| | | | | | What's news: How to Train Your Dragon zoomed past $350m at the global box office. Paramount+ has renewed MobLand. Owen Wilson has joined the cast of the next Meet the Fockers film. Legendary British indie director Shane Meadows has revealed his new film project. — Abid Rahman
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And the Emmy Nominations Should Go to… ►🏆 The most deserving contenders. 🏆 The key races for the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards couldn’t be more different. The comedy categories appear to be heading for another showdown between The Bear — once again prompting an obligatory “Is it a drama or a comedy?” debate — and Hacks, with several returning shows still in the mix while the drama fields, which Shōgun dominated last year, are wide open. While voters can, and in many cases should, absolutely go back to prior favorites like The White Lotus, Severance and The Last of Us, the THR television critics Daniel Fienberg and Angie Han have recommendations on some familiar and some quirky and offbeat ways to fill out ballots. Reminder: Voting for the nomination round closes today, with nominations announced on July 15. The story. |
Global Media Warns of Escalation as U.S. Bombs Iran Nuclear Sites ►"Force over diplomacy." The U.S. military attack on Tehran's nuclear facilities on Saturday, and fears of a further escalation in the Israel-Iran war, dominated international news headlines and broadcasts over the weekend. While British right-wing tabloid The Sun cheered on the U.S. bombings — “Stick It Up Your Bunker” was its triumphant headline — most outlets warned of the dangers of repercussions from Iran and an expansion of the war beyond the Middle East. “Bombings against Iran set the whole world on fire,” plastered Denmark’s Dagbladet newspaper over its front page, with a photo of a glowering Donald Trump and the headline: “Like a Savage,” apparently in reference to the U.S. President. The Irish Daily Mirror was more succinct: “Stop Now” ran its 60-point headline, over a photo of a MAGA-hat wearing POTUS. “All-out war fear as world braces for Tehran’s retaliation.” Spain’s El Mundo called the strike a unilateral move by Trump that signals the end of post-WWII collective security. The story.
—Under the spotlight. In September 2016, a list circulated at CAA that placed John Musero, a scribe on The Newsroom who was picked up by the agency two years prior, among a group of “underperforming writers.” He had an active writing job and didn’t know about the list, let alone that he was on it. A month later, another document called the “cutting list” was shared between CAA agents, one of whom was the former head of the TV lit department. THR's Winston Cho reports that in a trial slated to start later this year, a jury will determine the use of lists by the agency in a lawsuit from Musero. CAA says the lists were only ever seen by two agents and that the creation of such lists isn't a company-wide practice. The story.
—🤝 Extension. 🤝 News Corp. is giving CEO Robert Thomson a long-term contract extension, a deal that should keep the executive at the helm of the company as it pursues new AI deals, and continues its digital transformation. Thomson, who has led News Corp. since 2013, signed a deal that will keep him as CEO through June 2030. News Corp. owns The Wall Street Journal and Dow Jones, as well as book publisher HarperCollins, The New York Post , a digital real estate business and other assets. Thomson, aside from being forward-thinking when it comes to the relationship between publishers and tech giants (he spearheaded talks to generate from revenue from companies like Google and Meta), has been actively courting deals with AI companies in recent years. The story.
—Tragedy. Sara Burack, a real estate agent on Netflix’s Million Dollar Beach House, has died. She was 40. Burack died Thursday in Hampton Bays, New York, following a hit-and-run accident. She was found unconscious on Montauk Highway after police received a 911 emergency call at roughly 2:45 a.m., according to local publication Dan’s Papers. Police were in search of the driver after the incident, though People reported that Amanda Kempton was arrested in connection with the case on Friday. Burack joined the cast of Netflix’s Hamptons-based real estate series Million Dollar Beach House in August 2020. The reality show spotlighted the careers of agents working at Nest Seekers International, a luxury residential and commercial brokerage firm founded by Eddie Shapiro in 2002. The story.
