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Well, it’s not Martin Scorsese’s Kool-Aid movie from “The Studio” but it’s close. In the vein of Jerry Seinfeld’s “Unfrosted” and Eva Longoria-produced Cheeto film “Flamin’ Hot” (plus all of the other brand-centric “biopics” corporations love), Variety reported that a “Hershey” film is in the works with Finn Wittrock portraying chocolatier Milton Hershey.

As “The Studio” parodies outrageous films based on consumer product brands, the timing for the announcement of “Hershey” seems like a serendipitous case of reality mirroring satire.

Wittrock will play Milton Hershey, who built an eponymous candy empire with a philanthropic legacy. Alexandra Daddario portrays Milton’s wife Kitty Hershey; the duo cofounded the Hershey Industrial School in 1909 to provide free education and housing to orphans and underprivileged children. Milton later transferred the majority of his fortune into the Milton Hershey School Trust, “planting the seed for one of the wealthiest educational endowments in the country,...

Jesse Garcia and Eva Longoria are "cosmic soulmates".The 42-year-old actor stars alongside Eva, 50, in 'Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Road Trip', the new comedy film directed by Marvin Lemus, and Jesse has revealed that he relished the experience of working with the Hollywood star on the movie.Jesse - who also starred alongside Eva in 'Tell It Like a Woman', the 2022 anthology film - told The Hollywood Reporter: "There ended up being a chemistry read between Eva and I, and I keep saying that we’re cosmic soulmates. We just understand each other."We have a similar viewpoint on life and sense of humor. We were both cheerleaders in college, and we also have a lot of [mutual] friends. So the [chemistry read] was easy."Jesse also starred in 'Flamin' Hot', the 2023 biographical comedy-drama film that marked Eva's debut as a director.

In 2013, Jesse Garcia’s animal wrangler character delivered a few lines opposite Steve Carell’s family man character on the set of Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. A decade later, Garcia found himself playing the family man character on the set of Very Bad Day’s standalone sequel, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Road Trip. The movies aren’t connected to one another, but Garcia still tried to spiritually tie one to the other by creating a backstory that his current chef character, Frank Garcia, worked as an animal wrangler to pay for culinary school.

Written by Matt Lopez and directed by Marvin Lemus, the new Alexander film for Disney+ reunites Garcia with Eva Longoria, who directed him in his first major lead role as Frito-Lay-janitor-turned-executive, Richard Montañez, in 2023’s Oscar-nominated Flamin’ Hot. Despite their existing rapport and desire to act with one another,...

At just 5 feet ½ inch tall (153.7 cm), Eva Longoria is noticeably shorter than the average American woman, who stands around 5 feet 4 inches (162.6 cm). She wears a US shoe size 6.

Eva Longoria and Leila Bekhti look short next to Bianca Balti, Isabeli Fontana, Irina Shayk, Luma Gothe, Natasha Poly, Xiao Wen Ju, and Liya Kebede at the L’Oreal Red Obsession Party to celebrate the launch of the new Color Riche La Palette on March 8, 2016, in Paris, France (Credit: Alban Wyters / Abaca / Startraksphoto)

Eva’s Golden Rule for Petite Dressing: Tailor Everything

Tailoring,” she told InStyle about her secret to flattering her petite shape. “If you’re a small person, you have to alter everything. I focus on proportions,” she added.

“I take in the waist on everything. Usually, tailors understand and appreciate it,” she concluded. “They see it and say, ‘This needs to come off!’”

Short American actresses America Ferrera and...

Before her untimely death on Feb. 26, Michelle Trachtenberg was primarily known for her work in front of the camera on such beloved hits as Harriet the Spy, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Gossip Girl. However, according to producer Casey Tebo, she was so much more than just an accomplished actress. She was, in fact, "an incredible writer," and now he's making it his mission to bring a screenplay she wrote to life.

Speaking with People recently, Tebo said he was presented with Trachtenberg's script, Toy Monster, by her boyfriend, Jay Cohen. "I don't remember when, but my dear friend Jay Cohen sent me a script she had written called Toy Monster," he told the outlet, adding:

"The only scripts I remember staying with me like that in recent memory were two. Here Comes the Flood by Simon Kinberg and Toy Monster around 2019. Because they were the two best, by a landslide.

The Oscar winner for Best Original Song, as predicted by Gold Derby's odds, was "El Mal" from Emilia Pérez. It was written by Camille and Clément Ducol, who also composed the film's score, and the film's director, Jacques Audiard. It's the first Oscar win for all three songwriters. Unfortunately, that meant a 16th loss for Diane Warren, who was nominated for penning "The Journey" from The Six Triple Eight and to date still hasn't won a competitive Oscar.

This year's Oscar race started at the Hollywood Music in Media Awards last fall, and it was a good night for Emilia Pérez, which won Best Music Themed Film, Biopic, or Musical; Best Song — Onscreen Performance (for Zoe Saldaña singing "El Mal"); and Best Score — Feature Film. However, "El Mal" didn't win Best Song - Feature Film. That was Warren for "The Journey," while "Never Too Late" was named the best song from a documentary.

Eva Longoria and Jesse Garcia reunite for the upcoming Disney+ movie Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Road Trip!

The two previously worked together on Flamin’ Hot, as Eva directed and Jesse starred, but now they’re sharing the screen together and the trailer just dropped.

