The Academy’s Bill Kramer and Lynette Howell Taylor to Attend Tokyo Film Festival
AMPAS is set to have a significant presence at Asia's biggest film event, and will also an event for Academy members.
Headlines
- All
- Africa
- Asia
- Business
- Culture
- Environment
- Europe
- Gaming
- Markets
- Middle East
- Movies & TV
- Music
- Politics
- Science
- South America
- Tech
- World News
MK2 Films Scores Brady Corbet, Kleber Mendonça Filho, Céline Sciamma Shorts (EXCLUSIVE)
LYON, France — Short films by Brady Corbet, Kleber Mendonça Filho and Céline Sciamma are joining the international sales catalogue of Paris-based MK2 Films, which is expanding its collection of lesser-seen works by established filmmakers. The acquisitions, unveiled during
FlyDubai Hijacking Incident Set for Development as an Inspirational Movie by Dori Media Group and India’s Sphereorigin
The harrowing but ultimately hopeful story of the FlyDubai airline hijacking incident last month is being developed as a narrative film by Dori Media Group and India’s Sphereorigin. The Sept. 30 incident is believed to have been a terror plot by the co-pilot of the FlyDubai
Christian Slater, Trine Dyrholm, Dree Hemingway Join Dogma25 Feature ‘Incidents of Intimacy’
Johannes Lilleøre, Julie Agnete Vang, Laura Drasbæk and Michael Moritzen will co-star in the low budget drama, directed by Jesper Just under the strict Dogma "vow of chastity."
‘7 Miles Out,’ Starring Lucy Halliday, Tells a Coming-of-Age Story Full of Grief, Music and Friendship
Carol Morley's adaptation of her semi-autobiographical novel about her adolescence near Manchester also stars Gemma Whelan and Aidan Gillen and premieres at the BFI London Film Festival.
What’s Driving Spanish TV? Spanish Drama Originals on Platforms, Renewals and Crossover Genres
What’s trending in Spanish drama series and how the sector fares abroad and at home were some of the points briefly outlined by Gloria Saló from Spanish consultancy firm GECA on Tuesday during a Mipcom presentation sponsored by Audiovisual from Spain. The report “Spanish
YouTube’s Virtues, Industry Consolidation, Christie Brinkley and ‘Baywatch’: Trends and Themes From a Busy Mipcom
A new virtuous circle is emerging for media and entertainment giants that promises to harness the advantages of disparate platforms, digital and linear, powered by the connective tissue of YouTube. This was one of the dominant themes that emerged in four whirlwind days of panel
Karla Sofía Gascon, Itziar Ituño Set for Political Fantasy Satire ‘When Devils Rule’ from Spain’s Atlantika Films (EXCLUSIVE)
Karla Sofía Gascón, Oscar-nominated for “Emila Perez,” and Itziar Ituño of “Money Heist” have committed to star in the good vs. evil Spanish TV show “When Devils Rule” (“Los demones mandan”), to be pitched at Tallinn’s TV Beats Co-Financing Market running Nov. 16-17. The
Mipcom Title ‘The Castle’ Shapes Up as Another Hit From ‘La Bola Negra’ Producer Movistar Plus
“Zodiac” with sex clubs, but a case also seen from the POV of the perpetrator and a victim, “The Castle” “El Castillo”) a big hit at San Sebastián, marks the series creator debut of Isabel Peña, part with Rodrigo Sorogoyen of one of the most exciting tandems not only in Spain,
Netflix’s ‘Victorious’ Spinoff ‘Hollywood Arts’ Is a Bland Copy of Shows From a Past Era: TV Review
Thirteen years after Nickelodeon’s “Victorious” did its final curtain call, Netflix is returning to the Los Angeles-based performing arts school with a brand-new spinoff, “Hollywood Arts.” Created by Jake Farrow and Samantha Martin, the series follows Trina Vega (Daniella Monet
Gersh Launches Victoria House, Expanding Into Scripted Films, True Crime and International Co-Productions (EXCLUSIVE)
Gersh is stepping up its international content ambitions with the launch of Victoria House, the new identity of Emmy-winning Spanish production outfit You First Originals, as the U.S. talent agency completes the integration of You First under its global brand on Oct. 15. The
Kirti Kulhari’s Production Debut ‘Kinaare’ to Premiere at Dharamshala, Rima Das’ ‘Not a Hero’ to Open Festival
Kirti Kulhari’s first feature as a producer, “Kinaare” (“Shores”), will premiere at the 15th Dharamshala International Film Festival (DIFF), which will open with Rima Das’ Berlin-awarded “Not a Hero.” The festival will run Oct. 29–Nov. 1 at the Tibetan Children’s Village in
