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Following yesterday's poster, Prime Video has released the first official trailer for G20, a new action thriller starring Oscar and Emmy Award-winner Viola Davis as a Potus you definitely don't want to mess with.

The movie was directed by Patricia Riggen from a script written by Noah and Logan Miller (White Boy Rick), with revisions by Caitlin Parrish and Erica Weiss (The Red Line). Andrew Lazar will produce via Mad Chance, joined by Davis and Julius Tennon via JuVee Productions.

According to the synopsis, "when terrorists overtake the G20 Summit, American President Taylor Sutton (Davis) must bring all her statecraft and military experience to defend her family, her fellow leaders, and the world."

Davis debuted as Amanda Waller in David Ayer's Suicide Squad before going on to reprise the role for James Gunn's "requel," The Suicide Squad. She then voiced the character in the recent Dcu Creature Commandos animated series,...

Academy Award winner Viola Davis takes on terrorists while in a red dress and sneakers, in Amazon MGM Studios’ upcoming action movie G20.

Prime Video on Wednesday released the official trailer (watch above) for the Patricia Riggens-directed movie, which premieres Thursday, April 10. The movie stars Davis as Taylor Sutton, a President of the United States who finds herself in a dangerous predicament when she must use her skills to save the country from a terrorist takeover.

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From time to time, sometimes the President gets in on the action themselves as they take matters into their own hands with movies like Independence Day, White House Down and, of course, Air Force One. Additionally, the movie Widows showed that Viola Davis was capable of crossing over into the action genre. Now, the Academy Award-winning actress goes full-on Harrison Ford as a President who takes on a group of terrorists in the new trailer for G20. Prime Video has released the new trailer where Davis goes up against The Boys‘ Antony Starr.

The official plot synopsis reads,

“When the G20 summit comes under siege, U.S. President Danielle Sutton (Academy Award winner Viola Davis) becomes the number one target. After evading capture by the attackers, she must outsmart the enemy to protect her family, defend her country and safeguard world leaders in this action-packed thrill ride.”

Patricia Riggen directs...

Viola Davis plays a commander in chief who will do what it takes to save the day in the trailer for the Amazon MGM Studios action movie G20.

Director Patricia Riggen’s feature begins streaming on Prime Video on April 10. Rounding out the cast are Anthony Anderson, Marsai Martin, Ramón Rodríguez, Antony Starr, Douglas Hodge, Elizabeth Marvel, Sabrina Impacciatore and Clark Gregg.

G20 centers on President Taylor Sutton (Davis), who must fight for the well-being of her family and other world leaders when terrorists take control of the G20 summit in Cape Town, South Africa.

“My husband and kids are missing,” Davis says in the trailer. “We have to find them.”

At one point, the lead terrorist (Starr) declares, “To the governments watching, I’ve taken the G20 by force. When we launch Project Deepfake, we will reset the world’s financial markets.”

Riggen (The 33) helmed the film from a script by Caitlin Parrish,...

Prime Video has revealed the official trailer and poster for G20, the upcoming action thriller starring Academy Award winner Viola Davis as President Sutton. The film will be available to stream on April 10 in over 240 countries and territories worldwide.

G20 follows U.S. President Danielle Sutton (Davis), who becomes the number one target after the G20 summit comes under siege. After evading capture by the attackers, she must outsmart the enemy to protect her family, defend her country and safeguard world leaders.

“This is Viola Davis as you’ve never seen her—heroically kicking tons of ass in a global thrill ride,” said Riggen.

“With G20, I wanted to make the kind of classic, edge-of-your-seat action film that I’ve always been such a fan of, but one that draws on the high stakes of our modern and technologically advanced world we live in. I hope to give audiences an...

In the trailer for Amazon Prime Video’s upcoming thriller “G20,” Egot winner Viola Davis plays the president of the United States as she fights to survive during a siege of the G20 international summit.

Davis’s character, President Danielle Sutton, travels with her family to the G20 in Cape Town when it is suddenly overtaken by forces who want economic control. Davis is seen escaping the attack and fighting in hand-to-hand combat. According tot he film’s official logline, Davis’ President Sutton “must outsmart the enemy to protect her family, defend her country and safeguard world leaders in this action-packed thrill ride.”

Playing Davis’ family are Anthony Anderson as Derek Sutton and Marsai Martin as Serena Sutton. The cast also includes Ramón Rodríguez playing Agent Manny Ruiz, Elizabeth Marvel as Joanna Worth, Sabrina Impacciatore as Elena Romano, Douglas Hodge playing Oliver Everett, Antony Starr as Rutledge and Christopher Farrar as Demetrius Sutton.

Viola Davis is a certified action star — but just in case you needed a reminder, just call the Academy Award winner Madam President in her latest feature “G20.”

Davis leads the new Amazon MGM Studio blockbuster film as a U.S. president who has to fight against crypto terrorists after the annual G20 summit is attacked. Anthony Anderson, Marsai Martin, Ramón Rodríguez, and “The Boys” actor Antony Starr also appear in the film, alongside Douglas Hodge, Elizabeth Marvel, Sabrina Impacciatore, and Christopher Farrar.

