“Surface” is just good enough for a sympathetic viewer to want it to be better. Like Apple’s most recent glossy drama about a woman in danger, “Shining Girls,” “Surface” effectively evokes the confusion of not knowing who or where one really is; here, Gugu Mbatha-Raw stars as Sophie, a woman who suffered a brain injury
Television
Longstanding production company Lionsgate has announced a partnership with licensing company IMG as its new global agency for consumer products. As part of the multi-year agreement, IMG will work with Lionsgate to develop and expand strategic, multi-category consumer product programs for its feature film franchises, including upcoming iterations of “John Wick,” “The Hunger Games,” “Dirty
Running traditional ads on streaming services like Disney+, Netflix and Amazon can be difficult. Some advertisers may choose a different route by creating some of the programming those broadband services use to get people to subscribe in the first place. A new study from Interpublic Group’s Magna media-research unit and Amazon Ads found that consumers
Bryan Cranston and James Degus’ Moonshot Entertainment has entered into a partnership with Village Roadshow Television. Under the deal, the two companies will work together to source, develop, and produce television shows across all platforms and genres. Village Roadshow TV executive vice president Alix Jaffe will work closely with Cranston and Degus, as well as
Global Indian origin actors Pallavi Sharda (“Tom & Jerry,” “Lion”) and Suraj Sharma (“Life of Pi,” “How I Met Your Father”) star in Netflix romantic comedy “Wedding Season,” directed by “Shanghai Noon” and “Showtime” filmmaker Tom Dey. Variety has secured access to an exclusive clip from the film, which is produced by Imagine Entertainment, in
If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission. Book lovers are in for a treat this year, with a jam-packed slate of upcoming movies and TV series based on best-selling books. Transport yourself to the underground silos of Hugh Hawley’s “Wool,” whose
It turns out that Eddie Munson was such a massive breakout from “Stranger Things 4” that the character saved actor Joseph Quinn from a prolonged detainment at a U.S. airport. During an appearance on “The Tonight Show,” Quinn told host Jimmy Fallon that he nearly missed the interview because he got detained at the airport
Usher has signed on to executive produce “Storyville,” a new series about the birth of the Jazz Age in development from Starlings Television. The multi-Grammy Award-winning performer will exec produce along with creators and showrunners Bill Macdonald (“Rome”) and Walt Becker (“Wild Hogs”). “Storyville” is set in New Orleans and follows the tale of five
George Stephanopoulos is known at ABC News for his turns co-anchoring “Good Morning America” and the Sunday public affairs program “This Week.” As Hollywood’s streaming wars intensify, however, he may soon be recognized for something else. Stephanopoulos will be at the center of a new political documentary series slated to appear on Hulu that will
Some 16 cities across the U.K. have thrown their hat in the ring to host the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest, which can’t be held in Ukraine due to security concerns. After weeks of discussions, it was revealed on Monday that the U.K. would host the event on behalf of the war-torn nation — and the
With more than 15 years having passed since the end of “That ’70s Show,” it’s understandable that it may have been a bit trippy for series star Ashton Kutcher to return for show’s upcoming Netflix spinoff, “That ’90s Show.” “It was really nostalgic to be back on the set,” Kutcher told Variety’s Carson Burton at the red
An “Eragon” live-action TV series is in early development at Disney+, Variety has learned exclusively from sources. The series would be based on the Christopher Paolini young adult novel series “The Inheritance Cycle,” with “Eragon” being the first of the four books in that series. According to sources, Paolini will serve as co-writer on the
At last, there’s a solution to the ongoing question of which host — Mayim Bialik or Ken Jennings — will ultimately lead “Jeopardy!” The answer: Both. Sony Pictures Entertainment has entered into long-term deals that will have the two hosts continue to split duties on the popular syndicated game show, according to a person familiar
To coincide with International Friendship Day, Warner Bros. Discovery has launched “Friends Fan Week 2022,” a celebration of the beloved NBC sitcom that includes pop-up events in three cities, Instagram giveaways and new merchandise. The week of stunts begins today and runs through July 30, which marks International Friendship Day. One activity fans can look
AMC’s groundbreaking thriller Dark Winds is headed for a second season. The well-reviewed show features a team composed almost entirely of Native Americans in front of and behind the camera. From the top down, it was important to the creators to raise visibility across the board, from the writer’s room to the cast, directors and
