MORTAL KOMBAT has biggest R-rated movie opening in 14 months
ABC passes on Alec + Kelsey sitcom they ordered / FATHER OF THE BRIDE remake adds mom / SPOTIFY tops APPLE's podcast subscription plan
Mornin! This is Sean McNulty and here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on MONDAY April 26, 2021.
Where I’m proud to say my OSCAR streak continued… in that I still do not have one. But here’s your 2021 OSCAR Winners List if of interest.
Also Anthony Hopkins posted a BEST ACTOR acceptance speech from his Welsh countryside home with a special mention for Chadwick Boseman this morning on Insta here.
And just putting this handy button here in case you know someone else who also didn’t win an Oscar and could use a Monday boost.
📽 THE SILVER SCREEN
Gloria Estefan joining Andy Garcia for WB “Father of the Bride” remake
She’ll play the Diane Keaton role from the 90’s movies. Think it’ll shoot soon given all the casting activity… but nothing indicated. /THR
STX reteams Vin Diesel & director F. Gary Gray (“Fast & Furious 8”, “Friday”) for action comedy
Called “Muscle”, will shoot later this year but… no plot details. /Deadline
BOX OFFICE
“Mortal Kombat” : $22.5 Million
“Demon Slayer: Mugen Train” : $19.5 Million ($456 Million globally)
“Mortal Kombat” played in over 3,000 locations.
“Mugen Train” played in 1600.
“Godzilla vs Kong” : $4.2 Million ($86.5 Million US, $406 Million globally)
“Nobody” : $1.8 Million ($21 Million US)
“Raya & the Last Dragon” : $1.7 Million ($40 Million US)
MEANWHILE IN CHINA: “LOTR: The Two Towers” did a subdued $4 Million in its opening weekend. TBD if/when the third film gets a release date.
ALSO IN MOVIES
Producer Scott Rudin gets NY TIMES exposé - including quotes from Geffen and Diller, and Rita Wilson sharing that Scott allegedly tried to find ways to have her fired from one of his Broadway shows when she had to have surgery for breast cancer. Rudin also resigned from the BROADWAY LEAGUE trade association this weekend.
SONY PICTURES CLASSICS buys North American rights for next Pedro Almodovar/Penelope Cruz collab “Parallel Mothers”. Started shooting in March in Spain, no price disclosed. /Variety
FOCUS sets July 16 release date for Anthony Bourdain docu directed by Morgan Neville (“Won't You Be My Neighbor?”, “20 Feet From Stardom”). Will air on CNN and HBOMAX at some point as well TBD, and it’s also at TRIBECA in June. /THR
📺 THE TV SET
ABC passes on Alec Baldwin / Kelsey Grammar sitcom… after already ordering it to series 🤔
They saw the pilot and said no thanks. Sister-company producer 20th TELEVISION now shopping it to try and find a new home… if they can. Obviously big penalty payments to talent involved with ABC passing on it.
Kelsey of course has the “Frasier” reboot waiting for him at PARAMOUNT+. Alec of course has 6 kids all under 8 years-old waiting for him at home, so figuring he’ll be calling Kelsey in about a week about playing the long-lost Crane brother Billy.
As for the former ABC project plot - 3 roommates in their 20’s whose egos drove them apart, reconnect as… older gentlemen to make a big run at some big idea. /Deadline
HBO hands“Perry Mason” Season 2 to the showrunners of “The Knick”
HBO also signed a 3-year overall deal with said showrunning team of Jack Amiel & Michael Begler. So once Perry season 2 is shot - how about that Season 3 of “The Knick”… 🙏 /Variety
ALSO AT HBO: They’re re-teaming with Bob Costas for “Back on the Record” - 4 specials annually featuring extensive interviews with figures across sports and pop culture. No premiere timeline given. /THR
BUT the Award for Hardest Working PR department in Hollywood on Friday afternoon goes to…
HBOMAX adds new co-showrunner to “The Flight Attendant” for season 2: Natalie Chaidez (USA NET’s “Queen of the South”). Will work with series creator Steve Yockey. /THR
HBOMAX renews “Selena and the Chef” for a 3rd season. After which hopefully she’ll finally know how to cook. 🧑🍳 /Deadline
HBOMAX Animation group combining with ADULT SWIM group, to be led by the head of HBO MAX Animation Suzanna Makkos. Sorta. She reports into HBOMAX production head Sarah Aubrey… and into ADULT SWIM president Michael Ouweleen. But the ADULT SWIM development team now reports into Suzanna. I mean installing more executive layers always works well for a team so I’m sure it’ll go smoothly. /Deadline
ALSO IN TV
Elon Musk hosting SNL next weekend May 8. Miley Cyrus is the music guest.
