By Brian Steinberg Al Roker is best known for his facility in explaining the weather. But the “Today” veteran is about to test his footing on new terrain. His production company, Al Roker Entertainment, has optioned “The Personal Librarian,” by authors Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray, for what he hopes will become …read more
By K.J. Yossman Sex Pistols co-founder Glen Matlock has signed a worldwide solo deal with Universal Music Group (UMG). Under the terms of the deal, Matlock, who has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, will release a new album, described as “timely and politically pertinent” in 2022. UMG will …read more
By jazztangcay The Costume Designers Guild has announced nominations for the 24th Costume Designers Guild Awards, with “Dune,” “West Side Story,” “Cruella,” “House of Gucci” and “Nightmare Alley” among those landing nominations. The designers behind “Dune,” “The Green Knight,” “The Matrix Resurrections,” “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, “Spider-Man: No …read more
By Shirley Halperin “American Idol” creator Simon Fuller has unveiled “the first group ever to be born on TikTok.” The Future X is made up of three singers and four dancers, each discovered on the social media platform. All seven members — Angie Green, Luke Brown, and Maci Wood plus dancers Jayna Hughes, …read more
By Naman Ramachandran “Drive My Car” filmmaker Hamaguchi Ryusuke, director Karim Ainouz (Berlin-winner “Central Airport THF”) and actor Connie Nielsen (“Wonder Woman”) will join president M. Night Shyamalan on the international jury of the Berlin Film Festival. Also serving on the international jury are producer Saïd Ben Saïd (“Benedetta”) and filmmakers Anne Zohra …read more
By Owen Gleiberman There’s an extraordinary scene in the middle of “Navalny,” a must-watch documentary that tells the story of Alexei Navalny, the vitally popular Russian opposition leader who, as a presidential candidate, became such a threat to Vladimir Putin that the Kremlin tried to poison him. Most of the documentary, which was …read more
By Chris Willman Dick Halligan, who won two Grammys for his early work with the group Blood, Sweat and Tears and later turned to film and television work, died Jan. 18 in Rome, Italy at age 78. The family cited natural causes. Halligan was a member of Blood, Sweat and Tears for the …read more
By varietyschneider Greetings from Variety Awards Headquarters! Today is Jan. 25, 2022, which means it’s now 1 day until the DGA Awards TV nominations on Jan. 26; 2 days until the PGA Awards TV nominations on Jan. 27; 14 days until the Oscars nominations on Feb. 8; 33 days until the SAG Awards on Feb. 27; 40 days until the Film Independent Spirit Awards on March 6; 46 days until the …read more
By Mónica Marie Zorrilla Shaun Cassidy is stepping into the ranch family drama game with “Unbroken,” a drama pilot ordered by NBC. The show, which hails from Universal Television and Shaun Cassidy Productions, centers on three dynastic ranch families on the central coast of California, who make love and war in a passionate struggle …read more
By Rebecca Rubin “Living,” an acclaimed re-imagining of Akira Kurosawa’s classic meaning-of-life story, has been sold to Sony Pictures Classics follow its premiere at Sundance Film Festival. Sony Pictures Classics, the indie division of Sony Pictures, has acquired rights in North America, Latin America, India, Scandinavia, Eastern Europe, Germany, South Africa, Southeast Asia, …read more