Rodney Barnes has renewed his overall deal with HBO for a further three years, Variety has learned. Barnes most recently worked as a writer and executive producer on the premium cabler’s hit series “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty.” Barnes was credited with co-writing nine episodes of the show’s 10-episode first season. The show
Stephanie Levinson has been promoted to executive vice president of casting for Disney’s 20th Television. Levinson joined the studio fresh out of college in 2006. “Stephanie is extremely talented with impeccable taste, strategic thinking and creative insight in the ever evolving world of casting,” said Sharon Klein, executive vice president of casting for Walt Disney
Samantha Bee’s “Full Frontal” is getting a kick in the rear from Warner Bros. Discovery. The show, which became a signature program for the large cable network TBS, “will not return to the network in the fall,” according to a statement from Bee’s representatives. “As we continue to shape our new programming strategy, we’ve made
INTERVIEW Former Chancellor and U.K. Prime Ministerial hopeful Rishi Sunak will be interviewed live on Channel 4, the British broadcaster whose privatization he has vowed to go ahead with. Sunak will be interviewed on a special episode of “The Andrew Neil Show” on July 29, after “Channel 4 News.” The program will be made by
France’s National Assembly voted on Saturday to approve a government bill that scraps a TV license fee financing nearly 85% of the annual budgets of French public broadcasters. These comprise France Televisions, France 24, Arte and Radio France, among others. The bill was put forward by newly reelected President Emmanuel Macron during his campaign as
WWE will revise financial statements going back to 2019, saying that a total of $14.6 million of “certain payments” that Vince McMahon made while chairman and CEO should have been recorded as expenses. McMahon on Friday announced that he was retiring from WWE. That came five weeks after he said he would be stepping down
“Wedding Season,” the first U.K. original series from streamer Disney+, will premiere on Disney+ Day on Sept 8. The romantic comedy-action thriller will stream on Disney+ globally, Star+ in Latin America and Hulu in the U.S. The streamer also revealed several first look images. “Wedding Season” – Rosa Salazar as Katie, Gavin Drea as Stefan
The NFL for decades has relied on intermediaries like CBS, ESPN or Fox to deliver its best-known product — football games — to the masses. Now the league is getting ready to try a new play. The NFL is launching NFL+, a stand-alone subscription-based streaming outlet that offers as much professional football as possible without
Netflix has picked up the global rights outside the U.K. and Ireland on BBC drama “Champion,” from “Queenie” author Candice Carty-Williams. The show, which is currently in production for BBC One in the U.K., marks the first TV project for the award-winning Carty-Williams, who recently released her new novel, “People Person.” The music-infused “Champion” tells
Pay TV company Sky’s drama-documentary series “The Royal Mob,” directed by Fraser McDonald, is shooting in Lithuania. The show tells the saga of an extended royal family that once ruled large parts of Europe, and how their loves, marriages and feuds triggered World War I, Film New Europe reports. It’s a story told through the
The U.K. will host the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest on behalf of Ukraine, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and the BBC revealed on Monday. Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra won the 2022 contest with the U.K.’s Sam Ryder placing second. It is customary for the winning country to host the following year’s contest, but in light of
Kevin Rooney, a stand-up comedian who won two Emmy awards for his work as a writer on “Dennis Miller Live,” died at his home on July 19 after a battle with diabetes and end-stage renal failure. He was 71 years old. Rooney’s death was confirmed by his colleague, Jay Mandyam. “He was a sophisticated raconteur
Rev up those engines, bikers. FX has renewed its drama series “Mayans M.C.” for a fifth season. The announcement comes a little over one month after the program aired its Season 4 finale. The network shared the news Sunday at San Diego Comic-Con with a statement by series co-creator and executive producer Elgin James. The
Bob Rafelson, the director, producer and writer who brought a European sensibility to American filmmaking with “Five Easy Pieces” in 1970, died Saturday evening at his home in Aspen, Colo. He was 89 years old. Rafelson’s death was confirmed by his former personal assistant of 38 years, Jolene Wolff, who worked under Rafelson’s production banner
Dave Chappelle made a surprise appearance at Madison Square Garden Saturday evening, performing a set for more than 20 minutes to open for Chris Rock and Kevin Hart. Chappelle’s performance came only three days after Minneapolis venue First Avenue abruptly scrapped plans for the comedian to perform on site. Chappelle was instead hosted by the city’s