Entertainment News

Joe Manganiello, cast as Deathstroke, revealed details about Ben Affleck's scrapped Batman film in his new memoir "Bloodlines." The unproduced movie would have featured Deathstroke dismantling Batman's life and killing Commissioner Gordon. Affleck was attached to direct and star in the project, which ultimately did not proceed. Manganiello's book, published Tuesday, offers insight into the unmade superhero narrative, detailing the

Taylor Swift's album, "The Life of a Showgirl," achieved its 15th non-consecutive week at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. The album secured an additional 87,000 equivalent units, primarily driven by its "Encore" edition. This version featured four new tracks, including a Hot 100-topping single, solidifying its sustained commercial success and chart dominance in the music industry.

Betty McGuire, the actress best known for her role as grandmother Kate Malone on the ABC sitcom “Growing Pains, died Oct. 8 at the Motion Picture & Television Fund’s Wasserman Campus in Woodland Hills, Calif., of natural causes. She was 100. Keith Gerchak, McGuire’s POA, confirmed her death. McGuire had a seven-year run on “Growing […]

Jesse Eisenberg has said he was frozen out of studio movies after winning a Razzie for Zack Snyder’s “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.” The Razzies — short for Golden Raspberry Awards — are a tongue-in-cheek ceremony that “honor” the supposedly worst films of the year. They are traditionally handed out the night before the […]

"Capturing Bigfoot" is an amazing documentary about the legend of Bigfoot — about how it was born, how it took hold, and how that iconic piece of film footage came to be. It’s a documentary that answers all the questions and solves all the mysteries. Unlike your typical film about UFOs, it doesn’t leave you with that vague feeling of "The truth is still out there, and I’m not sure what it is." "Capturing Bigfoot" shows you the truth, but what it really shows you is what that truth says about us,

Taylor Swift got some of the old gang back together for her first full-band performance since the Eras Tour, delivering a four-song set to a black-tie audience Saturday night at the Academy Museum 6th Annual Gala. Conan O’Brien introduced her by saying, “It’s an insane, unprecedented honor to introduce a cherished member of our little […]

Aran Murphy is having quite a month, as he co-stars on not one, but two HBO shows — “Youth” and “War” — and plays one of the leads of Taika Waititi’s dystopian film “Klara and the Sun,” set to be released on Oct. 23. But if you think you’ve seen the 19-year-old actor before, it […]

Jessica Edwards has been named the new executive director of the Woodstock Film Festival, the organization announced Sunday as the 27th annual festival came to a close. Edwards will take over the role from Meira Blaustein, the festival’s co-founder. “I have had the pleasure of working with Jessica at the Woodstock Film Festival over the […]

As anyone who’s seen her in concert knows, Charli xcx is usually laser-focused on her current material and rarely looks back for more than a couple of songs. But she made an exception on Saturday night at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles, when she performed her 2014 breakthrough hit “Boom Clap” (for the first […]

Cindy Crawford, Rande Gerber and Kaia Gerber took to social media on Sunday to remember their son and brother Presley Gerber, who died in September at the age of 27. “We are beyond heartbroken to lose our beloved son and brother. We feel so blessed to have had Presley in our lives for 27 years,” […]

Val Chmerkovskiy, a professional dancer on 'Dancing With the Stars,' has been benched by the show's production. This action follows an 'inappropriate' social media joke he made regarding judge Carrie Ann Inaba. The show stated that the well-being of its staff is 'non-negotiable' and Chmerkovskiy's post did not reflect their values. This decision impacts his participation in the popular television

Harry Styles' Madison Square Garden residency will be the subject of a new documentary film. Acclaimed director John Wilson, known for "The History of Concrete" and "How To with John Wilson," is helming the project. Universal Pictures Content Group is involved. This marks a significant behind-the-scenes look at a major music event, bringing a buzzy filmmaker to a high-profile music

When KJ Apa was being considered to star as Jimmy Stewart in the new biopic “Jimmy,” he took another look at “It’s a Wonderful Life.” “I was watching and thinking, how am I going to pull this off?” the actor, who is best known for his starring role as Archie in the CW coming-of-age series […]

TikTok permanently suspended the “Musk” ad account on Friday ahead of the documentary’s wide release, Variety can confirm. Directed by Alex Gibney, “Musk” seeks to make sense of Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, and the outsized influence he has on the world, diving deep into his shift to MAGA supporter, controversies surrounding his Occupy […]

SPOILER ALERT: This story contains minor spoilers for “Whalefall,” out now in theaters. In the new feature “Whalefall,” Jay (Austin Abrams) is a grieving son searching for his father’s (Josh Brolin) remains off the coast of California. As he dives deeper, Jay encounters a giant squid being chased by an 80-foot, 60-ton sperm whale. When […]

