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Though he’s made films for theatrical release and the occasional series for a different network or streamer, prolific documentarian Alex Gibney and the HBO nonfiction brand have become borderline synonymous over the past decade. It was almost inevitable that Gibney would, at some point, take the serpent’s tail into his mouth and make a documentary about HBO.

Gibney’s first stab at HBOuroboros is Wise Guy: David Chase and The Sopranos, a documentary that is, per its title, completely self-explanatory. Simultaneously tracing the life of David Chase and the run of his game-changing mob dramedy, the two-parter is a must-watch for fans of The Sopranos — even television critics for whom many of its juiciest details are already established lore.

Especially in its 85-minute second part, which has to cover most of the Sopranos’ stretch after its first season, Wise Guys isn’t always as “definitive” as it wants to be,...

“The Sopranos” was an undeniable game changer for television, but decoding the genius behind the iconic show requires exploring the many sides of its creator, David Chase. Wise Guy lifts the veil on the multifaceted mind that brought Tony and his crew to our screens.

We learn Chase first fathomed “The Sopranos” as a big screen project starring Hollywood heavyweights like Robert De Niro. After television networks passed, it was the edgy upstart HBO who saw its subversive potential. There Chase had the freedom to peel back society’s layers and question what draws us to deeply flawed characters.

That complexity traces back to Chase’s own past. The son of an Italian-American family, he displayed a rebellious streak from his student films onward. Yet frustrations with standard television also pushed him to craft a drama reflective of real human nature in all its moral messiness. Interviewed in Melfi’s office,...

Plot: The series will follow Jason Dessen, a physicist, professor, and family man who — one night while walking home on the streets of Chicago — is abducted into an alternate version of his life. Wonder quickly turns to nightmare when he tries to return to his reality amid the mind-bending landscape of lives he could have lived. In this labyrinth of realities, he embarks on a harrowing journey to get back to his true family and save them from the most terrifying, unbeatable foe imaginable: himself.

Review: Earlier this year, AppleTV+ debuted a series about alternate realities and dueling versions of characters in Constellation. That series carried a heavy science fiction focus that showed how parallel universes can carry paranoid variations on the lives of characters shifting between worlds. Dark Matter mines similar territory but in a far more grounded manner. Using the conceits of the thriller genre, Dark Matter adapts...

Exclusive: Apple’s Invasion is rounding out its Season 3 cast with Ashton Sanders and Eric Lange who will tackle major recurring roles.

As Deadline revealed this week, Erika Alexander will appear as a series regular in the Simon Kinberg and David Weil-created series. In addition to Alexander, the ensemble also includes Golshifteh Farahani, Shioli Kutsuna, Shamier Anderson, India Brown, Billy Barratt, Azhy Robertson, Tara Moayedi, Enver Gjokaj and Shane Zaza.

Invasion follows an alien invasion through different perspectives around the world. Details regarding the Season 3 storyline and who Sanders and Lange will play are under wraps. The first and second seasons are now streaming globally on Apple TV+.

Produced for Apple TV+ by Boat Rocker, the series is created by Kinberg and Weil, who serve as executive producers alongside Audrey Chon, David Witz, Alik Sakharov, Andrew Baldwin, Dan Dietz and Katie O’Connell Marsh.

Exclusive: Coming off a busy award season, Erika Alexander has landed a series regular role in Apple’s Invasion for Season 3. Production is currently underway on the Simon Kinberg and David Weil-created series.

Alexander joins the ensemble cast that includes Golshifteh Farahani, Shioli Kutsuna, Shamier Anderson, India Brown, Billy Barratt, Azhy Robertson, Tara Moayedi, Enver Gjokaj and Shane Zaza.

Invasion follows an alien invasion through different perspectives around the world. Details regarding the Season 3 storyline and who Alexander will play are under wraps. The first and second seasons are now streaming globally on Apple TV+.

Produced for Apple TV+ by Boat Rocker, the series is created by Kinberg and Weil, who also serve as executive producers alongside Audrey Chon, David Witz, Alik Sakharov, Andrew Baldwin, Dan Dietz and Katie O’Connell Marsh. Nick Nantell serves as executive producer for Boat Rocker; Grace Gilroy serves as producer.

Cache Vanderpuye, India Brown and Louis Toghill in ‘Invasion’ season 2 (Photo credit: Apple TV+)

Apple TV+ wants more of the sci-fi thriller Invasion and has picked up the series from Simon Kinberg (the Deadpool films) and David Weil (Hunters) for a third season.

Commenting on the third season renewal order, creator/executive producer Kinberg stated: “I’m so proud of what we’ve been able to do with our first two seasons of the show with our partners at Apple TV+ and our cast and crew. This new season will continue to build on the scale, stakes, and propulsion of the Invasion, while keeping our characters front and center, bringing them together in ways that will hopefully surprise and most importantly move our audience, who have been so incredibly supportive and inspiring since day one.”

Season one premiered in October 2021, followed by season two in August 2023. Season three is expected...

