Bill Nighy Narrates C5/Smithsonian River Series; ‘The Witcher’ Director Develops NENT Group Series; BBC Arts Boss & Commercial Director Exit; Debuts Dominate Macao Market; Abacus Boards Nick Broomfield Doc — Global Briefs

Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentTurkish actor Can Yaman (“Daydream,” “Bitter Sweet”) is set to a play fictional late 19th-century pirate in a reboot of cult vintage Italian TV series “Sandokan.”The show is being produced by Lux Vide, the prominent Italian shingle behind “Medici,” “Devils” and the upcoming “Leonardo” skeins.Based on a series of popular adventure novels penned by Italian author Emilio Salgari, “Sandokan” chronicles the adventures of the titular pirate who, with his

Lux Vide, the Italian producer behind Sky series Devils and the upcoming Leonardo, is rebooting the pirate story Sandokan and is launching a podcast unit.

Lionsgate has acquired the UK rights to Living, starring Bill Nighy, ahead of production set for the U.K. in spring 2021.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media Reporter“Living,” an upcoming film starring Bill Nighy, has sold United Kingdom distribution rights to Lionsgate.Set in London in the 1950s, “Living” centers on Williams (portrayed by Nighy), a veteran civil servant who becomes a cog in the bureaucracy of rebuilding post WWII England. As the job starts to consume him, he learns he has seven months to live.

Lionsgate has taken UK distribution rights on Living, the Bill Nighy-starring English-language adaptation of Akira Kurosawa’s classic Ikiru.

Bill Bailey has been announced as the new Strictly Come Dancing champion alongside professional dancer, Oti Mabuse. The pair fought off fierce competition from fellow finalists HRVY and Janette Manrara, Jamie Laing and Karen Hauer and Maisie Smith and Gorka Marquez.

A Taco Bell employee in Florida was brought to tears when he was given a massive tip this week.  Joe DeCicco, 70, has been working at a Taco Bell in South Daytona, Fla., for the last 20 years, according to local TV station WESH 2. On Friday, DeCicco -- known in the drive-thru as "Taco Bell Joe" -- received a $6,095 check from a local group.

Mark David Over the summer, at the apex of the summer wave of the ongoing COVID pandemic, rapidly up-and-coming alt-R&B/neo soul singer Jhené Aiko, whose full name is Jhené Aiko Efuru Chilombo, plunked down $1.95 million for a freshly rehabbed home in the well-to-do guard-gated Bell Canyon neighborhood that’s laced into the mountainous western edge of L.A.’s vast San Fernando Valley.The L.A.

Elaine Low Senior TV WriterViacomCBS’ MTV Entertainment Group has tapped “PBS NewsHour” producer and executive James F. Blue III to become its senior vice president and head of Smithsonian Channel.Blue has been tasked with leading, expanding and diversifying the Smithsonian Channel’s content to further the Smithsonian’s mission to engage, inspire and educate, according to the company.

ViacomCBS’ MTV Entertainment Group (formerly Entertainment & Youth) has named PBS NewsHour and former Nightline producer James F. Blue III as SVP, Head of Smithsonian Channel. Blue will also oversee News and Factual Unscripted content for MTV Entertainment’s portfolio of brands across streaming, linear and digital, dual-reporting to Chris McCarthy, President, MTV Entertainment Group and Nina L. Diaz, President of Content and Chief Creative Officer.

The story of the Rolling Stones is getting the TV treatment.

Come 2021, Mayim Bialik will return to the sitcom scene in the titular role of Fox’s Call Me Kat. On Wednesday viewers got a first look at the actress’ take on the hopelessly single but joyfully eccentric character inspired by Miranda Hart’s Miranda.

[Warning: The following contains spoilers for Season 2 of Virgin River. Read at your own risk!]Well, color us shocked.

[Warning: The following contains spoilers for Season 2 of Virgin River. Read at your own risk!]Well, color us shocked.

The annual riotous boozing in the streets by thousands of Santa Clauses will not be seen in New York City this year.

Ho Ho No! The annual SantaCon pub crawl has been canceled this year in the Big Apple due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Organizers announced the news on the event’s website.

A dispute over hot sauce had one fast-food customer seeing red.  A Taco Bell in Idaho reportedly skimped on giving a customer extra hot sauce packets, causing a commotion at the drive-thru that resulted in law enforcement responding to the heated scene. A Taco Bell in Idaho reportedly skimped on giving a customer extra hot sauce packets, causing a commotion at the drive-thru.