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Hulu has enjoyed tremendous success with limited series based on true events, particularly the buzzworthy Candy. 2019's The Act, starring Patricia Arquette and Joey King, which followed the Gypsy Rose Blanchard story, and 2022's The Girl from Plainville, starring Elle Fanning as Michelle Carter, were both major hits for the streaming service. Hulu's 2022 limited series Candy, created by Robin Veith and Nick Antosca, might be their crowning achievement, as not only did it receive high ratings, but it also garnered acclaim from critics and audiences alike.

Candy stars Jessica Biel as Candy Montgomery, a Texas woman who killed her good friend Betty Gore with an axe after Betty confronted her about an affair with her husband, Allan Gore. The limited series explores Candy's life in the years leading up to the murder and the shocking trial that followed. It's a riveting exploration of rage and trauma, featuring a career-defining role from Biel.

Exclusive: In an expansion of its Lab program, the Black List has named the projects and writers for its inaugural Projects Lab. The six writers are developing feature projects they intend to direct. The Lab program, now in its eleventh year, provides creative mentorship and professional support to promising screenwriters during a weeklong workshop in Ojai, CA.

This year’s writers are Dylan James Amick (The Estranged), Steve Anthopoulos (My Summer in the Human Resistance), Meghan Lennox (Gay For Amy), Alex Murawski (Walking In Iowa), Gabriella Mykal (Fuzzy), and Alexandra Qin (Thirstygirl). The Black List selected these writers from over 1,700 script submissions on blcklst.com.

During the Lab, each writer will develop their screenplay through peer workshops and one-on-one sessions with working professional screenwriting mentors, including Hannah Fidell (A Teacher), Liz Hannah (The Girl From Plainville), Maryam Keshavarz (The Persian Version), Sarah Adina Smith (Birds of Paradise), Axelle Carolyn (The...

Exclusive: Emmy-nominated writer-producer-director Liz Hannah is getting into business with Sony Pictures Television. Hannah has signed a multi-year overall deal with the studio, under which she will create, develop, and produce scripted drama and comedy series for cable and streaming under her shingle Happy Friday Productions. Will DeCamp serves as Vice President of development for Happy Friday.

Hannah recently served as executive producer, co-showrunner and director on Hulu’s The Girl From Plainville, receiving a Hollywood Critics Association award nomination for Best Directing for her episode titled “Talking is Healing.” The Critics Choice Award-winning series also was nominated for numerous awards, including the Emmy for Best Limited Series. She is also a WGA Award nominee for her work on David Fincher’s Mindhunter, for which she was a writer and producer.

“Liz is an exceptional storyteller and shares our vision of making characters the focal point of the stories we tell,...

Director Erin Lee Carr hates to use the term “brand” but that’s exactly what she’s cultivated when it comes to bizarre true crime stories. “People are like, ‘This horrible thing happened. Let’s call Erin Lee Carr,'” the documentarian told TheWrap.

It’s not surprising to see how Carr developed this reputation. She was behind HBO’s Gypsy Rose Blanchard documentary “Mommy Dead and Dearest” and “I Love You, Now Die: The Commonwealth v. Michelle Carter,” both of which went on to inspire the Hulu scripted series “The Act” and “The Girl From Plainville,” respectively. In 2021, Carr released Netflix’s “Britney vs Spears,” the same year the pop icon’s conservatorship was terminated. She’s also produced a Peacock documentary on Stormy Daniels, a Hulu docuseries on the Sherri Papini kidnapping hoax and an HBO documentary on journalist Kim Wall, who went missing after boarding Danish entrepreneur Peter Madsen’s submarine.

As “Reykjavik,” a look at a critical summit between the U.S. and the Soviet Union that helped determine the fate of the two superpowers, begins shooting in Iceland this week, the drama has brought on Hope Davis, Branka Katic and Aya Cash. They join the Sk Global feature, which has already lined up an impressive ensemble that includes Jeff Daniels as Ronald Reagan, Jared Harris as Mikhail Gorbachev and J.K. Simmons as Secretary of State George Shultz.

Davis, who appeared on Broadway opposite Daniels in “God of Carnage,” will star as Nancy Reagan. Katic is set to play Raisa Gorbachev, wife of the Soviet leader, and Cash has been tapped to portray a young journalist covering the Reykjavik Summit. Production officially commenced Tuesday on location in Reykjavik, where the cast and crew started filming in and around Höfði House, the actual site of a 1986 meeting that happened as the...

Warning: Spoilers ahead for American Sports Story.8-time Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick is portrayed in the FX/Hulu series American Sports Story. Josh Rivera leads the American Sports Story cast as Aaron Hernandez, the former collegiate and NFL superstar tight end who was convicted of murdering semi-pro football player Odin Lloyd in 2015. The first two episodes of American Sports Story capture a basic understanding of Aaron Hernandez's complicated upbringing, tumultuous family life, and accelerated path to becoming a Florida Gator before joining the NFL's New England Patriots in 2010. American Sports Story portrays several NFL players and coaches including Hernandez.

Hernandez was selected in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL Draft and was in the same draft class as legendary Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski. As the Patriots head coach and de facto general manager, Belichick had an integral part in selecting Hernandez to join the Patriots. Led by superstar...

