Television

Nippon TV and Disney have revealed a strategic collaboration agreement that covers content sharing and local language co-production. “The collaboration will include co-production of local language content ranging from drama series, animation to variety shows on Disney Plus for both Japanese and global audiences and the availability of both companies’ content on their respective platforms,”

Pete Davidson will lead his own comedy series, playing a fictional version of himself. The project, tentatively titled “Bupkis,” comes from Universal Television and “Saturday Night Live” showrunner Lorne Michaels’ Broadway Video. While the series has yet to land an official home, it is currently being shopped to streamers. Beyond starring, Davidson would also serve

Attached to its hit freshman sitcom “Abbott Elementary,” ABC has partnered with Scholastic to become the first entertainment brand to provide underfunded schools with free book fairs. The book fairs take place at seven Title 1 schools between March 14 and 18. Each student will receive two free books and each teacher will receive 10.

Tubi has announced the casting and director for “Crushed,” a coming-of-age comedy set to premiere this April on Fox Entertainment’s ad-supported streaming service. “Crushed” follows Kate (Bebe Wood), a romantic high schooler who has a huge crush on classmate Jason (Nicholas Alexander Chavez). But, as she unsuccessfully tries to get together with Jason during their

CBS has renewed four of its most popular unscripted series for the 2022-2023 broadcast season. “Survivor,” “The Amazing Race,” “Tough As Nails” and “Secret Celebrity Renovation” will all return with new seasons next year, the network announced Wednesday. The announcement was made hours before the premiere of the 42nd season of “Survivor,” which airs 8

The “Gotham Knights” pilot at The CW has added three new cast members, Variety has learned. Olivia Rose Keegan, Navia Robinson, and Oscar Morgan have all joined the pilot. Variety exclusively reported earlier this week that Fallon Smythe and Tyler DiChiara are also set to star. Based on characters created for DC by Bob Kane with Bill

“The Batman” spinoff series about The Penguin at HBO Max has officially been ordered to series. As Variety exclusively reported in December 2021, Colin Farrell will return for the limited series after starring as the famous Batman villain in the recently released film. Based on the characters created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger for DC,

“Power Book IV: Force” has been renewed for Season 2 at Starz. The third spinoff of the original “Power” to debut on Starz, the series saw Joseph Sikora return as Tommy Egan, who leaves New York and finds himself caught up in the Chicago drug game. The series also stars Isaac Keys, Lili Simmons, Gabrielle

The “Quantum Leap” sequel series pilot at NBC has rounded out its main cast with three new additions. Caitlin Bassett, Nanrisa Lee, and Mason Alexander have all joined the cast of the project. They join previously announced cast members Raymond Lee and Ernie Hudson. In the followup to the original “Quantum Leap,” the new version

While Hulu’s “Pam & Tommy” chronicled the events behind Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee’s infamous stolen sex tape, Anderson announced last week that she is preparing to tell her side of the story in a new Netflix documentary. Lily James, who plays Anderson in “Pam & Tommy,” says she looks forward to watching it. At

“Star Trek” is returning home to the U.S.S. Enterprise. In the first trailer for “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds,” the fifth “Trek” series set at Paramount Plus, Capt. Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) is seen living in a remote winter cabin (presumably) on Earth. As fans of Mount’s tenure on Season 2 of “Star Trek: Discovery”

CEO Bob Chapek said Wednesday that The Walt Disney Company is pledging $5 million to the Human Rights Campaign and other organizations protecting LGBTQ rights following backlash to the company’s initial quiet response to Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” legislation, as well as a report that Disney has given money to all of the bill’s sponsors.

Nearly 17 years after his fiery showdown with Anakin Skywalker in “Revenge of the Sith,” Obi-Wan is back. Disney Plus has released the first trailer for “Obi-Wan Kenobi,” the new “Star Wars” series premiering May 25. Set in between the events of the prequel trilogy and the original “Star Wars” trilogy, “Obi-Wan Kenobi” stars Ewan

Marielle Heller has set a new first-look deal with Paramount Television Studios for her company, Defiant by Nature. Along with producing partners Havilah Brewster and Leah Holzer, Heller will develop premium television shows for the studio across its platforms. Heller came to prominence as a writer-director for 2015’s “Diary of a Teenage Girl,” for which

The bargaining standoff between Major League Baseball and its players that led to last week’s cancellation of Opening Day is a particularly bitter pill to swallow for the local and national outlets that bring games to their most ardent fans — networks that already have experienced two seasons of COVID-driven disruptions. On March 1, MLB

