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What's news: The Devil Wears Prada 2 is tracking towards a $200m global opening. Howard Stern is challenging a lawsuit against him from his former executive assistant. WBD has unveiled a new employment contract for CFO Gunnar Weidenfels. Claire Danes will star in Netflix's Lovesick. And Universal Music Group will sell half of its stake in Spotify amid pressure from Bill Ackman. — Abid Rahman
Do you have THR's next big story? Confidentially share tips with us at tips@thr.com. |
Zaz's Pay Package Tripled to $165M in 2025►Securing the bag. Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav saw his compensation package soar to $165m in 2025, tripling the pay package he received in 2024. The package was driven by option awards that were part of a revised employment contract the executive inked last year, which incentivized him to pursue a strategic review and split for the company, which ultimately which resulted in WBD’s sale to Netflix, and then to Paramount. His base salary remained the same at $3m, his stock awards were consistent at $22.6m, his non-equity incentive comp rose slightly to $25.7m, and his other compensation (driven by security and private jet use) rose to $4m, but it was the $109.6m in option awards that really drove the growth. The story.
—π€ New contract. π€ WBD has unveiled a new employment contract for chief financial officer Gunnar Weidenfels as the studio moves towards a proposed merger with Paramount closing, pending current regulatory hurdles. In a filing disclosed Thursday, Weidenfels, a once-future spinoff CEO for Discovery Global and longtime lieutenant to David Zaslav, will receive a new contract to kick in on July 11, 2026, and replacing an existing four-year pay deal from July 2022. The story.
—Woof! YouTube’s ad business hit a whopping $9.88b in the first quarter of 2026, up 10.7 percent year-over-year, but just below Wall Street expectations. Google Services revenue increased 16 percent to $89.6b, led by 19 percent growth in Google Search and more, 19 percent growth in Google subscriptions, platforms, and devices, and 11 percent growth in YouTube ads. On the earnings call, Sundar Pichai, CEO of Alphabet, the parent company of Google and YouTube, said that viewers are watching more than 200m hours of YouTube content daily. As of March, YouTube now has more than 10m channels now publishing shorts every day. The results.
—Problems ahead. Meta Platforms Inc., the owner of Facebook and Instagram, crushed Wall Street expectations Wednesday, though its transition to become an AI company remains an expensive one, and legal threats around social media addiction and other issues pose potential risks. Meta had revenue of $56.3b in Q1, up 33 percent from the same quarter a year ago. Income from operations rose by 30 percent to $22.9b, with net income soaring by 61 percent to $26.8b. The results.
—π€ Expanded deal. π€Disney and Epic Games are doubling down on Star Wars in Fortnite, launching a slew of new games and features that will bring characters and worlds from the franchise to the video game, and tee up the first Star Wars film in years The Mandalorian and Grogu in the process. Star Wars has been a frequent presence in Fortnite for years, mostly through special events and some branded seasons of the game, but the new features significantly build on that, with a toolkit that lets developers build their own Star Wars games inside the platform. The story.
—π€ Making moves. π€ The CW has made a pair of streaming deals, partnering with ESPN for live streams of its sports programming and with the Roku Channel for next-day runs of its entertainment offerings. All sports that air on The CW, including college football and basketball games from the ACC, Pac-12 and Mountain West conferences, WWE NXT and NASCAR’s O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, will also stream live on the ESPN app for subscribers to the ESPN Unlimited plan. The network’s sports package is slated to launch on ESPN in the summer. Unlike the ESPN-Fox One streaming bundle, the addition of CW sports programming to the ESPN app won’t come with an additional price tag. The story. |
WGA West's Struggle With Union Gets Even Uglier►Increasingly bitter conflict. This should be a time of relative calm for the Writers Guild of America, whose members just ratified a deal that infuses $321m into the union health plan over four years in what negotiators say amounts to a record amount of annual funding for the benefit. Instead, things have gotten ugly in the world of the WGA West. THR's Katie Kilkenny reports that on the heels of its contract ratification with studios, the WGA West is back to engaging in an increasingly tense conflict with its staff union, whose two-month strike in protest of alleged unfair labor practices shows no sign of stopping. The story.
—Bold proposal. THR's Steven Zeitchik has the scoop that California gubernatorial frontrunner Steve Hilton is preparing to announce an ambitious plan to save Hollywood productions and jobs. The Republican candidate will support a film tax-credit plan that could go as high as 60 percent for some productions and would never go lower than 40 percent. Currently, the ceiling in California usually sits at 45 percent, with many productions getting 35 percent. The move would substantially increase what is already, by many metrics, the most generous film tax-break program in the country. The story.
