Warners Bros. Are Feeling Lucid

Another Archaia comic heading to screenJust a few days after picking up the whimsical dinosaur-next-door title Bolivar, Warner Bros. have made a second deal with comics publisher Archaia. This time it's for Lucid, and it'll once again be developed and produced by Akiva Goldsman.Lucid's set-up is in a slightly skewed version of our own world, where magic exists, and governments employ "combat mages" as spies to ward off international supernatural threats. Our hero is a rookie "Protector of the Realm", taking on a dealer in black market occult technology. Variety describe Lucid as Harry Potter, if Harry Potter grew up and joined the CIA. The comic is by Michael McMillian (who plays Steve in True Blood) and Anna Wieszczyk.That Potter comparison goes some way to explaining Warners' interest in the comic, since there's a large Hogwarts-shaped hole in their production slate these days. All eyes are on a potential franchise.No screewriter is attached yet, but added to the Warner/Archaia mix is Zachary Quinto's Before The Door banner, which developed the comic in the first place, and will oversee the film.

Foreign Actors Dominating 2012 Pilot Lead Casting

The 2012 pilot season is illustrating a growing trend over the last decade in Hollywood: foreign actors are booking the leads that used to go to American performers. This is a not a new development. U.K actors Andrew Garfield, Henry Cavill, and Christian Bale are playing iconic American superheroes Spider-Man, Superman, and Batman respectively in feature films.There are two pilots based on the Beauty and the Beast fairy tale in development, one at ABC and the other at the CW. None of the leads roles in either went to Americans. Irish actor Ruth Bradley was cast as Grace (Beauty) and Scottish actor-singer Darius Campell will play Shiro (Beast) in the ABC project. Canadian actor Kristin Kreuk and New Zealand-born Australian Jay Ryan are playing the leads in the CW pilot. Deadline.com pointed out that of these four actors, Kreuk is the only recognizable name in America thanks to her stint on "Smallville," but the other three are virtually unknown stateside. In addition to these two pilots, other projects this season are favoring actors from abroad. British actor Janet Montgomery has been cast as the lead in the CBS drama pilot "Baby Big Shot," while Oscar-nominee and fellow U.K. actor Minnie Driver will star as one of two leads in NBC's Kari Lizer comedy. Canadian Stephen Amell has been picked to headline "Arrow," the CW pilot based on the American comic character Green Arrow. Colin Ferguson, another Canadian, will star in Bill Lawrence's Fox comedy pilot "Like Father." Irish actor Amy Huberman will be the female lead in the NBC comedy "Animal Kingdom." According to Deadline, she got the job as a result of her first-ever U.S. audition.Pilot season is still in full swing, but it's already that home field advantage no longer matters when it comes to casting in America.

Vive le difference! (Let us convey more from it)

