Lisa Kudrow Is Finally Watching ‘Friends’ Because She ‘Ran Out’ of Sitcoms
"Everyone's hilarious and I'm laughing out loud," the actress admitted on Jimmy Kimmel Live
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LIV Golf South Africa 2026: Where to Watch the Golf Tournament Live Online
With the first tournament in Africa of the season, the 2026 LIV Golf South Africa tees off starting on Thursday, Mar. 19 and goes until Sunday, Mar. 22 at Club at Steyn City in Midrand, South Africa. In its inaugural year of play in South Africa, the pro golf season extends
Majority Stake in Tina Turner Catalog Acquired by Pophouse
Pophouse Entertainment, the Sweden-based company co-founded by ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus, has completed a transaction that sees Pophouse becoming an owner alongside BMG in “the music interests of the music catalogue” of the late, legendary R&B singer-songwriter Tina Turner.
Matthias Schoenaerts, Makita Samba, Marton Csokas Join Halle Berry in ‘Fleur’
Berry plays an American housewife who reinvents herself as a high-end Parisian dominatrix in the upcoming drama from 'Our Father, the Devil' director Ellie Foumbi.
‘They Will Kill You’ Cast Joined Under One Condition: “Please Don’t Make It Camp”
Zazie Beetz, Myha'la and Patricia Arquette star in the horror-comedy film that Warner Bros. releases later this month following its SXSW premiere.
Louis Theroux on Capturing Reality of Israeli Settlements in ‘The Settlers’: ‘I’d Never Seen Something Like This Unfold in the Open With No Shame’
In 2010, British journalist Louis Theroux went to Israel to interview ultra-nationalist Jewish settlers who believed it was their religious and political obligation to populate the West Bank for the BBC doc “Ultra Zionists.” Last year, over a decade and a half later, the
Lola Young Proves She’s a Bona Fide Rock Star in a Bravura Return to the Stage in L.A.: Concert Review
How many phenomenal young British female singers can one world withstand? It’s hard to imagine a more enjoyable onslaught than the wave that has brought us Olivia Dean, Raye and Sienna Spiro, among other standouts — and, of course, Lola Young, who may count as the edgiest of
Red Empire, Organic Bow Hybrid AI Animated ‘Home Away AI.i.Ce‘ (EXCLUSIVE)
Brisbane’s Red Empire Prods. and Taipei- and Los Angeles-based Organic Media Group have unveiled their first animated vertical series, “Home Away AI.i.Ce,” at Hong Kong FilMart. Created and written by Cherelynn Baker and directed by Amie Casey, the 12-part sci-fi microseries
Hong Kong’s Mei Ah Entertainment Unveils AI Short Drama Line-Up at FilMart
Mei Ah Entertainment may be one of the biggest and oldest media distribution companies in Hong Kong – it is currently in its 42nd year of operations – but it has always learned to adapt quickly with the times, from its roots as a VHS distributor during the city’s golden age of
Anjali Patil’s ‘Selvi’ Explores Homecare Nurses’ Silent Struggles
Anjali Patil, who co-produced “The Shadowbox,” which played at Berlin in 2025, is producing Sailesh Rathnakumar’s debut feature “Selvi,” a work-in-progress project selected for the 24th Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum. The Tamil-language drama centers on Selvi, a homecare
‘Godzilla Minus Zero’ Preps U.K.–Ireland Bow as Anime Limited Eyes Japanese Cinema Expansion (EXCLUSIVE)
Fresh from its acquisition by Japanese entertainment giant Toho, Glasgow-based Anime Limited is positioning “Godzilla Minus Zero” as a defining theatrical release for Japanese cinema in the U.K. and Ireland, building on the record-breaking success of its predecessor. The highly
Horror, Fantasy, Drama Top Taiwan Pavilion’s Films and Series Highlights at FilMart as It Makes Play for International Partners and Audiences
Taiwan is mounting a significant presence at Hong Kong FilMart, where the Taiwan Pavilion is hosting 106 companies showcasing 243 titles spanning film, television and cross-platform projects, underscoring the territory’s expanding ambitions in international co-production and
‘The Masked Singer’ Reveals Identities of 14 Karat Carrot and Stingray: Here Are the Celebrities Under the Costumes
SPOILER ALERT: Details follow for Season 14, Episode 10 of “The Masked Singer,” “Star Trek Night,” which aired March 18 on Fox. Order in the court: TV judge Greg Mathis and actor/singer Evan Ross (son of Diana Ross) were the latest celebrities to be revealed on Season 14 of
