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The Producers Guild of America has unveiled the first round of speakers for the 2025 Produced By Conference, held May 31 at the Universal Studios Lot in Los Angeles. The Produced By Conference, which features sessions with top producers across film, TV, and emerging media, will also feature sessions dedicated to AI “from a producer’s perspective.”

“This year’s Produced By Conference will ignite meaningful dialogue around some of the most relevant and complex topics that affect our industry and the future of our profession,” said PGA presidents Stephanie Allain and Donald De Line. Confirmed speakers to date include: Blumhouse President Abhijay Prakash, “The Brutalist” producer Andrew Morrison, Asteria co-founder/CEO Bryn Mooser, Promise co-founder/CEO George Strompolos and industry advisor Barbara Ford Grant.

Other producers set to speak include Carolyn Strauss and Carter Swan (“The Last of Us”), Christine D’Souza Gelb (“Babygirl”), David W. Zucker (“Dope Thief”), Erik Oleson (“The Bondsman...

Prestige International Pictures, a film sales, financing and production company, will be launching at the Marché du Film during the Cannes Film Festival. The company will be headed by sales industry veteran Carlos Rincon as the president and co-founder. Prestige will be announcing its Cannes slate in the coming days.

Joining Rincon at Prestige as partners and co-founders are producers Chris Lemos, Luis Guerrero, William Knochel and Brad Friedlander of Vital Pictures.

Prestige describes itself as being a distribution company “by filmmakers, for filmmakers” as the producing founders have “lived through all the experiences and challenges that filmmakers face while seeking distribution for their film,” according to a statement. In addition to representing third-party content, Prestige will also represent Vital’s slate of in-house titles.

The company will be based on the West Coast (Los Angeles) and East Coast (Atlanta) to “further enhance relationships with filmmakers on both coasts.”

Previously,...

Greg Berlanti is getting back into the writers room.

The mega-producer has three projects, at three different streamers, in various stages of development — including a series order for Stillwater, based on the horror comic of the same name, at Amazon’s Prime Video. Berlanti is also developing a high school mystery series at Hulu and a family drama at Max.

All three projects come from Warner Bros. TV, where Berlanti has a rich overall deal and has been his studio home for most of his career.

Stillwater and the Hulu project, Foster Dade, will also mark Berlanti’s first teleplay credits in several years. While the prolific producer has a “developed by” or creator credit on many of the shows his eponymous company has produced — including most of The CW’s Arrow-verse series — he hasn’t had a writing credit since the early days of You, which is now wrapping its run on Netflx.

Greg Berlanti has set up multiple projects across multiple streamers on which he will serve as co-writer, Variety has confirmed.

Although Berlanti remains one of the most prolific producers in Hollywood via his Warner Bros. TV-based Berlanti Productions, the most recent show on which he was credited as a writer was “Superman & Lois,” which debuted in 2021.

First up, Berlanti and Carly Wray are set as writers and executive producers on the horror thriller “Stillwater,” based on the Skybound comic book of the same name by Chip Zdarsky and Ramon K. Perez.

The official logline for the show states, “When ex-con Daniel West receives a mysterious letter promising answers about his past and a substantial inheritance in the small town of Stillwater, he discovers a community where nothing ever ages, no one ever dies, and nobody ever gets out.”

Executive producing for Skybound Entertainment are Robert Kirkman, David Alpert, Rick Jacobs,...

Exclusive: How is this for continuity — as the last of the current series created/co-created by Greg Berlanti, You, is topping Netflix’s charts with its just-released final season, he is readying his next series — next three, that is, including Stillwater, which has been picked up by Amazon. Focusing on development and returning to writing over the past several months, Berlanti has set up the three high-profile new projects — all co-written by him — through Berlanti Prods. and Warner Bros. Television, where the company is based.

In a bidding war, Amazon has landed mind-bending horror thriller Stillwater, based on the Skybound comic book series by Chip Zdarsky and Ramon K. Perez, with a series order. Berlanti and Carly Wray (Watchmen) are adapting, with Skybound Entertainment (The Walking Dead) producing.

Hulu had bought spec script Foster Dade, written by Berlanti and Bash Doran (Life After Life), which is being fast-tracked for a pilot order,...

The 2025 Producers Guild Awards were presented at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles on Saturday night.

The films competing for the guild’s top film prize, the Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures, included Anora, The Brutalist, A Complete Unknown, Conclave, Dune: Part Two, Emilia Pérez, A Real Pain, September 5, The Substance and Wicked, with Anora ultimately taking home the honor.

Throughout the ceremony, the films nominated for the top award were highlighted by castmembers. Wicked stars Ariana Grande and Jeff Goldblum presented a reel of their film, while Peter Sarsgaard and John Magaro presented a look at September 5. A Real Pain star Jennifer Grey presented the reel for her film, where she costars with Jesse Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin.

Elle Fanning and Boyd Holbrook later took the stage to honor their film A Complete Unknown, before Josh Brolin honored his film Dune: Part Two.

At the top of Saturday night’s PGA Awards, the guild’s co-president Donald De Line made a plea to industry suits in the room to keep production in Los Angeles following the devastating wildfires.

