CASTING, ACTION DECISIONS SPARK UNICORN FRANCHISE |
The DNA in this new round of dinosaurs was good enough to lead Universal/Amblin’s Jurassic World Rebirth to a higher worldwide opening than initially estimated. With actuals factored in, the global debut rose to $322.5M, including $147.8M domestic over five days and $174.7M internationally. So, how did the studio pull off the second-biggest opening for the franchise behind 2015’s Jurassic World? Yes, the dinosaurs are the stars, dominating the marketing images, chasing rubber rafts and looming behind the human protagonists. But this seventh installment in the franchise further set itself apart with its never-before-seen action involving lizards and a new cast of characters. Interestingly enough, another Marvel Cinematic Universe star (à la Chris Pratt before), Scarlett Johansson, was front and center this time. Jurassic World Rebirth clearly was sold on that image of the two-time Oscar nominee mixing it up with monsters. That seems to have made all the difference. >>>Massive Campaign |
Deadline Exclusives & Originals |
Wicked ‘Hot’ - After seeing Wicked soar to 10 Oscar nominations and a worldwide gross exceeding $756 million, and with the back half of the two-part musical coming up for release in November, Jon M. Chu has inked a deal to direct a live-action Hot Wheels movie for Mattel and Warner Bros Pictures. >>>Billed As An Action Film
Quite The ‘Affair’ - Oscar nominee Lily Gladstone is another new addition to Amazon MGM Studios‘ reimagining of The Thomas Crown Affair, to be directed by and star Michael B. Jordan. Also joining the cast is Oscar winner Kenneth Branagh. No word on their respective roles. >>>Charles Roven Boards, Too
Short-Lived ‘Odyssey’ - Shōgun and Warfare star Cosmo Jarvis won’t be part of the all-star cast of Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey in the end. He’d been due to join the likes of Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Zendaya, Charlize Theron, Robert Pattinson and Anne Hathaway in the anticipated film, but a scheduling conflict meant that he had to drop out shortly before filming. >>> Logan Marshall-Green Replacing
Funny Guy - Tom Segura joins Deadline’s Comedy Means Business podcast ahead of the start of production on El Tigre. He discusses betting on himself with dark comedy Bad Thoughts — which began with a self-financed pilot — Netflix viewership insights, and what’s really required to create something great in comedy for film and television. >>>Listen
Volcanic Tale - Following Jurassic World Rebirth‘s $322M+ global opening weekend, Sony has hired writers Kaz Firpo and Ryan Firpo to adapt Eruption, the No. 1 New York Times bestseller from Michael Crichton and James Patterson. At the same time, we understand that the project is now an open directing assignment with Free Solo filmmakers Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi having exited. >>> Debuted At No. 1 On All Lists
|
Terry Gilliam will attend an Umbria Film Festival screening next weekend of his iconic 1985 dystopian sci-fi comedy Brazil as the lauded pic celebrates its 40th anniversary. Gilliam’s own career has been filled with the fantastical, and often courted controversy. He famously clashed with Universal’s then-Chairman Sid Sheinberg over the U.S. release of Brazil, which has gone on to be considered a masterpiece of science fiction. More recently, Gilliam’s The Man Who Killed Don Quixote went through a lengthy and troubled production before it finally premiered at Cannes in 2018. Speaking to Deadline, Gilliam, who has not directed a feature since Quixote, talks about not wanting “any more fights” and the status of his next project, Carnival at the End of Days which, despite having such talent as Johnny Depp, Adam Driver, Jeff Bridges, Jason Momoa and Tom Waits along for the ride, is still finding financing a challenge. >>>Read The Interview |
Quotable "You are either not that smart, or not that dumb. It's hard to tell at this point."- Mark Ruffalo to Joe Rogan (via Threads) about the podcaster's recent negative reaction to ICE raids and "Project 2025" |
Renewals, Cancellations & pickups |
Exclusive Josh Segarra has joined the cast of Fox‘s medical comedy Best Medicine, starring opposite Josh Charles and Abigail Spencer. The series, based on the popular British series Doc Martin, will go into production this summer in upstate New York.
Exclusive Odette Annable (Supergirl) is set to topline Anima, a psychological horror film written and directed by Colombia’s Andrés Beltrán (Tarumama). Production is underway now in Bogotá.
John Slattery, Jessica Henwick and Ellen Robertson have joined Netflix‘s limited series Vladimir as series regulars, with Kayli Carter, Miriam Silverman, Mallori Johnson, Matt Walsh, Tattiawna Jones and Louise Lambert boarding as recurring.
Exclusive Pine Bay Pictures, Morning Moon and Traction have added Billie Lourd, Matt Barr and Elizabeth Tulloch to Josh Plasse’s comedy-drama The Pirate King starring Rob Riggle and Jordana Brewster.
Exclusive Brian Altemus and John Clarence Stewart have been cast as series regulars in the second season of the NBC drama Brilliant Minds, which premieres this September.
In Brief - Good Morning America personalities to serve as GMA3 hosts |
by the numbers 50 million-plus - Number of viewers for Viola Davis spy movie G20 since its April launch on Prime Video |
More News
📺 A+E Global Media, owner of cable networks A&E, History and Lifeti me, is exploring a potential sale, a source has confirmed to Deadline. The company, a joint venture of Disney and Hearst, has retained Wells Fargo to help it evaluate strategic options.
📺 Gray Media and the E.W. Scripps Co., two of the largest U.S. owners of local TV stations, have engineered a swap of stations in five small and mid-sized markets. The move will create new duopolies, coveted sources of extra revenue within a single market allowed under federal broadcast ownership rules, for each company.
🥁 The beat won’t go on for Matt Cameron in Pearl Jam. The megaplatinum band’s drummer — a two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Famer — said on social media Monday that he has “taken my final steps down from the drum riser” and has left the group. |
Obituaries 🕯️ Langley Perer, a manager and producer, died June 25 following a four-year battle with cancer. She was 44 and is survived by writer-producer husband Scott Rosenberg and their two children. 🕯️ 2025 Deaths Photo Gallery: Hollywood & Media Obituaries |
On The Radar
Tue - Dorian TV Awards
Wed - Ballard series premiere on Prime Video
Thu - Daytime Emmy nominations; Big Brother Season 27 premiere on CBS |
'Super' Friends - Nicholas Hoult, Rachel Brosnahan and David Corenswet at the Superman premiere Monday at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. |
|
