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Six original films that were previously removed from Disney+ and Hulu are now available to rent on demand, including Rosaline and The One and Only Ivan. These films were pulled from Hulu and Disney+ as a cost-cutting measure, but now viewers can enjoy them again through VOD. The previously unavailable films include Rosaline, Better Nate Than Ever, The One and Only Ivan, Crater, Cheaper By The Dozen, and Flora & Ulysses.

Six original films from Disney+ and Hulu that were removed earlier this year are now available on VOD. Disney+ and Hulu have removed dozens of originals - both TV shows and movies - this year as a cost-cutting measure for the streaming services. This includes some noteworthy content like the Willow TV series, as well as the Bryan Cranston-led film The One and Only Ivan.

Now, LifeIsAFilmFest has confirmed that six original movies that were previously removed from...

GLAAD has released the 11th installment of its Studio Responsibility Index, an annual study that tracks “the quantity, quality and diversity” of LGBTQ characters in films released in a calendar year by 10 Hollywood distributors.

The results found that of 350 titles released in 2022, 100 films, or 28.5 percent, featured an LGBTQ character, marking the highest number recorded in the time GLAAD has conducted the study. It should be noted, however, that in today’s peak content landscape, the number of films tracked has also increased, per GLAAD.

In those 100 films, there were 292 LGBTQ characters including 117, or 40 percent, characters of color. Of the 292, 163 were men, 119 women and 10 nonbinary. Seven of the women characters and six of the men were transgender. The showings marked a record number of nonbinary characters. Also a record: 12 of 350 films included a transgender character. Eleven LGBTQ characters were counted with a disability, also a high.

While the data showed gains for LGBTQ representation,...

Disney Branded Television and Disney+ Hotstar released the teaser for the Disney+ Original series ‘High School Musical: The Musical: The Series’, revealing that the Wildcats will take their final bow this summer. From Disney Branded Television, the Emmy-nominated television series was inspired by the hugely popular ‘High School Musical‘ movies, which first aired on Disney Channel in 2006 and 2007, and theatrically in 2008.

Earlier today, series creator and executive producer Tim Federle (a DGA and Emmy nominee for “Better Nate Than Ever”) – who will continue a multi-year overall deal with Disney Branded Television said in a social post, “After four years at East High, it’s time to graduate. This will be our final, endgame season.”

Federle continued, “This show brought the most extraordinary cast – and crew, and collaborators – to my life. To the fans, who embraced our super-meta series: we “don’t not love you.” We can’t wait to share...

The fourth season of “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series” will be its last. All episodes in the eight-episode installment will premiere on Disney+ on Aug. 9.

“After four years at East High, it’s time to graduate. This will be our final, endgame season,” series creator and executive producer Tim Federle wrote on Instagram. “This show brought the most extraordinary cast — and crew, and collaborators — to my life. To the fans, who embraced our super-meta series: We ‘don’t not love you.’ We can’t wait to share this epic fourth act with you all.”

Federle, who also directed the 2022 film “Better Nate Than Ever,” based on his novel of the same name, will continue his multi-year overall deal with Disney Branded Television.

Also Read:

‘Hsmtmts’ Season 4 Will Get Very Meta as Og Cast Returns to East High to Film New Movie

“High School Musical: The Musical: The Series...

Disney did a little (late) spring cleaning of its streaming services this week, removing several properties from Disney+ and Hulu. Among those that will go on May 26 include some high profile recent shows like “Willow,” “Y: The Last Man,” “Dollface,” and “The World According to Jeff Goldblum.” What makes this troubling for many home viewers who may have been fans (or even stans!) of the affected programs is that, in most cases, there are no Blu-ray/DVD options. In the old days you could always hit record on your Vcr to build a personal library, but it’s not so easy to capture material from streaming—and the whole point of streaming is not needing to do that, right?

As per The Verge, Disney’s cost-cutting is due to a reduction in Disney+ subscribers, to the tune of 4 million in 2023. While the company will have to pay a “content impairment charge” of over $1.5 billion,...