Keep reading to find out more…

Here’s a synopsis: Alexander Garcia has always believed he has the worst luck in the world, so when his mom Val (Longoria) devises a plan to bring her seemingly disconnected family on a fancy vacation to Mexico City aboard a luxury Rv as part of her travel writing job, he is sure it will end in disaster. Despite his fears, the family – including dad Frank (Garcia), teen sister Mia, Grandma Lidia, and Grandpa Gil – set out, only to find absolutely everything is going terribly wrong. When the family discovers an ancient, cursed idol may be to blame,...

Exclusive: Kelly Rowland (Mea Culpa) and Cliff “Method Man” Smith (Power Book II: Ghost) are set to lead the new Amazon MGM Studios rom-com Relationship Goals, based on Michael Todd’s New York Times bestseller Relationship Goals: How to Win at Dating, Marriage, and Sex. Robin Thede (A Black Lady Sketch Show) and Annie Gonzalez (Flamin’ Hot) will also star.

Relationship Goals is a funny and inspiring romantic comedy on finding lasting love and sustaining a healthy relationship at every stage of courtship. The book, based on Todd’s viral sermon series about dating, marriage, and sex, spent 13 straight weeks on the NY Times bestsellers list and debuted at No. 1 on Amazon, according to the streamer.

The script was written by Laura Lekkos (Somewhere Only We Know), with prior drafts by Michael Elliot (R&b) and Cory Tynan (R&b). Rowland and Bart Lipton will executive produce while DeVon Franklin will produce. Linda Mendoza is set to direct.

Rowland recently starred in Netflix’s Tyler Perry film Mea Culpa. She has also guest starred on several series including Girlfriends, Empire, American Soul, Being Mary Jane, and L.A.’s Finest. On the film side, Rowland appeared in Kevin Hart’s Think Like A Man, New Line Cinema’s Freddy vs. Jason, Netflix’s The Curse of Bridge Hollow, and produced and starred in Merry Liddle Christmas Baby. Additionally, she executive produced her docuseries Chasing Destiny and co-produced a digital series called Milk + Honey alongside Idris Elba and Issa Rae. She is repped by UTA, Sb Projects, and Del Shaw Moonves Tanaka.

Smith starred in all four seasons of the hit Starz series Power Book II: Ghost, which recently wrapped up after four seasons last year. For his portrayal of Davis MacLean, he received three NAACP Image Awards for “Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.” He can currently be seen in Carnegie Hill Entertainment’s feature Bad Shabbos, and the Paramount+’s feature film On the Come Up for which he received an NAACP Image Award nomination for “Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture”. Smith will next be seen in Maude Apatow’s directorial debut Poetic License and as a guest star in Peacock’s Emmy Award-winning original series Poker Face for Season 2. He is represented by Shauna Garr, CAA, and Frankfurt Kernit Klein & Selz.

Six-time Emmy nominee Robin Thede is the creator, showrunner, executive producer, writer, and star of HBO’s Emmy-winning sketch comedy series, A Black Lady Sketch Show. She recently starred alongside Eddie Murphy and Tracee Ellis Ross in the Amazon MGM Studios holiday feature, Candy Cane Lane. Previously, she was the creator, executive producer, writer and host of The Rundown with Robin Thede on BET becoming one of the only Black women to host a late-night talk show. She is represented by WME and Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole Llp.

Gonzalez can be seen in films such as East of the Mountains directed by S.J. Chiro, Flamin’ Hot from Searchlight Pictures and Franklin Entertainment, Drive-Away Dolls directed by Ethan Coen, and Jenni, which Gonzalez stars in and produced. On the TV side, credits include Netflix’s Gentefied, Showtime’s Shameless, FX’s American Horror Story, Netflix’s Good Girls, Starz’s Vida, and most recently, NBC’s Lopez vs Lopez. She is represented by Innovative, Neon Kite, and Granderson Des Rochers.

Franklin serves as President and CEO of Franklin Entertainment, a production company dedicated to uplifting the human spirit through inspirational content. He just wrapped production on R & B, a modern version of the Biblical love story of Ruth & Boaz. Franklin has also produced the inspirational hit films Flamin’ Hot directed by Eva Longoria, Breakthrough starring Chrissy Metz for Disney/Fox, Sony’s The Star and Miracles From Heaven starring Jennifer Garner. Franklin has a first-look deal with Tyler Perry Studios and Netflix and with CBS Studios.

Elliot and Tynan are represented by Evoke Entertainment. Lekkos is represented by Gersh and Felker Toczek. Mendoza is represented by Independent Artist Group, Atlas Literary, and Del, Shaw, Bobb et al.

Exclusive: Golden Globe nominee Dennis Haysbert (24) has been tapped for a supporting role in Send Help, Sam Raimi’s survival horror thriller for 20th Century Studios.

Character details are under wraps. Haysbert joins an ensemble also including the previously announced Rachel McAdams, Dylan O’Brien, and Chris Pang.

Based on an original script by Baywatch scribes Damian Shannon and Mark Swift, Send Help is about two colleagues who become stranded on a deserted island, the only survivors of a plane crash. On the island, they must overcome past grievances and work together to survive, but ultimately, it’s a battle of wills and wits to make it out alive.

Expected to be released in theaters, the film’s producers are Raimi and Zainab Azizi of Raimi Productions.

Perhaps best known for roles on the series 24 and The Unit, as well as turns in such classic films as Heat and Far from Heaven,...

