Global TV, Film & Media Industry News Roundup, Wednesday 21 May 2025
AI reshapes film and labour; SAG-AFTRA sets limits, Spain leads production shift; Canal+ cuts rattle France; Sky falters; India, LA, and horror hits energise global screens.
Today’s Highlights:
SAG-AFTRA Advances AI Protections in New Commercials Deal – The union’s latest deal sets historic limits on AI training and use of member likenesses, following concerns raised during the 2023 strike.
Spain Embraces AI in Film Industry – Spain leads in AI innovation with The Great Reset, a fully AI-produced sci-fi film that premiered at Berlin and signals a shift toward automation in filmmaking.
French Cinema Faces Crisis as Canal+ Cuts Funding – Canal+ is slashing investments that could eliminate 30–40 auteur films annually, endangering France’s independent and co-produced film output.
Comcast’s Sky Gamble Under Scrutiny Seven Years On – Comcast’s £31bn acquisition of Sky is under pressure as the broadcaster’s value, prestige, and news division suffer major setbacks.
Final Destination Bloodlines Revives Franchise with $100M+ Global Debut – Directors Lipovsky and Stein reignited the franchise with a critical and commercial hit, delivering the top R-rated debut since the pandemic.
India Cine Hub Accelerates International Film Collaborations – India’s Cine Hub processed over 100 co-production applications, drawing more than ₹1,000 crore in foreign production investment.
L.A. Mayor Karen Bass Streamlines Filming Permits – Mayor Bass issued an executive order to reduce red tape and ease location access to revive Hollywood's role in local job creation.
Upfronts 2025 Highlight Sports, AI, and Shoppable Content – Disney CEO Bob Iger and NFL stars headlined a push for live content, data-driven ads, and interactive formats reshaping television jobs.
David Mamet Discusses Henry Johnson and Hollywood’s Decline – Mamet’s new film, Henry Johnson, marks his return via self-distribution and a candid critique of the industry’s collapse.
Dangerous Animals Becomes First Australian Film at Directors’ Fortnight in 10+ Years – Sean Byrne’s Dangerous Animals premiered at Cannes, earning acclaim and reviving the Australian presence in the sidebar.
Plus: Insights, Festivals & Markets, In Development, Deals, Renewals & Jobs with Prime, ITV, UKTV, Netflix, NBCUniversal, Disney & CAA in London & LA.
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INSIGHTS
Spain Embraces AI in Film Industry
Spain is adopting artificial intelligence in film and TV to lead innovation and regulation. A key example is The Great Reset, a 2025 sci-fi thriller by Daniel H. Torrado, created entirely with AI—from animation to post-production—without actors or real sets. Premiered at the Berlin Film Festival, it follows a rogue AI threatening humanity, produced by Virtual World Pictures, Canary Film Factory, and EPC Media. Read More
David Mamet Talks Henry Johnson, Shia LaBeouf, and the Death of Hollywood
We open the 2025 Crew Call summer season with playwright and director David Mamet, discussing his new film, Henry Johnson, his first in 12 years. Based on his 2023 play, the self-distributed movie follows a man entangled in a friend's sex crime. Mamet reflects on LaBeouf’s role, the industry’s decline, and why self-distribution now rivals Hollywood’s traditional path. Read More
Jafar Panahi: A Dissident by Force, Not Choice
Jafar Panahi never sought to be a dissident filmmaker—it was imposed on him. After attending a protest funeral in 2009, Iran's regime banned him from travel and filmmaking for 20 years. Though acclaimed for The White Balloon and The Circle, global attention intensified after the ban, especially when Berlin’s 2011 festival left an empty jury seat in protest of his absence. Read More
French Cinema Faces Crisis as Canal+ Cuts Funding
France’s film industry braces for a major blow as Canal+ reduces investment, likely slashing 30–40 films annually, mainly auteur-driven European co-productions. “We fear a real drop in €4–6M 'middle films,’” says France Télévisions’ Manuel Alduy. Known for backing bold, diverse voices, Canal+’s pullback alarms independents like Julie Billy of June Films, calling it “extremely worrisome” for projects like Green Eyes, currently Canal+-financed. Read More
Comcast’s Sky Gamble Under Scrutiny Seven Years On
When Comcast CEO Brian Roberts bid £31bn for Sky, a London cabbie’s praise helped seal his belief in the UK broadcaster’s value. But seven years later, Sky’s worth has dropped nearly 25%, its dominance in prestige TV has faded, Sky News faces mounting losses, and a £300m ad scandal looms—raising doubts over whether Comcast overpaid in its global expansion bid. Read More
John C. Reilly Stars in Heads or Tails?, a Surreal Western at Cannes
John C. Reilly plays Buffalo Bill in Heads or Tails? (Testa o croce?), a surreal western by Alessio Rigo de Righi and Matteo Zoppis, premiering in Cannes’ Un Certain Regard. Starring Nadia Tereszkiewicz and Alessandro Borghi, the film explores fame, myth, and storytelling through Buffalo Bill’s 1890 Italian tour. The story follows Rosa, Santino, and a deadly contest that puts Santino—and Buffalo Bill—on the run. Read More
What Buyers Want: Insights into Latin America’s Top TV Content
