No U.S.-China venture could have had a more auspicious start than Oriental DreamWorks. On a state visit to the U.S. in February 2012, then-Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping had lunch and watched a Los Angeles Lakers game with Jeffrey Katzenberg. That same day, Katzenberg’s DreamWorks Animation announced the launch of Oriental DreamWorks, a $330 million
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February 13, 2019 5:50PM PT After more than 2.5 years on and off the market with an original asking price that pushed up on $8.5 million, British pop music phenom Harry Styles now has his modern villa above L.A’s Sunset Strip listed at $6.995 million. Once carrying costs, improvement expenses and real estate fees are
Fox News Channel declined to run a commercial for a documentary that used Nazi imagery whose backers were eager to win publicity by having it air during host Sean Hannity’s 9 p.m. hour – typically the most-watched slot in cable news. Backers of the Oscar-nominated “A Night at the Garden,” a short documentary that shows
February 13, 2019 5:26PM PT Chris Pratt is in negotiations to star in Skydance’s science-fiction project “Ghost Draft” with “Lego Batman’s” Chris McKay attached to direct. Pratt’s deal is not closed. Plot details for “Ghost Draft,” a live-action project written by Zach Dean, are under wraps. Adam Kolbrenner and David S. Goyer will produce, with Dana
The Television Critics Association’s winter press tour wrapped Wednesday in Pasadena, Calif. The 16-day junket featured its usual share of dull panels, bizarre questions, and awkward silences. But there were also moments that stood out for the right reasons. Among the highlights: HuluThe streaming service’s presence at the tour was genuinely impressive, with a series
Mary J. Blige kicks butt. The singer-actress plays Cha-Cha, a villain in the new “The Umbrella Academy,” Netflix’s adaptation of the superhero comic book series of the same name. “I went all the way for Cha-Cha,” Blige told Variety on Tuesday at the series’ red carpet premiere in Hollywood. “The stunt work was amazing. I
February 13, 2019 4:27PM PT A New York Times expose rocked the music industry on Wednesday, containing stories from several women claiming that singer/songwriter Ryan Adams exhibited “a pattern of manipulative behavior in which [he] dangled career opportunities while simultaneously pursuing female artists for sex.” Even Adams’ ex-wife, Mandy Moore, spoke out in the report,
The final day of the 2019 winter Television Critics Assn. press tour brought Cleo TV, BYUtv and Amazon Prime Video to Pasadena, Calif. Executives from BYUtv discussed their desire to reach a “broad audience,” despite being owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, while executives from Amazon announced the order of almost 20
Director Tara Wood has reclaimed rights to the authorized Quentin Tarantino documentary movie, “21 Years: Quentin Tarantino,” following a long legal battle. She’s hopeful that she can find a buyer to distribute the movie in conjunction with Sony’s release of Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” the Brad Pitt-Leonardo DiCaprio drama that’s opening on
February 13, 2019 3:57PM PT Rocker Ryan Adams’ immediate response to the New York Times reporting on his allegedly abusive relationships with multiple women was to say he was “f—ing taking you down” with a lawsuit — which he quickly deleted and replaced with a more temperate series of tweets. “Happy Vanentines (sic) day @nytimes,”
In today’s TV news roundup, Netflix announced the premiere date of “Queer Eye” season 3, and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is making a late-night show appearance. DATES “Queer Eye” season 3 is returning to Netflix March 15 with a new city and new guests. This season, Antoni Porowski (Food & Wine), Bobby Berk (Interior Design), Jonathan Van
February 13, 2019 3:45PM PT Swedish House Mafia has signed with Columbia Records, home to Adele, Bruce Springsteen and Calvin Harris. The Sony Music label was able to land the EDM group after a tense bidding war with Universal Music Group’s Republic Records, and for “significantly less” money, according to sources. The group —
That Television Critics Assn. press tour — concluding Wednesday with a suite of cable and streaming panels, including those for Amazon — does a remarkably effective, even exhaustive job of conveying to participants the sweep of television in this moment of sprawl. From high-class cable and streaming outlets such as HBO, FX, Amazon and Hulu
Online video platform provider Brightcove is acquiring longtime competitor Ooyala for $15 million in cash and stock, the company announced Wednesday afternoon. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of this year. As part of the acquisition, Brightcove will get its hands on Ooyala’s software platform, technology and intellectual property. The company
Nadav Lapid’s two previous films have all had elements of autobiography and political critique, but neither framed those traits in a vehicle as deliriously unpredictable and enthrallingly impenetrable as “Synonyms.” Breathtaking in the way it careens from one scene to the next in a whirlwind of personal and political meaning all but impossible to grasp
