MakeMake Entertainment Sets Residency Program For Diverse Post-Production Professionals; Netflix Is Flagship Sponsor

Barunson E&A, the production company behind Oscar-winner Parasite, is set to officially launch its new international ventures at the upcoming American Film Market as it looks to expand into co-production, financing and sales.

Netflix is staying in the Yeon Sang-ho business, confirming production on his latest creation, The Bequeathed. A suspense drama, it weaves an intricate family history into a subject matter deeply rooted in Korean tradition: family burial grounds. 

Naman Ramachandran Slice-of-life comedy series “Brown Nation” will have its Indian television premiere on Comedy Central during the Diwali holiday frame. The series will bow on Oct. 22, 2022, with all episodes playing back-to-back. Produced in 2016, the series initially played on Netflix. It follows characters Hasmukh and Dimple from Queens, New York, who attempt to balance their work-life troubles, keep their romance alive all whilst living under the same roof with Papaji, Hasmukh’s father-in-law. It stars Rajeev Varma (“Inside”), Shenaz Treasury (“The Big Sick”), Omi Vaidya (“3 Idiots”) and Melanie Chandra (“Hot Mess Holiday”). The series is directed by Abi Varghese and written by Matt Grubb, George Kanatt, and Varghese.

Netflix co-CEO and chief content officer Ted Sarandos tossed cold water on hopes that the streamer’s recent deal with major cinema chains for Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery could be the start of something bigger.

Netflix is spending around $17B on content this year and next but has hinted that it may boost this after a strong quarter.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media Reporter “Schitt’s Creek” co-creator Dan Levy is making his feature film directing debut with “Good Grief,” a bittersweet comedy set at Netflix. The movie will star Levy, Ruth Negga (“Passing”), Himesh Patel (“Station Eleven”), Luke Evans (“Beauty and the Beast”), Celia Imrie (“Better Things”), Arnaud Valois (“Spring Blossom”), David Bradley (“Game of Thrones”) and Jamael Westman (West End’s “Hamilton”). In addition to directing and starring in the film, Levy also wrote the screenplay. “Good Grief” centers on Marc Dreyfus, who chose to distract himself from the loss of his mom with a comfortable marriage. But when his husband also dies unexpectedly, Marc is forced to finally confront the grief he’s tried so hard to avoid, sending him and his two closest friends on a Parisian weekend of self discovery.  

Good Grief, the feature directorial debut from Schitt’s Creek multi-Emmy winner Dan Levy, has set its cast including Loving Oscar nominee Ruth Negga, Yesterday‘s Himesh Patel, Beauty and the Beast‘s Luke Evans as well as Celia Imrie(Better Things, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel), Arnaud Valois (BPM (Beats Per Minute), Spring Blossom),David Bradley (Harry Potter, Game of Thrones) and Jamael Westman.

.““Good Grief” is the first project as part of a film and TV deal Levy’s banner Not A Real Production Company signed back in September 2021. Producing for Not a Real Production Company are Levy and Megan Zehmer alongside Sister’s Stacey Snider, Kate Fenske and Debra Hayward.Ruth Negga is reuniting with Netflix after starring in its drama “Passing” last year.

A student at the University of Manchester who killed his 89-year-old gran by setting fire to her house has been sentenced to be detained in a mental health hospital.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Chinese filmmaker, Bi Gan, best-known for his single-take feature “Long Day’s Journey Into Night” has seen his “A Short Story” picked up by Kino Lorber for distribution in North America. A fairy tale that follows the relationship between man and cat, the film had its world premiere in competition at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival and now has its North American premiere in the Currents section of the New York Film Festival. Kino Lorber plans to qualify “A Short Story” for the 96th Academy Awards, showing it theatrically nationwide in early 2023 in tandem with a theatrical re-release of “Long Day’s Journey Into Night.” “Kino Lorber rarely acquires short films, but Bi Gan has packed more cinematic delight into the fifteen minutes of ‘A Short Story’ than many feature length films deliver in two hours,” said Kino Lorber SVP Wendy Lidell. The deal was brokered by Les Films du Losange.

