Partnership Showbiz and Celebrity Breaking News

IMAX is ramping up its operations in France, as well as expanding its longstanding relationship with Kinepolis in Europe and North America. In France, IMAX will aim to nearly triple the number of its systems from the 22 currently in operation to more than 60. One of those will be in partnership with Belgian exhibitor Kinepolis in Nimes.

Anna Tingley If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission. Haley Lu Richardson’s drink of choice is a tequila soda. When she’s not at her Los Angeles home with her cat Derbin, dancing alone to Phoebe Bridgers (Richardson’s activity of choice when she needs to recharge), the actor can be found sipping the classic mixer at any one of the star-studded events she’s attended over the past year. Following the 27 year-old’s breakout role as Portia in HBO’s “The White Lotus,” she’s been everywhere from Oscar after parties to her first New York Fashion Week. However, Richardson’s most thrilling night out was hundreds of miles outside of Hollywood, before the world was introduced to Portia. While filming “The White Lotus” in the desolate Italian city of Taormina, Richardson planned an excursion to Palermo with the entire cast to celebrate Adam DiMarco’s birthday, where they ended up at a strip club.

Naman Ramachandran Stephen Graham’s Matriarch Productions has set a development and production partnership with Warp Films. Graham (“The Virtues,” “Boiling Point,” “Time,” “Help”) previously collaborated with Warp on his breakout role of Andrew “Combo” Gascoigne in award-winning film and series “This is England.” Matriarch, co-founded by Graham and his actor-producer wife Hannah Walters (“Time,” “Boiling Point,” “Malpractice,” “This is England”), is working on several development projects with Warp, whose credits also include “Submarine,” “Four Lions” and “Tyrannosaur.” Hayley Squires (“I, Daniel Blake,” “Adult Material”) is working on a development script, with more names to be announced imminently. Projects developed through the new partnership will be co-produced by the two companies.

Jem Aswad Senior Music Editor Black Eyed Peas frontman and veteran producer, entrepreneur and motor-racing enthusiast Will.I.Am has announced a partnership with Formula 1 that he’s launching with a new single with Lil Wayne titled, naturally enough, “The Formula.” Will is Formula 1’s new Global Artist in Residence, and the 2023 FIA Formula 1 championship season will see the release of more F1-inspired tracks as part of a Global Artist in Residence alliance, culminating in a new Will.I.Am solo album slated for the fall of 2023.  “The Formula” is the first music to be released and will also be featured within the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix broadcast on May 7. 

Despite all of the upheaval at Twitter under new owner Elon Musk in recent months, the social media firm and NBCUniversal say they have gotten their earliest start yet in ramping up their Olympic Games partnership.

Jem Aswad Senior Music Editor Fast-rising R&B star Brent Faiyaz has struck a wide-ranging partnership with Steve Stoute’s company UnitedMasters that spans a recording partnership and a creative agency. UnitedMasters CEO and founder Steve Stoute says, “Brent Faiyaz is one of the most prolific independent artists today and we are extremely excited to embark on this new partnership with him. It’s been inspiring to watch his journey as an artist over the years and with this partnership we look to further amplify his creative vision and support his entrepreneurial ambitions.”

Adidas shareholders have filed a class action lawsuit against the sportswear company in relation to the collapse last year of its partnership with Kanye West.They claim that bosses there were aware of the problematic behaviour of the firm’s long-term celebrity partner and therefore should have done more to mitigate the commercial impact of any controversy that would necessitate the axing of that partnership.West and Adidas had a long and very profitable alliance around the former’s Yeezy brand, but that came to an end last October in the wake of the rapper making a number of racist and antisemitic statements.At the time, the sportswear firm stated: “Adidas does not tolerate antisemitism and any other sort of hate speech. Ye’s recent comments and actions have been unacceptable, hateful and dangerous, and they violate the company’s values of diversity and inclusion, mutual respect and fairness”.“After a thorough review”, it went on, “the company has taken the decision to terminate the partnership with Ye immediately, end production of Yeezy branded products and stop all payments to Ye and his companies.

