Global TV, Film & Media Industry News Roundup, Friday 20 June 2025
AI remakes Bruce Lee films; Blumhouse nabs Saw rights; Studio Ulster opens; Tubi grows FAST; Amazon, BBC, Binge, and Sony unveil bold new moves; Lynch’s final series revealed.
Today’s Highlights:
Studio Ulster Opens in Belfast with Cutting-Edge Virtual Production Facilities – Northern Ireland’s new $96.7M virtual production hub launches with advanced VFX and motion capture tech, positioning the region as a major global content player.
China Launches AI Revamp of 100 Martial Arts Classics – Chinese studios will use AI to reimagine 100 classic kung fu films, digitally restoring icons like Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan for new audiences.
Blumhouse Acquires Rights to Entire Saw Franchise – Blumhouse has taken over all future Saw films and series, including the Jigsaw character, in a major genre acquisition.
Tubi Rises as FAST Leader, Launches Creator Accelerator Program – Tubi’s ad-supported model gains momentum as it unveils a new initiative to support digital creators.
Lena Waithe Restructures Hillman Grad, Exits Key Executives – Waithe is shifting focus to creative work, with her company downsizing and executives launching a new venture.
David Lynch’s Final Series Unrecorded Night Hailed as His Best Work – Longtime producer Sabrina Sutherland says Lynch’s unreleased final project may be the most accomplished of his career.
Sony Film Boss Defends UK Production Despite Tariff Threats – Sony maintains strong support for UK film production, citing incentives and infrastructure amid proposed US tariffs.
Amazon Studios Spain Prioritises Globally Resonant Local Content – Amazon’s Spanish division is investing in local stories with international appeal following recent global successes.
BBC Greenlights Twenty Twenty Six, Hugh Bonneville Returns – The BBC has commissioned a new satire from John Morton, with Bonneville reprising his iconic role as Ian Fletcher.
Binge Orders Crime Drama Based on ‘Postcard Bandit’ Brenden Abbott – Warner Bros. is producing a six-part series on the notorious Australian bank robber, now filming in WA.
Plus: Insights, Executive Moves, Festivals & Markets, In Development, Deals, Renewals & Jobs with Samsung TV Plus, Sony & Sky in Sydney & Dublin.
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INSIGHTS
China Launches AI Revamp of 100 Martial Arts Classics
While Hollywood debates the role of AI in film, Chinese studios are moving full speed ahead. At the Shanghai International Film Festival, the "Kung Fu Movie Heritage Project" was announced, which will utilise AI to reimagine 100 martial arts classics, including Fist of Fury, Drunken Master, and Once Upon a Time in China. Icons like Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, and Jet Li will be digitally revitalised for a new generation of audiences. Read More
Lobbying Group Urges LA to Delay FilmLA Contract Renewal
Film and TV advocacy group CA United, led by Wes Bailey and Pamala Buzick Kim, is urging Los Angeles not to renew FilmLA’s contract until meaningful permitting reforms are made. Ahead of Friday's Board of Public Works hearing, the group criticised the current process as costly and complex, calling on FilmLA to support reforms and help bring production back to the city. Read More
How Niche TV Disrupted Peak TV
Tubi chief content officer Adam Lewinson highlights how free ad-supported streaming (FAST) platforms like Tubi, Pluto TV, and The Roku Channel are capturing growing market share, offering niche content without paywalls. As of last month, streaming overtook both broadcast and cable combined in total TV viewing. With Tubi’s breakout hit Sidelined and bold Super Bowl ads, Lewinson says success hinges on deeply understanding audience preferences and curating content accordingly. Read More
Sera Film Showcases Global Game Show Hits at NEM Dubrovnik
Turkey’s Sera Film Services, one of the country’s oldest independent production and distribution companies, debuted at NEM Dubrovnik with two scalable, budget-friendly game shows: Think and QUP. CEO Idil Belli highlighted their international appeal. Think, a fast-paced word game, has aired in six territories, while family-friendly QUP, created by Sera, is gaining popularity beyond Turkey and recently optioned in Spain. Read More
NHK President Marks Centennial With Call to Defend Truth in Media
As Japan's NHK celebrates its 100th anniversary, President Nobuo Inaba calls for renewed support of public service broadcasting amid the rise of digital disinformation. In an exclusive interview with Deadline, Inaba emphasised that, in an era of overwhelming and often unreliable information, public broadcasters play a crucial role in delivering the truth, especially as audiences shift away from traditional media. Read More
Erin Foster on the Breakout Success of Nobody Wants This
In It’s a Hit!, IndieWire chats with creators behind standout TV shows. Erin Foster, creator of Netflix’s Nobody Wants This, balances a hectic life running a fashion brand, podcasting, and more. During a Zoom interview about the show's Emmy-season buzz, Foster planned to stay on script. But like her on-screen counterpart, Kristen Bell’s Joanne, she quickly shifted to raw honesty when asked: “When did you know this show was a hit?” Read More
Gideon Glick Tackles Bilingual Ballet Drama in Étoile
Having starred in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Gideon Glick was no stranger to Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino’s signature rapid-fire dialogue. But their new series Étoile, set in the ballet worlds of New York and Paris and delivered in both French and English, presented fresh challenges. A seasoned Broadway actor, Glick embraced the demanding role, drawing on his stage experience and adaptability. Read More
