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‘Heroes’ Creator Tim Kring Pays Tribute to Hayden Panettiere as a ‘Singularly Talented Actor’ With a ‘Deep Understanding of Human Nature’ Hayden Panettiere was a seasoned professional by the time she auditioned for “Heroes” at the age of 16. But unlike many actors who start working as kids, Hayden had no sense of jaded child actor quality to her. Although confident in her abilities, she was still guileless, sweet and always open to suggestions. It was […] https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/heroes-tim-kring-tribute-hayden-panettiere-1236837796/ variety.com
Felicia Day, Wil Wheaton on New Tabletop Gaming Show ‘Conludo,’ How ‘The Guild’ Reunion Movie Will Be Impacted by a Denied California Tax Credit Reunions all around for Felicia Day these days: Amid a massive fundraiser for a movie reunion of her series “The Guild,” Day is reteaming with longtime friend and collaborator Wil Wheaton for a new kind of board game TV series. Launching as fan-unlocked content tied to “The Guild: Ren Faire’d” movie’s ongoing Kickstarter campaign (which […] https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/felicia-day-wil-wheaton-the-guild-movie-show-conludo-1236837516/ variety.com
Clive Barker Announces Kickstarter-Exclusive Anthology Book Series ‘Library of the Dead’ (EXCLUSIVE) Horror master Clive Barker is set to release the new “Library of the Dead” anthology project Aug. 18 exclusively on Kickstarter. The three-book horror anthology consists of three books: “Fear Eternal,” “Pyres of Bedlam” and “Dark Descents.” The project is collectively a spiritual successor to Barker’s “Books of Blood.” “Library of the Dead” brings together […] https://variety.com/2026/digital/news/clive-barker-kickstarter-series-library-of-the-dead-1236837367/ variety.com
‘Days of Our Lives’ EP on Bringing John Oliver’s Dream Soap Opera Role to Life: ‘He Wanted to Be Slapped’ Ken Corday, the executive producer of “Days of Our Lives,” knew John Oliver needed to make an appearance on his series. The host of the Emmy-winning HBO series “Last Week Tonight” publicly declared his desire to star in a soap opera during a March episode of his talk show, and Corday immediately got to work. […] https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/john-oliver-wanted-to-be-slapped-days-of-our-lives-1236837667/ variety.com
Hayden Panettiere ‘Stuck Up for Background Actors When They Were Mistreated’ on ‘Heroes’ Set and ‘Knew Every Crew Members Name’ Hayden Panettiere “stuck up for background actors when they were mistreated” on the “Heroes” set and “knew every crew members name,” her co-star Sendhil Ramamurthy lovingly remembered in a social media tribute to the late actor. Panettiere died on Aug. 16 at the age of 36. “Heroes” marked one of her most prolific TV series. She starred […] https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/hayden-panettiere-defended-mistreated-background-actors-heroes-set-1236837264/ variety.com
How ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms,’ ‘Fallout’ and ‘Spider-Noir’ Production Designers Built Out Their Worlds While Honoring the Source Material This year, an unprecedented number of genre and fantasy shows broke into the Emmys race, including “Widow’s Bay,” “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms,” “It: Welcome to Derry,” “Fallout,” “Spider-Noir” and “Alien: Earth,” which were all recognized across multiple below-the-line categories. Shows like “AKOTSK,” “Alien: Earth,” “It: Welcome to Derry” and “Fallout” already have an […] https://variety.com/2026/artisans/features/knight-seven-kingdoms-fallout-spider-noir-production-designers-1236837481/ variety.com
California Lawmakers Near Deal to Address Impact of Tax Cap on Film Credits California lawmakers are closing in on a deal to help film producers who are facing new limits on their ability to monetize production tax credits. The agreement falls short of the entertainment industry’s goal of a full exemption from a $5 million annual cap on corporate tax credits, according to multiple sources. The state budget, […] https://variety.com/2026/film/news/california-tax-cap-deal-film-credits-1236836863/ variety.com
