HBO Max Prepares to Launch in 15 More Countries in Europe

Caitlin Quinlan Swedish actors Sofia Helin, Anja Lundqvist, Julia Dufvenius and Elin Klinga star as four middle-aged friends struggling with stifled sex lives in new comedy “Lust,” coming to HBO Max in March and premiering at the Berlinale Series Market. Balancing lighthearted comedy with a more serious focus on topics such as sexual harassment, marriage counselling, and personal identity, the show offers entertaining relief while spotlighting the under-examined world of womanhood over 40.Developed from an idea that originated with the actors themselves, “Lust” stands out as one of few recent comedies wholly devoted to middle-aged lead female characters.

The first look at HBO Max’s The Staircase eight-episode series just debuted online!

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentMemento International has closed major sales on Ursula Meier’s Berlin contender “The Line,” and “Boy from Heaven” by Tarik Saleh, the Swedish-Egyptian helmer of “The Nile Hilton Incident.” A religious and political thriller, “Boy From Heaven” is set in Cairo, in a Koranic school following the collapse of a grand imam which marks the start of a ruthless battle for influence.The movie is headlined by Tawfeek Barhom and Fares Fares, who previously starred in “The Nile Hilton Incident.” Saleh’s Stockholm-based outfit Atmo is producing the movie with Memento. Memento International has sold the film to Benelux (Cineart), Spain (La Aventura), Italy (Movies Inspired), Greece (Cinobo), Hungary (Vertigo) and Middle East (Falcon). Other territories in negotiation.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentNordic production powerhouse Miso Film, which looks to make a splash at the Berlinale Series with its daring HBO Max show “Lust,” is developing high-end international dramas with Scandinavian creatives such as Pilou Asbæk (“Borgen”), Ole Bornedal (“Nightwatch”) and Fenar Ahmad (“Darkland”). The company is part of Fremantle.Ahead of the Berlinale, Miso founders Peter Allen and Jonas Bose discussed with Variety their ambition to find new voices and original ways to tell stories.The banner, which just started shooting the third season of “Those Who Kill” and is about to begin filming Season 3 of “Face to Face” with Lars Mikkelsen, recently shot Norwegian sci-fi comedy “Blasted,” for Netflix.

JUST IN: Novak Djokovic comment made by Dubai chief as tennis event returns to full capacityLinkMurray returned to action this week at the ATP Rotterdam in the Netherlands, with his run coming to an end at the round of 32 stage against Canadian rising star Felix Auger-Aliassime on Thursday. While in Rotterdam the former world No.

HBO Max has commissioned a second season of Álex de Iglesia and Jorge Guerricaechevarría’s mystery horror 30 Coins.

Jamie Lang HBO Max has revealed that principal photography has begun on a second season of its cult Spanish horror series “30 Coins,” from genre maestro Alex de la Iglesia, following an eight-episode commission. Shooting for the globetrotting series will take place in Spain, Italy, the U.S., France and the U.K., with the second season scheduled to launch in 2023.HBO has also released a grim teaser to mark the occasion, which includes a brief look at Eduard Fernández’s Padre Vergara, looking worse for ware after the events of Season 1.A hit in its native Spain, the series also found success abroad as its became available on the WarnerMedia-owned streaming platform in more territories.

Naman Ramachandran Sony Pictures Television and WarnerMedia have extended their content deal across Central and Eastern Europe, which will see titles from the Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) slate of current and upcoming films shown exclusively on HBO channels and streamer HBO Max across the region.The slate includes “Spider-man: No Way Home,” “Venom: Let There Be Carnage,” “Ghostbusters: Afterlife,” “Unchartered,” “Morbius,” “Happiest Season,” “The Broken Hearts Gallery,” “Monster Hunter” and “The Father.”The deal also includes titles from popular SPE franchises such as Hotel Transylvania, Spider-Man, Peter Rabbit and Jumanji and the Sony Pictures Television library of TV series titles.Countries covered under the deal are Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina and North Macedonia. HBO Max replaces HBO Go in the region on March 8.

Jennifer Lopez, 52, has worn many hats in the entertainment industry, including actress, singer, dancer, producer, clothing designer and perfumer — but no title means more to her than “mom.” The Bronx native is the mother to twins Max and Emme, 13, with her ex-husband Marc Anthony, 53. Find out everything you need to know about the teenagers here.

The discovery of a new fast-spreading HIV variant in the Netherlands is highlighting the urgency of ensuring that everyone living with HIV is on treatment.

Annika Pham Versatile Finnish helmer A.J. Annila (“Sauna,” “Shadow Lines,” “Peacemaker”) is on board to direct the thriller series with a working title of “ID” which marks HBO Max’s first commission of a Finnish premium TV show.Set in the art fraud world, the six-part series is co-created by seasoned writer Aleksi Bardy (“Tom of Finland,” “Moscow Noir”) and Mia Ylönen (“Bad Apples,” “Moscow Noir”) for Finnish production powerhouse Helsinki-Filmi, a subsidiary of Finland’s Aurora Studios.“ID” revolves around art fraud investigator Emma who goes undercover to infiltrate an auction house in Stockholm in order to investigate the firm’s connection to a notorious money launderer known as Blanko.

Manchester City have made another big investment in their future by securing new deals for promising academy starlets Oscar Bobb and Josh Wilson-Esbrand.

HBO Max has lined up the second phase of its international launch, with 15 further European nations set to receive WarnerMedia’s streaming platform from March 8.

Thousands of Brits are preparing to flee Ukraine amid fears Russia will invade within days.

Jennifer Lopez, 52, sizzled in a cropped sweater. The “Jenny From The Block” singer sported the cream knit number with a pair of same color sweatpants as she arrived at a music studio via a black SUV on Saturday, Jan. 29. Her highlighted hair was blown out to perfection for the outing, which possibly could have been for a shoot. The rest of her look included her go-to hoop earrings, a gold bracelet, and various rings.

Naman Ramachandran BAFTA and Oscar winner Kevin Macdonald (“The Mauritanian”) will direct true story “The Iceman” written by Oscar-nominated screenwriter Jeff Pope (“Philomena”).The film stars Joseph Fiennes (“The Handmaid’s Tale”) as prolific and larger-than-life extreme athlete Wim Hof, who is best known for his breathing-focused workout in freezing temperatures called the Wim Hof Method.Cornerstone has boarded the project for worldwide sales and will launch the title at next month’s virtual European Film Market.A widower who worked as a postman and struggled to support his four children, Hof turned to the cold and breathing to find peace and strength. Locals would discover him delivering their letters with bare feet in the dead of the Netherlands winter, or swimming alone in ice-cold lakes.

The 72nd Berlin International Film Festival has confirmed its various juries, including who will be joining M. Night Shyamalan to award the International Competition prizes.