and have announced that they have tested positive for COVID-19 (), the first celebrities to go public with a diagnosis.Hanks and Wilson, both 63, revealed the news with a statement on Wednesday. The married couple was in Australia for production of Baz Luhrmann’s untitled Elvis Presley movie, in which Hanks is playing Presley’s iconic manager Colonel Tom Parker.Read the statement below:“Hello, folks. Rita and I are down here in Australia. We felt a bit tired, like we had colds, and some body aches. Rita had some chills that came and went. Slight fevers too. To play things right, as is...…and have announced that they have tested positive for COVID-19 (), the first celebrities to go public with a diagnosis.Hanks and Wilson, both 63, revealed the news with a statement on Wednesday. The married couple was in Australia for production of Baz Luhrmann’s untitled Elvis Presley movie, in which Hanks is playing Presley’s iconic manager Colonel Tom Parker.Read the statement below:“Hello, folks. Rita and I are down here in Australia. We felt a bit tired, like we had colds, and some body aches. Rita had some chills that came and went. Slight fevers too. To play things right, as is...WW…

has suspended three employees for crashing a meeting of its top executives, including an out trans person who criticized a new comedy special from , sources tell Variety.Terra Field, a senior software engineer based in San Francisco, was among those suspended late last week for attending the “QBR” — Netflix’s quarterly business review, a two-day affair that convenes the top 500 employees at the company.Field, who identifies as queer and trans, and the other employees were not invited to the virtual gathering, according to insiders. Netflix did not suspend Field over recent tweets decrying...…has suspended three employees for crashing a meeting of its top executives, including an out trans person who criticized a new comedy special from , sources tell Variety.Terra Field, a senior software engineer based in San Francisco, was among those suspended late last week for attending the “QBR” — Netflix’s quarterly business review, a two-day affair that convenes the top 500 employees at the company.Field, who identifies as queer and trans, and the other employees were not invited to the virtual gathering, according to insiders. Netflix did not suspend Field over recent tweets decrying...WW…

LionsgateNetflix is plunking down an astounding $450 million for the rights to “ 2” and “Knives Out 3,” the next two follow-ups to the 2019 murder mystery, sources tell Variety. The films will reunite director Rian Johnson and star , who teamed up so memorably on the first detective story.The first “Knives Out” was produced by Media Rights Capital. It was distributed by Lionsgate, going on to earn $311.4 million on a $40 million budget. Johnson was nominated for an Oscar for best original screenplay. MRC had a single-picture deal to produce “Knives Out,” negotiated by CAA on behalf of...…LionsgateNetflix is plunking down an astounding $450 million for the rights to “ 2” and “Knives Out 3,” the next two follow-ups to the 2019 murder mystery, sources tell Variety. The films will reunite director Rian Johnson and star , who teamed up so memorably on the first detective story.The first “Knives Out” was produced by Media Rights Capital. It was distributed by Lionsgate, going on to earn $311.4 million on a $40 million budget. Johnson was nominated for an Oscar for best original screenplay. MRC had a single-picture deal to produce “Knives Out,” negotiated by CAA on behalf of...WW…

Last week, announced a flurry of release date changes for its upcoming film slate, kicking a number of premium titles down the road as COVID-19-stricken movie theaters slowly reopen.Buried among seismic moves like Marvel’s “Black Widow” heading to theaters and Disney Plus on the same day was yet another push for the long-suffering murder mystery ensemble “,” a Hercule Poirot adventure from director and star .The film, a sequel to “Murder on the Orient Express” and an orphan from Disney’s mega-acquisition of 20th Century Fox, was delayed yet again to Valentine’s Day 2022. The prominent thorn...…Last week, announced a flurry of release date changes for its upcoming film slate, kicking a number of premium titles down the road as COVID-19-stricken movie theaters slowly reopen.Buried among seismic moves like Marvel’s “Black Widow” heading to theaters and Disney Plus on the same day was yet another push for the long-suffering murder mystery ensemble “,” a Hercule Poirot adventure from director and star .The film, a sequel to “Murder on the Orient Express” and an orphan from Disney’s mega-acquisition of 20th Century Fox, was delayed yet again to Valentine’s Day 2022. The prominent thorn...WW…

Late-night host and comedian has issued an apology for a series of jokes told over his career targeting Asian communities.The apology comes after a nearly 15-year campaign from the activist group Media Action Network for Asian Americans (MANAA) for remarks as recent as Variety‘s that Leno cracked about Koreans eating dog meat — a complaint that offended numerous players on the set of NBC’s “America’s Got Talent.”“At the time I did those jokes, I genuinely thought them to be harmless,” Leno said in a joint press release with MANAA leader Guy Aoki. “I was making fun of our enemy North Korea,...…Late-night host and comedian has issued an apology for a series of jokes told over his career targeting Asian communities.The apology comes after a nearly 15-year campaign from the activist group Media Action Network for Asian Americans (MANAA) for remarks as recent as Variety‘s that Leno cracked about Koreans eating dog meat — a complaint that offended numerous players on the set of NBC’s “America’s Got Talent.”“At the time I did those jokes, I genuinely thought them to be harmless,” Leno said in a joint press release with MANAA leader Guy Aoki. “I was making fun of our enemy North Korea,...WW…

