| | | | | | What's news: Harvey Weinstein was found him guilty of one count of criminal sexual assault. R. Kelly is seeking release from prison. Nintendo's Switch 2 sold 3.5m units in its first four days on sale. Robert Eggers will write and direct an adaptation of A Christmas Carol. A Steven Universe sequel series is in the works. — Abid Rahman
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Brian Wilson 1942 - 2025 ►Icon. Brian Wilson, whose “teenage symphonies to God” made him the poet laureate of adolescent heartbreak as a founding member of The Beach Boys, has died. He was 82. Wilson, who started the band in Hawthorne, California, with brothers Carl and Dennis, cousin Mike Love and schoolmate Al Jardine, wrote such timeless classics as “Surfin’ U.S.A.,” “In My Room,” “God Only Knows,” “Caroline, No,” “California Girls,” “Wouldn’t It Be Nice,” and “Good Vibrations." He was the mastermind behind Pet Sounds, regarded as one of the greatest albums of the ‘60s rock era, and an acknowledged influence by Paul McCartney himself on The Beatles' magnum opus, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. The obituary.
—"He was the soul of our sound." The remaining living members of The Beach Boys paid a moving tribute to Brian Wilson on Wednesday. “I think the most comforting thought right now is that you are reunited with Carl and Dennis, singing those beautiful harmonies again,” founding member Al Jardine said. The reaction.
—"How we will continue without Brian Wilson, "God Only Knows."" Paul McCartney posted a tribute to Brain Wilson, paying homage to one of pop’s all time great songwriters, who he’d often called a major influence on his own music. “Brian had that mysterious sense of musical genius that made his songs so achingly special,” McCartney wrote on Instagram on Thursday. “The notes he heard in his head and passed to us were simple and brilliant at the same time. I loved him, and was privileged to be around his bright shining light for a little while." The reaction.
—"The maestro has passed." Major figures from the world of music and entertainment took to social media on Wednesday to pay tribute to Brian Wilson. The likes of Elton John, Bob Dylan, John Stamos, John Cusack, Nancy Sinatra, Ronnie Wood, Lucian Grainge and more remembered Wilson's huge impact on music and his lasting legacy. "He was a musical genius and revolutionary. He changed the goalposts when it came to writing songs and shaped music forever. A true giant," wrote Elton John. The reaction. |
Harvey Weinstein Found Guilty of Sexual Assault ►Partial verdict. The jury in Harvey Weinstein’s criminal trial found him guilty of one count of criminal sexual assault against former Project Runway assistant Miriam Haley, but not guilty of the other count of criminal sexual assault against former model Kaja Sokola. The jury has yet to reach a verdict on rape in the third degree related to aspiring actress Jessica Mann. Judge Curtis Farber on Wednesday had asked the jury whether they had reached a verdict on any counts, before dismissing them for the day, amid larger concerns about fighting and tensions in the jury room. Weinstein faced one charge of rape in the third degree and two charges of criminal sexual act in the first degree, which is the higher felony charge and carries a maximum prison sentence of 25 years. Deliberations are expected to resume Thursday on the rape charge. The story.
—"It’s a big win for everyone. Harvey Weinstein will be in jail." After the jury of 12 gave their unanimous verdicts on the two counts Wednesday, the witnesses in the case began giving their reactions to the Weinstein decision. “I’m very happy about today’s verdict. I’m proud of the other two girls, the other two women who testified. It was an extremely difficult journey for all of us to relive our traumas and to go through it in open court," Kaja Sokola told reporters outside the courthouse. “Testifying in the face of constant disruptions, victim shaming, and deliberate attempts to distort the truth was exhausting and at times dehumanizing. But today’s verdict gives me hope," Miriam Haley told reporters. The reaction.
—Seeking release. R. Kelly, who is currently serving a 30-year prison sentence, is seeking to be released from prison, claiming jail officials attempted to solicit a fellow inmate to kill him. In a court filing on Tuesday, the disgraced R&B star asked a judge to be released from the Federal Correctional Institution in Butner, North Carolina. He’s serving multiple decades after being convicted in two separate criminal cases for several sex crimes. Kelly claims a prison officer “illegally accessed and stole a series of phone calls and emails” between the former musician and a woman and his attorney, according to the motion. He also alleges a former cellmate stole “attorney-client correspondence” and shared the letters with prosecutors ahead of his trial in New York. The story. |
Disney, Universal Launch AI Legal Battle Against Midjourney ►"Piracy is piracy." In the next chapter of Big Entertainment vs. Big Tech, Disney and Universal have filed a lawsuit against artificial intelligence company Midjourney over tools that allow users to create images and videos that can manipulate famous characters at the click of a prompt. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles on Wednesday by Disney Enterprises, Marvel, Lucasfilm, 20th Century, Universal City Studios Productions and DreamWorks Animation, describes the David Holz-run generative AI firm Midjourney as a “bottomless pit of plagiarism.” The complaint from Disney and Universal details how Midjourney’s tools easily allow users to create image-based works based on the intellectual property of Disney and Universal — think: Darth Vader or Shrek at the beach, etc. This is commonly called “AI Slop,” and many likely already see it in their social media feeds. The story.
