Munich-based world sales company Global Screen has sold its 3D animation movie “Tabaluga” to more than 50 territories, including the U.K., Spain and Russia. The pic centers on Tabaluga, “a brave little dragon, who, with the help of beautiful ice princess Lilli, not only finds his fire and the power of love, but also succeeds
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After 21 Savage’s arrest by ICE on Sunday on grounds that he is a U.K. citizen who has overstayed his visa, many people have spoken out in his defense, ranging from Cardi B to U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson. But Jay-Z has not only issued a statement on his Facebook page, he has hired attorney Alex
Charlie Collier is ready to rev up programming activity at Fox. The newly appointed Fox Entertainment CEO spoke with Variety on Wednesday on the heels of his first major public appearance in the new role when he addressed the Television Critics Association’s winter press tour in Pasadena, Calif. Collier weighed in on the future of Fox
“Alita: Battle Angel” star Rosa Salazar has a message for politicians who want to build walls. “We’re here to stay, baby,” she says. “Ain’t no wall going to keep us out.” Salazar realizes starring in “Alita” comes with a responsibility. “Just being a Latinx actress at the helm of something like this in itself is
February 6, 2019 4:41PM PT In today’s TV News Roundup, Keith Carradine returns to guest on “Big Bang Theory” and “I Am Richard Pryor” will be the first of three new “I Am” chapters of Paramount Network’s documentary franchise. FIRST LOOKS [embedded content] Paramount Network has just announced this year’s film slate for three new
The Smithsonian Channel is launching in the U.K. as a free-to-air service that will reach 19 million homes. It will carry shows from the U.S. such as “America in Color” and a slate of local originals including a documentary about Tariq Ali and Malcom X and a factual series fronted by Clive Anderson. Smithsonian Channel
Oscar-nominated British actress Olivia Colman is set to receive a BFI Fellowship, the British Film Institute’s highest honor. Colman will receive the accolade at the BFI chairman’s dinner on March 6 in London, hosted by BFI chair Josh Berger of Warner Bros. The honor comes after Colman’s Oscar and BAFTA nominations for her star turn
February 6, 2019 4:00PM PT CBS has picked up three more multi-cam comedy pilots, including one from “Crazy Rich Asians” author Kevin Kwan. Kwan’s project is titled “The Emperor of Malibu.” In the series, when the son of a Chinese billionaire announces his engagement to an American woman, his outrageous family descends upon the couple
In the run-up to Sunday’s Grammy Awards, one of this year’s most high-profile nominees made a stop in a much smaller space than the Staples Center — the adjacent Grammy Museum’s 200-seat Clive Davis Theatre — for “An Evening With Kacey Musgraves.” Her intimate benefit for the museum included a set of songs from her “Golden
February 6, 2019 3:06PM PT Heavy metal legend Ozzy Osbourne was hospitalized at the Keck Hospital of University of Southern California on Feb. 4 for complications from a bad case of the flu. His wife Sharon Osbourne tweeted an update to concerned fans on Wednesday afternoon, saying “his doctors feel this is the best way
Actor and comedian Steven Levy, aka Steve Bean, died Jan. 21 after a battle with cancer. He was 58 years old. Born in Lynn, Mass. and raised in Providence, R.I, Levy attended Carnegie Mellon University and cut his theatrical teeth performing stand-up at local Pittsburgh area nightclubs. In 1980, Levy teamed up with comic Chris
Bill Owens was named just the third executive producer in the history of the venerable “60 Minutes,” capping off a period of uncertainty at the long-running newsmagazine and kicking off a new era at CBS News. Owens has been serving as the leader of the program during an interim period, and his ascension to the
February 6, 2019 1:57PM PT Music executive and entrepreneur Troy Carter has signed with UTA in all areas. The agency will assist Carter in developing “innovative ventures in verticals including film, TV and theater,” according to a Feb. 6 announcement. Carter most recently served as global head of creator services at Spotify. He also advises the Prince
Group Nine Media, the Discovery-back digital media publisher, says it has a slate of over 50 original shows premiering in 2019. But it won’t be showcasing them at the Digital Content NewFronts marketing confabs this year. Instead, Group Nine will take the show on the road with a series of presentations across the U.S. showcasing
“Candyman” director Bernard Rose has helmed a new Japanese film, “Samurai Marathon,” which HanWay Films will introduce to buyers in Berlin. The picture has an original score by Philip Glass and is produced by HanWay’s Jeremy Thomas. Thomas has a pedigree in Japanese cinema, making films including “13 Assassins” and “Hara-Kiri.” He has again teamed
