What's news: The 83rd Venice Film Festival is officially open! Wheel of Fortune announcer Jim Thornton has been suspended amid an investigation. Terence Winter is set to return to Tulsa King as showrunner. CAA has signed Sydney Sweeney. And Moulin Rouge! made $2.3m in its final week on Broadway. — Abid Rahman
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Elon Musk Unmasked in Alex Gibney's Explosive New Doc
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►On the cover. Over the course of a decorated career, Oscar-winning documentarian Alex Gibney has taken on Scientology and Enron, the U.S. military and Vladimir Putin, the Catholic Church and Wall Street. All of that prepared him, though nothing could really prepare him, for his new doc on billionaire Elon Musk. World premiering at the Venice Film Festival on Sept. 8, Musk sees cinema’s premier curtain-puller on power reveal the man who has amassed so much of it. THR's Steven Zeitchik talks to Gibney about the making of the film about the richest man on earth, who may also be the most dangerous. The cover story.
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►Andiamo! THR's crack team of reporters and reviewers are back in Italy and on the ground for the opening of the 83rd edition of the Venice Film Festival. The hub.
—"There’s a systemic problem." The underrepresentation of women at the world’s major film festivals became the breakout topic of conversation at Wednesday's Venice jury press conference, with Maggie Gyllenhaal stating that she believes “there’s a systemic problem” behind the fact that the world’s oldest cinema showcase has just two titles directed by women in its main competition this year. "It’s much harder for women to get their films financed," said Gyllenhaal, who is the festival's 2026 jury president. The story.
—"I’m always very optimistic about things, and we’re at a moment in time that’s unfortunate — I think that’s an understatement. I do believe that we’re going to get through all of this." Venice regular George Clooney is back on the Lido, ahead of taking the stage inside Sala Grande on Wednesday evening to receive the fest’s highest honor — the Golden Lion for lifetime achievement. On Wednesday afternoon, Clooney braved the international media for an opening day presser where he fielded questions on a wide variety of subjects including Hollywood, AI, politics, climate change and the proposed Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery. The story.
—"It’s a phenomenal year for docs at Venice, and I think this will be one of the big stories of this edition." Some of the biggest stars at this year’s Venice won’t be the famous faces walking the red carpet, but the wildly high-profile subjects of documentaries that range from intoxicating to grippingly urgent. From an Elon Musk expose to an intimate Oasis reunion, THR's Patrick Brzeski runs through this year’s non-fiction lineup might be the fest’s biggest draw. The story.
—"I suddenly felt an enormous amount of pressure." THR's David Canfield spoke to Casey Affleck about Company, his third directorial feature that's set to premiere next week in Venice. The film is a family affair, with the Oscar-winner's sons, parents and girlfriend appearing in the drama, which was made for very little money and with a rotating crew. The interview.
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Federal Film and TV Tax Incentive Bill Gets a Name as Momentum Builds |
►"This is about rebuilding an industry that creates high-paying jobs across the country." Amid a precipitous drop in domestic film and television production in recent years, Hollywood has coalesced around support for a federal tax credit. The idea of a nationwide tax incentive appeared like a longshot until President Trump pushed for one on Monday to juice the filming of movies and television shows in the country. The soon-to-be legislation even has a name: "The Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act." THR's Winston Cho reports that the momentum to introduce the bipartisan bill appears to be real, with work to craft it already underway. The story.
—Also moving forward. The California state legislature has passed a bill intended to mitigate the impact of business tax credit caps on the state’s $750m annual film and television incentives program. Legislators voted to pass SB 186, carried by state Sen. Ben Allen, on Monday night. The legislation is now in the court of Gov. Gavin Newsom, who will decide to sign the bill into law or veto it by the end of September. The story.
—✊ Ratified. ✊ Remote workers at DreamWorks Animation have ratified their first union contract with The Animation Guild. In a vote, 97 percent of 108 eligible voters supported ratifying a deal that provides workers outside Southern California with parity on wages and working conditions compared to their L.A. counterparts. The story.
