Linkin Park’s Mike Shinoda Discusses Chester Bennington’s Reaction to Chris Cornell’s Suicide in May Interview

Linkin Park’s Chester Bennington and Chris Cornell were good friends who’d toured and performed together. But on Thursday their association became tragic as Bennington apparently committed suicide on Cornell’s birthday, not even two months after the Soundgarden singer’s self-inflicted death. In a Radio.com interview with Linkin Park’s Mike Shinoda and Bred Delson just days after... Read more » Jem Aswad

Michael Jackson’s Estate and Sony/ATV Extend Mijac Administration Agreement

Sony/ATV Music Publishing and the estate of Michael Jackson today announced a long-term extension of Sony/ATV’s worldwide administration of Jackson’s Mijac Music catalog. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Founded by Jackson in 1980 as his personal publishing company, Mijac Music grew into a formidable catalog, including his own compositions as well as the... Read more » Jem Aswad

Kevin Spacey Playing Author Gore Vidal in Netflix Original Biopic (EXCLUSIVE)

ROME – Oscar winner Kevin Spacey is playing writer Gore Vidal in a new Netflix original biopic, “Gore,” which is in production in Italy. U.S. director Michael Hoffman (“The Last Station”) is helming the 1980s-set film about the late American author, playwright, and occasional political candidate. “Gore” is currently shooting in Rome but will move... Read more » nvivarelli

India’s Reliance Industries Buys Stake in Balaji Telefilms

Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries Ltd. is acquiring a 24.9% stake in leading content provider Balaji Telefilms for $64.2 million, part of Reliance’s push into the entertainment sector. Balaji operates the digital content platform ALT and will use the Reliance investment to grow the business further. Led by billionaire Mukesh Ambani, Reliance operates in the telecom,... Read more » Henry Chu

Michael Alago, Who Signed Metallica and White Zombie, Gets the Documentary Treatment in ‘Who the F**k Is That Guy?’

If the histories of Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre warrant four hours of prime HBO real estate in “The Defiant Ones,” then certainly Michael Alago, the flamboyant New York punk habitue who signed Metallica to Elektra and White Zombie to Geffen during his stints as an A&R executive, deserves his 77 minutes of recognition. In... Read more » Jem Aswad

‘Wild Kratts’ Tackle New Adventure: PBS’ Live, Wild ‘Alaska’

The “Wild Kratts” have a new beast to tame. Chris and Martin Kratt (above, pictured) have over the years navigated visits with a Western spotted skunk and a moray eel. On Sunday at 8 p.m., the popular PBS Kids duo will tackle something equally difficult to soothe: a media-savvy adult with a remote control close... Read more » Brian Steinberg

MSNBC to Launch ‘The Beat with Ari Melber’ on Monday

Ari Melber will start his new weekday duties with MSNBC on Monday with the debut of his 6 p.m. program, “The Beat with Ari Melber.” Melber was already expected to take over the hour, which had previously been anchored by Greta Van Susteren. Melber will also take on a new role, serving as a legal analyst... Read more » Brian Steinberg

Venice Lineup: New Films by Clooney, Del Toro, Frears Expected to World Premiere (EXCLUSIVE)

ROME – George Clooney’s “Suburbicon,” Guillermo Del Toro’s “The Shape of Water,” Stephen Frears’ “Victoria and Abdul,” and Paolo Virzi’s “Ella and John,” starring Helen Mirren and Donald Sutherland, are among the titles strongly tipped to world premiere at the upcoming 74th Venice Film Festival. Also expected to make their worldwide bows on the Lido are... Read more » nvivarelli

FremantleMedia Bringing Heather Lende’s ‘Find The Good’ to TV (EXCLUSIVE)

FremantleMedia has taken the rights to Heather Lende memoirs ‘Find The Good’ and ‘If You Lived Here, I’d Know Your Name’ and will package and pitch them to US and international channels as an accessible family drama. Lende grew up on Long Island’s North Shore before moving to Alaska in the 1980s. The books, based... Read more » Stewart Clarke

Dhani Harrison to Release First Solo Album

Dhani Harrison will release his first solo album, titled “IN///PARALLEL,” on October 6 through BMG. The musician and songwriter had previously performed with the band thenewno2. He has also collaborated with with the likes of Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA, Regina Spektor, Pearl Jam, and Prince, among others. The son of George Harrison, Dhani inducted ELO into the Rock... Read more » Variety Staff

