Forced Exclusivity Terms in Actor Contracts Add a Dark Side to Hollywood’s Golden Age (Opinion)

Christopher Vourlias Former Netflix executive Tania Zarak Quintana has joined Iceland’s Truenorth, one of the leading production services companies in the Nordics, as it looks to ramp up development of original content. The production outfit is developing a slate of original shows including “Starlungar,” a 10-part series it’s dubbed “‘The Godfather’ of the 13th century” that follows four wealthy and powerful clans as they fight to gain power over Iceland, and “Eyland,” a dystopian series set in present-day Iceland that questions what would happen if communication with the rest of the world suddenly stopped. Truenorth is also attached to co-produce a feature-film adaptation of bestselling Icelandic author Ragnar Jónasson’s thriller “Outside,” which was optioned by Scott Free Productions.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Lee Jung-jae, the star of hit Netflix series “Squid Game,” is to reprise his role as a manic killer in “Ray,” a TV series spun off from 2020 Korean action-horror film “Deliver Us From Evil.” Korean media sources report that Lee will star in and co-produce the series through his own Artist Studio company and Hive Media, producer of “Deliver Us From Evil.” Variety has reached out for further details. In the original movie, Hwang Jung-min played In-Nam, a former black ops agent who travels to Thailand to investigate an abduction. There he is pursued by Lee’s character Ray, a Korean-Japanese ruffian whose brother had been killed by In-Nam. Both heavily tattooed and charming, Ray embarks on a bloody rampage of revenge.

K.J. Yossman Brian Cox says his on-screen alter ego Logan Roy, the misanthropic media mogul at the heart of HBO hit “Succession,” would not be a fan in real life. “Logan would hate me,” said Cox during an in-person conversation at the Edinburgh TV Festival in Scotland. “If Logan met me he’d say ‘I wish that Brian Cox would just shut the fuck up.’” Despite Logan’s flaws, however, Cox says of the character: “I love him.” “What I love about Logan, he’s self-made. Unlike all those other guys, Trump, Murdoch, Conrad Black, he did it all himself.”

increasing its price cap on April Fools Day. And sadly they weren’t joking either.The regulator this morning confirmed that the price cap will jump to £3,549.

different story. Low- and no-alcohol sales totalled £221 million last year, and the analyst IWSR expects the market to more than double to £558 million by 2024.But are we moderating by oscillating between the stop-start extremes of drinking almost nothing, and mainlining martinis from 6pm? The new mid-proof spirits movement aims to offer options that occupy the middle ground, with an ABV (alcohol by volume) of between 10 per cent and 30 per cent – compared with 40 per cent and upwards in standard spirits.‘The idea is that instead of meeting someone for just one drink, you can be involved and enjoy three or four rounds, then leave knowing you’ve consumed the equivalent of one,’ says Rohan Radhakrishnan, co-founder of Quarter, which makes Light G/N, a gin-inspired spirit with an ABV of just 12 per cent.Quarter is not the only brand carving out this space.

Kirstie Allsopp, 50, appeared to make a thinly-veiled dig at Meghan Markle as she discussed “Prince Philip’s rule” for public speaking.The Location, Location, Location star took to social media to issue advice to members of the Royal Family and their relatives.She suggested it would be “a good idea” for some royals to remember to “talk about your projects, not about yourself”.Kirstie wrote: “Prince Philip’s rule was talk about your projects, not about yourself.“It might be a good idea for all his children, grandchildren and their partners, to remember that.”It is unclear whether Kirstie aimed her comment at any specific members of the Royal Family.However, other social media users responded to the TV star’s tweet with their assumptions.Emmshughes said: “We all know who you mean by this!!!”Claire84267380 tweeted: “Strange - I think [Meghan Markle] battled with being told how to act and feel as a mother, in particular.“Her role was incorrect and she corrected that.“Is it not in her interest to justify her decision?“They tried silence but the papers plug that with lies and rumours.

Jim Davidson, 68, has launched a furious rant about the “idiot drivers” who take up part of the pavement near his Stockbridge home when parking.The comedian lashed out at motorists who block the way with their cars on the banks of the River Test, which he can see from his garden.He detailed how drivers parking their cars where they shouldn’t have become an inconvenience for local pedestrians.Jim, who has been living in the area for over a decade, compared the inconsiderate motorists to “vultures” as they swoop in for parking spots.The Generation Game star said: “It’s a nightmare."I’ve lived in Stockbridge for 15 years and I’m turning into an old grumbler."These idiot drivers are like vultures - when one car comes out of a space there’s five waiting to go in," he told The Sun.The Big Break star went on to reveal how the badly parked cars have even become an issue for wheelchairs and pushchair users.He added: “People are parking in places they shouldn’t and it means you have to walk single file on the pavement."Quite often cars are just left on the street and on the bridge here - I can see them from my house."Jim went on to add that people with wheelchairs and pushchairs would struggle to get through.Earlier this year, Jim took aim at fellow celebrities offering to house Ukrainian refugees during an appearance on GB News.The TV star agreed with host Dan Wootton they were doing it to "virtue signal" as he claimed they wouldn't house a "veteran".Dan said: "Jim, what do you think about these celebrities who feel and need to politically virtue signal at these events?"You have Benedict Cumberbatch on the red carpet saying he 'hopes to take in a Ukrainian refugee,' I would say there is more chance of that happening than his

Danny DeVito gave Arnold Schwarzenegger a special cigar on the set of their 1988 film “Twins”.