Updated with more titles being removed: Disney is starting to pull content from streaming, with dozens of series and specials slated to leave Disney+ and Hulu on May 26, Deadline has learned. The titles, which are being removed from Disney’s streaming services globally, include Disney+’s Willow, Big Shot, Turner & Hooch, The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers, Just Beyond, Diary of a Future President, The Mysterious Benedict Society and The World According to Jeff Goldblum and Hulu’s Y: The Last Man, Dollface, The Hot Zone, Maggie, Pistol and Little Demon. A number of Freeform series also are slated to leave Hulu.

The list features largely short-lived series, specials and direct-to-streaming movies.

The move, which comes with a content impairment charge of $1.5 billion to $1.8 billion, was announced during the recent Disney earnings call on May 10.

“We are in the process of reviewing the content on our Dtc services to align...

The Casting Society announced its winners in film, television, and theater on Wednesday night, honoring Best Picture front-runner “Everything Everywhere All At Once,” as well as Oscar nominees “The Banshees of Inisherin,” “The Fabelmans,” and “Marcel the Shell with Shoes On.”

The casting branch of the academy is a year shy of a decade old and still doesn’t have an Oscar category of its own. However, the Casting Society has been handing out the Artios Awards for 38 years (“Artios” is from the ancient Greek meaning “perfectly fitted.”).

Nominees for feature films were announced on January 10 (two days before Oscar nominations voting begins). Many of the leading Academy Awards contenders reaped bids across the various categories according to production cost. Winners were revealed at a ceremony on March 9 (two days after the close of final Oscar voting).

Last year’s big budget winners were the comedy “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm” and...

The Daniels (Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert) were the big winners at last night's Directors Guild of America's DGA Awards. The filmmaking duo took home the top prize, Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film, for "Everything Everywhere All At Once" — beating out directing legend Steven Spielberg ("The Fabelmans"), as well as Joseph Kosinski's massive aerial action film "Maverick," Todd Field's critical darling "Tár," and Martin McDonagh's black comedy "The Banshees of Inisherin."

These days, the Daniels seem to embody their hit film, being everything, everywhere, all at once. The Michelle Yeoh-led maximalist action-comedy has something for everyone, and is deeply, satisfyingly, weird. It topped many best-of lists (it was my #1 pick for Best Films of 2022) and is a favorite to take home the Academy Award for Best Picture. Now with a DGA Award under their belts, the odds of that happening are better than ever.

With less than a month to go before the Oscars, every award show counts. The next few weeks will see all of the major Hollywood guilds give out their annual awards, ensuring that each department gets its moment in the spotlight. Tonight, directors took center stage as Hollywood convened at the Beverly Hilton Hotel for the Directors Guild of America Awards.

The ceremony honored outstanding achievement in both film and television directing, and the former category is often seen as predicting the Best Director winner at the Academy Awards. Four of the five Best Director nominees competed in the Feature Film category tonight: Steven Spielberg (“The Fabelmans”), Martin McDonagh (“The Banshees of Inisherin”), Todd Field (“TÁR”), and Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”). “Triangle of Sadness” director Ruben Östlund is not nominated, with “Top Gun: Maverick” helmer Joseph Kosinski taking his place.

Ultimately, “Everything Everywhere All at Once...

Gold Derby is backstage at the 75th Directors Guild of America Awards on Saturday, February 18 in order to bring you all the up-to-date details on the presenters, nominees and winners. (See the complete winners list.) Managing editor Chris Beachum and social media manager Jaclyn Ben-Porat are in the press room and will let us all know every time something newsworthy happens. Read on for our 2023 DGA Awards live blog.

As a reminder, these kudos are non-televised. However, for the first time ever, Gold Derby is airing a live streaming show announcing winners as they happen with several of our editors and freelancers — watch it right here.

