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Julianne Hough, the accomplished American dancer and actress best known for her standout roles in films like Footloose and Rock of Ages, stands 5 feet 3 inches (160 cm) tall. She typically wears a US shoe size 6.5 and often opts for high heels to elevate her look.

Julianne Hough creates a gown-like illusion with her flowing white Alexandre Vauthier couture jumpsuit at the 96th Academy Awards on March 10, 2024, in Los Angeles, California (Credit: Media Punch / INSTARimages)

Julianne Hough’s Favorite Heels: How She Elevates Her 5’3” Frame in Style

From classic pumps to strappy stilettos, here are some of her most memorable shoe moments:

Stuart Weitzman: At the 2015 Creative Arts Emmy Awards, Julianne shimmered in a silver gown paired with Stuart Weitzman’s ‘Nudist’ sandals, a timeless choice that accentuated her ethereal elegance. Christian Louboutin: During a ‘Dancing with the Stars’ event in 2017, she radiated sophistication in a sleek black dress and Christian Louboutin ‘So Kate’ pumps,...

Banijay Entertainment is starting 2025 off with a new approach to its scripted division.

The French production and distribution company announced on Monday that it has promoted Steve Matthews to be head of scripted, creative, and Johannes Jensen to be head of scripted, business. Both execs will report to chief business officer Frédéric Balmary.

“Our scripted offering continues to go from strength-to-strength with a combined slate of new hits and successful returners scooping high-profile awards and widespread critical acclaim,” Balmary said in a statement. “We are incredibly proud of our producers’ achievements in this space and as we continue to grow, the refreshed roles for Steve and Johannes will strengthen our creative and business acumen, ensuring we continue to innovate and lead on the global stage.”

Matthews joined Banijay in 2023 and is credited with “fueling the storytelling pipeline” at the company by introducing the Banijay Bootcamp, where emerging writers get to work with existing executives.

France-headquartered content powerhouse Banijay Entertainment unveiled a new combined leadership structure for its central scripted division on Monday appointing Steve Matthews as head of scripted, creative and Johannes Jensen as head of scripted, business. Reporting to chief business officer Frédéric Balmary, the duo will work in unison “to effectively support and partner with the group’s thriving portfolio of over 60 dedicated labels,” the firm said.

Matthews has served as content partnerships executive so far and Jensen as Banijay Nordic head of scripted. The latter has also led two production labels Jarowskij and Yellow Bird, now merged as Jarowskij/Yellow Bird, with Banijay noting that “he has played an integral role in significantly uplifting scripted slates, with expertise in co-production, navigating complex industry changes, and driving long-term strategic expansion.” Matthews, since joining in 2023, “has played a pivotal role in supporting the scripted community, fueling the storytelling pipeline, and spearheading initiatives to encourage collaboration across labels worldwide,...

Endemol Shine Boomdog, the producer of Max Limited Series “Like Water for Chocolate,” has joined forces with Brazil’s A Fábrica to launch A Fábrica Mexico & U.S. Hispanic. Both are part of Banijay Americas.

The new label will focus on producing scripted content for the Mexican, Latin American and U.S. Hispanic markets, and is set to launch operations later this year.

Said Ben Samek, CEO of Banijay Americas: “This partnership expands our presence in the scripted content market and underscores our commitment to delivering engaging programming to a massive and ever-growing audience across Latin America and beyond.”

“We have seen a clear desire for high quality scripted content in the Spanish-language marketplace and that series such as ‘Like Water for Chocolate’ can quickly become overnight successes for major streamers and networks,” noted Endemol Shine Boomdog Group CEO Alejandro Rincon.

“The team at A Fábrica has shown for years...

Max's adaptation of Like Water for Chocolate has already been renewed for a second season, and here's what to know about the magical romance's return. Based on the beloved eponymous novel by Laura Esquivel, Like Water for Chocolate concerns the star-crossed lovers, Tita (Azul Guaita) and Pedro (Andres Baida), as their relationship intertwines with the complicated politics of the Mexican Revolution. Underneath the classic Romeo and Juliet storyline is Esquivel's magical realism, which imbues literal fantasy within the culinary world as Tita finds solace in her brilliant cooking.

The Salma Hayek-produced adaptation isn't the first time the novel was brought to life, and the 1992 movie held the distinction of being the highest-grossing foreign film in US history (at that point). However, like any adaptation, the film was forced to strip away some of the novel, thus robbing it of its grandeur. The 2024 TV version has no such issues,...

