movies
EntertainmentVarietyRemembering Lucille Ball, Pioneering ‘I Love Lucy’ Star and TV Mogul, on Her Birthday
Lucille Desiree Ball Born: Aug. 6, 1911 in Celeron, N.Y. Died: April 26, 1989 in Los Angeles Best known for: CBS comedy series “I Love Lucy” (1951-1957), “The Lucy Show” (1962-68), “Here’s Lucy” (1968-74). As Variety‘s Tom Gilbert observed after her death, “Ball’s elastic facial expressions and precise comic timing catapulted her into an American […]
BusinessVarietyViacomCBS Q2 Profit Slides on Advertising Declines Amid Coronavirus
ViacomCBS said its second quarter net income tumbled amid declines in advertising revenue at its cable and broadcast outlets, the latest sign of the toll the coronavirus pandemic has taken on the operations of U.S. media companies. The New York owner of the CBS broadcast network, the Showtime pay-cable operation and the Nickeodeon kids-media empire […]
EntertainmentVarietyColin Firth & Stanley Tucci’s ‘Supernova,’ Matt Dillon’s ‘El Gran Fellove’ Set for San Sebastian
Matt Dillon’s “El Gran Fellove,” Julien Temple’s “Crock of Gold” and Harry Macqueen’s “Supernova” have been added to San Sebastian’s Official Selection, along with two other main competition players, from French-Lebanese director Danielle Arbid and Argentina’s Eduardo Crespo. The five new features will all bow at San Sebastian as world premieres, the festival announced Thursday. […]
EntertainmentVarietyNearly Half The World’s Cinemas Are Back in Operation, New Data Finds
While resurgent waves of COVID-19 have caused new lockdowns and stay-at-home restrictions in places including California, Hong Kong and Australia’s Victoria State, nearly half of the world’s cinemas are now back in operation, according to data from the U.K.’s Gower Street Analytics. That should come as some relief to exhibitors and distributors who, in addition […]
EntertainmentVarietyITV Boss Trumpets ‘Good News on Drama Front’ as Productions Resume Shooting
ITV is ramping up its production might post-lockdown, with CEO Carolyn McCall trumpeting the company's progress in resuming scripted drama production. "It is all good news on the drama front," said McCall, during a Thursday morning earnings call. Although ITV declared revenue declines across the board in its half-year results, the chief executive was upbeat […]
EntertainmentVariety‘Star Trek: Lower Decks’ Expands Gene Roddenberry’s Universe, With Mixed Results: TV Review
“Star Trek: Lower Decks,” the latest series in the franchise kicked off by Gene Roddenberry in 1966, doesn’t take place on the Enterprise, or the Voyager, or any of the similarly inspiringly-named ships in the fleet. This animated show depicts the comings and goings of the support staff on the U.S.S. Cerritos, a ship sharing […]
EntertainmentVarietyLocarno Open Doors Pick ‘Fruit Gathering’ Fronts Same-Sex Desire in Myanmar
The powerful bond between two female factory workers, and the complex desire it ignites, form the starting point of Myanmar director Aung Phyoe’s feature film debut “Fruit Gathering,” which is being presented as part of Locarno’s Open Doors co-production platform. Set in working-class Yangon, the film tells the story of a young woman, San, who […]
BusinessVarietyITV Half-Year Revenues Dip 17% as COVID-19 Impact Bites
U.K. commercial broadcaster ITV's 2020 half-year earnings have expectedly declined due to the effects of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Total broadcast revenue in the last six months has declined 17% to £824 million ($1.08 billion) from 2019's $1.3 billion. Similarly, there was a 17% decline in total ITV Studios revenues to £630 million ($830 million) […]
CelebrityVarietyDetail, Music Producer Known for Beyonce’s ‘Drunk In Love,’ Arrested on Multiple Sexual Assault Charges
Music producer Detail was arrested Wednesday by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department after 15 sexual assault charges and five separate felony assault charges were filed against him five days earlier. The producer is being held on bail of $6.3 million. Detail, whose real name is Noel Fisher, has worked with such artists as Jay-Z, Nicki […]
EntertainmentVarietyTokyo Film Festival Plans for Physical Edition, Alliance With Filmex
The Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) will host physical screenings at its 33rd edition, which is on schedule to be held Oct. 31-Nov. 9, the festival office announced Thursday. It will also collaborate with the Tokyo Filmex festival, normally held later in November. Plans for a festival with live audiences may change, a TIFF representative […]
PoliticsThe WrapSeth Meyers: ‘Even a Therapist Would Be Too Challenging for Trump’ (Video)
We’re living in an exceedingly political time, with what feels like a million insane new things happening every day. But despite the overzealous news cycle, we can’t help but continue to ponder Donald Trump’s comical and embarrassing interview with Jonathan Swan of Axios from late Monday night. And so Seth Meyers spent his new “A Closer Look” segment Wednesday ripping Trump a new one over it.Midway through the segment, Meyers wanted to take a, ahem, closer look at the part of the interview when Trump tried to whip out a series of graphs that he thought showed how incredibly well the United States was handling the pandemic. It didn’t go well — Trump didn’t have a graph to counter Swan’s point that the U.S. has had the highest proportion of its population die from COVID-19 of any country in the world.To which Trump infamously responded: “You can’t do that!”Also Read: Seth Meyers: 'I'm Almost Certain Trump Has No Idea What TikTok Is' (Video)“Okay, there is so much unpack here obviously, but my first thought is: generally speaking, when you’re the president reaching for a piece of paper, saying to an interviewer, ‘If you look at death…’ that’s not a great place to be. PowerPoint presentations at the office that start, ‘All right everyone, thanks for coming in, so if you look at death…’ rarely, almost never, end with promotions,” Meyers joked.“Second, what is this chart? This is the fakest-ass looking chart I’ve ever seen. It’s just four random bars with different colors. Is this the printer test sheet?”Meyers then joked that the graph “looks like a prop they give a fourth grader playing a businessman in a school play.”“But the craziest part about this is Trump couldn’t even remember his own bulls—. That’s how fried his brain is,” Meyers continued. “He wanted to say our case fatality rate is the lowest in the world, which would be wrong in misleading anyway, but he couldn’t even remember that.Also Read: Seth Meyers: Trump Will 'Shred Our Democracy' If We Don't Stop Him Now (Video)“He just knew someone stuck some papers in his hand with some lines on them that supposedly made the US look good. When he actually had to explain them he froze like a fifth grader who just got the word ‘milieu’ in a spelling bee.”Then Meyers moved into mocking Trump for what he did afterward — flee to his safe space at Fox News for an interview with Lou Dobbs that Meyers described as “beyond a softball interview.” In which Trump was asked about UFOs.Meyers also discussed a topic broached by Rush Limbaugh on his radio show: why would Trump do an interview like this with a publication that isn’t on the “friendly side of the aisle.” An idea Meyers thought was very funny.Also Read: Seth Meyers Can't Get Over the Trump Family's Obsession With Hydroxychloroquine (Video)“At this point, ‘friendly side of the aisle’ just means anyone who won’t ask a follow-up question. Even a therapist would be too challenging for Trump,” Meyers zinged.He was also amused by Limbaugh’s choice of words there.“Think about that word ‘friendly.’ You know it’s bad when even the president’s allies talk about him the way a parent would warn a child to stay away from strangers,” Meyers joked.“They talk about legitimate journalists like they’re pulling up outside the White House in a windowless van.”You can watch all of the new “A Closer Look” segment from Wednesday’s episode of “Late Night With Seth Meyers” in the video embedded up at the top of this article. Or on YouTube here.Read original story Seth Meyers: ‘Even a Therapist Would Be Too Challenging for Trump’ (Video) At TheWrap
CelebrityThe WrapHip Hop Producer Detail Arrested by LA Sheriffs on Sexual Assault Charges