—Heading to Vegas. Music icon Dolly Parton has set a limited-run engagement at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. Dolly: Live in Las Vegas will feature six performances running from Dec. 4-13 during National Finals Rodeo. According to a press release announcing the news, Dolly: Live In Las Vegas is “a hit-driven concert event bringing global superstar Dolly Parton back to Vegas for her first extended run in 32 years. Weaving together seven decades of classic hits and fan favorites including "9 to 5," "Jolene," "I Will Always Love You," "Coat of Many Colors" and many more, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see one of the world’s most beloved entertainers at the peak of her success.” The story. |
'Elio' Limps to Record-Low $21M Pixar Opening ►Ouch. Universal’s How to Train Your Dragon had no trouble staying No. 1 in its second weekend with an estimated $37m domestic haul despite the entry of the highly anticipated sequel 28 Years Later and Elio — which limped to $21m from what marks the lowest opening ever for Pixar amid a glut of family box office hits and a troubled marketplace for original animated fare. How to Train Your Dragon, a live-action adaptation of DreamWorks Animation’s beloved 2010 animated film, zoomed past $350m globally after finishing Sunday with a domestic tally of $160.5m and $197.7m overseas for a worldwide cume of $358.2m.
THR's Pamela McClintock writes that Elio was expected to open to at least $30m domestically. But with interest stalling in recent days, Disney insiders lowered their projections to $20m to $25m late last week as Pixar braced for the worst 3-day opening in its history behind Elemental ($29.6m) in June 2023 and its very first film, 1995’s Toy Story ($29.1m), not adjusted for inflation.
Like Elio, albeit to a lesser extent, Danny Boyle’s zombie sequel 28 Years Later also opened behind expectations domestically with an estimated $30m from 3,444 locations. While a solid start, it will need strong legs to justify a planned trilogy for Boyle and Sony. Overseas, it also took in $30m for a global bow of $60m. A few weeks ago, 28 Years Later was tracking to open to $35m, with more bullish pundits thinking it could come between $40m and $45m. The box office report. |
Jon Bernthal Joins 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' ►🎭 Punishing schedule. 🎭 Jon Bernthal, who has appeared in several Marvel television series as the vigilante known as the Punisher, has joined Tom Holland in Sony/Marvel's Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Destin Daniel Cretton is directing the feature, which will shoot in the U.K. this summer and has a July 31, 2026, release date. Much of the movie remains shrouded in mystery, with rumors of upwards of a dozen possible villains who could appear, including crime bosses, alien symbiotes, as well as a couple of different versions of the Hulk. The only thing clear at this stage is that Zendaya and Jacob Batalon are reprising their roles as MJ and best friend Ned, although how substantial those roles will be remains unclear. And Stranger Things star Sadie Sink is another big new addition so far. The story.
—🎭 Fock me dead. 🎭 THR's Borys Kit has the scoop that Owen Wilson is back in the Focker fold. The actor is joining Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro in Universal’s latest installment of its Meet the Parents comedy movie series. Teri Polo, who also starred in the initial trio of movies that were released in the 2000s, is returning to the call sheet as well, with Oscar-nominated pop superstar Ariana Grande the big fresh face for the feature. John Hamburg, who co-wrote all three prior films, wrote the screenplay for the new feature and is set to direct. Universal has dated the film for Nov. 25, 2026. Wilson had scene-stealing bits in the first movie as the seemingly perfect ex-fiancé of Polo's character. The story.
—🎭 Leads in place. 🎭 THR's secret scallywag Ryan Gajewski has the scoop that Booboo Stewart, Abigail Breslin and Aaron Kuban are set to star in a movie about an interview gone awry. The trio have been cast to lead director Robert Rippberger’s drama-comedy feature A Good Fight. The indie film has a script from Dan in Real Life writer Pierce Gardner, and producers include Justin Shaner and Fernando H. Rojas for Sobe Brooke Studios. A Good Fight centers on a thriving small-town businessman whose interview with a college journalist ends up impacting both of their lives. The movie’s tone is compared to that of It’s a Wonderful Life as the lead character figures out how to navigate his best path. The story.
