Former Marvel Comics Boss Joe Quesada Signs First-Look Film, TV Deal With Amazon

Matt Donnelly Senior Film Writer Bestselling author and screenwriter Caroline Kepnes has signed with CAA, Variety can report exclusively. Kepnes is the writer-creator behind the four-book “You” series, following the exploits of magnetic serial killer Joe Goldberg. Her novels are the source material for the Netflix scripted juggernaut “You,” adapted by Greg Berlanti and Sera Gamble. The series reinvigorated the career of Penn Badgley in the lead role of Goldberg, and has proven a massive performer on the streaming platform. A fifth and final season of the series was just greenlit. Kepnes, a native of Cape Cod, will next release “For You and Only You” on April 25 from Random House. It joins previous titles “You Love Me,” “Hidden Bodies,” and the flagship “You.” She is also the author of the novel “Providence,” a supernatural love story. Her works have been translated into numerous languages and continue to build a rapt audience around the world.

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic If the 14th annual TCM Classic Film Festival had an official focus, it was on the 100th anniversary of Warner Bros., from the opening night premiere selection of a restoration of “Rio Bravo” to a celebration of the 50th anniversary of “The Exorcist.” Almost equal in emphasis, though, by virtue of the guests brought in, was a celebration of the ingenues-turned-leading-ladies of the 1960s, who now represent the elder guard of a Hollywood golden age — Angie Dickinson, Ann-Margret and Shirley Jones. Dickinson had the highest profile of any star at the festival, being the belle of the ball at the Thursday screening of “Rio Bravo” in the big house at the TCL Chinese Theatres, where most of the screenings were held. But there was just as much outpouring of affection for Ann-Margret, who turned up for a Q&A (and birthday cake) following “Bye Bye Birdie” on Saturday, and Jones, who was joined by her son Shaun Cassidy and a slew of grandchildren after a showing of 1962’s “The Music Man” as the festival neared its end Sunday.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter Mischa Barton will appear in the new season of “Neighbours” coming to Amazon Freevee. Barton will guest star in the upcoming season of the long-running Australian soap opera, which was picked up by Freevee back in November. According to her official character description, Barton will play Reece, “an American new to Erinsborough who’s not quite who she appears to be.” “With ‘Neighbours’ launching on Amazon Freevee in North America, we are beyond excited to have an actor of Mischa’s calibre join us for the beginning of this exciting new chapter,” said executive producer Jason Herbison. “Mischa’s character is dynamic and unpredictable, and will have an instant presence on Ramsay Street. Our loyal viewers are going to love her, locally and abroad.”

The first look at the final season of Never Have I Ever was just released by Netflix.

Beijing-based sales agent Rediance has revealed first look stills for Anthony Chen’s The Breaking Ice, which has been selected for the Un Certain Regard section of this year’s Cannes Film Festival. 

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Pedro Almodóvar’s hotly anticipated short “Strange Way of Life” has secured its first deal ahead of its Cannes Film Festival world premiere next month. In the project’s first announced multi-territory deal MUBI — the indie streamer, distributor and producer — has acquired all rights for Italy and Latin America. Pathe will be releasing the film in the U.K. under a longstanding agreement. Shot in southern Spain’s Tabernas desert, “Strange Way of Life” stars Ethan Hawke and Pedro Pascal as two gunmen who reunite after 25 years. The half-hour film has been described by Almodóvar as a “queer Western, in the sense that there are two men and they love each other,” the director said last December on Dua Lipa’s “At Your Service” podcast. 

“Chicago” and “Law & Order” franchise creator and producer Dick Wolf has extended his overall television deal with NBCUniversal, signing a two-year deal extension with Universal Television, meaning he will remain with the company until 2027. Previously, the procedural producer had signed a pre-pandemic pact in 2020 that promised three-season renewals for his shows.

Joe Wicks, aka The Body Coach, has been dad-shamed after he sparked concern with a picture of his seven month old baby girl, Leni, hanging off pull-up bar. Joe 37, can be seen stood a very small distance away from the little one, who was hanging from the exercise bar, a considerable way off the ground, by just her hands, while wearing a white babygrow and matching hat.

boygenius secure their first Number 1 album with debut LP the record today.

