News

A new Madonna album is on the way. The legendary performer confirmed on social media Thursday that she’s working on Confessions 2, the follow up to her 2005 Confessions On a Dance Floor.

“My Valentine’s Day gift to all my fans is to let you know I’m putting my heart and soul into my new music and I can’t wait to share it with you!!,” the singer wrote in an Instagram post accompanied by the Confessions track “Future Lovers.” She didn’t share any details about a potential release date.

Madonna is giving fans the best Valentine’s Day present!

The “Hung Up” Queen of Pop confirmed on Thursday (February 13) that new music is on the way, alluding to a sequel to her 2005 critically hailed album, Confessions on a Dance Floor.

“My Valentine’s Day present to all my fans is to let you know I’m putting my heart and soul into my new music and I can’t wait to share it with you!!

An auteur-actor pairing to nearly match last week’s word of Johnnie To and Tony Leung comes via Variety, who tell us Ulrike Ottinger will direct Isabelle Huppert in The Blood Countess, a vampire feature based on the infamous Elizabeth Báthory from a script by Ottinger and Elfriede Jelinek (The Piano Teacher). Lars Eidinger (Irma Vep), Thomas Schubert (Afire), and Birgit Minichmayr (Everyone Else) will co-star; sales start at the European Film Market imminently.

The Blood Countess is described by “immersive and delightfully eccentric vampire mystery” that unfolds as “a highly visual, narrative scavenger hunt.” Here’s sales agent Magnify’s official synopsis

“[Madame Báthory] and her devoted maid (Birgit Minichmayr) embark on a baroque quest through Vienna to recover the red elixir of life. The book, if found and read by the vampire’s enemies, threatens their vampire realm. Hot on their heels are a vegetarian nephew (Thomas Schubert), his psychotherapist (Lars Eidinger), two vampirologists,...

J.J. Abrams signed a deal with Warner Bros. that is smaller than his previous deal in 2019, signaling the end of the mega-deal in Hollywood.

J.J. Abrams, the creator of hit shows like Lost who has worked on big-name franchise films like Star Wars and Star Trek, has undoubtedly accomplished a lot in his career. However--according to Variety, Warner Bros., the studio he's been working for since 2006, have signed a new deal with him for quite a bit less than previous deals, described as "more modest." The deal Abrams signed in 2019 with Warner Bros. was a five-year pact to the tune of an estimated $500 million. The deal was written in such a way that allowed Abrams to use a significant pool of money to get other writers signed for their own deals. However, due to Abrams' production company, Bad Robot, failing to meet certain financial and output milestones, he won't...

In June 2019, J.J. Abrams signed a massive $500 million deal with Warner Bros., aiming to create content, mentor new talent, and turn his Bad Robot production company into a powerhouse mini-studio. Abrams and his wife, Katie McGrath, were set to lead this ambitious vision.

However, as of 2024, the deal has fallen short of expectations, according to Variety. Despite big plans, Bad Robot struggled to meet financial and production goals. Key projects like Madame X and Overlook were canceled by HBO Max, while others, such as Duster, have been delayed for years, despite high costs. Overall, the partnership has yet to deliver the returns Warner Bros. had hoped for.

Hollywood is tightening its belt, and J.J. Abrams’ once-massive $500 million deal has been scaled back to a more modest agreement. This shift marks the end of an era where massive nine-figure deals were commonplace. The industry is grappling with economic challenges, including layoffs,...

Back in June 2019, J.J. Abrams struck a huge deal with Warner Bros. worth $500 million, one of the biggest in Hollywood at the time. The deal allowed Abrams to not only create content but also recruit and mentor new talent through his Bad Robot production company.

The idea was for him to become a mogul, with his company becoming a mini-studio, incubating fresh voices. Abrams and his wife, Katie McGrath, were set to lead the charge.

However, as of 2024, the deal has not played out as Warner Bros. might have hoped, Variety reports. While Abrams’ team had high ambitions, they struggled to meet financial and output targets. Bad Robot’s efforts, like setting deals with writers and producers such as Angela Robinson, Jessie Nelson, and Latoya Morgan, did not bear much fruit.

Some of the planned projects, like Robinson’s Madame X and Thomason’s Overlook, were scrapped by HBO Max,...

Back in June 2019, J.J. Abrams struck a massive overall deal that would keep him in the fold of Warner Bros., his home studio since 2006.