—Rare W. Ted Cruz is speaking out against the Federal Communications Commission’s decision to launch an early review of Disney‘s broadcast TV licenses amid backlash Jimmy Kimmel has faced for his “expectant widow” joke. “It is not government’s job to censor speech, and I do not believe the FCC should operate as the speech police,” the Republican senator from Texas told Punchbowl News. He wasn’t the only one to criticize the FCC’s decision, as the National Association of Broadcasters also issued a statement on Wednesday. The story.
—Up for sale. Universal Music Group will sell half of its stake in Spotify, the company confirmed Wednesday while reporting its first quarter earnings, which came in flat year over year at about $3.3b in revenue for the first quarter. The Spotify move comes weeks after Bill Ackman’s Pershing Square had submitted an offer to buy the company, including in that proposal a plan to sell of UMG’s Spotify stake. As of 2025, UMG owned nearly 6.5m shares in Spotify, according to UMG’s 2025 yearly report, worth 3.16 percent of the company. As of this story’s publication, an individual Spotify share is worth about $443, making a sale worth about $1.4b. The results.
—Trending down. SiriusXM reported 31.2m paid subscribers in the first quarter, down 109,000 subscribers from the year-ago period, and about 33m total subscribers, which also includes users on a free trial subscription. The total userbase was largely unchanged from a year ago. The satellite radio company said churn among its user base “remained a standout,” and “improving” to 1.5 percent, which is the lowest first-quarter level in SiriusXM history, according to the company. This came even after the implementation of SiriusXM’s first consecutive annual price increase in February across full-price plans. The results.
—"We are not going to play this out in public." SiriusXM host Howard Stern is challenging a lawsuit against him from his former executive assistant, who’s suing for $2.5m and a court order voiding her nondisclosure agreement. In a bid to dismiss the case filed on Wednesday, Stern alleges the assistant, Leslie Kuhn, attempted to extract a hush-money payment from him and his production company before they sued. He denies claims that he fostered a hostile work environment, calling the lawsuit a shakedown. The story. |
Amazon Eyes 'Apprentice' Reboot With Don Jr.►Wait, what? It looks like The Apprentice might be making a comeback. According to the WSJ, Amazon is discussing a potential reboot of the reality TV show once hosted by Donald Trump before he went into politics. Talks are reportedly in the early stages, as the reboot isn’t in active development, and the Trump family hasn’t been approached about the idea yet. People close to the matter also told the WSJ that Amazon executives have suggested internally that Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., could potentially serve as the host of the reboot. Amazon co-owns the rights to The Apprentice alongside Trump’s production company, Trump Productions. While the show aired on NBC, it was produced by Trump Productions and Mark Burnett Productions, which MGM bought in 2014. Amazon, of course, has since acquired MGM. The story.
—"[The shows] may seem a little bit disparate, but they’re all interconnected." A NASCAR series starring Dennis Quaid, a new sports docuseries about the New Orleans Saints, a potential series based on the Bannerman novels and an update on the Point Break TV series are all on the menu from AMC Global Media, in the company’s first upfront presentation under its new brand name. The company hosted its upfront in New York’s Tribeca neighborhood Wednesday, gathering advertisers, media buyers, distribution partners and many of the company’s stars in one room. The story.
—All-in on K-drama. Disney+ added another buzzy K-drama title to its steadily expanding slate of originals from East Asia. On Thursday, the streamer announced the launch of filming on The Miracles of the Namiya General Store, a Korean-language series adaptation of Japanese author Keigo Higashino’s 2012 bestseller, which has sold more than 13m copies worldwide. The series is set for a global Disney+ launch in 2027. The series is a time-bending fantasy about three petty criminals who hide out in a derelict general store after a botched heist, only to begin receiving letters seeking advice from strangers writing from decades in the past. The story. |
Danes to Lead Netflix Series 'Lovesick'►π’ Greenest of green lights. π’ Claire Danes is staying in business with Netflix. The multiple Emmy winner, coming off the streamer’s The Beast in Me, is set to star in a series called Lovesick. Netflix won a competitive bidding process by giving the show, from showrunner Sarah Treem, a straight-to-series order. Based on an Israeli series title The Best Worst Thing, Lovesick is described as a “sweeping, modern romantic epic.” Danes (who also executive produces) will play Annika, “a renowned breast cancer surgeon, has just received her own cancer diagnosis,” per the show’s logline. The story.
