What's news: The U.K. spinoff of Married at First Sight has been hit by shocking rape allegations. HBO Max is stepping up its podcast output. SPT has acquired a majority stake in 32 Flavors. David Derrick Jr. and John Aoshima will direct WB's Hello Kitty movie. And FX has given a series order to Very Young Frankenstein. — Abid Rahman
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How Big Tech Took Over Upfronts |
►"YouTube can afford not to focus group because in many ways it already knows what people want." They were outsiders banging on the door, but YouTube, Netflix and Amazon this year seized the house at Upfronts — and they’re not about to let anyone else in, write THR's Alex Weprin and Steven Zeitchik. The analysis.
—"We’ve really been looking at this as the year where we’re entering our creator era as a platform." Alex Weprin has the scoop that Elon Musk's X wants to carve out a bigger slice of the creator economy, and it is launching a new product that it thinks can entice creators to do more on the platform (and earn more revenue doing it). Creator Connect uses AI to connect brands to relevant creators in search of more ad dollars. The story.
—Big hire. Paramount is pushing further into AI, with the David Ellison-led entertainment company hiring a new head of consumer AI on Monday. Dane Glasgow, the former Meta executive who joined Paramount as chief product officer last year, announced the hiring of Barak Turovsky in a memo to staff. Turovsky will be executive VP and head of consumer AI for the company. Turovsky was most recently chief AI officer for General Motors, and before that worked in AI roles at Cisco, Trax, and Google, where he spent more than a decade. The story.
—🤝 Sold! 🤝 Sony Pictures Television is beefing up its unscripted division by acquiring a majority stake in 32 Flavors, the production company behind Bravo’s Vanderpump Rules and The Valley. Founded in 2023 by Alex Baskin, 32 Flavors also produces two Real Housewives series (Beverly Hills and Orange County) and Still Flipping Out for Bravo, Hulu and Freeform’s Love Thy Nader (starting with its upcoming second sesaon) and the podcast Shut Up Evan for Netflix. The story.
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►New era incoming. Marvel has shaken up its comics publishing unit. The Disney division has promoted Brad Winderbaum, already its chief of television and animation, to head of Marvel television, animation, comics and franchise. At the same time, David Abdo will segue from Disney to serve as Marvel’s general manager, comics and franchise, reporting to Winderbaum. With the new top leadership coming in, that means that Dan Buckley, the longtime Marvel Comics topper, is departing. Buckley will remain at Marvel through mid-2027 to support the leadership transition. The story.
—D'oh! It seemed like one of those perfectly executed viral marketing moments that Disney does so well: Pedro Pascal, disguised as his Mandalorian character, surprises a group of unsuspecting tourists at Disneyland as they were about to board the Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run ride. In the viral clip released Sunday, Pascal removes his helmet and the tourists go wild — cheering with shock and excitement at unexpectedly seeing The Mandalorian and Grogu actor. Except the jaw-dropped tourists weren’t exactly a random group... The story.
—More bad news. Disney has been sued for deploying facial recognition technology at park entrances to verify tickets. A class action accuses the entertainment giant of violating privacy, competition and consumer protection laws by implementing the technology at Disneyland, where photographs of guests’ faces are taken and compared with images when they first used the ticket or annual pass. The company “does not adequately disclose the use of their biometric collection, so consumers – which almost always include children – have no idea that Disney is collecting this highly sensitive data,” reads the complaint, filed in California federal court. The story.
—Getting in on the act. Netflix isn’t the only streaming service to offer podcasts, including from Spotify, anymore. HBO Max is now also providing its subscribers in a key region with podcasts, unveiling on Tuesday that it is adding both audio and video podcasts in Europe. The move is “reinforcing the platform’s position as the ultimate destination for fans to immerse themselves even deeper in the worlds of their favorite series and franchises,” including Harry Potter and the various Game of Thrones shows, it said. The story.
—No such thing as cancel culture. Chris Hardwick has returned to AMC to host the video podcast I Think You’re Overthinking It. The show will premiere on May 31. Hardwick hosted The Walking Dead companion podcast Talking Dead from its inception in October 2011 until it ended in November 2022, with one very public monthlong hiatus. Hardwick was temporarily dropped as Talking Dead host after abuse allegations surfaced in an essay by his ex-girlfriend Chloe Dykstra. Following an investigation by AMC, Hardwick was reinstated. The story.
