APPLE TV buys Zach Galafinakis-led BEANIE BABIES movie project
SPOTIFY lays off internal podcast group / DISH & DIRECTV start talking merger / Carell gets his co-star for FX series
Mornin! This is Sean McNulty and here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on WEDNESDAY January 12, 2022.
Where this year’s Will Packer-produced OSCARS will have a host. I mean I guess that’s news 🤷♂️? So - the job is open if you know a gal. or a guy. Just please not both 🙏.
AND: The SAG AWARD Noms drop at 10a EST today, live-streaming on their instagram account here.
ALSO: Aziz Anzari is dropping a new NETFLIX comedy special in 2 weeks on Tue Jan 25 called “Nightclub Comedian”, was just shot in Dec.
PLUS: BONNAROO announced their lineup for the fest in the Tennessee field June 16-19 will be led by J COLE, TOOL, and STEVIE NICKS.
📽 THE SILVER SCREEN
APPLE TV gets BEANIE BABIES movie starring Zach Galafinakis, Elizabeth Banks & Sarah Snook
“The Beanie Bubble” looks at the phenomenon and valuation crash of the NFT’s of the 1990’s. (the NFT crowd has a sense of humor right?).
IMAGINE ENTERTAINMENT is producing, the first movie in their new production deal there.
Kristin Gore wrote the script, and is directing with husband Damian Kulash. /Deadline
PARAMOUNT sets new director for “A Quiet Place III”
Michael Sarnoski, who did the surprisingly lauded Nic Cage movie “Pig” last year. Jeff Nichols (“Mud”) dropped out of the directors chair last year. #figuratively
Film will be a spin-off / another story set in that world vs. a continuation of the story from 1 & 2, based on an idea from Krasinski. /Deadline
AMAZON in talks with Viola Davis to star in “Two Butterflies”
About 2 estranged sisters torn apart by tragedy, but forced to reunite when one of them has to be transported to an Alzheimer’s facility.
Yance Ford (“Strong Island”) is directing, Viola will also be a producer. /Deadline
ALSO IN MOVIES
SONY adds Lil Rel Howery to “Harold and The Purple Crayon” live-action adaptation. Zachary Levi already a part of the cast. /Deadline
HBOMAX adds “Spider-Man: No Way Home” director Jon Watts as a producer on “Final Destination 6”. Screenplay currently being written based on an idea by Watts. /THR
PARAMOUNT buys Frank Grillo action pic “Little Dixie”. Will release in later half of 2022, no price disclosed or indication if it’ll go PAR+ or theatrical… but PAR+ was not mentioned so let’s go with theatrical. /Deadline
IN THE HOLLYWOOD EXECUTIVE SUITE
WME sets Feb 15 full Return to Office date, Boosters mandatory. Return will begin on Jan 31 for some. /Deadline
LIONSGATE makes some hires & promotions in Production incl:
Brady Fujikawa is returning as EVP of Production after leaving to go to BRON for what turned out to be a year.
Meredith Wieck promoted to SVP,
Aaron Edmonds & Chelsea Kujawa both promoted to VP’s of production. (special 👏 to Aaron whom I got to work with at HBO back in the day)
AND: They’ll be busy… LIONSGATE is investing an additional $500 Million in their Yonkers, NY soundstage facility that just opened this week, and will expand from 3 soundstages to 11 in 2 years as that biz continues to boom.
Former UTA Comms Chief & partner Seth Oster is now Chief Corp Affairs Officer at THE WONDERFUL COMPANY… or uh, TWC 😳. They run a group of brands including FIJI Water and TELEFLORA. /THR
📺 THE TV SET
CNN+ buys Ethan Hawke-directed docuseries on Paul Newman & Joanne Woodward
6 parts, Called “The Last Movie Stars”, Scorsese is exec producing, and voices of George Clooney, Oscar Isaac, and Laura Linney and others will be featured.
Will go onto HBOMAX after its… TBD CNN+ window. /THR
HBOMAX sets Sharon Stone as Kaley Cuoco’s estranged mom for “The Flight Attendant” Season 2
Season 2 finds Cuoco’s character living sober in LA as a part-time CIA operative, as you do… when she witnesses a murder on an assignment overseas and intrigue ensues. As it does.
