Ted Sarandos acknowledged that Netflix may be making fewer movies than it used to — because it’s so much easier now to license them from third parties.
As streaming losses have mounted at traditional media companies, there has been a big shift back to Netflix, which in its early days padded studio coffers with cash. After initially being happy to cash large checks from a company they didn't regard as a threat, they got nervous and pulled back, aggressively repurposing content for their in-house platforms. Netflix, whose execs always said they saw the pullback coming, meanwhile mounted a major push into original content.
“We ramped up at that kind of aggressive pace because we had no access to license films” and not much of a library, Sarandos, co-CEO of the giant streamer, said at a media conference in New York hosted by investment bank UBS.
As traditional studios and networks have had to prioritize profits even as they continue building their streaming presence, Sarandos said, “What has happened is that the availability to license has opened up a lot more.” >>>"Natural State Of The Business" |
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Jonathan Majors Trial: Opening Arguments - Jonathan Majors used cruelty and manipulation to control Grace Jabbari, and when his girlfriend of two years discovered that the acclaimed actor was cheating on her with another woman, the psychological abuse turned physical, the prosecution told a New York City jury yesterday in opening arguments of the actor’s domestic violence trial. >>> Will Actor Take The Stand?
'Wonka' Review - The latest movie inspired by Roald Dahl's classic 1964 children’s story Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is, make no mistake about it, a full-on movie musical more in the tradition of ’60s-era films like Oliver and Dr. Dolittle than the beloved 1971 take, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, with Gene Wilder. >>>Pete Hammond's Take
Climate Of Change - Adam McKay, who has been outspoken about the threat of global warming, has made his next directorial effort a climate-related project. He will no longer be directing the Netflix movie Average Height, Average Build, starring Robert Pattinson, Amy Adams and Robert Downey Jr. >>>Passion Project
New Testament, New Take - Fox Nation’s Jesus Christ show has found its distributor and director. All3Media International has taken on Jesus Crown of Thorns [working title] for international sales and Deadline can reveal the premium docu-drama will be directed by Hereward Pelling. >>>Intended As A Franchise |
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For decades, bestselling YA author Judy Blume held back on having Hollywood adapt her pinnacle 1970 coming-of-age tome Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret.
Filmmaker Kelly Fremon Craig, together with producer James L. Brooks, won over Blume for the rights to make the movie.
However, in taking on what is a treasured novel – not only to an author, but generations of woman – Freemon Craig got more in the bargain: She got the opportunity to expand on some of the storylines in Are You There God? for the big screen, all with Blume’s blessing.
As the filmmaker tells Deadline, “The big shift from the book to the movie, is that I really wanted to give Barbara, a full life and a full arc, and her own coming of age in a way that was happening in tandem with Margaret.” >>>Read The Interview |
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Exclusive
Multi-Emmy and Tony winner Judith Light is set to star opposite Billy Crystal in Apple TV+‘s Before. Crystal also is executive producing the limited series, from Paramount TV Studios.
Exclusive
Aliyah Turner (Unsolved: The Murders of Tupac and the Notorious B.I.G.) has joined the Season 3 cast of the Starz drama Power Book III: Raising Kanan in a recurring role. Turner will portray Krystal, a primped and pompous queen bee from the Bronx.
Exclusive
Al Pacino, Diego Boneta, Xolo Maridueña, KiKi Layne, Alexander Ludwig, Ron Livingston and Titus Welliver will star in Killing Castro. The film will be produced by Romulus Entertainment’s Brad Feinstein, along with Christina Weiss Lurie of Fourth and Twenty-Eight Films. Romulus will also finance. |
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More News
🏀 Kevin Hart is taking a leaf out of Peyton and Eli Manning’s playbook. The comedian is to host a Manningcast-style alternate broadcast for the NBA’s new in-season tournament. NBA Unplugged with Kevin Hart, which comes from Peyton Manning’s Omaha Productions and Hart’s own Hartbeat, will air on ESPN2 on December 9.
🎶 Hell’s Kitchen, the Alicia Keys musical currently playing a sold-out run Off Broadway, will transfer to Broadway’s Shubert Theater this spring, producers announced.
🎬 Prime Video confirmed an eight-episode series order for Cruel Intentions and announced the full cast. That cast includes Sarah Catherine Hook (First Kill), Zac Burgess (Totally Completely Fine), Savannah Lee Smith (Gossip Girl), Sara Silva (American Horror Stories) and Khobe Clarke (Firefly Lane, Yellowjackets).
⚖ A former Fox News employee claims in a new civil lawsuit that Tucker Carlson‘s top producer Justin Wells sexually assaulted him in 2008. In June, a former Fox News producer who worked on Tucker Carlson Tonight, settled her lawsuit against the network for $12 million, after claiming harassment. |
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On the Radar
Tue - Deadline's For the Love of Docs; SAG vote ends; Indie Spirit Awards nominations
Wed - National Board of Review awards announcement; GOP debate
Thu - Frasier S1 finale
Fri - Biden L.A. fundraiser
Sat - NBA In-Season Tournament Championship; MPTF 'Lights, Camera, Action' telethon
Sun - Deadline Contenders Film: Documentary |
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"I've Been Through Something" - A grateful and emotional Jamie Foxx made his first Hollywood appearance since an unidentified medical emergency on a film set in April landed him in the hospital. He spoke at the Critics Choice Association‘s Celebration of Cinema & Television Honoring Black, Latino & AAPI Achievements. |
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