What's news: CNN, MS NOW and Politico are suing the Trump administration. Cindy Crawford's son Presley has died at 27. The 2026 Red Sea International Film Festival has been canceled. La Bola Negra won TIFF's People’s Choice honor. Netflix has canceled Sweet Magnolias. And Alan Ritchson will take on his first major studio theatrical lead role in Sony's Helldivers. — Abid Rahman
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THR Critics' Best Films of the Fall Festivals
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►13 standouts. THR's team of exhausted film critics — including David Rooney, Leslie Felperin, Daniel Fienberg, Jon Frosch, Angie Han, Sheri Linden, Jordan Mintzer and Jourdain Searles — have made it through another packed fall festival season, and have some thoughts on the best films out of Venice, Telluride and Toronto. Among the 13 selected highlights are a shape-shifting Elizabeth Holmes doc, a star vehicle for Mahershala Ali, and new gems from Mike Leigh and Lee Chang-dong. The selection.
—5 things from 51. With the 51st Toronto International Film Festival coming to a close on Sunday, THR's executive editor of awards coverage Scott Feinberg figured it was good time to figure out what the festival told us about the nascent race to the Oscars. Scott weighs in about the chances of La Bola Negra, I Play Rocky, Elsinore, sales titles and Obsession. The analysis.
—🏆 About La Bola Negra... 🏆 Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi’s gay epic La Bola Negra picked up the top People’s Choice honor Sunday at TIFF. Getting wind behind its award season sails, the sweeping Spanish-language drama that Netflix acquired out of the Cannes Film Festival for an awards season push picked up the top audience award after also screening in Telluride. The story.
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Deal or No Deal? Contours of a Settlement Begins to Take Shape |
►End in sight. What’ll it take for Paramount to get its $111b deal for Warner Bros. Discovery over the line? We may be about to find out. Paramount and the state attorneys general spent the weekend hashing out potential settlement terms, and the trickle of leaks from those talks are painting a picture of what a potential deal might look like … even if some of the AGs (not to mention the WGA) may not all be on the same page. The story.
—"Don't you dare." Amid reports that Paramount is in “advanced talks” to settle the antitrust lawsuit, Mark Ruffalo is urging California AG Rob Bonta to “not cave.” “Don’t you dare @AGRobBonta, do not cave. 5,670 film makers put their necks on the line for you to fight this merger. Another 75,000+ and counting have signed to tell you not to concede in just 3 weeks,” the actor wrote on X. “You work for the people — the very people who will be hurt if you let this lousy deal filled with empty promises go forward.” The story.
—🤝 It's official. 🤝 Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a standalone postproduction tax incentive into law on Friday in a bid to lure Hollywood jobs back to California and render the state more competitive with the likes of New York and Georgia. The governor gave his stamp of approval to AB 2319 in a ceremony at North Hollywood’s Television Academy offices on Friday. The bill, carried by state Assemblymember Nick Schultz, rewards productions that locate their postproduction work in the state. The story.
—🤝 Ah, just one more thing... 🤝 Also on Friday, Gavin Newsom signed into law a bill aimed at reducing Hollywood’s exposure to recent business tax credit caps legislation. In a visit to Warner Bros. Studios the governor gave the green light to SB 186, which exempts independent productions from caps on the use of state tax credits that this year were not only extended, but also rendered permanent as of 2030. The story.
—"Patently unconstitutional." CNN, MS NOW and Politico are suing the Trump administration after the White House revoked their press credentials, effectively banning them from the White House complex and making it a challenge to cover the president and his staff. Trump announced his ban in a post Friday, causing some confusion in the White House as crews from the outlets remained onsite. However, on Saturday morning journalists from all three outlets trying to enter the White House complex found that their credentials had been revoked. The story.
