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.
Every given year, thousands of freshfaced aspirants arrive in Hollywood hoping for a break. Not only did these 20 actors on whom THR swiped right get that break, they broke through. Olivia Cooke, 22, and Tye Sheridan, 19, will share screentime in Steven Spielberg’s Ready Player One; Alex Wolff, 19, stars in Patriots Day with Mark Wahlberg; and Thomas Mann will appear in Kong: Skull Island. “These are the future awards-season contenders and blockbuster stars,” says THR staff writer Mia Galuppo, who worked with the staff on identifying the Next Gen Talent (page 68). Talent, though, is not just onscreen. This annual Next Gen assessment also anoints for the 23rd year the young executives changing film and television and highlights lawyers, agents, managers and digital execs making waves. But it…
Film X-Men Exits Trouble in Fox’s Marvel universe p. 16 Mergers CBS-Viacom Intrigue Will Moonves get what he wants? p. 20 HeatIndex Kevin Feige The Marvel Studios president launches yet another superhero franchise with Doctor Strange’s $85 million domestic debut and a huge global haul. Jan Schuette The AFI dean will step down after some faculty issued a “no confidence” vote and others said Schuette “generated a culture of fear, intimidation and bullying.” Roy Price The Amazon Studios chief scores Matthew Weiner’s Mad Men follow-up and David O. Russell’s first foray into TV as his film Manchester by the Sea builds Oscar buzz. Pauline Fischer The Netflix vp original films steps down as the streaming service is ramping up its ambitious movie slate with projects from Brad Pitt, Will Smith…
With the summer release of X-Men: Apocalypse behind it and a Deadpool sequel hitting a speed bump, 20th Century Fox is finding its superhero franchise at another type of X: a crossroads. Fox has had movie rights to Marvel’s X-Men characters since the 1990s, well before Marvel became its own studio and Fox ostensibly launched the modern comic book movie with 2000’s X-Men. But now, after some highs, lows and one reset (2011’s X-Men: First Class), there are signs of wear and tear on a franchise that has grossed more than $4 billion. Apocalypse, directed by Bryan Singer, earned $544 million worldwide, a sharp drop from the $748 million made by previous entry X-Men: Days of Future Past. What’s more, stars Jennifer Lawrence, Michael Fassbender, James McAvoy and Nicholas Hoult…
The revolt at Sony Pictures against the management style of studio chairman Tom Rothman seems to be unprecedented in the memory of industry veterans. Without disclosing names — which a source shared with THR only on the understanding that they would not be divulged — a group that included very senior and professional executives complained, in a coordinated move, to Sony Entertainment CEO Michael Lynton as well as to the studio’s human resources department. Not coincidentally, Andrew Gumpert, the respected president of business affairs for the motion picture group, exited Nov. 8. Those who complained about Rothman are not naive people, so surely they were aware that Lynton has been seen as one of the most hands-off executives atop a media company. (One agent calls him “a sphinx.”) They also…
The merger dance between Viacom and CBS Corp. is underway, but the priorities of the two Sumner Redstone companies don’t quite seem to match. Sources tell THR the Viacom special committee tasked with working on the merger hopes to wrap things up by year’s end, quickly tackling financial terms and moving to issues of governance and compensation for CBS Corp. president and CEO Leslie Moonves, who would oversee the combined entity. But for the CBS side, the issue of governance comes first. In other words, Moonves, who holds a strong hand in this negotiation thanks to his stellar reputation, wants clear control of the combined company. He was closely allied with Viacom and CBS vice chair Shari Redstone during the protracted battle to oust Viacom chairman Philippe Dauman, but now…
AWARDS SEASON 2016 PICTURE Fences Although the film doesn’t hit theaters until Dec. 25, Paramount unveiled Denzel Washington’s adaptation of August Wilson’s play at a tastemakerpacked Westwood screening Nov. 5, and the crowd was rapturous in its praise. VISUAL EFFECTS Doctor Strange Marvel’s Doctor Strange, starring Oscar nominee Benedict Cumberbatch, opened big, and everyone — even The New Tork Times — raved about its trippy visuals. ACTRESS Meryl Streep Florence Foster Jenkins Not that anyone had to be reminded of her talents, but the Hollywood Foreign Press Association will honor Streep with its Cecil B. DeMille Award at the Golden Globe Awards on Jan. 8. Susan Sarandon The Meddler She got good notices for playing a meddlesome mom, but the Oscar winner’s campaign against Hillary Clinton and advocacy for Jill…
