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.
Universal’s experiment with releasing Trolls World Tour on demand in the midst of a pandemic has been full of surprises. For starters, NBCUniversal shocked theater owners by not notifying them in advance that it was going to offer the title on premium on demand. They reacted badly to the perceived attack on their traditional windows. But the studio also caught its own talent off guard when it revealed early on-demand plans for the animated tentpole. Sources tell THR that the Trolls sequel’s top voice stars, including Justin Timberlake and Anna Kendrick, also were not informed ahead of the March 16 announcement that the film would be available to rent for $19.99 online. This is not the sort of surprise such people usually like, and it’s a sensitive matter because compensation…
Travis Scott The artist, who performed his single “The Scotts” on Fortnite to 12 million players, nabs his third No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 as it earns 42.2 million U.S. streams in the week ending April 30. Bob Chapek As the new Disney CEO manages closures amid a pandemic, the company reveals May 5 that its Parks, Experiences and Products division has taken an estimated $1 billion hit so far. Chip and Joanna Gaines As cable ratings fall overall, the Discovery reality stars drive the DIY Network to its highest-rated day April 26 with 870,000 viewers for its Magnolia Presents special. Andy Lack The NBC News chairman, who led the division since 2015, will exit by the end of May, with Telemundo chief Cesar Conde set to succeed him.…
On April 27, Saudi Arabia disclosed in an SEC filing that it has taken a 5.7 percent stake in Live Nation, led by CEO Michael Rapino, via its sovereign wealth fund. The $500 million move marked the Public Investment Fund’s first known buy-in of an American entertainment company since the October 2018 murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi — a crime attributed to Saudi government agents that ended Hollywood’s love affair with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Now, the question looms: Was the investment a one-off or a sign of more to come? Sources familiar with the PIF’s strategy tell THR to expect more investment. Lots more. The $300 billion fund remains interested in the entertainment and sports sector and is close to completing a $380 million deal to…
Since mid-March, many CEOs across the entertainment and media landscape have made headlines by pledging to forgo their salaries amid fallout from the novel coronavirus pandemic. Eventually, however, attention will be diverted elsewhere, at which time experts say some of them will be repaid, making their current cuts merely a loan to the company disguised as a financial sacrifice. Take Disney, which has furloughed more than 100,000 employees. On March 30, the company disclosed that executive chairman Bob Iger would forgo his $3 million salary and other top executives like CEO Bob Chapek — who makes $2.5 million in base salary — would have their pay cut in half. While relinquishing base salary may have been a move toward forging solidarity with employees, Iger makes much more annually in additional…
On Jan. 27, actress Ashley Jackson felt the first symptoms of a nasty bug — fever, clammy skin, fatigue and shortness of breath. Given her current locale — Park City — she chalked it up to altitude sickness and toughed out her final day at the Sundance Film Festival, where she had attended the world premiere of Blast Beat, a family drama in which she co-stars, as well as a dizzying array of parties and lounges. The next day, the 20-year-old college student flew home to Atlanta, just as more intense symptoms began to emerge, including sore throat, aches and pains and a cough so violent, her neck swelled. Within 24 hours, she made her first of multiple visits to an urgent care facility or emergency room and was diagnosed…
FILM Taika Waititi (CAA, New Zealand’s Gail Cowan, Manage-ment, Morris Yorn) will direct and co-write a new Star Wars film alongside 1917 scribe Krysty Wilson-Cairns. Ben Schwartz (Haven, Gang Tyre) and Sam Rockwell (Gersh, Untitled) will star in and exec produce an untitled comedy for Searchlight Pictures, with Schwartz also writing. Shang-Chi’s Dave Callaham (UTA, Kaplan/Perrone, Hansen Jacobson) will write a liveaction remake of Disney’s Hercules, with Joe and Anthony Russo producing. Ryan Reynolds (WME, Sloane Offer) and Shawn Levy (WME, Ziffren Brittenham) are teaming to star in and direct, respectively, an untitled time-travel adventure project for Skydance. American Hustle’s Eric Warren Singer (Gochman) will write a third installment of Lionsgate’s heist-thriller franchise Now You See Me. Florence Pugh (WME, the U.K.’s Curtis Brown, Ziffren Brittenham), Shia LaBeouf (CAA, John…
