Hollywood Breakdown: Recent Episodes
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While Disney started laying off 7,000 employees, it also announced the firing of two top Marvel executives this week.
Lionsgate Films needs “John Wick: Chapter 4” to perform well at the box office in order to attract potential buyers. Can the franchise deliver?
Netflix passed on Nancy Meyers’ latest title due to budgetary disagreements. Why did the streamer pull back on a deal with a top filmmaker?
Can stars keep top salaries under current studio’s austerity measures? An agency exec proposes it at the Morgan Stanley TMT Conference.
Following Amazon’s release of their expensive “Lord of the Rings” series, Warner Bros. Discovery announced they too want to make new films from the “Lord of the Rings” world.
With its latest movie “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” getting poor reviews, Marvel Studios may have a creative problem.
Steven Spielberg and Tom Cruise seem to have reconciled at the Academy Award luncheon. Who benefits from the friendship?
A day after Disney’s Q1 report and Bob Iger’s restructuring and cost cutting plans, he announced he’s open to selling Hulu, and possible exit in two years.
Co-chairs of DC Studios at Warner Bros. Discovery James Gunn and Peter Safran have unveiled a new plan. Will they deliver?
Will the Academy attract viewers with two nominees having the highest total gross in history? Plus, a look at Oscars surprises and snubs.
Two 80-year old corporate raiders are wreaking havoc on Disney, with one of them bidding for a board seat at the company and threatening Bob Iger’s post.
After last year's hiatus, the Golden Globes are back, so what’s next for the awards show? Will a streaming service pick it up in 2023?
Though the “Top Gun” and “Avatar” sequels provided Hollywood some relief, the industry is not back to normal, and studios have adopted different strategies for survival.
On this special edition of the Hollywood Breakdown, we take a look ahead on whether writers will strike and whether there will be a mega-studio deal in 2023.
Hollywood’s top 2022 stories: Netflix changing strategies, the troubled tenure of David Zaslav heading Warner Bros. Discovery, plus Disney’s management shakeup.
“Avatar: The Way of Water” opens in the United States and China. With a budget north of $350 million, can it surpass $2 billion at the global box office to succeed?
Netflix’s decision to release “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” to 600 theaters for only a week, brings about the question, “Could it have done better?”
Mark Burnett, the well-known reality TV producer, is departing from his chairman role at MGM months after Amazon acquired the company for $8.5 billion. What’s next?
The Walt Disney Company board of directors reinstated Bob Iger as CEO and ousted Bob Chapek on Sunday. Can Iger cope with Disney’s many challenges?
For two decades, producer Eric Weinberg moved from one job to the next. A Hollywood network vouched for him even after he was fired for repeated bad behavior.
Though Disney+ has added 12 million subscribers, the company reports loss and weak Q4 profit outlook.
As streaming service companies report subscriber numbers, Peacock announces weak subs, and implements changes in order to survive.
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO, David Zaslav, hires filmmaker James Gunn and producer Peter Safran to lead the DC Universe.
“Black Adam” opens in theaters. Will it make DC Films the success that David Zaslav dreams it will be? Plus, who runs DC Films now?
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav cuts more jobs this week. This time, about a quarter of its TV division staff was laid off.
Alec Baldwin and “Rust” producers settle a lawsuit with cinematographer Halyna Hutchins’ family. The film will resume production, and her husband will take an EP role.
Five years after the #MeToo reckoning in Hollywood, Harvey Weinstein’s trial is a few weeks away in Los Angeles. Have things really changed in the industry?
“The Woman King” brings in the numbers, “Don’t Worry Darling” may have a surprising opening, and what James Cameron’s upcoming “Avatar” sequels could mean for Disney.
During the D23 Expo, Disney’s CEO Bob Chapek discussed with the press his plans for Hulu and ESPN, as well as the future of an all-in app for the company.
Disney plays big and offers subscribers more perks on Disney+ Day to entice them to other company products.
