Carey Mulligan Comedy ‘The Ballad of Wallis Island’ Acquired by Focus Features (EXCLUSIVE)

William Earl administrator The Austrian writers and directors behind pitch-black horror hits “Goodnight Mommy” and “The Lodge” are bringing their newest vision to America. “The Devil’s Bath,” the latest film from Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala, is set to have its North American premiere at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival, and then head to Shudder for a June 28 streaming debut. The film had its world premiere at this year’s Berlinale, and was recently nominated for 11 Austrian Film Awards, including Best Film.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter The upcoming video game “Spine” is already being eyed for film and TV adaptations. Variety learned exclusively that “Spine” developer Nekki has teamed with Story Kitchen to develop potential adaptations of the game. “We’re pleased to begin our journey with Story Kitchen,” said Nekki CEO Dmitry Terekhin.

Anna Marie de la Fuente In an exclusive interview with Variety, German maestro filmmaker Werner Herzog discussed his plans to lead the 3rd Film Accelerator program organized by Barcelona-based La Selva. Herzog and his long-time cinematographer Peter Zeitlinger will be on hand to guide the 25 directing and 25 cinematography aspirants who will pair up to create short films no longer than 10 mins in length. On day one, he will give them a framework on which to base their project.

Callum McLennan Comedy docuseries “The World’s Strangest Jobs,” from Johannesburg-based Mannequin Pictures, one of South Africa’s key production, finance, and distribution companies, has sold to Prime Video the rights to the African continent. Mannequin is now pursuing sales in all other territories. The eight-part series is hosted by comedian and actor Schalk Bezuidenhout.

Russian filmmaker Kirill Serebrennikov returns to Cannes once again this year with Limonov: The Ballad starring Ben Whishaw, for which we can share a first-look image from above. 

LAS VEGAS – Universal Pictures has some potential big hits on its upcoming release slate. There’s “The Fall Guy” with Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt.

CinemaCon attendees Wednesday got a first look at Focus Features’ second film with Robert Eggers, Nosferatu, a dark and gothic tale of obsession between a haunted young woman and the terrifying vampire infatuated with her which causes untold horror in its wake.

EXCLUSIVE: In celebration of its 10th anniversary, Bleecker Street has unveiled a reel showcasing both where the company has been and where it’s headed, unveiling never-before-seen footage from numerous upcoming titles.

Cynthia Littleton Business Editor Think the market for adult-focused specialty films is dead? Peter Kujawski, chairman of Focus Features, explains why you’re wrong on the latest episode of Variety podcast “Strictly Business.” As the film biz gathers in Las Vegas this week for CinemaCon, Kujawski, an industry veteran who has headed NBCUniversal’s Focus Features unit since 2016, discusses the state of moviemaking and exhibition and he walks through the key lessons learned from the strike-challenged 2023 box office. Takeaway No.

While he only just earned his first Oscar in 2023 for “The Banshees of Inisherin,” Colin Farrell has been spending a decent amount of time on the small screen. Between his new Apple TV+ show “Sugar” (read our review right here) and the upcoming Max series “The Penguin” (a crime series spinoff of “The Batman”), Farrell seems to have found a new niche.

Lise Pedersen “The Return of the Projectionist,” which is running in the main competition at Swiss doc fest Visions du Réel, where it will have its world premiere, has been picked up by Paris-based doc specialist Cat&Docs. The feature debut of Orkhan Aghazadeh, it tells the story of Samid, a former projectionist in Azerbaijan’s remote Talysh mountains, who is determined to bring cinema back to life in his village using his old Soviet film projector.

Reality TV star Eve Gale may have entered the Love Island villa twice looking for love - once in season six and then again this year - but it appears she's found romance with TOWIE's Demi Sims.The 24 year old was coupled up with Casey O'Gorman during her time on Love Island but when they were dumped from the show, their romance seemed to fizzle out. However, since then Eve revealed she's been on many dates with 27 year old Demi, and lifted the lid on their budding romance on the former TOWIE star's podcast Sims Squared, with her sister Frankie.

Clayton Davis Senior Awards Editor There’s more love to come. Netflix‘s U.S. version of “Love on the Spectrum” has been renewed for a third season after its second soared into the Global Top 10 for three weeks.

Following her recent Oscar-nominated role in Bradley Cooper’s dramatic biopic “Maestro,” actress Carey Mulligan is switching it up and returning to the world of comedy. Variety reports that Universal’s Focus Features has acquired the new Mulligan film “The Ballad of Wallis Island,” formerly known as “One For The Money.” The pic hails from the director James Griffiths (“Cuban Fury”) and is produced by veteran British comedian Steve Coogan via Baby Cow Productions with a supporting cast that includes Sian Clifford (“Fleabag”) and Akemnji Ndifornyen (“Famalam”).

Jaden Thompson Hulu has unveiled the trailer for the upcoming reality series “High Hopes,” executive produced by Jimmy Kimmel. Following the employees of the Los Angeles cannabis dispensary MMD, the series is set to premiere April 20 with the release of all episodes. The show is described as “a workplace reality series following Belarus-born brothers Slava and Mishka, and their stoned crew through the trials and tribulations of taking their cannabis business to new heights.

EXCLUSIVE: Saban Films has acquired worldwide rights to The 4:30 Movie, the latest film written and directed by Kevin Smith (Clerks). The film marks the second collaboration for Saban and Smith, on the heels of 2019’s Jay and Silent Bob Reboot, which scored one of the top-per theatre average openings of the year amongst titles like Parasite and Avengers: Endgame.

EXCLUSIVE: Writer-director Jamal Dedeaux (Laff Mobb’s Laff Tracks) has rounded out the cast for his indie dark comedy The Late Night Creep, starring Single Parents alum Jake Choi. Newcomers include Tosin Morohunfola (Run the World), Jason Mitchell (Mudbound), Karen Obilom (The Mill), Lori Laing (That Damn Michael Che), Paula Jai Parker (Hustle & Flow), Lewis Belt (House Party), and Leslie Jones (SNL).

Leo Barraclough International Features Editor “Long Live the Tyrant: Life and Times of Giancarlo DiTrapano,” a feature documentary about the independent book publisher, is being developed as an Italy-U.S. coproduction. DiTrapano is described by Ian Thornton, one of the film’s producers, as the “Basquiat of the New York literary scene.” The film is written by Guia Cortassa and directed by Cortassa and Vittorio Antonacci.

It’s no secret that Real Time host Bill Maher enjoys a toke now and then. He was the cover boy for L.A. Magazine’s recent 420 issue, and brings he habit up frequently on the show.

EXCLUSIVE: Jake Choi (Single Parents) has been tapped to star in The Late Night Creep, a dark comedy from writer-director Jamie Dedeaux (Laff Mobb’s Laff Tracks).