movies
BusinessVarietyShock AT&T-Discovery Deal Raises Questions For Global Streaming Expansion
If AT&T and Discovery’s shock announcement underlines any learnings in recent years, it’s that legacy media is fighting back. And for this particular deal, a key battleground could be overseas. The new combination of WarnerMedia and Discovery, a closely guarded manoeuvre relegated to C-suite executives, has come as a surprise to the vast majority of […]
EntertainmentVarietyParamount Plus Reveals ‘The Good Fight’ Season 5 Release Date (TV News Roundup)
Paramount Plus announced that the fifth season of “The Good Fight” will premiere on June 24. Following the premiere, new episodes of the 10-episode season will be available to stream weekly on Thursdays. In the fifth season, Diane (Christine Baranski) is forced to question whether it’s appropriate for her to help run an African American […]
EntertainmentVarietyBFI Promotes Harriet Finney to Deputy CEO, Expands Team
The British Film Institute (BFI) has promoted Harriet Finney as deputy CEO and executive director of the newly formed corporate and industry affairs team. Finney joined the BFI in 2017 as director of external affairs and heads the organization’s Screen Sector Task Force, which guides industry engagement with government on issues like Brexit and policy […]
NewsVarietyTime’s Up Appoints Chelsea Fuller as Communications Chief
Time’s Up has named Chelsea Fuller its new VP of communications. Fuller replaces the organization’s first communications chief, Amanda Harrington, who joined in May 2019 and departed March. “I’m thrilled to have Chelsea join the fight for safe, fair, and dignified work,” said Tina Tchen, president and CEO of Time’s Up. “As an expert storyteller […]
EntertainmentVarietyPaul McCartney Docuseries to Be Released on Hulu in July
Hulu has announced that a six-part music docuseries titled “McCartney 3,2,1” will premiere on July 16. While there have been many documentaries on the Beatles and McCartney over the years, what makes this one different is the fact that he will be speaking with Rick Rubin, one of the most successful producers of the last […]
NewsVarietyAsia Streaming Habits Swing to On-Demand and Larger Screens (Report)
Consumers in Asia spent 15% more time using streaming services in the first quarter of 2021 than they did in the same period of last year. That growth lagged the global increase of 36% recorded by analytics firm Conviva. But Asian showed two other key consumption patterns: for the first time, the majority of streaming […]
EntertainmentVarietyBravoCon 2021: Bravo’s Fan Convention Returning This Fall in NYC
Bravo is bringing back its fan-obsessed convention, BravoCon, this fall in New York City. The second-annual convention returns, after being cancelled last year, due to the coronavirus crisis shutting down nearly all live events. This year, with vaccinations being widely distributed, Bravo will hold the event in person with COVID-19 protocols in place, following all […]
EntertainmentVariety‘The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon’ Renewed for 5 Years
“The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” has been renewed for five years — a longer term commitment from NBC to the host than the network had previously disclosed. Susan Rovner, NBCUniversal Television and Streaming chairman, confirmed the renewal during NBCUniversal’s upfront presentation Monday. Rovner noted it matter-of-factly her opening conversation with “Today” anchor Hoda Kotb. […]
EntertainmentVarietyScores for ‘Soul,’ ‘Lovecraft Country,’ ‘Last of Us II,’ ‘A Life on Our Planet’ Win ASCAP Composers’ Choice Awards
The ASCAP Screen Music Awards kicked off a four-day virtual celebration Monday morning with the naming of winners in the peer-voted ASCAP Composers’ Choice Awards, with the score for Pixar’s “Soul” managing to notch yet another triumph as its sweep continues virtually unabated. The number of categories for the performing rights organization’s still fairly new […]
