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Exclusive: Daniel Zovatto has signed with Gersh for representation.

Zovatto can most recently be seen starring opposite Anna Kendrick in her directorial debut, Woman of ther Hour, for Netflix. He was also recently seen in The Pope’s Exorcist opposite Russell Crowe from director Julius Avery.

Zovatto can be seen as “The Prophet” in the HBO Max series Station Eleven, directed by Hiro Murai. He is currently filming Bear Country from director Derrick Borte opposite Russell Crowe and Aaron Paul. Zovatto is also now wrapped on Famous from Jody Hill for A24 alongside a cast including Zac Efron, Phoebe Dynevor, and Nicholas Braun as well as recently wrapping Catherine Hardwicke’s next feature, Street Smart, in which he also serves as an executive producer.

Other past credits include playing lead in John Logan’s Showtime series Penny Dreadful: City of Angels. Prior to that, he shot the lead in Cameron Van Hoy...

Image Credit: Matt Lief Anderson With his music serving as a staple of Adult Swim’s ambiance, Flying Lotus, the producer name of Steven Ellison, was very likely the soundtrack of many fans’ formative anime years. For those who may not have heard his music while sneaking late night episodes of Trigun and Cowboy Bebop , you may have heard his works featured in series such as Carole & Tuesday and Yasuke , or felt his musical genius on Kendrick Lamar’s seminal release To Pimp a Butterfly amongst his many solo and collaborative releases. Ellison is so much more than a musician though. His directorial talents can be seen in music videos, short films, and feature length productions, with the latest of these being his sci-fi horror drama, Ash , for which he also did the music. He is not one to shy away from showcasing his love of anime, and that bled...

Exclusive: Hiro Murai, the Emmy-nominated filmmaker known for his work on hit series like Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Atlanta and The Bear, on Wednesday announced the launch of Chum Films, a production company that will focus on developing and producing original films and television series, supporting the vision of new filmmakers and creators.

Carver Karaszewski has been named as the company’s President of Development. Meanwhile, Claudia Shin, Murai’s longtime collaborator on projects like The Bear and Mr. & Mrs. Smith, has been elevated to the role of Senior Vice President of Film & Television.

Under Chum, Murai currently has a first-look deal with FX Productions. At present, projects on the company’s slate include the Apple horror comedy series Widow’s Bay, starring Matthew Rhys, and the A24 samurai film Bushido, among others. We were first to report on the latter, which marks Murai’s anticipated feature directorial debut.

A...

Matthew Rhys has a new show in the works at Apple TV+!

On Tuesday (February 11), it was announced that the 50-year-old Emmy-winning actor has signed on for a leading role in the streaming service’s upcoming series Widow’s Bay from creator Katie Dippold.

According to Variety, the show is about “a mysteriously cursed New England island and its superstitious citizens, led by a mayor (Rhys) who refuses to believe their warnings.”

Keep reading to find out more…Apple TV+ picked up Widow’s Bay for 10 episodes back in September 2024.

Along with starring in the series, Matthew will also be serving as an executive producer. Hiro Murai will also be executive producing the show and directing the pilot.

Matthew‘s casting in Widow’s Bay comes after it was announced this past November that he will be starring alongside John Krasinski in Prime Video’s new serial killer series Silent River.

Matthew Rhys is moving to New England and becoming a mayor — on television, of course. The Perry Masonand The Americans star is set to lead AppleTV+'s new, supernatural series Widow's Bay, from accomplished and prolific writer Katie Dippold, who's penned such films as The Heat and Ghostbusters, and also wrote 31 episodes of the iconic sitcom Parks and Recreation. Also involved in the stellar team? Director Hiro Murai, whom many know from his breathtaking work on Atlanta, Station Eleven, and Mr. and Mrs. Smith.

Anyone else allowing themselves to get a little bit excited about this one?

According to Deadline, the new series has a decidedly supernatural bent — appropriate given Dippold's last feature script was Disney's The Haunted Mansion. The show takes place on a mysterious and perhaps cursed New England island with aspirations of Nantucket-level tourism grandeur. However, its superstitious citizens — led by a mayor (Rhys) who doesn't exactly...

Matthew Rhys is set to star in Widow’s Bay for Apple TV+. The 10-episode series is about a “mysteriously cursed New England island and its superstitious citizens, led by a mayor who refuses to believe their warnings.“

Rhys will play Mayor Tom Loftis, a “no-nonsense single dad forced to deal with his town’s superstitious citizens who believe it’s cursed as he is desperately trying to put the area on the map as the next Nantucket.” In addition to starring in the series, Rhys will also executive produce alongside creator Katie Dippold (Haunted Mansion). The pilot will be directed by Hiro Murai (Atlanta), who will also serve as producer alongside Claudia Shin and Carver Karaszewski.

Related Images preview Rosamund Pike, Matthew Rhys, Babak Anvari psychological thriller Hallow Road

Rhys is one of those actors who keeps very busy. He’s got more than a few projects on his upcoming slate,...