The official synopsis reads: “When the G20 summit comes under siege, U.S. President Danielle Sutton (Davis) becomes the number one target. After evading capture by the attackers, she must outsmart the enemy to protect her family, defend her country, and safeguard world leaders in this action-packed thrill ride.”

Patricia Riggen directs the feature, which was co-written by Logan and Noah Miller, Caitlin Parrish, and Erica Weiss.

Prime Video has released the first official poster for G20, a new action thriller starring multi-hyphenate Oscar and Emmy Award-winner Viola Davis as a Potus you definitely don't want to mess with.

The movie was directed by Patricia Riggen from a script written by Noah and Logan Miller (White Boy Rick), with revisions by Caitlin Parrish and Erica Weiss (The Red Line). Andrew Lazar will produce via Mad Chance, joined by Davis and Julius Tennon via JuVee Productions.

According to the synopsis, "when terrorists overtake the G20 Summit, American President Taylor Sutton (Davis) must bring all her statecraft and military experience to defend her family, her fellow leaders, and the world."

Davis debuted as Amanda Waller in David Ayer's Suicide Squad before going on to reprise the role for James Gunn's "requel," The Suicide Squad. She then voiced the character in the recent Dcu Creature Commandos animated series,...

Prime Video is entering another fantasy realm.

The Amazon-owned streamer has greenlit a series based on Julie C. Dao’s Rise of the Empress novels. The drama — which counts Viola Davis, Forest Whitaker and Gemma Chan among its executive producers — is set in a “fantastical ancient Asian empire,” per the show’s logline, and centers on a peasant girl named Xifeng who, backed by a vengeful sorceress, vies to win the heart of the heir to the throne.

Crystal Liu (American Horror Story) and James Wong (The X-Files, AHS) will serve as co-showrunners on the series, which comes from Amazon MGM Studios, Davis and Julius Tennon’s JuVee Productions, and Whitaker and Nina Yang Bongiovi’s Significant Productions.

“This story, led by an incredible female heroine, is an inspiring tale of strength and resilience,” said Nick Pepper, head of wholly owned U.S. SVOD TV development and series at Amazon MGM Studios.

Julie C. Dao’s fantasy book series “Rise of the Empress” will come to life on the small screen, as Amazon Prime Video has ordered a series adaptation.

“American Horror Story” alums Crystal Liu and James Wong will serve as co-showrunners. Executive producers on the project include Viola Davis through her JuVee Productions banner, Forest Whitaker via Significant Productions and Gemma Chan.

The logline of the series goes as follows: “A Fantastical Ancient Asian Empire is on the verge of destruction, torn apart by insidious rivalry. The only hope: A marriage between the handsome Heir to the Throne and a Princess from one of its feuding Kingdoms. As the competition to win the Prince’s hand heats up, chaos reigns when a dazzling peasant girl named Xifeng is thrown into the romance wars by a vengeful sorceress. In this fairytale of love and power, will Xifeng be able to save not only herself…...

Amazon is expanding its fantasy catalog with a new series, Rise of the Empress, Deadline reports. This show is based on Julie C. Dao’s popular book series and promises a fresh take on the Evil Queen legend.

The series is being developed by Amazon MGM Studios and brings together a powerhouse team including writers Crystal Liu and James Wong, actress and producer Gemma Chan, and the production companies of Viola Davis, Julius Tennon, Forest Whitaker, and Nina Yang Bongiovi.

The story unfolds in an ancient Asian empire teetering on collapse. To save the realm, a strategic marriage is arranged between a prince and a princess from warring kingdoms.

The stakes are upended when a stunning peasant girl named Xifeng enters the picture, drawn into a fierce love triangle by a vengeful sorceress. It’s a tale packed with magic, power struggles, and romance, with Xifeng at the heart of...

Prime Video has ordered to series Rise of the Empress, a fantasy drama based on Julie C. Dao’s duology of Forest of a Thousand Lanterns (2017) and Kingdom of the Blazing Phoenix (2018).

Crystal Liu (American Horror Story) will serve as co-showrunner, writer and executive producer on the series alongside Golden Globe winner and Emmy-nominated director and producer James Wong (American Horror Story).

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Exclusive: Prime Video is expanding its fantasy footprint with a green light for Rise of the Empress, an adaptation of Julie C. Dao’s book series of the same name. The Amazon MGM Studios TV series comes from writers, executive producers and co-showrunners Crystal Liu and James Wong (American Horror Story), executive producer Gemma Chan (The Creator) and two production companies, which have had first-look deals with Amazon MGM Studios, Viola Davis and Julius Tennon’s JuVee Productions (The Woman King) and Forest Whitaker and Nina Yang Bongiovi’s Significant Productions (Godfather of Harlem).

Rise of the Empress is described as “dark and mystical East Asian fantasy reimagining of The Evil Queen legend.” In it, a fantastical ancient Asian Empire is on the verge of destruction, torn apart by insidious rivalry. The only hope: a marriage between the handsome Heir to the Throne and a Princess from one of its feuding Kingdoms.

Viola Davis is making a dramatic arrival in a show-stopping dress!

The 59-year-old actress had the support of husband Julius Tennon at the 2025 Golden Globe Awards on Sunday (January 5) at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif.

For the event, Viola wowed in a sequined black dress with a metallic colored cape while Julius, 71, sported a black tux.

