The Biggest Stories of the Week From Our Reporters
Compiled by Joe Otterson
Lollapalooza Gets Go-ahead for Four-day Summer Festival
Lollapalooza Festival will return to Chicago with a four-day event at its usual place and date range — Grant Park, July -Aug. — as Variety exclusively reported on May and was officially announced five days later. The city of Chicago gave the event the greenlight at near or full capacity, insiders report. The timing is in line with predictions made not only by multiple industry insiders but in statements from Michael Rapino, CEO of Live Nation, the world’s largest live-entertainment company, who in February projected a return to outdoor concerts in the U.S. and the U.K. by midsummer. — Jem Aswad, Shirley Halperin
‘Ms. Marvel’ TV Series Completes Production
Production has wrapped on “Ms. Marvel,” a Disney-marvel series with a Muslim teen lead character and a significant Asian cast. Filming was relocated to Thailand after a stint in the U.S. Though a third wave of the coronavirus hit Thailand, the production, which observed strict health protocols, was able to obtain a waiver. The six-part series features newcomer Iman Vellani as Kamala Khan, a New Jersey teenager who discovers she has special powers. Bisha K. Ali is set as lead writer and showrunner, with four directors: Sharmeen Obaid-chinoy, Adil El Arbi, Billal Fallah and Meera Menon. The completed series is set to premiere on Disney Plus later this year. — Patrick Frater
Netflix Developing Animated ‘Ultraman’ Feature
Netflix is partnering with Tsuburaya Prods. to develop “Ultraman” as a Cg-animated feature film aimed at bringing a wider audience to the beloved Japanese superhero. Shannon Tindle, an animator who’s worked on “Coraline” and “Kubo and the Two Strings,” will make his feature directorial debut; he wrote the script with “Kubo” screenwriter Marc Haimes. John Aoshima will co-direct. Netflix is also home to an ongoing “Ultraman” animated TV series, also in partnership with Tsuburaya, which continues the storyline from the original live-action Japanese series of the s. The “Ultraman” feature plans to honor the mythology while creating an all-new storyline to grab a global fan base. — Adam B. Vary
SAG-AFTRA Leader David White Resigns
David White is stepping down as SAG-AFTRA’S national executive director and chief negotiator after years. Duncan Crabtreeireland, SAG-AFTRA’S chief operating officer, is being eyed as his successor. White’s resignation was confirmed following a SAGAFTRA national executive board meeting May . He is expected to depart within a few weeks. White was generally well-liked within SAG-AFTRA. Multiple sources say he made the decision to move on after a dozen years of leading the union that at times has been riven with factional conflict among its , members.