TUE 2.9.21 : Amazon lands big YA series, Paramount sets $2 mil book rights deal
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TUE 2.9.21 : Amazon lands big YA series, Paramount sets $2 mil book rights deal
Mornin! It’s TUESDAY February 9th, 2021. Where, well. It’s the middle of February - Football is done, The Grammys are over a month away, The Oscars are over 2 months away…. So, gonna be a long 3 weeks til The Globes.
🎧 MUSIC TO READ BY
CANNONS covering Harry Styles song “Golden” YouTube
It’s a couple months old, but one of the best covers I’ve heard in a long while. And I love Harry’s version but this takes it in an awesome sleek, ‘after dark’ direction.
Perhaps it could be the wedding night song for Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers and… Shailene Woodley, who are apparently engaged. Hope she’s handy at driving the pickup truck for beer runs.
📽 THE SILVER SCREEN
Michael B. Jordan sets up wide reaching home at Amazon
His production company OUTLIER added a 1st Look deal in Film to their existing TV deal at Amazon Prime.
Extension opportunities cited to work across AUDIBLE, Amazon Music, fashion etc.
Outlier will EP a Muhammad Ali limited series there with Jay-Z/Roc Nation. Jordan will not appear in it, project currently being written.
His Tom Clancy movie “Without Remorse” (bought from PARAMOUNT) will hit AMAZON PRIME on Fri Apr 30th. (Deadline)
ALSO: UNIVERSAL’s J.Lo & Owen Wilson rom-com “Marry Me” moves: was May 14, now Valentine’s Day weekend 2022. Original date was this Valentine’s Day wknd… (aka this Friday).
PARAMOUNT closes $2 mil book deal for Temple Hill to produce
Book is “Tomorrow, Tomorrow, Tomorrow”, will be published 1st half of 2022.
Plot centers on 2 childhood friends who reunite as adults and find love & intimacy making video games together. Man they should try doing a daily newsletter… 😍🔥 (Deadline)
ALSO IN MOVIES
SUNDANCE 2021 had 251k streams of their 73 films & shorts. 85% of content was viewed by people buying $15 individual tickets (vs passes) (THR)
A24 buys US rights to explicit SUNDANCE LA porn industry movie “Pleasure”. No price disclosed. (Deadline)
Melissa Villasenor to host INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARDS… however they’re taking place on April 22.
Jamie Lee Curtis joins Cate Blanchett & Kevin Hart in LIONSGATE’s “Borderlands” movie based on the video game. (Variety)
Michelle Rodriguez joins Chris Pine for “Dungeons & Dragons” movie reboot at PARAMOUNT. (THR)
Want another GAME STOP movie project? Well too bad. Here’s a doc with the WSJ and producer of HULU’s “Hilary” doc. (Deadline)
📺 THE TV SET
AMAZON orders YA series from author of the “To All the Boys…” books
Based on Jenny Han’s other trilogy of books called “The Summer I Turned Pretty”.
Given 8 episode Season 1 order, Han will serve as showrunner. (Variety)
ALSO IN TV
FOX orders Dan Harmon animated series for 2022 season. Set in ancient Greece and centers on a family of humans, gods and monsters running a city. (Deadline)
Cristina Milian replaces Naya Rivera in “Step Up” TV show for new season 3 at STARZ. (THR)
💻 THE MEDIA BIZ
FOX BUSINESS CHANNEL gives former Trump advisor & CNBC “personality” Larry Kudlow a daily show
Starts Feb 16th at 4pm. Be there or… 🥱 (Deadline)
DISCOVERY+ App downloaded 3.3 million times in first month on iOS & Android
At least according to one of the 3 big mobile app trackers, APPTOPIA (Cord Cutter News).
Other first month comps (via APPTOPIA data):
HBOMAX: 3.1 million downloads
PEACOCK: 3.7 million downloads
REDDIT doubles its valuation in 2 years; now worth $6 billion
What’s great for stock speculation… is even better for message board valuation - they raised a new $250 mil round of funding. Never underestimate the power of a 5 second Super Bowl ad. (WSJ)
Just gonna put this here…. ROLLING STONE looking for a new Editor in Chief. Jason Fine being moved over to video/podcast content development.
FUN READ: Jon Hamm had a SUPER BOWL ad… in Canada. AdAge read dives into what it’s like to watch The Big Game north of the border, where a 30 second ad will cost you… $153k.
🎥 TRAILER HOUSE
I think my brain was trying to block out the trauma of UNIVERSAL’s Super Bowl spot for their new M Night Shyamalan movie “Old”… since I forgot to include it in yesterday’s newsletter. So, happy Tuesday!
👩💻 TODAY’S WATCHLIST
Hollywood strikes out again with nothing new to watch today either. So I’m just gonna go back to a happier Super Bowl memory for a moment. Talk amongst yourselves.
Ya gotta admit…. Bill’s wearing the hell outta that sweater.
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Have a great day! Until tomorrow ya’ll…
-Sean McNulty (email me anytime at: Wakeupodcast@gmail.com)
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