—Bonza! A new project from Smiling Friends co-creator Michael Cusack has found a home at Netflix. The streamer announced Wednesday that adult animated series Dad’s House is set to debut on the platform. Cusack is an executive producer and showrunner alongside Dario Russo and David Ashby. Set in suburban Australia, Dad’s House focuses on 13-year-old Sean, who spends every other weekend with dad Ian following his parents’ divorce. Ian does his best to make the most of his time with his son, but the single father has a knack for complicating things. The story.
—π€ Sold! π€ Netflix has acquired the Taiwanese comedic drama A Controversial Entertainer from KC Global Media Entertainment. The 10-episode Mandarin-language series with English subtitles will debut on Netflix on May 15. Entertainer tells the story of Pan Hao, "a petty gangster whose insatiable desire for diamonds leads him into the confines of a psychiatric hospital. Amidst the frenzy of being pursued, he and a group of people, each with their own hidden stories, take refuge in a male escort club. In a turn of absurd and glamorous fate, they transform into five sought-after escorts," according to a synopsis. The story. |
Zeta-Jones Joins Hopkins in Wales-Set 'A Visit to Grandpa's'►π΄σ §σ ’σ ·σ ¬σ ³σ Ώ Rhagoriaeth Gymreig. π΄σ §σ ’σ ·σ ¬σ ³σ Ώ Swansea's finest Catherine Zeta-Jones has joined Port Talbot pocket rocket Anthony Hopkins in D.J. Caruso’s feature A Visit to Grandpa’s, which began filming in Wales earlier this month. As well as the Oscar winners, the film stars Bridgend's pride Aneurin Barnard, Newport's very own Aimee-Ffion Edwards, Artie Wilkinson-Hunt and Geraldine James. The movie is inspired by Welsh poet and author Dylan Thomas’ much-loved short story. WestEnd Films will handle international sales and will reveal first footage to buyers in Cannes. Tidy! The story.
—Gird your loins! This weekend, The Devil Wears Prada 2 will become the first female-driven movie in modern history to kick off the summer box office, a duty that has generally gone to a Marvel superhero pic. If tracking and the dizzying pace of advance ticket sales are correct, 20th Century’s Prada 2 will earn nearly $200m in its global debut alone. Tracking shows the movie opening anywhere from $68m to $75m in North America, while 20th Century and parent company Disney are sticking to $70m to $75m. Overseas, it’s expected to sew up a least $100m. The box office report.
—π All set. π Tessa Thompson and Ebon Moss-Bachrach will star in a psychological thriller from Aoife McArdle, Foxfinder. They’ll be joined by Adolescence breakout Owen Cooper in Foxfinder, based on the award-winning play by Dawn King, with a screenplay co-written by director McArdle and the playwright. "The lives of Jude and Sam, a grieving couple clinging to routine and survival, are upended when William, a coldly devout government ‘foxfinder,’ arrives at their struggling farm with a mission to root out the designated enemy — the fox," reads a plot synopsis. The story.
—π Buzzy, buzzy. π Bryce Dallas Howard is among the cast of Anything But Ghosts, the mysterious upcoming feature from writer-director Curry Barker and writer-star Cooper Tomlinson that wrapped production earlier this month. Plot details are unknown, but Barker co-wrote Ghosts with frequent collaborator Tomlinson, who stars opposite Aaron Paul, with Barker also acting in the movie. The film turned heads in Hollywood when it was first announced in September, as it marked the first teamup between power horror producers Jason Blum and Roy Lee, who made a bet on young filmmaker Barker, now one of the hottest young directors in town. The story.
—π Leads in place. π Leo Woodall and ClΓ©mence PoΓ©sy have signed on to star in A Waiter in Paris, the feature debut of Emmy-nominated TV director Peter Hoar. Cornerstone has acquired worldwide sales rights to the title and will be pitching it to buyers at the Cannes Film Market next month. Cornerstone is handling all international rights and will co-rep the U.S. with WME Independent. The film, based on Edward Chisholm’s memoir of the same name, follows L’Anglais (Woodall), an over-educated Brit trying to prove himself in the ruthless world of Parisian waiters. PoΓ©sy plays Pauline, the manager of the Parisian brasserie where L’Anglais works. The story. |
Gina Carano's Long Way Back►"Me and Pedro don’t keep in touch." After a bruising split with Lucasfilm and a quietly resolved lawsuit, former The Mandalorian star Gina Carano is rebuilding on her own terms. THR's Seth Abramovitch spoke to Carano about rekindling ties with Jon Favreau — Pedro Pascal, not so much — and stepping back into the cage for a high-stakes Netflix fight that could reset her Hollywood future. The interview.
