| | | | | | What's news: Ted Sarandos has hit back at Trump over his Susan Rice comments. Live Nation is looking to delay its monopoly trial. Peter Attia is stepping aside as a CBS News contributor. Russell Brand has pleaded not guilty to two additional charges of rape and sexual assault. And Tom Hanks will portray Abraham Lincoln in the feature, Lincoln in the Bardo. — Abid Rahman
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WBD Reviewing Sweetened Paramount Bid ►"We will update our shareholders following the Board’s review." Warner Bros. Discovery says that it is officially reviewing a sweetened bid for the company from David Ellison’s Paramount. The details of Paramount’s revised bid were not immediately known. Paramount had offered $30 per share, with a “ticker” that would raise the price for every quarter the deal had not closed past the end of this year. WBD is still recommending that shareholders vote for the Netflix deal next month, as of now. While previous bids from Paramount have been made public, this was the first “authorized” bid for the company since WBD inked its deal with Netflix, with the company opening a seven day negotiating window last week. It is not clear if Paramount will choose to disclose its latest bid before WBD makes its next move. The story.
—Firing back. Netflix boss Ted Sarandos has responded to a social media call from Donald Trump to fire board member Susan Rice. "This is a business deal. It’s not a political deal. This deal is run by the Department of Justice in the U.S. and regulators throughout Europe and around the world," Sarandos told BBC Radio 4’s flagship Today program on Monday. His comments came as Netflix and Paramount continue to battle to acquire WBD. Currently serving as a Netflix board member, Rice formerly was the U.S. national security adviser from 2013-17 and the domestic policy adviser from 2021-23 during Democratic administrations. The story.
—"To protect audiences and improve accessibility." The British government said on Tuesday that streaming services with more than 500,000 U.K. users, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, ITV’s ITVX and Channel 4’s services, will be covered by enhanced regulation from the country's media regulator Ofcom. Under a new accessibility code covering the services, they will be subject to minimum requirements for accessibility features. For example, streamers will need to ensure that at least 80 percent of their total catalogue is subtitled, 10 percent is audio-described, and 5 percent is signed. The story.
—🤝 Deal extension. 🤝 Disney and U.K. TV giant ITV unveiled an extension to their U.K. strategic partnership following “the successful launch of their content-sharing agreement last summer.” Building on their collaboration between Disney+ and ITVX, the new agreement will bring two Hulu original series from Disney+ to ITV’s flagship channel ITV1 in exclusive primetime linear slots. As such, the news expands the companies’ content relationship beyond streaming discovery to a broader free-to-air audience. The story.
—Delaying tactics. Live Nation is looking to delay its impending monopoly trial against the DOJ, according to documents the company filed on Sunday. The ticketing giant is arguing that the trial shouldn’t start until appeals it has filed over Feb. 18’s ruling to proceed with the trial are resolved. Live Nation filed a motion for an Interlocutory appeal on Sunday looking to reverse some of the initial rulings from last week’s hearing, which the company argues would “dramatically change and substantially narrow the upcoming jury trial.” Specifically, Live Nation is appealing regarding the court’s decision that the DOJ and state plaintiffs “do not need evidence of actual price discrimination to prove their alleged targeted customer markets in this actual monopolization case.” The story. |
BAFTA Apologizes "Unreservedly" to Jordan and Lindo ►"We want to acknowledge the harm this has caused, address what happened and apologise to all." On Monday, BAFTA released a full apology after a man with Tourette’s shouted a racial slur at Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo while they presented the award for best visual effects on Sunday night. Headlines from Britain’s biggest night for film have focused on the painful moment that a Tourette’s campaigner, John Davidson, was heard shouting the N-word at Sinners duo as they stood on the stage. The BBC apologized for the “strong and offensive language” and for not cutting the racial slur from its final broadcast, which aired on a two-hour delay. The story.
