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Category: Entertainment

  • ‘GTA 6’ Drops 27 Minutes of New In-Game Footage on Netflix Amid Ongoing Rockstar Games Leaks

    ‘GTA 6’ Drops 27 Minutes of New In-Game Footage on Netflix Amid Ongoing Rockstar Games Leaks

    Netflix dropped 27 minutes of new “Grand Theft Auto 6″ content Thursday at 3 p.m. ET in a collaboration with Rockstar Games ahead of the highly anticipated title’s November release.

    The event, which was first announced earlier this month, comes as Rockstar continues to suffer ongoing “GTA 6” gameplay leaks.

    The “Grand Theft Auto VI: An Extended Look” content was captured entirely from in-game footage on PlayStation 5 (the game will be released for PS5 and Xbox Series X and S on Nov. 19), per Netflix and Take-Two Interactive-owned publisher Rockstar. It marks the lengthiest look fans have gotten at “GTA 6” thus far, following two trailers released over the past three years.

    The special features “GTA 6” protagonists Jason and Lucia in both cinematic and gameplay scenes throughout the fictional Vice City, and teases the overall narrative of the game.

    Per the official description for “GTA 6”: “Jason and Lucia have always known the deck is stacked against them. But when an easy score goes wrong, they find themselves on the darkest side of the sunniest place in America, in the middle of a criminal conspiracy stretching across the state of Leonida – forced to rely on each other more than ever if they want to make it out alive.”

    Netflix says the “GTA 6” “extended look” event represents “the next evolution of storytelling and content” on the streaming platform: “This trailblazing partnership with Rockstar Games elevates games to the center of modern culture — bringing an in-depth look at one of the most anticipated releases in the history of entertainment to Netflix subscribers first.”

    Rockstar has stated Netflix will be the exclusive home of the “Grand Theft Auto VI: An Extended Look” special for six hours before the content is released on YouTube and across other platforms at 9 p.m. ET. It seems that exclusivity has had an impact as user error reports for Netflix spiked just prior to the Netflix “GTA 6” reveal, hitting 3,129 at 2:49 p.m. ET, according to service-monitoring website Downdetector.com.

    Several “GTA 6” gameplay videos have been released over the past week by a hacker group calling itself CyberLeek, which claims to have obtained a playable build of the game. The videos have been posted across multiple websites and subsequently removed and continued to appear in new locations.

    Rockstar Games — which last week filed subpoenas related to the “GTA 6” leaks — issued its first statement about the situation on Wednesday, just ahead of Netflix’s big gameplay footage debut.

    “Dear all,

    We know that many of you have been waiting to hear from us regarding the events of the past week. It would be an understatement to say that having videos of Grand Theft Auto VI gameplay leak in this way has been heartbreaking for our team, and this is obviously not how we intended for you to see the game after all this time. We are very sorry that everything has taken as long as it has — from getting the game finished (nearly there!) to sharing more details and official gameplay, and providing the community with everything you want to know.

    We are very excited for everyone to see the extended look tomorrow. It has taken longer than we wanted to get it ready, but as with everything we do, we know we need to exceed your expectations, and we are determined to deliver at the level you expect and deserve. While it is unfortunate that the intended game experience may now be impacted by some spoilers, we hope that everyone will wait a bit longer to experience the game for themselves on November 19.

    We want to thank everyone in the community who has reached out with messages of support this past week — your words meant more to this team than you can imagine. Ultimately, we are making this game for you, and without you, we would not have the privilege of making games.

    We look forward to sharing more with you soon.

    Sincerely,

    Rockstar Games”

    Later Wednesday, Rockstar posted two messages on X noting its preferences regarding how fans go about creating content based on the Netflix event amid the outside leaks, writing: “Once Grand Theft Auto VI: An Extended Look debuts on Netflix, creators can share their reaction content across social and video platforms.”

    In a followup, Rockstar added: “Quick clarification: you are free to livestream An Extended Look from 3 p.m. ET on August 27 providing you adhere to platform-specific guidance and you do not simply restream or repost the unedited video in full without context or commentary.”

  • Curry Barker and Universal Bring ‘Obsession’ to Halloween Horror Nights — With a Twist for Fans

    Curry Barker and Universal Bring ‘Obsession’ to Halloween Horror Nights — With a Twist for Fans

    Halloween Horror Nights is constantly pushing expectations. But this latest effort will leave diehard fans even more Obsessed. 

