Studios Have "Weighed In" on Pandemic Risk Insurance Bill, Author Says

The proposal, which would create insurance to cover pandemics and other public health crises, would be funded both by the federal government and major providers. U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) has introduced the Pandemic Risk Insurance Act of 2020 after discussions with studios, producers and news media, she said Tuesday....

The 'Mrs. America' Finale Was Always Going to Be a Tragedy

[This story contains spoilers from the finale of Mrs. America.] The ending of FX on Hulu's star-studded miniseries Mrs. America shouldn't be a surprise for anyone who lived through the 1970s, nor to anyone who's read about the history of the Equal Rights Amendment. The movement to add language to the U.S. constitution...

Tom Hanks Offers 2020 Grads Special Pandemic Diploma

The star also included his 1974 senior year high school photo. Tom Hanks is offering 2020 graduates a special diploma for their academic accompaniments amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.  The star, who contracted the virus but has since made a full recovery, on Friday shared via social media the diploma. It reads:...

Scott Derrickson to Direct 'Labyrinth' Sequel

Scott Derrickson is stepping into the world of Labyrinth. The filmmaker is in talks to direct a sequel to the 1986 Jim Henson fantasy film, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed. Maggie Levin will write the script for the TriStar Pictures film. Labyrinth told of a teenager (Jennifer Connelly) who has to...

Tribeca Enterprises, YouTube Unveil We Are One Festival Lineup

21 international film festivals, including Berlin, Toyko, Sundance, Venice and Toronto, helped curate the more than 100 titles that will stream on YouTube from May 29 until June 7. Tribeca Enterprises and YouTube have unveiled the lineup for the inaugural We Are One: A Global Film Festival, an online event launched in...

L.A.'s The Grove to Open Main Street for First Time for Charity Drive-Thru Event

Since Los Angeles' The Grove first opened its streets nearly 20 years ago, the only wheels that have rolled through have belonged to strollers, bikes and its famous trolley. On Saturday, the popular outdoor mall will, for the first time, allow cars to cruise through as part of a drive-thru charity event.  Available...

'Good Doctor' Producer Brightlight Pictures Hires Emily Alden as Development VP

The exec joins the Vancouver-based producer as it looks beyond the industry shutdown caused by the novel coronavirus pandemic. The Good Doctor producer Brightlight Pictures has hired Emily Alden as its new vp of development. Alden is charged with expanding the film and TV slate at Vancouver-based Brightlight, which also...

Worldwide Digital Video Game Spending Hits Record-Breaking $10.5B in April

Square Enix's 'Final Fantasy 7 Remake' sold $2.2 million digital units last month, surpassing 'Marvel's Spider-Man' which previously held the launch digital sales record for a Playstation 4 exclusive title. Digital video game spending hit a record high in April as players continue leisure activities at home amid national...

BAFTA Sets Nominations Date for TV Awards Postponed Due to Pandemic

The new date and format of both the TV and TV craft awards ceremony will be revealed soon. The British Academy's TV and TV Craft awards, which were postponed earlier this year due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, are moving closer to reality.  BAFTA unveiled on Thursday that the nominations for both sets of awards...

'Blacking Out' Mixes Classic Noir with Californian Wildfires

For many, Chip Mosher is known as the head of content for Amazon's digital comics company ComiXology, or perhaps for his former role as head of marketing for Boom! Studios. He's also a comic book creator, a fact likely to become far better known with the release of Blacking Out, his upcoming collaboration with artist...

Martin Scorsese Self-Shoots Short Film for BBC About Being in Isolation

The legendary filmmaker explores what the shutdown has meant to him in the project set to air as part of 'Lockdown Culture With Mary Beard.' Martin Scorsese has made a short film for the BCC about being in isolation. The self-shot film in which the iconic director explores what the lockdown has meant to him is set to...

Warner Music Targets Valuation of Up to $13.3 Billion in IPO

The stock offering targets a price range of $23 to $26 per share, which would value the company at around $12.5 billion. Warner Music Group on Tuesday moved forward with its planned initial public offering, saying it will raise as much as $1.8 billion for shareholders.  The company in a regulatory filing said it...

