Movies

In a watershed moment for India‘s entertainment industry, the Music Composers Association of India (MCAI) and Screenwriters Association (SWA) have formalized a groundbreaking partnership that promises to reshape creative collaboration across Bollywood and beyond. The milestone memorandum of understanding, inked after months of negotiations, establishes composers and lyricists as “equal co-authors” in song creation, designating

In a year dominated by major studio blockbusters, one independent production company has emerged as a force to be reckoned with at the Academy Awards. FilmNation, the New York-based indie studio, is the common thread linking two of the biggest contenders for best picture — Sean Baker’s “Anora” and Edward Berger’s “Conclave” — which were

Looking for something to stream that won’t break the bank? From award-winning films like Craig Gillespie’s “I, Tonya” and Sarah Polley’s “Women Talking” to thrillers like David Fincher’s “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo,” Mubi is bringing a new slate of films to the ad-supported platform. If binging is more your speed, new TV shows

Suchitra Mattai, producer of the Oscar-nominated live action short “Anuja,” says the film came out of wanting to highlight young South Asian women. “It just felt important to tell this particular type of story and to make a platform for young female, Indian, South Asian actresses,” Mattai said during her remarks at the annual South

As Jesse Eisenberg’s “A Real Pain” heads into Oscars weekend with two nominations following a fruitful awards season as a critical darling, it’s hard to believe the film was once turned down by every single distribution company approached (bet they’re kicking themselves now). In the wake of those “discouraging” rejections, Eisenberg, who also stars in

Warning that there’s “major trouble on the horizon, ” industry vet Michael Cioni, who is CEO of AI tool startup Stada and founder of post house Light Iron, has outlined the impact of advancing tech and the creator economy while presenting a bold approach to how he believes a threatened Hollywood could survive and thrive.

On the Mount Rushmore of great American actors — specifically those who emerged in the late 1960s and brought a transformative, bone-deep intensity to their craft over the industry-redefining decade that followed — four faces loom large: Al Pacino, Jack Nicholson, Dustin Hoffman and Gene Hackman. The eldest of that contingent, Hackman is less familiar

Timothy Dalton said in an interview with Vanity Fair that he turned down an original offer to play James Bond in his mid-20s because he didn’t think the character should be that young. Dalton also didn’t want to directly follow Sean Connery, whose initial run as 007 ended after six movies with 1971’s “Diamonds Are

Paul Feig is opening up his checkbook for the LGBTQ community. The “A Simple Favor” and “Bridesmaids” director and his wife Laurie have donated $300,000 to three queer youth advocacy and support organizations: The Trevor Project, Translifeline.org and It Gets Better. “In recent weeks we have witnessed the dismantling of crucial protections for the health

The Walt Disney Co. makes an annual tradition out of synergy across its divisions to promote awareness and tune-in for the Oscars on ABC — and this year, for this Sunday’s 97th edition, that also includes a live stream for the first time on Hulu. To that end, Disney is spotlighting the Oscars on Hulu’s homepage, while Hulu

The Entertainment Union Coalition has launched “Keep California Rolling,” a labor-led campaign to ensure that jobs remain the key priority in the proposed expansion to California’s Film & Television Tax Credit Program. The launch of the campaign follows Governor Gavin Newsom’s recent proposal to double the state’s incentive program from $330 million to $750 million

James Cameron is sickened by Donald Trump‘s re-election and is happy his New Zealand citizenship is “imminent.” The Oscar-winning director appeared on “The F—ing News” podcast (via The Daily Beast) and was asked about his response to Trump becoming U.S. president again, to which Cameron responded: “I think it’s horrific, I think it’s horrifying.” “I

The Oscars are ready to toast the celebration with a martini — shaken, not stirred. Variety has learned exclusively that the ceremony will perform a special tribute of the iconic songs of the James Bond franchise at Sunday’s Academy Awards in honor of longtime producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, who received Honorary Oscars

When cinematographer Daria D’Antonio first stepped into the role of director of photography on Paolo Sorrentino’s film “The Hand of God” after working with him for many years (including as a camera operator on “The Great Beauty”), the focus was on finding the truth in the ’80s set coming-of-age drama. “We were looking for a

“How to Train Your Dragon” will screen for audiences for the first time at CinemaCon, the annual convention for movie theater owners. The world premiere will take place on April 2 at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, more than two months ahead of the film’s theatrical release on June 13. CinemaCon will

The deaths of actor Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa have been ruled “suspicious,” according to a search warrant affidavit released Thursday morning. Hackman, 95, and Arakawa, 63, were found dead in their home in Santa Fe, N.M., after midnight Thursday, the Santa Fe County Sheriff had confirmed to Variety. Authorities said there was

The buzz continues for the beekeeper — with Jason Statham returning to star in “The Beekeeper 2.” The Miramax movie is set to start production in the fall, with “Nobody 2” director Timo Tjahjanto taking the reins from David Ayer, who helmed the kooky conspiracy thriller, which debuted last January and grossed $152 million worldwide.

