During a call with analysts today, executives from Nexstar Media Group revealed how they hope to turn the CW into more of a cost-conscious broadcast network that appeals to a broader audience. Turns out the CW is a lot closer to that goal than anyone might have imagined. The reality, according to Nexstar President and COO […]
Paramount Global and Walmart have reached a streaming bundle deal that will see Paramount+ offered at no charge to subscribers of 2-year-old loyalty program Walmart+. The agreement, which followed days of reports that the retail giant was talking with a range of potential streaming partners, was confirmed in a press release. Similar to Amazon Prime, […]
The National Hispanic Media Coalition will honor Colman Domingo, Francia Raisa, George Lopez, Mayan Lopez, and Yvett Merino at its 36th Annual Impact Awards gala on September 9. On My Block star, Jessica Marie Garcia will serve as host of the festivities; U.S. Congressman Joaquin Castro will make a special appearance. Returning to the Beverly […]
EXCLUSIVE: Warner Animation Group EVP Allison Abbate, who is a 20-year-plus vet of the studio, and has worked on several marquee animation films including their original Space Jam, the billion-dollar plus Lego titles franchise and this summer’s hit, DC League of Super-Pets, is exiting. Abbate will be segueing to a number of filmmaking opportunities she has in […]
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said Monday that it has formally apologized to Sacheen Littlefeather over the actress’ famed appearance at the 1973 Oscars, where she appeared on Marlon Brando’s behalf to decline his Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in The Godfather. The “statement of reconciliation” signed by current […]
EXCLUSIVE: Charlie Hall (Bel-Air, Single Drunk Female) has booked a trio of TV and film projects with HBO Max and Disney+. Hall is currently in production for Jordan Weiss’ NewLine/HBOMax feature, Sweethearts, opposite Kieran Shipka and Nico Hiraga. He will portray the character of Simon, a hometown hero who was the star of his high […]
Viola Davis (The Woman King) is the latest addition to the cast of Lionsgate’s The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. The Oscar winner has been tapped for the role of Head Gamemaker Volumnia Gaul, joining an ensemble led by Tom Blyth and Rachel Zegler. The upcoming film from returning Hunger Games director […]
EXCLUSIVE: Film Bridge International and 19th Hole Productions have shot and are ready to shop the end-of-the-world YA romance When I’m Ready, starring up and comers Andrew Ortenberg and June Schreiner along with Thalia Besson, Dermot Mulroney and Lauren Cohan. Written by Ortenberg and directed by Andrew Johnson, When I’m Ready tells the story of […]
EXCLUSIVE: Neal McDonough (The Flash) and Casey Cott (Riverdale) will headline the sports drama Black Spartans, written and to be directed by Ben Cory Jones (Insecure), which is heading into production in Atlanta this fall. Exploring the explosive era of the mid-1960s where social upheaval paved the way for a new order in college football, […]
EXCLUSIVE: Warner Bros just set Kenya Barris to write and direct Wizard of Oz, a reimaging of the fantasy classic, with his Khalabo Ink Society producing. We all know the story from the 1939 film, but Barris is keeping the creative details close to the vest. It will be a modern reimagining of the iconic […]
The dreaded post-merger Warner Bros Discovery layoffs have reached the programming operation overseen by HBO and HBO Max Chief Content Officer Casey Bloys. Overall, 14% of staff — about 70 people — are being laid off Monday, the vast majority of them on the Max side. That includes in Max Non-Fiction Originals, International, Acquisitions, Casting […]
UPDATED with Disney’s response. Disney has responded to a letter from Third Point’s Daniel Loeb, reaffirming the leadership of CEO Bob Chapek and pushing back at Loeb’s call for a “refresh” of the company’s board. “We welcome the views of all our investors,” Disney said in a statement. “As our third quarter results demonstrate, The […]