The Academy continues to be blamed because of its insufficient diversity, but when the biz really wants to correct this, the modification needs to start in the grassroots level. The 84th Oscars have no need for anymore analyses on who won and why. However the buildup towards the February. 26 event elevated questions beyond the kudos business -- questions regarding bigotry, contributing to the growing mood of anger and hostility within and outdoors showbiz.In past years, bad-mouthing was an element of the honours season, however it was always fond of films: Whisper campaigns stated "Good Will Hunting," "The Hurricane," "An Attractive Mind," "Slumdog Uniform," "The Hurt Locker" et al were dishonest, factually bogus, whatever.This season, the prospective was the Academy of movement Picture Arts & Sciences itself, because the media spent much energy concentrating on its internal reorganization, the org's "relevance" (an elusive term, at best) and it is membership. Journalists covered this stuff as though AMPAS were the U.S. same as Syria, with gunfire and rioting expected every day now on Wilshire Boulevard.On February. 19, the L.A. Occasions reported the average chronilogical age of Academy voters is 62, the org is 77% male and 94% White. It was not really a surprise to anybody active in the large-dollars honours business. However the study received extensive coverage within the mainstream media and blogs all over the world, lamenting the possible lack of diversity and advocating the Academy to act right away.Nobody would dispute the uneven makeup, but individuals op-erectile dysfunction pieces skipped the larger questions: How diverse may be the entire entertainment industry? For your matter, how diverse would be the Fortune 500 companies or businesses that allegedly embody the near future, for example social-networking sites, Web online companies and tech newcomers? How diverse may be the government?Inside a story associated its stats, the Occasions cited lead actor contender Demian Bichir saying if there have been more Latino Academy people, "That will mean there will be a much more roles for Latin stars and much more movies for (Latin) cinematographers."The org reflects the film industry, it does not make guidelines. This isn't designed to excuse the Academy, but to spread the duty wider.It's not hard to point a finger in a person or group, because then you definitely absolve yourself associated with a responsibility: They ought to fix things.No, all of us should fix things.The AMPAS board includes effective individuals who might help produce change, not always with the Academy however in their daily jobs. Change needs to start in the grassroots level.Some galleries, systems and guilds (WGA, DGA and SAG) have outreach and employment-access programs to coach racial unprivileged and ladies, amongst others. But how about guilds and unions with no programs, or orgs whose job training includes using relatives of their people?And taking care of is a factor. The bottom line is in employing. This is where agencies, galleries, systems, production companies and marketing folks are available in. (When it comes to diversity, the background music industry and ad agencies are way in front of the curve, states one expert.)In 1994-95, Margaret Cho starred in ABC's "All American Girl." Apart from supplying fodder on her standup, the show has another distinction: Since the sitcom format started in 1950, there's been one, repeat one, sitcom starring only Asians and Asian-People in america.SAG and WGA are some of the guilds working against age discrimination. Most of the commentators lamented the truth that the Acad's average voting age is 62, apparently feeling these people aren't capable of decide what's good. Agreed, mix-sections are terrific -- bear in mind that in certain communities, age is respected and elders are thought smart. Exactly what a concept!In strange ways, the 84th Oscars point in the national mood. Superficially, there's the nostalgia factor, as reflected within the show's PR material and theme (happy movie reminiscences), host (Billy Very) and top those who win ("The Artist" and "Hugo"). In occasions of high anxiety, people think existence was in some way better before.But in addition to that, the honours season reflected the nation's feeling of anger and anxiety. People are concerned about their jobs, the economy, new technology, nuclear proliferation, the atmosphere, the entire magilla. People want change, they need it now plus they want someone, anybody, to become responsible. We would like solutions.You felt the anger within the place of work, in shops, in traffic. Kids have acquired the atmosphere, and also you view it in schoolyards. The thing is it within the GOP primaries, where candidates' primary accusations of one another and also the leader is, "You are not the answer you have not been doing enough!" John McCain expressed dismay within the Boston Herald within the unparalleled degree of "negative campaigning and also the progressively personal attacks."The thing is it in journalism, where reporters appear less thinking about the details compared to catching someone using their pants lower. Inappropriate behavior is compensated as Hollywood executives are afraid that a person somewhere might write something negative about the subject.There's plenty -- puh-lenty! -- that should be done in the Academy. But that is a subject for an additional time.Meanwhile, the Academy must do something around the diversity problem. We do too all. Contact Timothy M. Grey at tim.grey@variety.com

NBC News launching radio network

NBC News is venturing into the radio business. The Peacock news division is partnering with Dial Global for a 24-hour radio news network that will combine original content with programming repurposed from NBC News TV properties. NBC News Radio will feature a mix of live breaking news simulcast from NBC and MSNBC with original commentary from the division's biggest names, including Brian Williams, David Gregory, Chuck Todd, Jim Miklaszewski and Andrea Mitchell. "NBC News is already America's number-one news network--now, through this new 24-hour radio news channel we can further expand our unparalleled reach and audience," said NBC News president Steve Capus. Dial Global produces more than 200 radio programs for 8,500 radio stations nationwide. Contact Variety Staff at news@variety.com

Broadway Talks With Nick Jonas

Broadway Talks With Nick Jonas February 29, 2012 Nick Jonas Calling all teenage women. Even if you are not only one, you should not miss Nick Jonas on March 4. Incorporated within the 92nd Street Y's Broadway Talks series, Jonas will discuss his career and Broadway role as J. Pierrepont Finch in "How you can achieve Business Without Really Trying." Jonas remains an actress since he will be a child, that is his fifth Broadway show. Exactly like you would never know, he's also labored in television and contains attacked a music career along with his brothers and sisters. Producer Jordan Roth, leader of Jujamcyn Theaters, will interview the star. Kaufmann Concert Hall, Lexington Avenue at 92nd Street, Manhattan. 8 p.m. $18$50. internet.92y.org. Broadway Talks With Nick Jonas February 29, 2012 Nick Jonas Calling all teenage women. Even if you are not only one, you should not miss Nick Jonas on March 4. Incorporated within the 92nd Street Y's Broadway Talks series, Jonas will discuss his career and Broadway role as J. Pierrepont Finch in "How you can achieve Business Without Really Trying." Jonas remains an actress since he will be a child, that is his fifth Broadway show. Exactly like you would never know, he's also labored in television and contains attacked a music career along with his brothers and sisters. Producer Jordan Roth, leader of Jujamcyn Theaters, will interview the star. Kaufmann Concert Hall, Lexington Avenue at 92nd Street, Manhattan. 8 p.m. $18$50. internet.92y.org.