David Harewood Succeeds Kenneth Branagh As President Of British Drama School RADA; Cynthia Erivo Named Vice President

K.J. Yossman Fredrik Backman’s bestselling novel “Anxious People” is set to be adapted into a feature film by “The Little Mermaid” screenwriter David Magee.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter Nick Offerman and Betty Gilpin have joined the upcoming Netflix historical drama series “Death by Lightning,” Variety has learned. The duo join previously announced series leads Matthew Macfadyen and Michael Shannon in the show, which will tell the story of U.S. President James Garfield (Shannon) and his assassination by Charles Guiteau (Macfadyen).

EXCLUSIVE: David Dastmalchian (Oppenheimer) has been tapped to star opposite Alexander Skarsgård on Apple TV+‘s new sci-fi series Murderbot from Academy Award nominees Chris and Paul Weitz (About a Boy, Mozart in the Jungle).

EXCLUSIVE: Effective immediately, Walt Disney‘s President of Motion Picture Studios Sean Bailey, who turned the company’s animation vault into a multibillion-dollar live-action movie business, is departing after 15 years on the lot. Searchlight co-president David Greenbaum is stepping in to replace him.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media Reporter Disney executive Sean Bailey is exiting after 15 years as the motion picture group’s president of production. He’ll be replaced by Searchlight’s chief David Greenbaum, who has been named to the newly created role of president of Live Action and 20th Century Studios.

Saltburn, One Life and Poor Things are all winners in the film categories of the British Film Designers Guild Awards, whose annual prizes were handed out Saturday evening in London.

Investigation Discovery has named Kathryn Vaughan to the post of senior vice president, head of production. Vaughan will be based in New York and report to Jason Sarlanis, president of Turner Networks, Investigation Discovery and HLN, linear and streaming.

Naman Ramachandran Acclaimed British actor, writer and director Samantha Morton who was awarded a Fellowship at the EE BAFTA Awards on Sunday has called for more investment in British cinema. The award is the highest recognition given by BAFTA to an individual for their exceptional contribution to the film, games or television industry. Addressing a press conference after accepting her award, Morton said: “We need more investment in British cinema.

Sir Keir Starmer said his party would deal with Donald Trump if the United States chooses him as the next president.

Matt Donnelly Senior Film Writer 101 Studios, the film and TV production entity run by David Glasser, has named Gray Krakower as executive vice president of brand partnerships. Karkower joins the company behind “Yellowstone” and many spinoffs in the lucrative Taylor Sheridan universe from Endeavor/IMG. There he served clients as a VP of global licensing and branding, working on accounts like Lionsgate Films (“John Wick,” “Saw,” “The Hunger Games”), gaming giant Fortnite and on country legend Dolly Parton’s consumer products.

Christopher Nolan has revealed the reason why his longtime collaborator Michael Caine didn’t appear in Oppenheimer.The Oscar-nominated film took the box office by storm last year, and saw Cillian Murphy take on the role of the titular theoretical physicist who helped develop the first nuclear bomb.The project marked Murphy’s sixth time working with the renowned director, and first time taking on the lead role following supporting slots in Batman Begins and Dunkirk.However, Oppenheimer did not feature an appearance from another one of the director’s longtime collaborators: Michael Caine.The London actor has featured in eight of his films including The Dark Knight, Inception, Dunkirk, The Prestige and Interstellar, and speaking at the British Film Institute chairman’s dinner, Nolan shed light on why he didn’t take on a role in the 2023 blockbuster.Accepting the BFI Fellowship, Nolan explained that he was willing to have Caine in the movie, but the actor jokingly turned it down, saying: “OK, enough is enough” (via Variety).Discussing his reaction to Caine sitting Oppenheimer out, Nolan said: “I had to go off on my own. OK, I haven’t got Michael Caine, I’d better get Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr, Kenneth Branagh, Emily Blunt, Florence Pugh, Josh Hartnett, Cillian Murphy, Tom Conti, and hoped that all those greats would add up to one Michael Caine.”He later added: “So many people have helped me, so many people have been there for me, in so many different ways.

Ridley Scott is reportedly in talks to helm an upcoming biopic based on the Bee Gees.According to a report from Deadline Hollywood, anonymous sources close to to the project told the outlet that Scott is currently in the negotiations phase with Paramount Pictures to lead its upcoming biopic based on the group.The film, which is currently untitled, has yet to receive a release date or cast. Scott will also supposedly co-produce the film alongside Graham King for GK Films, Stacey Snider and Michael Pruss for Scott Free.

EXCLUSIVE: Dylan O’Brien is set to headline in James Sweeney‘s dark comedy Twinless, which the latter wrote and will also star in. Republic Pictures has taken global rights to the movie. Cameras are currently rolling on the movie in Portland, OR. O’Brien will executive produce.

In addition to picking up a pair of game shows, The CW has ordered the new original scripted drama Sherlock & Daughter starring David Thewlis (Harry Potter, Fargo).

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was the surprise warm-up act at a prestigious film industry event in London on Wednesday night that saw Oppenheimer director — and BAFTA and Oscar front runner — Christopher Nolan receive the British Film Institute Fellowship Award for his outstanding contribution to cinema.

K.J. Yossman David Harewood is succeeding Kenneth Branagh as president of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, the school has confirmed. Cynthia Erivo has been appointed vice president.

Jason Wormser has been named Senior Vice President of CW Sports.

EXCLUSIVE: ArtsEd has been taken to an employment tribunal by a former teacher who was fired after raising concerns about a “culture of fear” at the Andrew Lloyd Webber-backed drama school.

Wicked: Part One has given the first look at Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo as the witches of Oz.The trailer premiered tonight (February 11) during the Super Bowl 2024 broadcast as the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers face off against each other in Las Vegas.“Something just takes over me, and when it does, bad things happen,” Erivo’s Elphaba tells Grande’s Glinda after the latter expresses shock at her green skin. Later, Glinda reassures her: “Don’t be afraid.”“I’m not afraid,” Elphaba replies.

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo took us to Oz in the very first trailer for their new Wicked movie, and they flew straight from there to the 2024 Super Bowl!