UTA Signs Photographer, Director, Entrepreneur Estevan Oriol (EXCLUSIVE)

Comedian, actor and writer Blaire Erskine, known for sharing viral videos on social media, has signed with ICM Partners for representation in all areas. She has also signed with Sweet 180 Management.

Settebello Entertainment will represent producer-filmmaker and former NFL player and broadcaster Ed Cunningham in all areas.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterIn a competitive situation, Amazon has acquired the rights to the Bill Konigsberg’s novel “The Bridge” with David Mandell set to adapt the book for television, Variety has learned exclusively.The limited series will be produced by Amazon Studios in association with PKM Productions. Mandell will write and executive produce, with Konigsberg also executive producing along with Patrick Moran of PKM.

EXCLUSIVE: Playwright Will Eno, whose credits include Broadway’s The Realistic Joneses and the Pulitzer Prize finalist Thom Pain (Based on Nothing), has signed with ICM Partners for representation in all areas.

Angelique Jackson Cinetic Media has signed “Collective” writer-director Alexander Nanau for management, representing the filmmaker across scripted and documentary film and television.After debuting at the Venice International Film Festival in 2019, Nanau’s documentary film “Collective” (from Magnolia Pictures and Participant) has earned widespread acclaim and has been designated as Romania’s official submission for best international feature at the 2021 Academy Awards.“Encountering Alexander’s

Joe Otterson TV ReporterParamount Plus is in early development on a dark comedy that hails from Katie Wech, Variety has learned exclusively from sources.The project is titled “RIP.” Wech will write and executive produce, with Gina Rodriguez and Jennie Snyder Urman also executive producing. The trio previously collaborated on the hit CW series “Jane the Virgin.” The project originated with Rodriguez and Tiana Feghali.

Gloria and Emilio Estefan are mourning the death of Frank Amadeo, their longtime friend and president of their company Estefan Enterprises.Amadeo died on Saturday morning after suffering a heart attack at his Miami home, according to multiple reports. He was 57.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe NBC comedy pilot based on the Kevin Hart film “Night School” is not moving forward at NBC, Variety has learned exclusively.The half-hour multi-cam had originally gotten a pilot order in January, but the pandemic shutdown virtually all pilot production in March.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterKatori Hall has signed an overall deal with Lionsgate Television.Hall currently serves as creator, executive producer, and showrunner on the Lionsgate-produced series “P-Valley,” which recently aired its first season on Starz. The show is based on Hall’s stage play “Pussy Valley.” Under the deal, Hall will continue to executive produce the “P-Valley” and develop and produce new premium scripted series for Lionsgate across broadcast, cable and streaming platforms.

EXCLUSIVE: Playwright and performer Hannah Benitez has signed with Verve in what was described as a competitive signing situation. The Cuban-Jewish playwright’s most recent play, GringoLandia, was included on the 2020 Kilroy List, an annual industry survey of notable new plays by women, trans, and non-binary playwrights.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterCraig Macneill has signed on to direct and executive produce the pilot for the upcoming “I Know What You Did Last Summer” series at Amazon, Variety has learned exclusively.Macneill made his feature directorial debut in 2015 with “The Boy,” which was loosely based on the novel “Miss Corpus” by Clay McLeod Chapman and premiered at the SXSW Film Festival that same year. Macneill also served as co-writer on the film in addition to directing.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterApple has given a series order to “Extrapolations,” an anthology series about climate change from Scott Z. Burns, Variety has learned exclusively.Burns will write, direct, and executive produce the series, which hails from Media Res.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterJessica Simpson has signed a multi-media deal with Amazon.The deal includes a new unscripted docuseries based on Simpson’s New York Times best-selling memoir “Open Book,” development of a new coming-of-age scripted series that is also inspired by the memoir, as well as two new original essays to be published through Amazon Original Stories, an imprint of Amazon Publishing.“I am humbled and honored to partner with Amazon Studios to bring my story and heart to life on the

Joe Otterson TV ReporterEitan Bernath has signed on to be the principal culinary contributor on “The Drew Barrymore Show,” Variety has learned exclusively.The role will see Bernath make recurring appearances on the daytime talk show, during which he will showcase original recipes and his expertise and perspective on food-related topics.