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EntertainmentThe WrapShepard Smith Calls Out Former Fox News Colleagues: ‘I Don’t Know How Some People Sleep at Night’ (Video)
Shepard Smith is striking back. In a new interview with PBS News, the former Fox News host revealed exactly why he left his long-standing post at the network and blasted the network and fellow colleagues for spreading “mis- and dis-information.” In an interview set to air Tuesday night, Smith admitted to host Christine Amanpour that “I stuck with it as long as I could” in an attempt to uphold a responsibility to set the record straight on what the network chose to broadcast to its viewers. “If you feel like the Fox viewers were getting mis- or dis-information, I was there to make sure that they got it straight,” Smith explained. “There were a lot of others in there who I thought were trying to do the same thing. But I thought to just abandon it, and to deprive those viewers of — it wasn’t just me, there was an entire team of people getting the news on the air — to deny them that, with the thought that they might replace it with opinion instead, seemed a little selfish. So I stuck with it as long as I could. And at some point, I realized I reached the point of diminishing returns and I left.” “I stuck with it as long as I could,” says former Fox News host Shep Smith. But does he think some of his former colleagues spread disinformation? “I don’t know how some people sleep at night… There are a lot of people… who are smart enough and educated enough to know better.” pic.twitter.com/pqrOhVuKgR — Christiane Amanpour (@camanpour) January 19, 2021 Prior to leaving Fox News in 2019 for a new show on CNBC, Smith had been a prominent fixture at the network — and a long-standing one at that, having joined in 1996. Also Read: Shepard Smith to Join CNBC As Host of Evening News Program The important question is: does this interview actually redeem Shep Smith in any way? Well, kind of. He did mention in the interview that he was “proud” of the journalistic work that he did and that he basically kept his blinders on so he could try to deliver the real news amidst all the twisted propaganda. But perhaps more of a reason to consider redeeming the former Fox anchor is his pointed comment at his former colleagues that comes near the end of the clip. “I slept very well,” he told Amanpour. “I don’t know how some people sleep at night. Because I know there are a lot of people who propagated the lies and have pushed them forward over and over again, who are smart enough and educated enough to know better.” Read original story Shepard Smith Calls Out Former Fox News Colleagues: ‘I Don’t Know How Some People Sleep at Night’ (Video) At TheWrap
EntertainmentThe WrapHow To Watch MSNBC and NBC News’ Coverage of Joe Biden’s Inauguration Live
On Jan. 20, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will be officially sworn in as the next President and Vice President of the United States. For many reasons, it’s a momentous occasion, and one that most of America has long awaited. As expected, there’s no shortage of ways to tune in to watch the inauguration — and both NBC News and MSNBC will have piles of coverage you can check out in addition to the ceremony itself. The inauguration itself is expected to start around 11 a.m. ET, and NBC News is going all out with a plethora of inauguration day content. They’ll start at 7 a.m. ET, when Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb will kick off the coverage on a special edition of “Today.” They’ll be joined by former first daughter Jenna Bush Hager. Starting at 10 a.m., Guthrie will be joined by Lester Holt, Chuck Todd, and Andrea Mitchell. Coverage will continue for six hours, concluding at 4 p.m. ET and members of the news team will be reporting from both New York and D.C. NBC News and MSNBC’s coverage will include reporting from a massive host of anchors and correspondents, including Al Roker, Craig Melvin, Kristen Welker, Peter Alexander, Hallie Jackson, Kelly O’Donnell, Geoff Bennett, Monica Alba, Kasie Hunt, Pete Williams, Ali Velshi, Yasmin Vossoughian, Steve Kornacki and many others. Also Read: How to Stream Fox News' Coverage of the Joe Biden's Inauguration Live For those who are looking for streaming options, NBC News Now will stream special coverage starting at 7 a.m. ET. That includes “Morning News Now” with Joe Fryer and Savannah Sellers, and “Evening News Now” with Alison Morris. And at 10 a.m., NBC News Now will carry NBC’s TV coverage. NBC News Now can always be streamed live for free on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Peacock, The Roku Channel, YouTube TV, Fubo, Xumo, Pluto, Tubi and by using NBC’s app on Roku, Fire TV and Apple TV. Also Read: How to Stream CNN's Coverage of Joe Biden's Inauguration Live Viewers can also find inauguration coverage streamed on The Choice, a free and exclusive channel on Peacock that was created specifically for the 2020 election. MSNBC Live anchor and NBC News senior business correspondent Stephanie Ruhle will lead coverage starting at 8 a.m. ET with Joe Scarborough, Mika Brzezinski, Willie Geist, and MSNBC hosts Katy Tur and Ayman Mohyeldin. Later on The Choice, Zerlina Maxwell and Mehdi Hasan will host inauguration-focused specials of their shows at 6 p.m. ET and 7 p.m. ET. NBC will also offer a few primetime specials after the events of the inauguration are finished. A one-hour special edition of “NBC Nightly News” will air at 6:30 p.m. ET and “Celebrating America,” a primetime special hosted by Tom Hanks that includes appearances from the new President and Vice President, starts at 8:30 p.m. ET. MSNBC’s overall inauguration day coverage starts even earlier, at 6 a.m. ET with “Morning Joe” c0-hosts Joe Scarborough, Mika Brzezinski, and Willie Geist. At 9 a.m. ET, hosts Brian Williams and Rachel Maddow will begin special coverage from both New York and Washington, joined by reporters Joy Reid and Nicolle Wallace. The official inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris begins at 12:00 p.m. ET. Inauguration coverage on MSNBC will continue at 6 p.m. ET with “All In” anchor Chris Hayes. Special primetime programming from Maddow, Reid, and Lawrence O’Donnell come after that, including a broadcast of Biden’s “Celebrating America” inauguration party at 8:30 p.m. ET. On “The 11th Hour” at 11 p.m. ET, Brian Williams will go in-depth about the day’s historic moments. MSNBC will also post-inauguration coverage throughout the night, with Hayes and “The Beat” anchor Ari Melber offering overnight commentary. You can stream MSNBC’s coverage at NBCNews.com and MSNBC.com, though to do so you’ll need a valid login from a TV provider (cable, satellite or streaming). That means there isn’t a free way to stream MSNBC’s specific coverage, but you can still stream NBC News for free. Read original story How To Watch MSNBC and NBC News’ Coverage of Joe Biden’s Inauguration Live At TheWrap
BusinessThe WrapWattpad to Be Acquired by Webtoon’s Korean Parent Company in $600 Million-Plus Deal
Social storytelling platform Wattpad is being acquired by Webtoon’s Korean parent company Naver in a cash and stock transaction valued at more than $600 million, it was announced on Tuesday. Webtoon and Wattpad will collaborate to create stronger storytelling content with a combined user base of over 160 million monthly users. “Wattpad joining Webtoon under the Naver umbrella will be a big step towards us becoming a leading global multimedia entertainment company,” Naver Webtoon founder and CEO Jun Koo Kim said in a statement. “Both Wattpad and Webtoon care most about helping creators tell their story their way, and both represent world-leading collections of inspired, imaginative storytelling IP.” Also Read: Wattpad Expands Into Film Development With Projects From 'Children of Men' Writer, 'Haunting of Bly Manor' Co-Producer Webtoon’s horror series “Sweet Home” recently launched as a Netflix Original in December and ranked No. 1 in Korea and No. 2 globally. Wattpad in general has seen successes with published books as well as TV and film adaptations, including the “After” franchise and Hulu’s series “Light as a Feather.” Last May, Wattpad announced it would be expanding into film developments. Founded in 2006, Wattpad allows users to write, post and read short, text-based novels. Readers can engage with the content by commenting on the novel or “liking” specific paragraphs. This data is then used by the company to identify emerging trends within the platform — such as what type of content is being written about and engaged with the most. The company then uses this information to help studios create video content, with Sony Pictures Television, Hulu and more having all used the data. Also Read: Wattpad Surpasses 80 Million Monthly Users, Up 23% From Last Year Webtoon is a digital publishing and self-publishing platform for digital comics and is the No. 1 app among 16-24 year olds in Korea, and is in the top tier among the same age group in other countries including the United States. Naver is Korea’s largest information technology company, operating Korea’s No. 1 search engine and largest e-commerce platform. The transaction is expected to close within the first half of 2021 and is subject to customary regulatory approvals. Kirkland & Ellis LLP and Stikeman Elliott LLP Naver’s legal advisors. Read original story Wattpad to Be Acquired by Webtoon’s Korean Parent Company in $600 Million-Plus Deal At TheWrap
