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Apple has tapped “Black Panther” and “Us” star Winston Duke to lead its basketball drama “Swagger,” from NBA superstar Kevin Durant.

Duke will star as Ike, a youth basketball coach and former star player. The series will go into production this month.

“Swagger” is inspired by Durant’s youth basketball experiences, and explores the world of youth basketball, and the players, their families and coaches who walk the fine line between dreams and ambition, and opportunism and corruption.

The series is written, directed and executive produced by Reggie Rock Bythewood who also serves as showrunner. “Swagger” comes from Imagine Television, Durant’s Thirty Five Ventures, and CBS Television Studios. Other executive producers include Brian Grazer, Francie Calfo, Durant, and his manager, Rich Kleiman. James Seidman is the

Kenneth Branagh’s first foray into the rich world of Agatha Christie murder mysteries, the 2017 surprise hit “Murder on the Orient Express,” boasted a starry cast of big names, including Michelle Pfeiffer, Penélope Cruz, Johnny Depp, Willem Dafoe, Lucy Boynton, and Daisy Ridley, so it’s no surprise that his imminent sequel is just as star-studded. As production commences on “Death on the Nile,” based on Christie’s novel of the same name, the full cast has been announced, and it’s a doozy.

Branagh returns as both director and star, slipping back into the famed mustache that makes his hairy Belgian detective Hercule Poirot so hard to miss. He’ll be joined by a motley assortment of potential murderers, including Tom Bateman (who reprises the role of Bouc from “Murder on the Orient Express”), Annette Bening, Russell Brand, Ali Fazal, Dawn French, Gal Gadot, Armie Hammer, Rose Leslie, Emma Mackey,

Following the success of “Double Shot at Love,” the “Jersey Shore” duo of Paul Delvecchio (DJ Pauly D) and Vinny Guadagnino will star in a new docuseries for MTV set in Las Vegas.

“DJ Pauly and Vinny’s Vegas Pool Party” (working title) follows the two as they take over Las Vegas and give their friends a shot at the Vegas life.

Deadline first reported the news.

More to come…

“Claws” is coming to an end. TNT renewed the drama series for a fourth and final season Tuesday.

“For the past three seasons, Claws has handled delicate and culturally relevant themes like race, class, gender, age and sexual orientation with grace and humor via superb storytelling,” said Brett Weitz, General Manager for TNT, TBS and truTV. “Fans cherish the over-the-top Clawsian moments that have defined its run, and we will do them justice as we wrap up the tale of Desna and her crew.”

A premiere date for Season 4 has not yet been set. Season 3 recently finished airing in August.

The series is described as following the queenly rise of Desna Simms (Niecy Nash), who, alongside her crew of manicurists from the Nail Artisans of Manatee County salon, rises to power in the crime world

Hot off a big Emmy win for When They See Us, Ava DuVernay is set to launch her second project based on a DC Comics property

Already primed to directed a big screen adaptation of Jack Kirby’s New Gods, as Deadline reported last year, Oscar nominee DuVernay is now getting behind the camera for HBO Max with the DMZ pilot the soon-to-be streamer has ordered.

Adapted from the Vertigo imprint published and Brian Wood written comic of a second American Civil War in the near future, the A Wrinkle in Time helmer will direct the project with showrunner and EpP Roberto Patino writing. Prophetically well timed if yesterday’s tweetstorm by Donald Trump is any roadmap, the Manhattan set DMZ will be produced by DuVernay’s Array Filmworks in association with Warner Bros. Television.

“DMZ is a special project to me as it marks a key collaboration with my company Array Filmworks,

In an idyllic snowy forest, somewhere in the U.S. maybe, there is a place of refuge for travelers. But the hotel is far from what it seems to be. Rather, it turns out to be a place of terror for immigrants.

In the hands of Malaysian director, Bradley Liew (”Singing in Graveyards”) the topical tale ”Motel Acacia” is given supernatural and spiritual dimensions.

A young Filipino man is groomed by his tyrannical Caucasian Father to take over the motel. The place is tasked by the government with exterminating immigrants. Its device of choice is a bed that is haunted with the spirit of a Filipino tree demon, which eats men, and impregnates women,” explains Liew.

Liew made the film after four years of development at various project markets and labs, and began production in late 2018. The finished film is headed for its world premiere in the Asian Future section

President Trump is in the midst of an impeachment investigation, but it was his personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, that the “Daily Show” scrutinized Tuesday night.

“Has Giuliani also done enough to be impeached?” host Trevor Noah asked. He then donned a wig and judge’s robe to put the former New York mayor on a mock trial.

Noah said Giuliani has been charged with three “counts.”

Also Read: MSNBC's Mika Brzezinski Worried for Rudy Giuliani's Welfare: 'Someone Needs to Take Care of Him. It's Abusive'

The first “count” accused Giuliani of being the ringleader of the entire circus, citing the fact that he was mentioned 30 times in the whistleblower complaint and met with seven Ukranian officials.

