Mornin! This is Sean McNulty and here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on THURSDAY January 20, 2022.
Where in the “How in the world has this taken so long to exist??” category – SNOOP DOGG has put in a trademark application for a line of SNOOP DOGGS Hot dogs 🌭.
I mean, I’m half disappointed it’s taken him this long… but I’m also way more excited about this than I should be.
AND: NETFLIX releases new subscriber counts at 4p, breakdown in tomorrow’s newsletter. Get ready for a lot of #ARPU talk 💪 .
ALSO: Virtual SUNDANCE begins today and I heard the virtual schwag this year is pretty killer.
PLUS: Michael Mann is co-writing a “Heat 2” book, going into the lives of the characters before & after the movie – coming out this August.
📽 THE SILVER SCREEN
WARNER BROS gets next Bong Joon Ho film, Robert Pattinson in talks to lead
Bong will direct and write the script, based on a forthcoming book called “Mickey7”. Brad Pitt’s PLAN B producing.
Mickey is disposable employee on a human expedition to colonize an ice world, and always picked to do the dangerous or even suicidal missions by the crew because when one “Mickey” dies, a new body is regenerated with most of the memories from the previous incarnations in tact. Guessing something happens with the 7th version.
HBO is still developing a limited series of “Parasite” with Adam McKay in the WARNER universe as well. /Deadline
HBOMAX orders dance drama from MACRO and John Legend
Called “Pretty Big”, about dancer Akira Armstrong, who created her own company for dancers with bodies of all shapes, sizes, and colors called Pretty Big Movement, as they set out to win a prestigious competition.
Tina Mabry (”Pose”, “Queen Sugar”) directing, script being written now. /THR
Anthony Mackie sets directorial debut “Spark”
Saniyya Sidney who played Venus Williams in “King Richard” is starring as Civil Rights-era pioneer Claudette Colvin.
She was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a segregated bus in Alabama 9 months prior to Rosa Parks, but apparently Civil Rights leaders thought a poor, dark-skinned teen girl wouldn’t make the ideal face for their campaign and she was kinda scrubbed from history.
Indie production is being written by Niceole R. Levy (“The Banker”). /Deadline
ALSO IN MOVIES
French actor Gaspard Ulliel died in a skiing accident yesterday at 37 – he is among the cast of the new DISNEY+ MARVEL series “Moon Knight”. playing “Midnight Man” and was an esteemed actor in France. /Variety
🤑 2021 DISNEY PAYCHECKS
Bob Iger: $46 Million
Bob Chapek: $34 Million
Both took pay hits in pandemic 2020 (Iger: $21 Million, Chapek: $14 Million) but somehow made it thru ok 👍👍.
Chapek’s current contract expires this Fall.
Iger also got an additional $100+ Million stock grant as a goodbye present in December. Plus I hear – a Mickey watch! Which of course is what he’ll really treasure.
📺 THE TV SET
SHOWTIME’s “Yellowjackets” gets 1.3 Million viewers for the finale
Although it got 1.4 Million the week before
“Dexter New Blood” finale was 2.6 Million for context, but “Yellowstone” had the biggest SHO freshman year audience since “Billions” and really made me realize a lot more people I know have SHOWTIME than I thought.
And according to CNN’s Brian Lowery I’m not crazy (well at least about that perception) – SHOWTIME said Q4 2021 was their best Q4 ever for new subscriber signups. Without providing a number or any other context. #Thanks
ALSO: HBO’s “Euphoria” got an even bigger audience for week 2 than it’s premiere, up to 2.6 Million across platforms on Sunday. /Deadline
HBOMAX & HULU splitting DISNEYFOX movies from the Fall
Per their new agreement for DISNEYFOX releases (which HBO / MAX previously had exclusively through this year, but amended last Fall per DISNEY’s ask and $$):
“Nightmare Alley” will premiere on both Feb 1
“The King’s Man” will hit both services on Feb 18
The more family-friendly “Free Guy” will hit HBOMAX and DISNEY+ instead on Feb 23
“The Last Duel” was kept as HBOMAX-only (which you can watch here if inclined)
Roughly half of DISNEYFOX’s 2022 titles will get the dual-service treatment per the new deal, other half will be HBOMAX only. /The Wrap
ALSO IN TV
AMAZON’S LOTR show is called “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power”. Still premieres in September.
