ESPN Chief Says Traditional Cable Network Will Remain Despite Direct-to-Consumer Trend

James Franco has booked his next movie role.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaSubscriber growth at Starz lifted shares of Lionsgate in after-hours trading, giving investors optimism that the media company will be able to demand top dollar when it finalizes plans to sell off its cable and streaming arm. Streaming subscribers jumped to 26.3 million worldwide, a 57% year-over-year increase.On an earnings call, Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer said that potential buyers are also interested in the company’s film studio, suggesting that Amazon’s $8.5 billion purchase of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer had made Lionsgate a more attractive target.“Our library is newer, fresher than the MGM library,” Feltheimer said.His remarks came as Lionsgate saw a dip in revenue for the most recent fiscal quarter, dropping from $901.2 million to $893.9 million.

James Franco has landed the role of Fidel Castro in “Alina of Cuba,” an independent film about the Cuban revolutionary’s daughter, Alina Fernandez.The project is the latest of multiple live-action films the actor has recently signed on to, ending the hiatus he took following accusations of sexual misconduct he faced in 2018 and 2019. Last month, he booked a leading role in post-World War II drama “Me, You” with Tom Hollander and Daisy Jacob.Starring Ana Villafañe as Fernandez, “Alina of Cuba” recounts the true story of her exile from Cuba and eventual turn to social advocacy.

Eva Mendes is back on the big screen. Sort of. The actress joined her friend and filmmaker Shannon Plumb in “Chopped Liver,” Plumb’s comedy sketch show.

spectacularly axed sister flick “Batgirl.”Both films form part of the DC Extended Universe, with whispers growing that “The Flash” could be the next franchise flick to be canned due to disturbing assault and grooming allegations leveled at lead actor Ezra Miller. But on Thursday, producer Barbara Muschietti reportedly attempted to shut down such speculation, saying the movie is still slated to hit cinemas next summer.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorCAA is keeping an eye on NFTs — and other new digital acronyms that represent some of the new methodologies Hollywood is using to distribute entertainment.Joanna Popper has been named Chief Metaverse Officer at the large agency, tasked with setting strategy and business priorities for CAA and its clients as entertainment and media companies dive more deeply into virtual reality, blockchain and non-fungible tokens. The title and position are indicative of the new attention movie studios, TV networks and advertisers are paying to cutting-edge ways of disseminating intellectual property to fans and consumers.“CAA has always been at the forefront of charting new and emerging business opportunities for our clients.

Wilson Chapman editorJames Franco has been cast as Cuban revolutionary Fidel Castro in the independent film “Alina of Cuba,” Variety has confirmed.Franco joins the previously announced Ana Villafañe, who portrays the title character Alina Fernandez, Castro’s daughter. In addition, Mía Maestro has also joined the cast as Alina’s mother Natalia Revuelta, the Cuban socialite who gave birth to her after an affair with Castro. The film will follow Alina’s life as Castro’s illegitimate daughter and a critic of his reign in Cuba before leaving the country and defecting to Spain in 1993.

EXCLUSIVE: Oscar nominee and 2x Golden Globe winner James Franco will play Cuban leader Fidel Castro in Miguel Bardem’s Aline of Cuba with Imagen Award winner Mía Maestro set to play Natalia “Naty” Revuelta, the Cuban-born socialite he has a passionate love affair with.

Adam Thomas has said he is 'fuming' over his friend Danny Miller's wedding - but not in a serious way. The actor was an usher for his former Emmerdale co-star when he tied the knot last month.

Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentA fire that broke out Monday at Rome’s Cinecittà Studios has not significantly slowed down activity at the storied filming facilities, according to studio chief Nicola Maccanico.“The fire did not cause any harm to people; it was quickly extinguished and damage was limited,” Maccanico said in a statement for Variety. “The safety system, in a very vulnerable time period given the high temperatures, kicked in promptly and allowed the flames to be limited without damaging any of our sound stages, nor any of our other production areas.”The Cinecittà CEO went on to thank the Rome Fire Brigade and Civil Protection agency for their “crucial contribution” in ensuring that the flames were rapidly put out and did not spread further.

told ET. “That’s a tough dress to fill.”Based on the bestselling novel by Joyce Carol Oates and co-produced by Pitt’s own Plan B Entertainment, “Blonde” will dramatize Monroe’s life and career is available on Netflix Sept.

Rome’s historic Cinecittà Studios on Monday afternoon (Aug. 1) and was extinguished by three teams of firefighters. The fire broke out in the area where a set depicting renaissance Florence was housed and which was being decommissioned, destroying parts of it.

The shade of it all! Jennifer Lopez’s first husband, Ojani Noa, expressed his doubts about the Grammy winner’s recent marriage to Ben Affleck — and he held nothing back.

There’s no denying the boost that a bit of sun-kissed bronze colour can give to your skin – and your confidence. But by far the safest way to achieve a golden glow is to stay out of the sun and instead reach for one of the best fake tans.There has been no shortage of exciting new self tans hitting the beauty aisles this summer, all promising to deliver a natural-looking and easy-to-apply hint of colour. To determine which ones are REALLY worth spending your money on, we sent out a bunch of the latest formulas to our Beauty Edit testing panel, including an updated classic, a collagen-boosting gradual tan and a light-as-air oil mist.

Neil Jones has insisted he's single after rumours of a romance with former Miss Romania Sienna Hollen emerged earlier this year.The Strictly Come Dancing star, 40, whose ex Katya Jones recently accidentally called him "husband", opened up on his relationship status in an exclusive interview with OK! magazine at the National Reality TV Awards UK 2022. Sharing that he's "good", Neil said: "I'm happy with myself.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorAaron Latham, a screenwriter, journalist and author whose story in Texas Monthly inspired the 1980 smash “Urban Cowboy,” died July 23 in Pennsylvania of complications from Parkinson’s disease. He was 78.Latham was married to “60 Minutes” correspondent Lesley Stahl.

Nick Cave has opened up about how the parents of Love Island contestant Luca helped him and his wife through the “unspeakable” tragedy of losing their son.Arthur Cave died after he fell from a cliff in Ovingdean, East Sussex in 2015. He was 15 years old.For the latest entry into his long-running Q&A site Red Hand Files, Cave was asked what the “major difference” is between him and his wife, Susie. In response, the Bad Seeds frontman explained that “Susie watches Love Island, and I don’t”.He went on to talk about the couple’s connection to a current contestant on the ITV2 reality series, Luca Bish.“Luca was a school friend of our twins, Arthur and Earl,” Cave wrote.