The five-year pact, pegged at $500 million at the time, had a unique structure that allowed Abrams to draw from a significant pool of money to sign other writers to overall deals. That positioned the multi-hyphenate behind “Felicity” and “Lost” as not just a content creator but a mogul whose Bad Robot production company would incubate the next generation of storytellers, with Abrams and his wife, Katie McGrath, overseeing the stable. Five and a half years later, Warner Bros. doesn’t have much to show for all the coin that it showered on Abrams, even as the value of the deal dropped by half because Bad Robot failed to reach the financial and output benchmarks that would have triggered the full $500 million. With less leverage than it...

The following op-ed was provided to IndieWire courtesy of the team behind “Sing Sing.” It’s written by Sean Boyce Johnson, a Yale-educated actor, about his father Sean “Dino” Johnson, who stars in the A24 film but is also an alum of the Rehabilitation Through the Arts (Rta) program. He was incarcerated during much of his son’s childhood, as Sean Boyce Johnson explains below in his tribute to his father.

Starring Colman Domingo and written/directed by Greg Kwedar with co-writer Clint Bentley, “Sing Sing” incorporates many alumni of Rta in the film’s ensemble in its story of a small theater group formed within the titular New York State correctional facility. The program operates in 10 maximum and medium-security men’s and women’s New York State correctional facilities and aims to reduce recidivism rates by providing people who are incarcerated with critical life skills through the arts.

My...

Anitta cleared her schedule to return to Brazil to join Madonna during her massive concert at Copacabana Beach in Brazil. During an in-depth interview with Jay Shetty on his On Purpose podcast, the Funk Generation star raved about Madonna and how important it was for them to perform together.

“Madonna’s concert had 1.6 million people. It was historic,” Anitta told Shetty. “But also, her concert had a lot of conservatives saying, ‘Oh my God, this is so… the devil.’ She’s a woman who dedicated her life to fighting for people’s rights—their sexualities,...

Madonna and Live Nation have finally responded to the frivolous lawsuit filed by two fans who were upset that one of her Celebration shows started over two hours late.

In the lawsuit, concertgoers Michael Fellows and Jonathan Hadden accused the singer and the concert giant of “false advertising, negligent misrepresentation, and unfair and deceptive trade practices” after Madonna’s concert at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center on December 13, 2023, began after 10:30 p.m. instead of the advertised 8:30 p.m. start time.

The delay, in their legal opinion, served as a...

Warner Bros. Discovery has reportedly scrapped J.J. Abrams' Constantine TV show, adding to the list of failed DC projects. The reboot, set to be part of Abrams' Justice League Dark franchise, had four scripts penned and a potential lead actor in talks. Constantine was planned to be based in modern-day London, showcasing a new version of the character's story.

J.J. Abrams' Constantine TV show is reportedly dead, making it another DC project to get scrapped by Warner Bros. Discovery. Since 2022, several DC projects have been canceled by Warner Bros. Discovery in light of the upcoming DC Universe movies and TV shows from James Gunn and Peter Safran. The goal is to have a more interconnected franchise based on the DC Comics characters, which is why there have been updates over the last few months about other projects getting shelved.

It turns out the Constantine TV series by Abrams...

Rosie O’Donnell assured fans that her “A League of Their Own” costar Madonna is on the mend after her hospitalization last month for a rare bacterial infection. After the former talk show host shared a photo of her and the singer in the 1992 sports comedy on Instagram, a fan asked how Madonna was doing.

“She’s good,” O’Donnell replied, adding, “She is recovering at home — she is very strong in general.”

Last week, Madonna’s manager Guy Oseary posted that she had been admitted to the ICU on June 24 after having developed a serious bacterial infection and that her “Celebration” world tour was postponed as a result.

The tour was set to kick off on July 15 in Vancouver.

Oseary wrote that “a full recovery is expected” for Madonna.

“At this time we will need to pause all commitments, which includes the tour,” he said, adding that she is still under medical care but is improving.

1992’s A League Of Their Own has an iconic lineup of actors bringing to life the members of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (Aagpbl), and their success didn’t stop with the iconic baseball movie. Based on a true story, A League Of Their Own follows sisters Dottie and Kit as they become professional baseball players for the Rockford Peaches during the Aagpbl’s inaugural season. Over the course of the season, the Peaches face many challenges, both personal and professional, as they fight to gain legitimacy for the Aagpbl with baseball fans.

