Outfest, Netflix Expand Screenwriting Lab In Support Of LGBTQIA+ Creatives

The head of Netflix is still behind two of the company’s most popular comedians.

First Disabled-Led Company Joins Channel 4 Indie Growth Fund

Angelique Jackson Screenwriter Matt Lopez has signed with CAA for representation just ahead of the premiere of his adaptation of “Father of the Bride” for HBO Max. The new movie, starring Andy Garcia as the titular father, Gloria Estefan, Adria Arjona, and Isabela Merced, will debut on June 16, timed to Father’s Day Weekend.Lopez also penned the script for another upcoming adaptation — this time, Walt Disney Studios’ “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” movie, which is set to be directed by Marvin Lemus, with 21 Laps and the Jim Henson Company producing.

Naman Ramachandran Netflix has boarded “Darlings,” headlined by top Bollywood star Alia Bhatt and directed by feature debutant Jasmeet K. Reen.Written by Reen, Parveez Sheikh (“Queen”) and Vijay Maurya (Disney+ Hotstar series “The Great Indian Murder”), “Darlings” is billed as a dark comedy which explores the lives of a mother-daughter duo trying to find their place in Mumbai, seeking courage and love in exceptional circumstances while fighting against all odds.The film is produced by Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s Red Chillies Entertainment and Bhatt’s Eternal Sunshine Productions.

“Heartstopper” is coming back for two additional seasons at Netflix.On Friday morning, the streamer announced the show had been renewed for Seasons 2 and 3, produced by See-Saw films. Alice Oseman, the graphic novels author and illustrator will return as writer and creator.In Season 1, “Hearstopper” followed the story of gentle Charlie (Joe Lock) and rugby-loving Nick (Kit Connor), who meet at secondary school.

K.J. Yossman “Heartstopper” fans, rejoice: Charlie and Nick will be back for a second and third season of the hit Netflix show. The streamer confirmed on Friday it had renewed the show, which is produced by See-Saw Films, for two more seasonsBased on Alice Oseman’s LGBTQ+ webcomic, “Heartstopper” tells the story of the relationship between two British teens, Charlie and Nick.

Netflix Greenlights Swedish Film ‘A Day And A Half’ From ‘Chernobyl’ Star Fares Fares

Netflix has snagged a very royal reality series!

Todd Spangler NY Digital EditorThis year, Global Accessibility Awareness Day falls on May 19. And Netflix is using the occasion to announce major plans to expand the global translations of its audio descriptions and subtitles for customers who are blind, deaf or hard-of-hearing.The streamer will expand audio description (AD), subtitles for the deaf or hard-of-hearing (SDH) and dubbing in more than 10 additional languages throughout the year starting this month — so that more Netflix members with disabilities can experience shows and films made in another country in their local language. That’s not the norm in the entertainment industry at large.Netflix is starting with French, Spanish, Portuguese, German and Italian, and expanding from there to Asian languages including Korean and Japanese as well as European local languages.

Ava DuVernay’s Wings of Fire, an animated series adaptation of the family fantasy books which had been in development at Netflix since 2021, is the latest victim of animation cuts at the streamer, sources close to the project confirm to Deadline. We hear several other projects are not moving forward as well.

A Rhode Island dog whose inspiring story of going from shelter dog to lifesaving police K-9 which became the subject of a recent Netflix movie has been euthanized.

Canadian unscripted producer Sean Connolly has set up his own production business and tied up a multi-year strategic deal with compatriot firm Great Pacific Media.

Robbie Praw, VP of Stand-up and Comedy Formats at Netflix, announced on Monday that the streamer will be showcasing highlights from the 11-day “Netflix Is a Joke: The Festival” stand-up comedy event held in Los Angeles, including Pete Davidson riffing on Kanye West’s bizarre social media onslaught, Amy Schumer telling a joke she wasn’t allowed to do at the Oscars, and David Letterman commenting on the recent attack on Dave Chappelle.The month-long comedy rollout begins with “The Hall: Honoring the Greats of Stand-Up,” on May 19, which has John Mulaney paying tribute to Robin Williams, Dave Chappelle on Richard Pryor, Chelsea Handler on Joan Rivers and Jon Stewart to George Carlin. The remaining programs are as follows:Also coming up is a Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias special filmed in front of Netflix’s largest-ever audience at a sold-out Dodger Stadium.“These shows represent some of the best work we’ve done at Netflix, with the best comedic talent on the planet. We’re so grateful to everyone who performed, helping to create the biggest comedy festival in U.S.

Outfest Screenwriting Lab has become the cornerstone of Outfest’s education and creative development programming.As the arts, media and entertainment organization celebrates its 40th anniversary, and the lab its 25th, Outfest has expanded the program with the support of partner Netflix, waiving submission fees for all applicants and providing grants for each of the selected screenwriters to help financially support them.“Everyone knows that a great film, a great series, a great story begins with the screenplay,” stated Outfest executive director, Damien S. Navarro.

In “The Gray Man”, Ryan Gosling is playing a different kind of hero.