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    2025 Grammy Nominations

    (11/9/24) The 2025 GRAMMY Awards, officially known as the 67th GRAMMY Awards, will take place live at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb.2, broadcasting live on the CBS Television Network and streaming live and on demand on Paramount+.

    Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Media

    Award to the principal artist(s) and/or ‘in studio’ producer(s) of a majority of the tracks on the album. Award also goes to appropriately credited music supervisor(s).

    The Color Purple — (Various Artists)

    Deadpool & Wolverine — (Various Artists)

    Maestro: Music By Leonard Bernstein — London Symphony Orchestra, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Bradley Cooper

    Saltburn — (Various Artists)

    Twisters: The Album — (Various Artists)

    American Horror Stories Trailer: Debby Ryan, Victor Garber and More Star in Five Spooky Stories

    (10/1/24) (Video) Surprise! Just in time for spooky season, American Horror Stories is returning to Hulu (and Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers) with five new episodes, all dropping on Tuesday, Oct. 15, TVLine has learned. Even better, we’ve got ourselves a trailer.

    As revealed in the trailer, the five new installments are titled “Backrooms,” inspired by online lore about liminal spaces and the nightmarish creatures dwelling within them; “The Thing Under the Bed,” in which a young girl has every right to fear the dark; “Clone,” which explores the dangers of human cloning; “Leprechaun,” which is fairly self-explanatory; and “X,” which is presented entirely in black and white.

    These new episodes feature several big names, including several familiar faces from previous Ryan Murphy productions. Known cast members thus far include Michael Imperioli (The Sopranos), Henry Winkler (Barry), Dyllón Burnside (Pose), Debby Ryan (Jessie), Jeff Hiller (American Horror Story: NYC), Jessica Barden (American Horror Stories), Angel Bismark Curiel (Pose), Guy Burnet (3 Body Problem), Victor Garber (DC’s Legends of Tomorrow) and June Squibb (Glee).

    American Horror Stories, an anthological collection of self-contained episodes, is a spinoff of FX‘s American Horror Story. Though not inherently related, some installments have had connections to previous Horror Story seasons, including the introduction of Rubber Woman to Murder House and the origin story of Coven‘s Spalding.

    The series is executive-produced by Ryan Murphy, Alexis Martin Woodall, Max Winkler, Jon Robin Baitz, Brad Falchuk and Manny Coto.

    ‘American Horror Stories’ Sets Premiere Date For Five-Episode Hulu Event; Debby Ryan, Victor Garber, Michael Imperioli Among Cast

    (9/14/24) FX‘s American Horror Stories is set to premiere its latest installment, and of course, it’s just in time for Halloween. All five episodes of the “Huluween” event will drop on Tuesday, October 15 on Hulu (and via Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers). The series will also premiere October 15 on Disney+ in Canada and will be coming to Disney+ internationally. Check local listings for dates.

    American Horror Stories is a spin-off of Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk’s American Horror Story. American Horror Stories, now in its third installment, is an anthology series that will feature a different horror story each episode.

    The five new spooky tales features a cast that includes Michael Imperioli, Henry Winkler, Dyllón Burnside, Debby Ryan, Jeff Hiller, Jessica Barden, Angel Bismark Curiel, Guy Burnet, Victor Garber, June Squibb, among others.

    Since 2011, the creators of AHS have redefined the horror genre with various installments featuring a creepy asylum, a coven of witches, a traveling freak show, a haunted hotel and the apocalypse itself. The television series sprouted a legion of dedicated fans who anticipate what terrors the next chapter will hold.

    The series is executive produced by Murphy, Falchuk, Alexis Martin Woodall, Max Winkler, Manny Coto and Jon Robin Baitz. The franchise is produced by 20th Television.

    Television Academy and ABC Announce Presenters Slated for 76th Emmy Awards

    (9/9/24) The Television Academy and ABC today announced the stars slated to appear on the 76th Emmy® Awards, hosted by Eugene Levy and Dan Levy.

    The 76th Emmy Awards, produced by Jesse Collins Entertainment, will broadcast live on ABC SUNDAY, SEPT. 15 (8:00-11:00 p.m. EDT/5:00-8:00 p.m. PDT), from the Peacock Theater at L.A. LIVE in downtown Los Angeles and will be available for streaming on Hulu Sept. 16-22.

    The diverse lineup of talent represents critically acclaimed television series, Emmy-nominated programs across many viewing platforms and genres, and Emmy nominees — all tapped to celebrate television excellence on the esteemed awards show.

    Talent includes the following:Christine Baranski — Nominee, Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series
    Kathy Bates
    Meredith Baxter
    Candice Bergen
    Gael Garcia Bernal
    Matt Bomer — Nominee, Outstanding Actor In A Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
    Zach Braff
    Connie Britton
    Nicola Coughlan
    Billy Crystal
    Viola Davis
    Giancarlo Esposito
    Colin Farrell
    Jesse Tyler Ferguson
    Lily Gladstone — Nominee, Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie
    Selena Gomez — Nominee, Outstanding Actress In A Comedy Series
    Dulé Hill
    Ron Howard
    Brendan Hunt
    Joshua Jackson
    Allison Janney
    Don Johnson
    Mindy Kaling
    Jimmy Kimmel — Nominee, Outstanding Talk Series, Outstanding Writing For a Variety Special, Outstanding Variety Special Live (Winner)
    Padma Lakshmi
    Greta Lee — Nominee, Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series
    John Leguizamo
    George Lopez
    Diego Luna
    Jane Lynch — Nominee, Outstanding Host for a Game Show
    Steve Martin — Nominee, Outstanding Actor In A Comedy Series
    Nava Mau — Nominee, Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Limited Or Anthology Series or Movie
    Reba McEntire
    Janel Moloney
    Ebon Moss-Bachrach — Nominee, Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series
    Niecy Nash-Betts
    Taylor Zakhar Perez
    Mekhi Phifer
    Melissa Peterman
    Da’Vine Joy Randolph — Nominee, Outstanding Guest Actress In A Comedy Series
    Sam Richardson
    Maya Rudolph
    Richard Schiff
    Martin Sheen
    Martin Short — Nominee, Outstanding Actor In A Comedy Series
    Jean Smart — Nominee, Outstanding Actress In A Comedy Series
    Jimmy Smits
    Antony Starr
    Gina Torres
    Dick Van Dyke
    Susan Kelechi Watson
    Damon Wayans
    Kristen Wiig — Nominee, Outstanding Actress In A Comedy Series
    Henry Winkler
    Bowen Yang
    Steven Yeun

    In addition, there will be special appearances from Olympic gold medalist swimmer Caeleb Dressel and Olympic bronze medal-winning rugby player Ilona Maher.

    For more information, please visit Emmys.com.

    ‘9-1-1: Lone Star’ Officially Ending With Season 5

    (9/5/24) The days of the 126 fighting fires around Austin are numbered, on our screens at least. 9-1-1: Lone Star will be ending with Season 5.

    The upcoming fifth season had been delayed from the 2023-2024 season to the 2024-2025 season due to the dual writers’ and actors’ strikes and will premiere on Monday, September 23. It has been rumored to be the show’s last since June, when it was also reported that Sierra McClain (dispatcher Grace) will not be returning. Now, it is official. The fifth season will be 12 episodes.

    “From the start, fans have followed the heroic and deeply moving stories of the men and women who make up Austin’s 126, so a huge thanks to one of the greatest creative teams in all of television — Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Tim Minear — for creating one of the most action-packed dramas anywhere,” Fox TV Network President Michael Thorn told Deadline. “Now in our final season of the show, we’re set to give it the high-stakes send-off it deserves, complete with breathless rescues, insurmountable odds, and relatable personal struggles, thanks to our incomparable, stellar cast led by Rob Lowe and Gina Torres.”

    Season 5 will begin with a multi-episodic storyline, with Captain Owen Strand (Rob Lowe) and Tommy Vega (Gina Torres) and the rest of the 126 racing into action when a catastrophic train derailment endangers several lives, including some of their own. Following Judd (Jim Parrack) resigning from the 126 to care for his son Wyatt (Jackson Pace) following a bike accident that left him serious injured, Owen needs to find a new lieutenant. He has a difficult decision ahead when both Marjan (Natacha Karam) and Paul (Brian Michael Smith) apply for the promotion.

    Meanwhile, Tommy’s ready to take the next step in her relationship with Trevor (D.B. Woodside), but she finds the road to happiness is filled with obstacles. On his 30th birthday, T.K. (Ronen Rubinstein) gets a surprise visit from someone from his past that could change his and Carlos’ (Rafael Silva) lives forever. Plus, their marriage is put to the test when Carlos becomes obsessed with solving his father’s murder.

    9-1-1: Lone Star premiered on Fox as a spinoff of 9-1-1 in 2020. There hasn’t been much crossover between the two, other than one episode on Lone Star that saw Aisha Hinds, Oliver Stark, and Ryan Guzman guest star, some mentions, and a couple characters. Then, 9-1-1 moved to ABC for its seventh season in the 2023-2024 season, making the possibility of another crossover less likely.

    9-1-1: Lone Star, Fifth and Final Season Premiere, Monday, September 23, 8/7c, Fox

    Black Reel TV Awards Unveils 2024 Nominees

    (6/13/24) Outstanding Lead Performance in a TV Movie or Limited Series
    Uzo Adbua | Painkiller – Netflix
    Deborah Ayorinde | Them: The Scare – Amazon Prime Video
    Zazie Beetz | Black Mirror – Netflix
    Kelvin Harrison Jr. | Genius: MLK/X – National Geographic
    Carl Lumbly | The Fall of the House of Usher (Netflix)
    Ashleigh Murray | The Other Black Girl – HULU
    Leslie Odom Jr. | Great Performances: Purlie Victorious – PBS
    David Oyelowo | Lawmen: Bass Reeves – Paramount+
    Aaron Pierre | Genius: MLK/X – National Geographic
    Courtney B. Vance | Heist 88 – Showtime

    2024 Kids’ Choice Awards Nominees

    (6/4/24) Hosted by SpongeBob SquarePants (voiced by Tom Kenny) and Patrick Star (voiced by Bill Fagerbakke), Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards 2024 will premiere live from their undersea home of Bikini Bottom on Saturday, July 13, at 8 p.m. (ET/PT). The awards also will simulcast across Nickelodeon, TeenNick, Nicktoons, the Nick Jr. channel, TVLand, CMT and MTV2.

    FAVORITE MOVIE ACTRESS
    America Ferrera (Gloria, Barbie)
    Brie Larson (Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel, The Marvels)
    Halle Bailey (Ariel, The Little Mermaid)*
    Jennifer Garner (Jess, The Family Switch)
    Margot Robbie (Barbie, Barbie)*
    Melissa McCarthy (Ursula, The Little Mermaid)
    Zendaya (Chani, Dune: Part Two)
    Zoe Saldana (Gamora, Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol 3).

    ‘Suits: L.A.’ Pilot Sets John Amos, Victoria Justice & Kevin Weisman As Guest Stars

    (4/18/24) NBC‘s Suits: L.A. drama pilot will feature guest appearances by John Amos (Roots, Good Times), Victoria Justice and Kevin Weisman (Alias). The project is an expansion of the Suits universe from Aaron Korsh.

    Suits L.A. centers on Ted Black (Stephen Amell), a former federal prosecutor from New York, who has reinvented himself representing the most powerful clients in Los Angeles after joining forces with his old buddy Stuart Lane (Josh McDermitt) to build Black Lane Law, which specializes in criminal and entertainment law.

    The firm is at a crisis point and to survive Ted must embrace a role he held in contempt his entire career. He is surrounded by a group of characters who test their loyalties to both Ted and each other while they can’t help but mix their personal and professional lives. All of this is going on while events from years ago slowly unravel, leading Ted to leave behind everything and everyone he loved.

    Lex Scott Davis, Bryan Greenberg and Troy Winbush also star.

    Amos is playing himself as a client at Ted’s firm who also has a longstanding friendship with Ted. Justice is playing Dylan Pryor, a young movie star who’s confident and ambitious. She’s on the way up and looking to be represented by Ted. Weisman is playing Lester Thompson, a smart and powerful man who is used to getting his way. He’s just been charged with murder and has to listen to others to stay out of prison.

    Suits: L.A. is not a reboot or revival of the original USA Network series but a brand extension in the vein of the CSI and NCIS franchises featuring new characters in a new location.

    Suits and Suits: L.A. writer and creator Korsh executive produces alongside David Bartis, Doug Liman and Gene Klein, who were EPs on the original series. Victoria Mahoney directs and executive produces the pilot. UCP, a division of Universal Studio Group, is the studio. The team also includes original Suits casting director Bonnie Zane.

    Emmy nominee Amos rose to stardom in the lead role of James Evans on the hit CBS sitcom Good Times and in the role of Kunta Kinte on the groundbreaking miniseries Roots. He also played Admiral Percy Fitzwallace on NBC’s Emmy-winning series The West Wing, co-starred with Eddie Murphy in Coming to America, the film Because of Charley, and Me Time with Kevin Hart and Mark Wahlberg. He’s currently working on a biopic with his son, KC Amos. John Amos is repped by Buchwald.

    Justice is best known for leading the Nickelodeon series Victorious. She recently starred in two Netflix films, Perfect Pairing (2022) and Afterlife of the Party (2021). Later this year, she will be seen co-starring in the thriller Depravity. She is repped by UTA.

    Best known for his role in the hit series Alias, Weisman has also co-starred in Hulu’s Runaways, HBO’s Emmy-nominated comedy series Hello Ladies and Scorpion on CBS. Having appeared in more than 40 shows, his credits include Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The Blacklist and David Kelley’s Amazon Studios drama Goliath opposite Billy Bob Thornton and William Hurt. His feature credits include Kevin Smith’s cult classic Clerks 2, Michael Bay’s Gone in Sixty Seconds, and Rob Reiner’s indie Flipped. He is repped by IAG and Link Entertainment.

    Jennifer Garner To Produce & Star In Netflix Holiday Comedy ‘Mrs. Claus’ From Hello Sunshine, Linden Productions

    (4/3/24) Following her work with Netflix on its popular family films Family Leave and Yes Day, as well as The Adam Project, the sci-fi pic with Ryan Reynolds marking one of its biggest to date in terms of viewership, Jennifer Garner is back in business with the streamer after signing on to star in its holiday comedy, Mrs. Claus, sources tell Deadline.

    Netflix had no comment. Details as to the plot of the film are under wraps. Leah McKendrick (Scrambled) is writing the script, with Reese Witherspoon and Lauren Neustadter set to produce for Hello Sunshine, which has been at work with Garner of late on the acclaimed Apple TV+ thriller series The Last Thing He Told Me. Garner is also producing, as is Nicole King for Linden Productions. Hello Sunshine brought the project to Garner, with Witherspoon providing the original idea.

    Most recently, Garner signed on to star opposite Paul Walter Hauser in Max Winkler’s true-crime pic Fruitcake, as we were first to report. Pic tells the true story of Sandy and Kay Jenkins, a seemingly upstanding middle-class couple who went on to embezzle millions from popular Texas-based business Collin Street Bakery. Garner exec produces and stars in Apple’s The Last Thing He Told Me, which recently secured a second season order, and also recently starred in Starz’s reboot of beloved comedy Party Down. She’ll next be seen reprising her role of Elektra in Marvel Studios’s highly anticipated feature Deadpool & Wolverine, out July 26.

    McKendrick is best known for writing, directing and starring in the egg-freezing dramedy Scrambled, which world premiered at last year’s SXSW Film Festival and was released by Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions earlier this year. Most recently, she was tapped to script an I Know What You Did Last Summer sequel for Sony, on which we were first to report.

    In addition to the second season of The Last Thing He Told Me, Hello Sunshine’s upcoming slate includes Amazon MGM Studios’ Nicholas Stoller comedy You’re Cordially Invited, starring Witherspoon and Will Ferrell, among other projects.

    Past credits for Linden Productions include Netflix’s Family Switch, produced by and starring Garner, as well as Genie starring Melissa McCarthy.

    Garner is repped by CAA, Linden Entertainment, and Sloane, Offer, Weber & Dern; McKendrick by UTA, Kaplan/Perrone Entertainment, and VanderKloot Law; and Witherspoon by CAA, LBI Entertainment, and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller.

    ‘The Last Thing He Told Me’ Renewed For Second Season By Apple TV+

    (3/25/24) Apple TV+ has picked up a second season of The Last Thing He Told Me, which will be based on the forthcoming sequel to the bestselling novel by Laura Dave.

    The sequel to The Last Thing He Told Me tome is set for publication in 2025 from Simon & Schuster/Marysue Rucci Books in the U.S. and Penguin Random House/Century Books in the UK, Australia and New Zealand – ahead of the premiere of the second season of the Apple TV+ series.

    Season 2 will expand the story, with stars Jennifer Garner, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Angourie Rice and David Morse set to reprise their roles. The thriller from 20th Television and Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine follows Hannah Hall (Garner), who must forge a relationship with her 16-year-old stepdaughter Bailey (Rice) in order to find the truth about why her husband has mysteriously disappeared.

    The complete first season of the 2023 series is now streaming on Apple TV+

    “Like so many people, I fell for Hannah on Page 1 of Laura Dave’s gripping novel,” said Garner, who also serves as an EP on the series. “The move to actor and producer from reader and super fan was delicious — and made even sweeter by collaborating with Laura, Josh, Reese and everyone at Hello Sunshine, as well as the amazing teams at Apple and 20th. Being part of this group, not to mention part of such a stellar cast, was a career highlight for me. I’m thrilled to get to tell more of Hannah’s story – I couldn’t have said yes more quickly to Season 2. These characters and their story mean so much to me, as I know they do to the many who have championed our show; we’re excited to give audiences even more with this next chapter.”

    Added Witherspoon: “We are thrilled to be bringing this incredible team back together for another season of The Last Thing He Told Me on Apple TV+. The audience response to Laura Dave’s gorgeous novel and Jen Garner’s stunning performance in the series was so gratifying for all of us at Hello Sunshine. We can’t wait to dive in and see what’s in store for Hannah Hall in Season 2.”

    Created and adapted by Dave, alongside Academy Award-winning co-creator Josh Singer, The Last Thing He Told Me is the first collaboration between the married Dave and Singer, who both serve as executive producers alongside Garner, Witherspoon and Lauren Neustadter.

    Aaron Zelman joins Season 2 as co-showrunner and executive producer with Singer.

    “I’m over the moon to continue telling the story of Hannah and Bailey,” said Dave. “The response to The Last Thing He Told Me has been truly extraordinary, and I’m grateful to everyone who read and shared the book and made this possible.”

    First published in hardcover by Simon & Schuster in 2021, The Last Thing He Told Me was a Reese’s Book Club pick and a New York Times bestseller.

    Dave and Singer are repped by WME, Sugar23 (Singer) and Jamie Feldman of Lichter, Grossman, Nichols, Adler and Feldman.

    ‘Nine Perfect Strangers’ Brings Back Nicole Kidman, Adds Henry Golding, Mark Strong & Lena Olin For Season 2 On Hulu

    (3/21/24) Nicole Kidman will be joined by Henry Golding, Mark Strong and Lena Olin in season two of Nine Perfect Strangers, the Hulu series that’s based on the bestselling book of the same name by Liane Moriarty.

    Kidman will reprise her role as Masha in the show that takes place at a boutique health-and-wellness resort that promises healing and transformation. As the resort’s director, Masha reinvigorates the incoming city dwellers who are looking for a better way of living.

    A return date has not been announced.

    In the second season, Golding (Crazy Rich Asians) will play Peter; Strong (1917) will play David, and Olin (One Life) will play Helena. They join the previously announced Annie Murphy (Schitt’s Creek), Christine Baranski (The Gilded Age), Lucas Englander (Transatlantic), musician King Princess, Murray Bartlett (The White Lotus, The Last Of Us), Dolly de Leon (Triangle of Sadness), Maisie Richardson-Sellers (Undeclared War) and Aras Aydin.

    Nine Perfect Strangers started off as a limited series in September 2021 and became Hulu’s most-watched Hulu original ever — drama, comedy, limited series or unscripted — on premiere day as well as after five days on the service, according to the streamer. The series hails from David E. Kelley, Bruna Papandrea’s Made Up Stories, Kidman’s Blossom Films, and Fifth Season.

    Kidman is repped by CAA, Media Talent, and JTWAMM; Golding by CAA, Megan Silverman Management and Goodman, Genow, Schenkman, Smelkinson & Christopher; Strong by WME and Markham, Froggatt & Irwin; and Olin by Paradigm Talent Agency, Authentic & Literary Management and Sweden’s Agentfirman Planthaber/Kildén/Mandic.

    Jennifer Garner & Paul Walter Hauser To Star In True-Crime Movie ‘Fruitcake’; Max Winkler Directing Black List Script

    (3/13/24) Jennifer Garner (Alias) is set to star with fellow Golden Globe winner Paul Walter Hauser (Black Bird) in true-crime movie Fruitcake.

    Max Winkler (Flower, Jungleland) is directing the true story about Sandy and Kay Jenkins, a seemingly upstanding middle-class couple who went on to embezzle millions from popular Texas-based business Collin Street Bakery. Hauser will play Sandy — an unassuming accountant who was funneling large sums of money into his accounts and credit card bills to support a lavish lifestyle, including expensive jewelry, private jet trips and a second home in New Mexico — while Garner will play his wife, Kay.

    Based on the Texas Monthly article “Just Desserts” by Katy Vine, who will serve as a consultant, the 2016 Black List screenplay is written by Trey Selman and produced by Red Sanders at Texas-based Red Entertainment along with Trey Selman.

    The Exchange is arranging financing and representing the film’s worldwide distribution rights, having previously worked with Winkler on Zoey Deutch starrer Flower.

    Executive producers are Brian O’Shea and Danny Gusman of The Exchange with Collin Street president and CEO Bob McNutt and Texas Monthly’s Scott Brown and Megan Creydt.

    Garner has Deadpool and Wolverine upcoming, while Hauser has Inside Out 2 and War Unfolding in post.

    Winkler said: “For years I have been a fan of Trey Selman’s writing and completely original voice. He is like this Texan monk/philosopher/historian / cowboy who wears his heart on his sleeve and writes the truth in every subject he approaches. However, the saga of the Collin Street Bakery’s fruitcake factory, based on Katy Vine’s brilliant article, remains our white whale. I’m thrilled and honored to get to bring it all to the screen with this wonderful team we have assembled.”

    Five years ago the project was being set up with different financiers and Laura Dern and Will Ferrell attached, but it has undergone a makeover.

    Garner is represented by CAA, Linden Entertainment and Sloane Offer, Hauser by CAA and Artists First and Winkler by CAA and Entertainment 360. Texas Monthly is represented by CAA.

    ‘Blue Bloods’ And ‘How To Get Away With Murder’ Producer Charged With Sexual Assault

    (3/8/24) Laurence Andries, a TV writer and producer who has worked on shows including Blue Bloods, How to Get Away with Murder and The Pacific, has been charged with six felony counts of sexual assault in Los Angeles.

    The accuser, a John Doe, claims Andries drugged and assaulted him in June 2022 after they met for drinks. The writer-producer was arrested in August 2023 after charges were filed by the Los Angeles District Attorney. He remains free on a $150,000 bond and has not yet had a preliminary hearing, according to the Los Angeles Times.

    News of the charges came to light after the John Doe, a military veteran, appeared this week in an ABC-7 interview, calling Andries his mentor in the industry.

    “I believe that he drugged one of my drinks, took me to his place and then … I can’t say the word. I’m sorry, I can’t say it,” the John Doe told ABC-7.

    The charges involve sodomy, oral copulation and sexual penetration by anesthesia or controlled substance of an unconscious or asleep person, according to court documents.

    Andries, 66, was nominated for an Emmy Award in 2022 as part of the team behind HBO’s Six Feet Under, on which he was credited with writing three episodes. His other multi-episode writing credits include Boomtown, The Pacific, Being Mary Jane and Superstition among others. He also was a co-executive producer on series such as Boomtown, Alias, Being Mary Jane, Godfather of Harlem, How to Get Away With Murder and most recently Blue Bloods.

    He started his career writing the 1994 short film Kangaroo Court, directed by Sean Astin and starring Gregory Hines and Michael O’Keefe. It was nominated for the Best Live-Action Short Oscar in 1995.

    ‘Felicity’ Podcast From J.J. Abrams To Feature Stars Keri Russell, Scott Speedman, Scott Foley & Others For 25-Year Look Back

    (3/7/24) Felicity, the WB series that launched Keri Russell, Scott Speedman and Scott Foley to household-name status, is getting a fond look back after 25 years by its stars and producers in a new weekly podcast.

    Dear Felicity, from producer J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot Audio and Spotify’s The Ringer, will debut Wednesday, March 13, with new episodes arriving every Wednesday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and other major podcast platforms.

    While most “rewatch” podcasts are structured in an episode-by-episode format, Dear Felicity will instead cover themes and story arcs, with topics focusing on Felicity, The WB, the careers of those involved, and how the television business functioned at the time.

    Felicity starred Russell as a young California woman attending college in New York City. Speedman and Foley were her love interests.

    Hosted by Felicity stars Amanda Foreman and Greg Grunberg alongside The Ringer’s Juliet Litman, Dear Felicity will bring together cast, crew, executives, and fans of the series. Special guests set to appear include Russell, Abrams, Speedman, Foley, Matt Reeves, Tangi Miller, Ian Gomez, Amy Jo Johnson, Jennifer Garner, Brian Grazer, Keiko Agena, Andrew Jarecki, and more.

    Said Abrams, Co-CEO, Bad Robot, “The experience of Felicity was formative for so many involved. It is such a joy to relive that time, re-examine the episodes, and hear from so many of the wonderful and creative people who helped bring the show to life.”

    The podcast is produced by Bad Robot Audio and Spotify’s The Ringer; J.J. Abrams and Matt Reeves are executive producers, alongside Bad Robot Audio executive producer Christina Choi and producer Shaka Tafari.

    Felicity ran on The WB from 1998 to 2002, and is currently available on Hulu.

    ‘Lincoln Lawyer’ Season 3 Adds Merrin Dungey, Allyn Moriyon, John Pirruccello & Philip Anthony-Rodriguez

    (2/29/24) Netflix‘s The Lincoln Lawyer is bulking up its Season 3 cast with 4 new actors joining the fold: Merrin Dungey, Allyn Moriyon, John Pirruccello and Philip Anthony-Rodriguez.

    They join returning stars Manuel Garcia-Rulfo as Mickey Haller, Becki Newton as Lorna, Jazz Raycole as Izzy, Angus Sampson as Cisco and Yaya DaCosta as Andrea Freemann. The recurring cast also includes Neve Campbell, Elliott Gould, Krista Warner, Fiona Rene and Devon Graye.

    Dungey will portray Judge Regina Turner, a former public defender who is younger and more progressive than most judges in the district, but whether that’s a benefit to Mickey or not remains to be seen. Moriyon plays Eddie Rojas, a fitness buff (and former babysitter to Mickey’s daughter, Hayley) who needs a very good lawyer. Luckily, Mickey can help him and then offers him the opportunity of a lifetime. Pirruccello plays William Forsythe, a seemingly non-threatening prosecutor that Mickey is excited to go up against, but once the trial starts it’s clear nothing is as it seems. Anthony-Rodriguez plays Adam Suarez, the Chief Deputy District Attorney, to whom prosecutor Andrea Freeman (DaCosta) reports and who proves to be a force with whom she must reckon.

    Season 3, currently in production, consists of 10 episodes and is based on the fifth book in The Lincoln Lawyer series by Michael Connelly, The Gods of Guilt. As Deadline revealed exclusively in a preview for the new season, co-showrunners and executive producers Ted Humphrey and Dailyn Rodriguez shared the unique way they’re adapting the book their way.

    “While Season 3 of The Lincoln Lawyer is based on Michael Connelly’s novel The Gods of Guilt, we decided that a fun (and poignant) way to come into the season would be via a flashback sequence that gave us some insight into how Mickey Haller became Mickey Haller — not just the brilliant criminal defense lawyer but the husband, the father, and the man that he would come to be,” they said.

    “There is no comparable flashback in the book, so we devised something that would also serve as a fitting introduction to the story of the season, both on a plot level but also emotionally. These images, of a young Mickey finishing up surfing before a life-changing day at work, as well as cuddling on the couch with his wife Maggie after putting their young daughter Hayley to bed, are from a pair of these flashback scenes that bookend the first episode and propel us into the rest of Season 3,” they added.

    In addition to Humphrey and Rodriguez, executive producers also include David E. Kelley, Michael Connelly, Ross Fineman, Barry Jossen and Tana Jamieson. Kelley created the series for TV and was developed by Humphrey. A+E Studios is the studio.

    Dungey most recently starred in Starz’s Shining Vale with Courteney Cox, Greg Kinnear and Mira Sorvino and had a recurring role on Lucifer. Additionally, she portrayed CJ Emerson on the limited series The Fix, Detective Quinlan on HBO’s Big Little Lies, CEO Claire Thorpe on Fox’s The Resident and recurring roles on ABC’s Once Upon a Time, ABC’s Conviction and ABC’s Alias. She is repped by Gersh, Industry Entertainment and Attorney Marcy Morris.

    Moriyon is a newcomer with the Lincoln Lawyer serving as his TV debut. He graduated from UCSD with an MFA degree in Performing Arts. He is repped by Brave Artists Management.

    Pirruccello is best known for his comedic role as bumbling ‘Detective John Loach’ in Barry. He also played ’Stegman’ in The Valet opposite Eugenio Derbez. He worked with director David Mamet in Phil Spector, where he starred opposite Helen Mirren in the Al Pacino film. Pirruccello starred in an arc on Dave, as well as episodes of Curb Your Enthusiasm, opposite Larry David and as ‘Deputy Chad Broxoford’ in Twin Peaks. He is repped by AKA and Gallant Management.

    Anthony-Rodriguez is an Emmy-nominated actor who most recently appeared in Hulu’s The Company You Keep and Freeform’s Good Trouble. His other TV credits include Apple’s The Morning Show, the Voice of Fifth Brother in Star Wars Rebels and the role of Ruben Enriquez on four seasons of ABC Family’s The Secret Life of the American Teenager. He is repped by SMS Talent and Anthony & Associates Ltd.

    Brad Pitt Roasts Pal Bradley Cooper Over Oscar Directing Snub: “He’s Used To It. He’s a Philadelphia Eagles Fan”

    (2/9/24) Brad Pitt was in top form last night as he presented honoree Bradley Cooper Bwith the Outstanding Performer of the Year Award during the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.

    First, he poked fun at the Academy’s seeming scattershot nominations this year for Cooper and Maestro.

    “Bradley’s nominated for three [Oscars] for producer, writer, actor,” Pitt observed before quipping of Cooper’s directing effort on the film, “apparently the movie directed itself.”

    Cooper, it should be noted, was very magnanimous when he spoke with Deadline’s Pete Hammond lasy month about his Oscar nominations.

    Pitt then continued on and hit Cooper where it hurts.

    “If it’s not [his year to win],” said Pitt, “Bradley’s ok. He’s Fine. He’s used to it. He’s a Philadelphia Eagles fan.”

    The midwest-raised Pitt then pumped his fist and mouthed “Go Chiefs!”

    The bit got big laughs from the audience and a joking rejoinder from Cooper offstage.

    “Man, that’s f*cked up!” he shouted.

    This isn’t the first time the duo has helped one another out on the awards circuit — or in much more important matters, it turns out.

    In 2020, when Pitt was campaigning for what would become his first acting Oscar for Once Upon a Time in America, Cooper stepped up to introduce his pal at the National Board of Review ceremony.

    “Thank you, Bradley. Bradley just put his daughter to bed and then rushed over to do this,” an appreciative Pitt said as he took the stage after Cooper’s introduction. He then revealed a deeper bond between them.

    “I got sober because of this guy and every day has been happier since.”

    Suits Stars Go to Court Against Each Other in Super Bowl Commercial

    (2/8/24) (Video) Jessica Pearson and Louis Litt are facing off in court, and Donna Paulsen is taking notes on the legal battle.

    In a new Super Bowl commercial for e.l.f Cosmetics, Suits stars Gina Torres (aka Jessica), Rick Hoffman (Louis) and Sarah Rafferty (Donna) reunite in front of Judge Beauty (played by the iconic Judge Judith Sheindlin). The trio is used to being on the same side of the case in their USA Network drama, but in this instance, Hoffman accuses his boss (Torres) of spending company funds on expensive makeup.

    “Pricey makeup is a scam, like couples therapy or boundaries,” Hoffman argues as Rafferty plays courtroom stenographer. (Does no one at e.l.f know what Donna’s job was on Suits?)

    Judge Beauty agrees that the cosmetics are wasteful. “You’re telling me you need to spend $92 on foundation? Don’t pee on my leg and tell me it’s raining!” the judges declares.

    When Torres confesses that the makeup isn’t even cruelty-free, she earns horrified gasps from the celeb-filled jury, which includes Jury Duty’s Ronald Gladden, RuPaul’s Drag Race’s HeidiNCloset and singer Meghan Trainor.

    After Torres is sentenced to using e.l.f’s reasonably-priced cosmetics, Hoffman wonders what he gets from the verdict. “Sorry, no makeup can cover up irritating,” Judge Beauty answers. In extremely Louis Litt fashion, Hoffman responds, “That’s OK, I don’t mind being irritating.”

    The commercial comes on the heels of Suits’ unexpected resurgence as it soared to streaming records on Netflix over last summer, becoming the most-streamed program of 2023. Available on Netflix since June (as well as on Peacock), the “blue sky” drama racked up 57.7 billion minutes viewed across its 134-episode library, Nielsen reports in its 2023 wrap-up, easily topping the list of Top 10 overall programs.

    The show’s recent popularity led to a cast reunion at the Golden Globe Awards last month, featuring stars Gabriel Macht (Harvey Specter), Patrick J. Adams (Mike Ross), Torres and Rafferty.r

    J.J. Abrams Set For Cinema Audio Society’s Filmmaker Award

    (1/25/24) Star Wars and Star Trek alum J. J. Abrams is set for the Cinema Audio Society‘s 2024 Filmmaker Award. The Lost double Emmy winner will be honored during the 60th anniversary CAS Awards on March 2 at the Beverly Hilton.

    The sci-fi and genre veteran and Bad Robot co-CEO’s films include two Star Wars and Star Trek titles along with Mission: Impossible III and Cloverfield. Among the 10-time Emmy nominee’s small-screen credits are Felicity, Alias, Lost, Castle Rock, Westworld, Lovecraft Country and the upcoming series Duster and Presumed Innocent.

    “There are no doubt aspects of the filmmaking process as important as that of sound, but there is nothing more important,” Abrams said. “I have been incredibly lucky to collaborate with some of the best production and post production sound teams in the business, and I’m grateful every day — as filmmaker and moviegoer — for their remarkable artistry and skill. This is a group of artists and technicians I admire enormously, feel indebted to, and look forward to celebrating at this year‘s awards.”

    Said CAS President Peter Kurland: “It is our honor to bestow the 2024 CAS Filmmaker Award to esteemed multi-hyphenate, J.J. Abrams. Recognized for his exceptional contributions to the media landscape, Abrams’ innovative storytelling from television to feature films captivates audiences worldwide. His mastery of music and sound, coupled with a keen understanding of the human experience, makes him a truly deserving recipient.”

    As announced, the 2024 CAS Career Achievement Award will be presented to Joe Earle, a 14-time CAS Award nominee and two-time winner for American Crime Story.

    Bradley Cooper Reacts To Seven Oscar Nominations For ‘Maestro’, Including Three Of His Own: “It’s Very Surreal”

    (1/23/24) Bradley Cooper had a very good morning. Not only did he join Christopher Nolan as the only person with three individual Oscar nominations today for his film Maestro, he also joined a very elite club of actors who have directed themselves into Best Actor nominations twice, a list that only includes Laurence Olivier (who did it three times), Clint Eastwood and Warren Beatty. However this is all not new for Cooper who previously had been nominated nine, count ’em, nine times for Oscars in various categories as producer, screenwriter, and five times for acting. This one is quite special though.

    “I mean just first of all, it is the year itself, to be included in a year where there’s just such incredible films. And then when we were finishing the movie, there was a discussion of whether it would come out next year or this year, and I remember thinking that I knew the movies that were coming out. I thought it would just be amazing if we were ever so lucky to be in a mix with these films, and these performances so it’s a thrill. And for all the work that everybody put in, for many of us to be acknowledged, you know, Pete it’s like very surreal,” he laughed as I talked to him on the phone this morning.

    Cooper also got three nominations last week from BAFTA including one for Best Director, the only category where he wasn’t Oscar nominated this year, but he told me he wasn’t disappointed about that at all. “I really didn’t know that we were going to get anything thing today, so the fact that we got seven nominations is incredible,” he said, adding about the BAFTA recognition, “That really meant a lot to us. You know the BAFTAs are incredible and I’m excited. I just get excited that we get to go and we get to see each other.”

    One of the things he loves about the whole awards season is that he does get to meet others, and that includes fellow Best Actor nominee Colman Domingo who was among those he got to speak to after the nominations were announced.

    “I have to say I’ve gotten to know Colman who I just love, and to be able to talk to him today was just awesome. And what a performance. We did a photo shoot for a magazine recently. And then we exchanged numbers. And since then, we’ve just been, you know, talking and texting and I was able to just to tell him how wonderful he was in Rustin. I got to meet Cillian (Murphy) at the Golden Globes who I’ve never met all these years. I remember we kind of started out around the same time. I feel like he exploded though with 28 Days Later, and then Sunshine blew me away. So that is the one great thing about this time of the year is you get to meet people that you’ve been fans of and just sort of shower praise on them. Then the other thing is, it starts to feel like a community,” he said, comparing it to the theater community in New York City where people congregate together in little pockets in the city. “Somebody else is doing the same thing when you’re making a movie, and when you get to the end of the year, and you’re all together and you realize, ‘oh, yeah, they were making Oppenheimer when they were making Rustin, and while we were making Maestro, and then it feels really like that sort of emotional sense of that there’s a community.”

    As for all this recognition for Maestro, he is happy because it was a vision he had not just as a biopic but something much deeper about Leonard Bernstein, the man and his marriage and family and all that complexity. “It was when I saw that there was a possibility for merging a human story and a way that could be explored with all of the complications and confusions of what it is to just be a human in this world. This story of their relationship I thought encompassed the ability for us to explore all of those things in a film, coupled with his music, for his music to guide it,” he said. “I thought that combination of being able to have a story that hopefully people feel that they can relate to in ways that they didn’t think they would, and then yet it’s so cinematic because of this incredible genius of a musician. Because the movie is really created and structured through his music.”

    Cooper says he is thrilled about the nominations for the Sound team since that is so intrinsic to the success of the movie, as well as Matthew Libatique’s cinematography, the makeup, particularly his years-long work with Kazu Hiro, the screenplay he wrote with Josh Singer, and of course a Best Actress nomination for Carey Mulligan.

    “It was my hope when I started to realize what movie I wanted to write and explore, that there would be an actress that could fulfill that, and then Carey not only fulfilled it, but allowed me to explore cinematically in ways that I wouldn’t know if she wasn’t able to just be, I would say, almost transcendent, so that the camera, that the movie wants to stay on her. So I just listened to the movie and listened to her from what she was doing,” he said. “She really commandeered it in a way that I wanted her to, and that I wanted Felicia to, and I think that’s why the children became so excited from the very beginning that their mother’s story was going to be explored just as well as their father’s. But Carey, I’ve always been a huge fan of hers. I really do believe that she’s doing something even that I haven’t seen before, and that is what you hope as an actor to keep growing. And I’m excited to see what she’s gonna do next and I hope and pray I get to work with her again in my life.”

    Speaking of the “kids,” one of the first reactions Cooper got was indeed from the family who were so integral into letting Cooper into the world of their parents. He shared a WhatsApp chat earlier today with Jamie Bernstein that he told me was just wonderful to see. “From Jamie: Hugs and more hugs. Love riding this crazy train with you, and onward we go!”

    Onward to the Oscars. Pretty nice.

    2024 Oscar Nominations

    (1/23/24) The 96th Academy Awards air March 10 on ABC.

    Best Picture
    American Fiction: Ben LeClair, Nikos Karamigios, Cord Jefferson and Jermaine Johnson, Producers
    Anatomy of a Fall: Marie-Ange Luciani and David Thion, Producers
    Barbie: David Heyman, Margot Robbie, Tom Ackerley and Robbie Brenner, Producers
    The Holdovers: Mark Johnson, Producer
    Killers of the Flower Moon: Dan Friedkin, Bradley Thomas, Martin Scorsese and Daniel Lupi, Producers
    Maestro: Bradley Cooper, Steven Spielberg, Fred Berner, Amy Durning and Kristie Macosko Krieger, Producers
    Oppenheimer: Emma Thomas, Charles Roven and Christopher Nolan, Producers
    Past Lives: David Hinojosa, Christine Vachon and Pamela Koffler, Producers
    Poor Things: Ed Guiney, Andrew Lowe, Yorgos Lanthimos and Emma Stone, Producers
    The Zone of Interest: James Wilson, Producer

    Actor in a Leading Role
    Bradley Cooper: Maestro
    Colman Domingo: Rustin
    Paul Giamatti: The Holdovers
    Cillian Murphy: Oppenheimer
    Jeffrey Wright: American Fiction

    Writing (Original Screenplay)
    Anatomy of a Fall: Screenplay – Justine Triet and Arthur Harari
    The Holdovers: Written by David Hemingson
    Maestro: Written by Bradley Cooper & Josh Singer
    May December: Screenplay by Samy Burch; Story by Samy Burch & Alex Mechanik
    Past Lives: Written by Celine Song.

    2024 BAFTA Nominations

    (1/18/24) Winners will be announced at the 2024 BAFTA Film Awards ceremony, hosted by actor David Tennant on February 18 at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall in London.

    DIRECTOR
    ALL OF US STRANGERS Andrew Haigh
    ANATOMY OF A FALL Justine Triet
    THE HOLDOVERS Alexander Payne
    MAESTRO Bradley Cooper
    OPPENHEIMER Christopher Nolan
    THE ZONE OF INTEREST Jonathan Glazer

    ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
    ANATOMY OF A FALL Justine Triet, Arthur Harari
    BARBIE Greta Gerwig, Noah Baumbach
    THE HOLDOVERS David Hemingson
    MAESTRO Bradley Cooper, Josh Singer
    PAST LIVES Celine Song

    LEADING ACTOR
    BRADLEY COOPER Maestro
    COLMAN DOMINGO Rustin
    PAUL GIAMATTI The Holdovers
    BARRY KEOGHAN Saltburn
    CILLIAN MURPHY Oppenheimer
    TEO YOO Past Lives

    2024 SAG Awards Nominations

    (1/10/24) Winners in SAG’s 15 categories will be announced Saturday, February 24 at the Shrine Auditorium & Expo Hall in Los Angeles in a ceremony streaming live on Netflix.

    Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
    BRADLEY COOPER / Leonard Bernstein – “MAESTRO”
    COLMAN DOMINGO / Bayard Rustin – “RUSTIN”
    PAUL GIAMATTI / Paul Hunham – “THE HOLDOVERS”
    CILLIAN MURPHY / J. Robert Oppenheimer – “OPPENHEIMER”
    JEFFREY WRIGHT / Thelonious “Monk” Ellison – “AMERICAN FICTION”

    AARP Movies For Grownups Nominations

    (1/9/24) Best Actress (TV): Jennifer Aniston (The Morning Show), Jennifer Coolidge (The White Lotus), Jennifer Garner (The Last Thing He Told Me), Imelda Staunton (The Crown), Meryl Streep (Only Murders in the Building)

    London Critics’ Circle Awards Noms

    (12/20/23) The Critics’ Circle is the UK’s longest-standing critics association, and its Film Awards are voted on by a 210-strong section of its membership.

    ACTOR OF THE YEAR
    Bradley Cooper – Maestro
    Paul Giamatti – The Holdovers
    Cillian Murphy – Oppenheimer
    Andrew Scott – All of Us Strangers
    Jeffrey Wright – American Fiction

    Australia’s AACTA International Awards Nominations

    (12/14/23) The hardware will be handed out February 10 at AACTA Awards, held on the Gold Coast in Queensland.

    Best Lead Actor
    Bradley Cooper – Maestro
    Leonardo DiCaprio – Killers of the Flower Moon
    Cillian Murphy – Oppenheimer
    Andrew Scott – All of Us Strangers
    Jeffrey Wright – American Fiction

    Greg Grunberg Developing TV Project With Popular Internet Crusader TizzyEnt: “He’s the Castle Of Social Media Sleuthing”

    (12/13/23) A Florida-based filmmaker who has garnered a massive following on social media for calling out crooks, conmen and racists could become the inspiration behind a new TV project, if actor-producer Greg Grunberg has his way.

    Michael McWhorter, better known to his more than 6 million followers on TikTok as TizzyEnt, made a name for himself in 2021 by exposing a woman who was selling fake Covid vaccine cards during the pandemic. Since then, his daily posts seeking justice for victims of verbal and physical harassment, as well as straight-up criminal acts, have become catnip to his myriad followers, including Grunberg.

    McWhorter has become so ubiquitous in his quest as a social crusader that people frequently tag him in video posts whenever a person is victimized. Even if he stopped actively looking for cases of wrongdoing, McWhorter says he has enough tips in his inbox to keep his social media feeds packed with content for months.

    “He is the Castle of social media sleuthing,” said Grunberg, in reference to Nathan Fillion’s portrayal of a bestselling author-turned-crime solver in the old ABC drama Castle. “I’ll be in my car or somewhere and I’ll see a video where he nailed somebody and that person is now paying the price for what they did. And hopefully it teaches other people, ‘Oh yeah, civility is a thing and we need to be kind to each other! Oh, I can’t just say what’s on my mind!’ When I hear that, it gives me faith. It really does. Tizzy is the perfect character to bring a new kind of procedural drama to light.”

    Unlike other influencers, McWhorter doesn’t make life-changing money off his social media posts. Instead, his day job has been working as a filmmaker on music videos, commercials and indie projects in the Sunshine state. He edits his TikTok videos on his phone to save time, and never uses a script. “I sort of run [lines] in my mind ahead of time as I gather assets I might need … photos, articles, screenshots … but I never have them written out,” he tells Deadline. “I just go off the cuff from there.”

    It’s not just the subject matter that makes his videos so compelling. Distinctive with his deep voice and Santa-like beard, McWhorter is both authoritative and immensely relatable as he shares appalling acts of misconduct caught on video, like the couple who spewed racist language at a fellow bar patron, or the man in a Tesla who terrorized women in a frightening act of road rage, or the Utah woman who has been berating her neighbors with racist language for months.

    McWhorter posts the videos and asks his followers to help identify the perpetrators. Most the time, an answer comes back in days, if not hours. Take the case of that Utah woman, who’s been repeatedly filmed screaming the n-word to the interracial family who lives nearby. McWhorter just posted the video on December 11; within hours, the town mayor and Utah Rep. Andrew Stoddard weighed in, while several news outlets picked up the story (the family has since retained an attorney).

    “I hate it. I wish it couldn’t happen,” McWhorter tells Deadline. “We have this blurred idea of what free speech is. Like, ‘Hey, who’s it hurting? It’s free speech.’ And it’s like, no, when you say certain things and it’s combined with other things, then it is a crime. You’re not allowed to yell fire in a crowded theater for a reason.”

    What’s more shocking to McWhorter is how, despite the proliferation of gotcha videos on social media, how many people still haven’t changed their tune. “I don’t understand how every single person, the second they see a phone come out, don’t completely change their attitude,” he said. “They go like, ‘What are you doing? Everything’s fine. I don’t understand why you’re recording me.’ And 99% of the time, they’re happy to repeat it.”

    Grunberg, whose company Gobstopper Pictures obtained the life rights to McWhorter, stumbled on the call-out creator the same way anyone does these days — by surfing X. “I find it fascinating how he works alongside the authorities to catch people using, as he puts it, the internet as one big small town,” said Grunberg, best known for his work on Heroes and Alias. “And it just fascinated me. So I immediately direct messaged him and I said, ‘I am a big fan of yours. If you’d ever want to develop something or work together, let me know.’ And that’s how our relationship started.”

    “It wouldn’t be a show about me. It’s more about the idea of what I do,” added McWhorter, who also takes time to post about other hot button issues — like this summer’s strike in Hollywood. “I’m not anything special. It wasn’t like I was a detective for many years and now I’m doing this thing. I’m just a guy who has a bunch of people who follow me who are very engaged and helpful. If I post about someone and no one messages me, sometimes I’m not going to find the person. If no one shared it, if it didn’t go anywhere, if nobody saw it, it’s not going to happen. So I kind of rely on a social crowd-sourcing for this information. I can focus on this one thing for a moment, make a video about it and then put it in front of people who have their own vested interests, who are trying to chase stuff down or help. This could be done by anyone.”

    The Critics Choice Awards Nominations

    (12/13/23) The 29th annual Critics Choice Awards will air live Sunday January 14, 2024 on The CW from 7-10 pm ET (delayed PT, check local listings).

    BEST ACTOR
    Bradley Cooper – Maestro
    Leonardo DiCaprio – Killers of the Flower Moon
    Colman Domingo – Rustin
    Paul Giamatti – The Holdovers
    Cillian Murphy – Oppenheimer
    Jeffrey Wright – American Fiction

    BEST DIRECTOR
    Bradley Cooper – Maestro
    Greta Gerwig – Barbie
    Yorgos Lanthimos – Poor Things
    Christopher Nolan – Oppenheimer
    Alexander Payne – The Holdovers
    Martin Scorsese – Killers of the Flower Moon

    BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
    Samy Burch – May December
    Alex Convery – Air
    Bradley Cooper & Josh Singer – Maestro
    Greta Gerwig & Noah Baumbach – Barbie
    David Hemingson – The Holdovers
    Celine Song – Past Lives

    Nominations For The 81st Annual Golden Globe Awards

    (12/11/23) The awards ceremony will Air Live on CBS and Stream on Paramount+ on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024

    BEST PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
    BRADLEY COOPER (MAESTRO)
    LEONARDO DICAPRIO (KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON)
    COLMAN DOMINGO (RUSTIN)
    BARRY KEOGHAN (SALTBURN)
    CILLIAN MURPHY (OPPENHEIMER)
    ANDREW SCOTT (ALL OF US STRANGERS)

    BEST DIRECTOR – MOTION PICTURE
    BRADLEY COOPER (MAESTRO)
    GRETA GERWIG (BARBIE)
    YORGOS LANTHIMOS (POOR THINGS)
    CHRISTOPHER NOLAN (OPPENHEIMER)
    MARTIN SCORSESE (KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON)
    CELINE SONG (PAST LIVES)

    Bradley Cooper & Christian Bale Circling Cold War Spy Pic ‘Best Of Enemies’ From Atlas Entertainment

    (12/8/23) Following their work together on David O. Russell’s 2013 Best Picture-nominated crime comedy American Hustle, Bradley Cooper and Christian Bale are in talks to reteam on Best of Enemies, a new film based on the book Best of Enemies: The Last Great Spy Story of the Cold War by Eric Dezenhall and Gus Russo.

    American Hustle‘s Eric Warren Singer is aboard to script the pic, with Atlas Entertainment‘s Charles Roven (Oppenheimer) aboard to produce and Madison Weireter and Ryan Sanak also part of the production team on behalf of Atlas. While Netflix and Apple have been reported as leading the chase for the package, Deadline understands that it’s still in play with the full array of studios and streamers. There’s no word yet on who will direct the pic, but we hear there’s a possibility that Cooper could step behind the camera here following his work on the leading awards contender Maestro.

    Published by Hachette imprint Twelve in 2018, Best of Enemies tells the story of CIA agent Jack Platt and KGB agent Gennady Vasilenko, a pair of Cold War spies who developed an unlikely friendship at a time when they should have been anything but. Platt and Vasilenko were new entrants to the Washington, D.C. intelligence scene back in 1978, with the former working out of the CIA’s counterintelligence office and the latter, out of the Soviet Embassy. Remarkably, they came to establish strong personal ties, even after each was sent to seduce the other into betraying their country.

    The pair were involved with solving some of the most famous spy stories of the 20th century, including the rooting out of Soviet mole Robert Hanssen. While Vasilenko spent some time in a Soviet prison after it came to the government’s attention that he’d been working as a double agent for the U.S., he was ultimately freed with help from the CIA during the Spy Swap of 2010. Among other advocates during his period of incarceration was none other than American Hustle‘s Robert De Niro.

    Sources say Cooper will play Platt, with Bale as Vasilenko.

    Cooper is coming off writing, directing, producing and starring in Maestro, an acclaimed Netflix drama surrounding the complex relationship between famed composer Leonard Bernstein and his wife Felicia Montealegre, which hit theaters in limited release last month and debuts on the streamer on December 20th.

    Recently lending his voice to the English-language dub of Hayao Miyazaki’s The Boy and the Heron, Bale was previously seen in films including Netflix’s Edgar Allan Poe pic The Pale Blue Eye, David O. Russell’s Amsterdam, and Thor: Love and Thunder.

    Roven is coming off of the huge success of Christopher Nolan’s Oscar-contending historical epic Oppenheimer, which grossed over $950M worldwide in theaters.

    Today’s Best of Enemies news was first reported by Insneider.

    The National Board Of Review Winner

    (12/6/23) NBR Icon Award: Bradley Cooper

    Canadian Screen Legends Catherine O’Hara, Victor Garber and Megan Follows Talk Their New ‘Anne of Green Gables’ Audible Series

    (12/2/23) For Megan Follows, Anne of Green Gables is like the tide on a beach.

    “It comes in and goes out then comes back again,” the actress says of her role as the free-spirited, redheaded Anne, a role she immortalized at age 17 in the classic 1985 CBC film, Anne of Green Gables, and in follow-ups – Anne of Green Gables: The Sequel (1987) and Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story (2000).

    For better or worse, her dare-I-say-perfect portrayal has come to define Follows. But, unlike some actors who might grow grumpy at being type-cast in a specific role, Follows has leaned into the “better” part by thoroughly embracing what Anne Shirley might call her “lot in life.”

    This year, almost 40 years after she initially played Anne, the tide is in again as Follows circles back to Lucy Maud Montgomery’s beloved story via a new Audible original audiobook, Anne of Green Gables. The immersive audio drama features nine chapters — scored beautifully and chock full of squawking birds and bubbling brooks — that dropped at the end of November. And this time, Follows isn’t playing Anne but, rather, running the show.

    “As director, you’re responsible for the whole orchestra rather than just your own instrument,” Follows explains with an Anne-worthy metaphor, coffee in hand, during a chat with me bright and early from Vancouver over Zoom. “Acting is deep but very narrow, while directing is broader. It’s wonderful to have a different perspective and be responsible for different things,” she says.

    Follows has previously narrated many Annes and an Emily of New Moon after acting in the Anne films. But now that she’s at the helm, how will she revamp a universally-beloved story without upsetting devotees to the original?

    One strategy is clever casting: 17-year-old Canadian actress Michela Luci stars as Anne while the cast is rounded out by Canadian screen legends including Grey’s Anatomy’s Sandra Oh as the narrator, while Schitt’s Creek matriarch Catherine O’Hara plays Marilla Cuthbert and Alias and Argo actor Victor Garber co-stars as Matthew Cuthbert, the siblings who adopt Anne. But even stars of this size, if you can believe it, get a little intimidated by the power of Anne.

    “I came to Anne late, I confess,” says Garber, 74, who knew of the story but hasn’t watched the CBC version a hundred times like some (that’s me). “It’s such an iconic Canadian story, and I was so grateful to be asked to be in this, so I went back and watched Megan’s version and was just blown away.”

    Because it’s awesome, of course, but also because the film’s filled with Garber’s old friends.

    “Turns out I know almost everyone in the production! Megan since she was 14, and Colleen Dewhurst, and my old friend Jayne Eastwood,” says Garber of the cozy Canadian film world.

    O’Hara, meanwhile, loved the show without reading the book. “This is embarrassing, as I blame my family for this, but I didn’t read Anne at home until this project,” the 69-year-old admits. “I’m sorry! Please don’t tell anyone!”

    After she got the role and read up, it turns out O’Hara and Anne are kindred spirits: “My middle name on my birth certificate is Ann without and E, but I changed it and added an E because I thought it sounded more sophisticated — just like Anne Shirley!”

    Both Marilla and Matthew’s roles are challenging in this medium because, well, they don’t talk much. “My character is so subtle and moving, he’s really a listener,” says Garber of Matthew Cuthbert who, although his words are few, drives the whole plot with his initial affection for chatterbox Anne. For example: “Which would you rather be if you had the choice — divinely beautiful or dazzlingly clever or angelically good?” asks Anne. “Well now, I — I don’t know,” mumbles Matthew. Follows directed Garber’s performance over Zoom from New York City.

    O’Hara did her part with Follows in person — albeit from the cottage. “I think that helped get me in the mood,” she says of her Canadian setting. “I don’t know if it’d be the same from L.A.” Or maybe it would, if Follows is as great at directing as everyone says she is. Granted, she’s got a whole lot of experience. “Megan grew up in the Anne world, she helped to build the world, so she’s the expert — next to Lucy Maud Montgomery,” says O’Hara.

    While it’s admittedly tempting when voice-acting to turn the theatrics right up, and though Moira Rose reading Marilla Cuthbert would indeed make an awesome TikTok, Follows helped O’Hara capture her role’s understated heart. “At the beginning, Marilla is holding in so much pain and she never lets herself have a moment to feel. Thanks to Anne, she learns to open her heart and show her feelings,” says O’Hara. After all that repression, a declaration of motherly love (“Anne Shirley, I wouldn’t trade you for a dozen boys”) effortlessly cues the waterworks — no visuals required.

    Next year marks the 150th anniversary of Lucy Maud Montgomery’s birth but, however old-timey and nostalgic it seems on the surface, Anne of Green Gables works as well in this new medium as it does on the page. “She writes a lot of dialogue, it’s so dialogue-heavy, almost like a modern script,” says Follows.

    The same’s very true of Montgomery’s content, which fascinatingly functions on multiple and ever-changing levels — depending on the reader (or in this case, the listener).

    “You may think Anne’s talking about, say, cherry blossoms on a tree,” explains Follows. “But really she’s talking about contemporary choices to see beauty in the world instead of going towards darkness.”

    As an audiobook, you’ll have to imagine the cherry blossoms in your head, but the metaphor will be louder and clearer than ever before.

    Anne of Green Gables is available on Audible now.

    Bradley Cooper To Receive Santa Barbara Film Festival’s Outstanding Performer Of The Year Award

    (11/30/23) With his role as musical icon Leonard Bernstein in Netflix’s Maestro racking up critical acclaim since the film’s premiere at Venice in September, Bradley Cooper adds another laurel with the Santa Barbara Film Festival naming him the honoree of its Outstanding Performer of the Year Award. It will be presented to the star at a tribute at the Arlington Theatre on February 8, 2024.

    In addition to starring in the film opposite Carey Mulligan, Cooper also directed, co-wrote and was a producer of Maestro, his second time taking on director reins. A nine-time Oscar nominee, Grammy winner and Tony nominee, Cooper’s directorial debut A Star Is Born, which he also co-wrote, produced, starred and directed, garnered eight Oscar nominations. Following the success of his producorial work, Cooper started his production company Lea Pictures in 2020.

    “Nine-time Oscar nominee Bradley Cooper has proven to be an actor of incredible range and versatility. What has impressed me the most is that he has grown to be one of the most indelible directing voices.

    He’s a renaissance man – an outstanding performer indeed,” SBIFF’s executive director Roger Durling noted.

    Past recipients of SBIFF’s Outstanding Performer Of The Year award include Cate Blanchett, Sacha Baron Cohen, Adam Driver, Jennifer Lawrence, Angelina Jolie, Helen Mirren, Charlize Theron and more.

    The 39th Santa Barbara Film Festival will take place February 7-17.

    Trailer for the body-swap movie Family Switch

    (11/2/23) (Video) Netflix has released a trailer for the body-swap movie Family Switch (with Jennifer Garner), premiering Thursday, Nov. 30:

    ‘Maestro’ Trailer: Bradley Cooper Orchestrates Leonard Bernstein Biopic For Netflix

    (10/25/23) (Video) The official trailer for Netflix’s Maestro, starring, co-written and directed by Bradley Cooper in the story of composer Leonard Bernstein, dropped Wednesday ahead of its theatrical release November 22. It is set to debut on Netflix on December 20.

    The runup to the release comes after the pic had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival. After a stop at the New York Film Festival, next up comes a slot as the closing-night film of AFI Fest on October 29 at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.

    Maestro tells the complex love story of Bernstein and Felicia Montealegre Cohn Bernstein (Carey Mulligan) — a story that spans more than 30 years. Matt Bomer, Maya Hawke, Sarah Silverman, Josh Hamilton, Scott Ellis, Gideon Glick, Sam Nivola, Alexa Swinton and Miriam Shor.

    ‘Maestro’ To Receive Gotham Awards Cultural Icon & Creator Tribute Honoring Director Bradley Cooper And Leonard Bernstein

    (10/19/23) The Gotham Awards will honor Maestro, the upcoming Netflix film by Bradley Cooper, with its new Cultural Icon & Creator Tribute that recognizes cultural icons and filmmakers responsible for bringing their story to life.

    The tribute, created for this year’s ceremony, “will honor New York legend Leonard Bernstein, the acclaimed musician, conductor, composer, teacher, and author, while celebrating Cooper and his masterful effort cinematically capturing his story,” the Gotham Film & Media Institute said today.

    “With Maestro, Bradley Cooper and the film’s entire creative team have vividly brought to life the story of an almost mythical figure in popular culture,” said Jeffrey Sharp, executive director of the Institute, which hosts the awards. “Cooper has crafted a powerful story that highlights the ecstatic highs and anguished lows that come with a life pursuing love, family, and art. It is our privilege to honor Bernstein, Cooper, and this spectacular film.”

    Maestro premiered at the Venice Film Festival, Deadline review here. It chronicles the lifelong relationship between Bernstein and Felicia Montealegre Cohn Bernstein, played by Cooper and Carey Mulligan. The film was written by Cooper and Josh Singer (Spotlight, The Post) with Cooper, Steven Spielberg, Kristie Macosko Krieger, Fred Berner, Amy Durning, and Martin Scorsese are producers.

    Born in 1918, Leonard “Lenny” Bernstein was appointed to his first permanent conducting post at the age of 25 in 1943, as Assistant Conductor of the New York Philharmonic. On November 14, 1943, Bernstein substituted on a few hours’ notice for the ailing Bruno Walter at a Carnegie Hall concert, which was broadcast nationally on radio, receiving critical acclaim. Soon orchestras worldwide sought him out as a guest conductor. He became Music Director of the New York Philharmonic in 1958. From then until 1969, he led more concerts with the orchestra than any previous conductor. He lso contributed substantially to the Broadway musical stage. In 1957 he collaborated with Jerome Robbins, Stephen Sondheim, and Arthur Laurents, on the landmark musical West Side Story. Festivals of Bernstein’s music have been produced throughout the world. He passed away in 1990.

    “From the beginning of the filmmaking process, Bradley and Carey spent as much time with us as they could, learning about our parents. Along the way, we came to realize how Lenny-like Bradley actually was — not only in his intensity, open-heartedness, and constant striving for perfection; but also in his ability to absorb and reflect the culture around him. Our father did it with music; Bradley does it through his filmmaking. Their combined marks on history are indelible. As for Carey, she astounded us with her brilliant portrayal of our mother: the subtle, graceful Felicia. We are so grateful to Carey, and to Bradley, for bringing our mother and father back to us through the screen,” said the couple’s three children, Alexander, Nina and Jamie Bernstein, who helped in the production.

    Netflix will release Maestro in select U.S. theaters Nov. 2. Streaming Dec. 20.

    The 33rd annual Gotham Awards Ceremony is set for Nov. 27 at Cipriani Wall Street in NYC. Nominees will be announced Oct. 24.

    Air, which tells the story of the creation of the Air Jordan brand, will also receive the Gotham Visionary Icon & Creator Tribute, recognizing director Ben Affleck‘s film as well as the real-life collaborators on the Michael Jordan shoe phenomenon.

    Lena Olin To Star In Icelandic Detective Drama Series ‘The Darkness’ From CBS Studios

    (10/12/23) CBS Studios is continuing its push into international drama.

    The company is behind Icelandic series The Darkness, starring Enemies, A Love Story and Hunters star Lena Olin, for broadcaster Síminn.

    Olin stars as Detective Inspector Hulda Hermannsdóttir in the series, based on Ragnar Jónasson’s thriller book series. It follows Hermannsdóttir as she investigates a shocking murder case whilst coming to terms with her own personal traumas. Faced with an impending early retirement and forced to take on a new partner, Hulda is determined to find the killer, even if it means putting her own life in danger.

    Sam Shore (Mystic) will write and Lasse Hallström will direct the six-part series. It is produced by CBS Studios and Stampede Ventures, as part of the two companies first-look deal, and Icelandic production company Truenorth. Jónasson serves as executive producer. The series will be distributed outside of Iceland by Paramount Global Content Distribution.

    It is CBS Studios’ latest international series after Colin From Accounts, NCIS: Sydney and Gold Diggers.

    “With The Darkness, CBS Studios solidifies its commitment to telling captivating stories with extraordinary talent in front of and behind the camera,” said Lindsey Martin, SVP, International Co-Productions & Development, CBS Studios. “The team was able to create a visionary, propulsive, English-language crime drama from Jónasson’s rich, fascinating source material and we are excited for audiences to see this thrilling series come to life on the screen.”

    Victor Garber Signs With Paradigm

    (10/12/23) Paradigm has signed multiple Emmy- and Tony Award-nominated actor Victor Garber for representation in all areas.

    Garber is perhaps best known for roles on series including Alias, Frasier and Will & Grace, having notched three Emmy nominations for his work on the former ABC spy series, as well as one for each of the others. He earned an additional nomination from the TV Academy for his portrayal of Judy Garland’s third husband Sid Luft in the ABC miniseries Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows, and has memorably appeared on the film side in the Academy Award winners Titanic and Argo, along with Gus Van Sant’s Milk.

    Currently starring on the Canadian legal drama Family Law, Farber has also been seen on series like Legends of Tomorrow, Deception, Eli Stone and Justice, having recently recurred on And Just Like That…, Power Book II: Ghost and The Orville, in addition to Power and The Flash.

    Additional film credits for the actor include Happiest Season, Dark Waters, Sicario, Self-Less, Rebel in the Rye, The First Wives Club, Sleepless in Seattle, and Legally Blonde.

    The recipient of Tony nominations for his work on stage in Damn Yankees, Lend Me a Tenor, Deathtrap, and Little Me, Garber additionally performed in the original off-Broadway production of Stephen Sondheim’s Assassins, as well as in the Tony Award-winning play Art. He was most recently seen co-starring opposite Bernadette Peters in the Broadway hit Hello Dolly and continues to be represented by Industry Entertainment, Oscars Abrams Zimel & Associates, and Lou Coulson Associates.

    ‘Wish’ Trailer: First Look At Disney’s Animated Musical Comedy Starring Ariana DeBose And Chris Pine

    (9/27/23) (Video) Walt Disney Animation Studios dropped a new trailer and poster Wednesday for the musical comedy Wish, which opens in U.S. theaters on November 22.

    Directed by Chris Buck (Frozen 1 & 2) and Fawn Veerasunthorn (Raya and the Last Dragon) and written by Jennifer Lee, Allison Moore and Chris Buck, the voice cast features Ariana DeBose as 17-year-old protagonist Asha, Chris Pine as King Magnifico, Angelique Cabral as Queen Amaya, and Alan Tudyk as Asha’s pet goat Valentino.

    The film follows Asha, a sharp-witted idealist, makes a wish so powerful that it is answered by a cosmic force—a little ball of boundless energy called Star. Together, Asha and Star confront a most formidable foe—the ruler of Rosas, King Magnifico—to save her community and prove that when the will of one courageous human connects with the magic of the stars, wondrous things can happen.

    Evan Peters, Ramy Youssef, Victor Garber and Natasha Rothwell also lend their voices to Wish, which features original songs by singer-songwriter Julia Michaels and Benjamin Rice, plus score by composer Dave Metzger.

    Peter Del Vecho and Juan Pablo Reyes Lancaster Jones produce, while Lee serves as executive producer.

    Check out the trailer above.

    The Fall of the House of Usher Sneak Peek: Death and Duty Mingle as the Family Gathers for Dinner

    (9/20/23) (Video) And you thought your family gatherings were full of drama…

    The extended Usher clan meets up for dinner in a clip released today from Netflix’s upcoming The Fall of the House of Usher. Even in the short time we spend with the assorted Ushers, we feel comfortable saying: There are a lot of big personalities sitting around that table.

    The sneak peek begins with Madeline Usher (Battlestar Galactica‘s Mary McDonnell) announcing that she and brother Roderick (The Resident‘s Bruce Greenwood) want everyone present to sign a new nondisclosure agreement related to their family and its business: Fortunato Pharmaceuticals. While their lawyer, Arthur Pym (Star Wars‘ Mark Hamill) passes the documents around, everyone’s got a joke, or a comment, or a snide remark to toss into the fray.

    “Get the jokes out now, because this isn’t funny,” Madeline warns them. “Fortunato is the reason you exist… The company is the family, and we expect it to be defended with your life.” Then, we learn, she also expects any threat against the family to be “neutralized.”

    Frederick (The Haunting of Hill House‘s Henry Thomas) pipes up: “By ‘neutralized,’ you mean sued into oblivion, taken out of the board, out of the will, on the streets —” But Madeline minces no words. “Neutralized,” she says. “Like dead.” OK then!

    The cast — many of whom appear in the clip, also includes Carl Lumbly (Alias), Malcolm Goodwin (iZombie), Paola Nuñez (The Purge), Daniel Jun (The Expanse) and Kyleigh Curran (Doctor Sleep) as well as several actors who appeared in The Haunting of Hill House, The Haunting of Bly Manor, Midnight Mass and/or The Midnight Club: Carla Gugino, Aya Furukawa, Ruth Codd, Sauriyan Sapkota, Rahul Kohli, T’Nia Miller, Samantha Sloyan, Kate Siegel, Zach Gilford, Katie Parker, Michael Trucco, Crystal Balint, Matt Biedel, Igby Rigney, Robert Longstreet and Annabeth Gish.

    The Fall of the House of Usher, a Netflix limited series from Mike Flanagan, begins streaming on Thursday, Oct. 12.

    Warner Bros. Television Suspends Top Overall Deals With Greg Berlanti, Bill Lawrence, Mindy Kaling & More

    (9/6/23) More than three months into the writers strike, Warner Bros. Television has moved in to suspend the remaining overall deals with some of its top creators. The list includes Greg Berlanti Productions, Bill Lawrence’s Doozer Productions, and Mindy Kaling’s Kaling International, sources said. I hear the calls were made last night. JJ Abrams’ Bad Robot also is in the process of being notified, sources said. John Wells’ Productions’ pact was suspended in June, I hear. Chuck Lorre Prods.’ deal also may have been previously suspended, according to sources.

    The development comes exactly three months after WBTV and other studios started sending out letters to writer-producers under overall and first-look agreements who don’t have series in production or post-production, informing them that their deals are being suspended.

    It is understood that at the time, WBTV did not suspend some of its top talent, especially those who had active projects. That is happening now.

    For most of the top showrunners — at WBTV and other studios and streamers — the arrangements are believed to be of a suspend-and-extend nature, meaning that they will get the time of the suspension added to the end of their term. The concern is more for the lower and mid-level pacts which may lapse by the end of the strike.

    Unlike the 2007-08 WGA strike, there have not been overall deal terminations (force majeure) yet, with studios opting to stick with suspensions where they don’t have to pay for the duration of the work stoppage. Some of reasons lie in the fact that studios had already pared down their rosters in the past year or so.

    ‘Suits’ Spinoff ‘Pearson’ Lands On Peacock After Meghan Markle Legal Drama Becomes Hit On Netflix

    (8/31/23) Peacock is hoping to drive some eyeballs to Pearson, the short-lived Suits spin-off, after the latter became a surprising hit on Netflix this summer.

    The NBCUniversal streamer has added the show, which starred Gina Torres, to its service today. It is hoping that new Suits fans may discover the spinoff as well, which is not available on Netflix.

    Pearson ran for one season on the cable network in 2019 but was canceled a month and a half after its season ended.

    Toplined by mothership series alumna Torres, Pearson centered on her character, powerhouse lawyer Jessica Pearson, as she enters the dirty world of Chicago politics. It also stars Bethany Joy Lenz, Morgan Spector, Chantel Riley, Simon Kassianides, Eli Goree and Isabel Arraiza.

    Pearson originated on Suits, whose Season 7 finale served as a backdoor pilot for the spinoff.

    The offshoot, which hailed from Universal Cable Productions, was executive produced by Suits creator and EP Aaron Korsh; Suits EP Daniel Arkin, who served as showrunner; Torres; and Suits executive producers Doug Liman, David Bartis and Gene Klein of Hypnotic.

    The move will see NBCU try and win over some Netflix subscribers who may have binged (or be binging) parent show Suits, which has spent six weeks on top of the Nielsen charts.

    Earlier this summer, the series broke a Nielsen streaming record for acquired programming; it drew 3.1B viewing minutes during the week of June 26 to July 2 across Netflix and Peacock. The first season of the show was also watched for 27.7M hours in the w/c June 19 after being added to Netflix and stayed in that streamer’s top ten for a number of weeks.

    Don’t expect any more spinoffs, though, any time soon. Suits creator Aaron Korsh recently revealed that there was nothing in the works.

    ‘Maestro’ Teaser, Release Date: Bradley Cooper Shines As ‘West Side Story’ Composer Leonard Bernstein In Newest Directorial Effort For Netflix

    (8/15/23) (Video) Netflix has unveiled release dates and a first teaser for its buzzy awards prospect Maestro, marking the second filmmaking vehicle for Bradley Cooper, on the heels of A Star Is Born. The film, which he co-wrote, directed and leads as lovestruck composer Leonard Bernstein, is due to hit select theaters November 22nd, after world premiering in Venice, from there heading to Netflix on December 20th.

    Billed as an emotionally epic examination of family and love, Maestro tells the complex love story of Leonard Bernstein and Felicia Montealegre Cohn Bernstein (Carey Mulligan) — a story that spans over 30 years. Perhaps best known for his score to Broadway’s West Side Story and the classic Marlon Brando film On the Waterfront, Bernstein married the actress in 1951 and went on to share three children with her, with the couple splitting their time between New York and Connecticut. Complicating the dynamic between the duo were the affairs he had over the years, with both men and women, even as they were conducted with Felicia’s consenting awareness. The pair were separated at one point for a period of a year, though they ultimately stayed together until Felicia’s death in 1978.

    Cooper wrote the Maestro script with Spotlight Oscar winner Josh Singer, and is also joined in the ensemble by Matt Bomer, Maya Hawke, Sarah Silverman, Josh Hamilton, Scott Ellis, Gideon Glick, Sam Nivola, Alexa Swinton and Miriam Shor. Joining him in producing his latest feature, set in the world of music, were Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, Fred Berner, Amy Durning and Kristie Macosko Krieger. Exec producers included Carla Raij, Singer, Bobby Wilhelm, Weston Middleton and Tracey Landon.

    While Maestro was announced as part of the Venice lineup late last month, Cooper has announced that he won’t be taking part there in publicity for the film, unless the SAG-AFTRA strike somehow gets wrapped up by the end of this month. But nonetheless, as we await the actors group’s solidifying of a new contract with the AMPTP, you can check out the film’s first teaser above.

    ‘The Fall Of The House Of Usher’ Gets Premiere Date On Netflix; First-Look Photos

    (8/10/23) (Pic1, Pic2, Pic3, Pic4, Pic5, Pic6, Pic7, Pic8, Pic9) Netflix has slated Thursday, October 12, for the premiere of The Fall of the House of Usher, its eight-episode limited series from Mike Flanagan based on the works of Edgar Allan Poe. The streamer also released some of the first images of the series, which you can see above and below.

    Starring Bruce Greenwood, who replaced Frank Langella as the lead back in April 2022 after Langella was fired following a misconduct investigation, the series is described as an epic tale of greed, horror and tragedy. Poe’s short story The Fall of the House of Usher, which serves as the basis for the show, features themes of madness, family, isolation and identity.

    It’s been a long road for the series, which was halfway through production when Langella was fired and his scenes had to be reshot.

    In Netflix’s The Fall of the House of Usher, ruthless siblings Roderick and Madeline Usher have built Fortunato Pharmaceuticals into an empire of wealth, privilege and power. But past secrets come to light when the heirs to the Usher dynasty start dying at the hands of a mysterious woman from their youth.

    The cast also includes Carla Gugino, Mary McDonnell, Carl Lumbly, Mark Hamill, Michael Trucco, T’Nia Miller, Paola Nuñez, Henry Thomas, Kyleigh Curran, Samantha Sloyan, Rahul Kohli, Kate Siegel, Sauriyan Sapkota, Zach Gilford, Willa Fitzgerald, Katie Parker, Malcolm Goodwin, Crystal Balint, Aya Furukawa, Daniel Jun, Matt Biedel, Ruth Codd, Annabeth Gish, Igby Rigney and Robert Longstreet.

    Flanagan created and serves as director with Michael Fimognari. Intrepid Pictures’ Trevor Macy and Flanagan executive produce with Emmy Grinwis and Fimognari.

    Jennifer Garner Reprising Elektra Role In ‘Deadpool 3’

    (7/7/23) Jennifer Garner is coming back in the sai-swinging role of antihero assassin Elektra in 20th Century Studios/Marvel/Disney’s Deadpool 3.

    She first played the role in 2003’s Daredevil which starred her former husband Ben Affleck, that 20th/Marvel movie grossing $102M stateside, $179M WW.

    Garner would play Elektra in her own spinoff movie, but it tanked with $24M domestic, $57M WW.

    Deadpool 3 reteams Garner with Deadpool 3 star Ryan Reynolds and its director Shawn Levy, both whom she worked with on the latter’s Netflix movie, The Adam Project.

    As previously reported, Hugh Jackman is reprising his role as Wolverine. Given the old club of 20th/Marvel characters boarding this movie, sources believe there’s a multiverse element to Deadpool 3.

    The movie will kick off next summer on May 3, 2024.

    Combined both Deadpool movies have grossed $1.56 billion.

    Also returning as Deadline first reported to Deadpool 3 are Rob Delaney as Human X-Force Member Peter, Monica Baccarin as Vanessa, Stefan Kapicic as Colossus, Brianna Hildebrand as Negasonic Teenage Warhead and Shioli Kutsuna as Warhead’s girlfriend Yukio.

    Disney did not return request for comment.

    Bear Grylls goes into the wild with a new batch of celebrities, from Bradley Cooper to Rita Ora

    (7/5/23) For his latest role, Bradley Cooper leapt onto a hovering helicopter, rappelled down a 400-foot cliff and pulled himself across a 100-foot ravine in one of the harshest climates in North America.

    His reward wasn’t an Oscar nomination or a big box office hit. It was a hug from adventurist Bear Grylls and some words of encouragement.

    “He smashed it,” Grylls says.

    Cooper is one of several celebrities — including Benedict Cumberbatch, Cynthia Erivo, Russell Brand, Troy Kotsur, Rita Ora, Daveed Diggs and Tatiana Maslany — who put their survival skills to the test in a new season of Nat Geo’s “Running Wild with Bear Grylls: The Challenge,” premiering Friday.

    “I’m really proud of this season. We’ve had incredible guests who pushed the boundaries in terms of terrain and the challenge,” Grylls told The Associated Press. “When there’s real tough weather with fun people, it’s often really compelling TV.”

    The series pairs Grylls with a celebrity for 48 hours in a harsh environment. The first day, Grylls teaches key skills — climbing techniques, water-finding tips and fire-setting, among them — and then the guest must do them alone the second day.

    Kotsur, who won an Oscar for “CODA,” was tested in the Scottish Highlands, descending 2,500 feet (760 meters) across eight miles (13 kilometers) of harsh terrain and freezing rivers, including a 150-foot (45-meter) rappel down a waterfall. Because Kotsur is deaf, the two men used rope tugs to communicate. Kotsur’s reward: haggis, a Scottish delicacy in which organ meat is put inside a sheep’s stomach and cooked.

    Diggs, a city kid, finds himself in the inhospitable Great Basin Desert in Nevada.

    “I don’t know how this is going to go and that’s why I’m doing it,” he says. Diggs learns how to use anchor points, track a target and make a signal fire. His dinner is a tarantula.

    “It’s not what I was hoping for, I’m not going to lie to you,” Diggs says.

    Grylls told the AP the best guests are always those who come with a willingness to go with it, not to look good.

    “The wild is so unpredictable and stuff is always happening. You can’t look cool all the time in the wild,” he said.

    The show is not just about survival. Grylls’ guests usually open up and show a different side. Ora talks about her ties to Kosovo, Cooper seems unfazed eating mule deer tongue and Cumberbatch reveals stories about his grandfather. Over a campfire, Grylls goes deeper than many TV interviewers.

    “It’s as much about the stars and their own personal journeys and struggles and battles as it is about the adventure and the places,” he says. “I think that combination works well because it doesn’t feel like a performance, like a chat show does, where you’re dressed up and made up and you get three minutes.”

    Cumberbatch is taken to the Isle of Skye, where his grandfather trained as a submariner. He learns how to use climbing talons and how to tie an Italian hitch knot.

    “It’s not the same as doing a stunt on a Marvel film. It’s a lot more real,” Cumberbatch says. His meal is seaweed and limpets — “Definitely al dente,” he jokes — and his bed is a wet field.

    Ora arrives at the Valley of Fire in Nevada following a 15,000-foot (4,570-meter) skydive, learns a chimney climb, butchers a dead pigeon, sacrifices her lip balm to make a fire and uses a sock to soak up water. She and Grylls even dance on a rock ledge, casting their shadows tall.

    “The wild strips us all bare, doesn’t it?” Grylls told the AP. “It’s like a grape when you squeeze us, you see what we’re made of. And that’s always the appealing part of ‘Running Wild’ — getting to know the real people.”

    One commonality among the guests is that viewers will often hear it was the celebrity’s parents who instilled in them a sense of adventure and testing themselves.

    “It’s a reminder just how important parenting is,” Grylls said. “Almost invariably when I ask stars, ‘Where does it come from?’ they go, ‘Oh, my dad was amazing when I was really struggling at school.’ Or, ‘My mum was just such inspiration holding down three jobs.’”

    “Running Wild with Bear Grylls” is only one of several shows the adventurist is juggling. On TBS this year, he debuted “I Survived Bear Grylls,” a competition series that bridges the survival and game show genres by having regular contestants recreate some of Grylls’ stunts — like digging through poop or drinking urine. Younger fans can also enjoy “You vs. Wild,” an interactive Netflix show that asks viewers to choose how Grylls will make it out of the wilderness alive.

    “I’m not going to be doing these shows forever but hopefully having an adventurous spirit and knowing the value of great friends and the power of a never-give-up attitude in the world — hopefully those things will keep going,” the 49-year-old said.

    He seems to have tapped into something deep in the human DNA — a need to be able to start a fire, use tools and master the wild. But Grylls thinks it’s more than that.

    “I really believe it’s a state of mind. We don’t have to be in the wild to live an adventurous life,” he said. “It’s how we live our life, how we approach our work, our relationships, our dreams, our aspirations, our interactions with people. Are we leaning on the adventure side? Are we always pushing the boundaries, taking a few risks?”

    Bradley Cooper & Will Arnett To Lead Searchlight Pic ‘Is This Thing On?’; Cooper Also Directing

    (6/14/23) After years of friendship that goes way beyond the two A-listers making it big in Hollywood, Bradley Cooper and Will Arnett are coming on to develop the Searchlight pic Is This Thing On?, with both set to co-star in the film with Cooper also directing. Arnett penned the script with Mark Chappell. The film is still in early development, and while Arnett turned in a draft before the WGA strike commenced, Cooper likely will take a crack at script with Arnett and Chappell and won’t be able to till after strike ends.

    Cooper also is producing through his Lea Pictures banner, along with Arnett and Kris Thykier. John Bishop will exec produce. Plot details are being kept under wraps.

    Cooper is a nine-time Oscar nominee for writing, producing and/or starring in American Sniper, American Hustle, Silver Linings Playbook, Nightmare Alley, Joker and A Star Is Born, which alone earned him three noms. He is in post-production on the Netflix drama Maestro, which is follow-up directing gig to A Star Is Born. Cooper not only stars as composer Leonard Bernstein in Maestro but also directed, produced and co-wrote the script. The film already is predicted to be a major player this awards season.

    He most recently was seen reprising his role as Rocket Raccoon in Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3. He is repped by Range Media Partners.

    A seven-time Emmy nominee, Arnett burst onto the scene with his Emmy-nominated role as Gob on the iconic Fox series Arrested Development. He also voiced the title character of Netflix’s BoJack Horseman. His film credits include The Lego Movie and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchises, Blades of Glory and Semi-Pro. He most recently appeared in the documentary SmartLess: On the Road, which follows Arnett, Sean Hayes and Jason Bateman on the North American tour of their podcast SmartLess. Arnett will produce Peacock’s upcoming series Twisted Metal, which premieres in July, and will co-star in Taika Waititi’s Next Goal Wins for Searchlight Pictures, due out at the end of the year. Arnett and Chappell also worked on Flaked together.

    Arnett is represented by CAA, Artists First, and Sloane Offer Weber & Dern.

    ‘Run The Burbs’, ‘Moonshine’, ‘Bump’ Season 2 Among Additions To The CW’s Summer Programming Slate

    (5/10/23) The CW has unveiled its slate of original scripted and unscripted programming set to debut on the network this summer.

    Canadian family comedy Run The Burbs, from Kim’s Convenience breakout star Andrew Phung and dramedy Moonshine, about dysfunctional siblings battling for control of their family business are among titles on the network’s scripted slate for summer debut. Legal drama Family Law, starring Jewel Staite and Victor Garber, and comedy series Bump also return for second seasons.

    New summer unscripted programs include the four-part docuseries Greatest Geek Year Ever: 1982, chronicling a classic moviegoing year in pop culture, and extreme cooking competition Recipe for Disaster. Additionally, Down To Earth With Zac Efron will make its broadcast television debut, along with new seasons of returning alternative series Great Chocolate Showdown and Mysteries Decoded. Airdates and times for all these series will be announced at a later date.

    All join prevously announced summer series, new comedy Son of a Critch and new dramas The Rising, premiering Monday, May 29 (8:00-9:00pm ET/PT), and Barons, also debuting Monday, May 29 (9:00-10:00pm ET/PT). The fourth and final season of drama series Nancy Drew premieres on Wednesday, May 31 (8:00-9:00pm ET/PT) paired with the final season of Riverdale, with both series finales airing back-to-back on Wednesday, August 23.

    Lady Gaga And Bruce Cohen To Co-Chair Joe Biden’s Revived President’s Committee On The Arts And Humanities; George Clooney, Jennifer Garner And Shonda Rhimes Among Members

    (4/13/23) President Joe Biden plans to appoint producer Bruce Cohen and Lady Gaga as the co-chairs of the revived President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities.

    Also on the list for the committee are musician Jon Batiste; Constance M. Carroll, president of the California Community Colleges Baccalaureate Association; actor George Clooney; Harvard professor Philip J. Deloria; M. Angélica Garcia, president of Berkeley City College; actress Jennifer Garner, art historian, museum director and curator Nora Halpern; bookstore owner and former congressman Steve Israel; producer-writer Marta Kauffman; producer Ricky Kirshner; actor Troy Kotsur; Bad Robot Prods. co-CEO Katie McGrath; Laura Penn, executive director of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society; artist and educator Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya; author and Stanford Professor Emeritus Arnold Rampersad; producer and author Shonda Rhimes; retired attorney and CPA Kimberly Richter Shirley; educator and journalist Horacio Sierra; writer and actress Anna Deavere Smith; singer-songwriter Joe Walsh; actress, director and producer Kerry Washington; and Pauline Yu, president emerita of the American Council of Learned Sciences.

    Biden announced last year that he was reviving the committee, which was disbanded during the presidency of Donald Trump.

    The committee, set up in 1982 during Ronald Reagan’s administration, advises the president and heads of cultural agencies on ways to elevate the importance of the arts, including through federal support.

    In 2017, remaining Obama-era members of the committee resigned in protest of Trump’s response to the Charlottesville riots. Trump did not renew the executive order for the committee.

    Biden issued an executive order in September reviving the committee.

    In the order, Biden pledged that his administration would “advance the cultural vitality of the United States by promoting the arts, the humanities, and museum and library services,” including when it comes to advancing equity, accessibility and opportunity. The order also pledges to “strengthen America’s creative and cultural economy, including by enhancing and expanding opportunities for artists, humanities scholars, students, educators, and cultural heritage practitioners, as well as the museums, libraries, archives, historic sites, colleges and universities, and other institutions that support their work.”

    A number of the members of the committee have ties to Biden, including as campaign donors and supporters. Along with Stephanie Cutter, Kirschner served as executive producer of Biden’s inaugural. Kaufmann hosted First Lady Jill Biden at her home for a midterm fundraising event in September. Batiste performed at a White House state dinner in December.

    During the Obama administration, Cohen also served as the entertainment industry liaison for Joining Forces, the initiative from First Lady Michelle Obama and Jill Biden to support military service members, veterans and their families. Lady Gaga performed at Biden’s inauguration, and traveled with him to support an initiative to address campus sexual assault.

    ‘The Last Thing He Told Me’: Jennifer Garner Is Unraveling The Mystery Of Her Husband’s Disappearance In New Trailer

    (3/9/23) (Video) Apple TV+’s upcoming series The Last Thing He Told Me throws Jennifer Garner into a web of lies that she must untangle after her husband goes missing.

    The series follows Hannah (played by Garner), a woman who must forge a relationship with her sixteen-year-old stepdaughter Bailey (Angourie Rice) in order to find the truth about why her husband has mysteriously disappeared.

    The latest trailer for the series, which was released Thursday, begins with Garner’s Hannah asking her husband Owen (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) what defines him. “There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for my daughter,” he replies. Soon after, the doorbell rings and a young girl hands Hannah a note, supposedly from Owen, which reads “Protect her.”

    She tries unsuccessfully to reach her husband and has little to say when Bailey asks where he’s gone. As Hannah begins to unravel the mystery, she realizes that Owen has been keeping secrets from both her and Bailey, and now they’re left to find him or potentially face the consequences alone.

    Watch the full trailer above.

    The series is produced for Apple by Hello Sunshine, who optioned the book from author Laura Dave and serves as the studio on the project with 20th Television. Olivia Newman directs the pilot episode, and the all-female director lineup for the series includes Deniz Gamze Erguven, Daisy Von Scherler Mayer, and Lila Neugebauer.

    Created and adapted by Laura Dave and Josh Singer, The Last Thing He Told Me marks the first collaboration between the married couple, who both serve as executive producers alongside Garner and Hello Sunshine’s Reese Witherspoon and Lauren Neustadter.

    The Last Thing He Told Me premieres globally on Apple TV+ with the first two episodes on Friday, April 14 followed by new episodes every Friday through May 19.

    Melissa George To Star In ‘The Hurt Unit’ ABC Pilot

    (2/22/23) Melissa George has been tapped as the female lead opposite Ben McKenzie in ABC’s medical drama pilot The Hurt Unit, written by Matt Lopez and John Glenn and to be directed by Marc Webb.

    The Hurt Unit follows a highly skilled team of trauma surgeons and nurses led by Danny (McKenzie), a self-made surgeon, who race into the field to treat the patients who won’t make it to the hospital in time. When the sick and the injured can’t get to the ER, the Hurt Unit (Hospital Urgent Response Team) brings the ER to them.

    George will play Dr. Ashcroft, the Head of Psychiatry and Deputy Chief of Administration at Nashville’s City South Hospital. In that latter capacity she gets into frequent and epic clashes with Dr. Danny Marsh (MxKenzie). A brilliant and intuitive psychotherapist, Rachel plays a crucial role in the ongoing care of the badly traumatized patients of the Hurt Unit — and on occasion, in counseling the deeply flawed doctors themselves.

    In addition to McKenzie, George joins previously cast series regulars Michelle Ortiz, Augustus Prew and Jaime Lee Kirchner who play members of the unit. Glenn and Webb executive produce the ABC Signature pilot.

    This marks George’s return to ABC where she did a major arc on another medical drama, stalwart Grey’s Anatomy. She also headlined the NBC medical drama Heartbeat. George is coming off a starring role opposite Justin Theroux in Mosquito Coast, which ran on Apple TV+ for two seasons, reuniting with the actor she first worked with on David Lynch’s Mulholland Drive. She also can be seen in the movie De Son Vivant opposite Catherine Deneuve, which premiered at Cannes this year. George is repped by Gersh, Inspire Entertainment and attorney Mitch Smelkinson at GGSSC.

    ‘Party Down’: Starz Drops Trailer For Series Revival

    (1/26/23) (Video) Starz is ready to get this party started: It released the official trailer for Party Down, the revival of the cult comedy series from 2009-10. Starz will debut the laugher at midnight on Friday, February 24 on its app and streaming platforms. Its linear debut is set for later that night at 9 PM ET/PT on Starz.

    The third season will consist of six all-new episodes and take place 10 years later, when most of the Party Down catering team have moved on, including actor/bartender Henry Pollard (Adam Scott). After a surprise reunion, the gang find themselves once again stoically enduring the procession of random parties and oddball guests all over Los Angeles.

    Scott reprises his role alongside original cast members Ken Marino, Jane Lynch, Martin Starr, Ryan Hansen and Megan Mullally. New cast members include Jennifer Garner, Tyrel Jackson Williams, Zoë Chao and James Marsden. Guest stars include Dan Bakkedahl, Quinta Brunson, Liv Hewson, Fran Kranz, Ki Hong Lee, Lyric Lewis), Bobby Moynihan, Nick Offerman, Judy Reyes and Calum Worthy.

    The third season is executive produced by Party Down alumni Rob Thomas, Paul Rudd, Dan Etheridge and Scott. Enbom also serves as showrunner. Party Down is produced for STARZ by Lionsgate Television.

    The first two seasons of Party Down debuted on Starz in 2009 and 2010. Both seasons remain available on the network and for download or streaming via the Starz app.

    The Last Thing He Told Me: Jennifer Garner Thriller Gets Spring Release Date at Apple TV+

    (1/18/23) (Pic1, Pic2) Jennifer Garner has a mystery to unravel this spring.

    The Last Thing He Told Me, an upcoming thriller starring the Alias vet, is set to drop on Apple TV+ Friday, April 14, the streamer announced Wednesday. The first two episodes (of seven) will release on that day, followed by one installment every Friday through May 19.

    Based on the bestselling novel by Laura Dave (who co-created the series with husband Josh Singer), The Last Thing He Told Me stars Garner as Hannah, a woman who must forge a relationship with her 16-year-old stepdaughter Bailey (Mare of Easttown‘s Angourie Rice) in order to find the truth about why her husband has mysteriously disappeared.

    The ensemble also includes Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Game of Thrones) as Hannah’s MIA husband, Aisha Tyler (Criminal Minds), Augusto Aguilera (Promised Land), Geoff Stults (Enlisted) and John Harlan Kim (9-1-1). Garner also exec-produces with Dave, Singer, Lauren Neustadter and Reese Witherspoon (via her Hello Sunshine production company).

    The Last Thing He Told Me marks Garner’s first series-regular TV role since HBO’s Camping comedy in 2018. She was previously slated to star in another Apple TV+ miniseries, My Glory Was I Had Such Friends, which would have reunited her with Alias boss J.J. Abrams; the project, though, was scrapped at Apple last August.

    In addition to the first-look photo above, Apple TV+ has also released the below snapshot, featuring Garner and Rice.

    Garber among 99 named to Order of Canada

    (12/29/22) David Saint-Jacques says he has always been "obsessed" with the notion of perspective -- from the physical, like understanding where we are in space and what's beyond the clouds, to the philosophical.

    The Canadian astronaut and physician has had more opportunities than most to explore all the meanings of that word. He orbited Earth for 240 days and saw "just how exposed we are in the cosmos."

    Then, less than a year after his stint on the International Space Station, the pandemic hit. And he spent two years working the COVID-19 units at Montreal's McGill University Health Centre, witnessing heartbreak and solidarity.

    If Saint-Jacques has had a lifelong obsession with perspective, it's perhaps unsurprising that he points to the "many, many, many giants" on whose shoulders he's been standing -- and those who "made it possible for me to come back to Earth alive" -- when he is singled out to receive one of the country's highest honours.

    Gov. Gen. Mary Simon announced Thursday that he and 98 others are being appointed to the Order of Canada.

    Among the heavy hitters of academia, science, medicine, law and the arts are hockey star Sidney Crosby, currently the captain of the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins, famed Hollywood impressionist Rich Little and esteemed Quebec actor Michel Cote.

    Two existing appointees are being promoted to become companions to the order, the honour roll's highest status -- beloved actor Eugene Levy and Nova Scotia businessman John Bragg.

    "It's very humbling, seriously, to have my name there along people who have accomplished so much on their own steam. I do feel like certainly my accomplishments as an astronaut are really the result of huge teamwork," Saint-Jacques said.

    The astronaut added that the teamwork of the international space program is what gives him hope that humanity can solve its biggest problems. It's like "a bridge that we built that's always open," he said, no matter what is unfolding on the ground.

    Another new officer in the order is Harry LaForme, who became Canada's first Indigenous appellate court judge in 2004.

    While serving on the Ontario Superior Court in 2002, LaForme authored an important decision that led to the legalization of same-sex marriage in Ontario, finding that denying same-sex couples the right to marry violated their equality rights. Gay marriage became legal in Ontario a year later.

    "It was quite an easy decision for me to make," he said. "The clarity comes from living a life of being oppressed and being denied rights."

    LaForme spoke about growing up on a First Nation reserve, living through a period when, "You had to get permission to go off the reserve" and speaking to his grandfather, whose life had been overtaken by the department of Indian Affairs, about the erosion of their Indigenous language.

    He said he has always remembered what the then-Liberal justice minister, Irwin Cotler, told him upon his appointment to the appeals court.

    "I said, 'Why did you pick me?' And he said, 'Well, somebody who knows justice will be somebody who has experienced injustice.' And that resonated with me."

    When people say that he was ahead of his time on the same-sex marriage decision and on another that paved the way for legal use of cannabis for medical purposes, LaForme disagrees. "I think that was exactly the right time to be doing it."

    LaForme and Juanita Westmoreland-Traore delivered a report to the federal justice minister in late 2021 that envisions an independent commission to consider wrongful conviction applications. And he is taking on cases related to the over-incarceration of Indigenous Peoples in his role as senior counsel at Olthuis Kleer Townshend LLP.

    "Anything is better than what we do right now," he said, urging the government to do better on the issue and follow through on his recommendations. "We've got to care about the people that are incarcerated."

    LaForme is not the only Order of Canada appointee who is being recognized for extraordinary achievements but who feels that their work is far from over.

    Ronald Deibert, a University of Toronto professor and founder of its unique Citizen Lab, is being recognized "for his leadership and expertise in digital technology, security and human rights, and for his groundbreaking contributions to cybersecurity around the globe."

    No institution houses anything quite like the lab, which combines research from different disciplines to pull back the curtain on cybersecurity. Its reports are informing international policy and global approaches to combating mercenary spyware.

