Brad Pitt setting 2nd movie at APPLE TV+
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Brad Pitt setting 2nd movie at APPLE TV+
Jan now only has 2 wide movie releases ✌️ MORBIUS / Keanu in talks for HULU series / BOBA FETT far behind LOKI opening
Mornin! This is Sean McNulty and here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on TUESDAY January 4, 2021.
Where YE has started work on a “Donda 2” album, or as his label head modestly put it - “his new masterpiece”. I really gotta get a better hype-man.
ALSO: THE GRAMMYS are reportedly considering a postponement from Mon Jan 31 to better wait-out omicron.
AND: THE WEEKND is dropping a new album on Friday… plus NETLFIX is dropping Season 2 of “Space Force” on Feb 18.
📽 THE SILVER SCREEN
APPLE TV+ likely getting Brad Pitt FORMULA ONE racing pic
Jerry Bruckheimer (“Top Gun: Maverick”) producing
Joseph Kosinski (“Top Gun: Maverick”) directing
Ehren Kruger (“Top Gun: Maverick”) wrote the pitch. Gee wonder how these guys got together?
Pitt’s playing an “older” driver who returns to an F1 team to mentor a younger driver and take one last shot at glory… but gonna give the benefit of doubt that all simliarities to Stallone’s 2001 pic “Driven” end there despite having pretty much the same plot.
This + the buzz around NETFLIX’s F1 show… the sport is heating up! Especially with a rumored $130 Million production pricetag on this one… before paying the guys in bold above . /Deadline
SONY punts “Morbius” to April Fool’s Day
Not a terribly surprising move from the notoriously pandemic-averse studio… so April 1 it is. But man the January Box Office is real bleak. Again.
“The 355” this Friday, “Scream” on the 14th, and then… see you in February. /THR
ALSO IN MOVIES
CANADA’s Ontario province (Toronto) is closing movie theaters again, will re-open “as soon as possible”, and when that’s said in a Canadian accent… ya know I actually can’t help but believe ‘em. /Deadline
📺 THE TV SET
“Book of Boba Fett” audience ahead of “Hawkeye”, way behind “Loki”
This according to the folks at SAMBA TV. First-5 days (Wed to Sun) audience for each on DISNEY+:
“Loki”: 2.5 Million
“Boba Fett”: 1.7 Million
“Hawkeye”: 1.5 Million
This is the US audience, not a complete global audience estimate. /Deadline
Keanu Reeves in negotiations for HULU series adaptation of “Devil in the White City” novel
DiCaprio & Scorsese are Exec Producers - Leo bought the rights to the lauded 2003 book over a decade ago in hopes of making it a movie with Marty at PARAMOUNT but… pretty sure the pricetag for the period piece was never gonna happen (it takes place in the midst of the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair).
Todd Field (“In The Bedroom”) is attached to direct the first 2 episodes. Sam Shaw (HULU’s “Castle Rock” series) is writing. /Deadline
ALSO IN TV
NBCU network USA buys syndication rights to FOX network series “9-1-1” produced by DISNEY’s 20th TELEVISION. Nice cross-conglomerate teamwork people . Will air in a block on Wednesday nights starting tomorrow and the show continues to stream on HULU. /Deadline
💻 THE MEDIA BIZ
APPLE’s AirTags are being used to stalk people unknowingly
In a move… pretty much everyone saw coming except apparently APPLE, AirTags are being surreptitiously placed on people’s cars to track their movements.
Some are parents tracking their teenagers without them knowing… but it’s also diving into more nefarious things like stalking and for car-theft purposes. /NY Times
🏦 STOCK NOTES:
A positive start to 2022 media stocks, especially… cable, for some reason.
AMC NETWORKS +8%
DISCOVERY +7.6%
VIACOMCBS up almost 7%
IMAX +6%
CINEWORLD -5%
👩💻 NEW TO WATCH:
ABC “Judge Steve Harvey” - Premieres at 8p
ABC “Abbot Elementary” - Official premiere at 9p
ABC “Black-ish” - Final season premiere at 930p with Michelle Obama
NBC “American Auto” & “Grand Crew” - Official premieres starting at 8p
NBC “This is Us” - Final season premiere at 9p
If you were sent this newsletter or… just kinda found it:
🎥 TRAILER HOUSE
FREEFORM “Single Drunk Female” series trailer. Comedy about a 20something woman moves back in with her mom and goes to rehab as she tries to pull her life together. From some folks behind “Girls” and “Russian Doll”. Premieres Thu Jan 20 (also streams on HULU).
🎧 PLAYING ME OFF
MORGAN WADE“Wilder Days” - This came out about a year ago, but I found it on the NY TIMES Underrated 2021 songs list and kinda agreed! Good song for anyone who’s ever dated someone with a… raucous past.
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