Video Showbiz and Celebrity Breaking News

Dade Hayes Finance EditorSnap Inc. is adding a new product feature to Snapchat called Spotlight, which promotes the posts it determines are the most “entertaining” on its social platform.As extra incentive for users to adopt the new feature, Snap is also planning to award $1 million a day, at least through the end of 2020.

Jake Kanter International TV EditorEXCLUSIVE: Feras Fayyad, the Syrian filmmaker who helmed Emmy-winning National Geographic film The Cave, has told Deadline that he would never knowingly cause “worry and sorrow” to a woman after becoming embroiled in an alleged sexual harassment scandal in Denmark.The Scandinavian country has been gripped by a #MeToo reckoning in recent weeks and Fayyad is among a number of high-profile individuals who have been accused of inappropriate behavior after living

Andreas Wiseman International EditorJohn Boyega has said that he had a “transparent, honest” phone call with Star Wars producer Kathleen Kennedy after expressing his view that the franchise marginalizes non-white characters.In a candid GQ interview two months ago Boyega expressed frustration that non-white characters are “pushed to the side” in the sequels to The Force Awakens, saying that Disney gave “all the nuance” to Adam Driver and Daisy Ridley’s characters.Speaking to the BBC today ahead

Nancy Tartaglione International Box Office Editor/Senior ContributorJapan’s runaway smash Demon Slayer The Movie: Mugen Train continued its reign at the top of the local charts this weekend, despite the release of Stand By Me Doraemon 2. Monday is a holiday in Japan, so full official weekend figures are not expected to be reported until Tuesday.

Jake Kanter International TV EditorEXCLUSIVE: Highly sensitive employee data, including bank account details and home addresses, may have been breached after super-producer Banijay was the victim of what could be a major hack late last week.Banijay, the company behind global hits including MasterChef and Big Brother, had its IT systems compromised by a bad actor demanding a ransom, potentially exposing the personal information of hundreds, if not thousands of staff.Deadline understands that it

Tom Grater International Film ReporterJudi Dench, Ian McKellen, Maggie Smith and Derek Jacobi will take part in a live Q&A hosted by Kenneth Branagh over Zoom on November 29 to benefit the UK’s theater community.The event is being put on to aid UK workers who have struggled during the pandemic. Tickets cost £45 and are limited.

Tom Grater International Film ReporterWarnerMedia International has confirmed its new-look organization and leadership team across India, Southeast Asia and Korea.The reshuffle combines the pre-existing WarnerMedia Entertainment Networks (comprising the legacy Turner and HBO businesses) with Warner Bros.

Jake Kanter International TV EditorNordic Entertainment Group is in the process of selling NENT Studios UK, a little more than a year after the production and distribution business was established.The studio, which is currently in production on Viaplay/Channel 4’s Connie Nielsen and Christopher Eccleston drama Close To Me, has received 20 expressions of interest.

Nancy Tartaglione International Box Office Editor/Senior ContributorIn a major sign of confidence in the future of theatrical moviegoing, Cineworld Group, the world’s second largest exhibitor and owner of Regal in the U.S., has secured significant additional liquidity that will help ensure its future despite ongoing challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pete Hammond Awards Columnist/Chief Film CriticEXCLUSIVE: Theatres may be closing again at a rapid pace, but the power of being on Netflix during this worldwide pandemic  certainly appears to be good news for those whose awards hopeful films have been debuting on the streaming service at virtually a weekly pace.For cinema legend  Sophia Loren that means the biggest opening of her seven decade career.  Returning to feature films for the first time since a supporting turn in Nine a decade ago, and

Dino-Ray Ramos Associate Editor/ReporterThe American Music Awards (AMAs) handed out trophies for their 2020 ceremony with The Weeknd, Doja Cat and Taylor Swift as some of the night’s top winners.Hosted by Taraji P. Henson, this in-person ceremony aired on ABC and was wildly socially distanced with cardboard cutouts of Beyonce, Jay Z, Dolly Parton and others in the orchestra section of the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.

