Ava Duvernay Latest Celebrity News & Gossip

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media ReporterNetflix has pulled the plug on several animated projects, including “Wings of Fire,” from executive producer Ava DuVernay; “Antiracist Baby,” a series aimed at preschoolers; and “With Kind Regards From Kindergarten,” a film tailored to youngsters.The streaming service also scrapped “Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, And You,” a documentary intended to serve as a companion piece to “Stamped From the Beginning.” “Stamped from the Beginning,” which is a hybrid documentary and scripted feature that delves into race in the United States, is still moving forward and is currently in post-production.Sources at Netflix stress the decisions not to move forward with these projects were creative rather than cost related, meaning they would have taken place regardless of the company’s slower revenue growth. Insiders also note that animation has a longer gestation period than live-action.

The stars are stepping out for the Louis Vuitton‘s latest fashion show!

Naomi” was a DC superhero series written and executive produced by Ava DuVernay.“Naomi,” which starred Kaci Walfall as a teenager who realizes she has a hidden destiny, had The CW’s third-most watched season premiere of the 2021-22 season, but lost more than 40 percent of viewers by the time of its May 10 finale.

EXCLUSIVE: Marsha Stephanie Blake (When They See Us) is set to star in ABC’s Kay Oyegun drama pilot about a group of therapists in Philadelphia.

Regeneration features rarely seen excerpts of films restored by the Academy Film Archive, as well as other narrative films and documentaries; newsreels and home movies; photographs; scripts; drawings; costumes; equipment; posters; and historical materials, such as entrance tickets, note cards, and telegrams; along with augmented reality experiences (AR) designed specifically for the exhibition.”The seven galleries will begin with clips from the 1898 “Something Good – Negro Kiss,” one of the earliest films showing on-screen affection from Black actors. It will then move to a study of “race films” from 1916 through the 1940s, and a look at segregated movie theaters; a gallery devoted to musicals, particularly ones with all-Black casts; a “Stars and Icons” gallery saluting Black performers from the 1920s through the 1950s; a section devoted to post World War II “freedom movements”; and one exploring post-1960s Black filmmakers Madeline Anderson, Robert L.

The world has come to recognize the supreme talent of Viola Davis, the Oscar- and Emmy-winning actress. But she had to overcome huge obstacles to achieve her success, growing up poor in Central Falls, Rhode Island.

EXCLUSIVE: Ashley Holland, a TV lit agent and partner at WME, is leaving the agency to join Onyx Collective, Disney’s curated content brand for creators of color and underrepresented voices. I hear her deal is still being finalized, and she will stay at WME for a few more weeks, but Holland is expected to be a senior scripted executive at Onyx.

Emmy and Tony winner Judith Light will be honored with the Excellence in Media Award at the 33rd annual GLAAD Media Awards in Manhattan next month.

(UPDATED with Will Smith statement) With their options rather limited, the  Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Board of Governors have just decided that Will Smith will not be able to attend the Oscars for 10 years for slapping Chris Rock on-stage at the 94th Academy Awards on March 27.

“possible sanctions” against the actor — who will, as it turns out, be allowed to keep his trophy.In a subsequent statement released Friday afternoon, the Board stated it has “decided, for a period of 10 years from April 8, 2022, Mr. Smith shall not be permitted to attend any Academy events or programs, in person or virtually, including but not limited to the Academy Awards.”The virtual meeting was “contentious,” sources told Deadline.In the official statement, Board President David Rubin described Smith’s behavior as “unacceptable and harmful.” He also admitted that the Academy did not “adequately address the situation” during the live telecast.Rubin continued: “We want to express our deep gratitude to Mr.

are going to do, it's bring viewers a star-studded season.The sketch comedy series returns to HBO for its third season this Friday, and show creator, showrunner, executive producer, writer and star, Robin Thede, is excited for fans to see what the new installment holds.Speaking with ET's Melicia Johnson ahead of the season's premiere, Thede shared her thoughts going into the show's third run and broke down her favorite guest stars this season, which include Vanessa Williams, Ava DuVernay, Raven-Symoné, Kel Mitchell and more. «I'm living my dream. I'm making the show I've always wanted to make and the show that I've been preparing for three decades to make,» she said. «I've been making sketches since I was a kid, so I think you don't feel pressure when it's something you know you're good at. But it's not just me, right? I know I have a good team, and so, everyone around us is dead set on the same goal and that's to make every season bigger and better than the last.