During the awards ceremony, Viola will be honored with the Cecil B. DeMille Award. According to the Golden Globes website, the award recognizes “outstanding contributions to the world of entertainment.”

An A-list friend officially presented with Viola with the award at the 2025 Golden Gala earlier this weekend.

Make sure to tune in for the Golden Globes at 8/7 on CBS. The show is hosted by comedian Nikki Glaser and honors the best in both movies and television. Emilia Perez and The Brutalist lead the nominations in the film categories while The Bear leads in the TV section.

Viola Davis was a guest of honor while attending the Golden Gala: An Evening of Excellence ahead of the 82nd Annual Golden Globes on Friday night (January 3) at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif.

The 59-year-old actress was joined at the event by her husband Julius Tennon and her daughter Genesis, 14.

During it, she was honored with the Cecil B. DeMille Award, marking the first time that the award was handed out since Eddie Murphy received it in 2022.

Keep reading to find out more…

According to the Golden Globes website, the award recognizes “outstanding contributions to the world of entertainment.” It was named after the famed director and has been awarded to the likes of Walt Disney and Barbra Streisand.

Viola received her award from Meryl Streep, a full-circle moment as Viola awarded Meryl the same honor in 2017.

For the occasion, she looked marvelous in a pink dress with dramatic sleeves.

Hollywood’s biggest stars stepped out to celebrate the 2025 Golden Globes this weekend. Several parties were held throughout the City of Angels to toast to this year’s nominees. Here’s the full roundup of festivities that took place before and after Sunday’s ceremony.

Netflix Afterparty

Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025: Netflix hosted a Golden Globes afterparty at Spago to celebrate the winners and nominees.

(L-r) Jodie Foster and Karla Sofia Gascón (photo: Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix)

(L-r) Jessica Gunning, Tilda Swinton and Richard Gadd (photo: Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix)

Zoe Saldaña (photo: Roger Kisby/Getty Images for Netflix)

(L-r) Jamie Foxx, Glen Powell and guest (photo: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Netflix)

Andrew Scott (L) and Allison Janney (R) (photo: Roger Kisby/Getty Images for Netflix)

(L-r) Jacques Audiard and Lee Jung-jae (photo: Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix)

(L-r) Bela Bajaria, Chief Content Officer, Netflix,...

Those actors scurrying around at the festival in Palm Springs would have been better served witnessing masterclasses in artistry from Viola Davis and Ted Danson, the recipients of Golden Globes honors on Friday night.

Not only that, there was Mary Steenburgen and Meryl Streep, too.

And Carol Burnett and Jane Fonda!

(L-r) Mary Steenburgen, Ted Danson, Viola Davis and Meryl Streep in the Wilshire Garden at the Beverly Hilton

Streep spoke of her first meeting with Davis. It was when the two women met at the table read for the screen version of John Patrick Shanley’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play Doubt.

Streep admitted that that she’d been a little out of sorts because playwright Tony Kushner had hailed Davis as his “favorite actor in the whole world.”

But then Streep sat opposite Davis at the read-through, with Amy Adams and the late Philip Seymour Hoffman, and saw exactly what Kushner had meant.

Viola Davis will play U.S. President Danielle Sutton in the action movie “G20,” which came out on April 10 and can be watched on Amazon Prime Video. Davis is at the center of a global crisis at a G20 meeting that is under attack in this film, which combines political drama with intense action.

To give old action films a fresh look, director Patricia Riggen. She said, “This is Viola Davis like you’ve never seen her before: heroically kicking tons of ass in a global thrill ride.” Riggen also said she wants to make an exciting, high-stakes action movie showing how dangerous our modern, high-tech world is.

When the G20 meeting becomes a target, President Sutton has to deal with many different threats. She must use her brains and skills to protect her family, defend her country, and guarantee the safety of world leaders who are in danger as she evades capture.

Viola Davis takes on the role of U.S. President Danielle Sutton in the action-packed thriller G20, debuting on Prime Video on April 10, 2025. Directed by Patricia Riggen, the movie follows President Sutton as she fights to protect her family, her country, and world leaders during a high-stakes attack at the G20 summit.

The story shows Sutton outsmarting her enemies, using her courage and resourcefulness to survive. Davis, excited about the role, called it a childhood dream come true and described Sutton as a war hero turned liberal president—a truly heroic character.

At the Red Sea Film Festival, Davis shared that while the movie touches on some political themes, it’s mainly focused on delivering an exciting and entertaining experience.

The cast includes Anthony Anderson as Sutton’s husband Derek, Marsai Martin as her daughter Serena, and Christopher Farrar as her son Demetrius. Other stars include Ramón Rodríguez, Douglas Hodge,...

Viola Davis is stepping into the role of U.S. President Danielle Sutton in the upcoming action thriller G20, set to debut on Prime Video on April 10, 2025. Directed by Patricia Riggen, the film puts Davis in the spotlight as President Sutton, who faces a high-stakes attack during the G20 world leaders summit.

The story follows Sutton as she evades capture, relying on her wit and courage to protect her family, her country, and the global leaders in attendance. Davis described the role as a childhood dream come true, portraying the “most heroic character” imaginable—a war hero turned liberal president.

Speaking at the Red Sea Film Festival, Davis emphasized that while the movie reflects some current political themes, its primary goal is to deliver a thrilling and fun experience.

