Cocaine user gets £600 fine and two-year driving ban

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterWarner Bros. argues in new court filings that it never agreed to an exclusively theatrical release for “The Matrix Resurrections,” and that Village Roadshow still owes $112.5 million in production expenses on the project.The studio is responding to a lawsuit filed last week, in which Village Roadshow alleged that Warner Bros. had breached its co-financing agreement by releasing the film simultaneously on HBO Max.

Manori Ravindran International Editor“Sexy Beast” is back, and it’s part of a slate of six international scripted originals heading to Paramount Plus, Variety can reveal.The long-simmering “Sexy Beast” prequel series has evidently been resuscitated for the streamer after being scrapped for Paramount Network in 2020.The U.K.-originated show, based on the cult classic film of the same name, centers on the characters of Gal Dove and Don Logan (originally played by Ray Winstone and Ben Kingsley, respectively) as they descend into London’s criminal underbelly during the volatile 1990s.Paramount Plus describes the series as “a love story between two men — à la Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.” It’s produced by Chapter One and VIS, with showrunner Michael Caleo (“The Sopranos”) attached. Also heading to Paramount Plus out of the U.K.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorMadison Avenue is getting closer to realizing its dream of using TV advertising to talk to viewers in a style more akin to a one-to-one conversationThe future of the humble TV ad has long been described as the following: New data and interactive technology will trim the practice of throwing a diaper ad or a car spot at every single member of the audience. Instead, more marketers will use addressable technology that allows them to beam different ads to different household, all in the same “slot” in a commercial break.Horizon, the independent media-investment company, will help deploy addressable ads in national linear inventory on networks owned by A+E Networks and Fox Corp.

Maluma appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show to chat about his acting debut in the rom-com Marry Me alongside HOLA! USA Latina Powerhouse Jennifer Lopez and actor Owen Wilson. While talking to Ellen, the Colombian singer shared details of his first day on set and how he ended up yelling at his co-star. The singer also opened up his thoughts on marriage, revealing what kind of wedding he would want —if he ever walks down the aisle.

Drew Barrymore is putting in the work. The actress says she is proud of herself for working up the courage to start dating again, and while her first try didn’t go as expected, Drew is definitely making progress.During a recent episode of ‘The Drew Barrymore Show,’ the host detailed a recent encounter she had with a man she saw while going on a walk in New York City.The Hollywood star said she was in Central Park over the weekend and noticed a man who “was really cute,” so she decided to start following him.“I was wearing a full balaclava so the only thing that’s out is my peepers,“ she explained, adding that she approached the mystery man and said, “Hi, I was wondering if I could ask you a question.”Drew asked him if he was single, to which he responded hesitant, so she asked “are you gay?” adding that she has “no gaydar” and because she is “so gay man adjacent and everyone around me is gay and I always fall for the wrong guy.”So when the man said “no,” she went on to remove her hood and balaclava, however he didn’t recognize her.

The Amber Ruffin Show” will return with new episodes Feb. 25, Peacock announced Tuesday.The critically acclaimed late-night variety series is hosted by comedian Amber Ruffin, who made history as the first Black woman to write for a late-night network TV show when she joined the writer’s room of “Late Night with Seth Meyers” in 2014. Ruffin’s own show premiered in 2020, as one of the first originals for the Peacock streaming platform.

Mindy Kaling has a special new role. The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) announced on Tuesday that the actress, writer and producer is the official ambassador for PanCAN PurpleStride, the organization’s annual fundraiser that raises money for pancreatic cancer research.Why Mindy Kaling almost turned down her Vogue cover“I am so happy to be working with PanCAN again and to participate in PurpleStride. I miss my mother every day, but when I can do anything to help the fight against pancreatic cancer, I feel like I am honoring her memory,” The Office alum, 42, said in a press release.

Arnold Schwarzenegger is mourning the death of his friend, Ivan Reitman. The Czechoslovak-born Canadian film and television director, producer and screenwriter died ‘unexpectedly’ in his California home Saturday night at age 75. The Ghostbusters director and actor worked together on Twins, Junior, and Kindergarten Cop.

Paramount+ may have already had its moment in the sun during the still-ongoing Winter Television Critics Association (TCA) press tour, but today, during their ViacomCBS Investors Event, the company and streamer revealed even more. First off, ViacomCBS? It’s going back to being called just Paramount.