Back in 2021, it was announced that streaming giant Netflix had acquired the Roald Dahl Story Company in the wake of a whole bunch of projects based on the author’s beloved stories going into development. Among these projects are a series based on the world of “Charlie & The Chocolate Factory” from Taika Waititi, and Wes Anderson‘s new anthology project based on the short story collection “The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar & Six More,” with actor Benedict Cumberbatch (“Power of The Dog“) attached.

The ladies of “A Black Lady Sketch Show” will be back on the screens in April! On Tuesday, HBO dropped the full trailer for the show’s upcoming third season, which will premiere on April 8.

 will be back on the screens in April! On Tuesday, HBO dropped the full trailer for the show's upcoming third season, which will premiere on April 8.The trailer for the Emmy-winning sketch comedy series features the familiar faces of series regulars Robin Thede, Gabrielle Dennis, Ashley Nicole Black and Skye Townsend, in various sketches including «The Funeral Ball» and a disastrous bachelorette party. The video also shows the return of Black's invisible spy, Trinity, and Thede's Dr.

CAA’s annual pre-Oscars party is back and lots of celebs stepped out to celebrate!

Governors Awards, an annual event that presents Hollywood luminaries with honorary Oscar statuettes, is a reprieve, of sorts, from the awards season grind.Sure, there’s plenty of small talk and crudités to go around. But unlike most shows, which announce the winners in real time, this stop on the Oscar trail is void of a certain kind of anxiety. Recipients — this year’s batch consisted of Samuel L.

Marc Malkin Senior Film Awards, Events & Lifestyle EditorHollywood is out and about Los Angeles in the days and nights leading up to the Oscars. Here, Variety reporters go inside the hottest parties and events.W’s Best Performances Issue PartyGigi’s, Los Angeles, March 24Happy Birthday, Quentin Tarantino! W’s editor in chief Sara Moonves surprised the director with a birthday cake at about 9 p.m.

Celebrities are getting behind the effort to stop the Coastal GasLink pipeline.

 will be back on the screens in April! On Tuesday, HBO dropped the first teaser for the show's upcoming third season, which will premiere on April 8.The teaser trailer for the Emmy-winning sketch comedy show stars creator and series regular Robin Thede dropping the punny joke, “I just got back from Africa. Wakanda jokes you all lookin’ for?”The six-episode season also stars Gabrielle Dennis, Ashley Nicole Black and Skye Townsend, and will feature over 40 celebrity guest stars, including Ava DuVernay, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, Raven-Symoné, Wanda Sykes, David Alan Grier, Kyla Pratt, Jemele Hill, Holly Robinson Peete, Kel Mitchell, Michael Ealy, Wayne Brady, Bob the Drag Queen, Vanessa Williams, Lance Reddick, Loni Love, Cari Champion, Shangela, Trevor Jackson, Tommy Davidson, Jay Pharoah, Jidenna, and Essence Atkins.The show's debut season earned three Emmy nominations and featured a bevy of heavy-hitting guest stars, including the show's executive producer Issa Rae, Angela Bassett, Loretta Devine, Aja Naomi King, Laverne Cox and Nicole Byer.

Based on the DC Comics series from Riccardo Burchielli and Brian Wood of the same name, the demilitarized zone of Roberto Patino’s four-part HBO series “DMZ” can be full of surprises. It’s what we know as Manhattan, after a civil war between the Free States of America and the United States of America.

After two seasons of critically acclaimed hilarity, a new season of HBO’s “A Black Lady Sketch Show” is on the horizon.

Rosario Dawson poses with her co-star Benjamin Bratt at the premiere of their new series DMZ at 2022 SXSW on Sunday (March 13) in Austin, Texas.

Stephanie March has left the courtroom to take on the role of a "Ripley-inspired intergalactic badass" – and she’s loving every second of it. In December, it was announced that the former "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" star was suiting up as Lady Akira for Ava DuVernay and Jill Blankenship’s DC superhero drama "Naomi." The CW show, based on the comic series of the same name, follows a teenage superhero when unlikely, outer-worldly events impact her hometown.The actress stars as a "metahuman" who is still a mystery to her. Stephanie March as Lady Akira and Kaci Walfall as Naomi (© 2022 The CW Network, LLC.

The 27th annual Critics Choice Awards will be an international affair this Sunday, with celebrations planned in both London and Los Angeles. The event, hosted by Taye Diggs and Nicole Byer, will be broadcast live in the U.S. on The CW and TBS from 7-10 p.m. ET. The show will be delayed on most of the West Coast, except in Los Angeles, where KTLA will offer the show live at 4 p.m. PT. Also on DirecTV, TBS is simulcasting the event with the CW at 4 p.m. PT coast-to-coast.