The Odyssey cast continues to expand. Joining leads Matt Damon and Tom Holland in the upcoming Christopher Nolan movie are Jesse Garcia and Will Yun Lee.

Deadline was the first to report their casting in the movie. Both Garcia and Lee's roles remain under wraps. They join an all-star ensemble that includes Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Benny Safdie, and Charlize Theron, as well as Himesh Patel, Elliot Page, Bill Irwin, and Samantha Morton. Production on The Odyssey is expected to start in February 2025, with filming taking place in the United Kingdom, Morocco, and throughout the Aeolian Islands in Sicily, Italy. The movie will reportedly have an estimated production budget of $250 million, making it Nolan's third feature to carry a budget exceeding $200 million after Tenet ($200M) and The Dark Knight Rises ($250M).

Related'i Screwed Up': Marion Cotillard Addresses Her Awkward Death Scene in Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Rises...

Jesse Garcia and Will Yun Lee are the latest actors to sign on for Christopher Nolan’s next film, The Odyssey. The movie is being produced by Universal, and though their roles are still under wraps, it’s a major step for both actors.

This film, shot with the latest Imax cameras, is inspired by the ancient Greek poem by Homer. The story follows Odysseus, the King of Ithaca, and his dangerous journey home after the Trojan War. Along the way, he faces huge challenges like the monstrous Cyclops and treacherous Sirens, all while trying to reunite with his wife, Penelope.

The star-studded cast also includes Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Benny Safdie, and Charlize Theron. Other actors like Himesh Patel, Elliot Page, Bill Irwin, and Samantha Morton will also appear.

This movie is set to release in Imax on July 17, 2026, a date that...

Exclusive: Jesse Garcia and Will Yun Lee have joined the cast of Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey from Universal, sources close to production tell Deadline. Their roles are under wraps.

Nolan’s mythic action epic, shot with new Imax cameras, is based on the ancient Greek poem by Homer which follows Odysseus, King of Ithaca, and his perilous journey home after the Trojan War. The classic explores themes of heroism, loyalty, cunning and the struggle against divine will. The tale includes iconic stories like Odysseus’ encounters with the Cyclops Polyphemus, the Sirens and the witch-goddess Circe, culminating in a reunion with his wife Penelope.

The cast is led by Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Benny Safdie and Charlize Theron. The ensemble also includes Himesh Patel, Elliot Page, Bill Irwin and Samantha Morton.

As Deadline has previously reported,...

Diane Warren has never won an Oscar. But she has a lot of nominations.

The songwriter is up for her 16th nod in the original song category for “The Journey” from Tyler Perry’s Netflix movie “The Six Triple Eight” performed by H.E.R. And while she does have an honorary Oscar, which the Academy awarded her in 2022, she has yet to land a competitive one.

Of course, she would like that to finally, at long last, happen: “Yes, I would like to break my decades-long tradition and win.”

Could this finally be her year?

Warren’s song is up against two songs from “Emilia Pérez,” “El Mal” and “Mi Camino,” as well as “Never Too Late” from the documentary “Elton John: Never Too Late” and “Like a Bird” from A24’s prison drama “Sing Sing.”

“The Six Triple Eight” producer Keri Selig was the one who pitched Warren on the...

With her nomination this year for “The Journey” from the Netflix historical drama The Six Triple Eight, Diane Warren has now contended 16 times at the Oscars, including the last eight years in a row, for Best Original Song. But the veteran artist — who has a Grammy, an Emmy, and two Golden Globes in her trophy case — has yet to score a competitive Oscar. Could this be her year?

Warren does, however, have an Honorary Oscar, which she collected in 2022 for her impressive body of work. That made her the first and currently only songwriter to receive that recognition from the Motion Picture Academy.

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Her 15 previous nominations are as follows:

“Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” from Mannequin (1987)

Lost to: “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” from Dirty Dancing

“Because You Loved Me” from Up Close and Personal (1996)

Lost...

Eva Longoria's John Wick involvement is a surprising but pivotal part of the iconic action franchise. Known for her work in Hollywood spanning the past few decades, Longoria has acted in, produced for, and directed countless films and television shows in the English and Spanish languages. Longoria is immediately recognizable for her acting in the award-winning comedy-drama Desperate Housewives, the well-established soap opera The Young and the Restless, and nostalgic films like The Heartbreak Kid (2007) and Over Her Dead Body (2008).

While many know Longoria from her acting achievements, she has just as much experience behind the scenes as she does out in the limelight. Longoria has directed major projects, from the 2023 biographical comedy Flamin' Hot to episodes of Blackish. She is also credited with producing several entertainment favorites, including the hit series Devious Maids, and more surprisingly, the first film in the billion-dollar John Wick franchise. Her role in...

Eva Longoria has revealed her fears over flagging support for diversity, equity and inclusion (Dei) programs in the U.S.

The former Desperate Housewives star, director and producer, who is also known for her activism in support of the Latino community, was responding to a question about the recent spate of Dei cuts in the U.S. in an onstage conversation at the Red Sea Film Festival.

“It’s funny, this kind of pendulum of Dei programs that are being cut back, and a lot of great directors and writers that come out of those programs will suffer. because they give opportunity where opportunity is not usually there,” she said.

“It’s much harder for women to break through in Hollywood, and it’s much harder for people of color to break through,” she said.

“I don’t think there’s a studio exec in a tower going I don...

