| 'MICHAEL' TO BEAT IT AT BOX OFFICE |
| LIONSGATE'S BIOPIC LOOKS TO OPEN AT $150M GLOBALLY |
Lionsgate's Michael Jackson biopic Michael, after additional shoots, will moonwalk over the competition this weekend with what’s expected to be a $150 million start at the global box office.
The feature, which carries a $200M production cost. As it often does, Lionsgate sold foreign rights to mitigate risk, with international distribution in the hands of Universal (sans Japan, which belongs to local distrib Kino).
The domestic outlook points to what could be a record start for a music performer biopic, ahead of both 2015’s Straight Outta Compton ($60.2M) and Bohemian Rhapsody ($51M), the latter which was produced by Michael producer Graham King. The Antoine Fuqua-directed, John Logan-written Michael came on tracking between $50M-$60M and has since grown to $65M-$70M at 3,900 locations (including 1,600 Imax and premium large format auditoriums). >>>Japan Looks Promising
Related:
‘Mortal Kombat II’ To KO Box Office With U.S. Opening Around $50M – Early Look |
Deadline Exclusives & Originals |
New CEO, New Challenges - Apple’s changing of the guard, with John Ternus, the low-key Head of Hardware Engineering, succeeding CEO Tim Cook in the coming months, is ushering in a new era at the tech giant. The question is — what will that look like? >>>Hardware Is Key
Melissa McCarthy's Next Pic - Two-time Academy Award nominee Melissa McCarthy is in talks to star in Turpentine, a new thriller directed by The Penguin and Mare of Easttown's Craig Zobel, Deadline has learned. Based on a script by Justin Varava that made the 2024 Black List. >>>Deadbeat Son
Rachel Shukert Strikes Overall Deal - Rachel Shukert, fresh from writing and exec producing Peacock’s The Burbs, is staying in business with UCP. Shukert, who also created Netflix’s The Baby‑Sitters Club, has struck an overall deal with the Universal Studio Group division, which is behind the Keke Palmer and Jack Whitehall-led comedy drama series. >>>Multiple Projects In Play
Nithya Raman Talks Hollywood - “Look around, studio lots like this one used to be full of people,” declares Los Angeles mayoral candidate Nithya Raman in a new video on her plan to create more production in the home of Hollywood. “Costumers, electricians, set medics, caterers, 1000s of Angelenos making a living. Now these lots are quiet. Since 2018, shooting days in the city of Los Angeles have fallen by a half.” >>> Watch The Video
Talent Set For Deadline’s Contenders TV Event - Deadline’s annual Contenders Television, taking place this Saturday and Sunday at the DGA Theater in Hollywood, features one of our strongest lineups ever drawn from the most talked about shows this awards season. >>>Lineup
'Embers' Glowing — Ralph Fiennes (Conclave) and Viggo Mortensen (Eastern Promises) are leading cast in Oscar-winner István Szabó’s (Mephisto) under-the-radar period drama Embers, which has begun filming in Budapest, Hungary. Based on a Sándor Márai novel, Embankment Films is launching sales on the project ahead of the Cannes market. >>> Charlotte Rampling Also On Board
'SNL UK' Storms Social Media — It’s now a month since Saturday Night Live UK crashed onto British screens like Melania Trump emerging from a garden bush in Croydon — and the early viewing data is encouraging, if not faultless, for Sky’s remake of NBC’s iconic comedy series. SNL UK has stormed past 86M views across its official online accounts. >>> Most-Viewed Sketch Revealed |
QUOTABLE
"I’m sorry for misleading people." - Tucker Carlson regretting his staunch support of Trump
|
ExclusiveEmmy winner Julianna Margulies has joined the recurring cast of Dan Fogelman’s hit Hulu series Paradise for Season 3.
ExclusiveCountry singer Morgan Wade has joined the cast of Paramount+’s Beth and Rip follow-up series Dutton Ranch in a recurring role.
ExclusiveOrville Burrell, the Grammy-winning reggae artist better known as Shaggy, has signed on for a role in Honeymoon with Harry, Amazon MGM Studios' dramedy based on the book by Bart Baker.
ExclusiveThe Bear's Liza Colón-Zayas is set for a role alongside Halle Berry in Fleur, the erotic drama from writer-director Ellie Foumbi that’s set and currently shooting in Paris. |
BY THE NUMBERS
$100M - Global B.O. take for A24's Zendaya- Robert Pattinson starrer 'The Drama'
|
MORE NEWS
⚖️ U.S. District Judge George Hanks Jr. dismissed Kash Patel’s defamation lawsuit against Frank Figliuzzi, former assistant director for counterintelligence at the FBI, who has been an analyst for NBC News and MSNBC.
🪓 A split has emerged in the British stunt community, with some performers allegedly facing bullying and the threat of losing work after joining The Stunt Guild, a new professional body.
🏆 Heated Rivalry, Sinners, The White Lotus, SNL, Bad Bunny, Timothée Chalamet, Lady Gaga and Sabrina Carpenter are among the winners of the 30th Annual Webby Awards, announced by the International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences.
👩⚖️ Rebel Wilson has faced allegations that she made life “nightmarish” for Charlotte MacInnes after accusing The Deb actress of covering up misconduct to further her career. MacInnes is suing Wilson for defamation in Australia, with details from behind the scenes on The Deb — Wilson’s directorial debut — emerging as part of a federal court trial in Sydney this week.
🎥 In regards to the Texas Chainsaw Massacre feature rights won by A24, Obsession director Curry Barker is set to direct and write a reimagined version. This is separate from the A24 TV series in the works from JT Mollner.
🎙️ Richard Bacon is returning to broadcasting to discover the secret of success. The British presenter and producer will front an ongoing video podcast series titled Why Are You More Successful Than Me?, in which he probes the likes of Gary Lineker and Rocketman director Dexter Fletcher. |
| OBITUARIES
🕯️ Dave Mason, the lead singer and co-founder of Traffic, has died. The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer was 79. 🕯️ Alan Osmond , oldest brother of the famed singing and dancing sibling group The Osmonds, died Monday, April 20, at his home in Utah following a four-decade struggle with multiple sclerosis. He was 76. 🕯️ 2026 Deaths Photo Gallery
|
| ON THE RADAR
Wed - CA gubernatorial debate
Thu - Comcast earnings; WBD special shareholder vote on Paramount merger; NFL draft begins
Sat - White House Correspondents' Dinner; Deadline's Contenders Television event (Day 1)
Sun - Contenders Television (Day 2)
|
'Animal' Magnetism - Steve Buscemi and Woody Harrelson and a porcine pal at the Animal Farm New York Premiere |
|