Filipino Political Wake Drama ‘Funeral Flowers’ Unfolds in Real Time at Hong Kong Financing Market
Liza Diño and Ice Seguerra’s “Funeral Flowers” takes place entirely inside a chapel during the four-day wake of Manuel Santos, a beloved public servant and notorious womanizer, as his daughter Maya leads funeral arrangements while mistresses arrive, siblings clash and political
Joko Anwar’s ‘Ghost in the Cell’ Racks Up Key Territory Sales Following Berlin Premiere (EXCLUSIVE)
Joko Anwar’s horror comedy “Ghost in the Cell” has secured distribution across multiple key territories following its world premiere at the Berlin Film Festival, with Barunson E&A closing deals for Poland, the U.K., Ireland, France and Australasia. Media4fun picked up Poland
Anthony Chen-Produced Malaysian Drama Explores Identity Through Tiger Mascot
Tan Ce Ding’s debut feature “Somewhere in the South” follows protagonist Boon, a restless young man in a forgotten Malaysian town who gets roped into wearing a political party’s tiger mascot suit during a sudden by-election, only to discover he’s losing himself inside. The
Filmart: French Editor Matthieu Laclau Talks China Industry Changes, Looming Shadow of AI
Nearly 20 years after moving to Beijing on a whim, Laclau has worked with some of the biggest names in Chinese art-house film.
‘Renoir’ Producer’s Drama ‘Life Is Yours’ Follows Cleaner’s Revenge Against Foreign Resort
Emma Kawawada’s “Life Is Yours” centers on Kimie, a 71-year-old cleaner who infiltrates a luxury resort owned by a foreign company that seized her land and caused her husband’s death. Seeking revenge, she approaches the young CEO, Lily, but an unexpected maternal bond develops
Immersive Art Platform Xinemarte Set to Transform Asian Cinemas Into Experiential Venues (EXCLUSIVE)
Creative technology company SQNXR is bringing its Xinemarte cinematic art platform to Asia, transforming underutilized cinema spaces into premium immersive audiovisual experiences. The rollout is scheduled to begin in May and the rest of the year in Taiwan, Hong Kong and South
Chinese Hit Satire ‘Johnny Keep Walking!’ to Get French Remake Through Master Movies (EXCLUSIVE)
French production company Master Movies has acquired the French remake rights for the 2023 Chinese comedy feature “Johnny Keep Walking!” The deal was struck with Chinese film company Tiger Pictures Entertainment and marks one of the rare instances of a mainland Chinese film
‘Dune 3’ and ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ in Stand-Off Over Same Release Date: “Somebody’s Gotta Move”
Some theater owners — starved for big movies — wish the wealth could be spread out over time: "That’s a level of overwhelm that doesn’t make sense."
Sundance-Winning Iranian Filmmaker’s ‘Rainy Dreams’ Explores Children’s Nightmares Amid Displacement at Hong Kong Financing Forum
Alireza Ghasemi’s “Rainy Dreams” combines live action and animation to explore the dreams of displaced children waiting in limbo in Calais, France, transforming their nocturnal visions into animated sequences including a candle sealed in a crate, a circus of judgment and a boy
Ryan Gosling Says Harrison Ford’s “Not Like Us” After Seeing Him “House Half a Bottle of Advil as a Joke”
The 'Project Hail Mary' star is detailing some stories while filming 2017's 'Blade Runner 2049' with the legendary actor.
Busan Winner’s Absurdist Parable ‘Fishers of Men’ Explores Obsession
Indian filmmaker Sanju Surendran’s “Fishers of Men” centers on Sreekumar, a vegetarian bank officer in Kerala whose contented, orthodox life unravels after a bizarre incident at a party forces him to consume alcohol and fish, triggering an uncontrollable obsession that
AI-Realized, Human-Written Microdrama Series ‘Spore Fall’ Unveiled by Singapore Studio Edenstone (EXCLUSIVE)
Singapore-based studio Edenstone has revealed “Spore Fall,” a human-written, AI-realized microdrama series. The sci-fi project introduces a hybrid production model in which human-authored scripts and narratives are brought to life through AI-generated visuals, targeting
AI Ethics and the Future of Filmmaking Debated at FilMart Forum: ‘If We Cannot Stop Technology, Then We Should Be Asking What We Can Gain From It.”
