| | | | | | What's news: Ángel Manuel Soto will direct a movie adaptation of video game Just Cause. Kerry Washington and Glenn Close have joined the cast of Knives Out 3. Nicholas Galitzine has been cast as He-Man. Nelson Peltz has sold his stake in Disney. Vox Media and The Atlantic have made deals with OpenAI. — Abid Rahman
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'Furiosa' Box Office Puts Brakes on Next 'Mad Max' Movie ►End of the Fury road? After Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga bowed to a muted $32m domestically for the four-day Memorial Day weekend and $36.5m overseas, THR's Pamela McClintock and Aaron Couch write that film's performance diminishes hopes for Mad Max: The Wasteland, another installment Max filmmaker George Miller has been toying with for years. Miller and Nico Lathouris wrote the scripts for both The Wasteland and Furiosa as part of the development process of 2015's Fury Road, but another film may not get past the starting line. The story.
—"Some people who were not ready to speak out in 2020 now appear ready to do so in 2024." Prosecutors in the Harvey Weinstein case say they may issue a new indictment against the former mogul, as there may be more women who come out against him. Assistant D.A. Nicole Blumberg disclosed this as she mentioned a letter filed with Judge Curtis Farber asking the judge to direct Weinstein’s defense counsel to refrain from making public statements about witnesses, for fear of scaring off the additional women who may now bring claims. The story.
—"Every major company that has a sports media component will want to look at this." Former ESPN chief John Skipper and ex Turner Sports head David Levy are teaming up to bring a new women's basketball league to the market in the hopes of attracting the streamers and networks. Skipper and Levy are among the investors in Unrivaled, a three-on-three women’s basketball league co-founded by WNBA stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier. Unrivaled will launch in January 2025, and Levy and Skipper will spearhead its media rights and sponsorship deals. The story.
—🤝 Rush to make deals 🤝 Vox Media and The Atlantic have become the latest publishers to strike a deal with OpenAI. At Vox Media, which owns Vox, The Verge, Eater, New York Magazine, The Cut, Vulture and SB Nation, articles from the sites will receive brand attribution and audience referrals within ChatGPT. Vox Media’s archives will also be used to “enhance” ChatGPT’s technology and the publication will use OpenAI to enhance its searchable gift guide from The Strategist and use it as part of its first-party data ad platform, among other uses. The story.
—Exit. Billionaire activist investor Nelson Peltz has sold his stake in Disney, nearly two months after losing a bruising and expensive proxy battle with the entertainment giant. According to reports Wednesday, Peltz, the founding partner of hedge fund Trian Partners, had disposed of his entire stake in Disney for $120 a share, worth $1b. The story. |
Why FAST Services Are No Longer the Bargain Bin of Streaming ►"Free is a great driver to get people to try something." Free ad-supported streaming television services such as Tubi, Pluto TV and The Roku Channel have quickly gained users thanks to the low barrier of entry (they’re free!) — and they’re bulking up on their programming, too. With lower costs than paid services, thanks to their massive libraries of in-house and licensed content, THR's Caitlin Huston looks at the quiet rise of FAST platforms and their rather promising future. The analysis.
—All change. There is a big change at the helm of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Wednesday. Jacqueline Stewart, the distinguished academic and TCM host who has led the museum since July 2022, is being replaced by Amy Homma, who has been with the museum for five years, most recently as its chief audience officer. The story.
—"Since 2009, I have wanted a seat on the other side of the table." Tony Award winner LaChanze is launching her own multimedia production company. LaChanze Productions will seek to produce Broadway and other commercial theater projects, with an eye to original works that bring new talent to the stage. All current projects in development are plays and musicals, but the company also plans to expand into film and television as well. The story.
—Defrauded. A lawsuit has been filed against the sons of baseball legend Roberto Clemente, who allegedly defrauded an indie production company by selling it the rights to a biopic of their father despite Legendary Pictures having already optioned the film. That production banner, Inside the Park, in a complaint filed on Tuesday, says it developed the movie for over two years only for it to fall apart after learning that the endeavor was solely meant to “generate renewed interest and publicity” in the hall-of-famer for another project. The story. |
After Cannes' Viral Red Carpet Mishaps, Will Anything Change? ►French shrug. Following viral videos of Kelly Rowland and other women of color being forcefully ushered off the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival, insiders tell THR's Chris Gardner that the behavior, while troubling, is de rigueur for the famous fest that has often courted carpet-related controversies. The story.
—"These are exactly the same outrageous claims that led us to sue this gang of conspirators." Nick Carter has maintained his innocence following the release of Investigation Discovery’s Fallen Idols: Aaron and Nick Carter, which aired Monday and Tuesday night. The four-part docuseries featured interviews with former Dream pop group member Melissa Schuman, Shannon “Shay” Ruth and Ashley Repp, three women who have come forward and accused the Backstreet Boys member of sexual assault. The story.