A champion for diversity within the American film industry, multi-hyphenate Eva Longoria said she doesn’t think there is “an evil agenda” when it comes to major studios shunning minority creatives. Speaking at the Red Sea Film Festival, the director said that she doesn’t believe “there are studio execs in a tower saying, ‘I don’t want to hire people of color.’ They hire people who they worked with their entire lives. If they worked with Tom, Bob and Frank, they are going to hire Tom, Bob and Frank.”

The accomplished creative is also an activist, having championed Latino voices throughout her work — including having all Latino heads of department in her feature debut “Flamin’ Hot” — and founding The Eva Longoria Foundation 15 years ago to help “help Latinas build better futures for themselves and their families through education and entrepreneurship.”

“I started the foundation because I was getting so...

Eva Longoria is the family matriarch Val Garcia in the first-look images from Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Road Trip. The upcoming Disney+ movie is a followup to the Steve Carell-led Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day released in 2014, which was adapted from the classic children's novel of the same name. In addition to Longoria, the multi-generational cast of the road trip comedy includes Cheech Marin, Jessia Garcia, Paulina Chávez, Harvey Guillén, and Thom Nemer as the titular Alexander Garcia.

In Disney's first-look images originally shared via People, Longoria and the rest of the cast are seen navigating a disastrous road trip. Her character, Val and the rest of the Garcia family are stranded on the side of the road, and she argues with Frank while wearing a shirt that reads "May Contain Wine." Alexander and Chávez's character, Mia, seek help from Guillén's character,...

Production is underway on Legion M’s darkly comedic horror thriller Fade to Black, which sees art imitating life for an aspiring Hollywood screenwriter. Today, Legion M has announced that Betty Gabriel, Thomas Barbusca, and Annie Gonzalez have joined the cast.

The horror thriller marks the feature debut of director Andrew Sandler.

Fade to Black follows “Amit as he navigates the horrors of trying to break into the twisted business of Hollywood. After an accidental death spurs a sinister epiphany, the screenwriter starts committing the murders of his script’s fictional serial killer in a desperate attempt to generate the IP necessary to get his movie made. The film promises a darkly comedic exploration of ambition, madness, and the brutal reality of the entertainment industry.”

Rounding out the newly added cast are Caylee Cowan (Sunrise in Heaven), Johnno Wilson (I Love That For You), Veronika Dash (Isabel’s Garden), and Scott Evans...

Exclusive: Annie Gonzalez is making her official debut as Jenni Rivera, the legendary Regional Mexican singer known adoringly by her fans as La Diva de la Banda, in the official trailer for the ViX Original Film, Jenni (above). The biopic will premiere via the TelevisaUnivision streamer and select theaters in the U.S. and Mexico on December 6.

From a screenplay by Shane McKenzie and Kate Lanier, Jenni follows Rivera’s journey from the beginning of her career in her hometown of Long Beach, California, to her meteoric rise in the music industry up to the last days before her tragic and unexpected death in a 2012 plane crash at the age of 43.

The project also tackles the struggles she endured in her personal life and how she persevered and found strength from within. This story of resilience and bravery shows the building blocks of what made Jenni Rivera who she was...

The Alejandro Montoya Marin directed and written movie, The Unexpecteds, won the Best Comedy award at the third annual Smodcastle Film Festival.

The movie stars Veep 2x Primetime Emmy nominee and Hangover actor Matt Walsh, Alejandro de Hoyos, Chelsea Rendon, Francisco Ramos, Jason Konopisos-Alvarez, Jerry Bednob, Natasha Leggero and Laura Patalano and follows a group of friends who seek revenge against a social media crypto influencer who has scammed them of their life savings. The comedy is 86% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes and first had its world premiere at the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival.

Kevin Smith’s Smodcastle Film Festival celebrates cinema in Central New Jersey with a diverse lineup of films, including features, short films, animations, and documentaries, as well as filmmaker panels and meet and greets.

Marin shared his excitement, exclaiming “Winning Best Comedy at Smodcastle is a dream come true. As a lifelong fan of Kevin Smith and Clerks,...

On the 10th anniversary of the action hit, John Wick fans owe a special thank you to star Eva Longoria, as without her help, the movie would never have happened. The action film starring Keanu Reeves went from a little-known movie to a box office hit, launching a hugely successful film franchise where each subsequent entry has grossed more than the last, and with a television series and spin-off films now on the way. Yet it all might not exist without the help of one Desperate Housewives star.

Speaking with Business Insider, John Wick directors Chad Stahelski and David Leitch revealed that Eva Longoria put up $6 million less than 24 hours before filming began following one of their investors being unable to secure the money in time. The filmmakers and Reeves had already put in their own money, and producer Basil Iwanyk had maxed out three of his credit cards to contribute to the budget,...

Searchlight UK executive vice president Katie Goodson-Thomas revealed the Disney-owned studio gets outbid on a “daily basis” by streaming platforms for projects, during a spotlight conversation at the BFI London Film Festival today (October 15).

“We can’t be competitive with Netflix, or Apple, or Amazon,” said Goodson-Thomas, in response to an audience question on whether Searchlight gets outbid at development or acquisition stage on projects from the streamers.

Goodson-Thomas noted she would love to work with Emerald Fennell, whose next project will be an adaptation of Wuthering Heights starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, produced by LuckyChap and financed by MRC.

Tyler Perry Studios and DeVon Franklin have set the cast and director of their first faith-based film for Netflix, under their deal with the streamer revealed in May.