A League Of Their Own’s classic story is brought to life by several now-iconic names, such as Tom Hanks, Geena Davis, Madonna, and Rosie O’Donnell. For many of the cast members, A League Of Their Own bolstered their careers significantly and brought them name recognition, but it might not be known what the movie’s...

Any tour is a massive undertaking that requires an unbelievable amount of planning and logistics. That goes for a band in a van pulling double (or triple, or quadruple) duty as performers, drivers, merch salespeople, and backline technicians, or the biggest pop stars on the planet, who need hundreds of people to make their treks possible.

Despite that reality, it’s rare to see a major artist share the full production and services credits for their tours, so that everyone involved gets a chance to shine. It does happen every...

Batman: Caped Crusader has found a new home at Amazon.

The streamer and retail giant has handed out a two-season order for the animated series that was scrapped at HBO Max last August. Caped Crusader landed at the Jennifer Salke-led streamer after producer Warner Bros. Animation shopped the project following the cost-cutting move that saw parent company Warner Bros. Discovery scrap the show more than a year and a half after ordering it straight to series. Other streamers, including Netflix, Apple and Hulu, also kicked the tires on the project that marks a reunion for executive producers J.J. Abrams and Matt Reeves, who previously collaborated on The WB Network’s beloved Felicity.

The animated series hails from Bruce Timm, Abrams and Reeves and was sold to a streaming rival as part of Warner Bros. Discovery’s efforts to monetize content by selling projects to third-party buyers.

Reps for all...

J.J. Abrams' Justice League Dark show on HBO Max has reportedly been canceled. For several years, Warner Bros. have been attempting to bring the Justice League Dark team to life in live-action. Based on several supernatural beings in the DC world, Justice League Dark was initially being developed as a feature film. But after years of being stuck in development hell, the studio revamped it to be a TV show on HBO Max, with Abrams as an executive producer. The idea was to set up a new TV and film universe based on the Justice League Dark characters that would also go into a team-up series.

While the Constantine reboot and Madame X series lost their spots at HBO Max, the projects have been shopped around to other outlets without any success. However, it was unclear for the longest time if Justice League Dark was still happening or not on the HBO-branded streaming service.

Rachel Hilson will star alongside Josh Holloway in J.J. Abrams and Latoya Morgan’s period drama Duster as HBO Max has finally handed the project an official series order.

The project has been long in the works, it was first announced in April 2020, where it was seemingly given a series order by then HBO Max Chief Content Officer Kevin Reilly. However, that turned out to be development with a series commitment. It has remained active and recently landed an official series order after a pilot was shot.

Hilson will star as Nina, the first Black female FBI agent, who in 1972 heads to the Southwest and recruits a gutsy getaway driver, played by Holloway, the first in a bold effort to take down a growing crime syndicate.

Keith David, Sydney Elisabeth, Greg Grunberg, Camille Guaty, Asivak Koostachin, Adriana Aluna Martinez and Benjamin Charles Watson also star.

Hilson is best known for...

Titans and Doom Patrol have both been canceled at HBO Max and will conclude after their respective fourth seasons, which continues the Arrowverse’s slow death. Created initially for the DC Universe app, which has since become a comics-exclusive platform, Titans and Doom Patrol combined the qualities of the Arrowverse with a more “streaming-like” structure of fewer episodes and more centered stories. Although very different shows, Titans and Doom Patrol shared many links and were arguably an extension of the Arrowverse.

While the Doom Patrol appeared in Titans, Titans and Doom Patrol were never part of the same universe. Likewise, there was never any direct crossover between Stephen Amell’s Arrow or Grant Gustin’s Flash with the Titans or the Doom Patrol. Still, the vast majority of the recent DC TV shows were linked to the Arrowverse on some level, especially after the Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover.

Related:...

James Gunn clarifies the DC Universe decision-making power after inheriting several cancellations. With a new Dcu (formerly known as the Dceu) on the way, the DC brand has been going through major changes over the last few months. On November 1, 2022, DC Studios was officially launched, with Gunn and Peter Safran taking charge as co-CEOs. Under their leadership, they are managing TV, film, animation, and video games tied to the Dcu. As they are crafting the new Dcu, it has also come with some news and decisions that were met with some criticism. Even before DC Studios was launched, Warner Bros. was already experiencing a massive shake-up to their status quo with the DC properties.