Barmageddon firm White Label Productions has hired Netflix physical production exec Katie Judkins and promoted Stephanie Wagner to Senior Vice President level. Former All3Media exec Judkins left Netflix earlier this year and has joined the LA indie as Director of Production. Both she and Wagner, who is now Head of Production, report into White Label […]
Tubi continues to expand its adult animated programming, giving a green light to Breaking Bear, an adult animated comedy series from The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia director Julien Nitzberg, Creepshow producer Cartel Entertainment, and Blink-182 frontman Tom DeLonge’s To The Stars Media (Monsters of California). Created by Nitzberg, Breaking Bear parodies the […]
Taiwan has selected Lou Yi-An’s Goddamned Asura as the nation’s pick for the 2023 International Feature Film Academy Award. The supernatural horror was released six months ago and, having picked up a Golden Horse and three Taipei Film Awards, could be in with a shot. White Lies creator Yi-An’s third film is described as a “multi-layered psychological […]
Johnny Depp is due to hop back into the director’s seat for the first time in 25 years with Modigliani, a feature film about the Italian artist Amedeo Modigliani, which he will co-produce alongside Al Pacino. Sources close to Depp confirmed the news of the production with Deadline. Barry Navidi will co-produce alongside Depp and […]
Damian Lewis: Spy Wars and GamesMaster exec Ian Lamarra has left Alaska TV, the company he founded in 2011, to launch talent-led TV, podcast and live events producer Soho Studios Entertainment. The company, which has already built up a slate and is being repped by WME, will be based in Lamarra’s Glasgow hometown and have a Soho office. […]
Amber Heard is replacing most of her legal team and leaning into the Constitution as she prepares to appeal a multi-million defamation verdict awarded to Johnny Depp. Not entirely unexpected, the move by the Aquaman actress to cut loose her main attorney Elaine Bredehoft follows weeks of judicial jockeying by both of the Rum Diary […]
EXCLUSIVE: The U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team (USMNT) is set to be the subject of a new documentary series as they gear up for the World Cup. Park Stories and H.wood Media have teamed up with the U.S. Soccer Federation and Soccer United Marketing on the untitled all-access docuseries. WME is running the sales process […]
Scottish comedian Jerry Sadowitz has hit back at his critics with a lengthy response after his Edinburgh Fringe show was cancelled by the famous Pleasance venue amid accusations of racism, homophobia and misogyny. The American-born stand-up, who’s known for his controversial and often shocking antics on stage, was said to have made a racist comment […]
Nicholas Evans, the author of the bestselling novel The Horse Whisperer, has died. He was 72. In a statement, Evans’s longtime agent, Caradoc King of United Agents, confirmed the news to Deadline and said that Evans died following a heart attack on Tuesday, August 9. “He lived a full and happy life, in his home […]
The CW is about to enter a new ownership era, as local TV giant Nexstar Media Group has confirmed a pending deal to acquire a 75% stake in the 16-year-old broadcast operation. Warner Bros Discovery and Paramount Global will each retain a 12.5% ownership interest in the CW and will continue to produce scripted content […]
Banijay Germany’s Good Times Founder Steps Down, Replaced By Shona Fraser Sylvia Fahrenkrog-Peterson, the founder of Banijay Germany label Good Times, is stepping down after 25 years, replaced by Joint MD Shona Fraser. Fahrenkrog-Peterson opened the label in 1998, going on to oversee the likes of Mein Lokal, dein Lokal, Der Trödeltrupp and Armes Deutschland […]
EXCLUSIVE: Trinity CineAsia has acquired UK rights to Hong Kong family drama Mama’s Affair, which marks the film acting debut of two members of hot local boy band Mirror, Keung To and Jer Lau, from Hong Kong’s Emperor Motion Pictures. Directed by Kearen Pang, the film opened at the Hong Kong box office last weekend […]
The Iranian government has denied any involvement in Friday’s attack on Salman Rushdie and laid the blame at the feet of The Satanic Verses author and his supporters. In a statement in the past hour, a spokesman for the Middle Eastern nation’s Foreign Ministry said “nobody has the right to accuse Iran” of being behind his […]
