VIDEO: Today in History May 25

Highlights of this day in history: "Star Wars" --- written and directed by George Lucas --- premieres; Former ...

VIDEO: Raw: Pakistan Election Results Protested

Hundreds of supporters of one of Pakistan's political parties, Tehreek-e-Insaf, gathered in front of the Presidential Palace in ...

Aviva Drescher Signs on to ‘Real Housewives of New York’ (Again)

Aviva Drescher is back on for the sixth season of Bravo's "The Real Housewives of New York City," a Bravo insider told TheWrap.

The housewife, who held the production hostage along with her cast mates for bigger paychecks earlier this month, broke the news on Twitter.

 

Hey @extratv ! U guys just aired that I am not signed on to #rhony season 6. 4r betr or worse signed on and filming! #masochist. Lolxoxo

— Aviva Drescher (@AvivaDrescher) May 23, 2013

 

Masochist, indeed. After Drescher and the other housewives failed to get raises from the network and she missed their deadline to finalize their agreements, the network resumed production with only four returning housewives: Ramona Singer, Heather Thompson, Carole Radziwill and Sonja Morgan.

A former New York cast member recently told TheWrap that Bravo was "holding out" on Drescher and LuAnn de Lesseps for missing their deadline.

Also read: Inside Bravo's 'Real Housewives of New York' Standoff: What Went Wrong?

This is, of course, the second time Drescher has agreed to come back to the show after previously accepting her offer in principle than going back on her word earlier.

That leaves de Lesseps still on the outs.

Mike Darnell Talks Fox Exit, ‘American Idol,’ Whether ‘X Factor’ Was a Mistake

Fox sent a wave through the television ranks when it announced on Friday that Mike Darnell, its alternative programming president, is  leaving the network at the end of June.

After 18 years with the network, Darnell decided not to renew his contract. And he tells TheWrap that the timing of his exit wasn't related to his biggest hit "American Idol's" declining ratings.

"That had nothing at all to do with my decision," he said. "'Idol' is a phenomenon, it's historic."

Darnell led "Idol" to an astonishing eight-year run as the top show on television, which ended only last year when it was bumped by NBC's "Sunday Night Football." It helped inspire a slew of other musical competitions around the globe, including Simon Cowell's "X Factor," which launched a U.S. edition on Fox in 2011.

"When I was a kid, I dreamed of being part of something historic like M.A.S.H.," he said. "Well, now I have. I'm incredibly proud of this show."

Also read: Fox's Mike Darnell, Alternative Programming Chief, Exiting Network

In its eleventh year, the show continues to earn enviable ratings, despite its slide since last season. TheWrap reported that talent show would once again be overhauled by letting go of the four judges, among other format changes. But, Darnell said that "nothing has been decided."

"We're still in the very preliminary planning stages," he told us.

Additionally, he concedes that "The X Factor" and "American Idol" compete with each other (as every similar show on TV does), but he doesn't regret bringing the second talent show to Fox.

"First of all, I wasn't going to let Simon Cowell leave the network," Darnell said. "And 'The Voice' was coming whether or not we brought on 'The X Factor.'"

Also read: Fox's 'X Factor' Confirms New Judges Kelly Rowland, Paulina Rubio

Under his watch, the network took bigger risks on its unscripted fare and saw successes with its Gordon Ramsay culinary franchise, including "Hell's Kitchen." Darnell has many shows he's proud of, but others that have become lessons.

"I'm proud of 'Joe Millionaire' and 'So You Think You Can Dance,' but there have been missteps," he conceded. "'Who's Your Daddy?'"

The 2005 reality show placed an adopted person in a room with 25 men, one of whom, yes, is the person's biological father. Amid low ratings and bad press, Fox canceled the show mid-run.

"A controversial show doesn't get ratings unless the controversy is in the show like fights on 'Real Housewives,' not just about the show like in the case of 'Who's Your Daddy?' Controversy doesn't always drive ratings," he said.

Darnell had been known for having "tacky" tastes -- his word, not ours -- but said he really can't compete with cable reality shows.

"I saw 'My Strange Addiction' the other day and this woman was eating her mattress," he said.

The outgoing exec has signed on with agency WME, but said he's taking the next few weeks to figure out what he wants to do next.

Also read: 'American Idol' Judges Notably Absent From Fox's Upfront

"I've been hands-on before, but as an executive," he said. "My next step could be in the entrepreneurial space, creating something and being hands-on."

