WME Promotes Marisa Garcia and Ben Shimmel to Agent in Comedy Department (EXCLUSIVE)

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentStrand Releasing has acquired all North American rights to Maryam Touzani’s “The Blue Caftan,” which world premiered at Cannes and won the Fipresci prize. The film, which is represented in international markets by Films Boutique, will have its North American premiere at Toronto in the Special Screenings section.Touzani’s follow-up to Un Certain Regard title “Adam,” “The Blue Caftan” tells the story of Halim and Mina, a married couple running a traditional caftan store in one of Morocco’s oldest medinas.

Conor Ryan is currently starring in the National Tour of the Tony-winning musical Moulin Rouge and we caught up with the rising star to learn more about him!

Bart Walker will join Gersh as Senior Partner in the New York office. The longtime ICM agent, who decided not to stay when CAA acquired that agency, will continue to represent his esteemed clients in film, television and theatre including Oscar nominees/winners such as David Byrne, Lisa Cholodenko, Sofia Coppola, Tamara Jenkins, Spike Lee, Mira Nair, Oliver Stone and Thomas Vinterberg; Cannes, Venice and Sundance prize winners such as Mati Diop, Michel Franco, Mia Hansen-Love, Jim Jarmusch, The Kloster Brothers, and Lorenzo Vigas: and multi-hyphenate artists such as Benoit Delhomme, Iram Haq, Sally Potter, Richard Press, and Olmo Schnabel.

EXCLUSIVE: Blink49 Studios, the Endeavor Content-backed company founded by John Morayniss, is staffing up its scripted television department.

Batgirl star Leslie Grace has responded to Warner Bros. discarding of the DC film on social media, and they weren’t words of bitterness, just gratefulness to be on the journey.

Shirley Halperin Executive Editor, MusicPeter Shapiro is a concert promoter, venue owner, magazine publisher and has just added author to his resume, with the Aug. 2 release of his book “The Music Never Stops: What Putting on 10,000 Shows Has Taught Me About Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Magic” (written with Dean Budnick).Based on 50 pivotal shows which helped define Shapiro’s life and guide his businesses, the book chronicles a career lived at maximum volume, starting with his 1997 purchase of the Wetlands, a New York City club that catered to fans of the Grateful Dead and Phish and incorporated social activism into its programming, his later purchase of Port Chester New York’s Capitol Theatre and the 2009 launch of Brooklyn Bowl, the first of five combination concert halls-bowling alleys-restaurants, which has hosted giants (like Robert Plant), rarely-seen legends (Ms.

EXCLUSIVE: Cryptocurrency pioneer Jeff Garzik has launched NextCypher Productions (NxC), a new independent entertainment company that will focus on using the emerging technology of Web3 (NFTs, crypto, blockchain applications) to empower the sci-fi community to turn fantasy into reality.

Manori Ravindran International EditorAmy Winehouse biopic “Back to Black” is close to securing its lead.Multiple sources tell Variety that Marisa Abela, one of the stars of HBO and BBC drama “Industry,” is a frontrunner to play Winehouse. It’s believed Abela is in discussions, though the role isn’t yet locked in and a small group of other actors are also believed to be in the mix.As previously reported, the role was always intended to go to a newcomer, and producers have been keen to hire a fresh face rather than go down the pop-star casting route.The scene-stealing Abela plays the privileged but troubled Yasmin Kara-Hanani in the sexy, London-set financial thriller “Industry,” which returns next month for Season 2.

Strictly Come Dancing back in 2017 when they competed against each other in the fifteenth series of the celebrity dance competition. Despite not being coupled up on the show, the pair are now engaged to be married and have shared their plans for their future nuptials.

John Mayer may be a household name for his signature vocals and acclaimed guitar talents, but after his hilarious role in B.J. Novak's forthcoming film , the musician may be meant for the big screen.

Gemma Atkinson, 37, chatted exclusively to HELLO! about her parenting project 'Creating Happy Memories' ahead of her recent family trip to Spain with Gorka Marquez and their three-year-old daughter Mia, talk inevitably turned to their upcoming wedding!MORE: Exclusive: Gemma Atkinson proudly reveals daughter Mia's special new skillGemma and Strictly Come Dancing star Gorka got engaged on Valentine's Day in 2021, but have yet to set a date for their big day. "I'm the most chilled bride I think because as long as it's just close family and friends there really we wouldn't want anything big.

