Kiefer Sutherland doing spy series at PARAMOUNT+
KNIVES OUT 2 adds more A-List / New LUPIN, Matt Damon movie trailers / Demi Lovato UFO show set at PEACOCK
Mornin! This is Sean McNulty and here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on WEDNESDAY May 12, 2021.
Where today we could be having coffee here this morning in Jonah Hill’s new Malibu digs. If we had $9 Million. But that would buy us neighbors like Flea, Sting, and Rob Reiner who… kinda seems like a guy who would always lend you whatever you wanted - no questions asked right?
ALSO: The Hollywood Bowl announced their Summer Concert lineup in case you’re lookin to get the funk out, figuratively and literally. HER, John Williams, Christina Aguilera and a bunch of Dudamel on the list among many others. Kicks off July 3.
And just putting this here if you know someone who would dig this newsletter or wanna share on LINKED IN:
📽 THE SILVER SCREEN
Ed Norton joining “Knives Out 2” at NETFLIX
No character/plot details… a la the Dave Bautista news yesterday, and again it will shoot this Summer in Greece. /Deadline
Regina King sets next directing project at LEGENDARY
Adapting a 1920’s set race-themed comic book “Bitter Root” - about a family of once-great monster hunters, who face-off against an evil that descends upon NYC during the Harlem Renaissance. Ryan Coogler among the producers. /THR
John Krasinski signs 1st look Film deal at PARAMOUNT
So… guess those rumors about a pay dispute over “A Quiet Place 2” weren’t that great. Or - the check for this deal got a nice bump before closing.
Deal includes a 3rd“Quiet Place” to be directed by Jeff Nichols (“Mud”, “Loving”) and a Krasinski/Ryan Reynolds movie slated to shoot next year. /Deadline
ALSO IN MOVIES
NFL Quarterback Russell Wilson and wife Ciara set 1st look TV & Film deal at AMAZON. No word on duration, or initial projects. /Variety
Emily Watson and “Normal People” lead Paul Mescal set for A24 Irish psychological drama “God’s Creatures” about a mother who lies to protect her son, causing devastating effects for her community. Now shooting. /Deadline
📺 THE TV SET
PARAMOUNT+ sets Kiefer Sutherland for spy drama series
Logline is a bit confusing tbh… but he plays a private spy in a battle over conserving democracy, or something to that extent.
8 episode first season, Created by John Requa and Glenn Ficarra (“Bad Santa”, “This Is Us”). /Variety
Emily Blunt doing 1890’s Western series for AMAZON / BBC
Called “The English”, Emily plays an Englishwoman who comes to the Western frontier to get revenge on the person she thinks is responsible for the death of her son.
6 episodes, think it’s just a limited series (?). /THR
PEACOCK orders Demi Lovato-hosted unscripted UFO show, "Unidentified with Demi Lovato”
Limited series where Demi’s BFF and her sister investigate… well, UFO stuff. No timeline announced, 4 episode order. /Variety
ALSO IN TV
FXX sets Danny DeVito and Aubrey Plaza as lead voice talent for animated series “Little Demon”. 30-something woman (Aubrey) lives in Delaware with her teen daughter… who’s father is Satan (DeVito) and he keeps coming around looking for custody of his daughter’s soul. No timeline given, daughter to be played by Danny’s daughter Lucy. /Variety
AMC orders “Moonhaven” from “Lodge 49” creator Peter Ocko. Set on a 500 sq mile utopian colony established on the moon 100 years from now, that’s becoming increasingly dangerous. Will premiere next year. /Variety
ROTTEN TOMATOES launches streaming video channel for OTT AVOD services like the ROKU CHANNEL, XUMO and PEACOCK (the last two are owned by NBCU… just as ROTTEN TOMATOES is. Although WB still owns 25% of it).
