Ron DeSantis Says He’ll “Win On Every Single Issue” Involving Disney, Vows To Void Florida Theme Park Development Agreement And Threatens Hotel Taxes And Road Tolls

statement on Twitter.“We are truly devastated by the passing of our brother Paul. There are no words to describe the deep sadness and loss we all feel.

Alex Gonzalez At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, as artists went into a panic watching dozens of festival appearances and tours get canceled, R&B singer Daniel Caesar was able to ride the stratospheric success of Justin Bieber’s “Peaches,” on which he features alongside Giveon, as the song shot to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Then, he got to work. Setting up shop in a small town a couple hours outside of Toronto, he spent days writing, crafting beats, and putting together the album that would become “Never Enough.” For this third release, Caesar took on more of the producer role — something he had been wanting to do for years that challenged his typical writing process.

Brent Lang Executive Editor It’s-a blockbuster! “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” continued to rack up high scores at the box office as it heads into Easter weekend. The animated movie, a collaboration between Illumination, Nintendo and Universal, shows no signs of slowing down, earning a massive $26.5 million on Thursday. That brings its domestic haul to $58.2 million. At this rate, the mustachioed plumber should end his first five days on the big screen with more than $150 million in stateside winnings. Internationally, the movie has earned $62.5 million, pushing global ticket sales to $120.7 million. The week’s other major new release, Amazon Studios’s “Air,” a footwear tale detailing how Nike convinced Michael Jordan to become its most successful brand ambassador, earned $2.4 million on Thursday. That brings the sneaker story’s domestic total to just under $6 million. The film, which stars Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Chris Tucker and Viola Davis, is expected to earn $16 million in its first five days in theaters. That’s a mere blip compared to Mario, but a solid result considering the struggles that movies aimed at adults have faced. Affleck directs the film in addition to starring opposite his “Good Will Hunting” buddy Damon. “Air” cost $90 million to make, meaning that Amazon better sell a lot of paper towels to justify that spending.

Sophia Scorziello editor Happy death date: Netflix’s “Manifest” Season 4, Part 2 is set to premiere on June 2, nearly eight months after Part 1’s release in November 2022. The supernatural drama series returns with its final 10 episodes that continue the stories of Montego Air Flight 828 passengers who are making the most of their second lease on life. The first episode of Season 4, Part 2 will premiere at the ATX TV festival in early June, followed by an in-person panel with showrunner Jeff Rake and cast members. The return of “Manifest” coincides with the show’s infamous “death date,” June 2, which has been a recurring mystery throughout the series. It was first assumed by 828 passengers that June 2, 2024 marked the day they would lose their lives, but this season revealed it to be much more serious than that, with the “death date” marking the end of the world.

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Arthouse genre distribution company Yellow Veil Pictures has acquired North American rights “Rebel,” a music-filled thriller by the Belgian directing duo Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah. The pair broke into Hollywood with “Bad Boys for Life” starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence and are set to direct the sequel for Sony Pictures. “Rebel” was produced by Caviar, the banner behind the Oscar-winning film “Sound of Metal” as well as “War Pony.” It world premiered at Cannes last year in the Midnight section and be theatrically released later this year. “Rebel” follows Kamal, a young man seeking meaning for his life, who leaves Belgium to help war victims in Syria. Once there, he is forced to join ISIS and discovers the propaganda, manipulation, and atrocity the militia is responsible for. Back home, Kamal’s brother Nassim is slowly indoctrinated by radical recruiters and persuaded to join Kamal in Syria, while their mother fights to keep what’s left of her family together.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is escalating his war with The Walt Disney Co., outlining a set of moves against the company in what is amounting to a standoff between a potential 2024 presidential candidate and the entertainment giant.

