| | | | | | What's news: Brad Singer will join Warner Bros. as the company's new CFO. Kim Harvey is the new EP of CBS Evening News. Pedro Pascal is circling the lead role in Todd Haynes' gay romance. Bryan Singer has directed a film starring Jon Voight. John Malkovich has joined the cast of Apple's Bad Monkey. All five Twilight films are heading back to theaters. — Abid Rahman
Do you have THR's next big story? Confidentially share tips with us at tips@thr.com. |
Venice Kicks Off With Sorrentino, Coppola and Herzog ►🤌 Allora. 🤌 The 2025 edition of the world’s oldest film festival kicked off with a poignant moment of movie history Wednesday night as American film legend Francis Ford Coppola took the stage inside Venice’s Sala Grande cinema to present German uber-auteur Werner Herzog with an honorary Golden Lion, the event’s highest honor for lifetime achievement. The two cinema legends — Coppola is also a Venice film festival Golden Lion honoree from 1992 — adorably walked hand in hand down the red carpet to the openingnight ceremony. Herzog’s moment in the Venice spotlight got underway with a video tribute to his gloriously eccentric filmography, spanning Fitzcarraldo, Grizzly Man, Aguirre, the Wrath of God, My Best Fiend and so many more. The story.
—Fleeting images against the silent cosmos. Staying with Herzog, the legendary Bavarian filmmaker is taking his pursuit of ecstatic truth to a new frontier: Instagram. The 82-year-old is set to share the sorrows of old Werner after opening his official Instagram account this week, with the tag: “I am Werner Herzog. This shall be my Instagram.” His first video post shows Herzog standing in what looks like a clearing in a forest, a raw steak grilling over coals at his feet. The story.
—Go big or go home. Amid a sea of A-listers at this year’s Venice — the 82nd edition is shaping up to be the starriest parade of talent on the Lido in recent memory — Netflix will be on the scene in a major way as the streamer’s top executives will be rubbing elbows at the festival’s most anticipated premieres. THR's nicest man Chris Gardner has learned that co-CEO Ted Sarandos, chief content officer Bela Bajaria, chairman of film Dan Lin and awards guru Lisa Taback and members of her team will be in attendance this week as Netflix presents its most robust Venice slate ever. With three (highly anticipated) competition selections, Netflix is responsible for infusing a healthy dose of those aforementioned movie stars to the festival. The story. |
Diddy Notches Second Legal Victory Since Trial ►Dismissed. A sexual assault civil lawsuit brought against Sean “Diddy” Combs by a John Doe who claimed he was drugged and assaulted at an after party-turned-orgy was dismissed by a California judge this week because the statute of limitation time period has passed. The disgraced mogul, who was found not guilty of the sex trafficking and racketeering charges at his blockbuster trial this summer, still faces several civil lawsuits for various alleged sexual assaults and other crimes; the suits flooded in from alleged victims after his federal indictment went public in September 2024. He now awaits sentencing in a Brooklyn federal lock-up after being found guilty in July of violating the Mann Act. The story.
—Are we back? Apple TV+’s The Studio and a new HBO series from Larry David headline the first round of subsidies to Hollywood after California’s historic expansion of the state’s entertainment tax credit program, designed to woo productions back to their cultural home. In total, 22 TV productions will get $256m in incentives for shooting in California, the film commission announced on Wednesday. They’re projected to generate $1.1b in economic activity across multiple industries with ties to the entertainment industry and employ 6,500 cast and crew members, as well as 46,100 background performers. Most of the filming is expected to take place in Los Angeles, where workers have been experiencing a shortage of jobs since the dual writers and actors strikes. The story.
