Despite the theatrical business’ increasingly robust expectations for late summer and beyond — with notable titles like Marvel Studios/Disney’s Deadpool & Wolverine — things have felt a bit touch-and-go in 2024, with grosses about 10% below last year's tally as of mid-April. There has been much chatter that exhibition is set for a reckoning; that mid-level exhibitors are bound to fold into each other. Speculation often turns to No. 1 theater circuit AMC Entertainment, which is saddled with about $4.8 billion in debt, with some observers convinced it is bound for bankruptcy. Not so.
AMC should have gone belly up more than once. It survived Covid intact thanks in large part to retail investors who piled in, making it a meme stock second only to GameStop. The company continued to raise cash last year, however, using some to pay down debt, and to maintain the cushion amid the strikes. The company recently said it plans to sell $250 million more of its stock, which has been bumping along at just $3 a share. >>>$2B Payment Due In 2026
Related:
NATO Chief Michael O’Leary & MPA Boss Charlie Rivkin Talk An Industry “Sorting Out” As CinemaCon Kicks Off
Adam Aron’s 2023 Pay Package Rises To $25 Million |
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| Deadline Exclusives & Originals |
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B.O. Rampage - In an even-better-than-expected result, Legendary/Warner Bros’ Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire posted a second weekend of $31.7M (-60%) after a second Saturday of $13.8M, +62% over Friday. The beasts are beating their chests with a 10-day total of $135M. >>>Weekend Numbers Tag Team - The company that sells The Traitors format around the world and the Japanese broadcaster behind Ninja Warrior and Takeshi’s Castle have teamed up to create a physical gameshow. All3Media International and TBS have already partnered to create one show, Lovers or Liars, which launched internationally at MIPTV this week. The duo are getting back in business together to create a second format, which they will bring to market at MIPCOM in October. >>> First Deal Of Its Kind
Garbo Talks - Embankment Films is making Garbo: Leave Me Alone, a feature documentary about the enigmatic movie star who died in 1990. The doc will have previously unseen archive material including personal photographs of Garbo and letters written by the iconic actress. >>>'Call Me Kate' Director On Board
From 'Wag The Dog' To 'Civil War' - The best of political film have been sharp, often witty, and self-aware to the point of cynicism. Wag the Dog, for example. Friday will bring the opening of what currently passes for a political film, Alex Garland’s dystopian action thriller Civil War. With Civil War, film is following the culture into the dark place in which it now dwells. >>> Michael Cieply's Take
The View From 'The View' - Brian Teta, the executive producer of The View, has signed a new contract for the show that will keep him at the often buzzy daytime talker for the next four years. Deadline spoke with Teta about the show’s impact and the 2024 campaign. >>>Q&A
William Shatner: The Film That Lit My Fuse - After 93 years on this planet — and ten minutes off it when he became the oldest human to head into outer space on the Blue Origin New Shepard rocket — William Shatner retains the wide-eyed wonder and appreciation for adventure evident in his most iconic role. Here, Shatner shares his formative influences on his path, and the lessons learned that informed a great career. >>> Watch
'Quantum Leap' Gets Grounded - NBC has decided not to proceed with a third season of its Quantum Leap reboot starring Raymond Lee. The news comes more than a month after the two-hour Season 2 finale aired Feb. 20. >>>Bubble Series |
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A little over a year and a half ago, producers Mary Robertson and Emma Schwartz began to have some questions about kids television. More specifically, about the heyday of Nickelodeon.
Eventually, those questions would evolve into something much more as the two women took a deep dive into what they have now dubbed “the dark side of kids TV.” The result is ID’s documentary series Quiet on Set, in which the filmmakers speak with many former child actors of the 1990s and early 2000s who allege experiences of abuse, sexism and racism on set.
Here, Robertson and Schwartz, as well as ID chief Jason Sarlanis, speak with Deadline about the series and its implications. >>>Read The Interview |
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Exclusive
Sandra Oh has been tapped for a role in Lionsgate‘s Good Fortune, the debut feature of Aziz Ansari, in which he also stars alongside Seth Rogen, Keanu Reeves, and Keke Palmer.
