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Ryan Murphy’s “American Love Story” has set a February 2026 release date.

The new series, which follows the love story between JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette, will premiere during the week of Valentines Day next year, Ryan Murphy Productions announced in a Friday Instagram post.

The post also gave a first look at the stars of the FX series, Sarah Pidgeon, who stars as Carolyn, and Paul Kelly, who stars as John F. Kennedy Jr., during their camera tests.

“Over a thousand actors auditioned for each of these roles, and we absolutely found the perfect choices,” the post read. “Congratulations Sarah and Paul!”

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Filming on the new series is currently under way in New York City.

The love story between Kennedy and Bessette will be the first iteration in Murphy’s new “American Love Story,” which is...

Ryan Murphy has reportedly found his John F. Kennedy and Jackie Kennedy for his American Love Story anthology spinoff for FX.

Pop culture writer Evan Ross Katz on his Instagram page revealed Naomi Watts will play Jackie Kennedy and newcomer Paul Kelly will fill the role of her son, John F. Kennedy. Sarah Pidgeon was earlier announced to play Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy.

FX and 20th Television, where Murphy has an overall deal with Disney, declined comment on the casting news. American Love Story will chart the whirlwind courtship and marriage of John F. Kennedy Jr. and Bessette-Kennedy.

The latest Murphy anthology series will look to portray famous romances that captured global attention. John F. Kennedy Jr. and Bessette-Kennedy, who worked as a publicist at Calvin Klein, were considered American royalty during the 1990s.

But their celebrated love story and marriage began to wilt under the constant scrutiny of the tabloid media.

“American Love Story” has found its Jackie Kennedy in Naomi Watts, TheWrap has learned. Meanwhile, newcomer Paul Kelly will play John F. Kennedy Jr. in the upcoming FX anthology series from Ryan Murphy.

Both join the previously announced Sarah Pidgeon, who will play Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy. FX and 20th Television declined to comment on this story.

The latest spinoff in the “American Story” universe, “American Love Story” was ordered in 2021 and has been described as “a scripted anthology series of sweeping true love stories that captured the world’s attention.” Its first season will portray the whirlwind courtship and marriage of JFK Jr. and Bessette-Kennedy. When the two first got together, they were regarded as American royalty. But the more they were scrutinized by the tabloid media, the more their relationship began to fray. It all came to an end in 1999 with the tragic plane crash that resulted in the deaths of JFK Jr.

The Sundance Institute has revealed the fellows for the 2025 directors, screenwriters and Native labs. The Native lab begins in-person April 28 through May 3 in Santa Fe, N.M. while the directors lab returns for its 45th anniversary June 1 through 16 in Estes Park, Colo. The 2025 screenwriters lab will be held online from June 24 through 27, offering filmmakers an “Immersive environment to develop their projects and refine their artistic voice under the guidance of accomplished creative advisors,” according to a press release.

The 2025 Native lab fellows are: Jared Lank, (Mi’kmaq), Isabella Dionne Madrigal (Cahuilla/Turtle Mountain Ojibwe), Alex Nystrom (Ojibwe) and Jordan Waunch (Métis). The 2025 Native lab artists-in-residence are Sabrina Saleha (Diné) and Svetlana Romanova (Sakha/Even). All six filmmakers will receive guidance from creative advisors including Bryson Chun (Kanaka Maoli), Sarah Friedland, Kiva Reardon, and Erica Tremblay (Seneca-Cayuga). The Native Lab is overseen by Sundance Institute Indigenous program director Adam Piron (Kiowa...

The Sundance Institute has announced the fellows selected for the 2025 edition of its Directors, Screenwriters, and Native Labs.

Taking place since the mid-’90s, the Native Lab kicks off in person today, continuing through May 3 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. In addition to artists named below, artists-in-residence Sabrina Saleha (Diné) and Svetlana Romanova (Sakha/Even) will be participating. The Lab is designed for artists of Native and Indigenous backgrounds who aim to center Indigeneity in their work. Over five days, fellows refine their scripts for feature and episodic projects in one-on-one feedback sessions, screenplay readings, and roundtable discussions with advisors, while building community on Native land in Santa Fe.

The Native Lab is overseen by Adam Piron (Kiowa and Mohawk), Director of the Institute’s Indigenous Program, alongside Senior Manager Ianeta Le’i. Creative advisors will include Bryson Chun (Kanaka Maoli), Sarah Friedland, Kiva Reardon, and Erica Tremblay (Seneca-Cayuga).

“Every year...

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This March, Hulu is bringing you a lot of entertainment, from the wacky crime comedy series Deli Boys to the much-anticipated streaming release of Anora. However, for the purposes of this article, we are only including the films that are coming to Hulu this month and have a 90% or higher Rotten Tomatoes score. So, check out the ten best films that are coming to Hulu in March 2025 with a 90% or higher Rotten Tomatoes score.

High Fidelity (March 1) Rotten Tomatoes Score: 91% Credit – Touchstone Pictures

High Fidelity is a romantic comedy-drama film directed by Stephen Frears from a screenplay co-written by D.V. DeVincentis, Steve Pink, John Cusack, and Scott Rosenberg. Based on the 1995 novel of the same name by Nick Hornby, the 2000 film follows Rob, a record store owner who has been unlucky in relationships. However, his bad luck might...