'Grey's Anatomy' Season Finale Soars With Multi-Platform Viewing

Grey's Anatomy finished its season earlier than expected due to the coronavirus pandemic. It followed its usual pattern, however, of adding a ton of audience via delayed and digital viewing. The ABC drama more than quadrupled its initial rating among adults 18-49 over five weeks of multiplatform viewing and more than doubled...

Netflix Faces Libel Suit for Linking I.C.E. Contractor to Miserable Immigration Detention Facilities

Who is facing more defamation suits at the moment — The New York Times or Netflix? Our guess is the latter. On Wednesday, the streamer added to its plate of libel actions (When They See Us, Making a Murderer, The Laundromat, etc.) when The GEO Group filed suit over Messiah, a fictional thriller co-executive produced by...

'Cardinal,' 'Schitt's Creek' Win Big at Canadian Screen Awards

Other winners recognized during the virtual ceremony include Netflix/CBC's 'Kim's Convenience,' Hulu/CTV's 'Letterkenny' and IFC/CBC's 'Baroness von Sketch Show.' Hulu/CTV's Cardinal on Wednesday night won big at the Canadian Screen Awards, picking up seven during the virtual ceremony, including best drama, while Eugene...

U.S. Justice Department Warns L.A. Stay-at-Home Extension Could Be Illegal

A vague letter sent to Mayor Eric Garcetti and L.A. County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer did not spell out any specific violations, but noted concern about statements both had made publicly. The U.S. Department of Justice on Friday warned the mayor of Los Angeles and the county's top health officer that an extension...

Jennifer Garner, Chris Colfer and Lena Dunham to Headline 2020 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards Virtual Ceremony

'Hunger Games' author Suzanne Collins and 'Captain Underpants' author David Pilkey are also set to take part in the June 4 ceremony, traditionally held at Carnegie Hall. Though the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards is normally held at the world-famous Carnegie Hall, amid the novel coronavirus, the ceremony is getting...

Protesters Stop L.A. Freeway Traffic, Smash Patrol Car Windows

Hundreds of people protesting the death of a black man in Minneapolis police custody blocked a Los Angeles freeway and shattered windows of California Highway Patrol cruisers on Wednesday. Hundreds of people protesting the death of a black man in Minneapolis police custody blocked a Los Angeles freeway and shattered...

'The Man Standing Next' ('Namsanui bujangdeul'): Film Review

Min-ho Woo's drama watches as those closest to a South Korean president decide to kill him. A cinematic history lesson that will be all-new to most Americans lacking ties to Korea, Min-ho Woo's The Man Standing Next observes the inner circle of South Korean president Park Chung-hee during the 40 days before his assassination...

'Hannah Gadsby: Douglas': TV Review

The Australian comic returns to Netflix in her follow-up to the groundbreaking 'Nanette.' Hannah Gadsby begins her new Netflix special, Douglas, with a proclamation seldom heard in standup sets. It isn't as radical as her vow to "quit comedy" in Nanette, the Australian comic's Emmy- and Peabody-winning 2018 meta-comedy...

James Corden Reveals What Prompted Recent Eye Surgery

The 'Late Late Show' host explains why he had to cancel remote tapings of his show a few weeks ago and how the injury kept him from driving in the Justin Bieber "Carpool Karaoke," as well as whether the popular segment could be filmed in the era of social distancing. James Corden opened up about his recent, last-minute...

Working (Out) From Home With 'Prodigal Son' Star Tom Payne

Payne, with friend and fitness trainer Tom Fitzgerald, shares workout tips, home gym must-haves and COVID-19 lockdown updates. Working out from home can be tedious or invigorating, depending on the approach. Actor Tom Payne has been working out with friend and trainer Tom Fitzgerald for over three years, but since the...

'The Last Dance,' 'The Walking Dead' and Cable's Top 2019-20 Performers

Like their broadcast counterparts, cable networks were largely down in the ratings during the 2019-20 season. As more households cut the cord and streaming options proliferate, viewership of linear networks continues to slide. Two months without live sports during the coronavirus pandemic also hurt the likes of NBA partners...

Robert Durst Murder Trial to Move to New California Court

The case against the 77-year-old scion of one of New York’s wealthiest real estate dynasties is expected to move to the Inglewood courthouse from Los Angeles. The California murder trial of real estate heir Robert Durst is likely to move to a new venue this summer, depending on how a judge rules on a defense motion for...