Skydance Woos A-Listers to Boost Flagging Paramount Bid; Full Met Gala Coverage; 'Wednesday' Adds 12 Cast Members; 'Dark Matter' Review

[View on web]( [New reader? Subscribe]( May 07, 2024 What's news: Disney's streaming business edged toward profitability in Q2. Writers Guild of Canada and the Canadian Media Producers Association have agreed on a new labor contract. Kevin Spacey is due to stand trial in the U.K. again. Jim Parsons and Mayim Bialik will feature in the Young Sheldon series finale. — [Abid Rahman]( Do you have THR's next big story? Confidentially share tips with us at [tips@thr.com](. Ellison Woos A-Listers to Boost Flagging Paramount Bid ►"Skydance has been on an extremely aggressive PR campaign in the last month to convince everyone how legitimate they are." THR's editor-at-large [Kim Masters]( writes that while Shari Redstone mulls bids for Paramount Global, Skydance Media mogul David Ellison has labored — mostly in vain — to enlist backers to remind Hollywood that no one in town wants to lose another major studio. [The story.]( —Ever so close. Disney is on the precipice of the entertainment industry’s white whale: Profitability in streaming. The company reported its fiscal Q2 earnings on Tuesday, disclosing that its combined direct-to-consumer businesses of Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ lost only $18m last quarter, on revenues of $6.2b, and that when ESPN+ is removed from that equation, the streaming business was actually profitable, with revenues of $5.6b and a net profit of $47m. [The results.]( —Less is more. Disney is planning to reevaluate its slate of films and TV shows from Marvel, with the company set to reduce its output from the comic book franchise studio. On Disney’s fiscal Q2 earnings call, Bob Iger told analysts that the company is finally moving away from "a desire in the past to increase volume." Regarding Marvel content, Iger said that the company is "slowly going to decrease volume and go to probably about two TV series a year instead of what had become four, and reduce our film output from maybe four a year to two or at the maximum three." [The story.]( —Coming soon. Disney plans to add an ESPN tile to Disney+ as it prepares to launch its new standalone ESPN streaming service. The tile will be added by the end of the calendar year, Bob Iger said Tuesday, and will feature “select live games” as well as studio programming, to watch within Disney+. This feature will be available for all U.S. subscribers. [The story.]( —Huge news. A new Nintendo Switch video game console is in the horizon… but don’t expect any news in the next few months. Nintendo reported quarterly earnings on Tuesday, and in conjunction with that news, the company released a statement from its president Shuntaro Furukawa addressing rumors that a new Switch could debut at this summer’s Nintendo Direct event. Nintendo is just beginning its new fiscal year, so Furukawa’s statement means that the company will reveal more on the next-generation device by March 2025, in time for the Switch’s 10-year anniversary. [The story.]( As Participant Shutters, Hollywood Stars for "Films With Purpose" to Be Greenlit ►"We have experienced the unique role Participant has played in empowering filmmakers to experiment, innovate, and grow." A group of 118 high-profile film and television creatives is calling on Hollywood to support more social impact storytelling following the demise of Spotlight, Roma and An Inconvenient Truth backer Participant Media. In an open letter to the entertainment industry made public on Tuesday, A-listers including George Clooney, Ava DuVernay, Matt Damon and Kerry Washington stated that "values-based storytelling is needed now more than ever." [The story.]( —New trial. Kevin Spacey is due to stand trial in the U.K. again, likely in early 2025, over a lawsuit from a man who alleges that the actor sexually assaulted him. The alleged sexual assault took place in August 2008, Reuters reported. Spacey has denied the allegations. British media reports say that the man is one of four complainants who separately sued Spacey in criminal cases, the trial of which ended with the actor’s acquittal last summer. [The story.]