Sam Mendes Exec-Produced BBC Terrorism Drama ‘Informer’ Gets German Adaptation (EXCLUSIVE)

EXCLUSIVE: Venezuelan author Ariana Godoy’s Spanish-language webnovel Sigue Mi Voz is being adapted into a feature film.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large Emmy-winning writer/producer/director Manny Coto, whose credits include “24” and its sequels “24: Live Another Day” and “24: Legacy,” as well as “American Horror Story,” “Star Trek: Enterprise” and “Dexter,” died Sunday in Pasadena. He was 62. News of Coto’s death was confirmed by a family representative. Coto died after a 13-month battle with pancreatic cancer, and passed away at his home, surrounded by family. Born in Havana, Cuba, Manuel Hector Coto was one of primetime’s most prominent Latino writers and showrunners. He shared the outstanding drama series Emmy in 2005 for Season 5 of “24,” and co-created “24: Legacy.” Coto also spend four seasons as exec producer of “American Horror Story,” and also exec produced two seasons of “American Horror Stories,” directing the 2021 episode “Feral.”

Joe Otterson TV Reporter ESPN Films is working on a docuseries about the legendary Gracie family, Variety has learned exclusively. Titled “Gracie,” the series will delve deep into the family’s history and dissect how they became the founders of Brazilian jiu jitsu, which serves as a major cornerstone of modern mixed martial arts (MMA). The official description of the series states: “Featuring larger-than-life personalities, triumphs and tragedies, deep loyalties, passionate loves and deadly feuds, ‘Gracie’ will explore the essence of family, honor, legacy, and humanity’s innate desire to fight. Told through the eyes of key Gracie family members, the series will dive deep into an epic family saga that takes audiences from Scotland and Japan, to Brazil and America.”

K.J. Yossman “The Kissing Booth” producer Andrew Cole-Bulgin has boarded Holocaust feature “Land Mine,” which he is developing with writer and director Darren Statman. The project, which will also include an accompanying novel, has already been made into a short film of the same name under Cole-Bulgin’s banner Tickled Pink, a new gen-IP development company. “Land Mine” is set in Poland in the late summer of 1945. Based on historical records and witness testimonies, it tells the story of a young Jewish man, Samuel, who emerges from Bergen-Belsen concentration camp as his family’s sole survivor. Returning to his family’s Polish farm, 22-year-old Samuel finds it has been occupied by a local laborer called Piotr who is using it to run a moonshine business.

Manori Ravindran Executive Editor of International The BBC’s head of creative diversity, Joanna Abeyie, is stepping down after less than a year and a half in the role, Variety can reveal. Abeyie is leaving the broadcaster to return to her consultancy business, Blue Moon, which specializes in diversity and inclusion, and executive recruitment. Variety understands that she may consult for the BBC in the future. Sources indicate that Abeyie’s departure was first announced by BBC director of content Charlotte Moore on June 22. Her last day in the role is Monday (July 3). When her exit was revealed to her team by the BBC’s group director of diversity and inclusion Chinny Okolidoh, it’s believed a number of staff protested why Abeyie, a well-liked exec with a strong rapport with the group, had been allowed to leave the public broadcaster. However, Variety understands that her departure reflects the exec’s choice to return to her business, which she set up in 2018.

Julia Fox is dabbling in the Canadian film industry.

Sam's Club membership itself.Until July 31, Sam's Club is offering new customers a one-year membership for just $25. That's 50% off the usual price of a membership — along with exclusive access to Sam's Club membership perks such as exclusive sale events, cheaper groceries, TVs and household essentials, fuel discounts, Instant Savings and cash back. Act fast to take advantage of Sam's Club's 4th of July membership deal below.Save 50% on a year of Sam's Club membership to reap all the benefits and rewards. First-time members can join Sam's Club for just $25 right now. If you want to become a Sam's Club Plus member, there's also a popular membership deal to help you save.

EXCLUSIVE: Rob Crabbe, who has served as exec producer on The Late Late Show with James Corden for eight years, is moving from late-night into daytime.

Charna Flam Emily Deschanel, Sam Trammell and Noma Dumezweni lead “ReEntry,” the first film from the production company PlotNaut, helmed by filmmakers Brendan Choisnet and Daniel Nayeri. The sci-fi romance stars Deschanel as Elenore, a woman grappling the disappearance of her husband (Trammell), after he enlists in a scientific experiment run by Dumezweni’s character. But, a year later he returns, and she learns he’s from a parallel dimension. She soon has to decide whether to pursue the man who is 99% of the husband she married or wait for the return of the man she once knew. Deschanel is best known for her 12-year run on the hit Fox series “Bones,” as well as the drama “Continue” and most recently Netflix’s “Devil in Ohio.” Likewise, Trammell starred for seven seasons on “True Blood,” as well as “Homeland” and “The Fault in Our Stars” and Dumezweni most recently starred in “The Little Mermaid,” “The Watcher” and “The Undoing.”

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Los Angeles-based Syrian director and producer Sam Kadi, who helmed the doc “Little Gandhi” about the life and death of young Syrian peace activist Ghiyath Matar and produced the Oscar-shortlisted animation film “Lamya’s Poem,” has signed for representation with management company Bohemia Group. Kadi’s first feature was the 2012 indie immigrant drama “The Citizen,” starring Egyptian actor Khaled Nabawy as a Lebanese immigrant who wins a green card through the U.S. lottery system and arrives in New York to claim his documents on Sept. 10, 2001. The drama, also starring Cary Elwes, then follows the protagonist’s hellish 10-year path to citizenship in post-9/11 America, including his detainment by homeland security and his deportation trial.