—"I get the toxic thing, but I still like a real man." Jerry Seinfeld said he is nostalgic for the “agreed-upon hierarchy” of American culture in the 1960s, adding that he misses “dominant masculinity.” In a new interview, the veteran comedian said he feels cultural hierarchy has "absolutely vaporized in today’s moment." "That is why people lean on the horn and drive in the crazy way that they drive," he continued. "Because we have no sense of hierarchy. And as humans, we don’t really feel comfortable like that." The story.
—Savage attack. A Hollywood special effects makeup artist has been taken out of intensive care at a Los Angeles hospital after being stabbed multiple times inside her home by a man her friends say is an ex-boyfriend. Allie Shehorn was discovered bleeding out on May 23 at her home in the Shadow Hills neighborhood by a friend. The 35-year-old, who has worked on Hollywood productions like Babylon and Rebel Moon, had taken out a restraining order on her alleged assailant, and he had been released from jail days before the attack, friends said. The story. |
'Exorcist' Shifts Gears With Mike Flanagan to Direct New Take ►Hard reset. The Exorcist franchise is getting a makeover following the polarizing response to last year’s The Exorcist: Believer. Horror maestro Mike Flanagan will write, direct and produce what Blumhouse is describing as a “radical new take” on the franchise, one that will be set in the Exorcist universe but not a sequel to Believer. Flanagan’s hiring is a notable change in direction that comes nearly three years after Universal announced a $400m megadeal that would allow it to make a trilogy of Exorcist films to be helmed by David Gordon Green. The story.
—Moving forward. Square Enix and Avalanche Studios' hit video game franchise Just Cause has landed at Universal, with Blue Beetle director Ángel Manuel Soto set to helm the adaptation. Kelly McCormick and David Leitch, the producing duo behind the studio’s The Fall Guy and Nobody, will produce through their 87North banner. The company has a first-look deal with Universal. Since its 2006 debut, the Just Cause video game puts players on deadly missions as Rico Rodriguez, an operative who is a regime change specialist. The story.
—🎭 Stacked 🎭 Kerry Washington and Glenn Close are the latest stars to board the new Knives Out mystery movie. The actresses have joined the all-star cast of Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, Rian Johnson’s thriller headlined by Daniel Craig. The Netflix feature has been on a casting tear in the past week, furiously sewing up deals as it heads toward an early June production start in the U.K. Challengers’ Josh O’Connor, Civil War actress Cailee Spaeny, Ripley star Andrew Scott are already signed up for the starry ensemble piece. The story.
—🎭 Filling out 🎭 Universal and Working Title have announced new and returning cast members for Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, the fourth installment of the romcom series. Joining the cast are Isla Fisher, Josette Simon, Nico Parker and Leila Farzad. Sarah Solemani, Sally Phillips, Shirley Henderson and James Callis will reprise their roles as Bridget’s friends, alongside Gemma Jones and Jim Broadbent, who return as Bridget’s mother and father. Already announced to return are Renée Zellweger and Hugh Grant. Emma Thompson, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Leo Woodall will also appear in the film. The story.
—🎭 He's HIM 🎭 Rising Brit star Nicholas Galitzine has been cast as He-Man in Amazon MGM Studios' live-action Masters of the Universe movie. The film centers on Price Adam of Eternia who, thanks to his Power Sword, turns into He-Man and is imbued with superhuman strength and abilities, which he uses to defend his native planet and Castle Grayskull. Travis Knight is set to direct from a screenplay by Chris Butler. Mattel Films’ Robbie Brenner and Escape Artists’ Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal and Steve Tisch are producing. The story.
—🎭 Leads found 🎭 Liza Weil, Douglas Smith and Noah Parker are set to star in the dark comedy feature Lunar Sway. Nick Butler is writing and directing the movie that hails from Cloudy Pictures Inc., with development funding from the Canada Council for the Arts. Lucas Meeuse and Izad Etemadi serve as producers, while Robin Cass executive produces. Lunar Sway centers on Cliff (Parker), who is struggling with his love life in a desert town when he unexpectedly connects with his estranged birth mother (Weil). The story. |
'Minecraft' TV Series in the Works at Netflix ►It's happening. Netflix and Mojang Studios are teaming to develop a CG-animated TV series based on the Minecraft franchise. Details on the potential series, which was announced Thursday as part of the 15th anniversary of the game, are slim other than it will feature an original story with new characters that shows the Minecraft world in a new light. WildBrain, the studio behind Netflix’s Sonic Prime, will handle the animation for the series. The story.
—🎭 Betting big 🎭 Netflix has unveiled the ensemble cast for BET, a new live action TV adaptation of the hit Japanese manga thriller Kakegurui from showrunner Simon Barry and Boat Rocker Media. The live action series will be led by Miku Martineau, Ayo Solanke, Eve Edwards, Clara Alexandrova, Hunter Cardinal, Anwen O’Driscoll, Aviva Mongillo and Ryan Sutherland. The English language adaptation is set around an elite boarding school where everything is determined by underground gambling. The story.
