How SiriusXM Will Survive After Howard Stern; 20th Boss Reveals Secret 'Predator' Movie; WB Snaps Up 'Wuthering Heights'; Apple's 'Before' Review

[View on web]( [New reader? Subscribe]( October 25, 2024 What's news: Erik and Lyle Menendez may soon be released from prison. Endeavor may sell off assets within IMG's portfolio. Amazon's Good Omens will end with a single, feature-length episode. Hulu has landed Sebastian Maniscalco’s next special. Alex Gibney-produced Netanyahu doc The Bibi Files will launch on streamer Jolt. Back to the Future – The Musical will end its Broadway run in January. — [Abid Rahman]( Do you have THR's next big story? Confidentially share tips with us at [tips@thr.com](. Howard's End? How SiriusXM Will Survive After Stern ►"We just won’t make stupid deals. And we won’t make deals that don’t make sense. It doesn’t mean some aren’t a gamble, even in a smart business setting." After inking big deals for Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes and Will Arnett's SmartLess and Alex Cooper's Call Her Daddy, THR's [Caitlin Huston]( writes that audio giant SiriusXM aims to keep bringing in new names to grow subscribers and battle rivals as it readies for the eventual retirement of its biggest cash cow, Howard Stern. [The analysis.]( —Crisis. On Thursday, Robert Greene and Karin Klein of the Los Angeles Times joined editorials page editor Mariel Garza in departing the paper following its decision not to endorse a presidential candidate in the 2024 race. On Tuesday, Semafor reported LAT owner Patrick Soon-Shiong blocked the paper’s editorial board from endorsing a candidate midway through the board’s preparation to endorse. “I am resigning because I want to make it clear that I am not okay with us being silent,” Garza said in an interview with the Columbia Journalism Review on Wednesday. [The story.]( —For sale? Endeavor is launching a review of the events within its IMG portfolio and may sell off certain assets. Events under review include the Miami Open and Madrid Open, two legendary ATP Masters 1000 and WTA 1000 tennis tournaments, and Frieze, which includes the well-known art fair as well as publishing and music interests. The decisions follow the April 2024 announcement that Silver Lake will take Endeavor private, which also included provisions related to the potential sale of certain businesses. [The story.]( —Moving on. Former Netflix content chief Cindy Holland will lend her expertise to Skydance as the company looks to close its acquisition of Paramount Global. Holland has been named a “senior advisor” to David Ellison and Skydance, “where she will lend her expertise and insights on the streaming business.” Holland had been global CEO of Sister, the production company founded in 2019 by Elisabeth Murdoch Stacey Snider and Jane Featherstone. Holland joined Sister in July 2023 with a mandate to grow its global production business. Sister CFO Chris Fry will serve as interim CEO of the company while it searched for a new leader. [The story.]( Menendez Bros. Resentencing Supported by L.A. District Attorney ►"They have paid their debt to society." Erik and Lyle Menendez may soon be released from prison, with Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón recommending that they be resentenced. Gascón announced Thursday that his office will move for reconsideration of the decades-old case involving the brothers, who killed their parents in a salvo of shotgun blasts in the den of their Beverly Hills mansion. They’ve served 34 years in prison, exhausting all of their appeals in 2005. Ryan Murphy’s polarizing nine-part Netflix series, a documentary and an army of TikTok supporters spurred renewed scrutiny into the trials, which was among the first to be nationally televised. [The story.]( —"Righting a significant wrong." Kim Kardashian shared her reaction to Gascón’s recommendation that the Menendez brothers be resentenced. The businesswoman and reality star, who has been outspoken about her support of the brothers, took to her Instagram Story on Thursday afternoon to show her appreciation for Gascón. "The Menendez brothers were granted a second chance at life and will wake up tomorrow finally eligible for a parole hearing. They could be released as early as 6 months,” Kardashian wrote. [The story.]( Charlamagne Slams CNN For "Bullshit" Trump Coverage ►"Nobody’s had an honest conversation about Donald Trump since 2016." Charlamagne tha God took no prisoners during an appearance on CNN‘s AC360 on Thursday night, damning the network’s coverage of Donald Trump and his overtly fascist statements and tendencies, and the double standards it applies to Kamala Harris in an impassioned bout of truth-telling that left host Anderson Cooper flustered and reeling. The podcaster and radio host also excoriated the wider media for its failure to convey the true danger of Trump's fascist rhetoric. [The story.]