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DGA Members Share Mixed Reactions to Deal; 'BMF' Producer Suspended After Alleged Picket Altercation; Latest Tribeca Reviews; Martin Short Talks 'Only Murders'

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June 10, 2023

What's news: An accident on the set of the Gladiator sequel left multiple crewmembers injured. Crowdfunded Christianity drama series The Chosen lands at The CW. Netflix's password-sharing crackdown spurs a spike in sign-ups. Transformers: Rise of the Beasts got off to a strong start at the box office. — Ryan Gajewski

Directors Guild Deal Draws Mixed Response

►"There are huge gaps that need to be addressed." THR's Katie Kilkenny and Lesley Goldberg spoke with Directors Guild of America members about the group's new deal with studios and streamers. DGA negotiators tried to sell the deal to their members in one of several planned Zoom calls, even as some remained skeptical and planned to vote no: "The leverage we had was historic, and the negotiation committee and DGA leadership squandered it." The story.

—"They are all in stable condition and continue to receive treatment." An accident on the set of Ridley Scott's Gladiator sequel left several members of the crew injured, a Paramount spokesperson confirmed. The studio characterized the injuries as non-life-threatening, and no details about the stunt-related accident were available. The story.

—May 25-28 marked the four single largest days for U.S. user acquisition since 2019. Netflix's password-sharing crackdown seems to be working. The streamer rolled out its paid sharing feature, which deters users living outside of a household from sharing a Netflix account, in the U.S. on May 23. For the six-day period from May 23 to May 28, Netflix averaged 73,000 daily sign-ups, according to the analytics firm Antenna. The story.

—The bots are back. THR's Pamela McClintock reports that Transformers: Rise of the Beasts bit off a promising $8.8 million in previews as it battles for the hearts and souls of summer moviegoers. Tracking suggests that the tentpole from Paramount and Skydance will open in the $55 million to $60 million range, but that could be a conservative estimate. The box office report.

'BMF' Producer Suspended Over Alleged Altercation

►"We take acts of intimidation and threats of violence seriously." A producer on the Starz/Lionsgate drama BMF has been suspended from the 50 Cent-produced series after reportedly clashing with striking writers outside the show's Atlanta set. The alleged incident occurred Thursday in Georgia, where BMF (as in Black Mafia Family) was in production on the third season of the series based on the lives of two brothers who founded an influential crime organization in 1980s Detroit. The story.

—ABC has passed on nearly all of its remaining pilots. THR's Lesley Goldberg reports that ABC has passed on dramas The Hurt Unit and Judgment as well as comedies Keeping It Together (formerly Drop-Off) and Public Defenders. Of the four drama and two comedy pilots that ABC developed this season, only the Good Doctor spinoff, The Good Lawyer, remains in contention as Kaitlin Olson drama High Potential was previously ordered to series. The story.

—No longer cooking. NBC has made decisions on two of its three bubble comedies and one of its four pilots. The network has opted to cancel sophomore series Grand Crew and third-year show Young Rock, leaving fellow comedy American Auto on the bubble. As part of NBC's comedy moves, the network has handed out a series order to the mockumentary series St. Denis Medical. The story.

—"This groundbreaking series already has a massive global following." The CW has added another acquired series to its programming roster. The network, under the control of station group Nexstar since October, has landed U.S. broadcast rights to The Chosen. The drama series about the life of Jesus will launch Sunday, July 16, at 8 p.m. on the network, which will air the first three seasons through the fall before wrapping with the finale on Christmas Eve. The story.

Tribeca Film Review: Jacob Elordi, Zachary Quinto in 'He Went That Way'

►"Entirely lacking in danger." THR chief film critic David Rooney reviews He Went That Way, the directorial debut of Jeffrey Darling, who died shortly after completing principal photography. Jacob Elordi and Zachary Quinto star in the feature that premiered at the Tribeca Festival. The review.

—"Effectively put together." THR critic Stephen Farber reviews Chasing Chasing Amy, debuting at the Tribeca Festival. Director Sav Rodger's documentary examines Kevin Smith's divisive 1997 narrative feature Chasing Amy. The review.

Martin Short Talks 'Only Murders in the Building' and 'SNL'

►"That's SNL — it's final exams every week." For THR's Awards Chatter podcast, executive awards editor Scott Feinberg interviews Martin Short. The comedy legend discusses Only Murders in the Building, Saturday Night Live and what is at the root of his nearly 40-year friendship and collaboration with Steve Martin. The podcast.