—"Some of the best acting we’ve ever seen." THR's James Hibberd spoke to The Boys showrunner Eric Kripke about the latest episode of the hit Amazon Prime Video series. Kripke dishsed on the final season's fifth episode's dramatic Firecracker betrayal: "You could see it killing her own soul." Warning: Spoilers! The interview.
—"We’re talking about survival, and what Lydia does to survive." THR's queen of chat Jackie Strause spoke to iconic actress Ann Dowd and Mabel Li about the latest episode of Hulu's The Testaments. The duo discuss the revealing Aunt Lydia flashback, and unpack that Handmaid's Tale moment referencing Agnes (Chase Infiniti) and her resistance fighter mother, June Osborne (Elisabeth Moss). Warning: Spoilers! The interview. |
Film Review: 'The Devil Wears Prada 2'
►"A capably maneuvered glam offensive." THR's chief film critic David Rooney reviews David Frankel's The Devil Wears Prada 2. The core cast returns two decades after Frankel’s hit about an outsider at a glossy fashion magazine run by a witheringly icy editor-in-chief. Starring Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, Stanley Tucci, Justin Theroux, Lucy Liu, Kenneth Branagh, B.J. Novak, Simone Ashley, Tracie Thoms, Tibor Feldman, Patrick Brammall, Caleb Hearon and Helen J. Shen. Written by Aline Brosh McKenna, based on characters created by Lauren Weisberger. The review.
—"Turns a monomaniacal payback story into a slack team-up thriller." THR's chief TV critic Daniel Fienberg reviews Netflix's Man on Fire. Yahya Abdul Mateen II steps in for Denzel Washington as a mercenary out for vengeance in Kyle Killen's seven-hour adaptation. Also starring Billie Boullet, Bobby Cannavale, Alice Braga, Scoot McNairy and Paul Ben-Victor. The review.
In other news...
—Resident Evil trailer brings Zach Cregger to IP filmmaking
—Imax unveils 10-theater deal for Australia, New Zealand
—Succession creator Jesse Armstrong to keynote Banff Festival
—Screenwriter Michael Montemayor signs with CAA
What else we're reading...
—In a book review, Hua Hsu breaks down how the highly influential The Fast and the Furious franchise tells the story of modern Hollywood [New Yorker]
—Joshua Robinson unpacks Apple's $750m content bet on F1, and why it wants to make elite car racing a pillar of American entertainment [WSJ]
—Joe Flint and Isabella Simonetti profile Jimmy Kimmel as he went from bro comic to one of the leading resistance heroes against Trump [WSJ]
—Margaret Sullivan writes that Disney must stand tall in the face of Trump administration threats over Kimmel's protected speech [Guardian]
—Dave Lee politely counsels Meta Inc. to stop spending like its a cloud giant [Bloomberg]
Today...
...in 2010, Lionsgate released Daniel Barber's Harry Brown in North American theaters. The British vigilante film, starring Michael Caine as an elderly former soldier, received mixed reviews from critics with some even describing it as morally bankrupt. The original review.
Today's birthdays: Jane Campion (72), Sandra HΓΌller (48), Jacques Audiard (74), Ana de Armas (38), Kirsten Dunst (44), Lars von Trier (70), Sam Heughan (46), Travis Scott (35), Kunal Nayyar (45), Johnny Galecki (51), Gal Gadot (41), Dianna Agron (40), Charlie Hiscock (27), Olivia DeJonge (28), Alexandra Holden (49), Adrian Pasdar (61), Emily Carey (23), Henrique Zaga (33), Paul Gross (67), Perry King (78), Drew Seeley (44), Emma Pierson (45), Kristen Ariza (51), Justine Miceli (67), Lisa Dean Ryan (54), Kyra Leroux (24), Beau Wirick (40), Kharmel Cochrane (40), Gina Vitori (33), Pell James (49), Milo Cawthorne (37), Inga Cadranel (48)
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