The all-new Hollywood Reporter offers unprecedented access to the people, studios, networks and agencies that create the magic in Hollywood. Published weekly, the oversized format includes exceptional photography and rich features.
Disney executives gathered March 28 for the unveiling of their $200 million-plus Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales at CinemaCon in Las Vegas, hopeful that the summer release will succeed despite Johnny Depp’s personal dramas and rumors of his repeated on-set tardiness. But that may matter less than a larger question lingering over the $179 billion company: What will happen now that Walt Disney Co. CEO Bob Iger has said he’s “serious this time around” about retiring in July 2019? Days after Iger, 66, revealed that he had extended his contract by a year — he cleverly broke the news March 23 during a USC-hosted tech conference in an interview by his wife, Willow Bay, the new dean of the Annenberg School of Journalism — the issue…
I n the wake of the March 24 collapse of negotiations between the studios and the Writers Guild, union members are gearing up to vote on whether to authorize the first major labor strike in Hollywood since the damaging WGA work stoppage of 2007-08. And THR interviews with writers indicate that, if the strike-authorization ballot goes ahead, a majority will support it. “I will vote [yes], of course, because if we don’t, we’ll be telling our negotiators that we’re not actually behind them,” says Robin Swicord (Memoirs of a Geisha), who adds that a no vote would mean “we don’t care how lousy the deal is, we’ll take it.” Adds Westworld co-creator Jonathan Nolan, “A vote is a part of showing the willingness of the membership to do what it…
Foreign Grosses Go Soft For the first time in a decade, international film revenue failed to maintain its upward momentum, even as U.S. box office ticked up A Strong Dollar Means Weaker Returns From China Revenue from ticket sales appeared to climb when measured in Chinese currency, but it actually dipped when converted to dollars After averaging 35 percent yearly growth for a decade (and climbing an astonishing 48 percent to $6.8 billion in 2015), box-office revenue in China dipped to $6.6 billion in 2016, according to a March 22 report released by the MPAA. That looks even worse when one considers that in 2016, Beijing allowed more Hollywood films to be shown than in previous years — 40 compared with the usual 34. It appears a tiny bit better…
China may have approved the March 17 theatrical release of Beauty and the Beast — despite what The People’s Daily called its “controversial gay moment” — but don’t expect the same for Oscar best picture winner Moonlight. “They think Moonlight is unsuitable and not politically correct,” says a source close to the state-backed China Film Group. Depicting gay relationships on TV is banned in China, but no rules prohibit such stories in feature films or online (though regulators often have pulled popular gay-themed dramas). So why would Beauty get through — along with Power Rangers, which features Hollywood’s first queer-questioning superhero protagonist — but not Moonlight? Disney’s connections may have helped; the relatively safe gay content didn’t hurt, either. “Each of these decisions is a calculation,” says one exec. Tipped…
The 2017 Emmys opened for submissions March 20, beginning the awards race in earnest. With a glut of ensemble vehicles, many strategists say this year has the pool of actors not only submitting earlier but also competing against more of their co-stars within certain categories. Take NBC’s This Is Us, considered broadcast’s best shot at cracking the drama race: Mandy Moore and Milo Ventimiglia will vie in lead categories, as will co-star (and 2016 People v. O.J. Emmy winner) Sterling K. Brown (though none of the actors with whom he shares screen time will be submitted as lead, with Chrissy Metz, Justin Hartley and Ron Cephas Jones all going for supporting). Hopefuls from HBO’s A-list limited entry Big Little Lies may bring even more intrashow battles. Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman…
BIG BANG THEORY’S BIGGER PAYDAYS (AND WHY THE STARS TOOK CUTS) Deal of the Week The Big Bang Theory stars are giving up some of their Friends-level cash in the name of friendship. CBS and producers Warner Bros. Television formally renewed the hit Chuck Lorre comedy March 20 with a two-season, 48-episode pickup that will take it through its 12th and expected final season. Joining stars Jim Parsons, Johnny Galecki and Kaley Cuoco in the top-salary tier are Simon Helberg and Kunal Nayyar. All five have signed rich new contracts that include 1.25 points off the backend, with Parsons and Galecki also extending their overall deals with WBTV. The former is executive producing and narrating CBS’ straight-to-series prequel Young Sheldon, while the latter’s Living Biblically pilot is in contention at…