The premiere season of the Apple TV+ series Invasion (read our review Here) started airing in October of 2021 and wrapped up its ten episode run in December of that year. The same week the season finale aired, it was announced that a second season of the show had been ordered. Invasion season 2 finally made its way to the screen in August of 2023 and wrapped up in October. It’s taken them a while, but Apple TV+ has now officially confirmed that they’ve renewed Invasion for season 3. The new batch of episodes are expected to begin filming later this month.

Created by Simon Kinberg and David Weil, Invasion is set across multiple continents and is described as a sweeping, character-driven science fiction drama series that follows an alien invasion through different perspectives around the world. Season 2 picked up 121 days after the invasion started.

The cast includes Golshifteh Farahani, Shioli Kutsuna,...

The Invasion will continue at Apple TV+, which has officially renewed the sprawling sci-fi drama for Season 3, TVLine has learned. Production on the new episodes is slated to begin later this month.

Co-created and executive-produced by Simon Kinberg (of the X-Men and Deadpool films, and The Martian) and David Weil (Hunters, Citadel), the series follows an alien invasion through different perspectives around the world.

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Invasion season 2 continues the story of an alien invasion, focusing on the perspectives of the humans fighting to survive and protect their loved ones. The alien's confusion about their conflict with humanity raises intriguing questions about the true nature of the invasion. The slow burn approach of the series keeps the mysteries surrounding the aliens unsolved, leaving viewers eager to discover more in upcoming episodes.

Screen Rant is excited to share an exclusive clip from the AppleTV+ sci-fi drama Invasion. The first season begins with strange, inexplicable events that leave the world scared and confused. However, when it is revealed that an alien invasion is imminent, things become even more complicated.

Invasion season 2 picks up months after the first, with aliens having invaded and taken control of the planet. The series follows multiple perspectives throughout the alien invasion, focusing not on the alien threat but on the people who are living through it.

Invasion season 2 expands on the show's characters and extraterrestrial lifeforms, making the two-year wait worthwhile. Director Alik Sakharov discusses his involvement in season 2 and the challenges of working during the Covid-19 pandemic. Season 2 of Invasion is filled with energetic action and interesting storylines, promising an exciting and suspenseful viewing experience.

Apple TV+'s sci-fi series Invasion was a big hit for the platform in its first season, and the show is continuing its story in season 2. Invasion's second season expands the scope of the show's characters and extraterrestrial lifeforms greatly, making the nearly two-year wait between seasons well worth it.

In Invasion, mankind finds itself beset with invading aliens, with the show taking the perspective of human characters in all corners of the Earth. Invasion also takes the perspective of the director of each episode, including Alik Sakharov, who directs several episodes of the Simon Kinberg and David Weil-created series.

Season two of Apple TV+’s critically acclaimed sci-fi drama Invasion kicks off on August 23, 2023 with an episode that finds humans doing whatever’s necessary to fight the alien invaders. In this new clip from episode one, it’s revealed that aliens can be killed with fire.

Golshifteh Farahani, Shioli Kutsuna, Shamier Anderson, India Brown, Billy Barratt, Azhy Robertson, Paddy Holland, and Tara Moayedi reprise their roles for season two. Enver Gjokaj, Nedra Marie Taylor, and Naian González Norvind join the fight in season two.

Apple TV+ released this description of season two and of episode one, “Something’s Changed:”

The action-packed second season of Invasion picks up just months after the events of the first season, with the aliens escalating their attacks in an all-out war against the humans. In episode one, Mitsuki is taken to an alien ship in the Amazon jungle. Aneesha and her children take refuge...

One of the best alien invasion shows is returning this week to AppleTV+. It is right up there with some of the best that include The 4400, Colony, Falling Skies and the ultimate, V.

The epic series “Invasion” is set to make its global premiere with the first episode on Wednesday, August 23, 2023. From Academy Award-nominated and two-time Emmy Award-nominated producer Simon Kinberg, who serves as showrunner, and David Weil, “Invasion” is a sweeping, character-driven science fiction drama series that follows an alien invasion through different perspectives around the world.

Check out this new clip.

“Invasion” will debut the first episode of its ten-episode second season on Apple TV+, followed by one new episode weekly, every Wednesday through October 25, 2023.

The action-packed second season of “Invasion” picks up just months later with the aliens escalating their attacks in an all-out war against the humans. The trailer gives a suspenseful sneak peek into the new season,...

Apple TV+ has released the Invasion season two trailer one month out from the premiere of the new season. The two-minute trailer begins by confirming it’s been 121 since the aliens invaded Earth, and the war against the creatures continues. Lives have been lost, sacrifices have been made, and now it appears it’s going to take working together to defeat this invading force.

Returning season one stars include Golshifteh Farahani, Shioli Kutsuna, Shamier Anderson, India Brown, Billy Barratt, Azhy Robertson, Paddy Holland, and Tara Moayedi. Newcomers to the show’s post-apocalyptic world include Enver Gjokaj, Nedra Marie Taylor, and Naian González Norvind.

