GENERAL
Judge denies DeSantis bid to disqualify him from Disney case, but recuses himself anyway because his relative owns company’s stock
Kevin Breuninger, CNBC
A federal judge overseeing Disney’s civil free speech lawsuit against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis recused himself from the case Thursday, days after learning that one of his relatives owns stock in The Walt Disney Company.
Bill Cosby is facing a new sexual assault lawsuit
Manuel Roig-Franzia, The Washington Post
His accuser, Victoria Valentino, says she gained confidence from E. Jean Carroll’s civil court win against Donald Trump.
Actor Mark Wahlberg lobbies to make Las Vegas a Hollywood in the desert
Contessa Brewer, CNBC
Actor Mark Wahlberg is pushing Nevada lawmakers to pass a package of tax credits worth $190 million annually to woo film production to Las Vegas.
Polygram Entertainment Names Daniel Inkeles as SVP of Film and TV Development and Production
Kayla Cobb, The Wrap
Polygram Entertainment, the film and television division of Universal Music Group, has announced that Daniel Inkeles will become the new senior vice president of film and television development and production.
AMC Networks CFO Outlines Three Steps to “Economic Repair” in the Streaming Age
Georg Szalai, The Hollywood Reporter
"We were less drunk on the thesis of streaming über alles," Patrick O'Connell told TD Cowen’s 51st Annual Technology, Media & Telecom Conference.
Netflix Shareholders Decline To Back Executive Compensation Packages After WGA Urged Rejection Of “Inappropriate” Pay During Strike
Dade Hayes, Deadline
Netflix shareholders declined to support the 2023 pay packages of top executives during a non-binding vote at the company’s annual shareholder meeting on Thursday.
MPTF Sees A “Significant Spike” In Requests For Financial Assistance During WGA Strike
David Robb, Deadline
The Motion Picture & Television Fund has seen a “significant spike” in requests for financial assistance from industry members impacted by the month-old Writers Guild strike.
AMC Theatres Winds Down On Demand Streaming Service, Referring Users To Fandango’s Vudu But Retaining Stake In Movie Revenue There
Dade Hayes, Deadline
AMC Theatres, which launched an on-demand streaming service just ahead of the Covid pandemic in October 2019, is winding down the service and referring users to Fandango’s platform Vudu.
iHeartMedia CEO Bob Pittman sings radio’s praises, says it’s as ‘strong as ever’
Lydia Moynihan, New York Post
Bob Pittman, who ran MTV, AOL, and Six Flags before helming iHeartMedia as CEO, weighs in on Burning Man, radio, and why he’s one of the few executives who believes in remote work.
Soros, Fortress in a vise to find new buyer for bankrupt Vice
Lydia Moynihan, New York Post
As Vice Media looks to sell itself later this month, insiders say the likelihood of finding an outside buyer is grim.
American Film Institute Sets 2023 AFI Awards Date
Beatrice Verhoeven, The Hollywood Reporter
Honorees will be announced in December.
Brendan Fraser, Stephanie Hsu, Chance The Rapper Among Members Of Tribeca Festival Jury
Dade Hayes, Deadline
The Tribeca Festival, which gets under way Wednesday in New York, has announced members of the jury who will decide winners in 15 award categories.
FILM
Christopher Nolan breaks down the best ways to watch a movie, ahead of his ‘Oppenheimer’ release
Lindsey Bahr, The Associated Press
It’s no secret that Christopher Nolan made “ Oppenheimer ” to be seen on the big screen. But not all big screens are created equal.
‘Oppenheimer’ Earns R Rating, IMAX Film Prints Are 11 Miles Long and Weigh 600 Pounds
Zack Sharf, Variety
Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” is officially rated R, Variety confirms with Universal Pictures.
‘Little Mermaid’ alleged ‘review bombing’ prompts rating system change by IMDb
Lisa Respers France, CNN
The live-action remake of “The Little Mermaid” stirred strong reaction before production even began on the film, and that has continued since the movie’s debut in theaters last week.
'The Rock' will return as Luke Hobbs in new 'Fast & Furious' film
Danielle Broadway, Reuters
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is returning for an as yet untitled “Fast & Furious” movie as Luke Hobbs, the actor announced on Twitter on Thursday, after bowing out of the successful franchise in 2021 due to differences with star Vin Diesel.
Freddy Krueger Actor Robert Englund on His 50-Year Career, Why He Won’t Play Freddy Anymore and Who Should Portray the ‘Elm Street’ Villain Next
William Earl, Variety
Robert Englund starred in one of the most revered science fiction series of all time; he’s directed films; voiced video game characters; and acted in scores of movies and shows.
TELEVISION
Kim Kardashian Called Out for Crossing Picket Line to Film ‘American Horror Story’
Helen Holmes, The Daily Beast
Kardashian could have told producers she’s “not comfortable crossing a line,” showrunner Warren Leight told The Daily Beast. “She chose to cross.”
Writers Guild Picket Shuts Down Atlanta Production of Peacock’s ‘Hysteria!’
Rick Porter, The Hollywood Reporter
The action marks the first time union members have stopped a production in Georgia.
