Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel “Dune” has been credited for inspiring half a century of the biggest works of science fiction and fantasy storytelling, from “Star Wars” and “Star Trek” to “Alien” and “Game of Thrones.” What the novel hasn’t inspired, however, is a filmed version that quite lives up to its monumental sense of scope.
Javier Bardem is set to return to his native Spain to star in new feature “The Good Boss,” reuniting with director Fernando León de Aranoa, The Mediapro Studio and many of the social themes of 2002’s “Mondays in the Sun,” a movie that sealed a young Bardem’s acting reputation. France’s MK2 Films, the Paris-based production,
Ricky Staub thought he was hallucinating. When he looked outside his office window, he saw a horse and buggy making its way down the streets of North Philadelphia like an emissary from another century. But there were details that immediately identified the driver as hailing from this time and place: namely, a subwoofer and speakers
Variety presents its largest-ever special report on international filming locations, produced in collaboration with the Association of Film Commissioners International. Our 18-page edition covers the latest updates for major territories on the status of production rebates, tax incentives, film commissions, facilities, crew availability and other infrastructure including VFX and post-production services. “Throughout this difficult year,
Stephane Cardinale – CorbisGetty Images More than a year since the passing of its longtime artistic director Karl Lagerfeld in February 2019, Fendi has finally named his successor: Kim Jones. On Wednesday, September 9, the Italian fashion house announced that Jones will be taking over Fendi womenswear, his first foray into the category. In his
Liz Phair, whose widely influential 1990s albums have been enjoying a revival in recent years, has signed a new deal with the relaunched Chrysalis Records and will release her first album in a decade next year, the company announced Wednesday. Phair’s albums, particularly her 1993 debut “Exile in Guyville” and the follow-up “Whip-Smart,” have influenced
Spirit Music Group has picked up the master recordings of three Tim McGraw albums, the publishing company announced Wednesday. The albums being acquired all date back to McGraw’s first stint on the Big Machine label in the mid-2010s, and include the No. 1 country hits “Humble and Kind,” “Highway Don’t Care” and “Shotgun Rider.” Spirit,
Triller, the music-video creation app, has named a dozen top female music industry executives to a new advisory board. The execs are: Rebeca Leon (Lionfish Entertainment), Rosa Asciola (Spotify), Jenifer Mallory (Columbia Records), Elyse Rogers (APG), Tina Davis (Empire), Phylicia Fant (Columbia Records), Dina Sahim (Sal&Co/Maverick), Rhea Pasricha (Prescription Songs), Allison Maccio (Live Nation), Ebonie
While the concert industry is already down as much as 98% in quarterly revenues due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some silver linings are beginning to emerge in the music biz. And sync licensing, one of many artists’ primary revenue streams for the foreseeable future without touring, is one of them. Songtradr, a Los Angeles-based music
For football fans in the time of COVID, Verizon Media’s Yahoo Sports app is introducing a new way to live-stream free NFL games virtually with friends — via the Zoom-like “Watch Together” feature. The Yahoo Sports app’s new Watch Together co-viewing experience will let users invite up to three people to watch live local and
Charlamagne tha God inked a partnership with iHeartMedia to launch the Black Effect Podcast Network, anchored by his own syndicated radio show “The Breakfast Club.” The Black Effect Podcast Network is slated to debut this fall with 18 podcasts on iHeartRadio and other podcast platforms, curated by Charlamagne. According to iHeartMedia, the venture is positioned
YouTube Music and the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) on Wednesday announced a partnership with the goal of helping to preserve independent live music venues across the United States through the Save Our Stages initiative. Details were not immediately available, but the announcement reads, “Together, YouTube and NIVA will work on unique programming that will
Bong Joon-ho’s Oscar-winning “Parasite” leads the race of this year’s Asian Film Awards, which will be hosted in his home country South Korea for the first time since the prize ceremony’s inception in 2007. The acclaimed drama picked up 10 nominations, including best film, best director and best screenplay. “Parasite” was closely followed by Wang
U.K. broadcaster BBC One has commissioned a feature-length documentary looking back at the events of 9/11. Keshet International will distribute the film internationally, launching it as part of their MIPCOM 2020 slate. Produced by Top Hat Productions (“The $50m Art Swindle”), the documentary is directed by BAFTA winner Arthur Cary (“The Last Survivors”). “9/11: The
Sometimes, when a movie ends with a twist, it makes you want to rush back and rewatch the entire story to see how the filmmakers pulled it off. Where did they hide the clues? What new insights does a closer look reveal? In other cases, it’s best just to accept the surprise and move on,
Uberto Pasolini goes back many years, and several films, with the Venice Film Festival, starting with 1995’s black comedy “Palookaville,” which he produced. A quarter of a century later, he’s back with Horizons entry “Nowhere Special,” his third film as director, which follows in the footsteps of previous Lido visitors “Machan” (2008) and “Still Life”
The British Film Institute’s London Film Festival (LFF) is adopting a hybrid physical-online model for the first time in its history, and the process has been fraught with the myriad difficulties expected in a global pandemic. “The biggest challenge, the whole time, has been stepping into the unknown,” festival director Tricia Tuttle told Variety. A
Randall Rothenberg is relinquishing his role as CEO of the Interactive Advertising Bureau after 14 years atop the digital advertising and marketing trade association. David Cohen, who has served as president of IAB since March 2020 after more than two decades in the media agency world, will take over as chief exec as of Sept.