Grammy winning music producer Detail, real name Noel Fisher, has been arrested by Los Angeles County Sheriffs as part of an investigation into “multiple” accusations of sexual assault, the department announced Wednesday night.In a statement, the department said it it is investigating accusations related to incidents it said occurred between 2010 and 2018, and that the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office has filed 15 charges of sexual assault and 5 additional felony assault charges against Fisher.An arrest warrant was issued against Fisher on July 31 and he was arrested on Wednesday. His bail is set at $6,290,000.Also Read: Migos Rapper Takeoff Accused of Rape at an LA Party in New Lawsuit“Based on the nature of the allegations, SVB detectives believe there may be additional potential victims and they are seeking the public’s help in identifying any such victims,” the department said.The identities of the accusers related to the charges have not been disclosed. However, in 2018 Fisher was accused of rape, and mental and physical abuse by two women who later secured restraining orders. Shortly after, singer Jessie Reyez accused Fisher of attempting to rape her in 2014, and singers Bebe Rexha and Tinashe accused him of similar conduct.Fisher is best known for producing Beyonce Knowles’ Grammy-winning song “Drunk in Love” as well as her track “7/11.” He has also produced tracks for Ray J, Akon, Wiz Khalifa, Lil Wayne and Jennifer Lopez among others.Also Read: 'Schooled' Star Bryan Callen Accused of Rape, Sexual AssaultRepresentatives for Fisher did not immediately respond to a request for comment from TheWrap.Pamela Chelin contributed to this report.Read original story Hip Hop Producer Detail Arrested by LA Sheriffs on Sexual Assault Charges At TheWrap
PoliticsVariety‘The Swamp’ Review: An HBO Documentary About Three ‘Drain the Swamp!’ Republicans Who Can’t See Their Own Swamp
If you want to meet a Republican politician who’s the ultimate poster boy for shameless apple-polishing — the kind of eager conservative loyalist who would crawl across broken glass to shine Donald Trump’s shoes — you should watch "The Swamp," the new HBO documentary, and get a load of Matt Gaetz, a congressman from Florida […]
EntertainmentVariety‘Big Brother’ Premiere Reveals ‘All-Stars’ Cast Members and Coronavirus Precautions
"Big Brother" unveiled its "All-Stars" cast during Wednesday night's two-hour live premiere. For the first time in its 20-year history, the show aired the live move-in of 16 returning houseguests from previous seasons. Host Julie Chen Moonves greeted the cast in groups of four and explained the safety precautions they took to resume production. The […]
EntertainmentVariety‘I Used to Go Here’ Review: A Writer Returns to College With Much to Learn in This Alexander Payne-Like Comedy
Likable enough, but a little too tame to make much of an impact, Kris Rey’s slight — and slightly autobiographical — “you can’t go home again” comedy “I Used to Go Here” was supposed to debut at this year’s SXSW Film Festival, only to have its premiere canceled at the last minute by the coronavirus […]
EntertainmentThe WrapChad Stahelski To Produce New Line’s ‘The Man From Nowhere’ Remake
“John Wick” co-director Chad Stahelski will produce New Line’s adaptation of the acclaimed South Korean blockbuster “The Man From Nowhere,” according to an individual with knowledge of the project.Stahelski will also reunite with “John Wick” screenwriter Derek Kolstad who will write the script for the remake. The duo collaborated together on all three “John Wick” movies where each installment has nearly doubled the box office of the previous installment. The franchise has grossed $579 million in worldwide box office.“The Man From Nowhere” opened 1 at the Korean box office in 2010 and held the number one spot for five weeks ultimately becoming the market’s highest grossing film in 2010. The original South Korean film centers on a quiet pawnshop keeper with a violent past takes on a drug-and-organ trafficking ring in hope of saving the child who is his only friend.Also Read: 'Splinter Cell' Animated Series in the Works at NetflixStahelski will produce with Jason Spitz through their 87Eleven banner. CJ E&M will also produce. Additionally, 87Eleven Entertainment is in development with the “Highlander” reboot. Stahelski is a self professed “Highlander” fan, who first watched the 1986 action-fantasy film starring Sean Connery when he was in high school.Stahelski is also in development on the next “John Wick” spin-off titled “Ballerina” with Len Wiseman set to direct, and “The Continental,” the TV series in development at STARZ.Stahelski is represented by WME and attorney Tara Kole.Deadline first reported the news.Read original story Chad Stahelski To Produce New Line’s ‘The Man From Nowhere’ Remake At TheWrap