As for whether his future includes a move to another network, Darnell said, "Anything is possible."

Fox’s Mike Darnell, Alternative Programming Chief, Exiting Network

Fox's president of alternative entertainment, Mike Darnell, has announced his departure.

The executive will be exiting the network at the end of June, Fox announced on Friday.

"I'm extremely grateful that Fox has offered me a new long term contract (and anyone who knows me won't believe I'm saying this), but I've decided it's time for a change," Darnell said in a statement.

"With my current deal ending in June, and having been here for 18 years (kind of a record in Hollywood), I had to make a decision: either stay (and basically admit to myself I was going to retire at Fox... not a terrible choice) or leave and try something new. I've been in 'Reality' since before it was even called that, and it has truly been an amazing ride.

However, the world has changed drastically over the last few years and now with hundreds of channels and limitless ways to watch television, I've decided this was the perfect time to take advantage of the rapidly changing marketplace.

To say I am going to miss everyone here and that the people at Fox are like a family to me would be the understatement of the decade.  I have so many people to thank (and I will call all of you!), but first and foremost, I want to thank Kevin Reilly, Peter Rice, Chase Carey and Rupert Murdoch for all their amazing support over these many years."

Also read: 'American Idol' Judges Notably Absent From Fox's Upfront

Darnell led "American Idol" to an astonishing eight-year run as the top show on television, which ended only last year when it was bumped by NBC's "Sunday Night Football." It helped inspire a slew of other musical competitions around the globe, including Simon Cowell's "X Factor," which launched a U.S. edition on Fox in 2011.

It also reinvigorated the careers of Paula Abdul, Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez, and made stars of Cowell and Randy Jackson. In its eleventh year, the show continues to earn enviable ratings, despite its slide since last season.

Under his watch, the network took bigger risks on its unscripted fare and saw successes with its Gordon Ramsay culinary franchise, including "Hell's Kitchen."

"Mike has been a trailblazer for the entire industry and has made innumerable contributions to the growth and success of the network over the past two decades," said Fox Networks Group's chairman Peter Rice.

Also read: WME Signs Exiting FOX Reality Chief Mike Darnell (Exclusive)

"His passion for – and dedication to – television knows no bounds. He is like a member of the family, and FOX won't be the same without him. While we wish he would've stayed forever, we regretfully accept his decision."

Chairman and CEO of News Corporation Rupert Murdoch added, "Mike took risks at a critical time and was a pioneering force in shaping the reality programming genre that exists today. He's a smart and fearless executive who will be missed."

Darnell's replacement has not been announced.

Tim Molloy contributed to this report.

The First Six Months Developing For The Computer On My Face

Editor's note: Jon Gottfried is a Developer Evangelist at Twilio, co-founder of the Hacker Union, and a StartupBus Conductor. Being one of the first cyborgs in the world has meant that I have been privy to a unique set of bizarre experiences. Experiences that lead to some early observations and theories about the future of Google Glass and wearable technology. 

50M Matches Strong, Hot Mobile Dating App Tinder Is Ready To Go Global, And Move Beyond Flirting

Digital dating is nothing to scoff at; it's a big business, and it's changed a lot of lives -- mostly for the better. Yet, while dating has seen enormous progress during the Digital Era, there's still a lot garbage out there, and the space is still mostly dominated by a handful of old names. A gaggle of dating sites and apps have appeared over the past five years, but few have had real staying power, and many have gone the way of the dinosaur. While it's still too early to make any pronouncements, it's looking more and more like Tinder could buck the trend. Created by Hatch Labs -- an LA-based startup backed by IAC, the same Barry Diller-led digital media giant that owns Match.com and OKCupid -- Tinder has grown like a weed since it launched in October.

Google Now’s “Topics” Page Returns And Shows You How Much Google Knows About You, But It Only Works On Android

A few weeks ago, Google briefly made a "Google Now" topics page available on the web and then took it down again. The page showed a list of topics Google believed you were interested in, based on your search history. Now this feature is back, but it's a bit different from the leaked page. A few days ago, it seems, the company quietly (re-)launched this feature with the latest Google Now update. The leaked page was also visible on the desktop, but it looks like Google has plugged this hole the cards are now only available on Android - and only by going through Google Now's research cards.