Tom Daley shared a first look at his new baby boy in a sweet gallery of images on Instagram on Wednesday.  The post came just hours after it was revealed the Olympic diving champ and his husband Dustin Lance Black have welcomed their second child via surrogate - and the baby has a very unusual name. Tom, 28, wrote: 'Phoenix Rose Black-Daley.

“The September Issue”) and his This Machine production company, which will take a deep dive into the intersecting narratives, on and off the field, that surround the high stakes climax of America’s national pastime.Imagine and Cutler most recently partnered on the MGM+ true crime docuseries, “Murf the Surf: Jewels, Jesus and Mayhem in the USA” which tells the story of one of the most complicated and notorious American crime figures ever, Jack Roland Murphy, who became America’s very first true crime television superstar in 1964, a mere few months after the assassination of John F. Kennedy.From “Blue Crush” to “Friday Night Lights” to “Rush” to the documentary “The Day Sports Stood Still” to the upcoming second season of “Swagger,”Imagine has a rich history in telling stories rooted in sports. Over the last five years, Imagine has strategically expanded into an independent content studio with targeted acquisitions, partnerships, and new divisions, including an exclusive first look strategic partnership with The Washington Post in 2022 and with Warner Music Group in 2020, to co-produce a slate of projects across all mediums.Major League Baseball represents the highest level of professional baseball and is the most historic sports league in the United States.

The Masked Singer UK maker Argonon has signed a Chief Operating Officer for its U.S. operation.

Angelique Jackson CAA has signed filmmaker Megan Park for representation. Park’s feature directorial debut, “The Fallout,” premiered at SXSW in 2021 and took home the festival’s grand jury prize and audience award, as well as the first-ever Brightcove Illumination Award for writing the screenplay. The film was released on HBO Max in Jan. 2022 and stars Jenna Ortega and Maddie Ziegler, following the teenagers as they attempt to rebuild their lives after a school tragedy. Park was named one of Variety’s “10 Directors to Watch” for 2022 and also won the Toronto International Film Festival’s Rising Star Award and an Emerging Directors Award from the Cannes Film Festival.

Prime Video is stacked with returning favorites, the launch of one of Amazon’s biggest shows ever and a bevy of great movies to watch. The fifth and final season of “The Marvelous Mrs.

Ellise Shafer A New York grand jury has voted to indict former president Donald Trump over an alleged 2016 hush money scheme, the New York Times reports. The Associated Press also confirmed the news with Trump’s lawyer, Joe Tacopina. Four people with knowledge of the matter told the New York Times on Thursday that the felony indictment “will likely be announced in the coming days.” As the indictment is sealed, the exact charges are unknown for now, but they have to do with his role in allegedly paying hush money to porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016, the Times reports. According to the AP, Trump is expected to surrender to authorities next week. The indictment makes Trump the United States’ first president to be criminally charged, and certainly puts a damper on his upcoming try for a second term in the 2024 election.

Guy Ritchie’s newest film shows audiences the lengths one man will go to in order to keep his promise.

Amazon Studios has signed an exclusive first-look deal with former Marvel Editor-In-Chief Joe Quesada. Under the deal, Quesada will be developing series and films for Prime Video, focusing on adapting existing and new comic book IP.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter Joe Quesada, the former editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics, has signed a first-look film and TV deal with Amazon Studios. Under the deal, Quesada will develop film and TV projects with a particular focus on adapting comic book IP, including both new and existing titles. “I can’t begin to express just how thrilled I am to be joining the Amazon Studios family,” Quesada said. “From the moment Nick Pepper, Matt King, and the team approached me, it was clear we spoke the same language and shared the same creative goals. What was also clear is that they’re creating a collaborative environment and unique methodology that I’m surprised no one has yet thought to implement, but I’m certain will be quickly imitated.”

Clone High, HBO Max’s upcoming revival of the classic MTV series from Phil Lord, Chris Miller and Bill Lawrence, will premiere this spring, it was revealed during the show’s panel at WonderCon.

EXCLUSIVE: Swiss filmmaker Simon Jaquemet returns to feature filmmaking with the forthcoming Electric Child. Today, Deadline can share a first look at the pic featuring Danish-American actor Elliott Crosset Hove.