TV, Film & Media Industry International News Roundup, Weekend 14-15 December 2024
Nickel Boys wins big; WGA targets Village Roadshow; Quinn joins Beatles films; Atwell returns to Marvel; Reynolds’ Deadpool triumphs; Pixar’s new series; Barbie sequel buzz.
Today’s Highlights:
Nickel Boys Named Best Picture by AAFCA - Orion Pictures and Amazon MGM Studios’ Nickel Boys won Best Picture, with RaMell Ross taking Best Director. A24’s Sing Sing led with three wins, including Best Actor (Colman Domingo). Other winners include The Wild Robot (Best Animated Feature) and Hard Truths (Best Actress, Marianne Jean-Baptiste).
WGAW Stop Work Order Looms for Village Roadshow—The WGAW may issue a stop work order against Village Roadshow due to late payments to writers, which are linked to financial struggles with its stakeholder, Vine Alternative Investments.
Paramount Pays Unpaid Wages for Guy Ritchie Series Crew - Paramount and 101 Studios covered £250,000 owed to construction workers for Guy Ritchie’s untitled series after contractor Helix3D failed to pay.
Joseph Quinn Cast as George Harrison in Beatles Films - Joseph Quinn will portray George Harrison in Sam Mendes’ Beatles film series, joining Paul Mescal, Barry Keoghan, and Harris Dickinson as the other Beatles.
Hayley Atwell Returns as Peggy Carter in Avengers: Doomsday - Hayley Atwell will reprise her role as Peggy Carter in Avengers: Doomsday, directed by the Russo brothers, alongside Chris Evans as Steve Rogers.
Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool & Wolverine Success - Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool & Wolverine grossed $1.3 billion globally, solidifying the R-rated franchise. He continues balancing acting, producing, and entrepreneurship.
Pixar Launches First Streaming Series, Dream Productions - Pixar’s Dream Productions, a workplace comedy spinoff of Inside Out 2, debuts as the studio’s first long-form streaming series on Disney+.
The Uncertain Kingdom Fund to End—The Uncertain Kingdom Fund, a UK development fund that supports films like The Good Ones and Signs of Life, will close after six funding rounds.
Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach Develop Barbie Sequel Idea - Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach have drafted a story for a Barbie sequel, though Warner Bros. and Mattel deny formal development.
Jennifer Love Hewitt Returns for I Know What You Did Last Summer - Jennifer Love Hewitt joins Freddie Prinze Jr. in the sequel to I Know What You Did Last Summer, set for release in 2025.
Plus: News, Insights, Festivals & Markets, In Development, Deals, Renewals, Cancellations and Jobs with BBC, ITV, AMC, WBD & Disney.
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NEWS
Nickel Boys Named Best Picture by African American Film Critics Association
The African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) has awarded Best Picture of 2024 to Orion Pictures and Amazon MGM Studios’ Nickel Boys, with RaMell Ross winning Best Director for adapting Colson Whitehead’s novel. A24’s Sing Sing led with three wins, including Best Actor (Colman Domingo) and Best Supporting Actor (Clarence Maclin). Other winners include The Wild Robot (Best Animated Feature), The Piano Lesson (Best Ensemble), and Hard Truths (Best Actress, Marianne Jean-Baptiste). Read More
WGAW Imminent Stop Work Order for Village Roadshow Over Late Writer Payments
Village Roadshow is facing a WGAW stop work order due to delayed payments to writers on its film and TV projects, including titles from The Matrix and Mad Max franchises. The delays stem from financial issues with its majority stakeholder, Vine Alternative Investments, which is reportedly seeking a new stakeholder. Compounding challenges include ongoing arbitration with Warner Bros. over The Matrix Resurrections and recent staff cuts in October. Read More
WGA Pushes for Lawsuits Against AI Firms for IP Theft
The Writers Guild of America (WGA) has urged major Hollywood studios to sue AI firms for using copyrighted scripts and screenplays to train AI models without authorisation. In a letter to industry leaders, the WGA claims companies like Meta, Apple, and Nvidia exploited creative works to develop AI systems, violating writers’ rights. The WGA demands studios protect their intellectual property and take legal action as required under their 2023 agreement. Read More
UK Film Development Fund The Uncertain Kingdom to End
The UK feature development fund The Uncertain Kingdom will close after completing six funding rounds. Its final November 2024 awards will be announced in the new year, with ongoing support for existing projects, including The Good Ones, a midlife reorientation story by Coral Amiga and Nicole Hartley, and Signs of Life, a dark comedy by Pinny Grylls, co-directed with Rebecca Wolff and Julia Ton. Read More
