Partnership Showbiz and Celebrity Breaking News

Matt Donnelly Senior Film Writer Ron Howard and Brian Grazer’s Imagine Entertainment has entered a significant content deal with Major League Baseball, Variety can report exclusively. The partnership will yield multiple scripted and unscripted projects, the first of which is a documentary feature from noted filmmaker R.J. Cutler (“The September Issue,” “Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry”) following baseball’s 2023 world series. “I’ve always been drawn to the drama, high stakes, and emotion of baseball ever since I was kid in the bleachers of Dodger Stadium,” Oscar winner Howard told Variety. “These also happen to be the very same elements that make for a great movie or television show, which is why Brian, Imagine, and I are so excited to be teaming up with Major League Baseball to bring more of their stories to life.”

Kid Rock is taking a stand, y’all! He just will not abide… the existence of trans people we guess?

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor NBCUniversal’s Peacock has announced a hot new reality dating show — but, you know, not really. In an early April Fool’s Day stunt, Peacock announced a new show with language-learning app Duolingo: “Love Language,” purportedly following 10 “confident and flirty singles” from across the globe coming together “to share a house in paradise in hopes of finding true love.” The catch: None of them speaks the same language. But the only thing real about the show is the trailer, which is available on the Peacock and Duolingo apps and on social channels (watch below).

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Top Middle East broadcaster MBC Group has forged a partnership with U.S. anime and manga distributor Tokyopop under which they are forming a hub dedicated to the licensing, promotion, and production of anime content in the region. The joint venture, called MBC Anime, is led by Stu Levy, the American anime and manga expert who is founder and CEO of Tokyopop, a prominent international distributor, licensor, and publisher of anime and manga. Through the new initiative, MBC Anime “will commission, produce, and invest in a series of world-class quality anime titles,” according to an MBC statement.

The Cannes Film Festival has renewed its short film competition partnership with TikTok for a second year in a move that is likely to come under scrutiny amid the global debate over the platform’s privacy and data security record.

Strictly Come Dancing star Gorka Marquez has been a professional dancer on the BBC show since 2016, and despite reaching the finals last year and choreographing some unforgettable routines, there is one dance he wishes he could have been part of.During an impromptu Q&A on Instagram, a fan asked him: "What dance of another celeb and pro, do you wish was one of yours?"Without hesitation, Gorka fondly recalled his close friend Giovanni Pernice and Rose Ayling-Ellis' iconic Couple's Choice routine - which won them an award. Relive the dance below… "Well, for me, it's not about the dance and how good is the dance or the steps are, it's more about the moment and how memorable is that moment," Gorka stated."So if I have to choose one, I would choose Giovanni's and Rose – their Couple's Choice.

Manori Ravindran Executive Editor of International “Luther” star Idris Elba and media mogul Mo Abudu are joining forces to empower talent from Africa and the diaspora through their respective production companies, Green Door Pictures and EbonyLife Media. The new partnership aims to provide opportunities through capacity building as well as large-scale global productions. New education and mentoring initiatives will launch through the partnership to foster both the lost generation and a new generation of creatives. Through their collaboration, Elba and Abudu aim to nurture a more inclusive and diverse media landscape for stories from Africa and its diaspora. They are calling on industry leaders, the wider public sector, governments and multilateral agencies to help them grow talent globally and build capacity around the continent of Africa.

Idris Elba and Mo Abudu have partnered on a landmark initiative to “empower and uplift talent from Africa and the Diaspora.”

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Singapore’s Mocha Chai Laboratories and Emissary Pictures, a company that straddles New Zealand, Australia and Indonesia, have announced a strategic partnership for the development and production of cross-cultural films, series and content in Asia. The venture will have offices in all four countries and will identify, develop and produce content across genres and formats, including films, television series, documentaries and digital content. The agreement was announced in Hong Kong on the first day of the FilMart rights market. The pair say that they have scripted and unscripted projects in development and production. Slate details, however, remain under wraps as do distribution plans.

