CNN and Variety Unveil the Star-Studded Line Up for Variety & CNN Actors on Actors
THE EMMY® AWARD-WINNING FRANCHISE RETURNS ON WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3 WITH ALL-NEW CONVERSATIONS, STREAMING EXCLUSIVELY IN THE CNN APP
Participants Include: Jennifer Aniston, Jamie Lee Curtis, Sharon Stone, Bryan Cranston, Mariska Hargitay, Colman Domingo, Sally Field, Peter Dinklage, Claire Danes, Kerry Washington, Lisa Kudrow, Noah Wyle, Keke Palmer, Kit Harington, Tony Goldwyn, Elizabeth Banks, Josh Hutcherson, Bowen Yang, Rhea Seehorn, Tracy Morgan, Richard Gadd, Rachel Sennott, Sarah Pidgeon, Marcello Hernandez, Patrick Ball and Paul Anthony Kelly
NEW YORK – (June 1, 2026) – CNN and Variety revealed today the full lineup for Variety & CNN Actors on Actors, the Emmy® Award-winning interview franchise that pairs the year’s most compelling performers for candid conversations about craft, process, and the work driving this awards season. This marks the second season under the collaboration between CNN and Variety, with all-new episodes streaming June 3 at CNN.com/Watch and on the CNN app before premiering across Variety’s digital platforms.
“Following our town hall event with Timothée Chalamet last spring, Variety is thrilled to once again partner with CNN on the latest season of Actors on Actors,” said Ramin Setoodeh, co-president and co-editor-in-chief of Variety. “These conversations are sure to go viral in the days to come, and we can’t want for viewers to watch reunions of the stars of “Friends,” “Game of Thrones,” “Scandal” and “The Hunger Games” as well as other heartfelt and revealing encounters between some of the biggest actors in television.”
“This collaboration with Variety allows us to expand how we connect audiences with the talent and stories shaping the entertainment landscape,” said Amy Entelis, executive vice president for talent, CNN Originals and creative development for CNN Worldwide. “Actors on Actors continues to deliver distinctive, conversation-driving programming that resonates with CNN’s subscribers and generates lasting cultural impact.”
Variety & CNN Actors on Actors will begin rolling out on Wednesday, June 3, with one conversation premiering each day for 13 consecutive days. Full episodes will debut on CNN at 9:00am ET, followed by an 11:59pm ET premiere on Variety’s YouTube channel. Variety’s annual Actors on Actors print issue hits newsstands on June 3.
The Variety & CNN Actors on Actors pairings include:
- Wednesday, June 3:Jennifer Aniston (“The Morning Show”) and Lisa Kudrow (“The Comeback”)
- Thursday, June 4:Keke Palmer (“The Burbs”) and Sharon Stone (“Euphoria”)
- Friday, June 5:Kit Harington (“Industry”) and Peter Dinklage (“The Lowdown”)
- Saturday, June 6:Kerry Washington (“Imperfect Women”) and Tony Goldwyn (“Hacks,” “L&O”)
- Sunday, June 7:Paul Anthony Kelly (“Love Story”) and Patrick Ball (“The Pitt”)
- Monday, June 8:Bowen Yang (“SNL”) and Rachel Sennott (“I Love LA”)
- Tuesday, June 9:Bryan Cranston (“Malcolm in the Middle”) and Rhea Seehorn (“Pluribus”)
- Wednesday, June 10:Tracy Morgan (“The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins”) and Marcello Hernandez (“SNL”)
- Thursday, June 11:Elizabeth Banks (“The Miniature Wife”) and Josh Hutcherson (“I Love LA”)
Friday, June 12: Noah Wyle (“The Pitt”) and Sally Field (“Remarkably Bright Creatures”) - Saturday, June 13:Claire Danes (“The Beast in Me”) and Richard Gadd (“Half Man”)
- Sunday, June 14:Colman Domingo (“Euphoria,” “Four Seasons”) and Sarah Pidgeon (“Love Story”)
- Monday, June 15:Jamie Lee Curtis (“Scarpetta”) and Mariska Hargitay (“L&O”)
Throughout the season, CNN entertainment correspondent Elizabeth Wagmeister will present special content across CNN’s platforms, spotlighting the participants and the conversations that define Variety & CNN Actors on Actors.
For more exclusive content, follow @Variety and @StreamOnCNN across all social platforms.
Variety & CNN Actors on Actors is executive produced by Ramin Setoodeh and Donna Pennestri for Variety along with Amy Entelis and Roxanna Sherwood for CNN Originals.
The partnership builds on a growing slate of successful collaborations between CNN and Variety, including CNN & Variety Red Carpet Live, A CNN & Variety Town Hall Event: Timothée Chalamet and Matthew McConaughey, and the 23rd season of the Emmy® Award-winning Actors on Actors franchise. These programs are available to stream now at CNN.com/Watch or on the CNN app for CNN’s streaming subscribers.
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About Variety
Variety is the #1 entertainment news brand. Established in 1905, Variety is now celebrating 120 years of award-winning breaking news reporting, insightful award-season coverage, must-read feature spotlights, and intelligent analysis of the industry’s most prominent players, Variety remains the most trusted source for the business of global entertainment. Read by a highly engaged audience of industry insiders, executive level professionals and decision makers, Variety’s multi-platform content coverage expands across digital, mobile, social, print, as well as podcasts, branded content, data, events and summits. Variety is the vital read in every entertainment capital. Variety is a subsidiary of PME TopCo., a joint venture between Penske Media Corporation and Eldridge. For more information, please visit www.variety.com.
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