| | | | What's news: Stranger Things breakout Joseph Quinn is in talks for the Gladiator sequel. Jeff Shell loses out on $43 million in stock after Comcast firing. Dodger legend Fernando Valenzuela is set to be the subject of a scripted series. Owen Wilson weighs in on the Nancy Meyers comeback project. — Ryan Gajewski |
Marvel's 'Blade' Nabs Nic Pizzolatto for Writing Duties ►Another writer sinks his teeth in. THR's Borys Kit has the scoop on Nic Pizzolatto working on Blade, Marvel Studios' vampire thriller starring Mahershala Ali. The development marks a True Detective reunion, as Ali starred in season three of the HBO show that Pizzolatto created. Blade is batting its wings toward a late May start of production in Atlanta with director Yann Demange (Lovecraft Country). The story.
—A new addition to the entertainment. Stranger Things standout Joseph Quinn is in talks to join Ridley Scott's Gladiator sequel. The actor will star in the film as Roman Emperor Caracalla alongside castmembers Paul Mescal, Connie Nielsen, Denzel Washington and Barry Keoghan. The story.
—"The first time Fernando Valenzuela has ever told his story." THR's Lesley Goldberg has the scoop on Universal Content Productions teaming up with Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher-turned-broadcaster Fernando Valenzuela for a scripted limited series based on his life and career. A network/platform is not yet attached for the project about the former Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Award winner. The story.
—"What you would want and expect." THR's nicest man Chris Gardner spoke to Owen Wilson, who explained why he is optimistic about the status of Nancy Meyer's comeback film project. After Netflix and the director parted ways last month on the movie over budgetary issues, Warner Bros. swooped in to start conversations. Though a deal hasn't been confirmed, all signs point to a potential theatrical release, with A-listers Scarlett Johansson, Penélope Cruz, Michael Fassbender and Wilson on board to star. The story. |
New York to Make Major Changes to Tax Incentive Program ►The changes aim to help lure back productions. New York is set to increase the cap on tax credits the state gives to the film and TV industry from $420 million to $700 million and make other notable changes to its incentive program in a bid to compete with neighboring jurisdictions for productions. Under an agreement approving a $229 billion budget, above-the-line wage costs will be eligible for tax breaks for the first time, with certain restrictions and caps. The credit will also be raised to 30 percent. The story.
—Jeff Shell won't get $43 million in stock. Comcast has disclosed the 2022 pay for chairman and CEO Brian Roberts and fired NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell, along with compensation packages for other top executives. Notable was the money that Shell won't receive after being terminated for cause over an inappropriate relationship with an employee. The story.
—Health protocol change. SAG-AFTRA and the advertising industry's health and safety protocols for production during COVID-19 are coming to an end. The performers' union and the Joint Policy Committee, which bargains on behalf of advertisers and advertising agencies, have agreed to terminate their COVID-19 safety and testing agreement on May 11. The story.
—2022 was Endeavor's first full year as a public company. Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel was paid a package topping $19 million in 2022, a sharp decline from the year prior. Emanuel's 2021 pay package topped $300 million, thanks mostly to a one-time stock grant tied to the company's IPO. His 2022 compensation is more in line with what he would expect during a typical year. The story. |
Film Review: 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3' ►"A stirring and audience-pleasing finale." THR critic Frank Scheck reviews James Gunn's Marvel film Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. The third installment of the hugely popular superhero franchise stars Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista and Zoe Saldaña. The review.
—"A series of partially managed chaos." THR chief TV critic Daniel Fienberg reviews HBO's White House Plumbers. Woody Harrelson and Justin Theroux star in the Watergate comedy series from Alex Gregory and Peter Huyck. The review. |
'Love & Death' Team on Telling Candy Montgomery's Story ►"It is public domain material, so there's nothing we can do." THR's Sydney Odman discusses Love & Death with the true-crime series' cast and crew, including Elizabeth Olsen and Jesse Plemons. The Max original, which follows the saga surrounding real-life 1980s housewife Candy Montgomery, comes a year after Hulu and Jessica Biel's adaptation of the same tale. The story.
—"I always had the feeling that something had to go wrong." THR's Brian Davids interviews Diego Luna about Star Wars series Andor. As he films season two, the actor says the cast and crew are not resting on their laurels after the strong response to the show. The interview.
—"Maybe if it was way too successful, maybe I might've spun out of control." THR's Mesfin Fekadu chats with Robin Thicke for the 20th anniversary of his debut album, A Beautiful World. The Grammy-nominated artist discusses writing for Michael Jackson and why he chopped off his hair after hearing his song on the radio for the first time. The interview. |
This Week's Must Reads ►On the cover. In case you missed it, check out this week's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 cover story to gear up for its upcoming release. THR's Aaron Couch and Borys Kit reveal how the cast dropped everything to help director James Gunn after he fought for them in the casting process. The cover story.
—"Jeff was supposed to be the buttoned-up guy." The shock ouster of NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell has left people inside and outside the company dumbstruck. In the aftermath, THR's editor-at-large Kim Masters spoke to industry executives who tell a tale of two Jeff Shells, and say his departure raises questions about his reign: "Where there's smoke, there's fire." The story.
—"The guy should be sainted." THR's Seth Abramovich writes that few lived the Hollywood dream as fully as the showgirl-turned-Oscar nominee Valerie Perrine, who starred in Lenny, The Electric Horseman and the first two Superman films. But now the money's gone, and all that's left is the devotion of another Hollywood dreamer. The story.
—"I'd like to just keep going." Mia Galuppo chats with Diane Keaton, in which the THR Icon — one of Hollywood's greatest comedians, dramatic actresses and style icons — shares career highlights and tries to avoid talking about herself. The interview.
In other news...
—Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino's total pay jumps to $139 million in 2022
—Dear Mama sets premiere record for FX unscripted series
—David Arquette says ex-wife Courteney Cox's success on Friends was "difficult" for him
—John Mulaney reveals he turned down hosting The Daily Show after Jon Stewart left because he was "gun-shy"
What else we're reading...
—According to John Koblin, Brooks Barnes and Nicole Sperling, Hollywood is both frantic and calm as it braces for a writers' strike [NYT]
—Roxana Hadadi highlights four tropes employed by Netflix's The Diplomat that she hopes to never again see on TV [Vulture]
—Ben Child wonders whether Ezra Miller's The Flash can possibly live up to the Twitter hype [Guardian]
—Jason Reid analyzes the Black quarterbacks who made NFL draft history this year [Andscape]
—As James Corden heads back home, Ed Cumming explores whether Britain wants him back [Telegraph]
Today...
…in 2016, Warner Bros. released Keanu, the action-comedy film starring Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele. The original review.
Today's birthdays: Michelle Pfeiffer (65), Daniel Day-Lewis (66), Uma Thurman (53), Jerry Seinfeld (69), Kate Mulgrew (68), Willie Nelson (90), Megan Boone (40), Xochitl Gomez (17), Katherine Langford (27), Tyler Labine (45), Darby Stanchfield (52), Marc Clotet (43), Paul Adelstein (54), Eve Plumb (65), Taylor Cole (39), Steve Blum (63), Master P (53), Andre Agassi (53) |
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