| | | | | | What's news: Giorgio Armani has died. Google has hired a filmmaker in residence to promote its AI tools. Thomas Schumacher is leaving Disney. Jean Prewitt is stepping down as the president and CEO of the Independent Film & Television Alliance. NeueHouse is shuttering. Will Smith has signed a first-look film deal with Paramount. And Sophie Turner will play Lara Croft in Amazon's Tomb Raider series. — Abid Rahman
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'Voice of Hind Rajab' Roars in Venice ►Defining film of the fest. Ahead of her film’s world premiere in Venice, Kaouther Ben Hania shared the fears she had of not living up to the tall task of honoring the late six-year-old child on whom she based the Gaza drama The Voice of Hind Rajab . Judging by the thunderous ovation that roared through Sala Grande on Wednesday evening, the Tunisian filmmaker had nothing to fear about as she accomplished her goal and then some with the competition title. The capacity crowd responded to the emotional gut punch of a film at both ends of the spectrum, first with sobs and tears while the frames hit the screen, followed by the longest standing ovation the fest has seen this year after credits rolled. There were chants in the audience of "Free Palestine," others waved Palestinian flags and keffiyehs, while cast members from the film hoisted an oversized photo of Hind Rajab. The recap.
—"Intensely involving and resounding." THR's Sheri Linden reviews Kaouther Ben Hania's Venice competition entry, The Voice of Hind Rajab. The Four Daughters director’s dramatization incorporates actual calls between emergency workers and trapped 6-year-old Palestinian Hind Rajab as they were trying to save her from Israeli tanks and bullets. Starring Saja Kilani, Motaz Malhees, Amer Hlehel, Clara Khoury and Nesbat Serhan. Written by Kaouther Ben Hania. The review.
—"Enough of the mass killing, starvation, dehumanization." Earlier on Wednesday in Venice, the creative team behind The Voice of Hind Rajab used the opportunity of the project’s first major press conference to make a powerful plea for peace. After Kaouther Ben Hania, was greeted by a lengthy standing ovation, her star, Palestinian-Canadian actress Saja Kilani, read a prepared statement on behalf of her collaborators. "In the name of the entire team, we ask, ‘Isn’t it enough?’ Enough of the mass killing, starvation, dehumanization, destruction and the ongoing occupation," Hanja said. The story.
—Showing support. The Voice of Hind Rajab received high-profile Hollywood support on the red carpet before the film's premiere. Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara, as well as The Zone of Interest producer James Wilson and Navalny producer Odessa Rae, were on hand to back the film, which has become the most talked-about titles of the fall festival season. Ben Hania and her all-Palestinian cast carried a framed photo of 6-year-old Hind. Hollywood heavyweights Brad Pitt, Phoenix, Mara, Rae, Wilson, Alfonso Cuarón and Jonathan Glazer had come on board as executive producers. Pitt’s Plan B partners, Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner, have also joined the team. Their involvement is expected to give the film a significant push, particularly in the U.S., to reach a much wider audience. The story. |
The Deadest Dead-End Job in Hollywood? ►"You put a bunch of crabs in a pot, no water, but the heat is on. What are the crabs going to do? They’re going to die. But who’s going to win the fight to the top? Who’s going to climb over all the other crabs and inevitably kill them in order to survive? That is what I believe is happening right now, at least for PAs." Hollywood production assistants have long endured brutal hours, low salaries and abuse in the hope of moving up the food chain. But contracting budgets and blatant nepotism have turned a job that was supposed to be a doorway into a holding cell. Now, reports THR's Katie Kilkenny , they’re finally pushing back. The story.
—Ominous. Google wants to see its generative AI video tool Flow gain a foothold among creatives, and is bringing a filmmaker in-house to help it do so. The tech giant says that it has brought on filmmaker and creative director Henry Daubrez to work as a filmmaker in residence at Google Labs, where he will create new content using the company’s tools, help shape Flow as a product, and mentor other filmmakers through what the company is calling Flow Sessions. Flow Sessions will give participants complimentary access to Flow, as well as guidance and mentorship. Google officially rolled out Flow earlier this year alongside a partnership with Darren Aronofsky and his new venture Primordial Soup. The story.
