Play video content The Simpsons Marge Simpson’s known for her patient and loving demeanor, but it seems she has less patience for President Trump‘s advisor, who used her to jab at Sen. Kamala Harris … ’cause she’s firing back, politically. TV’s beloved animated housewife responded to Jenna Ellis‘ dig at Kamala … claiming she sounded
Focus Features executive Robert Walak is exiting his position as president and will move into an advisory role at the company. There is currently no plan to replace his position. Walak was appointed president of Focus Features, the specialty studio owned by Universal, in February 2016. Before moving to Los Angeles two years ago, he
Comedian Tig Notaro is replacing Chris D’Elia in Zack Snyder’s zombie movie “Army of the Dead,” Variety has confirmed. News of the recasting comes following allegations that D’Elia sexually harassed underage girls. Multiple women, some as young as 16, accused D’Elia of misconduct, including sending them inappropriate and explicit messages online. In wake of the allegations,
Two years ago, Ivana Mikovic—former COO of public broadcaster Radio Television of Serbia—took a look at the booming local TV landscape and saw an opportunity for a bold new venture. Partnering with Boban Jevtic, the former head of Film Center Serbia, she hatched a plan to build a sprawling, state-of-the-art film studio on the outskirts
Marge Simpson responded to a tweet uploaded by a senior advisor to president Donald Trump in which she mocks vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris, comparing her voice that of “The Simpsons” character. In a video uploaded to Twitter, Marge (voiced by Julie Kavner) said that she feels disrespected by Jenna Ellis’ comment, which she interpreted
Idris Elba and Simon Kinberg have teamed up for a yet-to-be-titled spy film, which after an intense bidding war, has landed at Apple. Elba will star and produce the film, which is described as a “spy movie with romance” set in Africa. Kingberg and Audrey Chon, president of Kinberg’s Genre Films will produce. The film’s
There’s something inherently terrifying about space – maybe because of the loneliness and isolation, or perhaps because it’s an unknown landscape to most of us. But it makes great fodder for films and over the decades there have been many takes on the space horror genre. This week sees the release of “Sputnik,” a Russian
An industry as overtly image-based as fashion design is always going to produce instantly recognizable stars. But as proven by Reiner Holzemer’s intelligent, enjoyable if uncritical “Martin Margiela: In His Own Words,” in those cases, the figure of the designer can eclipse the design. Think of Vivienne Westwood, and we think of her Elizabeth-I-safety-pinned-to-Sid-Vicious vibe;
R. Kelly’s former manager has been arrested on charges related to a gun threat that forced the evacuation of a media screening of “Surviving R. Kelly” early in 2018, according to the Associated Press. The Lifetime documentary, which chronicled the multiple claims of sexual abuse and misconduct against the singer over the years, revived attention
The genesis of Uggs might be rooted in an ancient time of bedazzled flip phones and velour tracksuits, but the Australian brand’s quality and evolving range (they now carry blankets, sneakers, athleisure and heels) have rendered Ugg’s cozy creations timeless. Considering how stress-inducing 2020 has been, coupled with all the extra time spent at home,
When Allie Goertz encountered Crocs for the first time as a dorky, Wayne’s World-obsessed 13-year old, she instantly despised their bulbous, stippled silhouette. “I remember thinking, ‘They’re so ugly, never in a million years would I wear Crocs,'” she says. Eighteen years later, the musician and writer was self-quarantining at home in Los Angeles due
Locarno SwissBiz panel, a round-table featuring five local industry professionals that takes an often critical and always self aware look at the state of affairs in Switzerland’s film industry, was always going to be a bit different this year. But, while the COVID-19 situation was a key talking point, it served primarily to highlight existing
Chile’s Cineteca Nacional, established in 2006, is working on a new restoration of Pedro Sienna’s “El húsar de la muerte” (1925), considered the most important silent feature film in Chilean history, the portrait of Chilean freedom fighter Manuel Rodríguez (1785-1818), a key figure in Chile’s War of Independence against the Spanish crown. First restored by
Can “Fortnite” maker Epic Games single-handedly bust up the longstanding 30% app “tax” levied by Apple and Google — fees Epic calls “exorbitant” and the result of “unlawful monopoly”? Not everyone believes the odds are in Epic’s favor. In a highly orchestrated campaign Thursday, Epic Games set the bait for the legal — and public
Change and growth play pivotal roles in Season 3 of Netflix’s original series “Ozark.” The show, recently renewed for a fourth and final season, features a divergence from its signature color palette as well as moments of integral character development. Members of the “Ozark” cast and crew joined Variety‘s Marc Malkin in the Variety Streaming Room
