Mornin! Here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on THURSDAY April 8, 2021. Where THE MASTERS golf tournament begins today and somehow I’m already 17 strokes over par.
Well at least the beers at Augusta are only $5. Also – #BadGolf gif’s are a hilarious but impossible internet black hole to get out of.
📽 THE SILVER SCREEN
AMAZON Chris Pratt sci-fi action movie “The Tomorrow War” to drop July 2
Pratt plays a high school teacher recruited to join a team time-traveling 30 years into the future to 2051 to fight in a global war against an alien species. They seriously couldn’t have come a year earlier so he could skip the whole Covid thing?
AMAZON bought the SKYDANCE produced movie for a reported price circa $200 Million earlier this year. /Deadline
Sets up Streaming blockbuster vs IRL blockbuster showdown for July 4th weekend against “Top Gun: Maverick”. Although – the streaming thing definitely takes the fun outta this sorta Hollywood face-off from back in the before times.
Producer Scott Rudin about to face Woke Hollywood reckoning?
New THR Cover story centers on several incredibly abusive horror stories from people who worked for OSCAR/TONY award-winning producer Scott Rudin through the past decade.
These known-but-ignored stories around Hollywood are now gettting the light of day in an era where verbal, mental, and physical abuse in the workplace (who throws a potato at someone??) may finally be seen for what they are…. versus the “hazing” or simply “look the other way” pass they used to get.
ANNAPURNA founder Megan Ellison issues statement supporting and confirming the overall sentiment. /Deadline
ALSO IN MOVIES
NEW LINE casts 2 leads for their “House Party” reboot, produced by Lebron James, written by “Atlanta” writing duo. /Deadline
“Cobra Kai” creative team doing movie based on HISTORY CHANNEL series “Ancient Aliens” at LEGENDARY, with “Kai” director Josh Heald directing. /THR
Unknown 34 year-old actor accused of defrauding film financing companies out of $690 Million in a ponzi scheme, fabricating false relationships/deals with NETFLIX and HBO. /Bloomberg
📺 THE TV SET
HULU adds Nick Offerman to ”Pam & Tommy” sex tape limited series
He’ll play “Uncle Miltie”, a porn empresario who helps Seth Rogen’s electrician character distribute the tape. /Variety
Jon Stewart’s APPLE TV+ show to be called “The Problem with Jon Stewart” 👏
Show will launch this Fall with a one topic per episode format, as well as a companion podcast. Chelsea Devantez from ”The Opposition With Jordan Klepper” is the head writer (previously announced). /THR
Andy Cohen hosting full Kardashian family reunion special on E!
Will air when “KUWTK” finishes its 20 year run later in the Spring, date TBD. /Variety
ALSO IN TV
SHOWTIME orders scripts for a “Madea” prequel series from Tyler Perry, centered on the character as a twenty-something. /Variety
FOX sets Joel McHale to host baking show, “Crime Scene Kitchen”. Pairs of contestants must figure out what a given dessert was based on crumbs and various clues, and then make it. Premieres after “The Masked Singer” finale May 26. /THR
CBS cancels “MacGyver” after 5 seasons. Finale will air April 30. /Deadline
ABC renews game shows “The Chase” and “The Hustler”. Will return this Summer TBD. But the Adam Scott hosted/Ryan Reynolds produced game show “Don’t” has been cancelled. /Deadline
In the HOLLYWOOD EXECUTIVE SUITE:
LIONSGATE signs prolific TV Producing duo Sarah Timberman & Carl Beverly (“Justified”, “Masters of Sex”) to a production deal. They were previously at ABC SIGNATURE. /Deadline
MTV Entertainment Networks sets former BEATS BY DRE exec Jason White as new Head of Marketing. Reports into Chris McCarthy. /THR
DISOCOVERY+ hires Toby Faulkner as SVP of Content, previously was Head of Unscripted at FACEBOOK WATCH. He’ll be tasked with creating Original Programming explicitly for the streaming service. /THR
CBS TV STATION GROUP President and SVP both fired after investigation into alleged racist and bullying behavior. /Deadline
💻 THE MEDIA BIZ
Tom Brady launching NFT company for Athletes & Celebs, with former MYSPACE owner
Called AUTOGRAPH – very clever Tom! Will focus on creating/auctioning NFT’s for a variety of talent, as well as creating a marketplace for interactive live auctions, physical products and IRL experiences with talent.