    "I wanted to create a counter-intelligence capacity for global civil society, and that's effectively what we do," Deibert said. He added that his role is like that of a coach or a general manager on a hockey team, and he feels he is receiving the honour on behalf of the group of professionals who conduct that work.

    Deibert, who recently briefed the White House and other high-level audiences about cybersecurity risks, said he's hoping for more acknowledgment of the problem from the Canadian government. He accused Ottawa of being "asleep at the wheel."

    But he expressed gratitude for being recognized with the accolade, calling it a surreal experience.

    "I grew up in a working-class east Vancouver neighbourhood. I didn't even think I would get much beyond high school, and within my family, I think as far as you can go, I was the only person to go to university," he said.

    "To get this award is just a huge recognition for someone like me and I think others who may be in that position. It just goes to show that if you care about what you do, you're passionate and you work hard, it pays off."

    Simon said in a statement that the appointees' commitment to the betterment of Canada fills her with pride and hope for the future.

    "Celebrated trailblazers in their respective fields, they are inspiring, educating and mentoring future generations, creating a foundation of excellence in our country that is respected throughout the world," her statement said.

    The Governor General will offer the awardees their Order of Canada insignia at an investiture ceremony, with the details yet to be announced.

    ------

    Appointments to the Order of Canada

    Gov. Gen. Mary Simon has appointed the following people, who were recommended for appointment by the Advisory Council of the Order of Canada:

    Companions

    -- John Louis Bragg (This is a promotion within the order)

    -- Eugene Levy (This is a promotion within the order)

    Officers

    -- Gordon John Glenn Asmundson

    -- Lise Francoise Aubut

    -- James Ashley Corcoran

    -- Michel Cote

    -- Sidney Patrick Crosby

    -- Eleanor Joanne Daley

    -- Ronald James Deibert

    -- Allen Charles Edward Eaves

    -- Robert Alan Ezrin

    -- Victor Jay Garber

    -- Andre Gaudreault

    -- Paula Beth Gordon

    -- Laurence A. Gray

    -- Eva Grunfeld

    -- Budd Lionel Hall

    -- Michael Douglas Hill

    -- Walter William Jule Jr.

    -- The Honourable Harry S. LaForme

    -- Bernard Joseph Lapointe

    -- Pierre Lassonde

    -- Andreas Laupacis

    -- Yves Lenoir

    -- David Frederick Ley

    -- Richard Caruthers Little

    -- Gerald James Lozinski and Joan Mary Lozinski

    -- Ivar Mendez

    -- The Honourable Gerald M. Morin

    -- Eli Rubenstein

    -- David Saint-Jacques

    -- Brian Edward Stewart

    -- Barbara Lewis Zimmerman

    Members

    -- Jean Aitcheson

    -- Shelley Diane Ambrose

    -- Ted Barris

    -- Marie-Dominique Beaulieu

    -- Stephen Alfred Bell

    -- John J. M. Bergeron

    -- Kevin Luke Blackmore

    -- Sheila Ruth Black

    -- Bernard Joseph Bocquel

    -- Louis Andre Borfiga

    -- Yvonne Bonnie Bressette

    -- Andre H. Caron

    -- Timothy Allen Caulfield

    -- The Honourable Maria Emma Chaput

    -- Wayne Chaulk

    -- Angela Ella Cooper Brathwaite

    -- Alan Cote

    -- Armand Calixte Doucet

    -- Douglas Allen Dunsmore

    -- Konrad Eisenbichler

    -- Carolyn R. Freeman

    -- Patricia Garel

    -- Felix Gauthier

    -- Samuel Gewurz

    -- Hamlin Washington Grange

    -- Allan Edward Gross

    -- Feridun Hamdullahpur

    -- Lori Haskell

    -- Raymond John Johnson

    -- Colleen Patricia Jones

    -- Martin F. Katz

    -- Simon Sean Keith

    -- Warren Charles Seymour Kimel

    -- Donald Arnold Kossick

    -- Stephane Laporte

    -- Karina Chenelle LeBlanc

    -- Philippe Lette

    -- Frederick John Longstaffe

    -- John Robert Lounds

    -- Brian Gerald MacKay-Lyons

    -- Conor Gerard Maguire

    -- Michael Massey

    -- Jacqueline Mary Elizabeth Maxwell

    -- Marc Daniel Mayer

    -- Heather Mary McGregor

    -- Roderick McKendrick

    -- Bill Howard Namagoose

    -- Patricia Margaret Ningewance

    -- Michele Ouimet

    -- Pitman Benjamin Potter

    -- Benoit Robert

    -- Frantz Saintellemy

    -- Raymond Saint-Pierre

    -- Victor Sarin

    -- Michael Schmidt

    -- Gary S. Segal

    -- Lorraine P. Segato

    -- William George Sembo

    -- Mark Geoffrey Sirett

    -- Donat Taddeo

    -- Laurier Thibault

    -- Mac Van Wielingen

    -- Stanley Vollant

    -- The Honourable Konrad Winrich Graf Finck von Finckenstein

    -- Richard Weisel

    Bradley Cooper To Play Frank Bullitt In Steven Spielberg’s New Original Movie Based On The Classic Steve McQueen Character

    (11/17/22) Steven Spielberg looks to have found his Frank Bullitt as sources tell Deadline Bradley Cooper has closed a deal to play the no-nonsense San Francisco cop in the new original Bullitt story centered on the classic character famously played by Steven McQueen in the 1968 thriller, which is set up at Warner Bros. Cooper will also produce the pic along with Spielberg and his producing partner Kristie Macosko Krieger (marking their second collaboration after Maestro), with Josh Singer on board to pen the script. Steve McQueen’s son, Chad ,and granddaughter Molly McQueen will exec produce the new movie.

    Sources are adamant this is not a remake of the original film but a new idea centered on the character. In the original film, Frank Bullitt is a no-nonsense San Francisco cop on the hunt for the mob kingpin that killed his witness. Considered one of McQueen’s more iconic roles, the film delivers one of the most famous car-chase scenes in cinema history. Sources also add the film is still in development.

    While Cooper’s deal only recently closed, he and Spielberg have been talking about the character and what a new take on the story would look like going all the way back to the pandemic when everyone was stuck in quarantine and had nothing but time on their hands. Cooper and Spielberg have been trying for years to team up on something going all the way back to when the legendary director came close to directing Cooper in American Sniper (Spielberg ultimately moved on and Clint Eastwood stepped in to direct the film). Along the years they have continued to talk about the projects they are developing and it was actually Spielberg who offered Cooper the directing job on Maestro. Spielberg had been developing it for years and he came close to directing himself but after being blown away by Cooper’s A Star Is Born, Spielberg felt Cooper was better suited to not only star in the film but direct the love story as well (Spielberg remains on as a producer of the film along with Macosko Krieger, Martin Scorsese, Fred Berner and Amy Durning).

    Cooper is currently in post-production on Maestro, which he also co-wrote, directed, produced and stars in, alongside, Carey Mulligan. The film will be released by Netflix in 2023. With 9 Oscar nominations for both acting and producing, Cooper is one of the few actor/directors who has been able to combine critical acclaim with box office success. Cooper is repped by Range Media Partners.

    Carl Lumbly guests on SWAT 11/18/22

    (11/10/22) “Checkmate” – When a cop on the verge of shutting down a major drug operation is abducted, Hondo and the squad race to save one of their own before it’s too late. Also, Luca grows concerned about sudden changes in Hicks’ behavior, on S.W.A.T., Friday, Nov. 18 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network and available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+*.

    GUEST CAST includes: Lombardo Boyar (Det. Rios), Michael D. Aguilar (Charlie), Carl Lumbly (Saint).

    Jennifer Lopez describes co-parenting with Ben Affleck’s ex-wife Jennifer Garner

    (11/8/22) Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck have an “amazing” co-parenting relationship with his ex-wife, Jennifer Garner.

    The singer told “Vogue” in her December cover story, published Tuesday, that her husband and Garner “work well together” while raising Violet, 16, Seraphina, 13, and Samuel, 10.

    The former couple finalized their divorce in 2018, with Lopez, 53, and Affleck, 50, tying the knot four years later.

    The Grammy winner shares two children of her own — twins Emme and Maximilian, 14 — with her ex-husband Marc Anthony.

    Blending their families since their July wedding “needs to be handled with so much care,” Lopez went on to tell the magazine.

    “They have so many feelings. They’re teens,” the songwriter explained. “But it’s going really well so far.

    “What I hope to cultivate with our family is that his kids have a new ally in me and my kids have a new ally in him, someone who really loves and cares about them but can have a different perspective and help me see things that I can’t see with my kids because I’m so emotionally tied up,” she continued.

    The duo got engaged for the second time in April, two decades after Affleck first got down on one knee.

    The dancer was previously engaged to Alex Rodriguez from 2019 to 2021. The former MLB player is the father of daughters Natasha, 17, and Ella, 14, and the exes blended their families before calling it quits.

    “I was so loving to his kids and he was so loving and accepting of mine, and they embraced each other right away,” Lopez told People in December 2018.

    “[It was] ‘I get a new bonus brother and sisters to hang out with all the time and it’s nice,'” she added at the time.

    Rodriguez chimed in, “Our kids have become best friends and that keeps us both grounded and appreciative. We couldn’t have asked for anything better than the four of them getting along.”

    The retired athlete has since shared his support for Lopez’s marriage to Affleck, telling Chris Wallace in September that he wishes Lopez the “very best.”

    As for Garner, the actress has put on a united front with Affleck and his partner over the years, including trick-or-treating with the pair in October 2021.

    The “13 Going on 30” star, for her part, has been dating John Miller on and off since 2018.

    People’s Choice Award Nominees

    (10/26/22) The 2022 People’s Choice Awards will air simultaneously on NBC and E! on Tuesday, December 6 at 9:00 pm ET/PT from the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, CA. Live from E!: The 2022 People’s Choice Awards will kick off the night with a red carpet special at 7:00 pm ET/PT on E!.

    Voting for the 2022 People’s Choice Awards runs today (Oct 26) through Wednesday, November 9 at 11:59 pm ET. Fans can either vote online at http://www.votepca.com or on Twitter.

    Female Movie Star of 2022
    Elizabeth Olsen – Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
    Gal Gadot – Death on the Nile
    Jennifer Garner – The Adam Project
    Jennifer Lopez – Marry Me
    Joey King – Bullet Train
    Keke Palmer – Nope
    Queen Latifah – Hustle
    Viola Davis – The Woman King
    Drama Movie Star of 2022
    Austin Butler – Elvis
    Daniel Kaluuya – Nope
    Florence Pugh – Don’t Worry Darling
    Gal Gadot – Death on the Nile
    Harry Styles – Don’t Worry Darling
    Jamie Lee Curtis – Halloween Ends
    Keke Palmer – Nope
    Mila Kunis – Luckiest Girl Alive

    Comedy Movie Star of 2022
    Adam Sandler – Hustle
    Channing Tatum – The Lost City
    Jennifer Garner – The Adam Project
    Jennifer Lopez – Marry Me
    Julia Roberts – Ticket To Paradise
    Queen Latifah – Hustle
    Ryan Reynolds – The Adam Project
    Sandra Bullock – The Lost City

    ‘Obliterated’: Carl Lumbly, David Costabile, Virginia Madsen & Minnie Mills Among 11 New Cast

    (10/5/22) Netflix’s Obliterated has added 11 new actors to its cast including Carl Lumbly (The Fall of the House of Usher), David Costabile (Billions), and Virginia Madsen (Joy).

    Recurring stars and their respective roles are as follows:

    Lumbly will play CIA Director “Langdon”, Ava’s (Shelley Hennig) boss and longtime mentor, as well as her government liaison for this mission; Costabile will play “Maddox,” a black market operative and a worthy adversary for our heroes; Costa Ronin (The Americans) will play “Ivan Koslov,” a cunning arms dealer who uses wits and charm to stay one step ahead of the special forces team; Lindsey Kraft (Grace and Frankie) will play “Yani,” a free-spirited lounge singer with a heart of gold and a yearning for love; Tobias Jelinek (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D) will play “Ehren,” a lethally effective one-man Swiss Army Knife; Minnie Mills (The Summer I Turned Pretty) will play “Jen”, the daughter of special forces pilot Paul (Eugene Kim), who heads to Las Vegas for her prom after-party, but unknowingly puts herself at the center of her dad’s mission.

    Guest stars include Madsen in the role of Marge; Lori Petty (Orange is the New Black) as Crazy Susan; Clive Standen (Taken) as Liam; Ivan G’vera (The Defeated) as Vlad; Keston John (Avatar: The Way of the Water) as Mr. Dugan.

    From Cobra Kai creators on Hurwitz, Hayden Schlossberg, and Josh Heald, Obliterated tells the story of an elite Special Forces team who thwarts a deadly threat to Las Vegas. After their celebratory party filled with booze, drugs, and sex, the team discovers that a bomb they deactivated was a fake. The now-intoxicated team has to fight through their impairments, overcome their personal issues, find the real bomb and save the world.

    The series, led by Nick Zano and Henning, also stars Terrence Terrell, Alyson Gorske, C. Thomas Howell (Southland), Paola Lázaro, Amalia Yoo, and Kimi Rutledge.

    Obliterated is executive produced by Hurwitz, Schlossberg, and Heald, along with Dina Hillier for Counterbalance Entertainment. Sony Pictures Television is the studio.

    Marisa Tomei & Lena Olin Join Carlson Young’s Rom-Com ‘Upgraded’ For Gulfstream Pictures

    (9/1/22) Marisa Tomei (Spider-Man: No Way Home) and Lena Olin (Hunters) have signed on to star alongside Camila Mendes and Archie Renaux in Gulfstream Pictures’ romantic comedy Upgraded, which has entered production in the UK.

    In the film from actor-director Carlson Young (The Blazing World), aspiring art intern Ana (Mendes) is invited on a last-minute work trip to London by her brilliant but intimidating super boss, meeting the handsome and wealthy William (Renaux) on the plane. Set in both London and New York City, the rom-com chronicles the trials and tribulations of balancing work, romance and following your dreams.

    Tomei will take on the role of the formidable auction house executive Claire Dupree, a brilliant and terrifying boss to auction-house trainee Ana. Olin will play the charismatic and charming Catherine Laroche, a wealthy and influential art seller, and the mother of Ana’s love interest, William.

    Developed in part by Mendes and her producing partner Rachel Matthews, Upgraded was scripted by Christine Lenig, Justin Matthews and Luke Roberts. The film is the third financed by Gulfstream Pictures this year, following the Josephine Langford-led rom-com The Other Zoey and the motorcycle racing pic One Fast Move, starring KJ Apa, both of which are currently in post-production. Bill Bindley and Mike Karz are producing for Gulfstream, along with Lena Roklin for Luber Roklin Entertainment, Piers Tempest for Tempo Productions, and Karl Hall. Exec producers are Mendes, Rachel Matthews, Josie Rosen and Matt Williams.

    “We are so excited to announce Marisa and Lena will be joining the cast,” said Gulfstream’s Karz and Bindley. “They are both enormously talented and iconic, and we are thrilled to be working with them on this project.”

    Tomei won an Oscar in 1993 for her supporting turn in Jonathan Lynn’s classic My Cousin Vinny, later scoring additional noms for Todd Field’s In the Bedroom and Darren Aronofsky’s The Wrestler. The actress has played the MCU’s May Parker in films ranging from Captain America: Civil War through to last year’s Spider-Man: No Way Home, and is otherwise known for her work in such titles as The King of Staten Island, The Big Short, The Ides of March, Crazy, Stupid, Love., The Lincoln Lawyer, Cyrus, Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead, Anger Management and What Women Want, among others. Notable TV credits include Empire and Rescue Me. She can currently be seen in Robert Budreau’s Vertical Entertainment thriller Delia’s Gone, and will next appear in Rebecca Miller’s She Came to Me with Anne Hathaway and Peter Dinklage.

    Olin is a Swedish-born actress who received an Oscar nomination in 1990 for her supporting turn in Paul Mazursky’s Enemies, A Love Story, scoring an Emmy nom in 2003 for her performance as Irina Derevko on ABC’s Alias. She currently stars in the Prime Video series Hunters, which has been renewed for a second season, and has also appeared on shows like Vinyl and Welcome to Sweden. Other notable film credits include Remember Me, The Reader, Chocolat, The Unbearable Lightness of Being and Fanny and Alexander. Also coming up for the actress is the feature Hilma, directed by Lasse Hallström — a story about the female painter Hilma af Klint, who is now recognized as the inventor of abstract art.

    Tomei is represented by UTA, Untitled Entertainment and Paul Hastings; Olin by Paradigm, Sweden’s Agentfirman Planthaber/Kildén/Mandic and Authentic Talent and Literary Management.

    Bad Robot Series ‘My Glory Was I Had Such Friends’ Scrapped By Apple After Star Jennifer Garner Exits

    (8/21/22) Jennifer Garner has pulled out of the long-in-the-works Apple TV+ limited series My Glory Was I Had Such Friends, from J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot and Warner Bros. TV. As a result, the streamer has opted not to go forward with the project that it had landed with a straight-to-series order in 2018. Reps for Apple, Bad Robot, WBTV and Garner declined comment.

    According to sources, Garner exited My Glory Was I Had Such Friend for scheduling reasons. The show has taken quite awhile to get off the ground, and the Alias alumna is currently filming another Apple TV+ limited series, The Last Thing He Told Me, an adaptation of Laura Dave’s bestselling novel, which is produced by Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine.

    WBTV and Bad Robot are said to both be high on My Glory Was I Had Such Friend and intend to seek another home for it, sources said. The project is based on Amy Silverstein’s book by the same name which Bad Robot acquired in a competitive situation in 2017, shortly after the memoir’s release.

    I hear the series won’t be taken out immediately. A small writers room has been working on additional scripts; the plan is to have multiple scripts ready to present to potential buyers when the project hits the marketplace.

    Apple TV+’s decision comes on the heels of HBO’s move to scrap another high-profile Bad Robot drama that had been sold in 2018 with a straight-to-series order but had been going slowly through the development process, the Abrams-created Demimonde. The reasons for that decision were different, they stemmed largely from the series’ proposed eye-popping budget of about $250M.

    Both My Glory Was I Had Such Friends and Demimonde were sold in the run-up to Bad Robot signing a massive new film and TV seal with Warner Bros. in 2019, which is now being scrutinized by the new Warner Bros. Discovery regime over the lack of big new series or movies to come out of it so far.

    Another big-title Bad Robot series to get a pass includes The Shining spinoff Overlook, which was part of the company’s inaugural slate at HBO Max. The project subsequently moved to Netflix, which recently also opted to release it, I hear.

    Bad Robot’s slate still features a slew of projects in development at HBO Max/HBO, including Constantine, a darker reboot of the DC Comics character, which has been going strong; a series based on DC Comics’ Madame X with Angela Robinson, Duster, which is co-written by Abrams and LaToya Morgan; and Fledgeling.

    At Apple, Bad Robot has a series based on Scott Turow’s book Presumed Innocent, with David E. Kelley, which is now casting, and a live-action series based on Speed Racer, which is in active development.

    Based on Silverstein’s memoir, My Glory Was I Had Such Friends showcases the power of friendship and the resilience of the human spirit as it follows an extraordinary group of women who supported Silverstein as she waited for a second life-saving heart transplant.

    The series, produced by Bad Robot Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television, is written and executive produced by Julia Brownell. She replaced the project’s original writer, Karen Croner, who penned the Garner-starring feature The Tribes of Palos Verdes, last year.

    Jennifer Garner warns fans to ‘be cautious’ about injectables

    (7/29/22) Jennifer Garner isn’t a “Daredevil” when it comes to tweaking her famous face.

    The Texas-born actress, 50, recently spilled her beauty secrets to Harper’s Bazaar, including the advice she’d pass down to her two teenage daughters with ex-husband Ben Affleck: Violet Anne Affleck, 16, and Seraphina Rose Elizabeth Affleck, 13. (The former couple also shares son Samuel, 10.)

    “My advice is to look at the mirror less and be cautious when it comes to injecting anything into your face,” the “Alias” star said.

    “Be very, very incredibly judicious and wait as absolutely long as possible to add anything.”

    In an age where 20-somethings opt for preventative Botox, Garner also warned young people, “Don’t think that you’re 37 and you need to be shooting up your face.”

    In fact, the “13 Going On 30” beauty thinks we could all stand to put less stake in our appearances in general.

    “Look in the mirror less, obsess less, and look at the rest of the world to see what you could be using your time for instead,” she said. “We all look at our faces more than people used to, and it doesn’t do you any good. You obsess over changes or how to fix something on your face.”

    Garner’s far from the only star who’s expressed reservations about injectables; Busy Philipps recently revealed she’s had “no Botox, no fillers,” and “[gets] disappointed when very young women start to f—k with their faces.”

    Likewise, Kate Beckinsale’s said she gets “pissed off” when people assume she’s had work done, and that she’s opted out thus far for fear of “paralyzing [her] face.”

    Even seemingly ageless icon Jennifer Lopez — who married Garner’s ex earlier this month — insists she’s “never done Botox or any injectables or surgery.”

    ‘Continuum’ & ‘Star Trek’ Actress Rachel Nichols To Lead Thriller ‘Dark Night Of The Soul’

    (7/1/22) Continuum, Star Trek and G.I. Joe: The Rise Of Cobra actress Rachel Nichols is set to lead drama-thriller Dark Night Of The Soul.

    Writer-director SJ Creazzo’s feature will follow a brilliant scientist who gets trapped in her car after a terrible crash. Isolated and struggling to survive, her survival is essential because she holds the key to cure a pandemic ravaging the world.

    Production company Dreamality Entertainment is behind the project, which is due to shoot in the fall in upstate New York. Glass House will be handling sales. Funding is largely coming from private sources.

    Nichols will next be seen alongside Peyton List in Netflix horror film The Last Will and Testament of Charles Abernathy. Dreamality’s most recent feature is thriller Skipping Stones, starring Top Gun and Total Recall actor Michael Ironside.

    Nichols is repped by Buchwald, Principals Talent and Goodman Genow Schenkman Smelkinson & Christopher.

    Bradley Cooper reveals he was ‘addicted to cocaine’ in his ‘lost’ 20s

    (6/14/22) Bradley Cooper is getting real about his past battles with drugs and alcohol.

    The “A Star Is Born” actor-director has revealed how he fell off the deep end — hard — following his termination from the Jennifer Garner action-thriller series “Alias” in the early 2000s.

    Cooper got candid about his substance abuse issues on Amazon Music and Wondery’s SmartLess podcast, which is co-hosted by actors Jason Bateman, Will Arnett and Sean Hayes.

    “I was so lost and I was addicted to cocaine — that was the other thing,” said Cooper, 47. “I severed my Achilles tendon right after I got fired/quit ‘Alias.’ ”

    The father of one and “Silver Linings Playbook” Oscar nominee added that he also coped with “zero self-esteem” and detailed his struggles with chemical abuse in the early days of his career.

    “I did have the benefit of that happening when I was 29. I thought I made it when I got a Wendy’s commercial. In terms of the ‘made it’ thing, that’s when I made it,” said Cooper, who is currently filming “Maestro,” an already controversial biopic of legendary composer Leonard Bernstein.

    “But I definitely did not feel [it], moving to Los Angeles for ‘Alias’ feeling like I was back in high school. I could not get into any clubs, no girls wanted to look at me.”

    In short, he “was totally depressed. It wasn’t really until ‘The Hangover.’ I was 36 when I did ‘The Hangover,’ so I got to go through all those things before fame even played into my existence on a daily level. So all that happened before any of that.”

    Arnett, 52, interjected that Cooper “having those realizations and having that change allowed” him to be his true self.

    “It’s true,” Cooper noted. “I definitely made major breakthroughs at 29 to 33, 34, where at least I was able to stand in front of somebody and breathe and listen and talk.”

    Cooper then credited Arnett — who has been open about suffering from alcoholism himself — for talking to him about his struggles in July 2004, and setting him on a “path of deciding to change my life.”

    The “Arrested Development” star then stated that he saw a “difference” in Cooper, telling him, “It has been awesome seeing you in this place and seeing you comfortable. Nothing has made me happier. It’s made me happy to see you so happy with who you are.”

    Cooper’s role on “Alias” was reduced in 2003 and his character was sidelined in Season 2. He told GQ in 2013 that his drug and booze problems were going to “sabotage my whole life” if he didn’t get help.

    “I think work was getting f—ed up. The one thing that I’ve learned in life is the best thing I can do is embrace who I am and then do that to the fullest extent, and then whatever happens, happens,” he said at the time. “The more steps I do to not do that, the farther I am away from fulfilling any potential I would have.”

    J.J. Abrams Series ‘Demimonde’ Not Going Forward At HBO Over Budget Issues

    (5/25/22) HBO is officially not moving forward with J.J. Abrams’ ambitious HBO sci-fi drama series Demimonde. The decision comes after weeks of discussions with Abrams, his Bad Robot production company and Warner Bros. Television which were focused on the show’s budget. As Deadline reported last month, the studios on the project, Warner Bros. Television and HBO, had been trying to rein in costs, but Bad Robot kept firm on their proposed budget, said to be in the mid-$200 million range, and would not agree to a reduction.

    The final stages of the Demimonde conversations were held against the background of a larger reevaluation of the massive deal Abrams’ Bad Robot has at Warner Bros for film, TV, gaming and digital content as the new Warner Bros. Discovery is scrutinizing every aspect of the assets they took over when the merger was completed in April.

    Bought by HBO four years ago with a straight-to-series order, Demimonde, which was developed and sold under Bad Robot’s previous WBTV pact, was still in early pre-production when the plug was pulled.

    Written, executive produced and to be directed by Abrams, Demimonde, his first solo TV creation since Alias, was to star Danielle Deadwyler as Olive Reed who is torn away from her husband and daughter in a brutal scientific accident. She is forced to unravel a conspiracy to reunite with her family, now lost to a dark, distant other world.

    Kira Snyder, Rand Ravich & Far Shariat served as showrunners. They executive produced with Bad Robot’s Abrams and Ben Stephenson. Rachel Rusch Rich was co-executive producer.

    Last summer, HBO Max opted not to go forward with another Bad Robot series, The Shining offshoot series Overlook. The project has since been set up at Netflix. It is unclear whether Demimonde would be shopped to other buyers.

    J.J. Abrams’ ‘Demimonde’ In Jeopardy Over Budget Drama As Bad Robot’s Overall Deal Faces Scrutiny By Warner Bros. Discovery

    (5/25/22) J.J. Abrams’ ambitious HBO sci-fi drama series Demimonde has hit a major roadblock in its long journey to the screen. The issues, related to the show’s price, come amid talk of a potential reevaluation of the massive deal Abrams’ Bad Robot has at Warner Bros for film, TV, gaming and digital content as the new Warner Bros. Discovery is scrutinizing every aspect of the assets they took over.

    Bought by the network four years ago with a straight-to-series order, Demimonde is still in early pre-production, but major budget issues are threatening to derail it. According to sources, the studios on the project, Warner Bros. Television and HBO, have been trying to rein in costs, but Bad Robot has kept firm on their proposed budget, said to be in the mid-$200 million range, and would not agree to a reduction below that.

    While current talks between Warner Bros. and Abrams are focused on Demimonde, we hear a broader discussion about Bad Robot’s deal is expected amid a big, across-the-board close examination of WarnerMedia’s businesses by Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav. We hear the veteran TV executive has a good relationship with Abrams and is in regular communication with him and the rest of Warner Bros.’ top talent as he familiarizes himself with the workings of the film and TV studio he now oversees.

    Bad Robot’s agreement is not expected to be the only big Warner Bros. pact to go under the microscope as the new regime is looking to curb spending and shave off $3 billion in savings after the Discovery-WarnerMedia merger.

    Abrams and his Bad Robot are in the middle of a five-year deal that closed in September 2019 for Abrams to keep his TV business and move his film business to Warner Bros. The massive pact, which runs through 2024, includes a big overhead and a lot of built-in straight-to-series pickups and put pictures that come with guaranteed pay and deficit financing that is valued by sources at as much as $250 million. While the agreement’s terms are set, we hear both sides are willing to examine it and adjust elements in order to make it more relevant to the current economic environment, which is very different from the one in 2019. According to sources, Zaslav and his team are committed to staying in the J.J. Abrams business.

    There have been a couple series to come out of the new deal that have been greenlighted, including Duster and Subject to Change at HBO Max, a UFO docuseries at Showtime and a Presumed Innocent limited series at Apple TV+. There are a slew of projects in development including DC’s Madame Xanadu, Batman: Caped Crusader and a Constantine reboot at HBO Max; Fledgeling at HBO; and a U2 biopic series at Netflix. Last summer, HBO Max opted not to go forward with another Bad Robot series, The Shining offshoot series Overlook. The project has since been set up at Netflix where the company also has Tiny Horrors in the works.

    Demimonde and Bad Robot’s existing series — including HBO hit Westworld, upcoming Apple TV+ show My Glory Was I Had Such Friends toplined by Jennifer Garner, and an Elizabeth Taylor docuseries at HBO — were developed and sold under Bad Robot’s previous WBTV pact. Abrams has now been at Warner Bros. Television for more than 15 years.

    Written, executive produced and to be directed by Abrams, Demimonde, his first solo TV creation since Alias, recently cast Danielle Deadwyler as the lead. In it, when a woman, Olive Reed (Deadwyler), is torn away from her husband and daughter in a brutal scientific accident, she is forced to unravel a conspiracy to reunite with her family, now lost to a dark, distant other world.

    Kira Snyder, Rand Ravich & Far Shariat serve as showrunners. They executive produce with Bad Robot’s Abrams and Ben Stephenson. Rachel Rusch Rich is co-executive producer.

    Carl Lumbly guests on S.W.A.T. 5/15/22

    (5/5/22) “Zodiac” – When a home invasion turns deadly, the SWAT team embarks on a race to track down priceless antique artifacts before any more lives are lost. Also, Leroy (Michael Beach) enlists Hondo’s help after an overdose hits close to home, on the CBS Original series S.W.A.T., Sunday, May 15 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+*.

    GUEST CAST includes: Michael Beach (Leroy), Carl Lumbly (Saint), Lombardo Boyar (Det. Rios), Pasha Lynchnikoff (Maxim).

    J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot To Produce Live-Action ‘Hot Wheels’ Film For Mattel & Warner Bros.

    (4/25/22) J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot will produce a live-action Hot Wheels film in the works at Mattel Films and Warner Bros. Pictures, the companies announced today.

    Hot Wheels is Mattel’s 54-year-old brand of toy cars, which is billed as the world’s leading vehicle franchise, representing and uniting all segments of car culture. The upcoming feature based on the beloved IP is described as a high-throttle actioner, which will showcase some of the world’s hottest and sleekest cars, monster trucks and motorcycles.

    Hot Wheels is No. 1 selling toy in the world, according to The NPD Group/Retail Tracking Service, with over 8 billion vehicles sold. The brand also has proved its influence in automotive and pop culture over the years via collaborations with global leaders in automotive, streetwear, fashion, luxury, entertainment, gaming, action sports and motorsports. Vice President Kevin McKeon and Creative Executive Andrew Scannell will lead the film project for Mattel Films, with VP Production Peter Dodd serving as lead exec for Warner Bros. Pictures. President of Motion Pictures Hannah Minghella will oversee for Bad Robot, alongside Jon Cohen.

    “As the global leader in car culture, Hot Wheels has been igniting the challenger spirit in auto enthusiasts for generations,” said Mattel Films Executive Producer Robbie Brenner. “Fans of all ages are now in for the ride of their lives with the incredible talent of J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot joining us alongside Warner Bros. Pictures to transform Hot Wheels’ legendary IP into a thrilling story for the big screen.”

    Said Dodd: “Growing up, Hot Wheels were more than just cars, they were vehicles for our imaginations. Today, we at Warner Bros. are thrilled to bring that imagination to the big screen with Robbie Brenner and the creative team at Mattel along with the ingenious minds of J.J. Abrams, Hannah Minghella and the team at Bad Robot.”

    Added Minghella: “Before Hot Wheels became the global household name it is today, it was the dream of [Mattel co-founder] Elliot Handler, who was inventing and building toy cars at home in his Southern California garage. It’s that imagination, passion and risk-taking spirit that we want to capture in this film.”

    Mattel Films has also partnered with Warner Bros. Pictures on Greta Gerwig’s upcoming film, Barbie, which is in production and targeted for theatrical release in 2023. Margot Robbie stars in the pic penned by Gerwig and Noah Baumbach and is producing it under her LuckyChap Entertainment banner. In addition to Hot Wheels and Barbie, Mattel Films’ development slate features movies based on American Girl, Barney, Magic 8 Ball, Major Matt Mason, Masters of the Universe, Polly Pocket, Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots, Thomas & Friends, Uno, View Master and Wishbone. The company is also developing a film titled Christmas Balloon, based on all-new IP.

    Film projects in development at Bad Robot under its Warner Bros. Discovery deal include Superman, written by Ta-Nehisi Coates; Zatana, written by Emerald Fennell; and an animated adaptation of Dr. Seuss’ iconic children’s book Oh, the Places You’ll Go!, which has Jon Chu attached to direct. Bad Robot is in post-production on the female-driven Netflix thriller Lou, starring Allison Janney and Jurnee Smollett, and is working with director Matt Shakman on a new Star Trek film for Paramount.

    Jennifer Garner freaks out when Donny Osmond surprises her for birthday

    (4/16/22) Jennifer Garner got a very special present for her upcoming 50th birthday, courtesy of her childhood idol, Donny Osmond.

    On Friday, the “Alias” star — who turns 50 on April 17 — shared a clip on Instagram in which she watched awestruck, a video of Osmond, 64, singing to her for the special day. Then to Garner’s complete shock, Osmond came up behind her to complete the tune.

    The two hugged and the “Puppy Love” singer presented her with a cake that reads, “13 going on 50,” a nod to her beloved film, “13 Going on 30.” They then went on to sing a duet before a clearly overwhelmed Garner covered her face with a napkin.

    “My first (pre)birthday surprise was a doozy— the one and only, legend in his own time, object of my childhood adoration and devotion— @donnyosmond showed up to knock my purple socks off,” she wrote alongside the video, referencing Osmond’s trademark purple socks.

    “He took an hour and a half of his day to sit with me, sing my favorites, and to give me a master class on how to be a class act. Thank you, Donny. Hi, @marieosmond. ,” she wrote before adding that she “hopes to meet” Osmond’s wife Debbie.

    Garner’s celeb pals like Diane Keaton, Holly Robinson Peete and Sara Foster all expressed delight while Gwyneth Paltrow wrote, “This is unreal.”

    Garner first revealed her childhood crush on Osmond in May 2019 when Katie Couric shared a throwback video of Cher performing with The Osmonds clad in garish jumpsuits.

    “My number one biggest crush of all time @donnyosmond,” Garner commented, along with a kissing face emoji.

    Osmond responded by joking, “Miraculous that those jumpsuits didn’t scare you away.”

    And when the singer posted something about their interactions on his Instagram Story, Garner lost her mind.

    “1st Grade Jennifer is freaking out right now,” she wrote after she reposted to her own.

    The Rookie: Backstabbers (4/10)

    (4/1/22) “Backstabbers” – After the robbery of a train filled with valuable auction items turns deadly, the team is called to investigate. Meanwhile, Officer Chen has doubts about being Sergeant Bradford’s aid and is upset when he doesn’t give her the recognition she deserves. Elsewhere, Officer Harper takes matters into her own hands and makes a life-changing decision about her personal life on an all-new episode of “The Rookie,” SUNDAY, APRIL 10 (10:00-11:00 p.m. EDT), on ABC. (TV-14, L) Watch episodes on demand and on Hulu?the day following their premieres.

    Guest starring is Greg Grunberg as Larry “Badger” Macer, Drew Seely as Francis Bloomfield, Olesya Rulin as Danielle Bloomfield and Brandon Larracuente as Thackeray Bloomfield.

    “Backstabbers” was written by Vincent Angell and directed by Tori Garrett.

    The CW Acquires Canadian Drama Series ‘Family Law’ Starring Jewel Staite & Victor Garber

    (3/31/22) The CW continues to expand its scripted acquisition slate with the addition of Canadian drama series Family Law, a one-hour legal drama, from Entertainment One. A premiere date is TBD.

    Created, written and executive produced Susin Nielsen, Family Law, stars Jewel Staite (Firefly) and Emmy and Tony nominated Victor Garber (DC’s Legends of Tomorrow), along with Zach Smadu (Cardinal) and Genelle Williams (The Expanse).

    The drama series follows lawyer and recovering alcoholic Abigail Bianchi (Staite) struggling to put her career and family back together after hitting rock bottom. As a condition of her probation, Abby is forced to work at her estranged father Harry’s (Garber) firm, Svensson and Associates, and practice in family law for the first time while forging new relationships with the half-brother Daniel (Smadu) and half-sister Lucy (Williams) whom she’s never met. The result is a dysfunctional family law firm operating to help other families with their own dysfunctions.

    Family Law is produced by Seven24 Films and Lark Productions for Corus Entertainment’s Global (Canada). The series is executive produced by Seven24’s Jordy Randall (Heartland) and Tom Cox (Fortunate Son), and Lark’s Erin Haskett (Motive) and Andy Mikita (Stargate SG-1) also serve as executive producers. eOne holds international distribution rights. The deal was brokered by eOne’s Dan Loewy, Executive Vice President, Sales, Americas and ANZ.

    Family Law expands CW’s acquisitions slate, which includes the upcoming drama Leonardo starring Aidan Turner, Matilda De Angelis and Freddie Highmore, half-hour comedy-drama Bump starring Nathalie Morris, and the international action series Professionals starring Tom Welling, Brendan Fraser and Elena Anaya. Current series include Coroner, Wellington Paranormal and Devils, all of which will return for new seasons later this year.

    U2 Biopic Series From J.J. Abrams In Works At Netflix

    (3/19/22) Netflix is in early development on a scripted series inspired by the rock band U2, sources close to the project confirmed to Deadline. It hails from J.J. Abrams and his Bad Robot Productions, and Warner Bros. TV, where Bad Robot is under a deal. Oscar-nominated screenwriter Anthony McCarten (Bohemian Rhapsody) is attached to pen the series.

    Details are being kept under wraps.

    Netflix and Bad Robot declined comment.

    McCarten penned the screenplay for the Oscar-winning music biopic Bohemian Rhapsody. He is Oscar-nominated for his screenplays for The Two Popes, Darkest Hour and The Theory of Everything. The Irish rock band U2 was formed in 1976 with Bono on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, lead guitarist the Edge, bassist Adam Clayton and drummer Larry Mullen Jr. The band has released 14 studio albums and won a record 22 Grammys.

    Abrams and Bad Robot recently teamed with David E. Kelley on a limited-series adaptation of courtroom thriller Presumed Innocent for Apple. The company is also working on a number of series for HBO Max including Constantine, Demimonde and Madame X as well as a fourth season of Westworld for HBO.

    The Hollywood Reporter was first to report the project.

    Jennifer Garner celebrated as Hasty Pudding’s Woman of the Year

    (2/6/22) “Alias” actor Jennifer Garner was honored as Hasty Pudding Theatrical’s Woman of the Year at a parade in historic Harvard Square Saturday afternoon.

    Garner was paraded through the streets of Cambridge, Mass. Despite the frigid temperatures, Garner, 49, was all smiles as she waved to the hundreds of spectators along the parade route.

    “This is crazy. This is nuts,” Garner said, with jubilance in her voice, as she observed the large crowds from a red Bentley.

    Garner was also bestowed the group’s iconic pudding pot at a traditional roast Saturday evening.

    Additionally, Harvard’s famed theater troupe performed its latest production, “Ship Happens,” after the roast. This marked the organization’s third time featuring both men and women in their cast and its first production in two years since the coronavirus pandemic began in 2020.

    At the parade, Garner was accompanied by several of the theater troupe’s members, who were dressed in elaborate costumes and drag.

    Hasty Pudding Theatricals, which dates to 1844 and bills itself the third-oldest theater group in the world, established its Woman of the Year award in 1951 to honor people who have made “lasting and impressive contributions to the world of entertainment.”

    Last year’s recipient was Viola Davis, and previous winners include Meryl Streep, Katharine Hepburn, Ethel Merman and Cher.

    Hasty Pudding organizers said they chose Garner based not just on her career as an actor but also because of her record as a philanthropist and entrepreneur.

    “As a talented actress and philanthropist, Jennifer is a role model to all of us at Hasty Pudding Theatricals,” said the award’s organizer, Jacqueline Zoeller, in a press statement. “It is so wonderful to celebrate her in this exceptional year with the organization’s return to stage.”

    Garner was nominated for several Primetime Emmys for her role as Sydney Bristow in the television spy series “Alias.” She’s been lauded for her work in several movies including “Juno,” “Dallas Buyers Club” and “13 Going on 30.”

    Garner is a Save the Children trustee and has advocated on Capitol Hill and around the nation to raise awareness and funds for the organization. She also co-founded the organic food company Once Upon a Farm in 2017, with a goal of providing children with the highest quality food grown using sustainable methods.

    Jason Bateman, who played Garner’s husband in the 2007 film “Juno,” was feted earlier this week as 2022 Man of the Year.

    ‘Presumed Innocent’ Limited Series Adaptation From David E. Kelley & J.J. Abrams Ordered At Apple

    (2/3/22) David E. Kelley and J.J. Abrams are teaming up for a limited series adaptation of courtroom thriller Presumed Innocent for Apple.

    The streamer has ordered an eight-part series based on Scott Turow’s book.

    It marks the first Apple series order for Kelley, who will serve as showrunner on the project and will exec produce alongside Castle Rock showrunner Dustin Thomason, Abrams and Bad Robot’s Head of Television Ben Stephenson.

    Presumed Innocent was published in 1987 and was turned into a feature film starring Harrison Ford in 1990. It tells the story of a horrific murder that upends the Chicago Prosecuting Attorneys’ office when one of its own is suspected of the crime.

    The book told the story through the eyes of the accused Rusty Sabich, played by Ford in the movie, who was charged with the murder of his colleague Carolyn Polhemus.

    The series will explore obsession, sex, politics, and the power and limits of love, as the accused fights to hold his family and marriage together.

    Presumed Innocent will be produced by Bad Robot Productions and David E. Kelley Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television. J.J. Abrams and Ben Stephenson executive produce for Bad Robot. In addition to writing, Kelley executive produces through David E. Kelley Productions alongside Matthew Tinker. Dustin Thomason also serves as executive producer. Scott Turow and Bad Robot’s Rachel Rusch Rich will serve as co-executive producers.

    It joins an incredible busy score card for both Kelley and Abrams. Kelley was behind Hulu’s Nine Perfect Strangers and HBO’s The Undoing and also has Big Sky in its second season at ABC and Big Shot, which was recently renewed for a second season at Disney+. He is working with Regina King on an adaptation of A Man In Full for Netflix and also has The Lincoln Lawyer and Anatomy of a Scandal at the streamer as well as Love and Death at HBO Max and The Missing at Peacock, while it emerged that 20th Television has been exploring a reboot of his classic law comedy drama Ally McBeal.

    Abrams and his Bad Robot have worked with Apple on a number of series including Little Voice and Lisey’s Story. The company is also working on a number of series for HBO Max including Constantine, Demimonde and Madame X as well as a fourth season of Westworld for HBO.

    JJ Abrams, Stephen King, Ed Zwick & Marshall Herskovitz Team On Limited Series Adaptation Of Bestseller ‘Billy Summers’

    (2/1/22) JJ Abrams’ Bad Robot is putting together a limited-series package based on the Stephen King bestselling novel Billy Summers. Ed Zwick & Marshall Herskovitz will adapt, Deadline hears, with Zwick directing what will likely be six to 10 episodes. The package will be shopped shortly to high-end cable networks and streamers.

    This will be Bad Robot’s latest series adaptation with King, after Lisey’s Story, Castle Rock and 11.22.63. Billy Summers is a hitman who is looking to retire and takes one last highly lucrative job to feather his nest. The job requires him to embed himself in a quiet town, where he pretends to be an aspiring writer (he actually pours himself into the prose). He sets up in an office with a direct view of where hitman Joel Allen will be delivered to face trial for shooting two men during a poker game. Allen also has committed enough murders for some high-level mobsters to be scared the gunman will incriminate his former employers to lessen his sentence. Summers, a meticulous craftsman, becomes more and more cynical about the mobsters who’ve hired him, and his skepticism is well warranted as things go awry following the job’s completion.

    There was no comment from Bad Robot, but sources expected this package to move quickly.

    ‘Party Down’: Jennifer Garner, Tyrel Jackson Williams, Zoë Chao & James Marsden Join Revival On Starz

    (1/31/22) Starz has set new cast additions for its upcoming Party Down revival. Jennifer Garner (Yes Day), Tyrel Jackson Williams (Brockmire) and Zoë Chao (The Afterparty) have been tapped as series regulars and James Marsden (Dead to Me) has signed on for a key recurring role in the new iteration of the cult comedy.

    They join original stars Adam Scott, Jane Lynch, Ken Marino, Martin Starr, Ryan Hansen and Megan Mullally who are all returning for the six-episode new season. (The only original cast member not coming back is Lizzy Caplan who had a scheduling conflict.)

    Like the original series, the new Party Down installment follows a Los Angeles catering team – a sextet of Hollywood wannabes (Scott, Lynch, Marino, Starr, Hansen, Mullally) stuck working for tips while hoping for their “big break.” Each episode finds the hapless catering team working a new event – and inevitably getting tangled up with the colorful guests and their absurd lives.

    Garner will play Evie, a successful producer of studio franchise movies, who, in the wake of a breakup, is reconsidering her life choices. A fledgling relationship with Henry Pollard (Scott) becomes a way for her to explore possible new directions.

    Williams will play Sackson, a handsome, confident, driven, wannabe influencer/internet personality. He’s knowledgeable and savvy about his specific internet niche, but a bit lost in every other aspect of life.

    Chao will play Lucy, a passionate, outspoken, free-thinking creative “food artist.” Lucy dreams of being a celebrity chef, but she’s stuck cranking out hors d’oeuvres at Party Down without the resources to do anything more ambitious.

    Marsden will play Jack Botty, an actor who plays the lead in a popular superhero franchise. Jack’s looks match his charm, he enjoys his life, his fame and being the center of everyone’s attention.

    The Party Down revival is executive produced by the original series’ creators/EPs, Rob Thomas, John Enbom, Paul Rudd and Dan Etheridge, as well as Scott, who was a producer on the original. Enbom will serve as showrunner. Lionsgate Television is the studio.

    The first two seasons of Party Down premiered on Starz in 2009 and 2010 and remain available.

    Bradley Cooper recalls being naked for 6 hours on film set

    (1/17/22) Bradley Cooper had to be totally nude for six hours on the set of his upcoming movie “Nightmare Alley.”

    The actor, 45, recalled filming a bathtub scene opposite actress Toni Collette, 49, during a recent interview with KCRW’s “The Business.”

    “I can still remember that day, just to be naked in front of the crew for six hours, and it was Toni Collette’s first day,” Cooper said. “It was just like, ‘Whoa.’ It was pretty heavy.”

    Cooper said that acting in the nude was no laughing matter – and a pretty significant experience for him.

    “The content of what the movie is, what we were exploring, in order to do it in a real way, it demanded that we’d be naked emotionally and soulfully,” he explained.

    Cooper added that filming a nude scene was a “big deal” for him, especially doing so in a project with director Guillermo del Toro.

    “I remember reading in the script and thinking, ‘He’s a pickled punk in that bathtub and it’s [the] story. You have to do it.’”

    The “A Star Is Born” actor also dished on how he was able to get into character for the film.

    “It really is akin to putting on a miner’s kit, hat and flashlight, and looking at each other and then going down in the tunnel, knowing that you may be excavating a route that won’t ever get you to the end that day but you come back up and go down again the next day,” he said.

    Cooper previously discussed the setbacks he faced while filming the movie during the pandemic, saying during an interview at the Tribeca Film Festival in June last year, “We have been making ’Nightmare Alley’ for the last two and a half years.”

    He added, “It was a unique experience, going through the pandemic, taking six months off, and revisiting it. We not only became lifelong friends, but it was an artistic experience.”

    “Nightmare Alley” hit theaters in December 2021.

    BAFTA Unveils Longlists For 2022 Film Awards

    (1/12/22) These lists have been compiled via Round One of BAFTA’s voting. Round Two, which determines the nominations, opens on January 14 and closes on January 27.

    The Rising Star Award nominations will be announced on February 1. The full nominations will then be unveiled February 3. Round Three, to determine the winners, runs February 9 – March 8. The 2022 BAFTA Film Awards take place March 13, with a physical ceremony planned.

    SUPPORTING ACTOR
    David Alvarez West Side Story
    Bradley Cooper Licorice Pizza
    Benicio del Toro The French Dispatch
    Jamie Dornan Belfast
    Ciarán Hinds Belfast
    Mike Faist West Side Story
    Andrew Garfield The Eyes of Tammy Faye
    Troy Kotsur CODA
    Jared Leto House of Gucci
    Woody Norman C’mon C’mon
    Al Pacino House of Gucci
    Jesse Plemons The Power of the Dog
    Mark Rylance Don’t Look Up
    J.K. Simmons Being The Ricardos
    Kodi Smit-McPhee The Power of the Dog

    SAG Awards Nominations

    (1/12/22) The awards ceremony is set to air on TNT and TBS on February 27 at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica.

    BEN AFFLECK / Uncle Charlie
    THE TENDER BAR

    BRADLEY COOPER / Jon Peters
    LICORICE PIZZA

    TROY KOTSUR / Frank Rossi
    CODA

    JARED LETO / Paolo Gucci
    HOUSE OF GUCCI

    KODI SMIT-McPHEE / Peter
    THE POWER OF THE DOG

    Australia’s AACTA International Awards Nominations

    (12/18/21) The 2021 AACTA International Awards will be presented virtually at 7am January 27 Australia time, which is 12pm PT January 26.

    BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
    Bradley Cooper – LICORICE PIZZA
    Jamie Dornan – BELFAST
    Ciarán Hinds – BELFAST
    Al Pacino – HOUSE OF GUCCI
    Kodi Smit-McPhee – THE POWER OF THE DOG.

    ‘The Fall Of The House Of Usher’: Michael Trucco, T’Nia Miller, Paola Nuñez & Henry Thomas Among 20 New Cast

    (12/11/21) Netflix’s The Fall of the House of Usher announced 20 new cast members including Michael Trucco, T’Nia Miller, Paola Nuñez and Henry Thomas.

    Also aboard for Mike Flanagan’s upcoming limited series based on the works of Edgar Allan Poe include Kyleigh Curran, Samantha Sloyan, Rahul Kohli, Kate Siegel, Sauriyan Sapkota, Zach Gilford, Katie Parker, Malcolm Goodwin, Crystal Balint, Aya Furukawa, Daniel Jun, Matt Biedel, Ruth Codd, Annabeth Gish, Igby Rigney and Robert Longstreet.

    They join previously announced actors Frank Langella, Mark Hamill, Carla Gugino, Mary McDonnell, and Carl Lumbly.

    The Fall of the House of Usher is a short story written by Poe. First published in 1839, it features themes of madness, family, isolation, and identity. The eight-episode series is described as an epic tale of greed, horror, and tragedy.

    The series, which was created by Flanagan, is exec produced by the auteur along with Macy as well as Emmy Grinwis and Michael Fimognari. Intrepid Pictures’ Melinda Nishioka will co-executive produce the project. Flanagan and Michael Fimognari will each direct four episodes.

    The Fall of the House of Usher marks the fifth series for Flanagan and Trevor Macy at Netflix under their Intrepid Pictures overall deal, including The Haunting of series – The Haunting of Hill House and The Haunting of Bly Manor; the recently launched and critically-lauded Midnight Mass, and the upcoming The Midnight Club.

    ‘In Performance At The White House’ To Return With Holiday Season Special

    (12/8/21) In Performance at the White House will return with a holiday season special to air on PBS on Dec. 21, with the program taped from Dec. 11-14.

    Jennifer Garner will host the special, with performances by Andrea Bocelli, Matteo Bocelli, Virginia Bocelli, Camila Cabello, Eric Church, the Jonas Brothers, Norah Jones, Pentatonix, Billy Porter, Northwell Health Nurse Choir, Voices of Service and “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band.

    President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will deliver remarks, and the event, titled Spirit of the Season, will highlight the holiday decor of the White House.

    This will be the first In Performance since 2016, as none were held during the presidency of Donald Trump. The special also will be different in that the performances will be taped over a span of a few days, rather than a concert in the East Room, as has been tradition. That is because of Covid-19 protocols.

    “We look forward to sharing more special performances recorded at the White House to capture the essence of our nation at its best,” Sharon Percy Rockefeller, president and chief executive officer of WETA-TV, said in a statement.

    The Northwell Nurse Choir is a group of frontline nurses that formed last year as their profession faced the challenge of the Covid-19 pandemic. Voices of Service is a quartet that has used their platform to show the impact that music can have on service members recovering from post traumatic stress disorder.

    The In Performance specials began in 1978 with an East Room recital by pianist Vladimir Horowitz.

    The special is produced by WETA, in association with Ken Ehrlich Productions. Executive producers are John F. Wilson and Ehrlich, with producer Renato Basile and director Toré Livia.

    Merrin Dungey To Star In Therapist Drama ‘In Between’ In The Works At NBC From Mayim Bialik & Liz Vassey

    (12/3/21) NBC is developing a mystery drama about a therapist who is forced to move to a small town, starring Merrin Dungey.

    In Between comes from Liz Vassey, the All My Children actress turned writer/producer, and Call Me Kat and The Big Bang Theory star Mayim Bialik.

    Dungey, who stars in Starz’ Shining Vale alongside Courteney Cox, Greg Kinnear and Mira Sorvino, plays a highly successful New York City therapist, who is forced to relocate to Between, GA, with a population of 297, after learning her estranged brother was involved in a mysterious accident. While struggling to make a place for herself in such a quirky therapy-resistant community, she realizes this tiny town has big secrets and may just need her more than she could have ever imagined — especially her gifted but misunderstood 9-year-old niece.

    Produced by Bialik’s Sad Clown Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television, Vassey will write and exec produce with Bialik exec producing. Sad Clown’s Mackenzie Gabriel-Vaught is a Co-EP and Dungey is producer.

    The script sale is the latest development for the network this week, which handed put pilot commitments to investigative thriller The Irrational from writer/executive producer Arika Lisanne Mittman, executive producers Mark Goffman (Umbrella Academy) and Samuel Baum (Lie To Me) and Universal Television, and comedy Aunties, from The Amber Ruffin Show team of writer Shantira Jackson, star/executive producer Amber Ruffin and executive producers Seth Meyers and Mike Shoemaker.

    In addition to Shining Vale, Dungey featured in the final season of Warner Bros’ Lucifer for Netflix, and recurred on FX’s American Horror Stories. She previously appeared in HBO’s Big Little Lies, as well as Alias and Once Upon A Time.

    Vassey, who was nominated for a Daytime Emmy at 16, has appeared in series including ER, Two and a Half Men, The Tick and CSI and has sold pilots and developments to networks and streamers including Netflix, The CW and Freeform. She is currently developing Jonathan Krause Deserves To Die on the feature side and recently made her directorial debut with the documentary feature The Human Race.

    Bialik is currently starring in the second season of Fox’s Call Me Kat, which she produces through Sad Clown in association with Jim Parson’s That’s Wonderful and Warner Bros. TV, and is hosting Jeopardy! National College Championship in February. Last year, she and Sad Clown developed Hope Café with Damon Wayans Jr. and Linda Videtti Figueiredo for NBC.

    Vassey is represented by literary manager Andy Cohen at Grade A Entertainment and Gregg Gellman at Morris Yorn Barnes Levine Krintzman Rubenstein Kohner Endlich & Gellman.

    Bradley Cooper was 'held up at knifepoint' on New York subway

    (11/30/21) Actor and filmmaker Bradley Cooper chased a man with a knife after being held up on the New York City subway in 2019.

    The A Star is Born director believes the scary encounter happened after he had become “too comfortable” in the city and that he first thought he was being approached by a fan instead of a knife-wielding thief.

    The incident occurred when he was on his way to pick up his then-two-year-old daughter, Lea, who he shares with ex-girlfriend Irina Shayk.

    “I used to walk around New York City all the time with these (headphones) on – this was pre-pandemic. I was on the subway (at) 11:45 (am) to pick up Lea downtown at Russian school and I got held up at knifepoint,” he told Dax Shepard on his podcast Armchair Expert.

    “It was pretty insane. I realized I had gotten way, way too comfortable in the city. My guard was down…”

    Cooper added, “I felt somebody coming up. I thought, ‘Oh they want to take a photo or something.’ As I turned, I’m up against the post like it’s The French Connection or some s***, and… I looked down and I see a knife.”

    He described the knife as being almost three inches long and the person wielding it as younger than he’d expected.

    “I have my headphones on the whole time. I can’t hear anything. I’m just listening to music. So it’s scored, the whole thing was scored,” he laughed.

    “I can’t remember (what I was listening to). I look up, I see the person’s eyes, and I’m taken by how young they are.”

    Cooper explained he’d been taught to never run from a knife, but instinctively headed for the exit.

    “I just started…running. I jumped over the turnstile, hid around the white, tiled entrance to the subway (and) took my phone out. He jumped over, running away.”

    Caught up by the adrenaline, Cooper ran after the perpetrator and snapped pictures of him.

    “I took a photo of him. Then I chased him up the stairs. He started running up Seventh Avenue. I took two more photographs of him,” he recalled.

    “I ran down two police officers in an SUV, showed them the photograph and I’m, like, talking to them, and the guy kept saying – it was so interesting – he’s like, ‘Are you stabbed?’ I was like, ‘No, no.’ He was like, ‘Check to see if you’re stabbed.’ What happens is people get stabbed and they’re in shock. I looked to see if he was right…” he shared, indicating he’d luckily emerged without injury.

    “And then I got back on the subway and picked up my daughter,” he concluded.

    Jennifer Garner To Star In ‘The Last Thing He Told Me’ Apple Limited Series From Hello Sunshine In Recasting

    (11/12/21) Jennifer Garner is set to headline and executive produce Apple TV+ limited series The Last Thing He Told Me. Based on the New York Times No. 1 bestseller, the series is produced by Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine, who optioned the book from author Laura Dave and serves as the studio on the project with 20th Television.

    Garner replaces Julia Roberts, who originally was set to star but had to pull out over a scheduling issue.

    Created by Dave and co-created by Oscar winner Josh Singer (Spotlight), the Last Thing He Told Me adaptation follows a woman (Garner) who forms an unexpected relationship with her 16-year-old stepdaughter while searching for the truth about why her husband has mysteriously disappeared.

    The Last Thing He Told Me is executive produced by Witherspoon and Lauren Neustadter for Hello Sunshine, as well as Garner and married duo Dave and Singer.

    This marks the second Apple TV+ limited series Garner is headlining and executive producing, alongside an adaptation of Amy Silverstein’s memoir My Glory Was I Had Such Friends, which she exec produces alongside Bad Robot’s J.J. Abrams and Ben Stephenson.

    Garner recently starred in and produced the Netflix feature Yes Day. She next will star in sci-fi film The Adam Project alongside Ryan Reynolds, Zoe Saldana and Mark Ruffalo. She also will star and produce the comedy film Family Leave, inspired by Amy Krouse Rosenthal’s book Bedtime for Mommy. Garner is repped by CAA, Linden Entertainment and Sloane Offer.

    Dave’s novel The Last Thing He Told Me became an instant bestseller when it was published May 4 by Simon & Schuster. The novel has spent more than six months on the NYT bestseller list (27 weeks and counting) and has sold more than 1.3 million copies, putting it on track to be one of the top-selling novels of 2021. It is available in 32 countries.

    Victor Garber guests on The Simpsons 11/21/21

    (11/4/21) Smithers finds true love with a famous fashion designer (voiced by Victor Garber), but will his new relationship destroy Springfield? Find out in the all-new “Portrait of a Lackey On Fire” episode of THE SIMPSONS airing Sunday, Nov. 21 (8:00-8:31 PM ET/PT) on FOX. (SI-3301) (TV-PG D, L, S, V)

    Voice Cast: Dan Castellaneta as Homer Simpson; Julie Kavner as Marge Simpson; Nancy Cartwright as Bart Simpson and Nelson; Yeardley Smith as Lisa Simpson; Hank Azaria as Moe; Harry Shearer as Skinner; Tress MacNeille as Dolph; Pamela Hayden as Milhouse; Harry Shearer as Flanders

    Guest Voice Cast: Victor Garber as Michael, Christine Baranski as herself, Christian Siriano as himself

    Jennifer Garner joins Ben Affleck, Jennifer Lopez for trick-or-treating

    (11/1/21) Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck dressed up as happy exes for Halloween.

    The “Way Back” star and girlfriend Jennifer Lopez were taking their respective kids trick-or-treating in Malibu, Calif., Sunday when his ex-wife, Garner, joined them for the festivities.

    “Everyone gets along, and the focus is always on the kids. Jennifer, Ben and Jen Garner all wanted the kids to have an amazing Halloween,” a source told People. “The kids are friends and wanted to go trick-or-treating together. It made sense that they all went together.”

    The source added that the actor had to work Monday, so “they wanted to enjoy a family weekend.”

    A source confirmed to Page Six that Affleck and Garner had spent time together with their kids at Huckleberry café in Santa Monica earlier in the morning, too.

    Affleck and Garner, both 49, share three children: Violet, 15, Seraphina, 12, and Samuel, 9. They wed in June 2005 and announced their separation in June 2015. They settled their divorce in October 2018.

    Lopez, 52, shares 13-year-old twins Max and Emme with ex-husband Marc Anthony, to whom she was married from June 2004 to July 2011.

    The “Jenny From the Block” singer and the “Gone Girl” star rekindled their romance in April following her breakup from fiancé Alex Rodriguez. The pair, who were engaged in the early 2000s, have been going strong ever since, packing on the PDA around the world at high-profile events and strolls around New York City.

    “We can do anything with love,” she said while appearing at Global Citizen Live. “Love makes miracles, trust me. I guess you could say, I don’t know, I got love on the brain. Have love on my mind lately, I don’t know what it is.”

    Garner, for her part, reignited her on-again, off-again relationship with boyfriend John Miller once more earlier this year.

    Bradley Cooper Launches New Production Label; Sets ‘Hyperion’ At Warner Bros With Graham King

    (11/1/21) Eight-time Oscar nominee Bradley Cooper is launching a new production banner, Deadline has learned. At the same time, Cooper and Weston Middleton at the new label are set to produce Hyperion based on the four-volume series of Dan Simmons novels, a project which Cooper has had long in the works. Hyperion now moves over from Syfy Channel to Warner Bros. motion pictures with Oscar winner Graham King still attached to produce under his GK Films.

    Previously conceived as a limited series for Syfy, Hyperion will now be adapted as feature by the Emmy-winning EP of HBO’s Watchmen limited series, Tom Spezialy. A search for a director is underway. The change-up in adapting the IP as a movie instead of a limited series, is to provide the IP with more breadth and scope that the expansive story demands. Published by Bantam Spectra, the Hyperion Cantos series includes Hyperion (1989), The Fall of Hyperion (1990), Endymion (1996), and The Rise of Endymion (1997). The books are set seven hundred years after the death of Old Earth, where the entire galaxy is at war. Seven strangers set forth on a journey to unlock the mysteries of the planet Hyperion’s Time Tombs — each convinced that they alone carry the key to saving humanity.

    Executive Producer, Hayley King will oversee the project on behalf of GK films.

    Cooper previously had a six-year deal with Todd Phillips and Warner Bros that recently concluded in 2019 with back-to-back commercial and critically acclaimed films. There was A Star is Born, nominated for eight Oscars including Cooper for Best Picture, Adapted Screenplay and Best Actor which grossed over $436M WW. And there was also Joker, which became the highest grossing R-rated movie ever making $1.07 billion and notching 11 Oscar nominations including Cooper for Best Picture and two Oscar wins for Joaquin Phoenix, Best Actor, and Hildur Guðnadóttir’s Best Original Score. Cooper and Middleton are currently determining the name of their new production label. Cooper was also Oscar nominated in the 2015 Best Picture category and Best Actor for Clint Eastwood’s highest grossing feature film American Sniper, which made $547.4M WW. In addition he received a Best Actor Oscar nom for 2013’s Silver Linings Playbook and an Oscar nom for Best Supporting Actor for 2014’s American Hustle.

    Phillips has been with Warner Brothers since 2005 beginning with Starsky & Hutch, through his $1.4 billion dollar-grossing The Hangover franchise and remains on the Burbank, CA lot to date.

    Cooper has a first look deal with Netflix where he is making his new film, Maestro currently in pre-production. He is repped by Range Media Partners. Middleton served as the Associate Producer on A Star Is Born.

    King, a 4x Oscar nominee, won Best Picture for 2007’s The Departed.

    Saturn Awards Winners

    (10/27/21) Best Director: J.J. Abrams (Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker)

    Camilla Cabello Leads Leonardo DiCaprio, Dozens Of A-listers Calling On Google, Amazon, Fox, Netflix, Disney & More To Demand Congress Support Biden’s Climate Plan

    (9/23/21) As Democratic leadership tries to unite its progressive and moderate wings, a group of 80-plus artists, celebrities and activists called on the leaders of Google, Disney, Amazon, Fox, Facebook and more to urge Congress to support President Biden’s Biden’s Build Back Better plan.

    Boldfaced signatories to the group letter included J.J. Abrams, Greg Berlanti, Cate Blanchett, Jack Antonoff, Don Cheadle, Ellen DeGeneres, Selena Gomez, Chris Evans, Jimmy Kimmel, Lady Gaga, John Legend, Chuck Lorre, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Sean Penn, Joaquin Phoenix, Billy Porter, Robert Redford, Ryan Reynolds, Shakira, Barbra Streisand, Wes Studi, Justin Timberlake, Kerry Washington and many more. The full list of names is below.

    The effort was spearheaded by the National Resources Defense Council Action Fund and actress/singer Camila Cabello, who convinced the sizable group of A-listers to speak out, specifically about the need to address climate change. (On Monday, a group of 17 Nobel Prize-winning economists also signed a letter in support of Biden’s plan.)

    Manish Bapna, President and CEO of the NRDC Action Fund said, “These are the tastemakers of our time—and in moments like these they have an opportunity to be the changemakers, too. What started as an idea by Camila Cabello has exploded into a clarion call from entertainers overnight to take action. Congress holds in its hands our best chance at combating our biggest environmental challenge yet. We need all hands on deck to make sure they seize it, and these industry leaders can play a critical role in making sure that they do.”

    In today’s initiative, the artists call out the following execs by name: Lincoln Benet at Access Industries (Warner Music Group), Sundar Pichai at Alphabet (Google, YouTube), Andy Jassy at Amazon, Tim Cook at Apple, John Stankey at AT&T (WarnerMedia), Brian Roberts at Comcast, David Zaslav at Discovery (and soon Warner Bros. Discovery), Mark Zuckerberg at Facebook, Lachlan Murdoch at Fox, Reed Hastings at Netflix, Kenichiro Yoshida at Sony, Robert Bakish at ViacomCBS, Arnaud de Puyfontaine at Vivendi (Universal Music Group) and Bob Chapek at Walt Disney.

    The letter says, in part:

    As the top leaders of the entertainment industry—one of the nation’s most powerful and influential business sectors—you are needed to lead our community’s call for action and embrace this vision for a better world. The entertainment community has a long, proud tradition of driving societal change. Our industry is already leading the charge toward more sustainable practices within our own businesses and productions. Now is the time to use your influence to shape our future.”

    Congress needs to hear you demand, unequivocally, that it put forward and pass the most ambitious climate change agenda in U.S. history.

    “It’s no secret that climate change is here and is already affecting people’s lives across the globe,” wrote Cabello in her post on Instagram about the effort. “We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to act boldly to fight the climate crisis, so I am honored to join over 60 fellow artists to call on leaders of the entertainment industry to use their power and demand that Congress pass @potus’s #BuildBackBetter agenda this fall.”

    The standard was taken up by longtime environmental champion DiCaprio, who tweeted to his 19 million followers, “This fall, Congress has a rare opportunity to invest in a clean, just, and equitable future by passing the Build Back Better agenda. This is our moment, and there is no time to waste. Join us and @NRDC_AF…” Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who is an NRDC board member, said the following in a statement: “People are seeing the impacts of climate change first-hand, from climate-fueled wildfires, to floods and storms,” said . “We cannot wait longer to act and we must use our voices to demand that our government leaders pass President Biden’s Build Back Better agenda.”

    The full text of the letter and a list of its signatories are below.

    Dear Entertainment Industry Executives:

    Climate change has arrived on our doorstep: California is on fire, record-breaking and deadly storms are flooding New York City, hurricanes are devastating the Gulf. This summer alone, nearly one in every three people in the United States experienced an extreme weather event.

    Scientists warn that if we fail to act now, every single one of us will feel the impacts, a billion people will be displaced, and low-income people and communities of color will continue to be hit first and worst. Right now, we have a critical window of opportunity to do something about it. And we need all hands on deck to demand that our leaders protect the people we love and the places they live before it’s too late.

    Congress has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to invest in a clean, just, and equitable future for all by passing the robust climate action that President Biden called for in his Build Back Better agenda. This legislation will create healthier communities, put millions to work in clean energy jobs, and free us from the fossil fuels that are driving climate change.

    As the top leaders of the entertainment industry—one of the nation’s most powerful and influential business sectors—you are needed to lead our community’s call for action and embrace this vision for a better world. The entertainment community has a long, proud tradition of driving societal change. Our industry is already leading the charge toward more sustainable practices within our own businesses and productions. Now is the time to use your influence to shape our future.

    Congress needs to hear you demand, unequivocally, that it put forward and pass the most ambitious climate change agenda in U.S. history.

    The plan currently before Congress will protect people’s health and clean up our drinking water. It will create a just transition away from dirty fossil fuels and create millions of new jobs. It will protect communities from climate change through investments in clean energy, clean transportation, and infrastructure upgrades. And it will make sure we finally prioritize and invest in the low-income communities and communities of color that are hit hardest by both fossil fuel pollution and climate impacts.

    This plan will create a stronger, brighter, and more just America—and we need you to help make this vision a reality.

    At this pivotal moment, please lead the call. Demand publicly and loudly that our senators and representatives in Congress pass this critical legislation.

    And we pledge to do our part as well. We will use our platforms to remind all Americans: Tell your senators and representatives in Congress that you demand climate action now. Advocate for Congress to take up the president’s climate agenda. And don’t stop there. Tweet. Post. E-mail. Call. Whatever it takes.

    Sincerely,

    J.J. Abrams
    Anitta
    Jack Antonoff
    Troian Bellisario
    Greg Berlanti
    Cate Blanchett
    Benny Blanco
    Dave Burd aka “Lil Dicky”
    Camila Cabello
    Dove Cameron
    Alessia Cara
    Don Cheadle
    Glenn Close
    Coldplay
    Jacob Collier
    Lily Collins
    James Corden
    Ellen DeGeneres
    Cara Delevingne
    Leonardo DiCaprio
    Zac Efron
    Billie Eilish
    Chris Evans
    Jimmy Fallon
    Finneas
    Selena Gomez
    Conan Gray
    Grimes
    Todrick Hall
    Hugh Jackman
    Jimmy Kimmel
    Joey King
    Liza Koshy
    Lady Gaga
    Cyndi Lauper
    John Legend
    Adam Levine
    Kevin Liles
    Dua Lipa
    Lorde
    Chuck Lorre
    Julia Louis-Dreyfus
    Demi Lovato
    Ziggy Marley
    Shawn Mendes
    Idina Menzel
    Lin-Manuel Miranda
    Sean Penn
    Joaquin Phoenix
    Billy Porter
    Zachary Quinto
    Addison Rae
    Robert Redford
    Ryan Reynolds
    Mark Ronson
    Kyra Sedgwick
    Shakira
    Lilly Singh
    Troye Sivan
    Barbra Streisand
    Wes Studi
    Ryan Tedder
    Justin Timberlake
    Kerry Washington
    Sigourney Weaver
    Shailene Woodley
    Calum Worthy.

    ‘Nightmare Alley’ Trailer: Bradley Cooper & Cate Blanchett Lead Big-Name Cast In Guillermo Del Toro’s Noir Remake

    (9/16/21) (Video) “I am prepared to offer you folks one last chance to witness this supreme oddity…. Is it a beast — or is it a man?”

    So says Willem Dafoe’s carnival barker in the first teaser trailer for Nightmare Alley, director and co-writer Guillermo del Toro’s star-packed remake of the 1947 film noir classic, based on the 1946 novel of the same name by William Lindsay Gresham.

    Multiple Oscar nominee Bradley Cooper and two-time Oscar winner Cate Blanchett take over the roles originally played by Tyrone Power and Joan Blondell.

    Have a look at the fiery, mostly quick-cut footage above.

    Cooper plays Clem Hoately, an ambitious young carny who has a talent for manipulating people with a few well-chosen words. He hooks up with a psychiatrist (Blanchett) who is even more dangerous than he is.

    The big-name supporting cast includes Academy Award nominees Toni Collette, Richard Jenkins, Rooney Mara and David Straithairn, along with two-time Emmy nominee Ron Perlman.

    The pic co-written by Kin Morgan marks Del Toro’s first time behind the camera since 2018’s The Shape of Water, for which he won Best Picture and Best Director Oscars. He also produced Nightmare Alley along with his Shape of Water collaborator J. Miles Dale.

    The film hits theaters December 17 via Searchlight.

    Guillermo Del Toro’s Netflix Anthology Series Sets Essie Davis, Luke Roberts, Andrew Lincoln, F. Murray Abraham, Glynn Turman & Others To Star, Gets New Title.

    Jennifer Garner visits Afghan refugee center

    (9/11/21) Jennifer Garner visited the Afghan refugee center outside of Washington, DC, earlier this week to meet the children and families who were recently evacuated from Afghanistan in recent weeks.

    In a video shared on Instagram, the 49-year-old is happily mobbed by children looking to play with her in an arts and crafts activity center.

    There is also a clip of her singing “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes” with a circle of small children.

    “Afghan children have known nothing but conflict their entire lives,” Garner said in a press release following her visit. “I got to see their beautiful art, sing songs and receive some really big hugs.”

    Garner, a board member for the organization, can be seen touring the refugee center, talking to volunteers and taking notes in the video.

    “A world of healing happens for kids in these child-focused play areas,” the actress added. “This may be the first time these children have felt safe in months, and the activity space gives them the chance to have fun and just be kids — after all they’ve been through, they desperately need that.”

    Despite reportedly being back “on” with ex John Miller since May, the “13 Going on 30” actress flew solo for the humbling experience.

    Just a few weeks earlier the actress and the businessman, 43, were spotted spending time together in NYC, as reported by PEOPLE.

    Garner and her businessman boyfriend reportedly got back together in May, as previously reported by Page Six. Though the couple reportedly started dating in 2018 — the same year her divorce from Ben Affleck was finalized — they split shortly before Los Angeles went into lockdown in 2020.

    Both Garner and Miller have children from their previous marriages.

    Imagen Awards Nominations

    (8/2/21) The Imagen Awards on Monday revealed nominations for its 36th edition, honoring Latino talent and contributions for the year across TV, film and streaming. Winners will be revealed October 10 in a ceremony on PBSSoCal.org and KCET.org.

    Best Supporting Actress – Television (Drama)

    Morena Baccarin, The Twilight Zone
    Paramount+; CBS Studios in association with Monkeypaw Productions and Genre Films

    Sulem Calderon, Mayans M.C.
    FX Networks; 20th Television and FX Productions

    Noemi´ Gonzalez, Selena: The Series
    Netflix; A Campanario Entertainment Production for Netflix

    Paola Lázaro, The Walking Dead
    AMC; Idiot Box, Skybound, Circle of Confusion, Valhalla, AMC Studios

    Seidy López, Selena: The Series
    Netflix; A Campanario Entertainment Production for Netflix

    Ofelia Medina, The Mosquito Coast
    Apple TV+; Fremantle in association with Apple

    Eva Noblezada, Law & Order: SVU
    NBC; Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, in association with Wolf Entertainment

    Gina Torres, 9-1-1: Lone Star
    Fox; 20th Television)

    Jennifer Garner And Netflix Reteam For ‘Yes Day’ Sequel As Part Of New Multi-Picture Deal

    (7/28/21) Jennifer Garner is reteaming with Netflix on a Yes Day sequel and other projects, after signing a new multi-picture deal with the streamer.

    The second Yes Day film is currently in development, with Garner once again producing and reprising her role as Allison Torres.

    “I first worked with Jen on The Kingdom 15 years ago and consider myself very lucky to still be in business with her today,” said Netflix’s Head of Global Film, Scott Stuber. “As an actor, she’s proven herself to be incredibly versatile in unforgettable roles spanning fast-paced action, heartfelt comedies, and thought-provoking dramas. She approaches every aspect of her work with such detail and preparation, which makes her an extremely valuable partner and producer. We look forward to celebrating another YES DAY with Jen and collaborating on many other exciting projects.”

    Added Garner: “Having known Scott for fifteen years, there is a reason his relationships in the business stand the test of time. He is as true blue as he is smart and intuitive about filmmaking. Reed [Hastings], Ted [Sarandos], and Scott have built a safe, collaborative home for storytellers— I am honored to join the awesome group of creatives in the Netflix family, and I am extremely excited to work with their passionate and innovative teams across all departments. I had the most gratifying, creative experience bringing YES DAY to life. Seeing Netflix’s global reach as the Torres family wreaked havoc in homes all over the world makes me eager to dive in with another Day of Yes; I can’t wait. I am grateful for Netflix’s continued support and look forward to mixing it up across the board with this partnership.”

    Yes Day is a family comedy, based on a children’s book by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, which debuted on Netflix in March. The film centered on a mom and dad who usually say no, yet decide to say yes to their kids’ wildest requests, with a few ground rules, on a whirlwind day of fun and adventure.

    Edgar Ramirez and Jenna Ortega also starred in the original film, directed by Miguel Arteta, and produced by Entertainment 360, Grey Matter and Garner. Within the first four weeks of its release, it was seen by 62 million households, becoming Netflix’s biggest Kids & Family film to date.

    In addition to the Yes Day sequel, Garner will soon appear in two Netflix films, which are not a part of her new deal. The first she’s attached to star in is The Adam Project, a sci-fi pic from director Shawn Levy, which also stars Ryan Reynolds, Zoe Saldana and Mark Ruffalo. The other (which she’ll also produce) is Family Leave, a comedy inspired by New York Times bestselling author Rosenthal’s book, Bedtime For Mommy.

    Garner is a Golden Globe winner and four-time Emmy nominee who has previously appeared in such films as Dallas Buyers Club, Love, Simon and Juno. She’s appeared on the TV side in HBO’s Camping, ABC’s Alias and more.

    Garner is represented by Linden Entertainment, CAA, The Lede Company, and attorneys Jason Sloane and Harris Hartman of Sloane, Offer, Weber, & Dern.

    How Melissa George Overcame Trauma To Crack French Cinema With ‘Peaceful’ At Cannes: It’s About “Mending Bad Things In Your Life And Coming Full Circle”

    (7/9/21) One afternoon in the early aughts, Melissa George found herself in a hotel room with Harvey Weinstein. The mogul, wearing a bathrobe, wanted to discuss two roles in his upcoming films Derailed and Amityville Horror. An assistant waited in the hallway, but then, fortunately, so did George’s ‘entourage’.

    “I actually was very well protected back then,” George tells me via Zoom, speaking from a park in Paris, with one of her sons in her lap. “My agent at the time said, ‘You’re not going to that meeting alone.’ And [Weinstein] realized that I came with bodyguards and back-up.”

    With her team lurking, he made no inappropriate moves, beyond his choice of attire. But then, a week before shooting on Derailed began, the lead role earmarked for George was mysteriously demoted to a supporting one. She believes this is absolutely because of that tightly-controlled Peninsula hotel meeting.

    But she prevailed, later booking Turistas, the lead in Music Within, and a big role in 30 Days of Night. She also booked meaty TV parts on shows like Grey’s Anatomy and In Treatment, for which she was Golden Globe nominated. Triangle and A Lonely Place to Die followed, and a lead in the critically-acclaimed series The Slap. By 2016, she was apparently living the fairytale: settled in Paris with her partner and two young sons. She’d dodged Weinstein. Her career was thriving. What could go wrong?

    Things could go very wrong indeed. According to a statement George made to police, during a disagreement with her partner in their home, he struck her repeatedly. An Uber took her to the police station. When she began vomiting, she was escorted by a detective to the hospital at 3am. That Uber driver would later testify to her distraught state, and that she appeared to be in physical pain, while George has photographic evidence of bruising and swelling to her face. However, the French court found both she and her former partner guilty of assault, and George was legally banned from taking her children out of the country without her ex’s written permission— a disaster for a woman who knew no one in France other than her ex, who relied on being able to travel for work, and whose family and friends were all distantly overseas.

    Of the court battle, George says now, “You have more bullets, you have more ammunition in your pocket if you have the money, and women aren’t very well-received here [in France]. We are known as the ones to carry the child. But once it’s born, it’s a gift to [the father]… You’re a carrier. You’re third in the order of the ‘code civil’… It says man, child, woman. You are not regarded at all, and you add on to that an actress, and you add on to that a woman, and not French.”

    Effectively marooned in her adopted country, George wandered Paris in a daze, feeling her experience had been “a witch hunt” and that she was “made to feel stupid daily”.

    While her work is well-known in the U.S., the U.K. and her native Australia, in France she says she was initially seen as an outsider. “You are a successful actress in your own country, but you are forced now to give it all up. And so, every day I just walked around [feeling] stupid.”

    Then, one day, George—who had left her native Australia at 21 to make it as an actress in the U.S.—experienced something of an epiphany. “I looked at the beauty of Paris. It was about five o’clock in the morning. I was just pretty much on the street. I thought, OK, you’re built for this, you are the only one that can make this happen. You need to perfect your French, starting now. You need to call your family and ask for help, starting now, because I had never done that in my whole life. I called my brother, called my mom, called my dad.” From that day on, George threw herself hard into creating a home and learning the language fluently.

    By 2018, she had managed a stint as Sean Penn’s wife in Hulu series The First, shooting in one-week increments, but mostly she was stymied. Her confidence eroded, terrified of leaving the children, when the script for Apple TV+ series The Mosquito Coast came her way, she sat on it for months, eyeing the role of Margot– wife of the lead Allie Fox character, who would be played by Justin Theroux, her co-star from Mulholland Drive some 20 years earlier. But still, she did nothing. Then she got a new agent, who immediately told her, “You have 30 minutes to put yourself on tape or else we are done.”

    “I sat on the floor and just burst into tears,” George says. “I put up my camera and I did three scenes. One take each. I didn’t sleep that night. And 24 hours later, Rupert Wyatt, the director, called my agent said, ‘She’s our Margot.’”

    George went to her sons, who were, by now, five and seven. I said, “Mummy has to be a big girl now and go back to work.” The boys understood. And the show’s producers allowed her to work two weeks on, two weeks off, so she could see the kids in Paris. “I was professionally and personally successful for the very first time in my life,” she says. “I made both of them happen.”

    Then, at last, the doors of French cinema cracked open. She got the chance to meet with Emmanuelle Bercot, who was putting together her film Peaceful (De son vivant). “I was a big fan of her as an actress, just from Mon Roi and all those films,” George says. Catherine Deneuve was also already cast.

    “I went in for an hour-and-a-half meeting in French. [Bercot] stood up at the end and just hugged me. She said, ‘Will you do my movie?’ I knew it was with my idol Catherine Deneuve. I mean from Belle de Jour, to everything she’s ever done… style-wise, acting-wise, she’s just historic. She epitomizes everything that I ever wanted to be.”

    George’s role was small, but it felt vital. “I knew I had one scene with her, not a lot, but the way I see it, it’s a step into the cinema in France,” she says. “Even though it’s been such a bad time for me here, it was a way to show that I’m at the right place at the right time, getting the right role at the right time. It’s a beginning.”

    At a recent private screening in Paris, everyone was in tears, she says. “It’s really, really touching, really sad. So beautifully directed.”

    The film tells the story of Benjamin (Benoi^t Magimel), son of Crystal (Denueve). “He’s dying in hospital and I’m his ex-wife,” George says. “And when he found out that I was pregnant, he abandoned us and never met his child ever. So, he’s lived this life of a lie and it’s about me letting go of my son to go and say goodbye to his father.”

    During her most desperate times these past years, George made a list of her dreams to keep her going. Deneuve was on that list, as was Sean Penn, as was working on a series like The Mosquito Coast. “That’s our version of praying, isn’t it? Manifesting?” she says.

    And just recently, George played her first fully-French role, in the Abel Danan-directed short Canines, starring Pauline Chalamet, which has just been green-lit as a feature.

    Being broken down and having to rebuild made her appreciate both herself and France, she says now. “I am more interesting, I am more calm, I’m more universal, I’m more cultured. I’m nicer, I don’t know. I just feel like when you get everything beaten out of you, you choose to put in the right ingredients and make yourself a better person. And it’s because of Paris.”

    Being invited into French cinema will absolutely be the cherry on top of this renaissance. “Australian cinema is easy, right? Because I was born there and raised there. American cinema is easy because I was there 20 years, but French cinema, all of a sudden, after a traumatic experience, it’s now my home. So, to do French cinema… That’s success to me, because it’s the place that made me fall in love with myself, that made me understand who I am.”

    This will not be George’s first time at Cannes. “I’ve only been invited before because there was a spare ticket of blah, blah, blah,” she says. “And of course, when I got on the red carpet, everyone was like, ‘Oh my God, what’s she doing here?’”

    But this year, she will be there on her own merit, representing a film she describes thus: “It’s about the truth and speaking the truth, and mending bad things in your life and coming full circle.”

    Netflix Gabrielle Union Romantic Comedy Feature ‘The Perfect Find’ Adds Gina Torres

    (6/18/21) 9-1-1: Lone Star and Westworld actress Gina Torres has boarded the Gabrielle Union and Keith Powers Netflix romantic comedy feature The Perfect Find.

    I hear she’ll be stepping in for Niecy Nash who has departed the project due to a scheduling conflict.

    The Leigh Davenport and Numa Perrier scripted movie, based on the Tia Williams novel, follows a 40-year-old woman with everything on the line: Her high-stakes career, ticking biological clock, bank account as she risks it all for an intensely lusty secret romance with the one person who could destroy her comeback. Perrier also directs.

    Producers are Tommy Oliver and Codie Elaine Oliver for Confluential Films; Union for I’ll Have Another; Jeff Morrone; and Glendon Palmer for AGC Studios. EPs are Stuart Ford, Linda McDonough, and Miguel Palos for AGC Studios; Holly Shakoor Fleischer for I’ll Have Another; Mel Jones for Confluential Films; and Davenport.

    Torres stars as Tommy Vega on 9-1-1: Lone Star and also starred on ABC’s The Catch, NBC’s Hannibal, USA’s Suits and Firefly and its feature movie Serenity as well as the Matrix franchise movies.

    She is repped by Framework Entertainment, Realm Talent, and Schreck Rose Dapello and Adams.

    ‘9-1-1’ & Spinoff ‘9-1-1 Lone Star’ Renewed By Fox For 2021-22 Season, Network Teases Crossover Episode

    (5/17/21) Fox has renewed both 9-1-1 and spinoff 9-1-1: Lone Star for new seasons. The network has ordered a fifth season of the hit first-responders procedural drama series 9-1-1 from Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Tim Minear, and a third season of spinoff 9-1-1: Lone Star.

    9-1-1 and 9-1-1: Lone Star are Fox’s top two scripted so the renewals are not a surprise. 9-1-1 will return to the fall after its fourth season premiered in January due to the pandemic, while 9-1-1: Lone Star, which also premiered its first two seasons in January, will return midseason.

    Michael Thorn, President of Entertainment at Fox, also teased a crossover event between the two shows for next season.

    Created by Murphy, Falchuk and Minear, 9-1-1 explores the high-pressure experiences of police officers, firefighters, and dispatchers who are thrust into frightening, shocking and heart-stopping situations. Angela Bassett, Peter Krause and Jennifer Love Hewitt star, with Oliver Stark, Aisha Hinds, Kenneth Choi, Rockmond Dunbar and Ryan Guzman in series-regular roles. WWE superstar Ronda Rousey recurs.

    9-1-1 is produced by 20th Century Fox Television in association with Ryan Murphy Television and Brad Falchuk Teley-Vision. Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Tim Minear are creators, executive producers and writers on the series. Bradley Buecker is an executive producer and director on the series. Alexis Martin Woodall, Angela Bassett, Peter Krause, John J. Gray and Kristen Reidel also serve as executive producers.

    Starring Rob Lowe and Gina Torres, Austin, TX-set 9-1-1: Lone Star follows Owen (Lowe), a sophisticated New York firefighter who, along with his son, relocates to the Texas capital and must try to balance saving those who are at their most vulnerable with solving the problems in his own life.

    Torres replaced Liv Tyler as co-lead of season two due to circumstances related to family and travel during the pandemic.

    Ronen Rubinstein, Jim Parrack, Sierra McClain, Natacha Karam, Brian Michael Smith, Julian Works and Rafael Silva also star.

    9-1-1: Lone Star is produced by 20th Television in association with Ryan Murphy Television and Brad Falchuk Teley-Vision. Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and showrunner Tim Minear are creators and executive producers. Alexis Martin Woodall, Bradley Buecker, Rashad Raisani, John J. Gray, Angela Bassett and Lowe also serves as EPs.

    The current season finales for both series air on Monday, May 24.

    Lasse Hallstro¨m To Direct Hilma Af Klint Biopic Starring Lena Olin

    (5/10/21) Nordic Entertainment Group (NENT Group), a leading digital player in Scandinavia, is committing to produce two English-language films per year that will debut directly on its Viaplay streaming service.

    The first project will be Hilma, a biopic of the revolutionary Swedish artist and feminist pioneer Hilma af Klint, written and directed by Lasse Hallstro¨m, an Oscar nominee for The Cider House Rulesand My Life As A Dog. The pic will star Lena Olin (Enemies, A Love Story) as Klint, with Hallstro¨m’s daughter Tora Hallstro¨m (Hachi: A Dog’s Tale) portraying the artist in her younger days.

    The project will debut exclusively on NENT Group’s Viaplay streaming service in 2022. The film is produced by NENT Studios with Helena Danielsson as producer and Josephine Zapata Genetay as executive producer.

    “Hilma and our coming films make NENT Group’s ambitions clear. Nobody in the Nordic region is thinking as big as this,” said Filippa Wallestam, NENT Group Chief Content Officer. “Hilma af Klint literally changed the way we look at the world. She happens to be Swedish, but her story says something important to audiences everywhere. It’s so special to work with talents of the calibre of Lasse, Lena and Tora, and it’s even better when the project means so much to everyone involved.

    “In today’s very competitive streaming world it is key to stand out and be relevant. For us, building on who we are, where we come from and what we stand for is a very clear differentiator that will support our vision of becoming the European streaming champion. Today’s news is an amazing stepping stone on that journey,” added Anders Jensen, NENT Group President and CEO. “The impact that women and men from the small countries in the Nordics have had on the world is nothing less than extraordinary. Many are of course very well known, but others are less known or even almost unknown. We want to share these stories with the world and hopefully find new perspectives that will both enlighten and entertain.”

    “I’ve spent three years trying to understand the mystery of Hilma af Klint,” added Hallstro¨m. “This is a story about an unwavering search for the truth about humanity and the universe, at a time when men made all the rules. Despite so many obstacles, Hilma created art that influences our lives today. My ambition is for the audience to experience these struggles with all their senses.”

    ‘The Valet’: Max Greenfield, Marisol Nichols, Betsy Brandt Join Lionsgate Comedy

    (5/7/21) Max Greenfield, Marisol Nichols, Betsy Brandt, and legendary Mexican screen and television icon Carmen Salinas are the latest to board the Lionsgate English-language remake of the French hit The Valet, joining stars Eugenio Derbez and Samara Weaving.

    Richard Wong is directing the film, which is in production. Weaving stars as Olivia, a movie star who enlists Antonio (Derbez) – a parking valet – to pose as her lover to cover for a relationship with a married man. As a valet, the hard-working Antonio usually flies under the radar, but his ruse with Olivia thrusts him into the spotlight and brings him to see himself more clearly than ever before. Greenfield, from TV’s The Neighborhood and New Girl, will play Vincent Royce, the charming, boyishly handsome business mogul. Nichols, who is known for the CW’s Riverdale and appears in Lionsgate’s upcoming film Spiral, will play Isabel, Antonio’s ex who he still carries a torch for.

    Breaking Bad alum Brandt will portray Kathryn Royce, Vincent’s wife. She soon will be seen in Blumhouse horror-thriller Run Sweetheart Run. Salinas, a screen legend with more than 110 movies and 30 television series to her credit, will play Cecilia, Antonio’s live-in mother.

    Rob Greenberg and Bob Fisher penned the screenplay, which is being produced by Derbez and his producing partner Ben Odell through their 3Pas Studios banner.

    “Production has begun and we couldn’t be more excited about the way this cast came together or this story,” said Derbez. “This is a romantic comedy with heart and soul starring some of today’s most talented young actors sharing the screen with a living legend of Mexican cinema.”

    Meredith Wieck and Aaron Edmonds are overseeing for Lionsgate.

    Greenfield is repped by UTA, Untitled, and Ziffren Brittenham; Nichols by Lady Moon Entertainment; Brandt by Patty Woo Management, TalentWorks, and Del Shaw Moonves Tanaka Finkelstein & Lezcano.

    J.J. Abrams’ Original Drama ‘Subject To Change’ Greenlit At HBO Max, Jennifer Yale Set As Showrunner

    (2/19/21) J.J. Abrams has created an original thriller that has been handed a series order by HBO Max.

    The streamer has ordered Subject to Change with See writer and exec producer Jennifer Yale set to act as showrunner and exec producer.

    This series follows a desperate college student who signs up for a clinical trial that begins a wild, harrowing, mind- and reality-bending adventure.

    The drama is produced by Bad Robot in association with Warner Bros. Television. Abrams and Yale executive produce along with Bad Robot’s Ben Stephenson. The company’s Rachel Rusch Rich is co-executive producer.

    In addition to Apple TV+ drama See, Yale’s credits include Starz’s Da Vinci’s Demons and Outlander, WGN America’s Underground, FX’s Legion and Netflix’s Chambers. Her first job in Hollywood was as writer’s assistant to Mel Brooks and Director of Development at Brooksfilms.

    It is the latest Bad Robot television news of the week after it emerged that the production company was developing a reboot of Constantine at HBO Max with Guy Bolton. These sit alongside other projects at the streamer including Duster and Overlook, the latter inspired by Stephen King’s The Shining.

    Abrams said, “It’s been incredible fun weaving this rather insane yarn with Jenn, and I am grateful to her and everyone at HBO Max for the opportunity to bring this story to life.”

    Said Sarah Aubrey, Head of Original Content at HBO Max: “We cannot wait to bring this complex, eye-opening thriller to HBO Max. It will take viewers on an unexpected ride, showcasing the creative brilliance of J.J., Jennifer and the Bad Robot team.”

    Yale added: “I have felt so privileged to work with J.J. and Bad Robot on expanding J.J.’s exhilarating story to create a twisty, thought-provoking thriller where almost anything is possible and yet everything is planned. Now partnering with HBO Max to make it a reality is a dream.”

    Yale is repped by CAA, Brillstein Entertainment Partners and Hansen Jacobson Teller et al.

    Jennifer Garner, Netflix Reteam For ‘Family Leave’ Comedy

    (2/17/21) Jennifer Garner has signed on to produce and star in Family Leave, a Netflix family comedy inspired by New York Times bestselling author Amy Krouse Rosenthal’s book Bedtime For Mommy. Victoria Strouse adapted the screenplay.

    The plot centers on the Brenners, who wake up to a full family body switch and quickly realize the same thing has happened to a family on the other side of the world. They must unite with this group of strangers and determine how to undo the switch, all while hilariously navigating daily life in a different body before it is too late.

    Nicole King of Linden Entertainment and Lawrence Grey and Ben Everard of Grey Matter Productions will produce the pic with Garner, while Jason Brian Rosenthal will serve as executive producer.

    The announcement of this new project comes as the streamer is gearing up for the release of Yes Day, a comedy that stars Garner and was also based on a novel by Rosenthal. That hits March 12. In addition, Garner is starring alongside Ryan Reynolds, Zoe Saldana and Mark Ruffalo in the sci-fi film The Adam project, also for Netflix.

    Mira Sorvino & Merrin Dungey Join Starz’s Horror Comedy Pilot ‘Shining Vale’

    (2/5/21) Oscar winner Mira Sorvino and Merrin Dungey are set as leads opposite Courteney Cox and Greg Kinnear in Shining Vale, Starz’s horror-comedy pilot from Divorce creator Sharon Horgan and Trial & Error co-creator Jeff Astrof. The half-hour show hails from Warner Bros. Television and Lionsgate in association with Astrof’s Other Shoe Productions, Horgan and Clelia Mountford’s Merman and Aaron Kaplan’s Kapital Entertainment.

    Written by Astrof from a story he wrote with Horgan, Shining Vale stems from an idea by Kaplan. It follows a dysfunctional family that moves from the city to a small town into a house in which terrible atrocities have taken place. But no one seems to notice except for Pat (Cox), who’s convinced she’s either depressed or possessed – turns out, the symptoms are exactly the same.

    Sorvino will play Rosemary, who is either Pat’s alter ego, a split personality, her id, her muse, or a demon trying to possess her. Sometimes playful, sometimes evil, often tragic, Rosemary has been roaming the halls of Pat’s new house for 70 years, searching for a vulnerable soul to live vicariously through. She sees in Pat a kindred spirit: Like Pat, she was unfulfilled in her role as a dutiful housewife — and as a result, she may or may not have slaughtered her entire family, straightened up the house, then took her own life in the bathtub that Pat now uses to relax. In any case, Rosemary promises to help Pat get her groove back and finish her novel, if Pat will simply agree to let Rosemary “come inside her,” a bargain that may haunt Pat forever.

    Dungey plays Kam, Pat’s oldest friend and book editor, a no-bulls**t straight talker who knows and loves Pat more than Pat does herself. Kam has been with Pat through the highs of Pat selling her first novel to the lows of everything that has happened since. She is the one person Pat can rely on for tough love, but Kam is running out of patience: If Pat does not give Kam a book she can sell, then Kam will have no choice but to leave her — this time for good.

    Gus Birney and Dylan Gage also star.

    Horgan and Mountford executive produce via Merman alongside Astrof through his Other Shoe Productions and Kapital’s Kaplan and Dana Honor. Dearbhla Walsh is set to direct and executive produce the pilot. Warner Bros. Television and Lionsgate produce in association with Other Shoe Productions, Merman and Kapital Entertainment.

    Sorvino was most recently seen in Ryan Murphy’s Emmy-nominated Netflix series Hollywood as the Lana Turner-inspired star Jeanne Crandall. Other recent credits include the 20th Century feature Stuber opposite Dave Bautista and Kumail Nanjiani, and director Mary Harron’s thriller The Expecting.

    Dungey recently portrayed Detective Quinlan in HBO’s Big Little Lies. Her other credits include a turn as CEO Claire Thorpe on Fox’s The Resident and a starring role in legal dram The Fix. She’ll next be seen on the sixth and final season of Lucifer on Netflix.