—"We’ll adjust." Ahead of a possible trial date in March, Live Nation says it is preparing for the possibility of having to cede its exclusive ticketing contracts with venues. The DOJ has brought suit against Live Nation alleging that the company, which also owns Ticketmaster, uses its position as the largest concert promoter, ticket seller and venue operator in the U.S. to undermine competition. As part of this, the suit alleges that the company is illegally pushing venues into exclusive ticketing contracts, and retaliating against those who choose to work with another ticketing operator. One of the government’s proposed remedies has been separating Ticketmaster from Live Nation. However, speaking at an investor conference Wednesday, Live Nation President Joe Berchtold said he believes the alleged issue could be addressed by if venues are not allowed to exclusively auction off ticketing rights. The story. |
Disney Vet Thomas Schumacher Set to Depart Company ►"A behind-the-scenes force focused on the next generation of artists and audiences." Thomas Schumacher, Disney Theatrical’s chief creative officer, is leaving the division later this month after close to 40 years at Disney. Schumacher helped Disney create its theatrical business, building such hits as The Lion King and Aladdin, which are still running, as well as the stage version of Beauty and the Beast . After occupying a major role on Broadway for decades, Schumacher stepped down as president of Disney Theatrical in 2023, and segued to the role of chief creative officer. At that time, Andrew Flatt and Anne Quart took over leadership of Disney Theatrical Group as executive vice presidents. Quart will continue to oversee creative and production for theatrical productions and Flatt will lead strategy and business operations for our shows, licensing efforts, live immersive events and partnerships including Disney on Ice, according to a memo sent Wednesday from Alan Bergman, the co-chairman of Disney Entertainment. The story.
—End of an era. Jean Prewitt, president and CEO of the Independent Film & Television Alliance, will step down by the end of the year after 25 years with the organizer of the American Film Market. Prewitt had been considering a departure for some time, and it’s understood she remained with IFTA as the AFM relocated back to Los Angeles from Las Vegas. After a poorly received experiment in Las Vegas, AFM returned to Los Angeles for its upcoming latest edition to take place Nov. 11 to 16, 2025. IFTA said an executive search for her successor has begun, and Prewitt will work with her replacement to ensure a smooth transition. The story. |
Giorgio Armani 1934 - 2025 ►Icon. Legendary Italian fashion designer Giorgio Armani, who founded his eponymous company in 1975, has died at the age of 91. The Armani Group announced on Thursday that the fashion icon died at his home in Milan. “With infinite sorrow, the Armani Group announces the passing of its creator, founder and tireless driving force,” said the fashion house in a statement. He passed away “peacefully, surrounded by his loved ones,” the company added. “Tireless, he worked until his final days, dedicating himself to the company, its collections, and the diverse and ever-evolving projects both existing and in progress.” The obituary. |
The Fatal Ponzi Scheme That Rocked Hollywood ►"He just seemed like a guy enabling filmmakers to live their dreams." William Santor charmed the movie world and turned the Cayman Islands into his own filmmaking paradise. Figures such as Santor are prized in indie filmdom, where money is scarce and, even when found, usually available with frustrating strings attached. Santor offered the holy trinity: He was affable, disinterested in creative meddling and, most importantly, came with an open checkbook. Everyone in the scene dreams of securing such an easygoing, deep-pocketed benefactor. THR's Gary Baum reports that Santor's empire was one built on an allegedly massive fraud. As his scam unraveled, investors lost millions, but it was the conman who paid the ultimate price. The story.
—Sydney sells. Sydney Sweeney's “good jeans” marketing campaign for American Eagle, and the buzzy news cycle that followed, did the job for the clothing brand, underscoring how celebrity-led marketing efforts can still have a major impact. The company crushed Wall Street estimates for its second quarter on Wednesday, with CEO Jay Schottenstein citing “the success of recent marketing campaigns with Sydney Sweeney and Travis Kelce” as a big reason why, generating some 40b impressions and a “meaningful improvement in the business.” The story.