—"People don’t understand that it’s contextual, and that part of the ticcing is saying that exact damaging thing." THR's Steven Zeitchik writes that for the Tourette Syndrome community, the BAFTAs and the controversy that followed brought on a familiar dread-like feeling. Advocates say the John Davidson moment casts a light on a condition too little understood — and on the people who don’t understand. The story.
—"Utterly unforgivable." As the BAFTA controversy entered its third day, filmmaker and independent producer Jonte Richardson said on social media that he is stepping down as a BAFTA jury member over the British Academy’s handling of the N-word incident. In a statement on Facebook Monday night, Richardson said that the “handling of the unfortunate Tourettes’ N-word incident” was “utterly unforgivable." "I cannot and will not contribute my time, energy and expertise to an organization that has repeatedly failed to safeguard the dignity of its Black guests, members and the Black creative community," said Richardson. The story. |
The Clock May Be Ticking on '60 Minutes' as We Know It ►"Independence has already been slowly deteriorating over the last year." As Bari Weiss seeks to reimagine CBS News, staffers are preparing for the network’s flagship program 60 Minutes, arguably the most influential news program in all of TV, to be “revolutionized” along with it. Insiders talk to THR's Alex Weprin about how 60 Minutes will manage the transition. The analysis.
—Bari-ing bad news. THR's Alex Weprin has the scoop that longevity guru Dr. Peter Attia is stepping aside as a contributor to CBS News, after correspondence between Jeffrey Epstein and the researcher and health media personality came to light in the release of the Epstein Files from the Department of Justice. CBS News staff were informed of the decision Monday in a note from the network’s booking department. Attia told CBS that he would be resigning effective immediately. Attia was one of a number of high-profile contributors that CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss brought on as part of her planned overhaul of the network news division, seeking to bring more voices into CBS’ linear and digital coverage. The story. |
Nick Reiner Pleads Not Guilty to Murder Charges ►The latest. Nick Reiner has pleaded not guilty to murdering Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner, setting up a case that could test a potential defense surrounding his mental fitness to stand trial. The plea, entered in a downtown Los Angeles courthouse in front of a throng of media, begins what could be a lengthy legal process, a period during which Reiner’s lawyers are expected to question his mental state leading up to and during the killings. It could be over a year before he faces a trial, if there is one. Reiner, 32, faces two counts of first-degree murder with special circumstances relating to multiple homicides. If convicted as charged, he could face a death sentence or life in prison without the possibility of parole. The story.
—Plea entered. Disgraced comedian and actor Russell Brand has pleaded not guilty to two additional charges of rape and sexual assault. The 50-year-old appeared in a London court on Tuesday to enter his plea, related to two alleged incidents with two separate women in the British capital in 2009. Last year in May, Brand pleaded not guilty to another five charges. These alleged crimes relate to a 1999 rape in the Bournemouth area of the U.K.; a 2001 indecent assault of a woman in Westminster, London; the 2004 oral rape and sexual assault of a woman also in Westminster; and the sexual assault of another woman in Westminster between 2004 and 2005. A trial date of June 3 was set. The story.
—🤝 Settlement. 🤝 The family of Isaac Hayes has reached a settlement with Donald Trump after suing the president and his campaign for the unauthorized use of the Sam & Dave hit song “Hold on, I’m Coming.” Isaac Hayes III, the late soul icon’s son, shared on social media Monday that his father’s estate was “satisfied with the outcome” following a legal battle over copyright infringement. “All parties stipulate to the voluntary dismissal of this action with prejudice with all parties bearing their respective fees and costs,” according to court documents obtained by THR. The terms of the settlement were not disclosed. The story. |
Hanks to Play Lincoln in 'Lincoln in the Bardo' ►America's Dad takes on Honest Abe. Tom Hanks will portray former President Abraham Lincoln in Lincoln in the Bardo, a feature adaptation of author George Saunders’ best-selling 2017 novel. Duke Johnson is directing the film that is a hybrid of live-action and stop-motion animation and hails from Starburns Industries. Hanks will appear as a live-action version of the 16th U.S. president for the film that is currently in production in London. Johnson, who co-directed the Oscar-nominated 2015 animated feature Anomalisa, helms the film from a script by Saunders. Lincoln in the Bardo centers on Lincoln’s relationship with his recently deceased 11-year-old son, Willie Lincoln. The story.
