Global TV, Film & Media Industry News Roundup, Thursday 1 May 2025
Crunchyroll expands globally; Flanagan’s novel hits screens; Foxtel cuts jobs; Hunger Games returns; AMC backs cable; Netflix adapts Keyes; Canneseries, Durban, and Roth shake up storytelling.
Today’s Highlights:
Crunchyroll targets 1.5 billion global fans with expansive anime strategy – Sony-owned Crunchyroll is scaling anime into a global phenomenon with new multi-platform plans.
The Narrow Road to the Deep North finally hits screens after a decade of delays – Richard Flanagan’s acclaimed novel makes its long-awaited debut on Amazon Prime Video, marking a major milestone in Australian screen storytelling.
Foxtel lays off 100 staff post-DAZN acquisition, signals shift toward streaming – A major structural change in Australian media with significant implications for the local industry.
Lionsgate's The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping to be Cannes’ biggest-budget title – Major franchise returns with massive commercial expectations at the market.
Kristin Dolan reaffirms AMC Networks’ commitment to the cable model – A notable stance in contrast to the broader streaming trend, reflecting key industry divergence.
Netflix greenlights Grown Ups, a Marian Keyes adaptation from Samantha Strauss – High-profile scripted content with global appeal and strong Australian creative involvement.
Alex Mahon named CEO of Superstruct Entertainment – Former Channel 4 boss takes the helm of a major global live events company, signalling a new chapter in her leadership.
Norwegian dramas dominate Canneseries with A Better Man and Nepobaby – International prestige boosts Nordic storytelling and expands global reach.
Durban FilmMart selects 31 global projects under ‘Bridges Not Borders’ theme – Key pitch platform promoting diverse global voices in the lead-up to the July event.
Eli Roth courts horror fans with $1M investor ‘death scene’ incentive – An innovative indie film fundraising strategy shaking up horror financing.
Plus: Insights, Executive Moves, Festivals & Markets, In Development, Deals, Renewals & Jobs with Little Dot, All3Media, BBC, Netflix, ITV & WBD in Sydney, London, NYC, Atlanta, Washington & Brussels.
Subscribe to our daily news roundup for exclusive insights, early access to industry news, and the convenience of having the latest TV, Film & Media updates in one bulletin.
Our subscribers include executives from:
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.
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.
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
Samantha Strauss Talks Apple Cider Vinegar and Upcoming Netflix Drama Grown Ups
Samantha Strauss, creator of The End and Nine Perfect Strangers, brings Apple Cider Vinegar—a “true-ish” tale of an Australian wellness influencer—to life with Kaitlyn Dever. She’s now heading to Ireland for eight months to film Grown Ups, a Netflix adaptation of Marian Keyes’ novel, about three intertwined couples navigating messy family dynamics. The show is produced by Strauss’s label Picking Scabs with See-Saw Films. Read More
AMC Networks CEO Kristin Dolan Champions Cable Model Over Direct-to-Consumer Push
AMC Networks CEO Kristin Dolan, a longtime cable industry insider, reaffirmed her commitment to the traditional cable model, favouring distribution partnerships over direct-to-consumer streaming. Speaking at the Paley Center, Dolan emphasized that AMC’s niche services like AcornTV and AllBlk thrive best through wholesale models. While supporting some DTC platforms like Shudder, she believes letting others handle customer relationships yields better results for the company. Read More
The Narrow Road to the Deep North Finally Reaches the Screen After a Decade in Development
Richard Flanagan’s Booker Prize-winning novel The Narrow Road to the Deep North debuted as a miniseries on Amazon Prime Video on April 18, starring Jacob Elordi and directed by Justin Kurzel. Adapted after years of delays, the story follows Dorrigo Evans, an Australian POW haunted by war and lost love. Inspired by Flanagan’s father’s experience, the novel became an international bestseller, earning widespread acclaim and multiple major literary awards. Read More
Crunchyroll Eyes 1.5 billion Anime Fans as It Expands Global Reach
Crunchyroll, the Sony-backed anime streaming platform, is targeting the global community of 1.5 billion anime fans with plans to expand into a full 360-degree experience, said President Rahul Purini in London. From its start as a niche project in 2006, Crunchyroll now serves over 15 million subscribers across 200+ countries. Purini emphasised anime’s shift from subculture to global phenomenon, calling this “the best time ever to be an anime fan.” Read More