‘South Park’: Stan Discovers Sephora’s Backrooms Before Ike Aura Battles a Looksmaxxing Chad
In the third episode of “South Park” Season 29, the gang gets stuck in Sephora’s “Backroom,” Stan’s dad shrinks himself using products from the beauty chain and aura battles take over South America (the newly named mountain town), meaning internet lingo like “mogging,”
‘To Be Ordinary’ Review: A Compassionate, Even-Handed Taiwanese Family Melodrama
A high-speed traffic accident leaves a college student in a wheelchair for life, but that’s merely the starting point of the narrative in “To Be Ordinary,” a sensitive, slowly enveloping film with scant interest in disability-drama cliché — instead offering an expansive
Sylvester Stallone Has ‘Millions of Regrets’ About Doing His Own Stunts: ‘I’m An Idiot for Doing That’
Sylvester Stallone is opening up about how decades of daredevilry have affected him—and why he considers himself an “idiot” for continuing to do his own stunts year after year. In a recent interview with Fox News Digital, the “Rocky” actor said he has “millions, millions of
Aaron Paul Remembers Last Time He Saw ‘Breaking Bad’ Co-Star RJ Mitte: ‘I Kept Calling You Superman’
Mitte, the actor who played Walter White Jr. on Breaking Bad , died by suicide on Monday
‘The Lowdown’ Creator Sterlin Harjo on the Films That Inspired Season 2, and What Convinced Tommy Lee Jones to Join the Show
As “The Lowdown” Season 2 opens, citizen journalist (or “truthstorian”) Lee Raybon (Ethan Hawke) is in a completely uncomfortable position: success. He’s about accept a local media award for a piece he wrote about the death of Dale Washberg (as detailed in Season 1 of the
Academy CEO Bill Kramer to Head to Tokyo for Leadership Award and Onstage Summit With Toho Boss Matsuoka Hiro
Academy CEO Bill Kramer is set to make his first trip to Asia later this month. He will collect a leadership award at the Tokyo International Film Festival and also sit down with Toho president and CEO Matsuoka Hiro for a public conversation. The festival’s 39th edition runs
Anthony Edwards Names Justin Bieber ‘White Boy of the Year’ in Satirical Believe That Awards (EXCLUSIVE)
Move over, Chalamet — there’s a new white boy of the year. Minnesota Timberwolves player Anthony Edwards has brought back his satirical Believe That Awards, which went viral in 2025 — reaching 150 million cross-platform views — for crowning Timothée Chalamet white boy of the
‘Full House’ Star Jodie Sweetin Says Dave Coulier is ‘Doing Great’ Following ‘Tough Battle’ with Cancer
Jodie Sweetin is giving fans a health update on her “Full House” co-star Dave Coulier, eight months after the actor announced he was in remission from tongue cancer. Speaking with People, Sweetin said Coulier is doing “really well,” and she’d just spent a weekend at his house
‘Abbott Elementary’ Star William Stanford Davis Sets Memoir ‘Don’t Mess With the Fat Kid’ (EXCLUSIVE)
William Stanford Davis, who stars in “Abbott Elementary” as the janitor Mr. Johnson, is publishing a memoir titled “Don’t Mess With the Fat Kid” via BenBella Books. “Don’t Mess With the Fat Kid” will dive into Davis’ life and career — including struggles such as addiction and
‘Lanterns’ Season 2 Won’t Be Greenlit Until the Writers’ Room ‘Comes Up With a Worthy Successor to a Great First Season’
While HBO’s “Lanterns” hasn’t yet scored a second season renewal, one could be on the way depending on how things go in the writers’ room, according to DC Studios co-chief Peter Safran. While he didn’t confirm an exact date fans can expect an announcement to come on, Safran did
‘Beach Fictions’ Review: Utterly Beguiling, Time-Tweaking Korean Romance Shows What a Day a Difference Makes
Fatalism, self-determination and imagination all gently wrestle for control of the narrative(s) in “Beach Fictions,” an enchanting and subtly profound diptych that follows one young woman through two diverging versions of the same day — saying much in the process about the
Critics Vindicate ‘Artificial’ After Messy Amazon MGM Breakup (and the Studios vs. Talent Wars Around AI Are Just Beginning)
Looks like “Artificial” is the real thing. Luca Guadagnino’s genre-blending movie about the evils of artificial intelligence (and one of its fathers, Sam Altman) had a triumphant U.K. premiere at the London Film Festival on Sunday. The director, standing beside key cast members
