WB gets 2nd Jason Momoa movie in 3 weeks
Frank Langella writes OP-ED about NETFLIX firing / iHEART podcast revenue yawns / NBC orders QUANTUM LEAP reboot
Mornin! This is Sean McNulty and here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on FRIDAY May 6, 2022.
Where let’s have our Friday morning blood of Megan Fox coffee ☕️ at MACHINE GUN KELLY’s new house in Encino (I’ll understand if you’re running late). MACHINE bought it from Logan Paul which… kinda tracks, for a bargain $7.5 Million (Logan was asking $9 Mil).
MGK and Megan have been looking for a new place ever since leaving their last place in Sherman Oaks because it had ghosts who would watch MGK get massages. No I didn’t make that up, why?
AND: The guy who attacked Chappelle on stage will only face misdemeanor charges - well 4 of them. He apparently was a 23 year-old “aspiring rapper” according to TMZ.
ALSO: THR got the backstory on how Kim Kardashian secured Marilyn Monroe’s dress to wear at the MET GALA. And no I did not actually read this article… but figuring some folks may be inclined - I mean it’s not all about Sean. That’s a separate newsletter I do.
📽 THE SILVER SCREEN
WB buying all the Jason Momoa stock it can get, takes another project he’ll star in off the market
This one’s from the writers of “Eternals” - a fun action murder-mystery… but not a lotta details avail otherwise. Nor is the pricetag for the script / project, currently called “The Executioner”.
Peter Safran (“The Suicide Squad”, “Conjuring” pics) is producing. /Deadline
IN THE HOLLYWOOD EXECUTIVE SUITE
ICM Partner & Co-Production dept head Dan Baime is departing after 25 years, forming his own management co, INTERNA MANAGEMENT. Longtime client John Cena is coming with, but no other talent listed. /Deadline
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📺 THE TV SET
NBC orders “Quantum Leap” reboot for Fall schedule
It was actually the only NBC drama pilot in consideration for the Fall (a couple others are in contention for mid-season).
Scott Bakula is not involved, and NBC is going to re-shoot some elements from the finished pilot, possibly with a new director. /Deadline
FX sets Ed O’Neill to play disgraced LA CLIPPERS owner Donald Sterling in limited series
6 episodes, based on the 30 for 30 podcast on the whole debacle. Laurence Fishburne already set as CLIPPERS coach Doc Rivers, and Jacki Weaver playing his wife. /Deadline
ALSO IN TV
Letterman’s NETFLIX interview show is returning on Fri May 20 with 6 episodes:
Ryan Reynolds, Cardi B, Kevin Durant, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Billie Eilish and Will Smith (uh, all shot pre-March 2022).
HBO renews “Minx” for a Season 2. /Variety
CBS renews “The Equilizer” for two more seasons. /THR
FX’s “Justified” reboot/extension/🤷♂️ “City Primeval” adds Aunjanue Ellis, Boyd Holbrook and 12 others to the cast. /THR
PEACOCK buys “Rainn Wilson and the Geography of Bliss” 6-part docutravel series as he searches for happiness. 🤞 he comes to Queens!
USA picks up bar & drinking games series “Barmageddon” from Blake Shelton & Carson Daly 🍻, conveniently shot at Blake’s bar in Nashville. WWE’s Nikki Bella will serve as host. /Deadline
📝 IN OTHER WORDS…
“I have been cancelled. Just like that.”
- FRANK LANGELLA penning a column in DEADLINE about his dismissal from NETFLIX’s “Fall of the House of Usher” series for misconduct, for which he details the exact circumstances from the on-set incident from his POV.
💻 THE MEDIA BIZ
iHEART, the biggest podcast publisher in the US, made… $69 Million in podcasting Revenue in Q1
Yeah this industry has a way to go. Otherwise iHEART had yet another losing quarter, posting a $49 Million Q1 loss on $844 Million in total Revenue. /THR
WWE sets Q1 Revenue record, at $333 Million
Overall a very positive quarter as the WWE continues to rebound in a re-opened live event world.
The latest WRESTLEMANIA was the 2nd most viewed event on PEACOCK ever, only behind the SUPER BOWL. Profit was +50% vs a year ago, at $66 Million.
60% of Revenue comes from licensing shows to TV networks, their PEACOCK deal, and similar deals in select International territories.
Stock was up almost 5% after hours.
RELATED BUT NOT RELATED: The country’s biggest Concert promoter LIVE NATION posted their best Q1 ever for “adjusted operating income” (kinda like Revenue). Ticket sales for 2022 are +36% vs this same point in 2019. I guess it’s refreshing to see charging $25 vigs on concert tickets having such a revival?
ALSO IN MEDIA
Morale got a big failing grade at CBS NEWS, as the culture of setting 7p meetings with employees created by new NEWS management doesn’t seem to be going over well. huh. /NY Post.
SPOTIFY testing pre-save function with FLORENCE + THE MACHINE’s new album - similar to shows and movies on streaming where you can add them to your List before they drop so you don’t forget. /MusicTech
Bob Iger, Peter Chernin and Rich Paul among names making a $263 Million investment in FUNKO, a pop culture collectables/dolls & figurines maker. EBAY also a large investor in this round which represents a 25% ownership stake. /Deadline
🏦 STOCK NOTES:
it was a #notgreatbob Thursday. oof. 😫
IMAX -5% ($15.58)
APPLE -5% ($156.77)
AMC THEATERS -6% ($14.69)
CINEMARK -6% ($15.09)
SPOTIFY -6% (105.59)
AMC NETWORKS -6% ($32.95)
ROKU -7% ($102.45)
FACEBOOK -7% ($208.28)
AMAZON -7% ($2,328.14)
NETFLIX -8% ($188.32)
ENDEAVOR -8% ($20.00)
NY TIMES -9% ($35.84)
SNAP -10% ($27.27)
CINEWORLD (Regal Cinemas) -11% ($0.36)
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👩💻 THE FSS FEED:
(new Stuff to Watch this weekend, Friday - Saturday - Sunday)
WEEKEND READS
More of just an interesting read on a raft of seemingly organized theft targeting Atlanta Production Rental companies, to the tune of $3 Million in camera equipment losses in the past 18 months. /New Yorker
FRIDAY
IN THEATERS:
I hear that “Doctor Strange” thing is still going strong.
STREAMING:
MOVIES
NETFLIX “The Takedown” Omar Sy pic from the director of “The Transporter” - STREAM HERE
NETFLIX “Along for the Ride” - Teen bookworm comes out of her shell at the beach before she goes to college, with Kate Bosworth and Dermot Mulroney as mom and dad - STREAM HERE
SERIES
APPLE TV+ “Tehran” Season 2 - STREAM HERE
APPLE TV+ “The Big Conn” docuseries - STREAM HERE
IMDB..err FREEVEE “Bosch: Legacy” - gotta find your own link
TV:
SHOWTIME “Sheryl” Sheryl Crow docu at 9p
SATURDAY
SNL is Zoe Kravitz and ROSALIA
SUNDAY
New “60 Minutes” CBS at 7p
🎥 TRAILER HOUSE
NETFLIX “Cobra Kai” Season 5 date announcement - although this kinda feels like a 90 second teaser trailer. To quote Shakespeare… “A rose by any other name-” yea that’s about as far as my brain got on that one. Premieres Sept 9.
HBOMAX “House of the Dragon” teaser trailer - Premieres Aug 21
UNIVERSAL “Easter Sunday” trailer - Jo Koy famly comedy pic, in theaters August 5
🎧 PLAYING ME OFF
This other new KNOCKS song “Real Life” is also great to get you moving on a Friday morning.
If you need some new tunes:
Email me anytime - just Reply to this email, or connect here on LINKED IN.
-SEAN MCNULTY
@theseanmac on TWITTER
@TheWakeupNews on INSTAGRAM