‘Barney’s World’ Animated Reboot Lands at Cartoon Network and Max

Leo Barraclough International Features Editor K5 Media Group has rebooted its international sales arm, K5 Intl., recruiting five industry veterans. It will sell and distribute eight to 10 new titles a year, across both film and TV. In its former incarnation, K5 Intl., which was founded by Oliver Simon and Daniel Baur, represented premium film titles like “ANON,” directed by Andrew Niccol and starring Amanda Seyfried and Clive Owen; Cannes competition title “Paterson,” directed by Jim Jarmusch and starring Adam Driver; and Academy Award nominee “Land of Mine,” directed by Martin Zandvliet. K5 Intl. will be represented by its partners in Paris, London, Los Angeles, Munich, Berlin and Cologne.

Sony Pictures Classics has picked up rights to the animated feature They Shot the Piano Player for the U.S., Canada, Latin America, Scandinavia, India, the Middle East, Turkey, Southeast Asia (excluding Taiwan and South Korea) and airlines within the aforementioned territories. The film from Fernando Trueba and Javier Mariscal, two of the directors behind the Oscar-nominated animated feature Chico and Rita, is set up for a fall awards push from SPC.

Mama bear. Jennifer Lopez opened up about wanting to “protect’ her 15-year-old twins — who have struggled with the realities of having famous parents.  

Neon has acquired North American rights to Robot Dreams, the first animated feature from Spanish filmmaker Pablo Berger (Blancanieves), which is poised to premiere in the Special Screenings section of the Cannes Film Festival this Saturday, May 20th.

Jennifer Maas TV Business Writer Warner Bros. Discovery kicked off its 2023 upfront presentation in a no-frills way, with an overall brand sizzle and ad chief Jon Steinlauf giving a few remarks on stage at the Theater at Madison Square Garden Wednesday. While the presentation covering HBO, Max, CNN, Food Network, HGTV, Discovery and more Warner Bros. Discovery brands was shorter than last year’s show (which was the company’s first since the merger that created it last April) the tight 90-minute presentation still covered each of its key divisions. Albeit, with much less sizzle, with no stars in attendance amid the writers strike. “Let me just start by saying I am hopeful that a fair resolution is found soon with the writers,” HBO and Max chief Casey Bloys said, adding that he hopes for a return of talent to the stage, “making this a far more entertaining show” compared to “me and my clips.”

Anna Tingley If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission. The lush forests, deep oceans and floating mountains of Pandora are finally heading to your living room. James Cameron’s blockbuster “Avatar: The Way of Water” has officially set a streaming release date.

K.J. Yossman The world’s first “Jumanji”-themed land has opened at Chessington World of Adventures in the U.K. The land, which consists of three new rides as well as an interactive experience, represents the single largest investment in Chessington’s history. World of Jumanji includes the world’s first “Jumanj” rollercoaster, titled Mandrill Mayhem, a winged, launch, shuttle rollercoaster consisting of with 144 tonnes of steel track that turns riders upside down at 42 miles per hour. The ride sees guests sitting in the arms of a mandrill while dodging jungle hazards before rocketing to the summit of the 55ft tall Jaguar Shrine – and then travelling the track backwards.

Ed Meza @edmezavar In the four years since roaring to life, Leonine Studios has reshaped Germany’s film and television landscape, becoming a leading player in Europe’s biggest and most competitive market. The company is receiving Variety’s International Achievement in Film Award at the Cannes Film Festival. Built by industry veteran Fred Kogel with financing from U.S. private equity group KKR, Leonine Studios is an entertainment conglomerate that has brought together some of Germany’s most successful production and distribution companies under one roof. “I always wanted to establish and create a company as a home of talents – the best people in the German business and then internationally – and create a new company for the digital age,” says Kogel, Leonine’s CEO. “That was the reality behind bringing Leonine to life in 2019 as that was the first time that German content could travel the world. That was the rationale.” 