The critically acclaimed sci-fi series was created by Oscar and Emmy nominee Simon Kinberg and David Weil, with Kinberg serving as showrunner. Kinberg, Weil, Audrey Chon, David Witz, Alik Sakharov, Andrew Baldwin, and Katie O’Connell Marsh executive produce. Boat Rocker produces the series for Apple TV+.

The...

Poster for Apple TV+’s ‘Invasion’ season 2

Apple TV+ has set a Wednesday, August 23, 2023 premiere date for the launch of season two of the critically acclaimed sci-fi series Invasion. The season two date announcement included the first batch of photos from the upcoming 10-episode season.

Created by Oscar nominee Simon Kinberg (The Martian) and David Weil (Citadel), Invasion debuted on October 22, 2021 and wrapped up its 10-episode first season in December 2021. The season two renewal was confirmed just days before the season one finale.

“I couldn’t be more excited about the return of Invasion on Apple TV+,” stated Kinberg. “It’s a bigger, more intense season that drops our viewers into a wide-scale, global battle from the start. At its core, the show is about the power of the human spirit and the emotional connections that hold us together especially when facing incredible obstacles.”

Returning season one stars include Golshifteh Farahani,...

It’s back to the “Futurama!” The trailer has been released for Season 11 of the animated futuristic sitcom. After a decade, the series has defrosted for 10 new episodes which will be added to Hulu on July 24.

Season 11 features “a whole new pandemic in town as the crew explores the future of vaccines, bitcoin, cancel culture, and streaming TV,” said the show’s official synopsis.

New New York will feature the voices of John Dimaggio, Billy West, Katey Sagal, Tress MacNeille, Maurice Lamarche, Lauren Tom, Phil Lamarr and David Herman. “Futurama” was created by Matt Groening and is executive produced by Groening, Cohen, Ken Keeler and Claudia Katz.

Watch the “Futurama” trailer below.

First Looks

Netflix released the “Sweet Magnolias” Season 3 trailer, which will return with 10 episodes on July 20.

Based on Sherryl Woods’ novel of the same name, “Sweet Magnolias” follows around three best friends Maddie (JoAnna Garcia Swisher), Helen (Heather Headley...

Exclusive: Two years after joining Circle of Confusion, Leslie Maskin has been named partner at the management and production company. Two of Maskin’s established director clients recently landed high-profile series gigs: Charlotte Brandstrom was named executive producer for Season 2 of Amazon’s Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, while Alan Taylor joined Season 2 of HBO’s House of the Dragon in the same capacity.

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“Leslie has always played an impactful role in the Entertainment business, specifically helping to build and grow careers for writers and directors, and has continued to do that and more since she joined the company just over two years ago,” the...

There are a whopping 237 submissions for Best Drama Directing on the 2022 Emmys ballot, which will yield seven nominees. As a reminder, last year’s winner was “The Crown” (“War” by Jessica Hobbs) and the other nominees were “Bridgerton” (“Diamond of the First Water” by Julie Anne Robinson), “The Crown” (“Fairytale” by Benjamin Caron), “The Handmaid’s Tale” (“The Wilderness” by Liz Garbus), “The Mandalorian” (“Chapter 9: The Jedi” by Jon Favreau) and “Pose” (“Series Finale” by Steven Canals).

The only eligible returnee out of this bunch is “Bridgerton,” which entered three episodes of its second season for consideration. It may have a harder time getting back in as “Ozark” and “Succession” will be back to reclaim their crowns, having prevailed in 2019 and 2020, respectively. Winner Jason Bateman is back on the ballot for the “Ozark” series finale, after being absent for the third season, and joining him will be his co-star Laura Linney for her directorial debut,...

While Laura Linney could finally nab her first Emmy for playing Wendy Byrde on “Ozark,” there is another way she can be rewarded for the Netflix drama this year: as the director of the fourth and final season’s 11th episode, “Pound of Flesh and Still Kickin’.” If submitted for this effort, her directorial debut, Linney could pull off a victory in a similar fashion to her co-star and onscreen hubby Jason Bateman, who still hasn’t earned an acting Emmy for the show but won directing when no one expected it in 2019.

Bateman was all the way down in sixth place in our odds when he won for the Season 2 opener, “Reparations.” But in retrospect, we shouldn’t have underestimated the eventual champ, who had built a ton of goodwill as one of the show’s stars, executive producers and main directors. By that point, he had directed six...

Exclusive: UTA partner and veteran TV lit agent Leslie Maskin is leaving the agency after 27 years to transition to management. She is joining Circle of Confusion where she will start at the top of the new year.

Maskin is among the longest-tenured agents at UTA, which she joined in 1993, two years after its launch. She built the company’s formidable television director department — now a part of the larger TV literary department — representing such clients as Alan Taylor, Daniel Minahan, Clark Johnson, Alik Sakharov and Maria Schrader (Unorthodox). Additionally, Maskin represents the Oscar and Emmy-winning producer Mark Johnson, the multi-Emmy award winning producer Gregg Fienberg and a number of TV writers/showrunners.

