Michel Gondry To Direct Period Musical For Universal & Pharrell Williams; Kelvin Harrison Jr. To Star & Da’Vine Joy Randolph In Final Talks

LAS VEGAS – Universal Pictures has some potential big hits on its upcoming release slate. There’s “The Fall Guy” with Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt.

Fans of ITV's Vera were left seeking answers after the series 13 finale ended with a tribute to the late Julie Burnell.

The producers of a forthcoming West End production of Romeo and Juliet, starring Tom Holland, have condemned “deplorable racial abuse” aimed at his co-star.

Pharrell Williams surprised released a new album yesterday (April 6), with fans only able to listen to the album on a new website.The new album, called ‘Black Yacht Rock Vol 1: City of Limitless Access’ is available to listen to here and is not, as the time of publishing, available on any other streaming platforms. Those who visit the website to listen to the album can also sign up to a new mailing list.

Post Malone has performed a Hank Williams cover during a surprise gig in Nashville this week (April 3) – check out footage of the moment below.The cover arrives at a time when country music is having a resurgence in music. Beyonce released her new album ‘Cowboy Carter’ on Friday (March 29) which contains covers of Dolly Parton’s ‘Jolene’, and features artists including Willie Nelson and Nancy Sinatra.Taylor Swift is also gearing up to release a country album next month with ‘The Tortured Poets Department’, while Post Malone is gearing up to make a new country album too.

Halle Bailey is joining Universal Pictures’ untitled Pharrell Williams and Michel Gondry movie!

Halle Bailey (The Color Purple) has been tapped to star alongside Kelvin Harrison Jr. and The Holdovers Oscar winner Da’Vine Joy Randolph in Universal Pictures‘ untitled coming-of-age pic from director Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) and producer Pharrell Williams (Hidden Figures), Deadline has learned.

Katcy Stephan Halle Bailey is set to join Universal Pictures’ untitled Pharrell Williams and Michel Gondry project. Bailey will co-star opposite Kelvin Harrison Jr. and joins newly-minted Oscar winner Da’Vine Joy Randolph in this coming-of-age musical set in the summer of 1977 Virginia Beach inspired by Atlantis Apartments, Williams’ childhood neighborhood.

Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, who previously formed the songwriting duo The Neptunes, are currently in a legal dispute over the group’s name.The lawsuit comes as Hugo accused Williams of “fraudulently” seeking sole control over the trademarks without consulting him.The Neptunes rose to prominence in the early 2000s, after both Williams and Hugo were friends in their childhood. They produced a run of hit tracks at the turn of the century including Gwen Stefani’s ‘Hollaback Girl’, Snoop Dogg’s ‘Drop It Like It’s Hot’, Justin Timberlake’s ‘Rock Your Body’ and Nelly’s ‘Hot in Herre’.They reached the peak of their success before Williams went on to become a solo musician, and they were inducted into the Songwriters Hall Of Fame in 2022.However, the two have run into legal action following Hugo filing a lawsuit against his songwriting partner last week at a federal tribunal – accusing Williams of attempting to unilaterally register trademarks for the Neptunes name.

Jem Aswad Executive Editor, Music With hits like Snoop Dogg’s “Drop It Like It’s Hot,” Kelis’ “Milkshake,” Gwen Stefani’s “Hollaback Girl” and dozens of others, Pharrell Williams and longtime collaborator Chad Hugo rode to multiplatinum success as the songwriting/production duo the Neptunes. While Pharrell has become a superstar in his own right over the last two decades, with solo hits like “Happy” and “Freedom,” Hugo has kept a comparatively low profile – but the pair are now in a legal dispute over the group’s name.

Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo are battling out.

Greg Rutherford's fiancée has issued an update on the former Olympian's surgery recovery after he 'tore all of his abs' on the morning of the Dancing On Ice final. Greg, 37, was forced to quit the Dancing On Ice final after the serious leg injury which required hospital treatment. Ahead of the final, the former Olympian tore "all of his abs" while rehearsing for the show.

Zayn Malik has revealed he’s recently been revisiting One Direction’s music and he would like a Miley Cyrus collaboration one day.In a Stationhead stream on Monday (March 25), the musician revealed he’d been enjoying listening back to One Direction’s back catalogue and how he hoped to team up with Miley Cyrus in the studio in the future.The musician reflected on his time with his former group fondly, saying: “I’ve been listening to a bit of One Direction music recently, reminiscing. Good times.”He added: “We made some good music as a band.

Scott Derrickson has been set to direct an adaptation of Davis Grubb’s classic 1953 novel The Night of the Hunter for Universal Pictures, working from his script written with C. Robert Cargill, his longtime collaborator on The Black Phone, Doctor Strange and other projects.

Prince Harry is planning to visit the UK in May and during his trip, he will try to meet Prince William, a royal expert has revealed.

EXCLUSIVE: Kelvin Harrison Jr. (Waves) has been set to lead a new, untitled Universal feature project from director Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) and producer Pharrell Williams (Hidden Figures), according to multiple sources, who also tell us that 2024 Academy Award winner Da’Vine Joy Randolph (The Holdovers) is in talks.

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor Will Keenan has returned to the entertainment industry, joining Coy Creator, a startup touting a full-service “business-in-a-box” platform for digital creators, as chief revenue officer. Keenan had joined Endemol Shine North America in 2013, where he launched the company’s Endemol Beyond division.

Leaving Neverland director Dan Reed has described the script for the upcoming Michael Jackson biopic Michael as “startlingly disingenuous”.Michael has been confirmed to receive a theatrical release in the United States on April 18, 2025, per production house Lionsgate. A UK release date is yet to be announced.Given the project’s connection to the Jackson estate, it is unclear whether the film will explore the most controversial aspects of the singer’s life, including the allegations of child sexual abuse.However, according to Reed, who has read a draft of the script, the film makes a point to discredit Wade Robson and James Safechuck, the two men who allege that Jackson sexually assaulted them in the 2019 docuseries Leaving Neverland.“Jackson is only ever seen caring for children with childhood cancer, or dancing with a little girl in a wheelchair, or tucking up multiple little boys, mostly his nephews, at sleepovers,” Reed said of the script (via Variety).

Pharrell Williams ended his set at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 15 minutes early due to dangerous crowd activity.Per Music News, the iconic producer and singer addressed the crowd at the Grand Prix 15 – which took place at the Saudi Corniche Circuit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Saturday (March 9). He informed them that throwing their light-up wristbands towards the stage was dangerous and unsafe, and quit his set earlier than anticipated after attendees refused to listen to him.“This is the liveliest city right now on the planet but we have also got to be the safest.

Anna Tingley If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission. Omega was the timepiece of choice at Sunday night’s Oscars ceremony, where star-studded nominees such as Cord Jefferson, Cillian Murphy, Da’Vine Joy Randolph and dozens more accessorized their ensembles with different styles of the luxury watch.