Paramount and 101 Studios Resolve Unpaid Wages for Guy Ritchie Series Crew
Paramount and 101 Studios have stepped in to pay £250,000 ($316,000) owed to at least 50 construction workers who built sets for Guy Ritchie’s upcoming gangster series, ensuring payments are made before Christmas. The issue arose after Helix3D, a contracted set construction firm now facing liquidation, failed to compensate workers despite receiving funds from Paramount and 101. The untitled series stars Tom Hardy, Helen Mirren, and Pierce Brosnan. Read More
Producers Guild of America Announces 2025 PGA Awards Nominees
The Producers Guild of America (PGA) has unveiled children’s, short-form, sports, and documentary nominees for its 2025 PGA Awards. The awards ceremony is scheduled for February 8, 2025, at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles. Additional theatrical films, animated features, and television nominations will be announced on January 10. Highlights include Chris Meledandri receiving the David O. Selznick Achievement Award and Dana Walden being honoured with the Milestone Award. Read More
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INSIGHTS
Tom Burke and Holliday Grainger Return for Strike – The Ink Black Heart
Tom Burke and Holliday Grainger reprise their roles as private detectives Cormoran Strike and Robin Ellacott in Strike – The Ink Black Heart, the sixth instalment of the BBC drama based on J.K. Rowling’s crime novels. Premiering as a four-part miniseries on BBC One and iPlayer, the duo tackle one of their toughest cases yet, with both actors diving deep into the novel to inform their performances. Read More
AI Creative Summit: BBC, ITN, and Channel 4 Embrace AI Integration
At the AI Creative Summit, executives from BBC, ITN, and Channel 4 shared their strategies for integrating generative AI into their workflows. Channel 4's Grace Boswood highlighted AI's potential to enhance personalisation and efficiency, emphasising collaboration with partners like Charismatic AI. The BBC’s Danijela Horak showcased projects such as automated content rewriting and deepfake detection tools, ensuring AI aligns with its values. ITN’s Jon Roberts discussed AI-driven transcription platforms and live production tools, underscoring the challenges of transitioning from experiments to full-scale deployment. Read More
Celebrity Documentaries Command High Prices Despite Waning Star Power
Celebrity documentaries continue to fetch high prices, with Apple TV paying $27 million for Billie Eilish’s doc and Disney investing $32 million in Elton John: Never Too Late. Upcoming features include Beatles ’64 and a PBS tribute to Leonardo da Vinci. While stars like Martha Stewart critique directors, Sheila Nevins questions whether star involvement compromises authenticity. Despite growing doc demand, traditional celebrity interviews and promotional circuits are increasingly sidelined in favour of streaming releases. Read More
The Tonight Show Adapts for the TikTok Era with Nostalgia and Social Reach
NBC's The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon is reinventing itself for the TikTok generation by combining nostalgia with targeted social media strategies. Digital-only sketches, such as Lindsay Lohan reprising The Parent Trap and Mean Girls roles, have amassed millions of views, tapping into fan bases and cultural moments. With over 100 million followers across platforms and 8.3 billion social video views in the past year, the show leverages social reach to attract younger audiences while continuing traditional broadcast appeal. Read More
The Remarkable Life of Ibelin Explores a Virtual Legacy
In his Oscar-contending Netflix documentary The Remarkable Life of Ibelin, filmmaker Benjamin Ree examines the life of Mats Steen, a Norwegian man with Duchenne muscular dystrophy who found freedom and connection in the online game World of Warcraft. Through his avatar, Ibelin, Mats built friendships and inspired others, a vibrant virtual life his parents only discovered after his passing at 25. Ree draws on literary dramaturgy to craft this deeply moving narrative. Read More
Pixar Launches First Long-Form Streaming Series Dream Productions on Disney+
Pixar’s Dream Productions, a four-episode spinoff of Inside Out 2, marks the studio’s first long-form streaming series for Disney+. Set in the dream studio creating Riley's dreams, the Christopher Guest-style workplace comedy follows Paula Persimmon (voiced by Paula Pell) navigating creative pressures under studio head Maya Rudolph. Riding the success of Inside Out 2 ($1.7 billion globally), Dream Productions expands Pixar's storytelling on a larger streaming canvas. Read More