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Inside the Star-Studded Opening Night of the Lucas Museum |
►Yoda-best George! Before the new Lucas Museum of Narrative Art opens to the public on Tuesday, George Lucas and his wife, Mellody Hobson, threw an opening night celebration that will go down in the Hollywood history books. The pair — with support from their event co-chairs Julie Bell, Tom Cruise, Guillermo del Toro, Greta Gerwig, Lewis Hamilton, Jensen Huang, JR, Steven Spielberg and Pharrell Williams — hosted a star-studded kick-off event on Saturday, giving A-listers a first look at the museum. It was a night 17 years in the making, with Lucas and Hobson having poured $1b into the museum as they showcase everything from Star Wars props and comic book illustrations to works from Norman Rockwell and Frida Kahlo. The recap.
—"This wasn’t the easy option." Ed Sheeran addressed the ongoing controversy surrounding the removal of Macklemore from his tour during Saturday’s stop in Philadelphia. "What happened in Israel and at the Nova Music Festival on October 7th was horrific and compounded centuries of Jewish pain. What is happening in Gaza is catastrophic and unjustifiable, and disproportionate," Sheeran said. The singer also said he was "deeply worried about the idea that venues pre-approve content for performance." He added, "This happens in so many places that I perform around the world, but it should never happen in the free world." The story.
—Canceled. After weeks of speculation, the sixth edition of Saudi Arabia's glitzy star-packed Red Sea International Film Festival has been postponed, the event’s organizer's confirmed on Monday. The 2026 edition of the event was originally set for Dec. 3-12 in Jeddah, but now the festival will return in the fourth quarter of 2027. Organizers have vowed that the festival will return with a "renewed vision." The move comes as Saudi Arabia has been under missile and drone attack from Houthi forces from Yemen. The story.
—Tragedy. Presley Gerber, the son of Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber, died Sunday. He was 27. "The family is asking for privacy during this very difficult and painful time," a rep for the family told THR. According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner, he died at a rehab facility. Presley also is survived by a sister, model-actress Kaia Gerber, 25, who most recently appeared in Ryan Murphy’s The Shards. The story.
—The latest. In new civil court filings, lawyers for incarcerated Nick Reiner continue to fight for access to his trust money to pay for his criminal defense as he stands accused of killing his parents, Rob and Michele. Reiner wants to rehire Alan Jackson, who has represented the likes of Harvey Weinstein and Karen Read. The star attorney previously withdrew from the Los Angeles case for lack of funding. The story.
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HBO Bags Finance Drama 'The Spread' |
►🟢 Greenest of green lights. 🟢 HBO has given a straight-to-series order to The Spread, a drama set in Miami from Ozark creator Bill Dubuque and Sean Sansiveri and Fifth Season TV Studio. Javier Bardem will star in the series as a billionaire seeking “the power to shift the center of economic gravity to Miami — and decide how long the party lasts,” according to the show’s logline. Kingsman filmmaker Matthew Vaughn is set to direct and will serve as an executive producer along with Dubuque, Sansiveri, Bardem, Brad Weston of Makeready and Ian Stratford and Michael Bloom of Topic Studios. The story.
—🟢 Bad news, but also good news. 🟢 Netflix has canceled its drama series Sweet Magnolias after five seasons, but its showrunner and one of its lead actresses are also involved in a new show at the streamer. The cancellation of Sweet Magnolias, based on novels by Sherryl Woods, comes three months after season five premiered on Netflix. As for the new series: Sweet Magnolias showrunner Sheryl J. Anderson and Garcia Swisher are executive producing Ladies of the House, based on a novel by Lauren Edmondson. Garcia Swisher may also have an on-screen role. The story.
—Thanks Trump! Reacher star Alan Ritchson is revealing why he hasn’t adapted his favorite book from Lee Child’s Jack Reacher book series yet. On Friday, Ritchson responded to a fan on Threads who expressed their disappointment that Prime Video’s Reacher has yet to have a season centered on the 1998 novel Die Trying. "I’m sad to learn that next season won’t be the book where he kills his way through a white supremacist militia camp,” the fan wrote. However, Ritchson said it wasn’t for lack of trying. “My favorite book. Fun fact: I had it approved until someone got re-elected,” he replied. The story.