“Now more than ever it’s important that we gather together having just endured the most devastating fires in the history of LA. Sadly many of our members were profoundly affected,” De Line told attendees at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Century City.

“Critical to rebuilding our city is bringing jobs back,” said the Ready Player One and Italian Job producer.

“We are beseeching studios, streamers, financiers, please help bring production back to Los Angeles,” he continued. “The movie business made Los Angeles and now it’s time for Los Angeles to make movies again.”

PGA president Stephanie Allain told the room that the guild established a fund for those who’ve been displaced, having...

The Producers Guild of America Awards brought some clarity for the upcoming Oscars race as “Anora” took the evening’s top prize after it also won the top DGA prize for director Sean Baker just a few moments earlier as well as the Critics Choice award on Friday.

DreamWorks’ “The Wild Robot” gained momentum by earning the PGA animated film prize, while “Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story,” which missed out on the Academy Awards shortlist, took home the PGA prize for Outstanding Producer of Documentary Motion Picture.

On the television side, “Hacks” followed up its strong showing from Friday’s Critics Choice Awards, landing the Danny Thomas Award for Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television – Comedy. Meanwhile, Netflix’s “Baby Reindeer” landed the David L. Wolper Award for Outstanding Producer of Limited or Anthology Series Television. Other TV winners include “Saturday Night Live” in the Live Entertainment, Variety, Sketch, Standup & Talk...

Exclusive: Positioned just before the final voting begins for the Best Picture Academy Award, the Producers Guild Awards long have been an important indicator of what’s to come. Aside from evaluating who is eligible to accept the top Oscar, the PGA navigates industry turbulence on behalf of those producers who are the catalysts for films and TV shows. Producers Guild of America Presidents Stephanie Allain and Donald De Line and CEO Susan Sprung discuss strides made by the PGA over the past year and the goals ahead.

Deadline: PGA Awards are Saturday night. What accomplishments are you sparked about?

Susan Sprung: Last year, our big announcement was our healthcare initiative and we spent that year inviting production companies to sign on to the initiative and saw the benefits of producers being covered for healthcare during shooting. We have over 30 companies that have signed on, and the idea is...

Perhaps the biggest mystery of film production is precisely what a producer does. Director, cinematographer, costume designer, casting director… sure. But the producer? Is it an honorary title bestowed on a star or studio suit? Someone who raises the money? And what exactly differentiates an executive producer, a line producer, a co-producer, an associate producer, and a just plain producer? Does it really take so much production to get a project to the screen?

If anyone recognized the confusion over the various titles, it’s the Producers Guild of America — trade organization that represents 8,400 producers of all stripes — and the guild is determined to provide clarity. On the eve of the 2025 PGA Awards, which will be handed out Saturday at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles, the guild has launched an advocacy campaign called Producing Is a Job, which is designed to educate both the public and the industry...

Hollywood’s awards season calendar resumes this weekend with the PGA Awards, the DGA Awards, and the Critics Choice Awards all revealing their winners within 36 hours of each other. On Sunday, the Grammy Awards broke the damn by being the first ceremony held after the devastating wildfires last month, but people are still on edge in the television and film business. A fact Producers Guild Presidents Donald DeLine and Stephanie Allain Bray as well as PGA CEO Susan Sprung are very well aware of.

Continue reading PGA Presidents On Wildfires, Bringing Production Back To LA & Those Missing Best Picture Producers Credits at The Playlist.

After being postponed as a result of the Southern California wildfires that have leveled parts of Los Angeles this past week, the nominations for the Producers Guild Awards were announced today, with the ceremony still scheduled to take place Saturday, February 8 at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles.

Facing off this year in the category of Theatrical Motion Picture are the producers for “The Brutalist,” “A Complete Unknown, “Conclave,” “Dune: Part Two,” “Emilia Pérez,” “A Real Pain,” “September 5,” “The Substance,” and “Wicked.”

Named for one of the original producers and studio executives, a man responsible for films such as “The Jazz Singer” and “The Grapes of Wrath,” the Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures has long been considered an accurate predictor of Best Picture Oscar winners, with 14 of the past 20 recipients going on to claim the top prize at the Academy Awards, including “Oppenheimer,...

Lynda Obst and Paula Weinstein will posthumously receive the Producers Guild of America’s (PGA) Trailblazer Award at the Guild’s 2025 ceremony next month.

The award recognises their “shared commitment to paving the way for female producers and championing women’s voices in Hollywood” and will be a poignant element of the PGA Awards on February 8 in Los Angeles.

“Lynda Obst and Paula Weinstein have made a lasting impact on the industry with their trailblazing work and steadfast commitment to amplifying women’s voices,” said PGA presidents Stephanie Allain and Donald De Line. “Lynda and Paula embody the spirit of...