Navigating the Acting Industry’s Challenges and Finding Opportunity
The acting industry faces a crisis in cultivating stars, with challenges in developing new talent pipelines and changing industry dynamics. While turning back time isn’t an option, opportunities still exist amid the disruption. Casting director Felicia Fasano and actress Anna Lamadrid offer guidance on thriving in today’s landscape, emphasising adaptability, financial stability, and proactive management of agents to seize opportunities and redefine success in a transforming industry. Read More
Ryan Reynolds Reflects on Multifaceted Career and Deadpool & Wolverine Success
Ryan Reynolds, named THR’s Producer of the Year, continues to juggle roles as an actor, producer, and entrepreneur. After reviving Deadpool with bold marketing and becoming a business mogul with ventures like Aviation Gin and Mint Mobile, Reynolds achieved a new milestone with Deadpool & Wolverine, earning $1.3 billion globally in 2024. Known for his relentless work ethic, Reynolds collaborates closely with Marvel and director Shawn Levy, shaping Hollywood’s most successful R-rated franchise while eyeing future projects like Boy Band. Read More
German Directors Urge Politicians to Pass Film Law Amid Industry Crisis
Leading German filmmakers Volker Schlöndorff, Tom Tykwer, and Wim Wenders have issued a plea to lawmakers, warning that delays in adopting the new German Film Law (FFG) could devastate the local film industry. They highlight competitive disadvantages driving productions to other European countries with better tax incentives, leaving studios empty and risking 100,000 jobs. They urge the Bundestag to pass the law on December 19 to ensure the German Federal Film Board (FFA) can continue operations and support the industry in 2025. Read More
The Evolving Role of Stardom in Hollywood’s Actor Crisis
Today’s top actors, from Florence Pugh and Jenna Ortega to Ryan Reynolds and Margot Robbie, follow familiar trajectories of breakout roles and endorsements. Yet, with branding and side ventures dominating careers, actual acting roles often take a back seat. Examples like Timothée Chalamet’s Dune and A Complete Unknown highlight the rare stars who balance blockbuster appeal with artistic recognition. Read More
Maura Delpero’s Vermiglio Won Silver Lion and Represents Italy in Oscar Race
Maura Delpero’s Vermiglio, a World War II drama set in the Italian Alps, has won the Silver Lion at the 2024 Venice Film Festival and is Italy’s entry for the 2025 Best International Feature Film Oscar. The film follows two sisters vying for the attention of a Sicilian stranger during wartime. Delpero cast unknown actresses Martina Scrinzi and Rachele Potrich for their ability to embody the story’s themes of repression and societal disenfranchisement. Read More
Memoir of a Snail: Script Now Available
Memoir of a Snail, written and directed by Adam Elliot, showcases a stellar Australian voice cast, including Sarah Snook, Eric Bana, Jackie Weaver, and Kodi Smit-McPhee. Distributed by IFC Films, the stop-motion animated tragicomedy follows Grace Pudel (Snook), a misfit who finds solace in her connection with a garden snail named Sylvia. After losing her parents and being separated from her twin brother, Gilbert (Smit-McPhee), Grace navigates a life filled with grief, humour, and resilience. Praised at Annecy and BFI London, the film explores themes of loss and self-acceptance, earning Golden Globe and Critics Choice nominations. Read More
Wicked Movie: Script Available online
Deadline reveals the script for the live-action "Wicked" movie, adapted by Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox. The screenplay offers a fresh take on the beloved Broadway musical, with significant insights for fans and critics alike. Read More
Zendaya & Nicole Kidman | Actors on Actors
Zendaya ("Dune: Part Two" and "Challengers") and Nicole Kidman ("Babygirl") discuss shooting intimate scenes, the real-world desert locations used in "Dune," and how "Moulin Rouge" influenced "The Greatest Showman."
Steve McQueen and Edward Berger Interview Each Other on Blitz and Changing the Conclave Ending
"Blitz" director Steve McQueen and "Conclave" director Edward Berger bond over their mutual admiration for one another's work and talk about viewing film as art from a young age. Berger also reveals why he changed the "Conclave" ending after October 7, and McQueen unpacks a key shot from his seminal film "Hunger."
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