R&b stars Serayah (Empire), Tyler Lepley (Harlem), Phylicia Rashad (The Gilded Age), Walnette Santiago (Doom Patrol), Nijah Brenea (Kold x Windy), James Lee Thomas (One Spoon of Chocolate), Kenneth ‘Babyface’ Edmonds, Jermaine Dupri (Genius: Aretha) and Lecrae Moore. Alanna Brown (Trees of Peace) will take on directing duties.

From writers Michael Elliot (Brown Sugar) and Cory Tynan (Play’d), R&b is a modern-day retelling of the story of Ruth and Boaz, a love story from the Bible. Set in Tennessee, the film tells the story of a young woman who escapes the Atlanta music scene to care for an elderly widowed woman and in the process finds the love of her life and gains the mother she never had.

DeVon...

Netflix has found its Ruth and Boaz.

Serayah, Tyler Lepley and Phylicia Rashad are set to lead the ensemble cast of “R&b,” the first film out of the streaming giant’s creative partnership to produce faith-based films with DeVon Franklin and Tyler Perry Studios.

Alanna Brown will direct the modern-day retelling of the iconic biblical love story following Ruth and Boaz. Set in Tennessee, “R&b” is about a young woman who escapes the Atlanta music scene to care for an elderly widowed woman, and in the process finds the love of her life and gains the mother she never had.

Michael Elliot (“Brown Sugar”) and Cory Tynan (“Play’d”) penned the script for the project, which will be produced by Franklin and Perry. Angi Bones, Tony L. Strickland and Bart Lipton executive produce.

Walnette Santiago, Nijah Brenea, James Lee Thomas, Kenneth ‘Babyface’ Edmonds, Jermaine Dupri and Lecrae Moore round out the cast.

Coming off her appearance on the final night of the Democratic National Convention last month, the Hyphenate Media Group co-founder Eva Longoria says she is “hopeful” that Kamala Harris will beat Donald Trump in the election.

“Very hopeful, very hopeful, Longoria said onstage Friday at the Ft Business of Entertainment Summit. “Yeah, I’m also a manifester, so I have to say that as well,” the longtime activist and Democrat added of the Vice President’s electoral battle against the former president. “She will be president. Yeah, I cannot wait to say Madam President, for sure.”

For all her optimism, Longoria tempered her remarks today about the race with the reality of hard numbers – and a very precise throwback shiv to the GOP.

Related: Kamala Harris Celebrity Endorsements: A List Of Democratic Celebrities Supporting The VP

“It’s wild to me that we’re neck and neck in this election...

Noting the recent trend of Ben Affleck’s “Air,” Matt Johnson’s “Blackberry,” Eva Longoria’s “Flamin’ Hot,” and, though perhaps a bit on the silly side, Jerry Seinfeld’s “Unfrosted,” there seems to be an increasing market for stories about consumer goods and marketing. Deadline announced Wednesday that the latest to get in the act are Judd Apatow and Steven Spielberg with a picture called “Cola Wars,” all about the rivalry between Coca-Cola and Pepsi.

“Cola Wars,” which Spielberg will produce and Apatow will direct, is written by Jason Shuman and Ben Queen. Shuman is best known for co-creating the series “Acapulco” on Apple TV + and was an executive producer on “Winning Time,” another nostalgia-soaked based-on-reality project about the peak years of the Los Angeles Lakers. Queen’s credits include “Cars 2” and “Cars 3.” The project is set up at Sony.

The story of “Cola Wars,” much like “Air,...

Legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg's next feature film has been revealed. With Judd Apatow on board to direct, Spielberg will produce Cola Wars, a new movie that's now in the works at Sony, under his Amblin Entertainment banner.

Per Deadline, Cola Wars was acquired by Sony when the studio spent upwards of $1 million for the pitch in April. Jason Shuman and Ben Queen wrote the screenplay. Maia Eyre will overse the project for Sony.

Related The History Behind the Steven Spielberg and Julia Roberts Feud

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The film will delve into the feud between Pepsi and Coca-Cola, specifically focusing on the former's attempt to become a major competitor despite the latter's longevity in the soda pop industry. It will reportedly highlight the "Cola Wars" of the 1980s, with...

Brand-based movies are big business in Hollywood right about now. From Air to Blackberry, and from The Beanie Bubble to Flamin' Hot to Unfrosted, there's something about getting the inside track on the stories behind the world's biggest enterprises that studios just can't get enough of. And now, per Deadline's reporting, it looks like Steven Spielberg and Judd Apatow are the latest lining up to drink the company pic Kool-Aid — or rather sup the soda-y stuff. The cinema juggernauts are teaming up to respectively produce and direct Sony's upcoming Cola Wars, a new movie that's set to pop the can on Pepsi's efforts to dethrone Coke as the kings of cola back in the late 70s to mid 80s.

Acapulco co-creator and writer Jason Shuman is tooling up to pen Cola Wars alongside Cars 2 and 3 scribe Ben Queen, with the initial pitch for the movie having...

Cola Wars has found a producer and director. The movie, which is in early development at Sony, was bought for more than $1 million from a pitch by Jason Shuman and Ben Queen. The movie is set during the mid-1980s during the time when Pepsi and Coca-Cola were battling for supremacy in the beverage marketplace.