Exclusive
Sandrine Holt and Corbin Bernsen have been tapped for recurring roles on Your Friends and Neighbors. Apple’s new drama series, created by Jonathan Tropper, is based on his original idea.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight, HBO’s Game of Thrones spinoff, has cast its two leads. The series has cast Peter Claffey and Dexter Sol Ansell in the lead roles of Dunk and Egg, respectively.
Exclusive
Only Murders in the Building is expanding its recurring cast with Desmin Borges (You’re The Worst), Siena Werber (Brand New Cherry Flavor) and newcomer Lilian Rebelo (Our Dear Drug Lord).
Peter Dager (Insidious: The Red Door) has landed the co-lead opposite Owen Wilson in Apple TV+’s 10-episode comedy series created, written by and executive produced by Jason Keller.
Exclusive
Octavio Rodriguez (Homeland) and J.R. Villarreal (Freeridge) are set to recur in the Paramount+ drama Landman from Taylor Sheridan and Christian Wallace. |
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BY THE NUMBERS
5 - The number of times Kristen Wiig has now hosted 'SNL' after last weekend |
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More News
🌒The first total solar eclipse since 2017 will dominate U.S. TV networks today. Here's how you can tune in to watch the watchers.
⚖️ Actor Jonathan Majors, formerly of the Marvel cinematic universe, has escaped jail time in his sentencing on a reckless assault and harassment conviction. A New York judge this morning ordered him to participate in a year-long domestic violence treatment program in LA, where he is based.
🎶 Country singer Morgan Wallen was arrested last night for allegedly throwing a chair off of a rooftop in Nashville, TN, Billboard reported. The episode followed another headline-making event for Wallen, who denounced his fans for booing Taylor Swift.
🐭 Disney CEO Bob Iger has offered more precise timing for Disney’s previously-announced plan to crack down on password sharing on Disney+, saying it will start rolling out in June.
🤝 Local 871 — which represents a range of workers including script supervisors, teleprompter operators, production coordinators, script coordinators, and writers room assistants — has finalized its negotiations with the AMPTP, according to the union.
⚖️ Detailing an environment of “racial slurs,” “sexual harassment and physical violence,” and retaliation, Vanderpump Rules’ Faith Stowers wants “her day in court” against NBCUniversal, Bravo and the reality TV series’ producers. |
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Obituaries
🕯️ Cole Brings Plenty, an actor who appeared in Paramount+’s 1923, has died at the age of 27. Brings Plenty was the nephew of Yellowstone star Mo Brings Plenty. 🕯️ Adrian Schiller , who played Aethelhelm in the Netflix historical series The Last Kingdom, died Wedneday at 60-years-old. 🕯️ David Barrington Holt, who was instrumental in development of the ground-breaking Henson Performance Control System, which allowed a single performer to operate complex, computer-driven puppets, died March 13 from cancer complications. 🕯️ Hollywood & Media Deaths: A Photo Gallery |
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On the Radar
Mon - CinemaCon kicks off; Jonathan Majors sentencing
Tue - Conan O'Brien returns to The Tonight Show
Wed - WBD town hall
Fri - Coachella begins
Sat - Deadline's Contenders TV; Ryan Gosling hosts SNL
Sun - Deadline's Contenders TV; The Masters final round |
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Country Royalty - Beyoncé didn’t make an appearance at the CMT Awards on Sunday night, but her influence hovered over the show. June Carter Cash’s daughter Carlene wore a “Carter Girl” jacket on the red carpet with brother John Carter Cash and his wife Ana Cristina Cash. Beyoncé's version of "Jolene" played in Austin's Moody Center during commercial breaks. To top it off, the superstar's Cowboy Carter reached No. 1 on the country album chart over the weekend, making her the first Black woman to ever achieve that feat. |
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