—Strike suspended. After nearly a year on strike against major video game companies, SAG-AFTRA has worked out the details of a suspension agreement to allow its performers to return to work for the major studios as its negotiating team readies the terms of a tentative new contract. The national board of directors of the union will meet on Thursday to go over the agreement and if it is cleared it will be sent out to its members for ratification. The contract details have not yet been disclosed, as far as the specificity of the gains for voice and performance capture workers. The story.
—Sugoi! Nintendo says that its new Switch 2 console has set a new record for the company, selling 3.5m units in the first four days after it launched. The Switch 2 went on sale June 5. The console is the hotly anticipated follow-up to the company’s original Switch, which was released back in 2017. As with the original, players can plug in and play on a TV set, or carry it around and play on the go with the built-in screen. Nintendo announced the console back in January, and held a full reveal in early April, as well as new Mario Kart and Donkey Kong games. Nintendo has long prioritized its own games IP with its consoles, as well as its more family-friendly focus, a contrast to Microsoft’s Xbox and Sony’s PlayStation. The story.
—G'day L.A. Aussie AI company Othelia Technologies is expanding to the U.S. with the hire of former Bento Box Entertainment CEO and cofounder Scott Greenberg. Greenberg, an Emmy Award-winning producer, will serve as Othelia executive chairman. He’s investing his own money into the company and will earn a cofounder title. Othelia’s move into America is being considered a relaunch of sorts. Othelia Technologies’ new L.A. HQ will be run by Alexandra Hooven, who joins as chief growth officer; she’s now another co-founder. Othelia was (really) founded by Sydney-based CEO Kate Armstrong-Smith and chief technology officer Joe Couch. Hooven, who helped Greenberg launch Blockchain Creative Labs at Fox, will oversee Othelia’s product development and rollout to the creative community in the U.S. and globally. The story. |
Inside the A24, Neon and Mubi Turf War ►Battle of the cool kids. For the first time in years, there's a three-way brawl for the title of Hollywood’s ‘It’ indie outfit. Neon and A24 have been duking it out for years, with the former grabbing the bragging rights recently after Sean Baker's Anora swept the Oscars. But now there's Mubi, the upstart company is now closing the gap between itself and A24 and Neon, with the three going head-to-head at more film festivals. But even if they are occasionally bidding for the same titles in Park City and Cannes, Neon, Mubi and A24 represent three different futures of indie cinema. THR's Mia Galuppo and Scott Roxborough write that even if they are increasingly getting lumped together by both the industry and consumers, their businesses are incredibly distinct. The story.
—Bobby Xmas. Warner Bros. Pictures is hoping to be blessed with a new feature based on A Christmas Carol. Robert Eggers is set to write and direct a movie adapting author Charles Dickens’ classic ghost story set at Christmas. Eggers will produce the project alongside Chris Columbus and Eleanor Columbus for Maiden Voyage. Dickens’ novella was first published in 1843 and centers on miserly Ebenezer Scrooge learning from the ghost of late business partner Jacob Marley that he will be visited by three spirits. THR exclusively reported last year that Eggers’ next project as director is the werewolf horror movie Werwulf. Eggers co-wrote the script for Werwulf that Focus Features has set for theatrical release on Christmas Day of 2026. Eggers' Noseferatu was released on Christmas Day, last year. The story.
—More Christmas news! THR's Borys Kit has the scoop that Tommy Wirkola is back in the sleigh for Violent Night 2 , the sequel to its Christmas-themed action movie released in 2022. The studio on Wednesday dated the sequel for a Dec. 4, 2026 unwrapping. David Harbour is back as the icepick-stabbing, skate-slashing Santa Claus, who in the first movie was a bitter drunk headed towards turning back on the holiday until a little girl shows him the light. It’s unclear if his lucidity will remain intact for the second outing. Also, it is unclear if the new story will include Mrs. Claus, briefly mention in the first movie. Universal is eyeing a September start of production in Winnipeg. The story.
