Upfronts 2026: What We Learned From TV's Biggest Platforms; Crafting the Music of ‘Heated Rivalry’

'Abbott Elementary' Exec Producer Justin Halpern Juggles Series and a New Novel

On today’s episode, writer and showrunner Justin Halpern speaks with Variety’s Michael Schneider about the road to writing his novel “Get Lost." Halpern also updates Schneider on a few TV development projects, including the status of high school memoir “I Suck at Girls” at Netflix [https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/i-suck-at-girls-tv-show-netflix-1236627791/]and the upcoming season of ABC’s “Abbott Elementary,” on which he is an EP. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Eddy Cue and Jerry Bruckheimer talk ‘F1’ Sequel – Brad Pitt ‘Would Like to Get in That Car Again’ – and Apple’s Evolution in Movies and TV in Cannes Lions Sitdown With Variety

On today’s episode, Apple content chief Eddy Cue and producer Jerry Bruckheimer [https://variety.com/2025/film/news/f1-apple-movie-strategy-tim-cook-lewis-hamilton-1236424270/]speak to Variety at the Cannes Lions festival [https://variety.com/t/cannes-lions/] about the tech giant’s influence in entertainment, how they’re working to get Brad Pitt back into a fast car for an “F1” movie sequel and how Apple’s incoming CEO feels about the company's expansion into TV and film. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Box Office: 'Toy Story 5' Opens Big and So Does Cannes Lions

On today’s episode, in our Box Office segment, Variety’s Rebecca Rubin breaks down 2026’s biggest weekend at the turnstiles to date with “Toy Story 5” [https://variety.com/2026/film/box-office/toy-story-5-global-box-office-debut-obsession-backroom-milestones-1236786638/] delivering the goods for Disney and Pixar. That turnout has lifted the summer-to-date box office to within striking distance of 2019. And the Cannes Lions festival [https://variety.com/t/cannes-lions/]gets off to a busy – and muggy – start on the Côte d'Azur. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Owen Gleiberman Unpacks Why We Love ‘Toy Story’: ‘Some of the Greatest Movies Ever Made About Childhood’

On today’s episode, Owen Gleiberman, Variety’s chief film critic, sings the praises of Pixar’s “Toy Story” movies [https://variety.com/2026/film/reviews/toy-story-5-review-tom-hanks-joan-cusack-tim-allen-1236779443/] as the fifth installment arrives in theaters on June 19. Pixar’s pioneering CG animated series, which began in 1995, amounts to “some of the greatest movies ever made about childhood,” Gleiberman enthuses. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Latino Donor Collaborative Makes the Business Case Why Hollywood Loses Money by Ignoring Latinos

On today's episode, Ana Valdez, president and CEO of the Latino Donor Collaborative, details the nonprofit organization's work with McKinsey & Co. on their latest report on Latino representation in mainstream movies and TV shows. [https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/latino-donor-collaborative-media-ana-valdez-1235385200/] The numbers are going in the wrong direction, and that means Hollywood is leaving money on the table, as Valdez explains. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]