☀️ APPLE / PARAMOUNT relationship to start in Oct with Scorsese pic
Iger sets DISNEY layoff plan / INDIA streaming on cusp of change as IPL begins / Jessica Chastain to lead APPLE drama
Mornin! This is Sean McNulty (connect with me on LinkedIn here if ya like), and here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on TUESDAY March 28, 2023.
Where here on another dark day in America, I figure maybe the timing for my ‘impromptu inspiration’ week could actually be more useful, today with this recent story from The Athletic that I found really inspiring about a UK mom who suddenly became disabled at 30-years-old due to a brain bleed - after which she struggled for years while working through the physical ramifications.
But with the help of her husband, she eventually found a part-time role at the WREXHAM Football Club, that was then expanded to a full-time position when Ryan Reynolds & Rob McElhenney came on board - changing her purpose and outlook on life (she’s also been featured on the FX series), again a reminder that:
Persevering through what life deals you in tough times where things don’t look so great is an important achievement in itself, as you never know the joy and meaning that you can’t envision in the moment, that could await you ahead.
Making an extra effort to help someone or just check in with someone you know who’s having a tough time or at a low point right now professionally or personally can make all the difference.
SPEAKING OF: Perhaps my ‘impromptu inspiration’ tangent this week is also helpful in an industry sense… as Bob Iger announced the plan for the 7,000 DISNEY layoffs/job eliminations:
Some to begin this week (number not specified)
Largest bulk to come in April
Final round to come “before the Summer” (so before mid-June/end of Q2)
One early area of consolidation: TV Production Operations as Mark Levenstein, SVP Production for HULU, and Jayne Bieber, FREEFORM SVP of Production Management & Operations are both leaving the company, as is DISNEY TV Studios’ head of acquisitions Elizabeth Newman.
DISNEY is also shutting down their ‘next generation storytelling’ unit (aka Metaverse division) that employed about 50 people (🤯) per the WSJ, although division head Mike White will remain with the company.
He was also leading that expanded “DISNEY Prime” membership concept development which… is also now dead per WSJ.
AND: Kelly Clarkson (!) is joining Adele in Vegas this Summer… doing her own 10 show stint from July 28 til August 19 at Bakkt Theater at Planet Hollywood.
And no - there won’t be additional dates: “I ain’t adding more. I’m telling you right now. Mama needs a little bit of a minute of a break.” - KC
PLUS: The White Lotus is going to THAILAND for Season 3.
OH: Only the pay TWITTER Blue accounts will be able to vote in polls and be featured in users’ “For You” feeds as of April 15… as Elon slowly turns TWITTER into a pay service for anyone whose profession is remotely related to their presence/usage of the platform.
ALSO: Here’s what’s ahead for SNL:
CONGRATS: To SOUTH CAROLINA and VIRGINIA TECH on joining IOWA and LSU in the Women’s MARCH MADNESS Final Four this Friday night.
IN TODAY’S EDITION:
Jessica Chastain goes APPLE and Lena Heady goes NETFLIX to lead new series.
DISNEY likely to take a sizable Ad Revenue hit in INDIA for impending IPL Cricket season - a look at the $$ projections and the big shifts ahead in one of Streaming’s fastest growing global markets.
Clooney moves back to WB to make movies.
DISNEY sets Questlove to direct live-action/hybrid remake of animated title.
Regional “cable” company encourages subs to subscribe to YOUTUBE TV bundle.
Succession Sunday premiere audience sees big uptick vs. S3 numbers.
NBC brings cable morning shows out the bundle to PEACOCK.
The latest March Madness numbers from Friday show the problem with an underdogs narrative, and more.
📽 THE SILVER SCREEN
