All stories by Brent Lang on BroadwayStars

Tuesday, April 10, 2018

Emily Blunt on ‘Mary Poppins Returns,’ ‘A Quiet Place’ and ‘Edge of Tomorrow 2’ by Brent Lang

Emily Blunt knew immediately that John Krasinski needed to direct “A Quiet Place.” As soon as her husband finished describing the story, which centers on a family struggling to s…

SOURCE: Variety at 09:35AM
Wednesday, March 7, 2018

Kenneth Lonergan Signs First-Look Deal With Amazon Studios by Brent Lang

Kenneth Lonergan has closed a first-look deal with Amazon Studios, the company behind his Oscar-winning “Manchester by the Sea.” The pact runs for two years and will cover direct…

SOURCE: Variety at 12:00PM
Thursday, March 1, 2018

Anna Kendrick Santa Claus Movie ‘Noelle’ to Debut on Disney Streaming Service by Brent Lang

“Noelle,” a fantasy comedy with Anna Kendrick and Bill Hader, is expected to debut on Disney’s new streaming service. Disney officially pulled the title from its release ca…

SOURCE: Variety at 05:51PM
Monday, February 12, 2018

Pasek and Paul Writing Songs for Blue Sky’s First Animated Musical (EXCLUSIVE) by Brent Lang

Oscar-winners Benj Pasek and Justin Paul will write the songs for  an upcoming Fox Animation/Blue Sky Studio’s project, Variety has learned. The family film has the working title R…

SOURCE: Variety at 03:00PM
Thursday, January 4, 2018

Bomb Cyclone Leads to Theater Closures, Concert Postponements, but Broadway Remains Open by Brent Lang

A massive winter storm slammed the East Coast on Thursday, leading to movie theater closures, travel headaches for top media and entertainment figures, and concert postponements. On the Grea…

SOURCE: Variety at 02:08PM
Thursday, December 14, 2017

The Disney, Fox Deal Just Set Off a Studio Arms Race by Brent Lang

Disney’s $52.4 billion purchase of Fox is sending shockwaves throughout the movie business, with many industry observers believing that the marriage between the two iconic companies co…

SOURCE: Variety at 06:04PM

Disney Chief Bob Iger, Murdochs Reassure Employees, Tout Historic Deal by Brent Lang

Disney chief Bob Iger touted his company’s deal to buy the bulk of 21st Century Fox’s entertainment assets in a memo to staff Thursday, calling the sale “historic.” T…

SOURCE: Variety at 04:48PM

Why the Fox-Disney Deal Could be Bad for Movies by Brent Lang

Disney is poised to swallow up Fox’s film and television assets, a move that will dramatically reshape the landscape of Hollywood, while making it increasingly difficult for producers …

SOURCE: Variety at 11:45AM

Fox Founder Rupert Murdoch Insists Disney Deal Is Not a ‘Retreat’ by Brent Lang

Rupert Murdoch spent decades cobbling together a media empire. On Thursday, the octogenarian mogul announced plans to sell his film studio and much of his entertainment assets to Disney in a…

SOURCE: Variety at 10:27AM

Fantastic Four, X-Men Can Team With Avengers Thanks to Fox, Disney Deal by Brent Lang

Disney’s $52.4 billion agreement to buy 21st Century Fox’s entertainment assets is good news for fanboys and fangirls. The company was quick to tout that the pact “provides…

SOURCE: Variety at 07:49AM
Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Disney-Fox Deal: 10 Burning Questions as Takeover Deal Looms by Brent Lang

Disney and Fox are racing towards the finish line. The two media companies are expected to announce a $60 billion-plus pact this week that will see Disney snap up much of Fox’s televis…

SOURCE: Variety at 10:45AM
Tuesday, December 12, 2017

Michael De Luca, John Legend to Produce ‘Long Way Down’ for Universal (EXCLUSIVE) by Brent Lang

Universal has optioned the rights to “Long Way Down,” beating out several other studios for the chance to make a movie based on the best-selling novel. As part of the package, Mi…

SOURCE: Variety at 11:13AM

Disney, Fox Deal Expected for Thursday (Report) by Brent Lang

A mega deal between Disney and Fox will be announced on Thursday, according to a new report on CNBC. The $60 billion-plus pact will see Disney acquire key entertainment and sports assets fro…

SOURCE: Variety at 09:50AM
Monday, December 11, 2017

Fox Picks Up Leading 27 Golden Globes Nominations as Disney Deal Looms by Brent Lang

It was a big morning for 20th Century Fox, as the film studio picked up a leading 27 Golden Globes nominations on Monday. The haul was more than any other studio and more than double the num…

SOURCE: Variety at 01:21PM
Wednesday, November 15, 2017

‘Come From Away,’ Hit Broadway Musical, Being Made Into Feature Film by Brent Lang

“Come From Away,” the Tony Award-winning musical hit, will be made into a feature film. The Mark Gordon Company has picked up rights to the Broadway show and has enlisted Irene S…

SOURCE: Variety at 02:51PM
Friday, November 10, 2017

Replacing Kevin Spacey on ‘All the Money in the World’ Will Cost Millions by Brent Lang

