I had dinner with an old friend on Wednesday at L.A.’s Hotel Bel Air, the miraculous kind of catch-up where no one looks at their phone for hours. Afterwards on my way to the valet, I crossed the hotel’s stone bridge and admired the elegant swans that live in a tiny pond
The planned Arkham Asylum TV series is no longer moving forward at Max, Variety has learned. As Variety exclusively reported in October 2022, Antonio Campos had come onboard to serve as writer and showrunner of the series, which was originally meant to be set within the world
Vegetarians, it need hardly be said, might want to give Adam Martinec’s funny, poignant “Our Lovely Pig Slaughter” a wide berth. Meat-eaters, however, should have fewer qualms — indeed, there’s a case to be made that the ethically minded omnivore should take it as mandatory
Never underestimate the allure of Mother Nature. A recent poll conducted by David Herrin’s The Quorom found that tornadoes — and not the movie’s talent — are the chief reason moviegoers want to see Universal’s upcoming summer tentpole Twisters, which hopes to turn into a
Francine Maisler, longtime collaborator with Aaron Sorkin and Steven Soderbergh and casting director for “The Revenant,” “The Big Short,” “Little Women,” “Dune” and “The Bikeriders,” says she’s always been obsessed with performance. “I’m always looking and seeing and my eye is
The recent “Shark Week” tradition of having a DC Universe superhero host the beloved Discovery Channel event continues this year when “Peacemaker’s” John Cena kicks off the festivities this Sunday. Cena’s gig as emcee comes after “Aquaman” Jason Momoa’s turn last year, and
Martina Buchelová’s debut feature “Lover, Not a Fighter” (“Milovník, nie bojovník”) has debuted three first-look stills. Recently awarded at Karlovy Vary Film Festival’s industry section, Eastern Promises, the Slovak-Czech co-production sees Andrej, who is 20, secretly in love
On Friday evening, President Joe Biden will sit down for a conversation with ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos, eight days after his presidential debate with former president Donald Trump. This will be Biden’s first television interview since his shaky debate performance,
Wounded by the breakdown of her first marriage, a young mother of two meets a kind, handsome, charismatic new man and — after a protracted but ultimately successful romantic pursuit — learns to believe in love once more. This would be the complete arc of many a crowd-pleasing
Over 1,500 of the best gamers from around the world are in Saudi Arabia to compete in the world’s largest gaming festival. The 8-week event, which is made up of smaller tournaments, features more than 20 of the most popular games, including “League of Legends,” “Overwatch 2,”
Emma Roberts knows that her new Prime Video movie, “Space Cadet,” is an any easy target for critics and cynics. “It’s earnest,” she says on this week’s “Just for Variety” podcast. “And people are probably going to make fun of that, but it’s like, you know what, whatever. I
Gina Gershon recently said on the “It Happened in Hollywood” podcast (via People) that she was warned against starring in 1996’s “Bound” by her agents because the role was a lesbian character. The actor remembered her agents telling her specifically that she “can’t play a
At the Karlovy Vary Film Festival this week, the Future Frames program, which acts as a springboard for up-and-coming European directors, celebrated its 10th anniversary. During a panel discussion staged by Variety, organizers and backers of the program explained how Future
Lisa Nandy has been named the U.K.’s new culture minister or, to give the title its full name, secretary of state for culture, media and sport. Nandy was appointed as part of the new cabinet by Keir Starmer, the new U.K. prime minister following the Labour Party’s history
Clive Owen has not forgotten his roots. Growing up in a working-class family in Coventry in the 1970s U.K., he yearned to explore different roles in life – and the youth wing of the city’s civic Belgrade Theatre gave him that opportunity. More than four decades later, Owen —
Fireworks, barbecues and Gru. That’s how many Americans celebrated the Fourth of July, as “Despicable Me 4” topped the box office, earning a commanding $20.4 million. The film, the latest entry in Universal and Illumination’s wildly successful franchise about a domesticated
SPOILER WARNING: This story contains descriptions of specific scenes in “Kill.” “Kill” star Lakshya says his mother is very proud that he’s starring in the new action movie. However, that doesn’t mean she’s actually watched the film. “She has seen the trailer and teaser, but
The 2024 Galway Film Fleadh on Ireland’s tranquil and picturesque west coast is set to open with one of the noisiest films of the year, “Kneecap.” A comedy biopic about the real-life Belfast rap group of the same name, the feature became a breakout hit in Sundance (where it was
Kevin Bacon revealed in a recent interview with Vanity Fair that he commissioned facial prosthetics so he could try going out in public without being noticed as an iconic actor. As the actor said: “I’m not complaining, but I have a face that’s pretty recognizable. Putting my