Gold Derby’s top news stories for Jan. 10, 2025 2025 Cinema Eye Honors announces winners

On Thursday, Cinema Eye announced this year’s documentary and nonfiction winners at the New York Academy of Medicine in East Harlem. No Other Land, the war doc made by four young Palestinian and Isreali filmmakers, won three trophies including Best Nonfiction Feature. Directors Yuval Abraham, Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal, and Rachel Szor shared the award for Debut Feature, while Abraham and Adra were also recognized as Unforgettables for their onscreen appearances. No Other Land is currently the Oscar frontrunner to win Best Documentary Feature. Here is the complete list of winners for the 2025 Cinema Eye Honors:

Nonfiction Feature: No Other Land

Direction: Mati Diop, Dahomey

Editing: Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat (Rik Chaubet)

Production: Union (Bretty Story, Stephen Mang, Mars Verrone, Samantha Curley, and Martin Dicicco)

Cinematography: Sugarcane (Christopher Lamarca and Emily Kassie)

Original Music...

Lynda Obst and Paula Weinstein will posthumously receive this year’s Trailblazer Award for their work creating opportunities for female producers, the Producers Guild of America announced Friday.

“Lynda Obst and Paula Weinstein have made a lasting impact on the industry with their trailblazing work and steadfast commitment to amplifying women’s voices,” Stephanie Allain and Donald De Line, PGA presidents, said in a statement.

“Lynda and Paula embody the spirit of women who have broken barriers and paved the way for future generations of producers. Their visionary work includes iconic films that have defined eras, alongside their unwavering commitment to championing underrepresented stories,” the statement continued. “Honoring them highlights their dedication to empowerment, innovation and mentorship, celebrating not just their individual legacies but also their shared commitment to advocating for women and fostering collaboration.”

The recognition will be given at this year’s PGA Awards on Feb. 8 at the Fairmont Century Plaza.

The Producers Guild of America will posthumously honor late producers Lynda Obst and Paula Weinstein with the Trailblazer Award, the guild announced on Friday. Their tributes will take place at the Producers Guild Awards, to be held Feb. 8 in Los Angeles.

Obst and Weinstein, who both died in 2024, will receive the awards for “their shared commitment to paving the way for female producers and championing women’s voices in Hollywood.”

“Lynda Obst and Paula Weinstein have made a lasting impact on the industry with their trailblazing work and steadfast commitment to amplifying women’s voices,” Producers Guild of America presidents Stephanie Allain and Donald De Line said in a statement.

“Lynda and Paula embody the spirit of women who have broken barriers and paved the way for future generations of producers. Their visionary work includes iconic films that have defined eras, alongside their unwavering commitment to championing underrepresented stories,” they continued.

Lynda Obst and Paula Weinstein, the late powerhouse producers who championed women’s voices in Hollywood, will be honored at the Producers Guild Awards next month. Both are set for the 2025 PGA Trailblazer Award.

“Lynda Obst and Paula Weinstein have made a lasting impact on the industry with their trailblazing work and steadfast commitment to amplifying women’s voices,” Producers Guild of America presidents Stephanie Allain and Donald De Line said in a statement Friday. “Lynda and Paula embody the spirit of women who have broken barriers and paved the way for future generations of producers.”

Related: 2025 Awards Season Calendar: Dates For Oscars, Spirits, Grammys, Tonys, Guilds & More

Weinstein, who died March 25, won a pair of Emmys for the HBO telefilms Too Big to Fail and Truman and nominated for Recount and Citizen Cohn. She also worked on films including The Perfect Storm, The Fabulous Baker Boys, Analyze This and its sequel Analyze That.

The Producers Guild of America announced on Friday that it will pay tribute to two glass-shattering female producers at its PGA Awards in February.

Lynda Obst and Paula Weinstein will be honored with the Trailblazer Award, celebrating their shared commitment to paving the way for female producers and championing women’s voices in Hollywood, after both women died in 2024.

“Lynda Obst and Paula Weinstein have made a lasting impact on the industry with their trailblazing work and steadfast commitment to amplifying women’s voices,” said Producers Guild of America presidents Stephanie Allain and Donald De Line said in a statement. “Lynda and Paula embody the spirit of women who have broken barriers and paved the way for future generations of producers. Their visionary work includes iconic films that have defined eras, alongside their unwavering commitment to championing underrepresented stories. Honoring them highlights their dedication to empowerment, innovation, and mentorship, celebrating...

Taika Waititi will soon be adding another trophy to the case.

The prolific writer, director, and producer will receive the prestigious Norman Lear Award from the Producers Guild of America. The prize, which honors a producer’s body of work and contributions to the TV industry, has previously gone to such creators as Mindy Kaling, Greg Berlanti, Marta Kauffman, Amy Sherman-Palladino, Ryan Murphy, Shonda Rhimes, Chuck Lorre, J.J. Abrams, Lorne Michaels, Dick Wolf, Jerry Bruckheimer, Gail Berman, Aaron Spelling, David E. Kelley, and Norman Lear himself.

Waititi made a big splash in TV with the supernatural comedy series What We Do in the Shadows, which was based on his independent mockumentary of the same name. That program, which just ended its six-season run on Dec. 16, has earned him three Primetime Emmy nominations for Best Comedy Series. Waititi also co-created Reservation Dogs, which received ample critical acclaim and earned its first...

Taika Waititi’s run of small screen achievements has snagged the attention of the Producers Guild which has selected the prolific creator to receive the Normal Lear Achievement Award at its upcoming gala.