The DGA Awards honor the best helmers of the year in movies and television, as voted on by more than 18,000 members of the directing guild. The most talked-about category is always saved for last: Best Film Director. This year’s nominees are Todd Field...

The 75th Directors Guild of America Awards took place on Saturday, February 18 at 7:30 p.m. Pt with Judd Apatow hosting the in-person, non-televised ceremony. These kudos honor the best helmers of the year in movies and television, as voted on by more than 18,000 members of the directing guild. Scroll down for the 2023 DGA Awards winners list (plus the complete running order) in three film and eight TV categories.

The all-important feature film category is one of the most telling bellwethers for the Best Director Oscar. The guild and the academy have only disagreed eight times over the past seven decades, with last year’s champ Jane Campion (“The Power of the Dog”) claiming both prizes. This year, four of the guild’s nominees also reaped Oscar bids: Todd Field (“Tár”), Daniel Kwan & Daniel Scheinert (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”), Martin McDonagh (“The Banshees of Inisherin”) and Steven Spielberg (“The Fabelmans”). The fifth DGA nominee,...

The inaugural Children’s & Family Emmys got underway at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles for a two-night gala to award the best in kid-friendly programming. JoJo Siwa hosted the Creative Arts ceremony on Night 1 and Jack McBrayer took over hosting duties on Night 2 with the rest of the categories.

On Night 1, it was Maya and the Three, Sneakerella and The Quest that took the most accolades with three trophies each.

Some of the first night’s highlights included a special performance by Xomg Pop!, the all-girl group created by Jess and Siwa. There was also an appearance from Martin P. Robinson, the legendary puppeteer who has been with Sesame Street since 1980, providing voices and puppeteering for Mr. Snuffleupagus, Telly Monster, Slimey the Worm, Martians and more. He also built, designed and performed the Audrey II puppets for Little Shop of Horrors.

Night 2 of the...

Andrew Keenan-Bolger will direct “Mikey’s Army,” a coming-of-age story that is described as “fierce and fabulous.”

“Mikey’s Army” is produced by Jamie Forshaw, executive producer of Madison Wells Live and Evan Mayer, the company’s associate producer. They are joined by Kyle Beckley (“Submissions Only”), Mike Mosallam (“Breaking Fast”) and Thomas Laub (“Slave Play”).

The short film boasts a script by Eric Ulloa (“The Nana Project” and Nickelodeon’s “Meet the Alphabeats”). It tells the story of 16-year-old Mikey Alvarez who finds himself at a pivotal moment where he must decide whether or not to be open and honest about what he is feeling inside. Not feeling quite ready for such a moment, Mikey unwittingly conjures courage from a trio of guides who appear in an explosion of glitter and glitz. Can a Drag Queen, an international pop star and an action film heartthrob tackle a mission this...

Since the 1960s, Emmy voters have honored telefilms with the Best TV Movie award. Unlike the continuing program categories, this one is not bound by genre restrictions. This typically leads to diverse lineups of films, and it appears this year’s will be no different. Scroll down to see our 2022 Emmy predictions for Best TV Movie.

HBO is the most prolific network in the category’s history, having produced 22 winners from 76 nominations. The most recent of these victories came in 2020 for “Bad Education.” After losing with “Oslo” last year, they are back in the hunt again with the HBO Max films “The Fallout” and “The Survivor.”

Since the academy gave the 2021 prize to “Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square,” they may feel compelled to award “Zoey’s Extraordinary Christmas,” “Christmas in Tune,” or “The Waltons: Homecoming” this time. The first is a continuation of NBC’s “Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist,...

It’s time to get’cha head in the game! Disney+ released the first trailer for “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series” Season 3, which reveals new guest stars JoJo Siwa and Jesse Tyler Ferguson.

The new season, which premieres July 27, picks up as the Wildcats undertake a “high-stakes” production of “Frozen” at a sleepaway camp called Camp Shallow Lake — under the direction of Og “High School Musical” star Corbin Bleu. As always, there’s plenty of romance and drama, all set against the backdrop of the great outdoors.