Three years ago, Max released a limited series adaptation of a well-regarded novel that blended magic realism and an all-too-real snapshot of a global pandemic. Dreamy and uncomfortably familiar, bleak and yet bursting with hope, Patrick Somerville’s translation of Emily St. John Mandel’s Station Eleven has settled into a reputation as a modern classic — THR placed it at No. 42 on our list of the 50 Best TV Shows of the 21st Century So Far — but owing to the timing of its premiere, the show was initially a little lost. It missed deadlines for many critics’ Top 10 lists and didn’t attract the awards attention you might expect based on its subsequent acclaim. It had to take a long path to adoration.

We’ll have to see if a similar fate awaits Netflix’s adaptation of Gabriel García Márquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude, a novel with one of...

The first season of Like Water for Chocolate is coming to an end.

The Spanish-language romance Max TV show airs its Season 1 finale at 8 p.m. Et on Sunday (December 8).

The show is an adaptation of Laura Esquivel‘s novel chronicling a complicated and timeless romance, and was originally a 1992 movie.

Here’s the logline for the final episode of Season 1: “Rosaura sends heartbreaking news to the family; Pedro leads Gertrudis and the rest of the revolutionaries into a battle with his uncle; Elena reclaims her power.”

Naturally, fans are curious if the show is coming back for a second season.

Keep reading to find out more…

Like Water for Chocolate has been renewed for Season 2, which will also be its last season.

Salma Hayek Pinault, who executive produces the show, announced the renewal at an HBO and Max showcase in London in December 2024.

“We don’t want to do more than two.

This weekly feature is in addition to TVLine’s daily What to Watch listings and our monthly breakdown of What’s on Streaming.

With over 500 scripted shows now airing across broadcast, cable and streaming, it’s easy to forget that a favorite comedy is returning, or that the new “prestige drama” you anticipated is about to debut. So consider this our reminder to set your DVR, order a Season Pass, pop a fresh Memorex into the Vcr… however it is you roll.

More from TVLineChristmas Time Is Here! Your Guide to 100 Holiday Movies on Hallmark, Lifetime, Netflix and More in...

Max's acclaimed period drama from producer Salma Hayek has been renewed for season 2. The streamer is undoubtedly a haven for period dramas, offering audiences a rich tapestry of historical storytelling. Shows like Catherine the Great have delved into the complex legacies of powerful leaders with Helen Mirren's portrayal of the Empress of Russia, while Gentleman Jack captured the revolutionary life of Anne Lister in mid-19th century Yorkshire, an enthralling depiction of the first modern lesbian. Max's period shows have seamlessly blended historical accuracy with modern sensibilities for a resonant and impactful dive into the past for today's viewers.

With intricate period details and captivating performances, Max has established itself as a leader in delivering compelling TV series rooted in true stories. HBO's miniseries Chernobyl transported audiences to the harrowing days of the 1986 nuclear disaster in Ukraine, winning Outstanding Limited Series, Directing, and Writing at the 71st Primetime Emmy Awards.

Max confirmed today the streaming service has renewed HBO Original series Like Water for Chocolate for a second season. The series has become the most watched Latin American content on Max worldwide and has climbed to rank among the top three most watched series on the platform during its premiere month.

The renewal announcement was made by Salma Hayek Pinault, executive producer of the series, during an event in London where HBO and Max content leaders including Casey Bloys, Chairman and CEO of HBO and Max Content, and Mariano César, SVP of General Entertainment Content and Programming Strategy for Latin America and Ush, presented top upcoming titles for Max globally.

“We are proud to see the success that Like Water for Chocolate is having on international screens. It is an original Latin American production made with the highest quality standards that characterize HBO series, with an incredibly talented community of local creators and artists,...

The fire and passion in Like Water for Chocolate isn’t over just yet: Max has renewed the Spanish-language romance for Season 2, which will be its last.

Salma Hayek Pinault, who executive-produces the show, announced the renewal Thursday at an HBO and Max showcase in London. She added that the series wouldn’t go beyond Season 2 because “We don’t want to do more than two. We want this to be very special,” our sister site Deadline reports.

More from TVLineThe Agency Renewed for Season 2 After Setting Showtime Streaming RecordRivals Renewed for Season 2 at HuluSweetpea Renewed for Season 2 at Starz...

