Sony Showbiz and Celebrity Breaking News

EXCLUSIVE: Crunchyroll has tapped Nichole Sakura (Superstore) for the title role in the English-language dub of their acclaimed animated feature Suzume, which in addition to the original subtitled version, debuts in theaters in Australia and New Zealand on April 13, coming to the U.S., Canada, the UK and Ireland the following day.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Viz Media has picked up a wide collection of rights in North America and Latin America to animated Japanese sports series “Captain Tsubasa: Junior Youth Arc.” The series is adapted from a popular manga by Yoichi Takahashi and is licensed by Shueisha Inc. The deal includes digital streaming, TV, electronic sell-thru, home video and merchandise rights for North and Latin American territories. The new series is currently being produced by Studio KAI, with the official main staff including: director Ono Katsumi; character design and executive animation director, Watanabe Hajime; and series composition, Tomioka Atsuhiro. The voice cast includes Sanpei Yuko as Tsubasa Ozora, Gukuyama Jun as Karl Heinz Schneider and Suzumura Kenichi as Wakabayashi Genzo and Hyuga Kojiro as Sato Takuya. It is set to launch October 2023.

EXCLUSIVE: Josh Gordon and Will Speck have signed a first look deal with Sony Pictures Entertainment to develop and produce feature films. The news comes in the wake of their feature take of children’s book Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile grossing over $104M WW.

DEALSSony Music Publishing and Chosen Music have partnered to sign singer-songwriter Caity Baser. “I am so delighted to be a part of the Sony family”, she says. “Also a huge thanks to Chosen who have worked with me since the very start of my songwriting journey.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large Roku Channel scripted series head Colin Davis has jumped to Sony Pictures Television Studios as the studio’s new exec VP of comedy development, Variety has confirmed. As part of the exec shuffle, back at Roku, Brian Tannenbaum has replaced Davis as head of scripted on an interim level. Davis will report to Sony Pictures TV Studios co-president Jason Clodfelter and oversee comedy development for all platforms. Davis’ team will include comedy development senior VP, animation VP Frank Ochoa and comedy development manager Jackie Wertheimer. He starts on May 1. At Roku, Davis oversaw the launch of series including the “Reno 911” reboot and Kevin Hart’s “Die Harter,” as well as the greenlight and release of the feature “Weird: The Al Yankovic Story.” Davis joined Roku as part of its acquisition of Quibi content; he had previously led scripted at that very brief short-form subscription service. Before Quibi, he handled comedy development at Turner, working on shows such as “Search Party.” His interim replacement, Tannenbaum, also joined Roku from Quibi..

EXCLUSIVE: Roku has quickly found its new scripted boss.

EXCLUSIVE: Colin Davis, Head of Scripted Originals for the Roku Channel, is leaving Roku’s free ad-supported streaming service to join Sony as EVP of Comedy Development at Sony Pictures Television Studios. Davis, who starts May 1, will oversee development of comedies for all platforms, reporting to Jason Clodfelter, Co-President of Sony Pictures Television Studios.

The American Cinematheque is bringing on Jason Blum, Nicole Brown, Charles D. King, and Scott Stuber as the newest members of its board of directors.“Each brings a unique perspective and appreciation of film culture and exhibition as the AC continues to expand its programming and community engagement,” stated American Cinematheque Chairman Rick Nicita.Blum founded Blumhouse, a multimedia film and TV company regarded as the driving force in horror that recently entered the video game business.

Nancy Lenehan is set as a lead opposite Ellie Kemper in ABC’s Drop-Off (working title), a comedy pilot based on the British series Motherland, from writer Julieanne Smolinski, Sharon Horgan and Clelia Mountford’s Merman Television, Paul Feig’s Feigco Entertainment, Lionsgate and ABC Signature. Judy Greer, Karan Soni and Michaela Conlin also star.

A reimagining of the classic 1950s TV game show I’ve Got A Secret is in the works. Sony Pictures Television’s Embassy Row, Werner Entertainment and Game Show Enterprises Studios, GSN’s production arm, have teamed to produce the pilot for a potential series, hosted by Katie Nolan (Friday Night Baseball), that will be available for network and syndication.

Charna Flam City Year Los Angeles announced board member and Oscar winner Octavia Spencer will be honored at the organization’s 12th annual Spring Break: Destination Education event on May 6. Spencer’s “The Help” co-star Viola Davis will present her with the award at the fundraiser, which is taking place at Sony Picture Studios in Culver City. In addition to Spencer, Kevin Demoff, COO of the L.A. Rams and City Year board member, will also be honored. For years, Spencer has participated in the City Year mentorship program, which aids thousands of children across Los Angeles public schools through tutoring programs and social opportunities. Spencer has been advocating for education throughout her career, all in an effort to ensure more students have access to the tools they need to succeed.

