| | | | | | What's news: Savannah Guthrie has given her first interview. Taylor Frankie Paul is under investigation for an alleged third domestic violence incident. Bill Maher is set to receive the Mark Twain Prize. Netflix has won the screen rights to Belle Burden's Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage. And HBO Max has finally launched in the U.K. and Ireland. — Abid Rahman
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'House of Cards' Producer Loses $100M Trial ►Huge loss. Media Rights Capital, the production company behind House of Cards, has lost a trial over a nine-figure insurance payout in connection with the sixth season of the show. A Los Angeles jury found on Tuesday that MRC’s losses weren’t a result of a condition by Kevin Spacey that prevented him from filming, according to a court filing. MRC sought upwards of $100m from its insurer, Fireman’s Fund. The question at the center of the trial: What actually killed Spacey’s appearance from the final season? MRC argued it was because of the actor’s sex addiction, which it maintained is a sickness that led to his unavailability. Fireman’s Fund said it was actually because of media fallout in response to allegations of sexual assault. The story.
—📅 The big day. 📅 Warner Bros. Discovery has scheduled its special meeting of shareholders to vote on the $110b mega-deal by Paramount Skydance. The company said early Thursday that the special shareholder meeting will be held on April 23 at 10 a.m. ET. The WBD board said that it unanomously recommends that shareholders vote to approve the Paramount deal at the meeting. The story.
—D’Amaro’s trial by fire. What a first week for new Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro! From the collapse of the $1b OpenAI deal to a strategic shift from Disney partner Epic Games; a dramatic last-minute decision to pull an essentially completed season of ABC’s The Bachelorette to a Middle East theme park that may be impacted by the war in Iran, there is no part of Disney’s business that is unscathed. THR's Alex Weprin looks at all the new troubles facing Disney, that are now D’Amaro's crises to solve. The analysis.
—Big hire. Disney Branded Television has a new executive in charge of physical production. The company has hired Atiya Henry as executive vp production for the kids and family-focused unit, which is behind shows and films including the Descendants franchise and Phineas and Ferb. She’ll report to Carol Turner, head of production for Disney Entertainment Television, and become part of Disney Branded TV chief Ayo Davis’ executive team. Henry comes to Disney from Netflix, where she spent seven years in physical production on series ranging from Firefly Lane to the streamer’s upcoming Little House on the Prairie reboot. The story.
—ICYMI. Matt Brittin, formerly Google’s EMEA president, has been named the new director-general at the BBC. Rumors began to spread earlier in the week after a report in The Times, with Brittin’s appointment formally announced by the public broadcaster on Wednesday. He’ll start on May 18, taking over from Tim Davie, who said he’d be resigning after countless editorial blunders in the role in November. The role of director-general at the BBC is considered one of the toughest jobs in the British media, responsible for not only the company’s 20,000+ employees, but also navigating intense scrutiny from parliament and the public. The story. |
Savannah Guthrie Opens Up About Mother's Abduction on 'Today' ►"To think that I brought this to her bedside — that it’s because of me." Savannah Guthrie believes there is a good chance her mom Nancy was taken as a way “to make a quick buck” because of her own fame and wealth. In her first interview since Nancy’s disappearance, Guthrie shared her story with friend and Today show colleague Hoda Kotb on Thursday, with later installments of the interview to be revealed on Friday. The story.
—Not fake, then. The Kennedy Center will present the 27th Mark Twain Prize for American Humor to Bill Maher. The announcement comes one week after members of Trump’s administration said a report in the Atlantic, stating that Maher would be the recipient, was "fake news." On Thursday, the Kennedy Center confirmed Maher as the recipient for the ceremony set to take place June 28 at the arts institution. The program will premiere exclusively on Netflix, with the streaming date to be announced. The story.
—Not guilty plea. The woman accused of firing an assault weapon at Rihanna’s Beverly Hills mansion earlier this month has pleaded not guilty in Los Angeles Superior Court. Ivanna Lisette Ortiz, 35, of Orlando, Florida, entered her plea on Wednesday morning. Ortiz has been charged with one count of attempted murder, 10 felony counts of assault with a semi-automatic firearm and three felony counts of shooting at an inhabited dwelling or camper. She is being held on $1.875m bail and could face life in prison. The story.
