Amy Hobby, David Earls, and Colleen Hammond Launch Subject Matter (EXCLUSIVE)

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and Media“DC League of Super-Pets” lifted off with $2.2 million in Thursday previews, as the Warner Bros. animated superhero comedy looks to unseat Jordan Peele’s “Nope” from its perch atop the box office charts. Over the weekend, “DC League of Super-Pets” is aiming to rack up $25 million to $30 million when it opens in 4,300 North American theaters.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaNetflix and Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Partners are teaming up on “Carry On,” an action thriller that will be the first film produced as part of a production deal announced between the two companies last year.The film, a high-flying adventure, will star Taron Egerton of “Kingsman” and “Rocketman” fame and will be directed by “Jungle Cruise” filmmaker Jaume Collet-Serra. The story follows Ethan Kopek, a young TSA agent who gets blackmailed by a mysterious traveler to let a dangerous package slip through security and onto a Christmas Day flight.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaNo movie better captures the maverick spirit of Bob Rafelson and the impact he had on the New Hollywood movement of the 1970s than “Five Easy Pieces.” The film follows Jack Nicholson’s Bobby Dupea, a former piano prodigy who has turned his back on his privileged lifestyle to embrace the life of a blue collar drifter. Dupea’s rejection of his upbringing struck a cord with the counterculture and turned “Five Easy Pieces” into a critical and commercial sensation, making it a rare film that tapped into and reflected the zeitgeist.Rafelson, who also directed “The King of Marvin Gardens” and helped create “The Monkees” television series, died on July 23 at the age of 89.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaAdam Fogelson has been named vice chair of the Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, the studio announced Monday.He joins the studio from STX Entertainment, where he was in charge of the struggling company’s motion picture group. At STX, Fogelson launched the successful “Bad Moms” franchise, as well as the critical and commercial hit “Hustlers.” Other Fogelson-backed movies include “Molly’s Game,” which picked up an Academy Award nomination for its screenplay, as well as bombs such as “The Happytime Murders.” STX was originally intended to make mid-budget comedies, thrillers and other genres that studios had abandoned in favor of franchises and comic book fare, but the results were a mixed bag and streaming services made many of the same kind of films that the studio was attempting to make into theatrical propositions.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaDolly de Leon, who recently earned rave reviews for her work in Ruben Östlund’s “Triangle of Sadness,” has signed with Jennifer Beaton at Gersh. The signing comes after de Leon scored some serious Oscar buzz after “Triangle of Sadness,” a darkly comic exploration of class and inequality, which debuted at Cannes, where it won the Palme d’Or.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaSarah Paulson is set to star in Searchlight Pictures’ “Dust,” a horror thriller that was originally intended as a vehicle for Clarie Foy. The film, like other recent Searchlight releases such as “Fire Island” and “Good Luck to You, Leo Grande,” will stream on Disney’s DTC platforms as a Hulu Original in the U.S., with additional release plans to be announced. Principal photography will begin next month.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaChinonye Chukwu’s “Till” will world premiere at the 60th New York Film Festival.The announcement comes on what would have been the late Emmett Till’s 81st birthday, as the country is remembering the impact that Till’s 1955 abduction, torture and lynching had in drawing attention to the brutality and persecution of African Americans in the United States. “Till” stars Danielle Deadwyler as Mamie Till Mobley and Jalyn Hall as Emmett Till.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaJordan Peele’s “Nope” grossed a solid $6.4 million in Thursday previews as it looks to be the rare blockbuster with a brain to succeed at the summer box office. The plot of the science-fiction horror film has been shrouded in mystery, but reviewers have likened “Nope’s” supernatural elements to Steven Spielberg classics such as “Close Encounters of the Third Kind.”The Universal release is expected to top the domestic box office, but estimates vary about what it will ultimately rack up, ranging from predictions of a debut of $45 million to something in the $60 million neighborhood.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaAnthony McCarten, the Oscar-nominated writer of “The Darkest Hour” and “Bohemian Rhapsody,” has sold the rights to “Going Zero” to Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. The novel is described as a high concept thriller. McCarten will then adapt and produce the novel for the screen.“Going Zero” certainly sounds of the moment.