    Earlier this month, the L.A. park’s HHN Creative Director and executive producer John Murdy dropped a surprise announcement revealing the presence of Obsession’s Nikki as part of the 2026 event. Now, Murdy is sharing more details on what to expect at Universal Destinations & Experiences’ popular after-hours event for that appearance — something he says came together “very late in the game for us in terms of our development.”

    During that Aug. 8 panel, Murdy had teased the version of Nikki fans would see, noting it would be based on her final look in the Curry Barker film, which is (spoiler alert!) a climactic sequence that features both a Nikki (Inde Navarrette) whose agency and autonomy are corrupted by Bear’s (Michael Johnston) twisted wish and the real young woman trapped inside her own body as a result of the curse. For the event, Murdy confirms fans will interact with the version of Nikki before the “wish” is undone. 

    At the time, Murdy described Nikki’s appearance as being like an interactive “Where’s Waldo?” allowing fans to engage with the character at various points throughout the park. HHN fans quickly connected the experience to the roaming Art the Clown as part of the 2025 event’s Terrifier collaboration. 

    “It’s similar to Art last year, where we created this thing to activate areas of the theme park you would never expect to see a performer in. That included our retail store,” he tells The Hollywood Reporter. “We’ve identified a number of different locations where she can appear. You never know where you might encounter her.”

    Unlike Art, who was performed by a team of “scare actors” for the first time in the event’s history, Nikki will be cast with traditional actors. Using dialogue scripted by Murdy and pulled “straight from Curry’s” film, these performers will also pick guests to engage with. “Normally, our scare actors don’t speak,” Murdy explains. “But it seemed really important to give Nikki the authentic voice Curry gave her in the film. So I took all of the dialogue from the film, and put together a creative treatment that I sent to Curry.”

    If guests want to engage Nikki, they’ll need to check out USH’s social media, including its Instagram Story where a password will be shared that will trigger interactions with the performer. “It encourages our guests to find Nikki, and if they give her the password, they might get something,” he says.

    That will include the One Wish Willow phone number Bear calls to attempt a modification of his wish. “I love the scene where Bear tries to call the customer service department, and when I was reading about the making of the film, I realized that Curry did that voice,” he says. “I’ve asked him to record a special message for our fans as if he were the customer service rep from One Wish Willow. So it’ll have a phone number on it, and they can call the number and get an exclusive message from Curry.”

    As part of the park’s standard protocols with day and night characters, Nikki will have a production assistant working as her handler while she moves about, ensuring the safety of the performers and guests. Murdy has also used some of the movie’s lines in ways that allow the character and performer to control interactions with attendees. “Curry’s dialogue can be used to engage or disengage a guest,” Murdy says. “She has so many great lines like, ‘No, no, no, no’ from that dinner sequence, or she can say, ‘I thought we were having a nice time,’ and just turn and leave.” 

    HHN Hollywood’s creative director says this last-minute event addition was initially inspired by a fan who sent him “a video of an interview that Curry did about how the Halloween season was coming, and how Nikki would be the No. 1 costume.” 

    The conversation between Barker and the journalist would eventually gravitate to Halloween Horror Nights, whose mazes for many horror TV creators and filmmakers have become badges of honor, and markers of pop cultural relevance. So when Barker revealed he goes every year, Murdy thought, “We’ve got to do something.” After ringing Focus Features, they set up a call with Barker where Murdy pitched an idea based on something the breakout filmmaker had shared in that interview. 

    “He expressed a desire to see her in the event this year, and I combined it with what we used to do with the password to create a new activation for our fanbase,” he says. “He was very much in favor of the idea, and that’s what we’re in the middle of developing.”

    Earlier this summer, Navarrette, who was recently announced as part of the cast for Marvel’s upcoming X-Men movie following her breakout role in Obsession, also hoped to see Nikki at HHN. In that interview, the actress shared her desire to come dressed as the character — something other actors, like Us star Lupita Nyong’o, have done as an official part of the event. 

    When the event kicks off on Sept. 3, HHN aficionados will see how the Nikki experience also harkens back to the 2011 collaboration for “Eli Roth’s Hostel: Hunting Season” maze. “I was doing Hostel with Eli Roth, and Eli really wanted the girls that lured the guys into the ‘art show’ — which is just a torture chamber in Hostel — as part of the house. I’m like, ‘Well, they really need something to do, something interactive with the guests.’ Eli kept everything from Hostel, so he had all the business cards for Elite Hunting, which was the secret society in the film.” 

