May 31, 2019 6:56PM PT The Writers Guild of America is warning of more legal action against non-franchised talent agencies in another sign of the deepness of the WGA-agency dispute. The guild directed its nearly 15,000 members on April 12, when negotiations collapsed, to terminate relations with agents who refused to sign its new Code
Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx changed her explanation on Friday for her recusal from the Jussie Smollett case, as her office released more than 2,000 pages of documents on the case. Foxx said she was advised to withdraw from the case based on unfounded rumors that she was related to the “Empire” actor, who
In today’s film news roundup, “Pulp Fiction” consumer products are coming, HollyShorts will offer a development deal, Sundance makes a FilmFreeway deal and “Portrait of a Lady on Fire” gets a release date. CONSUMER PRODUCTS Miramax has partnered with White Space Entertainment to manage its film portfolio in the consumer product space starting with “Pulp
Is the original recording of the Beastie Boys’ “License to Ill” lost forever? On Sunday night’s episode of his Beats 1 show “Echo Chamber,” Beastie Boys member Mike D revealed to Q-Tip that no one can find the masters to the hip-hop group’s debut album. “No, ‘License to Ill,’ we don’t have. ‘License to Ill,’
Jussie Smollett Rope From Alleged Attack 1st Image Released 5/31/2019 5:10 PM PDT This is the rope Jussie Smollett says his “attackers” wrapped around his neck on a cold Chicago night. Prosecutors just released a slew of evidence from its investigation that led to 16 criminal charges against the former “Empire” star and then an
The Writers Guild of America has agreed to resume stalled talks with Hollywood agents on June 7 at an unspecified location, Variety has learned. The WGA negotiating committee told members on May 29 that the agencies had proposed that date, but didn’t say then that the guild had agreed to the meeting, which has left
What’s the cutoff for putting in a bid for the song of the summer? Apparently, the date is officially May 31, judging from how seemingly every notable diva decided this was the day to reenter the marketplace. Miley Cyrus, Cardi B and Katy Perry simultaneously released their first solo singles of the year, with Bebe
Indie producer Miranda Bailey has dropped out of the drama “Time Capsule” a month before its scheduled location shoot in Georgia in protest of the state’s controversial “heartbeat” bill which was signed into law this month, Variety has learned. Pre-production is currently underway in Georgia in the midst of a media firestorm over the legislation,
May 31, 2019 3:48PM PT In today’s roundup, “GLOW” will return to Netflix for a third season and Patrick J. Adams has been cast as the lead in National Geographic’s “The Right Stuff.” DATES “GLOW” will return to Netflix for a third season on August 9. The upcoming season follows the women’s wrestling troupe as
Roky Erickson — lead vocalist and principal songwriter for the psychedelic band the 13th Floor Elevators and one of the leading lights of Texas rock — died Friday in Austin. He was 71. Erickson’s death was confirmed by his brother Mikel to Bill Bentley, who produced the all-star 1990 Erickson tribute album “Where the Pyramid
As Emmy season kicks into high gear, the Television Academy took a moment on Thursday to celebrate a handful of programs that have tackled critical social issues. Hosted by “Claws” star Niecy Nash and held at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, the event honored the dramas “A Million Little Things” (ABC) and “Pose” (FX); the children’s
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48. That is the number of women Jim DeRogatis claims to know by name who allege that they have been sexually assaulted or abused by R. Kelly over the course of nearly 30 years. The veteran reporter, who has broken multiple stories on Kelly’s alleged sexual crimes and misconduct — including revealing the existence of
May 31, 2019 2:15PM PT Netflix’s planned “Little Black Mirror” promotional shorts will no longer be called “Little Black Mirror.” The short video series, first announced last week, will now be titled “Stories From Our Future.” The three shorts are aimed at Spanish-speaking audiences and are inspired by fan homages to the Charlie Brooker and
Under a reorg at AT&T’s WarnerMedia, Tony Goncalves, CEO of Otter Media, will now lead the development of the forthcoming WarnerMedia direct-to-consumer service. In addition, Andy Forssell, most recently COO of Otter Media and former CEO of Hulu, will move into the role of EVP and GM of the new, as-yet-unnamed streaming service, reporting to