The Oscar and Grammy Award-winning Waititi will be feted at the 36th Producers Guild Awards in Los Angeles on Feb. 8. Past honorees of the prize named for the late legend include Lear, Mindy Kaling, Greg Berlanti, Marta Kauffman, Amy Sherman-Palladio, Ryan Murphy, Shonda Rhimes, Chuck Lorre, J.J. Abram, Lorne Michaels, Dick Wolf, Jerry Bruckheimer, Gail Berman, Aaron Spelling and David E. Kelley.

“Taika Waititi has profoundly transformed the television landscape with his imaginative work as a producer, bringing to life groundbreaking series What We Do in the Shadows, Our Flag Means Death and Reservation Dogs,” said PGA presidents Stephanie Allain and Donald De Line in a joint statement. “His remarkable ability to explore cultures through a...

Multi-hyphenate Taika Waititi, the New Zealand actor-director-writer-producer, will be honored with the Norman Lear Achievement Award from the Producers Guild of America, the organization announced on Wednesday.

“Taika Waititi has profoundly transformed the television landscape with his imaginative work as a producer, bringing to life groundbreaking series ‘What We Do in the Shadows,’ ‘Our Flag Means Death’ and ‘Reservation Dogs,’” Producers Guild of America presidents Stephanie Allain and Donald De Line said.

“His remarkable ability to explore cultures through a lens of humor and humanity makes these narratives not only relatable but also deeply engaging for audiences,” they continued. “Through his unwavering commitment to diverse narratives and the amplification of Indigenous voices, Taika redefines the art of storytelling, grounding cultural experiences in mainstream media. We are honored to recognize him for his significant contributions to television, continuing Norman Lear’s legacy of enriching the craft of producing.”

“Thank you so...

Here’s what Taika Waititi has been doing in the shadows: preparing to receive a career honor from the Producers Guild.

The PGA today set the Oscar winner for its 2025 Norman Lear Achievement Award, which recognizes a producer or producing team for their extraordinary body of work in television. He’ll pick up the prize during the 36th annual Producers Guild Awards on February 8 at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles.

“Taika Waititi has profoundly transformed the television landscape with his imaginative work as a producer, bringing to life groundbreaking series What We Do in the Shadows, Our Flag Means Death and Reservation Dogs,” Producers Guild of America Presidents Stephanie Allain and Donald De Line said in a joint statement. “His remarkable ability to explore cultures through a lens of humor and humanity makes these narratives not only relatable but also deeply engaging for audiences.”

Piki Films co-founder Waititi...

The Producers Guild of America is out with the finalists for its 2025 PGA Innovation Award, which recognizes the production of a noteworthy, impactful emerging media program that significantly elevates the audience’s viewing experience. They are Critterz (Native Foreign). Emperor (Atlas V/Reynard Films/France Télévisions), Impulse: Playing with Reality (Anagram/Floréal/France Télévisions), Orbital (Cosm Studios/Planetary Collective/Kuva), The Pirate Queen with Lucy Liu (Singer Studios) and What If…? – An Immersive Story (Marvel Studios / Ilm Immersive / Disney+).

The winner will be honored during the PGA Awards Nominees Event on February 6 in Los Angeles. Details of the event at Tba.

For the first time, PGA members will have an opportunity to explore and engage with all finalists and interact with some of their producers at the PGA Innovation Award Finalists Showcase, which will be hosted by AGBO later this month. Each of the six finalists will also be featured...

The Producers Guild of America (PGA) has named Disney Entertainment co-chairman Dana Walden as this year’s recipient of the Guild’s Milestone Award.

The award, which honours individuals or teams who have made historic contributions to the entertainment industry, will be presented at the 36th annual Producers Guild Awards ceremony on February 8 in Los Angeles.

In her current position, Walden leads Disney’s portfolio of global television assets and shares oversight of the company’s streaming services, including Hulu and Disney+.

Before joining Disney after the company’s 2019 acquisition of most of Fox’s film and TV assets, Walden...

The Producers Guild of America will honor Dana Walden with its Milestone Award at the 2025 PGA Awards.

Walden, Disney Entertainment’s co-chairman, will accept the award at the 36th ceremony on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles. The prestigious Milestone Award honors industry producers that have made historic contributions to the entertainment industry.

Past Milestone Award recipients include Steven Spielberg, Bob Iger, Sherry Lansing, George Lucas and Kathleen Kennedy, Clint Eastwood, Brian Grazer and Ron Howard, Donna Langley and Charles D. King.

“Her (Walden’s) leadership, first as CEO of Fox Television Group and now as co-chairman overseeing Disney’s global television portfolio, has had a major impact on the business. We are proud to recognize her exceptional and long-standing work in this industry,” PGA presidents Stephanie Allain and Donald De Line said in a joint statement.

For her part, Walden shared her success with industry collaborators.

The Producers Guild said Monday that Disney Entertainment co-chairman Dana Walden will receive the Milestone Award, given annually by the PGA for extraordinary contribution to the entertainment industry. The honor will be bestowed during the 36th annual PGA Awards on February 8.

