Max Takes U.S. on Movistar+ Special Ops Thriller ‘La Unidad – Kabul,’ Sold by Beta (EXCLUSIVE)

John Hopewell Chief International Correspondent Netflix, the world’s preeminent animation producer by production volume, outlay and awards, has set out a roadmap at Annecy for how it is looking to invest in the future of animation. Sketched by John Derderian and Karen Toliver, Netflix animation heads of series and film respectively, the gameplan takes in building on Netflix’s strengths, in adult animation, and genre and anime in series; maintaining a vast diversity of shows and movies; and looking in every project for a creator’s vision which Netflix will seek to connect with the right audience, at the right price. Derderian and Toliver talked to Variety at France’s Annecy Animation Festival whose Netflix’s panel this Wednesday June 14, From Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget to Blue Eye Samurai – See What’s Next @ Netflix, promises to be one of Annecy’s most talked-about highlights.

Max George has labelled his girlfriend Maisie Smith "perfect" in a photo from their holiday to Istanbul. The loved-up couple are on a break to Turkey together and Maisie, 21, shared some sun-soaked pictures from their time away on Instagram, which proud boyfriend Max, 34, couldn't help but comment on.

Zoe Saldana leads a star-studded cast in a new espionage thriller, Special Ops: Lioness, which is inspired by an actual US Military program.

John Hopewell Chief International Correspondent French CGI studio TeamTO, one of the biggest animation studios in Europe, has initiated development on “Jade Armor” Season Two. The move comes as TeamTO has produced on a service basis third party IPs ranging from “Kiya & the Kimoja Heroes” to Netflix hit “The Creature Cases.”  Progress on “Jade Armor” TeamTO is made in the wake of its moving last December into a brand new 2,700 square-meter (29,063 square-foot) studio facility in the Bastille district in Paris, as, in its busiest year ever, TeamTO is producing five third-party shows. Five more, all TeamTO original series, are airing around the globe.

The exciting first trailer for Paramount+’s new spy drama “Special Ops: Lioness” has been out and it features megastar Zoe Saldana prominently.

Taylor Sheridan already has a slew of series on Paramount+ like “Tulsa King,” “Mayor Of Kingstown,” and two “Yellowstone” spinoffs, “1883” and “1923.” And good news for “Yellowstone” fans: after its fifth season concludes, new episodes will premiere on Paramount+, too (along with yet another spinoff, “Lawmen: Bass Reeves,” due later this year).

Nicole Kidman and Zoe Saldaña are leading an elite group of operatives in the new Paramount+ drama from creator Taylor Sheridan. inspired by a real-life U.S. military program, centers on CIA missions to place undercover operatives close to high-value targets in order to gain their trust and eliminate them swiftly and quietly.

Another Taylor Sheridan series has gotten a release date. Paramount+’s “Special Ops: Lioness” is set to premiere globally on Sunday, July 23. The streamer also released its first teaser for the series.

Paramount+ has unveiled the first trailer for Taylor Sheridan’s Special Ops: Lioness and announced Sunday, July 23 as the premiere date for the espionage thriller.

McKinley Franklin editor Paramount+ has released the first trailer and set the premiere date for Taylor Sheridan’s latest star-studded project, the spy thriller series “Special Ops: Lioness.” The series, which is inspired by an actual US military program, will debut on the streamer on July 23. According to the official synopsis, the show “follows the life of Joe (Zoe Saldaña) while she attempts to balance her personal and professional life as the tip of the CIA’s spear in the war on terror,” per the official synopsis. “The Lioness Program, overseen by Kaitlyn Meade (Nicole Kidman) and Donald Westfield (Michael Kelly), enlists an aggressive Marine Raider named Cruz (Laysla De Oliveira) to operate undercover alongside Joe among the power brokers of State terrorism in the CIA’s efforts to thwart the next 9/11.”

John Hopewell Chief International Correspondent Lionel Messi and Sony Music Entertainment will team with the Canary Islands’ Atlantis Animation to bring an animated series on the Argentine soccer megastar several steps closer to reality. The deal sees Atlantis producing as a service company a CG animated series trailer inspired by Messi himself. Sony Music’s Premium Content Division, which is producing in partnership with Leo Messi Management, is overseeing the development and distribution of the series.  Based out of Tenerife, Atlantis Animation is now in full production  of the trailer. Targeting all audiences, the series “will immerse viewers in the epic adventures of a young Messi overcoming titanic challenges as he navigates the vibrant world of video games,” a written statement said.

Heather Dubrow is moving on up and to the west side! star invited ET into her new Century City penthouse for an exclusive look at the stunning home. In addition to some killer views and few famous faces as neighbors, the home has a reality TV connection — it was sold to Dubrow by 's Heather Rae El Moussa.«What's so crazy, is people are always asking us if we've moved to L.A. because we bought this penthouse, and what happened was we were looking for a place for me and Terry to buy someday.