Per Deadline, Cola Wars has drawn A-list talent as development continues. Steven Spielberg has signed on to produce via Amblin Entertainment, the same banner through which he has produced such recent movies as Twisters, The Color Purple, Maestro, and The Fabelmans, the latter of which he also directed. The upcoming movie is also now set to be directed by Judd Apatow, who is known for helming comedies including The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Knocked Up, and, more recently, The King of Staten Island and Netflix's The Bubble.

What Spielberg And Apatow Signing On Mean For Cola Wars...

Exclusive: Charise Castro Smith (Encanto) has signed an overall deal with 20th Television. Under the multi-year pact, she will develop, write and executive produce original series for linear networks and streamers with a focus on the Disney Entertainment Television platforms.

Castro Smith has Confessions On The 7:45, a series adaptation of Lisa Unger’s international bestseller, in development at Hulu with Jessica Alba attached to star and Eva Longoria set to direct the pilot. Castro Smith and Alba originally set the series up at Netflix for development two years ago. It is now being redeveloped for Hulu under Castro Smith’s deal at sibling 20th TV, a part of Disney Television Studios.

Based on Unger’s novel, Confessions On The 7:45 is a psychological thriller in which a working mom (Alba) meets a stranger on a train as she is commuting home who upends her life. As her life unravels and betrayals are revealed,...

Diane Warren hopes “The Six Triple Eight” could finally be her one.

The 15-time Oscar nominee and an honorary Oscar recipient in 2022 wrote a new song for Tyler Perry’s upcoming World War II drama. The track is featured in the film and called “The Journey.” Oscar and Grammy winner H.E.R. performs Warren’s new song with choreography by Emmy and Tony Award winner Debbie Allen.

Based on an article by Kevin M. Hymel written for World War II Magazine, “The Six Triple Eight” is “inspired by the first and only Women’s Army Corps unit of color to serve overseas in WWII.” Netflix will release the project in select theaters in early December before it arrives on the streaming platform beginning December 20.

According to Netflix, “Despite facing racism and sexism – and grueling working conditions — the Women’s Army Corps unit of color was committed to serving their country with honor and distinction.

Tubi, Fox’s free streaming service, has announced its list of September titles. The Tubi September 2024 slate features new Tubi Originals and numerous action, art house, Black cinema, comedy, documentary, drama, horror, kids and family, romance, sci-fi and fantasy, thriller, and Western titles.

As a leading ad-supported video-on-demand service, the company engages diverse audiences through a personalized experience and the world’s largest content library: over 200,000 movies and TV episodes, a growing collection of Tubi Originals, and nearly 250 Fast channels.

You can watch the Tubi September 2024 lineup for free on Android and iOS mobile devices, Amazon Echo Show, Google Nest Hub Max, Comcast Xfinity X1, and Cox Contour.

You can also watch the service on connected television devices such as Amazon Fire TV, Vizio TVs, Sony TVs, Samsung TVs, Roku, Apple TV, Chromecast, Android TV, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and on the Tubi site.

Tubi Originals

Action

Hazard – 9/6

Noah really loves his girlfriend,...

Exclusive: Higher Ground, the production company of President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama, has appointed Anikah McLaren to serve as Head of Film, Deadline can exclusively reveal.

McLaren joins from the recently shuttered Participant, where she spent a little over five years as Executive Vice President of Narrative Film, co-running the department as a key member of the leadership team. In her new role, she will lead Higher Ground’s scripted film division, reporting to President Vinnie Malhotra.

McLaren joins a team that also includes Jessie Dicovitsky, who is Head of Television, and Ethan Lewis, who oversees Higher Ground’s unscripted and non-fiction content. She’ll be based out of Los Angeles and will have VP of Film Mark Wright reporting to her.

“Throughout her wide-ranging career, Anikah has proven she can make bold, provocative, and cinematic visions a reality,” observed Malhotra in a statement to Deadline. “She brings invaluable experience,...

Will this year be Diane Warren’s sweet 16 for Oscar nominations?

The legendary songwriter and 15-time Oscar nominee is aiming for her 16th Academy Awards invitation this year with the track “The Journey” from Tyler Perry’s upcoming war drama, “The Six Triple Eight,” starring Kerry Washington.

Netflix is set to release “The Six Triple Eight,” which tells the inspiring true story of the first and only all-Black Women’s Army Corps unit stationed overseas during World War II. The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion contributed to the war by sorting through a three-year backlog of undelivered mail and delivering it to American soldiers far from home. In the face of discrimination and a vast, unfamiliar country divided by global conflict, these 855 women brought hope to the front lines.

Read: Variety Awards Circuit’s Oscar predictions in every category.

Written by Warren and performed by global singing sensation H.E.R., “The Journey...

The Changemaker Awards are back! Now in their second year, the Changemaker Awards spotlight outstanding Film Independent Fellows whose contributions have significantly impacted the entertainment industry and their communities.

This year the award will be presented to Linda Yvette Chávez, Tze Chun, and Grace Lee (Documentary Lab 2012).

Linda Yvette Chávez, known for her fearless storytelling and inclusive narratives with projects like the Oscar-nominated Flamin’ Hot and the acclaimed Netflix series Gentefied. Tze Chun, a versatile writer, director, and showrunner, has garnered praise for his work on shows like Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai, and I’m a Virgo, showcasing his talent and creativity across different genres. Grace Lee, an award-winning documentary director and producer, has grappled with issues like politics and race with works like And She Could Be Next and American Revolutionary: The Evolution of Grace Lee Boggs.

