Ukraine Fallout

As Russian troops entered Ukraine's capital Kyiv overnight, the reverberations from the invasion are being felt around the world... including in Hollywood and Hollywood-adjacent areas.

►Of course Sean Penn is involved: The actor-director is on the ground in Ukraine for a documentary with Vice Studios about Russia’s ongoing invasion of the country, a studio rep confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter. The doc is a Vice Studios production in association with Vice World News and Endeavor Content.

The Office of the President of Ukraine released a statement on Facebook Thursday about Penn’s presence in Ukraine and praised the actor for his work. “The director specially came to Kyiv to record all the events that are currently happening in Ukraine and to tell the world the truth about Russia’s invasion of our country. Sean Penn is among those who support Ukraine in Ukraine today. Our country is grateful to him for such a show of courage and honesty,” reads the translated statement. The story.

►Canadian film production prepares to take Ukraine productions. After Hollywood came north to resume production after early 2020 pandemic-era lockdowns, Canada is raising its production game again as a Russian invasion disrupts film and TV location shoots in and around Ukraine.

With cash rebates and a cheap location to double as Paris or Moscow having enticed international filmmakers to Ukraine, Canadian studio operators see North American producers quickly changing plans and likely staying on this side of the Atlantic. The story.

+Russia loses sports deals: UEFA, European soccer’s governing body, said Thursday that the May 28 Champions League final, the biggest match in European club soccer, will not be played in St. Petersburg, Russia as it stripped the match from the country... Russia also lost a Formula 1 Grand Prix that had been set to be held in September...

►Cable news intrigue: MSNBC's Rachel Maddow, who announced a multi-month hiatus from her show just a few weeks ago, returned to her program Thursday to cover the invasion. She will also appear next week leading up to and during Biden's State of the Union address...

CNN has more anchors and correspondents in Ukraine and Russia than any other U.S. news outlet, but an awkward Applebees ad placement resulted in the channel pulling what it calls "squeeze back" ads from coverage, per a WarnerMedia spokesperson.

The coverage featured a wide shot of Ukraine's capital Kyiv, with air raid sirens blaring and a chyron that read "Air raid sirens ring out in Ukraine's capital." However, with video from Kyiv still playing in the corner, the Applebees ad began suddenly with the Zac Brown Band song "Chicken Fried" replacing the air raid sirens in a jarring transition. Applebees said that it paused all advertising on CNN. "It never should have aired, and we were disappointed in the actions of the network," an spokesperson for the restaurant chain said.

+Another Simpsons connection: A 1998 episode that included a joke about Russia made the rounds this week. Simpsons showrunner Al Jean told THR:

--“In terms of predictions, there are two kinds we have: The trivial, like Don Mattingly getting in trouble for his hair in ‘Homer at the Bat,'” Jean says. “And then there are predictions like this. I hate to say it, but I was born in 1961, so 30 years of my life were lived with the specter of the Soviet Union. So, to me, this is sadly more the norm than it is a prediction. We just figured things were going to go bad.” More.

+5 recent Ukrainian films that explore the human toll of Russia’s aggression. Over recent years, some of Ukraine's most talented filmmakers have been processing and exploring the trauma that followed Russia's invasions of Crimea and the Dunbas region. The list.

+Comedian Louis CK had been scheduled to perform on Kyiv tonight. As of a few hours ago, the show was still on.

Helen Mirren: THR Icon

►My mantra is, “Be on time and don’t be an asshole.” The legendary British actress reflects on her humble beginnings in London, becoming an American citizen and why she appreciates and encourages the debate about authenticity in casting sparked by her upcoming role as Golda Meir.

--On playing Meir despite nor being Jewish: "I’m really glad that the discussion is out there. It’s a very important discussion to have. In fact, when I was meeting with the Israeli director of Golda [Nattiv], I said: “You know, I’m not Jewish, so if that changes your mind about casting me in this role, I understand and I will step away, no hard feelings, because I think it might become an issue.” His response was that he wanted me to play that role. And that was it."

--On what pushed her to become an American citizen : "I was in New York doing a play on 9/11. I actually saw the second tower come down. I was living quite far downtown, and I was going to rehearsal — we literally were about to open the next week — and the car arrived, I got in the car and looked out the window and saw the second tower come down. I went and I bought an American flag and I put it outside my window. I just thought: “If I’m on any side of this fence, I know which side I’m on.” I don’t believe in nationalism. I don’t like British nationalism, or American or French or German or Italian or, you know, Saudi Arabian. I don’t like any nationalism. But there are moments when you have to say which side you’re on."