SAG-AFTRA Sued For Witholding Foreign Residuals And Rewarding Current Officials

Actors Ed Asner, Clancy Brown, Dennis Hayden, and George Coe are among the 15 plaintiffs who filed suit today in federal court against SAG-AFTRA for not properly disbursing $110 million in foreign residuals they say have not been paid out. Asner is the former SAG president (1981-1985) who very publicly opposed the SAG-AFTRA merger along with other ex-union board members. The 52-page filing also claims that the merged union has deliberately withheld information and kept the money in trust and spent portions on first class travel and lavish parties and big salaries for current union officials. “Plaintiffs have reason to believe that SAG-AFTRA has now amassed a substantial slush fund that does not belong to the labor organization but instead belongs to members and non-members, and/or their estates, on covered and uncovered works,” says Friday’s filing. Requesting a jury trial, the plaintiffs are seeking unspecified damages as well as injunctive relief and an order by the court that would stop the union from being able to collect overseas royalties. Instead, the suit proposes a separate “independent body” established to handle the funds in the future. Today’s action follows a request made to SAG-AFTRA back in September 2012 for a full accounting of the collection of the foreign funds. Asner was one of the plaintiffs in ... Read More »

Latest ‘Turbo’ Trailer Tied To Indy 500 Race

The Indianapolis 500 will be broadcast Sunday on ABC. But this DreamWorks Animation toon’s 2nd phase trailer waits what seems like an interminable time for the tie-in. David Soren writes and directs Turbo about a snail that feels the need for speed. Scripted with Darren Lemke and Robert D. Siegel, its voice cast includes Ryan Reynolds, Paul Giamatti, Michael Pena, Bill Hader, Richard Jenkins, Ken Jeong, Michelle Rodriguez, Maya Rudolph, Snoop Dogg, and Samuel L. Jackson. The Fox release opens July 19th:

New Charlie Sheen In Robert Rodriguez Film

It’s the first time the actor won’t be billed as Charlie Sheen. TMZ obtained this screengrab from the upcoming pic showing that he’s changed his name to Carlos Estevez for writer-director Robert Rodriguez’ upcoming campy thriller Machete Kills. Explanation: Sheen’s dad Martin Sheen was born Ramón Antonio Gerardo Estevez and never changed it legally to ’Martin Sheen’. So ‘Estevez’ is Charlie’s real last name just as it is Emilio’s. Machete Kills also stars Danny Trejo, Sofia Vergara, Mel Gibson, Jessica Alba, Antonio Banderas, Vanessa Hudgens and Lady Gaga whose big-screen debut came about because of a chance encounter with Trejo in an LA tattoo parlor. Pic is scheduled to be released in the U.S. in September.

PowerGrid’s Biggest Movers of the Week: Chris Pine, Noah Baumbach’s Projects Boost Their Rankings

Chris Pine is climbing up the TheWrap's PowerGrid this week, thanks to "Star Trek Into Darkness." The actor is now among the Top 200 list, which none of his co-stars can boast.

Indie "Frances Ha" saw its director, writer and producer move up this week. Noah Baumbach, who worked with Greta Gerwig on the project, jumped up just behind "The Hobbit's" Peter Jackson.

Plus, director Jean-Pierre Jeunet is on his way back to directing English-language films.

Watch this week's PowerGrid Biggest Movers of the Week:

NYC Comptroller Calls For Cablevision’s “Zombie Directors” To Resign

UPDATE, 7:51 PM: Cablevision returned fire at Comptroller John Liu for challenging the directors who failed to win a majority of the votes. The company says that they “have helped to create great value for Cablevision shareholders. We look forward to their continuing contributions. Our shareholders know that Cablevision is a controlled company and they understand the rules by which our directors are elected. Once again, Mr. Liu is off base attacking another major New York employer. Mr. Liu is no position to lecture anyone about ethics.” PREVIOUS, 6:35 PM: The term “zombie director” refers to a board member who’s elected without the support of a majority of the shareholder votes —  and their existance infuriates corporate governance watchdogs. But Cablevision reports today that two of the five candidates for the board seats to represent public investors failed to meet that threshold at yesterday’s annual meeting. Since the company only nominated five people for the openings — and there were no outside candidates — they couldn’t lose. But Bond Street Holdings’ Vincent Tese won with just 45.2% supporting him and 54.8% withholding approval. New Century Holdings’ Leonard Tow  was supported by 48.2%. Another director who failed to win a majority last time — former JP Morgan Chase Managing Director Thomas Reifenheiser — barely made it above that level with 50.5% support. The results outraged New York City Comptroller John Liu who oversees the city pension funds’ 532,020 Class A ... Read More »

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Cannes Deal Wrap: Weinstein Co., Lionsgate Score Sunny Sales at Rain-Drenched Market

Despite the miserable weather, film financiers reported a strong market at the Cannes Film Festival, with Lionsgate and the Weinstein Co. making the biggest splashes with their acquisitions of Guillaume Canet's "Blood Ties" and Stephen Frears' "Philomena," respectively.

