John Landgraf Handed Nat Geo & Onyx Oversight & Simran Sethi Adds Freeform As Dana Walden Makes First Changes Since Promotion

EXCLUSIVE: FX is getting back into espionage.

Naman Ramachandran Writer, producer and script editor Cassandra Johnson-Bekoe has joined U.K. independent production company DARE Pictures in the newly created position of head of scripted development. Johnson-Bekoe was previously senior development executive at Daniel Kaluuya’s production outfit 59%, overseeing the company’s slate and generating new IP across international and regional markets. Prior to this she worked in scripted development and her credits include “Ted Lasso” season 2 (WarnerBros/Apple+), “Riches” (Greenacre Films for ITV), “Secret Invasion” (Marvel Studios) and “The Chemistry of Death” (Cuba Pictures Ltd, for Paramount+). Reporting into DARE CEO Derren Lawford, Johnson-Bekoe will focus on developing the company’s scripted slate, as well bringing with her an original slate of IP and working on new drama and film projects with a view to taking them from pitch to commission with a particular emphasis on the U.S. and African markets. She will identify and develop relationships with emerging and established storytelling talent.

In a world where franchises tend to have diminishing returns with subsequent sequels, it’s pretty extraordinary that the “John Wick” film franchise has been able to nearly double its worldwide box office gross with each new film in the series. Now, with “John Wick: Chapter 4” just days away, everyone is expecting the newest film to perhaps be the biggest one yet.

EbonyLife CEO Mo Abudu and execs from Starz, DreamWorks Animations and Universal International Studios are leading the jury for the Banff World Media Festival, which has unveiled nominations for its Rockie Awards.

EXCLUSIVE: Bear Grylls has unveiled an original content slate for Outdoors.com, the adventure site and streaming platform he recently acquired alongside Nashville-based digital investor Savage Ventures.

John Mayer has kicked off his solo arena tour and based on the first two shows, it appears he is going to be changing up the set list every night!

Hailey Bieber hit the red carpet at the Vanity Fair Oscars party on Sunday night amid ongoing Selena Gomez “feud” rumours.

One of Ayr's most popular hotels has been added to the portfolio of a fast-growing property firm.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large The Walt Disney Co. is once again leaning heavily into synergy across its divisions as it aims to bolster awareness and tune-in for Sunday night’s 95thOscars. That includes pop-up events at Disney parks and resorts; special program marathons on Disney-owned networks including FX, Freeform and Nat Geo; and Oscar-branded programming on ESPN, ABC News and ABC-owned stations. That includes everything from an Oscars-themed chocolate brownie milkshake at the Disney California Adventure eatery known as “Schmoozies,” to a binge of “The Simpsons” episodes featuring Oscar-winning guest stars, Hollywood and movie homages and more on FXX.

Priscilla Presley made her first public appearance in nearly two months on Tuesday, when she came out to show her support for the animated Netflix series, “Agent Elvis”.

Priscilla Presley made her first public appearance in nearly two months on Tuesday, when she came out to show her support for the animated Netflix series, .Priscilla walked the red carpet at the show's premiere, held at the Netflix Tudum Theater in Los Angeles, and posed for photos in front of posters for the series — which she co-created and lent her voice to.The appearance marked her first since the death of her daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, on January 12 — which came just two days after Priscilla and Lisa Marie both attended the 80th Golden Globe Awards.The show,, stars the vocal talent of Matthew McConaughey as the King of Rock and Roll, after he is recruited by a secret government agency to battle the forces of darkness converging on America.The comedy series also stars Kaitlin Olson, Don Cheadle, Johnny Knoxville, Tom Kenny, Jason Mantzoukas and Niecy Nash-Betts. Meanwhile, Priscilla voices a fictionalized version of herself.After the premiere, Priscilla joined fellow co-creator John Eddie and showrunner Mike Arnold for a Q&A, and explained that she wanted to do the show as a way of «introducing Elvis to the youth today, wondering why he was so famous and to see him as a hero,» per Priscilla's latest venture comes amid the battle over her late daughter, Lisa Marie Presley's, estate. Following Lisa Marie's death on Jan.

Damon Albarn has recalled his first encounter with The Specials’ Terry Hall in a new interview, calling the late star “the coolest human being on earth”.Hall died in December 2022 after being diagnosed with cancer months earlier. He was 63 years old.Speaking to Radio X, Albarn spoke about the first time he was in Hall’s presence.

Will Smith makes a triumphant awards show return at the 14th Annual AAFCA Awards at the Beverly Wiltshire, A Four Seasons Hotel on Wednesday (March 1) in Beverly Hills, Calif.

Will Smith made his first in-person speech tonight at an awards ceremony since the 2022 Oscars incident with Chris Rock.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV Editor FX chief John Landgraf and ABC programming head Simran Sethi will expand their duties under an executive shuffle at Disney’s TV operations, one of the first big moves under Dana Walden, who was assigned responsibility for the company’s TV networks after Bob Iger returned as Disney’s CEO. Landgraf will take oversight of National Geographic as well as Onyx Collective, the production unit devoted to projects from communities of color and underrepresented groups. Sethi, meanwhile, will oversee programming and development for both ABC and Freeform. She will continue to report to Craig Erwich, president, Disney Television Group. The moves comes as Tara Duncan, who had been supervising programming for both Onyx Collective and Freeform, will devote her attention solely to Onyx, freeing up the programming duties for Sethi, who had a previous tenure at the cable network.

will continue to oversee networks and ABC Owned Television Stations, and will add research, labor relations and TV business operations to her purview. Disney Television Studios will remain under Eric Schrier, who will expand his responsibilities to include our global original television strategy, working closely with our talented regional leaders.Read Walden’s full memo to staff below: Dear Colleagues, Since the announcement of Disney Entertainment, I’ve spent time thinking about how to organize my team in a way that will enable me to focus on my newly expanded role, in partnership with Alan.

Disney Entertainment co-chairman Dana Walden is among the business executives named to the President’s Export Council, which advises Joe Biden on international trade.

Jeremy Allen White is a winner!

Olivia Newton-John tragically passed away in August 2022 after her battle with breast cancer – and on Sunday, thousands paid tribute to the star at a state memorial service in Melbourne.The poignant event was planned by Olivia's family – she is survived by her husband, John Easterling, and her daughter, Chloe Rose Lattanzi – and featured a number of moving tributes from family and friends.WATCH: Olivia Newton John's best momentsOne particularly moving segment featured throwback photos of Olivia with her daughter Chloe. In the snapshots, the Summer Nights songstress looked every inch the doting mum as she sweetly cradled her daughter who was born in January 1986.In a separate video clip, Olivia could be seen sweetly embracing her tot on the beach, whilst another photo showed the devoted mother gently kissing Chloe in a loving display of affection.A post shared by Chloe Lattanzi (@chloelattanziofficial)The above picture was included in the serviceSpeaking at the star-studded event, Olivia's daughter, Chloe, 37, said: "We loved watching our trashy TV shows together and immediately changed the channel when John walked in the room.

WNBA basketball player Brittney Griner and wife Cherelle took the stage at the award show. The show’s host Queen Latifah prefaced Griner’s appearance by commenting on the resilience of Black people.