Universal Sets 5-Picture Deal With ‘Unfriended’ Producer Timur Bekmambetov’s Screenlife Movies

Joe Otterson TV ReporterSpringHill Entertainment, the production company founded by LeBron James and Maverick Carter, has signed a two-year overall deal with ABC Studios.“SpringHill Entertainment makes the shows LeBron and I want to watch,” Carter said. “We look at every project as a way to connect with our community and ask ourselves if it will entertain and empower them.

Andreas Wiseman International EditorEXCLUSIVE: Grantchester actor Tom Brittney, who will next be seen alongside Tom Hanks in WWII war movie Greyhound,  has partnered with actor and writer Oliver Powell (Devs) to form TV and film production company Wild Nest Pictures.The London-based company has acquired the rights to The Mayfair 100 novels, penned by Lynn Brittney, and have teamed with Patrick Melrose outfit Little Island Productions to develop the adaptation.

Tom Grater International Film ReporterNorwegian filmmaker Erik Poppe has set cast for his upcoming feature adaptation of Vilhelm Moberg’s classic Swedish tale The Emigrants, which is aiming to shoot in Sweden from September.Lisa Carlehed, who was nominated for a prestigious Bodil Award this year for her role in Until We Fall, will star alongside Gustav Skarsgård (438 Days, Vikings).

Penn Badgley is speaking out about the horrifying allegations recently made against his You co-star, Chris D’Elia.

Hollywood studio Magnolia Pictures, ice cream maker Ben & Jerry's and sporting equipment giant Eddie Bauer are the latest companies to announce that they will join a growing advertising boycott of Facebook and Instagram for the month of July over the social media giant's failure to stop the spread of misinformation and dangerous content on its platforms. On Tuesday, Magnolia became the first Hollywood company to join the boycott.

Dade Hayes Finance EditorPeacock, the NBCUniversal streaming service initially launched in April, has set a distribution deal with Google for its national expansion in July.Google platforms and devices spanning Android, Android TV and Chromecast will begin carrying Peacock on July 15. Starting then, Peacock will offer a free tier featuring more than 7,500 hours of movies and TV programming.

Bruce Haring pmc-editorial-managerThe 2020 Palm Springs International ShortFest announced its juried award winners from the 332 shorts films that were part of the Official Selection.Awards and cash prizes worth $25,000, including five Academy Award qualifying awards, will be presented to the winners.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterComedian Ricky Velez has set up a comedy pilot at HBO, Variety has learned exclusively.Velez will serve as co-writer and executive producer on the half-hour project, with Judd Apatow also co-writing and executive producing. Judah Miller will serve as co-writer, executive producer, and showrunner.

Peter White Television EditorEXCLUSIVE: Nick Weidenfeld, who created Fox’s Animation Domination High-Def (ADHD) block, is back with another animation venture, setting up Work Friends in partnership with Snowpiercer producer Tomorrow Studios.The ITV-backed company and Weidenfeld, who produced series including The Boondocks, Robot Chicken and Rick and Morty during his time as Head of Development for Adult Swim, have launched the company as a joint venture.It comes after Weidenfeld, Tomorrow

Denise Petski Senior Managing EditorEXCLUSIVE: Ricky Velez (The King of Staten Island) is reuniting with Judd Apatow for his first comedy special at HBO.

Tamar Braxton recently took to Instagram, where she posted a very uncomfortable picture with a powerful message accompanying it. The photo features a black slave who was severely beaten by his white master/owner with painful and horrific scars on his back.

Timur Bekmambetov is one of the more creative filmmakers working today. Sure, not all of his films are great, but he, much like Ang Lee and James Cameron, is all about pushing the film medium further with technology, specifically his Screenlife model.

Anthony D'Alessandro Editorial Director/Box Office EditorMGM has finalized a first look feature film production deal with producer Jennifer Todd and her company Jennifer Todd Pictures.The deal brings Todd back together with MGM Film Group Chairman Michael De Luca, the two having worked together back in the 1990s when she produced the Austin Powers franchise, Boiler Room, and Now and Then for New Line when De Luca was at the helm of the studio.

EastEnders may be running out of episodes soon but show bosses have a back-up plan for fans of the soap which stopped filming in March in the midst of the health pandemic.

Classic EastEnders episodes and a spin-off featuring Stacey Dooley will plug the gap when the soap goes off-air.