Is Dan Lin Set to Become DC's Kevin Feige?

►In talks. Dan Lin, the executive-turned-producer who counts hits such as the live-action Aladdin, The Lego Movie, and the It horror movies among his credits, is in talks to take the role of DC chief, sources tell THR's Borys Kit. The role would encompass overseeing not just film but television as well, with Lin reporting directly to Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav. 

The proposed structure would bypass three separate division heads  — Warner Bros. Pictures’ heads Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy, HBO/HBO Max chief Casey Bloys, and Warner Bros. TV chair Channing Dungey — and put control of DC in the hands of one person. The story. 

—"A deep disappointment in the human experiment." Brian Cox entertained attendees of the Edinburgh TV Festival on its third and final day on Friday with stories from throughout his career, while emphasizing that he couldn’t share much detail about Succession at a time when fans are eagerly anticipating season 4. "The Gestapo-element of HBO are present," Cox said. The story.

—Another iconic villain incoming? Jeffrey Dean Morgan has signed up for The Boys' fourth season. The actor’s character in the show is being kept secret for now. Morgan, who played The Walking Dead's most iconic villain Negan, is reuniting with showrunner Eric Kripke on the Amazon Prime Video superhero drama, with both having worked together on Supernatural. The story.

—Finally! The Hunger Games director Francis Lawrence is set to helm the live-action adaptation of BioShock for Netflix. Logan screenwriter Michael Green will pen the screenplay that brings the popular video game franchise to the big screen. The streamer is partnering with 2K and Take-Two Interactive to produce the film. The story. 

—Prolific partnership. Netflix and producer Shawn Levy are reteaming for a limited series. Levy’s 21 Laps Entertainment, which has an overall deal at the streamer, and The Jackal Group will produce The Perfect Couple, a six-episode murder mystery based on a novel by Elin Hilderbrand. Jenna Lamia is adapting the novel and will serve as showrunner. The story.

Chateau Marmont Workers to Unionize

►"All prior disputes have been laid to rest." Chateau Marmont, the iconic Sunset Strip lodging, had faced years of lawsuits, protests and a celebrity-backed boycott. Employees had described an allegedly toxic workplace rife with sexual misconduct, racial discrimination, and neglectful management. Now the owner Andre Balazs and UNITE HERE Local 11 union have reached an agreement for the hotel's workers to unionize. The story. 

—Bloomin' good news. Mike Judge and Greg Daniels’ animation company Bandera Entertainment is developing comedy Best Buds for Peacock. The series centers on Calvin, who works at his family-owned flower shop, the “crown jewel of the local strip mall.” The project comes from creators and writers Caitie Delaney (Rick and Morty) and Caleb Hearon (Human Resources). Universal Television is producing. The story.

—Family affair. A24 is teaming up with the Eggers brothers — The Lighthouse co-writer Max Eggers and Sam Eggers (Olympia) — for the psychological horror The Front Room. The screenwriting brothers, for their joint directorial debut, will adapt Susan Hill’s short story of the same name. The ensemble cast will be led by Brandy Norwood, Kathryn Hunter, Andrew Burnap and Neal Huff. The story. 

—Stellar voice talent. Animation studio Laika has revealed the voice cast for its next stop-motion and CG feature, Wildwood. It’s led by Carey Mulligan, Mahershala Ali, Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Jacob Tremblay and Awkwafina. The expansive cast also includes Angela Bassett, Jake Johnson, Charlie Day, Amandla Stenberg, Jemaine Clement, Maya Erskine, Tantoo Cardinal, Tom Waits and Richard E. Grant. The film is directed by Laika president and CEO Travis Knight (Kubo and the Two Strings). The story. 

—Growing trend. The Canadian Screen Awards is the latest awards show to shift to gender-neutral acting categories. The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television announced the move for lead and supporting performers in film and TV categories, starting with the 2023 event. The number of performance categories will swell from five to eight. The story.

Is 'Blackbird' the next 'The Room'? 

►"The Lord of the Dance has made a spy film." THR's man in London Alex Ritman has poured his soul into this piece detailing how dancer-boxer-painter-actor-director-producer Michael Flatley’s spy thriller Blackbird attained cult film status without ever having been seen. Ahead of the film's Sept. 2 release, in London's Leicester Square no less, Alex reflects on “troubled secret agent” Victor Blackley's four-year journey to the big screen. The story.

—Let him entertain you. Netflix has revealed it is production on an unscripted series about Robbie Williams, the former Take That member who famously split from the band in 1995 and would go on to have a hugely successful solo career. Asif Kapadia (Amy, Senna) is exec producing, while Joe Pearlman, best known for the hugely acclaimed Bros music doc Bros: After the Screaming Stops, directs. The story.