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck officially have a $60.85 million love nest, and now it’s time to decorate. It was revealed last week that Bennifer purchased a mansion in the mountains above Beverly Hills in what was reportedly an all-cash deal. Over the weekend, JLo was spotted shopping with her twins Emme and Max, 15, who she shares with Marc Anthony.JLo was shopping for a new fireplace screen at Wilshire Fireplace, and she needed more than one because the mansion boasts 12 bedrooms, 24 bathrooms, and 15 fireplaces.Along with JLo and the kids on the outing was also what looked like a friend.

John Hopewell Chief International Correspondent In a show of force, English-language “Spellbound,” the live-action tween series from “Find Me in Paris” creators and production partners will get a Season Two.  Produced by Cottonwood Media, with ZDF, ZDF Studios and the Opéra national de Paris, the 13 new episodes of the ballet/witchcraft series will go into production in August.  The “Spellbound” renewal news comes as Season One is set to roll out in international markets across broadcasters and streaming services from this fall.  Federation Kids & Family, the sales arm of Cottonwood Media parent Federation Studios, and ZDF Studios, the commercial company of German public broadcaster ZDF, will handle worldwide sales. 

John Hopewell Chief International Correspondent Álvaro Morte, immortalized by his performance as the Professor in “Money Heist,” has inked a multi-year producing deal with Sony Pictures Television through his Madrid-based production company 300 Pistolas, which he founded alongside Blanca Clemente. The accord sees 300 Pistolas, a theater company, making the transition into producing scripted TV, with Morte developing English-language scripted series exclusively with SPT, which he and Clemente will serve on as producers via 300 Pistolas.  Morte and Clemente will have access to SPT’s development teams. SPT will serve as exclusive production and distribution partner to any projects produced under the deal, SPT confirmed Wednesday.

John Hopewell Chief International Correspondent CANNES —  Belinda, one of Mexico’s biggest popstars and a star of Netflix hit “Welcome to Eden,” is attached to headline “The Red Diamond,” the latest project from Erik Barmack’s L.A. and Mexico City-based Wild Sheep Content. One of the fastest-growing of production companies in international markets, Wild Sheep has a production alliance with The Mediapro Studio.  “The Red Diamond” is also set up at Mexico City’s Wild Sheep Content Latin America, headed by producer Jimena Rodríguez who produced “3 Idiots,” the second highest-grossing Mexican movie of 2017. Rodríguez was instrumental in helping bringing Belinda to the project.

red carpet in a very unexpected shoe.On May 21, the hit the Croisette in a crimson Christian Dior couture gown with a ruffled bust, corseted bustier, and elegant shawl draped across her arms. Paired with a statement diamond choker necklace and subtle wine-stained lips, the 32-year-old Huger Games star embodied Old Hollywood glamour for the premiere of Anatomy of a Fall, save for one minor, deliciously relatable detail.Underneath Lawrence's gown was a pair of everyday black flip-flops, which could be seen as the actor descended the Palais des Festivals steps in photos from the event—and we can't help but think would be proud.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Italy’s Intramovies has acquired global rights outside of Israel and France on Israeli director Dani Rosenberg’s Gaza-Strip conflict drama “The Vanishing Soldier.”  “Vanishing Soldier” is Rosenberg’s second feature after “The Death of Cinema and My Father Too,” which was in the official selection in Cannes 202O and won the Jerusalem Film Festival’s top prize. The film is about an 18-year-old Israeli soldier who flees the Gaza battlefield and heads back to his girlfriend in Tel Aviv only to discover that the military elite is convinced he was kidnapped in the fog of war. What ensues is a tragicomic journey and takes place over a period of 24 hours on the streets of Tel Aviv.

John Hopewell Chief International Correspondent Former Netflix exec Juan Mayne has hung up his own shingle, Madrid-based N&L Films, built with strong talent relationships, a strategic alliance with Exile Content Studio and a sure sense of market opportunities. Exile Content Studio and N&L Films have struck a first-look development deal. Jeff Glaser, who oversaw Netflix production finance in Mexico City and Madrid, has joined N&L Films.  N&L’s first slate include a Mexican remake of “Miracle in Cell No. 7” and “Aristides: A Righteous Life,” the true-life account of a Portuguese diplomat who saved thousands from the Nazis in WWII, from Seanne Winslow.

John Hopewell Chief International Correspondent Spain’s Nostromo Pictures, producer of “Through My Window,” one of the most-watched non-English movies ever on Netflix, is producing “Control Room,” a female-led sci-fi action movie pitched by producer Adrián Guerra as “‘Aliens’ meets ‘The Guilty.’” Based on an original screenplay from Julien Deladrière, “Control Room” is directed by Luiso Berdejo, helmer of “The New Daughter,” starring Kevin Coster, and writer of horror smash hit “[REC”].” Produced by Guerra, Nuria Valls and Miguel Angel Faura for Nostromo Pictures, “Control Room” is currently in post-production. Film Factory is launching worldwide sales at Cannes.