Zack Sharf Digital News Director Is Morena Baccarin’s Vanessa Carlysle joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe? “It may or may not work out,” the actor said on a recent episode of the “Inside of You With Michael Rosenbaum” podcast. According to Baccarin, she’s being courted to star in the upcoming “Deadpool 3,” but talks have stalled because “we have not agreed on terms.” The sequel will be the first “Deadpool” movie set in the MCU. “Firefly” actor Baccarin played Vanessa Carlysle, fiancée to Wade Wilson/Deadpool, in the first two “Deadpool” movies. Her character was killed off in the beginning of “Deadpool 2” in a satirical nod to “fridging,” a maligned storytelling device in which a female character is killed in order to forward the development of a male character.

Guy Lodge Film Critic On the face of it, “The Pope’s Exorcist” would have you believe that it’s rooted in the real-life experiences of the late Father Gabriele Amorth, the Catholic priest who served for 30 years as the head exorcist of the Diocese of Rome. Its screenwriting credits proclaim as much, for starters, while a surfeit of onscreen dates and locations in the early going lend proceedings the faintest of docudrama veneers; moreover, the film is backed by the non-profit production arm of the Jesuit research university Loyola Marymount, with Loyola rector Father Edward J. Siebert among its executive producers. Even Catholics in high places, it turns out, have a sense of humor: You needn’t wait for the “work of fiction” disclaimer in the closing credits to discern that “The Pope’s Exorcist” is ripely fantastical trash, inspired by Amorth’s work in much the same way that SunnyD is inspired by Florida oranges, and no less enjoyable for those liberties. Rather than the Bible or any of Amorth’s autobiographies, Julius Avery’s film instead swears by the trusty story template shaped by every demonic-possession horror film since “The Exorcist” a full half-century ago, as a hapless American teen is inhabited by an ancient minion of Satan with increasingly yucky, upchucky consequences, while a venerable priest is called upon to clear up the mess.

Jazz Tangcay Artisans Editor Composer Brian Tyler jumped at the chance to write the music for “The Super Mario Bros. Movie.” He rattles off the games, Super Mario Brothers, Super Mario Kart and Donkey Kong… there are many more, and he’s played them all. “I knew this music,” Tyler shares. “It was a part of my childhood in the same way that I grew up listening to film scores.” Tyler has already worked across a wide swath of genres, from horror (“Scream 6”), romantic comedy (“Crazy Rich Asians”), Western (“Yellowstone”) and action (“Fast X”). But this was special assignment, Tyler tells Variety: “I had gaming magazines and I remember articles about Nintendo’s video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto.”

Zack Sharf Digital News Director Emilia Clarke isn’t the only “Game of Thrones” veteran who is unable to watch HBO’s prequel series, “House of the Dragon.” Clarke’s co-star Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, who starred on all eight seasons of “Game of Thrones” as Jaime Lannister, recently told Entertainment Weekly that he hasn’t watched “House of the Dragon” past its opening credits scene. The title sequence draws heavily from “Game of Thrones,” which made Coster-Waldau feel like it’s “too soon” to dive into the prequel show. “I have not [seen ‘House of the Dragon’],” Coster-Waldau said. “One day it came on and I saw the opening credits. And it was a little strange because it was the same music and the title sequence was kind of similar,” he says, adding, “I was like, ‘Ah, this is too soon. Too soon.'”

Jem Aswad Senior Music Editor Drake is no stranger to taking jabs in his songs, and in his new single “Search & Rescue,” he’s apparently taking one at his frenemy Kanye West: The song features dialogue of West’s estranged wife, Kim Kardashian, apparently talking about divorce. “I didn’t come this far, just to come this far and not be happy,” Kardashian’s vocal fry-laden voice is heard speaking to her mother, Kris Jenner, on their reality show. “Okay, that’s fair,” Jenner replies. Kardashian then says, “Yep, I saw it on the internet.” The song’s lyrics are standard Drake fare about the travails of being a rich superstar looking for love: “I need someone to be patient with me/ Someone to get money with, not take it from me/ Look, they don’t even need to be as famous as me/ I don’t think I’ll meet them at the places I be,” raps Drake for the song’s chorus.

Netflix is ready to reveal when Part 2 of Manifest‘s fourth season will come in for a landing.  

