CW Chief Downplays Drama Of Upcoming Ownership Shift; It’s A Big Brand, Not Just A Media Company Changing Hands

Variety.Another insider connected to the project noted that Garner, 28, has materialized as the favorite to portray the “Hung Up” singer, 63, from over a dozen frontrunners.A different source claimed the “Inventing Anna” star’s team is considering accepting the role. Madonna is set to direct the feature based on her life.The film will follow the “Evita” star’s early life and rise to fame as the world’s foremost pop superstar.

Todd Spangler NY Digital EditorReligion of Sports, the sports media production company founded by Tom Brady, Michael Strahan and Gotham Chopra, announced $50 million in Series B funding.With the new investment, which brings the company to about $63 million raised to date, Religion of Sports plans to develop new intellectual property — including expanding into areas beyond sports like entertainment, business and music — as well as scale its creator network and increase global strategic partnerships.The Series B round was led by Shamrock Capital, with participation from Cerro Capital and previous investor Elysian Park Ventures (the investment arm of the L.A. Dodgers).

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorPopular chef, author and humanitarian Jose Andrés is joining the ranks of newsletter scribes and podcastersHis media company Jose Andrés Media, will launch “Longer Tables,” a new weekly newsletter in partnership with Substack that aims to highlight stories that illustrate how food connects people around the world. The publication is expected to contain “deep dives into food history and the politics of nutrition, profiles of the chef’s growing community of food fighters, as well as recipes and audio and video postcards from Chef Andrés’ travels around the globe,” according to the company.

Donald Trump’s emerging media and technology company has taken a stab at further refining its business plans, promising in a new SEC filing that its forthcoming streaming service will be a “non-woke alternative” to Netflix and Disney+.

Todd Spangler NY Digital EditorDonald Trump’s media company plans to launch a subscription-streaming service stocked with a range of right-wing content — including “shows that embrace the Second Amendment” and “Trump-specific programming” — a Netflix-style offering squarely pitched at his MAGA followers.The new programming focus for Trump’s prospective subscription VOD service was outlined Friday in a regulatory filing by Digital World Acquisition Corp., a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) that intends to merge with Trump Media & Technology Group.Trump’s company earlier this year launched Truth Social, a rival social networking service very similar to Twitter (from which the twice-impeached former president was banned following the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S.

The Flight Attendant executive producer Greg Berlanti. And while the attention was certainly on Berlanti at the event, it was hard not to notice that Cuoco was there with her newly confirmed boyfriend, Ozark actor . Or to give special attention to her oversized floral suit.More on that last bit: The 36-year-old actor wore a matching set to the outdoor Hollywood event and paired the patterned look with lightly tinted sunglasses.

Challengers, and now we have another peek at look for the film.On May 20, The Daily Mail published photos of the star on the set of her new movie, which is currently being filmed in Lynn, Massachusetts. In the photos, Zendaya wears an oversized brown zip-up hoodie over a white T-shirt.

Ellen Barkin just testified against Johnny Depp in his trial against Amber Heard — and the things she had to say really don’t make the actor look good!

Business Insider report. The Tesla and SpaceX boss had been accused of exposing himself to a SpaceX employee and attempting to coerce sexual services from her while she worked directly for him, according to the report, and the company ultimately paid the woman $250,000 in exchange for her silence.Characteristically, Musk took the opportunity to make a joke about his penis.

Cynthia Littleton Business EditorThe CW closed out this week’s parade of upfront presentations on Thursday morning with an event that put the emphasis on the strength of the network’s brand as a filter of young adult-focused dramas.“Our digital strength speaks for itself,” CW chairman Mark Pedowitz declared from the stage at New York City Center. In a sign of the times, CW’s presentation included a tour of its new enhanced app.Pedowitz also made an oblique reference to the deal that is deep in negotiations for station group giant Nexstar to acquire a majority stake in the network that has been jointly owned by Warner Bros.