February 13, 2019 2:49PM PT Amazon has a firm grip on online shoppers. Now it is broadcasting its goals to expand its reach globally through television and movies. “International productions are such an important of our business,” said Amazon Studios head Jennifer Salke at the Television Critics Assn. winter press tour on Wednesday. The studio
European Union negotiators agreed Wednesday on codified language in a new set of sweeping copyright-reform rules — including a provision that would mandate YouTube and other internet platforms block copyrighted material when it’s uploaded. YouTube in particular has been particularly vigorous in opposing the proposed changes to the laws. The finalized text of the rules
February 13, 2019 2:30PM PT The new “Star Trek” universe could be expanding beyond CBS All Access. Variety has learned that CBS Television Studios and Nickelodeon are negotiating for a new “Star Trek” animated series aimed at kids. Plot details on the new series are being kept under wraps, but it hails from writers Kevin
Neil Gaiman revealed that Benedict Cumberbatch will play Satan in the Amazon series adaptation of “Good Omens.” Gaiman said that Cumberbatch’s Prince of Darkness will be “a giant, animated Satan” who appears “400 foot high.” The “Sherlock” star will appear in episode 6 of the series, which debuts on May 31. It was previously announced that
Songwriters from three of the five Oscar-nominated songs gathered at the Los Angeles Film School in Hollywood on Tuesday night to discuss their craft and to touch on, however reluctantly, some ongoing controversies related to the telecast. The “Conversation with the 2019 Oscar-Nominated Songwriters” panel included Diane Warren, who received her tenth Oscar nomination with
Singer-songwriter Ryan Adams has been accused of sexual misconduct and manipulative behavior, according to a New York Times article published Wednesday. Seven women and more than a dozen associates “described a pattern of manipulative behavior in which Adams dangled career opportunities while simultaneously pursuing female artists for sex,” the article claims. “In some cases, they said,
Photographed by Cole Sprouse; Styled by Natasha Royt Intricate crochet and macrame—on tank dresses, swinging skirts, and cover-ups—appear at home among the pristine wetlands and rocky coast of Southern California. Dress, $7,500, fringed vest, $10,600, both, Chanel. Opal earring (on her right ear, throughout), Pascale Monvoisin, $340. Earring, Mounser, $225 (for pair). Belt, Altuzarra, $450.
WASHINGTON — Top executives from T-Mobile and Sprint told lawmakers that their merger would create a next-generation wireless network that would also be a serious rival to cable companies in offering in-home broadband service. But they faced some skepticism from lawmakers that their promises would be fulfilled. T-Mobile US CEO John Legere and Sprint CEO
February 13, 2019 1:44PM PT Former “American Idol” contestant Antonella Barba is facing federal charges after allegedly working as a courier for a drug ring last year, according to court documents. Barba was arrested in October 2018 in Norfolk, Va., for “unlawfully, knowingly, and intentionally” possessing 100 grams of heroin with the intent to sell it.
February 13, 2019 1:00PM PT HBO is developing a half-hour comedy based on the book “They Both Die at the End” with Chris Kelly set to write and executive produce. Along with Kelly, J.J. Abrams and Ben Stephenson of Bad Robot Productions will also executive produce. Bad Robot’s Rachel Rusch will co-executive produce. Bad Robot produces
Galentine’s Day is here to remind you that romantic relationships come and go, but friends are forever. Coined by Leslie Knope on NBC’s “Parks and Recreation,” Feb. 13 has become a day for leaving your partners at home and honoring sisterhood over breakfast food. “It’s like Lilith Fair, minus the angst. Plus frittatas,” says our
February 13, 2019 12:45PM PT The official soundtrack to “Green Book” has surpassed one million streams on global music streaming platforms. The motion picture starring Viggo Mortensen and Mahershala Ali is up for five Academy Awards this season, including best picture, lead actor, supporting actor, original screenplay and film editing. This milestone marks Milan Records’
Focus Features has come on board with FilmNation Entertainment to begin production on Carey Mulligan’s thriller “Promising Young Woman.” The thriller marks the feature directorial debut of Emerald Fennell, who will both direct and write the film’s screenplay. Fennell will produce along with Margot Robbie, Tom Ackerley, and Josey McNamara for LuckyChap Entertainment and Ben
February 13, 2019 12:24PM PT The story of a woman who reluctantly adopts a pug, this shameless romantic comedy knows it’s cute, but earns its place in your heart anyway. There’s no denying that “Patrick” is absolutely adorable. When a story revolves around a four-legged furry friend — a squishy, huggable pug, at that —
In his first interview since he was attacked on Jan. 29, Jussie Smollett sat with ABC News’ Robin Roberts to share his feelings about the incident and address the rumors that he might not be telling the truth about the attack, which is being investigated as a possible hate crime. The full segment will air