Ridley Scott’s decision to fire embattled actor Kevin Spacey and replace him with Christopher Plummer comes at a financial risk and carries a significant price tag, as the director rac…

SOURCE: Variety at 04:34PM
Monday, November 6, 2017

Disney-Fox Rumors Underscore Changing Business Landscape, Even for Murdochs by Brent Lang

Investors are salivating over the possibility that the Walt Disney Co. will snap up parts of 21st Century Fox. Reports that the two media companies had held talks in recent weeks sent Fox s…

SOURCE: Variety at 05:48PM

Kevin Spacey Fallout: ‘All the Money in the World’ Yanked From AFI Fest by Brent Lang

Sony Pictures is pulling “All the Money in the World” from AFI Fest in the wake of sexual harassment and assault allegations against star Kevin Spacey. Variety reported earlier o…

SOURCE: Variety at 04:45PM

Kevin Spacey Scandal: Sony May Move ‘All the Money in the World’ Release (EXCLUSIVE) by Brent Lang

Sony Pictures is considering moving the release date of “All the Money in the World” and is weighing canceling its American Film Institute premiere next week, according to inside…

SOURCE: Variety at 12:59PM
Friday, November 3, 2017

‘House of Cards’ Producers Consider Killing Off Kevin Spacey’s Frank Underwood (EXCLUSIVE) by Brent Lang

Producers are exploring several options for getting “House of Cards” back on track in the wake of sexual assault and harassment allegations against star Kevin Spacey. One scenari…

SOURCE: Variety at 05:15PM
Monday, October 30, 2017

Kevin Spacey’s ‘All the Money in the World’ Moving Forward With December Release by Brent Lang

“All the Money in the World” will move forward with its December release despite a sexual assault accusation involving Kevin Spacey. The film is still set to premiere at the AFI…

SOURCE: Variety at 06:29PM
Thursday, August 31, 2017

Denzel Washington Thriller ‘Roman J. Israel, Esq.’ Premiering at Toronto Film Festival by Brent Lang

Denzel Washington will travel to the Toronto International Film Festival for the world premiere of “Roman J. Israel, Esq.” The film’s inclusion in the gathering demonstrate…

SOURCE: Variety at 10:24AM
Tuesday, August 15, 2017

Summer Box Office Report Card: From Disney to Universal, Grading Popcorn Season by Brent Lang

Hollywood studios may be scared to show their summer report cards to their corporate bosses. After all, ticket sales were down 12% year-over-year as flops like “The Mummy” and &#…

SOURCE: Variety at 02:33PM

Toronto Adds Films From Aaron Sorkin, Louis C.K., Brie Larson by Brent Lang

New works from Aaron Sorkin, John Woo, Louis C.K. and Brie Larson will make the trek North to screen at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival. The Canadian gathering added 10…

SOURCE: Variety at 10:16AM
Tuesday, August 8, 2017

Lionsgate Earnings Beat Projections Thanks to TV Profits, ‘La La Land’ by Brent Lang

Lionsgate’s first quarter earnings easily beat Wall Street projections thanks to profits at its television operation and the home entertainment performance of “La La Land. Revenu…

SOURCE: Variety at 04:18PM
Tuesday, June 13, 2017

Tony Awards 2017: ‘Hello Dolly!,’ ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ Up for Top Honors by Brent Lang

“Hello Dolly!,” “Dear Evan Hansen,” and “A Doll’s House, Part 2” are among the plays and musicals that are hoping to be crowned winners at the 71st …

SOURCE: Variety at 09:37PM
Tuesday, April 25, 2017

Disney Dates ‘Lion King’ and ‘Frozen 2,’ Pushes Fifth ‘Indiana Jones’ Film to 2020 by Brent Lang

Disney dated a slew of films on Tuesday, including “Star Wars: Episode IX,” the live-action “Lion King” reboot, and “Frozen 2.” It also moved the openings…

SOURCE: Variety at 02:31PM
Monday, April 17, 2017

First Look at Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper in ‘A Star Is Born’ by Brent Lang

Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper are about to go where Judy Garland and Barbra Streisand have gone before. Filming began Monday on “A Star Is Born,” the latest remake of the the oft-…

SOURCE: Variety at 12:39PM
Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Cinemacon: Disney Plays Hold ‘Em in Vegas, Announces ‘Wreck-It Ralph 2’ Details by Brent Lang

LAS VEGAS — Disney can be forgiven for phoning it in. Fresh off a $7 billion year at the global box office, the studio raced through its upcoming releases at a sprinter’s pace du…

SOURCE: Variety at 01:07AM
Tuesday, March 28, 2017

Movie Theater Industry’s Top Lobbyist Knocks Trump Style Economic Policies by Brent Lang

John Fithian, the top lobbyist for the movie theater industry, hit back at rising populism around the globe in an address to studio executives and distributors on Tuesday. …

SOURCE: Variety at 01:31PM
Monday, March 27, 2017

How Adam Aron is Transforming AMC and Shaking Up the Movie Theater Business by Brent Lang

Adam Aron likes to hit the ground running. Within two months of taking the top job at AMC Entertainment in January 2016, he had negotiated a $1.1 billion deal to buy Carmike Cinemas, transfo…

SOURCE: Variety at 12:00PM

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