Past recipients of the Milestone Award include the likes of Louis B. Mayer, Walt Disney and Alfred Hitchcock, and more recently Steven Spielberg, Bob Iger, Sherry Lansing, George Lucas and Kathleen Kennedy, Clint Eastwood, Brian Grazer and Ron Howard, Donna Langley and Charles D. King.

“Dana Walden has made incredible contributions to the entertainment industry, overseeing the production and development of many of the most iconic and award-winning shows in history,” PGA presidents Stephanie Allain and Donald De Line said today in a joint statement. “Her leadership, first as CEO of Fox Television Group and now as co-chairman overseeing Disney’s global television portfolio, has had a major impact on the business.

Disney Entertainment co-chairman Dana Walden will receive the Milestone Award at the 36th Producers Guild Awards, the PGA announced Monday.

The ceremony will take place on Saturday, Feb. 8, at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles. The Milestone Award “honors individuals or teams who have made historic contributions to the entertainment industry,” according to the PGA.

In a joint statement, PGA presidents Stephanie Allain and Donald De Line said, “Dana Walden has made incredible contributions to the entertainment industry, overseeing the production and development of many of the most iconic and award-winning shows in history. Her leadership, first as CEO of Fox Television Group and now as co-chairman overseeing Disney’s global television portfolio, has had a major impact on the business. We are proud to recognize her exceptional and long-standing work in this industry.”

Walden oversees Disney’s global TV portfolio, including Disney+ and Hulu, and she co-runs Platform Distribution,...

Disney Entertainment co-chairman Dana Walden will be honored with the Milestone Award at the 2025 Producers Guild Awards. She will accept the honor at the 36th annual PGA Awards on Feb. 8, 2025, at the Fairmont Century Plaza in L.A.

The PGA’s Milestone Award honors individuals or teams who have made historic contributions to the entertainment industry. Recipients of the Milestone Award include Hollywood legends Louis B. Mayer, Walt Disney and Alfred Hitchcock, as well as contemporary innovators Steven Spielberg, Bob Iger, Sherry Lansing, George Lucas and Kathleen Kennedy, Clint Eastwood, Brian Grazer and Ron Howard, Donna Langley and Charles D. King.

“Dana Walden has made incredible contributions to the entertainment industry, overseeing the production and development of many of the most iconic and award-winning shows in history,” said PGA presidents Stephanie Allain and Donald De Line in a joint statement. “Her leadership, first as CEO of Fox Television Group and...

The Producers Guild of America is honoring Chris Meledandri, founder and CEO of Illumination, with the 2025 David O. Selznick Achievement Award for his “extraordinary producing accomplishments.” Melendandri is the second animation producer to receive this recognition in the 36 years the awards have been running. The ceremony will take place at the annual Producers Guild Awards on Feb. 8 at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles.

Meledandri founded Illumination Studios in 2007. Before then, he was president of 20th Century Fox Animation. His credits include “Despicable Me,” “The Lorax,” “Hop,” “Minions,” “The Secret Life of Pets,” “Sing,” “The Grinch,” “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” “Ice Age” and more.

“The extraordinary vision and innovation Chris brings to animated feature films has not only captivated audiences of all ages but also been instrumental in reshaping the entertainment landscape,” said Producers Guild of America Presidents Donald De Line and Stephanie Allain in a joint statement.

Illumination founder and CEO Chris Meledandri is set to receive the Producers Guild of America’s David O. Selznick Achievement Award.

Meledandri will be honored at the 2025 PGA Awards, set for Feb. 8 at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles. The boss of the animation company behind the Despicable Me franchise is only the second animation producer to receive the Selznick Award after John Lasseter received the honor in 2009.

Earlier recipients of the David O. Selznick Award also include Steven Spielberg, Barbara Broccoli, Mary Parent, Charles Roven, Brian Grazer, David Heyman, Kevin Feige and, most recently, Martin Scorsese. Meledandri, who launched Illumination in 2007, in a statement paid tribute to the filmmakers that came before him and paved the way for his own career.

“Early in my career, I was fortunate enough to work with legendary filmmakers who taught me the intricacies of storytelling, production and connecting with an audience. Their...

Chris Meledandri, founder and CEO of the animation powerhouse Illumination, will be honored with the David O. Selznick Achievement Award at the 36th Annual Producers Guild Awards, the guild announced Thursday.

Meledandri’s credits include “Despicable Me,” the Oscar-nominated “Despicable Me 2,” “The Lorax,” “Minions,” “The Secret Life of Pets,” “Sing,” “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” and “Migration.”

“The extraordinary vision and innovation Chris brings to animated feature films has not only captivated audiences of all ages but also been instrumental in reshaping the entertainment landscape,” PGA presidents Donald De Line and Stephanie Allain said in a joint statement. “His hands-on, meticulous approach to producing has resulted in the rare accomplishment of record-breaking films and beloved franchises. We are proud to honor Chris with this prestigious award as a leader in both the animation industry and our industry as a whole.”

Meledandri stated, “Being recognized by my peers with the...

Chris Meledandri, founder and CEO of animation powerhouse Illumination, is set to receive the David O. Selznick Achievement Award at the 36th Annual Producers Guild Awards, taking place at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles on Saturday, February 8.