Miranda Lambert announced some major news on Wednesday that came as a complete surprise to her fans. The country music singer took to Instagram to reveal that she is preparing for a new "adventure" after deciding to part ways with her record label, Sony, after 20 years. The announcement was made even more poignant as she shared it on the 18th anniversary of the release of her first album, Kerosene.WATCH: How Miranda Lambert became one of the most successful country music singersSharing a collage of the stunning artwork for nine of her records, Miranda penned: "Since I was 19 years old, Sony has been my home in Nashville.

A “Gattaca” TV series is in the works at Showtime, according to multiple media reports.Howard Gordon and Alex Gansa are reportedly in talks to return to the network to reboot the 1997 flick after co-creating Showtime’s “Homeland,” which ran for for eight seasons and produced nearly 100 episodes.Based off the Andrew Niccol-written and direct film starring Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman, “Gattaca” centers on a dystopian near future in which society is guided by eugenics as each potential child is planned to receive the most desirable traits of their parents. Showtime did not immediately respond to TheWrap’s request for comment.While details regarding the series, which hails from Sony Pictures Television, are still being finalized, Gordon and Gansa are said to be set to write the series alongside Craig Borten.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter A series adaptation of “Gattaca” is in development at Showtime, Variety has learned from sources. Exact plot details on the series are still under wraps, but sources say that Alex Gansa is attached to serve as showrunner and executive producer, with Gansa’s partner Howard Gordon also executive producing. They co-created the show with Craig Borten, who also executive produces. Sony Pictures Television will produce, with Gansa and Gordon currently under an overall deal at independent studio. Sources stress that deals for the project are not yet closed. Showtime and Sony declined to comment.

Homeland co-creators/executive producers Howard Gordon and Alex Gansa are plotting a return to Showtime with Gattaca, a series based on the 1997 movie of the same name. Details are not confirmed as deals for the project, from Sony Pictures Television, are still being finalized.

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic Miranda Lambert announced Wednesday that she is leaving Sony Music Nashville, the company she’s been with since the beginning of her almost two-decade recording career. She did not say where she might be landing after her departure — only that she “can’t wait” to see what comes next. “Since I was 19 years old, Sony has been my home in Nashville,” Lambert said in a social post. “Over the last 20 years together we have released albums that allowed me to share my story with the world, and we’ve reached heights I’d never even dreamed were possible. “I’m so thankful for our time together and everything they made possible for me,” Lambert continued, “yet I wouldn’t be true to myself if I wasn’t constantly looking for the next challenge and a new way to stretch my creativity. With that in mind, I’ve decided to say goodbye to my Sony family. I can’t wait to see what the next adventure holds.”

EXCLUSIVE: Michaela Conlin has been cast as a series regular opposite Ellie Kemper in ABC’s Drop-Off (working title), a comedy pilot based on the British series Motherland, from writer Julieanne Smolinski, Sharon Horgan and Clelia Mountford’s Merman Television, Paul Feig’s Feigco Entertainment, Lionsgate and ABC Signature. Judy Greer and Karan Soni also star.

Miranda Lambert is closing her chapter with Sony Music Nashville.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large Time to get more sand for the hourglass. “Days of Our Lives” has been renewed by Peacock for two more seasons, which means the iconic soap opera will make it to at least its landmark 60th season. “Days of Our Lives” moved to Peacock in September, having previously aired on NBC since 1965. “Days” was NBC’s longest-running drama series before switching to Peacock in 2022. This new two-year deal for Seasons 59 and 60 reps a much swifter and calmer renewal for “Days” than it has experienced in recent years, when deal between NBC and Sony Pictures Television (which distributes the soap) seemed to always come down to the wire. As ratings declined for soaps, that has been a perennial issue at the networks (where the tally on broadcast nets now stands at just three — two on CBS and one on ABC).

told fans that had the move not happened, the beloved soap’s chances for survival might have been in danger. He also assured fans “there will be no perceptible change to the show as it moves from NBC to Peacock.”All of your favorite characters will remain on the show for the foreseeable future,” McKinsey shared in the Facebook post.

Sony has added one more release to the summer theatrical calendar, Stage 6 Films’ Knights of the Zodiac on May 12.

Quentin Tarantino is reportedly set to begin working on his final film, which has been given the title The Movie Critic.According to sources at The Hollywood Reporter, the Pulp Fiction director is preparing to direct the film this autumn.Details about the film’s plot are currently being kept under wraps, but sources have described the story as being set in the late 1970s with a female lead at its centre.While it’s not been confirmed, that description suggests the film could potentially focus on Pauline Kael, one of the most influential movie critics of all time. Writing for The New Yorker between 1968 and 1991, Kael was known for her highly opinionated and brash reviews, and often got into heated arguments with editors and filmmakers.In the late 1970s, she very briefly worked as a consultant for Paramount.