Rachel Seo Digital creator, podcaster and filmmaker Markiplier has signed an exclusive video partnership with Spotify for his two podcasts, “Distractible” and “Go! My Favorite Sports Team.” Video episodes of both podcasts will be available to stream on Spotify exclusively. Markiplier is set to debut additional exclusive video content on the platform. “Distractible,” which Markiplier hosts with Wade Barnes and Bob Muyskens, reached the No. 1 spot on Spotify’s podcasts charts the week of its debut in 2021. The podcast centers on discussions of various, seemingly random topics such as anti-aging practices, Halloween candy and roller coasters. “Go! My Favorite Sports Team” is hosted by Markiplier and Tyler Scheid; it launched in 2022 and provides humorous commentary on the world of sports.

Will and Jada Pinkett Smith make up one of the most famous and long-lasting relationships in Hollywood, but the road hasn't been a conventional one. They've been married for 25 years, and have both been remarkably open about both the struggles and the triumphs of their strong union over the years.But their relationship was recently thrust into the spotlight again, when Chris Rock hit back at them — particularly Jada's entanglement scandal with August Alsina — during his live Netflix special in which he addressed Smith shockingly slapping him at the 2022 Oscars.

Thinus Ferreira Guest Contributor In the chase for scale in streaming, it’s the technology behind NBCUniversal’s Peacock that could be the saving grace for African SVOD service Showmax. Pan-African pay-TV operator MultiChoice revealed on Thursday that it will be relaunching its regional streamer Showmax with Peacock technology. NBCUniversal and the U.K.’s Sky will take a 30% share in a new company that will redevelop and overhaul Showmax for African audiences. Launched in 2015, Showmax has been feeling the intense pressure of lower-priced global streamers like Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV+ scooping up subscribers across the African market. (HBO Max is yet to launch and Paramount is still working on a Paramount+ rollout for the continent.)

The Glastonbury Festival has announced a “landmark multi-year partnership” with Vodafone, which becomes the event’s official connectivity partner.And if you’re wondering, as you might reasonably do, what the fuck that means, well, “as official connectivity partner, Vodafone has exclusive rights to the festival and throughout the partnership will use its network to deliver innovative experiences using cutting-edge technology”.So good news for fans of innovative experiences and cutting-edge technology.Also, “Vodafone’s award-winning network will be boosted to the highest capacity ever, making it super reliable to keep friends and families connected to each other, whether they’re on site in Somerset or watching from home”.So prepare yourself for some high capacity, super reliable connections.Oh, and “Vodafone customers will be able to gain access to tickets to a sold-out festival via its VeryMe Rewards programme available on the MyVodafone app. VeryMe promotions and experiences will also be available to everyone who is at the festival”.So get ready for some VeryMe good times.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior Correspondent “The Late Late Show With James Corden” might be making its final curtain call on CBS this spring, but CBS Studios is continuing its partnership with Fulwell 73, the production company behind the late-night show and much more. Fulwell 73 has re-upped its first-look development deal with CBS Studios for three more years, Variety has learned. A person familiar with the agreement says the renewal deal began last fall. Under the deal, Fulwell 73 will continue to develop scripted, alternative and digital projects for the studio across broadcast, cable, streaming and digital platforms. Fulwell 73 first inked a deal with CBS Studios in 2016. The company has been in business with CBS since 2015 when Corden began hosting “The Late Late Show,” which became a mega success for the company defined by countless viral moments during its run.

Prince William and Kate Middleton’s foundation has announced a new collaboration to help create therapy allotments and gardens offering mental health support in south Wales. The Prince and Princess of Wales visited the site where the first garden will be developed at Brynawel Rehabilitation Centre, near the town of Pontyclun in Wales on Tuesday to mark the announcement of the social enterprise partnership. The royal couple’s charitable organisation is working with Life at No.27 – a horticultural therapy and mental health counselling provider – to scale up its gardening mission, with six gardens eventually being created across south Wales.

