Global TV, Film & Media Industry News Roundup, Tuesday 3 June 2025
Disney cuts jobs; Mubi hits $1B; Netflix, Mattel & Screenwest expand; viral creators rise; Roku eyes Brazil; Warsaw market grows; TV’s creative risks decline.
Today’s Highlights:
Disney Undergoes Major Layoffs Across Entertainment Divisions – A sweeping corporate restructure affecting hundreds of jobs across global operations signals a pivotal moment for the entertainment giant and the broader industry.
Sequoia Invests $100M in Mubi, Valuing Indie Streamer at $1B – This landmark funding round underscores growing investor confidence in niche streaming platforms and reshapes the competitive landscape for curated content.
Netflix Acquires Thomas Vinterberg’s Families Like Ours – Netflix’s acquisition of a critically acclaimed European drama reinforces its dominance in premium international storytelling.
Mattel Launches Mattel Studios with Robbie Brenner as President and Chief Content Officer – Consolidation of Mattel’s media efforts signals a major shift in IP-driven entertainment strategy amid growing toy-to-screen trends.
Screenwest Boosts Post-Production Rebate to 20% for All Qualifying Spend – Australia’s most competitive post-production incentive could attract significant international production to Western Australia.
Kane Parsons’ The Backrooms Moves from Viral Hit to A24 Feature – A viral creator’s transition to a major studio project exemplifies the disruptive influence of digital-first talent in traditional filmmaking.
Netflix Greenlights Pablo Larraín’s Horror Miniseries My Sad Dead – A high-profile Latin American project that blends auteur filmmaking with horror reinforces Netflix’s global creative diversity.
Roku Plans Local Content Push in Brazil – Roku’s strategic move into original programming in Brazil expands its FAST success in Latin America and challenges global streamers for regional dominance.
Content Warsaw Showcases Top Global Studios with Screenings and Market Events – A central hub for European content and co-productions, this event positions CEE as a major player in the international media market.
TV’s Safe Era Is Killing Its Cultural Impact – A widely resonant opinion piece highlighting the creative stagnation of traditional TV amid shifts to riskier digital formats and algorithm-driven platforms.
Plus: Insights, Festivals & Markets, In Development, Deals, Renewals & Jobs with Apple TV, WBD, Prime, SkyShowtime & Netflix in Hong Kong, Munich, LA, Stockholm, Amsterdam & Berlin.
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Streamers: Netflix, Apple, Viaplay, SkyShowTime, Amazon Prime, Marquee TV, Paramount Television International, MTV Entertainment Group, BET, Cineverse.
Broadcasters: NBC Universal, France Televisions, Sky, ABC, Channel 4, ITV, A+E Networks, CBC, TV2, SVT, ARTE, RTBF, SBS Play, TCL FFalcon, RTL, TVNZ, SRF, Kanal D.
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.
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
NHK's Morning Drama Celebrates Anpanman Creator
NHK executives Ken Kurasaki and Hiroshi Kashi introduce Anpan, the broadcaster's latest 15-minute daily drama inspired by Yanase Takashi, creator of beloved superhero Anpanman. The series, part of NHK's iconic morning slot, which has aired since 1961, follows Takashi's struggles and triumphs, supported by his resilient wife, Nobu. Kurasaki and Kashi emphasise the importance of rich character development in captivating viewers within the short yet powerful format. Read More
Ramy Youssef and Pam Brady to Receive Spark Award at IndieWire Honors
At the Spring 2025 IndieWire Honors, Ramy Youssef and Pam Brady will be celebrated with the Spark Award for animation for #1 Happy Family USA. The A24 and Prime Video series, which follows a Muslim family in post-9/11 America, has been praised for its bold humour. The pair, longtime fans of each other, began their first collaboration on the show, which has now been renewed for two seasons. Read More
‘Trom’ Creator Proposes New UK Tax Credit for Premium TV
Trom creator Torfinnur Jákupsson is advocating for an “independent premium tier” UK tax credit to address the scripted funding crisis. Aimed at shows costing £750,000–£950,000 per hour, the proposed rebate would support culturally ambitious, internationally co-produced, and sustainably made dramas. Jákupsson says the plan reflects the real production needs of high-quality TV in 2025. Read More
Roku Plans Local Content Push in Brazil
Roku is poised to increase its investment in Brazil, with a focus on both content and technology. Following the recent launch of its FAST service with 30 channels, the company plans to commission local programming for The Roku Channel. Adriana Naves, Roku’s content distribution director for Latin America, called Brazil a top priority, noting the move follows Roku’s successful strategy in Mexico and marks just the beginning of its expansion in the region. Read More
GoodShort Debuts First Canadian Vertical Drama
Singapore-based platform GoodShort has launched its first Canadian vertical drama, "One Last Temptation Before I Say I Do," as short-form content gains momentum. Produced by Sammie Astaneh’s Service Street Pictures and directed by Brianne Nord-Stewart, the series stars Too Hot to Handle’s Matthew Stephen Smith. Set on a high-stakes dating show in a luxury villa, the drama explores shifting relationships among eight contestants. Read More
Clint Eastwood Urges Filmmakers to Prioritise Originality
Oscar-winning director Clint Eastwood is urging filmmakers to prioritise originality over franchises and remakes. In an interview with Austria’s Kurier, Eastwood expressed nostalgia for an era when screenwriters created fresh stories, such as Casablanca. “Do something new or stay at home,” said the Juror #2 director, adding that although he’s made a few sequels, he’s long since lost interest in repeating formulas. Read More
