| | | | What's news: The search continues for missing British actor Julian Sands. NBC orders a pilot based on the life and works of Oliver Sacks. A24 snaps up Aussie horror Talk to Me. Mubi picks up Ira Sachs' Passages. Justin Bieber sells song catalog to Hipgnosis. — Abid Rahman |
Oscar Noms Reaction and Analysis ►Have the nominations set the show up for success? THR's executive editor of awards Scott Feinberg goes in-depth to explain how the noms are great news for the Oscars telecast, why most of the highest-profile awards are still up for grabs, how the Academy's inclusion efforts are working in several ways — and what exactly happened with Andrea Riseborough. The analysis.
—First post-noms Feinberg forecast. With the 2023 Oscar nominations now out in the open, Scott analyzes the races for all 23 awards, including his projected order of finish. The forecast.
—"This is beyond just me." THR's Hilton Dresden spoke to Everything Everywhere All at Once star Michelle Yeoh on her first-ever Oscar nomination. The Asian icon reflects on her long career and reveals that she was petrified ahead of the nominations announcement. The interview.
—"None of this feels real right now." THR's Ashley Cullins spoke to Everything Everywhere All at Once star Ke Huy Quan on his Oscar nomination and the bewildering year he's having. The former child star hopes his comeback story inspires others to keep pursuing their dreams. The interview.
—"The support has been baffling." THR's Tyler Coates spoke to Andrea Riseborough about her surprise Oscar nom for To Leslie. Riseborough discusses the significance of the movie and why capturing the attention and appreciation of her acting peers is so important for her. The interview.
—"I just wish she was here to celebrate." THR's Beatrice Verhoeven spoke to Austin Butler about his Oscar nomination for Elvis. The actor opened up about the late Lisa Marie Presley, noting that she was, along with her mother Priscilla, a strong and consistent champion of his performance. The interview.
—"It finally got around to me." THR's Rebecca Keegan spoke to Top Gun: Maverick producer Jerry Bruckheimer soon after he received his first ever Oscar nomination. The industry veteran discussed Tom Cruise's passion for the theatrical experience and teased that they may re-release the film following six noms. The interview. |
Adult Swim Cuts Ties With Justin Roiland ►Dropped. Adult Swim has severed ties with Justin Roiland in the wake of news that he was charged with felony domestic abuse in Orange County. The cable channel distributes Rick and Morty, the hit animated comedy that Roiland co-created and exec produced, and for which he voiced both the titular characters. Sources say Rick and Morty is set to continue, with Roiland’s voice roles to be recast. Fellow co-creator Dan Harmon will now be the lone showrunner. The story.
—"No evidence of his current location has been discovered." The search continues for Julian Sands after the British actor was reported missing 12 days ago in the Mount Baldy area of Southern California, according to the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department. In a previous statement released Monday, Sands’ family thanked those who had been involved in the ongoing process, which included a list of multiple search and rescue teams. The story.
—Whither free speech? Elon Musk’s Twitter has complied with an Indian government request to delete all links to a BBC documentary critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to journalists and free speech advocates in the country. The first half of the two-part documentary India: The Modi Question aired on BBC Two in the U.K. on Jan. 17. The series investigates the “persistent allegations” against Modi of fanning the flames of Hindu nationalism and prejudice against India’s large Muslim minority. The story.
—🏆 Félicitations! 🏆 Louis Garrel’s heist comedy The Innocent and the Dominik Moll-directed procedural The Night of the 12th are the films to beat at this year’s César Awards, France’s top film prize. The Innocent, in which Garrel co-stars, alongside Tár actress Noemie Merlant and Roschdy Zem, picked up 11 César nominations, including for best film and best director. The nominations. |
Madonna Biopic Dead at Universal ►Frozen. The Madonna biopic that was to be directed by the legendary pop star herself is no longer in development at Universal. The news comes after the singer announced a massive world tour, though multiple sources say the movie actually was put in turnaround late last year. Julia Garner was the frontrunner to play Madonna after a long audition process that saw many young stars — including Florence Pugh and Odessa Young — go out for the role. The story.
—Unlikely pairing. Andy Serkis and Greg Berlanti are teaming to bring the life and work of famed neurologist Oliver Sacks to NBC. The broadcast network has handed out a pilot order for Wolf, a drama that is inspired by Sacks’ life and books The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat and An Anthropologist on Mars. Michael Grassi will pen the script for the drama pilot and exec produce alongside Lee Toland Krieger. The story.
—🎭 Cast filled out 🎭 Betty Gilpin, Dane DeHaan, Jai Courtney and Shea Whigham are among the 11 actors joining Netflix's Taylor Kitsch-led western American Primeval. The cast will also feature Kyle Bradley Davis, Nick Hargrove, Derek Hinkey, Saura Lightfoot Leon, Preston Mota, Shawnee Pourier and Joe Tippett. The story. |
'Flora and Son' Sells to Apple For $20M ►🤝 Another megadeal 🤝 Apple has picked up the worldwide rights to Flora and Son, John Carney’s musical ode to motherhood that features a breakthrough performance by Eve Hewson. Multiple sources say the deal landed at just over $20m. The feel-good charmer, steeped in Irish humor and flavor, premiered Sunday at Sundance in front of an audience that was laughing, cheering and wiping away tears, all culminating with a standing ovation. The story.
