‘Veneno’ Producer Buendia Estudios Making Series Version of Erotic Classic ‘La Pasion Turca’

Former U.S. drug czar William Bennett said the United States is right now "soft on too many things" — including the criminals who are smuggling deadly fentanyl into the country and contributing to the death of numerous Americans. Bennett on Monday followed up a "Fox & Friends" television appearance with an original interview by phone with Fox News Digital in which he shared his strong concerns about the fentanyl pouring into the United States via the southern border.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large Paolo Arrigo was giving the producers behind CBS’ “The Real Love Boat” a tour of the Princess Cruises ship he oversees when the creative team fell in love with the captain. They then asked Princess if they could borrow Arrigo for a few weeks — and that’s how, in addition to being a real-life ship captain, he now plays one on TV. “We were scouting the ship and met Captain Paolo, who was the designated captain of the ship at that time,” executive producer Jay Bienstock tells Variety. “When we met him, we thought, ‘Wow, you are so charming and so interesting. We’d love to have you be on the show, as opposed to being the captain while we’re filming.’ And then Princess graciously gave him to us.”

The first James Bond film premiered 60 years ago and has continued to keep fans captivated with every new addition to the franchise.There have been seven actors who have portrayed the iconic spy and 27 movies in the franchise.  The films are based on a 1953 novel by Ian Flemming about a British spy who works for the M16 and goes by the codename 007. Producers Albert R.

James Bond film producer Michael G. Wilson, who runs Eon Productions with Barbara Broccoli, has revealed that a seduction scene from the 1963 thriller From Russia With Love is always used to test those aspiring to play Ian Fleming’s ruthless spy.

Anna Marie de la Fuente Principal photography is underway on police thriller “Memento Mori” from one of Spain’s biggest production shingles, Zebra Productions, part of Grupo iZen, which presented its upcoming series “Tenorio” at Iberseries’ Co-Production & Financing Forum on Sept. 28. Zebra produced “El Cid,” a meticulously accurate but grand-scale Prime Video series  “Tenorio” takes a deep dive into the life of iconic literary character Don Juan Tenorio to explore how he transformed into the legendary ‘Latin Lover’ of yore . “Memento Mori,” which has been shooting in the city of Valladolid, is based on a trilogy of novels by author César Pérez Gellida who hails from the town, said iZen’s Lara Lejarza.

Anna Marie de la Fuente Buoyed by the success of last year’s one-to-one networking sessions, Madrid’s 2nd Iberseries & Platino Industria market is launching a new TV forum aimed at fostering co-production and financing pacts between selected producers and potential partners or investors. “We are functioning as an accelerator in a way as the selected projects have at least 40% of their financing in place and just need that final push to see the light,” said Iberseries director Samuel Castro, who adds that these series have budgets ranging from €5 million-€30 million ($ million-$30 million) . The 10 companies, selected out of some 25 submissions, include some heavy hitters led by Spain’s Zebra Prods (Grupo Izen), Gato Grande-MGM, Argentina’s Storylab and El Estudio, founded by former Canana producing partner Pablo Cruz, producer Enrique López Lavigne and former Sony Pictures Intl. Prods. head, Diego Suárez Chialvo. 

Anna Marie de la Fuente In its continued bid to create more premium content for the Latin American market under its Onza Americas banner, Madrid-based Onza Entertainment – behind such hit series as “The Department of Time” and a collaborator on Dopamine’s historical drama “Hernan” – is developing political drama series “Sattva.” Created by Spanish actor Ruben Sanz (“El Dragon”) and written by Int’l Emmy-nominated Luis Gamboa (“Promesas de Campaña”), the series is conceived as a transatlantic production between Mexico and Spain. Onza is presenting “Saatva” at Iberseries & Platino Industria’s new Co-Production & Financing Forum on Sept. 28.

Bond … James Bond. Have you seen all of the 007 movies? Maybe a few? Perhaps you want to watch them all, but you’re looking for the right strategy.

James Bond actor Pierce Brosnan has admitted he wasn’t a fan of No Time To Die.Brosnan, who played the 007 agent from 1995 to 2002, was recently asked about the future of the Bond franchise in light of Daniel Craig retiring after recently playing the role in No Time To Die for the final time.Discussing which films in the franchise he had recently seen, Brosnan told GQ: “I saw the last one and I saw Skyfall. I love Skyfall.“I’m not too sure about the last one,” he added of No Time To Die, leaving the end of his sentence unfinished. “Daniel always gives of his heart.

