| | | | | | What's news: It's magazine day! This week's cover star is the indefatigable Jake Gyllenhaal. Netflix and Ava DuVernay have settled a defamation suit related to When They See Us. Max has raised prices on its ad-free tiers. Netflix has greenlit a Peaky Blinders film. Chloë Sevigny is the latest star to join Luca Guadagnino's next film. Alec and Hilaria Baldwin, as well as their seven children, are set to appear in a TLC reality series. — Abid Rahman
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Jake Gyllenhaal Just Wants to Freak Himself Out ►On the cover. Whether the ever-busy Jake Gyllenhaal is getting ripped for Road House, prepping Othello or pie tasting on date night, the Presumed Innocent star can’t do anything halfway. Now, he tells THR's Rebecca Keegan, that he's looking to refocus that intensity: "The feeling I want to have is, can I do it?" The cover story. |
Why Broadway Never Bounced Back ►The great blight way. Broadway had been making progress toward a post-pandemic recovery, but new data shows halted momentum in the most recent season. THR's Caitlin Huston spoke to industry insiders who were hopeful that theater grosses could build year-over-year, but several factors (including fewer office workers) have kept numbers flat. The analysis.
—Postponed. With the future of Paramount Global uncertain, the company has opted to postpone a scheduled all-employee town hall that had been set for Wednesday. Paramount told employees that the town hall will now be held on Tuesday, June 25, suggesting that there should be more clarity on the company’s future by then. The story.
—🤝 Settlement 🤝 Netflix and Ava DuVernay have settled a lawsuit brought by a former New York City prosecutor who alleged she was defamed over her portrayal in When They See Us, a dramatized miniseries about the Central Park Five case. Under the deal, Netflix will move a disclaimer that certain events in the series were dramatized from the credits to the beginning of each episode. The agreement, announced on Tuesday, arrives as the trial was scheduled to start next week. In a statement, DuVernay said she wanted to take the case to trial. The story.
—Ouch. Max has raised its prices for monthly and yearly ad-free plans. The streamer's Max With Ads plan remains unchanged at $9.99 a month, or $99.99 for a year’s service. But the ad-free tiers will see their prices rise. The monthly plan for Max without commercials will increase by $1 per month to $16.99 a month. And the yearly ad-free plan will jump by $20 to $169.99 for the year. And the Ultimate Ad-Free tier will also rise by $1 to a new price of $20.99 per month. The story.
—First for FAST. Nielsen, the long-time arbiter of ratings on traditional TV, is getting into the ad-supported streaming game. The company has struck a deal with Lionsgate to provide measurement for the studio’s MovieSphere FAST channel. Both sides are touting the agreement as a first for a “major” FAST outlet as the free, ad-supported streaming market continues to grow. The story.
—Quibi or not Quibi. Jeffrey Katzenberg has raised a boatload of cash for his holding company WndrCo. The former Disney Studios chairman and Dreamworks founder and CEO has raised $460m for the investment firm he co-founded with Sujay Jaswa, across both seed and venture funds. WndrCo says it will use the cash to invest in “high-potential companies solving big problems across the future of work, consumer technology, cybersecurity, and developer infrastructure.” The story. |
Revolt's Post-Diddy Owner? Its Own Employees ►"We didn’t need anybody else." For the past few months, ever since Sean "Diddy" Combs sold his stake in the media company he co-founded, Revolt, there has been speculation about who the buyer was. Revolt CEO Detavio Samuels, speaking to THR's Alex Weprin, revealed that the answer is not another high-flying media or music mogul, nor is it a larger company looking to fold Revolt into its portfolio. Samuels says Revolt’s new ownership group is being led by its own employees. The story.
—More legal trouble. Kanye "Ye" West is under fire again after his former assistant Lauren Pisciotta filed a lawsuit accusing him of sexual harassment, breach of contract and wrongful termination. She is also suing the rapper and his various companies, including Yeezy, for fraud, unpaid wages and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Pisciotta reportedly collaborated with West on his Yeezy women’s clothing line as well as on his 2021 album Donda. The story.
—Sex trafficking claim. Terius Gesteelde-Diamant, the Grammy-winning songwriter and producer better known as The-Dream, has been sued for rape, sexual battery and sex trafficking by a former mentee. In a lawsuit filed on Tuesday, Chanaaz Mangroe accuses Gesteelde-Diamant of falsely promising to promote her career only to trap her in an “abusive, violent and manipulative relationship filled with physical assaults, violent sexual encounters, and horrific psychological manipulation." Gesteelde-Diamant has denied the allegations. The story.
—"I don’t enjoy living." Christina Applegate got candid about her struggles with depression caused by her multiple sclerosis diagnosis. On the latest episode of her podcast MeSsy, which was recorded back in January but was released on Tuesday, Applegate told co-host Jamie-Lynn Sigler that, at the moment, she was “in a depression.” “A real, fuck-it-all depression — like, a real depression, where it’s kind of scaring me too a little bit because it feels really fatalistic, it feels really ‘end of,'” she said. The story.
