What's news: China plans to reopen its movie theaters within days ... Nick Cannon apologizes for anti-Semitic comments and will keep his role hosting Fox's Masked Singer ... Michelle Obama launches a podcast with Spotify ... UTA makes a deal with the Writers Guild, will other major agencies follow?  — Erik Hayden

 Nick Cannon Apologizes

Nick Cannon posted an apology message via Twitter on Wednesday after he received criticism for anti-Semitic language used in a recent podcast episode, Rick Porter writes: 

+ Cannon: "First and foremost I extend my deepest and most sincere apologies to my Jewish sisters and brothers for the hurtful and divisive words that came out of my mouth during my interview with Richard Griffin..." he wrote. 

+ Fox: "He is clear and remorseful that his words were wrong and lacked both understanding and context, and inadvertently promoted hate. This was important for us to observe. Nick has sincerely apologized..." the network said of The Masked Singer host, who will remain on the show. 

+ The host was dropped by ViacomCBS earlier this week after the podcast surfaced and received wide visibility. Full story.

Meanwhile...

► ViacomCBS says most staffers won't return to offices this year. Amid a rise in coronavirus cases, the media conglomerate is delaying its plans for the majority of its workers to return to offices until 2021.

► CBS, NAACP ink sprawling content partnership deal. As part of a new, multiple-year agreement, CBS TV Studios and the organization will team to develop content for linear and streaming platforms. Details.

► Fox 21 TV inks deal with Dave Kajganich. The scribe, who wrote 2018's Suspiria and developed The Terror at AMC, will develop projects across platforms at the studio.

► AMC boards Spanish thriller from The Others director. Alejandro Amenábar will helm all episodes of The Treasure of the Black Swan, partnering with Spain's Movistar+. Filming this summer. 

► Lionsgate U.K. CEO to step down. Zygi Kamasa is leaving as the longtime chief of the studio to pursue a new film and TV business opportunity in the next few months.

► J.J. Abrams' Bad Robot Games hires CEO. Anna Sweet, who was formerly part of the team at software company Valve, will work alongside president Dave Baronoff to expand the studio's gaming footprint.

Surviving Joe Exotic doc airing on Animal Planet. Following the Netflix series, the doc is set to tell the stories of the animals at the center of Joe Exotic's big cat breeding business. Premieres July 25. 

 China's Cinemas to Reopen July 20

New plan: Movie theaters in the world's second-biggest theatrical film market were given the official greenlight Thursday to resume business this month, Patrick Brzeski reports: 

+ Details: The Film Administration's directive says that theaters in areas at "low-risk" for coronavirus infection will be permitted to "resume business July 20 in an orderly manner," but multiplexes in "middle and high-risk regions must remain temporarily closed."

+ "Epidemic control measures" must be followed by all cinemas that resume business. The strictness of the safety measures suggests that China's battered exhibition sector could be slow to bounce back even if demand from the public proves high. Unclear which films will be shown. 

+ On the same day the directive arrived, Imax Corp. has signed a 20-theater deal with Chinese industry giant Wanda Film Co. to expand their longstanding agreement.

Agents vs. writers standoff...

 UTA reaches deal with Writers Guild. The agency breaking ranks could be the beginning of the end of the battle between the guild and major talent agencies, Jonathan Handel notes:

+ The agreement, although a compromise in certain aspects, marks a victory for the WGA that may presage an end to the ongoing battle between the guild and the major agencies. WME, CAA and UTA remain locked in federal litigation against the guild, with both sides asserting antitrust claims against the other.

+ All eyes are now likely to turn to ICM Partners, which is not in litigation with the guild and has no affiliated production entity. Full story.

Film deals...

► Apple lands Justin Timberlake drama. Palmer, in which Timberlake will play a former college football player, will be directed by Fisher Stevens from a script by Cheryl Guerriero. The cast.

► Netflix plans biopic on globe-circling sailor... The film, to be directed by Sarah Spillane, is a family feature about Jessica Watson, who became the youngest person to sail solo around the world in 2009. Details.