There are several key NFL players and coaches depicted in the new FX/Hulu series American Sports Story. Josh Rivera leads the American Sports Story cast as Aaron Hernandez, the former collegiate and NFL superstar tight end who was convicted of murdering semi-pro football player Odin Lloyd in 2015. Lloyd was just one of several criminal acts of violence that Hernandez was either directly a part of or implicated in throughout his football career as a member of the University of Florida Gators and the NFL's New England Patriots. Rivera leads an ensemble cast that also includes Patrick Schwarzenegger, Lindsay Mendez, and Ean Castellanos.

The series is created by Stuart Zicherman (The Americans) and executive produced by Ryan Murphy (American Horror Story). The first two episodes of American Horror Story capture a basic understanding of Aaron Hernandez's complicated upbringing, family life, and path to becoming a Florida Gator after initially committing to UConn.

The Op Games Brings the Fun With Clue®: What We Do in the Shadows: "The Op Games, a leading creator of board games including the TikTok sensation Tapple, is happy to announce the release of Clue®: What We Do in the Shadows (Msrp: $44.99). This exciting new edition of the classic board game brings the hilarious world of Staten Island’s favorite vampire roommates to board game enthusiasts and fans of the show alike, offering a fresh and amusing way to solve mysteries. The sixth and final season of FX’s critically acclaimed comedy, “What We Do in the Shadows,” premieres Monday, October 21 at 10pm Et/Pt and streams the next day on Hulu.

For decades, Clue® has captivated players with its engaging gameplay and intriguing scenarios. With this edition, players can immerse themselves in the quirky and supernatural universe of the series, navigating the darkly comedic environment while uncovering clues,...

Bottoms star/co-writer Rachel Sennott’s next project has officially landed a series order at HBO.

The premium cabler has picked up an untitled comedy — starring, written and executive-produced by Sennott — in which “a codependent friend group reunites, navigating how the time apart, ambition, and new relationships have changed them,” per the official synopsis.

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In addition to Sennott (The Idol, Call Your Mother), the...

Glen Powell’s upcoming Hulu comedy series “Chad Powers” has added four recurring guest stars.

Variety has learned that Clayne Crawford, Toby Huss, Colton Ryan, and Xavier Mills have all joined the series, in which Powell will play the title role in addition to co-creating it. The cast also includes Perry Mattfeld as Ricky, Quentin Plair as Coach Byrd, Wynn Everett as Tricia, Frankie A. Rodriguez as Danny, and Steve Zahn as Jake Hudson.

The official description for “Chad Powers” states, “When bad behavior nukes hotshot Qb Russ Holliday’s (Powell) college career, he disguises himself and walks onto a struggling Southern football team as the talented, affable Chad Powers.” The show is based on the Chad Powers character created by Eli Manning for his Epsn+ docuseries “Eli’s Places.”

Crawford will play Coach Dobbs. Crawford’s recent credits include films like “Finestkind” and “The King Tide.” He is also known...

The Hulu half-hour comedy series Chad Powers has added Clayne Crawford (The Finestkind), Xavier Mills (Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire), Colton Ryan (Poker Face) and Toby Huss (Fatal Attraction) to its recurring cast.

They join previously announced series regulars Glen Powell as Russ Holliday/Chad Powers, Perry Mattfeld as Ricky, Quentin Plair as Coach Byrd, Wynn Everett as Tricia, Frankie A. Rodriguez as Danny and Steve Zahn as Jake Hudson.

In the series, when bad behavior nukes hotshot Qb Russ Holliday’s college career, he disguises himself and walks onto a struggling Southern football team as the talented, affable Chad Powers.

Chad Powers is based on an Eli Manning sketch that aired on ESPN+. Glenn Powell and Michael Waldron co-created the series, co-wrote the pilot and executive produce for Barnstorm Productions and Anomaly Pictures, respectively. Adam Fasullo also EPs for Anomaly Pictures. Eli Manning executive produces along with Omaha Productions’ Peyton Manning,...

Peacock has announced new series regular castings for the upcoming limited series “Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy” alongside previously announced Michael Chernus as John Wayne Gacy. The series is based on the harrowing crimes of one of America’s most notorious serial killers and the rigorous investigation that ultimately brought him down.

Gabriel Luna will play Detective Rafael Tovar, James Badge Dale is Chief of Detectives Joe Kozenczak, Michael Angarano plays Sam Amirante, Chris Sullivan plays Lead Prosecutor Bill Kunkle and Marin Ireland steps into the role of Elizabeth Piest.

See Peacock announces ‘Poker Face’ Season 2 guest stars: Katie Holmes, Kumail Nanjiani, Sherry Cola and more …

Peacock’s official description of the series states, “From 1972-1978, 33 young men were kidnapped, murdered and buried in a crawl space beneath their killer’s house. And no one was the wiser. Not for all those years. Why? He was charming and funny.

[Editor’s note: This list was first published in May 2021 and has been updated multiple times since.]

Is there any entertainment force more seemingly unstoppable than true crime? Humanity’s most dastardly deeds have fascinated audiences for centuries. And in the modern age, the streaming wars and social media are feeding, accelerating, and encouraging that fixation at an unprecedented scale and rate. The result is an unending cycle of notorious crimes revisited via documentary that’s punctuated by real-time internet clips showing everything from minor fights in grocery stores to homicides carried out by police.