HBO and Amazon are competing for which show will attract more viewers: “House of the Dragon,” or “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power?”
In two drastic financial moves, AMC Theaters announced a new stock to raise money last week, while Regal Cinemas may file for bankruptcy.
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav’s decision-making process highlights his lack of experience to run the legacy studio, and he accumulates more problems along the way.
Disney+ raises subscribers to 152 million, beating expectations, but they will charge $3 more per month for ad-free content.
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav shocks the movie industry once again by shelving the nearly-completed $90-milion film “Batgirl.” What does this mean for the company’s future?
Movies came back this summer, providing theater owners some relief. However, cinemas could hit a wall, until big blockbusters, such as “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” are released in the fall. Meanwhile, moviegoers will turn to streaming services.
Netflix lost nearly 1 million subscribers in Q2, below expected projections. But Netflix’s CEO thinks it’s a positive sign. So has the streaming service really turned the page?
Hulu gets 58 Emmys’ nominations this year, but its future as a streaming platform remains unclear.
“Minions: The Rise of Gru” opens to a huge weekend, and “Lightyear” doesn’t meet Disney’s expectations. The Business host Kim Masters and Puck News founder Matt Belloni discuss.
CEO Bob Chapek just renewed his contract with Disney. The company’s vote of confidence comes after a turbulent tenure, with some bright spots.
With Baz Luhrmann and an endorsement from Elvis’ estate, Warner Bros. hopes to cash in with their new feature film “Elvis.”
Fearing a US boycott over a same-sex kiss scene on “Lightyear,” Disney lowballs its opening to cap at $70 million. The animated film is Disney’s first theatrical release during the pandemic.
With poor reviews coming in, will “Jurassic World: Dominion” hit Universal’s opening projection of $130 to $160 million in the box office? Hollywood insiders say the film is critic-proof.
A verdict has been reached in the Johnny Depp defamation trial against ex-wife Amber Heard. A jury found both parties liable for defamation.
Tom Cruise has been a successful movie star for decades, yet he’s never had a $100 million premiere. Could “Top Gun Maverick” be his break?
Disney reports that it has 8 million new subscribers to its streaming service. Investors are wondering how much money Disney+ subscribers will bring in the long run.
After pandemic delays, the new Tom Cruise film “Top Gun: Maverick” opens on May 27, and is expected to be a hit.
As Netflix loses subscribers, insiders reveal that poor leadership and a quantity-over-quality strategy could tank the business.
The Motion Picture Academy Board of Governors meets on Friday and is expected to make a statement about Will Smith’s slap at the Oscars.
Will Smith could face formal consequences after he publicly slapped Chris Rock at the 94th Academy Awards. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences released a statement indicating that Smith was asked to leave the event, however it's unknown why he remained for the duration of the show.
The Oscars are on Sunday, and there’s nervousness in the industry around the lack of blockbusters nominated, save for “Dune.” Ratings for the Academy Awards have been declining, so in an effort to make this year’s telecast more appealing, not all categories will be awarded live during the show. ABC and Disney will pre-tape and edit some of them to air later in the broadcast.
Tech giant Amazon is expanding its entertainment empire with the purchase of MGM for $8.5 billion.
Disney CEO Bob Chapek aggravated employees, when he chose to not take a stand on Florida’s so-called “Don’t Say Gay” legislation.
If you want to see “The Batman” this weekend at an AMC theater, be prepared to pay extra. The chain is trying out “variable pricing” for the first time on this superhero flick.
There will be eight fewer awards broadcast live at this year’s Oscars. Many in the film community are outraged. But some say it’s a needed change for a bloated telecast.
ViacomCBS is no more – the company this week rebranded as Paramount and is going all-in on the streaming wars. But investors have not gotten on board.
Attendees of this year’s Oscars won’t have to be fully vaccinated. This decision by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences surprised many people.
Jeff Zucker resigned as the head of CNN this week after failing to disclose a relationship with a high-level CNN executive. The revelation came about as a result of the Chris Cuomo investigation.