“Sense and Sensibility” costume designer Grace Snell thought in chapters for Georgia Oakley’s new take on Jane Austen’s 1811 novel, starring Daisy Edgar-Jones and Esmé Creed-Miles as Elinor and Marianne Dashwood, respectively. The most distinct chapters, from Snell’s costuming perspective, are the country and the city. First, the Barton Cottage chapter, shaped by the Devonshire […]

Veteran Hollywood publicist Gene Schwam, who represented top talent including Elvis Presley, Blake Edwards, Julie Andrews, Barbara Eden and Lenny Bruce, died Friday in Los Angeles after a brief illness. He was 96. Schwam co-founded Hanson & Schwam Public Relations with Adeline Hanson in 1955, establishing an independent publicity agency that would endure for decades. […]

In 2011, NBC was in a rough shape. The network had struggled in the waning years under General Electric’s ownership. In January 2011, Comcast became the majority shareholder, and with it came a new leadership regime for NBC Entertainment, led by industry veteran Bob Greenblatt. One of Greenblatt’s big ideas to liven up NBC’s schedule […]

The mood was typically celebratory at Harry Styles’ residency show at New York’s Madison Square Garden Friday night, but Harry Styles was not about to let the second anniversary of the death of former One Direction bandmate Liam Payne go unremarked upon — or, to the shock of fans, unsung about. Styles used the encore […]

Miley Cyrus paid tribute to her late godmother and country icon Dolly Parton onstage at the Hollywood Bowl Friday as she performed her first major show in years. The “Bass Persuades” singer began by sharing memories with Parton, telling the audience she was partly inspired to play the venue because it was where she saw […]

Warner Bros. and DC Studios announced Steven Soderbergh will assist director Matt Reeves in finishing production on "The Batman Part II." This arrangement is due to Reeves dealing with a family matter, ensuring the film's completion. Reeves clarified he is not departing the project, with Soderbergh stepping in to support the ongoing filming process. This highlights Hollywood's collaborative nature when

Antonio Banderas has joined Nicolas Cage for "True Detective" Season 5, an HBO anthology series. Issa López, who helmed the previous season, will serve as showrunner. The new installment is scheduled to begin production in 2027. This casting update confirms key talent for the upcoming season, providing clarity on the creative direction and timeline for the popular crime drama's return.

Selma Blair’s spokesperson has spoken out after the actress was charged with second-degree assault following a violent incident on a Delta flight on Sunday. “Since Sunday night, the public account of what happened to Selma aboard a flight to New York has been built almost entirely on a police statement and a decade-old headline,” her […]

There’s a throughline in Kate Berlant’s new HBO special “Parmesan,” and it’s not cheese. “My addiction? My phone,” the comedian says at the beginning of the hour. With slapstick style and performative haughtiness, Berlant yearns for a time before cellphones in the special, out Oct. 16. Chronicling the hyper-niche behaviors that define our online existence, […]

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has been transferred from his New Jersey prison to a new one in Pennsylvania, officials and his spokesperson confirmed on Friday, days after he was hospitalized for an alleged head injury. Combs, 56, was serving out his 50-month sentence at FCI Fort Dix in New Jersey when he was rushed to the […]

White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia is out after just five days on the job. President Trump told reporters Friday that he would talk to Zacharia about a new role. “I said, ‘When I get back we’re going to talk,'” Trump said, “because I don’t think that Katie should be made to suffer like she’s […]

The 45th Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF) featured some high-profile titles, including Jesse Eisenberg’s “The Debut,” which has been generating awards buzz for star Julianne Moore, and Martin McDonagh’s closing-night black comedy “Wild Horse Nine,” starring John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell. Peter Farrelly’s “I Play Rocky” took home the Audience Award in the Special Presentations […]

Sony Pictures Classics has acquired rights to Niki Byrne’s “The Julia Set,” starring Chase Infiniti, following the film’s world premiere at TIFF. The film, written and directed by Byrne, was one of the festival’s breakouts, thanks in large part to Infiniti’s commanding performance. The “One Battle After Another” and “The Testaments” star earned rave reviews […]

The 36th Annual Gotham Film Awards Ceremony will present the cast and creative team behind “Michael” with the Gotham Musical Tribute. Inaugurated last year by Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson of “Song Sung Blue,” director Antoine Fuqua, actors Colman Domingo, Jaafar Jackson and Nia Long and producer Graham King will receive the tribute for the […]