As the world gets darker, many TV and movie lovers have turned their attention to this increasingly macabre subject matter to simultaneously distract themselves from the news and lean into the fraught reality of narratives considering real crimes. From podcasts and documentaries to prestige dramas and sitcoms lampooning the genre, true crime is everywhere. Learning about its most frequented subject areas — corrupt police, biased justice systems, unreliable evidence, and the like — is...

In its first week of availability on Hulu, “Perfect Wife: The Mysterious Disappearance of Sherri Papini” reached 3.6 million views.

This marks the most-watched Hulu docuseries ever, according to the streamer, which calculates views by dividing the total amount of time a project is watched by its runtime.

As exclusively reported by Variety, the most recent title Hulu touted as its nonfiction record-holder was “Captive Audience: A Real American Horror Story,” the 2022 docuseries about the 1972 kidnapping of seven-year-old Steven Stayner. An exact number of views was not provided, though the streamer did share at the time that it calculated its rankings based on each title’s first month of viewership, rather than its first week as with “Perfect Wife.”

“Perfect Wife,” which premiered on June 20, tells the story of the 2016 Sherri Papini kidnapping hoax. The official logline reads, “Keith and Sherri Papini’s seemingly idyllic family life is shattered when Sherri...

We’ve got yet another serial killer drama on the way as Michael Chernus (Severance) is set to play John Wayne Gacy in a limited drama series for Peacock.

Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy will chronicle “the harrowing crimes of one of America’s most notorious serial killers and the investigation that ultimately brought him down.” Over the course of six years, Gacy kidnapped and murdered 33 young men, burying many of them in the crawl space beneath his home. On the outside, Gacy didn’t seem to fit the mould of a twisted killer; he was active in his community, hosted annual summer parties, and even volunteered to entertain sick children dressed as a clown.

“I’m both excited and humbled by this opportunity,” Chernus said in a statement. “The direction that the writers are taking with this project is important, focusing on the victims and their families as...

Michael Chernus has been tapped for the title role in Peacock’s limited drama series Devil In Disguise: John Wayne Gacy.

True crime veteran Patrick Macmanus serves as writer, executive producer and showrunner on the scripted series, inspired by the 2021 Peacock original docuseries John Wayne Gacy: Devil in Disguise. It chronicles the harrowing crimes of one of America’s most notorious serial killers and the investigation that ultimately brought him down.

From 1972-1978, thirty-three young men were kidnapped, murdered and buried in a crawl space beneath the house of their killer, Gacy, who went undetected for years because he was charming and funny, had a good, all-American job, was a community leader and even volunteered to entertain sick kids… while dressed as a clown.

Devil In Disguise: John Wayne Gacy peels back the twisted layers of Gacy’s life while weaving...

Hulu offers top-tier true crime series like The Act and Dopesick, showcasing compelling human stories behind high-profile cases. The Girl From Plainville and Candy dive deep into complex cases with nuanced storytelling and powerful performances. Welcome to Chippendales and Under The Bridge offer insightful perspectives on cultural themes and psychological depths of their subjects.

Hulu is known for offering some of the best true crime series among streaming platforms, and these nine shows stand out as the cream of the crop. From gripping dramatizations of high-profile cases to in-depth explorations of systemic issues, Hulu's true crime offerings showcase the genre at its most compelling and thought-provoking. Series like The Act and Dopesick bring to life the human stories behind the headlines, with powerhouse performances and meticulous attention to detail that set them apart from the pack.

Hulu's best original series are full of compelling offerings, like the anthology series American...

Lauren Paget has been named senior vice president of Littleton Road Productions, headed by “Dr. Death” and “The Girl From Plainville” writer Patrick Macmanus and producing partner Kelly Funke.

Most recently vice president of original programming at Warner Bros. Discovery, Paget will now oversee day-to-day development responsibilities at Littleton Road Productions (which is currently under an overall deal with Universal Studio Group’s UCP) and help build out the banner’s prolific roster of TV projects. She will lead new series development and support the current slate, including upcoming limited series “Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy” for Peacock.

During her tenure at Wbd, Paget worked on creative development and management of programming for TBS, TNT and truTV, including “Full Frontal With Samantha Bee,” “Miracle Workers: Dark Ages” and “Miracle Workers: End Times,” “Final Space” and “Chad.”

Previously, Paget held roles at Amblin Entertainment, Assembly Entertainment, Shine America and WME.

Emmy nominee Elle Fanning is in talks to star in “Badlands,” a standalone movie from Dan Trachtenberg that expands the “Predator” universe.

Trachtenberg is set to direct the movie for 20th Century Studios from a script he co-wrote with Patrick Aison. “Badlands” comes following the success of Trachtenberg’s “Prey” — the “Predator” prequel which was a critical hit and broke records with its release on Hulu. The 2022 film was nominated for five Primetime Emmys, winning one for sound editing; “Prey 2” is in early development, with its star Amber Midthunder potentially returning. “Badlands” was announced in February, with the film expected to begin production later this year. Plot details are being kept under wraps.

