UTA Acquires JUV, Agency and Consulting Firm Specializing in Targeting Gen Z Consumers

Jack Dunn Wanda Sykes will be honored with the Writers Guild of America East’s Herb Sargent Award at the 76th annual Writers Guild Awards, set for April 14 at the Edison Ballroom in New York. Sykes, the long-established comedy multihyphenate, is the co-creator, co-showrunner and star of the Netflix family comedy series “The Upshaws,” which is heading into its sixth season later this year. She’s also coming off a busy year of guest shots (“The Other Two,” “History of the World: Part II”) and last year’s successful Netflix standup special “Wanda Sykes: I’m an Entertainer.” In 2022, she was one of three hosts (with Regina Hall and Amy Schumer) of ABC’s Academy Awards telecast.

Shangela is facing serious accusations.

Marta Balaga “All and Eva,” starring “Annihilation’s” Tuva Novotny, has been acquired by Australia’s SBS, EITB, the Basque Country public broadcaster in Spain, and Vodafone TV in Greece, ahead of its SeriesMania premiere. “We are extremely excited about the fast-growing global buzz around this charming dramedy and thrilled for many more markets to come on board, once they see this fresh and captivating take,” noted Vanda Rapti, Viaplay Group EVP, Viaplay Select & Content Distribution. The new series – created, written and directed by Johanna Runevad – accompanies Eva (Novotny) on her way to Copenhagen to obtain sperm from a donor.

Grey's Anatomy writer—and new showrunner—Meg Marinis is sitting in her office at Prospect Studios in Los Angeles during a brief break from shooting the seventh episode of season 20, which . As the new head boss for the longest-running medical primetime drama, Marinis doesn't have much free time these days, thanks to the nonstop deadlines, as well as business and creative decisions that constantly need her input.

Molly Smith and Tom Clare have revealed that they are in a relationship, three weeks after bagging £50K as the winners of Love Island All Stars, with the latter asking Molly to be his girlfriend in an "intimate moment".The couple, who met in South Africa while filming the ITV2 reality show, shared that they are now boyfriend and girlfriend while chatting to co-star Anton Danyluk during a live stream, in what was seemingly a very unplanned moment. As Anton probed Tom on how he was going to ask Molly to be his girlfriend, he joked that he had to 'go big' on the proposal. However, Tom admitted that it was 'too late' to plan it as he already popped the question - leaving both Anton and viewers in shock.

Rio Ferdinand has snubbed Mohamed Salah, Erling Haaland and Bukayo Saka in his shortlist for the Premier League player of the season award. The trio have been among the best performers in the English top flight this season, chalking up a combined 69 goals and assists.

The suspense this Super Tuesday may be in watching how all of the networks try to make the night suspenseful.

The Campbellsville University community is mourning the loss of a young student athlete.

Darby Ward was overjoyed as she learned she is expecting a baby girl with a gender reveal this week, sharing a video of the moment with her 313K Instagram followers.The pregnant Real Housewives Of Cheshire star, 28, who is a already a mum to a two-year-old daughter named Skye, was joined by her husband Michael Jackson and their daughter for the reveal - as a cannon released pink smoke to indicate it was a girl. Posting the video, Darby captioned: "Baby Girl we can’t wait to meet you! Skye is so excited to have a Sister!!!! So lucky and blessed to have another Baby Girl joining the family…".

Matt Donnelly Senior Film Writer “The Last Animal,” the award-winning bestselling novel from Ramona Ausubel, has been snatched up for film adaptation by production companies Walden Media and Big Beach. Ry Russo-Young has been set to direct the feature based on the emotionally resonant story.

Clayton Davis Senior Awards Editor Multi-talented actor and comedian Marlon Wayans has his sights set on the comedy stage once again, this time with his latest uproarious venture, “Marlon Wayans: Good Grief,” on Amazon Prime Video, exclusively revealed to Variety. In what marks his fourth stand-up special, and set to air this summer, the versatile entertainer is poised to deliver a side-splitting performance at the iconic Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York.

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor Adam McKay’s Hyperobject Industries has set up “Jockular,” a podcast from three queer best friends Katie Kershaw, Tien Tran and E.R. Fightmaster — who, along with their guests, will discuss all things queer, trans and women-forward in the world of sports. “Jockular” will dispense “equal doses of sports commentary, cultural criticism and light-hearted gossip,” per Hyperobject Industries, spanning sports including collegiate basketball, professional soccer and “power slapping” (which, weirdly, is an actual thing).

Zack Sharf Digital News Director “Moana” voice actor Auli’i Cravalho attended her first SAG Awards this year and spoke to Variety On the Carpet presented by DIRECTV about the hit Disney animated movie becoming a full blown franchise. The studio surprised fans earlier this month by announcing the “Moana” television series it had been developing was now a movie sequel set for a theatrical release this November. “It feels like the ‘Moana’ universe is expanding and I love that,” Cravalho told Variety’s Angelique Jackson.

Hello, and welcome to the Scene 2 Seen Podcast. I am Valerie Complex, an associate editor and film writer at Deadline!

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck, but he’s also an author and entrepreneur. He was was one of the most recent guests at Nick Kyrgios’ podcast, “Good Trouble,” with the two discussing their careers and how they manage to stay true to themselves while finding success.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media Reporter Despite two new releases, Paramount’s Bob Marley biographical drama “One Love” is projected to top the box office again. This weekend’s newcomers, Hilary Swank’s inspirational drama “Ordinary Angels” and director Ethan Coen’s comedic thriller “Drive-Away Dolls,” are targeting single digits in their debuts. With those paltry ticket sales, “Bob Marley: One Love” looks to repeat No.

EXCLUSIVE: Buenos Aires-based Filmsharks has sold a series of its EFM titles, including Spanish horror pic The Boogeyman: The Origin of the Myth (El Hombre Del Saco) and a new 4K remastered version of the cult Argentinian thriller Nine Queens, to multiple international territories. 

K.J. Yossman Keshet International has acquired worldwide distribution rights for hostage drama “Conflict.” Produced by Backmann & Hoderhoff and XZY Films, “Conflict” is a six-part political thriller about an enemy force trying to incite a global conflict with a surprise attack. The series was created and produced by Andrei Alén and Aku Louhimies (“Rebellion”).

William Earl Chris Petrikin, a former top communications executive for 20th Century Fox and Paramount Pictures, has joined consulting firm Actum LLC to expand its activity into the entertainment and media sectors. Actum was established in 2021 and is lead by three heavyweights in California politics: Barbara Boxer, former U.S. Senator for the Golden State, Antonio Villaraigosa, former mayor of Los Angeles; and Fabian Nuñez, former speaker of the California Assembly.

Chris Petrikin, a former Paramount, Fox and William Morris Agency communications executive, has joined consulting firm Actum LLC as a managing director.