Kourosh Ahari’s Thriller ‘The Night’ Becomes First U.S.-Produced Film To Receive License For Theatrical Release In Iran

Bruce Haring, Brandon Choe SUNDAY: California has become the first US state to hit 500,000 positive coronavirus cases, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.More than 9,000 people have died from coronavirus in California, and more than 6,000 people are in the hospital or an intensive care unit, according to state data published Friday morning.Despite new restrictions on such indoor venues as movie theaters, bars and restaurants issued in mid-July by California Governor Gavin Newsom,

Dino-Ray Ramos Associate Editor/ReporterEXCLUSIVE: LD Entertainment and Roadside Attractions have moved the release date of the forthcoming Words On Bathroom Walls. The feature based on Julia Walton’s YA novel will now open nationwide in theaters August 21, pushing its debut from the originally slated date of August 7.

Rebecca Davis editor“Tenet” announced Wednesday that it has passed government approvals for a theatrical release in China, an indication that an official release date is now on the horizon.

Peter White Television EditorDime Davis, director of HBO’s A Black Lady Sketch Show, has become the first Black woman to secure an Emmy nod for directing a variety series.Debbie Allen was nominated in 1989 for directing ABC’s The Debbie Allen Special when the category was known as Outstanding Directing for a Variety or Music Program, but Davis becomes the first Black Woman for series directing.

Universal Pictures and AMC Theatres have put aside a bitter feud and signed a multi-year agreement that will allow the studio’s films to premiere on premium video on-demand within three weeks of their theatrical debuts.The pact, sure to send shockwaves throughout the exhibition industry, has the potential to reshape the ways that movies are marketed and distributed.

“Focusing on the long-term health of our industry, we would note that just as restaurants have thrived even though every home has a kitchen, AMC is highly confident that moviegoers will come to our theatres in huge numbers in a post-pandemic world,” Aron said in his statement.

Also Read: 'Tenet' Delayed Again to Unnamed 2020 DateAfter stay-at-home orders and movie theater closures began in mid-March due to the coronavirus, “Tenet” was one of the few movies that remained steadfast on its original release date of July 17. It became a movie that theater chains used as a target for reopening and hopefully luring audiences back.

John Slattery stars in Fox's new series, and the star is opening up about the white-knuckle techno-thriller.

AT&T's quarterly earnings conference call on Thursday morning also provided updates about the film release strategy of the telecom giant's film studio Warner Bros., which will be of interest to Hollywood insiders. John Stankey, the former CEO of AT&T's entertainment unit WarnerMedia who recently was promoted to the role of CEO of the parent company, was asked on the call about how the novel coronavirus pandemic has been affecting the film business and distribution strategies.

Also Read: AT&T Tops Tempered Q2 Earnings Expectations but Misses on Revenue as Warner Bros, Turner Feel COVID Impact“I think I said last quarter that I fully expected coming out of COVID that I would be surprised if the industry as a whole didn’t see some adjustment in the theatrical construct,” the AT&T CEO said. “And I also made the point that, look, I think theatrical still has an absolute important role moving forward.

Also Read: 'Grown-ish' Star Yara Shahidi Signs Overall Deal With ABC StudiosLongoria will serve as an executive producer on the project alongside Ben Spector of her UnbeliEVAble Entertainment. Whitaker and Nina Yang Bongiovi will also executive produce for Significant Productions.

Pete Hammond Awards Columnist/Chief Film CriticEXCLUSIVE: Director Kelly Reichardt’s well-reviewed indie First Cow becomes the first physical 2020 DVD screener sent to all members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and now holds that singular distinction that I chronicle every year here on Deadline.

Dino-Ray Ramos Associate Editor/ReporterLatinx directors Alberto Belli (The House of Flowers), Aurora Guerrero (13 Reasons Why, Gentefied), Joel Novoa (Blood and Treasure, Arrow) and Diego Velasco (Orange is the New Black) have launched LatinxDirectors.com, the first site that is specific to Latinx episodic and film directors.The site focuses on creating a simple user experience for both sides of the pipeline.

Jimmy Fallon returned to his Rockefeller Center studio on Monday, months after shooting The Tonight Show from his home. He is the first late-night host to return to the studio amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Patrick Hipes Executive Managing EditorTrain to Busan Presents: Peninsula, the sequel to the hit 2016 Korean horror thriller and one of the 56 titles that was part of the official selection of this year’s Cannes Film Festival, will embark in North American theaters on August 7. It also landed an exclusive streaming deal with Shudder, AMC’s horror streaming site.The zombie horror sequel, which returns Yeon Sang-ho to the director’s chair, will bow on 150 screens across the U.S.

Tom Grater International Film ReporterEXCLUSIVE: Chinese crime drama Sheep Without A Shepherd, one of the last big box office hits in China before cinemas were forced to shutdown, grossing $167M, has been set for a UK theatrical release by distributor Trinity CineAsia.Theaters have started re-opening in the UK and multiplexes including Cineworld and Vue are set to following in the coming weeks.

The news that Warner Bros. and Disney have again delayed the releases of Christopher Nolan's Tenet and the live-action remake of Mulan, respectively, amid the coronavirus pandemic was a blow to hopes that the movie business could soon return to normal ­— and a surge in on-demand and streaming viewership has experts questioning whether short-term solutions could lead to lasting changes in distribution models.