PoliticsThe WrapHow to Stream Fox News’ Coverage of Joe Biden’s Inauguration Live
President-elect Joe Biden and his vice president Kamala Harris will be sworn into office on Jan. 20, and their inauguration will look much different than years past, both because of the coronavirus pandemic and national security concerns. U.S. Capitol Police Chief Yogananda Pittman said last week that there won’t be any public access to Capitol grounds during the inauguration, unlike past years — so neither Biden’s fans or opponents will be able to see him and Harris take the oath in person on the Capitol’s West Front. The inauguration is expected to kick off at 11 a.m. ET, and Fox News’s special coverage of the inauguration proceedings will begin a couple hours before that at 9 a.m. ET Wednesday. “America’s Newsroom” co-anchors Dana Perino and Bill Hemmer will lead the coverage of the inauguration, with appearances from other Fox News contributors. Also Read: How To Watch MSNBC and NBC News' Coverage of Joe Biden's Inauguration Live Throughout the inauguration ceremony, Fox’s “Special Report” anchor Bret Baier and “The Story” anchor and executive editor Martha MacCallum will lead coverage of the inauguration proceedings starting at 11 a.m. ET, which is when the ceremony itself is expected to begin. Baier and MacCullum will also anchor special extended coverage of the event from 3 to 5 p.m. ET. Fox News White House correspondents Kristin Fisher and Peter Doocy will cover the day’s events from 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Throughout the day, congressional correspondents Mike Emanuel, Chad Pergram and Jacqui Heinrich will report from the Capitol building. There will be a limited parade this year following Biden and Harris’ swearing-in. Fox News will cover the parade route with several reporters — national security correspondent Jennifer Griffin will lead parade coverage alongside correspondents Griff Jenkins, Mark Meredith and Lucas Tomlinson. Correspondent David Spunt will be stationed at Joint Base Andrews. Also Read: How to Stream CNN's Coverage of Joe Biden's Inauguration Live Fox News fans can tune into the network’s special inauguration coverage either on the Fox News channel or the the Fox News Go app and website, which requires an active TV provider login. Fox News will broadcast live inauguration coverage free on its website. Conservative opposition to the Biden administration continues to mount and Fox expects protests — the network said it will cover protests in “locations throughout the district” in tandem with its regular inauguration coverage. After a pro-Trump mob stormed the Capitol to interrupt Congress’ certification of Biden’s electoral college votes, Capitol Hill is still on lockdown. Public access to the inauguration will be extremely limited — though it was already sparse because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, which is currently at its peak. City officials will not allow people to pass through a perimeter set up around the White House, National Mall and Capitol, and will need to provide “proof of essential purpose” to get past the barriers. National Guard troops were deployed to Washington, D.C. shortly after the insurrection attempt two weeks ago, and will remain there until the inauguration proceedings are finished. The troops were using the Capitol visitor’s center as a barracks; the last time the Capitol has hosted National Guardsmen was during the Civil War. Read original story How to Stream Fox News’ Coverage of Joe Biden’s Inauguration Live At TheWrap
PoliticsThe WrapHow to Stream CNN’s Coverage of Joe Biden’s Inauguration Live
On Wednesday, America will swear in a new president. If you’re wondering how to watch or stream CNN’s coverage of Joe Biden’s inauguration as the 46th President of the United States, look no further. While the inauguration ceremony itself is expected to begin at 11 a.m. PT, CNN will have wall-to-wall coverage all day — literally. On Wednesday, Jan. 20, CNN’s regular cable TV coverage will start up bright and early on the cable network with Chris Cuomo will kicking off special coverage from 12 a.m. to 2 a.m. ET. Then Poppy Harlow and Jim Sciutto will take the 2 a.m. to 5 a.m. ET shift, followed by John Berman and Alisyn Camerota from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. ET. Also Read: How To Watch MSNBC and NBC News' Coverage of Joe Biden's Inauguration Live Coverage will continue all day from 7 a.m. ET until midnight, with Dana Bash, Wolf Blitzer, Erin Burnett, Anderson Cooper, John King, Abby Phillip, and Jake Tapper reporting live from D.C. on all of the day’s events including the oath of office, the virtual inaugural parade (in place of the usual in-person parade down Pennsylvania Avenue) and the inaugural concert. Brianna Keilar and Pamela Brown will be stationed in D.C. reporting live throughout the day, and Cuomo and Don Lemon will lead CNN’s late-night coverage. Meanwhile Gloria Borger, David Axelrod, Van Jones and Evan Osnos will all be providing analysis throughout the day, along with dozens more CNN correspondents and reporters stationed around the Capitol and across the country. Those without a cable subscription or live TV streaming services like Hulu or YouTube TV needn’t worry — CNN’s inauguration coverage will be streaming live for free on CNN.com and CNN’s apps for iOS and Android from 6 a.m. ET until midnight on Jan. 20. Also Read: How to Stream Fox News' Coverage of the Joe Biden's Inauguration Live It will also be available on CNNgo via CNN.com/go on desktops, smartphones and iPad, as well as on the CNNgo apps for Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Android TV, Chromecast and Roku. Fubo TV subscribers should take note of all that, because the service stopped carrying CNN along with TBS, TNT, Cartoon Network and other Turner channels back in July. Read original story How to Stream CNN’s Coverage of Joe Biden’s Inauguration Live At TheWrap
BusinessThe Wrap3 Reasons Why Netflix Remains the Dominant Streamer
Netflix asked Wall Street, “Are you still watching?” on Tuesday, and the reply was a resounding “yes,” with the streaming giant’s stock price rocketing 12% higher after posting a strong fourth quarter report that included passing 200 million subscribers worldwide. If you don’t feel like shuffling through Netflix’s investor relations page, here are three key takeaways you should know about its Q4 performance: 1. Subscriber Growth Bounces Back Netflix was coming off a rare flop heading into Tuesday, after the company added 2.2 million new subscribers during the third quarter — which even missed Netflix’s conservative projection for the quarter. That trend didn’t continue during the fourth quarter, though, with Netflix adding another 8.5 million new customers. That not only helped Netflix easily eclipse the 6 million subscribers both the company and analysts had projected, but also pushed Netflix well past the 200 million subscriber threshold. With 203.6 million subscribers overall, Netflix became the first streaming company to cross that barrier and reinforced its position at the top of the streaming food chain. Maybe it wasn’t a necessary reminder, but it certainly doesn’t hurt, either, as the streaming industry gets more and more competitive. Last month, Disney+ reported it hit...Read original story 3 Reasons Why Netflix Remains the Dominant Streamer At TheWrap
PoliticsThe WrapDonald Trump’s Last Speech as President Is 19 Minutes of Self-Congratulation (Video)