February 6, 2019 1:12PM PT Jerusalem’s Sam Spiegel International Film Lab will honor Michael Barker, Sony Pictures Classic’s co-president and co-founder, with this year’s Force-of-Nature filmmaking award. The accolade seeks to honor extraordinary personalities committed to the development of cinema. Barker is being recognized for his work as a “cultural master-builder” at United Artists Classics, Orion
Smart-speaker maker Sonos had a very good holiday quarter: The company booked revenues of $496 million during its fiscal first quarter of 2019, which ended on Dec. 29. The company also had the most profitable quarter in its history, bringing in $61.7 million of net income, or earnings per share of $0.55. Both number surpassed
February 6, 2019 1:06PM PT A lot more people will be humming “Walk This Way” as they walk the Hollywood Walk of Fame now. Aerosmith has just been announced as next in line to get a star on Hollywood Blvd. Honors are set for Feb. 14 — Valentine’s Day — in front of an appropriate
February 6, 2019 1:05PM PT Japanese sales and distribution firm Gaga Corporation is launching sales of Palme d’Or winner Hirokazu Kore-eda’s starry new project “The Truth” in Berlin, one of six Japanese titles the company is bringing to the European Film Market. Kore-eda won the top prize at Cannes for “Shoplifters” last year. “The Truth” stars Catherine
February 6, 2019 1:00PM PT Lily Collins in joining Simon Pegg in the independent thriller “Inheritance.” Vaughn Stein, who recently helmed “Terminal” with Pegg and Margot Robbie, is directing. “Inheritance” explores what happens when the patriarch of a wealthy and powerful family suddenly passes away, leaving his wife and daughter with a shocking secret inheritance
Sheryl Crow’s winding road has brought her back to Nashville, for her new label home as well as her actual place of residence. She’s signed a deal with the Big Machine Label Group, Variety has learned. An official announcement is due shortly. The first release under the agreement will be a project Crow has been working
Jay-Z Free 21 Savage!!! Roc Nation Hires Legal Help 2/6/2019 10:48 AM PST EXCLUSIVE Jay-Z is coming to the defense of 21 Savage, slamming his arrest by ICE and throwing some major support his way … including help with his upcoming legal battle. The hip-hop mogul calls the arrest and detention of the “Bank Account”
February 6, 2019 12:25PM PT Shawn Mendes has partnered with SmileDirectClub on a new initiative to spread positivity and benefit organizations, brands and causes that resonate with him personally. Its message: that confidence is gained with “an amazing smile.” The collaboration will launch officially with a TV spot that’s set to air during Sunday night’s Grammy
February 6, 2019 12:22PM PT Paul Greengrass is in talks to reunite with Tom Hanks on the big-screen adaptation of “News Of The World.” The two previously teamed on “Captain Phillips,” a 2013 thriller that was a major box office success and also scored the pair some of the best reviews of their careers. A
February 6, 2019 12:14PM PT Fox Entertainment CEO Charlie Collier said that the new Fox Corporation will be “more nimble” and getting a “rare business opportunity” to rethink what it means to be a broadcast network once the sale of other 21st Century Fox assets to Disney is completed. “We’re all eagerly awaiting our company’s
Variety and Louis XIII cognac teamed up with LVRN and Interscope Records to honor singer and Grammy nominee 6lack at an invite-only dinner on Tuesday night in Los Angeles. 6lack is up for rap/sung performance for “Pretty Little Fears,” featuring J. Cole, off his album “East Atlanta Love Letter.” It’s his third nomination in a span
CAA has bought a piece of serenity: The agency participated in the $88 million Series B round of investment in Calm, a fast-growing meditation app. The funding brings Calm to $116 million raised to date and values the company at $1 billion — making it a “unicorn” in Silicon Valley parlance. The funding round was
Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group has announced its acquisition of the Works Entertainment, the creative and production company behind shows like the live magic franchise “The Illusionists.” This deal is the third acquisition for the group in about three years, says president and CEO Daniel Lamarre. It acquired Blue Man Group in 2017 and VStar
February 6, 2019 11:57AM PT In preparation for the much-anticipated debut of the eighth and final season of “Game of Thrones,” HBO has released a set of 14 intriguing new photos. Premiering April 14 on HBO, the photo set depicts several main characters gazing pensively into the distance, presumably gearing up for the final battle
“Vernon Subutex,” one of Canal Plus’ banner Original Series, will world premiere at the opening night of this year’s Canneseries. Directed by Cathy Verney and starring Romain Duris (“The Beat That My Heart Skipped”) and Céline Sallette (“House of Tolerance”), the Canal Plus Création Originale will premiere three episodes, out of competition, at the Palais