AI and its rapidly expanding role in film and television production took center stage at a FilMart, which gathered five industry veterans across technology, directing and production to discuss the hot topic. Opening the session, Oscar-winning filmmaker Ruby Yang, who heads the
‘Chainsaw Man’ Movie, Mass-Market Campaign and Surging Data Fuel Crunchyroll’s Drive to Make India Anime’s Next Global Powerhouse (EXCLUSIVE)
Anime streamer Crunchyroll is making its most aggressive push yet into India, backed by audience data showing watch time in the country has grown 3.5 times in a year, a mass-market brand campaign and an exclusive on “Chainsaw Man the Movie: Reze Arc” — all part of a long-term
‘Labubu’ Movie Set at Sony With ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ Screenwriter Steven Levenson to Join ‘Paddington’ Director Paul King
Pop Mart and Sony Pictures’ “Labubu” movie has officially unveiled the creative team that will bring the global phenomenon to the big screen. BAFTA-nominated director Paul King (“Wonka,” “Paddington”) will produce and direct the film, and will co-write the screenplay with
Labubu Live-Action Movie Lands Steven Levenson to Pen Script With Director Paul King for Sony
The studio confirms that a feature is officially in early development that will adapt Pop Mart's line of monster figurines.
Hwang Dong-hyuk on Life After ‘Squid Game’ and Why His Next Project Is Even More Brutal
Chatting with The Hollywood Reporter at Filmart, the Korean auteur shares the vision behind his violent new film 'KO Club,' and the three Korean movies that most shaped him.
Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum 2026 Hotlist
The Hollywood Reporter selects five buzzy titles from HAF that could follow Tommy Ng Kai-ching's 'Another World' and Wu Zao's 'Light Pillar' and become breakout successes.
Directable AI Set to Disrupt Film and TV Biz: ‘It’s Going to Help Small Film Industries in Asia Compete’
Generative AI has already changed commercial advertising, is replacing countless processes within film and TV production and is poised to upend even newer technology such as virtual production, says filmmakers and technologists who have spoken to Variety on the sidelines of
Nippon TV’s ‘Tokyo Miko Ninja’ Shows What Human-AI Co-Creation Looks Like in Practice (EXCLUSIVE)
When Nippon TV premiered “Tokyo Miko Ninja” in January, the Japanese broadcaster wasn’t testing the waters on AI-integrated drama production. It was, by its own account, making a declaration. Set in a stylized version of present-day Tokyo where the sensibility of the Edo period
As War Drives Viewers to Streaming, Pakistan’s Begin Platform Expands Content Slate and Eyes South Asian Growth (EXCLUSIVE)
With war in the Middle East and between Pakistan and Afghanistan reshaping viewing habits across the region, Begin CEO Jonathan Mark-Tatti sees opportunity where others see disruption. “Geopolitical instability creates economic and operational challenges, but it often increases
Sakha Filmmakers Make First Coordinated Industry Push at Hong Kong FilMart With 20-Project Slate
Filmmakers from the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia, Russia) are mounting their first organized appearance at Hong Kong FilMart, presenting a regional booth with a slate of more than 20 projects spanning horror, supernatural thrillers, comedy and socially driven drama. The
Hong Kong’s First Multi-Sensory XR Film Announced at Filmart (EXCLUSIVE)
Hong Kong cinema takes a bold leap into the immersive era as veteran director and cinematographer Kwok-man Keung unveils “Harbour Dreams: Hong Kong XR Adventure” at this year’s FilMart. Hailed as the city’s first 6D multi-sensory film, the 20-minute experience blends VR, AR,
‘Invincible’ Bosses Explain Those Young Nolan Flashbacks and Eve’s Big Reveal in Season 4 Premiere: ‘That’s Going to Be Heightening Things Moving Forward’
SPOILER ALERT: This article contains spoilers for the Season 4 premiere of “Invincible,” now streaming on Prime Video. The “Invincible” Season 4 premiere did something that the show, and Robert Kirkman’s original superhero comic book series, has never done before: show fans the
Bravo Hits Pause on ‘The Real Housewives of Miami’ Amid Low Ratings
After weeks of worried murmurs in the Bravosphere about the status of “The Real Housewives Miami,” a source confirms to Variety that Bravo has indeed hit pause on the show, which concluded its seventh season in October. The show, though beloved among devoted Bravo fans, is the
Netflix Execs: No, We Don’t Tell Filmmakers to Repeat the Plot
Film and series heads Dan Lin and Bela Bajaria insist there’s no “formula” for a Netflix title.
