WWE, Fanatics Set Long-Term Sports and Entertainment Partnership

Joe Otterson TV ReporterHBO Max is developing a series version of “You Brought Me the Ocean,” the YA graphic novel about the origins of DC’s Aqualad, Variety has learned from sources.The one-hour dramedy is based on characters from DC and the graphic novel by Alex Sanchez and Jul Maroh. The series will explore the life of Jackson “Jake” Hyde, a gay teenager living in New Mexico. All his life, he has had a strange attraction to the water and yearns to escape his desert surroundings for the ocean.

EXO member Lay Zhang has parted ways with his long-time label SM Entertainment.Today (April 8), which is also notably the 10th anniversary of EXO debut, the Chinese K-pop idol took to his personal social media accounts with handwritten letters, in both English and Korean, to announce his departure from long-time label SM Entertainment.Lay captioned his posts with, “This decade is one of the greatest gifts I could’ve ever received,” and expressed his gratitude towards his fellow EXO bandmates, SM Entertainment staff and fans for their support throughout his 10 years at the companyThis decade is one of the greatest gifts I could’ve ever received. pic.twitter.com/7Cmpyygprg— Lay Zhang (@layzhang) April 8, 2022Despite his departure from the company, which he wrote now marks a “new beginning” for himself, he reassured that his support for EXO will never waver.

Thania Garcia Since the 1980s, the city of Miami has been synonymous with fashion, art deco and, of course, Latin music.On Thursday, Variety and the City National Bank of Miami hosted the inaugural Miami Entertainment Town breakfast — an event celebrating The Magic City’s irrefutable influence over the entertainment and music industry. The Legends and Groundbreakers award was given to Miami’s most notable musical pioneers — Gloria and Emilio Estefan — who helped put Miami on the map with the revolutionary stylings of their Miami Sound Machine.In her acceptance speech, Gloria Estefan mused tales of the city, “Even as a little kid, I knew that one day someone would realize the gem that is Miami Beach,” she said.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“The Cleaning Lady” has been renewed for Season 2 at Fox.“This heart-pounding, emotionally driven story has captivated audiences across all platforms with its empowering, suspenseful narrative about an undocumented worker forced to navigate the criminal underworld to save her ailing son’s life,” said Michael Thorn, president of Fox Entertainment. “’The Cleaning Lady’ bravely and unapologetically takes on many of today’s most important social issues — something we’re proud to say is one of Fox long-time calling cards — and it’s all brought into sharp perspective by the powerful performance of our lead, Élodie Yung and the entire cast.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterTahj Mowry will star in the upcoming Disney Plus series “The Muppets Mayhem,” Variety has learned exclusively.Mowry joins previously announced cast member Lilly Singh in the series, which was first announced in March. The live-action show follows The Electric Mayhem Band — consisting of Dr. Teeth on vocals and keyboards, Animal on drums, Floyd Pepper on vocals and bass, Janice on vocals and lead guitar, Zoot on saxophone, and Lips on trumpet — as they record their first album ever.Mowry will star as Gary “Moog” Moogowski.

Nearly a year ago, Mark Wahlberg lost his beloved mother Alma. The actor was filming "Father Stu" when he first learned about the matriarch’s passing. Alma died at 78 after facing dementia.

Justin Long, 43, is gushing over his private relationship and even calling the lucky lady “the one,” in a new interview. The actor, who is rumored to be romantically involved with Kate Bosworth, 39, opened up about the time in his life when he let love in and admitted that although he wants to let the world know all about the exciting romance, he also wants to remain “protective” of it.

Mark Wahlberg gets in the middle of a group photo at the photo call for Father Stu held at The London West Hollywood at Beverly Hills on Friday (April 1) in West Hollywood, Calif.

Michelle Collins has announced her engagement to her long-term boyfriend Mike Davidson after he got down on one knee in Los Angeles.The 59 year old, who is best known for her role in EastEnders as Cindy Beale and Coronation Street as Stella Price, shared several snaps of herself and Mike, 38, alongside her massive diamond ring before sharing that he got down on one knee at Temescal Canyon. Michelle added: "It’s #beautiful and I’m #happy #10years this April about time I think #magicmike .#Thankyou @val_king_ for having us and making us so #welcome as always ! #greatlady" In one photo, the actress could be seen cuddling her new fiancé as she donned a black 'Be Kind' cap, while two further snaps showed Michelle showing off her rock.

Unforgotten star Nicola Walker has opened up about her "supportive" relationship with husband and fellow actor Barnaby Kay, 52.The talented actress also revealed her dreams of working with close friend, Sue Perkins. Nicola – who we spoke to ahead of the third and final series of The Split – revealed that the pair often watch one another's work even if their teenage son, Harry, is less interested. "I don’t think my son has ever seen anything I’ve done.

