| | | | | | What's news: It's magazine day! This week's cover stars are Adolescent's Stephen Graham and Owen Cooper. A bipartisan group of senators has reintroduced the "No Fakes" bill. Weezer bassist Scott Shriner’s wife Jillian Lauren was shot by the LAPD. A U.K. version of SNL is coming in 2026. HBO has renewed The Last of Us. Prada has agreed to buy Versace. — Abid Rahman
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The Rage of 'Adolescence': Inside the Single-Shot Sensation Blowing Up the Manosphere ►On the cover. Philip Barantini’s four-part series Adolescence — each episode filmed in one long, meticulously choreographed shot — has not only dominated the cultural zeitgeist since its March 13 release on Netflix, but spilled over into politics, parenting and even ignited fears the British prime minister couldn’t ignore: “I’ve got a 16-year-old boy and a 14-year-old girl,” Keir Starmer told Parliament recently, adding that the show "hit home hard." In their first group interview, Adolescence stars Stephen Graham, Owen Cooper, Ashley Walters and Erin Doherty open up to THR's Lily Ford about Netflix's most popular U.K. title of all time: "This is an examination of male rage." The cover story. |
Senators Reintroduce "No Fakes" Bill Taking on AI Deepfakes ►United front. A bipartisan group of senators has reintroduced legislation aimed at taking on unauthorized uses of voices and likenesses for AI-generated deepfakes, gaining support from stakeholders in the entertainment and tech industries. The bill would establish a federal right for every American to their voice and visual likeness, a particularly sought-after distinction for famous actors and recording artists. Per a press release, the bill also requires “promptly removing unauthorized deepfakes” from UGC platforms. The onus would be on individuals to notify platforms about the use of unauthorized deepfakes. Entertainment organizations like SAG-AFTRA, the RIAA and the MPA had voiced their support of the bill last time, and the newly reintroduced bill has also drawn support from the likes of YouTube and OpenAI. The story.
—"It gives everyone the ability to control if and how their personal attributes are digitally replicated." In a guest column for THR, Mitch Glazer, CEO of the Recording Industry Association of America, Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy, and Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, national executive director of SAG-AFTRA pen an open letter backing the "No Fakes" bill. The trio write that the legislation "hits the sweet spot of protecting people, free speech, and AI innovation all at the same time." The column.
—Fighting back. A number of major YouTube stars have signed on to a pilot program that will give high-profile figures more control over their likenesses on the platform. The video platform says that creators like MrBeast (real name Jimmy Donaldson), MKBHD (Marques Brownlee) and Mark Rober have signed on to test the tool, which was announced last year. The tool’s rollout comes as generative AI tech makes it almost trivially easy to replicate the appearance or voice or a celebrity. The story.
—Cautiously optimistic. James Cameron, the Oscar-winning director of films like Avatar, Terminator and Titanic , appears cautiously optimistic about the role generative AI can play in filmmaking, though even if he is wary of the “in the style of” prompts that have proliferated after images in the style of Studio Ghibli flooded the internet over the past few weeks. “I think we should discourage the text prompt that says, ‘in the style of James Cameron,’ or ‘in the style of Zack Snyder,'” the filmmaker said on a podcast Wednesday, adding that “makes me a little bit queasy.” And yet, Cameron acknowledges that the ability to create content that mimics great talents is undeniably interesting, and mirrors what he himself does in his own head. Cameron joined the board of AI firm Stability AI last year. Stability is the company behind the Stable Diffusion image model. The story.
—Embracing the tech. Indie production giant Fremantle has launched Imaginae Studios, that it describes as a "standalone label designed specifically to harness the power of artificial intelligence, to service and support its creative talent, pushing production boundaries and driving innovation in storytelling." The company added that Imaginae will use all AI "solutions, technologies and tools" in the creation of content but claimed the label will adhere "to the strictest intellectual property and compliance standards." The launch of the new label was spearheaded by Andrea Scrosati, Fremantle Group chief operating officer & CEO Europe. The story.