    Gina Torres Explains How Firefly Brought Her to 9-1-1: Lone Star

    (1/17/21) (tvline.com) After a decade of brawling in boardrooms on USA Network, Gina Torres is getting back into the field on 9-1-1: Lone Star, and she’s loving every minute of it. “As fabulous as it was playing Jessica Pearson, I feel safer climbing rigs and getting shot at than I did walking around in 5.5-inch stilettos for hours,” she tells TVLine.

    That exact scenario unfolds in the Fox drama’s second season premiere (Monday, 9/8c) when Torres’ character Tommy Vega — who steps in to replace departing paramedic captain Michelle Blake (Liv Tyler) — takes part in a dangerous medical rescue mission atop a cell tower.

    “I’m a physical person, and I love doing my own stunts,” Torres says, adding that she filmed this particular scene on her very first day. “They were like, ‘You’re going to climb this rig… and you’re going to get shot at.’ That was Day 1. But pretty soon, I was just like, ‘I remember this! Being outside, having people shoot at you in 110-degree weather, I’ve done this!'”

    Unfortunately, Tommy doesn’t necessarily share her portrayer’s confidence. “Like so many parents, she’s rejiggering her life and reinventing how she’s going to provide for herself and her family,” Torres says. “Their restaurant closed down, so her husband’s out of work, and she has this incredible skillset in a field that absolutely has needs. So she goes back to work after an eight year absence, not knowing if her badass card has been revoked.” (Spoiler alert: It has not been revoked.)

    “[Executive producer] Tim Minear is completely responsible for bringing me onto this show and drawing such a great character for me to play,” Torres adds. “He literally made it impossible for me to say no. I’ve loved his brain for almost 20 years, since we got to work on Firefly together. To get this beautiful offer in the middle of this crazy pandemic, where I didn’t know how or if I was going to work again, was mind-blowing and has been nothing but a blessing since Day 1. It wraps up all the reasons why I became an actor in the first place.”

    Read on for more of our Q&A with Torres, including the on-set reunion she wasn’t even aware of:

    TVLINE | We learn in the premiere that Tommy is old friends with Judd and Grace, which is funny, because you and Jim Parrack have worked together before.

    Wait, have we?

    TVLINE | According to IMDb, he guest-starred in an episode of Stand Off with you.

    [Laughs] Really? Wow. That was one of those shows, not unlike Suits, where I was not a part of the action. I was the lieutenant who was somewhere else telling people what to do. There were so many guest stars on that show that I never got to meet or work with, as there were on Suits, so it’s entirely possible he was on that show and I just had no idea.

    TVLINE | Something else I was wondering: Do you happen to know what Tommy is short for?

    I actually have no idea. And I asked, I did! I was like, “Thomassina?” I think Tim said, “Maybe.” He wouldn’t get specific.

    TVLINE | Lastly, give us a little tease. What can we expect from Tommy vs. the volcano in Episode 2?

    I win! [Laughs] I believe it’s already been teased that it comes at a great cost to the team, and I think that’s all I can say.

    9-1-1: Lone Star: Gina Torres Joins the Team in Ominous Season 2 Poster

    (11/20/20) The woman formerly known as Jessica Pearson looks right at home in the poster for 9-1-1: Lone Star‘s second season, coming to Fox in January.

    Gina Torres (Suits) joins the 9-1-1 spinoff as Tommy Vega, a paramedic captain “who was at the top of her game when she hung up her uniform to raise her twin daughters,” according to the character’s official description.

    “For eight years life was great, until COVID-19 changed her life. With her husband’s restaurant going under, Tommy has no choice but to re-enter the workforce to support her family. Though it breaks her heart to be apart from her little girls, Tommy will show the world that no matter how much time has passed, when she puts on that uniform, she’s still a boss.”

    TVLine has an exclusive first look at the new season’s official poster (aka “key art”), which finds Torres’ Tommy standing tall beside Mateo (Julian Works), Paul (Brian Michael Smith), Marjan (Natacha Karam), Carlos (Rafael Silva), TK (Ronen Rubinstein), Owen (Rob Lowe), Grace (Sierra McClain) and Judd (Jim Parrack). Notably absent from the poster is Michelle (Liv Tyler), who is not returning to the show for Season 2.

    9-1-1: Lone Star returns on Monday, Jan. 18 at 9/8c, following the return of 9-1-1. Browse the new poster here.

    Jennifer Garner And Zoe Saldana Join Ryan Reynolds in ‘The Adam Project’ For Netflix And Skydance

    (11/17/20) Jennifer Garner and Zoe Saldana are set to join Ryan Reynolds in Netflix action-adventure The Adam Project, directed by Shawn Levy. Jonathan Tropper penned the script, with David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Don Granger producing for Skydance. Levy also will produce for 21 Laps Entertainment as well as Reynolds, who will produce through his Maximum Effort banner.

    Plot details are being kept under wraps other than it having a time-travel element. The Adam Project marks one of a handful of films Netflix landed this year as studios like Paramount were figuring out their future slate in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Netflix felt like the perfect home as Reynolds was in the midst of wrapping his second film, Red Notice, while Levy has made Netflix his home following the massive success of his series Stranger Things.

    Dan Levine and Dan Cohen for 21 Laps will exec produce along with George Dewey and Patrick Gooing for Maximum Effort, Mary McLaglen, Josh McLaglen, Mark Levin and Jennifer Flackett.

    The film will be the first project for Reynolds’ The Group Effort Initiative, a self-financed diversity and inclusion program that aims to give people of color a chance to work and learn on the actor’s productions. The Group Effort Initiative is a joint effort between Maximum Effort and B for Effort.

    Garner next will be seen starring in and producing the upcoming feature Yes Day for Netflix. Saldana is known for starring roles in two of three biggest blockbusters in movie history — Avatar and Avengers: Endgame. She next will be seen reprising her role of Neytiri in Avatar 2, 3 and 4. Saldana also will star in and executive produce the limited drama series From Scratch for Netflix.

    Garner is repped by Nicole King of Linden Entertainment and CAA. Saldana is with CAA, LBI Entertainment and the Initiative Group.

    ‘Continuum’ & ‘Star Trek’ Actress Rachel Nichols Joins Horror ‘Demigod’

    (11/3/20) Continuum and Rage star Rachel Nichols is set to star in the horror film Demigod from The Dinner Party writer-director Miles Doleac.

    Nichols will play Robin, who travels with her husband Leo (Yohance Myles) to Germany’s Black Forest upon the death of her huntsman grandfather. Soon after arriving at his secluded cabin, Robin realizes the inheritance left her is far more macabre than she had bargained for. She finds herself entrenched in an ancient hunting ritual that will force her to reckon with her family’s past and her own will to overcome the monstrous obstacles in her path.

    The film also features Jeremy London, Sherri Eakin, Lindsay Anne Williams, Alli Hart and Doleac. Shoot is due to get underway in December in Mississippi for Doleac’s Historia Films and Artist Vodka Films.

    James V. Bulian, Lindsay Anne Williams and Wesley O’Mary produce with Doleac, who co-wrote the script with Michael Donovan Horn. Uncork’d Entertainment has North American distribution rights.

    Nichols has most recently been seen in TV series including The Man in the High Castle and DC’s Titans and is in post on the Bruce Willis sci-fi movie Breach.

    Doleac said: “I needed an actor who could play power, pathos, and vulnerability in equal measure. I’ve admired Rachel’s work for many years and I knew she could brilliantly capture this character’s complexities.”

    On getting back to work, Doleac added: “There’s a lot of pent-up creative energy. It’s exciting and terrifying to be getting back to work on a film. I think, from a creative perspective, that’s a pretty good place to be.”

    Nichols is repped by Buchwald, Management 360, Goodman Genow, and Principals Talent Management in Canada.

    J.J. Abrams To Produce ‘Oh, The Places You’ll Go!’ Movie In Works At Warner Bros Amid Dr. Seuss Ramp-Up

    (10/1/20) Warner Bros is expanding its partnership with Dr. Seuss Enterprises with news coming on a slew of projects, including a feature film based on the Seuss book Oh, the Places You’ll Go! that will be produced by Warner Animation Group and adapted by Bad Robot Productions, a project that will mark the feature animation debut for J.J. Abrams’ company. Abrams and Bad Robot head of motion pictures Hannah Minghella will produce the pic which is now scheduled for a 2027 release.

    “Dr Seuss’ Oh, The Places You’ll Go! is full of the inspiration, imagination, wonder and hope that has encouraged and entertained readers of all ages for generations.,” Mignhella said. “It’s hard to imagine a more iconic or beloved book to bring to life as Bad Robot’s first animated feature for WB.”

    Also on the Seuss front, Erica Rivinoja and Art Hernandez have come aboard as directors of The Cat in the Hat, the animated feature film based on Theadore Geisel’s iconic1957 children’s book. The film was announced it 2018 when the Warners-Seuss partnership was first set. That fully animated feature film will lead the companies’ slate and is targeting a 2024 release date.

    A stand-alone feature film is also in the works based on Thing One and Thing Two, the characters that originated in Seuss’ seminal 1957 book Cat in the Hat. It is eyeing a 2026 bow.

    The Warners-Seuss partnership has already teamed on the animated Netflix series Green Eggs and Ham, which features the voices of Michael Douglas and Adam Devine. That series, which bowed in November 2019, has already been renewed for a second season.

    “We are so thrilled to expand our creative partnership with Dr. Seuss Enterprises and are even more excited about the expansion of this slate of films,” said Allison Abbate, EVP of Warner Animation Group. “Our The Cat in the Hat is off to a terrific start with the incredible Erica Rivinoja and Art Hernandez at the helm. Oh, The Places You’ll Go! is one of Seuss’ most enduring masterpieces and its profound and poignant message resonates with fans of all ages. We are thrilled to be working with Hannah and J.J. at Bad Robot to bring this cultural touchstone to life on the big screen. And what could be more fun than to create an original story for Thing One and Thing Two? These two delightfully enigmatic characters will help us explore the magical world that Ted Geisel created with The Cat in the Hat and we can’t wait to jump in.

    Said Dr. Seuss Enterprises president Susan Brandt: “Warner Animation Group truly understands the timelessness of Dr. Seuss, the incredible impact of the characters and stories, and how to translate the magical appeal to truly come to life on screen. With the amazing talent they are bringing to these projects, we are looking forward to bringing Oh, The Places You’ll Go! and Thing One and Thing Two to fans in a way that will delight them, capture their imaginations, and inspire them to read and re-read the stories. We are also looking forward to collaborating with the incredibly talented Erica Rivinoja and Art Hernandez who we know will make magic with Cat in the Hat.”

    Warner Animation Group most recently released Scoob! in May. Its slate also include Tom and Jerry (March 5, 2021), Space Jam: A New Legacy (July 16, 2021) and DC Super Pets (2022).

    Jennifer Garner laughs off pregnancy speculation as pandemic weight gain

    (9/11/20) Jennifer Garner politely laughed off a troll who asked if she was pregnant.

    Underneath a video posted to her Instagram in which she’s wearing baggy overalls, a commenter asked the ever-intrusive question.

    “I am 48, have three healthy kids, and am not—and never will be—pregnant,” Garner responded. “We can lay that pupper to rest. Have [sic] a gained the Covid 19? Possibly. But that is another story [laughing, pizza, taco, donut, chocolate, wine emojis].”

    Garner shares 14-year-old daughter Violet, 11-year-old daughter Seraphina and 8-year-old son Samuel with ex-husband Ben Affleck.

    She moved on with Cali Group Chairman John Miller following her divorce, but they ended up splitting before LA went into lockdown earlier this year.

    ‘9-1-1: Lone Star’: Gina Torres Joins Season 2 Of Fox Spinoff As New Series Regular

    (9/3/20) Suits and Pearson alumna Gina Torres (Magdalena / Nell, One Life To Live) is set as a series regular opposite Liv Tyler and Rob Lowe on the second season of Fox spinoff series 9-1-1: Lone Star. Season 2 is scheduled to begin production in Los Angeles later this fall for a premiere in early 2021 as part of the network’s midseason schedule.

    9-1-1: Lone Star hails from 9-1-1 creators/executive producers Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Tim Minear. Set in Austin, it follows Owen (Lowe), a sophisticated New York firefighter who, along with his son, relocates to the Texas capital and must try to balance saving those who are at their most vulnerable with solving the problems in his own life.

    Torres will play Paramedic Captain Tommy Vega, who was at the top of her game when she hung up her uniform to raise her twin daughters. For eight years life was great, until COVID-19 changed her life. With her husband’s restaurant going under, Tommy has no choice but to re-enter the workforce to support her family. Though it breaks her heart to be apart from her little girls, Tommy will show the world that no matter how much time has passed, when she puts on that uniform, she’s still a boss.

    The role reunites Torres and Minear, who worked together on Fox’s sci-fi drama series Firefly.

    “We are so excited to be expanding our 9-1-1-verse with the addition of Gina Torres,” said Minear. “I’ve been dying to write for her again ever since Firefly. Gina brings warmth, intelligence and command to everything she does. 2020 is finally looking up.”

    Torres played Jessica Pearson, first on USA Network’s popular original series Suits and then in the network’s Chicago-set spinoff series Pearson, which Torres headlined and executive produced. The role earned Torres an ALMA Award, an Imagen Award and the National Hispanic Media Coalition’s Award for Outstanding Performance in a Television Series. Torres most recently was tapped to lead the cast of Dracula reimagining drama pilot The Brides at ABC. The Alias and Angel alumna also did an arc on HBO’s Westworld.

    Torres is repped by Framework Entertainment, Domain Talent, and Schreck Rose Dapello.

    9-1-1: Lone Star is produced by 20th TV in association with Ryan Murphy Television and Brad Falchuk Teley-Vision. Murphy, Falchuk and Minear are creators and executive producers, with Minear serving as showrunner. Alexis Martin Woodall, Bradley Buecker, Rashad Raisani, John J. Gray, Angela Bassett and Lowe are executive producers. Buecker directed the series premiere and continues to direct episodes of the series.

    Jennifer Garner pictured with Bradley Cooper amid John Miller split rumors

    (8/6/20) (Photo) Jennifer Garner spent the day with former “Alias” co-star Bradley Cooper amid rumors that she and boyfriend John Miller have called it quits.

    The longtime pals were photographed having a beach day in Malibu on Wednesday.

    A shirtless Cooper, 45, was seen rocking a mini man bun and red swim trunks as he made himself comfortable in the sand beside Garner, 48, who was wearing a sweater and skirt.

    Cooper’s 3-year-old daughter, Lea De Seine, whom he shares with ex-girlfriend Irina Shayk, was there too. Cooper and Garner were photographed chatting and laughing while he helped the little girl build sandcastles.

    Seemingly shooting down any romance rumors, a source told Page Six, “[Cooper and Garner] are friends and have been forever,” and that there is “no truth to anything else.”

    But perhaps that will change now that both stars are reportedly single.

    This week, reports surfaced that the “13 Going on 30” actress split from boyfriend John Miller after nearly two years of dating. Garner began dating the Cali Group CEO in October 2018 after settling her divorce from Ben Affleck.

    Meanwhile, the “A Star Is Born” actor broke things off with Shayk in June 2019 after four years of dating.

    Garner’s rep did not immediately respond to our request for comment.

    Jennifer Garner and boyfriend John Miller reportedly split

    (8/6/20) Jennifer Garner and CEO boyfriend John Miller have reportedly split up.

    The “13 Going on 30” actress and Cali Group chairman are “no longer together,” a source told InTouch Weekly on Thursday.

    The couple apparently split up before COVID-19 hit the States.

    “They split up before L.A. went into lockdown,” the source told the outlet. “Jen and John remain on friendly terms so there’s a possibility that they could rekindle their relationship in the future, but right now it’s over.”

    Page Six previously reported in October 2018 that Garner, 48, was “casually dating” the 42-year-old Cali Burger chain owner.

    Garner finalized her divorce from ex-husband Ben Affleck that same month, nearly three years after they separated. They share three kids together, Violet, 14, Seraphina, 11, and Samuel, 8.

    Meanwhile, Miller finalized his divorce with Caroline Campbell in November 2018. They married in 2005.

    Garner’s rep did not immediately respond to our request for comment.

    Imagen Award Nominations

    (8/5/20) Nominees for the 35th annual Imagen Awards honoring positive portrayals of Latinos in the media. The Imagen Awards will be presented virtually Thursday, September 24, at 5 p.m.

    Best Actress – Television

    Alice Braga, Queen of the South (USA Network; Fox 21 Television Studios and UCP)

    Jearnest Corchado, Little America (Apple TV+; Apple / Universal Television)

    Justina Machado, Family Pictures (Lifetime; Lifetime Pictures)

    Justina Machado, One Day at a Time (Pop TV; Sony Pictures Television, Act III Productions, GloNation, Snowpants Productions)

    Mishel Prada, Vida (STARZ; Big Beach and Chingona Productions in association with Starz Originals)

    Mj Rodriguez, Pose (FX Network; Fox 21 Television Studios & FX Productions)

    Gina Torres, Pearson (USA Network; UCP)

    Bradley Cooper In Talks For Paul Thomas Anderson 1970s San Fernando Valley Movie

    (7/1/20) Eight-time Oscar nominee Bradley Cooper is in talks for MGM’s untitled Paul Thomas Anderson movie. Deadline first told you that the movie’s domestic release was heading from Focus Features to MGM. There is a chance still that Universal could be involved with the pic’s foreign release, which is being determined.

    While Anderson’s latest is under wraps, it reportedly will center around a high school student who is also a successful child actor, but with intersecting storylines. It’s the fourth time that Anderson has set a film in the San Fernando Valley, the last titles being Boogie Nights, Magnolia and Punch Drunk Love. The filmmaker’s Ghoulardi Film Company has already received a $2.5M California film tax credit. Anderson directed, wrote and is producing the movie.

    Jennifer Garner offers heartfelt advice to fan grappling with a breakup

    (7/1/20) If you need another reason to adore Jennifer Garner, look no further.

    The 48-year-old actress took time out from sharing a collage of quarantine selfies on Instagram Monday to encourage a fan to keep “fighting” for happiness, after the woman opened up in the comments section about ending a troubled marriage.

    User @meregoddess called the “Alias” star “good and kind” as she described her heartbreak over the decision to leave her spouse.

    “It’s that I have finally gotten the courage to tell@my husband to leave after years of emotional abuse and I feel@like I will never find happiness or security. I find a sense of balm from seeing yours buts it’s also mixed with a winsome feeling because I don’t think I’ll@ever be there. He is so vindictive and powerful and I have nothing and no one. Why am I saying this to a stranger? I really don’t know,” she continued.

    Garner then offered a few words of encouragement.

    “Your heart sounds heavy, I am so sorry,” Garner wrote. “Hopefully you have powerful women in your corner, reminding you of your strength and your worth. Hopefully, you are able to calm your mind and heart with prayer/meditation/exercise/art. Laughter will come and really — it is worth fighting for. Until then, all of my love.”

    Garner has also dealt with heartache over the years. In 2018, she and husband Ben Affleck divorced after 13 years of marriage.

    Affleck — who shares daughters Violet, 14, and Seraphina, 11, and 8-year-old son Samuel with Garner — called the split the “biggest regret of [his] life.” He has since moved on with Ana de Armas, 32.

    'Thirtysomething(else)’, ‘The Brides’ & ‘Valley Trash’ Pilots Not Going Forward At ABC

    (6/29/20) ABC today made decisions on its 2020 pilots, impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. The decisions included passes on three projects, including two high-profile dramas, the thirtysomething sequel thirtysomething(else), featuring several original cast members; Berlanti Prods.’ The Brides Dracula reimagining headlined by Gina Torres, from Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa. The third is comedy Valley Trash starring Jason Lee and exec produced by Nahnatchka Khan. All three come from outside studios, MGM, Warner Bros. TV and Universal TV, respectively. Thirtysomething(else) and The Brides are expected to be shopped.

    Broadcast networks trimming their pilot slates in the current environment is not surprising as the coronavirus-related Hollywood production upended 2020 pilot season, leading to nets having to make difficult decisions. CBS also passed on two high-profile projects with A-list asupices involved,, drama The Lincoln Lawyer and comedy Fun.

    Still, Thirtysomething(else) not going forward is a shocker given ABC’s passion for the project, whose pilot order was announced with fanfare by the network’s entertainment president Karey Burke — a huge thirtysomething fan — at TCA in January. While the order for the project, from the iconic original series’ creators Marshall Herskovitz and Ed Zwick, was for a pilot, at the time ABC allowed them to open a writers room.

    It’s hard to pinpoint one reason for ABC’s decision not to proceed with the high-profile sequel. According to sources, it came down to available slots. ABC committed to two drama pilots to produce this year, and the the nods went to Rebel and Harlem’s Kitchen, which were considered stronger contenders. There have been concerns about the budget of thirtysomething(else), which was very expensive, with a large young ensemble cast and the returning original cast members who commanded big paychecks. I hear the network also had been hoping for more star power within the new thirtysomethings, and there were some logistical issues, with the series slated to film in Canada, which requeires quarantine.

    When the project landed at ABC, ABC Studios partnered with MGM and became lead studio. I hear the Disney TV Studios division is remaining part of the show as it is being shopped.

    Written by Herskovitz and Zwick and to be directed by Zwick, thirtysomething(else) follows an ensemble of new faces, the new generation of thirtysomethings. They are being joined by returning original cast members Ken Olin (Michael Steadman), Mel Harris (Hope Murdoch), Timothy Busfield (Elliot Weston) and Patty Wettig (Nancy Weston), reprising their characters in supporting roles. (Fellow thirtysomething alums Melanie Mayron and Polly Draper were to recur in the sequel.)

    Written by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, The Brides, a sexy contemporary reimagining of Dracula, is a family drama with a trio of powerful female leads at its heart. With strong horror elements, The Brides is a vampire soap about empowered, immortal women and the things they do to maintain wealth, prestige, legacy — and their nontraditional family.

    Written by Niki Schwartz-Wright, Valley Trash centers on The Harmans, a scrappy, blue collar family living in the deep Valley who suddenly experience a major culture clash when their fourteen-year-old daughter, Abby, gets accepted to a prestigious LA private high school filled with students and parents who want nothing to do with her, her family or their 818 area code.

    Of the other 2020 ABC pilots, the network committed to film five in 2020, dramas Rebel and Harlem’s Kitchen and comedies Bossy (fka Kids Matter Now), Home Economics and Work Wife, while rolling three into second cycle (off cycle): comedy Adopted and dramas National Parks Service (fka ISB), from Kevin Costner, and Triage.

    Bad Robot, Katie McGrath & J.J. Abrams Family Foundation Makes 5-Year Pledge Of $10 Million To Anti-Racist Agenda Organizations

    (6/1/20) Bad Robot re: Bad Robot and Katie McGrath and J.J. Abrams Family Foundation just announced in an Instagram post that they will donate $2 million annually over five years, a $10 million total investment to organizations and agendas committed to anti-racist agendas that close the gaps. The initiative begins with $200,000 donated immediately to Equal Justice Initiative, Black Futures Lab, Know Your Rights Camp, Black Lives Matter L.A. and Community Coalition.

    Lifetime Presents Variety’s Power of Women: Frontline Heroes

    (5/28/20) Lifetime Presents Variety’s Power of Women: Frontline Heroes will air Tuesday, June 9 at 10/9c on Lifetime and Facebook. Good Morning America’s Robin Roberts will virtually host the special, which features appearances from Cate Blanchett, Patti LuPone, Janelle Monae, Laverne Cox, Jennifer Garner, Tiffany Haddish, Gigi Hadid, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Nicole Kidman, Blake Lively, Helen Mirren and Natalie Portman.

    Merrin Dungey guests on Man With A Plan

    (4/9/20) “Couples Therapy” – When Adam buys a boat without asking Andi, they wind up in couple’s therapy to settle the disagreement, on MAN WITH A PLAN, Thursday, April 30 (8:31-9:01 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Merrin Dungey guest stars as Dr. Felicia, Adam and Andi’s therapist.

    ABC Sets ‘The Happy Days Of Garry Marshall’ Tribute Special With Julie Andrews, Jennifer Garner, Jimmy Kimmel & More

    (4/8/20) ABC is paying tribute to Hollywood legend Garry Marshall in an upcoming TV special. The Happy Days of Garry Marshall will air Tuesday, May 12 at 8 PM.

    The special will bring together stars of some of Marshall’s most iconic series and films, sharing their favorite memories of Marshall, including Pretty Woman‘s Richard Gere, Hector Elizondo and Julia Roberts; Ron Howard, Don Most, Marion Ross, Anson Williams and Henry Winkler (Happy Days); Cindy Williams, David Lander and Michael McKean (Laverne & Shirley); Pam Dawber (Mork & Mindy); Barbara Hershey (Beaches); and Julie Andrews, Anne Hathaway and Chris Pine (The Princess Diaries).

    Amid the coronavirus crisis, broadcast networks have been scheduling feel-good specials as their series seasons were cut short and they are looking to add comfort food programming in difficult times.

    “Garry famously said, ‘I never wanted to change the world. I wanted to entertain the world.’ And for more than six decades, his work in television and films made us laugh, touched our hearts and always left us feeling good,” said John Scheinfeld, executive producer of “The Happy Days of Garry Marshall.” “Featuring his most famous stars, this very special celebration captures the hilarious, positive, upbeat and romantic nature of Garry Marshall. It’s exactly the show we need right now.”

    Additional appearances in The Happy Days of Garry Marshall include ABC late-night host Jimmy Kimmel and actors Abigail Breslin, Yvette Nicole Brown, Cary Elwes, Jennifer Garner, Kate Hudson, Ashton Kutcher, Rob Lowe and John Stamos. Marshall’s wife, Barbara, and their children Scott, Kathleen and Lori, also will share never-before-heard stories about Marshall, including a look back at the start of his career in Hollywood.

    The Happy Days of Garry Marshall is produced by Crew Neck Productions for ABC and is written and directed by John Scheinfeld.

    You can watch a promo here.

    Amy Adams & Jennifer Garner Launch #SaveWithStories To Support Children Who Are Out Of School Due To Coronavirus Outbreak

    (3/16/20) Amy Adams and Jennifer Garner want to make sure kids aren’t losing out on learning and healthy eating in a time when coronavirus fears have led to a number of building closures, including schools. The award-winning actresses have teamed with Scholastic, the global children’s publishing, education and media company, to launch #SaveWithStories, which will benefit Save the Children and Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign.

    Adams made the announcement early Monday that the newly-minted initiative was what prompted her to “finally” join Instagram.

    “I’ve decided to finally join to shine a spotlight on kids across the country who need our help and support during this difficult time,” she wrote in part. “My friend @jennifer.garner and I are launching @SAVEWITHSTORIES – a spot to watch your favorite celebrities read your favorite children’s books.”

    Under the initiative, the actors, as well as their celebrity friends, will share their favorite books and stories on Instagram and Facebook to drive donations to Save the Children and No Kid Hungry coronavirus response. In addition, Scholastic is securing a number of titles from its library to be featured as part of the initiative.

    For its part, Save the Children will provide age-appropriate books, learning activities, games and toys to children whose schools are closed in some of rural America’s poorest communities through the #SAVEWITHSTORIES initiative. It also launched Coronavirus and Kids: Resources from Save the Children, providing free educational resources and tips for families across America.

    In an effort to ensure children still have access to meals during school closures, No Kid Hungry plans to provide emergency grants to food banks and community groups, divert resources to the hardest-hit communities, and help families find meals while continuing to ensure every kid gets three meals a day.

    Victor Garber and Saul Rubinek will guest-star on next week’s Schitt’s Creek

    (3/6/20) Victor Garber (Legends of Tomorrow, Alias) and Saul Rubinek (Warehouse 13) will guest-star on next week’s Schitt’s Creek as producers from Sunrise Bay, the soap opera that once starred Catherine O’Hara’s Moira, EW.com reports.

    Suits Alum Gina Torres to Headline Brides of Dracula Pilot for ABC

    (3/2/20) ABC is pulling back the veil on one of The Brides — and we like what we see.

    Suits veteran Gina Torres will star in the soapy drama pilot as one of Dracula’s three brides, TVLine has learned. Torres will play Cleo Phillips, the leader of the three brides who carries herself like a queen… which makes sense, because she was a queen in her former life. Turned by Dracula after the death of her husband, Cleo is now a New York City real estate tycoon who “is challenged professionally by a mysterious newcomer — even as her ties to her sisters are dangerously fraying,” per the official description.

    The Brides is billed as a “sexy contemporary reimagining” of the iconic Dracula story with “strong horror elements”; it earned a pilot order from ABC back in January. Riverdale showrunner Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa is set to pen the pilot. (Torres guest-starred in an episode of Riverdale earlier this season as guidance counselor Mrs. Burble.)

    Torres is best known to TV fans as lawyer Jessica Pearson on USA’s Suits, which wrapped up its nine-season run last fall. (Torres left the cast to star in her own spinoff, Pearson, but that only lasted a single season.) Torres also co-starred on the Fox cult classic Firefly; her other TV credits include Westworld, Hannibal, Alias, 24 and Angel.

    Riverdale: Marisol Nichols to Exit

    (2/24/20) Boy, the parents on Riverdale are dropping like Black Hood victims: In addition to Skeet Ulrich leaving the CW drama, Marisol Nichols will also exit the series at season’s end, TVLine has exclusively confirmed.

    “I had an incredible time bringing Hermione Lodge to life and working with my amazing cast, who became family,” Nichols said in a statement provided to TVLine. “We had so many wonderful times together during the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. We really do have the best fans ever. I am looking forward to the next chapter and am excited about the future.”

    Nichols has played Veronica’s mother Hermione since Riverdale debuted back in 2017. There’s no word yet on how either Hermione or F.P. will be written out of the show. Hermione has taken a backseat during most of Season 4, but she did reconcile with Veronica’s dad Hiram (played by Mark Consuelos) and broke the bad news to Veronica that Hiram is battling a debilitating disease.

    Riverdale showrunner Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa confirmed the two departures in a statement to TVLine as well: “Part of life in Riverdale — and part of growing up — is saying goodbye to people. I’m grateful to Skeet and Marisol for their incredible work on the show these last four years, and we all wish them well on their future endeavors. F.P. and Hermione will never be far from our hearts. And, of course, they’re always welcome back in Riverdale.”

    Season 4 of Riverdale is currently airing Wednesdays at 8/7c on The CW; it was renewed for Season 5 back in January.

    ‘The Falcon & The Winter Soldier’: Carl Lumbly Joins Marvel’s Disney+ Series

    (2/18/20) Carl Lumbly (Supergirl, Doctor Sleep), has joined the cast of Marvel Studios’ The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, the Disney+ superhero series now filming in Atlanta and slated to premiere on the subscription streaming service in August.

    Lumbly recently had a recurring role as the father of J’onn J’onzz, aka the Martian Manhunter, on The CW series Supergirl. (It was a live-action role that called back to his earlier voice work portraying the Martina Manhunter himself on the well-regarded Justice League animated series)

    Lumbly recent television credits also include This Is Us, God Friended Me, The Chi, NCIS: Los Angeles, Altered Carbon and SIX but he is best known for portraying two field operatives named Marcus: Det. Marcus Petrie on the CBS series Cagney & Lacy and CIA Agent Marcus Dixon on the ABC series Alias.

    On the big screen, Lumbly worked opposite Robert DeNiro and Cuba Gooding Jr. in Men of Honor while he portrayed Dick Halloran (a role he inherited from Scatman Crothers) for Doctor Sleep, last year’s sequel to The Shining.

    Lumbly’s role has not disclosed but Marvel fans will immediately pounce on the possibility that the veteran actor could be playing Isiah Bradley, aka the “black Captain America.”

    The fan-favorite throwback character was introduced in 2003 in the Marvel Comics limited series Truth: Red, White & Black as a super-powered product of clandestine experiments on African-American soldiers. The evocative backstory (depicted with imagery that evoked the infamous, real-world Tuskegee syphilis studies) made Bradley a tragic but noble culture symbol for African-American heroes within the Marvel Universe.

    If Lumbly is indeed portraying Bradley it would connect nicely with the actor’s own history as a pioneer figure among African-American superheroes. Lumbly was the title star of the groundbreaking (but short-lived) Fox series M.A.N.T.I.S. (1994-1995). The sci-fi crimefighter series was created by Sam Raimi and Sam Hamm.

    Marvel Studios’ The Falcon and The Winter Soldier stars Anthony Mackie (Altered Carbon) as Sam Wilson/Falcon and Sebastian Stan (I, Tonya) as Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier. The mismatched pair are military vets and former partners of Captain America (who is missing in action after the events of the record-breaking Avengers: Endgame) who team up for a global adventure that will test their survival skills — as well as their patience. Emily VanCamp (Everwood) reprises the role of Sharon Carter and Daniel Brühl (The Alienist) is back as the scheming mastermind named Zemo.

    Wyatt Russell who will be playing John Walker, aka USAgent, another product of of Super-Soldier experiments who wore the colors of Captain America in the pages of Marvel Comics.

    The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is directed by Kari Skogland; Malcolm Spellman is the head writer.

    ‘Happiest Season’: Mary Steenburgen, Victor Garber, Aubrey Plaza, Alison Brie, Dan Levy & More Round Out TriStar Comedy

    (1/23/20) As filming gets underway this week in Pittsburgh, PA, the TriStar Pictures and Entertainment One romantic comedy Happiest Season has rounded out its cast for the Kristen Stewart-Mackenzie Davis film.

    Joining them in the pic directed and co-written by Clea DuVall is Oscar winning actress Mary Steenburgen, six time Emmy-nominated actor Victor Garber, Golden Globe nominated actress Alison Brie, Independent Spirit Award winning actress Aubrey Plaza and Emmy Award nominee Dan Levy (Schitt’s Creek).

    Co-written by Mary Holland, Happiest Season follows a young woman (Stewart) whose plan to propose to her girlfriend (Davis) while at her family’s annual holiday party is upended when she discovers her partner hasn’t yet come out to her conservative parents (played by Steenburgen and Garber). The pic hits theaters on Nov. 20. eOne will distribute the pic in UK and Canada.

    Also joining the cast is Ana Gasteyer (The Goldbergs, Saturday Night Live, Wine Country), Burl Moseley (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend), Sarayu Blue (Blockers, To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You), Jake McDorman (What We Do in The Shadows) as well as Holland. Marty Bowen and Isaac Klausner are producing. Jonathan McCoy and Wyck Godfrey are EPs.

    Steenburgen is repped by UTA, Management 360 and Gang Tyre. Garber is repped by Lou Coulson Associates, Oscars Abrams Zimel & Associates and Industry Entertainment. Brie is repped by Rise Management, WME and A.J. Brandenstein at Sloane, Offer, Weber & Dern. Plaza is repped by MGMT, CAA and Schreck Rose Dapello Adams Berlin & Dunham. Levy is repped by WME, Great North Artists Management, MGMT Entertainment and Morris Yorn Barnes Levine Krintzman Rubenstein Kohner & Gellman.

    Gasteyer is repped by The Gersh Agency and Circle of Confusion. Mosely is repped by O’Neill Talent Group and Lara Rosenstock Management. Blue is repped by CAA, D2 Management and Stone, Genow, Smelkinson, Binder & Christopher. McDorman is repped by UTA, Mosaic and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller, Hoberman, Newman, Warren, Richman, Rush & Kaller. Holland is repped by ICM Partners, Atlas Artists and Ziffren Brittenham.

    Netflix Commits To Bradley Cooper’s Leonard Bernstein Film; Scorsese, Spielberg, Todd Phillips Producing

    (1/22/20) After launching two Oscar Best Picture nominees in The Irishman and Marriage Story, Netflix is re-stocking its star-driven prestige film arsenal with a big one. Netflix has acquired all rights to the untitled Leonard Bernstein film that Bradley Cooper will direct, star in and produce from the script he co-wrote with Oscar-winning Spotlight scribe Josh Singer. The project exits Paramount, which set the film as a priority project in May 2018. Amblin remains firmly part of the drama that spans over 30 years in telling the beautifully complex story of the marriage between Bernstein and his wife, Felicia Montealegre.

    Netflix will make the film with a enviable roster of top producers: Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, Cooper and his Joint Effort producing partner (and Joker director) Todd Phillips, Kristie Macosko Krieger, The Irishman and Joker double Oscar-nominated producer Emma Tillinger Koskoff, and Fred Berner and Amy Durning. The latter duo shepherded this project in various iterations over a decade.

    Scorsese several years ago intended to direct a Bernstein film at Paramount when Singer was the sole scribe, but stepped aside to make way for Cooper as he put his time into directing Best Picture nominee The Irishman. Spielberg just shot a remake of West Side Story, using Bernstein’s music from the original film that was the late composer’s most famous movie credit. The deal allows Netflix a chance to be in business with Spielberg.

    The Bernstein film is expected to begin production early next year. Netflix will give it a significant theatrical release before the film premieres on its streaming site, just as it did for Scorsese on The Irishman, as well as Marriage Story, The Two Popes and several other awards season contenders.

    “Bradley’s directorial debut was nothing short of brilliant and he quickly cemented himself as a serious filmmaker,” said Netflix Head of Film Scott Stuber, in confirming the deal for Deadline. “His strong passion and clear vision for bringing to life the relationship between the iconic composer Leonard Bernstein and his wife Felicia Montealegre promises to do their lives justice as only this renowned filmmaking team can. We are honored to be working with the Bernsteins to share their family’s story with audiences everywhere.”

    Paramount will no longer be involved, sources said. The studio embraced the film when Cooper and the filmmakers got the exclusive rights from the Leonard Bernstein estate. That effectively ended a competitive situation with a rival project that had Jake Gyllenhaal playing Bernstein in a film that was to be directed by Cary Fukunaga, who instead helmed the upcoming James Bond pic No Time to Die. Cooper has been working closely with Bernstein’s children, Jamie, Alexander and Nina, for the past two years.

    The film Cooper will direct as the follow-up to his Oscar-nominated debut A Star Is Born is not considered a traditional biopic, in that it focuses on the relationship between Bernstein and Chilean-born actress Montealegre. Bernstein’s colorful life included making a memorable conducting debut at the New York Philharmonic at 25 when the conductor took ill; without even rehearsing, Bernstein did so well his star was launched the next day when his feat made the front page of the New York Times. He was blacklisted before being cleared of being a communist just before he composed the Oscar-nominated score for On the Waterfront; and he was an activist in the civil rights movement, and outspoken on issues including ending the Vietnam War. Cooper has always been fascinated with conducting, but the charged and complex relationship between Bernstein and his wife is what compelled Cooper to make the film his next directorial outing.

    This will be the fourth project Cooper produces with Phillips at Joint Effort, including the 11-Oscar-nominated billion-dollar grosser Joker and the eight-Oscar-nominated A Star Is Born.

    Cooper next stars in the Guillermo del Toro-directed Nightmare Alley. He is repped by CAA.

    Carl Lumbly on GOD FRIENDED ME 1/12/20

    (1/7/20) “BFF” – Miles is surprised when the God Account sends him the name of Trish’s daughter on the eve of Arthur and Trish’s wedding. Also, the wedding gives Miles the opportunity to chase down a new lead on the God Account, and Ali receives important news, on GOD FRIENDED ME, Sunday, Jan. 12 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

    GUEST CAST includes: Carl Lumbly (Alphonse), Amber Stevens West (Julia).

    Hunters: Al Pacino Thriller Gets February Premiere Date at Amazon

    (1/3/20) (Video) The hunt is almost on at Amazon.

    The streamer announced Friday that its Al Pacino-led thriller Hunters will drop on Friday, Feb. 21.

    Executive-produced by Oscar winner Jordan Peele (Get Out, Us), Hunters stars Pacino as Meyer Offerman, the co-founder of a diverse band of Nazi hunters living in 1977 New York City. When the grandmother of Jonah Heidelbaum (Jack & Bobby‘s Logan Lerman) is suddenly killed, Meyer recruits Jonah to The Hunters, who discover that hundreds of high-ranking Nazi officials are living among them and conspiring to create a Fourth Reich in the United States.

    “The eclectic team of Hunters will set out on a bloody quest to bring the Nazis to justice and thwart their new genocidal plans,” the drama’s logline reads.

    Hunters also stars Jerrika Hinton (Grey’s Anatomy), Josh Radnor (How I Met Your Mother), Carol Kane (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt), Dylan Baker (The Good Wife), Tiffany Boone (The Chi) and Lena Olin (Alias), among others.

    In addition to a premiere date, Amazon has unveiled a new, full-length trailer for the series, which offers a more thorough introduction to the titular group — or, as they’re described in the video, “a lock-picker, a spy, a soldier, a master of disguise and two weapons experts.”

    SAG Awards Nominations

    (12/12/19) The Screen Actors Guild Award Winners will be revealed in a ceremony January 19 live on TNT and TBS.

    TELEVISION

    Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series

    BIG LITTLE LIES
    IAIN ARMITAGE / Ziggy Chapman
    DARBY CAMP / Chloe Mackenzie
    CAMERON CROVETTI / Josh Wright
    NICHOLAS CROVETTI / Max Wright
    LAURA DERN / Renata Klein
    MARTIN DONOVAN / Martin Howard
    MERRIN DUNGEY / Det. Adrienne Quinlan
    CRYSTAL FOX / Elizabeth Howard
    IVY GEORGE / Amabella Klein
    NICOLE KIDMAN / Celeste Wright
    ZOË KRAVITZ / Bonnie Carlson
    KATHRYN NEWTON / Abigail Carlson
    JEFFREY NORDLING / Gordon Klein
    DENIS O’HARE / Ira Farber
    ADAM SCOTT / Ed Mackenzie
    ALEXANDER SKARSGÅRD / Perry Wright
    DOUGLAS SMITH / Corey Brockfield
    MERYL STREEP / Mary Louise Wright
    JAMES TUPPER / Nathan Carlson
    ROBIN WEIGERT / Dr. Amanda Reisman
    REESE WITHERSPOON / Madeline Mackenzie
    SHAILENE WOODLEY / Jane Chapman

    THE CROWN
    MARION BAILEY / Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother
    HELENA BONHAM CARTER / Princess Margaret
    OLIVIA COLMAN / Queen Elizabeth II
    CHARLES DANCE / Lord Mountbatten
    BEN DANIELS / Lord Snowdon
    ERIN DOHERTY / Princess Anne
    CHARLES EDWARDS / Martin Charteris
    TOBIAS MENZIES / Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
    JOSH O’CONNOR / Prince Charles
    SAM PHILLIPS / Equerry
    DAVID RINTOUL / Michael Adeane
    JASON WATKINS / Harold Wilson

    GAME OF THRONES
    ALFIE ALLEN / Theon Greyjoy
    PILOU ASBÆK / Euron Greyjoy
    JACOB ANDERSON / Grey Worm
    JOHN BRADLEY / Samwell Tarly
    GWENDOLINE CHRISTIE / Brienne of Tarth
    EMILIA CLARKE / Daenerys Targaryen
    NIKOLAJ COSTER-WALDAU / Jaime Lannister
    BEN CROMPTON / Dolorous Edd
    LIAM CUNNINGHAM / Davos Seaworth
    JOE DEMPSIE / Gendry
    PETER DINKLAGE / Tyrion Lannister
    RICHARD DORMER / Beric Dondarrion
    NATHALIE EMMANUEL / Missandei
    JEROME FLYNN / Bronn
    IAIN GLEN / Jorah Mormont
    KIT HARINGTON / Jon Snow
    LENA HEADEY / Cersei Lannister
    ISAAC HEMPSTEAD WRIGHT / Bran Stark
    CONLETH HILL / Varys
    KRISTOFER HIVJU / Tormund Giantsbane
    RORY McCANN / The Hound
    HANNAH MURRAY / Gilly
    STAZ NAIR / Qhono
    DANIEL PORTMAN / Podrick Payne
    BELLA RAMSEY / Lyanna Mormont
    RICHARD RYCROFT / Maester Wolkan
    SOPHIE TURNER / Sansa Stark
    RUPERT VANSITTART / Yohn Royce
    MAISIE WILLIAMS / Arya Stark

    THE HANDMAID’S TALE
    ALEXIS BLEDEL / Emily
    MADELINE BREWER / Janine
    AMANDA BRUGEL / Rita
    ANN DOWD / Aunt Lydia
    O-T FAGBENLE / Luke
    JOSEPH FIENNES / Commander Waterford
    KRISTEN GUTOSKIE / Martha Beth
    NINA KIRI / Alam/Ofrobert
    ASHLEIGH LaTHROP / Ofmatthew
    ELISABETH MOSS / Offred/June
    YVONNE STRAHOVSKI / Serena Joy
    BAHIA WATSON / Oferic
    BRADLEY WHITFORD / Commander Lawrence
    SAMIRA WILEY / Moira

    STRANGER THINGS
    MILLIE BOBBY BROWN / Eleven
    CARA BUONO / Karen Wheeler
    JAKE BUSEY / Bruce
    NATALIA DYER / Nancy Wheeler
    CARY ELWES / Mayor Larry Kline
    PRIAH FERGUSON / Erica Sinclair
    BRETT GELMAN / Murray
    DAVID HARBOUR / Jim Hopper
    MAYA HAWKE / Robin Buckley
    CHARLIE HEATON / Jonathan Byers
    ANDREY IVCHENKO / Grigori
    JOE KEERY / Steve Harrington
    GATEN MATARAZZO / Dustin Henderson
    CALEB McLAUGHLIN / Lucas Sinclair
    DACRE MONTGOMERY / Billy Hargrove
    MICHAEL PARK / Tom Holloway
    FRANCESCA REALE / Heather Holloway
    WINONA RYDER / Joyce Byers
    NOAH SCHNAPP / Will Byers
    SADIE SINK / Max Mayfield
    FINN WOLFHARD / Mike Wheeler

    Melissa George Joins Justin Theroux in Mosquito Coast at Apple TV+

    (11/4/19) Melissa George is putting down stakes along Mosquito Coast, Apple TV+’s forthcoming drama series starring fellow Alias alum Justin Theroux.

    Based on the novel by Justin’s uncle Paul Theroux, Mosquito Coast follows an idealistic inventor named Allie (Theroux) as he uproots his family and takes them to the jungles of Central America to start a new life. George — who most recently starred opposite Sean Penn in Hulu’s one-and-done The First — will play Allie’s wife Margot.

    The Mosquito Coast cast also includes relative newcomer Logan Polish (as Dina, Margot and Allie’s teenage daughter) and Stalker alum Gabriel Bateman (as Charlie, Margot and Allie’s son and youngest child.)

    Luther creator Neil Cross co-wote the first episode (with Tom Bissell) and will serve as showrunner and EP. Rupert Wyatt (Rise of the Planet of the Apes) will direct several episodes and also serve as an EP.

    The book was previously adapted as a 1986 film starring Harrison Ford in Theroux’s role.

    David Anders Visits Roswell

    (10/21/19) David Anders (iZombie, Alias) is heading to Roswell, New Mexico, where he willguest-star as a “bespoke bookmaker, banjo player and bovine enthusiast” who offers Alex and Maria some assistance when their car breaks down. Showrunner Carina Adly Mackenzie told TVGuide.com, “[David] and I were particularly excited to join forces on this particular episode, which takes a fun turn from sci-fi to horror as an homage to our mutual friend and hero Kevin Williamson (The Vampire Diaries).”

    J.J. Abrams' Bad Robot Inks Massive Overall Deal With WarnerMedia

    (9/13/19) J.J. Abrams will be doing a whole lot of business with WarnerMedia: Abrams’ production company Bad Robot has closed a blockbuster overall deal with the conglomerate to develop TV series, films, games and digital content.

    Effective immediately, the agreement runs through 2024, though financial terms were not disclosed. (Our sister site Deadline, however, reports that the deal could have reached as much as $500 million.)

    As part of the collaboration, Bad Robot will develop and produce new TV projects — dramas, comedies, event series and more — for all of WarnerMedia’s platforms, including broadcast networks, basic and premium cable networks and on-demand streaming services such as the forthcoming HBO Max streamer. (Disclosure: Bad Robot and HBO Max are involved in the development of a potential TV series based on the childhood of TVLine President and Editorial Director Michael Ausiello.)

    Per Deadline, Abrams will still be allowed to produce projects for outside networks, including the two series he’s set up at Apple TV+, which launches Nov. 1.

    Bad Robot also will develop original movies for WarnerMedia’s film divisions, though the company will honor existing obligations to Paramount Pictures, including Abrams’ direction of the next Star Wars flick, The Rise of Skywalker.

    “It is a thrill for [Bad Robot co-CEO] Katie [McGrath], Brian [Weinstein] and me and the rest of our team at Bad Robot to call WarnerMedia our company’s new home,” Abrams said in a statement. “[WarnerMedia CEO] John Stankey has a powerful vision for the future of WarnerMedia and is committed to storytelling that connects people around the world. We are excited and gratified to be a part of this new chapter under his and Ann Sarnoff’s thoughtful leadership. I could go on for hours, and probably will, about the extraordinary Peter Roth and the entire Warner’s television group, with whom we’ve worked for over a decade, and I’ve wanted to collaborate with Toby Emmerich and his team for as long as I can remember. I am grateful for the chance to write, produce and direct work for this incredible company, and to help create films and series with a diverse and vast collection of inspiring storytellers. We can’t wait to get started.”

    ‘The Eddy’: Melissa George To Recur In Damien Chazelle’s Netflix Series

    (9/10/19) Melissa George (The Good Wife) is set to recur opposite Andre Holland and Amandla Stenberg in Oscar winner Damien Chazelle’s (La La Land, Whiplash) anticipated Netflix series The Eddy, from Endeavor Content.

    The Eddy is a musical drama set in contemporary multicultural Paris revolving around a club, its owner (Holland), the house band, and the chaotic city that surrounds them. The eight-episode series will be shot in France and feature dialogue in French, English and Arabic for premiere exclusively to Netflix members worldwide.

    George will play Alison Jenkins, a sophisticated New Yorker, comes to visit her ex-husband (Holland) and daughter (Stenberg) in Paris, with complicated results.

    George is known for her role as Marilyn Garbanza on Season 5 of The Good Wife. She most recently appeared in a recurring role on Australian series Bad Mother. Her other previous credits include British series Heartbeat, Beau Willimon’s The First and a guest-starring role on Star Trek: Discovery. She’s repped by Untitled, Gersh, Agent Agitateur, Lou Colson Associates, Sue Muggleton and Mitch Smelkinson.

    Castle Rock's Season 2 Date

    (8/30/19) Pack your bags for a Misery-filled return trip to Castle Rock: Season 2 of the Hulu anthology drama will premiere Wednesday, Oct. 23, the streamer announced on Thursday.

    In the Misery prequel-themed installment, “A feud between warring clans comes to a boil when budding psychopath Annie Wilkes (Masters of Sex‘s Lizzy Caplan), Stephen King’s nurse from hell, gets waylaid in Castle Rock,” per the official synopsis.

    The upcoming 10-episode season also stars Eighth Grade breakout Elsie Fisher (as Annie’s daughter Joy) and Oscar winner Tim Robbins. Recurring cast members include Robin Weigert (Big Little Lies), Sarah Gadon (Alias Grace), Alison Wright (The Americans) and Greg Grunberg (Heroes).

    ‘The Hating Game’: ‘Pearson’ & ‘Suits’ Star Gina Torres Joins Lucy Hale & Robbie Amell In Rom-Com

    (7/19/19) Suits star Gina Torres is joining Lucy Hale and Robbie Amell in movie rom-com The Hating Game, which is due to get under way in New York in August.

    As we revealed during Cannes, Peter Hutchings (Then Came You) will direct Christina Mengert’s adaptation of the bestselling novel by Sally Thorne.

    The film is produced by Claude Dal Farra, Brice Dal Farra, and Brian Keady of BCDF Pictures. Mister Smith Entertainment is co-financing and handling sales.

    Pic tells the story of kind-hearted Lucy Hutton (Hale) and her cold-efficient nemesis Joshua Templeton (Amell). Resolving to achieve professional success without compromising her ethics, Lucy embarks on a ruthless game of one-upmanship against Josh, a rivalry that is impossibly complicated by her growing attraction to him. Torres will star as a co-CEO of two recently merged publishing houses where Lucy and Josh work.

    Torres currently stars in and co-executive produces USA Network’s Pearson, the Torres-pitched spinoff of the network’s hit series Suits.

    BCDF’s slate of book adaptations includes The Language Of Flowers with Kiersey Clemons and Nick Robinson; The Storied Life Of A.J Fikry with Naveen Andrews; Marie Lu’s Legend; Ray Feist’s fantasy series Riftwar; Becca Fitzpatrick’s supernatural romance series Hush, Hush; and romance-comedy Can You Keep A Secret?, which was recently completed with Alexandra Daddario starring.

    Mister Smith’s slate includes Terrence Malick’s A Hidden Life and Max Minghella’s directorial debut Teen Spirit starring Elle Fanning.

    Torres is repped by Domain Talent, Framework Entertainment, and Schreck Rose Dapello Adams Berlin & Dunham.

    Castle Rock Season 2: Robin Weigert to Play Ma to Lizzy Caplan's Annie Wilkes

    (6/27/19) Calamity Jane birthed Annie Wilkes? It all finally makes sense!

    Beloved Deadwood gunslinger-turned-Big Little Lies shrink Robin Weigert is joining Castle Rock‘s Misery prequel-themed second season in the recurring role of Crysilda Wilkes, the mother of the budding psychopath (who, as we previously reported, will be played by Master of Sex‘s Lizzy Caplan).

    Also joining Season 2 of Hulu’s Stephen King-inspired anthology thriller in a recurring capacity are Alias Grace‘s Sarah Gadon, The Americans‘ Alison Wright and Heroes‘ Greg Grunberg.

    Gadon will play Annie’s nemesis Rita Green, Wright will portray kind-hearted local Valerie and Grunberg will play Sheriff Boucher.

    Set in the titular (but fictional) town where King has based many of his published works, Castle Rock weaves together different locations and characters from the author’s greatest hits. Per the official Season 2 logline, “A feud between warring clans comes to a boil when Annie Wilkes, King’s nurse from hell, gets waylaid in Castle Rock.”

    In addition to Caplan, the list of Season 2 series regulars also includes Eighth Grade star Elsie Fisher (as Annie’s daughter Joy), as well as Oscar winner Tim Robbins and Garrett Hedlund (Pan, TRON: Legacy).

    Bradley Cooper Eyeing Guillermo del Toro’s ‘Nightmare Alley’ Remake At Fox Searchlight

    (6/15/19) Bradley Cooper is in very early talks to star in Fox Searchlight’s Nightmare Alley remake which has Guillermo del Toro directing from a script he co-wrote with Kim Morgan. Deadline has confirmed that Cooper took a meeting and is currently in negotiations. Leonardo DiCaprio was circling the project at one point but talks reportedly fell through.

    del Toro and Dale are producing and financing the pic with TSG Entertainment. It’s based on the 1947 film, which was based on William Lindsay Gresham’s novel of the same title, about a corrupt con-man who teams up with a female psychiatrist to trick people into giving them money.

    Bradley Cooper and Irina Shayk split after four years

    (6/8/19) Bradley Cooper and Irina Shayk have called it quits after four years of dating.

    People Magazine first reported news of the split Thursday night. Page Six exclusively reported earlier this week that Cooper and Shayk’s relationship was “hanging by a thread,” with a source adding that neither one was happy.

    Page Six first exclusively revealed that the two were spotted on a Broadway date night in April 2015. The then-new couple took in “Finding Neverland” starring Matthew Morrison after meeting through mutual friends. Cooper had dated model Suki Waterhouse prior to Shayk, while the Russian model had been linked to soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo.

    A few months later in June they were holding hands in public, letting the world know they were boyfriend and girlfriend. Nearly two years later, the former couple announced they were expecting a child together. They welcomed daughter Lea de Seine Shayk Cooper in March 2017

    Like many celebrity couples, their love didn’t last. As Cooper’s success with “A Star Is Born” was kicking off, his relationship with Shayk went south. Page Six exclusively reported that the pair weren’t happy anymore after a sulky dinner at Masa in the Time Warner Center.

    “They are miserable together,” a source told Page Six exclusively. “They have been for months. He doesn’t drink and is into spirituality. She wants to go out.”

    After our reports, Cooper and Shayk appeared in paparazzi photos with their daughter looking like one big happy family, but it didn’t last.

    While Cooper’s star was born, his relationship faded.

    J.J. Abrams & Jordan Peele Will Shoot HBO Drama ‘Lovecraft Country’ In Georgia But Donate Profits To Fight “Fetal Heartbeat” Law

    (5/11/19) J.J. Abrams and Jordan Peele’s upcoming HBO horror series Lovecraft Country will film in Georgia, the state under Hollywood’s microscope after it passed a controversial abortion bill this week, but the producers said they will donate their profits to groups that are fighting the so-called “fetal heartbeat” law. Read their full statement below

    Reps said production on the series will be based in Atlanta but that it will shoot throughout the Peach State.

    As Deadline reported Thursday, Hollywood has been slow in reacting to the state passing its controversial bill, which became of the country’s most restrictive abortion laws. Georgia is a go-to production hub thanks to its production tax credits, with Avengers: Endgame and The Walking Dead among the high-profile films and TV shows to film there.

    Court challenges to the officially named “Living Infants Fairness and Equality Act” — LIFE Act — bans all abortions in the state after a fetal heartbeat is detected, which usually is five or six weeks into a pregnancy. Critics of the law including the ACLU of Georgia are vowing to fight it in court, but as of now the law will take effect in January.

    Among the organizations also battling the law is Fair Fight Georgia; Abrams and Peele said they will “donate 100% of our respective episodic fees for this season” of Lovecraft Country to that group and the local ACLU.

    Here is the Abrams-Peele statement in full:

    “In a few weeks we start shooting our new show, “Lovecraft Country” and will do so standing shoulder to shoulder with the women of Georgia. Governor Kemp’s ‘Fetal Heartbeat’ Abortion Law is an unconstitutional effort to further restrict women and their health providers from making private medical decisions on their terms. Make no mistake, this is an attack aimed squarely and purposely at women. We stand with Stacey Abrams and the hardworking people of Georgia, and will donate 100% of our respective episodic fees for this season to two organizations leading the charge against this draconian law: the ACLU of Georgia and Fair Fight Georgia. We encourage those who are able to funnel any and all resources to these organizations.”

    Suits' Final Season, Spinoff Pearson Get Shared July Premiere Date

    (4/2/19) (Promo Poster) Suits and its spinoff Pearson are teaming up this summer: The ninth and final season of the flagship series will premiere on Wednesday, July 17 at 9/8c on USA Network, leading into the debut of the Gina Torres-led offshoot at 10 pm.

    Suits‘ 10-episode swan song will explore Harvey and Donna as a romantic couple in the aftermath of his Season 8 finale epiphany. The realization that Donna is the one with whom he wants to share his wins and losses led Harvey to rush to her home, after which the pair had sex.

    “We’re going to follow their growth,” showrunner Aaron Korsh told TVLine during a post mortem Q&A. “When you’re in a relationship with someone, learning how to communicate with them is probably the most important key to success. They’re going to have to learn how to handle their issues in a relationship the way people do, the way couples do, and we’re going to see that.” Pearson, also spanning 10 episodes, follows Torres’ disbarred lawyer Jessica Pearson as she gets involved in the dirty world of Chicago politics and becomes the mayor’s (Homeland‘s Morgan Spector) right-hand fixer. The cast also includes Simon Kassianides (Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) as a cop/the mayor’s driver, Bethany Joy Lenz (One Tree Hill) as the ambitious city attorney Keri Allen, Chantel Riley (Wynnona Earp) as Jessica’s cousin Angela, Isabel Arraiza (The Oath) as Jessica’s “intense” assistant Yoli and Eli Goree (Ballers) as the mayor’s press secretary Derrick. Suits EP Daniel Arkin serves as showrunner on the spinoff.

    Jennifer Garner used to wear ‘Raggedy Ann’ stage makeup

    (4/27/19) Jennifer Garner may be the cover star of People’s annual “Beautiful Issue,” but she wasn’t always so confident about her appearance.

    “I was so not one of the pretty girls that I just bypassed insecurity and didn’t see myself as attractive at all. It was not part of my life,” Garner told the magazine. “Looks weren’t a big deal in my family. I don’t think my parents ever said ‘You’re pretty’ and so we just didn’t think about it.”

    The 47-year-old actress’ parents also had strict rules regarding makeup. “I wasn’t allowed to wear it, but then I, of course, put it on during home room,” she said. “You got it? You with me?”

    But the “13 Going On 30” star’s experimentation with cosmetics wasn’t always successful. “I had a tackle box of stage makeup and so I thought that if I wanted to look pretty, I should wear that same makeup,” she explained. “So I wore a pancake makeup. I drew on blush. I basically looked like Raggedy Ann. Even in pictures, I have this oddly white face, with I don’t even know. But it’s bad. It’s really bad.”

    Now, raising three children — Violet, 13, Seraphina, 10, and Samuel, 7 — Garner said she typically goes makeup-free while at home, at their request.

    “They’ll look at me and say, ‘Can you wash your face? Can you put your hair in a ponytail and put your glasses and sweats on?’” Garner said of her children. “And I see the compliment in that. They just want me to look like Mom.”

    RED NOSE DAY EDITION OF ‘HOLLYWOOD GAME NIGHT’

    (4/5/19) For NBC’s Red Nose Day primetime programming lineup, Hollywood’s biggest stars will unite for a cause, testing their pop culture prowess and raising money for children in need on a special episode of “Hollywood Game Night.” Hosted by Emmy Award winner Jane Lynch, the special Red Nose Day edition of “HGN” will air Thursday, May 23 at 10 p.m. ET/PT.

    Joining the fun will be Kelly Clarkson, Kenan Thompson, Kristen Bell, Jennifer Garner, Sean Hayes, Jeff Goldblum, Leslie Mann and Thandie Newton.

    The roster of celebrities are split into two teams and will go head-to-head in Red Nose Day-themed versions of “HGN” classics, including “How Do You Doo-et?,” “Popped Quiz,” “Hold My Balls” and a brand new game, “Jane’s Pool Jamz.”

    In this special edition of “HGN,” the gameplay works a bit differently. The team that gets the most points in each game earns money to be donated to Red Nose Day. At the end of five rounds, the team that’s earned the most money will go on to play a special “Celebrity Name Game” for the chance to raise even more funds to keep children in need safe, healthy and educated.

    Link to sneak peek of the episode.

    Mars Wrigley Confectionery and the M&M’S® brand are teaming up with Red Nose Day for the fifth year, donating $1 million to the cause as national partners of the campaign. As part of “HGN,” the M&M’S® brand will contribute all money raised by the players over the course of the episode that evening.

    Red Nose Day is an annual event that harnesses the power of entertainment to raise money and awareness for children living in poverty in America and around the world. NBC’s night of star-studded Red Nose Day programming is a culmination of a five-week campaign that brings together millions of Americans around the country to have fun and make a difference. The official Red Noses will be available exclusively at Walgreens stores nationwide starting April 22, marking the kick-off of the 2019 campaign.

    Since launching in America in 2015, hundreds of talent have supported the Red Nose Day campaign, including Julia Roberts, Ed Sheeran, Elton John, Jack Black and many more.

    Red Nose Day was created by Oscar-nominated and Emmy-winning writer-director Richard Curtis, (“Love Actually,” “Four Weddings and a Funeral,” “Notting Hill”).

    J.J. Abrams Joins A-Listers Urging Yes Vote On WGA’s New Agency Code Of Conduct

    (3/28/19) J.J. Abrams has joined the ranks of nearly 800 prominent writers and showrunners who have signed a pledge to vote for the guild’s proposed new Code of Conduct that would ban packaging fees and force agencies to sever their ties with affiliated production companies. Voting on the Code begins tonight, and it is expected to be approved by a wide margin. The Code would replace the guild’s current franchise agreement with the Association of Talent Agents if a new deal can’t be reached by April 6.

    Here is Abrams’ message to his fellow WGA members:

    “Last week I missed my opportunity to sign the Showrunners and Screenwriters Statement of Support. But I’m not going to miss my chance to vote. Please do the same. Please vote.

    “And if you agree with me that it’s finally time to end agencies’ conflicted practices, I urge you to join me and VOTE YES. Approve the Code of Conduct. Let’s give our guild the power to make a difference for writers at every level and for generations to come.

    “We are voting YES to support guild implementation of an Agency Code of Conduct after the current Artists’ Managers Basic Agreement expires on April 6th, if there is no negotiated settlement. We agree a new agency agreement should confront practices that constitute a conflict of interest: agency packaging fees and agencies functioning as producers.”

    A-listers who have signed the Statement of Support include Aaron Sorkin, Norman Lear, Shonda Rhimes, Seth MacFarlane, Tina Fey, Alfonso Cuaron, James L. Brooks, Peter Farrelly, Oliver Stone, John Wells, Joss Whedon, Kenya Barris, Matthew Weiner, Noah Hawley, Vince Gilligan, John Singleton, David Chase, Barry Jenkins, Amy Sherman-Palladino, Colin Trevorrow, Mike Schur, Eric Roth, David Shore, David Simon, Shawn Ryan, Greg Berlanti, Lena Waithe, Paul Haggis, Mindy Kaling, Drew Goddard, Jenji Kohan, Carlton Cuse, Howard Gordon, Kurt Sutter, Krista Vernoff, Mara Brock Akil, Danny Strong, Rob McElhenney, Jason Katims, Terence Winter, Peter Lenkov, Michelle and Robert King, Al Jean, Robert Towne, Gloria Calderon Kellett, Kevin Williamson, Darren Star, Rashida Jones, Pamela Adlon, WGA West president David A. Goodman and WGA East president Beau Willimon.

    Amy Acker Cast as Derek's MIA Fourth Sister, Kathleen

    (2/14/19) Grey’s Anatomy‘s Shepherd sibling puzzle is at long last complete. Amy Acker has been tapped to play the pivotal role of late Derek Shepherd’s oft-mentioned-but-never-seen fourth sister, Kathleen, TVLine has learned. As we first reported last week, the character will make her long anticipated entrance in the forthcoming Amelia-centric episode.

    Little is known about the mysterious Kathleen (aka “Kate”), but it was previously established that she — like her other siblings — is a doctor (her speciality being psychiatry). Of Derek’s other three sisters, only Caterina Scorsone’s Amelia remains on the show. The roles of Liz Shepherd and Nancy Shepherd were previously played by Neve Campbell and Embeth Davitz, respectively.

    “I’ve been doing the show for a long time and just hearing what [the episode is] about fills me with nervous excitement,” Scorsone previously enthused to TVLine of the Amelia-focused hour, which will be written by Julie Wong and directed by Bill D’Elia. “It’s not just, ‘Let’s follow Amelia to the neuro lab.’ It’s definitely a little standalone. It’s almost like a little movie on its own.”

    Acker — who is thus far committed to doing just one episode of Grey’s — currently stars on Fox’s The Gifted as moms-to-mutants Caitlin Strucker. Just weeks away from its Season 2 finale, Fox’s lowest-rated, least watched drama has yet to be picked up for the 2019-20 TV season. Acker’s extensive TV resume also includes stints in Person of Interest, Dollhouse, Alias and Angel.

    J.J. Abrams & ‘The Other Two’s Chris Kelly Developing Half-Hour ‘They Both Die At The End’ At HBO

    (2/13/19) HBO is developing a half-hour series based on Adam Silvera’s book They Both Die At The End with J.J. Abrams and The Other Two co-creator Chris Kelly.

    It is the latest Abrams project with the premium cable broadcaster after his sci-fi fantasy drama Demimonde landed a series pick-up last year. His firm Bad Robot Productions also makes Westworld and is producing forthcoming horror drama Lovecraft Country with Jordan Peele.

    They Both Die At The End is set in the near-future where everyone receives a bureaucratic phone call notifying them at the start of their last day on earth. It follows a seemingly disparate group of people as they live their scary, funny, weird, hopeful, romantic, and unexpected final hours, all connected through the two teenage boys at the heart of the novel. The New York Times–bestselling book was published by HarperCollins in 2017 and is Silvera’s latest book after History Is All You Left Me and More Happy Than Not.

    Bad Robot Productions is producing in association with Warner Bros. Television. Abrams and Ben Stephens will exec produce alongside Kelly with Bad Robot’s Rachel Rusch co-exec producer.

    Kelly is fresh from the launch of Comedy Central’s The Other Two and wrote and directed Other People, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. He is repped by WME and 3 Arts Entertainment, while Silvera is represented by UTA and Janklow & Nesbit Associates.

    ‘This Is Us’ Casts Young & Teen Beth; Carl Lumbly To Play Her Father

    (2/7/18) NBC’s decades-spanning This Is Us features multiple younger versions of a number of central characters, including The Big 3 and Jack. Add Randall’s wife Beth (Susan Kelechi Watson) the list.

    Rachel Naomi Hilson (Madam Secretary) and Akira Akbar (Grey’s Anatomy) are set to recur as teen Beth and young Beth, respectively. They will make their first appearance in the Feb. 19 episode titled “Our Little Island Girl,” which will focus on Beth’s backstory. Set to guest star in the episode as Beth’s father Abe Clarke is Carl Lumbly (Supergirl,).

    They join previously announced Phylicia Rashad as Carol, Beth’s mother and Goran Višnjic as Vincent, a teacher of Beth’s, in the episode, in which Beth’s trip home to care for her mother sparks an unexpected realization.

    The Dan Fogelman-created seres has been Emmy nominated for Outstanding Drama Series for both of its first two seasons.

    In addition to Watson, Milo Ventimiglia, Mandy Moore, Sterling K. Brown, Chrissy Metz, Justin Hartley, Chris Sullivan and Susan Kelechi Watson star.

    Produced by 20th Century Fox TV, This is Us is executive produced by creator Fogelman, Isaac Aptaker, Elizabeth Berger, John Requa, Glenn Ficarra, Ken Olin, Charlie Gogolak and Jess Rosenthal.

    Lumbly’s credits also include NCIS: Los Angeles, The Chi, Alias, and the upcoming Warner Bros’ feature Doctor Sleep. He’s repped by Kass Management.

    Hilson also has appeared on Law and Order SVU, The Americans, The Affair, Elementary, The Slap and the NBC series, Rise. She made her motion picture debut in Kings. She’s repped by Carson-Adler Agency and Link Management.

    Akbar has been seen on shows such as Criminal Minds, and will soon be seen in the recurring role of Brooke on Netflix’s Family Reunion. She’s repped by Green Room Management and Eris Talent Agency.

    This Is Us airs Tuesdays at 9 PM on NBC.

    Spinoff ‘Pearson’ Is “Raw” & “Grittier” While Sharing ‘Suits’ DNA – TCA

    (1/30/19) USA Network at TCA unveiled a trailer for its upcoming series Pearson, a spinoff from the popular legal drama Suits, which stars Gina Torres and centers on her character, powerhouse lawyer Jessica Pearson, as she enters the dirty world of Chicago politics.

    During a panel discussion for the show, the project’s creators, Suits creator and executive producer Aaron Korsh and executive producer Daniel Arkin, talked about how the offshoot will stand on its own in comparison to the mothership series.

    “Jessica is the link between Suits and Pearson,” Arkin said. “It has Suits DNA but we wanted the show’s concept to be grittier, raw, more real, showing more facets of her personality and life.”

    While Jessica was always calling the shots on Suits, “we are seeing her behind the ball, not knowing everything (on Pearson,)” Korsh said. “People reject her for a change.”

    While Jessica’s position in the food chain changes, her status as a fashion icon does not.

    “I think it will be tragedy if they didn’t see that part of the DNA carry over,” Torres said of her character keeping her sense of style and penchant for designer outfits though the producers noted that, since Pearson will chronicle both Jessica’s professional and personal life, she will be seen wearing more casual clothes than in Suits.

    Torres, who came up with the initial idea for Pearson, said that she first thought about revisiting her Jessica Pearson character in a political setting following her exit from Suits after she “became obsessed with the 2016 elections.”

    “I realized that that’s what she did in the world of Suits, not just walking the line but blurring the line and rewriting it,” Torres said, adding that she started asking herself “what would she do in that world (of Chicago politics).

    Korsh and Torres talked about their “magical experience” attending the Royal wedding though Korsh laughed off questions about former Suits star Meghan Markle possibly visiting the spinoff or the mothership series’ final season. As I reported last week, there are no Suits characters crossing over on the first season of Pearson.

    Pearson Trailer: Jessica Takes on Chicago Politics in Suits Spinoff

    (1/30/19) (Trailer) Jessica Pearson may be new to the Windy City, but her “killer” reputation is already the stuff of legend in the first trailer for the Suits spinoff Pearson.

    “Some of you are well aware of my past,” Gina Torres’ disbarred lawyer greets the press, “but I am anxious to give something back.” However, her new job as right-hand fixer to Chicago’s mayor (Homeland vet Morgan Spector) gets her tangled up “in a crooked and dangerous new world where every action has far-reaching consequences,” per the official description. “With her compulsion to win, Jessica is forced to reconcile her unstoppable drive with her desire to do the right thing — two things very much at odds.”

    Elsewhere in the trailer, city attorney Keri (One Tree Hill‘s Bethany Joy Lenz) isn’t very welcoming of the new hire. “You have a lot to learn about the way things are done around here,” Keri tells Jessica, who snaps back with, “And you still have a lot to learn about being a lawyer.”

    Back at home, things aren’t much easier as beau Jeff Malone (Lucifer‘s D.B. Woodside) makes his feelings known about Jessica’s shady new colleagues.

    The series — which does not yet have a premiere date — also stars Simon Kassianides (Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) as the mayor’s driver Nick, Chantel Riley (Wynnona Earp) as Jessica’s cousin Angela, Isabel Arraiza (The Oath) as Jessica’s assistant Yoli and Eli Goree (Ballers) as the mayor’s press secretary Derrick.

    Oscar Nominations 2019

    (1/22/19) Best Actor
    Christian Bale, Vice
    Bradley Cooper, A Star Is Born
    Willem Dafoe, At Eternity’s Gate
    Rami Malek, Bohemian Rhapsody
    Viggo Mortensen, Green Book

    Suits' Jessica-Led Spinoff Gets a Title

    (1/18/19) USA Network’s Suits spinoff has embraced a familiar name for its moniker: The title of the forthcoming Gina Torres-led offshoot is officially Pearson, it was revealed Thursday.

    The show title is, of course, a reference to the leading lady’s main character, former lawyer Jessica Pearson, who has relocated from New York City to Chicago to enter the dirty world of politics.

    Joining Torres on the new series are Morgan Spector (Homeland) as Mayor Bobby Golec and Simon Kassianides (Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) as a cop/the mayor’s driver, both of whom were introduced to viewers in the backdoor pilot. The ensemble also includes Bethany Joy Lenz (One Tree Hill) as the ambitious city attorney Keri Allen — Rebecca Rittenhouse originally played the role in the pilot — Chantel Riley (Wynnona Earp) as Jessica’s cousin Angela, Isabel Arraiza (The Oath) as Jessica’s “intense” assistant Yoli and Eli Goree (Ballers) as the mayor’s press secretary Derrick.

    The spinoff does not yet have a premiere date. Meanwhile, Suits returns for Season 8B next Wednesday, Jan. 23 at 10/9c.

    Genius Brands Hires Natalie Setton To Head Global Sales; Company Produces Jennifer Garner-Voiced ‘Llama Llama’

    (1/17/19) Genius Brands, the company behind Netflix’s Jennifer Garner-voiced kids series Llama Llama, has appointed Natalie Setton to spearhead its international content sales.

    Setton, who was previously Managing Director at Chuggington producer Ludorum, will oversee Genius Brands’ slate of kids shows including Nick Jr.’s Rainbow Rangers, which premiered in November, Llama Llama, which is currently in production for season two and Warren Buffett’s Secret Millionaires Club.

    Other Genius titles include toddler brand Baby Genius and adventure comedy series Thomas Edison’s Secret Lab.

    She will report to Genius Brands Chairman and CEO Andy Heyward and will be based in London.

    “I’m honored and excited to be part of the Genius Brands team,” said Setton. “I’ve been very much aware of Genius’s success and achievements with the development of timely and engaging content that not only entertains but imparts value and supportive messages to even the youngest of viewers. I am eager to begin working with the Genius Brands team to continue the upward trajectory, building on the company’s quality content distribution and partnerships.”

    “Natalie has amassed a wealth of experience and solid relationships with a vast number of global media platforms around the world to bring to her role at Genius Brands,” added Heyward. “As our strategy rolls out around the globe, and our operations continue to expand, Natalie is a perfect fit to facilitate our growth and success in the content distribution arena as we gear up for series rollouts in 2019 in territories all over the world.”

    Oprah Sets Bradley Cooper, Michael B. Jordan & Beto O’Rourke Q&A For NYC

    (1/12/19) By next month, Oscar nominations will be out and 2020 Presidential ambitions will be crystalizing and Oprah Winfrey is bringing some of the biggest names in both categories to Times Square for a chat.

    A Star Is Born star and director Bradley Cooper, Black Panther’s Michael B. Jordan, and Texas Senate candidate and potentially high office seeker Beto O’Rourke will join the Queen of Talk live one-on-one in NYC on February 5, I’ve learned. Melinda Gates and Time’s Up President and CEO Lisa Borders will also be part of the event at the Playstation Theater with more guests likely to be announced too.

    Priced at $200 a pop, tickets go on sale next week on January 14 at 10 AM ET. Based on Oprah’s successful Emmy-winning SuperSoul Sunday series, the whole shindig will also be broadcast on OWN later this year and on Oprah’s SuperSoul Conversations podcast for those who can’t make it to the Big Apple.

    Picking some of the most vocal and brightest stars in the cultural constellation, OWN says the event “will discuss how each of the guests created an impact and shifted the conversation in their respective fields of entertainment, politics and culture in the last year.”

    In terms of Cooper and Jordan, who also is an EP on the upcoming OWN series David Makes Man, the selection is obvious, as can be said of Gates and Borders. However, the inclusion of the admittedly charismatic O’Rourke signals a sturdy step by Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton supporter Oprah back into White House politics.

    Though the media mogul herself has ruled out a possible race against Donald Trump in two years, the former Lone Star state Congressman is already seen as a near frontrunner in some Democrat circles, despite coming up short in his effort last fall to unset Ted Cruz. An anointment of big stature legitimacy by Oprah could help push O’Rourke, who supposedly sat down with Obama privately in recent weeks, even further to the front of what looks to be a crowded Dems race to take out the former Celebrity Apprentice host.

    We’ll see in February.

    BAFTA Nominations

    (1/9/19) DIRECTOR
    BLACKkKLANSMAN Spike Lee
    COLD WAR Pawel Pawlikowski
    THE FAVOURITE Yorgos Lanthimos
    ROMA Alfonso Cuarón
    A STAR IS BORN Bradley Cooper

    LEADING ACTOR
    BRADLEY COOPER A Star Is Born
    CHRISTIAN BALE Vice
    RAMI MALEK Bohemian Rhapsody
    STEVE COOGAN Stan & Ollie
    VIGGO MORTENSEN Green Book

    Online Film Critics Society Nominations

    (12/26/18) Winners will be announced on January 2, 2019.

    BEST LEAD ACTOR
    Christian Bale – Vice
    Bradley Cooper – A Star Is Born
    Ethan Hawke – First Reformed
    Joaquin Phoenix – You Were Never Really Here
    John David Washington – BlacKkKlansman

    BEST DEBUT FEATURE
    Ari Aster – Hereditary
    Bo Burnham – Eighth Grade
    Bradley Cooper – A Star Is Born
    Carlos López Estrada – Blindspotting
    Boots Riley – Sorry to Bother You

    2018 Winners - Black Film Critics Circle

    (12/23/18) Best Actor: Bradley Cooper – A Star Is Born

    Jennifer Garner to Star in Apple Limited Series From J.J. Abrams

    (12/13/18) It’s not an Alias revival, but we’ll take it: Jennifer Garner is set to star in a limited series for Apple, reuniting her with Alias creator J.J. Abrams.

    Apple has handed a straight-to-series order to the project, titled My Glory Was I Had Such Friends, based on the memoir by Amy Silverstein. The memoir follows a woman awaiting a last-minute heart transplant, and her close female friends who supported her along the way. Karen Croner (Admission) will pen the series and also serve as an executive producer.

    Garner and Abrams will both also serve as EPs on the limited series. This marks their first TV project together since Garner starred as spy Sydney Bristow on the ABC drama Alias from 2001 to 2006, earning four Emmy nominations. Garner also appeared on Abrams’ previous series Felicity. Garner recently returned to television with a starring role in the HBO comedy Camping, which debuted in October. Since Alias, she’s appeared in Oscar-winning films like Juno and Dallas Buyers Club. As of last year, an Alias revival was still a possibility, with co-EP Josh Applebaum revealing that the original writers had discussed it with Abrams.

    SAG Awards Nominations

    (12/13/18) The SAG Awards are January 27 at the Shrine Auditorium, simulcast live by Turner’s TNT and TBS. As previously announced, Alan Alda will receive the guild’s Life Achievement Award during the ceremony.

    MOTION PICTURES

    Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
    A STAR IS BORN (Warner Bros. Pictures)
    DAVE CHAPPELLE / George “Noodles” Stone
    ANDREW DICE CLAY / Lorenzo
    BRADLEY COOPER / Jack
    SAM ELLIOTT / Bobby
    RAFI GAVRON / Rez Gavron
    LADY GAGA / Ally
    ANTHONY RAMOS / Ramon

    BLACK PANTHER (Marvel Studios)
    ANGELA BASSETT / Ramonda
    CHADWICK BOSEMAN / T’Challa/Black Panther
    STERLING K. BROWN / N’Jobu
    WINSTON DUKE / M’Baku
    MARTIN FREEMAN / Everett K. Ross
    DANAI GURIRA / Okoye
    MICHAEL B. JORDAN / Erik Killmonger
    DANIEL KALUUYA / W’Kabi
    LUPITA NYONG’O / Nakia
    ANDY SERKIS / Ulysses Klaue
    FOREST WHITAKER / Zuri
    LETITIA WRIGHT / Shuri

    BLACKKKLANSMAN (Focus Features)
    HARRY BELAFONTE / Jerome Turner
    ADAM DRIVER / Flip Zimmerman
    TOPHER GRACE / David Duke
    LAURA HARRIER / Patrice Dumas
    COREY HAWKINS / Kwame Ture
    JOHN DAVID WASHINGTON / Ron Stallworth

    BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY (20th Century Fox)
    LUCY BOYNTON / Mary Austin
    AIDAN GILLEN / John Reid
    BEN HARDY / Roger Taylor
    TOM HOLLANDER / Jim Beach
    GWILYM LEE / Brian May
    ALLEN LEECH / Paul Prenter
    RAMI MALEK / Freddie Mercury
    JOE MAZZELLO / John Deacon
    MIKE MYERS / Ray Foster

    CRAZY RICH ASIANS (Warner Bros. Pictures)
    AWKWAFINA / Peik Lin Goh
    GEMMA CHAN / Astrid Young Teo
    HENRY GOLDING / Nick Young
    KEN JEONG / Wye Mun Goh
    LISA LU / Ah Ma
    HARRY SHUM, JR. / Charlie Wu
    CONSTANCE WU / Rachel Chu
    MICHELLE YEOH / Eleanor Young

    Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
    CHRISTIAN BALE / Dick Cheney – “VICE” (Annapurna Pictures)
    BRADLEY COOPER / Jack – “A STAR IS BORN” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
    RAMI MALEK / Freddie Mercury – “BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY” (20th Century Fox)
    VIGGO MORTENSEN / Tony Lip – “GREEN BOOK” (Universal Pictures)
    JOHN DAVID WASHINGTON / Ron Stallworth – “BLACKKKLANSMAN” (Focus Features)

    Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts’ International Awards

    (12/12/18) The awards will be held on Friday 4 January 2019 at the Mondrian hotel in LA.

    AACTA International Award for Best Direction
    A STAR IS BORN – Bradley Cooper
    BLACKKKLANSMAN – Spike Lee
    THE FAVOURITE – Yorgos Lanthimos
    ROMA – Alfonso Cuarón
    SWEET COUNTRY – Warwick Thornton

    AACTA International Award for Best Lead Actor
    Christian Bale – VICE
    Bradley Cooper – A STAR IS BORN
    Hugh Jackman – THE FRONT RUNNER
    Rami Malek – BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY
    Viggo Mortensen – GREEN BOOK

    Critics’ Choice Awards Nominations

    (12/12/18) The winners will be revealed at the star-studded Critics’ Choice Awards gala, broadcast live January 13 on the CW at 7 PM ET/PT.

    BEST ACTOR
    Christian Bale – Vice
    Bradley Cooper – A Star Is Born
    Willem Dafoe – At Eternity’s Gate
    Ryan Gosling – First Man
    Ethan Hawke – First Reformed
    Rami Malek – Bohemian Rhapsody
    Viggo Mortensen – Green Book

    BEST DIRECTOR
    Damien Chazelle – First Man
    Bradley Cooper – A Star Is Born
    Alfonso Cuarón – Roma
    Peter Farrelly – Green Book
    Yorgos Lanthimos – The Favourite
    Spike Lee – BlacKkKlansman
    Adam McKay – Vice

    Golden Globes Nominations

    (12/7/18) The ceremony is January 6 on NBC.

    Best Motion Picture – Drama
    Black Panther
    BlacKkKlansman
    Bohemian Rhapsody
    If Beale Street Could Talk
    A Star Is Born

    Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama
    Bradley Cooper, A Star Is Born
    Willem Dafoe, At Eternity’s Gate
    Lucas Hedges, Boy Erased
    Rami Malek, Bohemian Rhapsody
    John David Washington, BlacKkKlansman

    Best Director – Motion Picture
    Bradley Cooper, A Star Is Born
    Alfonso Cuaron, Roma
    Peter Farrelly, Green Book
    Spike Lee, BlacKkKlansman
    Adam McKay, Vice

    American Cinematheque Awardee Bradley Cooper Owes It To Mom And Dad

    (12/1/18) At tonight’s 32nd American Cinematheque Award dinner at the Beverly Hilton, guests were seated in the ballroom by 7:30 p.m. But it was not until 10:40 p.m. that the night’s honoree, Bradley Cooper, took the stage after an outpouring of affection from Hollywood colleagues, including A Star is Born co-stars Lady Gaga and Sam Elliott, Jennifer Garner, Sean Penn, and many others.

    The dinner and multi-media award show was a fundraiser for the American Cinematheque, a nonprofit organization that owns, programs and operates the Egyptian Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard (opened in 1922) and the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica.

    “It took a long time, I know it’s been a very long night, but thank you for staying,” Cooper said, and seemed genuinely stunned by the speeches, some of which moved him to tears. He said the warmth in the ballroom made it feel like “a very small, comfortable living room — but that’s what happens when love is shown to someone.”

    Cooper then added a comment that had already become a recurring theme of the evening: Parents. “I had a lot of love for my parents, I started with a huge leg up,” he said of parents Gloria and Charles Cooper.

    Jennifer Garner, the first actor to speak about Cooper, said she was the first person Cooper met when he came to Hollywood, and proceeded to compare him to a stray dog. “I took him home and made him dinner…I’m still making him dinner,” she joked. She cracked wise about “the finest work of Bradley’s career – the TV years,” but added, “St. Augustine said, nothing bad can happen to a man who is loved by his mother, and Gloria loves Bradley.”

    When the two worked together on Alias, Garner noted, “(Gloria would say) ‘Meet Jennifer, she’s on Bradley’s show!’ “ But, Garner concluded with deep affection, “He’s welcome at my table any time.”

    Garner wasn’t the first speaker to bring up Cooper’s mom: Zach Galifianakis, Cooper’s co-star in the Hangover series, clearly enjoyed roasting Cooper, saying the honored actor spent his time worrying about “which mobile plan was best to phone in his performance in The Hangover Part III. But Galifianakis, who spoke about Cooper along with fellow Hangover actor Ed Helms, said sincerely that he and Cooper bonded over talking about how much both loved their parents. “I’ll never forget that,” Galifianakis said.

    To be sure, most of those who have worked with Cooper praised him without bringing up Mom and Dad. Gaga and Elliott were perhaps the most impassioned speakers about their recent roles in A Star is Born, on which Cooper served as both star and director.

    “Sometimes you call me Gaga, but we both know you call me Stefani,” said a tearful Gaga. “I ran from Stefani for a long time. I put on a superhero cape and called myself Lady Gaga, and you challenged me to deep dive to a place where I had to see her again…I can call on you as a friend and cry and be myself and have you never, ever judge me. There is only one human being on the planet you remind me of, and that’s Tony Bennett.”

    Elliott said that of all the people who spoke, he probably had known Cooper for the shortest length of time. But Elliott said he had watched Cooper’s work and felt he grew up as an actor in American Sniper. “Everyone in this room is deeply in love with you, my friend, for all the right reasons.”

    Penn chose to rant about today’s Hollywood, where most people are “more interested in selling a film than making it,” before adding how much he admired Cooper for not falling into that category.

    “Full disclosure: I don’t like handsome or young men,” Penn added gruffly, but admitted Cooper is the exception.

    Patricia Clarkson, who starred onstage with Cooper in Elephant Man, called Cooper “a leading lady’s dream come true,” and praised him for choosing her, an actress of a certain age, for the role. “Ladies, that’s a man,” she said to applause.

    Cooper’s Wedding Crashers co-star Vince Vaughn called Cooper a “once-in-a-generation actor, a rare combination of gift and work ethic and auteur … but enough about Sean Penn.” He also joked about Cooper’s personal Day-Glo jogging clothes, an outfit that made him look like “a child dressed by his parents not to be hit by a car at night.”

    However, Vaughn turned the crack into a positive, adding that the wacky exercise wear “was a foreshadowing of an attitude that serves him well, not really caring what people think…he is a once-in-a- generation actor.”

    Other speakers were director David O. Russell, Brian Klugman, and American Sniper colleagues Jacob Schick and Taya Kyle, wife of Chris Kyle, portrayed by Cooper in the film. Schick, who has suffered visible injuries, said Cooper “always treated me like a whole man.”

    “If life is a dance, Bradley is the disco ball,” Taya Kyle added.

    The fourth annual Sid Grauman Award recipient was Doug Darrow, on behalf of Dolby Laboratories.

    National Board Of Review Names ‘Green Book’ Best Picture; ‘A Star Is Born’s Bradley Cooper As Best Director

    (11/28/18) The National Board of Review today named Universal/DreamWorks/Participant Media’s The Green Book as best movie and Bradley Cooper as best director for Warner Bros.’ A Star Is Born. The honorees will be feted at the NBR Awards Gala, hosted by Willie Geist, on Tuesday, January 8, 2019 at Cipriani 42nd Street.

    The National Board of Review does it their way when it comes to lauding awards contenders and often isn’t in lockstep with who the ultimate Oscar winner is. Last year, they named Steven Spielberg’s The Post as best picture along with its stars Tom Hanks as best actor and Meryl Streep as best actress. The Post only earned two Oscar noms last year for best picture and Streep and came up empty in regards to wins. The last time NBR synced with AMPAS on best picture was for 2008’s Slumdog Millionaire.

    Green Book also took best actor for Viggo Mortensen who plays ‘Tony the Lip’, the driver (and bodyguard) of American pianist Don Shirley as they travel through the South during the divided 1960s South on a concert tour. Today’s news is a ray of sunshine for Green Book as the film has struggled in its first week at 1,000 theaters at the box office making $8.3m. That said, audience exits have been through the roof for the Peter Farrelly-directed period drama with an A+ CinemaScore and four-and-a-half stars. Green Book also surprised many earlier this fall when it took the top prize at the Toronto International Film Festival.

    Last year Greta Gerwig took best director at the NBR for Lady Bird. She would get nominated at the Oscars, but AMPAS handed the trophy to Guillermo del Toro for The Shape of Water. The last time NBR and Oscars agreed on best director was the 2006-2007 awards season when they named Martin Scorsese for The Departed. Quite often, in recent NBR millennial history, they’ve lauded notable Hollywood directors like Clint Eastwood (for American Sniper, and Invictus), David Fincher (The Social Network, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) and Ridley Scott (The Martian). In addition to Cooper a Best Director, A Star Is Born came up with wins for Lady Gaga as Best Actress and Sam Elliott as Best Supporting Actor.

    Also receiving multiple wins was Annapurna’s If Beale Street Could Talk from director Barry Jenkins (who was actually named best director in 2016 for Moonlight by NBR) with Regina King as Best Supporting Actress and Jenkins for Best Screenplay.

    BR President Annie Schulhof said in a statement, “We are proud to honor Green Book as our best film – it is a warm and heartfelt look at a remarkable friendship, brought to the screen at a moment where its story of love, compassion, and shared humanity deeply resonates. We are also thrilled to award Bradley Cooper as our best director – he is an extraordinary talent behind the camera, bringing a fresh and modern perspective, as well as superb craftsmanship and tremendous heart, to the classic story of A Star is Born.”

    Below is a full list of the National Board of Review’s recipients:

    Best Film: GREEN BOOK

    Best Director: Bradley Cooper, A STAR IS BORN

    Best Actor: Viggo Mortensen, GREEN BOOK

    Best Actress: Lady Gaga, A STAR IS BORN

    Best Supporting Actor: Sam Elliott, A STAR IS BORN

    Best Supporting Actress: Regina King, IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK

    Best Original Screenplay: Paul Schrader, FIRST REFORMED

    Best Adapted Screenplay: Barry Jenkins, IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK

    Best Animated Feature: INCREDIBLES 2

    Breakthrough Performance: Thomasin McKenzie, LEAVE NO TRACE

    Best Directorial Debut: Bo Burnham, EIGHTH GRADE

    Best Foreign Language Film: COLD WAR

    Best Documentary: RBG

    Best Ensemble: CRAZY RICH ASIANS

    William K. Everson Film History Award: THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WIND and THEY’LL LOVE ME WHEN I’M DEAD

    NBR Freedom of Expression Award: 22 JULY

    NBR Freedom of Expression Award: ON HER SHOULDERS

    CBS Developing Supernatural Legal Drama ‘Bodhi’ From Greg Grunberg & Jonathan Shapiro

    (11/19/18) CBS has put in development Bodhi, a supernatural legal drama from Goliath co-creator Jonathan Shapiro, Heroes alum Greg Grunberg, who also co-stars and CBS TV Studios.

    Written by Shapiro and Grunberg, Bodhi centers on a high-powered lawyer who inherits his father’s small law firm and discovers not only that his father’s clients are ghosts, but that he himself can now see and communicate with them, all of which forces him to pair with his estranged investigator brother (Grunberg) as they resolve cases that will allow the dead to finally rest in peace.

    Grunberg and Shapiro executive produce. CBS TV Studios is the studio.

    Actor, writer and producer Grunberg is best known for his roles in Heroes, Masters of Sex, Lost, Alias and Felicity. On the feature side, he was seen most recently seen as Jack’s (Bradley Cooper) driver in A Star is Born, and will next be seen reprising his role as Snap Wexley in Star Wars: Episode IX, set for release in 2019. He also has recurred on the CW’s The Flash and CBS’ Life in Pieces. He’s repped by Paradigm, Susan Calogerakis Management, and attorney Karl Austen of Jackoway Tyerman Wertheimer.

    Emmy and Peabody-winning writer and producer and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Shapiro co-created and serves as executive producer with David E. Kelley on Amazon’s Goliath. He also is a consulting producer on NBC’s The Blacklist. His first play, Sisters in Law, about Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sandra Day O’Connor, premieres this April. His book credits include Deadly Force: A Lizzy Scott Novel and Lawyers, Liars, and the Art of Storytelling. Shapiro is repped by CAA.

    Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner to have joint custody of children in divorce deal

    (11/3/18) Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner have agreed to share custody of their three children and undergo monthly therapy as part of their divorce settlement.

    The actors split in June 2015 following 10 years of marriage, but they only began the legal process to make the break-up official in April 2017, when they filed simultaneous divorce petitions.

    Last month, the estranged couple requested permission to fast-track the process by hiring a private judge to help the stars hash out the details regarding their separation, and they met up at the Dallas Buyers Club star’s Los Angeles home to resolve the remaining issues.

    Now, according to court papers obtained by TMZ, the details of their agreement have been revealed, with Affleck and Garner, who have remained close since their separation, sharing joint physical and legal custody of daughters Violet, 12, and Seraphina, nine, and six-year-old son Samuel.

    They have also committed to attending monthly sessions with a co-parenting therapist for at least six months, and have promised to refrain from badmouthing one another.

    “Neither party shall make derogatory or insulting remarks about the other,” the papers read.

    They also state, “Each party is restrained from arguing, yelling, or using profanity directed at the other party in the presence or within hearing distance of any of the minor children.”

    The documents were submitted to a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge to finalize by celebrity lawyer Laura Wasser, who had initially been hired to represent Garner, but ended up serving as a mediator for the exes during the recent negotiations to help them reach an agreement with as little conflict as possible.

    The divorce will be made official as soon as the judge approves the paperwork and signs off on the deal.

    The news emerges two weeks after Jennifer was romantically linked to businessman John Miller, marking her first relationship since parting ways with Affleck.

    Meanwhile, the Justice League star is currently single, after previously dating TV producer Lindsay Shookus for a year until this summer, before embarking on a brief fling with Playboy model Shauna Sexton.

    He and Sexton split in October, shortly after he shared a touching thank you letter to his supporters online following his completion of a 40-day stay in rehab to tackle alcohol addiction.

    Tales of the City: Victor Garber Boards Netflix Revival in Recurring Role

    (10/27/18) Netflix will tell its new Tales of the City with the help of TV vet Victor Garber, who has joined the drama’s revival in a recurring role, TVLine has learned.

    Garber will appear as Sam Garland, a handsome English gentleman who spends his days reading old books to Olympia Dukakis’ Anna.

    Set in present-day San Francisco, Tales of the City‘s fourth TV chapter will span 10 episodes and will find Laura Linney’s Mary Ann Singleton going through a midlife crisis. She returns home to her daughter, Shawna (played by Ellen Page), and ex-husband Brian (Paul Gross), 20 years after leaving them behind to pursue her career.

    The cast also includes Tales vet Barbara Garrick (DeDe), as well as franchise newbies Murray Bartlett (Looking), Charlie Barnett (Chicago Fire) and Girls alumna Zosia Mamet as Shawna’s love interest, Claire.

    According to Armistead Maupin, who wrote the novels on which Tales is based, the new episodes will feature “joys and complications… for the residents of 28 Barbary Lane,” and “Mrs. Madrigal’s tenants, both old and new, will be entangled in delicious new adventures and ever-expanding possibilities for love.”

    Production on the revival is currently underway in New York City.

    Michael Vartan on GOD FRIENDED ME

    (10/26/18) “The Prodigal Son” – Miles is forced to face uncomfortable truths about his family when the “God” account points him towards his Uncle Terrance (Malik Yoba). Also, Cara’s father (Michael Vartan) pays her a visit, and he discovers that she’s reconnected with her mom who left them when she was a child, on GOD FRIENDED ME, Sunday, Nov. 11 (8:30-9:30 PM, ET/8:00-9:00 PM, PT) on the CBS Television Network.

    Jennifer Garner reportedly dating burger chain CEO

    (10/24/18) Jennifer Garner is reportedly dating a regular joe, John Miller.

    People mag reported that sources said Ben Affleck’s ex and Miller, CEO of Cali Group (which owns the CaliBurger chain), are “casually dating, but it’s not serious. He hasn’t met her kids."