EntertainmentVariety‘High Fidelity’ Canceled at Hulu After One Season
"High Fidelity" starring Zoe Kravitz has been canceled by Hulu after one season, Variety has confirmed. The series was a gender-bending, modern reimagining of the 2000 film starring John Cusack, with Kravitz playing his role. She starred as Rob, a pop culture-obsessed owner of a record store. Jake Lacy, Da'Vine Joy Randolph and David H. Holmes […]
NewsVarietyL.A. Mayor Says He Will Cut Power to Illegal House Parties
Following a deadly shooting at a mansion party, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti is going after people throwing illegal large house parties during the COVID-19 crisis, vowing to have the water and power turned off. “While we have already closed all bars and nightclubs, these large house parties have essentially become nightclubs in the hills,” […]
EntertainmentVariety‘Captain Marvel 2’ Lands Nia DaCosta as Director
Filmmaker Nia DaCosta, director of the highly anticipated horror reimagining of "Candyman," will direct "Captain Marvel 2" for Marvel Studios, Variety has confirmed. DaCosta replaces Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, who helmed 2019's "Captain Marvel" to a $426.8 million domestic gross, and $1.13 billion worldwide. Brie Larson will return as the titular hero, also known […]
BusinessVarietyNick Kroll Upgrades to 1920s Spanish-Style Compound
Professional funnyman-turned-Netflix showrunner Nick Kroll ("Big Mouth") has significantly upgraded his Los Feliz residential circumstances with the $6 million purchase of an exquisitely renovated 1920s Spanish Colonial estate on one of the neighborhood's most celebrity-filled streets. Tax records reveal Kroll faced a bidding war for the property; the place sold just three weeks after hitting […]
NewsThe WrapStokes Twins Charged With False Imprisonment, Swatting After Prank Bank Robberies
Alan and Alex Stokes, two brothers known on social media as the Stokes Twins, have each been charged on Wednesday with false imprisonment and swatting after performing two prank bank robberies last October in Orange County.The brothers each face one felony count of “false imprisonment effected by violence, menace, fraud, or deceit” and one misdemeanor count of “falsely reporting an emergency.” If convicted, the 23-year-old twin brothers — who have over 4.8 million subscribers on YouTube and over 25 million on TikTok — face up to four years in prison.The fake bank robberies, video of which was posted to YouTube on Oct. 20 last year and garnered over 1.4 million views before being made private on Aug. 5, involved the twins dressing up in all black with ski masks and carrying duffel bags of cash to appear as if they had just robbed a bank. After running through crowds, the twins ordered an Uber, but the driver — who was unaware of the prank — refused to drive the twins. A bystander then called the police after believing the driver was being carjacked, leading Irvine police to arrive at the scene and order the Uber driver out of the car at gunpoint, according to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.Also Read: FBI Raid YouTube Star Jake Paul's California MansionThe Stokes Twins were issued a warning by the police, according to the District Attorney’s office, before performing a similar fake bank robbery prank at the University of Irvine four hours later. Police then received more emergency calls regarding a supposed bank robbery.“These were not pranks,” Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said in a statement. “These are crimes that could have resulted in someone getting seriously injured or even killed. Law enforcement officers are sworn to protect the public and when someone calls 911 to report an active bank robbery they are going to respond to protect lives. Instead, what they found was some kind of twisted attempt to gain more popularity on the internet by unnecessarily putting members of the public and police officers in danger.”Representatives for the Stokes Twins did not immediately respond to TheWrap’s request for comment.Read original story Stokes Twins Charged With False Imprisonment, Swatting After Prank Bank Robberies At TheWrap
CelebrityThe WrapFacebook, Twitter Order Removal of Trump’s Post Claiming Kids Are ‘Virtually Immune’ From COVID-19
