Global TV, Film & Media Industry News Roundup, Friday 16 May 2025
Texas unveils $500M film push; YouTube boasts 1B podcast viewers; Nolan goes full IMAX; Severance, Buffy, and Highlander lead IP revivals; A24, Letterboxd & Catalonia make bold moves.
Today’s Highlights:
Texas Proposes $500M Film Incentive Program – A new decade-long program aims to secure Texas’s future as a major film production hub with automatic biennial renewals totalling $500 million.
YouTube Flexes Scale at Brandcast 2025 – CEO Neal Mohan revealed that one billion people watch podcasts on YouTube, highlighting the platform’s unmatched global reach during upfronts week.
Christopher Nolan to Shoot The Odyssey Entirely on IMAX Film – Nolan’s upcoming film The Odyssey will be the first feature shot entirely on IMAX film, showcasing his commitment to immersive cinema.
Fifth Season Eyes Severance as Cornerstone Series – Jennifer Ebell says Severance could become the foundation of Fifth Season’s global content library beyond its Apple TV+ exclusivity.
Chad Stahelski to Reboot Highlander – John Wick director Chad Stahelski will helm a bold reimagining of the 1986 cult fantasy film Highlander as his next passion project.
Ryan Kiera Armstrong to Lead Buffy Reboot – Hulu’s reboot of Buffy the Vampire Slayer casts Ryan Kiera Armstrong as a new high school slayer, with Sarah Michelle Gellar returning and Chloé Zhao directing.
A24 Wins Bidding War for Trigger Point – A24 secured the buzzy crime series Trigger Point after a seven-way auction, with Jeremy Saulnier directing and major talent circling.
Letterboxd Launches Curated TVOD Platform – Letterboxd is launching a themed VOD rental service to serve its 20 million users with curated picks from festivals, global cinema, and hidden gems.
Catalan Cinema Breaks Ground at Cannes – Two Catalan films competing at Cannes mark a milestone for the region’s creative industry and its growing presence in auteur cinema.
Kateryna Vyshnevska Builds Bridges Between UK and CEE Drama Markets – The award-winning producer is expanding cross-border coproductions after the success of Hide & Seek and Those Who Stayed.
Plus: Insights, Executive Moves, Festivals & Markets, In Development, Renewals & Jobs with BBC, Fremantle, UTA, Netflix, ITV, CAA & MUBI in Birmingham, London, LA, NYC & Amsterdam.
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INSIGHTS
Honor: Adapting an Israeli Hit for Spain
Portocabo’s Alfonso Blanco and Nina Hernández share how they adapted Israeli drama Kvodo (Your Honor) into Honor for Spanish viewers. Shot in Seville, the series keeps the original’s gripping moral dilemmas as a judge covers up his son’s hit-and-run. Ron Ninio and Shlomo Mashiach created the format, which has been remade in nearly a dozen countries, showing the continued global appeal of strong local adaptations. Read More
Pathé Shifts UK Focus from Film to TV
In 2023, French studio Pathé made waves by exiting film production and distribution in the UK to focus solely on scripted TV. The shift followed the retirement of longtime UK film head Cameron McCracken, with Faith Penhale now leading the TV-focused subsidiary. English-language film development moved to Paris, marking the end of an era after Pathé UK backed acclaimed titles like Slumdog Millionaire and The Queen. Read More
Lake Boga Wins Best Independent Drama Pilot at SeriesFest
Australian duo Ben Bryan and Nick Capper took home Best Independent Drama Pilot at SeriesFest for Lake Boga. Made on a $20,000 budget, the gritty series follows ex-military assassin Nathan, hired to wipe out meth labs across Colorado. As he hides out at the Lake Boga Pub, tensions rise with locals tied to the drug trade. The pilot screened to a sold-out audience and earned $25,000 in post-production support. Read More
Kateryna Vyshnevska Bridges UK and CEE Drama Worlds
Following the success of Hide & Seek and Those Who Stayed, Kateryna Vyshnevska, former head of development at Film.UA, is now an independent producer connecting UK and Central-Eastern European coproductions. Proud of getting Hide & Seek on Channel 4, she acknowledges the challenges of non-English content breaking into the UK. Honoured with an Industry@Tallinn award, Vyshnevska remains modest about her growing regional influence. Read More
YouTube Flexes Scale at Brandcast 2025
Advertising is a confidence game—and YouTube played it well at its Brandcast event at Lincoln Center, closing out 2025 upfronts week. While competitors shared viewership stats, YouTube CEO Neal Mohan highlighted the platform’s unmatched scale, revealing that one billion people watch podcast content on YouTube alone. In a landscape where reach matters, YouTube confidently positioned itself as the definitive leader. Read More
Chad Stahelski Sets Sights on Reinventing Highlander
After redefining modern action cinema with the John Wick franchise, director Chad Stahelski is ready for a new challenge. Following four films and a $450 million global haul with John Wick: Chapter 4, Stahelski is now turning his attention to a passion project: reimagining the 1986 fantasy classic Highlander. Promising a bold, brutal take, he aims to breathe new life into the cult favourite—his way, and only his. Read More
