Netflix Protest Rally Draws Hundreds as Staffers Lead Walkout

►"We believe that this Company can and must do better." Hundreds of protesters arrived at Netflix’s Vine Street office on Wednesday morning for a rally to support the streamer’s trans employees, who began a virtual walkout to push back against Netflix co-CEO and chief content officer Ted Sarandos’ handling of Dave Chappelle’s latest comedy special, The Closer. 

The walkout coincided with a public rally, organized by the activist Ashlee Marie Preston, that relocated to Netflix’s office on Vine Street to accommodate more people. Joey Soloway, the creator of Transparent, said they wanted to see a trans person on Netflix’s board and described Chappelle’s transphobic comments in The Closer as "infinitely amplified gender violence." The story. 

—Costly Amazon exit. HBO and HBO Max finished Q3 with 45.2 million U.S. subscribers, down 1.8 million from the 47 million recorded as of the end of Q2 following its “strategic decision to remove the HBO subscription from Amazon Prime Channels,” WarnerMedia parent and telecom giant AT&T said on Thursday. Global HBO and HBO Max subscribers rose by 1.9 million to 69.4 million though from around 67.5 million in Q2. The results.

—"It’s really hard to understand apples-to-apples comparisons." On the eve of AT&T’s earnings, a number of WarnerMedia execs met with THR to discuss the company’s strategy in broad strokes. One key topic to emerge was viewership data, in light of Netflix's move to publish more information, with HBO Max executive vp and general manager Andy Forssell reaffirming that the company has no plans to follow suit. The story. 

—"This is what winning looks like." Leadership of Local 600, the International Cinematographers Guild, is urging its members to vote “yes” to ratify a tentative agreement between IATSE and studios. The deal was unveiled  Oct. 16 and early details of the agreement has caused some division. In a video message to members, Local 600 president John Lindley said "this contract will improve the lives of tens of thousands of IA members." The story. 

—First collaboration. Emily Blunt is joining Cillian Murphy in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, the Universal-produced biopic of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the theoretical physicist remembered as one of the fathers of the atom bomb. This is Blunt’s first project with Nolan. The story.

Ruby Rose: I Was Fired From 'Batwoman'  

Halle Berry on Conquering Self-Doubt to Direct First Film

►"It’s f***ing hard." Halle Berry was honored at the Elle Woman in Hollywood event on Wednesday and spoke about her career, her troubles with CAA and the challenges of directing her first film, the MMA drama Bruised, in which she also stars that debuts on Netflix on Nov. 24. The story. 

—Who holds attorney-client privilege is key. Leading up to a Nov. 12 hearing in Britney Spears' battle to end her conservatorship, THR's Ashley Cullins speaks to legal experts who anticipate that much of the activity will center on which documents must be turned over to the new temporary conservator of the estate. The story. 

—A true renegade. Jalaiah Harmon, the TikTok creator behind the viral Renegade dance, is the subject of a new docuseries from Togethxr, the media company founded by athletes Alex Morgan, Chloe Kim, Simone Manuel and Sue Bird. In the four-part series, I Am: Jalaiah, viewers get a peek into Harmon’s life after the frenzy of her Renegade fame. The story. 

—When you can't quit social media. Nine months after being kicked off social media for inciting the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection, Donald Trump said Wednesday he’s launching a new media company with its own social media platform. The former president, who has a long history of failed businesses, says he created Trump Media & Technology Group and the “TRUTH Social” app to rival Big Tech companies. The story. 

—"Swinging for the fences." Epic Games Publishing revealed Wednesday that Eyes Out and Spry Fox will become indie studio partners. Both companies will be offered complete IP ownership and creative freedom as they pursue projects for the gaming giant’s publishing division. The story. 

How New Superman Slogan Finally Lets Him Be a Man of Tomorrow  

►Evolution. Graeme McMillan looks at DC's decision to update Superman mission statement, with the slogan "Truth, Justice and a Better Tomorrow" unveiled during this weekend’s FanDome. Aside from the obvious global commercial advantages of dropping the "American Way," the addition of “A Better Tomorrow” is a sign of higher ambition and, if done right, a more meaningful direction for Superman. The analysis. 

—"A bland pastiche of YA horror tropes." THR critic Angie Han reviews The Girl in the Woods, the latest original drama from Peacock. Stefanie Scott stars as a teenage runaway shows up in a small Oregon town, claiming to be from a cult whose purpose is to protect humankind from the monsters that lie beyond a mysterious door in the forest. The review. 

—This Week in TV. THR's Rick Porter runs down the TV premieres, returns and specials over the next seven days. The things to look out for over the coming week include fifth and final season of Insecure and the 11th season of Curb Your Enthusiasm, both on HBO. There's the premiere of season four of The Last O.G. and Bravo's Below Deck is back. On streaming, the second seasons of Locke & Key and Sex, Love & Goop hit Netflix and Peacock debuts The Girl In the Woods. On NBC, The Blacklist begins its ninth season, first without former co-lead Megan Boone.  The full guide.

In other news...  

—Curb Your Enthusiasm cast and creators talk show’s future, tackling COVID-19 in season 11

—TV ratings: Bachelorette slides to premiere low

—Academy Museum to raise funds through sale of Pillar Award NFTs

—YouTube Streamy Awards: MrBeast leads with 7 nominations

—Dolph Lundgren, Scott Adkins and Ryan Kwanten to face off in action movie Section Eight

—The Marvels director Nia DaCosta on why Thanos’ snap was “all” Captain America’s fault

—BuzzFeed appoints Anjula Acharia to board of directors

—Guardians of the Galaxy star Alexis Rodney to lead dark Brit comedy Young Gun

—Freida Pinto reveals she secretly married fiancé Cory Tran

—Charlie Cox calls speculative Daredevil return a double-edged sword

—TikTok’s North Star Boys sign with WME

—Chernobyl producing studio moves into music space with investment in iconic London venue Koko

—RTL, Singtel launch European smart-ad group

What else we're reading...

—""They Didn’t Just Pick Us Up Off The Street!" Meet the Globally Derided Squid Game VIPs" [The Guardian]

—""It Seems Very Messy": The Golden Globes’ Comeback Is Off to a Confusing Start" [Vanity Fair]

—"Celebrities Are America's New Politicians" [Axios]

—"It’s Still Very, Very Good to Be Duran Duran" [Los Angeles Times]

—"Path to Metaverse Expected to Go Through Videogames" [Wall Street Journal]

Today... 

...in 1964, Warner Bros.' My Fair Lady held its premiere at the Criterion Theatre in New York. The film, said at the time to have the largest advance ticket sales of any movie in history, eventually went on to win eight Oscars at the 37th Academy Awards. The original review. 

Today's birthdays: Andrew Scott (45), Ken Watanabe (62), Catherine Hardwicke (66), Doja Cat (26), Louis Koo (51), Jeremy Miller (45), Amber Rose (38), Darius Khondji (66), Ashley Liao (20), Judy Sheindlin (79), Glen Powell (33), Kim Kardashian West (41), Charlotte Sullivan (38)