| | | | | | What's news: A date has been set for Sean Combs' sex trafficking trial. Starz and Britbox are offering a streaming bundle deal. E! will be the new home of the Critics Choice Awards. Netflix has renewed Nobody Wants This and The Diplomat. John Mulaney is set to host a live variety show for Netflix. DirecTV is launching a FAST channel. — Abid Rahman
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Los Angeles: City of Social Media Stars ►The picture that broke the internet. Social media is the sort of career you can truly do from anywhere in the world. And while TikTok (and its brethren) have allowed for folks from across the globe to find a following, there’s still something about Los Angeles that draws budding digital talent. Content creators come to Tinseltown in search of fame, money, and representation — and in celebration of THR's first annual Creators’ Issue, we gathered the most successful of the bunch for an influencers ball. The story.
—How to extend your 15 minutes of fame. Every time someone goes unexpectedly viral, the clock starts ticking on extending that sudden fame into a full-fledged career. Many have flamed out trying (think Rebecca Black, Alex From Target and “Cash me outside” girl) and some, like Hawk Tuah Girl, are having a bit more luck. THR's Carly Thomas spoke to experts and influencers who weigh in on how to take a viral moment and transform it into a lucrative content-creator career. The story.
—Meet the ultimate influencer. You. In recent weeks, Meta and Snapchat have each unveiled functions that turn users’ selfies into AI-generated avatars. THR's Benjamin Svetkey writes that there may be a lot more going on here than new ways to goof off on the internet. The story.
—The trouble with tradwives. TikTok’s old-school housewives paint a rosy picture of their lives. For THR, Avery Stone spoke to ex-tradwives and influencer moms who tell a vastly different story. The story.
—Are red carpet influencers worth it? Influencers are taking over Hollywood premieres, junkets and campaigns, but even the execs who court them find it hard to measure the upside, write THR's Chris Gardner and Kirsten Chuba. The story. |
Sean Combs' Sex Trafficking Trial Date Set ►The latest. Sean “Diddy” Combs' trial on charges of sex trafficking and racketeering is set to begin on May 5, 2025. While the trial date was set, prosecutors said their investigation is “very much ongoing” and that it’s possible a superseding indictment will be filed, which could prolong the trial and discovery dates. Driven from a Brooklyn jail, the rapper and mogul appeared in Manhattan federal court Thursday in front of Judge Arun Subramanian. His family, including his mother and six of his children, were in attendance. Combs, wearing an all-tan prison outfit, smiled and waved at family as he walked in and hugged his attorneys. The story.
—Suit filed. Lionsgate has been sued for sex discrimination by a former director of development for Renegade Entertainment, who alleges she was illegally terminated because she took maternity leave. In a lawsuit filed on Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court, Susan Merwin alleges the development department was run like a “boy’s club.” She seeks unspecified damages in the complaint that names Renegade, which is part of a Lionsgate division encompassing its unscripted TV arm Pilgrim Media Group and eOne’s unscripted groups Blackfin and Daisybeck Studios. The story.
—🤝 First-look deal 🤝 Sony Pictures Television is adding to its roster of deals. Emily Mortimer and Alessandro Nivola have signed a first-look agreement with the studio via their King Bee Productions. Under the deal, the married couple will develop and produce scripted TV projects both for Sony’s U.S. studio and its international production group. The pact with King Bee Productions follows a raft of first-look deals Sony recently signed with writers and comedians including Chris Gethard, Julie Klausner, Scott Aukerman and several others. The story.
—🤝 Pukka deal, innit 🤝 Starz and BritBox announced a new partnership on Thursday for what is perhaps the most niche bundle in streaming. Now, via the Starz website, viewers with $14.99 a month to spare can access both digital platforms via one subscription — at a 25 percent discount from subscribing to both separately. Starz, of course, is the U.S. cable brand behind the Outlander and Power franchises. BritBox is the streaming-only platform for British programming, launched in the U.S. in 2017 by BBC Studios and ITV and now solely owned by the former. The story.