Fanning recently wrapped a three-season run as executive producer and star of Hulu’s “The Great,” where she starred as Russian monarch Catherine the Great and earned her first Emmy nomination (for outstanding lead actress in...

The Girl From Plainville is a highly acclaimed Hulu series that delves into a shocking true crime case involving manslaughter and teens. Critics praise Elle Fanning's performance as Michelle Carter in The Girl From Plainville, earning a 91% on Rotten Tomatoes. While Under the Bridge focuses on a group of teenage suspects, The Girl From Plainville centers on the legal consequences faced by one individual.

An acclaimed Hulu original series starring Elle Fanning is the perfect watch after finishing Under The Bridge. Led by the star performances of Riley Keough and Lily Gladstone, Under the Bridge received mostly positive reviews, earning a critic score of 83% on Rotten Tomatoes. The 2024 true crime limited series premiered on April 17, 2024, with its first two episodes before the finale of Under the Bridge on May 29, 2024, with its eighth episode. The series is available exclusively on Hulu.

Under the Bridge chronicled the true story of the Reena Virk case.

This article contains discussions of brutal murder, rape, suicide, medical abuse, and police misconduct. It also includes Spoilers for Under the Bridge.

Fans of Under the Bridge can watch similar true crime series for more drama, mystery, and crime-filled content. Black Bird and I'll Be Gone In The Dark include similar narrative elements while focusing on serial killers. Shows like The Girl From Plainville, The Nurse, and The Act explore unexpected people committing murder.

Though Hulu's Under the Bridge has reached its conclusion, many similar true crime TV series exist that viewers can watch next. Based on the eponymous book by Rebecca Godfrey, the eight-episode miniseries fully explored the real-life murder of Reena Virk and the perpetrators who attacked her. Additionally, the series explored important themes like police misconduct, cycles of violence, why children kill, and grief.

While every true crime is unique due to the victims and perpetrators,...

From nuns and handmaids to webslingers and oversexualized teens, Sydney Sweeney has done a fantastic job in her decade and a half of acting.

While she has been dubbed a sex symbol, that title doesn't even begin to define the actress's range of skill when it comes to dramatic roles.

Having amassed 22 awards nominations and securing three wins, primarily for her breakout role in Euphoria, the actress has become a mainstay in the entertainment industry.

Though she's been acting since 2009, it wasn't until recently that she started blowing up the news circuits with her career-defining performances.

One thing that can be said about the actress is that she takes every opportunity to elevate her characters as far as possible.

Here, we've assembled a set of Sweeney's most notable television and film roles. From comedy to horror to gritty drama, the actress is not limiting her role choices.

So, grab...

Some of the best true crime shows, like A Friend of the Family and Impeachment: American Crime Story, involve the victims in the creation of the show. Unbelievable and When they See Us show the importance of women and Black voices in telling authentic stories about misogyny and racism. The best true crime shows aren't afraid to tackle heavy subjects and ask the big questions.

This article includes discussions of heavy themes and extreme violence, including murder and rape.

True crime is an ever-expanding genre of TV and movies, but the best dramatized true crime shows excel above the rest. Humanity is fascinated by the psychology that leads people to commit crimes, as evidenced by the popularity of true crime. Documentaries and docuseries on murder cases and other horrific cases have become a staple. However, many of the best stories about true crime are dramatizations that tell the story using actors.

SeriesFest has set its lineup and it now includes the likes of New Amsterdam star Jocko Sims and creator David Schulner, All American’s Nkechi Okoro Carroll and Dr. Death creator Patrick Macmanus.

This comes as the event, which is held in Denver between May 1 and 5, previously revealed stars such as Minnie Driver, the cast of Grey’s Anatomy and Hasan Minhaj to its lineup.

It has also added a full lineup of panels for its tenth iteration

There will be interviews with the likes of Beatrice Springborn, President, UCP and Universal International Studios, Grey’s Anatomy producer Betsy Beers and Mark Duplass and Mel Eslyn, the team behind Penelope.

The event will also showcase a number of international shows including This is Not Sweden, Zorro, Estonia, Haven of Grace, Lost Boys and Fairies and Split.

“Season 10 of SeriesFest marks a milestone in our journey to elevate emerging and underrepresented voices in episodic storytelling.

Exclusive: The Black List and Wif have announced the participants of the 2024 Episodic Lab, which focuses on preparing women writers and writers of underrepresented genders for a career in television writing.

“Coming out of an incredibly challenging year for our industry, the Black List and Wif are dedicated to ensuring talented writers of all genders still have the opportunities they need to be discovered, supported, and most importantly hired in the world of television,” said Megan Halpern, Senior Vice President at the Black List.

Maikiko James, Senior Program Director at Wif, added, “We’re thrilled about this year’s class of Episodic writers and the stories they have to share and we’re excited for them to join the rich community we’ve cultivated over the last eight years of this Lab.”

Mentors for this year include Glen Mazzara (The Dark Towter), Liz Hannah (The Girl From Plainville), Andy Siara...

The creators of Mr Bates Vs the Post Office and Dr Death, which are among the most meaningful TV dramas of recent years, have outlined the secrets behind their series.

