UTA Acquires U.K.-Based Echo Location Talent Agency

EXCLUSIVE: Gunpowder & Sky’s sci-fi brand Dust has acquired the worldwide rights to the Tom Lowe-directed documentary Awaken executive produced by Terrence Malick (The Tree of Life, The Thin Red line, The New World) and Godfrey Reggio (Koyaanisqatsi). Awaken is set to debut on Apple TV, Amazon and all other major VOD platforms on April 9.

Focus Features has taken global rights to Wanted director Timur Bekmambetov’s thriller Profile which made its world premiere at the Berlin Film Festival in 2018 and won the Audience Award. A theatrical release date of May 14 has been set. Universal Pictures will distribute internationally, excluding CIS/Russia.

Microsoft is reportedly in talks to acquire gaming-focused chat software and platform Discord.Per a Bloomberg report, the potential acquisition could cost more than US$10billion, if a deal is struck between Microsoft and Discord. Bloomberg’s anonymous sources say Discord has been talking to a number of potential buyers, and reached out to Microsoft to “gauge interest”.

Also Read: ShortList 2016: 'Thunder Road' Turns Bruce Springsteen Song Into Funeral Eulogy (Video)“IFC has partnered with the boldest and most insanely talented filmmakers in history, Armando Iannucci, Paolo Sorrentino, Andrea Arnold, and hundreds of others and then they let us just ruin it in 2021,” Cummings said in a statement to TheWrap.

Three of the nation’s great regional theaters will change ownership this month, with the Ambassador Theatre Group acquiring San Francisco’s Golden Gate and Orpheum theatres and Detroit’s Fisher Theatre from The Nederlander Co.

Roku is making another big move into programming, acquiring the full library and production studio for the long-running home improvement series This Old House. The deal — Roku acquiredTOH Intermediate Holdings, LLC, which owns the This Old House business, from TZP Group — includes more than 1,500 episodes and a combined 60 seasons of This Old House and companion series Ask This Old House, along with all digital assets and the shows' production studio.

One of the more noticeable subgenres of indie drama, over the past few years, is the Finally, A Lead movie – in which a beloved supporting player is, at long last, given a leading role to display the full range of their charms and gifts. Blythe Danner got hers with “I’ll See You In My Dreams,” Sam Elliot followed suit with “The Hero,” Harry Dean Stanton had “Lucky,” and now, in “Swan Song,” it’s Udo Kier’s turn.

Peter Debruge Chief Film CriticYou’ve never seen Udo Kier like this before.

Magnolia Pictures has acquired the worldwide rights to “Swan Song,” a comedy that stars Udo Kier as a hairdresser and that is making its world premiere Thursday at the SXSW Film Festival.“Swan Song” is the fifth film from writer-director Todd Stephens, who previously wrote “Edge of Seventeen” and directed “Gypsy 83” and “Another Gay Movie.” Magnolia is planning a release for later this year.Jennifer Coolidge, Linda Evans and Michael Urie also star in the film.Kier in “Swan Song” plays a retired,

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorAfter months of rumors, Paradigm Talent Agency and Casey Wasserman have announced an agreement in principle under which Wasserman will acquire Paradigm’s North American live music representation business and form a new operating unit, reps confirmed to Variety.

Marcus Lim Chinese streaming firm iQIYI and production company G.H.Y. Culture & Media are launching Uni-Icon Entertainment, a Singapore-based talent agency focusing on Southeast Asian performing talent.Announced at a signing ceremony in Singapore on Wednesday, the talent agency aims to identify and promote talent, with an emphasis on performers from Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefIn remaking local versions of Thai and Chinese language content Bangkok- and Beijing-based Artop Media may have lucked onto one of the hottest trends of the moment in the Asian TV space.That’s because Thai content is increasingly successful on mainland Chinese streaming networks, and, as multiple speakers have noted in the first two day of FilMart, Thai content is increasingly working across East and Southeast Asia too.At FilMart this week Artop is pitching

When you think of small-town Ohio hairdressers, you may not immediately imagine Udo Kier. However, in the upcoming SXSW film, “Swan Song,” Kier flexes his hairdressing muscles, and as seen in an exclusive clip from the feature, you’re not the only one that doesn’t immediately think of the actor as a professional stylist.

EXCLUSIVE: Actors Lili Mirojnik and Aedin Mincks have signed with Stewart Talent, Deadline hears.

Premier League titles in a five year spell at Old Trafford has been less than impressed with Maguire’s performances in a red shirt since the player’s arrival from Leicester in 2018. The former full back believes the club out to be looking to replace the centre-half following some unconvincing displays so far this season.

EXCLUSIVE: Actress Ruth Wilson has signed with UK-based talent agency Hamilton Hodell, as she continues to be repped by CAA in Hollywood.

EXCLUSIVE: 300: Rise Of An Empire and The Departed producer Gianni Nunnari of Hollywood Gang Productions and producer Andre L III of MiLu Entertainment have acquired rights to Cuban author and journalist Armando Lucas Correa’s well-received novel The German Girl, which they are developing as an international TV series.