The latest news was that Titans and Doom Patrol got cancelled at HBO Max. According to reports, the cancellation was not related to the studio's massive cost-cutting decisions. But it was also not something that Gunn...

(Superhero Bits is a collection of stories, updates, and videos about anything and everything inspired by the comics of Marvel, DC, and more. For comic book movies, TV shows, merchandise, events, and whatever catches our eye, this is the place to find anything that falls through the cracks.)

In this edition of Superhero Bits:

A new "Black Adam" preview arrives.

New Line could have made an "Iron Man" movie.

The "Constantine" and "Madame X" shows are looking for a new home.

"Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" may not be released in France.

All that and more!

Marvel Comics Is Bringing Its Spooky Heroes To The Party With Crypt Of Shadows

Marvel Comics is getting in on the Halloween spirit this year with a new anthology comic, "Crypt of Shadows" #1. The book is set to feature tales from the spookiest characters in the Marvel universe, including Morbius, Werewolf by Night, Moon Knight,...

To anyone not paying attention to industry news, it sure seems like DC Comics adaptations are doing great. Not only are The Flash, Stargirl, and Superman & Lois continuing the legacy established by the Arrowverse (even if not all of them are actually in the Arrowverse), but The Sandman has become a huge hit. But upon closer inspection, one realizes those do nothing to raise the esteem of Warner Bros.’ streaming service HBO Max. While the former three do show up on the service after premiering on The CW, The Sandman is a Netflix property, bringing acclaim to an HBO Max rival.

While this might be a disappointing reality for those who hoped that HBO Max would be the home for all things DC-related — after all Warner Bros. has owned DC Comics since 1969 — the third-party approach might be the saving grace for some highly anticipated series. We already know that the...

Two DC Comics series from J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot Productions that were in development at HBO Max, “Constantine” and “Madame X”, are no longer moving forward at the streamer, TheWrap has learned.

Warner Bros. TV and Bad Robot still remain high on both shows and intend them to shop them to other platforms and are hopeful they’ll land at a new home soon, an individual with knowledge of the projects said.

The individual added that the decision to move on from the shows was not a creative decision or a slight on the quality of the projects but that HBO and HBO Max are over-programmed with DC content, including seven different DC shows including “Doom Patrol,” “Peacemaker,” “Pennyworth” and “Titans” and three others currently in development, not to mention other fantasy programming like “House of the Dragon” and “The Last of Us” on HBO.

Also Read:

‘Constantine’ Sequel...

Update: Now that Keanu Reeves is returning for the Constantine sequel, you might be wondering where that leaves the Constantine TV series which was being developed by J.J. Abrams for HBO Max. It seems that the streamer has decided to pass on the project, as well as the Madame X series from Abrams and Angela Robinson. Neither project is completely dead as both will be shopped to other platforms, with Bad Robot and Warner Bros. Television expecting them to find new homes.

—

Well here’s some exciting news — Deadline has reported that Warner Bros. are developing a Constantine sequel which will see Keanu Reeves returning to star as the cynical exorcist and demonologist. Not only that, but original director Francis Lawrence is also coming back to helm the sequel.

The original Constantine movie was released in 2005 and grossed a respectable 230.9 million on a 70-100 million budget. The movie found Constantine...

Keanu Reeves returning to the Constantine franchise, as revealed by Deadline earlier this afternoon, has thrown up some dust in the TV business.

HBO Max has passed on the J.J. Abrams-exec produced television series version of Constantine, which was being written by British writer Guy Bolton, and a series based on DC Comics’ Madame X with Angela Robinson.

Both were in development at the streamer and came from Abrams’ Bad Robot in association with Warner Bros. Television.

The fact that Warner Bros. is developing another installment of Constantine on the film side with Reeves attached to return with Francis Lawrence directing and Akiva Goldsman writing, didn’t help its small-screen sibling series’ chances.

However, the series, which was a darker reboot of the DC character, inspired by the character’s appearance in the Hellblazer comics, that takes place in contemporary London, had been in development for over two years,...

The only soul Satan himself would come up to collect is getting a follow-up film. “Constantine” is back.

Variety can confirm that Warner Bros. will make a sequel to the 2005 supernatural action film “Constantine” starring Keanu Reeves. The blockbuster star will reunite with original director Francis Lawrence, best known for taking over the “Hunger Games” franchise after the first film.

