Film Industry Coverage Coming Soon to SpeakerCone
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Marie-Clémentine Dusabejambo On Directing Rwanda’s Oscar Submission ‘Ben’Imana’: “We Need To Understand What Happened” – Contenders London
It’s been a good year for Marie-Clémentine Dusabejambo; after directing the first Rwandan feature to be accepted into the official selection by the Cannes film festival, where she was awarded the Camera d’Or, her film Ben’Imana was recently nominated as the country’s first ever Oscar submission. Set in 2012, 18 years after the genocide against […]
‘Project Hail Mary’ DoP Greig Fraser Says The Film Was The “Most Complicated” He’s Ever Shot — Contenders London
Oscar-winning DoP Greig Fraser knows a thing or two about working on challenging movies, from Dune to The Batman, Rogue One to Zero Dark Thirty. At Deadline’s Contenders London event today, the in-demand cinematographer revealed that none were as challenging as Phil Lord and Christopher Miller’s space hit Project Hail Mary: “This was the most […]
‘Under Siege,’ Netflix’s Second Most Ambitious Colombian Series – a ‘Huge Undertaking Even by Our Standards’ – Bows Nov. 6
“Under Siege” (“Palacio”) the fictional series inspired by the storming of Colombia’s Palace of Justice by an M-19 guerrilla commando and its subsequent retaking by the Colombian army, bows Nov. 6 on Netflix. The events, which unfolded in the capital of Bogotá on Nov. 6 and 7, 1985, is recounted in the eight-part series directed […]
Naomi Ackie Discusses “Hollywood Machine,” Her ‘Star Wars’ Experience and Buying a Crank Radio
During a London Film Fest talk, she also shared how she'd love to star in a musical or play a wordless role, that she is "obsessed with 'Obsession,'" and how playing Whitney Houston changed everything.
Léa Seydoux & Marie Kreutzer On The “Earthquake” At The Heart Of ‘Gentle Monster’ — Contenders London
Gentle Monster writer-director Marie Kreutzer and star Léa Seydoux took to the stage at Deadline’s Contenders London event to discuss the journey behind their Cannes drama. Seydoux plays Lucy, an experimental pianist who moves with her beloved but panic attack-liable husband Philip (Laurence Rupp) and young son to a rural farmhouse in Bavaria. Life seems […]
Guy Nattiv & Carrie Coon On Finding Empathy In ‘The Liberation’: “Who Are We To Say What Is Required For Someone To Move On?” — Contenders London
Writer-director Guy Nattiv and actress Carrie Coon joined Deadline’s Contenders London event today where the pair discussed making The Liberation, a very personal story inspired by real events from Nattiv’s own grandmother. The film, which Bleecker Street is releasing in in the U.S. in January, is set in the early 1980s where Rita, a depressed […]
Siân Heder & The ‘Being Heumann’ Crew On Creating An Inclusive Film & Production Environment — Contenders London
“I think we created history,” Being Heumann producer Kevin Walsh concluded this morning during a Q&A session at Deadline’s Contenders London. The veteran producer wasn’t speaking specifically about the feature film, but the accessible environment he and director Siân Heder created on the film’s set. “We are as proud of that as we are of […]
‘Wildwood Director’ Travis Knight On LAIKA’s Stop-Motion Fantasy Epic: “It Took Us 16 Years To Make This Movie” – Contenders London
Travis Knight took to the stage at Deadline’s Contenders London event to explain just how much work had gone into making LAIKA’s new release Wildwood. Accompanied by cinematographer Caleb Deschanel, composer Dario Marianelli and costume designer Deb Cook, Knight revealed that the legendarily difficult stop-motion process did not exactly make life easy when making a […]
Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi & Jimmy Chin Talk ‘Everest: The Other Side’: “This Is The Most Difficult Film We’ve Made” – Contenders London
Oscar-winning directors Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin dug into the challenges of making Everest: The Other Side at Deadline’s Contenders London event on Saturday. The heart-stopping documentary follows the quest of mountaineer-skiers Jim Morrison, who joined them on stage, and Hilaree Nelson to scale the North Face of Mount Everest and the ski down […]
‘Decision to Leave’ Cinematographer Kim Ji-yong on Chasing Natural Light for Lee Chang-dong’s ‘Possible Love’: ‘This Is the One Where We Worried, Debated and Planned the Most’
When Kim Ji-yong read the script for “Possible Love,” its emotional climax, set in a still forest by the beach, had no wind in it. Korean summer storms on location changed that. The cinematographer behind “Decision to Leave” and “Squid Game” Season 2 asked director Lee Chang-dong to change the scene’s setup, a choice that […]
Hollywood Executives See Growing Market for Asian Stories, but ‘Every Movie Is Still a Fight’
Hollywood’s appetite for Asian stories has broadened, but for Lionsgate’s Helen Lee-Kim, “every movie is still a fight.” Lee-Kim, the studio’s president of international, made the remark at the Busan International Film Festival’s Asian Contents & Film Market during the panel “UTA × Gold House: Hollywood & The Asian Diaspora,” moderated by Variety‘s Asia Editor […]
Danny Boyle On The Challenges Of Rupert Murdoch & ‘The Sun’ Film ‘Ink’: “We Had A Siege Mentality While Making It” — Contenders London
At Deadline’s Contenders London event this morning, Ink director Danny Boyle has spoken about the challenges he and his film team faced making the origin story of Rupert Murdoch-owned British tabloid The Sun. The filmmaker was joined on stage by writer James Graham and actor Jack O’Connell. “We had a siege mentality while making it”, […]
Mike Leigh, Marion Bailey & Kate O’Flynn On The Close Collaboration Behind ‘Tender Loving Care’ — Contenders London
“It’s quite practical,” actor Kate O’Flynn concluded this morning when quizzed on working on Tender Loving Care with veteran filmmaker Mike Leigh, best known for his unique pre-production process, which includes no script and a collaborative approach to story development. O’Flynn was speaking on stage at Deadline’s London Contenders event alongside Leigh and her co-star, […]
Brad Bird Talks Long-Gestating Passion Project ‘Ray Gunn’ & Portraying “Characters Who Are Desperate” In Utopia — Contenders London
“It seems like the only way to look at the future these days is as dystopia,” said director Brad Bird at Deadline’s Contenders London this weekend. “And that’s fine. I love a lot of movies that take that thing, but there are other ways to look at the future too, and you can.” Bird was […]
Busan Market Chief Ellen Y.D. Kim Plots Year-Round ACFM 365 Platform, Warns Public Funding Has Stalled
The Asian Contents & Film Market (ACFM) should grow beyond its four days in Busan into a platform that runs all year, director Ellen Y.D. Kim tells Variety. She adds that public money for the market has not grown alongside it. Kim calls the idea ACFM 365. It would be a permanent database and matchmaking […]
‘Bedford Park’ Star Moon Choi Charts Her Own Path Between Korea and Hollywood
The rising Korean actress brings her acclaimed American indie romance with Son Sukku to Busan, where she’s also serving on the festival’s main competition jury led by Chinese filmmaking legend Zhang Yimou.
Deadline’s Contenders Film: London Kicks Off With A Dozen Buzzy Awards-Season Movies
Try telling Londoners that cinema is dead and they will direct you to the BFI Imax cinema on the Southbank, where Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is still playing to sold-out houses nearly three months after its release. But if you’ve been there, done that, 2026 still has some surprises left up its sleeve, and plenty […]
Vietnamese Supernatural Horror ‘Bloodline: The Curse Within’ Heads to Busan Market With Mockingbird Pictures (EXCLUSIVE)
Vietnamese supernatural horror film “Bloodline: The Curse Within” will be introduced to international buyers by Mockingbird Pictures at the Asian Contents & Film Market (ACFM), the market of the Busan International Film Festival. The company holds worldwide distribution rights to the film, which will open in theaters across Vietnam on Dec. 25. Directed by Đinh […]
Vietnamese Horror ‘Arithmadtic’ Leads Bee Entertainment’s Busan Market Slate, With New Film From ‘The Corpse’ Director
Psychological horror “Arithmadtic,” set in an elite international school, leads a genre-heavy slate that Vietnam’s Bee Entertainment is presenting to buyers at Busan’s Asian Contents & Film Market (ACFM). Vietnamese films grossed more than VND3 trillion ($114 million) at home in 2025, outperforming international titles in the local market for the first time. Bee is […]
Cambodian Remake of Korean Mother-Daughter Drama ‘Wedding Dress’ Leads Abnormal Studios’ Busan Market Slate (EXCLUSIVE)
A Phnom Penh-set reworking of Kwon Hyung-jin’s 2010 South Korean drama “Wedding Dress” is the lead title for Malaysia’s Abnormal Studios at this year’s Asian Contents & Film Market in Busan, where the company is selling the film ahead of its local release. The new version centers on Dalin, a single mother who designs bridal […]
‘Exorcism of God’ Director Alejandro Hidalgo to Helm Malaysian Hungry Ghost Festival Horror ‘The Hungry One’ (EXCLUSIVE)
Alejandro Hidalgo, director of “The Exorcism of God,” is set to make “The Hungry One,” a supernatural horror film unfolding over Malaysia’s Hungry Ghost Festival. Kuala Lumpur-based Abnormal Studios is handling worldwide sales and is introducing the project at the Busan International Film Festival’s Asian Contents & Film Market. Singapore-based Clover Films has already picked […]
BlumFest Haunts New York Comic Con 2026: All the Highlights From Blumhouse Atomic Monster
Craig Zobel was unveiled as the director for the adaptation of James Tynion IV and Werther Dell’Edera’s 'Something is Killing the Children,' while Curry Barker, Mike Flanagan, James Wan, Chiwetel Ejiofor, David Harbour, LaKeith Stanfield and Kristen Bell made appearances.
Craig Zobel & Blumhouse Teaming On ‘Something Is Killing The Children’
Craig Zobel, a director known for his work on such prestige series as Mare of Easttown and The Penguin, is set to direct a feature adaptation of Something Is Killing the Children, the popular comic book series from James Tynion IV and Werther Dell’Edera, with Jason Blum and his Blumhouse among the producers. Stephen Christy […]
Danny Trejo Insists He’s “Pro-Immigrant” & “Proud Mexican” Amid Backlash To Daily Wire’s ICE Film: “Make No Mistake”
Danny Trejo has broken his silence amid backlash around his role in Daily Wire’s latest controversial production, Pawn Shop. On Friday, the LA-born Mexican-American actor insisted he’s “pro-immigrant,” despite his casting in the pro-ICE film from Ben Shapiro’s production company and Dallas Sonnier’s Bonfire Legend, which has been protested by locals in Livingston, Montana, where […]
‘14th’ Review: Ava DuVernay’s Impassioned Defense Of Constitution Takes Aim At Trump & Attempted Rescission Of Rights
14th, the documentary directed by Ava DuVernay that premiered Friday night as the closing-night film of the New York Film Festival, begins with several American presidents taking the oath of office: FDR, Eisenhower, JFK, LBJ, Nixon, Carter, Reagan… each of them swearing to “preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.” We know […]
‘14th’ Review: Ava DuVernay’s Powerful Sequel to ‘13th’ Turns a Constitutional Amendment into Living History
The movie, I’m pleased to report, exerts the same kind of historical/topical force that "13th" did. DuVernay, while she works in an extremely accessible and mainstream way, has a singular gift for making the nuances of history come alive. "14th" is steeped in history, but it’s not a dry lecture. Instead, DuVernay cuts through the dusty complacency with which we tend to regard the Constitution (just hearing that word can make you feel like you’re back in school) and shows you that the Constitution is a living, breathing document, one that we fail to heed at our peril. Which is more or less what’s happening today.
‘14th’ Review: Ava DuVernay Delivers Another Essential and Compelling Constitutional Deep Dive for Netflix
Premiering at the New York Film Festival, the filmmaker's follow-up to her '13th' tackles birthright citizenship, the Equal Protection Clause and the undoing of the gains of Reconstruction.
Danny Trejo Speaks Out About His Role in Daily Wire ‘Pawn Shop’ Movie: ‘I Am Not Pro-ICE. I Am Pro-Immigrant.’
Danny Trejo has issued his first statement since facing backlash for starring in the pro-ICE Daily Wire movie “Pawn Shop” from Ben Shapiro’s production company. “I am a proud Mexican who has always been and will always be a supporter of my community. I am also obviously pro-immigrant. I am not pro-ICE,” the “Spy Kids” […]
Magic: The Gathering Reveals New ‘Darkhold Destiny’ Marvel Set, ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ Theater-Only Card Giveaway
Magic: The Gathering has unveiled its next Marvel-themed set and announced a special collaboration with the upcoming theatrical release of “Avengers: Doomsday.” Titled “Darkhold Destiny,” the set is focused on “the mystical, the mythical and the mighty” magical characters from the Marvel universe, including Doctor Strange, Thor, Hela and Dormammu. The collection, which marks the […]
Matthew “MatPat” Patrick Adapting ‘Amanda the Adventurer’ Video Game For Blumhouse
Blumhouse is diving into another horror video game, announcing an Amanda the Adventurer adaptation. On Friday, Jason Blum announced BlumFest moderator Matthew “MatPat” Patrick is developing a feature adaptation of the 2023 indie puzzle game from DreadXP, whose parent company Epic Pictures’ CEO Patrick Ewald will serve as producer. In games, Riley Park unravels a […]
Bill Burr on ‘The Social Reckoning,’ Sparring With Jeremy Strong as Mark Zuckerberg and Why Tech CEOs are ‘Leading Us to Ruin’
Over three decades in stand-up comedy, Bill Burr has gained a reputation for saying, with gruff conviction and political fire, the thing on everyone’s mind. In Aaron Sorkin’s new film “The Social Reckoning,” Burr gets to aim that unfiltered attitude at Mark Zuckerberg. Burr plays Charlie Garrigan in the follow-up to “The Social Network,” which […]
Jason Blum on How ‘Other Mommy’ Got That Controversial Title, Kristen Bell Joins ‘Violent Night 2’ and More From Blumhouse at NYCC
Jason Blum and James Wan aren’t paying much attention to the bad reviews (but massive box office success!) for “Other Mommy.” Instead, the horror maestros spent Friday night looking ahead at what’s next, unveiling Blumhouse Atomic Monster’s upcoming slate of films during the 90-minute presentation at New York Comic Con. In the next year, the […]
‘Triangle of Sadness’ Producer Backs Park Syeyoung’s Memory-Bending Love Motel Drama ‘Satellite of Love’ at Busan Asian Project Market
A woman who has spent a decade shut inside a room at a rural love motel, waiting for the man who left her, discovers that the motel has been staging her love life all along in “Satellite of Love,” the fourth feature from South Korean filmmaker Park Syeyoung (“The Fin”). The project is part of […]
Iliza Shlesinger and Mira Sorvino to Receive Top Honors at San Diego International Film Festival
The pair, set to receive Virtuoso and Trailblazer awards, will be feted at the Night of the Stars tribute at La Jolla's Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center on Oct. 13.
