‘Creed II’ Filmmaker Steven Caple Jr. to Direct YA Adaptation ‘Thieves’ Gambit’ for Lionsgate

Variety. “We’re tired of all of this creative talent driving through Arizona to get to New Mexico.” Representative Londgon did not immediately return TheWrap’s request for comment. The bill, which passed the Senate on a bipartisan 21-7 vote earlier this year and is expected to be officially signed into law by the House of Representatives this week, would follow in the footsteps of the Arizona Motion Picture Production and Infrastructure Credit, which provided $22.5 million across several dozen productions between 2005 and 2010.

Insider, Sonnenfeld said producers initially wanted O’Donnell and Clint Eastwood as the leading men.“I had suggested Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith,” Sonnenfeld told the outlet. “Will was actually my wife’s idea.”The director said execs needed little convincing to accept Jones, however, getting Smith the lead role raised a few eyebrows.At the time, Smith was known for starring in “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” and for his rap albums rather than starring in blockbuster movies.He had just finished filming his first major movie lead role in “Independence Day,” however the movie was not yet released at the time.On the other hand, O’Donnell was a well-known name in Hollywood after starring in “School Ties,” “The Three Musketeers,” and “Scent of a Woman.”In a desperate bid to dissuade O’Donnell from taking the role, Sonnenfeld revealed he downplayed the movie to him.“I met with Chris and he had concerns about the script and had another movie offer,” he said.

Splash Mountain will be transformed into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, with the reconceived attraction set to open at Disneyland and Disney World in late 2024.

Joey King showed off a new side of herself during her interview on Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Lionsgate has acquired motion picture adaptation rights to Thieves’ Gambit, an upcoming young adult thriller novel by Kayvion Lewis that has been generating deals and buzz ahead if its planned fall 2023 publish date. Steven Caple Jr, whose directing credits include Creed 2 and the upcoming Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, is attached to helm.

Wilson Chapman editorSteve Fickinger, the Broadway producer who won a Tony for “Dear Evan Hansen,” died suddenly on Friday in Laguna Beach, Calif., representatives confirmed to Variety. He was 62.Born in Winnetka, Ill., Fickinger began his career at Disney as a temp mail room worker, and worked his way up to become director of creative development for Walt Disney Feature Animation, where he oversaw the production of animated films including “Mulan,” “Tarzan” and “Lilo and Stitch.”He later transitioned to the Disney Theatrical Group, where he served as V.P.

Jazz Tangcay Artisans EditorHollywood producer Janet Yang was feted on Tuesday evening at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures with a pillar named in her honor.Yang, who worked alongside Steven Spielberg on “Empire of the Sun,” and produced Netflix’s “Over the Moon” and “The Joy Luck Club,” became the first Asian American woman to have a pillar at the museum. She called it “a symbol of how communities can come together.”Some of the most prominent Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in Hollywood came out to celebrate the historic moment, including legendary actor James Hong, journalist Lisa Ling, singer Katherine Ho, Gold House CEO and co-founder Bing Chen, actor Daniel Dae Kim and California State Treasurer Fiona Ma.

received his well-deserved Honorary Oscar before this year’s ceremony, but many fans have argued that he should’ve won for his role as the foul-mouthed Jules Winnfield in Quentin Tarantino’s 1994 masterpiece Pulp Fiction. In the Oscar winner’s opinion, there’s another Tarantino film he should’ve been nominated for - 2012’s Django Unchained. A decade after that movie's release, Jackson was honest about that Oscar snub for the Western film.

Tim Gray Senior Vice PresidentThe Motion Picture & Television Fund, celebrating its 100th anniversary, might be the most active, admired — and most misunderstood — organization in Hollywood. Silent screen star Mary Pickford started the philanthropic org under the name Motion Picture Relief Fund (it was renamed in 1971).Over the century, entertainment’s biggest heavyweights gave support.

Over 20 years since Roald Dahl’s classic book Matilda was adapted on the big screen, the popular children’s book is set to be given a on-screen makeover once again. As part of a new Netflix project, Matilda the Musical is set to hit our screens later this year and features a stellar lineup including Emma Thompson as the nasty teacher Miss Trunchbull.

Zack Sharf Samuel L. Jackson has only one Oscar nomination to his name (a supporting actor bid for Quentin Tarantino’s “Pulp Fiction”), which is downright shocking considering the handful of iconic roles in his filmography.

Actor Kevin Spacey is set to appear in British court later this week after being formally charged with sexual offenses, police said.  Spacey, 62, has been accused of four counts of sexual assault and one count of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent and is due at Westminster Magistrates' Court Thursday morning.  The alleged incidents are said to have taken place in London and western England: two counts of sexual assault in relation to an incident in London in March 2005, one count of sexual assault and one count of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent on a man in London in August 2008, and one count of sexual assault on another man in April 2013 in Gloucestershire. All of the victims are now in their 30s and 40s.

Stephen Amell is a father of two after he and his wife, Cassandra Jean, quietly welcomed a baby girl. According to multiple reports, Jean gave birth in Los Angeles, to their second child, last month.

Stephen Amell is a father of two after he and his wife, Cassandra Jean, quietly welcomed a baby girl. According to multiple reports, Jean gave birth in Los Angeles, to their second child, last month., who was first report the news, revealed that the couple, who are already parents to eight-year-old daughter, Maverick Alexandra, named the newborn, Bowen.Always a proud papa, Amell has never been shy speaking about his family or his eldest daughter. Back in 2018, Amell told ET's Cassie DiLaura that the then 5-year-old may be following in the Amell family footsteps with a future in Hollywood.«My daughter's actually just been doing a production of ,» Amell said at the time.«I like doing things for her that she enjoys doing.

Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani just stepped out for a glamorous date night! On Thursday, the couple attended the 48th AFI Life Achievement Award Gala, and went all out for the occasion.Stefani stunned in a Nicole + Felicia gown that featured a white, tank-style top and a tulle skirt with ombré details and an impressive train. Stefani accessorized the gorgeous gown with a diamond necklace, and opted to wear her hair in a high bun and adorn her face with pink-hued makeup. Shelton, meanwhile, sported dark jeans, a gray jacket, black vest, white button up, and a tie for the event.The couple was as cute as can be on the carpet, cuddling up as they posed for pictures and holding hands before they made their way into the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.Once inside the event, at which Julie Andrews was being honored with AFI’s Life Achievement Award, the couple was all smiles at their table.

EXCLUSIVE: After recently signing an overall deal with the studio, Lindsey Beer and Paramount look to have found their next big property to tackle. Sources tell Deadline that the studio is set to reboot the classic horror title Sleepy Hollow, with Beer writing, directing and producing alongside Todd Garner and Spencer Walken of Broken Road Productions.