Table Of Content

06.15.2022 VARIETY ● 3 FEATURES P.4 8 - 5 6 nt Fli h a ar S es: o h S n; ma P.48 Best-Kept Secret er m m Zi Rhea Seehorn talks about her ess: buzzworthy run on “Better Dr Call Saul”; can her character ge) survive the final episodes? a p his By Michael Schneider T ni; ( o al S uit: P.56 Pictures Tell a Story S cy; n ge Photo collector and gallery e A owner Peter Fetterman shares m a his Hollywood story and h/A-Fr images from his new book eat By Claudia Eller H e e Kyl air: H cy; n e g A e m a Fr ms/A- a d A c M n e e ayl K p: u e k a M Artists; n o m m o c n U er/ ast P a c essi g: J n Styli P.48 er) ov C ( Cover photograph by Ramona Rosales Rhea Seehorn isn’t giving away much about her character’s fate in the finale of “Better Call Saul.” 4 ● CONTENTS 06.15.2022 F O C U S P.64 Scribes from some of awards season’s buzziest series spent a Night in the Writers’ Room discussing their craft P.73 Holly Robinson Peete on her career as she receives a Walk of Fame star BIZ + BUZZ 13 28 P. P.13 Disney’s Dana Walden takes on an expanded role in the wake of Peter Rice’s shocking exit P.18 Comcast, targeting some big game, hopes to satisfy its urge to merge P.24 Director Gaz Alazraki talks about his HBO Max “Father of the Bride” remake P.26 FX and USA Network are betting big on sports to woo viewers P.79 P.45 P.28 Prime Video’s “Bosch” gets fresh life with a spinoff on Amazon’s Freevee Groundbreaking series “Doc McStuffins,” featured in Variety’s Inclusion Impact Report, has been inspiring girls of color for a decade. OUR TOWN ARTISANS REVIEWS FILM TV “Lightyear” “The Old Man” P.115 P.117 30 39 111 113 115 117 P. P. P. p Pi P.30 Patrick Schwarzenegger drops a few P.111 “Lightyear” cinematographer Jeremy ck: a hints about his role in Amazon’s Lasky shares how the Pixar team m upcoming “The Boys” spinoff gave the story a film noir look Cor c M P.32 Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo reopen P.112 Costume designer Caroline Eselin nior; their Animal eatery in Los Angeles discusses “Father of the Bride” gowns ey Ju n P.35 Showbizzers partied at the Tonys, the P.113 “Evil” production team breaks down FACETIME P.118 Daryl Dis Time 100 Gala and the “Lightyear” bow series’ experiment of the soul McCormack ns: uffi St c VBPaulvbrdile.i,ct Lyao,t Vsio OAnLns. g M3e5ale6ils ,A ,N gCOrAe. 1e94m0 (0eU2nS5tP ,N Sao 1d. 44iv60is-0i8o42n30 o4, f0I SP4Se.N nRs e0kt0eu1 rB1n-u 5us5nin0dee9sl)is vi seM preaudbbilaleis. 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Typically, people don’t get fired when a complete mystery to many, including Rice, I’m things are going well. But, of course, there are excep- told. The move came as a total shock to the industry tions to any rule. and to the well-respected media executive, who is And when top executives do get fired, companies unusual in having spent his entire industry career typically go out of their way to make it appear that at one studio, 20th Century Fox, and then its suc- the person is “stepping down” or “resigning.” Not cessor company, Disney. so with Rice. As everyone now knows, Rice had absolutely no “It was very odd,” says a source who is very familiar idea what was about to happen when his boss called with the corporate machinations at Disney. “Usually, him into a meeting on June 8, and I hear he was told somebody gets to choose the narrative.” that Chapek wanted to discuss the Disney board Another source remarked how highly nonstandard meeting taking place in Orlando later this month, it also was for Disney’s board to release a vote of con- at which Rice was scheduled to make a presentation. fidence in Chapek and his top lieutenants the very Instead, in a conversation that lasted all of seven day it was reported that Rice was out. “The strength minutes, Chapek informed Rice that he was letting of the Walt Disney Co.’s businesses coming out of him go because he wasn’t a good fit for him or the “new the pandemic is a testament to Bob’s leadership and culture” at Disney. Rice pushed for specific examples of vision for the company’s future,” stated board chair E D I T O R- I N - C H I E F what Chapek was unhappy with, but no such answers Susan Arnold, further noting, “Bob and his leadership were forthcoming and the meeting was ended. team have the support and confidence of the board.” “Chapek just didn’t think he was his guy,” says a Again, weird timing. Why not just make that state- top industry source who is close with Rice. ment when Disney renews Chapek’s contract, as is Rice was flummoxed, according to other people I expected any day. spoke with, because ever since Chapek took over the Then again, Chapek himself has made question- CEO reins from Bob Iger in February 2020, he appar- able, highly controversial moves since becom- ently has done nothing but praise Rice, repeatedly ing CEO — think the release strategy for “Black telling him how important he was to Chapek and to Widow” that resulted in a suit against the company the Disney company. Rice supposedly never even by Scarlett Johansson for breach of contract; and received any constructive criticism. for not immediately taking a hard stance against Some press reports have suggested that Chapek Florida’s homophobic “Don’t Say Gay” legislation. Claudia Eller didn’t feel that Rice was collaborative enough, but All of Rice’s supporters in Hollywood believe, as if true, that was never directly communicated to his I do, that the executive will absolutely land another underling, according to those I spoke with. great job in no time. In fact, last August, Chapek extended Rice’s con- “Bar none, Peter is the best media executive in the tract for three more years based on how well the last 25 years,” says one pal, assuring, “He’ll be fine.” Rice had absolutely no idea what was about to happen when his boss called him into a meeting on June 8.”