This year’s documentary Academy Award feature race is historical on many fronts. Four of the five nominated films were directed by people of color; Jonas Poher Rasmussen’s “Flee” made history by scoring three Oscar nominations: not only the doc feature category but also in the animated feature and international feature categories; Sushmit Ghosh and Rintu
Ukrainian film and TV bodies have begun calls for a boycott of Russian media and the severing of business ties with Russian entities. Russia’s film and TV industry has been steadily growing in recent years, with events such as the Key Buyers Event — an annual content showcase organized by Russian film promotion body Roskino
“Better Things” co-creator and star Pamela Adlon toasted the fifth and final season of her Emmy-nominated FX series at a screening and party at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery on Wednesday night. The cast and crew recalled learning the show was coming to an end. “I think I called everyone and said, ‘This is it fellas,’”
The international-film category was once littered with feel-good stories about the relationship between an older person and a child, such as “Madame Rosa,” “Pelle the Conqueror,” “Burnt by the Sun” and “Kolya” that took home the statuette. Given the Oscars bestowed on the likes of “Cinema Paradiso” and “Life Is Beautiful,” individual nations could be
Critics matter. That’s how I interpret the love the Academy showed for “Drive My Car” this year, nominating the three-hour Japanese drama in four separate categories: best picture, director, adapted screenplay and international film, and in so doing, effectively issuing a referendum to the Spike Lee-led Cannes jury that awarded the Palme d’Or to the
To twist the words of Gotham City District Attorney Harvey Dent, it’s always darkest before the dawn, especially at the box office. North American theaters are having a quiet weekend led by holdover releases ahead of the big kahuna on the horizon in Warner Bros.’ “The Batman.” With the Dark Knight’s rise still a few
Chris Licht, the wunderkind producer who launched “Morning Joe,” retooled “CBS This Morning” and helped late-night host Stephen Colbert gain traction on CBS, is jumping to CNN to take over the operation once its corporate parent, WarnerMedia, is acquired by Discovery in a much-anticipated merger expected to take place in April, according to two people
Sean Penn, who is in Ukraine filming a documentary about Russia’s invasion, released a statement on Friday night after appearing at a press briefing in the capital of Kyiv on Thursday, where he listened to government officials talk about the crisis. “Already a brutal mistake of lives taken and hearts broken, and if he doesn’t
Mark Gage Stroman, the entertainment advertising strategist who was an early hire at the fledging Fox Broadcasting Co., died Feb. 22 due to complications from COVID. He was 58. Stroman, who most recently served as chief marketing officer of Spin Media, had a long career in advertising and marketing. After beginning his career at KOFY-TV in
Jussie Smollett wants a do-over in court, he’s asking for a new trial in Chicago and taking issue with the initial jury selection process — but he’d also willing to accept a not-guilty verdict. The actor’s defense team just filed new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, asking the judge to reverse the verdict and find
Steven Spielberg is developing an original feature film based on the character of Frank Bullitt, the San Francisco cop first played by Steve McQueen in the iconic 1968 thriller, “Bullitt.” Josh Singer (“The Post,” “Spotlight”) is set to write the screenplay, with regular Spielberg collaborator Kristie Macosko Krieger on board to produce with the director.
