Eddie Murphy, Jonah Hill Set For Kenya Barris-Directed Comedy  

►Coming to Netflix. THR's Borys Kit has the scoop on Eddie Murphy starring opposite Jonah Hill in an untitled Netflix comedy feature directed by Kenya Barris. Plot details are scant but Hill and Barris co-wrote the script and are producing. The move reunites Murphy with Barris, a writer on Murphy’s Coming 2 America, the comedy sequel to the comedian’s 1980s classic that proved to be a big streaming hit for Amazon earlier this year. The story. 

—Rising star. Borys, again, has the scoop on Lewis Pullman nabbing the lead in New Line’s adaptation of Stephen King’s best-selling novel, Salem’s Lot. Gary Dauberman wrote the script and is directing the feature. Pullman, the son of Bill Pullman, has several projects in the can, the highest-profile being Top Gun: Maverick. The story. 

—"This is literally my first rodeo, and it’s pretty incredible." Speaking to THR, Shang-Chi star Simu Liu recalls his humble beginnings from playing Spider-Man at kids' birthday parties to being covered in paint as a Pacific Rim extra all the way to learning he'd be stepping into the MCU following a life-changing phone call with Kevin Feige. The interview.  

—From Switzerland with love. The Zurich Film Festival will premiere the new James Bond film, No Time to Die, on the same day as its world premiere in London. This will be the first time a Bond movie has ever played in the official selection of a major film festival. The story. 

—"Inaccurate and heavily slanted." Bob Ross Inc. has denounced the Netflix documentary Bob Ross: Happy Accidents, Betrayal, and Greed. The company that looks after the business affairs of the late and much-loved painter said that although the doc "accurately captured" Ross, it was an "inaccurate and heavily slanted portrayal of our company." The story. 

'Cobra Kai' Will Never Die

►We want Hilary Swank! Season four is still months away, but Netflix has already decided to punch out more Cobra Kai. The streamer has ordered a fifth season of the popular Emmy-nominated karate-filled family dramedy based on the 1980s The Karate Kid film franchise. The story. 

—Kevin can still f*** himself. AMC has picked up a second season of its multi-camera sitcom/gritty drama hybrid Kevin Can F**k Himself. The eight-episode second season is slated to air sometime in 2022. KCFH was the biggest series launch in the 14-month history of AMC+ and drove more signups for the streaming bundle during its run than any other show. The story.

—Zero consequences. Comedian Chris D’Elia returned to the stand-up stage with a surprise performance on Aug. 21, a year after a spate of sexual misconduct allegations. D'Elia delivered an unannounced set at Hollywood's Laugh Factory that included jokes about being canceled, seeking therapy and self-loathing. The story. 

—"We cannot let the world forget." Afghan Film head Sahraa Karimi, who escaped Kabul after the Taliban took power, is set to speak at this year's Venice Film Festival about the situation facing her colleagues inside the country and those living as refugees. The story. 

H.E.R. to Star In 'Color Purple' Movie Musical

►Debut role. THR's Mia Galuppo has the scoop that H.E.R. is in final negotiations to make her feature film acting debut in The Color Purple musical. The Grammy and Oscar-winning singer-songwriter behind hits like “Best Part” and “Focus,” will play Squeak, a part played by Rae Dawn Chong in Steven Spielberg's 1985 feature.

Warner Bros. is behind the feature adaptation of the Tony-winning Broadway musical, itself an adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning 1982 novel by Alice Walker. The story. 

—Lifting the curtain. Tony Yacenda and Dan Perrault, the creators of American Vandal, have lined up their next series. Paramount+ has placed a series order for Players from the duo, a comedy set in the world of esports. Like American Vandal, the new series will be filmed in documentary style. The story.

—"How big can we make my face without it being distracting?" THR's Abbey White speaks to PEN15 co-creator Maya Erskine on working with Dan Harmon's Starburns Industries to make the animated "Jacuzzi" episode and the '90s influences that the team drew from. The interview. 

Nevermind That Nirvana Suit, Attorneys Say

►Dumb. Nirvana's 1991 album cover for Nevermind, featuring a naked baby in a pool, is now at the center of a debate about the line between art and child pornography. The lawyer for the man in the photo insists it is child exploitation material but some seasoned litigators tell THR there's nothing "a reasonable person would see as sexual about that image." The story. 

—"I cannot fault him for that." In June, Dave Bautista was asked whether he would consider starring in a film with fellow WWE alums Dwayne Johnson and John Cena, to which he replied, “Nah I’m good!!” Bautista clarified that he didn't want to be lumped in and Cena understood his reasons to separate himself from his former colleagues. The story. 

—Filled out. Tim Burton’s upcoming The Addams Family-inspired Netflix series Wednesday has added 10 more actors to its ensemble cast. Thora Birch, Riki Lindhome and Jamie McShane are among the latest additions to the show. The full cast. 

In other news...

—Robert F. Kennedy assassin Sirhan Sirhan wins parole with support of 2 Kennedys.

—Doc studio XTR launches podcast division.

—Gold House teams with GoFundMe to fund Shang-Chi private screenings.

—Rights available: New books with Hollywood appeal.

—THR Presents Q&A with Mahalia's Danielle Brooks and Linda Berman. 

—THR Presents Q&A with Underground Railroad’s Barry Jenkins, Thuso Mbedu and James Laxton.

—Those Mandalorian reaction videos melted Mark Hamill’s heart.

—Rachael Leigh Cook on what those She’s All That memes miss about her character’s transformation.

—Candyman star Colman Domingo on Jordan Peele’s "beautiful invitation" and his key Zola scene.

What else we're reading...

—"How Candyman Star Yahya Abdul-Mateen II Became the Next Big Name" [New York Times]

—"The Meme Lords Who Are Taking Over the C-Suite" [Wall Street Journal]

—"Dune Was Long Considered "Unadaptable." The Screenwriters Explain How They Tackled The Sci-fi Classic" [Los Angeles Times]

—"Is Mayim Bialik’s Dubious Science Going to Be Jeopardy!'s Next Big Headache?" [Washington Post]

—"Charlie Watts: The Subtle Magnificence Of The Rolling Stones' Drummer" [BBC]

Today... 

Today's birthdays: Brian Thompson (62), Jennifer Coolidge (60), Jack Black (52), David Fincher (59), Luis Guzmán (65), Quvenzhané Wallis (18), Jason Priestley (52), Billy Boyd (53), Daniel Stern (64), Eugene Byrd (46), David Soul (78), Lexi Underwood (18), LeAnn Rimes (39), Shania Twain (56)