“Like Water for Chocolate” has been renewed for a second season at Max, executive producer Salma Hayek Pinault revealed at the streamer’s showcase in London Thursday evening.

Hayek Pinault, appearing alongside Max Latin America boss Mariano Cesar, said the romantic drama series will not go beyond Season 2. “We don’t want to do more than two,” she said. “We want to do something that’s really special, and [make sure] that we don’t water it down to try and make it longer.”

“Like Water for Chocolate,” an adaptation of the 1989 magical realism novel by Laura Esquivel, follows star-crossed lovers Tita and Pedro, whose romance is hindered by her family traditions. Tita finds solace in the kitchen, where magic and flavors help her embrace her destined path. A film adaptation of the story, directed by Alfonso Arau, was released in 1992.

The series launched on Max Nov. 3 and stars Azul Guaita, Andres Baida,...

Salma Hayek Pinault made a surprise appearance at the Max Showcase in London this evening to talk Like Water For Chocolate and reveal it has been picked up for a second season.

Appearing alongside Max Lat Am boss Mariano Cesar, the actor-producer unveiled the news and confirmed it will not go beyond Season 3. “We don’t want to do more than two we want this to be very special,” she said.

The show, which launched last month, follows star-crossed lovers Tita and Pedro, whose romance is thwarted by her family’s traditions, forcing Tita to navigate magic and flavors in the kitchen as she fights for love and embraces her destined path. The original movie came out more than 30 years ago.

Hayek Pinault joked that it has “all the flavors of Jane Austen but is a lot spicier,” which she described as the “perfect format to make into a series.

Like Water for Chocolate features a strong Spanish ensemble of actors led by Azul Guaita and Andrés Baida.

HBO's six-episode adaptation of Laura Esquivel’s best-selling 1989 novel revolves around the story of a forbidden romance between Tita De La Garza and her childhood sweetheart, Pedro Múzquiz. Salma Hayek Pinault serves as its executive producer.

Like Water for Chocolate premiered on Max on November 3.

Read full article on The Direct.

A Salma Hayek-produced Max show has debuted with a Bridgerton-worthy Rotten Tomatoes score after just one episode has premiered on the streamer. The popular Netflix series was a major hit for the platform when it premiered in 2020, telling a dramatic romance story pulling from the Regency era. All three seasons of the show have since made it onto the list of Netflix's Top 10 most popular English TV series of all time, with Bridgerton season 4 now hotly anticipated. Since it became a hit, other streamers have seemingly been trying to capitalize on its success.

Similar shows have been released by different streaming platforms in the last few years, such as Apple TV+'s The Buccaneers and Prime Video's My Lady Jane. The success of similar Regency-inspired series has been mixed, with Prime Video's show getting axed after season 1, while The Buccaneers season 2 has been confirmed. This tossup of different successful...

This weekly feature is in addition to TVLine’s daily What to Watch listings and our monthly breakdown of What’s on Streaming.

With over 500 scripted shows now airing across broadcast, cable and streaming, it’s easy to forget that a favorite comedy is returning, or that the new “prestige drama” you anticipated is about to debut. So consider this our reminder to set your DVR, order a Season Pass, pop a fresh Memorex into the Vcr… however it is you roll.

More from TVLineChristmas Time Is Here! Your Guide to 90+ Holiday Movies on Hallmark, Lifetime, Netflix and More in...

Stepping into the world of HBO’s Like Water for Chocolate, viewers are immediately transported to the rural Mexican countryside at the beginning of the last century. Sweeping shots introduce the de la Garza family hacienda nestled amongst rolling green hills, while traditional dresses and architecture fill out the backgrounds. From the earliest moments, it’s clear that no expense was spared in bringing the period setting to life.

Costumes and production design feel authentic throughout, helping the show immerse audiences entirely within the world it depicts. Worn fabrics and weathered surfaces evoke a bygone era, allowing us to see and feel events unfold through the perspectives of characters living within that place and time. More than just aesthetic choices, these visual elements contribute meaningful context for comprehending the cultural norms and societal roles portrayed.

Of course, food plays a central role in the story, and HBO’s production does...

HBO Latino and Max is serving up a new dish this fall with Like Water for Chocolate, a series based on Laura Esquivel’s magical realism novel. The story follows Tita de la Garza (Azul Guaita), whose love for Pedro Múzquiz (Andrés Baida) is thwarted by rigid family traditions. Relegated to the kitchen, Tita finds solace […]

Like Water for Chocolate Series Premiere: A Recipe for Romance and Rebellion?...

