How ‘Diabolical’ Reanimated ‘The Boys’ With Garth Ennis, Andy Samberg, ‘Rick and Morty’ Co-Creator and More

A transgender athlete has reportedly lodged an application to play in the women’s National Rugby League in Australia.The Daily Mail reported that the application is being considered by the NRL. Even if approved, the trans player may be able to play only in the next season which starts in August 2022.Melbourne Storm player Christian Welch recently said that it was “inevitable” that trans athletes would play in the NRL.It’s inevitable to happen but no I don’t think much discussion has been had on the topic Kim— Christian Welch (@clwelch94) March 20, 2022Welch was responding to a user, who had asked him whether, “on the back of the NCAA swimming in the US this week, has the RLPA (Rugby League Players Association) had any discussions on transgender athletes being integrated into the NRL/NRLW … grassroots or professional levels?”Welch replied: “It’s inevitable to happen but no I don’t think much discussion has been had on the topic.”According to the National Rugby League Member Protection Policy, it was “committed to supporting participation in our sport on the basis of the gender with which a person identifies.”NRL, in its policy, said that it was aware of the debate over whether male-to-female- trans athletes have any physical advantages.“If issues of performance advantage arise, we will seek advice on the application of those laws in the particular circumstances,” the policy explained.“The NRL is aware that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has established criteria for selection and participation in the Olympic Games.

Todd Spangler NY Digital EditorThe Daily Wire, a conservative media organization with no history of producing children’s programming, is using Disney’s opposition to Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” law as a rallying point to enter the business of kids entertainment.The Nashville-based company announced Wednesday that it plans to invest at least $100 million over the next three years into live-action and animated kids’ content. The right-wing outlet’s first content targeted at children is supposed to launch on Daily Wire’s subscription platform in the spring of 2023; it didn’t detail any kids’ shows or movies that it may have in the works.Americans are “tired of giving their money to woke media companies who want to indoctrinate their children with radical race and gender theory,” Daily Wire co-CEO Jeremy Boreing said in announcing the initiative.

Oscar-winning producer Joseph Patel has shared his experience from Sunday night, accepting the award for Best Documentary Feature in the immediate aftermath of Will Smith slapping presenter Chris Rock across the face. In a long Twitter thread, the Summer Of Soul (Or, When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised…) producer called Smith’s actions “selfish,” but reserved harsher criticism for Rock who he says was “an absolute f***ing dick.”

Princess Diana would be 'upset' that sons Prince Harry and Prince William do not have the same relationship anymore, according to a former royal chef.The two grew up as close royal brothers, often relying on each other for support after the tragic death of their mother in 1997.But in 2019, Harry publicly revealed for the first that their relationship had weakened amid tension between the Sussex and Cambridge households.When questioned about an alleged rift with William, he said he loved his brother dearly but they were "on different paths" and have "good days" and "bad days".Since then Harry has moved his family to Montecito in California, putting considerable distance between the two.Reflecting on their strained relationship, Chef Darren McGrady — who served Diana and her sons for 15 years — has said he believes the current state of affairs would upset the late Princess of Wales.Speaking to Coffee Friend he said: "Princess Diana would have been sad that their boys don’t have the same relationship now."She understood that the Queen came first, I don’t believe she ever did anything to really offend the Queen."He also suggested that she "would have never had moved away" herself, adding: "That is purely because of her boys.