Zach Bryan Announces 2027 Stadium Tour Dates, John Fogerty, Ryan Bingham, More to Support
Just days after announcing his “Young Manhood and Other Donatable Organs” EP will be dropping this week — and not long after he broke the attendance record at Robert Kraft’s Gillette Stadium while wearing a “Free Palestine” shirt — Zach Bryan has announced a stadium tour in
’60 Minutes’ Sees Audience Dip Without NFL Lead-In
What was all the fuss about? An average of 6.06 million people tuned in to watch an episode of “60 Minutes” that became the spark of an intense debate between longtime correspondent Lesley Stahl and CBS News Editor in Chief Bari Weiss, who wrangled with one another over the
Fox’s $22 Billion Roku Deal Approved by Shareholders of Both Companies
In an expected development, shareholders for both Fox Corp. and Roku voted to approve Fox’s $22 billion acquisition of the streaming-video platform company. At separate special meetings of shareholders Wednesday to vote on the deal, the majority of shares owned by Fox Corp. and
YouTube to Label AI-Generated Songs Across Its Platforms: Listeners ‘Want Transparency’
YouTube will label AI-generated songs across its main website and YouTube Music, the latest service to publicly mark tracks as not produced by humans. “Generative AI is opening up new ways for artists to create, experiment, and share music,” YouTube said in a blog post on
Markus Schleinzer on Sandra Hüller, Star of His Austrian Oscar Entry ‘Rose’ and a Berlin Best Lead Performance Winner: ‘She’s the Queen’
As a filmmaker, Markus Schleinzer owes much to his 17-year career as a casting director. “Directing a movie and being a casting director are quite similar jobs,” he tells Variety. Both require making the right choices under pressure and persuading others to believe in them. For
Sally Rooney Speaks Out on Her Books Being Removed from U.K. Shelves Over Palestine Action Support: ‘I Am Wholly Prepared to Accept the Consequences’
Sally Rooney is sticking to her guns. The Irish author behind the bestselling novels “Conversations with Friends” and “Normal People” — the latter adapted into an award-winning miniseries that launched the careers of Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones — has claimed spoken out
Variety’s 2026 Artisans to Watch: ‘Obsession’ Makeup Head, ‘Project Hail Mary’ Animation Supervisor, ‘La Bola Negra’ Composer and More
In 2026, moviegoers came back to cinemas, packing theaters to see blockbusters like “The Odyssey,” “Project Hail Mary,” “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” “Toy Story 5,” “Michael” and “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” and low-budget films like “Backrooms” and “Obsession.” But all those
Jeremy Allen White and Mikey Madison on the Perils of Social Media
The Social Reckoning co-stars stop by the Rolling Stone Studio to discuss their new movie, playing real people, and their own ups and downs with life online
‘Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed’ Renewed for Season 2 at Apple TV
“Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed” has been renewed for a second season at Apple TV. Per the official logline, the series stars “follows newly divorced mom Paula (Tatiana Maslany) as she falls down a dangerous rabbit hole of blackmail, murder and youth soccer. Convinced she
Bob Daly to Step Down as Chair of AFI Board of Directors (EXCLUSIVE)
After 17 years of leadership, Bob Daly will step down as chair of the American Film Institute Board of Directors at the next trustee meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 21, Variety can reveal exclusively. Daly, former Warner Bros. chair and co-CEO, joined the AFI Board in April 1981 and
Box Office: ‘Street Fighter’ Aims for $30 Million Opening, ‘You Can See Everything’ Could Score $8 Million Start
Strength in numbers? Movie theater operators are hoping the adage proves true as four new movies aim to bolster the October box office. Paramount’s video game adaptation “Street Fighter” will lead over fellow newcomers, with opening weekend estimates of $25 million to $35
Warner Records Names Jim Roppo Vice Chairman
Just hours after his departure from Republic Records was announced, Jim Roppo has been officially named vice chairman of Warner Records Group. He will be based in Los Angeles and report to Chairman & CEO Aaron Bay-Schuck; his start date will be confirmed in the coming weeks.
