Gallic Steampunk Superhero Series ‘The Chimera Brigade’ Unveiled by Louis Leterrier, Sacrebleu Productions (EXCLUSIVE)

Naman Ramachandran From accountant to acting powerhouse, Indian actor Vijay Sethupathi‘s 50-film journey has been anything but ordinary. The actor’s 50th film, the Tamil-language “Maharaja,” written and directed by Nithilan Saminathan (“Kurangu Bommai”), is an action-packed saga that blends thriller elements with family drama and has a father-daughter relationship at its core. It has emerged as one of the biggest Tamil hits of the year.

Jennifer Maas TV Business Writer “Dungeons and Drag Queens” star Monét X Change has landed her own variety talk series at “Dimension 20” streamer Dropout. Titled “Monét’s Slumber Party,” the show is described as an “edgy, playful and queer variety show” where “Monét X Change will welcome friends, comedians and other celebrities to an adult sleepover.” “Combining honest conversation with a little mischief, ‘Monét’s Slumber Party’ will tackle taboo subjects like sex, dating and relationships with openness and humor,” per Dropout.

Selome Hailu Jeffrey Wright has joined the cast of Paramount+ With Showtime‘s upcoming political thriller series “The Agency.” As exclusively reported by Variety, the series is led by Michael Fassbender as Martian, a covert CIA agent. George Clooney serves as executive producer. Wright will play Henry, the CIA’s director of operations overseeing non-official cover agents, and a mentor to Martian.

K.J. Yossman Another screen project about Iran’s Royal Family is in the works. “Queen Cleopatra” director Tina Gharavi is set to co-direct a new drama series titled “The Shah, The Spy, The Madman” alongside series creator Shahriar William Raee.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Italian crime/action genre specialist Stefano Sollima – who is known for milestone TV series “Gomorrah” and Hollywood movies such as “Sicario: Day of the Soldado” and “Without Remorse” – is officially launching a film and TV production shingle named AlterEgo in tandem with ace U.S. showrunner Gina Gardini and longtime collaborator, writer/director Ludovico Purgatori.

Jem Aswad Executive Editor, Music It is a plight common to most professional songwriters: Everyone knows their songs, but few people know who they are. And it’s hard to think of a more vivid example of that syndrome than Gerry Goffin, Carole King’s late ex-husband and longtime writing partner, who was responsible for the lyrics of such timeless songs as “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?,” “You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman,” “Up on the Roof,” “The Loco-Motion,” “One Fine Day” and dozens more — he wrote the lyrics for a total of 114 Billboard Hot 100 hits for artists including Aretha Franklin, Barbra Streisand, Diana Ross, Rod Stewart, Natalie Cole, James Taylor, Ray Charles, Whitney Houston, Kylie Minogue and of course, King (with whom he is pictured above, in the early 1960s).

We have new Superman set photos, including images of David Corenswet in his full Superman suit!

John Hopewell Chief International Correspondent Making further inroads into markets in Central and Eastern Europe and beyond, Studiocanal, one of Europe’s top production-distribution-international sales powerhouses, has clinched further sales on premium daily drama “The Vow” (“La Promesa”), closing Poland and two Baltic States, as well as France. Produced by Spain’s Bambú Producciones (“Velvet,” “Cable Girls”), a Studiocanal company, Studiocanal and national Spanish public broadcaster RTVE, “The Vow” has been acquired by Polish pubcaster TVP Poland, state-backed network ERR Estonia and state-owned LTV Latvia. In additional new sales, Dubai TV has closed rights to MENA territories.

EXCLUSIVE: Israeli romcom drama series The Baker and the Beauty is being remade for France’s TF1, with French singer-songwriter Amir Haddad playing the lead in his debut TV role.

Naman Ramachandran Mohaan Nadaar’s The Production Headquarters Limited, one of the producers of Cannes-prizewinning film “The Shameless,” has boarded Indian documentary “Legend of Abbakka.” “The Shameless” was directed by Bulgarian-American filmmaker Konstantin Bojanov and appeared in the Un Certain Regard section of the Cannes Film Festival this year. There, Anasuya Sengupta won the best actress award. Rani Abbakka of Ullal, southern India, a 16th-century warrior-queen, defied the Portuguese Empire, a feat often overlooked in history books.

EXCLUSIVE: MGM+ has given a series order to The Institute, a thriller based on the 2019 Stephen King novel. Ben Barnes (Shadow and Bone) and Mary-Louise Parker (Weeds) are set to lead the drama from director/executive producer Jack Bender (Lost, Mr. Mercedes), writer/executive producer Benjamin Cavell (Justified, The Stand) and MGM+ Studios. Production is slated to begin in Nova Scotia later this year.

K.J. Yossman “Six Feet Under” star Rachel Griffiths gets a new job in upcoming drama series “Madam” – as an ethical brother owner. The first trailer for the series sees Griffiths, playing wife and mother Mack, get to grips with the business after she discovers her husband has been seeing sex workers behind her back.

While we still don’t know how a Season 2 of “Peacemaker” exists in the newly rebooted DCU, we know it’s happening. James Gunn says it’ll make sense.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large Will Arnett is expanding his relationship with Fox Entertainment. The actor and comedian, who hosts Fox’s “Lego Masters,” has sealed an overall producing deal for his Electric Avenue Prods. to produce fare for the network’s in-house production company.

Prince William couldn't resist sharing a cheeky piece of advice from his youngest child, Prince Louis, to the England football team, suggesting they should "eat twice the amount" during their Euro 2024 campaign. During his visit to St George's Park on Monday, the doting dad and FA president met with the squad and head coach Gareth Southgate, where he delivered an inspiring speech.

Alex Ritman “How to Have Sex” breakout and newly-crowned BAFTA Rising Star winner Mia McKenna-Bruce has landed her next major role. The British actress is set to lead the cast of “The Seven Dials Mystery,” Netflix‘s upcoming Agatha Christie series written by “Broadchurch” creator and former “Doctor Who” showrunner Chris Chibnall, Variety has learned. Joining McKenna-Bruce are Helena Bonham Carter and Martin Freeman.

Louis van Gaal has aimed a cheeky dig at Manchester United while urging Sir Jim Ratcliffe to keep Erik ten Hag. The United boss faces an uncertain future at Old Trafford despite leading the club to FA Cup glory.

Kristen Stewart has lined up what will be one of her first big television roles.

Addie Morfoot Contributor Sandbox Films is releasing Penny Lane’s “Confessions of a Good Samaritan” in select theaters beginning June 28. The docu, which premiered at the South By Southwest film festival in 2023, focuses on Lane’s decision to give one of her kidneys to a stranger, which turns into a funny and moving personal quest to understand the nature of altruism. The film also investigates the ethical controversies surrounding organ donation and Lane’s own motivations for giving away her kidney.

Brent Lang Executive Editor Kit Zauhar will adapt “How Should a Person Be?,” the 2010 novel from acclaimed Canadian author Sheila Heti, for the screen. Neon Heart Productions, which previously worked with Zauhar on her second feature “This Closeness,” is developing the book. According to the logline, the film adaptation will focus on “a young artist [who] faces an early mid-life crisis when a new friendship makes her question her marriage and everything else about her current life path.” Heti is the author of eleven books to date including “Pure Colour,” “Alphabetical Diaries” and “Motherhood,” which wasshortlisted for the Giller Prize.