—Legal battle reignites. In December, months after she settled her lawsuit against Shia LaBeouf, FKA twigs got an arbitration demand from the actor’s legal team. He claimed breach of contract and sought massive damages for what he considered a violation of the deal’s nondisclosure agreement over an interview in which she said, “I wouldn’t feel safe” with that chapter of her life behind her. THR's Winston Cho reports that the arbitration was later dismissed, but the settlement stemming from the case and subsequent legal action is now the subject of a lawsuit from FKA twigs. She claims that LaBeouf is trying to illegally prohibit her from discussing issues of sexual violence and sharing any information about acts relating to her own experiences of alleged sexual abuse by the actor. The story. |
The 'Bachelorette' Love Spell Wears Off ►"The franchise is caught between the competing impulses to preserve its legacy as a romantic ideal and to modernize itself for an audience that no longer believes in that mirage." ABC's The Bachelor and its related spinoffs was once a leader in the unscripted realm, but its recent struggles reflect a framework that is increasingly out of step with modern reality TV trends, writes Shamira Ibrahim. The critic's notebook.
—The signs were there. THR's McKinley Franklin writes that The Bachelor franchise broke unspoken rules by casting Taylor Frankie Paul, a decision that has backfired spectacularly. The veteran ABC and Warner Bros. Television series took a risk when it cast the already-controversial Mormon Wives star as its season 22 lead. The story.
—Third alleged incident. Taylor Frankie Paul is under investigation for an alleged third domestic violence incident involving her and ex Dakota Mortensen, according to a report NBC News published Wednesday morning. In the outlet’s report, Mortensen contacted the West Jordan, Utah, Police Department last month with domestic violence allegations against Paul, which stemmed from an incident that occurred in 2024, a police spokesman told NBC. Mortensen could not provide further details and it’s an open investigation. The story.
—Expanding investigation. Kendra Duggar, the wife of 19 Kids and Counting’s Joseph Duggar, was arrested two days after him on a separate set of child endangerment and false imprisonment charges. Kendra and Joseph Duggar were both charged on March 20 with four counts of endangering the welfare of a minor and four counts of false imprisonment after an investigation, according to a release from local police in Tontitown, Arkansas. Joseph Duggar is facing separate charges that brought his arrest for inappropriate contact with a 9-year-old in 2020, which sent the former reality TV personality to jail last week. The story. |
'Project Hail Mary 2' Not Out of the Question ►Amaze! Amaze! Amaze! Project Hail Mary's record-breaking launch at the global box office couldn’t come at a more opportune time for Amazon MGM Studios, which is on the brink of becoming the first new Hollywood major studio in decades. THR's Pamela McClintock and Aaron Couch report the studio is keen to explore franchise possibilities with Phil Lord and Chris Miller's movie. All involved say author Andy Weir is in the driver's seat as to whether there will be a second book — and hence, movie — but the stars seem to be aligning. The story.
—🤝 Salke makes her move. 🤝 THR's Borys "2 Scoopz" Kit has the scoop that following a competitive situation, Amazon MGM Studios has picked up the film rights to Romantic Hero , the upcoming novel by Kirsty Greenwood. The book deal marks the first acquisition for Sullivan Street, the recently launched banner from Jennifer Salke, the former head of Amazon MGM who segued into producing last year. Salke will produce the adaptation with Matt Milam, who runs film and TV for the shingle. The pickup package also sees Peter Chiarelli, who is writing a new Charlie’s Angles feature for Sony, attached to pen the script for the adaptation. The story.
—🤝 Sold! 🤝 Borys also reports that Netflix has won a massive bidding war to nab the screen rights to Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage by Belle Burden. But it’s not just the book deal, said to be in the seven figures, according to sources, that caused a stir. It’s the talent attached to it. Gwyneth Paltrow, enjoying a career resurgence thanks to her work in Marty Supreme, is on board to star and executive produce the adaptation. Heidi Schreck, the playwright who wrote the Tony Award-nominated Broadway play What the Constitution Means to Me, is on board to pen the script. Stacey Sher will produce. The story. |
'Murder, She Wrote' Movie Set for 2027 Release ►📅 Back on the case! 📅 Universal's feature version of cult crime series Murder, She Wrote will hit theaters Dec. 22, 2027. Jamie Lee Curtis stars as mystery writer and amateur sleuth Jessica Fletcher, the role that Angela Lansbury originated on the long-running CBS show. Filmmaker Jason Moore is attached to direct the movie from a script by Lauren Schuker Blum and Rebecca Angelo. Amy Pascal produces the film alongside Phil Lord, Chris Miller and Aditya Sood for Lord Miller. Murder, She Wrote was set up through Lord Miller’s first-look deal with Universal and comes as the production company is celebrating the success of its box office smash Project Hail Mary. The story.
—From the people who brought you Melania. British media and advertising executive Martin Sorrell is teaming up with Fernando Sulichin, a producer on the notorious Melania documentary, for a feature doc on the 2026 World Cup made with the “collaboration and support” of soccer world governing body FIFA. The doc, Chasing the Dream, will, according to the official pitch, provide an “intimate and unexpected perspective” on the world’s most popular sporting tournament. The film will go out on Disney+ worldwide. The story.
