Tag: Entertainment-Variety

In “Marty Supreme,” Timothée Chalamet plays the titular character, an underdog who is convinced that table tennis is his ticket to success. Set in 1952, Marty is a hustler working at a shoe store, where he pretends customers’ sizes are out of stock to upsell them on pricier pairs. On the side, he’s always looking for his next get-rich-quick scheme.

Director Josh Safdie and Oscar-nominated cinematographer Darius Khondji brought the frenetic world of “Marty Supreme” to life. Khondji let Safdie’s script, which was co-written with Ronald Bronstein, guide him. No stranger to shooting period films, Khondji, who is nominated for an ASC award and an Academy Award for his work on the film, worked closely with production designer Jack Fisk, and was inspired by the photography of the era, particularly that of Helen Levitt.

“Most of the conversation was that the greediness of New York was a big thing for us, that we wanted New York to look like it could have been at the time, in the ’50s, so I put haze in the streets [for] pollution. There is always a layer between the actor, and we photograph through these layers,” Khondji says.

Gwyneth Paltrow plays faded movie star Kay Stone, who’s wooed by Marty’s hustling ways. The
two first cross paths at the Ritz Hotel in London in a scene where Marty watches her regally enter the dining room as Khondji’s camera follows, gliding along with her. Shortly after, Marty calls her room.
Khondji credits Safdie’s vision and ideas when it came to framing. “He’s the one coming up with this very modern, exciting idea that Gwyneth was going to be in a room, Timmy was going to be in a different room talking to each other, and shoot it at the same time, live.”

Towards the end, Kay sees through Marty’s ways and has a frank conversation with him about his “dreams.” Khondji relied on a 360mm anamorphic Cinemascope lens to shoot not just that, but most of the film. Distance was important, and the 360mm lens could provide that.

“Everything we shot was very observed. You wanted to observe them from a distance.” He filmed at the actor’s height to emphasize that. “We’re observing them, whether we’re behind or in the front, we’re really on their face,” he says.

“Joe vs. Carole” creator Etan Frankel has signed a first-look producing deal with Fox Entertainment Studios.

Under the pact, Frankel — whose credits include “Shameless” and “Friday Night Lights” — will develop and produce scripted series across genres. Per a press release, he’ll work closely with Fox leadership to “develop a strategic slate of scripted projects aligned with the studio’s creative priorities, including premium drama, elevated genre storytelling, and distinctive, creator-driven series with global appeal.”

“Etan is an exceptional storyteller with a rare ability to blend emotional depth, sharp perspective, and commercial appeal,” said Hannah Pillemer, head of scripted at Fox Entertainment Studios. “He has built an impressive body of work across platforms and genres, and his voice, taste, and leadership make him an ideal partner as we continue to expand our premium scripted slate.”

Frankel added, “I’m excited to be partnering with Fox Entertainment Studios at a moment when the studio is clearly investing in bold, creator-led storytelling. Hannah and her team have built an environment that champions ambition, collaboration, and originality, and I’m thrilled to develop meaningful, resonant series together.”

Frankel is currently developing the Millie Bobby Brown vehicle “Prism” for Netflix, on which he will serve as showrunner and executive producer. Under a previous overall deal at Universal Content Productions, Frankel created the scripted, “Tiger King”-related Peacock miniseries “Joe vs. Carole,” which starred Kate McKinnon as Big Cat Rescue founder Carole Baskin and John Cameron Mitchell as Joe Exotic.

Before that, Frankel was the showrunner and executive producer on “Sorry for Your Loss” and an EP on “Get Shorty,” “Animal Kingdom” and “Shameless,” on which he wrote for seven seasons. 

Frankel is represented by CAA, Literate and Gendler Kelly.

Beta Film has boarded as international distributor on a crime series about the death of King Ludwig II of Bavaria, whose Castle Neuschwanstein inspired Disney’s iconic castle logo.

The show is being produced by W&B Television, best known for “Pagan Peak,” “Dark” and “4 Blocks,” for German broadcaster ARD.

The series follows psychologist Gustav Zimmermann who is tasked with reviewing a psychiatric report on King Ludwig II, a document that will ultimately determine whether the king is declared incompetent to rule. The more he invests in discovering the reasons that led to Ludwig’s removal from power, the closer he gets to revealing the secrets of the king: his struggles with power, his longing for freedom and his forbidden love.

Beta Film said: ” ‘Ludwig’ is a cinematic journey into the king’s fantastical world, rich with pomp and gold. Yet behind all the splendor and spectacle stood a deeply enigmatic man — as mysterious in life as he was in death. Set in the late 1800s in Bavaria, ‘Ludwig’ is a fascinating and tragic tale of life and queer love, infused with a captivating crime story at its heart.”