“It appears that Rudy Giuliani was the anus of this entire operation,” “Judge” Noah declared. “Everything passed through him, and it stinks to high heaven.”

The other “charges” levied against Giuliani included “making

Sammy Hagar & the Circle have released their new short film, Space Between. The nearly 37-minute movie serves as a companion piece to the supergroup’s album of the same name, which was released in May.

The visual centers on a character named John, whose life traverses the album’s themes of money, greed, enlightenment and truth. As John makes his way through casinos and drug-fueled parties, he’s surrounded by visual reminders of his excess via surreal pig imagery. Hagar and his Circle bandmates — bassist Michael Anthony, drummer Jason Bonham

In today’s film news roundup, William Moseley and Johanna Braddy get starring roles, Gravitas buys Malcolm Gladwell’s driverless car documentary, “The Fiddling Horse” gets a prize and “No Safe Spaces” gets a release.

Castings

William Moseley (“The Royals”) and Johanna Braddy (“Unreal”) are starring in the inspirational drama “Pencil Town,” which has just wrapped shooting around Los Angeles.

The feature film is based on a true story about a ruthless corporate raider on the verge of making partner at his private equity firm, when he is forced to return to his small town roots after he suddenly inherits his father’s nearly bankrupt pencil factory — the heart and soul of the depressed community. He must decide to either join the fight to save the factory, or let it close and relocate to China.

The cast includes Mimi Kennedy, Mary Pat Gleason, Shashawnee Hall, Paul Dooley, Bill Cobbs and James Eckhouse.

Timothée Chalamet looks like he was born to wear a bowl cut, but “The King” star wasn’t always on board for the choppy hairdo.

“At first it was anxiety-inducing, but then it was like nah this has to be done,” Chalamet told Variety‘s Marc Malkin at Tuesday’s red carpet premiere of “The King.” “Or else you can kind of see those period movies, without shading anybody, but where they didn’t fully, you know, you didn’t know what they were going for, and hopefully this is not that.”

Aside from his bowl cut, Chalamet said he was unfamiliar with the Henry V character going into the film, which is loosely based on Shakespeare’s eponymous play and follows a young Henry V who reluctantly assumes the throne — and all the political deceit, intrigue and war that comes with it. In fact, Chalamet said his lack of

Selena Gomez serves as an executive producer for Netflix’s Living Undocumented, which premieres on Wednesday, and her involvement in the project is a personal one. Ahead of the documentary series’ debut, the pop star penned an essay for Time, where she opened up about her family and shared her thoughts on America’s immigration crisis.

Gomez said that her aunt came to the United States from Mexico, “hidden in the back of a truck.” Her grandparents soon followed and her father was born in Texas. “In 1992, I was born a U.

New York Comic Con 2019 begins Thursday and that means the list of panels and screenings for the annual four-day event is finally finalized.

This year’s show will include slots for HBO’s eagerly anticipated “Watchmen” adaptation from Damon Lindelof, CBS All Access’ “Star Trek: Discovery” and the forthcoming “Star Trek: Picard,” a 20th anniversary tribute to “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” spinoff “Angel,” the return of Hulu’s “Castle Rock,” and the premiere of Netflix’s upcoming sci-fi series “Daybreak” — among many others.

Below you’ll find the list of must-see events for the fan convention, which runs Thursday, Oct. 3 to Sunday, Oct. 6.

Also Read: 13 New Fall TV Shows Ranked by Premiere Viewers: From 'Bless the Harts' to 'The Unicorn' (Updating)

Thursday, Oct. 3

Title: 20th Century Fox Panel: An Insider’s Look at “The King’s Man” and “Free Guy”

Time: 1:00 Pm-2:00 Pm

Location:

Miley Cyrus’ covers of Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin, Camila Cabello’s performances of brand new singles “Liar” and “Shameless,” and several surprise collaborations were just a few highlights from the 2019 iHeartRadio Music Festival, which will air as a two-night television special on the CW tonight (Oct. 1) and tomorrow (Oct. 2) from 8 to 10 p.m.

The event, held on Sept. 20 and 21 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, was hosted by Ryan Seacrest and also featured performances by Alicia Keys, Backstreet Boys, Cage The Elephant, Chance The Rapper, Def Leppard, French Montana, Halsey, Heart, H.E.R., Hootie & The Blowfish, Marshmello with Special Guest Kane Brown,

Anthony Chen’s “Wet Season” has been set as the opening title of the 30th edition of the Singapore International Film Festival. The Singapore-set title will play at the Capitol Theater on Nov 21.

Having previously competed in Cannes with his 2007 short film “Grandma,” London-based Chen became Singapore’s most talked about director when he won the Camera d’Or at Cannes with 2013 effort “Ilo Ilo.”