For the first time, all of the Olympic Games will be available to watch on NBC’s streaming service Peacock. But how many people will actually tune in?
The standard Netflix plan now costs $15.49 a month — 50 cents more than HBO Max. Some subscribers may cancel, but the price will likely continue to rise as Netflix grows.
Disney CEO Bob Chapek recently sent his staff a memo outlining three “strategic pillars” that will “set the stage” for the company’s future. What do they really mean?
This year’s Golden Globe Awards will still happen in Beverly Hills, but with no red carpet and no media access. It will be a very pared-down, glamor-free ceremony.
Steven Spielberg’s version of “West Side Story” opens this weekend, and while the film has received strong reviews, it may find trouble at the box office. Because so many movies’ release dates were pushed by the pandemic, it’s extra crowded at the holiday box office this year. And “West Side Story” will likely appeal to an older audience, the group that’s least likely to venture out to see movies in-person.
When Bob Iger officially leaves Disney at the end of the year, he’ll be succeeded by Susan Arnold, the first woman and first openly gay person to lead the Disney board of directors. Unlike Iger, Arnold does not have a creative background. She worked almost 30 years at Procter & Gamble and also spent time in the world of private equity.
Big budget action movies with big stars have traditionally been the bread and butter of Hollywood studios. Now, with films like “Red Notice,” Netflix is trying to make its mark on that blockbuster territory. “Red Notice” stars Dwayne Johnson, Ryan Reynolds and Gal Gadot, and is on track to become Netflix’s most-watched movie, but is that popularity on streaming enough to capture the cultural conversation and launch a franchise?
In The Hollywood Reporter, Kim Masters and Gary Baum did a deep dive into the shady side of independent filmmaking. They found that four of the same producers on “Rust” worked on a previous film called “The Tiger Rising,” where the crew complained of late or missed payments. The producers seemed to be looking for tax breaks and credits, and did not care about the movie itself or the people making it. “The Tiger Rising,” which stars Dennis Quaid and Queen Latifah, is yet to be released.
Hollywood studios are tightening up their COVID-19 vaccine requirements. This is a safety issue but also a financial one. When unvaccinated actor Miles Teller tested positive on the set of the series “The Offer,” it cost Paramount $6 million to shut down production. Recently Ice Cube dropped out of the Sony comedy “Oh Hell No” because he refused to get vaccinated, giving up a $9 million job.
With the new movie “Eternals,” Marvel is hoping it can launch a series of films as successful as the “Avengers.” But there’s been skepticism from fans about the new movie, which introduces new characters and is directed by Oscar winner Chloé Zhao. The launch of “Eternals” will be a test for Marvel to see if the company can have success by going in a different direction.
As authorities continue what could be a months-long investigation into the on-set tragedy that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, those on the business side of things in Hollywood are wondering why Alec Baldwin was involved with “Rust” in the first place. Earlier this year, the actor and producer told The Hollywood Reporter, “I have six kids, I don’t want to work anymore.” Working for a short time on a $6 million movie like “Rust” may be a great deal for Baldwin, but after his pay day, it’s possible not much money was left for the crew, which led to cutting corners and ultimately, a deadly accident.
There’s continued unrest at Netflix following the release of the Dave Chappelle comedy special “The Closer,” which includes jokes that some consider transphobic and homophobic. This week, trans Netflix employees and allies staged a walkout and demanded the streamer invest more in content from trans creators. Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos said that he “screwed up” when he previously wrote in a memo that on-screen content does not impact the real world.
Netflix is in hot water after a series of failed PR moves following the release of Dave Chappelle’s new comedy special, “The Closer.” In the special, Chappelle makes antisemitic, homophobic and transphobic remarks, but Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos has stood by “The Closer” in a series of memos, writing, “We have a strong belief that content on screen doesn’t directly translate to real-world harm.”