Donald Trump released a 19-minute farewell address on Tuesday, touting his administration’s achievements and promising “the best is yet to come” in what is expected to be his final speech from the White House. “This week, we inaugurate a new administration and pray for its success in keeping America safe and prosperous. We extend our best wishes, and we also want them to have luck — a very important word,” Trump said at the top of his speech, which comes less than two weeks after inciting his supporters to lead a violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. The remarks (which work out to be about 58 tweets worth of praising himself) came on Trump’s last full day in office ahead of Joe Biden’s inauguration on Wednesday. He is expected to leave the White House Wednesday morning, going against longstanding tradition by skipping Biden’s swearing-in ceremony. Also Read: My Pillow CEO Says Retailers Have Dropped Him Over Voter Fraud Claims As in previous public statements following the Jan. 6 riot, the president made sure to condemn acts of violence: “Political violence is an attack on everything we cherish as Americans. It can never be tolerated.” The president also thanked his family and supporters before going on to claim victories for his administration including “the strongest and most robust border security measures ever put into place,” heavy financial investment in the military and the three new justices appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court. “Together, we put the American people back in charge of our country,” he said, reviving the populist messaging from both of his presidential campaigns. “We restored self-government.” Also Read: SAG-AFTRA Board Moves to Expel Donald Trump In the concluding moments of the address, the president asserted that the movement that elected him to office in 2016 “is only just beginning.” “There’s never been anything like it,” he said. “The belief that a nation must serve its citizens will not dwindle but instead only grow stronger by the day.” Read original story Donald Trump’s Last Speech as President Is 19 Minutes of Self-Congratulation (Video) At TheWrap
PoliticsThe WrapJim Carrey Celebrates the End of Trump’s Presidency by Throwing Paper Towels at TV
It wasn’t in the form of his usual drawings, but Jim Carrey made sure he paid tribute to Trump’s four-year presidency in a unique way. The actor posted a tweet on Tuesday that included a video of Trump making a speech on CNBC. The short video plays in slow motion, with no words and only unruly bagpipe music in the background. It includes Carrey throwing a paper towel roll at the television and manages to slyly mock the outgoing leader in just 25 seconds. “How do you spell relief?” asks a caption that plays over the video, before following up with the answer: “I spell it…GOODBYE!” pic.twitter.com/22fbeUUyeo — Jim Carrey (@JimCarrey) January 19, 2021 Carrey’s feelings toward Trump aren’t exactly a secret. But given how hard he throws that paper towel roll, we’re pretty sure he’s more than a little excited that as of tomorrow, Trump’s presidency will be over. Over the past four years, the actor-turned-artist has used his platform to spotlight his dislike of the 45th president by posting cartoons and drawings that depict Trump and his administration in not-so-flattering ways — from the mismanaged handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, to FOX News and their biased reporting, to mocking the pro-Trump rioters who recently stormed the Capitol. Also Read: Jim Carrey Needles Sen Kelly Loeffler Over COVID 'Blood Money' in New Cartoon While Carrey will probably continue making cartoons in the era of the new administration, let’s hope that (for as brilliant as the past four years of his work were), they’re a little more peaceful. And while we’re sure he never wants to draw anything relating to Trump again at this point, maybe we can look forward to a return of his famous drawings depending on what happens after Trump leaves the White House. Today is the last full day that Trump is in office. Tomorrow, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will be sworn in as president and vice president of the United States. Read original story Jim Carrey Celebrates the End of Trump’s Presidency by Throwing Paper Towels at TV At TheWrap
BusinessThe WrapBob Iger’s Disney Pay More Than Halved in 2020 Amid ‘Substantial Toll’ of Pandemic
Bob Iger’s Disney pay dropped by more than half in 2020, when he and current CEO Bob Chapek both went without bonuses amid the coronavirus pandemic. Iger also forewent his salary for a time, Chapek took a 50% pay reduction. Don’t feel too badly for Iger — he still made more than $20 million. (About $21 million, to be more exact.) In 2019, however, Iger hauled in $47.5 million. Chapek tallied $14.2 million in 2020. We do not have 2019 data for the new head honcho. Also Read: Bob Iger to Forgo Disney Salary During Coronavirus Shutdown, CEO Bob Chapek Takes 50% Pay Cut According to Disney’s annual shareholder meeting notice and statement filed to the SEC, Iger ended up making just under $1.6 million in salary for fiscal 2020, down from the $3 million earned in 2019. His reported stock awards declined from more than $10 million in 2019 to less than $7 million in 2020. Iger’s options awards figure was fairly flat year to year at approximately $9.6 million. The huge change came under the heading non-equity incentive plan compensation, which essentially means monetary bonus. In 2019, Iger hauled in $21.75 million dollars there. It was a goose egg in 2020. There really weren’t any other material changes for Iger, but he made another $1.8 million under the pension/deferred compensation heading, and $1.2 million in catch-all category “All Other Compensation.” Chapek drew $1.8 million in salary, had $6.1 million in stock awards, $3.4 million in options and the same big, fat zero in the non-equity bonus column. He tacked on $2.7 million via a change in pension/deferred compensation and about $140,000 under what is essentially an “other” column. “The COVID-19 pandemic took a substantial toll on our businesses, many of which were closed during significant portions of the fiscal year,” Disney said in the SEC filing. “Some of our operations are still not resumed. Those of our businesses that have resumed are operating under significant restrictions and with additional cost burdens as a result of COVID-19. The disruption to our businesses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic had a corresponding impact on the Company’s financial performance.” That reduction in performance included a decrease in revenue of 6% to $65.39 billion and a loss in diluted earnings per share of $1.57 compared to income of $6.26 per share in fiscal 2019. Net income for Disney dropped to a loss of $2.83 billion compared to income of $10.43 billion a year ago. Read original story Bob Iger’s Disney Pay More Than Halved in 2020 Amid ‘Substantial Toll’ of Pandemic At TheWrap
EntertainmentThe WrapFilm Academy Names Fernando Garcia EVP of Member Relations
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced on Tuesday that it has hired Fernando Garcia as Executive Vice President of Member Relations and Awards. He will oversee the processes for submissions, nominations, voting and balloting, and will report to COO Christine Simmons. In addition, Garcia will lead engagement and outreach initiatives for the organization’s members and work with the Academy’s Office of Representation, Inclusion and Equity. He will also work with the Branch Executive Committees to expand the diversity of Academy membership and to create more platforms for filmmakers around the world. A graduate of USC, Garcia got his start in marketing and publicity at DreamWorks working on the campaign for the Best Picture-winning “Gladiator” and the first film to win the Best Animated Feature Oscar, “Shrek.” He then joined Paramount as vice president of special projects & events, working on hits such as “Iron Man,” “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” “How to Train Your Dragon,” “Star Trek,” and ‘Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol.” After leaving Paramount, Garcia started his own publicity firm, The Fernando Garcia Company, where his clients included Amazon Studios, Disney, NBC, New Regency and Prime Video. “Fernando is an innovative thinker with a deep passion for movies and a true appreciation for the people who make them,” said Simmons. “He joins the Academy’s leadership at a pivotal time, and we are confident he is just the person to lead our global membership forward and further the Academy’s mission to support, identify and champion talent in our filmmaking community.” “I’m so thrilled to be joining the Academy’s leadership team,” said Garcia. “I look forward to working with them to find new ways of bringing together the incredible individuals who create the films we all love, and to uplifting great filmmaking from all around the world.” Read original story Film Academy Names Fernando Garcia EVP of Member Relations At TheWrap
SportThe WrapStephanie McMahon Is ‘Grateful’ WrestleMania 37 Will Follow Super Bowl LV at the Same Stadium