"Cannes was a strong market and titles were priced at the right levels," said the Gersh Agency's Jay Cohen, who noted that equity funds were very active and distributors seemed to buy what they wanted early on.

"I'd say the market was very healthy at large. There weren't as many surefire titles for buyers, but I mean that in a positive way," Alex Walton of Exclusive Media told TheWrap. "We had a positive reaction to our slate, from films in production like 'Jane Got a Gun' to post-production like our completely unique new film with Metallica. The Weinstein Company came in right at the end of the market on 'Passengers,' which was hugely positive for that film. I think it has the opportunity to be a fully-fledged independent blockbuster."

Also read: Sleepless in Cannes: Moguls Haunt the Majestic Hotel Bar

Lionsgate reportedly broke a Cannes Market record taking in more than $250 million in foreign sales, paying around $2 million for the star-studded thriller "Blood Ties" (left), which will be released via sister company Roadside Attractions, while FilmNation sold out "self/less," which pairs Ryan Reynolds with director Tarsem. Other hot projects involved Ryan Gosling, Michelle Williams and Sean Penn. 

Also read: Cannes: The Weinstein Co. Pays $6M for Stephen Frears' 'Philomena'

Overall, business was brisk in the "bric territories" (Brazil, Russia, India and China), as well as Germany, Latin America and the Middle East, but movies did not sell as well in Spain, Greece and Italy, where buyers weren't as active as in past years. Even France and the U.K. have their problems.

"Some territories are a real struggle, while others require real precision. The greatest stress is in European territories that aren't making up their end of the economic crisis, but we have to evolve with them," Walton said.

See photos: The Scene at Cannes: 'Hunger Games: Catching Fire,' 'Jimmy P'

"While the market was steady, there has been a recalibration of the value among the territories, though it hasn't necessarily gone up or down," said Ariel Veneziano, president of the newly-formed company International Film Trust, which represents a consortium of high-profile producers.

Financiers scramble to get sales material ready for the market, one of the most important of the year. Veneziano said that IFT put a lot of thought and effort into marketing titles "even though it's early because it's the mother of all events in the film business. It's arguably the most high-profile festival and the most aggressive market so it remains a very key event throughout the year."

Also read: What Buyers Want at Cannes: More Jennifer Lawrence, Less Sylvester Stallone

"The Cannes market is just brutal because it goes on for so long, but so much of the year is focused on this week," Walton echoed. "We had intimate meetings with many distributors and talent is always happy to come since it's so important, so it's an amazingly effective week to do business."

Here were some of the bigger deals and projects getting buzz at this year's market:

>>  Beyond "Blood Ties," Lionsgate also made a deal with Exclusive Media for North American distribution rights to John Pogue's supernatural thriller "The Quiet Ones."

>> In addition to "Philomena," which stars Judi Dench and Steve Coogan, the Weinstein Co. picked up "Suite Francaise" with Michelle Williams and "Passengers" with Keanu Reeves, whose directorial debut "Man of Tai Chi" was acquired by Radius-TWC, which also picked up "Blue Ruin."

>> Studiocanal and Corsan nearly sold out Sean Penn vehicle "The Gunman" and Paul Haggis' ensemble drama "Third Person," respectively. 

>> Sierra/Affinity did well with Ryan Gosling's directorial debut "How to Catch a Monster" and a remake of the Burt Reynolds movie "Heat" that stars Jason Statham. Focus Features International found much success with Kevin Macdonald's Jude Law-starrer "Black Sea."

>> Elsewhere, Magnolia acquired S. Craig Zahler's directorial debut "Bone Tomahawk," which stars Kurt Russell and Timothy Olyphant. As far as smaller titles go, "The Lunchbox" and "Pioneer" sold well for the Match Factory and TrustNordisk, respectively.