Now trans Netflix employees and allies are planning a walkout on October 20.
After more than a year of pandemic-related delays, “No Time to Die” is finally opening in U.S. movie theaters. The James Bond movie stars Daniel Craig as the famous secret agent for the fifth and final time and has already made more than $120 million overseas. Hollywood’s hope is that “No Time to Die” could come close to making $100 million at its domestic opening.
For a long time, WME and CAA have been the number one and number two agencies in Hollywood. Recently, CAA acquired ICM, the number four agency in terms of size, which now makes CAA bigger than WME and moves it to the number one slot. The merger is part of a wave of consolidation in Hollywood, as companies have had to get bigger to keep up with the tech companies who have taken over the industry.
Director Christopher Nolan’s long relationship with Warner Bros. ended when the studio released his last movie “Tenet” on the streamer HBO Max the same day it opened in theaters. For his next film, Nolan had several demands for potential studios, including a 110-day exclusive theatrical window. Nolan ended up picking Universal for his next project, a World War II drama about the creation of the atom bomb.
Formed in the wake of the #MeToo movement, the Time’s Up organization brought together many high-profile Hollywood women to fight workplace gender discrimination, but the nonprofit has been plagued with problems since the beginning. Recently CEO Tina Tchen resigned after it was revealed that she had supported former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo in his sexual harassment investigation. A few weeks later, the entire board of Time’s Up resigned.
As the pandemic continues to prevent crowds from going to the movies, Paramount decided to push the release dates of three upcoming films. “Top Gun: Maverick” is moving from November 19, 2021 to May 27, 2022. “Mission: Impossible 7” is going from May 27, 2022 to September 30, 2022. And “Jackass Forever” is shifting to October 22, 2021 to Feburary 4, 2022. There is a huge cost involved with delaying these movies, but Paramount is depending on money from theatrical releases and doesn’t want to put the films on streaming.
Mike Richards was announced, and then canceled, as the new host of “Jeopardy!” following a damning report in The Ringer that highlighted past sexist and racist statements he made on multiple podcast episodes. However, Richards still holds his position as executive producer of the famous game show. Industry insiders are wondering how Sony missed all of Richards’ red flags in the first place and why he gets to keep his job.
Late summer and early fall was supposed to be the big return to movie theaters. But with the Delta variant on the rise, Hollywood is in a tough spot. Studios have to decide to put their big movies in theaters, knowing not as many people will come, or sell films to a streaming service and lose out on box office revenue.
Following the death of the iconic Alex Trebek, “Jeopardy!” featured a series of high-profile guest hosts. But the job of new host ultimately went to Mike Richards, the executive producer of the game show. Many fans are upset that someone like LeVar Burton wasn’t picked instead. And Richards has some red flags in his past — he was named in three discrimation lawsuits about a decade ago.
The creators of “South Park” and Reese Witherspoon probably aren’t often discussed together, but both recently closed $900 million deals. Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the “South Park” creators, signed a deal with ViacomCBS that runs through 2027 and guarantees 14 new “South Park” movies for the streamer Paramount+. Witherspoon’s company Hello Sunshine sold to an unnamed company run by former Disney executives Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs.
Scarlett Johansson, star of “Black Widow,” is suing Disney over the release of the Marvel film. Johansson says Disney’s failure to give the movie an exclusive theatrical release was a breach of contract that cost her $50 million in box office bonuses. “Black Widow” opened in theaters and was available to stream on Disney+ for a $30 charge on the same day. Johansson’s lawsuit is likely just the beginning of a long battle between stars and movie studios over theatrical compensation in the streaming age.
In its most recent earnings report, Netflix shared that it gained 1.5 million subscribers around the world in the last quarter. However, that is a modest gain for the streaming giant, and it lost 400,000 subscribers in the U.S. and Canada. In a bid to stop viewers from canceling, Netflix plans to offer mobile video games. Meanwhile, HBO Max reported strong growth of 2.8 million new subscribers in the same period.