“Skins” and “Split” actor Jessica Sula is set to star in director Anthony DiBlasi’s reboot of his 2014 cult horror film “Last Shift.” The still-untitled movie, backed by the new genre label Welcome Villain Films, has wrapped production. With post-production expected to be completed in the fall, Welcome Villain hopes to distribute the film in
After two years of virtual events or limited-capacity premieres, the festival returns in spectacular fashion, with more than 250 films expected to screen during the 10-day event. To break down the musts from the meh, here are nine films we’re dying to see. “Causeway” (A24/Apple Original Films) Though Jennifer Lawrence had a juicy supporting role
Lifetime is reuniting “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman” co-stars Jane Seymour and Joe Lando in a holiday movie this year, Variety can exclusively announce. The duo will star in “A Christmas Spark,” executive produced by Toni Braxton. Variety can also reveal that the network’s “It’s a Wonderful Lifetime” lineup will also feature two more films on
Brendan Gleeson, currently generating Oscar buzz for his work in “The Banshees of Inisherin,” is about to move from the west coast of Ireland to the seedy streets of Gotham City. The veteran character actor is set to appear in “Joker: Folie à Deux,” Variety has confirmed, alongside Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga, who play
Comic actor Will Sasso is stepping in to play the title role in Audio Up’s new animated musical-comedy podcast, “The Ballad of Uncle Drank,” replacing Gary Busey, who is out of the project after being charged with criminal sexual contact in New Jersey. The 11-episode series also has a new premiere date, as it’s retooled
Adding to its slate of auteurs from all over the world, Raphael Berdugo’s Cité Films has boarded “The Fire Doll,” from Chilean director-to-track Niles Atallah (“Rey”) and “Left Over,” from San Sebastian Gold Shell winning Turkish director Yesim Ustaoglu (“Pandora’s Box”). Produced by Catalina Vergara at Chile’s Globo Rojo Films, “The Fire Doll” (“La muñeca
Welcome to this week’s “Just for Variety.” As you’ll read (and see in the video above), this week’s column is a little different this time around. I am running around the Beverly Center trying to find something to wear for my interview with actor Luke Macfarlane. It’s not often I think about my outfits because
Five years after it was announced that Amazon would bring “The Lord of the Rings” to television, “The Rings of Power” is finally here. But what’s in store for viewers as we return to Middle-earth, and will the trip be worth it? Anyone dreading a small-screen disaster can breathe a sigh of relief, as the
Telluride Film Festival’s official 2022 lineup has been announced, revealing world premieres of Sam Mendes’ “Empire of Light,” Sarah Polley’s “Women Talking,” Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre’s “Lady Chatterley’s Lover” and Sebastián Lelio’s “The Wonder.” In its 49th year, the festival will pay tribute to two-time Oscar-winner Cate Blanchett, whose new film “TÁR,” from director Todd Field,
Disney confirmed that it’s considering launching a paid membership program that would provide exclusive discounts and benefits across its entire portfolio of products and services. Details on the company’s potential membership program are sparse — right now, the initiative is at the drawing-board stage. What exactly it ends up looking like remains TBD, including what
The first night of the 2022 Creative Arts Emmy Awards is taking place on Saturday, Sept. 3, and we’ll see where the Primetime ceremony could be heading based on the first wave of winners. With an evening that features categories for animated program, reality host, documentaries and short form, we could get a strong sense
Since 1860, Chopard, the famed Swiss jewelry and watch company, has been known for its luxe pieces. Its newest collection, My Happy Hearts, takes that elevated design sensibility and adds a touch of whimsy, for joyful accessories that are as wearable as they are chic. The collection is comprised of rings, bracelets, necklaces, and earrings,
Nicole Power has joined the ensemble of the upcoming Netflix drama series “Glamorous.” She will appear alongside the previously announced “Sex and the City” icon Kim Cattrall, as well as actor, singer-songwriter and YouTuber Miss Benny. In the show, Power will portray Mykynnleigh, a seemingly guileless corporate consultant who rolls into town to help make a business
Twitter is finally about to give the world a look at its “Edit Tweet” function — which for years has been the No. 1 most-requested feature by users. The company said Edit Tweet is currently being tested by internal teams. Starting later in September, the test will expand initially to subscribers of Twitter Blue, its
Global film sales agency and U.S. domestic distributor Blue Fox Entertainment has announced that production has wrapped on family comedy “Popular Theory,” starring Cheryl Hines (“Curb Your Enthusiasm”), Marc Evan Jackson (“The Good Place”), Sophia Reid-Gantzert (“The Baby-Sitters Club”), Lincoln Lambert (“Nope”), and Chloe East (“The Fabelmans”). Century City-based Blue Fox Entertainment is handling worldwide