SM Entertainment, HYBE has criticised a recent partnership the K-pop agency has forged with South Korean tech giant Kakao.Earlier this month, Kakao shared that it had acquired a 9.05 per cent stake in SM, which would have made it the second-largest shareholder of the company after founder Lee Soo-man. HYBE later announced that it had struck a deal to acquire a 14.8 per cent stake in SM from Lee, thus becoming its biggest shareholder.

Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes hailed the partnership Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford have developed this season ahead of Thursday night's Europa League clash with Barcelona at Old Trafford.

First Look, the works-in-progress strand of the Locarno film festival’s industry section, is set to highlight independent UK films for its 2023 edition.

NBCUniversal has promoted Tammy Filler and Jamie Cutburth to the position of EVP in the advertising and partnership group and upped Jenny Depper to SVP of E! News Digital.

The future is bright. Amid Paula Abdul‘s new partnership with Psychics1on1, the “Straight Up” singer has opened up about how psychics foretold her American Idol success.

Matt and Ben at it again! Matt Damon and Ben Affleck reunite onscreen in the forthcoming biographical movie Air.

Almost two years ago, Major League Wrestling founder Court Bauer had quite literally buried his face in the sand after learning that Tubi had walked away from their deal to broadcast his sporting events.

The nonprofit Hollywood Partnership is opening a community dispatch center later this month. The goal is to focus on the entertainment district’s safety, cleaning, and hospitality. The organization services an area stretching from Hollywood Blvd. to La Brea, down to Sunset and the Hollywood 101 Freeway.

AEON Entertainment and IMAX Corporation announced an agreement Wednesday that will open seven new IMAX auditoriums with Laser systems across Japan in 2023. Under the deal, all seven systems will be installed in existing multiplexes by summer 2023 in areas largely untapped by IMAX.

Based on the director’s childhood, James Gray’s Armageddon Time tells the story of 12-year-old Paul (newcomer Banks Repeta), and how his Jewish family reacts to his friendship with a Black student, Johnny (Jaylin Webb), in early ’80s New York. Both boys share a love of space flight, and their pre-teen dreams take their imaginations light years away from their mundane lives. But the backdrop is a moment of tension, as Ronald Reagan, seeking the Republican Party’s nomination for president, stirs up civil unrest in the country. Paul’s father, Irving, played by Succession’s Jeremy Strong, despises Reagan’s dog-whistle provocations and screams at his image when he appears on television. But, he wonders, being from a vulnerable minority himself, is it wise for him to allow his son’s friendship to continue?

EXCLUSIVE: Tenderfoot TV, the podcast company behind series including Up and Vanished and To Live and Die in LA, has extended its partnership with studio Cadence13.

EXCLUSIVE: HBCU GO — the free-streaming digital platform of Byron Allen’s Allen Media Group, which serves as the leading media provider for the nation’s 107 Historically Black Colleges and Universities — has set a new promotional partnership with the award-winning indie Freedom’s Path, starring RJ Cyler (The Harder They Fall) and Gerran Howell (1917).

EXCLUSIVE: In its latest corporate realignment, Amazon has created a single unit for third-party living room device business development and partner marketing for Prime Video, MGM+ and Freevee. Leading those activities will be company veteran Andrew Bennett.

In Todd Field’s Tár, we meet Lydia Tár, a revered composer-conductor heading up the Berlin Philharmonic, played by Cate Blanchett. Nina Hoss, as Lydia’s wife Sharon, is concertmaster and first chair violin, and together they navigate the politics of their musical life while parenting their daughter Petra. But Lydia, who is at the top of her game, and readying for her career-pinnacle live recording, begins to self-destruct, forming an obsessive attachment to Olga, a young cellist, just as a troubling past entanglement comes to light. The target of criticism from her students and a New York Post article, Lydia’s staff and Olga desert her. Then Sharon takes flight with Petra, and Lydia finally slides into the demise of both her personal and professional life. In conversation with Antonia Blyth, Blanchett and Hoss discuss the absence of objective truth, how change is built on open-hearted discussion, and the emergence of art from the raw, painful edge of experience.