Marc Velez Joins UCP As Head Of Development, Naketha Mattocks Joins Universal TV As SVP Drama

Mark Wahlberg and his funky bunch have left California!

Roving gangs have gained power throughout Haiti over the past 15 months in the wake of former President Jovenel Moïse's assassination, blockading essential ports and terrorizing citizens who are increasingly in need of basic supplies like food and medicine.  The Biden administration announced this week that it will deploy security assistance to Haiti's National Police and issue visa restrictions on Haitian officials involved with gangs.  The move falls short of "a specialized armed force" that Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry requested from the international community, an action that U.S. Sen.

Mark Wahlberg has left Hollywood behind and moved out of the state to put his family first. Wahlberg, 51, revealed on Tuesday’s "The Talk" that he and his wife moved their four children to Nevada to give them a "better life." During the episode, Wahlberg discussed how he balances his career while also being a present father and husband.

Elliot Page has his next project lined up.

The U.S. government will pull visas belonging to current and former Haitian government officials involved with criminal organizations as well as provide security and humanitarian assistance to Haiti, senior U.S. officials said Wednesday.

Three illegal immigrants caught and released at the U.S.-Mexico border, as well as a fourth person, a U.S. citizen previously released on cashless bail, have been charged in New York’s Long Island for carrying out a hate-fueled robbery ring allegedly targeting members of the Indian community.  Brayan Alexis Ortiz-Ramos, 20, Daniel Esteban Jimenez-Carrillo, 30, Gersson Jhoan Hernandez-Gomez, 33, all born and raised in Columbia, as well as Justin Mora-Soto, 20, who was born in the U.S.

Angelique Jackson Ella Rubin has been cast opposite Anne Hathaway in the Prime Video movie “The Idea of You,” about a mom who embarks on a romance with the lead singer of the world’s hottest boy band. Rubin will play the Academy Award-winner’s daughter in the movie, based on Robinne Lee’s bestselling contemporary love story of the same name. “The Idea of You” centers on Sophie (Hathaway), a 40-year-old divorced mother. First, Sophie’s husband Dan left her for a younger woman, and now he has canceled his Coachella trip with their 16-year-old daughter (Rubin). Sophie steps in to save the day, braving the crowds and desert temperatures, but things really heat up when she meets 24-year-old Hayes Campbell (Nicholas Galitzine), the lead singer of boy band August Moon (Jaiden Anthony, Raymond Cham, Vik White, and Dakota Adan round out the group).

A starry group of global talent has been set to join Paolo Sorrentino on the main jury for the 19th edition of the Marrakech International Film Festival which runs from November 11-19 in the Moroccan city. 

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent The Marrakech International Film Festival will make a big comeback this year with a star-studded jury, including Oscar Isaac (“Scenes from a Marriage”), Vanessa Kirby (“The Son”), French actor Tahar Rahim (“The Serpent”), Australian director Justin Kurzel (“Nitram”) and Danish director Susanne Bier (“The Undoing”). Lebanese director and actor Nadine Labaki (“Caparnum”), German actor Diane Kruger (“Inglorious Basterds”) and Moroccan director Laïla Marrakchi (“Marock”) complete the high-profile jury. As previously announced, Paolo Sorrentino, the Oscar-winning director of “The Great Beauty” and “The Hand of God,” will preside over the jury, which spans 10 countries from four continents.

Bella Hadid is celebrating her birthday in style!

Haiti is preparing to seek military assistance from the international community to confront gangs that have blocked the country's principal fuel port, the Miami Herald reported on Friday, citing sources with knowledge of the decision. The government of Prime Minister Ariel Henry plans to make the written request on Friday to allied nations, without specifying where the troops should come from, the Herald reported.

Millie Court has had a summer of plenty of lavish holidays following her split with ex Liam Reardon in July. The former Love Island star, 24, continued to take care of herself as she and fellow Islander Lucina Strafford descended upon a luxury hotel to enjoy a few days of self care.The reality star pair took to social media to document their trip away including a trip to a “snooze room” they visited post massage at the spa hotel.The duo visited the elegant Hoar Cross Hall Spa Hotel in Staffordshire where they were treated to the venue’s very luxurious spa package. From the minute the porter carried the girls’ bags up the stairs, they were treated like royalty as they enjoyed a glass of fizz before their treatments.

Opening statements have begun today in Kevin Spacey’s trial over sex abuse claims by Star Trek Discovery’s Anthony Rapp. The proceedings in a New York federal courtroom come as Harvey Weinstein, Danny Masterson and Paul Haggis all face sex crimes trials of their own starting next week.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter Marc Velez has joined UCP as senior vice president and head of development, Variety has learned. In addition, Naketha Mattocks has joined Universal Television (UTV) as senior vice president of drama development. In his new role, Velez will report to Jennifer Gwartz, executive vice president of UCP. He joins the studio from Lee Daniels Entertainment, of which he was the president. He takes over development at UCP from Garrett Kemble, who left earlier this year for a role at Anonymous Content’s AC Studios. “Marc is a rare executive who is entrepreneurial, creative, and a partner to our talent and buyers,” said Beatrice Springborn, president of UCP and Universal International Studios. “We are fortunate to have him lead our creative team, who represent the best of the best as we continue to evolve and grow our slate.”

Jimmy Smits and Amanda Warren are taking to the streets of New York for justice.The duo stars in CBS' new police drama, launching this Sunday, and only ET was on the set of the series this week. The one-hour drama follows newly promoted boss of the 74th Precinct in East New York, Regina Haywood (Warren), who is determined to deploy creative methods to protect her community.

Mark Hamill has become the latest big name to become an ambassador for United24, the official fundraising arm of the Ukrainian government as it continues its war against Russia.