| | | | What's news: Showtime has canceled Ziwe after two seasons. Apple renews comedy series The Big Door Prize and acquires Jonah Hill's film Outcome. Anderson Cooper is producing a scripted drama series about the Vanderbilts. The Super Mario Bros. Movie is tracking for a hefty $120m plus box office debut. — Abid Rahman |
THR's 50 Best Films of the 21st Century (So Far) ►Critics assemble! Over the course of a few months, several Zoom meetings, and countless emails, six THR film critics — Jon Frosch, David Rooney, Sheri Linden, Lovia Gyarkye, Leslie Felperin and Jordan Mintzer — came together to hash out, and rank, what they consider the fifty greatest films since 2000. Sorry fellow dads, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World didn't make the grade. The list.
—"An unsung masterpiece." To the surprise of some and the delight of many, the late Taiwanese director Edward Yang’s drama Yi Yi (2000) has topped THR's "Best 50 Films of the 21st Century (So Far)" list. Helping put the film in context, Japanese director Ryusuke Hamaguchi, whose 2021 film Drive My Car won the best international film Oscar, offers a personal statement on what Yang’s masterpiece has meant to him and a generation of Asian filmmakers. The story.
—Interesting tidbits. If you've had a chance to digest the list, you may be hankering for some facts and figures. Among the fascinating nuggets, Dick co-stars Kirsten Dunst and Michelle Williams are the actors with the most films represented and only two best picture Oscar winners made the cut. The story. |
Joe Earley Takes Over Disney Streaming, Michael Paull Exits ►Climbing the ranks. Joe Earley has been named president of direct-to-consumer at Disney Entertainment, effectively adding Disney+ to a purview that already included oversight of Hulu. Earley will fill the void created by Michael Paull, who had served as president of direct-to-consumer at Disney Entertainment since January 2022 after joining the company in late 2017. Paull is leaving Disney after a six-year run. The story.
—Chris McCarthy strikes again! Showtime has canceled late night talk show Ziwe after two seasons. With the cancellation, the network is officially out of the late night space. Additionally, Showtime has also made decisions on two of its three comedy pilots, handing out a series order to Mandy Patinkin family comedy Seasoned while passing on The Wood. What’s more, the original movie Heist 88 starring Courtney B. Vance, has moved from Paramount+ to Showtime. The story.
—Quick as a flash. Apple has handed out a speedy second-season pickup to The Big Door Prize, the comedy series starring Chris O’Dowd. The show, based on the book of the same name, launched its first three episodes on the streaming platform March 29. The comedy currently is certified fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, with a 93 percent score among critics and an audience score of 92 percent. The story.
—Dark Hollywood tale. THR's Borys Kit has the scoop on Jonah Hill and Keanu Reeves teaming up for the dark comedy feature Outcome. Apple Original Films has picked up the film that Hill will direct and star in from a script he co-wrote with Ezra Woods. Outcome will star Reeves as Reef, a damaged Hollywood star who must dive into the dark depths of his past to confront his demons and make amends after he is extorted with a mysterious video clip. The story. |
Depp's 'Jeanne du Barry' to Open Cannes ►Zut alors! In what will no doubt provoke some considerable controversy, Johnny Depp’s latest film, Jeanne du Barry, is set to open the 2023 Cannes Film Festival. The film, directed by Maïwenn, will have its world premiere in the Palais on May 16. In the film, Maïwenn herself plays the title character alongside Depp, Benjamin Lavernhe, Melvil Poupaud, Pierre Richard, Pascal Greggory and India Hair. The film recounts the life, rise and fall of the favorite of King Louis XV. The story.
—Everything's coming up Michelle. On the heels of a history making Oscar win for her work in Everything Everywhere All at Once, Michelle Yeoh is set to receive the prestigious Kering Women in Motion Award at Cannes this year. Jane Fonda, Geena Davis, Susan Sarandon, Isabelle Huppert, Patty Jenkins, Gong Li, Salma Hayek and Viola Davis have received the honor in previous years. The story.
—Family affair. Anderson Cooper is taking a shot at a scripted TV series — one based on his family history. The CNN anchor will be an EP of Vanderbilt, a drama in development at Amazon. Patrick Macmanus (Dr. Death, The Girl From Plainville) is set to write and exec produce, adapting Cooper and Katherine Howe’s 2021 book Vanderbilt: The Rise and Fall of an American Dynasty. Universal Studio Group’s UCP, where Macmanus has an overall deal, and Amazon Studios are producing. The story.
—🎭 Four more 🎭 HBO Max has cast the first four actors in its It prequel series Welcome to Derry. Taylour Paige, Jovan Adepo, Chris Chalk and James Remar have all joined the project, from Warner Bros. Television and It filmmakers Andy Muschietti and Barbara Muschietti. Details on the roles they’ll play are being kept quiet for now. The show is a prequel to the two films — which are based on Stephen King’s novel — and “expands the vision” of the movies. The story. |
'Transatlantic' Boss on Taking Inspiration From Screwball Comedies ►"The greatest story never told." THR's Scott Roxborough spoke to Transatlantic co-creator and showrunner Anna Winger about the Netflix drama's fictionalized take on the real-life efforts by Varian Fry and Mary Jayne Gold to rescue European artists and thinkers from Nazi terror. Winger discusses her approach to telling the story, casting Community star Gillian Jacobs and the parallels between the 1940s and the present. The interview.