—Shocking allegations. The U.K. spinoff of the Married at First Sight franchise has been left reeling by allegations of rape from a group of ex-contestants in a new BBC Panorama investigation. On Monday, it came to light that two women on Channel 4‘s MAFS UK — where singletons are matched, by experts, with a stranger and meet for the first time at a mock wedding — claimed they had been raped during filming of the show. The story.
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'Very Young Frankenstein' Lives at FX
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►It's happening. FX is heading to Transylvania with a series order for Very Young Frankenstein. The comedy, based on Mel Brooks’ classic Young Frankenstein, has been in development for nearly a year and received a pilot order last September. Brooks is an executive producer of the series, which will star Zach Galifianakis, Dolly Wells and Spencer House. Stefani Robinson, who wrote the pilot, and Taika Waititi, who directed, will executive produce with Garrett Basch, Brooks and his producing partner Kevin Salter, and Young Frankenstein producer Michael Gruskoff. 20th Television is the studio. The story.
—Nice one Zaz! The next animated iteration of Scooby-Doo will take the crime-solving Great Dane to Japan — and Tubi. The free streamer has ordered Yokoso Scooby-Doo! from Warner Bros. Animation. The show, which will air on Tubi in the U.S. and Cartoon Network internationally, is the first anime series in the long history of Scooby-Doo. (“Yokoso” is a Japanese word for “welcome.”) Japan’s OLM Studios will provide production services on the series. Itsuro Kawasaki will direct, with Francisco Paredes serving as co-producer. The story.
—🎭 "Due to unforeseen circumstances." 🎭 The young actress who plays Ginny Weasley in HBO‘s Harry Potter series is leaving the show after its first season. Gracie Cochrane, who was cast as the youngest of the Weasley children last year, will not return for the recently ordered second season. Season two will be based on on Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, the second book in the series. Ginny has a fairly small presence in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, the first book, but her role grows throughout the series. The story.
—📅 Dated! 📅 HBO Max has set an Aug. 16 premiere date for Lanterns, its hotly-anticipated DC Studios series starring Aaron Pierre and Kyle Chandler. The streamer also revealed a new trailer for the show which continues to play off the tension between Hal Jordan (Chandler) and new Lantern Corps recruit John Stewart (Pierre). The clip also confirms that Nathan Fillion will reprise his role as Guy Gardner from last year’s Superman film and shows Laura Linney in an undisclosed role. The story.
—Moving on. Disney+ has started production on season two of its hit Korean superhero show Moving. The Seoul-set drama, about super-powered agents, has been a massive ratings success for the streamer and a strong justification for its heavy investment in South Korea. Moving is based on the webtoon by in-demand screenwriter Kangfull, who penned the script for season one and is back for the second outing. For season two, series stars Ryu Seung-ryong, Han Hyo-joo, Zo In-sung and Go Youn-jung are all set to return, with newcomers Won Gyu-bin as Kim Bong-seok joining the cast. The story.
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Kicking the Cannes: No Fun at the Beach for Dealmakers This Year
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►"The independent film industry is in transition, and nobody has quite figured out what it’s transitioning into." A24 outmaneuvering Focus Features, Searchlight, Netflix and Mubi to land an eight figure deal for the world rights to Jordan Firstman’s debut feature Club Kid was this year’s Cannes success story. For a market that had been crying out for a genuine breakout, the reported $17m worldwide deal was the shot of adrenaline everyone needed. However, THR's Scott Roxborough writes that despite the Club Kid deal, and Amazon's pickup of Pumping Black, the real story of the market this year was the deals that didn’t get done. The analysis.
—🏆 Congrats! 🏆 Joshua and Rebecca Tickell’s regenerative agriculture doc Groundswell has won the Golden Globes Prize for Documentary, presented in partnership with Artemis Rising Foundation, at the Cannes Film Festival. The prize was announced at an event at Plage des Palmes on the Croisette, with actor and producer Kelvin Harrison Jr. presenting the award. The Tickells accepted alongside their two children, and received a €10,000 cash prize from Artemis Rising Foundation. Narrated and executive produced by Demi Moore and Woody Harrelson, Groundswell is the third film in a trilogy that began with Kiss the Ground (2020) and Common Ground (2023). The story.