Justin Bieber Banned From China Because of His ‘Bad Behavior’

China has banned pop idol Justin Bieber from performing on the mainland because of his “bad behavior” on and off the stage. The Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture said the ban was necessary to “purify” the country’s entertainment industry but suggested it was not permanent, expressing the hope that Bieber might improve his behavior and... Read more » Henry Chu

‘Scaffolding,’ ‘On the Beach at Night Alone’ Take Jerusalem Film Festival’s Top Prizes

Matan Yair’s “Scaffolding” and Hong Sang-soo’s “On the Beach at Night Alone” took the top prizes at the 34th Jerusalem Film Festival during an awards ceremony Thursday evening. “On the Beach at Night Alone” won the Wilf Family Foundation Award (worth $20,000) for best international film. The jury, which comprised Israeli director Nadav Lapid, Israeli... Read more » elskes

‘Battlestar Galactica’ Cast and Creators Reunite at Comic-Con

The cast and creators of of “Battlestar Galactica” reunited Thursday at Comic-Con in San Diego to reminisce about the landmark Syfy drama. Executive producers David Eick and Ronald Moore talked about their first meeting to discuss the series in 2001 — just months after the 9-11 terrorist attacks. “It was December of ‘o1 when that... Read more » Daniel Holloway

‘American Horror Story’ Season 7 Title Revealed

And the title of “American Horror Story” Season 7 is…. “Cult.” The news was announced during an “AHS” event at Comic-Con on Thursday, after co-creator Ryan Murphy previously revealed that the next installment of FX’s horror anthology is inspired by the 2016 presidential election. Along with the news, FX also dropped a new website and... Read more » Alex Stedman

‘Game of Thrones’ Creators Defend New Slavery Drama ‘Confederate’: ‘This is Scary For All of Us’

David Benioff and D.B. Weiss are no strangers to controversy — the showrunners’ hit series “Game of Thrones” has generated its fair share of headlines throughout its run. But the announcement of their next project, titled “Confederate” — which imagines an alternate timeline, where the southern states have seceded from the Union and slavery is... Read more » Debra Birnbaum

TBS Unveils Three Original Animated Series, Teases New ‘American Dad!’ Episodes (EXCLUSIVE)

TBS fans are about to be bombarded with an array of animated original series, Variety has confirmed at Comic-Con. The TBS animation panel at the San Diego convention released four never-before-seen clips of their upcoming series — “Close Enough,” “Final Space,” and “Tarantula” — as well as a look into the next season of “American Dad!” exclusively to... Read more » dixitalimbachiablog

‘Game of Thrones’ Alum Iwan Rheon Feared Being Typecast With ‘Inhumans’ Role

“Game of Thrones” alum Iwan Rheon was initially reluctant to take on his role in Marvel’s “Inhumans” for fear that it was too close to the character he had just played on the HBO drama — the villainous Ramsay Bolton. “My fear was that … fear of being typecast and just repeating myself,” said Rheon,... Read more » Daniel Holloway

Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Regina King, Abigail Spencer Seek SAG-AFTRA Board Seats

SAG-AFTRA’s upcoming national board election has drawn a quartet of new high-profile candidates — Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Matthew Modine, Abigail Spencer and Regina King. With ballots going out July 25, the names were revealed as the self-styled progressives of Membership First and the ruling Unite For Strength Factions have unveiled their candidate slates representing the... Read more » Dave McNary

‘Stargate’ Being Revived With New Digital Series ‘Stargate Origins’

A new “Stargate” series is being cooked up — one that will anchor a new streaming service devoted to the sci-fi franchise. The 10-episode series “Stargate Origins” will tell the story of Catherine Langford, a character who occasionally appeared in previous “Stargate” TV shows. The show will be available via MGM’s new streaming service, titled... Read more » Maureen Ryan

Jennifer Lawrence’s ‘Mother!’ Moves Forward to September Release

Paramount Pictures has moved its Jennifer Lawrence thriller “Mother!” forward by a month to Sept. 15 from its previous Oct. 13 release date. The studio confirmed the date change Thursday but did not elaborate. It’s possible that “Mother!” could be premiered at the Venice Film Festival, which opens on Aug. 30, or the Telluride Film... Read more » Dave McNary

