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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 content of Stahl’s segment centered on […]
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 support of the release, which will take him […]
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 Andrew Garfield and Yura Borisov, received thunderous applause at Royal Festival Hall. […]
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 voices, inner and otherwise, that we grant most control in our lives, for […]
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 note that news on whether “Lanterns” […]
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 rejection — and the experience of nabbing his […]
“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 witnessed a crime — while simultaneously struggling through a custody battle and […]
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 movies needed skilled artisans to complete the directors’ visions, including those on Variety’s […]
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 a casting director, that means convincing a filmmaker or […]
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 about being forced to not sell her books in the U.K. over […]
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 Wednesday. “As these tools evolve, our listeners have told us […]
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 Roku investors were in favor the deal. The proposed Roku deal […]
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 available exclusively through Mattel Creations. The Barbie Signature release features Dion’s […]
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 death was suicide. “Hey everyone, I hope y’all […]
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 McMullen (director, overall deals, series), Andrew McQuinn (director, original series), […]
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 on Paul Atreides’ throne and get an up-close look at actual props […]
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 capital and a “dark web of power, luxury […]
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. Roppo joins the company following nearly three decades […]
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 million from 3,500 North American theaters. Disney’s survival thriller “Whalefall” should secure […]
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 was named chair on Oct. 8, 2009, […]