Filming took place at historical locations, including Castle Neuschwanstein, one of the world’s most recognizable landmarks, and the former royal palace in the heart of Munich, the Residenz. Filming also took place in the Czech Republic.

Up-and-coming talent Luis Pintsch (“22 Lengths”) stars as King Ludwig II, alongside Felix Mayr (“Unorthodox,” “Senna”), who plays psychologist Gustav Zimmermann, Aaron Friesz (“Corsage,” “Franz K.”), Carlotta Bähre (“Ku’damm 77”), Jonathan Kriener (“Chabos”), as well as Tom Wlaschiha (“Stranger Things,” “The Boat”), Francis Fulton-Smith (“Empire Oktoberfest”), and Karl Markovics (“The Counterfeiters,” “Babylon Berlin”).

“Ludwig” is directed by Nina Vukovic (“Kleo 2”) and Sebastian Ko (“Tatort”), both also serve as writers. Head writers are Dominik Kempf and Marianne Wendt. Jan Prahl (“The Signal”) is the director of photography. Oliver Vogel, Quirin Berg, Max Wiedemann and Dominik Kempf serve as executive producers, Stefan Mütherich as co-executive producer, and Gretha Heisig as associate producer.

Ferdinand Dohna, head of content, Beta Film, said Ludwig was “a romantic dreamer with rock-star allure, who accepted no compromises when the realization of his visions and dreams was at stake, most notably Neuschwanstein Castle, which famously inspired Disney’s iconic castle logo. Like every good romantic hero, he failed in the end and died under mysterious circumstances at a young age. These are the ingredients for larger-than-life characters, brought to life in this miniseries by an outstanding creative team and magnetic cast that will resonate with audiences around the world.”

Oliver Vogel, managing director at W&B Television, said: “We all know Ludwig II as a fascinating artistic figure – melancholic, extravagant, withdrawn into a fantasy world far from reality. With ‘Ludwig,’ we are unravelling the old myths, approaching the person behind all these masks, and telling a visually powerful story about a queer life in a repressive era. Together with ARD, BR, Servus TV and SRF, we are bringing the real Ludwig back into the spotlight – vulnerable, contradictory, visionary.”

Christoph Pellander, head of commissioning editors at ARD Degeto Film, said: “We are reimagining the tale of the legendary fairytale king as a fictional cold case that is reopened, shedding new light on his mysterious death. Thanks to the outstanding creative team in the writers’ room, directors Nina Vukovic and Sebastian Ko, and executive producers Oliver Vogel and Quirin Berg, this project combines history with modern suspense. Creating a high-end series that meets international standards is only possible by joining forces with great partners. I’m delighted to partner with Beta Film, BR, as well as ServusTV and SRF, on this exceptional series.”

Ludwig is produced by W&B Television for ARD Degeto, BR, ServusTV and SRF. The series is supported by the German Motion Picture Fund (GMPF), the Bavarian Film and Television Fund (FFF Bayern), with the support from the Czech Audiovisual Fund’s Production Incentive. Beta Film handles international sales.

Author Rachel Reid is asking fans of Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander to hold on just a little longer.

The author behind the “Game Changers” hockey romance series announced Tuesday that “Unrivaled,” the seventh installment in the franchise and third chapter in Shane and Ilya’s arc, has been pushed from its planned Sept. 29 release date to June 1, 2027. Reid shared the news in a video posted to Instagram, citing both the seismic life changes that followed the runaway success of the “Heated Rivalry” television adaptation and a worsening of her Parkinson’s disease symptoms.

“It’s been absolutely incredible. I can’t really put into words what any of this feels like for an author,” Reid said in the video. “It’s beyond a dream come true.” But she was candid about the toll that newfound fame has taken. “It’s also been very, very busy and overwhelming. My life has gotten very different in the last couple of months, and although it’s all good, it’s also taken away my ability to have quality time to write.”

Reid was equally open about her health. “When good things happen, sometimes the universe hands you some worse stuff to balance it out,” she said. “For me, that’s been that my Parkinson’s symptoms have gotten a bit worse, and it’s made it difficult physically to write. So I’m definitely a lot slower, and that’s just something I need to learn how to navigate.”

However, she was quick to reassure fans that the book itself is progressing. “The writing is going well,” Reid said. “I just need a little more time.” Pre-orders, she noted, will not be canceled.