( —"I have become deeply disheartened by the selection process for this event’s honorees." A member of the Critics Choice Association has resigned after more than a decade with the group, citing what he believes is a “transactional” process behind the CCA’s forthcoming inaugural Celebration of LGBTQ+ Cinema & Television. John Griffiths sent a note of resignation Sunday to the organization behind the Critics Choice Awards. The note, which has been obtained by THR, calls attention to the group’s apparent policy of expecting honorees to pay for a table at the ceremony. [The story.]( —Legal brawl. Amazon MGM Studios is bringing counterclaims against the original Road House screenwriter R. Lance Hill over the rights to the 1986 screenplay that spawned the movie. In a countersuit, the studio accuses Hill of fraud for lying to the U.S. Copyright Office that he’s the true author of the screenplay and can take advantage of a provision in copyright law that allows him and other similarly-situated writers to reclaim the rights to past works. The allegations center on a lawsuit Hill brought in February seeking to block the release of the Road House remake. [The story.]( —🤝 Deal agreed 🤝 The Writers Guild of Canada and the Canadian Media Producers Association, representing local indie film and television producers, have agreed terms for a new labor contract. Terms of the latest Independent Production Agreement, which awaits ratification, were not disclosed. But they will cover rates and workplace conditions for Canadian writers, story editors, and story consultants. [The story.]( Met Gala 2024 ►Stairway to heaven. The theme to this year's Met Gala was “The Garden of Time,” taking its cue from the 1962 short story of the same name by J.G. Ballard. On Monday night, a galaxy of stars ascended the steps of the Metropolitan Museum with their interpretation of the night's dress code, and THR has collected them all here. [The gallery.]( —The craziest looks, wildest hair and strangest fabrics. From Sydney Sweeney's shocking black bob to Tyla's sand covered dress, these are THR's picks for the most outrageous looks on fashion's biggest night. [The looks.]( —Flex. With several gowns reportedly being considered until almost the last moment, Zendaya's choice for the Met Gala ultimately was a custom haute couture look from Maison Margiela Artisanal by John Galliano as well as a surprise archival look — also by Galliano. The Challengers star changed out of her green-and-blue Maison Margiela corset gown and took a surprise turn for the cameras in one more dress, a vintage Galliano from L.A.'s Lily et Cie. [The story.]( —Group effort. Cardi B rolled deep to the Met Gala on Monday night. The Grammy Award-winning rapper arrived with a massive entourage that included her longtime stylist, Kollin Carter, and at least nine men who helped carry her Windowsen black gown and straighten its tulle train for photographers. [The story.]( —Work night. Jennifer Lopez, a co-chair of fashion's biggest night, wore her most daring Met Gala ensemble yet at Monday’s event. Arriving early, as is expected for a co-chair of the night, Lopez stepped onto the carpet in a Custom Schiaparelli Haute Couture gown designed by Daniel Roseberry. The sheath dress, embroidered with warm silver pearls and rhinestones, features 2.5m silver foil bugles. [The story.]( —Say cheese. As is house tradition, Thom Browne's 2024 Met Gala crew posed for a pre-carpet group photo, shared exclusively with THR. Gathering together at The Pierre New York hotel, Thom Browne class of 2024 group includes Cynthia Erivo, Rebecca Ferguson, Gigi Hadid, model Alton Mason, NBA pro Ben Simmons, Jaden Smith, Steven Yeun and — making a rare red carpet appearance together — Queen Latifah and her partner, choreographer/producer Eboni Nichols. [The class photo.]