VarietyImagine a magical weapon straight out of science fiction: a machine of gratifying, cartoonish proportions that unleashes a magic potion eradicating the scourge of the past and bringing families safely together.Except it’s not a Marvel prop, it’s an electrostatic disinfectant sprayer — a goofy but crucial piece of protective equipment that will become a staple for moviegoers in a post-pandemic world.That spray gun, which will hose down seats, guardrails and door handles in between every movie showing across the globe, is part of one of several new protocols Variety observed on a...…VarietyImagine a magical weapon straight out of science fiction: a machine of gratifying, cartoonish proportions that unleashes a magic potion eradicating the scourge of the past and bringing families safely together.Except it’s not a Marvel prop, it’s an electrostatic disinfectant sprayer — a goofy but crucial piece of protective equipment that will become a staple for moviegoers in a post-pandemic world.That spray gun, which will hose down seats, guardrails and door handles in between every movie showing across the globe, is part of one of several new protocols Variety observed on a...WW…

As vaccines trickle out across the country and new infections and deaths rise at alarming rates in cities like Los Angeles, some power players in entertainment and media are leveraging their clout and connections to be amongst the first to get inoculated.Numerous high-flying executives and dealmakers have been cycling through private physicians and concierge services to receive one of the two established COVID-19 vaccines on the market. Others have been tapping their vast resources in a mad dash to get vaccinated as the government, especially in Hollywood’s native California, churns through...…As vaccines trickle out across the country and new infections and deaths rise at alarming rates in cities like Los Angeles, some power players in entertainment and media are leveraging their clout and connections to be amongst the first to get inoculated.Numerous high-flying executives and dealmakers have been cycling through private physicians and concierge services to receive one of the two established COVID-19 vaccines on the market. Others have been tapping their vast resources in a mad dash to get vaccinated as the government, especially in Hollywood’s native California, churns through...WW…

has stepped away from his role opposite Jennifer Lopez in the upcoming “,” decrying “vicious and spurious online attacks” against him as the cause.Hammer was set to begin production on the romantic adventure immediately, but will now be recast. The news comes after the “Call Me by Your Name” star began trending on social media last weekend after direct Instagram messages that appeared to be written by Hammer — which have not been verified — were posted.“I’m not responding to these bullshit claims but in light of the vicious and spurious online attacks against me, I cannot in good conscience...…has stepped away from his role opposite Jennifer Lopez in the upcoming “,” decrying “vicious and spurious online attacks” against him as the cause.Hammer was set to begin production on the romantic adventure immediately, but will now be recast. The news comes after the “Call Me by Your Name” star began trending on social media last weekend after direct Instagram messages that appeared to be written by Hammer — which have not been verified — were posted.“I’m not responding to these bullshit claims but in light of the vicious and spurious online attacks against me, I cannot in good conscience...WW…

The Russo brothers, directors of the all-time top grossing film “Avengers: Endgame,” quietly secured a roughly $50 million cash infusion for their production company from earlier this year, multiple sources tell Variety.In a deal brokered and closed at the beginning of the pandemic, the Russos received the investment from an undisclosed Saudi bank in exchange for a minority stake in the brothers’ Los Angeles-based shop. The money is earmarked to help fund development, production and overhead, two people familiar with the transaction said.The Russos count multiple other...…The Russo brothers, directors of the all-time top grossing film “Avengers: Endgame,” quietly secured a roughly $50 million cash infusion for their production company from earlier this year, multiple sources tell Variety.In a deal brokered and closed at the beginning of the pandemic, the Russos received the investment from an undisclosed Saudi bank in exchange for a minority stake in the brothers’ Los Angeles-based shop. The money is earmarked to help fund development, production and overhead, two people familiar with the transaction said.The Russos count multiple other...WW…

A new documentary is in the works exploring the mysterious founder of Bitcoin and the larger state of cryptocurrency. Director Matthew Miele (“Always at the Carlyle,” “Quixotic Endeavors”) will helm the project, titled “Finding Satoshi.” The film will investigate the origins of Satoshi Nakamoto, the pseudonymous creator of Bitcoin, whose identity and invention remains secret. Tucker Tooley, the veteran filmmaker behind movies like “The United States vs. Billie Holiday” and “Den of Thieves,” will produce. Bestselling author William Cohan will interview notable experts on the topic, as well...…A new documentary is in the works exploring the mysterious founder of Bitcoin and the larger state of cryptocurrency. Director Matthew Miele (“Always at the Carlyle,” “Quixotic Endeavors”) will helm the project, titled “Finding Satoshi.” The film will investigate the origins of Satoshi Nakamoto, the pseudonymous creator of Bitcoin, whose identity and invention remains secret. Tucker Tooley, the veteran filmmaker behind movies like “The United States vs. Billie Holiday” and “Den of Thieves,” will produce. Bestselling author William Cohan will interview notable experts on the topic, as well...WW…