Reed Hastings on Why "It's Much Easier to Disrupt Entertainment Than Public Education"

►On the cover. THR's editorial director Nekesa Mumbi Moody spoke to Netflix co-CEO, and THR’s Philanthropist of the Year, Reed Hastings about the reasons behind his and his wife Patty Quillin's $120 million donation to HBCUs after the police murder of George Floyd. Hastings also reveals how his drive to put the streamer back on top stems in part from wanting to write bigger checks for charity: "I desperately want us to pull way ahead." The cover story.

—On to a winner. AMC has handed out a speedy second-season renewal for the drama series Dark Winds. The series, starring Zahn McClarnon and exec produced by Robert Redford and George R.R. Martin, debuted June 12 and has a rare 100 percent rating among critics on Rotten Tomatoes. Dark Winds will return next year for another six-episode season. The story. 

—Another big name. Léa Seydoux is in talks to be the latest star to board Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Two, joining fellow franchise newcomers Florence Pugh, Christopher Walken and Austin Butler. Seydoux will play Lady Margot Fenring, who in Frank Herbert’s novel is an ally to Paul and his efforts to avenge House Atreides. The story. 

—No regrets for WB. THR's Borys Kit has the scoop on Warner Bros. winning the bidding war for The Sundance Kid Might Have Some Regrets, a short story adaptation package that has Zoë Kravitz attached to star and produce. Written by Leyna Krow, the film is described as a redefining of the heist genre with a story centered on bank-robbing twins — one with supernatural powers and one without. The story.

—Greener pastures. Higher Ground, the production company founded by Barack and Michelle Obama, has struck an exclusive, multiyear first-look deal with Audible, marking a major win for the Amazon-owned audio company as it continues on a streak of production deals with high-profile talent in Hollywood. The move to Audible follows Higher Ground’s exit from its exclusive deal with Spotify. The story. 

Vegas Sports Betting Giants Roll the Dice on Hollywood Talent

►"It is the streaming wars version for casino operators." THR's Alex Weprin writes that as online gambling expands throughout the U.S., Caesars, DraftKings and FanDuel are spending big on entertainment deals in order to draw in more consumers. The analysis. 

—"Unnatural or abnormal sexual interest in a minor." Jurors at a civil trial found Tuesday that Bill Cosby sexually abused a 16-year-old girl at the Playboy Mansion in 1975. The Los Angeles County jury delivered the verdict in favor of Judy Huth, who is now 64, and awarded her $500,000. Jurors found that Cosby intentionally caused harmful sexual contact with Huth, that he reasonably believed she was under 18. The story. 

—"The show must go on." THR's Scott Feinberg spoke to the organizer of Allora Fest, the new Italian film festival that was rocked by the arrest of key collaborator Paul Haggis on a charge of sexual assault. Haggis helped to recruit a number of Hollywood A-listers to the event, and Edward Norton and Alfre Woodard honored their commitments to participate in master classes Tuesday. The story.

—"There’s a lot of shows and not as many people." In rapid succession, three longer-running Broadway shows — Dear Evan Hansen, Come From Away and Tina-the Tina Turner Musical — announced a fall closing, bringing to light the challenges the industry still faces after reopening. THR's Caitlin Huston looks at the trends behind the closures, among them a drop in tourism and greater competition for customers. The analysis. 

—Masques not masks. Caitlin also reports that masks will be optional for theatergoers attending Broadway shows in July. The Broadway League announced the move Tuesday, which removes the industry-wide mandate that has been in place since July 2021. That mandate is set to expire after June 30. While masks will not be mandated, the Broadway League is still encouraging audience members to wear them. The story. 

Naomi Osaka Launching Media Company With LeBron's SpringHill

►Flower bear FTW. Tennis superstar Naomi Osaka is getting into the entertainment business, launching a media company in partnership with LeBron James and Maverick Carter’s SpringHill Company. Osaka and her longtime agent and business partner Stuart Duguid are behind the production banner, which is called Hana Kuma, and it already has multiple projects lined up, including a doc series set at Epix with Osaka, James and Carter serving as exec producers. Osaka and Duguid also launched their own athlete representation banner in May. The story.

—Mach $900m. Top Gun: Maverick has become only the third Hollywood movie of the pandemic era to cross the $900m mark at the worldwide box office in the latest milestone for the Tom Cruise movie. The film achieved the feat on Monday after finishing the day with a domestic total of $474.8m and $427.1m overseas, for a global cume of $901.9m. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness has earned nearly $950m globally, while Spider-Man: No Way Home rests at nearly $1.9b worldwide. The story.