“Over the past 27 years, Leslie has played an impactful role in our television group, specifically helping build our TV...

Last night, the 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards were held, obviously under much different circumstances than normal. Conducted virtually, it was a sign of the Covid-19 times, but more or less went off without a hitch. Plus, as a general rule, people seem rather pleased with the winners. There was Schitt’s Creek pulling a sweep and becoming the first ever series to win every major comedy award in a year, including of course Best Comedy Series. There was Succession taking Best Drama Series, while Watchmen expectedly dominated the Best Limited Series field. Plus, there were even surprises, like Zendaya pulling an upset win for Best Actress in a Drama Series (for Euphoria). Overall, it seemed like a night of celebrations, which we’ve definitely needed in a big way… Here are all of your Emmy winners for 2020: Drama Series “Better Call Saul” (AMC) “The Crown” (Netflix) “The Handmaid’s Tale” (Hulu...

Here we go, people.

We have the entire list of nominees and winners for the 2020 Emmy Awards.

Find out who got a prize!

Outstanding Actress, Comed

Winner: Catherine O’Hara, Schitt’s Creek

Tracee Ellis Ross, Black-ish

Christina Applegate, Dead to Me

Linda Cardellini, Dead to Me

Issa Rae, Insecure

Rachel Brosnahan, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Actor, Comedy

Winner: Eugene Levy, Schitt’s Creek

Anthony Anderson, Black-ish

Don Cheadle, Black Monday

Ted Danson, The Good Place

Michael Douglas, The Kominsky Method

Ramy Youssef, Ramy

Outstanding Supporting Actor, Comedy

Winner: Dan Levy, Schitt’s Creek

Mahershala Ali, Ramy

Alan Arkin, The Kominsky Method

Andre Braugher, Brooklyn Nine-Nine Sterling K. Brown, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

William Jackson Harper, The Good Place

Tony Shalhoub, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Kenan Thompson, Saturday Night Live

Outstanding Supporting Actress, Comedy

Winner: Annie Murphy, Schitt’s Creek

Betty Gilpin, Glow

D’Arcy Carden, The Good Place

Yvonne Orji, Insecure

Alex Borstein,...

The people posting in our infamous forums, many of whom are Hollywood insiders who shield their true identities as if they were on “The Masked Singer,” were engrossed in judging Sunday’s Emmys. As you can see from the sampling of comments below, they didn’t hold anything back when reacting to the victors (and the defeated) during the Emmy Awards ceremony which aired live across the country on ABC.

Below, you can take a look at a sampling of the praise and pointed criticism that was leveled at this year’s results in the seven categories devoted to drama series. Read more and have your say here.

See 2020 Emmy winners: Full list in all 23 categories at the 72nd annual Primetime Emmy Awards [Updating Live]

Best Drama Series

“Better Call Saul”

“The Crown”

“The Handmaid’s Tale”

“Killing Eve”

“The Mandalorian”

“Ozark”

“Stranger Things”

X — “Succession”

William Gillquist: I can go to sleep tonight a happy man.

Are you beloved CBC comedy Schitt’s Creek? Well then congrats, my friend, because you just had a hell of a night at the 2020 Emmy Awards!

Domination was the name of the game for the 72nd annual Emmy Awards, with only a handful of shows claiming the lion’s share of trophies in their respective genres. But among those dominant performers, no series was more overpowering than Schitt’s Creek in its final season. The Eugene and Dan Levy-created series went an astonishing seven-for-seven, winning in every category it was nominated in (becoming the first show ever to do so). This included all four acting categories, one writing category, one directing category, and the big one: Outstanding Comedy Series.

Following Schitt’s Creek rampage, Watchmen took over the proceedings for a bit. HBO’s latest limited series hit perhaps wasn’t as dominant as initially suspected, losing out on two acting categories...

After a most unconventional awards season, the Emmys finally took place on Sunday. The 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards was a night of numerous firsts.

“Schitt’s Creek” became the first series to win every major comedy award. “Watchmen’s” limited series win marked the first time a comic-book adaptation has taken home a top prize at the ceremony. Zendaya also made history with her win for lead drama actress, becoming the youngest-ever winner in the category (she turned 24 a few weeks ago) and being the first Black actor to take this trophy since “How to Get Away With Murder’s” Viola Davis in 2015.

The two series, along with “Succession,” dominated the comedy, limited series and drama fields, respectively, including nabbing the three top outstanding series trophies.

The show, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, was held virtually for the first time.

Here’s the full winners list:

Drama Series

“Better Call Saul” (AMC...

For the first time in recent memory, the Emmys has been a weeklong affair. Historically, the annual TV awards are given out on consecutive weekends, with Creative Arts Emmys bestowed before the nationally televised primetime celebration. This week, we’ve already seen multiple nights of Emmys, with five sets of nominees and winners taking center stage between Monday and Saturday.

