From ‘Alba’ Director, San Sebastian Title ‘La Piel Pulpo’ Bows Trailer (EXCLUSIVE)

Jennifer Maas TV Business Writer With peak nerd TV upon us, there’s never been a better time to be a fan of genre programming – or David S. Goyer, a devotee and prolific writer-producer of genre fare. Goyer and his Phantom Four Films partner Keith Levine produced Hulu’s new David Bruckner-directed “Hellraiser” movie, which launched Friday, and are in the middle of filming their latest take on classic IP, “The Omen” prequel movie “The First Omen,” in Rome. Beyond that, the pair are in post-production on the second season of Apple’s “Foundation” adaptation, breaking the writers’ room for more episodes of the “Batman Unburied” podcast for DC and Spotify. They’re also working on two spinoff podcasts, including “Riddler,” featuring Hasan Minhaj, and a Batgirl/Barbara Gordon project. And they’re in the early stages of developing a dramatic series revolving around Michael Moorcock’s “The Eternal Champion” books for Skydance and Apple TV+ with “Foundation” writer Dana Jackson. If that’s not enough, they’re also holding their breath for a renewal of the Warner Bros.-produced “The Sandman” at Netflix.   

Selome Hailu Retro plastic couch covers are finally getting their due in 21st century pop culture.  Beyond getting referenced on a Beyoncé album, the tacky-yet-lovable accent appears in “Abbott Elementary” Season 2 Episode 4, “The Principal’s Office,” when Melissa (Lisa Ann Walter) invites Janine (Quinta Brunson) over for a cooking lesson. It’s the series’ first major look at a character’s domestic life, and in an Italian American household in South Philly, a large, welcoming sofa had to be the centerpiece.  “It’s the first thing I asked for,” Walter says about the plastic on the couch, seen here in first look images that Variety can exclusively reveal. “Well, first I asked for plastic on the lampshades, but people might not understand that. An older generation thing.”

EXCLUSIVE: Joe Begos’ holiday horror film Christmas Bloody Christmas has wrapped up a deal with AMC Networks siblings RJLE Films and Shudder that will see the slasher pic released day-and-date in theaters and on the genre streaming site December 9.

McLaren chief Andreas Seidl believes Red Bull overspent on salaries and benefit packages after the energy drink giants were accused of breaking budget cap rules in 2021. The FIA are currently reviewing team's spending for last year and have insisted any breaches will be dealt with "according to the formal process set out in the regulations.

Naman Ramachandran “Adipurush,” one of the most anticipated Indian films of 2023, unites the talents of Prabhas (the Baahubali franchise) and Om Raut, who directed Ajay Devgn-starring “Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior,” the biggest Indian box office hit of 2020 with a $50 million gross. “Adipurush” is Raut’s take on Indian mythological epic “Ramayana,” by Valmiki, where Rama, the king of Ayodhya, travels to Lanka to rescue his wife Sita, who has been abducted by the king Ravana. “Adipurush” is set 7,000 years ago and in the film, Prabhas’ character is not called Rama, he is Raghav, another name for Rama. Sita, played by Kriti Sanon, is called Janaki, while Saif Ali Khan’s Ravana is Lankesh, also derivatives of their “Ramayana” names. Adipurush literally means “first man,” but here the interpretation is that of “best man.”

A third underwater search for a young joiner who vanished more than 27 years ago was launched yesterday.

Selome Hailu Marvel’s “Armor Wars,” originally planned as a TV series for Disney+, is being redeveloped as a feature film, Variety has learned. “Armor Wars” will star Don Cheadle, reprising his MCU role of James “Rhodey” Rhodes, a.k.a. War Machine. The project is based on the Marvel Comics series of the same name that follows Rhodes as he must face what happens when Tony Stark’s tech falls into the wrong hands. Beyond that, plot and casting details remain scarce, though comic book villains that could potentially appear include Stilt-Man, the Crimson Dynamo and Justin Hammer, who was played by Sam Rockwell in “Iron Man 2.” Yassir Lester, who was originally set as the series’ head writer, remains attached to write the project.