Sharon’s role listed as recurring. /Deadline
ALSO IN TV
FX sets Domhnall Gleeson to star with Steve Carell in 10-episode limited series “The Patient” from “The Americans” creators. A psychotherapist is held hostage by a serial killer (Gleeson) who wants him to help quell his urge to kill 🔪. /Deadline
College Football Championship gets 22.5 Million viewers on ESPN Monday. Beats last year… but 2nd lowest of the BCS era 🏈. /Deadline
“Dexter: New Blood” finale gets 3 Million viewers on SHOWTIME Sunday (beats “Euphoria” 2.4 Million premiere on HBO). /THR
2/3 of “Dexter” finale audience was Streaming or OnDemand
Biggest SHO finale audience since “Homeland” Season 3 in 2013, and it’s the most watched show in SHOWTIME history.
ABC renews “Station 19” for a Season 6. /Variety
Michele Tafoya is leaving NBC Sunday Night Football. Wants to move into something other than sideline reporting, no role specified. /THR
💻 THE MEDIA BIZ
SPOTIFY lays off internal Podcast production division STUDIO 4
About 10-15 people involved, a few may be re-assigned but most are getting 2 months severance, including the head of the group, Gina Delvac.
STUDIO 4 was literally the 4th podcast production arm at the company, in addition to acquisitions GIMLET, PARCAST and THE RINGER. /The Verge
DIRECTV and DISH are having merger talks
They’ve tried before but anti-trust issues were the main… well, issue. But the 2010s were a different era, and now that DIRECTV has a large Private Equity ownership… let’s just say they’re motivated #GetThatPayout.
Not much else known as to what’s on the table, although one would think DISH would become the parent company / Charlie Ergen would lead it. /NY Post
ALSO IN MEDIA
COMCAST sets SVP of Content Acquisition Monty Sarhan as head of new SKY SHOWTIME European streaming venture. It’ll exist in 20 European countries including the NORDICS, PORTUGAL, SPAIN, and POLAND… whenever it launches in 2022, but not in the biggest (GERMANY, FRANCE, UK/IRELAND) where SKY services exist.
Monty was on the launch team for EPIX at VIACOM prior to moving to COMCAST.
🏦 STOCK NOTES:
LIONSGATE +6% ($18.15) I mean who doesn’t love promotion announcements?
BUZZFEED +5% ($4.62)
👩💻 NEW TO WATCH:
NETFLIX “Cheer” Season 2 - Stream or Add to Your List here
DISNEY+ “Eternals” pic hits streaming - Stream or Add to Your List here
If you were sent this newsletter or… just kinda found it:
🎥 TRAILER HOUSE
HBOMAX “Kimi” trailer - From Steven Soderbergh & writer David Koepp - Kinda seems like “What if you brought “The Conversation” to the social media age?”
KIMI is a SIRI equivalent, Zoe Kravitz works as an analyst of KIMI data who comes across what sounds like a murder that was recorded and… well the trailer does a nice job from there. Premieres Thu Feb 10.
NETFLIX “The Tinder Swindler” trailer - Pretty sure TINDER won’t be promoting this as one of their branded “Date Night” activities. Story of a guy who romanced 3 women with fancy hotels and private jets… and then swindled them out of large amounts of money. Until the women searched for payback. Premieres Wed Feb 2.
HULU “Dollface” Season 2 trailer - Premieres Fri Feb 11
APPLE TV+ “Suspicion” trailer - Honestly I have no idea if this is a series or a movie… and the description they wrote for the video on YT doesn’t help - But 4 Brits are accused of kidnapping wealthy CEO Uma Thurman’s son and it seems like they’re framed… or are they? We’ll find out when it Premieres on Fri Feb 4. Ah! my previous notes say it’s a Series. phew.
OPEN ROAD “Studio 666” trailer - Ok this one is definitely a movie. And that’s definitely the FOO FIGHTERS starring in a kinda 80’s B-Movie Horror throwback pic. And it definitely has Lionel Ritchie in it. Hits Theaters Feb 25
🎧 PLAYING ME OFF
YIONA GARCIA “Entertain Me” - Just a fun new poppy song to start a day with. Or probably great for a Spinning mix.
For recent new tunes 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