—🤝 First-look deal 🤝 Harmony Korine’s studio EDGLRD has sealed a first-look deal with Runway, the New York-based film-focused machine-intelligence firm. The companies have previously worked together in a less formal way. Runway helped provide the AI baby faces in last year’s Venice Film Festival premiere Baby Invasion, a hybrid movie-videogame centered on a home invasion by thieves wearing baby masks. As part of the pact, Korine will also serve on the jury at Runway’s AI Film Festival that will take place at New York’s Alice Tully Hall and L.A.’s The Broad Stage Theater this June. The story. |
Weezer Bassist's Wife Shot During L.A. Police Chase ►Shocking. Weezer bassist Scott Shriner’s wife, Jillian Lauren, was shot by police while officers were pursuing suspects in a hit-and-run in Los Angeles on Tuesday, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. LAPD officers said they responded to the scene to assist the California Highway Patrol in finding three suspects following a hit-and-run in the Eagle Rock neighborhood. Shortly into their search, officers were checking behind a residence for one of the suspects when they spotted a woman, later identified as Jillian Shriner, outside a neighboring residence and armed with a handgun. Police said they commanded her to drop the gun multiple times, but said that she refused and pointed it at them, and officers shot Shriner. Police said Shriner was not involved in the hit-and-run, and she was absentee booked for attempted murder. The story.
—Seeking to quash. Warner Bros. legal reps have asked a New York judge to quash a subpoena from Sean “Diddy” Combs’ legal team that is demanding the raw, unedited interviews and other materials related to two individuals who appeared in the Investigation Discovery documentary The Fall of Diddy, as the rap mogul’s sex trafficking and racketeering trial looms. Combs’s lawyers filed the subpoena in March seeking all the unedited recordings from interviews with two individuals who appeared in the four-part documentary series, which premiered on Jan. 27. The story.
—🤝 Sold! 🤝 In a billion dollar deal that shakes up the world of luxury fashion, Prada has agreed to buy Versace from its owner Capri Holdings. The all cash deal, valued at $1.375b, will merge two of the most famous Italian luxury fashion brands under one roof. It is expected to close in the second half of the year pending regulatory approvals. Capri said that it would use the cash from the deal to invest in its other brands, which include Jimmy Choo and Michael Kors. Prada also owns brands like Miu Miu, Church’s and Marchesi 1824. The story.
—New policy. The new German government has promised to back the local film and TV industry, pledging to boost production tax incentives and implement investment requirements for global streamers operating in the country. The incoming government, headed by presumptive future German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, outlined its plans on Wednesday, making the film industry’s wish list part of the coalition agreement between Merz’s conservative CDU party and partners the CSU and SPD. The coalition deal will include proposals by the German industry to boost the country’s production tax incentives and introduce a French-style “investment commitment” from global streamers. The story.
—Upped! Lori O’Connor has been promoted to executive vp and publisher at THR. O’Connor’s appointment, which is effective immediately, comes as the brand continues to grow and expand across events, video, branded content and international operations. In her expanded role, O’Connor will oversee THR’s business operations with P&L responsibility. She will lead business and revenue operations across live media, social media, marketing, video operations, licensing, international and sales. She will also helm THR’s premier awards season franchises and prestigious live events, including the annual Women in Entertainment philanthropic event, the Raising Our Voices initiative and more. The story. |
Cannes 2025 Lineup Revealed ►C'est magnifique! The 78th edition of the Cannes Film Festival is looking to be another knockout, with some of this year’s hottest features, including Wes Anderson’s The Phoenician Scheme, Richard Linklater’s Nouvelle Vague, and Ari Aster’s Eddington set to premiere on the Croisette. Cannes delegate general Thierry Frémaux and president Iris Knobloch announced this year’s line-up at a press conference in Paris Thursday morning. The 2025 competition line-up is packed with auteur heavyweights, including new films from the likes of Kelly Reichardt, Joachim Trier, Jafar Panahi, Julie Ducournau, Oliver Hermanus and Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne. The lineup.