“It is our privilege in Artist Development to nurture and support talented...

Eva Longoria is currently starring on Apple TV+’s “Land of Women,” but that’s not her only TV project this year: She’ll also be seen on Season 4 of “Only Murders in the Building” later this summer.

“It was announced I was on the show, and [friends] were like, ‘Who? What character are you playing? Are you the murderer?'” Longoria told IndieWire. “And I was like, ‘No. But I will tell you, it’s the best character I’ve ever played in my life: It’s me!'”

Yes, Eva Longoria stars as Eva Longoria in the upcoming meta season, which finds the fearless podcasters and amateur detectives played by Martin Short, Steve Martin, and Selena Gomez traveling to Los Angeles to witness the filming of a movie based on their first podcast season. Longoria stars as a version of herself playing Gomez’s character, Mabel, in the movie.

Event chair Barbara Davis and co-chair Dana Davis announced today that longtime supporter of the cause and renowned award-winning songwriter Diane Warren will be honored with the “Inspirational Lifetime Achievement Award” at The 38th Carousel of Hope Ball on October 5, 2024 at The Beverly Hilton.

Diabetes activist, songwriter and Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Jimmy Jam will be honored with the “Brass Ring Award”. Presented by Dexcom, the global leader in real-time continuous glucose monitoring (Cgm) for people with diabetes, the biennial event will once again bring together the biggest names from the film, television, music, and business industries to support increasing awareness of type 1 diabetes, and raise funds for clinical care, prevention, and diabetes research at the Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes.

“I have attended the Carousel of Hope Ball many times and am honored and flattered to have been selected to receive the ‘Inspirational Lifetime Achievement Award’ and to...

Stars: Jerry Seinfeld, Rachael Harris, Christian Slater, Jim Gaffigan, Hugh Grant, Amy Schumer, Mikey Day, Patrick Warburton, Max Greenfield, Melissa McCarthy, Thomas Lennon, Bobby Moynihan, James Marsden | Written by Jerry Seinfeld, Spike Feresten, Andy Robin | Directed by Jerry Seinfeld

Between his stand-up comedy and acclaimed sitcom series, Seinfeld, it is an understatement to say that Jerry Seinfeld has become a hit both on stage and on the small screen. The star tried following up that success on the big screen with 2007’s Bee Movie, although that stopped when the film only gained popularity nearly a decade later as an internet meme. Seinfeld makes his second attempt with Unfrosted, which also serves as his feature directorial debut, although it would be surprising if this even became popular as an internet meme.

Set in 1963, the story sees a battle for cereal domination between rival businesses Kellogg’s and Post. When Kellogg’s...

The other night I was having dinner with a couple of industry veterans, both Oscar voters, who told me they had been talking to a top producer-financier who had seen two big studio movies coming out later in the year and both were fantastic.

The producer very enthusiastically praised Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II, said Paul Mescal was terrific and Denzel Washington extraordinary in it. He also saw the new Robert Zemeckis film Here, which stars and de-ages Tom Hanks and Robin Wright, also reuniting them from the 1994 Zemeckis film Forrest Gump. Both that one and Scott’s 2000 Gladiator took Best Picture and now it appears both veteran directors will be back in the race — big time. Scott still has yet to win an Oscar, having been overlooked four times in the director race.

Tom Hanks and Robin Wright in ‘Here’

Paramount releases Gladiator II in November, the same month...

Eva Longoria stars and executive produces in Land of Women, based on a novel by Sandra Barneda. Victoria Bazua, in her first major TV role, plays Longoria's daughter, navigating family dynamics and a new life in Spain. The dramedy explores themes of family, secrets, and resilience, with each episode available on Apple TV+.

Apple TV+'s new dramedy Land of Women has just premiered, hailing Eva Longoria's long-awaited return to television. After rising to fame in the beloved primetime soap opera Desperate Housewives, Longoria has enjoyed success on both the small and big screens, as well as behind the camera. She recently directed and starred in the comedy biopic Flamin' Hot and is now pulling double duty as actor and executive producer on her new show, based on Sandra Barnedas novel La tierra de las mujeres.

Longoria plays Gala, a wine connoisseur whose husband gets in hot water with loan sharks,...

After spending the last decade directing other actors, Eva Longoria is back in front of the camera in the new Spanish-language dramedy Land of Women.

The six-part Apple TV+ series is Spanish writer and producer Ramón Campos’ adaptation of Spanish journalist Sandra Barneda’s novel La Tierra de Las Mujeres. In it, Longoria stars as Gala Scott, a wealthy — or so she thinks — wife and mom who, along with her mother (Carmen Maura) and daughter (Victoria Bazúa), flees from New York City to the fictional town of La Muga in Catalonia, Spain, where her mom grew up, when she finds out her husband (James Purefoy) owes $15 million to mobsters intent on getting their money back by any means necessary. Humorously navigating the disastrous circumstances that befall the trio while they’re on the run falls perfectly within Longoria’s wheelhouse, having risen to fame staring on ABC’s mystery soap...

DeVon Franklin has opened up about how working on The Pursuit of Happyness led him to want to dedicate his life to making faith-based movies.

The Miracles from Heaven producer, who recently signed a multi-year deal with Tyler Perry, had interned for Will Smith since he was a freshman and worked with him for several years before being asked to forge a faith-based marketing campaign for 2006’s The Pursuit of Happyness, Franklin told today’s AVPSummit in south Italy.

