| | | | | | What's news: Bob Iger says Disney is not interested in acquiring more IP. Both Sherri and The Kelly Clarkson Show are coming to an end. Apple has renewed Your Friends & Neighbors. And there's a bidding war for My Old Ass filmmaker Megan Park's next project. — Abid Rahman
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Disney Names Josh D'Amaro Its New CEO ►Parks are the future. Disney has found its next CEO: Josh D’Amaro, the chairman of the company’s experiences division. The entertainment giant formally revealed D’Amaro’s promotion Tuesday morning, also elevating Dana Walden to president and chief creative officer. The pair will move into their new roles on March 18, the same day Disney holds its annual meeting. D’Amaro will also be named to the company’s board at that time. D’Amaro succeeds Bob Iger, who will step aside from the top position once again, three years after returning to the company in 2022. D’Amaro’s elevation to CEO also ends a years-long (and extremely public) succession bake-off, with D’amaro, Disney Entertainment co-chair Dana Walden frequently cited as the top internal candidates, and the Disney board, led by former Morgan Stanley CEO James Gorman, also exploring if there were any viable external candidates. The story.
—Not interested. While Disney is watching the takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery from the sidelines, current CEO Bob Iger said the battle has made him appreciate the value of his own company. “If anything, the battle for control of Warner Brothers Discovery should emphasize or cause investors to appreciate the tremendous value of our assets, particularly our IP, that includes, obviously, all of our brands and our franchises. And also, let’s not forget ESPN,” Iger said on Disney’s earning call Monday. Asked whether the pending deal, and Netflix’s and Paramount’s fight for Warner Bros., has changed Iger’s thinking about monetizing Disney’s IP, Iger said “I don’t really feel that we have a need to buy more IP. We’re just going to continue to create our own.” The story. |
Who's Winning the Right Wing Media Meltdown? ►MAGA on MAGA violence. Tucker Carlson vs Ben Shapiro! Candace Owens vs TPUSA! Megyn Kelly vs Mark Levin! THR's Steven Zeitchik writes that a year into Trump 2.0, America's conservative firebrands are at war over Charlie Kirk, Israel and anti-semitism. The story.
—All the stars are here. Kid Rock is set to headline Turning Point USA’s MAGA-friendly alternative “All-American” Super Bowl halftime show, the organization announced on Monday. TPUSA — the organization co-founded by the assassinated right-wing political figure Charlie Kirk — had first announced its plans for a halftime show of its own last fall, following conservative backlash over the selection of Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny to headline this year’s event. Aside from Kid Rock, a vocal Trump ally, the lineup also includes musicians Brantley Gilbert, Lee Brice and Gabby Barrett. The story.
—"I went there to be a journalist. I went there to chronicle and document and record what was happening." Don Lemon appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Monday and opened up about arrest last week over his reporting of an anti-ICE protest at a Minnesota church. The former CNN anchor and journalist shared that he’s doing “OK” after the arrest, adding, “I’m not going to let them steal my joy, but this is very serious. I mean, these are federal criminal charges.” The recap.
—"God will not be mocked." Nicki Minaj has been responding to Grammys host Trevor Noah for skewering her support for Donald Trump and her absence from the music awards show on Sunday night. “As they do their ritual tonight, God almighty will reveal himself to them. The ritual will backfire on them. God will not be mocked. Blessed is the MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS CHRIST. Every tongue that rises up against me in judgement shall be condemned & put to shame,” the “Super Freaky Girl” rapper tweeted on Monday. This follows a slew of posts from Minaj on her Twitter feed after Noah made his opening monologue jokes, including a homophobic insult at the host. The story. |
Savannah Guthrie's Mother Was Likely Abducted in Her Sleep ►"She didn’t walk from there. She didn’t go willingly." Nancy Guthrie, the mother of Today host Savannah Guthrie, was possibly abducted in her sleep, an Arizona sheriff said on Monday after confirming that she is missing and that her home is being treated as a crime scene. The 84-year-old grandmother and mother of three adult children disappeared from her home in Tucson over the weekend, authorities said at a Monday morning press conference. THR confirmed with the Pima County Sheriff’s Department that they believe Guthrie may have been abducted or kidnapped. The story. |
Christopher Nolan Wants to Know Where All the Hollywood Jobs Are, Too ►"A merger is going to mean loss of jobs. It’s going to mean consolidation." THR's Katie Kilkenny spoke to Christopher Nolan, his first interview as president of the 19,500-member Directors Guild of America. At an increasingly fraught time for Hollywood and its workers, with production in the U.S. slowing considerably, generative AI threatening jobs, and studio consolidation on the horizon, the Oscar-winning filmmaker discussed the “very troubling" times impacting the industry. The interview.
