Dust off your sequins and feathers because BBC’s “Strictly Come Dancing” has revealed the first celebrity contestants for this year’s two-step extravaganza. Among the first names to be revealed are comedian Robert Webb, best known as one-half of “Peep Show” double act Mitchell and Webb, and McFly singer Tom Fletcher. “Big Brother’s Bit on the
A long-running battle between the estate of the late R&B singer Aaliyah and her uncle/ former manager and label chief Barry Hankerson broke into the open on Wednesday after teasers about forthcoming music were posted online. Aaliyah — a former R. Kelly protégé who was briefly married to him at the age of 15 in
As co-host of the “Labyrinths” podcast, Amanda Knox specializes in spotlighting real-life figures who, as she puts it, “lack agency” as they’re drawn against their will into becoming central figures in attention-getting stories. It’s something she knows a lot about, of course: Knox may need little introduction to anyone who followed international news, but she
“Jane,” a feature film from startup studio Creator Plus, has halted production after two COVID cases on set in New Mexico. The film stars Madelaine Petsch (“Riverdale”), who is also a producer. None of the cast has tested positive, according to the company. The shutdown is expected to last for six days. In a statement,
ViacomCBS president and CEO Bob Bakish sent employees a memo Wednesday detailing the company’s concerns over the Delta variant of COVID-19 and specifying that most workers would not return to the office until Oct. 18 “at the very earliest.” Bakish specified that employees returning to ViacomCBS prior to Oct. 18 in the “yellow phase” would
Charlie Watts, the Rolling Stones’ drummer since the group’s inception in 1962, is “unlikely to be available” for the band’s rescheduled U.S. tour this fall, according to a statement from a Stones spokesperson. Watts, who turned 80 in June, recently underwent an unspecified but “completely successful” medical procedure, according to the statement. Veteran drummer Steve
The most-speculated-about podium in entertainment may have a new occupant. The news that Mike Richards, the executive producer of “Jeopardy!,” is in advanced negotiations to take over as permanent host, filling the role once occupied by the late Alex Trebek, ends a guessing game that had run throughout 2021, as figures from throughout the world
FX and 20th Television have released the first teaser trailer for “Impeachment: American Crime Story,” premiering on FX on Sept. 7 at 10 p.m. This third installment of the “American Crime Story” franchise is based on Jeffrey Toobin’s book “A Vast Conspiracy: The Real Story of the Sex Scandal That Nearly Brought Down a President”
As any entertainment journalist who has interviewed James Gunn will tell you, the director of comic book adaptations “Guardians of the Galaxy” and the upcoming “The Suicide Squad” is never shy about answering questions honestly and unreservedly. It’s a rare quality in such a public and successful figure in the entertainment industry, especially when so
Ryan Reynolds and Taika Watiti recently broke the Internet and the fourth wall with the promotional video “Deadpool and Korg React.” The parody featured both of the actors’ respective Marvel characters giving their two cents on the “Free Guy” trailer. However, Reynolds said he initially pitched Disney a much different short film with Deadpool to
Actor and activist Kendrick Sampson has signed with M88, the independently operated representation firm founded in 2020 by Phillip Sun and Macro’s Charles D. King. Alongside M88, the star will also be represented by the firm’s sister company UNCMMN, which spotlights disruptive talent rooted in new media. Under the new partnership, M88 and UNCMMN will
Courtesy of Louis Vuitton The seemingly disparate worlds of gaming and fashion are colliding, giving its rabid fans something more addicting than Candy Crush or scouring the internet for vintage Jean Paul Gaultier combined. Louis Vuitton launched an interactive gaming app today that is now available to download. “Louis the Game” pays homage to Louis
The Directors Guild of America announced its new Women’s Steering Committee Squad Mentorship Program along with its first class of mentees. In the program, 10 mid-career directors are each paired with filmmakers that are well established in the field. The WSC Squad will last for six months. Mentors will not only discuss craft and artistic
The opening night of the Locarno Film Festival was led by a pair of rousing call to arms for the theatrical experience. Early on it was rain, rather than COVID-19, which threatened to put a dampener on proceedings, as sodden conditions in the famous Piazza Grande forced the world premiere of “Beckett” indoors. However, ironically,
Lil Rel Howery, Billy Magnussen and Jillian Bell will star in the ensemble comedy film “Reunion.” The movie is the first greenlit project for Artists Road, the comedy film joint venture that was formed in October by Spyglass Media Group, Propagate Content, Artists First and Off-Road Productions. The pic puts a darkly humorous spin on
