News

David Schwimmer Almost Said No To Friends & Rachel’s Ex-Fiancé(Photo Credit –Facebook)

It’s nearly impossible to imagine Friends without David Schwimmer’s neurotic charm or his iconic delivery of “We were on a break!” But in an alternate TV universe, Ross Geller could’ve been played by someone very different – Rachel’s ex-fiancé, Barry.

Mitchell Whitfield, who ended up playing the jilted dentist Barry Farber, was this close to landing Ross. Per The Guardian, Whitfield actually auditioned for both Ross and Chandler. “I went back multiple times, and then they realised Ross was the role for me,” he revealed. He was one of the final contenders, until producers decided to bring in “one more guy.”

That guy was David Schwimmer. And just like that, Whitfield went from potential lead to minor recurring character. Barry may not have won Rachel’s heart, but he almost claimed Ross’s spot in the Friends gang.

Hailed by Variety as a “warm and heart-tugging tale,” Hasan Hadi’s “The President’s Cake,” Iraq’s first film selected for Cannes, has won the Directors’ Fortnight People’s Choice prize, the first audience award at Cannes and a Directors’ Fortnight plaudit which take into consideration any film from any part of the world.

The prestigious award builds on auspicious early major territory sales for the film, sold by Films Boutique, which bid fair for a broad international roll out.

News of the Director’s Fortnight People’s Choice prize comes as Belgian Valéry Carnoy has won a second partner prize in the Directors’ Fortnight, scooping the Sacd Coup de Cœur des Auteurs prize for “Wild Foxes,” adding to its Europa Cinemas Cannes Label for best European film at Directors’ Fortnight, announced just an hour ago. The double whammy establishes the Belgian director as a director to track.

A U.

Belgian Valéry Carnoy’s “Wild Foxes” (“La Danse des renards”) has won this year’s Europa Cinemas Cannes Label for best European Film at the 2025 Cannes Directors’ Fortnight.

Announced Thursday by Europa Cinemas, ahead of the Directors’ Fortnight closing ceremony this afternoon, the prize is one of three at Directors’ Fortnight and awarded by one of the sidebar’s partners, given the section is non-competitive.

The section’s People’s Choice audience award and a second partner plaudit, the Sacd Prize, handed out by France’s Writers’ Guild, will be announced later today at an awards ceremony. There, French writer-director Thomas Cailley (“The Animal Kingdom”) will receive the inaugural Alpine Prize, which aims to highlight “filmmakers who dare to shatter conventions and blaze new trails in French and international cinema.”

Reconfirming his star potential, in “Wild Foxes,” France’s Samuel Kirchner, who scored a promising actor Cesar nomination for Cathérine Breillat...

Looking for an original crime series? In “Dead End,” a potential standout at this week’s Canneseries, sleuth Ed Bex is able to glimpse a dead person’s final moments by licking or even better eating a little part of their corpse. He spends much of Ep. 2 trying to steal a toe from murder victim 2 from out of the mortuary and store it at his family home for a moment when he can get a little nibble.

Highly palatable for crime drama connoisseurs from a director championed by Walter Presents, which bought her “Tabula Rasa” for the U.K., “Dead End,” produced by Lompvis and Caviar, has just been acquired by Federation for international distribution.

It could not be described as comfy crime. Playing in Canneseries main competition on April 27,“Dead End” is likely to build yet more the reputation of creator Malin-Sarah Gozin whose “Clan” (2012) was adapted into Apple...

Peacock has announced the lineup of movies, TV shows, and live sports that will be available on the streaming service in February. The Peacock February 2025 schedule includes Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, Pharrell Williams’ Piece by Piece, SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night, Valentine’s Day titles, and more.

Dive into the colorful world of Pharrell Williams on February 7 when the streaming premiere of Piece by Piece debuts exclusively on Peacock.

Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy

The premiere of Peacock’s Original Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy is coming just in time for Galentine’s Day on February 13. Tune in to catch up with our girl “Bridge” in the fourth installment of the beloved series.

Whether you’re celebrating with your sweetheart or flying solo and loving it, Peacock has you covered with a heartwarming lineup of over 300 titles that will make you fall in love with love all...

