Today In Entertainment

NOVEMBER 18, 2020

What's news: The rise of Lakeith Stanfield, why Universal is breaking (theatrical) windows, CAA asks judge to end writers boycott, Secretary Steven Mnuchin's former firm surfaces in Charlotte Kirk filing, Conan O'Brien to exit late night after 28 years, Susan Rovner sets her NBCU executive team, the challenges of launching a "Trump TV." Plus: THR's Next Gen 2020 list, and Uno is being turned into a TV series. --Alex Weprin

 The Tao of Lakeith Stanfield

On the cover: An ascendant actor on forging his own path. Atlanta and Get Out star Lakeith Stanfield has emerged as one of Hollywood’s most sought-after young talents through a mix of irreverence, empathy (for villains and Trumpers alike) and a relentless focus: "If I have to read one line 1,500 times, then I do that."

--"It was clear from the start that he meant business," says his Short Term 12 co-star Rami Malek, who recalls the quiet, intense Stanfield sequestering himself from the cast for the duration of the shoot. Once, another star of the film, Brie Larson, sat next to him at lunch. Stanfield — who wanted to maintain the alienation of his character — got up and moved to another table. Adds Malek, "He was unpredictable in the best way."

--His work on Atlanta led to Uncut Gems, in which he played a street-smart hustler who brings rich customers to Adam Sandler’s diamond merchant. Like the film itself, the shoot was tense and chaotic. There were no calls of "action" from its sibling directors, Josh and Benny Safdie. Rather, it was all action, all the time, as roving cameras captured the unfolding chaos. It was the perfect creative environment for Stanfield. Not formally trained, he is not what you’d call a Method actor. But he does employ an infinite number of methods to get into the right headspace.

"If that means I need to stay in character when the cameras aren’t rolling, then I will," he says. "If I have to read one line 1,500 times, then I do that. If I have to play a homeless man, I might need to go out there for a while." The cover story.

 Why Universal Wants To Break Windows

➤Behind Universal’s bold bet to shorten the theatrical window. In inking deals with exhibitors to send films to homes earlier in exchange for a slice of premium on-demand revenue, studio chief Donna Langley sees the result as "additive, not the opposite," Pamela McClintock reports.

--“I can’t tell you the number of times I leave a theater with my kids, having seen whatever great movie just came out, and because they don’t understand windows, they want to see it again immediately,” says Langley. “They want to go home and get to watch it. To be able to walk out of the theater and say, ‘You know what, we can see it in two or three weeks at home.’ I think it will drive a lot of transactions.” The story.

➤CAA wants judge to order immediate end to writers' boycott. A new motion for a preliminary injunction comes as the top talent agency says the Writers Guild refuses to take “yes” for an answer on affiliate production and packaging fees, Eriq Gardner writes.

--"CAA agents report (based on conversations with UTA agents) that UTA is now aggressively pitching former CAA writer-clients with the argument that the Guilds will 'never' franchise CAA, and that therefore clients must come to UTA in order to have an agent," states the preliminary injunction motion. CAA reports having at least 18 clients who, after firing CAA, signed up for representation from UTA. And 16 other former clients are reported to have joined other agencies. The story.

➤Steven Mnuchin’s former firm surfaces in Charlotte Kirk filing. As the actress challenges a settlement agreement with Hollywood power players, court documents show that the Treasury Secretary’s Dune Entertainment was added to a list of companies protected from liability.

--In response to queries from THR, Treasury spokesperson Monica Crowley said in an email that Mnuchin only learned of Kirk’s allegations against his former partners “when he read them in the press.” She says he was not involved in their settlement negotiations with Kirk. “Secretary Mnuchin was not represented in the settlement as he was not involved nor was he aware of any settlement discussions,” she said. The story.

+Related: Kirk spoke to LA Magazine, telling Benjamin Svetkey "You’re talking to me now, at 28. If you spoke to me when I was 19, when I first arrived in L.A., I was another person. I was socially awkward. It was hard for me to look people in the eye. And I was really trusting. Gullible and all of that. Unfortunately, I had to learn the hard way. And I made a few mistakes. I got hurt and betrayed. I’m skeptical now,” she adds coolly. “Very skeptical.”

+In other legal news: The latest version of a settlement that aims to bring an end to most claims against Harvey Weinstein from women who accuse him of sexual misconduct will be put before those accusers for a vote. More.

+Speaking of Weinstein: He has a fever and is being "closely monitored" by prison medical staff, his publicist says. The news comes amid reports that the disgraced former movie mogul and convicted rapist, who is currently serving a 23-year sentence at New York's Wende Correctional Facility, has tested positive for COVID-19. More.

 Conan Leaving Late Night

➤It's the end of an era in late night TV. Conan will come to an end next year, but Conan O'Brien isn't yet ready to retire. O'Brien's TBS late-night show will wrap in June 2021 after 10 seasons on the cable network. He'll then segue to a weekly variety series on HBO Max, which like TBS is owned by WarnerMedia. O'Brien won't be leaving TBS entirely: His Conan Without Borders travel specials will continue to air on TBS. The story.

In other TV news...

+Starz is developing a slate of shows about extraordinary women in history, with Eleanor of Aquitaine as the first subject. The premium cable outlet has acquired rights to two books about the 12th century monarch by best-selling author Alison Weir: the nonfiction Eleanor of Aquitaine: A Life and its companion novel, Captive Queen. More.

+One of the most popular card games in the world is getting the TV treatment. Mattel Television is teaming with Propagate founders Ben Silverman and Howard T. Owens to adapt Uno as a reality game show for television. A network is not yet attached as the project is currently in the development stage. More.

