| | | | What's news: Peacock now has 24m subscribers. Sound of Freedom will get an international release. SAG-AFTRA and WGA East call off pickets for Thursday and Friday as temperatures soar in NYC. Google is being sued by advertisers for allegedly inflating video ad metrics. — Abid Rahman
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Studios Quietly Go On AI Hiring Spree ►"Nothing is going to stop technological advancement." The specter of AI over Hollywood has become a staple of SAG-AFTRA and WGA picket signs, and with good reason. THR's Alex Weprin writes that Netflix is looking to hire a $900,000 per year AI product manager, Disney is looking for generative AI specialists and Sony is seeking an AI ethics expert, making it clear that the major studios and streaming services are intrigued by the technology. The story.
—"We don’t want AI to be a tool." THR's Katie Kilkenny and Carolyn Giardina write that IATSE, Hollywood's major crew union, is continuing to debate the use of AI as contract talks with the studios and streamers loom in 2024. They write that while IATSE unveils its "core principles" for use of the technology, members weigh in on the potential impact to their locals and how to develop best practices — or ways to confront encroachment. The story.
—"The seemingly miraculous outputs of generative AI should not be allowed to fill the coffers of tech giants." Joseph Gordon-Levitt has called for residuals to be paid to anyone whose work is used to train generative AI tools and applications. In an op-ed for the Washington Post, the actor and director argued the case for AI related residual payments for the wider economy, with Hollywood writers and actors only serving as the canaries in the coal mine on the issue of AI tools impacting jobs worldwide. The story.
—"Do you think it’s a coincidence that two unions are on strike against you for the first time since Eisenhower was president?" Katie Kilkenny reports that Chris Keyser, one of the leaders of the WGA negotiations, called on the studios to return to the bargaining table to end the labor standoff. In an over 17-minute video message sent to WGA members on Wednesday, Keyser insisted that writers are not the studios' "enemies" but "your partners and your greatest asset" and intimated that the entertainment companies will make a deal "either together or separately." The story.
—Update. SAG-AFTRA has canceled its planned picket lines in New York on Thursday and Friday due to high temperatures expected in the region. The WGA East has also canceled its pickets in New York on Friday and changed the scheduling for its Thursday Comedy Writers Picket at NBCUniversal. The story. |
Is Barbenheimer a Last Hurrah? ►"This is a critical moment for cinemas. They cannot survive another version of the pandemic and the loss of big movies." The extraordinary success of Barbie and Oppenheimer was a much-needed shot of adrenaline for Hollywood and theater owners. But sources tell THR's Pamela McClintock that theaters are scrambling to figure out whether the major studios will make drastic changes to their upcoming release calendars should there be no labor resolution. The story.
—Going global. The faith-based political thriller Sound of Freedom is headed for cinemas overseas. Angel Studios on Wednesday announced release dates for 21 markets, including the U.K., Australia, Spain, South Africa and a host of countries in Latin America. It begins its foreign run next month. At the U.S. box office, the movie crossed the $100m mark on July 19, a little over two weeks after its release on July 4. The story.
—Its-a-Mario! Comcast reported on Wednesday that Peacock now has 24m subscribers, up from 22m last quarter and 13m a year ago, and the streamer's revenue rose by 85 percent to $820m. But Peacock continues to lose money, reporting a loss of $651m in Q2, compared to a loss of $704m last quarter, and $444m a year ago. Comcast also said that The Super Mario Bros. movie helped drive theatrical revenues up by 66 percent year over year to $913m. The results.
—Feasting. The continuing box office recovery was evident at Imax in its Q2 earnings report, showing both substantial revenue growth both year over year and quarter to quarter, as well as a notable increase in profits. Imax had revenue of $98m in Q2, up 38 percent from a year ago and up from $87m in Q1, with profits of $8.4m, compared to a $2.9m loss a year ago, and a $2.5m profit in Q1. The results.
—Not great. U.K. broadcast network ITV has posted a drop in its interim earnings, citing a “challenging” advertising market and planned investment in its video on-demand service ITVX. In its half-year financial results, released Thursday, the broadcaster showed that total external revenues had fallen 2 percent to $2.11b. The results. |
Paramount Plans 'TMNT' Film Sequel, TV Series ►Cowabunga! Paramount’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is set for a sequel. Ahead of the animated tentpole's opening on Aug. 2, the studio has revealed a follow-up from director Jeff Rowe and Point Grey Pictures is in the works. Also in development is a two-season series for Paramount+ with the title Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Point Grey is producing, with Chris Yost and Alan Wan as EPs and showrunners. The story.
—Egads! THR's Winston Cho reports that Google is being sued by advertisers for allegedly inflating video ad metrics. A suit filed against the Alphabet-owned company on Wednesday accuses the tech giant of misleading advertisers about its “TrueView” ad program by inflating metrics on its ads, which are allegedly displayed as muted, autoplaying videos and served on unlisted webpages in violation of promised standards. The story.
