On today’s episode, in our Cover Story segment, Variety’s Daniel D’Addario steps into the ring to capture the backstory of “The Smashing Machine” and Dwayne Johnson’s metamorphosis. Marc Malkin has a Just for Variety Red Carpet Rundown with George Clooney. And Todd Longwell makes the business case for business managers.

On today&rsquo;s episode, in our Cover Story segment, Variety&rsquo;s Daniel D&rsquo;Addario steps into the ring to capture the backstory of &ldquo;The Smashing Machine&rdquo; and Dwayne Johnson&rsquo;s metamorphosis. Marc Malkin has a Just for Variety Red Carpet Rundown with George Clooney. And Todd Longwell makes the business case for business managers.

Industry leaders converse about business deals, strategy and the future of media and entertainment.

Strictly Business

Variety journalists and industry leaders converse about news and trends in media and entertainment. "Daily Variety" episodes offer entertainment business headlines and news analysis, published Monday through Thursday. "Strictly Business" episodes, published on Friday, feature long-form interviews with the newsmakers, movers and shakers who drive the business of entertainment.

Variety journalists and industry leaders converse about news and trends in media and entertainment. "Daily Variety" episodes offer entertainment business headlines and news analysis, published Monday through Thursday. "Strictly Business" episodes, published on Friday, feature long-form interviews with the newsmakers, movers and shakers who drive the business of entertainment.

Variety's Strictly Business

 Daily Variety – Cover Story: Dwayne Johnson Feels Reborn With ‘The Smashing Machine’; George Clooney Talks AI on Red Carpet Rundown; Business Managers Elite 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/c7d27677-11c1-499f-aee3-b3930122ce7e/transcript

On today's episode, in our Box Office segment, Variety's Rebecca Rubin reports that the good news keeps on coming for the movie biz as "Spider Man: Brand New Day" soars in weekend two and "The Odyssey" becomes Christopher Nolan's highest-grossing film. Most important, the summer tally to date has already reached the $4 billion benchmark that was the norm pre-COVID.

On today's episode, in our Box Office segment, Variety's Rebecca Rubin reports that the good news keeps on coming for <a href="https://variety.com/2026/film/box-office/spiderman-brand-new-day-box-office-near-record-second-weekend-1236830807/">the movie biz as "Spider Man: Brand New Day" soars in weekend two and "The Odyssey" </a>becomes Christopher Nolan's highest-grossing film. Most important, the summer tally to date has already reached the $4 billion benchmark that was the norm pre-COVID.

Daily Variety -- Summer Box Office Will Surpass the $4 Billion Benchmark

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/779e4057-fef7-4d65-81f3-b4a20154b86b/transcript

On today’s episode, Variety’s Corbin Bolies reports from Las Vegas where he is covering the AI4 conference with a slew of top leaders and true believers. The excitement around generative AI is still as hot as the temperature in Sin City, but the polarizing effect of the technology is evident as well, Bolies reports.

On today&rsquo;s episode, Variety&rsquo;s Corbin Bolies reports from Las Vegas where he is <a href="https://variety.com/2026/film/news/inside-googles-efforts-creatives-hooked-on-ai-1236827944/">covering the AI4 conference with a slew of top leaders</a> and true believers. The excitement around generative AI is still as hot as the temperature in Sin City, but the polarizing effect of the technology is evident as well, Bolies reports.

Daily Variety -- Fear, Loathing and Endless Potential: AI4 Conference Takes Stock of Transformative Technologies

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/81c40db9-a998-46ff-90ce-b49e0117f57e/transcript

On today’s episode,Variety's Todd Spangler offers an update on where things stand for Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger process now that a judge has set a March trial start date for the antitrust case brought by 12 state attorneys general and the Writers Guild of America. “I think he feels like he’s been misunderstood,” Spangler says of Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison.

On today&rsquo;s episode,Variety's Todd Spangler offers an update on <a href="https://variety.com/2026/film/news/david-ellison-breaking-point-paramount-wb-merger-trial-1236828418/">where things stand for Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger process </a>now that a judge has set a March trial start date for the antitrust case brought by 12 state attorneys general and the Writers Guild of America. &ldquo;I think he feels like he&rsquo;s been misunderstood,&rdquo; Spangler says of Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison.

Daily Variety – It’s Tick-Tock Time for Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery Merger as Judge Sets March Trial Date

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/f520821e-8a5f-436c-aff9-b49d014a8ee1/transcript

Daily Variety – Cover Story: Dwayne Johnson Feels Reborn With ‘The Smashing Machine’; George Clooney Talks AI on Red Carpet Rundown; Business Managers Elite

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