Global TV, Film & Media Industry News Roundup, Wednesday 26 February 2025
Max renews The Pitt amid legal battle; Kathleen Kennedy to exit Lucasfilm; BBC Studios expands; MrBeast loses $10M; Fox launches streamer; A24 reshapes Hollywood; Berlinale breaks records.
Today’s Highlights:
The Pitt Renewed Amid Legal Battle with Michael Crichton's Widow - Max renewed The Pitt for a second season while a legal battle continues, as a judge ruled that claims it was derived from ER have merit.
Kathleen Kennedy to Retire from Lucasfilm by End of 2025 - Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy will retire by the end of 2025 after leading the studio since Disney's $4 billion acquisition in 2012.
BBC Studios Expands Internationally, Focuses on Reality and Factual Entertainment - BBC Studios is acquiring more production companies globally, targeting reality and factual content as part of its £3.2bn revenue goal by 2028.
MrBeast's Costly Venture with Beast Games - YouTuber Jimmy Donaldson (MrBeast) lost over $10 million on Amazon Prime’s Beast Games, despite 50 million viewers in 25 days, after spending $100 million.
Generative Filmmaking: A Revolution with Risks - Generative filmmaking is democratising film production by eliminating traditional barriers, but concerns grow over AI-generated content overshadowing authentic works.
Fox’s New Streaming Service Targets 50 Million Households - Fox will launch a streaming service by year-end for 50 million U.S. households outside traditional TV bundles, without competing with major SVOD platforms.
Frank Spotnitz Returns to Sci-Fi with We Come in Peace - The X-Files creator Frank Spotnitz is co-producing the Swedish sci-fi series We Come in Peace, marking his first sci-fi project in years.
A24 Playbook: Redefining Hollywood - A24 has redefined Hollywood by prioritising unique storytelling, niche marketing, and audience engagement over traditional studio reliance on sequels and franchises.
Berlinale 2025 Breaks Ticket Sales Record - The 2025 Berlinale Film Festival has set a new ticket sales record, reflecting increased global audience interest and industry participation.
ITV Studios Unveils Major Slate at London TV Screenings - ITV Studios presented its biggest lineup yet, featuring 12 new dramas, 26 returning series, and high-profile projects starring Andrew Lincoln and David Tennant
Plus: News, Insights, Festivals & Markets, Executive Moves, In Development, Deals, Renewals, Cancellations & Jobs with Stan, Netflix, ABC, ITV, BBC, Google, Amazon/MGM & Paramount.
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NEWS
The Pitt Renewed Amid Legal Battle with Michael Crichton's Widow
The Pitt returns for a second season, Max announced on Valentine's Day. Meanwhile, the legal battle between Michael Crichton’s widow and Warner Bros Discovery over The Pitt will proceed, as an LA judge denied WBD’s anti-SLAPP motion. The court found that the Plaintiffs' claims that The Pitt is derived from ER have merit, setting the stage for discovery. No trial date has been set. Read More
INSIGHTS
Unforgotten Director Andy Wilson Reflects on His Favorite Moments
Andy Wilson, the director of ITV’s Unforgotten, recalls standout moments from all six seasons. As the sole director, he oversaw its rise as a top British crime drama. Season one featured the emotional confession of Eric Slater, played by Tom Courtenay, which was filmed in one mesmerizing take. Unforgotten follows DCI Cassie Stuart and DI Sunny Khan solving cold cases, and season six introduces DCI Jess James following Cassie’s tragic death. Read More
The A24 Playbook: Redefining Hollywood
A24 operates as a creator, not a traditional studio. They rewrite Hollywood's rules by having a singular voice, curating an audience, and building a community through content. A24's playbook includes making unique films, marketing with intrigue, creating distinctive merch, and being authentic. They focus on mindsets, not demographics, proving specificity scales. Legacy studios can learn from A24 by building ecosystems and nurturing niche fandoms, not just relying on sequels and reboots. Read More
Behind the Scenes of Berlin ER
Samuel Jefferson, a former emergency room physician-turned-screenwriter, co-created Berlin ER, a German-language medical drama debuting on Apple TV+ on February 26. The series, featuring Haley Louise Jones and Slavko Popadić, portrays doctors working in an underfunded and chaotic hospital. Jefferson, Jones, and Popadić discuss the show's authenticity and dark humour, reflecting the real-life challenges and gallows humour of hospital staff. Read More
Fox's New Streaming Service Not Chasing SVOD Dream, Says CFO
Fox plans to launch a new streaming service by the end of the year, aiming at 50 million U.S. households outside the bundle. CFO Steve Tomsic emphasized that it is not a shift in strategy, nor an attempt to compete with Netflix, Disney, or other major SVOD players. Instead, the service offers an alternative for consumers outside the bundle. Fox's existing services include Tubi and Fox Nation, with 97 million and 2 million users, respectively. Read More
BBC Studios Expands Internationally, Focuses on Reality and Factual Entertainment
BBC Studios plans to acquire more production companies outside the UK to boost revenues and expand into reality and factual entertainment genres. Chief exec Tom Fussell highlighted growing the global studio footprint as a key strategy. BBCS recently raised its debt facility to £600m and invested £255m to take full control of BritBox. Acquisitions in Spain, the Nordics, France, and Australia are part of this strategy, with future acquisitions likely focused on unscripted content. Revenue targets are ambitious, aiming for £3.2bn by 2028. Read More
UK Public Broadcasters and Indies Unite Against AI Policies
Major UK public service broadcasters (PSBs) and independent production companies have united to express concerns over the government's proposed artificial intelligence (AI) regulations. Industry leaders, including Banijay, All3Media, BBC, ITV, and Channel 4, advocate for enhanced safeguards to protect intellectual property rights and ensure fair compensation for content creators. This collective stance highlights the industry's commitment to maintaining creative integrity and equitable practices in the evolving AI landscape. Read More
Danny Brocklehurst: Protecting Unique British Comedy
Screenwriter Danny Brocklehurst emphasizes the importance of preserving unique British comedy, noting that while such humour may not always resonate internationally, it remains vital for portraying authentic UK life. He advocates for fresh, innovative storytelling that reflects the diverse experiences within the UK. Brocklehurst also highlights the need for greater representation of working-class voices in the television and film industry, urging for more opportunities and inclusivity to ensure that British comedy continues to thrive and resonate with local audiences. Read More
Netflix’s Mainstream Ambitions Should Reassure UK Rivals
Netflix's shift towards mainstream content should alleviate concerns among UK competitors. As the era of peak spending concludes, the universal appeal of UK productions offers a renewed sense of optimism for the industry. Read More
Generative Filmmaking: A Revolution with Risks
Generative filmmaking empowers independent filmmakers by eliminating financial and logistical barriers, allowing them to create without gatekeepers. It offers creative control, enabling filmmakers to produce authentic stories without compromising their vision. However, this new approach also poses risks, such as an influx of low-effort AI-generated content that may overshadow genuine artistic works. The industry will likely push back, but generative filmmaking is set to democratize and challenge traditional filmmaking. Read More
MrBeast's Costly Venture with Beast Games
YouTuber Jimmy Donaldson, aka MrBeast, revealed that producing the Amazon Prime show Beast Games was a poor financial decision, resulting in over $10 million loss. Despite the show's success, with 50 million viewers in 25 days, MrBeast spent $100 million, including $50 million of his own money. He admitted to having less than a million dollars in his bank account, reinvesting most of his income back into his brands. Read More
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