New pod: Live Nation and Nexstar were just whacked by antitrust rulings, does that suggest a similar fate for Paramount/Warner Bros.? With @lucasshaw.bsky.social. Listen! Watch! open.spotify.com/episode/2E5h...
Quick, someone tell John Ternus he now runs a Hollywood studio.
New pod: It’s the CinemaCon studio presentation power ranking megapod! The good, the bad, and the Masters of the Universe. With 2nd annual home-and-home guests @seanfennessey.bsky.social @akdobbins.bsky.social of @thebigpicture.bsky.social Listen! Watch! open.spotify.com/episode/70Gl...
The king of the #AMCApes has started a brawl with fellow movie theater owners by backing David Ellison’s plan to combine Warner Bros. and Paramount. They had it out in person yesterday in Las Vegas. Details ⬇️⬇️ puck.news/amcs-adam-ar...
New pod: It’s Jon Favreau! Making the Mandalorian movie feel theatrical, the future of Lucasfilm, AI misinfo….and he brought me a warm Chef Truck sandwich! Live from #CinemaCon. Listen! Watch! open.spotify.com/episode/0rF0...
Note to @corybooker.com @warren.senate.gov for no reason at all: David Ellison just appeared in person at the CinemaCon movie theater conference in Las Vegas.
Packed house at #CinemaCon today in Vegas for producers Jerry Bruckheimer and Emma Thomas and lobbyist Michael O’Leary. Coming soon to The Town pod!
New pod: Does Bill Ackman really want Universal Music? Is Ye willing to do an apology tour? Music’s burning questions with @lucasshaw.bsky.social. Listen! Watch! open.spotify.com/episode/5LT8...
Did not expect to see Ted Cruz at the Polo Lounge today. Dude is working the room!
Why would one of the hottest directors in Hollywood bail on the agent who helped get her there? This is why ⬇️⬇️ www.puck.news/the-science-...
News: Disney and Bob Iger are engaged in a quiet war on an upcoming book that promises to reveal a VERY non-Disney version of its former CEO, and they’ve enlisted an infamous lawyer to bully the author. Details ⬇️⬇️ puck.news/bob-iger-bio...
ZOOTOPIA 2 debuted with a monster 1.7B minutes viewed in its first five days on Disney+, per Nielsen. That's nearly double the #2 movie that week, WAR MACHINE on Netflix.
DEVIL WEARS PRADA 2 came on tracking today at $66 million opening, per NRG. First DEVIL opened to $27.5 million in 2006, or $44 million in today's dollars. Good news for
@lucasshaw.bsky.social, though MICHAEL (on Team Belloni) is also surging, now up to $61 million opening, per NRG.
New pod: For the first time, cameras captured Lorne Michaels and his SNL inner circle, and the result is very fun and fascinating. With director Morgan Neville. Listen! Watch! open.spotify.com/episode/5kgf...
The pared-down Blake Lively-Justin Baldoni trial will put a rare spotlight on the tactics of seedy celebrity publicists like Stephanie Jones. Analysis via @eriqgardner.bsky.social ⬇️⬇️ puck.news/blake-lively...
News: Jeff Shell stepping down as Paramount president TODAY.
New pod: Directors like Ryan Coogler, Brad Bird, Celine Song, and producers Jerry Bruckheimer and Emma Thomas are forming a new “filmmaker council” to advocate for the movie theater business. Why? With lobbyist Michael O’Leary. Listen! Watch! open.spotify.com/episode/3QIw...
How in the name of Bubbles the Chimp does a Michael Jackson biopic cost more than $200 million to make? Here’s how ⬇️⬇️ puck.news/newsletter_c...
New pod: The studios’ shocking 4-year labor deal with the WGA isn’t that shocking when you consider the wounded state of the guild. With labor expert Jonathan Handel. Listen! Watch! open.spotify.com/episode/5lX7...
Studios now confirming my tweet from this morning…
STATEMENT FROM THE AMPTP
“The AMPTP has reached a tentative agreement with the WGA. We look forward to building on this progress as we continue working toward agreements that support long-term industry stability.”
News: The Writers Guild has come to a tentative deal with studios on a new 4 year contract (yes, an extra year than normal!). Health plan/pension increases, SVOD bumps, protection to police licensing for AI training, more. Still must be recommended and ratified, but huge news.
New pod: Fascinating new data on the length of movies. Yes, they’re getting longer overall, but only certain genres. Why? With producer Todd Garner and data from Stephen Follows. Listen! Watch! open.spotify.com/episode/1iDk...
The NFL’s looming TV renegotiation is a ticking timebomb for Hollywood, with billions about to be siphoned away from film and TV to billionaire monopolist team owners. Can the Murdochs fight back the only way they know, with politics? Details ⬇️⬇️ puck.news/will-brendan...
Paramount also declining to comment.
News: Lawyers for Jeff Shell have begun discussions about his exit as President of Paramount. Contours of any future role (like "consultant" or outright ouster) will be determined by the internal investigation, which is expected to be done in a week. Shell camp not commenting.
The troubled Michael Jackson movie MICHAEL came on tracking today at a $55M domestic opening, per NRG. That’s pretty good, especially since this movie will likely play much better internationally.
New pod: What’s hot in the booming books-to-film market, and pitfalls for authors making deals with producers. With UTA media rights agent Jason Richman. Listen! Watch! open.spotify.com/episode/4YFt...
New pod: How high can Netflix hike prices? And some rare MLB talk NOT about the @dodgers.com or their $75 plastic cups. With @lucasshaw.bsky.social. Listen! Watch! open.spotify.com/episode/7B1E...
News: Actress Julia Ormand picked up a win today in her legal case claiming CAA knew that Harvey Weinstein was a pig and sent her into private meetings with him anyway. Michael Ovitz, CAA’s co-founder, is being forced to testify and provide relevant documents.