+ ... and picks up animated feature Bombay Rose. The film is the first Indian animated feature selected to open Venice Critics Week. Writer-director Gitanjali Rao is behind the feature that was painted frame by frame.

 Quoted: "We are less certain that studios will wait for the perfect date to release their films - as that perfect date may never arrive." — B. Riley FBR analyst Eric Wold.

► Paramount Animation plans book adaptation with Henry Golding. Carlos Baena, a Pixar animator who worked on Toy Story 3, is making his feature debut with The Tiger’s Apprentice starring the actor. Details. 

► Miramax backs Fletch reboot with Jon Hamm. The Mad Men star will lead a film directed by Greg Mottola that's a revival of Chevy Chase's 1985 comedy thriller based on Gregory McDonald's mystery novels.

► Universal, Mattel plot Wishbone movie. Oscar-winner Peter Farrelly is set to produce the movie based on the popular '90s PBS series. Roy Parker, who was featured on the 2019 Black List, will write the script.

► Constantin backs Just Cause game adaptation. Michael Dowse, who directed Stuber, is helming the film written by Derek Kolstad, the John Wick creator, who is also producing. Few plot details.

Update...

+ Disney World fully reopens to crowds ... as Florida surpasses 300K coronavirus cases. According to social media posts and Disney World's official app, locations in the park were busy, with some attractions' wait times exceeding an hour.

+ Disney analyst cuts stock. Cowen analyst Doug Creutz reduced his stock price target from $101 to $97, and wrote on Thursday: "With the spread of COVID-19 having accelerated in the U.S., we expect a prolonged impact." Full story.

 In THR, Esq: MSNBC host Joy Reid faces revived libel claim. The case involves a Trump backer who sued after the newly promoted anchor retweeted an activist who had posted a picture of the supporter at a city council meeting. Details.

 Michelle Obama to Host Podcast

New interview show: The former first lady is stepping into the role of podcast host, Natalie Jarvey writes:

► The show marks the first in a multiyear partnership between Spotify and the audio arm of Higher Ground, the production company that was founded by Michelle and Barack Obama.

► Spotify’s 2019 podcasting pact with the Obamas signaled the scope of the music company’s ambitions in audio. The company, which has 286 million monthly active users, has spent upwards of $500 million to acquire podcast studios and bring top talent exclusively to its platform. Premieres July 29.

 Power Dining: L.A.'s restaurants embracing innovation. Osteria Mozza, Republique and Spago are among the Hollywood favorites creating dining spaces in their parking lots, alleys and sidewalks.

What else we're reading...

— "Netflix Is Rewriting the Summer Blockbuster." Lucas Shaw asks: "The service says 85 million people saw Spenser Confidential. If action movies can work outside the theater, can everything else?" [Bloomberg]

— "TikTok Enlists Army of Lobbyists." A four-byline report: The social media app is aiming "to counter several potential actions in Washington that could threaten the company’s future." [New York Times]

— "Desus and Mero Have Conquered Comedy." Carrie Battan's interview: "The duo on transforming TV, dealing with cops, and how to be funny without being a jerk." [New Yorker]

— "Streaming advertising’s tipping point." Tim Peterson writes: "The leveling of the streaming playing field between TV networks and digital platforms will lead to streaming accounting for a larger slice of ad dollars." [Digiday]

— "Hollywood Stays Away From Facebook Ad Boycott." Brooks Barnes and Nicole Sperling note: "The entertainment business is a big advertiser but has been noticeably silent as other industries protest the social network’s handling of hate speech." [New York Times]

From the archives...

+ Today in 1993: Disney brought the witchcraft feature Hocus Pocus to the big screen — "It's a veritable bagful of box office treats." Flashback review.

Today's birthdays: Jason Clarke, 51, Beth Littleford, 52, Alex Winter, 55, Mark Burnett, 59, David Hasselhoff, 68, Donald Sutherland, 85.