—Shut up! U.K. rapper Stormzy has officially launched #Merky Films and unveiled the company’s debut project, Big Man. The British musician, whose real name is Michael Omari, has teamed up with Apple to produce a short film shot entirely on an iPhone 16 Pro. Big Man is directed by Aneil Karia and stars Stormzy in his first-ever lead acting role. The short tells the poignant, fictional story of Tenzman, a former rap star now navigating a restless and uncertain chapter of his life. The story. |
Netflix Reveals First Details of 'Stranger Things' Animated Series ►Sneak peek. Netflix revealed the first details of its Stranger Things animated spinoff, Stranger Things: Tales From ’85, and its hot awards-season contender In Your Dreams at a panel at the Annecy animation festival in France on Wednesday. The animated expansion of the Stranger Things universe will be set in Hawkins “in the stark winter of 1985” between seasons 2 and 3 of the original live-action series and feature the show’s original characters — with one new edition, Nikki, a tough, Mohawk-wearing gal — fighting “new monsters and unravel[ing] a paranormal mystery terrorizing their town.” The streamer gave the Annecy audience a sneak peek at the series, which he said was originally inspired by the Saturday morning cartoons of the ’80s era. The story.
—"Liam Payne’s family reviewed the series and is supportive of his inclusion." Netflix will debut its Building The Band talent discovery series on July 9 with the late Liam Payne included as a guest judge. The first look clip for Building The Band that dropped on Wednesday does not feature the former One Direction singer, but Netflix has confirmed to THR that Payne will appear in the competition series. Payne fell to his death from the balcony of a hotel room in Buenos Aires in October 2024. Following his untimely death, the show’s producers and Payne’s grieving family were weighing Payne’s inclusion in the series. Ultimately, they have decided to move forward with Payne remaining in the series from Remarkable Entertainment, which is part of Banijay U.K. The story.
—Big news from France. Five years after the last iteration of Steven Universe ended, the show’s, uh, universe is expanding again. A sequel series focused on supporting character Lars Barriga is in the works at Prime Video. Steven Universe: Lars of the Stars comes from the original show’s creator, Rebecca Sugar, and supervising director Ian Jones-Quartey, who will executive produce. Cartoon Network Studios is behind the project, which was announced Tuesday at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival. The story.
—Marty's back. Fox Nation has renewed Martin Scorsese Presents: The Saints for a second season. The eight-episode sequel season will premiere in November 2025 and run through spring of 2026, encapsulating both the Christmas and Easter holidays. To span the Catholic Holy season, The Saints will be split into two halves. The Saints features one saint per episode; season two will cover the Virgin Mary (Saint Mary the Virgin), Saint Peter, Saint Carlo Acutis, Saint Patrick, Saint Paul, Saint Longinus, Saint Lucia and Saint Thomas Becket. The Scorsese docudrama “explores the lives of these extraordinary figures and their extreme acts of kindness, selflessness and sacrifice,” per Fox Nation, which is Fox News Channel’s companion streaming service. The story.
—Crossover. RuPaul’s Drag Race has officially entered the Project Runway workroom. With the reveal of a new slate of competitors Wednesday, Drag Race alum Utica Queen has officially joined the cast of Project Runway season 21. On the fashion show, Utica will go by Ethan Mundt, his real name, marking the first-ever crossover between the two beloved reality TV shows. The Freeform series revealed its batch of 12 fashion designers, including two former Project Runway contestants, season 7’s Jesus Estrada and season 19’s Caycee Black. The story. |
THR's Top U.S. Animation Schools ►Sketching out a pathway. Animation remains a thriving corner of the industry for aspiring professional artists even if, as a career, breaking in has never been harder. The craft is at an inflection point as it continues grappling with the ongoing impacts of such market forces — not to mention the growing presence of AI. Schools and organizations like WIA and ASIFA-Hollywood (which produces the Oscars of animation, the Annie Awards) are already addressing this game-changer with additional courses, industry events and multiyear studies. As the industry navigates its next act, pros say it’s important that aspiring animators think carefully about where and how they want to pursue their dream careers. To help future creatives navigate the best pathway, THR compiled its inaugural top animation schools list. The list. |
Film Review: 'Tow' ►"Boosted by Byrne's affecting turn." THR's Lovia Gyarkye reviews Stephanie Laing's Tribeca spotlight narrative selection, Tow. Rose Byrne plays an unhoused Seattle woman who goes to battle against a tow company in Stephanie Laing's feature, co-starring Octavia Spencer, Ariana DeBose, Dominic Sessa, Simon Rex and Demi Lovato. The review.
