Much like the beginning of a Congressional hearing on a hot potato political topic, expectations for the first day of talks between the WGA and AMPTP were high, but largely began with formalities.
Neither side provided full details, but sources suggested that the initial vibe from the room was that, despite all of the talk of a potential strike, a deal can be reached.
The initial conversations were described as “cordial” and “level-headed” with some highlighting a different negotiating style of Ellen Stutzman, the WGA West’s assistant director, who has subbed in for David Young, who is on medical leave. >>>Negotiation Format & Timetable |
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Dickensian Undertaking - Oppenheimer star Cillian Murphy is embarking on his next project with the feature adaptation of Claire Keegan’s acclaimed novel Small Things Like These. Murphy will star in and produce the film that’s been greenlighted by Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s Artists Equity, which will finance the project. Ciarán Hinds and Emily Watson are also starring in the drama whose source material has been likened to a Dickens tale. >>> Principal Photography Underway
Reese Finds 'Time' - In competition, Apple Studios is acquiring rights to Cesca Major’s latest novel Maybe Next Time. It will be developed as an Apple Original Film from Apple Studios, with Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine set to be producer. >>>'Groundhog Day'-Type Narrative
Easy Come, Not-So-Easy Go - James Jacoby spent years reporting on the Fed’s mysterious ways for an installment of the PBS series, Age of Easy Money. The documentary details the long series of decisions from the 2000s to today that kept interest rates artificially low. “Silicon Valley is going through a correction right now, in large part because easy money is over,” Jacoby told Deadline in an interview. >>> Massive Effects On The Entertainment Industry
New At Netflix - Netflix has closed a deal to develop the 2022 bestselling Riley Sager novel The House Across the Lake, developing it as a potential directing vehicle for Paul Feig. The pic will be produced by Berlanti-Schechter Films and Feigco, with Sarah Schechter, Greg Berlanti and Mike McGrath producing for Berlanti and Feig and Laura Fischer for Feigco. >>>'Rear Window'-Like Plot
In Brief - Sharp Objects developer/executive producer Marti Noxon is reuniting with eOne under a two-year exclusive first-look deal for television and new media… The WGA is telling its members in a new video what to expect in the coming weeks amid an expected media blackout on the negotiations… Universal will develop Lure , which Platinum Dunes is producing with Corin Hardy to direct the project currently being written by Chris Bernier. |
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Inspired by Tracy McMillan’s life, UnPrisoned is a half-hour comedy about a messy, but perfectionist relationship therapist and single mom whose life is turned right-side-up when her dad gets out of prison and moves in with her and her teenage son.
"There are 80 million Americans living with a criminal record, especially in communities of color and poor communities," says star Kerry Washington. "So... this is all of us. If we haven’t been part of the system itself - whether the prison system or foster care, these systems that are breaking us down and breaking us apart — then we love someone who's been part of these systems. So it’s so important to be making a show like this but also to be making it with joy.” >>>The Interview |
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Exclusive Kate McKinnon is set to star in Searchlight’s In The Blink of An Eye, sources tell Deadline. Oscar-winner Andrew Stanton is directing with Colby Day penning the script. Jared Ian Goldman is producing with Day exec producing. Exclusive Emmy winner Michael Chiklis will star alongside Danny Pino in Hotel Cocaine, MGM+’s upcoming crime thriller from creator Chris Brancato. Ciarán Hinds, Rory Kinnear and Tanya Moodie have joined the Season 2 cast of Prime Video’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power in recurring roles. In Brief - Julianne Hough will join Dancing with the Stars as a co-host while Alfonso Ribeiro has been upped to emcee of the franchise in its 32nd season… Alretha Thomas, Chet Anekwe and Damien Leake have joined the cast of Tyler Perry’s Assisted Living. |
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More News
💰 The British Film Institute today announced that it will grant $44M (£36.6M) in cash awards over three years to support fiction feature films as part of its new National Lottery Filmmaking Fund.
❓ At the premiere for the final season of Succession on Monday night, creator Jesse Armstrong held forth on which character — if any — might get a spinoff.
🚦 Jordan Peele won’t have one but two movies coming out in 2024: an untitled horror thriller on September 27 from his Monkeypaw Productions, and another coming out on Christmas Day that year. To be more specific, while the former is from his production company, the latter is being directed by the Oscar winner.
✊ The editorial staff at Fox affiliate WNYW-TV New York has voted unanimously to ratify a new four-year contract with the WGA East. The 52-member bargaining unit includes news writers, writer/producers, assignment editors, segment producers, news assistants and feed coordinators. |
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Trending  Eva Longoria is on a hot streak, a flamin' hot streak. Her directorial debut, Flamin’ Hot, was named the Audience Award winner in the SXSW Headliners section. Not only that, it was revealed that the Searchlight Pictures film will debut June 9 on both Hulu and Disney+.
🔻 Amazon is laying off another 9,000 workers as job cuts in the tech sector expand at a time of growing economic uncertainty. The new reduction follows cuts last fall and early this year at the company. |
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Obituaries
🕯 Paul Grant, an actor that appeared in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, has died. He was 56. Grant played an Ewok in the George Lucas franchise and a goblin in the Harry Potter franchise. 🕯 Ruben Igielko-Herrlich , a veteran film marketer who co-founded the global entertainment marketing group PropagandaGEM, has died of brain cancer. He was 62. Igielko co-founded PropagandaGEM in 1991 with his longtime friend and business partner, Anders Granath. During the next three decades, the company grew to have 10 offices in Europe, Asia, South America and the U.S. 🕯 Hollywood & Media Deaths In 2023: Photo Gallery & Obituaries | |
On the Radar
Tue - Jennifer Aniston on Fallon
Wed - Brian Cox on Fallon
Thu - TikTok CEO testifies before Congress; NCAA Sweet 16 begins; Lille Dialogues
Fri - Daisy Jones & The Six finale
Sun - Yellowjackets S2 premiere |
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"That's Brian Screaming" - Reality was imitating art on Monday night at the premiere for the fourth and final season of Succession when Brian Cox, channeling his inner Logan Roy, began shouting at the end of the red carpet; the commotion was loud enough that it disrupted Deadline’s interview with Fisher Stevens, who plays consigliere Hugo Baker on the Emmy-winning HBO series.
"That’s Brian screaming," narrated Stevens, "He’s having a good time. He’s enjoying his final premiere of the show. Sorry, that was interesting. I wonder who he’s screaming at?" |
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