The PGA’s Selznick Achievement Award recognizes a producer for their outstanding body of work in motion pictures, and with his recognition this season, Meledrandi will become just the second animation producer ever to receive the honor. Past recipients include such legendary producers as Steven Spielberg, Barbara Broccoli, Mary Parent, Charles Roven, Brian Grazer, David Heyman, Kevin Feige, and most recently Martin Scorsese.

Reflected PGA Presidents Donald De Line and Stephanie Allain in a joint statement, “The extraordinary vision and innovation Chris brings to animated feature films has not only captivated audiences of all ages but also been instrumental in reshaping the entertainment landscape. His hands-on, meticulous approach to producing has...

It takes a village to make a movie, but when it comes to producers, at best they’re stereotyped as the money people — at worst, their efforts are nullified by honorary titles handed out like Halloween candy among anyone in need of recognition. It can be difficult to discern what producers do because unlike regulated union and guild positions where responsibilities are clearly delineated, they don’t have an over-arching protective governing body. Complicating the matter is the proliferation of titles that are typically misunderstood: How many people really know the difference between what an executive, co- and line producer does?

And it’s a job that women have been doing for a long time in the indie world. This awards season, awards contenders like “Nightbitch,” “Babygirl,” “Anora,” “The Brutalist” and others all have women in some type of producer capacity.

The PGA is trying to change that muddled perception...

We have good news and bad news for Billy the Kid fans.

First the good: Young Henry McCarty and his posse of outlaws will be returning for a third round of hold-ups and shootouts.

But the bad news is, this will be Billy’s last stand.

(Epix (screenshot))

Yes, it was announced today that Billy the Kid has been renewed for a third and final season at MGM+.

“MGM+ announced the renewal of Billy the Kid, starring Tom Blyth (The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes) for an eight-episode third, and final, season,” reads a press release issued moments ago.

“The epic romantic adventure inspired by the life of America’s most infamous outlaw continues in Season Three.”

Ryan Murphy Isn’t Tired Yet, But I Amby Jasmine Blu Bode’s Out of Prison, But Is He Out of The Fire Too?by Sara Trimble Slow Horses Season...

Today, MGM+ announced the renewal of Billy the Kid, starring Tom Blyth (The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes), for an eight-episode third and final season. The epic romantic adventure inspired by the life of America’s most infamous outlaw continues in season three.

The Lincoln County War may be officially over, but both Billy the Kid and Sheriff Pat Garrett have important issues to resolve — there is a reckoning to come. Billy is still at large, and Garrett is out to capture him, dead or alive.

With a bounty on his head, Billy has the opportunity to quit New Mexico altogether and pursue a future with Dulcinea, the love of his life. But he has unfinished business with Garrett, who has betrayed him and decides to stay.

Meanwhile, Jesse Evans, Billy’s longtime friend, rival, and enemy, also remains in Lincoln, searching for a newfound purpose and perhaps atonement for his sins.

“Billy the Kid” will be returning to MGM+ for a third and final season in 2025. The renewal comes as Season 2 was among the platform’s top three most viewed original series in the history of the network.

Starring Tom Blyth (“The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes”), the Western drama centers around the titular 19th century outlaw. This upcoming eight-episode season will pick up in the aftermath of the Lincoln County War. Though the war is over, Billy and Sheriff Pat Garrett (Alex Roe) still have their own personal battle to fight as Garrett is determined to capture Billy, dead or alive. But instead of fleeing New Mexico with the love of his life Dulcinea (Nuria Vega), Billy’s unfinished business with Garrett convinces him to stay.

At the same time, Billy’s longtime frenemy Jesse Evans (Daniel Webber) decides to stay in Lincoln for more wholesome reasons.

Tom Blyth in ‘Billy the Kid’ (Credit: David Brown/MGM+)

MGM+ has officially renewed the Western drama Billy the Kid for a third – and – final season. The series will conclude with eight episodes arriving in 2025.

“In season two, Michael Hirst, Donald De Line, along with Tom Blyth and the rest of our talented cast, captivated audiences with the dramatic events leading to the infamous Lincoln County War, during which Billy is struggling to hang on to both his soul and the love of his life,” stated Michael Wright, head of MGM+. “In season three, we are excited to bring the naturally cinematic story of one of American history’s most fascinating, and often misunderstood, characters to its conclusion, as only MGM+ can.”

The series, created by Michael Hirst (Vikings), ranks in the top three of all original shows on the network.

“I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to write...

MGM+ has renewed “Billy the Kid” for Season 3, which will also be the show’s last season.

The final season of the series, which stars Tom Blyth as the legendary Old West outlaw, will consist of eight episodes. The news comes just over two months after the conclusion of Season 2.

The official description for Season 3 states:

“The Lincoln County War may be officially over, but both Billy the Kid and Sheriff Pat Garrett (Alex Roe) have important issues to resolve — there is a reckoning to come. Billy is still at large, and Garrett is out to capture him, dead or alive. And with a bounty on his head, Billy has the opportunity to quit New Mexico altogether and pursue a future with Dulcinea (Nuria Vega), the love of his life. But he has unfinished business with Garrett, who has betrayed him, and decides to stay. Meanwhile Jesse Evans (Daniel Webber), Billy’s longtime friend,...

