Variety 9/21/2022

It must have been a devastating obituary to write. Sixty years ago, Variety reported on the death of Norma Jeane Baker. Of course, the story introduced her by her other, better-known name. “Marilyn Monroe, who often tried without success to shut herself off from the world, early yesterday did so,” began the dispatch, published on Aug. 6, 1962. “The 36-year-old actress was found dead in bed in her Brentwood home, apparently the victim of an overdose of sleeping pills.” From that day on, Monroe never really left us: Her screen roles turned her into a star, but the tragedy and lost potential she symbolizes has made her a legend. She’s been the subject of countless biographies, fashion retrospectives, films, songs and musicals (including the fictional one on NBC’s “Smash,” a cult…

Variety chief TV critic Daniel D’Addario met Ana de Armas in New York for this week’s cover story. “Ana provided a fascinating contrast to Marilyn Monroe,” he says. “She was assured, confident and seemed like a true New Yorker.” Variety senior TV features editor Emily Longeretta spoke to Candace Cameron Bure in the star’s first in-depth interview about leaving Hallmark Channel for Great American Family — and dove into the booming business of holiday programming. Danish portrait photographer Marc Hom’s portfolio includes Samuel L. Jackson, Saoirse Ronan and Alicia Vikander. He captured Ana de Armas in L.A. “She leaned into her character while still allowing her strength to shine through,” he says. Canadian photographer and filmmaker Caitlin Cronenberg lensed the images at the Variety Studio at TIFF. “The energy in Toronto was…

Broadway hasn’t been the same since the pandemic. Just consider “The Phantom of the Opera.” The recent closing announcement of the landmark long-runner underscored just how unpredictable the Street has become after the interruption of the 18-month shutdown and a bumpy restart. Over the summer, sales and attendance picked up promising momentum, and the 19 new productions that will open between Oct. 1 and the end of the year represent a lineup as robust and varied as any prior to lockdown. But backers of incoming shows know Broadway is still navigating the pandemic’s aftermath, including seemingly enduring shifts in production considerations, consumer lifestyles and buying habits. No one is quite sure how much longer it will be before things return to normal — or even what “normal” looks like anymore.…

With Oscar season fully underway following the Venice, Telluride and Toronto film festivals, buzz is building for the latest offerings from marquee filmmakers such as Steven Spielberg, Darren Aronofsky, Sarah Polley and Alejandro G. Iñárritu. But behind the scenes, look for leading artisans to also be recognized for their work on high-profile contenders; within the film community, these names have become as renowned as the directors and A-listers with whom they work. Here are some titans of the crafts who could add a nomination and even an Oscar win to their résumés when the Academy Awards are dispensed in March. Catherine Martin Production designer “Elvis” Martin straddles the worlds of costume design and production design. Teaming up with her husband, Baz Luhrmann, on “Elvis,” she re-created the iconic American world…

The concept of a fall TV season may seem a bit outdated in this streaming age, but broadcasters know that this is their moment in the spotlight. And the marketers at the major networks hope to embrace autumn as one of the best times to break through the noise and introduce their new and returning series. “Some people may feel that fall is irrelevant, that you just launch shows all year round, and we understand that that’s happening, but we have a different approach,” says CBS chief marketing officer Mike Benson. “We actually have made a statement that we love fall. We love not only the change of seasons and warm sweaters and the pumpkin spice lattes, but we love all the new shows coming back.” Observes Fox Entertainment marketing…

AWARDS CIRCUIT As we say goodbye to this year’s Emmy season and move on to the next, prepare for an even more crowded competition ahead. There’s no rest for the small-screen set, as the recent frenzy of big-budget fantasy TV series has proven. HBO’s “Game of Thrones” prequel “House of the Dragon” and Amazon Prime Video’s epic “Lord of the Rings” precursor “The Rings of Power” have already made a splash with their premieres, and while neither is necessarily a smash hit just yet, they’re also not bombs. In this TV environment, where it’s nearly impossible to knowingly manufacture success, that’s probably still a win. But we also live in an age when ratings are now apples and oranges, and it’s difficult to try to mix Nielsen numbers with streaming…