Malgorzata Szumowska and Michal Englert’s “Never Gonna Snow Again,” one of the buzziest titles out of the Venice Film Festival, has found distribution in the U.K., Italy and Germany. Following what’s understood to have been a competitive process with wide interest, Picturehouse Entertainment has swooped for U.K./Eire rights. I Wonder has bought the film for
Korean production company, Story TV is to make a local version of BBC political drama “Undercover” for broadcaster JTBC. The agreement was announced Wednesday at the ongoing Broadcast Worldwide (BCWW) content market in Seoul. “Undercover” is a six-part thriller following the story of a spirited and passionate woman barrister at the very top of her profession.
Two of the U.K.’s top producers, Dominic Buchanan (pictured, right) and Bennett McGhee (left), have teamed up to launch a new film and TV production company. Home Team will focus on high-end, inclusive projects that champion underrepresented creatives and new voices, including filmmakers of color and female filmmakers from all backgrounds. Buchanan is executive producer
Though born and raised in Haifa, Israel, filmmaker Amos Gitai (“Kadosh,” “Rabin: The Last Day”) had never heard of Fattoush, a popular restaurant-cum-club located in the port city. “I discovered this club through one of the actresses from one of my previous films. She basically said, ‘Why don’t I take you on a tour of
With his feature debut, director Ismaël El Iraki presents a raucous, rock-and-roll-fueled tour through the underworld of Casablanca. Shot on 35mm and featuring a number of live performances, “Zanka Contact,” which premiered on Sunday at the Venice Film Festival, is a musical romp that mixes gangster film swagger with a marked sense of place. “I’m
On Sept. 11, Netflix will premiere its first Spanish-produced original anime series “The Idhun Chronicles,” adapted from “The Resistance,” the first volumes of bestselling YA novels from writers Laura Gallego and Andrés Carrión. Turning on a group of resistance fighters exiled from their home world where dragons and unicorns are commonplace and magic is the
Travis Scott has added another major milestone to his resume: his own meal at McDonald’s. The last celebrity to have his name on a meal at the fast-food chain was Michael Jordan whose McJordan burger launched in 1992. The Houston rapper personally ushered in the Travis Scott Meal at a McDonald’s in Downey, Calif on
Sir Ronald Harwood, an Oscar-winning screenwriter and playwright, died on Tuesday of natural causes, his agent told BBC on Wednesday. He was 85. The British writer won the Academy Award for best adapted screenplay for Roman Polanski’s “The Pianist” in 2003. Harwood was nominated in the same category for Peter Yates’ “The Dresser” in 1983
Once more with rather less feeling: after “Love in a Fallen City” and “Eighteen Springs,” acclaimed Hong Kong director Ann Hui returns to the work of celebrated 20th century author Eileen Chang with “Love After Love,” a not-at-all-short adaptation of a Chang short story laboring under the English title “Aloeswood Incense: The First Brazier.” Hui
TUESDAY, SEPT. 8 Moviegoers Welcomed Back With CinemaSafe Video The National Association of Theatre Owners has released a “Welcome Back to the Movies” short film that touts the COVID-19 health and safety protocols moviegoers will see. NATO noted that more than 370 companies, comprising more than 3,000 locations, and more than 33,000 screens have signed
Netflix has announced that a documentary about the K-pop group Blackpink will premiere on Oct. 14. “Blackpink: Light Up the Sky” will follow group members Jennie, Jisoo, Lisa and Rosé’s recording process, their everyday lives as K-pop stars, as well as their history-making performance at last year’s Coachella festival. The film will feature exclusive interviews
Here are the top trailers for movies coming to home video in August 2020! What will you watch? Watch All the Best New Trailers from July 2020: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLScC8g4bqD46eMfN-ghrmoaEAh_CqoUoY&cmp=MCYT_YouTube_Desc 00:00 The 2nd 01:47 Robin’s Wish 04:03 The Shadow of Violence 06:13 The Owners 08:11 Guest House 10:33 Feels Good Man 13:03 The Argument 14:43 Tommaso 16:00