Hulu Enters Branded Entertainment Space With 'Exposure' Competition Series (Exclusive)

Manori Ravindran International EditorA new TV series will chart the rise and fall of Finnish cell phone company Nokia.Rabbit Films has begun production on “Mobile 1.0” (working title), a six-part scripted drama that explores the meteoric rise of Nokia to become the world’s leading manufacturer of mobile phones before a dramatic fall from grace.The Finnish and English-language series, shot in Finland and the U.S., will launch in early 2022 on Scandinavian streamer C More, with a linear premiere

AMC and UK’s Alibi have rounded out the the three leads of crime drama series Ragdoll, with Henry Lloyd-Hughes (The Irregulars, Killing Eve) and Thalissa Teixeira (Too Close, Trigonometry) joining previously announced Lucy Hale. The series, which begins production today in London, hails from Sid Gentle Films, the British production company behind Killing Eve. Toby MacDonald (Old Boys, The Duchess) and Niall MacCormick (The Victim, The Song of Lunch) will direct.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterHenry Lloyd-Hughes and Thalissa Teixeira will star alongside Lucy Hale in the AMC-Alibi series “Ragdoll,” Variety has learned.The six-episode show, which was ordered to series back in February, is set to begin production on April 19 in London.

Leiomy Maldonado, Jameela Jamil, Law Roach and Megan Thee Stallion are all back as judges, helping to determine “which house will snatch the legendary trophy this season” as the contestants are put to the test with weekly themed extravaganzas. Joining them are guest judges Tiffany Haddish, Taraji P. Henson, actress Amiyah Scott, breakout actor Nicco Annan, Normani, Adam Lambert and Demi Lovato.As proved in season 1, it’s more than competition.

HBO Max has slotted Thursday, May 6 for the Season 2 premiere of Legendary, the hit reality competition series that puts the spotlight on ballroom culture.

.“Space Hero” intends to be known as “the world’s first global competition to send a civilian into space on a $55 million, 10-day trip to the ISS,” according to a statement obtained by Space.com, with a launch target set for 2023.The reality competition concept isn’t in the works yet as the agreement “does not authorize a private astronaut mission to the International Space Station,” a NASA spokesperson told Space.com.

EXCLUSIVE: CBS is continuing to set the stage for its upcoming dance competition series Come Dance With Me.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeThe Banff World Media Festival has revealed the full list of nominees for its 2021 Rockie Awards International Program Competition.

Channing Tatum is executive producing the unscripted competition series which is headed to the streamer later this year. The series will take 10 men and transform them into Magic Mikes and a nationwide casting search is currently underway.«Ten men who have ‘lost their magic’ will come together in a competition series like no other.

Magic Mike – the male stripper movie starring Channing Tatum and directed by Steven Soderbergh – is being turned into a non-scripted competition format for HBO Max.

Kate Aurthur editorIs there still some magic in that Mike? HBO Max will soon find out: The streamer has ordered “The Real Magic Mike,” a reality competition from the producers of the “Magic Mike” movies. Eureka Productions, the prolific unscripted producers behind “Holey Moley” and “Dating Around,” and Warner Bros.

Marc Malkin Senior Film Awards, Events & Lifestyle EditorRonen Rubinstein was anxious for his family and friends back in his native Staten Island to watch the second episode of “9-1-1: Lone Star.” He told them he was playing Rob Lowe’s gay son on the Fox procedural, but he wasn’t sure what they’d think of the very steamy encounter between his character, T.K. Strand, and his future police officer boyfriend Carlos Reyes, played by openly gay actor Rafael L.

Fox has ordered Crime Scene Kitchen, a new baking competition series with a twist, with Joel McHale set as host. Chef Curtis Stone and cake artist Yolanda Gampp will serve as judges on the series, from Fox Alternative Entertainment and Fly on the Wall Entertainment, set to premiere Wednesday, May 26 on Fox.

Dominic Cooper as English spy Fielding Scott. And ET has the exclusive first look at the trailer for the six-episode series premiering on the service in April.Set in 1960s Berlin, Germany, the Cold War series follows Scott after he’s sent on a mission to find out who is behind a leak of vital security intel belonging to the Americans, British and French.

Leo Barraclough International Features EditorProduction is underway on a four-episode docuseries centering on top basketball player Pau Gasol, Variety can reveal exclusively.

Joey McIntyre has some sound, sensible advice for his young son, Griffin.The singer and his 13-year-old son — who star in the Netflix sitcom — recently sat down to interview each other for ET, and Joey delved into his years of experience to give his son some advice as he enters the entertainment world himself.«Chill. Chill out.

EXCLUSIVE: Fox is building on its success in Lego with a new knock-em-down competition series featuring dominos.

and. The latter is a murder mystery about a wrongfully accused man seeking revenge.

Todd Spangler NY Digital EditorRoku has formed what it says is a full-fledged branded-content and advertising studio, after inking a deal with digital comedy producer Funny Or Die to hire several FOD execs and employees.Roku entered into an agreement with Funny Or Die’s branded entertainment division under which about a dozen of the company’s branded content team members will join Roku.