UTA Signs Director Zeyad ‘Z’ Alhusaini Whose Kuwaiti Thriller ‘How I Got There’ Made a Splash at Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Film Festival (EXCLUSIVE)

EXCLUSIVE: UTA has signed rising Australian actor Luke Bracey for representation in all areas.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Top Middle East broadcaster MBC Group has forged a partnership with U.S. anime and manga distributor Tokyopop under which they are forming a hub dedicated to the licensing, promotion, and production of anime content in the region. The joint venture, called MBC Anime, is led by Stu Levy, the American anime and manga expert who is founder and CEO of Tokyopop, a prominent international distributor, licensor, and publisher of anime and manga. Through the new initiative, MBC Anime “will commission, produce, and invest in a series of world-class quality anime titles,” according to an MBC statement.

EXCLUSIVE: Actor, professional dancer and content creator Woody McClain has signed with M88 for representation. M88 will create and develop opportunities for McClain in the entertainment and strategic partnership spaces.

Sargon of Akkad as the first regent to rule, an orphan turned royal cup bearer with a goddess on his side, Sargon conquered and unified Mesopotamia some four thousand odd years ago.In ancient Egypt, pharos wore crowns to connect them to depictions of their deities and to invoke the power they possessed. These days, crowns and kings are more about pageantry than pagan veneration and only twelveEuropean nations maintain a form of monarchy; Andorra, Belgium, Denmark, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, the Vatican and of course the UK and its colonies which we now call territories because colonialism was and is the scourge of humanity, owed in large part to the monstrous monarchs that propagated it.

Hollywood legend Samuel L. Jackson is filming a new blockbuster about a serial killer terrorising Scotland.

EXCLUSIVE: Screen greats Samuel L. Jackson and Vincent Cassel have been set to lead cast in action thriller Damaged, about a Chicago detective who goes to Scotland after an emerging serial killer’s crimes match those that he investigated five years earlier, one of which was the crime scene of his murdered girlfriend. 

Matt Damon and Casey Affleck have started production on their new movie.

Leo Barraclough International Features Editor Eyeconic Pictures, the recently formed production company from Al Bravo and Niko Foster, has announced that Mena Suvari (“American Beauty”) has joined the cast of action thriller “The Wrecker,” which stars Foster. Tyrese Gibson (“The Fast and Furious” movie franchise) and Harvey Keitel (“Reservoir Dogs”) were previously announced to the cast. Chad Michael Collins, Ego Mikitas and Danny Trejo round out the key cast. Production is currently taking place in Las Vegas, Nevada. Art Camacho is directing from an original screenplay by Foster, which follows a dishonorably discharged ex-marine named Tony, now turned car mechanic, whose life takes an unexpected turn when his reckless brother makes a bad decision gaining the unwanted attention of a notorious crime boss.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter Evan Jones has signed with Buchwald for representation, Variety has learned exclusively. In addition, Jones has landed a recurring guest star role in the upcoming HBO Max crime drama series “Duster” from J.J. Abrams and LaToya Morgan. Jones will continue to be represented by Artists First and Ginsburg Daniels Kallis. Jones is best known for his roles in films like “8 Mile,” in which he played Cheddar Bob, and “Jarhead,” in which he played Fowler. Jones’ other notable film roles include “Den of Thieves,” “The Book of Eli,” “Guardians of the Galaxy 2,” “A Million Ways to Die in the West,” “Shot Caller,” and “Hotel Artemis.” In television, Jones has appeared in shows like “October Road,” “Houdini,” “Brothers & Sisters,” “Midnight, Texas,” and “CSI: Cyber.”

Joe Otterson TV Reporter Best-selling author James Patterson has signed an exclusive first-look deal with Skydance Television. Under the terms of the deal, Patterson will develop television adaptations of his best selling book series “Women’s Murder Club” and Michael Bennett books, as well as book series “Private” and the soon-to-be published books “Jane Smith” and “Holmes, Miss Marple and Poe.” “In speaking with David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and the team, it quickly became clear Skydance is only interested in making quality entertainment with top talent,” said Patterson. “This kind of partnership is exactly what we have been seeking for James Patterson Entertainment, as we continue to grow our brand across every area of the business.”

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Saudi Arabia is launching soft money schemes worth a total $234 million available to both local and international companies over the next three years in its ongoing effort to launch a local film and TV industry almost from scratch. The Saudi Cultural Development Fund officially unveiled its so-called Film Sector Financing Program during the Ignite the Scene event dedicated to the film industry held in Riyadh last week. In an interview on Monday with Variety Najla AlNomair, who is the cultural development fund’s chief strategy and business development officer, said that the Saudi soft money pot is split into two parts: one allocated for loans that amounts to $154 million, and the other for investments, amounting to $80 million.