Six months of virtual campaigning and a near-complete lack of traditional FYC events meant that the ceremonies weren’t the only thing that would be unpredictable this year. Predicting potential winners is the hardest it’s ever been, but we at least know that the festivities will conclude tonight with the Jimmy Kimmel-hosted Primetime Emmy telecast on Sunday evening.

The preceding week of hardware — given out as part of ceremonies hosted by Nicole Byer, streamed through the Emmys website during the week and broadcast on Fxx Saturday night — has...

The 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards take place on Sunday, September 20 and will air live coast-to-coast on ABC. Jimmy Kimmel will host this virtual ceremony. While he and most of the presenters will be seen onstage at the Microsoft Theater in downtown Los Angeles, the nominees will be beaming in from around the world. Over the course of a jam-packed three hours, 23 awards will be handed out. Check out the 2020 Emmy winners list below.

While that is just one award shy of the total number of Oscars and Tonys, it represents only about a fifth of the 123 categories at the Emmys. The bulk of these — 100 in all — were bestowed at the five Creative Arts Emmy Awards ceremonies earlier this week.

Last year’s big Emmy winners were HBO’s “Game of Thrones” for Best Drama Series and Amazon’s “Fleabag” for Best Comedy Series. As both of them finished their runs last year,...

There are a record eight nominees for Best Drama Directing at the Emmy Awards this year. Gold Derby spoke with each of them this summer; click the links below to watch the full video interviews. Here is what they had to say about the specific episodes of “The Crown,” “Homeland,” “The Morning Show,” “Ozark” and “Succession” that are attached to their nominations:

Benjamin Caron (“The Crown” season 3): “Aberfan”

“It’s my best work — hands-down the best piece of directing work I’ve ever done in my career. It stands alone and I’m most proud of it. […] All the performances in ‘Aberfan’ are exemplary and Olivia [Colman]’s queen disassembles before our eyes throughout the film. Olivia naturally and understandably had a very emotional reaction to the script. We had to find imaginative ways to mitigate her real upset.”

Jessica Hobbs (“The Crown” season 3): “Cri de Coeur”

“I particularly related to Margaret‘s story.

The 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards take place on Sunday, September 20 and air air live coast-to-coast on ABC beginning at 5 p.m Pt/8 p.m. Et. Jimmy Kimmel will host this virtual ceremony. While he and most of the presenters will be seen onstage at the Microsoft Theater in downtown Los Angeles, the nominees will be beaming in from around the world. Over the course of a jam-packed three hours, 23 awards will be handed out.

While that is just one award shy of the total number of Oscars and Tonys, it represents only about a fifth of the 123 categories at the Emmys. The bulk of these — 100 in all — were bestowed at the five Creative Arts Emmy Awards ceremonies earlier this week.

Last year’s big Emmy winners were HBO’s “Game of Thrones” for Best Drama Series and Amazon’s “Fleabag” for Best Comedy Series. As both of them finished their runs last year,...

The virtual 72nd annual Primetime Emmys are being handed out in Los Angeles tonight (September 20).

HBO’s Watchmen leads the field on 26 nominations. The show has already won seven from the Creative Emmys awards and is currently tied with The Mandalorian from Disney+.

HBO and Netflix shows have won 19 awards each heading into Sunday. Netflix earned a record 160 nods.

Key winners will appear in bold after the ceremony.

Toronto 2019 acquisition Bad Education starring Hugh Jackman won the television movie category on Saturday (September 19) and The Apollo won documentary or non-fiction special in Creative Emmy awards announced last week.

The ceremony...

“Schitt’s Creek” is the big winner at the 17th Annual Gold Derby TV Awards honoring the best television that aired during the June 2019 through May 2020 season. And not only did it win, it achieved a remarkable sweep. Watch our video announcement above, and scroll down to see who won in all 30 categories decided by more than 2,000 registered users, who are some of the best informed TV fans on the web.

The Pop TV comedy was nominated nine times and won six: Best Comedy Series, Best Comedy Episode for the series finale “Happy Ending” and an unprecedented sweep of the four main comedy acting races for lead stars Eugene Levy and Catherine O’Hara and supporting players Dan Levy and Annie Murphy. It only lost two categories it was nominated in: Dustin Milligan was nominated for Best Comedy Guest Actor but our users picked Eddie Murphy (“Saturday Night Live”). And “Succession” bested...

A cinematographer who would become one of TV’s most respected directors, Alik Sakharov has had the privilege of watching the entire trajectory of TV’s Golden Age unfold before his very eyes.

Shooting 38 episodes of The Sopranos over the course of its run, including its pilot and finale, Sakharov was subsequently entrusted with myriad prestige dramas and the antiheroes at their center, directing on such shows as Boardwalk Empire, The Americans, House of Cards and Game of Thrones.

Winning an Emmy in 2007 for the cinematography of Rome, Sakharov earned his first nod as a director just this year, for his work on Season 3 of Netflix crime drama Ozark.

Created by Bill Dubuque and Mark Williams, Ozark centers on Wendy (Laura Linney) and Marty Byrde (Jason Bateman), a married couple who are forced to move their family to the Ozarks, when a money-laundering scheme goes awry. The drama’s third...

