Global TV, Film & Media Industry News Roundup, Wednesday 5 March 2025

Jamaican noir, mini-dramas, Crazy Rich Asians TV, Norway's film rebate, unpaid TV workers, Scorsese’s avalanche film, Weisz in Vladimir, cartel thriller, Tiana cancelled, Canal+ backs French cinema.

Today’s Highlights:

• Jamaican Noir – Get Millie Black - A five-part noir thriller from Marlon James follows a former London Met officer investigating missing persons in Kingston while confronting post-colonial trauma.

• China's iQIYI Expands 'Industrialised Mini-Dramas' - iQIYI has shifted to shortform 10-minute mini-dramas, dominating 95% of the market with 10,000 titles.

• Jon M. Chu Developing Crazy Rich Asians TV Series - Jon M. Chu and Adele Lim are adapting Crazy Rich Asians into a TV series for Max to expand the book’s universe.

• Norwegian Film Incentives Draw International Productions - Norway offers a 25% rebate for film and TV productions, attracting major international projects.

• Courtney Hansen’s Ride of Your Life Faces Payment Dispute - A payment dispute has left post-production workers unpaid, exposing financial issues in reality TV.

• Martin Scorsese Producing Avalanche Survival Drama Wall of White - Scorsese is producing a true-story survival film about a woman who endured a deadly avalanche.

• Rachel Weisz to Star in Netflix’s Vladimir - Rachel Weisz will star in Netflix’s adaptation of Vladimir, a psychological drama about obsession and academia.

• Aaron Paul, Luke Evans Join Russell Crowe in Bear Country - Aaron Paul, Luke Evans, and Daniel Zovatto join Russell Crowe in Bear Country, a cartel thriller filming in Australia.

• Disney Shelves Tiana Series - Disney has cancelled its planned animated Tiana series, which was meant to continue The Princess and the Frog story.

• Canal+ Commits €480M to French Film Industry - Canal+ has pledged €480 million over three years to support French cinema and secure exclusive broadcast rights.

Plus: Insights, Executive Moves, Festivals & Markets, In Development, Deals, Renewals, Opportunities & Jobs with Screen Australia, Walt Disney, A+E & Channel 4.

---

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.

• 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.

• 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.

INSIGHTS

Jamaican Noir

Get Millie Black is a five-part noir thriller created by Booker Prize-winning author Marlon James. The series follows Millie (Tamara Lawrance), a former London Metropolitan Police officer who returns to Kingston, Jamaica, to work in the missing persons unit. Alongside her partner Curtis (Gershwyn Eustache Jr), Millie navigates complex investigations that unearth personal and historical traumas, including themes of post-colonial legacy and family dynamics. James draws inspiration from television series like The Wire and Hill Street Blues, aiming to portray the multifaceted narratives of Jamaican life. Read More​

---

Watson

Watson is a CBS series starring Morris Chestnut as Dr. John Watson, set six months after Sherlock Holmes's death. Returning to medicine, Watson runs a clinic for rare disorders while confronting remnants of his past, including challenges posed by Moriarty. Chestnut, also an executive producer, discusses the show's modern take on the Sherlock Holmes mythology, his preparation for the role through previous medical dramas, and the future of television procedurals. Read More​

---

The Creator x Media Formula EAF

The evolving landscape of celebrity endorsements are shifting from traditional cash deals to equity partnerships and entrepreneurial ventures. It discusses how celebrities like George Clooney and Ryan Reynolds have set precedents for lucrative brand collaborations, prompting stars to seek deeper involvement in business ventures. The piece also provides insights from industry professionals on navigating modern commercial agreements, evaluating opportunities for cash payments versus equity stakes, and understanding the challenges and rewards of celebrity entrepreneurship. Read More

---

China's iQIYI Pivots to 'Industrialised Mini-Dramas' as Demand for Shortform Grows

Chinese streaming platform iQIYI has shifted focus to 'industrialised mini-dramas' to meet the rising demand for shortform content. These mini-dramas typically consist of 10–12 episodes, each around 10 minutes long, allowing for efficient production and quick viewer consumption. iQIYI's mini-drama portfolio now exceeds 10,000 titles, capturing a 95% share of viewership in this segment. In December, the company reported that shortform content generated over ¥1 million (US$140,000) in revenue-sharing income, reflecting the growing popularity and profitability of this format. Read More​

---

Jon M. Chu's Upcoming 'Crazy Rich Asians' TV Series

Director Jon M. Chu has announced that "Crazy Rich Asians" will be adapted into a TV series for Max. Chu, along with co-writer Adele Lim, will be involved in the project. This adaptation aims to explore more characters from Kevin Kwan's trilogy of novels, acknowledging that just one movie wasn't sufficient to delve into the rich, multifaceted cast. While a sequel to the 2018 film remains uncertain, Chu emphasised the need for more narrative space, which the television format provides. The series will benefit from Lim's return, who will act as the showrunner, and Chu will serve as executive producer alongside Kwan, Nina Jacobson, and Brad Simpson. The 2018 film starred Constance Wu, Henry Golding, and Michelle Yeoh, and made history as the first major Hollywood film to feature a primarily Asian cast since 1993. Read More​

---

The Norwegian Incentives Attracting International Producers

Norway's incentive scheme offers up to a 25% reimbursement for large international film and series productions that are produced fully or partially in the country. This program is available to both Norwegian and foreign productions, including fiction films, documentaries, and drama series. The incentives aim to attract international producers by offsetting production costs, thereby promoting Norway as a competitive and appealing filming location. Read More

---

Zoë Chao Stars in Pete Ohs' Folk Horror Indie "The True Beauty of Being Bitten by a Tick"

In Pete Ohs' third collaboration with Jeremy O. Harris, Zoë Chao leads "The True Beauty of Being Bitten by a Tick," a folk horror film about a grieving woman who spirals into paranoia after a tick bite. Co-written by Chao, Ohs, Harris, and others, this film is the first release from Harris' new production company, bb², premiering at SXSW. Read More

---

Courtney Hansen’s ‘Ride Of Your Life’ Faces Payment Dispute Amid TV Production Challenges

Courtney Hansen’s "Ride of Your Life" series is embroiled in a payment dispute, highlighting the difficulties faced by TV workers. Hansen's company and Bad Burrito Productions are blaming each other for non-payment to post-production workers. An editor has filed a claim, and around 20 others have been similarly affected. The situation underscores the financial struggles within the unscripted TV sector in 2025. Read More​

---

Broadcast TV Pilot Season 2025: Sparse Orders Amid Industry Shifts

Pilot season 2025 is experiencing a drought with no orders so far. Networks increasingly favor economically efficient planted spinoffs and straight-to-series orders due to industry contraction and a decline in linear viewing. Strike-related delays have also contributed to the backlog. Ironically, recent drama hits like CBS's "Tracker" and ABC's "High Potential" originated as standalone pilots. A handful of pilot orders is expected soon. Read More

---

How TheSoul Publishing Reached 2 Billion Subscribers – Victor Potrel | TellyCast

Victor Potrel, Senior Vice President of Partnerships & Creator Services at TheSoul Publishing, to explore the strategies behind the company's remarkable global success. The discussion covers key topics such as TheSoul Publishing's rise as a leading digital media company, monetization strategies amidst fluctuating CPMs, the integration of AI in content creation and distribution, adapting to platform algorithm changes, and future trends in digital-first media, including the growth of FAST channels and YouTube TV. TheSoul Publishing has effectively harnessed content creation across platforms like YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and over 50 others, with popular brands like 5-Minute Crafts, Bright Side, and Polar contributing to its expansive reach.