—🤝 Sold! 🤝 The John Wilson-directed documentary The History of Concrete has been acquired by Magnolia Pictures for North America, with a theatrical release planned for later this year. The doc, the feature debut from the creative behind the popular HBO series How To with John Wilson, premiered at this year’s Sundance to critical acclaim. The doc follows Wilson, after the finale of his TV show and looking for a new creative outlet, as he attempts to make the definitive documentary about concrete and to tell that story through the structure of a Hallmark movie. The story. |
'Harry Potter' Trailer Reveals New Cast ►📅 Dated! 📅 A new Harry. A new Hermione, Ron, Dumbledore and Snape. And a whole new Hogwarts are revealed in the first teaser trailer for HBO's Harry Potter TV series, which reimagines J.K. Rowling’s seven-novel saga into a multiseason dramatic series. One big surprise: The trailer reveals a premiere date of Christmas 2026 — which is earlier than the 2027 date that’s been previously announced. Another surprise: The season’s official title is Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone — not simply Harry Potter as has been widely assumed. The trailer.
—"I cried three times." In perhaps the least surprising news ever: Harry Potter fans online have a lot of thoughts about the HBO show’s first teaser trailer. Much of the reaction is exceedingly positive, while some of the reactions are, well, less so. From "magical" to "bland" to missing John Williams' score, THR's James Hibberd has taken a look at what fans are saying. The reaction.
—Finally, innit! Celebrations were in order Wednesday night as TV’s top talent filed into London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall to mark the launch of HBO Max in the U.K. and Ireland. It’s music to the ears of audiences, too: Finally, Brits will be able to watch The Pitt, which has long gone without a U.K. partner. Star Noah Wyle was even in attendance at Wednesday’s event, a day after an onstage conversation with HBO chief Casey Bloys in the British capital. HBO Max first launched in the U.S. in May 2020. The story. |
Kim Raver, Kevin McKidd Set to Depart 'Grey's Anatomy' ►End of an era. Kevin McKidd and Kim Raver, both long-time stars on ABC's Grey’s Anatomy, are departing the series at the end of the currently airing 22nd season. For both stars, their final episode will be the season finale, which airs May 7, at 10 p.m. ET on ABC (and streams next day on Hulu). Three episodes remain leading up to the finale (airing March 26, April 2 and April 30) in season 22, which has wrapped production. McKidd joined Grey’s during season five in 2008. After his directorial debut in season seven, McKidd has gone onto direct a whopping 48 episodes to date. Raver joined Grey’s in 2009, in a recurring role. The actress was upped to series regular later that sixth season. Raver then left after three seasons, returning briefly in 2017’s season 14 and then coming back as a series regular ever since 2018’s season 15. The story.
—Pick ups. CBS Media Ventures has lined up its syndication slate for the 2026-27 season, which includes the renewal of several long-running shows. The network’s syndication arm has picked up new seasons of Entertainment Tonight and Inside Edition — both of which have been around since the 1980s — and veteran courtroom show Hot Bench. Game shows Flip Side and The Perfect Line will also return in 2026-27. The renewed series join The Drew Barrymore Show, which CBS Media Ventures also distributes and which scored a two-season pickup earlier this month. The renewals shore up a syndication business that has seen a few high-profile cancellations recently. The story.
—📅 Dated! 📅 Disney+ has set spring launch dates for two of its anticipated Korean originals, with the romantic comedy Perfect Crown premiering April 10 and the crime thriller Gold Land debuting April 29 as the streamer continues to bulk up its Asia slate with star-driven local productions. Perfect Crown pairs IU and Byeon Woo-seok for the first time onscreen in a royal romance set against succession politics and chaebol power struggles. Gold Land, meanwhile, is described as a dark thriller: a fugitive saga starring Park Bo-young as a young airport employee who becomes entangled in a smuggling scheme and finds herself on the run with a cache of gold bars. The story.
—Weiss wash. Depending on the point of comparison, Tony Dokoupil’s first three months as anchor of the CBS Evening News resulted in either improving or declining ratings. The overall standings of the network news race, however, remained unchanged. Dokoupil and CBS are certainly under the most scrutiny, as he was tapped by CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss to lead the nightly newscast as her first big hire, with the aim of bringing the Evening News closer to its rivals. In the first quarter through March 20, the Evening News is averaging 4.24m viewers and 532,000 people in the key news demographic of adults 25-54, based on Nielsen same-day ratings. That’s an improvement over the fourth quarter of 2025, when the newscast averaged 4.03m viewers and 502,000 adults 25-54. It’s down, however, from the first quarter a year ago (4.59m viewers, 657,000 adults 18-49). The ratings. |
'Cats,' 'Fear Of 13' See Strong Broadway Start ►Groffmaxxing. Industry grosses were up 12 percent last week as a number of new shows began previews amid the spring rush and as crowds flocked to see birthday boy Jonathan Groff as he winds down his run in Just In Time. Cats: The Jellicle Ball began previews at the Broadhurst Theatre last week and played to 100 percent capacity, bringing in a strong $612,084 across its first four previews. The revival, reimagined as a ballroom competition, is set to open April 7, after an Off-Broadway run last spring. The Fear of 13 , starring Adrien Brody and Tessa Thompson, also had a strong showing as the play began previews at the James Earl Jones Theatre last week and played to 98 percent capacity, bringing in $474,131 across the first three shows. The play comes to Broadway after a West End run and is set to open April 15. The Broadway box office report.