“Constantine” has been a hot property in Hollywood, sparking a NBC series created by Daniel Cerone and David S. Goyer, and was even more recently being developed into a new series for HBO Max by J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot Productions. However, sources tell Variety that the HBO Max series is now dead, although the streamer had been in early talks with an actor for the lead role before the new movie came together. Four scripts were written for the new adaptation set in contemporary London.

Another Justice League Dark...

Some demon-dealing magicians get all the luck. After nearly two decades, Keanu Reeves will return to the role of John Constantine in a sequel to the 2005 cult hit "Constantine." Deadline reports that Warner Bros. has greenlit a "Constantine 2" starring Reeves and re-teaming him with director Francis Lawrence. "Constantine" was Lawrence's directorial debut and he went on to direct "I am Legend" and the "Hunger Games" sequels, so he's sharpened his talents and could potentially be back with an even better tale of Constantine's troubles. (John is always in trouble. That's his whole thing.) 

While many fans might be asking "why now?," they should really be asking "why not?" Not only is Reeves still killing it as an action star in the "John Wick" franchise, but the character of Constantine has gained new interest due to the success of Netflix's "The Sandman" series, which turned the character into Joanna Constantine...

Singer Madonna has hit a record-breaking milestone after scooping a top 10 album every decade since the release of her self-titled debut release in 1983. The 64-year-old has become the first female to land an album in the Billboard 200 top 10 every decade since the early 1980s, reports mirror.co.uk.

Since her self-titled debut in 1983, the Queen of Pop has sat in the top 10 in the 80s, 90s, 200s, 10s and now, officially, in the 20s.

Her new remix compilation, Finally Enough Love, debuts at No. 8 on the September 3-dated chart.

According to Billboard, Madonna is the 10th act to have achieved this distinction and the other nine are all solo male artists or groups comprising men.

She logged a total of five top 10s on the Billboard 200 in the 1980s.

Seven in the a90s.

Six in the 2000s.

In the ’10s she had four.

Of those 23 top 10s, nine reached No.

This year's MTV Video Music Awards rocked New Jersey, and some of the night's big winners have us shook. Held live at the Prudential Center in Newark on Aug. 28, the VMAs's crop of 2022 winners have dominated both the charts and our music libraries with some of their biggest hits.

Ahead of the ceremony, the network unveiled all the nominees back in July, with Lil Nas X, Kendrick Lamar, and Jack Harlow, leading the pack, all tied with seven total nods each. Harry Styles and Doja Cat were trailing behind with six apiece.

Read ahead to check out all the 2022 winners, below.

Related: 13 Celebrities That Nailed the MTV VMAs This Year - Literally

Video of the Year

"Woman" by Doja Cat

"Way 2 Sexy" by Drake feat. Future and Young Thug

"Shivers" by Ed Sheeran

"As It Was" by Harry Styles

"Industry Baby" by Lil Nas X and Jack Harlow

"Brutal" by...

Exclusive: Jennifer Garner has pulled out of the long-in-the-works Apple TV+ limited series My Glory Was I Had Such Friends, from J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot and Warner Bros. TV. As a result, the streamer has opted not to go forward with the project that it had landed with a straight-to-series order in 2018. Reps for Apple, Bad Robot, Wbtv and Garner declined comment.

According to sources, Garner exited My Glory Was I Had Such Friend for scheduling reasons. The show has taken quite awhile to get off the ground, and the Alias alumna is currently filming another Apple TV+ limited series, The Last Thing He Told Me, an adaptation of Laura Dave’s bestselling novel, which is produced by Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine.

Wbtv and Bad Robot are said to both be high on My Glory Was I Had Such Friend and intend to seek another home for it,...

Click here to read the full article.

As expected, Demimonde will not be moving forward at HBO.

The series, which marked the first original created by J.J. Abrams since Fringe in 2008, has officially been passed over by the premium cable network following issues surrounding the show’s sprawling budget.

Sources tell THR that Abrams made a last-ditch plea to HBO/HBO Max boss Casey Bloys to spare the drama from cancellation. Bloys took the week to do so but ultimately the decision was made to part ways with the series for which Abrams had sought a budget north of 200 million. By comparison, HBO’s upcoming Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon clocked in at less than 200 million. Abrams was also slated to direct the pilot for Demimonde, which has already changed showrunners since it landed at HBO in 2018 following a bidding war with Apple.

Demimonde, starring Danielle Deadwyler (Station Eleven,...