In the mid-’90s, Kim Basinger was newly married to actor Alec Baldwin and had just given birth to their daughter, Ireland, when her William Morris agent sent her the script for “L.A. Confidential.” She was tired of playing the siren roles that had defined her — from a Bond girl in “Never Say Never Again”

Zendaya is taking her talents to the swamp. The mononymous, in-demand actor has joined “Shrek 5” as Felicia, the daughter of Shrek (Mike Myers) and Fiona (Cameron Diaz). Universal and DreamWorks, the studios behind the animated adventure set in the land of Far, Far Away, released a teaser along with the updated casting news. In

Keke Palmer insists she had no idea that the vintage Chanel dress she wore to the SAG Awards on Sunday was once worn by her “Scream Queens” co-star Jamie Lee Curtis. “I literally found out after it came up online,” Palmer told me Wednesday night at Vanity Fair and Instagram’s Vanities party at Bar Marmont

After celebrating the success of the recent SCAD TVfest, the Savannah College of Arts and Design and SCADFilm will present SCADFilm In Focus: True Crime Thursday, March 6, spotlighting the popularity of TV, podcast and streaming true crime shows. All events will be held at SCADshow, the university’s state-of-the-art theater complex in Midtown Atlanta. SCADFilm

Paul Scanlan, CEO and co-founder of the fan-owned Legion M, attributes some of the success of the company’s latest film “My Dead Friend Zoe” to the community support from its many fan investors. Speaking with Variety‘s Jennifer Maas on the weekly Variety podcast “Strictly Business,” Scanlan explained that Legion M seeks input from its investors

“The Substance” distributor Mubi is pursuing its buying spree with another anticipated film from an internationally celebrated auteur, Paolo Sorrentino (“Parthenope,” “The Great Beauty”). The global distributor, streaming service and production company has bought Sorrrentino’s next movie “La Grazia” for worldwide rights excluding Italy and will retain all rights in North America, Latin America, the

May the odds be ever in your favor this October. The first-ever live stage adaptation of “The Hunger Games” will begin performances on Oct. 20 at the Troubadour Canary Wharf Theatre, a brand new 1,200 seat venue situated in the heart of London’s vibrant Canary Wharf. Award-winning playwright Conor McPherson has adapted the first book

Right-wing influencer Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan were allowed to leave Romania where they had been arrested in 2022, and flew on a private jet headed for Florida on Thursday morning, according to CNN. The Tate brothers were permitted to leave Romania after prosecutors lifted a travel ban stemming from charges — which they

Charlotte Moore, the current Chief Content Officer of the BBC, is set to join London’s Sony-owned Left Bank Pictures as the company’s the new CEO. In an additional dual capacity Moore has also been appointed to the newly created role of EVP, creative director across Sony Pictures Television International Production Group. In her role as

Gene Hackman, who was found dead at 95 alongside his wife at their Santa Fe, N.M. home on Feb. 26, was considered one of the greatest actors of his generation. He won two Oscars over a career spanning over four decades, for playing Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle in William Friedkin’s 1971 action thriller “The French Connection”

The European Investment Fund (EIF) has committed €25 million ($26.2 million) to the Finland-based IPR VC Fund III. The investment aims to enhance the production of European films and TV series, and the fund now exceeds €100 million ($105 million). Headquartered in Helsinki, IPR.VC has been a key player in the media investment landscape since

Gene Hackman, a two-time Oscar winner for “The French Connection” and “Unforgiven,” and his wife, classical pianist Betsy Arakawa, were found dead Wednesday afternoon in their Santa Fe, N.M. home. The office of Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza confirmed their deaths to Variety after midnight Thursday. There is no immediate indication of foul play,

Storm Reid is not returning to “Euphoria” for Season 3 but there’s certainly no hard feelings between her an Zendaya. “That’s my sister before ‘Euphoria’ and after,” Reid told me Tuesday at Time’s Women of the Year dinner at the West Hollywood Edition hotel. “That’s gonna be my sister for life, so I’m sure we’ll