On today’s episode of “Daily Variety” podcast, Journey Gunderson, executive director of the National Comedy Center in Jamestown, N.Y., explains why it’s important to have an institution devoted to the study of comedy. Jamestown, which is the hometown of Lucille Ball, will be abuzz with laughs as the center hosts the annual Lucille Ball Comedy
“Elektra/Persona,” the U.K. National Theatre production fusing Sophocles’ “Elektra” with Ingmar Bergman’s “Persona,” grew out of friendship rather than a directorial concept imposed after casting, according to director Benedict Andrews. Andrews, Cate Blanchett and Nina Hoss spoke at a BFI Southbank conversation held ahead of the play’s run, moderated by “The Guardian” chief film critic
Naomi Watts has taken to Instagram to celebrate her secret role in “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” Sony and Marvel Studios’ record-breaking superhero movie. The Oscar nominee voices Peter Parker’s artificial intelligence assistant E.V. in the movie. Watts celebrated the film’s success on social media while sharing a photo of herself recording her lines virtually with
Audrey Nuna has signed to Republic Records in advance of her new single “superHuman,” Variety can exclusively reveal. The singer, who recently broke out as the voice of Mira in “KPop Demon Hunters,” worked with Grammy-winning producer Cirkut on “superHuman,” which releases at midnight ET this Friday. It marks her first release as part of
Variety has announced Emmy-winning producer and actor Bill Hader; producer-director James Wan; producer-actor Nick Kroll; Nintendo of America president and COO Devon Pritchard, and Sony Pictures Television chairman Keith Le Goy as headlining speakers for its annual Entertainment and Technology Summit, presented by EY, held in Los Angeles on Sept. 17. Hader will speak about
Ari Emanuel, TKO Group‘s executive chairman and CEO, called the UFC Freedom 250 event at the White House “a roaring success.” But the company said it lost $30 million on the elaborately staged extravaganza, held June 14 on the grounds of the White House to coincide with President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday. “TKO’s unique ability