—Shock closure. In an unexpected move, NeueHouse, the members club and co-working space that catered to creatives in L.A. and New York, and partnered with some of the biggest names in Hollywood on events and programming, is shutting down and filing for bankruptcy. The company informed members about the decision Wednesday evening, with its final day of operations set for Sept. 5. It added that the company would be filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, which typically involves liquidating assets. It is not immediately clear what those liabilities were that sparked the imminent closure. NeueHouse has locations in New York’s Madison Square neighborhood, Hollywood and Venice Beach, and was a frequent host for Hollywood events, including film and TV premieres and screenings, and conversations and panels with notables from the world of entertainment, culture and fashion. The story. |
Gunn Unveils 'Superman' Follow-Up 'Man of Tomorrow' ►📅 Faster than a speeding bullet. 📅 James Gunn has unveiled the next project in his Superman Saga. Man of Tomorrow will be in theaters July 9, 2027, the filmmaker revealed on Wednesday. The announcement was accompanied by a drawing by DC head Jim Lee featuring Lex Luthor in a green and purple mech suit, with Superman leaning against him, a slight smile on his face as he holds a screwdriver. Luthor’s armored suit, designed to battle Superman, has been seen for decades in the comics and in animation, but never in live-action. It’s unclear what the story will be, but there was a Superman: Man of Tomorrow animated movie in 2020 that also featured Lobo (Jason Momoa plays the antihero in Supergirl ). The animated movie was based on a 2003 miniseries titled Superman: Birthright that was a modernization of the Superman origin story. Coming up, DC Studios has filmmaker Craig Gillespie’s Supergirl due out June 26, 2026, with James Watkins’ horror title Clayface slated for Sept. 11, 2026. The story.
—🤝 First-look deal. 🤝 Will Smith has found a new home at Paramount Pictures. The actor and his Westbrook banner, which he runs with wife Jada Pinkett Smith, have inked a first-look deal with a focus on developing four-quadrant theatrical movies, emphasizing projects based on IP and franchise plays. The projects will be developed as starring vehicles for the Oscar winner. Under the deal, Westbrook has set up projects at the studio, including Sugar Bandits, based on the book Devils in Exile by Chuck Hogan that follows a down-and-out Iraqi war veteran who intercepts drug deals for profit. The project has bounced around at other studios. Another project that was revealed as a part of today’s announcement is Rabbit Hole from Dune writer Jon Spaihts. The story.
—Meteoric rise. YouTube comedian-turned horror filmmaker Curry Barker is in the midst of one of the most consequential weeks of his career. His feature Obsession is among the more anticipated titles at the Toronto Film Festival, where it premieres Friday as part of the genre-focused Midnight Madness section and hopes to find a buyer. Now, just days before Obsession’s debut, a group of horror power producers have teamed to acquire Barker’s follow-up project, Anything But Ghosts . Barker will direct and star, and co-wrote the script with creative partner Cooper Tomlinson, who will also star. Blumhouse’s Jason Blum and Spooky Pictures’ Roy Lee and Steven Schneider will produce the feature, along with Adam Hendricks and Greg Gilreath for Divide/Conquer. The story. |
The Box Office Haves and Have Nots ►Studio-by-studio summer market share. THR's Pamela McClintock writes that Disney maintained its lead in summer marketshare at the 2025 box office, but the toast of the town was Warner Bros., which came in a close second thanks to standout hits including Weapons, Superman and Apple Original Films’ record-smashing F1: The Movie, as well as enjoying carryover money from spring blockbusters A Minecraft Movie and Sinners. Not so long ago, some thought Warners film studio chiefs Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy were gone. Not anymore. The scorecard.
—Dummy move. THR's Borys "Scoops" Kit has the scoop that Sam Raimi and Roy Lee are teaming up with Lionsgate for a remake of Magic, a 1978 cult horror classic that featured Anthony Hopkins as a mentally unstable ventriloquist. The reimagining will be produced by Raimi, the creator of the Evil Dead franchise, and Lee, the prolific producer behind films like A Minecraft Movie, It and Weapons. Mark Swift and Damian Shannon will write the script. Magic starred Hopkins as Corky, a magician who reaches fame alongside his ventriloquist’s dummy, the obnoxious and wisecracking Fats. Faced with the prospect of signing a network deal for his own show, but afraid of revealing his fragile mental state, the magician takes off for the Catskills, where he tries to reconnect with a high school love, even as Fats begins to murderously take control of the situation. The story.