—Strength in numbers. Jason Isbell has filed a class action lawsuit against Suno, with the country rocker accusing the prominent AI music generation platform of letting users rip off artists’ musical likeness without permission. In the suit, filed in federal court on Monday, Isbell and fellow musician plaintiffs David Lowery, Guy Forsyth and Eduardo Calle liken Suno to The Borg out of Star Trek, quoting the villainous cybernetic collective’s famed “resistance is futile” catchphrase and referencing a scene in which The Borg remakes Captain Kirk into a machine. The story.
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Cruise Blesses Paramount's Deal to Buy WBD
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►"I know we’re going to get those 30 movies." Tom Cruise said Tuesday that he is confident Paramount will follow through on its promise to deliver 30 movies per year if it closes its deal for Warner Bros. Discovery, arguing in an interview that Hollywood needs to create an “abundance” of opportunity to help ensure film survives and thrives. Cruise was interviewed by Pat McAfee on his show Tuesday afternoon, where he was booked to discuss his newly announced Days of Thunder sequel. McAfee asked about Paramount CEO David Ellison’s promise to make 30 movies per year. “I think it’s awesome. You know, here’s the thing: They’re going to deliver 30 movies." The story.
—Big catch. THR's Borys Kit has the scoop that CAA has signed Sydney Sweeney, the in-demand actress who has been agentless on the acting side for all of 2026. Sweeney had been with Paradigm for the ascent of her career, being represented by longtime agent and Paradigm partner Jennifer Millar, as she broke out with her roles in HBO's Euphoria and The White Lotus, both of which earned her Emmy nominations. The story.
—Not bad. Apple's new CEO John Ternus officially took over the company Tuesday, and the veteran tech executive will be getting a hefty pay raise alongside the new title and responsibilities. According to an SEC filing, Ternus will receive a $3m salary, paired with annual equity awards valued at $55m. Meanwhile, former Apple CEO Tim Cook will still receive a hefty compensation package in his new role as executive chair. Cook will receive a $2m salary alongside a $45m equity award. The story.
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Tupac's Murder Finally Has a Guilty Verdict. But the Mystery Isn't Over
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►"By any standard, it was a surreal trial." After 30 years of botched police work, gangland betrayals and conspiracy theories, a Las Vegas jury convicted Duane "Keffe D" Davis of the murder of Tupac Shakur, hip hop's most haunting killing. For THR, Jeff Weiss spent two weeks reporting on the strange, sprawling trial — and the questions, including Diddy's alleged involvement, that it failed to resolve. The story.
—The latest. The family of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, the teenager whom singer D4vd is accused of sexually abusing and murdering before mutilating her body last year, is calling for justice as their attorney disputes the artist’s claim of indigence in a Los Angeles courtroom this week — a claim used to justify swapping his high-powered legal team for a public defender. "We, as a family, only want justice for Celeste and for whoever is responsible to face the full force of the law," the Rivas Hernandez family said in a statement Monday afternoon. The story.
—Recasting role. Sony Pictures Television says that it is suspending Wheel of Fortune announcer Jim Thornton while it conducts an investigation into unspecified allegations. The long-running game show will recast the announcer position in the meantime. "We have recently been made aware of allegations concerning Jim Thornton," the company said in a statement to THR. "He has been suspended from Wheel of Fortune and we are recasting while we conduct a thorough investigation." While SPT didn’t specify what sparked the investigation, TMZ reported that it involved something that happened on a commercial flight earlier this year. The story.
—On the run. An arrest warrant for Below Deck Mediterranean star Nathan Gallagher has been issued by Australian police after he missed a scheduled court appearance for an earlier charge. The New South Wales Police released a photo of the reality TV personality’s mugshot on Tuesday, confirming that a warrant had been issued for his arrest. Gallagher had a court date set for Tuesday, Sept. 1, after being granted conditional bail on Dec. 28 following an arrest on domestic violence charges. The story.
