What's news: The Breakfast Club will stream live on Netflix. Michael Bay is directing a film about Operation Epic Fury. Matt Damon is in talks to lead the Daniels' next film. Publisher 831 Stories has signed a first-look deal with Hulu. And THR has launched The Hollywood Reporter Australia! — Abid Rahman
Do you have THR's next big story? Confidentially share tips with us at tips@thr.com.
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Spencer Pratt's Mayoral Bid Turns L.A. Into His Reality Show
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►"Pratt’s ascent, which plays like a lost plotline from Richard Kelly’s black comedy Southland Tales." The city's Democratic establishment loathes Spencer Pratt. But his insurgent campaign has captured the hearts (and wallets) of a surprising number of Hollywood heavyweights to become a potent mayoral wild card, writes THR's Gary Baum. The story.
—"I heard he’s a big MAGA person." On Wednesday, Donald Trump endorsed fellow reality TV veteran Spencer Pratt’s mayoral bid. “I’d like to see him do well, he’s a character,” he told a group of reporters. For Pratt, a registered Republican who’s spent the race positioning himself as a nonpartisan and independent, the endorsement is likely to be the kiss of death. The story.
—"The Melania thing is a falsehood that will not die." Amazon founder Jeff Bezos said that the company’s $75m documentary about Melania Trump was a “good business decision,” although he reiterated that he was not involved in the decision to acquire the project from director Brett Ratner. In a wide-ranging interview with CNBC’s Andrew Ross Sorkin on Wednesday morning, Bezos was asked directly whether the doc was part of an effort to placate Donald Trump. The recap.
—Go on, you good thing! THR has launched The Hollywood Reporter Australia, a Sydney-based edition of the trade publication, in partnership with local media company Raine Media. The new title will deliver English-language coverage of Australia’s screen industry and the talent shaping it across digital, print and video formats, with editorial output aligned to THR‘s global standards. Planned initiatives include Aussie power lists, industry roundtables, studio collaborations, national events and membership-driven programming targeted at the country’s screen community. Bonza! The story.
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Love in the Time of Microdrama |
►Sexy mini-movies are taking over Hollywood. The indie film scene isn’t dead — it’s just creating low-budget bodice rippers for the TikTok era. THR's Katie Kilkenny reports that one of the few booming production spaces in Los Angeles in 2026 is the colorful and lusty world of microdramas. Katie embeds with the buzzy production company that’s putting the steam into streaming. The story.
—The future is here. The Breakfast Club, a video podcast co-hosted by Charlamagne tha God, will stream live every weekday on Netflix. Starting June 1, the podcast will air simultaneously as a live video show on Netflix at 6 a.m. and on the radio for a close to three hour broadcast, which includes interviews, and cultural commentary. This is a deepening of the existing deal between iHeartMedia and Netflix to stream video podcasts on the platform. The story.
—Blessed be the spinoff. Hulu has renewed The Testaments, the sequel to the streamer's smash hit The Handmaid’s Tale, for a second season. Viewership for Testaments, like its predecessor series, has been strong. Season one has passed 45m hours streamed globally on Hulu and Disney+, the streamers say, and it is not even finished — the season finale debuts on May 27. The story.
—🤝 Push into TV. 🤝 THR's Lexy Perez has the scoop that publisher 831 Stories has signed a first-look deal with Hulu for the streamer to develop series based on its books. The first project under the deal is a TV adaptation of Alexandra Romanoff’s Big Fan book series, anchored by the imprint’s top-selling title, Big Fan. Disney’s 20th Television will produce. The story.
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Colbert Gets Questioned by Famous Friends |
►"What do you think happens when we die?" Stephen Colbert couldn’t end The Late Show without answering some very important questions. On Wednesday, during the second-to-last episode of the CBS late night talk show, the host finally revealed his answers to his iconic “Colbert Questionert.” The recurring personality segment typically saw Colbert ask his guests 15 questions to help the audience fully know them. However, Colbert enlisted some of his famous friends on Wednesday to help ask the questions as he was in the hot seat this time. The recap.