Sometimes things just work out, though there hasn’t been a lot of that lately. WWE has certainly not been immune to the realities of operating in a COVID-19 world, but the company has at least one small stroke of luck heading into WrestleMania season, and chief brand officer Stephanie McMahon tells TheWrap she plans to take full advantage of an imperfect situation. You see, last year’s WrestleMania 36 was intended to be held at Tampa Bay, Florida’s Raymond James Stadium, where the NFL’s Buccaneers play. WrestleMania 37 in 2021 was destined for L.A.’s SoFi Stadium. Unfortunately, due to the coronavirus pandemic, 2020’s WrestleMania had to be moved to WWE’s Performance Center in Orlando, Florida. Well, SoFi will have to wait until 2023 — the so-called Super Bowl of professional wrestling is taking a second crack at Raymond James, which is exactly where the real Super Bowl (LV) is scheduled for this year. Also Read: 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin on the Passing of Former WWE Wrestler Luke Harper: 'An Absolute Tragedy' Super Bowl LV is scheduled for Feb. 7, 2021. WrestleMania 37 is scheduled for the weekend of April 10 and 11, 2021. That gives WWE about nine weeks to react to what worked and what didn’t for a major sporting event at Raymond James Stadium. McMahon said she’s “grateful” it worked out this way. “It certainly does, I think, this year, work to our favor to be the event after the Super Bowl in the same stadium, especially given all of the key learnings that the Super Bowl will have,” McMahon told TheWrap. “And hopefully we’ll be able to glean some insights from them in terms of what works, what doesn’t work, what we need to do to really ensure the best experience possible.” Also Read: 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin on How Much He Actually Imbibes During a Beer Smash Raymond James will not just host Super Bowl LV and WrestleMania 37 inside of 45 days, it could host its home team, the Buccaneers, whom are still alive in the NFL Playoffs. That’s never happened before. Good luck to Tom Brady and team on getting past Aaron Rodgers and the Packers in Green Bay this Sunday, though. We don’t yet know if Super Bowl LV will have fans in attendance — Raymond James has averaged 22% capacity thus far this NFL season — and the same goes for WrestleMania 37. But hey, it’s Florida, so if that allowance is going to happen anywhere… (Well, it certainly wasn’t going to happen in Los Angeles this year.) “Currently we are hopeful to have fans,” McMahon said of WWE’s own “fluid” situation. “We’re not announcing any capacity plans at this point.” Also Read: How the Marines 'Saved' WWE's Lacey Evans, and What 'Tribute to the Troops' Means to Her WrestleMania 37 is set to take place on Saturday, April 10 and Sunday, April 11 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. Not enough for you? WrestleMania 38 will be at Dallas’ (OK, it’s really Arlington) AT&T Stadium on Sunday, April 3, 2022. WrestleMania 39 is going Hollywood on Sunday, April 2, 2023, when the extravaganza heads to Inglewood/Los Angeles at SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park. Why did WWE announce its plans so many years out? That’s not exactly like them. “It just helps everybody. It helps us for planning purposes, it helps our fans plan their trips, it helps in so many different capacities. And now we can really work with all of our partners across the board in all of these major cities and really blow everything out as big as we possibly can,” McMahon said. “Also, during this time, I think people need hope and I think you need something to look forward to,” she continued. Can’t argue with that. Read original story Stephanie McMahon Is ‘Grateful’ WrestleMania 37 Will Follow Super Bowl LV at the Same Stadium At TheWrap
EntertainmentThe WrapEverything We Know About ‘The Boys’ Season 3 – So Far
The second season of Amazon Prime Video’s “The Boys” came to a bloody conclusion in October and already fans are trying to figure out everything they can about Season 3. And while all you weekly-rollout haters are rethinking your position now that the new episodes have dried up, TheWrap has been rounding up all the details about the third season of Eric Kripke’s raunchy superhero series that we currently have. See our list below and check back for updates as more info on “The Boys” Season 3 becomes available. 1. When will it begin filming? “The Boys” showrunner Eric Kripke told TheWrap in October that he and the team are “actually through a lot of the writing” on Season 3 and the hope is to begin shooting in early 2021. Production is set to begin in the next few weeks in Toronto under COVID safety guidelines. 2. When will it premiere? We don’t have an answer for this one yet. But for what it’s worth, season one premiered in July, 2019 and 2020’s Season 2 premiered in September, so your guess is as good as ours. Also Read: 'The Boys' Season 3 Will Feature Long-Awaited 'Herogasm' Episode 3. Are there any newcomers joining? Yes! Kripke is re-teaming with “Supernatural” star Jensen Ackles, who will be heading over to “The Boys” now that the 15th and final season of The CW drama has finished — to play Soldier Boy in Season 3. Per Amazon, Soldier Boy is known as “the original superhero,” who fought in World War II and became “the first super celebrity, and a mainstay of American culture for decades.” Soldier Boy was a member of the team Payback in “The Boys” comics, created by writer Garth Ennis and artist Darick Robertson, and Kripke told Entertainment Weekly, Season 3 will explore “the history of that team and all the members in it.” 4. Will Aya Cash’s Stormfront be back? “She’s not dead. She’s ‘Stumpfront’ now,” Kripke told TheWrap when we asked him this question after the Nazi supe got burned to a not-quite-dead crisp by Ryan (Cameron Crovetti) in the Season 2 finale. “You know, no comment about whether she comes back, but she is forever going to be this kind of mutilated, stubby little Nazi, which we thought was the right punishment for somebody who so believed in Aryan purity. And remember, she ages very slow to age, so she’s got a long time to be living in this messed up state. So I think she richly deserves that.” Also Read: 'The Boys' Producers Dream-Cast '90s Version of Series With 'Saved by the Bell' Stars (Video) 5. What do we know about the plot? Well, Butcher (Karl Urban) is going to be grieving the death of Becca (Shantel VanSanten) — which happened by accident, as the result of Ryan actually trying to save his mother from Stormfront — that’s for sure. “Without talking too much about Season 3, emotionally, the Butcher that we see at the end of this season continues but with a vengeance,” Kripke told TheWrap in October. “He’s at war with himself. There’s a part of him that’s represented by Becca and Hughie (Jack Quaid) and Ryan, there’s like a part of them that just has a humanity. It’s a small part, but it’s a part. And the other part of him is his father, and violence and rage and unprocessed anger. And those two sides of him are really at war in Season 3, because he’s furious. And yet he can’t really be furious at the kid. And so he’s furious at Homelander. So he’s a mess. And those two sides really struggle in season three.” Meanwhile, Hughie is off trying to fight Vought in a safer way by working for the task force headed up by congresswoman Victoria Neuman (Claudia Doumit) — who just so happens to be a supe herself and the one responsible for killing all of those people at the Vought congressional hearings. Also Read: Jensen Ackles Reveals What Dean Winchester and His New 'The Boys' Character Have in Common “Hughie sort of inadvertently is heading into the lion’s den,” Kripke said. “You know, he has this kind of sword hanging over his head as he goes to work at the Federal Bureau of Superhuman Affairs, the FBSA. And, you know, the whole time there’s this tension of who she really is. And sooner or later, he’s gonna discover it, obviously, and we’ll really unpack who she is and why she’s doing what she’s doing. And I think there’s surprises ahead on that.” More recently, Kripke revealed that the season will also include an episode titled “Herogasm,” which covers an infamous plot from the comics. More about that here. 6. Will it release all at once, like Season 1, or roll out weekly, like Season 2? No word on this either, but the switch from Season 1’s all-at-once release to the blended binge/weekly model paid off hugely with an 89% rise in worldwide viewership in Season 2. Not only that, but fellow Amazon Prime series “The Expanse” will be copying that model for its upcoming 5th season. Our guess: Expect a weekly rollout for Season 3. 7. What’s going on with the spinoff? Ahead of “The Boys” Season 2 finale, Amazon fast-tracked development an untitled spinoff series set at a superhero college run by Vought. Kripke told TheWrap the show, which has not been ordered by the streaming service yet, is “loosely inspired” by the comics’ G-Men, a blatant parody of Marvel’s “X-Men” characters. The spinoff series will be executive produced by Kripke, Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, who developed “The Boys” for Amazon, as well as Craig Rosenberg, who is writing the pilot. Read original story Everything We Know About ‘The Boys’ Season 3 – So Far At TheWrap