--On asking Vin Diesel for a role in a Fast & Furious film: "I didn’t ask, I begged! I think I was at some function, and he was there, and I got introduced to him. And I was shameless: 'Oh God, I’d just love to be in one of your movies! Please let me be in it.' And then Vin, with that beautiful, deep voice of his, said: 'I’ll see what I can do.' And he did it for me. He found this great little role for me, which was perfect. I’d just never done anything like that before — one of those big, big movies. And, in my vanity, I just loved driving and really wanted to do my own driving in a fast car."

The THR Icon interview.

Return of TIFF

►Toronto going live: After two years of mostly digital events, the Toronto Film Festival has confirmed it expects to hold an in-person event in the fall for its 47th edition. The planned Sept. 8-18 festival will see TIFF’s industry networking and parties return on the ground in Toronto, including an opening-night party, the industry conference, filmmaker dinners, dealmaker networking events, press conferences and the TIFF Tribute Awards gala. The story.

►Magic touch: Walt Disney Animation’s family entry Encanto continued to top Nielsen’s movie streaming chart for the Jan. 24-30 week with a hearty 1.4 billion minutes viewed on Disney+. The animated film also stayed at No. 2 on Nielsen’s overall streaming chart for the final week of January behind the original Netflix series Ozark, which secured a two-year Nielsen high. The story.

►Williams sisters boost King Richard's Oscar push. When a film about your childhood winds up nominated for six Oscars including best picture, it makes sense to devote a little more time to supporting it, even if you are extremely busy tennis legends like Venus Williams and Serena Williams. And that is exactly what the Williams sisters are doing on behalf of King Richard as the final round of Oscars voting nears, The Hollywood Reporter's Scott Feinberg reports.

The duo, who along with one of their sisters, Isha Price, are executive producers of the film, recorded a Q&A about the film this week alongside its Oscar-nominated stars, Will Smith and Aunjanue Ellis, which will play following a SAG Awards screening this afternoon and following a screening tomorrow afternoon for CAA Amplify (a platform which “promotes and supports artists and leaders of color”). The story.

In other film news...

+Madison Wells has optioned the rights to Marit Weisenberg’s young adult novel This Golden State. The Gigi Pritzker-led indie outfit is developing the mystery as a feature film, with Rachel Shane set to produce and Amanda Morgan Palmer set to executive produce. The story.

+Neon is set to produce Seeking Mavis Beacon, a documentary from director Jazmin Jones about Mavis Beacon, who became famous as the face of the popular software program Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing. The story.

+Christopher Ammanuel and Dylan Arnold have grabbed lead roles opposite Tyrese Gibson, Ray Liotta and Scott Eastwood in director Ariel Vromen’s feature thriller Clash. More.

Rick Caruso Courts Hollywood's Elite

►Uphill climb?: Much of the industry’s donor class had been lining up behind the bid of Dem. U.S. Representative Karen Bass, who is way out front of the field among likely voters, according to a poll conducted by the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies in the week leading up to Caruso’s filing. She garnered 32 percent support to his 8 percent; 40 percent are undecided.

Bass’ Hollywood backers include Jeffrey Katzenberg, Jen Salke, J.J. Abrams, Alan Horn, Damon Lindelof and Jim Gianopulos — along with stars like Jennifer Garner and Jennifer Aniston and members of the activist axis: Ed Begley, Jr., Donald Glover, Norman Lear. But Caruso is lining up his own team, with Walt Disney Television head Dana Walden and CAA co-chair Bryan Lourd co-hosting a fundraiser later this month. Among his other early supporters: Mike and Irena Medavoy, Brian Grazer, Aleen Keshishian, Jim Wiatt, Gigi Levangie, Karolina Kurkova, Kathy Freston and Jennifer Meyer.

And then there's Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos, who wrote on Facebook Feb. 9: “He is a leader who can and does get things done,” he wrote, adding: “A decent man who loves our city and has a successful history of doing hard things that make it a great place to live and work. Go Rick!” The story.

►Technicolor, the century old Hollywood company, is spinning off its creative services, including its Oscar-winning visual effects business. The firm said Thursday that it intends to spinoff 65 percent of its Technicolor Creative Studios and will retain 35 percent ownership for itself.

Recent work from the studio includes Ghostbusters: Afterlife, Cruella and West Side Story. Coming up it has Top Gun: Maverick and the live-action Little Mermaid. Technicolor Creative Services also encompasses The Mill, which provides VFX for advertising clients; Mikros Animation; and Technicolor Games. The story.