Beloved director of such iconic films as Grosse Pointe Blank and Miami Blues, George Armitage, has died at 82. A popular director in the '90s and Roger Corman protégé, known for his dark comedies, he also helmed the 1972 Blaxploitation film called Hit Man. The news was confirmed by his son, the writer-producer Brent Armitage.

Born and briefly raised in Hartford, Connecticut, Armitage's family moved to Los Angeles in the 1950s. His first job in the industry was in the mail room at 20th Century Fox, which led to him getting into production on television shows. He worked as an associate producer on the soap opera Peyton Place starting in 1967, and leveraged that experience to get in with the folks at Roger Corman's New World Pictures. Corman was a revolutionary in the industry, creating an entire ecosystem of micro-budget films that gave many Hollywood mega-talents their start.

RelatedWhy Grosse Pointe Blank...

While now considered a cult classic, one of John Cusack's more underrated movies nearly ended in disaster, as recalled by his co-star in it. The Golden Globe nominee first broke out in the world of coming-of-age films in the '80s, featuring in everything from John Hughes' Sixteen Candles to his breakout leading turn in the teen romantic dramedy Say Anything.... The years since have seen Cusack expand his talents to a wide variety of genres, including the Nicolas Cage-co-starring action thriller Con Air, the adaptation of Stephen King's 1408 and the blockbuster disaster thriller 2012.

In addition to this on-screen work, Cusack has often been a key figure behind the camera on his movies, including co-writing and producing a number of his projects. Some of his more notable include the 2000 film adaptation of High Fidelity, which earned him his Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor — Motion Picture Musical or Comedy,...

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As winter approaches we are all in need of something spicy to watch to make our temperature rise and if you are a fan of romantic comedies, then we have the perfect recommendations for you. From critically acclaimed movies like Rye Lane to iconic romantic comedy movies like Knocked Up, Hulu has everything you need. So, here are the 8 best R-rated romantic comedy movies available on Hulu right now.

If you want to watch more R-rated romantic comedy movies here are some more recommendations for you available on Netflix and Max (formerly known as HBO Max).

Punch-Drunk Love Credit – Sony Pictures

Punch-Drunk Love is an absurdist romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. The 2002 film follows Barry Egan, the owner of a bathroom supply business, who suffers from violent outbursts despite being shy and timid.

Disney is no stranger to getting creative and bringing a world-famous theme park ride of theirs into a big-screen adaptation, such having proven abundantly successful before with the well-established Pirates of the Caribbean film franchise, and they're about to do it once again. This time though, they're moving far away from the high seas. The Haunted Mansion is set to bring the frights as a unique new supernatural horror comedy, with plenty of A-list talent to carry the story. Now, per a report from Collider, the official trailer for the film has finally dropped, giving excited fans a firsthand look at what to expect from this frightfully fun re-imagining.

Related: Haunted Mansion Trailer & Poster Tease Terrifying Fun From Disney

The Haunted Mansion, which based on the theme park ride of the same name at Disneyland, is helmed by Justin Simien, who also created and directed a comedy horror feature called...

The Sundance Institute has announced the participants in their famed screenwriters, directors and Native labs.

The directors and screenwriters labs will support 12 fellows, with five fellows selected for the Native lab. Lab participants will develop their original works under the mentorship of notable advisors. Paul Thomas Anderson, Ryan Coogler, David Gordon Green, Sterlin Harjo, Taika Waititi, Lulu Wang and Chloé Zhao are among previous Sundance lab participants.

The directors lab advisor cohort includes Miguel Arteta, Joan Darling, Rick Famuyiwa, Stephen Goldblatt, Keith Gordon, Randa Haines, Ed Harris, Gina Prince-Bythewood, Polly Morgan, Ira Sachs, Michelle Tesoro and Joan Tewkesbury. The screenwriters lab advisor cohort, led by artistic director Howard Rodman, includes Justin Chon, Sebastian Cordero, Cherien Dabis, D.V. Devincentis, Scott Frank, John Gatins, Nicole Kassell, Kasi Lemmons, Tarell Alvin McCraney, Elena Soarez and Robin Swicord. The Native Lab creative advisors include Andrew Ahn, Alex Lazarowich (Cree), Dana Ladoux Miller (Sāmoan) and Jennifer Reeder.

The Sundance Institute on Thursday announced the fellows set for the 2023 edition of their Directors, Screenwriters and Native Labs.

Native Lab participants will include Eva Grant (Degrees of Separation), Quinne Larsen (Trouble), Anpa’o Locke (Growing Pains), Jana Schmieding (Auntie Chuck) and Cian Elyse White (Te Puhi’).

Those taking part in the Directors Lab and/or the Screenwriters Lab include Hadas Ayalon (In a Minute You’ll Be Gone), Dania Bdeir & Bane Fakih (Pigeon Wars), Rashad Frett & Lin Que Ayoung (Ricky), Masami Kawai (Valley of the Tall Grass), Gabriela Ortega (Huella), Audrey Rosenberg (Wild Animals), Abinash Bikram Shah (Elephants in the Fog), Walter Thompson-Hernández (If I Go Will They Miss Me), Sean Wang (DìDi (弟弟)) and Farida Zahran (The Leftover Ladies).