( —Enter Queen Bey. Beyoncé is making good on all of those rumors. The Grammy-winning singer is set to join Kamala Harris at a Friday rally in Houston, a source familiar with the planning confirmed to THR. The event, which has not yet been publicly announced, will also see Beyoncé joined by her mother, Tina Knowles, and country music icon Willie Nelson. [The story.]( —Live... and long. The Daily Show has set its election night plans. Comedy Central’s late night show will air a live special on Nov. 5, with Jon Stewart hosting and the Daily Show news team — Ronny Chieng, Jordan Klepper, Michael Kosta and Desi Lydic — providing updates and analysis. The special will run for an hour, twice the show’s normal length — with a title that’s many times the normal length. The special’s official name is (deep breath) The Daily Show Presents a Live Election Night Special With Jon Stewart: Indecision 2024: Nothing We Can Do About It Now. In addition to airing on Comedy Central, the special will simulcast on MTV, Paramount Network, TV Land, CMT, Pop and Logo. [The story.]( —Get ready for the “Kornacki Cam.” Steve Kornacki, the veteran NBC News and MSNBC national political correspondent, will get his own video feed on election night, part of Peacock‘s plan to bring the multiview experience that it debuted during the Paris Olympics earlier this year to other live events. Peacock will debut a three-feed version of multiview on election night, anchored by a main feed of NBC News Now, which will be led by Lester Holt and Savannah Guthrie; as well as the Kornacki Cam, which will see Kornacki at the big board analyzing the polling numbers as they come in through the night; and a decision desk feed, which will focus on electoral results and the balance of power. [The story.]( 'Good Omens' Final Season Will Be Just One Episode ►Bad omen? The third and final season of Good Omens at Amazon Prime Video will stretch — or maybe shrink — the definition of “season” in TV terms. The streamer announced Thursday that the series, which stars Michael Sheen and David Tennant and is based on Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett’s novel, will end with a single, feature-length episode. The 90-minute installment is set to begin production early next year in Scotland. Prime Video also noted that Gaiman won’t be involved in production on the series ender (though he did contribute to its writing). Earlier this year, five women accused the author of sexual assault; their claims are detailed in a podcast. He has denied any wrongdoing but offered to step away from the final Good Omens to let the production go forward and conclude the story. [The story.]( —Road to the MetLife. HBO is taking a deep dive into the U.S. men’s national soccer team as it prepares to host the 2026 World Cup. The premium cable outlet is in production on a docuseries that will follow the team in its run-up to the global event, which the U.S. will jointly host with Canada and Mexico. HBO Sports Documentaries and Park Stories are producing the series in association with the U.S. Soccer Federation and the U.S. National Soccer Team Players Association. The series will continue production over the next two years and will air in 2026. The World Cup is set to kick off on June 11, 2026. [The story.]( —Another one! In what is considered a sizable coup for the platform, Sebastian Maniscalco’s latest hour will debut as part of Hulu’s new standup initiative, which will kick off next month under the headline “Hularious.” The special, which is not yet dated, is expected to tackle what Maniscalco sees as the absurdities of modern life, from nonexistent manners and wallet-winced prices to the chaos of social media. It will be filmed during his top-selling “It Ain’t Right” tour. An hour from Jim Gaffigan will formally kicked off the “Hularious” initiative in November, with others, featuring Bill Burr, Chris Distefano, Ilana Glazer, Jessica Kirson, Matteo Lane, Atsuko Okatsuka and Roy Wood Jr., to follow. [The story.]( 20th Boss Talks Secret 'Predator' Movie, 'Alien' Sequel, 'Speed 3' ►"The landscape has changed so that theatrical is back." In a must-read interview, THR's [Borys Kit]( spoke to 20th Century Studios boss Steve Asbell. The exec discussed balancing streaming and theatrical, originals and established IP, and spilled more than he should about two, yes two, Predator movies coming next year as well as news on the Planet of the Apes, Aliens, Kingsman, Agatha Christie, Speed, Free Guy, Die Hard and most important of all, Master and Commander! [The interview.]( —The place for Coppola. StudioCanal has boarded Megalopolis, snatching up European TV and streaming rights for Francis Ford Coppola‘s $120m self-funded epic. The seven-year deal gives StudioCanal all TV and streaming rights outside of Spain and Russia, except for the pay-one window in France. StudioCanal is already in the Coppola business, its library includes such classics from the 85-year-old director as Apocalypse Now, One from the Heart, and The Conversation. [The story.]