“We are booking and scheduling our directors now,” reveals Jason Bateman about progress on the final season of Netflix’s “Ozark” in his exclusive interview with Gold Derby (watch the video above). He explains, “I was supposed to do — as I always do — the first two episodes, but as we started to get into looking at the protocols and the guidelines for Covid, I realized that as a producer, it probably wouldn’t be smart to have the actor also directing because as a director, you’re exposed to location scouting and production meetings and all of these opportunities to become sick.” Bateman qualifies about returning in the future to the director’s chair later into production, “Directing the finale of the show would be something I’d really love to do obviously, so I’m thinking about that, but looks like I’m going to be directing something right...

“You don’t want to spit in your own water and that’s exactly what she did,” says Julia Garner about her “Ozark” character Ruth Langmore. The actress explains in her exclusive interview with Gold Derby (watch the video above) that “Ruth was trying to be something that’s she’s not” by associating with the Byrde family over the three existing seasons of the show on Netflix. “Ruth really grew up this season,” concludes Garner, noting that her character’s “theme” in the third season is “identity.”

SEEour interview with “Ozark” director Alik Sakharov.

“Ozark” has 18 Emmy nominations this year, including Best Drama Supporting Actress for Garner, who won that award last year. Garner has submitted the episode titled “In Case of Emergency” for consideration from the third season. She relates this selection back to Ruth’s evolving relationship with the Byrdes, “That’s the transition episode from the...

Not only has the Covid-19 pandemic upended the entertainment business, it also put a sudden dent in what had been a more straight-ahead race to Emmy glory this year. A year ago, “Succession” Season 2 launched right in the middle of voting, and quickly turned into a phenomenon. The “Succession” buzz was so loud that pundits were already predicting a 2020 Emmy win for the show — even though the 2019 race, which featured a drama nomination for the show’s first season, hadn’t even been determined. The assumption, of course, was that Season 3 of the show would again premiere in the August voting window, and make so much noise that a win would be all but a foregone conclusion.

But then coronavirus happened, slamming the brakes on production and leaving “Succession” without a new season off of which to drift. Now, with the drama series category expanded to eight contenders, the race is a bit more compelling.

“For him not to be nominated is a crime — I don’t know how that happens,” says “Ozark” director Alik Sakharov about the Best Drama Supporting Actor snub of Tom Pelphrey at the Emmys. He laughs, “I feel pretty upset, I have to say.” Sakharov’s Best Drama Directing nomination, which numbers among the 18 for “Ozark” this year, recognizes his work specifically on the penultimate episode, which hinges on Pelphrey’s “superb” and “choke-inducing” performance as the bipolar Ben Davis. Sakharov continues, “It was a compendium on acting, on the ability to inhabit the character so, so well — so deeply, you just don’t feel like the person is acting. You feel like he’s living the role and you feel like he is that person.”

After guest-directing a pair of episodes last season, Sakharov returned to “Ozark” to direct the last four episodes of the third season, with an...

Change and growth play pivotal roles in Season 3 of Netflix’s original series “Ozark.” The show, recently renewed for a fourth and final season, features a divergence from its signature color palette as well as moments of integral character development or termination.

Members of the “Ozark” cast and crew joined Variety‘s Marc Malkin in the Variety Streaming Room to discuss how Season 3 saw shifts within the series’ characters and production. Actors Laura Linney, Julia Garner and Jason Bateman, who also executive produces the show and has directed several episodes, were joined by showrunner, writer and executive producer Chris Mundy, director Alik Sakharov, cinematographer Armando Salas and production designer David Bomba.

The show follows Marty (Bateman) and Wendy Byrde (Linney), a married couple that moves their family to Missouri to set up a large money laundering operation. They soon get mixed up in a dark world of criminal happenings and...

The stars and artisans of Netflix’s “Unorthodox” and “Ozark” will come together for two exclusive virtual screening and Q&a events in the Variety Streaming Room on August 12 and 13, respectively, at 4 p.m. Pt/7 p.m. Et.

“Unorthodox” star Shira Haas, executive producer/showrunner/writer Anna Winger, director Maria Schrader, casting director Esther Kling and costume designer Justine Seymour will discuss behind-the-scenes stories and favorite moments from the premiere season following a screening of the first episode.

“Ozark,” executive producer/showrunner/writer Chris Mundy, star and executive producer Jason Bateman, stars Laura Linney and Julia Garner, director Alik Sakharov, cinematographer Armando Salas and production designer David Bomba will participate in a roundtable panel discussion surrounding the third season.

The Variety Streaming Room is dedicated to presenting virtual conversations that span private screenings of upcoming projects in film and TV, exclusive Q&As with creators and talent and relevant B...

Jason Bateman won Best Drama Directing for “Ozark” last year, but was not even on that ballot for its third season this year. Bateman instead appeared on the Best Drama Directing ballot for the pilot of “The Outsider,” the new drama that brought in big ratings for HBO, but came up short for Emmy nominations. He gave up an easy nomination by not continuing to submit in the race for “Ozark,” a curious slight against a show that is perceived to be his baby, given his additional roles as its lead actor and executive producer. But by stepping aside, Bateman has shifted the focus to the others Netflix submitted in his place for “Ozark” in the Best Drama Directing race.

