Open Thread

Variety reports: Nicole Kidman and Harris Dickinson brought sexy back to Venice Friday night at the premiere of Halina Reijn’s kinky, sex-filled “Babygirl.” With Kidman playing a high-powered CEO and Dickinson as the young intern she with whom starts a sexual relationship, “Babygirl” stimulated the Venice audience, leading to a 6.5-minute standing ovation that lasted all the way through the …

Deadline Hollywood reports: Netflix has snapped up U.S. rights to Maria, the biopic of opera singer Maria Callas, teaming Spencer helmer Pablo Larraín and Angelina Jolie, which is premiering Thursday at the Venice Film Festival. This is Netflix’s second film with Larraín directing following last year’s El Conde, which received an Oscar nomination for Best Cinematography. The project marks the …

Variety reports: Sigourney Weaver got emotional while talking about Kamala Harris during her press conference at Venice Film Festival ahead of receiving a Golden Lion for lifetime achievement. Asked about the impact of her acting in empowering women — specifically her “Alien” character of Ripley — and how it could help make it possible for Harris to become U.S. president, …

Variety reports: Jason and Travis Kelce are kicking off a rich new deal with Amazon’s Wondery, which has exclusive ad-sales and distribution rights to the popular “New Heights” weekly podcast hosted by the famous football brothers. The deal between the Kelce brothers and Wondery, which runs for three years, is worth more than $100 million, according to a source familiar …

Billboard Magazine reports: Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” adds a seventh nonconsecutive week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The single, which became the singer-songwriter’s first leader on the list in July, claims outright 2024’s longest reign, surpassing the six nonconsecutive weeks on top for Post Malone’s “I Had Some Help” featuring Morgan Wallen. The latter, now at …

Deadline reports: Babe Ruth’s jersey, worn when he famously “called the shot” during the 1932 World Series, has been sold for a record-breaking sum. Ruth’s jersey sold for $24.12m at auction, becoming the most expensive item of sporting memorabilia ever sold at auction. Tthe sale dwarfs the previous record sum of $12.6m paid in 2022 for a 1952 Topps baseball …

Variety reports: The summer box office is winding down, as Amazon MGM’s social thriller “Blink Twice” and Lionsgate’s action remake “The Crow” both look to open beneath a trio of holdovers. “Blink Twice” wins the race between new releases though, with a $2.8 million gross across Friday and preview screenings from 3,067 locations. Marvel’s “Deadpool & Wolverine” looks to reclaim …

Deadline reports: The final night of the Democratic National Convention, buoyed by a speech from Vice President Kamala Harris accepting the party’s presidential nomination, averaged 26.2M viewers on Thursday across 15 networks, according to Nielsen. The audience grew to 28.9M viewers during Harris’ speech, which aired from around 10:31 p.m. to 11:11 p.m. ET. The DNC‘s Night 4 average is …

NBC News reports: They were the penguin power couple, a world-famous same-sex pairing whose love was taught about in schools and inspired a pride parade float. Now Magic, mourning Sphen’s death, has led their community in a tribute song. “The loss of Sphen is heartbreaking to the penguin colony, the team and everyone who has been inspired or positively impacted …

Variety reports: Fitness guru Richard Simmons’ cause of death has been revealed. His brother Lenny Simmons told People Magazine in a statement Wednesday that his death was “accidental” and caused by “complications from recent falls and heart disease.” According to TMZ, Simmons suffered a fall at his home on Friday, July 12, but declined seeking medical attention. The outlet reported …

Variety reports: The first footage from Spanish auteur Pedro Almodóvar’s “The Room Next Door,” starring Oscar winners Julianne Moore and Tilda Swinton, is here. Sony Pictures Classics dropped a teaser trailer on Tuesday for the film, which marks Almodóvar’s first English-language feature and is set to premiere in competition at Venice Film Festival on Sept. 2. According to its synopsis, …

Deadline reports: Taylor Swift is meeting with families affected by the stabbing of children at a dance class themed after her. The “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart” singer returned to the UK for a series of shows in London and met up with several of the Southport families. “The horror of yesterday’s attack in Southport is washing …

Variety reports: CBS’ “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” and Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” are set to travel to Chicago for a week of shows during the Democratic National Convention next week. On the docket: A Kamala Harris biofilm created by “The Daily Show” team and a guest list on “The Late Show” that includes Hillary Rodham Clinton and …

Deadline Hollywood reports: 20th Century Studios/Disney’s Alien: Romulus is gobbling up tickets around the globe, now poised to come in with a $100M worldwide opening — significantly higher than pre-weekend projections. This is notably due to the strength of the Fede Alvarez-directed sci-fi horror at the international box office, and more specifically in China. With the Ridley Scott-produced franchise installment …

Variety reports: With less than a month to go before the 76th Emmy Awards, the telecast’s hosts are finally set. As expected, the father-son duo of Eugene Levy and Dan Levy will emcee this year’s Emmys, which take place on Sunday, Sept. 15, live on ABC. The two made history in 2020 as the first father and son to win …

People Magazine reports: Gena Rowlands, screen icon best known for A Woman Under the Influence and The Notebook, has died. She was 94. Rowlands died surrounded by her family – including her husband Robert and daughter Alexandra – at her Indian Welles, Calif. home on Wednesday, Aug. 14, reports TMZ, adding that no cause of death was immediately available. Her …

Variety reports: Pastor and televangelist Joel Osteen has partnered with Roku to launch a free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) channel. Dubbed The Joel Osteen Network, the outlet debuted Wednesday on The Roku Channel, including on Roku devices, as well as TVs with Roku functionality and also on The Roku Channel’s website. The Joel Osteen Network will also be available on …

Deadline Hollywood reports: In a very quick turnaround, Hulu has given a series order to Mid-Century Modern, its multi-camera comedy pilot from Will & Grace creators David Kohan & Max Mutchnick and Ryan Murphy that stars Nathan Lane, Matt Bomer, Nathan Lee Graham and Linda Lavin. The pickup comes less than two months after the pilot, written by Kohan and …

Variety reports: Taylor Swift‘s “The Tortured Poets Department” is now her longest-running No. 1 album in the United States. The set re-enters No. 1 in its 14th non-consecutive week on the list since its release in late April. Swift’s only immediate threat for the throne was “Vultures 2,” a companion album from Ye, or Kanye West, and Ty Dolla $ign. …

Variety reports: “Deadpool & Wolverine” is the newest member of the billion-dollar club. Disney’s Marvel sequel, starring Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman as their comic book alter egos, has grossed $494.3 million in North America and $535.1 million internationally for a grand total of $1.029 billion at the global box office. It’s the second release of 2024, following Disney’s Pixar …