—He's back! After more than a decade-long hiatus from the big screen, Shane Meadows is making a return to cinema with a new film, Chork. Penned by Adolescence writer Jack Thorne and set along the east coast of England, Chork follows 15-year-old Kit and 11-year-old Ani as they leave their foster home and trek across the coastline in hopes of a brighter future. With the police in pursuit and a national search underway, Kit must use all her determination and wits to protect Ani and fulfil their mission. Cast by Meadows’ frequent collaborator, Shaheen Baig, the two have secured the film’s lead cast with open casting calls taking place earlier in the year throughout the U.K. The story. |
'MobLand' Renewed for S2 at Paramount+ ►Pulling them back in. Paramount+ has renewed its hit series MobLand for a second season. MobLand is the number two original series ever on Paramount+, the streamer says, trailing only Landman. MobLand has racked up more than 26m global viewers, according to Paramount’s own data. Basically, they’re counting the number of views for episode one over its first 70 days of availability. The series has spent five consecutive weeks on Nielsen’s top 10 SVOD original series’ list. Guy Ritchie executive produces MobLand, which was created by Ronan Bennett (Top Boy, The Day of the Jackal ). Bennett also writes the series with Jez Butterworth, who is under an exclusive TV overall deal with Paramount+ and Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios. The story.
—📅 Dated! 📅 The European branch of the Walking Dead universe will move to its new locale in September. AMC has set a Sept. 7 premiere date for season three of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, which as previously revealed takes place (and was filmed in) Spain. The cable network also released a brief teaser for the coming season Sunday night, during the season finale of The Walking Dead: Dead City . After reuniting in France during season two of Daryl Dixon, Daryl (Norman Reedus) and Carol (Melissa McBride) “continue their journey to somehow return home and to the ones they love,” the season three logline reads. “As they struggle to find their way back, the path takes them farther astray, leading them through distant lands with ever-changing and unfamiliar conditions as they witness the various effects of the Walker apocalypse.” The story. |
'We Were Liars' Author on Bringing That Twist to Life in the Amazon Series ►"Well I wrote the finale, and I felt great that they trusted me with the finale and to bring the story home." THR's Lexy Perez spoke to We Were Liars author E. Lockhart about her book gaining new popularity a decade after its publication, the Amazon Prime Video series adaptation (review below) and how the show’s ending gives a “tip of the hat” to her prequel story. Warning: Spoilers! The interview.
—"I never stopped trying to push things out. You never know which is the one that’s going to make sense to someone." THR's Hilary Lewis spoke to Lena Dunham about her new Netflix series, Too Much. The multihyphenate talks about how autobiographical the show, created with husband Luis Felber, is and compares working on her small-screen return to her time on Girls. The interview.
—"It’s ridiculous in a hopefully fun way." THR's Brian Davids spoke to Allison Williams about her new film, M3GAN 2.0. The star and producer of the Blumhouse sequel discusses her dreams of completing a M3GAN trilogy, as well as why her upcoming romantic dramedy, Regretting You, feels predestined. The interview.
—"I love taking these sort of likable, fun actors and just turning them into raging psychopaths." THR's Tony Maglio spoke to showrunner Kevin Williamson about his Netflix series, The Waterfront. Williamson breaks down the finale, the insane moments from his childhood that informed the drama — an uncle dipped him into chummed and shark-infested waters — and his three-season (maybe more) plan. The interview. |
Film Review: '28 Years Later' ►"A bloody feast for horror connoisseurs." THR's chief film critic David Rooney reviews Danny Boyle's 28 Years Later. Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jack O’Connell, Ralph Fiennes and newcomer Alfie Williams star in this reinvigoration of the undead franchise, which reunites the Oscar-winning director with screenwriter Alex Garland. The review.
