‘The Reckoning’ Receives GLAAD Nomination, Editor Darian Aaron Discusses Representation and HIV Prevention

“Black Panther” and “Dope” cinematographer Rachel Morrison is making the jump to feature directing. After COVID-19 led to the production of her upcoming film “Flint Strong” pausing for a good chunk of time, it’s finally resuming and has added a high-profile actor to the cast.

Meredith Woerner Deputy Editor, Variety.comVariety has been nominated for 72 Southern California Journalism Awards, including two for journalist of the year, three for entertainment journalist of the year and six nominations for criticism of TV, music and books.The awards, given out by the Los Angeles Press Club, honor outstanding journalism in the region across print, digital, radio and broadcast platforms.Executive editor Ramin Setoodeh and deputy music editor Jem Aswad are both up for journalist of the year. TV critic Daniel D’Addario along with chief film critic Owen Gleiberman and features editor Chris Willman are all nominated for entertainment journalist of the year.Aswad leads all Variety staffers with 14 total nominations, followed by Willman with nine nominations.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorSubsidiaries of Live Nation, the world’s largest live-entertainment company, received some $19 million in “Save Our Stages” funding from the Small Business Administration, even though the act was intended to benefit small venues and not multinational corporations, according to an extensive report published by the Washington Post.While Live Nation does not wholly own those businesses, sources told the Post that the company urged Democrats and Republicans in Congress to let it be directly eligible for the $15 billion emergency relief program, even though it is a publicly traded company that hardly qualifies as an independent venue. Ultimately, the law was written to exclude public companies, as well as firms they own or control, however, subsidiaries “in which Live Nation has a substantial, though not majority, ownership stake” received nearly $19 million, according to the Post’s review of Securities and Exchange Commission filings, state corporate documents and SBA data, as well as interviews with executives at companies that received grants.

A perfect pair! Katherine Schwarzenegger shared a rare photo of her daughter Lyla as they shared a “dream” day together.

HBO Max has scrapped its plans for a live-action Wonder Twins film, based on the DC characters of the same name, Deadline can confirm.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe planned “Wonder Twins” live-action movie at HBO Max is no longer going forward, Variety has learned.The news comes just over a month after it was announced that KJ Apa and Isabel May had been cast in the lead roles in the DC film as the titular twins. It also arrives in the wake of the Warner Bros.-Discovery merger and Discovery boss David Zaslav’s pledge to cut approximately $3 billion in costs at the newly merged company.

Pat Saperstein Deputy EditorSpeakers including Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti, mayoral candidate and congressperson Karen Bass, attorney Gloria Allred and actors including Ricki Lake and Christine Lahti urged people to fight for reproductive freedom at the “Bans Off Our Bodies” rally in downtown Los Angeles Saturday.“I can’t work in Texas anymore,” said “Abbott Elementary” star Lisa Ann Walter, who stated that she is working with SAG-AFTRA to inform members of the reproductive health laws in each state. “We won’t quit until women are guaranteed autonomy all over this country.”Thousands of people turned out for the Los Angeles event in front of City Hall, while more than 380 rallies were planned across the United States.

EXCLUSIVE: Tia Napolitano (Cruel Summer) has joined CBS’ newly picked up drama series Fire Country as executive producer and showrunner. Her hire was already in the works when the network yesterday gave an official series order to the buzzy pilot, executive produced by and starring Max Thieriot.

EXCLUSIVE: Emile Hirsch (Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood) will exec produce and star in My Time’s Up, an upcoming indie drama from writer-director Michael MacRae (Fishbowl California).

Nothing new? Christina Hall (née Haack) and Heather Rae El Moussa (née Young) haven’t always gotten along — and their recent soccer game altercation is just the latest example.

In a further expansion of their kids and family programming slate, HBO Max and Cartoon Network are teaming on new live-action coming-of-age comedy series, Home Sweet Rome, from Emmy-nominated Hannah Montana and That’s So Raven creator Michael Poryes, for premiere in 2023.

Marc Malkin Senior Film Awards, Events & Lifestyle EditorA nationwide PSA has launched on Tuesday that urges Hollywood to increase the number of people with disabilities both behind and in front of the camera.The campaign, formally known as Disability Is Diversity, comes from the Inevitable Foundation, a nonprofit created 16 months ago by Richie Siegel and Marisa Torelli-Pedevska that seeks to fund and mentor disabled mid-career screenwriters.The PSAs feature open letters that read, “Dear Entertainment Industry, THERE IS NO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION WITHOUT DISABILITY.”Disabled people make up more than 20% of the population, but only 2% of on-screen characters have disabilities. Less than 1% of writers in Hollywood are disabled.

shared news of the casting Monday on Instagram, writing: “Guess who I got in ‘BMF’ this season. GOLDIE! I don’t miss.

Academy Award-winning actress and comedian Mo’Nique has joined the Season 2 cast of the Starz drama BMF in a recurring role.

Sonja Sohn is set as a lead opposite Ramón Rodríguez in ABC’s drama pilot Will Trent, from 20th Television.

Selome Hailu Sonja Sohn will star as Amanda in “Will Trent,” ABC’s drama pilot adapted from Karin Slaughter’s book series of the same name.“Will Trent” will star Ramón Rodríguez as Will Trent, a special agent of the Georgia Bureau of Investigations (GBI) who was abandoned at birth and endured a harsh coming-of-age in Atlanta’s overwhelmed foster care system. But now, determined to use his unique point of view to make sure no one is abandoned like he was, Will Trent has the highest clearance rate in the GBI.Amanda is Will’s boss, the head of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

Carson Burton Ludacris was given an honorary degree on Wednesday by Georgia State University during commencement exercises at Center Parc Stadium in Atlanta, GA on May 4. The Bachelor of Science in Music Management was bestowed upon the noted rapper, actor and entrepreneur, whose real name is Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, though the Grammy winner could easily teach an entire curriculum on the music business, considering his track record and still flourishing career.Ludacris attended Georgia State in the 1990s before signing a record deal that would launch his career in hip-hop.“My time on campus sharpened my skills,” Ludacris told more than 800 master’s degree recipients.