Can anyone find hope among total desolation? One woman is on a quest to restore hers in DC’s “DMZ.” The limited series from producer and director Ava DuVernay brings to life the popular comic. For DuVernay, it acts as yet another crucial step into the already crowded streaming market.

Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner are stepping out for Paris Fashion Week!

Beauty meets Barbie! In advance of International Women’s Day, Mattel has launched a handful of very special “role model” dolls — including one for makeup legend Pat McGrath. From the backstage uniform to a makeup brush holder fastened on her waste, the Barbie is truly a doppelgänger for the Dame. 

Wilson Chapman editorFilm Independent has announced the presenters for the 37th annual Film Independent Spirit Awards.Kirsten Stewart (“Spencer”) will serve as the Spirit Awards honorary chair this year, in addition to being a presenter. Past honorary chairs for the Spirit Awards have included Shaka King, Lena Waithe, Ava DuVernay, Jessica Chastain and Ang Lee.Along with Stewart, Dianna Agron (“Shiva Baby”), Javier Bardem (“Being the Ricardos”), Jennifer Beals (“The Book of Boba Fett”), Rosario Dawson (“Dopesick”), Daveed Diggs (“Snowpiercer”), Jay Duplass (“The Chair”), Mark Duplass (“Language Lessons”), Daisy Edgar-Jones (“Fresh”), Hannah Einbinder (“Hacks”), Bridget Everett (“Somebody Somewhere”), Andrew Garfield (“Tick, Tick… Boom”), Regina Hall, (“Nine Perfect Strangers”), Lily James (“Pam and Tommy”), Marlee Matlin (“CODA”), Bob Odenkirk (“Better Call Saul”), Sam Richardson (“The Afterparty”), Rhea Seehorn (“Better Call Saul”), Sebastian Stan (“Pam and Tommy”), Sydney Sweeney (“Euphoria”), Taika Waititi (“Our Flag Means Death”), Michelle Yeoh (“Everything Everywhere All At Once”) and Chloé Zhao (“Eternals”) have been announced as presenters for this years show.

Mary J. Blige, fresh off her performance at the Super Bowl halftime show, will hit the stage to perform at the 53rd annual NAACP Image Awards, which airs live Saturday, February 26 on BET.

Jennifer Maas TV Business Writer“Insecure” creator and star Issa Rae has been named the recipient of the Producers Guild Awards’ 2022 Visionary Award.The Visionary Award honors producers across television, film or new media who share inspiring, uplifting stories that add unique value to society and culture. Past recipients include: Octavia Spencer, Kenya Barris, Ava DuVernay, Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner’s Plan B Entertainment, Illumination Entertainment’s Chis Meledandri, Laura Ziskin and Participant Media’s Jeff Skoll.Rae first garnered attention for her web series and subsequent best-selling book, “The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl.” She created and stars in HBO’s “Insecure,” which just concluded its fifth and final season in December.

Issa Rae, the award-winning actress, producer, writer and director, will be this year’s recipient of the Producers Guild’s Visionary Award, which honors those “who share inspiring, uplifting stories that add unique value to society and culture.” It will be presented to her in person at the 33rd Annual Producers Guild Awards on March 19 at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles.

USC Annenberg’s Inclusion Initiative released its annual “Inclusion in the Director’s Chair” which analyzes 1,500 top films from 2007 to 2021 for gender and race/ethnicity representation.

Apple TV Plus has revealed the first look for it’s upcoming spy thriller series “Slow Horses,” premiering on the platform April 1.Based on the popular CWA Gold-Dagger award-winning novels by Mick Herron, “Slow Horses” stars Gary Oldman as Jackson Lamb, a British intelligence officer who leads “Slough House,” an MI5 team composed of agents who made career-ending mistakes. The ensemble cast is rounded out by Jonathan Pryce, Kristin Scott Thomas, Jack Lowden and Olivia Cooke.“Slow Horses” is adapted for television by “Veep” writer Will Smith, who executive produces alongside Graham Yost, Jamie Laurenson, Hakan Kousetta, Iain Canning, Emile Sherman, Gail Mutrux, Douglas Urbanski and James Hawes.

Star Jones was one of the original panelists when “The View” launched back in 1997, and she returned to the show for the Friday, Feb. 4 edition.

André Leon Talley is among a new group of icons revisiting their careers in season 2 of. As teased in the trailer, the late fashion editor and former creative director participated in an episode of the Apple TV+ unscripted series, in which he reflects on his cultural impact through letters from fans, before his death at age 73 in January. The episode also reunited Talley with the series creator, R.J.

Ava DuVernay is a celebrated director, but also an absolute style icon.