    To generate the interactive elements, Murdy devised the password system, sharing it over X (then Twitter). “It was this Easter-eggy underground thing for the real big fans,” he tells THR. “I just started tweeting passwords every night and saying, ‘If you give the password to the girls in front of Hostel, you could get something in exchange.’” 

    He would do it again in various forms over the years as part of collaborations tied to IP like Ghostbusters and Insidious. While he shelved it several years ago, eager event fans have frequently questioned when it would come back. The developing experience is part of a larger effort by HHN to stay on the rapidly expanding — and evolving — pulse of what’s happening in horror. And right now, says Murdy, what’s happening is a 24-year-old filmmaker who just turned his $750,000 budget indie film into a record-breaking box office hit. 

    “It’s like New Hollywood in the late ’60s into the early ’70s, but now it’s the YouTube kids stepping into the arena,” Murdy says, while discussing the re-rise of horror the after-hours event has been able to capitalize on over the last decade. “I think it started with Get Out. That was the first moment where everybody was like, ‘Whoa.’ Sinners falls into that big time, but then there’s the double whammy of Obsession and Backrooms, which feel [tonally] different from Sinners and Get Out.”

    For Murdy, tapping into the nuances, shifts, and trends within the genre is part of how the bicoastal event continues to expand and stay fresh. Alongside Nikkie, HHN 2026 will feature the Evil Dead Burn house, which will include an animatronic talking head for the first time. Inside the “Ozzy Osbourne: Prince of Darkness” maze — a tribute house to the late rocker’s life and discography — fans will experience a “Crazy Train” and giant bat that bites the head off the Black Sabbath frontman. 

    The Hellraiser queue will feature a giant puzzle box “like a pastiche painting with all the different levels of hell” and a center circle that “disappears while you’re waiting in line and electrifies, before you see Pinhead in a circle doing lines from the film,” according to Murdy. And for the first time, the Sinners house is turning to Water World stunt performers for a floating air stunt, which will use a flying rig to drop the Irish vampire Remick in long enough to hover as he delivers his now iconic “Sammie” line. 

    Nikki, then, is just the latest way Halloween Horror Nights — also kicking off its 35th anniversary at Universal Orlando Resort in Florida on Aug. 28 — is “always pushing to see where we can take the brand next,” says Murdy. 

  • ‘Star Trek’ 60th Anniversary Events Include Original Series & Films Screenings, Vulcan Salute World Record Attempt (EXCLUSIVE)

    ‘Star Trek’ 60th Anniversary Events Include Original Series & Films Screenings, Vulcan Salute World Record Attempt (EXCLUSIVE)

    “Star Trek” fans are going to have no shortage of ways to celebrate the iconic sci-fi franchise’s 60th anniversary.

    Variety has learned exclusively that a whole suite of fan events, screenings, and partnerships are rolling out across the globe as part of the landmark anniversary, which is officially on Sept. 8, the date in 1966 when “Star Trek” first premiered on television.

    Among the many events planned for the anniversary, there will be a free outdoor screening of the original series episode “The Man Trap” and the new “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” episode “Orders of Magnitude” at the Autry Museum in Los Angeles on Sept. 8. That event will also feature talent appearances, food trucks and giveaways.

    Speaking of screenings, 4K restorations of classic “Star Trek” films paired with original series episodes will air on more than 750 theaters across the U.S. from Sept. 4-8. But given the fact that “Star Trek” has always been a small screen franchise first and foremost, there will also be major TV components to the anniversary.

    “Entertainment Tonight” will air a special “ET Vault Unlocked” episode on Sept. 7 featuring interviews with series creator Gene Roddenberry and cast members across the franchise, as well as archival footage. Both “The Price Is Right” and “Let’s Make a Deal” will air special “Star Trek” themed episodes on Sept. 8, while Nick at Nite will air a marathon of “The Big Bang Theory’s” best “Star Trek” focused episodes on Sept. 8 as well.

    Fans can also get in on a world record attempt to be part of “Star Trek” history. On Sept. 8 at the Science Museum in London, fans can join the attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the most people performing the Vulcan Salute simultaneously.

    Check out the full list of events, partnerships, and programming lineups below.

    STAR TREK WORLDWIDE EVENTS

    –Star Trek Under the Stars Screening in Los Angeles
    On Sept. 8, fans can attend a free outdoor screening of STAR TREK: THE ORIGINAL SERIES episode “The Man Trap” and an advance screening of STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS episode “Orders of Magnitude” at the Autry Museum, with talent appearances, food trucks and giveaways.