( —"A lot of the major outlets just were nervous." The Bibi Files, the explosive documentary containing leaked footage of interrogations in the ongoing corruption trial of Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu, is set to stream on the new platform Jolt. The film from director Alexis Bloom and producer Alex Gibney will stream on Jolt starting on Dec. 11 for 90 days. The decision comes after the film garnered distributors’ interest in international markets but not in the U.S., Gibney tells THR. Streaming the film will cost $12 on Jolt, which launched earlier this year and is currently also distributing Venice entry Hollywoodgate, with Sundance jury prize winner Gaucho Gaucho to come in December. [The story.]( —🎭 Enter the bad guy 🎭 UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex “Poatan” Pereira is in talks to make his acting debut opposite Adria Arjona in Onslaught, Adam Wingard’s action thriller set up at A24, Lyrical Media and Ryder Picture Company. The feature reteams the Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire filmmaker with his frequent collaborator Simon Barrett. The two made the cult hits You’re Next and The Guest and are writing this new feature together. Many details for Onslaught are being kept under wraps, but sources describe it as a gonzo action horror thriller. [The story.]( Warner Bros. Snaps Up 'Wuthering Heights' ►W for WB. Warner Bros. Motion Pictures Group has won the feature film adaptation package of Saltburn filmmaker’s Emerald Fennell take on Wuthering Heights. Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi are attached to star in the feature project, which hails from MRC and generated intense interest from streamers and studios and a bidding war. Warners won out partially due to its commitment to launching Wuthering Heights theatrically worldwide. [The story.]( —It’s time to talk about Fight Club. This month marks 25 years since David Fincher‘s influential Fight Club arrived in theaters, and to celebrate, the filmmaker is overseeing a new 4K Ultra HD remaster of the New Regency and 20th Century Fox film. Fincher is also planning a theatrical rerelease early next year, though details — such as a date or the number of theaters — are being kept under wraps. In addition, Fincher will release a 25th anniversary art book, including new interviews, rare behind-the-scenes material and unearthed visuals. The book arrives via Insight Editions and New Regency. [The story.]( —🤝 First-look deal 🤝 Emma Stone and Dave McCary’s production outfit Fruit Tree has signed a first-look film deal at Universal. Since launching in 2020, the company has logged some impressive credits, including break-out thriller I Saw the TV Glow and awards hopeful A Real Pain. It has also backed films that star the Oscar-winning actress, including Yorgos Lanthimos’ Poor Things, as well as projects from a variety of filmmakers like Julio Torres, who recently made his feature directorial debut with Problemista. On the TV front, the company was behind Showtime series The Curse, with both Stone and McCary executive producing. [The story.]( —🎭 In-demand 🎭 Brandon Sklenar is set to star opposite Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried in director Paul Feig’s psychological thriller The Housemaid. Sklenar most recently appeared opposite Blake Lively in It Ends With Us, the romantic drama that became a box office hit. Lionsgate is backing the project, which stars Sweeney as Millie, a struggling young woman who is relieved to get a fresh start as a housemaid to Nina (Seyfried) and Andrew (Sklenar), an upscale, wealthy couple. But Millie soon learns family secrets far more dangerous than her own past. [The story.]( —🎭 Blackpool rock 🎭 BAFTA winner Chris Cottam is set to direct The Light Fantastic, a new ballroom dance comedy movie starring Jeremy Irvine, Rupert Everett, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, and Layton Williams. Cornerstone will launch worldwide sales for the film at AFM in Las Vegas. Inspired by a true story, The Light Fantastic follows Jason (Irvine), a gay firefighter in his 30s who aspires to become a professional ballroom dancer. Set in Blackpool, the story chronicles his journey of self-discovery as he challenges ballroom traditions under the watchful eye of his traditional instructor, Reynolds (Everett). [The story.]( 'Back to the Future' Broadway Musical to End Its Run ►Great Scott! Back to the Future – The Musical will end its Broadway run on Jan. 5, 2025. The musical, which is an adaptation of the 1985 film, opened at the Winter Garden Theatre on Broadway on Aug. 3, 2023, and will have been on Broadway for 18 months at the time of its closing. The show has sold $80m in tickets and appeared to attract movie fans, and new audiences to Broadway, but received mixed critical reviews and has seen a gradual decline in grosses and attendance. Producers plan to open four productions in the next 18 months including Germany, Japan and announced an eight-year deal with Royal Caribbean to play the musical “in its full physical form” on the Star of the Seas. [The story.]