Aaron Sorkin Latest Celebrity News & Gossip

Tim Gray Senior Vice PresidentEverybody in the industry seems to like and admire J.K. Simmons, and why wouldn’t they? He’s talented, versatile, dependable and affable. The fan club includes Aaron Sorkin, writer-director of Amazon’s “Being the Ricardos,” for which Simmons is Oscar-nominated as supporting actor.Sorkin’s last seven screenplays have centered on real people, but he tells Variety he doesn’t picture the person, or any actor, when writing.

K.J. Yossman BAFTA president Prince William is set to miss the BAFTA Awards for the second year running.Despite the fact the ceremony is set to take place at the Royal Albert Hall, which is practically a stone’s throw from the prince’s Kensington Palace home, William will skip the ceremony on Sunday, March 13.Instead, the prince – who is also known as the Duke of Cambridge – will deliver a speech via a pre-recorded video transmission.“We’re delighted that BAFTA president, the Duke of Cambridge will be participating in the EE BAFTA Film Awards via a pre-recorded video message,” a BAFTA spokesperson told Variety.

The Voice, or , or National Champions as she strides around in stilettos and casually hits high Cs. For these people, Kristin Chenoweth’s presence is always a treat, like randomly being handed an ice cream cone.And then there are those of us for whom Kristin Chenoweth is like oxygen. For this group, the precise tone of Kristin Chenoweth’s voice is a reason to live.

She may be a Hollywood icon, but to Lucille Ball’s parents, she was just their daughter. Lucille—whose full name is Lucille Désirée Ball—was born on August 6, 1911, in Jamestown, New York, to Henry Durrell Ball and Desiree Evelyn Hunt. (Her middle name was inspired by her mother’s first name.)

Mary Badham, Hollywood’s original Scout Finch in the 1962 film of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, has been cast in the touring stage production of Aaron Sorkin’s adaptation. This time around, Badham, who has acted infrequently in the decades since her indelible performance in the classic movie, will portray Scout’s mean-as-a-snake drug-addicted racist neighbor Mrs. Dubose.

Joining Deadline as part of the Amazon Studios presentation at Contenders Film: The Nominees event were two of the stars of Aaron Sorkin’s funny, moving and cleverly constructed story of the relationship of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz in Being the Ricardos, which all takes place in a week during the course of a taping of an episode of I Love Lucy.

party and delivers a pick-up line for the ages. “If you don’t have anything to do tonight, how would you like to learn how to do the rhumba?” he asks.

In his successful 2020 White House bid, candidate Joe Biden campaigned as a unifier trying to save the soul of America. Last night, in his first State of the Union address, the 46th President of the United States doubled down on that unity theme.

EXCLUSIVE: Amblin Partners has entered into an overall deal with SRO Productions, the label founded by director Bartlett Sher (Broadway’s To Kill a Mockingbird), writer JT Rogers (Tokyo Vice) and producer Cambra Overend (Oslo). Under the two-year deal, Amblin will have first-look rights on SRO’s film projects.

Clayton Davis For the second year in a row, the race for best actress is wide open, with key precursors to the Academy Awards yet to be determined.The Oscar nominees are Jessica Chastain for “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” (Searchlight Pictures), Olivia Colman for “The Lost Daughter” (Netflix), Penélope Cruz for “Parallel Mothers” (Sony Pictures Classics), Nicole Kidman for “Being the Ricardos” (Amazon Studios) and Kristen Stewart for “Spencer” (Neon/Topic Studios). No performance is from a best picture nominee, a first since the 2005 lineup.

EXCLUSIVE: Oscar nominee Sacha Baron Cohen is joining Cate Blanchett and Kevin Kline in Disclaimer, the Apple TV+ series adaptation of the Renee Knight novel that is being written, directed and executive produced by Oscar winner Alfonso Cuarón.