Actor Matthew Rhys has been set to lead the upcoming Apple TV+ series “Widow’s Bay“ from creator Katie Dippold, Variety reports today.

Apple gave the series order for 10 episodes in September 2024.

The series will follow “a mysteriously cursed New England island and its superstitious citizens, led by a mayor (Rhys) who refuses to believe their warnings.”

Dippold will also serve as showrunner and executive producer. “Station Eleven” and “The Bear” producer Hiro Murai is attached to direct the pilot of the 10-episode series in addition to executive producing. Rhys will executive produce in addition to starring.

Matthew Rhys recently starred in HBO’s “Perry Mason“ and appeared in opening sequence of the comedy-horror movie Cocaine Bear. The actor also stars in the upcoming psychological thriller Hallow Road from Under the Shadow director Babak Anvari, set to make its premiere next month at SXSW.

The post Matthew Rhys to Star in...

Emmy winner Matthew Rhys (The Americans) will next take on a superstitious town as star of the Apple TV+ series Widow’s Bay, TVLine has learned.

The 10-episode series, first ordered at the streamer in September 2024, focuses on a “mysteriously cursed New England island and its superstitious citizens,” per the official logline. Rhys will star as the town’s mayor, who refuses to believe the residents’ warnings.

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Apple TV+ is adding another Emmy winner to its talent roster.

Matthew Rhys has signed on to star in and executive produce a series titled Widow’s Bay at the streamer. The former Americans and Perry Mason star will play the mayor of a coastal New England town who refuses to believe his constituents’ warnings that the place is cursed.

Widow’s Bay comes from creator and showrunner Katie Dippold (The Heat, Haunted Mansion) and Apple Studios. Hiro Murai (Atlanta, Mr. & Mrs. Smith) is on board to direct the pilot and executive produce. Apple TV+ gave the show a series order in September 2024.

The news of Rhys’ casting follows that of Amy Adams in another Apple TV+ series, Cape Fear, earlier Tuesday.

Widow’s Bay is one of a few streaming series Rhys is committed to. He’s currently filming The Beast in Me, a limited series in which he stars with Claire Danes,...

Gold Derby’s top news stories for Feb. 11, 2025. Ralph Fiennes, Guy Pearce, and Zoe Saldaña win Aacta International Awards

Oscar nominees Ralph Fiennes (Conclave), Guy Pearce (The Brutalist), and Zoe Saldaña (Emilia Pérez) are among the winners at the 14th Aacta International Awards, aka the Australian Oscars. Fiennes won Best Actor, while Pearce and Saldaña prevailed for their supporting performances. The AACTAs, which tend to favor homegrown talent, gave Best Actress to Pearce’s fellow Aussie Nicole Kidman (Babygirl), who now has four Aacta International trophies. Oscar nominee Jesse Eisenberg won Best Screenplay for A Real Pain. Better Man took home Best Picture and Best Director for Aussie Michael Gracey, just like it did last week at the Aacta Awards, recognizing Australian cinema, where it claimed nine wins total.

On the TV side, Shōgun won Best Drama Series. Melbourne native Elizabeth Debicki (The Crown) took Best Actress in a Series.

Matthew Rhys has signed on for a leading role in the upcoming Apple TV+ series “Widow’s Bay,” Variety has learned.

The show was picked up for 10 episodes at Apple back in September 2024. The official logline states the show is about “a mysteriously cursed New England island and its superstitious citizens, led by a mayor (Rhys) who refuses to believe their warnings.”

This is the latest streaming TV role Rhys has lined up recently. He recently shot the Netflix limited series “The Beast in Me” opposite Claire Danes, while it was reported in November that Rhys will star opposite John Krasinski in the Amazon Prime Video serial killer drama “Silent River.” He also recently wrapped shooting on the BritBox and BBC1 series adaptation of Agatha Christie’s “Towards Zero.”

Rhys is perhaps best known for his starring role in the FX Cold War spy drama “The Americans,” for which he won...

Emmy winner Matthew Rhys has signed on to play the lead and executive produce Widow’s Bay, Apple TV+’s 10-episode series from creator Katie Dippold, with Hiro Murai set to direct the pilot.

Widow’s Bay is about a mysteriously cursed New England island and its superstitious citizens, led by a mayor (Rhys) who refuses to believe their warnings.

Rhys’ Mayor Tom Loftis is a no-nonsense single dad forced to deal with his town’s superstitious citizens who believe it’s cursed as he is desperately trying to put the area on the map as the next Nantucket.

From Apple Studios, Widow’s Bay will be showrun and executive produced by Dippold. In addition to directing, Murai will also produce alongside Claudia Shin and Carver Karaszewski as well as Rhys. Joanne Toll will co-executive produce.

Rhys, Emmy winner for FX’s The Americans, also played the title role in HBO’s Perry Mason.

Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg are set to executive produce a new Javier Bardem-led thriller series for Apple TV+ based on “Cape Fear,” a film with ties to both Scorsese and Spielberg.