As Democrats scrambled to shore up support for Kamala Harris, two megadonors openly challenged one of the core tenets of Joe Biden’s agenda, to rein in corporate power, in a move that could prove to be bitterly divisive within the party if Donald Trump is defeated in November.

On July 25, LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman went on CNN to call for the vice president, if she is elected, to oust Federal Trade Commission chair Lina Khan, who he said is operating “outside the scope” of her job. “Antitrust is fine,” said Hoffman, who has donated $7 million to a Democratic super Pac and sits on the board of Microsoft, a tech giant whose acquisition of Activision was challenged by the FTC. “Waging war is not.”

A day later, Iac media mogul and former Ticketmaster chair Barry Diller offered another glimpse into corporate America’s perspective on merger regulation under Khan. Asked...

This pivotal year for the nation was on Greg Berlanti’s mind during an intimate screening of his period film Fly Me to the Moon that took place on the night of this week’s presidential debate.

Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum star in Apple Original Films’ romantic comedy feature from director Berlanti that hits theaters July 12, with Sony handling distribution. Set against the backdrop of the Apollo 11 moon launch during the Space Race of the late 1960s, Fly Me to the Moon centers on a NASA director (Tatum) and marketing specialist (Johansson) who butt heads in the lead-up to the high-pressure moment.

Among the notable guests at the event held at the San Vicente Bungalows in West Hollywood were performers who had previously worked with Berlanti, including Cole Sprouse (Riverdale), Lucy Hale (Katy Keene) and Lukas Gage (You). Also in attendance were Nina Dobrev, Alex Edelman, Donald De Line and Jim Rash,...

The PGA’s push for health insurance coverage for producers is getting some big backing.

Amblin Entertainment and Bad Robot Productions are among the latest group of production houses to support the group’s push for health insurance benefits for producers that work full-time in the entertainment industry.

The companies have committed to including a line item in their budgets for health insurance. According to the PGA, the budget will go toward funding Motion Picture Industry Health insurance, providing health insurance through a third-party plan, company plan or other union insurance, or it will go towards a direct contribution for those who buy open market health insurance.

Other companies that have newsly signed on are Atlas Entertainment, Closer Media, Confluential Films, De Line Pictures, Di Novi Pictures, Fremantle, Gran Via Productions, Groundswell Pictures, Homegrown Pictures, Illumination, The Jackal Group, Laurence Mark Productions, LuckyChap, Pascal Pictures, Red Wagon Entertainment, Revelations Entertainment,...

The Producers Guild of America’s ongoing efforts to ensure health insurance benefits for all its members just got an intergalactic boost.

In a significant step towards greater coverage, the homes of E.T., the latest iterations of Star Trek, a Justice League and a Star Wars flick or two have all signed on to the Guild’s move to cover qualified and full-time producers.

More precisely, Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment, Atlas Entertainment, J.J. Abrams and Katie McGrath’s Bad Robot Productions, Closer Media, Confluential Films, De Line Pictures, Di Novi Pictures, and Fremantle are on board with the PGA’s February launched initiative. As are Gran Via Productions, Groundswell Pictures, Homegrown Pictures, Illumination, The Jackal Group, Laurence Mark Productions, LuckyChap, Pascal Pictures, Red Wagon Entertainment, Revelations Entertainment, Rolling Pictures and Alex Kurtzman’s Secret Hideout.

The 20 production companies unveiled today join initiators Blumhouse, Legendary, Charles D. King’s Macro and Berlanti Productions,...

The time has come for producers to think about how to protect themselves against possible copyright and ownership challenges related to the use of generative AI tools in film and TV production.

That was one of the messages sent Saturday at the Producers Guild of America’s 14th annual Produced By conference in Los Angeles, featuring a daylong schedule of panels drilling down on digital disruption and other pressing issues for content producers.

“I don’t know if an artist I commission is using generative AI. I didn’treally care before, but I guess I have to care now,” said Lori McCreary, CEO of Revelations Entertainment and a past PGA president, during the hourlong “AI: What Every Producer Needs to Know” session moderated by Carolyn Giardina, senior entertainment technology and crafts editor for Variety and Variety VIP+.

Ghaith Mahmood, partner at Latham & Watkins specializing in AI-related legal issues, walked...

The Producers Guild of America has announced the first round of speakers for the 2024 edition of the Produced By Conference, which is taking place on the Fox studio lot in Century City on Saturday, June 8.

Those confirmed to speak so far include Alan Poul (Tokyo Vice), Angela Russo-Otstot (Cherry), Brad Simpson (Crazy Rich Asians), Charles Roven (Oppenheimer), Greg Berlanti, Ghaith Mahmood (Partner of Latham & Watkins), Howard Gordon (Accused), Jack Rapke (Cast Away), Paul W. Downs (Hacks), Jeff Schaffer (Curb Your Enthusiasm), John Wilson (How To with John Wilson), J.T. Rogers (Tokyo Vice), Jen Statsky (Hacks), Kate Crawford (Atlas of AI), Lori McCreary (Madam Secretary), Lucia Aniello (Hacks), Lynette Howell Taylor (A Star Is Born), Mike Farah (@fter Midnight), Renard T. Jenkins, Roxanne Taylor (the Goat) and Tommy Oliver (Juice Wrld: Into The Abyss).

