Twelve-Time Grammy Winner Ruben Blades Provides Original Song to Animated Climate Change Feature ‘Black Butterflies’ (EXCLUSIVE)

Arnold Schwarzenegger wants to see action, and he is not talking about the movies. Schwarzenegger was talking about climate change and said it is time for the talking stop and for there to be concrete solutions.

Laika, the renowned Oregon animation studio founded by Travis Knight, has acquired the internationally bestselling fantasy novel Piranesi by Susanna Clarke, enlisting Knight to direct an animated feature adaptation.

Naman Ramachandran Writer-director Rod Blackhurst has wrapped production in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on horror film “Dolly.” Blackhurst is the Emmy and Critics Choice nominated director and producer of Netflix original documentary “Amanda Knox” and the Tribeca Festival audience award-winning “Here Alone.” “Dolly” follows his acclaimed crime-thriller “Blood for Dust,” which premiered at Tribeca and won the narrative competition award at San Diego. “Dolly,” described by the filmmakers as a blend of New French Extremity and 1970s American horror, follows Macy, a young woman abducted by a deranged, monster-like figure who wants to raise her as their child. The cast includes Fabianne Therese (“John Dies at the End”), Seann William Scott (“American Pie”), Ethan Suplee (“Babylon”), Russ Tiller (“Blood for Dust”) and Michalina Scorzelli (“Shoplifters of the World”).

Selena Kuznikov Sulayman Tahir’s “Peripheral” and Coke Daniels’ “The Waterboyz” were among the winners of this year’s Best of ABFF Awards, presented Saturday at the American Black Film Festival. Hosted by Dondré Whitfield, the festival presented winners in the official film selection categories: narrative and documentary features, series and the HBO Short Film Award showcase. This year’s festival takes place June 12-16 in Miami Beach, Fla., followed by a virtual segment June 17-24 on ABFF PLAY.

Jem Aswad Executive Editor, Music The four founding members of R.E.M. performed together publicly for the first time in nearly three decades at the Songwriters Hall of Fame Ceremony in New York on Thursday night, playing an acoustic version of their breakthrough song, 1987’s “Losing My Religion.” With characteristic understatement, the group — singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry — showed their respect for the honor and the institution, their friendship and decades-long bond, and in gracious terms, fans, family, friends, and everyone who helped them along the way.

The football season continues this summer for dozens of Manchester City and United players at Euro 2024.

Holly Jones David Baute’s searing animated climate crisis drama “Black Butterflies” (“Mariposas Negras”) bows to audiences at Annecy this week, competing in its Contrechamp strand alongside Isabel Herguera title “Sultana’s Dream,” . Based on Baute’s live-action inquiry, “Climate Exodus,” the film merges highly intimate and personal narratives from women across the globe forced to leave their homelands when natural forces render them uninhabitable.

The soundtrack for the second half of Bridgerton‘s third season is filled to bursting with reimagined versions of iconic pop hits.

Pete Docter, Chief Creative Officer at Pixar Animation Studios, is shooting down the idea of remaking classics into live-action features.

Cynthia Littleton Business Editor David Nevins has stepped down as CEO of North Road Co., the media venture launched in 2022 by Peter Chernin with backing from Providence Equity and other private equity partners. Nevins formally joined North Road Co. company last July.

Angelique Jackson As if serving as the creative director of the 28th edition of the American Black Film Festival (ABFF) wasn’t enough, Issa Rae will now sit for the inaugural “Creator Conversation” with two very special guests: Ava DuVernay and Kenya Barris. The exclusive live event — which is part of a new program dubbed “Creator Conversations” — will take attendees on a journey through their Rae, DuVernay and Barris’ processes and careers, including recent projects such as DuVernay’s latest film “Origin” and Barris’ hit “Black-ish” franchise and his directorial debut “You People.” “We are truly delighted to get a rare glimpse into the minds of three trailblazers who are reshaping the landscape of film and television.

Ben Croll Stop-motion maestro Claude Barras (“My Life as a Zucchini,” “Savages!”) will back “Ogresse,” a tragicomic musical directed by three-time Grammy winner Cecile McLorin Salvant and Belgian animator Lia Bertels. Variety can share this first look.

Marcelo Cajueiro RIO DE JANEIRO — Top Brazilian production company Gullane Entretenimento will make a feature-length doc and the third season of an animation series about Brazilian Formula One racing driver Ayrton Senna, company directors Fabiano and Caio Gullane told Variety. Produced by Gullane for Netflix, the highly anticipated “Senna,” a bio drama TV series helmed by Vicente Amorim and Julia Rezende, is due to open late this year. Designed for global audiences, “Senna” is the highest-budgeted Brazilian series ever.

Jack Black‘s 2003 musical comedy School Of Rock has landed on streaming services for the first time.The original School of Rock (Music from and Inspired by the Motion Picture) album featured songs performed by the cast, including the title track and a cover of AC/DC’s ‘It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock ‘n’ Roll)’ alongside hits from the likes of The Who, The Doors, Stevie Nicks, Led Zeppelin, and Ramones. It also includes a new song, ‘In The End Of Time’The film starred Black as Dewey Finn, a struggling musician who poses as a substitute teacher, ‘Mr Schneebly’, to make more money and teaches his class about rock ‘n’ roll.

Dick Van Dyke has won a historic Daytime Emmy at age 98.The actor was honored Friday night as guest performer in a daytime drama series for his part as amnesiac Timothy Robicheaux on Peacock’s “Days of Our Lives,” making him the oldest Daytime Emmy winner.“I don’t believe this. I feel like a spy from nighttime television,” he said. “I’m 98 years old.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large Legendary actor and comedian Dick Van Dyke has made history, winning the 2024 Daytime Emmy award for guest performer in a daytime drama series — via his spot on Peacock’s “Days of Our Lives.” At 98, that makes Van Dyke the oldest actor to receive a Daytime Emmy win. Van Dyke came into Friday’s 51st Daytime Emmy Awards already making a mark as the oldest Daytime Emmys nominee ever. Night one of the 51st annual Daytime Emmy Awards took place live on CBS on Friday, June 7, from the Westin Bonaventure hotel in Downtown Los Angeles.

BBC have reportedly granted a green light for a spin off of The Repair Shop, The Repair Shop On The Road, following Jay Blades' marriage split, The Sun reports. The show will go across the country, and will see the team repair peoples treasures. Despite the good news for Jay amid his marriage breakup, the host will be given a smaller role as the new spin-off is reportedly set to focus less on Jay, and more on the supporting team of restorers from in the barn.

Fifty Daytime Emmys ceremonies have been held, with the first show held in 1974. The 51st ceremony will crown another Outstanding Daytime Drama Series this year, and the winner will be selected from between five entries — The Bay on Popstar! TV, CBS’s The Bold and the Beautiful, Peacock’s Days of Our Lives, ABC’s General Hospital, Amazon Freevee’s Neighbors and CBS’s The Young and the Restless.

Katcy Stephan UTA has signed award-winning author and screenwriter Dolly Alderton. She will continue to be represented by the Curtis Brown Group in the U.K. for screenwriting and media rights and C&W for U.K.

Kelsey Parker is honouring her late husband in a charity football match as she enlists stars to support her in remembering Tom. Tom, who rose to fame in band The Wanted, passed away aged just 33 from a brain tumour, following an 18-month cancer battle. He and wife Kelsey, whom he had been with since 2009, shared two children; Aurelia, four, and Bodhi, three.