( —🎭 Broadway debut 🎭 Louis McCartney is returning to the Upside Down for the Broadway run of Stranger Things: The First Shadow. The actor will reprise his award-winning, universally acclaimed performance of Henry Creel in the play when it hits the Great White Way on April 22, 2025, after beginning previews March 28, 2025 at the Marquis Theatre. This will mark his Broadway debut. Following the show’s run in London, McCartney received the Stage 2024 Debut Award for best performer in a play and the Critics’ Circle Award for most promising newcomer. The production itself has won two Olivier Awards for best entertainment and set design. [The story.]( TV Review: 'Before' ►"Monotonously somber." THR's chief TV critic [Dan Fienberg]( reviews Apple TV+'s Before. Billy Crystal plays a child psychiatrist trying to fix a very disturbed kid while grieving his wife in this 10-episode thriller. [The review.]( —"An infectious emotional rollercoaster." THR's [David Rooney]( reviews Sam Gold's Romeo + Juliet. Gold directs the high-energy, TikTok-generation Broadway revival, which brings original Jack Antonoff tunes and a notably young ensemble (led by Kit Connor and Rachel Zegler) to Shakespeare's classic romantic tragedy. [The review.]( Thank Pod It's Friday ►All the latest content from THR's podcast studio. —Awards Chatter. THR's executive awards editor Scott Feinberg talks to the great and the good of Hollywood. In this live episode, Scott spoke to Sing Sing star Colman Domingo. The Rustin Oscar nominee and Euphoria Emmy winner reflects on his decades of work before anyone was paying attention, how close he came to walking away from the profession in 2014 and the career renaissance that he was enjoyed over the past decade. [Listen here.]( —It Happened in Hollywood. THR senior writer [Seth Abramovitch]( goes behind the scenes of the pop culture moments that shaped Hollywood history. In this episode, Seth spoke to Kevin Smith. The filmmaker stops by for a hilarious episode about the making of his 1997 queer(ish) indie rom-com Chasing Amy, starring Ben Affleck. [Listen here.]( In other news... —Amazon’s [Cruel Intentions series gets first trailer, release date]( —September 5 [trailer sees sports newsroom at Olympics pivot to cover 1972 Munich terrorist attacks]( —Keke Palmer, SZA [R-rated comedy reveals title and first trailer]( —Showtime's [spy thriller The Agency gets premiere date, trailer]( —Based on a True Story S2 trailer: [New parents Kaley Cuoco, Chris Messina are still true-crime obsessives]( —The Merry Gentlemen trailer: [Chad Michael Murray brings holiday magic with a spicy twist]( —PGA Awards: [Chris Meledandri to receive David O. Selznick Award]( —Telemundo taps [Monica Albuquerque to lead content development]( —ViX exec [Pierluigi Gazzolo to step down at TelevisaUnivision]( —Sacha Baron Cohen [donates $500K to children in Sudan amid famine]( —Jay-Z’s [Armand de Brignac launches limited run of vintage champagne bottles at $3,400 each]( —[Edd Griles]( director of Cyndi Lauper’s "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" music video, dies at 78 ​​​What else we're reading... —Incredible story from Thomas Grove, Warren P. Strobel, Aruna Viswanatha, Gordon Lubold and Sam Schechner on Elon Musk's secret conversations with Vladimir Putin [[WSJ]( —Megan Messerly and Eugene Daniels explain why Kamala Harris is campaigning in Texas [[Politico]( —With the openly racist and dangerous talk around immigrants coming from the GOP, Irin Carmon considers what JD Vance's wife Usha, a daughter of immigrants, thinks about this moment [[The Cut]]( —Ahead of the final seaaon of Somebody Somewhere, Chris Vognar spoke to the showrunners behind the HBO series, and how they are going out on a bittersweet note [[NYT]( —Here's your Friday list: "The 20 best vampire movies that categorically do not suck" [[Empire]( Today... ...in 1978, writer-director John Carpenter unleashed Halloween in theaters, spawning decades of imitations and sequels of the iconic horror title. [The original review.]( Today's birthdays: Antony Starr (49), Mia Goth (31), Mia Wasikowska (35), Dominic Sessa (22), Katy Perry (40), [Craig Robinson]( (53), Nancy Cartwright (67), David McCormack (56), Christopher McQuarrie (56), Ciara (39), Leslie Grossman (53), Michael Weston (51), Kevin Michael Richardson (60), Mehcad Brooks (44), Marion Ross (96), Kristian Bruun (45), Kelley Missal (31), Johnny Sequoyah (22), Melinda McGraw (56), Mariana Klaveno (45), Tracy Nelson (61), Annabelle Dexter-Jones (38), Sarah Thompson (45), Persia White (52), Zachary Knighton (46), Darlene Vogel (62), Josh Henderson (43), Glynis Barber (69), Valter Skarsgård (29), Mathieu Amalric (59), Bessie Carter (31), Rachel Matthews (31), Samantha Esteban (45), Nika Futterman (55) Jack Jones, the silky Grammy-winning crooner who had hits with “Lollipops and Roses,” “Wives and Lovers” and “The Impossible Dream” before inviting TV viewers to set a course for adventure on The Love Boat, has died. He was 86. [The obituary.]( ADVERTISEMENT 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. 11355 W Olympic Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90064 [View in Browser]( | [Privacy Policy]( | [Your Privacy Rights]( | [Ad Choices]( | [Terms of Use]( | [Unsubscribe](