During a panel session at the Berlinale Series Market chaired by Deadline, Mr Bates Vs the Post Office executive producer Patrick Spence outlined the weight his production team felt during the making of the ITV drama, which laid bare the story of the biggest legal injustice in British history.

He revealed the show’s 12 lead actors, who include Toby Jones as the real life campaigner Alan Bates, worked for “in some cases, a fifth of what they could normally get” because the story had affected them so deeply. “They did it because they were angry. They had to buy in,” he added.

The drama, from ITV Studios and Little Gem, told the story of how more than 800 sub postmasters, who...

Peacock has ordered a limited scripted series about notorious serial killer John Wayne Gacy, Variety has learned.

The announcement was made during the Television Critics Association winter press tour in Pasadena. The series is inspired by the 2021 Peacock/NBC News Studios docuseries “John Wayne Gacy: Devil in Disguise,” with the scripted series sharing the same name.

Patrick Macmanus will serve as writer, showrunner, and executive producer on the show. Macmanus previously created the first season of the Peacock true crime series “Dr. Death” and the Hulu true crime limited series “The Girl From Plainville,” with Macmanus also serving as showrunner on both shows.

Macmanus will executive produce via Littleton Road Productions along with Kelly Funke, with Noah Oppenheim and Liz Cole of NBC News Studios also executive producing. UCP, where Macmanus is currently under an overall deal, will serve as the studio.

Macmanus is repped by UTA and Cartel Entertainment.

Simu Liu is going back to the future. Well, like, five minutes into the future.

Peacock has given a straight-to-series order for an untitled espionage series starring Liu, in which the “Barbie” actor will play first-generation-American intelligence analyst Alexander Hale. He realizes his brain has been hacked, giving the perpetrators access to everything he sees and hears.

James Wan is among the executive producers on the series, which was written and created by Thomas Brandon (“Legacies”). Other EPs on the project include Michael Clear and Rob Hackett from Wan’s Atomic Monster. Danielle Bozzone will oversee the project for the production company, which recently merged with Jason Blum’s Blumhouse.

Wan/Atomic Monster and UCP/Peacock are already collaborating on a contemporary horror thriller now titled “Teacup.” Ian McCulloch is writing that one, and executive producing alongside Wan.

The Liu project is one of four new series Peacock ordered Wednesday.

Peacock is bulking up its scripted roster.

The NBCUniversal-owned streamer on Wednesday announced series orders for four new scripted originals, including Mr. Throwback, a mockumentary starring NBA legend Steph Curry and an untitled James Wan thriller with Simu Liu set to topline the drama. Also ordered to series are Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy from the creators of Dr. Death and All Her Fault, a suburban thriller based on the novel of the same name by Andrea Mara.

The news was announced Wednesday during Peacock’s time at the Television Critics Association’s winter press tour, where the streamer held panels for Apples Never Fall and The Traitors, among others.

The pickups join a roster of scripted series at Peacock that also includes Apples Never Fall, Hysteria!, The Tattooist Of Auschwitz, Those About To Die, Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist, We Are Lady Parts, Teacup The Day of the Jackal...

Apple has won a bidding war for Margo’s Got Money Troubles.

The streamer has handed out an eight-episode, straight-to-series order for the drama from David E. Kelley that comes with Elle Fanning and Nicole Kidman attached to star. Margo is based on the forthcoming novel by Rufi Thorpe that landed with producers A24 after a bidding war in October for rights to the book. Kidman, Fanning — who will star as Margo — and her sister, Dakota Fanning, will also exec produce the series alongside Kelley, who serves as showrunner and reunites with the streamer following the upcoming Presumed Innocent (which he exec produces alongside J.J. Abrams).

As The Hollywood Reporter exclusively revealed in October, Margo’s Got Money Troubles had more than a dozen companies competing for the rights to the book about controlling your own narrative. Set for publication in June via HarperCollins imprint William Morrow, it revolves around Margo Millet,...

The series adaptation of the upcoming novel “Margo’s Got Money Troubles” has landed a straight-to-series order at Apple TV+ in a competitive situation.

Elle Fanning will lead the series alongside Nicole Kidman, with David E. Kelley attached to write and showrun. A24 is the studio.

The novel, written by Rufi Thorpe, is due to be published in June 2024 by William Morrow. Per the description of the novel’s plot, it focuses on Margo Millet (who will be played by Fanning), the daughter of a Hooters waitress and an ex-pro wrestler. Now an unemployed single mother in her early 20s, Margo is struggling to make ends meet, leading her to launch an OnlyFans account. When her father reenters her life, she starts incorporating his lessons from the pro wrestling world into her OnlyFans work, leading to unexpected success.

Apple has given the series an eight episode order. Kelley will serve as writer,...

The second chapter of Ryan Murphy’s Monster anthology at Netflix, which will focus on the Menendez brothers case, has filled two key roles with big names.

Javier Bardem and Chloë Sevigny will play José and Kitty Menendez, the parents of Lyle and Erik. The brothers’ 1989 killing of their parents sparked a media firestorm, and Lyle and Erik were eventually convicted of murder.

The anthology series will be Bardem’s first major role in an American TV series. Sevigny has worked with Murphy several times in the past, appearing in two seasons of American Horror Story and the forthcoming Feud: Capote vs. the Swans at FX.

Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story will track the ins and outs of the case, which became a huge story following José and Kitty’s murders at their Beverly Hills home. The brothers were tried twice, with the first trial resulting in...

Javier Bardem and Chloë Sevigny have joined “Monster” Season 2 at Netflix, Variety has learned.

The two A-listers join previously announced stars Cooper Koch and Nicholas Alexander Chavez in the upcoming season of the anthology series, which will focus on the Menéndez brothers. The season is officially titled “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menéndez Story” and is slated to debut later in 2024.

Erik (Koch) and Lyle Menéndez (Chavez) were convicted of the murders of their parents, José (Bardem) and Mary Louise “Kitty” Menéndez (Sevigny), in 1996. Authorities argued the brothers committed the murders to inherit their father’s fortune, while the brothers maintained that they killed their parents after years of mental and physical abuse.

“Monster” was co-created by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan. Both serve as executive producers along with Alexis Martin Woodall, Eric Kovtun, David McMillan, Louise Shore, and Carl Franklin. The first season focused on serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer.

Exclusive: Oscar-winning actress and producer Charlize Theron has teamed with veteran media executive and producer Dawn Olmstead, along with Charlize’s Denver & Delilah partners Beth Kono and Aj Dix, to form a new media venture.

Former Anonymous Content CEO and UCP President Olmstead will serve as CEO on the yet-untitled company, which will take over Denver & Delilah’s content slate. The new venture will also continue Denver & Delilah’s first-look feature deal with Universal as well as its TV agreement with HBO/Max, which is currently slated to end early next year.

In her role, Olmstead will work closely with Theron, Kono and Dix to develop and build upon the existing Denver & Delilah slate across film, TV and other areas of content and IP generation for global audiences.

The new company formalizes Olmstead’s longstanding relationship with Theron, Kono and Dix. As a producer, Olmstead worked with the trio on...

Karen Ceesay, known for recurring roles in The Walking Dead and Stranger Things, has signed with The Green Room Talent for management.

Ceesay appeared in Season 2 of Netflix’s Stranger Things in the role of Lucas’ mom Sue Sinclair, later reprising the character in a couple of episodes of Season 4. Prior to that, Ceesay played Bertie on AMC’s The Walking Dead, appearing between Season 6 and Season 10 for a total of 14 episodes.

Other acting credits include Hulu miniseries The Girl from Plainville, the NBC sitcom Young Rock, the Fox series Deputy, the CW show Black Lightning, the OWN series Greenleaf and the Fox series The Gifted.

Ceesay has also appeared in Clairvoyance the Ellis Files, Satisfaction, Resurrection, Army Wives, Reed Between the Lines, One Tree Hill, Drop Dead Diva and Somebodies.

As a co-producer and writer, Ceesay has worked on the digital series Intersection, a dark comedy written in a diverse,...

Exclusive: Brittany Kahan Ward and Graciella Sanchez are leaving Echo Lake Entertainment after a decade as partners to join Tfc Management where they also will be partners.

The high-profile arrival of Ward and Sanchez — who launched and built Echo Lake’s talent management division, with Sanchez also serving as the Co-President — marks an expansion into on-camera talent representation for Tfc, founded in 2020 by UTA and WME partners Ben Jacobson and David Stone with initial focus on literary clients, including creators, showrunners, novelists, producers, and filmmakers.

Ward and Sanchez’s formidable roster of clients include Dakota Fanning, Elle Fanning, Liz Hannah, Jd Pardo, Shira Haas, Ivana Milicevic, Marguerite Moreau, Phoebe Tonkin, Greg Smith, Alisha Wainwright, Momona Tamada, Golden Brooks, Colton Ryan, Marlo Kelly, Jordan Gavaris, Nadia Tereszkiewicz, Jamila Gray, Maria Dragus, Lina El-Arabi, Tarryn Wyngaard and Floria Sigismondi. The majority of them are expected to follow them to Tfc.

During their stint at Echo Lake,...

A24 is at it again.

The studio has outbid fierce competition for the rights to adapt Rufi Thorpe’s upcoming book Margo’s Got Money Troubles, with David E. Kelley in talks to co-write the TV adaptation. Nicole Kidman as well as Elle and Dakota Fanning’s production companies are also attached to executive produce the potential series, which landed at A24 following a bidding war that featured nearly a dozen companies that were competing for the rights to the book about controlling your own narrative.

Scheduled for publication in June via HarperCollins imprint William Morrow, Margo’s Got Money Troubles revolves around Margo Millet, the daughter of a Hooters waitress and former pro wrestler who, after having an affair with her junior college English professor, gets pregnant and turns to OnlyFans to make ends meet. After reuniting with her estranged father, who imparts advice he learned in the wrestling ring,...

Elle Fanning, the Emmy-nominated star of Hulu’s The Great, will make her Broadway debut next month in Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ Appropriate, joining previously announced cast members Sarah Paulson, Corey Stoll, Natalie Gold and Alyssa Emily Marvin.

Directed by Lila Neugebauer, Appropriate will begin previews Wednesday, November 29, at Second Stage’s Hayes Theater and will officially open on Monday, December 18. Today’s casting was announced by Second Stage in association with Ambassador Theatre Group Productions, Amanda Dubois, Annapurna Theatre, and Bad Robot Live.