9-1-1 Lone Star's Rob Lowe inspired President Joe Biden's press secretary to return to politics.MORE: 9-1-1 Lone Star's Natacha Karam talks season three's 'personal drama'Jen Psaki appeared on the actor's podcast Literally! and shared that she binge watched his award-winning drama The West Wing in 2011 after she first left politics for public relations.WATCH: The West Wing: Josh Lyman visits Sam SeabornShe had previously been the deputy press secretary for President Barack Obama before he promoted her in 2009 to deputy communications director, the job Rob's character Sam Seaborn held for the first four years on the show.On the podcast she revealed that the show, created by Aaron Sorkin, "inspired so many people that I know to come here and be a part of this town and work in government."MORE: Rob Lowe delivers heartbreaking family news as famous friends reach out MORE: Everything you need to know about 9-1-1: Lone Star actor Rob Lowe's family "I don't know what prompted me to watch it but I binged the entire thing," she added of the decision to watch the show four years after it ended."In a crazy way, it really brought me back to politics.

AMC has announced additional cast for Tales of the Walking Dead, its new spinoff series set in The Walking Dead universe. Olivia Munn (Violet), Danny Ramirez (The Falcon & The Winter Soldier), Loan Chabanol (Fading Gigolo), Embeth Davidtz (Old, Ray Donovan), Jessie T. Usher (The Boys) and Gage Munroe (Nobody) have been tapped to star in the AMC Studios-produced episodic anthology series.

Nicole Kidman has left fans totally shocked with her latest photoshoot. The actress just debuted a new cover story and it has certainly caused a stir among fans.MORE: Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban's $80k wedding favours had special messageHighlighting her recent Oscar nomination for playing Lucille Ball in Aaron Sorkin's Being the Ricardos, Nicole is part of Vanity Fair's annual Hollywood Issue.Also part of the issue are Kristen Stewart, Idris Elba, Penélope Cruz, Simu Liu, Benedict Cumberbatch, Michaela Jaé Rodríguez, and Andrew Garfield.WATCH: Nicole wows with incredible transformation as Lucille BallMORE: Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban bring the heat for romantic beachside snapshotFor the special cover, the 54-year-old showed off her impressively toned abs by wearing an impossibly short gray skirt paired with a matching ruffled bra and pointy-toed moccasins.Though the award-winning actress certainly looked incredible and proved she doesn't age, some fans weren't convinced with the look, and it sparked a heated debate in the comments.A post shared by Vanity Fair (@vanityfair)Nicole's sultry cover photo"Not a fan of this look," a follower commented, while another rooted for Nicole, saying: "Haters are gonna hate! Nicole is looking amazing!" Others called the styling both "confusing" as well as "surprising."The stunning – albeit controversial – photo features the star in the school-girl-type outfit holding open two yellow metal gates.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterKeri Russell has been cast in the lead role of the upcoming Netflix series “The Diplomat.”The series was ordered at the streamer in January. In the series, in the midst of an international crisis, a career diplomat (Russell) lands in a high-profile job she’s unsuited for, with tectonic implications for her marriage and her political future.Debora Cahn created the series and also serves as executive producer and showrunner.

Tim Gray Senior Vice PresidentAfter Oscar nominations were announced Feb. 8, the buzz seems equally centered on who was nominated and who wasn’t.There’s an impressive roster of work in both categories.

Nicole Kidman has shared her very emotional response to receiving an Oscar nomination for her portrayal of Lucille Ball in Being the Ricardos. The 54-year-old actress told The Daily Telegraph on Wednesday she broke down in tears after receiving the news. 'I literally cried.

Keith Urban is having a proud husband moment. The “You’ll Think of Me” singer gave his wife, Nicole Kidman, a special shout-out after she was nominated for an Oscar in the Best Actress in a Leading Role category for her performance as Lucille Ball in on Tuesday“CONGRATS on your OSCAR nomination today babygirl! SO proud of you & all that you poured into this dual role,” the 54-year-old singer tweeted. «Lucille AND Lucy.

Nicole Kidman’s fifth ever Oscar nomination came in Tuesday morning, this time for Aaron Sorkin’s Being the Ricardos, from Amazon Studios. As I Love Lucy star Lucille Ball, Kidman depicts the life of a creative comedic icon who led an unprecedented charge for women in the industry, essentially writing for, producing and as good as directing herself as she performed.