Naman Ramachandran Indian streamer Sony LIV and production house Applause Entertainment have extended their existing partnership with two new series and renewals for four more. Among the new series, “36 Days,” produced in association with BBC Studios India is a suspense thriller, directed by Vishal Furia, featuring an ensemble cast including Neha Sharma, Purab Kohli, Shruti Seth, Chandan Roy Sanyal, Amruta Khanvilkar, Sharib Hashmi, Shernaz Patel, Faishal Rashid, Chahat Vig and Kenneth Desai. “Kafas” (“Cage”) is a social drama series starring Sharman Joshi, Mona Singh, Vivan Bhathena, Preeti Jhangiani and Mikail Gandhi in lead roles and directed by Sahil Sangha.

Warner Bros Discovery has signed a multi-year licensing deal with Viacom18 under which its JioCinema service will become the new streaming home of HBO, Max Original and Warner Bros content in India starting next month. 

Indian streamer SonyLIV has ordered two new series, social drama Kafas and suspense thriller 36 Days, from production powerhouse Applause Entertainment, along with four returning shows. 

The Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF) has shared details about its forthcoming 57th edition, which runs from June 30 – July 8.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Turkish TV content powerhouse Medyapim and digital distribution company Merzigo and have forged a partnership that aims to boost the global circulation of its vast library of Turkish dramas. The four-year agreement between Medyapim and Merzigo, which uses cutting-edge technology to provide innovative monetization, marketing and distribution services, will facilitate the global distribution of Turkish content in many regions, including Latin America, Africa and Asia, the companies said in a statement. The service will provide viewers a range of more than 20 language options. Medyapim, which comprises several subsidiaries and partners including MF Yapim, Madd, and Mednova, has a library of more than 10,000 hours of TV content spanning from dramas and sitcoms to feature films and game shows. Their hit shows include “Mother” (pictured); “A Woman Scorned”; and “A Fairy Tale.”

Mrs Hinch has ended her partnership with Tesco after just two years, as she looks to focus on "other projects," according to reports.The 33 year old, real name Sophie Hinchcliffe, landed a lucrative deal with the supermarket giant two years ago and has gone on to release products in collaboration with Tesco, including homeware products, garden furniture and clothing. The first Mrs Hinch x Tesco collection launched in January 2021, with items including loungewear, candles, bedlinen and more, all designed in Sophie's signature grey and silver colour scheme.

The CEO of Anheuser-Busch has released an “apology” following its partnership with TikTok star Dylan Mulvaney.

Paramount+ and Formula 1 racing are revving up a first-of-its-kind promotional partnership heading into the 2023-2024 season. The deal, announced Wednesday, will include Paramount-centered Fan Zones featuring the studio’s hit series, blockbuster movies and beloved characters at official F1 events, trackside signage, digital sponsorships and more.

Kid Rock has hit out at Anheuser-Busch over its partnership with trans activist and influencer Dylan Mulvaney, who is a Bud Light brand influencer.Mulvaney, who has over 10million followers on TikTok, posted a video advertising the company’s ‘Easy Carry’ contest, which offers customers a chance to win $15,000.The company also sent her a personalised can with her face and a message on the top reading ‘Cheers to 365 Days of Being a Woman’, to commemorate 365 days since she began her gender transition.In response, a number of conservatives shared their supposed anger over the partnership, criticising Mulvaney and encouraging other right-wingers to attack the TikTok star.Kid Rock joined in with these attacks last week when he posted a video of himself using a semi-automatic rifle to shoot bullets at several cases of Bud Light which had been placed on top of a table by a river.“Grandpa is feeling a little frisky today. Let me tell you as clear and concise as possible,” he said before shooting the beer.

Nike is showing support for the LGBTQ community amid the transphobic backlash Dylan Mulvaney has been receiving for her partnership with the brand.

Thania Garcia Beer conglomerate Anheuser-Busch has found itself at the center of a controversial debate surrounding its partnership with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney, who was recently recruited to promote the brand’s March Madness contest. The conversation escalated into a highly publicized online protest when Kid Rock posted a video of himself shooting three cases of Bud Light with an assault rifle — all while sporting a MAGA hat. “Fuck Bud Light and fuck Anheuser-Busch,” he declared in the video, which now has over 50,000 re-tweets and 200,000 likes. Country singer Travis Tritt also vocalized his displeasure, tweeting that he would no longer support Anheuser-Busch, the company that produces Budweiser and Bud Light.