LaKeith Stanfield Previews ‘Molepeople’ Movie From Paramount Primal, Blumhouse Atomic Monster at New York Comic-Con
Oscar nominee LaKeith Stanfield previewed his next movie, “Molepeople,” during a special appearance at New York Comic-Con on Friday evening. Stanfield and Emmy winner Ben Mendelsohn star in the horror movie, about a man who descends into the abandoned tunnels beneath New York City, where he discovers a “twisted society lurking beneath the streets.” The […]
‘The Exorcist: Martyrs’ Trailer: Scarlett Johansson Hunts A Demonic Killer In Mike Flanagan’s Take On Horror Classic
As The Exorcist makes its way back to theaters, a first look at Mike Flanagan’s new chilling take on the horror classic has been unveiled. On Friday, Blumhouse released the first trailer for The Exorcist: Martyrs, which premieres March 12, 2027, revealing Scarlett Johansson’s Detective Julie Miller and the demonic homicide case at the center. […]
LaKeith Stanfield, Ben Mendelsohn to Star in ‘Molepeople’ for Atomic Monster, Paramount Primal (Exclusive)
Paramount has set an August 2027 release for the horror thriller, which hails from director Rob Savage.
‘Other Mommy’: Five Biggest Changes From the Book, Including a Crazy Death Scene and a Much Darker Ending
SPOILER ALERT: This story contains major spoilers from “Other Mommy,” now playing in theaters. “Other Mommy” is battling less-than-enthusiastic reviews in order to lead the weekend box office, thanks to a viral trailer that scared audiences nationwide. The film, about a sinister demon who befriends a little girl named Bela (Arabella Olivia Clark) and takes […]
AI Grief-Bot Dramedy ‘Talk to Me When You Are Dead,’ Produced by Anthony Chen, Probes the Limits of Digital Afterlives at Busan Asian Project Market
A widowed programmer who builds a digital copy of his late wife ends up turning grief into a business in “Talk to Me When You Are Dead,” the debut feature from Singapore’s Alvin Lee, produced by Anthony Chen and Gina Tan. The project is part of the Asian Project Market, which runs within the Busan […]
Israeli Americans Protest ‘NAZA’ Los Angeles Screening as Doc Releases Theatrically in U.S.
The September premiere of 'NAZA' at the New York Film Festival was also met with protestors organized by the Israeli-American Council (IAC).
‘The Exorcist: Martyrs’ Trailer Unveiled at NYCC: Scarlett Johansson Stars in Horror Sequel From Mike Flanagan
“The Exorcist” franchise is about to get bigger. Chiwetel Ejiofor and director, writer and producer Mike Flanagan unveiled the trailer for “The Exorcist: Martyrs” at New York City Comic Con, with Scarlett Johansson starring as a homicide detective who soon realizes she isn’t dealing with a normal serial killer. Releasing in theaters March 12, the […]
Blumhouse Atomic Monster Inks Short Film Development Deal with Horror Creator Heidi Wong
Blumhouse Atomic Monster revealed at New York Comic Con that it inked a deal with horror content creator Heidi Wong. Under the deal, Wong will create original horror shorts for the studio. “I guess I won’t give too much away about the plot, but I will say it’s inspired by Eastern mythology and folklore and […]
‘The Exorcist: Martyrs’ Trailer Radically Reboots Franchise With Scarlett Johansson
First look at writer-director Mike Flanagan's take on the iconic horror property as Universal attempts to reboot its reboot.
Afghan Asylum Seeker and Ukrainian Boy Find Common Ground in Busan Asian Project Market Drama ‘Babak’
An Afghan asylum seeker named Babak is pushed out of his temporary housing in Germany to make room for Ukrainian refugees in “Babak,” the next project from Payal Sethi, director of the upcoming “Kurinji.” The project is part of the Asian Project Market, which runs within the Busan International Film Festival’s Asian Contents & Film […]
‘Amanda the Adventurer’ Video Game Movie Adaptation in the Works From Blumhouse, MatPat and Epic Pictures
A movie adaptation of DreadXP’s indie video game series “Amanda the Adventurer” is in the works at Blumhouse. Based on the indie puzzle-horror video game franchise of the same name from developer MANGLEDmaw Games, “Amanda the Adventurer” follows Riley Park, who starts exploring her reclusive Aunt Kate’s house after she passes away and leaves the […]
George Clooney Explains Why The Albies Shine a Light on Justice: “It Feels Like It’s in Short Supply”
Amal and George Clooney's Clooney Foundation for Justice celebrated its fifth annual Albie Awards in London with Hollywood glamor. And the star shared an update on 'Ocean's 14' with THR.
Karlovy Vary Title ‘The Ink-Stained Hand and a Missing Thumb’ Lands at Diversion for World Sales (EXCLUSIVE)
World sales rights to Yashasvi Juyal’s debut feature “The Ink-Stained Hand and a Missing Thumb,” which premiered in Karlovy Vary’s Proxima Competition, have gone to Bangkok-based Diversion. The film’s next stop is the Singapore International Film Festival, where it will have its Asian premiere in the Asian Feature Film Competition. Uttarakhand-based Silvercord Films produced the […]
‘Other Mommy’ On Track To Top Weekend With $27.5M Debut, ‘The Social Reckoning’ Lacks Likes At $6M — Box Office Update
FRIDAY PM: Mom is bringing home the bacon. Other Mommy is on track for a $27.5 million opening weekend on 3,365 screens to top the domestic box office. This despite some scathing reviews for the Universal Pictures release by Rob Savage from producer James Wan and Blumhouse Atomic Monster. Jessica Chastain stars in dual roles […]
Pakistani Drama ‘Dancers’ Brings a Generation Torn Between Leaving and Staying Home to Busan Asian Project Market
The pull between leaving Pakistan and staying rooted there drives “Dancers,” writer-director Eshah Shakeel’s coming-of-age drama about two young people in a Punjab town near Lahore who bond through clandestine dance lessons. The project is part of the Asian Project Market, which runs within the Busan International Film Festival’s Asian Contents & Film Market. Paras […]
Kate Siegel On Questions Around Her Mysterious ‘Carrie’ Role & Exploring “Feminine Rage” In Her Work; Plus Her Horror Directorial Debut: “A Story Close To My Heart”
SPOILERS: This post contains details about the Season 1 finale of Prime Video’s Carrie As Mike Flanagan’s Carrie puts a modern update on the Stephen King classic, Kate Siegel’s mysterious role represents a major twist. Playing Adelaide, the guardian of a group of young women who possess the psychic TK gene, the actress acknowledged there […]
Mike Flanagan Says He Would Want To Make A ‘Jaws’ & ‘Jurassic’ Movie: “Could Be A Blast”
Mike Flanagan has his eyes on sharing his take on the Jaws and Jurassic Park universes after his television adaptation of Carrie. In an Ask Me Anything (AMA) on Reddit, Flanagan told fans it “could be a blast” to make a Jaws or Jurassic movie, as he also works on an Exorcist film. “I spent a lot of my […]
Ava DuVernay on Her Latest Doc ’14th’: ‘We’re in the Midst of Something Very Sinister, Something Very Dangerous’
With the midterm elections coming up, Ava DuVernay’s latest documentary, “14th,” arrives at a pivotal time for the United States. Unlike the other buzzy films this season, it doesn’t tackle the dangers of AI or examine tech billionaires. Instead, it explores the 14th Amendment and its vital role in the fabric of American democracy. “14th” […]
Warner Bros Discovery’s Billion-Dollar Club: Here’s What Top Execs Took Home From Skydance Deal
Former Warner Bros Discovery CEO David Zaslav collected a massive windfall of more than $600 million for orchestrating the company’s $110 billion sale to Paramount – but he wasn’t alone. Zaslav’s top deputies also made out extremely well from the combination under new corporate parent Skydance, which closed this week, according to SEC filings. Streaming […]
Indies Flex As ‘Musk’ Doc, Chris Rock’s ‘Misty Green’ & Cannes Winner ‘Fjord’ Ignite Theatrical Runs — Specialty Preview
Festival favorites Musk, Misty Green and Fjord debut in limited release in a crowded indie market with awards season rolling along. Bleecker Street’s documentary by Oscar-winner Alex Gibney opens in four theaters in New York (Angelika and Lincoln Square, and LA (AMC Century City and Burbank). The buzzy portrait of Tesla, X and SpaceX chief […]
Olivia Wilde Eyes Oscars History With ‘The Invite’ as the First Woman to Direct Herself to an Acting Nomination
The actor-turned-director is hardly a new Hollywood phenomenon, but women who wear both hats have rarely received the same invites to the Oscars. Men have earned 20 Oscar acting nominations for films they directed, with eight also landing directing and acting nods for the same film. No woman has achieved either feat, but Olivia Wilde […]
‘The Social Reckoning’ Stars Mikey Madison and Jeremy Allen White Discuss the Pressure of Following ‘The Social Network’
The duo each had their own anxieties about joining the follow-up to 'The Social Network,' which Quentin Tarantino has called the greatest film of the 2010s.12:
John Malkovich, Sam Rockwell Buddy Up for London Film Festival Premiere of ‘Wild Horse Nine’
Martin McDonagh, who was seen sharing a kiss with partner Phoebe Waller-Bridge shortly before the lights went down, told The Hollywood Reporter that he thinks Brits will enjoy the movie's dark humor.
‘I Play Rocky’ Star Anthony Ippolito on Sylvester Stallone’s Reaction, Drinking Raw Eggs and Why Hollywood Needs ‘More Raw, Human Stories’
The first time you hear Anthony Ippolito’s voice in the trailer for “I Play Rocky,” you can’t help but gasp. The unmistakable Sylvester Stallone drawl is there, but something harder to convey than an impression is, too: the hunger of a young man Hollywood didn’t believe in yet. Ippolito knows that feeling better than most. […]
Sony’s Screen Gems Sets YouTube Exec Fede Goldenberg To Top Genre Label; Ashley Brucks Segues To Producer Role
Sony Pictures Entertainment said Friday that it has tapped Fede Goldenberg, a veteran YouTube content partnership exec, as head of Screen Gems. He replaces Ashley Brucks, who had been President of Screen Gems since 2023. Sony said today that she will segue to a producing role on some upcoming Screen Gems projects, which were not […]
Francis Coppola’s ‘Megalopolis’ Back In Theaters
EXCLUSIVE: For the first time since its 2024 launch, Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis will return to theaters in a limited engagement that will allow audiences to interact with the iconic director. Coppola decided when he self-financed and shot the provocative film that it would not be put through any domestic-based streaming services or DVDs produced […]
Sadie Sink in Talks to Star in ‘The Guest’, Based on Emma Cline’s Bestseller
Writer director Lorene Scafaria is in talks to direct for A24, with Sink and Square Peg producing.
How Skydance Will Remake the Illustrious Culture of Warner Bros. Pictures More Than Any Owner Before
There have been many quiet Mondays at the Burbank offices of Warner Bros. Pictures, usually following a bomb like the one the studio just suffered with Tom Cruise’s “Digger.” The cryptic eco-disaster project will represent a loss of hundreds of millions when all is said and done. But the silence this past Monday was compounded […]
Black Bear Acquires Nahnatchka Khan Rom-Com ‘Honeymoon / Funeral’ Starring Rebecca Ferguson, Greta Lee & Carrie Coon; Pic Hails From MRC
Black Bear has acquired domestic rights to Honeymoon / Funeral, an MRC rom-com starring Rebecca Ferguson, Greta Lee and Carrie Coon that wrapped production in September. Sources said the project is one of a handful to have been successfully shopped at the newly created TIFF market, alongside Josh Giuliano’s horror flick River and the Michelle […]
Black Bear Acquires Rom-Com ‘Honeymoon / Funeral’ Starring Rebecca Ferguson, Greta Lee and Carrie Coon
Black Bear has acquired domestic rights to MRC’s “Honeymoon / Funeral,” a new romantic comedy starring Rebecca Ferguson, Greta Lee and Carrie Coon. The movie was shopped out of the newly created film market at the Toronto International Film Festival. According to an official logline, “Honeymoon / Funeral” follows “two women (Ferguson and Lee) who […]
Rebecca Ferguson, Greta Lee’s MRC Rom-Com ‘Honeymoon / Funeral’ Goes to Black Bear
The gay romancer from director Nahnatchka Khan also stars Carrie Coon and was first shopped at Toronto: The Market by FilmNation.
Beyond ‘Hollywood North’: How Vancouver’s Indie Film Scene Is Building Its Own Ecosystem
Something is emerging in Vancouver’s independent film scene. For years, the city has primarily played the role of somewhere else — a cheaper Seattle, New York or generic American city. Its landscapes, tax incentives and favorable exchange rate drawing in Hollywood productions. But increasingly, independent filmmakers are choosing to cast Vancouver as… well… Vancouver. One […]
Screen Gems Shocker: Sony Brings in YouTube Exec Fede Goldenberg to Run Genre Label in Pivot to Digital Creators (Exclusive)
Current head Ashley Brucks exiting to a producing deal with the studio.
Guillermo del Toro, Diego Luna, Alfonso Cuarón to Attend Morelia Fest as Director Daniela Michel Sees Shift to Intimate Mexican Stories
At least two of the Tres Amigos are attending the 24th Morelia International Film Festival (FICM) this year, with Guillermo del Toro breezing into town to toast the 20th anniversary of his iconic “Pan’s Labyrinth” while Cuarón attends opening night film “Campeón Gabacho” by his son Jonas Cuarón, which he produced. The fest will be […]
Laika Submits Original Song From ‘Wildwood’ for Oscars, ‘The Better Part of Bravery,’ Performed by The Decemberists (EXCLUSIVE)
Laika will submit “The Better Part of Bravery” from the animated feature “Wildwood” for consideration in the original song category at the Academy Awards, Variety has learned. The song is performed by The Decemberists and plays at the end of the film. “Wildwood” follows teenager Prue McKeel (Peyton Elizabeth Lee) on a desperate mission to […]
Danny Boyle Says Third ’28 Years Later’ Is ‘On the Back Burner,’ Explains Why He Put an AI Margaret Thatcher in ‘Ink’
The third “28 Years Later” film is unlikely to be arriving anytime soon, Danny Boyle has warned. Despite being tee’d up in the closing scenes of “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple,” the director said the film was currently not a priority. “Alex [Garland] has written a fantastic script. We just need money. But I […]
Jessica Chastain on ‘Other Mommy’ Going Viral and Challenging Friend Aaron Sorkin at the Box Office
The star debuted her buzzy horror film in L.A. on Thursday, ahead of its opening weekend face-off with 'The Social Reckoning.'