—8-minutes! Julian Schnabel's long-gestating offbeat period drama In the Hand of Dante has finally met an audience. The Oscar Isaac-starring film received an enthusiastic welcome at its world premiere in Venice Wednesday night, drawing an eight-minute standing ovation. Having traded his signature smocks and fedora for a black tuxedo and shiny Oxfords, Schnabel bowed gallantly to the crowd and embraced Isaac and his cast throughout the ovation. Supporting star Jason Momoa walked the red carpet in a striking pink suit prior to the screening but snuck out with his entourage before the film played. The story. |
Sophie Turner Set as Lara Croft in Amazon's 'Tomb Raider' Series ►🎭 Ready to raid. 🎭 Prime Video is ready to send Lara Croft on her next adventure. The Amazon-owned streamer has confirmed that Game of Thrones alum Sophie Turner will play Lara Croft in its Tomb Raider series from creator, writer and co-showrunner Phoebe Waller-Bridge. As THR previously reported, Turner emerged as the frontrunner for the coveted role late last year from a short list of actresses that also included Mackenzie Davis, Emma Mackey and Lucy Boynton. The series has also brought on Chad Hodge as co-showrunner alongside Waller-Bridge and set a Jan. 19 date for production to begin. Jonathan Van Tulleken has also signed on as director and executive producer. The story.
—🎭 Another legend. 🎭 Yellowstone's Beth and Rip spinoff is starting to saddle up. Ed Harris is the newest cast addition to the follow-up series that is centered on Kelly Reilly’s and Cole Hauser’s fan-favorite characters. The show takes place after the events of the Yellowstone flagship series, which concluded December 2024 and ended with Beth Dutton and husband Rip Wheeler moving to a new ranch in Montana. The Paramount+ series has the working title of Dutton Ranch and already counts Annette Bening among its cast, as well as Finn Little, who will reprise his Yellowstone role as Beth and Rip’s adopted son, Carter. The story.
—Satan's big reveal. South Park ’s latest episode kicked up the season’s plot in ways no one predicted as it skewered the international tariffs that Donald Trump has imposed since he re-entered the Oval Office and also perhaps set up the end times for humanity, when Satan himself made a surprising revelation. The episode’s plot mostly centers on South Park fourth grader Butters in a sticky situation when he finds out what the girl he is crushing on, Red, has a birthday coming up and the only thing her little heart desires is a Labubu doll. The only problem for young Butters — other than the fact that the dolls are driving young girls in South Park to get into fights — is that Trump's tariffs keep driving up the price of the sought-after dolls. The recap. | Radiohead Announce First Tour Since 2018 ►Everything in its right place. Radiohead are hitting the road for the first time in seven years, the band confirmed on Wednesday, announcing a 20-date European tour slated to start later this year. The tour will start Nov. 4 with four dates in Madrid at the Movistar Arena. The band will play four nights in Bologna, Italy at the Unipol Arena, four in London at the O2 Arena, four in Copenhagen at the Royal Arena and four final shows in Berlin at the Uber Arena, wrapping the tour on December 12. Those are the only dates the band has announced thus far, though in a statement, drummer Philip Selway didn’t necessarily rule out adding more. The story.
—🤝 Catalog deal. 🤝 Jack White is selling a stake in his catalog to Sony Music, though it’s not clear how much he has sold. Also, unknown is how much Sony is paying for its stake. Per a source, the deal closed earlier this summer. It encompasses rights from his recordings across his career, from his work with The White Stripes to his solo career, as well as recordings with his bands The Raconteurs and The Dead Weather. White and Sony have done business together in the past; Sony flagship record label Columbia had signed White for a solo record deal back in 2012 in partnership with White’s Third Man Records after the White Stripes had disbanded. The story.
—🤝 Merger. 🤝 Independent booking agencies Arrival Artists and ATC Live are merging, in a move that creates one of the largest independent booking agencies in the music business. The combined company will be called ROAM, and together represents about 800 artists. Arrival, based out of the U.S., started in 2020 amid the pandemic with Sufjan Stevens, Car Seat Headrest, Andrew Bird and Khruangbin among the agency’s clients. ATC Live launched in 2011 out of the U.K., handling bookings for the likes of Nick Cave, the Lumineers, Big Thief, and Fontaines D.C. among others. The story. |
TV Review: 'The Paper' ►"Beats the first runs of NBC's The Office and Parks and Rec." THR's chief TV critic Daniel Fienberg reviews Peacock's The Paper. Greg Daniels and Michael Koman transplant Oscar from Scranton to Toledo for a 10-episode comedy starring Domhnall Gleeson as the new editor of a struggling newspaper. Also starring Sabrina Impacciatore, Chelsea Frei, Melvin Gregg, Gbemisola Ikumelo, Alex Edelman, Ramona Young, Tim Key and Oscar Nuñez. The review.
