Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas is a MAGA loyalist, but he thinks the Republican-controlled FCC stepped over the line in accelerating the renewal process for broadcast licenses of Disney’s eight ABC-owned local TV stations — seemingly in response to a joke Jimmy Kimmel told about Melania Trump on late-night television. “It is not government’s job…
Catherine Zeta-Jones has joined Anthony Hopkins in “A Visit to Grandpa’s,” directed by DJ Caruso, whose credits include “Mary” and “Disturbia.” Also in the cast are Aneurin Barnard (“Dunkirk”), Artie Wilkinson-Hunt (“Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die”), Geraldine James (“Sherlock Holmes”) and Aimee-Ffion Edwards (“Slow Horses”). Principal photography began on April 7 in Wales, and…
Triple Oscar-winning cinematographer Vittorio Storaro is set to be honored with a special prize by Italy’s David di Donatello Awards in tandem with Rome’s Cinecittà Studios during the upcoming edition of the country’s top film prizes. Storaro — who has won Academy Awards for his work on “Apocalypse Now,” the Warren Beatty-directed “Reds” and Bernardo…
Based on Isabel Allende’s acclaimed 1982 novel and adapted for television by Francisca Alegría, Fernanda Urrejola and Andrés Wood, Prime Video’s “The House of the Spirits” is a spectacular and heart-wrenching saga that chronicles three generations of women in the Trueba family. Beyond blood, these women are tied together by destiny and the decisions of…
Alongside receiving an honorary Palme d’Or at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, Peter Jackson is now set to sit down for a special conversation. The acclaimed “Lord of the Rings” has been named as part of the festival’s “Rendezvous at the Festival de Cannes” program of public discussions alongside Cate Blanchett and Tilda Swinton. Jackson’s…
Motion Picture Exchange (MPX) has acquired world sales rights to U.S. indie horror film “Swipe,” directed by Sean Whalen and featuring a murderous family of sadistic mute women. MPX will be presenting the female-driven chiller to buyers at the upcoming Cannes Marché du Film. “Swipe” is the second feature by actor-director Whalen, whose acting credits…
Approximately 800 hours of college football and basketball, professional bull riding, WWE fights, NASCAR races, PBA bowling and professional volleyball that air each year on Nexstar’s CW broadcast network will steam from a venue that might be considered surprising: ESPN. Under a deal announced Wednesday, ESPN will reap the extra hours of activity and the…
Gerry Byrne, vice chairman of Variety parent company PMC and a longtime media business executive, will be recognized by his alma mater, New York’s Fordham University, with an honorary doctorate of humane letters at the school’s commencement ceremony on May 16. Byrne will receive the honorary degree alongside Maureen Corrigan, book critic for NPR’s “Fresh…
A London-based judge has rejected copyright claims from the heirs of two former bandmates of Jimi Hendrix, ruling against their bid to secure royalties from the guitarist’s catalog in a long-running dispute with Sony Music and the Hendrix estate. In a 140-page ruling obtained by Rolling Stone, British High Court Judge Edwin Johnson found that…
“Fool Me Once” star Michelle Keegan is reuniting with Netflix and Harlan Coben for another of the writer’s adaptations, “The Woods.” She will star in the eight-episode series alongside Tom Bateman, Mandeep Dhillon and Pearce Quigley, among others. “The Woods” tells the story of barrister and single father Paul ‘Cope’ Copeland, whose sister Camille vanished…