What's news: Fox has completed its $22b acquisition of Roku. Live Nation posted record-high revenue in Q3. Buena Vista Social Club is set to close on Broadway. Amazon has ordered a Terminal List spinoff series. And Netflix is giving the buzzy La Bola Negra a wider theatrical release. — Abid Rahman

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►"What business are we leaving?" Pamela Abdy made her first public appearance since she and Mike De Luca were fired from Warner Bros., stepping out at Women in Film's annual WIF Honors event on Thursday. The exec received the inaugural Vanguard Award, a recognition for a leader whose career embodies the qualities that move the industry forward, presented by Nancy Meyers. The honor was announced before her exit from the legacy studio. Abdy gave a powerful speech where she did not hold back. The recap. 

—"It is upsetting to see." Before the WIF Honors ceremony got underway on Thursday, THR's Kirsten Chuba spoke to Pamela Abdy on the red carpet. In a candid chat, Abdy expressed her feelings on the recent spate of high level women executives losing their jobs in Hollywood. The interview. 

►Shocker! Salon, the left-leaning publication known for its sharp political and cultural commentary that showed what online journalism could look like before most mainstream outlets entered the space, is closing up shop after 31 years. In an unsigned farewell announcement on Thursday, Salon pointed to the profound changes in the economics of independent digital journalism and said its publishing model is no longer sustainable. The story.

 

—🤝 Sold! 🤝 Fox Corp. has completed its $22b acquisition of Roku, creating a new power player in media and streaming. The deal closed in less than five months, a fast pace for a deal this size. Roku founder Anthony Wood will join Fox’s board and also serve as co-chair of Fox Digital Platforms, the division that will house Roku, Tubi, Fox One and Red Seat Ventures. The story. 

—Back on track. Lionsgate released its latest financial results on Thursday amid renewed takeover chatter around the major Hollywood studio, and as it posted sharply higher overall revenues and a narrowing loss in the second quarter of fiscal 2027. The studio posted a Q2 net loss of $15.5m, compared to a year-earlier $113.5m, on overall studio revenue rising 41 percent to $668.8m, against a year-earlier $475.1m. Lionsgate said its film and TV library, a major profit driver underpinned by franchises and other branded IP, generated $1.04b over the trailing 12 months. The story.

—Woof! Live Nation posted a record-high $10.1b in revenue for the company’s third quarter, the live music giant reported on Thursday, buoyed by the company’s growing international business. Revenue is up 19 percent from 2025, while the company reported $892m in operating income, a 13 percent jump from last year. Fan attendance overall grew 19 percent to 61m people, Live Nation said, with international attendance growing 29 percent and accounting for 60 percent of the company’s total fan growth. The results.

 

—Toying with the algorithm. Netflix is bringing on a top executive from Mattel to lead its nascent consumer products and experiences business. The streaming giant says that it has hired Roberto Stanichi to become its new VP of consumer products and experiences. Stanichi is currently president, chief marketing and brand officer for Mattel, where he has overseen all of its global brands like Barbie, Hot Wheels, Fisher-Price, and UNO. At Netflix he will be tasked with leading its consumer products licensing and retail business, as well as Netflix’s experiences business. The story. 

 

—Another exit. Shari Rosenblum is leaving Disney after six years with the company. Rosenblum accepted a voluntary buyout package the company has been offering eligible executives. She had been svp of communications and publicity at Disney’s TV studios. She came over with Twentieth Century Fox Television in 2019 (Rosenblum had been with the Fox TV studio since 2005). Rosenblum led campaigns for series like Modern Family, Homeland and The Dropout. The story. 

►Vaya con Dios. Buena Vista Social Club will play its final performance Jan. 17 after close to two years on Broadway. The musical, inspired by the titular Cuban band, took home five Tony Awards in 2025, including a special Tony for its onstage band. While the show is closing in January, producers say it is on track to recoup before closure, making it the second musical of the 2024-2025 to announce recoupment. The show also has a touring production, and currently has productions in Puerto Rico and Mexico City. In 2027, the musical will open in London’s West End. The story.