Apple TV+ has granted a series order for “Cape Fear,” which will be written and showrun by Nick Antosca. Antosca will executive produce alongside Scorsese, Spielberg and Bardem.

The series is based on John D. MacDonald’s 1957 novel “The Executioners,” which inspired Gregory Peck’s 1962 film adaptation, “Cape Fear.” In the late 1980s, Steven Spielberg was attached to direct a new adaptation, but he passed the film over to friend Scorsese so he could make “Schindler’s List” instead. Scorsese cast Robert De Niro in the role that will be filled by Bardem, and the resulting 1991 film “Cape Fear” was a commercial success and scored Oscar nods for De Niro and Juliette Lewis.

The 10-episode “Cape Fear” show...

It’s taken a minute, but apparently, Hiro Murai is finally ready to make the leap into feature filmmaking.

According to A24, Hiro Murai is set to direct a new film titled “Bushido” for A24. The film marks the feature filmmaking debut for the director, who is probably best known for his work on music videos and TV series. There’s no details about the film’s plot, other than it being set in feudal Japan.

Continue reading ‘Bushido’: Hiro Murai To Make His Feature Film Directorial Debut With A24 Samurai Film at The Playlist.

Acclaimed director of TV and music videos Hiro Murai is set to make his feature debut with ‘high-stakes’ action film Bushido, from A24.

When it comes to the land of filmed drama, the samurai is in vogue. FX’s Shōgun series has been picking up lots of acclaim and this year became the first Japanese-language effort to win the Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series.

Meanwhile, action director extraordinaire Chad Stahelski is also lining up an action-packed samurai adaptation, Ghost Of Tsushima, based on the popular blockbuster PlayStation video game.

We heard around a year ago that arthouse label A24 was looking to shift direction and pick up projects that might be considered more mainstream, with the action genre mentioned at the time the report emerged.

Perhaps Bushido was one of those films, as it has now been revealed that it’s the latest slice of samurai action coming our way.

Deadline reports that Hiro Murai will make his feature directorial debut with Bushido. The samurai movie will be financed by A24, who will produce alongside Square Peg and 2Am.

Not much is known about Bushido yet, only that it will be a “high-stakes action film set against the backdrop of feudal Japan.” I’m always down for more samurai movies, so I’m certainly not complaining. Murai will direct from a script by Henry Dunham (The Standoff at Sparrow Creek). The pair will also produce alongside Ari Aster and Lars Knudsen for Square Peg, and Julia Oh, Christine D’Souza, and David Hinojosa for 2Am.

Murai is best known for directing and executive producing Donald Glover’s Atlanta. He helmed more than half the series’ episodes. He’s also directed episodes of Legion, Snowfall, Barry, Station Eleven, and Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Murai has worked with Glover frequently; in addition to Atlanta and Mr.

A24 has a knack for scooping up talent. The production company is also famous for taking risks and leading many firsts in the film industry. Their bold behavior doesn't seem to be changing, with projects like the second film by the divisive director of the analog horror film Skinamarink in the works. Now, the powerhouse production company is back at it again and this time they're following the lead of a filmmaking master. According to Deadline, Los Angeles-based filmmaker, Hiro Murai is set to direct his first feature, an original samurai film that will be financed by A24 in partnership with producers and long-time collaborators Square Peg and 2Am.

Although he is making his feature debut, Murai has had an extensive career in producing and directing, with many awards under his belt. The Japanese-born filmmaker scored Emmy nominations for his work on FX's show Atlanta, starring Donald Glover, who...

Hiro Murai, a music video director and TV director and executive producer on Atlanta, Mr. & Mrs. Smith and The Bear, will make his feature directorial debut for A24, Square Peg and 2Am on the samurai epic Bushido.

Plot details remain under the proverbial wraps on the project, although A24 did share that the saga will take place against the backdrop of feudal Japan.

Murai will direct and produce the original film, with Henry Dunham serving as both writer and producer.

A24 will finance and produce, with Ari Aster and Lars Knudsen producing through their Square Peg, alongside Julia Oh, Christine D’Souza Gelb,...

Hiro Murai is making the leap to the big screen.

A24 is set to finance and produce “Bushido,” described as an “original samurai film,” which marks the feature debut for the director.

Murai has famously helmed episodes of “Atlanta,” “Mr. & Mrs. Smith,” “Station Eleven” and “Barry.” He is also an executive producer on “The Bear.”

In addition, Murai will produce “Bushido,” with Henry Dunham serving as a writer and producer.

Also producing are Ari Aster and Lars Knudsen, under their Square Peg banner, alongside Julia Oh, Christine D’Souza Gelb and David Hinojosa for 2Am.

While details on the movie’s storyline are being kept out of sight, it is being described as a high-stakes action film set against the backdrop of feudal Japan.

In 2019, “Guava Island,” a 56-minute film that Murai directed for constant collaborator Donald Glover, arrived on Prime Video. Murai has also directed episodes of “Legion” and “Snowfall.

