Miranda talks about Bruno, and the 'Encanto' phenomenon

Disney’s Gaitán, who voices the character Pepa Madrigal in the animated film, is also shattering records after her song, «We Don't Talk About Bruno,» reached the top spot on Billboard’s Hot 100 and Global 200 charts. Plus, it’s also become a viral hit on TikTok.«It's crazy! It's absolutely unbelievable. It's surreal, it's magical realism.

Disney’s Encanto received three nominations today for Best Animated Feature, Best Score, and Best Original Song. Directors Jared Bush and Byron Howard spoke to Deadline shortly after their nominations were announced, with Howard stating the feeling “is overwhelming and fantastic and wonderful.”

Lin-Manuel Miranda saw his second career Oscar nomination today in the Best Song Category for “Dos Oruguitas” from the Disney animated movie Encanto, putting him on track once again to reach EGOT status. Encanto counted three noms this morning overall with noms for Best Animated Feature and Germaine Franco’s Original Score.

Katy Perry may have an unexpected rival for her fiancé’s affection.

ISLESFORD, Maine -- Ashley Bryan, a prolific and prize-winning children’s author and illustrator who told stories of Black life, culture and folklore in such acclaimed works as “Freedom Over Me,” “Beautiful Blackbird” and “Beat the Story-Drum, Pum-Pum,” has died at age 98.Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing announced that the longtime Maine resident died “peacefully” Friday in Texas, where he had been staying with relatives.“An early, quiet, and potent force in bringing children of color and issues of racial diversity into the canon of children’s literature, he was committed to opening the eyes of children of all backgrounds to a wide range of themes through poetry, folktales, spirituals, and biblical narratives,” the publisher’s statement reads.Bryan was a Harlem native who showed an early talent for drawing and for a time was the only Black student at the art school at Cooper Union in Manhattan. He served in a segregated military unit for two years during World World II, an experience he recounted in his memoir “Infinite Hope: A Black Artist’s Journey from World War II to Peace,” and resumed his art studies after the war.Bryan worked on more than 70 books and received numerous honors, including Coretta Scott King Awards — given for the year’s best work by a Black author or illustrator — for the folktales “Beautiful Blackbird” and “Beat the Story-Drum, Pum-Pum.” He also received two lifetime achievement prizes: the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award (now known as the Children’s Literature Legacy Award) and the Virginia Hamilton award.Survivors include his brother Ernest, and “many cherished” nieces and nephews, according to Simon & Schuster.“I am deeply saddened to learn of Ashley’s passing,” Gov.

Lucifer alum Tom Ellis is set as a series regular in Washington Black, the Sterling K. Brown-fronted adaptation of Esi Edugyan’s novel, which received a straight-to-series order at Hulu. Twilight Zone writer Selwyn Seyfu Hinds is adapting the limited series for 20th Television.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterApple has given a series order to the drama series “Dear Edward” from Jason Katims, Variety has learned.Based on the Ann Napolitano novel of the same name, the series will star Connie Britton (“The White Lotus,” “Dirty John”), Taylor Schilling (“Pam and Tommy,” “Orange Is the New Black”), and Colin O’Brien (“Wonka,” “Mr. Harrigan’s Place”). The role reunites Britton and Katims, who previously worked together on the series version of “Friday Night Lights.”“Dear Edward” tells the story of Edward Adler (O’Brien), a 12-year-old boy who survives a devastating commercial plane crash that kills every other passenger on the flight, including his family.

Connie Britton (The White Lotus), Taylor Schilling (Pam and Tommy) and Colin O’Brien (Wonka) headline Dear Edward, a drama written and executive produced by Jason Katims, which has received a formal series greenlight by Apple TV+.

Aaron Paul and Bryan Cranston reunite to promote their joint tequila brand in Las Vegas on Saturday (January 29).

Naman Ramachandran In a new series, Variety catches up with the directors of the films shortlisted for the International Feature Oscar to discuss their road to the awards, what they’ve learned so far, and what’s taken them off guard.Two of Abner Benaim’s films, documentaries “Invasion” (2014) and “Ruben Blades Is Not My Name” (2018), were Panamanian entries to the Oscars, but his “Plaza Catedral” is the first time a film from the country has been shortlisted. The film, which portrays a violent society with a gulf between the rich and poor, won major awards at the Guadalajara and Panama film festivals.

“Encanto” features a soundtrack of catchy hits from Miranda that are providing parents with a much-needed respite from Elsa and Co. “It is so refreshing to have something else to listen to,” exulted Riverdale mom-of-two Yael Buechler. “It was time to let ‘Frozen’ go,” she added, noting that “Surface Pressure” from “Encanto” is now more popular with her 3-year-old and 5-year-old than “Let It Go.” “Encanto,” which opened in theaters in November and started streaming on Disney+ at the end of December, tells the story of a quirky 15-year-old Colombian girl named Mirabel Madrigal who’s frustrated that she seems to lack the magical powers that everyone else in her family possesses.

Sean Penn has angered many after he doubled down on his claims that men have become “quite feminized” and this time, slammed men who wear skirts.

Panama makes its debut on the International Feature Oscar shortlist with the character-driven thriller Plaza Catedral. This contender from Abner Benaim (Ruben Blades Is Not My Name) is a taut two-hander between a grieving mother and a young street hustler, with a sobering message about corruption and violence. Samuel Goldwyn Films recently acquired the title.

The original voice of character Charlie Brown in the early animated “Peanuts” specials, actor Peter Robbins, died last week at the age of 65.

Jordan Moreau Peter Robbins, who was the first person to voice Charlie Brown in several “Peanuts” TV specials in the 1960s, has died. He was 65.His family told Fox 5 San Diego on Tuesday that he died by suicide last week.At 9 years old, Robbins first voiced Charlie Brown in “A Boy Named Charlie Brown,” which was a television documentary about “Peanuts” creator Charles M.

Peter Robbins was an actor who provided the original voice of Charlie Brown in classic specials including “A Charlie Brown Christmas” and “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.”If someone you know exhibits warning signs of suicide, they should not be left alone. Call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255. The Lifeline provides free, confidential support for people in crisis or emotional distress, 24/7 year-round.

After years of marriage troubles with Meri Brown and his split from Christine Brown in the fall of 2021, Kody Brown is now also having issues with another one of his wives, Janelle Brown. The Sister Wives star is reportedly only spending time with Robyn Brown these days, according to a report from Us Weekly. “He’s spending all his time with Robyn,” the mag’s source revealed. “The others are in their own world, living their own lives. He spent the holidays with Robyn and her kids. He didn’t even try making plans with the others.”

DEALSBadBadNotGood have signed a new deal with Third Side Music, extending their existing partnership with the publisher. “Alexander, Chester and Leland are true contemporaries, yet articulate a cross-generational sense of virtuosity and energy only known to them”, says Brontë Jane, Third Side Music’s VP Creative. “I feel strongly that this next chapter for BadBadNotGood will be the most impactful”.————————————————–APPOINTMENTSAndy West has been named Executive Vice President and General Manager of Warner Music Canada.