—All set. The Traitors' next celebrity season is set to be released in 2027, and Peacock has unveiled its star-studded cast. Musical theater icon Kristin Chenoweth, Olympic gold medalist Chloe Kim, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives Whitney Leavitt and former NFL player Rashad Jennings are among the upcoming season. The next season will feature much more Hollywood talent, including several actors, than normal. There’s also plenty of love for the Bravo-universe this season, although that’s no surprise. The lineup.
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Box Office: 'Resident Evil' Bites Off $60M |
►Woof! Resident Evil hit the ground running in its box office opening as the reboot far outstripped initial expectations in setting a franchise high, representing a rarity for a horror series’ eighth installment. Writer-director Zach Cregger‘s horror-survival video game adaptation grossed $60m in its three-day debut weekend to top the North American chart. This is far above the $40m that Sony had initially projected and even an improvement on the $53m to $55m range that the studio was expecting as of Saturday. Earning a B+ CinemaScore from audiences, Resident Evil’s audience skewed younger and male as it opened in 3,684 North American theaters and carries a $75m production budget. The box office report.
—📅 Dated! 📅 NAZA, the Israel–Gaza war documentary that is sparking a political storm in Israel after winning the special jury prize at the Venice Film Festival, is getting a theatrical release in the U.S. The film, by Israeli directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, part of the directorial team behind the 2024 Oscar-winning doc No Other Land, will launch exclusively at the IFC Center in New York City. NAZA will expand to Los Angeles and other key markets on Oct. 9, ahead of a national rollout in the weeks to follow. The story.
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'World War Z 2' Back on With Pitt Returning, Berger Directing
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►🟢 Zombies are back, baby! 🟢 After more than a decade of false starts, Paramount is finally closing in on making a sequel to its surprise 2013 hit World War Z. Pitt is set to return to topline the feature that also has Edward Berger, the German filmmaker behind All Quiet on the Western Front and Conclave, on board to direct. Dennis Kelly wrote the script. A sequel has been in the works on and off since, including iterations that would have been directed by J.A. Bayona and David Fincher. When Skydance took over Paramount in 2025, it made the sequel one of its top priorities. The story.
—🎭 Muscling in. 🎭 Alan Ritchson is in talks to star in Sony’s adaptation of its PlayStation video game property Helldivers. The move comes after Jason Momoa exited the project in early June and would be the first time the Reacher star headlines a theatrical studio feature. Justin Lin is directing the feature adaptation, which is set for release on Nov. 10, 2027. The project adapts the 2015 game and its sequel that have collectively sold more than 12m units. Helldivers centers on a squad of elite shock troopers who must protect the fictional planet of Super Earth from attacking aliens. The story.
—🎭 Lead found. 🎭 Nicole Wallace has joined the cast of Amazon MGM Studios‘ Throttled, an upcoming film based on the book from Lauren Ashers’ Dirty Air series. The House of Spirits actress will play the female lead role opposite Off Campus star Josh Heuston. Wallace will play Maya Alatorre, described as “an ambitious young woman who joins her brother on the racing circuit and falls into a forbidden, high-stakes romance with her brother’s ruthless teammate and fiercest racing rival, Noah Slade (Heuston)." The story.
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Zack Snyder Goes Indie With 'The Last Photograph' |
►No green screen, no video village and no slow-mo. THR's Borys Kit spoke to Zack Snyder about his new film, the long gestating passion project, The Last Photograph. The filmmaker who built a career on spectacle with 300 and the polarizing DC mega-movies says he stripped it all away for his new feature which saw him spend a week in the Amazon with no safety net. The interview.
—"I can feel the darkness calling to me." THR's Patrick Brzeski spoke to Korean auteur Na Hong-jin about his much talked about film Hope. The master filmmaker discusses the unlikely real-life inspiration behind his cosmic action tragedy, the film’s reception and why he may return to bloodier territory before shooting the Hope sequel. The interview.
—"This second season kicks off with a bang — many bangs." THR's Tony Maglio and Lexi Carson spoke to acting royalty Pierce Brosnan and Helen Mirren about the second season of their hit Paramount+ crime drama MobLand. Oscar-winner Mirren reveals that Maeve is in her “top four” career-spanning roles and Brosnan opines on the race to become the next James Bond. The interview.