James Ransone’s ‘Sinister’ and ‘Black Phone’ Director Says the ‘Oscars In Memoriam Ignored Him but I Cannot’ After Late Actor Excluded: ‘He Is Dearly Missed’
“Sinister” and “The Black Phone” director Scott Derrickson called out the Oscars on X for excluding his frequent collaborator James Ransone from this year’s televised In Memoriam section. Ransone died by suicide in December at 46 years old. The actor starred in both of
Netflix Execs ‘Laughed’ at Claim the Streamer Demands Movies and TV Shows Restate Plot Points for Viewers: ‘There’s No Such Principle’
Despite Matt Damon and Ben Affleck’s recent suggestion, Netflix execs say they’re not asking filmmakers to repeat their film or TV plots in show dialogue. “There is no such principle,” Netflix film chief Dan Lin told reporters Wednesday as the streamer met with press to tout
Lorde Reveals She’s Now an Independent Artist After Her Contract With Universal Expired Last Year
Lorde has revealed that she’s now an independent artist after her contract with Universal Music Group expired late last year. The singer shared the news of her newfound independence in a series of community voice notes to her fans, explaining that she was looking for a “clean
‘Rockford Files’ NBC Reboot Pilot Casts Felix Solis
Felix Solis is the latest addition to the “Rockford Files” reboot pilot at NBC, Variety has learned. Solis will appear alongside previously announced lead David Boreanaz and fellow cast members Michaela McManus and Jacki Weaver. The official logline for the show states, “Newly
Universal Music Chief Lucian Grainge Explains His Excitement for AI at Nvidia Conference: ‘I Love Disruption’
Lucian Grainge, chairman-CEO of Universal Music Group, doesn’t tend to shy away from new technologies, as he explained on Tuesday in a future-focused conversation with Nvidia entertainment exec Richard Kerris, in which he made apparent his enthusiasm for AI. “I love change. I
Variety Launches Inaugural ‘TV Week,’ a Curated Series of Invite-Only Emmy Season Events
For the first time, Variety is introducing TV Week, a dynamic, invite-only slate of events designed exclusively for TV Academy voters and guild members during the height of Emmy season. Spanning four days from May 5-8, the inaugural slate of events will cut through the noise of
Kid Rock Says Conan O’Brien’s Oscars Diss Mocking Turning Point USA’s Super Bowl Halftime Show Was ‘Not a Very Good’ Joke
Kid Rock was not a fan of Conan O’Brien Oscars joke targeting Turning Point USA’s Super Bowl Halftime Show, where the musician served as the headlining act. During his opening monologue while hosting the 2026 Oscars, O’Brien quipped: “Tonight could get political, and if that
Senator Raises Questions About Reported $10 Billion Payment to Trump Administration for TikTok U.S. Deal, Including Whether President Requested Any Compensation for Himself
Investors including Oracle and Silver Lake that acquired stakes in the new TikTok U.S. joint venture are reportedly paying a $10 billion fee to the Trump administration as part of the deal — and now a senior Democratic senator is looking for answers about the arrangement. In
Mary Shalaby Joins Jake Johnson and Keith David in NBC Comedy Pilot From Dan Goor, Luke Del Tredici (EXCLUSIVE)
Mary Shalaby has joined the cast of Dan Goor and Luke Del Tredici’s untitled NBC comedy pilot. She will play Raya, who is described as “the flagrantly disinterested receptionist at the Grant Taggart PI Agency.” Specific plot details about the project are not yet known; the
Choreographer Lorin Latarro on Modernizing ‘Chess,’ Empowering Her Female Ensemble During ‘One Night in Bangkok’ and the Dance Move that Took Six Hours of Prep
Choreographer Lorin Latarro is no stranger to the musical “Chess.” Aside from listening to the cast recording on repeat as a theater kid, she worked on the 2019 revival at the Kennedy Center. This time around, she’s back on Broadway and curated the moves for the revival with
Jay-Z to Celebrate ‘Reasonable Doubt’ and ‘The Blueprint’ Anniversaries With Back-to-Back Yankee Stadium Concerts
Jay-Z is planning to celebrate the anniversaries of two of his most celebrated albums — “Reasonable Doubt” and “The Blueprint” — with back-to-back concerts at Yankee Stadium this summer. The rapper will honor the 30th anniversary of “Reasonable Doubt” with a show on July 10,