—Clean up incoming? For nearly a decade, the unfinished Oceanwide Plaza complex in downtown Los Angeles has stood like a gargantuan, gleaming question mark: a three-tower, $1.2 billion project that stopped halfway to completion. Then it became something far worse as it became a magnet for graffiti artists. THR's Seth Abramovitch reports that the unsightly landmark has finally cleared a major legal blockade by reaching a bankruptcy exit deal with its creditors, opening the door for a sale, and potentially be cleaned up before the Los Angeles Olympics. The story.
—"Just an overpriced AMC now." When you think of Alamo Drafthouse, two things probably come to mind: It’s the much-loved cinema chain that pioneered serving food and alcohol in theaters, and has the industry’s strictest policy of no talking or texting during a movie. Earlier this month, the company revealed a change that is being widely viewed as undermining the second part, and the chain’s loyal fans, critics and even some industry insiders are not pleased, reports THR's James Hibberd. The story. |
Sherri Shepherd's Talk Show Canceled ►"Evolving daytime television landscape." Debmar-Mercury, the Lionsgate-owned syndicated TV production company, says that it is canceling Sherri, the talker hosted by Sherri Shepherd, after four seasons. "This decision is driven by the evolving daytime television landscape and does not reflect on the strength of the show, its production — which has found strong creative momentum this season — or the incredibly talented Sherri Shepherd,” said Debmar-Mercury co-presidents Ira Bernstein and Mort Marcus in a statement to THR. "We believe in this show and in Sherri and intend to explore alternatives for it on other platforms." Production on Sherri ’s fourth season will continue as planned, with the final episodes slated to air this fall. The story.
—"This was not an easy decision." Kelly Clarkson’s tenure as a daytime talk show host is coming to an end. NBCUniversal and Clarkson announced Monday that The Kelly Clarkson Show will end after its current season. Production on season seven will continue as planned, with episodes airing through the fall. In a statement, Clarkson said she made the decision to step away from the show to “prioritize my kids, which feels necessary and right for this next chapter of our lives.” She has two children, ages 11 and 9, with former husband Brandon Blackstock, who died in August 2025 at age 48. The story. |
'Stranger Things' Animated Spinoff Gets Release Date ►📅 Dated! 📅 Get ready to go back to Hawkins — on April 23. That’s the release date for the first Stranger Things universe spinoff, Stranger Things: Tales From ’85. The highly anticipated Netflix animated series from Stranger Things creators the Duffer Brothers and executive producer Shawn Levy, along with showrunner Eric Robles, will return to the setting of the flagship series for a new, untold story with new actors voicing the familiar characters. The teaser ushers in that feeling of familiarity blended with something new, as the series returns viewers to the Upside Down following the Dec. 31, 2025, series finale. The story.
—ARMY rejoice! Netflix is getting in the BTS business. The K-pop supergroup is set to make their long-awaited return in March, releasing their first album in years, Arirang, following their group hiatus so the members could complete their mandatory military service in Korea. Netflix announced BTS The Comeback Live | Arirang on Monday, a special live stream performance of the seven-member group, which will stream on the platform on March 21. The live stream — the first global performance of the album, which is being released on March 20 — is being broadcast live from Gwanghwamun, a well-known Seoul landmark offering views of the city’s iconic Gyeongbokgung palace. The story.