Jennifer Aniston has been seen in numerous acclaimed comedy films in her career following her incredible performance as Rachel Green in the sitcom Friends. However, her film The Break-Up opposite Vince Vaughn in 2006 was more unique as it presented an unconventional anti-rom-com approach.

Jennifer Aniston in The Break-Up | Credits: Universal Pictures

Call it intentional or the strange game of destiny, The Break-Up was pitched to Jennifer Aniston at a time when she was navigating through the much-publicized real-life split from Brad Pitt. But instead of giving her more pain, the Peyton Reed directorial actually proved very fruitful for the actress as it helped her to let go of her past relationship.

Jennifer Aniston was destined to do The Break-Up Vince Vaughn and Jennifer Aniston in The Break-Up | Credits: Universal Pictures

Jennifer Aniston‘s relationship with Brad Pitt sparked after they first met each other in 1998. After they got married in...

Unpopular opinion but rom-coms aren’t always supposed to knock you off your feet and have you deep in thought after the screen turns to black. Sometimes, we just want to curl up and watch a feel-good movie that didn’t do too well with the critics. Jennifer Aniston’s The Break-Up is a great example of such guilty pleasures.

Vince Vaughn and Jennifer Aniston in The Break-Up (2006) | Credits: Universal Pictures

As Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn’s characters Brooke and Gary go through a breakup while living in the same condo, Brooke makes it a mission to make Gary jealous. She even resorts to roaming around their place buck-naked. As it turns out, Jennifer Aniston didn’t use a stunt double for this scene.

Why did Jennifer Aniston not use a stunt double in ‘The Break-Up’? Jennifer Aniston goes nude for The Break-Up | Credits: Universal...

In recent years, Kanye West Aka Ye has been thrown into the limelight for his controversial actions, beliefs, and statements. Although the iconic rapper seemed to lose it all after his alleged anti-semitic comments, he has managed to build up his empire from the ground up.

After all, just a few months ago, the 47-year-old released Vultures 2 and topped the US Top R&b/Hip-Hop Albums chart. It even wound up becoming West’s 12th chart-topper and put him back on top.

Kanye West performs at The Museum of Modern Art | Credits: Jason Persse via Wikimedia Commons, Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0

However, although the rap icon’s album fared rather well, just last year, an AI song titled, First Day Out, ended up stealing the show. After all, the track sounded so much like Ye that it left everyone scratching their heads.

Kanye West’s verse on Rundown Spaz’s...

Exclusive: Jimmy Tatro has joined the cast of the 20th Century pic Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice. He joins an ensemble that includes Vince Vaughn, James Marsden and Eiza Gonzalez. BenDavid Grabinski will write and direct, with Andrew Lazar producing.

Deadline first reported in May that 20th Century landed the project following a heated bidding war. While plot details are vague, the spec is described as a buddy action comedy set in the criminal underworld. No details on who Tatro will be playing.

Best known for his starring roles in The Real Bros of Simi Valley and Home Economics, Tatro is coming off his scene stealing role in Searchlight’s Theater Camp (which he also exec produced). He also recently reprised his role in The Real Bros of Simi Valley: The Movie and can be seen next opposite Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon in the Amazon Studios comedy You’re Cordially Invited.

Film editor and former American Cinema Editors board member Doug Ibold, died Wednesday, Nov. 8 at the Motion Picture & Television Fund Mary Pickford House in Woodland Hills, California. He was 83 and died of cancer, according to a report.

Born January 23, 1940, in Cincinnati, Ibold was raised in St. Petersburg, Fl, and graduated from Florida State University.

In his early career, he worked for Wtvt in Tampa/St Petersburg. During his time there, he was the CBS pool camera operator on the pitching deck of the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Wasp, televising the first live shots of the Gemini 6 and 7 space capsule landings via the Telstar Satellite.

Ibold shot and edited film for John Lennon and Yoko Ono in the early ’70s, then transitioned to a successful career as a film editor in Los Angeles. He cut shows for Don Bellisario and edited the original pilot for Dick Wolf’s Law and Order,...

