Today In Entertainment

FEBRUARY 20, 2021

What's news: The challenge of making Framing Britney Spears, J.J. Abrams sets next HBO Max show, Criminal Minds being rebooted at Paramount+, Sony developing Holly Madison series, Emmys reverse variety plans, Hollywood asks Congress for pandemic insurance. Plus: Sasha Calle is Supergirl, and a review of The United States vs. Billie Holiday. --Alex Weprin

 The Challenge Of 'Framing Britney Spears'

►Framing Britney Spears filmmakers talk ethical challenges of portraying complicated star. In the wake of the FX/Hulu documentary's widespread impact, New York Times Presents showrunner Mary Robertson, senior story editor Liz Day and director Samantha Stark talk with Katie Kilkenny about the questions they still want answered and which '90s and aughts stars they'd also like to revisit.

--"I would also just say that the mystery of the conservatorship had always fascinated me because something about it seemed to be an inherent contradiction and not really add up: How could this person be both so supposedly severely at risk and unable to take care of herself that she needs to this intense level of legal protection but at the same time perform at a very high level in Las Vegas, making millions of dollars, appearing on television — how could those two things both be true at the same time?" Day says.

--"It's very difficult as a journalist ethically to try to make a piece about somebody who's not participating," Stark says. "That really bothered me, and so one thing we really wanted to do was make sure was that we were never assuming what was inside Britney's head in any of our reporting or interviews or conversations with people." The interview.

►J.J. Abrams continues to add to his TV slate. The prolific writer-producer-director has set an original idea, Subject to Change, as his latest TV series for WarnerMedia-backed streamer HBO Max. The drama follows a desperate college student who signs up for a clinical trial that begins a wild, harrowing, mind- and reality-bending adventure. Abrams will pen the script and exec produce alongside showrunner Jennifer Yale. The story.

+Paramount+ continues to bring back key brands from the ViacomCBS portfolio. The streamer, which will be rebranded from CBS All Access in March, is reviving Criminal Minds. Reps for Paramount+ and co-producers CBS Studios and ABC Signature declined comment as deals are far from done. But the drama, which originally aired on CBS for 15 seasons and concluded last year, is likely among the numerous offerings expected to be among those announced during the Paramount+ investor day next week. The story.

+Sony is teaming with Holly Madison to bring her book, Down the Rabbit Hole: Curious Adventures and Cautionary Tales of a Former Playboy Bunny, to television. The independent studio has optioned the book and tapped Samara Weaving (Hollywood, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri) to play Madison. A network is not yet attached but the project, envisioned as a limited series, is expected to draw interest from premium cable and streaming outlets. More.

+James Tynion IV’s comic book The Department of Truth is heading to screens. Sister, the production banner co-founded by Elisabeth Murdoch, Stacey Snider and Jane Featherstone, has picked up both the film and television rights to the title, drawn by Martin Simmonds and published by Image Comics. More.

+Stephen King "doesn't think anything is unfilmable now." The prolific author has seen many of his works adapted for film and television — including CBS All Access' The Stand, HBO's The Outsider and the It franchise — and singled out the personal nature of bringing Lisey's Story to life on Apple as perhaps one of the bigger challenges in bringing his vast library to life. More.

+South Park is returning early in 2021 — because there has just been too much news Trey Parker and Matt Stone need to address through their iconic Comedy Central show. Another standalone hour-long special is set to premiere on March 10, titled 'South ParQ The Vaccination Special'. The episode will simulcast on MTV2 at 8 p.m. More.

 Emmys Want More Variety

►The Television Academy has decided this year to keep separate categories for variety talk series and variety sketch series, reversing its previous plan to merge the two categories after much debate.

--"While the Academy remains concerned about the number of series produced and the relatively small pool of entries in the Variety Sketch genre, it acknowledges that the differences between Variety Sketch and Talk programs merit separate consideration," reads the Academy's statement in part. "As the Academy continues to engage with industry leaders and constituents, it will always endeavor to uphold the integrity of the competition and be as fair as possible." The story.

+Also: The Vancouver Film Critics Circle has revealed its international nominations, with David Fincher's Mank, from Netflix, leading this year's field with five mentions. The nominees.

►A coalition of industry guilds and organizations is again calling on U.S. legislators to implement accessible pandemic risk insurance coverage as COVID-19 continues to disrupt Hollywood production.