—Top o' the box office? THR's Borys Kit has the scoop on Leprechaun, the longest-running franchise in Lionsgate history, getting a fresh start as the studio reimagines the horror title for a new generation of moviegoers. Felipe Vargas, helmer of the award-wining short film Milk Teeth, will direct the new feature project that has a script by Mike Van Waes, who worked on the live-action Lilo & Stitch movie that is now in production. The story.

—"It was quite easy to avoid all of the same pitfalls." THR's Lacey Rose talks to Bluey creator Joe Brumm about how the animated series became a favorite of parents as well as their kids. Brumm discusses the hit show's origins, the fights to keep it funny and why an early "R-rated Peppa Pig" idea still holds appeal. The interview.

—"It's about being aware of who the people are in your world." Nearly six decades after they premiered, Sesame Street and Mister Rogers Neighborhood continue to inspire kids' programming, nowhere more than at the studios they built. THR's Abbey White interviews insiders about how Sesame Workshop and Fred Rogers Productions continue to keep true to their missions. The story.

This Week's Must Reads

►On the cover. THR's award-winning Roundtable series continues, with Jenna Ortega, Elle Fanning, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Natasha Lyonne, Ayo Edebiri and Devery Jacobs sitting down with Lacey Rose for the Comedy Actress Emmy Roundtable. The six stars discuss fighting stereotypes, digesting gross notes and the prospect of playing Pete Davidson's girlfriend. Read or Watch.

—"I went in there and told that man I wanted my own TV show." If there's any sort of formula for child fame today, it's rooted in social media. THR's Seija Rankin profiles Alaya High, aka That Girl Lay Lay, and looks at how her stratospheric rise is indicative of a new kind of child star. The self-made 16-year-old already runs her own multiplatform empire, only turning to Hollywood to unlock another level of success. The profile.

—The 75 most powerful people in kids' entertainment. For today's young viewers, it's Saturday morning all day, every day. As kid-targeted content — and the platforms offering it — proliferate, the creators and executives named in THR's first-ever Kids' Entertainment Power List have figured out how to capture children's precious attention and better reflect their worlds. The list.

—Anonymous strike diary. THR's series of frank accounts of the writers strike continues. The Disillusioned EP fantasizes about a picket line affair while recounting another bygone romance: "Streaming declared it was going to be no strings attached, no commercials, just the good parts of the relationship, and we could have multiple streamers. Hot." The diary.

—"They are spending huge." After a string of arrests and bad headlines that threatened to derail Ezra Miller's career and Warner Bros.' $200 million The Flash, the star has not only stayed out of the headlines, but Miller is nowhere to be found in the press as the film sprints toward its June 16 release date. Given the constraints, as well as the lack of late night television due to the strike, THR's Aaron Couch and Borys Kit look at the unusual promotional campaign the studio has mounted as it looks to get the word out on the pricey film. The story.

In other news...

—The U.S. Open tees off in the L.A. area for the first time in 75 years, bringing USGA activations and a fan showcase

—"We eat, breathe and sleep this company": Elevation Pictures' 10-year journey to Canadian indie powerhouse

—Hugh Grant is in talks for an A24 thriller from the writers of A Quiet Place

—Events of the week: Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, Elemental and more

What else we're reading...

—Devon Ivie and Jackson McHenry debate who should win big at this weekend's Tony Awards [Vulture]

—Jaya Saxena shares what she learned after training to become a Benihana chef in a day [Eater]

—Is Flamin' Hot a true story? Sarah Bahr explains why the evidence is not on the film's side [NYT]

—Herb Scribner looks at what really happens when you win on Shark Tank [WaPo]

—Alex Kirshner examines why one baseball team is having the saddest season in MLB history [Slate]

Today...

…in 1994, 20th Century Fox revved up action flick Speed in theaters. Jan De Bont's debut feature starred Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock. The original review.

Today's birthdays: Gina Prince-Bythewood (54), Elizabeth Hurley (58), Gina Gershon (61), Jeanne Tripplehorn (60), Faith Evans (50), Leelee Sobieski (40), Tristin Mays (33), Bill Burr (55), DJ Qualls (45), Nick Adams (40), Kate Upton (31), Dustin Lance Black (49), Titus Makin Jr. (34), Laura Silverman (57), Andrew Niccol (59), Randee Heller (76), Jeremy Saulnier (47), Timothy Van Patten (64), Matt Spicer (389)

Mike Batayeh, who portrayed the laundromat manager Dennis Markowski in Breaking Bad and performed comedy sets around the world, has died. He was 52. The obituary.

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Written by José Vizcarra
on Saturday, June 10, 2023 at 7:01 AM.

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