—FAST love. DirecTV is getting into the FAST channel business — no satellite dish necessary. The satellite-TV service is launching a free, ad-supported streaming platform called MyFree DirecTV. It’s slated to go live on Nov. 15 with programming that includes a host unscripted shows from A+E Networks — Pawn Stars, American Pickers, Ice Road Truckers and The First 48 among them — and other titles. The story.
—On the move. The Critics Choice Awards, which will mark their 30th anniversary in 2025, will air on E! on Jan. 12. The Critics Choice Association struck a new deal with the NBCUniversal-owned cable network after the past seven telecasts aired on The CW. Chelsea Handler will serve as host for the 2025 ceremony, which is set to take place at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica. Handler has hosted the past two Critics Choice Awards. The story. |
Netflix's Content Chief: "We Are Not Changing Our Compensation Model" ►"Our model works great for talent." Will Netflix change how it pays talent for its series and films? While there may be a “few bespoke deals,” don’t expect any major changes. That is according to Netflix chief content officer Bela Bajaria, who was asked about the streaming giant’s approach to compensation at the Bloomberg Screentime conference Thursday. The executive suggested that the entertainment press is trying to make a mountain out of a molehill, and that the small number of one-off deals where talent “was interested in the opportunity” are not indicative of any larger change. The story.
—Quick as you like. Netflix has renewed its critically acclaimed, political thriller The Diplomat for a third season, three weeks before season two starts streaming on Oct. 31. Bela Bajaria shared the news while speaking at the Bloomberg Screentime conference. The six-episode second season finds Keri Russell’s Ambassador Kate Wyler and her team at the U.S. embassy in the U.K. dealing with the fallout from an explosion at the end of season one. The first season racked up nearly 174m hours viewed in the four weeks after its premiere. The story.
—Everybody wants this. Bajaria also announced that Netflix has renewed its rom-com series Nobody Wants This for a second season. Season two of Nobody Wants This will also have new showrunners, with Jenni Konner and Bruce Eric Kaplan taking over from Jack Burditt. Series creator Erin Foster remains an executive producer and writer on the show. The renewal for Nobody Wants This comes two weeks after its premiere on Netflix. The series, which stars Kristen Bell and Adam Brody, debuted in second place on the streamer’s global rankings of English-language series and ascended to the top spot for the week of Sept. 30-Oct. 6. The story.
—John Morelaney. Bajaria was on a roll on Thursday, the exec also revealing that John Mulaney is returning to Netflix for a new live variety talk show. Hoping to build off John Mulaney Presents: Everybody’s in LA, the talk show concept Mulaney hosted for the service earlier this year, the streamer will launch a weekly show with the comedian in early 2025. Mulaney will also work as executive producer and co-showrunner on the show, although specific details are still under wraps. The story. |
Heidi Fleiss to Star in Sheila Nevins-Produced Docuseries ►"People will see and hear the truth." THR's Gary Baum has the big scoop on Heidi Fleiss becoming the next sensational 1990s news phenomenon to get the in-depth doc treatment. Sheila Nevins, the former longtime head of HBO's documentary programming, will produce the multipart project, which is set to be helmed by Andrew Renzi, director of recent non-fiction narratives about Jake Paul (for Netflix) and the brand Von Dutch (for Hulu). Fleiss, the so-called “Hollywood Madam,” was sent to federal prison for running an upscale prostitution ring catering to the rich and famous. She now lives on the outskirts of a small Nevada town, where she spends her days rescuing and rehabilitating macaws. The story.
—🎭 Four more 🎭 The staff of Peacock's mockumentary follow-up to The Office is growing. The show from U.S. Office creator Greg Daniels and Michael Koman has added Gbemisola Ikumelo, Alex Edelman, Tim Key and Eric Rahill to its ensemble. They join the previously cast Domhnall Gleeson and Sabrina Impacciatore, along with Melvin Gregg, Chelsea Frei and Ramona Young. In keeping with Office tradition, three of the newly cast actors — Ikumelo, Edelman and Rahill — are also writers on the series. The story.