A significant part of supporting Indigenous filmmakers for nearly two decades, the Native Lab will kick off online this year from May 1–5 before continuing in person in Santa Fe,...

When Pam & Tommy was released last year, Pamela Anderson was put in the position of having revisit one of the most traumatizing experiences of her life. But Anderson refused to cooperate with the production, even dodging a letter sent by her portrayer, Lily James.

In a recent New York Times profile, Pamela Anderson explained, “It was already hurtful enough the first time…It’s like one of those things where you’re going, ‘Really?’ People are still capitalizing off that thing?” Reportedly, the letter from Lily James–which remains unopened in Anderson’s inbox–said she wanted to “honor” Anderson in Pam & Tommy/

Pam & Tommy co-showrunner D.V. DeVincentis (who also wrote some of the episodes) also says he reached out to try to let Anderson know the series wouldn’t aim to put her in a negative light, something she has been all too familiar with. “We...

Why wasn’t Pamela Anderson involved in the making of the Hulu series “Pam & Tommy,” about the sex tape scandal with her and ex-husband Tommy Lee? The “Baywatch” star expressed her disappointment to the Wall Street Journal about not being contacted as a consultant, but a rep for the star told WSJ her own staff kept the “hurtful project” from her.

“It’s like, I’m right here. Hello? I’m alive. Maybe you want to sit down and talk to me and find out more? But they didn’t,” Anderson told the WSJ Magazine.

But according to the Journal, a representative for Anderson said the Disney-owned streamer did indeed reach out to her staff, but that it did not approach her with the inquiries “because they perceived it to be a hurtful project.”

Also Read:

Pamela Anderson and Director Ryan White Wanted to Make an ‘Anti-Celeb’ Documentary With ‘Pamela,...

In the face of yet another media circus tied to her and Tommy Lee’s stolen honeymoon tape, Pamela Anderson remained silent amid the announcement of Hulu’s Pam & Tommy, the early 2022 limited series that recounted one of the most painful parts of her life.

And she would remain silent through its release and awards run, even as co-showrunner D.V. DeVincentis revealed the production’s attempts to reach out at “every stage.” Instead, Anderson would now reemerge in the weeks leading up to the release of her memoir Love, Pamela, revealing through various press tour engagements that she had not only never watched the series, but hadn’t even opened the letter Pam & Tommy actress Lily James wrote to her.

Now, with director Ryan White’s new Netflix documentary, Pamela, a Love Story, the actress, author and activist is fully addressing a moment in her life that has continued...

Pamela Anderson will never watch Hulu series “Pam & Tommy,” but she has a few choice words for the filmmakers behind it.

Based on the events surrounding Anderson and then-husband Tommy Lee’s infamous leaked sex tape, “Pam & Tommy” landed 10 Emmy nominations and marked a critically acclaimed turn for Lily James as Anderson. Sebastian Stan starred as Tommy Lee, with executive producer Seth Rogen appearing as the disgruntled construction worker who unknowingly stole the illicit VHS tape.

“Assholes,” Anderson said, without naming them directly, during a Variety cover story. “Salt on the wound.”

She added, “You still owe me a public apology.”

The series was created by Robert Siegel and D.V. DeVincentis, with Craig Gillespie directing; it was co-creator Siegel’s first foray into television. While the first images of “Pam & Tommy” immediately went viral for James’ eerie transformation into Anderson, the real-life “Baywatch” icon was unimpressed.

“It...

The freshman series “Abbott Elementary,” “Andor,” “The Bear” and “Severance” and returnees “Better Call Saul,” “Hacks” and “Barry” are among the nominees for the 2023 Writers Guild Awards for television, new media, news, radio/audio, and promotional writing announced today by WGA West and WGA East. “The Bear,” “Severance” and “Saul” all landed three nominations apiece, as did “The Simpsons” in animation. “Yellowjackets” and “The Crown” will join “Saul,” “Andor” and “Severance” in the drama series lineup, while comedy series features “Only Murders in the Building” taking on “The Bear,” “Hacks,” “Barry” and “Abbott.” In the new series category, “Bad Sisters” fills out the list alongside “Andor,” “Abbott,” “The Bear” and “Severance.” Vying in the limited series lineup are “The Dropout,” “Fleishman Is In Trouble,” “Pam & Tommy,” “The Staircase” and Emmy/Golden Globes champ “The White Lotus.” See‘Abbott Elementary,’ ‘The White Lotus,’ ‘House of the Dragon’ among big TV...

AMC’s veteran drama series “Better Call Saul” is sharing the spotlight with newcomers FX’s “The Bear” and Apple TV+’s “Severance,” as all three shows scored three nominations for this year’s WGA Awards. Other new series nabbing multiple nominations include Apple TV+’s “Bad Sisters,” ABC’s “Abbott Elementary,” and Disney+’s “Andor,” with HBO Max’s “Hacks” also garnering two mentions.