—🏆 Congrats to all! 🏆 The Songwriters Hall of Fame announced a star-studded list of nominees for the organization’s 2027 ceremony on Thursday, with Lady Gaga, Pink, Shakira, Jack White, Sia, Boy George and Vince Gill all among the potential honorees. Also among the performing writers on the ballot this year are Blondie’s Debbie Harry and Chris Stein, ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons, Frank Beard and Dusty Hill, Grandmaster Melle Mel, Ne-Yo, America’s Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell and WAR’s Thomas Sylvester Allen, Harold Ray Brown, Morris “B.B.” Dickerson, Jerry Goldstein, LeRoy L. Jordan, Lee Oskar Levitin, Charles William Miller and Howard E. Scott. The story. 

—🤝 Settlement. 🤝 A production company for Blade Runner 2049 suing Tesla for using images from the movie to create artificial intelligence-generated promotional material has settled a related claim against Warner Bros. Discovery, which was accused of facilitating the copyright infringement. The production company, Alcon Entertainment, and WBD told the court of a deal to resolve the case. Terms of the agreement weren’t disclosed. The story. 

 

—New creator management firm. A pair of veteran executives from the creator space are launching new venture meant to help digital creators expand their businesses across content, music, products and live experiences. The management and representation company is called ISO, and is being launched by Mike Lee, the former head of gaming and livestreaming at UTA Creators, who is CEO, and Darren Yan, former chief talent officer at FaZe Clan, who is head of music. ISO is backed by Influence Media Partners. The story. 

►🟢 Wait, what?!?! 🟢 Stranger Things is returning to Netflix! The streamer has officially ordered a live-action prequel series to its massive sci-fi hit. Titled Other Worlds: A Stranger Things Adventure, the new series will be set in the 1950s, with production taking place in New Mexico. Original series creators and showrunners The Duffer Brothers will serve as co-creators, but have otherwise handed over creative duties to longtime Stranger Things writer Kate Trefry, who also penned the Stranger Things: The First Shadow stage play, and Golden Globe-winning director Joe Wright, who will helm the first three episodes. The story. 

—An audience, finally! Horror/sci-fi series From has developed a cult following on MGM+ over four seasons. That following got considerably larger in late October. Netflix added the first three seasons of From to its catalog on Oct. 19, and the show zoomed to the top of Nielsen’s streaming charts for the week. It scored 1.65b minutes of viewing, the largest weekly total for any acquired series in 2026. The Diplomat came in second overall — and first among original series — with 1.19b minutes of watch time. The political thriller grew by about 21 percent from 983m minutes the previous week, when its fourth season premiered on Netflix. The streaming rankings. 

 

—🟢 Back for thirds. 🟢 As the Michelin Guide continues to expand to new cities, so must its television series. Apple TV has given the official green light to season three of its culinary docuseries, Knife Edge: Chasing Michelin Stars. The series, which comes from executive producer Gordon Ramsay, takes cameras around the globe and into the kitchens of the chefs fighting for the most prestigious accolade in restaurants: a Michelin star. The story.

►🟢 Greenest of green lights. 🟢 Prime Video's Terminal List franchise is going in a new direction. The streamer has given a series order to Savage Son, a new drama that centers on James Reece, Chris Pratt's Terminal List character. The show is based on Jack Carr’s novel of the same title, the third book in a series following former Navy SEAL Reece. The series order comes two weeks after season two of Terminal List debuted on Prime Video. Despite a four-year gap between seasons, the show posted healthy viewing numbers upon its return: It drew 830m minutes of watch time for the week of Oct. 19-25. The story.

 

—📅 Dated! 📅  Off Campus is skating back to screens this April. Prime Video's popular college hockey romance series will officially return for season two on April 28, 2027. The streamer previously announced Stephen Kalyn and Mika Abdalla would lead the next installment. Their character's relationship will serve as the driving force behind the new season, with season one leads, Belmont Cameli and Ella Bright, continuing to star in the series. The story.

 

—📅 Dated! 📅 NBC is giving a big platform to the launch of its Rockford Files update starring David Boreanaz, scheduling the debut after a late-season NFL game. The remake of the 1974-80 private eye series that starred James Garner will debut at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on Jan. 2. That’s a Saturday, but NBC also has a late afternoon NFL game scheduled for that day, which will help deliver a big audience into the Rockford premiere. The show will then move to its regular home at 8 p.m. Thursdays starting Jan. 7. The story. 