How old is Tyler Perry’s spitfire matron Madea? Her age isn’t specified (I’d say she’s in her mid-70s), but whatever it is she’s that many years young. She has a sneaky-dog irascibility that won’t quit. And Tyler Perry can’t quit her. He had hinted that “A Madea Family Funeral,” in 2019, might be the last
There was an air of unwanted mystery surrounding Lo Moon when the Los Angeles-based group debuted. Touring extensively in 2016 and 2017, ahead of its first album which arrived in early 2018, the band released but one song during that time — “Loveless,” which owes more than its name to the seminal album by drone
Variety's Awards Circuit is home to the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars and Emmys ceremonies from film awards editor Clayton Davis. Following history, buzz, news, reviews and sources, the Oscar and Emmy predictions are updated regularly with the current year's list of contenders in all categories. Variety's Awards Circuit Prediction schedule consists of four
Charles Dance has been cast in Hulu’s “Washington Black” in the recurring role of James Wilde. James is the father of Erasmus and Titch (Tom Ellis) Wilde. He is described as an esteemed scientist and inventor whose shadow looms over the entire story, bearing down with the enormous weight of patriarchy, empire and duty. At
As Russia’s invasion of Ukraine unfolds, Sky News has decided to air two daily, hour-long specials dedicated to covering the crisis across its TV, radio and digital/social media platforms. Starting on Monday (Feb. 28), the British outlet will air the specials each day at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m — with programming coming from Sky
The 2022 London Screenings (March 1-4) unfold next week in a capital where COVID-19 restrictions have just been removed entirely, and buyers from all around the world are expected to attend in person and virtually to acquire the best of British and international programming. All the major distributors have a plethora of content to offer
“This Is Us” star Lyric Ross has signed on for a role in the upcoming Marvel series “Ironheart,” Variety has confirmed with sources. Ross joins previously announced cast members Dominique Thorne and Anthony Ramos. As previously reported, The show follows Marvel character Riri Williams (Thorne), a genius inventor and the creator of the most advanced suit
While it’s hardly top of mind given the tragedy of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, pop act AJR have canceled their upcoming concert date in the country, scheduled for October. “We are sad to announce that we will be cancelling our upcoming show in Russia,” the band wrote on social media. “Thank you to our Russian
“Euphoria” has continued to amass a growing audience for HBO — and now Twitter has confirmed that the hit drama series has produced the most activity of any television show in the 2020s to date on the social network. Ahead of the season finale this Sunday (Feb. 27), Twitter said “Euphoria” was the most-tweeted about
SPOILER ALERT: Do not read unless you’ve watched “A Madea Homecoming,” now streaming on Netflix. As Tyler Perry prepared to bring his famously “braless and lawless” character Madea to Netflix, the media mogul came up with an idea to spoof some pop culture moments and some of his famous friends as part of the movie’s
Rolling off an unpredictable and crowded race, Xavier Giannoli’s period piece “Lost Illusions” and Leos Carax’s musical romance “Annette” scooped the top prizes at the 47th Cesar Awards, France’s equivalent to the Oscars, on Friday evening. “Lost Illusions,” which was leading the nominations, won seven awards, including best film and best male newcomer. “Annette,” which
Amanda Bynes is aiming to end her conservatorship after nearly nine years. Bynes’s mother, Lynn Organ, was granted temporary conservatorship in 2013 after the actor allegedly set a driveway on fire and was hospitalized on an involuntary psychiatric hold. Organ then gained full conservatorship in 2014. Variety confirms that Bynes filed a petition on Feb.
When it comes to portraying Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes on screen, there are a few things essential to embodying the disgraced Silicon Valley scammer: the black Issey Miyake turtleneck, the blood-red lipstick and her unsettling gaze and baritone speaking voice. Amanda Seyfried, who plays Holmes in Hulu’s upcoming series “The Dropout,” said it took her
Two cameras orbit a grand piano on a circular track. Sometimes one will catch sight of the other, passing behind the black-haired singer at the keyboard, flashing between the session violinists or gliding beyond the bearded man crouched low over his synthesizer. Though this visible stagecraft draws attention to the fabrication — stage lights pop;
“Texas Chainsaw Massacre” cinematographer Ricardo Diaz knew he would pay homage to the original film while working on the 2022 sequel. Teaming with director David Blue Garcia and Mark Burnham, who plays the iconic movie slasher, Diaz took on recreating Leatherface’s famous dance… in one take. Diaz spoke with Variety about pulling off that feat in “Texas
As chairman of the Universal Studio Group, Pearlena Igbokwe is the first Black woman to run a major television studio. But when she got her start, she had no connections in the entertainment industry, little information about how to break into the business and very few mentors to look up too. One of her first,
Avril Lavigne — the original pop-punk teen queen — is returning to her rebel roots with “Love Sux,” her seventh studio album out today via Travis Barker’s DTA Records. In a December interview with Nylon, Lavigne described the 11-track project as the album “I’ve wanted to make for my whole career,” calling it “anthemic” and
SPOILER ALERT: Do not read if you have not yet watched “In Perpetuity,” Friday’s episode of “Severance” on Apple TV Plus. “Forgive me for the harm I have caused this world. None may atone for my actions but me and only in me shall their stain live on. I am thankful to have been caught,
An “Outlander” prequel series is in development at Starz, Variety has learned exclusively. According to sources, “Outlander” executive producer and showrunner Matthew B. Roberts is attached to write and executive produce the prequel. A writers’ room is currently being assembled with an eye to begin work in the coming weeks. Exact plot details for what