    Garner and Affleck finalized their divorce this month, three years after they publicly said they were ending their marriage of 10 years.

    According to People, Miller’s also divorced, from celebrated violinist Caroline Campbell.

    Jennifer Garner Says an Alias Reboot is Happening

    (10/12/18) Jennifer Garner confirmed Friday that an Alias reboot is officially in the works, though it sound like it's still very early days. "I've heard that there's an Alias reboot happening, but no one's talked to me about it," she told The Hollywood Reporter, while promoting her new HBO series, Camping. "I mean it would be totally different. But if they didn't have me on as a guest, I would be very, very angry. But I can't imagine it being that serious yet because I haven't heard anything about it at all."

    Fans holding their breath for a revival rather than reboot should probably take this as a sign to pack it in — though really, what were the odds that anyone would be able to pull Garner, Michael Vartan, Bradley Cooper, Victor Garber, David Anders and a handful of other key players together long enough to make that work? Even J.J. Abrams isn't God, OK?

    Like Garner said, a reboot would have to change substantially from the original, adapting itself not only for a 2018 audience but for a political climate that has different stakes than the world we lived in, in 2001 when the original series first premiered. You can't exactly have a 20-something double agent with a mother who moonlighted as a KGB spy in this day and age. Unless you want to consider The Americans as a kind of prequel?

    Camping premieres Sunday, Oct. 14 at 10/9c on HBO.

    Jennifer Garner ‘dating someone new’ after finalizing Ben Affleck divorce

    (10/11/18) After years of supporting Ben Affleck through his addiction issues and struggling to keep their family together, Jennifer Garner is finally moving on!

    A source close to the Peppermint actress exclusively told Us Weekly that she has even “started dating someone new!”

    The happy news comes just one month after she finalized her divorce from her wild ex following his most recent boozy relapse.

    “She’s ready to start the next phase of her life,” added the insider.

    RadarOnline.com readers know Garner, 46, and Affleck, 46, share three kids together and have gone to great lengths to co-parent them and take them on regular family outings.

    “They’re on the same page with giving the kids the best possible life,” said the source. “They want to be the best co-parents they can be.”

    Lindsay Shookus after his split from Garner — and most recently became involved in a fling with Playboy model Shauna Sexton — his love life has not turned out too well, and he’s back to being a single man.

    Ben Affleck Closely Monitored in Custody Agreement with Jennifer Garner

    (10/6/18) Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner have reached a custody agreement, but it is vague for an obvious reason ... Ben's issue with alcohol.

    As we have already reported, the couple long ago agreed to joint custody of their 3 kids. There are 2 elements to the agreement -- legal and physical custody.

    Legal custody is simple ... they will jointly agree on decisions that affect the kids, such as education and various activities.

    As for physical custody, that's where it gets tricky. As we reported, the divorce was held up for a long time because Ben was on and off the bottle, and Jennifer didn't want to strike any custody arrangement until he was sober and stable.

    We're told the physical custody agreement is vague ... it doesn't outline any specific division of time with the kids. But, we're told, at least at the beginning, Jen will get the lion's share of custodial time, and when Ben has the kids he will have a monitor to ensure he's sober and the kids are safe.

    There's another factor -- their kids are older now -- 12, 9 and 6 -- and they may be conscious of Ben's problem with alcohol and how it's affected their family, and they will have a voice as well.

    Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner divorce finalized

    (10/6/18) Former Hollywood “It” couple Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner have finally finalized their divorce three years after their shocking split, RadarOnline.com can confirm.

    The news comes just one day after Radar reported Garner requested a judge handle the final details of the divorce filing on Thursday.

    On the same day, Affleck took to social media to reveal he was leaving rehab after a 40-day stint for alcohol addiction.

    Affleck, 46, and Garner, also 46, first announced their separation in June 2015, one day after their 10th wedding anniversary.

    The couple filed for divorce in April 2017, requesting joint legal and physical custody of their three children, Violet, 12, Seraphina, 9, and Samuel, 6.

    As Radar readers know, Garner held an intervention for Affleck to enter treatment on August 22 for his alcohol issues.

    Jennifer Garner Filed Docs to Make Divorce from Ben Affleck Final By Year's End

    (10/4/18) Jennifer Garner wants her never-ending divorce case over and done with ... so she's now filed legal docs to supercharge the process so she's a single woman by the end of the year ... TMZ has learned.

    Garner is asking the judge in her divorce to have the case yanked from the court system and put in the hands of a private judge. The reason -- the courts often move at a glacial pace and Jen is out of patience. A private judge can accelerate the process and handle the final details quickly.

    Our sources say Jen's goal is to have a final divorce decree by year's end. She filed for divorce in April of last year and the couple has been separated since June 2015.

    We're told the major reason for the delay ... Ben's drinking. TMZ broke the story ... Jen did not want to set a custody agreement in stone until she knew Ben was sober, and he's been up and down for years, and that was the primary reason for the delay.

    Now that Ben's out of rehab and sober again, we're told Jen thinks the time is right to formalize the divorce.

    ‘A Star Is Born’: Bradley Cooper & Lady Gaga Music Video For “Shallow”

    (9/28/18) (Video) Warner Bros is ramping toward the October 5 release of A Star is Born starring Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga, taking the wraps of the first single on the music-filled film. The song, “Shallow,” was written by Cooper (who directed the film) and Lady Gaga, the multiple Grammy winner.

    The song debuted today in a music video that gives new looks at the film, the latest incarnation of the tale of star-crossed lovers set in the music industry. The soundtrack, which features collaborations with the likes of Lukas Nelson, Jason Isbell and Mark Ronson, hits shelves the same day the movie bows in theaters via Interscope Records.

    The film stars Cooper plays Jackson Maine, who discovers — and falls in love with — struggling artist Ally (Gaga). She has just about given up on her dream to make it big as a singer until Jack coaxes her into the spotlight. But as Ally’s career takes off, the personal side of their relationship breaks down as Jack fights an ongoing battle with his own internal demons.

    Eric Roth and Cooper & Will Fetters penned the script.

    Check out the video above.

    Alias Vet Visits CBS' God

    (9/26/18) Alias vet Michael Vartan has found a higher power: The actor will guest-star on CBS’ new drama God Friended Me, EW.com reports.

    The series — premiering this Sunday at 8:30/7:30c, before moving to 8 pm on Oct. 7 — is about an atheist (The Mayor‘s Brandon Micheal Hall) who is friended by the Almighty on Facebook. Vartan — who most recently co-starred on E!’s now-cancelled drama The Arrangement — will appear in Episode 7 as the father of Violette Beane’s journalist character.

    The pilot of God Friended Me is currently streaming on CBS.com.

    Jennifer Garner Driving a Tractor Is the Best Way to Ring in the First Day of Fall

    (9/22/18) (Video) Fall is officially here, which means leaves changing colors, the emergence of pumpkin everything, Halloween and...Jennifer Garner on a tractor.

    In a new Instagram video, Garner steered the farm equipment and waved at the camera while smiling and laughing. "Happy first day of autumn! #soyouthinkyoucanfarm," she wrote. It's a massive vehicle, but somehow the actress makes driving it look relatively simple. It may be safe to assume she was on the tractor while visiting one of the farms of her food company, Once Upon a Farm. Garner navigating the tractor proves yet again that she's not a regular mom, she's a cool mom.

    Despite celebrating the beginning of fall in an extremely apt manner, Garner has mourned the end of summer in a slew of Instagram posts. In one, the Alias actress made a meme of herself showing two very different photos of her. The first one under "Moms: First Day of Summer" shows her smiling and holding a piece of paper with "Fun Summer Ideas" written on it. The one next to it, however, has a more grisly look. The photo under "Mom: Last Day of Summer" is Garner smiling on the set of Peppermint, but this time she has fake blood all over her face.

    Maybe a Pumpkin Spice Latte could cure that?

    Garner had quite an active summer. In early August, she and her daughter Seraphina got lost while kayaking in Sweden and had to be rescued. On Aug. 20, the 13 Going on 30 star received her Hollywood Walk of Fame star, calling it "one of the more surreal moments I've had."

    E! News also learned that Garner and her ex-husband Ben Affleck have reached a divorce settlement, but will file it when he returns from rehab.

    If So You Think You Can Farm were ever to morph from a hashtag to reality, it's clear Garner would be the star contestant.

    Greg Grunberg Back With J.J. Abrams For ‘Star Wars: Episode IX

    ’ (9/15/18) Greg Grunberg has been set to return for Star Wars: Episode IX, the final installment of the trilogy. Grunberg has been such a good luck charm for director J.J. Abrams going back to Felicity, Alias and Lost, that even when it appears his character didn’t make it, he’s not off the boards. Grunberg’s role here isn’t being disclosed, but he played the ace X wing fighter pilot Snap Wexley in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and things didn’t appear to end well for him in the battle above D’Qar.

    Grunberg, who has a strong role as the driver of Bradley Cooper’s Jackson Main character in A Star Is Born which established itself as an Oscar frontrunner at the fall festivals, also played a role in the Abrams-directed Mission: Impossible III and the Abrams-produced Star Trek Beyond, which Justin Lin directed. Abrams directs a Star Wars: Episode IX script he co-wrote with Chris Terrio, and he produces with Kathleen Kennedy and Michelle Rejwan. The film is scheduled for release December 2019.

    Grunberg is repped by Paradigm, Susan Calogerakis Management, and attorney Karl Austen of Jackoway Tyerman Wertheimer Austen Mandelbaum Morris & Klein.

    New Camping Trailer

    (9/7/18) (Video) HBO has released a new trailer for its Jennifer Garner-led comedy Camping, premiering Sunday, Oct. 14.

    The Chi Adds Trio

    (9/7/18) Showtime’s The Chi has tapped a trio of actors to recur in Season 2, per Variety: Kimberly Hebert Gregory (Vice Principals) as attorney Kimberly Hendricks; Carl Lumbly (Alias) as Walter Dion Burkes, founder of the 63rd St. Mob; and Curtiss Cook (House of Cards) as South Side businessman Douda.

    Jennifer Garner is scared for her kids to use social media

    (9/4/18) Jennifer Garner is fighting back in her latest action flick, but if there’s one thing that terrifies her, it’s social media.

    The 46-year-old, who is the mother of three with estranged husband Ben Affleck, told Fox News she’s determined to keep her children offline.

    “Oh my gosh, I don’t know,” said the “Peppermint” star. “My kids don’t have any social media yet. And I am terrified. I think it puts so, so much pressure on kids at an age when they’re really vulnerable anyway. You know, if anyone has any clues, let me know.”

    “I am probably overprotective,” admitted the actress.

    Garner’s real-life role as a hands-on parent compelled her to take on the role of Riley North, a young mother seeking vengeance from her enemies after she witnessed her husband and child get gunned down right in front of her.

    “I think you can’t ignore the power of, the depth of a mom’s feelings,” explained Garner. “And I think that you don’t have to be a mom to understand that.

    “We’re all human, so for anyone, we all play ‘The Joy of Motherhood,’ ‘The Beauty of Motherhood,’ but to dig into the terror and the fear and the rage of motherhood was a whole new place. And that was part of what was so fun about this.”

    However, getting ready to transform from suburban soccer mom to no-nonsense vigilante was easier said than done. The star claimed it’s been “a decade” since she was in fighting shape to punch, shoot and maim her foes with nothing to lose.

    “It’s different being in fighting shape, instead of just regular lady-on-the-street trying to be in good shape,” she explained. “It is a whole other level. And it was very, very intense. Luckily, my kids were in school so I had the time to really say, ‘OK, I’m going to do an hour of this.’ Or I’ll cover a couple of hours.

    “… Then I’ll train with my stunt team. And it was a lot. It was a lot of working out. But I knew what I was getting into, and I knew how to do it, and, I said to them, ‘Let me train the way I wanted, and if you don’t like the results, then you can bring in your big guy trainers.’ ”

    And Garner was all too willing to kick butt at whatever cost and take matters into her own hands.

    “She’s a mom next door, just like anyone, but she absolutely gets pushed to extremes,” said Garner about North seeking justice.

    These days, Garner is fighting a completely different kind of battle involving her family — and it may explain why she worries about her children using social media.

    In late August, Affleck, 46, checked into rehab for the third time after Garner reportedly staged an intervention.

    TMZ first reported that the actor checked into a treatment facility after Garner went to his home to sit down with him.

    Garner and Affleck split in 2015 after 10 years of marriage. The “Justice League” actor reportedly moved on with the family’s then 28-year-old nanny, Christine Ouzounian.

    Soon after, Affleck began dating “Saturday Night Live” producer Lindsay Shookus. However, it was recently revealed that they broke up, which reports say took a toll on the actor’s sobriety.

    News of a new rehab stint comes after the troubled actor was seen around town with 22-year-old Playboy model Shauna Sexton, who is rumored to be his new girlfriend.

    The Blast obtained photos of Affleck receiving a delivery of alcohol at his home in the days leading up to his encounter with Garner. People magazine reported that Affleck has been in ongoing treatment and attending meetings for alcohol abuse. It also notes that he knew he needed treatment and was vocal about it. He reportedly didn’t resist Garner’s pleas for him to enter rehab.

    An insider told Page Six that, “He’s having a tough time. It’s unclear what his relationship is with Lindsay and he still has his relationship with Jen. It’s not easy and he’s struggled with staying on a straight path before.”

    Affleck is reportedly in a live-in treatment facility where he will stay for an extended period of time.

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner settle divorce case: Report

    (8/26/18) Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner have reportedly agreed on a settlement in their divorce.

    According to editors at TMZ, the estranged couple has been locked in a complicated and time-consuming battle over their property, which has prevented their divorce from becoming final.

    Ben and Jennifer did not have a pre-nuptial agreement in place, so all their earnings during their marriage had to split equally.

    The superstar couple, who split in 2015 after 10 years of marriage, share three children – Violet, 12, Seraphina, nine, and Samuel, six.

    Sources told the gossip site that the final settlement will be filed with the court once Gone Girl star has finished his stay in rehab.

    The 46-year-old actress showed up at Ben’s Pacific Palisades home in California on Wednesday afternoon and allegedly begged him to get help for his ongoing alcohol abuse issues. She told waiting photographers to give the couple privacy, and said “it was not a good time.”

    Jennifer was then spotted leaving with the actor/director and a person believed to be a sobre coach and drove Ben to an unnamed rehab facility.

    Friends of the star tell Page Six Ben has been “struggling” with sobriety since breaking up with girlfriend Lindsay Shookus, and it was photographs obtained by The Blast showing him taking a delivery of alcohol that reportedly forced his ex to take action.

    In recent days, the Justice League star has been linked to 22-year-old Playboy playmate Shauna Sexton.

    Despite the fact they split in 2015, Jennifer and Ben have remained close, but the double Oscar winner was noticeably absent from his estranged wife’s Hollywood Walk of Fame star unveiling ceremony on Monday.

    The 33rd Annual Imagen Award Winners

    (8/26/18) The Imagen Awards are presented by the Imagen Foundation, an organization which encourages and champions the positive portrayal of Latinos in entertainment.

    Best Actress – Feature Film: Eva Longoria, Overboard (3Pas Studios and Pantelion, Lionsgate MGM)Best Supporting Actress – Television (TIE):
    Stephanie Beatriz, Brooklyn Nine-Nine (Fox; Universal Television, Fremulon, Dr. Goor Productions and 3 Arts Entertainment)
    Gina Torres, Suits (USA Network; Universal Cable Productions)

    Ben Affleck Seeks Help and Will Go to Rehab After Intervention by Jen Garner

    (8/22/18) Jennifer Garner has staged an intervention to help Ben Affleck, and we've learned Ben wanted the help and agreed to go to rehab. ... TMZ has learned.

    Jennifer went to Ben's Pacific Palisades home Wednesday afternoon to sit down with her estranged husband, begging him to get help. We've learned Ben didn't need begging ... he knows he needs help and was receptive.

    Jen and Ben drove off at around 6 PM PT from the house ... and sources say the destination is a rehab facility. Our sources say Ben will enter a facility in L.A. County.

    We're told Ben fell off the wagon a while ago, and has gotten progressively worse.

    Ben has been to rehab before ... back in 2001 for alcohol abuse.? He also went back to rehab last December.

    Jen filed for divorce in April, 2017 ... 2 years after they announced their split. The former couple remained close -- partly for their 3 kids -- and they are still not officially divorced.

    Jennifer Garner's Kids Make Rare Public Appearance at Her Hollywood Walk of Fame Ceremony

    (8/20/18) (Video) Jennifer Garner just received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame!

    The 46-year-old Golden Globe winner was honored for her years of work on the big and small screens during a ceremony in Hollywood on Monday. And since it was a very special occasion for their mom, Garner's three kids made a rare public appearance at the ceremony, posing for photos alongside Garner. The actress shares Violet, 12, Seraphina, 9, and Samuel, 6, with her ex Ben Affleck, who did not attend the star ceremony.

    Judy Greer, Bryan Cranston and Steve Carell, three of Garner's former co-stars, were there to help honor her on Monday. Greer even dished about working with Garner on 13 Going on 30 during her speech.

    During Garner's speech, she gave her kids a special shout-out, telling them that she loves them and that "this is about hard work and good luck and not a whole lot else."

    Garner also mentioned how she talked to Tom Cruise's star on the Walk of Fame and how she wants him to know she does her own stunts too.

    When asked how it feels to receive this honor surrounded by her family, friends and colleagues, Garner told E! News, "It is definitely one of the more surreal moments I've had." She later added that she feels "really lucky."

    6th biennial Stand Up to Cancer telecast

    (8/17/18) The 6th biennial Stand Up to Cancer telecast — airing live and commercial-free on more than 50 networks on Friday, Sept. 7 at 8 pm ET — will feature the following celebrity participants: Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Garner, Trevor Noah, Keith Urban, Matthew McConaughey, Mahershala Ali, Kathy Bates, Katie Couric, Tony Hale, Marg Helgenberger, Ed Helms, Ken Jeong, Marlee Matlin, Maria Menounos, Jillian Michaels, Dak Prescott, Italia Ricci, Rob Riggle, Karla Souza and David Spade.

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner 'dragging their feet' on divorce: Report

    (8/10/18) Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner have reportedly been advised their divorce case may be dismissed if they don’t take “appropriate steps.”

    The actors announced they were divorcing after ten years of marriage in June 2015, and they filed legal documents in April 2017. Although they have both moved on, with the Batman actor dating TV producer Lindsay Shookus, the pair has reportedly been “dragging their feet” over their divorce proceedings.

    Authorities with the Los Angeles Superior Court have reportedly advised them that their case has not been completed because the final judgement has not been filed and entered, and the case could be dismissed if they don’t take action, according to a document obtained by The Blast.

    Officials reportedly told them, “If you fail to take the appropriate steps in your case, the court may dismiss your case for delay in prosecution.”

    Sources close to the exes have told the website their divorce proceedings are close to being wrapped up, and they are nearing a final settlement, although it is not known what has caused the delay.

    The former couple has maintained an amicable relationship following their split and co-parent their three children Violet, 12, Seraphina, nine, and Samuel, six.

    Speaking to Vanity Fair magazine in March 2016, when they were separated, Jennifer, 46, said she wouldn’t change anything.

    “I didn’t marry the big fat movie star; I married him… And I would go back and remake that decision,” she said. “You can’t have these three babies and so much of what we had. He’s the love of my life.

    “He’s the most brilliant person in any room, the most charismatic, the most generous. He’s just a complicated guy. I always say, ‘When his sun shines on you, you feel it.’ But when the sun is shining elsewhere, it’s cold. He can cast quite a shadow.”

    Jennifer Garner, daughter had to be rescued on kayaking trip gone wrong

    (8/7/18) Jennifer Garner and her daughter Violet had to be rescued when they got lost at sea during a recent holiday to Sweden.

    The 46-year-old actress took to Instagram on Monday to reveal that she and her eldest daughter, who she shares with ex-husband Ben Affleck, ran into some navigation issues while enjoying a kayaking trip in the country’s capital, Stockholm.

    Sharing a snap of herself paddling in a small canoe with the 12-year-old as the sun sets in the background, the 13 Going on 30 star confessed that the eventful holiday activity had resulted in the pair floating into a shipping lane and being rescued by a local guide.

    “On a pre-middle-school sneak away with my eldest… Did I get us lost in a kayak? Yes. Did we paddle as hard as we could for 100 hours and end up in a shipping lane? I’m afraid so,” quipped the mother-of-three, who also shares nine-year-old daughter Seraphina and six-year-old son Samuel with the Good Will Hunting actor.

    “Did we have to be rescued? Yup. #thesunsetwasabigupside #shenevercomplained #thankyoumattias #welovedyousweden” the actress added, praising a local guide called Mattias who helped them out of trouble.

    Jennifer reiterated her thanks to her rescuer on her Instagram Stories a couple of hours later, sharing a smiling photo of herself and Mattias and adding the caption: “If you’ve seen my post today… This is Mattias! Our savior! Thank you, @bipsterpersson!”

    The actress could be attempting to gain some real-life experience for her upcoming role in Camping, an HBO comedy series about trips in the great outdoors going awry – Jennifer’s first TV role since her spy thriller Alias.

    According to People, Camping follows a married couple on “a meticulously planned outdoor trip” that’s “derailed by uninvited guests and forces of nature, turning the weekend into a test of marriage and friendships”.

    The show, an adaptation of a British series by the same name, was created by Lena Dunham and Jennifer Konner and will air in 2019.

    ‘Doctor Sleep’ Gets Carl Lumbly For Dick Halloran, Alex Essoe For Wendy Torrance

    (8/1/18) Warner Bros is setting Carl Lumbly to play Dick Halloran and Alex Essoe to play Wendy Torrance in Doctor Sleep, the continuation of the storyline from The Shining. Those are the roles that Scatman Crothers and Shelley Duvall played in the Stanley Kubrick-directed original, if you are keeping score at home.

    Mike Flanagan is directing Doctor Sleep, which stars Ewan McGregor as grown up Danny Torrance, and Rebecca Ferguson plays Rose The Hat, head of a cult that feeds on the “steam” created by young people who have a touch of the “shining.” It is an excruciating fatal process for the victims and Torrance finds himself in their cross hairs as he tries to help a young girl elude their grasp. Flanagan rewrote Akiva Goldsman’s adaptation of Stephen King’s 2013 novel that picks up the life of the Redrum kid when he is in his 40s and struggling with the same demons of anger and alcoholism that plagued his father.

    Flanagan’s Intrepid Pictures partner Trevor Macy will produce along with Vertigo Entertainment’s Jon Berg, and Goldsman is executive producer.

    Cass Management-repped Lumbly is best known for Supergirl and for a long run on Alias. Dick Halloran, who mentors Torrance on how to use his shining abilities in the Overlook Hotel, didn’t die in King’s book. Doctor Sleep opens with a call to Halloran from Torrance’s mother Wendy, after she survived the attack by her deranged husband that framed the terror in The Shining. Essoe was most recently seen in The Maestro, The Super and Midnighters. She’s repped by Aperture.

    Doctor Sleep begins as Torrance carries the trauma of the Overlook Hotel into adulthood. He’s become a reflection of his murderous father, with lingering rage and a drinking problem that dulls his pain as well as his “shining” powers. Those powers return when he embraces sobriety and uses his gift to help the dying at a hospice. He establishes a psychic connection with a young girl who shares his extreme abilities and is being targeted by a scary group with similar abilities. They’ve found that their powers grow if they inhale the “steam” that comes off others with the power to shine, when they are suffering painful deaths.

    There are direct connections in the story to the Overlook Hotel and the incidents there that informed The Shining, which Kubrick directed in the classic 1980 Warner Bros film that starred Jack Nicholson, Duvall, Danny Lloyd and Crothers. Kevin McCormick is overseeing Doctor Sleep for Warner Bros.

    ‘Camping’ Trailer: First Look At Jennifer Garner In HBO Comedy Series

    (7/26/18) ‘Camping’ Trailer: First Look At Jennifer Garner In HBO Comedy Series.

    Jennifer Garner's Camping Gets October Premiere Date at HBO

    (7/25/18) You can now mark your calendars for Jennifer Garner’s highly anticipated return to primetime. Her HBO comedy, Camping, is set to premiere on Sunday, Oct. 14, the network announced at the Television Critics’ Association press tour on Wednesday.

    The eight-episode comedy, which hails from Girls duo Lena Dunham and Jenni Konner, is based on the British series of the same name. The official logline reads as follows:

    To celebrate her husband Walt’s 44th birthday, the obsessively organized and aggressively controlling Kathryn (Garner) gathers together her meek sister, her holier-than-thou ex-best friend and a free-spirited tagalong – and what was supposed to be a delightful, back-to-nature camping trip quickly becomes a weekend of tested marriages and woman-on-woman crime that won’t soon be forgotten.

    Rounding out the cast are David Tennant (Doctor Who) as Kathryn’s husband Walt, Ione Skye (Arrested Development) as Kathryn’s sister Carleen, Brett Gelman (Stranger Things) as Walt’s best friend George and Juliette Lewis (Wayward Pines) as Jandice, as well as Janicza Bravo (Love) and Arturo Del Puerto (Fear the Walking Dead), whose roles have not been disclosed. Bridget Everett (Lady Dynamite) also recurs.

    In addition to Camping, HBO’s fall line-up includes The Deuce Season 2 (premiering Sunday, Sept. 9) and concert special Flight of the Concords: Live at the London Apollo (premiering Saturday, Oct. 6).

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner take kids to ‘Hello, Dolly!’

    (7/15/18) Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner were spotted having a family night out on Thursday, theater spies told Page Six — seeing “Hello, Dolly!” with their kids.

    The former couple and co-parents have been in a good place lately after a tumultuous breakup.

    Garner gave a candid interview to “CBS Sunday Morning” about press scrutiny over the stars’ relationship and its toll on her family: “Looking back on that, I really feel the stress of it. I really .?.?. I could cry talking about it.” She added: “What I think I’ve learned is that the scrutiny in your private life puts a pressure to make something happen. You feel a pressure to hurry up and get married, ’cause you think that’ll end the, ‘Are they engaged? Are they not?’ And that’s true in the reverse, as well. If you are .?.?. if there is any inkling of trouble, or if the tabloids decide there’s trouble, it can create trouble.”

    But fans are still paying attention.

    A theater spy told us on Friday: “Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner and their three kids were front and center at ‘Hello, Dolly!,’ looking close as they watched Bernadette Peters and Victor Garber,” who was Garner’s co-star on the hit TV series “Alias.”

    Affleck and Garner were married for 10 years before they separated in 2015, amid reports about his alleged affair with their nanny. He’s since been dating “Saturday Night Live” producer Lindsay Shookus for the past year.

    Garner even posted a heartwarming Father’s Day message to Affleck: “Our kids are lucky to have a dad who looks at them the way you look at them and loves them the way you love them.”

    She told Vanity Fair back in 2016: “He’s the love of my life. What am I going to do about that? He’s the most brilliant person in any room, the most charismatic, the most generous. He’s just a complicated guy.”

    Reps for the couple did not comment.

    Garner’s making a return to television in the upcoming HBO half-hour comedy series “Camping,” from “Girls” creators Lena Dunham and Jenni Konner.

    Imagen Awards Nominations

    (7/10/18) The nominations are out for the 33rd annual Imagen Awards, which celebrate positive portrayal and creative excellence of Latinos and Latino cultures in TV and film.

    Best Supporting Actress – Television
    Stephanie Beatriz, Brooklyn Nine-Nine (Fox; Universal Television, Fremulon, Dr. Goor Productions and 3 Arts Entertainment)
    Sofia Carson, Descendants 2 (Disney Channel; Bad Angels Production)
    Melonie Diaz, Room 104 (HBO; HBO Entertainment in association with Duplass Brothers Productions)
    Isabella Gomez, One Day at a Time (Netflix)
    Veronica Falcon, Queen of the South (USA Network; Fox Television and Universal Cable Productions)
    Rita Moreno, One Day at a Time (Netflix)
    Karina Ortiz, The Long Road Home (National Geographic; Phoenix Pictures, Finngate Television, and Fuzzy Door for National Geographic)
    Francia Raisa, Grown-ish (Freeform; ABC Studios)
    Karla Souza, How to Get Away with Murder (ABC; Shondaland/ABC Studios)
    Gina Torres, Suits (USA Network; Universal Cable Productions).

    The Resident Cast Shake-Up: 3 Actors Exit Ahead of Season 2

    (6/19/18) The revolving door at Chastain Park Memorial is getting a workout this summer. TVLine has confirmed that three Resident cast members — Moran Atias (PR chief Renata Morali), Merrin Dungey (ex-CEO Claire Thorpe) and Melina Kanakaredes (incarcerated oncologist Lane Hunter) — will not be back for Season 2. Dungey and Kanakaredes’ exits were foreshadowed on screen at the end of the Fox drama’s rookie season. (Dungey has since segued to ABC’s new legal drama The Fix.)

    Meanwhile, Frasier vet Jane Leeves is joining the ensemble in the series-regular role of Dr. Kitt Voss, the hospital’s new star orthopedic surgeon. As our sister site Deadline reports, Leeves inked a one-year deal with the show (so don’t get too attached to Voss). The news comes just a day after The Resident handed series-regular promotions to Season 1 guest stars Malcolm-Jamal Warner (Dr. AJ Austin) and Glenn Morshower (Marshall Winthrop, dad to Matt Czuchry’s Conrad).

    In addition to Czuchry, returning series regulars include Emily VanCamp (Nic), Manish Dayal (Devon), Bruce Greenwood (Chief Bell) and Shaunette Renée Wilson (Mina).

    Fox has yet to announce a Season 2 premiere date for The Resident, which will now air Mondays at 8/7c leading into rookie hit 9-1-1.

    J.J. Abrams based Greg Grunberg’s ‘Felicity’ character on the actor

    (6/14/18) Greg Grunberg and his “Felicity” character Sean Blumberg are not so different.

    “[Sean] was based on me,” Grunberg told Page Six at the recent ATX TV Festival.

    Grunberg’s character on the series, which was created by J.J. Abrams and Matt Reeves, was known for consistently coming up with wild inventions that never panned out.

    “J.J. [Abrams] and I were sharing an apartment,” Grunberg said. “I was coming up with ideas. I never stopped. I got that from my dad. I loved coming up with business ideas.”

    Grunberg, who hosts a podcast called “An Actor, a Comedian and a Musician Walk Into a Bar,” added, “I’ve created an app that was really successful called Yowza, it was a mobile coupon app. I’ve always done that kind of thing so that was very much me and they just wrote really stupid ideas.”

    The actor went on to work with Abrams on “Alias,” “Lost,” “Star Trek” and “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.”

    “He’s my oldest friend in the world,” Grunberg told us. “He’s my brother, I love him and all this stuff is icing on the cake — it just happens to be a very big cake that has helped my career tremendously, but more than anything he’s been there as a friend.”

    The pair met in elementary school when they were 4 years old.

    Both Amanda Foreman, who played Meghan on “Felicity,” and Tangi Miller, who played Elena, echoed Grunberg’s comments about Abrams.

    “J.J. is truly one of the funniest, you’d love to be friends with him,” Foreman said. Miller added, “I remember he was always very supportive.”

    Grunberg, Foreman and Miller were among the cast members at the ATX TV Festival for the “Felicity” 20th reunion panel. Scott Foley, Scott Speedman, Keri Russell, Amy Jo Johnson, Ian Gomez and Rob Benedict were also in attendance.

    Jennifer Garner Gives Thumbs Up To Star & Produce ‘Yes Day’

    (6/7/18) Jennifer Garner is attached to star and produce Yes Day, a comedy based on the concept when parents devote one day annually to saying “Yes” to their kids’ requests. The project, which is in early development, has Beatriz at Dinner helmer Miguel Arteta attached to direct with Entertainment 360 and Grey Matter Productions producing.

    Garner has made a tradition of celebrating Yes Day! with her three children sharing some fun pictures on Instagram back in September. The concept is inspired by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenhelp’s 2009 children’s book of the same name. On “Yes Day”, kids receive only positive answers from their parents to requests such as pizza for breakfast, late bedtimes, and food fights.

    Garner is repped by CAA, Management 360 and Sloane, Offer, Weber, Dern. Arteta is repped by Management 360, WME and Lichter, Grossman, Nichols & Adler.

    Garner can be seen next in STXfilms/Lakeshore’s action thriller Peppermint and she recently starred in 20th Century Fox’s gay teenage comedy Love, Simon. She can also be seen this summer in the HBO Lena Dunham/Jenni Kohner produced comedy series Camping.

    Arteta recently directed The Orchard romance title Duck Butter starring Alia Shawkat and Laia Costa which debuted at the Tribeca Film Festival. His Sundance Film Festival premiere Beatriz at Dinner went on to be named one of the top ten independent films of the National Board of Review last year, and earned two Independent Spirit nominations for Mike White’s screenplay and lead female actress Salma Hayek.

    ‘A Star Is Born’ Trailer: Bradley Cooper And Lady Gaga Finally Hit The Stage

    (6/7/18) (Video) Warner Bros has unveiled the first trailer for A Star Is Born, the first real look at the latest incarnation of the movie. Bradley Cooper directed for the first time, co-wrote and stars alongside Lady Gaga in a power-couple matchup that takes on the star-crossed, music-driven tale.

    Cooper plays Jackson Maine, who discovers — and falls in love with — struggling artist Ally (Gaga). She has just about given up on her dream to make it big as a singer until Jack coaxes her into the spotlight. But as Ally’s career takes off, the personal side of their relationship breaks down as Jack fights an ongoing battle with his own internal demons. Eric Roth and Cooper & Will Fetters penned the script.

    The trailer features Cooper in full country gravel voice as Maine — all the music is original and was recorded live (were you at Coachella?), and Gaga also performs original songs she wrote with Cooper and the likes of Lukas Nelson, Jason Isbell and Mark Ronson.

    Andrew Dice Clay, Dave Chappelle and Sam Elliott co-star in the pic, which hits theaters in the brunt of awards season October 5.

    Check out the trailer above.

    Musical Dramedy From Sara Bareilles, J.J. Abrams Snags Apple Series Order

    (6/7/18) Apple is singing a new tune, with a key assist from Sara Bareilles. The tech giant has given a straight-to-series, 10-episode order to the half-hour dramedy Little Voice, featuring original music by the Jesus Christ Superstar Live headliner.

    Executive-produced by J.J. Abrams, Little Voice is described as “a love letter to the diverse musicality of New York” and an exploration of “the universal journey of finding your authentic voice in your early 20s.” Feature scribe Jessie Nelson (I Am Sam, Stepmom) will write and direct the first episode. She will also serve as showrunner.

    Bareilles — who played Mary Magdalene in NBC’s Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert! — will serve as an EP alongside Abrams, Nelson and Bad Robot’s Ben Stephenson. A Grammy and Tony Award nominee for the Waitress musical, Bareilles co-hosts the Tony Awards with Josh Groban this Sunday on CBS.

    Little Voice joins a robust slate of upcoming Apple series that also includes a comedy featuring Hailee Steinfeld as poet Emily Dickinson, a Reese Witherspoon-produced comedy starring Kristen Wiig, a drama project from La La Land director Damien Chazelle and a psychological thriller from M. Night Shyamalan, to name a few.

    Special Olympics 50th Anniversary Gets Entertainment Industry Boost

    (5/25/18) Pharrell Williams, Cindy Crawford, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Stevie Wonder are among the talents that will participate in a year-long celebration of the Special Olympics 50th anniversary.

    The stars and celebration leaders including Special Olympics’ Global Ambassadors’ John C.McGinley, Brooklyn Decker, Apollo Anton Ohno, Nancy O’Dell, and Vanessa Williams plan to actively promote the organization’s Inclusion Revolution campaign. The movement touts the idea that everyone can be engaged, involved, and inspired by sports for people with intellectual disabilities.

    Also adding their congratulations and support to the Special Olympics are Ellen Degeneres, Earvin “Magic” Johnson and Cookie Johnson, Ed Asner, Rachael Ray, Rita Wilson, Joe Mantegna, Toni Braxton, Gary Cole, Holly Robinson Peete, Gabrielle Carteris, Jenny McCarthy, Max and Charlie Carver, Keshia Knight Pulliam, Alfie Allen, Jack Huston, Gunnar Peterson, Tim Gunn, and Greg Grunberg. “Through sports, health, school and youth engagement, the Special Olympics Movement has dramatically transformed lives by unifying and empowering people with and without intellectual disabilities to end discrimination and create inclusion,” said Timothy Shriver, Special Olympics chairman. “We are reaching out to everyone to join us as we shape a more accepting and inclusive future and I am proud to announce that the Hollywood community is galvanizing for this critically important mission and milestone.”

    Among the organizational supporters are The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, SAG-AFTRA, The Los Angeles Film Commission, Film Independent, Penske Media Corporation, GLADD, Levity Live, The Hollywood Improv, John Varvatos, Barry’s Boot Camp, Variety and the Hollywood Teamsters.

    Bradley Cooper To Reunite With Clint Eastwood In ‘The Mule’

    (5/18/18) Bradley Cooper is reteaming with Clint Eastwood in The Mule. Eastwood stars as Earl Stone, a man in his 80s who is broke, alone, and facing foreclosure of his business when he is offered a job that simply requires him to drive—easy enough but, unbeknownst to Earl, he’s just signed on as a drug courier for a Mexican cartel, and also hit the radar of hard-charging DEA agent Colin Bates. Imperative produces. Our sister publication Variety was first up with the news. Cooper, who starred in American Sniper, made his directing debut and stars opposite Lady Gaga in A Star Is Born, and he just became aligned to direct and star as Leonard Bernstein for Paramount Pictures and Amblin.

    HOLLYWOOD’S BIGGEST STARS COME TOGETHER TO SUPPORT NBC’S FOURTH ANNUAL ‘THE RED NOSE DAY SPECIAL’ ON MAY 24

    (5/16/18) The biggest names in television, film and music will come together to have fun and raise money for children in need during NBC’s fourth annual “The Red Nose Day Special,” airing Thursday, May 24 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on NBC. Hosted by comedian Chris Hardwick, the telecast will be broadcast live from Rockefeller Plaza in New York City.

    NBC’s three-hour star-studded night of Red Nose Day programming will also include the second annual edition of “Celebrity Ninja Warrior for Red Nose Day” at 8 p.m. and a special episode of “Hollywood Game Night” airing at 9 p.m.

    Stars joining the special in support of the annual Red Nose Day charity campaign include Jack Black, Jennifer Garner, Kristen Bell, Kelly Clarkson, Julia Roberts, Ed Sheeran, Marlon Wayans, Sean Hayes, Ellie Kemper, Zooey Deschanel, Tony Hale, Sasheer Zamata, Jane Lynch, Akbar Gbajabiamila, Matt Iseman and Jack McBrayer. Funds raised support programs in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and some of the poorest communities internationally to ensure that children who are living in poverty are safe, healthy and educated.

    The one-hour special will include Kelly Clarkson visiting a local elementary school to celebrate students who are raising money for Red Nose Day, while helping them realize their power to make a difference and inspire positive change for children who are in need. Clarkson will visit a third-grade classroom, attend a Red Nose Day Rally and participate in a student-run fair featuring fun and creative activities to raise funds for Red Nose Day. Clarkson and the kids will team up to shine a light on all of the amazing students who make a difference.

    Julia Roberts shares the story of Devine, a little boy who lives in Liberia who suffered from severe malnutrition. Thanks to donations to Red Nose Day, he has the chance at a healthy childhood.

    Ed Sheeran, a long-time supporter of Red Nose Day in both the U.K. and U.S., will help to highlight the issues facing so many homeless children around the world who are living without access to education or safe shelter — and how Red Nose Day funds can help.

    In addition, Kristen Bell, Jack Black, Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Garner, Zooey Deschanel, Tony Hale, Sean Hayes, Marlon Wayans, Sasheer Zamata and Jack McBrayer will make special appearances in hilarious comedy sketches during the telecast. Talent will entertain and educate viewers, while encouraging them to get involved and support the cause.

    “The Red Nose Day Special” host Chris Hardwick, “American Ninja Warrior” hosts Matt Iseman and Akbar Gbajabiamila and “Hollywood Game Night” host Jane Lynch will participate in live check-ins with audiences throughout the night, seamlessly tying together all three hours of primetime programming while encouraging viewers to donate to the cause. The three hosts will also appear together for a live comedy moment during the telecast with “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” star Ellie Kemper joining in.

    Red Nose Day is an annual event that harnesses the power of entertainment to raise money and awareness for children living in poverty in America and around the world. Since launching 2015, the campaign has raised over $100 million, positively impacting over 8.3 million children. NBC's Red Nose Day programming is a culmination of a seven-week fundraising campaign that brings together millions of Americans around the country to have fun and make a difference. The campaign’s iconic Red Noses are on sale exclusively at Walgreens and Duane Reade locations nationwide. Over 8 million of the Red Noses have already been sold, with all profits from all sales benefitting Red Nose Day

    Red Nose Day was created by Oscar-nominated and Emmy Award-winning writer-director Richard Curtis, (“Love Actually,” “Four Weddings and a Funeral,” “Notting Hill”). It has raised more than $1 billion globally since its launch 30 years ago in the U.K. in 1988.

    Richard Curtis is an executive producer for the live NBC telecast (a Universal Television production), along with John Irwin of Irwin Entertainment, and Lily Sobhani.

    ‘Suits’ Spinoff Starring Gina Torres Gets Title

    (5/15/18) USA’s upcoming Suits spinoff now has a title — Second City. The offshoot of the long-running legal drama is toplined by the mothership series’ alumna Gina Torres and centers on her character, powerhouse lawyer Jessica Pearson, as she enters the dirty world of Chicago politics.

    Torres announced the title today at NBCU’s upfront in Manhattan, while introducing footage from the recent Suits season finale, which served as a pilot for the new series.

    Suits and Second City will co-exist as the mothership series recently was renewed for an eighth season without two of its original stars, Patrick J. Adams and future British royal Meghan Markle. Returning cast members Gabriel Macht, Rick Hoffman and Sarah Rafferty will be joined by Dulé Hill, who is being promoted to a series regular after recurring this season, and new addition Katherine Heigl.

    The backdoor pilot was written by Suits creator and executive producer Aaron Korsh and executive producer Daniel Arkin, and was directed by Suits alum Anton Cropper. The new series, which hails from Universal Cable Prods., is executive produced by Korsh, showrunner Arkin, Torres and Suits executive producers Doug Liman, David Bartis and Gene Klein of Hypnotic.

    Cooper to direct self in Leonard Bernstein biopic

    (5/10/18) Bradley Cooper has signed on to direct and star in a new movie about beloved composer Leonard Bernstein.

    The actor, who recently directed Lady Gaga in the upcoming A Star in Born remake, will also co-write Bernstein with Oscar-winning Spotlight screenwriter Josh Singer, and produce, alongside Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese, among others.

    Cooper’s project will go up against Jake Gyllenhaal’s new Bernstein film, The American, which will be adapted from Humphrey Burton’s biography, titled Leonard Bernstein.

    Gyllenhaal’s biopic, which will pick up Bernstein’s life as a rookie conductor at the New York Philharmonic at the age of 25 and portray the composer through his highs and lows as he grappled with fame and success, is one of the hottest properties being shopped around at the Cannes Film Festival in France.

    “Like many people, Leonard Bernstein found his way into my life and heart through (movie musical) West Side Story when I was a kid,” Gyllenhaal said in a statement to Deadline last week. “But as I got older and started to learn about the scope of his work, I began to understand the extent of his unparalleled contribution and the debt of gratitude modern American culture owes him.

    “As a man, Bernstein was a fascinating figure – full of genius and contradiction – and it will be an incredible honour to tell his story.”

    Cary Fukunaga, who will direct Jake in The American, added, “Bernstein’s artistic passions changed the way generations understood and appreciated music… Jake is the perfect partner to help bring this story to life and to play this legend.”

    Meanwhile, sources suggest Scorsese was at one point interested in directing Cooper’s new Bernstein project, but stepped down to take charge of upcoming mob drama The Irishman.

    Bradley Cooper To Receive 2018 American Cinematheque Award

    (4/25/18) Four-time Oscar nominee Bradley Cooper will receive the 32nd annual American Cinematheque Award, with the annual honor to be bestowed at the organization’s gala November 29 at the Beverly Hilton.

    Amy Adams received last year’s honor. The award established in 1986 (Eddie Murphy got the first one) goes to “an extraordinary filmmaker in the entertainment industry, who is fully engaged in his or her work and is committed to making a significant contribution to the art of the motion picture.”

    “The American Cinematheque is extremely pleased to honor Bradley Cooper as the 32nd recipient of the American Cinematheque award at our celebration this year,” American Cinematheque chairman Rick Nicita said. “Bradley Cooper is the modern-day equivalent of movie stars of Hollywood’s Golden Age — a leading man with the shapeshifting talents of a character actor.”

    The organization said Cooper was a unanimous choice for the award.

    Cooper, who attended CinemaCon on Tuesday to promote A Star Is Born, the redo he wrote and directed and stars in alongside Lady Gaga, was nominated for three acting Oscars in a row beginning in 2013 with Silver Linings Playbook, followed by American Hustle and then American Sniper which he also produced.

    During that stretch he was nominated for a Tony for starring in the revival of The Elephant Man on Broadway.

    A Star Is Born hits theaters October 5.

    Bradley Cooper, Lady Gaga had a secret pact for ‘A Star is Born’

    (4/24/18) When first-time director Bradley Cooper was shooting his forthcoming remake of “A Star in Born,” his co-star, Lady Gaga (aka Stefani Germanotta), made a deal with him.

    “She said right from the beginning that there would be a bargain,” Cooper recalled at a public talk at the Tribeca Film Festival with Robert De Niro. He recalled that Gaga told him, “‘I’m gonna rely on you to get a performance that’s honest out of me’ — because she’d never done a film before — ‘and I’m gonna make sure that you’re going to turn into a musician. Because we’re going to sing everything live.’ And I went, ‘Wait, what?’”

    Cooper told the story as part of a meandering conversation that was part of the Tribeca Talks series of festival events. De Niro revealed that he’d seen a screening of “A Star is Born” — “I just want to say it was terrific,” he said — and Cooper shared why he felt so close to De Niro, an actor with whom he’s made four films (including “Limitless” and “Silver Linings Playbook”).

    Cooper said he first met De Niro as Cooper’s own father had gotten sick, and had passed away between the filming of “Limitless” and “Playbook.”

    “This experience in ‘Silver Lining Playbook’ is probably the reason why I grew so close to you and love you so terribly as a friend,” Cooper told him. “Because I got to say the word ‘Dad’ all the time after my dad had passed away, and I got to say it to you.”

    De Niro often seemed at a loss for topics of conversation, so much so that David O. Russell — the director of “Playbooks,” “American Hustle” and “Joy” — was invited up onstage to join him and Cooper.

    Russell remembered meeting De Niro for the first time with the actor Joe Pesci, and recalled Pesci telling him, “‘You’re gonna find out when you hang out with this guy: If you don’t give him what to say, he’s not gonna say anything.’ That’s what we’re experiencing right now,” Russell joked.

    Over the course of the talk, Cooper described working on the 42-day shoot of “Star is Born,” as well as the three-year preparation process that included vocal lessons and performing live in front of audiences at actual concerts. He, De Niro and Russell also reminisced about working together, particularly on “Playbook” and “American Hustle.”

    A question from the audience prompted De Niro to get political, as he often does at public events. When asked what role he’d never play, he replied, “You wanna guess? I’ll give you one hint. I’ll tell you. Donald Trump.”

    Camping Star Jennifer Garner Posts First Photo From HBO Comedy's Set

    (4/6/18) (Photo) They’re going to need a bigger tent.

    Jennifer Garner on Thursday posted a casual (yet sprawling!) group photo from the set of her new HBO comedy Camping. “Let us commence,” she wrote in the caption. “The cast of #HBOCamping before we’re sunburned and covered in ticks.”

    The shot is the first time we’ve seen the cast assembled; in addition to Garner, the photo includes David Tennant (Doctor Who), Juliette Lewis (Secrets and Lies), Bridget Everett (Inside Amy Schumer), Bret Gelman (Stranger Things), Ione Sky (Say Anything), Arturo del Puerto (Fear the Walking Dead), Janicza Bravo (Love) and Duncan Joiner (Lethal Weapon). Garner also calls out writers/executive producers Lena Dunham and Jenni Konner (Girls).

    The eight-episode, half-hour series follows dysfunctional husband-and-wife duo Walt and Kathryn (played by Tennant and Garner, respectively), who orchestrate a group camping trip from hell to celebrate the husband’s 45th birthday. Everett co-stars as a nature-loving lesbian named Harry, Sky plays hospice worker Carleen, and Lewis portrays a reiki healer/certified public accountant who goes by Jandice.

    Camping, based on a British series of the same name, is in production in Los Angeles.

    Michael Vartan’s dog is the love of his life

    (3/27/18) Michael Vartan apparently prefers animal contact to human.

    Although the “Arrangement” star, 49, has had his fair share of relationships, including a romance with former “Alias” co-star Jennifer Garner, Vartan told E! News that his dog, a chocolate labrador named Millie, holds his heart.

    “I am single,” he said. “Single for life, unless she has four legs. That’s a whole different story.”

    He added, “She’s the love of my life. I adore her.”

    As for his relationship with Garner, Vartan said fans shouldn’t hope for a reunion — even though the actress been back on the market since her 2015 split from Ben Affleck.

    “I don’t think so. If it didn’t work once, there’s a reason it didn’t work,” he said.

    Vartan isn’t too worried about his single relationship status, though.

    “Everyone’s getting single,” Vartan said. “It’s crazy. Everyone’s realizing that is so much easier to be single. I love relationships. When they work, when they’re great, they’re great, and when they’re not, they’re not.”

    Jennifer Garner Thriller ‘Peppermint’ Sets Post-Labor Day Weekend Debut

    (3/23/18) STXfilms and Lakeshore Entertainment have set the Jennifer Garner action-thriller Peppermint for release on Sept. 7, the weekend following the Labor Day stretch.

    Directed by Pierre Morel (Taken, The Gunman), Peppermint tells the story of young mother Riley North (Garner) who awakens from a coma after her husband and daughter are killed in a brutal attack on the family. When the system frustratingly shields the murderers from justice, Riley sets out to transform herself from citizen to urban guerilla. Channeling her frustration into personal motivation, she spends years in hiding honing her mind, body and spirit to become an unstoppable force – eluding the underworld, the LAPD and the FBI – as she methodically delivers her personal brand of justice.

    Peppermint is written by Chad St. John, and produced by Tom Rosenberg, Gary Lucchesi, Eric Reid and Richard Wright, with Renee Tab and Christopher Tuffin serving as EPs. John Ortiz, Juan Pablo Raba, John Gallagher Jr., Annie Ilonzeh and Richard Cabral round out the cast.

    Peppermint is opening on the same weekend as New Line/Warner Bros.’ The Nun. STXfilms is making a name for itself with female-led features having released the Bad Moms franchise and the Oscar-nominated Molly’s Game, with I Feel Pretty (April 20), Adrift (June 1), The Happytime Murders (Aug. 17) and Second Act (Nov. 21) on this year’s slate.

    Jennifer Garner says she can't stand looking at Oscars meme

    (3/17/18) Jennifer Garner can’t even look at the “embarrassing” viral video of herself making an odd facial expression at the Oscars.

    At the awards ceremony earlier this month, Jennifer was seen clapping besides Chris Messina, when she suddenly stopped applauding and the expression on her face went from calm and collected to shocked and confused.

    Suggestions of what realisation dawned on the actress in that moment sparked multiple memes, with fans speculating that she suddenly remembered she’d left her curling iron on, or that her ex-husband Ben Affleck wasn’t the best Batman actor.

    Jennifer spoke about the meme-worthy moment during an interview on the Friday edition of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and admitted she has no idea what prompted the expression.

    “I can’t even look at it. I can’t. It’s too embarrassing,” Jennifer laughed as Ellen flashed up the image on her big screen. “I have no control over this (expression). What am I doing?

    “I started getting texts as you can imagine, people saying, ‘What were you thinking? What was happening?’ And I try really hard not to see myself online but she’s a little unavoidable.”

    Mother-of-three Jennifer added that she “regrets, regrets, regrets” pulling that face, and told Ellen she “wishes” she had a better story about what prompted it.

    “I wanna just punch her in the face,” Jennifer joked.

    Following the awards, Jennifer proved she was a good sport by adding voiceovers to some of the memes that were created of the moment.

    “Congrats to Shape of Water! Maybe I should date a fish?” was Jennifer’s first suggestion, referring to Guillermo del Toro’s Oscar-winning movie.

    Referencing her Capital One Venture TV adverts, Jennifer’s second theory was: “Hey Jimmy Kimmel, what’s in your wallet? Wait where’s my wallet?” And Jennifer’s third suggestion was: “Can’t wait to work with Lena Dunham! Wait, did I sign a nudity waiver?”, poking fun at the recent news she has signed up to appear in Lena’s new HBO TV series Camping.

    Josh Duhamel Calls Co-Star Jennifer Garner an "Incredible Woman"

    (3/15/18) Josh Duhamel and Jennifer Garner appeared to have bonded over their real-life roles as parents as they filmed their roles as a mom and dad in Love, Simon.

    The actor talked about their time working together in an interview with E! News' Zuri Hall at the premiere of the movie in Los Angeles on Tuesday.

    "Her kids weren't on set, neither were mine. We were only there for I think, a week and a half, two weeks, working, but I went to Jen a couple times asking advice on certain things and she's an incredible woman, she really is," Duhamel said. "She's very, very smart. She's a lot funnier than I think people realize."

    Duhamel and ex Fergie are parents to a 4-year-old son, Axl, who is two years younger than Garner and ex-husband Ben Affleck's youngest of their three children, son Samuel.

    During the interview, Duhamel also talked about how he reacts to romance rumors that inevitably pop up about him and his co-stars, including Garner.

    "It does truly amaze me what some of the things that are printed," he said. "It's like, how is that even legal? I try not to comment on it. It is what it is and it's part of the business. We're in the circus and that's part of being in the circus."

    In Love, Simon, Duhamel and Garner play the parents of a gay teenage son named Simon, played by Nick Robinson. Simon has kept his sexuality secret, even from his family. Meanwhile, he has fallen in love with a fellow, anonymous closeted classmate after exchanging emails with them. Then a blackmailer finds the emails and threatens to out Simon.

    Love, Simon is set for release on Friday.

    Jennifer Garner lobbies for early childhood education

    (3/13/18) Jennifer Garner showed her support for Save the Children with a trip to Washington.

    The actress visited an Anacostia, Washington, D.C., early childhood education center on Monday, The Washington Post reported.

    Garner, 45, documented her visit on Instagram.

    “I was reminded of the magic of #Headstart and #EarlyHeadstart on today’s visit to #Educare in Washington D.C with @savethechildren,” she wrote alongside a video and photos with students. “75% of the families at this preschool/pre-K/daycare have household incomes at or below $9000 year! In Metropolitan D.C.! In these bright, cheerful, happily chaotic classrooms you’d never know– kids were too busy learning and growing, not to mention showing me the ropes.”

    The “Peppermint” star also testified at a closed hearing of the Senate Finance Committee.

    Mark Shriver, senior vice president of Save the Children’s programs and advocacy department, tweeted a photo of Garner speaking at the hearing.

    “Great morning with my friend and @SavetheChildren trustee Jennifer Garner testifying before the Senate Finance Committee with @SenatorMenendez, @OrrinHatch, @SenatorTimScott and later, @RonWyden on the importance of #homevisiting programs like #MIECHV. #InvestInKids,” he wrote.

    Garner previously spoke to Congress as an early childhood education advocate in March 2017 and February 2016.

    USA NETWORK GREENLIGHTS GINA TORRES-LED ‘SUITS’ SPINOFF FROM UNIVERSAL CABLE PRODUCTIONS

    (3/9/18) USA Network today announced the series pickup of the Gina Torres-led SUITS spinoff. Centered on powerhouse lawyer Jessica Pearson (Torres) as she adjusts to the dirty world of Chicago politics, this new drama hails from Universal Cable Productions (UCP) and is executive produced and written by SUITS creator and executive producer Aaron Korsh alongside executive producer and showrunner Daniel Arkin. Doug Liman, David Bartis and Gene Klein of Hypnotic (SUITS) and Gina Torres will also serve as executive producers.

    “Gina’s portrayal of Jessica Pearson as one of television’s strongest, most successful businesswomen has made a huge impact with fans,” said Chris McCumber, President, Entertainment Networks, NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment. “We can’t wait to explore this next chapter in the SUITS legacy – and a brand new world for Jessica.”

    "It was an extraordinary pleasure working with Gina on SUITS for six years. Beyond her undeniable talent, she is an incredible partner and collaborator, and I always hoped we would work together again," shared Korsh, creator and executive producer of SUITS and the new spinoff series. "I am sincerely grateful to USA and UCP for giving Dan Arkin, my producing partners at Hypnotic and me the opportunity to continue Jessica Pearson's journey in this new series that will encapsulate all that our fans love about her and SUITS – but with its own distinct story that will be unique to the franchise."

    “The SUITS flagship series has struck a chord with our marketing partners throughout the years as a great platform for advertising and sponsorship opportunities,” said Mark Marshall, Executive Vice President, Entertainment Advertising Sales, NBCUniversal. “This new Gina Torres-led spinoff allows us to provide those same advertisers and audiences with the content we already know they love to watch, and we’re excited to bring them this new chapter in the show’s legacy.”

    When SUITS began more than seven years ago, Jessica Pearson was introduced as managing partner of one of New York City’s top corporate law firms. Through the years she remained a highly respected, formidable lawyer who helped lead her firm through the darkest times. Always putting her professional life first, Jessica left New York to follow her heart to Chicago in last year’s mid-season finale. She has made many triumphant returns to the SUITS world since and will introduce her new journey in the Windy City during the Season 7 finale, airing Wednesday, April 25, where she will rely on her wits and relationships from Pearson Specter Litt to navigate this unknown territory.

    This spinoff marks USA Network’s second commitment to SUITS this year. Last month, the network renewed the flagship series for Season 8 and announced the addition of Katherine Heigl (Samantha Wheeler) to the ensemble cast which also includes Gabriel Macht (Harvey Specter), Sarah Rafferty (Donna Paulsen), Rick Hoffman (Louis Litt) and new series regular Dulé Hill (Alex Williams).

    Jennifer Garner wears over $825K worth of jewelry to Oscars

    (3/4/18) Jennifer Garner could probably name 605,000 reasons why she loved her Oscars look.

    The actress wore over $825,000 in Piaget jewelry to the 90th Academy Awards, including 18-carat white gold earrings set with diamonds and blue sapphires, which cost a whopping $605,000.

    Dressed in a Grecian royal blue gown from Atelier Versace, Garner, 45, completed her glamorous look with two Piaget rings, priced at $28,600 and $192,000 a piece.

    Garner, who is set to star in Lena Dunham‘s forthcoming HBO series, “Camping,” will present at Sunday’s ceremony.

    ‘The Fix’: Breckin Meyer & Merrin Dungey To Co-Star In ABC Drama Pilot

    (2/28/18) Breckin Meyer, who is recurring on ABC’s Designated Survivor, is expanding his relationship with the network via a co-starring role in drama pilot The Fix. It also has cast Merrin Dungey in her return to ABC, where she had roles on Once Upon a Time, Conviction and Alias.

    The Fix, described as part legal thriller, part confessional and part revenge fantasy, is written by Marcia Clark, Elizabeth Craft and Sara Fain. After losing the biggest case of her career and being shredded by the media, former prosecutor Maya Travis has left Los Angeles for a quiet life in rural Oregon. Eight years after her devastating defeat, the murderer strikes again, forcing Maya to return to L.A. to confront him one more time.

    Meyer will play Charlie Wiest, a spineless opportunist who doesn’t have enough power within the office to control its inner workings, despite his grave efforts. Dungey will play CJ, a DA investigator who was one of Maya’s closest friends and confidantes during the high-profile trial.

    Craft, Fain and Clark executive produce with Mandeville’s David Hoberman, Todd Lieberman and Laurie Zaks.

    Meyer is recurring as Keifer Suterlands estranged brother Trey on Designated Survivor. He also recently wrapped production on the feature film Changeland, directed by Seth Green. Meyer created the TBS multi-camera comedy series Men at Work, which he also executive produced, and also played the co-lead opposite Mark-Paul Gosselaar on TNT’s Franklin & Bash. Meyer continues work as a voice actor and writer alongside Green on the Adult Swim animated comedy Robot Chicken. He is repped by Paradigm, Principato-Young Entertainment and Sloane Offer.

    Dungey recently co-starred as CEO Claire Thorpe on the freshman Fox medical drama series The Resident and played Detective Adrienne Quinlan on HBO’s Big Little Lies. Dungey is repped by Gersh, Industry Entertainment and attorney Marcy Morris.

    Jennifer Garner helps daughters hawk Girl Scout cookies

    (2/13/18) Acting isn’t Jennifer Garner’s only passion.

    The former “Alias” star, 45, showed off her sales chops this weekend, pitching in to help her daughters sell Girl Scout cookies.

    “Why yes, kind sir, we do have Thin Mints,” Garner wrote on Instagram alongside an image of her hawking the famous treats outside a grocery store.

    But the actress wasn’t done there. Later in an Instagram story, she announced that she’d purchased some cookies to share with fans who didn’t have access to Girl Scouts.

    “While my Girl Scout and Brownie have to sell their own cookies, I did buy a limited number of boxes from them to share with you guys,” she said (via People). “So if you truly have no Girl Scout in your life, please send me your order and your address and I will try to hook you up.”

    This isn’t the first time the mother of three has shown interest in the business of Girl Scout cookies. During a 2016 visit to “Live with Kelly and Michael,” Garner talked about the advice she’d given to her daughters, Violet, now 12, and Seraphina, 9.

    “I’m the one telling the girls, you know, ‘Try to talk about the gluten-free because they’re a dollar more.’ Let’s have an upsell!” she said at the time.

    Don’t expect Garner, who’s also mother to 5-year-old Samuel, to trade acting for a career in sales, though. Last week it was announced she’ll return to TV in Lena Dunham’s new HBO series, “Camping.”

    Jennifer Garner to Make TV Return in HBO Comedy Camping, From Girls EPs Lena Dunham and Jenni Konner

    (2/8/18) Jennifer Garner will make her return to live-action television with a leading role in HBO’s forthcoming comedy Camping, TVLine has learned.

    Garner’s last regular TV gig was Alias, J.J. Abrams’ grad-student-turned-spy drama, in which she starred for five seasons. Since Alias ended in 2006, Garner has focused on her film career, taking roles in movies like Dallas Buyers Club, Butter, The Odd Life of Timothy Green and Miracles From Heaven. She also voices Mama Llama in Netflix’s animated Llama Llama.

    In Camping, Garner will play Kathryn Siddell-Bauers, described as “a controlling L.A. mom who is far less cheerful than her Lululemons imply.” The series chronicles a camping trip to celebrate the 45th birthday of Walt, Kathryn’s husband. “But when the camping trip gathers Kathryn’s meek sister, holier than thou ex-best friend and a free-spirited tagalong in one place,” the official logline reads, “it becomes a weekend of tested marriages and woman-on-woman crime that won’t soon be forgotten. Plus, bears.”

    The adaptation, based on Sky Atlantic’s series of the same name, will be written and executive-produced by Girls bosses Lena Dunham and Jenni Konner, who also will serve as showrunners; Julia Davis — who created the original Camping — Christine Langan and Ilene S. Landress also will executive-produce.

    The eight-episode limited series is slated to begin production in Los Angeles this spring.

    In a statement, Konner and Dunham said, “We love Jennifer’s restraint and comedic timing, and we can’t wait for the warmth and intelligence she’ll bring to our central character, Kathryn. It’s truly a dream to have her first on our call sheet. Now we just have to write her some stunts.”

    TVLine doesn’t want to say that we dreamed this into being… but we kinda dreamed this into being. On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of Alias‘ finale, we wrote that Garner should come back to TV in a cable project with a minimal number of episodes, and that “while we certainly wouldn’t say no to to another highly physical role for the uber-athletic actress, may we humbly suggest starting fresh with a big part on a new series that shares no DNA with the one that jumpstarted her career? And that maybe lets her smile a little more often on camera?” BOOM.

    J.J. Abrams' Demimonde Lands at HBO

    (2/2/18) J.J. Abrams‘ secret (until recently) project Demimonde officially has a home.

    HBO has given the sci-fi endeavor a series order, TVLine has learned.

    Demimonde is unique in that it’s the first series created and written solely by Abrams since ABC’s Alias. Abrams also will executive-produce Demimonde, along with Ben Stephenson (The Fall). Abrams’ Bad Robot Productions, Warner Bros. TV and HBO will produce.

    The series’ cryptic logline says only that Demimonde is “an epic and intimate sci-fi fantasy drama.” TVLine has heard that the series is a big-budget production about a world’s battle against a monstrously oppressive force.

    As previously reported, Apple also was interested in the drama.

    In addition to Fringe, Abrams is synonymous with the TV series Felicity, Alias and Lost and has executive-produced many others, including Person of Interest, Revolution and 11.22.63. He currently is an EP on HBO’s Westworld.

    New J.J. Abrams Sci-Fi Drama Series Demimonde Sparks Heated Bidding War Between HBO and Apple

    (1/16/18) The hottest TV series at the moment is one you’ve never heard of.

    TVLine has learned that HBO and Apple are currently embroiled in a heated bidding war for Demimonde, an ambitious new series from J.J. Abrams. Written and possibly directed by the Felicity/Lost/Fringe vet himself, the project — titled Demimonde — is being billed as a big-budget sci-fi family drama about a world’s battle against a monstrous, oppressive force.

    Demimonde is expected to find a home by week’s end, with either HBO or Apple prepared to order the project straight to series.

    Demimonde is noteworthy because it would mark the first series created and written solely by Abrams in a decade (since Fringe).

    Reps for HBO, Apple and Warner Bros. (where Abrams’ Bad Robot is based) declined to comment.

    Ben Affleck Spends Christmas with Jennifer Garner and Kids

    (12/26/17) Ben Affleck, ex Jennifer Garner and their three children celebrated Christmas as a family.

    Despite their split, the stars have remained amicable and continue to co-parent their kids, Violet, 12, Seraphina, 8, and Samuel, 5. Affleck and Garner, both 45, separated in 2015 and filed for divorce this April. Affleck, who’s been continuing treatment for alcohol addiction, joined Garner and the kids on Christmas Day, a source tells PEOPLE.

    Affleck and Garner have continued to spend time together with their kids, and usually spend holidays as a family.

    In December, they were spotted taking a morning stroll together in Los Angeles, and they united for Thanksgiving this year too. The Argo star capped off that holiday by taking his daughters to see the hit musical Hamilton.

    Affleck, who has been photographed recently outside an L.A. treatment center, “is continuing aftercare. It is part of his daily regimen,” another source previously told PEOPLE.

    The Justice League star has been open about his long struggle with alcohol abuse. When he revealed in March he had gone back to treatment, he thanked his “co-parent” Garner, who he said “has supported me and cared for our kids as I’ve done the work I set out to do.”

    While he has “had a rough year,” a family source previously said, “at the moment, he is doing great. He seems more honest with himself.”

    Affleck has also enjoyed spending time with his girlfriend Lindsay Shookus, 37. The two are now sharing a New York City apartment when the actor is in town.

    The Justice League star is paying for the Upper West Side apartment and stays there with Shookus when he’s in the city, a source previously told PEOPLE. The Saturday Night Live producer moved in about a month ago.

    Jennifer Garner Reads a Bedtime Story to Her Dog – Who Promptly Falls Asleep

    (12/23/17) (Video) If there was an Oscar for reading bedtime stories, Jennifer Garner would be a shoo-in – just ask her golden retriever, Birdie.

    The star is so good that the pooch was powerless to stay awake and fell asleep on her lap as the actress read her bedtime stories.

    Garner’s “Books with Birdie” made a comeback on Friday when the actress shared a video of herself reading to Birdie while also suggesting a list of must-read books that Birdie considers her favorite.

    “There are so many festive Christmas books to put a jingle in your giddy up.??????,” Garner wrote in the caption.

    Birdie yawned and slightly snored as Garner read aloud to the camera. As the actress finished reading, she lightly patted Birdie’s stomach and whispered, “Sweet dreams, Birdie.”

    The first episode of Garner’s storytime with her dog began in October.

    “I grew up wanting to be a school librarian and children’s book author,” she wrote in the caption. “To date, I have accomplished neither–but–that doesn’t stop me from making must-read lists for my friends. After all, there is nothing more important than reading to your kids. Unless you have a dog. #bookswithbirdie#shesagoodgirl #iswearshelovesit”

    The Miracles from Heaven actress recently adopted a pet chicken, Regina George, and shared a hilarious Instagram photo of herself with her new friend on a leash.

    “If there isn’t a Chicken Lady Day ??, there really should be. Man, my life gets more exciting all the time,” she wrote in the caption. “Meet one of our ladies, ??Regina George. Regina loves long walks, dehydrated bugs, and kale. Regina hates…. carbs. #shesanicechickenbutaMeanGirl#MeanGirlsthemovie#ithinkshehasaburnbook#cluckcluck.”

    Jennifer Garner really didn’t want to leave Ben Affleck

    (11/22/17) It’s been more than two years since Jennifer Garner separated from Ben Affleck, but it seems she’s not ready to move on.

    “I would not have chosen this life for myself or for my kids. I would not choose to be single or be in this position. It’s something that we are working through. I haven’t been on a date and I am not interested in dating,” she tells News.com.au, shaking her head. “People want to set me up and I am just like, ‘No thank you!’”

    The estranged couple are co-parenting their three children: Violet, 11, Seraphina, 8, and Sam, 5. With two daughters to raise, she must consider the conversations she will have about men.

    “We can’t lump all men into [the same category]. We can’t just assume that every man has done something awful or that every man is guilty; due process is important and has to take place.”

    Affleck was among the litany of men in Hollywood accused of sexual misconduct, although by no means at the same level as Harvey Weinstein or Louis C.K.

    Affleck told News.com.au recently, “I need to look at my own behavior and think about how am I behaving — how am I treating people, and when I am wrong, admitting it when confronted with it.”

    On the subject of whether we are at a sexual abuse and harassment tipping point, Garner says earnestly, “Things have to come out in the open in order to be dealt with, and this is definitely one of those times. It’s messy, it’s not pretty, but a wound when it’s healing is a horrible thing to look at and to be around,” she says. “That is where we are. There are a lot of really smart people asking tough questions, and I feel excited to see what the outcome will be.”

    She leans forward, asking, “Did you read about the agricultural women workers? They said, ‘We stand in solidarity with our sisters in Hollywood.’ That really touched me because it felt, ‘Okay, it’s not just a bunch of solipsistic navel-gazing actresses.’ It’s really important conversation to be had.

    “We need to be talking about how to educate and protect our young women and how women can do a better job of standing together. Women need to be there for each other so that we’re a more of a force. When you are siphoned off or siphoned off by yourself, you’re not that scary. Except for me.” She smiles. “I am pretty scary.”

    In her next role in “The Tribes of Palos Verdes,” she plays against type as a woman whose husband is unfaithful. The subject matter was a little close to home as her marriage to Affleck was plagued by rumors of his infidelities, most notably with their children’s nanny, Christine Ouzounian.

    “Was it cathartic [to play this role]? Yes it was, actually. I didn’t know that it would be, but it was. I know I need to work through some things,” she says. “Of course, it was a really emotional performance and that made me nervous because I felt like people would say, ‘Oh, she’s just playing out [her feelings]. But you can believe what you want to believe.”

    I tell her that Affleck continues to gush about her maternal skills, describing her as the best mother in the world. She says simply, “That’s nice.” But on the subject of being a “super mom,” she adds, “I don’t know about that. You’d have to ask my kids. If you had the Affleck kids here, they would say, ‘Well, first of all, she was with you today instead of picking us up from school!’” She laughs. “Kids are tough on you.”

    Despite how she feels about her estranged husband, her family comes first. “We will all be together for Thanksgiving. I love Ben, I wouldn’t want him to….” she trails off.

    “We will be together with our kids and give them a special Christmas. We get along really well and it’s not an issue. We are friends; we can manage it.”

    Fox's The Resident Gets NFL-Boosted Launch Before Monday Time Slot Debut

    (11/22/17) Fox aims to give The Resident strong vitals out of the gate, slotting the medical drama’s debut for Sunday, Jan. 21 at 10/9c, where it will lead out of the network’s coverage of the NFC Championship game.

    The Resident will makes its regular time slot premiere the following night, Monday, Jan. 22 at 9 pm, where it will succeed The Gifted.

    The Gifted, which was always capped at a 13-episode freshman run, airs its two-hour season finale on Jan. 15.

    Following the final years of a young doctor’s training, The Resident promises to “rip back the curtain to reveal the truth of what really happens, both good and bad, in hospitals across the country.”

    The freshman series stars Matt Czuchry (The Good Wife), Emily VanCamp (Revenge), Manish Dayal (Halt and Catch Fire), Moran Atias (Tyrant), Melina Kanakaredes (CSI: NY), Bruce Greenwood (The People v. O.J. Simpson), Merrin Dungey (Alias) and Shaunette Renée Wilson (Billions). Watch the trailer here.

    Jennifer Garner's Thanksgiving Preparations Sound Intense: ''It's Precision Cooking!''

    (11/20/17) Jennifer Garner leaves no room for error when it comes to holiday prep.

    E! News chatted with the A-lister at the premiere of her new film, The Tribes of Palos Verdes, where she revealed her recipe to a perfect Thanksgiving gathering is inspired by the one and only Ina Garten.

    Garner said she follows the Food Network star's step-by-step instructions, which includes making lists, lists and more lists. "I've got to get my timeline written out, à la Barefoot Contessa," Jen said, referencing Garten's super popular lifestyle show. "She really asks you to make out a timeline what needs to happen when."

    That timeline includes noting, Garner added, "When you set the rolls to rise, when you punch them down, when you set them to rise again... When you baste the turkey, when you get the sweet potato pudding ready, when it goes in the oven… You see what I mean?"

    "It's precision cooking," the actress quipped, and yes, this confirms Jen is a total super mom. "Mostly I just have a bunch of timers around the kitchen and notes everywhere."

    And now that two years have passed since Garner began life as a single mom following her split from Ben Affleck, she still has no interest in dating again, per an interview with news.com.au.

    "I haven't been on a date and I am not interested in dating," Garner told the outlet. "People want to set me up and I am just like, 'No thank you!'"

    She also remarked, "I would not have chosen this life for myself or for my kids. I would not choose to be single or be in this position. It's something that we are working through."

    But from both Garner and Affleck's perspective, it's important to come together during the holidays for the sake of their children, Violet, 11, Seraphina, 8, and Samuel, 5.

    The Justice League star confirmed to E! News they'll spend Thanksgiving together, sharing in a recent interview, "My mom's coming out, and I think my brother [Casey Affleck] will come over. We'll go down the street and see Matt [Damon's] family. Thanksgiving's a nice holiday."

    See Garner in The Tribes of Palos Verdes when it hits theaters Dec. 1.

    “THE ARRANGEMENT” RETURNS SUNDAY, MARCH 11 WITH A SEASON PREMIERE FILLED WITH INTRIGUE, ROMANCE AND SCANDAL

    (11/13/17) (Video) E! turns up the drama and mystery when the second season of “The Arrangement”, produced by Universal Cable Productions (UCP), premieres Sunday, March 11 at 9pm ET/PT. The 10 episode one-hour season will involve unexpected twists and intriguing complexities, revealing what it’s like to maintain a high-profile relationship within the confines of the public eye.

    The second season of “The Arrangement” opens as Megan Morrison’s (Christine Evangelista) star is rising. With her elevated status, Megan is taking control and forging ahead with her plan to take down the Institute of The Higher Mind. She is also planning her “fairy tale” A-list wedding to Kyle (Josh Henderson) – from the engagement party to the bachelorette, to fittings, photo shoots and more. Meanwhile, Kyle’s dark past is revealed, as well as why and how he’s connected to IHM leader Terence Anderson (Michael Vartan) and his wife Deann Anderson (Lexa Doig). Terence continues to work tirelessly to build the IHM profile, while simultaneously dealing with his complicated marriage to DeAnn and the highs and lows that come along with being a friend and mentor to Kyle. From UCP, “The Arrangement” was written by Emmy Award-Winning writer/EP Jonathan Abrahams (“Mad Men”), who serves as Executive Producer along with Adam Milch and Robert Duncan McNeill. Emmy Award-Winning Executive Producer Jimmy Fox of Main Event Media, Layla Smith and Gregory Lipstone of All3Media America also serve as Executive Producers.

    “The Arrangement Post Nup,” the digital companion series to the scripted program, will also return on March 11.

    Laurence Fishburne and Gina Torres Cut Divorce Deal

    (11/4/17) Laurence Fishburne and Gina Torres hashed out a divorce deal before he went to court to make it official ... TMZ has learned.

    Laurence filed divorce docs and they confirmed what TMZ reported Friday -- Laurence and the "Suits" star likely spent the last year divvying up assets. They announced their split last September but list October 14, 2016 as the date of separation.

    In docs obtained by TMZ ... Laurence says, "the parties have entered into an agreement in disposition of property which will be submitted for approval" ... as in waiting for the judge to sign off on it.

    Laurence cites irreconcilable differences for why he wants out. They were married on September 22, 2002. He checked the boxes for joint legal and physical custody of their 10-year-old daughter, Delilah, ... and wants to block the judge from giving either of them spousal support.

    Joe Biden and Jennifer Garner bond at Save the Children Gala

    (10/20/17) During the Save the Children Gala at the American Museum of Natural History, former veep Joe Biden blew Jennifer Garner’s mind.

    We hear that Biden called Garner’s dad, William, from her phone and “had a solid five-minute conversation about how wonderful Jen is and how proud he should be,” a source says. “He also talked about the West Wing .?.?. Jen was so overcome with emotion, but was commenting that she ‘couldn’t cry and ruin her makeup’ because the event hadn’t even started yet.”

    Biden was there to support his wife, board chair Dr. Jill Biden, and to present the Humanitarian Award.

    Dakota Fanning and Tamron Hall attended.

    Legends Of Tomorrow: Victor Garber Poised to Exit in Season 3

    (10/11/17) Legends of Tomorrow is about to be down a legend: Victor Garber, who has played Professor Martin Stein since the CW series’ launch, is leaving the show later this season.

    Questions about Garber’s future with Legends were raised last month when it was announced that he would be joining the Broadway revival of Hello Dolly!, succeeding David Hyde Pierce. His first performance is set for Jan. 20.

    The door was cracked open for Garber’s possible exit in this week’s Season 3 premiere, where it was revealed that Stein is a grandfather-to-be. Though the brainier half of Firestorm wound up re-upping with the team, he did so under the proviso that he would likely take a break in time to be there for daughter Lily’s childbirth.

    A show spokesperson declined to comment.

    Alias Alum Merrin Dungey Joins Fox's The Resident as a Series Regular

    (9/26/17) Another TV veteran is scrubbing into The Resident.

    Merrin Dungey (Alias, The King of Queens) has joined the cast of Fox’s midseason medical drama as a series regular, TVLine has learned. Dungey will play the hospital’s CEO Claire Thorpe, “a tough, savvy, pragmatic businesswoman… solely focused on the financial health of the hospital she oversees,” per the network.

    Her role is “a reimagined version of the character played in the pilot by Valerie Cruz,” showrunner Todd Harthan said in a statement. That role was later slated for Tyrant‘s Moran Atias to play, but she’ll remain in the cast, now playing the hospital’s “savvy, elegant” head of marketing.

    The Resident‘s cast is already full of familiar faces, with Matt Czuchry (The Good Wife, Gilmore Girls) starring as senior resident Conrad Hawkins and Revenge‘s Emily VanCamp as nurse Nicolette. Melina Kanakaredes joined the cast last month as oncologist Dr. Lane Hunter. (No premiere date has been set.)

    Dungey’s long TV career is highlighted by her roles as Francie on the ABC thriller Alias and as Carrie’s best friend Kelly Palmer on CBS’ The King of Queens. Recently, she recurred as Ursula on Once Upon a Time, co-starred in ABC’s short-lived legal drama Conviction and played the lead detective in HBO’s Emmy-winning miniseries Big Little Lies.

    Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper’s ‘A Star Is Born’ Moves Up To Next Summer

    (9/23/17) Warner Bros.’ remake of A Star Is Born, with director-star Bradley Cooper and Stefani Germanotta aka Lady Gaga, will hit theaters earlier next year, specifically May 18, instead of its original September 28.

    Deadline hears that Warner Bros. executives saw an early cut of the film and were blown away by Germanotta and Cooper’s sublime turns; as such they want to get the film on screens as soon as they can.

    The pic’s new release date occurs coincidentally during the Cannes Film Festival, and Warner Bros. has a recent history of launching its grand May spectacles on the global stage on the Croisette — read Mad Max: Fury Road and The Great Gatsby. Whether A Star Is Born will make its world premiere at Cannes is up in the air, and Warner Bros. isn’t commenting on that type of launch right now.

    On its new date in U.S./Canada, A Star Is Born will go against Sony’s Slender Man and Focus Features’ untitled Laika production. That’s also the weekend preceding the Memorial Day stretch when Disney/Lucasfilm’s Han Solo anthology movie opens.

    A Star Is Born gives a fresh look at the story about a singer whose star rises as quickly as her troubled lover/mentor’s star is falling. The latest version of the script was written by Bradley Cooper, Will Fetters, and Eric Roth (Munich, Forrest Gump). Sam Elliott also stars. For Germanotta, who already is an Oscar nominee and won a Golden Globe for her turn in American Horror Story: Hotel, it’s truly her first marquee film role.

    A Star Is Born is also a Live Nation/RatPac-Dune Entertainment production. Bill Gerber, Jon Peters, Cooper, Todd Phillips and Lynette Howell Taylor are producers with EPs Basil Iwanyk, Michael Rapino, Heather Parry and Ravi Mehta.

    By the way, Netflix’s candid Lady Gaga documentary Gaga: Five Foot Two hits the streaming service today following its Toronto International Film Festival premiere.

    Gina Torres traded Laurence Fishburne for a ‘cowboy type’ from Utah

    (9/21/17) The “mystery man” dating Laurence Fishburne’s wife, Gina Torres, is a “cowboy type” father of six from Utah.

    We’re told that Torres met divorced entrepreneur Kevin Wright on the beach in Dana Point, Calif., in mid-August — and that they have since become a serious couple.

    Sources say that Wright wasn’t even aware of who the former “Suits” star was when they first met. But they bonded over the fact that they have both recently left long relationships: Torres has split with Fishburne after 15 years together, and Wright ended a 20-year marriage within the past two years.

    A source close to the new couple told us, “I think when you’ve been married a long time and you become single, you look for someone that has what your ex was missing. I think [Torres] finds in Kevin what she didn’t find in [Fishburne]. He’s the opposite of a Hollywood guy — he’s just a cowboy type. He’s an ‘I’m going to go ride my horse’ type of guy.”

    Former real estate exec Wright has lived in Montana and Utah. Sources say that Wright knew that Torres — who is set to be the star of an as-yet-unnamed “Suits” spinoff — was separated when they struck up their romance.

    On Wednesday, Page Six revealed that Torres and a “mystery man” — who turned out to be Wright — were spotted passionately kissing while having lunch at Sweet Butter cafe in Los Angeles last week.

    Later on Wednesday, Torres said in a statement, “With heavy hearts, Laurence and I quietly separated and began the dissolution of our marriage in the early fall of last year.”

    She added, “There are no bad guys here. Only a love story with a different ending than either one of us had expected.”

    Torres and “Black-ish” star Fishburne were married in 2002, appeared together in two “Matrix” films and played a married couple in NBC’s “Hannibal.”

    They last appeared together in public in 2015 and have both made multiple solo red-carpet appearances since then.

    Wright and a rep for Torres declined to comment.

    Laurence Fishburne’s wife spotted kissing a different man

    (9/19/17) (Pic1, Pic2) Laurence Fishburne’s wife, the actress Gina Torres, has been spotted hooking up with a different man.

    Photographs of Torres, who starred until recently in USA’s “Suits,” show her passionately kissing a mystery man last week.

    Torres and “Black-ish” star Fishburne have been married since 2002, but it seems as if the pair may have quietly split. They last appeared publicly together in December 2015, and they’ve both made multiple public appearances — including premieres for their own projects — solo since then.

    We’re told that Torres and her new beau spent over an hour having lunch at the Sweet Butter cafe in Los Angeles. Torres, who wasn’t wearing a wedding ring, was seen holding the man’s face in her hands and kissing him across the table.

    In January 2016, not long after their last public appearance together, Torres referred to herself as Fishburne’s wife in an interview with Hello! magazine. But in September 2016 Torres told the New York Times that she had quit “Suits” after six years on the legal drama partly because “my personal life needed to be tended to.”

    It was recently announced that native New Yorker Torres is to star in a yet-to-be-named “Suits” spin-off, set to debut in 2018. She will also serve as its executive producer.

    Fishburne and Torres both starred in “The Matrix Reloaded” and played a married couple in NBC’s “Hannibal” from 2013-2015. They married at the Cloisters in Upper Manhattan and have a 16-year-old daughter, Delilah, together.

    Torres is also the stepmother to Fishburne’s son Langston, 30, and daughter Montana, 27 — who famously starred in a porn movie.

    Reps for Torres declined to comment and a rep for Fishburne didn’t get back to us.

    German actor Til Schweiger and his daughters are spotted while out shopping along Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica, CaGerman actor Til Schweiger and his daughters are spotted while out shopping along Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica, Cahttps://nyppagesix.files.wordpress.com/2017/09/gina_torres-9.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=446

    Jennifer Garner goes into anesthesia-fueled ‘Hamilton’ hysterics

    (Video) Jennifer Garner is remembering her shot — of Novocaine.

    In a #TBT video posted to social media, the actress is seen sobbing about how much she loves the music from “Hamilton” — following a dental procedure.

    “They did the sad part of ‘Hamilton’ and I started crying I couldn’t stop,” she recalled while talking on the phone in anesthesia-fueled hysterics. “They said ‘are you okay?’ and I said ‘It’s so beautiful, it’s so beautiful.'”

    “I listened to that song and it was so beautiful,” she continued, “That music was so pretty and so I told them about it…they have to see it.”

    Garner’s caption of the post acknowledged that she was recovering from a dental procedure and was willing to provide her followers with a laugh at her own expense.

    “Throwback Thursday– that time I had dental anesthesia…laughing gas + novocaine + Hamilton = you’re welcome.”

    JJ Abrams Returning To Director’s Chair On ‘Star Wars: Episode IX’

    Rian Johnson decided not to take the offer to come back and replace the recently departed Colin Trevorrow on Star Wars: Episode IX. Now, Disney and Lucasfilm are courting another director for an encore, the one who relaunched the franchise to dizzying heights. Deadline hears the studio is in talks with JJ Abrams, and sources said they are trying to work out a deal for him to return. This is expected to happen today.

    Abrams revived the franchise with Star Wars: The Force Awakens, whose $2.06 billion worldwide gross made it the third highest-grossing film of all time behind James Cameron’s Avatar and Titanic.

    Abrams is in discussions to replace Trevorrow, who exited the picture after creative differences with Lucasfilm and its chief Kathleen Kennedy. All this happens as Ron Howard stepped in to replace Phil Lord & Chris Miller as director of the Han Solo spinoff movie.

    Johnson’s film, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, launches December 15. Abrams has been producing everything from Westworld to M:I6-Mission Impossible, and the Stephen King anthology series Castle Rock, and conveniently doesn’t have a next film to direct. And he certainly can be a steadying hand in settling The Force. He’s repped by CAA.

    Below is the news release that posted on Starwars.com:

    J.J. Abrams, who launched a new era of Star Wars with The Force Awakens in 2015, is returning to complete the sequel trilogy as writer and director of Star Wars: Episode IX. Abrams will co-write the film with Chris Terrio. Star Wars: Episode IX will be produced by Kathleen Kennedy, Michelle Rejwan, Abrams, Bad Robot, and Lucasfilm.

    “With The Force Awakens, J.J. delivered everything we could have possibly hoped for, and I am so excited that he is coming back to close out this trilogy,” said Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy.

    Jennifer Garner Wants to Feed Your Kids the "Best Nourishment" With Once Upon a Farm

    (Pic1, Pic2) Attention parents: Jennifer Garner may just be behind your kids' next favorite food.

    The Hollywood actress and former Annie's president John Foraker have joined Cassandra Curtis and Ari Raz to announce the expansion of Once Upon a Farm.

    "As a mom of three and Save the Children artist ambassador, I am passionate about childhood nutrition and making sure we are leaving a healthier and happier planet for the next generation," Jennifer said in a statement. "Once Upon a Farm helps parents keep their promise to deliver the best nourishment for their children's bodies and souls."

    The organic family food company, which currently offers a line of cold-pressed organic baby foods and applesauce, already has plans to grow into new categories.

    "I had been looking for a while to partner with an early-stage brand in the food space. And as a mom with three kids, I have three lunch boxes to pack each day and understand the problems that must be solved with serving fresh food to young children," Jennifer shared with Living Maxwell. "My mother made every single meal for me, and I have always been a big believer in staying connected to the earth, which grows our food."

    She continued, "In my work with Save the Children, where I have been an ambassador for the last five years, I have visited a ton of families in rural America, and kids just do not have access to fresh organic food. Even though I have advocated for this issue in the government at both a state and national level, I understand that business drives change and wanted to find a company that could get nutritious food out to kids."

    Going forward, Jennifer says she will be involved with the company on a daily basis and will be part of sales calls, design and "making sure the world knows we exist."

    As for curious kids and parents wanting to try the products, you're in luck.

    Once Upon a Farm is available online through the company's website and national grocery stores including select Wegmans, Kroger and Whole Foods Market stores.

    Greg Grunberg, Taylor Cole Cast In ‘1st Born’

    Heroes alumni Greg Grunberg and Taylor Cole have been added to the cast of the Ali Atshani-directed comedy 1st Born, a U.S./Iranian co-production. The two join Val Kilmer, William Baldwin, Robert Knepper, Jay Abdo and Armin Amiri in the film, which follows a young mixed-nationality couple, Iranian born Ben and American Kate, who are experiencing complications in their first pregnancy. This forces the whole extended family to put aside their differences and come together for the sake of the infant. Cole will play Kate, the daughter of American politician Biden (Kilmer). Grunberg will playDr. Cooper, Kate’s doctor who is on-hand to help with the pregnancy and delivery of her baby. Sam Khoze, Tarek Zohdy and Medhi Alimirzayi penned the screenplay. LA Independent Film and Entertainment is producing with Khoze and Edwin Avaness. Filming begins next month in Los Angeles. Cole, who currently plays Sofya Voronova on the CW series The Originals, is repped by Innovative Artists and The Burstein Company. Grunberg (Alias, Felicity, Star Wars: The Force Awakens) is repped by Paradigm Talent Agency and SC Management.

    Victor Garber Set To Take Over ‘Hello, Dolly!’

    Producer Scott Rudin confirmed this morning that Victor Garber will replace David Hyde Pierce as Horace Vandergelder. Garber will begin performances January 20, 2018, prior to an official Thursday, February 22 opening.

    Animated Vixen to Air on The CW

    Vixen — in her animated form — will make her TV debut when The CW airs the web series’ first two seasons next Wednesday, Aug. 30 at 8/7c.

    The CW Seed show — executive-produced by Arrow‘s Greg Berlanti, Marc Guggenheim and Andrew Kreisberg — follows Mari McCabe/Vixen, an orphan who can mimic the abilities of any animal via a totem necklace. Megalyn E.K. voices the character and appeared in the flesh during Arrow Season 4 as the live-action version of Mari. The hero’s legacy extends to Legends of Tomorrow, where Maisie Richardson-Sellers plays Mari’s grandmother and the 1940s incarnation of Vixen, Amaya.

    During its run, Vixen featured guest-voice spots from Stephen Amell (Arrow), Grant Gustin (The Flash), Emily Bett Rickards (Arrow), Carlos Valdes (The Flash), Katie Cassidy (Arrow), Victor Garber (Legends of Tomorrow), Brandon Routh (Legends of Tomorrow) and Franz Drameh (Legends of Tomorrow).

    ‘The Butterfly Tree’ Clip: Melissa George Sprouts Wings In Toronto Discovery Title

    (Trailer) First-time feature writer-director Priscilla Cameron’s The Butterfly Tree will wing to its North American premiere in the Discovery section of the Toronto Film Festival. The film, which stars Melissa George as a former burlesque queen who becomes the object of a grieving father and son’s desires, bowed at the Melbourne International Film Festival earlier this month. Check out an exclusive clip above.

    George (Heartbeat, The Slap, The Good Wife) returns to Australian screens as Evelyn, now a florist. She bewitches single dad Al (Ewen Leslie: The Daughter, Top Of The Lake) and his teenage son, Fin (Ed Oxenbould: Paper Planes, The Visit) with her zest for life.

    But when father and son discover they are competing for the affections of the same woman, old wounds are reopened over the death of Fin’s mother. Evelyn helps teach Fin the power of forgiveness and relinquishes his goddess in return for a family. Cameron says the story was inspired by a woman in her own life.

    Oz’s Midwinter Films produces with Vendetta Films planning an Australian release later this year. Producer is Bridget Callow-Wright. The coming-of-age drama received backing from the MIFF Premiere Fund which offers minority co-financing to Australian theatrical features which then bow at the Melbourne fest.

    Suits Spinoff Starring Gina Torres: New Details on Plot, Setting and Airdate

    Jessica Pearson’s future has become a whole lot clearer, as new details emerge regarding the Gina Torres-fronted Suits spinoff.

    The USA Network drama’s Season 7 finale will double as a backdoor pilot for the potential spinoff, the basic cabler announced on Wednesday — and unlike Suits, it will not be a legal drama. Instead, the potential series will focus on Jessica’s new life in the world of Chicago politics. The official logline for the episode reads as follows:

    The pivotal Season 7 finale will reunite Harvey Specter (Gabriel Macht), Mike Ross (Patrick J. Adams), Louis Litt (Rick Hoffman), Donna Paulsen (Sarah Rafferty) and Rachel Zane (Meghan Markle) with their old friend Pearson as she adjusts to her new life in the Windy City. When she is forced to enter the dirty world of Chicago politics, Pearson must rely on her legal wits and valiant relationships from Pearson Specter Litt to navigate this unknown territory.

    “The powerhouse character of Jessica Pearson, expertly brought to life by the incomparable Gina Torres, has won the hearts of television fans everywhere,” Chris McCumber, President of Entertainment Networks at NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment, said in a statement. “USA Network is beyond thrilled to work with Gina, Aaron Korsh, the entire Suits producing team and our partners at UCP to explore the exciting next phase of Jessica’s story.”

    The special episode, set to air in early 2018, will be directed by Suits alum Anton Cropper. Doug Liman, David Bartis and Gene Klein will serve as executive producers, alongside series creator Aaron Korsh.

    Stephen Dorff, Melissa George Headline David Gleeson’s New Film ‘Don’t Let Go’

    Stephen Dorff and Melissa George have stepped into the leading roles for Tolkien writer David Gleeson’s mystery thriller Don’t Let Go. The project marks Gleeson’s return to directing following Disney’s Cowboys & Angels and The Front Line.

    Written by Oscar-nominated writer Ronan Blaney (the short Boogaloo and Graham) and Gleeson, Don’t Let Go follows a loving couple, Ben and Hazel Slater, as they struggle to cope with the loss of their child from a devastating accident. Hazel begins to fear for her husband’s sanity as he becomes convinced that he can bring her back if only he can hold on to her hand in a recurring dream but then they start to wonder if it is, in fact, a dream.

    The film, which is currently shooting in Ireland, also stars Simon Delaney (The Good Wife), Sean Mahon (Anthropoid) and and Charlotte Bradley (Veronica Guerin).

    Nathalie Lichtenthaeler is producing for Wide Eye Films along with executive producers Michael Helfant and Bradley Gallo from Amasia Entertainment, who are co-financing the film in conjunction with the Irish Film Board, BAI, Northern Ireland Screen and Section 481 tax incentives. Original music will come from Dutch DJ/producer Ferry Corsten who is marking his feature composing debut.

    Besides Tolkien at Fox Searchlight/Chernin Ent., Gleeson recently completed writing ’Twas the Night for Paramount Pictures with Karen Rosenfelt producing. He previously wrote The End of History for Original Film and Sony Pictures and also wrote Down to a Sunless Sea which he wrote for Focus Features for Morgan Freeman to produce and co-star in. Gleeson also wrote Red Giant for Mattel Entertainment and 20th Century Fox.

    Dorff, who is consistently good on screen, was last seen starring in Wheeler, which he co-wrote. George has starred in Hunted, Heartbeat and The Slap and in such films as The Amityville Horror and Derailed.

    Gleeson, Dorff and Corsten are all repped by Paradigm, which will be handling sales. Gleeson is also managed by Adam Kolbrenner at Madhouse Entertainment with legal at Sloane Orfer Weber & Dern. George is repped by WME and Lou Coulson in the UK.

    Jennifer Garner Joins Lakeshore & Pierre Morel-Helmed Revenge Thriller ‘Peppermint’; STX films To Distribute

    Jennifer Garner is in talks to star in Peppermint, the Chad St. John-scripted action film for Lakeshore that will be directed by Pierre Morel. At the same time, the film is in the process of moving: STXfilms is in talks to distribute the film worldwide. It looked like Lionsgate had secured worldwide rights during Cannes, but that arrangement has fallen apart.

    The high-action revenge thriller premise has been likened to John Wick, with a female protagonist. When her husband and daughter are gunned down in a drive-by, the heroine wakes up from a coma and spends years learning to become a lethal killing machine. On the 10th anniversary of her family’s death, she targets everyone she holds responsible, the gang that committed the act, the lawyers that got them off, and the corrupt cops that enabled the murderous incidents. Lakeshore’s Tom Rosenberg and Gary Lucchesi are producing. Renee Tab and Christopher Tuffin are exec producers.

    Garner will hone action chops not seen since her breakthrough role as the ass kicking operative Sydney Bristow in the JJ Abrams-created series Alias, which led to her playing Elektra in the Marvel film Daredevil and a solo spinoff movie. She has more recently become known for her work in such films as Dallas Buyers Club and Miracles From Heaven. CAA and Management 360 rep Garner. Morel and St. John are UTA and Morel is managed by Sentient Entertainment.

    Supergirl Season 3 Adds Adrian Pasdar, Yael Grobglas and Alias' Carl Lumbly

    Some familiar faces are making tracks for Supergirl‘s National City, including a S.H.I.E.L.D. general who’s going to create major problems for Kara and Lena.

    The cast of the CW drama assembled Saturday for its panel at San Diego Comic-Con, during which some juicy new castings were announced for the upcoming third season (premiering Monday, Oct. 9 at 8/7c):

    First up, Adrian Pasdar (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Heroes) will appear as DC Comics character Morgan Edge, a “ruthless” real-estate developer with big plans for National City. Known for getting exactly what he wants — no matter the cost, nor the opposition — he’ll almost immediately find himself at odds with Lena and Kara.

    Additionally, Jane the Virgin star Yael Grobglas will slip into the role of DC villainess Psi, a formidable opponent capable of using her enemies’ minds against them. When she first meets Kara, the Girl of Steel will be affected in “surprising ways.” (Feel free to speculate what that could mean.)