—Wahoo! Here we go! Illumination and Universal’s Nintendo video game adaptation The Super Mario Bros. Movie is off to a rip-roaring start at the box office, and looks to score at least $128m in its five-day domestic debut over the long Easter holiday weekend after starting off Wednesday with an estimated $26m, according to early models. THR's Pamela McClintock writes that more bullish pundits suggest the movie could even clear $140m to $150m. The box office report.
—📅 Mark it down 📅 Warner Bros. has made several high-profile changes and additions to its release calendar, including announcing that Jason Momoa-starrer Minecraft movie will hit theaters on April 4, 2025. Momoa's Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom will now open on Dec. 20, instead of on Christmas Day and is switching dates with The Color Purple. WB also unscheduled its Wizard of Oz animated film Toto. The pic had been set to open on Feb. 2, 2024, with Barry Levinson’s The Wise Guys instead taking that date. The story.
—🏆 Tom needs some love 🏆 Top Gun: Maverick, Stranger Things and The Last of Us are among the top nominees for the 2023 MTV Movie & TV Awards with six nods each. The White Lotus and Wednesday closely followed with four noms per series. This year’s ceremony also features two new categories: best reality onscreen team and best kick-ass cast. The show will air May 7 at 8 p.m. ET/PT from the Barker Hangar in Los Angeles. The nominees. |
Should Stars Register Their AI Likeness? ►"This is going to turn into a broader public policy issue." Underscoring the growing debate about ownership of one's likeness in the age of AI and Deepfakes, Tom Graham, CEO of tech firm Metaphysic — the company known for popularizing a deepfake TikTok account spoofing Tom Cruise — has submitted for copyright registration his AI likeness. THR's Winston Cho and Carolyn Giardina write that with the standards for AI copyright protection still up in the air, a number of challenges remain for stars looking to do something similar. The story.
—"If it’s possible, I’m gonna take as much of it as I can." Tyler Perry says his interest in buying a majority stake in BET following news that Paramount was exploring a sale is far from rumor. In a new interview, the actor, writer, producer and studio owner explained the reasoning behind his strong interest in the network, emphasizing his bid would return BET back to Black ownership. The story.
—Guilty plea. A Brooklyn drug dealer pleaded guilty Wednesday to providing The Wire actor Michael K. Williams with fentanyl-laced heroin, causing his death. Irvin Cartagena’s plea to a charge of conspiring to distribute drugs was entered in Manhattan federal court. Sentencing was set for Aug. 18, when Cartagena will face a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and the possibility of as many as 40 years. The story.
—"I knew it was happening." Laura Benanti revealed she suffered a miscarriage during a recent performance. In an Instagram post, the Tony-winning actress and singer shared she was on stage performing to 2,000 people, and knew she was experiencing a miscarriage. Benanti added it was not the first time she had had a miscarriage and has in the past talked about trying to remove the stigma around discussing the issue. The story. |
TV Review: 'Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies' ►"Too uneven to admire, but too endearing to dismiss." THR's Angie Han reviews Paramount+ Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies. Set four years before the events of the original Grease movie, the prequel series follows four teen girl outcasts who form a new clique to upend the entire social hierarchy of Rydell High. The review.
—"Politically fueled and summer-bright." THR film critic Sheri Linden reviews Silvia Del Carmen Castaños and Estefanía “Beba” Contreras' Hummingbirds. In a collaborative effort with experienced filmmakers, two first-time documentarians turn the cameras on their friendship, creativity and activism. The review.
In other news...
—Keri Russell faces international and marital crisis in trailer for Netflix’s The Diplomat
—Animated family ducks soar in Illumination’s first Migration trailer
—Todd Phillips celebrates Joker 2 wrapping with new photos of Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga
—Italy’s FEFF unveils expansive selection for 25th anniversary edition
—Interiors stylist Colin King celebrates first book Arranging Things in Hollywood
—IMG hires arts and entertainment events chief for North America
What else we're reading...
—Shirin Ghaffary writes that without his Twitter megaphone, Trump is no longer the social media king driving the news [Vox]
—Mark Gurman goes inside Apple’s complex and secretive gamble to move beyond production in China [Bloomberg]
—Paul Glynn wonders whether it's too soon for a live-action adaptation of Moana, and looks into what's behind Disney's rush for remakes [BBC]
—Hoai-Tran Bui talks to the cast of Netflix's Beef, who discuss how the drama cuts to the heart of Asian American angst [Inverse]
—One for the sneakerheads: Calum Marsh writes that Air Jordans are the real star of Ben Affleck's Air and tracks the sneaker brand's appearances on the big screen [NYT]
Today...
Today's birthdays: Paul Rudd (54, no really), Billy Dee Williams (86), Jerrod Carmichael (36), Candace Cameron Bure (47), Michael Rooker (68), Barry Levinson (81), John Ratzenberger (76), Lauren Ridloff (45), Myha'la Herrold (27), Doug Ellin (55), Steven Levitan (61), Peyton List (26), Zach Braff (48), Eliza Coupe (42), Marilu Henner (71), Seo Ye-Ji (33), Sinqua Walls (38), Rick Cosnett (40), Judi Bowker (69), Diora Baird (40) |
| Bill Doeren, a top executive with AMC Entertainment, MGM International Cinema Group, General Cinema Theatres and Kodak, died March 8 in Los Angeles after a long battle with dementia, his wife, Ellie, announced. He was 76. The obituary. |
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