—🎭 Heading to the Emerald Isle 🎭 Alicia Silverstone will star in and serve as an executive producer of Irish Blood, a murder-mystery drama from AMC Networks' streamer Acorn TV. She’ll play Fiona Sharpe, a Los Angeles divorce lawyer who receives a letter from her estranged father and travels to Ireland to uncover the mystery of his disappearance. Filming on the six-episode series has begun in Dublin. Irish Blood’s cast also features Wendy Crewson, Jason O’Mara, Dearbhla Molloy, Simone Kirby, Ruth Codd and Leonardo Taiwo. The story.
—The Aaron Pierre effect. Netflix’s limited series The Perfect Couple and its movie Rebel Ridge ranked first and second overall on Nielsen’s streaming charts for the week of Sept. 9-15, just as they did over the prior seven days. The Perfect Couple drew 1.97b minutes of viewing time (up a bit from 1.91b), and Rebel Ridge grew to 1.28b minutes from 1.11b for its premiere week. Also showing significant growth: Hulu’s unscripted show The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, which improved by 78 percent week to week and broke into the overall top 10 with 729m minutes of viewing. The ratings. |
Henry Cavill to Star in Amazon's 'Voltron' ►🎭 Supes to Defender of the Universe 🎭 THR's Borys Kit has the big scoop on Henry Cavill coming aboard to topline Amazon MGM's Voltron, the live-action feature based on the incredibly popular animated series. Rawson Marshall Thurber is directing and also wrote the script with Ellen Shanman. The plot details for the film version are unclear, as is Cavill's character. Daniel Quinn-Toye, the newcomer who impressed the studio and director with his West End work opposite Tom Holland, also has a leading role. The story.
—🎭 In-demand 🎭 Borys also has the scoop on Kyle Chandler joining Ben Affleck and Matt Damon in RIP, a crime thriller Joe Carnahan is directing for Netflix. Chandler joins a call sheet that also includes Sasha Calle, Nestor Carbonell, Catalina Sandino Moreno, and singer-turned-actress Teyana Taylor. Chandler made headlines in recent weeks with his casting as classic DC superhero Hal Jordan in HBO and DC Studios’ high-profile series Lanterns. The story.
—🎭 Diving in 🎭 Kevin Costner and his Territory Pictures are teaming with Scott Steindorff and his Stone Village Films on surf drama Headhunters. The Oscar-winner will star, produce and co-write the film, with cinematographer Steven Holleran making his feature directorial debut on the film based on an idea he originated. Described as a mashup that combines the “kinetic energy of surf culture with the suspense of horror,” Headhunters casts Costner as Lazer, a washed-up American ex-pat with a mysterious past who finds himself living in Bali, Indonesia. The story. |
Quinta Brunson on 'Abbott Elementary' Return, 'Sunny' Crossover ►"Our shows have very different tones, and that’s what I like about [Sunny]." For THR, Brande Victorian spoke to Abbott Elementary creator and star Quinta Brunson about season four of the hit ABC comedy. Brunson teases what the new season holds for her character Janine and Tyler James Williams' Gregory, and reveals the one Philly celeb she hasn’t asked to guest star. Warning: Spoilers! The interview.
—"With a show like this, I feel like it’s investing in the social progress and in women’s stories so that we can move the needle forward." THR's Christy Piña spoke to Juliana Aidén Martinez on joining the cast of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit for season 26. Martinez also opens up about who her character Kate Silva is, why Mariska Hargitay is "the biggest feminist icon," SVU season 26’s “message of hope,” the Emmy-winning The Bear actress she’d love to guest star on the NBC show and more. The interview.
—"This is an amusement park ride where, even while reading the pilot, I was laughing." For THR, Max Gao spoke to Vince Vaughn and Bill Lawrence about the season finale of Apple TV+'s Bad Monkey. The duo discuss why they jumped at the chance to tackle Carl Hiaasen’s surreal, satire-filled character piece for streaming TV — their three-season plan and what (hopefully) comes next. Warning: Spoilers! The interview.