Anger from investors possibly preventing Directv and Dish from merging was the top streaming story of the week.

With October out and November in, it was a bit of a quiet week in streaming news. The top story of the week was the news that some bumps had arisen in the road for Directv and Dish in their efforts to merge their two satellite TV operations into the biggest pay-tv company in the United States.

The week also saw the streaming premiere of a favorite family-friendly movie in “Despicable Me 4,” and the hits continue this weekend when “Like Water for Chocolate” debuts on Max. Check out everything you need to know about these stories below!

This Week’s Biggest Streaming News

Merger of Directv, Dish Threatened by Unhappy Investors

What to Stream This Weekend: ‘Like Water for Chocolate’

What to Watch From This Week: ‘Despicable Me 4’

Merger of Directv,...

Like a fine mole, magical realism requires incredible complexity to yield something that is then perceived as quite simple. Fifty different types of chilies become something broadly described as a chocolaty sauce. Sentiment, whimsy, romance, the supernatural and some measure of grounding combine into a mix that even your friendly neighborhood culture critic might only be able to say works or doesn’t. And two people perceiving an identical mélange of elements might respond to the flavor profiles in wholly different ways.

Take, for a purely hypothetical example, Alfonso Arau’s 1992 adaptation of Laura Esquivel’s

Like Water for Chocolate. Already a beloved hit in its day, affection for the movie seems only to have grown since. It’s impossible to quibble with Arau’s tonal commitment, or with the sumptuous cinematography from Steven Bernstein and, in one of his earliest films, Emmanuel Lubezki. But by tipping its magical realism so firmly toward “magical,...

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November brings both the familiar and the new to screens big and small. A favorite novel gets a new adaptation. A bestselling detective series gets a TV series. A popular movie gets a spinoff in Gladiator II, and a beloved musical finally gets the theatrical treatment fans have waited years for in Wicked. But the month is also set to bring a sure-to-be twisty adaptation of an acclaimed novel and more.

November already? Surely there must be some sort of law against this… but sure enough, the skeletons and pumpkins are being swapped out for colorful lights and fake snow ahead of the winter holidays. In TV land it’s time for winter (!) premieres and finales, and some welcome breaks for hungry viewers to catch up on everything they’ve missed.

The month brings a handful of exciting premieres, including “FX’s Say Nothing,” Hulu’s “Interior Chinatown,” Netflix’s “A Man on the Inside,” and “Dune Prophecy” on HBO. Eddie Redmayne, Billy Bob Thornton, and Colman Domingo come to the small screen with “The Day of the Jackal,” “Landman,” and “The Madness,” respectively, and viewers will finally get a taste of Prime Video’s televised take on “Cruel Intentions.”

This list sticks to new releases, which is why you won’t see the return of “Arcane” or “Bad Sisters” or “Yellowstone” on here,...

We are close to the end of the year, but there are still several shows on the way for us. If you’re already subscribed to Max, you are well aware that Dune: Prophecy (one of the most anticipated series of the year) finally arrives in November. But if that’s not your thing, don’t worry there’s more to watch.

First off, we have Like Water For Chocolate, kicking off the month on Nov. 3 with weekly episodes. Like Water For Chocolate is set to feature a total of six chapters. Now, this is an interesting one. The drama series showcases how traditions can, and often should, be broken, especially when they begin to feel like prison. Like Water For Chocolate stars Irene Azuela, Azul Guaita, Ana Valeria, and others.

Fans of the Dune universe only have to wait a little over two weeks for the arrival of Dune: Prophecy,...

Watch The Debuts Of HBO Originals “Dune: Prophecy,” “Like Water For Chocolate” And “Get Millie Black,” Season Three Of The Max Original Series “The Sex Lives Of College Girls,” Max/Magnolia Network Original Series “Second Chance Stage,” Max Original Film “Sweethearts,” HBO Original Documentaries “Night Is Not Eternal,” “Surveilled,” And “Music Box: Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary,” CNN Film “Carville: Winning Is Everything, Stupid” And A24 Film “Janet Planet”Get Ready For November With Max’s Election Collection Featured PROGRAMMINGDebuts November 1Janet PLANETA24 FilmLogline: In rural Western Massachusetts, 11-year-old Lacy spends the summer of 1991 at home, enthralled by her own imagination and the attention ... Read more...

