REinvent Scores Deals on ‘Leave,’ ‘Comedy Queen’ (EXCLUSIVE)

Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentKino Lorber has acquired North American rights to first-time Lebanese director Mounia Akl’s timely drama “Costa Brava, Lebanon,” which launched positively last year from Venice.“Costa Brava” provides an acerbic take on Lebanon’s waste management crisis and its turbulent political landscape and combines the country’s strife with the global climate crisis. The darkly comic drama pairs Oscar-nominated Lebanese star and filmmaker Nadine Labaki (“Capernaum”) and Palestinian actor Saleh Bakri (“The Band’s Visit”) as a couple who has moved from Beirut to live idyllically in the mountains, until one day the government decides to build a garbage landfill right beside their house.

kicked off the Platinum Party at the Palace tribute concert outside Buckingham Palace.But many viewers might not have known the real origins of the ursine celebrity who hails from “darkest Peru” — yet was actually inspired by Jewish refugee children.Author Michael Bond, who passed away in 2017 at the age of 91, decided to write a book about an orphaned cub sent to England after spotting a toy bear alone on a shelf at Selfridge’s department store on Christmas Eve in 1956.“It looked rather forlorn,” he told The Sunday Telegraph, so he purchased the bear as a stocking stuffer for his wife and began to write a story about it. Less than two weeks later, he had a completed novel which was sold for 75 pounds.Bond revealed that while writing the first book, “A Bear Called Paddington,” he was partly inspired by vivid memories he had of seeing Jewish refugee children pass through the train station in his hometown of London, on their way to London from Nazi-dominated Europe ahead of World War II.The Kindertransport was an organized rescue effort that saw nearly 10,000 predominantly Jewish children from Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia and Poland settled in British foster homes and farms.

Thania Garcia Before Queen and Adam Lambert hit the stage for Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee concert on June 4, founding members Brian May and Roger Taylor revealed that they are planning to share a previously unreleased song featuring Freddie Mercury in September.The trio was interviewed for the event on BBC Radio 2 by Zoe Ball, whom Taylor told: “We did find a little gem from Freddie, that we’d kind of forgotten about and it was — It’s wonderful. Actually, it was real discovery.

Jon Burlingame editorAs the Marvel Cinematic Universe has expanded into television, its musical reach has also grown, embracing diversity both in terms of its composers and the music they make.English composer Natalie Holt (pictured above) brought unexpected sonorities to “Loki”; Cairo-based Hesham Nazih added specific Egyptian sounds to “Moon Knight”; and American composer Laura Karpman employed a traditional orchestra and choir on the animated “What If…?”“Loki is sort of a likable baddie,” says Holt, “a grand, Machiavellian, Shakespearean character, so I wanted some kind of gravitas, classical weight, to his theme.”Yet, in last summer’s six-part series, the Norse god of mischief (Tom Hiddleston) is also playing with time, which suggested more unusual sounds: the wailing of a theremin and its equally eerie French cousin, the ondes Martenot. “I’d been listening to [Lithuanian theremin virtuoso] Clara Rockmore and [BBC Radiophonic Workshop pioneer] Delia Derbyshire,” Holt explains.

Brit monarch Queen Elizabeth II and Paddington Bear have starred in a special short film to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

Jon Burlingame editorClassical composer Nico Muhly rarely writes for TV (the BBC “Howard’s End” was the last one, five years ago), making his score for Apple TV+’s eight-hour “Pachinko” something of an event. The century-spanning epic follows a poor Korean woman and her descendants as their lives intertwine, often unhappily, with those of their Japanese neighbors. Variety talked to Muhly about his sensitive music for the miniseries.Why did you want to tackle this project?I’d read the book, like the majority of Americans.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentParis-based sales company Charades has closed a raft of deals on “Forever Young,” Valeria Bruni Tedeschi’s film which competed at Cannes and earned a warm critical welcome. “Forever Young” opens at the end of the 1980s in Paris and follows a young troupe of comedians who have just have been admitted to Les Amandiers, the prestigious theater school headed by Patrice Chéreau. Bruni Tedeschi wrote the script alongside Agnès De Sacy and regular collaborator Noémie Lvovsky.