EXCLUSIVE: Master, Black Monday and Girls Trip star Regina Hall has signed with APA for representation. She follows her longtime agent at ICM Andrew Rogers who was recently named Global Head of Talent at APA.

Stuart Miller This year, Just for Laughs has plenty to celebrate. After the COVID pandemic forced the legendary Montréal comedy fest to go completely virtual in 2020 and a hybrid of virtual and live — but with some shows shipped out to New York and Los Angeles — in 2021, Just for Laughs is back in full force in its hometown this July. And it’s a milestone: this is the 40th anniversary of the iconic festival, with a star-studded gala show planned for July 30 as a capstone on the event. JFL continues adapting to the streaming world in the pandemic’s aftermath and will celebrate its role as a developer of new talent with Kevin Hart, Pete Holmes and Taylor Tomlinson, who got early breaks there, returning in very different roles.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterNBC has ordered the drama “Found” to series, Variety has learned. In addition, the network is passing on its pilots “Blank Slate” and “Unbroken.”“Found” hails from writer and executive producer Nkechi Okoro Carroll with Shanola Hampton set for the lead role. The show is built around the fact that, in any given year, more than 600,000 people are reported missing in the U.S. More than half that number are people of color that the country seems to forget about.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefTerapin Studios, a U.S.-Korean media investor backed by NPX Capital, has paid $160 million to acquire Toomics Global, one of South Korea’s fastest rising platforms for webtoons.Webtoons, vertically-scrolling comic strips designed to be viewed on smartphones, emerged in South Korea about 15 years ago and have become a major cultural phenomenon across Japan, Korea and much of Southeast Asia.Webtoons have also been the form of IP underlying many Korean film and TV hits, including Netflix’s “All of Us Are Dead” and “Itaewon Class,” Disney+’s “Moving” and “Dr Brain” for Apple TV+.Netflix is also on course to produce a series, “Black Knight,” based on Toomics’ original webtoon IP “Delivery Knight.” The sci-fi miniseries, starring A-list actor Kim Woo Bin (“Alienoid”), is expected to premiere this year. The Terapin-Toomics deal follows a February 2022 acquisition that saw Terapin buy Copin Communications, a Korean webtoon producer.The two deals together are expected to give Terapin the capacity to take its stable of cartoon creators further into international markets and the ability to negotiate deals for its IP in multiple related or ancillary markets, from animated film and TV, to books, games, merchandize and NFTs.“A [third party] Korean production company is working with Netflix on ‘Black Knight’,” Samuel Hwang, founder and CEO of NPX Capital, told Variety.

Angelique Jackson Oscar- and Golden Globe-winning actor and comedian Mo’Nique is planning a fresh new comedy special for Netflix.Mo’Nique made the announcement in a video message posted to the streamer’s Twitter account on Tuesday, saying, “I’m excited to say that I’ll be shooting my first Netflix special, in addition to reuniting with my friend, director Lee Daniels on the Netflix film ‘The Deliverance.'”“You won’t want to miss either of them, so stay tuned,” the Grammy-nominee continued. “Thank you all and I love y’all to life!”Thrilled to announce that Netflix is the home for the next original stand-up special from the groundbreaking, trailblazing, and iconic Mo’Nique! pic.twitter.com/VzBJ1H92RH— Netflix (@netflix) July 19, 2022The yet-to-be-titled special is set to film later this year in Atlanta, with additional details to be announced in the coming months.News that Mo’Nique is bringing her comedy stylings to Netflix marks a happy (albeit surprising) resolution to a years-long standoff between the star and the streamer.

Gallery: Hollywood Harlots: These mistresses went from side piece to main squeeze! (BANG Showbiz)Jennifer’s closest family members include her 14-year-old twins Max and Emme, who she shares with ex-husband Marc Anthony, 53, as well as her mother Guadalupe and father David, and sisters Lynda and Leslie. Her closest celebrity friends include Leah Remini, Jane Fonda and Renee Zellweger.

Get on the floor! A video speaks a thousand words — at least for Jennifer Lopez, who shared a throwback clip of herself dancing wildly in reaction to her wedding to Ben Affleck.