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'Monster' Creator Talks 'Lizzie Borden,' Shares 10-Season Plan
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►"There’s a hopper of three [options for next season]. It’s a fairly exhaustive list, but it’s tricky. You’d be surprised at how many subjects we start and then abandon." THR's queen of chat Jackie Strause spoke to Ian Brennan, the co-creator of Netflix's anthology series Monster, and its latest chapter, Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story. Brennan peels back the curtain into his and Ryan Murphy's Monster selection process, how they landed on the infamous female axe murderer for season four and why she's the most sympathetic subject yet of their hit true-crime anthology. The interview.
—"In terms of actual research, there was very little to do, which was sort of liberating and fun in its own way because then we got to create the version of Andrew that was most impactful for Lizzie’s story." Jackie also spoke to Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story star Charlie Hunnam. The Brit actor plays Lizzie Borden's father, Andrew Borden, in the fourth season, reuniting him with Murphy and Brennan on the Netflix true-crime anthology after playing Ed Gein. The interview.
—"I feel so lucky. I’ve had a lot of these roles that are drama, and I came from comedy." As part of THR's Next Big Thing series, Nicole Fell spoke to Rachel Marsh. The 34-year-old, fresh off a viral turn in the new season FX's Adults, is jumping into the world of romantic comedies, playing Anh in Prime Video's adaptation of The Love Hypothesis. The interview.
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►"There’s nothing more boring than a room full of rich people." As Ian Schrager prepares to open his third L.A. hotel — The PUBLIC — the Studio 54 founder and hospitality legend talks THR's editor-in-chief Maer Roshan about his newly democratic door policies, getting ripped off by rivals and why he’s not afraid of failure. The interview.
—"I feel like I’ve fallen into the place where I’m supposed to be." THR's Brian Davids spoke to Ethan Hawke about his new film, the excellent historical drama The Weight. Hawke also looks back at his brief time in the MCU, working on the hit show The Lowdown and how running his production company, Under the Influence, with his wife, Ryan Hawke, has led to the most satisfying stretch of his career. The interview.
—"If you’re living in the DC universe and you spend a weekend in Metropolis and then spend the following weekend in Gotham, you’d be the same person — but you’d have two very different weekends." Brian also spoke to Nathan Fillion about his long anticipated appearance in HBO's hit DC drama Lanterns. The trusted James Gunn collaborator also unpacks the lasting fallout from Hal Jordan and John Stewart’s fateful decisions during the Battle of Rushville a decade earlier. Warning: Spoilers! The interview.
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Film Review: 'Forgotten Island'
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►"An exciting original." THR's Frank Scheck reviews Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado's Forgotten Island. Dreamworks Animation’s latest feature celebrates Filipino folklore. Featuring the voices of H.E.R., Liza Soberano, Dave Franco, Jenny Slate, Manny Jacinto, Dolly de Leon, Jo Koy, Ronny Ching and Lea Salonga. Written by Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado. The review.
—"Stagy and contrived." Frank reviews Neil LaBute's Murderous. A successful filmmaker receives an unwelcome visit from a former collaborator in this thriller receiving its world premiere at the Oldenburg International Film Festival. Starring Gia Crovatin, Thomas Sadoski and Jordan Baker. Written by Neil LaBute. The review.
—"In space, no one can hear you cry." THR's Leslie Felperin reviews Daniel Zvereff's Moonfish. The animated sci-fi, the Brooklyn-based artist's Venice-bowing feature debut, focuses on a pair of astronauts sent to an asteroid to collect a certain quota of rocks or risk being left there forever. Featuring the voices of Morgan Spector and Lucy Liu. Written by Daniel Zvereff. The review.