‘Severance’ Season 2 Finale Features Ambitious Marching Band Scene
To top the unforgettable Music Dance Experience from Season 1, Severance director Ben Stiller envisioned a marching band sequence for the Season 2 finale. After Mark S. (Adam Scott) completes the Cold Harbor file, Milchick (Tramell Tillman) delivers a choreographed spectacle. Editor Geoff Richman, tasked with cutting the complex scene shot over four days, told Variety he was initially “terrified,” balancing entertainment with narrative momentum. Read More
Disney Undergoes Major Layoffs Across Entertainment Divisions
The Walt Disney Company has begun significant layoffs impacting several hundred employees globally, Deadline reports. The cuts span Disney Entertainment's film and TV marketing, publicity, casting, development, and corporate finance operations. While no teams are being entirely eliminated, both film and TV divisions are affected at similar levels. Most Disney Entertainment Television staff impacted are based in Los Angeles, with further updates expected as the situation unfolds. Read More
Wes Anderson Reflects on Signature Style and Its Impact
Dressed in an all-white ensemble at New York’s Mandarin Oriental, Wes Anderson looked every bit like a character from one of his own films. The Asteroid City director spoke with Inverse about his unmistakable visual style, which features pastels, symmetry, and meticulous detail, likening it to handwriting. While he has embraced the aesthetic over his 29-year career, Anderson admits that the attention and imitators it has drawn can leave him feeling "on the defensive." Read More
L.A. Sound Stages Face Decline, But Reinvention May Be Ahead
L.A. sound stages are seeing plummeting occupancy rates, with FilmLA reporting a drop to 63% in 2024. Hudson Pacific Properties, a major studio operator, was hit with a credit rating cut due to weakened performance. While offshoring and tax incentives drive productions elsewhere, California’s proposed tax credits aim to reverse the trend. Studios are pivoting to new uses, from fashion shoots to live sports, with hope for recovery in 2026. Read More
TV’s Safe Era Is Killing Its Cultural Impact
Once driven by bold, boundary-pushing creators, TV has become sanitised and risk-averse, fearing backlash and cancellation. As young audiences shift to raw, algorithm-driven platforms, TV’s lack of provocation creates a cultural vacuum. AI will soon optimise for safety, but true storytelling demands discomfort. If TV wants to reclaim relevance, it must challenge, provoke, and trust audiences to think for themselves. Read More
RTVE Expands International Formats with Jeopardy and The Chase
Spanish public broadcaster RTVE is launching its own version of Jeopardy, produced by Lavinia Audiovisual, as part of a cultural quiz show strand on La 2. It airs alongside The Chase (El Cazador) and long-running Saber y Ganar. RTVE continues to prioritise entertainment formats, adapting The Dog House, The Floor, and That’s My Jam, while scripted series remain limited. Read More
Kane Parsons’ The Backrooms Moves from Viral Hit to A24 Feature
At just 19 years old, Kane Parsons is directing A24’s upcoming horror film The Backrooms, starring Chiwetel Ejiofor and Cristin Milioti. Parsons first gained attention at 16 with his viral YouTube short, which amassed 66 million views. A24 saw more than just a film—it saw a scalable IP with a built-in fanbase, proving that digital-first creators are reshaping Hollywood. Read More
Alfonso Cuarón’s Disclaimer Finale Unveils a Dark Truth: Read the Script
The final episode of Disclaimer, titled Chapter VII, delivers a shocking narrative shift, revealing the true nature of Jonathan’s actions and Catherine Ravenscroft’s long-buried trauma. Alfonso Cuarón’s psychological thriller, starring Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, and Sacha Baron Cohen, explores power, perception, and the erasure of women’s voices. Read More
Peter Berg Explains the Journey Behind American Primeval and Its Dark Themes
Colin Farrell & Danny DeVito | Actors on Actors
'Matlock' Team and Kathy Bates on Centring Female Friendship That Extends Beyond the Screen
"Matlock" star Kathy Bates, creator Jennie Snyder Urman and director Kat Coiro break down how the show's focus on female friendship extends beyond the screen to their on-set relationship behind the camera.
Bridget Christie and the cast and crew of The Change | BFI Q&A
At BFI Southbank, the cast and crew of The Change discussed the high-stakes second season, where Linda (Bridget Christie) faces fallout from her deception, unintentionally igniting a women’s revolution. The show continues its sharp humour and social commentary, making Linda a reluctant messiah in the chaos.
Ally Morgan on What TikTok Taught Her About Storytelling
Emerging screen talent Ally Morgan turned Girl Crush from a TV concept into a 15-part TikTok musical series. She shares insights on vertical storytelling, episodic structure, and audience-building, proving that authentic, unpolished content often outperforms glossy production.
Mary Robertson’s The Fall of Diddy Exposes Allegations Against Sean Combs
Mary Robertson’s Maxine Films continues its investigative storytelling with The Fall of Diddy, a five-part documentary series on Investigation Discovery. Co-directed by Yoruba Richen and Emma Schwartz, the series features 30 individuals sharing allegations of violence and abuse against Sean “Diddy” Combs, many speaking publicly for the first time.
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