Global TV, Film & Media Industry News Roundup, Weekend 12-13 April 2025
WGA reports 42% job drop; Netflix tops profits; WB revives major IP; Black Mirror returns; Minecraft chaos; Vachon, true crime shifts, The Pitt, Drop, and Ukraine doc make waves.
Today’s Highlights:
Massive Decline in TV Writing Jobs Signals Industry Crisis – The WGA reports a 42% drop in TV writing roles due to strikes, cord-cutting, and reduced streaming output.
Netflix Tops Streaming Profits as Rivals Narrow Losses – Netflix remains the most profitable streamer in 2024 as Disney, WBD, and others reduce losses through strategic shifts.
Warner Bros. Develops Major Sequels and Revivals Amid Leadership Rumours – Warner Bros. is pushing ahead with IP revivals like Beetlejuice and The Matrix while strengthening ties with top directors.
Black Mirror Returns for Season 7 with Original Format and A-List Cast – Charlie Brooker brings back Black Mirror for six new tech-themed episodes starring Emma Corrin and others after scrapping a horror spinoff.
A Minecraft Movie Sparks Viral Theatre Chaos – A Minecraft Movie screenings have led to TikTok-driven cinema disruptions, prompting warnings and staff strain.
Christine Vachon Critiques State of Indie Film and Teases Materialists – Producer Christine Vachon calls out the lack of compelling cinema and promotes A24’s Materialists as a rare standout.
Shift in True Crime Content Reflects Audience Fatigue with Murder Stories – True crime viewers gravitate toward fraud and scam narratives over traditional murder stories.
The Pitt Sets New Benchmark for Realistic Medical Drama – Max’s The Pitt earns acclaim from doctors for its authentic depiction of a 15-hour ER shift shaped by medical consultants.
Drop, Starring Meghann Fahy, Is a High-Stakes Thriller Set in One Restaurant – Christopher Landon’s Drop follows a mother forced to complete disturbing tasks during a tense date night thriller.
Ukrainian Documentary Wins Big at Visions du Réel – Zoya Laktionova’s Ashes Settling in Layers on the Surface wins a top industry award for portraying Mariupol’s devastation.
Plus: Insights, Executive Moves, Festivals & Markets, In Development, Deals & Jobs with Netflix, SBS, BBC & Canal+ in Sydney, London, Vienna & Paris.
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INSIGHTS
Cracking Black Mirror: Inside the Return of the Tech-Horror Anthology
As Black Mirror returns for its seventh season, creator Charlie Brooker and executive producer Jessica Rhoades delve into the creative process behind the series. Initially considering a horror-focused spinoff titled Red Mirror, Brooker ultimately decided to continue with the original format, delivering six new episodes centered on technology's impact on society. The season features stories like "Common People," where a couple's decision to use a high-tech system to preserve life leads to unforeseen consequences. The cast includes Emma Corrin, Sienna Kelly, Rosy McEwen, Lewis Gribben, and Josh Finan, who share insights into their roles in these thought-provoking narratives. Read More
Christopher Landon’s Drop Delivers High-Stakes Thriller
Christopher Landon’s latest film, Drop, is a tense thriller set almost entirely in a high-end restaurant. Starring Meghann Fahy, the story follows a widowed mother who, while on a date, receives threatening texts demanding she complete a series of disturbing tasks—or risk her son’s life. The film, produced by Blumhouse and Universal, showcases Landon’s signature blend of suspense and dark humour. Read More
TV Writers Face Industry Challenges Amidst Declining Job Opportunities
The Writers Guild of America reports a 42% decline in TV writing jobs for the 2023-24 season, with 1,319 positions lost due to cord-cutting, streaming cutbacks, and the 2023 Hollywood strikes. Upper-level writers lost 642 jobs (-40%), lower-level writers lost 378 (-46%), and mid-level roles declined by 299 (-42%). With 37% fewer scripted series airing, the WGA attributes the downturn to shifting industry economics. Read More
Gabriel Macht Returns in Suits: LA
Gabriel Macht returns as Harvey Specter in Suits LA for a three-episode arc, passing the baton to the NBC spinoff. After stepping away from acting in 2019, he was drawn back by the show's resurgence on Netflix, where Suits became the most-watched acquired title. Macht saw the opportunity to give back to fans and support the new series, which explores Harvey’s past connection with Ted Black (Stephen Amell). Read More
Warner Bros. Expands IP Slate Amid Leadership Speculation
Despite rumours of leadership changes, Warner Bros. co-chairs Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy remain focused on future projects, including sequels to A Minecraft Movie and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, alongside revivals of The Matrix, Practical Magic, Gremlins, and Goonies. The studio has also greenlit a remake of The Bodyguard, directed by Sam Wrench (Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour) with a script by Jonathan A. Abrams (Juror No. 2). Additionally, Warner Bros. is strengthening relationships with top filmmakers like Ryan Coogler, Paul Thomas Anderson, and Alejandro González Iñárritu, aiming to restore its prestige in the industry. Read More