“Hocus Pocus 2.” And among critics, the sequel is faring better than its predecessor originally did — but only just.For the most part, reviews seem to be split between enjoying the nostalgia of “Hocus Pocus 2,” and wanting it to build more upon the original. Where The Hollywood Reporter’s Lovia Gyarkye argues that the sequel “honors its history without knowing quite how to move beyond it,” and IndieWire’s Jude Dry says it “hews closely to the original, perhaps a little too much,” others disagree.The AV Club’s Phil Pirrello wrote that “Using ‘Hocus Pocus’ more like a modular foundation than sacrosanct canon, director Anne Fletcher (Netflix’s “Dumplin’”) and screenwriter Jen D’Angelo find an inventive way of expanding upon the OG movie by reaching into the main characters’ past and softening the trio of witches’ more sinister edges as they once again wreak their unique, PG-brand of havoc on the town of Salem.”IGN’s Amelia Emberwing noted that it’s odd the movie doesn’t film in Salem, but nonetheless, “It’s wonderfully nostalgic that ‘Hocus Pocus 2’ feels like the Disney Channel Original Movies of yore.”Really, critics are just happy to see Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy and Sarah Jessica Parker back together again as the beloved witchy trio.

The sister of murdered Renee MacRae has said the passing of time has not eased the family's anguish as they have not been able to grieve.

Edinburgh Christmas markets could be axed this year after event organisers pulled out with just weeks to go.

An ‘exhausted’ Scots student has told how she was forced to sofa surf for three months while desperately trying to secure accommodation amid the housing crisis. Imogen Irvine was left without a flat after her lease ended in May but found other properties were being let out within just minutes of being advertised online.

Manori Ravindran International Editor The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) has appointed journalist and TV presenter Natasha Kaplinsky OBE as its new president. She will replace long-time leader Patrick Swaffer, who steps down after 10 years. Formed in 1912, the BBFC is an independent, non-governmental and not-for-profit organization that is tasked with classifying films, video tapes, discs and online content. Kaplinsky — a former studio anchor for the BBC, Sky, ITV and Channel 5 — will take up the new position in October. As president, she will join the board and chair the Board of Classification, which is responsible for overseeing all matters relating to classification. The board meets on a monthly basis.

A shocking exit. Ime Udoka, the head coach of the Boston Celtics, has been suspended from the NBA after news broke that he had an alleged affair with another member of the organization.

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic Swizz Beatz and Timbaland have settled their lawsuit with Triller, after suing the service last month for $28 million, an amount they contended was owed after their sale of Verzuz to the service in March 2021. Specific terms of the settlement were not revealed in the late Thursday announcement, beyond a promise that “the settlement will increase the ownership stake given to the artists that Timbaland and Swizz Beatz brought to Triller as part of the original deal.” “Verzuz has always been a platform that is by the artists, for the artists and with the people,” Swizz Beatz and Timbaland said in a statement. “We’re glad to come to an amicable agreement with Triller and continue giving fans the music and community that they’ve come to know and love from the brand.”

Naman Ramachandran Blue Finch Films has boarded international sales on European genre titles, Scandinavian thriller “Good Boy” and found footage film “Stéphane,” ahead of their world premieres at Beyond Fest. “Good Boy,” which delves into the perils of the modern dating world, follows Sigrid who thinks she’s met the perfect match in Christian until she comes to find out that he lives with a man who acts like his pet dog. French thriller “Stéphane,” a new take on the found footage genre, follows Timothée, as he documents his time with the larger-than-life, and almost unbelievable character that he meets whilst shooting a short film. As time goes on their jovial and eccentric talks become something far more sinister.

Penelope Cruz received a special honor at the 2022 San Sebastian Film Festival this weekend!

previous teaser for Season 2 hinted that Jay (Utkarsh Ambudkar) might finally be able to also see the ghosts, after he fell through the floor into the basement at the end of the first season. Friday’s trailer continues with that speculation, expanding upon a scene where Jay walks down the stairs and utters, “Oh my God” at whatever he sees.We got an expanded look at that shot in this new trailer, which shows that Richie Moriarty’s Pete is standing in front of Jay in the foyer.

Endeavor Content’s newly-rebranded Fifth Season has signalled major international intentions with the hire of Ben Irving, the BBC’s former Acting Drama Director whose exec producer credits include His Dark Materials, Doctor Who and Gentleman Jack.

K.J. Yossman Film and TV studio Fifth Season (previously Endeavor Content) has appointed Ben Irving to the position of creative director for U.K. television. He will join in November. His remit will be to build on Fifth Season’s reputation for distributing series such as “Killing Eve” and “The Night Manager” and producing “Severance.” Irving will lead the production and development teams in the U.K. and work on U.K.-based developments as well as working with the U.K.’s creative community on new global series. Irving joins from the BBC, where he oversaw all primetime drama as the acting director of drama. Before then he worked as BBC Drama’s head of production and a commissioning editor. Among the projects he has executive produced are “His Dark Materials,” “Doctor Who,” “Happy Valley” and “Sherwood.” Prior to joining the BBC Ben worked at Heyday Films as VP of development and production. He has also worked at Warner Bros Pictures and Qwerty Films over the course of his career.