Marvel’s Brie Larson and Jeremy Renner to Produce and Star in Disney Plus Unscripted Shows

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeSAG Awards executive producer Kathy Connell, who helped launch the awards show 28 years ago and has been with the show ever since, has confirmed that this weekend’s ceremony will be her last.“I am retiring,” she tells Variety. “It’s been 28 wonderful years. Well, last year was sort of interesting, but 27 wonderful years.

Jennifer Maas TV Business WriterShowtime’s upcoming “The First Lady” anthology series is described as “a revelatory reframing of American leadership, told through the lens of the women at the heart of the White House.” While the first season focuses on icons Michelle Obama (played by Viola Davis), Betty Ford (Michelle Pfeiffer) and Eleanor Roosevelt (Gillian Anderson), the executive producers are not opposed to a potential future season including possibly the most divisive first lady: Melania Trump.During a virtual panel promoting the show at the Television Critics Association’s press tour Wednesday, “The First Lady” showrunner Cathy Schulman and director and executive producer Susanne Bier playfully tossed a reporter’s question about featuring President Donald Trump’s wife as subject before Bier answered definitively, but with a laugh: “Look, I do think that the series could do with a fun season — so let’s talk about that.” Star Anderson, who was sitting on the panel alongside co-star Davis, added: “I think the hope is that there’s going to be future seasons and there will be the opportunity to have many, many more first ladies represented. So maybe not just four — but maybe 104.”But Bier says that no matter how many seasons they do, she’d like to keep the number of first ladies to three per installment for a very specific reason.“Three is a great number for a season because you can do in-depth contrasts, but it’s also incredibly interesting how the three ladies reflect upon each other,” Bier said.

Vanessa Bayer is starring in and executive producing a new half-hour comedy for Showtime inspired by her childhood battle with leukemia, ET has the exclusive first look at her co-star, Jenifer Lewis. In, Bayer plays Joanna Gold, a woman who dreams of becoming a host at a home-shopping channel just like her idol and star, Jackie (Molly Shannon). Lewis rounds out the trio as Patricia, the icy, enigmatic founder and CEO of the network where Jackie works.

Jon Burlingame editorMore than two years after completing his ninth “Star Wars” movie, composer John Williams is returning to the Jedi fold with a theme for “Obi-Wan Kenobi,” Variety has learned.Williams has written the musical signature for the continuing adventures of the character played by Ewan McGregor, airing on Disney Plus beginning May 25. He recorded last week with a Los Angeles orchestra under tight security, sources say.It is a coup for both Lucasfilm and Disney, considering the five-time Oscar winner rarely composes for television.

Bridgerton breakout Phoebe Dynevor has signed on to exec produce and star in the Amazon film The Outlaws Scarlett & Browne, Deadline has confirmed.

Candace Cameron Bure is sharing the love with her daughter, Natasha Bure.On Tuesday, Candace took to Instagram to share a behind-the-scenes featurette of her upcoming project, .

Whether we’re looking at his iced-out ‘fits or his exceptional rise from college football to the Super Bowl, Joe Burrow’s net worth today makes plenty of sense. But how much is he making, exactly?

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeIf you’ve forgotten where “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” left off at the end of Season 3, you can be forgiven: So have executive producers Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino.“It’s been so long, we don’t remember what the season was about. I think they’re still Jewish,” Sherman-Palladino quips.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeLong after selling the Muppets to Disney and the “Sesame Street” characters to Sesame Workshop, the Jim Henson Co. is busy creating new fare via originals — such as a live-action fantasy series in early development with “The Walking Dead” star Norman Reedus — and existing IP that the company still owns, like “Fraggle Rock.”In the case of Reedus, the star has worked with creatures for years, fighting zombies on the long-running AMC hit.

William Earl PGA-nominated producers will gather on Feb. 23 for Variety FYC Fest: The Producers, for exclusive conversations about the top films and television shows of the year.

Cate Blanchett is set to star in and produce a film called “The New Boy” that will be set in 1940s Australia and follow the journey of a 9-year-old Aboriginal orphan boy.Indigenous Australian filmmaker Warwick Thornton (“Sweet Country”) will write and direct the drama, and filming is set to begin in October of this year in South Australia. Blanchett will star in “The New Boy” as a renegade nun running a remote monastery who takes in the child after he arrives in the dead of the night.

Brie Larson and Jeremy Renner are headed to Disney+ in two special new projects.

Marvel stars Brie Larson and Jeremy Renner are moving in to the unscripted space.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeSinger/songwriter Rita Ora has joined the cast of Disney Plus’ upcoming ‘Beauty and The Beast’ prequel. The news was announced Monday during Disney Branded Television’s session at the Television Critics Association’s winter press tour. On the “Beauty and the Beast” (working title) prequel, Ora will star as “a fugitive with surprising abilities who carries with her a secret that could potentially affect an entire kingdom.” She joins a cast that includes Josh Gad, Luke Evans, Briana Middleton, Fra Fee and Jelani Alladin.Gad also serves as an executive producer and co-showrunner, along with Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz.

Brie Larson is the latest celeb to get in on owning her own NFT.

Brie Larson is opening up about how she focused on herself in 2021.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeThe Producers Guild of America has named producer, writer, director Greg Berlanti as this year’s honoree for the Norman Lear Achievement Award. Berlanti will receive the award at the 33rd Annual Producers Guild Awards on Saturday, March 19, 2022 at the Fairmont Century Plaza.“I’m incredibly honored to receive this award from everyone at the PGA, especially given it’s named after Norman Lear: the kindest, warmest and wisest legend I’ve ever had the good fortune of calling a friend.

Eugene Levy and Catherine O’Hara are joined by a slew of action stars for a fun new Nissan commercial! The automaker is re-joining Super Bowl advertising after a seven-year absence, and this time, they reunited Schitt’s Creek alums Eugene and Catherine for a little added spice.