Mornin! This is Sean McNulty (connect with me on LinkedIn here if ya like), and here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on THURSDAY December 14, 2023.

Where the NFL is expanding from 5 to 8 int’l games in the 2025 season so… hope you enjoy those 6 a.m. gametimes on the West Coast!

I’d also be very surprised if these new games stay on the NFL NETWORK, but basically – being an NFL fan will get a bit more annoying in two years.

2024 will also feature one game in Sao Paulo (plus 3 in London, 1 in GERMANY), which at least is only 2 hours ahead of NYC.
The Super Bowl will return to SOFI in L.A. in 2027, putting the game on Pacific Time in three of the next four years (I mean, it’ll still kick off around 6:30 p.m. ET either way).

PLUS: The SIRIUSXM DtoC launch is today, $10 a month for the app (incl. Stern and sports broadcasts alongside talk and ad-free music channels).

ALSO: Stars like Will Smith and Gwyneth Paltrow reportedly got $1+ Million to show up for the RED SEA FESTIVAL this year in SAUDI ARABIA. Plus – free mini bar! Oh wait – it’s SAUDI ARABIA. #DryBar

MADAME PREZ: Greta Gerwig is your 2024 CANNES Film Fest jury president this May.

Trevor Noah will once again be your GRAMMYS host in early Feb, his 4th consecutive year.
Anthony Anderson is your EMMY AWARDS host on Jan. 15.

HUH: Jonathan Majors will not take the stand in his own defense in his NYC trial – closing arguments are set for this morning.

THEN: NETFLIX is adding to its mobile games roster in 2024… with a new Sonic game, one based on Rebel Moon (taking place after the events of the movies) and more, which will up their total to over 90 games.

HMM: Expect to hear a lot more chess analogies in your ENDEAVOR/WME meetings… they just made a strategic investment in Chess.com, and WME is repping the business to expand it in non-scripted areas and build uh, “celebrity-centric moments” 🤷‍♂️. Anyone know if Ryan Reynolds plays chess?

🥳 🥂: CBS has added to its Country NYE show lineup this year, including Morgan Wallen, Kane Brown, Carly Pearce, Jon Pardi and more. Elle King & ET’s Rachel Smith are hosting.

ABC added Post Malone, K-pop band NewJeans and Ivy Queen to its Dick Clark lineup.

WAKEUP BOX OFFICE POLL

Time for the world famous chocolatier and fragrance pitchman to take the stage… Wonka is looking at about $35 Mil to $40 Mil to kick of the CHRISTMAS movie season.

IN THIS EDITION

Kind of refreshing to have a day with a lotta new deals across town… it’s almost like its 2022 again! Even WBD parted ways with yet a few more execs.
Plus developments at TIKTOK, A24, AMAZON, CANAL+, UNI, APPLE TV+, MATTEL, CAA and… well, as I said – a lot of activity so let’s hop in.

THANKS: To the folks at SPECIAL PROJECTS for the invite to check out The Boys in the Boat premiere last night in NYC, a solid choice if you’re going to the multiplex with the parents over the holiday break (or uh, if you’re the parent and going with your pre/teen or adult kids). Plus who knew rowing was such a social event back in the day? 🚣🏻‍♂️