In the years since his 2018 multi-format smash “Heaven,” breakout country star Kane Brown has filled his dance card with a long line of duet partners across multiple genres, including Swae Lee & Khalid (current single “Be Like That”), John Legend (“Last Time I Say Sorry”), Lauren Alaina (2017’s “What Ifs,” his first country chart-topper)
TikTok, the social video app President Trump has turned into a geopolitical football, isn’t shying away from the American political playing field. Chinese-owned TikTok launched an in-app guide to the 2020 U.S. elections “to provide access to authoritative information as we continue our work to protect against misinformation,” Michael Beckerman, VP, head of U.S. public policy,
In making “John Lewis: Good Trouble,” director Dawn Porter naturally strove to highlight the congressman’s countless accomplishments, but also wanted to show a different side to him — the reserved joyousness that few people got to see. “I think people were always surprised that the Congressman was very quiet in person,” Porter tells Variety. “He was
At the 2019 Academy Awards, presenter Tina Fey cracked a joke about Netflix landing multiple nominations for “Roma.” “What’s next, my microwave makes a movie?” Fey asked. That day is here, Tina. Appliance manufacturer and legacy brand KitchenAid has announced a new hub for filmed original content, one that will host stories from the communities
It’s time to call the corners, again. The first trailer for “The Craft” sequel conjures up new witches while resurrecting an old demon. Directed and written by actress Zoe Lister-Jones, whose Sundance debut “Band Aid” charmed audiences in Park City, Utah, the fresh spin invokes the spirit of the original opening with the beloved “light
Disney is returning to the Pride Lands for a follow-up to “The Lion King.” Barry Jenkins, the filmmaker behind “Moonlight” and “If Beale Street Could Talk,” will direct the upcoming feature based on the beloved family classic. “Helping my sister raise two young boys during the ’90s, I grew up with these characters,” Jenkins said.
Two drama series from “Mr. Robot” creator Sam Esmail and Esmail Corp’s Chad Hamilton are in development with ABC. “Acts of Crime,” described only as a “unique spin on the crime procedural,” is written and directed by Esmail. He and Hamilton are slated to serve as executive producers for Esmail Corp on the series, which
Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, has lost the latest round of her ongoing legal battle with U.K.’s Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL), publishers of the Daily Mail and the Mail on Sunday. Markle sued the group for breach of privacy and copyright infringement after the Mail on Sunday published excerpts from a 2018 letter Markle
Comedian, actor and author Michelle Buteau is busier than ever. She not only stars in BET Plus’ “First Wives Club,” hosts Netflix’s “The Circle” and will lead and executive produce “No Pulling Out Now” for Quibi, but she also recently shot an hourlong stand-up special (also for Netflix) and wrote her first book. Now, at
“Dancing With the Stars” twirled its way to the top of the TV ratings charts once again on Monday night, as it faced stiff competition from the Stanley Cup finals on NBC. The ABC dancing show scored a 1.1 rating among adults 18-49 and drew just over 7 million total viewers, as “Tiger King” star
It’s an early step, but it’s a step forward nonetheless: On Monday an updated Heroes Act, which includes provisions of the $10 billion bipartisan Save Our Stages Act designed to provide financial assistance to independent music and live-entertainment venues across the U.S., was introduced in the House of Representatives. Independent venues have been devastated financially
President Trump and former vice president Joe Biden will meet tonight for their first debate at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. The debate starts at 9 p.m. EDT, 6 p.m. PDT, and will run across all networks. Here are some key things to watch in the first matchup: Chris Wallace The “Fox News Sunday”
Rainmaker Content has picked up worldwide distribution rights from German studio Leonine for Brendan Fraser-starring action series “Professionals.” The project, which was completed during the global pandemic, will be shopped to buyers at next month’s virtual Mipcom market. Commissioned by Nordic Entertainment Group (NENT Group) for streamer Viaplay, the cast includes Fraser (“Trust”), Tom Welling
David S. Goyer is coming back to Gotham City to excavate more secrets from the Dark Knight’s psyche. Goyer is the creator of “Batman Unburied,” a new podcast drama exploring “the darker aspects” of Bruce Wayne, to debut exclusively on Spotify in 2021. Goyer, who will executive produce the series, penned the story for 2005’s
Several episodes of Adult Swim series have been “permanently retired due to cultural sensitivities,” according to the network, including those from “Aqua Teen Hunger Force” and “The Boondocks.” The Daily Beast, which first reported the news, noted that Reddit users had pointed out “Aqua Teen Hunger Force” episode “Shake Like Me” and “The Boondocks” episode