Anna Marie de la Fuente Continuing to tap top series from Spain, Munich-based Beta Film has snapped up international distribution rights to “Simple,” the new dramedy by Anna R. Costa, the co-creator of Movistar Plus+‘s most-binged series, “Arde Madrid.” Costa’s directorial debut, “Simple” world premiered earlier this week in San Sebastian as a Movistar Plus+ world premiere. Produced by Movistar Plus+ in collaboration with Destrucción y Salvación, “Simple” turns on four young women in their twenties and thirties, who have reached a milestone in their lives: Sharing an apartment as truly independent adults. The series follows the flat mates, all of whom have disabilities, as they navigate the pressures of adulthood and the absurd norms imposed on them by society.

Pierce Brosnan was just profiled for a new article in GQ UK and he shared some interesting thoughts about the James Bond movies.

EXCLUSIVE: Following the success of Jackass Forever this year, director Jeff Tremaine has found a new set troublemakers to focus on as they cause havoc at the Happiest Place on earth. Tremaine is producing Stolen Kingdom, a documentary film chronicling the 30-year history of wrongdoing and debauchery at Walt Disney World Resort, and how it led to the theft of an audio-animatronic valued at almost $500,000 on the black market.

Before Quentin Tarantino filched the name for “Django Unchained,” another “Django” ruled the Western genre: the 1966 spaghetti western with Franco Nero. The film was so popular it spawned over 30 unofficial “sequels” before Nero reprised the role in 1987’s “Django Strikes Again.” Now, the original film gets a series treatment, courtesy of Sky Original.

After longtime James Bond actor Daniel Craig gave his final bow to the character in 2021, fans have long speculated Idris Elba would make a suitable replacement. However, new comments from Elba and 007 producers indicate it may not happen.  During an episode of "The Shop" on HBO, Elba discussed the prospect of playing Bond, adding he did not think it would "satisfy" his personal or career goals.  "I don't think that playing Bond will satisfy some of my personal goals," the 50-year-old said.

Jo Koy and his ex-girlfriend, Chelsea Handler. On Wednesday's episode of, the 51-year-old comedian shared that it's been easy to maintain a friendship with his ex. “It’s not that hard,” Koy said.  Koy and Handler split just ahead of their one-year anniversary, and he told Clarkson that it’s important for him to set a great example for his 19-year-old son, Joseph Jr.   “It’s just, especially when you have a kid — I have a son -- and when you go through a breakup you want to be a role model as well,” he explained.

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent David Zucker and Pat Proft, the veteran American filmmakers behind cult comedy franchises including “The Naked Gun” and “Airplane!,” are set to executive produce a Nordic Noir comedy spoof series called “NoPoFo.” The anthology series is being produced by lkkas’ Creative Studio, a recently-launched Finnish company. BBC Studios Nordics has come on board as a co-producer. Billed as “Nordic Noir meets ‘Police Squad!,‘” the 10-part series follows three elite agents from the Nordic Police Force (NoPoFo) who are tasked with solving the sort of murders that Nordic psychopaths do so well. Each half-hour episode is set in a different Nordic country and features a different cast of supporting characters, including a serial killer who only murders bad heavy rock bands, and an Instagram obsessive who creates ice sculptures out of his victims.

Danny Boyle "persuaded" Queen Elizabeth to take part in the 007 sketch for the Olympics. The late monarch - who passed away on September 8 at the age of 96 following a 70 year reign - appeared alongside James Bond star Daniel Craig back in 2012 as part of a sketch for the opening of the 2012 Olympics in London which saw her go on a mission with the legendary spy before a stand-in was seen skydiving into the London Stadium, with acclaimed director Danny Boyle having been the one to persuade Her Late Majesty to take part in the first place. Lord Sebastian Coe, who served as London Organising Committee for the Olympics, said: "There isn't a day that goes by without somebody somewhere in the world asking me about this.

Anna Marie de la Fuente San Sebastian’s pix-in-post showcases, which have launched notable movies – Sebastian Lelio’s “Gloria” – and notable directors – Jayro Bustamante, introducing his debut “Ixcanul” – unspools in 2022, with the screenings of six WIP Latam titles taking place over Sept. 19 – 21. WIP Europe, with four titles, runs on Sept. 19 and 20.  In the mix is an awaited title from Chile, “Penal Cordillera,” directed by Felipe Carmona, produced by Dominga Sotomayor and Omar Zuñiga and sold by Luxbox, and “A Strange Path,” from Brazil’s Guto Parente, whose “The Cannibal Club,” acquired by Uncork’d Entertainment, made a stir by portraying a Brazil in which the rich literally eat the poor.