It used to be a rite of passage: up-and-coming directors would first cut their teeth on commercials, work their way up to television shows to develop a strong body of work, and finally burst onto the scene with movies after proving that they have what it takes to handle much larger productions. That filmmaking pipeline has become a thing of the past in the last few decades, but one bona fide talent is taking his cues from a more old-fashioned era. The final result is one of the more exciting projects we've heard about it some time.

Even if you don't quite know his name just yet, you've seen his work on "Atlanta," "Barry," "Mr. and Mrs. Smith," and several of Donald Glover's music videos performed under the stage name Childish Gambino. Now, director Hiro Murai is taking his biggest step yet into Hollywood with his feature film debut...

The producer and director behind many classic episodes of “Atlanta,” “The Bear,” “Mr. and Mrs. Smith,” “Station Eleven,” and more is finally making a movie.

Hiro Murai, the Emmy-winning producer and director, is set to make his feature directorial debut on “Bushido,” a samurai film and epic that will be set up at A24, an individual with knowledge of the project told IndieWire. A24 is financing and producing.

“Bushido” is said to be an action film set during Feudal Japan, but specific plot details are being kept under wraps.

Murai is directing the film from a script by Henry Dunham (“The Standoff at Sparrow Creek”), and he and Dunham will also produce along with Ari Aster and Lars Knudsen for their Square Peg banner and Julia Oh, Christine D’Souza Gelb, and David Hinojosa for their 2Am banner.

While it’s unclear about the budget on the film, a period film...

Hiro Murai is stepping into the world of feature films with his debut project ‘Bushido,’ an original samurai movie backed by A24.

The film is set against the dramatic and historical backdrop of feudal Japan, promising to deliver action-packed storytelling. Plot specifics are currently kept secret, but expectations are high for this cinematic venture.

According to Deadline, ‘Bushido’ is penned by Henry Dunham, known for ‘The Standoff at Sparrow Creek.’

The film will see a collaboration of producers including Ari Aster and Lars Knudsen from Square Peg, Julia Oh, Christine D’Souza Gelb, and David Hinojosa from the production trio 2Am.

This announcement comes when samurai tales are increasingly popular, as seen in the massive success of FX’s Shōgun, a series that explores similar themes and recently bagged an Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series.

Murai’s direction is highly anticipated, given his illustrious career in directing television and music videos,...

Exclusive: Hiro Murai, one of today’s most influential and in demand directors of television and music videos, has found his long-awaited first feature project in Bushido, an original samurai film to be financed by A24, which will produce alongside Square Peg and 2Am.

While plot details are being kept under wraps, Bushido is said to be a high-stakes action film set against the backdrop of feudal Japan.

Murai will direct from a script by Henry Dunham (The Standoff at Sparrow Creek), with the duo to produce alongside Ari Aster and Lars Knudsen for Square Peg, and the 2Am trio of Julia Oh, Christine D’Souza Gelb and David Hinojosa.

The project comes at a time when the samurai story has significant cultural cachet, given the outsized breakout success of FX’s Shōgun, an hour-long drama delving deep into samurai culture and the feudal politics of early 17th-century Japan. The winner of 18 Emmys,...

Over the past few years, Hiro Murai has quietly become one of the most prolific creators of modern pop culture. The director and executive producer has worked extensively with Donald Glover (a.k.a. Childish Gambino) on Atlanta and Mr. & Mrs. Smith, as well as music videos like "This Is America,...

Exclusive: In a competitive situation, Fifth Season and Makeready have acquired the rights to Final Score, a crime thriller spec from Will Hettinger, which Nick Rowland is set to direct.

The project reunites the companies with Rowland after work on a project in a similar vein — the forthcoming crime thriller She Rides Shotgun, starring Taron Egerton, for which Makeready is currently finalizing the domestic deal. News also comes after word that Makeready has extended by three years its overall deal with Fifth Season, also bringing Topic Studios into the fold for a joint venture spanning features, television, and unscripted content.

Said to be tonally in the vein of Sicario, Final Score follows Gamen (50s), the leader of the FBI’s tactical operations team, who recruits ex-Special Forces soldier Andy (30s) to join his unit as they try to take down both the mob and a gang of bank robbers. Brad Weston...

On Monday, October 28th, Prime Video hosted a screening and panel conversation of episode 108 of “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” at The West Hollywood Edition Screening Room in Los Angeles. Following the screening, the audience filled with Screen Actors Guild members was treated to a panel conversation moderated by Variety senior entertainment writer, Angelique Jackson, featuring Emmy-nominated actress Maya Erskine (“Jane Smith”).

While discussing her connection to Jane, Erskine stated, “I just identified with someone who feels like such an outsider in life — and never quite fitting in, and looking for her place in society, looking for her identity to be solidified in this world… that is something we can all relate to, that longing for connection, that longing to feel seen by somebody so all of that was interesting for me.”

“I think the biggest challenge for her was being able to have all the emotions that you’re having but then cover it,...

