1-2 Special Acquires Cannes Critics’ Week Winner ‘La Gradiva’ for North America
Marine Atlan's drama follows a group of French high school students on a class trip to the ruins of Pompeii.
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Spy Thriller ‘Gray,’ Starring Patricia Clarkson, Rupert Everett and Lydia West, Acquired by View TV Studios
View TV Studios, the production and distribution company behind View TV ONE, has closed a deal to acquire U.S. rights to “Gray,” AGC Television’s espionage thriller, starring Patricia Clarkson, Rupert Everett and Lydia West. The eight-part series will premiere on View TV ONE in
Bill Lawrence, Warner Bros. TV Option Steven Rowley Novel ‘Take Me With You’ (EXCLUSIVE)
Bill Lawrence and Warner Bros. Television have optioned the brand new Steven Rowley novel “Take Me With You” with plans to adapt it as a series, Variety has learned exclusively. The book was just published on May 19 by Putnam, an imprint of Penguin Random House. No writer is
Los Javis Talk Casting Penélope Cruz and Glenn Close in Epic ‘La Bola Negra’ and Championing Queer Stories: ‘We Deserve to Have Big Movies’
Javier Ambrossi and Javier Calvo, known as Los Javis, are the most influential creative duo currently working in Spain. The two are behind the hit series “Veneno” and “Dressed in Blue,” with their thriller “La Mesías” acclaimed at the Sundance Film Festival and prized at
‘The Black Ball’ Review: The Spirit of Lorca Binds Gay Men Across a Century in an Ambitious but Distended Drama
“This land has too many love stories buried in its fields,” says the Spanish poet Federico García Lorca in a brief dramatized appearance at the tail end of “The Black Ball” — a film otherwise content just to channel his spirit as it exhumes the suppressed inner lives of gay men
Lucas Acher’s ‘Laser-Cat’ Wins the Cannes Festival’s La Cinef Best Short Award
We have a winner! Lucas Acher’s “Laser-Cat” has come out on top of La Cinef section at Cannes. For its 29th edition, La Cinef has selected 14 live-action and 5 animated shorts from among the 2,750 sent by film schools all over the world. Directed by 12 women and 9 men, they
Cannes Directors’ Fortnight Prizes: Sarah Arnold’s Debut ‘Too Many Beasts ’ Wins the Best European Film Award
Hailed by critics as “grippingly offbeat,” “as extravagant as it irresistible” and “impactful and very funny,” French director Sarah Arnold’s Too Many Beasts” (“L’Espèce explosive”) has scooped this year’s Europa Cinemas Label for best European film at the 2026 Cannes
‘Summer of ’94’ Doc Filmmakers and Soccer Icons Reflect on Coach Bora Milutinović’s Lasting Legacy
“Summer of ’94” documentary filmmakers Dave LaMattina and Chad Walker joined U.S. soccer figures Alexi Lalas, Ed Foster-Simeon and John Harkes at SXSW for a panel moderated by Variety in partnership with Imagine Entertainment, to reflect on the legacy of legendary soccer coach
Team Behind Americana at Brand Memes Account to Write Heist Comedy ‘Jay Pegs Auto Mart’
Forced Perspective and The Boldest are producing the feature, which comes from the anonymous writers who run the popular Los Angeles social media page.
French Thriller ‘Too Many Beasts’ Wins Europa Cinemas Label Award at Cannes
Sarah Arnold's debut feature takes the prize in the Directors' Fortnight section, with the jury praising the film's genre-bending originality.