Variety’s countdown to its BTS cover continues with a video sneak peek of the photoshoot. Here’s a taste of what’s in store with bandmates J-Hope (real name: Jung Ho-seok), Jimin (Park Ji-min), Jin (Kim Seok-jin), Jungkook (Jeon Jung-kook), RM (Kim Nam-joon), Suga (Min Yoon-gi) and V (Kim Tae-hyung). Variety previously released a few tidbits from
The , Roc Nation and Pepsi announced today that Emmy- nominated producer Jesse Collins has been named an executive producer of the Pepsi Super Bowl LV Halftime Show, taking place in Tampa, Florida on Super Bowl Sunday, February 7, 2021. He is the show’s first-ever Black executive producer. Collins joins executive producers Roc Nation, who debuted in that role earlier this year with a
DaBaby and Roddy Ricch led the nominees for BET’s 15th annual “Hip Hop Awards” with 12 and 11 nominations respectively, the network announced. Drake and Megan Thee Stallion followed with eight nods each. The awards will air on Tuesday, October 27, 2020 at 9 p.m ET/PT. The full list of nominees appears below. Other notable nominations
J Balvin, Bad Bunny and Ozuna are the top nominees for the 21st Annual Latin Grammy Awards, announced Tuesday morning. The awards are voted on by The Latin Academy’s international membership body of music creators, who represent all genres and creative disciplines, including recording artists, songwriters, producers, mixers and engineers. Artists with multiple nominations include
Venues are coming up with all kinds of ways to keep their sense of purpose alive during lockdown, but the Theatre at the Ace Hotel has come up with what may be a unique one: “5-7-5,” an “open air text-based art project” with poetry on its marquee. Twelve poets, songwriters, and text-based artists will contribute
Disney Plus has buddied up to the “watch party” trend: The Mouse House streamer is launching GroupWatch in the U.S. The new feature lets Disney Plus subscribers invite up to six friends and family members to synchronously stream a TV show or movie together, from wherever they happen to be. Unlike other “watch party” implementations,
Cinemas in different parts of Asia-Pacific are increasingly able to expand their operations, as local authorities around the region judge the need for social distancing to be reduced. Singapore, Australia’s New South Wales and India’s West Bengal are all easing up. In Singapore, where theaters re-opened in mid-July, operators of large auditoria of more than
Netflix has announced a Nov. 15 premiere date for the fourth season of hit show “The Crown.” “Change is coming. 15th November,” Netflix tweeted on Tuesday, as it released four new images from the series. Inspired by the award-winning play, “The Audience,” “The Crown” tells the inside story of the decades-long reign of Queen Elizabeth
Cara Sheppard is joining the U.K.’s Twickenham Studios (TW1), where she will lead and guide all aspects of production, post-production and emerging technology as managing director. Sheppard joins from post-production facility Warner Bros De Lane Lea, where she was managing director for the last four years. She previously spent some five years with Sky as
The Tokyo International Film Festival has unveiled a smaller, more compact selection for its 33rd edition (Oct. 31-Nov. 9). Exceptionally, this year’s Tokyo festival is held in partnership with Tokyo Filmex. Three of the Tokyo festival’s traditional main sections – competition, Asian Future and Japanese Cinema Splash – are combined in into one, Tokyo Premiere
Julie Bristow, former CEO and president of Bristow Global Media (BGM), has launched The Content Catalyst Fund (CCF). The initiative will focus on content developed, delivered and designed by women and about women. Based in Canada, with an international reach, CCF will develop and invest in unscripted and scripted content, with an initial focus on
Rapper 21 Savage and producer Metro Boomin have announced the release of their latest collaborative project, “Savage Mode 2,” with a video featuring the voice of actor Morgan Freeman. Over imagery of crows with blood-red eyes, a snowy graveyard and Savage and Boomin in the studio, Freeman’s soothing voice informs viewers of the true meaning
Taiwan has selected Chung Mong-hong’s dark drama “A Sun” as its contender for the best international feature film section of the Academy Awards, previously referred to as the Oscar for the best foreign-language film. The selection was announced by the Ministry of Culture, which said that its special panel at the Bureau of Audiovisual and
When he’s not drumming up a Grammy-winning record for Vampire Weekend, the critically beloved New York-based rock band he co-founded in 2006, Chris Tomson relaxes in the hip L.A. neighborhood of Silver Lake. Over the summer, the 36-year-old laid out $1.6 million for a traditional 1930s cottage with impressive views of the Hollywood Sign and
Dr. Anthony Fauci, one of the country’s top experts on the coronavirus pandemic, called some of Fox News’ reporting on the virus “outlandish” and added that some media stories are “taken out of context or are actually incorrect.” In an interview with CNN’s Brian Stelter on Monday, Fauci spoke about the news media’s handling of