—Xmas programming. Amazon's Freevee has picked up its first original holiday movie, Hotel for the Holidays, to star Madelaine Petsch and Aladdin star Mena Massoud as the romantic leads. The film is directed and executive produced by Ron Oliver, and written by Maggie Lane and Margarita Matthews. The story. 

—Another top addition. THR scoop machine Borys Kit reveals that Thomas Haden Church has joined Kevin Costner in New Line and Warner Bros.’ Western, Horizon. Costner is starring in the feature, as well as directing it and producing. He also co-wrote the script with Jon Baird. The cast includes Sienna Miller, Sam Worthington, Luke Wilson and Stranger Things 4 breakout, Jamie Campbell Bower. The story. 

—Who do you trust with your money? No, this isn't an ad for sketchy financial advice, but rather a call to action. If you work in entertainment and have a business manager you love, or are a lawyer, agent or manager who finds yourself continually referring clients to the same person, now's the time to let us know! Submit a nomination for THR's 2022 Power Business Managers feature by Sept. 9. Click here to nominate.

Film Review: 'Me Time'

►"Treat yourself to another movie." THR film critic Frank Scheck reviews John Hamburg's Me Time. Kevin Hart, Mark Wahlberg and Regina Hall star in this Netflix buddy comedy written and directed by the Why Him? filmmaker. The review. 

—"Will do in a superhero pinch." Frank reviews Julius Avery's Samaritan. Sylvester Stallone stars as an aging vigilante with special powers in this Amazon Prime Video superhero film co-starring Dascha Polanco. The review. 

—"A devilish comedy still finding its voice." THR TV critic Angie Han reviews FXX's Little Demon. The animated series centers on a 13-year-old girl (Lucy DeVito) who discovers she's the literal spawn of Satan (Danny DeVito). The review. 

Thank Pod It's Friday

► All the latest content from THR's podcast studio.

—Behind the Screen. Tech editor Carolyn Giardina's podcast focuses on the filmmaking crafts. In this episode, Carolyn speaks to Ted Lasso editors A.J. Catoline and Melissa McCoy. The Emmy nominees detail cutting season two — what they say Jason Sudeikis calls the "Empire Strikes Back" section of the series. Listen here.

—Awards Chatter. Executive editor for awards Scott Feinberg talks to the great and the good of Hollywood. In this episode, Scott spoke to Kaley Cuoco. The Flight Attendant star reflects on her start in the business, the lessons and loss of mentor John Ritter and breaking out of sitcoms to produce and star in the HBO Max comedic thriller that has now brought her three Emmy nominations. Listen here.

In other news...

—Cate Blanchett is a frenzied conductor in Tar teaser trailer

—Jon Hamm can’t catch a break in first trailer for Confess, Fletch

—Adam Driver, Greta Gerwig face disaster in teaser for Noah Baumbach’s White Noise

—Eminem, Snoop Dogg to perform at 2022 MTV Video Music Awards

—TIFF: Artisan and Emerging Talent award winners announced

—Sylvester Stallone and Jennifer Flavin to divorce after 25 years of marriage

—Twitter adds podcasts to live audio tab

—Britney Spears and Elton John release “Hold Me Closer” duet

What else we're reading...

—Adam Manno reports that laid-off HBO Max execs believe WBD is killing off diversity and courting "middle America" [Daily Beast]

—David Allen interviews Joe Brumm and Joff Bush, the creative team behind the hit Aussie children's show Bluey [NYT]

—Stephen Bush on why filmmakers can’t resist J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantasy world [FT]

—Kai Grady writes that the DC universe is a mess, but it is not beyond salvaging [Ringer]

—Here's your Friday list: "Every A24 movie, ranked" [Vulture]

Today...  

...in 1973, Paramount unveiled baseball drama Bang the Drum Slowly at its world premiere in New York. The film, starring Robert De Niro, Michael Moriarty and Vincent Gardenia, went on to nab an Oscar nomination in the supporting actor category for Gardenia at the 46th Academy Awards ceremony. The original review.

Today's birthdays: Keke Palmer (29), Chris Pine (42), Dylan O'Brien (31), Melissa McCarthy (52), Macaulay Culkin (42), Amanda Schull (44), Mike Colter (46), Brett Cullen (66), Nazneen Contractor (40), John Mulaney (40), Danielle Savre (34), Gracie Dzienny (27), Andy Muschietti (49), Shervin Alenabi (27), Gene Stupnitsky (45), Shirley Manson (56)