Facebook and Twitter ordered the removal of a video shared by President Trump on Wednesday for violating the companies’ policies around COVID-19 misinformation.“This video includes false claims that a group of people is immune from COVID-19 which is a violation of our policies around harmful COVID misinformation,” a company spokesperson told TheWrap. Facebook also said this is the first time the company has taken down a post from the president due to COVID-19 misinformation.A Twitter spokesperson told TheWrap that the video, uploaded by the Trump campaign’s @teamtrump account and then shared by Trump from his personal account, also violated Twitter’s COVID-19 misinformation policies and that the account owner would need to remove the post before it could tweet again. (The video has since been taken down by the @teamtrump account.)Also Read: Facebook Takes Down Trump's Post Sharing Doctored Video of Two ToddlersThe video in question, which was shared on Trump’s Facebook and Twitter accounts, was a clip from a Wednesday morning phone interview Trump did with Fox News, where he called for schools to reopen, said children were “virtually immune” from COVID-19 and also repeated his claim that the virus would just “go away.”“It doesn’t have an impact on them,” Trump said of people under the age of 18 in the clip, which was also shared on his Twitter account. “They are virtually immune from this problem and we have to open our schools.”While COVID-19 does appear to affect young children differently than adults, children can still be infected by the virus and spread the disease.Read original story Facebook, Twitter Order Removal of Trump’s Post Claiming Kids Are ‘Virtually Immune’ From COVID-19 At TheWrap
EntertainmentThe Wrap‘Captain Marvel’ Sequel Lands ‘Candyman’ Director Nia DaCosta
“Candyman” director Nia DaCosta is set to direct the “Captain Marvel” sequel for Marvel Studios, according to an individual with knowledge of the project.Megan McDonnell (“Wandavision”) wrote the script for the sequel.Last year’s “Captain Marvel,” starring Brie Larson as the title character, grossed $1.1 billion worldwide.Also Read: 'Captain Marvel 2': 'Wandavision' Writer Megan McDonnell to Write Sequel ScriptFew story details have been made public so far, but Marvel said at 2019’s Comic-Con that the show would lead directly into the events of “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” It was also announced at the time that the show would feature Photon, a grown-up version of the “Captain Marvel” character Monica Rambeau.“Captain Marvel” starred Larson as Carol Danvers, an Air Force pilot who was recovered by the Kree after mysterious circumstances and was transformed into the titular superhero at the cost of her memories. After crash-landing back on Earth during the 1990s, Carol must recover her past self and save the planet from getting caught in an intergalactic conflict with the help of future SHIELD director Nick Fury.Marvel studios head Kevin Feige teased the sequel at last year’s San Diego Comic Con, “We didn’t even mention that we’re making Black Panther 2and we didn’t mention that Guardians of the Galaxy 3 is coming. We didn’t even have time to talk about Captain Marvel 2, by the way. I didn’t even have time to talk about the Fantastic Four. And there’s no time left to talk about mutants.”DaCosta broke out after directing the critically acclaimed “Little Woods” which led to Jordan Peele selecting DaCosta to direct “Candyman.” The film has been delayedDaCosta is repped by CAA.Marvel had no comment.Read original story ‘Captain Marvel’ Sequel Lands ‘Candyman’ Director Nia DaCosta At TheWrap
EntertainmentVarietyHow New York Plans to Restart TV and Film Production (Listen)
As New York prepares for TV and film production to gradually resume next month, the city’s entertainment chief is keeping her focus on efforts to help the Broadway and live events sector, which still face an uncertain road to recovery. In the latest episode of Variety podcast "Strictly Business," Anne del Castillo, commissioner of the […]
PoliticsVarietyFacebook, Twitter Pull Down Trump Videos Claiming Kids Are ‘Immune’ From COVID-19
UPDATED: Facebook removed a video posted by Donald Trump's campaign because it violated the social network's policy banning false claims about the coronavirus. The content in question was a video clip of a Trump interview on Fox News Channel on Wednesday, uploaded by the Trump campaign, in which he claimed children are "virtually immune" to […]