The film features a star-studded cast alongside Davis, including Anthony Anderson as her husband Derek, Marsai Martin as her daughter Serena,...

While many of us are used to seeing Viola Davis as Amanda Waller, a ruthless woman craving power and control in the DC Universe, the Academy Award-winning actress is capable of multitudes. Viola Davis constantly reinvents herself to bring powerhouse performances to audiences, and in Patricia Riggen’s upcoming action-thriller G20, she takes a presidential role not to be taken lightly. On Thursday, Prime Video announced an April 10, 2025, release date for G20, alongside other details.

Patricia Riggen directs G20 from a script by Caitlin Parrish, Erica Weiss, Logan Miller, and Noah Miller, with a story by Logan Miller and Noah Miller. According to Prime Video’s official description, G20 follows U.S. President Danielle Sutton (Viola Davis), who becomes the number one target after the G20 summit – an intergovernmental forum comprising 19 sovereign countries, the European Union (EU), and the African Union (Au) – comes under siege. After evading capture by the attackers,...

Viola Davis is Madam President from April 10 as Amazon Prime Video sets a premiere date for its upcoming action thriller G20.

Directed by Patricia Riggen, the film follows U.S. President Danielle Sutton (Davis), who becomes the No. 1 target after the G20 summit comes under siege. After evading capture by the attackers, she must outsmart the enemy to protect her family, defend her country and safeguard world leaders.

The film will be available to stream in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.

“This is Viola Davis as you’ve never seen her — heroically kicking tons of ass in a global thrill ride,” said Riggen. “With G20, I wanted to make the kind of classic, edge-of-your-seat action film that I’ve always been such a fan of, but one that draws on the high stakes of our modern and technologically advanced world we live in.”

Alongside Davis, G20 stars Anthony Anderson as Derek Sutton,...

Viola Davis’s upcoming feature “G20” is set to premiere on Prime Video this spring, Variety can confirm.

Directed by Patricia Riggen, the action thriller stars the Academy Award winner as U.S. President Danielle Sutton, who becomes the target of an attack at the annual G20 world leaders summit.

“After evading capture by the attackers, Sutton must outsmart the enemy to protect her family, defend her country and safeguard world leaders,” reads the logline.

The film will bow on Prime Video across 240 territories globally on April 10.

Joining Davis on screen are Anthony Anderson as Derek Sutton, Marsai Martin as Serena Sutton, Ramón Rodríguez as Agent Manny Ruiz, Douglas Hodge as Oliver Everett, Elizabeth Marvel as Joanna Worth, Sabrina Impacciatore as Elena Romano, Christopher Farrar as Demetrius Sutton and Antony Starr as Rutledge.

“G20” was penned by Caitlin Parrish and Erica Weiss and Logan Miller and Noah Miller, with story by the Millers.

The stars are hitting the red carpet in Saudi Arabia!

Sarah Jessica Parker, Viola Davis, and Alessandra Ambrosio stepped out for the closing night gala of the 2024 Red Sea International Film Festival on Thursday night (December 12) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Other stars in attendance included Viola‘s husband Julius Tennon, Dev Patel, Eiza Gonzalez, Bright, John Boyega, Minnie Driver, Daniel Dae Kim, Spike Lee, Nick Jonas, Priyanka Chopra, and Johnny Depp.

During the event, Priyanka gave Nick a sweet shout-out while being honored with the Honorary Award.

Fyi: Alessandra is wearing a Zuhair Murad Couture dress. Eiza is wearing a Gucci dress. Dev is wearing a Gucci tux. Priyanka is wearing an Oscar de la Renta gown and Aquazzura heels.

Click through the gallery inside for 70+ pictures of the stars at the event…...

The Variety Faith and Spirituality in Entertainment Honors presented by the Coalition for Faith and Media will be celebrated Dec. 4. The honorees are individuals who are supporting the frequently underrepresented theme of faith in entertainment storytelling. This class of 2024 Visionary Awards presented by Cfam represents diverse portrayals of faith and spirituality that are broadly compelling and nuanced.

“Bob Marley: One Love”

Bob Marley’s fans have long been brought together by joyous songs, but his revolutionary ideas are sometimes overlooked because the music is so uplifting. His son Ziggy Marley says, “In order to better understand Bob’s message you have to look past the legend and see the human being, his struggles, emotionally, spiritually and physically.” The film “Bob Marley: One Love” does just that. It reminds us ofMarley’s courage in pursuit of his mission (dare we call it a vocation?), showing him performing days after an assassination attempt,...

Variety will host the inaugural Faith and Spirituality in Entertainment Honors, presented by the Coalition for Faith & Media on December 4 in Los Angeles. The evening ceremony will celebrate individuals who are supporting often underrepresented themes of faith in storytelling and entertainment. These awards will celebrate diverse portrayals of faith and spirituality that are broadly compelling and nuanced.