    Also popping up in Season 3 will be Carl Lumbly (Alias) as M’yrnn J’onzz, the father of David Harewood’s Martian Manhunter. Known for being a “pacifist religious leader” on his home planet of Mars, Papa J’onzz will apparently push his son in “unexpected ways.” (Fun fact: Lumbly has voiced J’onn in several Justice League animated series, so he’s well versed in all things Martian.)

    Lastly, Emma Tremblay (Wayward Pines) will appear as Ruby, an “independently minded” resident of National City whose obsession with Supergirl ends up putting her in grave danger.

    Inside Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner's First Fourth of July After Their Divorce

    (Pic) Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck are sticking together, even after officially filing for divorce.

    E! News can confirm the former couple celebrated the Fourth of July together in Los Angeles alongside their children, Violet, 11, Seraphina, 8, and Samuel, 5. The family kept their tradition alive, watching the patriotic parade in the Pacific Palisades.

    "The Palisades Fourth of July Parade is an annual family tradition that's really important to Jen and the kids," a source told us. "Jen has been going to the parade for years and loves the community spirit and seeing friends come out. She always runs the 5K in the morning and then comes out for the parade in the afternoon."

    Our insider continued, "Ben will always be there for important family events, and this was no exception. It's something they all look forward to doing together as a family. They had a great day watching all the street performers and marching bands."

    Affleck and Garner—who officially filed for divorce in April after being separated for two years—continue to remain united as they co-parent their children, making family their No.1 priority.

    "Ben and Jen are on good terms," the source told us. "They have an understanding between them that they will always put the kids first and their personal differences aside. They want their kids to have two parents and a happy family dynamic. They work out their schedules to make sure that when an important family event comes up, they can all do it together."

    In fact, last month, Garner and Affleck took their children on a vacation to Baker's Bay where they met up with several other family friends.

    "We are definitely a modern family," Jen told Today last summer. "You don't have a choice," she added, admitting that while their "new normal" might appear unusual to some, they're actually "doing really well."

    Ben reiterated that statement when he told E! News, "Jen is a superhero mom. She is an amazing mother, and I'm really lucky to have her as a partner to co-parent these kids with. We try our best, we put them first and that's what we do."

    Kathy Baker & Greg Grunberg Join HBO’s Joe Paterno Movie About Penn State Scandal

    Kathy Baker (The Ranch) and Heroes alum Greg Grunberg have been cast in lead roles opposite Al Pacino in HBO Films’ untitled movie about the Penn State sexual abuse scandal, directed and executive produced by Barry Levinson.

    Written by Debora Cahn, John C. Richards and David McKenna, the film centers on legendary coach Joe Paterno (Pacino), who, after becoming the winningest coach in college football history, is embroiled in Penn State’s Jerry Sandusky sexual abuse scandal, challenging his legacy. Baker will play Sue Paterno, wife of famed football coach Joe Paterno. Grunberg portrays Scott Paterno, Joe Paterno’s son. In addition to Pacino, they join previously announced cast member Riley Keough.

    Levinson, Tom Fontana and Jason Sosnoff executive produce via Levinson/Fontana alongside Wall Street producer Edward R. Pressman and Pacino’s manager Rick Nicita. Lindsay Sloane also is exec producing for HBO Films and Sony Pictures Television.

    Baker currently recurs on Season 2 of Netflix comedy The Ranch, and will be seen in upcoming recurring roles on Netflix’s Love and truTV comedy I’m Sorry. Baker also co-stars in upcoming indie feature The Ballad of Lefty Brown, opposite Bill Pullman and Peter Fonda. She’s repped by Berwick & Kovacik and Paradigm.

    Heroes and Heroes Reborn alum Grunberg recently wrapped production on Bradley Cooper’s directorial debut, A Star Is Born. He previously appeared in features Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Star Trek Beyond. Grunberg is repped by Paradigm, SC Management and Jackoway Tyerman.

    Inside Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner's Family Vacation in the Bahamas, Two Months After Filing for Divorce

    It's been two months since Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner officially filed for divorce (and two years since they announced their separation), but they still make sure to spend quality time together with their three children, Violet, Samuel and Seraphina.

    Case in point: The whole family vacationed in Baker's Bay last week.

    "Ben and Jen took a family vacation with other family friends," an insider tells E! News. "There was never any question that Ben would be there. All the dads went along, and it would have been strange for the kids not to have their dad there."

    If Baker's Bay sounds familiar, that's because it's the same Caribbean island the family visited after they announced their separation in 2015. But they've been going there for years, even before that.

    Of course, with the vacation comes plenty of speculation regarding their relationship status. However, our insider confirms, "They are not getting back together at all. They are both moving on, but will continue doing things together as a family."

    We're told Ben wasn't there the entire time. Rather, he came for a few days toward the end of the trip.

    As for the getaway, another source dished, "They stayed in the same house they always stay at. It's beachfront and beautiful. It's an annual tradition for them when the kids get out of school to come for a long vacation. It's very relaxing, and they can feel like they're on island time with nowhere to go and nobody they need to see."

    So what did they do?

    Our insider added, "The kids spent a lot of time on the beach swimming and playing in the sand with their friends. They also swam in the pool at the house and visited the club. Ben and Jen both worked out at the gym daily."

    The former couple has always been very vocal that co-parenting their three children is their No.1 priority, and they will remain united as a team to do so.

    "We are definitely a modern family," Jen told Today last summer. "You don't have a choice," she added, admitting that while their new normal might look unusual to some, they're actually "doing really well."

    Ben reiterated that statement when he told E! News, "Jen is a superhero mom. She is an amazing mother, and I'm really lucky to have her as a partner to co-parent these kids with. We try our best, we put them first and that's what we do."

    Us Weekly was the first to report about the vacation.

    Alias: The Hilarious Story Behind Jennifer Garner's Iconic Red Wig

    Even if you aren't a die-hard Alias fan, you're probably familiar with the image of star Jennifer Garner decked out as double-agent Sydney Bristow in all black and sporting a now-iconic red wig. But as it turns out, figuring out the exact shade of red for Sydney's first disguise in the ABC drama was almost as complicated as understanding literally anything about Rambaldi.

    When a handful of Alias writers and producers reunited at the Austin Television Festival on Saturday, they revealed that they had to do an SD-6-level operation of their own in order to track down that perfect cherry red.

    "[Creator J.J Abrams] wanted her to have red hair so we had three red hair wigs and none of them were good enough. [Abrams] was like, 'It's not the right red, it's not the right red," said producer Sarah Caplan. "We were out scouting at UCLA and this girl walks by and she had badly dyed hair. She has red hair but it was blonde at the top... So I go up to the girl and [I said] 'it's kind of a weird request, but could I take a little snippet of the bottom of your hair?'"

    "She says no. And I go really? And she says I've grown this hair and that hair's been with me for 14 years," Caplan continued.

    Not ones to be dissuaded, Caplan and Abrams didn't give up. After a little back-and-forth (and settling on a cash price), the woman agreed to let these strangers cut off a piece of her hair. "I rustled $39 from various members of the crew and I give her the money and I'm allowed to take a tiny little sample... That's the color of [Sydney's wig.]"

    We don't know where that woman is now, but if we did, there's only one thing we'd like to say to her.

    Alias Revival? Co-EP Says 'We've Talked to J.J. Abrams' About It

    Is Sydney Bristow getting back in the spy game?

    At a reunion of the Alias writers’ room at the ATX Festival on Saturday, co-executive producer Josh Applebaum was asked about the possibility of reviving the Jennifer Garner-led series.

    “It would be amazing to do it,” Applebaum said, according to EW.com. “We’ve even talked with J.J. [Abrams].”

    Unfortunately, that’s all it is at the moment — talk — but that doesn’t mean it couldn’t happen if the writers suddenly found themselves inspired.

    “The right idea would have to come,” he continued. “We wouldn’t want to do it unless it was absolutely perfect.”

    Whether Abrams would agree to get on board is perhaps the most important question of all. The Star Wars: The Force Awakens director has his hands pretty full these days. What’s more, Garner has said that she’d only be interested in revisiting Alias if Abrams were in charge.

    The ABC spy drama came to an end after five seasons in 2006, with Dixon paying a visit to Sydney and Michael to request her help on a new mission. Meanwhile, Sydney’s daughter Isabelle was shown to have completed the same block puzzle that Jack had Sydney complete whilst evaluating subjects for Project Christmas. Who’s to say that a decade and change later, Sydney and Isabelle couldn’t be working together side by side?

    Jennifer Garner criticizes People magazine cover story

    Jennifer Garner isn’t happy about her cover spot on this week’s People magazine.

    This week’s issue features a smiling Garner with the words “Life After Heartbreak” for an article detailing her split from husband Ben Affleck.

    The 45-year-old actress writes on Facebook that she didn’t pose for the cover or “participate in or authorize” the article. While she says the cover shot isn’t “a tragedy,” she says it does affect her and her family, so she “wanted to set the record straight.”

    Garner is also shooting down tabloid reports that she’s pregnant with twins, writing, “I have three wonderful kids and my family is complete.”

    A People spokesperson says in a statement that its story on Garner “is fair and truthful,” adding that “it does not include rumors and does not say she’s pregnant.”

    Jennifer Garner punches her way through divorce

    Jennifer Garner is boxing through the pain of her divorce from Ben Affleck.

    The 45-year-old star was spotted attending a class at BoxUnion, a boxing studio in Santa Monica, Calif., Sunday. A source told Page Six Tuesday that Garner was a “ray of sunshine” and acted in “great spirits and smiling positive.”

    “She was a super hard worker,” the source added.

    Garner officially filed for divorce from the “Live by Night” actor, 44, in April 2017 after being separated since June 2015.

    Boxing has become a popular workout for stars of late. Justin Bieber was spotted last week hitting up morning classes at Rumble Boxing in New York City.

    Greg Grunberg Cast In ‘A Star Is Born’

    Heroes alum Greg Grunberg has come aboard A Star Is Born, the Warner Bros’ Bradley Cooper-directed musical drama starring Cooper and Stefani Germanotta. It’s the third remake for this film, which first came out in 1937. In this pic, Jackson Maine (Cooper) is a country music star on the brink of decline when he discovers a talented unknown named Ally (Germanotta). As Ally catapults to stardom, Jack finds it increasingly hard to handle his fading glory. Cooper, Billy Gerber, Todd Phillips, Lynette Howell Taylor, and Jon Peters are producing. Grunberg, who most recently appeared in Star Trek Beyond and in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, is repped by Paradigm, SC Management, and attorneys Karl Austen and Jeff Hynick.

    Ben Affleck, Jen Garner File for Divorce

    Jennifer Garner has just filed for divorce from Ben Affleck?, TMZ has learned, and it could not be more amicable.

    Both Jen and Ben filed pro per -- without a lawyer. Her petition and his response mirror each other completely. The petition and response were filed together, which means it was coordinated.

    They both want joint legal and physical custody of their 3 kids. As for spousal support, they left it open, so the judge could award it before the divorce becomes final.

    They do not list a date of separation, but in June 2015 they announced their separation.

    We've learned there is no prenup, which means all of their earnings during their marriage will be split 50/50, unless they agree otherwise. Ben made a lot more than Jen during the marriage.

    There are strong signals the case will not be handled in court, but rather by a mediator, especially by the way the docs were filed. This is the M.O. for disso queen Laura Wasser, who has guided various celebrity couples through mediation and then has them file for divorce pro per.

    We're told Ben and Jen are still negotiating a financial settlement. The divorce could become final in 6 months.

    Bradley Cooper and Irina Shayk Give Birth to First Baby

    Bradley Cooper is now a dad, which clearly makes Irina Shayk a mom ... which means they've had their kid.

    The baby was born 2 weeks ago, but kept under wraps, this according to People.

    It's baby #1 for both Bradley and Irina, who have been dating for 2 years.

    No word on whether it's a boy or girl.

    Ellen Page, Jennifer Garner to do all-female reading of ‘Juno’ for Planned Parenthood

    Ellen Page will reprise her pregnant-teen role in “Juno” during an all-female live reading of the film to mark its 10th anniversary and to benefit Planned Parenthood, according to Entertainment Weekly.

    The creators will stage the reading April 8 at the Theatre at Ace Hotel in Los Angeles to raise money for the women’s health organization. Jennifer Garner will also be back in the role of the adoptive mom, but the male leads played by Michael Cera, Jason Bateman and J.K. Simmons will go to actresses, Entertainment Weekly reported.

    Jason Reitman, who earned an Oscar nomination for directing the film, once put on a series of live script readings. He stopped last April after five seasons but told the publication that the presidential election inspired him to revive them.

    “Considering how much this election has done against women and what Planned Parenthood has done for women, I thought it would be cool to hear this script with an all-female voice,” he said.

    Reitman said he will announce the full cast on Twitter in the days before the show.

    Jennifer Garner Gets Emotional While Testifying About Child Poverty at House Committee Hearing

    (Video) Jennifer Garner appeared to get close to tears Thursday while testifying before lawmakers about child poverty and early childhood education, issues dear to her heart.

    The actress, who shares three children with husband Ben Affleck, got emotional while testifying for more than 25 minutes at the House Appropriations Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Subcommittee's hearing on early childhood education programs at the Department of Health and Human Services in Washington and calling for more funding to help children in need.

    Garner was invited to speak on behalf of the Save the Children charity, of which she serves as a trustee and ambassador. She has traveled all over the U.S. to see the effects of poverty on children and their families and has visited Washington several times to speak on behalf of the group.

    "I make a point to try and get out and do as many site visits as possible," she said. "Mothers come up to me and say, 'Can you help get my child into these programs? Can you just nudge us up in the wait list? Is there anything you could do?'"

    "The thought that I would have to go back to these mothers and say, 'Well, no, there is nothing I can do...' These families know what it is to have this intervention and they know what they're losing when it's gone and I'll have to answer to it, so that is what matters to me, selfishly, sir," Garner said with a sad smile, her voice cracking with emotion.

    Garner talked about visiting the home of an impoverished family in central California and seeing an 11-month-old baby boy who was sitting on the floor staring at a TV and did not even look up when she and a group coordinator walked in the door. The rep gave him a ball and encouraged his mother to play with him. It appeared he had never seen one before and reacted positively when the mom complied. The rep also encouraged her to talk to him.

    "A child who is not touched, who is not spoken to, who is not read to or sung to in the first five years of his or her life will not fully recover," she said. "Neglect can be every bit as harmful as abuse. When many of these children enter kindergarten, they don't know their letters and numbers. They don't know how to sit in a circle or listen to a story, they don't know how to hold a book. They may have never even seen a book."

    "It's easy to escape responsibility for disgrace like that by blaming the parents," she said. "Who doesn't talk to a child? Who doesn't sing to their child? I'll tell you who. Parents who have lived their whole lives with the stresses that come, with food scarcity, with lack of adequate shelter, with drug addiction and abuse. Parents who were left on the floor when they were children, ignored by their parents who had to choose as one out of three mothers in this country do, between providing food or a clean diaper for their children. Poverty dulls the senses, it saps hope, it destroys the will."

    Garner called for a "significant investment in high-quality childhood education, proven effective programs like Early Head Start, childcare development block grants, preschool development grants and home visitation models such as Save the Children's Early Steps to School Success" so that "we can intervene in these children's lives in time to make a difference."

    "These children don't vote, they don't make political contributions, neither do their parents," she said. "Somebody has to tell their story above all the noise. Poverty is silent, but I can't be."

    ‘Brothered Up’: Merrin Dungey To Co-Star In CBS Comedy Pilot

    Conviction‘s Merrin Dungey is set to co-star opposite Romany Malco and Adhir Kalyan in Brothered Up, CBS’ multi-camera buddy cop comedy from CBS TV Studios.

    To do Brothered Up, Dungey has been released from Conviction, which has not been officially canceled but is not coming back for a second season. She is the third series regular from the freshman ABC drama to book a new series regular gig, joining Manny Montana, cast in the NBC drama pilot Good Girls, and Emily Kinney, cast in ABC’s straight-to-series drama Ten Days in the Valley.

    Written and executive produced by Mark Gross, with sitcom veteran James Burrows directing and exec producing, Brothered Up centers on Calvin (Malco), an emotionally guarded African-American cop who is partnered with Farooq (Kalyan), an emotionally available Pakistani cop, and they are forced to find a way to connect as they patrol a Detroit neighborhood. Dungey will play Desri, Calvin’s wife, the woman who knows him better than he knows himself. The cast also includes Nishi Munshi and Glynn Turman.

    Alias alum Dungey is coming off a recurring role on HBO’s Big Little Lies. She’s repped by Gersh, Industry Entertainment and Jackoway Tyerman.

    Melissa George Tearfully Claims She Was Beaten By Her Ex

    Melissa George is speaking out for the first time about allegedly being assaulted by her ex-partner and the father of her children, Jean-David Blanc.

    Through a tearful recollection, the Australian-American actress is breaking her silence in a teaser for an interview with Australia's Channel Seven's Sunday Night, making claims about a violent incident between her and the French entrepreneur last September in Paris—a claim Blanc has already denied in court.

    "I've been hit, I've been in a fight," George recalled in the teary interview. "I've got my babies."

    Afterward, she says she struggled to regain her strength. "I couldn't walk, couldn't turn my neck," she said.

    Ever since the incident, the media has gone wild with tabloid stories. "The lies, people being bribed," she remembered of the news surrounding her at the time, including the alleged kidnapping charges when she tried to leave France with her two sons, Raphaël Blanc and Solal Samuel Glenn Blanc.

    And this is why she's decided to speak out about the alleged incident, six months later. "I have no other choice," she told the program, understanding that it's a big risk but feeling that it's her that her only option to protect her children.

    Meanwhile, George was taken to the Cochin hospital last September with bruises and swelling on her face, claiming her partner at the time had beat her, according to the DailyMail.

    A month later, the pair went to court where Blanc denied the allegations.

    George's interview will air this Sunday at 8:30 p.m. on Seven's Sunday Night.

    Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck Are Co-Parents, Not a Couple: "Nothing Has Changed"

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner's relationship status continues to raise questions.

    The self-proclaimed co-parents announced their separation nearly two years ago, but the husband and wife of 10 years has made little movement since that public declaration, considering the actor has not moved out and still considers the family's property his primary residence.

    As of late, reports have been brewing that Garner is ready to file for divorce, but according to sources, that's not necessarily the case. "Their relationship is very fluid and nothing has really changed," one source told E! News. "They have been working at their relationship for the past few years."

    Then, in a twist, People reported that Garner backtracked on the filing, and instead, called off their divorce for the time being. Sources say that's not accurate.

    "Nothing has changed," one insider insisted. "They are not back together. They are co-parenting. The most important thing in all of this are their kids."

    As a previous source put it, "There have been times when a reconciliation looked very likely. They love each other and that hasn't changed. But, it's unclear what the future holds for them."

    While we continue to monitor the status of this duo, the stars continue to do what they've always said they're doing—raising their children together.

    In early February, they were spotted in their Sunday best heading off to church with their three kids, Violet Affleck, 11, Seraphina Affleck, 8, and Samuel Affleck, 5.

    "Jen is a superhero mom," Affleck told E!'s Catt Sadler in 2016. "She is an amazing mother and I'm really lucky to have her as a partner to co-parent these kids with. We try our best."

    When NBC's Natalie Morales praised Garner for their ability to work as a team despite any personal conflict, the proud mom chimed in with, "It has to be. You don't have a choice."

    Jennifer Garner calls off divorce from Ben Affleck, report claims

    True love is not yet lost for Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner, as the Hollywood power couple is putting divorce plans on the back burner for now, according to a report.

    Both the “Batman” star and his “Alias” wife think that their 11-year marriage can be salvaged, even after allegations a few years ago that Ben cheated with their nanny.

    “She really wants to work things out with Ben. They are giving things another try,” a source close to Garner told People magazine.

    “They love each other. They also really, really love their kids and those kids love their parents.”

    Asked about the status of the couple’s marital status, the source gave a simple description to The Post — it’s complicated.

    “It’s the status quo, They have been working hard at their relationship and at co-parenting,” the source said. “It’s the same. They are not running to the altar and they’re not running to arbitration.”

    The source said Garner and Affleck, both 44, still live together despite announcing in June 2015 that they planned to divorce.

    That announcement came on the heels of Nannygate, in which Ben was accused of having an affair with the couple’s then-28-year-old child-minder, Christine Ouzou­nian.

    Ben has vehemently denied cleating, while Garner was a little cagier.

    “Let me just tell you something. We had been separated for months before I ever heard about the nanny,” she told Vanity Fair last year.

    Garner has also defended her marriage as genuine.

    “It was a real marriage,” Garner said. “It wasn’t for the cameras. And it was a huge priority for me to stay in it. And that did not work.”

    Gina Torres Closes Deal To Star & Produce Potential ‘Suits’ Spinoff – Get the Details

    It’s on! Former Suits co-star Gina Torres has closed a deal with the studio behind the hit USA legal drama series, Universal Cable Prods., to headline and produce a potential spinoff series centered on her Suits character, uber attorney and office style icon Jessica Pearson. The project will be shepherded by Suits creator/showrunner Aaron Korsh, whose deal is still being worked out. The new series, which is in very early stages of development, is based on an idea Torres brought to UCP, which is ran by Jeff Wachtel. There has been a lot of enthusiasm for the project, with Torres’ deal closing quickly as UCP stepped up while Torres was fielding offers for broadcast pilots.

    “I’m beyond grateful for this opportunity and the level of confidence Bonnie Hammer, Jeff Wachtel and everyone at UCP have in me and the potential of this project,” Torres said in a statement to Deadline. “Can’t wait to get started.”

    Korsh will serve as an executive producer and showrunner on the spinoff series, shepherding it alongside his showrunner duties on Suits.

    “Gina had the idea and went to the studio. She pitched an idea of what happens if we follow Jessica into the future a little bit,” Korsh told Deadline. “She has a specific take on it that we’re still mulling over right now. They were excited about it, I was excited about it, and we decided to move forward with thinking about what it is.”

    SPOILER ALERT: Portions of this story include a detail about tonight’s Season 6 finale of Suits.

    Torres’ deal comes as Jessica Pearson made a surprise return to Suits in the final minutes of tonight’s Season 6 finale. This was Torres’ first time back on the show since exiting as a series regular in the Season 6 summer finale in September. You can read all about it and the rest of tonight episode’s twists in my finale postmortem Q&A with Korsh.

    Korsh and Torres had stayed in touch since she left the show, going out to lunch and dinner now and then. The new project coming together was serendipitous — as Torres was pitching a Jessica Pearson series to the studio, Korsh was thinking about the character.

    “I think we were editing either Episode 15 or 16, and sometimes I want to go back and look at an old episode to look at a piece of music,” he said. “We were doing that and whatever the scene was, we pulled it up. It was a shot of Jessica from last year, and I was just like, ‘Man I miss Jessica so much.'”

    Korsh quickly came on board the potential spinoff, which he would be writing by himself or with another writer. It is unclear yet whether the potential offshoot would be worked into the story of the upcoming seventh season of Suits or it will be developed completely on its own .

    “Jessica Pearson is an iconic character in my mind and hopefully in the public’s mind,” he said. “Gina Torres is a consummate professional both as an actress and brilliant human being, and I think she’s emerging as s a force as a producer. So when we talked about it, we got very excited about it — both from a creative possibility standpoint and just working with Gina. She’s just such a pleasure to work with, so though it is in its early stages, I’m very excited because I love Gina and I love Jessica.”

    Korsh originally wanted to kill off Jessica Pearson in the Season 6 summer finale, giving the character a dramatic ending, but changed the storyline upon objections from the network. Instead, after taking up a pro-bono case, Jessica ended up deciding to go to Chicago to be with her love, Jeff (D.B. Woodside).

    “At the time there was no thought in my head of planting any sort of spinoff,” Korsh said. “The Chicago thing sort of just emanated. When she originally wanted to become a lawyer, this wasn’t the lawyer necessarily that she wanted to be, and the pro-bono case reawakens this fire in her. Then we thought, let’s bring Jeff back. He’s going to move to Chicago and inspire her to go there and ride off into the sunset.”

    When Jessica reappeared in tonight’s Season 6 finale to help Mike clinch a crucial vote and finally become a lawyer, she was still living in Chicago though there was no mention of Jeff. (Woodside is a series regular on Fox’s Lucifer, which has been renewed for a new season.)

    Will Jessica stay in Chicago for her own series? “Once you start really digging in creatively on something, you never know where it’s going to lead. So since we haven’t dug in really creatively yet, it could lead anywhere, but if I were a betting man, I would probably say it will still be Chicago,” Korsh said.

    Torres left the mothership series, which films in Toronto, in large part because it was getting difficult for her to be away for so long from her family, who are based in Los Angeles. While she had been working primarily in Los Angeles since, she was said to be willing to film elsewhere for the right project.

    As for Jessica possibly popping up on season 7 of Suits, “I would never count her out is what I would say,” Korsh said. “We don’t have specific plans but she’s obviously always a near and dear character of the show and if opportunities arise, we would of course love to bring her back.”

    How Drew Barrymore Helped Michael Vartan Land His Breakout Role in Never Been Kissed on The Arrangement

    We cannot imagine Drew Barrymore's classic rom com Never Been Kissed without Michael Vartan (AKA Mr. Coulson).

    But Vartan says he never thought he'd actually land the role after his audition

    "I auditioned for Never Been Kissed 116 years ago and I was as nervous as can be," Vartan told E! News during our exclusive visit to the set of his new E! show The Arrangement. "It was my first, one of my first really big movie auditions and I really had no notion or thought that I was gonna get the job. And Drew Barrymore, who was the star and producer of the movie, fought very hard for me and I got the job."

    Since landing his big breakout role in Never Been Kissed almost 20 years ago, the 48-year-old actor has starred in lots of major TV shows and films, including Alias with Jennifer Garner and Monster-in-Law opposite Jennifer Lopez. However, Vartan admits he's still gets nervous when it comes to auditioning.

    "Every audition is terrible," Vartan added. "It's really nothing but self-loathing and self-doubt. The auditions I thought I'd done the best on I never even got a call back and the auditions where I threw my sides in the trash walking out saying 'that's done' you get a call back. There's no rhyme or reason."

    Jennifer Garner stresses early education with US governors

    Actress Jennifer Garner says growing up “surrounded by generational, rural poverty” in West Virginia inspired her to become an advocate for early-childhood education.

    Garner spoke at a meeting of the National Governors Association on Saturday about programs that bring educators into the homes of low-income parents to help them get their kids ready for kindergarten. At one point, her microphone was cut off and she said, “It’s like the Oscars!”

    Garner says kids who don’t come to school prepared face huge disadvantages later in life. She says she saw it growing up, when kids stopped showing up at school and “disappeared off the face of the earth.”

    She says intervention can make a difference with parents who lack the resources to help their kids’ developing brains.

    Suits Spinoff Centered on Gina Torres' Jessica Eyed at USA Network

    The long arm of the law is reaching back out to Gina Torres.

    TVLine has learned exclusively that a Suits spinoff centered on former cast member Torres — whose fan-favorite character Jessica Pearson was written out of the legal drama last September — is quietly being developed.

    When reached for comment, a spokesperson for Universal Cable Productions (the studio behind Suits) would neither confirm nor denied the spinoff buzz, telling TVLine, “The Suits team is currently focused on the remaining episodes of Season 6 and what’s next for the characters when they return in Season 7.”

    Torres’ exit from the USA Network drama last fall was, by all accounts, extremely amicable. At the time, the actress explained that her decision to move on was purely a geographical one; even though Suits is set in New York, it shoots in Toronto, and Torres said it was “necessary to get back to my life [in Los Angeles] and all the very important things that being on location in Toronto made very difficult to manage.”

    Shortly thereafter, Torres joined the cast of ABC’s L.A.-based The Catch in a one-year deal.

    It’s not clear where the potential Jessica-centric offshoot would be set, but when last we saw her she was heading to Chicago to start a new life with her ex Malone (DB Woodside, who’s now on Fox’s Lucifer).

    “I don’t believe for one second it’s the last we’ll see of Jessica Pearson,” Torres said back in September. “Not. For. One. Second. And don’t you either.”

    Jennifer Garner In Final Negotiations To Join ‘Simon vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda’

    Jennifer Garner is in final negotiations to join Fox 2000’s coming-of-age film Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda based on the popular YA novel by Becky Albertelli. She joins an ever-growing cast on the film which includes Katherine Langford, Nick Robinson, Alexandra Shipp and Logan Miller. Greg Berlanti is directing.

    Fox acquired the popular YA novel in October for The Fault in Our Stars producers Wyck Godfrey, Marty Bowen and Isaac Klausner at Temple Hill. Described as a John Hughes-style coming-of-age, coming-out story, the studio bought the debut novel by Becky Albertelli in a pre-emptive strike. The book was adapted by Isaac Aptaker & Elizabeth Berger.

    The story follows Simon Spier, a 16-year-old not-so-openly gay student. When an email written by Simon falls into the wrong hands, he becomes at risk of his secret going public. Change-averse Simon is forced to find a way to step out of his comfort zone before he’s pushed out — in a way that won’t alienate his friends, compromise himself or ruin a shot at happiness with the most confusing, adorable guy he hasn’t even met yet. Garner would star as Simon’s Mom.

    Pouya Shahbazian (Divergent) of New Leaf will also produce. Garner, who next stars opposite Bryan Cranston in Robin Swicord’s Wakefield from IFC on May 26, is repped by CAA and Management 360.

    Arrangement Premiere Online

    (Video) Looks like you’ll have access to E!’s Arrangement earlier than everyone thought.

    The cable network has made the premiere of its new drama, The Arrangement, available online ahead of its March 5 airdate (10/9c).

    The upcoming series — which stars Josh Henderson (Dallas), Christine Evangelista (Chicago Fire) and Michael Vartan (Alias) — centers on an A-list Hollywood superstar who has ties to a controversial organization and who offers a young actress a marital contract.

    Michael Vartan Definitely Still Wants an Alias Reunion, But... on The Arrangement

    Paging Jennifer Garner!

    Michael Vartan is totally down for an Alias reunion, he revealed exclusively to E! News at the premiere of his new series The Arrangement in Beverly Hills on Wednesday, which was also attended by his co-stars Josh Henderson, Christine Evangelista, Lexa Doig and celebs Jake Paul, Ireland Baldwin and more!

    "I always joke that if they do, they better hurry up, because I'm getting up there in age," Vartan said. "Running down those hallways, you know, I'm not 30 anymore so...I would definitely be interested, but I haven't heard anything about it."

    And while Vartan hasn't heard rumors of a reboot, he wouldn't want a new cast to do it.

    "I think just personally on a selfish level, how dare they do that show with another cast?" Vartan joked. "Just because I'm so fond of that experience and the people I got to work with."

    The ABC series went off the air in May 2006.

    Jennifer Garner finally ready to file for divorce from Ben Affleck

    Jennifer Garner is on the brink of filing for divorce from Ben Affleck, nearly two years after the Hollywood power couple announced their split.

    News of Bennifer’s impending divorce was reported Friday by Us Weekly.

    “No matter what happens, Ben and Jen are committed to raising their family as one unit and will continue to do so as it has worked for them,” a source told Us about the soon-to-be divorce. “They are both committed to their family.”

    Garner and Affleck separated in 2015 after 10 years of marriage.

    The couple, who met on the set of 2001’s movie “Pearl Harbor,” have three children, Violet, 11, Seraphina, 8, and Samuel, 4.

    Affleck has moved out of their Brentwood home.

    Affleck’s career has seen a rocky spell over the last several weeks. His film “Live by Night” tanked at the box office and he stepped down from directing Warner Brothers’ next live-action Batman film. Though he’s appearing as the Dark Knight in the upcoming “Justice League,” reports have suggested he’s already tired of the cowl and wants out.

    Marvel's Runaways: James Marsters, Annie Wersching Among 'Pride' Parents

    “Every teenager thinks their parents are evil. What if you found out they actually were?”

    That is among the questions at the fore of Hulu’s upcoming Marvel’s Runaways adaptation, and TVLine has a first look at the “Pride” AKA parents of the titular youths.

    Among the familiar faces on hand are James Marsters (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and Annie Wersching (24), as well as Kevin Weisman (Alias), Brigid Brannagh (Army Wives) and Ever Carradine (Major Crimes).

    Rounding out the parentral ranks are Ryan Sands (The Wire), Angel Parker (The People v. O.J. Simpson), Brittany Ishibashi (Emily Owens M.D.), James Yaegashi (Broadway’s Breakfast at Tiffany’s) and Kip Pardue (Ray Donovan).

    “This cast is an abundance of riches. We are so excited to have assembled our Pride, though for the fate of humanity we should be very concerned…,” executive producers Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage said/warned of the castings. Added Runaways comic co-creator and series executive consultant Brian K. Vaughn, “[This series] has enough great actors to support two shows, but I love that this project contains multiple generations of incredible talent all in one story.”

    Marsters and Carradine play Victor and Janet Stein, parents to Chase (Gregg Sulkin, Faking It). He’s an engineering genius who has lofty expectations for his son — and when they aren’t met, retribution can be fierce; she’s a perfect PTA mom harboring a brilliant mind of her own, and who longs for more from her life.

    Wersching and Pardue kip-pardueplay Leslie and Frank Dean, parents to Carolina (Virginia Gardner). She’s a poised and skilled leader whose charisma draws in devoted allies and followers. He’s a former teen star who rode a short-lived movie career and is now teeming with insecurity.

    Weisman and Brannagh play Dale and Stacey Yorkes, parents to Gert (Ariela Barer). He’s a bioengineer whose deep love for his family oftentimes falls short as far as knowing the right things to say to his daughter. Stacey, too, is a bioengineer, and utilizes a more progressive approach to her parenting style.

    Sands and Parker play Geoffrey and Catherine Wilder, parents to Alex (Rhenzy Feliz). He’s a hulking presence who can effortlessly shift from approachable father to intimidating strategist; she’s a successful lawyer, deliberate and calculating in both her words and actions.

    Ishibashi and Yaegashi Tina and Robert Minoru, parents to Nico (Lyrica Okano). She’s a perfectionist “tiger mom,” as well as a brilliant innovator and ruthless CEO; he is a gentle and brilliant beta, “the Woz to his wife’s Jobs.”

    ATX's Alias Reunion

    The ATX Television Festival, taking place June 8-11 in Austin, Texas, will host an Alias writers’ room reunion with scribes Ken Olin, Lawrence Trilling, Sarah Caplan, Monica Breen, Jeff Pinkner, Andre Nemec, Josh Appelbaum and additional to-be-announced panelists. The TV fest will also feature an open community screening of Parks & Recreation on Friday, June 9.

    Bradley Cooper and Irina Shayk Expecting First Child

    Bradley Cooper‘s next big role? Dad.

    The actor’s girlfriend, Victoria’s Secret model Irina Shayk, is pregnant with their first child, a source tells PEOPLE. Reps for the couple have not confirmed the pregnancy or responded to requests for comment.

    Shayk, 30, and Cooper, 41, have been dating since spring 2015, not long after the former split from soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo and the latter from Suki Waterhouse.

    The happy couple aren’t shy about their romance, regularly stepping out together on exotic trips and at fun events.

    Just ahead of the baby news, Shayk walked in the 2016 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, which was filmed in Paris on Wednesday and will air Monday on CBS.

    The mom-to-be, dressed in gray lingerie and thigh high black boots, let her baby bump peek through her trench coat as she stopped to pose for the crowd. Taking another turn down the runway, Shayk wore a red halter top bra and strappy stilettos, but kept her belly hidden with a matching fringed robe.

    E! News was the first to report the pregnancy.

    Bradley Cooper, Gavin O’Connor Team On Imperative’s WWII Drama ‘Atlantic Wall’

    Imperative Entertainment has attached Bradley Cooper to star and Gavin O’Connor to direct Atlantic Wall, the Zach Dean-scripted WWII drama. Imperative’s Dan Friedkin and Bradley Thomas, who bought this as a pitch several years ago, are producing. Madhouse Entertainment’s Adam Kolbrenner also is producing. The drama tracks a lone American paratrooper stranded behind enemy lines hours before D-Day. His assignment is to deliver intelligence critical to the outcome of the war, and he is compelled to fulfill a promise to protect the young son of a murdered ally. The script made the 2015 Black List.

    'We’re thrilled Imperative is bringing Atlantic Wall to life on screen with a talented filmmaker like Gavin,” Friedkin said. “Bradley’s phenomenal track record speaks for itself. He’s perfect to portray our complicated, often reluctant hero. We can’t imagine better creative partners.”

    Cooper last wore combat fatigues in the 2014 blockbuster American Sniper. He’s also been working on his directorial debut, a remake of A Star Is Born, which he’ll star in with Lady Gaga. O’Connor is coming off the hit thriller The Accountant. All of those films were at Warner Bros, the studio where Cooper and partner Todd Phillips base their production company, Joint Effort. Cooper and Phillips will be exec producers alongside O’Connor and Robyn Meisinger. While Imperative intends to co-finance a film that will shoot on location in Normandy, it will secure a studio partner. Not surprisingly, I’ve heard the conversation is with Warner Bros, though no deal has been made.

    The film is slated to shoot in 2018, which would give Cooper plenty of time to direct A Star Is Born before taking on the action thriller. He also is producing and developing Black Flags: The Rise of ISIS with HBO and is reprising his Rocket Raccoon in Guardians of the Galaxy 2, which Marvel and Disney release in May.

    This becomes another major project for Imperative, which made its big splash as an up-and-coming financier/producer with its $5 million acquisition of the David Grann book Killers of the Flower Moon. Eric Roth is writing the script. More recently, Imperative won another big auction when it acquired the Christine Mangan novel Tangerine, a 1950s Morocco-set thriller/mystery that has Scarlett Johansson attached to star and George Clooney and Grant Heslov’s Smokehouse aboard to produce with Imperative’s Friedkin and Thomas.

    Dean also wrote Voyagers at Warners Bros, the Carl Sagan story that Lynda Obst and Annie Druyan are producing. Also at Warner Bros is Methusaleh, his script that David Heyman is producing, which just got Joachim Ronning (co-director of Kon-Tiki and the upcoming Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales) as its helmer. The scribe also sold the pitch Ghost Draft to Skydance, with David Goyer’s Phantom Four producing.

    Cooper is repped by CAA, and O’Connor is repped by WME. Dean repped by WME, Madhouse and attorney Andrew Hurwitz.

    Sightings

    J.J. Abrams and one of his kids at the Public Theater seeing “Tiny Beautiful Things”

    Heroes Star on Flash

    Greg Grunberg (Heroes, Alias) will recur on The Flash, beginning with the Nov. 22 episode, as Detective Tom Patterson, Mashable reports.

    Jennifer Garner Shares How She Teaches Her Children Values

    Like mother, like children.

    In the midst of raising three children with ex Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner wants her daughter and sons to blossom into upstanding people who help others. As she sees it, that means leading by example.

    "I think teaching your kids anything is a lifelong job and certainly values are something—you cant just say, 'Here, have values!' You have to show them that you have values," she told E! News at Save the Children's 4th Annual Illumination Gala. As the evening's host, Garner publicly championed support for the organization, which promotes children's rights, provides relief and helps support children in developing countries and disaster areas.

    As long as Violet, 10, Seraphina, 7, and Samuel, 4, are paying attention to their their famous mom's actions, Garner has won half the parenting battle.

    "The most important thing is just modeling at this age. When they're older, they'll hopefully travel with us and go to places and be boots on the ground, but for right now, it's just really important to both of us that they see and appreciate the work we do," she told E! News.

    It's a mantra she's focused on throughout her time co-parenting with Affleck, telling Today's Natalie Morales "if you care about other people," your kids will, too.

    "I don't think empathy is something you can drill in someone's head. You have to have faith that while your kids can seem to be selfish and concerned only about the word 'mine' sometimes, overall, they are watching you really carefully," she said.

    However, that also means Garner must always be in check.

    "I try to be the best version of myself and to have faith that they're watching me as carefully when I do something right as they do when I roll through a stop sign."

    A-listers honor James Murdoch at Ghetto Film School benefit

    21st Century Fox CEO James Murdoch was honored at the Ghetto Film School’s benefit at the Santa Monica, Calif., home of Brian Grazer.

    Fox helps fund the organization, which started in The Bronx, develops young filmmakers, and founded its new LA campus.

    Bradley Cooper, J.J. Abrams, David O. Russell, Lachlan Murdoch, Stacey Snider and Sterling K. Brown mingled with alumni at the event.

    Grazer told students that at age 29 he wrote his hit “Splash,” saying, “A friend said the reason it was a success was because it’s a true expression of how you see love. That is what you want to protect as young filmmakers. Your distinct voice makes you special.”

    Jennifer Garner Jokes That She's Dating Brad Pitt (but Maybe She's on to Something?)

    (Video) Are people going to start shipping a new Hollywood couple?

    In an effort to give paparazzi something to talk about, Jennifer Garner decided to joke around with the shutterbugs who were following her back to her car with a gal-pal after workout in Los Angeles. Per usual, the paps asked the actress about her love life (her and ex Ben Affleck continue to make headlines), but this time she threw them for a whirlwind.

    "Brad Pitt and I are dating," she said "You're dating Brad Pitt?" the videographer asked, to which Garner laughs, "Yeah!" Her comment drew laughs from everyone around her, and Garner continued to giggle her way to the car with coffee in hand. The humble and sweet moment was entertaining to watch, but we gotta ask—did she just plant some seeds in peoples' minds?

    Sure, that might be awkward given the small circle of A-listers and the possibility of a Ben-Jen-Brad-Angelina Jolie feud, but in Hollywood, that doesn't tend to stop people (or at least, stop people from imagining it happening).

    Regardless, we know Garner was just throwing paps a bone for some entertainment. In fact, Garner compared her split with Affleck to that of Pitt and Jennifer Aniston earlier this year.

    The Miracles From Heaven actress opened up about her marriage's demise in the pages of Vanity Fair's March 2016 issue and revealed that she's she's aware that people are waiting for her and Ben to get back together.

    "When Jen Aniston and Brad Pitt broke up," she admitted to the magazine, "I was dying to see something that said they were getting back together."

    As we all know by now, that wasn't the case and Pitt ended up in a relationship (and then marriage) with Jolie. Similar to that case, Garner suggested that fans need to stop themselves from hoping that she and Affleck will call the breakup off and get back together, because that doesn't seem likely.

    But what about dating Pitt? Would you ship it?

    Jennifer Garner Opens Up About Starting a New School Year with Three Kids: ‘It’s Crazy Town!’

    Most parents can attest to the fact that the first few weeks of a new school year can be a little chaotic, and Jennifer Garner is no exception.

    “Everything shifts,” Garner tells PEOPLE. “It’s crazy town. I always feel like September is bananas, doing initial meetings, meetings for room mom, field trips. It’s crazy, but good.”

    The busy mom of Violet, 10, Seraphina, 7 and Samuel, 4, her children with Ben Affleck, is also focused on raising awareness for a cause very close to her heart. Garner, also a longtime ambassador for Save the Children, has teamed up with Huggies during National Diaper Need Awareness Week. Huggies will donate 7.5 million diapers and wipes to Baby2Baby, where they will be distributed to families in need.

    “Families desperately need diapers,” says Garner, 44. “And if they’re choosing between diapers and food for their kids, that is a problem. With enough of those stressors in a mother’s life, it leads to toxic stress. How is a child supposed to be a happy baby and sweet and interact if they are uncomfortable and they have a rash? This [donation helps to] lift that worry off mothers’ shoulders.”

    When it comes to her kids, the mom of three says she’s honest with her children about her own tough moments.

    “I said to my kids yesterday, ‘This has been a long week,’ ” says Garner. “Kids fight, they push and pull. The beginning of school is stressful for them and they take it out on Mom. I have to say, ‘You guys, this is a lot for me. I need a break!’ We all have to chill out.”

    And the star of the upcoming Tribes of Palos Verdes is looking forward to more meaningful professional work.

    “It’s one thing at a time,” she says. “It’s really about, this is what’s happening at home and this is what’s needed. Sometimes I actually need to go and work. I need to do something for me. And luckily, I’m able to step away and do that.”

    But with the holidays approaching, Garner says right now, family is the biggest thing on her mind.

    “Family all being together [makes me happiest],” she says. “My sisters and nieces and nephews and parents will all be together for a week at Christmas. And for now, we’re starting to think about Halloween costumes. It’s all fun!”

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner in ‘tense’ talks at block party

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner appeared to be in a “tense” conversation, sources said, at a neighborhood block party in Los Angeles over the weekend.

    The separated stars were back in town together, sources said, after Affleck had been working on superhero epic “Justice League.”

    A spy said that the co-parents were having an intense conversation at a “carnaval-themed” block party in their neighborhood, and that Garner looked particularly upset after glancing at something on her phone.

    Reports recently said that Affleck could be rekindling his romance with former flame Jennifer Lopez. But a source told Page Six of Affleck and Garner, who’ve also been rumored to be reuniting after their split last June: “They are both working really hard” at their relationship.

    Suits' Gina Torres Jumps to The Catch

    Gina Torres‘ stint on the unemployment line was, to put it mildly, brief.

    The actress, whose six-season run on Suits came to an end Wednesday night, is joining the cast of ABC’s The Catch in a top-secret recurring role, TVLine has learned. She’ll debut early into the Shondaland thriller’s second season, which kicks off at midseason.

    Regarding her Suits exit, Torres says she asked to be released from the Toronto-based USA Network drama so she could relocate back home to Los Angeles (which, not so coincidentally, is where The Catch shoots). “Leaving the show was indeed a difficult decision to make,” the actress said in a statement. “However at this time, it is necessary to get back to my life [in Los Angeles] and all the very important things that being on location in Toronto made very difficult to manage.”

    Gina Torres Is Leaving Suits

    Pearson is indeed out.

    Gina Torres is leaving Suits after five and a half seasons. She made her final appearance as a series regular on Wednesday's Season 6 summer finale, but the door is very open for return appearances.

    "Playing Jessica Pearson has been one of the greatest rides of my career," Torres said in a statement. "It isn't often that an actress gets the opportunity to embody so rich a character. Thanks to [creator] Aaron Korsh's wonderful writing and his singular vision of Jessica, I believe that together we created a woman who has everything. Real power, wealth, intelligence, intuitive wisdom, humor, unapologetic female sexuality and, arguably, the best wardrobe in all of television.

    "Because of all these qualities, I have not only been able to entertain Suits fans but, with much pride and awe, I can say I have also inspired quite a few future Jessicas as well as shined a light on real-life Jessica Pearsons who are out in the world at this very moment, owning their place at the head of the table -- not unlike our real Queen at USA/Universal Cable Productions, Bonnie Hammer, a force of nature who has been one of Jessica's biggest fans and supporters, as well as a true blessing in my own life as an example of what grace in power looks like. And that is a glorious thing."

    Torres said she made the "difficult decision" to leave in order to spend more time at home. (Suits films in Toronto.) "I can't thank USA enough for being so understanding and supporting me in my choice and so I am incredibly grateful," she continued. "Having said that, I don't believe for one second it's the last we'll see of Jessica Pearson. Not. For. One. Second. And don't you either."

    Once she decided to leave, Korsh said they "worked together to come up with a plan to gracefully allow her to move on from the show and be happy."

    "Gina Torres brought Jessica Pearson to life for six wonderful seasons with intelligence, strength, tenacity and grace. There is no color of the rainbow she cannot portray, no scene she cannot dominate. She is an amazing actress, a wonderful human being, and an utter pleasure to work with," he said in a statement.

    "But no matter where she goes, as far as I'm concerned, Gina is part of the Suit family, and she can come back whenever she wants. As I said to her recently, she is a rare combination of talent and class and I would go to war with her any day of the week and twice on Sunday."

    Torres' departure is not a complete surprise, as her contract was up after Season 6. Earlier this year, she joined the ABC pilot The Death of Eva Sofia Valdez in the title role, which was not picked up to series. Had it been ordered to series, Deadline reported at the time that Torres would remain a regular through the sixth season of Suits, with her character Jessica Pearson "likely getting phased out."

    Jessica's exit was set up through the season-long storyline of rebuilding her eponymous firm, Pearson Specter Litt, after Mike's (Patrick J. Adams) arrest and her Innocence Project case which saw her defending death-row inmate Leonard Bailey (Glenn Plummer) with Rachel (Meghan Markle). On Wednesday's midseason finale, after getting Bailey exonerated will a killer cross-examination but simultaneously becoming disillusioned with her job, Jessica turned down Robert Zane's (Wendell Pierce) offer to merge her fledgling firm with his. She instead handed PSL over to Harvey (Gabriel Macht) and Louis (Rick Hoffman) so she could move to Chicago with Jeff (D.B. Woodside).

    "I forgot why I became a lawyer in the first place and it wasn't just to fight for money and power," she said. "It was to fight for something more. ... I don't want to be a corporate lawyer anymore."

    Jessica's stone-cold fierceness will be sorely missed, but at the same time, how many more times can she save the firm? She's always put PSL first, so it's about time she put herself first. And in a nice transition, it was fitting that Harvey and Louis saved the firm this time by securing Jim Reynolds. This development also provides some fertile new ground for the series, with Harvey now as the boss man. Jessica's steely coolness was the perfect foil for his impulsive bluster. What will a post-Jessica PSL world look like?

    Melissa George Hospitalized After Alleged Assault by Her Partner: Report

    Former Grey's Anatomy actress Melissa George was hospitalized Wednesday after being assaulted by her partner, French website Paris Match reports.

    The 40-year-old Australian reportedly accused her partner Jean-David Blanc, the founder of French movie website Allociné, of causing her injuries that included a swollen face, bodily pain, nausea and dizziness.

    According to the report, George called the police from her home on Wednesday evening to report the incident.

    George, who appeared on Grey's from 2008 to 2009 as Dr. Sadie Harris, was hospitalized for over 24 hours at Cochin Hospital in Paris, the report states.

    The Golden Globe-nominated actress most recently starred in The Slap and Heartbeat and has two young children – sons Räphael, 2, and Solal, 10 months – with Blanc.

    A rep for the actress did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.

    ‘A Star Is Born’ Gets Warner Bros Green Light; Bradley Cooper Directs, Stars With Lady Gaga

    Warner Bros has green lit A Star Is Born. Production begins early next year in California, marking the directorial debut of Bradley Cooper, who’ll also star alongside Lady Gaga. Latter gets her first studio starring role, as the ingenue singer whose star rises as quickly as her troubled lover/mentor’s star is falling. Deals have been closed by Warner Bros president of Creative Development and WW Production Greg Silverman, and Gaga will compose and perform new music for the film. This picture has been a long time coming for Cooper, who is teaming on the script with Will Fetters. Billy Gerber and Jon Peters are producing with Cooper and his Joint Effort partner Todd Phillips. Basil Iwanyk is exec producer. Production will begin early next year in California.

    Deadline was first to reveal that Gaga was the one Cooper wanted, after things didn’t work out with Beyonce. He was eyeing this as his directing debut back when he was working with Clint Eastwood and Warner Bros on American Sniper, and he won over Warner Bros brass with a chemistry test that the studio loved. Aside from her megawatt stature as a Grammy-winning recording star, Gaga has bolstered her standing on the acting front with a performance in the FX hit American Horror Story that won a Golden Globe. She also got an Oscar nomination for ‘Til It Happens To You from the documentary The Hunting Ground. They all felt Cooper was ready to be a director and that Gaga was ready to take the next step as an actress.

    “For those of us lucky enough to watch him work as an actor and producer, it has been clear that Bradley would make this transition to director,” Silverman said. “We are honored that he is doing it, here, at his home—Warner Bros.—and with Lady Gaga as a collaborator and co-star. The world is in for a treat as these great artists craft an all new vision of A Star is Born.” Cooper and Gaga are repped by CAA.

    Sky’s ‘Riviera’ Completes Cast Opposite Julia Stiles In Neil Jordan Jet-Set Thriller

    Adrian Lester, Iwan Rheon and Lena Olin are among the full cast that has been set to join Julia Stiles-starrer Riviera, Sky’s pan-European thriller that’s just starting filming in the South of France. Created by Neil Jordan, the 10-part drama is based on an idea from U2’s former manager, Paul McGuinness. Kris Thykier and Liza Marshall’s Archery Pictures and Primo Productions are producing.

    Also joining the previously announced Stiles in the story of morally ambiguous characters and complex relationships are Dimitri Leonidas (The Monuments Men), Roxanne Duran (White Ribbon) and Phil Davis (Poldark).

    Riviera is based in the world of the ultra-rich and set against the sun-drenched backdrop of the Cote d’Azur where Stiles plays Georgina, a Midwesterner and former fine-art scholar turned resourceful wife of billionaire Constantine Clios. After a year of marriage, her life is blown apart when Constantine is killed in an explosion aboard the yacht of a Russian oligarch and arms dealer.

    Believing there’s more to the tragedy, Georgina sets out to uncover what happened, discovering dark truths about her husband. She enters a spiral of moral descent, becoming immersed in a world of lies, double-dealing and criminality. But to protect her family and its fortune, she will have to learn to adapt, survive and ultimately thrive in her dangerous new reality.

    Lester (Undercover, London Spy) plays Georgina’s friend and art dealer Robert Carver; Rheon (Game Of Thrones) and Leonidas are sons Adam and Christos; Olin is Irina, Constantine’s beautiful ex-wife.

    Jordan wrote the series with John Banville (The Sea). Executive producers are Jordan, Marshall, Thykier and McGuinness. Foz Allan is producer and worldwide distribution is being handled by Sky Vision.

    Sky will make Riviera available to its customers in the UK, Ireland, Italy, Germany and Austria in 2017.

    Jennifer Garner on Her New Normal With Ben Affleck: "We Are Definitely a Modern Family"

    "We are definitely a modern family," Jennifer Garner said Thursday.

    That's an understatement.

    For the first time since her explosive Vanity Fair profile was published earlier this year (followed by a softer interview with Savannah Guthrie), the Nine Lives actress spoke in detail about the state of her marriage to Ben Affleck on NBC's Today. Though the couple split in the summer of 2015, Jennifer and Ben continue to cohabitate in L.A. as they co-parent their kids: Violet Affleck, 10, Seraphina Affleck, 7, and Samuel Affleck, 4.

    Earlier this summer, the family traveled to Europe, sparking rumors the pair had reconciled. "Ben was working in London on Justice League and I felt like, 'Well, the kids should have that experience,'" Jennifer, 44, explained. "He and I are great friends and we just all went en masse. The kids and I had an amazing time, and he worked hard and got to join us for some. I want them to see everything's OK."

    Other tabloid reports claimed the actors were back together and planning to take a romantic trip. But, as a source told E! News, "There are no plans for a second honeymoon anywhere. They are 100 percent still separated and focused on co-parenting for the kids' sake." Another insider added, "It is a fabricated story. They are not honeymooning, but they are just continuing along."

    Today's Natalie Morales said it's "really admirable" how the exes "put the children first" and are still a "team" post-breakup. "It has to be. You don't have a choice," Jennifer said. "It has to be." Though their new normal might look unusual to some, she promised, "We're doing really well."

    Family has always been Jennifer's No. 1 priority, and it's the main reasons she wanted to star in Nine Lives (in theaters Friday). "Parenting is about...you can't buy parenting, no matter what," the actress said. "You have to actually get down on the floor and spend some time together."

    "I'm really glad that I'm playing moms because there's no more rich time in a woman's life than when you're having babies and when you're trying to figure out how to parent them and balance everything, and the emotional weight of seeing your children struggle," she added. "Whatever it is, there's so much there to draw from that it feels like I've aged into where I should be as far as acting goes. You know what I mean? As far as my career, I feel like I finally fit."

    ‘Black Flags’ Miniseries About Rise Of ISIS From Bradley Cooper & Todd Phillips In Works At HBO

    Black Flags: The Rise Of ISIS, the 2016 Pulitzer-winning nonfiction book by Joby Warrick, is headed to the small screen. HBO has put in development a miniseries being developed by Bradley Cooper, who executive produces with with Todd Phillips via the duo’s Joint Effort production banner. Bestselling author Gregg Hurwitz (Orphan X, Wolverine) is writing the adaptation and executive producing. Helmer Tim Van Patten (Game Of Thrones, Boardwalk Empire) executive produces and will direct.

    Black Flags tells the story of the rise of ISIS, from its origins in a remote Jordanian prison to its stunning success in Syria. The book tracks the group’s unlikely roots and transformation into the world’s most feared terrorist organization — as well as the small band of American and international agents tasked with shutting it down.

    After reading Black Flags, Cooper immediately envisioned it as a limited series and sought out Warrick. He and Phillips then traveled to Warrick’s hometown to meet with him. The duo pitched the idea for the mini and discussed collaborating on the project.

    Black Flags could not be more timely as the threat of ISIS continues to grow with deadly attacks across multiple continents, including a string of tragedies in the heart of Europe.

    Cooper and Phillips merged their Warner Bros.-based production companies into what became Joint Effort in 2014. The company’s first movie release, War Dogs, comes out August 19.

    Cooper and Phillips are repped by CAA. Phillips also is repped by attorney Warren Dern. Warrick was repped in the deal by the Ross Yoon Agency and Hotchkiss & Associates.

    Bradley Cooper 'Was Not Expecting' American Sniper Fans to be 'Up in Arms' Over His DNC Appearance

    (Video) Bradley Cooper was not expecting the adverse reaction his appearance at the DNC received from some disgruntled American Sniper fans.

    The 41-year-old actor starred as Navy SEAL Chris Kyle in the 2014 biopic, which was directed by outspoken conservative Clint Eastwood. Kyle, a decorated soldier who was killed by a fellow marine suffering from PTSD, was also known for his conservative politics.

    After he was spotted in the audience alongside his girlfriend, Irina Shayk, at last week's Democratic National Convention in his hometown of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, some outraged fans vented their surprise on social media.

    Cooper revealed on Tuesday's Late Late Show With James Corden that he "was not expecting" the blowback his attendance received on social media.

    "Republicans were up in arms because I was there listening to the president speak," Cooper explained. "I think he was an incredible president. I was really excited."

    Hangover director Todd Phillips was also a guest on the show, and quipped, "That's like the mob being mad at [Robert] De Niro for being in The Intern," he quipped.

    The actor and director also reminisced about having dinner with former President Bill Clinton while filming The Hangover 2 in Thailand. According to Philips, the ex-president claimed to be a fan of the comedy Who's Your Caddy, and Cooper remembered the president jokingly asking for a role in the next A-Team film.

    Jennifer Garner Looks Purrfect in Red at the Nine Lives Premiere

    (Pic) Little black dresses get all the love when it comes to must-have wardrobe staples. It makes sense, after all, there’s nothing like a simple, neutral sheath in everyone’s favorite (non-)color to make daily dressing just a little bit easier. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of other pieces equally deserving of that same type of universal praise. For example, the dress Jennifer Garner wore to the premiere of her new cat-centric film Nine Lives may have the standard easy breezy silhouette, but she gave it a fun twist, opting for a bold red iteration with unexpected detailing.

    The actress attended the film’s Los Angeles premiere wearing a red Alaïa fit-and-flare dress with a laser cut hem paired with black studded suede heels also from the designer and a ring and bracelets from Beladora. The look perfectly walked the line between the impulse all celebrities must face every summer to look perfectly put-together for the cameras and simultaneously wear as little as possible in order to keep cool under the brutal L.A. heat.

    According to her stylists Jill Lincoln and Jordan Johnson, Jennifer’s red carpet look is all about enhancing the star’s classic sense of style. “We don’t try and re-invent the wheel with Jen’s style,” they told PeopleStyle, “She is a classic beauty and looks and feels best in classic styles like this Alaïa dress. Its always a win when we like something in a color and the Alaïa shoes added a little element of fun.” In other words, always wear something that makes you feel like the dancing girl emoji. Truly, words of wisdom we should all try and live our lives by.

    'Don't Give Up Hope': Jennifer Garner Pays Tribute to Sick Kids During Surprise Teen Choice Awards Win

    Jennifer Garner popped up at the Teen Choice Awards on Sunday to accept a big award for her movie.

    The 44-year-old actress was among a slew of some of Hollywood's hottest celebrities to attend the event, which was hosted by Victoria Justice and John Cena.

    Garner and her young Miracles from Heaven costar Kiley Rogers were on-hand to accept the film's award for choice drama movie. In the film, Garner took on the role of real-life Texas mom Christy Beam in the story of a young girl who is miraculously cured from a rare disorder.

    While accepting the award, Garner turned to , saying, "Thank you, this is for this little lady. That's for you baby.

    "Thank you so much," she continued. "Thanks to everyone, we were definitely the underdog in this category. That's so exciting. It's amazing to us the impact this movie was able to have, and have all your guys appreciate it means the world to us."

    Before leaving the stage, Garner said, "All the kids who are in a hospital waiting for a miracle, don't give up hope!"

    The TCA appearance comes just days after a source confirmed to PEOPLE that, despite reports, Garner and her ex Ben Affleck are not back together.

    Rumors circulated that the couple are reconciling and heading to Turks and Caicos, where they wed in 2005, for a romantic vacation.

    "There are no plans for a second honeymoon anywhere," the source said. "Jennifer did not take Ben back."

    The couple split last Summer but no divorce papers have been filed.

    Despite the breakup, Garner and Affleck, 43, have repeatedly come together for their three children Violet, 10, Seraphina, 7, and Samuel, 4.

    Earlier this year, Affleck said that he and Garner are "good friends." And the two even shared a rented house in London for several weeks with their kids while Affleck filmed Justice League.

    Conservatives not happy about Bradley Cooper at DNC

    Bradley Cooper‘s appearance at the Democratic National Convention Wednesday night has irked some conservative fans of the actor’s portrayal of Navy SEAL Chris Kyle in 2014’s “American Sniper.”

    Cooper was spotted by TV cameras seated at the meeting in Philadelphia alongside his Russian model girlfriend, Irina Shayk.

    Some Twitter users say they plan to boycott Cooper’s future films over his presence at the convention. Another commented that they thought his experience playing Kyle would have rubbed off on him.

    The complaints have been mocked by others who say Cooper was simply acting a role when playing Kyle and conservatives shouldn’t be surprised.

    Cooper earned an Oscar nod for “American Sniper,” which became a blockbuster thanks in part to an enthusiastic reception among conservative moviegoers.

    Jennifer Garner Starring in Netflix Animated Series Llama Llama

    She’s played a sexy double agent. She’s played a comic-book assassin. And now, in her most transformative role to date, Jennifer Garner will play… a llama.

    Garner will voice Mama Llama in the new animated series Llama Llama, Netflix announced Wednesday at the Television Critics Association summer press tour. Based on the best-selling book series by Anna Dewdney, the show will follow the adventures of its titular character as he learns and grows alongside his closest friends — and, of course, his mother, with whom he shares a “warm and loving bond. She is his rock and safe haven.”

    “I’ve read Anna Dewdney’s Llama Llama books to my kids hundreds of times in the last 10 years,” Garner said in a statement. “Little did I know it would all count as rehearsal — I’m thrilled to bring Mama Llama to life for Netflix! The Llama Llama books are so fun to read, your kids won’t even notice they are learning life lessons, such as how to battle boredom, or braving the first day of school. But when your kids watch the coziness of Mama Llama’s relationship with her Little Llama, be ready for an extra snuggle as you connect, while learning about the world around you.”

    The series boasts an all-star creative team, including directors Rob Minkoff (The Lion King) and Saul Blinkoff (Doc McStuffins), showrunner Joe Purdy (Hey Arnold!), art director Ruben Aquino (Frozen), and producers Jane Startz (The Magic School Bus) and Andy Heyward (Captain Planet and the Planeteers).

    Llama Llama will premiere in 2017.

    No Second Honeymoon for Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner: 'They Are 100% Still Separated,' Says Source

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner are not back together, a source tells PEOPLE.

    Despite reports that the famous couple are reconciling and returning to the site of their 2005 wedding, Turks and Caicos, for a romantic vacation, the source says, "There are no plans for a second honeymoon anywhere."

    And while no divorce papers have been filed in the year since they split, the source confirms that "Jennifer did not take Ben back."

    Likewise, reports that Garner is pregnant are also false, according to the source. "They are 100% still separated and focused on coparenting for the kids sake."

    This spring, Garner and their three children, Violet, 10, Seraphina, 7, and Samuel, 4, moved to London for several weeks with Affleck, sharing a rented house and sightseeing in Europe while the actor filmed Justice League.

    Most recently, they were spotted taking their children to a local parade in L.A. to celebrate the Fourth of July.

    "There is no rush to file [for divorce]. They are enjoying life where they are right now," a source close to the couple previously told PEOPLE, while another says, "Nothing has changed [in their relationship]. They're still all about putting the kids first."

    Jennifer Garner Dazzles as She Is Honored for Charity Work at Starkey Hearing Foundation Gala

    (Pic) Jennifer Garner took center stage at the Starkey Hearing Foundation Gala in St. Paul, Minnesota, on Sunday night. The actress was honored at the gala for her work with early childhood education.

    Garner, 44, stunned in a long, black gown with a plunging asymmetrical strappy neckline for the special occasion. She kept her hair loose around her shoulder and paired her look with simple silver jewelry.

    Steven Sawalich of the Starkey Hearing Foundation introduced Garner, praising the actress for her dedication to her philanthropic work with children.

    "Her name is recognizable in the entertainment world as an award-winning performer," Sawalich said. "She's a talented and beautiful actress, but one of my favorite callings about Jennifer Garner, is that, many of you may or may know is her far-reaching effect in the philanthropic world, and her passion for advocacy for early childhood education."

    Garner took the stage to accept the award and received a large medal, which she wore around her neck.

    "Thrilled to honor Jennifer Garner for her incredible philanthropic efforts with @SavetheChildren! #StarkeyGala," the Starkey Foundation's posted on Twitter.

    Garner delivered an emotional speech at the event, which featured a star-studded crowd including John Mellencamp, Johnny Depp, Jay Leno and more.

    "Oh my gosh, this night. I didn't know what I was getting into. Did you guys?," she said. I mean, I got a necklace, and I've been crying back there. It's an honor to be here with you all, it's an honor now especially at the end of the night to receive this award."

    Jennifer Garner Gives Back to Home State After Devastating Floods: 'No Matter Where You're From, You Can Stand West Virginia Strong with Me'

    Jennifer Garner is doing everything she can to help flood victims in her home state of West Virginia.

    The actress, 44, and Save the Children, for which she is a trustee and longtime supporter, have launched an Omaze t-shirt campaign to raise funds for recovery efforts after historic flash flooding in late June that left 23 people dead and destroyed hundreds of homes.

    The actress tells PEOPLE that she first started to realize how bad the situation was while she was on the phone with her mom, Patricia, who still lives in the state. "She pulled to the side of the road because she couldn't see," the actress recalls. "She said, 'This rain has been so intense, it just won't stop."

    A state of emergency was declared in 44 of the state's 55 counties on June 24 after the flash floods and Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin said the flooding was "among the worst in a century for some parts of the state." Garner, whose family was not impacted, and Save the Children immediately started relief efforts to aid victims.

    "I'm so proud of the disaster relief response," the actress says. "Passing out supplies needed, like clothes for babies, diapers, toiletries. Whatever is needed, we do our best to get for them."

    Another emotional component Save the Children offers is to provide a safe place for parents to take their kids. "There are counselors who will play with them and they can address any trauma they’ve been through," Garner adds. "Kids come in and talk about what they’ve seen while they are playing. Which also gives the parents time and freedom to do what they need to do to figure out their life. It's especially devastating because so many are living paycheck to paycheck and don't have flood insurance."

    Every t-shirt, which reads "West Virginia Strong" amid an icon of mountains, benefits Save the Children, which serves families in five West Virginia counties through health, early education and after-school programs. "I wanted it to have mountains to show the deep strength of the people in the state," Garner says. "This is what Save the Children is about. To go to where people are having a really rough time and help."

    West Virginia has also become a special place for Garner's three kids, Violet, 10, Seraphina, 7, and Samuel, 4. "At the end of summer, their friends talk about what beautiful vacations they’ve taken and my kids have too but what they'll almost always say is, 'This summer I went to West Virginia.' And that makes me so happy," the actress says. "When you're there, you understand. The pace is more forgiving, the air is beautiful, there are fireflies at night. It's different from what we have in L.A. They are very proud of those roots."

    Click here to purchase Garner's West Virginia Strong t-shirt to support relief efforts.

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner Spend Fourth of July with Their Kids

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner are celebrating Fourth of July as a family.

    The pair, who announced their split in June 2015, were spotted at the 68th Annual Fourth of July Parade in Pacific Palisades, California on Monday. Affleck, 43, and Garner, 44, spent quality family time with two of their three children, Violet, 10, and Seraphina, 7.

    "[Ben] and [Jennifer] were sitting together watching the parade. They were not being affectionate," an onlooker tells PEOPLE. "Ben and Violet were holding hands, and Ben was smiling watching the parade and walking around the community."

    June 30 marked the one-year since Affleck and Garner announced they were separating after 10 years of marriage.

    "After much thought and careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to divorce," the couple told PEOPLE in a joint statement a year ago. "We go forward with love and friendship for one another and a commitment to co-parenting our children whose privacy we ask to be respected during this difficult time. This will be our only comment on this private, family matter. Thank you for understanding."

    The parents of three have yet to file divorce papers.

    "Ben still doesn't want the divorce," a source previously told PEOPLE. However, Garner "doesn't seem to mind at all that [the divorce] is not finalized," but "she seems adamant about going through with it."

    Another source close to the couple told PEOPLE recently that "nothing has changed" in the relationship: "They're still all about putting the kids first."

    Jennifer Garner Stuns in Front Row at Paris Fashion Week Alongside Bradley Cooper

    (Pic) The 44-year-old actress stepped out in a hip-hugging black dress with white accents as she made her way to the Versace fashion show in Paris. She paired the ankle-length gown (with a sexy slit down the leg!) with a gorgeous ring and simple black clutch. The dress is part of Versace’s haute couture fall and winter collection, and Jen rocked it during her time in the city of love.

    Almost as jaw-dropping as her dress, Garner was beaming as she walked into the fashion show on Sunday.

    Garner touched down in Paris for Fashion Week on Friday, but this is not the mother-of-three’s first time in the city this year. She and her three kids met husband Ben Affleck in Europe while he was there filming his new movie.

    But Jen had another leading man by her side at the Versace show. Garner sat in the front row next to Bradley Cooper.

    Fall TV First Impression: Conviction

    THE SHOW | ABC’s Conviction (Mondays at 10/9c, premiering Oct. 3)

    THE COMPETITION | CBS’ Scorpion and NBC’s Timeless (new)

    THE CAST | Hayley Atwell (Marvel’s Agent Carter), Eddie Cahill (CSI: NY), Shawn Ashmore (The Following), Merrin Dungey (Alias), Emily Kinney (The Walking Dead) and Manny Montana (Graceland)

    THE SET-UP | “Bad girl” Hayes Morrison (Atwell) — a lawyer and former First Daughter — dodges a cocaine bust by agreeing to shepherd New York City DA Wayne Wallis’ (Cahill) new Conviction Integrity Unit, which investigates potentially erroneous incarcerations. Rounding out her team are the lawyer who thought he’d be leading the CIU (Ashmore), a former NYPD detective (Dungey), a paralegal (Kinney) and an ex-con forensics expert (Montana).

    THE FIRST IMPRESSION | I have to imagine ABC was tempted to give Conviction (instead of Notorious) the delayed-until-midseason Scandal‘s Thursday time slot, given the shows’ similar “fixer” premises and flawed heroines; perhaps Conviction‘s more procedural nature was deemed more attractive to those looking for/missing Castle?

    Atwell is obviously having a ball here, playing very much against her previous TV persona, but the pilot by design pits half of her team against her, which dulls the joy a bit. Maintaining and mining Hayes’ oft-inappropriate sass (Jessica Jones‘ Liz Friedman is a co-creator/writer) will be instrumental to making this show “pop,” while the development of distinct, Gladiator-y dynamics between the other CIU members will be what gets viewers more deeply invested/gives it any legs. I also predict the splashy casting of an additional romantic foil for Atwell, given the mixed messages the pilot sends about Hayes and the DA.

    THE TVLINE BOTTOM LINE | Atwell has a big fan base, but will they forgive ABC’s axing of Agent Carter long enough to give her new, non-MCU project a look? With Scorpion getting a “head start” on premiere night (its two-hour opener begins at 9 pm, limiting any sampling of its 10 o’clock rivals), it may be a matter of whether Conviction or the genre-thriller Timeless makes the most of its beefy reality-TV lead-in.

    It's Been a Year! Why Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner Still Aren't Divorced

    One year ago today, Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck announced they were separating after 10 years of marriage.

    Despite the painful times surrounding the split, the couple has remained amicable throughout the year, traveling and even living together as a family. As of their 11th anniversary on Wednesday, no divorce paperwork appears to have been filed.

    A friend of Garner's says that "Ben still doesn't want the divorce" but that Garner has denied reconcilation rumors to pals. She "doesn't seem to mind at all that [the divorce] is not finalized," but "she seems adamant about going through with it," the friend says.

    Affleck and Garner spent a month in Europe with their kids – Violet, 10, Seraphina, 7, and Samuel, 4 – while he filmed Justice League, including a family getaway to Paris.

    "She did have the best time in Europe with Ben and the kids," says her friend. "She seemed to enjoy spending time with Ben again."

    "They have a lot of admiration and respect for each other," adds a source close to the couple.

    The couple are continuing to stay together at their family home when they're both in L.A. as Affleck flies back and forth to London for filming.

    Another source close to the couple told PEOPLE recently that "nothing has changed" in the relationship: "They're still all about putting the kids first."

    Jennifer Garner Lends a Hand to Families Hit by Floods: 'My Heart is Breaking for Beautiful West Virginia'

    Jennifer Garner is doing her part to help her home state of West Virginia heal after devastating floods.

    Garner, 44, has teamed up with the charitable organization Save the Children to help raise awareness about aiding families who have lost homes, vehicles, and other personal belongings in the floods that left 23 dead and destroyed hundreds of homes.

    "My heart is breaking for beautiful West Virginia," said Garner in a statement.

    The actress, who grew up in Charleston, West Virginia, is urging people to get involved and donate to families dealing with severe damages as a result of the floods.

    "The people of my home state are the most resilient you will find, but the damage caused by the storm and deadly floods has been catastrophic for these families and communities," she said.

    According to Save the Children West Virginia Director Anna Hardway, the floods have left children walking barefoot through contaminated water and "traveling in vehicles without car seats, because their own cars were washed away," she said.

    Garner is a trustee and longtime supporter of Save the Children, which serves families in five West Virginia counties through health, early education and after-school programs. The organization has partnered with local schools to help nearly 2,000 children in the state.

    "I am relieved to know that Save the Children will continue to be on the ground in West Virginia throughout the cleanup and recovery, to make sure basic needs are met," concluded Garner.

    A state of emergency was declared in 44 of the state's 55 counties on June 24 after devastating flash floods. At the time, Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin said the flooding was "among the worst in a century for some parts of the state."

    Jennifer Garner to Be Honored at the 2016 Baby2Baby Gala

    Jennifer Garner will be honored at the 2016 Baby2Baby Gala.

    The actress – who is the mother of three children: Violet, 10, Seraphina, 7, and Samuel, 4 – will be presented with the Baby2Baby "Giving Tree Award" for her support of the Los Angeles-based nonprofit and ongoing dedication to children in need.

    Baby2Baby co-presidents Kelly Sawyer Patricof and Norah Weinstein said that when it came time to choose this year's recipient, they couldn't think of anyone more worthy of the award than Garner.

    "We are so proud to honor Jennifer for her commitment to supporting low-income children" Patricof and Weinstein said in a statement. "She is quite possibly the biggest advocate for these issues we have ever come across."

    "She has worked tirelessly for seven years to help combat children's poverty through education and leadership," they continued. "Just this past year, she helped us secure over 2 million diapers to distribute to the families in our program across the country. We are beyond grateful for her immeasurable contributions to children all over the world and to the children of Baby2Baby."

    Garner will be presented with the award at the fifth Annual Baby2Baby Gala presented by John Paul Mitchell Systems on Nov. 12 in Los Angeles.

    The actress joins past winners including Kerry Washington, Jessica Alba, Drew Barrymore and Kate Hudson.

    Baby2Baby helps provide low-income children up to 12 years of age with diapers, clothing and all of the basic necessities that every child deserves.

    Jennifer Garner Signs With CAA

    Jennifer Garner has joined CAA from WME. The actress, last seen in the faith-based hit Miracles From Heaven, will also continue to be repped by Management 360, and attorneys Jason Sloane and Harris Hartman of Sloane, Offer, Weber and Dern.

    Garner, a versatile actress who can do comedy, romance as well as physical action, has a slew of projects in the pipeline. Currently in post are Robin Swicord’s Wakefield opposite Bryan Cranston; The Tribes Of Palos Verdes with It Follows breakout Maika Monroe; and Barry Sonnenfield’s Nine Lives with Kevin Spacey.

    J.J. Abrams Teams with Tavis Smiley for Michael Jackson TV Series

    J.J. Abrams' is best known for his sci-fi and action work, but now he's delving into a new frontier: music biography.

    Abrams' Bad Robot is teaming up with author Tavis Smiley to produce a series on the final months of Michael Jacksons' life. The event, being produced for Warner Bros. Television, is an adaptation of Before You Judge Me, Smiley's biography on the King of Pop, being released on June 21st.

    According to Warner Bros. TV, the book "examines the soaring highs and deep lows faced by the late pop star -- his constant hunt for privacy in a life that was more public than almost any other, and the pressures he endured as someone whose fame made him socially fragile and almost unable to live."

    Abrams, Smiley, Ben Stephenson and David Brewington will serve as executive producers for the event series, though no network has been announced for the show yet.

    The project is the latest team up between Smiley and Bad Robot, as the two paired up in 2015 to adapt Smiley's book on Martin Luther King Jr., Death of a King: The Real Story of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Final Year.

    Bradley Cooper To Produce ‘Stand Up To Cancer’ Special

    Bradley Cooper has been tapped as executive producer of the fifth biennial Stand Up To Cancer fundraising special set to air live on September 9.

    Cooper will exec produce along with event producers Done + Dusted. Additional stars and performers will be announced in the coming weeks.

    The hourlong telecast will broadcast live from The Music Center’s Walt Disney Concert Hall in downtown Los Angeles on 45-plus broadcast and cable networks who donate an hour of simultaneous commercial-gree primetime for the broadcast. Participating networks are: ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC, along with American Forces Network, ASPiRE, AUDIENCE Network, Bloomberg TV, Bravo, Comedy Central, Discovery Life, EPIX, ESPNEWS, FM, FS2, FXM, Great American Country, HBO, HBO Latino, HLN, ION Television, LMN, Logo, MLB Network, National Geographic, Pivot, RLTV, SHOWTIME, Smithsonian Channel, Starz, Starz Encore, Starz Encore Espanol, TBS, Tr3s, VH1, and WGN America. In addition, the show will stream live on Yahoo and MLB.com, and will be available on Hulu.

    No one is ever fully prepared to deal with the overwhelming and complex journey that comes with a cancer diagnosis,” said Cooper, who lost his father, Charles Cooper, to lung cancer in 2011. “Stand Up To Cancer works tirelessly to support those at the forefront of the fight against cancer. SU2C’s mission, to ensure that all cancer patients become cancer survivors, is one that is very close to my heart. I am proud to join forces to make this vision a reality and to be part of this movement that is dedicated to getting lifesaving treatments to cancer patients faster.”

    Jennifer Garner Is Not Back Together with Ben Affleck: Source

    Despite their recent European vacation together, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner aren't reconciling.

    A friend of Garner's says the friendly exes – who spent a month together overseas along with their three kids, Violet, 10, Seraphina, 7, and Samuel, 4, while Affleck filmed Justice League – are proceeding with their divorce. "She seems adamant about going through with it," the pal tells PEOPLE in this week's issue.

    Now back home in L.A., Garner is getting their kids ready for the end of school while Affleck, who appeared at the Spike Guys' Choice Awards on June 4, has returned to London to continue filming. The actress "denies that she is back with Ben," adds the friend. "She actually almost laughs when asked."

    As for when the divorce will be official, Garner's friend says there seems to be no rush, adding that the actress "doesn't seem to mind at all that it's not finalized."

    Teen Choice Awards 2016 Nominations

    Choice Movie Actress: Drama
    Alicia Vikander – The Danish Girl
    Brie Larson – Room
    Jennifer Garner – Miracles from Heaven
    Jennifer Lawrence – Joy
    Jessica Chastain – The Martian
    Tessa Thompson – Creed

    James Corden’s Carpool Karaoke

    (Video) James Corden’s Carpool Karaoke: J.J. Abrams Gives “Director Notes” To Chewbacca Mom

    Shopping, Cafés and Family Time: Inside Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner's Life in London

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner are settling into their new life abroad.

    After spending some time together as a family in Paris, the two returned to London, where they've been spotted enjoying local activities with their three children, Violet, 10, Seraphina, 7, and Samuel, 4.

    Last week, Affleck, 43, and Garner, 44, stepped out with their brood in Westbourne Grove for an afternoon exploring the city. On Thursday, the family was seen going into various shops together. At one point, they stopped in a children's store, where they purchased a stuffed teddy bear.

    "Ben and Jen were pretty quiet and just browsed the shelves for 20 minutes with the kids," an onlooker tells PEOPLE.

    That same day, the family was spotted grabbing a bite to eat at the popular café Granger and Co. An onlooker told PEOPLE the former couple did their best to go unnoticed while eating, with Affleck keeping his head down as they sat inside.

    "It [was] a typical family meal with Ben and Jen fussing over the kids," says a witness.

    After eating, the family continued their afternoon stroll together, popping into a few more shops.

    Affleck and Garner plan to stay a month together in London (with tutors for the kids) while the actor films Justice League.

    "They are enjoying showing the kids London," a source close to the family told PEOPLE.

    The two have sparked reconciliation rumors as they continue to spend time together. A source told PEOPLE they "appeared affectionate" while at dinner in Paris.

    The Arrangement Trailer: E! Drama Skewers Hollywood, 'Scientology'

    (Video) E! on Monday unveiled the first trailer for its upcoming scripted series The Arrangement, which looks like it could be the love child of the short-lived Hollywood satire The L.A. Complex and the fictionalized reality TV drama UnREAL.

    The Arrangement follows Megan Morrison (Chicago Fire‘s Christine Evangelista), a young actress who auditions for the female lead in a movie opposite film hunk Kyle West (Dallas‘ Josh Henderson). Their chemistry is so hot that Kyle’s team — including Alias vet Michael Vartan as the leader of a self-help organization called the Institute of The Higher Mind — offers Megan a $10 million contract… to marry him.

    ‘Heartbeat’ Canceled By NBC After One Season

    The diagnosis for new NBC medical drama Heartbeat was pretty gloomy from the beginning, and now it has flatlined. The show, originally picked up for fall after The Voice, was pushed because of star Melissa George’s pregnancy. It still got a preview behind The Voice, but it did not do very well, drawing a 1.4 adults 18-49 rating. The numbers got worse when the medical show moved to its permanent Wednesday 8 PM slot, where it performed below the show it replaced, The Mysteries of Laura.

    Laura is one of only two current NBC series still in contention for next season, along with comedy The Carmichael Show.

    ABC Orders Conviction Drama to Series, Starring Agent Carter's Hayley Atwell

    Despite Agent Carter‘s fresh termination, Hayley Atwell will be on ABC next TV season, now that the network has ordered the legal drama Conviction to series.

    TV’s erstwhile Peggy Carter stars on the new series as Hayes Morrison, a lawyer and former First Daughter who is about to accept a job from her sexy nemesis, New York District Attorney Wayne Wallis (CSI: NY‘s Eddie Cahill), to avoid jail time for cocaine possession and avoid hurting her mother’s Senate campaign. Working with Wayne’s team at the new Conviction Integrity Unit, Hayes uses her brilliant mind to turn over cases where there is credible suspicion of wrongful conviction, and give her a chance to turn things around with her high-powered political family.

    Conviction also stars Shawn Ashmore (The Following) as Sam Sullivan, Merrin Dungey (Alias) as Maxine, Emily Kinney (The Walking Dead) as Tess Thompson, Manny Montana (Graceland) as Franklin “Frankie” Rios and Daniel DiTomasso (Witches of East End) as Jackson Morrison.

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner Plan to Spend a Month in London Together Amid Reconciliation Questions

    Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck are turning their European family vacation into a month-long stay.

    They plan to stay a month together in London with their three children, Violet, 10, Seraphina, 7, and Samuel, 4, while Affleck films Justice League, according to a source close to the couple.

    "Jen has said Paris is where she has amazing memories of Ben," another source close to Garner tells PEOPLE in this week's issue.

    Affleck, 43, and Garner, 44, have arranged for tutors to work with the kids so they can keep up with their schooling while living abroad.

    Since arriving across the pond last week, the family has been using their time to travel around Europe. Last weekend, they were seen touring Paris, making stops for gourmet ice cream, shopping and visiting the Eiffel Tower before returning to London.

    The former couple have sparked reconciliation rumors as they continue to spend time together. A source told PEOPLE they "appeared affectionate" while at dinner in Paris.

    So are these signs of a rekindled romance? Not for now, say multiple sources.

    "Ben wants Jen back," says the Garner source, but "Jen is not ready to take Ben back." The source close to the couple says "nothing has changed" in their relationship.

    "They are coparenting the best they can," adds another source who knows both of them. "Whatever incarnation of a relationship this is works for them."

    A Romantic Boutique Hotel, Museums and Ferris Wheel Rides: How Ben Affleck, Jen Garner and the Kids Explored Paris Before Returning to England

    After a relaxing weekend in Paris, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner returned to England Sunday night to continue their European family vacation.

    The couple and their three kids, Violet, 10, Seraphina, 7, and Samuel, 4, were spotted at St. Pancras railway station Sunday evening in London, where they had just returned from a four day getaway in the City of Light.

    "They were pretty relaxed and just walked through the main concourse of the station with their bags," a source tells PEOPLE. "They didn't really say anything but seemed in good spirits and were smiling a lot. It was all very chilled out."

    Affleck carried some flowers in his bag and Garner was seen holding a miniature plastic replica of the Eiffel tower. "They were in a really good mood. They were laughing and joking with each other," the source notes, adding, "It was really nice that they had no bodyguards with them. They were like a regular family coming back from a holiday."

    The family had arrived in Paris last Thursday afternoon and was spotted standing in line for gelato at the famous Amorino ice cream parlor, located around the corner from their hotel.

    The stayed at Le Pavillon de la Reine, a relatively small, family friendly luxury hotel near Bastille. The entrance way is located under the covered arcade of the historic Place des Vosges, which leads to a shaded courtyard outfitted with cozy tables and chairs.

    According to a source, Affleck, Garner and their children shared a family apartment together. Another source described the couple as "being close," noting that Affleck touched his wife's hand and rubbed her back at the reception desk.

    On Friday, Garner and the kids rode on the Roue de Paris, a large ferris wheel in the Place de la Concorde. Later, they took a trip to Place de l'Opera, where Garner took photos on her cell phone while a hired guide took them on a tour of the famed opera house. They also visited the Sacre-Coeur, or The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris, where Garner was seen carrying a tired Seraphina up the church steps.

    Garner and the kids continued on to the Luxemberg Gardens, where they rented two fountain sailboats for a water tour of the famous gardens. They ended the day with a visit to Notre Dame before returning to the hotel to get ready for a family dinner with Affleck.

    The dined at Le Petit Marché, where an onlooker tells PEOPLE, "At first they were alone and appeared to be affectionate, then were joined by the kids. Over dinner, the kids showed Affleck pictures from their day out, and a source says the actor was howling with laughter as he scrolled through the photos.

    Garner kicked off Saturday with an early morning jog before returning to the hotel with croissants for the family. She then set out again with the kids, visiting the famed impressionist museum, Musee d'Orsay and later the Jardin des Tuileries, where the kids played on swing sets, trampolines and a carousel. They had lunch at Laparizienne, an outdoor restaurant on Place du Marché-St Honoré before returning to the hotel.

    After a quick shopping excursion to Isabel Marrant, an upscale shopping district, Garner returned to the hotel courtyard where she stopped to pose for pictures with fans. After wrangling the kids, the actress joined them for a two-hour motor launch ride on the Seine. According to onlookers, Garner looked relaxed and enjoyed a glass of champagne.

    Garner and the kids wrapped up the trip on Sunday with a visit to the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre, where they spent two hours exploring the museum before heading back to the airport for London.

    Affleck is currently living in England while he works on Justice League, due out on Nov. 17, 2017. Both Affleck, 43, and Garner have stressed that they are focused on their children since announcing their split in June after 10 years of marriage. They have not yet filed divorce papers.

    Ben Affleck Heads to London and Paris – with Jennifer Garner and Kids Too

    Ben Affleck has some good company in London while he films Justice League.

    His wife, Jennifer Garner, and kids Violet, 10, Seraphina, 7, and Samuel, 4, have joined the actor across the pond while he works on the upcoming superhero movie due out on Nov. 17, 2017.

    "They are enjoying showing the kids London," a source close to the family tells PEOPLE.

    And the family is using their time abroad to travel around Europe. On Thursday, a Twitter user spotted Affleck, Garner and the kids waiting in line at the Amorino ice cream shop in Paris.

    Earlier in the week, another Twitter user posted that the family was spotted at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden for a Harry Potter studio tour in England.

    Since announcing their split in June, both Affleck and Garner have stressed they are moving forward by focusing on their children.

    In a March interview with the New York Times, Affleck told the newspaper that despite their public split, his family planned on joining him in Europe so they could vacation as a family.

    "We're doing our very best and we're putting our kids first and that's how we're focusing on our day-to-day lives," Affleck said on CBS This Morning in March. "We don't know what the future's going to hold, but each step that we take is one where we prioritize our children and everything else comes second."

    And while sources have said "there's no sign they're getting back together," this is far from the first time the former couple have come together for the kids since their split.

    Affleck and Garner spent Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas together, and even went on a vacation over Valentine's Day weekend.

    Wet Hot American Summer: Netflix Orders New Edition Set Ten Years Later

    (Video) Wet Hot American Summer is headed back to the future.

    Netflix has ordered a second iteration of the raunchy comedy franchise, this one set in 1991 — 10 years after the original film. Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later will consist of eight 30-minute episodes, and is set to bow in 2017. (Funny story: The new sequel-esque edition was actually foreshadowed in the 2001 movie; press PLAY above to see for yourself.)

    Executive producers David Wain and Michael Showalter, who penned last year’s prequel-themed First Day of Camp, will once again write all eight episodes.

    Wain previously told TVLine that he and Showalter would “love to keep going,” adding that “camp is a very fertile area for so many. For us, I don’t think we’ll ever run out of stories to tell about these characters.”

    Casting for chapter deux will be announced at a later date, but it’s probably safe to say that most, if not all, of your faves will be back.

    Inside Jennifer Garner's 44th Birthday Bash: Friends, Family, Balloons and a Marching Band?!

    Jennifer Garner sure knows how to throw a party!

    The Hollywood A-lister turned 44 years old over the weekend and decided to throw a little soiree to celebrate the event, as one does. But it wasn't just your average birthday bash, because we're guessing not everybody has a marching band at their party.

    Garner's festivities initially seemed simple enough, with the star inviting 30 of her closest friends and family members over to her Brentwood, Calif., home for some good times, a source tells E! News, adding that, "They set it up on the patio with a bar that was decorated with her initials as well as flower arrangements and tons and tons of balloons in all sorts of colors and shapes."

    The actress enlisted the help of Found rental company, "which is a vintage type rental service, very much in Jennifer's style. It was a very inviting and relaxed atmosphere."

    And the live music was especially dear to Garner's heart. "The best by far was the marching band that was there," the insider tells us. "Jen use to play sax in school, so it was a great detail."

    Well, there's a fun fact!

    Meanwhile, the general public can't seem to get over the fact that Garner seems to be aging in reverse, and although the mother of three continues to only look better with each passing day, she's also shared in the past that people shouldn't be afraid of aging.

    When asked what advice she would give a younger woman about their physical appearance, the Dallas Buyers Club star replied, "I would tell her to be less obsessed with her looks, because she is going to age. If you're not aging, you are dead. You earn laugh lines. You earn smile lines. Sure, they can be corrected with little bit of help—not corrected, nudged. But you don't have to freak out. You want them. You don't want your face to look like a mask."

    Speak on it, Jen.

    J.J. Abrams talks about working with a ‘rude’ actress on ‘Alias’

    J.J. Abrams went against his better judgement and once hired a “difficult” actor.

    “There was one time on ‘Alias’ an actress who will remain unnamed who came in and she was … very rude to people and literally a couple people on the crew cried,” he revealed during his Tribeca Film Festival talk on Friday with Chris Rock.

    He continued, “A couple weeks later after she was done, I got a call about her. Some producer wanted her maybe for this other project and I said, ‘You cannot hire this person. She was a disaster. She was horrible.’ He said, ‘Thank you very much.’ Didn’t hire her.”

    Unfortunately, Abrams got an angry call from the actress a week later.

    “She’s like, ‘I’ve heard that you said don’t hire me to this producer’ and I said, ‘You were a disaster! What are you talking about?'” adding, “It was one of the only times I hired someone even though I knew that was going to happen and it happened.”

    “Alias” had many guest stars over its five season run, but some notable names include Faye Dunaway, Angela Bassett and Vivica A. Fox.

    J.J. Abrams Reveals TV Execs Feared Jennifer Garner Wasn't 'Hot Enough' for Alias

    Jennifer Garner rocketed to stardom in 2001 with her breakthrough performance in the hit spy TV series Alias – a role that instantly earned her legions of fans, a Golden Globe Award and posh entree into Hollywood's A-list.

    But, it turns out, not everyone was initially sold on casting her as super spy Sydney Bristow.

    Series creator J.J. Abrams revealed that some TV honchos were apprehensive about Garner in the lead role. One exec's particular concern: Was Garner "hot enough"?

    "I wrote Alias thinking about her," Abrams said Friday during a conversation with Chris Rock at the Tribeca Film Festival in downtown Manhattan, as part of the fest's ongoing Director Series.

    "I finished it, she came in, was amazing," he recalled of Garner's audition. "And I remember someone at the network was like, 'I don't know, is she hot enough?' "

    Garner went on to snag the role, playing the stealth double agent for five seasons until 2006, a move that helped jump-start her leap to the big screen.

    "They're always second-guessing, everyone's always afraid at networks," Abrams said of the initial hesitation.

    Of course – with a rich career filled with diverse projects, including the recently released Miracles from Heaven – Garner, now 43, has since proven those early doubters wrong. Then again, Abrams never doubted that from the very start that he had the perfect star.

    "Jen was so great, and she did everything," he said. "And it was incredible doing the pilot, I remember watching her kind of find this strength in herself. It was just so cool to see, and she just did a spectacular job."

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner Celebrate Easter Together as a Family with Easter Egg Hunt

    When it comes to celebrating holidays, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner make sure to put family first.

    The former couple reunited on Sunday to spend Easter with their three children, Violet 10, Seraphina, 7, and Samuel, 4.

    "Affleck and Garner spent Easter Sunday with their kids," a source tells PEOPLE.

    The family started their day by attending a morning church service together in Los Angeles.

    Affleck and Garner, both 43, appeared relaxed as they walked up to church together, each holding on to one of their daughter Seraphina's hands while Affleck carried Samuel in his other arm.

    To keep the celebration going, Affleck – who is coming off of Batman v Superman's record-shattering $170 million domestic opening – and Garner held an Easter egg hunt at their house with friends, says the source.

    The holiday get-together comes after the family spent both Thanksgiving and Christmas together, and even went on a vacation over Valentine's day weekend. The actor also recently said they're planning a family vacation in Europe, where he'll be filming Justice League this spring.

    Since announcing their split in June, both Affleck and Garner have stressed that they are moving forward by simply focusing on their children.

    "We're doing our very best and we're putting our kids first and that's how we're focusing on our day-to-day lives," said Affleck. "We don't know what the future's going to hold, but each step that we take is one where we prioritize our children and everything else comes second."

    Tom Hanks, J.J. Abrams, Tina Fey set for talks at Tribeca Film fest

    The 15th annual Tribeca Film Festival announced its lineup for the Tribeca Talk series, which will run from April 13-24. The talking head sitdowns are never a snooze and are always a lot of fun with something pungent always in store.

    Last year, Shia LaBeouf, who was sitting on a panel for the documentary he produced, “Love True,” took plenty of time to knock Al Pacino’s acting, Hollywood and his “Transformers” co-star Bumblebee. George Lucas bluntly told Stephen Colbert that Disney was ignoring his notes for the second “Star Wars” trilogy. In addition, Deadline editor-in-chief Mike Fleming sat down for an intriguing conversation with Weinstein Co. founder and chief Harvey Weinstein.

    On deck, this year in the Tribeca Talks director series, there’s “Star Wars: Force Awakens’” J.J. Abrams hot from SXSW; “Money Monster” director Jodie Foster; director/writer/EP of the Netflix series “The Get Down,” Baz Luhrmann; Joss Whedon; and two-time Oscar-winner Alfonso Cuaron.

    The Storyteller series has booked Francis Ford Coppola, Tina Fey and Tom Hanks.

    Of note, in the After Movies section, there’s a post-screening Q&A with Oscar and Grammy award-winning musician David Byrne, who’ll speak with Bill and Turner Ross, the directors of the doc “Contemporary Colors” which the Talking Heads frontman stars in and produced.

    Also Ricky Gervais will sit down after a screening of his Netflix original feature Special Correspondents with the actor of that film Eric Bana.

    There’s also a Daring Women Summit on Wednesday, April 20 where those at the forefront of art and technology, commune and regale their stories. The list of panelists includes “Full Frontal” host Samantha Bee, “Vinyl’s” Olivia Wilde, fashion designer Donna Karen, Google Entertainment Industry Educator in Chief Julie Ann Crommett, “Fresh off the Boat” showrunner Nahnatchka Khan, Chief Content Officer for Refinery 29 Amy Emmerich, New York Public Radio’s President & CEO Laura Walker, and The Li.st founder Rachel Sklar among many others.

    Jennifer Garner on Her Panic Attack-Inducing Oscars Dress: 'There's Metal Inside It and People Move Your Ribs to the Side'

    (Video) They say beauty is pain. But in the case of Jennifer Garner and her 2016 Oscars dress, being that beautiful wasn’t just painful, it was straight up torture.

    The actress appeared on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon on Wednesday night and wound up talking about that black Atelier Versace one-shoulder gown she wore to this year’s Academy Awards, confessing that while it may have looked like it was all effortless glamour, she was in fact living inside her own personal dress-shaped hell.

    Despite the fact that this dress was custom-made for her, according to Garner, since she doesn’t have a waist anymore, they had to completely construct one out of metal. “What they do is they move your organs around,” she told Fallon, “basically, there are two men who come in with screw guns and they screwed me into a metal corset … and the next thing you know my ribs were compressed!” When Fallon, inquired if it was anything like Spanx, she quickly corrected him, “No, dude, it’s so intense. There’s metal inside it and these people just move your ribs and they move your liver to the side.”

    If that wasn’t bad enough, Garner continues that four hours in, during the Oscars telecast, “I had a panic attack in my ribs, I was having a muscle spasm.” Naturally her first instinct was to stand, but her best friend and date for the evening warned her people would think she was pulling a Kanye and protesting the ceremony.