—🤝 First-look deal. 🤝 Fox Entertainment Studios and actor and comedian J.B. Smoove are getting into business together. The Curb Your Enthusiasm star and his Alternate Side Productions have signed a first-look unscripted deal with Fox Entertainment Studios. Under the multi-year deal, Smoove and Alternate Side will develop and produce unscripted projects across a range of formats and genres. Smoove and Alternate Side’s Rick Dorfman and Miles Grose will serve as executive producers on all projects generated under the deal. The story.
—🎭 "Everybody’s invited, but there are gonna be two contestants that we’re flying out to be in the show." 🎭 Mike White revealed during the Survivor 50 finale on Wednesday night that his fellow players, Charlie Davis and Kamilla Karthigesu, will be featured on the fourth season of The White Lotus. White called into the live finale episode as he’s currently in France shooting for the upcoming installment. While speaking with Jeff Probst, the host asked if season four would encompass any Survivor cameos and if he’d be able to reveal exactly which players were joining the scripted series. The story.
—Woof! For the first time since 2008, a network other than CBS can claim the title of the most-watched broadcaster in primetime. NBC will win the first 2025-26 season in total viewers — the first time that’s happened since the latter days of Must-See TV. With the September-to-May TV season coming to a close, NBC will finish with an across-the-board win among all viewers, adults 18-49 and adults 25-54. The victory is thanks in no small part to two-plus weeks in February, when the second most-watched Super Bowl ever and a resurgent Winter Olympics put NBC out of reach of its fellow broadcast networks. The ratings.
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Netflix's Cliff Booth Movie to Get Imax Run
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►📅 The dam breaks. 📅 Netflix revealed it will give its Cliff Booth movie a two-week Imax run globally starting Nov. 25, the day before Thanksgiving. It will then arrive on the streaming service Dec. 23. David Fincher directs the movie from a script from Quentin Tarantino and is a continuation of Brad Pitt‘s Oscar-winning Once Upon a Time in Hollywood stuntman character. Though the film has been referred to as The Adventures of Cliff Booth, it does not yet have an official title. It takes over the theatrical spot previously held by Greta Gerwig’s Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew, which in a first for Netflix, will get a traditional theatrical run with a full, 49-day window in theaters when it arrives in February. The story.
—🎭 Daniels find their man! 🎭 Matt Damon is in talks to be the big name star in the newest feature from Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, the Oscar-winning filmmaking duo known as Daniels. Universal is backing the project, Daniels’ first since their sensation Everything Everywhere All at Once won seven Academy Awards in 2023. The project has previously been operating under a cloak of secrecy, but THR's Borys "Skewpz" Kit can exclusively reveal previously unknown details about the casting and the story. The story for the feature is a described as involving global warming, time travel, as well as a possible superhero angle. And there are two timelines, one set in the 1980s and one set in the present day. The protagonists of the story are teens … at least in the 1980s-set timeline. The story.
—🏆 Félicitations! 🏆 Marine Atlan’s debut feature La Gradiva has claimed the top honor at Cannes’ Critics’ Week parallel section, walking away with the prestigious AMI Paris Grand Prize after wowing a jury headed by Indian filmmaker Payal Kapadia. The film follows a group of French teenagers on a school excursion to Naples, where an encounter with the preserved victims of Vesuvius at Pompeii unleashes a torrent of pent-up emotion and longing among the students, who find themselves overwhelmed by ancient beauty and their own awakening desires. The story.
—Bayhem incoming. Michael Bay is enlisting for an Operation Epic Fury movie. The Universal film is based on the true story of April’s rescue of two downed American pilots in Iran after their F-15E Strike Eagle was struck down during the U.S.'s attack on the country. It is based on Mitchell Zuckoff’s forthcoming book about the rescue mission, which arrives via Harper Collins in 2027. Bay will direct and produce with Erwin Stoff and Scott Gardenhour. The story.