Hyde Park International's Eric Christenson said the company had "a very good market thanks to 'Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return in 3D,' which we did very well with." The company also showed footage of Dan Schechter's untitled adaptation of Elmore Leonard's crime novel "The Switch." The title of the movie will be changed due to the 2010 comedy "The Switch" starring Jennifer Aniston, who also stars in Schechter's movie along with John Hawkes, Tim Robbins and Will Forte.

"We did great on that one and Amy Berg's 'Every Secret Thing,' which we also had footage of," Christenson said.

Cohen said that John Slattery's directorial debut "God's Pocket" received lots of offers and is 100% equity financed. "He assembled a great cast and everyone loved the subject matter," he said. Gersh also got offers on launched a commercial sci-fi/comedy called 'Run Like Hell,'" which Cohen described as "Zombieland" meets "Aliens" in tone.  

IFT was "very pleased" with sales on 'King of the Castle,' which is in pre-production with Clive Owen attached to star and Michael Benaroya producing. Veneziano also sold multiple territories on Eduardo Sanchez' horror thriller "Exists," with a Toronto premiere in mind. "It's not highly pre-sellable but based on the teaser trailer promo we had a nice slew of deals and it was nice to get the ball rolling on that one," he said.

"Overall, we had a very good experience," said Walton, whose company was stretched thin between selling movies and promoting them during high-profile events. "We're focused on original material, and the inherent nature of that means it isn't always going to be a slam-dunk, but I think that was embraced this year."

3 Reasons Lena Dunham Can’t Laugh Off ‘Girls’ Porn Parody

While some creatives may consider a porn parody of their work a confirmation of their success, "Girls" creator Lena Dunham "can't just laugh off" Hustler production "This Ain't Girls XXX."

And Dunham took to Twitter on Thursday night to explain exactly why.

See video: Mariah Carey Suffers Wardrobe Malfunction During 'Good Morning America' Appearance

"1. Because Girls is, at its core, a feminist action while Hustler is a company that markets and monetizes a male's idea of female sexuality."

"2. Because a big reason I engage in (simulated) onscreen sex is to counteract a skewed idea of that act created by the proliferation of porn."

"3. Because it grosses me out."

Get it? Got it? Good.

The XXX version of Dunham's critically-acclaimed HBO series follows Hannah (played by Dunham's porn star doppelganger, Alex Chance) as she forsakes her boyfriend Adam (Richie Calhoun) and decides to experiment with the ladies before, ultimately, returning to sleep with Adam.

Calhoun told XBIZ (an adult industry trade website) that writer and director Stuart Canterbury's "provocative" vision is "very well written."

It will be interesting to see if Dunham agrees when Hustler releases the adult film in a few months.

Ryan Seacrest, Simon Cowell React to Mentor Mike Darnell’s Fox Exit

Ryan Seacrest and Simon Cowell are praising Mike Darnell following the alternative programming chief's announcement of his departure from Fox on Friday.

"Mike Darnell was a pioneer in reality television," Seacrest said in a statement to TheWrap. "He brilliantly paved the way for all of us, creating a powerful entertainment genre that audiences can't get enough of. I've had the privilege of working with him for more than a decade, and I've learned so much from him." 

Also read: Fox's Mike Darnell, Alternative Programming Chief, Exiting Network

"I have so much to be grateful to Mike Darnell for. He was one of our biggest supporters at Fox right at the beginning when we launched 'Idol,'" Cowell said in a seperate statement to TheWrap. "His knowledge, skill, kindness and importantly the fact that we became friends through this process were all reasons why we were able to make things happen in such a big way. I will miss him."

During his 18 years at Fox, Darnell led "American Idol" to an eight-year run as the top show on television before being bumped last year by NBC's "Sunday Night Football."

The "Star Search-like" singing competition also catapulted the careers of numerous personalities who participated over the years, including Seacrest and Cowell.

Also read: Mike Darnell Talks Fox Exit, 'American Idol,' Whether 'X Factor' Was a Mistake

Over the course of hosting "Idol" since the hit show's 2002 debut, Seacrest has grown from a Los Angeles radio DJ to a successful reality television producer, churning out hits like "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" and "Shahs of Sunset" from Ryan Seacrest Productions.

"He has been an inspiration for imparting his creative genius constantly, a mentor as I launched my production company, as well as a dear friend," Seacrest added. "I'm excited to work with him as he blazes a new path in his incredible career."

Cowell, who rose to fame as the nastiest judge on the "Idol" panel, went on to executive produce NBC reality competition series "America's Got Talent," as well as launching "X Factor" overseas before bringing it to Fox in 2011.