Foxtel Faces Job Cuts Amid DAZN Ownership Transition
Foxtel has laid off 100 employees, focusing on marketing and engineering roles, following its acquisition by British firm DAZN. Despite the cuts, the company pledges continued support for its streaming aggregation business Hubbl. DAZN’s global expertise is expected to drive transformation as Foxtel evolves from pay-TV to a leading streaming provider. Hubbl, launched in 2024, is under review as part of Foxtel’s restructuring efforts. Read More
UK Global Screen Fund Awards £413K to Boost International Film Distribution
The UK Global Screen Fund has granted £413,995 to 18 new projects through its international distribution strand, supporting titles like The Penguin Lessons, Bring Them Down, The Salt Path, and Kneecap. Administered by the BFI and funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the initiative aims to expand global opportunities for UK’s independent screen sector. The strand is now led by Jordan Allwood, who succeeded Francesca Walker in October. Read More
Look Mum No Computer: The Synth Hacker Turning Chaos into Curiosity
Sam Battle, aka Look Mum No Computer, is a musician and inventor blending DIY synth builds with anarchic creativity. His cult YouTube channel features everything from Furby choirs to Game Boy synths, always with an open-source spirit. He extends that ethos through This Museum Is (Not) Obsolete in Ramsgate, a hands-on space where analogue oddities and experimental sound gear invite visitors to explore, tinker, and break the rules—all in the name of curiosity. Read More
BBC Uses AI to Revive Agatha Christie as Virtual Writing Instructor
The BBC is using AI to resurrect Agatha Christie as a virtual writing mentor for its BBC Maestro platform. In collaboration with Agatha Christie Limited, a professional actress, and VFX artists, BBC Studios has recreated the iconic author’s voice and likeness using enhanced technology and restored audio. Unveiled at London’s Claridge’s, the course was introduced alongside Christie’s great-grandson James Prichard and top BBC talent. Read More
Eli Roth Offers Custom Horror Movie Deaths—For a $1 Million Investment
Horror director Eli Roth is offering investors a gory perk: a personalised on-screen death in one of his films. To claim it, you’ll need to invest $1 million in The Horror Section, his new indie studio aiming to produce unrated slasher films, TV shows, games, and more. Roth, known for Hostel and Thanksgiving, promises unforgettable kills—fake severed heads included—as part of the studio’s wild, self-distributed horror vision. Read More
Viaplay’s Like Tears in Rain Explores the Life and Legacy of Rutger Hauer
Like Tears in Rain, a Viaplay documentary about the late Rutger Hauer, explores the actor’s creative world through never-before-seen footage and personal archives. Directed by his goddaughter Sanna Fabery de Jonge, the film features interviews with Whoopi Goldberg, Mickey Rourke, and others, offering a rare glimpse into Hauer’s life on and off screen. It’s now streaming in the U.S. and U.K., with international sales handled by Viaplay Content Distribution. Read More
Vicky Krieps and Emma Mackey Ignite Tension and Desire in Hot Milk
Based on Deborah Levy’s novel, Hot Milk follows Sofia (Emma Mackey) as she navigates the pull between caring for her ailing, controlling mother (Fiona Shaw) and exploring a magnetic connection with free-spirited Ingrid (Vicky Krieps) in sun-soaked Almería, Spain. Directed by Rebecca Lenkiewicz, the queer drama simmers with emotional tension and desire, premiering at Berlin and starring Pasty Ferran, Yann Gael, and Vangelis Mourikis. Read More
Hollywood’s Q1 Deals: First-Looks, Overalls & the Skydance Fallout
A look at 2025’s first-quarter Hollywood deal-making, assessing the quantity and impact of industry pacts amid studio earnings disclosures. Key takeaways include Amazon’s James Bond acquisition, Endeavor’s privatisation, and the lingering uncertainty surrounding David Ellison’s Skydance deal. The industry slowed in January due to L.A.’s devastating wildfires but rebounded with steady activity. Read More
A Leader of the Rebellion On and Off Set | Star and EP Diego Luna on the Passion Behind ANDOR
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Further&Better to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.