Jonathan Bing Named Chief Communications Officer For Vice Media Group

John Hopewell Chief International CorrespondentIn late April, Banijay Iberia moved waves by taking an equity stake in Alex de la Iglesia and Carolina Bang’s Pokeespsie Films, with the aim of scaling up on its Spanish-language high-end original series and fiction production.Via Shine Iberia, Banijay is also producing biopic “Bosé,” one of VIS’ biggest Spanish-language plays for Paramount Plus, about singer-songwriter Miguel Bosé.Best known for its entertainment formats – though it does own Barcelona’s Diagonal TV, producer of hit Netflix historical sagas “Cathedral of the Sea” and “Heirs to the Land” and DLO Producciones, behind “Tell Me Who I Am” and “El Immortal,” – Banijay is now moving to strengthen its position in scripted in the Iberian market and, via it, across the globe. That is seen at Conecta Fiction, which runs June 21-24 in Toledo, Spain, where Banijay will have one of the biggest presences of any global company at the TV co-production forum, with Lars Blomgren, Banijay head of scripted, teaming with Maria Rua Aguete, Omdia senior research director, to deliver a first full day keynote on Wednesday on Global Fiction Trends, Consumer Choices & The Future of Fiction TV in a Streaming World.James Townley, Banijay’s global director of content development, who overseas new non-scripted IP, will also speak at Conecta Fiction;  Pilar Blasco, CEO of Banijay Iberia, will engage in a conversation with María José Rodríguez, head of Spanish originals at Amazon’s Prime Video.In the run up to Conecta Fiction, Variety talked with Blomgren about Banijay’s plans to ramp up its series and fiction output in the Spanish-speaking world.At Conecta Fiction, you’ll deliver a keynote on global TV fiction trends. Could you anticipate

EXCLUSIVE: Casey Benesch, a former Netflix executive who helped build up the streaming giant’s stature in comedy, is moving to rival Prime Video to head up comedy marketing.

Nick Clement Cris Abrego’s rise to the top of the ranks of the unscripted television world is a tale of passion and perseverance. Born and raised in suburban El Monte, Calif., he is a second-generation Mexican American who fought hard to break into the entertainment industry 25 years ago.

reunited in court with Johnny Depp next month when she defends the actor in his latest legal drama.Vasquez, 37, attained celebrity status during Depp’s headline-grabbing defamation case against ex-wife Amber Heard — and is now gearing up to represent him again as he faces claims he assaulted a worker on a film set.The attorney will be part of Depp’s legal team when he heads to Los Angeles Superior Court next month to answer the lawsuit brought by Gregg “Rocky” Brooks, the location manager on Depp’s 2018 movie “City of Lies.”Brooks claimed in legal papers that Depp, now 59, twice socked him in the ribs and then allegedly yelled, “I’ll give you $100,000 to punch me right now!”Depp may testify in the LA trial — which is slated to begin July 25 — weeks after taking the stand in Fairfax, Virginia, in his defamation case. Vasquez ascended from associate to partner at law firm Brown Rudnick during the six-week Depp-Heard trial, going viral during her cross-examination of Heard.

EXCLUSIVE: Michael Jai White (The Dark Knight), ABM Sumon (Dhoka) and Matt Passmore (Jigsaw) are among cast joining Frank Grillo (Captain America) in Asif Akbar’s spy thriller MR-9, which is now underway.

Despite his recent win in Virginia, Johnny Depp's legal journey is not over yet. The actor is due back in court in July and will be represented by his now-famous lawyer, Camille Vasquez. Depp is wrapped up in a 2018 assault-related lawsuit from a former colleague that is now slated to go to trial.

Marc Malkin Senior Film Awards, Events & Lifestyle EditorSPOILER WARNING: THIS STORY CONTAINS DISCUSSION OF MAJOR STORYLINES AND SCENES IN “INTERCEPTOR.”First-time director Matthew Reilly admits he never anticipated his feature film debut “Interceptor” to do as well as it has since its release on Netflix earlier this month. The movie, which follows a U.S.

Matt James, who made history last year as the first Black (male) lead on one of TV’s biggest shows, The Bachelor, has had over a year to reflect on the experience and now says he sees the full scope of the opportunity lost. Given the landmark nature of his role, James says he expected the show’s producers would use the conversations around race and other matters he was having with the contestants and then-host Chris Harrison to illuminate the issues the country was facing in the aftermath of the killing of George Floyd. But when he saw the show after it was edited, those discussions and even the reality of his own accomplishments were subsumed by the show’s fluffier fare.

Ben Affleck and Matt Damon are teaming up again for a new movie that Ben is going to direct and the star-studded supporting cast was just announced.

Matt James is opening up about his season of The Bachelor and how he feels the show failed his story.

defamation trial served as a source of entertainment for millions of people around the world — and even catapulted a relatively unknown lawyer from San Francisco to the world stage.Camille Vasquez, 37, has now admitted that her newfound fame is a “bit overwhelming” for the lawyer. “But if I can be an inspiration to young women that want to go to law school and study and work hard, then it was all worth it,” she said Wednesday while appearing with beside fellow Depp attorney Benjamin Chew on “Good Morning America.”The winning duo also stopped by the “TODAY Show” Wednesday, and Vasquez gave a nearly identical statement on the public’s fascination.

EXCLUSIVE: Byron Allen’s Allen Media Group has hired veteran finance exec Chris Malone as EVP, Head of Corporate Development. Based at AMG’s Los Angeles headquarters, he will work with the company’s senior management in M&A efforts and other corporate strategic initiatives involving capital markets, private equity and credit.

Bradley Cooper's new Netflix biopic, . In the latest snaps from the New York City set, Cooper — who appears as a younger version of his real-life character, famed American conductor Leonard Bernstein -- is joined by his co-star, Matt Bomer -- both dressed in what looks like business attire.Bomer is seen passionately grabbing Cooper's face before sharing a kiss with the actor.It's currently unclear what role Bomer is playing in the biopic, which also stars Carey Mulligan, who plays Bernstein's wife, Felicia Montealegre, as well as Sarah Silverman and Maya Hawke.The latest pics come just over a week after Netflix released nearly unrecognizable first-look shots of Cooper as Bernstein from the set of the film.

EXCLUSIVE: In an eye-catching acquisition, 42 has bought respected UK talent and literary agency Dalzell and Beresford, we can reveal.

Khloe Kardashian arrives for a mini family dinner at Craig’s on Thursday night (June 2) in Los Angeles.

EXCLUSIVE: Vertical Entertainment has acquired North American rights to the political satire Land of Dreams, directed by Shirin Neshat and Shoja Azari, which is making its North American premiere in the Spotlight Narrative section of the Tribeca Film Festival in June. The global indie distributor has slated the film for a day-and-date theatrical release in 10 of the top 20 markets—including in Los Angeles and New York—this fall. (Watch a new trailer unveiled today by the company above.)