Why a Reunion Between the Two Rival TV Academies Is Long Overdue Last month’s news that the two rival TV academies are looking to reunite was welcome and overdue — but it won’t be as easy as flipping a switch. The Los Angeles-based Television Academy and the New York located National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences are run very differently, each having had 50 years to […] https://variety.com/2026/tv/awards/television-academy-emmys-reunion-national-arts-sciences-1236837695/ variety.com
Oscars Budget, ‘Engaging’ With AI and Hot Memorabilia: Inside the Academy’s Annual All-Members Meeting (EXCLUSIVE) The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences got down to business on Tuesday, setting its agenda for the next year in an all-hands meeting with its membership. The official purpose, as noted in the annual virtual meeting’s invite, was to educate roughly 11,000 members “about the Academy’s leadership structure, budget, goals and priorities.” The […] https://variety.com/2026/film/columns/oscars-youtube-ai-annual-budgets-member-meeting-1236837376/ variety.com
Fulvio Lucisano, Italian Producer of ‘Planet of the Vampires’ and ‘What Have You Done to Solange?,’ Dies at 98 Italian producer Fulvio Lucisano, who shepherded a slew of cult B-movies such as “Planet of the Vampires” and “What Have You Done to Solange?” and had a close rapport with Roger Corman, has died. He was 98. His daughter Paola confirmed Lucisano’s death on Tuesday in a statement sent to Italian news agency ANSA, writing: […] https://variety.com/2026/film/global/fulvio-lucisano-dead-italian-producer-planet-of-the-vampires-1236837169/ variety.com
American Black Film Festival 2027 Heads to Los Angeles After 24 Years in Miami (EXCLUSIVE) After calling Miami home for the past 24 years, the American Black Film Festival is heading to Los Angeles for its 31st edition, which takes place May 20-23, 2027. ABFF 2027 will set up shop across the greater Los Angeles area, making stops at AMC’s Grove location for film screenings and the Academy Museum of […] https://variety.com/2026/film/news/american-black-film-festival-2027-los-angeles-1236836839/ variety.com
New Marilyn Monroe Barbie Doll Inspired by ‘Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend’ Ensemble Marilyn Monroe’s birthday celebrations haven’t concluded quite yet. Mattel is honoring the Hollywood icon with a new Barbie Signature doll inspired by her performance of “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” in the 1953 musical “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.” The collectible arrives Aug. 18, a little more than two months after what would have been Monroe’s […] https://variety.com/2026/shopping/news/marilyn-monroe-barbie-diamonds-are-a-girls-best-friend-buy-1236836651/ variety.com
C+C Music Factory Co-Founder Robert Clivillés Sues Freedom Williams for $30 Million, Alleging He Wrongfully Claimed Trademark Despite Never Being a Group Member Whatever fallout came as a result of the canceled Freedom 250 concerts on the National Mall in Washington this summer, we can add a lawsuit that otherwise might not have happened. One prominent figure in that D.C. controversy, Freedom Williams, who made newsmaking statements in his role as frontman for the touring edition of C+C […] https://variety.com/2026/music/news/cc-music-factory-robert-clivilles-sues-freedom-williams-1236837138/ variety.com
Angélique Kidjo Talks ‘Hope,’ Her Mother’s Legacy and Making History With a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame Two things have been crucial to a restless Angélique Kidjo since her childhood in Benin, West Africa: diverse, universal, nuanced brands of truthful musical storytelling in all its forms, and her mother. Selling nearly four million albums worldwide, winning five Grammys, writing a bestselling autobiography, “Spirit Rising,” with its foreword by Desmond Tutu, and becoming […] https://variety.com/2026/music/focus/angelique-kidjo-hollywood-walk-of-fame-1236831766/ variety.com
