WME Promotes Francesca Blackburn and Alex Rowley Egarian to Partner in Brand Partnerships (EXCLUSIVE)

Katcy Stephan Kevin Hart and his global entertainment company Hartbeat have signed with WME for representation in all areas. Hart will continue to develop, star in and produce feature films, television, commercials, and podcasts via Hartbeat. The move to WME comes as Hart and Hartbeat continue to expand their portfolio of multi-platform IP.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Ed Westwick (“Gossip Girl”), John Hannah (“The Mummy”) and British newcomer Alanah Bloor are set to join Turkish lead Can Yaman in “Sandokan,” Lux Vide’s reboot of the cult Italian TV series about the adventures of its titular pirate who, with his motley crew, fights against colonial powers in Southeast Asia. Shooting is set to start April 22 outside Rome on this high-end reboot of Italian writer Emilio Salgari’s exotic epic.

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent In a big move to plant their flag internationally, leading Hollywood talent agency CAA has appointed Alex McGuire to oversee the firm’s sports media representation efforts throughout the U.K. and Europe.

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic The 30th anniversary of the original animated film version of “The Lion King” will be celebrated at the Hollywood Bowl next month with a live-to-film concert/screening that will include cast members from both the movie and theatrical versions — and beyond — including Jeremy Irons, Nathan Lane, Billy Eichner, Ernie Sabella, Jason Weaver and Bradley GIbson. The shows will take place at the Bowl May 24-25 and be produced by Disney Concerts, Fulwell 73 Productions, AMP Worldwide and Live Nation-Hewitt Silva.

Outlander star Sam Heughan has been spotted on the exclusive dating website Raya.

The Olivier Awards will be available to stream on Britbox this year, alongside its regular UK broadcast on ITV1. The Olivier Awards will take place on Sunday, April 14, and will be available to American and Canadian audiences on SVOD service Britbox on the same day. Australian audiences will have access to the stream from Monday, April 15.

Good afternoon Insiders, thanks for always sticking with us. Max Goldbart here talking you through a packed week in the global entertainment world. Read on, and sign up here.

Zack Sharf Digital News Director The trailer launch for “Joker: Folie à Deux” was no laughing matter for Warner Bros. The marketing for the studio’s upcoming DC sequel, headlined by Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga, got off to a stellar start with 167 million viewers in its first 24 hours. The teaser trailer went online right after it debuted at Warner Bros.’s CinemaCon presentation in Las Vegas.

Russian filmmaker Kirill Serebrennikov returns to Cannes once again this year with Limonov: The Ballad starring Ben Whishaw, for which we can share a first-look image from above. 

Un Certain Regard title “Việt and Nam” by Vietnamese auteur Trương Minh Quý. Shot on 16mm stock, the film is a drama about two young miners who must complete a mission before fate pulls them apart. “In the depths of the underground coal mines, where danger awaits and darkness prevails, Nam and Việt, both young miners, cherish fleeting moments, knowing that one of them will soon leave for a new life across the sea.

Naman Ramachandran Indian cinema A-list actor-producer-director Prithviraj Sukumaran is extremely busy, with a hit film in theaters, another due this week and several more in the works. Malayalam-language “Aadujeevitham” (“The Goat Life“), directed by Blessy (“Thanmatra”) is based on Benyamin’s bestselling 2008 novel of the same name and tells the true story of Najeeb, an immigrant laborer from Kerala forced into slavery on a remote goat farm in a Middle Eastern country. Sukumaran plays Najeeb.

Elton John and his longtime writing partner Bernie Taupin are being honored in a new PBS special and there’s an incredible performers lineup!

Noah Kahan leading the way on both lists.The US singer-songwriter’s 2022 single ‘Stick Season’ enjoyed a viral resurgence towards the end of last year, and has earned 850,000 chart units in 2024 alone (via Official Charts).Additionally, the seven-week Number One is the most-streamed song of the year so far – having registered 99million plays since the start of 2024. ‘Stick Season’ has accumulated 1.4million chart units in total.Kahan achieved a second entry in the top 40 songs of the year so far run-down, with his Sam Fender-featuring version of ‘Homesick’ landing at Number 24.The musician’s 2022 third studio record, also titled ‘Stick Season’, has been named the UK’s biggest album of 2024 so far.

Cynthia Littleton Business Editor Paramount Global and its parent company are moving closer to an agreement with Skydance Media for an exclusive window for acquisition negotiations as Shari Redstone and David Ellison inch toward a deal to bring their companies together in a three-way transaction. The New York Times on Tuesday reported on the rumors that have been swirling around Hollywood for the past few days.

EXCLUSIVE: Apple is expanding the ensemble cast of its upcoming series Your Friends and Neighbors with Isabel Gravitt (The Watcher, Little Fires Everywhere) and Donovan Colan (Theater Camp, Spirit Halloween, upcoming The Dogs).

Thania Garcia The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has upped Michele Ballantyne to President. She will also continue to serve as chief operating officer, running daily operations and managing the 56-employee team. Ballantyne serves on the executive leadership team alongside Chairman and CEO Mitch Glazier.

EXCLUSIVE: Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland’s Warfare feature rounds out its lead cast with Kit Connor (Heartstopper, Rocketman), Cosmo Jarvis (Shōgun), Will Poulter (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3) and Finn Bennett (True Detective: Night Country). The film’s focus and the roles the newly added actors will play remain under wraps.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Italy’s Indiana Production – which is part of pan-European studio Vuelta Group – is making a significant move into the comedy space by forging a multi-picture deal and a creative collaboration pact with multihyphenate Gennaro Nunziante who has directed top local hits including “Quo Vado” that is the country’s all-time highest grosser. Nunziante – who is a writer/director and sometimes actor – and Indiana are jointly mounting a pipeline of theatrical movies with smart storylines rooted in present-day social issues that, at least in some cases, will seek to travel outside Italy.

William Earl administrator The world of celebrity charitable foundations is big business, from old Hollywood stars like the late Paul Newman’s Newman’s Own Foundation donating hundreds of millions to charity via its food products, to young superstars like Olivia Rodrigo’s Fund 4 Good advocating for reproductive rights on her Guts World Tour. It’s the perfect way for A-listers to spotlight their philanthropy, while their accounts make sure the generosity is accounted for and publicists can place items about caring clients.The Will And Jada Smith Family Foundation was the perfect outlet for the Hollywood power couple to advocate for the issues that mattered to them, including health and wellness, arts education and sustainability.

Angelique Jackson Wayfarer Studios, the independent production studio co-founded by Justin Baldoni and Steve Sarowitz, has bolstered its executive ranks with the recent hire of veteran executive Tera Hanks, who will now serve as president, while Jamey Heath has been elevated to the role of CEO. Hanks joins Wayfarer Studios from Westbrook Inc., where she served as president, following a lengthy tenure at CAA.