Global TV, Film & Media Industry News Roundup, Monday 9 June 2025
Netflix expands in India, Berwick reshapes Bravo, Goode leads Dept Q, Animal Farm debuts, Étoile cancelled, Tribeca backs Sargent, and UK producers head to Busan.
Today’s Highlights:
Netflix Partners with Ekta Kapoor’s Balaji Telefilms – A strategic move to expand Indian content globally, involving a top-tier producer and Netflix’s international growth ambitions.
Frances Berwick to Lead Bravo and Peacock Unscripted – A pivotal leadership shift at NBCUniversal that reflects the evolving landscape of streaming and reality content.
Netflix’s Dept Q Starring Matthew Goode – A high-profile series adaptation from the creator of The Queen’s Gambit, combining star power with globally recognised IP.
First Look at Andy Serkis’ Animated Animal Farm – A major animated adaptation with a prominent voice cast and cultural significance, unveiled at a leading festival.
Amazon Cancels Étoile Despite Two-Season Order – A surprising move highlighting instability in streaming strategy and management changes at Amazon MGM.
Liz Sargent Wins $1M AT&T Grant at Tribeca Festival – Significant funding for underrepresented voices, with major visibility at a key North American festival.
Joe Begos’ Jimmy & Stiggs Secures 1,500-Screen Release – A noteworthy indie success story with broad theatrical release and critical endorsements.
BFI Backs UK Producers for ACFM 2025 in Busan – A substantial international initiative supporting British content creators in Asian markets.
Paul Reubens Explored in HBO’s Pee-wee as Himself – A culturally resonant documentary revisiting the cost of creative persona and performance.
Jessica Biel & Elizabeth Banks Star in The Better Sister – A high-profile series with potential audience draw, though less industry-altering than others on the list.
Plus: Insights, Festivals & Markets, In Development, Deals, & Jobs with AMC, Britbox, Netflix, Amazon, MGM, Tubi, Hulu, Prime, Rakuten & Sony in London, LA, NYC, Madrid, Paris & Singapore.
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Streamers: Netflix, Apple, Viaplay, SkyShowTime, Amazon Prime, Marquee TV, Paramount Television International, MTV Entertainment Group, BET, Cineverse.
Broadcasters: NBC Universal, France Televisions, Sky, ABC, Channel 4, ITV, A+E Networks, CBC, TV2, SVT, ARTE, RTBF, SBS Play, TCL FFalcon, RTL, TVNZ, SRF, Kanal D, UKTV.
Producers: Fifth Season, Sony Pictures Television, Banijay, Fremantle, Endemol Shine, Gaumont, Pathé, Warner Bros Television Productions, Universal Pictures International Australasia, UFA Fiction, Vivendi, Entertainment One, BBC Studios, Warner Bros Discovery, Talpa Studios, Keshet, Tiger Aspect, Wild Bunch TV, Red Planet Pictures, Go Quest Media, Eureka Productions, The Ink Factory, Nordisk Film, Reel One Entertainment, Bunya Productions, Beach House Pictures, Beyond, The Global Agency, Esha Bargate Productions, blue Entertainment, Paper Plane Productions, Paprika Studios, Playmaker, Off the Fence, Goalpost Pictures, Spin Master, Stand By Me, Halcyon Studios, DPG Media, Envision, Rive Gauche, Blue Ant Media, Squareone, Great Southern Studios, Collective Media Group, New Dominion Pictures, RAW TV, Optomen, Magpie Pictures, KOJO, ShinAwiL, WildBrain, Nine Daughters, Amazon/MGM Studios, October Films, Legendary Entertainment, Bad Wolf, Mediapro, Bron.
Also: Aarhus Series Festival, The Wit, Norwegian Film Commission, New Zealand Film Commission, IMDA, MIA, Getty Images, Ottawa Film Office, Simkins, Harbottle & Lewis, Screen Brussels, Sheffield DocFest, FilmChain, Documentary Business, Zero Gravity Management, SXSW, MEA, DOC, Attraction Distribution, Kaplan Stahler Agency, Passion Distribution, Audible, Screen Queensland, Canada Media Fund, My Smash Media, Artists First, Grey Seal Media, Screenforce Finland.
INSIGHTS
Matthew Goode Tackles Trauma and Cold Cases in Netflix’s Dept Q.