Ferguson is set to portray Marvin, an old family friend of Nini’s (Olivia Rodrigo). Meanwhile, Siwa will play Madison, a camp alum. The former is fresh off of his Tony Award win for starring in the revival of Richard Greenberg’s queer baseball play “Take Me Out.” Siwa, who is a social media star and singer-entrepreneur, is currently serving as...

Next week, Disney+ will release its second annual variety special for Pride Month — featuring a parade of talent celebrating the LGBT community “through song and storytelling.”

But “Say It With Pride: Disney+ Celebrates Pride 365” won’t be available on Disney+ itself. Rather, the special will premiere June 30 at 8 p.m. Et on Disney+’s YouTube and Facebook channels.

Asked why “Say It With Pride” will not be distributed on Disney+, a company spokesperson declined to provide an explanation. Last year’s “This Is Me: Pride Celebration Spectacular” from Disney+ also streamed only on YouTube and Facebook.

According to Disney+’s announcement, the upcoming special “aims to uplift voices from the community to discuss their journeys, celebrate the achievements and contributions of the Lgbtqia+ community, and look toward a future that embodies diversity and unity with Pride.”

Why doesn’t that fit into the Disney+ programming lineup? One way to look...

Chicago – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review for “Better Nate Than Ever – a new live action film from Walt Disney Studios, – an adaptation by writer/director Tim Federle from his own 2013 novel, streaming on Disney+ beginning Friday, April 1st.

Rating: 3.5/5.0

13-year-old Nate Foster (Rueby Wood) is obsessed with Broadway theater and the spotlight of the stage. He’s also a less-than-popular Pittsburgh middle schooler and punching bag for his older brother Anthony (Joshua Bassett), who is a popular jock. When Nate doesn’t get the lead in the school musical, he and friend Libby (Aria Brooks) take a bus to New York City so Nate can participate in an open audition for a musical version of Lilo & Stitch. While in town, he also seeks to connect with his mother’s estranged sister, Aunt Heidi (Lisa Kudrow), who is also an actor. Things get complicated when Nate gets a callback,...

By Abe Friedtanzer

Couldn’t we all just use some positivity today? It feels like it’s not all that common to find a feel-good movie that isn’t also an outright comedy, and, given the state of things, shouldn’t there be an abundance of that type of content? For something that fits that bill perfectly, look no further than Better Nate Than Ever, a new musical that comes to Disney+ this week…...

What hooks and disarms audiences minutes after clicking play on “Better Nate Than Ever” is its infectious energy. George Benson’s funk cover of “On Broadway,” used decades earlier in “All That Jazz,” makes for a lively introduction to a spirited, small-statured youth’s big personality. Writer-director Tim Federle welcomes us into this world with the tantalizing promise of major things to come in a semi-biographical tale of an underdog chasing his dream of becoming a Broadway sensation. But before that can happen, a series of hapless, comedic misadventures has to occur. Funny, vibrant, yet schmaltzy to a fault, this Disney Plus family film can carry a tune, but falters in crafting a runaway hit.

Thirteen-year-old Nate (Rueby Wood) loves musicals. That much is clear from the “Music Man” and “Redhead” posters that line the walls of his bedroom and the “Wicked” references he drops in casual conversations with cool-tempered...

As Hollywood events return to full force in New York and Los Angeles amid the coronavirus pandemic, here’s a look at this week’s biggest premieres, parties and openings, including red carpets for WeCrashed, Pachinko, Life & Beth and Cheaper by the Dozen.

SXSW

The annual music, tech and film festival returned to Austin this year, kicking off on March 11 and running until March 20, with premieres of Everything Everywhere All At Once, The Lost City, Bodies Bodies Bodies, The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, along with debuts of upcoming shows Dmz, Halo, Swimming with Sharks and The Girl From Plainville.

