International Insider: Berlin Is Back; Amazon/MGM’s Action Movie Deal; BAFTAs Incoming; Jana Bennett Remembered

After being online over the last two years because of Covid, SXSW’s film lineup returns with a vibrant in-person edition for its 29th 2022 edition, running March 11-20, 2022; teed off with the types of rollercoaster, Hollywood event films that the event is known to spur great national buzz for.

Mónica Marie Zorrilla Televisa and Univision have closed their landmark transaction, a long-awaited merger deal that will now create a Spanish-language media and content powerhouse that will reach 100 million Spanish speakers across the U.S. and Mexico.

Amazon Prime Video, Vudu, or Apple TV.The film, which was released after over a year of delays due to the coronavirus, features a star-studded cast of Ben Whishaw, Naomie Harris, Ralph Fiennes', Lashana Lynch, Ana de Armas and Rami Malek, and is the first James Bond film to to be shot with Imax film cameras. Not only does it feature over an hour of scenes in the large format expanded aspect ratio, but there will also be an exclusive Q&A featuring Daniel Craig and director Cary Joji Fukunaga broadcasted before select Imax screenings.  picks up after James Bond has recused himself from his work and is attempting to live a quiet life in Jamaica.

Welcome to this week’s International Insider. Max Goldbart here bringing you the latest in what’s been a busy seven days in the world of international TV and film.

Grace Beedie is opening up on her dreams of becoming Hollywood’s next big action star.

Jana Bennett was the former director of BBC TV who oversaw the reboot of “Dr. Who” and the popular series “Sherlock.”  Jana Bennett was the first woman to be the director of television for the BBC. While in the position, she oversaw the successful series “Sherlock,” “Life on Mars,” and the reboot of “Dr.

EXCLUSIVE: LA-based production company Firebrand has set Frank Grillo (Captain America), Mekhi Phifer (Truth Be Told), Scott Adkins (John Wick: Chapter 4 ) and Dermot Mulroney (Hanna) to star in action movie Lights Out, which is in pre-production.

Carrie Underwood has been confirmed to appear alongside Thomas Rhett, Maren Morris, and Zac Brown Band as headliners for the 2022 iHeartCountry Festival.MORE: Carrie Underwood blows fans away with her costume changes in Las VegasThe annual event will take place in Austin on 7 May and will see Carrie hit the stage alongside other country music favorites including Dancing with the Stars' Jimmie Allen, and Dustin Lynch. "Country music fans across the country look forward to the iHeartCountry Festival each and every year," said Rod Phillips, executive vice president of programming for iHeartCountry.WATCH: Carrie Underwood's sons dance at her concertHe added: "We are thrilled to have such an incredible lineup perform at this year’s show and are especially excited to bring our nationally-recognized event to the new Moody Center in Austin for the first time."Scotty McCreary and Cody Johnson will both also perform.SEE: Carrie Underwood's vast $3million forever home has its own lakeMORE: Brothers Osborne's John Osborne shares brave mental health updateThe news comes as Thomas is planning to drop two new albums this year, and will surely give fans a sneak peek at what they can expect during his set, while Maren's third album Humble Quest will also surely feature heavily as it drops in March.Carrie recently concluded her Las Vegas residency where she wowed fans with a set that included her hit songs and incredible fashion choices including a metallic tasseled gown, a sheer black catsuit and studded hot pants teamed with a statement jacket.

Disney is responding to Peter Dinklage after he publicly called out the upcoming live action Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs from Disney.

Mónica Marie Zorrilla Adult Swim has elevated Gill Austin as VP and creative director of creative production, the WarnerMedia network announced today. Austin has been with the company since 1996, working on one of its early precursors— Space Ghost Coast to Coast. In his promoted position, Austin will report to Tricia Melton, CMO of Warner Bros.

James Bond, Idris Elba has been “part of the conversation” about who’ll take over from Daniel Craig as 007.Daniel Craig’s last outing as Bond was in 2021’s No Time To Die and since he announced his plans to step down from the role, there has been plenty of speculation about who’ll be the new James Bond.In a new interview with the Deadline Podcast though, producer Barbara Broccoli has responded to the various rumours that Idris Elba will be the next 007.“Well, we know Idris, we’re friends with him, and he’s a magnificent actor. And, you know, it’s been part of the conversation, but it’s always difficult to have the conversation when you have someone in the seat,” she said.“I think we have decided that until No Time to Die has had its run and Daniel has been able to – well, we’ve all been able to savour, reap the benefits of Daniel’s wonderful tenure, we’re not gonna think about, or talk about anybody else.”Previously, Broccoli has said “I think it will be a man because I don’t think a woman should play James Bond.

John Stamos has published his eulogy to Full House costar Bob Saget, noting how “Bob was there for me like no other.”

John Stamos and Bob Saget were as thick as thieves, and this beautiful speech given at the Full House star’s memorial service proves that.

Skydance Media, the maker of “The Tomorrow War” and “Mission: Impossible,” will develop and produce a slate of live-action films as part of a new multi-year pact with Apple Original Films.The move between the production company and the tech giant has been rumored for months, with buzz building after Apple and Skydance brokered a similar deal for animated films and series. The news is yet another signal of the shift in power in the entertainment landscape from traditional media companies to streaming giants.Skydance had long been most closely associated with one of those legacy companies in Paramount Pictures.

Afternoon subscribers, Max Goldbart here. It’s been a busy week but International Insider has you covered. Read on for in-depth analysis of the biggest international headlines of the week.

50 Shades of Grey star Jamie Dornan 's chances of becoming the next 007 agent appear to be rising by the day.

Clayton Davis Cate Blanchett delivers two outstanding performances that are both in the awards conversation this year: “Don’t Look Up” and “Nightmare Alley.” The star shepherds grace and a hypnotic trance that has the viewer hanging on every single word she releases.With another impressive turn in Adam McKay’s “Don’t Look Up,” Blanchett is a contender in what is easily our strongest field of supporting actress contenders in the last 30 years. Blanchett was shortlisted at BAFTA for “Don’t Look Up,” and also picked up a SAG Award nod for Guillermo del Toro’s “Nightmare Alley.”Variety’s Awards Circuit Podcast recently spoke with Blanchett about her double dip in the awards arena this season, and having to turn down the role of Lucille Ball in Aaron Sorkin’s “Being the Ricardos,” which ultimately went to Nicole Kidman.

Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentFrench auteur Alain Guiraudie’s political drama “Nobody’s Hero” has been set as the opener of the 2022 Berlin Film Festival’s multifaceted Panorama strand, which has announced its full lineup.The latest feature from Guiraudie, who is best known for his 2016 “Staying Vertical,” takes place in Clermont-Ferrand, central France, where a terrorist attack triggers some paranoid dynamics involving a young homeless man, a middle-aged sex worker and her married lover who have taken refuge in a building. The film’s cast comprises actor-director Noémie Lvovsky, Jean-Charles Clichet and Doria Tillier.The ten-title Panorama Dokumente strand, which runs concurrently with the feature films, comprises previously announced transgender-themed doc “Nel Mio Nome” (“Into My Name”) by Italian director and producer Nicolò Bassetti.