Universal, Warner Bros. Discovery Execs Mull Future of Asian Theatrical Business

[Warning: Potentially Triggering Content]

Netflix stopped production of Bad Crimes and canceled the animated series before it even starts streaming.

Christina Perri and hubby Paul Constabile have welcomed a baby girl and we couldn’t be more happy for them!

Once again there was messiness on The View. But for once it was a guest that brought it instead of a co-host!

It’s another Let’s Promote Michael Bublé night on Dancing with the Stars. Look at the sultry songster open the show with a bunch of sequin-clad ladies shaking their booties around the boffo Bublé! It’s a repeat visit for the Canadian crooner: he performed in seasons 9 and 16 while couples have danced to his songbook oodles of times over the years. Why not do it one more time, but on Disney+?

Angela Bassett appears as she's never been seen before on the November/December issue of Essence magazine.The seasoned actress, 64, was transformed into a comic book character as she graced the outlet's latest issue.In illustrations by Darius X. Moreno Angela's beauty was translated to cartoon form to accompany her interview.

The first season of HBO's Game of Thrones prequel series House of the Dragon came to an end on Sunday, breaking a new viewership record.The Season 1 finale - dubbed The Black Queen - was watched by 9.3 million viewers on Sunday night across all platforms, according to an HBO press release.The viewership was the highest for an HBO season finale since the series finale of Game of Thrones in May 2019. Record: The first season of HBO's Game of Thrones prequel series House of the Dragon came to an end on Sunday, breaking a new viewership record 9.3 million: The Season 1 finale - dubbed The Black Queen - was watched by 9.3 million viewers on Sunday night across all platforms, according to an HBO press releaseThe numbers - compiled from both Nielsen and first-party data - are even more impressive given the heavy competition from NBC's Sunday Night Football and Fox's ALCS game between the Houston Astros and New York Yankees.'We’re so thrilled to see House of the Dragon catch fire with Game of Thrones fans around the world, as well as new viewers who are discovering the world of Westeros for the first time,' said Casey Bloys, Chairman and CEO, HBO and HBO Max.  'Congrats to George, Ryan, Miguel and the whole House of the Dragon team on an incredible first season,' Bloys added.

Actor Penn Badgley decided to join the popular social media platform TikTok by participating in Taylor Swift's Anti-Hero challenge.The 35-year-old actor joined the legions of Swift fans by posting a video of him lip-syncing lyrics to her song Anti-Hero off her new album Midnights on Monday afternoon.The actor seemingly did so in character, participating in the challenge as his character Joe Goldberg from the hit Netflix series You. TikTok: Actor Penn Badgley decided to join the popular social media platform TikTok by participating in Taylor Swift's Anti-Hero challenge.

Ramona Singer put on an eye-popping display while attending the 2022 Angel Ball - hosted by Gabrielle's Angel Foundation - at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City on Monday.The Real Housewives Of New York City star, 65, sizzled in a long plunging silver sequin gown that showed off her ample cleavage. Others attending the star-studded event included Chaka Khan, Tommy Hilfiger and Dee Hilfiger, Melissa Gorga, Jackie Goldschneider, Clive Davis, Joy Corrigan and more.  Wow! Ramona Singer put on an eye-popping display while attending the 2022 Angel Ball - hosted by Gabrielle's Angel Foundation - at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City on MondayThe Angel Ball honors individuals who have made significant humanitarian and philanthropic contributions in support of cancer research.  Singer added more silver sparkle to her look with a pair of chandelier earrings and a matching metallic purse.The blonde beauty wore her tresses parted in the middle and very lightly curled, and accentuated her features with dramatic lashes and a touch of pink lipstick.   Sizzling: The Real Housewives Of New York City star, 65, sizzled in a long plunging silver sequin gown that showed off her ample cleavage In style: Designer Tommy Hilfiger, 71, was dapper in a vivid blue velvet tuxedo, while his wife Dee Hilfiger, 55, wore an ornate fringe silver dress, sparkly boots and a wing-shaped purse Meanwhile legendary singer Chaka Khan, 69, dazzled in a black outfit with an opulent feather shawl, and wore her auburn hair in voluminous tight curls. The Ain't Nobody hitmaker wore bright pink lipstick for the occasion, and drew attention to her eyes with black eyeliner.Designer Tommy Hilfiger, 71, and wife Dee Hilfiger, 55, made a stylish pair as they posed

Andy Cohen issued a public apology to Garcelle Beauvais, after being accused of disrespecting her feelings on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills reunion.In response to being called 'heartless' by Twitter users for laughing when Lisa Rinna admitted to throwing out Beauvais' memoir, Love Me as I Am, last Wednesday, the  54-year-old TV host replied to viewers' backlash over his insensitivity. 'I need to really sincerely apologize not only for diverting the topic but for not returning — even worse — to the serious conversation that was at hand,' Bravo vet said on SiriusXM's Radio Andy.  Sorry: Andy Cohen issued a public apology to Garcelle Beauvais, after being accused of disrespecting her feelings on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills reunionHe went on to tell listeners he has a 'deep admiration for Garcelle' and they had a 'really good, productive conversation last Thursday' about dismissing her feelings.