—🎭 Stepping up. 🎭 Joanna “JoJo” Levesque will take over Lea Michele’s role in Chess on Broadway. Levesque will play Florence Vassy starting June 23 through Sept. 13, opposite Aaron Tveit and Nicholas Christopher. This marks the singer's return to Broadway after she starred in Moulin Rouge as Satine for several months in 2023 and again in 2024. Levesque rose to fame with the hits “Leave (Get Out)” and “Too Little Too Late” and became the youngest solo artist to top the Billboard Mainstream Top 40. She won a 2020 Grammy for “Say So” with PJ Morton and has sold more than 8m albums worldwide across her career. In addition to her previous Broadway runs, Levesque originated the role of Tess in Working Girl at La Jolla Playhouse. The story. |
TV Review: 'Detective Hole' ►"Well-acted and atmospheric, but too convoluted." THR's chief TV critic Daniel Fienberg reviews Netflix's Detective Hole. Tobias Santelmann plays the tormented sleuth, with Joel Kinnaman as his smirking, corrupt adversary, in this Oslo-set murder mystery. Also starring Pia Tjelta, Ellen Helinder, Anders Baasmo and Maxime Baune Bochud. Created by Jo Nesbo. The review.
—"A clever spin on prenuptial jitters." THR's Angie Han reviews Netflix's Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen. Executive produced by the Duffer Brothers, the series follows a bride who becomes increasingly convinced of impending doom in the days before her wedding. Starring Camila Morrone, Adam DiMarco, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Jeff Wilbusch, Karla Crome, Ted Levine, Gus Birney, Sawyer Fraser, Josh Hamilton, Victoria Pedretti and Zlatko Buric. Created by Haley Z. Boston. The review.
In other news...
—H.E.R., Liza Soberano get emotional as trailer for animated Forgotten Island celebrates Filipino culture
—Josh Johnson to host Webby Awards
—Fathom Entertainment CEO to step down
—Traitors star Rob Rausch signs with UTA
What else we're reading...
—Christina Morales, Christine Chung, Hamed Aleaziz, Sean Keenan and Rowan Moore Gerety report that ICE agents at some airports are beginning to check IDs in security lines [NYT]
—Following the sudden closure of Sora, as well as a litany of other problems, Chris Taylor writes that OpenAI is going through a messy identity crisis [Mashable]
—Sarah Jones reflects on the downfall of Taylor Frankie Paul and Joseph Duggar, and the problems with any reality show that puts religion on display [Intelligencer]
—Sam Schube reports that back issues of JFK Jr.’s magazine George are suddenly in demand and fetching high sums [WSJ]
—Laura Martin attempts to explain why FX's Love Story: John F Kennedy Jr and Carolyn Bessette became 2026's first TV phenomenon [BBC]
Today...
...in 2010, MGM released Steve Pink's Hot Tub Time Machine in theaters. The sci-fi comedy, which starred John Cusack, Rob Corddry, Craig Robinson, and Clark Duke, was a mild critical and commercial success and spawned a 2015 sequel. The original review.
Today's birthdays: Martin Short (76), Ramy Youssef (35), Keira Knightley (41), Jonathan Glazer (61), Diana Ross (82), Michael Imperioli (60), Alan Silvestri (76), Jonathan Groff (41), Catherine Keener (67), Martin McDonagh (56), Tinto Brass (93), Francis Lawrence (55), Natasha Leggero (52), Jennifer Grey (66), Amy Smart (50), Leslie Mann (54), Floriana Lima (45), T.R. Knight (53), Bianca Kajlich (49), Renata Vaca (27), Jess Bush (34), Vicki Lawrence (77), Eric Allan Kramer (64), Marita Geraghty (64), Carly Chaikin (36), Joe Anderson (44), Lucas Bravo (38), Ella Anderson (21), Choi Woo-sik (36), Roisin Conaty (47), Charlene McKenna (42), Philip Brown (68), Emily Tosta (28), Neal Bledsoe (45), Billy Warlock (65), Chris Payne Gilbert (54), Ilia Isorelýs Paulino (31), Freya Tingley (32), Alicia Lagano (47), Haley Ramm (34), Paul Truedson (74) |
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