“Wet Season” is his second feature, and again adopts very personal themes. “Ilo Ilo” stars Yeo Yann Yann and Koh Jia Ler band together once again, this time over an unlikely, blossoming friendship between a woman teacher and a student.

The film was the sole Asian entry in competition at the 44th Toronto International Film Festival’s Platform competition, and marked the first time a Singaporean film was selected for the section. It has also been selected as Singapore’s contender in the best foreign film section of the Oscars.

WarnerMedia’s Brett Weitz is officially adding another domain to his purview: the general manager of TBS and TNT has now been tasked with overseeing TruTV, and will manage all three networks and steer the creative executive teams and development for TBS, TNT and TruTV in Los Angeles and New York.

Additionally, Thom Hinkle, most recently executive vice president of original programming at TBS, has been elevated to the role of head of original content for the cable trio.

“Brett and Thom transformed TBS into an Emmy® award-winning, premiere comedy destination, and will continue to shape the identities of all three of these top-rated networks,

Miley Cyrus’ covers of Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin, Camila Cabello’s performances of brand new singles “Liar” and “Shameless,” and several surprise collaborations were just a few highlights from the 2019 iHeartRadio Music Festival, which will air as a two-night television special on the CW tonight (Oct. 1) and tomorrow (Oct. 2) from 8 to 10 p.m.

The event, held on Sept. 20 and 21 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, was hosted by Ryan Seacrest and featured performances by Alicia Keys, Backstreet Boys, Cage The Elephant, Chance The Rapper, Def Leppard, French Montana, Halsey, Heart, H.E.R., Hootie & The Blowfish, Marshmello with Special Guest Kane Brown,

Four filmmakers have have been hired as directors at Walt Disney Animation Studios (Wdas), the company announced on Tuesday. Two of the directors are veteran story artists, whose careers have grown at Wdas, and the two directors who are new to the studio have both directed acclaimed films.

Directors Carlos Lopez Estrada, Suzi Yoonessi, and Disney vets Josie Trinidad and Marc Smith are each developing new theatrical animated films.

“We aim to have Walt Disney Animation Studios serve as the premiere home for filmmakers interested in telling engaging stories within the limitless animation medium,” Wdas Chief Creative Officer Jennifer Lee said in a statement to TheWrap. “Carlos and Suzi are two incredible, inventive filmmakers who have both received acclaim for their work. Josie and Marc, master, lead story artists, have been instrumental in shaping such films as ‘Zootopia’ and ‘Frozen 2.’ We are so thrilled to have these four talented artists

“Aquaman” actor Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is in final negotiations to join Aaron Sorkin’s “The Trial of the Chicago 7,” sources tell Variety.

His casting in the historical drama follows the news that the long-awaited film is finally moving forward with Paramount Pictures on board for domestic distribution and Cross Creek signing on to finance and co-produce alongside Amblin Partners.

The movie is based on the infamous 1969 trial of seven men charged by the federal government with conspiracy and inciting to riot, a result of the counterculture protests in Chicago at the 1968 Democratic National Convention. The trial transfixed the nation and sparked a conversation intended to undermine the U.S. government.

Abdul-Mateen will play Black Panther Party co-founder Bobby Seale, who was one of the original eight that were charged. Seale’s case was eventually severed from the other defendants, leading to the “Chicago Seven” moniker. He was bound and gagged

“Joker” arrives in theaters this weekend following weeks of polarizing festival reviews and a pre-release backlash that included fears the film may inspire violence. But despite all that, box office analysts expect Todd Phillips’ Scorsese-inspired supervillain origin story to set a new opening weekend record for October.

The current record for the month was set last year by another comic book movie, Sony’s “Venom,” which earned an $80.2 million launch. That figure is the low end of independent tracker projections for Warner Bros./Village Roadshow/DC’s “Joker,” which currently range from $80-95 million. An opening in the middle of that range would put the movie alongside “Logan,” another R-rated superhero drama which opened to $88 million in March 2017.

Warner Bros. is projecting that “Joker” will fall just short of “Venom” with $75-80 million from 4,300+ screens, but even if the film fell well short and opened in the $60 million range — which

In weeks leading up to its release, Joaquin Phoenix’s “Joker” has inspired waves of stories and streams of tweets criticizing the R-rated comic-book adaptation for glamorizing a mass killer. Warner Bros., the studio behind the grisly origin story, is clearly in crisis mode, banning press from the red carpets at the film’s premieres, as they deal with outrage from families of the survivors of the Aurora movie theater shooting.

However, it doesn’t seem like the mounting controversy will deter most audiences from seeing Batman’s chief antagonist on the big screen. “Joker” is still on track for a massive debut and could earn $80 million to $95 million from 4,300 North American theaters.

Those estimates haven’t wavered much in the three weeks since projections first appeared on tracking services, though some bullish box office prognosticators believe “Joker” could even hit the coveted $100 million mark. Warner Bros. is anticipating a