    –Gene Roddenberry Star on Hollywood Boulevard Restoration
    The Roddenberry family, the Hollywood Historic Trust and the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce will partner to celebrate a restored “Star” plaque for Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, which was first introduced in 1985, right on Hollywood Boulevard.

    –Star Trek x Samsung Flagship Store in London
    On Sept. 8, Samsung’s King’s Cross store will host Star Trek-themed screenings and activations as part of a UK partnership celebrating the franchise’s 60th anniversary in partnership with Paramount+.

    –Star Trek x London Underground Takeover
    From Sept. 7-8, King’s Cross St Pancras and South Kensington stations will feature Star Trek-themed takeovers marking key stops on a four-destination fan trail across the capital.

    –Star Trek Vulcan Salute and Guinness World Records Attempt Unite Fans at the Science Museum in London
    On Sept. 8, fans around the world are invited to take part in the Star Trek Vulcan Salute, a global digital celebration of connection, community and optimism that will culminate in an official Guinness World Records™ attempt for the Most People Performing the Vulcan Salute simultaneously at the Science Museum in London. As part of the museum’s free, adults-only Star Trek Lates event celebrating the franchise’s 60th anniversary.

    –Movie Park Germany Celebration
    Movie Park Germany will host a Sept. 8 Star Trek Day event featuring live entertainment, fan activities, cosplay, special guests and participation in the global Vulcan Salute attempt and experience the park’s Star Trek-themed attraction, plus props and costumes exhibit.

    STAR TREK RETURNS TO THEATERS NATIONWIDE

    –More than 750 theaters across the U.S. will screen restored 4K presentations of classic Star Trek films paired with episodes of STAR TREK: THE ORIGINAL SERIES making their theatrical debut, from September 4-8. Fans attending will also have the first opportunity to purchase limited-edition Star Trek “Enterprise” popcorn vessels and commemorative drink cups at participating theaters, while supplies last.

    STAR TREK PARTNERSHIPS

    –European Space Agency Takes Star Trek Into Orbit
    ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot will wear the Captain’s Delta badge from STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS aboard the International Space Station, with special content from orbit premiering Sept. 8.

    –DarkSky International Champion Exploration
    Star Trek is partnering with DarkSky International to encourage fans to explore, protect and appreciate night skies and natural landscapes for future generations.

    –National Park Foundation: Going Boldly, Exploring Other Worldly Parks
    Through Sept. 8, Star Trek and the National Park Foundation are celebrating the franchise’s 60th anniversary with digital content encouraging fans to explore national parks, dark skies and places that inspire discovery.

    STAR TREK TELEVISION PROGRAMMING

    –Sept. 7 | ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT: ET VAULT UNLOCKED Star Trek Special
    ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT airs a special ET VAULT UNLOCKED episode featuring interviews with Gene Roddenberry and cast members from across the franchise, along with archival behind-the-scenes footage from Star Trek television series and films.

    –Sept. 8 | THE PRICE IS RIGHT & LET’S MAKE A DEAL Star Trek Specials
    THE PRICE IS RIGHT and LET’S MAKE A DEAL celebrate Star Trek with themed surprises and special guests, including STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS stars Rebecca Romijn and Ethan Peck. Episodes air on CBS and stream on Paramount+.

    —Sept. 8 | STAR TREK: SCOUTS Season 2 Premiere
    Season 2 of STAR TREK: SCOUTS launches on YouTube, continuing the adventures of JR, Sprocket and Roo as they train to become Starfleet Explorers.

    –Sept. 8 | THE BIG BANG THEORY Star Trek Day Marathon
    Nick at Nite presents a marathon of THE BIG BANG THEORY’s most memorable Star Trek-themed episodes from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. ET/PT, featuring convention adventures, character tributes and guest stars from the franchise.

    –Sept. 24 | STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS Season 4 Finale
    STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS concludes its fourth season on Paramount+, with the series set to return for its fifth and final season in 2027.

    STAR TREK AWARDS & PANELS

    –Broadcasting+Cable Hall of Fame Honor
    In recognition of six decades of groundbreaking storytelling and cultural influence Star Trek will receive the Franchise of the Year Award at the 2026 Broadcasting+Cable Hall of Fame ceremony in New York City on Sept. 29.

    –New York Comic Con Panel
    On Oct. 10, the Star Trek Universe panel at New York Comic Con will feature a preview of STAR TREK: STARFLEET ACADEMY, discussion of its second season and appearances by surprise guests celebrating the franchise’s 60th anniversary.