DC Comics Now Sits Within Skydance Products & Publishing Division Under Josh Silverman, Alongside Warner Bros. and Paramount Consumer Products Groups
The new Skydance, formed from the merger of Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery, has consolidated its publishing and consumer-products teams into one group — Skydance Products & Publishing — led by Josh Silverman. Silverman, who joined Paramount Skydance in 2025 as president of global products and experiences, now serves as president of global products and […]
Bill Pohlad’s Next Film ‘Miles & Juliette’ Starring Damson Idris And Anamaria Vartolomei Rounds Out Cast As Production Begins; First Image Unveiled
EXCLUSIVE: Miles & Juliette, the new feature from Oscar-nominated filmmaker Bill Pohlad and his River Road Entertainment, has started production in Paris. The film stars Damson Idris as Miles Davis and Anamaria Vartolomei as Juliette Gréco. Joining Idris and Vartolomei are J. Alphonse Nicholson as Kenny “Klook” Clarke, Jay Reeves as Tadd Dameron, Grammy-winning musician […]
Jeissy Trompiz’s ‘Three Houses’ Explores a Venezuela Where Afro and Indigenous Communities Sit on the ‘Periphery of the Periphery’
“I don’t know what to tell you.” For a time, that was Jeissy Trompiz’s answer when his Brazilian filmmaker friend would ask him about Venezuela. Trompiz left Maracaibo, the oil city where he grew up, in 2014 to study filmmaking at the International School of Film and TV in Cuba, just before Venezuela’s economic and […]
Sadie Sink in Talks to Star in ‘The Guest,’ Based on Emma Cline’s Bestseller
Newly-minted MCU star and “Stranger Things” alum Sadie Sink is in talks to star in and produce “The Guest,” a feature adaptation of Emma Cline’s bestselling 2024 novel. A24 and Square Peg are in negotiations to adapt Cline’s novel — which follows as “a calculating grifter navigates the treacherous world of Summer in the Hamptons” […]
Raindance Film Festival Exec Director David Martinez Steps Down (EXCLUSIVE)
Raindance Film Festival executive director David Martinez has stepped down from his post after more than a decade with the organization. Martinez joined Raindance in 2012 as the festival producer and programmer for Latam territories before his appointment as executive director five years ago. “I stepped into leadership at Raindance because I believe passionately in […]
‘Other Mommy’ Grabs $3.6M in Previews as ‘Social Reckoning’ Status Looks Shaky
Jessica Chastain leads Universal's chiller, which opens opposite Aaron Sorkin's follow-up to 'The Social Network.'
Danny Boyle Shares Why He Used AI for Maggie Thatcher in ‘Ink’ – Without Asking Her Estate and His Love for ‘Obsession’ and ‘Backrooms’
During a London Film Festival chat, the filmmaker also recalled his “uneventful” meeting with Rupert Murdoch after his ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ made the mogul’s studio “a lot of money.”
Sadie Sink And Lorene Scafaria Eyeing Adaptation Of Emma Cline’s ‘The Guest’ At A24 And Square Peg
EXCLUSIVE: Emma Cline’s bestselling novel The Guest, looks to be headed to the big screen as Deadline is hearing A24 and Square Peg are in negotiations for rights to the book, with Sadie Sink in talks to star in and Lorene Scafaria in talks to write and direct a feature film. Sink will also produce […]
Philadelphia Film Festival To Honor Tim Blake Nelson For Artistic Achievement In Directing
Tim Blake Nelson will accompany his TIFF-premiering prison drama The Life And Deaths Of Wilson Shedd to the Philadelphia Film Festival later this month to be honored with the Artistic Achievement in Directing Award. PFF’s 35th edition is set for Oct. 15-25 presented by nonprofit Philadelphia Film Society. The Life And Deaths Of Wilson Shedd […]
Darth Vader’s ‘Empire Strikes Back’ Lightsaber Heads to Auction, Expected to Top $1 Million
Will Vader's lightsaber beat the auction record set by Luke Skywalker's lightsaber? While 'Revenge of the Sith' lightsabers are bargain priced.
VIFF Winner Marie Clements Unpacks Musical Doc ‘Reclaim My Skin,’ Made During a ‘Renaissance Time for Indigenous Filmmakers’
Métis/Dene filmmaker Marie Clements brings her new three-part musical documentary series “Reclaim My Skin” to the Vancouver International Film Festival on Oct. 10, exploring how colonization has stripped Indigenous women and Two-Spirit people of their power and how they are reclaiming their voices through activism, politics and the arts. The screening will come three days […]
Box Office: ‘Other Mommy’ Makes $3.6 Million in Previews
After “Obsession” and “Backrooms” made 2026 a huge year for horror, Jessica Chastain’s “Other Mommy” is looking to continue the trend at the box office this weekend. The Universal movie, produced by Blumhouse-Atomic Monster, has made $3.6 million in previews from 2,850 domestic screens. It’s expected to open with $22 million to $28 million this […]
Variety’s 10 Screenwriters to Watch for 2026 Include Scribes Behind ‘Being Heumann,’ ‘Clarissa’ and ‘A Different World’
The best movies and TV shows rest on one solid foundation: the script, and Variety has selected 10 of the up-and-coming scribes to celebrate in our Screenwriter to Watch class of 2026. The writers will be honored at a panel taking place at the Santa Fe Intl. Film Festival.
‘Trust Me, I’m a Doctor’ Review: Kal Penn Plays Anna Nicole Smith’s Physician in a Moldy and Misguided Bio-Dramedy
Abbie Cornish co-stars as the famous model and reality TV star in this film about the man charged with various crimes after her death from a drug overdose.
James Bond Comic Book Series in the Works from Grant Morrison, IDW (Exclusive)
It will feature new gadgets and a new ultimate villain ripped straight from the headlines.
Focus Features & Blumhouse-Atomic Monster Snap Up Micro-Budget Horror Film ‘Play House’ From Nicolas Curcio
EXCLUSIVE: Focus Features and Blumhouse-Atomic Monster have snapped up Play House, a micro-budget horror film from Nicolas Curcio, in a competitive situation, sources tell Deadline. We’re told this was a seven-figure deal for worldwide rights, excluding Latin America and India. This is a major coup for Curcio’s debut feature, a film made for not much […]
International Insider: ‘Doctor Who’ Regeneration Underway; MIPCOM Preview; Busan Takeaways
Don’t blink, Insiders. Jesse Whittock is here with you in the week Skydance took over Warner Bros. Discovery and Doctor Who began planning for the future. Here we go. Ready? ‘Doctor Who’ Regeneration Underway Sonic screwdrivers at the ready: Stories about the Good Doctor with a question mark for a real name always do well […]
Geeta Gandbhir, Sam Pollard, Alisa Payne Board ICE-Themed Oscar Contender ‘Water Cooler’ As EPs
EXCLUSIVE: Academy Award nominees Geeta Gandbhir, Sam Pollard, and Alisa Payne are joining the Oscar-contending short documentary Water Cooler as executive producers. Emma V.F. directed the film, which she shot in the corridors of immigration court at Federal Plaza in New York City. Filming openly, V.F. captured scenes of jarring contrast: ICE agents engaged in […]
Edward Said’s Daughter Talks Israel-Palestine, Ed Sheeran and Why Bari Weiss Makes Her ‘Blood Boil’
“We’d always wanted something like this,” asserts Najla Said. Najla is the daughter and eldest child of the late scholar, intellectual and activist Edward Said, whose 1978 book “Orientalism” — examining the Western world’s skewed perception of the East — is considered a canonical work in the area of post-colonial studies. Born in Palestine and […]
Faith & Family Outfit Ark Clb Launches With Former eOne Exec
EXCLUSIVE: Greg Maurice, who has worked at 1091 Pictures, eOne and Fox Sports, has teamed up with pastor Stephon Chaney to launch Ark Clb, a media company aimed at acquiring, financing, producing and distributing films and TV in the faith and family space. The company will be based in Atlanta and Los Angeles. Maurice has […]
Hollywood Defends ‘Digger’: Anne Hathaway and More Praise Tom Cruise’s Flop as Guillermo del Toro Says ‘Love the Arts. F— the Charts’
Hollywood is coming to the defense of Tom Cruise as “Digger” becomes one of the biggest studio bombs in movie history. In the week since “Digger” opened in theaters to a disastrous $8 million domestically, industry names such as Anne Hathaway, Jane Fonda, Guillermo del Toro, Mandy Patinkin, Glen Powell and more have used social […]
Nintendo of America Chief Breaks Down Her First Year: ‘Zelda’ Live-Action Movie, ‘GTA 6,’ Third-Party Game Goals and More
After just under a year in her new role as president of Nintendo of America, Devon Pritchard is ready to share elements of her master plan for the beloved Japanese gaming company. At the center of her strategy is the relative youth of Nintendo’s Switch 2, which undeniably puts the company ahead of gaming console […]
Australian Classic ‘Caddie,’ Considered a Landmark Film of Australia’s New Wave, Acquired by Potential Films Ahead of Lumière Film Festival Premiere
Potential Films, one of Australia’s leading independent distributors, has acquired worldwide rights to the newly restored 1976 drama “Caddie,” by Donald Crombie. Considered a landmark film of Australia’s New Wave, the film is screening at the Lumière Film Festival in Lyon and will be presented at the event’s International Classic Film Market (MIFC) as part […]
The Lumière Festival’s Classic Film Market Gains International Reach, Honors Greece and Spotlights Taiwan as Heritage Films Grow in Market Value
LYON, France — Classic film markets are ever more international and so is the International Classic Film Market (MIFC), part of Lyon’s Lumière Festival and one of the world’s very rare business meets and marts for the heritage film business. Equally, classic films are commanding ever larger audiences, especially among younger cinema goers. Both trends […]
Glauber Rocha’s Long-Forgotten 1970 Anti-Fascist Work ‘Cabezas Cortadas,’ Undergoing 6K Restoration, Set to Be Presented at Lyon’s Classic Film Market
Glauber Rocha’s 1970 work “Cabezas Cortadas” (“Cutting Heads”) will be among the anticpated restorations in progress presented at this year’s International Classic Film Market (MIFC), taking place during the Lumière Film Festival in Lyon. The MIFC’s Re>Birth Programme showcases five ongoing or upcoming restoration projects as well as five recently restored films, selected for the […]
The 65 Movies That Have Made More Than $1 Billion At The Global Box Office
Sony and Marvel’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day crossed the $1 billion mark at the global box office in five days earlier this month, becoming the second fastest film in history to hit the milestone, behind 2019’s Avengers: Endgame. Christopher Nolan’s epic, The Odyssey, also sailed into the billion-dollar threshold, making this a great year for […]
‘The French Connection’: THR’s 1971 Review
On Oct. 9, 1971, the William Friedkin thriller starring Gene Hackman hit theaters enroute to winning the best picture Oscar.
John Leguizamo Boards Colombian Cycling Documentary ‘Cyclovia’ As EP
EXCLUSIVE: While riding awards-season surf in the wake of his performance as swineherd Eumaeus in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, John Leguizamo has signed on as executive producer for Cyclovia, a new feature doc from BAFTA-winning director Finlay Pretsell shot across five regions of Colombia with the producing team behind The Look of Silence, A House […]
Gerhard Zeiler Officially Exits Skydance To Follow Political Ambitions, Telling Staff In Emotional Missive: “Sometimes We Simply Asked Too Much”
Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) international chief Gerhard Zeiler has made his exit official. Following the $110B Skydance deal closing Tuesday, it quickly emerged that Zeiler would likely be leaving in order to realize political ambitions in his native Austria. Today, in an emotional missive obtained by Deadline, Zeiler said his goodbyes to the international team, […]
U.K. Box Office Back to Full Health — But What Lessons Do We Learn?
Will the IMAX hype hold? Why does A24 deserve credit? Cinema programmers at three major theatrical players put their heads together and agree on the audience appetite for filmmakers with original stories.
Symbioz Films Boards Cutthroat Istanbul Real Estate World-Set Drama ‘Sevda’ & Unveils Trailer
EXCLUSIVE: Symbioz Films has boarded sales on Swiss Turkish director Ufuk Emiroglu’s debut fiction feature Sevda, set against the backdrop of Istanbul’s cutthroat real estate world, and released a trailer. The film, which world premiered at the Zurich Film Festival in September, takes its title from protagonist Sevda, a real estate developer who has played […]
Gromit Speaks: Martin Freeman to Voice Beloved but Mute Dog in Audiobook Edition of Autobiography
He’s been one half of one of the most cherished on-screen duos in history, yet has famously never spoken a word. That is, up until now. Gromit, the whip-smart and eye-rolling four-legged friend to cheese-loving inventor Wallace across numerous stop-motion classics from Aardman Animation and “Wallace & Gromit” creator Nick Park, is getting his first autobiography […]
‘Digger’ Delights ‘Homeland’ Star Mandy Patinkin: “One Of The Greatest Films I Have Ever Seen”
Mandy Patinkin really digs Digger. In an effusive video message, posted soon after watching Digger in a theater, the Homeland star implored his followers to ignore the haters and watch Tom Cruise’s ecological disaster movie. Patinkin described Alejandro G. Iñárritu-directed Digger as an “instant classic” and said it was “one of the greatest pieces of […]
Margherita Ferrari on Working With Paolo Sorrentino on Directorial Debut ‘Föa — Once Upon a Future’: ‘He Helped Me Pursue and Protect My Vision’
Debuting Italian director Margherita Ferrari is at the Busan International Film Festival with “Föa – Once Upon a Future,” an innovative coming-of-age drama that also marks Paolo Sorrentino’s debut as a producer. Set in Genoa during the tragic days in July 2001 when the G8 summit led to deathly clashes between protesters and police, “Once […]
Sofia Coppola Plans Return to Narrative Film, But Has Her Late Mother’s ‘Making Marie Antoinette’ to See Off First
The filmmaker spoke tenderly about seeing herself "through her mother's eyes" in the documentary, though recalled about lead star Kirsten Dunst: "At the time, people didn't like her performance."
