Legendary Entertainment Closes Deal to Adapt ‘Danny and the Dinosaur’ Book Series

Leo Barraclough International Features Editor Kino Lorber has acquired all rights in the U.S. to “Diabolik,” “Diabolik – Ginko Attacks!” and “Diabolik — Who Are You?” from Beta Cinema at the European Film Market in Berlin. The movies are based on the smash-hit Italian comic-book series about a ruthless master thief, which has sold more than 150 million copies worldwide. The stylish crime-comic adaptations are written and directed by Marco and Antonio Manetti. “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Marvel’s Avengers” actor Giacomo Gianniotti stars in “Diabolik — Ginko Attacks!” and “Diabolik — Who Are You?,” and Luca Marinelli (“The Old Guard”) in the first installment, “Diabolik.” Monica Bellucci (“Matrix,” “The Apartment”) stars in the role of Altea, Miriam Leone (“The Invisible Witness,” “Medici”) as Eva Kant, and Valerio Mastandrea (“Perfect Strangers,” “Nine”) as Inspector Ginko.

EXCLUSIVE: Shaunak Sen, who was recently nominated for an Oscar for her doc All That Breathes, has signed with WME and Entertainment 360 for representation. The pic is the most awarded and the first film ever to win best documentary at both Sundance and Cannes. The film is currently nominated for BAFTA, DGA, PGA, ASC, Independent Spirit and the Academy Awards.

EXCLUSIVE: CNBC has ordered a new true-crime docuseries from Law & Order creator Dick Wolf.

Making Challenge history! Paramount+ announced the cast for their highly anticipated upcoming global tournament The Challenge: World Championship.

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

Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson has closed a non-exclusive broadcast direct deal with Fox Entertainment, the network announced Tuesday.Under the deal, the Emmy and Grammy Award-winning producer, director, actor and rapper will develop scripted dramas, live-action comedies and animated series through his production company G-Unit Film & Television, Fox Entertainment president of Scripted Programming Michael Thorn said. After rising to hip-hop royalty status, Jackson delved into filmed entertainment by launching G-Unit Film & Television in 2005, which produced Starz’s “Power,” in which Jackson served as a co-star, executive producer and director.

Curtis ’50 Cent’ Jackson has signed a non-exclusive multi-project broadcast direct deal with Fox.

Ahead of the SXSW world premiere and the March 31 opening of Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, Paramount Pictures has closed a multi-year, first look deal with the film’s directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein and their newly formed production company GoldDay under which they’ll write, direct and produce features.   

Paramount has entered a first-look, multi-year deal with GoldDay, the newly formed production company of filmmakers John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein. The “Game Night” and “Vacation” writer-director-producer duo has teamed up with the studio and eOne on “Dungeons & Dragons: Honors Among Thieves,” which hits theaters on March 31.According to a release, GoldDay will focus on “telling unique stories that defy easy genre classification,” with the intention of creating “entertainment that takes viewers on a journey they haven’t been on before.

Stacey Dooley has shared a first glimpse of her and Kevin Clifton’s baby daughter Minnie. The couple first met in 2018 when they were partnered on Strictly Come Dancing and went on to win the series outright. Months later they began a romantic relationship and have been inseparable ever since, last summer announcing they were expecting their first child together with a joyous social media post.

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.

Chloe Sims appears to be living her best life in America after recently taking the plunge and relocating to Los Angeles. The Only Way Is Essex favourite Chloe, 41, officially swapped Essex for sunny California in January, after jet setting between the US and UK for several months prior to the big move.The mum-of-one, who has moved with her daughter Madison, 17, appears to be making the most of the sunshine over in the US, and was recently snapped enjoying a day out at Miami Beach, Florida.

Hit ITV show The Masked Dancer has been axed after just two series. The TV show will not return this year with another series despite proving to be hugely popular with viewers, as ITV have opted to air the Rugby World Cup, which begins in September, in its place.

Naman Ramachandran India’s income tax department is conducting searches of the BBC’s offices in the country’s capital New Delhi, according to the Associated Press. Three BBC staffers informed AP about the searches, the agency said. Meanwhile, a team from the tax department also surveyed the BBC’s Mumbai offices, per the Press Trust of India quoting unnamed sources. Variety has reached out to the BBC for comment. The searches come in the wake of the Indian government blocking the controversial two-part BBC documentary “India: The Modi Question.” The documentary was described on the BBC website as: “Narendra Modi’s premiership has been dogged by persistent allegations about the attitude of his government towards India’s Muslim population. This series investigates the truth behind these allegations and examines Modi’s backstory to explore other questions about his politics when it comes to India’s largest religious minority.”

Sex/Life.” “Sex/Life” will premiere on Netflix on March 2. The second season follows the 2021 premiere with an eight-episode season. Based on the book, “44 Chapters About 4 Men” by BB Easton, “Sex/Life” was created by Stacy Rukeyser. The series follows as one woman, Billie Connelly (Sarah Shahi), examines her identity, unveils her desires, and navigates a love triangle between her husband Cooper Connelly (Mike Vogel) and her former flame, Brad Simon (Adam Demos). The provocative first season of “Sex/Life” reached 67 million viewers within its first four weeks on Netflix.

Huntington Beach banned flying the Pride flag at City Hall during a sometimes heated City Council meeting earlier this week. It’s an abrupt about face from 2021 when the City Council voted 6-0 to hoist the Pride flag for six weeks to coincide with LGBTQ Pride Month in June. Photo: City of Huntington Beach

EXCLUSIVE: Stanford in Entertainment revealed the winners of its 2022 “All Write Now!” TV Script competition.

Refresh for latest…: Sony Pictures Entertainment recorded $179 million in operating income for the third quarter ending December 31, 2022. That figure reps an 86% decrease on a dollar basis versus the same period last year, though it’s tough to compare apples to apples here since Q3 2021 had a massive assist from the phenomenal global box office performance of Spider-Man: No Way Home along with the success of Venom: Let There Be Carnage. Meanwhile, the current quarter felt the absence of a gain from the transfer of GSN Games business in Q3 2021.

Legendary Entertainment is partnering with Caroline Fraser of HarperCollins Productions (Carmen Sandiego) to produce a live-action Danny and the Dinosaur film, based on the bestselling children’s picture book series by Syd Hoff.

EXCLUSIVE: The White Lotus breakout Sabrina Impacciatore has signed with Gersh and MGMT Entertainment for representation.