EntertainmentThe WrapOrion Lee’s Secret to Becoming a Leading Man in ‘First Cow': Take It One Scene at a Time
A version of this story about Orion Lee and “First Cow” first appeared in the Race Begins issue of TheWrap’s awards magazine. In Kelly Reichardt’s masterfully understated “First Cow,” Orion Lee brings gravitas and grace to the role of King-Lu, a Chinese immigrant in 19th-century Oregon who may be a visionary and may be a hustler. As the mastermind of a biscuit-making business with a would-be baker who goes by the name of “Cookie” (John Magaro), Lee’s King-Lu has a quiet answer for everything, except maybe the problem with realizing his dreams in a society that won’t accept him as an equal. For Lee, the role was the biggest in a career that has been spent largely on the stage, and one that he was eager to tackle from the start. “I knew Kelly Reichardt’s work from (the 2013 drama) ‘Night Moves,'” he told TheWrap. “I remember watching that and just thinking, ‘This is amazing. I’ve never seen a slow thriller before.’ I was on the edge of my seat throughout the movie, but there were no explosions, no car chases, no guns. But it was thrilling from start to finish. “And when I read the ‘First Cow’ script and came to the end of it, I wept. The movie does something very special in the way it talks about friendship. When you meet a friend for the first time, it’s not like love at first sight. There’s no fireworks. It’s just something that happens, and then you continue until you reach a certain point.” Also Read: 'First Cow' Film Review: Kelly Reichardt Crafts Another Quiet Masterwork About the Pacific Northwest While Lee has played small roles in movies like “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” and “Justice League,” he had never before played a lead on screen. “At first I was a bit nervous of that,” he said. “It goes to the impostor-syndrome thing. But I knew I could do scenes. I’ve done so many scenes before — audition scenes, scenes in drama school. And so I was like, ‘OK, I’m going to pretend I’m doing a scene and not a full movie.’ It just happens to be this scene and that scene and that scene and that scene, and that adds up to a whole film.” Lee had a couple of weeks of rehearsal with Reichardt and Magaro. “We never really talked about the script or the characters,” he said of building chemistry with Magaro. “We just hung out, really. I think part of the reason it comes across so well on the screen is because we hadn’t worked it out. Every time I got on the set, I was like, ‘Let me listen to Cookie.’ And because of that, it was two characters really listening to each other. “When you’re watching two people listening to each other as opposed to two people talking at each other, that’s beautiful and rare.” In a conversation with Reichardt, Lee said, the veteran indie director told him, “In my movies, I like to exist at the edge of not knowing whether I’ve told this story or not.” Because of his own doubts about playing the role, that advice made sense to him. Also Read: 10 Best Films of 2020, From 'On the Rocks' to 'First Cow' (Photos) “It resonated with me because I wasn’t quite sure whether I was telling the character’s story,” he said. “That gave me the confidence to say, ‘I’m just going to let the story carry the character and let the audience decide who that character is.'” As to whether the attention he’s received for “First Cow” will affect his career going forward, Lee is uncertain. “I’ve definitely had one job where a director has said she saw ‘First Cow’ and loved my voice,” he said. “For the rest, we’ll see.” Then he stopped and laughed. “It’s not that she didn’t like the way I look,” he added. “It’s an animated movie.” Read more from the Race Begins issue here. Photo: TheWrap Read original story Orion Lee’s Secret to Becoming a Leading Man in ‘First Cow': Take It One Scene at a Time At TheWrap
BusinessThe WrapFox News Lays Off Nearly 20 Staffers – Including a Politics Editor
Fox News laid off nearly 20 staffers across Fox News Digital on Tuesday as part of restructuring efforts first announced last year. Included in the layoffs is digital politics editor Chris Stirewalt, who joined the network in 2010 and recently worked on Fox News’ Decision Desk during the 2020 election. “As we conclude the 2020 election cycle, Fox News Digital has realigned its business and reporting structure to meet the demands of this new era,” a Fox News spokesperson said in a statement. “We are confident these changes will ensure the platform continues to deliver breakthrough reporting and insightful analysis surrounding major issues, both stateside and abroad.” Also Read: Fox News Insisted Seth Rich Settlement Stay Secret Until After Presidential Election The spokesperson declined to comment on individuals affected by the layoffs, citing employee confidentiality. All staffers who are included in the layoffs will be given enhanced severance and benefits packages, a person familiar with the matter said. Last September, Fox News instituted layoffs across multiple divisions — notably hair and makeup — as part of the restructuring efforts. The layoffs impacted less than 3% of the total workforce, and no on-air talent were affected. Read original story Fox News Lays Off Nearly 20 Staffers – Including a Politics Editor At TheWrap
NewsThe WrapBeverly Hills Eyelash Store Owner Among 3 Arrested in Capitol Riot Roundup
Three Beverly Hills residents and Trump supporters were arrested Tuesday on federal charges for being part of the mob that stormed the Capitol earlier this month. The arrests included 52-year-old eyelash store owner Gina Michelle Bisignano, who filmed herself during the riot, and gave the cameraman her full name and hometown. Alongside Bisignano, the FBI arrested 37-year-old John Strand and physician Simone Gold, age 55, for attending the riot. Strand described himself as a “communications director” for the Trump support group Beverly Hills Freedom. Gold is a doctor that’s advocated for dangerously untested coronavirus treatments, including hydroxychloroquine, and appeared in front of the Supreme Court last year to protest nationwide pandemic lockdowns. Gold also confirmed to the Washington Post last week that she photographed on the Capitol grounds holding a bullhorn. In several photos, Bisignano is also seen holding a bullhorn and encouraging people to enter the Capitol building through a broken window. “I do not regret being there,” Gold told the Post, though that sentiment might be different now that she’s in federal custody. Also Read: Meghan McCain: On Trump's Last Day in Office, Washington DC 'Might as Well Be Baghdad' (Video) The FBI is now combing through social media for evidence to use in arresting the rioters, and average tech-savvy citizens have taken to social media to help identify people filmed and photographed breaking into the Capitol. So far the agency has opened over 200 case files and arrested over 100 people, including Bisngano, who made their job easy by essentially doxxing herself at the riot Jan. 6. The day of the assault on the Capitol, Bisignano, Gold and Strand recorded several times. The evidence was later circulated on Twitter as part of the community effort to identify the insurrectionists. Bisignano gave the FBI everything they wanted to know in the clip saying, “my name is Gina Bisignano, I’m from Beverly Hills. I’m @Gina.BeverlyHills on Instagram, and they doxxed the s— out of me, they tried to ruin my business, they shut me down.” “I crossed in over there, and they sprayed me in the face,” Bisngano continues in the video, admitting she tried to break into the Capitol. “Jesus is our king, and Trump is our president,” she adds. “I am a patriot.” Also Read: 7 Actors Who've Played Joe Biden on Screen, From Greg Kinnear to Alex Moffat (Photos) It’s unclear exactly who “they” are — Bisignano would have been mandated to close her eyelash shop and salon in Beverly Hills once the pandemic started, so she might be talking about the California government. She also could be referencing online backlash she faced earlier this year after she was caught on camera hurling homophobic and transphobic slurs at a counter-demonstrator during a protest against California’s coronavirus restrictions. “I couldn’t breathe. I was having a panic attack. I needed air,” Bisgnano told the Beverly Hills Courier. “Every time I opened my eyes, they were burning. My mouth was burning. Everything was burning, and I couldn’t breathe.” Bisignano said that the tear gas Capitol Police threw at the crowd caused her to have a panic attack, so she left the Capitol building to “find somewhere safe.” Twitter users were quick to document the irony, and point out that attacking U.S. police usually results in tear gas. “Who knew insurrection – she’s on video yelling ‘we need weapons, we need strong angry patriots’ – would come at a cost,” reporter Robert Lusetich mused. Bisignano, Strand and Gold are expected to make appearances in Los Angeles courts Tuesday afternoon, according to the L.A. Times. Read original story Beverly Hills Eyelash Store Owner Among 3 Arrested in Capitol Riot Roundup At TheWrap