—"A strong breakout for both star and director." Leslie reviews Bertil Nilsson's Masc. Premiering at the Toronto Film Festival, Nilsson's feature debut is a drama about a neurodivergent gay man navigating the world. Joshua Griffin, Tega Alexander, Reece King, Ed White, Lincoln Conway, Robbie Bellekom, Hi Ching, Barney-Joe Jones, Rocky Gharu, Jamie Quinn and David Boyle. Written by Bertil Nilsson, based on a story by Bertil Nilsson and Joshua Griffin. The review.
—"A lovely-looking letdown." For THR, Jourdain Searles reviews Anna Biller's The Face of Horror. The latest from the director of The Love Witch, transports the classic Japanese ghost story Yotsuya Kaidan to 14th-century England. Starring Jonah Hauer-King, Kristine Froseth, Ellie Bamber, Leo Suter, Ben Radcliffe, Bella Heathcote, Perdita Weeks, Clare Calbraith, Edward Franklin, John Sackville and Steven Blake. Written by Anna Biller, based on the story by Tsuruya Nanboku IV. The review.
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►"An amusing reminder that you're never too old to grow up." THR's Angie Han reviews HBO's Youth. Sharon Horgan created and stars in this London-set series about a 50something divorcée trying to get her love life in order while juggling a challenging career, a troubled son and aging parents. Also starring Aran Murphy, Rupert Friend, Sharlene Whyte and Robbie Gee. Created by Sharon Horgan. The review.
—"Great story, great cast, squandered execution." THR's chief TV critic Daniel Fienberg reviews MGM+'s American Hostage. The creatives behind The Night Agent adapt the podcast focusing on a 1977 kidnapping in Indianapolis and the trusted radio host caught in the middle. Starring Jon Hamm, Mireille Enos, Giovanni Ribisi, William Jackson Harper and Kristoffer Polaha. Created by Shawn Ryan and Eileen Myers. The review.
In other news...
—AI actor Tilly Norwood glitches during Piers Morgan interview
—New indie banner sets up shop in Burbank with studio campus plan
—Calamity Club author Kathryn Stockett signs with CAA
—Duncan Sheik, Spring Awakening composer, dies at 56
What else we're reading...
—Jaw-dropping story Katie Bo Lillis and Zachary Cohen about AI hallucinations almost sparking WW3 after providing a faulty report to the U.S. military [CNN]
—André Rhoden-Paul has the key takeaways from the BBC's bombshell interview with Earl Spencer and his wild claims about Diana and Charles [BBC]
—Bleak report from Alex Klavens, Walt Bogdanich and Jenny Vrentas about DraftKings using AI to target the gamblers likeliest to lose [NYT]
—Katherine Long, Caitlin Ostroff and Neil Mehta report on Polymarket’s rush to growth leaving the door wide open for fraudsters [WSJ]
—Elias Leight writes that music stars like Ed Sheeran can no longer walk the apolitical tightrope as fans want their favorites to share their views [WSJ]
Today...
...in 1993, ABC unveiled Steve Bochco and David Milch’s NYPD Blue to TV audiences during the 10 p.m. hour. The police procedural went on to have a 12-season run at the network. The original review.
Today's birthdays...
Jerry Bruckheimer (83), Billy Porter (57), Stephen King (79), Ethan Coen (69), Kareena Kapoor (46), Alfonso Ribeiro (55), Maggie Grace (43), Shelley Conn (50), Bill Murray (76), Ahna O'Reilly (42), Luke Wilson (55), Christian Serratos (36), Joseph Mazzello (43), Nancy Travis (65), Scott Evans (43), David Wenham (61), Faith Hill (59), Rob Morrow (64), Angus Macfadyen (63), Kristine Froseth (31), David James Elliott (66), Paulo Costanzo (48), Jessica St. Clair (50), Rob Benedict (56), Dave Coulier (67), Ricki Lake (58), Ben Bailey Smith (49), Rudy Youngblood (44), James Lesure (56), Nick Castle (79), François Cluzet (71)
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Gerrit Graham, the interesting character actor who appeared in Phantom of the Paradise and three other early films for Brian De Palma and wrote the Grateful Dead song “Victim or the Crime” with Bob Weir, has died. He was 77. The obituary.
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