“The Last of Us” Season 2 will enter production in early 2024, announced HBO boss Casey Bloys at a press conference Thursday morning. The CEO noted that the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes had delayed production of the hit show’s sophomore season. “The Last of Us” was not on the network’s 2024 slate presentation, meaning it
With all the hoopla around “Now and Then” — which has been officially billed as “The Last Beatles Song” and erroneously described as the legendary group’s “first new song in 50 years” — some reality-checking is in order. Yes, it is a “new” Beatles song in that all four members, including the late John Lennon and
Isabela Merced and Christopher Briney star in “Influencer,” an Audible original YA psychological thriller about a murderous social-media personality. “Influencer,” which premieres Nov. 2 (available at this link), is the first audio project under a multi-project deal Audible inked with production house Temple Hill Entertainment, whose films have included the Twilight Saga, the Maze Runner
Marina Larroudé is on a roll with creating shoes that hit the ultimate sweet spot for every high heel lover: affordable, well-made, timeless, and above all, wearable. Her collaborations have expanded her universe, including two with jewelry designer Jennifer Fisher, to include people she loves who allow her to see shoemaking in a new way.
ACQUISITION Banijay U.K. have acquired “Becoming Elizabeth” producer The Forge. The terms of the agreement include a first look deal for Banijay Rights. The Forge was founded by managing director George Faber and the senior creative team is comprised of Faber, EP and head of business affair Mark Pybus, EP Beth Willis and EP George
Feature debutant Raine Allen-Miller’s “Rye Lane” led the nominations at the 2023 British Independent Film Awards (BIFA) with 16 nods. “Scrapper” by debutant Charlotte Regan and veteran Andrew Haigh’s “All of Us Strangers” scored 14 nominations each while Molly Manning Walker’s “How to Have Sex” had 13, Sam H. Freeman and Ng Choon Ping’s “Femme” 11 and
Richard Linklater’s action comedy “Hit Man” is set to open the Marrakech International Film Festival, which has announced its lineup of more than 70 films mixing known titles and fresh fare. The fest is forging ahead with its 20th edition, which will run Nov. 24- Dec.2 in the ancient Moroccan city despite the Israel-Hamas conflict that
When the Thessaloniki Intl. Film Festival kicks off its 64th edition on Nov. 2, the organizers will unveil a host of changes while renewing their commitment to serving audiences at one of Europe’s longest-running film events — all at a time of almost unprecedented uncertainty over the future of cinema and even the very purpose
There is an ample tradition of historical dramas set in Interwar Poland, but there’s rarely one made by a woman director. Anna Jadowska wants to fill in this gap with her new project, “Tethys Ocean,” which will be presented at Thessaloniki Film Festival’s Agora Crossroads Co-production Forum next week. The story unfolds in 1938, as
What if a new Messiah appeared today, but his supernatural power was to release people’s intimate videos unprompted? Such a beguiling premise shapes Armenian Vilnius-based director Marat Sargsyan’s sophomore feature, “The Grand Inquisitor.” In it, the omnipotent creature is an AI that looks like a human being and has a human name, Vermis. Soon, his
Adam Driver, star of Michael Mann’s “Ferrari,” will travel to Camerimage, the cinematography-oriented film festival, to accept Special EnergaCamerimage Award for an Actor. He will also introduce the film, one of the entries in the Camerimage Main Competition and a prominent awards contender this season. The fest will run in Toruń. Poland, from Nov. 11-18.