SEEthe list of 2020 Emmy nominations in major categories.

“Ozark” is now nominated there for the work by fellow producing director Alik Sakharov, as well as camera operator Ben Semanoff, who...

Nominees include ‘Succession’, ‘Ozark’.

Streaming giant Netflix leads the nominations for the 72nd Emmy awards ahead of rival HBO.

The nominations, announced on Tuesday (July 28), revealed that Netflix had scored 160 nods, putting distance between the streaming giant and cable network HBO, which racked up 107 nominations.

However, HBO’s limited series Watchmen secured 26 nods, making it the most nominated programme.

The leading dramas were HBO’s Succession and Netflix’s Ozark, which both scored 18 nominations.

It marks the second year that Netflix has edged in front of HBO, after receiving 112 nominations in 2018 to HBO’s 108.

Final-round voting for the Emmys runs...

The Emmy Awards ballot for Best Drama Directing lists 295 episodes (from 156 series), so there will eight nominees in this category for the first time, per new rules. Although this category never had a guaranteed seven slots, close votes resulted in lineups of seven nominees in six of the last 15 years, including last year:

“Game of Thrones” season 8: “The Iron Throne” (David Benioff & D.B. Weiss) “Game of Thrones” season 8: “The Last of the Starks” (David Nutter) “Game of Thrones” season 8: “The Long Night” (Miguel Sapochnik) “The Handmaid’s Tale” season 2B: “Holly” (Daina Reid) “Killing Eve” season 2: “Desperate Times” (Lisa Brühlmann) Winner — “Ozark” season 2: “Reparations” (Jason Bateman) “Succession” season 1: “Celebration” (Adam McKay)

Although Jason Bateman returned as a director on “Ozark” for its third season, he cannot repeat his win, as he is instead submitting the pilot of “The Outsider,” which is next to “Ozark” on the long ballot.

Right about now during a typical Emmy season, Netflix would be showcasing their Fysee space, a massive takeover of the Raleigh Studios in Hollywood, CA, featuring set pieces and props from their wide variety of shows. But this is far from a typical Emmy season, as the coronavirus pandemic has forced networks to become a little creative in how they run their Fyc events. So the streaming service that has specialized in keeping viewers at home is doing the same for their awards campaign.

See Tom Pelphrey Interview: ‘Ozark’

With Fysee TV, Netflix is bringing everything you love about their exhibition space — the screenings, the Q&As and yes, even the food — straight to the living rooms of Emmy voters. Fans of “The Crown,” “Ozark,” “Dead to Me,” “#blackaf,” “Unbelievable,” “Queer Eye” and more will be treated to the same behind-the-scenes footage and panel discussions they love while staying socially distanced.

Netflix has released the trailer for its hotly anticipated eight-episode series “The Witcher,” which the streaming giant will drop Dec. 20. The fantasy- and magic-laden show stars Henry Cavill as monster hunter Geralt of Rivia, Freya Allan as the young princess Ciri, and Anya Chalotra as sorceress Yennefer.

Variety spoke exclusively at Italy’s Lucca Comics & Games confab with Lauren Schmidt Hissrich, the show’s executive producer and showrunner, about the challenges of adapting the “Witcher” books by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski, which have already spawned a popular role-playing game series.

Can you tell me how you set up the narrative for the first season?

For me the overall theme of the books, as I read them, was really about this broken family at the center of it, which is Geralt of Rivia, Ciri and Yennefer. They are tied together by destiny; they are all orphans in the world, kind of loners.

A new photo from the set of Netlfix’s highly anticipated fantasy series The Witcher has surfaced and it features Henry Cavill as Geralt of Rivia.

Geralt of Rivia is a solitary monster hunter, who "struggles to find his place in a world where people often prove more wicked than beasts. But when destiny hurtles him toward a powerful sorceress, and a young princess with a dangerous secret, the three must learn to navigate the increasingly volatile Continent together."

While it’s cool to see images like this, I can’t wait to see some actual footage from the series. I just hope that it turns out as good as I’m imagining it in my mind. Here’s a brief synopsis that was released for the show, which also stars Freya Allan, Jodhi May (Queen Calanthe), and Adam Levy (Mousesack).

"When destiny hurtles [Geralt] toward a powerful sorceress, and a...

Notables including Alfonso Cuaron, Christopher Nolan and George Clooney add names to open letter.

Industry opposition to the Us Academy’s plan to present four Oscars during commercial breaks in this year’s Academy Awards telecast appears to be growing fast.

On Thursday (Feb 14), industry notables including Alfonso Cuaron, Christopher Nolan, George Clooney, Kate Winslet, Robert De Niro and David Heyman added their names to the list of signatories to an open letter protesting the plan, which would affect the Oscar presentations in the cinematography, film editing, live action short and makeup and hairstyling categories.

