Global TV, Film & Media Industry News Roundup, Thursday 10 July 2025
Amazon MGM expands, Paramount+ reboots, Nordic media merges, UK-France team up, Hollywood wanes, scams rise, creator economy booms, Wednesday returns, Knives Out 3 opens LFF, Poisoned shocks.
Today’s Highlights:
Amazon MGM Studios Plans Global Expansion – Amazon MGM aims to become a major studio by launching its own international distribution network and releasing up to 15 theatrical films annually before streaming on Prime Video.
Cindy Holland to Lead Paramount+ After Skydance Merger – Former Netflix executive Cindy Holland is expected to revitalise Paramount+ by anchoring it around key IPs like Star Trek and Taylor Sheridan’s titles following the Skydance merger.
Schibsted Acquires TV4 and MTV in Nordic Media Merger – Norwegian media giant Schibsted acquires Sweden’s TV4 and Finland’s MTV Oy from Telia in a SEK 6.55 billion deal, reshaping the Nordic media landscape.
Hollywood’s Soft Power Diminishing Globally – The Nostradamus report from the Göteborg Film Festival highlights the fading cultural influence of Hollywood due to political instability and shifting global tastes.
Creator Economy Booming in 2025 – With $1.6 billion in US funding, creators are building scalable businesses across video, podcasting, and brand ventures as agencies divert ad dollars from legacy media.
BFI and CNC Sign UK-France Film Cooperation Deal – A major agreement between the BFI and France’s CNC aims to boost collaboration in screen content between the UK and France, signed during Macron’s UK visit.
Celebrity Impersonation Scams Prompt Industry Response – A rise in AI-driven scams impersonating celebrities has led to calls for laws like the No Fakes Act, as platforms and cybersecurity experts work to combat fraud.
Channel 4’s Poisoned Investigates Global Lethal Substance Trade – The true crime documentary “Poisoned” uncovers how a Canadian chef mailed deadly chemicals worldwide, linked to over 99 UK deaths.
Rian Johnson’s Wake Up Dead Man to Open London Film Festival – The third Knives Out film will open the 2025 BFI London Film Festival, headlined by Daniel Craig and Josh O’Connor with a star-studded cast.
Wednesday Season 2 Trailer Reveals Grim Prophecy – The highly anticipated new season of Wednesday teases emotional stakes and visions of death, continuing Netflix’s investment in gothic young adult hits.
Plus: Insights, Executive Moves, Festivals & Markets, In Development, Deals, Renewals, Cancellations & Jobs with BBC, ZDF, Quay Street & YouTube in London, Mainz, Manchester, LA & NYC.
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INSIGHTS
Power, Resistance & the Cost of Control in The Institute
As MGM+ launches The Institute, Mary-Louise Parker, Ben Barnes, and Joe Freeman discuss starring in the Stephen King adaptation about gifted children imprisoned "for the greater good." Freeman plays kidnapped teen Luke, held at a secret facility run by Parker's chilling Ms Sigsby, while Barnes portrays a haunted ex-cop whose fate intertwines with Luke's. Parker reunites with director Jack Bender to explore the themes of power, morality, and sacrifice. Read More
Josh O’Connor Trades Royalty for Ranch Life in Rebuilding
British actor Josh O’Connor stars as a Colorado cowboy in Max Walker-Silverman’s poignant drama Rebuilding, alongside Meghann Fahy, Kali Reis, and Lily LaTorre. Director Walker-Silverman tells Variety he admires O’Connor’s ability to explore masculinity, noting, “Whether it’s Prince Charles or a rancher, the struggle is the same, trying to break free from a rigid, inherited identity.” Read More
TV4 and MTV Join Schibsted in Major Nordic Media Merger
Following Schibsted Media's SEK 6.55 billion (US$615 million) acquisition of Telia's TV Media, Sweden's TV4 Group and Finland's MTV Oy are now part of the Norwegian media giant. The move aims to strengthen Schibsted's Nordic presence amid rising competition. "This is a perfect fit that will strengthen us in the Swedish market," said TV4Media's head of content, Fredrik Arefalk. Read More
Amazon MGM Eyes Major Studio Status with Global Expansion Plans
What defines a major studio isn't Oscars or luxury, it's global distribution independence. Currently, only five studios hold that title, but Amazon MGM Studios is positioning itself to join them. The company plans to build its own international distribution network within two years, aiming to release up to 15 films annually in theatres before they debut on Prime Video, including 14 slated for 2026. Read More
Nathan Fillion’s Guy Gardner Brings Chaos to James Gunn’s Superman
Forget Hal Jordan, Nathan Fillion plays Guy Gardner, the brash, unpredictable Green Lantern, in James Gunn’s Superman. Known in the comics for being passed over, hit by a bus, and packed with attitude, Guy's more of a jerk than a hero, but still wears the ring. "At least one superhero has to be a jerk," Fillion jokes, as fans brace for a very different kind of Lantern. Read More
