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Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent With “Chiara,” Susanna Nicchiarelli’s portrait of Saint Clare of Assisi – the 13th century saint born into a wealthy family who at age 18 became a nun after hearing St. Francis preach – the Italian director completes her trilogy of female biopics, segueing from “Nico, 1988” and “Miss Marx,” which both launched from Venice’s Horizons section. With “Chiara,” she makes the leap into the main Venice competition. Nicchiarelli spoke to Variety about what drew her to portraying this prototypical feminist and directing “My Brilliant Friend” star Margherita Mazzucco in the pic’s titular role. Excerpts. What drove you to want to tell us this story about St. Clare?Well, first of all, I was always passionate about Saint Francis. I have a very strong memory when I first saw Franco Zeffirelli’s “Brother Sun, Sister Moon.” I was at school when they showed it to us and this boy, this man, taking his clothes off in front of the Bishop. That was a very strong image. Francis’ battle speaks to us just as much today because it’s a battle for poverty, against social injustice. It’s about being on the side of the poor, of those who are different, and the injustices of a society in which very few have everything and then most have nothing. So, this was their battle. The medieval society was like that. It’s not so different from the way it is now.

thing for a woman to have, but in the cult classic film The Witches of Eastwick, award-winning actress Susan Sarandon dares to do it anyway—gossip be damned.Loosely based on John Updike’s novel of the same name, the 1987 film adaptation starring , Cher, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Jack Nicholson is basically Practical Magic, but kinky and subversive. Bored of their personal and professional lives, three single women—Jane, Alex, and Sukie respectively—accidentally summon their ideal man: a devilishly handsome stranger named Daryl.

Susanna Reid and Ben Shephard opened Good Morning Britain for the first time following the Queen's death on Friday morning (September 9). The nation, and the world, was rocked by the news that Queen Elizabeth II had died, aged 96, on Thursday afternoon.

Daniel D'Addario Chief TV Critic The prospect of Susan Sarandon leading an “Empire”-style music drama set in the world of country music is an instantly alluring one. Not merely is Sarandon a compelling screen presence (one who FX’s “Feud” proved works well on TV), but the particular contours of her public image as a stalwart leftist activist would seem to rub up intriguingly against her character, a survivor in the culturally conservative world of Nashville. Bad luck for viewers, then, that Sarandon, largely at a remove from the story for plot reasons, is such a minimally used part of Fox’s new drama “Monarch,” and that the elements that supersede her hold such little interest. Dottie Cantrell Roman and Albie Roman, played by Sarandon and Trace Adkins, are the parents to three children, two of them rival vocalists (Anna Friel and Beth Ditto); Dottie and Albie’s son (Joshua Sasse) must try to hold the clan together despite his sisters’ egos and need for validation.

Susanna Reid hit back at Dr Hilary Jones' "harsh" comments on Wednesday's Good Morning Britain as they had a debate about the delays facing the ambulance service. During the latest instalment, Susanna, 51, Dr Hilary, 69, and Ed Balls discussed new Prime Minister Liz Truss' pledge to make the NHS an "early priority" so people can get doctor's appointments or services they need.The trio then discussed the current delays facing the ambulance service as Susanna admitted she was "worried" about calling an ambulance after someone she was with had a fall and was told it could take up to five hours.

Edwina Currie left Susanna Reid doing a double take as she appeared on Good Morning Britain. The former MP and Minister for Health appeared live on Monday's edition of the ITV news programme via video link from her home in the Peak District.

Jesse Lee Soffer is leaving, with the upcoming 10th season marking his last as Det. Jay Halstead.

WandaVision boss Matt Shakman is in talks to direct the forthcoming Fantastic Four reboot.The filmmaker has been tapped to take over the Marvel project after exiting the Star Trek film for Paramount.“Matt Shakman is an incredibly talented filmmaker, and we regret the timing didn’t align for him to direct our upcoming Star Trek film,” Paramount Pictures said in a statement about Shakman’s exit, per The Hollywood Reporter.“We are grateful for his many contributions, are excited about the creative vision of this next chapter and look forward to bringing it to audiences all around world.”Spider-Man director Jon Watts was set to helm the new Fantastic Four film but stepped away from the project back in April.Earlier this year, William Jackson Harper responded to rumours he had been cast in the Fantastic Four reboot, addressing fan-casting on Twitter which campaigned for him to play Mister Fantastic.Harper told NME that he is flattered by the attention but said that “Twitter doesn’t cast movies”.“I’d be really happy if Marvel was listening, but they haven’t called me and I’m not going to be in Fantastic Four,” the actor went on.“As far as I know: maybe they have something [in mind] up the docket, but no one’s reached out to me.”WandaVision was nominated for 24 Emmy awards and won three.

A shake-up in Chicago. Jesse Lee Soffer is set to exit Chicago P.D. during the upcoming 10th season.

Jesse Lee Soffer is bidding farewell to “Chicago P.D.”.

Jesse Lee Soffer has announced that he is leaving Chicago PD after the upcoming 10th season.