Matthew Goode stars as DCI Carl Morck in Netflix’s Dept Q., a gripping new crime series set in Scotland and developed by The Queen’s Gambit creator Scott Frank. Based on Jussi Adler-Olsen’s novels, the show follows Morck, a detective struggling with PTSD, who is relegated to a cold case unit alongside Akram and Rose. Goode reflects on the intense role, his time on Downton Abbey, and portraying Robert Evans in The Offer. Read More
The Bold and the Beautiful Moves to New Studio After 38 Years
CBS’s The Bold and the Beautiful is leaving its longtime home at Television City due to major renovations. The show will remain in Los Angeles, relocating just 2.5 miles away to Sunset Las Palmas Studios. Production resumes August 19 after its summer hiatus. Executive producer Bradley Bell celebrated the move, calling it the start of an exciting new chapter in Hollywood. Read More
King Princess Makes Acting Debut in Nine Perfect Strangers
Pop artist King Princess steps into acting with her first TV role in Season 2 of Nine Perfect Strangers. Her character’s detachment from music reflects her own recent burnout. “Music felt really stale for a minute,” she told TheWrap, though she’s now reinvigorated and set to release her new album Girl Violence this fall. Acting, she says, helped her stay creative and continue growing artistically. Read More
Joe Begos’ Wild Sci-Fi Horror Jimmy & Stiggs Hits Theatres August 15
Joe Begos’ neon-drenched sci-fi horror film, Jimmy & Stiggs, a gruesome $ 200,000 passion project four years in the making, lands in 1,500 theatres on August 15 via Eli Roth’s Horror Section label. Roth calls it a work of art, likening Begos to Lynch and Raimi. The film’s intense practical effects and unrated edge position it as a bold contender in modern horror, aiming to rival Terrifier 3. Read More
Jillianne Reinseth Champions AI as a Creative Ally in Kids’ Entertainment
From SpongeBob to Nelvana, Jillianne Reinseth has helped shape beloved kids' content while guiding the industry toward ethical, creative uses of AI. Now leading development at Nelvana, she views AI as a tool to empower—not replace—storytellers. As budgets tighten and discoverability becomes a challenge, Reinseth remains optimistic, using tech to elevate underrepresented voices while preserving the human heart of storytelling. Read More
Frances Berwick to Lead Bravo and Peacock Unscripted Amid Industry Shift
As cable declines, NBCUniversal veteran Frances Berwick is steering Bravo into a new era. While many networks shift to Versant, a planned spinoff company, Bravo remains in-house, thanks to its loyal reality fan base and potential to boost streamer Peacock. Now chair of Bravo and Peacock Unscripted, Berwick will oversee both as the company bets on reality’s enduring appeal, despite subscriber and ad declines and lingering fallout from the 2023 Reality Reckoning. Read More
Paul Reubens and the Burden of Becoming Pee-wee Herman
HBO’s Pee-wee as Himself explores how Paul Reubens, once an underground art rebel, sacrificed identity for fame. After retreating from love and his queer self, Reubens fully embodied his Pee-wee Herman persona—transforming satire into mainstream performance art. The documentary reveals the cost of erasing Paul Reubens to elevate Pee-wee, a decision that brought success but deepened his lifelong conflict between authenticity and career. Read More
Hawaii’s TV Production Slows as Former Studio Lies Abandoned
A year after NCIS: Hawai’i ended, Hawaii’s film industry continues to decline. Actor Jason Antoon, who starred in the series, posted a video of the now-empty Hawaii Film Studios—once home to Lost and Hawaii Five-0—now overgrown with weeds. The clip underscores the state’s ongoing production slowdown and the impact of fewer network shows filming on the islands. Read More
Natasha Rothwell & Sterling K. Brown | Actors on Actors
The first time Natasha Rothwell met Sterling K. Brown on the set of 'Insecure', she was too embarrassed to say hi. Now the two sit down for an in-depth conversation in the Actors on Actors chairs. They touch on everything from the state of the film industry, what the 'White Lotus' finale means for the character of Belinda and Brown becoming a sex symbol while starring in 'Paradise.'
Every Wes Anderson Movie, Explained by Wes Anderson | Vanity Fair
"When you're writing a story, it often feels less like you're doing architecture and more like you're doing excavation–we're just unearthing it." Wes Anderson has made 12 films over 29 years, establishing his name as widely known for his distinctive visual style, characterised by symmetrical compositions, vivid colour palettes, and unique camera movements. From his very first film 'Bottle Rocket' to his great hits like 'The Grand Budapest Hotel' and 'The Royal Tenenbaums,'' Wes Anderson takes a look at all of his films and discusses in detail how they came to life.
Austria Embraces The Sound of Music as Tourism Booms
Once dismissed as kitschy and overly American, The Sound of Music has become a significant tourism driver for Salzburg, generating $1.8 billion annually. The film attracts approximately 350,000 visitors each year, generating revenue for hotels, tours, and local businesses. Salzburg, once reluctant, now embraces its musical legacy, with a new museum opening near Hellbrunn Palace to explore both the Hollywood myth and Austrian reality. Read More
Cooper Koch & Sam Nivola | Actors on Actors
Cooper Koch and Sam Nivola haven't met before, but form an instant bond in the Actors on Actors studio. They discuss what it means to be labelled a "nepobaby", how Koch prepared for his turn as Erik Menendez in 'Monsters," and how Nivola feels about that scene with his on-screen brother in "The White Lotus." All before making plans to play tennis together.
Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg Break Down the Craft Behind THE STUDIO | Filmmaker Toolkit
Hearst Networks UK’s Digital Strategy with Sam Pearson
Sam Pearson, Head of Digital Commissioning at Hearst Networks UK, discusses the company’s social-first approach to factual and true crime formats, including History Crush and Unbreakable. The strategy focuses on test-and-learn methods across YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, and AVOD, adapting content for platform-native audiences.
Full Comedy Actress Roundtable: Natasha Lyonne, Kristen Bell, Kathryn Hahn, Jessica Williams & More
Jessica Biel & Elizabeth Banks Explore Sisterhood in The Better Sister
Jessica Biel and Elizabeth Banks star in The Better Sister, a Prime Video thriller about estranged siblings forced together after a murder. Biel connected to the role through its dysfunction and pain, while Banks related to feeling like a fish out of water. Co-showrunner Olivia Milch highlights how siblings experience different versions of their parents, shaping their adult relationships.
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