Oscars.com, Oscars.org and the Academy’s social media platforms.Following Tuesday’s nominations, the 94th annual Academy Awards will be held late next month, on March 27, at Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre. The in-person ceremony will be televised on ABC.For the first time in three years, the Oscars will have a host in 2022, Craig Erwich, president of ABC Entertainment and Hulu Originals, announced in January.

is reportedly in talks to appear in a “Spider-Man” spinoff entitled “Madame Web” for Sony Pictures.S.J. Clarkson is set to direct, according to Deadline, while Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless will write the screenplay.The Madame Web character was first introduced in 1980’s “The Amazing Spider-Man” comic, issue number 210.She is described as a mutant who can predict the future of Spidey superheroes and is usually drawn as an old woman who is blind and paralyzed.

Marc Malkin Senior Film Awards, Events & Lifestyle EditorNicole Kidman’s career has spanned nearly four decades. Her trophy shelf includes an Oscar, two Emmys, a SAG Award and a BAFTA. She is a favorite to pick up her fifth Academy Award nomination next week for her work as Lucille Ball in “Being the Ricardos.”Even so, Kidman acknowledges the road to today has also included some bumps.

Nicole Kidman took to Instagram over the weekend to share a touching post with her 8 million followers – and daughter Bella was quick to show her support.READ: Nicole Kidman unrecognisable as she celebrates major news – famous friends reactMom-of-four Nicole posted a black and white photo showing her cuddling up to acclaimed director Alan Sorkin, and wrote: "Sending a big congratulations to the one & only Aaron Sorkin on his nomination for Best Original Screenplay at the #WritersGuild Awards. #BeingTheRicardos @LATimes #TheEnvelope @RyanPfluger."WATCH: Nicole Kidman wows with incredible transformation for new roleAmong those to like the post was 29-year-old Bella, Nicole’s eldest child.

Owen Gleiberman Chief Film CriticIt’s always a kick to encounter a documentary about a subject after you’ve seen the deluxe scripted and acted Hollywood version. “Lucy and Desi,” Amy Poehler’s film about Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz — their love, their showbiz partnership, their revolutionary influence on the creative landscape of television, their meshing and clashing spirits — is a nimble and fascinating documentary.

Tim Gray Senior Vice PresidentOn June 29, 1966, CBS had an internal debate over its morning programming: Whether to cut to a news conference about a turning point in the Vietnam war — the U.S. bombing of Hanoi and Haiphong — or to air a decade-old “I Love Lucy” rerun. They decided to stick with “Lucy.”The sitcom, which ran 1951-57, is more than beloved: It’s become part of our collective unconscious.

Because the WGA created its award to be a prize for its members and those who write under its jurisdiction, a Writers Guild nomination is a less accurate predictor of Oscar success than noms from the other three major Hollywood guilds, the Screen Actors Guild, Producers Guild and Directors Guild.WGA rules restrict eligibility to screenplays that were written under the guild’s Minimum Basic Agreement or under a collective bargaining agreement from one of 11 affiliate guilds around the world. As usual, that rule disqualified a number of top screenplays this year, including “The Power of the Dog,” “Cyrano,” “Passing,” “The Lost Daughter,” “Drive My Car” and “Spider-Man: No Way Home” in the adapted-screenplay category and “Belfast,” “A Hero,” “The Hand of God,” “Parallel Mothers” and “Prayers for the Stolen” in original screenplay.“Belfast,” “The Power of the Dog” and “The Lost Daughter” in particular are strong favorites for Oscar nominations.In the documentary category, only three screenplays were nominated: “Being Cousteau,” “Exposing Muybridge” and “Like a Rolling Stone: The Life and Times of Ben Fong-Torres.”Winners will be announced at the WGA Awards on March 20, one week before the Oscars.The nominations: ORIGINAL SCREENPLAYBeing the Ricardos, Written by Aaron Sorkin;Amazon StudiosDon’t Look Up, Screenplay by Adam McKay, Story by Adam McKay & David Sirota; NetflixThe French Dispatch of the Liberty, Kansas Evening Sun, Screenplay by Wes Anderson, Story by Wes Anderson & Roman Coppola & Hugo Guinness & Jason Schwartzman;Searchlight PicturesKing Richard, Written by Zach Baylin; Warner Bros.

