Global TV, Film & Media Industry News Roundup, Weekend 26-27 April 2025
Superman clears legal hurdles; Netflix relocates 3 Body Problem; Sinners rises; Apple TV+ adapts Metropolis; Cronenberg explores grief; Hanks films Greyhound sequel in Australia.
Today’s Highlights:
Warner Bros. Wins Legal Battle Over Superman Release – Warner Bros. Discovery secures a legal victory, allowing the global release of its Superman film despite the Shuster estate’s challenge.
Netflix’s 3 Body Problem Moves Production to Hungary for Final Seasons – Netflix relocates its major sci-fi series to Hungary, highlighting global shifts in production incentives and budgeting.
Ryan Coogler’s Sinners vs. Lucasfilm’s Star Wars: Starfighter – Ryan Coogler’s Sinners outshines Lucasfilm’s latest Star Wars entry, revealing the industry's growing favour for original stories.
Colossal Biosciences' Dire Wolf Revival Sparks Scientific Debate – Colossal’s claim of reviving dire wolves ignites controversy over genetic engineering and Hollywood’s role in science narratives.
Netflix & Amblin Adapt The Thursday Murder Club with Star-Studded Cast – Netflix’s adaptation of Richard Osman’s bestseller, featuring Helen Mirren and Pierce Brosnan, strengthens its prestige film lineup.
Peter Kosminsky Reflects on Adapting Wolf Hall: The Mirror & The Light – Director Peter Kosminsky honours Hilary Mantel’s final novel with a deeply personal and long-anticipated adaptation.
Tom Hanks’ Greyhound Sequel to Film in Australia in 2026 – Apple’s WWII sequel starring Tom Hanks will begin filming in Sydney in early 2026, boosting Australia’s global production footprint.
David Cronenberg Turns Scrapped Netflix Series The Shrouds Into Personal Feature – David Cronenberg transforms a cancelled Netflix series into a film exploring grief, technology, and mortality.
Apple TV+ Orders Metropolis Adaptation from Berlin Noir Series – Apple TV+ greenlights a drama based on Philip Kerr’s detective novels, expanding its prestige international drama portfolio.
Casting Society Warns Actors About Rise in Audition Scams – The Casting Society alerts actors worldwide to a surge in scams demanding payment for fake auditions.
Plus: Insights, Executive Moves, Festivals & Markets, In Development, Deals, Renewals & Jobs with Amazon Studios, Netflix, UTA & WBD in LA, Oslo, Copenhagen & Stockholm.
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INSIGHTS
Peter Kosminsky Reflects on Adapting Wolf Hall: The Mirror & The Light
Ahead of the BAFTA TV Craft Awards, director Peter Kosminsky shares insights on adapting Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall: The Mirror & The Light, the long-awaited sequel to Wolf Hall. The series, which picks up after Anne Boleyn’s execution, was deeply personal for Kosminsky, who collaborated closely with Mantel until her passing in 2022. Despite the loss, he felt a duty to complete the adaptation, honouring Mantel’s final novel and its legacy. Read More
Joe Apollonio Stars in Amalia Ulman’s Magic Farm
Comedian and actor Joe Apollonio, known for his sharp online persona and solo show at Joe’s Pub, takes centre stage in Amalia Ulman’s Magic Farm. The film, a satire that explores ethnocentric themes, premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival and Berlin, with a theatrical release on MUBI this Friday. Apollonio, inspired by River Phoenix and Gus Van Sant, embraces roles that challenge him, bringing his distinctive style to the big screen. Read More
Casting Society Issues Warning About Scams Asking Actors to Pay for Auditions
The Casting Society has warned actors about a rise in scams involving fake auditions that demand payment. Scammers are posing as casting directors or reputable companies and contacting performers directly, requesting money for audition opportunities. The organisation urged actors to verify casting calls through trusted sources and reiterated that legitimate auditions never require payment. Read More
Benito Skinner’s Overcompensating Brings Queer Comedy to Prime Video