Noah Hawley Developing Doctor Doom Movie for Fox

“Legion” and “Fargo” creator Noah Hawley is developing a movie at Fox involving Fantastic Four villain Doctor Doom. At the end of a Comic-Con panel for “Legion” Thursday, Hawley announced that he was developing a new film at Fox — one that he wouldn’t say too much about. “I’ll just say two words. The first... Read more » Daniel Holloway

‘Wonder Woman’ Star Saïd Taghmaoui Joins ‘Legion’ Season 2

“Wonder Woman” star Saïd Taghmaoui will play Amahl Farouk — aka the Shadow King — in “Legion” season two. Noah Hawley, the creator of the FX drama series based on Marvel’s X-Men comics, announced the casting Thursday at Comic-Con. “We are going to meet the Shadow King,” Hawley said. The Shadow King was played in... Read more » Daniel Holloway

Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Extend Copyright to Pre-1972 Recordings

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Legislation was introduced this week to close a long-standing quirk in copyright law: Sound-recordings made before 1972 do not get federal protection. It’s long been a source of complaint among artists, musicians, and record labels, among others, particularly with the dramatic changes in revenue streams in the digital age. It has created... Read more » Ted Johnson

Chester Bennington and Linkin Park: A Musical Legacy of Darkness and Hope

The loss of Linkin Park singer Chester Bennington, found dead of an apparent suicide at his home in a Southern California coastal community, leaves a hole in the hearts of family, friends, and fans, but also a strong musical legacy — with Linkin Park, Stone Temple Pilots, and numerous projects — that can both comfort and... Read more » Jem Aswad

Will Smith, Joel Edgerton Deal With Strange Things in Netflix’s ‘Bright’ Trailer

“They didn’t teach us this at the Academy,” admits Joel Edgerton to Will Smith, who play cops in a strange Los Angeles-based alternate universe in the first trailer for Netflix’s police thriller “Bright.” “No, they did not,” Smith concurs in typical movie-cop-to-movie-cop banter. Smith, Edgerton, and director David Ayer finally unveiled the trailer during Thursday... Read more » Dave McNary

Hollywood Likely to Steer Clear of O.J. Simpson After Prison Release

If O.J. Simpson, the former USC running back who later had a brief acting career, is looking for a third chance in Hollywood, he’s unlikely to find it. He has reportedly been approached to film a reality TV show upon his release, but some agents and executives say his reputation is beyond repair following his... Read more » rljournoblog

TV News Roundup: New O.J. Simpson Doc Coming to A&E, ‘How to Get Away With Murder’ Casts Jimmy Smits

In today’s roundup, “How to Get Away With Murder” casts Jimmy Smits and A&E Network announces a new documentary on O.J. Simpson. CASTING Jimmy Smits is joining the cast of ABC‘s “How to Get Away With Murder” in Season 4. Smits will have a guest arc opposite Viola Davis on the network drama. On brand... Read more » Rebecca Rubin

Will Smith, ‘Bright’ Director David Ayer on Netflix: ‘They Let You Be a Filmmaker’

Put David Ayer squarely in the pro-Netflix camp. The “Bright” director praised the streaming service for giving him creative freedom to make his upcoming fantasy adventure during a panel discussion on Thursday at San Diego Comic-Con. “They let you be a filmmaker,” Ayer said. He later added that the picture, which reunites him with his... Read more » varietybrentlang

‘Rocko’s Modern Life’ Revival First Teaser Unveiled by Nickelodeon

Rocko, I have a feeling we’re not in the ’90s anymore. Nickelodeon released a first look at the reboot of its beloved cartoon “Rocko’s Modern Life” at San Diego Comic-Con on Thursday afternoon during the show’s panel. The clip features voice actors Carlos Alazraqui, Tom Kenny, Doug Lawrence and Charlie Adler, creator Joe Murray, and director... Read more » Rebecca Rubin

IATSE President Matthew Loeb Re-Elected Without Opposition

IATSE international president Matthew D. Loeb has been re-elected without opposition to a four-year term as head of the below-the-line union. The vote by acclamation took place at the IATSE’s 68th Quadrennial Convention on Thursday at the Diplomat Resort & Spa in Hollywood, Fla. IATSE — the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees — is... Read more » Dave McNary