The Writers Guild of America West (Wgaw) and Writers Guild of America, East (Wgae) announced nominees for TV and news categories on Wednesday morning. Winners will be awarded at the guilds’ annual ceremony on March 5.

In animation, Fox’s “The Simpsons” was thrice nominated, with network stablemate “Bob’s Burgers,” Prime Video’s “Undone,” and Adult Swim’s “Tuca and Bertie” rounding out the category.

For limited series, Hulu and HBO/HBO Max split the category, with Hulu’s “The Dropout,” “Fleishman Is In Trouble,” and...

Newcomers “The Bear” and “Severance” and departing drama “Better Call Saul” were among the frontrunners, with three nominations each, as Writers Guild of America West and Writers Guild of America, East announced nominations for outstanding achievement in television, new media, news, radio/audio, and promotional writing during 2022. Winners will be honored at the Writers Guild Awards ceremony taking place Sunday, March 5, 2023. Here are this year’s noms:

Drama Series

“Andor” — Written by Dan Gilroy, Tony Gilroy, Stephen Schiff, Beau Willimon; Disney+

“Better Call Saul” — Written by Ann Cherkis, Vince Gilligan, Peter Gould, Ariel Levine, Thomas Schnauz, Gordon Smith, Alison Tatlock; AMC

“The Crown” — Written by Peter Morgan; Netflix

Severance, Written by Chris Black, Andrew Colville, Kari Drake, Dan Erickson, Mark Friedman, Helen Leigh, Anna Moench, Amanda Overton; Apple TV+

“Yellowjackets” — Written by Cameron Brent Johnson, Katherine Kearns, Jonathan Lisco, Ashley Lyle, Bart Nickerson, Liz Phang, Ameni Rozsa, Sarah L. Thompson,...

The Writers Guild of America has revealed the nominations for its 75th anniversary WGA Awards in the television, new media, news, radio/audio and promotional categories. The full list is below.

Nominees in the marquee TV categories include reigning Comedy Series champ Hacks, but 2022’s Drama Series winner Succession isn’t in play this year. In fact, only Yellowjackets makes a return trip to the nominees circle in that category. It will go up against the category’s newcomers: Andor, Better Call Saul, The Crown and Severance.

Related: 2022-23 Awards Season Calendar – Dates For The Oscars, Grammys, Guilds & More

Meanwhile, Hacks will vie for the Comedy Series prize against triple Golden Globe winner Abbott Elementary, The Bear and Only Murders in the Building — all of which also are up for New Series trophy — and Barry. Andor and The Bear round out the New Series combatants.

The Limited Series race will be among The Dropout,...

The Writers Guild has revealed its nominees in the categories of TV, new media, news, radio/audio and promotional writing.

Abbott Elementary, Andor, Bad Sisters, The Bear and Severance were all nominated in the new series category; Abbott and The Bear also earned nominations for comedy series, while Andor and Severance earned nods for drama.

Better Call Saul, The Crown and Yellowjackets also earned drama nods, while Barry, Hacks and Only Murders in the Building picked up comedy nominations.

The limited series nominees include The Dropout, Fleishman Is in Trouble, Pam & Tommy, The Staircase and The White Lotus.

Better Call Saul earned two additional nominations in the episodic drama category, which also includes nods for Bad Sisters, The Good Fight, Ozark and Severance. In the episodic comedy category, The Bear faces off against Grace and Frankie, Hacks, Julia, Reservation Dogs and What We Do in the Shadows. A notable...

The Writers Guild of America West (Wgaw) and Writers Guild of America, East (Wgae) have announced nominations for outstanding achievement in television, new media, news, radio/audio, and promotional writing for 2022. Winners will be honored at the 2023 Writers Guild Awards ceremony on Sunday, March 5, 2023.

Given that TV is a writer’s medium, the WGA Awards nominations give great insight into what new shows are likely to enter the Emmys race this summer. Scoring multiple nods across the categories were expected newcomers like “Abbott Elementary” and “Severance,” which already had Emmy-winning runs for their first seasons, as well as more recent critical hits “The Bear” and “Andor.” All were nominated in their respective comedy and drama categories as well as for New Series.

In the Limited Series category, the guild finally gets its turn to recognize “The Dropout,” “The Staircase,” and “Pam and Tommy,” but more importantly, for the purpose of looking at 2023 TV awards races,...

What would happen if the infamous Pamela Anderson/Tommy Lee sex tape was stolen and leaked today instead of back in 1996? According to Lily James, who is Emmy nominated for playing the “Baywatch” sex symbol in Hulu’s lauded limited series “Pam & Tommy,” it would have been far worse for the Anderson than the humiliation she endured 26 years ago.

James felt a pressing need to do the limited series which is vying for 10 Emmys, because of the “open cruelty on social media.” The British actress explained during a Deadline Zoom conversation she “really wanted to explore the topic and provoke the conversation about it. It’s getting worse and worse, this ease in having to not take responsibility for your words. It just felt something that I was desperate to dig in on and reveal something of myself in order to be honest as possible.”