Cowell added: "Publicly, I want to tell Mike: 'A big 'thank you for everything you have done for me and I hope (and expect!) that we will be working together again in the very near future'." 

Jethro Nededog contributed to this report.

Tim Curry Suffered Major Stroke Last July, Rep Says

UPDATE: A spokesperson for Curry tells TheWrap, the actor did not suffer a stroke Thursday -- it actually occured in July of last year.

Previously:

British stage and screen actor Tim Curry is recovering at his home in Los Angeles after suffering a major stroke on Thursday Night, according to several media reports.

TheWrap contacted Curry's agent for comment, but she has not yet responded.

The 67-year-old star of 1975's "Rocky Horror Picture Show" is said to be "doing great" following the collapse. "He absolutely can speak and is recovering at this time and in great humor," his longtime agent, Marcia Hurwitz, told the paper.

Also read: Frankie Muniz Recovering From 'Mini Stroke'

In 2011, Curry had to withdraw from a production of Tom Stoppard's "Rosencrantz and Gildenstern are Dead" at the Chichester Festival Theatre, citing severe asthma attacks after a chest infection.

Cannes: Sony Pictures Classic Acquires Jim Jarmusch’s ‘Only Lovers Left Alive’

Sony Pictures Classics has acquired the North American rights to Jim Jarmusch's "Only Lovers Left Alive," the company announced on Friday.

The vampire romance, which stars Tilda Swinton, Tom Hiddleston, Mia Wasikowska, John Hurt, Anton Yelchin and Jeffrey Wright, will world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival on Saturday.

See photos: 15 Must-See Movies at Cannes Film Festival

Set against the backdrop of the desolation of Detroit and Tangier, follows deeply depressed, underground musician Adam (Hiddleston), who reunites with his resilient and enigmatic lover, Eve (Swinton). Their love story has already endured several centuries at least, but their debauched idyll is soon disrupted by her wild and uncontrollable younger sister, Ava (Wasikowska).

"'Only Lovers Left Alive' is one of the great Jarmusch pictures and American audiences will love it," Sony Pictures Classics said in a statement. "We are excited to be back with Jim and our great friends Jeremy Thomas and Tilda Swinton, whose performance along with the rest of the cast is fantastic."

Thorsten Schumacher and Jan Spielhoff for HanWay Films and ICM negotiated the deal.

VIDEO: Europe Breaking News: Are ‘lone Wolf’ Attacks the New Path to Terror?

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Surveillance video shows a truck hauling an oversized load hit an overhead girder in Washington last night, sending ...

VIDEO: Europe Breaking News: Are ‘lone Wolf’ Attacks the New Path to Terror?

Are 'lone wolf' attacks the new path to terror?. German economy to pick up but fall short of ...

VIDEO: Asia Breaking News: Are ‘lone Wolf’ Attacks the New Path to Terror?

Are 'lone wolf' attacks the new path to terror?. Goldman Sachs Selling Industrial & Commercial Bank of China ...

Cannes: SPC Sinks Teeth Into Jim Jarmusch’s ‘Only Lovers Left Alive’

Sony Pictures Classics acquired North American rights to Jim Jarmusch’s Only Lovers Left Alive, the vampire pic that premieres tomorrow at Cannes in the In Competition section. The film was produced by Jeremy Thomas of Recorded Picture Company and Reinhard Brundig of Pandora Film. Christos Konstantakopoulos of Fairilo House served as executive producer. Starring Tilda Swinton, Tom Hiddleston, Mia Wasikowska, John Hurt, Anton Yelchin and Jeffrey Wright, Only Lovers Left Alive takes place against the romantic desolation of Detroit and Tangier and follows an underground musician, deeply depressed by the direction of human activities, who reunites with his resilient and enigmatic lover. Their love story has already endured several centuries at least, but their debauched idyll is soon disrupted by her wild and uncontrollable younger sister. “It would take a stake through the heart to keep Barker, Bernard and Leiner away from a good movie,” stated Producer JeremyThomas. Thorsten Schumacher and Jan Spielhoff for HanWay Films and ICM negotiated the deal.