( —"lol mom the AI got you, too, BEWARE." Katy Perry has pulled off some pretty unreal looks at past Met Galas but nothing compares to this year: The images that surfaced of Perry on the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art are actually not real. "Couldn’t make it to the Met, had to work," Perry shared to her 207m followers on Instagram along with a carousel of images that included two fake red carpet pics that were so good that they even fooled the singer's mother. [The story.]( —The no shows. From concert tours and production schedules to a bout of the flu, here's why some A-listers, including Met Gala regulars Rihanna, Taylor Swift, Jared Leto, Harry Styles and Beyoncé, missed out on attending fashion's biggest night. [The story.]( THR's Best Dressed Met Gala Stars ►Stunners. From Demi Moore's graphic Harris Reed gown and Amelia Grey's terrarium dress to the (surprise!) two gowns sported by Zendaya, the Metropolitan Museum steps were filled with stylish stars. THR's Laurie Brookins selects the best looks from the night. [The looks.]( —Looking sharp. Fresh off headlining two weekends of Coachella, Lana Del Rey stepped onto the Met Gala carpet in a veiled cream Alexander McQueen sheath gown by Seán McGirr, who took inspiration from Swiss sculptor Alberto Giacometti. A haute couture version of a fit-and-flare silhouette from the label’s spring/summer line, Del Rey wore a silk, tulle and georgette corseted dress with hand-embroidered thorny vines that appeared to climb up from her skirt and behind her head. [The story.]( —**This story contains nudity.** On a night when many stars played it safe, Emily Ratajkowski did the opposite at the Met Gala by keeping the sheer dress trend alive and well in a daring dress by Versace that leaves little to the imagination. The actress-turned-influencer, author and podcast host braved the red carpet in a completely sheer gown that revealed her breasts and backside. [The story.]( —Demure. Lauren Sánchez has garnered a lot of social media commentary for her attire, especially for a revealing dress worn to a recent White House state dinner. For her first Met Gala stairs walk she was accompanied by her future husband, Jeff Bezos, and wore a more toned down "shattered glass" Oscar de la Renta gown created by designers Fernando Garcia and Laura Kim. [The story.]( More from the 2024 Met Gala... —Nicole Kidman [turns back time in 1950s-inspired Balenciaga gown]( —Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo’s [looks feature nods to Wicked]( —Nicki Minaj [wore a flower-powered Marni dress with her own line of press-on nails]( —Gen Z “It” girl [Sabrina Carpenter rocks regal gown]( —Singer [Tyla wears a Balmain gown made of sculpted sand]( —Bad Bunny [goes for dramatic look (with a corset) in custom Maison Margiela]( —Demi Moore [is a floral sculpture in custom Harris Reed made from vintage wallpaper]( 'Wednesday' Starts S2 Filming, Adds 12 Cast Members ►🎭 Star power 🎭 Netflix's Wednesday has started production on its second season and has added a dozen actors to its cast. Filming has begun in Ireland on comedy fantasy, which stars Jenna Ortega as the sleuthing Wednesday Addams as she attends Nevermore Academy. The production has added as series regulars Steve Buscemi, Billie Piper, Evie Templeton, Owen Painter and Noah Taylor. The series has also lined up a series of familiar names for guest star roles: Christopher Lloyd, Joanna Lumley, Thandiwe Newton, Frances O’Connor, Haley Joel Osment, Heather Matarazzo and Joonas Suotamo. [The story.]( —Bad blood. Taylor Swift’s feud with Scooter Braun is set to be featured in the latest VS docuseries on Discovery+. Taylor Swift vs Scooter Braun: Bad Blood, comprising two hour-long episodes, will explore the public battle between the singer and the music industry mogul, taking a deep dive into the $300m dispute as Braun acquired the rights to Swift’s first six albums in 2019. Previous installments of the VS series include Johnny vs Amber, Kim vs Kanye: The Divorce, and Vardy vs Rooney: The Wagatha Trial. [The story.]