PoliticsThe WrapRandy Rainbow Gives Trump a Cheeky Send-Off in ‘Seasons of Trump’ Parody Song (Video)
If you thought Randy Rainbow had enough restraint to resist giving Donald Trump and his presidency a proper send-off, well, you were wrong. Rainbow released a hilarious new parody video on Tuesday, the very last day in the oval office for this disastrous one-term president, called “Seasons of Trump” — set to the tune of what else but the classic show tune “Seasons of Love” from the Broadway musical “Rent.” “Two million, a hundred two thousand, four hundred minutes, with just one president so unhinged and unfit,” the song begins, sung by a chorus of Randys all in different silly costumes. “How do you measure four years of this s—?” Also Read: Randy Rainbow Celebrates Giuliani's Many Humiliations in New Song 'Rudy the Leaky Lawyer' (Video) He’ll tell you: “In scandals, impeachments, in porn stars, in Scaramuccis, in rallies, in insurrections and flies.” Cue a picture of one of the most joyous moments of Trump’s presidency — when a fly landed on Mike Pence’s head during the vice presidential debate. And, of course, instead of “How about love?” during the chorus, Randy belts out a resounding “How about Trump?… seasons of Trump,” complete with angelic harmonies. And he doesn’t stop there. Also Read: Meghan McCain: On Trump's Last Day in Office, Washington DC 'Might as Well Be Baghdad' (Video) “Two million, a hundred two thousand falsehoods he tweeted, basically 14,976 times he didn’t have a plan. 11,780 votes he said he needed, how do you measure four years with this orange garbage can?” Here’s how: “In Spicers, in Conways, in Sanders, in McEnanies, in fake news, pee tapes, alternative facts. In one thousand four hundred sixty days, but who’s counting? Who could keep track of all the treacherous acts?” So no matter what Trump or his supporters say tomorrow on Inauguration day — and whether Trump even bothers to show up, which is not forecasted — Joe Biden will be sworn in as the next President of the United States of America. Here’s to four or more years — er, seasons — of Biden. Watch Randy Rainbow’s glorious video above. Read original story Randy Rainbow Gives Trump a Cheeky Send-Off in ‘Seasons of Trump’ Parody Song (Video) At TheWrap
BusinessThe WrapNetflix Hits 203 Million Subscribers as Q4 Earnings Fall Short of Wall Street’s Estimates
Netflix has become the first streaming company to cross the 200 million subscriber mark after announcing on Tuesday it added 8.5 million subscribers during the fourth quarter of 2020. The company now has 203.65 million subscribers overall. At the same time, Netflix’s Q4 earnings fell short of Wall Street’s expectations — but investors don’t seem to be sweating it, with the company’s stock price shooting higher in after-hours trading. On the financial side, Netflix reported earnings per share of $1.19, compared to the $1.36 EPS analysts had projected. Revenue of $6.64 billion matched analyst estimates, although its 21.5% year-over-year sales growth fell short of the 30% year-over-year growth Netflix enjoyed during the same period a year earlier. Two key takeaways from Netflix’s letter to shareholders: Netflix said it plans on being cash-flow neutral by the end of 2021 and cash-flow positive every year after. (Netflix said its “very close” to being free cash-flow positive after posting -$138 million net cash flow during Q4.) The company also said “we believe we no longer have a need to raise external financing for our day-to-day operations.” Netflix added it intends to “maintain $10 billion-$15 billion in gross debt” and will “explore” stock buybacks, something the company hasn’t done since 2011. Netflix’s 8.5 million new customers easily tops the 6 million the company — and most analysts — had projected it would add during the quarter. Most of those new viewers came from outside the U.S. and Canada, but Netflix did add another 860,000 domestic subscribers, which was up 56% from the year before. Also Read: 'Bridgerton' Book 2 Focuses on This Bridgerton Sibling's Love Story Investors seemed thrilled at first blush, with Netflix’s stock price jumping 7.15% in after-hours trading to $537 per share. “2020 was an incredibly difficult year with extraordinary loss for so many families, new restrictions that none of us have ever had to live with before and great uncertainty,” Netflix said in a letter to shareholders. “We’re enormously grateful that in these uniquely challenging times we’ve been able to provide our members around the world with a source of escape, connection and joy while continuing to build our business.” Heading into Q4, Netflix had added 28.1 million subscribers during the first three quarters of 2020, which was already more than the company added in all of 2019. The company finished its record-setting year with 37 million new customers joining the fold, thanks in large part to the coronavirus pandemic, which accelerated the streaming revolution by forcing millions of people to stay inside, sitting on their couches. More than 80% of Netflix’s subscriber gains last year came from outside of North America. Top Netflix releases for Q4 included The Queen’s Gambit, which was one of Netflix’s biggest shows ever and helped spark a digital chess revolution, “Bridgerton,” and the return of “The Crown.” It was also the first quarter to reflect the price hikes Netflix implemented in late October, which pushed standard monthly subscriptions to $13.99 in the U.S.; the company’s Premium subscription, its most expensive plan, now costs $17.99 per month. The company will hold a video conference call to discuss its earnings at 3:00 p.m. PT. Read original story Netflix Hits 203 Million Subscribers as Q4 Earnings Fall Short of Wall Street’s Estimates At TheWrap
EntertainmentThe WrapJosh Duhamel in Early Talks to Replace Armie Hammer in JLo Movie ‘Shotgun Wedding’
Josh Duhamel is early in talks to replace Armie Hammer in Lionsgate’s “Shotgun Wedding,” opposite Jennifer Lopez, according to an individual with knowledge of the project. Hammer dropped out the movie amid a social media firestorm about what the actor calls “bulls– claims” about him. “Given the imminent start date of ‘Shotgun Wedding,’ Armie has requested to step away from the film and we support him in his decision,” a production spokesperson said. The role will be recast. Also Read: Armie Hammer Drops Out of JLo Movie 'Shotgun Wedding' Amid 'Bulls-' Social Media Firestorm Hammer’s decision to leave the project came after leaked messages purporting to detail the star’s sex life, including a supposed interested in cannibalism and rape fantasies, surfaced on an Instagram account under the name House of Effie. The actor has flatly disputed the legitimacy of the DMs. “Shotgun Wedding” follows a couple hosting a destination wedding with their lovable but opinionated families, only for the couple to get cold feet and for the entire wedding party to be taken hostage, forcing the couple to save their loved ones before they get at each other’s throats. Mark Hammer and Liz Meriwether wrote the screenplay. Duhamel, best known for starring in the “Transformers” movies is repped by ICM Partners. He recently starred in the series “Jupiter’s Legacy” and “Think Like a Dog.” In July, Saban Films acquired the U.S. rights to Duhamel’s directorial debut, “Buddy Games,” a comedy. Read original story Josh Duhamel in Early Talks to Replace Armie Hammer in JLo Movie ‘Shotgun Wedding’ At TheWrap
PoliticsThe WrapSAG-AFTRA Board Moves to Expel Donald Trump