—Big hire. Once Warner Bros. Discovery officially splits into Warner Bros. and Discovery, the studio business led by CEO David Zaslav will have a new CFO to manage all its financials. The company says that Brad Singer will join the company as CFO of Warner Bros. in connection with the split. He will join in October in a strategic advisor role, and shift to CFO once the split is complete, reporting to Zaslav. Singer succeeds Gunnar Weidenfels, who will become CEO of Discovery once the separation is completed. Singer was most recently partner and COO of ValueAct Capital, and before that was the CFO of Discovery Communications during Zaslav’s tenure leading that company. The story.
—Upped. The CBS Evening News is turning to a veteran of the program to lead it as its new executive producer. Kim Harvey has been elevated to EP of the venerable evening newscast, which is marking 77 years on the air this year. Harvey succeeds Guy Campanile, who left the newscast earlier this month to return to 60 Minutes. Harvey has been a longtime producer for the CBS Evening News, and before that worked as a producer on various programs at CNN, Fox News and MSNBC, including on The Rachel Maddow Show, The O’Reilly Factor and American Morning. The story. |
'Rocky' Found: Anthony Ippolito to Play Young Stallone ►🎭 Not just another bum from the neighborhood. 🎭 THR's Borys Kit has the scoop that Anthony Ippolito, who portrayed Al Pacino in the Paramount limited series The Offer, is now tackling another famous Italian American actor. Ippolito has nabbed the starring role in I Play Rocky, the story of the making of boxing classic Rocky being made by Amazon MGM. Peter Farrelly, the comedy helmer who won an Oscar for directing The Green Book , is directing the feature that Amazon intends to release in theaters. Ippolito will star as a young Sylvester Stallone in the drama, the true Hollywood story about an unknown actor with an unshakable belief that he wasn’t just meant to write Rocky, he was also meant to be Rocky Balboa. The story.
—🎭 To the rescue! 🎭 Pedro Pascal is circling the lead role in director Todd Haynes‘ gay romance feature De Noche. The project made headlines last August when Joaquin Phoenix dropped out of the starring role just five days before filming was set to begin in Guadalajara, Mexico. Danny Ramirez has been attached to co-star in the movie that focuses on an intense gay romance in the 1930s. Christine Vachon and Pam Koffler are producing for Killer Films. Pascal does not have a deal in place and has been eyed for the role since late last year, though it is now just coming to public light. The story.
—"To thine own self be true." THR's Ethan Millman has the scoop that Heart lead vocalist Ann Wilson will be the subject of a new documentary. The singer-songwriter will be pulling back the curtain on her life in the feature In My Voice , that will be directed by Emmy-nominated filmmaker Barbara Hall, whose credits include specials on fellow music legends like Patsy Cline and Charley Pride among others. Wilson, 75, is one of the most iconic artists of her generation, the voice on hits like “Crazy On You,” “Barracuda” and “Magic Man” among others, and the creative force behind Heart alongside sister Nancy Wilson. The story. |
Bryan Singer Directed Secret Film With Jon Voight ►Come back bid. Bryan Singer is back behind the camera for the first time since his career imploded at the height of the #MeToo movement in 2019. The disgraced filmmaker has quietly directed an indie feature starring Jon Voight, described a father-son story set amid the backdrop of Israel's occupation of Lebanon in the ’70s or ’80s. The indie feature does not mark a return to Hollywood, but it is still a noteworthy development for Singer, who at his height was an in-demand director known for billion dollar properties such as the X-Men franchise. Most recently, Singer was able to land another high-profile job, directing the Millennium Films feature Red Sonja, only to lose it amid an Atlantic report detailing allegations of sexual misconduct involving minors, which he has denied. The story.
—Hold on tight, spider-monkeys! Twilight fans are about to be able to relive the epic love triangle between Bella, Edward and Jacob on the big screen. The official social media accounts for Lionsgate, which acquired Twilight production company Summit Entertainment in 2012, teased on Wednesday that all five movies are set to return to theaters this October. The post included a graphic featuring stars Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner, with the words: “Forever Begins Again.” Though exact dates haven’t been revealed, more details will be released today. The story.
