“We Had The Ability But Weren’t Allowed To Tell These Stories”: Quoc Dang Tran, Creator Of Disney+’s First French-Language Drama ‘Parallèles’, Hails The Streaming Revolution

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefSuperstar Korean actor and producer Gang Dong-won has signed up with Creative Artists Agency (CAA) for representation outside Korea.Gang joins a string of Korean on-screen talent securing international representation as the country’s creative sector is propelled to the fore by films such as “Parasite” and “Peninsula” and by TV shows such as “Squid Game.”He continues to be represented in Korea and Japan by Lee Gi Wook at YG Entertainment. Gang, who has a mechanical engineering degree and was initially scouted as a model, transitioned to acting in 2004 with “Too Beautiful to Lie” and “Temptation of Wolves,” the latter of which earned him the best new actor award at the 24th Korean Association Critics Choice Awards.

Manori Ravindran International EditorUniversal International Studios has struck a first-look deal with “Call My Agent!” and “Parallèles” writer Quoc Dang Tran as it continues a charm offensive directed at international creators.UIS has inked a first-look deal with the French-Vietnamese writer and showrunner who will develop and produce English and French-language television projects with the studio for the global market. French-language series will be co-produced with the “Marianne” writer’s recently formed label, Daïmôn Films.“He really leads from themes that speak to his heart versus responding to the industry, so we’re excited to do business with a creator who listens to their gut instead of just what the network is mandating,” Beatrice Springborn, president of Universal International Studios, tells Variety ahead of a keynote at French TV festival Series Mania.

EXCLUSIVE: Call My Agent! and Marianne writer Quoc Dang Tran has struck a first-look deal with Universal International Studios, becoming the first French writer to sign such a deal with a major studio.

Tool frontman Maynard James Keenan has shared a video of himself pranking drummer Danny Carey with a dildo during a recent concert in the US.The clip, which you can view below, sees the frontman crouching down behind Carey’s drum kit with a dildo, which he uses to replace the drummer’s gong mallet.When Carey reaches for his mallet, he instead grabs the plastic phallus, and hits the gong with it.It is the second time in the last month the frontman has pranked his bandmate.A post shared by Tool (@toolmusic)He previously shared a humorous clip of himself trying to play Jenga behind Carey.However, Keenan’s game was ruined after Carey smashed his giant gong at the back of his drum set, causing the frontman to jokingly yell: “What the fuck! What’s wrong with you?!”Last Friday, Tool shared their first video in 15 years with ‘Opiate²’, a re-imagined and extended version of Tool’s 1992 single ‘Opiate’, with both the song and video marking the 30th anniversary of the EP of the same name’s release.Meanwhile, the band are due to hit the road for their UK and European tour next month which takes in shows in Manchester, Birmingham and two nights at London’s O2 Arena.

A new documentary will tell the story of the remarkable life and untimely death of Moss Side boxing hero Phil Martin

Kenneth Branagh appeared on a recent edition of “Late Night with Seth Meyers” to promote his Oscar-nominated film Belfast.

An interactive experience based on some much-loved children's stories is coming to Manchester.

No American city is as steeped in native musical lore and legacy as is New Orleans and you get a good feeling for how that came about in Jazz Fest: A New Orleans Story. It’s a documentary overflowing with performers and music that still barely begins to scratch the surface of what’s gone on musically for ages in the fabled, oft-distressed city. Music fans of assorted persuasions will be delighted with the samples served up here, although the subject is so vast and varied that something like a six or ten-hour miniseries would be required to begin to do it justice. With Sony Pictures Classics handling the U.S. release starting May 13 after it SXSW bow, the film is certain to get a nice lift-off and extensive exposure on home tubes is assured.

Dare to dream and be a relentless optimist even if you have no experience or skill in your field, amirite? That’s the remit of young actor-turned-filmmaker Craig Roberts (“Submarine,” the Amazon series “Red Oaks“), the director behind “The Phantom Of The Open,” an uplifting story about a naive dreamer who managed to gain entry to The British Open Golf Championship Qualifying in 1976 and subsequently shot the worst round in Open history.

No shoes, no problem! Lynda Carter, 70, didn’t let the lack of footwear stop her from looking phenomenal in Washington, D.C. on Friday, March 11. The Wonder Woman icon dazzled in a gorgeous sequin gown designed by friend Diane von Furstenberg, who was being honored with the Ruth Bader Ginsburg Women of Leadership Award at the Library of Congress. While Lynda likely arrived with some high heels on, she ditched them to pose for photographers at the soirée.

Tim Gray Senior Vice PresidentTim Cook chatted with Ted Sarandos, Meryl Streep huddled with Jane Campion, Morgan Freeman (age 85) was deep in conversation with “King Richard’s” Saniyya Sidney and Demi Singleton (each 15), while “Squid Game” director Hwang Dong-hyuk fulfilled his personal goal of meeting both Guillermo del Toro and Steven Spielberg. Meanwhile, Rita Moreno was warmly greeted by the “CODA” team, including director Sian Heder and stars Marlee Matlin and Troy Kotsur.The event was the 22nd annual AFI Awards in an afternoon that is “all about one community of artists,” as AFI prexy-CEO Bob Gazzale said.AFI announced its honorees on Dec.

Fans might still look at Thomas Brodie-Sangster as the little boy from Love Actually, but he’s a grown man now and he just made his red carpet debut with his new girlfriend!

Jonathan Cohen On paper, the prominent use of sensitive American singer-songwriter music from the 1970s and ‘80s in a modern Norwegian romantic comedy might seem rather incongruous, if not downright anachronistic. But five decades on from some of their biggest successes, Art Garfunkel, Todd Rundgren, Harry Nilsson and Christopher Cross are back on the big screen helping soundtrack Danish/Norwegian director Joachim Trier’s acclaimed “The Worst Person in the World,” which is nominated for best original screenplay and best international feature film at the upcoming Academy Awards.Co-written by Trier and longtime collaborator Eskil Vogt, “Worst Person” has already won best foreign language film from the New York Film Critics Circle and garnered Renate Reinsve the best actress award at Cannes.

The drama is heating up in the new season of “Tehran”.

Leigh-Anne Pinnock is negotiating a seven-figure book deal to tell her story, according to reports.The 30 year old singer is just weeks away from stepping out of Little Mix as the band – which also consists of Perrie Edwards and Jade Thirlwall – are set to take a hiatus. Leigh-Anne, who recently marked six months since welcoming her “miracle” babies in a cute snap, is said to be in talks with several major publishing houses for the memoir. It will reportedly focus on “identity and her own experiences at the heart of British popular culture” following the huge success of her BBC Three documentary, Race, Pop And Power, last year.