+Hulu is staying Woke. The Disney-backed streamer has renewed scripted comedy Woke for a second season consisting of eight new episodes. A return date has not yet been determined. More.

➤THR's Next Gen 2020 list: Meet the industry's next generation of power players as THR unveils its 27th annual list of breakouts who are minting stars, cutting nine-figure deals and ushering the industry into the future. The new crop of rising stars joins an esteemed list of Next Gen alumni that includes Marvel’s Kevin Feige, Disney’s Peter Rice, Endeavor’s Ari Emanuel and Crazy Rich Asians producer Nina Jacobson. But unlike the lists of years past, the 2020 installment is a reflection of a changing media landscape, with executives who specialize in, among other things, podcasting, video gaming, election awareness campaigns and, yes, TikTok stardom. The list.

+Next Gen Talent 2020: Meet the up-and-coming actors atop every Hollywood agent, casting director and studio executive's wish list. These 20 rising stars are fronting their own shows, ushering in the next generation of superheroes and playing icons like Princess Diana (Emma Corrin of Netflix’s The Crown) and President Barack Obama (Kingsley Ben-Adir of Showtime’s The Comey Rule). The list.

➤Jennifer Garner and Zoe Saldana are joining Ryan Reynolds in sci-fi action comedy The Adam Project for Netflix. Reynolds is re-teaming with Free Guy director Shawn Levy on the movie, which will be produced by Levy's 21 Laps, David Ellison's Skydance and Reynolds' Maximum Effort. Reynolds will star as a man who must travel back in time to get help from his 13-year-old self. Together, they encounter their late father, who is now the same age as Reynolds. More.

+Zachary Levi has nabbed a lead role in The Unbreakable Boy, with Jon Gunn directing for The Kingdom Story Company, the producers of I Can Only Imagine and I Still Believe, and Lionsgate. More.

➤Susan Rovner has installed her programming leaders at NBCUniversal. More than a month after making the leap from Warner Bros. TV to become chairman of entertainment content at NBCUniversal TV and streaming, Rovner has promoted from within the company and installed Lisa Katz to oversee scripted; Rod Aissa and Jenny Groom to run unscripted; Katie Hockmeyer as the guardian of late-night; Tracie Wilson to steer syndication; and Jen Neal to drive specials and live events. The story.

+Revolving door: Bill McGoldrick, the well-respected head of programming at Peacock, USA Network and Syfy, is leaving NBCUniversal as a result of the conglomerate's restructuring... AT&T CFO John Stephens is set to retire in March 2021 after 28 years with the telecom and media giant. WarnerMedia CFO Pascal Desroches has been tapped to succeed Stephens, effective April 1, 2021... Karlie Kloss, the model, digital content creator and philanthropist, has signed with UTA for representation... The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has welcomed seven new members to its Science and Technology Council...

➤Trump’s TV mogul dream: Playing out several paths. If Trump wants to start a "Trump TV" when he leaves office, the hill will be a steep one to climb, but it is possible. The combination of a loyal follower base and the fundraising machine he built as president could be potent. “A news channel would give him the ability to create his own programming and his own narrative. He’s living in his own universe,” says an unscripted entertainment executive who worked on The Apprentice. “All kinds of people would bankroll that. There was a lot of money behind that campaign.” The story.

➤CAA's Connect Ventures backs Black content startup Blacktag. The goal at Blacktag is to create a destination for alternative Black content that will attract advertiser interest and drive marketing spend to Black artists and storytellers. Founders Akin Adebowale and Ousman Sahko have lined up Insecure creator-star Issa Rae and musicians Common and Janelle Monae to help them with that mission by releasing original content on the platform. The story.

➤TV review: Daniel Fienberg reviews HBO Max's The Flight Attendant, writing that the show "is the TV equivalent of a beach read, pure and simple. Only what it accomplishes is actually not so simple; most shows of this type tend to get weighed down by the clumsiness of broadcast storytelling or the pretensions of cable prestige. The Flight Attendant seems happy to be enjoyed and disposed of." The review.

In other news...

--Pinewood Toronto Studios majority owner Bell Media has increased its stake in the marquee studio, while also taking a minority stake in Montreal's Grande Studios as it raises its bet on Hollywood continuing to film movies and TV series in Canada.

--A trade association has been formed to help streamers prep content for international markets. Netflix alum Chris Fetner will lead the new Entertainment Globalization Association.

--Hollywood director Quentin Tarantino has signed a two-book deal with Harper, to include his first novel and personal writings on 1970s-era film.

--For the first time ever, Twitter users can post missives that automatically disappear after 24 hours. The social network announced Tuesday that it is rolling out the ephemeral messages, called Fleets, to its 187 million daily active users.

--Filmmaker Zack Snyder has unveiled a new black and white trailer for his cut of Justice League, which will appear in four, one-hour episodes on HBO Max next year.

What else we're reading...

--"Trevor Noah is still trying to explain America to itself. It's getting harder." [GQ]

--"Trump administration cancels COVID-19 celebrity ad campaign" [Politico]

--"Al Franken is mounting a comeback from #MeToo exile" [The Daily Beast]

--"An oral history of how Alex Trebek became America’s most beloved game-show host" [Washington Post]

--"Sinclair exploring sale of RSN naming rights to betting companies" [Sportico]

Today's birthdays: Chloe Sevigny, 46, Owen Wilson, 52, Margaret Atwood, 81, Megyn Kelly, 50, Kim Wilde, 60.

Is this e-mail not displaying correctly?
View it in your browser. 

©2020 The Hollywood Reporter. 5700 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036 All rights reserved.

NOVEMBER 18, 2020

UNSUBSCRIBE 

MANAGE PREFERENCES

PRIVACY POLICY

TERMS OF USE