October 25, 2019 2:39PM PT Disney has hired “Pirates of the Caribbean” veteran Ted Elliott and “Chernobyl” creator Craig Mazin to develop a story for its reboot of the franchise. Jerry Bruckheimer is expected to produce as he has on the previous five entries in the series. Disney hired the “Deapool” writing team of Rhett
“Joker” may have the last laugh this weekend. Joaquin Phoenix’s comic-book pic is narrowly beating “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil” with about $18 million at the North American box office, early estimates showed on Friday. Disney’s second weekend of the “Maleficent” sequel is coming in at about $17 million, followed by the sophomore frame of Sony’s
Netflix went all out for the Los Angeles premiere of “The Irishman,” celebrating a $160 million film the only way the streamer could since the film boasts such A-list talent and director. The black carpet outside the TCL Chinese Theatre was transformed into a New York City street with storefronts and replicas of sets from
October 25, 2019 1:24PM PT “Joker” has passed “Deadpool 2” to become the highest-grossing R-rated film ever with a worldwide box office total of $788.1 million. “Deadpool 2” grossed $785 million in 2018 and $782 million for 2016 original. The fourth weekend of “Joker” is battling with “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil” for the top spot
“One Thousand and One Nights,” a vast collection of treasured Middle Eastern folklore, is being adapted for film, TV and gaming content by producer Reza Aslan and film executive Erik Feig’s new venture, Picturestart. The internationally renowned stories — which count characters like Aladdin and his genie, Sinbad and Alibaba — will be framed as
If Taylor Swift had had her way, “Cats” wouldn’t have been her first movie with director Tom Hooper. In a new interview with Zane Lowe for Beats 1, Swift revealed that she screen-tested for “Les Miserables,” but was ultimately happy she got passed over for a more experienced actress. When it came to “Cats,” though,
Films by and centering around women will be showcased among the 159 films — 35 narratives, 15 documentaries and 109 shorts — at the 22nd SCAD Savannah Film Festival. Following an Oscar year in which they were shut out, more than 50 selections — many in awards-foreshadowing categories — are directed by women. “I remember
October 25, 2019 11:02AM PT Bleecker Street has acquired “The Assistant,” the story of an entry-level employee in the entertainment industry that made headlines for its look at the movie business in the #MeToo era. The film debuted at this year’s Telluride Film Festival. Bleecker will release it in theaters on Jan. 31, 2020. Emmy
October 25, 2019 11:00AM PT “Batwoman” and “Nancy Drew” are staying on the case for the CW, which has given full season pickups to its fall freshman dramas. Both shows have delivered modest live ratings in their brief runs to date. The early renewals are a sign of faith in the properties from CW and
Breaking News TMZ/Getty Malcolm Jenkins is clapping back at Orlando Scandrick … callin’ BS on his former teammate’s criticism of him — saying straight-up Scandrick is a “motherf**ker!” If you missed it, Scandrick was picked up by the Eagles a few weeks ago … but his tenure crashed and burned this week when Philly cut
Exclusive Rich Dollaz might want to think about changing his handle … the “Love & Hip Hop New York” star just got busted for not paying child support … again. The Hudson County Sheriff’s Office tells TMZ … Rich Dollaz was arrested Thursday at his home in New Jersey and was booked for failure to
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg — aiming to counter skeptics who believe the social network is a chief culprit in promulgating a flood of misinformation — said his company’s new initiative to support journalism and pay publishers is an imperative to support a democratic society. The Facebook CEO appeared at a media event Friday in New
October 25, 2019 10:21AM PT Australian actress Olivia DeJonge will star as Priscilla Presley in Baz Luhrmann’s untitled Elvis Presley biopic for Warner Bros. Austin Butler is set to play the king of rock and roll and Tom Hanks will portray his manager, Col. Tom Parker. The movie hits theatres on Oct. 1, 2021. “Olivia
When German filmmaker Eckhart Schmidt’s 1982 romantic shock thriller “The Fan” plays the prestigious Thessaloniki Festival this year, it’s a culmination of the film’s long multi-decade road back from critical disdain and commercial obscurity as well as a sweet vindication for the obstreperous octogenarian film artist and critic. The Munich-based Schmidt’s iconoclastic career has taken
October 25, 2019 10:06AM PT Netflix has been testing variable playback speeds in its Android app, Android Police was first to report Friday. The new feature allows users to play movies and TV shows at a variety of speeds, ranging from 0.5x (half as fast) all the way to 1.5x. The feature is apparently being
