‘Feud’: Chris Chalk Stars As James Baldwin In New ‘Capote’s Women’ Season

After streaming giant Amazon acquired MGM Studios, it was a little unclear what active properties and projects in development would move forward. Thankfully, a new report from Deadline is giving us a better idea of what could be coming soon from that heap of high-profile IP at Amazon Studios.

Civil Rights activist and author James Baldwin is recognized as one of the great minds of American literature. And this couldn’t be more apparent than with the desire to explore his life and legacy on the big screen as Billy Porter (“Pose“) is behind an upcoming biopic that will chronicle Baldwin’s life in a feature film adaptation.

Billy Porter has got his next role lined up, and the “Pose” star will be stepping into some big shoes after signing on to play legendary gay Black writer and civil rights activist James Baldwin.

Billy Porter has booked a very exciting new role!

I am Not Your Negro.”“We at Allen Media Group Motion Pictures are extremely passionate about sharing James Baldwin’s phenomenal story with the world,” said Founder/Chairman/CEO of Allen Media Group Byron Allen. “Billy Porter and Dan McCabe’s talent and commitment to amplifying James Baldwin’s legacy and contributions are invaluable and unmatched for this unique and epic story.”“As a Black queer man on this planet with relative consciousness I find myself, like James Baldwin said, ‘in a rage all the time.’ I am because James was,” said Billy Porter.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media Reporter Billy Porter is preparing to portray the author and civil rights activist James Baldwin in an upcoming biopic. He will also co-write the untitled movie with Dan McCabe, which will be adapted from the 1994 book “James Baldwin: A Biography” by David Leeming. An emeritus professor of English at the University of Connecticut, Leeming was well versed in Baldwin as his friend of 25 years as well as his assistant. Porter says it has been a career-long dream to tell the story of Baldwin on film. Born in Harlem in 1924, Baldwin was a Black gay writer whose influential works include “Go Tell It on the Mountain,” “Notes of a Native Son” and “If Beale Street Could Talk.” In addition to writing, Baldwin fought for racial justice in the U.S. civil rights movement. In Leeming’s book, he’s described as a “complex, troubled, driven, and brilliant man” who has a “gift for compassion and love.”

Billy Porter (Pose) and frequent collaborator Dan McCabe (Fruits of Thy Labor) have been tapped to script a James Baldwin biopic for Byron Allen‘s Allen Media Group Motion Pictures, with the former also to realize his longtime dream of portraying the cultural icon.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media Reporter Ariana DeBose is back to do “the thing” as the host of this year’s Tony Awards. It’s the second time the actor is serving as emcee for Broadway’s biggest night, which is taking place on Sunday, June 11 at the United Palace in New York’s Washington Heights. The ceremony starts at 8 p.m. ET and will air live on CBS, as well as the streaming service Paramount+. “I was honored to serve as host last year and even more so to be asked back! So looking forward to celebrating this incredible season and the people who make the work happen,” DeBose said. “Here’s to adding some uptown flavor to the magic of the Tony Awards!”

Russell Crowe has confirmed that he has no involvement in the upcoming sequel to “Gladiator” — but he kind of wishes that he did.

"General Hospital" is celebrating its 60th anniversary. The popular soap opera first premiered in 1963, and has seen many characters and actors join and leave the show throughout its six decades on the air.

Star Wars Celebration in London, Variety spoke with Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy about some of the franchise’s future installments. Kennedy was keen to talk about bringing back Daisy Ridley’s Rey for a new “Star Wars” film, which was announced during an April 7 panel. “It was a pretty straightforward phone call,” she said. “I started out by just saying, ‘Hey, I think we’re getting near being ready.’ We’ve been talking a lot about what we’re doing in the movie space and I said, ‘I think we’re getting close to being ready. How would you like to go to Celebration?’ That was really the beginning of it. She was out of her mind excited.”

Netflix, Prime Video, HBO Max, Hulu, Peacock and Paramount+, and we’ve thumbed through all the new selections to single out the best of the best. Whether you’re looking to catch up on some recent new releases that are now streaming (like “Bros”) or want to know whether that new documentary (“Judy Blume Forever”) or Netflix original (“Chupa”) is worth watching, we guarantee you’ll find something worthwhile to watch in our curated selection.Check out the best new movies to stream in April 2023 below.Netflix – April 1The “Bourne” trilogy still stands as one of the most influential franchises of the 21st century, as the gritty and handheld approach to the action in these films would spawn imitators for years to come.

This week’s guest is Ralph Macchio.

More news is emerging from Star Wars Celebration Europe 2023, underway in London, including the announcement that three new “Star Wars” movies are in the pipeline.

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.

As superhero fans prep for the long-awaited world premiere of “The Flash” later this month at CinemaCon, director Andy Muschietti preps his next project, “Welcome To Derry,” at HBO Max. And Variety has the first casting news from the “IT” prequels.

ITV bosses have announced two new weekend breakfast shows that will launch later this month, fronted by two famous faces. Strictly Come Dancing star Oti Mabuse and former Love Island host turned West End star Laura Whitmore will be joining the ITV breakfast family with their own self-titled shows.

Taylour Paige, an Independent Spirit Award winner for “Zola,” is represented by CAA, Entertainment 360 and Granderson Rochers. She appears opposite Jonathan Majors in Sundance hit “Magazine Dreams.” Jovan Adepo of “Babylon,” who was Emmy-nominated for the HBO series Watchmen, is represented by Powerline Entertainment, WME and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller.Chris Chalk, who plays Paul Drake on HBO’s “Perry Mason,” is represented by Brillstein Entertainment Partners, Paradigm Talent Agency and Jackoway Austen Tyerman.James Remar of “Sex and the City” and “The Warriors” fame, is among the all-star casts of Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” and Francis Ford Coppola “Megalopolis.” Hei represented by Gersh Agency and Lighthouse Entertainment.Logline: Set in the world of Stephen King’s “IT” universe, “Welcome to Derry” (wt) is based on King’s “IT” novel and expands the vision established by filmmaker Andy Muschietti in the feature films “IT” and “IT Chapter Two.”The series is produced by HBO Max and Warner Bros.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter The “It” prequel series at HBO Max has added its first four cast members, Variety has learned. Taylour Paige (“Zola,” “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”), Jovan Adepo (“Babylon,” “Watchmen”), Chris Chalk (“Perry Mason,” “All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt”), and James Remar (“Oppenheimer,” “Megalopolis”) will all star in the series, which is currently titled “Welcome to Derry.” Exact plot and character details are being kept under wraps, but the official logline for the series states, “Set in the world of Stephen King’s ‘It’ universe, ‘Welcome to Derry’ is based on King’s ‘It’ novel and expands the vision established by filmmaker Andy Muschietti in the feature films ‘It’ and ‘It Chapter Two.'”

Stephen King’s It lives on in the Max Original prequel series Welcome to Derry (working title) from the franchise filmmakers Andy and Barbara Muschietti as well as It Chapter Two co-producer Jason Fuchs, with Taylour Paige, Jovan Adepo, Chris Chalk, and James Remar set to star.