Confirmed to moderate discussions are Amy Gravitt...

Exclusive: As signatories prepare to negotiate new deals with IATSE and Teamsters, it might seem like the last thing the town wants to chew on is another group claiming it has gotten the short end of the stick.

The 86 members of Producers United – a grassroots collection of the most prolific “Career Producers” who make about 90% of Hollywood’s biggest independent and studio/streamer films – will test those waters on behalf of all producers who don’t have it as good as most might have believed.

The members of this upstart group, which Deadline is revealing for the first time here, include the producers of Oscar-winning films, and franchises that include James Bond, John Wick, Transformers and many others. They have banded together on behalf of other producers and have made approaches to studios, streamers and financiers on the film and TV sides. Meetings are set over the next few weeks...

There’s even more programming in store for this year’s Atx TV Festival.

The lineup expanded Thursday to include a closing night tribute to Normal Lear featuring Katey Sagal, Dulé Hill, Phil Rosenthal and Brent Miller.

Season 13 of Atx TV Festival will also host the U.S. premiere of AMC’s Orphan Black: Echoes, featuring appearances from Anna Fishko and John Fawcett. Other programming includes a conversation with The Way Home cast and creators including Andie Macdowell, Chyler Leigh, Evan Williams and Sadie Laflamme-Snow, and a Hacks season finale screening and Q&a with star Mark Indelicato.

Details on those panels, and even more, are below:

A “Funny Af” panel featuring top comedy talent from Universal Studio Group, like Mark Indelicato (Hacks), Meredith Scardino (Girls5eva), Chris Sheridan (Resident Alien) and Debby Wolfe (Lopez vs Lopez) A “Queer Storytelling” panel celebrating Lgbtqia+ series and moments, also featuring Mark Indelicato...

The 2024 Atx TV Festival will close out its 13th season with a celebration of TV icon Norman Lear, Variety can exclusively announce.

“Norman Lear’s TV for the People: Script Reading and Conversation” will honor the legendary television producer and activist, who died in December 2023, with a night of comedy and conversation. There will be two live script readings — one of the groundbreaking abortion episode from “Maude” and the second of a classic episode from “Good Times.” Guest actors will read for each role, including Katey Sagal (in the role of “Maude”), Phil Rosenthal (in the role of “Walter Findlay”), Danny Pino (in the role of “Dr. Arthur Harmon”), Dulé Hill (in the role of “James Evans Sr.”).

The script readings will be followed by a conversation with Lear’s former collaborators and friends discussing his approach to TV and his ability to use the sitcom format to have important conversations.

If its wins at the recent Screen Actors Guild Awards did not send enough of a message that “Oppenheimer” is far and away the frontrunner for Best Picture at the 2024 Oscars, the film’s receiving the Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures at the Producers Guild of America Awards on Sunday, February 25 almost certainly sealed the deal.

In her acceptance speech, “Oppenheimer” executive producer Emma Thomas was quick to to first thank the guild in general for the work that they do, as earlier in the evening, PGA co-presidents Stephanie Allain and Donald De Line announced a historic initiative to fund health insurance for full-time working producers in the guild. After that, however, she was also sure to make note of how writer/director Christopher Nolan (both her husband and business partner) also happens to be “the best producer. He’s absolutely brilliant.”

Nolan himself said that,...

At the 35th annual PGA Awards on Sunday, the Producers Guild of America announced an initiative aimed at ensuring health insurance benefits for every qualified producer working full-time in the film and TV industry.

“Producers, unlike unionized creative professionals in the industry, lack guaranteed health insurance benefits. No one should go without these essential benefits. Producing is challenging enough without the added anxiety of wondering how you are going to obtain health coverage for you and your family,” PGA presidents Stephanie Allain and Donald De Line said in a statement.

The guild is asking that all production companies, including studios and streamers, provide health benefits for qualified producers with credits recognized by the PGA who are working full-time on their eligible projects by (1) making contributions through the Motion Picture Industry Pension and Health Plan for eligible producers on qualifying productions; and (2) for all other producers who can’t access benefits...

The Producers Guild of America used the platform of its annual awards ceremony Sunday to launch a drive to help secure health insurance coverage for Hollywood’s working producers. The guild is asking studios, streamers and other large-scale content companies to help fund health insurance for “qualified producers” through line items in TV and film production budgets.

PGA presidents Stephanie Allain and Donald De Line unveiled the health care initiative during their address to the audience at the Hollywood & Highland’s Ray Dolby Ballroom. The push is designed to close the gap between producers and Hollywood’s other creative guilds by giving those who meet PGA criteria easy access to health insurance coverage.

“Producers, unlike unionized creative professionals in the industry, lack guaranteed health insurance benefits. No one should go without these essential benefits. Producing is challenging enough without the added anxiety of wondering how you are going to obtain...