BBC Says New ‘Doctor Who’ Actress Will Be Paid Same as Current Star

The first female Doctor will have to continue the fight to preserve hope and light in the universe, but there is one thing she won’t have to struggle for: pay parity with her male predecessor. BBC director-general Tony Hall told the Evening Standard that new star Jodie Whittaker will receive pay parity with Peter Capaldi... Read more » Erin Nyren

Team Behind ‘Suicide Squad: The Album’ Reunites for Netflix’s ‘Bright’

With the success of “Suicide Squad: The Album,” Atlantic Records is re-teaming with director David Ayer for another film-music project, “Bright: The Album,” the companion to the Netflix movie “Bright” starring Will Smith and Joel Edgerton. The announcement was made at Comic-Con where the trailer for “Bright” premiered.  The action-thriller is centered around two very different... Read more » dixitalimbachiablog

AT&T Mobility’s David Christopher on Time Warner Merger, DirecTV Acquisition and Going Hollywood

David Christopher, chief marketing officer of AT&T Mobility’s Entertainment Group, talked to Variety about the wireless provider’s ventures in Hollywood as it aims to compete in the new media landscape. Christopher is re-locating from Atlanta to El Segundo, Calif., along with the rest of the Entertainment Group, as the company ramps up its video offerings... Read more » rljournoblog

Chester Bennington: Five of His Best Musical Moments

With the tragic news of Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington’s death on Thursday, Variety has compiled five of his best musical moments. “Hunger Strike,” Temple of the Dog, “Temple of the Dog” The song was written by the late Chris Cornell for his band Temple of the Dog and as a duet with bandmate Eddie Vedder,... Read more » Erin Nyren

Anna Faris-Eugenio Derbez Comedy ‘Overboard’ Lands April Release

Lionsgate has set an April 20, 2018, release date for its remake of the romantic comedy “Overboard,” starring Anna Faris and Eugenio Derbez. Goldie Hawn, Kurt Russell, and Edward Herrmann starred in the 1987 original directed by Garry Marshall. Hawn played a selfish heiress who got amnesia when she fell off her yacht, while Russell portrayed a... Read more » Dave McNary

For TV News Outlets, a New O.J. Simpson Chase Might Be On

Since his football days, the media has always followed O.J. Simpson. When he fled authorities in a white Ford Bronco after being charged in the murders of his wife and a friend, that chase turned into hot pursuit. There’s little reason to think the dynamic will cease now that Simpson has won parole after being... Read more » Brian Steinberg

‘Purge 4’ Finds Director in ‘Burning Sands’ Filmmaker Gerard McMurray

Gerard McMurray has come on board to direct the untitled fourth “Purge” movie for Blumhouse Productions with Universal Pictures setting a July 4, 2018, release date. McMurray’s feature directorial debut “Burning Sands” premiered at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival and was acquired by Netflix. The film chronicles the brutal hazing process at an all-black university.... Read more » Dave McNary

‘Van Helsing’ Season 2 Trailer Brings the Gore (Exclusive Video)

In an exclusive sneak peek at Syfy’s “Van Helsing” Season 2 from San Diego Comic-Con, fans are treated to plenty of bloody vampire action. The series follows Vanessa Van Helsing (Kelly Overton), a descendant of the legendary line of vampire hunters. The country has been turned into a wasteland after volcanic ash has left the sky... Read more » Joseph Otterson

MTV Video Music Awards Teaser Pays Tribute to Britney Spears, Madonna

The countdown to the 2017 Video Music Awards has begun with the release of the first teaser video from MTV, which harks back to some of the most iconic moments of the VMAs. The video, which was created entirely in-house by the MTV marketing and creative group, and directed by Floria Sigismondi, features a modern,... Read more » Erin Nyren

L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti Seeks to Raise State Production Tax Incentives to at Least $500 Million

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti is promising to push for an increase in California’s production tax incentives to at least $500 million annually — up more than 50% from the current $330 million figure. “We must make sure, first and foremost, that the film industry not only stays strong but expands,” he said Thursday morning... Read more » Dave McNary

