Cyndi Lauper has announced the lineup for her 9th annual “Cyndi Lauper & Friends: Home for the Holidays” benefit concert, presented by Marriott International and AEG. The event will take place in Los Angeles at The Novo at L.A. Live on December 10. Tickets will be available to the general public 10am PT on Friday, November
There are a few reasons why “Death Stranding” might seem like a marketing slam dunk. It’s the first game from Hideo Kojima, the video game legend behind the “Metal Gear” series, since 2015, and also the first since he reformed his Kojima Productions into an independent studio, partnered with Sony Interactive Entertainment. It boasts Hollywood
With the percentage of LGBTQ series regulars reaching a record high in the current television season, GLAAD is now urging the TV industry to increase its LGBTQ representation to 20% by 2025. And according to the panelists discussing the result of the media advocacy group’s annual TV report at United Talent Agency on Thursday, increasing
It’s been a busy few months for Luke Hull, a production designer on “Chernobyl.” Fresh from landing an Emmy for his work on the HBO and Sky hit series, he has been named one of BAFTA and Netflix’s Breakthrough Brits, a cohort of standout talent who get a year of mentoring and have their burgeoning
Impossible Dream Entertainment and sales firm The Exchange have introduced “Tiger Mom,” a U.S.-China co-produced comedy, at the American Film Market. On the China side, backers include Huacheng Film, TV and Digital Program Company, a subsidiary of Chinese state broadcaster CCTV6, and Beijing Origin Pictures. The film will star Zhang Jingchu (“Rush Hour 3,” “Mission
Phoebe Waller-Bridge has talked about her writing role on the upcoming James Bond movie, telling the BBC that she came on to add a few of her own ideas and tweaks but not to reinvent Bond, as the producers are already changing the culture of the 007 franchise. Waller-Bridge is red-hot property after the successes
November 8, 2019 12:16AM PT A familiar but effective fact-based Vietnam War drama about an undermanned company of Australian and New Zealand soldiers under attack. By turns viscerally exciting and predictably formulaic — and, quite often, both at once — “Danger Close” is an efficiently crafted and consistently involving old-school war movie propelled by matter-of-fact
Directors Andy Delaney and Monty Whitebloom’s “Love Is Blind” should perhaps be titled “Love Is Arbitrary.” There’s no reasoning to how and why love manifests or dissipates in relationships, in much the same way the film’s character motivations flip and flop as script convenience calls. A hastily-assembled mix of romantic whimsy and offbeat quirk drives
November 7, 2019 10:00PM PT China Lion Film Distribution has acquired North American rights to Only Cloud Knows, from Emperor Motion Pictures. The film is a New Zealand- and China-set romance directed by China’s foremost commercial director Feng Xiaogang (“Youth,” “Assembly”), with rights represented by Hong Kong’s Emperor Motion Pictures. The firm will set a
Yes, even “Wicked” phenom Idina Menzel had to do a table read before signing on to the original “Frozen.” Menzel told Variety‘s Marc Malkin at the premiere of “Frozen II” that while she didn’t have to go through what could strictly be called an “audition,” she still had to do a read through and sing
Andes Films has taken the distribution rights in four Latin American countries for Wizart’s animated feature “Sheep and Wolves: Pig Deal,” which is being sold by the Russian company at the American Film Market. Wizart has also signed an agreement with Peppermint for the release of “Fantastic Return to Oz” in Germany. Andes has picked
November 7, 2019 7:19PM PT In the wake of former Fader content chief Eric Sundermann’s dismissal from the company following sexual misconduct allegations, a new report in Jezebel claims that both The Fader and Sundermann’s former employers at Vice did not address similar allegations against him, some of which dated back several years. The multiple
Horror comedy “Happy Times” is debuting its trailer ahead of its international premiere in the Midnight Shivers section of Tallinn Black Nights Intl. Film Festival. M-appeal is handling world sales. Director Michael Mayer and Guy Ayal co-wrote the script, which won the script award at Haifa Intl. Film Festival, where the film had its world
November 7, 2019 6:23PM PT British film executive Michael Ryan of GFM Films has been re-elected to a two-year term as chair of the Independent Film & Television Alliance. IFTA announced the results from its annual members’ meeting on Thursday, a day after its American Film Market opened for its 40th iteration at the Loews
November 7, 2019 6:07PM PT This hit London musical about Tina Turner takes Broadway by storm. “Now, that’s what I call a Broadway show!” That’s what the stranger sitting next to me at the Lunt-Fontanne Theater yelled into my ear at the roof-raising finale of “Tina: The Tina Turner Musical.” I’d say he nailed it.
