Paramount Global Revives Republic Pictures, Historic Home to John Wayne and Orson Welles, as Acquisition Label (EXCLUSIVE)

John Wayne suffered years of ill health during his final couple of decades. The heavy-drinking and smoking star had a lung and some ribs removed in 1964 due to a cancer diagnosis. During his last years, Duke struggled through his more physically challenging roles, secretly relying on an oxygen mask and even being hospitalised on his last movie The Shootist.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large “Abbott Elementary” will finally reveal Janine’s mother on the ABC comedy’s April 12 episode, and even though it’s April Fool’s Day, we’re not (Cookie) Lyon: It’s “Empire” star Taraji P. Henson, who will play Vanetta on the hit comedy series. The casting of Henson was revealed Saturday at the Paley Center for Media’s annual PaleyFest LA event, where an “Abbott Elementary” panel featured stars Sheryl Lee Ralph, Lisa Ann Walter, Tyler James Wiliams and William Stanford Davis in person, as well as Janelle James and Chris Perfetti via Zoom from New York. Pre-taping a message was star and executive producer Quinta Brunson, who wasn’t able to attend — as she’s hosting tonight’s installment of “Saturday Night Live.”

Jazz Tangcay Artisans Editor Sony Pictures Animation and Sony Pictures Imageworks will release a brand new original short film titled “The Spider Within.” Set in the world of the upcoming release “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,” the animated short will debut exclusively at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival this June. In the short, Miles Morales struggles to balance his responsibilities as a teenager, friend and student while acting as Brooklyn’s friendly neighborhood superhero. After a particularly challenging day living with these pressures, Miles experiences a panic attack that forces him to confront the manifestations of his anxiety and learn that reaching out for help can be just as brave an act as protecting his city from evil.

Cynthia Littleton Business Editor Tanya Giles is stepping down as chief programming officer for streaming at Paramount Global. Giles was promoted in June 2021 to help oversee all streaming content programming efforts for the media conglomerate that has invested heavily in its Paramount+ streaming platform. News of Giles’ departure was first reported by Deadline. The move comes as Paramount Global has been taking steps to further streamline its content, production and network operations under an increasingly smaller number of leaders. In late January, the company unveiled the plan to consolidate its stalwart pay TV cabler Showtime with the Paramount+ platform.

Paramount Global has named Kristin Southey EVP, Investor Relations, effective immediately. She succeedes Anthony DiClemente, who will remain with the media company through mid-April to ensure a smooth transition.

Prince Harry and Elton John make their way out of the Royal Courts of Justice on Monday afternoon (March 27) in London, England.

John Mayer is continuing his successful acoustic tour!

Shari Lynette Carpenter, Miko Lim and Oscar Rene Lozoya have been selected to participate in the 2023-2025 Paramount Directors Initiative, Paramount Global announced on Thursday.

Keanu Reeves is reflecting on the life and legacy of his friend and co-star Lance Reddick, following the actor's untimely death.Reeves walked the red carpet at the premiere of , held at the TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywood on Monday, where everyone wore blue ribbon pins in Reddick's memory, and his name was displayed first and upfront on the marquee.Reeves spoke with ET's Nischelle Turner about Reddick — who appeared in all four films in the franchise as hotel concierge Charon — and was also slated to appear in the upcoming spinoff film, «Lance is a very beautiful person and special artist,» an emotional Reeves shared of his late colleague. «His grace and dignity, his shining light of character was just something really special.»Reddick's rep confirmed the news of his death to ET on Mar. 17, stating that he «passed away suddenly this morning from natural causes.» He was 60.Looking at his time with Reddick, Reeves shared, "[I am] really grateful I had the chance to know him and work with him over almost 10 years.«The moving words echoes Reeves' tribute, which he shared shortly after news of Reddick's death first broke, alongside director Chad Stahelski.»We are deeply saddened and heartbroken at the loss of our beloved friend and colleague Lance Reddick," the pair said in their statement.

Official trailer for Big Jake starring John WayneDionne Warwick performs Heartbreaker on TOTP in 1982Official trailer for The FabelmansTomorrow Never Dies: Pierce Brosnan stars in trailer for 1997 filmElvis Presley's 1962 Lockheed Jet goes up for auctionPeter Pan & Wendy | Official TrailerITV Good Morning Britain: Andy Serkis on being a villain in the new Luther movie2022 celebrity deaths: Olivia Newton-John, Meat Loaf and moreLive Aid: Freddie Mercury warms up the crowd in 1985Tony N' Tina's Wedding: Mila Kunis stars in 2004 filmScream VI: Paramount Pictures releases trailer for slasher filmThe Politician: Bette Midler stars in exciting season two trailerStagecoach: John Wayne stars in trailer for 1939 filmFA confirm Gareth Southgate to stay on as England managerBAFTAs: Behind-the-scenes at 2023 awards showGMB: Michael Rosen looks back on his battle with coronavirusJohn Wayne was seen as a bastion of conservative values, especially in the latter stages of his career. But when his career went stratospheric in the 1940 he was (behind closed doors) a well-known "hell-raiser" according to his daughter Aissa.