Ascend Literary Management Signs ‘Average Joe’ Creator Robb Cullen (EXCLUSIVE) Ascend Literary Management has signed Robb Cullen for representation, Variety has learned exclusively. Cullen continues to be repped by IAG and Jared Levine, Sabrina Padwa and Jonathan Leiter of Yorn Levine. Cullen most recently created the series “Average Joe.” The series originally launched on BET+ in 2023, while the second season will debut on Paramount+ […] https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/ascend-literary-management-robb-cullen-1236837126/ variety.com
Shakira, Global Citizen, Live Nation and CAF Commit $1.25 Million to Rebuild Schools in Colombia Following Earthquake Shakira, the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, Live Nation and CAF have announced a $1.25 million initial commitment to rebuild schools following the devastating earthquake in Colombia last week. The announcement follows a similar commitment after earthquakes ravaged Venezuela last year. Shakira visited Quibdó on Monday alongside philanthropist Howard Buffett and representatives from CAF, the […] https://variety.com/2026/music/news/shakira-million-schools-colombia-earthquake-1236837163/ variety.com
SXSW Sets Podcast Festival, Locals-Only Perks and Changes in Music Venues for 2027 Event in Austin South by Southwest has unveiled plans for a podcast festival, new locals-only perks and temporary changes in music venues for the 2027 event that will unfold on the streets of Austin, Texas in March. SXSW will run from March 15-21. The inaugural Podcast Festival will be held March 17-20. Open to all SXSW badgeholders, the […] https://variety.com/2026/film/news/sxsw-podcast-austin-perks-1236836769/ variety.com
North Korea-Focused Film Fund Bearing North Launches With ‘School for Defectors’ (EXCLUSIVE) A new private grantmaking initiative dedicated to films about North Korea has launched out of Los Angeles, with an advisory board drawn from documentary filmmaking, journalism, and human rights advocacy. Bearing North, founded by entrepreneurs and film investors Blaine Vess and Esther Paik Vess, will award grants to independent filmmakers worldwide at any stage of […] https://variety.com/2026/film/news/north-korea-stories-new-film-fund-bearing-north-1236837122/ variety.com
Stella Lefty on the Rise of ‘Boston’ and Her Sudden Fame: ‘When I First Started Writing Songs, No One Cared!’ Early this month, when the top 5 of the Billboard Hot 100 was occupied entirely by country artists for the first time in its history, most of the names were familiar: There was Taylor Swift, there was Ella Langley, there was Morgan Wallen, there was Morgan Wallen with Ella Langley… and at No. 5, 23-year-old […] https://variety.com/2026/music/news/stella-lefty-boston-sudden-fame-1236836537/ variety.com
Sundance Breakout ‘Thelma’ Set for Mandarin Remake by Stars Collective, Titled ‘Grandma, Please’ (EXCLUSIVE) Stars Collective has acquired the Mandarin-language remake rights to “Thelma,” the 2024 Sundance Film Festival breakout that became Magnolia Pictures’ highest-grossing narrative feature, and is developing an adaptation titled “Grandma, Please.” In “Grandma, Please,” an 80-year-old grandmother is swindled out of her life savings by a scammer who uses AI to clone her late husband’s […] https://variety.com/2026/film/news/sundance-hit-thelma-mandarin-remake-stars-collective-1236836962/ variety.com +1
‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day,’ ‘The Odyssey’ Continue Tussle Atop U.K., Ireland Box Office Sony’s superhero tentpole “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” dominated the U.K. and Ireland box office for a third consecutive weekend, adding £6.1 million ($8.3 million), elevating its running total to $106.5 million after 20 days of release. Universal’s epic “The Odyssey” held onto second place in its fifth frame. Directed by Christopher Nolan, the wide release […] https://variety.com/2026/film/box-office/spider-man-brand-new-day-the-odyssey-continue-tussle-uk-ireland-box-office-1236836944/ variety.com +1