Doug Ibold, who edited episodes of “Law & Order,” “Magnum, P.I.” and “Miami Vice,” died on Nov. 8 after a battle with cancer, his family announced. He was 83.

Ibold edited the 1990 pilot for Dick Wolf’s seminal “Law & Order,” as well as the 1999 pilot for “Law & Order: Svu”; he cut dozens of “Svu” episodes through 2005. Prior to “Law & Order,” Ibold collaborated with Wolf on “Miami Vice” between 1985 and 1987.

Ibold worked on the first six seasons of the original “Magnum, P.I.” series from 1980 to 1985, and handled other Donald P. Bellisario productions including “Quincy M.E.,” “Quantum Leap,” “Tequila and Bonetti” and the 1995 pilot for the drama series “Crowfoot.” Additional TV credits include “B.L. Stryker,” “Texas Ranger,” “Walker,” “Xena: Warrior Princess” and “Tour of Duty.”

Born Edward Douglas Ibold on Jan. 23, 1940, in Cincinnati, Ohio, he was raised in St. Petersburg, Fla., and graduated from Florida State University. Early in his career,...

Doug Ibold, the Emmy-nominated film editor whose 20-year collaboration with producer Dick Wolf included cutting the pilots for Law & Order and Law & Order: Svu, has died. He was 83.

Ebold died Nov. 8 of cancer at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, his family announced.

Ibold also was a film editor on the first six seasons of Magnum, P.I. from 1980-85 and worked on such other Donald P. Bellisario productions as Quincy M.E., Quantum Leap, Tequila and Bonetti and the 1995 pilot for a drama series called Crowfoot.

After collaborating with Wolf on Miami Vice in 1985-87 and on the 1997 NBC crime series Players, Ibold edited the 1990 L&o pilot “Everybody’s Favorite Bagman” and the 1999 L&o: Svu pilot “Payback.” (He would handle dozens of Svu episodes through 2005.)

At the 2012 Eddie Awards, Wolf presented him with a Career Achievement Award (he served as an American...

Takeaway 1: Call the Midwife is praised for its standout cast, who bring engaging character drama to the historical medical series. Takeaway 2: The show explores poignant political and social topics, including abortion, racism, religion, poverty, and teen pregnancy. Takeaway 3: Each actor, such as Helen George and Linda Bassett, has the opportunity to shine in the show and has flexed their acting muscles in other projects.

When the BBC historical medical drama returned for a 12th season, the Call the Midwife cast was particularly praised for being one of its standout features. Call the Midwife takes place in London in the late 1950s and 1960s and follows a group of midwives working at the Nonnatus House and how their work and the patients they treat affect both their professional and personal lives. Call the Midwife is not only an engaging character drama, but it also explores poignant political and social topics like abortion,...

Hersha Parady, who played schoolteacher Alice Garvey on the beloved show “Little House on the Prairie,” has died after a long struggle with a brain tumor. She was 78.

The actress’ death was first confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter by her son, Jonathan Peverall, who did not immediately respond to messages sent Thursday. Peverall had started a GoFundMe page to help with her medical expenses.

“Hersha, who has always been an active and outgoing woman, is battling a tough medical condition – a brain tumor known as meningioma,” he wrote in July.”This illness has robbed her of her strength, her memory, and sadly, her vibrant personality. She has become largely bedridden, and it is very difficult to see my Mom, who was once full of life and energy, now struggling with basic daily activities.”

Parady played Walnut Grove schoolteacher Mrs. Garvey from 1977-1980, and the Garveys (Merlin Olsen played Jonathan Garvey...

Hersha Parady, whose three-season run as Walnut Grove schoolteacher Alice Garvey on Little House on the Prairie came to an unforgettable, dark end for fans of the beloved NBC drama, has died. She was 78.

Parady died Wednesday in the Norfolk, Virginia, home of her son, Jonathan Peverall, he told The Hollywood Reporter. She had been dealing with a brain tumor, and he had set up a GoFundMe page to help with expenses.

Parady and former NFL star Merlin Olsen were introduced as wife and husband Alice and Jonathan Garvey on the Michael Landon-created Little House on the Prairie during the season-four opening episode, “Castoffs,” in September 1977.