Vanessa Hudgens took to Instagram following the birth of her first child to call out the paparazzi for disrespecting her family’s privacy. Paparazzi were stationed outside of the hospital where Hudgens gave birth and took photos of her leaving the building while holding her
With “MaXXXine,” writer-director Ti West completes the trilogy he began with “X” and followed with the prequel “Pearl,” shepherding audiences through three bloodstained stories of ambition in as many years. After himself infiltrating Hollywood’s ecosystem as a scrappy outsider
Portuguese auteur Pedro Costa will host this year’s Creators Lab, organized and operated in Mexico by Playlab Films. The 2024 edition of the Lab will be held in Mexico, with a record 50 emerging filmmakers in attendance. Pedro Costa Lab: Mexico will run from Sept. 23 to Oct. 3
When Katori Hall’s Starz drama, “P-Valley,” debuted in 2020, it showcased a world that had never been spotlighted on television. “P-Valley” follows the erotic dancers of the gritty but beloved strip club The Pynk, run by Uncle Clifford (Nicco Annan), the club’s
Filmmaker and philanthropist Abigail Disney called on President Biden to exit the 2024 presidential race — and said she’s not going to donate to Democrats unless he bows out. Disney, granddaughter of Roy O. Disney, who is the co-founder of the Walt Disney Co. and Walt’s
Nicole Holofcener makes films that are about the high drama and inherent comedy in everyday life. The writer-director has long turned what could be seen as a plot point in a larger story — a best friend moving in with a fiancé (Walking and Talking) or a husband lying about
A newly-restored version of Nicolas Winding Refn’s 1996 Danish cult classic Pusher will be featured at this year’s Venice Film Festival in the Venice Classics Competition Restored Films section. The Danish crime drama, which featured a break-out performance by a young Mads
Daniel Brühl went to “Eden” and survived to tell the tale. “I can’t compare it to any of my films. I’ve never done anything like it,” he says, teasing Ron Howard’s upcoming thriller. “Two days ago, I was doing the dubbing and saw Jude Law giving me a hard time on screen. We are
France’s Oscar committee, which selects the country’s submission for the best international film category, has introduced key changes affecting the size of the group and term length of its members. In an announcement on Friday, the CNC — France’s National Film Board — revealed
The U.K.’s entertainment industry has responded to Labour’s landslide victory in the country’s general election, which ends 14 years of Conservative rule with Keir Starmer set to become prime minister. With Labour’s win widely anticipated thanks to the plummeting public support
“After years away Kaloyan returns to his native Bulgaria in order to sell his late father’s flat. What at first seems like a routine task devoid of emotion gradually develops into a journey to the depths of his being, where he is confronted with distant traumas, yet he also
India’s Yash Raj Films (YRF) has unveiled the title for its first female-fronted installment in the studio’s successful spy universe franchise. Titled “Alpha,” the film stars Alia Bhatt and Sharvari as super agents. “This is a clear take by YRF to highlight a societal
Indian indie producer Shiladitya Bora is set to begin production on “Bayaan,” a new drama featuring Huma Qureshi (“Gangs of Wasseypur,” “Leila”) and Chandrachur Singh (“Maachis,” “Josh”). The film, by writer-director Bikas Mishra (“Chauranga”), is slated to start shooting this
The Labour Party has secured a decisive landslide victory in the U.K.’s general election, marking a shift in the country’s political dynamics after 14 years of Conservative rule. With only a few votes left to be counted on Friday morning, Labour, led by Keir Starmer, has won
Argentine rapper and singer Tiago PZK has dropped his star-studded sophomore album, “Gotti A.” The 14-song collection boasts features from fellow Argentine music stars like Nicki Nicole, Duki and Trueno, along with Manuel Turizo and Justin Quiles. Executively produced by Tiago
After filming in his native Compton and performing the song six back-to-back times at his “The Pop Out” concert last month, Kendrick Lamar has released the long-awaited video for “Not Like Us,” the biggest hit from the beef between him and Drake. The clip, directed by Dave Free
The last time Ukrainian director Sergei Loznitsa made a documentary about contemporary events in his homeland was back in 2014: “Maidan,” a rigorously observational chronicle of the Euromaidan uprising in Kyiv, was both immediate and calmly detached. Eschewing overt narrative
For years, the Golden Melody Awards (GMAs) have spotlighted Taiwanese Indigenous music. At this year’s event, Makav, a member of Taiwan’s indigenous Bunun tribe, clinched the coveted Best New Artist title. “I am truly grateful! I hope to encourage fellow 20-year-old creators to
Taiwanese-South Korean singer Shi Shi Sun achieved a career milestone by winning Best Female Mandarin Singer at the 35th Golden Melody Awards (GMAs) for her 2023 album “Boomerang.” This year’s win marks her third Golden Melody Award, following her previous victories: Best
MC HotDog, a dominant figure in Asia’s hip-hop scene, recently clinched accolades at the 35th Golden Melody Awards, where he was named as Best Mandarin Male Singer and Best Lyricist. His earlier GMA success came 17 years earlier at the 18th Golden Melody Awards with “Wake Up,”
