Open Thread

Variety reports: Turns out, Warner Bros. Discovery thinks HBO has some pretty good brand equity, after all. This summer, streamer Max will bend the knee and rebrand back to its original name, HBO Max. The change comes just over two years after Warner Bros. Discovery decided to drop HBO from the streamer’s name to become just Max. Note that while …

Variety reports: Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex trafficking trial escalated as Daniel Phillip, a 41-year-old male escort, was called to the witness stand. In an extremely graphic testimony that lasted about an hour, Phillip was questioned by lead prosecutor Maurene Comey about his sexual encounters with Combs and his then-girlfriend Casandra “Cassie” Ventura from around 2012 to 2014. According to Phillip, …

Variety reports: NBC is celebrating 100 years on the airwaves with a variety special spectacular. The announcement was made by Tina Fey and Amy Poehler — who have both been associated with NBC for over two decades — during the NBCUniversal upfront presentation to advertisers on Monday at Radio City Music Hall. “Hosted by a mix of legendary NBC alumni …

Variety reports: The world has taken an interest in Chicago-born Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost’s American upbringing, and so did anchors Colin Jost and Michael Che during SNL. “I also love that conservatives are already complaining that this pope is too woke. How woke can a 69-year-old man from Chicago be? It’s not like he came out and was like, ‘Hey, …

Deadline reports: With a new single racking up millions of streams, Kanye West is continuing to spread alarming antisemitic rhetoric. On Thursday, the 24x Grammy winner released ‘Heil Hitler’ on multiple streaming platforms, many of which have since removed the track while it continues to rack up millions of streams on Elon Musk‘s X, along with the single’s art, which …

Variety reports: Liev Schreiber says his 16-year-old daughter Kai never actually told him and her mom, Naomi Watts, she was trans. “Kai was always who Kai is,” the “Ray Donovan” star told me Thursday morning. “But I suppose the most profound moment was her asking us to change her pronouns. To be honest with you, it didn’t feel like that …

Variety reports: Sebastian Stan and Leo Woodall are set to star in Justin Kurzel’s “Burning Rainbow Farm,” about a deadly Waco-like police siege that took place in 2001. Rocket Science will be launching the film in Cannes. CAA Media Finance is handling North American distribution rights. “Burning Rainbow Farm” is set to tell the story of Tom Crosslin and Rollie …

Deadline reports: Some cast members of the Kennedy Center performance of Les Misérables plan to skip the show on June 11 when President Donald Trump is in attendance, according to an exclusive CNN report. According to CNN, at least 10 to 12 performers plan to sit out the June 11 show. The news outlet cites anonymous sources, and notes that …

Variety reports: A draft version of Jon Voight‘s plan for Hollywood included a 10% federal tax incentive for film and TV production, paired with an American “cultural test” akin to the rules in the United Kingdom. The draft, published by Deadline on Tuesday, was “crafted solely for the purpose of discussion” and was released without authorization, said Voight’s producing partner, …

Billboard Magazine reports: Hamilton: An American Musical this week becomes the first original cast album to log 500 weeks on the Billboard 200. The album debuted at No. 12 on the chart dated Oct. 17, 2015, which was the highest debut for a cast album in more than 50 years. It peaked at No. 2 in July 2020, which was …

Deadline Hollywood reports: The forthcoming conclave to select the new Pope has gained a whole new group of interested observers, following the success of Oscar-nominated film Conclave starring Ralph Fiennes. Based on the bestselling 2016 novel by Robert Harris, it details the process where cardinals (male, under the age of 80) from across the world gather in the Vatican’s Sistine …

Variety reports: Marvel’s “Thunderbolts*” will easily top the weekend box office after cracking a $31.5 million gross across Friday and preview screenings from 4,330 theaters. That puts the ensemble action piece, which follows a ragtag team-up of Marvel’s least superpowered personalities, on pace to land within projections for a domestic opening between $70 million and $75 million. The movie also …

Deadline Hollywood reports: Although she who must not be named is heavily involved in the upcoming Harry Potter series, Warner Bros. is distancing itself from her views. HBO Chairman and CEO Casey Bloys recently addressed J.K. Rowling‘s ongoing anti-transgender rhetoric and how it will impact the TV adaptation of her seven-book fantasy novel series. “The decision to be in business …

Variety reports: Nominees for the 78th annual Tonys were announced on Thursday, and “Death Becomes Her,” a campy comedy about frenemies on a quest to stay youthful, “Maybe Happy Ending,” a tenderhearted tale about two robots in love, and “Buena Vista Social Club,” a joyous story about celebrated Cuban musicians, were this year’s most nominated shows with 10 nods apiece. …

Variety reports: Katy Perry has responded to backlash following criticism of her new music, tour and Blue Origin space flight earlier this month, writing in a social media comment that she’s felt “battered and bruised” but has “kept looking to the light.” On April 14, the pop star was part of an all-female crew — also including “CBS Mornings” anchor …

Variety reports: Martin Short is expanding his relationship with Disney, signing on to host a revival of the famed gamer “Match Game.” Produced by FremantleMedia North America, “Match Game” centered on four contestants competing for $25,000 as they try to match the answers of six celebrities in a game of fill-in-the-blank. The format, which first premiered in 1962 (hosted by …

Variety reports: John Lithgow is opening up about how fans feel about him joining HBO’s “Harry Potter” series, considering the involvement of the contentious franchise creator J.K. Rowling. In a sit-down with The Times of London, Lithgow said he has received some backlash for joining HBO’s “Harry Potter” because of Rowling’s controversial comments about the transgender community. The “Conclave” star …

Variety reports: “RuPaul’s Drag Race” star and judge of “Drag Race: Philippines,” Jiggly Caliente, has died. She was 44. Caliente had been suffering from complications due to a severe infection, and as a result, had undergone surgery, losing most of her right leg. The news was confirmed by her family, who shared the update on her Instagram page. They wrote, …

Variety reports: Sean “Diddy” Combs rejected a plea deal in his federal racketeering and sex trafficking case, as a federal prosecutor disclosed the offer during a hearing earlier today in New York. Prosecutor Madison Smyser revealed that Combs had rejected the deal without providing any further details on what was offered, reports Reuters. Combs previously pleaded not guilty to the …

The Hollywood Reporter reports: Lulu Roman, the brash Hee Haw comedian and gospel singer who delighted fans of the long-running country music variety show while turning her life around in the process, has died. She was 78. Roman died Wednesday in Bellingham, Washington, her son, Damon Roman, told The Hollywood Reporter. She had moved there to be with him seven …