—Richly deserved. Beloved actor and Parkinson’s disease activist Michael J. Fox will be celebrated with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award while 13-time songwriting Oscar bridesmaid Diane Warren, six-time directing-writing Oscar runner-up Peter Weir and trailblazing Black director Euzhan Palcy will collect honorary Oscars at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ 13th Governors Awards on Nov. 19. The story.

—"It’s only fitting that it’s a pillar that she’s receiving, because she’s been that for so many." Janet Yang, the veteran Hollywood producer who has been described as “the godmother of Asian-Americans in the industry” was feted on Tuesday evening at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, where a pillar was dedicated and a dinner was held in her honor. The story.

—Back to (almost) normal. The 2022 edition of The Gotham Film & Media Institute’s Gotham Week is set to take place in person for the first time since 2019 from Sept. 17-23 at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. The move is the latest effort to return events to their pre-pandemic structures, but reflective of this new normal, there will still be some virtual programming and events. The story. 

TV Review: 'Loot'

►"A good premise and great ensemble, but oddly conventional." THR's chief TV critic Dan Fienberg reviews Apple TV+’s Loot. Forever creators Matt Hubbard and Alan Yang reunite with star Maya Rudolph for a comedy about a billionaire divorcee who turns her attentions from living well to doing good. The review. 

—"An often clever return." Dan reviews Paramount+'s Beavis and Butt-Head Do the Universe. Mike Judge's fire-loving, TV-obsessed juvenile delinquents face the 21st century in this feature-length opus. The review. 

—"A congenial comedy of manners." THR critic Lovia Gyarkye reviews Emma Holly Jones' Mr. Malcolm’s List. After being rejected by London’s most sought-after bachelor, a young woman conscripts her childhood friend to help get revenge on him in this period rom-com with a multiracial cast. The review.

—"An urgent and lyrical corrective to the official story." THR film critic Sheri Linden reviews Jesse Short Bull and Laura Tomaselli's Lakota Nation vs. United States. A documentary that premiered at Tribeca traces the Lakotas’ ongoing struggle to reclaim their sacred land, the Black Hills, and protect it from U.S. government and corporate interests. The review.

In other news...

—Stranger Things 4 Vol. 2 drops mind-blowing trailer for season conclusion

—Jeopardy! host Mayim Bialik tests positive for COVID-19

—KCON unveils full artist lineup for 10th anniversary festival in Los Angeles

—Google News reopens in Spain after 8-year break, drops ad revenue fight in France

—Gabby Giffords comes to Hollywood as senate reaches gun safety deal

—Nick Faldo retires from CBS golf coverage, Trevor Immelman to succeed him

—Kim Kardashian had “no idea” Will Ferrell, Jimmy Fallon were on SNL

—Pamela Levine to head marketing for Disney branded TV, Nat Geo

—Thailand introduces tax exemption for foreign actors, boosting incentive scheme

—Michael Bolton to perform at Daytime Emmys

—Star Wars X-Wing fighter model used in A New Hope fetches an astonishing $2.3m at auction

What else we're reading...

—Jen Yamato on how queer Asian American rom-com Fire Island became the summer’s sexiest breakout hit [LAT]

—Richard Kelly posits that Marvel’s TV shows are now way better than its movies [Daily Beast]

—Stuart Heritage goes full Sherlock as he tries to solve the mystery of Bradley Cooper and the "asshole director" [Guardian]

—Interesting Anne Hathaway interview with questions from the likes of Jessica Chastain, Jeremy Strong, Sigourney Weaver, Rick Owens, Matthew Mcconaughey and more [Interview]

—Missed this when it first came out, a rather good David Marchese interview with John Grisham [NYT]

Today...  

...in 2001, Universal revved up one of its most lucrative franchises, bringing The Fast and the Furious to theaters. The film, a breakout for Paul Walker and Vin Diesel, grossed $200 million worldwide. The original review.

Today's birthdays: Meryl Streep (73), Kris Kristofferson (86), Amy Brenneman (58), Bruce Campbell (64), Mary Lynn Rajskub (51), Lindsay Wagner (73), Joe Dempsie (35), Donald Faison (48), Michael Trucco (52), Tracy Pollan (62), Emmanuelle Seigner (56), Portia Doubleday (34), Stephen Chow (60), Lee Min-Ho (35), Cyndi Lauper (69), Paterson Joseph (58), Tim Russ (66), Nicholas Lea (60), Uwe Boll (57), Stephany Jacobsen (42), Alicia Goranson (48), Randy Couture (59), Thomas M. Wright (39)