EntertainmentVarietyNBCU Is Still the Good Place
NBC is as old as television itself — proof that it’s possible to be enduring and cutting-edge at the same time. Throughout its history, the legendary broadcast network has led the way with more than 5,000 Emmy nominations (and over 1,000 wins)— including 47 noms and eight wins last year alone, beating out all the […]
BusinessVarietyAT&T Chief John Stankey, WarnerMedia Head Jason Kilar Address Discovery Merger in Staff Memo
In the wake of a mega-deal with Discovery that seems primed to shake up the media landscape, AT&T chief John Stankey and WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar urged employees to stay focused on their jobs while they wait for the pact to close. “During this period, our direction and mission remain the same,” Stankey wrote in […]
NewsVarietyGreen Day, Fall Out Boy and Weezer’s ‘Hella Mega Tour’ Unveils New Summer Dates
The “Hella Mega Tour” featuring Green Day, Fall Out Boy and Weezer has unveiled new dates, beginning in July and stretching into September. The Live Nation-produced tour, originally scheduled for last summer but postponed due to the pandemic, will hit 21 cities in North America, including such stadiums as Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, Wrigley […]
EntertainmentVarietyThe Mediapro Studio, Movistar Plus, Power Up Young Adult Fiction with ‘Paraíso’
Allying two of the biggest powerhouses in high-end Spanish-language drama series, Movistar Plus and The Mediapro Studio have joined forces to produce “Paraíso,” a banner 2021 Spanish series and determined push into Young Adult entertainment. Previewed at MIPTV’s The Wit’s Young Adult Fiction, where it was also chosen among Variety’s 10 buzziest market titles, the genre blender […]
EntertainmentVarietyErik Barmack Drives Into Romantic Comedy, Optioning Petra Hülsmann’s ‘Hamburg Series’ (EXCLUSIVE)
In his first major move in the German market, Erik Barmack’s Wild Sheep Content, the fast-growing L.A. company of the former Netflix VP, has made a big swing in romantic comedy, optioning six-novel “The Hamburg Series” from Germany’s Petra Hülsmann, which he imagines adapting to the small screen as a six film franchise. The Hülsmann […]
EntertainmentVarietyGordon Ramsay to Host New Cooking Competition Series ‘Next Level Chef’ for Fox
Gordon Ramsay will headline yet another cooking series at Fox. “Next Level Chef,” announced Monday by the network, will follow Ramsay and co-mentors and elite chefs Nyesha Arrington and Gino D’Acampo as they recruit a group of talented cooks, take them under their wings and see who becomes the next superstar of the food world. […]
EntertainmentVarietyMorris Chestnut to Star in Fox Drama Series ‘Our Kind of People’
Morris Chestnut has been cast in a lead role of the Fox drama series “Our Kind of People,” Variety has learned. Chestnut currently appears in the Fox medical drama “The Resident.” According to an individual with knowledge of the situation, Chestnut would continue on “The Resident” in a recurring role in addition to starring in “Our […]
EntertainmentVarietyErykah Badu, Phoebe Bridgers, St. Vincent to Headline Pitchfork Festival in September
Erykah Badu, Phoebe Bridgers and St. Vincent are scheduled to headline the Pitchfork Music Festival, which returns to Chicago after a pandemic-induced skip year in 2020. The festival will return to the city’s Union Park on the weekend of Sept. 10-12; the announcement comes on the heels of the Lollapalooza festival’s expected return to Chicago […]
BusinessVarietyDiscovery Stock Falls, AT&T Shares Up on Blockbuster WarnerMedia Deal News
UPDATED: Shares of Discovery and AT&T both charged out of the gate higher after the companies announced their proposed merger of WarnerMedia and Discovery, but that quickly changed. Discovery shares opened up 10% Monday — before the stock tumbled into negative territory, down 3.6% as of noon ET. Shares of AT&T, which will received $43 […]
BusinessVarietyAre International TV Markets Headed for a ‘Virtual, In-Person Hybrid Scheme?’
