Michael Fassbender in Talks to Star in George Clooney's Espionage Series 'The Department'

EXCLUSIVE: Zosia Mamet (Girls, The Flight Attendant), Michael Angarano (Oppenheimer, This Is Us) and Tommy Martinez (Good Trouble) have been cast in Peacock’s upcoming comedy series Laid as series regulars. Mamet will play AJ, Angarano will play Richie and Martinez will play Isaac.

EXCLUSIVE: Drops of God creator Quoc Dang Tran is getting into business with HBO. The writer-producer has signed a two-year overall deal with the premium cable network to create and executive produce content exclusive to HBO. 

Joe Otterson TV Reporter Netflix has ordered the limited series “Untamed” with Erica Bana attached to star, Variety has learned exclusively. The six-episode series hails from writers Mark L. Smith and his daughter, Elle Smith.

Following the spectacular box-office failure of “Madame Web,” a film that was a punchline twice at the Oscars last night, Sony’s Spider-Man universe continues to be ridiculed in the media outside the Marvel-produced films with Tom Holland and the successful ‘Spider-Verse’ movies. “Morbius,” starring Jared Leto, was another dud at the box office.

Anna Tingley If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission. When Colin Jost and Michael Che are together, whether it’s as co-hosts of “SNL’s” Weekend Update or in the real world outside the confines of the famed 30 Rock stage, they are rarely serious. Like the comedic characters they broadcast on NBC, their teasing, banters and pranks are incessant — and their chemistry is palpable.

Sacha Baron Cohen and Chris Rock had the good sense to arrive early at the Jean-Michel Basquiat Made on Market Street exhibition at the  Larry Gagosian Gallery in Beverly Hills.

Last week, the trades revealed details about “The Department,” a new espionage political thriller series based on the critically acclaimed hit French drama “Le Bureau des Legendes.” Michael Fassbender was cast in the lead role, and the series came from George Clooney and Grant Heslov’s Smokehouse Pictures shingle. While early reports said Clooney would direct, a new Paramount+ announcement revealed that he’s just executive producing the project and Golden Globe and multi-BAFTA winner Joe Wright (“Pride and Prejudice,” “The Darkest Hour” and “Atonement”) will direct the series instead.

had a girls night out, and she dressed appropriately in a preppy, ’fit. (IYKYK.)For an evening out at Chiltern Firehouse in London on March 6, Clooney added a bit of intrigue to her otherwise simple outfit by masterfully mixing textures. The 46-year-old styled her cream-colored dress with a fluffy white teddy coat, over-the-knee black crocodile boots, and a cranberry quilted leather As usual, Clooney’s auburn hair was perfectly polished, hanging loose in bouncy curls around her shoulders.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large From “Scandoval” to soccer ball. Reality TV uber producer Alex Baskin (“Vanderpump Rules,” “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills”) and his 32 Flavors shingle have partnered with tech mogul Alexis Ohanian, soccer star Midge Purce and sports doc producers Box to Box Films (“Drive to Survive,” “Break Point”) to produce the sports docuseries “The Offseason.” National Women’s Soccer League player Purce, who is also a U.S.

Joe Wright, director behind the Golden Globe and multi-BAFTA winning films Pride and Prejudice, The Darkest Hour and Atonement, is set to direct and executive produce The Department, based on the acclaimed French espionage political thriller The Bureau, from George Clooney and Grant Heslov’s Smokehouse Pictures, MTV Entertainment Studios and 101 Studios. Wright replaces Clooney, who initially was slated to direct the series.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter Director Joe Wright and writers Jez and John-Henry Butterworth have all boarded the upcoming Paramount+ series “The Department.” The Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios series, which was announced with a straight-to-series order in February 2023, is based on the French drama series “Le Bureau des Legendes” created by Eric Rochant. Wright will direct the first two episodes and executive produce, while the Butterworths will writer and executive produce all episodes.

Marc Malkin Senior Editor, Culture and Events As Hollywood gets ready to gives its final bow of awards season, parties and events fill the days and nights leading up to the 96th Oscars. From Zendaya and Cate Blanchett at the Green Carpet Fashion Awards and Essence celebrating Danielle Brooks and Halle Bailey to Elton John holding court at his annual viewing dinner, here’s a look at this year’s Oscar party calendar. March 4 South Asians at the Oscars PartyCo-hosted by Kal Penn, Lilly Singh, Hannah Simone, Tan France, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Rupi Kaur, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, Anita Chatterjee, Shruti Ganguly, and Archana Misra Jain, with a musical performance by Ankur Tewari.Paramount Pictures Studios, Los Angeles7-10 p.m.

Since Batman's first appearance in a comic book in 1939, the masked superhero has reached ultimate highs in the television and film industries. A number of well-known and well-regarded actors have appeared on-screen as the American hero for many years. Each new performance captivated audiences with a new take on the caped crusader.Though, some actors were more widely accepted and anticipated than others.

Did you believe Michael Fassbender was retiring? Did you think George Clooney was done with his prodigious directing turn of the last few years? Guess again on all fronts, as Fassbender is negotiating to star in a new espionage thriller series from Clooney called “The Department.” According to Variety, the series is supposed to shoot this spring in London and has already been given a straight-to-series order from Showtime.

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Michael Fassbender is in negotiations to star in “The Department,” an espionage thriller series directed by George Clooney. Set to start shooting in London this spring, “The Department” is based on “The Bureau,” the hit French spy show created by Eric Rochant. It has already been given a straight-to-series order by Showtime.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have seen various Hollywood stars distance themselves from the former royal couple as they are choosing to support the King and Prince William instead, according to an expert.

Naman Ramachandran Horror film “The Voices of Our Mother,” headlined by Sheila McCarthy (“Women Talking”), has wrapped principal photography. The film is written and directed by Mark O’Brien, who is also an actor, with his most recent credit being Atom Egoyan’s Toronto and Berlinale selection “Seven Veils.” It tells the story of a family who is brought together when their matriarch falls ill, only to find that their lineage is connected by more than blood. The film was shot in Hamilton, Ontario.

Michael Mosley has a strong warning for people who brush their teeth immediately after breakfast.

Following her Palme d’Or winning legal drama, “Anatomy Of A Fall,” French filmmaker Justine Triet quickly went from admired writer/director to much-coveted Academy Award nominee. ‘Anatomy’ was only her second feature-length film in competition at Cannes, following 2019’s “Sibyl,” but it launched her into the stratosphere afterward, earning five Oscar nominations this year, including Best Picture and Best Director (Triet also set a record this year, becoming the first female French filmmaker to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay).

Micheline Presle, the French actress whose controversial Devil in the Flesh role was the start of a career that included starring opposite John Garfield, Tyrone Power, Errol Flynn and Paul Newman, has died at 101.