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WB's 'Hello Kitty' Movie Lands Directors |
►Two heads are better than one. New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. Pictures Animation's forthcoming Hello Kitty animated movie is introducing its creative team. David Derrick Jr. and John Aoshima will direct the film that previously set a theatrical release date of July 28, 2028. Beau Flynn is producing, with Ramsey Naito joining Hello Kitty to produce as well. Leo Matsuda was attached to direct the project when the companies confirmed its release date late last year. The story.
—🎭 All set. 🎭 Sam Lerner, Camille Hyde and Nikola Djuricko are set to lead the cast of a darkly comedic thriller feature. Writer-director Josh Monkarsh’s film Jacob and the Wolf recently wrapped production after shooting in Los Angeles. The cast also includes Richard Kind, Bronson Pinchot, Oliver Cooper, Louis Lombardi, Pete Gardner, Timothy Hornor and Chris Webster. Jacob and the Wolf centers on a young couple who inherit a seemingly ideal home but soon learn of its dark and Nazi-affiliated past, leading to deadly consequences as their beliefs are questioned. The movie is currently in postproduction and eyeing a 2027 festival run. The story.
—By the power of Grayskull!!! He-Man and the gang have landed on Earth following the world premiere of Masters of the Universe at the TCL Chinese Theater in Los Angeles on Monday evening. While official critics’ reviews for Travis Knight‘s live-action adaptation of the Mattel media and toys franchise are embargoed till much closer to Masters‘ release date of June 5, Amazon MGM Studios allowed premiere attendees to release brief social media reaction after the screening. And the vibe seems to be that the film is a don't-think-about-it-too-much fun romp. The reaction.
—"Batshit!" Hope, another keenly tracked film, premiered in Cannes over the weekend and the initial reaction out of France suggests we may have a genre all-timer. Na Hong-jin's sci-fi creature feature, which takes place in the DMZ between North and South Korea, received a six-minute standing ovation in Cannes and the reaction from critics on social media has been equally effusive. The reaction.
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Film Review: 'The Mandalorian and Grogu'
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►"The Force is partly with them." THR's Frank Scheck reviews Jon Favreau's The Mandalorian and Grogu. The first Star Wars movie in seven years is inspired by the hit Disney+ series. Starring Pedro Pascal, Sigourney Weaver, Jeremy Allen White, Jonny Coyne, Brendan Wayne and Lateef Crowder. Written by Jon Favreau, Dave Filoni and Noah Kloor. The review.
—"A grueling depiction of unyielding principle." For THR, Richard Lawson reviews László Nemes' Cannes competition entry Moulin. The Hungarian filmmaker directs Gilles Lellouche and Lars Eidinger in this unadorned depiction of the final days of a national icon. Also starring Louise Bourgoin and Marcin Czarnik. Written by Olivier Demangel. The review.
—"Reheated nachos, minus the carbs." Richard reviews Nicolas Athane and Marco Nguyen's Jim Queen. A French animated spoof in the vein of South Park tells the story of a gay god laid low by a mysterious illness threatening to turn him straight. Featuring the voices of Alex Ramirès, Jérémy Gillet, Shirley Souagnon and François Sagat. Written by Simon Balteaux, Marco Nguyen, Nicolas Athane and Brice Chevillard. The review.
—"A solid mix of glitz and angst." THR's Sheri Linden reviews Ron Howard's Avedon. The film, premiering in Cannes, explores an influential body of work by the photographer Richard Avedon, that ranges from visionary magazine spreads to Madison Avenue perfume campaigns to social commentary. The review.
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Film Review: 'Paper Tiger'
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►"A drama of almost overwhelming power." THR's chief film critic David Rooney reviews James Gray's Cannes competition entry, Paper Tiger. The filmmaker follows Armageddon Time with a semi-fictionalized return to his family life in mid-1980s Queens, New York, this time recounting a terrifying brush with the Russian mob. Starring Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson, Miles Teller, Roman Engel, Gavin Goudey, Cindy Katz, Patrick Murney, Victor Ptak, Dimiter D. Marinov and Yavor Vesselinov. Written by James Gray. The review.