The class of 2024 Visionary Honorees include:

Viola Davis and Julius Tennon, founders, JuVee Productions “Bob Marley: One Love,” accepted by Ziggy Marley, humanitarian, producer and musician, with an introduction by the Coalition for Faith and Media Erica Lipez, executive producer, writer and showrunner, “We Were the Lucky Ones” Jessica Matten, actor producer and philanthropist Arian Moayed, actor,, EP of “Motherland” and co-founder, Waterwell Sheryl Lee Ralph, Emmy-Winning Actor, “Abbott Elementary” Jay Shetty, best-selling author, Podcast Host, “On Purpose”

“The Global Faith & Media Study identified an important data point — 82% of the world identifies as religious,...

Viola Davis will be honored with the Cecil B. DeMille Award at the Golden Globes in 2025.

Davis earned her first Golden Globe award in the supporting actress category for her portrayal in Denzel Washington’s “Fences” (2016), going on to win the SAG Award and the Oscar. As of 2024, Davis is the most-nominated Black woman in Oscar history.

First created in 1952 and honoring the eponymous director, the Cecil B. DeMille Award has been bestowed on 69 honorees drawn from Hollywood’s greatest and most iconic talents, including Denzel Washington, Walt Disney, Sidney Poitier, Robert Redford, Barbra Streisand and Oprah Winfrey.

A revered artist, activist, philanthropist and best-selling author, Davis is one of the 27 people in history to earn industry Egot status, having won an Oscar, Emmy, Grammy, and Tony Award statuettes. In addition, she has been honored by Time 100 in 2017 as one of the world’s most influential people. In 2022, she was...

The Golden Globes announced Viola Davis as the 2025 Cecil B. DeMille Honoree Wednesday. The award was created in 1952 in honor of the legendary director and has been given to 69 past honorees, including Sidney Poitier, Robert Redford, Oprah Winfrey, Barbra Streisand and Jack Warner.

Davis will be honored at a gala dinner at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 3, 2025; the 87th Golden Globes ceremony airs lives on CBS on Jan. 5.

Davis earned her first Golden Globe award for Best Supporting Actress in the film adaptation of “Fences” opposite fellow DeMille honoree Denzel Washington.

“Viola Davis is a luminary whose profound talent has continuously shifted the lens through which we see and understand film,” said Helen Hoehne, President of the Golden Globes. “Presenting her with the 2025 Cecil B. DeMille Award is not only an honor but a reflection of our admiration for her relentless dedication to her craft and her monumental impact on the industry.

The Red Sea Film Festival has unveiled the bulk of the line-up for its fourth edition, which will showcase 120 films from 81 territories from December 5 to 14 in the port city of Jeddah.

The festival will open with Egyptian director Karim Shenawy’s The Tale Of Daye’s Family (aka Light) about an 11-year-old Nubian albino boy with a beautiful voice, who faces adversity due to his unique appearance.

Abandoned by his father and bullied by his peers, he dreams of following in the footsteps of his idol, singer and actor Mohamed Mounir. When he gets a chance to audition for The Voice, Daye and his family embark on a perilous 1,000-mile journey from Southern Egypt to Cairo.

Michael Gracey’s semi-biographical feature Better Man, inspired by Robbie Williams and portraying the pop icon as a chimpanzee, will close the festival.

Johnny Depp’s Modi, Three Days on the Wing of Madness...

The stars were out en masse for the 2024 Lacma Art+Film Gala held at Los Angeles County Museum of Art on Saturday night (November 2) in Los Angeles.

Kim Kardashian, Laura Dern, Andrew Garfield and Blake Lively were among the A-listers in attendance at the annual event, which brings together notable figures from art, film, fashion and entertainment.

Keep reading to find out more…

The gala’s proceeds “go toward underwriting Lacma’s initiative to make film more central to the museum’s curatorial programming, while also funding Lacma’s broader mission. This includes exhibitions, acquisitions, and educational programming, in addition to screenings that explore the intersection of art and film.”

This year’s event honored “artist Simone Leigh, whose multifaceted practice situates questions of Black female-identified subjectivity at the center of contemporary art discourse, along with the visionary auteur Baz Luhrmann.”

Keep scrolling below to see all of the stars...

N Lite animation studio has unveiled a new partnership with Emmy-winning Japanese anime studio Gonzo K.K. (“Afro Samurai”) and Oscar-winning “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” director Peter Ramsey to produce two animated projects: a noir thriller feature titled “Ripper” and the sci-fi adventure series “Hotaru.”

Ramsey is lined up to executive produce and co-write the screenplay for “Ripper,” a live-action/anime hybrid feature set in post-wwii Japan. Currently in development, the film tells the story of two detectives hunting down a serial killer who took the lives of the women that each of them loved. The project is created by Samantha Inoue Harte and co-writers Paul Alvarado-Dykstra and Rafael Antonio Ruiz.

Viola Davis and husband Julius Tennon’s JuVee Productions is attached to produce alongside N Lite and Gonzo K.K. Davis. For JuVee, Tennon and Melanie Clark will join Gonzo CEO Shinichiro Ishikawa as executive producers. Inoue Harte and...

In the world of cinema, directors try out several things to perfect a particular scene. Many would think performing an action sequence would be the most difficult. However, if several actors are to be believed, it would be the love scenes that are the toughest to perform on a set, with so many people around. But certain intimate scenes can be performed with the leads not even touching each other.

Kate Winslet in Romance & Cigarettes || MGM Distribution Co.