Phillip Schofield has updated fans as he recovers from surgery for a 'deliberating' eye condition, which means he is having to sleep wearing ski googles.

As energy bills are set to skyrocket, households are looking for any way to shave even the smallest amounts off their bills.

Martin Lewis has warned that some people could end up paying £10,000 a year on their energy bills.

Shia LaBeouf, who comes from a mixed Jewish and Christian household, revealed he converted to Catholicism after being cast in Padre Pio as the titular character.As he researched the late Italian monk and stayed in a monastery to prepare for his role in Abel Ferrara's upcoming film, the 36-year-old actor said  he became drawn to spirituality as he battled suicidal ideation and deep-rooted feelings of shame.'I had a gun on the table. I was outta here,' the Honey Boy star told Bishop Robert Barron during an 80-minute interview, uploaded to YouTube on Thursday.  New chapter: Shia LaBeouf, who comes from a mixed Jewish and Christian household, revealed he converted to Catholicism after being cast in Padre Pio; seen in 2019He explained: 'I didn't want to be alive anymore when all this happened.

EXCLUSIVE: Netflix’s British drama series Baby Reindeer has gone into production this week, and Deadline can reveal Jessica Gunning (Back, Pride) has landed a lead role opposite show creator Richard Gadd.

Succession star Brian Cox has said Logan Roy, the arch-villain he plays in the HBO/Sky epic, would “hate me,” but claimed he “loves” and “respects the character.”

died on July 20, 2022, at the age of 89.As a final hurrah to celebrate her legacy, the star’s ashes will be blasted into space aboard a special “Enterprise mission” later this year.The launch aboard the Vulcan rocket will ensure Nichols’ remains will join late “Star Trek” creator Gene Roddenberry, who died in 1991.Nichols’ ashes will also join that of Roddenberry’s deceased wife and “First Lady of ‘Star Trek’” Majel Barrett Roddenberry, who died in 2008.Late “Star Trek” actor James Doohan’s ashes will also be launched into space along with Nichols’. Doohan died in 2005.

Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively might just be our favourite celebrity couple, and one thing we all look forward to each year is the birthday tributes.The Deadpool actor is forever showering his wife with love and affection, but he loves a joke as well, and them brutally roasting each other on their birthdays has become somewhat of a tradition. His birthday message for Blake as she turns 35 was in typical tongue and cheek fashion, with Ryan seemingly unfazed by the possibility of getting told off for sharing embarrassing pics of his other half online.The cheeky post he shared started off all affectionate: ‘Happy Birthday, @blakelively.

X Factor to make ‘massive changes’ if it returns next year as rumoured, saying it ‘needs to look after people’.The singer rose to fame when she auditioned on the show in 2012 with her original song Last Night (Beer Fear), which has since become a massive viral TikTok hit.A decade on, she’s released her song Everything Changes, which beautifully samples Last Night (and is probably about to make fans cry), and she’s getting reflective about the past 10 years.‘It’s really different growing up in the public eye. You can’t ever undo going on X Factor,’ Lucy, 31, told Metro.co.uk.‘People will always say, “Are you that girl off of X Factor?” Even if you look completely different, people will still ask.

FIDLAR have returned with their first new music in three years – watch the video for their furious new single ‘FSU’ below.The track follows the band’s 2019 album ‘Almost Free’, and is lifted from a forthcoming EP which is due out in 2023.Speaking of their return, the band said: “New FIDLAR is leaning into the extremes. Loud, louder, loud.

Adele Roberts has shared her ordeal after finding her stoma had suddenly prolapsed, preventing her from going to Scott Mills’ Radio 1 leaving do.The presenter, 43, had been diagnosed with bowel cancer in October 2021, for which she was fitted with a stoma after having surgery and chemotherapy, being given the all-clear that she was ‘cancer free’ in June 2022. She took to her Instagram story to tell her followers that she was having trouble with her stoma, which she nicknamed ‘Audrey’, which had prolapsed – which is when the bowel protrudes through the stomal opening in the skin to a greater extent than it is supposed to – on the day Scott Mills was leaving Radio 1. Adele explained: ‘Another day another Audrey bit of mischief. My stoma’s prolapsed today.’She used the handle of an umbrella to show her followers how much the stoma had protruded from the opening that had been made in the stomach, adding: ‘I’ve got to go and have a shower now, get this elephant trunk out, put ice on it. ‘That’s one thing that makes it go down, or apparently sprinkle it with sugar, that’s what I’ve seen on the internet and then if not, I’m going to have to ring my stoma nurse Elaine and tell her what Audrey’s been up to.

Manchester City are waiting to see how many players will be missing with injury when they take on Crystal Palace.

Household face paying an estimated £3,549 per year from October for average use of gas and electricity - equating to a devastating 80 per cent rise in energy bills in a move that will deepen the soaring cost of living crisis even further for millions of people.