Presents has launched on Comcast’s Xfinity X1 platform, giving subscribers access to a raft of high-end non-English-language drama. The on-demand service is backed by U.K. broadcaster Channel 4 and offers a lineup of drama from around the world, curated and presented on-screen by Walter Iuzzolino. The a-la-carte service is
February 25, 2019 7:04AM PT The ratings for the 2019 Oscars telecast are up slightly from last year in the preliminary numbers. The awards show, which went without a host this year, drew a 20.1 rating in metered market households, up approximately 6% from the 18.9 last year’s telecast drew. The 2018 Oscars’ household rating
Oscar voters were determined to spread the love around this year, and boy, did they, with each of the eight best picture nominees getting at least one award, and none getting more than four. Nonetheless, there was a clear sweep on the show — by music. In a year where, only a month ago, the
Lady Gaga struck the biggest chord with Oscars viewers Sunday night, capturing the lion’s share of chatter related to the 91st Academy Awards on social media. Gaga’s first Oscar win — for the song “Shallow” from “A Star Is Born,” which she performed with Bradley Cooper on the ABC telecast — gave her three of
Hollywood and Chinese sci-fi offerings went head-to-head at the Chinese box office this weekend. Newcomer “Alita: Battle Angel” smashed its way to the top with a $64 million debut — streaking past the Chinese titles that, though popular, have been in theaters since the Lunar New Year holiday at the start of the month. Fox’s
February 25, 2019 5:13AM PT President Donald Trump has slammed Spike Lee hours after the director won the Oscar for best adapted screenplay for “BlacKkKlansman.” President Trump tweeted that it would be “nice if Spike Lee could read his notes, or better yet not have to use notes at all, when doing his racist hit
Veteran TV producer David Hatcher is now overseeing BuzzFeed News’ “AM to DM” morning talk show on Twitter as executive producer. Hatcher, who started at BuzzFeed on Feb. 11, has day-to-day showrunning responsibilities for the one-hour weekday show, which streams live on Twitter from 10-11 a.m. ET Monday through Friday. In January, Twitter renewed “AM
February 25, 2019 4:22AM PT Days after buying Tele Munchen, private equity group KKR has made another major German move, acquiring producer and distributor Universum Film from RTL. KKR is creating a German-based content group and Universum becomes the second company to become part of the fledgling outfit. Universum is a 40-year-old company that started
Fremantle, Syco Entertainment and Hunan TV announced a partnership Monday to co-develop a new 13-part series for China based on the “Got Talent” format franchise. The prime time show, whose Chinese name translates to “World’s Got Talent,” will air on Hunan TV in April. The series will bring together memorable and fan-favorite acts from more
Netflix is continuing its push into African originals with its latest order, the South African teen series “Blood & Water.” The series, which is directed by Nosipho Dumisa, the helmer behind the buzzy SXSW title “Number 37,” follows a local teen who discovers her family’s secret past while navigating the complicated world of a South
UPDATED: Spotify’s long-anticipated launch in India could be days away, but the Swedish company is taking its licensing negotiations with the three major music groups to the wire. While the streamer is said to be close to deals with Universal Music Group and Sony Music, it remains “far apart” from acceptable terms with Warner Music
Malaysian drama film, “Rise Ini Kalilah” has been picked up by Netflix and will go to air from Feb. 26. The film released in Malaysian theaters and in Singapore in September. Involving six intertwined fictional tales, “Rise” documents personal stories and struggles in the build up to last year’s historic general election in Malaysia. To
New drama series projects from the U.K.’s Studio Lambert, Italy’s Indigo Film and Norway’s Maipo Film will be pitched at Series Mania’s Co-Pro Pitching Sessions to an industry audience and jury. The latter is presided over by Meghan Lyvers, SVP co-production & development, CBS Studios International. Taking place on March 25, the Sessions are the