With climate change and pollution making environmental concerns more urgent than ever, studios and productions are taking a lead role in incorporating sustainability into the workplace. And in some cases, it’s a necessity. As New York City experiences a boom in studio construction, for example, recent legislation requires most buildings that exceed 25,000-gross-square-feet to to
Archstone Entertainment has acquired worldwide sales rights to “Don Q,” a comedic tribute to mafia movies that stars Armand Assante, no stranger to the genre from his work in HBO’s “Gotti” and “American Gangster.” It was written and directed by Claudio Bellante. Sales for the film kicked off this week at AFM. The film follows
With the resolution of the Hollywood writers strike in September, hopes were high for a return to business as usual in bustling Budapest, host to such recent high-profile productions as Yorgos Lanthimos’ Venice sensation and Oscar frontrunner “Poor Things.” But the sudden breakdown in negotiations between SAG-AFTRA and the AMPTP in early October dampened that
When director Yorgos Lanthimos approached production designers James Price and Shona Heath with a vision for his latest feature, “Poor Things,” the Venice sensation and Golden Lion winner that’s landed the filmmaker and lead actress Emma Stone at the forefront of this year’s Oscar race, the notoriously meticulous and demanding director had no shortage of
With climate change and pollution making environmental concerns more urgent than ever, studios and productions are taking a lead role in incorporating sustainability into the workplace. And in some cases, it’s a necessity. Indeed, the AFM has a green filmmaking panel set for Nov. 3. As New York City experiences a boom in studio construction,
Zayn Malik is writing new music for upcoming animated feature “10 Lives” and is set to perform a duet with “Bridgerton” star Simone Ashley for the film, Variety can confirm. Malik and Ashley also both star in the film, with the former One Direction singer playing tough-guy twins Cameron and Kirk while Ashley voices student
Warner Bros. Discovery has revealed several leadership roles across its Asia Pacific (APAC) business, following the appointment of James Gibbons as president, Asia Pacific, in October. Reporting to Gibbons are Tony Qiu – GM, greater China and southeast Asia, leading a regional cluster of southeast Asia, mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, based in
Subscription video subscriptions in Taiwan increased by 315,000 in the July to September quarter, to reach 5.8 million, according toa new research report. Netflix and Disney+ were responsible for the bulk of the growth. The “Online Video in Taiwan” report from consultancy Media Partners Asia and its AMPD Research sister company showed premium VOD engagement
CBS has tapped stand-up comedian Taylor Tomlinson to host its new late night franchise “After Midnight.” The series is executive produced by Stephen Colbert, who announced Tomlinson during Wednesday’s episode of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.” Tomlinson then discussed the news with Colbert on stage. Tomlinson’s recent TV credits include her Netflix comedy specials
Walt Disney Animation Studios production workers have voted to unionize, the Animation Guild (IATSE Local 839) announced Wednesday. In a National Labor Relations Board ballot count, 63 production employees (or 93%) — including production coordinators, production managers and production supervisors — voted to join the Animation Guild. Out of a total of 68 voters, five workers voted against.
After reportedly being instructed by Warner Bros. last year to not dress up as the Joker, Diddy decided to go as Batman this year. Diddy posted a video on Halloween explaining that he received emails from Warner Bros. after videos of his 2022 Joker costume went viral online. He had told the same story to
Britney Spears‘ long-awaited memoir “The Woman in Me” — which details her fight for freedom and tumultuous relationships with the men in her life — has sold 1.1 million copies in its first week across print, pre-sales, e-books and audiobooks in the United States. “The Woman in Me” was released on Oct. 24 and has
“Baby, it’s Halloween / And we can be anything,” Phoebe Bridgers once promised, in a song named after the high holy day of Oct. 31. Bridgers did not sing that particular seasonal number as part of Boygenius‘ Halloween show at the Hollywood Bowl Tuesday night, but the band took the sentiment to heart, at least.
Writer/director David Ferino’s feature directorial debut, “Wardcliffe,” starring Joel McKinnon Miller (“The Staircase,” “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” “Big Love”) and Shane Coffey (“Pretty Little Liars,” “Good Girls”). Inspired by real events, Ferino’s script takes place over the course of a single day as Dennis (Miller) and his son Ronnie (Coffey) quarantine together during the 2020 pandemic lockdown.
UPDATED with SAG-AFTRA statement: SAG-AFTRA and Hollywood’s major studios had a second consecutive day of constructive steps toward a settlement to what will go down as a TV and film strike of record duration for the union. SAG-AFTRA told its members late Wednesday that the union presented a counterproposal on AI issues that have been
Nicolas Cage has shared his thoughts on the use of AI in films, as well as his feelings about the final cut of his cameo as Superman in Warner Bros.’ “The Flash.” In a recent interview with Yahoo! Entertainment, Cage expressed his personal distaste for the technology, saying, “AI is a nightmare to me. It’s
Christopher Hampton, the Oscar-winning screenwriter of “The Father” and “Dangerous Liaisons,” is set to adapt Walter Isaacson’s acclaimed biography “Leonardo Da Vinci” for Universal Pictures. Universal Pictures had fiercely chased rights to the hot literary property six years ago, and was outbid by Paramount, which developed the project with Leonardo DiCaprio’s Appian Way. Now that
The Academy Museum has set a new date for its annual fundraising gala, after initially postponing the event out of respect for the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict. The event is now scheduled for the evening of Dec. 3. The fundraising gala is moving forward with the support of SAG-AFTRA, amid the actors union’s ongoing strike against
David Arquette, Ethan Peck, Katrina Bowden and Gianni Capaldi are saddling up to join the cast of “Unholy Trinity.” The Western adventure, which received an interim agreement to go into production during the actors strike from SAG-AFTRA, has begun filming at Yellowstone Ranch in Montana. It is directed by Richard Gray and stars the previously