The Pitt Earns Praise for Its Real-Time, Hyper-Realistic Portrayal of Emergency Medicine
Max’s medical drama The Pitt has earned praise from real-life doctors for its realistic portrayal of emergency medicine. The show, which follows a 15-hour shift in a Pittsburgh ER, was shaped by seven board-certified emergency physicians, including Dr. Joe Sachs, who worked as both a TV writer and an attending physician. Medical consultants Dr. Jacob Lentz, Dr. Elizabeth Ferreira, and Dr. Ariel Wu helped ensure authenticity, while nurses and physician assistants contributed as background players. Read More
How Innovation and AI Are Reshaping Production
Stephanie Mavropoulos, director of production at Arrow Media, highlights how AI and technological advancements are reshaping the factual TV industry. With shrinking budgets and tighter deadlines, production companies must embrace innovation, rethink workflows, and adopt more efficient strategies. AI streamlines processes, allowing teams to focus on storytelling while reducing repetitive tasks. Co-productions are also becoming essential for financial sustainability. The industry’s rapid evolution presents an opportunity to adapt, ensuring that productions remain high-quality and competitive. Read More
True Crime Fatigue Emerges as Audience Tastes Shift
True crime remains popular, but audiences are shifting away from murder-focused stories toward fraud, scams, and social media-related crimes. Between 2020 and 2024, the percentage of crime documentaries centered on murder dropped from 38.1% to 32.5%, while fraud-related content increased from 1.6% to 2.7%. Filmmaker Dan Johnstone notes that working on murder cases can be emotionally draining, prompting him to explore other aspects of crime storytelling. Read More
Netflix Leads Streaming Profitability Rankings
Netflix remains the dominant force in streaming, growing its subscribers, revenue, and profit in 2024. Meanwhile, Disney achieved its first-ever full-year streaming profit, and Warner Bros. Discovery significantly increased its earnings. NBCUniversal and Paramount Global narrowed their losses, aiming for profitability ahead. Key factors driving success include selective spending on original content, price increases, and ad-supported subscription tiers. While Netflix leads, analysts question whether other studios can sustain and scale their streaming profits, with consolidation and partnerships likely shaping the future. Read More
Christine Vachon on Indie Film Challenges and What’s Next
Christine Vachon, producer at Killer Films, discussed the state of moviegoing on IndieWire’s Screen Talk podcast, noting that audiences aren’t avoiding theatres—there’s just a lack of compelling films. She previewed Celine Song’s upcoming Materialists (A24, June 13), starring Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans, and Pedro Pascal, following the success of Past Lives. Vachon also addressed the struggles of indie filmmakers, emphasising the challenges of sustaining character-driven dramas in today’s industry. Read More
Apple TV+’s Your Friends and Neighbors Explores Wealth and Crime
Jonathan Tropper’s neo-noir crime drama Your Friends and Neighbors follows Andrew “Coop” Cooper (Jon Hamm), a hedge fund manager who turns to robbing his affluent neighbors after losing his job. Set in the fictional Westmont Village, the series examines privilege, desperation, and the illusion of security. Inspired by Tropper’s experiences living in Westchester, the show blends dark humor, social commentary, and a murder mystery. Read More
‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Stars and EP Say Final Season Shows Results Of June’s Positive Influence
‘The Boys’ Star Jack Quaid On Exploring “Core Traumas” In A Show That Is “Unapologetically Itself”
Martin Scorsese’s Yes Opened Doors To All ‘The Studio’ Cameos, Ike Barinholtz & Producers Say
The Righteous Gemstones Goes Out with a Bang
'Black Mirror' Season 7 Stars Weigh in on AI in Hollywood, Show's Success & More
'A Minecraft Movie' Audiences Are Trashing Theaters. Causing Chaos in Cinemas
A Minecraft Movie is throwing some movie theatres into utter chaos. A TikTok-fueled viral trend encourages moviegoers to trash the theater during film screenings. Videos have captured audiences throwing food and drink and trashing auditoriums. Somebody was kicked out in one video for holding up a live chicken. Some theaters are issuing warnings, including "pre-show announcements" that if the "situation escalates, local authorities can be called." Meanwhile, employees are getting pushed to their limits: "All of us cannot wait for this movie to be gone."
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