Mornin! Here’s the Hollywood + MediaBiz news to know on WEDNESDAY February 10th, 2021. Where Michelle Obama, Pedro Pascal, Shia LaBeouf, “The Wizard of Oz”, Twitter and even a little “Boy Meets World” are making news today so…

JUST a Heads Up: The SXSW lineup comes out today.

🎧 MUSIC TO READ BY

THE SUPREMES “Keep Me Hangin’ On” Spotify / Apple Music

Rest in Peace Mary.

📽 THE SILVER SCREEN

Sandra Bullock joins Brad Pitt for SONY’s “Bullet Train”

David Leitch directing (“Deadpool 2”, “Hobbs & Shaw”). Most of the cast is already on board (#PunsRule): Andrew Koji, Michael Shannon, Joey King, Zazie Beetz and more.

Huge action pic about a bunch of assassins and hitmen all on a, well, Bullet Train. Next stop: Tokyo. See - this kinda thing never happens on Amtrak. 🇺🇸💪. (Deadline)

Pedro Pascal leads cast for NETFLIX Judd Apatow pandemic-set movie “The Bubble”

Maria Bakalova (the latest “Borat” movie), Karen Gillan (“Jumanji”) joining Iris Apatow, Fred Armisen, David Duchovny, Keegan-Michael Key, Leslie Mann and Peter Serafinowicz.

Set at a movie production that’s being shot in a Covid ‘bubble’ (Variety)

AMAZON lines up “Fred & Ethel” for Aaron Sorkin’s “I Love Lucy” movie

JK Simmons and Nina Arianda (“Billions”, won tony for “Venus in Fur”) negotiating deals to play William Frawley and Vivian Vance in “Being the Ricardos”. Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem already cast in the lead “Lucy & Ricky” roles. (THR)

DISNEY shutting down BLUE SKY animation arm (“Ice Age” movies)

Currently employs 450 people at Greenwich, CT headquarters - sounds like Disney will try and find roles for those that they can, but…

Last movie was 2019 dud “Spies in Disguise”. “Ice Age” TV show moving forward at DISNEY+. (Deadline)

ALSO IN MOVIES

• NEW LINE sets “Wizard of Oz” remake with “Watchmen” director Nicole Kassell (Deadline)

• CAA parts ways with Shia LaBeouf, who is currently getting inpatient care after allegations of abuse surfaced in December from his girlfriend FKA Twigs. (Variety)

• Ray Romano directing & starring in indie with Laurie Metcalf, based on a blue collar family in Queens. (Deadline)

• eOne laying off 10% of staff (roughly 60 employees). Was bought by HASBRO in 2020 (THR)

• NETFLIX sets up Italian production hub with 40 employees. Will double # of Italian series by 2022. (Variety)

📺 THE TV SET

“The Best Man” limited series set at PEACOCK

Based on the two Malcolm D. Lee UNIVERSAL movies, 10 episodes, called “The Final Chapters”.

Malcolm writing with Dayna Lynne North (“Insecure”), all cast returning - getting “significant” million dollar paydays, eyeing Fall shoot, and PEACOCK you finally got my $$! (Deadline)

SUPER BOWL hits 14 year audience low at 96.4 million.

Was that 2007 Colts/Bears game that bad?? Audience includes 5.7 million streaming households, and 4.6 million watching on mobile streaming apps, not tracked by Nielsen (source: CBS via Variety).

About 20 million people stayed thru the trophy presentation to watch “The Equilizer” (last year 23 mil watched “The Masked Singer”).

Kansas City had the highest city rating, Boston was 2nd. Let Tawmmy go guys… not a good look bro. (B&C)

(also per SPORTS BUSINESS JOURNAL via CNN - the “Puppy Bowl” had 2.1 million viewers on ANIMAL PLANET).

ALSO IN TV

• NETFLIX launching Michelle Obama’s kids show about food “Waffles + Mochi” on March 16th. 10 eps, each 10-20 mins. (Eater)

• HBOMAX gives “Search Party” a season 5. Show creators get overall deal there. (THR)

• USA’s “The 4400” getting a reboot at THE CW… 14 years later. What’s up with 2007 today? (Deadline)

• HBO reteams Guy Pearce with Kate Winslet for “Mare of Easttown” limited series. Previously co-starred in “Mildred Pearce”. (Deadline)

• MMA League BELLATOR to air matches on SHOWTIME. (Deadline)

💻 THE MEDIA BIZ

PARAMOUNT+ reveals early look at pricing

Current CBS ALL ACCESS customers can get their first year for $30 with ads, or $50 without ads if they sign up by the March 4th launch/service switch to PARAMOUNT+. No monthly option given. (B&C)

Price details for the rest of us will come a week before launch on Feb 24th.

TWITTER ad revenue +28% in 4q 2020

Daily Active Users (DAU) hit 192 million worldwide, +5 million from end of September. 37 mil are US users, 155 mil are International.

+40 million DAU for 2020: 6 mil US users, 34 mil international.

Profit $222 mil in 4q 2020… but they lost $1.1 billion in 2020. (Deadline)

Revenue at FOX CORP +14% in 4q 2020

Mainly due to political ad revenue bumps at their owned local affiliates (esp Atlanta…), and increased fees paid by cable companies to carry their networks. (Variety)

TUBI expecting $300 mil in 2021 revenue, 2X from 2020 revenue. (NextTV)

ALSO IN MEDIA

That TIK TOK US deal with ORACLE & WALMART shotgun wedding arrangement over concerns about Chinese ownership? Yeah that’s essentially Suspended Indefinitely. Well, at least we found our winner for Biggest Waste of Time media news item of 2020. (WSJ)

BLOOMBERG MEDIA hit 250k paid subscribers in 2020 (roughly $400/year retail subscription price). Plans to hit 400k subs and $100 million annual revenue this year. Bloomberg’s terminal business brings in about $10 billion a year. (Axios)

🎥 TRAILER HOUSE

NAT GEO docu “Red Summer” about the 1921 Tulsa Massacre, from producers of “Good Trouble”. Premieres in June… as the still below also tells you.

NAT GEO…. again, with 4pt limited series “Genius: Aretha”. Premieres Sun March 21st, will air new episode each night thru that Wed.

Attn “Boy Meets World” fans - Cory and Topanga reunite! To sell you pizza that PANERA calls… flatbreads…🙄 Where’s Harley when you need ‘em?

👩‍💻 NEW TO WATCH

“Tough As Nails” CBS reality competition show season 2 premiere at 8pm.

“Tuskegee Airmen: Legacy of Courage” docu on the HISTORY CHANNEL, narrated by Robin Roberts at 8pm.

And just gonna end on this upbeat note today - even after death, Alex Trebek rules. His son Matthew is donating his“Jeopardy” suit wardrobe to a service that gives homeless folks and people overcoming addiction issues suits for job interviews.

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Have a great day! Until tomorrow ya’ll…

-Sean McNulty (email me anytime at: Wakeupodcast@gmail.com - except at 4:02pm. I have a thing)

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