—📅 Dated! 📅 Kate Winslet's directorial debut is getting ready to say hello to audiences. Goodbye June hits select theaters in the U.S. and the U.K. on Dec. 12 before it begins streaming on Netflix on Dec. 24. Toni Collette, Johnny Flynn, Andrea Riseborough, Timothy Spall, Winslet, Helen Mirren, Stephen Merchant, Fisayo Akinade, Jeremy Swift and Raza Jaffrey round out the cast. The film centers on four siblings whose lives change when their ailing mother takes a turn for the worse over the holiday season. Winslet helmed Goodbye June from a script by her son Joe Anders. Winslet and Kate Solomon serve as producers. The story. |
Elizabeth Banks to Star in Amazon's Karen Read Drama ►🎭 Plum role. 🎭 One of the more closely followed court cases of recent years is getting a dramatic treatment. Amazon Prime Video is developing a limited series based on the Karen Read trial, with Elizabeth Banks set to play the lead role and executive produce via her Brownstone Productions. In June, a jury acquitted Read on second-degree murder and manslaughter charges in the 2022 death of her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe (she was convicted on a drunk driving charge). The project comes from Warner Bros. Television and writer-showrunner Justin Noble, with David E. Kelley also executive producing. The story.
—Chimp paradox. Apple TV+ series Bad Monkey has cast John Malkovich in a series regular role for the upcoming season, which will be based on a new, original story. Created by Bill Lawrence, and starring and produced by Vince Vaughn, Bad Monkey is based on Carl Hiaasen’s novel of the same name. “Season one tells the story of Andrew Yancy (Vaughn), who has been bounced from the Miami Police Department and is now a health inspector in the Keys. But after stumbling upon a case that begins with a human arm fished up by tourists, he realizes that if he can prove murder, he’ll be back in. He just needs to get past a trove of Floridian oddballs and one bad monkey,” reads the synopsis. The story.
—"Gut punch of a call to get." Saturday Night Live castmember Emil Wakim is leaving after one season. Wakim, who joined the storied NBC late night sketch series in 2024 for the milestone 50th season, announced the news on social media Wednesday, explaining that it wasn’t his choice to exit. “It was a gut punch of a call to get,” the Lebanese American comedian wrote in a post on Instagram, “but i’m so grateful for my time there.” Wakim said he was celebrating a friend’s birthday at Six Flags when he got the news and “went on a really emotional walk through bugs bunny park and stared out across daffy duck lake thinking about life.” The story.
—📅 Wake up with Portnoy. 📅 Fox Sports will launch a Barstool Sports-branded morning show beginning next week, as the partnership between the sports giant and the digital media brand kicks into high gear. Wake Up Barstool will debut Tuesday Sept. 2, and will run from 8 a.m. through 10 a.m., with Barstool founder Dave Portnoy and talent like Dan “Big Cat” Katz and Eric Sollenberger (widely known as “PFT Commenter”) as well as a rotating cast of Barstool’s most popular personalities, including T-Bob Hebert, Brandon Walker and former NBA All-Star Jason Williams. The story.
—📅 Dated! 📅 Adult Swim announced Thursday that the absurdist animated series Smiling Friends is set to return with its third season on Oct. 5. THR revealed in June that the cult-favorite quarter-hour comedy from co-creators Michael Cusack and Zach Hadel had landed a two-season deal that will get the show to five seasons. Smiling Friends’ third season will center on Pim, Charlie, Flint and the rest of the gang in their quest to spread happiness. The new batch of episodes promises to include Mr. Frog sprinting directly at the camera, the friends collecting spirit gems and a pivotal confrontation with an ancient witch. The story. |
Film Review: 'La Grazia' ►"The alchemical ideal in actor-director collaborations." THR's chief critic David Rooney reviews Paolo Sorrentino's Venice competition entry, La Grazia. The director of Oscar winner The Great Beauty imagines the final days in office of a fictional President of the Italian Republic in this Venice Film Festival opener. Starring Toni Servillo, Anna Ferzetti, Orlando Cinque, Massimo Venturiello, Milvia Marigliano, Giuseppe Gaiani, Giovanna Guida, Alessia Giuliani, Roberto Zibetti, Vasco Mirandola, Linda Messerklinger and Rufin Doh Zeyenouin. The review.