+In other tech news: Universal Pictures is the first Hollywood studio to announce that it will begin to use and deliver its productions using the latest version 1.3 of the Academy Color Encoding System (ACES), which it plans to begin using in the fourth quarter of this year. The announcement will be made Thursday during the HPA Tech Retreat in Palm Springs. More.

In TV news:

+Streaming ratings: Netflix’s Ozark hit a rarely seen mark in the U.S. streaming rankings for the week of Jan. 24-30.The drama, whose fourth season debuted on Jan. 21, topped 4 billion minutes of viewing — 4.095 billion, to be precise. That’s the best for any streaming title in nearly two years, and only the fourth time any show has topped the 4 billion minute mark. The numbers.

+If Beale Street Could Talk actor Stephan James is set to star as iconic artist Jean-Michel Basquiat in a limited TV drama from Boat Rocker and James and Shamier Anderson’s Bay Mills Studios. More.

+Food Network is enlisting talent to help goose the payout in its reality competitions. And the latest is fixture Geoffrey Zakarian, who’s fronting a $250,000 investment for a hopeful chef and entrepreneur in new series Big Restaurant Bet.

+Actor and comedian JB Smoove will host a new celebrity interview series for MSG Networks and the sports betting firm Caesars Sportsbook. More.

►Critics' corner: An exhibition on Toni Morrison’s The Black Book is a timely reminder of the power, generosity and complexity of Black archival work, Lovia Gyarkye writes... Daniel Fienberg and Angie Han discuss winter's TV offerings: 

"Despite buzzy big-name reboots, Shonda’s new show and, yes, a talking penis, less flashy options — a sitcom about teachers, a series with autistic leads and a Kansas-set character study — were the true standouts over the past few months, Fienberg and Han say.

►NAACP Image Awards: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will receive the President’s Award at the 53rd NAACP Image Awards.

The honor, recognizing notable achievement and valued public service, will be handed out at the ceremony airing live on Feb. 26 at 8 p.m. on BET. Previous honorees include Muhammad Ali, Colin Powell, Soledad O’Brien, Condoleezza Rice, LeBron James, Rihanna and Jay-Z. More.

+On Thursday, Night 4, honors were presented in the recording categories. Jazmine Sullivan won a pair of awards, including best album for Heaux Tales and best female artist.

Other notable winners included Silk Sonic for best duo, group or collaboration (traditional) for “Leave the Door Open,” Jay-Z and Jeymes Samuel for  best soundtrack/compilation album for The Harder They Fall, Saweetie for best new artist for “Best Friend” featuring Doja Cat and Anthony Hamilton for best male artist. The winners.

►TV's Top 5 podcast: During this week’s podcast, hosts Lesley Goldberg and Daniel Fienberg talk to The Dropout's Liz Meriwether and also discuss changes to the Oscars telecast and Peacock’s latest “must-stream” bet. Listen.

And In other news...

--Sally Kellerman, the husky-voiced actress known for her Oscar-nominated portrayal of U.S. Army Maj. Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan in Robert Altman’s M*A*S*H, has died. She was 84.

--The Hollywood Reporter has been nominated for a National Magazine Award for reporting by the American Society of Magazine Editors.

--Cinema giant Cinemark Holdings reported a swing to a profit in the fourth quarter, marking its first profitable quarter since the start of the coronavirus pandemic despite the Omicron variant having caused renewed headaches for businesses. The company on Friday also touted “significant advances in pandemic recovery.”

--Arthur creator Marc Brown, EP Carol Greenwald talk final season and their hopes for a feature film with John Legend.

--Workers organizing a union at the iHeartPodcast Network have secured voluntary recognition from management after what the group said was “weeks of negotiation.”

--Former TruTV president Chris Linn and head of originals Marissa Ronca and their Contrast Media has signed a development deal with Fox's Bento Box.

--Quixote Studios has taken over the lease at Chandler Valley Center Studios, a two-stage studio in the San Fernando Valley that hosted production on all nine seasons of The Office.

What else we're reading...

--"Disney's $6,000 Star Wars hotel is incredibly immersive -- But it still costs $6,000" [Gizmodo]

--"BlackRock, Warner Music invest $750 million in female and diverse artists" [WSJ]

--"Inside Charlize Theron and Tom Hardy's Mad Max feud" [Vanity Fair]

Today's birthdays: Sean Astin, 51, Noah Jupe, 17, Tom Courtenay, 85, Nancy O'Dell, 56, Jameela Jamil, 36.