Korean Reality Shows Ready to Take the Global Stage

Let the countdown to the 2023 Met Gala begin! Ahead of fashion’s biggest night, the stars are in full-glam mode — and they’re pulling out all the stops to look their best for the annual fundraising gala.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief “The Super Mario Bros Movie” and a local sports movie “Dream” gave the South Korean box office some bounce on their first weekend on release. Opening in Korea on Wednesday, some three weeks after the beginning of its international and North American campaigns, “Super Mario” earned $4.67 million between Friday and Sunday, according to data from Kobis, the tracking service operated by the Korean Film Council (Kofic). The film has a cumulative of $5.76 million over its opening five days, plus previews. The film’s weekend numbers are the second highest opening tally recorded by any film this year in Korea. And its weekend score represented a comfortable 40% market share.

posted on Instagram after Black allegedly threw a drink over the celebrity, who also appeared on BBC gameshow “Unbreakable.”“I went out for a couple of quiet drinks with my friends last night, nothing crazy, and I bumped into Tom Daley and his husband in Soho, who… pretty much unprovoked he threw an entire drink over me in Freedom. I didn’t have a drink to throw back so I did choose violence, it wasn’t that violent, he got a little tap on the back of the head.”Black posted on social media the following month, writing of a concussion that caused him to pause creative activity in order to recover from the head injury.“A month ago I sustained a serious head injury that put me out of commission. Showing little improvement, my doctors ordered me to shut off my brain in hopes of it healing.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Global streaming giant Netflix has publicly committed to spending $2.5 billion (approx. KRW3.34 trillion) on South Korean film and TV production over the next four years. The total is double the amount it has spent in Korea since 2016, the company said. The promise was made by Ted Sarandos, co-CEO of Netflix, at a meeting in Washington DC with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol. “We were able to make this decision because we have great confidence that the Korean creative industry will continue to tell great stories. We were also inspired by the President’s love and strong support for the Korean entertainment industry and fueling the Korean wave. I’d like to personally thank the President for his kind response letter,” Sarandos said in a statement.

Manori Ravindran Executive Editor of International “Succession” star Brian Cox will control the fate of contestants on James Bond reality show “007’s Road to a Million.” The Golden Globe winner has been cast as the enigmatic “Controller” on the forthcoming Prime Video series, which will see contestants competing in teams of two on a global adventure to win a £1 million cash prize. Filmed in many Bond locations — from the Scottish Highlands to Venice and Jamaica — contestants must correctly answer questions hidden in the different locations around the world to advance to the next challenge. From the sounds of Prime Video’s description of Cox’s character, it seems the streamer is leaning into the actor’s recent turn as “Succession” patriarch Logan Roy. “The Controller is villainous and cultured, and revels in the increasingly difficult journeys and questions the contestants must overcome,” reads the synopsis. “He has millions of pounds to give away — up to £1m per couple — but he doesn’t make it easy. Whilst he lurks in the shadows, he is watching and controlling everything.”

Succession star Brian Cox has lined up a new gig now that he's wrapped up with Logan Roy.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief The South Korean cinema box office fell to its lowest level of the year over the latest weekend. Nationwide theatrical earnings in a territory which before COVID was the world’s fourth largest were barely over $6 million. “John Wick: Chapter 4” lead the weekend chart from Japanese anime “Suzume” and Korean sports drama “Rebound” in a top three repeat from a week earlier. “John Wick 4” earned $2.51 million in its second weekend of release, according to data from Kobis, the tracking service operated by the Korean Film Council (Kofic). That was a 38% week-on-week decline and represented a 41% share of the total Korean box office market. It also gave the film a cumulative total of $9.73 million since release on April 12.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Japanese animated film “The First Slam Dunk” has taken a strong early lead at the mainland China box office, picking up $13.8 million on its Thursday opening day. Films mostly release in China on Fridays, but the Japanese hit was given previews on Wednesday and a full court release on Thursday, starting with widespread midnight screenings. Data from local firm Ent Group reveals that the film earned $3.16 million from some 14,000 preview screenings on Wednesday, followed by $13.8 million on Thursday from 184,000 screening sessions. That gives it a $17 million cumulative and positions it at the top of the box office chart even before the conventional Friday to Sunday weekend begins.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Jung Ho-seok, better known as J-Hope, Tuesday became the second member of K-pop sensation BTS to join the Korean military. Approaching his 30th birthday, J-Hope attended an army camp at Wongju, south of Seoul, and is expected to begin five weeks of basic training there. Local news agencies reported a small crowd of fans, seemingly outnumbered by assembled journalists, waited outside the camp to wish him well. Their number was reported to be diminished by bad weather. Earlier, J-Hope had posted on the Weverse fandom platform words of encouragement and a pair of photos revealing his newly-shorn hair. “I love you all. ARMY, I will return safely,” he wrote. ‘Army’ in that sense is a reference to BTS’s legion of fans, rather than the Korean military services.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief The battle for corporate dominance of K-Pop has become a drama that never stops giving. After the acrimonious takeover battle between BTS-backer Hybe Corp. and tech giant Kakao for control of SM Entertainment, Korea’s financial regulators are probing the deal-making that eventually led to Kakao’s victory. Korea’s Financial Supervisory Service raided the offices of SM Entertainment on Tuesday, according to the Yonhap news agency. Investigators were looking for evidence of stock price manipulation between February and March when the two camps were skirmishing.