Sitges-Bound Cypriot Horror ‘Motherwitch’ Sells To North America
EXCLUSIVE: L.A.-based Dark Star Pictures has acquired North American rights for Cyprus-set horror Motherwitch ahead of its screening in the Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia next week. The acquisition was brokered by Arnaud Chevalier under the banner of his Paris-based sales boutique B-Rated International Sales. In further deals the film has sold to […]
2026 Deaths Photo Gallery: Hollywood & Media Obituaries
Click through a photo gallery of Hollywood and media figures we’ve lost during 2026. RELATED: Saying Goodbye: A Video Tribute To The Hollywood And Media Figures We Lost In 2025
UTA and Gold House Set Partnership to Build Asia-Hollywood Bridge (EXCLUSIVE)
UTA and Gold House are joining forces at the Busan International Film Festival and in Seoul this month, marking the Asian Pacific advocacy organization’s first official foray into Korea as the two look to connect Asian creatives and investors with Hollywood. The partnership kicks off with the UTA x Gold House x Variety Industry Night […]
Disney’s Jon Wax Says Buzzy K-Drama ‘The Remarried Empress’ Has Substance to Match Its Spectacle
Speaking at an MPA and Disney+ event during the Busan International Film Festival, the executive surveyed Disney’s Asian originals slate and discussed the trends shaping the region’s streaming business, from Korean co-productions to opportunities in anime.
‘Queer Edward II’ Gives an Inside Look at Derek Jarman’s Film and Timely Historical Snapshot of a Queer Rights Backlash
Theo Rollason discusses his feature directorial debut, exec produced by Tilda Swinton and Sandy Powell, now screening at the London Film Fest, and how “anti-trans rhetoric and attacks on queer rights [are] again intensifying.”
John Rhys-Davies, Diego Boneta Fantasy ‘Starbright’ Boarded by Cappu Films Ahead of Busan Market (EXCLUSIVE)
International sales on “Starbright,” Francesco Lucente’s English-language fantasy adventure starring John Rhys-Davies, Diego Boneta and Alexandra Dowling, have gone to Cappu Films, which sealed the deal on the eve of the Busan International Film Festival’s Asian Contents & Film Market. Dowling plays Aisling, a young woman who makes a wish on a shooting star and […]
How ‘Dying to Survive’ Director Wen Muye Turned a Cook’s War Into $342 Million China Smash ‘Once Upon a Time in the Middle East’: ‘I Never Think About Social Issues in Advance’
Xu Fu went to the Middle East for the money. The Shenyang cook, played by Shen Teng in “Once Upon a Time in the Middle East,” takes the head-chef job at the Dragon Restaurant because the pay could help clear his family’s debts. When war breaks out, he is shaken from his sleep and runs […]
Annecy Sci-Fi Animation ‘Pilgrims,’ From ‘Japan Sinks: 2020’ Director Heo Pyoungkang, Lands at EST N8 (EXCLUSIVE)
“Pilgrims,” a Korean sci-fi animated feature that played Annecy and took a prize at Bucheon, has been picked up for worldwide sales by EST N8. It is the first animated title for the film financing, sales and distribution company. EST N8 will launch international sales on the film at the Busan International Film Festival’s Asian […]
South Asian Filmmakers to Vie for $150,000 at Tasveer Film Market as Netflix, Aamir Khan Pictures Attend
South Asian filmmakers from around the world will compete for $150,000 in grants at the third Tasveer Film Market, held in tandem with the 21st edition of the Tasveer Film Festival in Seattle from Oct. 13-18. The market has picked 12 fiction and documentary features, all in late-stage development, for its Tasveer Market Selects strand. […]
Oasis Documentary ‘Don’t Look Back in Anger’ Hits Streaming: Where to Watch Online
Initially released in theaters and Imax following its Venice premiere, the critically-acclaimed film provides unprecedented access to the English rock band's 2025 reunion tour.
Cole Sprouse Starrer ‘Vintage Violence’ to Close Singapore Film Festival as Closing Night Returns
The Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF) will wrap its 37th edition on Nov. 1 with “Vintage Violence,” Eugene Kotlyarenko’s livestream-era crime caper starring Cole Sprouse and Mizuhara Kiko. The screening brings back a stand-alone festival closing, which SGIFF last staged in 2014. The film bowed in the Midnight Madness section at the Toronto Film Festival […]
Fan Bingbing Says Young Chinese Audiences ‘Aren’t Being Fed Very Well’ as AI Microdramas Boom
Fan Bingbing watches AI-generated microdramas now and then. She’s just not convinced they’re doing China’s young audiences any good. The Chinese star made the remarks at a Busan International Film Festival press conference, where she presented Wayne Wang’s “Diary of a Mad Old Man,” screening in the A Window on Asian Cinema strand, and Ivan […]
Hugh Hefner’s Widow Asks Jessica Biel “Please Reconsider” Starring In ‘Playmates’
Nearly a decade after his death, Hugh Hefner’s widow is expressing her disapproval of a coming-of-age story inspired by her late husband. Crystal Hefner, who was married to the Playboy founder from 2012 until his death at age 91 in 2017, shared a screenshot of an Instagram DM she sent to Jessica Biel asking her […]
Alfonso Cuarón Reflects on Making ‘Harry Potter’: “Two of the Most Beautiful Years of My Life”
At a Busan Film Festival master class with ‘Train to Busan’ director Yeon Sang-ho, the Oscar-winning filmmaker reflected on the lessons of ‘Children of Men’ and learning to put life before cinema.
‘Social Reckoning’ Faces Box Office Challenge With ‘Other Mommy’ Set to Scare Away Competition
"They're not very cinematic," an analyst tells The Hollywood Reporter of hurdles for tech-focused films like Aaron Sorkin's follow-up to 2010's Oscar-winning 'The Social Network.'
Anne Hathaway Gives Tom Cruise’s ‘Digger’ a Perfect Score: “Brilliant Movie”
This comes after her film 'Verity' topped Cruise's pic at the opening box office weekend.
‘Freddy vs. Jason’s Monica Keena Recalls Killing Freddy Krueger Was “Really Cathartic” After ‘Nightmare on Elm Street’ “Traumatized Me”
After 23 years, Monica Keena is reliving her “final girl” moment in the ultimate horror crossover. The Freddy vs. Jason actress recalled why it was “really cathartic” killing off Robert Englund’s Freddy Krueger in the 2003 Ronny Yu-helmed slasher after his performance in A Nightmare On Elm Street (1984) did a number on her as […]
Crystal Harris, Hugh Hefner’s Widow, Urges Jessica Biel to Reconsider Playing His Wife in ‘Playmates’: “I Experienced Sexual, Emotional and Physical Abuse”
Biel is set to portray a fictionalized take on the Playboy founder's wife in Lorraine Nicholson's directorial debut.
Michael Ovitz Ordered to Complete Deposition in Julia Ormond Case After Storming Out Over Jeffrey Epstein Questions
A judge on Thursday ordered CAA co-founder Michael Ovitz to complete his deposition in the Julia Ormond sexual assault lawsuit, months after storming out when he was asked about Jeffrey Epstein. Ormond is suing CAA for arranging a meeting for her with Harvey Weinstein in December 1995, after which Weinstein allegedly sexually assaulted her. Ovitz […]
‘Other Mommy’ Review: Jessica Chastain Commits Admirably to an Otherwise Flimsy Supernatural Chiller
Rob Savage’s horror film, also starring Jay Duplass, revolves around a child being stalked by a nefarious entity that looks just like her mother.
Hugh Hefner’s Widow Crystal Harris Asks Jessica Biel to ‘Please Reconsider’ Playing His Wife: ‘I Experienced Sexual, Emotional… Physical Abuse’
Crystal Harris, who was married to Playboy founder Hugh Hefner until his death in 2017, is asking Jessica Biel to reconsider playing a fictional version of Hefner’s wife in the upcoming film “Playmates.” After Biel’s casting was announced, Harris posted her message to Biel on Instagram, saying “Please reconsider playing Hugh Hefner’s wife if this […]
Newport Beach Film Fest: ‘Social Reckoning’ Filmmaker Aaron Sorkin Set for Maverick Award, Live Episode of ‘Awards Chatter’ Podcast
The revered writer-turned-writer/director will be feted on Oct. 17.
‘Angel and the Badman’ Review: Zachary Levi Leads Angel Studios’ Fitfully Engaging Remake of a John Wayne Vehicle
Inevitably the Angel media company and streaming platform, rebranded from Angel Studios in 2025, has remade the 1947 John Wayne project “Angel and the Badman,” and not just for the angelic title. It’s actually the third iteration; a 2009 Hallmark Channel adaptation, shot in wintry British Columbia instead of the dusty, sandy American West, starred […]
‘Animals’ Review: Ben Affleck Returns to the Director’s Chair for a Nasty, Compulsive Kidnapping Thriller
It’s for the best that “Animals,” actor Ben Affleck’s sixth outing behind the camera, is being released directly to Netflix — not that this slick, pacy serving of all-star pulp couldn’t or wouldn’t hold one’s attention in the multiplex. But ever since Affleck’s rousing, enjoyable political drama “Argo” won a Best Picture Oscar that it […]
‘Animals’ Review: Ben Affleck And Kerry Washington Fight A Lot In Netflix Kidnap Thriller That Is Stretched Too Thin
Remaking Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 classic Japanese kidnap drama High and Low was a good idea, and last year Spike Lee did exactly that with his own homage to the master in Highest 2 Lowest, a contemporary update set in the music business in New York City and starring Denzel Washington. In both films the wealthy […]
Vietnam’s Mockingbird Launches Horror Duo & Comedy Drama ‘The Happiest Cell’ At Busan’s ACFM
EXCLUSIVE: Mockingbird Pictures is launching three new titles at Busan’s Asian Contents & Film Market, heading a slate of horror, supernatural mystery, comedy and family drama as the range of genre films emerging from Vietnam and Southeast Asia continues to expand. Horror, the bedrock of Southeast Asian genre cinema, features prominently on the slate through […]
‘Animals’ Review: Ben Affleck Directs and Stars Opposite Kerry Washington in a Thriller Full of Juicy Elements That Should Be a Lot Tastier
A kidnapping plot unfolds against the backdrop of a wealthy independent candidate’s Los Angeles mayoral campaign in this Netflix original also featuring Steven Yeun and Gillian Anderson.
Hong Kong’s Point Five Creations Readies ‘Blacky The Metal Arm Cat’, Plots Webtoon Extension Of ‘Another World’
EXCLUSIVE: The creative team behind Hong Kong breakout animated feature Another World are developing a second theatrical feature together, Blacky the Metal Arm Cat, which they’re presenting to potential partners at Busan’s Asian Contents & Film Market. Produced by two Hong Kong animation outfits – Another World producer Point Five Creations and rising animation house […]
Ben Affleck Campaigned For Mayor In L.A. As ‘Animals’ Character: “Do Not Vote For Me!”
As Angelenos fill out their ballots, Ben Affleck is making it clear that he should not be anyone’s write-in vote, despite playing a politician onscreen. The 2x Oscar winner, who co-wrote, directed and stars in Netflix’s Animals, revealed that he campaigned for mayor in Los Angeles as his character Mark Kimball in order to prep […]
‘The Social Reckoning’ Filmmaker Aaron Sorkin Isn’t Ruling Out a Zuckerberg Trilogy
While the writer-director behind 'The Social Network' companion film has no current plans to complete his spiritual trilogy, he's open to it if inspiration strikes naturally.
‘Other Mommy’ Review: Jessica Chastain’s Doppelgänger Horror Misfires in Every Direction
If you enjoyed watching the trailer for “Other Mommy” during every multiplex outing this summer, you’ll get an extended dose of its freneticism during the actual film — right down to an opening title card that appears letter-by-letter while intercut with choppy action. From director Rob Savage, and adapted from the horror novel “Incidents Around […]
Matthew Lillard Resented ‘Scooby-Doo’ Movies After His Career Nosedived When the Sequel Flopped: We ‘Sold Our House’ and Had to ‘Downsize Our Lives’
Matthew Lillard got brutally honest about his love-hate relationship with the “Scooby-Doo” movies while participating in Variety‘s “Know Their Lines” video series. The actor expected to become a blockbuster movie star after landing the role of Shaggy in 2002’s live-action “Scooby-Doo,” which earned $275 million worldwide. But the franchise was short-lived after 2004’s “Scooby-Doo 2: […]
David Corenswet Proves He’s More Than Superman in ‘Mr. Irrelevant,’ a Potential ‘Blind Side’-Style Oscar Vehicle Following NFL Legends Screening in NYC
Football teams are always looking for an edge. This Oscar season, Paramount may have found one in David Corenswet. The New York Giants took John Tuggle with the 335th pick of the 1983 NFL Draft and that’s how the running back from California became “Mr. Irrelevant,” the nickname given to the final player selected each […]
‘Heathens’ Trailer: Non-Believers Defy Their Religious Backgrounds, Resolving “To Reclaim Their Lives”
EXCLUSIVE: In the new documentary Heathens, five strangers meet at a retreat in the Blue Ridge Mountains, each of them harboring a secret: they have eschewed their religious backgrounds, putting them at odds potentially with their families, communities, and Christian churches. The documentary directed and produced by David Cowan and Shawn Hardin holds its world […]
Swiss Queer Film Fest Drops Israeli Film After Boycott Threats: “We’re Not Sundance, Right?”
Everybody’s Perfect programmers with “great regret” bowed to an escalating political backlash against Israel’s Oscar submission, 'Tell Me Everything,' screening at their Geneva event.
David Zaslav Cashes In: WBD CEO Scores Massive Merger Stock Windfall
David Zaslav, ex-CEO of the former Warner Bros Discovery, saw a windfall of just over $600 million as he handed over his WBD shares to Paramount at $31 each. An SEC filing Thursday shows the October 6 exchange of tranches of common stock and options as Paramount closed its acquisition of WBD and changed its […]
David Zaslav Gets $606 Million Payout From Paramount-Warner Bros. Merger
David Zaslav is out of a job. But he’s getting a prodigious sum of $606 million as he leaves Warner Bros. Discovery, the company he fused together and led for more than four years before it agreed to be acquired by David Ellison’s Paramount. Zaslav, who was Warner Bros. Discovery’s president and CEO, will receive […]
‘Crazy Rich Asians’ HBO Series Sets Cast: Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Michelle Yeoh, Ronny Chieng Returning
The “Crazy Rich Asians” TV series is moving forward at HBO, with four of the film’s stars returning. Constance Wu, Henry Golding and Ronny Chieng have all signed on as series regulars in the one-hour original drama series, with Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh recurring. All four will reprise their respective roles from the hit 2018 […]
Oscars Predictions 2027: Where the Race Stands After ‘Artificial’ NYFF Premiere and Andrew Garfield’s Supporting Actor Push
Variety Awards Circuit section is the home for all awards news and related content throughout the year, featuring the following: the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars, Emmys, Grammys and Tony Awards ceremonies, curated by Variety chief awards editor Clayton Davis. The prediction pages reflect the current standings in the race and do not reflect personal preferences for any individual […]
Rodrigo Santoro and Camila Pitanga to Star in Marcelo Gomes’ ‘Garota da Urca’ From a Script by Luciana Paes and Leonardo Moreira (EXCLUSIVE)
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil – Two of Brazil’s biggest screen stars, Rodrigo Santoro (“The Blue Trail”) and Camila Pitanga (“Basic Sanitation, the Movie”), are set to star in “Garota da Urca” (“Girl From Urca”), the new film by renowned director Marcelo Gomes. “Oxygen Masks Will Not Drop Automatically” writer Leonardo Moreira and veteran writer-actor Luciana […]
Meet Cosmic Salon, the ‘Chronovisor’ Directors Who Are Curry Barkers for the Library Set
Childhood friends Jack Auen and Kevin Walker turned a $55,000 budget, a cold-emailed professor and a Vatican conspiracy theory into an unlikely thriller. Now they’re working with UTA.