At least two trade organisations,...

Notables including Alfonso Cuaron, Christopher Nolan and George Clooney add names to open letter.

Industry opposition to the Us Academy’s plan to present four Oscars during commercial breaks in this year’s Academy Awards telecast appears to be growing fast.

On Thursday (14), industry notables including Alfonso Cuaron, Christopher Nolan, George Clooney, Kate Winslet, Robert De Niro and David Heyman added their names to the list of signatories to an open letter protesting the plan, which would affect the Oscar presentations in the cinematography, film editing, live action short and makeup and hairstyling categories.

At least two trade organisations, meanwhile,...

According to a recent report, Netflix is “very happy” with The Witcher series that is currently being developed by Lauren Schmidt Hissrich. In fact, they are reportedly so happy with it that they are already looking at greenlighting multiple seasons!

The news comes from Kc Walsh of Geeks WorldWide, who has a history of sharing reliable Dceu insider information. He says:

Sounds like @Netflix is very happy with #TheWitcher and we could see multiple seasons greenlit before season one airs or shortly after. Meaning Cavill’s schedule could be full for a while and more evidence Superman is behind him pic.twitter.com/DSnFjhAjrF

— Kc Walsh (@TheComixKid) December 19, 2018

If this is the case, Henry Cavill, who is playing Geralt in the series, is about to have a really busy schedule. We got our first look at Cavill as Geralt a couple months ago, and it was met with mixed reactions from the fans.

Paul Auster on Smoke, Blue In The Face, and Lulu On The Bridge star Harvey Keitel: "I loved working with Harvey." Photo: Anne-Katrin Titze

In the first instalment of my conversation with author, screenwriter, and director Paul Auster at his home he discusses the performances of Willem Dafoe, Mira Sorvino, and Harvey Keitel in Lulu On The Bridge, Wings Of Desire, and his friendship with Wim Wenders. We touch on Louise Brooks and Vanessa Redgrave, Frank Wedekind's Earth Spirit and Pandora's Box, Arnaud Desplechin's view of Marion Cotillard’s character in Ismael's Ghosts, Hilma af Klint, and Ernst Lubitsch's Heaven Can Wait.

Paul Auster on Willem Dafoe: "Willem is an ambiguous character, Van Horn is. I never thought of him as the devil, though. He's more like St. Peter." Photo: Anne-Katrin Titze

Lulu on the Bridge, shot by Alik Sakharov (The Sopranos), edited by Tim Squyres,...

Henry Cavill, is that you?

Netflix has unveiled the first look at the upcoming TV series, The Witcher, an adaptation of Andrzej Sapkowski’s fantasy novels.

The first look comes in the form of the show's leading man as Geralt Of Rivia, and we think it's fair to say that Cavill had to spend a lot of time in hair and make-up.

Have a look at the first photo from the production below.

"Based on the best-selling fantasy series, The Witcher is an epic tale of fate and family. Geralt of Rivia (Cavill), a solitary monster hunter, struggles to find his place in a world where people often prove more wicked than beasts," reads the official logline.

"But when destiny hurtles him toward a powerful sorceress, and a young princess with a dangerous secret, the three must learn to navigate the increasingly volatile Continent together."

Related: Henry Cavill To Star...

Netflix has shared a promo video for The Witcher giving fans their first look at Henry Cavill in the lead role of Geralt! He looks great in the role and pretty much what I expected him to look like… Henry Cavill with long silver hair. Check out the video below!

Get your first look at Henry Cavill in The Witcher! pic.twitter.com/1O2eWS1MkP

— Netflix Us (@netflix) October 31, 2018

Geralt of Rivia is a solitary monster hunter, who "struggles to find his place in a world where people often prove more wicked than beasts. But when destiny hurtles him toward a powerful sorceress, and a young princess with a dangerous secret, the three must learn to navigate the increasingly volatile Continent together."

Lauren Schmidt Hissrich is the executive producer and showrunner on the series and she's done a great job keeping fans updated on the development of the series.

Paul Auster on the beginning of ending up directing Lulu On The Bridge: "My good friend Wim Wenders, who gets a credit here, he said he had been working with Juliette Binoche, talking for years about a project to do Lulu, somehow." Photo: Anne-Katrin Titze

Paul Auster's Lulu On The Bridge, shot by Alik Sakharov (The Sopranos), edited by Tim Squyres, and costumes by Adelle Lutz, stars Harvey Keitel and Mira Sorvino with Willem Dafoe, Gina Gershon, Mandy Patinkin, Vanessa Redgrave, Richard Edson, Don Byron, Victor Argo, Kevin Corrigan, Sophie Auster (Paul and Siri Hustvedt's daughter), and has scene stealing cameos by Lou Reed and David Byrne.

Lulu On The Bridge and The Inner Life Of Martin Frost in Paul Auster x 2

At Metrograph's screening of a 35mm print on loan from MoMA, attended by Tim Squyres, who is also Ang Lee's incredibly longtime editor, Paul Auster...