Pachinko Global Premiere Event

Apple TV+ hosted a starry premiere for its global series on Wednesday at the Academy Museum in Los Angeles, where the cast, including Yuh-jung Youn, Lee Minho, Jin Ha, Minha Kim, Anna Sawai and Jimmi Simpson, was joined by guests Natalie Portman, Damon Lindelof, Ashley Park,...

Brian Cox, Edie Falco, Lisa Kudrow have joined the cast for the upcoming poltergeist comedy from HBO and New Line cinema ‘ The Parenting.’

The feature follows a young gay couple, Graham and Josh, who hosts a meeting of the parent’s weekend at a cosy rental house in the country. Things take a turn for the horrifying and comedic when the new lodgers find it is already inhabited by a 400-year-old evil entity.

Also in news – Jodie Comer set for Adam McKay series ‘Big Swiss’

Dean Norris also joins the cast. Craig Johnson will take the helm on the feature with a script from Kent Sublette. Chris Bender and Jake Weiner of Good Fear Content are producing.

Cox is best known for starring as patriarch Logan Roy in HBO’s ‘Succession’, which went on to earn him a Golden Globe Award and Screen Actors Guild Award for his work.

Kudrow...

HBO Max is putting together an all-star cast for the upcoming original film “The Parenting.”

On Wednesday, the streamer announced that Brian Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Edie Falco and Dean Norris had been cast to star in the horror-comedy, which focuses on a young queer couple who rent a countryside cottage to host a weekend getaway with their parents, only to discover that it is inhabited by a 400-year-old poltergeist. The roles that Cox, Kudrow, Falco and Norris will be playing have yet to be announced.

“The Parenting” is directed by Craig Johnson, and written by Kent Sublette. Chris Bender and Jake Weiner produce the film for Good Fear Content. New Line Cinema co-produces the film. A release date has yet to be announced.

Cox is a recent Screen Actors Guild Award and Golden Globe winner for his role as Logan Roy in the HBO hit “Succession,” which aired its third season last year.

New Line Cinema has cast the ensemble comedy The Parenting for HBO Max with a murderers’ row of TV stars including Succession‘s Brian Cox, The Sopranos’ Edie Falco, Friends alum Lisa Kudrow and Breaking Bad‘s Dean Norris.

Craig Johnson is directing from Kent Sublette’s script, which follows a young couple, Graham and Josh, who host a “meet the parents” weekend at a cozy rental house in the country, only to find it is already haunted by a 400-year old poltergeist. Chris Bender and Jake Weiner are producing for their Good Fear Content label.

Cox plays Logan Roy in the Emmy-winning HBO series Succession, for which he won a Golden Globe Award and SAG Award. His memoir, Putting the Rabbit in the Hat, was recently published in the UK and U.S., and he has starring roles in the upcoming films The Independent, Prisoner’s Daughter, and Mending the Line.

“High School Musical: The Musical: The Series” creator Tim Federle makes his directorial debut with the film “Better Nate Than Ever,” adapted from his award-winning book by the same name.

The story follows 13-year-old Nate (newcomer Rueby Wood), an awkward, aspiring theater kid who can’t land a role in his school play, yet follows his dream from his hometown of Pittsburgh to audition on Broadway. Lisa Kudrow, Joshua Bassett, Aria Brooks and Broadway legends Michelle Federer and Norbert Leo Butz also star.

As the cast and crew gathered at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood Tuesday night to celebrate the film’s April 1 launch on Disney Plus, Federle spoke to Variety about the story’s discussion of sexuality, the importance of LGBTQ representation in entertainment and weighed in on the controversy over Disney’s handling of Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill.

You’ve described this movie as a love letter to kids,...

How about starting the week with a little music? Disney+ has released an official trailer for "Better Nate Than Ever," a family musical comedy based on the 2013 novel of the same name by "High School Musical: The Musical: The Series" creator Tim Federle.