—"We aren’t getting offered those roles." An actor with dwarfism isn’t pleased that Hugh Grant was cast as an Oompa Loompa in Warner Bros.’ forthcoming film Wonka. In a new interview, George Coppen said that many actors with dwarfism “feel like we are being pushed out of the industry we love.” The 26-year-old performer is known for roles in Disney+’s Willow series and Netflix’s The School for Good and Evil. The story.
—"We think we made the best decision, and it’s one we stand by." The director of a low-budget British indie that sparked controversy last year by casting Kevin Spacey months before his sexual assault trial in the U.K. is saying his decision has now been proven right. Speaking to Sky News on Wednesday, writer-director Gene Fallaize said that he “absolutely knew” that casting the two-time Oscar winner in a voice-only role as the antagonist in the thriller Control was "going to be a risky move." The story.
—"People were insanely unkind." Zachary Levi is sharing his thoughts on Shazam! Fury of the Gods criticism months after the DC superhero sequel flopped at the box office. During a recent podcast appearance, the actor admitted that he is still somewhat confused about the negative reviews of the David F. Sandberg-directed film and honestly doesn’t know what’s next for the franchise. The story. |
Sinéad O'Connor 1966 - 2023 ►A huge and enduring talent. Sinéad O’Connor, the Irish singer and activist who topped the charts internationally with the Prince-written hit “Nothing Compares 2 U,” has died. She was 56. Her family confirmed the death in a statement to the BBC on Wednesday. O'Connor had a complicated and controversial music career, speaking openly about politics, spirituality and her mental health struggles. She famously ripped up a photo of Pope John Paul II on Saturday Night Live in 1992. The obituary.
—"Thank you for sharing your soul with us and soothing us with your incredible voice." A host of stars from Hollywood and the music industry took to social media to pay tribute to Sinéad O’Connor. Jamie Lee Curtis, Janelle Monáe, Conor McGregor and Melissa Etheridge were among many who remembered the late singer. The reaction.
—Literary giant. Bo Goldman, the late-blooming guru of screenwriting who received Academy Awards for his work on One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and Melvin and Howard, has died. He was 90. Goldman was one of the handful of screenwriters to win Oscars for both original and adapted screenplay. He started out on Broadway and live television and also penned Shoot the Moon, The Rose and Scent of a Woman. The obituary.
—Prolific writer. Stu Silver, the writer and producer who created the 1980s sitcoms Webster and It’s a Living and penned the screenplay for the 1987 Billy Crystal-Danny DeVito dark comedy Throw Momma From the Train, has died. He was 76. The obituary. |
TV Review: 'Twisted Metal' ►"Shallow but entertaining, with traces of heart." THR's chief TV critic Dan Fienberg reviews Peacock's Twisted Metal. Anthony Mackie and Stephanie Beatriz lead the cast of the post-apocalyptic series based on the video game, co-starring Thomas Haden Church, Neve Campbell and Will Arnett. The review.
In other news...
—Only Murders in the Building S3 trailer: Meryl Streep gets wrapped up in a murder mystery
—The Witcher S3: Everything to know before watching part 2
—Ariana DeBose among three new trustees of AFI
—Marcus Ryder named head of U.K.’s film and TV charity
What else we're reading...
—In a wonderful tribute to Sinéad O'Connor, Alexis Petridis writes that controversy never drowned out the late Irish singer's astonishing songcraft [Guardian]
—Jourdain Searles considers the discourse around Barbie, and whether it is peak white feminism. And if it is, whether that matters [Refinery29]
—Bilge Ebiri talks to Robert Downey Jr. on playing Lewis Strauss in Oppenheimer, and the Salieri/Mozart aspect of the lead characters' relationship [Vulture]
—With The Exorcist turning 50 this year, Chris Vognar reflects on the horror classic's legacy and the "realness" of the film that is still bracing [LAT]
—Emma Goldberg reports on how Cirque du Soleil is hoping that it can expand its audience with direct appeals to Gen Z [NYT]
Today...
...in 1984, Warner Bros. unveiled Prince’s R-rated Purple Rain in theaters for moviegoers. The original review.
Today's birthdays: Norman Lear (101), Donnie Yen (60), Maya Rudolph (51), Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (53), Cliff Curtis (55), Bryan Fuller (54), Jonathan Rhys Meyers (46), Taylor Schilling (39), Heidi Gardner (40), Kubbra Sait (40), Julian McMahon (55), Alyvia Alyn Lind (16), Sasha Mitchell (56), Rebecca Staab (62), Maria Grazia Cucinotta (55), Rade Serbedzija (77), Indiana Evans (33), Seamus Dever (47), Park Gyuyoung (30), Ryan Michelle Bathe (47), Jim Toth (53), Lou Taylor Pucci (38), Roxanne Hart (71), John Putch (62), Tahirah Sharif (30), Kenny Wormald (39), Roger Guenveur Smith (68), Wolé Parks (41), Betty Thomas (75), Paul Levesque (54), Rebekah Graf (41), Sara Klimoska (29), Winnie Harlow (29), Yahoo Serious (70) |
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