Finnish Comedy About Feminist Porn ‘Money Shot’ Heads to Canneseries: ‘It’s Definitely Not Another Nordic Noir!’ (EXCLUSIVE)

Marta Balaga Emma Thompson is Team Finland all the way and she wants you to know it. In an emotional letter shared with local newspaper Helsingin Sanomat, the actor detailed her experience working on Brian Kirk’s upcoming action thriller “The Fisherwoman.” Set in Minnesota, the film will see two-time Oscar winner as a widow who, while trapped in a blizzard, interrupts the kidnapping of a teenager. “They had no snow [in Minnesota] owing to the changing climate, [so] the decision was taken to shoot all the exteriors in Finland.

EXCLUSIVE: Sierra Katow (The Sex Lives of College Girls) is partnering with Comedy Dynamics on the release of her debut comedy special, Funt, which will become available on platforms worldwide on April 2nd, rolling out in album form on April 5th.

EXCLUSIVE: Sources tell us that Regal Theatres VP and Head of Film Andrew Turner is exiting the No. 2 U.S. chain.

Judd Apatow has directed such comedy films as The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Knocked Up and Trainwreck, among others. Despite his recent The King of Staten Island and The Bubble going straight to streaming, he still believes comedy films have a place in theaters.

EXCLUSIVE: Briarcliff Entertainment has acquired domestic rights to the comedy Not Another Church Movie, starring Jamie Foxx, Vivica A. Fox, Kevin Daniels, Mickey Rourke and more, slating it for a wide release in theaters on May 10th.

Zack Sharf Digital News Director Judd Apatow does not believe comedy movies are dead in theaters. While the genre has largely moved to streaming in recent years (Apatow’s last two directorial efforts debuted on streaming, while the Please Don’t Destroy movie he produced last year, “The Treasure of Foggy Mountain,” skipped theaters and debuted on Peacock), Apatow recently told Vulture that all it will take is one comedy blockbuster in theaters to swing the pendulum away from streaming. Actually, that may have already happened in his eyes.

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic Does “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” count as a genre unto itself, given how many plotlines in the last half-century have relied on the suitor-out-of-water supper guest as a linchpin? That trope seemed to have reached its furthest, most subversive extreme with “Get Out,” but there are still writers who are drawn to the trope of the unwelcome boyfriend without actually extending that nervous suppertime trope into, like, horror. In the play “One of the Good Ones,” which is having its world premiere at the Pasadena Playhouse, playwright Gloria Calderón Kellett (who co-created Netflix’s “One Day at a Time” reboot) treats the basic structure of the 1967 Hepburn-Tracy-Poitier film as if it’s still as sturdy as ever.

Variety Awards Circuit section is the home for all awards news and related content throughout the year, featuring the following: the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars, Emmys, Grammys and Tony Awards ceremonies, curated by Variety senior awards editor Clayton Davis. The prediction pages reflect the current standings in the race and do not reflect personal preferences for any individual contender.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large “Bupkis” Season 2 is bupkis. Star Pete Davidson has confirmed that he has opted not to continue with his semi-autobiographical Peacock comedy, which had previously been renewed for a second season. “I’ve always seen Bupkis as a window into my life, since it is so personal and about my struggles and family,” Davidson said ina.

EXCLUSIVE: Uncoupled is not getting saved after all. Showtime has decided not to proceed with Season 2 of the comedy series, from Emily in Paris creator Darren Star and Modern Family veteran Jeffrey Richman, Deadline has learned. A rep for the network could not be reached for comment.

Ben Croll Facing greater international competition alongside smart TV interfaces that grow all the more convoluted, France Televisions president Delphine Ernotte issued a clarion call to Gallic broadcasters: It’s time to launch a new shared streaming platform that could offer a single point of access for local programing. ‘We’re stronger together,” said the public broadcasting exec.

Delphine Ernotte-Cunci, the CEO of France Télévisions, has called the collapse of the French broadcaster-backed streamer Salto “a strategic mistake.”

Rachel Sennott has a new show in the works at HBO!

EXCLUSIVE: HBO is betting on another fresh female comedy voice, giving a pilot order to a half-hour starring, written and executive produced by Rachel Sennott (Bottoms, Bodies Bodies Bodies).

Netflix announced six new Nordic feature film productions at its Next on Netflix showcase in Stockholm on Monday.

Marta Balaga Be afraid, be very afraid: Finnish mystery thriller “Icebreaker” has just revealed exclusive first-look photos. Set on a stranded icebreaker, it sees coast guard Sanna Tanner (Jessica Grabowsky) leading a rescue team. She comes across a group of survivors – and a frozen body – but over the course of six days, crew members start to disappear.

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Prime Video is diving into genre in the Nordics with a new slate of shows, including the Swedish mystery crime series “Blind Spot” starring Ida Engvoll (“Love & Anarchy”) and Pål Sverre Hagen (“Furia”), and Henrik Georgsson (“The Bridge“)’s dystopian thriller “VAKA,” starring Emmy-award nominated Jonas Karlsson and Aliette Opheim. Based on Anne Holt’s best-selling novel “1222” which revolves around the character of Hanne Wilhelmsen, a sharp and dark-minded police officer. The series, penned by celebrated author Sara Heldt (“Sandhamn Murders”) together with Erik Skjoldberg (“Occupied”), follows Hanne who finds herself sheltered in an isolated mountain hotel after a train crash and starts investigating on mysterious murders even though she’s been temporarily suspended from the police.

Owen Wilson is taking to the golf course for a comedy series for Apple TV+.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter Owen Wilson is set to star in a comedy series at Apple TV+ set in the world of professional golf, Variety has learned. The untitled series hails from writer Jason Keller. Apple has given the series a 10-episode order.

The upcoming season of Hulu’s acclaimed comedic murder mystery series “Only Murders In The Building” will have a stacked murderer’s row of comedic talent joining an impressive cast. While talking with Entertainment Tonight on the Oscars red carpet on Sunday, cast member Eva Longoria revealed that funnyman Zach Galifianakis (“The Hangover”) will also be part of the show that is currently filming.