—Seeking help. CBS Sports commentator and former NFL quarterback Tony Romo entered a no contest plea Tuesday in a drunk driving case in his home state of Wisconsin. Romo also said he will seek medical help for what he called an “over-reliance” on alcohol. Romo’s plea comes after he was arrested in July on suspicion of operating a vehicle while intoxicated. He was also cited for having an open bottle of alcohol in the SUV he was driving, unsafe passing on the right and refusing to take a test for intoxication after he was arrested. The story.
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Matthew Perry Docuseries Set at Netflix |
►"Honoring the legacy of honesty and advocacy he leaves behind." Matthew Perry is the subject of a new docuseries that is sure to be must-see TV. The One About Matthew Perry, directed for Netflix by Mary Robertson (Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV), marks “the first in-depth, definitive documentary about the beloved Friends star, told by some of the people who knew him best,” the streamer says. The three-part series is produced by Robertson’s banner Maxine Productions, which is part of Sony Pictures Television. The series includes interviews with Perry’s sister Mia Perry Bowick as well as his closest friends. The story.
—Full lineup. Dancing With the Stars has announced the official slate of celebrities hitting the ballroom for season 35, plus the professional dancers they’ve been partnered with. Ahead of Wednesday morning’s Good Morning America reveal, Ciara Miller, Maura Higgins, Jackson Olson and Guillermo Rodriguez were already announced as part of the cast. They are joined by 12 additional stars, meaning 16 couples will take on the competition this season. The story.
—More changes! Tulsa King is coming back for its fourth season. Paramount+ released the teaser trailer, and announced the premiere date and synopsis for the new season of the hit crime dramedy, which stars Sylvester Stallone as an Oklahoma mobster. The behind-the-scenes turnover also continues with original showrunner Terence Winter returning yet again as head writer and EP. Winter’s return follows the exit of season three showrunner Dave Erickson, who reportedly left the series after creatively conflicting with Stallone on the direction of the show. The story.
—🟢 Two more at least. 🟢 NBC is taking American Ninja Warrior through its milestone 20th season — which coincides with the sport’s inclusion in the Summer Olympics. The network has renewed the show for two more seasons, which will be the 19th and 20th for the competition series. The renewal comes on the heels of the show’s season 18 finale Monday night. Season 19 will air in summer 2027 and feature the return of the Mt. Midoriyama obstacle course in Las Vegas. The story.
—Exiting. Danny Booko and Nia Sanchez are leaving Bravo reality series The Valley. The couple made the announcement in a post on Sanchez’s Instagram Tuesday night, which said, “We wanted to share a quick update that we will not be returning to The Valley. We’re incredibly grateful for this experience but our priority is protecting our peace and our family.” “We are fully committed to each other and our beautiful children,” the post continued. The story.
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Gadot Criticizes DC For How It Handled Wonder Woman
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►"Not handled elegantly, to say the least." Gal Gadot criticized DC Studios' handling of its superhero talent from when the company transitioned away from its Zack Snyder-led era. In a new podcast interview, The Runner actress reflected on the shift from the Snyder-verse to the current creative era — run by co-chairmen and CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran. Gadot revealed details on her own exit from DC, as well as hinted at the issues surrounding the exits of Wonder Woman director Patty Jenkins and actor Henry Cavill. The story.
—"I love Evan so much and I’m so appreciative of her kind words and the exchange that her and I shared." Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman are back for Practical Magic 2, but not all of the same witches have returned with them. In the sequel, set 25 years after the 1998 cult classic, Joey King and Maisie Williams replace Evan Rachel Wood and Alexandra Artrip as the daughters of Bullock’s Sally Owens. THR's Kirsten Chuba spoke to King, who revealed she "had a lovely conversation" with Wood about taking on the role. The story.
—🤝 Sold! 🤝 THR's Scott Feinberg has the scoop that documentary The Trial of Alec Baldwin, has been acquired by Abramorama for a North American release and awards campaign. The powerful verité doc feature comes from Oscar-nominated and Emmy-winning filmmaker Rory Kennedy who was granted exclusive access to the titular star in the aftermath of the 2021 accidental shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the film Rust. The story.
