As is well known by anyone who’s ever had the common nightmare of a last-minute test for which one hasn’t studied, being stuck in high school forever would be horrible. But that’s exactly what seems to be happening to Maddie Nears (Peyton List), who, after having been killed on the grounds of her school, joins
Television
GroupM, the large WPP-owned media-investment agency, wants advertisers to do more when it comes to supporting diverse media. After calling for advertisers to put between 2% and 5% of their annual media spend into multicultural media venues, the media buyer hopes clients will now invest the upper end of that range. “As the largest media
The post-production editors behind “Saturday Night Live” are ready to strike and have set a deadline of April 1. Barring an agreement with producer NBCUniversal, the 12 to 20 editing crew members have announced that they intend to halt work and disrupt the show should bargaining sessions in their bid for pay inequities and health
After the triumph of Edward Berger’s “All Quiet on the Western Front” at the BAFTAs, Netflix has revealed a surge in viewership for non-English language titles. New Netflix data shows that in the U.K., viewing for non-English language stories has increased by 90% over the last three years. “All Quiet on the Western Front” is
Chris Sussman, previously director of U.K. scripted for Netflix, has signed a first look deal with Banijay U.K. to develop original scripted projects. The deal was struck with Banijay U.K. CEO Patrick Holland. It is part of the recently revealed £50 million ($59.3 million) Banijay U.K. Growth Fund which enables the group to partner with high
Singer-songwriter Mae Muller will represent the U.K. at the 67th Eurovision Song Contest with “I Wrote A Song.” Mae Muller co-wrote “I Wrote A Song” with Brit-nominated songwriter Lewis Thompson (David Guetta, Joel Corry and Raye’s “Bed”) and Karen Poole, who has written for Kylie Minogue, Lily Allen, David Guetta and Alisha’s Attic. Muller supported
“Mike Judge’s Beavis and Butt-Head” returns to Paramount+ for its second season, beginning with two episodes on Thursday, April 20. According to Paramount+, Beavis and Butt-Head will “triumphantly return as two guys who like things that are cool and don’t like things that suck.” Ahead of the Season 2 premiere, fans can check out “Beavis
An eight-part event series about boxing icon Muhammad Ali is in the works at Peacock from Regé-Jean Page, Morgan Freeman and Kevin Willmott, Variety has confirmed. Titled “Excellence: 8 Fights,” the scripted drama series hails from Oscar-winning writer Willmott (“BlacKkKlansman,” “Da 5 Bloods”) and is based on Jonathan Eig’s definitive biography “Ali: A Life.” “Bridgerton”
The upcoming Shondaland mystery series “The Residence” at Netflix has added four recurring cast members, Variety has learned exclusively. E.L. Losada (“Loot,” “Los Frikis”), Matt Oberg (“Veep,” “Superstore”), Ryan Farrell (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” “The Deuce”), and Alexandra Siegel (“Bosch,” “American Auto”) are the latest additions to the cast. They join series lead Uzo Aduba
RuPaul, the face of the “Drag Race” franchise, has responded to the recent wave of anti-drag and anti-trans legislation introduced by Republican lawmakers in the U.S. In an Instagram video on Wednesday, the Emmy winner called the bills “a classic distraction technique” and urged Americans to register to vote. “Hey, look over there! A classic
Amid a bit of drama surrounding HBO’s “The Idol,” the Weeknd-led series is in talks to debut at the Cannes Film Festival in May, multiple sources confirm to Variety. Star Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye previously attended Cannes Film Festival and is hopeful the show premieres there, according to one source, but the festival has not
With big U.S. media companies scrambling for soccer rights, Paramount Global wants to kick things up a notch. The company’s CBS Sports on April 11 will debut a 24-hour free streaming network dedicated to global soccer coverage. CBS Sports Golazo Network will launch with analysis, highlights, a range of game broadcasts, and its own morning
Someone has to handle the truth. In the 1992 legal drama, “A Few Good Men,” a senior military commander played by Jack Nicholson is asked over and over if he ordered a “code red,” or an off-the-books dictate that sent underlings scurrying to do something they probably should not have done. Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch
Lucasfilm, the production company home to all things “Star Wars,” has been hit with a wrongful termination lawsuit from “Ballers” executive producer Karyn McCarthy, who was axed from the Disney+ series “The Acolyte” after just a few weeks of work. According to a complaint obtained by Variety, “As a result of its bad faith and
Watch out, MCU: The Punisher is back. Jon Bernthal is returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the gun-toting vigilante for the upcoming Disney+ series “Daredevil: Born Again.” After news first broke on March 7 of Bernthal’s return as the character, he posted an image of himself as The Punisher to his Instagram, while also
Daniel Brühl (“All Quiet on the Western Front,” “Captain America: Civil War”) is set to star as late fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld in “Kaiser Karl,” the anticipated Disney+ original series which Gaumont (“Lupin”) is currently producing. The show is currently shooting in France, Monaco and Italy. The six-part series will chronicle the rise of Karl
Holy DC synergy! “Shazam! Fury of the Gods” stars Dame Helen Mirren and Zachary Levi will pop up on tonight’s episode of “The Masked Singer,” which is being billed as “DC Superheroes Night.” Variety has a first look at their appearance; scroll down to watch. Also appearing will be DC chief creative officer Jim Lee. All
The History Channel has greenlit a range of new docuseries and documentaries that are produced by Hollywood stars like Morgan Freeman, Bradley Cooper, and Kevin Costner. The announcements were made as part of a larger A+E Networks slate reveal ahead of its 2023-2024 upfronts presentation. Additional projects hail from producers Michael Imperioli and Dan Aykroyd.
