San Diego Comic-Con has been canceled as the coronavirus pandemic continues to reshape how the world views large public gatherings. The annual entertainment and comic book convention was scheduled to take place from July 23-26 in San Diego, California. It will next occur July 22-25, 2021. This is the first time in the event’s 50-year history […]
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Less than two months after stepping down as CEO, Bob Iger has reasserted control at Disney as the company navigates the impact caused by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, according to a New York Times report published Sunday. In an email to Times reporter Ben Smith, Iger explained, “a crisis of this magnitude, and its impact on Disney, […]
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Contrary to popular opinion, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences gives out more than just Oscars. On Friday, Hollywood’s most elite organization announced that it will be donating $6 million to “help support motion picture employees and their families facing severe financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, along with institutions […]
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The Walt Disney Co. said on Thursday that it will begin furloughing certain employees whose jobs aren’t deemed necessary beginning on April 19. The company did not give a specific number for the amount of people who it expects to impacted by the furloughs, but did say that all of those affected will remain Disney […]
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SXSW may have been cancelled due to coronavirus, but the filmmakers who were traveling to Austin to share their films with audiences will still get a chance to lift the curtain on their work. That’s because Amazon Prime Video is joining forces with the festival to launch “Prime Video presents the SXSW 2020 Film Festival Collection.” The tech company […]
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Legendary delicatessen Nate’n Al’s — a Cheers for Hollywood’s power players — has shuttered. Opened in 1945, the Beverly Hills institution was known as much for its beloved longtime staff as its high-priced pastrami and lox. On Saturday, the restaurant published a note to its Instagram account which made clear that the COVID-19 epidemic’s economic shockwave was responsible for […]
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A New York federal judge on Tuesday ruled that PEN America may proceed on some of its claims against Donald Trump. Specifically, the U.S. president must continue to face allegations of violating the First Amendment by revoking press badges and security clearances. Pen America is a literary organization that fights to protect free speech. The […]
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Two weeks ago, the biggest concern facing the industry was the threat of a strike as writers and studios prepared to enter heated contract negotiations. But, in recent days, that great unknown has been displaced by a global pandemic that’s brought Hollywood — and society at large — to a screeching halt. Says lawyer Jamie […]
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Mel Brooks and his son, Max, shared a funny PSA on Monday about social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic. In the nearly minute-long video posted to Twitter, Max, an accomplished author, talks about why it is important to keep away from his father, the 93-year-old film icon. While Max talks, his father can be seen […]
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As the first big movie theater chain to publically address the coronavirus situation in the U.S., AMC Theatres announced today that they’re reducing capacity in each of their auditoriums by at least 50% starting tomorrow Saturday, March 14 and continuing until April 30, 2020. As the largest theater chain in the U.S., one would think there would be a […]
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Tribeca Film Festival will no longer be taking place next month. The 19th annual event for independent film was set for April 15 through April 26, but has been postponed because of coronavirus. No new dates have been announced. “We founded the Tribeca Film Festival as a way to heal our community after the devastation of the 9/11 attacks […]
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One day after TV’s New York-based late-night programs announced they would ditch the live audiences for their broadcasts out of concerns related to the spread of coronavirus. ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” CBS’ “The Late Late Show with James Corden” and Comedy Central’s “Lights Out with David Spade” are affected. The new policy will start with next Monday’s broadcasts. […]
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Despite efforts to keep doors open amid a growing public health crisis, Broadway theaters in New York City are going dark starting March 12 at 5 p.m. because of coronavirus. N.Y. Gov. Andrew Cuomo restricted gatherings with more than 500 people, except schools, hospitals and mass transit, effective March 13. Citing the governor’s directive, the Broadway League announced that performances […]
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We have just received word that Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson have tested positive for the coronavirus. Both have been down in Australia for the pre-production of Baz Luhrmann’s untitled Elvis Presley film from Warner Bros. The two-time Oscar winner Hanks is set to play Presley’s longtime manager Colonel Tom Parker in the project. Warner Bros. was notified that someone […]
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“The View,” Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Fallon are among those deciding to give up the usual studio enthusiasm, because of the coronavirus. “It feels like we’re auditioning,” a dazed Ryan Seacrest said on live television Wednesday morning, before a sea of empty seats. Two hours later, in another bare studio, Whoopi Goldberg sat at a […]
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It’s now official: the Coachella and Stagecoach festivals have been postponed due to concerns over the coronavirus outbreak. Organizers Goldenvoice released a statement on March 10: At the direction of the County of Riverside and local health authorities, we must sadly confirm the rescheduling of Coachella and Stagecoach due to COVID-19 concerns. While this decision comes at a time of universal uncertainty, […]
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AMC Networks has canceled its upfront presentation amid the growing concerns over the spread of the Coronavirus. “In light of current events, we have decided to cancel our live upfront presentation scheduled for March 18 in favor of individual conversations with our advertising clients,” an AMC spokesperson told TheWrap on Monday. The meetings will be […]
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Hollywood stars and public figures took to social media on Monday to pay tribute to Max von Sydow. The acclaimed Swedish actor died on Sunday. He was 90. The actor starred in 11 Ingmar Bergman films, including The Seventh Seal. Known for typically playing a tormented protagonist, von Sydow also appeared in The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965), The Exorcist (1973), Three Days […]
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Hachette Book Group will no longer publish Woody Allen’s memoir, Apropos of Nothing. “Hachette Book Group has decided that it will not publish Woody Allen’s memoir Apropos of Nothing, originally scheduled for sale in April 2020, and will return all rights to the author,” the publishing company said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. “The decision to […]
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Social media giant Facebook has closed its three London offices from Friday afternoon through Monday for deep cleaning, after a visiting Singapore-based employee tested positive for coronavirus, Variety has confirmed. “An employee based in our Singapore office who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 visited our London offices 24-26 February 2020. We are therefore closing our London offices until Monday for […]
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SXSW, the annual tech, music, and film meetup held in downtown Austin, is the latest major conference to be canceled due to the coronavirus outbreak, and just one week before it was slated to start. It is the first time in the event’s 34-year history that it’s been canceled. The festival was scheduled to take […]
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Hachette Book Group employees from multiple imprints staged a walk-out on Thursday in protest against its decision to publish Woody Allen’s upcoming memoir. “We respect and understand the perspective of our employees who have decided to express their concern over the publication of this book. We will engage our staff in a fuller discussion about […]
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Facebook is skipping SXSW over concerns about the spread of coronavirus, joining Twitter in sitting out the annual film, music and technology festival. “Due to concerns related to coronavirus, our company and employees will not be participating in SXSW this year,” a spokeswoman for the social networking company said Monday in a statement. Facebook had […]
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Deborah Dugan, who was placed on administrative leave from her post as chairman/CEO of the Recording Academy in January after accusations of “misconduct” toward an employee sources say was her former assistant, has been terminated, the organization announced today in a letter to members. The move is not a surprise, as Dugan, who was placed on leave […]
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Jack Welch, the former chairman and CEO of General Electric, which used to own NBCUniversal, has died. He was 84. CNBC reports Welch died Sunday of renal failure, according to his wife. During his two-decade tenure atop GE from 1981 to 2001, Welch acquired RCA, which owned NBC at the time. He grew GE’s market value […]
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