Michael Shannon Joins David O. Russell’s Drama Series at Amazon (EXCLUSIVE)

Michael Shannon is set to join Robert De Niro and Julianne Moore in Amazon and Weinstein Co.’s new untitled drama series from David O. Russell. The highly anticipated series landed with Amazon and the Weinstein Co. last fall after a competitive bidding war for the project, which has De Niro and Moore starring and Russell... Read more » Justin Kroll

Zoey Deutch to Co-Star With Johnny Depp in IM Global’s ‘Richard Says Goodbye’ (EXCLUSIVE)

“Before I Fall” star Zoey Deutch is set to co-star with Johnny Depp in the IM Global film “Richard Says Goodbye.” Wayne Roberts is writing and directing the pic with IM Global financing. Producers are Brian Kavanaugh-Jones of Automatik and IM Global president of production Greg Shapiro, with Stuart Ford and Depp executive producing. The... Read more » Justin Kroll

Radiohead in Israel: A ’25-Year Love Story’ and ‘An Incredible Night,’ Says Promoter (EXCLUSIVE)

The band played their longest show in over a decade, clocking in at two hours and 26 minutes. "It felt like a cosmic night," says Naranjah's Eran Arielli. Shirley Halperin

Bill Hader Eyeing Disney’s Female Santa Claus Pic ‘Nicole’ With Anna Kendrick (EXCLUSIVE)

Bill Hader is in talks to co-star with Anna Kendrick in Disney’s upcoming female Santa Claus pic “Nicole,” sources tell Variety. “Miss Congeniality” scribe Marc Lawrence is directing and penning the script. The story revolves around Santa’s daughter, presumably the titular Nicole, who is forced to take over the family business when her father retires... Read more » Justin Kroll

Twitter Reacts to O.J. Simpson Parole Verdict: ‘He Can Now Go Back to Searching for the Real Killers’

Twitter partied like it was 1995 on Thursday. O.J. Simpson’s parole hearing for a 2007 armed robbery captured the nation’s — and social media’s — attention on Thursday. The Nevada Parole Board granted Simpson parole, and the former football star could walk free as early at Oct. 1. Twitter reacted to the news throughout the... Read more » dixitalimbachiablog

A+E Networks Elevates Rob Sharenow to Programming President, Eli Lehrer Joins History

A+E Networks is making moves in its executive ranks. Rob Sharenow has been elevated to programming presidents of A+E Networks, moving up from his previous role as EVP and general manager of A+E and Lifetime. Former Lifetime executive Eli Lehrer is back at the company, joining History as EVP of programming. Additionally, Paul Cabana has been... Read more » Elizabeth Wagmeister

‘Wonder Woman,’ ‘Guardians 2’ Help Push Movie Ticket Prices to New Record High

Movie ticket prices hit record levels in the second quarter of 2017. It cost consumers an average of $8.95 a ticket during the three-month period ending in June. That’s a 1.2% hike over the previous quarter and a 2.5% increase from the prior-year period. It’s shaping up to be a very expensive year for movie-going.... Read more » varietybrentlang

TV News Anchors Question O.J. Simpson’s Sincerity at Parole Hearing

Four members of a Nevada parole board agreed to grant freedom to former football great O.J. Simpson on Thursday, but the controversial figure known as “The Juice” might be thankful they weren’t watching any of the TV news coverage of the hearing. Anchors and analysts ranging from George Stephanopoulos to Lester Holt to Geraldo Rivera... Read more » Brian Steinberg

Linkin Park Releases New Music Video on the Morning of Chester Bennington’s Death

Linkin Park released a new music video on the morning of front man Chester Bennington’s death. The video was released at 9:01 a.m., before the news was revealed. The energetic video for their newest single “Talking to Myself” features footage of the rock band performing for fans. Bennington addresses his history with substance abuse from the... Read more » Rebecca Rubin

Quincy Jones Testifies Against Michael Jackson Estate: ‘I Was Cheated Out of a Lot of Money’

Quincy Jones took the witness stand on Thursday, telling jurors he was “cheated out of a lot of money” by Michael Jackson’s estate. Jones’ lawyers have alleged that the veteran producer is owed $30 million in revenues that have flowed to Jackson’s estate since the singer’s death in 2009. Jones, 84, has been touring in... Read more » gmaddaus