James F. Blue III Named Head of Smithsonian Channel at MTV Entertainment

Hamilton star Daveed Diggs is trading Broadway for the big screen in the upcoming live-action movie for The Little Mermaid, and can’t wait for Disney fans to hear the lovely voice of its leading star: Halle Bailey. The 20-year-old singer is already part of the famous singing duo Chloe x Halle, but Daveed EXCLUSIVELY told HollywoodLife how he thinks fans will react after hearing her voice on the big screen.

Manori Ravindran International EditorThe Rubik’s Cube is getting the big screen treatment.Ashok Amritraj’s Hyde Park Entertainment Group and Endeavor Content have partnered with the eponymous brand for a feature film based on the best-selling puzzle toy.

Ashok Amritraj’s Hyde Park Entertainment Group and Endeavor Content are teaming for a big feature take of famed global-selling toy, the Rubik’s Cube.

It’s Dax Shepard‘s big day!

Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentTurkish actor Can Yaman (“Daydream,” “Bitter Sweet”) is set to a play fictional late 19th-century pirate in a reboot of cult vintage Italian TV series “Sandokan.”The show is being produced by Lux Vide, the prominent Italian shingle behind “Medici,” “Devils” and the upcoming “Leonardo” skeins.Based on a series of popular adventure novels penned by Italian author Emilio Salgari, “Sandokan” chronicles the adventures of the titular pirate who, with his

Lux Vide, the Italian producer behind Sky series Devils and the upcoming Leonardo, is rebooting the pirate story Sandokan and is launching a podcast unit.

The Locarno Film Festival has named Markus Duffner the new head of its industry section Locarno Pro, effective as of January 1, 2021. Duffner, who has worked with Locarno Pro since 2014 on its First Look and Match Me! projects, has been at the forefront of digital innovation at the festival.

A Taco Bell employee in Florida was brought to tears when he was given a massive tip this week.  Joe DeCicco, 70, has been working at a Taco Bell in South Daytona, Fla., for the last 20 years, according to local TV station WESH 2. On Friday, DeCicco -- known in the drive-thru as "Taco Bell Joe" -- received a $6,095 check from a local group.

Mark David Over the summer, at the apex of the summer wave of the ongoing COVID pandemic, rapidly up-and-coming alt-R&B/neo soul singer Jhené Aiko, whose full name is Jhené Aiko Efuru Chilombo, plunked down $1.95 million for a freshly rehabbed home in the well-to-do guard-gated Bell Canyon neighborhood that’s laced into the mountainous western edge of L.A.’s vast San Fernando Valley.The L.A.

ViacomCBS’ MTV Entertainment Group (formerly Entertainment & Youth) has named PBS NewsHour and former Nightline producer James F. Blue III as SVP, Head of Smithsonian Channel. Blue will also oversee News and Factual Unscripted content for MTV Entertainment’s portfolio of brands across streaming, linear and digital, dual-reporting to Chris McCarthy, President, MTV Entertainment Group and Nina L. Diaz, President of Content and Chief Creative Officer.

Elaine Low Senior TV WriterVivian Cannon has been upped to the head of Universal Television’s drama development unit, stepping into the role previously held by now-president Erin Underhill.Underhill was elevated to president of the Universal Studio Group’s TV arm following Pearlena Igbokwe’s ascent to chairman of Universal Studio Group in September.Calling Cannon “sharp, passionate and tenacious,” Underhill praised the exec’s deep bench of talent relationships and leadership skills in an email

Next year is looking better already as Blue plot an incredible 20-year anniversary reunion tour. It's massive news for the group's legion of fans, who have been desperate to see them on stage together again.

UK Indie Pic Sets CastEXCLUSIVE: Crissy Rock, Paul Barber and Kayleigh-Paige Rees will lead the cast of UK indie movie Kate & Jake. The pic is being helmed by Jack McLoughlin, his feature debut, and is based on the filmmaker’s own experiences of love and loss.