“As a person of faith that movie really spoke to me,” he said. “Domestically it almost made as much as Casino Royale and a lot of people attribute the faith-based marketing campaign to its success.”

The success of Pursuit of Happyness “was the first time I said, ‘Oh, who I am as a person can be good for the movie biz and the bottom line,” Franklin said. “That was the beginning...

Last year was a big year for Eva Longoria. 2023 saw the release of her feature film directorial debut, “Flamin’ Hot.” The film actually earned solid reviews and established Longoria as a legit filmmaker. Now, she is stepping in front of the camera for her next project, “Land of Women.”

Read More: Summer TV Preview: Over 35 Must-See Series To Watch

As seen in the trailer, “Land of Women” tells the story of a woman who must flee the country with her mother and young daughter.

Continue reading ‘Land Of Women’ Trailer: Eva Longoria Stars In Apple TV+’s New Comedy Series at The Playlist.

The National Hispanic Media Coalition has revealed the 2024 Impact Award nominees to be feted at its annual gala taking place on June 14.

Annie Gonzalez (Flamin’ Hot) and Mayan Lopez (Lopez vs. Lopez) will host the celebration. The Impact Awards is a part of the Nhmc’s overall mission to spotlight the importance of accurate, fair and positive representation in media. Each year, the organization honors individuals who are truly making an impact, shifting societal narratives and setting an example for Latine communities.

The 2024 honorees can be found below.

Issa López, a multihyphenate who most recently co-wrote and directed HBO’s True Detective Season 5 starring Jodie Foster. Nhmc will recognize López’s achievements with the Trailblazer Impact Award.

Harvey Guillén, star of the hit FX series What We Do In The Shadows which is gearing up to premiere its sixth and final season. He will receive the Outstanding Performance in a Series Impact Award.

Black Eyed Peas tapped El Alfa and Becky G for a lively music video for their joint single, “Tonight.” The track, which will appear in forthcoming action flick Bad Boys: Ride or Die, was previously teased in the movie’s trailer.

The futuristic video sees the musicians performing the song inside an arena, on a rooftop stage, and along city streets that mirror the film’s settings, with clips from the movie interspersed. In the song, Becky G takes the hooky chorus while El Alfa jumps in for a few verses.

Amazon MGM Studios has rounded out the cast of Oh. What. Fun., its all-star holiday comedy being directed by Michael Showalter, who is coming off the record-breaking success of the streamer’s romantic drama The Idea of You.

Jason Schwartzman, Eva Longoria, Joan Chen, Devery Jacobs, Havana Rose Liu and Maude Apatow have been added to the call sheet while Danielle Brooks has signed on for a cameo in the feature, which is currently shooting in Atlanta.

Michelle Pfeiffer is leading the ensemble that already include Felicity Jones, Chloë Grace Moretz, Denis Leary and The Holdovers breakout Dominic Sessa.

Described as both a love letter to moms and tonally a cross between Home for the Holidays and Planes, Trains and Automobiles, the story centers on a woman named Claire Clauster (Pfeiffer) who organizes a special Christmas outing, but her family forgets her in the shuffle. By the time they realize their mistake,...

The past year has seen Eva Longoria direct the Oscar nominated Flamin’ Hot, form the Banijay-backed Hyphenate Media Group with Cris Abrego, and be awarded $50 million for her advocacy and charity efforts by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. That’s along with the Desperate Housewives alum’s other day jobs on upcoming seasons of Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building, Apple TV+’s Land of Women, and more. A dedicated Disruptor from the drop, true multi-hyphenate Longoria wants to see a shift in Hollywood, and she has the pillars of demographics and demand in her sights.

Deadline: You’ve touted Hyphenate as a production banner, a business incubator, a talent agency and a bottom-line centered wake-up call. How does that mix work in the Hollywood of today?

Eva Longoria: Cris and I know there’s a better way to do business. This is exactly a disruptor point of view,...

Netflix believes in the power of faith-based film… and in the power of Tyler Perry.

Netflix has extended its creative deal with mega-producer Tyler Perry, in which he’s meant to write, direct, and produce films and series for the streamer, to now include faith-based movies. Perry and Netflix as part of the deal will recruit one of the original hit makers in the current wave of faith-based movies, DeVon Franklin (“Miracles from Heaven”).

Together, Franklin and Perry will produce several faith-based films for Netflix as part of a new multiyear and multi-picture first-look film deal, Netflix announced on May 6.

The first project under the deal will be “R&b,” a modern-day retelling of the story of Ruth and Boaz, one of the Bible’s iconic love stories. Set in Tennessee, “R&b” tells the story of a young woman who escapes the Atlanta music scene to care for an...

Tyler Perry and DeVon Franklin are teaming up to produce faith-based films under a multi-year and multi-picture first-look deal at Netflix.

The films will be produced by the duo in conjunction with Tyler Perry Studios in the latest expansion of Perry’s creative partnership at Netflix, inked as a first-look film deal in October 2023 and has broadened to include scripted and unscripted TV projects.

“I’m so excited to be working with DeVon on this and future projects,” said Perry in a statement announcing the partnership. “I think in this polarizing world, and at a time where the world seems to be growing colder everyday, we both share the common goal of wanting to spread some good. And there’s no better place than Netflix.”

Added Franklin, “Tyler and I have been great friends for over 15 years, so when he called me to team up on movies that can uplift the human spirit,...