Rueby Wood, who played Charlie Bucket in the "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" stage musical's first tour on Broadway, stars as Nate Foster, a 13-year-old who dreams of making it big on Broadway but can't even land a role in his school's play. Aria Brooks ("All That") costars as Nate's best friend Libby, who joins him on a secret...

The post Better Nate Than Ever Trailer: Disney+ Musical Comedy Wants You to Dream Big appeared first on /Film.

Disney+ has released the trailer for Disney’s ‘Better Nate Than Ever,’ a feel-good comedy adventure with showstopping musical numbers, which will debut exclusively on the streaming service on April 1.

13-year-old Nate Foster has big Broadway dreams. There’s only one problem — he can’t even land a part in the school play. But when his parents leave town, Nate and his best friend Libby sneak off to the Big Apple for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to prove everyone wrong. A chance encounter with Nate’s long-lost Aunt Heidi turns his journey upside-down, and together they must learn that life’s greatest adventures are only as big as your dreams.

Based on the award-winning novel, it stars Aria Brooks, Joshua Bassett, Michelle Federer and introducing Rueby Wood as Nate, with Norbert Leo Butz and Lisa Kudrow.

Also in trailers – Disney+ drops trailer for series ‘How I Met Your Father’

The post “Find Your Light…...

Production has begun in Los Angeles on the third season of Disney+ original series High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. Five actors have joined the cast, including Disney Channel alums Corbin Bleu (High School Musical franchise), Meg Donnelly (Zombies franchise) and Jason Earles (Hannah Montana) in guest-starring roles, along with two series regulars: newcomer Adrian Lyles and Saylor Bell (Disney Channel’s I Didn’t Do It).

Created and executive produced by Tim Federle, Season 3 is set at Camp Shallow Lake, a family-owned sleepaway camp in California, as the Wildcats and their fellow campers stage a high-stakes production of Frozen and determine who is “best in snow.” In addition to music from the film, Season 3 of Hsmtmts will feature music from the Camp Rock and High School Musical franchises.

The new cast members join Season 1 and 2 stars including Joshua Bassett, Matt Cornett, Sofia Wylie, Julia Lester,...

Disney+ Day wrapped Friday after a three-hour blitz that in the end premiered more than 25 new pieces of content while debuting first looks, new trailers and exclusive clips for original series and movies across Disney’s brands Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic and its international operation Star.

Here’s what’s premiering today on Disney+ to celebrate the streamer’s second birthday:

November 12 Premieres

The Ballad of Nessie

Ciao Alberto

Dopesick (international markets)

Enchanted

Entrelazados

Fancy Nancy

Feast

Frozen Fever

Get a Horse!

Home Sweet Home Alone

Jungle Cruise

The Little Matchgirl

The Making of Happier than Ever: A Love Letter to Los Angeles

Marvel Assembled: The Making of Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings

Marvel Studios’ 2021 Disney+ Day Special

Marvel Studios Legends: Hawkeye

Olaf Presents

Paperman

Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings

The Simpsons in Plusaversary...

Exclusive: Newcomer Rueby Wood (Broadway’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), Aria Brooks (Harriet) and Joshua Bassett (High School Musical: The Musical: The Series) have signed on to star alongside Lisa Kudrow in Disney+’s musical comedy adaptation of Tim Federle’s award-winning novel, Better Nate Than Ever.

The family film written and directed by Federle centers on 13 year-old Pittsburgher Nate Foster (Wood), who, together with fellow theater kid Libby (Brooks), sneaks off to a major musical audition in New York City after not being cast in their school musical. Wood landed its title role following a nationwide search.

Bassett will play Nate’s older brother, Anthony, with Kudrow as his long-lost aunt Heidi.

Disney+ Day: Deadline’s Complete Coverage

Marc Platt and Adam Siegel are producing, with Federle exec producing. The film is being overseen by Disney Studios’ live-action production team.

“From the moment...

