☀️ DISNEYFOX slate joins WB in movie sell-off trend
WGA threatens AMAZON over writers room freeze / ABC #s big in huge MNF game / Christmas hits NETFLIX
Mornin! This is Sean McNulty (connect with me on LinkedIn here if ya like), and here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on WEDNESDAY Nov. 22, 2023.
Where I hope you all get where you’re trying to go today!
Enjoy your holiday break, as apparently the CPG sector will be sweating it out as it sees what a THANKSGIVING, brought to you by OZEMPIC looks like 😳.
ALSO: HULU brought back its annual Black Friday deal… and made it even better! Now just $1 a month for a year for new subscribers (ad-tier)… previously it was $2 a month - thanks Bob! This HULU merger is paying off already. 🤝
OH: Remember to keep your phone 📱 handy for the (free for all to watch) Black Friday NFL game on AMAZON PRIME at 3 p.m. - there will be QR codes a plenty on-screen during the game to promote exclusive PRIME deals (likely not just Kelce jerseys), as the AMAZON flywheel and $1 Billion annual NFL check finally come in full sync (plus an extra $100 Mil for rights to this game alone that AMAZON is paying the NFL).
CBS uses the NFL to promote the return of primetime series in three months… AMAZON uses it to sell toilet paper and electronics #AlwaysBeClosing.
PLUS: Two major crypto trading firms… and now two criminally convicted founders, I mean - what were the odds? 🥸 You know it’s bad when the online gambling industry has had fewer scandals in its short existence than crypto (hmm… oh right, there are actual Federal oversight laws & regulations around gambling).
THEN: Congrats to DISNEY on the opening of the World of Frozen at DISNEY Hong Kong, after a three-year construction process. It really is quite impressive to see the movie come to life (there’s a two-minute tour video in the link, complete with Iger appearance). I’m told the Strange World hot dog cart just outside of it should be ready by March.
AND: What’s up Axel 👋.
Plot description per Empire:
“Foley’s criminal defense attorney daughter (Taylour Paige), who pulls her dad into a California-based case — where he’ll cause issues for Kevin Bacon’s LAPD special-unit officer, and team up with a new partner, played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt.”
IN TODAY’S EDITION
Another very busy day… with LIONTREE, LIONSGATE and many other companies without jungle animals in their names like F1, A24, SONY, NETFLIX, SEARCHLIGHT and AMAZON making news of note (OK AMAZON is certainly jungle-adjacent).
WAKEUP BOX OFFICE POLL
When you Wish upon ending the year with a movie finally in the black… ok, admittedly my lyrical skills could use some workshopping. Tracking looks like $45 Mil to $50 Mil for the five-day. Encanto did $40 Mil in Covid 2021.
AND: SONY/APPLE’s Napoleon is looking at roughly $22 Million for the 5-day (final length: 2hr 38min).
PLUS
Richard began our ‘look back at the year’ planning this week, and found this post-GOLDEN GLOBES Wakeup Poll from back in January - guess we should keep our expertise to the Box Office 🥴.
FINALLY
Just a fun read on a group of 20 or so guys who still get together to play a touch football ‘Turkey Bowl’ each year in the Bronx - this year is the 50th game. 🦃
I’ll see you again in the inbox on Sunday night.
📽 THE SILVER SCREEN