    Thankfully she was able to quietly slip backstage, but as to what happened once she realized she had to go to the bathroom, well, we’ll let her finish that story. All we’ll say is, it was “worse than a toddler in a snowsuit.”

    The actress then went on to play a new game called “Truth or Door” against Cuba Gooding Jr. where they each had to reveal a secret about themselves or take on a dare hidden behind one of three doors. Cuba gamely dressed up as a cowboy, while Jen was asked to hold three frozen water balloons for the remainder of the game. But after the ordeal she went through at the Academy Awards, Garner can handle anything.

    Jennifer Garner Says Public Divorce from Ben Affleck Hasn't Been 'as Bad as You Might Imagine' Because of Support from Friends and Family

    Jennifer Garner says the support of those around her has helped her through her split from Ben Affleck.

    Garner, 43, appeared Wednesday on the Today show to discuss her new movie Miracles from Heaven and filming in the midst of a very public divorce.

    "It's not easy to go through it, period. I have found that going through it in the public eye, it's just another facet of it," Garner told Savannah Guthrie.

    "For anyone, when your life shifts in any way it's tricky enough. But I have found people to be so warm and loving that it hasn't been nearly as bad as you might imagine."

    Garner and Affleck announced their split last June after 10 years of marriage.

    Now, the actress – and her family – are in a good place, she said.

    "People have been so kind to my whole family and we really do appreciate it. But, you know what? We're doing really well," she said.

    "The kids are great and they'll be getting up and going to school soon, and Ben is there and he'll be taking them and we will make it work."

    Garner and Affleck have been adjusting to their new lives as friendly, co-parenting exes, and the actress' Miracles from Heaven costars have praised Garner for staying focused on set even during the darkest days of her divorce.

    "Jen, obviously, had a lot of personal stuff going on in her life," Martin Henderson told PEOPLE earlier this month.

    "For her, things were a lot more complicated, so it would have been understandable if she brought a lot of that stuff onto the set," he added. "And not once did she ever, and once again I thought that just speaks to her character and how [incredibly focused] and professional she is."

    Review: A mother's faith is tested in 'Miracles From Heaven'

    The rise of the so-called "faith-based film" — typically low-budget films that are almost uniformly evangelical — has occurred largely in a bubble of its own like a sheltering harbor for Christian believers at that heathen meeting place: the multiplex.

    "Miracles From Heaven," a film whose title even Hallmark would blush at, is an attempt to expand the reach of the faith-based film a little beyond the flock. To do so, it has armed itself with two things: the star power of Jennifer Garner and a full barrage of sentimentality. The fate of a sick 10-year-old girl precariously hangs in the balance.

    The film, directed by Patricia Riggen ("The 33"), is adapted from the memoir of Christy Beam, whose Texas family is jolted when one of their three daughters, Anna (played sweetly by Kylie Rogers), is found to suffer from a rare disorder that leaves her chronically unable to digest food.

    "Based on real events," is how the film presents itself, and some of its best qualities are in depicting elements of life — the frightful anxiety of parenthood, the struggle to find meaning amid hardship — that don't often make it into the movies.

    But the course of "Miracles From Heaven" is never in doubt. When Garner as Beam intones in the opening voiceover questions of where miracles come from, the film's title has already stated the answer. Just as certainly will it turn out well in the end for Christy, who strays from her faith while watching her daughter's belly painfully swell, and Anna, whose health deteriorates while the family desperately searches for a knowing doctor.

    For those girding for religious propaganda, that is here. And the Beams — a white, churchgoing, flannel-shirt wearing Texas family with horses on their pastoral, homespun ranch — offer little that deviates from the most stereotyped, limited view of who's Christian.

    But to the film's credit, its more distinguishing characteristic is an earnestness to recognize the small and large gestures of kindness that alter lives. It's not the most radical epiphany, but in "Miracles From Heaven," it feels genuine.

    Garner is, of course, a better performer than many of these films have had before, and her white-knuckle maternal worry propels the movie to something a touch better than the Lifetime movie you'd expect. Several years after "Dallas Buyers Club," Garner is back in hospital halls, this time as a pleading parent of a patient.

    Along the way, a handful of people brighten Anna's journey: a playful doctor (Eugenio Derbez), an exuberantly friendly waitress (Queen Latifah, incredulously playing a Bostonian), a thoughtful boy at school.

    "Miracles are everywhere" is the movie's concluding ethos, something that might also be said of Terrence Malick's bursting-with-life films, the latest of which was his Los Angeles version of the prodigal son tale, "Knight of Cups." The connection, between radically different elevations of moviemaking, is maybe a little silly.

    But it's a reminder that, just as "miracles" are all around, spirituality in the cinema is, too, and it should be sought out in films that exceed the narrow boundaries of "faith-based."

    "Miracles From Heaven," a Sony Pictures release, is rated PG by the Motion Picture Association of America for "thematic material, including accident and medical images." Running time: 109 minutes. Two stars out of four.

    New faith-based films tone down religion, amp up star power

    For some filmgoers, hearing a movie described as "faith-based" makes it a must-see. But just as many others find the term a turn-off.

    To reach audiences beyond the Christian churchgoers that generally propel the genre, some producers of faith-based films are ramping up the star power and tamping down the evangelical messages.

    The latest example is "Miracles From Heaven," starring Jennifer Garner and Queen Latifah, which tells the true story of a 9-year-old Texas girl who inexplicably recovers from an incurable condition after surviving a 30-foot fall.

    Among the film's producers are pastor T.D. Jakes and preacher DeVon Franklin — the team behind 2014's $100 million hit "Heaven is for Real" — who say they aim to make movies for all audiences, not just religious ones.

    "I think sometimes when people hear 'faith-based,' to them that is code for preachy, that is code for more medicine, and it's also sometimes code for lower quality, lower budgeted," Franklin said in a recent interview.

    "It's the way people think when you use labels that is the barrier," Jakes said. "It's not necessarily the film, but the image that comes up in people's minds ... It suggests a discrimination that was not intended. We didn't do this film just for people of faith. We did this film for everybody."

    Other entertainment aimed at Christian audiences, including new films "The Young Messiah" and "God's Not Dead 2," and the live TV special "The Passion" (airing Sunday), take a more religious approach.

    "Miracles From Heaven" is based on Christy Beam's 2015 memoir, which describes her family's struggles and her own crisis of faith when daughter Anna is diagnosed with an incurable digestive disorder, then has a potentially deadly fall. But following the mishap, Anna has no serious injuries and ultimately shows no signs of the disorder. She later tells her mom she went to heaven and talked to Jesus during the ordeal.

    The film is being released Wednesday by Sony's Affirm Films, the studio's specialty faith division established in 2007.

    Affirm also released "Heaven is for Real," starring Greg Kinnear, which is similarly based on a parent's account of a child's divine experience. The film had a reported $12 million budget and made more than $100 million at the box office.

    Paramount's "Captive," released last fall, was a modest faith-based success. Also a true story, it stars David Oyelowo as Brian Nichols, an escaped murderer who takes a single mother (Kate Mara) hostage, then lets her go after she reads a Christian book to him. Despite mixed reviews, it more than doubled its small budget at the box office.

    Marketing a film as faith-based means nothing if the content doesn't speak to religious audiences, said Maria Elena de Las Carreras, a professor of international cinema at the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television.

    "It's a label, but it's not magical. It doesn't guarantee box-office turnout," she said, citing Paramount's 2014 big-budget Biblical flop, "Noah."

    "Audiences flock to well-made films that deal with stories of optimism and renewal, even if there is suffering and there is loss," she said. "That was true in classic Hollywood cinema and it's true today."

    Hollywood has a long history of Biblical blockbusters, from Cecil B. DeMille's "The Ten Commandments" to Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" to the currently playing "Risen," also released by Affirm and starring Joseph Fiennes. But such big names haven't traditionally been drawn to the quieter God-related fare.

    Garner, who plays Christy Beam in "Miracles From Heaven," celebrated the film's Christian themes.

    "I wasn't scared of doing a movie that had faith at its center, as long as it wasn't preachy," Garner told The Associated Press. "And doing this movie, part of that is talking about something that I've always held dear and close to my heart... I'm proud of growing up a little good churchgoing United Methodist girl and I'm so, so proud of the film."

    Director Patricia Riggen ("The 33") said she didn't approach the film from a religious perspective.

    "I wanted to make the movie have a wide appeal and be able to be seen and enjoyed by people of any faith or no faith at all," she said. "It was, for me, important to keep it open in that sense."

    Even films not branded as faith-based can be "promoted from the pulpit," said de Las Carreras, who says she is Catholic.

    "When the priest in the sermon mentions a film, I pay attention, because of the authority," she said.

    Churches are powerful marketing agents, said Alex Ben Block, founder of entertainment industry website BlockandTackle.biz, noting some congregations organize carpools or hire buses to take members to the latest faith-based releases.

    "That's really fed some of the movies that have done well," he said, adding that faith-based films also have long lives after their theatrical releases as they become regular viewing in Sunday school classes and daycare.

    But echoing UCLA's de Las Carreras, Block said producers aiming at broader audiences for their faith-based fare can't obscure religious themes too much "because as soon as you try to make it more viable, you alienate the core audience."

    An 'Upbeat' Jennifer Garner Celebrates Her New Film Miracles from Heaven Outside Boston

    Jennifer Garner headed just outside of Boston, Massachusetts, on Sunday evening for a fundraiser inspired by her new film Miracles from Heaven.

    The actress attended a screening of the movie at the Showcase Superlux at The Street Chestnut Hill, where she walked the red carpet with the Beam family, who were the inspiration for the film.

    Dr. Samuel Nurko, the doctor from Boston Children's Hospital who treated the Beams' daughter, whose extraordinary story is told in the movie, also hung out with Garner on the red carpet.

    After the screening of the film (which opens Wednesday) and a Q&A session, Garner, 43, headed next door to Davio's Chestnut Hill for a small cocktail reception. Clad in black pants, a black top and a fitted navy blazer, Garner was "upbeat," according to partygoers, as she sipped a glass of Cabernet and ate tuna tartare.

    Garner hung out with one of her sisters at the reception, but made sure to take a moment to pose for a photo with a member of Davio's staff at the event, which was a benefit for Children's Hospital Boston.

    "She seems very close to the people who are portrayed in the movie. She was incredibly down-to-earth and generous with her time," said Davio's Regional General Manager Paul Flaherty, who snapped a photo with the star. "She was extremely gracious and humble."

    Ben Affleck: Jennifer Garner is ‘allowed’ to talk nanny scandal

    Two weeks after Jennifer Garner’s head-turning Vanity Fair interview about her crumbling marriage to Ben Affleck, the action hero is issuing his own statement.

    “Jen’s great,” Affleck, 43, told the New York Times in an interview that ran Monday. “She’s a great person. We’re on great terms. I just saw her this morning, so that’s the reality that I live in.”

    The pair officially called it quits in June 2015, then were dogged by rumors that Affleck and the nanny for their three kids, Christine Ouzounian, were dating.

    Some headlines suggested Ouzounian was the cause of their split, but Garner, 43, denied Ouzounian had anything to do with their failed 10-year marriage. She called any involvement on Affleck’s part “bad judgment” and insisted their marriage was over months before the reports.

    “She felt like she wanted to discuss it and get it out there and get it over with,” Affleck said of Garner’s VF comments. “So she could say, ‘Look, I already talked about it — I don’t want to do it again.’”

    He added, “It’s fine. She’s allowed to talk about it.”

    Since their divorce has become a hot topic, Affleck and Garner have remained close, flocking to Montana in February for a family vacation with fellow couple Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen.

    Victor Garber Joins ‘Rebel In The Rye’

    Victor Garber has booked a role in Danny Strong’s Rebel in the Rye, the biopic that follows J.D. Salinger as he prepares to write his classic novel The Catcher in the Rye. Nicholas Hoult stars as Salinger alongside Kevin Spacey, Zoey Deutch, Laura Dern, Brian D’Arcy James and Hope Davis. Garber will play the author’s father, Sol Salinger. A six-time Emmy nominee, Garber stars as Dr. Martin Stein on the CW’s Legends of Tomorrow. Other recent credits include TV’s The Flash, Power, The Slap, Web Therapy and Deception. He is repped by UTA and Industry Entertainment.

    JJ Abrams admits major mistake in ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’

    The newest installment in the “Star Wars” franchise was received by most fans as one of the best movies of the series, but some die hard fans were more than a little upset by one scene in particular.

    After the heartbreaking death of Han Solo (Harrison Ford), Rey (Daisy Ridley) and Chewbacca can be seen returning to the Resistance base, downtrodden and grieving their fallen friend.

    Leia (Carrie Fisher), who has sensed her husband’s death through the Force, chooses to console Rey, a girl she’s never met, rather than her long time friend Chewbacca, who would no doubt have taken Han’s death the hardest.

    In an interview with Slash Film, J.J. Abrams responded to the criticism with a few justifications, but overall he admits that he should have handled the scene better.

    “My thinking at the time was that Chewbacca, despite the pain he was feeling, was focused on trying to save Finn and getting him taken care of. So I tried to have Chewbacca go off with him and focus on Rey, and then have Rey find Leia and Leia find Rey,” says Abrams.

    “The idea being that both of them being strong with the Force and never having met, would know about each other — that Leia would have been told about her beyond what we saw onscreen and Rey of course would have learned about Leia. And that reunion would be a meeting and a reunion all in one, and a sort of commiseration of their mutual loss.”

    Fans were understandably outraged that the friendship between Chewie and Leia was not honored, and Abrams admits that the mistake was not intentional.

    “Had Chewbacca not been where he was, you probably wouldn’t have thought of it,” he says. “But because he was right there, passed by Leia, it felt almost like a slight, which was definitely not the intention.”

    Beyoncé is way too expensive for Bradley Cooper

    Bradley Cooper’s planned directing debut, a remake of “A Star Is Born,” has fallen through after his rumored co-star Beyoncé wanted too much money for the role.

    Warner Bros. was negotiating with “American Sniper” star Cooper to direct and star in the remake of the 1950s Judy Garland musical. Beyoncé was being lined up to play the lead, a young woman whose dreams of stardom are helped by an aging icon.

    But one Hollywood source tells Page Six, “Beyoncé wanted too much money, and Warner Bros. balked at her price. The production budget was also said to be an issue with the studio, so the project has fallen apart.”

    However, a different source claimed, “Bradley has started reading scripts for his next acting project. But the ‘Star Is Born’ project remains in development and Bradley is still involved.”

    A third source added, “This project is something Bradley has been involved with for a long time. It has gone on the back burner, but he’s still working on it, among other projects.”

    Cooper has his own production company, 22nd & Green, with Todd Phillips under the Warner umbrella.

    The remake of the classic 1954 Judy Garland musical made by Warner Bros. — itself a remake of a 1937 film that starred Fredric March and Janet Gaynor — has been floated around Hollywood since 2011. There was also a 1976 version, which starred Kris Kristofferson and Barbra Streisand and was panned by most critics.

    Back in 2011, Clint Eastwood was set to direct, and Beyoncé’s name was first mentioned as the female lead. Tom Cruise, Will Smith, Christian Bale and Leonardo DiCaprio were reportedly circling as the male lead, but the movie kept being delayed.

    In 2014, Cooper — who’s been thinking of directing for some time — picked the project as his directorial debut, following the success of “American Sniper,” also made with Warner Bros.

    Reps for Warner Bros. and Cooper didn’t comment, and a Beyoncé rep didn’t get back to us.

    Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck Spotted Eating Brunch Together with Kids: 'The Vibe Is Much Happier'

    Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck reunited for some quality family time together on Sunday.

    The amicable exes were spotted getting brunch together with their daughters Seraphina, 7, and Violet, 10, in Los Angeles. They were seen picking up food from the Amandine Patisserie Café.

    "Ben and Jen spent Sunday with their kids. They had brunch together, Jen then ran errands alone and also attended a charity event," a source tells PEOPLE.

    The two were all smiles as they chatted and walked through the parking lot after brunch before parting ways in their respective cars.

    "Ben and Jen seemed totally fine. They actually acted like they enjoyed hanging out," adds the source. "They were smiling and very friendly. Things definitely seem much better. They also hung out at home over the weekend. The vibe is much happier."

    The afternoon outing comes just one week after the former couple were seen having a "nice moment" together at the Vanity Fair Oscar party. There, the two shared a friendly hug and kiss as they mingled among fellow partygoers.

    "They had a nice moment where they caught up and a lot of their friends were there – and they chatted and then they left," a source told PEOPLE.

    Affleck and Garner also reunited to celebrate their son Sam's 4th birthday last week with a superhero-themed bash, where Affleck dressed up at Batman.

    ‘Suits’ Gina Torres Set For the Lead In ‘The Death of Eva Sofia Valdez’ ABC Pilot

    Suits co-star Gina Torres is set for the title role in ABC drama pilot The Death Of Eva Sofia Valdez. The casting won’t impact Torres’ status on the popular USA drama for the time being. Suits, which just ended its fifth season, has been renewed for Season 6 to launch this summer. I’ve learned that Torres will remain a regular through season 6, fulfilling her six-year contract, with her character likely getting phased out.

    Written by Cuban-American playwright Charise Castro Smith, The Death Of Eva Sofia Valdez is described as a sexy revenge drama with a supernatural twist and MacBeth with a Cuban twist. It centers on Eva Sofia Valdez (Torres), an immigrant who rose from rags to riches and is a celebrated Miami entrepreneur and a champion forimmigrant rights. But the success of this ” modern-day Havana-born Cleopatra” is fueled by an insatiable ambition that could destroy her family, a vendetta against the lover who betrayed her, and ghosts from the past who threaten to reveal the dark sacrifices Eva Sofia made to attain the American Dream.

    Michele Fazekas and Tara Butters executive produce alongside Castro Smith for ABC Studios.

    This would mark the first series lead role for Firefly and 24 alumna Torres who has been a standout on Suits as the smart and decisive Jessica Pearson. She also recurred on NBC’s Hannibal and ABC’s Revenge. Torres is repped by Domain and Framework Entertainment.

    JJ Abrams on #OscarsSoWhite controversy, Bad Robot’s new diversity policy

    J.J. Abrams has already been applauded for promoting diversity in Hollywood, having just released the most diverse “Star Wars” movie yet. With a strong female lead and black stormtrooper snagging the majority of screen time, “Star Wars” has officially joined the 21st century.

    The world-famous director isn’t done yet though, as Abrams has officially committed to promoting a new diversity policy within his production company, Bad Robot.

    In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Abrams said the #OscarsSoWhite controversy was a big motivator for him. “We’ve been working to improve our internal hiring practices for a while, but the Oscars controversy was a wake-up call to examine our role in expanding opportunities internally at Bad Robot and externally with our content and partners,” says Abrams.

    Bad Robot will team up with CAA, Warner Brothers and Paramount to ensure that women and minorities are submitted for all writing, acting and directing jobs within the company in proportion to their representation in the U.S. population.

    While no statistics or numbers accompany this announcement, if Bad Robot does adopt the policy and sticks to it, it has a chance to become one of the most diverse production companies in Hollywood.

    “It’s good for audiences and it’s good for the bottom line,” Abrams says.

    ‘Spark’ ABC Pilot Casts Lena Olin & Tom Brittney

    Lena Olin (Welcome To Sweden) and Tom Brittney (The Syndicate) are set as series regulars as mother and son in ABC pilot Spark, from writer Michael Cooney and producers Ian Sander & Kim Moses. Spark is a lavish primetime drama series of passion, greed and hope in a Steampunk reality, circa 2016. Set in an alternate history where gas and coal fuel the world, the drama centers on the battle for power between two rival families and a rebellious young woman with a spark of invention that could level both their empires.

    Olin will play Hazel Stockton, an up-by-her-bootstraps self-made woman who now controls the powerful Stockton Coal Company. She uses her wealth more altruistically than her arch rivals at Lavelle Gas — but despite her philanthropic outreaches to the city’s poor, she still craves absolute power, and is not above using strong-arm tactics to achieve it. However, when deadly sabotage starts claiming innocent lives across the city, she denies any involvement to her son Aiden, Captain of the Investigative Division of the Watch, who is investigating the incidents.

    Olin was most recently seen as a series regular in NBC comedy Welcome to Sweden, and will next be seen recurring on HBO’s Vinyl. She’s repped by Untitled and Paradigm. Brittney recently recurred on BBC One’s The Syndicate and Sky’s The Five, and he has also appeared on Outlander and UnReal. He is repped by Authentic, Gersh and UK’s Waring & McKenna.

    ‘Riverdale’ CW Pilot Finds Hermione Lodge

    Marisol Nichols (Teen Wolf) has been cast as Hermione Lodge in Riverdale, the CW pilot from producer Greg Berlanti.

    Set in present time, Riverdale is a subversive take on Archie (KJ Apa), Betty (Lili Reinhart), Veronica (Camila Mendes) and their friends, exploring the surrealism of small-town life — the darkness and weirdness bubbling beneath Riverdale’s wholesome façade.

    Nichols will play Hermione Lodge, Veronica’s mother.

    In the pilot, from Warner Bros. TV, Nichols also joins Ashleigh Murray (Josie), Cole Sprouse (Jughead Jones), Madelaine Petsch (Cheryl Blossom) and Luke Perry (Archie’s dad Fred Andrews).

    Nichols recurs as Desert Wolf on Teen Wolf and also recurred on Criminal Minds and NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service.

    Jennifer Garner Had an Alias Reunion at the Oscars and It Looked Delightful

    (Pic) Hold onto your brightly-colored wigs, Alias fans! The reunion on your dreams took place at the Vanity Fair Oscars party: Victor Garber, Jennifer Garner and J.J. Abrams together again! And a Whoopi Goldberg photobomb! Yes, that's Whoopi, not Oprah Winfrey. Garber's husband Rainer Andreesen snapped the shot.

    What do you think they talked about? An Alias revival? An Alias movie? What Sydney Bristow is up to today? How they could bring Jack (Garber) back from the dead for said revival? Why now is a perfect time for more Alias due to Garner's big comeback? Alias ran for five seasons on ABC from 2001-2006. Abrams created the spy drama.

    Garber posted the above photo the morning after the Oscars with this simple caption: "Jack and Sidney. Together again."

    "I don't remember having more fun working with anyone than I've had working with her," Abrams told Vanity Fair about Garner and Alias. "She's smart-funny—she makes you want to be funnier and smarter, and you know that when you throw the best you've got her way she'll make it better. No one's perfect. But no one's Jen Garner."

    Garber and Garner met working on the show and remain close. Garber is the godfather to Garner's daughter Violet. "From the first moment we met," Garber told VF, "there was this inexplicable chemistry and connection, this understanding that we were on the same page. She's one of the most important people in my life."

    Now if you'll excuse us, we'll be further developing more Alias revival concepts.

    ‘Conviction’: Merrin Dungey Cast In ABC Legal Drama Pilot

    Merrin Dungey (Big Little Lies) has been cast opposite Hayley Atwell in ABC’s legal drama pilot Conviction, from The Mark Gordon Co. and ABC Studios.

    Co-created by Liz Friedman, who wrote the script, and Liz Friedlander, who will direct the pilot, Conviction stars Atwell as the brilliant but ne’er-do-well daughter of a former President who is blackmailed into taking a job as the head of Los Angeles’ newly created Conviction Integrity Unit. She, along with her team of lawyers, investigators and forensic experts, work together to examine cases where there’s credible suspicion that the wrong person may have been convicted of a crime.

    Dungey will play Maxine, the lead investigator for the Conviction Integrity Unit. Maxine is a former NYPD detective from a cop family. She is tough and no-nonsense, but will find her previously unfailing loyalty to the badge tested as she delves into her former colleagues’ cases. She joins recently announced cast members Shawn Ashmore, Emily Kinney and Manny Montana.

    Dungey can be currently seen in HBO’s Big Little Lies. Other credits include Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Alias and features Deep Impact and EdTV among others. She is repped by Gersh, Industry Entertainment and attorney Marcy Morris.

    Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck 'Had a Nice Moment' Together at Oscars Afterparty

    Hollywood is a small world for these friendly exes.

    Just one day after reuniting with Ben Affleck to throw their son a birthday party, Jennifer Garner and the actor wound up at the same Oscars soiree, where they were spotted briefly greeting each other.

    Both stars attended the famed 2016 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Graydon Carter, mingling with the likes of Best Actor and Actress winners Leonardo DiCaprio and Brie Larson.

    When they initially arrived, the amicable exes were seen standing a few feet away from each other without interacting as they chatted with fellow party guests.

    Later in the evening, Affleck and Garner shared a friendly hug and a kiss, and at one point Garner held his lapels as she appeared to compliment his look. The two later parted ways, with Garner staying toward the back of the room with close friends Victor Garber and J.J. Abrams.

    (Earlier, Affleck was spotted meeting up with pal and Best Actor nominee Matt Damon on the patio.)

    "They had a nice moment where they caught up and a lot of their friends were there – and they chatted and then they left," a source tells PEOPLE of the former couple.

    Garner, who presented during the awards with Benicio Del Toro looked sophisticated in an off-the-shoulder black Atelier Versace gown.

    Affleck also appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live on Sunday, jokingly smuggling Damon onto the late-night show's set as part of a long-running gag with the host.

    On Friday, Garner's illuminating cover interview with Vanity Fair was published, dropping several bombshells about her painful split from Affleck after 10 years of marriage.

    Garner said that Affleck's alleged affair with the couple's nanny (which he vehemently denies) came after their decision to separate, and that she would marry him all over again if she had to "go back" in time.

    Jennifer Garner Plants a Smooch on Benicio Del Toro During Oscars Rehearsal

    (Pic) Jennifer Garner and Benicio Del Toro got chummy during their Oscars rehearsal at the Dolby Theatre on Saturday afternoon.

    The pair, who will present together during the 88th annual Academy Awards, posed for a selfie together backstage after their run-through, with Garner planting a smooch on Del Toro's cheek.

    Garner and Del Toro were both laid back but focused on learning their presenter lines and stage blocking.

    Del Toro, 49, tipped his baseball cap to the orchestra when he got onstage, while Garner surveyed the orchestra and the photos affixed to the seats. At one point, a crew member pointed in the direction of where she'll be sitting during the show, to which the star responded, "great."

    The actress, 43, and Del Toro kept up a nice rapport, chatting easily when they weren't focused on practicing lines and learning where to stand. After nailing their bit, the pair headed off-stage.

    Makeup-free Garner came to the rehearsal straight from her son Sam's birthday party, which was held at her Pacific Palisades home earlier in the day.

    A source told PEOPLE that Garner and Ben Affleck reunited to celebrate Sam's 4th birthday with a superhero-themed bash just one day following the publication of Garner's revealing Vanity Fair interview.

    In the piece, Garner said that her relationship with Affleck was "a real marriage" and that the actor's alleged relationship with their former nanny (which he has repeatedly denied) had nothing to do with their decision to divorce.

    Ben Affleck 'Is the Love of My Life': The Biggest Bombshells from Jennifer Garner's Vanity Fair Interview

    Jennifer Garner is speaking out about her painful split from Ben Affleck for the first time – and she has a lot to say.

    From addressing the nanny scandal to not being kissed in nearly eight months and of course, Affleck's new tattoo, Garner, 43, doesn't hold back.

    Here are the nine biggest bombshells from the Vanity Fair interview.

    On not being able to sleep alone: Garner admitted that she's had trouble sleeping since the divorce, turning to watching television in bed at night to soothe her thoughts. "I need something to switch my brain off," she said, adding that her eldest daughter Violet has been sleeping in her room. "I am sleeping next to my daughter. I am happy to have her; she's happy to have me."

    On Ben Affleck's alleged nanny affair (which he adamantly denies): "We had been separated for months before I ever heard about the nanny," said Garner. "She had nothing to do with our decision to divorce. She was not a part of the equation. Bad judgment? Yes."

    On avoiding the media circus following the split: "I just won't do it anymore. I took a silent oath with myself last summer," she said. While some interpreted her silence as her being emotionless, but she says it's the opposite. "It hurts me so much, and I care so much." Instead, she remains focused on her kids and the "big picture," not letting anger rule her emotions.

    On Affleck being the love of her life: "I didn't marry the big fat movie star; I married him, she said. "And I would go back and remake that decision." Despite any heartbreak she's felt since their split, Garner said Affleck will always have a special place in her heart. "He's the love of my life. What am I going to do about that? He's the most brilliant person in any room, the most charismatic, the most generous. He's just a complicated guy"

    On not being kissed in eight months: The actress revealed that filming a love scene in her upcoming film Wakefield was the first time she had been kissed in nearly eight months – so naturally it felt a little strange. "It's nine in the morning and you think, I could really use a shot of alcohol."

    On still turning to Affleck when things get tough: "We still have to help each other get through this," she said. "He's still the only person who really knows the truth about things. And I'm still the only person that knows some of his truths."

    On wanting Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt to get back together: If there's one thing Garner can understand, it's secretly rooting for your favorite celebrity couple. She said she's not upset when those around her, including her fans, want to see her and Affleck figure out a way to make things work between them. "When Jen Aniston and Brad Pitt broke up I was dying to see something that said they were getting back together."

    On getting asked out on a date: While Garner probably won't date until the divorce is final, that certainly hasn't stopped a few brave souls from taking a shot – even in the airport. Garner recalled being asked out while standing in line for the bathroom before a flight. "I was so floored," she said, adding that she isn't so interested in modern-day romance techniques. "I want flowers; I don't want to text," she said. "What does that make me? What kind of dinosaur am I?"

    On Affleck's full back tattoo: Let's just say, Garner isn't a big fan. "You know what we would say in my hometown about that? 'Bless his heart.' A phoenix rising from the ashes. Am I the ashes in this scenario? I take umbrage. I refuse to be the ashes."

    Jennifer Garner takes her kids to church every week

    Jennifer Garner opened up about why she has made going to church a weekly tradition for her kids.

    “I grew up going to church every Sunday of my life, and when I did move to LA, it wasn’t something that was just part of the culture there in the same way, at least in my life. But it didn’t mean that I lost who I was,” the mom of three said on “Good Morning Texas.”

    Garner’s faith and her career cross paths in her new faith-based film “Miracles from Heaven” about a young girl from Texas who was cured of a chronic disease after falling from a tree. She claimed that while she was unconscious, she met Jesus in heaven.

    Garner plays the young girl’s mother, Christy Beam. She said she was moved by Beam’s memoir, which the film is based on.

    “There was something about doing this film and talking to my kids about it and realizing that they were looking for the structure of church every Sunday,” Garner said. “So it was a great gift of this film that it took us back to finding our local Methodist church and going every Sunday. It’s really sweet.”

    Victor Garber Supports Young People Living with Type 1 Diabetes: 'You Can Live with It and Thrive'

    Victor Garber is speaking out about the stigma behind type 1 diabetes.

    Diagnosed with the incurable, insulin-dependent disease at the young age of 12, Garber admits it took him most of his teenage and early twenties "to acknowledge that it was serious."

    "We knew very little about it and it was difficult to accept," Garber, 66, tells PEOPLE in this week's magazine.

    The Legends of Tomorrow star adds, "Now, I think it's important to talk about the disease, especially to children who are traumatized and think their lives are over."

    In effort to start the discussion, Garber has joined forces with Beyond Type 1, a platform for those diagnosed with type 1 diabetes to share their stories.

    • For more from Garber and his fight against diabetes, pick up this week's issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday

    "Beyond Type 1 is really addressing young kids directly," Garber explains. "The website gives them a place to ask question and to see how other people are dealing with it and how parents are dealing with it."

    Because of his personal experience with the disease, Garber knows that there is life beyond the diagnosis.

    "I think the worst feeling for any kid is to think that their life has been cut short or diminished in some way by this disease," he says. "What we need is a cure, but in the meantime we're here to say, you can live with it and thrive. Type 1 diabetes does not define who you are."

    Jennifer Garner Opens Up About Faith and Family Following the Premiere of Miracles from Heaven

    Jennifer Garner is opening up about her faith and family following the premiere of her new film, Miracles from Heaven.

    The 43-year-old actress stunned on the red carpet, wearing a sleeveless, little black dress to premiere in Dallas, Texas Sunday night. After the screening, she joined the film's producers DeVon Franklin and Bishop T.D Jakes for an audience Q&A.

    In the upcoming drama, Garner plays a mother whose faith is restored when her daughter is cured from a severe digestive disorder after falling 30 feet inside a hollow tree. The movie is based on the real-life saga of Texas mom Christy Beam, who joined Garner on Monday for a Good Morning Texas appearance in Dallas.

    Garner, who was born in Texas, was asked by host Jane McGarry why she wanted to do this particular movie: "Did you want to talk about faith and God?"

    "I love the message in the film, and I love the message of hope," she says. "I love how inspiring the film is. But I also really connected with Christy just from reading the book and from reading the script, and I wanted to honor what she and Annabel and the whole family went through."

    Asked if she and her children go to church, Garner said they do.

    "Is that weird in Hollywood?" McGarry asked.

    "You know, it did seem strange," she replied. "I grew up going to church every Sunday of my life, and when I did move to L.A., it wasn't something that was just part of the culture in the same way, at least in my life. But it didn't mean that I lost who I was. But there was something about doing this film and talking to my kids about it and realizing that they were looking for the structure of church every Sunday. So it was a great gift of this film that it took us back to finding our local Methodist church and going every Sunday. It's really sweet."

    Annabel Beam, the little girl at the heart of the movie and the book by the same name, had suffered from pseudo-obstruction motility disorder for years. The disease often required tube-feeding and hospital stays. But after falling 30 feet into a hollow tree – and visiting Heaven, she says – Annabel became asymptomatic.

    In a scene from the movie, Garner asks the doctor, "You're telling me that when this baby girl fell 30 feet, she hit her head just right and it didn't kill her and it didn't paralyze her and it healed her?

    "Yes," the doctor says.

    "That's impossible," she replies.

    On Good Morning Texas, Garner was asked if she believes Annabel's account that she went to Heaven.

    "Nobody who meets this child, with her sincerity and her frank honesty and faith, would ever think for a second that this child is making anything up or is being sensational," she says. "She is just true to the bone. That's just who she is.

    "She is an old soul," Garner adds. "There's something very special about her. She can be very internal and quiet, but in the next second she's just a little girl running around and eating fettuccine Alfredo. I learned so much about this disease that when I sat down with her and she had a plate of pasta in front of her, there was a part of me that felt like, 'You can't eat that!' But she's okay; she really is. It's a miracle."

    Although she says she doesn't ever "put my children in peril in my mind" while acting, Garner does think that being a parent herself helps her immerse in these types of roles.

    "I do think that being a mother of three has opened my heart in a way, and that helps me access that ferocity that all mothers feel for their children," she says. "It's not unique to me."

    Asked if she uses her faith to overcome personal challenges, Garner says, "Of course. I think that's what it's all about. But there's a beautiful line in the movie that really resonates with me; Christy is having a conversation with her pastor and she says, 'I just don't understand. I don't know where my faith is right now.' She's in the crisis of faith. And he says to her, 'You know, everyone is going to struggle and I look at it this way: I've struggled with faith and I've struggled without it. And I'll tell you, it's a whole lot easier with.'"

    Over the weekend, Garner and Beam attended a service at The Potter's House Church, led by Bishop T.D. Jakes, a producer on the movie.

    "I loved it," Garner said of the experience. "I'm so jealous of the people of Dallas that they can draw from T.D. Jakes and can go every week to hear him preach."

    One message of the movie is that everything – even the little things in life – are miracles. Garner says she can relate.

    "It's also what my mother has instilled in my sisters and me so much, that joy comes from the smallest things," she says. "And if you don't see joy in a perfect avocado or in a great conversation or in running into a friend or getting a job – if you don't see joy in a perfectly beautiful tree in autumn – then you are missing your chance at happiness. Because if you don't find it in the small things and you only wait for big moments, then you'll just not be a happy person."

    Why Jennifer Garner Probably Won't Date Until After Divorce Is Final – and Why They Haven't Filed

    Jennifer Garner is becoming more at peace with life after Ben Affleck, but that doesn't mean she's in any rush to enter the dating world.

    Garner, 43, has finally found "more breathing room" since splitting from Affleck in June after 10 years of marriage. "She's been able to focus on herself," a family source tells PEOPLE in this week's cover story.

    The actress is still working to adjust to her new normal.

    "She made an effort to start the year fresh, and she is having a good year so far," says the source. "She doesn't find her private life ideal, but she has accepted it."

    But moving forward with her love life is not a top priority at the moment.

    "It's hard to picture her dating before the divorce is finalized," adds the source.

    And it doesn't seem like Affleck, 43, is in any rush to spark up a new romance either. "Ben is not dating anyone," says an Affleck source.

    For now, both Garner and Affleck are continuing to put their differences aside and focus on what's best for their kids. The amicable exes are often seen spending time together with their three children, Violet, 10, Seraphina, 7, and Samuel, 3.

    "They're not [best] friends, but they share in the joy of their children," says an industry source.

    As for their pending divorce – they have yet to sign divorce papers, and sources say it could take a long time for the divorce to be finalized – the former couple are taking their time navigating their new lives.

    "They are doing it their own way," says a source close to both of them. "And that way works for them right now."

    "They're working out the details, but it seems nothing has changed," adds an insider. "They are moving forward with their plans."

    What nanny? Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner hit the slopes

    Despite their divorce and his much-dissected, alleged affair with the nanny, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner are on a cozy ski vacation together with Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen in Montana.

    The Hollywood couple and their kids are at the exclusive Yellowstone Club in Big Sky, along with the Patriots star and his supermodel wife. The family trip with Brady’s brood comes despite the fact that Affleck’s nanny Christine Ouzounian was famously photographed on the actor’s chartered jet wearing the QB’s Super Bowl rings.

    A source at the resort told us that Affleck, Garner, Brady and Bündchen are there with their kids and were spotted at the bar late on Monday night.

    “They had some serious après-ski and shut the bar down. They started drinking bloody marys, then beer and bourbons. They kept the bar open late for them. They all ate nachos, even Gisele,” the source said. They were joined by CBS journalist Sharyn Alfonsi and husband Matt Eby.

    Our source added, “There were no nannies in sight, but Jen doesn’t look like she is harboring any resentment. Jen and Ben weren’t lovey-dovey at all, but were super-friendly and happy, relaxed. They were both attentive to their kids and laughing with Tom and Gisele. ”

    Another source close to Affleck and Garner said of the couple, “They are not back together — they have just found a new normal where they get along and work together for the sake of the kids.” The source also insisted that Affleck is not drinking, “He’s getting in shape for ‘Batman.’”

    The Yellowstone Club is a favorite among celebs like Affleck and Garner because it’s very private and only those who own homes there, plus their guests, are allowed to ski on the mountain.

    Meanwhile, Brady has been spotted strapping on a leg brace before hitting the slopes. This week he posted a Facebook picture of himself about to ski down a difficult double-black-diamond trail.

    He wrote, “At least it’s safer than cliff jumping,” referring to his post-Super Bowl pastime last year, which sent Patriots fans into a frenzy over his possible injury from a risky sport.

    Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck Head Take the Kids to Montana for a Family Valentine's Day Weekend

    Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck are holding to their promise to stay friendly for the kids – even during Valentine's Day weekend.

    They were seen boarding a private plane Friday, with a source telling PEOPLE that the family arrived at a ski resort in Montana, where they own a condo and they all spent Christmas together last year.

    Affleck and Garner arrived at Van Nuys Airport outside Los Angeles with daughter Seraphina, 7, and son Samuel, 3. Their eldest daughter, Violet, 10, did not appear to be with the group.

    The exes, who splint June after ten years together, are still living on the same property, with Affleck staying in the guesthouse.

    Garner, who was just named as a presenter for the Oscars, and Affleck are working hard to make their pending divorce as smooth as possible for their three kids, a source told PEOPLE.

    "[Garner] wants to get along with Ben for the kids' sakes," a source close to the couple said.

    That included spending the Christmas holidays, where they enjoyed a winter getaway at a ski resort in Big Sky, Montana.

    "They had a nice Christmas," a source told PEOPLE.

    "Jen and Ben seem happy to be on vacation. They both enjoy the privacy of Montana."

    Jennifer Garner calls for more early-childhood education funding

    Hollywood actress Jennifer Garner is asking Kentucky lawmakers to spend $1 million on an early-childhood education program.

    The star of the TV show “Alias” and movies including “Juno” and “Dallas Buyers Club” testified before the House budget committee on Tuesday on behalf of Save The Children.

    Garner said the program works well in Kentucky, offering literacy and other development programs for children.

    Lawmakers said they support the program but noted the state does not have much money to spend because of shortfalls in public pension programs.

    Garner is a native of West Virginia and testified along with Mark Shriver, Save The Children Action Network president and a nephew of the late President John F. Kennedy.

    She is also scheduled to meet with Gov. Matt Bevin.

    New Vartan Series at E!

    E! has handed a formal series order to its second scripted project The Arrangement, a one-hour drama starring Josh Henderson (Dallas), Christine Evangelista (Chicago Fire), Michael Vartan (Alias) and Lexa Doig (Andromeda). The 10-episode series follows Megan Morrison (Evangelista), an up-and-coming actress who, upon auditioning for a summer blockbuster, is presented with a contract for a romantic relationship with the film’s male lead (Henderson).

    ABC Pilot Order: Shondaland’s ‘Toast’

    Toast marks the first half-hour pilot order for Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers’ Shondaland, which had been looking to expand in comedy. Foley and Grunberg wrote the project, which was originally developed during the 2014-15 season and was rolled. The two executive produce with Shondaland’s Rhimes and Betsy Beers. None will act. Toast revolves around engaged couple Max and Paige who, over their wedding rehearsal dinner, have their eclectic family and friends give toasts recalling anecdotes about the couple — but flashbacks reveal that the toasts don’t always get it right, as we watch the true story of their complicated, funny and relatable road to marriage. Foley has recurred on Rhimes‘ Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal. This marks Shondaland’s second pilot this season, joining drama Still Star-Crossed, also at ABC Studios.

    Bradley Cooper Joins Laurence Fishburne, Alec Baldwin, Ellen Barkin In Arthur Miller Centenary Tribute

    Bradley Cooper, who appeared on Broadway in last season’s smash revival of The Elephant Man, has added his name to the roster of stars participating in the January 25th salute to Arthur Miller, “One Night, 100 Years” presented as a fundraiser for the Arthur Miller Foundation for Theater And Film Education.

    Cooper, fellow actors Ron Leibman and Scott Shepherd and playwright A.R. Gurney have joined a list that includes Ayad Akhtar, Alec Baldwin, Ellen Barkin, McKinley Belcher, Laurence Fishburne, Ray Fisher, Greta Gerwig, Jake Gyllenhaal, Katori Hall, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Tony Kushner, Peter Sarsgaard, and John Turturro. The evening will feature readings from Miller’s autobiography Timebends and unpublished works, as well as scenes from Death Of A Salesman, The Price, All My Sons and more. Gregory Mosher is directing the event, which will be held at the Lyceum Theatre, home to the current revival of Miller’s A View From The Bridge.

    Proceeds from the evening will go to the Foundation, which promotes access and equity to public school theater and film education. Tickets are available through Telecharge.

    ‘Big Little Lies’: Merrin Dungey, Larry Sullivan, David Monahan Join Cast Of HBO Limited Series

    HBO continues building out the cast of limited series Big Little Lies, starring Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon, adding Alias alum Merrin Dungey, Larry Sullivan (CSI), and David Monahan (The Dark Knight Rises).

    Big Little Lies will be an adaptation of Liane Moriarty’s 2014 darkly comic novel about three mothers of kindergartners –Celeste (Kidman), Madeline (Witherspoon) and Jane (Shailene Woodley)— whose apparently perfect lives unravel to the point of murder. Jean-Marc Vallée is directing.

    Dungey will play Detective Adrienne Quinlan, the lead detective working the murder case. Sullivan and Monahan (married in real-life) will play a married couple and parents of a child at the local elementary school. Iain Armitage also is cast as Ziggy, the son of Jane (Woodley).

    Dungey, repped by Gersh, Industry Entertainment and attorney Marcy Morris, recurs on Brooklyn 99, and Chasing Life, and is currently shooting the role of Joy Jackson on CHIPS. Sullivan, repped by BRS and Main Title Entertainment, recurred on CSI during its entire 12-year run, and just wrapped a supporting role on 478 opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger. Monahan, repped by House of Reps and Main Title, is a writer/producer on Disney series Liv And Maddie and recently shot an episode of Bones. Sullivan and Monahan became a YouTube sensation with a Campbell’s soup commercial they did last fall in which they played gay dads with their 3-year-old son.

    Bradley Cooper and Victor Garber Among 100 Celebrities Praising President Obama for New Gun-Control Measures

    Bradley Cooper, Victor Garber, Olivia Wilde and Jon Hamm are among 113 stars thanking President Barack Obama for introducing new executive orders on gun control this week.

    "Like you, and like most Americans, we have had ENOUGH. We have had enough of seeing unthinkable tragedies happen and nothing being done," reads a letter signed by the stars and organized by the Brady Campaign and Center to Prevent Gun Violence. "This level of depravity should rattle anyone with a conscience. We have seen how it has visibly."

    The letter names recent mass shootings – from Sandy Hook to San Bernardino – as evidence that action needs to be taken.

    "Thank you for protecting our rights. The right to be safe. The right not to be afraid when you go into a public place," the letter continues. "The right not to have a generation of scared kids raised on lockdown drills on what to do if a shooter enters their school. The right of our government to do what the overwhelming majority of people want."

    In a statement to PEOPLE, the president of the Brady Campaign and Center to Prevent Gun Violence praises celebrities such as Jessica Alba and Elizabeth Banks for signing the letter.

    "What's most exciting about this letter is that it so profoundly and so visibly demonstrates that this nation truly has reached a tipping point against the epidemic of gun violence. The American people, from every corner of society, of every political persuasion, are coming together to say #ENOUGH and to hold our elected leaders accountable to do the same – for the simple reason that we believe in the vision of a safer nation and that, together, we can make that vision a reality," said Dan Gross, Brady president. "We are all deeply grateful to the President for taking such a bold and effective first step, but we will not rest until Congress does its part to keep guns out of dangerous hands and make this the safer nation we all want and deserve."

    Under the new rules Obama introduced, gun dealers are required to obtain a federal seller's license and do background checks on all buyers. The move seeks to crack down in particular on small retailers who sell firearms at gun shows and online, the majority of whom have heretofore been exempt from keeping formal sales records.

    Readers can add their name to the letter here.

    Read the letter below:

    Dear Mr. President:

    Thank you. Thank you for having the courage and leadership to take Executive Action on preventing more unnecessary gun violence in this country. We are deeply thankful for the actions you took this week. Countless lives will be saved as a result.

    Like you, and like most Americans, we have had ENOUGH. We have had enough of seeing unthinkable tragedies happen and nothing being done. Two masked people walk into a center for the disabled and murder 14 co-workers celebrating the holidays. A group of churchgoers are slaughtered during a prayer service even as they welcome the young man full of hate to their group. And the horrific day when 20 first graders and six educators were massacred in their classroom. In each case, the guns used were far too easily available to people intent on doing harm.

    This level of depravity should rattle anyone with a conscience. We have seen how it has visibly rattled you.

    Roughly 33,000 people die from gun violence every year in this country. Every day, we lose 89 more. Since Sandy Hook, 160 schools have experienced shootings. The homicide rate in the United States is 20 times higher than 22 countries like us in wealth and population – combined. No one is challenging the right of law abiding citizens to responsibly own a firearm. But like you, we believe that guns should be kept away from criminals, terrorists, domestic abusers, the dangerously mentally ill, and children. Your Executive Action will do exactly that – extending Brady background checks to gun shows and online sales.

    Thank you for protecting our rights. The right to be safe. The right not to be afraid when you go into a public place. The right not to have a generation of scared kids raised on lockdown drills on what to do if a shooter enters their school. The right of our government to do what the overwhelming majority of people want.

    We love this country. And one key reason we love it is that it was built on the principle that its people could change it. Thank you for doing so. We hope Members of Congress who have failed to act on the gun violence epidemic will support the will of most Americans and will take similar action to correct what has been a shameful period in our nation’s history. We deserve better than this.

    Thank you for beginning to end this national disgrace and show your fellow citizens and the rest of the world that the United States of America does indeed stand for the principles on which it was founded.

    Criminal Minds: Marisol Nichols Set to Return — Get Details

    Criminal Minds‘ BAU team is due to get another assist from FBI Agent Natalie Colfax.

    TVLine has confirmed that 24 and NCIS alum Marisol Nichols will reprise her role as the G-woman in Season 11’s 15th episode, having first played the character in October. The actress first shared the news Tuesday morning on Twitter.

    The set-up for Nichols’ encore: When women are found dead inside their own homes throughout Los Angeles, the BAU suspects a person gaining each victim’s trust to be the UnSub. L.A.-based Agent Colfax thus helps the team with their investigation.

    Nichols’ recent TV credits also include Teen Wolf, where she recurs and will resurface this season as Desert Wolf.

    Criminal Minds returns with Episode 11 on Wednesday, Jan. 13 at 9/8c, where it will for a short while lead out of a new 2 Broke Girls/Mike & Molly sitcombo.

    Separate Bedrooms, Family Fun: Inside Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner's Montana Vacation

    It was a white Christmas for Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck.

    The amicable exes celebrated Christmas as a family with a winter getaway in Montana.

    "They had a nice Christmas," a source tells PEOPLE, adding that some relatives joined the former couple and their three children, Violet, 10, Seraphina, 7, and Samuel, 3, at the private, members-only ski resort in Big Sky, Montana, where the family arrived Dec. 21.

    The kids spent most of their time running around outside and playing in the snow, while Affleck and Garner, both 43, took full advantage of their time off from their busy schedules to relax.

    "Jen and Ben seem happy to be on vacation," says the source. "They both enjoy the privacy of Montana."

    Affleck and Garner stayed on the same property in Montana, but have been sleeping in separate bedrooms – just like at home in L.A., where sources tell PEOPLE in the magazine's new issue that Affleck has been staying in the guest house at the family's home.

    Sources also tell PEOPLE that the couple still plan to proceed with their divorce – but at their own pace.

    "They don't seem in a rush to figure out the divorce details and will deal with it in the new year," says the source.

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner's Divorce Isn't on Hold: 'It's Hard to Imagine Her Changing Her Mind,' Says Source

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner still may be spending ample time together under one roof, but a source tells PEOPLE in this week's issue that their divorce is still proceeding.

    "This more seems like a transitional period," the source says.

    The two even celebrated the holidays with their three children: Violet, 10, Seraphina, 6, and Samuel, 3, in the mountains of Montana.

    According to the source, the actor continues to stay in the guest house on the family's L.A. property as he and Garner remain focused on parenting.

    "They interact every day. Mostly about the kids and simple things," the source adds. "Jen wants Ben around for the kids."

    After the New Year, Affleck, 43, will continue to shoot his new period film, Live By Night, on which he serves as screenwriter, director and actor. Meanwhile, Garner, 43, will begin promoting her new film, Miracles From Heaven.

    "Jen's doing great now," says the source. "It's hard to imagine her changing her mind."

    Exes Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner Find It 'Annoying' to Still Be Living Together But It's for 'the Best,' Says Source

    Six months after Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck announced they were splitting, the Gone Girl actor, 43, continues to live in a guesthouse on the family's Los Angeles estate.

    And while the two appear to have an amicable relationship – even spending Thanksgiving and Christmas together as a family – a source says that both Affleck and Garner, 43, are discovering that living with an ex can be rather challenging.

    "It's obvious many times that they both find it annoying to deal with each other," an insider tells PEOPLE in this week's issue. "Understandably so. It's a strange situation to live together and yet be separated."

    But the couple is willing to put their differences aside to do what's best for their three children, Violet 10, Seraphina, 7, and Samuel, 3.

    "They both seem to find the situation frustrating, but for now at least, they also seem to think it's best," says the source.

    "They are doing what is working for the kids," adds a Garner source.

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner Will Spend Christmas Together: "They Continue to Put the Kids First"

    The holidays are great for bringing families together, including Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner.

    Affleck and Garner, who announced their split over the summer, will be spending Christmas together with their children, a source tells E! News. "They will be together as a family," the insider explains. "They continue to put the kids first and spend time with each other for the sake of their children."

    Even though they're not together romantically anymore, the insider explains that they're "in a good place right now." The former couple won't be spending the holidays in Los Angeles, though. Instead, another source tells us that they'll be packing their bags and heading to snowy Montana, the perfect weather for a white Christmas.

    The former couple is parents to Violet Affleck, 10, and Seraphina Affleck, 6, as well as son Samuel Affleck, 3, and are planning on spending the holidays all together with both sides of the family as one unit because they fully believe that family comes first.

    "They are a unit," a source previously told E! News. "They are all about the kids and making sure they are okay. They are committed to parenting together."

    Affleck and the Miracles From Heaven actress have continuously put on brave faces while going through "nannygate," the scandal that alleged the Batman v. Superman star was dating his nanny, celebrating their kids' birthdays together at Disneyland. Although is rep vehemently denied the affair allegations, the couple has had to work on their issues behind closed doors.

    "There was a lot of tension between them for a while, but it wasn't all about the nanny," a source close to the couple told E! News in October. "It's never easy for a couple going through a split."

    Fortunately, these two have become the image for friendly exes and seem to have made it work, but even the friendliest of exes will still have their struggles. "There are still a lot of issues, but she has put them aside for the sake of her family," added the source. "Jen's number one priority is the kids and always has been...When they [she and Ben] spend time together, it is for the kids."

    Bradley Cooper's Mom Was a Consultant on Joy: "She’s a Huge Disciple of QVC"

    It's no surprise that Bradley Cooper's mom Gloria wore an Audrey Hepburn broach to the premiere of her son's new movie Joy.

    "This is from QVC," Gloria boasted to me on the red carpet at NYC's Ziegfeld Theatre.

    Joy is the story of Joy Mangano, the inventor of the Miracle Mop who made her first fortune on the shopping network. Directed by David O. Russell, the film stars Jennifer Lawrence in the title role. Cooper co-stars as an QVC executive.

    "She actually was a consultant for David on the movie when he was conceiving it because she's a huge disciple of QVC," Bradley said.

    Bradley was well acquainted with the Miracle Mop before the movie came along. "There were QVC packages on the door step every time I came home from school," he said. "The Miracle Mop I actually took to college. It was very embarrassing. But yeah, mopping was part of the chores that I got. My sister was allocated other things but I was vacuuming and mopping the house."

    Lawrence told me she was also familiar with the Miracle Mop and Mangano. "Her story is so fascinating," the Oscar winner said. "When I got to know her and I met her and we started hearing about her story, some of the things that are in the script that are so unbelievable you'd think would come from the deepest depths of David's imagination, are true."

    The Golden Globe-nominated movie's cast also includes Robert De Niro, Édgar Ramírez, Diane Ladd, Virginia Madsen and Isabella Rossellini.

    Joy is in theaters on Dec. 25.

    Legends of Tomorrow First Look Poster

    Legends of Tomorrow First Look Poster: Victor Garber.

    Barbara Walters finds Bradley Cooper ‘screwable’

    Irina Shayk better keep an eye on her man before Barbara Walters makes her move.

    “I could just sit and stare at you but that would take too much time,” Walters told Cooper during an interview for her upcoming “10 Most Fascinating People of 2015” special (via People). “But I, I find you very screwable.”

    She added, “I think you’re handsome, I think you’re sexy,” when asking the “Joy” star if he knows just how attractive he is.

    Cooper, 40, didn’t reciprocate the 86-year-old’s playful flirtation, but he did appreciate the sentiments: “Thank you. I think that I’ve grown to stop thinking about it. … But sometimes I feel better than others. Yeah, I think it has a lot to do with feeling comfortable with yourself.”

    He continued, “And I know that I’m more comfortable with myself than I’ve ever been in my life, so maybe that makes me more attractive.”

    Yes, Bradley Cooper, yes it does.

    The actor has been packing on the PDA with his supermodel girlfriend Irina Shayk since they were first spotted together on a date in April. They couple most recently attended the premiere of his movie “Burnt” with their moms.

    Walters’ annual interview special airs Thursday at 9:30 p.m. on ABC.

    Bradley Cooper supports NYPD families at holiday party

    Bradley Cooper supported the New York City Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association as a guest at the group’s Widows’ and Children’s Fund holiday party at Michael Jordan’s the Steak House on Saturday.

    Cooper, with actor Oliver Platt, posed for pics with “many children of police officers killed in the line of duty. He was gracious throughout,” said a spy.

    The kids also got a visit from Santa, and David Blaine performed card tricks.

    Guests included NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton and Vincent Pastore of “The Sopranos."

    “American Sniper” star Cooper was also spotted with Scarlett Johansson at Diner in Williamsburg over the weekend.

    Barbara Walters' Most Fascinating People: Amy Schumer, Tracy Morgan and More — Who Should Be No. 1?

    A Trainwreck of a comedienne, a Limitless man and a Saturday Night Live vet are all sharing space on Barbara Walters’ list of The 10 Most Fascinating People of 2015.

    The 90-minute special — airing Thursday, Dec. 17 at 9:30/8:30c on ABC — will feature Inside Amy Schumer mastermind Amy Schumer, actor/producer Bradley Cooper and comic Tracy Morgan.

    Additional honorees include Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, mixed martial artist Ronda Rousey, ballerina Misty Copeland and fashion designer Donna Karan.

    More names will be announced shortly, with the No. 1 Most Fascinating Person to be revealed during the broadcast.

    Jennifer Garner & Ben Affleck 'Had a Great Time' Spending Thanksgiving Together as a Family, Source Says

    It was a family affair over the holiday weekend for Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck.

    Since announcing their split in June, Affleck and Garner, both 43, continue to spend time together as a family – and Thanksgiving was no different.

    The amicable exes reunited to spend Thanksgiving with their three children, and were joined by Affleck's side of the family.

    "They spent it as a family unit – all for the kids," a source close to the couple tells PEOPLE. "They had a great time."

    Garner was photographed taking a stroll with Affleck's mom, Christine Boldt, and her 6-year-old daughter, Seraphina. The former in-laws appeared to be all smiles as they walked into church together in Los Angeles on Sunday.

    While Affleck wasn't spotted with his mother and Garner, he took a break from his busy schedule in Boston shooting his next film Live By Night – which he stars in and directs – to spend the weekend back home with his family.

    "[Affleck] looked very happy all weekend. He spent a lot of time at the family house," a second source tells PEOPLE.

    And with holiday season in full swing, Affleck and Garner plan to spend Christmas together as well.

    "Jen and Ben are figuring out right now how they can best spend the holidays together," a source told PEOPLE, adding that Garner, "wants to get along with Ben for the kids' sake."

    Greg Grunberg will guest-star on Life in Pieces

    Heroes Reborn actor Greg Grunberg will guest-star on Life in Pieces as Mikey, the too-cool nephew of Joan and a former hero to Greg and Matt, EW.com reports.

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner Spending the Holidays Together With Their Kids: "They Are a Unit"

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner's marital relationship has changed, but their role as parents is staying the same.

    The exes have made it very clear that children are their first priority, and for the sake of daughters Violet Affleck, 9, and Seraphina Affleck, 6, as well as son Samuel Affleck, 2, they're doing their very best to keep family life normal. That's why, sources tell E! News, that Jennifer, 43, and Ben, also 43, will be spending the upcoming holidays together with their kids.

    "They are a unit," says a source. "They are all about the kids and making sure they are okay. They are committed to parenting together."

    They will be spending time with both sides of the family as one unit, adds a source. Neither Ben not Jen want to split up and do separate things when the holidays are all about family time and being with loved ones. Both exes feel, as well, that even though they aren't a couple, still being a family is the most important thing.

    Both Jen and Ben have continuously put any personal differences aside in order to remain amicable and able to spend time together with the kids. Even throughout "nannygate"—when rumors, which Ben's rep adamantly denied, claimed the actor was dating the Affleck children's former babysitter—the former couple worked through things behind closed doors.

    "There was a lot of tension between them for a while, but it wasn't all about the nanny," a source close to the couple told E! News last month. "It's never easy for a couple going through a split."

    "There are still a lot of issues, but she has put them aside for the sake of the her family," added the source. "Jen's number one priority is the kids and always has been...When they [she and Ben] spend time together, it is for the kids."

    This past month, for example, Ben's been in Georgia filming, but on the occasions he's been able to return to California to see Violet, Seraphina, and Samuel, a source tells E! News that Jen has planned fun outings for the entire family to do together. This past Saturday, they fivesome visited Duff's Cake Mix to decorate cakes together. Both Ben and Jen are working very hard to have a friendly relationship for the kids, says a source, adding that they agree the most important thing is to provide a stable and loving home for the kids.

    Jennifer Garner Stuns at N.Y.C. Gala – with a Big Hug for Brad Paisley

    (Pic1, Pic2) Jennifer Garner knows how to rock a black dress on the red carpet.

    The actress stunned in a floor-length black Michael Kors gown at the 3rd Annual Save the Children Illumination Gala Tuesday in New York City.

    After posing for photos, Garner, 43, stopped to give Brad Paisley and his wife Kimberly Williams-Paisley a quick hug on the red carpet and then slipped inside to host the evening for the organization, for which she is a trustee and longtime supporter.

    Paisley, who took the stage later in the evening to perform three of his songs, said he got involved with Save the Children through Garner, who reached out to him after finding out they both grew up in West Virginia.

    "I was roped into this by Jennifer who is from my home state – we're both proud Mountaineers, proud West Virginians," Paisley, 43, told PEOPLE at the gala. "We had some mutual friends and a couple of years ago she contacted me and said, 'Hey, would you want to come see what we're doing with Save the Children in West Virginia?' So I said, 'Hey, let's go,' and we went up and spent the day and it really runs the gamut. We went to a house and watched what they do with the families in need, we watched what they do with the school... I couldn't believe what this organization was doing."

    Garner gave a speech introducing the organization and the evening's honorees (who included Olivia Wilde), telling a personal story about her own visit with Save the Children to a family in need and how the charity is helping support children and families.

    "I wasn't surprised to see that the only books there had been provided by Save the Children, that there were no Crayolas, no developmental toys, no art projects creating a happy clutter like what's in my kitchen or yours – because in poor communities, there's one book for every 13 children in the US and I have yet to go on a home visit where children's art is displayed on the walls," Garner recalled, thanking the audience for being there to support "the wellbeing of children in America and the world."

    Shortly afterwards, Garner took the stage to present an award to Toms shoes with an 11-year-old boy, Hunter. The actress was all smiles as she patiently helped him read his lines from the teleprompter.

    Garner and Ben Affleck, 43, who announced their split in June after 10 years of marriage, have continued to set their differences aside to co-parent their three children: Violet, 9, Seraphina, 6, and Samuel, 3.

    A source tells PEOPLE in the magazine's new issue that the two are "figuring out right now how they can best spend the holidays together," adding that Garner "wants to get along with Ben for the kids' sake."

    Affleck, meanwhile, has been busy working in Boston on his next film, Live By Night, which he stars in and directs.

    Jennifer Garner Trailer for Miracles from Heaven

    Jennifer Garner Gets Emotional in 1st Trailer for Miracles from Heaven, Movie Filmed After Ben Affleck Split: .

    J.J. Abrams, 'Infinity Blade' maker join forces for new game

    Two years ago, when the creator of the hit mobile game series "Infinity Blade" joked at the latest iPhone unveiling that the device would boast "lens flares that would make J.J. Abrams proud," Chair Entertainment co-founder Donald Mustard was actually making an inside reference to his top-secret collaboration with the "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" filmmaker.

    Abrams' Bad Robot production company and Chair have been clandestinely working in tandem since 2013 on a colorful espionage game for PC and mobile devices titled "Spyjinx."

    The partnership came about because Abrams and his children were fans of Chair's games like the side-scroller "Shadow Complex" and sword fighting simulator "Infinity Blade," while the developers at Chair were admirers of Abrams' film and TV projects. With a release set for 2016, Mustard said they're now ready to start talking about the partnership out in the open.

    "When we build our games, we work very closely together as a team," said Mustard. "J.J. and all the other awesome people at Bad Robot quickly folded into that process. We all sat down with a blank slate and basically said, 'We can build anything. What do we want to build?' It went from there."

    For the team at Bad Robot, the opportunity meant diving deeper into interactive entertainment after releasing the quirky special effects app "Action Movie FX" and working with Valve on a new mode for the multiplayer shooter game "Team Fortress 2."

    "We really wanted to expand into this area of entertainment," Abrams said in a video posted Wednesday by Chair. "Typically, Hollywood and games have not gone together well. There are some notable exceptions but not too many, and so we met these amazing people at Chair — not just as fans but as potential collaborators."

    Instead of leaning on pre-established Hollywood franchises like "Star Trek" or "Mission Impossible," Bad Robot and Chair, a subsidiary of Epic Games, opted to start from scratch with an all-new title combining several different game types.

    "It's all about you creating an elite team of agents that can covertly reach or retrieve anything, anywhere, anytime while also building your secret, glamorous lair," said Mustard. "It's a blend of action real-time strategy wrapped up in dynamic world building but with a deep role-playing character development system set in this really bright, colorful world that's full of thieves, assassins and con-artists."

    Mustard said the teams have mostly been collaborating electronically by video conferencing and sharing files. When they need face time, the Santa Monica, Calif., offices of Bad Robot are just a short flight from Chair's Salt Lake City, Utah, headquarters. Mustard noted that despite his commitment to "Force Awakens," Abrams has been actively involved in the game's development.

    "J.J. is very much a gamer," said Mustard. "It's not just lip service. When he was still in the middle of filming 'Star Wars' last year, he would call me up with suggestions for 'Spyjinx.' He understands the core tenants of game design. I think he sees there's a very viable form of entertainment that is interactive. J.J. loves telling stories, and this is another avenue for him to tell awesome stories."

    Despite his willingness to discuss "Spyjinx," Mustard isn't prepared to show off the game just yet or confirm if it will indeed feature Abrams' signature lighting embellishment: the lens flare.

    Melissa George Welcomes Son Solal

    It’s double the trouble for Melissa George: The actress has welcomed her second child.

    Born on Tuesday, Nov. 3, son Solal Blanc weighed in at a “healthy” 9 lbs., 4 oz., when he entered the world at the American Hospital in Paris, France, according to George’s website.

    “My journey to motherhood is what I am the most proud of,” The Good Wife and Grey’s Anatomy star said in a statement through the site. “I am the mother of two beautiful sons. Thank you to my love, JeanDavid, for giving me the best gift in my life. I love you.”

    George, 39, and her husband, French businessman Jean David Blanc, are also the parents of Raphaël, 21 months.

    Blanc and George began dating in 2011, and announced they were expecting in June. George’s new NBC show Heartbreaker was pushed from the fall to mid-season debut due to the star’s pregnancy.

    Star Wars director says he aimed for 'delightful' movie

    How do you make a Star Wars movie "delightful"?

    That is the question that was foremost on filmmaker J.J. Abrams's mind as he embarked on the mammoth task of making the new Star Wars movie.

    "That was really the only requirement Larry and I imposed on each other: The movie needed to be delightful," Abrams told Wired, referring to Lawrence Kasdan, the film's co-writer.

    "It was not about explaining everything away, not about introducing a certain number of toys for a corporation, not about trying to appease anyone," he added in the latest issue of the monthly magazine, published Monday.

    "This has only ever been about what gets us exited."

    The latest installment of the much-anticipated Star Wars saga, "The Force Awakens," opens in US theaters on December 18, and fans are snapping up any tidbit of information about the film ahead of its release.

    On Friday, fans went wild as a new version of the film's trailer with new footage was released with no prior warning on the Japanese version of the Star Wars website, prompting speculation about the plot and analysis of each picture frame.

    Abrams said the fact that he was making the first film in the Star Wars sequel trilogy allowed him some leeway in how he approached the project.

    "It's not very often that you get to work on something where you know there is a continuum," he said.

    "And it's kind of great. It unburdens you."

    He also hinted that he realized he had big shoes to fill, given what George Lucas was able to do with the first Star Wars movie, "let alone the next ones."

    "Forget how incredible it looked, forget the technology, forget the humor of it, the heart, the romance, the adventure -- all the amazing moments that made us love it," he told Wired.

    "Think about what he was able to stir up," Abrams added. "This, to me, is one of the greatest things about Star Wars."

    The director also said he could not fathom not releasing any trailers until just before the movie's opening, given the wide appeal of the sci-fi series.

    "I... pushed to have a teaser come out a year before, just because it felt like, as a fan of Star Wars, if I could see even the littlest thing, I'd be psyched a year out," said Abrams, whose directorial work includes "Star Trek" and "Mission: Impossible III."

    What Would Bradley Cooper Want to Eat for His Last Meal on Earth?

    Bradley Cooper may play a world famous chef in his latest film Burnt but, when it comes to choosing his last meal on Earth, the Oscar-nominee would want to eat a home-cooked favorite.

    “My grandmother’s cheesecake,” he tells PEOPLE in the new issue, on newsstands today.

    Sienna Miller, Cooper’s costar in the film, says the actor often spoke of his grandmother’s cooking while making the film.

    “His memories of childhood are all around his grandmother making pasta and dough and I love that image,” says Miller.

    “At one point they are in the fish market talking about the dough in his grandmother’s wedding ring,” explains Cooper. “My grandmother always had flour caked in her engagement ring.”

    For much more on Bradley Cooper and Sienna Miller’s favorite foods and close friendship, pick up the new issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands now.

    The Flash's Victor Garber Talks New Firestorm and Teaming Up with Nick Jonas' Diabetes Charity

    The Flash star Victor Garber's heroic exploits aren't limited to the small screen.

    The newlywed recently started working with Beyond Type 1, a charity focused on raising awareness about Type 1 Diabetes that was co-founded by Nick Jonas.

    Garber, 66, tells PEOPLE he was diagnosed with the incurable auto-immune disease when he was 12. By working with Beyond Type 1, he hopes to help clear up some of the confusion surrounding the disease (it's often confused with Type 2 diabetes) and let those who have it know it's still possible to be successful.

    "I'm just a face for young people to say, 'You're not alone and you can achieve what you want to achieve,' " says Garber, who also notes that it is an erratic disease that can have very serious complications. "That's really what I feel very strongly about, you are not defined by Type 1 diabetes."

    As of now, Garber hasn't had a chance to work directly with Jonas, 23, because of his demanding schedule, but he's looking forward to meeting and discussing how he and the musician–turned–actor–turned–activist can have even more of an impact together.

    Elsewhere, it's the health of Garber's on-screen persona Professor Martin Stein that has Flash fans on the edge of their seats.

    In the wake of Stein's collapse at the end of last week's episode, Team Flash is frantically searching for a new genetic match for Firestorm (the flame-throwing hero created when Stein uses the Firestorm matrix to merge with another person). They have to move quickly because Stein's health is quickly deteriorating.

    "He's sort of on his last legs," Garber teases of Tuesday's episode. "Without this [new match], Stein won't survive."

    In the episode, Cisco (Carlos Valdes) and Caitlin (Danielle Panabaker) hold an "amusing" audition process and find Jefferson "Jax" Jackson (Franz Drameh), who will become part of the new Firestorm.

    Finding a match the easy part. Now, Stein and Jax must learn how to work together, which won't be easy, Garber teases. Drameh and Garber will eventually migrate over to the Arrow/Flash spin-off Legends of Tomorrow, which is expected to debut in early 2016.

    "They go through a lot," said the Alias alum. "When we get to Legends, you'll see that there's a lot of conflict, which I think is really truthful and [is] what interested me in the project in the first place. You've got all these people that are working together, but it's like a dysfunctional family. Jefferson and Stein are no exception to that."

    Filming is well under way for Legends of Tomorrow. According to Garber, this new show is "massive and chaotic and fascinating and wonderful."

    "It's very demanding for everyone, and the good news is that everyone gets along really well and we enjoy each other's company," says Garber. "When it gets really grim at five in the morning, we're all able to keep going and laughing."

    The Flash airs Tuesdays (8 p.m. ET) on The CW.

    Bradley Cooper swears he’ll never sleep with J.Law

    Jennifer Lawrence will never be a notch on Bradley Cooper‘s belt.

    During an interview on Howard Stern’s SiriusXM radio show this week, the shock jock pressed the “Burnt” star about his off-screen relationship with longtime co-star Jennifer Lawrence.

    “When are you two going to have sex?” Stern, 61, bluntly asked.

    “Never,” Cooper responded firmly.

    Cooper, 40, credited director David O. Russell for bringing the two together.

    “We did ‘Silver Linings Playbook’ together. We got along great,” the Oscar nominee explained. “It just didn’t happen. It’s not the way we are together.”

    The pair also worked together on Russell’s “American Hustle” and his upcoming film “Joy.” They co-starred in Susanne Bier’s “Serena,” too.

    Though Cooper previously joked that Lawrence was too young for him, that comment came back to haunt him after he started dating 23-year-old model Suki Waterhouse.

    “I said that once on the carpet as a diffuse thing and then it became a thing because the girl I was seeing was as young as she was,” he said.

    Cooper has since called it quits with Waterhouse and has moved on to Irina Shayk, a supermodel in her late 20s.

    Back in March, Lawrence said she and Cooper weren’t sleeping together.

    Jennifer Garner Hosts Fundraiser to Help Family Cure Their Daughters' Rare Brain Disease

    When producer Gordon Gray and his wife Kristen revealed that their two young daughters had been diagnosed with Batten disease, an extremely rare degenerative brain disorder for which there is no cure, the Hollywood community rallied around them to raise awareness and funds.

    On Wednesday, Jennifer Garner, an early supporter of the family, held a fundraiser to support the Charlotte and Gwenyth Gray Foundation and its mission of raising the $10-12 million needed to accelerate research and find potential treatments for the disease.

    "Kristen and Gordon Gray are not going to let us avert our eyes from their daughters' condition," Garner said. "In the middle of their pain and grief, they are going to face the facts of Batten disease and look us in the eye and ask us to join them in the fight."

    The couple's young daughters, Charlotte, 4, and Gwenyth, 2, were diagnosed with late-infantile-NCL Batten disease in March. Batten disease is rapidly progressing and causes developmental regression, blindness, changes in behavior, seizures and dementia.

    The symptoms have already onset in Charlotte, who is experiencing trouble with speech and muscle control, while younger sister Gwenyth has tested positive.

    "We need the money yesterday," Gordon, 50, told PEOPLE in June. "Every day is worse than the day before. It's a degenerative disease and we just need to get started now."

    Thanks to the generosity displayed at the fundraiser, the Grays tell PEOPLE that their foundation is "very close" to the 3 million dollar mark.

    "We still have a way to go, but each event brings awareness, touches new people and helps spread out message which is that we want to cure this horrible disease so that no other child will suffer," the Grays said in a statement to PEOPLE.

    "It is wonderful to see how invested Jennifer is in not only to our cause but also other rare diseases," they continued. "She is so open and willing to help in any way and for that we are very grateful."

    Visit curebatten.org to learn more.

    Bradley Cooper Responds To Jennifer Lawrence's Essay About Gender Wage Gap In Hollywood

    After Jennifer Lawrence spoke out about gender pay inequality in Hollywood on Tuesday, the Oscar winner is receiving support from her American Hustle co-star Bradley Cooper.

    "One thing I could say is that's interesting because if you think that you only deserve a certain amount and that's not correct, it's about changing that mindset and sticking up for yourself the way that Sienna [Miller] did," Cooper – who added he had yet to read the essay – explained to E! News. "So that's a great thing."

    Miller – who joined Cooper for the interview to promote their new film Burnt – went on to explain she backed out of a play because she was being paid less than her male co-star.

    In Lawrence's essay – on Lena Dunham's Lenny newsletter – titled "Why Do I Make Less Than My Male Co Stars?", the 25-year-old actress writes: "When the Sony hack happened and I found out how much less I was being paid than the lucky people with d----, I didn't get mad at Sony," Lawrence writes, alluding to her deal working on American Hustle. "I got mad at myself."

    Although Lawrence does not cite the film's title in the essay, she mentions that costars Jeremy Renner, Christian Bale and Cooper "all fought and succeeded in negotiating powerful deals for themselves." Lawrence adds that she "failed as a negotiator" because she "gave up early."

    In a separate interview on Tuesday, Cooper continued to support Lawrence.

    "There's a double standard in the whole world, yeah, for sure. This is just one aspect," Cooper, 40, told Entertainment Tonight. "Anytime there's a place where a voice can come out and be outspoken – something Sienna did, or Jennifer – that's great … I think it is making a difference."

    Surprise! Victor Garber Marries Longtime Boyfriend

    Victor Garber married his boyfriend of 16 years, artist and model Rainer Andreesen, on Saturday.

    Andreesen announced the happy news on Instagram with a shot of the couple and a flurry of hashtags that noted that they had eloped in Tofino, Canada.

    No other details were released.

    Garber, who officiated his Alias daughter Jennifer Garner's wedding to Ben Affleck in 2005, came out in April 2012, telling Canadian magazine Forever Young Information, "My companion Rainer Andreesen and I have been together almost 13 years in Greenwich Village. We both love New York."

    In January 2013, Garber took Andreesen to the Screen Actors Guild Awards. "I don't really talk about it but everybody knows," he told blogger Greg Hernandez of his relationship at the time.

    Garber, 66, can next be seen on DC's Legends of Tomorrow, which will premiere on The CW midseason.

    Bradley Cooper Returns to Limitless

    It seems CBS’ Limitless is hooked on more than just NZT.

    Bradley Cooper, who appeared on the freshman drama’s series premiere, will next reprise his role as Sen. Edward Morra on the Oct. 27 episode, executive producer Craig Sweeny announced Friday at New York Comic-Con.

    In the installment, titled “Side Effects May Include…,” Morra will resurface in Brian’s (Jake McDorman) life, demanding a high price in exchange for another inoculation from the severe side effects of NZT.

    Limitless airs Tuesdays at 10/9c on CBS.

    Chicago Med Scoop: Alias Alum Cast as S. Epatha Merkerson’s Hubby

    Alias vet Carl Lumbly is in need of one of Chicago Med‘s finest.

    The actor will recur on NBC’s latest Chicago Fire spinoff as the husband of S. Epatha Merkerson’s character Sharon, TVLine has learned.

    Sharon is the head of Gaffney Chicago Medical Center, where much of the show’s action takes place.

    Lumbly’s Bert is a once virile, robust man whose sudden physical ailment factors into his relationship with his wife and the hospital where she works.

    Lumbly most recently recurred on CBS’ Zoo and A&E’s The Returned.

    Chicago Med premieres Nov. 17 at 9/8c.

    Bradley Cooper and Ashley Greene are ‘Workout Buddies’!

    (Pic) Sometimes a gym can be just as star-filled as a red carpet!

    Ashley Greene and Bradley Cooper recently sweat it out together at Rise Nation Fitness Studio in West Hollywood, California.

    The Twilight star, 28, posted an Instagram photo with the actor, 40 — dressed down in a gray T-shirt and baseball cap — along with the gym’s owner, personal trainer Jason Walsh.

    “Not the worst looking group of @risenation workout buddies. See you soooooon @risemovement #werise #weclimb,” the actress captioned the snap.

    Greene and Cooper aren’t the only famous fans of the gym, which utilizes a climbing machine and promises “the first true 30-minute full body workout” – Hilary Duff loves the workouts too!

    “It’s really changed my body, and it looks really hard, but it’s 30 minutes, and you can do anything for 30 minutes,” Duff, 28, told PEOPLE at the fitness studio’s grand opening in August. “Obviously I have a 3-year-old and doing things quickly is important for me, but it’s kind of addicting!”

    We even tried the workout ourselves, and totally understand why there are so many celebrity fans!

    “The climber requires you to move your legs and arms at all times, so you really do get a full-body workout,” says a staffer. “The class makes you break a sweat within the first minute, so it was an exhausting experience but also fun – once I figured out the machine, it felt like a really intense dance class. Any workout that gets me in and out in 30 minutes is a winner in my book!”

    Bradley Cooper on Cooking as a Chef in Burnt: ‘Everything in the Movie I’m Actually Doing’

    (Trailer) Bradley Cooper only had a month to prep for his role as chef Adam Jones in the upcoming movie Burnt but, luckily, he’s unknowingly been preparing for this his whole life.

    “When I was a kid I would screw up cooking with my grandmother. It was an Italian family, so cooking was a huge part of it,” the actor tells Yahoo! Movies. “I was a busboy at a Greek restaurant and a prep cook at an [Italian] restaurant called Mirabella’s in Somers Point, New Jersey. I’d be there from 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., just cooking.”

    Cooper also played Anthony Bourdain in a TV-series version of the celebrity chef’s memoir Kitchen Confidential in 2005. But to truly capture the personality and skill of a chef who is chasing after his third Michelin star, Cooper had some help from the professionals.

    “I created a guy I see as a mixture of the three guys I studied: Marcus Wareing, Gordon Ramsey, and Marco Pierre White,” he says. “He’s a combination. Little things he does, physical things, are basically things I stole from all three of those guys.”

    Wareing, a U.K. two-star Michelin restaurateur, developed and prepared all the recipes for the film but when the cameras were rolling Cooper had to step up the plate—literally.

    “There’s no cooking double for Adam Jones. Everything in the movie I’m actually doing. The stakes were high,” he says. “Every day I felt the pressure of having to deliver.”

    Now that the actor has some free time following his back-to-back schedule of shooting American Sniper, Burnt and the Tony-nominated show The Elephant Man, Cooper is getting to cook off screen, as well.

    “I cook every day,” he says. “I’m one of those guys that [uses] whatever’s in the refrigerator. I just started a little garden, which is like heaven. I’m just picking vegetables, you know — real old man stuff.”

    Burnt is slated for release in theaters on Oct. 23.

    Jennifer Garner Stuns in First Red Carpet Appearance Post-Split with Ben Affleck

    (Pic) Jennifer Garner stepped out on Tuesday in her first red carpet appearance since her split from Ben Affleck — and she looked amazing.

    The 43-year-old actress stunned in a black, knee-length dress as she attended the Chanel dinner in honor of Baby2Baby at Chanel Boutique in Los Angeles, California. Garner kept it simple with black, ankle-strapped heels and a matching clutch purse. She let her brown locks tumble over her shoulders.

    The actress was among a slew of celebs at the dinner, like Jenna Dewan-Tatum, Ellen Pompeo and Selma Blair (all of them opted for blazers and pants or shorts at the dinner).

    Garner posed for pictures and, in one, is seen sporting a serious expression with her hand on her hip.

    Earlier this week, she and Affleck, who announced their divorce in June, were spotted out having a friendly dinner on Sept. 20 in Malibu, California.

    The two have been spending quality time together with their three children Violet, 9, Seraphina, 6, and 3-year-old Samuel since returning to Los Angeles after their summer in Atlanta, Georgia.

    “They are working together and are keeping it amicable,” a source close to the couple previously told PEOPLE. “This is something they have been working on for over a year – and they continue to be strong unit.”

    Ben Affleck & Jen Garner -- Dinner for Two ... Without the Kids

    (Pic) Jennifer Garner went on a romantic dinner date in Malibu -- with her estranged husband Ben Affleck, and for once this was NOT about family time.

    Ben and Jen were seen leaving Nobu Sunday night in Malibu. While the maybe exes have been together semi-frequently since annoucing their divorce in June, it's usually because they're doing things with their 3 kids.

    The Nobu date was strictly for adults. According to ET, they drove there together and left together ... but there was no PDA.

    Baby steps?

    Jennifer Garner 'Can't Even Imagine Dating' Post-Split with Ben Affleck: Source

    Jennifer Garner is becoming more at peace with life after Ben Affleck, but that doesn't mean she'll be entering the dating world anytime soon.

    "Jen is doing well," a source close to the family tells PEOPLE. "She's still adjusting to a new normal, but seems more accepting of the separation."

    While the source notes that Garner is "taking a little bit more time to herself" and "seems less stressed," moving forward with her love life is not a top priority at the moment.

    "She can't even imagine dating," the source says, adding that "it will probably be a long time before she is able to move on romantically."

    In the meantime, Garner and Affleck continue to put their children first, and spent time together as a family over the weekend.

    After taking a few days to scout locations in Savannah and Boston for his new movie Live by Night, where another source close to the couple says he "had a really great time seeing his family," Affleck returned to L.A. on Friday to drive his daughters, Violet, 9, and Seraphina, 6, to school.

    Later in the afternoon, he drove them to karate class, where Garner joined him to watch the kids at practice.

    On Sunday, they had a family outing at a local farmers' market and also attended a church service.

    "Ben and Jen mostly spent time separately at the farmers' market," an eyewitness tells PEOPLE. "Jen picked up fruit and vegetables with a nanny while Ben was in charge of the kids. He took them to get balloon art and entertained them while Jen shopped."

    According to the family source, "Ben has a schedule when he is responsible for the kids." He "is still living elsewhere" and he and Garner have "no plans to live on the same property."

    The family home is currently undergoing renovations, and the source close to the couple tells PEOPLE that they "redid the house so that they could cohabitate."

    "They may not live [there] together," the source adds, but the house remains a place "where they can help raise their children together."

    The divorce, meanwhile, is moving forward as planned, the family source tells PEOPLE, adding that neither Garner nor Affleck "seem rushed" when it comes to hashing out the details.

    "Ben wants her to be happy," the source close to the couple tells PEOPLE. "Ben truly cares for Jen and really wants her to be happy overall in general."

    Bradley Cooper didn’t need stunt double for chef movie

    Bradley Cooper is headed back to the kitchen.

    As the four-time Oscar nominee, 40, explained to Details, his latest role in October’s “Burnt” is a return to his roots.

    “I worked for most of my life as a cook,” the actor told the magazine. “When I was 15, I was a busboy at a Greek restaurant and then I worked as a prep cook through college. My mother’s side is Italian, so I grew up cooking all the time with my grandmother.”

    In the film, which co-stars Sienna Miller, Cooper plays a once-promising chef attempting to rebuild his career after it was derailed by substance abuse and hard living.

    Irina Shayk’s boyfriend’s cooking background came in handy while filming “Burnt,” which was shot between “American Sniper” and the latest Broadway production of “The Elephant Man.”

    “Thank God the role was a chef, because I didn’t have much time to prep,” he said. “There’s no stunt double. Everything in there I’m cooking.”

    The role isn’t the first time the prolific thespian has portrayed a chef on camera. Cooper also starred in the short-lived 2005 sitcom “Kitchen Confidential,” which was based on Anthony Bourdain’s memoir of the same name.

    “Burnt” hits theaters on Oct. 23.

    Jessica Biel, Jennifer Garner, Justin Bieber & More Attend Think It Up Telecast—Get the Scoop on the Star-Studded Event!

    Hollywood is working towards a better tomorrow.

    Celebrities including Jessica Biel, Kristen Bell and Austin Mahone all came together Friday evening in Santa Monica, Calif. for the Think It Up telecast, a fundraiser aimed to support students and teachers across the nation.

    Justin Bieber kicked off the hour-long event with a performance of his new song "What Do You Mean?" before handing it off to a number of A-listers who discussed the current state of education, and what everyone can do to improve it.

    Ryan Seacrest, Jennifer Garner, Wilmer Valderramaand Halle Berrywere on hand to reminisce about their own classroom days, and Matthew McConaughey took viewers inside U.S. schools working to unlock student potential.

    Gwyneth Paltrow discussed the "need to empower teachers to help students become creative thinkers and problem solvers," and Eric Stonestreet encouraged students to "be bold."

    Audience members were brought to their feet as Big Sean closed the show with a moving rendition of "One Man Can Change the World."

    Think It Up is an initiative of the Entertainment Industry Foundation charitable organization, created to bring broad cultural attention to the urgency of improving the learning experience in America. The national education initiative will seek to reframe the public discussion about education, create a culture of excitement about learning everywhere in America and build a sense of optimism about the potential of education in classrooms across the country.

    Visit here to fund student-powered, teacher-led learning projects in partnership with DonorsChoose.org, the teacher crowd-funding charity.

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner Spend Day Together Taking Their Kids to School

    (Pic) It was a good first day back to school for the kids… and for mom and dad.

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner spent Tuesday morning together dropping off their kids – Violet, 9, Seraphina, 6, and Samuel, 3 – at their first day of school.

    "They smiled and chatted during the morning run," says a source. "There was no obvious tension between them."

    Things appear to be getting back to normal for the couple. Garner, who spent the summer filming Miracles From Heaven in Atlanta, was back to her usual L.A. routine over the Labor Day weekend running errands, stopping by a local nail salon and attending Sunday morning church services.

    On Sept. 3, the couple was also spotted together visiting a family counseling center in L.A.

    But despite the show of solidarity, a source says, "there is no reconciliation. They are working with a professional because there are emotions involved and they want to make this transition as easy as possible for their family."

    Instead, the two are doing what they've done since announcing their split on June 30, and simply putting their kids first.

    "They were focused on making sure each kid had a good first day back at school."

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner Are All Smiles in L.A.

    (Pic) This is divorce done right.

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner, who announced plans to divorce in June after 10 years of marriage, were spotted at an appointment in L.A. Thursday. The exes smiled as they walked to Affleck's car. Though neither actor was wearing a wedding ring, they remain committed to being friends for the sake of their children. In fact, a source tells E! News that the duo is "doing great" and focused on "making sure the divorce is amicable for each other and for the kids."

    The Daredevil co-stars spent the summer in Atlanta, where Jennifer was filming Miracles from Heaven while Ben tended to their three children: Violet Affleck, 9, Seraphina Affleck, 6, and Samuel Affleck, 3. Since the family returned to L.A. in late August, Jennifer and the kids have been staying in the family home, which is undergoing renovations. Ben, meanwhile, is living in a rental down the street.

    Last week, E! News exclusively revealed that Ben took his two daughters to see Taylor Swift's fifth and final concert at the Staples Center in L.A. Thursday The trio even got to meet the "Wildest Dreams" singer, 25, backstage. "The girls had been begging to go," a source said of the family. "He was so excited for them." Two days later, Jennifer took Seraphina to paint ceramic pots at Color Me Mine in Santa Monica. On Sunday, she took all three kids to church and the farmer's market.

    Since announcing their split in June, Ben and Jennifer have been putting on a united front for their kids' sake. "After much thought and careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to divorce. We go forward with love and friendship for one another and a commitment to co-parenting our children whose privacy we ask to be respected during this difficult time," the actors told E! News. "This will be our only comment on this private, family matter. Thank you for understanding."

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner All Smiles as They Step Out Together in L.A.

    (Pic) Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner seem to be working hard to keep things friendly between them as they transition into a new phase in their relationship.

    The pair, who split in June after 10 years of marriage, were spotted out together on Thursday at an appointment in L.A. and they were smiling as they walked to Affleck's car.

    Neither of them were wearing their wedding rings, but at the time they announced their plan to divorce, the couple told PEOPLE in a statement that they planned to "go forward with love and friendship for one another and a commitment to co-parenting our children."

    The amicable exes spent the summer in Atlanta, where Garner was filming Miracles from Heaven while Affleck was on daddy duty with their three kids, Violet, 9, Seraphina, 6, and Samuel, 3.

    Since the family returned to L.A. at the end of last month, Garner and the kids have been staying in the family home, which is currently under renovation, while Affleck is living in a rental down the street.

    Justin Bieber, Jennifer Garner and Halle Berry Among Stars Taking the Stage for 'Think It Up' Education Campaign

    Sure, award shows are great. But it's the good causes that really get celebrities walking a red carpet.

    So, for the televised launch of "Think It Up" – a new initiative aimed at improving education in America – Jennifer Garner, Halle Berry, Seth Meyers, Julie Chen, and Terry Crews have enlisted to participate and Justin Bieber and Kacey Musgraves have volunteered to perform, PEOPLE can reveal exclusively.

    The latest celebs revealed will join a long list of previously-announced talent including Ryan Seacrest, Gwyneth Paltrow, Scarlett Johansson, Stephen Colbert, Matthew McConaughey, Kristen Bell, Jessica Williams and Jeremy Renner on the telecast, which will be broadcast simultaneously on ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC on Sept. 11.

    Beginning with the telecast, "Think It Up" – the brainchild of the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF) (the same group behind "Stand Up to Cancer") – will invite public middle and high school students to work with their teachers to develop projects that draw on their passions. Teachers can then post the project proposals to thinkitup.org, where supporters can contribute funds directly to individual projects.

    The crowdfunding platform was launched in collaboration with DonorsChoose.org and received support of major contributors like Staples and The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

    Along with support from visionaries and innovators in the education space and some of Hollywood's biggest stars, "Think It Up" will challenge students to dream big, and help teachers who bring out the best in their students.

    Jennifer Garner 'Happy to Get Back' to L.A. and Kids – with Ben Affleck Living Down the Street

    (Pic) For Jennifer Garner, there's no place like home.

    After spending the summer filming Miracles From Heaven in Atlanta, Garner wasted no time getting back into her normal routine – and treating her kids to a fun family weekend – once she returned to Los Angeles.

    Two months after she and Ben Affleck announced their difficult divorce, "Jen seems in good spirits and is almost back to her normal, positive personality," a source tells PEOPLE. "She's happy to get back to her usual, family routine with the kids in L.A."

    On Saturday, Garner took her daughter Seraphina, 6, for a fun day of painting ceramic pots at Color Me Mine in Santa Monica.

    The next day, she got in an early morning jog before taking her three children, Violet, 9, Seraphina and Samuel, 3, to church. "The kids seemed excited about church. They ran into several school friends," another source tells PEOPLE. "Jen also had a very warm welcome at the church. She kept smiling and looked happy."

    The family also made a quick stop at one of their favorite weekend hotspots: their local farmers' market.

    Garner held her children's hands as they strolled the streets, picking out fruits and vegetables from the various stands.

    "She looked happy to see familiar faces at the market and received several welcome-back-to L.A. hugs," says a witness.

    Since returning to L.A., Garner, 43, has been staying at the family home, which is currently under renovation, with Affleck living in a rental just down the street.

    Garner and Affleck, both 43, have seemingly taken their wedding rings off for good, as neither of them have been spotted wearing them since Garner returned to L.A. last week.

    A source had previously told PEOPLE that the couple had chosen to continue wearing their wedding rings in the weeks following their divorce announcement for their kids.

    "They just want them to be okay," the source said.

    Both Garner and Affleck have been spending quality time with their children before school starts in September.

    The exes have some big decisions to make in the coming weeks about what their next step will be as a family regarding their living situation, but until then, a source close to Garner tells PEOPLE in the magazine's latest issue, the actress is simply trying to take things "day by day."

    "She realizes that she still has ways to go before she figures out a new normal, but she seems excited about the future."

    Jennifer Garner Returns to L.A. with Ring Off – as She Faces Difficult Next Steps with Ben Affleck

    (Pic) The whole family is back in town.

    Jennifer Garner has returned home to Los Angeles after spending the summer filming Miracles from Heaven in Atlanta.

    Garner was seen Friday morning talking to one of the family's nannies. The actress, who was not wearing her wedding ring, looked casual as she was dressed in a gray T-shirt and army-green pants, her hair pulled back.

    Estranged husband Ben Affleck has been back in L.A. since early last week, taking their three children, Violet 9, Seraphina, 6, and Samuel, 3, on weekend outings. He even took his two daughters to see Taylor Swift in concert, and they got to meet the singer backstage.

    The actor has also been spotted without his wedding ring in the last few days.

    Garner finished working just in time to spend the last few weeks of summer with her family, as the children will start school in September.

    Her return also means difficult decisions will likely be made regarding the family's current living arrangements. For the moment, Garner is staying at the family home, which is under renovation, while estranged husband Ben Affleck lives in a rental just down the street.

    Affleck and Garner, both 43, originally planned to continue living on the same property, but after a difficult summer and with their home still under renovation, Garner began to question what the future will look like.

    "Jen will always make sure that Ben spends as much time with the kids as he wants, but she is rethinking their living situation," a source close to the family told PEOPLE.

    Prior to her return, Garner was "being smart and not putting too much pressure on herself," a source close to Garner said, adding that the actress plans to "take things day by day."

    Mia Maestro Joins ‘Scandal’ As Recurring

    The Strain star Mia Maestro has been tapped for a major recurring role on the upcoming fifth season of ABC’s Washington, D.C., drama series Scandal. As is the case with most castings on Shonda Rhimes series, the character Maestro will play is being kept under wraps.

    This marks Maestro’s return to ABC, where she had a heavily recurring role on another popular drama series, Alias, as Jennifer Garner’s sister. The Twilight Saga alumna Maestro, who also is is a singer-songwriter, is repped by ICM Partners.

    Jennifer Garner Sang Happy Birthday to a Fellow Diner in Atlanta Restaurant

    Jennifer Garner may be in the midst of a public breakup, but her fun-loving spirit seems to be well intact.

    The actress, 43, was spotted dining with a large group of friends on Saturday night at ONE. midtown kitchen in Atlanta, where she gave a stranger a birthday surprise to be remembered.

    “When a neighboring table had a birthday cake brought out, Garner joined right in, singing ‘Happy Birthday,’ ” a source tells PEOPLE.

    Garner, who was wearing a black cocktail dress, appeared to be “in good spirits” and “enjoyed the view of the Atlanta skyline” as her party drank wine and feasted on wood-fired pizza and roasted veggies, along with red velvet cake and house-made Kit Kat bars for dessert.

    Garner, who has been in Atlanta for several weeks shooting scenes for her upcoming movie Miracles from Heaven, continues to weather the fallout from estranged husband Ben Affleck‘s alleged affair with former family nanny Christine Ouzounian. The former couple recently stepped out together in Orlando, Florida, where they celebrated Affleck’s 43rd birthday at Disney World and Universal Studios with their three children.

    The two also took a family outing in Atlanta last week, where they appeared to be “laughing and talking to each other and looked like they were having fun,” a source told PEOPLE. Affleck is now back in Los Angeles, where he spent the past weekend spending time with the kids.

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner Were 'Laughing and Talking' During a Family Outing in Atlanta

    Just days after a family trip to Orlando, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner are still spending time together.

    As the estranged couple continue to weather the fallout from Affleck's alleged affair with former family nanny Christine Ouzounian, a source tells PEOPLE the couple looked relaxed and happy while taking their dog and three kids for a walk in Atlanta, where Garner continues to film Miracles from Heaven.

    "They were laughing and talking to each other and looked like they were having fun," said the source.

    The latest sighting comes just days after Affleck rang in his 43rd birthday with Garner and their kids Saturday at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Studios, followed by a trip to Disney World a day later.

    Although onlookers thought the couple appeared distant during the trip, a source close to the couple said the pair "are both making the best of a hard situation" and "they did it together and the kids had a great time, which is what they both wanted."

    Garner got back to work after the Florida trip, and was spotted on set in Atlanta this past week.

    Affleck, meanwhile, was seen meeting with his Eastern Congo Initiative co-founder Whitney Williams at a luxury hotel in Atlanta Thursday. The Argo director was spotted wearing his wedding ring when he met with Williams, with whom he's working to raise money and awareness for the impoverished region.

    Garner and Affleck announced their split in June while on a family vacation in the Bahamas. A short time later, Ouzounian's friends told PEOPLE the California native admitted to an affair with Affleck. A source close to the Oscar winner, meanwhile, maintains the actor had "a work relationship and a friendship" with her, but nothing more.

    On Friday, Ouzounian was spotted taking a walk around Los Angeles, looking casual in gray jeans, a flowing white shirt and shades.

    The former nanny has been keeping busy since she ended her position with the family. After a stay at the swanky Hotel Bel-Air, she's been seen driving her new Lexus convertible around Southern California and sporting a bikini while soaking up the sun at Newport Beach last week.