On the sixth-season installment “May We Make Them Proud,” which aired as a two-hour episode during a sweeps ratings period in February 1980, Alice races into the School for the Blind, which has caught fire, to save some children inside, including Mary and Adam’s (Melissa Sue Anderson,...

British actor Darren Kent, who had a memorable, heartbreaking role in HBO's hit series Game of Thrones, has died.

According to a post on X from his talent agency, Carey Dodd Associates, Kent passed away on Friday. While it was noted that his best friend and parents were by his side, no additional details were shared on the nature of Kent's passing, though he had been battling osteoporosis, arthritis, and a very rare skin disorder all throughout his career. The actor, who was just 36 years old, is getting remembered on social media by some of the people who'd gotten to know him through their work together.

It is with deep sadness we have to tell you that our dear friend and client Darren Kent passed away peacefully on Friday. His parents and best friend by his side. Our thoughts and love are with his family in this difficult time. Rip my friend â.¤ï¸. pic.

Streaming

Netflix has renewed International Emmy-winning hit Indian series “Delhi Crime” for a third season. The streamer’s India operation has also renewed “Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives,” “Kota Factory,” “Mismatched” and “She” for third seasons.

Netflix India has also commissioned a documentary on the life of hip hop artist and rapper Yo Yo Honey Singh who will deep-dive into the reasons behind his sudden disappearance at the peak of his career. The documentary will be directed by Mozez Singh (Disney+ Hotstar series “Human”) and produced by Guneet Monga and Achin Jain‘s Sikhya Entertainment, 2023 Oscar winners for “The Elephant Whisperers.”

“Yo Yo Honey Singh took over the Indian music industry by storm. His music resonated with the youth. Singh was a star even before he garnered limelight in the press. His tumultuous journey with fame intrigued a whole nation, and us at Sikhya,” Monga said.

Investment

Content studio The Story Collective...

Belgian public television starts filming on Baraki, its first 26’ format series, Coyotes and Pandore, as post-production on Unseen is wrapping up. The Rtbf and the Wallonia-Brussels Federation continue their joint program of TV series production, hoping to find successors to La Trêve, Unité 42 or Ennemi Public. The Covid-19 crisis has interrupted the filming of Unseen only a few days before wrapping (the last takes were finally shot in June and the show should be broadcast some time in Autumn), and has delayed that of Pandore. But this Summer saw the return to film sets in order to guarantee new content to broadcast in 2021. The first production to get started is Baraki, a series by Julien Vargas, Peter Ninane and Fred de Loof, which follows the trials and tribulations of a working-class family. It will be...

Welcome back to Tune In: our weekly newsletter offering a guide to the best of the week’s TV.

Each week, Variety’s TV team combs through the week’s schedule, selecting our picks of what to watch and when/how to watch them. This week, “Watchmen” airs its season 1 finale on HBO, and “The Expanse” returns for season 4 on Amazon.

“Michelle Wolf: Joke Show,” Netflix, Tuesday

Michelle Wolf’s latest stand-up special hits Netflix this week. Expect the comedian to tackle the differences between men and women, explore gender equality, explain why society should be a little “less” woke, in her return to Netflix after the streamer canceled her talk show “The Break” last year.

“The Expanse,” Amazon, Friday

Over a year-and-a-half after Syfy canned the series, “The Expanse” returns for season 4 on Amazon. Season 4 will see the crew of the Rocinante set off on a mission from the U.

In November 2016, when Michelle Wolf was offered the opportunity to film her first stand-up special for HBO, the comedian set a challenging path for herself to make sure that her material was as solid as it could possibly be.

As Wolf explains, when it comes to comedy specials, HBO is the “gold standard,” so when the premium cabler called—while she was in Miami opening for Louis C.K., “pre-controversy”—she decided to embark on a 100-show tour prior to taping, where she would headline and mercilessly refine her material. “The one thing I’ve always heard from comics is, you always find tags and parts of jokes after you tape, and I didn’t want to do that,” Wolf explains. “I wanted to explore every premise and be as prepared as possible.”

A former contributor and writer for Late Night with Seth Meyers and The Daily Show with Trevor Noah...