Manori Ravindran Executive Editor of International S Club 7 member Paul Cattermole has died just months after the British pop band announced its fall reunion tour. He was 46. “It is with great sadness that we announce the unexpected passing of our beloved son and brother Paul Cattermole,” reads a statement published by the BBC, attributed to Cattermole’s family and the band. The singer was found on April 6 at his home in Dorset. He was declared dead later in the afternoon. The BBC reports that a cause of death is currently unknown. “Dorset Police has confirmed that there were no suspicious circumstances. Paul’s family, friends and fellow members of S Club request privacy at this time,” reads the statement.

Jisoo makes Official Charts history today as she becomes the first member of BLACKPINK to score a Top 40 single with debut release FLOWER.

5 Seconds of Summer is taking off on the North American leg of their 2023 ‘The 5 Seconds of Summer Show’ world tour in support of their two latest albums, ‘5SOS5’ and ‘The Feeling of Falling Upwards – Live from The Royal Albert Hall.’Midway through the 20-concert run, the Aussie hitmakers will land in the city that never sleeps and headline at New York City’s Madison Square Garden on Aug.

“Star Wars Celebration” held in London on Friday.“My heart is pounding,” the often outspoken Ridley happily told the audience. “I’m very thrilled to be continuing this journey.”The still untitled film will be written by “Peaky Blinders” creator Steven Knight and directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy.“I’ve always been attracted to the hero’s journey and the fact that the world needs many more heroes,” said Sharmeen at the event.The film will be set 15 years after the “Rise Of Skywalker,” which premiered in 2019.In the project, Rey will “attempt to rebuild the Jedi Order as a Jedi Master.” Ridley made her fist appearance in the fantasy series in 2015, with the groundbreaking movie “The Force Awakens.”Rey Skywalker is my favorite Star Wars character and Daisy Ridley is one of my favorite actress.

Labrinth has shared "Never Felt So Alone," a new collaboration with Billie Eilish. The British artist is perhaps best known for his work scoring HBO's Euphoria, with an early version of this new song appearing in the second season of the show in 2022.

Police have confirmed they have found a body in the search for a missing man with a murder probe launched.

Trying to keep up with this week’s new music? Every Friday, we collect new albums available on streaming services on one page. This week, check out Yaeji's With A Hammer, Thomas Bangalter's Mythologies, Wednesday's Rat Saw God, and more.

In January, Lil Yachty shared a new album called Let's Start Here., a psychedelic rock album that saw the mumble rap pioneer pick up threads of Pink Floyd and Yves Tumor. “Fuck any of the albums I dropped before this one,” Yachty told Billboard in an interview that stoked controversy for his insistence that he released Let's Start Here.

Last month three men, Trayvon Newsome, Dedrick Williams, and gunman Michael Boatwright, were found guilty of first-degree murder in XXXTentacion‘s death. On Thursday Williams, Boatwright, and Newsome were formally sentenced to life in prison.

Paul Cattermole, an original member of the British pop group S Club 7 created by Spice Girls manager Simon Fuller, died yesterday at his home in Dorset, the BBC has reported. Cattermole was 46.

Ike Perlmutter, who is generally someone who keeps a low profile, has made a rare public show of his dissatisfaction with Disney.

no-no per U.S. campaign finance law.

Selome Hailu Judy Blume stood up for the right to read at Variety‘s Power of Women luncheon, presented by Lifetime, in New York City on Tuesday. The resident Floridian spoke passionately against Gov. Ron DeSantis’ recent moves to censor public education in the state. “I live in Key West — even though we like to pretend it’s not in Florida — we have the same governor,” Blume said to the crowd. “A governor who wants to control everything, starting with what kids can think, what they can know, what they can question, what they can learn, and now even what they can talk about. We have a legislator who’s trying to put through a bill preventing girls in elementary school from talking about periods… Good luck there.”

