Industry veteran Cathy Payne, former CEO of Endemol Shine, and currently CEO of Banijay Rights, is optimistic about production returning to normal in 2021. But she says the restart should have a pragmatic, COVID-safe approach. Speaking at the Asian Television Forum, part of the Singapore Media Festival, on Tuesday, Payne said that the Indian version
Television
Stacey Abrams shocked social media when she sounded off on Twitter last month about, not politics, but “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” The political powerhouse tweeted, “To be fair, Angel was the right boyfriend for Buffy coming into her power. Spike was the right man to be with as she became the power.” Now, David Boreanaz, who
The Dish satellite service is in the midst of another feud with a programmer. Nexstar Media, the nation’s largest owner of TV stations, and Dish have failed to come to terms on a new carriage contract, leaving subscribers without access to the WGN America cable network and programming from stations in 115 different markets. The
Four cases of COVID-19 have been recorded at Netflix’s Epic building, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. A source with knowledge of the situation tells Variety that the cases at Netflix’s Epic location occurred three weeks ago. Those impacted were part of a crew hired by the streamer to complete construction
In today’s TV news roundup, Netflix announced the premiere date and released a trailer for “Lupin,” and Fox shared an extended teaser for “The Masked Dancer.” CASTING Netflix announced Page Kennedy, Diamond Lyons, Khali Daniya-Renee Spraggins, Jermelle Simon, Gabrielle Dennis and Journey Christine have been cast in “The Upshaws.” The newly announced actors join Mike
The “DuckTales” reboot will not continue past its current third season on Disney XD. “The talented creative team, led by Matt Youngberg and Francisco Angones, have delivered exceptional storytelling with uniquely reimagined characters for three seasons of 75 episodes and more than 15 shorts,” a Disney XD spokesperson said in a statement. “While physical production
“Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” stars Kyle Richards, Kathy Hilton and Dorit Kemsley have tested positive for COVID-19. A source close to Bravo told Variety that production for the upcoming season has been suspended because of positive test results, but could not confirm identities because of privacy concerns. According to TMZ, cast members “did not contract
Quibi, we hardly knew ye. After much ballyhoo, a tremendous advertising campaign and an expensive programming buy, Jeffrey Katzenberg and Meg Whitman’s $2 billion bet on a mobile streaming service lasted… eight months. Eight months. Quibi never got to experience life outside of the COVID-19 pandemic. It just missed being a part of the world
New York City wasn’t built for a shutdown. With buildings seemingly stacked on top of each other, the teeming crowds of people weaving between them, and countless nooks and crannies hiding tantalizing secrets for those who stumble upon them, “the city that never sleeps” was given that nickname for millions of reasons. As much as any city can have a pulse,
The executive producers of ABC drama “Big Sky” have issued a response to criticism from multiple Indigenous groups that the series does not have any tribal representation despite being set in being set in an area with a disproportionately high rate of Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women & Girls (MMIWG), and depicting abductions that occur
To say that 2020 requires a certain fortitude of the spirit, an ability to roll with the punches, is perhaps an understatement. Amid the backdrop of the pandemic and the ongoing, years-long digestion of several mega-mergers, from Disney-Fox to ViacomCBS to AT&T’s WarnerMedia, pretty much every legacy entertainment house in town is in the process
“Euphoria” fans are getting a very early Christmas present. The first of two special episodes of the HBO hit drama is set to drop several days early on HBO Max. Viewers will be able to stream the episode from Thursday, Dec. 3 at 9 p.m. PT on the service, a full three days ahead of
“The Masked Singer” has been renewed for Season 5 on Fox, the broadcaster announced Wednesday. Season 5 will air on Fox in 2021. The news comes ahead of the two-hour Season 4 semi-finals episode that will tonight on Fox beginning at 8 p.m. ET/PT. “I’m so happy to announce a new season of ‘The Masked
Julianna Margulies has joined the cast of “The Morning Show” Season 2, Variety has learned exclusively. She will play Laura Peterson, an anchor at UBA News. She joins returning series stars Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon as well as Steve Carell, Billy Crudup, Mark Duplass, Nestor Carbonell, Bel Powley, Karen Puttman, and Desean Terry. It was
As Disney, Netflix and WarnerMedia try to boost new streaming-video hubs with glitzy movies and TV celebrities, rival Discovery plans a different hook: real life. The company best known for cable networks like Discovery Channel, TLC, Food Network and HGTV centered on unscripted programming, unveiled a new “Discovery Plus” streaming hub Wednesday, offering the service