Without overstating the case, when the Avalanches’ debut album “Since I Lost You” arrived out of a clear blue sky (to anyone outside of their native Australia, anyway) in 2000, its impact was like the arrival of the Beastie Boys’ “Paul’s Boutique” eleven years earlier: a mind-melting leap forward in the art of sampling, a […]

The film 'You Can See Everything' is generating public interest, particularly concerning its portrayal of Elizabeth Holmes. Initial reactions anticipated a narrative focused on her downfall, satisfying those seeking schadenfreude. However, the article suggests the film, directed by Nathan Fielder, might offer a surprising perspective, potentially showing 'sympathy for the devil,' challenging audience expectations regarding Holmes and her husband Billy

David Ellison's newly formed Skydance Corp. faces investor skepticism on Wall Street. After acquiring Warner Bros. Discovery, its current market value is reportedly less than half the combined worth of Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount before the deal. Investors appear to believe Skydance significantly overpaid for the acquisition, leading to a rocky start for the merged entity's valuation in the

Fandango, which became part of Versant Media when NBCUniversal split off most of its cable and digital offerings at the start of the year, is getting into the original programming business — starting with a revival of “Bad Girls Club.” As part of Fandango’s AVOD streaming platform, the service has ordered two episodes of the […]

“Category fraud” is having a crossover moment. It happens every year, in awards cycles for both film and television. Campaigners submit films, shows and individual performances in categories they have no business being in, like a drama masquerading as a comedy or a blatant leading role being tipped for a supporting category. Industry reactions to […]

Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz’s fourth “Mummy” adventure has a new title: “The Mummy: The Book of the Dead.” Fraser and Weisz are reprising their roles as Rick and Evie O’Connell alongside a cast that includes John Hannah, Michael Johnston, Numan Acar, Kevin J. O’Connor and Oded Fehr. Plot details haven’t been revealed. As previously […]

Verve has signed a new 10-year lease for its worldwide headquarters in the Hollywood Media District, marking a significant commitment to the Los Angeles entertainment economy. Located across from Sunset Las Palmas Studios, Verve’s HQ is situated alongside companies including Netflix, All3Media, Formosa Group, Paramount, SiriusXM and Roc Nation. Verve commissioned global design collective RIOS […]

Daniel Henney has joined the cast of Apple TV’s upcoming action thriller “Disavowed.” Per the longline, “Disavowed” follows “legendary CIA case officer Brad Griffin, who is abruptly fired in the middle of a global hunt for an elusive assassin responsible for killing his colleague. Disgraced and outcast from the world of intelligence, all bets are […]

Streaming superstar IShowSpeed has partnered with Breakwater Studios and Barack and Michelle Obama’s Higher Ground to bring Ben Proudfoot’s upcoming documentary “The Eyes of Ghana” to theaters for a one-night-only screening on Oct. 28, Variety can reveal exclusively. Participating exhibitors include Regal, AMC, Cinemark, select theater chains and independent cinemas. “The Eyes of Ghana,” which […]

U.K. audiences aren’t usually ones to give standing ovations, but when one of their most cherished filmmakers makes a final bow, unwritten rules are allowed to be broken. This was certainly the case for Mike Leigh, who on Thursday received a hero’s welcome at the London Film Festival premiere of “Tender Loving Care,” a film […]

After Gail Lerner’s recent announcement that she’d been fired as the showrunner of “Newlyweds,” the upcoming NBC sitcom she co-created with Jamie Lee Curtis, the network has hired Bruce Helford to take over. Helford is a veteran writer-producer who has created and overseen several comedian-driven series over the course of decades. As a creator or […]

Variety's "2026 Artisans to Watch" article highlights a projected successful year for cinema in 2026. It notes moviegoers returned to theaters for blockbusters like "The Odyssey" and "Project Hail Mary," alongside low-budget films such as "Obsession." The piece emphasizes the critical role of skilled professionals, including makeup heads, animation supervisors, and composers, in the production of these diverse cinematic releases,

The series “Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed,” starring Tatiana Maslany as newly divorced mom Paula, has been renewed for a second season. The show, which follows Paula's descent into blackmail, murder, and youth soccer after witnessing a crime, will continue on Apple TV. This renewal confirms the ongoing production and storyline for the streaming platform's subscribers and the show's cast and crew.

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, […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Mubi will theatrically release the Sundance Grand Jury Prize winning documentary “Nuisance Bear.” The release begins in Los Angeles on Nov. 6 and will open in New York, Canada and the U.K. on Dec. 4. Per the logline, “Nuisance Bear” “immerses viewers in the experience of a polar bear forced to navigate tourists, wildlife officers, […]

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 […]

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), […]

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 […]