David Lynch’s Final Series Unrecorded Night Called His Best Work Yet
Sabrina Sutherland, longtime producer for David Lynch, has called Unrecorded Night “probably the best thing he ever did.” In an interview with A Rabbit’s Foot, Sutherland revealed the late filmmaker spent over two years developing the unreleased limited series. “It was a culmination of a lot of things,” she said, adding that writing continued right up until Lynch’s passing. Read More
Old Media’s Slow Collapse Comes Into Focus
The decline of traditional media has long felt like a drawn-out unravelling, but recent events have brought the crisis into sharper focus. A string of seemingly unrelated reports reveals a grim pattern: legacy media is faltering, and attempts to revive it may only be delaying the inevitable. Like the final twist in The Usual Suspects, the bigger picture is suddenly, unmistakably clear. Read More
TV Editor Dropped as Fox Moves Post-Production to Canada for Tax Breaks
Veteran editor Eric Kenehan was recently let go from Fox’s Extracted, despite the show's renewal. Although Kenehan helped launch the survival reality series, post-production for Season 2 is relocating to Canada to qualify for tax credits tied to the show's northern filming locations. He joins a growing number of U.S. editors losing jobs as productions chase financial incentives abroad. Read More
Scripted Sports TV Surges as Streamers Bet Big on Underdog Stories
From Ted Lasso to Running Point, scripted sports series are booming as platforms chase stories of grit and glory. Creators like Jason Katims and Ryan Murphy are diving in, while Skydance, WBTV, and even Peyton and Eli Manning are shaping the playbook. Meanwhile, J.J. Abrams’ live-action Speed Racer is revving up at Apple TV+ with a fresh creative team. Read More
Behind The Music of 'Landman' ft. Composer Andrew Lockington and Co-Creator Christian Wallace
The Handmaid’s Tale Ends with Reflection, Resistance, and a New Beginning: Read the Script
Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale concluded its six-season run with a finale that was both bittersweet and forward-looking, as creator Bruce Miller and director/star Elisabeth Moss set the stage for sequel series The Testaments. The episode saw Mayday rise against Gilead, with June returning to the ruins of the Waterford home to begin writing her story, marking the end of Offred and the beginning of her legacy. Read More
Richard Gere Reflects on 50 Years, Iconic Films & His TV Role in 'The Agency'
Lynch champions brash female leads in The Day of the Jackal
Having built her career on portraying formidable characters from Nomi, the first female 007 in No Time To Die, to Maria Rambeau in Captain Marvel, Lashana Lynch brings unapologetic boldness to her latest role as MI6 agent Bianca Pullman in Sky/Peacock’s The Day of the Jackal. Lynch says audiences rarely see brash women on screen and relishes depicting an assertive, flawed heroine who upends conventional spy-thriller tropes. Read More
Inside Hacks Season 4: Crafting Comedy with Precision and Patience
Hacks co-creators Lucia Aniello and Paul W. Downs share how they meticulously shape each episode, watching nearly every take to find the perfect comedic beat. Now in its fourth season, the HBO series continues to evolve, with Aniello, Downs, and Jen Statsky leaning into their visual storytelling roots and performance-driven instincts to keep the show sharp, surprising, and emotionally resonant.
Outsider lens fuels objectivity in IRA drama, Say Nothing
US showrunner Joshua Zetumer says his outsider perspective enabled a balanced adaptation of Patrick Radden Keefe’s book into the nine-part FX series Say Nothing, avoiding moral judgments of the Troubles. He aimed to capture youthful idealism that curdles into disillusionment over decades without portraying blame, using his distance from Northern Irish experience to maintain objectivity and illuminate the emotionally complex legacy of the IRA conflict in Northern Ireland. Read More
Recreating 1970s Atlanta: Behind the Scenes of Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist
Fight Night creator Shaye Ogbonna, costume designer Ernesto Martinez, and hair department head Lawrence Davis unpack how they brought 1970s Atlanta to life. From Kevin Hart’s transformation into “Chicken Man” to era-specific costumes and clever wig techniques, the team emphasised authenticity and visual storytelling in capturing the city’s vibrant, high-stakes energy.
Sony film chief affirms UK’s value amid Trump’s tariff threats
Sony’s film head insisted that, despite Donald Trump’s proposal of 100% tariffs on imported movies, the UK remains “a very significant destination” for studio productions thanks to its generous tax incentives and world-class infrastructure. He pointed to high-profile UK-based shoots, highlighting Danny Boyle’s new sequel 28 Years Later, executive produced by Cillian Murphy (who Boyle joked was paid £50) alongside DNA Films, Peter Rice and Bernard Bellew. Read More
Benito Skinner’s Overcompensating Turns Cringe into Catharsis on Prime Video
What began as a 2018 stand-up show has evolved into Overcompensating, Benito Skinner’s semi-autobiographical college comedy now streaming on Amazon Prime Video. Inspired by creators like Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Issa Rae, Skinner explores identity, queerness, and friendship through the lens of a closeted Idaho jock navigating college life.
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