Benito Skinner (@BennyDrama7) transitions from viral Instagram sketches to mainstream TV with "Overcompensating," premiering on May 15 on Prime Video. Produced by Jonah Hill’s Strong Baby, the autobiographical series follows a closeted jock navigating college life, drawing from Skinner’s personal experiences at Georgetown. Music plays a central role, featuring hits from Lady Gaga and Nicki Minaj alongside an original score by Charli XCX. Read More
Hollywood-Backed Colossal Biosciences Sparks Debate Over Dire Wolf Revival
Colossal Biosciences claims to have resurrected the dire wolf, 10,000 years after its extinction, igniting controversy over whether its genetically engineered animals are truly dire wolves or modified gray wolves. Co-founded by Ben Lamm and Harvard geneticist George Church, the company enlisted Hollywood heavyweights—including Peter Jackson, George R.R. Martin, and the Hemsworth brothers—to bolster its media rollout. Positioned as "the De-Extinction Company," Colossal aims to revive species like the woolly mammoth, Tasmanian tiger, and dodo, blending conservation with spectacle. Read More
‘Until Dawn’ Writers Are Missing From the Film’s Credits — Here’s Why
Until Dawn, a film based on the hit video game, is facing criticism for omitting the original writers from its movie credits. Despite the game’s strong narrative foundation, the studio chose not to credit game writers Larry Fessenden and Graham Reznick, citing contractual technicalities. Read More
Warner Bros Wins Legal Battle Over Superman Release
Warner Bros Discovery and DC Comics have secured a legal victory against the estate of Joe Shuster, one of Superman’s creators. A US judge dismissed executor Mark Warren Peary’s lawsuit seeking to halt the film’s release in Canada, the U.K., Ireland, and Australia, citing jurisdictional limits. While Peary’s efforts to claim ownership rights beyond the US were denied, attorney Marc Toberoff may pursue further legal action. Meanwhile, Warner Bros is set for a global summer rollout of the James Gunn-directed tentpole. Read More
BAFTA-Nominated Writers Reflect on British Drama Challenges
As UK drama grapples with financial strain and shifting audience tastes, BAFTA Television Craft Award nominees are pushing boundaries in storytelling. Nicole Taylor (One Day) highlights the difficulty of financing high-end UK drama, while Richard Gadd (Baby Reindeer) underscores how riskier projects often lose out to safer bets. Gadd’s series, a deeply personal exploration of stalking, evolved from his Edinburgh Fringe play. Meanwhile, Industry continues to showcase bold storytelling, proving that taking risks can still lead to success despite turbulent industry conditions. Read More
What The Last of Us and Fallout Reveal About Video Game Adaptations
With The Last of Us and Fallout proving successful, industry experts highlight that the key to strong video game adaptations is respecting the source material while crafting compelling TV narratives. Emotional depth, smart casting, and creative partnerships, like TLOU’s Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin, help bridge the gap between gaming and television. As demand for interactive storytelling grows, projects like Red Dead Redemption and The Sims could be next in line. Read More
TV’s Climate Commitment Faces Industry Silence
Despite Earth Day’s spotlight on environmental action, the TV industry has grown wary of pledging climate-focused content. With David Attenborough’s Ocean set to debut next month, experts from Climate Spring and Picture Zero discuss whether TV’s response to climate change has stalled. Read More
Soo Hugh Calls for Studios to Prioritise Long-Term Investment in Libraries
Speaking at Canneseries, Pachinko creator Soo Hugh urged studios to rethink their approach to content libraries, emphasising their long-term value. As the industry faces financial pressures, Hugh believes past shows demonstrate the importance of preserving and expanding libraries. While Pachinko awaits a Season 3 renewal, Hugh remains committed to her vision of a multi-season adaptation spanning decades of protagonist Sunja’s story. Read More
‘Ryan Coogler’s Sinners vs. Star Wars: Starfighter—A Tale of Two Blockbusters