Emmy-nominated writers Micah Fitzerman-Blue & Noah Harpster (Transparent) have been tapped as co-showrunners for The United States of America Vs. Vince McMahon, a limited series in development by WWE and Blumhouse TV.

Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentParamount Plus, which is the global streaming service of recently rebranded Paramount — formerly ViacomCBS — has forged a three-year partnership with Gaumont, the storied French studio behind Netflix’s “Lupin” and “Narcos,” to jointly produce a slate of high-end original shows for its growing subscribers around the world.Under the partnership Gaumont will produce these series in association with Paramount’s international studio, VIS. The shows will be part of Paramount Plus’s stated plans to green light 50 new non-U.S.

Bob Saget supposedly knocked his final show out of the park, but he apparently wasn’t feeling well that night. Rosalie Cocci, a showrunner who works at the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall — where Bob’s final performance took place before his death — told investigators Bob had told her he wasn’t doing well health-wise, per TMZ.The woman said Bob told her he was suffering from long-term COVID and his hearing was also off, as he was constantly asking the crew to turn everything up. She also said the Full House star was sick the day before, had a sore throat, and took some time to get himself together for his stand up set. Even so, she noted she and the crew were surprised when he killed his set, acting as if nothing was wrong.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterAntoine Fuqua has signed an overall television deal with Paramount and MTV Entertainment Studios, Variety has learned.The deal comes after Fuqua served as executive producer on the Paramount Plus series “Mayor of Kingstown.” The first season of that series concluded in January with a second season on the way. Fuqua returns as an EP on Season 2.Fuqua and his Hill District Media will focus on developing original scripted and unscripted content under the deal.

Gone are the days when applying foundation meant smothering the skin in a mask of maquillage that you couldn’t wait to wash off at the end of the day. If you had any hint of a skin concern – blemishes, sensitivity, dry skin – the feeling back then was that wearing makeup was actively making your skin worse.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“East New York,” the drama pilot currently in the works at CBS, has added four new cast members.Ruben Santiago Hudson (“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” Broadway’s “Lackawanna Blues”), Richard Kind (“Argo,” “A Serious Man”), Lavel Schley (“Barriers,” “Tell My Family I Love Them”), and Olivia Luccardi (“The Thing About Pam,” “The Deuce”) have all joined the pilot alongside previously announced series lead Amanda Warren.In the pilot, Regina Haywood (Warren) is the newly promoted deputy inspector of East New York, an impoverished, working-class will neighborhood at the eastern edge of Brooklyn. She leads a diverse group of officers and detectives, some of whom are reluctant to deploy her creative methods of serving and protecting during the midst of social upheaval and the early seeds of gentrification.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterLaysla De Oliveira will star alongside Zoe Saldaña in the upcoming Paramount Plus series “Lioness” from Taylor Sheridan, Variety has learned exclusively.The series is based on a real-life CIA program and follows Cruz Manuelos (De Oliveira), described as a rough-around-the-edges but passionate young Marine, who is recruited to join the CIA’s Lioness Engagement Team to help bring down a terrorist organization from within. Saldaña will play Joe, the station chief of the Lioness program tasked with training, managing and leading her female undercover operatives. The series is set to go into production in June.De Oliveira currently stars in the Netflix series “Locke & Key,” with the third season of that series set to debut later in 2022.

Feeling the love. Channing Tatum and Zoë Kravitz are enjoying their time together after starting a romantic relationship in the summer of 2021.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- It was music fit for the troubled times.Her voice full of heartache and tender resolve, Iranian pop diva and national icon Googoosh delivered old hits and songs from her new album to a packed stadium on Thursday in Dubai — just across the Persian Gulf from her home that had banned her from singing for 21 years and where authorities to this day continue to protest her performances.“When our lives pass away in dismal loneliness, where will we find these beautiful moments again?” she crooned in Farsi from the stage at Expo 2020, Dubai’s world’s fair. “Let my dreams not be forever unfulfilled.”Dressed at first in a simple white dress and later changing into a shimmering black gown, she swayed her hips gently and said she hoped people would remember the night forever.The audience went wild.Googoosh’s classic pre-1979 Islamic Revolution songs drew cheers and shouts of recognition, as Iranian concert-goers sang every word of the cabaret-style ballads and jump-danced to her discotheque tunes.“I can’t tell you how much I love her,” gushed 35-year-old Sarah Ali, an Iranian fan who traveled from Oman for the concert and arrived at Expo nine hours early to get as close as possible to the stage.