A “Speed Racer” live-action series is in the works at Apple with J.J. Abrams onboard as an executive producer, Variety has learned.

Apple has given the project, which has been in the works for a considerable amount of time, a series order. Ron Fitzgerald and Hiram Martinez are attached to write and executive produce in addition to serving as co-showrunners. Abrams will executive produce under his Bad Robot banner. Warner Bros. Television is the studio, where Bad Robot is under an overall deal.

“Speed Racer” follows the adventure of auto racer Speed Racer and his souped up car, the Mach 5. His team consists of his father and car builder Pops Racer, his little brother Spritle and his pet chimpanzee Chim-Chim, and Speed’s girlfriend Trixie. Speed also frequently crosses paths with the mysterious Racer X, who is secretly Speed’s older brother Rex Racer.

This would be the second live-action...

Madonna made a not-so-surprise appearance Saturday night at Maluma’s all-star homecoming show in Medellín, with the Material Girl joining the Colombian singer onstage to perform two songs.

In the encore portion of the concert — which streamed live on Prime Video and already featured guests like Feid, Blessd and Grupo Firme — Madonna stormed the Estadio Atanasio Girardot stage to sing, naturally, “Medellín,” their collaboration from Madonna’s 2019 LP Madame X, as well as her 2000 hit “Music.”

Madonna also shared rehearsal footage from the provocative performance:

View this post on Instagram...

Netflix is in early development on a scripted series inspired by the rock band U2, sources close to the project confirmed to Deadline. It hails from J.J. Abrams and his Bad Robot Productions, and Warner Bros. TV, where Bad Robot is under a deal. Oscar-nominated screenwriter Anthony McCarten (Bohemian Rhapsody) is attached to pen the series.

Details are being kept under wraps.

Netflix and Bad Robot declined comment.

McCarten penned the screenplay for the Oscar-winning music biopic Bohemian Rhapsody. He is Oscar-nominated for his screenplays for The Two Popes, Darkest Hour and The Theory of Everything.

The Irish rock band U2 was formed in 1976 with Bono on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, lead guitarist the Edge, bassist Adam Clayton and drummer Larry Mullen Jr. The band has released 14 studio albums and won a record 22 Grammys.

Abrams and Bad Robot recently teamed with David E. Kelley on a limited-series adaptation of...

Madonna is partying it up like it’s 1998 thanks to the remix of her hit “Frozen.” On Thursday, Madonna looked stunning in the song’s visual, where she appears alongside Fireboy Dml, who added a welcome verse to the reimagined trap track.

The video shows the Queen of Pop rocking a leather outfit and her signature Madame X cross jewelry as she’s seen smoking and dancing alongside the Nigerian singer. Ahead of its release, Dml thanked Madonna for bringing him onto the song, writing “love to the queen for...

Madonna is looking for one “Lucky Star” to play her in an upcoming biopic.

The Grammy winner is set to direct her own life story for the big screen, from a script co-written with Erin Cressida Wilson. The project was first announced in 2020 with Diablo Cody as co-screenwriter; the “Juno” writer later exited. Amy Pascal is currently on board to produce. Now, they just need to find their Madonna among today’s A-listers.

Casting director Carmen Cuba reportedly has selected five actresses to undergo a Madonna boot camp of sorts, per The Hollywood Reporter. Oscar nominee Florence Pugh, “Inventing Anna” star Julia Garner, and “Euphoria” scene-stealer Alexa Demie all made the shortlist, along with “Mothering Sunday” breakout Odessa Young and “Mayor of Kingstown” alum Emma Laird.

The Hollywood Reporter also noted that singers Bebe Rexha and Sky Ferreira were previously considered. “Euphoria” star Sydney Sweeney was also in the mix,...

Oscar certainly loves mothers. All five of this year’s Best Actress nominees — Jessica Chastain (“The Eyes of Tammy Faye”), Olivia Colman (“The Lost Daughter”), Penelope Cruz (“Parallel Mothers”), Nicole Kidman (“Being the Ricardos”) and Kirsten Stewart (“Spencer”) — play mothers. Ditto four out of five supporting nominees: Jessie Buckley (“The Lost Daughter”), Judi Dench (“Belfast”), Kirsten Dunst (“The Power of the Dog”) and Aunjanue Ellis (“King Richard”); the fifth contender is Ariana DeBose (“West Side Story”).