In a fast-changing entertainment world, understanding market demand is key, and telenovelas remain highly sought after in Latin America. Liliana Castillo of Red Uno Bolivia emphasises carefully selecting telenovelas to shape programming, confirming the genre’s enduring appeal across the region’s platforms and channels. Read More
SAG-AFTRA Advances AI Protections in New Commercials Deal
After a 118-day 2023 strike sparked by AI concerns, SAG-AFTRA is refining its stance on generative AI with new commercial contracts. For the first time, the union limits using members’ performances to train AI and aims to discourage replacing actors with AI solely to cut costs. SAG-AFTRA’s Duncan Crabtree-Ireland and negotiator Stacy Marcus call the deal a major step in balancing performers’ rights with advertisers’ tech use. Read More
Directing Duo Lipovsky & Stein Score Big with Final Destination Bloodlines
After years of hard work, Zach Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein hit a major milestone with Final Destination Bloodlines, which opened to $51.7M domestically—the biggest R-rated debut since the pandemic—and earned critical acclaim. Their first studio feature revived the dormant franchise, crossing $100M globally. From Disney TV to the cult hit Freaks, the pair’s persistence paid off as Warner Bros. praised their smart, fresh take. Read More
L.A. Mayor Karen Bass Moves to Simplify Filming Permits and Access
L.A. Mayor Karen Bass signed an executive order to streamline film and TV production by reducing city staff presence on shoots to just one person and improving crew access to iconic locations like Griffith Observatory. Announced at SAG-AFTRA headquarters, the order aims to cut red tape, ease production challenges, and boost Hollywood’s role in supporting local jobs and the economy. Read More
Bi Gan Returns to Cannes with Surreal Competition Film Resurrection
Chinese auteur Bi Gan’s Resurrection is a six-part cinematic fever dream exploring the five senses plus the mind, framed as a “movie monster” reflecting a century of film history. Starring Jackson Yee and Shu Qi, the film imagines a world where humanity can no longer dream, except for one creature and a woman who ventures into the monster’s illusions to uncover hidden truths. Read More
India Cine Hub Drives Growth in International Film Collaborations
India Cine Hub, formerly the Film Facilitation Office, has become key in promoting global film partnerships, processing 104 incentive applications for co-productions and international shoots. So far, 21 projects have received incentives, contributing to over INR 1000 crore (~$118 million) in the filmmaking business coming to India in the past year, according to Prithul Kumar, joint secretary of broadcasting. Read More
Upfronts 2025: Sports, AI, and the Future of TV Jobs
The 2025 Upfronts highlighted sports and live events as key drivers of advertising revenue, with AI-powered ad tech shaping the future. Disney CEO Bob Iger, alongside Patrick Mahomes and Saquon Barkley, emphasised premium content and first-party data. Advertisers focus on interactive storytelling, shoppable content, and AI-driven ad placements, signalling new opportunities for media professionals. Read More
HBO Max’s The Pitt Brings Real-Time Medical Drama to TV: Read the Script
Noah Wyle reunites with ER producers John Wells and R. Scott Gemmill for The Pitt, a 15-episode medical drama set in a Pittsburgh hospital. The series, structured in real-time, follows harried healthcare professionals navigating intense emergencies and personal struggles. The premiere episode, “7:00 A.M.”, introduces Dr. Michael Robinavitch, played by Wyle, as he guides new interns through a high-pressure shift. Read the Episode 1 script. Read More
Netflix Expands Sesame Street Offerings, HBO Max Reverts to Original Branding
These developments illustrate the evolving strategies of streaming platforms as they navigate market saturation and shifting consumer preferences. Netflix's focus on children's content and interactive offerings like video games indicates a content diversification to capture various audience segments. Meanwhile, HBO Max's branding reversal highlights the importance of a clear and strong brand identity in a crowded streaming market. The actions of Netflix and HBO Max reflect a broader industry trend toward specialisation and brand consolidation, as streaming services strive to differentiate themselves and retain subscriber loyalty in an increasingly competitive environment. Read More
ITV Announces Major Daytime Programming Overhaul
Starting January 2026, ITV will extend Good Morning Britain to 9:30 AM and 10:00 AM when Lorraine is off-air. Lorraine will be cut to 30 minutes and air for 30 weeks annually, while Loose Women will also shift to a 30-week schedule. This Morning remains unchanged, but its production team will merge with Lorraine and Loose Women. Over 220 jobs are at risk amid ITV’s cost-cutting strategy. Read More
Seth Rogen Running ‘The Studio’, Fighting Ron Howard, And Getting Ted Sarandos On A Rival Streamer
'The Boys' Cast Says the Final Season Will Include Things “Not on Your Bingo Card”
THR Frontrunners Q&A With 'Andor' Star Diego Luna
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