Erik Lomis, Veteran MGM Film Distribution Executive, Dies at 64

William Earl Ryan Murphy, Damon Lindelof and Erica Huggins will headline the Variety Power of Law Breakfast, presented by City National Bank, on April 20 in Los Angeles. Murphy will present the Variety Power of Law award to his entertainment attorney Craig Emanuel, a partner at Paul Hastings, to honor his extensive philanthropic efforts. Emanuel serves on the boards of non-profit organizations such as March on Washington Film Festival, Black Jewish Alliance and the Faith and Politics Institute. Emanuel is also involved with Chrysalis, which Murphy also supports. Lindelof will be interviewed by Cynthia Littleton, Variety’s Co-Editor-in-Chief about how he assesses storytelling opportunities as a writer and producer across film and TV platforms. His most recent television credits include the series “Watchmen” and “The Leftovers,” both of which he was co-creator and showrunner. He’s next executive producing Peacock’s “Mrs. Davis” with showrunner Tara Hernandez.

EXCLUSIVE: Emmy-winning filmmaker Erika Dilday is joining Ken Burns, Sarah Burns, and David McMahon as co-director and co-producer of the upcoming documentary film Emancipation to Exodus (working title). It’s a long-term commitment – the film about a critical period in the African American experience isn’t expected to air on PBS until 2027.

Harry Styles may not be playing Prince Eric in the live-action remake of , but he's always a king in our hearts!While it was long-rumored that the «As It Was» singer could be taking on the role of Ariel's prince, the part ultimately went to Jonah Hauer-King, and the film's director, Ron Marshall, is explaining why in a new interview with .While Marshall confirmed he spoke with Styles about playing Eric «once upon a time,» he shared that the  star «really felt like he wanted to go off and do the movies that he ended up doing, which were sort of darker» than Disney's reimagining of one of its most beloved fairy tales.As for Hauer-King, Marshall said the British actor, who previously appeared in PBS' 2017  miniseries, came with a «sweetness» and «deep passion» that he was looking for in the film's prince., who also spoke to Hauer-King and Ariel herself, Halle Bailey, noted that three other people were up for the part of Eric.«I didn't take her being kind to me as any indication,» Hauer-King recalled of his final audition round with Bailey. «I just assumed she was a lovely person and would've done that for anyone.»After returning to his trailer from the audition, Hauer-King told the outlet he heard a knock at his door.

Way back in 2019, it was reported that Harry Styles turned down the role of Prince Eric in The Little Mermaid live action remake, which will hit theaters next month on May 26.

Eva Longoria’s loyal friends are coming to her defense after she was the center of a Twitter rant. On March 19, Eric Braeden took to the social media site with thumbs of fury, saying she “wasn’t good enough to survive the pressures of daytime television.” Her friends Roselyn Sánchez and Eric Winter called the whole thing “unwarranted.” Braeden, who is 81, starred as Victor Newman on The Young and the Restless.

Erykah Badu has called out for those on the right-wing for racism in their criticism of the “woke” slogan.Though the word has its roots in a 1960s essay by William Melvin Kelley, it was brought to modern public consciousness through Badu’s 2008 song ‘Master Teacher’ and her discussion of it on social media.Speaking on MSNBC, Badu remembered: “I tweeted it about this group that was detained, Pussy Riot. “I said ‘free Pussy Riot’… After that, ‘woke’ took off.”After being shown a number of clips from interviews and speeches where the term “stay woke” is used, Badu was asked about the term being co-opted by the right-wing, to which she responded: “I think they mean ‘Black.’ Yeah.

Taking a stand! Eva Longoria‘s friends defended her after soap star Eric Braeden claimed she made “derogatory remarks” about daytime TV actors.

Twice-impeached former president Donald Trump hasn’t been arrested yet, but Jimmy Fallon is pretty sure he’s starting to feel the heat. During Monday night’s episode of “The Tonight Show,” Fallon joked that the location of Trump’s first official 2024 campaign rally was the clearest sign of that.On Saturday, Trump stopped in Waco, Texas to make his first official campaign bid to the people and, as always, his speech was full of lies and gripes about how he’s being treated unfairly.

Erik Lomis died suddenly last week and the stars of Air honored the late MGM and Amazon Studios executive.

Martin Wiley, a veteran producer and executive whose credits include Acts of Violence, Never Talk to Strangers and Under Siege 2: Dark Territory, died March 20, his son Cameron told Deadline. He was 65.

The death of MGM distribution chief Erik Lomis on Wednesday has shocked many around Hollywood. More than just being a sage to filmmakers and executives about the motion picture business, Lomis was known for his generosity fundraising with the Will Rogers Institute, cultivating others’ careers, and even being a mentor to many in their personal lives.

Erik Lomis, president of theatrical distribution at MGM, has died at the age of 64 in Santa Monica on Wednesday, sources at the studio tell TheWrap. The cause of death was not immediately made known.