John Turturro’s romantic comedy Romance & Cigarettes, which debuted in 2005, is the ideal illustration of this. The movie had a s*x scene between James Gandolfini and Kate Winslet. Nevertheless, the director opted for a different method to film the same.

John Turturro on how the s*x scene between Kate Winslet and James Gandolfini was filmed

Today, anything can be achieved on screen with the help of CGI. However, some...

In Hollywood, actors will try their level best to showcase maximum authenticity on screen. From dangerous fight scenes to rather awkward love scenes, celebrities have never shied away from bringing their A-game. However, sometimes these scenes might take a different turn altogether.

Viola Davis in How to Get Away With Murder || ABC

Finding herself in this frame was Viola Davis, who was filming a s*x scene in How to Get Away with Murder. While the scene started in a very sensual manner, Davis soon found herself slammed into a wall and sustained a major injury.

Viola Davis faced a serious back injury while filming a s*x scene with Billy Brown

The legal thriller drama is filled with some really passionate and raunchy scenes. However, steamy moments do occasionally have a rather painful aftereffect. Viola Davis had to learn this the hard way when she was caught up in...

Viola Davis and bestselling author James Patterson have signed with Little, Brown and Company to co-write a novel. Davis has won the Oscar, Emmy, Tony, and Grammy, and she has already made the bestseller lists with her memoir Finding Me. Patterson is a fixture on the bestseller lists, most recently for Eruption, the number one bestselling collaboration with the late Michael Crichton.

Set in the present-day rural south, the novel follows a dynamic and brilliant female judge on the brink of a decision with seismic repercussions for her small county, and potentially the whole nation. It puts her career, principles, and ultimately her life at stake. The novel will be published in association with Jvl Media, the media packaging firm and independent publisher founded by Davis, Julius Tennon and Lavaille Lavette. The novel will be published as a lead title by Little, Brown and Company in 2025 or 2026, specific date to...

Viola Davis and husband Julius Tennon are getting into book publishing by launching Jvl Media.

The new venture, which includes author and publisher Lavaille Lavette at the helm, will look to champion under-represented voices in the book world. The debut titles from Jvl Media, from among a planned slate of non-fiction and fiction books, include Had to Lose to Win: The Tiki Davis Story, by popular motivational speaker Tiki Davis, and The Inclusion Leader Genius, by Dr. Johné Battle.

Davis and her JuVee Productions banner, run as well by producing partner Tennon, have already made deep inroads in film and TV production with titles like The Woman King and ABC’s How to Get Away With Murder that have highlighted underrepresented voices.

“This endeavor embodies our collective aspiration — to champion and elevate voices that resonate with authenticity and are often overlooked. Our mission is to interlace a rich mosaic of...

While many know what an incredible prankster George Clooney is, he is also an incredibly generous man. Known for his many generous feats, including giving 14 of his closest friends a million each from the paycheck of his hit film Gravity, Clooney is one of the nicest actors in the world.

George Clooney (in The Flash)

In a recent interview, Oscar-winning star Viola Davis shared another instance of the Ocean Eleven star’s generosity. Talking to People, the actress shared how Clooney let her and her husband use his then-newly purchased Italian villa for their honeymoon and nearly made them cry with his kindness.

When George Clooney let Viola Davis Use His Villa for Honeymoon

Viola Davis (in Suicide Squad)

Viola Davis and George Clooney are good friends and have worked together in over three movies— Solaris, Out of Sight, and Syriana. And thanks to these collaborations, the two share an amazing bond today.

Exclusive: Westworld‘s Angela Sarafyan has joined the cast of Amazon MGM Studios and MRC’s Viola Davis action thriller feature, G20.

She joins a big roster that also includes Anthony Anderson (black-ish), Marsai Martin (black-ish), Ramón Rodríguez (Will Trent), Antony Starr (The Boys), Douglas Hodge (The Great), Elizabeth Marvel (The Color Purple), Sabrina Impacciatore (The White Lotus), Clark Gregg (Painkiller), Christopher Farrar (Home Team), John Hoogenakker (Waco: The Aftermath) and MeeWha Alana Lee (Umma).

Pic is directed by Patricia Riggen (The 33). G20 sees terrorists overtake the G20 Summit, with American President Danielle Sutton (Davis) then bringing all her statecraft and military experience to defend her family, her fellow leaders and the world. Noah and Logan Miller penned the screenplay, with revisions by Caitlin Parrish, Erica Weiss, and Jason Hall. Mad Chance’s Andrew Lazar is producing alongside JuVee Productions’ Davis and Julius Tennon.

Sarafyan was a series regular...

Jonathan Bailey and Rege-Jean Page are together again!

The two Bridgerton stars reunited at CAA’s Pre-Oscars Party on Friday night (March 8) held at the Sunset Tower Hotel Los Angeles.

We pulled together photos of more than 40 stars on the guestlist. That way you can easily see who was there and what they were wearing!

The 2024 Oscars with host Jimmy Kimmel will take place on Sunday, March 10 starting at 7pm Et. Check out the full list of nominations here!

