NewsNation anchor Ashleigh Banfield is set to host this year’s Clue Awards, which will take place on June 1 in Nashville, Tenn., during the annual CrimeCon event. The ceremony, which announced this year’s nominees on Thursday, will also air live on the Law&Crime Network and stream on that channel’s social platforms. As part of the…

Amazon Prime Video has ordered a series adaptation of the Michelle Frances novel “The Girlfriend” with Robin Wright set to star and direct, Variety has learned. In addition, Olivia Cooke (“House of the Dragon,” “Sound of Metal”), Laurie Davidson (“Mary and George”), and Waleed Zuaiter (“Gangs of London”) will star alongside Wright. The official description…

“Saturday Night Live” has set Maya Rudolph to host its May 11 episode alongside Vampire Weekend as musical guest, while the May 18 episode will by headlined by Jake Gyllenhaal with performances from Sabrina Carpenter. Rudolph was an “SNL” cast member for seven seasons from 2000 to 2007 and returns to the late-night sketch show…

Ben Schnetzer has joined the cast of the upcoming Lily James-led film inspired by the story of Bumble founder and former CEO Whitney Wolfe Herd, from 20th Century Studios and Ethea Entertainment. Schnetzer recently completed the film “The Yellow Tie,” a biopic on the famed Romanian conductor Sergiu Celibidache. He plays the young version of…

Classic TV network MeTV is turning its cartoon block into a new network. Owner Weigel Broadcasting Co. announced Wednesday that it will launch MeTV Toons as a new national TV network focused on classic animation, “from Hollywood-era shorts to made-for-television favorites.” MeTV Toons, which launches June 25, is a collab between Weigel and Warner Bros….

Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yimou this week made his first-ever trip to the Far East Film Festival in Italy’s Udine, and appeared to fall in love with the theatrical and festival experience all over again. At a masterclass on Thursday morning, Zhang spoke of his filmmaking techniques and priorities, his enduring quest for the human touch…

Anitta reflected on growing up in the Brazilian favelas and breaking the “rules” to achieve her dreams at Variety’s Power of Women Presented by Lifetime event on Thursday, held at New York’s Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum. The Brazilian superstar accepted her award from Bruna Marquezine, who celebrated Anitta’s “authenticity and fiery passion for music.”…

Songwriters Benj Pasek and Justin Paul are one step away from achieving EGOT status, needing only an Emmy to complete the prestigious quartet of entertainment honors. The duo has submitted “Which of the Pickwick Triplets Did It?” from Hulu’s “Only Murders in the Building” for outstanding music and lyrics at this year’s Emmys. If they…

Shonda Rhimes was honored at Variety’s Power of Women, presented by Lifetime, in New York on Thursday for her work with the Debbie Allen Dance Academy, a non-profit dance school that offers classes to disenfranchised communities. Rhimes was aware of Debbie Allen’s work from a young age, having been a fan of her 1980s TV…

Disney’s “Launchpad,” the anthology series of American independent short films will return for its third season. Submissions for the new season are now open through June 2. “Launchpad” first started in 2021, and is a 12-month program that cultivates emerging filmmakers. Members in the program work closely with a Disney creative executive to make live-action…