The synopsis: It’s summer, the cicadas are singing, and the Lafayette family has returned to their late patriarch’s Arkansas home to deal with the remains of his estate. Toni (Paulson), the eldest daughter, hopes they’ll spend the weekend remembering and reconnecting over their beloved father. Bo (Stoll), her brother, wants to recoup some of the funds he spent caring for Dad at the end of his life.

Paris Hilton’s life story could soon be coming to TV.

Variety has confirmed that Hilton’s recent book, “Paris: The Memoir,” has been optioned by A24 with plans to adapt it for the small screen. According to an individual with knowledge of the situation, the deal for the book is said to be in the six figure range.

No writer or star is currently attached to the project, but Elle and Dakota Fanning are attached to executive produce the series under their Lewellen Pictures banner. Hilton will also executive produce via 11:11 Media’s Slivington Manor Entertainment along with Bruce Gersh. Brittany Kahan Ward of Echo Lake and David Bernad of Middle Child will also executive produce.

Hilton is repped by UTA & Jill Fritzo PR. The Fannings are repped by UTA, Echo Lake Entertainment, Hansen Jacobson, and Slate PR.

Hilton is the heir to the Hilton Hotel fortune, though...

A24 has optioned rights to “The Simple Life” icon Paris Hilton’s autobiography “Paris: The Memoir,” published this past March. Deadline first shared the news of a reported six-figure deal for a TV series adaptation of the book. IndieWire confirmed the news separately with an individual close to the project.

Hilton’s entertainment banner 11:11 Media, Elle and Dakota Fanning’s Lewellen Pictures, along with David Bernad’s Middle Child Pictures, are producing.

A24 retweeted the Deadline announcement with the caption, “That’s hot.”

“Paris: The Memoir” charts Hilton’s struggle with Adhd, anxiety, and abuse. Hilton described the book in publisher HarperCollins’ description as an “effort to understand my place in a watershed moment: the technology renaissance, the age of influencers. I also wrote this book so that the world could know who I am today. I focused on key aspects of my life that led to what I...

Exclusive: We understand that A24 has taken the rights to Paris Hilton’s memoir for a TV series adaptation. The deal, we hear, is said to be in the six figures.

Hilton’s entertainment company 11:11 Media, Dakota and Elle Fanning’s Lewellen Pictures, and David Bernad’s Middle Child Pictures are producing. No writers have been set yet on the project.

11:11 Media’s Slivington Manor will produce with A24. EPs are Hilton, Bruce Gersh, the Fannings, Brittany Kahan Ward for Lewellen Pictures, and Bernad.

While details are under wraps, Paris The Memoir, published earlier this year from HarperCollins is HIlton’s personal tell-all, battling with Adhd, her rise in pop culture, her branding. In the book’s description, Hiilton writes: “I wrote this book in an effort to understand my place in a watershed moment: the technology renaissance, the age of influencers. I also wrote this book so...

The Toronto International Film Festival is in full swing with a bevy of titles competing both for global distribution and awards prestige. The festival has had its share of lumps in the last month, losing their 28-year-sponsor, Bell Telephone, back in August, as well as being enmeshed in the on-going SAG-AFTRA/WGA duel strike. It is that strike that is the most insurmountable goal for the event, as actors and writers are unable to attend and promote their films, though some have with a SAG-AFTRA interim agreement.

And while the movie landscape is looking different, with movies switching release dates (in the wake of both the strike and Taylor Swift’s Eras tour), this year’s TIFF is showcasing what amazing movies are still being made. Here are 25 of the hottest titles to be excited for at this year’s TIFF.

Courtesy of TIFF

“Dumb Money” (Sony)

Craig Gillespie’s...

Documentary films and docu-series have gained mainstream popularity in recent decades, inspiring feature films and TV shows to adapt their narratives. HBO has spearheaded the trend of adapting documentaries, producing TV movies and series that draw from true stories captured in non-fiction films. Adaptations such as The Walk and Lords of Dogtown have replicated the style and themes of their documentary predecessors while adding their own cinematic flair.

Drawing inspiration from the documentary on the American Samoan football team’s redemptive journey, Taika Waititi’s upcoming sports drama Next Goal Wins joins the list of movies that are adapted from documentaries. Since the past few decades, documentary films and docu-series are garnering more mainstream popularity with some audiences being in sheer awe of the cinematic potential their non-fiction narratives capture. From Man on Wire walking between adrenaline-fueled archival footage and thrilling re-enactments to The Staircase drawing up the blueprint for...

Hulu has ordered a new documentary series on the Sherri Papini disappearance story, Variety has learned.

Hailing from filmmakers Erin Lee Carr, Michael Beach Nichols, and Marwar Junction Productions, the limited series dives into “the six-year journey of Sherri Papini’s disappearance to her arrest and the ripple effect of the case felt across the nation,” per Hulu.

Sherri Papini was 34 years old when she disappeared from a rural neighborhood in Northern California which catapulted her family — including her husband, Keith Papini — at the center of a global news story as they waited for answers. Suddenly, after 22 days of searching, Sherri was found alive. Burned and battered, with a metal chain tied around her waist, she claimed that she’d been kidnapped at gunpoint and had been tortured for three weeks by her captors.