Impeachment isn’t the only thing Donald Trump could face as he leaves office. On Tuesday, the national board of SAG-AFTRA announced that it will hold a disciplinary hearing against the outgoing president, where he could face expulsion from the actors’ guild. The board made the move to hold the hearing after a request from SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris, who cited the U.S. Capitol attack on Jan. 6 and Trump’s role in inciting the attack as grounds for expulsion. The hearing will be overseen by the guild’s disciplinary committee, which did not participate in the national board’s vote on approving the hearing. Carteris and National Executive Director David White, who submitted the hearing request to the board on Carteris’ behalf, will not participate in the hearing. “Donald Trump attacked the values that this union holds most sacred — democracy, truth, respect for our fellow Americans of all races and faiths and the sanctity of the free press,” said Carteris. “There’s a straight line from his wanton disregard for the truth to the attacks on journalists perpetrated by his followers.” Also Read: Trump Had Lowest Average Approval Rating in Gallup History - Yes, Worse Than Nixon “Our most important role as a union is the protection of our members. The unfortunate truth is, this individual’s words and actions over the past four years have presented actual harm to our broadcast journalist members,” said White. “The board’s resolution addresses this effort to undermine freedom of the press and reaffirms the principles on which our democratic society rests, and which we must all work to protect and preserve.” Trump joined SAG-AFTRA’s predecessors, SAG and AFTRA, in 1989, the same year he appeared in the John Derek film “Ghosts Can’t Do It.” Trump would go on to make cameos in films like “Home Alone 2: Lost In New York,” “The Little Rascals” and “Zoolander.” He also appeared in TV shows like “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” “Spin City” and “Sex in the City” before leaving his biggest mark on pop culture with the reality series “The Apprentice” in 2004. Also Read: Meghan McCain: On Trump's Last Day in Office, Washington DC 'Might as Well Be Baghdad' (Video) As Trump prepares to leave office on Wednesday, he does so as the only president in U.S. history to be impeached twice by the House of Representatives — the second time coming after dozens of his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol in an attack that killed five people. In the articles of impeachment filed against him, House Democrats said that Trump “willfully made statements that, in context, encouraged — and foreseeably resulted in — lawless action at the Capitol.” SAG-AFTRA also condemned the attack in its own statement sent on Jan. 6. “Rioters, emboldened and encouraged by a sitting president and his enablers who have peddled baseless conspiracy theories, stormed the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to subvert democracy,” the guild said. “As a union and a democratic organization, we are appalled by this attack on the values we hold most sacred. The disgraceful scenes coming out of the nation’s capital have undermined America’s institutions and its standing in the world.” Read original story SAG-AFTRA Board Moves to Expel Donald Trump At TheWrap
EntertainmentThe WrapWhy ‘200 Meters’ Director Stripped Politics From Israel-Palestine Drama (Video)
While it may seem impossible to separate politics from any story about the conflict between Israel and Palestine, the director of “200 Meters” Ameen Nayfeh explained why his drama needed to strip away the politics and focus more closely on the relatable, human conflict. “200 Meters” stars Ali Suliman and is the story of a Palestinian father separated from his family on the other side of the wall in the West Bank, and though he’s just 200 meters away from them, he winds up traveling 200 kilometers in a desperate attempt to reach his son after an accident. Nayfeh told TheWrap’s Sharon Waxman as part of the Awards and International Screening series that in earlier drafts of his screenplay, he had included a lot of political discussion, but he was advised over time to stick to the story of this father. “I discovered that I don’t need to talk about the political situation. All I need to talk about is the journey,” Nayfeh said. “I was losing the elements that people already know. I was focusing more on the human story.” Also Read: How 'Arracht' Actor Starved Himself, Then Packed on Weight for Irish Famine Drama (Video) Nayfeh said that the story for “200 Meters” came about because he “lived this separation,” being apart from his family on the Israeli side of the wall after it was initially built. And Nayfeh made a point to clarify that the completed wall in the West Bank is still a fairly recent memory and challenge for many families, as it was only built within the last two decades rather than 50 years ago. “I’ve got bad memories. Because of this situation, it brought a lot of tragedy into my life growing up. And this is not only my story, it’s lots of families,” Nayfeh said. Suliman’s character Mustafa faces the challenge of not having an Israeli ID, something that has become essential for those looking to travel past checkpoints and into cities. Suliman said that in his research for the role and as they were filming on location, he met so many people who said that the drama of “200 Meters” was their exact story that it felt almost like a documentary. “This is something personal to him, and I’ve heard so many stories from real people who have been separated by the wall. Even while we were shooting, normal people were in the streets,” Suliman said. “‘This is my story.’ I heard that from many people who live like that.” Also Read: 'Better Days' Director Says Lead Actress Was Near 'Breaking Down' During Bullying Scenes (Video) Interestingly though, a majority of the supporting cast of “200 Meters” are appearing for the first time on screen and are actually Palestinian, even those portraying Israeli border guards. And to complicate the challenge of shooting this film further, Suliman in one moment of the film hid within the trunk of a car as his character attempts to smuggle himself to the other side of the wall, something that, with three people inside the trunk, including a camera man, made things really difficult to breathe. But the biggest challenge for Suliman remained the human one. “The whole story was really a big challenge for me. It’s not something to take for granted to see a man separated from his family,” Suliman said. “This is the situation, and this is the story of this guy and this journey, just to live his life as normal like anywhere else in the world.” “200 Meters” is Jordan’s official submission into the Best International Feature race for this year’s Oscars. Watch the full conversation with Suliman and Nayfeh above. Read original story Why ‘200 Meters’ Director Stripped Politics From Israel-Palestine Drama (Video) At TheWrap
EntertainmentThe WrapTuesday’s ‘This Is Us’ Pushed Due to ‘Covid-Related Production Delays,’ Dan Fogelman Says
Tonight’s “This Is Us” has been pushed due to “Covid-related production delays,” according to series creator Dan Fogelman. “No new episode of #ThisIsUs tonight – Covid-related production delays in LA have forced us to delay a few weeks,” Fogelman tweeted Tuesday. “But the next few are big ones, and we are close, so we hope you’ll hang in there with us. Sorry!” Tuesday’s episode of “This Is Us,” which is the seventh of Season 5 and was scheduled for 9 p.m. tonight, is now expected to air Feb. 2. Also Read: 'This Is Us' Star Sterling K Brown on Randall's Lake 'Miracle' and What He Might Not Tell Rebecca Representatives for NBC and “This Is Us” studio 20th Television declined TheWrap’s request for comment. 20th Television is one of multiple studios that extended its holiday production hiatuses on Los Angeles-based shows earlier this month amid spikes in coronavirus cases.”This Is Us” was one of the series affected by the studio’s expanded hiatus, and its broadcast schedule has been affected as a result. Last week’s “This Is Us” focused on the backstory of Randall’s (Sterling K. Brown) birth mother, Laurel (Jennifer C. Holmes), and the events that occurred both before and after his biological father, William, thought she had died of an overdose shortly after giving birth to Randall. The hour saw Randall and Beth (Susan Kelechi Watson) go to New Orleans to hear the story from Laurel’s dear friend, Hai (Vien Hong). Also Read: 'This Is Us' Abortion Episode Settles for New Series Lows in Both Demo Ratings and Total Viewers The promo for what would have been tonight’s episode, which aired immediately after last week’s installment, showed Kevin’s (Justin Hartley) car off the road, after it was revealed at the end of the hour Madison (Caitlin Thompson) was in labor and he was rushing home from Vancouver to make it in time for the birth of their twins. Readers can find TheWrap’s interview with Brown about last Tuesday’s episode here and our interview with Holmes about Laurel’s backstory here. See Fogelman’s tweet about this week’s “This Is Us” episode being pushed below. No new episode of #ThisIsUs tonight – Covid-related production delays in LA have forced us to delay a few weeks. But the next few are big ones, and we are close, so we hope you'll hang in there with us. Sorry! — Dan Fogelman (@Dan_Fogelman) January 19, 2021 Read original story Tuesday’s ‘This Is Us’ Pushed Due to ‘Covid-Related Production Delays,’ Dan Fogelman Says At TheWrap