Good news for your stories! “Days of Our Lives” renewed for 2 more seasons at NBC. /Variety
💻 THE MEDIA BIZ
YOUTUBE rips-off SNAPCHAT tactic to promote their TIKTOK rip-off
Who says the tech world lacks creativity? YT will distribute a pool of $100 Million to creators of the most engaging content on their TIKTOK-esque SHORTS function, starting TBD this Fall.
SNAP already does something very similar to promote usage of their TIK-TOK homage SPOTLIGHT. /Variety
ALSO AT TIKTOK itself: They’re testing an in-app shopping ability in Europe, and a job recruitment function in the US, in case the idea of doing a new TIKTOK for every job you apply to is more appealing than…. revising your resume for every job you apply to 🙇♂️.
BUZZFEED looking to acquire COMPLEX then go public via SPAC
Would give BUZZFEED more scale and add a business with a significant ad-revenue/branded content business model. TBD if they can pull it off financially.
COMPLEX is currently owned by HEARST and VERIZON, the latter of which definitely seems keen on exiting all of their content holdings this year (already sold HUFFPOST, YAHOO etc). /The Information
ALSO: BUSTLE (now officially called BDG - Bustle Digital Group) looking to go public via SPAC later this year. And still planning to reboot GAWKER later this year… for I think the 14th attempt. /Axios
WASHINGTON POST sets Editor in Chief successor to Marty Baron
Sally Buzbee, executive editor of THE ASSOCIATED PRESS will join on June 1st to take over. First woman editorial head of the paper. /NY TIMES
ALSO IN MEDIA
HEARST sells US version of MARIE CLAIRE to the publisher of the UK version. /NY TIMES
Sports focused streaming bundle FUBO TV hits 590k subscribers, up 105% vs this time last year, +43k since January. Stock up 23% because its a #stonk (see Game Stop, and basically Robinhood traders). It also increased it’s subscriber growth guidance for the year. /Yahoo Finance
AMAZON’s WONDERY podcast division adding its WONDERY+ subscription service to APPLE PODCASTS. Consists of ad-free podcasts, exclusive episodes and early access. $5/month or $35/year. Podcasts still avail for free with ads. /THR
A lotta BROADWAY shows have announced their re-opening plans this week for the Fall… if inclined, here’s the list so far from DEADLINE.
🏦 STOCK NOTES:
All about gaming company ROBLOX, +22% on their earnings/revenue news.
ROKU also recovered +4%.
👩💻 NEW TO WATCH:
NETFLIX “The Upshaws” - Mike Epps & Kim Fields multi-cam family comedy. Watch or Add to your List here
MTV “The Hills: New Beginnings” - Sadly sans Lauren and Stephen. But as long as there’s plenty of Justin Bobby to go around… I’m in. The original series premiered 15 years ago 👨🏻🦳. Premieres at 9p.
🎥 TRAILER HOUSE
NETFLIX “Lupin” part 2 trailer. The new episodes drop Fri June 11.
FOCUS FEATURES “Stillwater” trailer. Matt Damon as an Oklahoman dad trying to free his estranged daughter (Abigail Breslin) arrested for a murder in France. Directed by Tom McCarthy (“Spotilight”). Just me or quick glance this looks like DiCaprio? Ok fine just me 🤓. Hits theaters Fri July 30.
APPLE TV+ “Lisey’s Story” series trailer. Basedd on a 2006 Stephen King book, Julianne Moore’s author husband played by Clive Owen dies… or does he? This looks pretty trippy so if inclined for more - take a look. Premieres Fri June 4.
APPLE TV+ “1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything” docu trailer. “1972: Eh, Not Much Happened” in development. Premieres next Fri May 21.
🎧 PLAYING ME OFF
New PINK “All I know so far” - Kinda “advice to my younger self” guitar driven anthem ditty. Do people still use ditty?
If you need new tunes:
Have a wacky Wednesday weverybody! Email me anytime - just reply to this email, or connect here on LINKED IN.
-Sean McNulty
@theseanmac on TWITTER or also here on CLUBHOUSE or on IG @TheWakeupNews