Naman Ramachandran Julia Fox, breakout star of “Uncut Gems” has signed on as executive producer for Luis De Filippis’ debut feature “Something You Said Last Night.” The Canadian-Swiss project bowed at Toronto in 2022 and won the Shawn Mendes Change Maker Award there and went on to win major awards at San Sebastian, Cairo and Rotterdam. It stars emerging performer Carmen Madonia, Ramona Milano (“Due South”), Paige Evans (“Trapped With My Husband”) and Joey Parro (“Nikita”). The trans themed story follows 20-something aspiring writer Ren (Madonia) and her younger sister Siena (Evans) as they reluctantly accompany their parents on a family vacation.

Manori Ravindran Executive Editor of International Sky Deutschland, the German arm of Comcast-owned pay-TV operator Sky, is pulling out of scripted originals from 2024, Variety can reveal. Staff were notified of the surprise move by Sky Deutschland boss Devesh Raj on Thursday morning, local time. Variety understands that the entire scripted originals team will eventually be disbanded, though shows that have already been commissioned and are in production, such as post-apocalypse drama “Helgoland 513″ and “Das Boot” Season 4, will finish filming. Any projects in development will be “put into turnaround,” as per another internal note from Sky Studios CEO Cécile Frot-Coutaz, also seen by Variety.

prenup drama has turned into one about his will. In this exclusive clip from Sunday's new episode of, Gino is shocked when Jasmine asks him to get a will before they're set to get married.During the latest episode, Gino and Jasmine fought about him wanting a prenup before they tie the knot. Jasmine was hurt because she felt like he thought she was using him for money when they had already been engaged for a year, and she also admitted she was affected by the bad experience she had with her ex-husband, whom she claimed hid all their money and left her with nothing.

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Eye Eye Pictures, the banner recently launched by the producers of Joachim Trier’s Oscar-nominated “The Worst Person in the World,” has started filming “Armand,” a feature film starring Cannes prizewinning actor Renate Reinsve. Charades has come on board to handle international sales on the film. “Armand” marks the feature debut of Halfdan Ullmann Tøndel, whose short film “Fanny” was nominated for an Amanda Award, Norway’s equivalent to the Oscars, in 2017. The story follows a 6-year-old boy, Armand, who is accused of crossing boundaries against his best friend at elementary school. While no one knows what actually happened between the two boys, the incident triggers a series of events, forcing parents and school staff into a captivating battle of redemption where madness, desire and obsession arise.

EXCLUSIVE: Julie Soto’s debut novel Forget Me Not is being adapted into a TV series by Universal International Studios, a division of Universal Studio Group.

women entrepreneurs. Filmed throughout the United States, India and Canada, the documentary will discuss the ways women are often hampered in the business world. According to a Harvard Business Review study, less than 2% of women receive funds for venture start-ups.Gless will also be featured in the documentary, alongside being an EP.

Naman Ramachandran Paramount+ Australia has greenlit a second, eight-part season of hit crime drama series “Last King of The Cross.” Inspired by John Ibrahim’s autobiography, the series charts the rise of a poverty-stricken immigrant with no education, no money, and no prospects to Australia’s most infamous nightclub mogul and is set in Sydney’s decadent Kings Cross district in the late 1980s and 1990s. Season 2 (8 x 60′) will further explore the dangerous world of Kings Cross, as Ibrahim expands his empire into the booming queer nightclub scene. Set against the backdrop of the ecstasy-fueled 2000s, the stakes are higher than ever before, and everyone wants a piece – including John’s two younger brothers.

“The View” has had plenty of chaos break out on the show over the years, but we don’t think it’s ever had a surprise water balloon attack happen on air — at least, not until Thursday’s episode. The victim? Executive producer Brian Teta.The moment came at the end of the show, as the hosts of the ABC talk show were doing their “Favorite Things Under $50” segment.

Manori Ravindran Executive Editor of International BBC Studios has acquired pan-Scandinavian production company STV. The acquisition will help the British production-distribution powerhouse grow its footprint in Denmark, Norway and Sweden, and build out its existing production outfits. BBCS has said the deal is “in response to the growing appetite and opportunity for BBC content in the market.” Based in Copenhagen with offices in Norway and Sweden, STV’s credits include factual entertainment formats such as “Big Love” and “Get Lost Honey.” STV also acts as the local producer for “Long Lost Family,” “Wheel of Fortune” and “Bargain King,” in addition to long-running scripted series “The First Years” across Denmark, Norway and Sweden.

Naman Ramachandran Actor and producer Jonathan Lipnicki has joined production, post-production and distribution company Buffalo 8 as an executive producer. Lipnicki made a mark with his performance alongside Tom Cruise in “Jerry Maguire,” before becoming the lead in the family franchise “Stuart Little.” He will soon be seen in the upcoming TBS show “The Joe Schmo Show,” Peter Pardini’s film “Man Goes on Rant” and Britt Robertson-led film “The Re-Education of Molly Singer.” Lipnicki will play a key role in packaging and project development within Buffalo 8’s EP services division, identifying storytelling opportunities and bringing together top-tier talent based on his extensive relationships spanning Hollywood studio films through to the independent sector.