| LACHLAN'S STATUS AT THE TOP OF FOX AND NEWS CORP IS REAFFIRMED AS JAMES, ELISABETH & PRUDENCE CUT TIES |
In a seismic development in the decades-long media saga presided over by Rupert Murdoch, a settlement has been reached in the Nevada legal fight over his family trust.
The agreement will see James and Elisabeth Murdoch and Prudence MacLeod formally cut ties with the family business and surrender all their equity in News Corp and Fox Corp. They had objected to several aspects of the strategic path taken by Rupert Murdoch, now 94, and appeared to be in position to exercise majority control toward that end after the media mogul's death. In part, James and Elisabeth Murdoch, who blazed their own separate trails in the media business, had concerns about Fox News and the close affiliation of the right-wing news network with the family.
Instead, now Lachlan Murdoch, who currently runs Fox Corp. as CEO, has been reaffirmed as the long-term head of the family empire. Grace Murdoch and Chloe Murdoch, who are the daughters of Rupert Murdoch and his ex-wife, Wendi, are joining Lachlan as members of a new trust. Lachlan Murdoch’s victory over his elder siblings will, of course, has drawn Succession comparisons galore. >>>Litigation Terminated |
Deadline Exclusives & Originals |
A 'Smashing Machine' Reteam - Hot from a rousing Venice world premiere of The Smashing Machine, writer-director Benny Safdie and Dwayne Johnson are planning a quick reteam in another film, Lizard Music. Safdie will adapt the Daniel Pinkwater novel and direct Johnson in the role of Chicken Man. >>>To Be Shopped Imminently
Not The 'Last' Witch Hunter - Lionsgate has put in motion a sequel to The Last Witch Hunter, to star Vin Diesel in a reprise of his role as Kaulder, the immortal Witch Hunter. The film is being developed along with Diesel’s One Race Films and Lionsgate, with all parties eyeing a fast path to production. >>>Michael Caine Attached
Making 'Nuremberg' - Russell Crowe, Michael Shannon, Rami Malek and writer director James Vanderbilt discuss bringing Hermann Göring and the Nuremberg trials to life in Vanderbilt's long-gestating Nuremberg. >>>Heavyweight Boxing Match
'Conjuring' Climbs Even Higher - The Conjuring: Last Rites had some extra divine intervention between Sunday’s estimates and Monday's actuals, with the global bow ascending to $194M. This makes the Michael Chaves-directed installment the biggest horror opener of all time worldwide. >>>Overtakes 'It'
Amazon Goes Into 'Overdrive' - Amazon MGM Studios is finalizing a U.S. deal in the $11 million-$12 million range for buzzy action pic Ballerina Overdrive. Lana Condor, Millicent Simmonds, Iris Apatow, Maddie Ziegler, Avantika, Uma Thurman and Michael Culkin star. >>>Franchise Ambitions
In Brief - Rudy Mancuso to direct Disney's comedy Bob The Musical... Jay Harrington & Patrick St. Esprit join S.W.A.T. Exiles pilot |
After creating the John Wick and Nobody action franchises, screenwriter Derek Kolstad is at it again. Premiering Sunday night in the Midnight Madness section at the Toronto Film Festival as an acquisition title comes Normal.
The star is Nobody protagonist and Better Call Saul star Bob Odenkirk, this time as a temp sheriff in a Fargo-like snowy town that turns out to be where the Yakuza keeps its stash of ill-gotten cash and gold.
He’s once again ideal as the reluctant action hero ruining the white snowy streets with splashes of red. Kolstad here reveals the care and feeding that goes into creating these unlikely action hero franchises, starting with John Wick, who carries the name of his grandfather. >>>Q&A
|
| RENEWALS, CANCELLATIONS & PICKUPS |
Quotable "These tools will permit a new generation of talent to emerge" - Fremantle Group COO and CEO of Continental Europe Andrea Scrosati on the impact of AI |
exclusive Jessica Chastain looks to have found her next mystery to solve. Chastain, Oscar-nominee John Hawkes and country singer Carter Faith are set to lead the Netflix mystery thriller Heartland.
Two-time Oscar winner Cate Blanchett will star in Alice Birch's Sweetsick, which will rep the filmmaker’s feature directorial debut at Searchlight.
Exclusive Hannah John-Kamen, the British actress seen in such recent Marvel films as Thunderbolts* and Ant-Man and the Wasp, has joined the cast of One Second After, the recently announced disaster thriller.
In Brief - Max Zhang joins Highlander
|
BY THE NUMBERS 17.3M - Global streams for Los Angeles Chargers–Kansas City Chiefs contest |
MORE NEWS
🏎️ Derek Chang, CEO of Formula 1 parent Liberty Media, did not mention Apple by name but said at a Wall Street conference Monday that the company is “pretty far along” in talks with a U.S. media rights partner. He said it's been "well-documented" that the racing circuit is close to locking a deal with Apple. ESPN's current pact expires at year-end.
📺 CBS has set fall premiere dates for its daytime lineup, including veteran dramas The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful, the longest-running game show in history The Price Is Right, and Wayne Brady-hosted Let’s Make A Deal.
🐎 Kevin Costner and Horizon II stunt performer Devyn LaBella aren’t just in dispute over the latter’s sexual harassment claims against the Yellowstone alum, but increasingly it seems they are also deeply divided over what the other is actually fighting in court about.
🏛️ A federal appeals court upheld an $83.3 million defamation judgment against Donald Trump in a case brought by writer E. Jean Carroll. |
OBITUARIES
🕯️ Stuart Craig, a UK production designer and art director who won Oscars for his work on The English Patient, Dangerous Liaisons and Gandhi, died September 7. He was 83. 🕯️ Rick Davies , the co-founder, singer and songwriter of the hit-making British progressive rock band Supertramp, died of multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer, on Saturday, September 6, at his home in East Hampton, New York. He was 81. 🕯️ 2025 Deaths Photo Gallery |
ON THE RADAR
Tue - Apple "Awe Dropping" Event; Gavin Newsom's State of the State speech
Thu - Gaumont retrospective begins at Academy Museum
Fri - SAG election
Sun - Primetime Emmys
Mon - Digital Oscar screeners go out |
'Battle' Tested - Leonardo DiCaprio arrives at the world premiere of Paul Thomas Anderson's One Battle After Another at TCL Chinese Theatre. |
|