The Dutton Family is a booming business for Paramount, writer/director Taylor Sheridan and the Kevin Costner-led “Yellowstone” franchise has already spun off with the hit prequel “1883” taking more of a direct western leaning and is looking to move forward with the next incarnation. This Montana-set series explores the last real frontier as business interests and nature collide.

Monty Don has been a firm favourite on our television screens since he first began as a presenter on Gardeners' World. However, the 66-year-old's latest post has raised concerns that the rainfall in his area was out of control.He posted a video of the situation to his 990,000 Instagram followers, who raced to his rescue with support and ideas."All that rain has to [go] somewhere," he warned them ominously."The Arrow [river] will burst its banks and be in the garden before morning."However, he added in resignation: "Not a problem- we are well used to it.""Maybe invest in a gondola..

New 'Yellowstone' Prequel Series '1932' Greenlit at Paramount Plus What's New on Paramount Plus in February 'SEAL Team,' 'The Game' and 'Mayor of Kingstown' Renewed at Paramount+

NCIS is going abroad!

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media ReporterParamount Pictures has given a taste of its upcoming theatrical film slate. During its annual investor day presentation on Tuesday, the studio announced plans for “A Quiet Place 3,” as well as another sequel to “Sonic the Hedgehog.”“A Quiet Place Part III” will debut in 2025.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“Billions” has been renewed for Season 7 at Showtime, Variety has learned exclusively. Season 6 of the series debuted on Jan. 23, with new episodes airing every Sunday on Showtime.In season 6 , the dust of season five clears to reveal a world that has evolved.

Selome Hailu “South Park” is headed back home to ViacomCBS.The company announced that the Comedy Central adult animated series will stream exclusively on Paramount Plus beginning in 2025, after the expiration of “South Park’s” $500 million deal with HBO Max, set in 2019. In markets outside of the U.S., the full “South Park” catalog will become available on Paramount Plus later this year.In addition, all new episodes of the series will go to Paramount Plus, starting with Season 27 in 2024, both in the U.S.

Emily Longeretta Paramount Plus and CBS are expanding their reality TV lineup. On Tuesday, the streaming service announced the renewals of “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars,” “Queen of the Universe,” “The Real World Homecoming” and “The Challenge: All Stars,” as well as multiple new series.“The Challenge: All Stars,” which landed a Guild of Music Supervisors Award nomination for best music supervision in reality TV, will launch its third season on May 11, Chris McCarthy, chief content officer of unscripted entertainment at Paramount Plus, announced on on Tuesday’s ViacomCBS’s Investor Day event, sharing that the universe is expanding across broadcast and cable channels.Internationally, the streamer will launch “The Challenge: Argentina,” “The Challenge: Australia” and “The Challenge U.K.” Each will be available to stream on demand in their respective markets.

Adam B. Vary Senior Entertainment WriterThey’re boldly going back.Paramount is planning to enter negotiations for “Star Trek” stars Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, Karl Urban, John Cho, and Simon Pegg to return to the Enterprise for their fourth tour of duty in the venerable sci-fi franchise.The announcement was made by J.J.

Manori Ravindran International Editor“NCIS” is heading down under.The long-running CBS franchise is being adapted for Paramount Plus Australia and broadcaster Network 10 in a deal that marks the first international edition for the CBS Studios-produced juggernaut.“NCIS: Sydney” will launch in 2023 and feature local stories with Aussie actors and producers. “NCIS: Los Angeles” creator Shane Brennan, who is Australian and first joined the franchise back in 2007, is attached.The commission is a clever way for Paramount Plus to bulk up its local offering in Australia, where the service launched in August 2021 and already takes advantage of content from the ViacomCBS-backed local linear offering, Channel 10.Paramount Plus is slowly expanding internationally and will finally launch in Europe this year.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe business anthology series “Super Pumped” has been renewed for Season 2 at Showtime.The news was announced as part of the ViacomCBS investor day presentation. Each season of the show will focus on a different major story from the world of business.

It looks like Nick Cannon has a clear “Vision of Love” — and it involves his ex-wife, Mariah Carey. The Wild ‘N Out host released his new single, “Alone,” on Valentine’s Day, and he doesn’t hold back his emotions for the pop star on the track.