—Busy, busy. NBC News has named Carson Daly the new co-anchor of Saturday Today, joining Laura Jarrett at the weekend morning show anchor desk. It’s an expanded role for Daly at NBC, as he will continue as a co-host on the weekday edition of Today, and as host and EP of the music competition series The Voice, a role he has held since the show’s premiere in 2011. The story. 

—Something Carson isn't hosting. The Voice is gearing up to give viewers a special look at the behind-the-scenes of the show with the launch of its first-ever TikTok Live companion show. Launching Nov. 9 and continuing through the season 30 finale on Dec. 14, Josh “Bru” Brubaker will host the new show weekly on Mondays that streams 20 minutes before each broadcast and continues through the televised show. The TikTok Live show will feature interviews with The Voice artists and coaches. The story. 

►"The film is a missile." Adam Driver is speaking out about his role in Michael Mann’s Heat 2 — and sharing an update on how the filmmaker is doing following his accidental shooting over the weekend. While appearing on The Rich Eisen Show, Driver shared an update on Mann. “He’s good,” Driver said. “I texted him immediately; he responded, and he was at work the next day.” Driver confirmed that he will play Otis Wardell, Heat 2's main antagonist. The story. 

—🤝 Sold! 🤝 Sony Pictures Classics has snapped up all rights in the U.S., Latin America and Southeast Asia to Violette, the new film from Amelie director Jean-Pierre Jeunet. The French drama, based on Valérie Perrin’s bestseller Fresh Water for Flowers, follows a cemetery caretaker (Leïla Bekhti) whose peaceful life is disrupted with the arrival of a mysterious stranger (Melvil Poupaud) who insists on depositing the ashes of his recently departed mother on the gravesite of a complete stranger. The story.

 

—🤝 Sold! 🤝 Suzanne Farwell’s starry New York-set rom-com Otherwise Engaged has racked up a slew of international sales heading into AFM. Jack Whitehall and Zoë Kravitz star as Charlie and Gabby, a couple whose wedding plans start to unravel when Charlie’s estranged father (Colin Firth), a disgraced business tycoon fresh out of prison, turns up on their doorstep. He soon falls for Gabby’s fiercely independent mother (Halle Berry), leaving the bride and groom to contend with a sudden second romance in the family. The story. 

—🎭 For sale. 🎭 Ego Nwodim and Chabely Ponce are set to star in I’m With Stupid, a high school comedy directed by Hannah Pearl Utt. Upgrade is handling international sales on the project and will launch it to buyers at the upcoming American Film Market. Written by Carolina Barlow and Peter Kelly, the film follows a pair of directionless high school seniors from opposite ends of the social spectrum who are forced to work together to avoid the humiliation of failing senior year. The story.

►📅 Back for awards season. 📅 The theatrical journey continues for Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey. Universal's acclaimed and starry mythological epic is set for a nationwide theatrical rerelease on Dec. 11 after its record-setting run over the summer. The Odyssey will return to more than 1,000 North American theaters in all formats, including Imax and Imax 70mm. The film has already collected $626m domestically for a global cume of $1.8b. The story. 

—Meeting demand. Netflix's La Bola Negra is adding theaters for its widest frame to date. The acclaimed drama feature will expand to 465 domestic theaters this weekend after Netflix previously had projected that the film would hit between 200 and 300 locations. La Bola Negra grossed $418,000 last weekend from 38 North American theaters and has now surpassed $1.3m domestically for the run that heads into its fourth frame. The story.

—🤝 Sold! 🤝 A new documentary feature is taking aim at the challenges that women in combat have faced. AB2 Media Group’s theatrical division Abramorama has acquired North American distribution rights for The Fight to Fight. The company plans a nationwide theatrical release in March 2027 for director Joy Bronson’s film that was co-directed by Mark Romanov and is presented in association with ROCO Films. The doc, which includes the voices of numerous celebrated female veterans, follows Pete Hegseth ordering a Pentagon review earlier this year to scrutinize women’s service in ground combat. The story. 