( —Heading to Alabama. THR's [Lesley Goldberg]( has the scoop on Amazon Prime Video developing a television adaptation of Joshilyn Jackson’s 2015 novel, Gods in Alabama. The book revolves around a young lawyer who promised God that she’d never return home to Alabama but is forced to go back to the South to defend a high school classmate accused of a murder she knows something about. Kathryn Price and Nichole Millard, the writing duo whose credits include CBS’ True Lies and Bull, created the series and will serve as showrunners and EPs. [The story.]( —New Neighborhood. Paramount+ has ordered a comedy series titled Crutch that stars Tracy Morgan and is set in the same world as The Neighborhood — albeit on the other side of the country. The show comes from CBS Studios, and The Neighborhood star and executive producer Cedric the Entertainer is among its EPs. Morgan will play Francois Crutchfield, aka Crutch, a cousin of Cedric’s Calvin Butler and Harlem widower whose adult son and daughter move back in with him. [The story.]( —Bazinga! Jim Parsons and Mayim Bialik will reprise their roles as The Big Bang Theory’s Sheldon Cooper and Amy Farrah Fowler in the May 16 series finale of prequel series Young Sheldon. Additional details about the onscreen couple’s appearance are being kept under wraps ahead of the series finale of the CBS comedy. Parsons, who exec produces and provides voiceover for Young Sheldon, and Bialik last appeared onscreen together in the May 2019 series finale of The Big Bang Theory. [The story.]( —"I know that there’s some stuff on the horizon when it comes to Taylor’s ideas for Kelly Reilly and myself." The romance of fan favorites Beth and Rip could continue beyond Yellowstone, actor Cole Hauser hints. The final episodes of the Paramount Network hit are set to begin production sometime this year. But in a new interview, Hauser suggests the characters played by himself and Kelly Reilly might have a future beyond the show’s fifth season closer — presumably, in Paramount+’s planned Yellowstone spinoff. [The story.]( New 'Riddick' Movie Moving Forward ►Mad Vin: Furya Road. Vin Diesel is officially returning to the world of Pitch Black and antihero Riddick, the sci-fi action franchise that gave the actor his first major leading role. Riddick: Furya, which was announced in February 2023, is now moving full steam ahead toward an Aug. 26 shoot date, producers revealed on Monday. Diesel stars and produces the film, which reteams him with David Twohy, the filmmaker who has directed all the franchise’s previous entries. Furya will film in locales such as Germany, Spain and the U.K. [The story.]( —A little less teasing. At the Met Gala, Baz Luhrmann teased that he may not be quite done with Elvis Presley-related projects, following his 2022 biopic, Elvis. The Aussie director told THR, "The fans really want to know if all that footage we found in the vaults is going to become a concert film, and I’m here to say I think it’s gonna happen." Luhrmann had previously hinted he was working on a concert film of never-before-seen footage from the superstar. [The story.]( —More Supes. David Corenswet gets dressed as Superman one boot at a time in the first look at the actor in costume. Superman writer-director James Gunn revealed the image on social media Monday. The unveiling of an actor in costume as Superman is a rare affair, akin to the first look at a new James Bond. Warner Bros. releases Superman July 11, 2025. [The look.]( —Leap of faith. Tyler Perry and Miracles From Heaven producer DeVon Franklin are getting into business with Netflix to make faith-based movies together. The first film under their new partnership will be R&B, written by Mike Elliott and Cory Tynan, and described as a modern-day retelling of the story of Ruth and Boaz, an iconic Biblical love story. Set in Tennessee, R&B follows a young woman who escapes the Atlanta music scene to care for an elderly widowed woman, only to the love of her life and gain the mother she never had. [The story.]