Global TV, Film & Media Industry News Roundup, Weekend 12-13 July 2025
Paramount-Skydance merger, YouTube bans AI spam, Scrubs reboot, Netflix expands in Spain, Attenborough doc breaks records, Lucas joins Comic-Con, virtual production surges.
Today’s Highlights:
Paramount's Merger with Skydance Could Reshape the Streaming Wars – A transformational deal with implications across global media, streaming strategy, and content consolidation.
YouTube to Demonetise “Inauthentic” AI-Generated Videos – A major policy shift from the world’s biggest video platform, influencing creator revenue and AI regulation.
Virtual Production Becomes Mainstream with AI-Driven Environments in 2025 – A defining trend that is rapidly changing production pipelines and lowering barriers to high-end storytelling.
Bryan Cranston Thriller Lone Wolf in Crisis Over Missing $2M and Unpaid Crew – A high-profile funding shortfall reveals persistent financial instability in independent film production.
Netflix Acquires Spanish Dark Comedy Muertos S.L. from Movistar Plus+ – A significant international content deal highlighting Netflix’s strategy to localise and export original formats.
Scrubs Reboot Ordered Straight-to-Series by ABC with Original Stars Returning – A culturally impactful revival with broad appeal, likely to generate strong viewership and media attention.
David Attenborough’s Ocean Sets UK & Ireland Nature Doc Box Office Record – Proves that nature documentaries can thrive theatrically, reinforcing the value of premium non-fiction content.
Wattpad Webtoon Studios Rebrands as Webtoon Productions, Promotes David Madden – Reflects the rising influence of fan-driven IP and strategic global expansion into film and TV.
Champs-Elysées Film Festival Closes After 14 Years Amid Toxic Workplace Claims – A cautionary tale of leadership culture impacting major cultural institutions.
George Lucas to Make First-Ever Appearance at San Diego Comic-Con – A milestone event in pop culture, underscoring the ongoing influence of legacy creators in the current media landscape.
Plus: Insights, Executive Moves, Festivals & Markets, In Development, Deals, Renewals, Opportunities & Jobs with Skyshowtime, ITV, Netflix, WBD, A24, Prime & NBCUniversal in London, LA, Amsterdam & NYC.
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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, Nine Daughters, Amazon/MGM Studios, October Films, Legendary Entertainment, Bad Wolf, Mediapro, Bron, Red Arrow.
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, BAFTA, IMAX.
INSIGHTS
Agnieszka Holland Completes Kafka Biopic Franz, Eyes Fall Festival Launch
Oscar-nominated director Agnieszka Holland has finished post-production on Franz, her biopic about writer Franz Kafka, and plans to premiere it at a fall festival, though she’s keeping the exact event under wraps. Speaking from the Grandhotel Pupp in Karlovy Vary, Holland shared insights with Variety about the making of the film and her interpretation of Kafka, famed for The Metamorphosis, The Trial, and The Castle. Read More
SBS Sets Higher Benchmarks for Inclusive Screen Representation
Australian broadcaster SBS is strengthening its commitment to inclusive storytelling by raising standards for representing under-represented communities in its content development. As the industry pursues broader cultural inclusion, SBS’s new guidelines support greater opportunities for diverse screen professionals, especially from First Nations and non-Anglo backgrounds, reflecting recent progress in setting higher representation benchmarks across Australia’s screen sector. Read More
YouTube to Demonetise “Inauthentic” AI-Generated Videos
Starting July 15, YouTube will update its Partner Program policies to crack down on “mass-produced and repetitious” content, aiming to curb the rise of AI-generated videos. The move follows growing concern over fake AI-generated content gaining massive views, with several top channels relying entirely on such material. YouTube says the policy change reflects evolving definitions of “inauthentic” content. Read More
Behind the Scenes of Netflix’s Building the Band
Netflix’s Building the Band, hosted by AJ McLean and mentored by Nicole Scherzinger, reinvents music TV by forming bands without contestant meetings. Sound supervisor Oliver Waton navigated complex logistics across multiple Manchester sites, using custom mic setups and site-wide Danté networks. The show features Dolby Atmos audio and a versatile mixing workflow, earning praise for sound quality and innovation in live music production. Read More
David Attenborough’s Ocean Sets Box Office Record for Nature Documentary
Silverback Films’ Ocean with David Attenborough opened to a full house in Reading and has become the UK and Ireland’s highest-grossing nature documentary debut, earning over £570,000. The film, only Silverback’s second feature since 2020, premiered in cinemas on May 8 and landed on National Geographic and Disney+ in June. Co-CEO Keith Scholey highlights the power of theatrical releases in reaching both audiences and global decision-makers. Read More
Bryan Cranston Thriller Lone Wolf Still $2M Short, Crew Unpaid
Months after funding issues first surfaced, conspiracy thriller Lone Wolf, starring Bryan Cranston and Lily Gladstone, remains unfinished and is allegedly short nearly $2 million. Some crew, vendors, and cast members are still unpaid, though the lead actors are not among them. Filming with the stars is still pending, delaying post-production. Financiers continue exploring funding options to close the gap and move the project forward. Read More
European Streamer-Network Deals Raise Concerns Among Creators