Emmy nominated Sebastian Stan,...

Click here to read the full article.

Showrunners Robert Siegel and D.V. DeVincentis set out to explore the story of how Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee’s sex tape was stolen with Hulu’s Pam and Tommy, in which Lily James and Sebastian Stan play Anderson and Lee.

The show received 10 Emmy nominations, including best limited series and nods for James, Stan and Seth Rogen, who served as an executive producer on the show and played Rand Gauthier, the man who stole the tape and whose story was first told in Amanda Chicago Lewis’ 2014 article for Rolling Stone, on which the show is based.

“There’s such an appetite for explorations into real people, and it doesn’t even have to necessarily be famous people — although that is a thing, that preexisting awareness,” DeVincentis tells THR about the nominations. “But people really want to see a dramatic exploration into something that’s real,...

Seth Rogen has spoken out about his experience as part of the cast of Steven Spielberg’s Toronto Film Festival-bound The Fabelmans.

The actor shares in an upcoming edition of The Process that he wrapped his role in the film, loosely based on the iconic filmmaker’s childhood and upbringing, toward the end of last year. “It was really cool. It was fascinating. It was a really surreal experience for everyone involved,” Rogen said of the film, which has him playing a character inspired by Spielberg’s uncle. “It premieres at Toronto. I’ve literally not seen one frame of it, so it’ll be a bizarre experience.”

In conversation with Pam & Tommy editor Tatiana S. Riegel for Deadline’s video series, Rogen also addressed his “immense” relief in seeing Lily James excel in her transformational turn as the Hulu series’ Pamela Anderson.

An exec producer on the project who...

Welcome to It’s a Hit! In this series, IndieWire speaks to creators and showrunners behind a few of our favorite Emmy-nominated television programs about the moment they realized their show was breaking big.

Last year the internet went wild when the first images of actors Lily James and Sebastian Stan, recreating the famous photo of Pamela Anderson biting then-husband Tommy Lee’s nipple ring, dropped on the internet.

Audiences were gobsmacked by how much the actors, particularly James, looked like the real people. For James, her dedication to portraying Anderson accurately was paramount. In a previous IndieWire interview she talked about donning a blonde wig to walk around Hollywood to see how people would react. According to the the series’ creators, Robert Siegel and D.V. DeVincentis, it was akin to James putting on a “superhero” costume, with the actress up before everyone else to have prosthetics applied to her...

Click here to read the full article.

This year’s limited series race is a competitive one: three Hulu shows are up against titles from Netflix and HBO, and four of the nominees tell captivating and hard-to-believe true stories of greed, fraud and public humiliation. Creatives behind each nominated series — Dopesick‘s Danny Strong, The Dropout‘s Elizabeth Meriwether, Inventing Anna‘s Shonda Rhimes, Pam & Tommy‘s Robert Seigel and D.V. DeVincentis, and The White Lotus‘ David Bernad — reflect on the challenges of writing television when the real-life stories haven’t yet ended, when they realized their projects were going to be powerful and watching their stars come together and discover their characters.

Danny Strong, showrunner of Dopesick (Hulu)

“We had someone in the props department who had a lot of firsthand experience and knowledge that he was so honest about. He was able to make the [drug] paraphernalia look extremely real.

Robert Siegel and D.V. DeVincentis have celebrated films on their individual resumes. Siegel penned “The Wrestler” which took the Golden Lion at the 2008 Venice Film Festival while DeVincentis’ big breaks came with the screenplays for “Grosse Pointe Blank” and “High Fidelity.” With “Pam & Tommy,” they have shepherded a limited series that earned 10 Emmy nominations including individual accolades for stars Lily James, Sebastian Stan, and Seth Rogen.

Continue reading Robert Siegel & D.V. DeVincentis’ Biggest Lesson From’Pam & Tommy’: ‘Stick To TV’ [Interview] at The Playlist.

“There was a huge sense of wanting to do this real person justice and tell their story honestly, and with great empathy and protecting them,” Pam & Tommy’s Lily James said about playing Pamela Anderson in Hulu’s multi-Emmy-nominated miniseries.

“This felt so personal and became really universal beyond this story that just happened to Pamela, and became about really looking at how we treat women,” she added of the professional and private blows the Baywatch star suffered from a stolen sex tape that lit up the internet in its near infancy.

Contenders TV: The Nominees — Deadline’s Complete Coverage

Certainly, in the last decade of the 20th century, few besides Bill Clinton loomed larger, or with greater infamy, than Anderson and then-husband Tommy Lee. In many ways, the near-boundless fame of the Canadian-born actress and the Mötley Crüe drummer, and the merciless fallout from their most intimate acts strewn...

Click here to read the full article.

Pam & Tommy stars Lily James and Sebastian Stan were just as shocked by their transformations into Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee, respectively, as the rest of the world was.

“There was a conversation about me being involved really early on, and I was incredibly surprised — dumbfounded — and I suppose that spiked my curiosity that they thought of me for the part,” James told THR Presents, powered by Vision Media. “It was a complete mind-blowing shock for everyone. The first makeup test I had … we just sort of threw some stuff on to get a sense, and at the end, I was having a full panic attack and thinking, ‘I can’t do this, I can’t do this, I’m going to let everyone down, it’s the biggest embarrassment.’ Then the journey they took with prosthetic … I had a forehead piece,...