—Worrying signs. In any other market during any other holiday, a blockbuster opening of over $300m would be an instant cause for celebration. But the $369.3m debut of race-car comedy Pegasus 3 during the first six days of China‘s Lunar New Year holiday came with a potentially worrying caveat. THR's Patrick Brzeski reports that total ticket revenue during the holiday so far, however, has amounted to $715m, a 38.6 percent drop from the first six days of Chinese New Year in 2025 ($1.2b). China’s theatrical film market has grown so top-heavy in recent years that the CNY holiday corridor generally sets the tone for the whole year. Last year’s holiday winner, animated sequel Ne Zha 2 , went on to smash global records with a $2.2b box office total, ensuring that China’s film market staged a full-year recovery even though most major domestic releases disappointed throughout the rest of the calendar. The box office report.
—🎭 Wait, what will they do with Mr. Yunioshi? 🎭 Lily Collins is set to play Audrey Hepburn in a new movie project about the making of the seminal romantic comedy Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Alena Smith, the creator of the Apple series Dickinson, will write the screenplay based on Sam Wasson’s book Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M.: Audrey Hepburn, Breakfast at Tiffany’s and the Dawn of the Modern Woman. Wasson’s bestselling book’s cast of characters includes Breakfast at Tiffany’s writer Truman Capote, costumer Edith Head, director Blake Edwards and, of course, Hepburn, and tracks the movie through pre-production, on-set issues and a release that became a watershed moment in film, fashion and larger culture. The story.
—🎭 Filled out. 🎭 J.K. Simmons, Abby Elliott and John Reynolds are toplining Purgatory, Lindsay Lanzillotta’s coming-of-age comedy/drama and feature directorial debut. The indie, which has just wrapped production in St. John’s, Newfoundland, also stars newcomers Ruby McGurrin, Lauren MacRae, Mary Walsh, Jack Innanen, Julianne Arrieta, Marcus Ngo and Gemma Rosaria Rae. Lanzillotta directed Purgatory from a screenplay by Christine Speer. The story. |
Deadwyler to Lead Coogler's 'X-Files' Reboot ►🟢 The greenest of green lights. 🟢 Hulu's revival of The X-Files is moving forward and the project has cast its first co-lead. Danielle Deadwyler has landed one of the two coveted starring roles in the series. In addition, Sinners filmmaker Ryan Coogler — who has long been attached to the show — is now confirmed to both write and direct the pilot, which has been officially greenlit. The new show’s official description: “Two highly decorated but vastly different FBI agents form an unlikely bond when they are assigned to a long-shuttered division devoted to cases involving unexplained phenomena.” The story.
—It's official! The classic PBS children’s show Reading Rainbow is back, with the series securing a 24-episode pickup. Sony Pictures Television and Buffalo Toronto Public Media announced the pickup Monday. Mychal Threets, known as Mychal the Librarian on social media, will return as host, with Sesame Street and Ms. Rachel veteran Kristen McGregor joining the show as executive producer and showrunner. The show was revived last year with four digital episodes (20 years after the original incarnation hosted by LeVar Burton signed off the air) as a series for the Sony-owned YouTube channel KudZuko, garnering some 4.8m views. The story.
—🤝 Overall deal. 🤝 With Yellowjackets about to begin production on its final season, Paramount Television Studios is locking down the show’s creators for the future. Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson have signed an overall deal with Paramount TV Studios, extending their relationship with the company. The pair previously had an overall deal at Showtime, but with that brand now subsumed into Paramount+, Lyle and Nickerson’s home will move to Paramount’s studio side. The story.
