Detective Axel Foley (Eddie Murphy) is back on the beat in Beverly Hills. After his daughter’s life is threatened, she (Taylour Paige) and Foley team up with a new partner (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and old pals Billy Rosewood (Judge Reinhold) and John Taggart (John Ashton) to turn up the heat and uncover a conspiracy.
From Producers Jerry Bruckheimer, Eddie Murphy, Chad Oman, and Director Mark Molloy.
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F. Only on Netflix, Summer 2024.
CULVER CITY, California–December 14, 2023–Today it was announced that Pete Davidson and Keke Palmer have joined the Eddie Murphy-led cast of Amazon MGM Studios’ upcoming film, The Pickup. Tim Story will direct The Pickup and produce via The Story Company, alongside John Davis and John Fox via Davis Entertainment, and Eddie Murphy and Charisse Hewitt-Webster via Eddie Murphy Productions. Executive producers include The Story Company’s Vicky Mara Story, Davis Entertainment’s Jeremy Stein, and Kevin Burrows, Ross Fanger, and Matt Mider.
Plot details are being kept under wraps, but the Matt Mider and Kevin Burrows-penned film is being described as a “heist comedy.”
Davidson is currently on his 2023 stand-up tour across the U.S. and recently starred in Peacock’s Bupkis, a semi-autobiographical comedy series he also co-created, co-wrote and executive produced. Additionally, he was a cast member on NBC’s Saturday Night Live from 2014-2022, where his singular Weekend Update features and original music videos garnered millions of views. He recently returned to Studio 8H to host the 49th season premiere of “SNL,” earning rave reviews. Davidson previously co-wrote, executive produced, and starred in the critically acclaimed film The King of Staten Island. Additional film work includes Dumb Money, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, Trainwreck, Big Time Adolescence, Set It Up, Meet Cute, and Bodies Bodies Bodies. Upcoming projects include The Home, Wizards!, and I Slept with Joey Ramone.
Palmer rose to prominence through her breakout role in Akeelah and the Bee at age 12 and has gone on to star in over 25 films and 30 TV shows, including Jordan Peele’s acclaimed film Nope, Roadside Attraction’s Alice, which she also executive produced, STX’s Hustlers, FOX’s Scream Queens and Nickelodeon’s True Jackson, VP. She recently launched her record-breaking podcast, Baby, This is Keke Palmer for Wondery/Amazon, and founded her own digital network, KeyTV for which she has written, produced, and starred in various original content, including her directorial debut, the short film Big Boss, accompanied by an album of the same title. Additionally, Palmer earned a 2021 Primetime Emmy Award for her self-created series, Turnt Up With the Taylors, and recently received another nomination for ‘Outstanding Host For A Game Show,’ recognizing her work hosting NBC’s reboot of Password.
This news comes closely on the heels of Prime Video’s December 1 release of Candy Cane Lane, starring and produced by Eddie Murphy. The service recently announced that the holiday comedy, which was also produced by Charisse Hewitt-Webster, was its most-watched Amazon MGM Studios-produced movie debut ever in the U.S. and among its top 10 worldwide film debuts in its first three days of release.
Davidson is represented by WME. Palmer is represented by 3 Arts, LUNA Entertainment, and Hertz Lichtenstein Young & Polk. Tim Story is represented by UTA, Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole, and The Collins Jackson Agency.
Peacock has given a series order to “Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist,” a true-crime limited series executive produced by Kevin Hart and Will Packer, in which Hart will star.
Based on the Packer-produced podcast “Fight Night” and set in Atlanta, the series tells the story of an armed robbery during the night of Muhammad Ali’s historic 1970 comeback fight that changed an entire city’s destiny, focusing on the cop and the hustler at the center of it all.
Shaye Ogbonna (“The Penguin,” “The Chi,” “God’s Country”) serves as creator, and showruns alongside Jason Horwitch (“Echo 3,” “The Calling”). Both executive produce alongside Hart, Bryan Smiley and Mike Stein for Hartbeat; Packer and Sabrina Wind for Will Packer Media; Conal Byrne, Will Pearson and Carrie Lieberman for iHeartPodcasts; and Jeff Keating and Lars Jacobson. Also executive producing is Craig Brewer, who will direct the first two episodes. Hartbeat’s Tiffany Brown and Studio 43’s Kenny Burns co-executive produce. Universal Television serves as the studio.
