| | | | What's news: Netflix suffered its first quarterly subs decline in over a decade. Jerry West is furious with his depiction in Winning Time, and Kareem is backing him up. Johnny Depp took the stand at his defamation trial. Ezra Miller was arrested for a second time in Hawaii. Amazon won the race for the Voltron live-action movie. Plus: Ben Affleck and Matt Damon are teaming up again for a film about the man who convinced Michael Jordan to sign with Nike — Abid Rahman |
Netflix Shocker: Streamer Loses Subs For First Time In Over 10 years ►Big yikes. Netflix lost 200,000 subscribers during Q1 as the company disclosed that it fell far short of its own low expectations of 2.5 million subscriber adds for the start of 2022. The subs loss, the streamer's first fall in the number of subscribers in more than a decade, fell (comically) short of its own low expectations of 2.5 million subs adds for the start of 2022. Netflix's total subs at the end Q1 of 2022 was 221.64 million, down from 221.84 million in Q4 of 2021.
The streaming giant lost subscribers in nearly every region except for the Asia Pacific market, where it saw a net add of over 1 million subscribers. Netflix lost around 640,000 subscribers in the U.S./Canada region during the first quarter — a larger drop than its previous subscriber loss in the region last year — and saw a 300,000 subscriber loss in Europe, the Middle East and Africa and 350,000 loss in Latin America. The losses are expected to continue into Q2, when Netflix predicts it will lose an additional 2 million subscribers.
Ominously, Netflix said it will also be “pulling back” some of its content spending over the next two years to increase its revenue growth. The story.
—When sharing is not caring. On a pretty challenging day to say the least, Netflix said it is preparing to crack down on password sharing around the world, with the company telling shareholders Tuesday that it is a “big opportunity” for the streaming giant to help turn around its fortunes. The streamer estimates that “over 100 million” households worldwide are using shared Netflix accounts, including more than 30 million in North America. The story.
—Time to try everything. Netflix is planning to roll out less expensive plans, supported by advertising. Netflix co-CEO Reed Hastings revealed the move on the company’s quarterly earnings call, adding that the company will be examining what those plans will look like “over the next year or two.” Netflix COO Greg Peters said that advertising “is an exciting opportunity for us.” Hastings said that the embrace by competitors played a role in changing the company’s mind. The story. |
Jerry West Demands Retraction Over 'Winning Time' Depiction ►"A deliberately false characterization that has caused great distress to Jerry and his family." Jerry West’s legal team wants an apology and retraction for his portrayal in HBO's Winning Time. In a statement obtained by ESPN, which the outlet states was sent to HBO and producer Adam McKay, reps for the former Lakers GM criticized his depiction in the series as “a deliberately false characterization.” Jason Clarke plays West in the series centering on the Showtime era of the Lakers franchise during the 1980s. The story.
—"The characters are crude stick-figure representations that resemble real people." Kareem Abdul-Jabbar finally weighed in on Winning Time — and he is not a fan, to say the least. The Lakers legend took apart the series in a blog post after noting that he originally was not going to watch the series but after hearing about how some of his former colleagues were depicted, he had to see for himself. Among a host of problems and flaws, Kareem took issue with the portrayal of Jerry West in the series, he also said that one scene in particular could have a lasting adverse impact on his charity. The story.
—"We are not documentarians." Someone who is really enjoying Winning Time is actor Rob Morgan who plays Earvin Johnson Sr. in the series. THR's Ryan Parker spoke to Morgan about why the entire project has been among the most joyful of any in his long career and his real-life bond with screen son Quincy Isaiah who plays Magic Johnson. Warning spoilers. The interview. |
Ezra Miller Arrested Again in Hawaii ►Second-degree assault. The Flash star Ezra Miller was arrested Tuesday morning on suspicion of second-degree assault, according to the Hawaii Island Police Department. Miller, according to police, “became irate after being asked to leave and reportedly threw a chair, striking a 26-year-old female on the forehead, resulting in an approximate half-inch cut.” In late March, Miller was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and harassment following an incident in a karaoke bar in Hilo. The story.
—"Grossly embellished." Over the course of six years, Amber Heard has reiterated accusations that ex-husband Johnny Depp had an alcohol and substance abuse problem that led to him beating her in fits of rage and stupor. Depp, taking the stand for the first time on Tuesday in a defamation trial, claimed that his ex-wife “grossly embellished” his “quote unquote substance abuse” and that there’ve been “no moments where I would’ve been considered out of control.” The recap.
—Life sentence. A parolee who murdered 81-year-old philanthropist Jacqueline Avant, the wife of a legendary music executive Clarence Avant, was sentenced Tuesday to 190 years in a California prison. Aariel Maynor, 30, pleaded guilty to murder and other charges in Los Angeles Superior Court last month. The story.
—Auspicious bow. Jesse Eisenberg’s directorial debut, When You Finish Saving the World, will open this year’s Cannes Critics’ Week section, premiering May 18. The Critics’ Week unveiled its full 2022 lineup on Wednesday, announcing the 11 feature films and 13 shorts that will make up its 61st edition. The seven films in competition this year are all from first-time filmmakers. The lineup.
—We have a winner! The Voltron feature movie is heading to Amazon. The package hit the town in March, attracting multiple offers and interest from studios and streamers alike. Now Amazon is in negotiations to pick up the live-action take on the 1980s anime, with Red Notice filmmaker Rawson Marshall Thurber attached to direct the feature. Thurber also came up with the story and will co-write the script with Ellen Shanman. The story.