How FX’s ‘Dave’ Landed Brad Pitt for Its Season Finale
Lacey Rose, The Hollywood Reporter
Pitt plays a version of himself in the comedy from creator/star Dave Burd, aka Lil Dicky.
‘Somebody Somewhere’ Renewed for Season 3 at HBO
Nick Caruso, TVLine
Fred Rococo’s wedding isn’t the only cause for celebration: Somebody Somewhere has officially been renewed for Season 3, HBO announced Thursday.
Fox News Channel Shuffles Weekend Primetime Lineup
Brian Steinberg, Variety
In the aftermath of the departure of weekend opinion host Dan Bongino, Fox News intends to add a new panel show to its Saturday-night grid, while ending Steve Hilton’s Sunday-night program, “The Next Revolution.”
Meghann Fahy and Theo James Tell All on Their Twisted ‘White Lotus’ Love Story: They’re ‘Cut From the Same Cloth’
Katcy Stephan, Variety
When Theo James and Meghann Fahy reunite over Zoom to discuss their roles, they’re perfectly in sync and often answer questions in unison, evoking their characters’ deliciously duplicitous cat-and- mouse relationship.
TECHNOLOGY AND NEW MEDIA
Meta Announces $500 Quest 3 Headset Just Ahead of Apple Launch
Nick Turner, Bloomberg
Meta Platforms Inc. announced the latest version of its Quest mixed-reality headset, a lower-cost alternative to the long-awaited device that Apple Inc. is expected to unveil in a few days.
Spotify’s Podcast Teams Haven’t Received Annual Budgets as Layoff Rumors Spread
Ashley Carman, Bloomberg
Podcast teams at Parcast and Gimlet Media haven’t been able to greenlight new shows or approve travel allowances for existing productions.
ChatGPT to Fuel $1.3 Trillion AI Market by 2032, New Report Says
Jake Rudnitsky, Bloomberg
The release of consumer-focused artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT and Google’s Bard is set to fuel a decade-long boom that grows the market for generative AI to an estimated $1.3 trillion in revenue by 2032 from $40 billion last year.
MUSIC
Lucas Shaw, Bloomberg
Hybe Co., the South Korean music agency behind BTS and Ariana Grande, is seeking to raise around 500 billion won ($380 million) to fund acquisitions in the US and expand its business beyond K-pop.
Billy Joel will end Madison Square Garden residency in 2024
Michael Gartland and Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News
The Piano Man’s residency at the famed Manhattan arena will end in July 2024 after his 150th lifetime show there, MSG CEO James Dolan announced Thursday at a news conference attended by Joel and Mayor Adams.
Alicia Keys Musical ‘Hell’s Kitchen’ Set For Fall Opening At New York’s Public Theater
Greg Evans, Deadline
The new Alicia Keys musical Hell’s Kitchen will make its world premiere this fall as part of the 2023-24 season of New York’s Public Theater Off Broadway, the Public announced today.
Emmy-Eligible Music Specials Had Selena Gomez, Ed Sheeran, U2 and Others Showing a Different Side
Chris Willman, Variety
Four films or limited series stand out in the subgenre of docs that were initially commissioned to capture an album or tour and, through circumstances, evolved into something deeper or darker.
Tupac Shakur to Get Hollywood Walk of Fame Star 10 Years After Selection
Sharon Knolle, The Wrap
The late rap legend and actor will be honored next week.
OPINIONS, EDITORIALS, PERSPECTIVES AND RESEARCH
When AI Is Making Music, Where Do the Humans Fit In?
Julia Gray, The Ringer
The Drake and Weeknd song that went viral in April is just the beginning. In a time when ChatGPT is going mainstream and programs are allowing musicians to create once-unimaginable compositions, what’s the value of creativity?
Is the Music Business Slipping on Its Pledge to Diversity?
Elias Leight, Billboard
Black music executives say that, despite promises of greater diversity and inclusion, not enough advances have been made since Blackout Tuesday.
Will There Be Any Successors to ‘Succession’?
Joy Press, Vanity Fair
Is this the end of an era for Hollywood, or inspiration for a new beginning?
Why AI Isn’t Funny — At Least Not Yet
Gary Baum, The Hollywood Reporter
Researchers believe that most original comedy is out of reach now for the tech, with this caveat for studios: “How mediocre are you OK with your comedy being?”
Business Affairs: Good Cop/Bad Cop of the Streaming Wars
Entertainment Strategy Guy, The Ankler
In particular, no one ever talks about “business affairs”, the lawyers (largely) that handle talent negotiations for Hollywood studios and streamers. And why not? Because, uh, it’s not cool to be a lawyer — especially a “business affairs” lawyer. That’s why lawyer jokes persist time and again.
Harvey Guillén finds his light: ‘The What We Do in the Shadows’ star on pride, perseverance, and ‘Puss in Boots’
Patrick Gomez, Entertainment Weekly
“It's more important now than ever to be as loud as we can be, to create the queerest content we can,” says the Blue Beetle actor, who graces EW’s 2023 Pride cover.