NETFLIX buys Lin-Manuel SONY animated movie
NETFLIX buys Lin-Manuel SONY animated movie
NHL leaving NBC / DiCaprio remaking OSCAR winning movie / MASTER OF NONE changes focus
Mornin! I’m Sean McNulty and here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on TUESDAY April 27, 2021.
Where let’s start the day at AWKWAFINA’s new digs in Bel Air - complete with putting green (but much better to have your morning coffee by the pool no?).
And as you probably saw - The OSCARS ratings took a 60% hit, in line with the GLOBES and GRAMMYS this year. Audience was about 10 Million, last year was about 23 Million. “Top Gun: Maverick” now the odds-on favorite for BEST PICTURE votes in 2022 for anyone associated with ABC.
Just putting this handy button here in case helpful:
📽 THE SILVER SCREEN
DiCaprio producing remake of BEST INT’L FILM OSCAR winner“Another Round”
TBD if Leo will star, ENDEAVOR CONTENT co-financing.
Tells the story of a teacher and his friends who decide the natural human state is to always have a little booze in your system. And then everything works out fine. /THR
NETFLIX picks up Lin-Manuel Miranda animated movie “Vivo” from SONY
Follows a musical rainforest “honey bear” and his owner in Havana. SONY keeping China rights, no premiere date given. /Deadline
ALSO IN MOVIES
DISNEY+ adds Maya Rudolph, Yvette Nicole Brown to “Enchanted” sequel, “Disenchanted”. Always good to go with the title that’s staring you in the face. Amy Adams, Idina Menzel and James Marsden already returning. /Deadline
📺 THE TV SET
GOT “House of the Dragon” prequel series will hit HBO in 2022
That’s… really all the TV biz news there is today. Super easy.
Oh - well PEACOCK added those extended “Superfan” Episodes of “The Office” (link here) with bloopers, deleted scenes, and interviews. Fans will of the show will also note that yesterday was the highpoint of Stanley’s year, “Pretzel Day”.
💻 THE MEDIA BIZ
NBC saying goodbye to the NHL
NBCU was in negotiations for the 2nd TV package available starting next season for around $225 Million a year; But they’re now dropping out - rights likely going to WARNER MEDIA starting this Fall.
ESPN signed a $400 Million a year contract for a big NHL package of games last month. This $225 Million package for a smaller subset of games is 2-3X above the rate NBC is currently paying. WM/TURNER gets 3 STANLEY CUPS, ESPN/ABC gets 4. They split playoff games, and WM/TURNER gets the “Winter Classic”.
TBD if streaming rights will be included but one has to assume this is a big reason for WM’s interest. But certainly provides further rationale for NBCU’s decision to shut down NBCSN by end of this year.
Sports wise, NBC/PEACOCK is left with PREMIERE LEAGUE soccer, WWE Wrestling, NFL SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL, a PGA USGA rights deal and of course Triple Crown Horse Racing. /Sports Business Journal & THR
ROKU takes negotiations spat with GOOGLE public
ROKU claims they may have to drop YOUTUBE TV because of GOOGLE’s “monopoly” behavior, as they look to siphon user data from ROKU and to favor YOUTUBE in search functions on their platform in their negotiations for a new deal.
GOOGLE’s response was part “We’re very disappointed in you saying these things” and part “Come on bro…” (not direct quotes). But I’m always a fan of an “appeal to the people” plea - from the AXIOS coverage, it sounds like the current agreement could be up as soon as the end of this week so more to come soon. /additional coverage in Deadline
APPLE TV looks to expand to 3000 staff in Culver City in 5 years
Part of huge $430 Billion overall US office and staff expansion plans over the next 5 years, including a new $1 Billion campus in Raleigh, NC. And free parking! /Variety
ALSO IN MEDIA
SPOTIFY raises Family plan price $1 to $16/month. Also raises various plan costs in select international territories. /Variety
🏦 STOCK NOTES:
SPOTIFY +5% likely due to the revenue/price increase thing
AMC THEATERS +13%, CINEWORLD + 4.5% - thanks “Mortal Kombat” / “Mugen Train” box office duel
🎥 TRAILER HOUSE
NETFLIX - “Master of None” Season 3 teaser. Surprise! Season 3 focuses on Lena Waithe’s character “Denise” (although Dev does seem to at least make an appearance). Season written by Aziz and Lena. Premieres on a Sunday… May 23. (same day as Season four of “The Chi” on SHOWTIME)
STARZ “Power Book III: Raising Kanan” teaser. Going with BLACK SHEEP for the song choice always solid. Premieres Sun July 18
NETFLIX “Special” Final Season trailer. Premieres Thu May 20
👩💻 NEW TO WATCH:
Hollywood goes 0 for 2 this week. But Wall Street has some action: GOOGLE, MICROSOFT and PINTEREST kick off a big week of earnings reports after the bell later this afternoon.
ALSO: We get new SPOTIFY and DISCOVERY+ subscriber numbers in the morning tomorrow… so this email may be a little +/- on delivered by 830am thing.
🎧 PLAYING ME OFF
CELESTE “Tell Me Something I Don’t Know” - BLOOMBERG’s Lucas Shaw gave this album a shot out in his weekly Sunday “Screentime” email and it pretty much domianated my listening all day yesterday. (NOTE: Celeste had the “Hear My Voice” song from “Trial of the Chicago 7”).
Some great modern yet 70’s-ish Soul. Amazing depth.
If you need new tunes:
Enjoy your Tuesday, Email me anytime - just reply to this email, or connect on LINKED IN - my name here goes right to my profile.