TUE 3.2.21: Spike Lee + HBO 9/11 themed docuseries

NETFLIX buys Liam Neeson movie / Obi Wan DISNEY+ series adds cast / Shira Haas as Golda Meir

Mar 2, 2021

Mornin! Here’s the Hollywood + MediaBiz news to know on TUESDAY March 2, 2021.

Where San Diego COMIC-CON will once again be virtual this Summer. Events will stream July 23-25. Finally a reason to dress up at home.

🎧 MUSIC TO READ BY

New NICK JONAS - “Spaceman” (pronounced “Spe-chemen” #ChrisParnell)

YouTube / Spotify / Apple Music

If you need new tunes:

THE WAKEUP Spotify playlist

📽 THE SILVER SCREEN

NETFLIX pays $18 Million for US rights to Liam Neeson action pic “The Ice Road”

Liam plays a man with a very particular set of skills… like driving on icy roadways. Ok actually that is rather particular. Canadian ice driver must rescue workers in a mine collapse who are trapped on the other side of a frozen ‘ocean’ of water.

Written & Directed by Jonathan Hensleigh (“Armageddon” and original “Jumanji” writer). /Deadline

ALSO IN MOVIES

Nothin’. Quiet day.

📺 THE TV SET

Shira Haas (“Unorthodox”) to play former Israeli PM Golda Meir in series Exec Prod by Barbra Streisand

Eric Tuchman (“The Hanmaid’s Tale”) is writing & Mimi Leder (“The Morning Show”) directing. MGM TV now taking project out to buyers. /Deadline

Spike Lee doing HBO docuseries about NYC over the 2 decades since 9/11

Will release late 2021, called “NYC Epicenters 9/11→ 2021½”. /THR

Ed O’Neill & Sissy Spacek doing AMAZON Sci-Fi series “Lightyears”

Couple has a buried chamber in their backyard for years, that leads to a deserted planet. As one does. But things change once someone shows them it leads to much more. Will shoot later in the year. /Deadline

ALSO IN TV

Constance Wu joins Chris Pratt & Taylor Kitsch for AMAZON action conspiracy series “The Terminal List”. /Variety
DISNEY+ adds Indira Varma (“GOT”, “For Life”) to upcoming Obi Wan Kenobi show. No details on her role. /THR
Theo Rossi (“Luke Cage”) joins Kevin Hart / Wesley Snipes NETLFLIX limited series “True Story”. Theo playing superfan of KevHart’s comedian character in semi-autobiographical story. /Deadline
GLOBES audience likely taking a 50% ish hit, but will know more exact info today.
Jason Kennedy departs E! NEWS after 16 years. /Deadline
PARAMOUNT lays off 23 in Home Entertainment group, including Marketing and PR heads. Duties folded into Theatrical Marketing group. /MediaPlayNews

💻 THE MEDIA BIZ

INSTAGRAM expands IG Live video streaming ability from 2 to 4 people

TECH CRUNCH outlines the “how to do it” for those inclined. Oh hi CLUBHOUSE, we didn’t see you in the room. Because that’s not a function we have.

ALSO JUST GONNA PUT THESE HERE:

Right-wing focused social media app GAB was hacked. Includes both public and private posts, profiles and messages. /Wired

AXEL SPRINGER, publisher of Germany’s biggest paper & owner of INSIDER, MORNING BREW and others said FACEBOOK’s monetary offer to participate in FACEBOOK NEWS sucks (not a direct quote), so they’re sitting it out. /Reuters

ROKU buys NIELSEN’s Advanced Ad Tech platform

I’m not entirely sure what’s goin on here tbh. But from the sounds of it… this will help ROKU sell and insert ads in more than just streaming services on its platform (namely - also linear & cable TV networks), and increase revenue in a meaningful way.

Also sounds like it involves ROKU giving NIELSEN data about viewing patterns on their service. So if you’re inclined - have at it. /NextTV

🎥 TRAILER HOUSE

NETFLIX “Operation: Varsity Blues” trailer. Which is a… documentary? Or a Glorified Re-enactment? Matthew Modine plays the guy behind the “paying for college admissions” scandal that embroiled Lori Laughlin and many others, in like… re-creations of scenes using transcripts from the FBI wiretaps. Or something like that. Premieres March 17th.

👩‍💻 NEW TO WATCH:

“New Amsterdam” Season 3 premiere on NBC at 10pm.

“The Flash” Season 7 premiere on TheCW at 8pm.

“Soul of a Nation” premieres on ABC at 10pm. ABC News 6 part series on the Black experience in America.

IF you dig this, or have an idea on how I can make it better:

The Wakeup