| | | | Chinese blockbuster Ne Zha 2 has become the first non-Hollywood movie to cross $2B worldwide, joining an exclusive group of only six other titles to click past the threshold globally. Hollywood generally says huzzahs when a local film excels, given the knock-on effect of reminding audiences that it’s fun to go to the cinema while also exposing them to promotional materials for upcoming releases, thus stoking desire to return. While studio executives tell Deadline they are gobsmacked by Ne Zha 2’s success – one recently commented, “In a market of 1.4 billion people, when you tap into the zeitgeist you really see what’s possible” – they remain cautious about its true global (read: Hollywood) impact. How did the animated sequel achieve such lofty box office heights in China and pique interest from the rest of the world? Will it kickstart massive attendance at home across the rest of the year? What does it mean for Chinese movies beyond the Great Wall? And what about Hollywood — does Ne Zha fever affect studio fortunes in the fickle market? >>>More Than 300 Million Tickets Sold |
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| Deadline Exclusives & Originals |
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Utah's Sundance Struggles - By the end of April, the new home of the Sundance Film Festival should be public knowledge. However, a bill heading toward Utah Gov. Spencer Cox’s desk that would ban the Pride flag in schools and other state government buildings might be an 11th-hour obstacle to the Beehive State’s hopes of keeping the Robert Redford-founded event beyond 2026. >>>" What Are They Thinking?"
David E. Kelley's New Ballgame - Emmy winner David E. Kelley, who created Netflix's The Lincoln Lawyer based on Michael Connelly’s novels, is helping bring another popular book character by a bestselling author to the streamer. The prolific writer-producer has teamed with Harlan Coben to adapt his Myron Bolitar novels as a TV series. The books’ title character is a former top basketball player-turned-owner of an agency representing sports stars and celebrities. >>> A Priority For Netflix
James Bond In Narnia - While it is super-early in the dealmaking process, sources tell Deadline that Netflix and director Greta Gerwig are aiming high for their next piece of casting on their Chronicles of Narnia movie, as Daniel Craig has an offer to join the cast. >>>Potential Reunion With Streamer
Alex Cooper Goes 'Overboard' - Call Her Daddy’s Alex Cooper is swapping the podcast studio for the world of reality dating series with her latest project. Cooper, whose podcast is one of the most popular in the world, is producing a new dating format, Overboard for Love (w/t), for Hulu. >>>Set On The High Seas
Medieval Manga - CBS Studios and Propagate Content have teamed with actor and manga fan Masi Oka (Hawaii Five-0) to develop a television adaptation of fantasy manga series Claymore in partnership with Japanese publishing company Shueisha. >>>Fierce Female Warriors
In Brief - Major League Wrestling names Paul Walter Hauser executive producer... Ian Hamilton’s Ava Lee novels adapted for TV... Nimesh Patel signs with Range Media Partners |
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There’s only one One Tree Hill, but luckily for fans, Sophia Bush and pals are giving the show a second life. The Drama Queens podcast co-host told Deadline she’s “pumped” about the upcoming revival of her WB/CW drama One Tree Hill, which originally ran for nine seasons from 2003 to 2012. We reported in August that a sequel series was in the works at Netflix with Bush and Hilarie Burton-Morgan attached to reprise their roles. “We’ve been asked about bringing the show back for so long, and I think for so many years, all of us said that would be a hard no,” Bush said at the iHeartPodcasts Awards. “And really, the podcast has given all of us this sort of opportunity to have a homecoming. And to get to analyze what was so special about it in the first place has made that more of a possibility.” >>> Read The Interview |
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Exclusive
Tom Holland looks to have found a new co-star — one who is no “stranger” to popular IP. Sources tell Deadline that Stranger Things star Sadie Sink is set to join the next Spider-Man sequel from Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios.
Exclusive
Franka Potente has joined the cast of AMC's Dark Winds in a key guest role for Season 4.
Exclusive
Emmy winner Jeff Daniels has been tapped to recur opposite Jason Segel and Harrison Ford in the upcoming third season of Apple TV+’s popular comedy Shrinking.
Exclusive
Oscar winners Ellen Burstyn and Taika Waititi are set to star in Kornél Mundruczó’s feature drama Place to Be. The film follows the unlikely friendship of an elderly woman (Burstyn) and middle-aged man (Waititi) as they travel from Chicago to New York to return a lost racing pigeon.
Exclusive
Walden Media and Akiva Goldsman's Weed Road Pictures are making the Cold War thriller Billion Dollar Spy, with Oscar winner Russell Crowe and Industry’s Harry Lawtey set to headline.
Exclusive
Seth Green has joined the cast of The Conners for the upcoming seventh and final season. Green will play Chad, Darlene’s new friend who is going through a separation from his wife, in a three-episode arc.
In Brief - Clifton Collins Jr. & Mo McRae to recur in Apple's Lucky... Lexi Underwood, Case Walker & Kat Cunning starring in Bad Karaoke... Four board I Can Only Imagine 2 |
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More News
🎤 It’s official: Nikki Glaser will be back to host the Golden Globes next year. The comedian will front the 83rd iteration of the film and TV awards, which will take place in January 2026 and air on CBS.
💰 Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings is donating more money to help the people of Ukraine. Hastings has donated $2M to White Stork, a veteran-led critical aid and last mile logistics charity. Two years ago, he donated $1M for emergency relief to the Razom charity.
🏆 The South by Southwest Conference and Festivals announced its 2025 Jury and Special Award winners. Amy Wang‘s Slanted won the Narrative Feature competition while Shuffle, directed by Benjamin Flaherty, won the Documentary Feature competition. |
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On the Radar
Thu - Long Bright River series premiere
Fri - Black Bag opens
Sun - Othello opens on Broadway
Mon - St. Patrick's Day
Wed - Hakeem Jeffries L.A. fundraiser |
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Inspiring - Rachel Zegler performs “Waiting on a Wish” during an event for Disney’s live-action Snow White at Alcazar de Segovia, the castle in Segovia, Spain that inspired the 1937 animated film. |
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