Rosie O’Donnell Shines in ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ Hosting Debut, Attacks ‘Mango Mussolini’ Trump and Gives Moving Hayden Panettiere Tribute When Jimmy Kimmel announced that Rosie O’Donnell would be filling in as a week-long guest host of “Jimmy Kimmel Live” during his summer vacation, he teased it would be “a special treat” for Donald Trump, who’s harbored a 20-year-long vendetta against the comic for her mocking his bankruptcies on “The View” back in 2006. O’Donnell […] https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/rosie-o-donnell-hosts-jimmy-kimmel-live-slams-trump-1236836907/ variety.com +1
Vin Diesel Says ‘Fast Forever’ Starts Shooting in December Vin Diesel says filming for “Fast Forever” has a start date. “We start shooting in December, if I can make good on the request from the studio,” Diesel told Variety Monday night at the 25th anniversary screening of “The Fast and the Furious.” “I’m in a good place, though. I had to go through four […] https://variety.com/2026/film/news/vin-diesel-fast-forever-starts-shooting-december-1236836906/ variety.com +1
Michelle Rodriguez Remembers Hayden Panettiere After Co-Hosting World Music Awards: ‘Can’t Stand How Many Young People Are Leaving Us Lately’ Michelle Rodriguez is sharing her memories of Hayden Panettiere after the “Scream 4” star died at age 36 on Sunday. Rodriguez and Panettiere co-hosted the World Music Awards back in 2010. When asked what she remembers about Panettiere while walking the carpet at the 25th anniversary screening of “The Fast and the Furious,” Rodriguez told […] https://variety.com/2026/film/news/michelle-rodriguez-hayden-panettiere-world-music-awards-1236836885/ variety.com +1
Jeanie Buss Seeks to Contest Sale of Los Angeles Lakers to Bob Iger and Josh Kushner: Report Jeanie Buss, the Los Angeles Lakers owner who has been the face of the team since the death of her father Jerry Buss in 2013, is reportedly contesting the plan approved by her siblings to sell the family’s remaining 18% stake in the storied NBA franchise to investors Bob Iger and Josh Kushner. ESPN and […] https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/jeanie-buss-lakers-sale-bob-iger-josh-kushner-1236836879/ variety.com +1
David F. Sandberg to Direct Horror Movie ‘Mommy’s Home’ For Lionsgate David F. Sandberg has been tapped to direct a new psychological horror movie, “Mommy’s Home,” for Lionsgate. From screenwriter James Morosini, “Mommy’s Home” follows “a young dad whose family life becomes terrifyingly unhinged when his cryogenically preserved mom is unfrozen and sent to live with him,” according to an official logline. Sandberg is probably best […] https://variety.com/2026/film/news/david-f-sandberg-direct-mommys-home-lionsgate-1236836858/ variety.com +1
LISTEN: How Chris Carter Got a Second Shot at ‘The X-Files: I Want to Believe’ Film On today’s episode of “Daily Variety” podcast, “The X-Files” creator Chris Carter explains to Variety’s Michael Schneider how he got the chance to do a director’s cut of his 2008 “The X-Files: I Want to Believe” feature film. The new cut dubbed “The X-Files: I Want to Believe: Vrach Frankenshteyn” debuted Aug. 14 on Hulu […] https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/chris-carter-x-files-i-want-to-believe-directors-cut-1236836849/ variety.com +1
‘Furious’ Star Steve Way on the Beauty of ‘Disabled Love’ and the Difficulty of Navigating Hollywood Without a Team: ‘I Want an Agency to Whore Me Out’ It’s uncommon to meet an actor bold enough to call Ari Emanuel, the executive chairman of WME Group and one of the most powerful people in Hollywood, a “prick” on the record. But it’s also uncommon to interview an actor as unfiltered as Steve Way. “I want an agency to whore me out,” he says. […] https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/furious-steve-way-disability-hollywood-serial-killer-romance-1236836217/ variety.com +1