For all the shock and awe that the Hulu series Pam & Tommy has to offer on the tortured romance of Baywatch bombshell Pamela Anderson and priapic Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee, creator/EP Robert Siegel, EP D.V. DeVincentis and EP/episodic director Craig Gillespie saw a whole other, higher layer in the couple’s story.

True, their source material in the Rolling Stone Amanda Chicago Lewis article provided insight into a tabloid story we didn’t know; specifically that the couple never leaked the tape, but rather it was stolen and exploited by Rand Gauthier, a contractor who was gypped by Lee.

However, a double standard prevailed in the throes of the couples’ crisis, one which resulted in Lee getting a second career, and Anderson being, well, arguably canceled at the time.

Gillespie has a flair for giving such black ink tales a three-dimensional luster, i.e. his Oscar winning I,...

When the cast and showrunners of “Yellowjackets” took the stage at IndieWire’s Consider This FYC Brunch, everyone in the room wanted to learn the secret sauce behind the Showtime blockbuster. But the team made sure to emphasize that there was no single thing that set the show apart. Instead, the show succeeds because of how it delicately balances multiple aspects of the series that seemingly contradict each other. (Full videos of all five panels will be published next week.)

“Tonally, I think we were all wondering if the filaments would come to the magnet,” said executive producer and co-showrunner Jonathan Lisco while speaking on a panel moderated by IndieWire editor-in-chief Dana Harris-Bridson. “Because there’s a lot of different tonalities in here, which we thread together into this single impact on our audience.”

The “Yellowjackets” team wasn’t alone in juggling that problem. A common topic at the brunch...

Movies and TV shows about real, living people always have a difficult needle to thread. Creators need to maintain their artistic integrity while remembering that their work can have consequences for people in the real world. Those stakes are even higher when the story being told is one about people having their privacy violated by the media.

That’s exactly what Hulu’s “Pam & Tommy” had to deal with when it told the story of Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee having to watch their illegally distributed sex tape become a cultural phenomenon.

The show was represented at IndieWire’s Consider This FYC Brunch, with executive producer, writer, and co-showrunner D.V. DeVincentis and costumer designer Kameron Lennox joining IndieWire’s Awards Editor Marcus Jones for a wide-ranging discussion about the hit show.

Of course, attention had to turn to that infamous talking, animatronic penis. Why so verbose?

“I would love to take credit for that,...

Rio Hackford, an actor whose credits include The Mandalorian, Swingers and Treme who also owned a popular club in New Orleans and was Taylor Hackford’s son, has died. He was 51.

He died Thursday in Huntington Beach, CA, after an undisclosed illness. His stepmother Helen Mirren and friend D.V. DeVincentis posted remembrances on social media (see them below).

Hollywood & Media Deaths In 2022: Photo Gallery

Along with his 30-year screen career, Hackford owned the Nola club One Eyed Jacks, which was featured in the David Simon-created HBO series Treme. Hackford recurred on the show as Toby, an old friend of Steve Zahn’s David McAlary who worked at a local record store.

Born on June 28, 1970, in Los Angeles, Hackford got his big-screen start in the early 1990s with small roles in such films as Exit to Eden, Double Dragon and Strange Days before landing the role of Skully in Swingers,...

Rio Hackford, prominent club owner, actor and son of Oscar-winning filmmaker Taylor Hackford, has died. He was 51.

Friend of Hackford and screenwriter D.V. DeVincentis confirmed his death in an Instagram post on Friday, and Hackford’s stepmother Helen Mirren also posted an image tribute on Saturday.

“Rio was more attuned to experience than anyone I’ve ever known. He would stop what was happening to point it out, compel you to pay attention,” Divincentis wrote. “He would order you a must-have experience from a beloved menu and hold your eye as you paid attention to what was happening in your mouth.”

“Not simply obsessed with movies and how they mirrored and compelled, he was something more: a superfan of enumerable scenes, of particular gestures of unsung actors, weird career turns, roaring comebacks, cinema swan songs — all real experiences for you, when beheld consciously,” Divincentis continued.

His brother Alex Hackford told Variety that Hackford died Thursday,...

Actor and club owner Rio Del Valle Hackford, who appeared in films and TV shows including “Jonah Hex,” “Swingers,” “Treme” and “The Mandalorian,” died Thursday in Huntington Beach, Calif. He was 52.

His brother Alex Hackford said he died after an illness.

Rio Hackford, who was the son of director Taylor Hackford, was remembered by friends for being a “connector of all sorts of people,” said his friend, screenwriter D.V. DeVincentis.

“Not simply obsessed with movies and how they mirrored and compelled, he was something more: a superfan of innumerable scenes, of particular gestures of unsung actors, weird career turns, roaring comebacks, cinema swan songs,” DeVincentis wrote on Instagram.