‘Sinners’ Heads to Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights
Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners” is headed to Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights as a haunted house experience. Halloween Horror Nights begins Aug. 28 at Universal Studios Orlando Resort and Sept. 3 at Universal Studios Hollywood. In a statement, Coogler, Zinzi Coogler and Sev
‘Cliffhanger’ Reboot Distributor Row K in Talks to Partner With Neon Label Decal on Theatrical Release (EXCLUSIVE)
“Cliffhanger,” a reimagining of the Sylvester Stallone climbing thriller starring Lily James and Pierce Brosnan, is shoring up a new strategy for its summer theatrical release, multiple insiders told Variety. The fate of the film, helmed by action director Jaume Collet-Sera
Julianne Moore to Lead Mother-Daughter Comedy Film From Netflix, Barack and Michelle Obama’s Higher Ground (EXCLUSIVE)
After a string of dramatic roles, Oscar winner Julianne Moore is walking toward the light as executive producer and star of a new Netflix comedy film. The untitled project hails from Higher Ground, the production venture founded by Barack and Michelle Obama. It’s described as a
‘Chicken for Linda!’ Co-Director Sébastien Laudenbach Takes on Iconic Character in ‘Viva Carmen’ – And Readies to Work with Singer Silvia Pérez Cruz (EXCLUSIVE)
Sébastien Laudenbach isn’t afraid to take on Bizet’s iconic “Carmen” in his latest animation, “Viva Carmen,” and make it more child-friendly. “It’s not a film ‘adapted’ for kids, but it’s accessible to them,” he told Variety. Set in Seville in 1845, it follows teenage Salva who
Tokyo Broadcasting System Expands U.S. Operations, Hires Elwin de Groot as Senior Unscripted Development Exec
Japan’s Tokyo Broadcasting System has tapped former MTV Entertainment Studios and Sony Pictures TV exec Elwin de Groot has joined the Japanese network as senior unscripted development executive. The news comes after de Groot served as an advisor for Tokyo Broadcasting System
‘Emily in Paris’ to End With Season 6 at Netflix
“Emily in Paris” is now in production on Season 6, which will also be the show’s last. Netflix announced Thursday that the popular series will conclude with its sixth season, which is currently shooting in Greece. The Season 6 renewal was announced back in January. “Making
Supriya Pathak Kapur Makes Directing Debut With India-Australia Co-Production ‘Our Story’ (EXCLUSIVE)
Indian actor Supriya Pathak Kapur will make her directorial debut with “Our Story,” a loose biographical feature co-written with her daughter Sanah Kapur and developed as a collaboration between her banner Rabasusah and Australian production company Films and Casting Temple.
Rakan Mayasi on Shooting ‘Yesterday the Eye Didn’t Sleep’ in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley: ‘I Had to Repeat Takes Twice Because of the Sound of an Explosion Over the Dialogue’
Palestinian director Rakan Mayasi is in Cannes with his first feature “Yesterday the Eye Didn’t Sleep,” about two Bedouin sisters named Rim and Jahawer contending with patriarchal rituals in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley. Shot without a script and with a cast of non-professionals,
Spotify and Universal Music Announce Licensing Agreements for ‘Responsible’ AI-Generated Covers and Remixes
Spotify and Universal Music Group have announced a major recorded-music and music-publishing licensing agreements that will enable Spotify to launch a new tool allowing fans to create covers and remixes of their favorite songs from participating artists and songwriters. The
Mike White Reveals Two ‘Survivor 50’ Contestants Joining ‘The White Lotus’ Season 4
White, showrunner of the HBO series and a two-time Survivor contestant, announced that Charlie Davis and Kamilla Karthigesu are checking into White Lotus ' fourth season
‘Jackass’ TV Show Returns to Paramount+ With ‘Restored Original’ Episodes
Ahead of the theatrical release of the franchise’s fifth and final movie, all three seasons of the original “Jackass” TV show has returned to Paramount+ with “restored original” episodes. At the end of 2025, the series was temporarily removed from Paramount+ at the request of
Léa Mysius Brings Family Chaos to Cannes Competition with Tense Thriller ‘The Birthday Party’
Director Léa Mysius marks her Cannes competition debut with “The Birthday Party,” an atmospheric home invasion thriller adapted from Laurent Mauvignier’s 2023 novel. Hafsia Herzi stars as a woman who comes home to one hell of a surprise when Benoît Magimel and his two brothers
Tilda Swinton Says AI ‘Doesn’t Have a Chance’ Against Cinema That Avoids Formula at Cannes Masterclass
Tilda Swinton drew a sharp line between cinema and artificial intelligence at a Cannes Film Festival masterclass, arguing that AI poses a genuine threat only when filmmakers default to the predictable. “I believe as long as what we’re not producing is formulaic and in some way
WWE Sets Documentary ‘Made in America’ as Part of America 250 on USA Network (EXCLUSIVE)
WWE is getting into the patriotic spirit of America’s 250th birthday with a new documentary special. Variety has learned exclusively that USA Network is set to air the doc “WWE: Made in America” on May 29 immediately following a new episode of “SmackDown.” Encore presentations
Quentin Tarantino Warned Brad Pitt “You’ll Be Dead in This Business,” Co-Star Says
"Brad, what did you just do?" Pitt was allegedly scolded on the set of 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,' co-star Bruce Dern says.