Josh Holloway Returns to Form in Max’s Duster
Josh Holloway is back—and still unmistakably Josh Holloway. In Duster, premiering Thursday on Max, he plays a charming 1970s getaway driver with a criminal streak and a heart of gold. The role channels the swagger fans loved in Lost, though with more grit, violence, and swearing. Reuniting with J.J. Abrams, Holloway opens up about his Hollywood dry spell, Duster’s appeal, and even entertains the idea of a Lost reboot. Read More
Fifth Season Eyes Severance as Cornerstone of Global Library
Apple TV+’s biggest series launch, Severance, could become “the foundation” of Fifth Season’s future content library, says new global TV sales head Jennifer Ebell. Despite its current Apple exclusivity and more seasons ahead, Ebell sees long-term monetisation and brand-building potential. “Being the number one show on Apple is such a loud calling card,” she told Deadline, calling Severance a testament to the studio’s ambitions. Read More
Hollywood Faces AI with Cautious Curiosity and Pragmatism
After a turbulent 2023 marked by strikes and Covid recovery, Hollywood is cautiously adapting to AI’s rise. Despite ongoing concerns from the WGA and SAG-AFTRA about ethical AI use, the industry shows growing curiosity as technology advances. Andrew Hevia of Fabula North America sees AI as a potential tool to boost creativity amid shifting audience habits and unsustainable blockbuster budgets, helping the industry evolve and thrive in new ways. Read More
Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey to Be Shot Fully on IMAX Film
Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey will be the first commercial feature shot entirely on IMAX film cameras. A longtime fan of the format used in Dunkirk, Interstellar, and Oppenheimer, Nolan embraces the challenge despite the cameras’ size and noise. This sets the project apart from recent films that used lighter digital IMAX cameras, underscoring Nolan’s dedication to immersive, large-format cinema. Read More
Comcast’s Versant SpinCo Poised for Growth and Consolidation
Comcast CFO Jason Armstrong highlighted Versant’s strengths—free cash flow, strong management, and digital growth potential—at the MoffettNathanson conference. The cable TV spin-off, including USA Network, Syfy, MSNBC, and CNBC, aims to launch by late 2025. Armstrong also hinted Versant could pursue further industry consolidation, leveraging its solid balance sheet and leadership to explore acquisitions and expand its cable channel portfolio. Read More
Inspired to Spotlight Hopper: A Documentary Journey Begins
The inspiration for the documentary came from a 2016 short film on a Hopper-painted Cape Cod house. Given that no full biographical documentary existed on Hopper—unlike other American artists—and discovering PBS’s American Masters hadn’t covered him, producer Michael Cascio teamed up with UK producer Phil Grabsky, who was already planning a Hopper film, to bring this iconic artist’s story to the screen. Read More
Texas Proposes $500M Film Incentive Program to Secure Production Future
Texas, the nation’s largest state with a production incentive, is ramping up its commitment. After increasing its filming grant from $45M to $200M last year, Senate Bill 22 proposes a $500M program that will renew automatically every two years for a decade. This aims to offer long-term security for productions. Fred Poston of TXMPA emphasises Texas’s pride in telling its own stories, making the program about more than just funding. Read More
Spcine: Driving Brazil’s Film Industry and Cultural Resilience
Founded in 2015 as São Paulo’s film commission, Spcine has become a key force in Brazil’s film and TV sector. It launched a citywide theatre circuit, a public streaming platform, and Brazil’s first local production incentive in 2021. Amid pandemic challenges and federal funding cuts, Spcine championed industry resilience and cultural diversity, says CEO Lyara Oliveira, highlighting its foundational milestones like the São Paulo Film Commission and public funding initiatives. Read More
Law&Crime to Release AI-Generated Visuals of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Federal Trial
With cameras banned in federal trials, Law&Crime plans to offer comprehensive coverage of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ case through AI-generated recreations. Using court transcripts, the videos will depict the exact words of witnesses, investigators, and legal figures, providing a unique visual representation of the trial proceedings. Read More
‘Adam’s Sake’ Director Laura Wandel On Immersive Approach To Making Children’s Hospital Ward Drama
PIVOTING CAREERS IN MEDIA w/ Jazz Pitcairn and Katrina Craigwell
Katrina Craigwell, head of products at JP Morgan Chase, and acclaimed writer/director Jazz Pitcairn discuss building resilient careers, making bold pivots, and the power of curiosity, networks, and hustle in a rapidly shifting industry.
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