TV, Film & Media Industry International News Roundup, Friday 14 February 2025

Dean Devlin revives The Librarians, AI reshapes film, Spain's actors rise, Iko Uwais directs, casting struggles, Berlinale opens, House of Night adapts, border fest innovates, Rings of Power returns

Today’s Highlights:

• Dean Devlin Previews The Librarians: The Next Chapter - Dean Devlin discusses The Librarians: The Next Chapter, a fantasy series about a time-travelling Librarian who accidentally unleashes magic, returning to TNT with a two-season order.

• Is the International Film Industry Warming to AI? - Global filmmakers cautiously embrace AI for voice tweaks, dubbing, and localisation, with ethical concerns and industry disruption still a major debate.

• Spain’s New Star System Elevates Young Actors to Global Fame - Spanish actors like Úrsula Corberó and Ester Expósito are rising to global fame, supported by tax breaks, top-tier production facilities, and international streaming exposure.

• Iko Uwais Launches Uwais Pictures, Directs First Film ‘Temur’ - Action star Iko Uwais has launched Uwais Pictures and will direct Temur, a thriller based on the 1996 Mapenduma hostage crisis, while also producing Ikatan Darah.

• Casting Directors Struggle Amid Hollywood’s Ongoing Contraction at Artios Awards - Casting professionals voiced concerns over Hollywood’s shrinking production levels, economic slowdowns, and fewer greenlit projects at the 40th Artios Awards.

• Tom Tykwer’s ‘The Light’ Opens Berlinale with a Dazzling Portrait of Contemporary Germany - Tom Tykwer’s The Light explores modern Berlin’s social and political challenges through a family drama, opening the 75th Berlinale.

• House of Night YA Vampire Franchise Heads to the Big Screen - The bestselling House of Night series is being adapted into a film directed by Rain Li, following a young vampyre navigating love, magic, and friendships.

• Nogales International Film Festival Turns U.S.-Mexico Border Wall into a Movie Screen - NOGAIFF will project films onto the U.S.-Mexico border wall, allowing audiences on both sides to watch together as a symbol of unity.

• The Rings of Power Renewed for Season 3—Amazon has renewed The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power for a third season. Filming will begin this spring, and a darker storyline is expected.

• Ben Affleck’s Netflix Crime Thriller ‘Animals’ Adds Cast—Luis Gerardo Méndez and Adriana Paz join the cast of Ben Affleck’s Netflix crime thriller Animals, which revolves around a kidnapping and stars Kerry Washington and Steven Yeun.

Plus: Insights, Executive Moves, Festivals & Markets, In Development, Deals, Renewals & Jobs with SBS, BBC, Paramount, Crunchyroll, Prime & Netflix.

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INSIGHTS

Dean Devlin Previews The Librarians: The Next Chapter and Champions Escapist Entertainment

Dean Devlin discusses his upcoming fantasy series, The Librarians: The Next Chapter, his passion for escapist storytelling, and his journey in TV. The new series follows a time-travelling Librarian who unintentionally unleashes magic across the continent, leading to a new team of Librarians. Originally set for The CW, the show returns to TNT with a two-season order. Devlin also reflects on the impact of genre TV on fans. Read More

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Shahid Expands with Content Creators: Who’s Making the Shift?

Shahid, MENA’s leading streamer, has embraced content creators by featuring over 50 of them in dedicated carousels, “Content Creators” and “Podcasts.” A deep dive into the platform’s strategy reveals that 62% of this content is podcast-based, while 30 creator-led shows and three animated titles fill out the roster. Arabic dominates, with 92% of the content produced in the language, and comedy, entertainment, and talk shows proving most popular. Read More

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Is the International Film Industry Warming to AI?

Despite Hollywood's AI concerns, global filmmakers are cautiously embracing the technology. Recent controversies over AI-assisted voice tweaks in Emilia Pérez and The Brutalist highlight industry fears, but projects like The Light and The Witch Game are demonstrating AI's potential for expanding international distribution. AI-driven dubbing and localisation services are gaining traction, with SAG-AFTRA-approved companies ensuring ethical use. As AI adoption rises, the industry faces a pivotal moment—will it stifle jobs or fuel creativity? Read More

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‘Sing Sing’ Filmmakers Greg Kwedar & Clint Bentley Champion Equal-Pay Model in New Initiative

Filmmaking duo Greg Kwedar and Clint Bentley, Oscar-nominated for Sing Sing, continue their collaborative approach with Train Dreams, directed by Bentley and starring Joel Edgerton. Known for swapping directing roles, they also advocate for fair pay in independent film through their new initiative, Ethos. The duo, who share a documentary-style narrative approach, hope to foster a more sustainable filmmaking model while championing stories of resilience, like Sing Sing, which profoundly shaped their creative journey. Read More

