Movies

After nearly six years since he debuted in his origin story back in 2016, Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange is getting his own sequel, and he’s diving into the alternate realities of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” brings back the ex-Sorcerer Supreme (he’s since lost the magical title on a

Cinema is such a costly medium that directors have little chance to experiment between features. It’s not like music or painting — relatively low-cost art forms whose practitioners can try new techniques in the secret obscurity of their studios until their bold ideas are ready to be shared. Making movies takes a crew, and equipment,

Amber Heard took the stand on Wednesday afternoon, telling jurors in often emotional terms about the times that Johnny Depp hit her, screamed at her, punched walls and shoved her to the ground. Heard was called to testify on the 14th day of the defamation trial underway in Fairfax, Va. Depp has sued her for

Warner Bros. executive vice president and top legal boss John Rogovin has resigned his post. The well-liked and respected Rogovin was general counsel for the former WarnerMedia Studios and Networks Group, which encompassed units like Warner Bros. Pictures and Warner Bros. Television. That division was overseen by Ann Sarnoff, who departed the company in early

FESTIVALS The Cannes Film Market has added to its previously announced Ukraine in Focus program, which will provide Ukrainian filmmakers and producers with networking, pitching and co-financing opportunities over two days during the Cannes Film Festival, on May 21 and 22. A panel discussion titled “Ukrainian Cinema: From Surviving to Thriving Again: How the Global

Critics Choice Award nominee and breakout comedic talent Brandon Scott Jones has been cast in Universal’s upcoming Dracula comedy “Renfield.” While production wrapped nearly a month ago, Jones’ casting had previously gone unreported. He joins Nicholas Hoult and Nicolas Cage in the tale of the iconic vampire’s loyal footman who begins to wonder what life

Fear and loathing are on the rise in Hollywood as top execs and rank-and-file employees grapple with growing uncertainty about their place in a rapidly changing entertainment industry. One pervasive concern: that the streaming-fueled content bubble has finally burst, with more consolidation on the way. Wall Street darling Netflix lost $54 billion in market value

The major entertainment studios spoke out against Georgia’s “heartbeat” abortion bill in 2019, saying they would “rethink” their production plans in the state if the law ever went into effect. That moment appears to be approaching fast. On Monday night, Politico reported that a Supreme Court majority has signed on to a decision that would

Netherlands-based sales agent DFW International has added romantic comedy “Costa!!” by Jon Karthaus, a follow-up to the 2001 Dutch cult classic “Costa!” by Johan Nijenhuis, to its Cannes Film Market slate. Nijenhuis’ latest film “Yasmine’s Wedding” has also been added to the slate. In “Costa!!” Anna (Abbey Hoes) and her best friend Bibi (Stephanie van

Welcome to this week’s “Just for Variety.” Searchlight Pictures’ “Fire Island” doesn’t come out until June, but Matt Rogers, who plays Luke in the queer rom-com, has high hopes that it launches a big gay franchise. Joel Kim Booster and Bowen Yang star as friends who head to the iconic LGBTQ vacation locale ready to

Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias can remember the exact date and moment he made his stand-up comedy debut, even though it wasn’t planned. It was April 10, 1997, at the Golden Sails Hotel in his hometown of Long Beach, Calif. There was a bar with a stage that welcomed artists on a regular basis, but that particular

VFX giant Framestore, whose recent projects include “Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness,” “Moon Knight” and Baz Luhrmann’s upcoming biopic “Elvis,” is expanding its Canadian footprint. The Oscar, Emmy and BAFTA-winning creative studio has hired Melinka Thompson-Godoy (pictured above right) as the head of its Montreal studio while expanding Chloe Grysole’s role from managing

Urban Sales has nabbed world rights to “Hug Me – The Move,” an English-language animated feature directed by Anna Błaszczyk. The pre-school movie is produced by Animoon, the Polish company behind “Even Mice belong in Heaven.” Urban Sales, the Paris-based banner previously known as Urban Distribution International, will host the market premiere of the movie

United Talent Agency has promised to reimburse its employees for travel expenses relating to women’s reproductive health services that are not accessible in their states of residence, according to a memo obtained by Variety. In the memo, UTA CEO Jeremy Zimmer wrote, “We’re doing this to support the right to choose that has been a

“Rocketry: The Nambi Effect,” the directorial debut of acclaimed Indian actor R. Madhavan (“Alai Payuthey,” “Tanu Weds Manu”), will have its industry premiere in Cannes as a market screening. India is the country of honor at this year’s Cannes Film Market. Madhavan plays the role of Indian scientist, Nambi Narayanan, a former Indian Space Research