Anne Hathaway Calls Tom Cruise’s ‘Digger’ “Brilliant”: “It’s Worth Making The Time See & Decide For Yourself”
Anne Hathaway is a fan of Tom Cruise’s Digger and just made that clear. The Verity star took to Letterboxd to praise the satirical comedy written and directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu. “I loved this brilliant movie. It’s smart and trippy and aggressive and funny and ambitious,” Hathaway wrote on the social media platform. “It’s […]
‘Cyberpunk 2077’ Live Action Film in Development at Paramount Pictures
Lorenzo di Bonaventura is attached to produce the project set in the universe of the gaming franchise from Poland’s CD Projekt Red.
‘Sense and Sensibility’ Stars on How New Film Is Not Trying to Compete With Ang Lee’s Classic
Daisy Edgar-Jones, Caitriona Balfe and Esmé Creed-Miles premiered their telling of Jane Austen's iconic story in Los Angeles on Wednesday.
VIFF, Málaga Film Festival Launch Emerging Filmmaker Exchange
The Vancouver International Film Festival’s Institute for the Moving Image has announced a new partnership with Spain’s Málaga Film Festival to launch an exchange between their respective emerging-talent programs – the Málaga Talent program and VIFF Catalyst. The first filmmaker selected from this year’s Catalyst participants is Diego Minor Martínez, a Mexico-born filmmaker who is […]
Sterling K. Brown Joins Tom Hanks, Callum Turner in Baseball Drama ‘The Comebacker’ (Exclusive)
Marielle Heller is directing the adaptation of a Dave Eggers short story for Sony Pictures.
‘Cyberpunk 2077’ Movie in the Works at Paramount
A movie based on “Cyberpunk 2077,” the popular sci-fi, open-world RPG from CD Projekt Red, is in the works at Paramount, Variety has confirmed. “Transformers” producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura is attached to the project. CD Projekt Red, video game developer and the franchise rights holder, also serves as producer on the project. “Cyberpunk 2077,” which […]
Brad Bird on Finally Making ‘Ray Gunn,’ His Live-Action Run and When Things Turned Political at Disney
During a BFI London Film Fest talk, he also discussed 'The Incredibles 3,' the "800-pound gorilla" Steven Spielberg, Steve Jobs and Tom Cruise, how Sideshow Bob is like politicians and his advice for directors.
Rooster Teeth Founders Matt Hullum and Burnie Burns Reunite for Christmas Horror Movie ‘Bad Toys’ (EXCLUSIVE)
Rooster Teeth founders Matt Hullum and Burnie Burns have teamed up for a new Christmas horror-comedy movie, “Bad Toys,” now in development. Hullum serves as writer-director, while Burns is executive producer. According to an official description, “Bad Toys” is inspired by “medieval Christmas elf folklore” and asks, “What if a mischievous Christmas elf brought you […]
Paramount And Producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura Developing Movie Based On ‘Cyberpunk 2077’ Video Game
EXCLUSIVE: Paramount Pictures is developing a live-action film set in the Cyberpunk 2077 universe, based on CD Projekt Red’s best-selling action-adventure RPG. Lorenzo di Bonaventura is attached to produce alongside CD Projekt Red the Poland-based award-winning video game developer and the franchise rights holder. The game is set in the fictional cyberpunk metropolis of Night […]
Princess Diana’s Brother Says Kristen Stewart’s ‘Spencer’ Was ‘Terrible’ but ‘I Was Intrigued by How Good She Was at Capturing Diana’
Princess Diana’s younger brother Charles Spencer said Kristen Stewart nailed it in Pablo Larrain’s “Spencer” but called the movie “terrible” during an interview with Tina Brown at a McNally Jackson Books Event. Spencer, whose bombshell memoir “Swan Song: Diana, My Sister” has reignited tensions with the royal family and sparked a legal dispute with Piers […]
Ava DuVernay’s Doc ‘14th’ to Submit New Original Song by Brittany Howard and Robert Glasper for Oscars Consideration (EXCLUSIVE)
Ava DuVernay’s nonfiction sequel “14th” is set to world premiere as the closing-night film of the New York Film Festival on Friday, Oct. 9, and Variety can exclusively reveal that the film will feature a new original song, “Makings of Tomorrow,” written and performed by Brittany Howard and Robert Glasper. Netflix will mount an Oscar […]
Ike Barinholtz Joins Jennifer Aniston In Universal’s Holiday Comedy ‘Naughty’
EXCLUSIVE: Ike Barinholtz is the latest actor to join the growing ensemble of the upcoming Universal comedy Naughty, starring Jennifer Aniston. Peter Dinklage, Regina Hall and Chase Sui Wonders are also on board, with Olivia Wilde directing. Jimmy Warden penned the script for the project that originated from his spec script. Naughty follows Mallory (Aniston), […]
Paramount Global Content Distribution Chief Kevin MacLellan Exiting Skydance
Kevin MacLellan, President of International and Global Content Distribution at the pre-merger Paramount, is leaving Skydance. The news comes soon after Warner Bros. Discovery executive David Decker was named President, Content Sales at Skydance; with Jay Askinasi becoming Chief Revenue Officer, Advertising; and Ray Hopkins appointed President, Distribution. MacLellan had been with Paramount since August […]
Skydance Shares Rebound After David Ellison And Top Execs Ring Opening Bell At New York Stock Exchange
It may be a coincidence – or investor bargain-hunting – but Skydance shares have rebounded Thursday after David Ellison and other top execs rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange. Halfway through the trading day, the stock was at $9.42, up 6%. That nearly made up for Wednesday’s losses, which extended a […]
Aldis Hodge And Wunmi Mosaku To Star In Orion Pictures Thriller ‘One Night Out’ With George Tillman Jr. Directing
EXCLUSIVE: Aldis Hodge and Wunmi Mosaku are set to star in One Night Out for Amazon MGM Studios’ Orion Pictures. George Tillman Jr. will direct. The film will be available to stream on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide. “I’ve wanted to work with Aldis and Wunmi for years. We’ve talked […]
Angie Harmon Returns to Directing for Lifetime’s ‘The Girl Who Disappeared’ Starring Jaime Pressly (Exclusive)
Harmon's only other time in the chair was for the 100th episode of 'Rizzoli & Isles.'
Taylor Swift to Perform at Academy Museum Gala
Taylor Swift is set to perform at the upcoming Academy Museum Gala. The evening, taking place on Oct. 17, serves as a fundraiser for and takes place at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles. While details are still under wraps, it would surprise no one if Taylor performs “I Knew It, I […]
Paramount Teaming With Medieval Times On Family Comedy Movie; Eric Appel Directing From Script By Blaise Hemingway
EXCLUSIVE: Paramount Pictures is in early development on a live-action, four-quadrant family comedy movie based on the IP of Medieval Times, the family-friendly dinner theater company. A recent pitch sale has resulted in Eric Appel’s attachment to direct from a script to be written by Blaise Hemingway. Blending fantasy, adventure and heart, the story is […]
Michaela Jaé Rodriguez to Receive APLA Health’s Voice of Visibility Award at AIDS Walk Los Angeles (EXCLUSIVE)
Michaela Jaé Rodriguez will be honored by APLA Health later this month with its Voice of Visibility Award. The “Pose” star will be presented by her “Loot” co-star Joel Kim Booster during the kickoff ceremony of the 42nd annual AIDS Walk Los Angeles. “There is still a cruel distance between what medicine can do and […]
Taylor Swift To Perform At Academy Museum Gala This Month In L.A.
The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures said Thursday that it has nabbed Taylor Swift to perform at its sixth annual Academy Museum Gala, the glitzy must-stop on the Hollywood social circuit that acts as a main fundraiser for the musuem. The 2026 gala is set for October 17, with filmmaker-composer John Carpenter, Colman Domingo and […]
Big Shot Pictures Lands Film Rights To ‘CookieRun’ Game Franchise; 2029 Theatrical Release Eyed
EXCLUSIVE: Brian Robbin’s family entertainment company, Big Shot Pictures, has optioned the feature rights to adapt CookieRun, the South Korean hit gaming franchise which counts over 300 million downloads. The project will be in partnership with Devsisters, the IP’s creator and owner. The plan is for a 2029 global release, coinciding with the 20th anniversary […]
Paul Walter Hauser Set For Crime Drama ‘Garden City’ From John Curran, Magenta Light Studios
EXCLUSIVE: Fresh off Resident Evil, which is now Zach Cregger’s highest-grossing film at over $280M worldwide, Paul Walter Hauser has inked to star in Garden City, a new crime drama from Magenta Light Studios. Based on a true story. the film is written and directed by Chappaquiddick‘s John Curran. Production kicks off in Atlanta in […]
‘Other Mommy’ First Reactions: “Jessica Chastain’s Worst Movie in a Long Time”
The first reactions are in the Universal horror film, which is being held back from most critics until the last minute.
Sony Pictures Acquires Casey Giltner Thriller Spec ‘This Land Is Our Land’
EXCLUSIVE: Screenwriter Casey Giltner has sold elevated thriller spec This Land Is Our Land to Sony Pictures, Deadline has learned. Plot details are being kept under wraps. Andrew Form, of the A Quiet Place franchise, will produce alongside Lawdie Pahlavan. Giltner is a screenwriter and novelist whose holiday horror spec On The First Day of […]
‘Love Language’ Trailer: Chloë Grace Moretz Finds Work Writing Vows & Love Triangle With Manny Jacinto, Anthony Ramos In Rom-Com
The romantic-comedy genre is in for a return to form with Love Language, premiering this month. On Thursday, Vertical released the first trailer for the romantic-comedy starring Chloë Grace Moretz, debuting Oct. 23 in select theaters and on digital/VOD, following its SXSW world premiere in March. In Love Language, aspiring author Louisa “Lou” Klaussner (Moretz) […]
‘Inside Out 2’ Director Kelsey Mann Signs with UTA (Exclusive)
The storyboard artist and director had been Pixar's inside mann since 2009.
‘Matchbox’ Stars Jessica Biel and John Cena Lead New American Red Cross Pledge Drive (EXCLUSIVE)
“Matchbox The Movie” co-stars Jessica Biel, John Cena, Sam Richardson, Arturo Castro and Teyonah Parris have teamed up with Mattel for a new American Red Cross pledge drive. In a video message filmed for the campaign, the “Matchbox’ headliners encourage fans to channel their inner hero by showing up for others when it counts most […]
Anime Director Masaaki Yuasa Set to Curate Toronto Fest Classic Film Showcase
The Japanese filmmaker has selected 17 features and four shorts that inspired his work and will screen in the ‘Drawn Universes: Visions in Animation’ spotlight to run Nov. 19 to Dec. 29.
‘Matchbox: The Movie’ Review: John Cena Can’t Make This Toy-Car Spinoff Feel Grownup
As audiences have seen with films like “Barbie,” intellectual property yields the best results when it’s mined with some intellect. “Matchbox: The Movie” feels more like a stopgap between “Fast and the Furious” installments — and not necessarily the good ones — than a deeply authentic adaptation of Mattel’s 73-year-old toy brand. John Cena, an […]
Oscar Predictions: Best Cinematography — Where Fantasy, Mythology, Epics and Horror Collide
Variety Awards Circuit section is the home for all awards news and related content throughout the year, featuring the following: the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars, Emmys, Grammys and Tony Awards ceremonies, curated by Variety chief awards editor Clayton Davis. The prediction pages reflect the current standings in the race and do not reflect […]
Andrew Scott Welcomes ‘Heated Rivalry,’ But Feels “Troubled” by Those Who “Don’t Want to See” Painful Queer History
The Irishman, likely at the beginning of an immense awards campaign, spoke at the BFI London Film Festival about playing Ian Charleson in 'Elsinore' before the actor's death from AIDS in 1990.
‘NAZA’ Producer James Wilson Says Israeli Government Response to Gaza Doc Has Been ‘Horrible and Scary,’ but Directors are ‘Safe and OK’
Since it premiered in Venice, where it earned a record-breaking near-25-minute stand ovation, “NAZA” has emerged one of the most talked-about documentaries of the year. The bombshell film, from Israeli “No Other Land” directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, exposes what it asserts is Israel’s deliberate targeting of civilian targets in Gaza, using numerous sources […]
‘Elsinore’ Producer Andrea Occhipinti on Bringing Ian Charleson’s Story to the Screen and His Personal Connection to the AIDS Crisis: ‘I Lost a Lot of Friends’
For Italian producer and distributor Andrea Occhipinti, shepherding “Elsinore” to the big screen carries a significance that transcends being lead producer of the buzzy movie that last night opened the London Film Festival to a standing ovation, with few dry eyes in the Royal Festival Hall, after making a major splash in Telluride and Toronto. […]
Sofia Coppola on Releasing ‘Making Marie Antoinette’ as a Tribute to Late Mother Eleanor, Even Though She Finds Younger Self ‘Embarrassing’: ‘It’s a Gift’ to See ‘Through My Mom’s Eyes’
In “Making Marie Antoinette,” Sofia Coppola finds herself in front of the camera. Directed by her late mother, Eleanor Coppola, the documentary offers a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Sofia’s 2006 historical drama “Marie Antoinette.” Eleanor, who died in 2024, filmed over 80 hours of footage during the making of the movie, which starred […]
‘La Bola Negra’ to Receive Gotham Vanguard Tribute at Gotham Film Awards (EXCLUSIVE)
“La Bola Negra,” the film from directors Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi, popularly known as Los Javis, will receive The Gotham Vanguard Tribute at this year’s Gotham Film Awards on Nov. 30. The ceremony, taking place at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City, will pay tribute to the filmmakers as well as the Netflix […]
Why ‘You Can See Everything’ Could Make Oscars History as First Doc Nominated for Best Picture
Will the Academy’s documentary branch finally see it all? “You Can See Everything,” Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim’s A24 doc that made for an explosive secret screening in Telluride, follows Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes during the 34 days before she reported to prison and keeps rolling long after. It just played the New York Film […]
Israel’s Oscar Contender ‘Tell Me Everything’ Dropped From Swiss Queer Film Festival After Palestinian Groups’ Boycott Threats
A queer film festival in Switzerland has dropped an Israeli film from its lineup after receiving boycott threats from a collective of local groups including a Palestinian film festival. Everybody’s Perfect, which describes itself as a festival of queer cinema based in Geneva, had initially unveiled Moshe Rosenthal’s “Tell Me Everything” as part of its […]
Skydance Names Jay Askinasi Head of Ad Sales, Taps David Decker to Lead Content Sales and Ray Hopkins as Distribution Chief
David Ellison’s Skydance, formed from the merger of Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery, continues to announce senior executive appointments for the new company: On Thursday, the company said Jay Askinasi will lead ad sales for Skydance, David Decker will head up content sales, and Ray Hopkins will oversee distribution. Askanasi and Hopkins will also serve […]
Horror Movies and Politics Are Killing Film Festivals
The film festival circuit is drowning in bloody genre fare and ideological theater. Whatever happened to indie cred?