Goldie Hawn and her famous kids are paying tribute to the "man in my life", her partner Kurt Russell, who celebrated his 72nd birthday on March 17.The pair have been together over 40 years, and in honor of Kurt's big day, Goldie shared a sweet snap in which she gives a worthy side eye as Kurt cracked himself up laughing."Happy birthday to the wacky man in my life! I love you baby," she captioned the post, which her son Oliver Hudson was quick to comment on. "Sums up your entire 40 years of togetherness," he quipped before adding: "Love this pic!' Goldie shared this picture of Kurt"Always a double fun day in our family! St Patrick’s day and Pa’s birthday!" Kate Hudson captioned a video of Kurt and his granddaughter, which you can see below."Love this man so much! How about some birthday love for Kurt! Happy Birthday Pa!"WATCH: Kate Hudson celebrates Kurt Russell's birthdayDuring their four decades together, the couple have raised a brood of offspring including Oliver and Kate, from Goldie's first marriage to Bill Hudson, Kurt's son, Boston, from a previous relationship and their shared son, Wyatt.The actors started dating in 1983, although they were already friends before then; Goldie met Kurt for the first time when they were both filming the 1968 Disney musical The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band.The couple then reconnected years later while filming another movie together, Swing Shift.Goldie and Kurt are immensely proud of their blended family and all of their gorgeous children.

EXCLUSIVE: Tyrese Gibson (The Fast and Furious franchise) and Harvey Keitel (Reservoir Dogs) have signed on to star in the action thriller The Wrecker.

Mike Wass By the time Kiddo A.I. put pen to paper on a new verse for Rema’s “Calm Down,” the mellow afrobeats banger had already amassed hundreds of millions of streams and propelled the Nigerian artist to global stardom. If that wasn’t intimidating enough, the Miami-based songwriter had to capture the voice and allure of childhood hero Selena Gomez, who had been attached to the remix. She turned it around in a couple of hours. Amanda Ibanez, her real name, was given the career-making opportunity by Interscope Records senior director of A&R Vanessa Angiuli. A month or so after connecting, the executive fired off a text asking if she would take a stab at writing a spec verse for Gomez. “I read it and freaked out — obviously,” Kiddo A.I., 26, remembers. “I ran up to my room and got on Logic, set up my mic. I was so nervous that I sent two options.”

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Hams Fekri, a 29-year-old Saudi wedding singer from Jeddah, has been crowned the winner of the first season of “Saudi Idol” during a moving live finale from The Boulevard Riyadh City recreational complex. The golden-throated Fekri was exultant after battling it out in front of a live studio audience and panel of judges for 13 weeks. She emerged victorious out of three finalists to win most audience votes for the night. Fekri’s mother — who achieved success as a pop singer during the 1980s, but subsequently faded into obscurity — hugged her daughter on stage.  In addition to being named the very first “Saudi Idol,” Fekri also won a recording contract with MBC Group’s Platinum Records label which involves the release of a full studio album in the coming months.

Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson are reuniting on a new television series — and one that will definitely be more light-hearted than their last go-round on .On Tuesday, Apple TV+ announced a new untitled comedy series starring the pair, playing themselves, from writer David West Read.The 10-episode half-hour comedy is described as «a heartfelt odd couple love story revolving around the strange and beautiful bond between Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson. Matthew and Woody's friendship is tested when their combined families attempt to live together on Matthew's ranch in Texas.»No word yet what impact this may have on the reports that McConaughey was in talks to star in a new Yellowstone series amid rumors last month that Kevin Costner was leaving the popular Paramount Network series. «We have no news to report.

EXCLUSIVE: UTA has signed director-producer Cecilia Aldarondo, whose third feature, You Were My First Boyfriend, premiered in Documentary Feature Competition at the SXSW Film Festival on Friday.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Dubai-based CEO Sam Barnett leads the Middle East’s largest broadcaster MBC as it turbocharges its Shahid streaming service through a scripted content drive, and gives Netflix a run for its money. Shortly before the holy month of Ramadan, which is marathon TV time in the Arab world, Barnett spoke to Variety about the still crucial relevance of Ramadan season in luring eyeballs, MBC’s need to offer “interesting new types of content” outside of the holy period, and why the company remains resolutely pan-Arab while riding the wave of Saudi’s production boom. There is a perception that MBC is becoming more “Saudi-centric” since it now plays an important role in Saudi’s drive to become a major content producer. Can you talk to me about how this shift is playing out in your overall production strategy?

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Film Festival has announced a dozen projects from young filmmakers from Saudi, and the wider Arab and African region, selected for its development program, the Red Sea Lodge, in collaboration with TorinoFilmLab and sponsored by the Film AlUla film commission. The Lodge is a 10-month mentorship program that has now opened up to African works along with Saudi and Arab projects. Winners will take home a portion of the total $200,000 pot in prizes that will be awarded during the fest’s 2023 edition in December.  The selected projects from Saudi Arabia are:

TriStar Pictures has acquired Spyglass Media Group‘s “Thanksgiving,” a full-length slasher film inspired by the fake trailer from Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez’s double feature “Grindhouse,” according to an insider with knowledge of the project.Roth is attached to direct the horror thriller film. “Thanksgiving” is co-written by Roth and Jeff Rendell, with Roger Birnbaum, Roth and Rendell producing.Chatter has existed about turning the jokey trailer into an actual movie, with Roth having written a screenplay over a dozen years ago.