Starz Series ‘The Venery Of Samantha Bird’ Adds Henry Czerny & Doug Savant

Katie Hopkins has slammed Sam Smith in a scathing rant as she compares them to an 'undercooked Greggs sausage roll with nipple tassels on'.

Katie Reul editor Will Smith won the NAACP Image Award for outstanding actor in a motion picture for his performance in “Emancipation” on Saturday night, marking his first award win since his infamous incident at the 2022 Oscars in which he slapped Chris Rock onstage. Smith was not present at the ceremony to accept his award in person. Set in 19th century Louisiana, Smith portrays a runaway slave who embarks on a treacherous journey to Baton Rouge while thwarting off violent plantation owners. “Emancipation” was inspired by an 1863 photograph known as “Whipped Peter,” which depicts a once-enslaved individual with severe lacerations on his back. The image’s circulation placed the brutality of slavery in front of the eyes of the American public.

Wagner Moura (Narcos) is set to star opposite Brian Tyree Henry in Apple TV+’s crime drama series Sinking Spring, from Top Gun: Maverick writer Peter Craig. He is replacing Better Call Saul alum Michael Mando who had been originally tapped for the role but has been let go after an on-set incident involving a cast member. The recasting is done during filming on the series, directed and executive produced by Ridley Scott via his Scott Free Productions.

Todd Gilchrist editor On Feb. 24, Ray Liotta will receive a posthumous star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, honoring almost 50 years of amazing work in TV and on film. Following his turn in Jonathan Demme’s 1986 film “Something Wild,” playing Henry Hill in Martin Scorsese’s “Goodfellas” was the moment that many moviegoers first discovered his complex, sometimes contradictory charms. When asked about the moment he knew that Liotta was the perfect choice for Hill — a character that was slick, confident, effortlessly charming, but with an edge of danger that made him fearsome and attractive at the same time — Scorsese says it wasn’t during casting, or even on set, but when the two crossed paths ahead of the beginning of production.

BreAnna Bell Eric Stonestreet has signed on to join Disney’s “The Santa Clauses” just in time for Season 2, which is currently in production. He’ll portray Magnus Antas (aka the Mad Santa), who reigned during the 14th century and is now returning to try and take down Scott Calvin and reclaim the North Pole. Season 2 of the holiday comedy picks up with the Calvin family back in the North Pole as Scott Calvin continues his role as Santa Claus after his retirement plans were put on pause when failing to find a worthy successor in season one. Now that he and his family have saved Christmas, Scott is finally able to put his focus toward training his son Calvin to eventually take over the “family business” as Santa Claus.

Blake Lively almost made it into The Plastics.

Will Smith slapped Chris Rock in a shocking moment that overshadowed Hollywood’s biggest night, TMZ reported Wednesday. The outlet cited unidentified Academy insiders who reportedly said the designated team will be able to spring into action at the March 12 ceremony if things go awry.“We have a whole crisis team, something we’ve never had before, and many plans in place,” the sources allegedly told TMZ. “We’ve run many scenarios.

Jazz Tangcay Artisans Editor Film Independent has partnered with the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts to present a live reading of “Triangle of Sadness.” Oscar-nominated director Ruben Östlund will helm the reimagined and recast stage reading at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts’ Bram Goldsmith Theater on Feb. 27. The cast will be led by Fred Armisen, Nicholas Braun, Alison Brie, Tia Carrere, Ayo Edebiri, Jordan Firstman, Brett Goldstein and Kumail Nanjiani. “What a joy to do a table read with this group of fine actors. Together we are planning for some surprises. I don’t want to scare anyone off, but there will be some risk involved in attending this,” said Östlund.

Liza Foreman Spanish SVOD service Atresplayer Premium has announced at the Berlinale Series Market a raft of new cast members joining the continuation of its award-winning trans series “Veneno,” which played on HBO Max in the U.S. to large acclaim. Joining the cast of the seven-episode series “Vestidas De Azul” are supporting cast members Susana Abaitua (“Crazy about Her”), Elena Irureta (“Patria”), Luis Callejo (“Jefe”), drag artist Estrella Xtravaganza, Mercedes Sampietro (“Gary  Cooper, Who Art in Heaven”) and Anabel Alonso (“7 Vidas”), among others. The announcement was made at a Q&A on Monday focused on the continuation of the series. It forms part of a Next from Spain event focusing on first looks at four new series.

Thania Garcia Chuck Jackson, a vocalist of the doo-wop group Del-Vikings and the singer in Burt Bacharach and Bob Hilliard’s “Any Day Now,” died on Feb. 16 in Atlanta. He was 85. News of his passing was confirmed in a Facebook post by Ady Croasdell of Ace Records’ Kent Records division, a UK label that had been reissuing his recordings. No cause of death was given. “There are confirmed reports that one of the very greatest soul singers of all time, Chuck Jackson, died on February 16th,” Croasdell wrote. “His 60s and 70s recordings are hugely important works, revered as much now as on release…His passing will be deeply felt around the world.”

While two original stars have officially left Sex Education, one major star has joined it!

A column chronicling conversations and events on the awards circuit.

Sam Smith was seemingly the victim of harassment while out in New York City this week.

Ricky Gervais has divided fans with his joke about Sam Smith‘s outfit at the BRIT Awards.The ‘Unholy’ singer drew headlines at this year’s ceremony after stepping onto the red carpet in a black rubber suit with overinflated shoulders and legs.Reacting to the costume on Twitter, Gervais pasted his own head on Sam’s body and jokingly suggested the singer was seeking attention.Alongside the fake image of Gervais wearing the rubber costume, he sarcastically tweeted: “The Worst thing about being famous is the lack of privacy. I can’t even walk down the street without people looking and pointing.”The worst thing about being famous is the lack of privacy.

EXCLUSIVE: OneGate Media has picked up worldwide distribution rights for German crime series Asbestos from Pantaleon Films.

Jennifer Lawrence is supporting her Causeway co-star Brian Tyree Henry during his Oscar campaign!

“Argentina 1985’s” director Santiago Mitre spent over two years researching his film on the story of th public prosecutors who took on the country’s brutal dictators. He said his film was able to get the audience thinking about the real-world problems that go on in their own countries. Mitre joined fellow international film directors on a panel that included Jerzy Skolimowski (“EO”), Lukas Dhont (“Close”), Colm Bairéad (“The Quiet Girl”), Edward Berger (“All Quiet on the Western Front”) and Santiago Mitre (“Argentina, 1985”). Roger Durling, the festival’s director moderated the panel.

EXCLUSIVE: Apple has rounded out the cast for its crime drama series Sinking Spring with the addition of Golden Globe winner Ving Rhames (Mission: Impossible franchise), Dustin Nguyen (The Accidental Getaway Driver), Nesta Cooper (See), Idris Debrand (Dear Edward), Liz Caribel (Pussy Island) and Will Pullen (A Little Prayer).

Michelle Yeoh gets sandwiched in by Henry Golding and Ken Jeong during a dinner event in honor of her at Mandarin Oriental in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Sunday night (February 12).

Lionsgate, the Santa Monica studio and owner of the Starz cable network, came in well above market expectations as it reported results for its third quarter Thursday. It pulled in $1 billion in revenue and $16.6 million in net income, or adjusted earnings per share of $0.26.Lionsgate’s results reflected a welcome development for a smaller studio trying to survive in an industry pushed to prioritize streaming over theatrical and linear television.