A rom-com in space?–don’t knock it ’til you’ve watched it. While a “When Harry Met Sally” knock-off set in a future galaxy may be too bold a move for some, writer/director Michael Lukk Litwak‘s feature debut mostly makes the concept work.

Race Across The World is about to crown the winner of the third series - and it has left fans wondering what happened to the stars of previous series.The popular reality series - which has inspired even more outlandish concepts - follows travellers as they attempt to make their way across a part of the world using absolutely any means necessary - except for air travel.This time around, our intrepid adventurers are trying to make their way across Canada as quickly as possible.They’re given funds equivalent to the cost of a one way plane ticket to their destination. For series two, the contestants were trying to get across Latin America - but what happened to them after the show? Let’s take a look… Emon and Jamiul Choudhury Uncle and nephew duo Emon and Jamiul Choudhury proved that they were the most resourceful travellers of them all when they won series two of the show.The pair scooped up a £20,000 cash prize but opted to donate half of it to charity after witnessing some of the poverty local children were living in.

Barney’s back. The iconic purple dinosaur is returning to the small screen for a new generation. Warner Bros. Discovery has picked up new CG-animated series Barney’s World for Cartoon Network’s preschool block Cartoonito and streaming on Max. The series, announced earlier this year as part of Mattel’s Barney franchise relaunch, will revamp the iconic character for modern audiences.

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor Warner Bros. Discovery picked up CG-animated series “Barney’s World,” featuring new adventures of the enduring purple dinosaur and his pals, set to bow on the Max streaming service and Cartoon Network in 2024. The series, announced earlier this year as part of Mattel’s Barney franchise relaunch, will “revamp the iconic character for modern audiences,” according to WBD. The series is co-produced by Mattel Television and Corus Entertainment’s Nelvana. Barney is the beloved children’s character who captured the hearts of millions of children — before he became a target of pop-culture vitriol, as explored in Peacock’s 2022 docuseries “I Love You, You Hate Me.” The original live-action “Barney & Friends” debuted on PBS stations in 1992 and ran through 2010.

Love Island's Tasha Ghouri and Andrew Le Page met King Charles and Queen Camilla at Windsor Castle at the weekend.The pair got to meet the newly crowned King at a special Windsor Castle reception ahead of the Coronation concert on Sunday. The 24-year-old model, who was the show's first deaf contestant, looked as stunning as ever in a white dress with feathered edges. While Andrew, 27, looked smart in a beige suit with a plain white shirt.

READ MORE: Join the FREE Manchester Evening News WhatsApp communityKaty Perry, who will be performing at the Coronation Concert in Windsor Castle on Sunday evening, was also invited. The singer was seen wearing a lilac outfit with a matching hat. British Vogue’s editor-in-chief Edward Enninful, BBC director-general Tim Davie, Australian musician Nick Cave, TV presenter Jay Blades, and Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber were also in attendance.

Timeless lady! Princess Kate arrived at King Charles III’s coronation in a regal outfit fit for a royal.

Double trouble? Jennifer Lopez got real about raising teenage twins Emme and Max — and revealed how they are “giving it” to her as a parent.

Elisabeth Moss, Kate Hudson and Kaia Gerber have been tapped to star in the sexy, psychological thriller “Shell”.

Elisabeth Moss will star alongside Kate Hudson and Kaia Gerber in the psychological thriller “Shell” from director Max Minghella. Black Bear International will introduce the project to international buyers at the Cannes Film Festival while also distributing the picture in the UK and Ireland.

EXCLUSIVE: Emmy-winner Elisabeth Moss (The Handmaid’s Tale) will star alongside Oscar-nominee Kate Hudson (Glass Onion) and actress and model Kaia Gerber (Babylon) in psychological thriller Shell from director Max Minghella (Teen Spirit).

Matt Roloff is loving his newly engaged life with his fiancée, Caryn Chandler. The 61-year-old TLC star took to Instagram this week to share a series of recent photos, giving fans an update on his life.«What a whirlwind month.