—"An elegant farewell." THR's Frank Scheck reviews Simon Curtis' Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale. The long-running franchise reaches the end of its saga, with some new faces and all the old favorites. Starring Simon Russell Beale, Hugh Bonneville, Laura Carmichael, Jim Carter, Raquel Cassidy, Brendan Coyle, Michelle Dockery, Kevin Doyle, Michael Fox, Joanne Froggatt, Paul Giamatti, Harry Hadden-Paton, Robert James-Collier, Allen Leech, Phyllis Logan, Elizabeth McGovern, Sophie McShera, Lesley Nicol, Alessandro Nivola, Dominic West, Penelope Wilton, Arty Froushan, Joely Richardson, Paul Copley and Douglas Reith. Written by Julian Fellowes. The review.
—"A franchise suffering from fatigue." Frank reviews Michael Chaves' The Conjuring: Last Rites. The Warrens wrap up their role in The Conjuring universe with this latest entry in the hit horror franchise. Starring Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Mia Tomlinson, Ben Hardy, Steve Coulter, Rebecca Calder, Elliot Cowan, Beau Gadson, Kila Lord Cassidy, John Brotherton and Shannon Kook. Written by Ian Goldberg, Richard Naing and David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick. The review.
—"A crazy ride that doesn't quite get there." For THR, Caryn James reviews Julian Schnabel's In the Hand of Dante. Premiering out of competition at Venice, the film, based on Nick Tosches' 2002 novel, revolves around Dante's Divine Comedy. Starring Oscar Isaac, Jason Momoa, Gerard Butler, Martin Scorsese, Al Pacino, Gal Gadot, John Malkovich, Sabrina Impacciatore, Louis Cancelmi, Franco Nero and Benjamin Clementine. Written by Julian Schnabel and Louise Kugelberg. The review.
In other news...
—Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights trailer: Margot Robbie, Jacob Elordi get close and personal
—Tokyo: Carlo Chatrian named international competition jury president
—Beyond Fest: Guillermo del Toro getting 12-movie retrospective
—Mill Valley: Hamnet to open fest, Jessie Buckley set to be honored
—Charlie Puth signs with UTA
—Roku hires Lisa Holme as head of content
—Vice hires Emily Spence as comms chief
—Justin Manfredi to oversee Lionsgate TV group's marketing as Suzy Feldman retires
What else we're reading...
—Natalie Korach looks at why the Trump death rumors and health conspiracies will keep going viral [Vanity Fair]
—Saritha Rai reports that China’s DeepSeek is prepping an AI agent for the end of 2025 that will rival OpenAI [Bloomberg]
—Bombshell report from Dana Rubinstein, Nicholas Fandos, Maggie Haberman and William K. Rashbaum about Trump trying to screw over Zohran Mamdani by floating a job for Eric Adams if he quits New York mayor’s race [NYT]
—Anastasia Stognei reports that Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping have been discussing organ transplants that could offer immortality [FT]
—Graham Fraser reports that Luigi Mangione's likeness is being used to model clothes on Shein's website [BBC]
Today...
...in 2015, EuropaCorp released Camille Delamarre's The Transporter Refueled in theaters. The reboot film, the fourth film in the Transporter franchise, had Ed Skrein replace Jason Statham as Frank Martin and was a box office success. The original review.
Today's birthdays: Beyoncé (44), David Jonsson (32), Damon Wayans (65), Noah Taylor (56), Mark Ronson (50), Wes Bentley (47), Max Greenfield (46), Kyle Mooney (41), Whitney Cummings (43), John DiMaggio (57), Charlotte Le Bon (39), Michael Berryman (77), Park Eun-bin (33), Victoria Moroles (29), Ione Skye (55), Richard Speight Jr. (56), Talitha Eliana Bateman (24), Mo Brings Plenty (56), Khandi Alexander (68), Judith Ivey (74), Ruby Stokes (25), Valyn Hall (40), Patricia Tallman (68), Tilda Cobham-Hervey (31), Jim Pirri (61), Françoise Yip (53), Ainsley Seiger (27), James Monroe Iglehart (51), Carter Jenkins (34), Sarah Solemani (43), Nona Gaye (51), Tenzing Norgay Trainor (24), Cédric Klapisch (64), Jennifer Salt (81), Alan Blumenfeld (73), Zachary Abel (45), Todd Sherry (64) |
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