Matt Donnelly Senior Film Writer Ron Howard and Brian Grazer’s Imagine Entertainment has entered a significant content deal with Major League Baseball, Variety can report exclusively. The partnership will yield multiple scripted and unscripted projects, the first of which is a documentary feature from noted filmmaker R.J. Cutler (“The September Issue,” “Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry”) following baseball’s 2023 world series. “I’ve always been drawn to the drama, high stakes, and emotion of baseball ever since I was kid in the bleachers of Dodger Stadium,” Oscar winner Howard told Variety. “These also happen to be the very same elements that make for a great movie or television show, which is why Brian, Imagine, and I are so excited to be teaming up with Major League Baseball to bring more of their stories to life.”

Kid Rock is taking a stand, y’all! He just will not abide… the existence of trans people we guess?

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor NBCUniversal’s Peacock has announced a hot new reality dating show — but, you know, not really. In an early April Fool’s Day stunt, Peacock announced a new show with language-learning app Duolingo: “Love Language,” purportedly following 10 “confident and flirty singles” from across the globe coming together “to share a house in paradise in hopes of finding true love.” The catch: None of them speaks the same language. But the only thing real about the show is the trailer, which is available on the Peacock and Duolingo apps and on social channels (watch below).

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Top Middle East broadcaster MBC Group has forged a partnership with U.S. anime and manga distributor Tokyopop under which they are forming a hub dedicated to the licensing, promotion, and production of anime content in the region. The joint venture, called MBC Anime, is led by Stu Levy, the American anime and manga expert who is founder and CEO of Tokyopop, a prominent international distributor, licensor, and publisher of anime and manga. Through the new initiative, MBC Anime “will commission, produce, and invest in a series of world-class quality anime titles,” according to an MBC statement.

The Cannes Film Festival has renewed its short film competition partnership with TikTok for a second year in a move that is likely to come under scrutiny amid the global debate over the platform’s privacy and data security record.

Strictly Come Dancing star Gorka Marquez has been a professional dancer on the BBC show since 2016, and despite reaching the finals last year and choreographing some unforgettable routines, there is one dance he wishes he could have been part of.During an impromptu Q&A on Instagram, a fan asked him: "What dance of another celeb and pro, do you wish was one of yours?"Without hesitation, Gorka fondly recalled his close friend Giovanni Pernice and Rose Ayling-Ellis' iconic Couple's Choice routine - which won them an award. Relive the dance below… "Well, for me, it's not about the dance and how good is the dance or the steps are, it's more about the moment and how memorable is that moment," Gorka stated."So if I have to choose one, I would choose Giovanni's and Rose – their Couple's Choice.

Manori Ravindran Executive Editor of International “Luther” star Idris Elba and media mogul Mo Abudu are joining forces to empower talent from Africa and the diaspora through their respective production companies, Green Door Pictures and EbonyLife Media. The new partnership aims to provide opportunities through capacity building as well as large-scale global productions. New education and mentoring initiatives will launch through the partnership to foster both the lost generation and a new generation of creatives. Through their collaboration, Elba and Abudu aim to nurture a more inclusive and diverse media landscape for stories from Africa and its diaspora. They are calling on industry leaders, the wider public sector, governments and multilateral agencies to help them grow talent globally and build capacity around the continent of Africa.

Idris Elba and Mo Abudu have partnered on a landmark initiative to “empower and uplift talent from Africa and the Diaspora.”

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Singapore’s Mocha Chai Laboratories and Emissary Pictures, a company that straddles New Zealand, Australia and Indonesia, have announced a strategic partnership for the development and production of cross-cultural films, series and content in Asia. The venture will have offices in all four countries and will identify, develop and produce content across genres and formats, including films, television series, documentaries and digital content. The agreement was announced in Hong Kong on the first day of the FilMart rights market. The pair say that they have scripted and unscripted projects in development and production. Slate details, however, remain under wraps as do distribution plans.