For the first time, Bob Iger is speaking out and addressing the ongoing battle between the company and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. He also answered a frankly bizarre question about the company’s so-called “woke agenda,” both with the kind of poise and composure that made him such a favorite of his employees as well as the shareholders, during the Disney Shareholders meeting.“Let me if you don’t mind let me address this issue which I haven’t really done much publicly. But I’d love the opportunity just to put it all in perspective.

Governor Ron DeSantis, seeking to gain an upper hand in his battle with The Walt Disney Co., on Monday ordered an investigation into the company’s move to retain extensive control over its sprawling Florida theme park property.

Bob Iger is back, debonaire, relaxed, articulate and talking up Disney IP via video in front of Walt Disney Word, where the company appears to have outmaneuvered Ron DeSantis for control. He also fianlly spoke his mind on the simmering feud, telling the company’s virtual annual shareholder meeting today that the governor’s apparent “retaliation” against Disney for exercising a right to free speech “is not only anti-business, but anti-Florida,” given the jobs, taxes, resources and revenue Disney provides the state.

Jennifer Maas TV Business Writer Returned CEO Bob Iger made a rare public comment about Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ moves to “punish” Disney for its position against Florida’s so-called “Don’t Say Gay” Bill last year during the company’s annual shareholders meeting Monday, calling the decision “not just anti-business, but anti-Florida.” “It seems like he’s decided to retaliate against us,” Iger said, referring to DeSantis’ power struggle with Disney in Florida, the home of Disney World, in an attempt “to punish a company for its exercise of a constitutional right.” “That seems really wrong to me,” he added. “We’re currently planning now to invest over $17 billion Disney World over the next 10 years,” Iger said, noting that Disney estimates this will lead to 13,000 new jobs within the company and “thousands of indirect jobs” in the state, thus bringing in more taxes for Floriday.

On International Transgender Day of Visibility (March 31), hundreds of students from across Florida descended on the Capitol to protest the legislature’s fast-tracking of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ agenda of book banning and classroom censorship and assaults on academic and medical freedom.

a recent Quinnipiac poll, as Pskai pointed out, a whopping 90% of Republicans see the move from DA Alvin Bragg as politically motivated; 70% of independents agree along with 30% of Democrats.“It doesn’t really matter that that is based entirely on the phony claims by leading Republicans,” Psaki said of the poll’s results. “But the thing is, there’s absolutely nothing to gain by adding more fuel to that fire.”Currently, that fire is being fueled by the likes of House speaker Kevin McCarthy, Florida governor Ron DeSantis, Gov. Glenn Youngkin and Trump himself.

The Saturday, April 1, episode of Saturday Night Live started like any other — until Colin Jost did not receive any laughs during his “Weekend Update” segment.

Governor Ron DeSantis promised more to come on the state’s increasingly convoluted fight with Disney to wrest back the company’s control of a swath of central Florida that is home to Walt Disney World.

faces more than 30 business fraud charges related to his role in a series of hush money payments made to the porn star during the 2016 election.“Once she heard, Stormy Daniels was like, ‘Oh, so this is what it feels like to be satisfied,'” Fallon joked.The host also presented what he said was Trump’s reaction, in the form of a video.It’s the first time a former president has ever been formally charged with a crime. The indictment remains under seal, so the details are not yet public.Fallon also noted that the machinations around Trump’s arrest could impact another potential 2024 presidential candidate, whose rivalry with the former president has been heating up in recent weeks.“If Trump refuses to surrender,” Fallon quipped, “Florida governor Ron DeSantis would have to approve a request to send him to New York.”Then, imagining how DeSantis would respond in such a situation, Fallon said, “DeSantis is like, ‘Oh, it’s approved.

A grand jury indicted him earlier in the day on charges related to a hush-money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels. “This evening we contacted Mr.

“We’re going to have to deal with it and correct it,” Central Florida Tourism Oversight District Board of Supervisors member Brian Aungst Jr. said today of a vote taken by the then Disney-controlled Reedy Creek Improvement District in February. “It’s a subversion of the will of the voters and the Legislature and the governor. It completely circumvents the authority of this board to govern.”