Karyn Kusama's Dracula Movie Killed Weeks Before Production

►Cruel blow. Karyn Kusama's Dracula movie for Blumhouse and Miramax is dead. The film, titled Mina Harker, was supposed to go into production next month but was killed after Miramax pulled out at the eleventh hour. The project would have starred Blindspotting star Jasmine Cephas Jones as the title character, who meets Dracula in modern day Los Angeles. The story.  

—Ascending the throne. Joe Kahn will become the executive editor of The New York Times, succeeding Dean Baquet, who will be stepping down from the role after eight years leading the newsroom. Kahn will start in his new role on June 14. Baquet, meanwhile, will remain with the Times in a new role to be announced soon. The story. 

—Block head. Aquaman and Dune star Jason Momoa is lining up another tentpole with Warner Bros. The actor is in final negotiations to star in the studio’s live-action Minecraft movie. Napoleon Dynamite filmmaker Jared Hess will direct the project, based on the popular video game. Warners has been developing a project based on the game for years, with Shawn Levy and Rob McElhenney among those who have been attached to direct. The story. 

—WTF. Malcolm Nance, a longtime MSNBC on-air terrorism and national security analyst, is now fighting Russians in Ukraine. Nance, a former naval intelligence officer, appeared on Joy Reid’s program Monday from a “secure location,” where he revealed that he had joined the “International Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine,” essentially a Ukrainian version of the French Foreign Legion. The story. \

—Big Mouth strikes again. Netflix has given an early season seven renewal for Big Mouth and picked up its spinoff, Human Resources, for a second. The upcoming sixth cycle of Big Mouth was the last of its three-season pickup from back in 2019. Series creators Nick Kroll, Andrew Goldberg, Mark Levin and Jennifer Flackett all have an overall pact with the streamer. The story. 

—Stellar names. Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight section has unveiled the full lineup for its 54th edition, set to run May 18-27. Among the 2022 highlights are Enys Men from Brit director Mark Jenkin; One Fine Morning, the latest drama from French director Mia Hansen-Løve; Paris Memories by Alice Winocour; and Men from Alex Garland, which will get a special screening at Directors’ Fortnight this year. The story. 

Theater Owners Chief on B.O. Recovery and a Jam-Packed Summer Slate

►"We’re very happy with where things are looking." Ahead of CinemaCon 2022 next week, THR's Pamela McClintock spoke to National Association of Theatre Owners president John Fithian about the state of the theatrical industry. The ever-frank Fithian gave his thoughts on why studios are returning to an exclusive run in cinemas as the pandemic wanes, and the waning influence of the Oscars on box office. The interview. 

—Prestige followup. Candyman filmmaker Nia DaCosta has set her next movie with MGM’s adaptation of Ta-Nehisi Coates’ best-seller The Water Dancer. Coates penned the screenplay, which follows Young Hiram Walker, who is born into bondage, loses his mother as a child and eventually loses all memory of her. The project will be produced by Maceo-Lyn and Plan B, as well as Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Films. The story.

—Never say never. Paramount is making a movie adaptation of Jessica Townsend's YA fantasy book Nevermoor. The Greatest Showman helmer Michael Gracey will direct and is creating original music for the film, which is being written by Drew Goddard (World War Z, The Martian). Nevermoor tells the story of Morrigan Crow, a girl born on the unluckiest day and blamed for all local misfortune. The story.

—Oh my days. Days of Our Lives will launch a second miniseries on Peacock — and bring along two beloved former stars of the daytime drama. The streamer has ordered a second installment of Days of Our Lives: Beyond Salem. The five-episode miniseries will run over a week beginning July 11. Kristian Alfonso and Peter Reckell will reprise their roles as Hope and Bo Brady, one of the show’s longest-enduring couples. The story.

—Sticking around. CBS has renewed the daytime show The Talk for a 13th season. All five hosts — Akbar Gbajabiamila, Amanda Kloots, Jerry O’Connell, Natalie Morales and Sheryl Underwood — are slated to return. Executive producers Heather Gray and Kristin Matthews will also stay with the show next season. The story.