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Bailey Follows Grande in Withdrawing From 'Sunday In the Park With George' |
►"Ari is one of my dearest friends, and my support for her is unwavering." Jonathan Bailey has withdrawn from the London production of Sunday in the Park WIth George, following Ariana Grande’s previous departure. Bailey was set to play the lead role in the production at the Barbican in summer 2027. The production, which was initially announced to be directed by Marianne Elliott, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on whether it will be moving forward with that date. Grande confirmed her decision not to star in the stage show, as Dot, opposite Bailey, her co-star in Wicked, in August as part of her larger decision to "step back from visibility." The story.
—Woof! Moulin Rouge! shot up to $2.3m in its final week on Broadway, marking the highest gross the musical has seen in several years on Broadway. The show played its final performance Aug. 30, played to more than 100 percent capacity, with average paid admission of $223.46, the highest of the industry last week. In its final week, the musical welcomed back Aaron Tveit as a cast member for most of its performances, with other original cast members joining on stage for a number during the final performance. The Broadway box office report.
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►"Propulsive and relentless." THR's Frank Scheck reviews Scott Waugh's Runner. Alan Ritchson and Owen Wilson star in this buddy thriller about a courier with very special skills battling cartel members to deliver a desperately needed human organ. Also starring Rodrigo Santoro, Leila George, Kate Box, Peta Sergeant, Cecilia Toussaint, Geraldine Hakewill, Goran D. Kleut and Scarlett Crabtree. Written by Miles Hubley and Tommy White. The review.
In other news...
—Netflix unveils tense trailer for East of Eden series adaptation starring Florence Pugh
—Onwards and Sideways trailer: Laura Linney and Rhys Ifans are a duo diagnosed with Parkinson’s
—Netflix adding podcasts from Katt Williams, Harlan Coben and Stephanie Soo
—Miley Cyrus announces new album, show dates at Hollywood Bowl
—Zeze Takahisa’s Sukiyaki to open Tokyo Film Festival
—Santa Barbara: Emily Blunt set for Kirk Douglas Award
—Venice: Diane Von Furstenberg to honor Jane Fonda
—Julianne Moore to receive Zurich Film Festival’s Golden Icon Award
What else we're reading...
—Ali Breland goes inside a conservative operation to hijack our social media feeds [The Atlantic]
—Tim Fernholz reports that OpenAI's new Astra model is on its way, and its "very good at breaking into computer systems" [TechCrunch]
—Max Tani dives into the worrying rise of 'ghost videos' on YouTube — content with paid actors and AI scripts — that is cashing in on America’s divided politics [Semafor]
—Jessica Toonkel, Georgia Wells and Suzanne Vranica report on the internal concerns at Snap over CEO Evan Spiegel's focus on smartglasses [WSJ]
—After much criticism during the World Cup, Caitlin Moscatello looks at how the pay-to-play model has broken youth sports in the U.S. [Intelligencer]
Today...
...in 2019, Universal released David Leitch's Hobbs & Shaw in theaters. The Fast & Furious spinoff movie, starring Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham, Idris Elba, Vanessa Kirby and Helen Mirren, had middling reviews but earned a massive $760m at the box office. The original review.
Today's birthdays...
Keanu Reeves (62), Salma Hayek (60), Damson Idris (35), Eugenio Derbez (65), Austin Abrams (30), Mark Harmon (75), Tim Key (50), Nicholas Pinnock (53), Katt Williams (55), Jonathan Goldstein (58), Anthony Chau-Sang Wong (65), Yuen Wah (76), Gavin Casalegno (27), Jarred Harper (35), Ella Rubin (25), Linda Purl (71), Cynthia Watros (58), Allison Miller (41), Mary Jo Catlett (88), Merritt Patterson (36), Kristen Cloke (58), Tuc Watkins (60), Keith Allen (🏴73), Lala Kent (36), Rosanna DeSoto (76), Devrim Özkan (28), Jonathan Kite (47), Tiffany Hines (43), Sandra Knight (87), Samantha Quan (51), Cara Jade Myers (41), Michael Gray (75), Faye Mata (34), Gustaf Hammarsten (59), Michael Lombardi (50)
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