    J.J. Abrams on the Pressure of Directing Star Wars: 'You Had to Forget It Was a Religion for So Many People'

    When J.J. Abrams was handed the keys to the Star Wars franchise, he knew that for many diehard fans his task of expanding the franchise was akin to adding another book to the bible.

    "You had to forget it was a religion for so many people, because in the moment you had to do the work," the Star Trek Into Darkness director told PEOPLE at the D23 Expo at the Anaheim Convention Center this past weekend.

    Part of getting the job done was overcoming the fact that he was working with people like Harrison Ford, whom he'd idolized since he was kid.

    "I think one of the biggest challenges on a daily basis was not considering the person you're talking to as someone who was an icon when you were a kid, or for me when I was a kid," he said.

    "I remember when I was 11 years old and I saw Star Wars for the very first time and it didn't look like anything I'd ever seen," Abrams gushed. "So to get to play in that playground is an absolute honor."

    But Abrams admits the work wasn't all stress and nerves. "I think the most surprising thing was how much fun it was to do this movie. I knew it would be a lot of work and I knew it would be crazy stressful, but I didn't necessarily expect it to be as much of a joy to do."

    One point that fans will be happy to hear, is that Abrams says he made sure not to rely on the franchise's name and nostalgia factor to make a good movie. "It's not going to just be good because it's Star Wars," he says.

    Even the smallest scenes, like "two people talking in space," were important for him to get right. "Because if you don't buy those, nothing else matters."

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner Were 'Both Making The Best of A Hard Situation' on Family Trip: Source

    They've been dealing with a difficult divorce – and the thermometer in Orlando in August has been over 90 degrees. But Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck still managed to put their kids first last weekend, taking Violet, 9, Seraphina, 6, and Samuel, 3, to Universal Studios Florida and Disney World to celebrate Affleck's 43rd birthday. "They are both making the best of a hard situation," a source close to the couple tells PEOPLE.

    While witnesses have said the couple looked tense, the source points out the outings wouldn't be easy for any parent, and the famous couple also had to contend with gawkers. "It's hard to get through an amusement park sometimes with three kids," said the source. "It's not always easy, especially when there are a lot of onlookers." The most important thing to Affleck and Garner: "They did it together and the kids had a great time, which is what they both wanted."

    The family spent the weekend visiting the various Florida theme parks. They started at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal on Saturday (Affleck even sported a Harry Potter t-shirt) and continued the festivities at Fantasyland in Disney World Monday, where they took the kids on the Dumbo the Flying Elephant ride twice.

    One onlooker applauded the two parents for sticking together during this hard time.

    "Looks like a family to me, with a very brave face."

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner 'Seemed Like Awkward Strangers' Celebrating His Birthday with the Kids: Onlooker

    Ben Affleck may have rung in his 43rd birthday with ex Jennifer Garner and their kids – but it seems their reunion wasn't without a little awkwardness, according to one onlooker.

    Affleck and Garner took their three kids – Violet, 9, Seraphina, 6, and Samuel, 3 – to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter to celebrate his birthday Saturday at Universal Orlando Studios, where they treated the kids to souvenirs. But "neither of them looked too happy," an onlooker at one of the shops tells PEOPLE.

    "They didn't even look at each other. They were talking to the kids, but they didn't talk or even look in each other's direction," adds the onlooker. "They seemed like strangers – awkward strangers."

    A source close to the couple tells PEOPLE that they were focused on putting their children first.

    "As always, it's about the kids and they will always put them first," the source said. "Everyone had fun. They put them first no matter what.

    "All Ben wanted for his birthday was to be with his children."

    Another source close to the couple added, "They have had a great weekend and the eyewitness saw them engaging s a family."

    Affleck and Garner, 43, announced their split in June and have been determined to focus on their kids in the wake of the divorce news. In addition to jetting off to the Bahamas for a family trip in June, the pair has spent time together with their children in Atlanta, where Garner is filming her movie Miracles from Heaven.

    The latest family getaway comes just weeks after news broke of an alleged affair with the couple's former nanny, Christine Ouzounian, 28. (Affleck sources have repeatedly denied that he and Ouzounian ever had a romantic relationship.)

    Ben Affleck Celebrates 43rd Birthday at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter with Jennifer Garner and Kids

    (Pic, Pic2) Ben Affleck rang in his 43rd birthday with his family.

    The actor was spotted with ex Jennifer Garner and their three kids – Violet, 9, Seraphina, 6, and Samuel, 3 – at Universal Studios Orlando on Saturday.

    The pair, who announced their split exclusively to PEOPLE in June, were spotted by Twitter users at Universal Orlando's The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

    "Jennifer Garner is in the same Harry Potter shop as me wtf," Tweeted one onlooker Saturday afternoon.

    And another shared a Snapchat shot of the couple:

    This is the latest public outing for the family since Affleck and Garner, also 43, brought their kids to the United States after taking a trip to the Bahamas last month.

    Garner has been busy filming Miracles from Heaven in Atlanta amid rumors that Affleck had a fling with their nanny, Christine Ouzounian, 28. (Affleck sources have repeatedly denied that they ever had a romantic relationship.)

    Affleck has been making frequent trip to Atlanta to visit with his children, who are staying with Garner in a rental home while she works on her project. As PEOPLE previously reported, Affleck and Garner took their children to see Inside Out last weekend.

    "He's happiest when he's with his family," a close friend told PEOPLE.

    Sun-Kissed! See Bradley Cooper and Irina Shayk's Sexy Beach PDA

    (Pic) Things are heating up between Bradley Cooper and Irina Shayk – literally.

    The pair were spotted kissing and getty cozy while vacationing on Italy's Amalfi Coast earlier this week.

    The Wet Hot American Summer actor, 40, and the Russian model, 29, locked lips on the stone beach. Cooper, wearing orange swim trunks, seemed to only have eyes for Shayk, who donned a blue bikini top chicly mismatched with her neon-orange-and-black bottoms.

    "They were very playful and loving," an observer tells PEOPLE. "They were completely wrapped up in one another and having a great time."

    The actor fiddled with Shayk's barely-there suit as they soaked up the sun. He kept a pair of goggles on his head, seemingly at the ready for their next plunge.

    A source tells PEOPLE that the couple stayed at Le Sireneuse, a luxury hotel in Positano. Over the years, the hotel has attracted a slew of famous clientele, including Gwyneth Paltrow and boyfriend Brad Falchuk.

    The Sports Illustrated swimsuit model and Cooper have been spotted together often since April, and they were caught kissing several times in May.

    The model also attended a performance of Cooper's The Elephant Man in London later that month.

    Cooper split from girlfriend Suki Waterhouse, 23, just a few months before linking up with Shayk.

    Michael Vartan Cast In E! Drama Pilot ‘The Arrangement’

    Alias alum Michael Vartan has joined the cast of E’s drama pilot The Arrangement, from writer Jonathan Abrahams (Mad Men), All3Media and Universal Cable Prods.

    Described as a Cinderella story for modern times with a dramatic and complicated Hollywood twist, The Arrangement follows Megan Morrison, a beautiful young actress who auditions for the female lead in a summer blockbuster playing opposite Kyle West, the hottest actor of the moment. After an amazing audition segues into a dream-like first date, Megan’s Cinderella story takes a turn to the bizarre when she is presented with a contract that details an entire relationship with Kyle. Megan must weigh her options and the benefits and consequences to her career and her life overall… and decide whether or not she will accept “the arrangement."

    Vartan will play Terence Hoffman, Kyle West’s producing partner, best friend and mentor. His influence on Kyle’s life is pervasive and when Megan enters the scene, Terence becomes particularly invested in assuring that The Arrangement goes as planned.

    Vartan, repped by UTA and Thruline Entertainment, recently recurred on Bates Motel.

    Limitless: Bradley Cooper "Has Every Intention" of Returning After the Pilot

    Bradley Cooper's availability is not infinite, but there's a chance you'll see him beyond his brief appearance in the pilot of the new CBS series Limitless.

    "Bradley really has been so committed to the show and he has every intention of coming back," executive producer Alex Kurtzman told reporters during the Television Critics Association fall previews on Monday. "We've been talking quite a bit about how to bring him back and in what capacity."

    The Oscar-nominated actor, who starred in the 2011 film upon which the series is based and is an executive producer on the series, reprises his role as Eddie Morra in the premiere.

    "[Eddie's] agenda is very, very unclear. You can't tell if he's good or if he's bad," Kurtzman explained. "Certainly, there's something going on there, and so the plan is that there may be people who speak for him, but Eddie will return."

    Limitless stars Greek's Jake McDorman as Brian Finch, a man who develops superhuman abilities after taking a mysterious drug called NZT. The series is a sequel rather than a remake of the film.

    Limitless premieres Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 10/9c on CBS.

    Ben Affleck Reunites with Jennifer Garner and Kids in Atlanta

    Ben Affleck returned to Atlanta this weekend to be with his kids and estranged wife, Jennifer Garner.

    Affleck, 42, was spotted arriving to Garner's rental home in Atlanta on Friday. A source told PEOPLE that he intended to reunite with his family this weekend.

    On Saturday, the couple were joined by their kids for a family outing that included lunch and a trip to a local movie theater.

    The couple, who recently announced their divorce after 10 years marriage, have been "talking every day," a source previously told PEOPLE.

    "They are still getting through and doing their own stuff and taking care of the kids, but it's not easy on them."

    Garner has been staying in Atlanta with their three children – Violet, 9, Seraphina, 6, and Samuel, 3 – while filming Miracles from Heaven and Affleck, 42, has already visited the family several times since the split announcement.

    Allegations recently surfaced that Affleck was having an affair with the 28-year-old family nanny, Christine Ouzounian, which he vehemently denies.

    But for Garner, 43, it was "the final straw," a source previously told PEOPLE.

    Inside Jen's Heartbreak

    "She's grieving," a source close to her told PEOPLE for this week's cover story, "but she has an amazing support system. She just had no idea what was going on."

    Garner expects divorce mediation to be civil and swift.

    "Jen will always communicate with Ben where the kids are concerned," a Garner source previously said, "but that's it."

    'She's Much Stronger Than You Know': How Jennifer Garner's Family and Friends Are Rallying to Support Her

    (Pic) "Deeply hurt" Jennifer Garner is coping with her shattered marriage to Ben Affleck and new cheating allegations. Subscribe now for the real story, only in PEOPLE.

    After one of the most difficult weeks of her life took a sharp turn for the worse, Jennifer Garner is proving her inner fortitude, and finding support in a tight network of family and friends.

    "She's not a helpless deer caught in the headlights," an insider tells PEOPLE in this week's cover story. "She's much stronger than you know."

    Any lingering doubts regarding her divorce evaporated when the 43-year-old actress learned of an alleged affair between her husband, Ben Affleck, and the family nanny, Christine Ouzounian.

    Affleck, 42, vehemently denies any infidelity, but for Garner the alleged affair "was the final straw" and the "ultimate betrayal" after a difficult 10-year marriage.

    "She's grieving," says a source close to her, "but she has an amazing support system. She just had no idea what was going on."

    The West Virginia-bred Garner is leaning on her friends and family, including her mom, Patricia, and her sisters Susannah and Melissa. "She is very traditional," says a longtime friend. "That's who she is and that's what she represents. She's grounded and she's a fighter, but this is not what she saw for herself. She's shocked."

    Another source close to the actress adds, "This is not anything she wanted as an outcome for her family or her marriage. But everyone's rallying around her."

    Since returning from a family vacation from the Bahamas, Garner has been living with her three children, Violet, 9, Seraphina, 6, and Samuel, 3, in Atlanta while she films Miracles from Heaven. Affleck has visited the family often.

    At work, Garner has continued to live up to her reputation as the consummate professional. "It's very obvious that she is having a terrible week, but it hasn't affected filming," a set source told PEOPLE. "She made it clear that she doesn't want any special treatment. No one is sweeter."

    When she's not on set, the actress has kept busy with family outings, including a recent mani-pedi day with her daughter Seraphina, and a trip to the farmers' market. "The kids and Jen both looked like they were very happy," an onlooker noticed. "They clearly adore their mom."

    Moving forward, Garner remains committed to communicating with Affleck regarding the kids, and expects divorce mediation to be civil and swift.

    For much more on Affleck and Garner's difficult split, the nanny allegations and how Garner is coping, pick up this week's issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands now.

    Could Ben Affleck's Alleged Bad Behavior Affect His Divorce from Jennifer Garner?

    So far, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner have given every indication that their divorce will be an amicable one. They expressed their "commitment to co-parenting our children," have been seen wearing their wedding rings and spending time with their three kids together, and even plan to continue living on the same property for the near future.

    But allegations that Affleck had an affair with a family nanny – which the star strongly denies – point to the considerable strain between Affleck, 42, and Garner, 43, as detailed in this week's PEOPLE cover story. Garner was "livid" when she found out, a friend of nanny Christine Ouzounian told PEOPLE. A source close to Affleck has maintained that "there has never been a romantic or sexual relationship" between Affleck and Ouzounian.

    The ex-couple have said they plan to work out their plan for dividing their fortune and properties using a private mediator – and that plan hasn't changed, a source close to Affleck confirms. Any alleged bad behavior by either party wouldn't affect mediation, in which parties "try to work out all the different terms to their mutual satisfaction" in a private meeting, explains Sorrell Trope, a veteran L.A. family law attorney who's represented stars including Britney Spears and Hugh Grant.

    Even if the stars aren't able to agree on terms and wind up in court, their behavior wouldn't affect who gets what in the divorce. A judge would enforce any prenup, unless it's contested, and otherwise all assets accumulated during the marriage would be divided evenly, with child support awarded as determined by the court.

    But child custody is a different situation, in which judges rule based on what's in the children's best interest. A parent's "behavior can affect the terms of custody," says Earle Lilly, a family law specialist who has represented George Foreman and Alex Rodriguez's ex-wife Cynthia. An alleged affair with a nanny could be "significant in a decision of sole custody and joint custody" if Garner were to decide to push for greater custody of Violet, 9, Seraphina, 6, and Samuel, 3, Lilly says. However, Garner "may not want to bring up those things and want to keep it private and quiet."

    Any bid for sole custody would depend on the parent's ability to prove it's in the children's best interest, says Trope. "Otherwise you're going to wind up with some form of joint custody."

    Trope explains that in California, joint physical custody does not necessarily mean a 50/50 time share. "You could have joint custody with 30/70 or 40/60," he says, noting that an even split is also "very common."

    So far, of course, Affleck and Garner have shown they've been able to put their differences aside, spending time together with their kids while Garner films her latest movie, Miracles from Heaven, in Atlanta. "They want to make sure that this is as easy as they can make it on the kids," a source close to the couple told PEOPLE. "They still do love each other and love their children."

    Jennifer Garner's Sweet Day Out with Her Kids: Mani-Pedis and Legoland

    What better way to spend a day off work than getting mani-pedis with one of your best girls?

    That was just on the agenda for Jennifer Garner and daughter Seraphina, 6, on Saturday in Atlanta, where the actress has been shooting Miracles from Heaven. Even as Garner, 43, was coping with the news of former husband Ben Affleck's alleged affair with their nanny (which his rep has denied), she remained intent on having quality time with her brood.

    The duo first stopped in for lunch at a local Panera Bread restaurant, where Garner "was so focused on her little girl, she didn't even notice all of the people looking at her," says a fellow patron. "They were laughing and talking and they both had big smiles on their faces. It was adorable."

    The two then went next door to a nail salon and got manicures and pedicures. "She is so down-to-earth," says a source at the salon of Garner. "She and her little girl were having a great time."

    Garner and Seraphina later met up with siblings Violet, 9, and Samuel, 3, and ventured over to Peachtree Road Farmers' Market before going to Legoland Discovery Center at Phipps Plaza.

    "She was like a supermom, taking them places and giving them her full attention," says an onlooker. "The kids and Jen both looked like they were very happy. They clearly adore their mom."

    The actress has been living in Atlanta with her children since announcing her divorce from Affleck, 42, in late June. Affleck has been visiting the family as well and recently brought his kids a new puppy.

    "This is not easy for him either, but this is about a separation," says a source close to him. "He is with the kids as much as possible and leaning on his mom and his friends."

    Robert Downey Jr. is highest-paid actor again

    Robert Downey Jr., for the third year in a row, is the world's highest-paid actor ($80 million), but that's not the real news in Forbes' annual list of leading men with enviable bank balances.

    What's different this year is that for the first time three multimillionaire Indian actors little known among American movie audiences are included in an international top 10.

    And Jackie Chan of China ($50 million) is No. 2.

    It's yet another sign of the growing globalization of ... well, everything, but especially the film business. In an increasingly internationalized industry, China and India can be a players, each with more than 1 billion people, many of them mad for movies made in their own countries.

    Thus, Bollywood superstars Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar are No. 7 ($33.5 million) , No. 8 ($33.5 million) and No. 9 ($32.5 million) in the top 10 this year.

    They rank ahead of Mark Wahlberg at No. 10 ($32 million), Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson at No. 11 ($31.5 million) and Johnny Depp at No. 12 ($30 million), for instance.

    Above them are: Vin Diesel at No. 3 ($47 million), Bradley Cooper at No. 4 ($41.5 million), Adam Sandler at No. 5 ($41 million) and Tom Cruise at No. 6 ($40 million).

    Downey remains the Iron Man among the highly compensated thanks to that franchise: Avengers: Age of Ultron earned $240 million gross in China alone. But America, long accustomed to bestriding the world as the Colossus of the movies, has to make room on the list for other nationalities and languages.

    "From Hollywood to Hong Kong and Bollywood, the ranking examines international stars’ earnings for the first truly global dollar tally of film’s flushest stars," Forbes writer Natalie Robehmed says in the article.

    "Though we have long looked at foreign actors starring in the U.S. films — Irishman Liam Neeson, Brit Daniel Craig and Australian Hugh Jackman have all made the Highest-Paid Actors list previously — we have never examined those working solely in international movie industries."

    The full list includes 33 thespians from seven countries, who together earned a combined $877 million before taxes and fees between June 1, 2014, and June 1, 2015, Forbes said.

    Jennifer Garner Smiles on Set Despite Being "Livid" Over Ben Affleck Nannygate Scandal

    (Pic) Jennifer Garner's not letting the rumor mill drag her down.

    The 43-year-old actress had a smile on her face Sunday while filming Miracles From Heaven in Atlanta. She didn't appear to be bothered by the Ben Affleck nannygate scandal that made headlines last week, but a source tells E! News that Jen is actually "livid" over the story and eager for it to go away.

    (Christine Ouzounian, the family's former nanny, claims she and the actor were intimate, according to one of the caretaker's friends. As E! News previously reported, a rep for Ben called reports of an alleged affair categorically "not true" and noted that the actor was considering taking legal action.)

    Understandably Jennifer isn't happy that her ex, 42, was linked to a much-younger woman in the press, but that doesn't mean she's cutting off contact. "Jen and Ben are still in communication," a source tells E! News. "They are working through the separation for the kids and as a family."

    From the time Jen and Ben went public with their plans to divorce after 10 years of marriage, they've made it very clear that daughters Violet, 9, and Seraphina, 6, as well as son Samuel, 3, will remain their top priority. Ben has even been staying in the guest house of Jen's Atlanta rental property during the filming of Miracles From Heaven, and a source tells E! News the actor still plans to stay on the family's Brentwood property when they're back in California, he'll just be in a different house.

    We wish them all the best.

    Jennifer Garner Is All Smiles on Set While Filming with Queen Latifah

    (Pic, Pic2) Jennifer Garner appeared to be in a smiley mood on the set of her new movie Miracles From Heaven, with costar Queen Latifah in Atlanta on Sunday.

    Garner, 43, has been in the Southern city for the past few weeks, living in a rental home with her three children. Her estranged husband Ben Affleck has been in and out of Atlanta in the weeks since the couple announced that they were divorcing.

    Earlier this week, rumors surfaced of an affair between, Affleck and the couple's former nanny Christine Ouzounian.

    While Affleck vehemently denies claims that he had a romance with the 28-year-old, multiple sources told PEOPLE that Ouzounian confirmed to friends that she was in a relationship with the Oscar-winner. The sources said that the romance allegedly began this past spring.

    Affleck has reportedly been in Atlanta this week along with Garner and their kids (Violet, 9, Seraphina, 6, and Samuel, 3), while Ouzounian was spotted out in Los Angeles on Wednesday.

    Garner is said to be "livid" about the scandal but has been focusing on her work. Last Sunday, before the news broke, Garner visited a young fan battling cancer at an Atlanta hospital.

    Ex-nanny at center of Affleck-Garner divorce is loving the fame

    The ex-nanny at the center of the Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner breakup seems pleased with her newfound publicity.

    Au Pair with Privileges Christine Ouzounian has undergone a media-savvy makeover in the days since being accused of sparking her employers’ split by having an affair with the “Gone Girl” star.

    The notorious beauty has been gussying up for the cameras outside her LA home with designer shades, careful makeup and a hair-flip-worthy highlights and blowout.

    The 28-year-old has hired a crisis p.r. firm, and on Wednesday took a star turn in tight jeans, treating paparazzi to a saucy wave and a smile as bright as her chandelier earrings.

    Affleck has denied through a rep that he had any love connection with the shapely Ouzounian.

    His protests haven’t quelled the rumors.

    Garner and Affleck separated when Ouzounian began working with the couple’s three kids in the spring.

    Since then, Affleck and the nanny have been photographed together repeatedly, including on June 30, in the Bahamas.

    She was fired the next day — but again photographed with Affleck on July 17.

    The allegedly naughty nanny has signed a non-disclosure agreement with her former bosses, Radar Online reported on Friday.

    But stay tuned.

    “Christine told friends that she no longer works for the couple,” a source told Radar Online.

    “And anything that happened with Ben after she was fired isn’t covered by the agreement.”

    Jennifer Garner Keeps Working, Ben Affleck Keeps a Low Profile Days After Nanny Infidelity Claims

    Just days after explosive claims of infidelity, Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck are moving forward – in their own ways.

    Garner, 43, has kept busy working on the set of her latest film, Miracles from Heaven, while weathering claims that the family's recently employed nanny, Christine Ouzounian, had an affair with the Oscar winner.

    Multiple sources told PEOPLE Ouzounian, 28, confirmed her romance with Affleck to friends, telling one pal she is "in love" with Affleck after their tryst purportedly began this spring.

    Affleck, 42, vehemently denies the claim, explaining they had "a work relationship and a friendship," but things never got physical.

    Garner and Affleck announced their split on June 30 while on a family vacation in the Bahamas. Shortly after, the family has spent significant time in Atlanta while she is in the midst of filming.

    Although Garner is said to be "livid" about the scandal, she has stayed composed in public, even finding time to make a surprise visit to an Atlanta hospital last Sunday to visit a young fan battling cancer.

    Affleck has kept a low profile since the nanny scandal broke, although a source close to the actor said he's been in Atlanta this week along with their three children.

    Ouzounian, meanwhile, was spotted out in Los Angeles Wednesday – the same day news of the scandal broke – and is now said to be holed up at the Hotel Bel Air.

    Affleck made the upscale hotel his unofficial L.A. home following the split, with one friend telling PEOPLE he and Ouzounian would meet there discreetly.

    Jennifer Garner Was 'Livid' About Ben Affleck's Alleged Fling with Nanny; Affleck Denies Affair

    Christine Ouzounian worked as Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner's nanny for just a few months – but her relationship with Affleck quickly became something much more intimate, according to sources.

    Multiple sources confirm to PEOPLE that Ouzounian, 28, told friends she was having an affair with Affleck. "Christine is in love with him," says one friend of Ouzounian's.

    Affleck has denied having any romantic relationship with Ouzounian, with his rep denouncing a report as "complete garbage and full of lies." A source close to Affleck says he and Ouzounian had "a work relationship and a friendship. There has never been a romantic or sexual relationship."

    According to the friend, Affleck and Ouzounian began the affair last spring, not long after she was hired, and would often meet at the Hotel Bel Air. ("Not true," counters the source close to Affleck.) "It's been going on for a long time," adds the friend, who says Ouzounian showed her pictures of her sitting on Affleck's lap and the two of them kissing. A second source in touch with Ouzounian's circle confirms Ouzounian told friends she and Affleck were intimate. "For Christine, it was a relationship," says the source. "A friend warned her she was going to end up heartbroken."

    Ouzounian's friend says that the nanny even accompanied Affleck along with his and Garner's three kids, Violet, 9, Seraphina, 6, and Samuel, 3, to the Bahamas in June before Garner flew down separately to join them. While in the Bahamas, the power couple announced their divorce on June 30.

    Once Garner arrived, Ouzounian left the Bahamas with Affleck and attended a charity poker event in Las Vegas with him. Garner was still in the Bahamas with the kids when she found out about the affair, says Ouzounian's friend. Garner "was livid," says the friend. "And I don't blame her because if my children bonded with you and you did this? It's just the biggest betrayal."

    "This was not one of the reasons for the breakup," says the source close to Affleck. "There was no affair during or after [their marriage]. Ben and Jen have been separated for months."

    Sources say Affleck and Ouzounian, who were photographed visiting each other at Affleck's L.A. rental house on July 17, have not seen each other since July 19 after spending the night together there. Garner, who has been shooting Miracles from Heaven in Atlanta, continues to focus on her kids, says a source. "She's being unbelievably strong for them," adds the source. "They remain her priority."

    PEOPLE has not been able to reach Ouzounian for comment.

    Jennifer Garner visits cancer patients amid Ben Affleck nanny rumors

    (Pic) Jennifer Garner decided to use her day off from filming “Miracles from Heaven” in Atlanta to visit cancer patients at Scottish Rite hospital.

    Garner and her 11-year old costar Kylie Rogers decided to spread some cheer in the oncology wing of the hospital. The visit comes in the days following rumors that her ex-husband Ben Affleck is dating their former nanny.

    Garner spent quite a bit of time with Henry Shepherd, a young man who is going through an intensive 18 rounds of chemotherapy to battle his osteosarcoma.

    “She visited with us for a while, and it’s hard to explain, it just felt so natural,” Shepherd’s mother tells People. “She was so down to earth, so genuine.”

    Sources also tell the magazine that Garner was seen crying by the nurses’ station crying because she was so moved seeing all of the children at the hospital. Garner is a mother of three.

    The actress’s current film “Miracles from Heaven” is a Christian drama based off the memoir of Christy Beam, whose daughter was miraculously cured of an incurable digestive disorder.

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner Reunite Amid Divorce for a Family Day in Atlanta

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner are putting their kids first.

    Despite announcing their divorce last month, the actors seem to be working on maintaining a normal family life for their three kids Violet, 9, Seraphina, 6, and Samuel, 3. With Garner filming her upcoming movie Miracles From Heaven in Atlanta, Affleck was spotted out and about with Garner and the fam over the weekend at a school fair.

    People reported that Affleck would be in Atlanta for the summer, adding that the former married couple of ten years was in no rush to file for divorce.

    In the photos, both are wearing their wedding rings as Affleck hides under a baseball cap and Jen looks summertime chic in a flowy frock and white tennies. Earlier this month, Garner was spotted running errands wearing her wedding ring on as well.

    Last week, the 42-year-old Oscar winner arrived in Atlanta with the family's irresistibly adorable pup in tow before heading to Garner's $2 million rental property where he is living in the guest house.

    The estranged couple's arrangement confirms what one source previously told E! News, saying that their split was "not contentious," adding, "They grew apart. They were great parents together but they were not always on the same page."

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner Are 'Concentrating on Being a Family,' Aren't Focused on Divvying Up Assets, Source Says

    Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck are focusing on spending time together as a family, rather than hurrying to sort out assets in the wake of their split, a source tells PEOPLE.

    The former couple, who were spotted together with their three children on Saturday, are spending most of the summer in Atlanta, Georgia, where Garner is currently filming the drama Miracles from Heaven.

    "He's going to be there for most of the summer," a source close to the couple tells PEOPLE of Affleck, adding: "That was the plan. He's happy to be there with the family."

    The source says the pair, who plan to divide their assets via mediation, aren't in a "rush" to file for divorce and instead are "concentrating on being a family right now."

    "[Garner]'s finishing a film, so there hasn't been like, 'Okay, let's get this done now,' because they always were like, 'This is happening and still moving forward,' " the source says, concluding, "I don't think they're talking about it."

    Both the stars were spotted wearing their wedding rings on Saturday as Garner, 43, ran errands and Affleck, 42, left a gym. Later in the day, the exes got together to take Violet, 9, Seraphina, 6, and Samuel, 3, to a local school fair, spending time in a bouncy castle, a batting game and a face-paint tent.

    "This is not easy on him," the source tells PEOPLE of how Affleck is handling the split. "I'm sure it's not easy on Jen either, but this is hard for him ... and he's happy to be with the family."

    Affleck and Garner, who were married for 10 years, will continue to live on the same property when they return to Los Angeles. They're renting actress Brooke Shields' home while theirs undergoes extensive renovations.

    Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck Step Out Separately (but Still Wearing Their Wedding Rings) in Atlanta

    (Pic) It's been nearly a month since Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck announced their divorce, but both still appear to be wearing their wedding rings.

    On Saturday, Garner stepped out in Atlanta, Georgia, where she's currently filming, while wearing her wedding band.

    The actress was spotted chatting with a friend in a parking lot. Garner, 43, carried brown shopping bags in one hand, her ring on displaywhile holding a cell phone.

    The actress wore white sneakers with a light-colored dress, and pulled her hair back in a ponytail.

    Affleck, who has been flying to Atlanta between work commitments to spend time with the couple's three children (Violet, 9, Seraphina, 6, and Samuel, 3), was also photographed wearing his ring on Saturday.

    The Batman V. Superman star had the band on after hitting the gym on Saturday.

    A source told PEOPLE the couple has continued to wear the marriage symbols to help their children cope with the divorce.

    "They just want them to be okay," the source said.

    A source also told PEOPLE that the two actors will continue to live together on their Los Angeles property. However, due to extensive renovations, they're now renting actress Brooke Shields' nearby home.

    When Garner wraps filming in Atlanta, Affleck plans to temporarily move into Shields' home with the family.

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner’s next real estate move

    Ben Affleck will rent Brooke Shields’ LA home once the new Batman and his estranged wife Jennifer Garner leave Atlanta — where Garner’s currently filming a movie, sources tell Page Six.

    Affleck and Garner, who announced their split in June, are currently in Georgia together with their three children, Violet, 9, Seraphina, 6, and Samuel, 3, while Garner films the Christian-focused drama “Miracles From Heaven.”

    Despite their recent divorce announcement, Garner and Affleck have insisted they will live on the same property in the Pacific Palisades once they return home, but not in the same house, as they continue to co-parent their kids.

    The pair are currently renovating the 8,800-square-foot home they purchased for $17.5 million in 2009, but sources tell us the separated Hollywood couple “don’t want to live in a construction zone.” Pictures emerged in June of an additional structure being built near their home, which was assumed would be a “man cave” where Affleck would live to be close to their kids.

    Shields’ five-bedroom, 5 ½-bathroom home is conveniently just a few houses away from Affleck and Garner’s Pacific Palisades property, we’re told. Shields and her writer hubby Chris Henchy put the mansion up for rent in June for $30,000 a month. Shields bought the property in 1997 for $3.3 million, but spends most of her time in New York.

    But another source close to the divorcing couple insisted Shields’ home wouldn’t be Affleck’s “bachelor pad,” but a family refuge from his currently under-construction home with Garner. Affleck would still “remain with his family on this new property,” we’re told.

    Affleck and Garner have done their best to put on a united front since announcing the divorce. Shortly after the split, they took a family vacation to the Bahamas while news of their breakup made headlines.

    And last weekend, Affleck was spotted holding a yellow golden retriever puppy, which sources say the family rescued while in Atlanta.

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner Are Still (Mostly) Wearing Their Wedding Rings for Their Kids

    Making his first public appearance since his split from Jennifer Garner was announced, Ben Affleck was at Comic-Con in San Diego to promote his upcoming film, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. But plenty of eyes were also on the actor's wedding band – still on his ring finger.

    Friends of the former couple say the rings (Affleck, 42, has worn his off and on; Garner, 43, has been spotted wearing hers) symbolize their effort to help their three kids, Violet, 9, Seraphina, 6, and Samuel, 3, through their divorce as easily as possible. The children "are a big part of why they're still wearing [the rings]," a source tells PEOPLE in this week's issue. "They just want them to be okay."

    Garner and the kids are spending their summer in Atlanta, where Garner is shooting Miracles from Heaven. Affleck, who spent several days with his family in Atlanta last week, "plans to be there with them as much as he can," says a source close to both. "He's playing Mr. Mom, and that is what he wants to do. As difficult as it is, from what we've seen, it's pretty amicable."

    Garner "is doing great. The kids are with her, which is all she wants," says a friend. "She's as strong as ever."

    Bradley Cooper In David O. Russell’s ‘Joy’ – First Trailer Released

    Bradley Cooper In David O. Russell’s ‘Joy’ – First Trailer Released: Video.

    Legends of Tomorrow: Time Warps, a 'Psychopathic' Heat Wave

    Legends of Tomorrow: Time Warps, a 'Psychopathic' Heat Wave: Video (Victor Garber).

    Jennifer Garner & Kids Spend Weekend Poolside in Atlanta Without Ben Affleck: All the Details

    Jennifer Garner isn't going to let the news of her and Ben Affleck's split cast a cloud over their family.

    In fact, the actress had quite the sun-filled weekend in Atlanta with their kids! A source tells E! News that Jennifer, 43, spent a lot of time at the pool with daughters Violet, 9, and Seraphina, 6, and son Samuel, 3.

    An onlooker says that the mother of three, who is currently in Georgia for the filming of her new movie Miracles in Heaven, wore a one-piece swimsuit as she swam with the kids. No doubt, too, the sunscreen advocate made sure that she and all three Affleck children had on plenty of SPF to protect their skin from those harmful UV rays!

    A lot of the weekend consisted of Jen spending quality time with the kids poolside, but she also managed to get in a workout! According to an onlooker, Jen went to a spinning class where she (not surprisingly) looked to be in great shape.

    Ben might have been out of sight (he spent the weekend in San Diego at 2015 Comic-Con), but he wasn't out of mind. Jen was photographed on Saturday still wearing her wedding ring, and Ben, too, had his on as he took part in the Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice panel.

    The twosome have been putting up a united front since announcing late last month that they planned to divorce after 10 years of marriage. They were spotted together as recently as Friday in their Los Angeles neighborhood, and a source tells E! News their split was "not contentious" and both parents want what's best for the kids. Currently, Ben is living in the guest house of Jen's $2 million rental property in Atlanta.

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner Treasure Time with Kids as They Go Through Divorce

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner spent some time together without their children in the Bahamas this weekend, as seen in these exclusive photos. But they also enjoyed many activities with the kids – both separately and as a family – a source close to the couple tells PEOPLE.

    In announcing their impending divorce to PEOPLE on June 30, Affleck, 42, and Garner, 43, affirmed a "commitment to co-parenting our children." And they did just that during their subsequent Bahamas vacation with Violet, 9, Seraphina, 6, and Samuel, 3.

    Friends say Garner was grateful she could shelter her kids from the eyes of the world when the announcement was made. "She has been focused on them the entire time," says a close friend, noting the kids flew to the Bahamas with her. "She has been with them every second. They mean everything to her."

    The family time this weekend was symbolic, yes, but it was also just fun, even against the backdrop of sadness over the split, says the source.

    "He spent a great deal of time hanging with the kids this weekend," the source says of Affleck. "They had a lot of great activities they were able to do together with the family and separately that he really appreciated."

    The source added: "They enjoyed it and he enjoyed it, and he also thought it was good for the family. It was important to them, but it was also nice. He also had some time alone with the kids, and he really enjoyed activities with them."

    Garner "made sure the vacation was for the kids," the close friend added. "She is an amazing and attentive mother and everything she does is with the kids in mind."

    At the end of the weekend, the kids left with Garner as she headed to Atlanta on Sunday to begin shooting the faith-based film Miracles from Heaven. She was spotted wearing her wedding ring in Atlanta on Monday.

    Affleck, meanwhile, returned to Los Angeles solo, where he was spotted Sunday without his wedding ring.

    Jennifer Garner Arrives in Atlanta for Work After Wrapping Up Bahamas Vacation with Soon-to-Be-Ex Ben Affleck

    (Pic) Jennifer Garner touched down in Atlanta, Georgia, on Sunday to begin shooting faith-based film Miracles from Heaven, a source tells PEOPLE.

    Garner's new project, based on the book Three Miracles From Heaven by Christy Beam, follows a young girl with a rare digestive disorder who finds herself miraculously cured after a serious accident.

    The actress, 43, spent most of the week with her family in the Bahamas following the announcement that she and husband Ben Affleck are divorcing.

    In photos posted exclusively on PEOPLE, the couple, who were married for 10 years, were spotted in the Bahamas together this week. A source tells PEOPLE there are there with their three children, Violet, 9, Seraphina, 6, and Samuel, 3. The family wanted to be together when the news of the separation broke, the source said.

    Garner has been busy with work for the last several months, and spent most of June filming the comedy Nine Lives with Kevin Spacey in Montreal.

    The actress has reportedly been turning to friends and family for support in the days following the couple's divorce announcement.

    "Jen has been leaning on friends. She has a close circle of pals who she trusts and are really protective of her," a source told PEOPLE. "Her girlfriends have been really supportive. They just want her to be happy."

    Inside the Luxurious Bahamas Resort Where Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner Took Family Post-Split

    (Pic1, Pic2) Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner stayed under the radar with their three children following their divorce announcement on June 30 at a very secluded location: their home in a private Bahamas resort community.

    The family headed to the lavish Baker's Bay Golf and Ocean Club in the Bahamas, where they own property and – in exclusive photos posted on PEOPLE – were spotted stealing a private moment together on Friday. The resort community boasts six miles of pristine, pink-sand beaches, a deep-water marina, an 18-hole championship golf course, a poolside spa and more.

    As PEOPLE previously reported, Affleck, 42, and Garner, 43, sought refuge at the owners-only club to protect their children – Violet, 9, Seraphina, 6, and Samuel, 3 – from the public eye after they broke the news of their split last week.

    "They were together as a family that day," a source told PEOPLE. "The family felt it was important to be together, and they were together. The family is united and, no matter what, will protect the kids.

    "This isn't easy for anyone and it's devastating to Ben, too. He loves his family and will always put them first."

    The family didn't have to go far for their day-to-day needs – within the 585-acre community lies a village with a restaurant, bar, retail shops and a market that sells luxury foods, fine wines and groceries. Any items not on hand at the club, situated along the Atlantic Ocean and Sea of Abaco, can easily be delivered to residents.

    Baker's Bay also has an on-island medical clinic with a doctor and nurse, as well as its own fire and police facilities, according to the official sales brochure.

    Affleck and Garner were privately separated for several months before going public with their split, a source told PEOPLE, but they've been putting on a united front in recent weeks.

    The two parents plan to share custody of their children and continue living together on their estate in L.A. They also intend to seek mediation as they move forward with splitting their assets.

    "Ben was a family man when he could be and his kids adore him," said another source. "He traveled a lot but when he is with the kids he's really with them, taking them out for treats, having fun with them. And there is nothing more important to Jen than being a good mom."

    Jennifer Garner Is 'Leaning on Friends' After Divorce Announcement

    Earlier this week, Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck announced that after 10 years of marriage they "made the difficult decision to divorce," the couple exclusively told PEOPLE in a joint statement.

    In the days following the announcement, and as details about their relationship and what drove them apart unfold, Garner, 43, is turning to those close to her for comfort.

    "Jen has been leaning on friends. She has a close circle of pals who she trusts and are really protective of her. Her girlfriends have been really supportive," says a source close to Garner. "They just want her to be happy."

    Her close-knit circle includes both Hollywood and childhood friends.

    Garner has also kept a strong bond with her two sisters, Melissa and Susannah: "Being the middle sister of these three girls is the relationship that defines me more than anything else," Garner told Southern Living magazine.

    The actress has deep roots in her hometown of Charleston, West Virginia – where her mom and younger sister Susannah still live.

    Garner and Affleck, 42, often spent their vacation time visiting her side of the family, and even baptized their son, Samuel, 3, in a local Charleston church in 2013.

    "I feel so fortunate to have grown up in a place where people look out for each other," she told Southern Living. "I grew up with such an excess of it that now wherever I go, the first thing I do is build my group."

    Bradley Cooper Encourages Fans to Register as Bone Marrow Donors to Save Man's Life

    Having a support system that includes Hollywood superstar Bradley Cooper is all Anthony Daniels could ask for in his battle against cancer.

    First diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2011 when he was a student at Fordham University, Daniels, 24, had already beat the cancer into submission three times when he recently learned it had returned.

    He's now undergoing radiation to shrink a tumor on his spine after his latest round of chemotherapy wasn't effective.

    "I'm in a lot of pain but it could be worse," he says. "I just think if my situation can somehow help others who feel as badly as I do, then that's a constant motivation to keep going."

    Introduced to Daniels through Delete Blood Cancer DKMS, Cooper was moved by the young man's story.

    "Anthony just has the gift of positivity and gratitude," Cooper tells PEOPLE. "He understands the importance of life that we tend to forget on a daily basis. But I have the feeling he was like that his whole life not just when he was plagued by this horrible disease."

    Being told that a bone marrow transplant is Daniels's best hope for survival, Cooper was immediately compelled to help raise awareness for possible donors.

    "Anthony hasn't found someone who he's compatible with yet and it's such a simple test," says the actor, whose own dad had non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and died of lung cancer four years ago.

    "I think when it's not personal and you can't relate to it, you tend to not take action. But I dare anybody to read Anthony's story and not care about him right away."

    Daniels says he was more than impressed by Cooper's genuine interest and concern.

    "He was a real humble guy and he was very easy to talk to," he adds. "I didn't think he was going to be as selfless as he was so it was a nice surprise to say the least."

    As for Cooper, not helping Daniels wasn't even an option. "Anthony just has a genuine love of every moment that he's alive and I find that to be very compelling," he explains. "And especially heartbreaking because he's afflicted with essentially a terminal disease."

    People who are interested in becoming bone marrow donors can register online for a simple swab kit that comes in the mail with pre-paid return envelopes. "Luckily I have the best support system possible," says Daniels. "It's hard to give up on yourself when everybody else is fighting for you."

    For more information on becoming a bone marrow donor, or to read more about Daniels's story, go to www.deletebloodcancer.org/en/AnthonysFight.

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner flee to the Bahamas together

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner fled to the Bahamas with their kids to spend time together just as their divorce news broke, sources exclusively confirmed to Page Six.

    The couple, who on Tuesday announced they are divorcing after 10 years of marriage, was spotted with their kids at a private Bahamas resort on Wednesday. “Ben looked more gray then usual. but Jen was in great spirits,” said the source. “Jen seemed in a great mood, and was spotted working out with a trainer.”

    A second source told us of their island escape: “It was important for both Ben and Jen to get away from the media spotlight and spend quiet time with the kids. They have been spending a lot of time with the kids. This has been hard for everyone, but they are both doing everything to put the kids first.” Of Ben’s gray appearance: “The gray — it’s a concern. Ben and Jen are just worried about how the kids will adjust. That’s why they went away together.”

    This week, a day after their 10th wedding anniversary, Affleck, 42, and Garner, 43, who have children Violet, 9, Seraphina, 6, and Samuel, 3, announced they had “made the difficult decision to divorce.”

    Meanwhile, we’re told the breakup isn’t because of Ben’s ex-fiancée, Jennifer Lopez, despite reports of his “growing closeness” with her. According to UK reports, Affleck and Lopez, who dated for 18 months before calling off their engagement in 2004, have been in regular contact since they reconnected at the Oscars this year.

    But a well-placed source told us: “There is no closeness between Ben and Jennifer Lopez. They bumped into each other at an Oscars event earlier this year and said hello, but that was it.” The source added, “The end of his marriage has nothing to do with J.Lo. This is just a rumor that some people want to be true.”

    We’re told that while Affleck plans to live in a house on the property of their LA family home to help co-parent their kids, he’s recently been staying at his friend Matt Damon’s house nearby. Damon is in China filming “The Great Wall.”

    Ben Affleck Talks Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Admits Daredevil With Jennifer Garner ''Didn't Work''

    Ben Affleck is opening up about his forthcoming film, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, in the latest issue of Entertainment Weekly.

    The 42-year-old actor, who announced in a joint statement on Tuesday that he and wife Jennifer Garner are divorcing after 10 years of marriage, touches on the casting controversy (the actor faced major backlash when he was first named the Caped Crusader) and reveals why he was eager to star in another superhero flick, despite appearing in the 2003 flop Daredevil.

    "Batman is basically the American version of Hamlet," Affleck tells EW. "We accept that he's played by actors with different interpretations."

    Those different actors include Christian Bale in the Dark Knight trilogy and Michael Keaton in Batman Returns, to name a few, although Affleck says his version of the superhero is tired and weary after two decades of fighting crime in Gotham City.

    "He's at the end of his run and maybe the end of his life," Affleck reveals. "There's this sort of world-weariness to it."

    This isn't the first time Affleck has played a superhero on the big screen. He previously starred as Attorney Matt Murdock/Daredevil in the Mark Steven Johnson-directed flick, where he happened to meet wife Jennifer Garner.

    While Affleck has said in the past that making the film had silver lining because "that's where I found my wife," he seemed to have a slightly different perspective while speaking with EW.

    "Daredevil didn't work, at all. If I wanted to go viral I would be less polite," the Oscar winner says. "That was before people realized you could make these movies and make them well. There was a cynical sense of ‘Put a red leather outfit on a guy, have him run around, hunt some bad guys, and cash the check.'"

    But now with the success of Marvel, Affleck is confident in the forthcoming project. "They really learned how to make this stuff work," he says. "Good is the new bad."

    Meanwhile, Garner and Affleck announced on Tuesday that they are divorcing after 10 years of marriage (Affleck was presumably interviewed before the announcement).

    "They were a great team as parents, but with each other, they didn't want the same things," a source told E! News of the parents of three, who underwent marital counseling for two years. "After spending a lot of time figuring that out, they came to the decision that the best thing for them and for the children would be to make a change."

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner: How Their Differences Drove Them Apart

    While fans mourn the end of the 10-year marriage of Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner, those close to the couple say there were key differences between the two stars that gradually created distance between them.

    "They are really two different people," a source tells PEOPLE. "Problems got bigger in their marriage after a few years."

    When they fell for each other on the set of Daredevil in 2003, Affleck, 42, was already an Oscar winner (for 1997's Good Will Hunting) and Garner, 43, was a rising TV star best known for her roles on Alias and Felicity.

    A West Virginia-reared former band geek who often spoke of her affection for Martha Stewart and all things domestic, Garner has long had a warm maternal side.

    "She's always loved kids," a childhood friend told PEOPLE in 2012. "We used to babysit as kids. And she was always the best babysitter."

    The Boston-bred Affleck had a less conventional childhood, having worked as a kid actor on PBS shows. With the smash success of Good Will Hunting, his film career took off – and after marrying Garner, he channeled his professional ambition in even bigger ways, including directing.

    One issue: the separations caused by Affleck's career, which frequently left Garner at home to care for the couple's three children: Violet, 9, Seraphina, 6, and Samuel, 3, while also continuing to act in movies such as Dallas Buyers Club and Men, Women & Children.

    "Ben's frequent absences didn't work for this marriage," an entertainment source says.

    A different source adds, "Ben is a good dad when he is around, but he has so many outside interests and personal issues to get beyond. It had become a bigger problem than either had imagined."

    Another source close to the couple counters that Affleck "was a good husband and loves and cares for his wife and family. He was juggling that as well as his career — everyone knows that juggling a family and career is hard."

    Jennifer Garner Told Friends Ben Affleck Was Her 'Soul Mate'

    Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck may be ending their marriage, but there was once a time when they were madly in love.

    "I remember her telling me Ben is her soul mate," Garner's childhood pal Elizabeth Cary Lantz Brown told PEOPLE of the actress in 2012.

    Garner was so in love with Affleck, for whom she fell on the set of 2003's Daredevil, that she was hoping to spread the joy around, said Brown.

    "She said, if your husband is truly your soul mate, you need to [have kids together,]" Brown recalled.

    And despite any strain in the marriage, Brown emphasized that Garner, 43, and Affleck, 42, have always prioritized being good parents to their three kids: Violet, 9, Seraphina, 6, and Samuel, 3.

    "They're really great parents. They're really involved," Brown said. "Our conversations weren't centered on her life as a movie star but her life as a mom. She loves her work, but it's nothing compared to her kids."

    This desire to put their children first is echoed in the joint statement released exclusively to PEOPLE by Garner and Affleck on Tuesday, just one day after their 10-year wedding anniversary.

    "After much thought and careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to divorce," they said in the statement. "We go forward with love and friendship for one another and a commitment to co-parenting our children whose privacy we ask to be respected during this difficult time."

    First Day of Camp' with full-length trailer

    Get ready for 'Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp' with full-length trailer.

    Ben Affleck -- Even Jennifer Garner Doesn't Believe He Messed with JLo

    Jennifer Garner has issues with Ben Affleck for sure, but they have nothing to do with Ben's former fiancee, Jennifer Lopez.

    Sources directly connected with the couple tell us, neither Ben nor Jen have even raised JLo's name in their decision to divorce. More specifically, we're told Garner has no issue on that front ... it's not about JLo.

    The stories about Ben and JLo started circulating after Ben walked over to Jen during the Oscars, said something, and walked away as she brushed his arm.

    That said, on the other hand, our sources will not say Ben and Jen never argued about other people during their marriage.

    What Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner's Divorce Means for Their Money: Lawyer Weighs in on What's at Stake

    Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck announced their plans to divorce just yesterday and fans are already wondering what the breakup means for the exes' multi-million dollar fortunes.

    As E! News noted Tuesday, the actors' split announcement came just one day after the longtime couple's 10th wedding anniversary. So does their decade of marriage affect who gets more money post-divorce?

    "The ten year mark is the period after which, in California, the marriage is considered a long term marriage," L.A. celebrity divorce attorney and co-author of Inside the Minds: Strategies for Family Law in California: Leading Lawyers on Developments in California Family Law Fahi Takesh Hallin tells E! News. "Normally the presumption is that spousal support or alimony is payable for a period half the length of the marriage unless it is a long term marriage which is ten years or longer. It no longer applies if the marriage is ten years or more, then you can ask relatively for endless support if you make less. If you make more, you can't ask for support."

    While post-split spousal support is still up in the air for Garner and Affleck, division of the duo's community property (the homes and assets they accumulated during marriage) doesn't depend on how long they were together.

    "The ten year marriage makes zero difference. It is always 50/50 for anything acquired during the marriage," Hallin tells E! News. "That means whatever they earned or saved on projects they worked on. It could include residuals or royalties or money for appearances for instance. It is anything they earned on efforts they made during the marriage."

    The fact that Garner and Affleck were separated for 10 months prior to their decade anniversary makes no difference either. "Generally if it is a trial separation the community property continues to accrue until the date that either of you decides the marriage is over. If it isn't a legal separation then the community property still accrues," Hallin said.

    As for custody of their three kids, Violet, Seraphina and Samuel, length of marriage has no weight in the matter of custody.

    Yesterday, a source told E! News that Garner and Affleck's divorce is "not contentious" as both parents want what's best for their children. "They will be co-parenting," a source says, adding that Ben will be living on their property in a different building.

    Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck Divorce Details Emerge: "They Didn't Want the Same Things," Source Says

    This is divorce done right.

    When Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck announced their breakup Tuesday, the Daredevil co-stars promised to end their 10-year marriage with dignity.

    "After much thought and careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to divorce. We go forward with love and friendship for one another and a commitment to co-parenting our children whose privacy we ask to be respected during this difficult time," the movie stars told E! News in a statement. "This will be our only comment on this private, family matter. Thank you for understanding."

    As E! News reported Tuesday, the 13 Going on 30 actress, 43, and the Gone Girl actor, 42, had been in counseling for two years. "You can't simplify why a marriage breaks down," an insider says. "It's not one thing. It happens for many reasons."

    Jennifer and Ben—parents to Violet Affleck, 9, Seraphina Affleck, 6, and Samuel Affleck, 3—"tried for two years to make their marriage work," the insider tells E! News exclusively, adding, "They finally realized that they just couldn't get there.

    For their children's sake, divorce became necessary. "They were a great team as parents, but with each other, they didn't want the same things," the insider says. "After spending a lot of time figuring that out, they came to the decision that the best thing for them and for the children would be to make a change."

    And, no matter what happens, their kids will always come first.

    "Jen is a great mother and Ben is a great dad," the insider tells E! News.

    Contrary to tabloid reports, Jennifer and Ben are not lawyering up to seek revenge. In fact, their divorce is anything but acrimonious. "They are keeping things out of the courts," says the insider, who notes that they want to give their children consistency above all else. Ben has moved out of the house, which "may not be the ideal situation for Ben and Jen, but it's the best for the kids, and that is their focus."

    Previously, a source said that the two had hoped to work things out "because of the kids." Despite their best efforts, the source said they had been "been living separate lives and preparing for this for a long time." The actors were in a trial separation for 10 months, during which time Ben stayed at hotels. And though they have decided to split, they will continue to co-parent as equals, the source said.

    Additionally, Ben will be living on the family's property in a different building.

    As a source told E! News Tuesday, the split is "not contentious."

    Four Days Before Her Split from Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner Was All Smiles on Solo Visit to Boston

    (Pic) If Jennifer Garner's impending divorce was weighing on her during a recent visit to Boston Children's Hospital, she didn't let it show.

    The actress was all smiles while spending time at the facility to research an upcoming role in the film Miracles from Heaven on June 26 – just four days before she and Ben Affleck announced their split.

    "She was very friendly. She was coming to do some research for her next film, to ask him some questions that were a part of it, looking to make sure she had her info right," a hospital spokesperson told PEOPLE. "She was very pleasant, very nice."

    Garner arrived at the hospital by herself wearing a blue and white striped T-shirt, and spent time with Dr. Samuel Nurko, the director of the hospital's Center for Motility and Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders.

    The film, based on the bestselling novel of the same title, tells the true story of a mother, Christy Wilson Beam (played by Garner), and her sickly daughter, who is miraculously cured from her chronic disease after a surviving a dangerous accident.

    The Dallas Buyers Club star and Affleck announced their split on Tuesday after ten years of marriage.

    "They plan on co-parenting and doing absolutely everything in the best interest of the kids," a source tells PEOPLE.

    Both Affleck and Garner plan to continue living in the same L.A. estate they purchased together in 2009, and will file for joint custody of their children, Violet, 9, Seraphina, 6, and Samuel, 3.

    Inside Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner's Divorce: Couple Were in Therapy for 2 Years and ''Not Always on the Same Page''

    It's official: Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck are divorcing.

    "After much thought and careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to divorce," the pair, who celebrated their 10-year wedding anniversary yesterday, told E! News in a joint statement on Tuesday. "We go forward with love and friendship for one another and a commitment to co-parenting our children whose privacy we ask to be respected during this difficult time."

    The statement added: "This will be our only comment on this private, family matter. Thank you for understanding."

    While speculation of a split has been surrounding the parents of three for some time, the news still comes as a shock to fans of the longtime Hollywood power duo. So, what went wrong between the two, who were once the picture-perfect image of an A-list romance?

    "Things have been very challenging for the last several months," a source tells E! News of the soon to be ex-husband and -wife, who have been dodging split rumors for some time.

    Until today, the insider says they were together "because of the kids," but notes that the two "have been living separate lives and preparing for this for a long time."

    A second source adds that their split had nothing to do with their anniversary on Monday, saying the timing was simply a coincidence and in no way had to do with "money reasons" (California is a community property state and the length of a marriage is only relevant when determining spousal support).

    What's more? We're told "this is not a decision they came to lightly" and the duo has in fact been in therapy working on their marriage for two years. They have also been in a trial separation for 10 months, during which time Affleck has been staying at hotels.

    We're also told that the split is "not contentious," as both parents want what's best for their children.

    "They will be co-parenting," a source says, adding that Ben will be living on their property in a different building.

    The insider also notes that their divorce will be handled by a mediator, not in court. "They grew apart. They were great parents together but they were not always on the same page."

    Let's Look Back on Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck's Most Memorable Quotes on Marriage

    It's hard to believe that after ten years of marriage, Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck are divorcing, especially given the amount that they've gushed about one another over the course of the past decade.

    The A-listers have been both complimentary and candid about their marriage in interview after interview, so in light of today's split news, let's take a look back at some of the most memorable quotes about their relationship.

    September 2010: During an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, the actor shared, "I have three women in the house…I get to be wrong three times a day." But despite the sarcastic joke, Affleck added, "I am madly in love. I have the best family."

    December 2011: The Alias star opened up in InStyle about how she and her then-husband know the importance of teamwork. "We both know we couldn't do what we do without each other. Ben always says, 'If you love it, we can make it happen.' He knows when to swoop in with the gesture. He's sweet that way. Honestly, I would anything for that man, because I know it's not taken for granted."

    October 2012: Affleck dished to The Hollywood Reporter about his former leading lady, saying, "She is truly kind. She means no one any harm. She doesn't have ill will for any person. She's not competitive with other people. She's not spiteful."

    He added, "It's one of those things where it becomes almost aggravating at times. Every time I go, 'F--k him!' I see in her face that she just thinks that's petty and small."

    May 2013: During the Oscar-winning actor's return to Saturday Night Live, his wife stopped by to joke about his notoriously awkward Academy Awards speech. "I want to tell you how I wish I had ended that speech: I couldn't do any of the things I do without you, without your support. You're my angel, my life, my world."

    September 2014: During an interview with InStyle last fall, the Dallas Buyers Club star admitted, "When we had our first, we had one been together a year. We were babies. It happened so fast, I hardly even remember what we were like before the kids got here. Now we're just starting to go away for a night here and there."

    Garner continued, "You go through phases. You can't expect to be courted all the time, and I don't want to court him right now—I don't have the energy! But we're definitely in a very mindful place when we're making an effort to be together, do things at the same time, and be loving."

    But no quote seems as strong as today's statement, which the two made together, announcing that they were ending their marriage just one day after their tenth wedding anniversary.

    "After much thought and careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to divorce. We go forward with love and friendship for one another and a commitment to co-parenting our children whose privacy we ask to be respected during this difficult time."

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner Divorce: Inside Their Fortunes and What's at Stake

    After announcing they had made the "difficult decision" to split after 10 years of marriage, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner now face the task of dividing their assets as well.

    The couple are planning on entering mediation to ease the process, a source close to the couple told PEOPLE on Tuesday. "This should not be an ugly divorce," another source added.

    Just how much is at stake? The actors – who were married in 2005 and have three children, Violet, 9, Seraphina, 6, and Samuel, 3 – have each earned millions of dollars during their marriage, and estimates of their combined wealth range upwards of $115 million.

    Forbes reported that Affleck earned roughly $35 million in 2014. While Garner's movie paychecks are generally less whopping, she has done lucrative commercials for companies such as Neutrogena and Capital One. (Not that she's not competitive: "I am not anticipating Men, Women & Children taking Gone Girl," she told TIME last October. "But it would feel great someday to spank him at the box office.")

    Their Real Estate

    The couple are still both living in a 8,800-square-foot home that they purchased from producer Brian Grazer in 2009 for $17.5 million, according to public records. Affleck also purchased a $7 million, 50-acre Southern spread in Savannah, Georgia, in 2003.

    "The house they bought together while married, that would likely be considered community property," says Los Angeles-based divorce attorney Jerry Wang (who is not involved with the couple's split). "But if there is a home that was purchased by one of them while single, that may be his or her own, separate property, which would not be split up."

    The 10-Year Anniversary Factor

    Passing the 10-year mark – which Affleck and Garner did on Monday – can change how California judges award spousal support. In a marriage considered "long-term," judges can choose to award support for a spouse's entire lifetime. But that's unlikely to be a factor for Affleck and Garner, Wang notes. "You hear a lot of people saying, 'Oh, celebrities get divorced around the 10-year mark because if they don't, they'll be on the hook for spousal support to each other,' " he says.

    "Generally, the longer a couple has been together, the longer support they can get. But a lot of California courts don't prefer to award lifetime spousal support because they feel that if one of the spouses is able to support themselves then there's no reason to give them more," he adds. "It's really based on income and earnings." And any existing prenup or decisions made in mediation could mean a judge never needs to rule about support.

    As California is a no-fault divorce state, courts typically enforce a 50-50 division of assets, regardless of who earned more money or spent the most during the marriage, Wang adds.

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner: Inside the Final Weeks of Their Marriage

    Even as their marriage was about to crumble, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner made sure to stand united in public, and privately spent time together with their three children. But the strain was increasingly obvious.

    Earlier this month, the couple – who announced Tuesday that they were divorcing after 10 years of marriage – were spotted with their daughters Violet,9, and Seraphina, 6, on one of their frequent trips to the Pacific Palisades Farmer's Market. "They looked miserable," an eyewitness says. "They didn't speak the entire time. They looked like they were only trying to be around each other for the girls."

    The couple, seemingly happy last fall when Affleck, 42, jokingly pulled Garner, 43, into a swimming pool during his ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. But they in fact spent the last several months mostly apart. A source told PEOPLE that Garner called off plans to bring the kids to Detroit last summer while Affleck was filming Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice.

    Although Garner stood by her husband's side at a Congressional hearing in late March, buzz about trouble in their marriage picked up soon after, when Affleck was spotted solo and without his wedding ring in Canada. The photo, taken on April 17, was also the same day as Garner's 43rd birthday. Behind the scenes, the couple were quietly talking to divorce lawyers, sources confirm.

    But one week later, they were seen together – both with their hands tucked in their pockets – strolling in their L.A. neighborhood.

    In between trips out of town – Garner has also been filming Nine Lives in Montreal, while Affleck has worked on post-production for Batman v Superman – the couple stepped out again to help their daughters celebrate the end of the school year earlier this month.

    They marked their 10th wedding anniversary on June 29 – but announced their plan to divorce the next day.

    Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck Will Continue to Live Together

    They may have announced their divorce on Tuesday, but Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck have no plans on moving away from their Pacific Palisades, California, residence any time soon.

    "This should not be an ugly divorce," a source tells PEOPLE of the couple, who had been privately separated for a few months before their public announcement. "They plan on co-parenting and doing absolutely everything in the best interest of the kids."

    Both Affleck and Garner plan to continue living on the same property, the 8,800-sq.-ft. estate in L.A. they purchased in 2009 for $17.5 million. Filing for joint custody will allow Garner, 43, and Affleck, 42, to continue to make Violet, 9, Seraphina, 6, and Samuel, 3, "their top priority," adds the source.

    "They've been in counseling for some time and have tried hard to work through things in their marriage," the source says of the couple, who married in 2005. "They've been separated for a few months but will continue to work together as co-parents and as two people who still care about each other."

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner Divorcing After 10 Years of Marriage

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner have split, PEOPLE confirms.

    The couple were married for 10 years, having marked their anniversary on Monday.

    "After much thought and careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to divorce," the couple tells PEOPLE in a joint statement. "We go forward with love and friendship for one another and a commitment to co-parenting our children whose privacy we ask to be respected during this difficult time. This will be our only comment on this private, family matter. Thank you for understanding."

    Garner, 43, and Affleck, 42, intend to seek mediation, says a source close to the couple.

    The two are parents to three kids: Violet, 9, Seraphina, 6, and Samuel, 3.

    The couple often enjoyed family time together at home in Los Angeles where they were frequently spotted on carpool, coffee and after-school activity outings with their brood.

    But their marriage was also the subject of scrutiny over the years.

    In a 2014 interview with InStyle, Garner spoke of the couple's "mindful" marriage, noting that their relationship was no longer in the "courtship" phase – but that she was fine with it.

    "You can't expect to be courted all the time, and I don't want to court him right now – I don't have the energy!

    "But we're definitely in a very mindful place where we're making an effort to be together, do things at the same time, and be loving."

    Affleck often spoke of how much Garner helped stabilize his life after it had become tabloid fodder in the years following his 2004 split with Jennifer Lopez.

    "My wife was definitely around then," Affleck told Playboy in 2013. "Getting to know her, falling in love with her and being connected with her gave me a foundation to reach out and say, 'Okay, I'm going to do Hollywoodland. I'm going to direct Gone Baby Gone,' " Affleck said. "Those were the steps forward I needed to put positive stuff on the board."

    Garner returned the praise, telling InStyle in 2013, "We both know we couldn't do what we do without each other. He has been amazing at finding ways of telling me how much he appreciates what I do. Honestly, I would do anything for that man, because I know it's not to be taken for granted.”

    The two met as costars on the the set of their 2003 film Daredevil and started dating soon afterward.

    Jennifer Garner, Ben Affleck say they're getting divorce

    As regulars at a local farmer's market, Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner and their three young children looked like the perfect Hollywood family.

    The stars took turns working so they could nurture their careers and their kids — devoted parents who appeared arm-in-arm at countless industry events.

    "It's work, but it's the best kind of work," Affleck famously said of his marriage to Garner when he accepted the best picture Oscar for "Argo."

    Now, it seems the work is done. After weeks of public speculation about their relationship, the couple announced Tuesday they plan to end their 10-year marriage with a divorce.

    "We go forward with love and friendship for one another and a commitment to co-parenting our children," Garner and Affleck said in a joint statement. "This will be our only comment on this private, family matter."

    Affleck will continue to live on the couple's property in a separate house, and they will co-parent their children Violet, Seraphina and Samuel, according to a person familiar with the situation who was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

    The couple is also planning to go to a mediator to settle their divorce, the person said.

    Just last fall, Garner and Affleck were praising each other's commitment to family, career and philanthropic causes.

    Affleck, 42, said he's grateful Garner takes on the "lion's share" of their family responsibilities.

    "She's been really smart about choosing her projects," he said at a November 2014 gala. "They're not so time-consuming that she can't do this work and be there for our kids, which is the most important thing to her."

    Garner, 43, said at the same event that she and Affleck were selective about the causes they support.

    "We don't scatter our energy around," she said.

    The two met while making 2003's "Daredevil," in which they both played superheroes. They wed in 2005.

    Affleck expanded from acting to directing during their relationship, earning accolades for his 2007 debut feature, "Gone Baby Gone," and 2010's "The Town," before winning best picture for 2012's "Argo." He starred in the 2014 hit "Gone Girl" and will be playing the caped crusader in next year's "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice."

    Garner's recent film credits include "Dallas Buyers Club" and the family film, "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day."

    Garner was previously married to actor Scott Foley. Affleck was previously engaged to Jennifer Lopez.

    Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner announce divorce

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner issued a statement Tuesday declaring they plan to divorce, confirming longstanding tabloid rumors about trouble in their 10-year marriage.

    "After much thought and careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to divorce," the couple said in a statement issued by their publicists.

    "We go forward with love and friendship for one another and a commitment to co-parenting our children whose privacy we ask to be respected during this difficult time."

    They said this will be their only comment "on this private, family matter. Thank you for understanding."

    The couple have three children, two daughters, Violet, 9, and Seraphina, 6, and one son, Sam, 3. Their 10th wedding anniversary was Monday.

    "Ben and Jen," or "BenJen" in tabloid parlance, first went public as a couple when he took her to the opening game of his beloved Boston Red Sox World Series games in October 2004.Six months later he proposed, on her 33rd birthday.

    Garner, 43, married Affleck, 42, her second husband, on June 29, 2005, in a private ceremony at a resort on the Turks and Caicos Islands. The officiant was Victor Garber, her co-star in the popular series that made her a global star, Alias.

    Since then, his career seemed to soar while hers seemed to subside, as she focused on raising their children. She has had a steady series of smaller or supporting roles, in films such as Juno, Dallas Buyers Club, Butter and Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.

    According to the Internet Movie Database, she has at least two movies scheduled to come out in 2016.

    Affleck, who's playing Batman in the forthcoming Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice, has just come off a big hit with Gone Girl, not to mention Argo, which he also directed and which won for best picture.

    They were an attractive and appealing couple, active politically, public-spirited, and frequently profiled in magazines as a seemingly perfect celebrity couple. But all was not well in paradise.

    Last month, US Weekly magazine published a cover story quoting unnamed sources as saying the couple were "fighting for their marriage."

    Rumors of a marital woes have dogged them for years. When Affleck picked up a second Oscar, for Argo in 2013, some thought it significant when he referred to their relationship as "work" in his speech.

    The couple's fans reacted to the news with disappointment and mock horror.

    Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner -- No Prenup, No Money Problems

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner did not build a financial wall between them before getting married, because we've learned there is no prenup ... and get this, he's not that much richer than her.

    Multiple informed sources tell TMZ, Ben and Jen's business managers are busy figuring out how to divide what we are told is a fortune. We're told they both have accumulated many millions. Jen made a "massive amount of money" off of "Alias," which went into syndication, as well as a string of movies, including "13 Going on 30" and "Elektra."

    Ben has made a ton of money, but a number of his projects were independent films where the cash wasn't as plentiful.

    Short story ... they're both rich, but it's not like she needs his money.

    It's unlikely she'll get spousal support because of her wealth, but she doesn't need it. The trick is dividing the property, which we're told is going smoothly so far.

    As for the "10 year rule" -- meaning a judge would give her more spousal support due to the length of the marriage -- we're told 2 things: A) their decision had nothing to do with it B) she's loaded and doesn't need support.

    Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner Getting Divorced

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner are ending their 10 year marriage ... TMZ has learned.

    We're told the couple, whose anniversary was yesterday, will file for divorce.

    Although they will file for divorce, it won't be done immediately. They are working things out with a mediator and business managers, sources tell TMZ. The divorce will be filed when all of the property and custody issues are resolved.

    We're told the divorce is amicable and Ben and Jen will share joint custody of their 3 children, ranging in ages from 3 to 9.

    The couple says, "After much thought and careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to divorce. We go forward with love and friendship for one another and a commitment to co-parenting our children whose privacy we ask to be respected during this difficult time. This will be our only comment on this private family matter. Thank you for understanding."

    Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner Are Divorcing

    Unfortunately the rumors are true: Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner are officially splitting.

    "After much thought and careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to divorce," the couple told E! News on Tuesday. "We go forward with love and friendship for one another and a commitment to co-parenting our children whose privacy we ask to be respected during this difficult time."

    The news comes just one day after the couple marked their 10th wedding anniversary. Affleck and Garner first met on the set of Pearl Harbor in 2001 and later co-starred in 2003's Daredevil movie. They married in 2005 in Turks and Caicos in a ceremony officiated by Garner's Alias co-star Victor Garber.

    Although the duo has recently shot down reports of marital problems, E! reports that the couple has been living separately for some time. Speculation began all the way back in 2013 when Affleck was criticized for calling his marriage to Garner "work" when he thanked her in his acceptance speech for Argo. "I want to thank my wife...for working on our marriage for 10 Christmases. It is work, but it's the best kind of work. And there's no one I'd rather work with," he said.

    They have three children together: Violet, 9; Seraphina, 6; and Samuel, 3.

    Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner to divorce after 10 years of marriage

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner have decided to end their marriage after 10 years. The couple, who celebrated their 10th anniversary Monday (June 29), will be filing for divorce.

    The news was first reported by TMZ, who says they are parting ways amicably and will share join custody of their three children, Violet, Seraphina and Samuel.

    According to the report, the couple plans to file divorce papers after setting any property and custody issues that arise while working with a mediator and their business managers.

    In a joint statement to Zap2it, Garner and Affleck say, "After much thought and careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to divorce. We go forward with love and friendship for one another and a commitment to co-parenting our children whose privacy we ask to be respected during this difficult time. This will be our only comment on this private, family matter. Thank you for understanding."

    The two began dating in 2004, after working together on the movies "Pearl Harbor" and "Daredevil."

    Sources: Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner split may be imminent

    Rumors are running rampant that Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner are calling it quits, and now FOX411 has learned that a split may be imminent.

    “They have been living apart for several months,” a source with knowledge of the couple’s situation tells FOX411.

    The insider says Garner is looking at the break up as an opportunity to move out from under Affleck’s shadow and revive her acting career.

    “Jen is excited to get back to work," according to the source. "She took a step back to focus on her marriage and family but wants to return to making more movies.”

    Another industry insider said it’s no surprise to those close to the couple.

    “It’s been known they’re having trouble. Now, it’s really over,” the source said.

    A former neighbor of the Hollywood duo also confirmed the couple is on the outs.

    “It’s kind of heartbreaking to see a long time A-list husband and wife and seemingly loving parents splitting up,” the source added.

    Paparazzi last snapped the couple together on a family outing on June 14th in Los Angeles at a farmer’s market.

    Garner, 43, was recently spotted visiting Boston’s Children Hospital on June 26, reportedly preparing for her upcoming role in “Miracles from Heaven.” Affleck, 42, popped up on social media on June 27 writing the line “I’m Batman” on his co-star from “The Accountant” Seth Lee’s Instagram in anticipation of 2016’s “Batman Vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice.”

    Affleck and Garner got married in 2005 after meeting on the set of “Daredevil.” They have three young children.

    FOX411 reached out to both the Garner and Affleck’s camps several times but did not receive comment.

    Jennifer Garner Visits Boston Children's Hospital to Research Upcoming Movie Role

    (Pic) Spotted!

    Jennifer Garner made a quick trip to Boston to visit the Boston Children's Hospital to do research for her upcoming role in Miracles from Heaven.

    Garner, 43, met with Dr. Samuel Nurko, the director of the hospital's Center for Motility and Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders. The two snapped a picture together that the hospital posted on Twitter, thanking the mom of three and wife of Ben Affleck for stopping by.

    "A BIG thank you to Jennifer Garner for stopping by to meet with Dr. Nurko to do research for an upcoming movie role!"

    Miracles from Heaven tells the story of a young girl suffering from a rare digestive disorder who finds herself miraculously cured after surviving a horrible accident. The movie is based on the book Miracles from Heaven by Christy Beam and is currently in pre-production.

    Sighting

    Ken Olin and Patricia Wettig of “Thirtysomething” at Birnam Wood Gallery in East Hampton

    'Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp' trailer invites you to Camp Firewood

    'Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp' trailer invites you to Camp Firewood (Bradley Cooper): video.

    Moving Trucks at Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner's Home? They're Renovating

    Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck are getting a little work done – on their home, that is.

    A moving van was spotted outside of the couple's Pacific Palisades, California, home on Saturday, and two workers were spotted loading the truck with an array of boxes and furniture.

    No, the famous family isn't relocating – they're renovating!

    Affleck, 42, and Garner, 43, are remodeling their home, and moving furniture out before construction begins, it has been revealed.

    The couple, who are parents to Violet, 9, Seraphina, 6, and Samuel, 3, used storage firm Wetzel & Sons to do the heavy lifting.

    Garner recently threw an end-of-the-year party for daughter Violet at their home, inviting her schoolmates and their parents over for a small gathering.

    The pair will celebrate their 10 year anniversary on June 29. They met on the set of 2003 comic-book movie Daredevil, and began dating later that year before quietly getting married in 2005.

    The actress, who's been shuttling between California and Montreal, is finishing up filming Nine Lives in Québec. Affleck is in post-production for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.

    The actor is also in pre-production for Prohibition-era drama Live by Night.

    Inside Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner's Sweet End-of-School Celebration with Their Kids

    Bring on summer!

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner are spending quality time with their kids as they near the end of the school year with toy-shopping and a party with friends.

    After kicking off the week Sunday at the Pacific Palisades Farmer's Market, where the couple took Seraphina, 6, and Samuel, 3, for some shopping (and balloon animals!), Garner, 43, hosted a small end-of-the-year gathering for 9-year-old Violet and her friends at their house on Tuesday.

    "Jen decorated with balloons and set up a party in the backyard," a source tells PEOPLE, adding that "Violet's friends' moms were invited, too."

    The next day, Affleck, 42, and Garner met up at Violet's school and later took Seraphina to Brentwood Country Mart to pick up a few toys at Toy Crazy. According to a source, they bought art supplies and a game and even a sticker book that Seraphina picked out for Violet.

    "Jen and Ben were really focused on Seraphina," says the source. “And she was loud and happy."

    While the girls made their final selections, Affleck patiently waited outside.

    Garner is currently shuttling between L.A. and Montreal, where she is shooting Nine Lives. Affleck is in production for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.

    2015 Teen Choice Awards Nominations

    The two-hour awards show airs Sunday, Aug. 16 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on FOX.

    Choice Movie Actor: Comedy (#ChoiceComedyMovieActor)
    Robbie Amell - "The Duff"
    Skylar Astin - "Pitch Perfect 2"
    Jim Carrey - "Dumb and Dumber To"
    Bradley Cooper - "Aloha"
    Kevin James - "Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2"
    Ben Stiller - "Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb"

    Bradley Cooper, Graham King & Todd Phillips Developing 'Hyperion' For Syfy

    Syfy is joining forces with Bradley Cooper, Graham King and Todd Phillips to develop Dan Simmons’ Hugo Award-winning novel Hyperion as an event series. Cooper will executive produce along with King and Phillips. Itamar Moses (Boardwalk Empire) will write the screenplay and serve as co-executive producer. Universal Cable Prods is the studio. Hyperion will be a production of King’s GK Films and Cooper and Phillips’ 22nd and Green.

    Set on the eve of Armageddon with the entire galaxy at war, Hyperion is the story of seven pilgrims who set forth on a voyage to seek the answers to the unsolved riddles of their lives. Each carries a desperate hope and a terrible secret — while one may hold the fate of humanity in his hands.

    “It is an absolute honor to enter into the world created by Dan Simmons that is arguably one of the greatest works of science fiction, and help realize it for television audiences,” said Cooper.

    Said Dave Howe, President, Syfy & Chiller: “As Syfy continues to forge important partnerships with award-winning talent on and off screen, this powerhouse team led by Bradley Cooper, Graham King and Todd Phillips brings an extraordinary track record in producing entertainment of the highest creative ambition. Epitomizing the gold standard of science fiction story-telling, Hyperion tackles smart and provocative themes that help define Syfy’s development vision.”

    “Hyperion is a science fiction masterpiece. Dan Simmons’ universe is unique and darkly compelling, and the creative team assembled here is simply as good as it gets,” said Jeff Wachtel, President & Chief Content Officer, NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment.

    Cooper is repped by CAA. Moses is with UTA, and Phillips is repped by CAA and attorney Warren Dern at Sloane, Offer, Weber, & Dern. Simmons is repped by Michael Prevett at Rain Management Group.

    Hyperion comes on the heels of several high-profile scripted projects announced by Syfy, including the series pickup of The Magicians, based on Lev Grossman’s best-selling books; the 10-part series The Expanse, airing December 2015 and starring Thomas Jane; Arthur C. Clarke’s epic mini-series Childhood’s End, also set to premiere this December; Aldous Huxley’s classic novel Brave New World with Amblin Television; Gale Anne Hurd’s 13-episode thriller Hunters; David Goyer’s Superman prequel, Krypton; and Incorporated, a futuristic espionage drama from Matt Damon and Ben Affleck.

    Girls Spies Elementary's Lucy Liu for Season 5 Episode

    Elementary, my dear… Horvath?

    TVLine has learned exclusively that Lucy Liu, star of CBS’ Sherlock Holmes-themed procedural, will appear in a Season 5 episode of HBO’s Girls.

    But there’s a twist! We’re told that Liu — whose show films at Long Island City’s Silvercup Studios, as does Girls — won’t be playing herself, but rather a version of herself.

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner put up a united front

    (Pic1, Pic2) Whether or not it’s the case anymore, Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck are at least trying to play the part of the happy couple.

    Amid split rumors, the actors — who’ve been married for nearly a decade — were spotted with two of their children at the farmers market in Pacific Palisades, Calif., on Sunday afternoon.

    While it may have pained them to do so, casually attired Garner, 43, and Affleck, 42, appeared to put on a brave face for 6-year-old Seraphina and 3-year-old Samuel.

    The couple’s eldest, 9-year-Violet, was not photographed at the family outing.

    Rumors have been swirling in the last few months that the couple’s relationship is in bad shape and they may be headed toward divorce. And while the photo op may have been a chance to curtail speculation, it’s unlikely that Affleck’s sour expression helped any.

    Melissa George Expecting Second Child

    Melissa George‘s family is growing.

    The actress, who stars on upcoming NBC drama Heartbreaker, and longtime boyfriend Jean-David Blanc are expecting their second child, the network confirms to PEOPLE. The show will now debut midseason, as opposed to fall as originally planned.

    The couple welcomed their first child, son Raphaël, now 16 months, last February, sharing the news over Twitter.

    “Welcome to the world! Our beautiful son just born at the American hospital of Paris,” George, 38, wrote at the time. “There are no words to describe the love.”

    The Aussie actress, who’s had prior roles on The Slap, Good Wife, Grey’s Anatomy and Alias also announced her pregnancy news over the social media platform, writing, “Baby on the way! So so happy.”

    Cooper: Favorite Tony moment

    BRADLEY COOPER: The Tony nominee for "The Elephant Man" leans toward four-time Tony host Neil Patrick Harris, calling his favorite moment when Harris performed last year as the lead in "Hedwig and the Angry Inch." That was awesome."

    Bradley Cooper and Irina Shayk Are ''Exclusive,'' But Will They Attend the Tonys Together? Get the Scoop!

    It sounds like hot couple Bradley Cooper and Irina Shayk are ready to make their romance red carpet official!

    The 40-year-old actor and the 29-year-old model may soon be making their first official public appearance as boyfriend and girlfriend, E! News has exclusively learned.

    A source tells E! News of the lovebirds, "They have been spending as much time as they can together and getting very close. They had a great trip to London and got to spend some romantic time with each other. They are exclusive and a couple at this point. All their friends think this is a perfect match!"

    So perfect in fact that Shayk and Cooper may make their red carpet debut this Sunday at the 2015 Tony Awards (Cooper is nominated ofr his performance in The Elephant Man). "Irina is really supportive of Cooper and really excited about his nomination on Sunday for the Tony Awards. If schedules permits she will be there to support him," the insider adds.

    How exciting!

    Cooper and Shayk first sparked romance rumors about a month and a half ago when they attended Broadway's Finding Neverland together. Just two weeks ago a source told E! News of the duo, "Their chemistry is crazy when they are together. They can't keep their hands off of each other."

    We can't wait to see their first red carpet pic!

    Jennifer Garner is All Smiles While Running Errands in Los Angeles

    (Pic) Jennifer Garner flashed a smile as she ran errands around Los Angeles on Saturday.

    The actress, 43, kept it casual, sporting a zip-up hooded sweater, jeans and sneakers for the outing. She met up with a friend whom she laughed and chatted with in the street.

    Earlier this week Garner went on a frozen yogurt date in Los Angeles with husband Ben Affleck, 42, and their daughters, Violet, 9, and Seraphina, 6.

    "Jen and Ben were focused on each kid," a source told PEOPLE of the Menchie's outing. The couple's youngest son, Samuel, 3, was absent for the sweet trip.

    Both Affleck and Garner have been juggling parenthood with their respective busy filming schedules. Garner has recently been spending time in Montreal to film the comedy Nine Lives with actor Kevin Spacey.

    Meanwhile, Affleck just wrapped up filming for 2016's Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, in which he'll the Caped Crusader.

    Ben Affleck & Jennifer Garner Step Out for Lunch in Los Angeles

    (Pic) Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner stepped out for lunch in Los Angeles on Thursday before taking their two daughters for an after-school treat: frozen yogurt at Menchie's.

    At Menchie's, Garner, 43, helped Violet, 9, sample the yogurt, while Affleck, 42, helped Seraphina, 6. "Jen and Ben were focused on each kid," says a source, as the family chatted.

    The star parents have both been busy filming recently, with Garner shuttling to Montreal for the comedy Nine Lives and Affleck making Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. And superhero fans have been buzzing this week, wondering if images of Batman on the Toronto set of Suicide Squad mean the actor will appear in the film as the Caped Crusader.

    Garner, meanwhile, announced earlier this month that she is starting a new line of creative kits and projects for active kids with Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores. She was also recently cast in the upcoming Christian-focused drama Miracles From Heaven.

    Hey, Jennifer Garner, Your Alias Spy Daddy Has a Message For You: "You Look So Beautiful, We Should Do This Again"

    Not gonna lie, ever since J.J. Abrams said he didn't envision more Alias happening, it's been a dream we true fans have refused to let die. Because how can we live in world in which there will never be more Sydney Bristow? Is this the world we want for our children, for our grandchildren, and moreover, for the obsessive Alias fans who still slap on red wigs from time to time as a confidence boost in the privacy of their own closets? (Ahem. No regrets.)

    Well, guess who also now feels that an Alias reboot would be a very good thing? "Spy Daddy" himself, Victor Garber!

    Sure, he just signed on to The CW's Legends of Tomorrow (which looks fantastic, by the way), set to premiere this fall, and we're all for that, but Victor, who still has remained very close with Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Garner, also told me the idea of doing more Alias popped into his head just the other day. When he was hanging out with his good friend Jen. (Whose real wedding he officiated in 2005—take that, Ronnie and Caitlin. #Neverforget)

    "I actually just was with Jennifer yesterday," Garber told me at the CW's upfront presentation, "and thought, 'You look so beautiful, we should do this again.'"

    "I wish that could happen but it won't," he says of a reboot. But then adds: "Never say never…."

    Well, if you insist...

    Jennifer Garner: I Try to Stay on Top of My Kids Doing Chores

    When it comes to keeping an organized home, Jennifer Garner knows she just has to let some things go.

    Although the actress has assigned chores to her three children with husband Ben Affleck, she admits that life can get in the way of Violet, 9, Seraphina, 6, and Samuel, 3, following through on their tasks.

    “We have family chores and personal chores,” Garner, who admits she’s the “enforcer” in her home, tells PEOPLE.

    “But sometimes I’m more on top of it than others. At the end of the school year, if they clear their plate and pick up after themselves and their rooms are clean and there aren’t wet towels on the floor, that’s good enough! Just today we were talking about good habits. You can’t do it all.”

    But for this multi-tasking mom, it seems she almost does. Garner has teamed up with Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores for We Made It, an exclusive line of children’s creative kits and projects, available online and in stores June 17. A portion of the proceeds will go to Save the Children, to which Garner is an Artist’s Ambassador and trustee.

    “I told them when we first started that I wanted to find things that siblings could do together,” she shares. “We have the sibling blanket. Each sibling decorates their own half of the blanket and then they sew it and meet in the middle. Then they can sit under it to watch TV.”

    And the end result was exactly as the mom of three envisioned. “I really feel like I’m represented in this line,” says Garner, 43. “I’ve done every single one of these [projects]. Every meeting would be five hours because I would be like, ‘Nope, I have to open it, I have to do it!’ ”

    Once Garner was able to bring the supplies home, her three children were immediately on board. “The problem is more that all of them will want to do something and I have to hide until I can get [more],” she says. “Now we’ve made all kinds of stuff and it’s super fun.”

    Although Garner didn’t quite get all of her mom’s crafty genes — unlike her mother, she does not make her children’s clothes! — the actress’s artistic talents have inspired a few items for the We Made It line.

    “Last summer I felt like we did so many fun things. We didn’t have any big extravagant trips, but we did a fun day here and a fun family day here and visiting Grandma and cousins,” Garner explains. “At the end of the summer I said, ‘Guys we need to remember this summer.’ So I printed out all the pictures and we just made a family summer book.”

    She adds, “It’s the most non-glamorous version of a scrapbook. We just cut out photos, glued them, put stickers on construction paper and put that in a plastic [page protector] and put them into a binder. But I can’t tell you how often I come out and find them looking through it. That’s why we have a vacation memory [kit].”

    Bradley Cooper Writes Emma Stone's Tinder Profile, Praises Her 'Reptilian Eyes'

    Bradley Cooper's character falls for Emma Stone's in the upcoming romantic comedy Aloha – and the pair's chemistry translates off screen, as well.

    PEOPLE caught up with the pals in London for a story in this week's issue and asked what their most marketable assets would be if they were to craft Tinder profiles for one another. Apparently, it's all about the eyes!

    Cooper, 40, got downright poetic talking about his costar's peepers: "[Her] reptilian eyes take you into a kind place, soft and lovely and full of grace." (Jokes Stone of their looks: "I’m a snake, he’s a lizard!")

    For her part, Stone, 26, playfully reads even more into Cooper's baby blues – including takeout preferences – telling PEOPLE: "Look at those blue [eyes]. He's into Chinese food, but he's equally into making you smile."

    While they had some fun joking about it, both say they aren't on the dating app – though Easy A alum Stone has done some swiping of her own.

    "My friend is [on Tinder], and I've swiped for her," she says. "That was a good time."

    As for their love lives, Stone and boyfriend Andrew Garfield are on a break due to busy schedules, while Cooper was spotted kissing model Irina Shayk in London last week.

    Aloha – in which Cooper and Stone appear alongside a starry cast including Rachel McAdams, John Krasinski, Alec Baldwin and Bill Murray – hits theaters May 29.

    Bradley Cooper and Irina Shayk's Romance Is "Heating Up," Twosome Has "Crazy" Chemistry When Together

    Sorry ladies, but Bradley Cooper is really digging his new girlfriend!

    Less than a month after the A-list actor and Irina Shayk sparked romance rumors after attending Broadway's Finding Neverland together, things between the pair are definitely "heating up."

    "They have been spending lots of time together these past few weeks and have had many date nights," a source revealed exclusively to E! News. "Their chemistry is crazy when they are together. They can't keep their hands off of each other."

    Just last week, the twosome couldn't help but display some serious PDA while kissing in the streets of New York City. In fact, they were more than happy to walk hand-in-hand after one of their late-night dinners.

    "Bradley thinks Irina is stunning but also such a sweet woman with a great heart," our source shared. "Irina is really impressed with how down to earth Bradley is and really easy to be around."

    The insider continued, "She also thinks he is such a hardworking, talented actor. They have great conversation and so many laughs when they are hanging out."

    What could be the cherry on top to this growing romance is the fact that everyone close to them "likes their dynamic together."

    This week, Bradley and Irina have traveled to Europe for separate reasons.

    The model is busy with business while her new man is promoting his latest film Aloha with Emma Stone. But according to our source, the chance of these two meeting up in the near future is very likely.

    "Friends of theirs would not be surprised if things got serious," our insider shared. "Bradley and Irina are just relaxing and enjoying each other."

    Bradley Cooper recurring on CBS' 'Limitless' drama

    CBS is adapting "Limitless," the 2011 feature film starring Bradley Cooper, for television for the 2015-16 season. Cooper is among the show's producers, but CBS revealed Wednesday (May 13) that Cooper will also be appearing on the show.

    "He's in the pilot and will recur, subject to his availability," says CBS Entertainment chairman Nina Tassler.

    Cooper will reprise his role from the movie, Senator Edward Mora, who has a secret relationship with the TV show's lead character Brian Finch (Jake McDorman). Finch discovers the brain-boosting power of the mysterious drug NZT and is coerced by the FBI into using his extraordinary cognitive abilities to solve complex cases for them. Sen. Mora is a presidential hopeful who also uses NZT and has his own agenda for new protege Finch.

    Alongside Finch in the major case squad are Special Agent Rebecca Harris (Jennifer Carpenter), a formidable investigator with a dark past, and Special Agent Boyle (Hill Harper), a former military officer and Rebecca's confidante. They report to Special Agent in Charge Nasreen "Naz" Pouran (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio), a canny manipulator of the reins of power.

    "Limitless" will air at 10 p.m. ET/PT Tuesdays in the fall on CBS.

    Bradley Cooper and Irina Shayk Share a Kiss in London

    Bradley Cooper and his new love interest, model Irina Shayk, are taking their budding romance across the pond.

    With a baseball cap pulled down low over his face, the American Sniper star dropped off the Russian Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model at her London hotel on Monday – but not before giving her a sweet kiss goodbye.

    Cooper, who's in the city for his West End play The Elephant Man, reunited with Shayk later in the evening for a night out on the town.

    The duo have been linked together since late April, when they were spotted looking cozy at a performance of Finding Neverland in New York City.

    Last week, the couple was seen holding hands and making out in downtown N.Y.C. after catching Hamilton on Broadway.

    "They walked around and pretty much any time they got to a spot where it was very dark, they started kissing and getting close," an onlooker told PEOPLE. "They just looked like a new couple."

    After attending the Met Gala last Monday, Cooper and Shayk made their way to Rihanna's after party, held at Richie Akiva's Up & Down nightclub.

    The pair sat at a table with Adriana Lima, Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid, and a partygoer tells PEOPLE, "they were definitely together," noting that, "Bradley and Irina went down to the karaoke room super late together."

    Cooper, 40, split from model Suki Waterhouse, 23, just before the Academy Awards earlier this year, while Shayk, 29, broke off her relationship with soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo, 30, after several years together.

    Kevin Spacey Cat Tale 'Nine Lives' Collars Spring 2016 Date

    EuropaCorp’s high-concept comedy Nine Lives, starring Kevin Spacey as a guy who gets trapped in the body of his family’s pussycat, has purrloined an April 29 release date. Jennifer Garner, Christopher Walken, Robbie Amell and Mark Consuelos also star in the Barry Sonnenfeld-directed pic from writers Daniel Antoniazzi and Ben Shiffrin. The House Of Cards heavy plays a workaholic businessman who must figure out how to redeem himself after a terrible accident leaves him in a feline state of body. Nine Lives will scratch and claw that weekend against Fox’s sports biopic Eddie The Eagle — Walken also co-stars in that one — and Paramount’s faith-based drama Same Kind Of Different As Me.

    Bradley Cooper and Irina Shayk spotted making out after Met Gala

    Bradley Cooper and Irina Shayk tried to keep a low profile at the Met Gala on Monday night — but hours later, the pair was “making out” in a dark corner at Rihanna’s afterparty “till 3 or 4 in the morning,” sources tell Page Six.

    We reported exclusively that last month Cooper and Shayk were spotted on a date at a Broadway show, and the pair was then together after the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. On Monday, the movie star and the Sports Illustrated swimsuit model (both newly single) arrived separately to Anna Wintour’s Met Gala — then also left apart.

    But by early Tuesday, the two were seen getting hot and heavy at Richie Akiva’s Up & Down nightclub, where Rihanna hosted her private afterparty.

    Spies said the pair at first were “hanging out in a close group” with Kerry Washington, Leonardo DiCaprio and Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss. Also at the club, dancing in one group, were Rihanna, Madonna, Naomi Campbell, Riccardo Tisci and Balmain’s Olivier Rousteing. Then “Diddy got in there, Miley [Cyrus] got in there, then Jennifer Lawrence. It was insane. It was a dance-party circle of superstardom,” said a spy. Madonna’s daughter Lourdes also joined in “till the lights came on.” Justin Bieber narrowly missed his ex Selena Gomez and was spotted hanging with Kendall Jenner and Gigi and Bella Hadid.

    Cooper and Shayk then slipped downstairs into “the karaoke room,” where “they were making out .?.?. they were very close all night.”

    Rihanna had changed out of her showstopping Met Gala dress into a black outfit with a see-through top (see below) for her D’Ussé Cognac and Armand de Brignac-sponsored bash.

    Spies said that before she walked the gala dinner’s red carpet in her yellow frock with immense flowing train by Chinese couture designer Guo Pei, she’d pulled up to a Chinese restaurant for takeout. At 5 p.m., her car pulled up to Philippe restaurant on East 60th Street and was delivered salt and pepper calamari, chicken fried rice, sea bass, filet mignon and green prawns.

    We assume she shared with her entourage.

    Rihanna’s Up&Down party was also catered by Philippe, which decorated the bash with oversize Chinese takeout containers.

    Sighting

    Jennifer Garner dining at the Baccarat Hotel.

    2015 Tony Nominations

    Kristin Chenoweth and Alan Cumming will host the 69th Tony Awards on June 7, which will be telecast live by CBS from Radio City Music Hall from 8 PM to 11 PM.

    Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play
    Steven Boyer, Hand to God
    Bradley Cooper, The Elephant Man
    Ben Miles, Wolf Hall Parts One & Two
    Bill Nighy, Skylight
    Alex Sharp, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.

    Bradley Cooper, Sienna Miller lunch at crowded celeb hotspot

    Bradley Cooper and his “American Sniper” co-star Sienna Miller were spotted lunching at Cafe Gitane on Mott Street this week when John Slattery approached the restaurant pushing a Citi Bike.

    A not very “Mad Men” move?

    Slattery’s wife, Talia Balsam, arrived just as he parked his ride, and reported after peeking inside, “It’s packed!” They stayed anyway.

    Adding to the starry mix, “Modern Family” star Jesse Tyler Ferguson stopped in for a bite.

    He recently hosted a private party at Cafe Gitane for his line of bow ties.

    Bradley Cooper attends VIP reception for 'Neverland' director

    Bradley Cooper showed up to a VIP reception for Diane Paulus, director of “Finding Neverland,” the day after seeing her Broadway musical.

    Spies at the Lambs Club lunch said: “Bradley loved the show and wanted to come see Diane and thank her. He especially loved the way she used ‘low-tech effects’” to bring the world of “Peter Pan” playwright J.M. Barrie to life. Cooper saw the show with Russian model Irina Shayk.

    Also at the lunch to toast an upcoming US tour of “Finding Neverland” were Anna Wintour, Joe Torre, Glenn Close and Zac Posen.

    John Gore told the gathering of producing Paulus’ Tony-winning revivals of “Hair,” “Porgy and Bess” and “Pippin,” “I think ‘revival’ is the wrong kind of word. ‘Renaissance’ is the right word.” And he took a swipe at critics of “Finding Neverland,” saying, “Dear me, when you [aim to] entertain people, it’s a crime against humanity!”

    He ended with, “And now a message from the queen” before Helen Mirren — starring on Broadway in “The Audience” as Queen Elizabeth II — popped up on a video screen, praising Paulus’ show.

    Irina Shayk and Bradley Cooper spotted on a Broadway date

    Bradley Cooper has been spotted on a Broadway date with top model Irina Shayk.

    The “American Sniper” star was seen in the audience at “Finding Neverland,” starring Matthew Morrison, with Russian beauty Shayk on Wednesday night. Sources tell us Cooper and Shayk have known each other for a while through mutual friends, and have been “hanging out” for the past week.

    Our source added “[it is] a friendly relationship — for the time being.”

    Cooper split with model Suki Waterhouse earlier this year, but they were spotted at Coachella, sparking rumors they’d reunited.

    Shayk broke up with Portugese soccer stud Cristiano Ronaldo in January. A rep for Shayk had no comment. Cooper’s rep didn’t respond.

    Jennifer Garner Grows Her Own Food: "I'm a Geek"

    Just call her Farmer Garner.

    Jennifer Garner told me last night that she tries to keep her family healthy by growing their own food.

    While Garner and her hubby Ben Affleck don't have a full-fledged farm, Garner said, "We talk about our food. We grow food. We talk about what goes into it and how hard it is. They plant it, they water it. We take pictures next to it."

    She added with a laugh, "I'm a geek."

    I caught up with the Danny Collins star at Cliff's Edge restaurant in Los Angeles' Silverlake neighborhood during an event for Just Label It, an organization fighting for food companies to label their products containing GMOs.

    (The concern is that genetically modified crops are engineered to be herbicide resistant, which means farmers use more herbicides to kill off weeds. And then when the weeds become resistant, more toxic—and some scientist believe cancer-causing—herbicides are dumped onto the crops.)

    It was Gisele Bundchen first told Garner about Just Label It.