Michael Douglas Was Third Choice For Gordon Gekko; How He Rode ‘Wall Street’s Slick Villain To Oscar Glory
EDITOR’S NOTE: Mike Fleming Jr. here. For the better part of last year, my day began with a 6 a.m. call and an hour with Michael Douglas for his memoir One Helluva Ride. It was early for me, but always worth catching MD someplace in Europe, where he enjoys the fruits of his long run […]
Aaron Sorkin and Mikey Madison on ‘The Social Reckoning’: Getting Inside a Whistleblower’s Mind, Jeremy Strong’s ‘Antihero’ Zuckerberg and Why Trump is the Movie’s Voldemort
SPOILER WARNING: This interview contains plot points, including some spoilers, for “The Social Reckoning,” opening in theaters on Oct. 9. “The Social Reckoning” is many things — but those expecting a direct follow-up to 2010’s “The Social Network” may be surprised. That earlier film, which earned Aaron Sorkin an Oscar for its screenplay, closely followed […]
Netflix Plans Oscar Push for Lee Chang-dong’s ‘Possible Love,’ Promoting Jeon Do-yeon for Best Actress (Exclusive)
The company's campaign for the Korean film comes seven award seasons after 'Parasite' broke the glass ceiling for non-English-language films at the Oscars.
‘Elsinore’ Star Andrew Scott on Why Movies Should Still Tackle the AIDS Crisis: ‘The Shame Lies With the Governments Who Ignored’ It
Rolling off the celebrated European premiere of “Elsinore” on opening night of the London Film Festival, Andrew Scott emphasized why movies should still tackle the AIDS crisis, even as a new wave of LGBTQ films and series are tapping into lighter themes. “I welcome things like ‘Heartstopper’ and ‘Heated Rivalry’ and ‘Red, White & Royal […]
‘NAZA’ Producer James Wilson Addresses “Hysterical, Vituperative” Israeli Government Backlash Against Directors
NAZA producer James Wilson has addressed the Israeli government and military backlash against co-directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor over their bombshell documentary exposing Israel’s deliberate targeting of civilian targets in Gaza. Wilson told an onstage conversation on his career at the BFI London Film Festival that criticism of the film and threats against the […]
Skydance Co-CEO Ynon Kreiz Says Jobs Cuts Will Be Handled “Respectfully, Transparently” As Company Restructures
Ynon Kreiz, the new co-chief executive of Skydance, said a planned $6 billion in cost savings will come from “technology, marketing consolidation, real estate optimization, and some labor. Although labor is not the majority of the savings.” But “we’ve been public” that synergies will involve some workforce reduction, he said during a Q&A on CNBC […]
Why Gary Vaynerchuk Is Putting Everything Into Collectibles Brand ‘VeeFriends’: ‘It Could Be the Biggest Business I Ever Build in My Life’
From Resy to Empathy Wines, VaynerX chairman Gary “GaryVee” Vaynerchuk knows how to build a profitable business. But up until now, the serial entrepreneur and YouTube star’s work has been based largely on impersonal ideas. Enter VeeFriends, the business that Vaynerchuk has wanted to own since he was a kid. On its face, VeeFriends is […]
Rizzoli & LAIKA Release ‘The Art of Wildwood’ Book Ahead of Film Release and London Exhibition
Art book publisher Rizzoli New York has released The Art of Wildwood, a comprehensive hardcover book documenting the craftsmanship behind LAIKA’s upcoming stop-motion feature film. Published under the Rizzoli Universe imprint on October 6, 2026, the 176-page volume serves as the exclusive visual companion to the studio’s most ambitious project to date. Directed by LAIKA […]
Oscars: Rwanda Makes History As ‘Ben’Imana’ Becomes First Official Entry; Alexander Set U.S. & UK Release
Rwanda has selected Marie-Clémentine Dusabejambo’s post-genocide drama Ben’Imana as its first ever submission to the Best International Feature Film category of the Academy Awards. The selection continues a high-profile career for the film following its prize-winning premiere in Un Certain Regard in the 2026 Cannes Film Festival in May, where it clinched the Caméra d’Or […]
Shudder Acquires Supernatural Horror Film ‘Split Rock’ Ahead of World Premiere at Sitges (EXCLUSIVE)
A fresh batch of supernatural frights is headed to Shudder. The horror streamer announced the acquisition of “Split Rock,” writer and director Ryan Glover’s sophomore feature, following 2021’s “The Strings.” “Split Rock” is set to debut at the 59th Sitges Film Festival on Friday, and has its North American premiere at Brooklyn Horror Film Festival […]
Lucio Fulci’s ‘The Beyond’ Set for Remake; Hangtime International Pictures and Severin Films Forge Partnership for More Genre Reboots (EXCLUSIVE)
An Italian horror classic is set to get a remake. Lucio Fulci’s 1981 film “The Beyond” was announced as the first remake from a strategic partnership between Hangtime International Pictures and Severin Films, which aims to “secure remake rights to genre films for theatrical, streaming and physical media,” per a press release. “The Beyond” is […]
Variety to Honor John Turturro With the Creative Vanguard Award at Miami Film Festival
Emmy Award-winning actor, writer and director John Turturro will be honored with the Variety Creative Vanguard Award at Miami Dade College’s (MDC) Miami Film Festival GEMS on Monday, Nov. 2. The event will take place at Miami Dade College Wolfson Auditorium at 7:00 p.m. The honor will be for Turturro’s achievements over more than four […]
Oscars: Rwanda Picks ‘Ben’Imana’ as Its First-Ever Best Int’l Feature Submission
Marie-Clementine Dusabejambo's debut feature, which explores the pursuit of justice and reconciliation for survivors of genocide in the East African country, premiered at Cannes where it won two awards.
Oscars: Rwanda Selects ‘Ben’Imana’ as First-Ever Entry to International Feature Race
Rwanda is entering the Oscars international feature race for the first time, submitting Marie-Clementine Dusabejambo’s “Ben’Imana” for consideration at the 99th Academy Awards. Dusabejambo’s acclaimed debut feature, told through the eyes of a community of women in Rwanda, premiered in Cannes Film Festival’s Un Certain Regard section and won the Camera d’Or and Fipresci prize. […]
Joe Manganiello’s Intestines Were Ripped Out — Then Ben Affleck Offered Him Batman
In an exclusive excerpt from his new memoir, 'Bloodlines,' the 'True Blood' star recounts the 'Night in Hell' in which he almost died from a mysterious disease, how wife Sofia Vergara helped doctors save his life, and how preparing for the role of Deathstroke motivated him to regain his formidable strength.
‘Talk to Me’ Spinoff Titled ‘I Let You In’; Meta Debuts First Look at Immersive Horror Series (EXCLUSIVE)
“I Let You In,” a new immersive horror series from the “Talk to Me” universe, is coming to Meta. The six-episode project will be available exclusively on — and was designed specifically for — the company’s Quest headsets and VR glasses, the latter of which are set to launch in spring 2027. According to the […]
David Ellison Calls Skydance “Solution” To Mistakes Ten Years Ago When Big Tech Moved In On Media
Skydance CEO David Ellison said the merger of Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery is the solution to media companies that “didn’t pivot fast enough” when big tech moved into their space starting a decade ago. “We can talk a lot about the owner-operator entrepreneurial culture of Silicon Valley versus the culture of Hollywood. That candidly […]
Nathan Fielder’s Elizabeth Holmes Doc Sets U.K. Release Date
A24's 'You Can See Everything,' co-directed by Lance Oppenheim, will hit theaters in Britain and Ireland in November.
‘Union Town,’ ‘The Hummingbird Paints Fragrant Songs’ and More Among DOC NYC 2026 Lineup
Documentary festival DOC NYC returns for its 17th year in Manhattan from Nov. 11-19 and continues online through Nov. 29. Èlia Gasull Balada and Matteo Norzi’s “The Hummingbird Paints Fragrant Songs” will open the festival. The film follows 75-year-old Indigenous artist Sara Flores, who emerges from the Peruvian Amazon into the global contemporary art scene. […]
Himesh Patel & Maxine Peake Among The Stars In Latest Booker Prize Short Films
The short films featuring stars reading from the titles shortlisted for this year’s Booker Prize have landed. The stars reading this year are Lewis Gribben (Black Mirror), Kathryn Hunter (Black Doves), Paterson Joseph (Wonka), Himesh Patel (The Odyssey), Maxine Peake (I Swear) and Savannah Steyn (House of the Dragon). Director and choreographer Holly Blakey directs […]
From ‘Artificial Clouds’ to ‘Being North Korean’: IDFA Forum Unveils Slate, Rejigs Formats
'The Contract of the Century' is also among the 47 projects featured in the co-production and co-financing market of the Amsterdam documentary festival's 34th edition.
IDFA Announces Forum Lineup: Projects From Wang Bing, Rachael Leah Jones, Vitaly Mansky, Juanjo Pereira, Liang Zhao & More
International Documentary Festival Amsterdam has revealed the 47 projects selected for IDFA Forum 2026, the festival’s prestigious co-production and co-financing market. The final lineup, culled from almost 900 submissions, “brings together projects in development, production, and near completion, showcased across the Forum Pitches, Roundtable Presentations, Rough Cut Presentations, and IDFA DocLab Forum (new media),” IDFA […]
How Oasis Came To Rock The Doc World – And What It Might Mean For Bond 26
For decades people have flocked to Abbey Road Studios, home to one of the most famous instruments in the world: Mrs. Mills’ 1905 Steinway Vertegrand. A holdover from the music-hall era, Mills had instrumental hits with this piano in the UK until the ’70s, almost until her death in 1978, aged 59. For some reason, […]
Xbox Sets New Division for Film and TV, Consumer Products and Experiences Led by ‘Minecraft’ Studio Chief Kayleen Walters
Xbox is launching a new division that will house its film and television, consumer products, strategic partnerships and live experiences businesses. Named XP (a play on “experience points” in gamer lingo), the entertainment division will be led by Kayleen Walters, the current president of Xbox’s “Minecraft” studio Mojang and executive producer of “A Minecraft Movie,” […]
Hande Erçel To Star In Nader Saeivar’s Berlin-Set Drama ‘Diaspora’
EXCLUSIVE: Turkish star Hande Erçel has been unveiled as the lead actress in Iranian director and screenwriter Nadar Saeivar’s upcoming Germany-set drama Diaspora ahead of an early 2027 shoot. Berlin-based director Saeivar, whose recent directorial credits include No End (2022), The Witness (2024) and Hijamat (2026), is also known internationally for his work with Jafar […]
Wim Wenders Boards Peter Lindbergh Documentary ‘Truth:Beauty’
Wim Wenders has boarded “Truth:Beauty,” a feature documentary about legendary German fashion photographer Peter Lindbergh, as executive producer. The project, produced by Maja Hoffmann and Human Humans, will mark the feature directorial debut of French novelist Alexandra Matine, whose books include “Scopophilia” and “La Pire Amie du monde.” Matine is also writing the film, which […]
Charlotte Gainsbourg on Listening to ‘Controversial’ Kanye West and Working With ‘Tortured’ Lars von Trier at Busan
Charlotte Gainsbourg had one artist to recommend to the crowd at her Busan International Film Festival masterclass, and it was not a safe pick. “I’m not good for recommendation. I have one artist that I listen to, very controversial artist, but I listen to everything he does, and it’s Kanye West,” Gainsbourg said, to laughter […]
Louis Garrel to Play Fiat Heir John Elkann in Marco Bellocchio’s ‘Falcon’; RAI Cinema International Boards for Sales
Louis Garrel is set to play John Elkann — heir to Italy’s Agnelli family, behind car giant Fiat — in Italian auteur Marco Bellocchio’s “Falcon.” The biopic centers on charismatic auto industry executive Sergio Marchionne, played by Pierfrancesco Favino, who saved Fiat from the brink of bankruptcy. The high-end production is currently shooting in Toronto. […]
Marco Bellocchio’s ‘Falcon’ Sets Sales As Louis Garrel Joins Pierfrancesco Favino In Role Of Fiat Boss John Elkann
Rai Cinema International Distribution has boarded sales on Marco Bellocchio’s financial thriller Falcon, inspired by the life of late Fiat-Chrysler automobile exec Sergio Marchionne, as it films in Toronto. In new casting additions, previously announced lead Pierfrancesco Favino is being joined by Louis Garrel, Benedetta Cimatti and Barbara Ronchi, with the participation of Valeria Bruni […]
Alfonso Cuaron Revisits ‘Gravity’ With Son Jonas at Busan: ‘Life as an Experience Is What I Now Care About the Most’
When he was younger, film came first for Alfonso Cuarón. These days, the Oscar-winning director says, life does. He made the remark at his Busan International Film Festival masterclass on Thursday, a day after he and his son Jonas Cuaron, his co-writer on 2013 space survival drama “Gravity,” revisited the film following an Imax screening. […]
Alternativa Distribution Takes ‘No Good Men’ & ‘Four Daughters’ To MIPCOM
EXCLUSIVE: Alternativa Distribution has acquired selected rights to features including Berlin Film Festival opener No Good Men ahead of making its debut at the MIPCOM market in Cannes. The fledgling distributor has acquired several other festival and award-nominated movies ahead of MIPCOM. It will present Akio Fujimoto’s Lost Land to buyers, as well as Abinash […]
Lightdox Acquires Sales Rights To ‘Nostalgia For The Future,’ Documentary On Enigmatic Filmmaker Chris Marker Narrated By Charlotte Rampling
EXCLUSIVE: Lightdox has acquired international sales rights to Nostalgia for the Future leading into Film Fest Gent in Belgium where the documentary screens on Sunday. The film narrated by Oscar-nominated actress Charlotte Rampling examines the enigmatic filmmaker Chris Marker (1921-2012), one of the most influential figures in the history of cinema. The Belgium–Netherlands–Italy co-production, directed […]
Nathan Fielder’s Elizabeth Holmes Doc ‘You Can See Everything’ Sets November U.K. Release Date
“You Can See Everything,” Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim’s highly anticipated documentary about Elizabeth Holmes, has set a release date in the U.K. and Ireland. The doc, which offers an intimate look at the Theranos founder’s life a month before she began an 11-year prison sentence for defrauding investors, will hit cinemas in the U.K. […]
The Hollywood Reporter Honors ‘The Koreans’ Star Han Ji-min With Trailblazer Award at Busan Gala
Studio executives, 'Bedford Park' star Moon Choi and 'KPop Demon Hunters' producer Agnes Lee were among the guests at THR and the Motion Picture Association’s American Film Night, celebrating creative ties between Hollywood and Korea.
