Academy CEO Dawn Hudson to Step Down When Contract Ends in 2023

Despite the box office and critical disappointment of “Dear Evan Hansen,” Hollywood is still really excited about the possibilities of bringing famous Broadway musicals to the big screen. This year alone, we’ve had the aforementioned “Dear Evan Hansen,” “In the Heights,” and in December, “West Side Story.” And one of the biggest musicals of all time, “Wicked,” is now bringing in two incredibly talented singers to bring that show to life in film.

Grammy and Tony winner Cynthia Erivo and pop star Ariana Grande will star in a feature film adaptation of the billion-dollar Broadway smash hit “Wicked,” directed by Jon M. Chu (“Crazy Rich Asians”), Universal Pictures announced Thursday.One of the most successful Broadway musicals of all time, “Wicked” has continuously been in production since debuting in 2003.

Selome Hailu editorDemi Adejuyigbe is known in many corners of the internet as “the ‘September’ guy” for the videos he’s been making of himself singing, dancing and defying the laws of physics to the famous Earth, Wind & Fire song for the last few years. He sees the videos and the money they raised for charity as a major point of pride — “Finally, I get to tell you about the cool things I’ve been doing!” he says to Variety.

55th annual CMA Awards are coming soon to ABC, and on Thursday, the Country Music Association announced more of the show's lineup of performers.

APPOINTMENTSThe music division of talent agency CAA has promoted Zack Borson, Alex Douma, Omar Garcia and Brad Pophal in LA, Kaitlyn Bruce, Kara Enos and Ariel Happe in Nashville, and Jamie Shaughnessy in London. Bruce is now a music marketing exec, Happe is a brand partnerships exec, while the others become agents.Various Artists Management has appointed John Dawkins to the position of UK Managing Director.

Michael Che’s new stand-up comedy special titled Michael Che: Shame The Devil will debut globally on Netflix on Nov. 16 and is directed by Kristian Mercado and produced by Irony Point.

Katie Song Netflix announced that a new Michael Che stand-up special will premiere globally Nov. 16.

Heartbreaking news in the case of Lauren Cho.

Selome Hailu editorNetflix has released the official trailer for the upcoming “Cowboy Bebop” live-action adaptation, offering a glimpse into Spike Spiegel’s mysterious past. Based on the late ‘90s anime series of the same name, “Cowboy Bebop” stars John Cho as Spike, a bounty hunter who leads a team throughout outer space to hunt down criminals.

“Dune 2” is officially a go!

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefNot all drug barons are South American. One who managed to stay largely out of the limelight while he built a global empire was southern Chinese-born Tse Chi Lop who was arrested in Amsterdam earlier this year after building a $60 billion empire.Discovery is to launch documentary feature “The World’s Biggest Druglord – Tse Chi Lop” from Nov 14.

Naman Ramachandran Amir Ramses, artistic director of the ongoing El Gouna Film Festival in Egypt, has resigned in the final days of the event. It’s believed he may have stepped down due to growing local opposition to Cannes-winning film “Feathers,” by Egyptian filmmaker Omar El Zohairy.The film follows a family thrown into disarray after its patriarch is accidentally turned into a chicken by a magician during a children’s birthday party.

Kate Hudson had a serious case of the Monday blues this week! The 42-year-old star took to Instagram following the end of another weekend - and plenty could relate to her reaction.MORE: Kate Hudson's eccentric family home used to be mother Goldie Hawn's - photosKate posted a screenshot from her 2003 movie How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days in which she co-starred with Matthew McConaughey.

Dawn Hudson, the longtime CEO of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, will not seek an additional term when her current contract ends in May 2023, the Academy announced on Monday.  Hudson took the position in the summer of 2011, after the retirement of Bruce Davis, the Academy’s longtime executive director.

EXCLUSIVE: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences CEO Dawn Hudson said Monday that her current term will be her last. She signed a new deal in March of 2020 for what was expected to be three years through May of 2023, but a statement to be released later today does not specify an actual date of her departure, saying simply “when this term concludes.” Sources added nothing further on the exact timing of her exit.