Marie Moore has been named senior vice president of communications of Warner Bros. Global Kids, Young Adults and Classics division, Variety has learned exclusively. Moore will report jointly to Tom Ascheim, president of the division, and Johanna Fuentes, Warner Bros. executive vice president of corporate communications and public affairs. She will begin in her new role
Not many companies can say they won an Academy Award with their first film. But Lion Forge Animation’s Carl Reed and David Steward II, who formed the U.S.’s only Black-owned animation studio last year to address a lack of representation in the genre, took home the hardware in February for the studio’s involvement in animated
Bosnian director Pjer Žalica recently found himself standing before Sarajevo’s National Theater, which in less troubled times would have hosted the world premiere of his comic drama “Focus, Grandma”—the opening film of the 26th edition of the Sarajevo Film Festival. “In front of the theater, there is this red carpet and nothing else,” Žalica told
In Bo Derek’s new Reelz documentary, “In My Own Words,” the actress and former model admits, “I don’t care if anybody remembers me. I’ve never had the need to leave my mark on the world.” That may be so. But Derek, now 63, will forever be remembered for her shot to stardom when she played
Leah Zelaya has dreamed of being a designer for as long as she can remember. She studies fashion magazines, sketches out ideas for red-carpet looks, and even walked in a NYFW show earlier this year. Ask about her style icons and she’ll drop some of today’s biggest names: Jennifer Lopez, because she’s “not afraid to
Hot on the heels of his 2019 solo release “Absolute Zero,” Bruce Hornsby returns with its follow-up, “Non-Secure Connection.” The effort picks up where the last one left off and features some of the same collaborators, including Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon and Rob Moose, yet also sees Hornsby teaming up with the Shins’ James Mercer,
Brazilian filmmaker Juliana Rojas’ last Locarno experience was one to remember, culminating in a Special Jury Prize for her 2017 feature “Good Manners,” which played in competition. This time around her situation is less enviable, as the filmmaker presents “Cidade; Campo” (City; Country) in Locarno’s The Films After Tomorrow competition for productions halted by COVID-19
ViacomCBS shares were up more than 5% in trading Friday, reflecting renewed investor interest in the company following the death earlier this week of chairman emeritus Sumner Redstone. The movement for ViacomCBS shares comes on a down day overall so far for the NASDAQ index. News of the Redstone’s death on Aug. 11 at the
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, the Danish actor best known for playing the conflicted, sardonic Jaime Lannister on HBO’s “Game of Thrones,” was eager for his latest film to premiere at South by Southwest last March. In “The Silencing,” Coster-Waldau portrays a solitary hunter who lives in the woods, grappling with the disappearance — and likely murder —
Switzerland’s Tristan Aymon, director of short film “Black Hole” (“Trou Noir”), the only title to win two prizes at the 2020 Locarno Festival – a Pardino d’Argento in Swiss Competition and a Youth Jury best Swiss short – is preparing “Skate,” his feature debut. Written by Aymon and Marianne Brun, his co-screenwriter on “Black Hole,”
The Vue cinema chain is on the verge of securing an additional £100 million ($131.2 million) in debt financing, in order to stave off the impact of the coronavirus crisis, according to a report by Sky News. Variety reached out to Vue for confirmation, but the company declined to comment. In June 2019, Vue successfully
When the COVID pandemic hit, superstar Will Smith launched a Snapchat show about his life under quarantine, “Will From Home.” His wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, also talked about her quarantine life on her Facebook Watch show, “Red Table Talk.” But their staff at Westbrook Inc. reported to work. Last week, 10 staffers tested positive for
Almost a full year after releasing its debut EP, SuperM is back with a new single, the song “100,” ahead of a studio album, “Super One,” due out Sept. 25. The group, comprised of members Baekhyun, Taemin, and Kai, of seasoned K-pop groups EXO and SHINee, alongside Taeyong, Mark, Ten, and Lucas, of NCT 127
In today’s Global Bulletin, BFI Distribution gets Riz Ahmed’s “Mogul Mowgli,” London’s Dagenham neighborhood gets go-ahead to build new world-class film studios, Banijay Nordics confirms its CEO, Zinc Media Group promotes from within, Endemol Shine Germany sells new singing format, and Koch Films buys Sola Media. DISTRIBUTION “Mogul Mowgli,” co-written, starring and produced by Riz
W Magazine, the high-end fashion publication formerly owned by Condé Nast, has a new ownership group — led by supermodel/ influencer/ entrepreneur Karlie Kloss. On Friday, W Magazine Editor-in-Chief Sara Moonves (daughter of ousted CBS chief Leslie Moonves) announced that she assembled a group of investors led by Kloss to acquire the brand as part