—"Topher Grace provides almost reason enough to watch. Almost." THR's chief TV critic Daniel Fienberg reviews Netflix's The Waterfront. Holt McCallany and Maria Bello co-lead Dawson's Creek creator Kevin Williamson's eight-episode drama about a North Carolina family that turns to crime to save their fishery. Also starring Melissa Benoist, Jake Weary, Rafael L. Silva, Humberly Gonzalez, Danielle Campbell, Brady Hepner and Topher Grace. The review.
—"A lukewarm story that heats up way too late." THR's Angie Han reviews Amazon Prime Video's We Were Liars. Based on E. Lockhart's hit novel, the series follows a teenager who returns to her family's New England summer compound determined to recover the traumatic events that left her with amnesia. Starring Emily Alyn Lind, Shubham Maheshwari, Esther McGregor, Joseph Zada, Caitlin FitzGerald, Mamie Gummer, Candice King, Rahul Kohli and David Morse. The review.
—"Raises urgent questions." THR's Lovia Gyarkye reviews Suzannah Herbert's Natchez. In her Tribeca documentary competition award winner, Herbert observes a Mississippi city known for its antebellum celebrations. The review.
—"A bloody good two-hander." THR's Stephen Farber reviews Paul Andrew Williams' Dragonfly. Andrea Riseborough and Brenda Blethyn, the stars of Williams’ drama, won a joint acting prize at Tribeca for their roles as an elderly woman and the neighbor who helps her but may harbor ulterior motives. The review.
In other news...
—Jews fight back in trailer for neo-Western Guns & Moses
—Shonda Rhimes to receive inaugural Edinburgh TV festival fellowship
—Paris Hilton buys Mark Wahlberg’s former mansion for $63m
—Impact Collaborative opens L.A. office
—UTA appoints Darnell Strom to lead London office
—Patrick Whitesell’s WTSL hires Endeavor CFO Jason Lublin as president
—Gailard Sartain, actor in Hee Haw and Mississippi Burning, dies at 81
—Jack Betts, actor in Spaghetti Westerns and Spider-Man, dies at 96
What else we're reading...
—Guy Chazan reports that some big MAGA figures are furious with Trump bombing Iran [FT]
—Administration sources tell Andrew Perez and Asawin Suebsaeng that Trump’s attacks on Iran were based on "vibes" rather than actual intel [Rolling Stone]
—Meghan Bobrowsky, Berber Jin and Ben Cohen report that Mark Zuckerberg is sanctioning an AI recruitment blitz at Meta, offering $100m pay packages [WSJ]
—BTS are back! But Hyojung Kim and Fan Wang report the world has changed since the k-pop juggernauts ruled the charts [BBC]
—Kalhan Rosenblatt digs into a scandal on "BookTok" that involves accusations of plagiarism, AI use and author bullying [NBC News]
Today...
...in 1971, the 106-minute racing drama Le Mans, starring Steve McQueen and Siegfried Rauch as rivals, hit theaters stateside. The original review.
Today's birthdays: Frances McDormand (68), Siân Heder (48), Joel Edgerton (51), Martin Klebba (56), Russell Mulcahy (72), Melissa Rauch (45), Selma Blair (53), Emmanuelle Vaugier (49), Bryan Brown (78), Miles Fisher (42), Hoyeon (31), Aaron Ruell (49), Joe Taslim (44), Edward Holcroft (38), David Dobkin (56), Billy Wirth (63), Connor Jessup (31), Fred Ewanuick (54), Lim Ji-yeon (35), Zen Gesner (55), Matias Varela (45), Travis Bacon (36), Kerry Cahill (43), Sara Powell (57), Dennis Andres (38), Louisa Connolly-Burnham (33), Angela Cole (31), Tara Morice (61), Gerry Cowper (67), Caitlin Blackwood (25), Mana Ashida (21), Sonya Balmores (39), Danna Paola (30), Terri Ivens (58), Allie Bertram (36), Cherie Jimenez (38) |
| Lynn Hamilton, the theater-trained actress who portrayed the girlfriend of Redd Foxx’s character on Sanford and Son and the neighborly Miss Verdie on The Waltons, has died. She was 95. The obituary. |
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