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PRODUCTION IN STATE A KEY ISSUE IN GOVERNOR, MAYOR RACES |
California voters are going to the polls today to select which candidates will face off in November’s midterm elections, led by the races for governor and Los Angeles mayor.
Hollywood has showered candidates with contributions and fundraising events, as is typical, but the difference this cycle has been on the focus contenders have paid to restoring production to the state and the Southern California region. Much of the focus has been boosting the state film tax credit, even uncapping it, as a way to compete with other states and countries.
In the race for governor, Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) had been leading other Democrats in the polls and drawn on extensive industry ties, but he dropped out in April amid sexual misconduct allegations. That left the race a bit wide open, with former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra benefiting the most, rising from an almost forgotten contender to the top of recent polls.
In recent weeks, the race for Los Angeles mayor has been dominated by reality star Spencer Pratt, who, following an expectation-exceeding debate performance, has risen in the polls with an insurgent campaign specializing in producing or promoting brash and direct online videos. >>>Low Turnout?
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Deadline Exclusives & Originals
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Sweeney's Sweet New Deal - Sydney Sweeney is leaning into her producing and potentially directing aspirations. She has formed Honey Trap, with longtime creative collaborator Kaylee McGregor serving as president of production and development at the production company. >>>First Look At Sony
The Gene Genie - Dito Montiel (A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints) is set to direct a biopic based on the life of legendary actor, writer, and director Gene Wilder after securing life rights from Wilder’s Estate. >>>"Comedy & Complexity"
Anna Kendrick & 'Evelyn Hugo' - Anna Kendrick is coming on to direct an adaptation of the Taylor Jenkins Reid novel The Seven Husbands Of Evelyn Hugo. Liza Chasin is producing through 3Dot Productions. >>>Scripting Stage
'Jury Duty Presents' Team Talks Secret Sauce - When Anthony Norman, the unwitting star of Prime Video’s Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat, took a temp job with a hot sauce company, he had no idea what he was getting into. He thought he would be assisting family-owned Rockin’ Grandma’s put on a week-long company retreat in Southern California. >>>Interview
Rumba To The West End - The Tony Award-winning Buena Vista Social Club musical kicking up a glorious storm on Broadway is heading to London’s West End in 2027, lead producer Orin Wolf tells Deadline. >>>Barbara Broccoli Looking For Theaters
Cregger Goes Solo - Zach Cregger, the filmmaker behind last year’s horror phenomenon Weapons, has parted ways with his longtime manager Peter Principato of Artists First. >>>Amicable
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Starring Rose Byrne, who shifted from her comedy background to deliver an Oscar-nominated performance in If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, and Kelli O’Hara, the beloved star of stage musicals, Fallen Angels is, to state it plainly, funny. Hilarious funny. Pause-for-audience-laughter funny.
And in this conversation with Deadline, Byrne and O’Hara discuss comedic influences, reveal a stage trick or two, and what they learn from Broadway audiences night after night. >>>Q&A
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Exclusive
Zoë Kravitz is set for the lead role in Apple's new film from My Old Ass helmer Megan Park. Currently untitled, the mystery project’s logline is being kept under wraps.
Exclusive
Kristin Davis and Tig Notaro have inked deals to join Beach Read, 20th Century Studios' adaptation of the New York Times bestselling novel from Emily Henry.
Exclusive
Pretty Little Liars star Sasha Pieterse is set to lead psychological thriller Rosemary, which will recount the tragic story of Rosemary Kennedy "from her perspective."
Exclusive
After studying the minds of serial killers in David Fincher’s Mindhunter, Holt McCallany will further mine the territory as the lead in Hyde, a noir-tinged thriller from filmmakers Graham and Parker Phillips.
Exclusive
Andrew Scott (All Of Us Strangers) and George MacKay (1917) have been set to lead the voice cast in Russell Tovey‘s (American Horror Story: NYC) debut novel Starlings, which is being published as an Audible Original.
The Broadway cast of thriller Paranormal Activity has been announced, with much of the ensemble recruited from previous stagings of the play who will be making their Broadway debuts. The Broadway – as well as Boston – cast will feature Cher Álvarez, Travis A. Knight, Shannon Cochran and Andrea Syglowski.
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MORE NEWS
🏆 The third annual Gotham Television Awards spread the wealth Monday night as HBO Max’s DTF St. Louis was the only program to won multiple awards, for Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series and supporting actor David Harbour.
⚠️ The British Film Institute lobbied ministers to request that the UK’s film and TV business not be included in any trade deal signed with U.S. President Donald Trump. The BFI sent the British Foreign Office a policy document in May 2025 outlining why including the screen industries in any trade agreement would cause “fundamental harm.”
🤖 With a blistering lawsuit filed Monday, the state of Florida may succeed where Elon Musk failed in bringing OpenAI and Sam Altman to heel. The filing seeks injunctions, a halt to data collection from minors and new guardrails galore, plus potentially millions in penalties for violations of the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act.
🦁 Barry Diller is making his next big move as People Inc. (previously IAC) submitted a non-binding proposal to acquire control of MGM Resorts International. The plan would be to buy outstanding MGM shares that People doesn’t already own and take the publicly traded company private.
🎬 Zack Snyder is set to write and direct a reimagining of Escape from New York, the dystopian cult classic from John Carpenter.
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ON THE RADAR
Tue - CA primary election; At SXSW London: Deadline Reality TV Summit UK, Live Festival Studio
Wed - 25th Tribeca Festival begins; NBA Finals tip off
Fri - Cape Fear debuts
Sun - The Tonys
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Golden Moment - Kerry Washington received the Spotlight Tribute award at The 2026 Gotham Television Awards
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