Amazon MGM Studios, the renamed joint venture of Amazon Studios and MGM, has acquired rights to James Ponti’s popular children’s book series “City Spies” and is developing a film based on the first novel. The idea is for the initial installment to launch a global franchise, described by the company as a “four-quadrant action-adventure that
Progress has been made toward ending the SAG-AFTRA strike in recent days, but “a lot” of issues are still on the table, the union’s chief negotiator said Monday morning. Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, the chief negotiator and executive director of the guild, made an appearance at the Disney picket lines. In an interview outside the studio gates,
If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission. There’s a reason Taylor Swift is a billionaire. After closing out her record-breaking Eras Tour earlier this month, save a few additional dates she recently added, she’s now released the “Taylor’s Version” of “1989,”
A series version of the iconic horror film “Poltergeist” is currently in early development at Amazon MGM Studios, Variety has learned exclusively. No writer is currently attached to the project. Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey will executive produce on behalf of Amblin Television. Amblin produced the original 1982 film, with Steven Spielberg having come up
The Captain Nemo origin story series “Nautilus” lives on, with AMC Networks licensing the U.S. and Canadian linear and streaming rights to the live-action series from Disney Entertainment. The 10-episode show was originally slated to air on Disney+, but it was announced back in August that the show was not going forward at the streamer
David Fincher was recently asked by The Guardian about how his 1999 directorial effort “Fight Club” has become a favorite amongst incels and far-right groups for depicting disenfranchised white men coming together to rally against capitalist society. The director distanced himself from such a topic, telling the publication, “I’m not responsible for how people interpret
BMG has laid off an estimated 40 employees amid changes impacting its international and theatrical departments. Music Business Worldwide reports CEO Thomas Coesfeld shared the news in a company-distributed memo addressing BMG consolidating its New York and Canada-based recorded music operations into its Los Angeles office. The New York-based theatrical productions will also cease along
Paramount+ has released the first full trailer for “Good Burger 2.” In the trailer, which can be seen below, Dexter (Kenan Thompson) and Ed (Kel Mitchell) learn that the evil Mega Corp is planning to put Mega Good Burgers in cities all over the world, staffed entirely by robots. The film was originally announced back
Sandy Liang’s bow-adorned fashion shows quickly cemented the brand as the ultimate downtown uniform, and today, the designer launched their first-ever home collection. The eponymous brand, spotted on celebrities like Emily Ratajkowski, embraces girlhood dressing with rosette-studded tops, ballerina flats, and micr0-mini pleated skirts. Its new home items will complete the downtown fashionista’s home, with
Netflix has released the trailer for “Stamped From the Beginning,” a hybrid documentary and scripted feature that delves into race in the United States. Roger Ross Williams (“The Apollo Life”) directs Ibram X. Kendi’s book adaptation of the same name. With Black women scholars such as Angela Davis, Dr. Imani Perry and activist Brittany Packnett
“Live from Daryl’s House,” the Webby Award-winning musical performance show co-hosted by Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Daryl Hall, is returning to the web after a five-year halt in production. The long-running program will be seen on a dedicated YouTube channel starting Wednesday (Nov. 1) with an episode featuring Squeeze singer/songwriter Glenn Tilbrook. New
SPOILER ALERT: This interview contains spoilers from the series premiere of Showtime’s “Fellow Travelers,” now streaming on Paramount+. The first episode of “Fellow Travelers” may have made you blush. The premiere of the historical miniseries features several explicit sex scenes between Tim Laughlin (Jonathan Bailey) and Hawkins Fuller (Matt Bomer), two very different men who meet
Kirk McDonald, a veteran ad executive who has served as the face of WPP‘s large GroupM media buying consortium to U.S. advertisers, is leaving the company as it once again sets about to refashion its executive ranks. McDonald, who joined GroupM in 2020 after a stint at the ad-tech unit known as Xandr, is set
Cementing its reputation as a harbinger of emerging talent, Madrid-based Latido Films has acquired the international sales rights to “Tras el Verano,” the debut film from Yolanda Centeno picked out as one of Variety’s 10 Women Directors to Watch from Spain, compiled in 2021. Alfa Pictures is handling distribution in Spain. Following on hits such as Colombia’s
As “Barbie” continued its run of pop culture domination over the pre-Halloween weekend, the film’s co-writers Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach dished on their writing process following a special screening at the Writers Guild of America West headquarters. Because Baumbach sat out the “Barbie” press tour in accordance with the WGA strike, Friday night’s screening