Along with Will Packer Media, the “Fight Night” podcast was produced by iHeartPodcasts and Doghouse Pictures.
Hart is represented by 3 Arts Entertainment, UTA & Schreck Rose Dapello Adams Berlin & Dunham. Packer and Will Packer Media are repped by CAA, Collective Edge, Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole and R&C PMK. Ogbonna is repped by Verve, 3 Arts and Ginsburg Daniels Kallis. Horwitch is repped by WME, Manage-ment and Renee Farrell. Jacobsen is repped by Paradigm, Circle of Confusion and The Nord Group. General Counsel Candisse Williamson represented Hartbeat in the deal.
Source: Variety
Netflix‘s L.A.-based comedy festival, Netflix is a Joke Fest, has unveiled the lineup for its 2024 edition, taking place from May 2-12.
This installment of the streamer’s star-studded celebration of comedy, produced in association with Live Nation, will feature over 300 events, covering everything from stand-up to sketch performances, table reads, and more. View highlights from the lineup below.
While talent and schedule for the festival are subject to change, further headliners will be announced in the new year. Shows will take place at more than 35 of the city’s most iconic venues, from the Hollywood Bowl and The Greek to Largo, The Hollywood Improv, and The Comedy Store.
Set to serve as a festival hub, featuring everything from live stand-up and cast game shows to lawn games, is Outside Joke, an outdoor entertainment space located next to the Hollywood Palladium. Tickets to all events go on sale to the general public beginning at 10 a.m. PT this Friday, December 15th.
“This is a special time for comedy, both for Netflix and the genre at large,” said Netflix’s VP of Stand-up and Comedy Formats, Robbie Praw. “We have the privilege of working with comedians who are selling out arenas, winning awards and building fandoms in the millions. In the 10 years that we’ve been doing stand-up we’ve seen the art form reach levels we didn’t think possible. This festival aims to capture this moment by bringing together the world’s best comedians for an unforgettable 11 days.”
Last year’s edition of Netflix is a Joke Fest featured 330 comedians across 295 shows, selling 260,000 tickets. Read on for a sense of what 2024’s has in store.
HOLLYWOOD BOWL – 8 nights
THE FORUM
HOLLYWOOD PALLADIUM
THE GREEK THEATRE
Andre Braugher, the intense actor who won an Emmy for “Homicide: Life on the Street” and demonstrated his range in the comedy series “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” died at age 61 Monday due to a brief illness, his publicist Jennifer Allen told CNN.
Braugher amassed dozens of credits in movies and television after a stunning debut as a sensitive soldier in the 1989 film “Glory,” about a unit of Black soldiers during the Civil War.
He followed that by playing baseball great Jackie Robinson in the TV movie “The Court-Martial of Jackie Robinson” before landing his featured role in “Homicide,” an adaptation of David Simon’s book about Baltimore detectives, and winning an Emmy for the NBC series as detective Frank Pembleton.
Braugher remained much in demand after that series, co-starring in the thriller “Primal Fear,” as well as director Spike Lee’s “Get on the Bus” and the sci-fi thriller “Frequency” before starring in his own series, “Gideon’s Crossing,” as a brilliant oncologist who trains young doctors.
Braugher earned a second Emmy in 2006 for the FX miniseries “Thief,” amassing 11 nominations overall.
He later spent three seasons opposite Ray Romano on another series, “Men of a Certain Age,” before returning as another cop, Capt. Ray Holt, in the Andy Samberg comedy series “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” which ran for eight seasons. Braugher received Emmy nominations for both shows.
Actor Terry Crews, Braugher’s “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” co-star, took to Instagram to mourn the late actor.
“Can’t believe you’re gone so soon. I’m honored to have known you, laughed with you, worked with you and shared 8 glorious years watching your irreplaceable talent. This hurts. You left us too soon,” Crews wrote. “You taught me so much. I will be forever grateful for the experience of knowing you. Thank you for your wisdom, your advice, your kindness and your friendship. Deepest condolences to your wife and family in this difficult time. You showed me what a life well lived looks like.”
NBC and Universal Television released a statement mourning Braugher Tuesday night.
