| | | | What's news: Gwyneth Paltrow takes the stand in her ski crash trial. Jon Hamm is joining Mean Girls Musical. Reese Witherspoon and former CAA agent Jim Toth announce their divorce. Netflix's You lands a final season — with a new showrunner. A THR critic highlights 10 eerie documentaries about the wonders of our planet. — Ryan Gajewski |
Inside Marvel's Firing of Victoria Alonso ►"Victoria, a gay Latina who had the courage to criticize Disney, was silenced." THR's Borys Kit reports that the Oscar-nominated film Argentina, 1985 was at the center of the recent and sudden firing of longtime Marvel Studios executive Victoria Alonso. Alonso was one of eight producers on the Argentine historical drama, which was distributed by Amazon and competed for the best international feature Oscar. According to sources, Alonso breached her contract by assuming the role. Alonso's attorney said in a statement that Disney gave its blessing for her to work on the film and that the company's decision to let her go will have "serious consequences." The story.
—"I was hit by Mr. Sanderson, and he was at fault." Gwyneth Paltrow took the witness stand in the civil trial that has pitted the Oscar winner against a retired optometrist with whom she collided during a ski trip in 2016. Following their run-in at Utah's Deer Valley Resort, Dr. Terry Sanderson has accused the actress and wellness guru of quickly leaving the scene of a hit-and-run crash that caused ongoing injuries. The story.
—"These matters are never easy and are extremely personal." Reese Witherspoon and husband Jim Toth, a former CAA agent, are going their separate ways. The Oscar-winning actress confirmed the split just days before the couple — who share a son, Tennessee — were to celebrate their 12th anniversary on Sunday. The story.
—Making Draper happen. THR's Mia Galuppo has the scoop on Jon Hamm joining Mean Girls Musical in the role of Coach Carr, the resident gym coach and incompetent sex-ed teacher. The feature adapts the Broadway show, which is itself an adaptation of the 2004 teen comedy Mean Girls. Mean Girls Musical hails from Paramount, with the studio planning a Paramount+ debut. The story. |
Hollywood's AI Anxiety Is Showing ►"It's riding off the backs of creatives." After a cautious approach to ChatGPT-type products, guilds and creators are becoming more vocal about limiting AI's influence in entertainment. THR's J. Clara Chan explores whether a select group of companies — similar to the rise of Facebook and social media — can be trusted to guide the path forward. The story.
—Breathing easy. The doors of Grey Sloan Memorial will stay open for another year. ABC has ordered a 20th season of Grey's Anatomy, its longest-running primetime scripted series. The hospital drama has also named Meg Marinis as showrunner for the 2023-24 season, who will take over for Krista Vernoff. The story.
—One last chance to stalk. Netflix has handed out a fifth and final season renewal to its Penn Badgley drama You. Showrunner Sera Gamble, who has steered the series through its first four seasons (including its original run on Lifetime), is stepping back from her day-to-day role, as executive producers Michael Foley and Justin W. Lo take over. The story. |
10 Eerie Documentaries About the Wonders of Planet Earth ►"If you fuck with nature, nature will fuck with you right back." For THR's Sustainability Issue, critic Robyn Bahr highlights 10 groundbreaking films that explore nature in all its awesome — and occasionally terrifying — weirdness. From Fire of Love to Grizzly Man, the documentaries listed here showcase not only the grand scale of Earth but also demonstrate the refinement of our microcosmic communities. The list.
—"We asked our shows to model the sample behaviors on screen." THR's Evan Nicole Brown explores how some studios are making sustainability the default. Amazon Studios, HBO Green and Sony Pictures are three companies prioritizing sustainable practices on productions, by transitioning to clean energy batteries, limiting waste, planting trees and more. The story.
—"We need more diverse climate stories." Dr. Leah Stokes, co-host of the environmentally themed podcast A Matter of Degrees, says institutions — not individuals — can make the biggest difference in addressing the climate crisis. She tells THR's J. Clara Chan how Hollywood can manifest this with more storylines about what it will actually take to effect change. The interview.