Hackford was known for his joie de vivre and generous embrace of artists at his clubs including Matador and One-Eyed Jacks in New Orleans, where he also owned Pal’s Lounge. One-Eyed Jacks was a popular venue for alternative acts, and reopened...

While Hulu’s “Pam & Tommy” chronicled the events behind Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee’s infamous stolen sex tape, Anderson announced last week that she is preparing to tell her side of the story in a new Netflix documentary. Lily James, who plays Anderson in “Pam & Tommy,” says she looks forward to watching it.

At the series finale premiere for “Pam & Tommy” at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles Tuesday night, the Hulu series’ cast and creatives stressed the importance of spotlighting Pamela Anderson’s story in today’s world.

“I think these violations of privacy happen way too often — and the way that the media responds and us, as a society, respond is often so awful, particularly toward women,” James told Variety on the red carpet. “There are these huge double standards, women are torn down and reduced… So I think we really need to look at that.

Lily James and Sebastian Stan spent months working together on the set of Hulu’s “Pam & Tommy.” Yet when they recently reunited for a photo session it was a bit jarring to both actors.

“I barely met Sebastian out of Tommy Lee, and he barely met me out of my Pamela Anderson,” James says. “It was really surreal to do even the Variety shoot. We were like, ‘Oh, hey, so that’s what you look like!’”

That’s a testament to the amount of work James and Stan put into studying and emulating the real-life characteristics of Anderson and Lee — and just how well the production’s hair, makeup and wardrobe crews perfected their physical transformation. The look is so spot-on that when Hulu released the first photos of the “Pam & Tommy” stars in May, it quickly went viral on social media. “I was blown away,” Stan says.

Awards pundits making early lists for contenders in the Best Limited Series category at the 2022 Emmy Awards might want to leave room for Lily James if the first trailer for “Pam & Tommy” is any indication.

Months after photos of James as Pamela Anderson burned up the internet, Hulu released the first teaser for its highly anticipated project, which focuses on the ill-fated romance between Anderson and Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee (Sebastian Stan), their explosive sex tape, and the legal fallout from its release. “I, Tonya” filmmaker Craig Gillespie directed the eight-episode series, which was written by Rob Siegel and D.V. DeVincentis. In addition to James and Stan, the series stars Seth Rogen, Nick Offerman, Taylor Schilling, and Andrew Dice Clay.

“The writing is amazing on that. It’s funny, I was just so intrigued with the story and, in some ways, it’s very similar to ‘I, Tonya’ with the surprise of it,...

Hulu has released the first official teaser for “Pam & Tommy,” the streamer’s upcoming limited comedy series about the true scandal surrounding a leaked sex tape featuring “Baywatch” actress Pamela Anderson and Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee.

The teaser features a series of looks at Lily James’ Anderson and Sebastian Stan’s Lee, showing snapshots of their passionate marriage. The footage also introduces Seth Rogen as Rand Gauthier, the man who stole and distributed the sex tape. The series’ expansive cast includes Taylor Schilling, Nick Offerman, Andrew Dice Clay, Pepi Sonuga, Spenser Granese and Mozhan Marnò.

“Not a big deal to me? I’m on that tape, same as you,” Stan’s Tommy Lee says in the trailer, discussing the urgency of retrieving the tape with his wife. “No, not like me you’re not,” James’ Anderson replies.

Along with a tease of the series’ darker sense of humor,...

Hulu has an upcoming limited event series titled Pam & Tommy, and the first behind-the-scenes photos have been officially released after they were first shared by the cast. The mini-series' eight episodes will focus on Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee, played by Lily James and Sebastian Stan, respectively. But perhaps the biggest shock is seeing Seth Rogen without his iconic beard. The actor stars in and produces the miniseries, playing the guy who stole and sold the infamous Pam and Tommy sex tape.

Pamela Anderson is known best for her work on Baywatch and Home Improvement in the 1990s, while Tommy Lee serves as the drummer for Mötley Crüe. The two were married in 1995, after only knowing each other for 96 hours, and then, the real drama started; a sex tape from their honeymoon was stolen and leaked, leading to Anderson suing the distributor and entering into a confidential settlement deal with the company.

Sundance Institute has announced the 15 screenwriters who have been chosen for the January 2020 Screenwriters Lab, which will go from the 17th-22nd. Those selected will have the opportunity to develop their independent projects by immersing themselves in the creative process and working with the mentorship of Creative Advisors.

Creative Advisors are Artistic Director Scott Frank, Michael Arndt, Suha Arraf, Ritesh Batra, Andrea Berloff, D.V. DeVincentis, Gonzalo Maza, Doug McGrath, Walter Mosley, Nicole Perlman, Howard Rodman, Susan Shilliday, Zach Sklar, Dana Stevens, Joan Tewkesbury, Bill Wheeler, and Tyger Williams.

“We’re so excited to welcome this singular and bold group of artists to our January Screenwriters Lab,” said Michelle Satter, the feature film program founding director. “Our program provides a safe and protected space for writers to be rigorous in their creative process as they develop new work that’s a true reflection of their unique voice and power as storytellers.

Lifetime is set to begin production on a movie based on the college admissions scandal that saw dozens of wealthy families indicted on fraud charges earlier this year, the network announced on Tuesday.