Riverdale is coming to an end. The CW announced on Thursday, May 19 that Riverdale season 7, which will air in a midseason slot, shall be its last.During an executive call on Thursday, CW Chairman and CEO Mark Pedowitz that Riverdale’s conclusion was agreed upon with show creator Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, “who’s thrilled by this news.” Pedowitz ensured that “seven years is the right amount” for the series and promised to give it a proper send-off.

In its biggest contraction ever, the CW’s DC Universe lost three series heading into next season with the cancellation of veteran Legends of Tomorrow as well as Batwoman, currently in Season 3, and freshman Naomi. It now consists of veteran The Flash, Superman & Lois and new entry Gotham Knights — all for midseason — as well as Stargirl (shared with HBO Max), which is the sole DC representative on the fall schedule.

Wynonna Judd will have a lot of support on hand as she embarks on The Judds' final tour following her mom, Naomi Judd's, death. The 11-date arena tour will feature star-studded tributes to Naomi from fellow artists including Brandi Carlile, Faith Hill, Little Big Town, Martina McBride, Ashley McBryde, and Trisha Yearwood.“I am humbled, once again, by the loyalty of the fans who have been with us for 38+ years, who continue to show up for me when I need them the most," Wynonna said in a press release on Thursday. «I am grateful that we will continue to honor The Judds legacy, together.»Naomi's widow, Larry Strickland, also said in the release that he is «so happy that in this time of grief for us all, Wynonna has agreed to move forward with this tour as my sweet wife Naomi would have wanted her to do.”McBride will open select shows, followed by Wynonna who will sing her own hits as well as The Judds' songs.

The CW revealed this morning that it was bringing “iconic” drama series Riverdale to an end with its seventh season and it plans to give it an “appropriate send off”.

In a move that may foretell the future of movie releases, Amazon has switched up its release for Ron Howard‘s latest film, “Thirteen Lives.” Initially set for a November 18 wide release later this year through MGM, those plans switched up after Amazon finalized its purchase of the Hollywood studio for $8.5 billion this March. READ MORE: Amazon Secures $8.45 Billion Deal To Acquire MGM Now, instead of a wide fall release, “Thirteen Lives” gets a limited theatrical release this summer before it quickly debuts on Amazon Prime Video.

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music CriticOne of pop culture’s most famous mother figures got a sendoff from her community at the Mother Church of country music Sunday, as Wynonna and Ashley Judd welcomed country stars and other celebrities to Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium for “Naomi Judd: A River of Time Celebration,” a tribute that was broadcast live on CMT.A frequently heaven-looking Wynonna, who with her late mother was half of the country duo the Judds, sang “River of Time” early in the ceremony, then closed it joined by her local Christ Church choir for what was the pair’s final hit, “Love Will Build a Bridge.” She also participated in a recreation of the mother/daughter harmonies by pairing up with Brandi Carlile for a duet of “The Rose,” preceded by a video testimonial by Bette Midler. Pure magic on stage tonight ✨ @Wynonna @brandicarlile pic.twitter.com/5XmUe8EdGA— CMT (@CMT) May 16, 2022“It’s so strange to be here, but natural at the same time,” said Wynonna.

Initially, Plec tweeted a short statement on the cancellations.“It’s the Red Wedding at WBTV/CW today,” she tweeted at first. “Much more to say, but not today. Loads of gratitude coming for fans and cast and crew in future tweets. But today, we mourn.”

If, like us, you spent 2020 obsessing over Normal People, then you'll be hooked on Conversations With Friends, coming to BBC Three later this month.The new series – based on the novel of the same name – was also written by Normal People's author Sally Rooney and directed by Lenny Abrahamson, and follows the story of students Frances and Bobbi, ex-girlfriends who become entangled in the relationship of an older couple. With the novel winning Sally a Young Writer of the Year award, Conversations With Friends is sure to keep viewers gripped over the coming weeks.

When the dust settled after a frantic day today, the CW was left with 11 original scripted series — new and returning — on tap for next season. That is down from from 19 (including Stargirl whose future is unclear) picked up for the 2021-22 season last year.