EXCLUSIVE: The multi-platform content production, finance and distribution company Roundtable Entertainment has entered into a strategic partnership with Slated, through which the online film packaging, financing and distribution marketplace will supply a curated selection of independent films to be produced via Roundtable. 

EXCLUSIVE: Now that he’s finally lined up that reboot, Kelsey Grammer is turning his attention to the holidays. The veteran actor will star opposite his daughter Spencer in The 12 Days of Christmas Eve as part of the network’s 2022 It’s Wonderful Lifetime holiday slate. 

Blonde, the Marilyn Monroe biopic, premiered on Netflix and it took the second spot on the charts. The Ana de Armas-starring movie got an 11-minute standing ovation when it was screened at the Venice Film Festival.

EXCLUSIVE: Errol Morris, who made his name with Texas true-crime documentary The Thin Blue Line, is heading back to the Lone Star state for his latest project.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter Laura Prepon has signed with Mainstay Entertainment for representation in all areas, Variety has learned exclusively. Prepon continues to be represented by Myman Greenspan as well as Max Ulanoff at UTA for branding. “Laura’s multifaceted and unique creative voice as an actor, director, writer, and entrepreneur makes her a perfect fit for our company and our approach to management,” said Mainstay CEO Norman Aladjem. Prepon is best known for her starring role in the hit Fox sitcom “That 70’s Show,” on which she played Donna Pinciotti throughout the show’s eight-season run. She will reprise the role in the Netflix followup “That 90’s Show,” which is currently awaiting release. She is also known for playing Alex Vause in the groundbreaking Netflix series “Orange Is the New Black,” which ran for seven seasons at the streamer. In addition to starring, Prepon directed multiple episodes of the show.

Netflix has unwrapped its latest Italian series, Supersex.

Selome Hailu Hannah Gadsby has entered a multi-title deal at Netflix, under which they will tape their a new stand-up special for the streamer, in addition to hosting and producing another multi-comic special featuring gender-diverse comedians. Gadsby’s new hour-long special will premiere in 2023 and comes from the Australian leg of their most recently world tour, titled “Body of Work.” Taped at the Sydney Opera House with assistance from the Sydney Opera House trust, it will be Gadsby’s third piece of stand-up comedy for Netflix, following on the specials “Nanette” — which became a phenomenon in 2018 — and “Douglas” from 2020. The multi-comic special will be taped next year, with premiere timing yet to be announced. Along with spotlighting performers of various gender identities, the cast will also be chosen from several countries.

Netflix has set a premiere date for  The upcoming series, which stars Jenna Ortega as the iconic character, will launch,, on Wednesday, Nov. 23.In the eight-episode drama, Wednesday attempts to master her emerging psychic ability, thwart a monstrous killing spree that has terrorized the local town and solve the supernatural mystery that embroiled her parents 25 years ago — all while navigating her new and very tangled relationships at Nevermore.As part of Friday's premiere date announcement, Ortega shared insight into her version of the beloved heroine.«Wednesday is currently a teenager and we've never seen her as a teenager before.

K.J. Yossman Netflix has revealed the premiere date for “The Crown” Season 5 during its online Tudum fan event on Saturday. The dramatized series about the British Royal Family is set to return on Nov. 9 with an entirely new cast. Imelda Staunton (“Harry Potter”) takes over from Olivia Colman as Queen Elizabeth II while Jonathan Pryce (“The Two Popes”) will play her husband, Prince Philip. Meanwhile Dominic West (“The Affair”) will play Prince Charles, Elizabeth Debicki (“Tenet”) will portray Princess Diana, Lesley Manville (“Maleficent: Mistress of Evil”) joins as the Queen’s sister Princess Margaret, and Jonny Lee Miller (“Elementary”) stars as Prime Minister John Major.

Netflix has set a premiere date for  The upcoming series, which stars Jenna Ortega as the iconic character, will launch,, on Wednesday, Nov. 23.In the eight-episode drama, Wednesday attempts to master her emerging psychic ability, thwart a monstrous killing spree that has terrorized the local town and solve the supernatural mystery that embroiled her parents 25 years ago — all while navigating her new and very tangled relationships at Nevermore.As part of Friday's premiere date announcement, Ortega shared insight into her version of the beloved heroine.«Wednesday is currently a teenager and we've never seen her as a teenager before.