( —🎭 Head boys 🎭 Samuel L. Jackson and Henry Golding have signed on to star in Head Games, a psychological thriller with a sci-fi edge that is looking to be one of the hot projects at this year’s Cannes film market. Music video and film director Anthony Mandler (Rihanna’s "Diamonds") is set to helm from a script by Colin Liddle, who penned the 2020 Showtime TV movie Penny Dreadful: City of Angels. Head Games is set to start principal photography this October. [The story.]( TV Review: 'Dark Matter' ►"Lots of ideas, but only one tone." THR's chief TV critic [Dan Fienberg]( reviews Apple TV+'s Dark Matter. Blake Crouch adapts his own novel in this nine-part dimension-spanning sci-fi drama featuring Joel Edgerton, Jennifer Connelly, Alice Braga and Jimmi Simpson. [The review.]( —"Not forceful enough." THR's chief film critic [David Rooney]( reviews Robert Connolly's Force of Nature: The Dry 2. Eric Bana, Anna Torv, Deborra-Lee Furness and Richard Roxburgh appear in this adaptation of the Jane Harper novel about a woman who goes missing on a rainforest hike, a quasi-sequel to the 2021 Aussie hit. [The review.]( In other news... —Darth Jar Jar [revealed in Disney’s latest Star Wars special trailer]( —Vanderpump Rules [cast reacts to finale in real time in S11 reunion teaser]( —Sylvester Stallone [is selling his extremely rare $5m Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime]( —Ron Howard, Mike Bloomberg, Faiza J. Saeed [set for Paley Center honors]( —Transgender Film Center [reveals inaugural career development lab cohort]( —[Ruth Landers]( producer and mother of actresses Audrey and Judy Landers, dies at 85 ​​​What else we're reading... —Citing American Fiction, the Tony-winning musical A Strange Loop and the A24/BBC comedy Dreaming Whilst Black, Kemi Alemoru looks at the rise and rise of Black metafiction [[Guardian]( —Jake Kring-Schreifels talks to the stunt team behind The Fall Guy's most audacious set pieces, who reveal how they did them [[Ringer]( —Kali Holloway writes that the Met Gala’s opulence is always gross, but this year, with the rising death toll in Gaza, poverty and chaos, "it’s obscene" [[Daily Beast]( —With the news industry facing decline, Jack Shafer writes that American journalism is losing its swagger and shying away from stories that might offend powerful interests [[Politico]( —A.O. Scott writes that Americans like their politicians to be dog people, alas, Gov. Kristi Noem recent dog killer revelations maybe a "career-detonating political blunder" [[NYT]( Today... ...in 1993, Warner Bros. unveiled Ivan Reitman’s political comedy Dave in theaters. The film went on to nab an original screenplay nomination for Gary Ross at the 66th Academy Awards ceremony. [The original review.]( Today's birthdays: MrBeast (26), Amy Heckerling (70), Alexander Ludwig (32), Maya Erskine (37), Dylan Gelula (30), [Andrew Barth Feldman]( (22), Aidy Bryant (37), Dariusz Wolski (68), Nicholas Hytner (68), Jennifer Yuh Nelson (52), Carrie Henn (48), Breckin Meyer (50), Jake Bongiovi (22), Lela Loren (44), Scheana Shay (39), Ivan Sergei (53), Marina Mazepa (27), Morgana Robinson (42), Randall 'Tex' Cobb (74), Brandon W. Jones (36), Asghar Farhadi (52), Lynsey Baxter (65), Adain Bradley (26), Mhairi Calvey (36), Yôsuke Kubozuka (45), Mark O'Brien (40), Melissa Tang (39), Cindy Cowan (65), Michael E. Knight (65), Robin Strasser (79), Devyn A. Tyler (33), Adam Bernstein (64), Paul Piaskowski (40), Lucile Hadzihalilovic (63) Jeannie Epper, the peerless, fearless stunt performer who doubled for Lynda Carter on Wonder Woman and swung on a vine across a 350-foot gorge and propelled down an epic mudslide as Kathleen Turner in Romancing the Stone, has died. She was 83. [The obituary.]( This email was sent to {EMAIL} by The Hollywood Reporter. Please add email@email.hollywoodreporter.com to your address book to ensure delivery to your inbox. Visit the [Preferences Center]( to update your profile and customize what email alerts and newsletters you receive. The Hollywood Reporter is a part of Penske Media Corporation. © 2024 The Hollywood Reporter, LLC. All Rights Reserved. 11175 Santa Monica Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90025 [View in Browser]( | [Privacy Policy]( | [Your Privacy Rights]( | [Ad Choices]( | [Terms of Use]( | [Unsubscribe](