☀️Spec Market Shows Life in Q2
NETFLIX orders 2 new series / Wilde sets A-list cast for next pic / Layoffs hit MONKEYPAW
Mornin! This is Sean McNulty (connect with me on LINKEDIN here if ya like), and here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on THURSDAY, April 24, 2025.
Where there’s nothing quite like the feeling of security that must come from having your employer provide you with a ride to work.
Alas, we’re not talking CONDE black town car service here — but rather select TESLA employees being the ones chosen to test out the company’s new automated/driverless ride-hailing service (UBER and WAYMO competitor), albeit with a human in the driver’s seat. #justincase
So, if your TESLA ride drives right past the office . . . and rather to your local Department of Labor office as you’re handed a form to apply for unemployment from the human assist in the front seat, well, it’s been real.
But — just think of the HR staff cost savings!
ALSO: 10 Things I Hate About You is coming to Broadway thanks to Carly Rae Jepsen (who is co-writing the songs with Ethan Gruska) and Lena Dunham (who is co-writing the book with Jessica Huang). Nice to see Bogey Lowenstein finally get his moment on the Great White Way. 🏌️♂️
THANKS!: To the folks at NETFLIX for the invite to the delicious launch party for the new season of Chef’s Table last night in NYC (jamon with caviar not pictured).
PLUS: Free engraved utensils! NETFLIX, come on — leave some 💰 for the Bridgerton cast!
WAKEUP BOX OFFICE POLL
AMAZON is back in movie theaters! With a sequel to a . . . WB movie, but let’s not get distracted here — looking at $20M to perhaps $25M for The Accountant 2. The original opened to $25M in 2016.
Although it didn’t have Sinners and Minecraft to deal with . . . and a DISNEYFOX 20th anniversary re-release of Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith which is tracking very strong ($20M).
(BTW: Sinners has now done another $16M+ in U.S. box office on Monday & Tuesday alone this week).
HOUSEKEEPING
I’ll be back at lunchtime with the full Wakeup #medianerd🤓 breakdown of the COMCAST/NBCU business from the just concluded earnings call.
🎥 THE SILVER SCREEN