Vancouver Film Festival Prizes: Big Wins for Immigrant Tale ‘Nina Roza,’ the ‘Polished Cinematic’ ‘In the Heart of the South’ and Separated Sisters Story ‘How We Stand’
Geneviève Dulude-De Celles’ “Nina Roza,” Nyla Innuksuk’s “In the Heart of the South” and Marie Clements’ “How We Stand” are among the films taking top honors at the 45th Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF). The festival announced its 2026 juried awards winners on Wednesday night, recognizing films across its Summit, Horizon, Tides, Arbutus, Vanguard and […]
James Gunn Responds to ‘Clayface’ Criticism: ‘The Public Voting on What IP They Want to See’ Isn’t ‘the Only Way to Make a Movie’
James Gunn has an answer to the question of “who tf asked for a Clayface movie,” posed by a commenter on the DC Studios head’s Threads account earlier this week. “Who tf asked for Back to the Future? Casablanca? There’s Something About Mary? Pan’s Labyrinth? Fury Road? Weapons? The Matrix?” Gunn fired back on the […]
Doha Film Festival Unveils 2026 International Feature Competition Lineup
Qatar’s Doha Film Festival (DFF) has unveiled the International Feature Film Competition lineup for its second edition which is due to take place this November. The fifteen titles include Hosam Abu Dan’s Gaza-shot drama Thirteen in Gaza, a coming-of-age drama about a motherless thirteen-year-old living with her father in a Gaza displacement camp without privacy […]
Doha Film Festival Unveils Competition Lineup With Accent on Female Filmmakers and Middle East Fare
The upcoming Doha Film Festival has unveiled its 15-title competition lineup made up mostly of Middle East premieres of movies from the region, seven of which directed by women. As previously announced, Yemeni-Scottish filmmaker Sara Ishaq’s timely drama “The Station,” which looks at the impact of Yemen’s civil war on the country, is set as […]
Na Hong-Jin Traces ‘The Chaser,’ ‘The Wailing’ and ‘Hope’ to Bar Talk, Shamans and War Fears at Busan Masterclass
Na Hong-Jin told a Busan International Film Festival masterclass audience that his film “Hope” grew out of a conviction, around 2017, that war was about to break out on the Korean peninsula. At the time, Na said, news reports were describing U.S. fighter jets and bombers flying in and out over Pyongyang through the night. […]
Danny and Oxide Pang’s Josie Ho-Starring Supernatural Thriller ‘The Mage’ Sets Busan Market Debut (EXCLUSIVE)
Danny and Oxide Pang’s supernatural crime thriller “The Mage,” starring Josie Ho, is courting international buyers at Busan’s Asian Contents & Film Market (ACFM) as it begins its run in Asian cinemas. Producer 852 Films is handling sales on the title, including territory availability, pricing and rights deals. Abnormal Studios is introducing buyers to the […]
‘The Debut’: Jesse Eisenberg Praises Oscar Frontrunner Julianne Moore’s ‘Perfect Performance’ at NYFF
You couldn’t imagine a more ideal setting for “The Debut” than Alice Tully Hall on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, where it had its New York premiere Wednesday evening as part of the New York Film Festival. The third feature film from writer-director Jesse Eisenberg, and follow-up to his Oscar-winning “A Real Pain,” is […]
Nana Patekar, Indian Star of ‘Parinda’ and ‘Krantiveer,’ Dies at 75
Nana Patekar, the Indian Hindi and Marathi cinema actor whose roles ranged from the menacing crime lord of “Parinda” to the comic gangster of “Welcome,” died Oct. 8, at his residence in Goa. He was 75. Patekar went into cardiac arrest at home and was declared dead at 5:20 am local time, news agency ANI […]
Sebastian Stan Doesn’t Know How ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ Turned Out, But Says It’s ‘Probably Heartbreaking’: ‘We’ll See Who Makes It’
Sebastian Stan, who suited back up as the Winter Soldier, Bucky Barnes, for the forthcoming “Avengers: Doomsday,” recently revealed he hasn’t actually seen the movie yet — but expects it to be “heartbreaking.” “I haven’t seen the movie, and I don’t know how it turned out,” the actor admitted while speaking with Decider. “I’m sure […]
‘Obsession’s Michael Johnston Teases “Incredible Queer” Project With “Steamy Moment”
Coming off his breakout role this year, Michael Johnston is teasing what’s next. The Obsession star, who is openly gay, recently teased an upcoming role in “a really incredibly queer story,” which includes a “steamy moment” on screen for LGBTQ fans. “There will be a really incredible queer story in my future, and I’m so […]
Skydance Film Bosses Dana Goldberg & Josh Greenstein & The Warner Bros To-Do List: Pics That Are Ready, In The Works Or On Fire
Heavy hang the heads who wear the crowns, and that goes for Skydance Pictures Co-Chairs Dana Goldberg and Josh Greenstein, who’ll be tasked with getting under the hood and tuning up the incoming 2027-2029 Warner Bros theatrical slates. The first fire to put out: ensuring that Barbie 2 becomes a reality with its original franchise […]
Disney Cruise Ship Believe to Debut ‘Encanto’ Musical, ‘Frozen’ Family Feast and More
Disney has unveiled its latest cruise ship, Believe. The ship will embark on its maiden voyage on Dec. 18, 2027 from its homeport of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Among the brand-new experiences is the first stage adaptation of “Disney Encanto,” which will premiere on board and is being developed exclusively for the Disney […]
Payal Kapadia, Anurag Kashyap Joined by Kavita Gupta’s Cineroost as Producer on Prateek Vats’ ‘Chronicles of a Confession’ (EXCLUSIVE)
Kavita Gupta’s U.S.-based Cineroost has boarded Prateek Vats’ second feature, “Chronicles of a Confession,” as producer, joining Payal Kapadia and Anurag Kashyap on the project, which starts shooting in early November. Cineroost stepped in to handle global representation and U.S. markets, and to help get the film into production. It is the company’s next feature […]
An Emotional Andrew Scott and ‘Elsinore’ Kick Off a Starry 2026 London Film Festival
The Irishman was joined by co-stars Olivia Colman, Luke Thompson, Billie Piper and Johnny Flynn, as well as the real-life influences on Ian Charleson's life before his death from AIDS in 1990.
International Oscar Submissions: China, Syria, Denmark, Italy, France and More Join the List
The campaigns for the Oscar for international feature film are gaining momentum, with final submissions due by Oct. 1. The Oscars shortlists will be revealed on Dec. 15, with 15 international films selected to be voted on by Academy members in all branches who commit to watch all 15 films. Oscar nominations will be revealed […]
Sundance-Winning Producer Neeraj Churi Boards Awedacious Originals’ Busan Title ‘About an Intimate Matter’ (EXCLUSIVE)
Sundance-winning producer Neeraj Churi has boarded “About an Intimate Matter” (Ekanto Byaktigoto Bishoy), a Bengali-language queer drama from Awedacious Originals that will world premiere at the 31st Busan International Film Festival. Churi, of Lotus Visual Productions, produced Rohan Parashuram Kanawade’s “Sabar Bonda” (Cactus Pears), winner of the World Cinema Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic at the […]
Alexander Skarsgard’s ‘Wicker’ Gets Immersive With 4DX Screening Event
The romantic fantasy also stars Olivia Colman, Peter Dinklage and Elizabeth Debicki.
Marilyn Monroe and Sydney Sweeney Are Related
The actresses are ninth cousins, once removed. They share a mutual ancestor, Ezra Perry (c. 1625–1689), who was an early English settler in Sandwich, Massachusetts.
Miles Teller to Be Honored by Newport Beach Film Festival (EXCLUSIVE)
Miles Teller will be honored with the Artist of Distinction Award at the Newport Beach Film Festival. He will be presented with the recognition at the fest’s annual Honors ceremony on Oct. 18. “Miles Teller brings extraordinary dedication to every role he takes on,” Newport Beach Film Festival CEO and executive director Gregg Schwenk said. […]
For Israeli Actress Noa Cohen, October 7 Is Both Personal and Professional
The Gen Z star appears in a new movie about the trauma. It’s brought a lot back.
Vertical Wraps Up Domestic On Alex Moffat & Julia Stiles Comedy ‘Unbearable Christmas’
EXCLUSIVE: Vertical will be having an Unbearable Christmas this holiday season, specifically the comedy starring SNL alum Alex Moffat, Julia Stiles, David Cross, Caroline Rhea, Mena Suvari and Emmy Award winner Stephen Root (Widow’s Bay). In the pic, out-of-work weatherman Troy Tipton (Moffat) has one Christmas mission: get back the beloved teddy bear he pawned […]
London Film Festival Hails the ‘Great Andrew Scott’ as ‘Elsinore’ Opens 70th Edition With Tears, Cheers and ‘The Ethel Merman Disco Album’
The 70th BFI London Film Festival kicked off on Wednesday with the European premiere of “Elsinore,” a movie that, as the credits rolled, left large swathes of the audience at the Royal Festival Hall wiping away tears. But just moments later, as the name of lead star Andrew Scott appeared on stage, the loud snuffles […]
Movie Theaters Add New York Times Games to Pre-Show Experience (EXCLUSIVE)
Attention “Wordle” and “Spelling Bee” fans: interactive offerings from The New York Times Games are coming to a movie theater near you this fall. Through a new partnership between NYT Games and in-theater ad company Screenvision, the pre-show experience will begin rolling out nationwide by Thanksgiving. The deal (which has initially been set as a […]
Catherine Hardwicke Tapped to Direct Bronte Studios’ Female-Led Western ‘American River’
Set to shoot in Australia in 2027, the film is being cast by veteran casting directors Lisa Beach and Sarah Katzman for producers Blake Northfield and Michelle Krumm of Bronte Studios with Shaun Goodman.
‘Ashes’ and ‘Mexicanamerican’ to Open and Close Los Angeles’ GuadaLAjara Film Festival
The GuadaLAjara Film Festival announced its full lineup for the annual event running from Nov. 5-7 at venues across Los Angeles. The festival will open with Watermelon Pictures’ “Ashes” directed by Diego Luna at the United Theater. The film follows Lucila who moves to Spain with her brother to reunite with the mother who left […]
Inde Navarrette, Jaafar Jackson and More: Variety’s 10 Actors to Watch Spotlights ‘Obsession,’ ‘Michael,’ ‘La Bola Negra’ and Beyond
Awards and festival seasons are officially underway. The Newport Beach Film Festival will return for its 27th year, showcasing more than 100 feature films and 250 shorts from 21 countries. The festival, which runs Oct. 15-22 in Newport Beach, will also once again spotlight Variety’s 10 Actors to Watch, a group of breakouts this year […]
‘Beware Boiúna’ Star Jessica Rothe Talks Her Prolific Return to Horror and Retooling ‘Happy Death Day 3’
The scream queen unpacks her five-film horror slate: “Horror is where the most exciting storytelling is happening right now.”
Cannes Winning Producer Giancarlo Nasi: U.S. Indie Filmmakers Are Turning to International Co-Production Funds
Even U.S. independent filmmakers are lining up for international public funds from Canada, Mexico, Latin America and European countries now, Chilean producer Giancarlo Nasi told attendees at his Industry Masterclass “Exploring the Art and Strategy of International Co-Productions,” which took place at the Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF) on Oct 2. As private financing dries […]
Carrie Coon Doesn’t Care About Being Liked
Carrie Coon has little interest in being liked. “I think likability is an overrated quality,” she tells Variety. “It’s more interesting to play a character that is not just likable.” It’s an attitude that has served Coon well throughout a career that has moved from Chicago’s regional theater scene to Broadway and, eventually, to film […]
Skydance Stock Struggles In First Days Of Trading
Skydance shares closed down about 7% in day two of trading Wednesday after a dip the day before, a second down session in a rocky NYSE debut for the merged company as investors started to weigh in. The combination of Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery finally closed, a big step forward. A legal settlement with […]
Melania Trump’s Advisor Shades Tom Cruise’s ‘Digger’ After Box Office Bomb — Even Though ‘Melania’ Doc Also Flopped in Theaters
Melania Trump’s senior advisor Marc Beckman took to social media after Tom Cruise’s “Digger” flopped at the box office to explain to people how the First Lady’s much-reviled documentary “Melania” performed better at the box office earlier this year than mega-star Cruise’s latest endeavor. “On a per-theater basis, ‘Melania’ outperformed Tom Cruise’s ‘Digger’ by approximately […]
Box Office: ‘The Social Reckoning’ Targets $7 Million Opening Weekend, ‘Other Mommy’ to Scare Up $20 Million-Plus Debut
Spooky season at the box office is kicking off with two very different villains: an autocratic tech bro and a double-jointed doppelgänger from hell. This weekend’s new releases, Sony’s “The Social Reckoning,” featuring Jeremy Strong’s frigid take on Mark Zuckerberg, and “Other Mommy,” starring Jessica Chastain as a mother threatened by her creepy twin, are […]
‘Ghost In The Machine’ Rings Alarm Bell About AI, Explores How Tech Is Fundamentally Biased – For The Love Of Docs
Each day seems to bring fresh warnings about AI – chatbots going rogue, the potential for artificial intelligence to trigger Armageddon, “bad actors” looking to leverage AI to generate bioweapons. Even if the worst scenarios don’t materialize, the inherent bias and ideology behind AI must be acknowledged and confronted, according to the documentary Ghost in […]
Brazil’s Elas Exportam: Fostering Film and Series Exports of Women-Led Companies
RIO DE JANEIRO – Brazil’s Elas Exportam training program aims to foster film and series exports of women-led companies by developing leadership skills. Organized by Brazil’s Ministry of Development, Industry, Commerce and Services (MDIC), the program is part of a broader government and industry effort to raise the presence of Brazilian productions abroad. Debora Ivanov, […]
The “Rape of Christ” Scene from 1971’s ‘The Devils’ Is Back. Is the World Finally Ready?
How footage feared destroyed was recovered and restored to Ken Russell’s notorious film, more than half a century after censors demanded its removal.
‘Other Mommy,’ ‘Clayface’ and 4 More Horror Movies in Theaters Before Halloween
A rundown of October's scariest films in theaters, including 'The Devils' and 'Whalefall.'