Matt Donnelly Senior Film Writer Quentin Tarantino is about to shop his 10th film project, which the director has long said will mark his final feature film. The “Pulp Fiction” mastermind is preparing to invite multiple buyers to read his latest screenplay in the coming days, one source familiar with the pending auction said. The Oscar winner is seeking a deal similar to the one he brokered for his last film “Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood,” the source added. This means a robust theatrical release commitment and ownership of the film’s copyright (in the case of Sony Pictures and “Once Upon a Time,” the deal said the movie copyright would revert to Tarantino after 20 years).

Vanessa Hudgens is returning for more Bad Boys!

Quentin Tarantino is potentially preparing for his final movie.

Quentin Tarantino is releasing his final film!

Prime Video has renewed A League Of Their Own for a second and final season. Following months of talks with Sony TV, the series will end with a four-episode Season 2, sources have confirmed.

EXCLUSIVE: Vanessa Hudgens is set to reprise her role as weapons expert Kelly in Bad Boys 4 with Will Smith and Martin Lawrence.

Judy Greer is set as a lead opposite Ellie Kemper in ABC’s Drop-Off (working title), a comedy pilot based on the British series Motherland, from writer Julieanne Smolinski, Sharon Horgan and Clelia Mountford’s Merman Television, Paul Feig’s Feigco Entertainment, Lionsgate and ABC Signature. Karan Soni also stars.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent “The Last of Us” has become the most-viewed title ever on HBO’s subscription streaming service in Europe. Warner Bros. Discovery announced on Tuesday that the first season of the nine-episode apocalyptic-drama has smashed HBO’s SVOD European viewer ratings. This result comes after the season one finale set another ratings high in the U.S. on Sunday night, delivering 8.2 million viewers across HBO Max and linear telecasts, based on Nielsen and first party data. The series, which is based on the critically acclaimed video game of the same name developed by Naughty Dog for the PlayStation, has been a hit from the get go. “The Last of Us” is now averaging 30.4 million viewers in the U.S. across its first six episodes, according to HBO, with the first episode approaching 40 million viewers in the U.S. Outside of the U.S.. The show is now also the most-watched show ever on HBO Max in Latin America.

Thania Garcia Rosalía and Rauw Alejandro have announced a three-song project titled “RR,” marking the first official musical collaboration from the couple. The set will be out on March 24 via Sony Music Latin. The news was confirmed by the Latin music stars on social media with the artwork for the album cover, an intertwined “RR” in red and black, and the EP’s tracklist: “Beso,” “Vampiros” and “Promesa.” In the caption, the singers simply wrote the release date. A post shared by LA ROSALÍA (@rosalia.vt) Artists Bizzarap, Alvarito Diaz, the Marias, and more celebrated the announcement in the comment section of the post with fire emojis and love for the singers.

Leo Messi is getting how own animated TV show. The program, made in partnership with Sony, is geared towards a younger audience and will show off some of Messi’s most important achievements.Lionel Messi receives terrifying threat after gunmen open fire in Rosario, ArgentinaPelé’s daughter shares sweet message for Lionel Messi and Antonela RoccuzzoA post shared by Leo Messi (@leomessi)Deadline broke the news, sharing that the show will depict Messi as a child, confronting various obstacles as he travels throughout a video game.

Three Pines” has been by canceled by Prime Video after just one season. The streamer confirmed to Variety that it has opted not to bring the Alfred Molina-starring show back for another run following an eight-episode first season that wrapped on Dec. 23. “We are proud of the work done on the series and the opportunity to work with great partners,” a representative for Prime told Variety via email. “Three Pines” was produced by Sony Pictures Television-owned Left Bank Pictures and aired exclusively on Prime Video in Canada, U.S., U.K., Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Greenland. The series is based on Canadian author Louise Penny’s Inspector Gamache series of novels, which take place in and around a remote, fictional Quebec village called Three Pines.

Now that The Last of Us has wrapped its first season on HBO Max, you probably have a few questions. Fortunately, series showrunner Craig Mazin and creator Neil Druckmann (who wrote the Sony Playstation Game on which the series is based) answered a few burning ones about the first nine episodes without giving anything away about season 2 (boo!). At least there will be one!

Atom Tickets. The event also marks Prime’s first early-access screening partnership since before the pandemic.

After struggling during the holidays with “Babylon,” Paramount is back on the hot streak it had for much of 2022 with Spyglass’ “Scream VI,” which is performing just above pre-release projections with a $19.3 million opening day and an estimated $43.5 million opening from 3,675 screens. Heading into the weekend, the sixth installment of the late Wes Craven’s meta-horror franchise was projected for a $37-40 million launch, beating the $30 million opening of last year’s “Scream.” This result also beats the franchise opening record of $34.7 million set by “Scream 3”; though that threequel, which was released in 2000, still holds the record after inflation adjustment.