—"You just try and source anywhere you can." Drew Barrymore, Jason Momoa and power stylist Karla Welch are among the many in Hollywood who have committed to living greener. For THR's Sustainability Issue, Danielle Directo-Meston examines how industry notables maintain their eco-conscious lifestyles. The story. |
'John Wick 4' Director Chad Stahelski Breaks Down That Ending ►"The response was, 'What are you fucking thinking?'" THR's Brian Davids interviews John Wick: Chapter 4 director Chad Stahelski about Lionsgate's stunned reaction to the Keanu Reeves-starring action film's conclusion. Stahelski reveals that he test-screened a slightly different ending and also remembers the late Lance Reddick. The interview.
—Revenge keeps getting sweeter. John Wick: Chapter 4 shot up the Thursday evening box office with a huge $8.9 million in previews. THR's Pamela McClintock reports that the Lionsgate action property's fourth installment is tracking for a franchise-best $65 million to $70 million domestically in its opening weekend, more than enough to kill off the competition, including holdover Shazam! Fury of the Gods. The story.
—Adam McKay is kind of a big deal — people know him. THR's Mia Galuppo and Borys Kit report that filmmaker Adam McKay's next project, Average Height, Average Build, is being described as part serial killer thriller, part comedy, and follows a murderer who uses political lobbyists to change laws in order to make things easier for himself. McKay wrote the script and would direct the feature that hit the inbox of studio heads this week, with Robert Pattinson, Amy Adams, Robert Downey Jr., Forest Whitaker and Danielle Deadwyler already attached. However, the path to a green light isn't without its bumps. The story. |
TV Review: 'Rabbit Hole' ►"I wish I admired more about it." THR's chief TV critic Daniel Fienberg reviews Paramount+'s Rabbit Hole. The series features Kiefer Sutherland delving into the world of corporate espionage. The review.
—"It's not something we can be glib about." THR's James Hibberd talks to Kiefer Sutherland about returning to TV with his misinformation-age Paramount+ thriller, Rabbit Hole. The actor discusses the media, a 24 reboot and his favorite 1980s movie role. The interview.
—"It's hard to keep a show on for multiple seasons in our current TV landscape." THR's Lesley Goldberg speaks with Dear Edward creator Jason Katims. He opens up about why Friday Night Lights alum Connie Britton will likely not be part of a potential sophomore season of the series, what happened with his deeply personal Amazon show As We See It and what's next. The interview.
In other news...
—Arrested Development: Netflix gains exclusive streaming rights to all seasons
—How a Pooh slasher flick may have tipped Hong Kong toward greater Beijing censorship
—2023 Series Mania: Four key takeaways
What else we're reading...
—In trying to predict the 2024 Oscar nominations, Joe Reid wonders whether Barbie could have a shot [VF]
—Ashok Selvam explores whether baseball’s new "pitch clock" will impact sales of those pricey ballpark beers [Eater]
—Tirhakah Love assesses the debate surrounding Swarm's most provocative moments [Vulture]
—It's not just in The Last of Us: Anna Kodé writes that mushrooms are becoming increasingly prominent motifs in interior design [NYT]
—John Mullan examines why Charles Dickens stories keep getting adapted for the screen [Guardian]
Today...
…in 2011, Warner Bros. unveiled Zack Snyder's fantasy action flick Sucker Punch. The original review.
Today's birthdays: Sarah Jessica Parker (58), Elton John (76), Lee Pace (44), Edgar Ramírez (46), Jenny Slate (41), Elizabeth Lail (31), Brenda Strong (63), Mikey Madison (24), Marcia Cross (61), Paul Michael Glaser (80), Aly Michalka (34), Katharine McPhee (39), Big Sean (35), Lark Voorhies (49) |
| George Levitt, who spent more than four decades as an executive with the National Amusements theater company, has died. He was 80. The obituary. |
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