    STAR TREK PRODUCT LAUNCHES

    –LEGO Icons Star Trek U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701 Bridge Set
    The LEGO Group and Paramount Products & Experiences will release the LEGO Icons Star Trek: U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701™ Bridge (11385) on Tuesday, Sept. 1. The 1,701-piece collector’s set recreates the original series bridge and transporter room and includes eight Starfleet minifigures. Available for pre-order now via LEGO Stores/Star-Trek and LEGO.com.

    –Magic: The Gathering x Star Trek
    Launching Nov. 13, a dedicated Magic: The Gathering set will bring iconic Star Trek characters and elements from across the franchise to tabletop gaming audiences worldwide.

    –Star Trek Timelines
    DK Publishing’s Star Trek Timelines, releasing Nov. 17, explores key events, alternate realities and character journeys from across the franchise.

    –Original Saurian Brandy
    Star Trek Spirits has unveiled the first officially realized Original Saurian Brandy, inspired by the iconic bottle first seen in the 1966 Star Trek episode “The Man Trap.”

    –The Royal Mint & Agoro – Star Trek 60th Anniversary Coins
    The Royal Mint is launching two collectable 50p coins to celebrate the global phenomenon and its intergalactic legacy on Sept 3. Agoro will also be recognizing the iconic series with a 5g 999 pure silver/gold foil blind box on September 18th.

    For full details of all Star Trek 60th events, activations and partnerships, please visit StarTrek.com for details

  • In ‘Eklipse,’ a Teen Faces Silence and Rejection After His Father Gets “the Gay Disease” (Exclusive Clip)

    In ‘Eklipse,’ a Teen Faces Silence and Rejection After His Father Gets “the Gay Disease” (Exclusive Clip)

    Austrian filmmaker Manuel Wetscher has fictionalized autobiographical experiences in his feature film debut Eklipse, which will world premiere in the Horizons section of the 83rd edition of the Venice Film Festival on Sept. 5.

    The title, spelled with a “k” in both its German and English versions, means “eclipse,” signaling how the movie touches on what a solar eclipse does to our vision and understanding – it both brings darkness to Earth as the moon obscures people’s view of the sun, but it also briefly reveals things that otherwise remain hidden to the naked eye.

    Eklipse is inspired by Wetscher’s experience when details of the death of his father from AIDS back in the 1990s were kept from him. The film stars Moritz Hohlrieder as Tomy and Finley Brown as his best friend Chris. The two teenagers spend a summer at an alpine dairy farm in Austria, helping Tomy’s uncle, portrayed by Hannes Perkmann, with the milking and exploring the outdoors. But their time together is not just fun and games.

    “Tomy’s mother decides to continue keeping the real reason why his father is in hospital a secret from her son,” notes a synopsis for Eklipse. “When Chris learns that Tomy’s father is in hospital with ‘the gay disease,’ he becomes frightened – and Tomy is suddenly confronted with rejection and his own family’s silence.”

    Lenz Moretti, Lisa Schützenberger and Barbara Romaner also feature in the film that explores fears and taboos and how they can obscure important facts.

    Wetscher co-wrote the film with Bernhard Jarosch, with whom he also collaborated before on the short films Magma and Four Seasons, on which he was also a co-writer, as well as At Night When Mice Scream, in which Jarosch acted. Simone Hart is the cinematographer on Eklipse, while Anna Kirst edited the movie.

    Films Boutique is handling world sales on Eklipse. Its production companies are Austria’s Eutopiafilm and Italy’s Albolina Film.

    THR can today exclusively premiere a clip from the Venice-premiering movie that will take you back to the 1990s in the Alps. Get ready to meet Tomy and Chris. And get ready for a scene that will hopefully not leave your head spinning the same way that the Earth spins on its axis. Watch the exclusive clip from Eklipse right here.

  • ‘Nanny McPhee’ Musical From Emma Thompson Headed to the West End

    ‘Nanny McPhee’ Musical From Emma Thompson Headed to the West End

    Emma Thompson is bringing Nanny McPhee to the West End.

    The Oscar-winning actress has written a new musical stage adaptation around the character, set to open on London’s prestigious theater scene in the summer of 2027.

    Based on the Nanny McPhee films — in which Thompson played the magical, mischievous governess — as well as the Nurse Matilda character by Christianna Brand and Edward Ardizzone, the musical will follow the mysterious figure of Nanny McPhee as she arrives at the Brown family’s door and discovers a household in chaos. It’ll mark the first time the character has been depicted on the stage.