Variety Staff Follow Us on TwitterVariety has promoted Elsa Keslassy to senior international film editor.In her new role, Keslassy will continue to be based out of Paris, where she will cover the entertainment industry spanning film, TV and streamers across France, Scandinavia, the Netherlands and Israel.She previously served as Variety‘s international correspondent. Since joining Variety in 2007, Keslassy has distinguished herself with coverage of major festivals and film markets, including Cannes, Venice, Berlin, the AFM, Mipcom, Canneseries and Series Mania.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaWhen Jo Koy was starting out as a stand-up comic, he would spend hours making flyers at Kinko’s and putting them on car windshields in mall parking lots to hawk his latest gig.“I used to get in trouble with the security guards,” Koy remembers. “I was the annoying guy who would do anything to promote himself.”Three decades, three Netflix specials and hundreds of sold-out engagements later, Koy is continuing to hustle as he works to draw attention for “Easter Sunday,” Universal’s upcoming comedy based on his Filipino American family.But this time he’s moving far beyond photocopying: At his shows, Koy has been sharing a trailer from “Easter Sunday” and urging audience members to buy tickets using an interactive QR code displayed on large-format screens that surround the stage.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaIn a move that will have subscribers lunging for the parental controls, Disney+ announced that “Deadpool,” “Deadpool 2” and “Logan” will be joining the streaming service. The very, very R-rated superhero flicks will make their debut on July 22, dramatically ratcheting up the amount of blood splatter and the number of f-bombs currently available on Disney+.The Marvel movies were produced by 20th Century Fox as part of that studio’s licensing deal for the X-Men characters.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and Media“My Policeman,” a historical drama with Harry Styles,” will have its world premiere at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival. The move signals that the Amazon Studios release has some awards season ambitions. Styles is also appearing in “Don’t Worry Darling,” another Oscar hopeful that is hitting theaters this fall after working the festival circuit.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaIt’s a common problem. A friend or colleague recommends a TV show to binge or a movie to stream but can’t remember if it’s on Netflix or Amazon or one of those other services with a plus sign affixed to it.But a new search and discovery app aims to make sense of all the confusion wrought by the streaming wars, by helping users get recommendations from their network of friends, family, even brands or influencers.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaMagnolia Pictures has acquired North American rights to “Next Exit” following its world premiere at Tribeca. The supernatural road movie marks the feature directorial debut of Mali Elfman and stars Katie Parker (“The Fall of the House of Usher”), Rahul Kohli (“Midnight Mass”),Rose McIver (“Ghosts”) and Karen Gillan (“Avengers: Endgame”).

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaSaban Films has acquired U.S. and Canadian rights to “American Murderer,” a new thriller with Tom Pelphrey, Ryan Phillippe, Idina Menzel, and Jacki Weaver.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and Media“The Woman King,” a historical epic starring Viola Davis, will have its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. The TriStar Pictures release centers on the Agojie, an all-female military regiment tasked with protecting the African Kingdom of Dahomey in the 1800s.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and Media“Mr. Saturday Night” will wrap up its Broadway run on Sept. 4.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaCraig Robinson, the star of “The Office” and “Hot Tub Time Machine,” was evacuated from the Charlotte, North Caroline comedy club where he was scheduled to perform on Saturday night after a man brandished a gun and demanded everyone leave the venue. He later discharged the firearm, according to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, which reports that there were no injuries and the suspect is in custody.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and Media“Torched” will return for a second season with Molly Bloom, the former professional skier turned poker impresario, coming back as host of the podcast. The show will once again pull back the curtain on some of the most controversial Olympic stories of all time, as well as provide deep dives into other sports yarns.