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Spain’s New Star System Is Elevating Young Actors to Global Fame

Spanish actors like Money Heist’s Úrsula Corberó and Elite’s Ester Expósito thrive in a growing star system bolstered by streaming platforms and government-backed incentives. Spain’s film industry has expanded through increased tax breaks, top-tier production facilities, and international festival recognition, making it a major hub for global productions. Casting director Luci Lenox credits Spain’s locations, service companies, and talent pool for attracting foreign projects, while Netflix and Prime Video continue to amplify Spanish actors’ visibility worldwide. Read More

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Iko Uwais Launches Uwais Pictures, Directs First Film ‘Temur’

Indonesian action star Iko Uwais (The Raid) has stepped behind the camera with his new Jakarta-based production company, Uwais Pictures. Partnering with producer Ryan Santoso, Uwais is shopping two action films at Berlin’s European Film Market, including his directorial debut Temur, based on the 1996 Mapenduma hostage crisis. The second film, Ikatan Darah, directed by Sidharta Tata, stars Livi Ciananta in a high-stakes martial arts thriller. Read More

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‘The Girl With the Needle’ Turns Denmark’s Darkest Crimes Into a Story of Hope

Magnus von Horn’s The Girl With the Needle, nominated for Best International Feature at the Oscars, explores the harrowing true crimes of Danish serial killer Dagmar Overbye. Set in 1919 Copenhagen, the gothic drama follows Karoline, a struggling seamstress drawn into Overbye’s sinister adoption scheme. Despite its dark themes, von Horn sees it as a coming-of-age tale about resilience and hope. Read More

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U.S. Reality Producers Look Overseas as Budgets Tighten

With reality TV budgets shrinking, American producers are turning to international co-productions. Jenny Daly of Critical Content (Catfish, The Home Edit) is partnering with companies in Germany, France, Australia, Korea, Singapore, and Dubai, developing a large-scale competition series for the Middle East. While many prefer to produce in the U.S., financial pressures and government policies drive productions abroad, with Fox Entertainment leading the trend. Read More

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Jay Ellis Mentors Emerging Filmmakers Through Rabbit Hole’s Creative Spirit Challenge

Jay Ellis (Insecure, Top Gun: Maverick) is mentoring new filmmakers through Rabbit Hole’s Creative Spirit Challenge, a pitch contest awarding Canon EOS R5 C cameras to winners, with the grand prize being a mentorship session with Ellis. Committed to fostering new talent, Ellis sees the initiative as a way to give back to the industry and support diverse storytelling. Read More

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Casting Directors Struggle Amid Hollywood’s Ongoing Contraction at Artios Awards

While the 40th Artios Awards celebrated casting achievements, industry professionals voiced concerns over Hollywood’s declining production levels. Casting Society President Destiny Lilly highlighted ongoing challenges from strikes, economic slowdowns, and local industry struggles. Emmy winner Steven Tylor O’Connor admitted he hasn’t worked since June, while veteran CD Felicia Fasano noted a shift toward international content over locally cast productions. Many unscripted casting directors also reported fewer greenlit projects, with a growing reliance on celebrity-driven formats. Read More

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How Netflix Transformed ‘Cobra Kai’ Into a Global Hit

Originally launched on YouTube Red, Cobra Kai gained mainstream success after moving to Netflix, where it reached a broader audience and surged in popularity. The Karate Kid sequel series, focusing on Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka), benefited from the streamer’s global reach and marketing power, solidifying its place in pop culture. After six seasons and 65 episodes, Cobra Kai remains one of the most successful examples of Netflix reviving a franchise. Read More

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How ‘The Dead Thing’ Became a Modern ‘Looking for Mr. Goodbar’ for the Tinder Era

Shudder’s The Dead Thing, directed by Pure Cinema podcast host Elric Kane, blends psychological and supernatural horror to explore modern dating through a chilling lens. Starring Blu Hunt, the indie thriller follows a woman who makes a fateful Tinder match, leading to a haunting descent. Inspired by classic cinema but determined to forge his own path, Kane crafted a low-budget yet visually stunning film that debuted at Fantasia before landing on Shudder. Read More

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Mikey Madison On How ‘Scream’ & Tarantino Led Her Directly To The Oscars As A Sex Worker In ‘Anora’

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Coralie Fargeat on nudity in 'The Substance' and Brady Corbet on 'The Brutalist's' 'Runaway Train'

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Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy director Michael Morris