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Ryan Seacrest On Mike Darnell’s Fox Departure

Ryan Seacrest was a local Los Angeles DJ when he was picked by Fox’s head of alternative programming Mike Darnell as co-host and then sole host of American Idol. Seacrest became a TV star and has gone on to expand into producing and build a mini reality empire. “Mike Darnell was a pioneer in reality television,” Seacrest said today about Darnell’s decision to depart Fox. “He brilliantly paved the way for all of us, creating a powerful entertainment genre that audiences can’t get enough of. I’ve had the privilege of working with him for more than a decade, and I’ve learned so much from him. He has been an inspiration for imparting his creative genius constantly, a mentor as I launched my production company, as well as a dear friend. I’m excited to work with him as he blazes a new path in his incredible career.” Seacrest has one more year on his current blockbuster Idol contract and, with Darnell gone and the current judges and executive producer Nigel Lythgoe also likely out, he may be the only key auspice returning next season, providing continuity.

‘The East’ Filmmakers Go From Dumpster-Diving to Sundance Darlings

"The East" is the rare thriller that hinges on dumpster diving as a plot point.

Thursday night after TheWrap screening of the Fox Searchlight film, director Zal Batmanglij and co-writer and star Brit Marling explained how their experiences living with homeless anarchists provided inspiration for their movie, which centers on a private investigator's undercover infiltration of an eco-terrorist group bent on increasingly vengeful anti-corporate tactics.

The long-time off-screen couple's exercise in modern-day hobo came before they went to Sundance 2011 with "Sound of My Voice." After graduating from AFI, "we couldn't figure out how to make it work for us in this town," Batmanglij recalled during a post-screening Q&A at the Landmark Theater with Wrap CEO-Editor-in-Chief Sharon Waxman. "So we decided to go have an adventure. We'd found this anarchist blog, and Brit would read me these beautiful manifestos, and they didn't have any bylines -- no ego -- and we were taken by that idea. We decided to hit the road with some backpacks and sleeping bags."

Said Marling, "We learned how to hop trains. We went across the country and back, using Craigslist ride shares as well. It was an unbelievable summer. Behind every grocery store is a blue box with all this [not-yet-spoiled] food… We saw people collect that food and cook three meals a day for 150 people with it, and our minds were blown."

Also read: Meet Sundance's 'It Girl' Brit Marling

In the movie, which screened at Sundance this year and opens in theaters May 31, the eco-terrorists practices "freeganism," which involves living off food that's passed its sell-by date and been dumped outside supermarkets.

Marling plays Sarah Moss, an ex-FBI investigator working for a private security firm who's enlisted to infiltrate the group known as "The East," led by an idealistic guru portrayed by Alexander Skarsgård, who first appears as a wild-maned, Manson-style figure. Ellen Page is the trusted sidekick working out some serious daddy issues with her terrorist inclinations, and Patricia Clarkson plays the protagonist's steely boss.

"We never encountered any vigilante groups like The East on our road trip," Batmanglij said. "But every single one of the corporate crimes in the movie is based on 100 percent fact and it's not dramatized. There is a drug on the market that does cause those side effects... And there are kids who died from the cancer they developed from their bath water. There are oil spills. These crimes are all real. So the movie is a way of imagining, how do we make sense of these heartbreaking news stories we hear about? How do we move forward? I think film is a great way to play with going to the furthest side of it. That doesn't mean it's necessarily a prescription for it."

Added Marling, "Even within the group in the film, they are talking about how far is too far. I think a lot of resistance groups unravel because they have different opinions in terms of the morality of the actions, and do the ends justify the means?"

The pair found the experience of writing and making "The East" far preferable to climbing the Hollywood ladder the traditional way.

For Marling, "Writing is a way to ensure that you have some kind of control, some way to practice the craft that you love without it being wading through the swamp of early-20s ingénue parts in LA," she said. "You find yourself fighting for these jobs - do I really want to be the girl in the bikini sucking on a popsicle while someone with a chain saw enters the frame?"

"I really did audition for that," she said.

YouTube’s Most Popular Rappers Are White and Nerdy – and Bigger Than Bieber, PSY

Peter Shukoff and Lloyd Ahlquist, known to their fans as Nice Peter and EpicLLOYD, are more popular on YouTube than Ellen DeGeneres, PSY and Justin Bieber.

Their channel, "Epic Rap Battles of History," has amassed more than 5.4 million subscribers thanks to videos of the two rappers dueling as Adolf Hitler, Darth Vader, Bill Gates and Steve Jobs.

