What’s next for Wasserman? It’s the question ricocheting across Hollywood since Casey Wasserman announced he’s selling his agency. Ashley Cullins’ in-depth reporting tapped top attorneys, bankers and more insiders to break down the company’s value (in whole or in pieces) and who’s circling — and then whizzed around inboxes in town:
Don’t take just my word for how good her reporting is. From Mediaite’s One Sheet:
In the other big story of the week, Sean McNulty appeared on CNBC’s The Exchange to boil down the battle for Warner Bros. Discovery as Paramount Skydance’s bid gets a new look from the WBD board and clears a key regulatory hurdle:
The fate of Warner Bros. also was one of the big topics Janice Min dug into with Business Insider’s Peter Kafka on his Channels podcast — give it a listen:
It’s the kind of lively, insightful conversation we love to have at The Ankler, and there’s another one coming up this Thursday, when our Katey Rich sits down with Kate Hudson, a second-time Oscar nominee for her performance in Song Sung Blue, at Meta Lab in West Hollywood (request to attend here).
Now, ICYMI, the rest of our best of the week:
Series Business: Budget Reset, Tubi Moves
Lesley Goldberg dives into the quiet financial reset splitting orders into three tiers — and determining which shows get greenlit:
Lesley also looks at Netflix’s new straight-to-series buys and strategy:
Manori Ravindran reveals how Tubi is rolling out its Creators program in the U.K. in a bid to grab even more of that Gen Z market:
Elaine Low previews her new series examining how Gen Z through boomers are navigating Hollywood’s narrowing path to power:
Rushfield’s Marketing Rules; WGA’s Suss Spending
As attention spans shrink, Richard outlines 26 principles for marketing now. Plus, he finds a curious (read: deeply suspicious) line item in a WGA public disclosure filing:
Ankler Feature: Yes, That Spencer Pratt
Former reality TV villain Spencer Pratt joins Janice to argue his positions in his campaign to be mayor of Los Angeles — and why his reality-TV past might actually be an asset — in a conversation that bounces from entertaining to blistering (check out his opinion of Hollywood unions and the studios):
Crowd Pleaser: Gen Z Nostalgia FTW
From A Minecraft Movie to Snow White lies a divide between loser legacy brands and lived-in fandom. Matthew Frank lays out the seven upcoming IP films that seek the nostalgia/fandom bump — and where Labubu fits in:
Notable: A Seven-Time Nominee Sounds Off
Seven-time Oscar nominee Marc Shaiman, who co-created Hairspray and scored classics like When Harry Met Sally…, gives Rob LeDonne his unfiltered take on Hollywood, the Academy, and dressing like a pimp at the Oscars with South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone:
Prestige Junkie: Ethan Hawke, Wunmi Mosaku, Jack Fisk
Timothée Chalamet called Jack Fisk “the finest production designer on the planet,” and Katey Rich chats with the legend himself about Marty Supreme and his auteur-filled career. Plus, Katey interviews Blue Moon’s Ethan Hawke and Sinners’ Wunmi Mosaku:
The Wakeup: World War Warner Bros., Again
Is David Ellison really back in the running for WBD? Sean McNulty weighs the odds — and the debt elephant in the negotiating room:
📹 Ankler Shows
Monday Morning QBs: Richard and Sean break down the strong debuts (Wuthering Heights, GOAT) and impressive holds (Send Help, Solo Mio) and celebrate — omg — the domination of originals:
Rushfield Lunch: Doc filmmaker Penny Lane joins for a chat about her wide-ranging career, from episodes of Bill Simmons’ HBO series, Music Box, to films about the Satanic Temple (Hail Satan?) and Richard Nixon:
🎧 PODCASTS
ANKLER AGENDA
Elaine, Sean, Natalie and Ashley dive into the talks between SAG-AFTRA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers:
📱 LIKE & SUBSCRIBE BY NATALIE JARVEY
👓 THE OPTIONIST BY ANDY LEWIS
FINAL HOUSEKEEPING!
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