—"Disquiet on set." THR's Jordan Mintzer reviews Rodrigo Sorogoyen's Cannes competition entry The Beloved. The latest feature from the Spanish director behind The Beasts, chronicles a movie shoot that flies off the rails. Starring Javier Bardem, Victoria Luengo, Melina Matthews, Marina Foïs and Malena Villa. Written by Isabel Peña and Rodrigo Sorogoyen. The review.
—"Brokeback Turnpike." Jordan reviews Pierre Le Gall's Flesh and Fuel. Alexis Manenti headlines the first feature from the French director, which premiered as a special screening in Cannes’ Critics’ Week. Also starring Julian Swiezewski, Armindo Alves de Sa, Julie Duclos and Bernard Debreyne. Written by Pierre Le Gall, Camille Perton and Martin Drouot. The review.
—"A scorching historical autobiography." Jordan reviews Pegah Ahangarani's Rehearsals for a Revolution. Iranian actress turned director Ahangarani used archive footage and home movies to explore 40-plus years of unrest in a country still embroiled in conflict. Written by Pegah Ahangarani. The review.
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►"Best enjoyed on an empty stomach." THR's Leslie Felperin reviews Quentin Dupieux's Full Phil. Woody Harrelson and Kristen Stewart play a father and daughter with different ideas about what makes for a fun vacation in this Cannes-bowing feature. Also starring Charlotte Le Bon, Tim Heidecker, Eric Wareheim, Emma Mackey, Etienne Beydon, Nasim Lyes, John Hatem, Pierre Lelage, Flora Bernard Grison, Benjamin Clery, Laurent Nicolas, Ariele Semenoff, Loise Balluriaud, Loulou Hanssen and Raphael Quenard. Written by Quentin Dupieux. The review.
—"A return to form." Leslie reviews Volker Schlöndorff's Visitation. Martina Gedeck and Lars Eidinger headline a top-tier German cast, playing residents and visitors to two properties where much joy and tragedy unfold. Also starring Susanne Wolff, Ulrich Matthes, Detlev Buck, Michael Maertens, Maria Matschke Engel and Angela Winkler. Written by Volker Schlöndorff, based on a novel by Jenny Erpenbeck. The review.
In other news...
—The Transformers: The Movie getting theatrical rerelease
—Studiocanal, Sun Africa ink South African theatrical distribution deal
—J-pop trio Number_i signs with Atlantic Records
—Tom Kane, Clone Wars and Powerpuff Girls voice actor, dies at 64
—Mark Fuhrman, former LAPD detective involved in O.J. Simpson murder trial, dies at 78
What else we're reading...
—A great Juan A Ramírez interview with the legendary Wallace Shawn who discusses his two recent hit stage shows, Hollywood, therapy and speaking out on Palestine [Guardian]
—Andrea Felsted believes LVMH selling Marc Jacobs is just the start of a luxury brand sell-off [Bloomberg]
—The NYT's opinion writers hash out their choice for California governor [NYT]
—Dawn Chmielewski and Lisa Richwine report Jon Voight met with Trump to advocate for Hollywood tax incentives [Reuters]
—Trouble at Meta! Eli Tan reports that the tech giant is hastily reassigning 7,000 workers to focus on new initiatives around AI [NYT]
Today...
...in 1999, George Lucas unveiled Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, his long-awaited prequel to his Star Wars trilogy in theaters. The original review.
Today's birthdays...
Grace Jones (78), Danielle Macdonald (35), Thomas Vinterberg (57), JoJo Siwa (23), Morten Tyldum (59), Michael Che (43), Eleanor Tomlinson (34), Polly Walker (60), Lainey Wilson (34), Bérénice Marlohe (47), James Fox (87), Nancy Kwan (87), Sean Whalen (62), Jason Gray-Stanford (56), Nawazuddin Siddiqui (52), Drew Fuller (46), Claudia Karvan (54), Sarah Grey (30), Gregory Zarian (61), Eamon Farren (41), Steven Piet (42), Michela Luci (20), Jayne Wisener (39), Catherine Haena Kim (42), Eric Lloyd (40), Zack Pearlman (38)
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David Burke, the theater veteran who portrayed Dr. Watson alongside Jeremy Brett on the acclaimed 1984-85 ITV series The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, died May 10. He was 91. The obituary.
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