‘Friday the 13th’ Prequel Series ‘Crystal Lake’ Is ‘Gory’ and ‘Gross’ With ‘Blood Everywhere,’ Says Star Linda Cardellini “Crystal Lake” star Linda Cardellini is teasing the upcoming “Friday the 13th” prequel television series. Cardellini stars in the Peacock series as the franchise antagonist Pamela Voorhees. The show, premiering Oct. 15 on the streamer, follows Voorhees’ life prior to the events of the first “Friday the 13th” film. It also stars William Catlett as […] https://variety.com/2026/tv/columns/crystal-lake-linda-cardellini-friday-the-13th-prequel-series-gory-gross-blood-1236836771/ variety.com +1
‘Spy Kids’ Actor Alexa PenaVega Shares Heartbreak After Deaths of Fellow Child Stars Hayden Panettiere, Michelle Trachtenberg and Daveigh Chase: ‘Hug Your People Close Today’ Alexa PenaVega’s “heart is heavy” after the death of Hayden Panettiere, most notably because it marks the third passing of a fellow child star in 2026. The “Spy Kids” actor noted in a statement on social media that she rose to fame with and grew up alongside the likes of Panettiere, Michelle Trachtenberg and Daveigh […] https://variety.com/2026/film/news/alexa-vega-child-actor-deaths-hayden-panettiere-trachtenberg-1236836669/ variety.com +1
Donald Trump Attacks CNN’s Kristen Holmes for Asking if He Spoke to North Korean Dictator: ‘You’re a Loud, Boisterous Person. Be Quiet!’ President Donald Trump grew angry at CNN’s Kristen Holmes during a press briefing at the White House Monday, after she asked whether he had spoken with North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un. “Quiet,” Trump told Holmes, CNN’s senior White House correspondent, after she queried the president about if Jong-un had asked Trump to curtail U.S. military […] https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/trump-attacks-cnn-kristen-holmes-north-korea-dictator-1236836707/ variety.com +1
California A.G. Rejects $1.88 Billion Paramount Bond, Says Company Wants a ‘Do-Over’ on Merger Delay The California attorney general’s office fired back against Paramount’s request for a $1.88 billion bond on Monday, saying the company is seeking a “do-over” on its agreement to delay the Warner Bros. merger until an antitrust trial next March. In a statement, the A.G.’s office argued that Paramount is a “sophisticated” company that knew it […] https://variety.com/2026/film/news/california-paramount-bonta-do-over-bond-1236836713/ variety.com +1
Netflix’s ‘A Different World’ Sequel Series Unveils Trailer, New Images School is back in session at Hillman College. Netflix’s new “A Different World” series released the official trailer and new images. The series is a followup to the NBC sitcom of the same title, which ran from 1987 to 1993 and was itself a spin-off of “The Cosby Show.” It stars Jasmine Guy and Kadeem […] https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/netflix-a-different-world-sequel-series-trailer-images-1236836718/ variety.com +1
Ariel Levy, a New Yorker Staff Writer, Joins ’60 Minutes’ as Contributor Ariel Levy, a staff writer at The New Yorker magazine who has analyzed sexuality in culture and profiled a number of political and cultural newsmakers, will join “60 Minutes” as a contributor, the latest journalist to join the show’s ranks as it is being remade by Bari Weiss, the editor in chief of CBS News. […] https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/ariel-levy-60-minutes-contributor-cbs-new-yorker-1236836716/ variety.com +1
Connie Britton Praises Hayden Panettiere’s ‘Brilliance’ After ‘Nashville’ Co-Star’s Death: ‘I Love You Girl. Sleep Easy Now’ Connie Britton has “no words” following the death of her “Nashville” co-star Hayden Panettiere at 36 years old. The duo starred together on five seasons of the ABC country music drama from 2012 to 2016, with Panettiere headlining the series solo during its sixth and final season in 2018. Britton returned as a guest star […] https://variety.com/2026/film/news/connie-britton-hayden-panettiere-death-nashville-1236836675/ variety.com +1