“Andre Braugher was the actor that others in the profession would always aspire to be. He infused Det. Frank Pembleton on ‘Homicide: Life on the Street’ with both righteous ferocity and quiet dignity,” the statement read. “In addition to his prowess as a dramatic actor, his comedy chops were also on full display as the determined and passionate Capt. Holt in ‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine.’ His performances will continue to inspire future generations and we will miss him tremendously.”
Born in Chicago, Braugher graduated from Stanford University and later attended Juilliard.
He demonstrated versatility throughout his career, appearing on stage in the New York Shakespeare Festival and voicing the villainous Darkseid in the animated “Superman/Batman: Apocalypse.”
SAG-AFTRA, the actors’ union, called Braugher “a powerful and dynamic performer in drama and comedy.”
“He will be deeply missed. Our condolences to his family and friends,” the union said in a social media post.
Braugher’s wife, Ami Brabson, is also an actor. The two married in 1991.
Anthony Anderson has been named to host the Emmy Awards by Fox and the Television Academy after the Hollywood strikes delayed the 75th edition.
“With our industry’s recent challenges behind us, we can get back to what we love — dressing up and honoring ourselves. And there’s no better celebratory moment to bring the creative community together than the milestone 75th Emmy Awards,” Anderson said in a statement on Wednesday.
The Black-ish star will emcee the live telecast from the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles on Jan. 15, 2024, on Fox, with the Emmys to be available the next day on Hulu. “When Fox asked me to host this historic telecast, I was over the moon that Taylor Swift was unavailable, and now I can’t wait to be part of the biggest night in television,” Anderson added.
He recently hosted the music gaming series We Are Family for Fox and executive producer Jamie Foxx. “Anthony is a multi-talented performer and a great friend to the Television Academy. We are thrilled that he is hosting what promises to be a rich celebration of the year’s outstanding television, as well as 75 years of Emmys excellence!” Academy chair Frank Scherma added in his own statement.
The 75th annual awards were originally scheduled to air Sept. 18, 2023, on Fox, but the telecast was delayed owing to the Hollywood writers and actors strikes. After several months of talks between the Television Academy and 2023 (make that 2024) Emmy broadcaster, Fox, the new chosen date for the Emmy Awards of Jan. 15, 2024, was earlier unveiled.
The date falls on the federal holiday of Martin Luther King Jr. Day and it will also mark nearly five months after the last ballot for the 75th Emmy Awards was cast.
Anderson starred for eight seasons on Black-ish in the role of Andre “Dre” Johnson and also served as executive producer. He recently appeared alongside his mother in their reality series Trippin’ with Anthony Anderson and Mama Doris.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
Cedric the Entertainer will be giving away $1000 a week to the funniest joke that makes him laugh through Comedy Pays. The online contest, announced by the comedian in a video was co-created by Kapital Entertainment‘s new digital division and Cedric’s A Bird and A Bear Entertainment.
Submissions are open, with the first winner announced on February 1, 2024 and a new joke awarded each week following. The competition will be promoted via social media, comedy clubs, and universities.
While Comedy Pays will own the short video (duration is limited to 1 min) of the contestants telling their jokes, that does not involve ownership of the underlying material, the jokes themselves.
Comedy Pays extends the longstanding relationship between Cedric’s A Bird and A Bear Entertainment and Aaron Kaplan’s Kapital Entertainment. The companies are also partnered on the hit CBS comedy series The Neighborhood, whose sixth season premieres in February.
Cedric the Entertainer can be seen in the feature The Plus One and the upcoming Down by the Water. He is repped by UTA and attorneys Gordon Bobb and Nina Shaw. For Kapital, the deal was negotiated by Traci Myman.
Source: Deadline
Netflix‘s animated series reboot of Good Times has set Ranada Shepard (Young Love, Diary of a Future President) as co-creator of the series alongside Carl Jones. Shepard will also executive produce the comedy and serve as showrunner, according to reports.
The Good Times voice cast will include JB Smoove, Yvette Nicole Brown, Jay Pharoah, Marsai Martin, Slink Johnson, and Rashida “Sheedz” Olayiwola, sources close to production reveal. Pharoah portrayed original Evans family member J.J. Evans, originally played by Jimmie Walker in ABC’s Emmy Award-winning Live in Front of a Studio Audience: All In The Family and Good Times. As we revealed exclusively following the death of TV legend Norman Lear, he will guest-star in a Season 1 episode.
