Latest in Donna Langley

Universal continued its motif from CinemaCon 2021 on Wednesday, spotlighting the work of movie theater workers during the studio’s presentation, pairing them with their favorite stars. It’s a classy way of paying homage to those in exhibition particularly after the industry was brought to its knees in 2020 to early…

In the first five minutes of his conversation with Universal Film Entertainment Group Chairman Donna Langley today at SXSW, CNN’s Frank Pallotta got to the aorta of what anyone in Hollywood wants to know from the studio boss: what’s the situation on theatrical-day-and-date, the state of moviegoing, and whether the…

Donna Langley, chair of Universal Filmed Entertainment, said the studio will accommodate a 100-day theatrical release for Christopher Nolan’s next film but that’s an exception not the rule as windows inevitably shorten. Separately, she said she expects fewer “stunting” day-and-date releases on Peacock, but more studio…

EXCLUSIVE: Universal Pictures has landed the right to finance and distribute the next film that Christopher Nolan will direct, based on his script about J. Robert Oppenheimer and his role in the development of the atom bomb. A theoretical physicist who became the director of the Los Alamos Laboratory, Oppenheimer…

EXCLUSIVE: Cher just tweeted out that on the eve of celebrating her 75th birthday Thursday, she’ll have her life story unfold on movie screens through Universal Pictures. It is a major effort with heavy hitters, and here’s what is happening. The as yet untitled film will be scripted by Oscar-winning screenwriter Eric R…

Frank Price, who serves as Chairman and CEO of Price Entertainment Inc., is retiring from his role as Chair of the USC School of Cinematic Arts Board of Councilors at the end of spring semester, with Donna Langley taking on the role for the year to come. Known as the Chairman of Universal Filmed Entertainment Group…

Universal has elevated two of the top-notch corporate communications execs in the biz. Cindy Gardner, who has been head of global communications for the past four years, has been promoted to the new role of Executive Vice President of NBCUniversal West Coast to support all lines of business across the West Coast and…

EXCLUSIVE: Jurassic World: Dominion began pre-production more than 18 months ago when the world was a very different place. The $165M Universal blockbuster wrapped this morning at the UK’s Pinewood Studios after an unprecedented shoot, which required 40,000 COVID tests, millions of dollars spent on protocols, and for…

Donna Langley, chairman of Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, and Ann Sarnoff, chair and CEO of Warner Bros had the same reaction Thursday when asked if their companies had any interest in buying movie theaters. They laughed. “We have no plans to do that currently,” Langley said, appearing with Sarnoff and CBS CEO G…

Universal Pictures has signed on to be the home for a biopic of iconic singer Madonna, who will direct her own story from a script she is writing with Oscar-winning Juno scribe Diablo Cody. Madonna will produce the film with Pascal Pictures’ Amy Pascal. Madonna will not act in the film, but she will lead a search for…

EXCLUSIVE: Senator Kamala Harris has long been tight with Hollywood, and yesterday Tinseltown's biggest donors handed over some very big bucks to the Democrats' vice presidential nominee. In a virtual fundraiser put together by Ryan Murphy, Disney TV Studios boss Dana Walden, PR ace Chrisette Hudlin and Laura Shell…

EXCLUSIVE: After a highly profitable collaboration with Bazalevs principal Timur Bekmambetov on the Screenlife film Unfriended ($1 million budget, $65 million worldwide gross), Universal and Bekmambetov have made a deal to partner on five more films shot in the format. Screenlife is a disruptive form of storytelling…