    The original 2005 film was written by Thompson, co-starring Colin Firth, Imelda Staunton, Kelly Macdonald, Angela Lansbury and Thomas Brodie-Sangster. Then came the 2010 sequel, which Thompson also wrote and led: Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang. They grossed a combined $216 million at the global box office.

    Thompson will be joined by singer-songwriter Gary Clark, providing the music, with original lyrics by both her and Clark. Katy Rudd is set to direct with set and costume designs by Tony-winning Rob Howell (Matilda the Musical) and choreography from Ellen Kane.

    “I’ve lived with Nanny McPhee for so long that to see her finally tread the boards is supremely exciting,” said Thompson, star of Sense and Sensibility, Harry Potter and more recently, Down Cemetery Road. “Theatre feels like her natural home — magic, music, mischief and a good dollop of danger can all happen right in front of you.”

    She continued: “Working with Gary Clark to create the musical heart that beats through the story has been an unforgettable journey of a lifetime. And I am thrilled and so proud that the brilliant Katy Rudd will be bringing it all to life with her inimitable witty wonderment. I can’t wait to introduce the all-new Nanny McPhee to audiences next summer.”

    Casting announcements will come in due course. Nanny McPhee is presented by Working Title Films and Universal Theatrical Group. Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Lindsay Doran, Emma Thompson, Paul Warwick Griffin, Gareth Hewitt Williams and Rebecca Quigley are producing for Working Title Films.

  • ‘Nanny McPhee’ Musical Written by Emma Thompson to Open in London Next Summer

    ‘Nanny McPhee’ Musical Written by Emma Thompson to Open in London Next Summer

    “Nanny McPhee” is coming to the West End.

    A new musical based on the character and penned by Emma Thompson — who starred in and wrote the screenplay for the beloved 2005 film and its sequel — is set to world premiere in London next summer.

    “When the mysterious figure of Nanny McPhee arrives at the Browns’ door she discovers a household in chaos; anarchic children who have driven away every Nanny before her, a desperate father, a donkey that is out of control, and a baby who will stop at nothing,” a synopsis for the musical reads. “Armed with her strange knobbly stick, exceedingly unorthodox methods and quite a lot of magic, Nanny McPhee begins to restore harmony. And as it turns out, the children aren’t the only family members who have lessons to learn.”

    Alongside Thompson, the “Nanny McPhee” musical will feature music from Gary Clark, frontman of the band Danny Wilson who wrote the music for the “Sing Street” musical and film, with the two collaborating on lyrics. Katy Rudd (“Ballet Shoes,” “The Ocean at the End of the Lane”) is set to direct, with set and costume designs from Tony and Olivier winner Rob Howell and choreography by Ellen Kane, both of whom worked on “Matilda the Musical.”

    “I’ve lived with Nanny McPhee for so long that to see her finally tread the boards is supremely exciting,” Thompson said in a statement. “Theater feels like her natural home — magic, music, mischief and a good dollop of danger can all happen right in front of you. Working with Gary Clark to create the musical heart that beats through the story has been an unforgettable journey of a lifetime. And I am thrilled and so proud that the brilliant Katy Rudd will be bringing it all to life with her inimitable witty wonderment. I can’t wait to introduce the all-new Nanny McPhee to audiences next summer.”

    The creative team also includes orchestrations by Tony and Olivier winner Simon Hale (“Spring Awakening,” “Girl From the North Country”) and music supervision by Nigel Lilley (“Follies,” “Next to Normal”), with music arrangements by the duo. Lighting is by Howard Hudson (“& Juliet,” “Starlight Express”), sound design by Olivier and Tony Award-winning Ian Dickinson for Autograph (“Company,” “Angels in America”), illusions by Chris Fisher (“Stranger Things: The First Shadow,” “Back to the Future: The Musical”), puppetry by Samuel Wyer (“Wolf Witch, Giant, Fairy” and “The Ocean at the End of the Lane”), projections by Tony and Olivier Award-winning Andrzej Goulding (“Life of Pi,” “& Juliet”) and casting by Natalie Gallacher CDG (for Pippa Aillon and Natalie Gallacher Casting). The show will be general managed by Playful Productions.

    The “Nanny McPhee” musical is presented by Working Title Films and Universal Theatrical Group and produced by Thompson, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Lindsay Doran, Paul Warwick Griffin, Gareth Hewitt Williams and Rebecca Quigley for Working Title Films.