—Does Baby Yoda still have the juice? The Mandalorian & Grogu opens on the big screen over Memorial Day weekend and tracking services show the film looking at roughly $82m at the domestic box office for the four days, while some exhibitors see it coming in as high as $95m to $100m. That would be on the lower end of any Star Wars title released by Disney since the company paid $4.05b to buy Lucasfilm in 2012, and it could potentially end up the lowest domestically, not adjusted for inflation. The box office report.
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James Ellroy Says You Have the Hollywood Blacklist All Wrong
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►"[The Hollywood 10] just threw in their lot with Stalinists and with the enemies of America. … That’s who [these] people were." Legendary L.A. crime writer James Elroy is out with his 18th novel, Red Sheet. THR's Seth Abramovitch spoke to Elroy about his new book, a Cold War noir that touches upon the Red Scare, and the author has some harsh words for Dalton Trumbo, as well as high praise for Elia Kazan and Richard Nixon. The interview.
—"As an actor, I knew I wanted to play Margo." THR's Seija Rankin spoke to Elle Fanning about her Apple TV show Margo’s Got Money Troubles. The actress reflects on a potential romantic storyline for season two, the fate of Michelle Pfeiffer and Greg Kinnear, and whether or not she's a fan of Applebee's. Warning: Spoilers! The interview.
—"It was so interesting to see how everyone relates to the more difficult parts of this business differently." Seija also spoke to in-demand star Eiza González about her latest film I Love Boosters. The 36-year-old action movie fixture is usually the only girl on the call sheet. But in her latest movie, she finally hangs with the ladies — including Demi Moore and Keke Palmer. The interview.
—"I could audibly hear the entire audience crying." THR's Brian Davids spoke to actor Emile Hirsch about his cult classic film Speed Racer. It was one of the biggest bombs of 2008, but the star noticed things changing years later during a midnight screening at Tarantino's New Beverly theater. The interview.
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Film Review: 'Dernsie: The Amazing Life of Bruce Dern'
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►"Unexciting style, but a great actor's yarns." For THR, Caryn James reviews Mike Mendez's Dernsie: The Amazing Life of Bruce Dern. Built around recent interviews, the Cannes-bowing film also features daughter Laura Dern and colleagues including Quentin Tarantino, Walton Goggins and Alexander Payne. Also featuring Billy Bob Thornton, Walter Hill, Patty Jenkins, Will Forte, Joe Dante and Fred Specktor. Written by Benjamin Epstein. The review.
—"A nostalgic crime flick with heart." THR's Jordan Mintzer reviews Andy Garcia's Diamond. An all-star cast feature in this old-school L.A. noire detective yarn set in the present day. Starring Andy Garcia, Brendan Fraser, Vicky Krieps, Rosemarie DeWitt, Bill Murray, Danny Huston, Dustin Hoffman and Demián Bichir. Written by Andy Garcia. The review.
—"A scathingly fresh look at wartime fascism." Jordan reviews Emmanuel Marre's Cannes competition entry, A Man of His Time. The second feature from writer-director of Zero F***s Given is based on the life of his great-grandfather, an author and engineer who chose to work for the fascist Vichy regime. Starring Swann Arlaud, Sandrine Blancke, Mathieur Perotto, Harpo Guit, Mathilde Abd-El-Kader and Jean-Baptiste Marre. Written by Emmanuel Marre. The review.
—"Arthouse for tots." Jordan reviews Bruno Dumont's Red Rocks. The latest feature from the Cannes Grand Prix laureate stars a gang of little rascals acting out a romantic tragedy on the shores of the Mediterranean. Starring Kaylon Lancel, Kelsie Verdeilles, Louise Podolski, Mohamed Coly, Alessandro Piquera and Meryl Pires. Written by Bruno Dumont. The review.
—"A great cast let down by a dull plot." THR's Angie Han reviews Netflix's The Boroughs. Alfred Molina leads an all-star ensemble in this sci-fi thriller, executive produced by the Duffer brothers, about a supernatural mystery unfolding in a desert retirement community. Also starring Geena Davis, Alfre Woodard, Denis O'Hare, Clarke Peters, Bill Pullman, Carlos Miranda, Jena Malone, Seth Numrich and Alice Kremelberg. Created by Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews. The review.
