Mornin! This is Sean McNulty and here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on FRIDAY March 4, 2022.
Where the 80’s kid inside me is taking the wheel to put the daily song at the top today… as NKOTB dropped this pretty epic new video with SALT-N-PEPA, RICK ASTLEY and EN VOGUE that’s a #totallyrad throwback to every big 80’s music video from MTV’s (and NKOTB’s) prime.
The JOURNEY “playing keyboard against the wall” callback is particularly well done. All are going on tour together this Summer starting May 10.
AND: Yeah I’m not gonna top that.
📽 THE SILVER SCREEN
AMAZON sets Robert Downey Jr. to star in film based on the “Parker” books
Reuniting with the “Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang” team of writer Shane Black and producer Joel Silver. Shane is also directing.
Movie is called “Play Dirty” and is part of an overall deal for the trio to produce a series of Films & TV projects based on the 24 book series from Donald E. Westlake about the “Parker” character – a professional thief with a no-nonsense work ethic. Ok but does he have a newsletter that’s still free for some reason?
Statham played the character in “Parker” with JLo in 2013, and Mel Gibson’s “Payback” was also based on the book series. /Deadline
Rapper Jack Harlow starring in 20TH CENTURY reboot of “White Men Can’t Jump”
A movie being remade for… I have no idea 🙄. Kenya Barris and Doug Hall wrote the script, Calmatic (upcoming “House Party” reboot) is directing. The Snipes role is still tbd. /Deadline
MIRAMAX signs on finance comedy “Old Dads” co-written, directed and starring Bill Burr
Bobby Canavale and Bokeem Woodbine are co-starring, about a group of best friends (and dads) who sell their company to a millennial, and have to adjust to the new work culture amid fatherhood.
No word on a potential buyer, esp as the future of one of MIRAMAX’s usual go to’s STX is very TBD, but begins shooting this week. /Deadline
IN THE HOLLYWOOD EXECUTIVE SUITE
NETFLIX’s marketing head Bozoma Saint John is out after 2 years in the job. No next destination reported, Marian Lee is the new CMO after joining the company 9 months ago as US/CANADA VP of Marketing. /Variety
ROKU sets David Eilenberg as new Head of Original Content, coming over from ITV AMERICA where he mainly worked in the unscripted realm. /Deadline
📺 THE TV SET
AMAZON orders Phoebe Waller-Bridge series
As you might expect… no details available but it will shoot end of year. It’s the first project under her huge deal there after she departed that “Mr & Mrs Smith” series there with Donald Glover last year. /Deadline
SONY TV buys “90 Day Financé” producer INDUSTRIAL MEDIA for $350 Million
They also co-produce “American Idol” and do FOX’s “So You Think You Can Dance” and many other unscripted / reality shows.
INDUSTRIAL’s Eli Holzman will become SONY TV’s President of Nonfiction entertainment, and his partner Aaron Saidman will become Co-Prez. /THR
ALSO IN TV
DISNEY+ sets Kal Penn to co-star in “The Santa Clause” limited series 🎅. /Deadline
SHOWTIME’s “Desus & Mero” are going from 2x a week to weekly with launch of 4th season next Thu March 10 with Denzel as their guest. /Deadline
SMITHSONIAN CHANNEL doing docu with Oprah on racial disparities in US healthcare, called “The Color of Care”. Will premiere May 1. /Deadline
HULU adds “Pose”, and“American Crime Story” series as the shows depart their previous NETFLIX home. Includes all future seasons of “ACS” and “AHS” franchises. /THR
Skylar Astin (“Pitch Perfect”) signs on for recurring role on “Grey’s Anatomy”, where I’m guessing he’ll play a construction worker. Oh no wait it’s a doctor. /Deadline
💻 THE MEDIA BIZ
NETFLIX launching daily trivia game “Trivia Quest”
Based on the hit app Trivia Crack so… #goodcall changing the crack thing. #MilkBar
It has 24 questions a day (12 reg or 12 🤯) and kind of a fun video game format – there’s a promo here for the inclined.