NFL Cowboys – Niners Wildcard NICKELODEON game got 1.3 Million viewers on Saturday. CBS got 40 Million. (biggest Wildcard 🏈 game audience in 7 years). /THR
DAZN announces 4 sports docus for 2022 as they look to commit more staff and $$ to creating Original Programming for the live-sports streaming service:
The 1990 CAMEROON World Cup team that shocked ARGENTINA
The fall of Maradona
Brazilian player Ronaldo Nazario
The 90’s boxing rivalry between De La Hoya and Chavez, directed by Eva Longoria. No premiere dates listed. /Variety
👩💼 IN THE HOLLYWOOD EXECUTIVE SUITE
HULU has a new Prez – Joe Early is coming over from his EVP of Marketing role at DISNEY+. HULU’s last Prez Kelly Campbell (now head of PEACOCK) also came up thru the Marketing dept.
Joe reports into newly-promoted Michael Paull, who was the head of DISNEY+ but is now the Prez of all DISNEY STREAMING.
Rebecca Campbell also shifted to Chairman of International Content & Operations, overseeing all local DIS+ & STAR originals outside of the US in addition to overseeing the biz aspects of their International… well, business. She reports into Chapek. /THR
CAA is moving all of its executives to a new Century City home in 2026. Which is literally across the street from their current one – going over to the new 37 story tower going up at 1950 Avenue of the Stars. No clarification if ICM will relocate to CAA’s current home before then if/when the Feds approve that deal. /THR
Former CAA & BRILLSTEIN agent/manager Shawna Wexler joins SUGAR23. /THR
💻 THE MEDIA BIZ
INSTAGRAM tests paid-subscriptions with select Creators
Add this to the INSTA list of “What else can we possibly do to get Creators to stop posting on TIKTOK??”
Creators can set a range anywhere from $1 to $100 a month for their IG LIVE or STORIES content. Um. Anyone know how I become a Creator?
INSTA not even taking a cut til “at least” 2023, though the exact vig was not disclosed other than Zuck saying previously it’ll be “somewhere under 30%” 🤑. /THR
ALSO IN MEDIA
CNN+ gives Wolf Blitzer his own daily show on the streaming service called “The Newscast” where he will “give it to you straight”… as opposed to the News Improv he’ll continue to do on CNN’s “The Situation Room”. /Variety
Most NBC SPORTS announcers will now be calling WINTER OLYMPICS events from NBC’s CONNECTICUT homebase due to rising covid fears. /Deadline
🏦 STOCK NOTES:
DISH -5% ($34.05)
CINEWORLD (REGAL Cinemas) +5% ($0.60)
Otherwise another slightly down day for most
👩💻 NEW TO WATCH:
FREEFORM “Single Drunk Female” – Series premiere at 10p. Young woman must move back home with overbearing mom to avoid jailtime. And become her butler. #SeinfeldDeepCut
PEACOCK “True Story with Ed and Randall” – Stream or Add to Your List here
If you were sent this newsletter or… just kinda found it:
🎥 TRAILER HOUSE
APPLE TV+ “WeCrashed” teaser trailer – Jared Leto once again 🤯, here playing WEWORK founder Adam Neumann in the story of… well – thinking you’re likely up to speed here. Premieres Fri March 18.
AMC “The Walking Dead” Final Season… part 2 trailer. Premieres Sun Feb 20
STARZ “Outlander” Season 6 trailer – Premieres Sun March 6
SHOWTIME “We Need to Talk About Cosby” trailer – 4 part docuseries from W. Kamau Bell, Premieres Sun Jan 30
NETFLIX “Tall Girl 2” movie trailer – Premieres Fri Feb 11
NETFLIX “Vikings: Valhalla” teaser – Premieres Fri Feb 25
🎧 PLAYING ME OFF
SILK SONIC announced they’re doing a residency in Vegas of all places… I know right? Where I’m guessing they’ll be doing a lot of the activity in the title of this song, windows open or closed. 😶🌫️
Starts Fri Feb 25 at DOLBY LIVE, and will go right up to the GRAMMYS on April 3 so if the fellas are looking a little rough that night… you’ll know why.
For some new songs to check out:
Email me anytime – just reply to this email, or connect here on LINKED IN.
-SEAN MCNULTY
@theseanmac on TWITTER
@TheWakeupNews on INSTAGRAM