Last month we held our annual Film Independent Forum at the DGA complex here in LA. Not only was there great networking opportunities like Industry Connect, screenings like Will & Harper and a 10th anniversary showing of The Babadook, but there were great panels where industry insiders shared their thoughts on the present and future of the art and business of independent filmmaking.

Today we’d like to share with you just some of these conversations. The topics range from the state of indie financing, to adapting stories for our climate impacted future, to taking meetings in your local laundromat. This year also had a special global emphasis, which is especially timely in an era where the next Oscar winner or streaming hit could come from anywhere and be made anywhere.

So many talented people shared their experiences navigating making movies, selling movies and sharing movies across the globe. Take...

After much speculation, literary management outfit Grandview has officially been acquired by global investment firm Tpg and will merge with the already Tpg-owned talent management firm Untitled.

The combined company will be known as Untitled, while Tpg has announced that its entertainment-centric outfit which it launched in the summer when it acquired a majority stake in Untitled will be named Initial Group. In today’s announcement, Tpg noted that Grandview will bolster Untitled’s efforts in lit representation.

Jeff Silver and Matt Rosen, who co-founded Grandview, will be named managing partners with Untitled’s founding partners Jason Weinberg and Stephanie Simon. Grandview’s Merideth Bajana, Jeremy Platt, and Ben Rowe will join Untitled partners Evan Hainey, Elise Konialian, Jennifer Levine, Jason Newman, Steven Nossokoff, and Alissa Vradenburg.

Grandview’s client list includes top filmmaking names like Joseph Kosinski, Hiro Murai, Adam Wingard, and Dan Trachtenberg.

“Ten years ago, we started...

Exclusive Updated: Private equity firm Tpg has revealed the name of the talent management-centric company it launched in June in conjunction with acquiring a majority stake in Untitled Entertainment. Named Initial Group, the subsidiary has made a second investment, completing the long-rumored acquisition of literary management firm Grandview. It will be combined under the banner of the larger, actor-focused Untitled, significantly bolstering its lit representation capabilities.

Jeff Silver and Matt Rosen, who co-founded Grandview, have been named Managing Partners of the combined company, joining Untitled’s founding partners Jason Weinberg and Stephanie Simon.

Additionally, Grandview’s Merideth Bajana, Jeremy Platt, and Ben Rowe will be joining the Untitled partner ranks that include Evan Hainey, Elise Konialian, Jennifer Levine, Jason Newman, recently promoted Steven Nossokoff, and Alissa Vradenburg.

Tpg, which a year ago sold its majority stake in CAA, in June acquired the Untitled majority stake from Canada-based Boat Rocker and...

Spoiler Alert: This story contains spoilers for “It’s What’s Inside,” now streaming on Netflix.

Writer and director Greg Jardin’s debut feature, “It’s What’s Inside,” is a body-swapping mystery. Yet Jardin had his own out-of-body experience the day the movie started an intense bidding war at Sundance in January.

“It’s still surreal now,” he says. “We made the movie in a bit of a bubble, $2.5 million independent, just with hopes that someone would buy it at a festival. Getting into Sundance alone was awesome. And then our first offer came in 24 hours after our premiere, and the offer started at $5 million, which was double our budget. I was like, ‘Man, this is incredible.'”

But the buzz around Park City kept growing.

“It was my first experience,” he says. “With any of that stuff, there’s essentially a bidding war that lasted about 36 hours. I was in meetings with our financiers and sales agent.

Production has wrapped on writer/director Taylor Cohen’s Strobe, a thriller that The Hollywood Reporter describes as being “Edm-focused.” Suzanna Son (Red Rocket), Chace Crawford (The Boys), Laura Harrier (Spider-Man: Homecoming), Mena Suvari (American Beauty), Grace Van Dien (Stranger Things), Rohan Campbell (Halloween Ends), Suraj Sharma (Life of Pi), Steve Howey (True Lies), Bella Murphy (Coming 2 America), Anthony C Garcia (A Holiday Chance), and musician Matt Champion star in the film, which is coming our way from Happy Place and Super Frog.

Strobe sees Son taking on the role of a high school senior who embarks on an obsessive quest to track down a mysterious Edm artist.

Tara Razavi, Nate Matteson, and Hiro Murai are producing the film. Happy Place provided the financing, alongside executive producer Clayton Moore. Happy Place founder Razavi provided the following statement: “We’re incredibly excited to bring Strobe to life as Taylor Cohen’s first feature film.

Edm is set to get another movie moment with the forthcoming feature Strobe.

Suzanna Son (Red Rocket), Chace Crawford (The Boys), Mena Suvari (Rzr), Grace Van Dien (Stranger Things) and Laura Harrier (Spider-Man: Homecoming) star in writer-director Taylor Cohen’s film, which has recently wrapped production. Hailing from production companies Happy Place and Super Frog, Strobe is a thriller centering on a high school senior (Son) embarking on an obsessive quest to track down a mysterious Edm artist.