EntertainmentThe WrapCinedigm Acquires Fandor Independent Film Streaming Service
Cinedigm entertainment company has acquired San Francisco-based global independent film subscription service Fandor. Cinedigm said in a statement Tuesday it plans to leverage its library, technology and distribution capabilities to expand Fandor’s content, relaunch the service’s apps and expand distribution of Fandor’s global footprint. Cinedigm plans to relaunch the Fandor service under its banner sometime in the next quarter, Erick Opeka, chief strategy officer and president of Cinedigm networks, told TheWrap. Also Read: CBS All Access to Finally Rebrand as Paramount+ on March 4 The move will help the entertainment company tap into the $4.8 billion global market for independent film. It follows Cinedigm’s acquistion of the streaming service The Film Detective in December 2020, and is a continuation of the Cinedigm’s intention to capture niche audiences, Opeka said, adding that Cinedigm plans “many more to come” of such acquisitions. Opeka said Cinedigm is more interested in capturing niche audiences than general viewers. “A lot of these giant services, take the news of Paramount+ today, focus really on building and generating general entertainment services that are focused on being everything to everyone,” Opeka said. “They are chasing hundreds of millions of viewers…we can do amazing things with (services that have) multi-million and under bases.” Also Read: Fandor Lays Off Entire 40-Person Staff Ahead of Pending Assets Sale Opeka added that independent film fans often have difficulty finding films of interest on massive streaming platforms such as Netflix. He added, “the big guys cream off the top 5% for big general audiences, leaving everything else to be lost in the mix and hard to find,” Opeka said Fandor has 4500-plus title of its own and that Cinedigm plans to draw from around 7,000 in its own library, including thousands of classic, cult and foreign titles from The Film Detective. The company said in a statement that it plans to relaunch “Keyframe,” Fandor’s web and video-based publication exploring the art of cinema. With that many titles “it’s very easy to build a service that always provides you with something to watch,” Opeka said. Read original story Cinedigm Acquires Fandor Independent Film Streaming Service At TheWrap
EntertainmentThe Wrap‘Euphoria’s’ Jules Special to Premiere Early on HBO Max – Watch Trailer Here (Video)
HBO’s “Euphoria” special centered on Jules will launch early on HBO Max ahead of its linear premiere this Sunday. The episode, titled “F*ck Anyone Who’s Not A Sea Blob,” will debut on the WarnerMedia-owned streaming service Friday at 9 p.m. ET/ 6 PT. It will then air Sunday at 9 p.m. ET/PT. This episode is “Euphoria’s” second special, following Dec. 6’s “Trouble Don’t Last Always,” which focused on Zendaya’s Rue at Christmastime. That special also premiered two days early on HBO Max before airing on HBO. Also Read: 'Euphoria' Special Episode Following Jules at Christmas Gets Premiere Date From HBO “Euphoria’s” Jules special was directed by series creator Sam Levinson. The episode follows Jules (played by Hunter Schafer) over the Christmas holiday as she reflects on the year. Watch the trailer for “F*ck Anyone Who’s Not A Sea Blob” to see where we pick up Jules’ story via the video above. Schafer is co-executive producer on the project, which she co-wrote with Levinson. Both this special and the Rue episode were produced under COVID-19 guidelines. Also Read: 'Euphoria' Christmas Episode Reveals What Could Have Been If Rue Had Left With Jules “Euphoria,” which received three Emmys last year, including Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series for Zendaya, is created and written by Levinson, who also serves as executive producer. Other executive producers include Kevin Turen, Ravi Nandan, Zendaya, Drake, Future the Prince, Hadas Mozes Lichtenstein, Ron Leshem, Daphna Levin, Tmira Yardeni, Mirit Toovi, Yoram Mokady and Gary Lennon. Will Greenfield serves as a co-executive producer. The series is produced in partnership with A24 and based on the Israeli series of the same name, which was created by Ron Leshem and Daphna Levin, from HOT. If you need a refresher on what happened in the first “Euphoria” standalone special, you can check out TheWrap’s recap of the Rue-centric episode here. There is no premiere date for Season 2 of “Euphoria” yet, which is one of the dozens of TV series that have faced production delays due to the pandemic. Read original story ‘Euphoria’s’ Jules Special to Premiere Early on HBO Max – Watch Trailer Here (Video) At TheWrap
EntertainmentThe Wrap‘The Lady and the Dale’ Trailer: Meet the Fake Tricycle Car Woman Who Scammed America (Video)
HBO released the trailer for its upcoming documentary series “The Lady and the Dale” on Tuesday, sharing the story of one of America’s long-overlooked scammers. Set to premiere on Sunday, Jan. 31, “The Lady and the Dale” is a four-part documentary series about Elizabeth Carmichael, an entrepreneur who rose to prominence during the 1970s oil crisis by promoting a fuel-efficient three-wheeled vehicle known as The Dale. Per HBO, “Her promotional zeal thrust her into fierce public and media scrutiny which uncovered a web of mystery and suspicion about the car’s technology and her own checkered past.” Also Read: 'Tiger' Directors on Documentary's Powerful Opening Scene That Almost Didn't Happen The series from directors Nick Cammilleri and Zackary Drucker, is described as “a probing exploration of family and identity seen through the lens of the rise and fall of a fearless and wily innovator, an extraordinarily resilient woman and a dedicated parent.” “The Lady and the Dale” will debut with two episodes on Jan. 31, with the final two installments to roll out weekly on HBO and HBO Max. Mark and Jay Duplass, who previously worked with HBO on the scripted anthology series “Room 104,” are executive producers on the project. Read original story ‘The Lady and the Dale’ Trailer: Meet the Fake Tricycle Car Woman Who Scammed America (Video) At TheWrap
EntertainmentThe WrapLuke Wilson, Martin Sheen Drama ’12 Mighty Orphans’ Acquired by Sony Pictures Classics
Sony Pictures Classics has acquired the worldwide distribution rights to the Luke Wilson and Martin Sheen drama “12 Mighty Orphans,” an individual with knowledge of the deal told TheWrap. The film also stars Vinessa Shaw, Wayne Knight, Jake Austin Walker, Treat Williams, Ron White, Scott Haze and Robert Duvall. Ty Roberts is directing. The screenplay is written by Roberts, Lane Garrison and Kevin Meyer, adapted from Jim Dent’s bestselling book of the same name. “12 Mighty Orphans” tells the true story of the Mighty Mites, the football team of a Fort Worth orphanage who, during the Great Depression, went from playing without shoes to competing in the Texas state championships. Also Read: Odessa Young, Colin Firth's 'Mothering Sunday' Acquired by Sony Pictures Classics “There is a reason underdog stories hold so much weight in the popular imagination, and we know the Mighty Mites’ true story of triumph over adversity — set in a time when much of the country was suffering — will lift the spirits of audiences worldwide. We are very excited to work with Ty on what promises to be an emotional and life-affirming film,” Sony Pictures Classics said in a statement. Roberts added: “It is an honor to be working with Sony Classics to bring this inspirational true story to the big screen. The story of Rusty and his underdog Orphans helped pull the country out of the Great Depression, and I know that it will be just as uplifting for audiences today.” Also Read: 'Nine Days' Trailer: Winston Duke Interviews 5 Souls to Give One Life on Earth Producers on the film are Houston Hill and Roberts of Santa Rita Film Co., along with Michael De Luca and Angelique De Luca of Michael De Luca Productions. George M. Young Jr., J. Todd Harris, Rhett Bennett and Greg McCabe executive produced. The deal was negotiated by CAA Global Finance on behalf of Santa Rita Film Co. Variety first reported the news. Read original story Luke Wilson, Martin Sheen Drama ’12 Mighty Orphans’ Acquired by Sony Pictures Classics At TheWrap