David Chase and Hannah Fidell are teaming on a new show at FX that the network has given a pilot commitment, Variety has learned. According to FX, the untitled series is based on one of Chase’s previously unproduced scripts of which Fidell has written a contemporary take. Further plot details are being kept under wraps.
After conquering primetime, Anthony Anderson and Cedric the Entertainer have their sights on prime beef. (Not to mention chicken, pork and everything else.) The actors are partnering to launch their own barbecue label, AC Barbeque, and will document their quest to perfect the skill of the grill via the new A&E Network series “Kings of
On the heels of her successful self-titled limited docuseries, Lifetime and A+E Networks has greenlit “Janet Jackson: Family First.” Serving as a continuation of the story told with Janet’s 2022 documentary, the series will follow the singer, songwriter, producer, and actor, as she embarks on her 2023 “Together Again” tour, as well as her collaboration
Scott Koondel grew up as an executive at CBS and Paramount Pictures, filling a content sales role that was indispensable to any studio operation in the 1980s, 90s and early 2000s. Today, four years after leaving CBS, he’s in a new role that is also indispensable for the current era of media. As founder of
Though Showtime is being rebranded into Paramount+ With Showtime, Paramount Global CEO Bob Bakish says the Showtime brand is alive and well, and more projects based on the cable channel’s most iconic series, including “Ray Donovan,” are in the pipeline for the integrated platform. “We’re not just doing that streaming, we’re doing that linear as
Dick’s Sporting Goods is getting ready to play a new game with the NCAA. The Pittsburgh company has been named the college-sports league’s official sporting-goods retailer, a new partnership that will become quickly visible during the NCAA’s “March Madness” basketball tournament and is part of a multi-million dollar deal that will give Dick’s on-court signage
Max Meyers has at least one firm rule about his new CNBC program, and it might surprise some of the business-news outlet’s die-hards. “I told everyone, ‘No earnings,’” says Meyers, a veteran producer at the NBCUniversal-backed cable network. “I don’t want to hear that.” No net income on CNBC? Such a dictate would be anathema
Music superstar Bad Bunny is set to host the live WWE event “Backlash” in his native Puerto Rico. It will take place on Saturday, May 6, at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot in San Juan. It’s the first live WWE event taking place in Puerto Rico since 2005. “In 2005 when I
Paramount Global is unveiling today a corporate image campaign that builds on the sentiment of a popular self-help affirmation: You are loved, and you are enough. Just in time for media upfront season, the company’s “Popular is Paramount” marketing push is designed to burnish its image within Hollywood and on Wall Street. Paramount Global CEO
Whether it’s overcoming a mental handicap or fighting for their rights, Korea’s women-led stories are evolving as the local industry kicks some of its dated stereotypes for female characters. Recent shows “The Glory,” “Extraordinary Attorney Woo,” “Little Women” and “Twenty-Five, Twenty-One” not only delve into social issues in Korea, but highlight the strength and depth
Blumhouse and K Period Media have announced the inaugural fellows for the “Screamwriting” program for emerging horror film and TV writers from underrepresented groups. The program, in partnership with the Sundance Institute, provides mentorship for the participants from industry leaders including Ryan Murphy, Bridget Savage Cole, Danielle Krudy, Mike Flanagan and Crystal Liu. “Some of
Nick Offerman plays a food-obsessed neo-Nazi in an upcoming episode of Starz’s “Party Down.” In a clip exclusive to Variety, Offerman’s alt-right character compliments the food cooked by Party Down’s head chef Lucy, played by Zoë Chao. As a flustered Chao picks up a knife for self-defense, Offerman praises her: “I just wanted to offer