—Joining the decade club. The Goldbergs has been renewed for its 10th season on ABC. The renewal arrives a month after star and exec producer Wendi McLendon-Covey signed a new deal to return with producers Sony Pictures Television. The pact, which sources note includes an option for an 11th season, included a sizable pay bump. With the pickup, the show is part of an increasingly exclusive club of live-action broadcast comedies to have run for a decade or more. The story. |
Affleck and Damon Team for Story of Nike Exec Who Signed Michael Jordan ►It's gotta be the shoes. THR's Borys Kit has the big scoop on Ben Affleck and Matt Damon teaming up again for the true-life story of former Nike executive Sonny Vaccarro, the man who signed Michael Jordan to an industry defining sneaker deal. Affleck will direct, write, co-star as Nike founder Phil Knight and produce the untitled sports drama while Damon will star as Vaccaro and also write and produce. Amazon Studios, Skydance Sports, and Mandalay Pictures are behind the feature that began as a spec by Alex Convery. The story.
—Tribeca goes large. The 2022 Tribeca Festival has revealed its lineup of feature and short narrative, documentary and animated films. Highlights from the feature-film lineup of 110 films from 151 filmmakers across 40 countries include world premieres of Corner Office, starring Jon Hamm and Danny Pudi; Aisha with Letitia Wright; and David Frankel’s Jerry & Marge Go Large, starring Bryan Cranston, Annette Bening and Rainn Wilson. The lineup.
—"We feel like we’ve been chasing him forever." Mad Men alum John Slattery has joined the sixth season of Paramount+'s The Good Fight. The four-time Emmy nominee will play a character who helps out Christine Baranski’s Diane Lockhart. Slattery will play Lyle Bettencourt, a brilliant, sophisticated and sensitive physician who helps Diane through a crazy time. The story.
—It's finally happening, Precious. VFX and animation studio Cinesite (No Time to Die, Addams Family 2) has confirmed that it is working on birthday boy Andy Serkis’ adaptation of George Orwell’s 1945 allegorical novel Animal Farm. Serkis told THR back in 2012 that he intended to helm Animal Farm, which will involve performance-capture-based CG characters. The story.
—Mixed bag. Filming in Los Angeles for Q1 set a new record to start the year despite an escalating slide in the number of shoot days of feature film production. According to a new FilmLA report, feature film shoots saw a 25 percent dip below the five year average in Q1 2022. FilmLA attributed the drop-off to productions being lured by more attractive tax incentives in other jurisdictions and a shortage of soundstage space in the area. The story. |
TV Review: 'We Own This City' ►"Not The Wire, but darned solid." THR's chief TV critic Dan Fienberg reviews HBO's We Own This City. The Wire creator David Simon, working again with George Pelecanos, returns to the streets and police precincts of Baltimore with a six-episode limited series focusing on a real corruption scandal from 2017. The review. — "Easy on the ear but very weird." THR film critic Leslie Felperin reviews Valérie Lemercier's Aline. A fictionalized Céline Dion biopic, writer-director-star Lemercier's showbiz saga covers the highs and few lows of the French-Canadian singing superstar's life and career. The review. — "A well-told tale, sharp and tender." THR film critic Sheri Linden reviews Igor Drljača's The White Fortress. The third feature from the Bosnian-Canadian filmmaker, centering on star-crossed lovers in a socially divided Sarajevo, was Bosnia and Herzegovina’s submission to the 94th Academy Awards. The review. — "A stunning and unnerving act of storytelling." THR critic Lovia Gyarkye reflects on Jerrod Carmichael’s Rothaniel, writing that the comedian’s HBO special is part of a new wave of intimate, introspective stand-up, but it's also a masterful tightrope walk between different kinds of storytelling. The critic's notebook. In other news... —Peacock’s Angelyne trailer: Emmy Rossum embodies the L.A. billboard icon — Thor: Love and Thunder trailer hammers out 209m views in 24 hours — Business Proposal director explains the creation of Netflix’s latest K-drama hit —How trainer Magnus Lygdback got Alexander Skarsgard in shape for The Northman with 1-hour workouts —Hasbro rolls the dice on Dungeons & Dragons expansion in film, TV and games —Searchlight sets release for Anya Taylor-Joy’s The Menu —Visual artist Sarah Bahbah signs with M88, UNCMMN —Imax promotes Natasha Fernandes to CFO —Billboard Music Awards: Megan Thee Stallion, Red Hot Chili Peppers among artists set to perform —Arsenio Hall to return to talk show format for Netflix Is A Joke Fest —Famed astrologer Walter Mercado getting TV treatment What else we're reading... —Juan Barquin on why Mr. Mayor star Holly Hunter is giving one of TV’s funniest performances right now [ Daily Beast] —Meredith Blake's interview with Abercrombie & Fitch doc maker Alison Klayman about the brand built on exclusion [ LAT] —The latest on Ron DeSantis' bid to end Walt Disney World’s special tax district [ WSJ] —Laura Martin profiles rising Brit talent Harry Trevaldwyn, star of the Call My Agent! remake [ Guardian] —I'm nothing if not consistent, treat yo' self to another Nicolas Cage profile [ NYT] Today... ...in 1937, David O. Selznick premiered A Star Is Born, featuring Janet Gaynor and Fredric March, in Los Angeles. The film went on to earn seven Oscar nominations at the 10th Academy Awards, winning for original story. The original review. Today's birthdays: Andy Serkis (58), Shemar Moore (52), Billy Magnussen (37), Crispin Glover (58), Jessica Lange (73), Veronica Cartwright (73), Carmen Electra (50), Joey Lawrence (46), Ryan O'Neal (81), George Takei (85), Carlos Valdes (33), Miranda Kerr (39), Yuji Okumoto (63), Tan France (39), Hal Yamanouchi (76), David Leland (76) |
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