The delay comes as the literary universe Reid built over the last eight years has exploded into mainstream interest. “Heated Rivalry,” the Crave original series that brought Shane (Hudson Williams) and Ilya (Connor Storrie) to the screen, became a phenomenon after its release on HBO Max, earning a Season 2 renewal in December and sending its two leads to the Golden Globes and Fashion Week. Williams has since been named a friend of the house at Balenciaga and is set to star in an upcoming Crave original, “Yaga.” Storrie, meanwhile, is hosting “Saturday Night Live” this weekend and is attached to star in A24’s upcoming comedy “Peaked.”

Season 2 of “Heated Rivalry” is expected to begin production later this year, with a 2027 premiere planned — meaning the show and “Unrivaled” may land in the same calendar year.

“Unrivaled” picks up with Ilya and Shane newly married and publicly out, navigating a homophobic backlash in the professional hockey world led by a podcast called Top Shelf and a movement called #TakeBackHockey. It will be the first new book in the Shane-and-Ilya universe since “The Long Game” in 2022, and it’s the seventh entry in the broader “Game Changers” series, which includes “Game Changer,” “Heated Rivalry,” “Tough Guy,” “Common Goal,” “Role Model.”

“There’s nothing more important to me than ‘Unrivaled’ being the best book it can possibly be,” Reid said. “I think it’ll be better for the readers and it’ll be better for the characters.”

She also hinted at an upside coming soon, teasing that “some announcements” would be made later this week “about some things that I think people have been hoping for.”

The Walt Disney Company has tapped Argentine filmmaker Daniel Burman as head of original content, Disney+ LATAM.

Burman, who will report directly to Eric Schrier, president Disney Television Studios & Global Original Television Strategy, joins Disney from The Mediapro Studio which he joined through his production banner, Oficina Burman, in 2017.

Alongside Martín Iraola, president, The Walt Disney Company, LATAM and the senior leadership team, he will zero in on bolstering the scope, quality and ambition of Disney LATAM’s original productions in Latin America, leading creative development, fostering new talent and integrating more Latin American stories in Disney’s international lineup.

Burman’s appointment comes soon after Leonardo Aranguibel stepped down Feb. 22 from his position of VP and head of production, operations & strategy at The Walt Disney Company Latin America. The Walt Disney Company has also reverted to more centralized operations, with territories now reporting directly to Burbank.  

“Daniel’s career reflects an extraordinary combination of artistic excellence and strategic vision,” said Eric Schrier. “He has a proven ability to tell deeply local stories that travel globally.  His experience building creative organizations and delivering internationally recognized productions uniquely positions him to grow our local slate and elevate our original content in Latin America in ways that complement our global portfolio.”

“The region is rich with compelling stories, and Daniel is the right leader to bring them to audiences around the world. He has a strong track record of creating local content and positioning it for success on the global stage,” concurred Martín Iraola, president, The Walt Disney Company, LATAM.

While at The Mediapro Studio, Burman performed similar duties as well as creating, developing, producing and directing high‑profile scripted content for prominent platforms, including “Victoria Small”—nominated for an International Emmy and winner of the Rose d’Or for best TV series; “Yosi, the Regretful Spy,” which garnered three International Emmy nominations across its two seasons and the feature film “Transmitzvah.”

Most recently, for The Mediapro Studio, Burman developed and created the series “Maledictions,” “Cometierra” and a new title, an ironic semi-autobiographical male crisis dramedy “So Far So Good,” presented last week at the Berlinale Series Market.

“I am deeply excited about this opportunity. Working alongside the teams at The Walt Disney Company, where storytelling has always been a distinguishing feature, is hugely inspiring, and I hope to promote opportunities for the creative community in Latin America to develop vibrant, relevant stories that are an authentic reflection of our region,” added Burman.

While an independent filmmaker, Burman directed 12 feature films, scoring wins and debuting at major international festivals including Berlin, Sundance, Tribeca and Cannes.

Legendary rap group Salt-N-Pepa and DJ Spinderella will be inducted into the NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame during this year’s Image Awards ceremony.

Cheryl “Salt” James, Sandra “Pepa” Denton, and Deidra “DJ Spinderella” Roper will receive the special honor during the 57th NAACP Image Awards telecast on Saturday, Feb. 28. It’s the latest award for the rap trailblazers who were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last fall.

“As pioneers of hip-hop, Salt-N-Pepa and DJ Spinderella rewrote the rules and boldly claimed space in a genre that forever changed because of their voices, style, and undeniable talent,” said NAACP president and CEO Derrick Johnson. “Inducting them into the NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame is a celebration of more than an iconic career – it’s a tribute to trailblazers who opened doors, and inspired generations in a way that still resonates today.”