Actresses love getting maternal sinking their teeth-and sometimes claws-into mother roles whether they be good, bad, ugly or downright evil. Here’s a look at some early memorable mother performances that made Oscars history.

The mother of all mothers was Ruth Chatterton. Though she is not as well-remembered as other actresses from the Golden Age of Hollywood, she was extremely popular in the late 1920s and early ‘30s. Though no nominations were officially announced for the second annual Oscars,...

David E. Kelley and J.J. Abrams are teaming up for a limited series adaptation of courtroom thriller Presumed Innocent for Apple.

The streamer has ordered an eight-part series based on Scott Turow’s book.

It marks the first Apple series order for Kelley, who will serve as showrunner on the project and will exec produce alongside Castle Rock showrunner Dustin Thomason, Abrams and Bad Robot’s Head of Television Ben Stephenson.

Presumed Innocent was published in 1987 and was turned into a feature film starring Harrison Ford in 1990. It tells the story of a horrific murder that upends the Chicago Prosecuting Attorneys’ office when one of its own is suspected of the crime.

The book told the story through the eyes of the accused Rusty Sabich, played by Ford in the movie, who was charged with the murder of his colleague Carolyn Polhemus.

2022 Apple TV+ Pilots & Series Orders

The series will explore obsession,...

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“Madame X,” the new concert film centered around Madonna’s epic performances in Lisbon, Portugal, began streaming exclusively on Paramount+ on Friday.

The film, directed by Ricardo Gomes and Sknx, delivers an unprecedented, intimate experience that takes viewers on a journey through Madonna’s theater tour as her fearless alter-ego, Madame X, a globe-trotting secret agent who travels around the world, fighting for freedom.

“Sharing my vision with global audiences has been profoundly meaningful to me,” the 63-year-old icon said in a statement. “The opportunity to bring its message and the incandescent artistry of all involved to an even wider audience comes at a time when music is so deeply needed to remind...

Madonna says she’s fought several studio attempts to do a movie about her life in part because the projects have always been written and directed by men, including one unnamed “misogynist.”

While appearing on The Tonight Show Thursday, the Madame X singer confirmed that she’s helming her own visual autobiography — not “a biopic,” per the artist — because past attempts at doing so have all come from the male gaze.

“The reason I’m doing it is because a bunch of people have tried to write movies about me, but they’re always men,” she ...

Madonna says she’s fought several studio attempts to do a movie about her life in part because the projects have always been written and directed by men, including one unnamed “misogynist.”

While appearing on The Tonight Show Thursday, the Madame X singer confirmed that she’s helming her own visual autobiography — not “a biopic,” per the artist — because past attempts at doing so have all come from the male gaze.

“The reason I’m doing it is because a bunch of people have tried to write movies about me, but they’re always men,” she ...

If Madonna wanted to disturb the peace during her Tonight Show appearance, well, mission accomplished. The pop icon sat down for what may now be considered one of Jimmy Fallon's most memorable interviews. During her appearance, which aired on Oct. 7, the performer explained that novelist and activist James Baldwin was a source of inspiration for her Madame X show, out now as a concert film. "One of the things I quote over and over again in the show is that 'Artists are here to disturb the peace,'" she told the late-night host. "I hope that I have disturbed not only your peace this afternoon, but people's peace while they watch the show—but I mean that in the...

“Madame X,” the new Madonna concert film, opens with a montage of some of the pop superstar’s most legendary performances, music videos, and shock-theater provocations: the infamous moments from the MTV Video Music Awards, the transgressive S&m imagery and Gaultier fashion, the tabloid headlines like “What a Tramp” and “Madonna Has No Shame” (how quaint in the age of Instagram!), the on-cue outrage from the Catholic Church. The film closes with a montage of oppressed people and groups from around the world set to Madonna’s onstage performance of “I Rise,” a song about the powerless standing up to fight the power. The opening montage reminds you of the impassioned and sometimes scandalous effusiveness of Madonna in her heyday; each clip gives off a buzz. The final montage is earnest to a fault, and the song, while working overtime to be an anthem, is serviceable and far from ecstatic.

An impressively designed production from a star hoping to convey the deep empathy she feels for pretty much every group suffering during these troubled times, Madonna’s Madame X showcases the eponymous album, in which she draws on new influences ranging from Colombian rap to Portuguese fado. An uncharitable observer might dub this The Appropriation Tour, aligning a star whose relevance has faded with both unimpeachably authentic music and the in-the-streets energy of social justice movements. But wherever one draws the line between supporting a group and co-opting it, X captures a night of solid performances and top-notch stagecraft. Just don’t show up if ...