Peacock released the first teaser for “Angelyne,” the streamer’s upcoming limited series about Los Angeles ’80s billboard icon Angelyne, on Wednesday. “Do you really want to know my story? The story of my life?” Emmy Rossum’s Angelyne says in the teaser. “The truth is I’m something that you have to experience.” The footage shows Rossum’s

Los Angeles-based entertainment law film Donaldson Callif Perez has promoted associate Katy Alimohammadi Crown to partner. Crown specializes in representing filmmakers in all stages of their projects, including production legal services, rights clearance and distribution. She has established herself as a leading production and clearance attorney, serving as counsel on documentary series such as HBO’s

The U.K. Premier League soccer tournament has suspended its agreement with its Russian broadcast partner and will donate £1 million ($1.3 million) to support the people of Ukraine. “The Premier League and its clubs today unanimously agreed to suspend our agreement with Russian broadcast partner Rambler (Okko Sport) with immediate effect and to donate £1

Comcast’s NBC News Now is live on Sky U.K. this week and will launch on Virgin Media later this month, making the U.K. the first European territory to have the service on linear programming. The service will be ad-supported. “The expansion into the U.K. is a natural place for NBC News Now to begin its

Discovery, Inc. president and CEO David Zaslav was awarded a one-time discretionary bonus of $4.4 million by the company’s board March 1 in honor of his “exceptional leadership” ahead of Discovery’s acquisition of WarnerMedia. Per a Monday SEC filing, “The Board approved the one-time bonus (which is in addition to the 2021 annual bonus that

Zoë Kravitz said in a recent interview with The Observer that “there were a few moments where I felt a little uncomfortable” filming HBO’s “Big Little Lies” because “it is such a white area.” Kravitz starred opposite Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Shailene Woodley and Laura Dern for two seasons of the Emmy-winning drama series. “Big

Dan Abrams’ true-crime channel Law & Crime has struck a carriage deal with Dish Network, Variety has learned exclusively. Live trial and 24/7 true-crime network Law & Crime, which recently aired national coverage of the Kyle Rittenhouse trial and the trial of Brett Hankison, a former police officer charged for his role at the fatal

Kate Winslet had no problem nailing her Delaware County accent for “Mare of Easttown,” a performance that landed her a second Emmy Award. Afterward, she took some much-needed time off. In honor of International Women’s Day on Tuesday, Variety spoke to the London native about her journey, her successes and what she’s looking forward to

In conjunction with International Women’s Day, ESPN has revealed details about its month-long “Fifty/50” initiative celebrating the 50th anniversary of Title IX in June. ESPN is programming a series of short and long-form documentaries directed and produced by women to commemorate the landmark federal civil rights law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in any educational institution

At first bite, Cookie Monster seems like a harmless creature whose only flaw is acting on the needs of his stomach over the recommendations of his brain. In reality, this is a battle-hardened veteran who is set to play a bigger role in one of the media industry’s most intense brawls. The furry, azure creature,

Paramount Plus’ “Halo,” a makeover of the massive video game hit by Steven Spielberg’s Amblin TV and 343 Industries, will open this year’s Canneseries. In other potential highlights, Gillian Anderson will be on hand to receive the Variety Icon Award. Canneseries Artistic Director Albin Lewi praised Gillian Anderson for delivering 10 “edgy” and iconic roles

Government-back industry training body ScreenSkills is set to invest £10 million ($13 million) in up-skilling high-end TV crew. The money, which is earmarked for use from 2022-23 will come from the ScreenSkills High-end TV Skills Fund, made up of contributions from U.K. producers, broadcasters and inward investors. It is almost double the amount spent during

“Bel Air” is about to feature a “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” reunion — of sorts. Daphne Maxwell Reid, who played Will’s aunt on later seasons of “Fresh Prince,” and Vernee Watson-Johnson, who recurred as Will’s mom on the show, are returning to Bel Air — in guest starring roles for Episode 9 of Peacock’s

Aida Takla O’Reilly, the longest-serving member of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association who served two times as the organization’s president, died Sunday in Los Angeles. She was 90. Born in Egypt, she joined the HFPA in 1956 and served as president of the organization that hands out the Golden Globes in 1994-96 and in 2011-13.

Red Nose Day, the BBC’s annual televized fund-raising event, is set to return on March 18. Featuring comedy sketches and specials, live performances and a host of celebrity names, the live show will be broadcast from the broadcaster’s Manchester headquarters on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the U.K. Sir Lenny Henry will return to