Former HBO Exec Len Amato Joins MasterClass as Chief Content Officer

Variety

Len Amato was a NALIP Media Summit speaker in 2015.

Now, Amato, a 13-year veteran of HBO, joined MasterClass as chief content officer at the company that sells subscriptions to celebrity-led online courses. Read more here.

Tanya Saracho & UCP Announce Five Inaugural Ojalá Ignition Lab Fellows

Deadline

Showrunner Tanya Saracho and UCP (a division of Universal Studio Group) have selected 5 inaugural fellows for the Ojalá Ignition Lab: Diana Peralta, Luca Rojas, Melba Silwany, Samantha Renee Cordero, and Stephanie Adams-Santos.

Over the course of 26-weeks—beginning Jan. 11—, each fellow will have the opportunity to tell the story they want to tell and develop an original, polished television pilot script from start to finish, which will be commissioned by UCP. Read more here.

‘Cobra Kai’ Star Xolo Maridueña Explains Season 4 Ending and Teases ‘Blue Beetle’ Movie

Variety

As Miguel prepares to embark on a different journey in the upcoming “Cobra Kai” Season 5, Maridueña is getting ready for a new chapter in his life: He’s starring in the DC Comics film “Blue Beetle” as the first Latino superhero to headline his own movie. The movie, directed by Angel Manuel Soto, is set to hit theaters on Aug. 18, 2023, after originally being planned as an HBO Max release.

Xolo Maridueña speaks to Variety about “Cobra Kai” Season 4’s ending, what’s next for Miguel and how his time on the show has prepared him for “Blue Beetle.” Read more here.

Lionsgate Makes Round Of Hires & Promotions In Development & Production

Deadline

Jorge Alfaro joins Lionsgate as Director of Development, coming from El Estudio, a pan-regional production company operating out of Los Angeles, Mexico City, Buenos Aires and Madrid, where he was director, Creative Affairs, overseeing their entire feature film pipeline. He previously served as a development and production manager at Eugenio Derbez’s 3Pas Studios. His current projects include 48 Hours in Vegas, West Pointer from writer-director Rod Lurie with KJ Apa attached to star, and Shadow Force. Read more here.