Kevin O’Neal Dies: ‘No Time For Sergeants’ Actor, Brother Of Ryan O’Neal Was 77

Ed Meza @edmezavar With two new funding programs that could cover as much as 60% of costs for international feature film productions and the new state-of-the-art HQ7 Studios set to open in Vienna next year, Austria is stepping up its game in the film and TV sector in a major way. Approved by the government last year and in effect since Jan. 1, the FISA Plus incentive provides funding for international and domestic films and series, including TV and streaming production. The subsidy, which is not capped, also covers documentaries, animation, virtual reality projects and post-production services, including sound, music and VFX. Specifically, FISA Plus offers a 30% rebate plus an additional 5% “green bonus” for productions that follow environmental sustainability criteria, with maximum funding set at €5 million ($5.4 million) per film and $8.2 million per series.

Manori Ravindran Executive Editor of International The U.K.’s British Film Commission and Film in Austria, the national film commission for Austria, have struck a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) paving the way for more film and high-end TV production between the two territories. New film and TV production incentives were introduced in Austria last month, including Europe’s first “green” filming bonus. Meanwhile, in the U.K., statistics released in February revealed that investment into film and high-end television during 2022 reached a record height of £6.27 billion ($7.72 billion). Through the MoU, which will be signed in Berlin on Sunday, the BFC and Film in Austria say they seeks to “encourage greater cultural, commercial and creative exchange between the U.K. and Austria whilst actively working together to foster opportunities to support inward investment film and high-end TV production in both countries.”

EastEnders star Neil McDermott has teased his return to Walford after his explosive exit in Thursday night’s episode. Neil first joined EastEnders as the brother of Shona McGarty’s Whitney Dean back in 2009, and despite his exit two years later in 2011, he returned to the square in 2014, 2016 and again earlier this week. Ryan returned to the show earlier this week after discovering that the daughter he shares with Lacey Turner’s Stacey Slater, Lily, was pregnant.

EXCLUSIVE: Leonine Studios and A24 have closed an all rights-deal for Ari Aster’s upcoming movie Beau Is Afraid for Germany and Austria.

EastEnders aired a shocking Ryan Malloy twist on Tuesday night's episode as he returned to Albert Square after six years amid Lily Slater's pregnancy storyline. Viewers will recall that Whitney Dean called her brother earlier this week to tell him about his estranged 12-year-old daughter Lily's baby news. And during Tuesday's episode, a stunned Ryan made his long awaited return to Albert Square as he met with both Stacey Slater and Lily.

Zack Sharf Fans of Tom Holland’s Peter Parker/Spider-Man are getting good news from Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige, who confirmed in a new interview with Entertainment Weekly that Holland’s fourth “Spider-Man” movie is now being written. Marvel had one of its biggest hits ever with Holland’s third-outing, “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” which became the first pandemic release to gross over $1 billion worldwide. “All I will say is that we have the story,” Feige said about Holland’s anticipated “Spider-Man” return. “We have big ideas for that, and our writers are just putting pen to paper now.” Whether Holland will once again team up with “Spider-Man” actors Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield remains to be seen. Both actors have expressed interest in returning for a new “Spider-Man” movie.

Kevin Costner invited the world into his bedroom, and it was in that intimate setting where he gave an emotional acceptance speech after unboxing his Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Drama Series.The star recalled the night he was forced to miss the 2023 Golden Globes due to devastating floods in California. Costner, who lives in the celebrity enclave of Montecito, California, said he and his wife got cut off in Ventura on their way to the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills and were forced to watch it from home.«We felt so horrible about that and there was just nothing we could do, and we watched the time like sand in a bottle go out as our chances dimmed of getting there,» he explained.

A lot has changed since he left EastEnders in 2016. But now Neil McDermott is set to make a sensational return to Albert Square as Ryan Malloy. Ryan will be back in Walford next month after hearing that his daughter Lily Slater, who is 12, is pregnant.

Stacey Dooley has posted an adorable clip of her baby daughter Minnie and partner Kevin Clifton to celebrate Valentine's Day. The TV presenter, 35, welcomed her first child with Strictly Come Dancing pro Kevin, 40, in January, and has been keeping her social media followers updated with her life as a new mum. On Tuesday she shared the first glimpse of baby Minnie on Instagram when she posted a gushing tribute to her boyfriend, who is currently away taking part in the Strictly live tour.

Actor Kevin Costner shared a video of him unboxing the Golden Globe award he won for his role in Paramount's "Yellowstone." Costner was unable to accept the award in person because of heavy rainfall and flooding in California that was happening at the time of the award show. Weeks after the award ceremony, Costner received his trophy in the mail.

Whitney director Kevin Macdonald has struck a multi-project deal with rebranded Banijay label Workerbee Group.

Through thick and thin! Maria Menounos and her husband, Keven Undergaro, have been by each other’s side no matter what obstacles they faced.

Melinda Dillon, a two-time Oscar nominee for Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Absence of Malice who also played Ralphie’s mom in A Christmas Story, has died. She was 83. Her family said she died January 9 in Los Angeles but did not give other details.

Andrew Tate‘s hopes for getting out of jail have been rejected by a Romanian judge.

USC School of Cinematic Arts alums Ryan Coogler (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Fruitvale Station) and Tracy Oliver (Girls Trip, Little) have joined the school’s Board of Councilors.

Another Bachelor Nation baby! Bachelor in Paradise alum Astrid Loch is pregnant with her and husband Kevin Wendt’s second child.

Filmmakers Ryan Coogler and Tracy Oliver are the newest and youngest members of the USC School of Cinematic Arts Board of Councilors.“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” director Coogler graduated from the program in 2011. “Girls Trip” writer Oliver is an alum of the Class of 2010.The Board of Councilors oversees strategic planning, development, and fundraising efforts for the film school.

Peacock will not be moving forward with Julie Plec and Kevin Williamson’s comic book adaptation Dead Day despite a straight-to-series order, Deadline has confirmed.

USC’s 140th commencement ceremony will have a familiar face as its keynote: Kevin Feige, producer and president of Marvel Studios. A 1995 USC graduate of the USC School of Cinematic Arts and frequent on-campus speaker, Feige will give the keynote address at the ceremony on May 12.

EXCLUSIVE: RRR and Thor star Ray Stevenson has been set to lead cast in historical drama 1242: Gateway to the West, which is now filming in Budapest, Hungary.