Rohan Campbell (The Monkey), Suraj Sharma (Life of Pi), Steve Howey (True Lies), Bella Murphy (Coming 2 America) and Matt Champion round out the cast. Tara Razavi (Apple Music’s Up Next), Nate Matteson (The Bear) and Hiro Murai (Mr. and Mrs. Smith) serve as producers, with Happy Place financing the project alongside executive producer Clayton Moore.

Strobe, which does not yet have an announced release, marks the first feature for Happy Place.

Yes, the Film Independent Forum is back, happily in person again, and with a new global twist. With so much going over the two days, we wanted to highlight some of the panels and events we missed in our last post on the Forum.

Of course, there will still be the great screenings, networking and workshops that the Forum is known for. September 27 & 28, in person at the DGA in Los Angeles. Tickets are still available.

Keynote By Hiro Murai Moderated By Daniel Kwan

What: In case you missed it, our keynote speaker this year is Hiro Murai. With a very distinct voice and visual style, Hiro Murai has established himself as one of the most innovative artists working today. In particular, Murai’s ten-year artistic collaboration with Childish Gambino produced one of the most acclaimed shows of the century, Atlanta; garnered him a Grammy Award for the music video for...

The 2024 Emmys nominations were just announced. Let’s take a look back at all of the best of television in the past year and every Emmy nomination for the major categories. ‘Shogun’ leads with 25 nominations, followed by ‘The Bear’ with 23 and ‘Only Murders in the Building’ with 21. Drama Best Drama Series ‘Shōgun’ FX ‘The Crown’ Netflix ‘Fallout’ Prime Video ‘The Gilded Age’ HBO | Max ‘The Morning Show’ Apple TV+ ‘Mr. and Mrs. Smith’ Prime Video ‘Slow Horses’ Apple TV+ ‘3 Body Problem’ Netflix Things to do: Subscribe to The Hollywood Insider’s YouTube Channel, by clicking here. Limited Time Offer – Free Subscription to The Hollywood Insider Click here to read more on The Hollywood Insider’s vision, values and mission statement here – Media has the responsibility to better our world – The Hollywood Insider fully focuses on substance and meaningful entertainment, against gossip and scandal, by combining entertainment, education, and philanthropy.

Exclusive: Laura Harrier, who can be seen next in Ryan Murphy’s upcoming ABC drama Doctor Odyssey, has found her follow-up feature project as she has joined the cast of Strobe. Taylor Cohen is directing with Hiro Murai, Robert Walak, Nate Matteson, Tara Razavi producing.

Plot details are being kept under wraps.

Next up for Harrier is the new ABC series Doctor Odyssey, which also stars Joshua Jackson and Don Johnson and is produced by Murphy. Considered one of the more highly-anticipated new shows of the fall season, Doctor Odyssey premieres on Sept. 26.

Other recent credits for Harrier include the White Men Can’t Jump reboot at 20th Century and Hulu’s Mike. She is repped by CAA, Entertainment 360, and Peikoff Mahan Law.

The 2024 Emmy nominations were announced Wednesday, July 17 at 8:30 a.m. Pt / 11:30 a.m. Et. Nominations for the 76th Emmy Awards were revealed by Emmy winners Tony Hale and Sheryl Lee Ralph, alongside the academy’s chair, Cris Abrego, at a live ceremony streaming on Emmys.com/nominations. See the complete 2024 Emmy nominations list below (Creative Arts categories can be seen at the Emmys website).

This season, the Emmy Awards celebrates its 76th anniversary. What began as a modest ceremony with five awards at the Hollywood Athletic Club has evolved into television’s biggest night, celebrating excellence throughout the industry. In the age of “peak TV” with close to 600 original scripted series, the nominations recognize the importance of the writers, performers and all those who worked on television programs in the past year.

As a reminder, last year’s big Emmy winners were HBO’s “Succession” for Best Drama...

Nothing could be more LA than a weekend at the fabulous Forum; the celebrities court-side, the drama(s), and all those players doing it for the love of the game. No we’re not talking about the Winning Time Showtime Lakers, we’re talking the 2024 Film Independent Forum. We’re set for another jampacked year, filled with screenings, panels, workshops, one-on-one meetings and networking receptions. And all of that is jammed into two action packed days. Get your passes right here, right now.

The official schedule can be found here—but we can guarantee another great year of wide-ranging and inclusive conversation about the winning strategies for the art and business of independent film. With panels and networking events like Industry Connect, we’ll help you find the right teammates and creative juices needed to sustain a long-term career in the filmmaking arena.

“This year’s Forum will explore our...

To celebrate its Netflix streaming debut on Friday, September 27, road trip documentary “Will & Harper” will screen at the Directors Guild of America in Los Angeles and cap off the first day of the 2024 Film Independent Forum.

Organized by Film Independent, the nonprofit arts group responsible for the Independent Spirit Awards, this annual forum will take place over two days (September 27 through 28) and feature topical discussions with over 40 filmmakers from around the world. This event also provides a space for attendees to network with independent filmmakers and content creators from various backgrounds.