“Tár” is going to get people talking, but its star Cate Blanchett has made clear that she’s “not interested in agitprop.” The Oscar winner is in Venice for the world premiere of the Todd Field-directed movie, and was in good spirits as she addressed journalists at a Thursday press conference. The Focus Features pic stars
“The Kingdom Exodus” begins with a joke, and for the next five hours, it never gets serious, not even for a second. That’s not what you might expect for the long-delayed finale to Lars von Trier’s made-for-TV horror series, though it sure makes this over-the-top return to the haunted Rigshospitalet — that big, brutalist medical
ADAPTATION Ann-Helén Laestadius’ novel “Stolen” is getting a Netflix adaptation. Elle Márjá Eira (“The Sámi Have Rights”) is set to direct the feature based on a screenplay by Peter Birro (“Monica Z”). Laestadius will exec produce. “Stolen” will be Eira’s feature film debut. The film, about a young indigenous woman’s struggle in the face of
Vying for the Premio Kutxabank at the San Sebastian Film Festival’s New Directors sidebar, “Secaderos” (“Tobacco Barns”), the feature debut of Rocio Mesa, includes a beguiling creature of the woods that was designed and created by the Oscar-winning team behind Guillermo del Toro’s 2007 “Pan’s Labyrinth.” For make-up and special effects whizzes David Martí and
The BFI London Film Festival has unveiled its full lineup for the festival’s 66th edition, set to take place this October. Among the films that will be screening are “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery,” #MeToo thriller “She Said,” which tells the story of how two New York Times journalists broke the Harvey Weinstein story,
Final Cut, a workshop supporting films in post-production from African and Arab countries – launched by the Venice Film Festival’s industry section, Venice Production Bridge – celebrates its 10th anniversary this week. Its goals have remained the same, however, as it continues to provide emerging filmmakers with concrete assistance as well as visibility, all the
Loco Films has acquired international sales rights to Petr Václav’s buzzed-about film “Il Boemo” which is world premiering in the official selection at the San Sebastian Film Festival. The epic period movie sheds light on the extraordinary life of Josef Myslivecek, one of the most prolific opera composers in 18th century Italy who inspired Mozart and
Neil Jordan’s “Marlowe,” which stars Liam Neeson and Diane Kruger, is set to close the San Sebastian Festival next month. It will be the film’s world premiere. Jordan, who is known for writing features including “The Crying Game” (for which he won an Oscar) and directing “Interview with the Vampire,” which featured Tom Cruise and
Warner Bros. Discovery and BT Group have formed a joint venture combining the assets of BT Sport and Eurosport U.K. into an as-yet-untitled joint venture. Both WBD and BT hold a 50% stake each in the new venture and are equally represented on the board. The chair will be rotated between the companies, with the
The Venice Film Festival’s market is kicking off with an attendance level close to its 2019 pre-pandemic days and strong interest in feature films and VR works being pitched at its gap-financing platform “We already have a total of more than 2,400 industry professionals registered to attend, which is close to pre-pandemic levels since in
Studiocanal is set to launch Quentin Reynaud’s timely disaster thriller “The Blaze” ahead of its world premiere at the BFI London Film Festival. The film reteams Reynaud with popular French actor Alex Lutz, who headlined the director’s feature debut “Final Set.” Lutz stars alongside revered French actor André Dussolier (“Tell No One”). “The Blaze” follows Simon and
“Dodger,” the high-octane family drama based on Charles Dickens’ “Oliver Twist,” is set to return to the BBC for three specials. Production has just wrapped in Bristol on the three one-off episodes, which include a Christmas-themed offering, with Christopher Eccleston (“Doctor Who”) returning as Fagin and Billy Jenkins (“Peaky Blinders”) returning as the eponymous child
U.K. broadcaster ITV has commissioned “Line of Duty” and “Bodyguard” creator Jed Mercurio’s HTM Television to produce crime thriller series “Payback” with BritBox International as co-production partner. The six-part series stars Morven Christie (“The Bay”), Peter Mullan (“The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power”), Prasanna Puwanarajah (“Ten Percent”) and Derek Riddell (“Industry”). Written
Play video content TMZ.com “Survivor” alum and “The Challenge: USA” contestant Tyson Apostol thinks he could wipe the floor with the OG’s of the MTV program … but series staple Johnny Bananas thinks he has no clue what he’s talkin’ about. We got Johnny in New York Tuesday … and he thinks Tyson’s claims aren’t
It’s a little ironic that the fair-minded maiden in “Love in the Villa” yearns for an authentic, romantic Italian vacation since her fairy tale has been cobbled together by Netflix’s practically patented algorithm. Take one part down-on-her-luck female protagonist, add in a handsome-but-cantankerous gentleman either from or in an enchanting European setting, and mix with a