Tim Gray Senior Vice PresidentJ.K. Simmons was reluctant to appear in “Being the Ricardos.” But reading Aaron Sorkin’s script, “I was able to see the gift that Aaron was giving to each of the actors.”It’s a gift exchange: Simmons is so versatile and talented that he brings gifts to any filmmaker he works with.Oscar voting runs Jan. 27-Feb.

Best Picture Jane Campion’s “The Power of the Dog” seems to have taken pole position in the best picture race. Campion won a screenplay Oscar at the 1994 ceremony for “The Piano,” which was also nominated for best pic (it lost to “Schindler’s List.”). Early front-runner “Belfast” should also make the ballot.

Clayton Davis The Producers Guild of America announced its nominations for the motion picture and television categories for the upcoming 33rd PGA Awards, and it was a good day for the streamers (once again).Netflix ruled the film side with three films landing in the field of 10 nominees: “Don’t Look Up” from Adam McKay, “The Power of the Dog” from Jane Campion and “Tick, Tick … Boom!” from Lin-Manuel Miranda.Warner Bros. captured two nods from its slate: “Dune” from Denis Villeneuve and “King Richard” from Reinaldo Marcus Green.At the best possible moment with Oscar voting opening today, Amazon Studios’ “Being the Ricardos” from Aaron Sorkin snagged one of the coveted spots, which helps its best picture chances considerably.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterNetflix has ordered the political drama series “The Diplomat” from Debora Cahn, with Cahn also signing a multi-year overall deal at the streamer.Under the deal, Cahn will write and produce series and other projects for Netflix. The streaming giant has ordered eight episodes of “The Diplomat” at 50 minutes each.In the series, in the midst of an international crisis, a career diplomat lands in a high-profile job she’s unsuited for, with tectonic implications for her marriage and her political future.

Clayton Davis A tsunami of buzz and Oscar-telling indicators drop on Thursday, with the major guilds announcing award nominations. The Directors Guild of America (DGA), Writers Guild of America (WGA), Producers Guild of America (PGA) and American Cinema Editors (ACE Eddies) all serve as critical barometers for the Academy Awards, especially in the race for best picture.DGA has averaged four of their five nominees landing in the Oscars’ best director category, including last year with Aaron Sorkin (“The Trial of the Chicago 7”) getting bumped for Thomas Vinterberg (“Another Round”).

Stuart Ford’s AGC Studios is expanding its sales and distribution team with the hiring of Diane Ferrandez as Senior Vice President of Worldwide Sales and Distribution.

The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) has announced winners of the 11th AACTA International Awards, with Netflix’s The Power Of The Dog scoring three trophies. (Scroll down for the full list of laureates.)

discussing their respective roles in “No Time to Die” and “Being the Ricardos” as part of Variety’s annual “Actors on Actors” series in which thespians politely grill each other for their fans’ viewing pleasure.During the laughter-filled bro chat, Craig dropped a gender-bending bombshell about their time working together: “I remember you were in drag — but I know that’s a whole other story.”Bardem went on to admit that he popped “out of a cake” to surprise his co-star on his birthday.“I was supposed to be the Bond girl that night, and oh, my God, I was,” he revealed. “I sang ‘Happy Birthday  to You,’ my best Marilyn Monroe impersonation.

best picture race continues to narrow, Variety staffers take a look at some of the individual scenes that made us laugh, cry and think — sometimes at the same time.“Being the Ricardos”(Amazon) Lucille Ball (Nicole Kidman) pulls Madeline (Alia Shawkat), the only female writer on Ball’s “I Love Lucy,” out of the writers room for a little one-on-one discussion about a scene that Lucy has been trying to make funnier — or at least make logical, and therefore funny. Like Madeline, Lucy is a smart, funny, strong women in the early 1950s — a unicorn in this man’s world in which they have mastered “work-arounds.” This scene from writer-director Aaron Sorkin is an honest yet sharp and somewhat frustrating talk about the TV character, the way the character is treated on the show and what type of comedy works.

Zoe Hewitt Art is unlike other media in that it requires its creators to share parts of themselves as they’re likewise primed for the supremely subjective criticism that follows. After all, no dentist is asked to soliloquize about how a tooth extraction reflects life choices.