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Melissa McCarthy is helping us get into the holiday spirit!

Caroline Brew editor From the pen of “Love Actually” writer-director Richard Curtis comes a new holiday comedy — but this time the magic of the season is literally magic. Premiering on Peacock on Nov. 22, “Genie” follows Melissa McCarthy as Flora, the titular character, who comes to the assistance of a despondent Bernard (Paapa Essiedu).

Peacock has unveiled a trailer, premiere date and first look photos for Genie, its previously untitled holiday fairytale comedy, starring Melissa McCarthy and Paapa Essiedu, which Love Life creator Sam Boyd directed from a script by Richard Curtis, the Oscar nom best known for Love Actually.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media Reporter Marc Maron has joined the cast of Universal’s untitled New York Christmas movie, written by Richard Curtis, the Oscar-nominated screenwriter of “Four Weddings and a Funeral,” “Notting Hill” and “Love Actually.” Maron is starring alongside Melissa McCarthy and Paapa Essiedu in the film, a fairy-tale comedy about a workaholic man who enlists the help of a magical genie to help win his family back before Christmas. Sam Boyd, who wrote and created the Anna Kendrick-led HBO Max series “Love Life,” will direct. It’s set to premiere on the NBCUniversal-owned streaming service Peacock on a yet-to-be-determined date.

Melissa McCarthy is going all out with her wardrobe for her upcoming movie, Bernard and the Genie!

Manori Ravindran Executive Editor of International Prime Video drama “The Devil’s Hour” has cast “Top Boy” star Saffron Hocking for Season 2. The British actor has joined the Hartswood Films-produced drama in the role of Sam Boyd, a detective sergeant who worked under DI Lucy Chambers (played by Jessica Raine) in a past life. “The Devil’s Hour” was created by Tom Moran, and is executive produced by “Sherlock” showrunner Steven Moffat. The six-part thriller premiered on Prime Video in October. The show follows Lucy, a social worker suffering from insomnia, who is inexplicably connected to a number of brutal murders in her neighbourhood, and is drawn into the search for a serial killer. The show also stars Peter Capaldi as Gideon Shepherd, a mysterious criminal with a unique relationship with time.

EXCLUSIVE: Paapa Essiedu (I May Destroy You) is set to star opposite Melissa McCarthy in the untitled New York Christmas movie from Universal and Working Title that we were first to report on.

EXCLUSIVE: Universal and Working Title have set Melissa McCarthy to star in an untitled Christmas-in-New York movie that will be written by Love Actually scribe Richard Curtis and directed by Sam Boyd.

HBO Max is dropping its first original scripted series Love Life, which has produced two seasons. They will be removed as part of a broader financial review of the streamer’s slate that has resulted in a purge of a number of titles at the end of the calendar year, including Gordita Chronicles, which was recently removed, and Minx, whose second season renewal also has been reversed.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large Retiring ABC series “Black-ish” picked up one more honor on Friday, a Humanitas Prize for comedy teleplay, while Apple TV+’s “Pachinko” and ABC’s “Women of the Movement” also were recognized at the event. Held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel and hosted by comedian Larry Wilmore, the 46th annual Humanitas Prize event centered on awards and $10,000 cash prizes to screenwriters across ten categories. In addition, Humanitas board president Jenny Bicks presented Filmmakers for Ukraine with the Kieser Award “in recognition of their work to connect the Ukrainian film and TV community impacted by the Russo-Ukrainian War with resources, jobs, and funding to meet basic needs.”

EXCLUSIVE: Writer, producer, director Sam Boyd has signed with UTA for worldwide representation in all areas.

followed Darby (Anna Kendrick) through the ups and downs of her dating in New York City, the anthology rom-com series shifts focus to Marcus (William Jackson Harper) who goes through his own romantic journey in season 2.

, HBO Max’s romantic comedy anthology series created by Sam Boyd, is back with an all-new installment about the ups and downs of dating in New York City. This time, William Jackson Harper takes over for Anna Kendrick as Marcus Watkins, who just had the rug pulled out from under him after the unexpected end to a marriage with the woman he thought was the one and is forced to rebuild his life brick by brick.

2 Dope Queens star Jessica Williams and Detroiters’ Chris ‘Comedian CP’ Powell are to star in the second season of HBO Max’s Love Life alongside William Jackson Harper.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterJessica Williams and Chris “Comedian CP” Powell have joined “Love Life” Season 2 at HBO Max.The pair joins William Jackson Harper, who will star in Season 2 of the anthology series.

Also Read: Sophie Turner to Voice Princess Charlotte in HBO Max's Animated Prince George SeriesFrom creator and co-showrunner Sam Boyd, the comedy anthology series is about the journey from first love to last love, and how the people we’re with along the way make us into who we are when we finally end up with someone forever.Harper is best known for starring as Chidi Anagonye on NBC’s “The Good Place,” which finished its four-season run early this year, and recently wrapped production on Barry

Ellise Shafer editorAfter screening the season one finale episode of HBO Max’s “Love Life,” Variety‘s Angelique Jackson hosted a panel discussion with Anna Kendrick, Sam Boyd, Zoë Chao, Bridget Bedard and Paul Feig to talk about its unexpected ending, writing their personal experiences into the show and what to expect in its second season.Kendrick — who stars as Darby Carter and also served as an executive producer — said that although the ending may have been unexpected for some fans, it was

Variety Staff Follow Us on Twitter“Love Life” star and executive producer Anna Kendrick, actor Zoë Chao and executive producers Sam Boyd, Bridget Bedard and Paul Feig will participate in an exclusive Q&A and screening of HBO Max’s series on July 2 at 5 p.m. PT / 8 p.m.

Anna Kendrick has “absolutely no guilt in the guilty pleasure” of her new HBO Max series “Love Life,” which marks her first dive into episodic TV.