Strong Studios Chief David Ozer Accused of Siphoning TV Show Funds

EXCLUSIVE: Since being launched in 2017 by a quartet including Jesse Armstrong, Various Artists Limited (VAL) has made shows ranging from Michaela Coel‘s I May Destroy You to Julia Davis’ Sally 4Ever,but bosses now see the comedy landscape heading in a somewhat different direction.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer Lovo, a Berkeley-based AI startup, was accused in a class action lawsuit on Thursday of stealing actors’ voices to create Genny, a publicly accessible AI generator. Paul Skye Lehrman and Linnea Sage, a New York couple who work as voice actors, alleged that they were deceived into providing voice samples through a freelance website. They were paid $1200 and $400, respectively, for reading scripts, and were told the recordings would be used internally, or for academic purposes.

David Gilmour has announced additional shows in Los Angeles and New York for his ‘Luck And Strange‘ shows.The soloist and former Pink Floyd guitarist took to his official social media accounts to announce a third show at Los Angeles’ Hollywood Bowl on October 31, and a fourth show at New York City’s Madison Square Garden on November 9.The new dates follow the previously announced dates in Los Angeles on October 29 and 30 and in New York on November 4, 5, and 6. Gilmour’s US dates will take place after his six-night residency at London’s Royal Albert Hall and his six-night residency at Rome’s historic chariot-racing stadium Circus Maximus (Circo Massimo).

As the 77th Cannes Film Festival gets underway, there are plenty of obvious frontrunners for the coveted Palme d’Or. But don’t count out Ali Abbasi‘s “The Apprentice” as a dark horse pick to win the festival’s top prize.

Well, it was only a matter of time before the big reveal part of this magic act, right?

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer After two months at the bargaining table, IATSE and the major studios have begun talking about one of the key hurdles to getting a new contract: artificial intelligence. The union is seeking to ensure that the adoption of AI will not displace jobs. In an update to members on Friday evening, the union advised that the two sides are “constructively engaging” on the issue, as well as on wages and other working conditions.

Dan McDermott, President of Entertainment and AMC Studios, says the studio is positioned to do more third-party productions like Silo, though he noted that “it’s not our primary business.”

EXCLUSIVE: Ever Anderson, an up-and-coming actress known for roles in Disney+’s Peter Pan & Wendy and Marvel’s Black Window, has entered into a new strategic partnership with Amazon MGM Studios, sources tell Deadline.

Marc Malkin Senior Editor, Culture and Events Jeremy Strong could be joining Jeremy Allen White in “Deliver Me From Nowhere,” the 20th Century Studios movie about Bruce Springsteen and the making of his 1982 album, “Nebraska.” The “Succession” star is in talks to play Springsteen’s (White) longtime manager Jon Landau in the Scott Cooper-directed feature. Cooper is also writing the film, which is based on Warren Zane’s 2023 book “Deliver Me From Nowhere: The Making of Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska.” “Nebraska,” the follow-up to Springsteen’s 1980 double album “The River,” was expected to be a blockbuster rock record with the E Street Band.

Brent Lang Executive Editor Steven Quale, best known for his work on “Into the Storm” and “Final Destination 5,” has been tapped to direct Capstone Studios and Hammerstone Studios’ “Black Box (Flight 298).” The upcoming supernatural thrilleris based on an original screenplay from Stephen Susco, a horror writer whose many genre credits include “The Grudge,” “The Grudge 2,” “Texas Chainsaw 3D” and “Hell Fest.” According to the logline, the film follows the supernatural events surrounding Vero Airlines Flight 298 from New Orleans to Seattle. Hammerstone Studios’ Alex Lebovici (“Barbarian”) and Jon Oakes (“The Guilty”) will produce alongside Capstone’s Christian Mercuri and David Haring (“Bill & Ted Face the Music”), Warren Zide (“The Final Destination” and Susco.

The Robin Wright (House of Cards)-led The Girlfriend has been ordered to series at Prime Video with Olivia Cooke (House of the Dragon), Laurie Davidson (Mary and George), and Waleed Zuaiter (Gangs of London) also set to star. The series, to be directed by Wright, is based on Michelle Frances’ novel of the same name.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter Amazon Prime Video has ordered a series adaptation of the Michelle Frances novel “The Girlfriend” with Robin Wright set to star and direct, Variety has learned. In addition, Olivia Cooke (“House of the Dragon,” “Sound of Metal”), Laurie Davidson (“Mary and George”), and Waleed Zuaiter (“Gangs of London”) will star alongside Wright. The official description of the series states: “Laura (Wright) wants for nothing.

The power of Greyskull is happening on June 5, 2026 when Amazon MGM Studios’ and Mattel Films’ finally bring their live-action reboot of Masters of the Universe to theaters.

Ryan Gosling plays a stuntman in his new movie The Fall Guy and he took his stunt skills to a special new show at Universal Studios!

EXCLUSIVE: More theatrical product for 2024 as Amazon MGM Studios‘ Orion Pictures has dated the feature take of Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Nickel Boys for October 25. It’s a limited theatrical release on a date that also includes Sony’s Venom: The Last Dance and Cinedigm’s Terrifier 3.

Jack Dunn Universal Studios Hollywood premiered “The Fall Guy Stuntacular Pre-Show” at the “WaterWorld” set on Saturday. The live stunt performance, featuring Ryan Gosling and “The Fall Guy” director David Leitch, came six days before “The Fall Guy” hits theaters May 3.

Ryan Gosling surprised theme park guests at Universal Studios Hollywood when he made an appearance during a Waterworld pre-show inspired by his latest movie, The Fall Guy.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer Miriam Haley, the key witness at Harvey Weinstein‘s rape trial in New York, said Friday that she is weighing whether to testify again, after an appeals court on Thursday overturned his guilty verdict. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office has indicated that it will seek to retry the former producer, but a trial likely would not go forward without Haley’s participation. At a press conference with her attorney, Gloria Allred, Haley said she does not want to go through the ordeal of another trial, but recognized there are broader issues at stake.

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor Brian Roberts, chairman and CEO of Comcast, had a compensation package worth $35.47 million in 2023, as he saw his pay rise 11% from the year prior. Roberts, who oversees the cable giant and NBCUniversal, last year had a salary of $2.5 million, stock awards worth $15 million, stock options worth $9.2 million and a $8.55 million cash incentive bonus. In 2022, his compensation totaled about $32.1 million.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief David Anthony Chan’s epic fantasy novel “The Kindred Chronicles” is set to be adapted into an animated series and will be the first project flowing from a partnership between HIP Studios and hybrid publisher 8 Letters. The deal between the two companies was announced at the recent Philippine Book Festival. It aims to adapt 8Letters content into television content, movies, animations, mangas and games. A subsidiary of Singapore’s Silver Media, HIP Studios is a Singapore, Sydney and Cebu, Philippines-based IP development and management company.