—"The wait is finally over." THR's James Hibberd has the scoop on streaming date for season four of The Chosen. The biblical drama series that’s become a global sensation will begin releasing its fourth season Sunday, June 2. Initially, the drama will be exclusively available on its own The Chosen app, with additional streaming and broadcast options being announced soon. The fourth season was previously shown in theaters via Fathom Events screenings, becoming the first TV series to run an entire season in theatrical release. The story.
—🎭 Band camp 🎭 Generation creators Daniel and Ben Barnz have lined up their next show. The married couple has landed a pilot order at Amazon Prime Video for the marching band dramedy Band, with John Benjamin Hickey and Chanté Adams set to lead the ensemble cast. The potential series, like Max’s Generation, follows a group of teens as they navigate adolescence while finding a sense of belonging in their school’s marching band. Rounding out the Band cast are Miguel Ángel Garcia, Lynley Eilers, Alex Fitzalan and Henry Hunter Hall. The story. |
Wanna Go Viral? Dare to Take a Seat on Shannon Sharpe's Couch ►"I had no idea it would be like this." Shannon Sharpe, the NFL Hall of Famer turned sportscaster, launched Club Shay Shay — home to that stratospheric Katt Williams interview that became YouTube’s most viewed ever. Now, Sharpe tells THR's Seth Abramovitch that he’s dealing with the blowback of massive success. The interview.
—"People are actually going to hear her voice." For THR, Brande Victorian spoke to Nicole Brown's sisters and friends about the new Lifetime docuseries, The Life and Murder of Nicole Brown Simpson. The doc brings into focus Nicole’s world outside of O.J. Simpson through commentary from those closest to her, who recall to Brande the morning of her death and explain why they are doing the project 30 years later. The interview. |
TV Review: 'We Are Lady Parts' S2 ►"A sophomore outing just as fresh and funny as the first." THR's Angie Han reviews season two of Peacock's We Are Lady Parts. The all-female Muslim punk band enjoy new heights of success and face fresh competition in the second outing of the London-set musical comedy. The review.
—"Sweet and amusing, if also a bit bland and familiar." THR's chief TV critic Dan Fienberg reviews Netflix's Geek Girl. House of the Dragon star Emily Carey plays a self-described 'geek' who becomes a modeling sensation in this adaptation of Holly Smale's series of YA novels. The review.
—"An inspiring story weighed down by stiff telling." THR's Lovia Gyarkye reviews Joachim Rønning's Young Woman and the Sea. Daisy Ridley faces the seas in this portrait of Gertrude Ederle, the first woman to swim across the English Channel. The review.
In other news...
—The Bear S3 trailer: New restaurant, same stresses in the kitchen
—Zac Efron, Nicole Kidman have a surprise romance in A Family Affair trailer
—The Umbrella Academy S4 trailer: "The final timeline"
—Bad Boys: Ride or Die lands China release date
—John Lennon’s long-lost guitar fetches record $2.85m at auction
—Shanghai Film Festival unveils 2024 competition lineup
—Ellen DeGeneres announces full tour schedule
—Amazon MGM Studios taps Lauren Anderson to connect brands with its content
—Preposterously hot fitness influencer Steven Kelly shoots first underwear ad for Skims
—Inevitable Foundation announces $55k fellowship for disabled filmmakers
What else we're reading...
—A frustrated Bilge Ebiri writes that movies like Furiosa were never meant to save Hollywood, but make the world of cinema a richer place [Vulture]
—Joy Press considers the ongoing Baby Reindeer controversy, and looks at other occasions when "true story" TV shows went too far [Vanity Fair]
—Mary McNamara offers her take on the box office doom loop afflicting Hollywood at the moment, suggesting a litany of structural problems and magical thinking is hampering the business [LAT]
—Kyle Buchanan pulls out his crystal ball and tries to divine which movies from this year's Cannes Film Festival might become Oscar contenders [NYT]
—Amanda Mull writes that Dave & Buster’s big betting gambit marks a new, rather grim era of casino-fying everything in America [Bloomberg]
Today...
...in 2003, Pixar unveiled Finding Nemo, which opened to $70m in its first weekend, a then record debut for an animated title. The film went on to win the best animated feature Oscar at the 76th Academy Awards. The original review.
Today's birthdays: Idina Menzel (53), Remy Ma (44), CeeLo Green (49), Colm Meaney (71), DeWanda Wise (40), Antoine Fuqua (59), Duncan Jones (53), Joachim Rønning (52), Wynonna Judd (60), Stephen Tobolowsky (73), Jonah Hauer-King (29), Rachael Stirling (47), Ted McGinley (66), Sean Giambrone (25), Mark Sheppard (60), Jenny Mollen (45), Tadhg Murphy (45), John Ross Bowie (53), Ruta Lee (89), Jared Gilmore (24), Jake Short (27), Ralph Carter (63), Im Yoon-ah (34), Javicia Leslie (37), Will Peltz (38), Harry Enfield (63), Elyssa Davalos (65), Charlotte Brändström (65), Nicholas Ofczarek (53), Charlie Hall (27), Stephanie Hunt (35), Fahim Fazli (58), Tonya Pinkins (62) |
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