The same night Ryan Coogler’s Sinners electrified audiences with its genre-blending vampire saga, Lucasfilm unveiled Star Wars: Starfighter, helmed by Shawn Levy. While Sinners offers a deeply personal take rooted in Black history, Starfighter represents Disney’s latest attempt to revive a franchise that has struggled for direction. With Sinners commanding hype and box office momentum, the gap between originality and nostalgia-driven filmmaking has never been more stark. Read More
David Cronenberg’s The Shrouds: From Scrapped Netflix Series to Personal Feature
David Cronenberg originally pitched The Shrouds as a Netflix series before transforming it into one of his most personal films. Inspired by the loss of his wife, the movie stars Vincent Cassel as a grieving man who develops a high-tech cemetery allowing loved ones to witness posthumous decay. When the graves are vandalised, he embarks on a metaphysical investigation, blending Cronenberg’s signature themes of technology and mortality. Read More
Disney’s StuGo: From Florida Roots to Fantastical Adventure
Ryan Gillis and Sunil Hall bring StuGo to life, an animated Disney Channel series following six kids trapped in a fake summer camp on a wild tropical island. Inspired by Gillis’ Florida upbringing, the show blends sci-fi and nature, with creatures like mind-reading manatees. Produced by Titmouse, StuGo boasts a stellar voice cast and aims to inspire kids with themes of discovery and resilience in unfamiliar environments. Read More
Is the Scripted Storm Passing? Six Deals Offer Hope
The past few years have been turbulent for scripted TV, with rising costs, budget cuts, and cautious commissioning limiting bold storytelling. However, recent deal-making hints at recovery. Risk aversion has shaped industry priorities, but six new agreements suggest evolving models and fresh opportunities. Spain remains an outlier in maintaining scripted growth, while The Count of Monte Cristo exemplifies a return to foundational storytelling that could signal a shifting tide. Read More
NBC Unveils Destination X Ahead of US Premiere
NBC’s Destination X, a bold travel competition from Twofour and ITV Studios, debuts May 27, hosted by Jeffrey Dean Morgan. Contestants, navigating Europe on a blacked-out bus, must use strategic thinking to determine their weekly location, solving puzzles and uncovering hidden clues. The last player standing wins $250,000. The series, based on the Belgian format Destination X, follows NBC’s success with The Traitors and marks a major unscripted launch under Sharon Vuong. Read More
Jack the Ripper: Written in Blood Explores Media’s Role in the 1888 Murders
The 2025 three-part docudrama Jack the Ripper: Written in Blood shifts focus from the identity of the infamous killer to the impact of sensationalist journalism, particularly by The Star newspaper. It examines how media hysteria hindered police investigations and fueled public fear, highlighting figures such as Frederick Best, who falsely claimed authorship of the "Dear Boss" letter. Read More
Jon Hamm on ‘Your Friends & Neighbors’ & His First TV Lead Role Since ‘Mad Men’
Jon Hamm discusses his return to TV with Your Friends & Neighbors after the end of Mad Men, reflecting on his journey from the iconic role of Don Draper to a new, dynamic character. In this conversation, Jon shares insights into the evolving entertainment industry, the art of reinvention, and his experiences navigating Hollywood's changing demands. Plus, hear about his creative approach to portraying complex characters and how the landscape of TV and film has transformed over the years.
Watch Ben Affleck Line Dance in ‘The Accountant 2’ | Anatomy of a Scene
This scene in The Accountant offers a rare glimpse into Christian Wolff’s internal world, using movement and pattern recognition to express his unique perspective. Gavin O’Connor’s decision to take a detour from the main narrative allows for an organic moment of connection between Christian and those around him, while also showcasing his analytical mind in a new way. The rehearsals with choreographer Jennifer Hamilton ensured Affleck captured the essence of Wolff’s methodical approach to the dance. This sequence, in many ways, serves as a metaphor for Christians’ ability to decode the world around them, even in unexpected social settings.
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