—Attendez! Spike Lee's name was missing from Thursday's Cannes lineup reveal, but the filmmaker says his film Highest 2 Lowest starring Denzel Washington will premiere out of competition at the festival. Lee broke the news of his invite a mere hour after the Cannes lineup unveiling livestream ended. Highest 2 Lowest is an English-language reinterpretation of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 Japanese film High and Low, itself loosely based on the 1959 novel King’s Ransom. The story.
—Doubles débuts. Scarlett Johansson and Harris Dickinson are set to make their directorial debuts at this year’s Cannes. Johansson will premiere Eleanor the Great starring June Squibb, while Dickinson debuts his feature-length film Urchin following a drifter on the streets of London. Both films will debut in Cannes' Un Certain Regard section. The story.
—🤝 Vendu! 🤝 Arthouse distributor and streaming service Mubi has acquired all rights in key markets to Sentimental Value, Joachim Trier’s latest feature film, which will premiere in competition at Cannes this year. The film is described as a comedy-drama about a family in Oslo, the house they have lived in for generations, and of how the past can resurface in unexpected ways. The film stars Renate Reinsve, Stellan Skarsgård, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas and Elle Fanning. The story. |
China to Reduce Imports of Hollywood Films ►It’s official. China is set to reduce the number of Hollywood films it imports in response to an escalating tariff war with the U.S. and will look to increase film imports from other countries. The China Film Administration, the body that handles film releases and quotas in the country, released a statement on Thursday in response to a reporter’s question about whether the Trump administration’s increasing tariffs on China would impact imports of American films. "We will follow market rules, respect the audience’s choice, and moderately reduce the number of American films imported," the statement said. "China is the world’s second-largest film market. We have always adhered to a high level of opening up to the outside world and will introduce more excellent films from the world to meet market demand." The story.
—🎭 Ledger added 🎭 Tyriq Withers is joining Maika Monroe in the forthcoming feature Reminders of Him. Vanessa Caswill is directing Universal's adaptation of the best-selling Colleen Hoover novel. Hoover wrote the script with Lauren Levine for the project that focuses on motherhood and the redemptive power of love. Longlegs' Monroe was previously announced to star as lead character Kenna Rowan, while Withers plays former professional athlete Ledger Ward. The story. |
'Last of Us' Renewed for S3 by HBO ►No-brainer. HBO has renewed the Emmy-winning drama series The Last of Us for a third season ahead of its highly anticipated return this weekend. The news comes on the heels of the show’s new episodes receiving glowing reviews from critics, with season two currently sitting at a 92 percent positive average on Rotten Tomatoes, and THR calling it “thrilling” and “addictive.” The story.
—"Live from London, it’s Saturday Night!" That phrase may not be familiar yet, but that will change next year when NBC’s long-running live sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live hits the U.K. with an official local adaptation. Comcast-owned Sky and SNL creator Lorne Michaels are taking the venerable old comedy institution across the Atlantic, with Saturday Night Live UK set to air sometime in 2026. The live, fast-paced sketch format will remain the same for the adaptation, with a star-studded lineup of hosts and musical acts complimenting a cast of British comedians and comedy writers. The story.
—New playing field. AMC Networks is getting into the sports documentary game. The company has ordered a four-part docuseries looking back at the San Francisco 49ers’ dynastic run in the NFL of the 1980s and ‘90s. Titled Gold Rush, the series comes from AMC Studios and Skydance Sports and counts Tom Brady among its executive producers. NFL Films, Religion of Sports and Brady’s 199 Productions are also involved. The story.
—Salem bound. AMC is further extending the lives of Mayfair Witches. The cable network and its sibling streamer AMC+ have picked up a third season of Mayfair Witches, which is part of its Anne Rice universe. Along with the renewal, AMC announced that Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul alum Thomas Schnauz is joining the series as co-showrunner alongside Esta Spalding. Season three will be set in Salem, Massachusetts — where the infamous witch trials of the late 17th century took place — and will delve deeper into the mythology of witchcraft and introduce new characters. The story. |
The 20 Sexiest TV Shows of All Time, Ranked ►Hot, hot, hot! Just in time for The White Lotus withdrawal and the post-Dying for Sex drought, THR's crack team of critics rank the hottest television series to ever set the small screen a-sizzle. The list.
