TV, Film & Media Industry International News Roundup, Friday 20 September 2024

Netflix leads with British series; Seven disputes Big Brother rights; Javier Bardem stars in Monsters; cinemas invest $2B; Jo Nesbo adapts The Night House; BBC films The Famous Five reboot.

Today’s Highlights:

• Netflix Data Dump - British dominance in TV series, led by Fool Me Once and Bridgerton Season 3.

• Seven’s Legal Dispute with Endemol Shine - Controversy over Big Brother rights and production timing.

• Amazon Joins Motion Picture Association - Amazon’s strategic move into Hollywood’s lobbying circle.

• TIFF’s Struggles - Market slowdown with major films seeking deals despite a few acquisitions.

• Javier Bardem Joins Ryan Murphy’s Monsters - Bardem’s TV debut in the Menendez brothers series.

• Cinema Chains Invest $2 Billion - Theatres upgrading 21,000 screens with new entertainment experiences.

• Paramount Leadership Questions - Skydance’s David Ellison will lead, but father Larry Ellison’s influence looms.

• Jo Nesbo’s The Night House Adaptation - Crime author Nesbo’s horror film project begins in 2025.

• Angela Bassett & Courtney B. Vance’s First-Look Deal - Development of new content with 20th Television.

• BBC and Mediapro Start Filming The Famous Five - Reboot of the classic series focusing on new adventures.

Plus: News, Insights, Executive Moves, Festivals & Markets, In Development, Deals, Renewals, Cancellations, Opportunities and Jobs with Netflix, Channel 4, ITV, UTA, Prime, Sky, Virgin, Paramount, National Geographic, NBCUniversal, Sony, BBC, MrBeast, Groupe M6 & Berlin International Film Festival.

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NEWS

Netflix Data Dump Includes Fool Me Once and Baby Reindeer

Netflix’s latest data reveals British dominance in TV series for the first half 2024. Harlan Coben’s Fool Me Once led with over 100 million views, followed by Bridgerton Season 3 at 91.9 million. Other British hits included Baby Reindeer and The Gentlemen. The top U.S. series was Avatar: The Last Airbender, with 71.1 million views. British shows accounted for over half the top 10, amassing around 400 million views. Read More

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Seven Issues Endemol Shine Legal Letter Over Big Brother Hold Back

Big Brother's return in 2025 sparked controversy behind the scenes. Seven Network, holding a “hold back” on the format until mid-2025, was surprised when Network 10 announced the show’s return with new host Mel Tracina for Q4 2025. Seven sent a legal letter to Endemol Shine Australia, questioning rights and timing. Despite no accusations of wrongdoing, the dispute over production rights, worth $20 million, has raised industry concerns. Read More

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Amazon Joins Motion Picture Association

Amazon has joined the Motion Picture Association (MPA), Hollywood’s top lobbying group, becoming the newest member since Netflix in 2019. This move, which includes Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios, aims to enhance policymaking and content protection efforts. Other MPA members include Disney, Paramount, Sony, Universal, and Warner Bros. Read More

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INSIGHTS

When Emily Met Andrew

​A Very Royal Scandal, a Prime Video miniseries, delves into Emily Maitlis's infamous 2019 interview with Prince Andrew about his ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Starring Ruth Wilson and Michael Sheen, the three-part series focuses on the lead-up, interview, and aftermath, revealing the dramatic fallout for Andrew, including losing his royal titles. This follows Netflix's Scoop, but Amazon's adaptation promises deeper insights into the story and its key figures. Read More

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Who will really run Paramount?

The deal to position Skydance chief David Ellison as chairman and CEO of Paramount Global is a complex web of trusts and transactions, with control still in question. David, 41, will run Paramount independently, but his father, Larry Ellison, owns the controlling shares. While Larry is expected to remain focused on Oracle, his influence could loom if David struggles. Despite David’s independence, industry experts doubt Larry would relinquish control entirely, given his history of involvement in family ventures. Read More

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Is TIFF ready to replace the AFM as North America's indie film bazaar?

