Michael Douglas To Star As Benjamin Franklin in Apple TV+ Limited Series From Kirk Ellis, Tim Van Patten, Tony Krantz & Richard Plepler

EXCLUSIVE: Vito Schnabel (Before Night Falls), Julia Fox (Uncut Gems) and Steven Van Zandt (The Sopranos) have signed on to star in the dark comedy The Trainer, which Tony Kaye (American History X) is directing from a script by Schnabel and Jeff Solomon.

EXCLUSIVE: Jonathan Majors is set to star in The Man In My Basement, the film adaptation of the Walter Mosley novel. Majors will also serve as an executive producer, under his Tall Street Productions banner. Protagonist Pictures will fully finance and cameras are expected to roll in the fall. Nadia Latif will make her directorial debut on the film.

Juliette Lewis has been tapped for a key role opposite Kumail Nanjiani and Murray Bartlett in the Hulu limited series Immigrant (working title), from Pam & Tommy creator Robert Siegel.

Ukraine. Alan Carr, Michael McIntyre and Romesh Ranganathan are teaming up as part of a star-studded line-up for a comedy event raising money for the war-torn country. The charity benefit will be held across two nights at London's Eventim Apollo on March 28 and 30 in aid of the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Humanitarian Appeal providing aid to those fleeing Ukraine.

“Monster Challenge” and an episode of the animated series “Star Trek: Short Treks,” but the Marvel film will mark his feature debut.While details about the project are being kept strictly under wraps, individuals with knowledge say the character may be based on “Werewolf by Night,” the name used by two separate Marvel characters.The first, Jack Russell, was created by Gerry Conway and Mike Ploog, based on concepts by Stan Lee and Roy Thomas, and first appeared in a 1972 issue of “Marvel Spotlight.” Russell starred on an ongoing “Werewolf by Night” series that ran for 43 issues and ended in 1977.Russell is a descendant of the mystically-altered offshoot of humans known as Lycanthropes, who eventually becomes capable of transforming on his own volition even without a full moon, and retaining his intellect while transformed. Among other things, that series is notable for having the first appearance of Moon Knight, a character whose own Disney+ series, starring Oscar Isaac, will stream in 2022.Marvel introduced a second incarnation of the character, Jake Gomez, last year in “Werewolf by Night” (Vol.

Famous comedians across the UK are joining forces to put on a special show to raise money for Ukraine.

BET has set a new four-part original limited series, Carl Weber’s The Black Hamptons, from The New York Times best-selling author of the same name and the executive producers of the popular BET+ original drama, The Family Business.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media Reporter“Drake and Josh” star Josh Peck has joined the sprawling cast of Christopher Nolan’s World War II epic “Oppenheimer.”He will play Kenneth Bainbridge, a real scientist who was involved in the Manhattan Project, the code name for America’s effort to develop nuclear weapons during the second world war.Cillian Murphy is starring as J. Robert Oppenheimer in the movie, which examines the physicist whose contribution led to the creation of the atomic bomb. Murphy will be surrounded by an A-list ensemble, including Emily Blunt as biologist and botanist Kitty Oppenheimer, Matt Damon as Manhattan Project director Leslie Groves Jr.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterRenée Zellweger has lined up another TV role with NBCUniversal. Variety has learned exclusively that the actress is set to star in the drama “Avenger Field” that is in development at Peacock.The one-hour drama series, which hails from MGM Television, tells the story of those that established a clandestine all female US Airforce program called the WASPs (Women Airforce Service Pilots) to battle Hitler from home. Inspired by the true story of WASP leader Jackie Cohran (Zellweger) and the diverse group of women who fought the system, skeptics and even sabotage to bring everyone home safely.Felicia D.

EXCLUSIVE: Nico Greetham (Dinner in America, American Horror Story) has joined the cast of Hulu‘s Love, Victor in a recurring role.

Sheila Benson, who was chief film critic for the Los Angeles Times from 1981-1991, died February 23 in Seattle. She was 91.

Kirk Baily, the actor best known for his role as dim-witted camp counselor Kevin "Ug" Lee on the early Nickelodeon sitcom "Salute Your Shorts," died Feb. 27 in Los Angeles. His domestic partner, Ranjani Brow, confirmed that he died after battling lung cancer.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterRobin De Jesús has joined the Hulu series “Immigrant,” which tells the story of the founding of Chippendales.He joins previously announced series lead Kumail Nanjiani as well as series regulars Annaleigh Ashford, Murray Bartlett, and Dan Stevens.“Immigrant” is the true story of Somen “Steve” Banerjee (Nanjiani), the Indian-American entrepreneur who started Chippendales. The series will detail the darkly comedic, crime-ridden story behind the unique male revue that became a cultural phenomenon.De Jesús will appear in the recurring role of Ray Colon. Described as a proud Nuyorican from the Bronx, Colon comes on the Chippendales scene as the resident handyman and self-proclaimed jack of all trades.

Ellise Shafer The Writers Guild of America, East will host their annual “And the Nominees Are…” limited series contenders’ panel on March 1, with Variety hosting the livestream.The limited series panel will take place at 7 p.m. ET/ 4 p.m. PT and will run for 90 minutes.

Book Title by Author Name - ISBN - (Publisher)1. The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley - 9780063003071 - (William Morrow)2. It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover - 9781501110375 - (Atria Books)3.