Buyers and distributors around the globe are braced for plenty more living room Zoom sessions, as the question of when international TV markets will return to in-person affairs remains very much up in the air. However, when executives are able to press the flesh, so to speak, once more, organizers might have to re-think their […]
BusinessVarietyGen Z−Focused CBD Brand Penguin Acquired by Verma Farms
On May 13, 2021, two of the fastest-trending CBD businesses in the market joined forces to create a unified brand of responsibly sourced hemp-derived products. Hawaii’s hemp star Verma Farms acquired Gen Z−focused Penguin, bringing their team and portfolio of products under the Verma Farms umbrella. Deep Patel, CEO and founder of Penguin, launched the […]
EntertainmentVarietyFreeform’s Tara Duncan to Lead New Hulu Brand Focused on Creators of Color; Oprah, Ryan Coogler Among First Partners
As part of an effort to promote inclusive storytelling, Disney General Entertainment is launching the Onyx Collective, a curated collection of projects from creators of color and underrepresented voices that will be presented as a content brand on Hulu. Freeform president Tara Duncan, who joined the network a year ago, is spearheading Onyx while continuing […]
EntertainmentVarietyOlivia Rodrigo on ‘SNL’: A Superstar Is Born?
For artists at the “Are they for real?” stage of their career, “Saturday Night Live” is one of the great proving grounds — over the decades we’ve seen Nirvana, Pink and Kendrick Lamar crush it and Ashlee Simpson and Lana Del Rey faceplant in spectacular fashion, to name five top-of-head examples. Without setting too high […]
EntertainmentYahoo Movies UKMarvel shares thrilling new 'Black Widow' clip featuring Scarlett Johansson
The upcoming film, which arrives in July, sees Johansson reprising the role of Black Widow for the first time since Avengers: Endgame.
EntertainmentVarietySharon Liggins Joins Endeavor Content as Senior Vice President of Communications
Veteran PR executive Sharon Liggins has joined Endeavor Content as senior vice president of communications. Liggins most recently served as vice president of publicity for Ava Duvernay’s narrative change collective ARRAY. In her new role with Endeavor Content, Liggins will oversee the strategic direction of communications activities across the studio’s many divisions, including film and […]
EntertainmentThe WrapEndeavor Content Names Sharon Liggins, Formerly of Ava DuVernay’s ARRAY, as SVP Communications
Endeavor Content on Monday named Sharon Liggins as its senior vice president of communications, a newly created role with the studio. She joins from Ava DuVernay’s collective ARRAY, where she served as VP of publicity. In her new role, Liggins will oversee communications across film and television production, sales and distribution. She joins a senior leadership team led by co-presidents Graham Taylor and Chris Rice. She’ll be based out of Los Angeles and begin effective immediately. “Sharon has an impeccable track record of sustained excellence across many platforms and genres of content. Her record as a creative campaign strategist and strategic advisor uniquely suit her to the next chapter in our continued growth, and we are excited by the exceptional knowledge and passion that she brings to the team at Endeavor Content,” Taylor and Rice said in a statement. While at ARRAY, Liggins oversaw communications for the organization’s independent film distribution platform and public programming and social impact initiatives, as well as personal publicity and appearances for DuVernay. Liggins also managed all publicity for series and films under the ARRAY Filmworks banner, collaborating with studio and network partners such as Warner Bros. TV, Netflix, NBC, HBO Max, OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network and The CW. Liggins was previously an independent consultant, working on projects including the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), the Aretha Franklin documentary “Amazing Grace,” Stanley Nelson’s HBCU documentary “Tell Them We are Rising” and with television producer Lemuel Plummer’s Zeus Network. She also consulted at POP TV, WGN America, the Urban Movie Channel and The Broad museum. Liggins also served as head of communications for Universal Cable Productions and oversaw publicity for series such as “Suits,” “Psych,” “Covert Affairs” and “Warehouse 13.” Additionally, she managed studio participation for talent and executives for Comic-Con, the Upfronts and TCA Press Tour. She previously served as executive director of communications at ABC Studios, where she led corporate communications and oversaw the PR team for “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Desperate Housewives,” “Lost,” “Ugly Betty,” “Scrubs,” “Criminal Minds,” “Ghost Whisperer” and more. Earlier in her career, she worked at Hallmark Channel, CAA, PBS and the independent PR firm DVG Communications. Liggins is also a former two-term PR peer group governor for the Television Academy and co-chaired the Diversity Committee. Read original story Endeavor Content Names Sharon Liggins, Formerly of Ava DuVernay’s ARRAY, as SVP Communications At TheWrap