Amazon Prime Video announced “With Love” will premiere on Dec. 17.

The limited series stars Emeraude Toubia, Mark Indelicato, Rome Flynn, Desmond Chiam, Vincent Rodriquez III, Isis King, Todd Grinnell, Constance Marie and Benito Martinez.

“With Love” follows the Diaz siblings, Lily (Toubia) and Jorge (Indelicato), who are on a mission to find love and purpose. The Diaz siblings cross paths with seemingly unrelated residents during some of the most heightened days of the year — the holidays. Each of the five episodes is set during a different holiday.

All episodes will be written and executive produced by Gloria Calderón Kellet. The pilot will be directed and executive produced by Meera Menon. With Love is produced by Calderón Kellett’s production company, GloNation and Amazon Studios.

See first look images below.

Also in today’s TV news roundup:

Dates

YouTube Originals announced “Get Curious With Kamala Harris” will premiere on Oct. 7 on...

Madonna held court at the premiere of her new documentary “Madame X” on Sept. 23 at New York’s Paradise Club at the Edition Times Square. The evening included a Q&a with the pop music icon moderated by “RuPaul’s Drag Race” winners Symone and Aquaria, a deejay set by Questlove and a performance by Teezo Touchdown. Guests sipped Ketel One Vodka drinks, including the Madame X Martini.

“Madame X” premieres on Paramount Plus on Oct. 8.

“Artists are here to disturb the peace” is the one thing Madonna wants viewers to take from her upcoming Paramount+ concert film, Madame X, which premiered at the Times Square Edition Hotel in New York City on Thursday.

And if there’s one thing every person on the red carpet could agree on, it was that Madonna is an inspiration, which is fitting when her pop star status remains today as in ’80s and ’90s. Madame X captures the icon’s unique tour, which limited each show to a couple thousand people and sold out theaters worldwide.

“There ...

“Artists are here to disturb the peace” is the one thing Madonna wants viewers to take from her upcoming Paramount+ concert film, Madame X, which premiered at the Times Square Edition Hotel in New York City on Thursday.

And if there’s one thing every person on the red carpet could agree on, it was that Madonna is an inspiration, which is fitting when her pop star status remains today as in ’80s and ’90s. Madame X captures the icon’s unique tour, which limited each show to a couple thousand people and sold out theaters worldwide.

“There ...

It seems like Madonna might have found her "Material Girl" in Florence Pugh. On Thursday, Sept. 23, the iconic pop star spoke to the Associated Press about her upcoming biopic at the New York premiere for her new concert documentary Madame X, revealing that she's still in the early stages of planning and the cast hasn't been chosen yet. However, it seems Madge has her eyes set on the Little Women actress, who has the perfect background for the role. Madonna shared, "She's definitely up there on the list, if she'll have me." Though Florence is primarily known for her acting, she's also a singer, who performs under the name Flossie Rose. The...

Brazilian hit comedy troupe Porta Dos Fundos, renowned for its irreverent take on the life of Christ in their annual Christmas Specials, is making its first animated special exclusively for streamer Paramount Plus.

The new Paramount Plus Original, titled “Mean Boys,” is written by troupe co-founder Fábio Porchat and co-produced by Vis Americas and Brazilian animation studio, Estricnina.

The move makes sense given that ViacomCBS took a majority stake in Porta dos Fundos in 2017 and co-produced last year’s special with Porta dos Fundos.

“Mean Boys” will give the audience a peek at Jesus’ teenage life before he became Christ as he enrolls in a new high school and, with the help of his pal Lázaro, tries to fit in. “We always wanted to make an animation [film],” said Porchat, adding: “This pandemic turned our desire into a necessity. After all, drawing can’t transmit a virus.” The pandemic continues to...

On Madonna’s 63rd birthday Monday, the singer has announced a new partnership with Warner Music Group that will see her entire catalog reissued over the next few years.

The campaign begins in 2022, which marks the 40th anniversary of a recording career that began with Madonna’s 1982 single “Everybody.” Madonna will “personally curate expansive deluxe editions for many of her landmark albums,” Wmg said of the reissue campaign, adding that the singer will also “introduce unique releases for special events, and much more.”

Madonna spent the first 25 years of her...