Head inside to see photos of the stars at the party…

Keep scrolling to see the celebs in attendance…

Sasha Baron Cohen & Chris Rock

Brendan Fraser & Jeanne Moore

Trevor Noah & Hailee Steinfeld

Ludacris & America Ferrera

Jeffrey Wright, Vin Diesel, & Cord Jefferson

Storm Reid & Shameik Moore

Miles Teller & wife Keleigh

Salma Hayek & Francois-Henri Pinault

Dominic Sessa

Adam Schweitzer, Cillian Murphy, & Fred Specktor

Donald Glover, Carmen Cuba, & Danielle Haim

Jonathan Scott, Simu Liu,...

Variety Awards Circuit section is the home for all awards news and related content throughout the year, featuring the following: the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars, Emmys, Grammys and Tony Awards ceremonies, curated by Variety senior awards editor Clayton Davis. The prediction pages reflect the current standings in the race and do not reflect personal preferences for any individual contender. As other formal (and informal) polls suggest, competitions are fluid and subject to change based on buzz and events. Predictions are updated every Thursday.

Visit the prediction pages for the respective ceremonies via the links below:

Oscars | Emmys | Grammys | Tonys

2024 Oscars Predictions:

Best Supporting Actor Barbie, Ryan Gosling, 2023. © Warner Bos. / Courtesy Everett Collection

Weekly Commentary: There’s no way to prove this statement, but I think Robert Downey Jr is winning by such a wide margin for his work in “Oppenheimer.”

With Critics Choice, Golden Globes, SAG and BAFTA in his pocket,...

The sixth edition of the Joburg Film Festival wraps Sunday, putting a bow on a week that saw many in the host nation reflecting on South Africa’s long journey in the three decades since the end of apartheid. But among the filmmakers and executives taking part in the second Jbx content market the focus was squarely on the future, as Africa’s streaming wars and an eye toward global dealmaking highlighted how the tide has begun to shift in how the world perceives the continent. “What a time to be alive in Johannesburg,” said festival founder Timothy Mangwedi at Saturday’s award ceremony. “What a time to be alive in Africa.”

Here are five takeaways from a busy week in Johannesburg:

Streamers shift strategies but still drive growth

Amazon Prime Video’s abrupt pull-out from the African market in January has left many local producers frustrated and confused. “It...

Viola Davis and Julius Tennon’s JuVee Productions, which recently wrapped the action-thriller “G20” for Amazon Studios and MRC Film in Cape Town, is planning to return to South Africa to film the true story of a young African refugee’s improbable journey to the U.S., the company’s head of film production and development, Melanie Clark, revealed this week at the Joburg Film Festival.

Developing the film with a working title of “The Refugee,” Clark said Davis and Tennon’s production banner is “actively working on [it] with some local partners and are in the process of figuring out how to shoot it” in South Africa, adding that “we do plan to shoot that here.”

The veteran production executive described the project as “the true story of a young Sierra Leonean boy who lost his mother in [the country’s civil war] and found himself alone, because no family would take him in any refugee camp.

JuVee Productions, the banner headed by Viola Davis and Julius Tennon, is branching into animation with a partnership that will see the Woman King shingle produce a slate of afro-anime films. JuVee is partnering with N Lite, a Black and Japanese-led media company and anime studio, on animated films that will focus on Black and afro-indigenous stories.

The first film under the deal will be an epic fantasy inspired by Congolese folklore, Mfinda, created by Congolese-American artist Patience Leiken and N Lite founder Christiano Terry. Donald H. Hewitt, Terry, and Lekien penned the scrrenplay, with D’Art Shtajio’s Arthell Isom set to co-direct, and Japanese screenwriter Mika Abe (Forest of Piano) attached for the Japanese screenplay.

Mfinda, which was announced at the 2023 Annecy International Animation Film Festival, will be produced alongside producer-distributor powerhouse Gkids, most recently in theaters with The Boy and the Heron, as well as Studio M...

The Dream Team is back! Ben Affleck and Matt Damon are teaming up again for Animals, a kidnapping thriller for Netflix. Affleck will direct Animals from a script written by Connor McIntyre with revisions by Billy Ray. In addition to his directorial duties, Affleck will produce alongside Damon, Dani Bernfeld of Artists Equity, Brad Weston, and Collin Creighton of MakeReady, who set the project up with Fifth Season.

Plot details remain a mystery, though we know it focuses on a kidnapping. Michael Joe of Artists Equity and Kevin Halloran executive produce with Fifth Season.

Last year, Affleck and Damon delighted audiences with Air, a sports drama following the history of sports marketing executive Sonny Vaccaro and how he led Nike in its pursuit of the greatest athlete in the history of basketball, Michael Jordan. The emotionally charged film performed like gangbusters for Amazon and banked $90 million at the global box office.

Amazon MGM Studios and MRC have rounded out a star-studded cast for their action thriller G20, produced by and starring Viola Davis, which has resumed production. In addition to Anthony Anderson (black-ish), who is coming off of hosting a well-received Emmys ceremony, the list includes Marsai Martin (black-ish), Ramón Rodríguez (Will Trent), Antony Starr (The Boys), Douglas Hodge (The Great), Elizabeth Marvel (The Color Purple), Sabrina Impacciatore (The White Lotus), Clark Gregg (Painkiller), Christopher Farrar (Home Team), John Hoogenakker (Waco: The Aftermath) and MeeWha Alana Lee (Umma).

Others joining the cast include Theo Bongani Ndyalvane, Conrad Kemp, Joseph Steven Yang, Emmanuel Castis, David James, Noxolo Dlamini and Gideon Emery.