All products and services featured by Variety are independently selected by Variety editors. However, Variety may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes. If you’ve found yourself glued to Netflix’s hit series “The Crown” as of the late (and you’re definitely
Georgia, through a combination of generous tax breaks and an impressive infrastructure, has spent the past 12 years transforming itself into the Hollywood of the South. The numbers tell the remarkable story of how the state has become a vital outpost for movies and television. The entertainment industry has grown to a $9.5 billion business in Georgia, with 34
“Vikings” Season 6 will roll out its final episodes on Amazon prior to airing on its linear home on History Channel. The last 10 episodes of the show’s final season will drop on Amazon in the US, UK, Germany, Austria and Ireland on Dec. 30. They will then roll out on History, which has aired
Helen Hunt has signed on for a role in the upcoming “Blindspotting” series at Starz, Variety has learned. Hunt joins previously announced series lead Jasmine Cephas Jones, who is reprising the role of Ashley from the film on which the series is based. Variety exclusively reported yesterday that Benjamin Earl Turner, Atticus Woodward, Jaylen Barron, and
In today’s Global Bulletin, Aardman and Bandai Namco team to create new trans-media IP, About Premium Content sells “Man in Room 301,” Filmlance International will adapt “Jana Kippo” for TV and BBC Three sets a new esports docuseries for BBC iPlayer. DEVELOPMENT Stop motion pioneers Aardman are teaming with video game developer and publisher Bandai
Mark Hamill, Whoopi Goldberg and Morgan Freeman and a dozen other high-profile SAG-AFTRA members are blasting upcoming benefit cuts to the SAG-AFTRA Health Plan in a pointed video. Amy Schumer, Clancy Brown, Shirley Jones, Carol Kane, Martin Sheen, Vincent D’Onofrio, Lea Thompson, Matthew Modine, Lesley Ann Warren, Jodi Long and Elliott Gould also appeared in
SPOILER ALERT: Do not read if you have not yet watched the Dec. 1 episode of “The Bachelorette.” A familiar face arrived to help Bachelorette Tayshia Adams on her search for love: former Bachelorette and franchise success story, JoJo Fletcher. JoJo, who stepped in for host Chris Harrison as he took a break from filming
Chinese companies unveiled a slate of high production value drama series ranging from historical war epics to contemporary shows set against the backdrop of modern cityscapes to lure foreign buyers at Singapore’s Asia TV Forum (ATF) on Tuesday. Presented as part of the China Pavilion, the 30-minute showcase streamed at the virtual ATF and highlighted
By announcing that he was transgender, Oscar nominee Elliot Page has increased the visibility of a community that has been calling for just that, as well as more accurate representation in movies, TV shows and other forms of entertainment. The actor, known both for beloved indies like “Juno” and superhero franchises like “X-Men,” also said
Various celebrities and entertainment entities took to social media Tuesday to voice their support for Elliot Page, an actor known for his work on “The Umbrella Academy,” after he came out as transgender. From co-stars to the actor’s talent agency, voices from across the entertainment spectrum chimed in to react to the news. Justin H.
The changing of the guard at “The Talk” continues. Amanda Kloots and Elaine Welteroth are set to join the CBS daytime talk show as new co-hosts for season 11. News that they will join Sharon Osbourne, Sheryl Underwood and Carrie Ann Inaba in 2021 was announced live on air. The duo are replacing Marie Osmond
Armie Hammer has signed on to star in “The Offer” at Paramount Plus, which will tell the behind-the-scenes story of the making of “The Godfather.” Hammer will star as Al Ruddy, who produced “The Godfather” back in 1972. The series will focus on Ruddy’s experience on the set of the iconic mob drama, with Ruddy
Elliot Page will continue to play the role of Vanya Hargreeves in “The Umbrella Academy,” the Netflix series about a family of superheroes that’s become one of the streaming service’s biggest hits. Vanya is a cisgender woman whose superpower involves unleashing force through the use of sound. There are no plans to change the character’s
Disney Television entertainment chief Dana Walden is reshuffling her executive team as she consolidates the company’s programming operations. The moves will see Disney streamline its three distinct studios into two and integrate programming teams at ABC and Hulu. Karey Burke will move from her role as head of ABC Entertainment into a new position as
Charlize Theron is pushing further into the TV space. The actor and her Denver & Delilah production banner have inked a two-year first-look deal with HBO and HBO Max, Variety has confirmed. Under the deal, Theron and her company will develop TV projects for both the premium cabler and the streamer, looking to add to its TV