Imax Boards American Cowboy Doc ‘Frontier’ From ‘Oppenheimer’ Producer (Exclusive)
Anouk Masson Krantz’s directorial debut is produced by Charles Roven’s Atlas Entertainment and Believe Entertainment Group.
Charlamagne Tha God’s ‘The Breakfast Club’ Coming to Netflix: ‘We’re Building Something Powerful’
Streamer will air the video of the program live, concurrently with radio
Murdered Babies, Axes Buried in Heads and a Monstrous Maika Monroe: ‘Victorian Psycho’ Shocks Cannes Into 5-Minute Ovation
Over the last week, Cannes served up a fair share of European arthouse and even a splash of insane live-action CGI monster action (that’ll be “Hope”). On Thursday, it was the turn of bloody horror to have its moment at the festival. “Victorian Psycho,” Zachary Wigon’s gothic
SPC Buys Animated Feature ‘Iron Boy’ Out of Cannes
Louis Clichy’s hand-painted animated feature, about an 11-year-old boy in rural France, premiered in Cannes' Un Certain Regard section.
Fortyseven Communications Opens London Office and Integrates With Sister Agency Indigo Pearl; Launches Global Creator Relations Practice
The Keywords Studios-owned Fortyseven Communications (47) is opening a London office and launching a global creation relations division, two developments that come as the gaming and entertainment-focused PR company is marking its 20th anniversary. As part of the move into
From ‘The Odyssey’ to ‘The Invite,’ 10 Summer Movies We Can’t Wait to See in Theaters
Say hello to summer movie season! As always, studios are bringing back familiar franchises — “Star Wars,” “Minions,” Marvel and “Toy Story” among them — to fuel the most profitable stretch for the industry. But Hollywood isn’t steering clear of new ideas over the next four
Apple to Broadcast MLS Game Shot Entirely on 15 iPhones, First Major Live Sports Event Captured Using Only Smartphones
Apple has frequently touted the use of professional-grade iPhones by filmmakers to make shorts, commercials and even feature-length movies. And it recently added iPhones to the mix for its MLB and Major League Soccer brodcasts. Now the tech giant is taking the
Film AlUla Bolsters Role as Movie Industry Driver as Saudi Kingdom Raises Its Film Production Rebate to 60 Percent
Saudi Arabia’s Film AlUla – the film commission for the swathe of northwest Saudi Arabia – is bolstering its role as a cornerstone of the kingdom’s ongoing effort to build a film industry ecosystem thanks to its recent partnership with global studios giant MBS Group and its
Rami Malek Nearly Passed on AIDS-Era ‘The Man I Love’ Fearing Freddie Mercury Comparisons
Malek almost passed on Ira Sachs’ AIDS-era Cannes drama 'The Man I Love,' fearing comparisons to his Oscar-winning turn as Freddie Mercury in 'Bohemian Rhapsody.'
