The job struggle is real for everyone in Hollywood, but for those at the lowest rungs of the ladder, doors seem to be closing at every turn. Leila Jordan’s survey of 50+ early-career entertainment workers and job seekers became our top story of the week, and struck a major nerve on Instagram.
Also high on the Ankler charts: two great showrunner interviews. First, Manori Ravindran — with the ink barely dry on her final report from the Cannes Film Festival — scored an exclusive post-finale sit-down with SNL UK showrunner James Longman, plus cast members Emma Sidi and Celeste Dring, about how the Brit team made the iconic U.S. sketch format their own. Then, Lesley Goldberg dug into the details with Louisa Levy, who heads up Prime Video’s Off Campus, about the buzzy college hockey romance’s franchise potential.
And finally, with Cristian Mungiu’s Fjord winning the Palme d’Or, that’s a wrap on Cannes 2026. Watch our starry Croisette Conversations, hosted at the Armani Caffè in partnership with Brand Innovators, on The Ankler YouTube, featuring Katey Rich’s interviews with the likes of Coward filmmaker Lukas Dhont (whose two leads, Emmanuel Macchia and Valentin Campagne, shared the fest’s best actor award), Academy CEO Bill Kramer, Club Kid star Diego Calva, Clarissa directors and cast including David Oyelowo, and more. Plus, catch up on our Cannes Dailies here.
Now, ICYMI, the rest of our best of the week:
Series Business
↑ Disney TV Sellers’ Guide: What ABC, FX & Hulu Actually Want In part three of Elaine Low’s Sellers’ Guide (parts one and two covered Apple TV and Netflix), top reps reveal the smart strategies to break through at the Mouse House broadcast network, prestige cabler and general entertainment streamer.
TV in 3: Shonda’s Disney-Netflix Throuple — And Why Everyone Wins Lesley goes inside the Bridgerton queen’s return to ABC with a Grey’s Anatomy spinoff. Plus, Colbert’s sign-off and a chat with Netflix’s Little House on the Prairie showrunner.
Richard Rushfield
↑ How Survivor Outplayed Hollywood for 50 Seasons Outwit, Outplay, Outlast isn’t just for the reality juggernaut’s contestants. Richard, who attended season 50’s finale, chats with creator Mark Burnett about how the long-lasting hit beat the broadcast odds.
What Could Save the Industry? Fin-Syn The independent TV spirit of the ’90s can live again, Richard argues — we just need to bring back one piece of critical regulation.
Crowd Pleaser
↑ Star Wars’ Disney+ Hangover: A Fight to Make the Galaxy Feel Big Again This weekend, the franchise marked its big-screen return with The Mandalorian and Grogu. With the box office looking… not so Force-ful, Matthew Frank reveals what television has to do with it.
Reel AI
↑ James Harden, Carmelo Anthony & the AI-Powered Hollywood Pivot An AI-generated animation about the NBA star’s career is redefining how athletes can bypass the traditional production company model, Erik Barmack writes.
Cannes Dailies
↑ Deal Scene: Hot Titles, Who’s Buying & the Market’s ‘800-Pound Gorilla’ Manori talks to Richard Lorber and others in the know about the state of top players — Amazon and Black Bear to Warners’ Clockwork — as high market hopes fade.
- Plus: Don’t miss Ashley Cullins’ film finance panel, “The New Greenlight Economy,” with Submarine’s Josh Braun, 30West’s Micah Green and Gersh’s Jessica Lacy.
Adam Driver Deflects Dunham, Markiplier Mobbed Plus, Manori and Ashley take stock of the Paper Tiger buzz, the Croisette’s waves of creators and a new attitude around AI.
Prestige Junkie
↑ Adam Driver’s Paper Tiger Role Started With an Email Katey chats with the star about Cannes and his acclaimed performance in James Gray’s fest darling.
Plus, The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins star Daniel Radcliffe tells Katey how he found his way opposite Tracy Morgan in NBC’s acclaimed sitcom — and lists his favorite half-hour comedies:
7 Cannes Movies to Watch; Sarah Snook’s Post-Succession Power Play Katey lists the fest titles worth keeping an eye on and chats with the star of Peacock’s thrilling miniseries All Her Fault.
The Wakeup
As Netflix commits to theatrical runs for Greta Gerwig’s Narnia and David Fincher’s Cliff Booth — plus a live morning show — Sean McNulty analyzes the streamer’s latest growth push:
Friday → ☀️ NEON, ROW K In Distro Talks; IMAX Explores Sale
Thursday → ☀️ What NETFLIX’s New Theatrical, Live Daily TV Moves Indicate
Wednesday → ☀️ WB’s Big Cannes Buy, NETFLIX Sets ’70s Remake
Tuesday → ☀️ NETFLIX, AMAZON Cannes Action, DISNEYFOX Enlists Feig
Sunday → ☀️ Obsession Pops with 18-34s, BLACK BEAR Woes Continue
Podcasts
Ankler Agenda
Elaine, Sean and Natalie Jarvey make their picks for the coming biggest hits in a summer box office draft:
Like & Subscribe
New from Natalie Jarvey’s creator economy newsletter:
↑ New York’s YouTube TV Moment: Brandcast, Babish & NYT Cooking’s Glow-Up
The Optionist
Andy Lewis’ latest IP picks:
↑ The Lord of the Flies Goes Friday Night Nights & a Deadly Beauty Pageant