Will launch April 1. /THR
VIZIO SmartCast streaming TV platform hits 15.1 Million users
But Profit… not so much. They lost $10 Million in Q4, as they sold 33% fewer TV’s vs Q4 2020.
However they added 700k active streaming users in Q4. The new 15.1 Million total is +24% in a year.
ARPU for those users hit $21.68, +67% in 2021 thanks to increased ad revenue, and selling the data on what their users watch to 3rd parties.
ALSO IN MEDIA
RUSSIA’S RT AMERICA cable network essentially laying everyone off and shutting down since all major Cable + Satellite TV providers dropped it. /CNN
Sean Penn walked West to the POLAND border and is now out of UKRAINE for that VICE docu. /CNN
NY TIMES sets Sabrina Tavernise as the new 2nd host for “The Daily” Podcast. /NY Times
THR promotes Aaron Couch to Film Editor. Will also continue to oversee their HEAT VISION blog. /THR
🏦 STOCK NOTES:
CINEWORLD (REGAL Cinemas) -6.66% ($0.45) and yes, that was the real drop 😈
SPOTIFY -6% ($139.92)
ENDEAVOR -5% ($28.98)
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👩💻 THE FSS FEED:
(new Stuff to Watch this weekend, Friday – Saturday – Sunday)
FRIDAY
IN THEATERS:
WB “The Batman” – Only in Theaters
A24 “After Yang” – Colin Farrell, Jodie Turner-Smith, esoteric, family has a robot pic. In limited theaters or STREAM HERE on SHOWTIME
PARAMOUNT ”Asking for It” horror pic with Vanessa Hudgens, also on PVOD today.
STREAMING:
MOVIES
AMAZON PRIME “Lucy & Desi” docu – STREAM HERE
HULU “Fresh” – SUNDANCE thriller/horror pic with Daisy Edgar-Jones & Sebastian Stan – STREAM HERE
SERIES
AMAZON PRIME ”The Boys Presents : Diabolical” 8, 15 min animated episodes set in the universe of the show – STREAM HERE
APPLE TV+ “Central Park” Season 2, pt 2 – STREAM HERE
APPLE TV+ “Dear…” Season 2 – STREAM HERE
NETFLIX “Making Fun” – This looked cool: group of construction pros make ideas from kids’ imaginations come to life – STREAM HERE
SATURDAY
NBC SNL with Oscar Isaac & CHARLI XCX
SUNDAY
CBS new “60 Minutes” at 7p
IFC / AMC+ INDEPENDENT SPIRIT Awards at 5p EST
HBO “Winning Time” at 9p
STARZ “Outlander” Season 6 at 9p
STARZ “Shining Vale” – Courtney Cox, Greg Kinnear series, 10:20p
NBC “The Courtship” reality dating show at 8p
NBC “Transplant” Season 2 at 9, “The Weakest Link” at 10p
🎥 TRAILER HOUSE
HBOMAX “Minx” series trailer – About a 1970’s LA feminist who partners with an ‘adult literature’ editor to create the first women’s erotic magazine. This looks like a lot of fun! And love what Jake Johnson looks to be up to here. Premieres Thu Mar 17
AMAZON PRIME “All the Old Knives” movie trailer – Stars Chris Pine and Thandiwe Newton as former CIA agents and lovers, as he investigates her for being a potential double agent 🕵️. Premieres Fri Apr 8 (also in limited theaters)
NETFLIX “Cliff Beasts” behind the scenes – As someone who spent a good portion of his career leading Creative Marketing content – this BTS piece for the fake movie being made in Judd’s upcoming film “The Bubble” (about a cast quarantined to make a movie together in covid) is especially priceless for me. Movie drops Fri April 1
🎧 PLAYING ME OFF
As we started today with 80’s pop-star best friends… let’s end with a Bulldog and a Chicken who are best friends – just something a team I work with produced that makes me smile so thought I’d share – and thanks to those of you who shared the newsletter out this week! 🙏. Have a fun weekend!
If you need some new tunes:
Email me anytime – just Reply to this email, or connect here on LINKED IN.
-SEAN MCNULTY
@theseanmac on TWITTER
@TheWakeupNews on INSTAGRAM