CLUJ, Romania – The storm clouds that had spent the better part of the afternoon trundling across Transilvania couldn’t be kept at bay Friday night, though several hundred festival-goers – armed with umbrellas and ponchos – arrived for the opening of the Transilvania Intl. Film Festival hoping for the best. “People are ready to go
May 31, 2019 1:47PM PT Elton John and the “Rocketman” filmmakers have rebuked a Russian distributor for cutting scenes with gay sex and men kissing from the biopic. “We reject in the strongest possible terms the decision to pander to local laws and censor ‘Rocketman’ for the Russian market, a move we were unaware of
Jenji Kohan is a creative force helping to define two of the best shows of the streaming era — “Orange Is the New Black,” which she created, and “GLOW,” on which she is an executive producer. “American Princess,” which she produces with creator Jamie Denbo, takes key elements of the Kohan playbook — a character
“Godzilla: King of the Monsters” is living up to its name, roaring to around $50 million in its opening weekend at 4,108 North American sites, early estimates showed Friday. The Warner Bros.-Legendary sequel to 2014’s “Godzilla” should top the second weekend of Disney’s “Aladdin” at about $41 million along with newcomers “Rocketman” at around $22
May 31, 2019 12:45PM PT Starz has renewed the half-hour drama series “Vida” for a third season. The news comes after the show aired the first two episodes of its second season just last Sunday on the Starz linear channel. All 10 episodes of Season 2 are currently available on the Starz app and Starz
An article published Memorial Day in the New York Times captured the imagination — alternately hopeful, fearful, or just nihilistically curious — of a readership that’s never in recent memory felt quite so ready to learn about planets other than our vexed earth. The article described encounters between U.S. Navy pilots and unidentified flying objects,
May 31, 2019 12:05PM PT After easily topping the Live+Same Day ratings on the night it aired, the ABC special “Live in Front of a Studio Audience” has continued its success in delayed viewing. The show grew by 24% in delayed, hopping from a 1.7 to a 2.1 rating in the key 18-49 demographic. Its next
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May 31, 2019 11:50AM PT Samsung seems to have a few more headsets under wraps, if new remarks from the company’s director of developer relations for XR and gaming Farshid Fallah are any indication. At this week’s Augmented World Expo in Santa Clara, Calif., Fallah said that Samsung had plans to release “multiple AR and
Welcome to “TV Take,” Variety’s television podcast. In this week’s episode, Variety executive TV editor Daniel Holloway chats with “Good Omens” showrunner Neil Gaiman. The television version of “Good Omens” was a long time in the making. Multiple attempts at screen adaptations of the novel — about an angel and demon working to stave off
The upcoming sixth season of “Silicon Valley” will be the HBO comedy’s last, Variety has learned. The final season will be an abbreviated seven episode run, making it the shortest season of the show. “Silcon Valley” is currently in pre-production and is slated to debut later this year. It had been announced late last year that
Cardi B Strip Club Case Goes to Grand Jury … Could Face Stiffer Charge 5/31/2019 10:10 AM PDT Cardi B‘s strip club beatdown case just got way more serious for her — potentially, anyway — because of a grand jury … a sign prosecutors want her to face stiffer charges. The rapper was decked out
May 31, 2019 10:30AM PT “Godzilla: King of the Monsters” stomped to an $18 million opening day on Friday in China, leading the market by a wide margin. Legendary East reported that previews brought in another $3.8 million for “Godzilla: King of the Monsters.” The opening day results topped “Rampage” by 32% and 2014’s “Godzilla”
Trevor Noah was hoping to make some noise with his latest “The Daily Show” Emmy campaign billboard — and it’s a mission he accomplished. “A billboard is supposed to get people’s attention,” Noah told Variety. “If we’re going to make a billboard, why waste your time [if you’re] not telling a joke or making it
Idris Elba has worn a lot of hats: actor, DJ, director — but it was the time he spent working a series of dull jobs that solidified his desire to pursue a career in the arts. Appearing in a string of roles on British television, he first saw his name appear in Variety on May