Warner Bros. Discovery has announced the movies, TV shows, and live sports that will be available on the Max streaming service in November. The Max November 2024 lineup includes the debuts of Dune: Prophecy, Like Water for Chocolate, Get Millie Black, and The Sex Lives of College Girls Season 3.

The November schedule also includes Max/Magnolia Network Original series Second Chance Stage, Max Original film Sweethearts, HBO Original documentaries Night Is Not Eternal, Surveilled, and Music Box: Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary, CNN film Carville: Winning Is Everything, Stupid, and the A24 film Janet Planet.

Dune: Prophecy Featured Programming

Janet Planet (A24 Film)

Debuts November 1

In rural Western Massachusetts, 11-year-old Lacy (Zoe Ziegler) spends the summer of 1991 at home, enthralled by her own imagination and the attention of her mother, Janet (Julianne Nicholson). As the months pass, three visitors enter their orbit, all captivated by Janet and her spellbinding nature.

In her solitary moments,...

“Like Water for Chocolate,” HBO’s upcoming series adaptation of Laura Esquivel’s Mexican literary classic executive produced by Salma Hayek Pinault, has released its official trailer.

Set during the Mexican Revolution in the early 20th century, the six-episode series follows Tita de la Garza (Azul Guaita) and Pedro Múzquiz (Andrés Baida), “two souls deeply in love, yet unable to be together due to entrenched family customs,” according to the show’s synopsis. “The protagonists navigate a world of magical realism and rich flavors as Tita struggles between the destiny imposed on her by her family and her fight for love. Along the way, the audience will witness her greatest refuge: the kitchen. For Tita, her magical connection to cooking becomes an active resistance against oppression, allowing her to channel her deepest desires and passions into her recipes, transforming those who taste them.”

Hayek Pinault, who executive produced the series through her Ventanarosa Productions banner,...

Peacock has released the trailer for “Teacup,” a new horror thriller series from James Wan’s Atomic Monster, which has been adapted by showrunner Ian McCulloch.

Per the official logline, “‘Teacup’ follows a disparate group of people in rural Georgia who must come together in the face of a mysterious threat in order to survive.” Cast members include Yvonne Strahovski, Scott Speedman, Chaske Spencer, Kathy Baker, Boris McGiver, Caleb Dolden, Emilie Bierre and Luciano Leroux.

Executive producers include Wan, Michael Clear and Rob Hackett for Atomic Monster, Francisca X. Hu, Kevin Tancharoen and McCammon. “Teacup” is produced by UCP, a division of Universal Studio Group.

The first two episodes of the series, which was inspired by the novel “Stinger” by Robert McCammon, premiere on Peacock Oct. 10, followed by two new episodes every week through Halloween.

Watch the trailer below.

Programming

All 134 episodes of “Suits” are now available to stream via...

When NBC recently resurrected its long-dormant “Deal or No Deal,” it came with a new format: “Deal or No Deal Island.” The game show was originally a “shiny floor” in-studio contest where players had to guess how much money was inside a large briefcase. The updated iteration takes things outdoors, raising the stakes by adding interpersonal dynamics, physical challenges and survival to the mix.

At producer Endemol Shine North America, they call adding a fresh spin to existing IP the “Esna twist.” And it’s become a hallmark for CEO Sharon Levy, who took over the shingle — part of Banijay Americas — a little more than a year ago.

“I’m not a fan of a straight-up reboot without a reason for being,” Levy says. “You need to give them a reason to watch. And it has to feel of the moment. Development is probably always my first true love. It...

In an exclusive one-on-one interview with Variety, Fernando Medin, president and managing director of Warner Bros. Discovery (Wbd) Latin America and U.S. Hispanic, drilled down on the company’s programming and growth strategy for the region where it launches its rebranded streaming platform, Max, on Feb. 27. This will be Wbd’s first major international roll-out of Max after the U.S.

“To truly reach all segments of the population with a product like ours, it’s essential to not only offer our international content but also provide something that resonates with people, something relevant to their lives. Hence, we’ve been diligently curating a lineup of local content,” said Medin.

Leading the Max Latin American pack are shows based on internationally renowned IP, led by a Salma Hayek-executive produced series based on Laura Esquivel’s bestseller “Like Water for Chocolate” (“Como agua para chocolate”), adapted by director Alfonso Arau...