Dino-Ray Ramos Associate Editor/ReporterJason Momoa surprised superfan Danny Sheehan with a face time video call after a video report from local CBS Bosston affiliate WBZ of the seven-year-old getting a Aquaman toy went viral.Sheehan was diagnosed with Pineoblastoma, a rare and aggressive form of brain cancer, in January 2017.

Dino-Ray Ramos Associate Editor/ReporterPatrick Quinn, who is best known for co-founding the Ice Bucket Challenge, had died after a battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The aforementioned Ice Bucket Challenge was viral campaign that brought awareness to ALS, which is commonly known as  Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Dino-Ray Ramos Associate Editor/ReporterAs we step into the week and anticipate a Thanksgiving impacted by one of the most challenging years,  entertainment mogul Tyler Perry looks to continue his advocacy and philanthropic work by providing a ray of light and giving back to the community.

Bruce Haring pmc-editorial-managerRising COVID-19 infection rates could mean that part of Manhattan, Staten Island and Long Island could face new restrictions on activities this week.Gov. Andrew Cuomo gave the warning Sunday in a press briefing.“We have several communities that are in the warning track,” Cuomo said.

Dino-Ray Ramos Associate Editor/ReporterThere aren’t any huge surprises in the specialty box office as we enter what is expected to be a very different Thanksgiving holiday week. Normally, this would be the time of year where people would be participating in post-Thanksgiving dinner moviegoing.

Bruce Haring pmc-editorial-managerThe Fox NFL Sunday cast has been removed from its usual studio pregame show today over COVID-19 concerns, Fox Sports announced.Curt Menefee, Terry Bradshaw and Michael Strahan were swapped for Chris Myers, Charles Woodson and Reggie Bush.

Bruce Haring pmc-editorial-managerSuperman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and they/them.DC Comics is introducing its first non-binary character in “Kid Quick,” who will appear next month in a holiday-themed comic book anthology called “DC’s Merry Multiverse.”The alternate-universe character, like The Flash, can move at super speed and will use the “they/them” pronouns when being referenced.Kid Quick joins the “Suicide Squad” character The Aerie, a non-binary antihero, and Marvel Comics’ two non-binary

Bruce Haring pmc-editorial-managerThe Southern California COVID-19 curfew is now in effect, but that doesn’t sit well with some people and law enforcement.A “Curfew Breakers” protest in Huntington Beach, Calif.

Bruce Haring pmc-editorial-managerJohn Cleese, famous for outraging millions in his Monty Python roles, is at it again. In a tweetstorm Sunday, the 81-year-old comedian defended J.K.

Anthony D'Alessandro Editorial Director/Box Office EditorSUNDAY AM UPDATE, refresh for chart and more analysis: The weekend before Thanksgiving is one of the most lucrative ones on the calendar, last year bringing in $204.9M off the opening of Disney’s Frozen II which posted November’s fifth best domestic opening of all-time at $130.3M.Who would ever think that the domestic box office would sink to such an atrocious level as this weekend.

Ted Johnson President Donald Trump’s challenges to Joe Biden’s victory in the presidential race have triggered escalating concerns over a turbulent transition process and what it portends for democratic stability, but the most justified fears may be that the electorate has split into alternate information universes.A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll showed that 52% of Republicans said that Trump “rightfully” won the election, and only 29% said that about Biden.It’s not hard to imagine a scenario where

Alexandra Del Rosario Associate Editor/Nights & WeekendsWhile the family agreed they’d all love to bring to the series to a close with a movie, star Alison Brie says fans shouldn’t get their hopes up too high.The actress spoke with The Playlist for an upcoming The Fourth Wall podcast where she discusses the Netflix cancellation and more. Netflix cancelled the wrestling drama in October, leaving fans and the actors stunned.