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Film Review: 'The Man I Love'
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►"An elegy defiantly tethered to life." THR's chief film critic David Rooney reviews Ira Sachs' Cannes competition entry, The Man I Love. Rami Malek leads this acutely felt memento mori set during the height of the AIDS crisis in New York City in the 1980s. Also starring Tom Sturridge, Rebecca Hall, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Luther Ford, Sasha Lane, Maisy Stella, Amy Carlson, Stephen Adly-Guirgis, Jahi Di’Allo Winston, Dennis Courtis and Blanka Zizka. Written by Ira Sachs and Mauricio Zacharias. The review.
—"An immaculate exercise in irony and indirection." THR's Leslie Felperin reviews Andrey Zvyagintsev's Cannes competition entry Minotaur. The Leviathan and Loveless director returns to the festival with his first film made entirely outside of Russia, a loose remake of Claude Chabrol's The Unfaithful Wife. Starring Dmitriy Mazurov, Iris Lebedeva, Boris Kudrin, Yuriy Zavalnyouk, Varvara Zmykova, Vladimir Friedman, Elena Bogdanovich-Golubeva, Mikhail Samodakhov and Anatoliy Weissmann. Written by Simon Lyashenko and Andrey Zvyagintsev. The review.
—"Mother courage." THR's Sheri Linden reviews Marie-Clémentine Dusabejambo's Ben’Imana. Dusabejambo’s debut feature, the first from Rwanda to screen in Cannes’ official selection, explores the pursuit of justice and reconciliation for survivors of genocide. Starring Clémentine U. Nyirinkindi, Kesia Kelly Nishimwe and Isabelle Kabano. Written by Marie-Clémentine Dusabejambo and Delphine Agut. The review.
In other news...
—The 36 most powerful real estate brokers in New York
—Apple’s Eddy Cue named Cannes Lions Entertainment Person of the Year
—Tituss Burgess, Laura Benanti to host Tony Awards preshow
—BTS to make award show return on American Music Awards
—Kerry Washington to receive Spotlight Tribute at Gotham TV Awards
—Acquisition founders Alex and Leila Hormozi sign with CAA
What else we're reading...
—With the Late Show coming to an end, James Poniewozik reflects on the cultural impact of Stephen Colbert [NYT]
—Hannah Miao unpacks why China loves The Sound of Music [WSJ]
—Sana Pashankar and Loren Grush write that the SpaceX IPO requires a ludicrous leap of faith in AI, Mars and Elon Musk’s vision [Bloomberg]
—With the U.K. increasingly hardening its image as a basketcase, Anthony Seldon wonders whether being prime minister now is an impossible job [FT]
—Rachel Donadio has a fascinating read from Spain on the very suspicious death of the billionaire founder of the Mango clothing empire [The Cut]
Today...
...in 2010, Paramount and DreamWorks Animation released Mike Mitchell's Shrek Forever After in theaters. The at-the-time final chapter in the Shrek franchise received mixed reviews but made $756m at the box office. Shrek 5 is due in cinemas next year. The original review.
Today's birthdays...
Mr. T (74), Da'Vine Joy Randolph (40), Hannah Einbinder (31), Chase Sui Wonders (30), Fairuza Balk (52), Sarah Ramos (35), Rachelle Goulding (40), Brett Tucker (54), Jonathan Hyde (78), Kate Phillips (37), Al Franken (75), Nick Cassavetes (67), Judge Reinhold (69), Noel Fielding (53), Juliet Cowan (52), Kyle Red Silverstein (24), Olivia Olson (34), David Ajala (40), Alexandre Rodrigues (43), Giovanna Lancellotti (33), Jeff Pierre (40), Robbie Magasiva (54), Russell Balogh (45), Sang Heon Lee (30), Cristina Rodlo (36), Belinda Bromilow (51), Kano (41), Liz Feldman (49), Sunkrish Bala (42), Keith L. Williams (19), Lino Guanciale (47), Maria Fernanda Cândido (52), Tim Hill (68)
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