Tentatively titled “College Admissions Scandal,” the two-hour film will center on two wealthy mothers who encounter the college admissions consultant William “Rick” Singer and willingly partake in getting their kids into top-tier colleges.

The project is currently casting, with production set to begin next month. Varsity Films Inc. will produce for Lifetime, with Gail Katz and Howard Braunstein serving as executive producers. Adam Salky will direct from a script by Stephen Tolkin.

Also Read: 'The People v Oj' Alum Dv DeVincentis to Write College Admissions Scandal Series for Annapurna

Lifetime’s movie is the second based on the scandal to go into development within just a few months. Earlier this year, Annapurna Television enlisted “American Crime Story...

Felicity Huffman pleaded guilty on Monday to the charge against her in the nationwide college admissions cheating case in federal court in Boston.

The guilty plea was expected, as the actress announced she would do so in April. Huffman pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud. Federal prosecutors recommended a sentence of four months of prison time, according to CNN. In addition, prosecutors also suggested that Huffman receive a $20,000 fine and 12 months of supervised release.

“I am pleading guilty to the charge brought against me by the United States Attorney’s Office,” Huffman said in a statement in April. “My daughter knew absolutely nothing about my actions, and in my misguided and profoundly wrong way, I have betrayed her,” she added.

Also Read: Felicity Huffman Netflix Film 'Otherhood' Release Date Pushed as College Admissions Case Continues

According to an affidavit,...

It was only a matter of time before this happened: The college admissions scandal is (probably) becoming a TV series. Of course we already have casting thoughts about who should play Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin (should they be included in the series). According to The Hollywood Reporter, Annapurna Television has optioned the rights to Accepted, a new book in the works by Wall Street Journal reporters Melissa Korn and Jennifer Levitz. No network or streaming platform is attached to the series yet. D.V. DeVincentis is writing the script. So, who should play the actresses who were charged in Operation Varsity Blues? We're not just basing this on looks, but also acting prowess as well. Read on!

Annapurna Television has optioned the rights to adapt the college admissions scandal story, according to the Hollywood Reporter. The limited series project will be adapted from the forthcoming book Accepted, written by Wall Street Journal reporters Melissa Korn and Jennifer Levitz.

The book will detail the case that the FBI has dubbed as Operation Varsity Blues, in which actresses Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin, designer Mossino Giannulli and nearly 50 others were revealed to have rigged entrance exams and paid bribes to a handful of prestigious colleges in order to secure their children’s admission.

The story that’s stranger than fiction is becoming fiction: A scripted TV series based on the recent college admissions scandal that ensnared actresses Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin is in the works, according to our sister site Variety.

Annapurna TV is producing the limited series, based on the upcoming book chronicling the scandal, Accepted, by Melissa Korn and Jennifer Levitz. Writer D.V. DeVincentis (The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story) is set to pen the adaptation. No network is attached to the project yet, though.

To refresh your memory: Huffman and Loughlin were among a number of...

A TV series based on the recent college admissions scandal is in the works, Variety has confirmed.

Annapurna Television has optioned the rights to the upcoming book “Accepted” by Melissa Korn and Jennifer Levitz. The book is set to be published by Portfolio, a division of Penguin Random House. Sue Naegle, Ali Krug, and Patrick Chu will produce on behalf of Annapurna Television.

D.V. DeVincentis will adapt the book for television. DeVicentis’ previous credits include writing multiple episodes of “The People v. Oj Simpson” and the features films “High Fidelity” and “Grosse Pointe Blank.” He is repped by UTA, Management 360 and Morris Yorn. Korn and Levitz are repped Fletcher & Company and Lgnaf.

Back in March, nearly three dozen people were indicted by the FBI for their part in the scandal, which saw parents paying large sums of money to secure their childrens’ placement in top schools. Tactics included...

Annapurna Television has enlisted “American Crime Story” vet D.V. DeVincentis to adapt the story of the recent college admissions scandal that has swept up TV stars Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin, among dozens of other parents.

DeVincentis, who served as executive producer on “The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story,” the first season of the FX crime anthology, is set to write the hour-long series. No network or streamer is attached to the project yet.

The series, which does not have a set episode count, will be based on the upcoming book by Wall Street Journal reporters Melissa Korn and Jen Levitz. Titled “Accepted,” the book will be published by Portfolio, a division of Penguin Random House.

Also Read: Lori Loughlin Pleads Not Guilty in College Admissions Cheating Case

The scandal centered around a California man, William Singer, who ran a business to help students gain admission into the college of their choice,...

The college admissions bribery scandal is getting the (perhaps inevitable) TV treatment.

Annapurna Television is the first to plant its flag on the juicy story. The company has optioned rights to Accepted, a forthcoming book about the scandal from Wall Street Journal reporters Melissa Korn and Jennifer Levitz. Emmy winner D.V. DeVincentis (The People v. O.J. Simpson, High Fidelity) will adapt the book as a limited series. No outlet is attached yet.

The book, to be published by Portfolio, a division of Penguin Random House, details the admissions scandal in which 50 people — including actresses Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin; Loughlin'...