In today’s film news roundup, Paramount sets a 2021 release for the next “Paranormal Activity,” Roland Emmerich is honored and Vincent D’Onofrio has a new role as Jerry Falwell. RELEASE DATES The seventh “Paranormal Activity” movie has been scheduled for release on March 19, 2021. Paramount chief Jim Gianopulos announced the untitled project in June
November 7, 2019 5:34PM PT In one of the first major deals at the American Film Market, Lionsgate has boarded the Gerard Butler action-thriller “The Plane.” The project re-teams the actor and studio following the release of “Angel Has Fallen” this year. Joe Drake, chairman of the Motion Picture Group for Lionsgate, made the announcement
In today’s TV news roundup, Netflix announces the premiere date of Tiffany Haddish’s new comedy special and Amazon Studios’s “The Wilds” gets additional cast members. CASTING Amazon Studios has announced additional series regulars for “The Wilds.” Rachel Griffiths (“Take Control”), David Sullivan (“Goliath”), Troy Winbush (“The Goldbergs”), Sophia Ali (“Grey’s Anatomy”), Sarah Pidgeon (“Gotham”), Jenna
U.S. distribution deals for German films are of great strategic value for international rollouts, but lucrative prospects largely depend on the type of film on offer. The spectrum of German film continues to broaden, encompassing everything from arthouse, historical drama and family entertainment to animation, action and horror – not to mention English-language German productions.
A loving tribute to Studio Babelsberg, the story of a family’s escape from Nazi Germany, a moving drama about young Palestinians and Israelis working together, and an adaptation of Terry Pratchett’s children’s novel “The Amazing Maurice” are among a wide-ranging selection of German films on offer at AFM this year. Leading sales companies are presenting
While markets such as AFM and the recent Key Buyers Event in Moscow aim to develop the worldwide sales potential of Russian cinema, the Russian branch of Fipresci, the international film critics’ federation, came up with a sure-fire idea to bring media attention to the diversity of Russian production, its varied genres, directions and aesthetics.
This year, 831 Loews is home to the “Created in Moscow” brand, which allies 17 Russian companies. The branding is supported by the Moscow Export Center, which recognizes the contribution made by the creative industries to the Russian economy. The “Created in Moscow” lineup will be featured in a presentation on the Venice stage at
Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is considering whether to jump into the Democratic primary, as he grows concerned that no one in the current field can beat President Trump. Bloomberg, worth an estimated $52 billion, previously ruled out a run, saying it would be difficult to succeed in a crowded Democratic field. But his
The “Beverly Hills, 90210” reunion is officially over. Fox has confirmed that its brief return to the 90210 via the six-episode summer event series “BH90210” is all fans are going to get. “BH90210” saw original series cast members Jason Priestley, Jennie Garth, Ian Ziering, Gabrielle Carteris, Brian Austin Green, Tori Spelling and Shannen Doherty all
It’s snowing in Budapest, and production designer Fiona Crombie is on a recce — the British term for a reconnaissance mission. She’s looking for the perfect location to recreate the Battle of Agincourt for David Michod’s “The King,” starring Timothée Chalamet as King Henry V of England. Loosely based on Shakespeare’s plays, the film follows
Film Bridge Intl. has come aboard to handle international sales rights for the comedy “Buffaloed,” starring and produced by Zoey Deutch (Netflix’s “The Politician” and “Set It Up,” “Zombieland: Double Tap”). The pic premiered at Tribeca Film Festival. Set in the underworld of debt collecting, the movie follows homegrown hustler, Peg Dahl (Deutch), who will
Just like athletes’ jerseys get taken out of service to be hung up on a wall because no one could dribble the same way in that number again, the word “everyman” may have to retired by the time Luke Combs is through, so likely are we to hear it appended to him for years to
November 7, 2019 3:30PM PT Altitude Film Entertainment and Los Angeles-based producer Jason Lust’s Soluble Fish Productions have inked a producing partnership to develop high-end family films and television projects. The partnership marks the British independent production, international sales and distribution company’s first venture into the U.S. market. Lust is very experienced in the family
November 7, 2019 3:13PM PT “The Good Place” star D’Arcy Carden is in negotiations for a starring role in Amazon’s series adaptation of “A League of Their Own.” The project was first announced in March 2018. According to sources, Amazon has given it a pilot order. “Broad City” alum Abbi Jacobson and Will Graham are
In a long ranging interview for this week’s “The Big Ticket,” Variety and iHeart’s movie podcast, “Rocketman” star Taron Egerton and I talked about becoming Elton John (and possibly performing with the music legend at the Oscars), singing for Joni Mitchell and how he really feels about his failed “Robin Hood” movie. See some of