EJ Panaligan editor Warner Bros. Discovery has announced the finalists for its Warner Bros. Discovery Access Music Supervisor program, which gives creative voices from historically underrepresented communities the training and tools to gain experience in television and film music supervision. The six selected participants, Mjeema Pickett, Tiffany Gouché, A.D. Johnson, Matthew Wang, Nikki Marshall and Willy Rodriguez, will participate in a curriculum developed by an advisory board of music supervisors Paul Broucek, President of Music, Warner Bros. Pictures; Bronwyn Savasta, SVP, Music, Warner Bros. Television; and Evyen Klean, Founder, Neophonic. The cohort will learn about production, IP management, publishing, soundtracks, deal negotiation in addition to music masters, record labels, research, clearance and licensing. The program will also allow participants to gain hands-on training in an experience that will assist in their future career goals in entertainment. After completing a string of Masterclasses, the cohort will be able to shadow a WBD music supervisor on a show or feature, through a partnership with HBO, HBO Max, WBTV and Warner Bros. Pictures.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Gerhard Zeiler, president of International at Warner Bros. Discovery, has moved to reassure the Asia-Pacific region that it is an integral part of the group’s post-merger strategy. “Don’t believe that we don’t know how important Asia is for our company, he said Thursday. Zeiler was speaking at the APOS Convention in Singapore on Thursday. He cited examples of theatrical success for “Batman” and “Fantastic Beasts” in the region and investment in local production in the region. The reassurance may have been necessary following post-merger announcements that proposed changes in North America, Latin America and Europe ahead of Asia – despite recent external data showing Asia-Pacific as one of the world’s fastest growth regions.

William Earl Warner Bros. Discovery chief David Zaslav assured staffers across Warner Bros. Discovery on Wednesday that the company is not on the auction block. The chairman-CEO of the newly merged entity made his remarks at a company-wide town hall meeting that was beamed out via Zoom to WB Discovery’s 40,000 employees worldwide. Zaslav’s comments came in response to a question from an employee. WB Discovery was formed in April by the merger of AT&T’s WarnerMedia and the Zaslav-led Discovery. There’s been speculation about more M&A to come for the conglomerate since before the merger agreement was completed. “We are not for sale,” Zaslav told employees during the 75-minute session. “We have everything we need to be successful.”

Manori Ravindran International Editor As it continues to cement its European leadership structure, Warner Bros. Disccovery has set out the team working across France, Benelux and Africa under Pierre Branco, general manager for the region. Branco, who reports into EMEA boss Priya Dogra, was previously country manager for WarnerMedia in France, Benelux, Middle East and Africa and head of affiliates and ad sales for EMEA. The changes on his team take effect immediately. In the new layout, Romain Carbonne will manage the insights and research teams across the region, while Guillaume Coffin will lead affiliate sales, ad sales and content licensing for the region.

Jennifer Maas TV Business Writer 42West’s BHI has promoted two employees to new leadership roles and hired Red Bull’s head of U.S. communications for gaming, Variety has learned exclusively. At the Dolphin Entertainment-owned brand, Jonah Keel has been elevated from vice president to senior vice president, while account director Briana Richard has been upped to VP in her division. In addition to these promotions, 42West/BHI co-presidents Dean Bender and Shawna Lynch have brought on Red Blake Shuster as a new VP. “Since BHI was acquired by Dolphin Entertainment and subsequently merged with 42West in January 2021, the division has experienced high double-digit growth,” Lynch said “We owe a great deal of that success to the leadership skills of Jonah and Briana. They are both client and staff relationship builders that drive the efforts of our best-in-class clients, while simultaneously bringing on new and exciting partners.”

Warner Bros. Discovery has set out Pierre Branco’s leadership team for France, Benelux and Africa.

Selome Hailu Warner Bros. Discovery is expansing its “Turn Up! Fight Hunger” campaign, a partnership with No Kid Hungry. The news comes timed to company’s participation in the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health on Wednesday. After an initial pledge in 2018 to donate 1 billion meals to children in need in five years’ time and meeting that goal early in 2021, WBD has upped their promise to 2 billion meals. Including the number already donated, the 2 billion total is set to be reached by September 2023. The program began after Gloria Steinem advised CEO David Zaslav to promote some kind of social good upon hearing that Discovery brands (before the merger with Warner Bros.) reached 25% of American women each night. The company has since utilized that reach with easy-to-access action items, like encouraging viewers across platforms like the Food Network and HGTV to donate by texting the word “hungry” to 707070. The money raised allows for schools, food banks and other community groups to buy not only food, but essential resources such as delivery trucks and protective gear for workers.

Deadline.Zeiler specifically mentioned “Harry Potter,” as well as “Game of Thrones” and DC movies, to be part of the future endeavors that will bring the company success.While there were no specifics of what the “Harry Potter” franchise will look like in the future, there has long been talk of a TV series circulating — although Warner Bros. and HBO Max both have previously denied rumors.“There are no ‘Harry Potter’ series in development at the studio or on the streaming platform,” Warner Bros. and HBO Max said in a joint statement in January 2021.However, it is unclear whether or not that has changed, or if there are any updated developments to a “Potter”-verse, as Zeiler suggested.Later that year, Daniel Radcliffe expressed what role he would want to play in the event of a reboot.“I would probably want to go with like, Sirius [Black] or [Remus] Lupin,” he said at the time.Most recently, HBO Max released the “Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts” documentary in January to celebrate the franchise’s two decades of success.Late “Harry Potter” star Alan Rickman, who played professor Severus Snape, left behind memories from the original franchise before he died.

K.J. Yossman Warner Bros. Discovery Intl President Gerhard Zeiler has set out the company’s post-merger strategy, re-iterating his belief in cinema as well as his commitment to “local stories,” despite the fact that HBO Max recently halted local original programming across a number of European territories, including in the Nordics, Central Europe, the Netherlands and Turkey. “If you want to be a global player, you have to have relevant local stories,” Zeiler said at the Royal Television Society’s (RTS) annual convention in London on Tuesday morning. “I mean don’t misunderstand me, the big kids will always be the Batmans, the Elvises, the Black Adams, which premieres next month here in the U.K.” He also pointed out that WBD invests in local films, citing productions in Japan and Germany, as well as streaming content.