Extremely devastating news: MGM and United Artists Releasing Distribution Boss Erik Lomis has died suddenly at his home in Santa Monica, CA, we have learned from sources. No details were provided in regards to his death. Lomis was a towering figure behind many filmmakers’ hits including those from Quentin Tarantino, Paul Thomas Anderson, Adam McKay, Sylvester Stallone, Ryan Coogler, David O. Russell, Lee Daniels, Tom Hooper to name a few and most recently Michael B. Jordan with Creed III.

Eric Clapton and George Harrison in the ’70s, has died at the age of 77.The drummer’s death was confirmed by publicist Bob Merlis, per a Los Angeles Times report. Merlis said in a statement that Gordon died of natural causes at California Medical Facility, a prison medical facility, in the city of Vacaville on Monday (March 13) “after a long incarceration and lifelong battle with mental illness”.Gordon was convicted for murdering his mother Osa Marie Gordon in June 1983 before being diagnosed with schizophrenia.

Charna Flam Goldove Entertainment’s latest sci-fi thriller, “Lumina” has been acquired by Porter+Craig Film and Media, and is set to premiere with a wide-release theatrical campaign this summer. Gino McKoy wrote and directed the film the filmmaker and shot it entirely in Morocco. “Lumina” follows Alex, whose relationship with his dream girl Tatiana ends in a flash of a blinding light. Completely traumatized by the situation, Alex desperately sets off with his friends and conspiracy theorists to discover what really happened to his girlfriend. While traveling through the desert, Alex and his friends are faced with the unexpected, pushing the group to fight for their lives. “Lumina” stars Eric Roberts, Rupert Lazarus as Alex and Eleanor Williams as Tatiana, with additional cast members hailing from Hollywood to London. The film is produced by David Seychell, Gino, Lynda and Hudson McKoy. Academy Award-winning editor Thom Nobel serves as the production’s editor. 

Roberto Stabile, head of special projects, Directorate General for Cinema and Audiovisual-Ministry of Culture at Cinecittà, told Variety. “This support will increase the presence of Italian audiovisual content not only in cinemas, but also on streaming platforms, online distribution, television, everything,” he added.

Cynthia Littleton Business Editor AUSTIN, Texas — Patton Oswalt, Phoebe Robinson, Eric Andre, Chelsea Handler and others were in fine form on Friday night as Variety helped kick off the 2023 SXSW festival and conference with its Power of Comedy event. The kudos pay tribute to innovators in the business of being funny. Presenters and honorees who gathered at the Creek and the Cave nightclub in downtown Austin made mention of comedians facing a fraught moment as social norms and cultural attitudes are changing. Mike Lawrence, who hosted the second half of the night, noted that he had to show more identification when registering to get his SXSW conference badge than he would have to buy a gun.

Danette Herman was one of the key staff members of the Academy Awards ceremonies from the 1970s into the 2010s, beginning as a production assistant and rising through the ranks to become the show’s executive in charge of talent and coordinating producer. One of the few women to serve in key positions at the Oscars, she was with the show during the years of its highest ratings and largest cultural impact.As the Academy prepares for the 95th Oscars ceremony, Herman asked TheWrap if she could share some memories of past shows, from an encounter with Katharine Hepburn in 1974 to a pair of anniversary shows in which she assembled historic groups of past winners.

Charna Flam Kristin Bjorklund, co-executive producer of “Family Feud” for 40 years died on March 5. She was 67. Bjorklund was on the kidney transplant list for years, and following her surgery on March 2, she developed an aggressive infection from the incision. After attending Dartmouth, Bjorklund started her career at Goodson-Todman Productions. By 1982, Bjorklund joined “Family Feud,” making the game show her home for 40 years. In 2019, and after producing well over 2,000 episodes, the producer won an Emmy Award for her work on the series. “Family Feud” co-executive producer, Brian Hawley wrote “Kristin Bjorklund was my coworker, my buddy, my sister from another mister. She could be feisty, strong-willed and oh-so-anal, but she had a fun, raunchy sense of humor and there was nothing better than hearing her laugh” Hawley added, “When my life was a mess or my house was falling apart, I called Kristin. Without Kristin’s friendship, my first few years working in Atlanta wouldn’t have been tolerable.”

Tiger Woods' ex, Erica Herman, is facing in her legal fight with the golf legend, it's another well-known ex, Rachel Uchitel, who says Herman has a serious uphill battle because she's facing off «against a machine.»Earlier this week, Herman filed the lawsuit against Woods in the Circuit Court of the 19th Judicial Circuit in Martin County, Florida, and cited the Speak Out Act as the reason the non-disclosure agreement (NDA) she signed at the start of their relationship in August 2017 should be voided, as the act protects victims of sexual assault or harassment.In the legal documents, Herman checked the box «yes» when asked «Does this case involve allegations of sexual abuse?» While she did not offer any specifics about the allegations, Herman says nullifying the NDA would bring some clarity.In her court filing, obtained by ET, Herman says she is «unsure whether she may disclose, among other things, facts giving rise to various legal claims she believes she has. She is also currently unsure what other information about her own life she may discuss or with whom.