Brooklyn Beckham is days away from marrying Nicola Peltz – and the weeks prior to their star-studded nuptials have been a whirlwind for the 22-year-old.MORE: New details about David Beckham's role at Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz's wedding revealedThe star celebrated his birthday earlier this month, on 4 March, and it was just three days later that Brooklyn made a big change to his professional life.WATCH: Victoria Beckham reveals incredible Easter gifts from Nicola PeltzThe eldest son of David and Victoria Beckham signed with Creative Artists Agency for representation in all areas.READ: Victoria Beckham to reunite with Spice Girls at son Brooklyn's weddingRELATED: David Beckham shows off his suit for Brooklyn's wedding to Nicola Peltz and WOWIn the exclusive announcement, which was featured in The Hollywood Reporter, the groom-to-be was referred to as a "content creator" as well as an "aspiring chef" – with no mention whatsoever about his family connections. Brooklyn recently signed with Creative Artists Agency and has made changes to his social mediaThe article detailed his current number of Instagram followers, 13 million, as well as his eight-episode Facebook Messenger show, Cookin' with Brooklyn, his fashion photography work, and his past jobs as a model.Since this big announcement, Brooklyn has taken a different approach to social media and has only shared posts centered around his professional activities.He has shared five different recipes, his latest, Beef Wellington, posted this week, several updates promoting his latest campaign with Pepe Jeans, in which he features alongside his fiancée Nicola, and another one about an electric car.

Just hours after announcing her father Bruce Willis was retiring from acting after being diagnosed with aphasia, Rumer Willis shared some throwback snaps.The 33-year-old Rumer, the oldest of the 67-year-old's five daughters, revealed the news on Instagram Monday morning, revealing the aphasia was, 'impacting his cognitive abilities.'Just a few hours after the announcement, Rumer took to her Instagram story to share throwback snaps from her time growing up with the action icon. Throwback:Just hours after announcing her father Bruce Willis was retiring from acting after being diagnosed with aphasia, Rumer Willis shared some throwback snapsThe first photo featured a shirtless Bruce holding Rumer in a white dress as a newborn, with a big smile on his face as he held his first child.The second photo featured a fully-dressed Willis kissing the top of Rumer's head as she wore a blue dress.

Manchester United look like they will finally move to solve their biggest problem area on the pitch this summer with the signing of a new centre-midfielder.

EastEnders fans were left very distracted as Kat Slater found the knife Tommy Salter used to stab bully Sid as there was one glaring continuity error. Albert Square's Kat Slater - played by Jessie Wallace for more than two decades - has been at her wit's end with Tommy's reckless behaviour in recent soap scenes.As Kat is unaware that her son is being bullied at school, she calmly confronts him and he confesses what's happening.Earlier in the episode, Tommy took the bladed object out of his school bag but quickly shoved it back in the rucksack moments before his mum entered the living room.Despite Tommy accidentally stabbing bully Sid with a kitchen knife last week, fans were baffled as to how they were no traces of blood.

Bridgerton star Simone Ashley helped promote and celebrate Asian culture with a special Netflix dinner... where she also revealed her character's fate for Season 3.The 27-year-old Surrey UK native, who plays Viscountess Kate Bridgerton, stunned in white while hosting the event atArth Bar & Kitchen Wednesday in Culver City.She also confirmed to Deadlinethat she will return for Season 3, along with her on-screen husband Viscount Anthony (Jonathan Bailey).

Country crooner Eric Church has shared his love for his home state of North Carolina both in his music and in interviews over the years, including his beloved North Carolina Tar Heels basketball team.And with UNC set to face off against rival Duke in the Final Four of the men's NCAA tournament for the first time this weekend, Church proved his devotion by canceling a sold-out concert in order to catch Saturday's big game.The singer, 44,was slated to perform for an audience of thousands atthe AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas, but an email was sent out to ticket-holders on Wednesday informing them of the cancelation. Controversial: Country music star Eric Church announced he was canceling his sold out show in San Antonio, Texas on Saturday so he could watch his beloved North Carolina Tar Heel face off against the Duke Blue Devils in one of the two Final Four NCAA men's tournament gamesChurch would call his decision to cancel his sold out show atAT&T Center in San Antonio on Saturday the 'the most selfish thing' he's ever asked of his fans to do.But still, in a messagevia Ticketmaster, to his fans, dubbed the Church Choir, theNorth Carolina native made his case, imploring them to understand his decision and why the game means so much to him.