While not as rich as Gates or infamous as Hitler, the duo serves as another prime example of how YouTube has turned aspiring entertainers into beloved cultural figures. Shukoff and Ahlquist aired the first episodes in September of 2010 after struggling to find their footing for more than a decade.

Also read: Why YouTube Cover Sensation Sam Tsui Turned Down Record Labels for His Debut Album

Their first video, filmed for $250, generated a few hundred thousand views thanks to established cohorts like KassemG and ShayCarl. Every new video now draws anywhere from 10 to 75 million views.

TheWrap talked with Shukoff, whose own channel has more than 2 million subscribers, about how Wu-Tang inspired his raps and why Hitler would have cussed like a sailor.

How did the idea for Epic Rap Battles come together?

I was a struggling musician and the guy who gave me my first performing job was Lloyd. He was a rapper and I had never rapped before, but he and I met rapping at a party.

A decade later we were both doing everything we could to try to find some leg up in entertainment. I got a job as a songwriter for what became Maker Studios and Lloyd and another guy did a bit where they'd battle rap.

He shared this idea with me and I shared it with a filmmaker (Dave McCary) and the three of us just put it together. I never would have considered myself a rapper, but I listened to a lot of rap growing up.

Like what?

Wu-Tang Clan and Jurassic 5. I look at that and wonder if it informs what we do now. I would listen to Wu-Tang Clan as nine different rappers with nine distinct voices and would memorize every phonetic syllable.

How do you pick the different characters you impersonate?

When we first started we asked our audience and said 'we have this idea but we haven't formed the name, this great rap battle of history.' We got 150 or 200 suggestions. Now the average rap battle gets 400,000 comments.

What was the weirdest suggestion?

At the time our audience was much more focused; we understood everything they were saying. One that jumped out at us was John Lennon versus Bill O'Reilly. That was our first video and it had a $250 bduget. The second one had a $350 budget. We took a suggestion right from the audience – Darth Vader vs. Hitler.

Which you've turned into a recurring battle.

That one just blew up. The first one got maybe 150,000 views, which was enough to get excited about. The second one was one that got millions in the first week. I credit the audience completely. We did not think of putting Darth Vader against Adolf Hitler.

Also read: How Big Can Maker Studios Get Under New Chief Ynon Kreiz?

Do most of your ideas still come from the audience?

For sure. The internet as a whole is getting noisier but we look at the comments every day for ideas. There was just a whole discussion about inventors of different weapons and how they could go against one another.

You guys say some pretty incendiary and racy things during the show. Do you ever feel the need to limit that?

When we know we have something that can be really educational and cool, we probably hold back on the language a little more. Our recording engineer who used to work with Wu-Tang Clan and comes from a total hip-hop background said rap battles are three things – education, humor and fun. If one of those columns is really high, like Einstein versus Stephen Hawking – two physicists – there's a chance to get a whole bunch of kids excited about science. We knew it was our responsibility to leave out the F-bombs.

When we use Darth Vader and Adolf Hitler, these more menacing, evil characters, we think they would swear so we let them swear.

Have you heard from rappers?

We did one with Snoop Dogg.

Oh, but he's in the Maker network.

We got to meet RZA, who saw what we were doing. I don't know if the rap community is into it or not. I hope they appreciate it. We try to make a lot of homages to the real sources of rap, which is not our background.

A lot of different YouTube stars have tried to build businesses outside of that ecosystem – like merchandise -- to better support themselves. What are your plans outside of making ERB?

We can sustain our operation just with the content itself and that's where our focus is completely. If we make sure every one of these videos we're making is as good as it can possibly be, we're gonna be fine.

Are you in the top 5 on YouTube now?

Top 15.

How many views do you get for an average video?

About 30 million.

And how much money do you see from that?

Enough to make the next one.

You've been with Maker since before it was Maker. How has your relationship with all the executives and talent there changed as your popularity has grown?

We're all a part of the company, which was started by them and they included me in. When I wanted to know how to start an Instagram a couple of weeks ago, I looked to Kassem [Gharaibeh] and when it was time to announced the second season, we had him as one of our characters. As Maker grows and works with someone like Snoop, we get to have him in a video.

Epic Rap Battles became a really solid running back for the company. We can catch long balls. We're reliable.

What do you have planned for season 3?

We're committed to continue to delight people. A little staying the same, a little getting cooler.

How do you get cooler?

The people you work with.

So Justin Timberlake and Jay-Z?

Not that. It's not about working with bigger people but excited, talented people.