Matthew Wiseman came to work for BAFTA LA in 2002 for what he thought would be a short stint. The BAFTA Film Awards had just shifted their dates ahead of the Oscars and the Hollywood outpost was expanding. “BAFTA was in such a growth spurt at that point, that I mentally thought I would be
October 25, 2019 10:00AM PT T-Street, the recently formed independent studio launched by writer-director Rian Johnson and producer Ram Bergman, has tapped Nena Rodrigue to be president of television. She will executive produce and have creative oversight of all TV projects at the studio. “We are super excited to have Nena join our team,” said
When HBO’s “Silicon Valley” returns for its sixth and final season, the Pied Piper gang will be pivoting one last time to tackle emerging privacy issues, a new internet and some degree of actual success for its perpetually stumbling underdogs. Which is exactly why it was time to wrap the series with its final seven
Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Jodie Comer, Jesse Armstrong and other British stars had a good showing at the Emmys, highlighting the many talented actors, writers and producers in Hollywood who come from across the pond. And as the British Academy of Film and Television Arts Los Angeles’ Britannia Awards approach on Oct. 25, the occasion at the
October 25, 2019 10:00AM PT Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos will receive the Producers Guild of America’s 2020 milestone award. Sarandos will get the award at the 31st Annual Producers Guild Awards on Jan. 18 at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles. “Ted continues to push the industry to new heights through his leadership at
Edward BerthelotGetty Images We love a sleeping bag masquerading as a puffer coat, but there’s no need to give up on all style when the temperature drops. We tapped five buying experts from your favorite fashion companies to weigh in on the hottest winter trends. They detailed the newest in outerwear, strategic layering tips, items
Nancy Meyers, Lisa Cholodenko, Nisha Ganatra and Martha Coolidge came out to Culina at the Four Seasons in Beverly Hills on Thursday afternoon for a Women in Film luncheon in honor of Lina Wertmüller, the legendary Italian director who was the first woman nominated for an Oscar for best director in 1977 for “Seven Beauties.” Now 91,
October 25, 2019 9:46AM PT Megan Thee Stallion, still riding the success of her “Hot Girl Summer” smash, dropped a new song today — a collaboration with Vickeelo called “Ride or Die,” from the upcoming soundtrack for “Queen & Slim,” which is out Nov. 15 on Motown Records. “I’m really excited to be on the ‘Queen &
“Mrs. Doubtfire,” one of Robin Williams’ most successful comedies, is headed to Broadway. Last week, Variety learned there will be a stage musical based on the 1993 movie about a cross-dressing dad who poses as a nanny to spend time with his kids after a difficult divorce. Will the adaptation be a hit? Here’s a
Bille August (“Pelle the Conqueror”), one of Denmark’s best known filmmakers, is set to direct “The Pact,” a psychological drama about the intense friendship between Karen Blixen, the Danish author best known for her autobiographical novel “Out of Africa,” and Thorkild Bjønvig, a young and promising poet. “The Pact” was written by Christian Torpe, based
In Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ classic 1986 graphic novel “Watchmen,” the superheroes and vigilantes make their own costumes. This gives every look a level of accessibility that’s not often a consideration for big-budget action projects, but was a theme that needed to be carried over into HBO’s adaptation of the award-winning comic book. Meghan
Redbox, the DVD-kiosk and digital on-demand network, is opening its checkbook to acquire and produce original TV shows and movies. The company announced the formation of Redbox Entertainment, a division that will fund, develop and produce projects across multiple genres, with a focus on action, comedy, and suspense/thrillers. Redbox said it is already in talks
October 25, 2019 8:46AM PT Everyone has a bête noire in life, that one nemesis that will forever dog them, and Kanye West’s is “release dates.” Despite a much heavier advance publicity buildup that had fans thinking surely he must mean it this time, his “Jesus Is King” gospel album failed to descend from the
The final season of “Will & Grace” premiered last night on NBC to series low figures in Live+Same Day. NBC revealed it was bringing season 11 forward last week, replacing freshman comedy “Sunnyside” in the schedule. The premiere scored a 0.5 rating among adults 18-49 and was watched by 2.3 million total viewers, a substantial
In two new editorials, the hallmarks of ELLE shoots—bold prints, punchy brights, and dynamic group shots—get a 2019 update on a fresh crop of new models. Singer Kim Petras provides the soundtrack. Day Out Jumpuits, helmets, all, 0 Moncler Richard Quinn. Black pumps, white pumps, all, Jimmy Choo. Max Papendieck Max Papendieck Max Papendieck Blue