Exclusive: Tisha Campbell (Dr. Ken), Emerson Brooks (The Last Ship) and Brooks Ashmanskas (The Good Lord Bird) are set as series regulars opposite Neil Patrick Harris in Uncoupled, Netflix’s new comedy series created and executive produced by Younger and Emily in Paris creator/executive producer Darren Star and longtime Modern Family executive producer Jeffrey Richman. Additionally, Oscar winner Marcia Gay Harden and Desperate Housewives alum Tuc Watkins will recur in the high-profile show from MTV Entertainment Studios and Jax Media.

Uncoupled centers on Michael (Harris), who thought his life was perfect until his husband blindsides him by walking out the door after 17 years. Overnight, Michael has to confront two nightmares — losing what he thought was his soulmate and suddenly finding himself a single gay man in his mid-40s in New York City.

Campbell will play Suzanne, an expensively put-together high-powered real estate agent who is Michael Lawson’s business partner and loyal friend.

Exclusive: The third installment in the Sister Act franchise looks to be gaining momentum at Disney as sources tell Deadline Tim Federle has been brought on to direct with Madhuri Shekar writing the script on the sequel starring Whoopi Goldberg. Goldberg will reprise her role as Deloris, the nightclub singer turned nun, and will also produce the pic along with Tyler Perry. Tom Leonardis is also producing.

The original pic followed Deloris, a nightclub singer who is forced to go into a hiding as a nun at a a convent , and inadvertently ends up turning the convent choir into a soulful chorus complete with a Motown repertoire, until the sudden popularity of the choir jeopardizes her identity. The original pic went on to be a huge hit leading to a sequel in 1993. As Disney continues to try to build up its content on Disney+, the studio has been taking a...

Exclusive: Tony winner Norbert Leo Butz is set as a series regular opposite Elle Fanning, Colton Ryan and Chloë Sevigny in Hulu drama The Girl From Plainville, from The Post writer Liz Hannah and Dr. Death exec producer Patrick Macmanus.

Written by Hannah and Macmanus and produced by UCP, The Girl From Plainville stars Fanning as Michelle Carter and is inspired by the true story of her controversial “texting suicide” case. Based off the Esquire article by Jesse Barron, the limited series will explore Carter’s relationship with Conrad “Coco” Roy III (Ryan) and the events that led to his death and, later, her controversial conviction of involuntary manslaughter.

Butz will play Conrad “Co” Roy II, Coco’s (Ryan) father. Toughened by life and work at the docks and on the boats in Mattapoisett, Ma, Co is forced to face his own mistakes as a father and sets out to...

Fresh off the Friends reunion, Lisa Kudrow is the first cast member to be announced for Disney+'s upcoming musical comedy Better Nate Than Ever. The film is being produced by Marc Platt, who has been behind recent hits such as Mary Poppins Returns, La La Land and the newly released Cruella. The news was revealed by Deadline.com, and it is the first mention of who will be starring in the production, which began casting earlier this year. While noted as a musical, and casting calls going out for two children with the ability to sing, it is thought that Kudrow will not be joining in any of the singing.

The movie is based on Tim Federle's book series, with the author signed on as writer and director. Filming is already underway in New York, which makes it more impressive that Disney have managed to keep the casting...

Exclusive: We can reveal Friends star Lisa Kudrow as the first name for Disney+’s musical comedy Better Nate Than Ever, which is being produced by La La Land, Mary Poppins Returns and Cruella super-producer Marc Platt.

Ferdinand scribe Tim Federle, who recently show-ran Disney’s High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, is adapting and directing the family feature based on his novel about 13 year-old Pittsburgher Nate Foster who sneaks off with his best friend Libby to a major musical audition in the Big Apple after not being cast in their school play.

A chance encounter with Nate’s long-lost aunt Heidi (Kudrow) turns his adventure upside-down, and it turns out they may need each other to make their dreams come true.

The movie is being overseen by Disney’s live-action team with filming now underway in New York.

Casting for Nate and Libby began earlier this year but is currently under wraps.