In honor of May the 4th, aka Star Wars Day, Apple has released “Behind the Mac: Skywalker Sound.” The short film, which can be viewed on Apple’s YouTube channel, takes viewers behind the scenes at the iconic company that has continuously revolutionized the art of cinematic sound. Directed by Josh Greenbaum (“Becoming Bond,” “Barb &

“Gulliver Returns,” a Ukrainian-produced animation film, will be released in the U.S. following a deal between Shout! Studios and sales agent All Rights Entertainment. The film is adapted from the Jonathan Swift 18th century satire “Gulliver’s Travels” and adopts the framing conceived by Ukraine’s actor-turned-president Volodymyr Zelensky’s that Gulliver is not a giant in size,

A John Krasinski-produced movie about a fugitive billionaire has found its director in Peter Landesman. Sources tell Variety that the “Concussion” writer-helmer is on board to direct the long-gestating movie, which is based on Daniel Ammann’s biography “The King of Oil: The Secret Lives of Marc Rich.” The film tells the story of the international commodities

Warner Bros. Discovery’s TNets — the arm formerly known as Turner — is parting ways with the SAG Awards after 25 years. TNT has run the SAG Awards since 1998, including this year, when the Screen Actors Guild returned to a live, in-person event and moved to Santa Monica’s Barker Hangar (after being based at

Pulsar Content has boarded Anissa Bonnefont’s erotic drama “La Maison” based on Emma Becker’s controversial bestselling novel chronicling the young author’s two-year undercover experience working as a sex worker at a Berlin brothel. Now in post-production, “La Maison” is headlined by Ana Girardot, the rising French star of “The Returned,” “Back to Burgundy” and “Escobar:

The Venice Film Festival will honor U.S. director and screenwriter Paul Schrader, a key figure of New Hollywood cinema, with its 2022 Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement. Schrader wrote Martin Scorsese’s “Taxi Driver” and “The Last Temptation of Christ” and co-wrote “Raging Bull.” He has directed dozens of films, including “American Gigolo,” “Mishima: A Life

Comedy “How to Please a Woman,” starring “Veep” and “Bridget Jones Diary” actor Sally Phillips, has generated brisk business for Beta Cinema. Brainstorm Media has taken all rights for the U.S. and will release the film theatrically on July 22, and pay TV operator Sky has secured all rights for the U.K. Beta Cinema also

Among the many social movements that arose in the 1960s and ’70s, one just about everyone on the liberal spectrum could agree on was anti-“nuke.” Hiroshima and Nagasaki left behind a lingering horror at the ways technological advancement might be turned to mass destruction. Power plant accidents at Three Mile Island and Chernobyl seemed to

London-based documentary specialist Dogwoof has closed a host of sales for Daniel Roher’s “Navalny” and Jono McLeod’s “My Old School,” both of which premiered at Sundance and are screening this week at the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival. Roher’s riveting documentary thriller (pictured above) won the Festival Favorite Award and the U.S. Documentary Audience

Paolo Sorrentino’s Oscar-nominated autobiographical drama “The Hand of God” took top honors at Italy’s 67th David di Donatello Awards, winning best picture, director, supporting actress and tying for the best cinematography statuette. Sorrentino’s Naples-set film about the personal tragedy and other vicissitudes that drove him to become a top notch film director had been the

IFTA (The Independent Film & Television Alliance) announced Tuesday that American Film Market managing director Jonathan Wolf would step down when his term ends on June 30. Wolf has led the AFM for 24 years, and will continue as an advisor for the 2022 AFM, set to return to Santa Monica in person on Nov.

Talk about a Sweet 16 to remember! “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” star Xochitl Gomez celebrated her birthday on April 29, and on Monday night Marvel fans lined up outside the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood surprised her with a spontaneous rendition of “Happy Birthday” to mark the occasion. The young actor, who stars

Benedict Wong is standing up for his “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” co-star Xochitl Gomez in the wake of homophobic language being pointed her way online. “The Baby-Sitters Club” actor Gomez makes her MCU debut in the film as America Chavez, a gay teenager who has the ability to jump between universes. America’s

Roughly a month after a chaotic Academy Awards ceremony ended, the full speeches from this year’s telecast were finally made available on the Oscars YouTube page over the past week. But until about 2 p.m. Tuesday, there was one dramatic exception. Will Smith’s best actor speech for his performance in “King Richard” was conspicuously absent

Roku and private-equity firm Apollo Group have partnered on a bid to acquire a minority stake in Starz, the Lionsgate-owned cable network and streaming service, Variety has confirmed. Lionsgate bought Starz for $4.4 billion cash and stock deal in 2016; the company’s market cap is now around $3 billion. Lionsgate announced in November that its