    "My friend Gisele and I are fed up with being kept in the dark about GMO and non-GMO labeling," Garner said. "I got involved because she said, 'Do you know what's happening?' She's a firecracker. She said, 'You have to educate yourself.'"

    Bündchen flew to Los Angeles from her native Brazil (where she just walked her last runway) for the event. "This is a very important cause to me as an individual, as a parent and as a mother," the supermodel said. "I am here tonight because I believe we have the right to know what's in our food.

    "Food sustains our bodies, minds and soul and as a mother I feel it is my responsibility to know what I am feeding my family," she said. "We need transparency in our food industry."

    Just Label It is fighting for federal legislation to mandate labeling of GMO foods. The group recently launched its Conceal or Reveal campaign, a grassroots initiative for consumers to contact companies using GMOs to urge them to start labeling their food.

    Kanye West, Taylor Swift Among Time's 100 Most Influential People

    The 2015 Time 100, the magazine's list of the most influential people in the world, includes Kanye West, Taylor Swift, and Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg.

    Featuring figures from the worlds of sports, politics, media and entertainment, divided into the categories Titans, Pioneers, Artists, Leaders and Icons, the annual issue features essays about each person penned by another public figure. This year's writings include a profile of Elizabeth Warren by Hillary Clinton (who also made the list), an essay on Kim Kardashian by Martha Stewart, and Ethan Hawke's thoughts on his Boyhood director, Richard Linklater.

    Other pop culture honorees include Reese Witherspoon, Bradley Cooper, Amy Schumer, Laverne Cox, Chris Pratt, Transparent creator Jill Soloway and Serial host Sarah Koenig.

    The magazine will be sold with five different collectible covers, featuring West, Cooper, Ginsberg, ballet dancer Misty Copeland, and journalist Jorge Ramos.

    The Time 100 issue hits newsstands Friday. See the complete list here. What do you think of the honorees?

    Who won MTV Movie Awards?

    BEST MALE PERFORMANCE: Winner: Bradley Cooper, American Sniper

    Bradley Cooper and Suki Waterhouse Step Out for Dinner Weeks After Split

    If only all breakups could go this smoothly.

    Bradley Cooper and Suki Waterhouse – who ended their relationship back in January – went out to dinner at Gjelina, a restaurant in Venice, California, on Thursday.

    The couple arrived together in Cooper's Prius and left together after the meal, but an onlooker says the dinner didn't seem to be romantic.

    After two years of dating, the actors split up before the Oscars but remained friends and even attended the awards show together, a source told PEOPLE. The night after Academy Awards they were spotted dining at Nobu Malibu with another friend, though the meeting appeared platonic.

    The American Sniper star, 40, and the British model/actress, 23, were first linked in March 2013, when they were photographed together in Boston.

    They kept the relationship quiet even after Cooper took Waterhouse as his date to the 2014 SAG Awards and she escorted him to a White House state dinner in February 2014.

    Jennifer Garner To Star In EuropaCorp's 'Nine Lives'

    Jennifer Garner is set to star alongside Kevin Spacey, Christopher Walken and Robbie Amell in the Barry Sonnenfeld-directed EuropaCorp comedy Nine Lives. Daniel Antoniazzi and Ben Shiffrin wrote the script. Spacey plays a workaholic businessman who has to figure out a way to redeem himself following an accident that leaves him trapped in the body of his family’s cat. Garner is coming off Dallas Buyers Club, Men Women And Children and Alexander And The Terrible, Horrible, No Good Very Bad Day and next stars alongside Al Pacino in Danny Collins. She’s repped by WME and Management 360.

    Bradley Cooper on the hunt for a NYC bachelor pad

    Bradley Cooper is looking for a new Manhattan bachelor pad after recently splitting with gal pal Suki Waterhouse.

    The “American Sniper” actor was spotted Thursday morning scoping apartments with two female real estate brokers and his mom, Gloria. Spies saw the group outside of the Juice Press in Tribeca and overheard them talking about appointments and furnishings.

    “They spoke about specifics on a couch,” one spy reported.

    Cooper has previously bought homes in Venice and Pacific Palisades, Calif. — the latter a $4.5 million, 3,300-square-footer he bought in 2009 with then-girlfriend Renée Zellweger.

    Cooper then shared homes in Philadelphia and LA with his mother after his father passed away in 2011. Cooper told Details in 2013 of the arrangement: “We need each other. So here we are. But don’t get me wrong. It’s not without complications. It’s not like I live in a compound and she’s in the guesthouse. No. She’s in the next room.”

    Cooper will star in “The Elephant Man” in London beginning in May. His rep didn’t get back to us.

    Bradley Cooper dumped Suki because she 'wasn't supportive' of his career

    Bradley Cooper split from 23-year-old British beauty Suki Waterhouse because “she wasn’t supportive of his acting career” and “spent Valentine’s Day away” from the “American Hustle,” star, says a source.

    We’re told Cooper felt Waterhouse was not supportive after his huge success in Broadway’s “Elephant Man,” which started in previews on Nov. 7 and ran till Feb. 21.

    Instead of spending Valentine’s Day in New York with Cooper, the model jetted with friends to a billionaire’s estate in Austin, Texas, according to our insider.

    Waterhouse’s Instagram posts from there show her with several girlfriends doing yoga, goofing around on a boat, and posing with heart-shaped balloons.

    In one photo, she’s wearing a Philadelphia Eagles shirt, a favorite team of Cooper’s and one that figured heavily in the plotline of his movie “Silver Linings Playbook.”

    Waterhouse’s agent, Next Model Management’s Kyle Hagler, hung up on us when we called. When we called back, he barked, “No comment.” A rep for Cooper didn’t get back to us.

    Sightings

    Sarah Jessica Parker and Victor Garber seeing “An American in Paris”…

    Ben Affleck Mentions Batman in Congressional Testimony, Gets Support from Jennifer Garner and Violet

    (Pic1, Pic2, Pic3) Ben Affleck is trying to save the world—not just as Batman, either!

    The 42-year-old Academy Award winner testified before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Thursday, stressing the importance of the United States providing foreign aid to African countries. Wife Jennifer Garner and daughter Violet proudly watched on as the actor-director spoke alongside fellow philanthropist Bill Gates.

    As the star of the upcoming Batman v.s Superman: Dawn of Justice, Affleck began by recognizing Senator Patrick Leahy, an avid fan of the franchise who had a brief cameo role in 2008's The Dark Knight Rises. "I would be remiss not to recognize my co-star in Batman," he joked, acknowledging the Vermont senator's presence. "Your role was marginally smaller than mine, but I understand you were quite good. Good morning, sir."

    He also acknowledged Gates, whose Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is instrumental in developing ways to support sustainable African agriculture. "Thanks for having me follow the greatest and most important philanthropist in the history of the world," quipped Affleck, whose own Eastern Congo Initiative is also seeking to rebuild the economy. "I'm sure I'm going to come off great."

    Affleck pointed out, though, that Starbucks just made a major purchase of coffee from the region, "a clear testament to what's possible for Congo," he said. "This isn't charity or aid in the traditional sense. It's good business."

    Subcommittee Chairman Lindsey Graham appreciated Affleck's testimony, saying (per The Wall), "Jennifer and Violet are very proud. Well done."

    Bradley Cooper To Make Directing Debut, Hopes To Star With Beyonce In 'A Star Is Born' For Warner Bros

    Warner Bros is negotiating with its American Sniper star Bradley Cooper to make his feature directorial debut on the remake of A Star Is Born. The hope is for Cooper also to star in the film. Once his deal is done, their first stop will be to Beyonce, who once was positioned to play the role of the young woman whose dreams of stardom are helped by a self-destructive icon whose best days are behind him. She was circling when Clint Eastwood was going to helm the remake, and the director discussed that male lead role with Cooper. She hasn’t yet been re-approached formally. Cooper will take a pass at the script with Will Fetters, who wrote the most recent draft, and the hope is that he can get into this wholeheartedly when he finishes performing The Elephant Man in its London transfer from Broadway.

    He also will become a producer on this through Warners-based 22 Green, the banner he shares with Todd Phillips. Jon Peters, Billy Gerber and Basil Iwanyk also are producers. Cooper is coming off a double Oscar nomination for American Sniper, which has surpassed $528 million worldwide and growing, remarkable for an R-rated war film that cost $58 million to produce. There is some symmetry to these two films. When Steven Spielberg dropped out of American Sniper, Warner Bros worldwide production president Greg Silverman told Cooper that Eastwood was reading the book for recreation. Cooper was able to call Eastwood directly because of the relationship they developed when Eastwood offered Cooper that male lead in A Star Is Born.

    First directed by William Wellman in a 1937 film that starred Fredrick March and Janet Gaynor, A Star Is Born was first made at Warner Bros in 1954 with a George Cukor-directed film that starred Judy Garland and James Mason and then was done in 1976 with Frank Pierson directing Kris Kristofferson and Barbra Streisand. This long has been a priority at Warner Bros, with leading men such as Will Smith, Tom Cruise, Leonardo DiCaprio and Christian Bale all circling at some point. Beyonce has been most often mentioned for that female lead, and really, how can you beat that? She’s displayed her acting chops in films that included Austin Powers In Goldmember, and her singing creates an opportunity not really seen since Warner Bros’ The Bodyguard with Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner.

    Review: Despite its star power, 'Serena' has no spark

    The arithmetic on "Serena" is fascinating. Two of the biggest movie stars in the world plus an Oscar-winning director and a best-selling novel somehow add up to a forgettable, under-the-radar video-on-demand release.

    But movies work by strange, illogical mathematics. Despite its prestigious pedigree, "Serena," starring Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence, is likely to be remembered as another example of the curious, inexplicable science of moviemaking.

    The film, which opens in limited theaters Friday but has been available on VOD for much of the month, has long been a subject of intrigue since it was shot in 2012 and more-or-less hidden under a rock since.

    The light of day finally crashing down in "Serena" reveals not so much the disaster one might expect, but a well-intended, handsomely shot but altogether unsuccessful drama. It comes as almost a disappointment. After all this time, one almost hopes for a Titanic-sized catastrophe, not merely a wayward mediocrity.

    "Serena," directed by the Danish filmmaker Susanne Bier ("In a Better World"), is based on Ron Rash's 2008 novel about a Depression-era timber baron named George Pemberton (Cooper) who's immediately infatuated by a more common woman with a dark past, Serena (Lawrence).

    She's "practically an aboriginal," a woman hisses of Serena, explaining that her family died tragically in a fire when she was 12. But Pemberton's gaze is fixed on her, riding on horseback. He rides to her and proposes. They promptly marry and return to his North Carolina land, a rugged outpost of lumberjacks and steam locomotives where the threat of conservationism lurks. That dreaded villain, the National Park system, is coming.

    The setting is evocative. The Czech Republic countryside doubles attractively but unconvincingly for the Smoky Mountains. Here is the Kentucky-born Lawrence, who broke through in the Ozarks drama "Winter's Bone," back in the backwoods, with the crimped blonde hair of a '20s flapper.

    Serena is "a pistol," as her husband says, quickly making her presence felt around Pemberton's business, much to the disgruntlement of his right-hand man, Buchanan (David Dencik).

    Tension doesn't boil so much as make occasional jabs at entering the film, which seems, as its characters pace back and forth in the mud, to be awaiting instructions. A purpose is elusive and instead, scenes awkwardly assemble the clichéd moments of a frontier drama: Serena is awkwardly positioned as a kind of Lady Macbeth; lawmen lurk; a hunting expedition turns fatal.

    I suspect the story that doesn't come through in "Serena" is about the impossibility of a relationship divorcing itself from the past. When Serena steps off the train in North Carolina, a pregnant woman (Ana Ularu), who apparently shares a history with Pemberton, is staring at her. Pemberton stutters an excuse. Serena interrupts him: Everything that came before their love doesn't matter. What follows bleakly and tragically proves that it does.

    That that version of "Serena" never comes through with any force or feeling can be attributed to a number of things: the imprecise script by Christopher Kyle; Cooper's bland, inscrutable performance; the film's uncertain pacing. The period costumes (by Signe Sejlund) and Morten Soborg's smoky widescreen cinematography help paper over the problems, as does the excellent Lawrence.

    Sensual and strong, she commands every frame she's in. You can't make a boring film with her, but "Serena" seems to be trying awfully hard to prove you can.

    "Serena," a Magnolia Pictures release, is rated R by the Motion Picture Association of America for "some violence and sexuality." Running time: 109 minutes. One and a half stars out of four.

    The Secret to Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper's Friendship? 'No Sex!'

    Frequent costars Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper have been tight offscreen ever since filming 2012's Silver Linings Playbook, and their secret to a happy work wife-work husband dynamic?

    "No sex!" Lawrence, 24, quipped to reporters at the Cinema Society's New York City premiere of Serena on Saturday.

    Serena is the real-life BFFs' third film together, after Silver Linings and American Hustle. And it was Lawrence who recruited Cooper, 40, for the period piece.

    "I forced him to come onto the movie," said Lawrence. "I mean, any male role is going to make me think of Bradley because in my opinion, he's the best, and I love working with him."

    For the newly single Cooper, the feeling's mutual.

    "I respect her so much as a professional, as an actor, and I think she's the best there is," he said. "And I just learn from her. You always want to work with people that are better than you."

    The pals said they rarely disagree on anything – especially food.

    "Never about where to go to dinner; we're both two of the biggest eaters in Hollywood," she joked at the screening, hosted by Dior Beauty.

    Lawrence – who's dating Coldplay rocker Chris Martin – is reuniting with Cooper and their Silver Linings and American Hustle director David O. Russell on the upcoming biopic Joy.

    Clogging, You Say? All About Jennifer Garner's Many Hidden Talents

    What do clogging and playing the saxophone have in common? They're both among Jennifer Garner's slew of hidden talents.

    And those aren't the only secret skills the actress and mom of three has up her sleeve.

    "Besides saxophone? Besides playing spoons? Besides clogging?" Garner responded when pressed about her hidden talents at the N.Y.C. premiere of her new film, Danny Collins, on Wednesday. "My cup runneth over with hidden talents," the 43-year-old promised.

    "Anything hillbilly I can do," she offered.

    You won't see her doing any of those things, though, in Danny Collins, about a washed-up pop star (Al Pacino) looking for a second chance from the son he abandoned (Bobby Cannavale). Garner plays Pacino's daughter-in-law, alongside 6-year-old Giselle Eisenberg, who stars as her and Cannavale's daughter.

    While Garner was thrilled to be working with a legend like Pacino, he wasn't the only one she was taking notes from.

    "I learned a ton from Giselle Eisenberg, who played my daughter, as well," Garner told reporters.

    And apparently, Eisenberg and Pacino really hit it off on set.

    "The two of them would improvise with each other at the end of a scene and just go on and on and on because she wasn't afraid," Garner recalled. "And so that was just such a great reminder that just because he's Al Pacino, he's not being intimidating – he's being loving. So don't be afraid of him."

    Bradley Cooper and Suki Waterhouse Split

    Bradley Cooper and Suki Waterhouse have called it quits.

    The American Sniper actor and the model split after two years of dating, a source tells PEOPLE. Cooper's rep could not be reached for comment, while Waterhouse's declined comment.

    The couple ended their relationship before the Oscars in January but remained friends and attended the award show together, the source says. They were even spotted dining at Nobu Malibu with another pal the next night, though an onlooker says they didn't seem affectionate during the meal.

    Cooper, 40, spent Wednesday night at an Elton John concert, later partying at Surrender Nightclub in Encore at Wynn Las Vegas with Jonah Hill and Miles Teller as Lil John performed. The guys are in Sin City to shoot Arms & the Dues, a flick directed by Todd Phillips and produced by Cooper.

    He and Waterhouse, 23, were first linked in March 2013, when they were photographed looking cozy on set in Boston.

    Though they kept their romance under wraps, Cooper took Waterhouse as his date to the 2014 SAG Awards and she escorted him to a White House state dinner in February 2014.

    The stars remained tight-lipped throughout the relationship, but in an ELLE UK interview, Waterhouse did reveal when Cooper first caught her eye: the ELLE Style Awards in February 2013.

    "I don't talk about my boyfriend because it's boring," she told the magazine. "But we did meet at the Style Awards, I’ll give you that. Look, maybe it's best for me to say, 'I'm not one of those girls who goes on about their boyfriends.' I do think whatever I say will sound weird. But the truth is, if I start talking about him, I probably won't be able to stop. And I don't really want to talk about him, you know?"

    Both celebrities will have plenty of distractions post-breakup: Cooper is filming yet another movie, Joy, with Jennifer Lawrence, along with the Netflix reboot of Wet Hot American Summer. And besides being a fashion It Girl, Waterhouse has a part in Insurgent, out Friday.

    E! Online was first to report the news.

    Jennifer Garner Is Overcome with Emotion When Thinking about Family on Today

    Jennifer Garner couldn't hold back her tears when she stopped by the Today show on Wednesday.

    While promoting her new film, Danny Collins, the actress welled up when Savannah Guthrie mentioned the Southern Living photo shoot she did with her sisters and mother.

    "It makes me cry to see their faces so I won't look [at the screen]," she said, adding that "there's just nothing like sharing the spotlight or anything else with your sisters and your mom. It's always fun for me to get my sisters dolled up, and my mom."

    At the mention of her own family, Garner, 43, couldn't help but think of another: "You showed those babies and Leah Still, I just watched it, I can't even take it. The Today show is just too tough for me!"

    The babies she mentioned are the Morales quadruplets, who – as PEOPLE exclusively reported – are being raised by their widowed father Carlos after his wife, Erica, died just hours after giving birth. The family spoke to Matt Lauer earlier in the show.

    Find more exclusive insights on the Morales quads in this week's PEOPLE magazine, on newsstands Friday

    Greg Grunberg To Star In ABC Judah Miller Family Comedy Pilot

    Greg Grunberg is set as the male lead opposite Megan Hilty in ABC’s untitled Judah Miller comedy pilot. The single-camera project centers on a Tony Award-winning mother (Hilty) and a risk-averse, cerebral father (Grunberg) who are blessed with a son who is a natural-born competitive athlete. They are forced outside their parental comfort zones and into the high-octane world of youth sports. Grunberg’s Gary is a geriatric doctor and a cautious and practical father and husband. Grunberg, repped by manager Susan Calogerakis, Paradigm and Jackoway Tyerman, recently recurred on Masters Of Sex.

    Sightings

    Bradley Cooper seeing Shaggy perform at Up & Down

    Sightings

    Jennifer Garner shopping for paraben-free skincare products at the Bluemercury store in Buckhead, Atlanta

    Carl Lumbly Joins CBS Drama Series 'Zoo'

    Alias alum Carl Lumbly has joined the ensemble cast of CBS’ summer drama series Zoo. Based on the bestselling novel by James Patterson, Zoo is a global thriller about a wave of violent animal attacks against humans sweeping the planet. Lumbly will play Delavane,an enigmatic, veteran Interpol agent embedded within the hierarchy of the General Secretariat, who takes matters into his own hands, when faced with what he believes to be a global animal crisis. Lumbly, repped by Robbie Kass Management, next appears in A&E’s The Returned, and recently recurred on TNT’s Southland. Zoo premieres on June 30.

    2015 MTV Movie Award Nominations

    Best Male Performance
    Bradley Cooper - "American Sniper"
    Chris Pratt - "Guardians of the Galaxy"
    Ansel Elgort - "Fault in Our Stars"
    Miles Teller - "Whiplash"
    Channing Tatum - "Foxcatcher"

    Best Duo
    Channing Tatum & Jonah Hill - "22 Jump Street"
    Zac Efron & Dave Franco - "Neighbors"
    Shailene Woodley & Ansel Elgort - "The Fault in Our Stars"
    Bradley Cooper & Vin Diesel - "Guardians of the Galaxy"
    James Franco & Seth Rogen - "The Interview"

    Jennifer Garner: My Favorite Role Is 'Mommy'

    When in need of some life advice, there’s one gal pal that Jennifer Garner can always be sure to rely on: Reese Witherspoon.

    “If I run into Reese, she and I have so much to talk about,” Garner, 42, told PEOPLE at the press day for her new film Danny Collins, in which she stars alongside Al Pacino. “We’ll be on the street corner and just be like, ‘What do you do about this, and how did you handle this?’ ”

    She continues, “I’m so grateful for that very specific kind of friend.”

    A typical juicy conversation that takes place between the two hard-working Hollywood mothers may specifically consist of whether or not a role is worth (temporarily) departing from motherhood.

    “I have such a big thing to balance [jobs] against that it has to be something I love so much,” Garner says of feeling “surprised,” but grateful every time that she gets handed a new offer and has to think about calling in the in-laws for some long-term babysitting.

    While stationed at home and playing her favorite role as mommy, Garner makes it a point to keep her routine consistent.

    “I make sure everyone has notes for their lunch box every day and [figure out] who’s having something special, and deciding who I read extra to [in the] morning,” Garner says of how a morning plays out with her and husband Ben Affleck‘s children, Violet, 9, Seraphina, 5, and Samuel, 3.

    And, coming up on 10 years of marriage, being a wife is something that she sure excels in, as well.

    “I’m going straight to New York from here, and then I’m going to visit Ben [on set in Atlanta to] make sure he’s good,” Garner says about her special trip to see Affleck, 42, while filming his new role in The Accountant.

    She adds, “It’s just what you do [as a mom].”

    From an actress to a mother and a room mom to a Girl Scout troop leader, there’s not much that Garner hasn’t tried.

    “I’ve been the room mom for pre-school and kindergarten this year, and I’m the Girl Scout troop leader for third grade,” Garner shares. “When I’m home, I dive in, [and] I try to Betty Crocker it up as much as I can.”

    And when the going gets tough, the actress gets going. “It just happened the other day where I was like, ‘I think I’m ready to be on set and talk to grownups,’ ” Garner jokes. “Send Batman in.”

    Arrow/Flash Superhero Team-Up Spinoff In Works At CW; Brandon Routh, Victor Garber, Wentworth Miller, Caity Lotz Star

    DC Comics superheroes are uniting in a potential new drama series at the CW, a spinoff from hits Arrow and The Flash that will feature several fan-favorite recurring actors/characters from both shows. I have learned that the network has teamed with Arrow creators Greg Berlanti, Andrew Kreisberg and Marc Guggenheim for a project eyed for next season toplined by Brandon Routh, Victor Garber, Wentworth Miller and Caity Lotz.

    The untitled project, now in development, is described as a superhero team-up show. Routh, Miller and Garber will reprise their popular DC Comics characters — Arrow‘s Ray Palmer/The Atom (Routh), Flash villain Leonard Snart/Captain Cold (Miller), and Flash‘s Dr. Martin Stein (Garber). Because her Arrow character Sara Lance was killed off, with her sister Laurel Lance (Katie Cassidy) taking over as the Black Canary, it is unclear whether Lotz will play the same or new superhero.

    The project is in early stages of development, so there is a possibility for other Arrow/Flash characters to cross over to the new spinoff. Additionally, in a tidbit that should get fans fired up, I have learned the new project will include three major DC Comics characters who have never appeared in a TV series.

    This is the project CW president Mark Pedowitz vaguely referenced at TCA in January. It will not be part of the current pilot cycle. With the creative auspices and talent involved, I hear that it could go straight to series, possibly for next midseason.

    Berlanti and Kreisberg, who also co-created The Flash, executive produce alongside Guggenheim and Sarah Schechter for Warner Bros. TV and Berlanti Prods.

    Teaming up superheroes has been a winning formula, as proven by the success of the Justice League and The Avengers comics. Marvel’s The Avengers have crossed over to features, with DC’s Justice League also on its way to the big screen. Routh is repped by UTA and Main Title, Lotz is repped by UTA and Atlas Artists.

    Merrin Dungey In Fox's '48 Hours'

    Merrin Dungey has been cast in Fox’s single-camera comedy pilot 48 Hours ‘Til Monday. It chronicles husband and father of three Charlie’s (Rob Riggle) desperate struggle not to let every weekend go completely to hell. Dungey plays a family friend, bona fide “super mom” Candace who has three kids, works part time as a lawyer, and is still able to make snacks that look like animals, volunteer in class, and pick her children up from school on bike. Also cast in the pilot is child actor Kyla Kenedy, repped by Paradigm and Discover Management, who plays Charlie’s eldest child. Dungey, repped by Gersh and Industry Entertainment, recurs on Once Upon a Time as Ursula as well as on Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Chasing Life.

    2015 Nickelodeon's Kids' Choice Award Nominees

    The 28th Annual Kids' Choice Awards air live from The "Fabulous" Forum in Inglewood, Calif., March 28 on Nickelodeon.

    Favorite Movie Actress
    Angelina Jolie (Maleficent)
    Cameron Diaz (Annie)
    Elle Fanning (Maleficent)
    Emma Stone (The Amazing Spider-Man 2)
    Jennifer Garner (Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day)
    Megan Fox (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)

    J.J. Abrams: Some of the Star Wars Rumors Are True

    If you heard a rumor about the upcoming Star Wars movie this week – well, it just might be true. Or not.

    J.J. Abrams, the director of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, addressed the issue of leaked plot points for the highly anticipated film. And while he wouldn't address any specific leaks, he did say some theories circulating aren't as outlandish as others.

    "We did the best we can to preserve the story for the audience, but it doesn't always work," Abrams, 48, told the BBC at the Irish Oscar Wilde awards in Los Angeles on Thursday, where Star Wars actress Carrie Fisher was being honored.

    Rumors have been circulating this week that a major character is killed in a violent twist in the upcoming film, which takes place 30 years after Return of the Jedi. However, Abrams didn't address that particular gossip item directly.

    "There are a ton of rumors – some true, some false," he says. "But I'm grateful for everyone who would want to read a spoiler because it means that they care and want to see the movie … I know what it feels like, as an enormous Star Wars fan myself."

    Star Wars: The Force Awakens will hit theaters on Dec. 18.

    Jennifer Garner Didn't Always Feel Beautiful: "It Was a Shock When I Got to College to Hear People Say I Was Pretty"

    (Video) (Cover) As a young girl in West Virginia, Jennifer Garner was taught that brains trump beauty.

    When she moved to New York City to become an actress in the early '90s, that lesson proved to be invaluable. "What my mom did that I valued so much was to not place beauty high on the list of priorities," the Denison University alum recalls, 42, says in Southern Living's March issue.

    "It was a shock when I got to college to hear people say I was pretty," she recalls.

    There were other perks to growing up in the South, of course.

    "I feel so fortunate to have grown up in a place where people look out for each other," the Alexander and the Terrible, No Good, Very Bad Day actress says. "Community is the one thing people crave most, and it's hard to come by. I grew up with such an excess of it that now wherever I go, the first thing I do is build my group." Jennifer currently lives in California with husband Ben Affleck, 42, and their three children: Violet, 9, Seraphina, 6, and Samuel, 2. "It's really important for my kids to see that everyone doesn't have the lives they see in Los Angeles. That doesn't reflect the rest of the world. I want them to grow up with the Southern values I had–to look at people when they say hello and to stop and smell the roses," she says.

    Jennifer adds, "If I could do half as good a job as my mom did, I'd be pretty happy."

    And although she looks glamorous on red carpets, in her everyday life, Jennifer is more down-to-earth. "My sisters and I all had similar long, straight hair without layers as kids. I still don't mess with my hair that much, and that keeps it healthy," she says. Jennifer has a similar approach when it comes to fashion. "Although I adore it on others, you won't see me wearing many one-shoulder, asymmetrical, cool things," the Men, Women & Children actress explains.

    "I can't feel like I'm wearing a costume," she adds.

    Jennifer also poses with her two siblings. "Being the middle sister of these three girls is the relationship that defines me more than anything else," she says. "More than being my kids' mother, more than being my husband's wife, I'm first and foremost the middle Garner girl."

    So, did the Garner girls ever fight back in the day?

    "The only thing my sisters and I fought about growing up was clothes," the actress admits.

    Jennifer is the spitting image of her mom, who also models for the magazine. "We are doing this shoot so people can finally stop asking if my lips are real," the Dallas Buyers Club star says.

    It seems she's inherited her mother's sense of humor, too!

    Southern Living is on newsstands Friday.

    What Does Victor Garber Really Think of Robbie Amell's Impression of Him on The Flash?

    Did Robbie Amell seem a bit different on last week's episode of The Flash?

    That's because The Tomorrow People alum was playing not one but two different characters, fused into one body!

    Thanks to F.I.R.E.S.T.O.R.M. and the particle accelerator blast, both Ronnie Raymond (Amell) and Dr. Martin Stein (Victor Garber) have been inhabiting the younger man's body for almost a year, but after the nuclear explosion at the end of last week's episode, the two will finally split and end up back in their own bodies in tonight's episode, "Fallout."

    So what did the Alias alum think of how Amell portrayed him on the CW superhero drama?

    "I told him, 'I don't know how you came up with those line readings. They were disgusting,'" Garber tells E! News with a laugh. "No! I thought he was great. I thought did a great job because it wasn't exactly an impersonation, but there was a sense where I could hear the difference in his tone because I know him. We're friends, so I could hear that very subtle but effective interpretation. I was very pleased, and I was joking with him the other day about it actually."

    Garber reveals that it was actually knowing that Amell would be playing his "other half" that convinced him to take on the role of Dr. Stein in the first place.

    "That was part of the attraction for me," Garber says. "We have a great time together and it's part of the joy of doing it."

    Check out the rest of our Q&A with Garber below!

    E! Online: Did you coach Robbie or offer him any tips before he played both of you in the same body?

    Victor Garber: No, because I don't think I even read the script where he was doing it. I came after I realized what was happening and I was already involved. I just teased him, mostly. That's what I do. I make him laugh and we just have a lot of fun together.

    What can you tease about the "Fallout" from the nuclear explosion that separates the two men?

    The "Fallout!" That was good. Clever. [Laughs] There is fallout. Basically it's now about trying to reenter the world where we're from, for both of us. When you have an experience that changes your life, like obviously this would, to come back to where you were, as much as you might think you want that, you're not the same person anymore. It's an exploration of that and also what's next for this duo.

    Are they still going to be involved with each other's lives?

    They are now irreparably joined even after they've been separated officially. In the beginning, it looks like Stein wants nothing to do with this guy and yet you find that they can't just go their separate ways. It's very intriguing.

    Are they still metahumans even though they've separated?

    That's what we experiment with in this episode, to see what happened. I can just tell you that Firestorm is not over. Just because they've been separated does not mean they can't figure out a way to still do what they've done. That will become clearer in this episode.

    Will Stein be able to get a happy ending with his wife?

    He's reunited with the woman he loves deeply but he's been altered. He's changed. What are the repercussions of that? We'll explore that much more in the future. There's a lot to discover now that he's back.

    I know that General Eiling returns in this episode, so what can you tease about what he wants?

    Eiling wants what he wants. He wants control and that's always dangerous and difficult to achieve. Other people aren't willing to give him that control. There's a lot that goes on with him.

    Now that Barry is aware the time travel is possible, will Dr. Stein help him on that front?

    There's actually going to be a really fascinating scene. Barry obviously has this trauma in his past that he's trying to reconcile and Dr. Stein is enlivened by trying to help this boy that he's taken on a fondness for since they share this interest. Really it's a question of "let's compare notes and see what we both believe and see what's possible and how we can infiltrate this netherworld." That's what their journey is about. Stein, in a sense, becomes like another father figure for Barry but also someone who understands his plight and his dilemma.

    Are you going to be back in more episodes after tonight or is this the conclusion of your arc?

    I'll be back! Not sure exactly when or how, but I will be back.

    The Flash airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on the CW.

    Jennifer Garner: It Was a Shock to Hear People Call Me Pretty in College

    Jennifer Garner opened up about her mother and Southern upbringing in the March issue of Southern Living.

    While she is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful actresses in Hollywood, Garner, 42, revealed that her mother, Patricia, never put much importance on her beauty.

    "What my mom did that I valued so much was to not place beauty high on the list of priorities," she said. "It was a shock when I got to college to hear people say I was pretty."

    Garner, who is known for her gorgeous pout, also shared a photo of her equally full-lipped mom so that "people can finally stop asking if my lips are real." (For a behind-the-scenes video interview with Garner, click here.)

    When it comes to being a mom of three children of her own with husband Ben Affleck – daughters Violet, 9, and Seraphina, 6, and son Samuel, 2 – the Men, Women and Children star revealed that she hopes to impart the values that she learned growing up in the South.

    "It's really important for my kids to see that everyone doesn't have the lives they see in Los Angeles," the actress said. "That doesn't reflect the rest of the world. I want them to grow up with the Southern values I had to look at people when they say hello and to stop and smell the roses."

    "If I could do half as good a job as my mom did, I'd be pretty happy," she continued.

    One Southern value that Garner appreciates is the sense of community she found growing up in West Virginia.

    "I feel so fortunate to have grown up in a place where people look out for each other," she revealed. "Community is the one thing people crave most, and it's hard to come by. I grew up with such an excess of it that now wherever I go, the first thing I do is build my group."

    Learn more about how Garner's Southern roots influenced her life in the March issue of Southern Living, which hits newsstands on Feb. 20.

    'Aloha' Trailer: First Look At Cameron Crowe Rom-Com Starring Bradley Cooper, Emma Stone & Rachel McAdams

    'Aloha' Trailer: First Look At Cameron Crowe Rom-Com Starring Bradley Cooper, Emma Stone & Rachel McAdams.

    Sightings

    Bradley Cooper, Kim Kardashian, Joe Jonas and “Million Dollar Listing” co-star Ryan Serhant at separate tables at the Chateau Marmont .?.?.

    Eddie Redmayne and Jennifer Garner Are Twins

    Eddie Redmayne and Jennifer Garner Are Twins, Plus the Biggest Lie He Ever Told to Nab a Part Is Revealed - Watch Now!

    Bradley Cooper: 'No idea' about 'Sniper' success

    Even Bradley Cooper says he's surprised with the runaway box office success of his new film American Sniper.

    Cooper admitted Monday he did not foresee breaking box office records with the drama, a movie now in the center of a national discussion.

    "I had no idea," said Cooper, who was nominated for best actor as Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle. "You never know when you make a movie if anyone is going to go see it. So to have the audacity to think it would cause any sort of effect at all would be pretty presumptuous."

    "You just hope that people are going to watch it and it's going to have an impact," Cooper added, speaking at the annual Academy Nominees Luncheon in Beverly Hills.

    The impact has been apparent. American Sniper pays tribute to Kyle, who served four tours of duty in Iraq and wrote a best-selling account of his experiences. Cooper noted that Kyle was killed exactly two years ago by a disturbed Marine on a gun range.

    Further, the movie highlights the difficulty for veterans — both when they serve and adjusting to civilian life afterwards.

    "Any discussion that sheds light to the plight of the soldiers, and the men and women in the armed services, for that discussion to occur is fantastic," said Cooper.

    The film received six Oscar nominations. Cooper is double-nominated this year, as a producer and actor in American Sniper. Sniper director Clint Eastwood was also on hand at the nominees luncheon but did not address the media.

    Cooper also talked up how much he has enjoyed the Oscar telecast in his life. He often daydreamed about being in the Oscar audience growing up in Pennsylvania.

    "I was raised on Oscar. Everyone was huddled around the TV (during the Oscar telecast) in my family," said Cooper. "You always daydream. Not being on the podium, but being there. You see all these people that you loved. All together. it was an odd, surreal thing. To see actors in the flesh there as themselves was thrilling. I always used to fantasize about being there."

    8 Questions with...Gina Torres

    (backstage.com) The “Suits” and “Hannibal” star opens up to Backstage about soap operas, Madeleine Stowe, and the moment she found her voice—in an audition room.

    Tell us about your latest projects.

    I’m in the middle of an arc on “Revenge.” It’s fantastic. I’ve primarily worked with Madeleine Stowe, and I’ve been a fan of hers for quite some time. It’s so wonderful when you meet someone whose aesthetic matches up and you get to work and play. That’s been quite fun. Never did I think I’d be working with Madeleine Stowe on a nighttime soap. And I love nighttime soaps!

    What have you learned about yourself on “Revenge”?

    That I love the work more than anything. I love however it comes. I love doing the nighttime soap, the emotional, psychological, hard stuff that I got to tackle on “Hannibal.” I love the chess game that I do on “Suits.” I just love every bit of it and that I get to do it.

    Who do you have an acting crush on?

    Other than Madeleine Stowe? Wow, there are a couple people out there. It’s hard right now; I have a 7-year-old daughter and I’m working, so I haven’t seen a grown-up–person’s movie in a long time! I’m so behind, it’s really embarrassing. Eddie Redmayne is fantastic. Cate Blanchett—always. She’s my forever crush.

    How did you get your SAG-AFTRA card?

    My first time on camera was “One Life to Live.” I mourn for actors coming up that the daytime soap opera is becoming extinct. It’s theater onscreen. And in soap operas you have very little rehearsal time! It’s you and your cast mates and a guy in a booth and a lot of pages of dialogue. You really have to rely on yourself to make your most truthful choices. You’re not coddled; there’s no babysitting.

    What is your worst audition horror story?

    I would say the most fascinating audition I had was for a musical. I was told to prepare a song. And we get out there, a group of girls, and they asked us to walk across the stage like a showgirl and walk back. It was the stereotypical scene from movies about auditions for musicals! There’s this disembodied voice coming from a dark theater and it’s telling you to do this and that. And I’m standing there thinking, You’ve got to be kidding me. I’m not really living this right now. They dismissed us and I wasn’t having it. And I walked down center stage and shouted over the footlights, “Excuse me! I was told to prepare a song—would you like me to sing?” “Oh! Yes, oh of course!” And I did. I don’t know where that came from but I just refused to be dismissed. I wouldn’t say I recommend that to people. I don’t want young actors to read this and go, “Well, Gina Torres did this.” I just thought, No, not today. It took a lot of work for me to get there. To prepare, to be ready, to be on time, to get on the NYC subway, change into my leotard—and I just was not in the mood to be dismissed. The moral of that story is, you choose your battles. And sometimes wonderful things happen. You find your voice.

    So how do you typically prepare for an audition?

    It depends on what it is, on how much is asked of me. Whether it’s a musical or a lot of pages of dialogue, it’s really just about time put in. And the subject—there are things I know very little about. And then other things where I feel I’ve got this. Like, I’ve been working up to this chick for a long time! I’ve been doing it for a while, so my well is deeper and I can read something and figure out what’s required.

    Which of your performances has left a lasting mark on you?

    Recently there are two. Certainly Bella Crawford on “Hannibal.” I went on such a journey with her in her sickness and how Bryan Fuller wrote her so beautifully, with so much grace and integrity. I just wanted her to be an homage to all the people out there who are dealing with illness. And my character on “Huge” on ABC Family five years ago. I learned so much about that world and the dysfunction of overeating and it was a real eye-opener. I had so many hopes for that show; it didn’t survive, but I think we did make an impression on those people that did watch it.

    What do you wish you’d known before you started acting?

    I don’t think I would change anything. There is that thing where you can learn rather quickly or not at all: Losing a job is not the end of the world. Your job is the one you get! You don’t get somebody else’s job, and nobody gets yours. Nobody took your job. They just got theirs.

    Bradley Cooper: Why American Sniper Was 'Life-Changing'

    To play Navy SEAL Chris Kyle in American Sniper, Bradley Cooper bulked up, studied with a voice coach and learned to put a bullet into a target from 800 yards away. But the most lasting lessons he learned were about the struggles of everyday military families.

    "I've always been interested on a personal level in helping our vets. I've been a part of USO on tours for over eight years," Cooper tells PEOPLE in this week's cover story on Kyle and his widow, Taya.

    "I had an appreciation for veterans before this, but what I definitely did not know is the toll that it takes on the family," the Best Actor Oscar nominee says.

    Cooper and Taya Kyle have hosted screenings of the movie and visited hospitals, meeting veterans from all over the country.

    "People were willing to express themselves in a format that they would never do normally," Cooper says. "But because they saw Chris's story, they were willing to say, 'Thank you for putting a guy I can relate to up there and have it be something right away that I know is accurate.' "

    Says Cooper: "It's been life-changing."

    Cooper was welcomed to cheers when he visited the Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, on Jan. 14. He thanked service members, saying, "I appreciate what each and every one of you do, each and every day. This country owes you a huge debt ... we just want to be here for you."

    Cooper says he is "gratified" that the film, which shows the Kyles struggle during Chris's deployments and after he left the military, is resonating with veterans.

    "People who see it can relate to it and go, 'Well, if he goes through that, then maybe it's okay that I'm going through that," he says. "'If his family had to deal with that stuff, then maybe I am not alone.' That's a lot of what Chris was doing when he got home. He was telling his story. He got his life together, and a lot of that is when he found a purpose in being able to help vets."

    Cooper "gets it," Taya says: "He went above and beyond just acting in a role. He got into the mind and heart of Chris. You can't do that and not come out with a special appreciation for guys who lost a limb for this."

    While Cooper says he is "lucky" to have been nominated for an Oscar for the past three years, this year's Best Actor nod for playing Kyle has extra meaning.

    "I would be lying if I said I didn't get emotional when I heard my name and saw Chris's picture up there," he says. "I thought, 'Thank God,' because I felt the role merited that. I just hoped I did a good enough job for the Academy to recognize that his story is worthy to be a part of these other people's stories."

    For more from Bradley Cooper – and Taya Kyle's emotional interview about her life with Chris – pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday.

    Bradley Cooper, Sienna Miller spotted at 'The Polo Bar'

    Ralph Lauren is continuing to host a starry crowd at Polo Bar. Bradley Cooper was spotted at the elegant new eatery Tuesday with “American Sniper” co-star Sienna Miller, plus Harvey Weinstein and Georgina Chapman.

    Also seen last week: Diane von Furstenberg and Barry Diller, Jason Wu and Eric Schmidt. On Thursday, George Stephanopoulos and Ali Wentworth dined with Jon Bon Jovi, while Kelly Ripa (with Ellen Barkin) and Lee Radziwill were at separate tables.

    Bradley Cooper heading to Suki's native London after B'way run

    Bradley Cooper is swapping Broadway for London’s West End.

    Producers announced Friday that a Cooper-led production of “The Elephant Man” will open in London in May.

    The actor — a three-time Academy Award nominee, most recently for “American Sniper” — has won praise for his performance as John Merrick an extremely disfigured but indomitable man who becomes a celebrity in Victorian London.

    Bernard Pomerance’s play, based on a true story, has been frequently revived since its 1979 New York debut. John Hurt starred in David Lynch’s 1980 film adaptation.

    The current production also features Patricia Clarkson and Alessandro Nivola. It closes at New York’s Booth Theatre on Feb. 21, and runs at London’s Theatre Royal Haymarket from May 19 to Aug. 8.

    Jennifer Garner: I Can't Diet Anymore

    Jennifer Garner has always been in great shape. (Her toned arms will forever be an inspiration.) But the mom of three has learned she can’t always obsess over food — and she definitely lets herself have cheat days. (Who can resist pizza, after all?) The actress opens up to makeup master Bobbi Brown about her outlook on diet, beauty and more.

    “There’s always a point in the fitting where I feel like, ‘Why didn’t I just try to lose four pounds and then I could wear any dress?’ I just can’t though,” Garner says in a new interview with Yahoo! Beauty. “I dieted for so long in the middle of doing Alias and being a superhero, that there’s something in me that can’t do anything that extreme.”

    But it’s not like the 42-year-old mom is sitting around eating donuts. “I eat lots of leafy greens, dark greens, with rice too because I want it to be a meal,” she shares. “I just have a big bag of greens that I get from the farmer’s market on Sunday. I keep it in a Ziploc bag and I just pull out handfuls of it for lunch everyday and add whatever I have to it.”

    She does, however, leave some room for carbs. “With food I’m probably good 80 percent of the time. I’ve found out that I cannot pass up pizza without having some. I just can’t,” she says. “My kids have a lot of pizza. I can’t go to a kid’s birthday party without having a slice.”

    Garner also revealed that she has a pretty low-maintenance approach to makeup. “Red lips on me is obnoxious. I have enough of a big ol’ face that the last thing anyone needs is to have anything exaggerated that much. I never used powder unless I’m about to be in front of a camera. I don’t need that matte, crunchy feeling.”

    Jennifer Garner and Daughter Violet Chow Down on Cheesy Pizza at Clippers Game

    (Pic1, Pic2, Pic3) Could this mother-daughter duo be any more adorable?

    Jennifer Garner and her nine-year-old daughter Violet Affleck were spotted at the L.A. Clippers game on Monday, where the famous mama and her blond-haired mini me were all smiles as they were photographed courtside together.

    With no sign of Garner's husband Ben Affleck, nor the couple's other two children, Samuel, 2, and Seraphina, 6, the erstwhile Alias star and her eldest child appeared to be enjoying an afternoon of mother-daughter bonding, although Violet seemingly brought a pal along to watch the Clippers beat the Boston Celtics.

    Both Jennifer and her daughter were snapped chowing down on cheesy pizza, and clearly, the 42-year-old actress, who showed off her chic mommy style in a striped shirt, jeans and grey booties, wasn't shy about fueling her appetite.

    The two were also seen beaming from ear to ear as they watched the game, during which Violet and her friend clutched onto their American Girl Dolls (perhaps they were a good luck charm?).

    Following the sporting event, Garner was photographed with her arm fondly wrapped around her daughter, as the proud parent escorted the little ones outside of the Staples Center. The mother of three also appeared to have treated Violet and her pal to Clippers T-shirts, which they were both photographed sporting as they exited the arena.

    Despite having been in the biz for two decades, the Daredevil star has made it clear that being a parent is her No. 1 priority—as well as her favorite role.

    "I'm still wiping a bottom, making three meals a day, dealing with sass—and also trying to work," she told Instyle for the mag's October 2014 issue. "I don't always do it all well. At bedtime last night my middle child said, 'I feel like you never have time to play with me.' I thought, 'My mom never played with me. I'm trying! But you know what? She's right. So my goal is to play dolls with her all afternoon. I guess I would say for this stage of my life, I'm in the thick of it."

    'Alias' Reunion -- The Bristows Dine With J.J.

    (Video) "Alias" stars Jennifer Garner and Victor Garber reunited with the show's creator J.J. Abrams Friday night, and the tight lipped director gave us a hint about the future.

    The 3 stars hit up Giorgio Baldi and seemed pretty chummy while they waited for their cars ... so much so that when our photog asked J.J. if they'd make more episodes -- Abrams ACTUALLY responded with a challenge of sorts to Jennifer.

    Did Mrs. Affleck respond? You're gonna have to watch the video to find out.

    Bradley Cooper: Playing Vet Chris Kyle in American Sniper 'Was Just an Honor'

    While Bradley Cooper was able to bulk up for his turn in director Clint Eastwood's American Sniper, his real challenge was taking on the intensity and emotion of his character.

    In the film – which has now scored six Oscar nominations including Best Picture and Best Actor, for Cooper – the star plays Chris Kyle, widely regarded as the deadliest sniper in American history. The Navy SEAL served four tours in Iraq before returning home, but the battle didn't end when he was honorably discharged.

    Kyle struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder when he returned from the frontlines, yet was able to overcome it and help other vets – before he was allegedly killed last year.

    "It was just an honor," Cooper, speaking to reporters at the New York City premiere of the film on Dec. 15, said of playing Kyle. He called the role "the benefit of being an actor."

    Believing he "was just at the right time in my life to bring that kind of focus and dedication" to the part, Cooper added that he learned a lot from playing the intense, standoffish Texan and decorated war vet.

    "There's something about how stoic he was, and it was all sort of in his eyes as a human being, how gentle he was, how complicated he was, and it was really sort of a practice in almost doing nothing and just sort of trusting that whatever's going inside is going to read," Cooper – who scored his third consecutive Oscar acting nod with his performance in American Sniper – said.

    One person impressed with the actor's performance: director Eastwood. "He's a wonderfully talented guy and the perfect guy to play the part," Eastwood told reporters. "He's dedicated … I never catch him acting in this film, which is a compliment."

    Cooper said he felt pressure to perform in the film. "It was the responsibility I had to his family to preserve his legacy that weighed on me," he said in reference to Kyle's widow Taya and two children.

    While, surprisingly, Cooper was snubbed for Golden Globe and SAG nominations, Taya was happy with the end product. After seeing he film for the first time, "I felt a sense of contentment that they did it right," she tells PEOPLE.

    Recalls screenwriter Jason Hall of that same screening: "Taya came out of the movie crying. She gave me a big hug and said, 'I just spent two hours with my husband. You all brought my husband back to life.' It was a really good feeling."

    2015 Oscar Nominations

    BEST MOTION PICTURE OF THE YEAR
    American Sniper: Clint Eastwood, Robert Lorenz, Andrew Lazar, Bradley Cooper and Peter Morgan, Producers
    Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance): Alejandro G. Iñárritu, John Lesher and James W. Skotchdopole, Producers
    Boyhood: Richard Linklater and Cathleen Sutherland, Producers
    The Grand Budapest Hotel: Wes Anderson, Scott Rudin, Steven Rales and Jeremy Dawson, Producers
    The Imitation Game: Nora Grossman, Ido Ostrowsky and Teddy Schwarzman, Producers
    Selma: Christian Colson, Oprah Winfrey, Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner, Producers
    The Theory of Everything: Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Lisa Bruce and Anthony McCarten, Producers
    Whiplash: Jason Blum, Helen Estabrook and David Lancaster, Producers

    PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
    Steve Carell in Foxcatcher
    Bradley Cooper in American Sniper
    Benedict Cumberbatch in The Imitation Game
    Michael Keaton in Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
    Eddie Redmayne in The Theory of Everything

    Michael Vartan Set To 'Punch It'

    Michael Vartan (Bates Motel, Alias) will star in indie drama Punch It, the next film from director Nika Agiashvili (The Harsh Life Of Veronica Lambert, A Green Story). He’ll play an ex-boxer-turned-loan shark who gets involved with a local mobster in the Storyman Pictures production, which shoots in Los Angeles this fall.

    The Georgia-born Agiashvili will direct from his own script. The helmer next unveils a segment in omnibus feature Tbilisi, I Love You, the latest in the “Cities Of Love” film series launched by 2006’s Paris, Je’Taime. He is also set to direct indies Savage Mutts and The Short Happy Life of Butch Livingston.

    Vartan’s coming off of TV runs on USA’s Satisfaction and A&E’s Bates Motel. He’s best known for playing Agent Vaughn on ABC’s Alias and earlier this year shot the New Line horror pic Within (formerly known as Crawlspace) for director Phil Claydon. He’s repped by UTA and Thruline Entertainment. Agiashvili is repped by Energy Entertainment.

    Inside Bradley Cooper's 'Eerie' American Sniper Performance

    Bradley Cooper had an incredibly special woman on his arm at the Washington, D.C., premiere of American Sniper on Tuesday night.

    The actor, who stars as Navy SEAL Chris Kyle – the most lethal sniper in American history by many accounts – escorted Kyle's widow, Taya Kyle, down the red carpet and into the intimate screening at the Navy Memorial, where he stood with her in the back of the theater as the movie began.

    The crowd, which included Vice President Joe Biden and wife Jill Biden, along with a slew of veterans and members of Congress, gave Kyle a standing ovation.

    "I'm blown away by how many people are here tonight and what you represent. It's incredible. I'm going to let [director] Clint [Eastwood] know everything because he'll be so happy," Cooper, 40, told the audience.

    Cooper plays Chris Kyle, who completed four tours as a SEAL before he was murdered on a shooting range by a veteran he was trying to help in February 2013.

    "We just tried to get Chris's story right," Cooper said. "These people represent one percent of the population. There's 99 percent of the population that has no idea what it's like to be a soldier, to give up your life for your country. And we need to take care of our vets."

    Cooper added that he hopes the film will "allow people who have gone through this or are going through this to not feel alone."

    "And for those of us who have no idea what it's about, maybe we'll stop and take a second look next time a vet passes us in the airport. And not just say, 'Thank you for your service,' even though that's a wonderful thing to say. But actually take it a step further and take action, whatever that would be. Babysitting their children, helping them with their groceries, whatever it is."

    As for Taya Kyle, she was visibly moved by the actor's portrayal of her husband.

    "You'll see in this movie, Bradley is Chris," she said. "I have no idea, literally no idea, how he pulled that off. People who know Chris well and have seen the movie have said one word over and over: 'eerie.' It's almost eerie how much it really is Chris. And I'll never be able to thank Bradley enough for that.

    "Not only did he do his research and do the physical part of it and get the dialect, which is such an odd mix of different places that Chris lived. But then he took this man, who truly is one of a kind and is charismatic and soft and tough and strong, and has the biggest heart of anyone I've ever met. And he brought that to the screen in a way that that … you will know Chris at the end of this movie."

    For much more on Taya Kyle and the real story behind American Sniper, pick up this week's issue of PEOPLE magazine, on newsstands Friday.

    'Sniper' stars keep it real with killer chemistry

    On a chilly Monday, Bradley Cooper and Sienna Miller are talking about their quietly explosive film American Sniper when a brown-haired toddler, wearing red tights and a pair of matching kicks, darts into the room.

    Her arrival shuts down the hushed library at the Greenwich Hotel. Over at the next table, Emma Roberts, there for a separate chat, yells out that she's "the cutest baby I've ever seen."

    The aforementioned cherub, Marlowe, 2, is Miller's firstborn, and the actress looks incandescent when her daughter hurtles toward her. "That's my baby! Peanut, come. Sorry!" she says, wrapping her child up in her arms.

    In Sniper, opening nationwide Friday, Miller, 33, is Taya, the wife of decorated Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, the most lethal sharpshooter in military history. She remains stateside, raising their two kids, while her husband completes four tours in Iraq, unraveling a little more each time he's home. Their onscreen relationship is sexy and easy, before it turns volatile and tense.

    "It was great that we could convey their dynamic, especially since we both hate each other," jokes Cooper, 40, who went on to do another as-yet-untitled film with Miller, about a restaurant, for director John Wells. "We got along so well. I have dip in my mouth the whole movie. I look like a bear. God bless her for taking it so seriously and believing it and making me believe it. She's not dramatic."

    Another highlight of shooting Sniper, says Miller, was seeing Cooper in his snug khaki SEAL shorts, a photo that lit up social media.

    "I'm thinking Halloween next year for myself," says Miller.

    All laughter aside, though, Kyle's story is heartbreaking, proving that "no good deed goes unpunished," says director Clint Eastwood. Kyle had finished his military service and was back in Texas, trying to reach out to fellow veterans, when a former Marine allegedly fatally shot him during an outing to a shooting range in February 2013.

    The Warner Bros. film is based on Kyle's memoir and military service, with his death included as an addendum to the film. "He was alive when the book was finished," Eastwood says.

    To do Kyle justice, Cooper altered himself from the inside out: exercising three times a day, working with a dialect coach, even changing the timbre of his voice and listening to recordings of Kyle speaking. Any other director would gush about his leading man's achievement, and the fact that there's no trace of The Hangover heartbreaker in his performance. Not Eastwood, who shrugs when he hears accolades about his work.

    "You know, he made himself close enough. It was close. He put on 37 pounds. He knew the character. I could see he was going to dedicate himself. He was always Chris Kyle. He kept that up on-camera, off-camera, for the whole length of time," says Eastwood.

    Kyle managed to infiltrate all aspects of Cooper's life, even rendering him more combative when it came to his career.

    He "had a fight with (Weinstein Company Co-Chairman) Harvey Weinstein as Chris Kyle. Guess who won?" says Miller.

    Our money is on the actor playing the SEAL.

    "It was a heated discussion. It was over the phone," says Cooper, without going into further detail.

    The last day of filming, Cooper quietly got behind the wheel and drove away, wanting to be alone. "I had a hard time saying goodbye," he says.

    Both actors are guardedly pleasant in person, with Miller the more gregarious of the two. But neither Cooper nor Miller share their feelings with anyone outside their inner circle. He's dating model Suki Waterhouse, she's with actor Tom Sturridge, Marlowe's dad. Don't go looking for them on Twitter.

    "By the way, I don't not do it because there's something inherently negative. But for what I do for a living, it's counterproductive," Cooper says. "The hope always is that when you go watch a movie, you go to it with the least amount of preconceived knowledge of who that person is. I don't need to amplify that by being on social media."

    Miller has no "desire to be in contact with that many people," she says. "Life is hard enough as it is. Being a good friend to the people I genuinely know and love takes up enough time when you're a mother. To have a dialogue on that level would make me anxious.

    "I have no desire to share my life in that way with anyone. I'm happy about it."

    Bradley Cooper shoots, scores in 'American Sniper'

    Much has been made of Bradley Cooper's impressive physical transformation into legendary sharpshooter Chris Kyle in American Sniper.

    He packed on almost 40 pounds of pure muscle to play the Navy SEAL in the movie, opening nationwide Friday, turning his sleek physique into what he calls a "science experiment." But, attests his film wife, Sienna Miller, there was something of an awkward phase en route to a performance that has been hailed by critics as revelatory and fully immersive.

    "We did Skype and I did see him grow. He went through a chubby phase before he got really strong," says Miller, who is based in London.

    Cooper, sitting next to her at the Greenwich Hotel here, cracks a smile. It's his one day off while starring in The Elephant Man on Broadway, and he's visibly weary.

    "Once I put that weight on and I could feel comfortable talking like him — that was very fascinating. His register was higher than mine," Cooper says. "That was just to get to the place where I could start doing the work. There's no way I'd ever be able to believe I was him without doing that."

    Miller says she didn't meet the real Cooper until filming wrapped, because the actor stayed in character the entire time — not for any pretentious, eye-rolling artistic reason, but because it was easier than switching his new and meticulous Texas drawl on and off. Director Clint Eastwood, a no-frills filmmaker, got a kick out of it.

    "He dug it. He would make fun of me constantly, the accent," Cooper says. "I'm just so relieved it worked out."

    Dropping the extra pounds, however, was tougher. "I just lost (the last of it) it in the past four weeks," he says. "I lost 20 pounds fast and I couldn't lose the last 15. I love to eat."

    Liam Neeson Says Bradley Cooper Would Always Smoke His Cigars During Filming!

    Some on-set secrets will never be revealed.

    But when it comes to Liam Neeson's time with Bradley Cooper, the legendary actor is willing to share a few new details about his experience.

    In a new interview with Cigar Aficionado, Neeson admits he wasn't crazy about smoking cigars for a role. Luckily, his hunky co-star had his back at all times.

    "I'd light a cigar for the scene and when the scene was over, I'd say to the props guy, ‘Take this away,'" he shared in the magazine available Tuesday. "And Bradley would say, ‘No give, it to me,' and he'd smoke it."

    Cooper a cigar smoker? We had no idea!

    As it turns out, smoking isn't the only apprehension Neeson has when it comes to taking on roles in Hollywood. Another genre he isn't too keen on is the world of Shakespeare.

    "I was always intimidated by Shakespeare," he confessed. "I still am, to a certain extent. It's the language of course."

    While his next project will likely be chosen based on the script and the writing style, the 62-year-old admits he does have a little itch for a certain gig.

    "It doesn't even have to be Broadway. I'd love to do a play—a new play," he shared. "Every so often I'm offered a revival, but I'd love to find a new voice, a new piece of writing."

    Stay tuned, fans!

    Confirmed: Original 'Wet Hot American Summer' cast works up a lather for Netflix series

    It's the news every "Wet Hot American Summer" fan has been waiting for. The TV series continuation of the movie is actually happening at Netflix. According to Deadline, production is already underway on an eight-episode limited series sequel to the movie, which was set in 1981 on the final day of summer camp.

    The even better news is that most of the cast is back. Looking back at those who appeared in the movie, having them all return is quite a feat. When the movie was released back in 2001, people like Elizabeth Banks, Paul Rudd, Amy Poehler and Bradley Cooper weren't household names. Now they are some of the most in-demand TV and movie stars in Hollywood. They'll be back, along with H. Jon Benjamin, Michael Ian Black, Judah Friedlander, Janeane Garofalo, Nina Hellman, Ken Marino, Zak Orth, David Hyde Pierce, Joe LoTruglio, Christopher Meloni, A.D. Miles, Marguerite Moreau, Marisa Ryan, Molly Shannon, Michael Showalter and Kevin Sussman.

    Originally it was believed that the series would be a prequel to the movie. However, there are no plot details available just yet. Perhaps if they're going the route of true sequel, the characters could make good on their in-movie promise to meet up at 9 or 9:30 in the morning 10 years later to see what's become of their lives. At the very least, it would let fans see what the character look like in the early '90s.

    No release date for the series has been announced.

    Bradley Cooper on 'American Sniper': 'I wanted to do right by Chris Kyle'

    Bradley Cooper remembers well the day he first had humans in his gun-scope.

    It’s rare in movies that filming happens chronologically. But the opening scene in American Sniper – the Clint Eastwood-directed biopic of the late Navy SEAL sharpshooter Chris Kyle – was also Cooper’s first try at filming with a gun.

    “I had three months of training, and I’d chosen to become comfortable with three guns,” Cooper says. “The Mark 11, the .338 (Lapua Magnum) with boom and the .338 Win Mag (Winchester Magnum). I’d really focused on getting into the mindset of what it would be to be a sniper.” He’d gotten fairly proficient at hitting targets hundreds of yards away.

    “And then the first week in Morocco (which substitutes for Iraq), we’re shooting the opening scene in the movie. I’d only ever had my gun with live ammo. I’m looking through the scope at the two actors and like, my stomach turned. I pulled the gun away and I said, ‘We can’t shoot the scene with them there.’” Admittedly not a major stumbling block, given movie magic.

    Chris Kyle, who doubted his ability to go through with his first kill, became the most lethal sniper in U.S. military history, with 160 confirmed kills. Ironically, after being honorably discharged, he was killed in 2013 at a shooting range by a fellow veteran he was counseling.

    At the time, Cooper was already in the process of producing Kyle’s story with the intention of starring in it. They had not met face to face, but had talked on the phone and emailed frequently. Writer Jason Hall, who’d had many meetings with Kyle, turned in a finished movie script to Cooper, “and the next day, Chris was murdered. It’s hard to spend that much time with someone, you come to care for and understand, and carry the voices of their family and kids. I immediately called Bradley and there was just silence at the other end. It was very traumatic.”

    American Sniper seemed to become much more personal to Cooper after that – starting with the signing of Eastwood, Kyle’s own choice for director of his story, and a commitment to putting on 40 pounds of muscle and immersing himself in the character of the former Texas rodeo rider Kyle. “It was sometime after we’d finished filming that I realized I was only just meeting Bradley Cooper for the first time,” says Sienna Miller, who plays Kyle’s wife Taya.

    Though David O. Russell’s Silver Linings Playbook introduced people to Cooper, the serious actor, the easygoing guy of The Hangover movies, and the clownishness of Russell’s American Hustle still obscured what the actor is capable of.

    This year, audiences will have seen him immerse himself twice – as Kyle, and as the tormented Joseph Merrick in the Broadway production of The Elephant Man.

    “The two roles were real people who I admire greatly and so I felt a tremendous responsibility. I just did everything I could to do right by them,” Cooper says. “Movies, for me, have always been healing. The Elephant Man (with John Hurt) was a movie that affected me in such a massive way, it made me want to be an actor. It always made me feel like I wasn't so alone. That's why I do what I do. I love storytelling so much."

    As for Eastwood, Cooper’s longtime love for Unforgiven began to insinuate itself on the filmed narrative of Kyle’s life.

    “The construct is that of a western. There’s a sharpshooter and an enemy sharpshooter and there’s a showdown at the end. And (instead) of that tumbleweed, there’s a desert storm that blows in, and it’s sort of… (he whistles the theme to The Good, The Bad And The Ugly and laughs). We even did that in the (studio) pitch,” Cooper says, laughing again.

    “I just thought it would be a very compelling way to get the audience interested in this story. Chris is talking to (his son) at the end of the movie and he says, ‘It’s a hell of a thing to stop a beating heart.’ And (Unforgiven’s) William Munny says, ‘It’s a hell of a thing to kill a man, take away what he’s got and ever gonna have.’

    “When we were doing that scene, Clint didn’t talk about it. But when you look at Clint’s catalogue, it’s all about the different stages of a man. And it’s almost like this character is William Munny prior to Unforgiven.

    “With Clint, you’re so excited to come to the set every day. It never gets old. It’s, like, the most exciting thing. John Huston said curiosity keeps you going. And Clint is just so curious, he’s like a little kid.”

    But, with another impending role in the cooking comedy Adam Jones (again with Sienna Miller), Cooper inevitably had to let Chris Kyle go. He claims to remember the exact day it happened.

    “Chris left me, like, three and a half weeks after the movie finished. That was a sad day, but I went to a different transition.”

    Bradley Cooper & 'The Elephant Man' Are London-Bound

    Bradley Cooper may have been snubbed by the Golden Globes and the Screen Actors Guild, but Broadway and the West End love him. When his lauded performance as John Merrick, AKA the Elephant Man, completes its limited run at the Booth Theatre on February 22, Cooper and the rest of the show’s accomplished cast will get a few weeks off before reuniting for a 12-week run in London that will begin, two production sources tell me, in April.

    The producers—including both the Shubert and Nederlander theater-owning organizations, along with (take a deep breath) Terry Allen Kramer, Catherine Adler, Roger Berlind, Caiola Productions, Patrick Catullo, Larry Hirschhorn, Jeffrey Finn Productions, Van Kaplan, Edward M. Kaufmann, Hal Luftig, Arielle Tepper Madover, Peter May, Stephanie P. McClelland, Douglas Smith, Jonathan M. Tisch and Scott & Brian Zeilinger—haven’t closed a deal on a West End house as yet, but they’re about to. One possibility is the Haymarket, where Penelope Wilton is about to begin a limited run in a new play, Taken At Midnight, scheduled to close March 14. At nearly 900 seats, it’s comparable to the Booth, with 774.

    The acclaimed revival has been one of the fall’s top Broadway moneymakers and a feather in Cooper’s cap as he comes off phenomenal reviews for his starring role in American Sniper. Folks have been shelling out an average of $167.99 per ticket, the top tab for a non-musical on Broadway, and it’s been SRO all the way.

    Scott Ellis staged the Elephant Man revival, which co-stars Patricia Clarkson and Alessandro Nivola, has sets and projections by Timothy R. Mackabee, costumes by Clint Ramos, lighting by Philip S. Rosenberg and sound by John Gromada.

    On the Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Monday night, Cooper alluded not only to a possible London run but to maybe returning to Broadway in the fall. No official comment from the producers on either plan was forthcoming.

    Bradley Cooper strips down in new photo shoot

    (Pic) Bradley Cooper loses his shirt — and his pants — in February’s W magazine.

    The “American Sniper” star poses inside the issue sans clothes, carefully draping a jacket over one shoulder and holding a pair of matching pants to cover up his nether regions.

    The 40-year-old actor goes shirtless on the cover, the only article of clothing swathing his trim shape a pair of trousers with suspenders.

    The artsy images for the magazine’s Movie Issue were the brainchild of photographer Tim Walker, who “was influenced by the colorful, sun-drenched Los Angeles paintings and photographs of David Hockney, as well as the ’70s free-love aesthetic that informs the artist’s work,” according to the mag.

    Julianne Moore, Amy Adams, Reese Witherspoon and Benedict Cumberbatch were also photographed for the issue, which highlights actors who gave the “best performances” of the year, though they all managed to keep on their clothes.

    Ben Affleck, Others Stumping For Bradley Cooper's 'American Sniper' Performance

    After all the sinister implications of the Sony hacking scandal, a nice story has emerged among the sharp elbows on the Oscar circuit that is enough to make one feel good about actors who simply love the craft.

    Even though he was suffering from the flu, Ben Affleck took the time to speak at an event meant to celebrate American Sniper and Bradley Cooper’s performance as Navy SEAL Chris Kyle. During a screening of his film Inherent Vice, Josh Brolin could be heard talking about how important Cooper’s performance was. Now, both of them have movies in the Oscar hunt–Affleck having starred in Gone Girl. And yet they were standing up for the strong performance turned in by Cooper, who is at a distinct disadvantage because he is starring on Broadway in The Elephant Man, and got snubbed in both the Golden Globes and SAG nominations to the shock of many.

    Word is that Leonardo DiCaprio might also do something. This is noteworthy because stars never do anything against their self interest to help the competition when awards are on the line. Why the change? As Affleck said the other night, and I’m paraphrasing, right now we need to say something strong and meaningful about what our industry is about and what our country is about, and Cooper’s performance does that. Cooper’s performance, he said, speaks well for who are are at our best.

    Bradley Cooper: Playing Vet Chris Kyle in American Sniper 'Was Just an Honor'

    While Bradley Cooper was able to bulk up for his turn in director Clint Eastwood's American Sniper, his real challenge was taking on the intensity and emotion of his character.

    Cooper plays Chris Kyle, the deadliest sniper in United States history. The Navy SEAL served four tours in Iraq before returning home, but the battle didn't end when he was honorably discharged.

    Kyle struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder when he returned from the frontlines, yet was able to overcome it and help other vets – before he was killed last year.

    "It was just an honor," Cooper, speaking to reporters at Monday's New York City premiere of the film, said of playing Kyle. He called the role "the benefit of being an actor."

    Believing he "was just at the right time in my life to bring that kind of focus and dedication" to the part, Cooper added that he learned a lot from playing the intense, standoffish Texan and decorated war vet.

    "There's something about how stoic he was, and it was all sort of in his eyes as a human being, how gentle he was, how complicated he was, and it was really sort of a practice in almost doing nothing and just sort of trusting that whatever's going inside is going to read," Cooper said.

    One person impressed with the actor's performance: director Eastwood. "He's a wonderfully talented guy and the perfect guy to play the part," Eastwood told reporters. "He's dedicated … I never catch him acting in this film, which is a compliment."

    Cooper said he felt pressure to perform in the film. "It was the responsibility I had to his family to preserve his legacy that weighed on me," he said in reference to Kyle's widow Taya and two children.

    While, surprisingly, Cooper was snubbed in the recent Golden Globe and SAG nominations, Taya was happy with the end product. After seeing he film for the first time, "I felt a sense of contentment that they did it right," she tells PEOPLE.

    Recalls screenwriter Jason Hall of that same screening: "Taya came out of the movie crying. She gave me a big hug and said, 'I just spent two hours with my husband. You all brought my husband back to life.' It was a really good feeling."

    Critics' Choice Movie Award Nominations

    9 PM ET, January 15th on A&E

    BEST ACTOR IN AN ACTION MOVIE
    Bradley Cooper – American Sniper
    Tom Cruise – Edge of Tomorrow
    Chris Evans – Captain America: The Winter Soldier
    Brad Pitt – Fury
    Chris Pratt – Guardians of the Galaxy

    Bradley Cooper's Navy SEAL portrayal is 'like seeing a ghost'

    (Trailer) Bradley Cooper is so exact in his portrayal of doomed Navy SEAL Chris Kyle in “American Sniper” that the co-author of the biography that inspired the movie thought he was seeing a ghost.

    “Bradley did an amazing job,” Scott McEwen told me. “His Texas accent and his mannerisms were so accurate, sometimes on the set I thought Chris was standing behind me.”

    Kyle was killed at a shooting range last year by a veteran suffering from PTSD, post-traumatic stress disorder, a year after the book was a No. 1 best seller. Cooper got to speak with Kyle once on the phone before he was gunned down.

    The highly decorated sharpshooter was the most lethal sniper in American military history with 160 confirmed kills out of 255 probable kills. The terrorists dubbed him the “Devil of Ramadi” and put an $80,000 bounty on his head.

    “Bradley really went to work. He put on 40 pounds of muscle for this part,” said McEwen, who also raved about the job Clint Eastwood did as director.

    “I don’t think he could have done it any better. It’s as riveting as ‘The Deer Hunter’ and ‘Saving Private Ryan.’ It’s not about aggrandizing war. It’s not rah-rah,” McEwen said.

    “It’s the story of a warrior who had to come home after 10 years of battle in Iraq. It shows the toll it takes on a person. Chris got back intact physically, but damage was done.” The movie premieres Monday and hits theaters on Christmas day.

    Ben Affleck puffs on cig while strolling with wife

    (Pic) Ben Affleck loves himself a cigarette.

    The Oscar-winner, 42, was spotted walking with his wife, Jennifer Garner, in Brentwood, Calif., on Thursday.

    While the mother of three, 42, in blue jeans and black boots, clutched a book and purse, Affleck, looking stylish in a gray overcoat and black sneakers, puffed on a cigarette.

    Although Affleck has paid special attention to his diet while bulking up for “Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice,” he hasn’t given up cigarettes.

    Thursday’s sighting is the latest in a long string of cigarette breaks at which photographers have captured the star.

    He cut out smoking altogether in 2007 after filming “Smokin’ Aces,” in which he played a chain smoker.

    “The whole week that I shot, I smoked, like five packs a day,” he told People at the time. “By the time the movie was over, I was so sick of smoking, I just didn’t want to do it anymore, and I quit. I have this celluloid record of the last time I smoked.”

    Bradley Cooper and Steven Spielberg have a guys' night out

    Bromance alert!

    A source tells Page Six that Bradley Cooper and Steven Spielberg went to Bar Centrale late Tuesday night, after the director saw Cooper perform in Broadway’s “The Elephant Man.”

    Nearby on 45th Street, Spielberg’s wife, Kate Capshaw, and his ex-wife, Amy Irving, both just happened to be at the same Tuesday night performance of Broadway’s “Disgraced.” The current Mrs. Spielberg was there with pal Michelle Pfeiffer.

    Spielberg, 67, wasn’t the first A-lister to fete Cooper and his buzzed-about performance. Amy Adams, Emily Blunt, Anna Wintour and Jon Hamm all celebrated opening night Sunday at a party at Gotham Hall.

    Bradley Cooper Opens Up About His Struggle With Addiction in Vanity Fair

    Looking at Bradley Cooper, you would never suspect the hunk has struggled with much—seriously, just look at him. But in the January issue of Vanity Fair, the American Hustle star tells readers otherwise.

    The Hollywood heartthrob talks candidly about his past addictions and how hard it was for him to overcome his father's death. All of his hardships, however, have prepared him for his painstaking role in Clint Eastwood's upcoming American Sniper, in which Cooper plays Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle.

    "Losing someone close to me. Going through love and loss...knowing what's important," Cooper says of how the trials and tribulations of life have helped him find himself in Tinseltown. "Realizing that the bottom line is that all I got is me, so it's about time to stop trying to be something that I think you would want me to be. Or that would give me what I think I need."

    "As you get older, thank God, your body deteriorates, but your soul sort of flourishes," he says.

    Having been sober since 2004, Cooper talks about how he had a choice when it came time to bulk up for his role as the SEAL—he could use a little help from stimulants or he could do it the old fashioned way by working out excessively and eating right. He chose the latter.

    "I did it naturally because I've been sober for 10 years and didn't want to do anything," he says. "I had a realistic conversation. 'Can I do this in three months naturally? Can I gain 30 pounds of f--king muscle?' I didn't know if I would be able to do it or not. Thank God—luckily—my f--king body reacted fast."

    The Oscar-nominated actor also discussed the difficulties of trying to make it in acting, and admitted that he almost threw in the towel while performing on Broadway alongside Julia Roberts and Paul Ruddback in 2006. He has since called his role an "amazing opportunity" and the ultimate turning point in his career.

    "If this doesn't work, then I'm not supposed to do this for a living," he says.

    Well, it definitely worked! Cooper has gone on to star in The Hangover, Silver Linings Playbook and let's not forget one of his beginning roles in the hit show, Alias, which also starred Jennifer Garner. Having quite the accomplished résumé, Cooper also revealed that he enjoys being super involved in behind-the-camera aspects of movie making.

    "I always knew I wanted to be in the trenches with a director making the movie," he tells the magazine. "I always felt that's what I'm supposed to be doing. I always knew deep down that if I'm not going to do that then I'm not too long for this business."

    Ideally we'll continue to see him on the big screen for a long time, because we would certainly miss that face!

    Bradley Cooper on Bulking Up for American Sniper: 'I Did It Naturally'

    Bradley Cooper's buff bod is all natural.

    To bulk up for American Sniper, the Oscar-nominated actor – who struggled with addiction a decade ago – didn't use any stimulants.

    "I did it naturally because I've been sober for 10 years and didn't want to do anything," he tells Vanity Fair in its January issue.

    As the film's writer-producer Jason Hall previously told PEOPLE, the star "had a strict, crazy diet" and hit the gym with a personal trainer.

    But getting in shape sans steroids to play real-life Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle was easier said than done.

    "I had a realistic conversation," Cooper, 39, says in the VF cover story. "Can I do this in three months naturally? Can I gain 30 pounds of f---ing muscle? I didn't know if I would be able to do it or not. Thank God – luckily – my f---ing body reacted fast."

    See how his hard work paid off when American Sniper opens in theaters Dec. 25.

    Bradley Cooper and Suki Waterhouse Are All Smiles in NYC

    (Pic) Bradley Cooper and Suki Waterhouse are going strong.

    The cute couple was spotted out and about in NYC Monday after not being photographed together for some time.

    The 39-year-old actor and his 22-year-old model girlfriend were all smiles as they strolled around Tribeca today. Cooper sported blue jeans and a blue hoodie with sunglasses on. The clean-shaven star was missing his signature scruff but did sport a longer hairdo. Meanwhile, Waterhouse bundled up in several layers of warm clothing with a heavy jacket and scarf.

    Over the weekend, Cooper was spotted dozing while riding an NYC subway without his gorgeous gal (stars: they really are just like us!). As for his shaved appearance, Cooper ditched his beard for the clean-faced look earlier this month.

    Meanwhile, Cooper recently opened up about settling down and revealed he "would love to be a father one day."

    "I'm sorry my father won't be around to see his grandchildren, but he knows fatherhood was something I was looking forward to," he shared. "That's my next big step in life."

    Hear that, Suki?!

    Violet Affleck is Hillary Clinton's littlest supporter

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner’s 8-year-old daughter Violet will be campaigning for Hillary Clinton if she runs, Garner joked at Wednesday’s Save the Children Illumination Gala at the Plaza.

    Garner brought Violet to the event last year to see Clinton speak. “She may be 8, but she will be campaigning should Hillary decide to run,” the actress declared.

    Dad Affleck added: “I am excited about Hillary because having two little girls, I recognize how powerful it would be for them to see a woman be president of the United States.”

    "BLUE BLOODS," FRIDAY, DEC. 12

    “Under the Gun” – As Danny and Baez investigate the murders of three prominent community leaders who appear to be the casualties of hate crimes, Frank meets with a group who wants to make sure these incidents are not taken lightly. Meanwhile, after Linda is mugged, she decides she wants to carry a gun, even against Danny’s wishes, on BLUE BLOODS, Friday, Dec.12 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Victor Garner guest stars as a community leader.

    Jennifer Garner: Why I Wanted My Girls to Take Karate

    Sydney Bristow would be proud: Jennifer Garner‘s girls are learning to master martial arts.

    The actress, 42, wants her daughters to embrace their “femininity” by playing with baby dolls and knowing how to bake.

    However, she also wants Violet, 9 next month, and Seraphina, 5½, “to be able to kick a guy’s ass,” she told reporters on the red carpet at the 2nd annual Save the Children Illumination Gala.

    “That’s why they’ve been taking karate since they were little!”

    But book smarts are equally important to Garner. “I want my girls to love math and I want them to think that being a scientist is the coolest job on the planet,” she said at the event, which honored her husband, Ben Affleck.

    According to the actor, Garner, who is on the board of trustees of Save the Children and who hosted the gala, is a great role model for their daughters.

    “I think they understand what my wife understands full well, which is that it’s important to be strong and present and powerful and accept nothing less than a man would and in fact, ask for more,” Affleck, 42, says.

    “That’s part of what I admire about my wife and I know through her example that my children will absorb that.”

    While her children — including son Samuel, 2½ – wish she could stay home with them all the time, Garner says, “I want my kids to know that if working is important to me, and working for Save the Children is important to me, then that’s valid and that as much as I love them, I’m my own person too.”

    Once Upon a Time Casts Alias Alum Merrin Dungey as Ursula

    Alias alumna Merrin Dungey is returning to ABC by way of Once Upon a Time, in the recurring role of the delectably dreadful Ursula.

    As reported by EW.com, the sorceress of the sea will act in cahoots with Kristin Bauer van Straten’s returning Maleficent and the recently cast Victoria Smurfit’s Cruella de Vil.

    As Once co-creators Adam Horowitz and Eddy Kitsis shared for TVLine’s Fall Finale Preview, the stage soon shall be set for “an embarrassment of witches” during Season 4B, as “things gets classically evil” in The Enchanted Forest.

    Ursula, in a sense, previously appeared on Once Upon a Time during Season 3’s Neverland arc, when in flashbacks Regina impersonated the voluptuous villainess, to dupe that little mermaid Ariel (played by JoAnna Garcia Swisher). At one point in that same arc, Community‘s Yvette Nicole Brown voiced the actual Ursula; Brown now is a series regular on the midseason CBS comedy The Odd Couple.

    Dungey’s recent TV credits include episodes of CSI (airing this Sunday), Chasing Life, Rizzoli & Isles and Trophy Wife.

    How Bradley Cooper Got Really Ripped to Play a Navy SEAL in American Sniper

    Just call him the Sexiest Sniper Alive.

    Bradley Cooper worked hard to get in shape to play real-life Navy SEAL Chris Kyle in the Clint Eastwood-directed American Sniper. PEOPLE caught up with writer-producer Jason Hall for the inside scoop on how Cooper trained to become the most lethal sniper in U.S. military history.

    In order to bulk up 40-plus lbs., Cooper "had a strict, crazy diet," Hall says. "He was eating about every 55 minutes or something like that, and I want to say it was about 8,000 calories a day."

    "Bradley used his own trainer, who was busting on him. I think he was working out four hours a day for several months," adds Hall of Cooper's fitness regimen. "He was determined to do it naturally, he didn't want to use any hormones or steroids or anything. He was just very systematic about it and took his trainer with him wherever he went."

    Along with the massive intake of food and intense workouts, Hall revealed that Cooper's preparation also included twice-daily lessons with a vocal coach, as well as several hours spent watching footage of Kyle, whom he studied "over and over again."

    When it came to actually pointing a rifle, the actor trained with Navy SEAL sniper Kevin Lacz, who served with Kyle (who was killed by a fellow veteran in 2013) and was a consultant on the movie.

    And in case you were wondering, Cooper's sniper skills are on point – pun intended.

    "He actually proved himself to be really good," Hall says. "The second day, in the morning, he went out there and was consistently hitting 800-yard targets the size of a teacup. So he took to it pretty quickly."

    But the real feat proved to be the way Cooper brought Kyle "back to life," Hall says.

    "He managed to find this essence of Chris Kyle," Hall explains. "This almost spiritual mentality of the man and what drove him. There were moments where they'd get him at a certain angle and you just felt Chris, you felt the essence of Chris. Standing behind the monitors, I'd just get goose bumps rushing up my legs."

    American Sniper comes out Dec. 25.

    Bradley Cooper celebrates opening of Broadway's 'Elephant Man'

    Bradley Cooper celebrated the opening preview of “The Elephant Man” at nearby Blue Fin at the W Times Square on Friday night.

    Cooper, whom we’re told arrived late because he was taking photos with fans outside the Booth Theatre following his performance in the revival, was joined by a group of nearly 100 guests, including co-stars Patricia Clarkson and Alessandro Nivola, plus other cast and crew members.

    “Everyone seemed really happy and excited,” said a witness.

    The show opens Dec. 7.

    Bradley Cooper, Is That You? Actor Nearly Unrecognizable Without His Beard

    (Pic) We're seeing a whole new side to Bradley Cooper—a clean-shaven one, that is!

    On Wednesday, the actor revealed his freshly shaved face, shorn of one of his signature trademarks. The star stepped out in New York wearing a baseball cap, blue scarf, black vest and sweater.

    Cooper was almost unrecognizable as he walked down the street, headphones intact. The Silver Linings Playbook actor was likely heading to the set of The Elephant Man, which opened Friday on Broadway.

    In an interview with the Today show, Cooper said, "It was the reason why I wanted to become an actor, because of David Lynch's movie, and then I discovered it was a play, and I did it for my thesis in grad school."

    Cooper will also be hitting the big screen with his new movie American Sniper out in January. The star plays a Navy SEAL who is known for having the highest number of sniper kills of any American. While Bradley's freshly bare face may take some getting used to (or at least remind us of how he looked when he was on Alias), his super buff body for his role in the film is something we're already welcoming!

    While on set for the film, the American Hustle actor was caught wearing some super short shorts. The rest of the world didn't mind a peak at the hottie's bod, but Cooper admitted to E! News that he was a bit embarrassed of the shots.

    "That was unfortunately our last day of filming and it was out in the open. We just got killed by the paparazzi all day long and it happened to be that day where we had to wear that outfit, getting hosed down. It was just the worst," he said.

    Even beardless and in short shorts we still love you, Bradley!

    Jennifer Garner's Passionate Speech on Sexism in Hollywood: Ben Affleck Is Only Asked About His Co-Star's ''T*ts''

    At last night's Elle Women in Hollywood event, honoree Jennifer Garner gave one hell of a passionate speech about sexism in the entertainment industry.

    After being presented by Steve Carell, Ben Affleck's other half took that stage to share a personal story the brought the audience to cheers and applause.

    "The fact that there even needs to be a Women in Hollywood event is a little bit sad," gorgeous Garner said during the annual event at the Four Seasons hotel in Beverly Hills. "I mean, the men in Hollywood event is every day—it's called Hollywood. Fifty-one percent of the population should not have to have to schedule a special event to celebrate the fact that in an art that tells the story of what it means to be human and alive, we get to play a part."

    She went on, "So for example, my husband and I do kind of the same job, a little bit. Not long ago we both had one of those magical days, we call it a junket, where we both attended these lovely events where people come in every four minutes, they ask the same questions over and over again, you know the drill. We got home at night and we compared notes. And I told him every single person who interviewed me, I mean every single one, and this is true of the red carpet here tonight Elle, asked me, ‘How do you balance work and family?' and he said the only thing that people asked him repeatedly was about the tits on the ‘Blurred Lines' girl, which, for the record if we're talking about them, they are real and they are fabulous [Garner's referencing Affleck's Gone Girl co-star Emily Ratajkowski]. Take a look and enjoy."

    After a pause for laughter, Garner continued, "As for work-life balance, he said no one asked him about it that day. As a matter of fact, no one had ever asked him about it. And we do share the same family. Isn't it time to kinda change that conversation?"

    In addition to Garner, other honorees at Monday night's Elle event included Elizabeth Banks, Annette Bening, Jessica Lange, Brie Larson, Tina Fey, Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Zoe Saldana.

    Alias' Victor Garber Cops Blue Bloods Role, Will Clash With the 'Stache

    Victor Garber is a man in demand, folks.

    On the heels of landing a juicy midseason role on The CW’s The Flash, TV’s erstwhile spy daddy has booked a guest-starring gig on CBS’ Blue Bloods, TVLine has learned exclusively.

    Appearing in the Nov. 21 episode, Garber will play Donald Stein, the charismatic scion of a New York real estate dynasty. As a highly respected Jewish leader, Stein is deeply disturbed by the recent murders of several prominent Jewish men in the city. Convinced they are hate crimes, he grows frustrated when Frank refuses to share that conclusion without more evidence.

    And yes, Garber’s Blue Bloods and Flash characters share a surname. Though I am assuming no relation.

    In addition to, of course, Alias, Garber’s previous TV credits include — yet are by no means limited to! — Power, Sleepy Hollow (where he’s due back this season), Justice and Eli Stone.

    CBS’ Blue Bloods airs Fridays at 10/9c, where it is regularly the night’s most watched program.

    'The Flash' Casting: Victor Garber To Recur As Dr. Martin Stein

    The six-time Emmy nominee has been cast as one half of the DC Comics entity Firestorm. Victor Garber will recur on CW’s superhero series The Flash as Dr. Martin Stein, a brilliant but arrogant nuclear physicist who has sacrificed everything, including a marriage, for his work in transmutation. After he discovers the particle accelerator has fused him with the younger, more impulsive Ronnie Raymond (Robbie Amell), he races to find a way to separate the two before it’s too late. Garber’s recent credits include Web Therapy, Power, Deception and Damages, and he earned three of his Emmy noms for playing Jack Bristow on Alias. He also has appeared in such features as Milk, The First Wives Club, Legally Blonde and Titanic. Garber, who also has four Tony nominations, is repped by UTA and Industry Entertainment.

    Jennifer Garner's Baby Bump Is Not Going Away! Plus, She Says Ben Affleck's Penis Is Her Gift to You

    (Video1, Video2, Video3) Is Jennifer Garner pregnant?!

    Tabloids have often reported that the actress is expecting her fourth child with husband Ben Affleck. In an attempt to silence rumors for good, the star of Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day made fun of her seemingly permanent "baby bump" on The Ellen DeGeneres Show Wednesday.

    "Supposedly...you have a baby bump," Ellen DeGeneres said. "So, I guess you're pregnant again?"

    "I get congratulated all the time by people that I know, saying, 'I hear you're pregnant!' You know, this one woman who had babysat for us said, 'OMG! I can't wait for baby No. 4!' and I thought, 'What is going on?' So I asked around and apparently I have a baby bump. And I'm here to tell you that I do—I do!" the actress said as the audience erupted with applause. Garner left them hanging before admitting that she was only kidding. "Hold up. Hold right up! I am not pregnant, but I have had three kids and there is a bump," she said. "From now on ladies, I will have a bump. And it will be my baby bump. And let's just all settle in and get used to it. It's not going anywhere. I have a bump. Its name is Violet, Sam, Sera. Well, but I see you guys are really eager for us to pop out another one. Gosh, you're exhausting!"

    DeGeneres told her guest, "You look fantastic and it really is crazy that people are looking for something and saying that you have a baby bump...Anyway, thanks for clearing it up. So, you will have a baby bump forever." Garner laughed and replied, "Yes, forever and ever." The host asked, "But not another baby?"

    "No, just a bump," Garner reiterated.

    "All right," DeGeneres said. "Nothing wrong with that!"

    Garner then joked that her stomach looks "like a camel, but in reverse."

    In the same episode, DeGeneres spoke with Garner about the success of Affleck's most recent movie, Gone Girl. "Maybe the reason why it's No. 1 is because he's showing his [penis]" the comedienne said.

    "I think you're probably on to something. And what I have to say is...you're welcome," the 42-year-old Men, Women & Children actress said. "You know, I try to consider myself a charitable person and I wanted to give back. You give me so much. I wanted to give something back to all of you."

    "We certainly appreciate it," DeGeneres said. "I know you do," Garner replied.

    "Now, forgive me if I don't know this. Is this the first time he's been frontal nude in a film?" DeGeneres asked. With a smile, Garner asked for clarification. "Outside of our very racy films? Um, yes," she said.

    "Was he nervous about it? Were you nervous about it? Did you talk about it?" DeGeneres asked. Recalling her conversation with Affleck, Garner said, "It was a discussion it was like, 'Hey, um, at work today [David Fincher] talked me into coming out of the shower.' I was like, 'Cool. Well, I hope he had on a wide lens.'" After pausing to laugh, the actress added, "If you're going to go there, Ellen, you have to go all the way there. You can't ask me to talk about this and not just be ready for whatever comes."

    After the interview, DeGeneres and Garner played "Hoop Dee Do Me." Watch now!

    Jennifer Garner: ''I Blame My Pudginess" on Hubby Ben Affleck's Hot Batman Body!

    Is Ben Affleck to blame for wife Jennifer Garner's minor weight gain? She seems to think so!

    During a radio interview with Ryan Seacrest earlier today, the 42-year-old actress opened up about Affleck's hot Batman body for his upcoming flick Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice.

    "He worked out twice a day and ate only what was put in front of him by some very mean, mean person," Garner joked. "Everything was cut out. They cut out everything. I couldn't even make [dinner]. If I made dinner and it was a healthy dinner, he wouldn't even look at it in case something hadn't been steamed."

    "There's something about it: Whenever one of us has to be really good, the other one pudges up," she added. "I don't know why it is. But I blame my pudginess on his strict and disciplined place in life. There's something about it that just makes me like, ‘Well, I'm going to have a Bon Bon. I'm going to have ice cream.'"

    "I also just don't want the temptation around for him and I say, ‘Here, honey, let me just take care of this for you,'" Garner laughed.

    Despite Garner's pudginess claims, she hit the red carpet last night at the premiere of her film Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day looking fit and fine in a cute black dress. Garner even flashed her Spanx (and toned legs) when she had a wardrobe malfunction that blew her skirt up in the air! No worries, though. Garner just laughed off the malfunction.

    Meanwhile, Garner gushed to E! News about her new family flick. "There's nothing better than seeing little kids laugh," she dished. "And being a part of something that makes them laugh just makes me happy."

    Ben Affleck Kisses Jennifer Garner in Rare PDA Moment

    (Pic) Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner aren't the type to pack on the PDA, but every once in a while, they just can't resist!

    That's what happened Sunday at the farmer's market in Pacific Palisades, Calif., when the Gone Girl star stole a quick kiss from his wife!

    Ben, 42, had a pretty good weekend. In addition to his casual romantic outing with Jen, also 42, his movie, Gone Girl, took the top spot at the box office.

    In the David Fincher helmed flick, Ben plays Nick Dunne, a dark character with a relationship very different from the one he has with Jennifer. When Nick's wife Amy Dunne, played by Rosamund Pike, goes missing, police begin to question whether he had something sinister to do with her disappearance.

    E! News asked Ben what his real-life wife thought of him playing such a dark role. "I think Jen knows I'm not a murdered by now," he said. "I hope!"

    Pretty sure she's figured that one out by now! After all, the spouses are happily married and have three kids together: Violet, 8, Seraphina, 5, and Samuel, 2. And while family is everything to the pair, they make sure they carve out some alone time, too.

    "You go through phases," Jennifer told InStyle's October 2014 issue. "You can't expect to be courted all the time, and I don't want to court him right now—I don't have the energy! But we're definitely in a very mindful place where we're making an effort to be together, do things at the same time, and be loving."

    Jen and Ben both have their parental roles carved out, too. "For better or worse, I tend to be the one who says, 'This is what needs to happen.' I know who wants what lunch, and I've done all the school paperwork and filled out the emergency cards. Ben doesn't even know that stuff exists. He is in charge of laughter. No matter how much I tickle them or toss them or chase them around, it's not the same. If I'm the slow, steady drumbeat, he's the jazz," she said.

    But, Jen makes better movies than Ben as far as the kids are concerned! "My kids are always saying, 'Mom, you're our only hope. Dad does all these grown-up movies," she said. "We can't see Argo or Gone Girl. Batman looks too scary. You have to do things we can see!'"

    Gone Girl is definitely not appropriate for children, and we already know Ben's girls "don't give a s--t" about Batman--they prefer Frozen!

    Chilean Telenovela 'First Lady' With Jennifer Garner Producing Lands At CW

    With the CW’s Jane The Virgin, based on the Venezuelan telenovela Juana la Virgen, emerging as one of the best reviewed new shows this fall, the network is betting on another adaptation of a Latin American telenovela. The CW has put in development drama First Lady, executive produced by Jennifer Garner and Tariq Jalil.

    The project touches on the hot-button immigration issue as it asks the question, What if the next First Lady of the United States is a former illegal alien? Written by Jenni Ross based on the Chilean series Primera Dama, First Lady chronicles one woman’s rags-to-riches journey from illegal immigrant to the White House, where she battles injustice and her own sordid past which has come back to haunt her. Garner’s Vandalia Films is producing with Warner Bros. TV where the company has a deal. Garner, Jalil and Ross executive produce, with Juliana Janes producing.

    Primera Dama, created by Sebastián Arrau and distributed by Latin Media, aired on Canal 13-Chile in 2010 and has been sold or remade in multiple countries. Here is a trailer with English subtitles: Video.

    In addition to First Lady, Vandalia recently sold parenthood comedy Half Full to Fox. Garner, repped by WME, Management 360 and Jason, Sloane has Jason Reitman’s Men, Women & Children opening following its premiere in Toronto.

    For Jalil and his Intrigue banner, First Lady joins drama Game Of Silence, based on a Turkish format, which has a pilot production commitment at NBC with Carol Mendelsohn executive producing through Sony TV. Ross is with WME, Haven Entertainment and Hansen Jacobson.

    Bradley Cooper in the Intense New American Sniper Movie Trailer

    Watch Bradley Cooper in the Intense New American Sniper Movie Trailer: video.

    'The Slap' Castings: Thandie Newton & Melissa George Join NBC Miniseries

    Thandie Newton and Melissa George are the latest to board NBC’s eight-episode miniseries. Based on the 2011 Australian short-run series, The Slap is described as a complex family drama that explodes from one small incident where a man slaps another couple’s misbehaving child. This seemingly minor domestic dispute pulls the family apart, begins to expose long-held secrets and ignites a lawsuit that challenges the core American values of all who are pulled into it. Newton stars on DirecTV’s original drama Rogue, and other credits include Beloved, Crash, Mission: Impossible II and The Chronicles Of Reddick.

    Newton will play Aisha, a doctor, wife of Hector and mother of their two children. She readies herself for the onslaught as she makes preparations for her husband’s birthday party, irritated but somewhat amused when her in-laws show up. George reprises her role from the Aussie mini as Rosie, a hippie wife and meddlesome mother of Hugo, the 5-year-old boy who is slapped after waving a bat in another boy’s face. Convinced that Hugo has been unalterably traumatized, she sets in motion a confrontation that embroils and affects everyone who witnessed it. George’s credits include TV’s The Good Wife, Hunted, Lie To Me Grey’s Anatomy and In Treatment.

    They join Peter Sarsgaard, Mary-Louise Parker, Zachary Quinto and Brian Coxin the cast. No airdate has been announced for The Slap, which is directed by Lisa Cholodenko, written by Jon Robin Baitz and produced by Universal Television and Australia’s Matchbox Pictures, producer of the original. Baitz and Matchbox’s Tony Ayres executive produce with Walter Parkes and Laurie MacDonald as well as Ted Gold.

    Jennifer Garner on Hubby Ben Affleck's Batman Transformation: "It Feels Like I'm Having an Affair"

    It's safe to say Ben Affleck's Batman bod is not going unnoticed—or unappreciated.

    The actor's wife and fellow thesp Jennifer Garner stopped to chat with Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan on their morning talk show Live With Kelly & Michael, and the trio went straight to the hot (pun intended) topic at hand—Ben's muscles. Ripa asked the question we're all dying to know the answer to, "Does he look just as ripped underneath the costume?"

    "You know, he has put on 30 pounds of muscle and he's 8 percent body fat," Garner began to answer. "He looks pretty good. It's a little bit like, 'Whoa, who are you?' It feels like I'm having an affair. But I don't mind, I'm not complaining." LOL!

    It was announced last year that the Oscar winner had signed on to play the Caped Crusader in the Man of Steel sequel Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice alongside Henry Cavill, and it seemed like Affleck hit the gym almost immediately. The star's leaner and buffer bod began making frequent appearances while the actor took on his daddy duties.

    However, Ben had to slow down a bit because he was also shooting Gone Girl at the time. "I'm trying to keep him at the size he's at right now until he's done with us," Gone Girl costume designer Trish Summerville told E! News at the Catching Fire premiere in L.A. "I'm sure he's working out but I think for him, he's probably a guy that builds up really quickly so I just kind of asked him if he can stay where he's at right now."

    "He's a really big guy, like he's quite tall," Summerville said. "You don't realize how big he is. He kind of reads smaller on film than he does in real life."

    Well, we can't wait to see that big, buff bod on the big screen!

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