Compared to previous years, business at TIFF 2024, which concluded on September 15, was average. Paramount secured worldwide rights for September 5, a newsroom thriller on the 1972 Munich Olympics, while A24 acquired The Brutalist. Hulu picked up Nutcrackers, a family comedy starring Ben Stiller. Despite a few indie pickups, major films like The Life of Chuck and Eden were still seeking deals, highlighting a slower-than-expected market ahead of TIFF’s planned 2026 film market launch. Read More

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Javier Bardem and Ryan Murphy Collaborate for Monsters on Netflix

Javier Bardem makes his TV series debut in Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story as José Menendez, the real-life murder victim accused of abuse by his imprisoned sons. Bardem expressed excitement about working with co-creator Ryan Murphy, having admired the first season of Monster, which focused on Jeffrey Dahmer. Bardem praised Murphy for being "loving, caring, generous, and inspiring" during their previous collaboration on Eat, Pray, Love. Read More

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Theatre Owners to Invest $2 Billion to Upgrade Cinemas

The eight largest theatre chains in the U.S. and Canada announced a $2.2 billion investment to upgrade over 21,000 screens in the next three years. Improvements will include enhanced sound, projection, dining experiences, and even attractions like pickleball and ziplines at select locations. Michael O'Leary, CEO of the National Association of Theatre Owners, expressed optimism about rising audience numbers despite challenges from the pandemic and Hollywood strikes, as theatres aim to address concerns about cleanliness and outdated facilities. Read More

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WME Co-Chairmen Muirhead and Weitz Discuss the Future

Two years after being promoted to Co-Chairmen of WME, Christian Muirhead and Richard Weitz discussed the future of entertainment, including AI, streaming, and FAST channels like Tubi. At the FT’s Business of Entertainment conference, Muirhead expressed confidence in art's power despite industry challenges. They acknowledged the turbulence of the pandemic and strikes but emphasised opportunities for their clients. Weitz highlighted the creative potential of AI, referencing Seth MacFarlane’s Family Guy origins and South Park's success from a video card. Read More

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Laurene Voilliot on Expanding International Collaborations

French distributor Only Distrib, known for its science, green, lifestyle, and educational programs, has expanded its catalogue by adding Portuguese titles like Left to Their Own from SIC, a series about kidnappings in 1970s-80s Portugal, and Dreamia’s lifestyle show Raízes. Additionally, Only Distrib collaborates with Chilean Cabala Producciones on titles like Doctor Cerebro and Misión Ciencia. Head of Sales, Laurene Voilliot, focused on partnering with international producers to explore new narratives and genres. Read More

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Three River Fiction’s Benjamin McGrath Talks 'Dead Buried' and Drama Finance Complexities

Benjamin McGrath, head of drama at Three River Fiction, discusses the psychological drama Dead & Buried and how its BBC/Virgin Media co-commission and multifaceted financing reflect a growing industry trend. The four-part series was produced with partners from Ireland, including Vico Films, and involved Virgin Media, BBC Northern Ireland, and others. McGrath highlighted that co-productions will become more common due to economic challenges. Dead & Buried, written by Colin Bateman, is a case study for successful international collaboration in TV production. Read More

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PBS’s Deadlock TV News Docuseries

PBS's newest political drama, Deadlock, is set to deliver a more intense experience than 24 and more intellectual than The West Wing. Hosted by UC Davis law professor Aaron Tang, the show brings together government officials, political strategists, and media figures, including Jeh C. Johnson, Kris Kobach, Scott Pelley, Dr. Rachel Bitecofer, and Dr. Eddie S. Glaude, Jr. Set on a tense Election Night, the panellists navigate the real-time fallout from a presidential election riddled with misinformation, legal challenges, and protests. Filmed live, the show emphasises the importance of discussion and compromise over divisive political tactics. Read More

EXECUTIVE MOVES

Warner Bros. Discovery Adds Daniel E. Sanchez to Board of Directors

Daniel E. Sanchez will join Warner Bros. Discovery’s board of directors on October 1,