Global TV, Film & Media Industry News Roundup, Friday 11 April 2025
Video games top box office; Webtoon, Wētā FX, and AI reshape media; UK targets streamers; Carrie and SNL return; Cannes, NHK, and Blumhouse mark industry milestones.
Today’s Highlights:
Video Game IP Overtakes Superheroes as Hollywood's Biggest Box Office Driver - Films based on games like Minecraft and The Super Mario Bros. Movie are now outperforming superhero movies at the box office, especially among younger audiences.
Webtoon Entertainment Expands Globally, Invests in Screen Adaptations - With 163 million users, Webtoon is investing in TV and film adaptations of its comics, especially targeting Gen Z audiences.
Wētā FX to Establish Melbourne Headquarters, Boosting Australian VFX Industry - New Zealand’s Wētā FX will open a Melbourne base with government support, creating up to 80 jobs for high-end visual effects work.
UK Proposes 5% Streaming Levy to Fund British Drama - UK MPs have proposed a 5% levy on streamer revenues to help fund local drama and support public service broadcasters.
Prime Video Greenlights Mike Flanagan’s Carrie Series Adaptation - Mike Flanagan will write and showrun a new eight-episode adaptation of Stephen King’s Carrie for Prime Video.
Cannes 2025 Showcases Global Auteur Talent with High-Profile Premieres - The Cannes Film Festival will feature new films by Wes Anderson, Spike Lee, and Scarlett Johansson’s directorial debut.
Harmony Korine’s EDGLRD Partners with Runway to Integrate AI into Film - EDGLRD will use generative AI from Runway to innovate storytelling in projects like Aggro Dr1ft starring Travis Scott.
Saturday Night Live to Launch UK Edition in 2026 - Sky will produce a British version of Saturday Night Live with local talent and the original’s live format in 2026.
Melissa Aouate Appointed President of Blumhouse Television - Melissa Aouate will lead Blumhouse Television’s expansion across scripted and unscripted content as its new president.
NHK President Nobuo Inaba Marks 100 Years with Digital Ambitions - NHK’s president pledged to evolve the public broadcaster’s digital services while maintaining trusted content standards.
Plus: Insights, Executive Moves, Festivals & Markets, In Development, Deals, Renewals, Opportunities & Jobs with BBC, Göteborg Film Festival, Plimsoll, Village Roadshow, WBD, Sony, Tubi. Hello Sunshine & Paramount in Birmingham, Göteborg, Bristol, Salford, Sydney, London, LA, SF, NYC & Warsaw.
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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
Actors Transitioning to Screenwriting: Insights from Industry Professionals
Actors Andrei Alén, Genevieve Barr, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson, and Leah Purcell have successfully expanded their careers into screenwriting, using their on-screen experience to shape authentic narratives. Alén created the Finnish military drama Konflicti, while Purcell contributed to Redfern Now and The Twelve, emphasising Indigenous stories. Their journeys highlight how actors are leveraging industry insight to influence storytelling. Read More
Webtoon Entertainment Expands Global Reach and Invests in Film & TV Adaptations
Webtoon Entertainment, a leading digital comics platform, has grown to 345,000 creators and 450,000 published stories, with a 163 million global user base. Originally launched in South Korea, Webtoon has seen strong engagement in Japan and increasing popularity in the U.S., where 75% of users are Gen Z. The company is now investing in film and TV adaptations, ensuring creators participate in their success. Read More
UK Parliament Pushes for 5% Streaming Levy to Support British Drama
UK MPs have proposed a 5% levy on the UK revenue of streamers like Netflix and Amazon to support British drama productions. Aimed at helping public service broadcasters compete in a global market, the levy would fund domestic content that preserves British cultural identity amid escalating international competition and rising production costs. Read More
Netflix Launches ‘Thronglets’ Game Alongside Black Mirror Season 7
Netflix has released Thronglets, a mobile game created by Night School Studio to accompany the new Black Mirror episode "Plaything". Users care for AI-generated creatures in the game, mirroring the show’s exploration of human tech dynamics. The interactive experience extends the dystopian storytelling of the anthology series into the gaming space. Read More
NHK President Nobuo Inaba Reflects on 100 Years of Public Broadcasting
NHK president Nobuo Inaba marks the broadcaster’s 100th anniversary by reaffirming its mission to deliver reliable content and public value. Established after the 1923 Kanto earthquake, NHK now aims to develop internet-based services with the same quality as broadcast media. Inaba highlighted the importance of evolving public service in a digital era. Read More
Video Games Like 'Minecraft' Are Replacing Superheroes as Hollywood's Dominant IP
With Minecraft earning $313.7 million globally on its opening weekend, video game adaptations are proving Hollywood's most bankable properties, surpassing traditional superhero franchises. The success of titles like The Super Mario Bros. Movie and Five Nights at Freddy’s suggests that game-based films are now driving the box office, particularly among younger audiences, as studios shift focus from Marvel fatigue to gaming nostalgia. Read More
Stephen Graham and Owen Cooper on Netflix’s Adolescence
Stephen Graham and Owen Cooper reflect on their intense performances in Adolescence, Netflix’s new British drama exploring toxic masculinity and teenage rage. Graham plays the emotionally complex father of Cooper’s character, a teen accused of a violent crime. They discuss the layered script and how the series challenges audiences to confront uncomfortable realities about family, violence, and identity. Read More
‘Interview With The Vampire’ Star Sam Reid & Producer Mark Johnson On “Rock Star Vampire” Lestat
How Paul Feig Broke His Longstanding “No Sequels” Rule To Make ‘Another Simple Favor’
Luke Kirby, Gideon Glick & Lou De Laâge On Their Ballet Series ‘Étoile’
Joe Lycett's United States of Birmingham Q&A with Joe Lycett and producer Nicola Silk | RTS Midlands
Evan Shapiro and Marion Ranchet Predict a More Flexible, Data-Driven Upfronts Season
Industry experts Evan Shapiro and Marion Ranchet anticipate a cautious Upfronts season, shaped by economic uncertainty and the rise of connected TV. With brands holding back large commitments, digital platforms like YouTube, Meta, and Amazon are expected to benefit as more measurable and flexible options. Shapiro predicts a shift from traditional bulk deals toward agile platforms with proven ROAS. Meanwhile, Ioanna Protogiannis of LG Ad Solutions emphasises the growing role of first-party data, smart segmentation, and real-time measurement in campaign planning.
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