The animated Good Times series finds the fourth generation of the Evans family living in apartment 17C of the last remaining housing projects in Chicago. It turns out the more things change the more they stay the same and keeping your head above water is as challenging as ever. The only thing tougher than life for this family is love, and there’s more than enough to go around.
The Netflix and Sony Picture Television comedy has no confirmed release date but sources reveal they’re targeting a Summer 2024 premiere. Netflix and Sony PT declined to comment on this story.
Created by Mike Evans and Eric Monte, the original Good Times was television’s first African-American two-parent family sitcom. It was a spinoff of Lear’s Maude, which itself was a spin-off of All in the Family.
Norman Lear and Brent Miller executive produced the animated series under their Act III Productions, Stephen Curry, Erick Peyton, and Jeron Smith for Unanimous and Seth MacFarlane and Erica Huggins for Fuzzy Door.
Source: Deadline
Kevin Hart is taking a leaf out of Peyton and Eli Manning’s playbook.
The comedian is to host a Manningcast-style alternate broadcast for the NBA’s new in-season tournament. NBA Unplugged with Kevin Hart, which comes from Peyton Manning’s Omaha Productions and Hart’s own Hartbeat, will air on ESPN2 on December 9
Hart will host alongside the Plastic Cup Boyz: Joey Wells, Will Horton, and Na’im Lynn with special guest appearances from athletes and celebrities, much like the Manningcast has for the NFL.
After the In-Season Tournament Championship Game broadcast, seven episodes will air throughout the season tied to marquee NBA games on ESPN platforms including the New York Knicks vs. Philadelphia 76ers in January and Dallas Mavericks vs. Miami Heat in April.
Hart has previously appeared on the Manningcast where the brothers mocked Hart for his height and Hart retorted that the Mannings actually hate each other.
Hartbeat is behind series such as Cold As Balls and produced an Olympics Highlights show featuring Snoop Dogg. Omaha is behind docuseries such as Quarterback in addition to Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli (the official title of Manningcast).
The NBA In-Season Tournament, which began in early November, is a cup-style competition that saw all 30 teams participate with the semifinals and championship game played in Las Vegas.
It will be won by one of the Boston Celtics, Indiana Pacers, New Orlean Pelicans, Sacremento Kings, New York Knicks, Milwaukee Bucks, Phoenix Suns, or LA Lakers as those teams are in the quarterfinals, which take place on December 4 and 5.
The Amazon MGM comedy The Underdoggs is shifting from its planned Jan. 26 theatrical release to an exclusive Prime Video debut in homes on that date in more than 240 countries and territories around the globe.
Snoop Dogg, who stars and produces the Charles Stone III directed ensemble announced the news today on his social media handles and dropped the first red band trailer, which you watch below.
Amazon MGM remains committed to theatrical and has long plans for it; their recent specialty hit Saltburn seeing a mind-blowing -10% hold in its third weekend at the box office; that pic now counting a running domestic cume of $7M. Live action R-rated comedies have been challenged at the box office lately, i.e. Strays ($24M DBO), Like A Boss ($22M DBO), Blackening ($18M DBO), Joy Ride ($13M DBO), The Machine ($10M DBO), and House Party ($9M DBO). As such, the decision was made to have The Underdoggs play to the widest audience possible on Prime Video.
The synergy of Amazon’s verticals including TNF, Amazon Music, Twitch, etc. will be an integral component of Underdogg‘s marketing campaign. This will be tied to Snoop’s 193.5M social media reach, a brand in and of itself that extends beyond music (to clothing, snacks, cereal, animation, etc.).
Written by Danny Segal and Isaac Schamis, The Underdoggs follows Jaycen “Two Js” Jennings, a washed-up former pro football star, who hits rock bottom and is sentenced to community service coaching an unruly pee-wee football team in his hometown. During the course of this, he may just turn his life around and rediscover his love of the game in the process.
The movie stars Tika Sumpter, Andrew Schulz, Mike Epps, and George Lopez.
Producers are Kenya Barris, Mychelle Deshamps, Jonathan Glickman, Constance Schwartz-Morini and Snoop Dogg.
Currently, there are no other wide theatrical entries on Jan. 26. There are several arthouse releases including Sony Pictures Classics’ The Peasants and Focus Features’ Housekeepers for Beginners.
Source: Deadline