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.
Is Hollywood’s #MeToo movement poised for a very public letdown? On the eve of Harvey Weinstein’s pivotal pretrial hearing on Dec. 20, the New York criminal case against the mogul looks to be on much shakier ground than in the court of public opinion, legal experts say. “This is the prosecutor’s worst-case scenario,” says criminal defense attorney Mark Geragos, citing a series of setbacks in recent weeks in which Weinstein lawyer Ben Brafman undermined the credibility of the New York police department, the grand jury process, and the three women who accused the disgraced producer of rape and sexual assault. The prosecution suffered its biggest blow in October when Judge James Burke tossed a count involving allegations made by Lucia Evans, one of the original accusers in Ronan Farrow’s New…
Mark Shapiro/Ari Greenburg Endeavor and WME both get new presidents, respectively, as the veteran executive and TV agent are promoted within the company by Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel. Leslie Moonves CBS concludes its former leader committed “willful and material misfeasance” in covering up sexual harassment and denies him a $120 million severance. Drake The rapper ends 2018 with eight tracks from his Scorpion album on Billboard’s year-end Top 100 songs list, including its No. 1, “God’s Plan.” Peter Jackson The Lord of the Rings legend’s brand couldn’t help his protege, director Christian Rivers, avoid a flop as the $100 million-plus Mortal Engines debuts to a dismal $7.5 million domestic. Showbiz Stocks ↑ $19.12 (+4%) IMAX (IMAX) Investors applaud the giant-screen movie exhibitor’s decision to dramatically scale back its expensive VR…
It’s a time when the strongest brands will survive.” That’s how FX CEO John Landgraf describes the state of Peak TV. English-language scripted originals in 2018 grew to another record (495, up eight from 2017). While 2018 was the year of lowest growth in scripted in almost a decade (1.6 percent, down from its 7 percent average gain), Landgraf had predicted originals would surge to 520 for 2018. What he didn’t anticipate, however, was basic cable’s massive retreat from the pricey genre, he tells THR. Viacom networks TV Land and CMT joined NBCUniversal’s E! in pulling out of the scripted game, contributing to a massive reduction in basic cable originals (down 31 from 2017). That marked basic cable’s biggest year-over-year decline since FX began its survey on the state of…
In 2015, actress Frankie Shaw won a jury prize at the Sundance Film Festival for SMILF, a short film about a hard-luck single mom. Not two years later, her series of the same name premiered on Showtime to strong reviews. Her brains, talent and ambition were undeniable. But with the second season of the show set to premiere Jan. 20, SMILF has become plagued by allegations of abusive behavior and violations of industry rules. Despite the involvement of several experienced producers and oversight from Showtime and Disney’s ABC Signature Studios, one performer is exiting after she claimed her contract was breached due to two mishandled sex scenes, numerous employees have contacted Disney’s anonymous tip line about an array of issues, and complaints have reached the major talent guilds. In a…
NETFLIX Aug. 7, 2017 Netflix invests in developing comic book universes to lessen reliance on Marvel, paying $30 million to $50 million for Mark Millar’s Millarworld, and, in March, nabbing rights to Rob Liefeld’s Extreme Universe. Nov. 30, 2018 With production facilities at a premium, Netflix reportedly engages in talks with Pinewood Studios, where Disney’s Lucasfilm is shooting the Star Wars sequel trilogy. Dec. 17, 2018 A month after exiting ABC, former entertainment president Channing Dungey joins Netflix to oversee half the streamer’s scripted originals as well as a large portion of overall deals, including working with the Obamas and Shonda Rhimes. Sept. 4, 2018 As it moves into merchandising and events, Netflix poaches Disney veteran Christie Fleischer as the streamer’s new global head of consumer products. Aug. 13, 2017…
On Dec. 14, CBS This Morning executive producer Ryan Kadro told the show’s staff what they had already read in the news two days earlier — that he’ll leave the network when his contract expires at the end of the year, in the wake of anchor turmoil and a worrisome ratings drop. Kadro’s exit, following the ouster of longtime 60 Minutes executive producer Jeff Fager in September, means that two of the news division’s most important — and profitable — programs are without a permanent leader. For venerable CBS News, it marks an extraordinary amount of upheaval. The uncertainty was set off more than a year ago by sexual misconduct revelations leveled at CBS This Morning anchor Charlie Rose, which led to his expulsion. And the ouster in September of CBS…
