Film Independent’s longtime president, Josh Welch, died on December 31 after a five-year battle with colon cancer. His age was not immediately available. Welch began his career as an actor and began volunteering at the Film Independent Spirit Awards annually starting in 1996. He joined the Film Independent staff more than 20 years ago, becoming … Read more
The skies are much less hospitable to flying with a bald and deranged Mark Wahlberg in the pilot’s seat. That’s the gist of the new trailer for “Flight Risk,” a thriller from director Mel Gibson that swaps the battlefields of Scotland (“Braveheart”) and the Pacific Theater (“Hacksaw Ridge”) for an on-plane showdown between Wahlberg’s psychotic … Read more
If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission. “A Real Pain” will officially become available to rent/purchase on digital platforms starting Wednesday, December 31, just in time to ring in the new year with two neurotic Jews. The film will also be … Read more
George Folsey Jr., the veteran film editor who directed such classics as “Coming to America” and “Animal House,” died Dec. 29. He was 84. diverse I learned the news from Ryan Fulci, Fulci Jr.’s son, who is also an editor. Fulci Jr. was the son of cinematographer George J. Fulci. Fulci Jr. collaborated frequently with … Read more
The hit musical “Wicked” arrives in homes on New Year’s Eve — with a slew of deleted scenes, commentaries and other extras. Following its theatrical release, the Universal Pictures film, starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, will be available exclusively for purchase or rental on December 31, 2024 on major digital platforms. Additional content in … Read more
Indian film and television veteran Siddharth Roy Kapur points to increasingly polarized theatrical scores and a period of strategic recalibration in streaming as key trends shaping Indian entertainment in 2024, describing it as a “gap year” dominated by corporate developments rather than consumer-facing initiatives. . “People are becoming more particular about the films they will … Read more
After Linda Lavigne died on Sunday at the age of 87, tributes poured in from her co-stars and industry collaborators. Lavigne became known as a character actress for her Emmy Award-nominated work on the CBS sitcom “Alice,” which ran from 1976 to 1985. In recent years, she appeared in “The Intern” alongside Robert De Niro … Read more
Buddy the Elf is back…although not as anyone could have imagined. Will Ferrell unexpectedly dressed up as his famous character in Jon Favreau’s 2003 Christmas comedy “Elf” while attending the Dec. 29 hockey game between the Los Angeles Kings and Philadelphia Flyers. Only this iteration of Buddy looked completely disheveled with a five o’clock shadow … Read more
Abu Dhabi is stepping up its efforts to attract more film and TV shoots to the UAE capital by promoting its new discount, which is now set to amount to up to 50% of eligible spend below the line from January. After becoming a major Middle East hub for Hollywood and Bollywood production over the … Read more
Universal’s “Wicked” is officially the highest-grossing Broadway adaptation in the history of the global box office, surpassing 2008’s “Mamma Mia” to achieve that consistent feat. “Wicked” grossed $634 million worldwide after six weeks of release, while “Mamma Mia” collected $611 million (not adjusted for inflation) by its box office final. “Wicked,” starring Ariana Grande and … Read more