Wide array of execs on the board:
Jon Feltheimer (LIONSGATE chief)
Dawn Ostroff (SPOTIFY head of content)
DRAFT KINGS co-founders and LIVE NATION’s CEO. /CNN
PERSONAL TAKE: a CAMEO-like feature where fans can pay talent to record messages/supply exclusive content for a fee could also make sense here. CAMEO just valued at $1 Billion, PATREON just valued at $4 Billion according to AXIOS.
CANNES Lions advertising festival going virtual June 21-25
CANNES Film Festival still planning on IRL just 2 weeks later, starting July 6th. /THR
FRENCH OPEN tennis tournament has now been pushed back a week to start May 30, with 🤞 hopes for spectators in June.
ALSO IN MEDIA
FACEBOOK puts new CLUBHOUSE meets IG LIVE function called HOTLINE into beta testing. Screenshots and the differences (all sessions are recorded, etc) listed out in the piece for the curious. HOTLINE may very well never see the full light of day, but seems pretty developed. /TechCrunch
AMAZON’S TWITCH gamer streaming service sets new policy to ban users based on “severe misconduct” that occurs outside of TWITCH. Misconduct includes evidence of deadly violence, terrorism, pedophilia, hate group participation and sexual assault. /Variety
VIACOM’s PLUTO ad-based streaming service revenue to rise 25% next year, hit $1 Billion in 2022. Most $$ will come over from current linear TV ad spends according to new report from eMARKETER. /MediaPlayNews
FOX’s TUBI not planning to hit that mark until 2023-24.
🏦 STOCK NOTES:
Pretty quiet day.
🎥 TRAILER HOUSE
WB “Those Who Wish Me Dead” movie trailer. Angelina Jolie as a forest firefighter/“smoke jumper” who comes across a wounded 12 year-old boy on a patrol… who’s being hunted down by killers. I’ll let the trailer take it from there – written/directed by Tyler Sheridan (“Sicario”, “Yellowstone”). In Theaters & HBOMAX on May 14.
AMAZON PRIME “Without Remorse” 2nd/Final trailer. Michael B. Jordan/Tom Clancy movie (formerly of PARAMOUNT) that kinda does for Tom Clancy what Daniel Craig did for James Bond. Premieres Fri April 30.
SONY “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” tease – Meet the Mini-Stay Pufft marshmallow men. Just me or does this clip feel like “Gremlins” meets the dancing fast-food from “Better Off Dead”? In theaters this November.
NETFLIX “Jupiter’s Legacy” series trailer. New show from Mark Millar (creator of “Kingsman” and “Kick-Ass” comics). Children of superheroes must continue their parent’s work, Josh Duhamel as the main patriarch. Premieres Fri May 7.
HBO “Crime of the Century” docu teaser – Director Alex Gibney’s 2 part documentary on the Oxycontin/PURDUE PHARMA scandal. Powerful 90 seconds. Premieres Mon May 10.
👩💻 NEW TO WATCH:
ABC “Rebel” – New show inspired by Erin Brockovich, stars Katey Sagal. Premieres at 10pm.
AMC “Fear the Walking Dead” extended season 6 premiere drops on AMC+. Airs on AMC on Sunday night.
🎧 PLAYING ME OFF
DROPKICK MURPHYS “Queen of Suffolk County” – Newest single from their upcoming album.
Listen on Spotify / Listen/Watch on YouTube
If you need new tunes:
Have a great day! If I can be of any help as an outside consult or shed light on any industry trends you’re curious about – email me anytime: just Reply to this email, or my name below goes to my LinkedIn (all messages confidential).
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