A wave of carriage deals, Netflix with TF1, Prime Video with France Télévisions, and Disney+ with ITV, has reshaped Europe’s media landscape this summer. Though media analysts praise the alliances, local creators and producers express concern. Despite being non-exclusive, the deals may limit future opportunities with other streamers and networks, potentially sidelining independent producers and disrupting traditional distribution pathways. Read More
Virtual Production Goes Mainstream: Top Trends Redefining Storytelling in 2025
Once niche, virtual production is now essential across film, TV, and live events. In 2025, studios and streamers will use it to cut costs, speed up workflows, and boost creativity. A standout trend: AI-powered environments. Tools like MoonvalleyAI, Runway, and Veo3 allow creators to generate detailed digital worlds from text prompts, drastically reducing production time and enabling rapid iteration of complex scenes with smaller teams. Read More
Space 11 Aims to Launch the Future of Entertainment, Literally
Blending Hollywood vision with aerospace innovation, Andrea Iervolino’s Space 11 is pushing storytelling into orbit. With projects spanning zero-gravity sports to space-filmed sci-fi, the company is building infrastructure to make outer space a cinematic stage. Their latest hire, former NASA film liaison Bert Ulrich, known for The Martian and First Man, joins as EVP of Production Development, signalling Space 11’s serious commitment to merging science and storytelling. Read More
Toronto Startup Moonvalley AI Offers Filmmaker-Friendly Alternative to GenAI Giants
As Hollywood wrestles with AI’s impact, Toronto-based Moonvalley AI is positioning itself as a creative ally, not a disruptor. Co-founded by former DeepMind scientists and led by CEO Naeem Talukdar, the company just launched Marey, a video-generation model built for filmmakers. With a clean, licensed data model and advanced directing tools, Marey offers granular creative control, already used by studios for B-roll and previs since March. Read More
Trevor Milton’s YouTube Comeback Documentary Garners 24M Views
Pardoned in March, Nikola founder Trevor Milton returns with a self-financed documentary on YouTube, attracting 24 million views in four weeks. Directed by Mark Soldinger, the film bypasses traditional media to share Milton’s version of events. The approach reflects a rising trend of public figures using direct-to-audience platforms like YouTube to reclaim their narratives and control distribution, especially in sports, music, and high-profile controversies. Read More
Paramount's Bold Merger Move Could Jolt the Streaming Wars
As Paramount settles a defamation lawsuit with Donald Trump, the door opens for its merger with Skydance, potentially reshaping the streaming landscape. Despite harsh criticism, Paramount holds strong assets, top broadcast TV, major sports rights, and successful franchises like Top Gun and Mission: Impossible. With Skydance acquiring the company at a bargain, some analysts believe Paramount+ could emerge as an unexpected disruptor in the battle for streaming supremacy. Read More
Apple TV+ Docuseries The Wild Ones Highlights Endangered Species and Tech-Driven Conservation
Declan Burley joins Aldo Kane and Vianet Djenguet in The Wild Ones, a global wildlife docuseries using drones, AI imaging, and 350+ custom cameras to capture rare footage of species like the Malayan tiger and Gobi bear. Now streaming on Apple TV+, the series aims to inspire conservation by connecting audiences with nature through cutting-edge visuals and personal storytelling. Read More
ITV’s Shark! Celebrity Infested Waters Combines Fear and Conservation
ITV’s Shark! Celebrity Infested Waters sends stars like Sir Lenny Henry and Helen George into shark-filled waters off Bimini, Bahamas, to confront fears and promote marine conservation. Produced by Plimsoll Productions, the show blends adventure with education, spotlighting species like hammerhead and tiger sharks. Premiering July 14 on ITV1 and ITVX, the series aligns with the 50th anniversary of Jaws to reshape public perception of sharks. Read More
Rob Rinder Explores Queen Victoria’s Hidden Passions in New C4 Doc
Channel 4’s upcoming documentary, presented by Rob Rinder and based on Dr. Fern Riddell’s book Victoria’s Secret, will reframe Queen Victoria’s legacy by spotlighting her relationship with attendant John Brown. Produced by Impossible Factual, the film aims to challenge the longstanding image of Victoria as a reclusive widow, instead revealing a more intimate portrait of the Queen’s midlife emotional world. Read More
Komi Group’s Andrew Trotman on Creator Economy & Burnout Crisis
Komi Group founder Andrew Trotman shares how his firm helps creators evolve into scalable brands using proprietary data, multi-platform strategies, and AI. He opens up about Komi’s origin story, creator burnout, and the importance of diversifying beyond branded content. Platform opportunities across YouTube, TikTok, and Facebook are explored, with a key message: creator-led businesses must rethink traditional monetisation and management models to thrive.
BAFTA Reveals Making of CBeebies’ Football Fantastics
How the creative team brought Football Fantastics to life, transforming real village locations and casting actual footballers to boost authenticity. The CBeebies drama-comedy celebrates grassroots football with playful storytelling and community spirit, offering a deeper look into the production journey, from field shoots to final edit. The creators emphasise the importance of blending realism and fun to resonate with young audiences.
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