—"It triggered everything." For THR, Ronda Racha Penrice spoke to actor Norbert Leo Butz and writer Domonique Foxworth about the fifth episode of the FX series American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez. The duo break down the pivotal Bill Belichick episode. Warning: Spoilers! The interview.
—"When I deliver lines, I always like to keep secrets of what she’s really thinking." THR's Brian Davids spoke to actress Lauren LaVera about her new film Terrifier 3. LaVera, described as the heart and soul of the Terrifier franchise, discusses the budgetary glow-up between Terrifier 2 and Terrifier 3, Sienna’s mental state in the five years between films and the franchise’s endgame. The interview. |
Film Review: 'Lonely Planet' ►"Fails to ignite." THR's Angie Han reviews Susannah Grant's Lonely Planet. In this Netflix feature, a novelist (Laura Dern) struggling with her latest manuscript and a handsome younger financier (Liam Hemsworth) with a bestselling-author girlfriend strike up a romance after meeting at a writers' retreat in Morocco. The review.
—"An absorbing study of a slippery figure." THR's Lovia Gyarkye reviews Robinson Devor's Suburban Fury. In his latest feature, Devor weaves archival footage and exclusive interviews with Sara Jane Moore to figure out how a seemingly ordinary mother became an FBI informant and later a radical. The review. |
Thank Pod It's Friday ►All the latest content from THR's podcast studio.
—It Happened in Hollywood. THR senior writer Seth Abramovitch goes behind the scenes of the pop culture moments that shaped Hollywood history. In this episode, Seth spoke to John Carpenter. The master filmmaker discusses the making of his 1988 paranoid sci-fi classic They Live. Listen here.
In other news...
—Peter finds love in deleted Deadpool & Wolverine scene
—Martha Stewart dishes on insider trading scandal in Martha Netflix doc trailer
—Jude Law tracks down neo-Nazi gang in The Order trailer
—Voyager character Harry S.L. Kim returns in Star Trek: Lower Decks final season trailer
—Gladiator II set for Asian premiere at Tokyo International Film Festival
—Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively donate $1m to Feeding America for hurricane relief
—Nicole Scherzinger signs with CAA
—Peter E. Strauss, executive at Lionsgate and Mandalay Pictures, dies at 83
What else we're reading...
—Henry Grabar writes that due to the vagaries of climate migration, no hurricane will make rich people leave Florida [Slate]
—Patricia Hernandez writes that MrBeast can’t shake his controversies — and it’s costing him his fans [Polygon]
—Josef Adalian explains why eighteen-month gaps between seasons are the new normal in television [Vulture]
—Christi Carras talks to Hollywood veterans who make a point of being brutally honest with the next generation about the industry's prospects [LAT]
—Here's your Friday list: "10 of the best films about U.S. presidential elections" [BBC]
Today...
...in 1975, viewers tuned in to NBC’s sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live for the first time. The original review.
Today's birthdays: Amitabh Bachchan (82), Cardi B (32), Matt Bomer (47), Justin Lin (53), Michelle Trachtenberg (39), Emily Deschanel (48), Joan Cusack (62), Jane Krakowski (56), Bae Doona (45), Shawn Ryan (58), Elizabeth Meriwether (43), Claudia Black (52), Constance Zimmer (54), Stephen Moyer (55), David Morse (71), Lennie James (59), Dawn French (67), Louis Ozawa (49), Catlin Adams (74), Artie Lange (57), Wes Chatham (46), Martha MacIsaac (40), Sean Patrick Flanery (59), Trevor Donovan (42), Nat Faxon (49), Bradley James (41), Humphrey Ker (42), Julie McNiven (44), Brandon Flynn (31), Antony Varghese (35), Takeshi Kaneshiro (51), Tanya Haden (53), Robert Christopher Riley (44) |
| Ethel Kennedy, the wife of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy who raised their 11 children after he was assassinated and remained dedicated to social causes and the family’s legacy for decades thereafter, has died. She was 96. The obituary. |
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