Kim Kardashian proved to be her own best advertisement yet again as she modeled skimpy new pieces from her shapewear brand SKIMS on Wednesday.The reality TV star, 41, looked incredible as she squeezed her famous curves into a perfectly-tailored grey T-shirt and matching panties, from the brand's 'new vintage' collection.The brunette stunner also took to her Instagram Stories to proudly share that SKIMS has been named one of the most influential companies of 2022 by Time100. Modeling her brand: Kim Kardashian proved to be her own best advertisement yet again as she modeled skimpy new pieces from her shapewear brand SKIMS on WednesdayIn the first video, posted to the official SKIMS account, the social media influencer is seen in a scoop neck long-sleeve top, retailing for $42, and underwear that shows off her toned midriff and legs.

Bachelor Nation's Kaitlyn Bristowe and Jason Tartick spoke about their plan to start a family in the future during an interview with E! News that was shared on Wednesday.The 36-year-old reality television personality and her fiance discussed several topics during the sit-down, and expressed that they were happy to be able to start a future together.The former Bachelorette lead also noted that her immediate future would ideally include a 'wedding, hopefully babies' during the conversation. Looking to the future:Bachelor Nation's Kaitlyn Bristowe and Jason Tartick spoke about their plan to start a family in the future during an interview with E! News that was shared on Wednesday; they are seen in 2021Bristowe also noted that, in addition to her expectations about her family, she wanted to prioritize her professional interests.'I want to keep growing my businesses.

It appears as though Britney Spears has caught a flight out of Los Angeles to Hawaii.On Wednesday, the seeminglyexuberant pop princess took to Instagram and dropped an exercise video showing her put on a workout exhibition where she revealed she was in Maui.'Warming it up in Maui !!! Literally smiling and glowing !!!' the Piece Of Me star, 40, confessed in the caption of the sped-up clip that shows her flaunting her womanly curves, adding,'When I come here and workout … it's the best day ever !!!' Social media butterfly: Britney Spears confessed she was 'smiling and glowing' during a workout in the gym in Maui, Hawaii that she documented on Instagram on WednesdayFor an added touch, Spears dropped Audrey Nuna's catchy groove song Dollah Bills into the video.She continued: 'Pssss you have to understand I'm excited to be out of my house so I love dancing in the gym !!!!!' Returning to one of her favorite pastimes since going on hiatus from performing, Brit showcased her fab figure on the social media platform in skimpy black shorts and a red crop top.

Jennifer Maas TV Business WriterWarnerMedia is “pausing all new business in Russia” amid the country’s continued invasion of Ukraine, CEO Jason Kilar announced Wednesday.“I want to share with each of you a number of decisions we have made with regard to WarnerMedia’s business operations in Russia,” Kilar said in a memo to WarnerMedia staff obtained by Variety. “Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, WarnerMedia is pausing all new business in Russia.

Jennifer Maas TV Business WriterSPOILER ALERT: Do not read if you have not watched “One Plus One Equals Two,” the finale of the first season of “The Boys Presents: Diabolical.”Amazon’s animated anthology “The Boys Presents: Diabolical” launched Friday, just under two months out for the third season premiere of its parent series, “The Boys.” While the majority of the bite-size shorts that make up the adult cartoon’s first season serve mainly as “a bloody amuse-bouche for Season 3” of the OG show, per “The Boys” showrunner Eric Kripke, there are pieces of the third-season plot that will be served up straight from the delicious chaos in “Diabolical.”First, there’s the finale episode, titled “One Plus One Equals Two,” written by “Diabolical” showrunner Simon Racioppa, which centers on Homelander’s (played by Antony Starr on “The Boys,” and voiced by him in this animated episode) introduction into the Supes of the Seven and the bond he forged with Black Noir (played by Nathan Mitchell on “The Boys” but voiced by no one in this because he’s always silent) out of working together to cover up a mostly accidental massacre on Homelander’s part. (Starr was arrested for alleged assault after these interviews were conducted.) “The finale is canon, yeah,” Kripke told Variety.

