Nia DaCosta Set To Direct The Film Adaption Of ‘The Water Dancer’

Todd Spangler NY Digital EditorU.S. stocks slumped Thursday in the financial markets’ biggest meltdown so far this year, with tech companies taking a harder hit than the media sector in a dramatic reversal of the previous day’s rally.The Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 1,059.73 points, down 3.1% for the day.

Veneno” and producers of “Cardo,” have joined forces with Movistar Plus, the pay TV/SVOD of Telefonica, to develop and produce a new series, “La Mesías.”Presented on Tuesday in Madrid, like “Veneno,” the series has been written by Los Javis – as they are popularly known in Spain – and, according to Javier Ambrossi, the scale of the series marks the natural “next step” in the growth of Suma Content. A Movistar Plus original series, the series will be written, directed and produced by Ambrossi and Calvo and made in collaboration with Suma Content, their new production label launched last year.  Movistar Plus International will handle international distribution of what rates from the get-go as one of the hottest Spanish series which will be brought onto the global market this year. According to a synopsis read out by Javier Calvo at the presentation, “La Mesias,” described as a family thriller, turns on Enric, who is heavily impacted by a viral video of a Christian pop band made up of five sisters. Enric himself, the synopsis says, is still traumatised by a childhood marked by religious fanaticism and a mother with delirious messianic ambitions.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorLive Nation Entertainment posted the best first quarter in its history this year, according to financial results released Thursday for the quarter ended March 31, 2022.“Momentum has picked up for all of our businesses over the course of the first quarter, and as a result, we delivered financial performance that greatly surpassed our previous expectations, with operating income of $27 million and [adjusted operating income] of $209 million,” CEO Michael Rapino said in a statement accompanying the results. “Artists are back on the road and fan demand has never been stronger, a reflection that live events remain a clear priority for consumers as our social lives restart.”The company’s AOI of $209 million topped the previous record, Q1 of 2019, by $94 million, and was $361 million better than 2021 — when the industry had not yet begun to emerge from the pandemic — with a boost of $269 million in ticketing, $66 million in sponsorship and $26 million in concerts.

Since she announced she was planning on re-recording and re-releasing her first six albums, fans of Taylor Swift have been wondering when she’d get around to doling out the updated take on her celebrated full-length 1989.While the singer-songwriter hasn’t exactly promised that the project is on the way, she has revealed that a new single is set to drop in just a few hours, and it gives her followers reason to believe the title they’ve been waiting for might be on the horizon.Swift took to her social media on May 5 to announce that at midnight EST on May 6, her new single would become available everywhere.Well, not exactly “new.” The superstar is planning on dropping “This Love (Taylor’s Version),” and fans only need to wait a few more hours before they get to hear the reworked cut.A post shared by Taylor Swift (@taylorswift) The Grammy champion previewed “This Love (Taylor’s Version)” on Instagram by uploading the trailer for the upcoming TV show The Summer I Turned Pretty, which is based off of the novel of the same name.

Sophie Turner is opening up about her health.

Kanye «Ye» West was in support of Kim Kardashian hosting  -- up until a point. On the most recent episode of Hulu's , Kim shares with her sister, Khloe Kardashian, why her ex walked out during her monologue back in October. «He walked out on, like mid-monologue. So, I haven't talked to him since,» Kim shares, noting that it was joke she made about Kanye that made him leave.

EXCLUSIVE: We hear on very good authority that Warner Bros. has taken a Jason Momoa project off the table after an intense bidding war, tentatively titled The Executioner. 

EXCLUSIVE: Dan Baime, an ICM Partners agent of 25 years, partner and co-head of the Production Department, is leaving the agency business to segue to management. He is launching his own management firm, Intenta Management, with his long-time client John Cena as Intenta’s first client. ICM agent and partner Lara Sackett has been elevated to assume Baime’s role as co-head of the Production Department alongside fellow co-heads Paul Hook, a longtime fixture in the field, and Janet Carol Norton.

