John Legend is writing the score to a stage adaptation of the 1959 film Imitation of Life. The musical, which is in development and aiming for Broadway, features a book by two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage (Sweat, Ruined) and direction by Liesl Tommy, who directed Danai Gurira’s Eclipsed on Broadway. The production held a private industry reading at the end of April. Universal Theatrical Group and Get Lifted Film Co, a production company led by Legend, as well as producer Mike Jackson and Friends at Work CEO Ty Stiklorius, are producing the musical.

Michael Cera, Ralph Fiennes, Zach Galifianakis, Jenny Slate, Rosario Dawson, Mariah Carey and Billy Dee Williams join Will Arnett's Lego Batman world. February 10, 2017 8:00am Modified on April 24, 2023, Published on February 10, 2017 From the same team that worked on The Lego Movie comes The Lego Batman Movie, an animated adventure with Batman as the leading superhero. Will Arnett reprises his role as the superhero, portrayed here as a stubborn vigilante refusing to have any help.

Melanie Lynskey on ‘Perks on Being a Wallflower’ Skip to main content Popular on THR Most Recent ad {{ result.published_at | date: "%h %d, %Y" }} ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7qbvLpbCwp5%2BZv6a8zqurnqpemLyue9Wim56nX6Kyra3NopxmpKmjwKyx2GannqqbqHqjscinnmaZXWiDeX6PamY%3D

The Hollywood Reporter is expanding its music coverage and has hired Mesfin Fekadu as its senior music editor. An award-winning journalist who spent 13 years at The Associated Press, Fekadu will oversee THR’s music content for the brand’s website and magazine. Fekadu will start his new position Dec. 5 and report to David Katz, THR’s Executive Editor.  “Mesfin is one of the best music journalists in the business, regularly breaking news while also writing insightful profiles on the most dynamic artists in the field, as well as spotlighting key trends within the industry,” said Nekesa Mumbi Moody, THR’s editorial director.

Polly Anthony, the Epic Records president who helped break and/or worked with such artists as Macy Gray, Shakira, Celine Dion, Rage Against the Machine, Michael Jackson, Jennifer Lopez and Pearl Jam, passed away at her home in Beverly Hills, Calif., over the weekend surrounded by her family and beloved dogs after a long fight with pancreatic cancer. She was 59. “When people talk about her, it was about how fearless she was in work and life,” recalls her good friend and colleague Michele Anthony (no relation), Universal Music Group evp for U.

NBC is anxious to add a thriller for the upcoming season, picking up another conspiracy drama pilot. The network has given a pilot order to Blindspot from Greg Berlanti‘s prolific Berlanti Productions, currently housed at Warner Bros. TV. The project, which centers on a woman with no memory who wakes up naked in Times Square, has been in development since August. Read more TV Pilots 2015: The Complete Guide Written and executive produced by Martin Gero (Bored to Death), Blindspot‘s nude amnesiac is covered in detailed tattoos that immediately catch the eye of the FBI.

Fans clamoring to see Zack and Irina come face-to-face and Micah and Paul in the same room after all that altar drama in the live reunion special for Netflix‘s Love Is Blind are still waiting. The special was supposed to go live at 5 p.m. PT Sunday, but as of publication time on this story, it still had yet to start airing. An onscreen message tells viewers: “We’re having trouble playing this title right now.

The talent behind the upcoming musical The Ghost of John McCain should not save a front row seat at its premiere for the late senator’s daughter Meghan McCain, as the former cohost of The View and outspoken pundit took to Twitter this week to denounce the forthcoming off-Broadway show, slam its producers and wish it has no success whatsoever. On Wednesday, it was announced that the show is slated for a fall premiere at New York’s Soho Playhouse.

Rapper Joey Bada$$ has been charged with assault in Australia after allegedly punching a security guard in the face at the Falls Music Festival, reports The Sydney Morning Herald. The incident occurred when Bada$$, whose real name is Jo-Vaughn Jalani Virginie, was about to take to the stage last Friday. He was approached by the guard at around 8:30 p.m., and Bada$$ lashed out after an altercation. “A 20-year-old man was allegedly punched in the face by a man while working as a security guard at the festival,” confirmed a police spokeswoman.

Joseph Cerniglia, whose body was found in New York’s Hudson River late last week, is the second Gordon Ramsay reality show participant to commit suicide. Rachel Brown, who competed on Ramsay’s “Hell’s Kitchen,” shot herself to death in her family’s Dallas home in 2007 — one year after coming in fifth on the competition show that pits chefs against each other. Officials received a 911 call about Cerniglia’s body Friday afternoon — shortly after getting 911 calls about a man who jumped off the George Washington Bridge.