The Hall of Fame Award is presented to “individuals or groups who have been pioneers in their respective fields and whose influence continues to shape their industry for generations.” Past inductees include New Edition, Eddie Murphy, Oprah Winfrey, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Spike Lee and Earth, Wind and Fire. Last year, the Wayans family received the special honor.

“Salt-N-Pepa and DJ Spinderella have built a legacy defined by confidence, authenticity, and cultural influence,” said Connie Orlando, executive VP of specials, music programming & music strategy at BET. “They reshaped how women are seen and heard in music, creating space for bold self-expression and empowerment. Inducting them into the NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame honors a career that continues to strengthen community, elevate culture, and connect generations.”

The NAACP also announced the lineup of presenters for the ceremony, including “Sinners” filmmaker Ryan Coogler and stars Delroy Lindo and Miles Caton; “One Battle After Another” duo Chase Infiniti and Regina Hall; “You, Me & Tuscany” stars Halle Bailey and Regé-Jean Page; Janelle James; Nicole Beharie; Ryan Michelle Bathé; Sterling K. Brown; and the cast of Tyler Perry’s “Sistas.” NAACP president & CEO Derrick Johnson and NAACP chairman Leon W. Russell will also present during the ceremony, with Colman Domingo set to be recognized with the President’s Award and Viola Davis to accept the Chairman’s Award.

Other special honorees during this year’s NAACP Image Awards week include A$AP Rocky, who will receive the Vanguard Award for fashion; and Rev. Dr. Jamal-Harrison Bryant, who will receive the prestigious Mildred Bond Roxborough Social Justice Impact Award.

Deon Cole returns to host the 57th NAACP Image Awards, broadcast live from the Pasadena Civic Auditorium at 8 p.m. ET/PT on BET, CBS and across Paramount networks. Kyla Pratt and Terrence J. have been tapped to host the live red carpet pre-show, beginning at 3 p.m. PT on BET.com.

Ed Skrein is the latest addition to the live-action “God of War” TV series at Amazon Prime Video.

Skrein will star as Baldur in the series, which is currently in pre-production in Vancouver. He will appear alongside series leads Ryan Hurst (Kratos) and Callum Vinson (Atreus), as well as cast members Max Parker as Heimdall, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson as Thor, Mandy Patinkin as Odin, Alastair Duncan as Mimir, and Danny Woodburn and Jeff Gulka as as brothers Brok and Sindri.

As previously reported, the series will pick up with the story of the two most recent “God of War” games, in which Kratos must raise his ten-year old son Atreus while battling god of the Norse pantheon. Per the logline, “Father and son Kratos and Atreus embark on a journey to spread the ashes of their wife and mother, Faye. Through their adventures, Kratos tries to teach his son to be a better god, while Atreus tries to teach his father how to be a better human.”

The official character description for Baldur states:

“Baldur may be the youngest son of Odin, but he’s his father’s most dangerous weapon. Charismatic, unpredictable and armed with a razor-sharp tongue, Baldur lives by his own rules. As a boy, Baldur was cursed; this curse denied him the ability to feel pleasure and physical sensation. This fuels an insatiable anger and bloodlust in Baldur, who favors a brawling fighting style that blends his immense power with the raw impact of his fists. Above all else, he longs for an opponent that can truly match his prowess in battle. An opponent that can finally make him feel something.”

Skrein’s TV credits include “Game of Thrones” and “All the Light We Cannot See.” He is best known for his film roles, including starring in the first “Deadpool” movie as the villainous Francis/Ajax as well as features like Zack Snyder’s “Rebel Moon,” “Jurassic World Rebirth,” and “Alita: Battle Angel.”

He is repped by WME, 42, and Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole.

“God of War” has received a two-season order at Amazon. Ronald D. Moore is the writer, executive producer, and showrunner on “God of War” under his Tall Ship Productions banner.

Frederick E.O. Toye will direct the first two episodes of “God of War.” Maril Davis of Tall Ship also executive produces alongside Cory Barlog, Naren Shankar, Matthew Graham, Asad Qizilbash, Jeff Ketcham, Hermen Hulst, Roy Lee, and Brad Van Arragon. Joe Menosky, Marc Bernardin, Tania Lotia, and Ben McGinnis serve as co-executive producers on the series. The series is co-produced by Sony Pictures Television and Amazon MGM Studios in association with PlayStation Productions and Tall Ship Productions. Tall Ship is under an overall deal at Sony TV.