WarnerMedia Entertainment Chief Marketing Officer Chris Spadaccini to Exit

Tyson Fury has outlined his plans to hang up his gloves following his upcoming bout against Dillian Whyte, despite the likelihood of a unification bout. The 33-year-old stated last week that he will bring an end to his illustrious career after his clash against his fellow Brit at Wembley on April 23rd.

EastEnders legend Martine McCutcheon has stunned fans one again with a super stylish ensemble shared on her Instagram account.The 45-year-old, who recently wowed with her amazing eyebrow transformation after undergoing a microblading treatment, posed in the perfect transitional outfit. whilst “springing a quick photoshoot." The actress, who is best-known for her portrayal of Tiffany Mitchell in EastEnders, was complimented for her “absolutely beautiful” outfit which was head-to-toe high street – apart from her designer Saint Laurent black crossbody bag.

EMILY Atack looked amazing as she posted a snap to wish her cousin Molly Robbins happy birthday. The 32-year-old stunned in the photo with Molly, who stars in Netflix series Extreme Cake Makers.

Naman Ramachandran As the invasion of Ukraine continues, seven leading Ukrainian filmmakers allege complicity by the Russian artistic community. They are now calling for cultural sanctions against Russia.Valentyn Vasyanovych, director (“Black Level,” “Atlantis,” “Reflection”)Insidious shelling of residential areas with civilians, as well as blackmail of nuclear weapons – is a manifestation of the powerless rage of the fascist regime of Russia and the lack of chances to defeat the Ukrainian army and people in a direct military confrontation.The whole bloody history of Russia, as imperial, Soviet, and post-Soviet, is based on the bloodthirsty attitude towards its neighbors and its people, who have never been united ethnically or culturally.

Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentLondon-based Beyond Rights has scored sales to Italian broadcasters on more than 500 hours of TV content, including topical doc “The Prince and the Paedophile.”The BriteSpark Films investigation into the friendship between Prince Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein, which is also said to uncover new details on Epstein’s other British connection –– including to Ghislaine Maxwell –– has been acquired by linear broadcaster La7, which is the flagship station of the country’s third generalist TV group in terms of ratings.Comcast-owned pay TV Sky Italia re-upped their licensing deal on lifestyle show “Love It Or List It,” acquiring 290 new hours of the franchise, including four seasons from the original series and seasons from “Love It Or List It: Vancouver”; “Love It Or List It: Quebec” and “Love It Or List It: Australia.”   Discovery Italy purchased a 103-hour, multi-genre package comprising true crime titles such as “Fatal Vows,” and “Deadly Women,” plus “Massive Engineering Mistakes,” and auto show “Flipping Bangers.” AETN Italy picked up the latest two seasons of “Forbidden History” and the show’s new upcoming two instalments, one of which examines war propaganda methods used in Nazi Germany.Finally, GotGame, a new digital channel dedicated to the gaming world, bought 105 hours of science and tech programming from Beyond Rights comprising the shows “Myth or Science,” “How Hacks Work,” and “Superhuman Science.”“We are delighted that our extensive factual catalogue can meet the needs of so many key broadcasters at the same time in such an important territory as Italy.” said Sarah Bickley, Beyond Rights’ SVP sales for Italy, in a statement. 

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefAustralia-set, Jamie Dornan-starring thriller series “The Tourist” has been widely licensed for broadcast in Europe and Asia. Dornan stars as a man who, after an epic car chase in the outback, wakes in hospital with no idea of who he is. He is forced on a brutal, and often funny journey of self-discovery, while trying to stay one step ahead of the people trying to kill him.With All3Media International handling rights sales, the show has been licensed to NPO for The Netherlands, VRT for Belgium, RTE for Ireland, Cosmote for Greece, and France Télévisions (for its France 3 channel).

Christopher Vourlias A fortnight ago, documentary filmmaker Vera Krichevskaya was anticipating the Russia release of her latest feature, “F@ck This Job,” a spirited, behind-the-scenes portrait of the country’s last independent broadcaster, TV Rain. But just days before the film’s Moscow premiere, Russian military forces invaded Ukraine.

K.J. Yossman “Line of Duty” star Martin Compston is set to lead a new factual series set in his native Scotland.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterCBS All Access has given out a series order to the comedic documentary series “For Heaven’s Sake.”Created by and starring Mike Mildon and Jackson Rowe, the series will follow the search for Harold Heaven, who mysteriously disappeared from his remote cabin in Ontario, Canada, in the winter of 1934. While local police searched the nearby woods and dredged the adjacent lake, Harold was never found nor heard from again.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterViacomCBS Entertainment & Youth Group has established the First Time Directors program for BIPOC and female filmmakers, Variety has learned exclusively.Under the program, 50 films across Paramount Network, MTV, Comedy Central and the Group’s portfolio will be helmed by first time BIPOC filmmakers and female directors. ViacomCBS has partnered with a number of high-profile executive producers through the program, including Angela Bassett and Courtney B.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterHBO Max has given a straight-to-series order for “Peacemaker,” a spinoff from the upcoming “Suicide Squad” film. John Cena will play the title role, reprising his role from the film.

first reported the news.“One of the first shows Chris and I worked on together was ‘Flight of the Conchords.’ That was 15 years ago and I have been in awe of his endless creativity ever since. ‘The Sopranos,’ ‘Veep,’ ‘Game of Thrones’ as well as this year’s big Emmy winner ‘Watchmen’ is just a short list of his and his team’s iconic campaigns,” said Casey Bloys, head of programming for HBO.