—"An easy, breezy good time." For THR, Caryn James reviews Tom Kingsley's Tribeca spotlight narrative selection, Deep Cover. Jurassic World director Colin Trevorrow co-wrote and produced this action farce about improv actors working an undercover police sting. Starring Bryce Dallas Howard, Orlando Bloom, Nick Mohammed, Paddy Considine, Sonoya Mizuno, Ian McShane and Sean Bean. The review.
—"Generic enough to screen at Costco." THR's Jordan Mintzer reviews Richard Gray's The Unholy Trinity. The latest Western shoot-'em-up from the filmmaker behind Murder at Yellowstone City tells the story of a son who shows up in a one-horse Montana town to avenge his father. Starring Pierce Brosnan, Samuel L. Jackson, Brandon Lessard, Veronica Ferres, Q’orianka Kilcher, Gianni Capaldi, Ethan Peck, Katrina Bowden, Tim Daly and David Arquette. The review.
—"Not just for friends of Dorothy." THR's chief film critic David Rooney reviews Jeffrey McHale's Tribeca spotlight documentary selection, It's Dorothy! McHale’s doc-essay extends its gaze from the L. Frank Baum novel published in 1900 through the beloved Judy Garland film to The Wiz, Wicked and countless points in between. With Ashanti, Fairuza Balk, Danielle Hope, Nichelle Lewis, Shanice Shantay, Rufus Wainwright, Lena Waithe, John Waters, Margaret Cho and Amber Ruffin. The review.
In other news...
—Superman final trailer shows David Corenswet "doing important stuff"
—Netflix drops first teaser, poster art for In Your Dreams
—Ariel Winter’s friends start to vanish in trailer for thriller Don’t Log Off
—Aya Cash, Ella Rubin get forced into family time in trailer for Adult Children
—The Summer I Turned Pretty S3 trailer sees Lola Tung’s Belly getting married
—Sabrina Carpenter announces new album Man’s Best Friend
—Alexander Payne to receive Locarno Film Festival’s Honorary Leopard
—Longtime FX publicity boss John Solberg to step down
—Guy Griggs to lead ad sales for CNN
—YouTube creator Bretman Rock signs with Range Media
—Ananda Lewis, former MTV VJ and TV show host, dies at 52
What else we're reading...
—John Hudson, Karen DeYoung, Dan Lamothe and Adam Taylor report that the U.S. is shrinking its presence in the Middle East amid fears of an Israeli strike on Iran [WaPo]
—Rachel Uranga reports that beleaguered L.A. immigrant advocates are now threatened with federal probes [LAT]
—Sarah Nassauer, Sean McLain and Haley Zimmerman look at how Home Depot became Ground Zero in Trump’s deportation push [WSJ]
—With the supposed close of the Mission: Impossible series, Bilge Ebiri wonders where Tom Cruise goes from here [Vulture]
—Michael Daly talks to one of Stephen Miller’s former classmates who is now trying to save migrants from him [Daily Beast]
Today...
...in 1987, John McTiernan’s Predator, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as the leader of a special forces team that’s dropped into the jungle on a rescue mission and comes face to face with an alien hunter who makes trophies out of men’s spinal columns, hit theaters. The original review.
Today's birthdays: Dave Franco (40), Rick Hoffman (55), Frances O'Connor (58), Gregory Alan Williams (69), Jared Bush (51), Takashi Yamazaki (61), Timothy Simons (47), Georgina Campbell (33), Abbey Lee (38), Tim DeKay (62), Jason Mewes (51), Louisa Jacobson (34), Eamonn Walker (63), Timothy Busfield (68), Paula Marshall (61), Mel Rodriguez (52), Paul Schulze (63), Cody Horn (37), Jenilee Harrison (67), Spencer Macpherson (28), Ryan Malgarini (33), Rich Ting (45), Carly Craig (45), Stephanie Bennett (36), Scott Thompson (66), Chris Witaske (42), Jessica Keenan Wynn (39), Cathy Tyson (60), Jeremy Howard (44), Tyner Rushing (37), Adriana Lima (44), James Ashcroft (47), Kendra Wilkinson (40), Sarah Trigger (57), Andrew Howard (🏴56), Abid Rahman (🏴44) |
| Harris Yulin, the ever-present Emmy-nominated actor who appeared in such films as Scarface, Clear and Present Danger and Training Day and on television in Frasier, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and Ozark, has died. He was 87. The obituary. |
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