Directed by Patricia Riggen (The 33), G20 sees terrorists overtake the G20 Summit, with American President Danielle Sutton (Davis) then bringing all her statecraft and military experience to defend her family, her fellow leaders and the world. Noah and Logan Miller wrote the script,...

Ben Affleck’s Air employs a large ensemble cast to tell the story of how Nike landed Michael Jordan and created the iconic Air Jordan line of shoes, with Deloris Jordan brokering a revolutionary deal for her son.

Affleck — who pulls triple duty as director, producer (via his newly formed Artists Equity with Matt Damon, who stars in the film as Nike exec Sonny Vaccaro) and actor, playing Nike CEO Phil Knight — joined his stars Viola Davis (Deloris Jordan), Julius Tennon (Michael’s father, James Jordan; also Davis’ husband), Marlon Wayans (Olympic basketball coach George Raveling) and Jason Bateman (Nike marketing vp Rob Strasser) to discuss acting opposite a phone receiver and fighting for what you are worth, onscreen and off.

This is a large ensemble cast. What role were you most anticipatory of casting?

Ben Affleck Part of the genesis [of casting] was a conversation one afternoon with Michael Jordan. The...

Deadline’s Read the Screenplay series spotlighting the year’s most talked-about scripts continues with first-timer Alex Convery’s screenplay for the Ben Affleck-directed Air.

Did you know that Michael Jordan makes $400 million a year in passive income due to the percentage he gets from the sale of Air Jordans? To understand how this came to be, we must travel back to the 1980s and the campus of famed sneaker label Nike, where Sonny Vaccaro (played by Matt Damon), a daring sneaker salesman, is on an ambitious quest to sign Jordan, arguably the most game-changing sports figure ever.

Affleck plays the role of Nike co-founder Phil Knight, who focuses on Nike’s improbable bid to land Jordan. While it seemed an unlikely feat at the time, it ultimately forged the most impactful partnership between a sports brand and an athlete, turning the global sneaker industry into a multibillion-dollar enterprise.

When the nominations for the 30th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards are announced in January, there appear to be four locks in the best ensemble category. “Oppenheimer,” “Barbie,” “Killers of the Flower Moon” and “Poor Things” currently lead the Gold Derby odds, with “The Color Purple” next in line. It’s quite possible that these five casts are the ones that will ultimately be chosen by the SAG Awards. However, there’s another film steadily hovering in sixth place. And it’s one that we should not ignore.

Here are five reasons why Amazon Studios’ “Air” might make its way into the guild’s best ensemble playoff.

1. It has the fab four making up its core.

Matt Damon. Ben Affleck. Jason Bateman. And, of course, Viola Davis. Those are huge names in the acting industry, and the fusion of the four may prove irresistible to the guild’s nominating committee.

Michael Jordan's life story may not have been the sole focus of Ben Affleck and Matt Damon's movie "Air," now streaming on Amazon Prime Video, but it makes a lot of familial connections to his mom, Deloris Jordan (played by Viola Davis), and dad, James Jordan Sr.. The movie recalls the true story behind Nike's epic landmark deal with Michael and how the Air Jordan sneaker came about. However, it also depicts the all-star athlete's close relationship with his parents, as well as his mother's major influence on his legendary career.

Tennon as Michael's father makes many appearances throughout "Air," mainly alongside Davis's character. And though the film covers a pivotal point in Michael's life, it doesn't include one of his most life-changing moments from 1993: the murder of his father, which, at the time, sparked a national media spectacle.

For those who may be wondering what...

Air has been set for a special honor at next month’s Gotham Awards.

The film, which tells the story of the creation of the Air Jordan brand, will receive the Gotham Visionary Icon & Creator Tribute. The newly created award recognizes director Ben Affleck’s film as well as the real-life collaborators on the Michael Jordan shoe phenomenon.

The Gotham Film & Media Institute’s ceremony, this year set for November 27 at New York’s Cipriani Wall Street, represents the unofficial kickoff of awards season. Nominees for competitive categories in film and TV will be announced October 24.

“Both gripping and hilarious, Air is a deeply refreshing reminder to the film industry that audiences respond to smart, original narratives,” said Jeffrey Sharp, the institute’s executive director. “By capturing the dramatic story behind the most monumental partnership in the history of sports marketing, the film highlights the power of knowing your...

“Air,” the story of Michael Jordan’s game-changing collaboration with Nike directed by Ben Affleck, will receive the Gotham Visionary Icon & Creator Tribute at the 33rd annual Gotham Awards Ceremony, the Gotham Film & Media Institute announced on Monday. The in-person event will take place on November 27, 2023 at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City. Nominees for the Gotham Awards will be announced on Tuesday, October 24th.

According to the Gotham Film & Media Institute, the Icon & Creator Tribute was developed for the 2023 Gotham Awards to “recognize cultural icons and the filmmakers responsible for bringing that icon’s story to life.” In this case, the recognition goes to both Jordan and Affleck. The Gotham Film & Media Institute had previously announced that George C. Wolfe’s upcoming Rustin would be the recipient of the Icon & Creator Tribute for Social Justice at this year’s ceremony.

In a statement, Jeffrey Sharp, Executive Director...