Zack Sharf “The Boys” actor Antony Starr was arrested this week in Alicante, Spain, Variety has confirmed with the city’s police department. La Información, Alicante’s biggest local newspaper, reported that Starr was given a 12-month suspended prison sentence with a $5,464.97 fine. The indemnification must be paid into a court account within 72 hours.

Jennifer Maas TV Business WriterSPOILER ALERT: Do not read if you have not watched “Laser Baby’s Day Out,” the first episode of Amazon Prime Video’s “The Boys Presents: Diabolical.”Longtime buddies and producing partners Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg have been “obsessed” with Buster Keaton and Jackie Chan for the past few years, and the idea of “doing something that had no words, no dialogue and purely physical humor.” Enter the offshoot of “The Boys,” which they executive produce, Amazon’s animated shorts anthology series, “The Boys Presents: Diabolical,” which launched Friday with all eight-episodes: the first being the Rogen and Goldberg-written “Laser Baby’s Day Out.”“We’d been messing around with some live-action movie ideas,” Goldberg told Variety. “And then when the idea to make the ‘Diabolical’ show came around, we were like, this is perfect.

Jordan Moreau Amazon’s Prime Video has quickly become the go-to spot for R-rated animated shows, such as “Invincible” and “The Legend of Vox Machina” — and “The Boys Presents: Diabolical,” a spinoff of the mature superhero parody series “The Boys,” is a welcome addition to that bloody, irreverent family.“Diabolical” is an animated anthology series with a heroic cast of A-list voice actors and writers. At just 12 to 14 minutes long, the episodes are short and sweet, and there are a few gems that stand out among the crowd.

Does anyone remember “The Animatrix?” Released in 2003, it is an anthology film of nine animated shorts that expanded the universe of the Wachowskis’ “The Matrix” with new characters, varying styles, and unique visions. Almost two decades later, something similar has been produced for Prime Video’s smash hit “The Boys,” Eric Kripke’s critically acclaimed adaptation of the graphic novels by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson.

Jennifer Maas TV Business WriterAs Russia’s aggression against Ukraine intensifies, Discovery-owned news channel TVN24 in Poland is working around the clock to bring news and information to the nation that shares a border with Ukraine.“While the world is watching Russia invade Ukraine, for us and for our viewers, it’s not only a story of an insane and inhuman invasion on a European country, it is the story of our neighbors and friends,” TVN24 deputy editor-in-chief Brygida Grysiak, who at present is in Poland, told Variety in an interview Saturday. “People we have known for years, we have worked with for years, here in Poland and Ukraine.”Grysiak said  TVN24 has broadcast live nonstop since Russia invaded Ukraine’s capital of Kyiv Wednesday, with on-the-ground teams stationed in Kyiv and Lviv in Ukraine, as well as Moscow in Russia.

Jennifer Maas TV Business WriterJax Media executives Sarah Madigan and John Skidmore have joined Imagine Entertainment, the parent company of Jax, as head of business affairs and strategic partnerships and head of production, respectively, Variety has learned exclusively.Both will continue in their current roles at Jax Media, with Madigan remaining head of business affairs and Skidmore, a founding partner of Jax Media, still chief operating officer of the Imagine Entertainment-owned production company.Skidmore, who will be overseeing all projects across all divisions for Imagine, has produced some of Jax’s most popular titles, including “Broad City,” “Search Party,” “A Black Lady Sketch Show,” “Russian Doll” and the Netflix stand-up specials “Chris Rock: Tamborine,” “John Mulaney: Kid Gorgeous” and “Mike Birbiglia: The New One.” Madigan currently runs business affairs at Jax Media and previously held roles at MGM and Netflix.“Skidmore is a founding member of Jax and Madigan has been integral to the company’s growth over the past few years, and we couldn’t imagine doing this new job without them,” Imagine Entertainment presidents Tony Hernandez and Lilly Burns said in a joint statement to Variety.Jax Media co-founders Hernandez and Burns were promoted to co-presidents of Imagine Entertainment in January and continue to lead Jax Media as CEO and CCO, respectively.