Christopher Vourlias Bolstered by a 40% cash rebate and a growing number of creators prepared to take risks, the Greek TV industry is riding high. Here’s a selection of the top Greek series on offer during MipTV: Cartes Postales From GreeceDirector: Georgios PapavasileiouWriter: Kallia PapadakiProducer: NEEDaFIXERBroadcaster: ERTA series of 12 stand-alone stories based on Hislop’s bestselling book that follows an introverted, Greek-born English archaeologist who plans to propose to his girlfriend on a trip to his birthplace, Crete. When she doesn’t show up at the airport, however, he sets out on a solitary walkabout of the island.Sales: ERT The Fire BraceletDirector: Yorgos GkikapeppasWriters: Nikos Apiranthitits, Sofia SotiriouProducer: ERTBroadcaster: ERTThe unexpected discovery of a bracelet owned by an old Roma woman prompts a jeweler to delve into his family’s past in turn-of-the-century Thessaloniki, where people of different religions, customs and traditions coexist. Sales: ERT

Clive Owen has announced that he’s taking a step back from his Channel 5 show, Beyond The Yorkshire Farm.The programme began airing in December last year and shone the spotlight on Clive, 68, and his eldest son Reuben.The spin-off series was launched in the wake of Clive’s split from his wife of 22 years Amanda, with whom he found fame on Our Yorkshire Farm. During their 22-year marriage, they welcomed nine children together. On Thursday, 68 year old Clive – who despite his television fame, prefers to live his life out of the spotlight – made a rare talk show appearance as he featured on ITV's Lorraine.

 means new sketches, major guest stars and lots of laughs behind the camera. When asked what fans can expect from season 4, creator and star Robin Thede shared her excitement for viewers to see the «bigger» installment. «It is broader — not that we're comfortable, because you can never be comfortable, right? It's a blessing to be four seasons of anything, right? But I think for us, we're just like, let's just go there with everything,» she told ET's Nischelle Turner.

K.J. Yossman U.K. media regulator Ofcom is considering launching an investigation into “Naked Education,” a Channel 4 show in which teenagers are confronted with naked adults in a classroom in the name of body positivity. The show, which is produced by U.K. production company Betty, first aired on April 4. Ofcom revealed yesterday it had received 930 complaints about the show, by far the highest number of complaints for any U.K. broadcast in the past week. The nature of the complaints were not disclosed but Ofcom has told Variety it is weighing up an investigation into the broadcast. “We are assessing the complaints against our broadcasting rules, but are yet to decide whether or not to investigate,” said a spokesperson.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief South Korean actor Jung Chae-yul was found dead at her home on Tuesday. She was 26. The news of her death was confirmed by her agency Management S, without disclosing details of the circumstances. “Actress Chae-yul has left our side on April 11, 2023,” Management S, said in a statement on Tuesday. “We pray that Chae-yul, who has always been sincere about acting, is able to rest in peace in a warm place.” It added that, according to the wishes of her family, Jung will have a private funeral. Jung began her career as a model and appeared in 2016 fashion survival show “Devil’s Runway.” She transited into acting and appeared in 2018 Korean movie “Deep.”

William Shatner has signed on to host Fox’s upcoming reality competition show, “Stars on Mars.” The show, which airs on Fox this summer, will put celebrities to the test as they are “faced with authentic conditions that simulate life on Mars,” Fox announced Wednesday.“Good news for our celebronauts from Mission Control,” Shatner joked in the release. “Thanks to lower gravity on Mars, you’ll weigh 62% less.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large Fox has ordered the reality series “Stars on Mars,” a new celebrity unscripted series featuring “Star Trek” star William Shatner in a host-like role. The series, set to air this summer, will follow stars as they are suited up to live in a colony set up to simulate what it might be like to be an astronaut on Mars. “Stars on Mars” premieres on Monday, June 5, at 8 p.m. on Fox. The show comes from Fremantle’s Eureka Productions. The idea centers on the celebrity contestants competing in the Mars-like surroundings until there is just one “celebronaut” left standing. Shatner will deliver tasks to the celebs as “Mission Control.” “The moment I heard the pitch for ‘Stars on Mars,’ I knew a show this bold, this big and this outlandish simply belonged on Fox,” said Fox unscripted programming president Allison Wallach in a statement. “Watching celebrities take giant leaps out of their comfort zone and step into the unexpected will no doubt be truly transformational and comical. Throughout, we will learn a lot about these stars, and when you factor in William Shatner leading the charge from Mission Control, we have the makings of a show that’s ready for blast off.”

Wendy Williams is on her way back to TV — but her little brother doesn’t like the idea!

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief A growing range of Thai, Japanese and Chinese-language films and TV shows are reaching global audiences – joining the by-now well-established international viewership for South Korean shows.Netflix’s Global Top 10 for the week April 3-10, sees made-for-streaming Korean title “Kill Boksoon” on top of the non-English-language films list, with 27.5 million hours watched in its second week of release. It is immediately followed by Thai film “Hunger,” about a young woman apprentice in an upmarket restaurant working under a tough boss. The film is directed by Sitisiri Mongkolsiri and stars “Bad Genius” breakout Chutimon Chuengcharoensukying.

Sylvester Stallone, his wife Jenn and daughters Sophie, Sistine and Scarlet seem quite comfortable being on camera in the first trailer for the reality series “The Family Stallone,” which premieres May 17 on Paramount+ in the U.S., Canada, Latin America and Brazil and on Thursday, May 18 in the U.K., Australia and Italy.“I can’t believe you guys are doing a reality show,” the “Tulsa King” star tells his family in in the first trailer, which was released on Tuesday. “It’s quite ironic that he’s the last person who wanted to do this show, but he sees a camera and he’s like, ‘Am I in frame?'” teases daughter Sistine, while Stallone laughingly admits, “That’s the truth.” Al Pacino and Dolph Lundgren also hang out with the action star and share a few laughs.