'Saul' Boss Promises 'Breaking Bad' Returns Won't Be S6's Biggest Surprise

►"It seemed like the right thing to do." THR's Dan Fienberg spoke to Better Call Saul co-creator Peter Gould about the strategy of spoiling the reappearance of Walter (Bryan Cranston) and Jesse (Aaron Paul), as well as starting the final season without Gene from Omaha and the spoilers ahead. Warning spoilers. The interview.

—The long wait is almost over. Kendrick Lamar’s fifth studio album, Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, is set to release on May 13. The rapper tweeted out the album announcement in response to a February tweet from a user that read, “Kendrick Lamar is officially retired.” The story. 

—Wrapped up. THR's Winston Cho reports that CBS shareholders who claim they were lied to about how the company handles sexual misconduct and lost money when harassment claims surfaced against ousted CEO Leslie Moonves have accepted a $14.75 million payout to resolve a securities class action. Moonves left CBS in 2018 after more than a dozen women accused him of sexual harassment. He’s denied the allegations. The story. 

—"It’s not only ‘Is this material good?" It's hard to fathom but Julia Roberts hasn't starred in a rom-com in 20 years. In an NYT interview, the Notting Hill star explained why it's been years since she's last starred in a rom-com amid her return to leading a rom-com with Ticket to Paradise. The story. 

—Worthy subject. How to Make It in America star Bryan Greenberg is making his directorial debut with the opioid drama Junction. The film about Big Pharma and its impact on American health care, which Greenberg also wrote and stars in, has an ensemble cast led by One Tree Hill stars Sophia Bush and Hilarie Burton, Jamie Chung, Michaela Conlin and Hill Harper. The story.

TV Review: 'Barry' S3 

►"Zanier and more tormented than ever before." THR's chief TV critic Dan Fienberg reviews the third season of HBO's Barry. Bill Hader and Alec Berg's hitman comedy continues to exude confidence in its story of Hollywood dreams, international drug cartels and hope for second chances. The story. 

—"Skin-deep." THR critic Lovia Gyarkye reviews Netflix’s White Hot: The Rise & Fall of Abercrombie & Fitch. Alison Klayman’s documentary surveys the popularity and ruin of the once coveted “all-American” brand. The review. 

In other news...

—Thor: Love and Thunder drops first hilarious, stylish trailer

—Ramon Rodriguez to lead ABC’s Will Trent drama

—Paramount makes Nickelodeon content available for Ukrainian refugees in Europe

—Rams coach Sean McVay buys $14 million Hidden Hills mansion

—Mac Miller drug supplier sentenced to 10-plus years in prison

—Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga features great nod to Rick Moranis’ villain in Spaceballs

—DJ Kay Slay dies after long COVID-19 battle

—Catherine Spaak, leading lady of Italian films, dies at 77

What else we're reading...

—Asian Americans fear anti-China rhetoric will be weaponized in midterms [Axios]

—Newly-minted Death Row Records owner Snoop Dogg explains why he pulled the label's music from streaming [Billboard]

—Depressing but interesting read: "BA.2 proves the pandemic isn’t over, but people are over it" [WSJ]

—Elisabeth Egan's great profile of Jennifer Grey [NYT]

—Johnny Depp stans are flooding TikTok with supportive messages, Fran Hoepfner finds out why Gen Z is so pro-Depp [Gawker]

Today...  

Today's birthdays: Simu Liu (33), Hayden Christensen (41), Ashley Judd (54), Tim Curry (76), Kate Hudson (43), Ali Wong (40), Jennifer Taylor (50), Oksana Akinshina (35), Tony Plana (70), Shannon Lee (53), Tim Ransom (59), Michael Dowse (49), Ruby Wax (69), Ge You (65), Catalina Sandino Moreno (41), Victoria Yeates (39),  Kelen Coleman (38), Harry McEntire (32)