Why Local Language Remakes Are The Rage

►Why local language adaptations are the next round of remakes. Despite a recently announced wave of U.S. remakes of foreign films, the "much larger business" is in creating local-language adaptations as streamers court international subscribers, Scott Roxborough and Patrick Brzeski report.

--"[Look at] Instructions Not Included, the bilingual comedy from actor-director Eugenio Derbez, which grossed $46.1 million at the Mexican box office in 2013 and is still the most successful local movie of all time in the territory. While a planned U.S. remake is still working its way through the Hollywood system, the film, about a father who finds himself saddled with a daughter he didn’t know he had, has already been successfully remade in France (as Two Is a Family, starring Omar Sy), as well as in Turkey, Brazil and Korea, with versions for India, Indonesia and the Philippines in the works."

--“'Hollywood tends to overthink the process,' says Derbez, explaining why the international versions of his film have been first out of the gate. 'Everyone is so scared of making mistakes, of making a flop that they do a lot of focus groups, work and rework a story. By the time a remake is ready, the story has gotten old.'” The story.

►AT&T CEO John Stankey defended the telecom giant's purchase of WarnerMedia, and its spinoff with Discovery. Speaking during the virtual J.P. Morgan Global Technology, Media and Communications Conference, Stankey said that AT&T found that “our distribution muscle helps the media assets that we have,” arguing that “HBO Max would not be where it is today if not for the strength of the two combined companies.”

--But in the streaming age “what’s become clear is that the opportunity for direct relationships with customers is truly going to be a global opportunity,” while most of AT&T’s connectivity focus is on the U.S. So AT&T concluded that it was “time to unleash the media assets” to let them go after a multi-hundred million subscriber opportunity via the merger with Discovery, which has global reach. He called the deal “really attractive,” saying it would create synergies that can “fund this growth” with a “deeper content library.” The story.

+In related news, here's a tweet from WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar: "Last week’s episode was intense and gut wrenching, with a twist no one saw coming. In other news, Mare of Easttown is back this evening. :)"

AN 'SNL' Exodus?

►Is Saturday Night Live about to see a wave of high-profile cast departures? SNL kicked off its Season 46 finale with a cold open that remembered the “unusual circumstances” of the past year amid COVID-19. Instead of a sketch, the cast members gathered together and recalled memories from the early months during the outbreak. “This year was crazy,” remarked Aidy Bryant at the top of the segment. “So crazy it made a lot of us crazy,” said Cecily Strong.

--The emotional segment, which saw Bryant, Strong and McKinnon fighting back their emotions (and a Weekend Update segment in which Pete Davidson said "it has been an honor to grow up in front of you guys") fueled speculation that the veteran cast members would not return next season. More from the season finale.

+In other late night news: CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will return to The Ed Sullivan Theater on Broadway on June 14, the network said Monday morning. All guests of the show will need to require proof that they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and face masks will be optional for those in the crowd. As a former Broadway theater with a capacity of over 400, The Ed Sullivan Theater hosts the live largest audience for any late night show. More.

►BBC Diana interview fallout continues: The BBC has described the recent fallout from the scandal that has erupted over its landmark 1995 Princess Diana interview a “profoundly sobering period” and has vowed to closely examine its editorial practices.--In a lengthy statement made Monday, just four days after an investigation led by Lord Dyson into Martin Bashir’s Panorama interview with the Princess found that the broadcaster “fell short of the high standards of integrity and transparency which are its hallmark,” the BBC said it accepted the report’s findings in full and “reiterate the apology we have offered to all those affected by the failings identified.”  The story.

►Box office: Universal’s high-octane action pic F9 has started its engines at the box office with a huge $162.4 million from a handful eight foreign markets, including $135.6 million from China alone. The latest installment in the Fast & Furious installment also debuted in South Korea, Russia, Hong Kong, Russia and the Middle East, all markets where moviegoing has rebounded from the COVID-19 crisis.

--“It shows us that audiences are willing to come back when the right movie is available,” says Veronika Kwan Vandenberg, Universal’s president of international distribution. More.

Billboard Music Awards Winners

►Billboard Music Awards: The Weeknd was the big winner at Sunday night’s Billboard Music Awards, taking home top artist honors. The Weeknd also took home seven awards in several categories that were announced off-air prior to Sunday’s live telecast on NBC. The singer was named top male artist, top radio songs artist, top R&B artist and top R&B male artist. In addition, After Hours was named top R&B album, while his single “Blinding Lights” won for top radio song and top R&B song.

--DJ Khaled ft. H.E.R. and Migos kicked off the 2021 Billboard Music Awards on an outdoor stage in downtown Los Angeles on Sunday night with scores of fans in attendance. The high-energy performance kicked off what BBMA host Nick Jonas told THR last week would be an in-person ceremony following all pandemic safety protocols, with about 500-600 attendees — which, it should be noted, is seemingly one of the largest audiences for a Hollywood awards show amid the pandemic thus far that features regular attendees (the Golden Globes audience was filled with healthcare workers, while the Grammys and Oscars kept invitations to industry folks). The recap and winners.

+The red carpet: "More than one musician mentioned on Sunday night’s Billboard Music Awards black carpet that they were thrilled to be out of the house and at an event, and that showed in their style choices as well, with many presenters and nominees choosing colorful looks that felt downright celebratory," Laurie Brookins writes. More.

►Kevin Spacey will appear in his first film following his sexual assault and misconduct allegations. ABC News reported Sunday that the actor will appear in the Italian film L’uomo Che Disegno Dio, translated as The Man Who Drew God. The film will be directed by Franco Nero and will shoot in Italy. Vanessa Redgrave will also star in the film. “I’m very happy Kevin agreed to participate in my film,” Nero told ABC News. “I consider him a great actor and I can’t wait to start the movie.” More.

►CNN has dropped senior political commentator Rick Santorum. A network spokesperson did not offer any specifics on the contract termination other than the split was official. Santorum, whose title at CNN was senior political commentator and who has been on the cabler’s payroll as a political contributor since 2017, had been a guest and analyst throughout the presidential campaign and 2020 general election.

--The former Republican senator had come under heavy criticism after he made several controversial comments about Native Americans in late April at the Fight for Religious Freedom seminar, where he said pilgrims created a “blank slate” from “nothing.” The story.

In other news...

--Here's the first trailer for Marvel's Eternals.

--Buddy Club Productions, the U.K. banner co-founded by triple BAFTA nominee Keeley Hawes, the British TV favorite and Bodyguard star recently seen in It’s A Sin, Misbehaviour and Rebecca, is developing a new drama series about the tragic 1999 London nail bombings.

--Zack and Deborah Snyder say that it cost millions of dollars to scrub Chris D’Elia from Army of the Dead and add Tig Notaro to the ensemble.

--Move over sequins, disco beats and power ballads. A four-piece band of Italian rockers won the Eurovision Song Contest in the early hours of Sunday.

--Kyra Sedgwick and Kevin Bacon were honored as allies to the LGBTQ community during Saturday night’s Point Honors New York virtual gala.

What else we're reading...

--"It’s the media’s ‘mean-too’ moment. Stop yelling and go to human resources" [N.Y. Times]

--"How Ted Lasso conquered the world" [Vanity Fair]

--"Nearly 150 arrested after TikTok birthday invite draws raucus crowd to Huntington Beach" [L.A. Times]

--"What now for Xandr?" [AdWeek]

--"Twitch launches a dedicated ‘hot tubs’ category after advertiser pushback" [The Verge]

Today's birthdays: Bob Dylan, 80, Patti LaBelle, 77, John C. Reilly, 56, Kristin Scott Thomas, 61, G-Eazy, 32.