—Hamming it up. Apple TV has ordered a third season of the hit Jon Hamm-starring series Your Friends & Neighbors months ahead of its season two releases. The second season, which also got a teaser trailer on Monday, returns Friday, April 3 with the first episode, followed by a weekly drop until a June 12 finale. Your Friends & Neighbors is created by Jonathan Tropper and is executive produced by Hamm, who stars as Andrew “Coop” Cooper who, in season two, will “double down on his life as an unlikely suburban thief, until the arrival of a new neighbor threatens to expose his secrets and place his family at risk,” per Apple. The story.
—Coming back. NBC has made its first renewals for the 2026-27 season, picking up its comedies St. Denis Medical and Happy’s Place. The two shows have put up decent ratings numbers on Monday (St. Denis Medical) and Friday (Happy’s Place) so far this season, each drawing same-day audiences in line with their 2024-25 averages (not including streaming or delayed viewing, which bumps both up substantially). NBC notes that St. Denis Medical has also grown its three-day adults 18-49 rating a bit season to season, a fairly uncommon occurrence for a network comedy. The story. |
New Movie From 'My Old Ass' Filmmaker Sparks Bidding War ►Hollywood scramble. In what feels somewhat like a throwback to another era, an old-fashioned bidding war for a spec script has grabbed Hollywood’s attention. No stars are attached at this stage. At the center of it all is Megan Park, the well-regarded Canadian filmmaker behind the equally well-regarded coming-of-age comedy My Old Ass. THR's Borys "El Scooperino" Kit has the scoop that Warner Bros., Sony, Universal as well as Apple, Amazon and Netflix are said to be among the bidders for Die Alive , which Park wrote and is attached to direct. LuckyChap, the company run by Margot Robbie, Tom Ackerley, Josey McNamara, and Milan Popelka, is attached to produce. The story.
—Thinking big. Ghostface is — almost — back. And so is Sidney Prescott. On Monday morning, Paramount released the second trailer for the highly anticipated Scream 7, which sees a new Ghostface killer come face to face with the iconic final girl and also impacting the lives of those around her — including her daughter, Tatum (Isabel May), seemingly named after Sidney’s friend Tatum (played by Rose McGowan), who lost her life to Ghostface in 1996’s Scream. The trailer is also set to release during the Super Bowl on Feb. 8. The film will additionally mark the first installment in the franchise’s history to screen in Imax. The story.
—🎭 Filling out, finally. 🎭 Nancy Meyer’s year-long journey to get her next movie project off the ground is at an end. After at least two years of on-and-off negotiations, the untitled project has finally secured not only Warner Bros. Pictures as its official home but also a luminous cast and a release date. Penélope Cruz, Kieran Culkin, Jude Law, Emma Mackey and Owen Wilson will star in the comedy that Meyers, the filmmaker behind Something’s Gotta Give and The Holiday, wrote and will direct. Like many of her other movies, this one is also getting a winter holiday berth. Warner Bros. has set an opening date of Dec. 25, 2027. The story.
—📅 On the move. 📅 Nate Bargatze‘s The Breadwinner is gearing up for the summer. Sony announced Monday that director Eric Appel‘s feature is now slated to hit theaters May 29 after having previously been set for release on March 13. Mandy Moore, Colin Jost, Kumail Nanjiani, Will Forte, Zach Cherry, Martin Herlihy and Kate Berlant round out the cast. The Breadwinner centers on Nate Wilcox (Bargatze), a father of three young daughters. He is left in charge of the brood for an extended stretch when wife Katie (Moore) lands a coveted business deal after an appearance on Shark Tank. The story.