►"It's pretty good, actually." THR's Angie Han reviews Paramount+'s It Gets Worse. Comedian Leo Reich created and stars in the A24-produced six-parter about three 20something best friends in London, with Lena Dunham and Andrew Scott among guest stars. Also starring Emily Fairn, Olive Gray, Zadie Smith, Sean Delaney, India Mullen, Vicki Pepperdine, Emmeline Downie and Dane Williams. Created by Leo Reich. The review.

—"Heartfelt to a fault." THR's Frank Scheck reviews Aaron Burns' Jimmy. Riverdale actor KJ Apa plays the title role in this drama revolving around iconic movie star James Stewart's distinguished military service. Also starring Max Casella, Kara Killmer, Julian Works, Sarah Drew, Rob Riggle, Christopher McDonald, Jen Lilley, Jemma Donovan, Karolyn Grimes, Neal McDonough and Jason Alexander. Written by Justin Strawhand. The review.

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

—Awards Chatter. THR's executive awards editor Scott Feinberg talks to the great and the good of Hollywood. In this live episode, Scott spoke to Jordan Firstman. The breakout multi-hyphenate reflects on the breakup that blew up his personal and professional life, but after which he began to find success; his mixed-feelings about his early work on social media (COVID-era publicist for banana bread) and TV (English Teacher and I Love LA); and what inspired him to write, direct and star in Club Kid, a film about a party promoter who stays too long at the party (which became a sensation at and the year's biggest sale out of Cannes — $17m).  The podcast.

—I’m Having an Episode. THR’s Mikey O’Connell attempts to stay on top of the latest TV and entertainment news with a little help from his friends, colleagues and a revolving door of actors, writers, showrunners and filmmakers. In this episode, Mikey interviews comedian and Abbott Elementary star Janelle James, who dishes about exploring political material on stage (timely!) in her new Netflix special, how she became happier on stage and why she can't stop comparing herself to Steve Urkel. The podcast.

 

In other news...

—Yellowjackets final season trailer promises a very fraught homecoming

 

—Kanye West seeks fashion comeback with first Yeezy show in 4 years

—Robert Pattinson to be honored with American Cinematheque Award

 

—Palm Springs: Martin McDonagh to receive directing award

—Emmy Rossum named RAINN ambassador

—Chris Pratt tapped for King of Comedy Award at Kids’ Choice Awards

 

—Gilmore Girls star Kelly Bishop to release first novel

—Helene Hahn Loyd, former Disney and DreamWorks SKG exec, dies at 78

What else we're reading...

—Brittany Packnett Cunningham writes that Tuesday's 'Blue Wave' is really a 'Black Tsunami' after a string of significant wins for Black Dems [The Cut]

—Joshua Chaffin and Kris Maher talk to Trump fans who are contemplating whether MAGA really is over [WSJ]

—Adam Cancryn, Sarah Ferris, Zachary Cohen and Alayna Treene report that Republicans have quickly turned on Pete Hegseth after the midterms rout [CNN]

—Fascinating report from Sarah Hurtes and Jin Yu Young, who managed to get a hold of the recording contract of K-pop supergroup NewJeans [NYT]

—Here's your Friday list: All 65 movies that topped $1b at the global box office, ranked! [THR]

Today...  

...in 2001, the Kiefer Sutherland-starrer 24 from Imagine Television bowed on Fox in the 9 p.m. hour, kickstarting a franchise that aired for more than a decads. The original review.

Today's birthdays...

 

Emma Stone (38), Sally Field (80), Ethan Hawke (56), Thandiwe Newton (54), June Squibb (97), Bowen Yang (36), Emmanuelle Bercot (59), Maria Shriver (71), Rebecca Romijn (54), Hero Fiennes Tiffin (29), Taryn Manning (48), Robert Aramayo (34), Kelly Rutherford (58), Lori Singer (69), Zoe McLellan (52), Katie Leclerc (40), Lee Dong-wook (45), Peter DeLuise (60), Michael Cerveris (66), John Owen Lowe (31), Wiley Wiggins (50), Nigel Havers (75), Vera Graziadei (44), Patina Miller (42), Lisa Berry (47), Danny Keough (62), Pierson Fode (35), Susan Downey (53), Jessica Clement (31), Luke Allen-Gale (42), Alix Lapri (30), Ron Underwood (73)