Variety 03/06/2024

A few years ago, we kicked off a new tradition that makes Oscar week gleam a little brighter. In the weeks leading up to the Academy Awards, we reflect on the journey a legendary past winner took to holding a statuette onstage. Everyone from Barbra Streisand to Whoopi Goldberg to Gwyneth Paltrow has graced Variety’s cover as we’ve anticipated new winners joining their ranks. And this year we found a new subject as synonymous with the Oscars as anyone in history. John Williams, who has been nominated for a record-breaking 54 Oscars (and won five), agreed to bring one of his statuettes to the shoot. As he spent the day with writer Chris Willman, he recalled what it was like composing the scores of some of the biggest movies of…

When it comes to Apple’s Hollywood ambitions, it’s all about spending big to win big. On March 10, the tech giant has 13 shots to take home an Oscar via two historical epics, “Killers of the Flower Moon” and “Napoleon,” which nabbed 10 and three nominations, respectively. That’s given Apple the second-biggest haul among the major studios and streamers, just behind Netflix’s 18 nods. But at what price? Sources say the Martin Scorsesehelmed “Killers” cost an eye-popping $215 million (that includes about $40 million in Covid-related costs). In fact, Apple spent at least $700 million to make and market just three films: “Killers,” Ridley Scott’s “Napoleon” and Matthew Vaughn’s “Argylle.” The trio have earned a combined $466 million worldwide at the box office, with “Napoleon” leading the pack at $221…

1 The Bloody Hundredth APPLE TV+ | MARCH 15 Narrated and executive produced by Tom Hanks, the documentary follows the exploits of the the 100th Bomb Group during WWII. The launch coincides with the finale of the Apple series “Masters of the Air.” Steven Spielberg also executive produces. 2 STEVE! (martin) a documentary in 2 pieces APPLE TV+ | MARCH 29 Featuring unseen footage, the two-part doc spans the iconic comedian’s early days, explosive rise and current career. Oscar winner Morgan Neville (“20 Feet From Stardom”) directs. 3 Girls State APPLE TV+ | APRIL 5 A sequel to Jesse Moss and Amanda McBaine’s Emmy-winning documentary “Boys State,” the film centers on teen girls in Missouri participating in an experiment to build a model government from scratch. 4 Project Artemis SONY…

The first time Jimmy Kimmel showed up at the Oscars, he didn’t have a ticket. It was the mid-1990s, back when he was on KROQ’s “Kevin & Bean” morning drive-time show, and he and host Kevin Ryder decided to sneak into the Academy Awards Governors Ball. “I remember us getting there 9 o’clock in the morning in tuxedos,” Kimmel recalls. “We figured that if we hung around long enough, it would seem like we belonged there. But then moments before the guests began to arrive, they kicked us right out.” Their mistake was claiming they were guests of Gil Cates — just a name they saw in the Oscars credits, but actually the longtime Academy Awards executive producer. Still, Kimmel and Ryder slipped back in — and then had a…

Richard Lewis, who died Feb. 27 at 76, had a long career as a comic, but lately has been particularly known for his role on “Curb Your Enthusiasm” — something close to its heart. On “Curb,” Lewis’ frequent appearances needled star and protagonist Larry David in a manner no one else in the ensemble could. Playing a version of himself, the comedian (previously known for the sitcom “Anything but Love”) was David’s most sophisticated sparring partner, presenting points of view curmudgeonly Larry couldn’t dismiss with an expletive (try as he might). Lewis approached his character with an observational comic’s twisted but methodical logic, and a willingness to go anywhere to find the joke. Lewis is a part of the show’s DNA, appearing in its very first episode — in which…

Carolyn Giardina, award-winning journalist and author, has joined Variety and Variety VIP+ as senior entertainment technology & crafts editor as Variety expands its coverage of the fast-evolving production technology landscape as well as the Artisans sector. Giardina comes to Variety from The Hollywood Reporter, where she was tech editor and a member of the awards team covering the crafts categories. At Variety, Giardina will work in collaboration with Jazz Tangcay, award-winning senior Artisans editor, to expand the brand’s activity in the production technology and crafts sectors. “Variety is fortunate to have a journalist of Carolyn Giardina’s stature join our masthead,” say Cynthia Littleton and Ramin Setoodeh, Variety’s co-editors-in-chief. “The contributions of Hollywood crafts and emerging production technologies have never been more essential to content creation than they are today. We’re…