“This year’s Forum will explore our evolving industry through a wider perspective, where the definitions of fiction and nonfiction, big screen and small screen, and domestic and international are being redefined,” Maria Raquel Bozzi, Film Independent’s Senior Director of Education and International Initiatives, said. “We are thrilled to see such a large number of our international...

Defying the odds at Sunday’s Creative Arts Emmys, Michaela Coel (“Mr. and Mrs. Smith”) ended up winning the Best Drama Guest Actress race for the Prime Video spy thriller. Many awards pundits thought that Claire Foy (“The Crown”) might prevail, especially considering she had already won this same guest actress category in 2021 as well as the lead actress race in 2018. For this 2024 contest, the two nominees faced off against Marcia Gay Harden (“The Morning Show”), Sarah Paulson (“Mr. and Mrs. Smith”) and Parker Posey (“Mr. and Mrs. Smith”).

Coel submitted the episode “Infidelity” in which she plays Bev, a secret spy who tries to infiltrate the marriage between John (Donald Glover) and Jane (Maya Erskine). This marks Coel’s second career Emmy victory after previously prevailing for writing her HBO limited series “I May Destroy You” (2021).

In all, “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” received 16 Emmy nominations and won two at...

Apple TV+ has revealed its latest addition to its original programming with the announcement of Widow’s Bay, a 10-part series created by Katie Dippold. Dippold, known for her writing credits on The Heat, Parks and Recreation, and Ghostbusters, will serve as showrunner and executive producer. The series will be directed by Emmy Award-winner Hiro Murai, […]

Apple TV+ Announces New Series ‘Widow’s Bay’...

Another day, another small-town mayor refusing to acknowledge that his town could be in grave danger. That's the gist of newly ordered-to-series Widow's Bay, an upcoming 10-episode horror-comedy set for Apple TV+.

1428 Elm has learned that the show will be created by Katie Dippold, best known for writing The Heat, starring Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy. Filmmaker Hiro Murai (Atlanta) will direct the pilot episode.

Apple didn't share much else about Widow's Bay just yet, unfortunately, except that it will be produced in-house by Apple Studios and the series is set in a cursed New England town. As mentioned above, something supernatural starts to threaten town residents but the mayor refuses to believe anything is wrong. Sounds like maybe the mayor from Amity Island relocated.

Dippold is credited as the showrunner and creator of the new series, which she also executive produces. Murai will executive produce as well, alongside Carver Karaszewski and Claudia Shin.

Katie Dippold and Hiro Murai are teaming up on a new series for Apple TV+ titled “Widow’s Bay.”

The project, which hails from Apple Studios, centers on a “mysteriously cursed New England island and its superstitious citizens, led by a mayor who refuses to believe their warnings,” according to the official logline.

Dippold serves as series creator, showrunner and executive producer for “Widow’s Bay.” Murai is attached to direct the pilot and will produce the series alongside Claudia Shin and Carver Karaszewski.

The horror-comedy series will consist of 10 episodes. No casting information is available at this time.

Dippold holds writing credits on movies like “Haunted Mansion,” “Snatched,” “Ghostbusters” and “The Heat” and TV series including “Parks and Recreation,” “The Big Gay Sketch Show” and “Mad TV.” She was twice-nominated at the WGA Awards for her work on “Parks and Recreation” in 2012 and 2013.

Murai is a frequent collaborator with Donald Glover,...

Apple TV+ has given a series order to to “Widow’s Bay,” which hails from creator Katie Dippold.

Hiro Murai is attached to direct the pilot of the 10-episode series in addition to executive producing. The official logline states the show is “about a mysteriously cursed New England island and its superstitious citizens, led by a mayor who refuses to believe their warnings.”

Dippold is the writer and executive producer of “Widow’s Bay” and will also serve as showrunner. Murai executive produces along with Claudia Shin via Super Frog, with Carver Karaszewski also executive producing. Apple Studios will produce.

Dippold previously wrote for shows like “Parks and Recreation,” on which she was a writer for three seasons. She has since written the screenplays for films like “The Heat,” the 2016 “Ghostbusters” reboot,” and the 2023 “Haunted Mansion” film.

She is repped by WME and Ziffren Brittenham.

Murai is known for his...

Apple TV+ has ordered the 10-episode horror-comedy series Widow’s Bay from creator, showrunner and executive producer Katie Dippold.

Emmy Award-nominee Hiro Murai is set to direct the pilot and will produce alongside Claudia Shin and Carver Karaszewski.

Widow’s Bay is set on a mysteriously cursed New England island and follows its superstitious citizens, led by a mayor who refuses to believe their warnings.

Dippold was a writer on NBC’s Parks and Recreation before she sold her spec feature The Heat, directed by Paul Feig and starring Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy. The Heat won an American Comedy Award for Best Comedy Screenplay and a People’s Choice Award for Favorite Comedic Movie. She followed The Heat by co-writing Ghostbusters: Answer The Call, also directed by Paul Feig with Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones starring.