Bob Bakish, chief executive of Paramount Global, saw total compensation in 2022 of $32 million, up from $20 million the year before.

Paramount Global is shuffling its board of directors, including the addition of Dawn Ostroff, who will serve as an independent non-executive director, the company announced Friday. The filing also noted that Bob Bakish would be making $31.5 million.Ostoroff’s seat is pending a stockholder vote that will take place at Paramount’s 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders later this year. Bakish, who serves as Paramount Global’s president will be receiving a pay boost to $31.5 million as a result of $16 million stock awards grant.

William Earl Former Spotify, Conde Nast and CW executive Dawn Ostroff is set to join the board of directors for Paramount Global in May. Ostroff is poised to join the board as an independent director at Paramount Global’s annual meeting on May 8. Incumbent board members Candace Beinecke and Ronald Nelson will not stand for re-election at that meeting, which will bring the number of board members to 11, including Ostroff. “We are thrilled to welcome Dawn to Paramount’s Board at such an exciting moment in our evolution,” said Paramount Global chair Shari Redstone. “We believe her leadership, diverse expertise in content strategy and her long track record of driving transformation will prove invaluable as we seek to continue building on the success of Paramount’s global multiplatform strategy.”

Dawn Ostroff, a seasoned media executive who most recently served as chief content and advertising business officer at Spotify, will joining the Paramount Global board, the company announced today.

‘My King Charles’ Doc Picked Up Around The World

Sean “Diddy” Combs has just joined the potential purchase party of Black Entertainment Television (BET), with the mogul setting his sights on majority stake, TheWrap has confirmed.A source close to Combs says the Grammy award-winning musician and record label executive  is “exploring the opportunity to purchase BET as a part of his strategy to build a Black-owned global media powerhouse,” Variety was the first to report. The source added that conversations around Diddy buying majority stake in the network has yet to happen. Diddy is the latest to take interest in the acquisitions of the network, following behind Tyler Perry, Byron Allen and Miami-based media company Group Black, which was founded by Richelieu Dennis, Bonin Bough, and its CEO Travis Montaque. Under the umbrella of BET Media Group lies brands BET, BET+, BET Studios and VH1, which was to the group from Paramount Media Networks in a restructuring rearrangement. This would be another lucrative entrepreneurial business move for Diddy, who founded media company Revolt in 2013.

BET, joining fellow media moguls Tyler Perry and Byron Allen as they vie to purchase a majority stake of BET Media Group amid reports that owner Paramount Global is exploring a sale of the asset, Variety has confirmed. Run by CEO Scott Mills, BET Media Group includes BET, BET+, VH1 (which was moved under the group in a restructuring at Paramount last November) and BET’s production arm, BET Studios. A source close to Combs tells Variety that the global music icon and record executive turned multi-industry entrepreneur is “exploring the opportunity to purchase BET as a part of his strategy to build a Black-owned global media powerhouse.”

Scream VI and Wednesday, has revealed the music she’s had on repeat during her meteoric rise to fame.“I listen to a lot of ‘Discovery’ by Daft Punk or ‘Homework’ by Daft Punk. [Those two albums] have been heavy on my playlist recently,” Ortega told NME.  “I don’t know why. I think I’m re-going through my Daft Punk phase.”Released in 1997, ‘Homework’ was the French electronic duo’s debut album, while ‘Discovery’ hit the charts in 2001.

Refresh for latest…: Paramount/Spyglass Media’s Scream VI has slashed its way to a franchise-record opening at the global box office with $67.1M, topping Scream 3 for the best in the bunch of this long-running Kevin Williamson-created series. At the international box office, it also set a franchise-best start with $22.6M from 53 markets, a whopping 60% above the 2022 Scream. Domestic, too, was a record launch.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media Reporter “Scream VI” is slaying at the international box office, generating $22.6 million from 53 markets. According to Paramount, those ticket sales mark the biggest overseas opening weekend of the “Scream” franchise, ahead of prior installments by 60% for comparable markets. The latest “Scream” also set a new record in North America with its $44.5 million debut, bringing its global tally to $67 million. “Scream VI” established new high-watermarks for the long-running series in 29 international territories, including the United Kingdom ($3.6 million), France ($2.5 million), Australia ($2 million), Mexico ($2 million) and Brazil ($1.8 million).