Peacock Launches Test of Membership Rewards Program With Perks Including NBCU and Bravo Merch Discounts, Free Pizzas NBCUniversal’s Peacock launched a limited new membership program in a beta test with a variety of perks — aimed at keeping them from flying the coop as streaming subscribers, as well as driving incremental revenue from marketing pacts. The test of Peacock’s membership program is available initially to a limited, “randomly selected” group of Peacock […] https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/peacock-test-membership-rewards-program-discounts-free-pizzas-1236836638/ variety.com +1
CNN Has Prime-Time Anchors Locked In Ahead of Paramount Deal Executives at Paramount Skydance have agreed to pay billions to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, but they may have to do a little more work if they want to put their own stamp on the programming at CNN. CNN recently struck a new deal with Abby Phillip, anchor of the raucous 10 p.m. roundtable “NewsNight,” that […] https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/cnn-prime-time-anchors-locked-paramount-1236836589/ variety.com +1
Disneyland Paris to Welcome ‘The Lion King’ Animatronics, Re-Themed Space Mountain and New Parade Disneyland Paris may have just launched a new World of Frozen land earlier this year but it’s already looking towards its next land, which is set to be inspired by “The Lion King.” Imagineers offered fans a sneak peek of the attraction at the D23 expo in Anaheim over the weekend, including a look at […] https://variety.com/2026/biz/global/disneyland-paris-lion-king-space-mountain-1236836311/ variety.com +1
Final Emmy Voting Opens: 25 Records That Could Be Broken, From Jean Smart and Allison Janney’s All-Time Tie to Harrison Ford’s First Trophy at 84 Final Emmy voting is now open. More than 20,000 Television Academy members have the final ballots in hand for the 78th Emmy Awards, with voting remaining open through Wednesday, Aug. 26, at 10 p.m. PT. When the envelopes begin opening — first during the two-night artisans ceremony, formerly known as the Creative Arts Emmys, on […] https://variety.com/lists/emmys-voting-records-zendaya-allison-janney-harrison-ford/ variety.com +1
Webtoon Entertainment Dives into Vertical Shorts, Setting ‘Love Bites’ and ‘Maybe Meant to Be’ as Microdramas Webtoon Entertainment is embracing the vertical media boom with its initiative to craft microdramas out of some of its most popular properties including romantic dramas “Love Bites” and “Maybe Meant to Be.” The move demonstrates the fast-growing appeal of short-form vertical video, even for a company that is also on the cutting edge of the […] https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/webtoon-entertainment-microdramas-love-bites-short-dramas-1236836293/ variety.com +1
‘It: Welcome to Derry’ Renewed for Season 2 at HBO “It: Welcome to Derry” has been renewed for Season 2 at HBO. The show originally premiered on HBO Max on Oct. 26, 2025. It is based on Stephen King’s “It” novel and builds on the two-part “It” film reboot from 2017 and 2019. The show serves as a prequel to the films. The first season […] https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/it-welcome-to-derry-renewed-season-2-hbo-1236836194/ variety.com +1
American Independent Film Production Is Dying. Jeff Nichols Wants to Save It. Jeff Nichols is not only one of cinema’s foremost chroniclers of the American South, but is doing his damnedest to revitalize the film scene in his hometown of Little Rock, Arkansas. When he brought his acclaimed film “Loving” — about the landmark Loving v. Virginia case that legalized interracial marriage nationwide — to Little Rock […] https://variety.com/2026/film/features/jeff-nichols-indie-film-margaret-qualley-drew-starkey-rumors-1236835974/ variety.com +1
Jonas Brothers Announce 45-City ‘Burning Up’ North American Tour Dates The Jonas Brothers, who have been road warriors in recent years, have announced a massive 45-city North American tour that continues their “Burning Up Tour All Over Again.” Magnus Ferrell, Franklin Jonas, and All Time Low will be special guests on select dates. Promoted by Live Nation, the tour kicks off on Friday, September 25 […] https://variety.com/2026/music/news/jonas-brothers-2026-burning-up-north-american-tour-dates-1236836312/ variety.com +1
