Netflix made some noise in the unscripted world earlier this year when it hired Jeff Gaspin, the former NBCUniversal chief, as its new de facto reality boss.
The hire ostensibly signaled that the streamer wanted to step up its unscripted efforts and take on the broadcast networks when it comes to buying big entertainment formats.
During his time as NBC’s head of alternative entertainment, Gaspin developed series including The Apprentice and, after his promotion, buying The Voice. Netflix is now doubling down on efforts to find its version of The Voice.
“The difference from the past is we want to focus on bigger formats, more of what you would call broadcast-style shows versus the cable style shows,” he told Deadline.
Its next attempt to crack this genre is Building The Band. The series is essentially a search for the next great band with 50 talented singers competing for a spot. >>>Read The Interview |
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| Deadline Exclusives & Originals |
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Playing Blackjack With Jean Smart - It’s about 10 p.m. in Vegas before production retires for the night, and Jean Smart, Hannah Einbinder and the Hacks creative trio hit The Palm restaurant for dinner. Call time was 9:30 a.m., and everyone is exhausted. But when Smart sweeps in, it’s like an injection of fresh energy. She’s already gearing up for a session at the blackjack table later. >>> Vegas Set Visit
'23-'24 Broadcast Rankings - Football continues to act as the glue that holds the broadcast nets together, while Justin Hartley’s Tracker found more viewers this season than longtime victor NCIS. The 2023-24 Nielsen charts also reveal how Young Sheldon was able to go out on top, while many other CBS series remained in the total viewer top 20. >>>Top 50 Programs
'Oppenheimer' In Japan - USC School of Cinematic Arts Vice Dean of Faculty Akira Mizuta Lippit has shared with Deadline his thoughts on the pre- and post-release reactions to Oppenheimer in the market. Lippit — who is Japanese on his mother’s side and Jewish on his father’s — says the stakes of Oppenheimer and its reception couldn’t have been higher since the film forges a point of contact between those two cultures and ethnicities. >>> Guest Column
"Once-In-A-Generation Changes" - During the 2023 Hollywood strikes, the Los Angeles region’s share of national Film and TV employment fell to 27%, compared to 35% just the year before. The stat is from a new study, “Die Another Day”, Part 2 of Otis College Report on the Creative Economy. >>>Employment Drops 8%
Paramount Acquires Spec - Paramount Pictures acquired the original comedy feature Reality Vice from Katie Silberman. Ryan Reynolds’ Maximum Effort will produce the film alongside Entertainment 360’s Geoff Shaevitz and Silberman. >>>Reality Show Setting
Doc Talk Podcast: Ron Howard - Oscar-winning filmmaker Ron Howard is just back from the Cannes Film Festival, where he premiered his latest film, Jim Henson Idea Man. Ahead of the documentary’s launch Friday on Disney+, the director stops by Deadline’s Doc Talk podcast to share insights into his exploration of the Muppets creator, filmmaker and creative genius. >>>Listen
KMR Clients Still Waiting - In March, Deadline broke the news that KMR Talent was grappling with a “payment breakdown” that resulted in late payments to clients. While scores of commercial actors reported they were waiting to receive thousands of dollars in back pay, owner and president Mark Measures told Deadline that he was actively working his way out the situation to bring relief to his clients. As of today, they are still waiting. >>> Checks Bounce |
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In this week’s edition of Deadline's video series The Actor’s Side, Elizabeth Debicki downloads her experience playing Princess Diana in The Crown, the upcoming summer release of her horror film MaXXXine and working with director such as Baz Luhrmann, Guy Ritchie, Steve McQueen and Christopher Nolan. >>>Watch |
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Exclusive
Fresh off an Oscar nomination for her performance in Anatomy of a Fall, Sandra Hüller is set to join Ryan Gosling in Amazon MGM Studios' adaptation of Project Hail Mary.
Following the huge success of his Prime Video rom-coms The Idea of You and Red, White & Royal Blue, Nicholas Galitzine is staying in business with Amazon MGM, as he’s been tapped to star as He-Man in the live-action Masters of the Universe movie from the studio and Mattel Films.
Exclusive
The latest Knives Out sequel has added more star power to its ensemble. Emmy-nominated Kerry Washington is set to join Daniel Craig in Netflix’s Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery. Also joining is Eight time Academy Award nominee Glenn Close.
Six-time Tony winner Audra McDonald will return to Broadway this fall in one of musical theater’s greatest roles: “Mama” Rose of Gypsy. The revival will be directed by George C. Wolfe, with choreography by Camille A. Brown.
Exclusive
Wendy Crewson (Tracker) is set for a heavily-recurring role opposite Mamie Gummer, Caitlin Fitzgerald, Candice King and David Morse in We Were Liars, Prime Video’s series adaptation of E. Lockhart’s YA novel. |
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More News 🏀 Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav said execs “continue to talk to the NBA” about a renewal of rights, but even without pro hoops the company’s sports offerings would be “very robust.” Speaking at a Wall Street investor conference, Zaslav also addressed M&A and WBD's intent to be "opportunistic" amid increasing consolidation.
💬 During a Sony investor event last night, Sony Pictures Entertainment CEO Tony Vinciquerra did not directly address his company potentially acquiring Paramount Global, but he did discuss overall strategy. “We will not make investments that don’t complement our core strategy, and our strategy is to have more IP, more product, more library to sell," he said. "We’re not going to get into other businesses. We’re not going to get into a general entertainment streaming service."
🦍 It’s not all doom and gloom at the global box office as a handful of films reached milestones this week. 20th Century Studios/Disney’s Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes has topped $300M worldwide.
🧟♀️ Doctor Sleep filmmaker Mike Flanagan is officially writing, directing and producing “a radical new take” on The Exorcist in a new film with the genre producer and Morgan Creek.
🎟️ Broadway box office was down just a bit last week, about 3%, with the first week of the 2024-2025 season reporting a total gross of $35,295,405 for 34 productions. Total attendance was off just shy of 2% from the previous week, settling at 287,246. |
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On the Radar
Thu - Hacks S3 finale; Station 19 series finale; 9-1-1 S7 finale, Grey’s Anatomy S20 finale
Sun - Mayor Of Kingstown S3 premiere
Tue - Eric Weinberg arraigned |
| All Smiles - Joachim Ronning, Daisy Ridley and Jerry Bruckheimer attend the UK Gala Screening of Young Woman And The Sea in London. |
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