  • With All3Media Deal Closed, Patrick Holland to Run Combined Banijay U.K. as CEO and Executive Chair

    With All3Media Deal Closed, Patrick Holland to Run Combined Banijay U.K. as CEO and Executive Chair

    Patrick Holland has been officially tapped to continue running the now merged and expanded U.K. business of Banijay Entertainment as executive chairman and CEO of Banijay U.K. following the recent merger with All3Media, the company said on Thursday.

    Reporting to Banijay Entertainment CEO Marco Bassetti, Holland’s “strategic leadership responsibilities now span the majority of the combined U.K. portfolio, Banijay U.K., which in its entirety comprises around 40 creative labels,” the firm said. “Producing some of the country’s most-renowned new and returning titles, the business works with all major broadcasters, streamers and platforms and is responsible for over 2000 hours of content annually.”

    Holland joined Banijay U.K. in May 2022 from the BBC, where he was director, factual, arts & classical music, after serving as channel controller of BBC Two since 2017. He “has driven consecutive growth year-on-year, overseeing a slate of high-profile and award-winning productions,” the company highlighted. Recent series and film launches include Half Man (BBC/HBO), House of Guinness (Netflix), Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man (Netflix) and Last One Laughing (Prime Video). Upcoming titles include All or Nothing (Prime Video), Beautiful Obsession (Prime Video), Netflix, Will You Marry Me? (Netflix) and Reputation (BBC).

    “During his tenure, Holland has strategically structured the U.K. group as the industry navigates seismic changes in demand, technology and funding, investing in talent, growing the streamer business and pushing into new growth areas,” Banijay said.

    Alongside M&A activity, including the acquisition of The Forge in 2023 and Garrison Drama in 2024, the scripted business has also grown organically.

    Bassetti on Thursday lauded the “expansive portfolio which continues to go from strength-to-strength, particularly with the injection of All3Media’s producers” in the U.K., adding: “We have no doubt we can maintain a healthy growth trajectory.”

    About Holland’s appointment, Bassetti said: “In continuing to bolster our collective of talent around the world, we have cemented a market-leading footing across much of our footprint. Having local experts at the helm of our regional portfolios was always a strategic priority, and in the U.K., we are pleased to confirm Patrick as our onward lead.”

    Said Holland: “Under the expert leadership of Jane Turton [who is now deputy CEO of Banijay Entertainment] and Sara Geater, All3 has grown to be a phenomenal creative and commercial force, and it’s a huge privilege to be asked to lead the combined business. Entrepreneurialism is baked into Banijay’s DNA, and the U.K. business has achieved its growth and creative success by innovation, collaboration and by backing talent to do their best work. The range and depth of phenomenal talent across All3 and Banijay U.K. is truly inspiring, and I’m excited to help unlock the vast potential of bringing these businesses together.”

  • Channel 5 Boss Ben Frow on Why He Would Never Have Commissioned a Sarah Everard Drama: ‘There Are Some Things I Just Wouldn’t Do’

    Channel 5 Boss Ben Frow on Why He Would Never Have Commissioned a Sarah Everard Drama: ‘There Are Some Things I Just Wouldn’t Do’

    Channel 5 boss Ben Frow said he would never have commissioned a drama about Sarah Everard for his network.

    Jeff Pope is penning a drama about the investigation into Everard’s 2021 murder for the BBC.

    Frow, chief content officer at Paramount-owned public service broadcaster 5, said that while he was sure Pope would do a “great job of it” and it’s “a very important story to tell” he would not have commissioned that story.

    Explaining his touchstones for commissioning, Frow said they consist of “would I watch it?” then “Is it more trouble than it’s worth?” and finally, “Why am I doing it?”

    “There are some things I just wouldn’t do,” he said, pointing to the Everard drama as one of them.

    While the BBC show will not dramatize Everard’s kidnap and murder by an off duty policeman during the Covid lockdowns, instead focusing on the investigation, the network has been criticized for selecting a male screenwriter to pen a drama about a murder that was viewed as deeply personal to women across the country and prompted protests at the time (even Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge was spotted laying flowers at a memorial for Everard at the time).

    However Frow has not stayed away from controversial topics, including a drama about Huw Edwards, the BBC newsreader convicted for downloading images of child sexual abuse, and another about Madeleine McCann, the toddler who infamously disappeared in 2007 in Portugal during a family holiday. She has never been found.

    “The McCanns’ press guy… he was across the whole thing,” Frow said. “They didn’t want to take part in it, but they knew we were doing it.”