‘The Beast’ Review: Samuel L. Jackson and Joel Kinnaman in a Renny Harlin Joint That’s a Deadly Combo of Silly and Tedious
A U.S. president and a severely wounded Secret Service agent battle it out with hordes of terrorists in this action-thriller.
Vancouver Builds in Sophistication, Breadth as World-Class Animation Hub, as Netflix Animation Studios Launch and Leah Nelson Dazzles With ‘Tangles’
When Netflix Animation Studios opened its 110,600-square-foot office in Vancouver earlier this year, it sent a clear signal about the city’s growing importance as an animation hub. “Vancouver has been our home for over 10 years both as Netflix Animation Studios and previously under the Animal Logic banner,” Amir Nasrabadi, Chief Operating Officer for the […]
Sebastian Stan Says ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ Is “Probably Heartbreaking”: “We’ll See Who Makes It To The Next Level”
Sebastian Stan is reprising his role as Bucky Barnes, the Winter Soldier, in Avengers: Doomsday and is teasing that the film will be “heartbreaking.” Marvel fans are already bracing for the worst, and Stan’s recent interview while promoting Fjord has them guessing that someone will die. “I haven’t seen the movie, and I don’t know how it […]
‘Krux’ Review: A Potently Bleak Portrait of German Village Life at the Bitter End of WWII
We’re used to films about hope and rejuvenation in the final days of the Second World War, but there’s a more novel perspective to be found in “Krux” — set in an isolated village in northeast Germany, where many of the locals have been so brainwashed by Nazism that the end of the war may […]
‘Wicker’ Sets One-Night-Only 4DX Screening – Film News in Brief
Black Bear studio announced Wednesday that “Wicker” will be released in the immersive 4DX format in a one-night-only screening event on Oct. 28. Based on Ursula Wills’ short story “The Wicker Husband,” the film follows a fisherwoman (Olivia Colman) and her torrid romance with her hand-weaved husband played by Alexander Skarsgård. The special screening will […]
Glen Powell Says He Doesn’t Want to Talk Politics, Blames Paramount Marketing Cuts for ‘The Running Man’ Box Office Performance
The actor told Esquire that engaging in political conversations was "not presently possible" and that Paramount "let go of an entire marketing department a month before ['The Running Man'] came out in the middle of a merger."
Frank G. Mancuso Sr. Dies: Former Head Of Paramount Pictures & MGM Was 93
Frank G. Mancuso Sr., the former film studio executive who headed both Paramount Pictures and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer during the 1980s and ’90s, overseeing the release of such major box office hits as Top Gun, Beverly Hills Cop, Fatal Attraction, The Untouchables, Coming to America and Ghost, died of cancer on Thursday, October 1, at his home […]
Frank Mancuso Sr., Former Chairman of Paramount and MGM, Dies at 93
He spent 13 years as a Hollywood chieftain after succeeding Barry Diller in 1984 and Alan Ladd Jr. in 1993.
Frank Mancuso Sr., Former Chief of Paramount, MGM/UA, Dies at 93
Frank Mancuso Sr., a distribution executive who went on to head two of Hollywood’s major studios, Paramount and MGM/UA, died on Oct. 1 at his home in Los Angeles from complications of cancer, per a family statement. He was 93. “When God created Frank Mancuso Sr., he broke the mold,” actor Andy Garcia said in […]
Horror Impact Report: From James Wan to Curry Barker to Naomi Ackie, Variety Crowns the Talent Defining the Genre
Variety’s second annual Horror Impact Report comes in a year when the genre has had unparalleled success. Indie films like “Backrooms” and “Obsession” were box office smashes, high-profile series like “Carrie” and the “Friday the 13th” prequel “Crystal Lake” are set to haunt streamers, and even iconic franchises like “Halloween” and “Hellraiser” are back as […]
Regina Hall Joins Jennifer Aniston In Universal’s Holiday Comedy ‘Naughty’
EXCLUSIVE: Regina Hall is set to join Jennifer Aniston and Peter Dinklage in the Universal pic Naughty from director Olivia Wilde. Jimmy Warden penned the script that Wilde will direct. The project originates from a spec script by Warden. Naughty follows Mallory (Aniston), whose only hope of securing custody of her son from her gaslighting […]
Long Live Steve McQueen: Why the King of Cool Is Hot Again
Three reboots of signature McQueen movies — ‘The Thomas Crown Affair,’ ‘Bullitt,’ and ‘The Getaway’ — are currently in the works. Says his grandkid, “Cool never expires.”
Andrew Garfield Stopped Using ChatGPT as a ‘Fancy Google’ After Playing Sam Altman in ‘Artificial’: ‘I Got a Bit Scared’ and ‘Mistrusting of the Technology’
Andrew Garfield was once one of ChatGPT’s 1.2 billion users. That was before he played OpenAI CEO Sam Altman in Luca Guadagnino’s “Artificial,” which centers on the company’s origin story and Altman’s dramatic 2023 outing (the board reinstated him just five days later). Working on the film led Garfield to dump the chatbot altogether. “I got […]
Toby Emmerich to Consult for FilmNation’s Production Label Infrared
FilmNation Entertainment has tapped former Warner Bros. Motion Picture chair Toby Emmerich to consult on the studio’s production label, Infrared. FilmNation’s Infrared focuses on developing genre films with franchise potential. Emmerich will consult on the development and production of the slate. Upcoming projects from Infrared include Derek Kolstad’s “Painter” starring Amber Midthunder and Walton Goggins […]
‘The Princess Murders’ Comic Invites You to Be Its Guest with Disney Animated Musical-Inspired Trailer (Exclusive)
Comic creators Tony Fleecs and Tim Seeley show the circle of life is short in their kingdom with an Image title that mixes fairy tale romance with a Giallo.
Inside the ‘Verity’ House: Designing a “Fever Dream” You Can’t Escape
Director Michael Showalter, author Colleen Hoover and production designer Amy Williams discuss building the claustrophobic setting for the upcoming film adaptation starring Anne Hathaway, Dakota Johnson and Josh Harnett.
Prime Video’s ‘Marília Mendonça – Sentimento Louco’ Offers Unparalleled Access to Brazil’s Most Popular Singer Five Years After Tragic Plane Crash
On the 5th of November of 2021, Brazil came to a halt. In a tragedy that would lead to national mourning, the country’s most popular singer, Marília Mendonça, died in a plane crash that also took the lives of four other people. Now, almost five years after the shocking accident, Mendonça’s life and career will […]
James Gunn Fires Back at Fan Who Snarked: “Who Asked for a ‘Clayface’ Movie?”
The DC Studios co-chief strongly defended the upcoming body horror movie, which takes DC Studios in a fresh direction.
Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s Artists Equity Launches New Indie Banner: Artists Equity Independent Pictures (EXCLUSIVE)
Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s Artists Equity has launched Artists Equity Independent Pictures, a new banner dedicated to platforming emerging filmmakers in the indie space, Variety can exclusively reveal. Jennifer Westin, SVP, creative affairs and production, will lead day-to-day supervision of the AEIP slate under the guidance of Amy Baer, Artists Equity’s president of film […]
David Harbour & John Cena Set For Fifth Season Comedy ‘The Family Disappears’; Pic Reunites ‘Friendship’ Producing Team
EXCLUSIVE: Fifth Season is set to produce The Family Disappears, a new comedy from Bad Apples helmer Jonatan Etzler starring two-time Emmy winner David Harbour and Emmy nominee John Cena. Based on an original script by Brendan O’Hare with thriller undertones, The Family Disappears follows an overworked dad who returns from a work trip to […]
Glen Powell On Why He Doesn’t Talk Politics & Why ‘Running Man’ Flopped
Glen Powell is opening up about why he shies away from talking about politics publicly, even though his mother worked in the Reagan administration at the U.S. Treasury Department. “Over time, I realized that politics divide people,” Powell told Esquire. “People trying to prove their point — for me, it’s the worst version of a […]
‘Rose’ Producer Rolls With Psychological Family Drama ‘The Shame of the Borbély Family,’ Directed by Kálmán Nagy (EXCLUSIVE)
Hungarian filmmaker Kálmán Nagy’s psychological family drama “The Shame of the Borbély Family” has begun production in Austria and Hungary. The film is produced by Andi G. Hess together with Johannes Schubert under the Austrian-German production outfit Schubert, whose latest feature “Rose” is Austria’s Oscar submission and earned Sandra Hüller a Silver Bear at this […]
‘Michael’ & ‘Friday’ Sequels Among Films To Get California Tax Credits In Latest Funding Round
The California Film Commission on Wednesday revealed 35 feature films that have been selected to receive California tax credits in the most recent round of funding. The list includes the sequel to Michael, Lionsgate’s blockbuster Michael Jackson biopic, as well as New Line’s Friday sequel Last Friday and a new project from indie filmmaker Mike […]
‘The Beast’ Review: Samuel L. Jackson and Renny Harlin Reunite for a Subpar Actioner
The opening minutes of Renny Harlin’s “The Beast” are some of the goofiest we’ve seen on screen in 2026 — and coming a week after both “Digger” and “Verity,” that’s saying something. The latest from this prolific purveyor of schlock features a typically jocular, ornery Samuel L. Jackson navigating a high-tech automobile (the Beast of […]
‘Scream’ At 30: Composer Marco Beltrami On Working With Wes Craven, Creating The Film’s Iconic Score & Why ‘Scream 4’ Missed The Mark
As Gale Weathers would say, it all began with a scream over 911 and ended in a bloodbath that has rocked audiences worldwide ever since Wes Craven’s iconic slasher flick premiered in December 1996. But just as memorable as Drew Barrymore’s gut-wrenching opening scene was Marco Beltrami’s chilling score, one that heightened the suspense and […]
Theo Rossi, Ron Perlman & Rachelle Goulding Wrap Under-The-Radar Horror Film ‘Renew’, First Look Revealed
EXCLUSIVE: Theo Rossi has added an under-the-radar horror film to his genre era in the shape of Renew, which will reunite him on screen with his Sons Of Anarchy, Come With Me and The Saviors co-star Ron Perlman. Filming recently wrapped on Renew, “a suspense-driven horror film that begins as an intimate love story before […]
Michael Irby Cast In Universal’s ‘Miami Vice ’85’ As Lt. Lou Rodriguez
EXCLUSIVE: The cast of Universal’s Miami Vice ’85 continues to expand, with Michael Irby (Mayans M.C., Barry) joining the fold. Michael B. Jordan and Austin Butler lead the film as Ricardo Tubbs and Sonny Crockett, respectively. Alden Ehrenreich, Whitney Peak, Camila Morrone, John Leguizamo, Danny Ramirez and Walton Goggins also star. Irby will play Lt. […]
Oscars: Saudi Arabia Picks ‘A Matter of Life and Death’ as Best Int’l Feature Submission
Written by and starring Sarah Taibah alongside Yaqoub Al Farhan, the Jeddah-set film, blending romance, fantasy and black comedy, is directed by Anas Ba Tahaf.
Julio Peña Set For Third Lead Role In Amazon MGM Romance ‘Throttled’
Julio Peña, the Spanish actor from Netflix’s teen romantic drama trilogy Through My Window, is set for the third starring role in the new Amazon MGM romance Throttled. He joins previously announced Josh Heuston and Nicole Wallace. Based on the first book in Lauren Asher’s Dirty Air series, Throttled centers on Wallace’s Maya Alatorre, an […]
Oscars: Saudi Arabia Submits ‘A Matter Of Life & Death’ For Best International Feature Film
The Saudi Film Commission has selected Anas Ba Tahaf’s A Matter of Life and Death as Saudi Arabia’s official submission for Best International Feature Film at the 99th Academy Awards. Local stars Yaqoub Alfarhan (Scales, Norah) and Sarah Taibah (Mandoob) play an unlikely couple whose love blossoms against the odds in the Jeddah-set feature, one […]
Oscars: Saudi Arabia Picks Quirky Comedy ‘A Matter of Life and Death’ for International Feature Race
Saudi director Anas Ba Tahaf’s romantic black comedy “A Matter of Life and Death” has been selected as Saudi Arabia’s candidate for the Oscars international feature film category. The quirky movie marks the directorial debut of Tahaf, who previously worked as co-producer, editor and first assistant director on Mahmoud Sabbagh’s groundbreaking rom-com “Barakah Meets Barakah,” […]
Miami Film Festival GEMS Sets Lineup With ‘The Debut,’ ‘Club Kid’ as Opening and Closing Titles
Miami Dade College’s Miami Film Festival unveiled the lineup for its 13th Miami Film Festival GEMS, the festival’s fall midseason event taking place from Oct. 29-Nov. 5. GEMS will open with A24’s “The Debut” from writer-director Jesse Eisenberg and close with A24’s “Club Kid” from writer-director and star Jordan Firstman. Julianne Moore stars in “The […]
Toby Emmerich Joins FilmNation Entertainment’s Infrared As Consultant
Former Warner Bros Motion Picture Boss Toby Emmerich had boarded FilmNation Entertainment’s production label Infrared as a consultant. FilmNation and Emmerich recently teamed on the Amazon MGM Studios’ upcoming movie, I Play Rocky, from Peter Farrelly. The pic world premiered at TIFF to great reception and will hit theaters on Nov. 13. Emmerich’s Fireside Films […]
Meridian Pictures Picks Up Mike Maples Western ‘The Regulator’
EXCLUSIVE: Eric Paquette’s Meridian Pictures has picked up The Regulator, a western written by screenwriter Mike Maples (Backtrace). Set in 1895, The Regulator follows “a legendary regulator on the verge of walking away from a life of killing who must protect the secret son he never knew existed when a vengeful cattle empire puts a […]
Actor Jack Reynor to Be Honored at the Oscar Wilde Awards (Exclusive)
The event, ready for its 21st edition, will return to the Ebell theater in Los Angeles on March 11.
Elizabeth Holmes and Husband Billy Haven’t Seen ‘You Can See Everything,’ Nathan Fielder Says Communication With Couple “Broke Down”
Fielder and Lance Oppenheim brought their doc, which starts following Holmes and her family in the month before she's sent to prison, to L.A. on Tuesday night.
‘The Social Reckoning’ Review: Aaron Sorkin Savages Facebook Once Again in Sharp Whistleblower Thriller Led by Mikey Madison and Jeremy Allen White
Jeremy Strong also stars, playing Meta webmaster Mark Zuckerberg in this blistering look at the consequences of what ‘The Social Network’ set in motion.
‘Prince’ Is a Stylized Cinematic Battle Royal With a Show Dog, His Owner, Her Butler and Their Family
Uruguayan writer-director Federico Borgia's solo feature debut, premiering at the London Film Fest, features a ruthless custody battle and explores family ties, avarice and class divides with black humor.