Mark Duplass Joins Cast of Hulu’s Erotic Thriller Limited Series ‘Victoria’
Mark Duplass has been added to the cast of Hulu’s limited series “Victoria,” joining previously announced stars Li Jun Li and Diane Lane. The San Francisco-set drama is described as an “erotic thriller” that follows a con woman who finds herself in the elite world of venture
‘Dune’ Immersive Experience Heads to L.A With Real Props, Sandworms and a $250 VIP Package
Fans won’t have to wait until December to return to Arrakis. Warner Bros. and Legendary Entertainment are bringing the world of Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune” films to downtown Los Angeles next month, with a new immersive attraction that lets visitors encounter giant sandworms, sit
Netflix TV Layoffs Include Director of Original Series Carolina Garcia, Who Exits After 10 Years
Netflix’s layoffs have hit several executives on its TV development and production side — including longtime staffer Carolina Garcia, who has been let go as director of original series after a decade with the streamer. Other execs in TV that are departing include Lisa Lang
Aaron Paul Posts Video of ‘Breaking Bad’ Co-Star RJ Mitte Advocating for Mental Health Before His Death: ‘I’m So Sorry You Were Hurting’
Aaron Paul honored his late “Breaking Bad” co-star RJ Mitte by posting to Instagram one of Mitte’s many videos advocating for mental health awareness. Mitte, who played Walt Jr. on the Emmy-winning AMC drama series, died Oct. 12 at 34 years old. The actor’s official cause of
The Whale at the Center of ‘Whalefall’ is “the Good Guy,” Actually
Director Brian Duffield and star Austin Abrams debuted their thriller in L.A. on Tuesday, explaining why the film is quite different than 'Jaws.'
Celine Dion Gets Her Own Barbie Doll Inspired by Iconic ‘Titanic’ Oscars Performance
Celine Dion’s comeback year now includes a Barbie doll. Mattel has unveiled a new collectible doll honoring the Canadian superstar, recreating her look from the 1998 Academy Awards, where she performed “My Heart Will Go On” from James Cameron’s “Titanic.” The $60 doll is
Steve Hilton, Republican Candidate for Governor, Rolls Out Expanded Hollywood Plan
Steve Hilton, the Republican contender for California governor, rolled out a plan Wednesday to revive Hollywood production that includes increased tax credits and state-backed financing for studio repairs. Hilton, who is trailing Democrat Xavier Becerra in the polls, had
Emmitt Smith Talks ‘Dancing with the Stars,’ Taylor Swift’s Impact on the NFL and the State of the Dallas Cowboys Under Dak Prescott: ‘He’s the Best We’ve Got’
This is a big year for Emmitt Smith. The NFL’s all-time leading rusher, Hall of Famer and anchor of the Dallas Cowboys’ hard-partying dynasty that won three Super Bowls in the ‘90s is celebrating the 30-year anniversary of his final Super Bowl win — which also happens to be the
James McAvoy Got Bullied by Famous Co-Star on His First Day of Being a Professional Actor: I Got Laughed at For Three Minutes
One of James McAvoy’s earliest jobs as an actor came with some mixed feelings. The “Atonement” star reminisced about shooting an episode of the HBO series “Band of Brothers” in a “Watch What Happens Live” appearance this week. Back in the early 2000s, McAvoy was a young drama
Katseye Teams Up With Disney for Mickey Mouse-Inspired Collection Ahead of Hulu Doc
Disney is putting Katseye’s growing star power to work, partnering with Complex on a new Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse apparel collection timed to the release of the girl group’s upcoming documentary, “Katseye: Wild Hearts.” The limited-edition collection, launching Oct. 15
Doc Stories Unveils 12th Annual Film Lineup (EXCLUSIVE)
Ava DuVernay’s “14th” will open the 12th edition of San Francisco’s documentary film festival Doc Stories on Nov. 5. The Netflix film, which premiered at New York Film Festival earlier this month, is one of 10 Oscar-contending feature documentaries included in Doc Stories’
Amy Poehler’s ‘Dig’ Adds Max Greenfield, Jason Mantzoukas, Noma Dumezweni and More (EXCLUSIVE)
“Dig,” the upcoming Peacock comedy starring Amy Poehler, has added a handful of actors to its ensemble. Jason Mantzoukas, Brennan Lee Mulligan and Noma Dumezweni have landed recurring roles in the series, while Max Greenfield and Dan Bucatinsky will guest star. Based on Kate
Xavier Becerra’s Film Policy Is Vague. Was It Written by AI?
On his campaign website, Xavier Becerra has a page devoted to Hollywood. The 1,600-word policy statement is long on platitudes — “California Is the Home of Film and TV and We Intend to Keep It That Way” — but short on concrete promises. It may also have been written with
For the Love of Television, Please Watch ‘The Lowdown’ Season 2: TV Review
On the one hand, it wouldn’t be very apt for a show about a scrappy citizen journalist in a small heartland city to become a massive hit. On the other, FX’s “The Lowdown” was one of the great TV debuts last year, a follow-up from “Reservation Dogs” showrunner Sterlin Harjo that