    Frow went on to say that contributor welfare and privacy is a much more important consideration today than it was ten years ago. “I think the big message that we embrace is that we have to have people on board, and we want to be able to tell their story, and we want to do it in a responsible way, and not in a sneery, jeery, horrible way,” he explained.

    Touching on a lawsuit filed recently by production company Blackbox Media against 5 over a shelved drama series, Frow said he couldn’t take in depth about the legal dispute but added: “What I can say is I can reiterate that we take contributor welfare very, very seriously, and if somebody calls and says, ‘I have a problem with that,’ we listen to them.”

    “And in some cases, that means that you just you decide that you can no longer do that program,” he continued. “And there are programs that I have written off because it turns out that somebody feels very strongly that we shouldn’t be doing it, or it’s been done in the wrong way. So it’s something to be very mindful of.”

  • Patrick Holland to Remain Chair and CEO of Banijay U.K. Following All3Media Merger

    Patrick Holland to Remain Chair and CEO of Banijay U.K. Following All3Media Merger

    Patrick Holland is set to stay in place as executive chairman and CEO of Banijay U.K. following the company’s merger with All3Media.

    He will report to Banijay Entertainment CEO Marco Bassetti.

    The $8 billion merger with All3Media completed last month resulting in the behemoth Banijay Entertainment, which is headquartered in London and jointly owned by the Banijay Group and RedBird IMI, with each holding a 50% stake.

    RedBird IMI’s Jeff Zucker serves as Chairman, Bassetti as CEO and All3Media CEO Jane Turton as the new consolidated company’s deputy CEO.

    The merger raised a number of questions about synergies, particularly on the distribution side of the business.

    Holland is the first senior executive confirmed to stay in place. He joined Banijay U.K. in 2022 from the BBC, where he was director for factual, arts and classical music and in his time at the company has shepherded projects including “Half Man,” “House of Guinness” and “Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man.” He also launched talent investment fund Banijay U.K. Growth in 2023.

    At the post-merger Banijay U.K. he will oversee most of the majority of the combined U.K. portfolio, comprised of around 40 labels.

    “Having local experts at the helm of our regional portfolios was always a strategic priority, and in the U.K., we are pleased to confirm Patrick as our onward lead,” said Bassetti. “Here we have an expansive portfolio which continues to go from strength-to-strength, particularly with the injection of All3Media’s producers, and with an expert team at the helm, we have no doubt we can maintain a healthy growth trajectory.”

    Holland said: “The range and depth of phenomenal talent across All3 and Banijay U.K. is truly inspiring and I’m excited to help unlock the vast potential of bringing these businesses together.”

  • Harry Styles Pays Tribute to Dolly Parton at Madison Square Garden Residency Opening Night: “We Love You”

    Harry Styles Pays Tribute to Dolly Parton at Madison Square Garden Residency Opening Night: “We Love You”

    Just like the rest of the world, Harry Styles is remembering Dolly Parton.

    During Wednesday night’s opening night of Styles’ Madison Square Garden residency for the Together, Together Tour, he took a moment to share a few heartfelt words about the icon before playing Parton’s 1974 song “I Will Always Love You.”

    “We’ve got a couple of songs left for you, but first I wanna say a proper thank you to all the musicians over the years who have inspired me,” Styles told the crowd. “Dolly, we love you. Thank you so much.”

    As “I Will Always Love You” played at the famous venue, actress Drew Barrymore and CBS Mornings host Gayle King were also spotted in the audience singing along.

    On Tuesday, one of Parton’s nephews, Bryan Seaver, recorded a video at her request to announce that the country music icon died peacefully in Nashville on Tuesday at the age of 80, her rep confirmed. Later that day, her cause of death was revealed to be cancer.

    While Styles and Parton never worked together professionally, he is among many celebrities paying tribute to Parton. Following her death, stars took to social media to share tributes, including her goddaughter Miley Cyrus as well as Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter, Celine Dion, Keith Urban, Kelly Clarkson, Beyoncé, Kevin Costner and more.

    As for Styles, Wednesday kicks off his first of his 30-date residency at Madison Square Garden. This marks the “As It Was” singer’s first set of live shows since 2023 as he tours his album Kiss All the Time. Disco Occasionally, released earlier this year.

    His run at MSG is also a coveted ticket, as after the pre-sale tickets went live in January, they garnered 11.5 million registrations for tickets and were “the highest volume ever recorded for an artist presale,” according to Ticketmaster.

    The Together, Together residency at Madison Square Garden will run until Halloween.