—"I’m healthy as hell. Stop the rumors." Martin Lawrence shot down concerns about his health after a viral clip of the actor from the Bad Boys: Ride or Die premiere in Los Angeles sparked speculation on social media. Lawrence and Will Smith appeared on Hot 97’s Ebro in the Morning on Tuesday, and host Ebro Darden directly asked about the internet speculation surrounding Lawrence’s health. “I’m fine. I’m in God’s hands,” Lawrence said, adding, “I’m blessed. You know, I’m glad to be waking up every day. I’m all good. No need for people to be concerned.” The story.
—"I’m lucky to be alive." Halsey revealed she has been privately battling serious health issues. The singer-songwriter, whose real name is Ashley Nicolette Frangipane, shared a series of videos on Instagram Tuesday, where she appears to be documenting medical treatments over an unknown period of time. Her specific diagnosis was not immediately clear. The story.
—"Racism and bigots are real." The Wire star Wendell Pierce took to social media to share that his application for a New York City apartment had been denied, which he alleged was due to his race. "Even with my proof of employment, bank statements and real estate holdings, a white apartment owner DENIED my application to rent the apartment…..in Harlem, of all places," Pierce wrote on X. Pierce listed in the same tweet all the high profile stage, screen and theater work he has done in the last year, and despite providing evidence of all these jobs, his application was still denied. The story. |
Marvel Eyes Shawn Levy to Direct Next 'Avengers' Movie ►Back in play. THR's Borys Kit reports that Shawn Levy, who is busy putting the final touches on Marvel’s Deadpool & Wolverine, is in contention to be the studio’s choice to direct the next Avengers film. The development is characterized as very early. Sources say Marvel and Levy are talking about the project and that the studio gave the latest script to the filmmaker late last week. But sources also say that other filmmakers are in the mix for the high-profile gig. The project was once going to be Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, but has since been re-conceived. The story.
—"This is one for the fans." Netflix has greenlit a Peaky Blinders movie. The feature will be based on the beloved BBC series that stars Oscar winner Cillian Murphy as Thomas Shelby, the war hero turned gangster who works his way up in the world of crime in 1900s Birmingham. While the film is described as a “continuation” of the series, plot details are being kept under wraps. Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight penned the screenplay and Murphy is returning. Tom Harper, who directed episodes in the series’ first season, is set to direct the film. The story.
—🎭 Third time's a charm 🎭 THR's Mia Galuppo has the scoop on Chloë Sevigny becoming the latest big name to join Luca Guadagnino's upcoming college-set thriller After the Hunt. Sevigny joins a cast that includes Julia Roberts, Andrew Garfield, Ayo Edebiri, and fellow Guadagnino regular Michael Stuhlbarg, with the film due to begin production this summer. Sevigny and the Italian filmmaker are re-teaming for a third time after working together on Bones & All and HBO series We Are Who We Are. Guadagnino is directing from a script penned by Nora Garrett. The story.
—📅 Awards run 📅 Sean Baker’s screwball sex worker comedy Anora, which won the Palme d’Or at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, will receive a fall theatrical release by distributor Neon. Baker’s film about a young sex worker’s romantic entanglement with the son of a Russian oligarch will get a theatrical release starting Oct. 18. The fall release places Anora in contention for awards consideration. The story.
—🎭 Three kings 🎭 THR scallywag Ryan Gajewski has the scoop on Pierce Brosnan, Mark Hamill and Ben Kingsley joining the voice cast of The King of Kings, an animated feature inspired by a posthumously published story from Charles Dickens. The film is loosely based on The Life of Our Lord, the Dickens short story that was published decades after the author’s death and focuses on the life and times of Jesus Christ. The three veteran actors will portray villains in the film from South Korea-based animation house Mofac Animation. The story.
—🤝 Film pact 🤝 Skydance Animation is getting into business with Oscar-winning filmmaker Don Hall. Hall, known for such Disney movies as Big Hero 6 and the original Moana, has closed a deal with the company. The pact will see him create, develop and produce an original animated feature for Skydance, although project details are not currently available. The story. |
Alec and Hilaria Baldwin Set for TLC Reality Series ►"This is the place we love the most." Alec and Hilaria Baldwin, as well as their seven children, are set to appear in a TLC reality series. “We’re inviting you into our home, to experience the ups and downs, the good and the bad, the wild and the crazy,” Alec Baldwin on his Instagram account. The series, with a working title The Baldwins, is due for release in 2025. The announcement of the reality series comes ahead of Baldwin facing a trial in July stemming from manslaughter charges over the accidental shooting death of Rust cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. The story.
—🏆 Congrats! 🏆 Netflix's Baby Reindeer, Amazon Prime Video's Mr. and Mrs. Smith and Paramount+'s Colin From Accounts were the top winners at the first-ever Gotham TV Awards, which took place in New York on Tuesday night. The first edition of the small-screen-centric ceremony also honored Law & Order: SVU star Mariska Hargitay, The Crown creator Peter Morgan and Expats creator Lulu Wang. The winners.