The 2024 Emmys lineup for Best Drama Directing was a free-for-all, resulting in one of the most diverse group of shows and nominees in recent memory. The lineup includes two premieres (“Slow Horses” and “Mr. & Mrs. Smith”), two finales (“The Crown” and “The Morning Show”), and two penultimate showcases (“Shōgun” and “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty”). With none of the shows nominated last year (or their last eligibility), anything is possible, but there looks to be a clear frontrunner in this category based on the quality of the episodes and the popularity of the series.

Here are Gold Derby’s current Best Drama Directing Emmy 2024 racetrack odds:

1. “Shōgun” (“Crimson Sky” by Frederick E.O. Toye) — 10/3 odds

2. “The Crown” — 4/1 odds

3. “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” (“First Date” by Hiro Murai) — 5/1 odds

4. “Slow Horses” (“Strange Games” by Saul Metzstein) — 6/1 odds

5. “The Morning Show” (“The Overview Effect” by Mimi Leder) — 6/1 odds

6. “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty...

Donald Glover and Maya Erskine aren’t returning for season 2 of Prime Video’s Mr. & Mrs. Smith?! What? Is this some sort of contract negotiation standoff? Even after the series’ 16 Emmy nominations including Lead Actor and Lead Actress in a drama?

Hardly, according to co-Creator and EP Francesca Sloane and the show’s director and EP Hiro Murai.

“We’re just trying to make the best version of season 2 possible,” Sloane tells Crew Call, “That’s why we’re being so coy about it.” That is whether Glover and Erskine are really not returning.

Donald Glover, Maya Erskine

Well, then is the gist of future Mr. & Mrs. Smith seasons to be like an anthology series ala Fargo? Sloane was a producer on that Noah Hawley created series. “Maybe,” she tells us.

“We wanted the ending to leave on this nod to a’ 70s cinema cliffhanger,” Sloane says, “If we tell you too much,...

“It is a good representation for a number of reasons. First of all, [director] Hiro Murai did this amazing job of establishing this very unique tone and also this very unique tempo. It has this slow burn quality and then it all of a sudden explodes,” reveals Emmy-nominated “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” composer David Fleming about his nomination for the series premiere “First Date.” For our recent webchat he adds, “It was really my first thing to touch and I was trying to define the musical world in that first episode; the themes and the sound and I think there were a lot of ways one could go with a show that’s fresh. For better or for worse, the choices that I made, I feel like really took root in that first episode.” We talked with Fleming as part of Gold Derby’s special “Meet the Experts” Q&a event with 2024 Emmy nominees.

Prime Video’s freshman spy series Mr. & Mrs. Smith is coming out of the gate with 16 Emmy nominations including Best Drama Actor and Actress for leads Donald Glover and Maya Erskine and the main event, Best Drama Series.

In a reimagination of the 2005 film that starred Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, co-creators Glover and showrunner Francesca Sloane — who are Emmy-nominated for Best Writing for a Drama Series — wanted the show to be its own thing and not a copy of anything else.

Sloane was joined by director and executive producer Hiro Murai, casting director Carmen Cuba and composer David Fleming for Deadline’s Contenders TV: The Nominees on Saturday.

“People keep saying that I coined this — this should go on record that Hiro coined this,” Sloane said. “Our season of Smiths are these C-minus students in an AP course. I think that sort of travels through the entire season as opposed to the film,...

The 76th Primetime Emmy Awards, not to be mistaken for the 75th Emmys handed out earlier this year, are taking place in September, with nominations unveiled last month. Many of those big names are aboard today to participate in Deadline’s annual Contenders Television: The Nominees event, which kicks off at 9 a.m. Pt.

Sign up for here for the livestream.

Follow along for panel coverage all day Saturday on Deadline and on social using the hashtag #DeadlineContenders.

Fallout star Walton Goggins, comedian Nikki Glaser, who broke out during The Roast of Tom Brady, Alan Cumming of The Traitors and Late Night’s Seth Meyers are among those confirmed for panel discussions, along with producers and directors including Jonathan Nolan, Francesca Sloane, Hiro Murai and Sarah Schechter.

The virtual event will give viewers and voters insight into how these stars and behind-the-scenes talent found out about their Emmy nomination, how...

With the “Fallout” TV adaptation and Donald Glover and Maya Erskine’s “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” both landing Emmy noms in the drama category Wednesday, Amazon MGM Studios chief Jennifer Salke and head of TV Vernon Sanders are celebrating Amazon’s unprecedented position of having two shows in the running for this year’s top prize.

Salke and Sanders spoke with Variety after the dust had settled to break down the 62 overall nominations received by Amazon and MGM Studios — including 17 for “Fallout,” 16 for “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” and a nod for TV movie for the LGBTQ rom-com “Red, White & Royal Blue,” among the studio’s other noms.

On the heels of the Emmys love for HBO’s “The Last of Us,” were you expecting “Fallout” to be able to achieve similar results or still cautious about the awards reaction to video game adaptations and genre TV?

Vernon Sanders: We...