ALFONSO CUARON sets A-List cast for his APPLE TV series
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ALFONSO CUARON sets A-List cast for his APPLE TV series
UTA backed SPAC goes public today / ONLY MURDERS adds Delevigne at HULU / AWKWAFINA joins UNI Dracula pic
Mornin! This is Sean McNulty and here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on THURSDAY December 2, 2021.
Where somehow I only just learned that CARDI B has a line of vodka infused whipped cream called WHIPSHOTS that is only sold via limited online drops. Frankly it’s making me reconsider how I’m spending my time 🙇♂️. Anyone know if she wants to advertise in a newsletter? Or… am I already doing an Ad and don’t know it? And if so can I get a Jameson version? 🎄
ALSO: The NATIONAL BOARD OF REVIEW awards are out today.
📽 THE SILVER SCREEN
UNIVERSAL adds Awkwafina to Dracula’s henchman movie “Renfield”
She of course joins Nicholas Hoult and Nic Cage, and will play a character that teams up with Hoult’s “Renfield” to take on Cage’s “Dracula”. /Deadline
ALSO IN MOVIES
NETFLIX adds Robert Duvall, Gillian Anderson & Timothy Spall to Christian Bale 1830’s thriller“The Pale Blue Eye”. Set around an investigation into a series of murders at WEST POINT, with a young Edgar Allen Poe helping the lead investigator played by Bale. Scott Cooper directing (“Crazy Heart”, “Hostiles”). /THR
Longtime WME Agent Sharon Jackson is leaving to become a manager - no word at which firm as of yet, or which of her clients she will be managing. She’s repped clients such as Jonah Hill, Amy Schumer, Amy Poehler, Jack Black, Aziz Ansari, and Elisabeth Moss in her time at WME. /Deadline
📺 THE TV SET
APPLE TV+ sets Cate Blanchett & Kevin Kline to star in series from Alfonso Cuaron
Called “Disclaimer”, about a respected TV documentary journalist who’s built her career by spilling the tea on secrets within respected institutions. Then a novel appears on her bedside table written by a widower, in which she’s a key character in a story that also reveals her darkest secret. Ironically - it’s that she can’t read. Ok probably not my best but it’s all I got here at 1130pm.
Alfonso will write & direct all episodes, based on a novel by Renée Knight. /Deadline
Cara Delevigne joins “Only Murders In the Building” Season 2 at HULU
The 3 primary leads are all returning, Cara will play an art world insider who gets involved in the Season 2 murder mystery, no production timeline indicated. /THR
Cobie Smulders joins DISNEY+ MARVEL “Secret Invasion” series
She reprises her “Maria Hill” role alongside Sam Jackson’s “Nick Fury” and Ben Mendelsohn’s “Skrull Talos”. Olivia Colman and Emilia Clarke are joining as well. /Deadline
AMC orders Anne Rice series “Lives of the Mayfair Witches”
8 episodes, written by Esta Spalding and Michelle Ashford (“Masters of Sex”).
A young neurosurgeon discovers she’s the heir to a family of witches… as you do - all while also dealing with a sinister presence that’s haunted her family for years. /THR
ALSO IN TV
NETFLIX sets Taylor Tomlinson for a 2nd comedy special, shooting this month. I loved her first special”Quarter-Life Crisis” - check it out here if ya like.
Juliette Lewis and Ed Begley Jr join “Queer As Folk” reboot at PEACOCK in recurring roles. Currently shooting in New Orleans. /THR
Trevor Noah hosting THE GRAMMYS again, show is on Mon Jan 31 from the STAPLES Center. /Variety
And in sadly more untimely death news this week, Jackie Avant, mother of Ted Sarandos’s wife Nicole and wife of legendary “Godfather of Black Music” executive Clarence Avant was shot and killed at her home in Beverly Hills. Tyler Perry has pledged full resources for the investigation, which the BHPD has expressed skepticism that this was a random home invasion robbery. /Deadline
💻 THE MEDIA BIZ
Talent agency UTA sets $200 Million SPAC to acquire a company in the gaming, creator or digital media space
The Cayman Islands-based shell company (didn’t anyone there see “The Firm”??) is led by the former Prez of NINTENDO Reggie Fils-Aimé, and counts UTA’s Head of Games - Ophir Lupu as President. The ticker will be UTAA and begins trading today.
They’re looking for companies with compelling IP and global ambitions. Would they consider a daily newsletter still without a business model? /THR
ALSO IN MEDIA
Longstanding DISNEY board member Susan Arnold will replace Bob Iger as Chair when he departs at the end of the month. /Deadline
If for some reason you’re still regularly using one of META’s products called FACEBOOK (think I’m saying that name right), expect to see a lot more crypto advertising as FB has lifted most aspects of its ad policy ban. Yeah. That should fix the engagement problem 👍. /CNBC
🏦 STOCK NOTES:
Another down day although more severe than Tuesday 😱. In the Media sector:
AMC THEATERS down nearly 16% ($28.57)
ROKU down almost 9% ($207.75)
AMC NETWORKS down over 8% ($35.44)
PINTEREST down almost 7% ($37.29)
VIMEO down 6% ($18.15)
SPOTIFY down over 5% ($225.09)
DISCOVERY and VIACOM both down over 4%
Heck even ROBLOX was down over 10% ($113.41)
But CINEWORLD (REGAL Theaters) was up 9%. Granted, to $.67 a share but still.
👩💻 NEW TO WATCH:
HBOMAX “Santa Inc” - Limited animated comedy series, with the voices of Seth Rogen as a retiring Santa, and Sarah Silverman as anspiring Elf looking to get promoted into his gig. Stream or Add to Your List here
PEACOCK “Baking It” - Holiday food competition series, hosted by Maya Rudolph & Andy Samberg. Stream or Add to Your List here
NBC “Annie Live!” at 8p
FOX Thursday Night Football: COWBOYS at SAINTS, 820p
ABC Alec Baldwin’s “Rust” interview with Stephanopoulos at 8p
If you were sent this newsletter or… just kinda found it:
🎥 TRAILER HOUSE
AMAZON PRIME “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” teaser #2 - This one focused on mom and dad. Still Premieres Fri Feb 18
AMAZON PRIME“With Love” series trailer - Siblings in a Latino family navigate their love lives through various family holidays during the year. Uh respectively. From the creator of the “One Day at a Time” reboot. Premieres Fri Dec 17
🎧 PLAYING ME OFF
SPOTIFY put out their most Globally streamed artists of 2021 list (sorry December you don’t count):
Bad Bunny (who didn’t even release a new album in 2021)
Taylor Swift (also #2 in the US)
BTS
Drake (#1 in the US)
Biebs
And while Olivia Rodrigo had the most streamed song of the year, I apparently listened to a lot of this KNOCKS x FOSTER THE PEOPLE collab back in the Spring 🤷♂️. But it’s actually a great day-starter so I’m sharing the love 🕺.
If you need new tunes:
Email me anytime - just reply to this email, or connect here on LINKED IN.
-SEAN MCNULTY
@theseanmac on TWITTER
@TheWakeupNews on INSTAGRAM