—🎭 Filling out the ranks 🎭 Showtime's Dexter: Original has cast James Martinez, Christina Milian and Alex Shimizu to play younger versions of Miami PD cops Angel Batista, Maria LaGuerta and Vince Masuka who previously featured in the original Dexter. Reno Wilson will also play a previously name-checked character that was never seen onscreen in the flagship series. Original Sin is set in 1991 Miami and revolves around Dexter (Patrick Gibson) as he goes from student to avenging serial killer with guidance from his father, Harry (Christian Slater). The story.
—🎭 Checking in 🎭 THR's Lesley Goldberg has the scoop on Paul Giamatti closing a deal to star in a Hostel TV series with the franchise’s Eli Roth, Chris Briggs and Mike Fleiss all returning for the project from Fifth Season, the studio behind Apple’s Severance. The Hostel show, which is currently in development and does not yet have a platform attached, is described as being a “modern adaptation” and an “elevated thriller” that’s also a “reinvention” of the horror franchise that launched in 2006 and spawned two sequels. The story.
—"15 is my new lucky number." Bravo is taking Watch What Happens Live into primetime for the show’s 15th anniversary. The cable network will celebrate the Andy Cohen-hosted late night show with a special episode at 9 p.m. ET/PT June 30 (a couple weeks shy of the actual 15th anniversary; WWHL premiered on July 16, 2009). Guests will be announced closer to the airdate, but Bravo is promising a “jam-packed lineup” of celebrities and Bravo stars. The story. |
TV Review: 'The Acolyte' ►"An intriguing change of pace." THR's Angie Han reviews Disney+'s The Acolyte. Set decades before the events of the Star Wars feature films, the dramatic thriller follows a Jedi knight (Lee Jung-jae) and his former Padawan (Amandla Stenberg) as they search for a mysterious Force user who's killing off Jedi one by one. The review.
—"The Abbott and Costello act is starting to wear thin." THR's Frank Scheck reviews Adil & Bilall's Bad Boys: Ride or Die. The returning directing team from Bad Boys 3 steer this latest installment of Will Smith and Martin Lawrence's high-octane action-comedy franchise, which began nearly three decades ago. The review. |
Capturing Butler, Hardy and Comer on the Set of 'The Bikeriders' ►Exclusive photos. THR has a series of photos shot by Kyle Bono Kaplan and Bryan Schutmaat from the new book Vandals: The Photography of The Bikeriders, which captures the Austin Butler, Tom Hardy and Jodie Comer on the set of the upcoming Jeff Nichols movie about an outlaw motorcycle gang. The photos.
In other news...
—Shondaland’s Black Barbie trailer details the creation of the influential dolls
—Anya Taylor-Joy, Jennifer Lawrence and Lily Collins go to Scotland for Dior’s Cruise 2025 show
—Julianne Hough, Utkarsh Ambudkar tapped to host Tony Awards preshow
—Crypto.com Arena, Peacock Theater going all in with reusable cups
—WWE rising star Tiffany Stratton signs with Paradigm
—Teri Hayden, agent for Gabriel Byrne and Brendan Gleeson, dies at 75
What else we're reading...
—Massimo Calabresi has an eye-opening interview with President Joe Biden that covers Gaza, Netanyahu, Ukraine, the election and Trump [Time]
—Alex Travelli helpfully gathers together the four big takeaways from India's recent election [NYT]
—Kathryn VanArendonk has a lengthy and revealing behind-the-scenes piece on Netflix's Love is Blind, profiling creator Chris Coelen and talking to several contestants [Vulture]
—Stuart Heritage is furious that Netflix quietly dropped cult Japanese auteur Takashi Miike’s new film Lumberjack the Monster on the service with zero fanfare [Guardian]
—Tim Loh does a deep dive on how heritage German footwear brand Birkenstock transformed itself into a luxury giant despite being riven by internal drama [Bloomberg]
Today...
...in 1998, Paramount unveiled the Jim Carrey high-concept dramedy The Truman Show in theaters. The film went on to nab three nominations at the 71st Academy Awards, including for Ed Harris in the supporting actor category, Peter Weir for director and Andrew Niccol for screenplay. The original review.
Today's birthdays: Kathleen Kennedy (71), Mark Wahlberg (53), Ron Livingston (57), Nick Kroll (46), David Hare (77), Tyler Bates (59), Santan Dave (26), Amanda Crew (38), Liza Weil (47), Navi Rawat (47), Troye Sivan (29), Jeff Garlin (62), Susan Lynch (53), Amélie Hoeferle (22), Chad Allen (50), Mark Harelik (73), Joel Smallbone (40), Sophie Lowe (34), Haluk Bilginer (70), Nancy Stafford (70), Emy Coligado (53), Elizabeth Faith Ludlow (35), Ana Villafañe (35), Nicholas Cirillo (27), Leslie Hendrix (64), Ryan Devlin (44), Mel Giedroyc (56), Beth Hall (66), Malcolm Sinclair (74), Pete Wentz (45), Lisa Cholodenko (60) |
| Erich Anderson, the familiar character actor who made his film debut in Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter, played Keri Russell's father on Felicity and recurred on shows from Steven Bochco, has died. He was 67. The obituary. |
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