Greg Marcus said first-quarter sales for Marcus Theatres surged from a year ago; that the film slate, while improving, is still not back to where it was pre-Covid; and that while studios have committed to theatrical windows, big streamers have not despite — in his view — overwhelming arguments for cinematic release.

His final word. Kim Kardashian and Ray J’s sex tape made the rounds again after its feature in Hulu’s The Kardashians, but the singer wants to put the subject to rest. In the last half of a two-part interview with DailyMail, Ray J reveals all the details of his meeting with Kanye West prior to when the rapper gave the hard drive of the alleged sex tape to Kim on The Kardashians. 

documentaries released. “The Gabby Petito Story” is part of Lifetime’s Stop Violence Against Women public affairs initiative.

lot of those objections. Which leads to more sidebars.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorCNN+ is gone, but some of the big-name anchors who were hired for the service appear to be sticking around for a while.Chris Licht, the new chairman and CEO at the Warner Bros. Discovery news operation, gave indications at a town hall meeting on Thursday that he intended to find places for some of the popular names that were lured to the company with the promise of new programs for CNN.+ The subscription-based streaming service was scuttled abruptly by the company’s new parent after it completed its acquisition of WarnerMedia from AT&T.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media ReporterMolly Shannon has never worked with David Mamet, and yet the “Saturday Night Live” alum credits the playwright with her career breakthroughs.In her new book, “Hello, Molly,” Shannon details the so-called “Mamet scam,” in which she and a friend pretended to work for the “Glengarry Glen Ross” director to secure meetings with Hollywood casting agents. It worked, and ultimately led to Shannon appearing on David Lynch’s “Twin Peaks.”Shannon parlayed that opportunity into a decades-long career, most recently appearing on “The Other Two,” HBO’s hit anthology series “The White Lotus” and Showtime’s upcoming comedy “I Love That for You.”For Variety’s annual Power of Women issue, Shannon spoke about breaking into show business, her time on “SNL” and knowing when to ignore the “no.” What inspired you to write a memoir?I wanted to share my story and hopefully inspire people. It was very cathartic writing it.

Ales Hudsky Czech crime series “Nineties” by Slovak director Peter Bebjak drew 2.23 million viewers over six nights on Czech Television – the best result for a Czech series in the past 18 years, according to Film New Europe.The fifth episode, “Barrels,” broke the rating record with 2.41 million viewers (one in four Czechs watched it), becoming the most watched TV show in primetime since the start of the electronic measurement of broadcasting rating in 1997.“Nineties” is based on real criminal cases that occurred in the 90s, after the fall of communism in Czechoslovakia. The series has six episodes and the main characters are played by Martin Finger, Kryštof Bartoš, Ondřej Sokol, Vasil Fridrich and Robert Mikluš.