APPLE TV buys 8 part docuseries “1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything” from the team behind the Amy Winehouse and Senna documentaries. Though now I kinda feel bad for anybody who put an album out in 1972. Premieres in about a month on May 21. /Deadline
CBS renews “NCIS: Los Angeles” for 13th season, also orders “NCIS: Hawaii”. Personally I’m still waiting for the Jersey version. /THR
”Line of Duty” now the highest rated UK drama in 13 years, hit 11 Million viewers there this weekend (it’s on BRIT BOX here in the US). /Deadline
Talent Agency UTA co-founder Marty Bauer died at the age of 74 from natural causes on Friday. /Deadline
💻 THE MEDIA BIZ
SPOTIFY raises the ante on APPLE’s Podcast Subscriptions plans
SPOTIFY will institute paid subscription ability for podcasters (timeline not announced), but will let them keep 100% of their subscription revenue.
APPLE announced a plan last week giving podcasters the ability to create adjustable paid subscriptions (full paywall, just for bonus episodes, early access, etc), but APPLE is gonna take 30% cut of all 1st year revenue (15% after that), + a $20 annual fee.
However… if you listen to SPOTIFY on an APPLE/iOS device, SPOTIFY does not let you pay for subscriptions through the Apple App Store interface (doesn’t like that APPLE keeps 30% of that revenue). So you’ll be routed to a website every time you want to subscribe to a podcast on SPOTIFY to do so. /WSJ
Today in People who made way more money than me last year…
T-MOBILE CEO John Legere was paid $137 Million for 3 months of work in 2020. He was paid a more modest $66 Million in 2018 and then his pay dropped like the average T-MOBILE call down to $28 Million in 2019. But nice to see someone having a fruitful pandemic 2020 for successfully lobbying the Trump Administration to approve a merger with SPRINT… and then laying down his “Bye Felicia!” card (T-MOBILE / SPRINT deal went thru in April 2020, after which John left).
NETFLIX CEO Reed Hastings made $43 Million last year (pretty much all in stock), Ted Sarandos made $20 Million in cold hard cash because that’s how Ted rolls, plus $18 Million in stock compensation… and a $1 Million security detail 🤔. COO Greg Peters made $21 Million and CFO Spencer Neumann $13 Million to round things out at the NETFLIX golf outing. Fun fact: Reed drives his own cart. /THR
NBCU CEO Jeff Shell made $16.5 Million last year, but COMCAST CEO Brian Roberts made $32.5 Million. I mean Hank Hooper’s always gonna make more than Donaghy. #kabletown /THR
🏦 STOCK NOTES:
SPOTIFY up over 7% due to an analyst upgrade (he rated the stock a buy - that Podcast subscription thing probably helped a bit).
SNAP up almost 7.5% on the solid user number updates Thursday.
TWITTER & PINTEREST up 4%+ because they were hanging at the same party. (just one of those all social media boats rising things)
🎥 TRAILER HOUSE
DISNEY/FOX “West Side Story” teaser. Definitely just a tease, but some great visuals from Spielberg. shocking I know. Hits theaters this Christmas-ish
HULU/SEARCHLIGHT “Summer of Soul” teaser. In theaters and HULU streaming on July 2.
WB “In the Heights” new spot in the OSCARS. Staking its claim as the genuine move of the Summer, and gotta say this spot makes a good argument. In theaters June 11.
👩💻 NEW TO WATCH:
Um Hollywood just gave you the OSCARS, they’re takin the day off.
But thank god there’s PBS - they have a new 2 part FRONTLINE : “The Virus that Shook the World”. Spoiler alert: it’s not about shingles. Part 1 airs tonight at 9p, Part 2 tomorrow at 10p or stream on the PBS App as I’ll likely do.
Also APPLE’s new iOS 14.5 drops today. As I’m sure your iphone will remind you about several times this week. It allows you far greater privacy controls especially with apps - the TIMES did a handy reference piece on how to activate them if inclined.
🎧 PLAYING ME OFF
JULIAN LAMADRID “15 Minutes” - If this song doesn’t get you movin’ on a Monday morning, your Monday is not looking promising.
If you need new tunes:
Enjoy your Monday ya’ll! Email me anytime - just reply to this email, or connect on LINKED IN - my name here goes right to my profile.