—"Neither holy perfect nor a god-awful mess." THR's Leslie Felperin reviews Teona Strugar Mitevska's Mother. Premiering in the Horizons section at Venice, Macedonian writer-director Teona Strugar Mitevska's film portrays the Albanian nun known mostly for her work with the poorest in India. Starring Noomi Rapace, Sylvia Hoeks, Nikola Ristanovski, Ekin Corapci, Marijke Pinoy, Akshay Kapoor and Amrita Chattopadhyay. The review. |
TV Review: 'Task' ►"A bummer, in more ways than one." THR's Angie Han reviews HBO's Task. Mare of Easttown creator Brad Ingelsby returns to suburban Pennsylvania for the story of a grieving FBI agent investigating a string of robberies perpetrated against a local biker gang. Starring Mark Ruffalo, Tom Pelphrey, Emilia Jones, Jamie McShane, Sam Keeley, Thuso Mbedu, Fabien Frankel, Alison Oliver, Raúl Castillo, Silvia Dionicio, Phoebe Fox and Martha Plimpton. The review.
In other news...
—First look at Harlan Coben’s Lazarus sees Sam Claflin probe father’s death
—Whatever It Takes trailer: Drake and more Degrassi stars look back at teen drama
—Charlie Hunnam debuts his Ed Gein for Netflix's Monster S3
—London: Charli xcx, Emma Corrin to close fest with 100 Nights of Hero
—Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s engagement post breaks Instagram record
—Love Island USA S7 winners Amaya and Bryan split
What else we're reading...
—Josef Adalian writes that King of the Hill has been a bona fide smash hit for Hulu, and he reports more episodes are coming [Vulture]
—Inspired by Krypto in Superman, critic Manohla Dargis reflects on dogs in films [NYT]
—Taylor Lorenz reports that a dark money group is secretly funding influencers to push the Democratic Party line [Wired]
—I won't give too much away, but this highly personal essay from Eat, Pray, Love author Elizabeth Gilbert has quickly become the talk of the internet [The Cut]
—Elizabeth Paton writes that the ultimate flex of uber-wealth in 2025 seems to be having a big family [FT]
Today...
...in 2015, Sony Pictures released Alex Kendrick's War Room. The $3m budgeted Christian drama film was panned by critics but became a huge hit, scoring $74m at the box office. The original review.
Today's birthdays: David Fincher (63), Jack Black (56), Shania Twain (60), LeAnn Rimes (43), Luis Guzmán (69), Billy Boyd (57), Jason Priestley (56), Quvenzhané Wallis (22), Michel Franco (46), Florence Welch (39), Sarah Roemer (41), Amanda Tapping (60), Brian Thompson (66), Eugene Byrd (50), Daniel Stern (68), Jonathan Whitesell (34), Carly Pope (45), John McKeever (41), Katie Findlay (35), Marissa Bode (25), John Allen Nelson (66), Emma Samms (65), Ken Jenkins (85), Kristin Booth (51), Steffiana De La Cruz (51), Esther Hall (55), Rick Rossovich (68), Nick E. Tarabay (50), Kelly Overton (47), Shane Van Dyke (46), Jordan Elsass (24), Jasmine Blackborow (34), Lexi Underwood (22), Alfonso Herrera (42), J.J. Soria (44), Alec Berg (56) |
| Floyd Levine, a character actor who appeared in such films as Dog Day Afternoon, Night Shift and, for his son, producer, director and studio exec Brian Robbins, Coach Carter and Norbit, has died. He was 93. The obituary. |
|
|
|
| | | |