Copyright Royalty Board to increase mechanical royalties from music streaming services like like Spotify by 32% immediately — or from 9.1 cents to 12 cents per track.The rate had been disputed by the DSPs — including Spotify, Apple, Amazon, Pandora and Google (YouTube) — leading to a legal deadlock that threatened the ratification of the rate in the 2023-2027 period. Rightsholders and trade groups were aiming for 15 cents, and the streamers argued to maintain the 9-cent rate.The motion states that the National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA), the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) along with  Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group, as well as qualified copyright owners, have come to an agreement with the rate change effective immediately.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaPaxton Smith electrified abortion rights advocates when she used her 2021 high school graduation speech to decry wide-ranging abortion restrictions that were being pushed by Texas lawmakers. The valedictorian’s remarks, in which she told the audience that “there is a war on my body and a war on my rights,” quickly went viral, making Smith one of the youngest faces and most influential voices of the movement.Now, the conflict that Smith described has entered a new phase after Politico broke the news this week that the Supreme Court has prepared a majority draft opinion striking down Roe v.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentWhen Kim Kardashian hosted “Saturday Night Live” last year, she joked about her ex-husband Kanye West during her monologue. Though the two were amid a divorce, it seemed as if they were on relatively good terms at the time given her light-hearted monologue.Kim quipped at the time about West, “I married the best rapper of all time. Not only that, he’s the richest Black man in America,” she said onstage.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterAmber Heard broke down in sobs on Thursday as she told a jury that her ex-husband Johnny Depp had sexually assaulted her with a bottle during a fight in Australia.Heard took the stand for the second day, as she continued to recount a series of violent incidents that marked their relationship. She said that the fight in Australia — during filming of the fifth “Pirates of the Caribbean” film in March 2015 — was prompted by Depp’s jealousy and her concern about his drug use.She said that Depp had repeatedly hit her, threw bottles at her, and choked her against a refrigerator, before finally getting her on top of a countertop and penetrating her with a bottle.“I remember just not wanting to move,” she said.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorJust two weeks before the release of his “Harry’s House” third solo album, Harry Styles has announced the dates for “Love on Tour 2022.”Coming off of a sold out 42-date arena tour in 2021 and two special “One Night Only” shows in New York and London, the 2022 tour works the “Harry’s House” theme by turning arenas in New York, Los Angeles (10 nights each), Chicago, Austin (5 nights each) and Toronto (2 nights) into Harry’s de facto house.Produced by Live Nation, the tour kicks off on Monday, August 15th and Tuesday, August 16th at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, ON. Styles will continue his residencies in New York City for ten nights at Madison Square Garden, Austin for five nights at Moody Center, and Chicago for five nights at United Center, before wrapping up at Los Angeles’ Kia Forum for 10 night run concluding on Tuesday, November 15th.

The man who attacked Dave Chappelle during a performance at the Hollywood Bowl Tuesday will not face felony charges despite carrying a replica pistol with a folding knife blade affixed to it. Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón’s office declined Thursday to file felony charges against Isaiah Lee, 23, who was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon after he tackled Chappelle.

It’s Thursday night and you know what that means…. a new episode of Grey’s Anatomy and there’s been some news recently!

There was some big Disney+ casting news revealed for the Percy Jackson series! – Just Jared Jr We didn’t realize this about Duchess Meghan – Celebitchy Meet the stylist behind Jodie Turner-Smith‘s Met Gala gown – Popsugar Taylor Swift fans are going to love this news! – Just Jared Jr

Harry Styles is coming to a venue near you!

A post shared by Danica Patrick (@danicapatrick)"These were my reasons and to me these narratives are the problem. Implants just feed into it. Culture feeds into it.

Retailer McColl's is reportedly on the brink of collapse and will fall into administration if urgent funding isn't successful.

Pupils at a Lanarkshire school that work with deaf children have been hard at work creating a new character for a much-loved podcast.

The Toronto kid, Carter Trozzolo, who went viral on the internet is getting recognized by one of the biggest names in Hollywood.

Jennifer Grey is still on the path of self-love.

Ellie Kemper, the Princeton-educated actress and comedian who held the starring role in the “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” Netflix sitcom, has found a buyer for her chic Manhattan apartment after just more than a month on the market.That’s according to a StreetEasy listing update for the three-bedroom Upper West Side co-op, which — in the lead-up to its entrance on the sales market — aimed to list for $3.35 million. Ultimately, it went up for sale asking a higher $3.5 million in late March.The contract price isn’t known, same goes for the identity of the new owner, but the renovated residence kept its $3.5 million asking price during its brief time for sale.

Adam B. Vary Senior Entertainment WriterJ.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot has signed on to produce the live-action adaptation of the iconic toy “Hot Wheels,” Mattel and Warner Bros.

Nia DaCosta has been tapped by MGM to direct the upcoming adaptation of Ta-Nehisi Coates’ novel, The Water Dancer.The movie will be produced by Maceo-Lyn and Plan B, alongside Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Films. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Coates’ New York Times bestseller was the first book to be featured in Oprah’s Book Club, a partnership with Apple.The Water Dancer is based on the novel of the same name, and tells the story of Hiram Walker, who was born into slavery during the years preceding the Civil War.

Nia DaCosta (Candyman) has been tapped to direct an adaptation of Ta-Nehisi Coates’ 2019 debut novel The Water Dancer for MGM, Plan B, Harpo Films and Maceo-Lyn.