Amy Schumer to Star in and Produce Break-Up Comedy ‘Best Divorce Ever’ (EXCLUSIVE) Amy Schumer is getting her teeth into another comedy, with the Emmy winner set to star in and produce “Best Divorce Ever.” The film comes from writer-director Sean Mullin (“Bob Trevino Likes It,” “Amira & Sam”), with Concourse Media launching worldwide sales in Toronto next month. Schumer will produce alongside Matthew Lee Miller and Natalie […] https://variety.com/2026/film/global/amy-schumer-star-in-produce-comedy-best-divorce-ever-1236836178/ variety.com +1
Gillian Anderson Says Sony Exited ‘The Salt Path’ Distribution Deal After Authors’ ‘Fabrications’ Exposed: ‘It Felt Like Such a Betrayal’ Gillian Anderson has said that Sony ditched a deal to distribute “The Salt Path,” in which she starred alongside Jason Isaacs, after a scandal broke last summer over alleged fabrications in the supposedly true story. Based on a memoir of the same name by Ray and Moth Winn, the book and film tell the story […] https://variety.com/2026/film/global/gillian-anderson-sony-the-salt-path-1236836283/ variety.com +1
Rosie O’Donnell Was ‘Surprised’ by Jimmy Kimmel’s Guest-Hosting Offer and Believes a David Ellison-Run CNN Would Be ‘Tragic’ Rosie O’Donnell is finally back behind the talk-show desk. Yes, the former host of “The Rosie O’Donnell Show” and “The View” will be serving as guest host of “Jimmy Kimmel Live” the week of Aug. 17 while Kimmel is on vacation (as part of his summer rotation). He said he’d tapped O’Donnell for the stint […] https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/rosie-o-donnell-jimmy-kimmel-host-surprise-david-ellison-bari-weiss-cbs-news-cnn-1236835778/ variety.com +1
PGA Tour Takes Swing at Comedy in New ‘Alter Ego’ Unscripted Series Arnold Palmer once said that golf was “deceptively simple and endlessly complicated.” Now the PGA Tour hopes to give fans of the links something a little less intense: a good laugh. “PGA Tour Alter Ego” a new unscripted sports comedy series co-produced with Peyton Manning’s Omaha Productions, launches Tuesday ahead of the organization’s BMW Championship. […] https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/pga-tour-comedy-alter-ego-unscripted-series-1236835914/ variety.com +1
Deluxe Media and Tohokushinsha Film Corporation Set Strategic Asia-Pacific Localization Partnership (EXCLUSIVE) Deluxe Media Inc. and Tokyo-based Tohokushinsha Film Corporation have formed a strategic partnership to expand localization services across the Asia-Pacific region. The non-exclusive deal pairs Deluxe’s ties to top studios and streamers, its scale and its tech-driven localization workflows with Tohokushinsha’s creative and in-market strengths built up over decades in Japan. Both companies said the […] https://variety.com/2026/film/news/deluxe-tohokushinsha-apac-localization-partnership-1236836079/ variety.com +1
‘Heartstopper’ Star Rhea Norwood, ‘Enola Holmes’ Actor Susan Wokoma, ‘Dear England’ Writer James Graham Join U.K. National Youth Theatre’s 70th Anniversary Show (EXCLUSIVE) The U.K.’s National Youth Theatre has announced a further wave of star names for “Letters to My Younger Future Self,” the one-night performance marking the organization’s 70th anniversary. The show, supported by Netflix, is set for Sept. 20 at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall in London. The new names joining the lineup include chart-topper […] https://variety.com/2026/theater/news/rhea-norwood-susan-wokoma-james-graham-national-youth-theatre-1236835453/ variety.com +1
‘Snapshot’ Review: A Nifty Calling-Card Debut Refashions the Jack the Ripper Story as Found-Footage Horror Found footage may be a fairly stale gimmick in horror these days, but the low-budget British indie “Snapshot” finds a way to freshen up the idea — and if that largely amounts to layering another technical gimmick over it, the results are nonetheless striking. Emulating the look of 19th-century pinhole photography, with the entire film […] https://variety.com/2026/film/news/snapshot-review-1236835669/ variety.com +1
