Amazon Layoffs: MGM+, MGM Scripted TV & Unscripted Consolidated; Nancy Cotton, Arturo Interian, Chris Castallo & Uri Fleming Among Those Let Go

Conservatives often criticize awards shows peppered with overtly political statements, but one GOP senator has written a letter to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Board of Governors asking them to do include just those sort of messages in this year’s telecast.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter Tom Hopper has been cast in a key role in the upcoming “Terminal List” prequel series at Amazon‘s Prime Video, Variety has learned exclusively. Hopper will star in the series, officially titled “Terminal List: Dark Wolf,” in the series regular role of Raife Hastings.

Zoë Kravitz’s feature directorial debut, the suspense thriller, Blink Twice (ne Pussy Island), is getting a global theatrical release from Amazon MGM Studios on Aug. 23.

EXCLUSIVE: Amazon MGM Studios has launched development on Razzlekhan, a new film inspired by a 2022 article in the New York Times, which Hannah Marks (Don’t Make Me Go) will direct from her own script.

EXCLUSIVE: In a lucrative pact, Amazon MGM Studios has landed U.S. theatrical rights to Levon’s Trade, with Prime Video taking streaming rights in a slew of major international territories, we can reveal.

EXCLUSIVE: Amazon MGM Studios has just landed a big sci-fi film package which they’re setting a global theatrical release on, and that’s Mercy, starring Chris Pratt, directed by Timur Bekmambetov and produced by Oscar nominated and Golden Globe winning producer Charles Roven. I understand the deal closed in the last week with a spring start of production planned.

William Earl Amazon Prime Video has acquired the family drama series “The Baxters” starring Roma Downey and Ted McGinley. The faith-infused series is based on the bestselling novels by author Karen Kingsbury. The series has been in the works since early 2018, when Downey announced plans to produce a series based on Kingsbury’s books for her LightWorkers Media streaming platform.

EXCLUSIVE: The Steven Soderbergh-directed and David Koepp-scripted ghost story Presence is being acquired at Sundance by Neon.

Amazon MGM Studios and MRC have rounded out a star-studded cast for their action thriller G20, produced by and starring Viola Davis, which has resumed production. In addition to Anthony Anderson (black-ish), who is coming off of hosting a well-received Emmys ceremony, the list includes Marsai Martin (black-ish), Ramón Rodríguez (Will Trent), Antony Starr (The Boys), Douglas Hodge (The Great), Elizabeth Marvel (The Color Purple), Sabrina Impacciatore (The White Lotus), Clark Gregg (Painkiller), Christopher Farrar (Home Team), John Hoogenakker (Waco: The Aftermath) and MeeWha Alana Lee (Umma).

Good afternoon Insiders, Jesse Whittock back with you. So much news to get through this week — here’s a pick of the biggest and best stories. Sign up for the newsletter here.

A new horror podcast is on its way from iHeartPodcasts, Aaron Mahnke’s production banner Grim & Mild and creator/writer Carlos Foglia (Wolfpack, Dan Brown’s The Lost Symbol). The scripted audio thriller Consumed, inspired by Mahnke’s novel of the same name, will consist of 12 episodes with the first two set to premiere on January 31.

Lil Nas X‘s controversial new single ‘J Christ’ has received a stamp of approval from the Church Of Satan.The singer and rapper’s comeback single landed last week and he faced backlash and controversy surrounding the ‘J Christ’ cover artwork, which depicts him lying on a crucifix as five bystanders begin to raise him off the ground.In the video, impersonators of Taylor Swift, Kanye West, Ed Sheeran, Oprah Winfrey, Barack Obama and more appear as a gospel choir sings: “Oh lord please/ Deliver us/ Deliver me.”In an interview with TMZ, Church Of Satan leader David Harris described the track and video as “fantastic.”It comes after the organisation also supported Lil Nas X back in 2021, when he faced controversy after promoting that he would be selling selling 666 pairs of limited edition “Satan Shoes” – each containing a drop of real human blood.Lil Nas X was accused of making a “mockery of Christ” with the song’s artwork, and responded by revealing that he was going to university to join a Biblical Studies programme. He will undertake a dual concentration in Christian Leadership and Biblical Studies later this year at Liberty University, a Christian university in Virginia.In the caption, Lil Nas X wrote: “I know some of yall hate me right now but i want yall to know im literally about to go to college for biblical studies in the fall.

When it comes to supporting Travis Kelce on the football field, no one does it like Taylor Swift.

Jo Koy is responding to all the critics of his 2024 Golden Globes monologue.

Sam Smith is stepping out for some shopping!

Some 100 top European film professionals have published an open letter expressing their shock and concern over the unexplained, sudden firing of long-time Flanders Image boss Christian De Schutter.

Lil Nas X has shared a teaser clip of the music video for his single ‘J Christ’ which features Taylor Swift and Kanye West lookalikes.The pop singer revealed that he will return with a new single and self-directed music video earlier this week. Yesterday (January 10), he took to his official Instagram page to share a teaser clip of the video which shows various celebrity lookalikes walking through a field – that resembles a Windows 7 background – to walk up what appears to be a stairway to heaven.These lookalikes include two who appear to resemble Swift and West as well as Oprah Winfrey, Ed Sheeran, Mariah Carey and more.

Strictly Come Dancing star Bobby Brazier enjoyed swimming with the dolphins on his lavish family holiday to Mauritius. The EastEnders actor took part in the incredible activity with his This Morning presenter dad Jeff and step-mum Kate Dwyer.

EXCLUSIVE: Tania Watson (The Head), Corina Bradley (Star-Crossed Romance) and Laura Gordon (Late Night with the Devil) have joined Danny Pino, Yul Vazquez, Michael Chiklis and Mark Feuerstein as series regulars in the MGM+ series Hotel Cocaine. Production on the Chris Brancato and Guillermo Navarro series resumes this month in the Dominican Republic following a pause during the dual WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes.

EXCLUSIVE: WME has hired Allie Cohen as a scripted TV agent.