—"I was watching the finale the other night and the shooting happened, I got really torn up. I didn’t expect that. It felt like the death of that chapter for me in my life." THR's co-editor-in-chief Maer Roshan spoke to Patrick Schwarzenegger about The White Lotus, and also what's up next for the in-demand young actor. Schwarzenegger also discusses whether he would consider action roles and working with his legendary father. Warning: Spoilers! The interview.
—"Guillermo del Toro once told me that I exude a certain type of brilliance on camera, and I’ve embraced whatever that is." THR's Brian Davids spoke to Rami Malek about his new film, The Amateur. The Oscar-winner discusses producing the feature and how he and director James Hawes differentiated his computer acting in The Amateur from Mr. Robot. The interview. |
Film Review: 'G20' ►"Slow to start, but Davis kicks it into gear." THR's Lovia Gyarkye reviews Patricia Riggen's G20. Oscar-winner Viola Davis joins Anthony Anderson, Ramón Rodríguez, Douglas Hodge, Marsai Martin and Antony Starr in this Amazon Prime Video political action thriller. The review.
—"Endlessly endearing." THR's Angie Han reviews Netflix's North of North. Set in a tiny and tight-knit Arctic village, the series follows a 20something Inuit woman trying to rebuild her life after exiting her marriage. The review.
In other news...
—Armie Hammer’s ex Elizabeth Chambers reveals “heartbreak” in ID’s Toxic trailer
—Vince Vaughn, Susan Sarandon start an Italian restaurant in Netflix’s Nonnas trailer
—Jennifer Lopez to host 2025 American Music Awards
—Jewish Film Festival Berlin Brandenburg unveils 2025 line-up
—Alice Tan Ridley, NYC subway sensation turned recording artist, dies at 72
—Richard Kahn, former president of the Motion Picture Academy, dies at 95
—Joey D. Vieira, young actor on Lassie, dies at 80
What else we're reading...
—Annie Linskey, Josh Dawsey and Meridith McGraw attempt to explain why Trump caved on the tariffs just hours after they went into effect [WSJ]
—With the spate of recent box office successes, including Minecraft, Chris Lee writes that video games have overtaken superheroes as Hollywood's dominant IP [Vulture]
—Luna Sun reports that Chinese exporters are ditching shipments mid-voyage to avoid crushing Trump tariffs [SCMP]
—Zolan Kanno-Youngs reports that Trump’s suspect encouragement of stock investors on Wednesday is drawing scrutiny [NYT]
—Ryan Miller, from the band Guster, explains why they decided to play the Kennedy Center, and why they probably won't be invited back [Atlantic]
Today...
...in 2015, 20th Century released George Tillman Jr.'s The Longest Ride in theaters. The feature adaptation of Nicholas Sparks' book starred Scott Eastwood and Britt Robertson and was a moderate box office success. The original review.
Today's birthdays: Charlie Hunnam (45), Daisy Ridley (33), Barkhad Abdi (40), David Harbour (50), Mandy Moore (41), Jamie Chung (42), Steven Seagal (73), Alex Pettyfer (35), Michael Pitt (44), Peter MacNicol (71), Laura Bell Bundy (44), Sofia Carson (32), Haley Joel Osment (37), Chyler Leigh (43), Pej Vahdat (43), Ryan Merriman (42), Orlando Jones (57), Harry Hadden-Paton (44), AJ Michalka (34), Billy Jayne (56), Omar Metwally (51), Guillaume Canet (52), Molly Bernard (37), Sarah Dumont (35), Jamie Renée Smith (38), Rainbow Wedell (24), Conor Leslie (34), Sandrine Pinna (38), Ruby Jerins (27), Jasika Nicole (45), Ava Michelle (23), Deborah Rush (71), Stephanie Sheh (48), Cara DeLizia (41), Shin Hyeon-bin (39), Ian Nelson (30), Natasha Melnick (41) |
| Brandyn Barbara Artis, an actress who appeared in films including George Lucas’ THX 1138 and Randa Haines’ The Doctor, has died. She was 81. The obituary. |
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