Cynthia Erivo to Star in ‘Prima Facie,’ Movie Adaptation of Smash Jodie Comer Play (EXCLUSIVE)

Matt Donnelly Senior Film Writer On a recent quiet morning at The Summit, the ultra-exclusive gated community in Los Angeles, a crane was called to deliver olive trees to Sebastian Maniscalco’s house. The Illinois native, known for relatable stand-up about his immigrant parents, and for his onstage physicality and boisterousness, went uncharacteristically silent watching the evergreens drop down on his stunning views of Beverly Hills. He’s used to talking about his much humbler roots. “I like to poke fun or make light of what we see in society and make fun of my own family and my old-world immigrant upbringing. I think I do it in a way where we’re all laughing together,” he tells Variety.

EXCLUSIVE: Paramount’s Republic Pictures label has acquired North American rights to dystopian drama-thriller The End We Start From, starring BAFTA and Emmy winner Jodie Comer (Killing Eve).

Kristin Chenoweth is clearing the air about Ariana Grande, who is stepping up to fill her shoes in the new Wicked movies.

Michelle Yeoh described her role in the upcoming Wicked movies as a “risk.”

Michelle Yeoh doesn’t play it safe when it comes to her career which ultimately led her to nabbing the Best Actress Oscar award for her role in Everything Everywhere All at Once. Now, the Academy Award-winning star is saying that taking on the role in the Wicked musical was a “risk.”

Cynthia Erivo has booked another new movie role!

Tony Award-winning actress Cynthia Erivo will topline a film adaptation of the hit play “Prima Facie,” which she will also executive produce.Participant and Bunya Productions are producing the film, in association with Erivo’s Edith’s Daughter. The film will be directed by BAFTA Award-winning filmmaker Susanna White.

We have your first look at Bridgerton heartthrob Jonathan Bailey on the Wicked set!

Manori Ravindran Executive Editor of International Ten years after winning the Camera d’Or in Cannes for “Ilo Ilo,” director Anthony Chen is back with “The Breaking Ice.” The film, which premieres in Un Certain Regard on May 21, is set in Yanji, a border city in north China, and follows a budding relationship between three 20-somethings as they spend a few days together. Nour Films has acquired the pic for France, while Rediance are handling worldwide sales. Chen became the first Singaporean to win an award at Cannes with his short film “Ah Ma” in 2007. In 2013, he won the Camera d’Or for his debut feature “Ilo Ilo.” His sophomore film “Wet Season” was nominated for the Platform Prize at Toronto. Chen made his English-language debut with “Drift,” starring Cynthia Erivo, which premiered at Sundance in January.

Matt Donnelly Senior Film Writer “Aladdin” and “Charlie’s Angels” breakout Naomi Scott will star alongside “Game of Thrones” alum Kit Harrington and Oscar winner Jeremy Irons in the epic romance “Eternal Return,” Variety can report exclusively. Village Roadshow Pictures is producing the project and will introduce the film to buyers at next week’s Cannes Film Festival. “Eternal Return” follows Cass (Scott), a young woman who has resigned herself to a life of emotional invulnerability until she meets Virgil (Harington), a cartographer who makes maps to imaginary places. Along with his partner Malcolm (Irons), a vibrant renaissance man, the pair relentlessly attempts to travel back in time awaken Cass to love again. The original feature is written and directed by Yaniv Raz (“Dr. Bird’s Advice for Sad Poets”).

Matt Donnelly Senior Film Writer Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos will no longer attend a gala meant to honor him next week in New York. The decision comes as labor issues grab headlines across Hollywood. Sarandos was set to accept the Business Visionary Award at the annual PEN American Spring Literary Gala, alongside fellow honoree Lorne Michaels and a host of literati including Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Susan Choi, Jennifer Egan, Min Jin Lee, Jay McInerney and Gay Talese. He’s skipping the event, to be held under the blue whale at the American Museum of Natural History, as many industry celebrations weigh how to address the writers strike. “Given the potential to disrupt this wonderful evening, I thought it was best to pull out so as not to distract from the important work that PEN America does for writers and journalists, as well as the celebration of my friend and personal hero Lorne Michaels. I hope the evening is a great success,” Sarandos told Variety in a statement.

The stars of Broadway’s Tony-nominated plays stepped out for the Meet the Nominees press event!

Versity —which became available for purchase for organizations on May 1, with its full launch set for June — virtually brings together renowned Harvard professors and clientele from the Endeavor network. The professors and the celeb instructors will help mold and develop new professionals and skills that will assist them in navigating the workplace. The courses, which will all be virtual, include “Purpose, Perspective and Persuasion” with Professor Jody Freeman and Poehler, “Tech Ethics: Critical Thinking in the Age of Apps, Algorithms, and AI” with Sandel and Jordan and “How to Bring the Real You to Work: Authenticity, Connection, and Identity” with Gates and Erivo. “Versity is a first-of-its kind platform that combines results-driven pedagogy with world-class storytellers to bring a unique and engaging perspective to learning,” Guy Schory, chief digital officer at Endeavor said.

We have more Wicked set photos, and our first showing Cynthia Erivo all green-ifyed to portray Elphaba!

British actress Jodie Comer has earned her first Tony Award nomination for Broadway debut Prima Facie.The Killing Eve star, 30, is nominated for best performance by an actress in a leading role in a play for her role as Tessa in the one-person production by playwright Suzie Miller.The production, about a British defence lawyer who ends up in the witness box, secured four Tony Award nominations in total, including for best scenic design, best lighting design and best sound in a play. After receiving critical acclaim for her West End debut at the Harold Pinter Theatre in London, which included winning best actress at the 2023 Olivier Awards, Comer took the play to the John Golden Theatre on Broadway in April which will run until July.

The 2023 Tony Award nominations are finally here!

The biggest stars currently on Broadway were all at the 2023 Met Gala!

Jonathan Bailey is looking so suave on the red carpet!

Matt Donnelly Senior Film Writer Variety has a first look at the anticipated Cannes Film Festival competition premiere “May December,” led by Oscar-winning heavyweights Julianne Moore and Natalie Portman and directed by Todd Haynes. The title, which is also for sale out of this year’s Marché du Film, represents a “Far From Heaven” reunion for Moore and Haynes and a significant breakout opportunity for “Riverdale” heartthrob Charles Melton. Moore and Melton star as married couple whose 20-year relationship inspired a national tabloid obsession at its offset. Now preparing to send their grown children off to college – as Melton reconciles with empty nest syndrome in his mid-30s – an actress (Portman) embeds with the family to study them for an upcoming film where she’ll play Moore. The couple buckles under the pressure as Portman probes as deeply as she can for an honest performance.

fans couldn't be happier with all the glimpses we are getting of director Jon M. Chu's upcoming adaptation of the lauded musical — and this week, fans got a first look at Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible!The Oscar-winning actress was spotted on the film's Buckinghamshire, England, set in costume as the Shiz University headmistress, clad in a stunning green gown with a golden bodice. Her gray hair is in an intricate updo as she stands in front of Ariana Grande's Glinda, surrounded by flowers — on a set similar to the one where fans caught a first look at Grande singing in character earlier this month.