Rachel Seo Digital creator, podcaster and filmmaker Markiplier has signed an exclusive video partnership with Spotify for his two podcasts, “Distractible” and “Go! My Favorite Sports Team.” Video episodes of both podcasts will be available to stream on Spotify exclusively. Markiplier is set to debut additional exclusive video content on the platform. “Distractible,” which Markiplier hosts with Wade Barnes and Bob Muyskens, reached the No. 1 spot on Spotify’s podcasts charts the week of its debut in 2021. The podcast centers on discussions of various, seemingly random topics such as anti-aging practices, Halloween candy and roller coasters. “Go! My Favorite Sports Team” is hosted by Markiplier and Tyler Scheid; it launched in 2022 and provides humorous commentary on the world of sports.

Will and Jada Pinkett Smith make up one of the most famous and long-lasting relationships in Hollywood, but the road hasn't been a conventional one. They've been married for 25 years, and have both been remarkably open about both the struggles and the triumphs of their strong union over the years.But their relationship was recently thrust into the spotlight again, when Chris Rock hit back at them — particularly Jada's entanglement scandal with August Alsina — during his live Netflix special in which he addressed Smith shockingly slapping him at the 2022 Oscars.

Thinus Ferreira Guest Contributor In the chase for scale in streaming, it’s the technology behind NBCUniversal’s Peacock that could be the saving grace for African SVOD service Showmax. Pan-African pay-TV operator MultiChoice revealed on Thursday that it will be relaunching its regional streamer Showmax with Peacock technology. NBCUniversal and the U.K.’s Sky will take a 30% share in a new company that will redevelop and overhaul Showmax for African audiences. Launched in 2015, Showmax has been feeling the intense pressure of lower-priced global streamers like Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV+ scooping up subscribers across the African market. (HBO Max is yet to launch and Paramount is still working on a Paramount+ rollout for the continent.)

The Glastonbury Festival has announced a “landmark multi-year partnership” with Vodafone, which becomes the event’s official connectivity partner.And if you’re wondering, as you might reasonably do, what the fuck that means, well, “as official connectivity partner, Vodafone has exclusive rights to the festival and throughout the partnership will use its network to deliver innovative experiences using cutting-edge technology”.So good news for fans of innovative experiences and cutting-edge technology.Also, “Vodafone’s award-winning network will be boosted to the highest capacity ever, making it super reliable to keep friends and families connected to each other, whether they’re on site in Somerset or watching from home”.So prepare yourself for some high capacity, super reliable connections.Oh, and “Vodafone customers will be able to gain access to tickets to a sold-out festival via its VeryMe Rewards programme available on the MyVodafone app. VeryMe promotions and experiences will also be available to everyone who is at the festival”.So get ready for some VeryMe good times.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior Correspondent “The Late Late Show With James Corden” might be making its final curtain call on CBS this spring, but CBS Studios is continuing its partnership with Fulwell 73, the production company behind the late-night show and much more. Fulwell 73 has re-upped its first-look development deal with CBS Studios for three more years, Variety has learned. A person familiar with the agreement says the renewal deal began last fall. Under the deal, Fulwell 73 will continue to develop scripted, alternative and digital projects for the studio across broadcast, cable, streaming and digital platforms. Fulwell 73 first inked a deal with CBS Studios in 2016. The company has been in business with CBS since 2015 when Corden began hosting “The Late Late Show,” which became a mega success for the company defined by countless viral moments during its run.

Prince William and Kate Middleton’s foundation has announced a new collaboration to help create therapy allotments and gardens offering mental health support in south Wales. The Prince and Princess of Wales visited the site where the first garden will be developed at Brynawel Rehabilitation Centre, near the town of Pontyclun in Wales on Tuesday to mark the announcement of the social enterprise partnership. The royal couple’s charitable organisation is working with Life at No.27 – a horticultural therapy and mental health counselling provider – to scale up its gardening mission, with six gardens eventually being created across south Wales.

SM Entertainment, HYBE has criticised a recent partnership the K-pop agency has forged with South Korean tech giant Kakao.Earlier this month, Kakao shared that it had acquired a 9.05 per cent stake in SM, which would have made it the second-largest shareholder of the company after founder Lee Soo-man. HYBE later announced that it had struck a deal to acquire a 14.8 per cent stake in SM from Lee, thus becoming its biggest shareholder.

Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes hailed the partnership Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford have developed this season ahead of Thursday night's Europa League clash with Barcelona at Old Trafford.

First Look, the works-in-progress strand of the Locarno film festival’s industry section, is set to highlight independent UK films for its 2023 edition.