—🤝 A24 swoops in 🤝 Aussie horror feature Talk to Me is headed to A24 after premiering at Sundance during the festival's Midnight Selections lineup. Sources say the deal is valued in the high seven figures. Danny and Michael Philippou's gory film stars Sophia Wilde as teenager Mia, who, on the anniversary of her mother’s death, gathers for a seance with her friends. Miranda Otto, Alexandra Jensen, Joe Bird, Otis Dhanji and Zoe Terakes also star. The story.
—🤝 Neat little pickup 🤝 After screening at Sundance, the Ira Sachs film Passages has been snapped up by Mubi in the U.S., U.K., Ireland and Latin America. The Berlin-bound feature stars Franz Rogowski, Adèle Exarchopoulos and Ben Whishaw. Mubi is planning a 2023 theatrical release for the film in the acquired territories, followed by a release on the distributor’s streaming service. The story.
—🤝 Done deal 🤝 Hipgnosis Song Management has bought up a song catalog of Justin Bieber. Terms of the deal with Bieber’s longtime manager Scooter Braun were not disclosed, but the transaction gives the song investment company all publishing copyrights and master recordings for Bieber’s entire back catalog and career to date, or around 290 titles previously released. The story. |
Sundance Review: 'Fair Play' ►"Slick and confident, if not terribly deep." THR's chief film critic David Rooney reviews Chloe Domont's Fair Play. The writer-director debut feature, which stars Phoebe Dynevor and Alden Ehrenreich and is set in the cutthroat world of a New York investment firm, sold to Netflix at Sundance for a staggering $20m. The review.
—"Time well spent." THR's Sheri Linden reviews Thom Zimny, Oren Moverman's Willie Nelson & Family. A five-episode docuseries explores the life and music of the genre-bending country star. The review.
—"A meet-cute full of charisma and cheek." THR's Jordan Mintzer reviews Raine Allen-Miller's Rye Lane. David Jonsson and Vivian Oparah star in Allen-Miller's directorial debut as two star-crossed lovers on the rebound in a film set in and around the Peckham neighborhood of South London. The review. |
Sundance Review: 'Theater Camp' ►"No showstopper but enjoyable enough." THR's David Rooney reviews Molly Gordon and Nick Lieberman's Sundance competition entry Theater Camp. Acquired by Searchlight for $8m, this Christopher Guest-style comedy is an affectionate salute to the outsider kids who find community and shared passion in their love of the stage. The review.
—"An accessible look at the perilous future of food." THR's Justin Lowe reviews Laura Gabbert's Food and Country. The filmmaker partners with celebrated food writer Ruth Reichl in this doc that explores the impact of the COVID pandemic on America’s small farmers and independent restaurants. The review.
—"An insightful portrait of coming of age Christian." THR's Jourdain Searles reviews Laurel Parmet's Sundance competition entry The Starling Girl. Eliza Scanlen stars plays a 17-year-old evangelical Christian who has an affair with her youth pastor (Lewis Pullman) in the director's feature debut. The review.
—"A miracle of imagery and emotions." THR's Caryn James reviews Raven Jackson's Sundance competition entry All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt. The landscape of the rural South informs this poetic film about a Black family, produced by Barry Jenkins. The review.
In other news...
—TV ratings: Accused starts well on Fox after huge NFL lead-in
—Vice expands in Saudi Arabia via deal with media giant MBC
—Xbox sales drop as Microsoft’s gaming division declines in revenue
—Roku shake-up: David Eilenberg promoted to oversee content
—Rana Zand, Mariam Rastegar join Range Media’s digital unit
What else we're reading...
—Elle Hunt recaps the "very English" flirt off between Amelia Dimoldenberg and Andrew Garfield, this awards season's sweetest will-they-won't-they story [Guardian]
—Lachlan Cartwright reports on ABC's plans to sell Nate Silver's FiveThirtyEight [Daily Beast]
—Shannon Keating is ecstatic that Colin Farrell is finally having his moment [BuzzFeed]
—Nicholas Quah looks at the ways that FX's Welcome to Wrexham is changing the sports docuseries genre [Vulture]
—With Noma closing, Jessa Crispin asks whether this is the death of fine dining [Guardian]
Today...
...in 1970, Robert Altman’s R-rated M*A*S*H premiered in New York, breaking a single-day house record at the time for the Baronet Theatre with $6,660 in receipts. The film earned five nominations at the 43rd Academy Awards, winning one for its screenplay. The original review.
Today's birthdays: Ariana DeBose (32), Tati Gabrielle (27), Pauline Chalamet (31), Mia Kirshner (48), Dinah Manoff (67), Christine Lakin (44), Claudia Kim (38), Jenifer Lewis (66), Christina Ochoa (38), Ana Ortiz (52), Natalie Hall (33), Alexandra Turshen (37), Alicia Keys (42), Olivier Assayas (68), Hartley Sawyer (38), Don Mancini (60), Stephen Chbosky (53), Whit Stillman (71) |
| Lloyd Morrisett, the co-founder of Sesame Street whose curiosity about whether television could serve as a tool to teach children was piqued when he observed his young daughter staring at a TV test pattern, has died. He was 93. The obituary. |
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