Dade Hayes Finance EditorEXCLUSIVE: Chris Spadaccini, who spent two decades at HBO and became WarnerMedia Entertainment’s chief marketing officer in 2019, is exiting the company.His departure comes as WarnerMedia continues to undergo significant reshaping at the direction of CEO Jason Kilar, the former Hulu CEO and Amazon executive who took over in the spring.Spadaccini spearheaded campaigns for shows like Watchmen and Succession, which led HBO to a dominant showing at Sunday night’s Emmys. Through his run at HBO, he also won awards and accolades for elaborate positioning of shows like Game of Thrones as well as network brand awareness initiatives.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterNatasha Lyonne and Alia Shawkat are developing a half-hour series at Amazon, Variety has learned exclusively.Titled “Desert People,” the series follows a family of Iraqi immigrants who run a gentleman’s club in Palm Springs. Shawkat will star as the parents’ adult daughter in LA who is coming to terms with her sexuality and identity as a first generation American.Shawkat and Lyonne co-created the series.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“Mr. Mercedes” will live on, with Peacock officially picking up the Stephen King crime drama for its third season.The show previously aired on Audience Network and had been renewed for a third season, but Audience Network shutdown before the season aired.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterHugh Davidson has signed an overall deal with Warner Bros. Animation.Under the deal, Davidson will develop, write, and produce animated projects for WBA across all platforms.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterHBO is developing a hip hop vampire drama from Macro Television Studios and the writing team of Leah Benavides Rodriguez and Carlito Rodriguez.Currently titled “Thirst,” the series tells the story of a brilliant but cocky Atlanta rapper who thinks he’s found his way to stardom when he links up with hip-hop’s hottest group. But he has no idea they are hiding a terrifying secret: They are a family of vampires with roots going back centuries.“Music has been integral to both our lives, and ‘Thirst’ is the perfect opportunity to blend genres, while exploring the intersection of fame, culture and what it means to be American,” Benavides Rodriguez and Rodriguez said in a joint statement.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterABC has given out a straight-to-series order to the drama series “Rebel.”Katey Sagal stars in the show, which is inspired by the life of Erin Brockovich. It is slated to debut in 2021.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterRobert and Michelle King are attached to executive produce a series adaptation of the iHeart Media true crime podcast “Happy Face” currently in development at CBS All Access, Variety has learned.“Happy Face” is inspired by the true story of Melissa Moore, who discovered at age 15 that her father, whom she loved dearly, was the prolific serial killer known as Happy Face.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterDavid Kopple is joining Management 360 from CAA, where he has worked since 2010. He currently serves in the agency’s motion picture lit department.Among the clients joining Kopple at Management 360 are José Padilha, Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski, Craig Zobel, Pablo Trapero, Peter Sollett, Adam Robitel, Joe Swanberg, Emily Jerome, and John Curran.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterAMC has ordered a stop-motion animation dramedy that hails from Steve Conrad and the team at “Robot Chicken” producer Stoopid Buddy Stoodios.The series is titled “Mega City Smiths.” The story, unfolding via the stop-motion animation of baby dolls repurposed as a grown-up cast of characters, hinges on an investigation into the mysterious disappearance of fictional metropolis Mega City’s most famous magnate. Two intrepid detectives follow the case, rallying to fight against their city’s dangerous corruption, at a high cost to themselves and their families, all in pursuit of a gentler place to call home.“Brilliant Creator.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterCurtis “50 Cent” Jackson is adding to his already deep roster of shows at Starz, with the premium cabler developing two new shows on which Jackson will serve as executive producer under his rich Starz overall deal. Both shows will be produced by Jackson’s G-Unit Film & Television.The first series is an untitled drama inspired by the life of sports agent and attorney Nicole Lynn.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterCAA has signed a franchise agreement with the Writers Guild of America, Variety has learned.Per a statement sent out by the agency, CAA has agreed to the same terms that ICM agreed to when it signed a deal with the WGA in August.“We delivered the signed agreement to the WGA, and we assume that it will be circulated to the appropriate members of the negotiating committee, as well as the membership, shortly,” the statement reads.”  “There is one change we have provided that we think the WGA will be able to agree to.