Queen Latifah isn't going to say no to a free trip to some idyllic locale! In fact, the actress has a few suggestions of her own when it comes to where they should film the sequel to her 2017 comedy The actress joined ET's Kevin Frazier on Thursday, alongside her co-star Adam Sandler, while promoting their new Netflix basketball drama.She took a few moments, however, to address producer Will Packer's announcement earlier this year that a follow-up to the hit comedy was in the works.When asked where the road trip comedy might take the stars — including Regina Hall, Jada Pinkett Smith and Tiffany Haddish — Latifah said with a laugh, «You need to ask Will where we going.»«I mean I wanna go to like Brazil… or I'm hearing South Africa,» she added.«Oh yeah yeah that's a good idea,» added Sandler — who is also known for writing comedies set in exotic locales.«I mean I'm down to go where it's warm, and where there's a beach!» Latifah added with a laugh. «But with the girls, it doesn't matter.

Tom Hanks was left a little surprised when Queen Elizabeth II shared with him her cocktail of choice.

Refresh for latest…: Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations are under way this morning in London with the annual Trooping the Colour parade from Buckingham Palace to Horse Guard’s Parade to celebrate the monarch’s Official Birthday. More than 1,400 soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians are taking part.

Adam Sandler is still recovering from an injury he suffered while on set.The celebrated comic spoke with ET's Kevin Frazier at the premiere of his new basketball drama,, at the Regency Village Theatre in Los Angeles on Wednesday, and opened up about filming the project alongside some basketball superstars.«I played with everybody, all the guys, and it's humiliating, you know?» Sandler said with a laugh. «You take a shot in front of them you see how flat your shot is you see how dumb you look you have no form.»Then. when they shoot.

The story of the Queen’s forgotten uncle, Prince George is so far-fetched, movie producers wouldn’t touch the script with a barge-pole. Story plots of Netflix blockbuster Bridgerton seem tame in comparison to the real-life exploits of Prince George.

Ivy Queen has fans concerned. This week the singer revealed that she is battling an issue with her health. ‘La Caballota’ announced this on social media by sharing an emotional video on her TikTok account from the hospital.

2022 marks Queen Elizabeth II’s 70th year on the throne, and many of Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations are just around the corner as the UK prepares to enjoy an extra long weekend from the 2nd–5th June. Street parties aside, beauty brands have also got in on the action with limited edition makeup and fragrance buys to commemorate the Queen’s very special milestone – as well as a couple of flash sales in her honour.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief“Lendarys,” a big-budget family adventure animation film that is currently in production, scored a handful of pre-sales during the Cannes Market. Rights sales are handled by Hong Kong-, Paris and Los Angeles-based All Rights Entertainment.With a production budget of $30 million, the film is the directorial debut of Philippe Duchene and Jean-Baptiste Cuvelier.

Top Gun: Maverick” are both surprising and confusing: “Music by Harold Faltermeyer, Lady Gaga and Hans Zimmer. Score produced by Lorne Balfe.”That may sound like a musical mess, but aside from Gaga, all the players have connections to the original “Top Gun” or each other through previous collaborations.

Leo Barraclough International Features EditorBerlin-based sales outfit M-Appeal has closed further deals for Jan Gassmann’s “99 Moons” in Italy (Teodora Film), France (La Vingt-Cinquième Heure) and Japan (AT Entertainment), following the film’s world premiere in the Cannes’ ACID sidebar.“99 Moons” follows the passionate and turbulent relationship of Bigna and Frank, two people from different worlds who become entwined in an erotic love story. With raw and intimate cinematography (Yunus Roy Imer, “Systemcrasher”), the film takes an unflinching look at the magnetism and power games of sexual attraction.

Christopher Vourlias Russia may have been cut off from much of the international film community, but here at Cannes, members of the country’s media business are quietly trying to line up deals.Nearly three months into the war in Ukraine, the leadership of the film festival has spent its opening week fielding questions about its stance on Russia. Festival chief Thierry Frémaux, for instance, was grilled over the inclusion of competition title “Tchaikovsky’s Wife,” a movie with financial ties to Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich.