First among Hollywood unions this year, the Writers’ Guild of America is going face-to-face with the studios starting today in what are expected to be contentious negotiations for a new overall contract. However, the atypical pole position for scribes this labor round is a consequence of the AMPTP’s rebuke of the DGA's efforts to strike a pact a few months ago.
In November of 2022, the Directors’ Guild sought to spark an early dialogue with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers by sending over “pre-conditions,” as one studio source called them, for early negotiations. Over the last decade and more, the DGA has negotiated ahead of the WGA and SAG-AFTRA in contract talks with the Carol Lombadini-led group.
In contrast to the last three contract sit-downs, though, the DGA had weightier-than-usual caveats it wanted dealt with before it would agree to setting a date for the launch of formal talks. Referred to hazily as “preliminary conversations,” by the guild itself when it revealed February 4 that the WGA would be first this year to meet with the AMPTP, the initial communication laid out several topics that the DGA wanted the studios to blueprint a deal on in exchange for going first and potentially setting the tone for the other guilds. >>>Sticking Points |
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For The Greater Good? - Hours before the WGA and the studios are scheduled to start talks on a new overall contact, the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers decided to publicly play nice. "The AMPTP companies approach this negotiation and the ones to follow with the long-term health and stability of the industry as our priority," the trade association declared Sunday in a pre-talks salvo. >>> "We Are All Partners "
Back Into The Arena - Almost 16 years ago Denzel Washington and Ridley Scott wowed audiences with their hit crime drama American Gangster, and now it looks like the the two A-listers are ready to get back together in a big way. Sources tell Deadline that Washington is in final negotiations to co-star in Scott’s sequel to his Oscar Best Picture winner Gladiator for Paramount. Paul Mescal is on board to star opposite Washington, with Scott returning to the director’s chair. >>> "Bad-Ass" Role
A24 To The Fore - The head of the VC firm that led a $225 million investment round in A24 a year ago says the indie producer-distributor has “extraordinary” momentum after winning nine Oscars, including the first single-company sweep of the top six categories (lead and supporting actor and actress; Picture; and Director). A24 is now looking to build a large international business and potentially pull off acquisitions (as opposed to the longstanding assumption that it would be acquired). >>> "A Needle In A Haystack"
Fade To 'Grey' - Grey Sloan Memorial will be losing both of Ellis Grey’s daughters this season. Kelly McCreary, who has played Maggie Pierce, Meredith Grey’s (Ellen Pompeo) half-sister and head of the hospital’s cardiothoracic surgery since the end of Season 10, is departing ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy after nine years. >>>Final Episode Set
'Air' Apparent - In his fifth feature film as a director, Ben Affleck’s "talents exceed expectations," writes Deadline's Valerie Complex in her assessment of the director-actor's latest effort, Air, which she reviewed at SXSW. >>>The Deadline Review |
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In introducing his character William Henry Devereaux, Jr., the unlikely chairman of the English department in a sorely underfunded college in AMC's Lucky Hank, Bob Odenkirk observed, "There’s something great about that journey where a character you meet is funny or in this case, he’s kind of a crabby, funny guy, and you start to become aware that he’s emotionally falling apart — and the character is also aware of it. He feels as if his world is coming unmoored and he’s sympathetic." >>>Watch |
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More News
💍 Rupert Murdoch, 92, is newly engaged. The media mogul revealed to the New York Post that he plans to get married for a fifth time this summer to Ann Lesley Smith, a former San Francisco Police chaplain who is 26 years his junior. "I knew this would be my last," Murdoch said. "It better be. I’m happy."
👀 Former Biden White House press secretary Jen Psaki began her new MSNBC program on Sunday by telling the audience, “It’s a hell of a week to launch a new show.” She was talking about the big news of the weekend: Donald Trump’s potential arrest and his call on his supporters to protest. An intriguing question is how far the host will go in speaking out about the actions of the current occupant of the White House, or if the show will be able to book Republican guests and fervent Biden administration critics.
👋 Colin Davis, Head of Scripted Originals for the Roku Channel, is leaving the free ad-supported streaming service to join Sony as EVP Comedy Development at Sony Pictures Television Studios. Davis, who starts May 1, will oversee development of comedies for all platforms, reporting to Jason Clodfelter, co-president of Sony Pictures Television Studios.
👑 Roku quickly found its new scripted boss. The free-ad supported streaming service has promoted Brian Tannenbaum to oversee scripted content following news of Colin Davis’ departure to Sony Pictures Television. Deadline understands that he will initially take on the role on an interim basis, but sources suggest that he will likely get the job on a permanent basis.
⚕️ As The Goldbergs is wrapping its 10-season run on ABC, series star Wendi McLendon-Covey has been tapped to lead another single-camera broadcast comedy, NBC pilot St. Denis Medical. St. Denis Medical is a mockumentary about an underfunded, understaffed Oregon hospital where the dedicated doctors and nurses try their best to treat patients while maintaining their sanity.
🙏 Nicholas Lloyd Webber, the eldest son of Andrew Lloyd Webber, is critically ill with gastric cancer, the Phantom of the Opera composer has announced. Nicholas’ hospitalization will necessitate Sir Andrew’s absence from this week’s Broadway opening of the composer’s Bad Cinderella.
In Brief - Ian Metrose is exiting his CBS Communications role after a 20-year stint. |
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BY THE NUMBERS
-43% - The percentage by which the domestic opening weekend for 'Shazam! Fury of the Gods' underperformed the original 'Shazam!'s' debut |
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Trending  With Jesus Revolution surging past $45 million in ticket sales — matching or besting The Fabelmans, The Banshees Of Inisherin, Tár, Women Talking and Triangle Of Sadness, combined — it finally seems safe to say that the faith-based audience is back.
🔻 Leaked rehearsal plans for the upcoming Coronation of King Charles III reveal that, while Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been invited, there is currently no place for them in the procession to follow the King’s crowning at Westminster Abbey. |
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Obituaries
🕯 Lance Reddick, the prolific actor who played Charon in all four John Wick films and was a series regular on The Wire, Fringe and Bosch among dozens of other roles spanning a quarter-century, died Friday. He was 60. 🕯 Hal Dresner, a veteran writer for film and television who is credited for the memorable line, “What we have here is a failure to communicate” in the film Cool Hand Luke , died Friday in Ashland, Oregon of cancer. He was 85. Dresner's long career as a writer and produce included work on The Harvey Korman Show, The Eiger Sanction, CBS Summer Playhouse, MASH, and more. 🕯 Hollywood & Media Deaths In 2023: Photo Gallery & Obituaries |
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On the Radar
Mon - WGA & AMPTP contract talks begin
Tue - Jennifer Aniston on Fallon
Wed - Brian Cox on Fallon
Thu - TikTok CEO testifies before Congress; NCAA Sweet 16 begins; Lille Dialogues
Fri - Daisy Jones & the Six finale
Sun - Yellowjackets S2 premiere |
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Teaser - Jason Sudeikis and the rest of the cast of the Emmy-winning Apple TV+ comedy Ted Lasso will meet with President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden at the White House today to discuss the importance of addressing mental health and overall well-being. To tease the conversation, President Biden tweeted out a photo of the Oval Office with the Lasso mantra "Believe" emblazoned over the entryway. Sudeikis will be joined by fellow cast members Hannah Waddingham, Jeremy Swift, Phil Dunster, Brett Goldstein, Brendan Hunt, Toheeb Jimoh, Cristo Fernandez, Kola Bokinni, Billy Harris and James Lance. |
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