—Extra Extra. After undergoing a reset this season, the long-running entertainment news show Extra will extend its run for another year. The show, produced by Warner Bros. TV Group’s Telepictures, has been renewed for a 33rd season in syndication. Fox Television Stations is the lead station group on the show, which has also been picked up by Nexstar, Sinclair, Scripps and other local station owners covering 95 percent of the country. Derek Hough took over as host of the show this season after Billy Bush’s departure. Extra also revamped its set and added new segments both in the broadcast show and on digital platforms. Weekend host and senior correspondent Mona Kasur Abdi and longtime correspondent Terri Seymour join Hough on air. The story.
—Woof! The 2026 Winter Olympics continued their ratings momentum through their final weekend. The games averaged 23.5m viewers across NBCUniversal and Versant platforms from Feb. 6-23, based on Nielsen ratings and Adobe Analytics streaming data — a huge improvement on the lightly watched 2022 Winter Olympics. The 2026 audience, which combines live afternoon telecasts on NBC and Peacock (and sometimes Versant’s USA Network and CNBC) and primetime replays, nearly doubled the average of the 2022 games (12m). That average may grow a little as it includes preliminary Nielsen numbers for the final few days of the games. The ratings. |
THR Critics on Winter's Must-See TV ►Sex, scalpels and surprises. THR's award-winning TV critics Daniel Fienberg and Angie Han get together again to hash out the best small screen offerings this winter. The duo write that Heated Rivalry came out of nowhere to steam things up, big-franchise spinoffs succeeded by going small, a Northern Irish Netflix mystery dazzled, and HBO's The Pitt exceeded second-season expectations. The critics' conversation.
In other news...
—The Louis Theroux Podcast returning for S7, sets launch date
—First-look at the deluxe Making of The Revenant book set
—ESPN enlists Andy Roddick as tennis analyst
—Glasgow: Lynne Ramsay to receive Cinema City honorary award
—L.A.’s "graffiti towers" finds buyer in $470m deal
What else we're reading...
—Tripp Mickle (great name) reports on the economic looming disaster for Silicon Valley if China invades Taiwan and takes over all those precious chip factories [NYT]
—Tom Nichols writes that the Republican Party has a Nazi problem [Atlantic]
—Adriane Quinlan talks to Simon Rogers, production designer on HBO's excellent Industry, about how they created all those hostile offices [Curbed]
—ICYMI, here's the Alap Shah piece everyone is talking about that imagines an AI future and its projected impact on the real economy [Citrini Research]
—Max Tani reports that venerated publication The Economist stands at a crossroads as its audience continues to age and media moves toward journalists with personal brands [Semafor]
Today...
...in 2012, Summit Entertainment released Heitor Dhalia's Gone in theaters. The serial killer thriller starring Amanda Seyfried, Wes Bentley and Sebastian Stan was a critcial and commercial bomb. The original review.
Today's birthdays: Benny Safdie (40), Daniel Kaluuya (37), Edward James Olmos (79), Gillian Flynn (55), Billy Zane (60), Dominic Chianese (95), Debra Jo Rupp (75), O'Shea Jackson Jr. (35), Emily Rudd (33), Martha Kelly (58), Rachel Marsh (34), Jenny O'Hara (84), Tawny Newsome (43), Bryce Papenbrook (40), Wilson Bethel (42), Ben Miller (60), Todd Field (62), Geoff Bell (63), Beth Broderick (67), Kate Mulvany (49), Bonnie Somerville (52), Emilio Rivera (65), Matthew Broome (25), Rob Morgan (53), Dar Zuzovsky (35), Kasi Lemmons (67), Abby James Witherspoon (20), Laurie Kynaston (32), Crista Flanagan (50), Fala Chen (44), Alexander Koch (38), Tina Desai (39) |
| Linda Seger, who served as a script consultant on films from Peter Jackson, Roland Emmerich and hundreds of others and authored 11 books about screenwriting, has died. She was 80. The obituary. |
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