HBO Max to Develop Aqualad Origin Story ‘You Brought Me the Ocean,’ Charlize Theron to Produce

Charlize Theron took to social media to call for the support of her fans and followers for the people of South Africa, currently going through an "extraordinarily difficult time."MORE: Charlize Theron shares rare snap of daughters alongside heartfelt message to momShe shared pictures of the region, having been damaged by a series of horrible floods, causing horrible loss of lives and property.VIDEO: Charlize Theron's rare video with her daughtersThe actress wrote in an emotional message: "My home of South Africa is going through an extraordinarily difficult time, and while I know much of the world is in pain right now, and a lot is being asked of us as global citizens, I'm hoping you'll find it in your heart to help."She continued: "Last week, the most devastating floods on record struck the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) province, killing almost 450 people and displacing thousands. MORE: Charlize Theron stuns at Super Bowl in casual chic attire"For my organization @ctaop we see our most critical role as supporting our Partners in whatever challenges they face – and right now organizations in KZN are reeling, trying to support their communities however they can, as affected families desperately need food, water, and shelter."Charlize shared resources to several organizations and fundraisers that would support the people of South Africa as well. A post shared by Charlize Theron (@charlizeafrica)Charlize shed light on the devastating floods ravaging South Africa"Please help by GIVING what you can, and/or SHARING this post or the fundraiser to spread the word," she concluded.Many of her fans immediately took to the comments section to share that they would donate or by providing encouraging words to the actress.MORE: Charlize Theron

A nearly three-hour Batman film, bordering on R-Rated, certainly not for kids, that’s nihilistic, darker than the Christopher Nolan films, and not really much of a traditional superhero movie released during a pandemic seemed like a risky endeavor for Warner Bros. earlier this year (read our review here).

Warner Bros/DC’s The Batman has winged its way past three-quarters of a billion dollars at the worldwide box office, maintaining its spot as the highest-grossing film of the year, globally and domestically. The worldwide cume through Sunday is $751.1M with the Matt Reeves-directed spin on the Caped Crusader counting $386.1M at the international box office and $365M in North America.

Riverdale star KJ Apa signed on to star in the HBO Max live action DC comedy The Wonder Twins with 1883 actress Isabel May playing his sister.Apa will play the character Zan, and May is set to portray his sibling Jayna, according to Deadline.The plotline has remained under wraps thus far, but Jayna is known for being able to transform into an animal while Zan has shapeshifting abilities. Comic kids: Riverdale star KJ Apa (left; in 2019) signed on to star in the HBO Max live action DC comedy The Wonder Twins with 1883 actress Isabel May playing his sister (right; seen in 2022)Adam Sztykiel will make his directorial debut with a script he wrote after signing on to the Warner Bros.

EXCLUSIVE: Maggie Kiley, who recently directed and exec produced the first three episodes of Netflix’s Melissa Barrera-fronted series Breathe, is staying in business with Warner Bros. TV.

HBO Max has ordered Dead Boy Detectives, based on the DC Comics characters created by Neil Gaiman, to series.

Thandiwe Newton is stepping down from . A Warner Bros.

Jordan Moreau A temporary restraining order against “The Flash” star Ezra Miller has been dropped, less than three weeks after it was filed and Miller was arrested for disorderly conduct and harassment in Hawaii.According to the Associated Press, a judge dismissed the restraining order on Tuesday after a request by the Hawaiian couple who had filed it on March 29. The restraining order claimed Miller burst into the couple’s bedroom and threatened them, and Miller allegedly stole some of the couple’s belongings, including a passport and wallet.The actor was arrested in Hilo, Hawaii, on March 28, the day before the restraining order was filed. According to a post by the Hawaii County Police Department, South Hilo officers had responded to a report of a disorderly bar patron.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe action series “The Ledger” starring Xolo Maridueña has been set up at HBO Max for development, Variety has learned exclusively.The half-hour series was first reported as being shopped to networks and streamers back in October. It follows the trials and travels of Gabriel (Maridueña), a young man who sets out into the world to right the wrongs of the deadly man who trained him.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterPeacock has given a straight-to-series order to the comedic thriller “Based on a True Story.”The series hails from writer, executive producer, and showrunner Craig Rosenberg. Jason Bateman and Michael Costigan of Aggregate Films will also executive produce, with Roxie Rodriguez of Aggregate co-executive producing.

Anna Tingley If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission. Warner Bros.

Hugh Everett III is widely credited for developing the theory at Princeton in the 1950s. The multiverse has cropped up in science fiction and comic books ever since, and it’s most often been employed in time-travel stories like “Back to the Future,” where a timeline has been split or changed and needs to be repaired.But the head-squeezing metaphysics of parallel timelines intersecting and influencing each other has largely kept the idea on the fringe of mainstream popular culture.Then, ’round about 2016, the idea that we are “living in the worst timeline” began to take a rather fearsome hold on social media, accelerating in 2020 with the COVID pandemic.

In one of the most head-scratching reporting changes under the new Warner Bros. Discovery leadership, Chip and Joanna Gaines’ Magnolia Network has moved from the Discovery to the Warner Bros. side of the company under HBO and HBO Max Chief Content Officer Casey Bloys. Upon closer examination, the move, which could lead to a Magnolia-branded hub on HBO Max and the Gaines’ dipping their toe in scripted programming, is not that shocking. It just took the couple two mergers and three relationships to get there.

Charlize Theron is getting into the “superhero business,” but we should clarify, an atypical one that doesn’t seem all that connected to the superheroes you know. At least not yet.

Charlize Theron is getting into the superhero producing business.

A sexual assault claim from an unknown woman against American rapper Snoop Dogg was withdrawn this week.

Todd Spangler NY Digital EditorWarnerMedia and Discovery are on the cusp of officially closing their deal. With the change in leadership at the new Warner Bros. Discovery, will there be pricing changes for the new conglomerate’s flagship HBO Max streaming service?Insiders say there aren’t any immediate plans to alter HBO Max’s pricing scheme — in the U.S., it currently costs $14.99/month without ads, the same as it did when the service debuted in May 2020, and $9.99/month with ads.Similarly, it’s likely that Discovery Plus will remain at $6.99/month without ads and $4.99/month with ads for the time being.

For decades, WarnerMedia and Discovery had largely co-existed independently. They have lived in separate universes with virtually no business interactions, as unscripted television is their main area of overlap. The Discovery networks work primarily with independent producers and not studios like Warner Bros TV, which has only produced one reality show for a Discovery net via its Shed subsidiary

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty” has been renewed for Season 2 at HBO, Variety has learned.The news comes after the series has aired just five episodes of its 10-episode first season.“It’s been a thrill to bring ‘Winning Time’ to life with Adam McKay, Max Borenstein, our phenomenal producing team, and this incredible cast,” said Francesca Orsi, executive vice president of HBO Programming. “This series not only tells the riveting story of the Lakers’ rise, but is also a look back at a transformative era in basketball, celebrity, and the city of Los Angeles.

Jennifer Maas TV Business WriterChip and Joanna Gaines’ Magnolia Network will move under HBO’s purview upon the completion of Discovery’s acquisition of WarnerMedia, which will result in the launch of Warner Bros. Discovery Monday, Variety has learned exclusively.Allison Page, president of Magnolia, which is a joint venture between the Gaineses and Discovery, Inc., will report directly to HBO and HBO Max chief Casey Bloys.

The Sherlock Holmes is expanding!