“Cobra Kai” star Xolo Maridueña has been cast as Blue Beetle for HBO Max’s movie adaptation of the DC superhero of the same name. Both Maridueña and Angel Manuel Soto, who will be directing the film, confirmed the news at “The Suicide Squad” premiere on Monday night in Los Angeles. Manuel Soto told Variety‘s Marc
In a statement posted to Instagram, Miley Cyrus spoke out against cancel culture and invited rapper DaBaby to have an open dialogue after the rapper has received backlash for his homophobic comments. The post’s caption reads, “@DaBaby check your DMS — would love to talk and see how we can learn from each other and
Country music power couple Tim McGraw and Faith Hill have toured together and even done joint albums, as well as duets, but their respective acting paths have never crossed. Now, they’ve been cast as leads alongside Sam Elliott in a new Paramount Plus series, “1883,” MTV Entertainment Studios’ official prequel to “Yellowstone,” the drama that’s
“Jeopardy!” executive producer Mike Richards is in advanced negotiations with Sony Pictures Television to become permanent host of the venerable quiz show, taking the reins of the syndicated powerhouse that was fronted by Alex Trebek for 36 years. After Trebek’s death at the age of 80 in November 2020, Sony initiated a series of guest
More than two and a half years after IMDb launched its free, ad-supported streaming service, IMDb TV is now available on iOS and Android mobile devices. The IMDb TV app launched Tuesday for Apple’s iOS (iPhone and iPad) and Android mobile devices in the U.S. The addition of the two major mobile platforms comes after
The Los Angeles City Council will consider imposing a vaccine requirement for entry into restaurants, gyms and movie theaters, a day after the City of New York imposed a similar requirement. L.A. City Council President Nury Martinez — who is line to become acting mayor once Mayor Eric Garcetti is confirmed as ambassador to India
Fox Corporation said profit rose in its fourth fiscal quarter as advertisers ramped up spending as conditions of the coronavirus pandemic eased and it secured new revenue from distributors. But the company’s overall cash flow was crimped by fees for a wider range of sports events as well as investment in Tubi, its ad-supported streaming
Comedian Louis C.K., whose career derailed after he was accused of sexual misconduct by multiple women in 2017, is making a return to stand-up comedy in a nationwide tour beginning next week, he announced on his website. Revealed on Wednesday, C.K. has shows in 30 cities, including New York, Chicago, Detroit, San Diego, Philadelphia, Boston
Roku easily beat Wall Street forecasts for second-quarter 2021 earnings — posting record 81% revenue growth — but the net number of new active user accounts fell shy of analyst expectations. What’s more, the total number of hours streamed fell by 1 billion hours from the prior quarter. Total net revenue grew 81% year-over-year to
Walt Disney Animation Studios is opening a new production facility in Vancouver, British Columbia, as it ramps up its streaming offerings. Focusing on long-form series like the upcoming musical revisiting of “Moana,” the studio will recruit new talent for its feature-quality slate and special projects meant exclusively for Disney Plus, it was announced Wednesday by
John David Washington shot “Beckett” before last summer’s “Tenet” put the actor on a short list of potential action figures. But when it comes to this considerably more modest, Greece-set manhunt movie — which kicks off the Locarno Film Festival before releasing via Netflix on Aug. 13 — it helps to look at Washington (son
“Alberta has arrived,” Luke Azevedo, commissioner for Film, Television and Creative Industries of Calgary Economic Development, tells Variety. With productions scouting for new locations to help maximize their budgets and fit their creative vision, the removal of the $10 million-per-project cap on March 26 is a game-changer for the region, making Alberta nationally and globally
Netflix is expanding its vaccine mandate. The streaming giant will require that all employees who come into its offices be vaccinated for COVID-19. Those new rules will also include any visitors to its headquarters. In July, Netflix became the first Hollywood studio to set a blanket policy requiring that the casts of all of its
For Jennifer Hudson, it’s a happy anniversary. “It was about 15 years ago when Aretha (Franklin) and I had our first discussion about my playing her,” says the star of “Respect.” It’s not a coincidence that this is also the 15th anniversary of something else momentous — Hudson delivering her Oscar-winning performance in “Dreamgirls” —
Back in March, amid escalating controversy surrounding former host Chris Harrison, ABC Entertainment and Warner Horizon committed to hiring an executive producer of color for “The Bachelor.” Now, Variety has exclusively learned that the franchise has named its first-ever Black executive producer. Jodi Baskerville, a veteran producer who has been with “The Bachelor” franchise for