Six years after her disappearance, Sherri Papini began serving 18 months in prison for lying to the FBI about her kidnapping.

Elle Fanning is opening up about being sexualized by Hollywood.

The child star revealed during a Hollywood Reporter roundtable interview that she lost out on a comedy role at age 16 over being billed as “unfuckable.”

“I’ve never told this story, but I was trying out for a movie. I didn’t get it. I don’t even think they ever made it, but it was a father-daughter road trip comedy,” Fanning said. “I didn’t hear from my agents because they wouldn’t tell me things like this — that filtration system is really important because there’s probably a lot more damaging comments that they filtered — but this one got to me. I was 16 years old, and a person said, ‘Oh, she didn’t get the father-daughter road trip comedy because she’s unfuckable.'”

“The Great” actress added, “It’s so disgusting. And I can laugh at it now,...

Channel 4 has picked up a wealth of U.S. content for its rebranded streaming service including Dr. Death, Queer As Folk and Becoming Elizabeth.

The shows will become available over the coming months on the streaming service that was previously called All4 but is now simply titled Channel 4.

Leading the acquisitions slate is NBC’s Doctor Death Season 1, which was based on the hugely successful podcast of the same name. Peacock’s Queer as Folk U.S., meanwhile, is heading to its natural home 25 years after Russell T Davies’ Channel 4 breakout first aired. That show was cancelled by Peacock after one season.

The pair were acquired from NBCUniversal alongside The Girl from Plainville.

Elsewhere, Anya Reiss’ Becoming Elizabeth aired on Starz last year and tells the story of England’s most iconic queen, while Channel 4 has also bought Cruel Summer from eOne.

The Channel 4 streaming service appears to be...

Exclusive: Anonymous Content has elevated four senior executives at the company including three within AC Studios, the premium independent film and TV production studio that sits inside Anonymous Content as well as a longtime executive in their Brand division.

AC Studios promotions include Garrett Kemble who will become President of Scripted, Jessica Grimshaw who has been named Head of Unscripted, and Nina Soriano who is now Producer and Head of Music Content – an initiative that will work across every division of the firm to build relationships and projects that bridge the worlds of music, television and film.

Additionally, longtime Commercial Executive Producer SueEllen Clair has expanded her role to include Vice President, Commercials, where she will continue to oversee projects and directors working across the Commercial and Music Content divisions of Anonymous Content.

All four execs will continue to be based out of the company’s Los Angeles office.

“We’re so thrilled for Garrett,...

Exclusive: Elle Fanning (The Great) is set to star alongside Timothée Chalamet and Monica Barbaro in A Complete Unknown, the Bob Dylan biopic that two-time Oscar nominee James Mangold is directing for Searchlight Pictures.

The film heading into production in New York this summer watches as a young Dylan (Chalamet) shakes up the music world in 1965, as he pivots to performing with an electric guitar for the first time. Fanning will play the role of Dylan’s early ’60s love interest, university student and artist Sylvie Russo.

Jay Cocks (Gangs of New York) wrote the script, with Mangold handling revisions. Dylan’s longtime manager Jeff Rosen will produce alongside Veritas Entertainment Group’s Bob Bookman, Alan Gasmer and Peter Jaysen, Automatik’s Fred Berger, The Picture Company’s Alex Heineman, and Mangold. Exec producers include Dylan, as well as Automatik’s Brian Kavanaugh-Jones and Andrew Rona.

Recognized thus far in...

Elle Fanning (“The Great”), Christopher Abbott (“Poor Things”) and Nadia Tereszkiewicz (“The Crime is Mine”) are set to headline “The Maid of Orleans,” Sarah Elizabeth Mintz’s daring follow up to “Good Girl Jane.” Loosely inspired by Mintz’s real-life experiences, “The Maid of Orleans” will explore sexual power dynamics on and off set.

Jessica Chastain’s Freckle Films is set to produce alongside Fanning’s Lewellen Pictures. Memento International will introduce the hot project to buyers at the Cannes Film Market. Filming is scheduled to begin early 2024 in France.

Fanning will star as Rebecca Spielman, a young film school graduate who travels to Paris to work as the assistant to the brilliant, yet tortured up-and-coming director Sammy Lindberg (Abbott). As the production of Sammy’s new “Joan of Arc” movie ramps up, Rebecca finds herself struggling to satisfy the growing maze of demands made by her new boss, all the while,...

Somebody give Chloë Sevigny what she wants: glamour!

“God, how many more frumpy mommies can I play?” says the actress (and real-life mother), whose recent run includes shedding her fashionista ways in such projects as Bones and All, The Girl From Plainville, We Are Who We Are and The Act. “Give me some glamour, for crying out loud. What am I in this business for?”

She gets some glitz in her next role, playing C.Z. Guest in the next installment of Ryan Murphy’s Feud, and describes the socialite as the precursor to Martha Stewart. “This is about a bygone era of glamour.”

The former “It” girl — who recently spoke to THR about archiving her collection of clothes worn on red carpets with The Wardrobe clothing preservation service — also weighed in on what it takes to harness the buzz: “There’s a reason why Julia Fox is having a moment or Paloma Elsesser.