Ryan Kalil Latest Celebrity News & Gossip

EXCLUSIVE: Myles Bullock (BMF) and Vince Staples (Lazor Wulf) are the latest additions to the cast of 20th Century Studios’ White Men Can’t Jump reboot. They join an ensemble that also includes Jack Harlow, Sinqua Walls, Lance Reddick, Teyana Taylor, Laura Harrier, Tamera ‘Tee’ Kissen and more, as previously announced.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter Mortal Media, the film and TV production company co-founded by Blake Griffin and Ryan Kalil, has signed with WME for representation, Variety has learned exclusively. WME will rep Mortal Media’s scripted and unscripted slate, while also helping the company expand into brand partnerships and creative marketing services. In addition, Griffin has signed with WME for off-court representation.

Andrew Wallenstein President and Chief Media Analyst Ryan Kalil and Blake Griffin are well known as professional athletes in the NFL and NBA, respectively, but they’re also making a name for themselves off the field with their own production company. Griffin is a current Boston Celtic and Kalil is a former Carolina Panther.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter Blake Griffin and Ryan Kalil’s film and TV production company, mortal media, has led an investment round for animation studio Swaybox Studios, Variety has learned exclusively. As part of the investment, Mortal Media will join Swaybox’s advisory board, while Griffin and Kalil have also put an untitled live-action/animation hybrid project into development with the studio. Swaybox was co-founded by Theresa Andersson and Arthur Mintz in 2013 in Shreveport, Louisiana.

William Earl Variety and Sportico will partner for the first time to present a co-branded Sports and Entertainment Summit, presented by City National Bank, on July 13 in Los Angeles. Their collaboration marks an expanded day of programming for the event. NBA All-Star, entrepreneur and philanthropist Russell Westbrook; NBA All-Star and producer Blake Griffin; Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles; Fox Sports’ Mark Silverman and ESPN’s Rosalyn Durant are among the event’s headlining speakers. Westbrook will speak to his growing business, philanthropic and entertainment interests off the court as part of his company Russell Westbrook Enterprises, which includes advertising company RW Digital, production company Zero World Media and his Why Not? Foundation aimed at helping at-risk youth through structured educational opportunities, workforce development and accessible mental health resources.

EXCLUSIVE: Mortal Media, Blake Griffin and Ryan Kalil’s Los Angeles-based film and television production company, is expanding its senior leadership team with the addition of Tessie Goodrich as Vice President of Film and Television. In her new role, she will focus on development and production across Mortal Media’s scripted and unscripted slates.

EXCLUSIVE: Blake Griffin and Ryan Kalil are getting into business with Sony Pictures Entertainment. The producing partners have signed a multi-year first-look development and production deal for film and TV via their Mortal Media production banner.

EXCLUSIVE: Fox is developing the single-cam comedy series Get Buckets from executive producers and writers Stephen Falk (You’re the Worst), Allen Maldonado (Heels), Darrell Britt-Gibson (The Wire), and Brandon Mychal Smith (Four Weddings and a Funeral). Maldonado, Britt-Gibson, and Smith will also star.

EXCLUSIVE: Veteran UTA Motion Picture Literary Agent Bill Zotti has joined Kaplan/Perrone Entertainment as a manager.  Zotti spent the last five years at UTA and before that at CAA, repping high profile writers, directors, and producer that included Scott Neustadter & Michael Weber (Daisy Jones & the Six), Katie Silberman (Don’t Worry Darling), Dan Gregor & Doug Mand (Naked Gun), Gemma Burgess (My Lady Jane), Leah McKendrick (Scrambled), Flora Greeson (The High Note), Carrie Solomon (Ocean’s Prequel), Amy Aniobi (Insecure), Tess Morris (Sooner Or Later), Darren Lemke (Kung Fu Panda), Dave Green (Coyote Vs. Acme), Mike Mitchell (Kung Fu Panda), Yassir Lester (War Machine), Rodney Barnes (Winning Time), and Ryan Kalil & Blake Griffin (Hello, Tomorrow). Zotti was at CAA for 12 years prior to joining UTA.

EXCLUSIVE: It’s starting to feel a lot like Christmas.

EXCLUSIVE: APA has signed comedian and actress Tamera “Tee” Kissen for representation in all areas.

EXCLUSIVE: Lance Reddick (John Wick franchise), Teyana Taylor (Coming 2 America) and Laura Harrier (Hollywood) are the latest additions to 20th Century Studios’ White Men Can’t Jump reboot. They’re set to star alongside previously announced cast members Jack Harlow and Sinqua Walls.

Woody Harrelson as Billy Hoyle, a former college basketball star who wins bets against streetballers who think they can beat him because he’s white. His hustling strategy changes when he runs into Sidney (Wesley Snipes), another baller who tricks Billy out of a huge chunk of cash.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorGrammy-nominated rapper and Variety Hitmakers cover star Jack Harlow has announced that his second major-label album, “Come Home the Kids Miss You,” will be released May 6 via Generation Now/Atlantic Records. The album will feature the single “Nail Tech,” which was released last month.Harlow talked with Variety about the album last November.

Todd Spangler NY Digital EditorIn today’s podcast news roundup, Vince Vaughn teams up with two former NFL pros to launch podcast production firm Audiorama; media startup Puck is launching podcasts with Spotify’s The Ringer and Audacy’s Cadence13; Spotify’s 2022 Sound Up accelerator program is geared toward family podcasters; and more.Vince Vaughn (“Wedding Crashers,” “Brawl in Cellblock 99”), along with former Carolina Panthers players Greg Olsen and Ryan Kalil and venture fund Powerhouse Capital, this week launched Audiorama, a podcast network and production company centered on “transformative podcasts” that enlighten, entertain and inform. Mikey Fowler, formerly with Barstool Sports, is VP and GM of the newly founded venture.

EXCLUSIVE: Major Crimes alum Michael Paul Chan is set for a heavily recurring role opposite Billy Crudup in Apple TV+ original series Hello Tomorrow!, from MRC Television.

EXCLUSIVE: Vince Vaughn has teamed up with former Carolina Panthers duo Ryan Kalil and Greg Olsen to launch a podcast network and production company.

Jack Harlow will make his acting debut starring in an upcoming reboot of Ron Shelton’s 1992 sports comedy White Men Can’t Jump by 20th Century Fox.As Deadline reports, the rapper was offered the role after his first ever screen audition. The original film starred Wesley Snipes and Woody Harrelson as street basketball hustlers who team up to go for a bigger score.

Woody Harrelson as Billy Hoyle, a former college basketball star who wins bets against streetballers who think they can beat him because he’s white. His hustling strategy changes when he runs into Sidney (Wesley Snipes), another baller who tricks Billy out of a huge chunk of cash.

EXCLUSIVE: Talk about a slam-dunk audition. Musician Jack Harlow is set to make his acting debut in 20th Century’s reboot of White Men Can’t Jump. Calmatic is directing a script by Kenya Barris and Doug Hall. Barris and his Khalabo Ink Society banner are producing. Blake Griffin, Ryan Kalil and Noah Weinstein are executive producing through their Mortal Media banner. Hall and E. Brian Dobbins will also exec produce.

EXCLUSIVE: Dagmara Dominczyk (Succession) is set for a key recurring role opposite Billy Crudup in Apple TV+ original series Hello Tomorrow!, from MRC Television.