“Avengers” filmmaker Joe Russo has caused quite a stir on social media for posting a response to a recent TikTok featuring Martin Scorsese. The Oscar winner’s daughter, Francesca, posted a TikTok this month in which Scorsese playfully directs his dog, Oscar. Russo responded by posting a video in which he tells Scorsese they share the
If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission. It was 2007. Steven Soderbergh was starting to shoot “Che” in Spain when the Bolivian casting director Rodrigo Bellott came armed with a bottle of Singani, the country’s national spirit, to the production kickoff
Hakan Günday and Onur Saylak, the writer-director team behind hit Turkish series “Persona,” have signed with CAA for representation. The highest-rated show in Turkey, “Persona” premiered its first season in 2018 and production on the highly-anticipated Season 2 recently wrapped. It will air on Turkish streaming platform GAIN later this year. “Persona,” or “Şahsiyet” as
Christine Romans, a veteran financial journalist who had been with CNN for more than two decades, has joined NBC News. In her new role, Romans will be charged with “reporting across all platforms of NBC News, including writing for digital and on MSNBC,” according to a memo issued Monday by Catherine Kim, senior vice president
President Biden issued an executive order Monday aimed at establishing new safeguards governing the use of AI while also promoting U.S. interests in the artificial-intelligence field. The executive order — the first such U.S. regulations explicitly aimed at artificial intelligence — “establishes new standards for AI safety and security, protects Americans’ privacy, advances equity and
In standout results that suggests the strength of select Spanish arthouse films on the current international market, Bendita Films Sales, the Santa Cruz de Tenerife-based boutique world sales agency, has closed a formidable raft of deals to Galician auteur Lois Patiño’s multisensory journey film “Samsara.” Winner of a Special Jury Award at Berlin’s 2023 major
After two pandemic years and a successful 2022 edition back in full swing, Lucca Comics & Games — Europe’s biggest geek meet, second in size globally only to Tokyo’s Comiket — is set to unspool again in the picturesque Tuscan town from Nov. 1-5. In the turbulent times of the SAG-AFTRA strike, the gathering will
For centuries, shame has been used to keep women in subservient roles. The threat of embarrassment and ostracization has kept women from all cultures and socioeconomic backgrounds silent and complacent. Of course, even within their roles navigating “polite society” or as laborers and caregivers in the working class, women have always found ways to rebel
Mexico’s official entry to the Best International Feature Oscar race, Lila Aviles’ “Totem,” and Tatiana Huezo’s documentary “The Echo” (“El Eco”) snagged three prizes apiece at the Morelia International Film Festival (FICM), which wrapped Sunday, Oct. 29. The awards doled out Saturday capped a busy 21st edition that saw a constellation of luminaries in town, including
Max is honoring late “Friends” star Matthew Perry, who died on Saturday at the age of 54, with a tribute card at the start of each season of the sitcom on the streaming platform. “In memory of Matthew Perry 1969-2023,” reads the card, which flashes on screen for approximately five seconds before the iconic “Friends”
Sofia Coppola’s “Priscilla” will be the closing film of the ongoing Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival. The film will receive its South Asia Premiere on Nov. 3 at the festival. It world premiered at Venice where Cailee Spaeny was awarded the Volpi Cup for best actress for her portrayal of Priscilla. In the film, when
“Funny Birds,” an heartwarming comedy-drama starring Andrea Riseborough, Catherine Deneuve and Morgan Saylor, has sold in key territories in the run up to the AFM. Executive produced by Martin Scorsese, the movie is directed by Marco La Via and Hanna Ladoul. Newen Connect represents the film in international markets and will host a market screening
John Cleese, founder member of seminal British comedy group Monty Python, has said that they were “early targets” of cancel culture. Cleese was speaking with The Sunday Times about his new GB News chat show “The Dinosaur Hour,” which has an episode on cancel culture. Monty Python’s 1979 film “Life of Brian” caused a furore
Nick at Nite will air “Matthew Perry: Thanks for Being a Friend” on Sunday, Oct. 29, at 10 p.m. ET. The tribute special will feature never-before-seen interviews with Perry, behind-the-scenes moments from the “Friends” set and highlights of Perry on the hit NBC sitcom. Entertainment Tonight produced the special overnight in less than 24 hours.
A rainy day in Manhattan didn’t stop hundreds of “Friends” fans from braving the downpour to honor Matthew Perry, who died on Saturday at age 54. People of all ages and backgrounds gathered on Sunday by the “Friends” building in New York’s West Village to pay their respects to Perry and pose for pictures outside