Kyogo gets Celtic vs Rangers hope as Japan boss confesses calling up star is 'difficult'

Naman Ramachandran France’s Vesoul International Film Festival of Asian Cinemas kicks off Feb. 1 with a gala screening of Iranian auteur Mohsen Makhmalbaf’s 2001 Cannes winner “Kandahar” and will conclude on Feb.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent“Suits,” the hit U.S. TV show created by Aaron Korsh, is getting a high-end Arabic adaptation that will play on prominent West Asia satellite pay-TV and streaming service Orbit Showtime Network (OSN) and Egyptian broadcaster UMS.NBCUniversal Formats, a division of Universal Studio Group, has teamed up with Cairo-based media production company TVision and OSN, as well as Egypt’s UMS, to produce the Arabic redo of the show.

Michelle Williams and Heath Ledger have inspired one of the new films at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival.

Mónica Marie Zorrilla In an era of TikTok favorites getting record deals and lead acting roles, follower counts and blue checkmarks seem to be a requirement for getting a big break in Hollywood. It is therefore refreshing and rare when a 19-year-old from Manhattan with no internet fame whatsoever is plucked from relative obscurity and given the chance of a lifetime: voicing the protagonist of one of the highest-grossing anime movies in Japan of this past year as her industry debut.

Christopher Vourlias Japanese auteur Koji Fukada is developing his latest feature film, a look into the frenzied world of Japan’s idol culture, which he’ll be presenting during the Rotterdam Film Festival’s CineMart co-production market this week.The project will then head to the European Film Market next month as part of the Rotterdam-Berlinale Express, a collaboration between the two markets.Fukada spoke exclusively to Variety about his tenth feature film, “Love on Trial,” which tells the story of a burgeoning pop star who falls in love with an old schoolmate – only to have her life and career unravel because that romance violates a “no boys” clause in her contract.The film is inspired by the improbable, real-life court case of a 15-year-old Japanese pop star who was sued by her talent management company for falling into a romantic relationship that violated the terms of her contract.

Gyeongseong Creature (literal translation).In a statement to Star News on January 27, the The team behind Gyeongseong Creature announced that Park (Itaewon Class, The Marvels) and Han (My Name, Nevertheless) will play the show’s lead characters. The team also revealed that filming for the new series has already begun.Set in Spring 1945, Gyeongseong Creature will follow two young adults who come face-to-face with a strange creature and must battle it for survival.

Mark Schilling Japan CorrespondentCinema admissions in Japan increased by 8% over 2020, to 115 million. Box office grosses improved by  13% to $1.42 billion in the same period, according to figures released on Wednesday by the Motion Picture Producers Association of Japan (Eiren).But compared to earnings of $2.29 billion on admissions of 195 million in the pre-pandemic era, last year was still way behind.

Clayton Davis Ryûsuke Hamaguchi’s “Drive My Car” has been a critical darling, after garnering stellar reviews and winning the top prize from the New York, Los Angeles and National Society of Film Critics. The last films to win those three prestigious groups were Kathryn Bigelow’s “The Hurt Locker” (2009) and David Fincher’s “The Social Network” (2010), with the former winning the Oscar for best picture.

Christopher Vourlias New feature films from Japanese auteur Koji Fukada, Spanish-Chilean filmmaker Théo Court, and rising Georgian director Elene Naveriani are among the 28 projects selected for this year’s CineMart co-production market, which takes place online Jan. 30-Feb.

Daniel Craig (“No Time to Die”) and Javier Bardem (“Being the Ricardos”) sat down for a virtual chat for Variety’s Actors on Actors, presented by Amazon Studios. For more, click here.Since starring together as hero and villain of 2012’s “Skyfall,” Daniel Craig and Javier Bardem have continued to test themselves on screen. Last year, Craig finally bid farewell to James Bond with “No Time to Die,” a moody sendoff for his iteration of the British superspy.

EXCLUSIVE: Stath Lets Flats producer Roughcut TV has hired two development execs to bolster its scripted comedy/drama credentials and is taking the hit Channel 4 comedy back out to U.S. networks.

Giorgos Giakoumakis branded Alloa ‘dangerous’ in their approach to Saturday’s night’s Scottish Cup that left three Celtic players sidelined and doubtful for Wednesday’s crucial league trip to Tynecastle.

Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou has yet more injuries to contend with after a physical battle with League One Alloa, with some huge fixtures looming.

Ange Postecoglou joked he wishes he could've "hidden" his new Japanese trio's impressive debuts from worldwide attention as he awaits a decision on international call-ups.

Iron Chef is back!

Celtic have officially confirmed the signing of midfielder Matt O'Riley as their fifth capture of the January window.

Singer and music producer Pharrell Williams is challenging corporate America to “do more” by supporting entrepreneurs of colour and adopting economic equity measures.

“The King’s Man”, Matthew Vaughn’s World War I-era prequel to the popular spy franchise, in theaters then you’re about to get your second chance. The film will debut on Hulu on Feb. 18, the streaming service announced on Tuesday.