‘Clarissa’ Review: Sophie Okonedo Illuminates a Quietly Dazzling Nigerian Reinterpretation of “Mrs Dalloway”
Virginia Woolf’s interior epic “Mrs Dalloway” survives — and thrives — following a surprisingly successful transplantation from London to Lagos in brothers Arie and Chuko Esiri’s vivid and velvety “Clarissa,” which places a superb Sophie Okonedo, radiant with melancholy, at the
Director Lukas Dhont on Queer World War I Romance ‘Courage’: ‘It’s a Part of History I Hadn’t Seen Portrayed’
Lukas Dhont was inspired to make “Coward,” a gay love story set in the trenches of World War I, after he came across a series of black-and-white photographs of soldiers staging shows for their fellow troops. As part of the performances, some of the men would crossdress in order
Esports World Cup to Move From Saudi Arabia to France in 2026 (Gaming News Roundup)
The 2026 Esports World Cup will be held outside Saudi Arabia for the first time in the event’s history, taking place in Paris, France, from July 6 through August 23. The Esports Foundation made the announcement, stating that “following an extended evaluation process, and in
Rami Malek Hesitated to Star in Ira Sachs’ Gay Drama ‘The Man I Love’ After Playing Freddie Mercury: ‘I Had to Address the Fear’
Rami Malek had been itching to work with Ira Sachs for some time — going as far as to ask his representatives to get him a meeting with the filmmaker. But when he got the script for Sachs’ next movie, “The Man I Love” — about a New York theater performer navigating life, love
MC Jin, Pacific Music Group Launch Family Style Records Imprint (EXCLUSIVE)
Pacific Music Group has launched Family Style Records, a new Hip-Hop imprint led by MC Jin, debuting alongside Jin’s new single, “Humble Flex,” in celebration of AAPI Heritage Month. The label launches with a four-act roster: MC Jin alongside Korean sibling duo Lil Cherry and
Broadway Publicity Firm BBB Announces New Ownership, Rebrands as Aperture Public Relations
BBB, one of the leading publicity firms that covers Broadway, has been acquired by veteran press agents and longtime employees Heath Schwartz and Michelle Farabaugh. The company will be rebranded as Aperture Public Relations, effective June 1. Boneau/Bryan-Brown, formed in 1991
Maika Monroe’s Wayward Governess Is Bloodthirsty in Gory Teaser Trailer for ‘Victorian Psycho’
The horror film gets its world premiere in Cannes' Un Certain Regard on Thursday, after giving The Hollywood Reporter an exclusive first look.
Netflix Snaps Up ‘Bad Bridgets,’ Irish Period Thriller Starring Emilia Jones and Alison Oliver From ‘Kneecap’ Director (EXCLUSIVE)
“Bad Bridgets” the Irish period thriller that was one of the buzziest projects to launch at last year’s American Film Market, has found a home. Netflix will release the film, which will be led by Emilia Jones (“CODA,” “Task”) and Alison Oliver, globally. Oliver, who has starred
Netflix Will Soon Start Livestreaming Charlamagne Tha God’s ‘Breakfast Club’ Worldwide in Deal With iHeartMedia, Marking Its First Live Daily Show
Live from New York: It’s Charlamagne Tha God and the crew from “The Breakfast Club” morning talk show — on Netflix. Starting June 1, Netflix will stream “The Breakfast Club” live daily, available to subscribers worldwide. It will become the streamer’s first daily live program,
Prashanth Neel Says NTR’s ‘Dragon’ Is His ‘Biggest Attempt at a Patriotic Movie,’ Confirms ‘Salaar’ Sequel to Follow
Indian filmmaker Prashanth Neel is reframing expectations for “Dragon” – his NTR-starring action film targeting a June 2027 release – as his most ambitious patriotic statement to date, while confirming that a “Salaar” sequel will go into production the moment it wraps and
Senate Democrats Implore FCC Chair to Conduct ‘Rigorous’ Review of Paramount-Warner Bros. Merger Foreign Investment: Deal ‘Raises National Security Alarms’
Democratic senators are again urging the FCC to not rubber-stamp Paramount Skydance’s proposed $111 billion takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery — citing concerns over foreign investors, including Middle Eastern wealth funds, that are backing the pact. The pending Paramount-WBD
Watch Stephen Colbert Get Questioned by Billy Crystal, Robert De Niro, Martha Stewart, and More
The Late Show host revealed that he prefers aisle seats, hates trapdoor spiders, and has an autograph given to him by Steve Martin
Ruben Östlund Adds New Scene to ‘The Entertainment System Is Down’ With Nicholas Braun
The two-time Palme d'Or winner, who ruled himself out of this year's Cannes race, makes a festival pit stop to launch MyList, a film recommendation site he's launched in Sweden.
Mick Jagger Set to Star in Alice Rohrwacher’s ‘Three Incestuous Sisters’ Joining Josh O’Connor, Dakota Johnson, Saoirse Ronan, Jessie Buckley, Isabella Rossellini
Mick Jagger is set to star in Italian director Alice Rohrwacher’s adaptation of U.S. author Audrey Niffenegger’s novel “Three Incestuous Sisters,” alongside previously announced cast members Dakota Johnson, Josh O’Connor, Saoirse Ronan, Jessie Buckley and Isabella Rossellini.