Alexandra Del Rosario Associate Editor/Nights & WeekendsFormer Sexiest Man Alive Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson congratulated newly crowned Michael B.

Alexandra Del Rosario Associate Editor/Nights & WeekendsEuphoria actor Lukas Gage shared an important message for all e-meeting attendees after an awkward Zoom interaction with a director.“psa if you’re a shit talking director make sure to mute ur shit on zoom mtgings,” Gage captioned his Twitter video, which circulated the internet on Friday.In the video an unidentified director, who didn’t know he was unmuted, bags on Gage’s living space.“These poor people live in these tiny apartments.

Alexandra Del Rosario Associate Editor/Nights & WeekendsCoronavirus seems to show no signs of slowing down as officials confirm 4,522 new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday. The latest count from the Los Angeles Department of Public Health also shows a total of 34 new deaths, confirming officials’ predictions of a higher daily death count as the winter months roll in.Over the last four days, officials have reported a total of 17,769 COVID-19 cases.

Bruce Haring pmc-editorial-managerThe fifth annual Esports Awards today honored Riot Games as Publisher of the Year, while Team Secret took home three awards, including Esports Player of the Year for Michal “Nisha” Jankowski and Esports Team of the Year for its Dota 2 roster.Riot Games also took Esports Game of the Year honors in association with The Koyo Store for League of Legends.

Bruce Haring pmc-editorial-managerUPDATE: R&B artist Jeremih has apparently turned the corner in his battle with a severe case of COVID-19.

Alexandra Del Rosario Associate Editor/Nights & WeekendsLance Heflin, most known for producing various America’s Most Wanted iterations and 48 Hours, has died.The producer’s wife, Jan Evans and sons Patrick and Walker, confirmed Heflin’s death on Facebook.

Bruce Haring pmc-editorial-managerThe pandemic-fueled national revival of the classic American drive-in movie theater continues, and even the dense Los Angeles neighborhood of Hollywood is getting into the act.Arena Cinelounge Sunset is backing the Arena Cinelounge Drive-in Hollywood. The venue will be located behind the landmark Egyptian Theatre in the heart of Hollywood at 1625 North Las Palmas Avenue, and plans to be open seven days a week.The first screening will bow on Dec.

Bruce Haring pmc-editorial-managerEntrepreneurs topped wrestlers once again in the Friday night demo wars, as ABC’s Shark Tank came in with an 0.7 and the night’s biggest P2+ audience at 4080.That topped the 0.6 of the WWE Friday Night SmackDown, which was highlighted by a contract signing between Drew McIntyre and Roman Reigns.

Erik Pedersen Managing EditorHerbert F. “Herb” Solow, who as an executive at Desilu Productions took Gene Roddenberry’s original pitch for Star Trek and also held exec posts at several showbiz companies, has died.

Bruce Haring pmc-editorial-managerHeading into Thanksgiving weekend, things have never looked gloomier for Southern California.A state and local stay-at-home order goes into effect late tonight, but exempts film and TV production workers.

Bruce Haring pmc-editorial-managerTwitter said it is “actively preparing to support the transition of White House institutional Twitter accounts on January 20th, 2021,” Twitter spokesperson Nick Pacilio said in an email statement.The service will also transfer other government accounts such as @VP, @FLOTUS, and @whitehouse to the presumptive Joe Biden administration.

Bruce Haring pmc-editorial-managerA war has broken out online between singer-songwriter Sia and the autism community over her upcoming film, Music.The controversy was sparked by the release of the trailer for the film, which depicts a young woman with autism, played by dancer/actress Maddie Ziegler.

Dade Hayes Finance EditorIn tonight’s season finale of Real Time with Bill Maher, the host invoked the case of New York-based sex cult Nxivm in suggesting a way to handle Donald Trump supporters who believe the election was stolen.“The challenge for us is, how do you get people out of a cult?” Maher asked.