--"As you develop the agenda for the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs for this year, the film, TV, and sports industries respectfully request that you address the broad economic impact that the withdrawal of pandemic risk coverage has created for our businesses," a group of film, television and sports groups (including The Motion Picture Association, the Independent Film & Television Alliance, the NCTA – The Internet & Television Association, the Directors Guild of America, and the National Association of Broadcasters, among others). The story.

 'United States vs. Billie Holiday' Review

►Film review: David Rooney reviews The United States vs. Billie Holiday, writing that "Andra Day gives a dazzling star turn in her first leading role, which establishes her as a screen natural with effortless command. She captures the bruising pain of the great jazz singer's life onstage and off — not to mention the smoky vocals, the supple phrasing and intimate musical storytelling that made Holiday such a legendary talent."  The review.

►Tom Hardy has teamed up with Gareth Evans, the filmmaker behind the bone-crunching action films The Raid and The Raid 2, for the crime thriller, Havoc. Evans wrote and will direct the Netflix project. He is also producing via his One More One Productions. Hardy, who is starring, is also producing, as well as Evans’ frequent collaborators, Ed Talfan of Saavern Screen and Aram Tertzakian of XYZ Films. More.

+Actor Sasha Calle is learning to fly after getting some uplifting news from The Flash director Andy Muschietti. In a video posted to Instagram, the filmmaker behind The Flash informed Calle that he had cast her as Supergirl. More.

Revolving door: Unscripted TV producer Colin Whelan and his Conveyor Media banner have signed with A3 Artists Agency... UTA has signed writer-director Dylan Meyer...

Casting roundup: Laurel Marsden, a relative newcomer in Hollywood, has joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The actor will play Zoe Zimmer in Ms. Marvel, the Disney+ series that centers on teenage hero Kamala Khan.. Lionsgate has tapped Ant-Man star Abby Ryder Fortson and Rachel McAdams to star in Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, an adaptation of Judy Blume’s classic novel of the same name...Charlize Theron and Kerry Washington are enrolling in Paul Feig's Netflix feature, The School for Good and Evil... Harvey Keitel, Emile Hirsch and Ruby Rose are to star in upcoming gangster drama The Legitimate Wise Guy... Judy Greer has replaced Pamela Adlon in the Showtime anthology The First Lady...

►Awards Chatter podcast: Fifty-five years into a legendary career, Jodie Foster, one of the few people ever to be a bona fide movie star as both a child and an adult reflects on what got her into and keeps her in the game, why she's drawn to characters who could have been — and sometimes were written to be — males, and how her objectives changed when she turned 50. Listen.

►Do you know a Power Lawyer? Now's the time to nominate them for THR's 15th annual feature highlighting the most influential attorneys in the entertainment industry. The details.

In other news...

--When will the much-discussed "Streaming Wars" in the entertainment industry turn into the "Streaming Profit Wars"? Here's what Wall Street analysts have to say.

--Kanye West and Kim Kardashian are seeking a divorce after nearly seven years of marriage.

--The SAG-AFTRA Health Fund is asking a California federal judge to dismiss a suit brought by some of its members over recent changes to the insurance plan.

--Screenwriter Michael Bacall's former lawyer owes him nearly half a million dollars in refunded commissions and attorneys' fees, as a California appeals court has declined to overturn an arbitration award in the scribe's favor.

--Neon's Super LTD boutique label has picked up the North American rights to Jasmila Žbanić’s Quo Vadis, Aida?, which debuted at the Venice Film Festival.

--Rose Byrne discussed the complexities behind her next role while appearing during a virtual panel for the Apple TV+ series Physical on Friday.

What else we're reading...

--"The NFL is asking for a 100% increase in TV rights payments, but Disney is pushing back" [CNBC]

--"Follow the path of least resistance: An oral history of Office Space" [The Ringer]

--"Inside the ambitious plan to monetize the Beach Boys' legacy" [Rolling Stone]

--"HBO's Allen v. Farrow reminds us that we are part of the problem" [Entertainment Weekly]

Today's birthdays: Rihanna, 33, Patty Hearst, 67, Cindy Crawford, 55, Sidney Poitier, 94, Trevor Noah, 37.

Have a good weekend...

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FEBRUARY 20, 2021

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