Gregory Crewdson Captures Hollywood for the First Time on Ari Aster’s Eddington
Known for his cinematic portraits of American life, photographer Gregory Crewdson rarely ventures into Hollywood, until now. Invited by Ari Aster and A24, Crewdson created a custom image from the set of Eddington, a dark comedy starring Joaquin Phoenix as a small-town sheriff grappling with local politics during the COVID-19 pandemic. The project, premiering this month, was an offer Crewdson couldn't refuse. Read More
Amazon Exec: Latin America Missing Out on Billions in Global Production Spend
Latin America is failing to attract significant production investment due to limited infrastructure, technology, and incentives, says John Holmes of Amazon MGM Studios. Speaking at Brazil's Rio2C, he highlighted how regions like Asia and the UK vastly outspend Latin America in production. Though Amazon has tapped local incentives for shows like Dom and LOL Brasil, Holmes stressed the region must do more to draw from the billions available globally. Read More
Inside the Celebrity Impersonation Scam Industry
A disturbing rise in AI-fuelled scams sees fans conned by fake profiles impersonating stars like Keanu Reeves and Kevin Costner. Victims, often older and lonely, are manipulated into sending money, believing they’re helping their idols. Hollywood is responding with support for laws like the No Fakes Act to protect likenesses. Data scientists and cybersecurity teams now work full-time to track and eliminate impersonator accounts, yet the scam industry remains rampant and deeply personal. Read More
Michael C. Hall Explains Dexter's Enduring Appeal
Michael C. Hall returns as Dexter in Dexter: Resurrection, highlighting fans' ongoing fascination with the resilient antihero. Hall credits Dexter’s knack for surviving impossible situations and the intimate voiceover format for the character’s lasting charm. The series continues post-New Blood, moving to New York with a star-studded cast, while Hall explores Dexter’s evolution and the show’s potential for revisiting both living and deceased characters. Read More
How Travel Creators Are Reinventing the Classic Travelogue
Travel creators are reshaping the traditional TV travelogue by blending short-form storytelling, platform-native formats, and diversified revenue streams. From The Bucket List Family’s boutique hospitality ventures to Jet Lag: The Game’s travel challenges, creators are building sustainable businesses beyond brand deals. With tools like Rexby and Patreon, as well as courses, apps, and hosted tours, they’re transforming wanderlust into multi-platform media empires. Read More
Nemo Zhou: From Chess Prodigy to Streaming Strategist
Nemo Zhou, a Woman Grandmaster and FIDE Master, broke barriers by becoming the first chess player signed to an esports team, Counter Logic Gaming, in 2020. She streams under the name akaNemsko on Twitch, blending chess, poker, and real-time commentary to make elite strategy feel accessible. Her poker career is also on the rise, with a tournament win at the Canadian Poker Tour Invitational. Zhou’s cross-platform presence reflects her mission: to democratise mastery and build community through thoughtful, transparent gameplay. Read More
Cindy Holland Poised to Reinvent Paramount+ Post-Skydance Merger
Former Netflix executive Cindy Holland is expected to take the reins at Paramount+ following the pending merger between Skydance and Paramount Global, bringing her signature taste and strategic vision to the #7 streamer. Known for launching House of Cards and Stranger Things, Holland will likely anchor Paramount+ around Taylor Sheridan’s slate, Star Trek, and CBS originals, while exploring new IP. Insiders view her return as a potential game-changer for a platform that has been in holding mode for a long time. Read More
2025 Creator Economy Surges as Platforms and Investors Chase Scalable Influence
The creator economy is booming, with $1.6 billion in U.S. funding so far and a wave of deals in video, podcasting, and creator-led brands. Platforms like Amazon are backing stars like MrBeast, while investors shift toward leaner, profit-driven models. Key trends include YouTubers building studio-style businesses, microdramas minting six-figure careers, and agencies redirecting ad dollars from legacy media to creator-first ventures. Read More
Channel 4’s ‘Poisoned: Killer in the Post’ Exposes Global Online Poison Trade
Channel 4’s Poisoned: Killer in the Post, produced by Wonderhood Studios, investigates Canadian chef Kenneth Law, accused of mailing lethal substances to vulnerable individuals worldwide. Journalist James Beal leads the exposé, which links Law to 99 UK deaths and over 1,200 packages sent globally. Directed by Joy Ash, the two-part documentary centres on the stories of victims while highlighting the dangers of unregulated online marketplaces and the power of investigative journalism. Read More
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