—🏆 Going global. 🏆 The stars of KPop Demon Hunters will be jumping off the screen and onto the stage at the BAFTA Film Awards. In their first-ever live performance outside of the U.S., EJAE (Rumi), Audrey Nuna (Mira) and Rei Ami (Zoey), the singing voices of HUNTR/X, are set to perform their now-Grammy-winning hit “Golden” at Britain’s biggest night for film on Feb. 22. The story. |
TV Review: 'The Muppet Show' ►"Feels right, if not perfect." THR's chief TV critic Daniel Fienberg reviews Disney+'s The Muppet Show. Sabrina Carpenter hosts, Maya Rudolph and executive producer Seth Rogen also appear in the variety half-hour, which returns to the theater, premise and format of the original 1970s series. Also featuring Bill Barretta, Dave Goelz, Eric Jacobson, Peter Linz, David Rudma and Matt Vogel. Directed and executive produced by Alex Timbers. The review.
—"Packs more bodices than bite." THR's Jordan Mintzer reviews Luc Besson's Dracula: A Love Tale. Caleb Landry Jones, Christoph Waltz and Zoë Bleu star in a century-spanning romantic saga, based on Bram Stoker's classic novel, that travels from medieval times to 19th century Paris. Also starring Guillaume de Tonquedec, Matilda De Angelis, Ewens Abid and Raphael Luce. Written by Luc Besson. The review.
—"A touching and inventive look at a tragic disease." Jordan reviews Diego Céspedes' The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo. The Chilean filmmaker's first feature, a tender coming-of-ager-cum-surreal-trans-western which nabbed the top prize in Cannes’ Un Certain Regard sidebar, was Chile's official submission for the 2026 Oscars. Starring Tamara Cortés, Matías Catalán, Paula Dinamarca, Francisco Díaz and Pedro Muñoz. Written by Diego Céspedes. The review.
In other news...
—Michael biopic trailer features MJ's father Joe Jackson
—Zendaya, Robert Pattinson play a risky pre-wedding game in A24’s The Drama trailer
—Kong and Godzilla unite in Monarch: Legacy of Monsters S2 trailer
—Rivals: 4 Nations Face-Off: Justin Trudeau mocks Trump’s 2024 "governor" jab in hockey doc trailer
—Linden Entertainment taps Jenna Jackson as brand ventures exec
—David Yarnell, producer on Can You Ever Forgive Me? and early TV and radio, dies at 96
What else we're reading...
—Adam Serwer gets to the real reason ICE agents are wearing masks [Atlantic]
—Matthew Chin and Evelyn Cheng look at how Chinese short-video streaming firms are reshaping Latin America’s media landscape [CNBC]
—Stuart A. Thompson, Tiffany Hsu and Steven Lee Myers report that the recent chaos in Minneapolis shows the transformation of how news unfolds online, distorting shared reality [NYT]
—Jake Lahut has an in-depth piece on GOP pol Nancy Mace, talking to staffers who think her career might be beyond redemption [Intelligencer]
—Molly Gorman looks at why Emily Brontë's masterpiece Wuthering Heights is so misunderstood [BBC]
Today...
...in 2011, Magnet Releasing debuted Ti West's The Innkeepers in theaters. The supernatural horror movie, which starrred Sara Paxton, Pat Healy, and Kelly McGillis, was a critical hit and cemented West's status as a rising young horror talent. The original review.
Today's birthdays: Aimee Lou Wood (32), Tim Heidecker (50), Nathan Lane (70), Warwick Davis (56), Blythe Danner (83), Anthony Russo (56), Amal Clooney (48), Maura Tierney (61), Isla Fisher (50), Bridget Regan (44), Morgan Fairchild (76), Kasey Esser (37), Costa Ronin (47), Keith Gordon (65), Stephen McHattie (79), Matthew Moy (42), Fredric Lehne (67), Terry Chen (51), Elisa Donovan (55), Tao Tsuchiya (31), Kellen Goff (31), John Hartman (42), Matt Winston (56), Kelly Sullivan (48), Andrew Form (57), Niko Terho (30), Gus Rethwisch (79), Kadiff Kirwan (37), Ian Lithgow (54) |
| Elyse Donalson, who appeared in Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers and on such acclaimed shows as St. Elsewhere, The X-Files and Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman across more than two decades in Hollywood, has died. She was 78. The obituary. |
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