Mornin! This is Sean McNulty and here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on WEDNESDAY March 2, 2022.
Where I’m giving up newsletter writing for Lent.
Well except this one. And another one I do that… actually like, brings in money. For writing just one a week. Clearly I’m doing this wrong.
PLUS: Speaking of giving things away for little to no money – PARAMOUNT+ is running a deal thru the weekend: 3 months for $3 (ad-supported vers), or $6 for ad-free.
ALSO: No UNIVERSAL or PARAMOUNT movies for RUSSIA either for the near future.
AND: No Opening Day baseball for you on March 31 for the first time since the mid 90’s, as the standoff between MLB and the Players Union continues. April Fools Day – you’re next. Season will now likely be 156 games at best, but given talks are at a standstill… yeah. Players are not paid for the missed games.
📽 THE SILVER SCREEN
AMC THEATERS raising ticket price for “The Batman” vs other movies at their theaters
This has “variable pricing” tactic has been a long anticipated move for theaters to pull as a means of increasing revenue on huge tentpole pics.
No word on the exact vig they’re imposing… but looks to be an extra buck in NYC: $19 vs $18. #I❤️NY
AMC says that they’ve actually been doing this for years in Europe, as well as charging more for the better seats in theaters, but still a landmark move in the theatrical movie biz. Summer just got more interesting. /Deadline
NETFLIX sets 2 picture deal with Lindsay Lohan
She’s already doing a Christmas rom-com there called “Falling for Christmas” which I’m sure is already on your calendar, an these 2 TBA movies are in addition to that one. /Variety
ALSO IN MOVIES
SONY adds Ariana DeBose (“West Side Story”) to MARVEL “Kraven the Hunter” pic starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Russell Crowe (“Kraven” is a Spider-Man enemy). She’ll play “Calypso” for any fans out there. /Deadline
📺 THE TV SET
PEACOCK sets William Jackson Harper & Cristin Milioti as leads for “The Resort” series
From “Palm Springs” writer Andy Siara, produced by Sam Esmail.
Comedic thriller about a married teacher couple taking an anniversary trip to the Mayan Riviera who get caught up in events that took place 15 years ago. Show will have a ‘dual timeline’ approach. /THR
PEACOCK also set Barry Levinson as lead director on the David E. Kelley limited series “The Missing”, about a deeply spiritual and religious NYPD Detective who takes on an investigation that causes him to question his long-held principles. /Deadline
APPLE TV+ orders “Metropolis” series from Sam Esmail (“Mr Robot”)
Based on the classic 1927 film but no word on what Sam’s take will be on the sci-fi depiction of class disparity and urban living.
Sam writing & directing all episodes, but no exact episode count given for the season. /Deadline
HBO pulled the Larry David 2 part docu hours before it was to premiere last night
So… whatever that means.
Although PUCK reported that indeed he wasn’t satisfied with the finished product, and thought it should be done in conjunction with an in-person IRL interview. Or something. Why he determined this the day of its airing and after already approving a trailer… is 🤷♂️. Also curious as I noted yesterday that hbo.com never added it on their schedule.
ROKU & SPECTRUM team up for new dramedy “Panhandle” from SONY TV
Created by Nick Stoller (“Neighbors”), and starring Luke Kirby (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”) and Tiana Okoye (“The Good Place”) as an agoraphobic armchair detective and traffic cop respectively, who deal with the oddballs in their Florida town (as you may have guessed from the title).
Will premiere on SPECTRUM ON DEMAND, and go to ROKU 9 months later. Similar to SPECTRUM deals with VIACOM PARAMOUNT on other series. /THR
ALSO IN TV
STARZ renews crime drama “Hightown” for a 3rd season. /Variety
HULU adds the voice of “Bender” to their “Futurama” revival. /Deadline
If you missed the NETFLIX MARVEL series (“Luke Cage”, “Daredevil” etc) when they were on that service for the past 7 years… you can now watch them on DISNEY+. Marks the first real ‘adult’ content on the service (and they’re adjusting their parental controls accordingly). Will drop Wed March 16. /THR
DISNEY+ sets Jason Winer (“Modern Family”) to direct upcoming “The Santa Clause” limited series. /Deadline
IN THE HOLLYWOOD EXECUTIVE SUITE
Former NETFLIX & TIME WARNER comms exec Richard Siklos joins UTA as Chief Comms Officer and partner. /THR
A24 snags 2 BBC FILMS execs to lead their International TV & Film aspirations. /Deadline
💻 THE MEDIA BIZ
HBOMAX, TNT & TBS get US Men’s & Women’s soccer rights in $200 Million deal
That $200 Million is for an 8 year deal starting in 2023, so about $25 Mil per year.
20 matches a year – all will stream on HBOMAX, half will also air on one of the TV networks. /SBJ
WWE & A+E extend programming partnership
35 more episodes of the “Biography” series featuring WWE figures, which was A+E’s highest rated series last year.
40 episodes of a new “WWE Rivals” series looking at famous rivalries through the years.
24 more episodes of something called ”WWE’s Most Wanted Treasures”.
THR also reported that WWE is looking for a new streaming partner on replay rights to USA’s “Raw” and FOX’s “Smackdown” series… which are currently on PEACOCK as part of their overall deal, so I’m not exactly sure what’s up here.
But the shows also stream on HULU and that deal ends in December, so maybe that opens a contractual window there 🤷♂️? So, if ya know a guy, give em a call. /THR
ALSO IN MEDIA
Subscription podcast service LUMINARY hires Indian music streaming service exec Rishi Malhotra as new CEO. He co-founded the JIOSAVVN service and replaces former HBO exec Simon Sutton at LUMINARY. #funfact Rishi was also at HBO in the mid 2000s, where we worked together a bit on launching HBO ONDEMAND.
Dave Chappelle has also taken an undisclosed minority stake in the company and his company has a seat on the board. /THR
AMC THEATERS loses less money to end 2021. Q4 losses were $134 Million, vs $946 Million in Q4 2020. /Deadline
🏦 STOCK NOTES:
PARAMOUNT +5% ($32.26)
SNAP, CINEWORLD, and IMAX all -5%
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👩💻 NEW TO WATCH:
“West Side Story” – watch on HBOMAX HERE, and on DISNEY+ HERE
HBOMAX “Drive My Car” – No Google-able link. Also avail for rent on digtial streaming
🎥 TRAILER HOUSE
HBOMAX “Julia” series trailer. Well this looks delightful… nice work HBO team. Premieres Thu March 31.
NETFLIX “The Adam Project” trailer. Premieres Fri March 11
SONY “Umma” trailer – Horror pic with Sandra Oh about a woman living on a farm with her daughter, where her estranged mother’s ashes arrive and things start to go… awry? In theaters March 18
BLEECKER STREET “Infinite Storm” trailer – Naomi Watts in a based on a true story of a NH hiker who encounters a stranger stranded at the top of a snowy mountain and tries to help them both get down thru a massive snowstorm. In Theaters March 25. Five days after the first day of Spring.
NETFLIX “Top Boy” Season 2 trailer. Premieres Fri March 18
🎧 PLAYING ME OFF
Ok I fell down a Howard Stern rabbit hole yesterday… lotta great new interview clips on his YT page – here’s Ben Stiller on turning down directing “Good Will Hunting”
If you need some new tunes:
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-SEAN MCNULTY
@theseanmac on TWITTER
@TheWakeupNews on INSTAGRAM
