The Ankler

The $30M horror gamble could be DC’s new playbook? Plus: the strange disappearance of ‘Ali G’

Microdramas promised to revive Hollywood production. Now, apps are shutting down, platforms are spending heavily to chase viewers and AI slop is flooding the market. Elaine Low assesses the microdrama reckoning: https://mrf.lu/2HWkC

Could John Turturro land his first Oscar nomination? Sony Pictures Classics' Tom Bernard tells Katey Rich why campaigning matters, how the Oscars have changed and what it takes to get a movie noticed: https://mrf.lu/2HBfM

Plus: Inside 'Everytime,' the heartbreaking international feature contender whose entire premise might be a spoiler

Casey sets SKYDANCE Streaming leaders / DISNEYFOX wants new ‘Alien’ pic / AMAZON MGM enlists Bibb

Casey sets SKYDANCE Streaming leaders / DISNEYFOX wants new ‘Alien’ pic / AMAZON MGM enlists Bibb

Plus: Nathan Fielder's Oscar chances; can DC's 'Clayface' save the superhero genre?

Could 'You Can See Everything' make Oscar history in best picture but get snubbed for best documentary? Katey Rich examines the Academy's complicated relationship with popular docs and what might get nominated instead: https://mrf.lu/2vKFS

Bell Media's Sean Cohan tells Richard Rushfield why the company bet on the steamy gay hockey romance 'Heated Rivalry' and how taking creative risks paid off with a global hit on Crave and HBO Max https://mrf.lu/2vn4Q

From Gaza to Iran to climate, eight filmmakers on the power of truth as resistance at The Ankler x Pure Nonfiction's showcase

Bela Bajaria, Cindy Holland and Pam Abdy are among Hollywood's powerful women losing top jobs, with men taking their place. Lesley Goldberg speaks with female executives about why women are losing ground in the C-suite https://mrf.lu/2vWKg

Bela, Cindy and Pam are out. Is the boys' club back? Plus: YouTube wins even more, and Jon Stewart stays put

Who does Kathy Griffin look up to in Hollywood, what should aspiring comedians watch, and what's her dream project? Richard Rushfield visited her Malibu home to go deep into her career, seven years in exile and comeback. https://mrf.lu/2vyx5

A24 enlists Seyfried / AMAZON’s busy movie buy day / FIFA’s World Cup U.S. rights challenges

The comedian also claims newly obtained records reveal a White House effort to amplify her infamous photo scandal — and recalls the famous friends who abandoned her

Hollywood's production slump has created an unlikely new revenue stream: $100,000 to $300,000 bar and bat mitzvahs on studio backlots and soundstages, complete with custom sets and luxury swag. Degen Pener reports: https://mrf.lu/2vHhN

As film and TV production slumps, studios roll out red carpets for lavish coming-of-age parties to rival 'a Netflix premiere'

A historic best picture nomination? A shocking doc snub? And what about its acting (yes) contender? I answer all

Nathan Fielder's 'You Can See Everything' is a box office phenomenon, but could its success hurt its Oscar chances? And what would get nominated instead? Our Prestige Junkie Pundits weigh in on the documentary race: anklerpundits.com

As women and people of color lose top Hollywood jobs, what does it mean for the stories that get told? The Ankler Agenda crew discusses the fallout from Bela Bajaria’s Netflix exit, Peter Rice’s arrival and more. Full episode: https://mrf.lu/2v8mw

Ted ousts Bela and Dan as streaming wars’ winner meets its mortal enemy: YouTube

NBC reviving '90s sitcom / PAR+ enlists Daisy Ridley / AMAZON wants more ‘Carrie’

Inside the audio giant's push to give podcasters Patreon-style recurring revenue. Plus, WME's investment in a stealth startup powering its digital stars

Peter Rice is taking over a Netflix with a $20B content budget and a shortage of culture-defining hits. With YouTube gaining ground, better shows may only solve part of the problem. Lesley Goldberg assesses his challenges: https://mrf.lu/2vCbd

At $30M, DC's 'Clayface' is the cheapest superhero movie ever. After 'Supergirl' flopped, James Gunn and Peter Safran hope horror's smaller budgets, unknown stars and genre appeal can offer a way to save superhero economics https://mrf.lu/2vxS0

After ‘Supergirl’ flopped, James Gunn and Peter Safran bet on a low-budget horror movie with stakes far beyond one film

After ‘Supergirl’ flopped, James Gunn and Peter Safran bet on a low-budget horror movie with stakes far beyond one film

LIONSGATE sale 🔥 / AMAZON enlists Denzel, bumps up film execs / PAR, Keanu in talks

UTA boosts Creator division / AMAZON’s NFL ads & audience boost / A24, Paltrow go with NETFLIX

The 'A Talent for Murder' star won a Tony after 'Solo' crashed. Plus: Regional festival fever hits the Oscar race

Reese Witherspoon buying back Hello Sunshine raises a big question: what happens to the other Hollywood stars' production companies? And where is private equity’s dry powder going to go now? Ashley Cullins investigates: https://mrf.lu/2bWx_

Peter Rice has a chance to overhaul Netflix, and Richard Rushfield has a few ideas: End binge releases, bring back pilot season, give young executives real power and let producers do their jobs https://mrf.lu/2b927

Spotify is taking on Patreon with a new paid membership feature for podcasters. Natalie Jarvey talks to Spotify execs and creators about the new revenue opportunity: https://mrf.lu/2bP4x

The 'A Talent for Murder' star won a Tony after 'Solo' imploded. Plus: Regional festival fever hits the Oscar race

Olivia Colman falls for Alexander Skarsgård as a man made of wicker, and audiences are eating it up. With 'Wicker' opening this weekend, Katey Rich sees a potential breakout hit and Oscar possibilities https://mrf.lu/2bM9B

Empower producers, kill binge: 9 unsolicited suggestions for Netflix’s new content chief

UTA boosts Creator division / AMAZON’s NFL ads & audience boost / A24, Paltrow go with NETFLIX

Could Nathan Fielder's Elizabeth Holmes doc reach $100M? After a $15M opening on just 855 screens, Sean McNulty and Christopher Rosen discuss why 'You Can See Everything' could have serious staying power at the box office https://mrf.lu/2b6mL

Netflix hired Peter Rice to replace Bela Bajaria, and his former colleagues are sharply divided. Some see a brilliant creative executive. Others question whether he understands the streaming business at all. Nine insiders weigh in: https://mrf.lu/2b8SG

Nathan Fielder’s doc is fall’s gotta-see movie for the under-35 set — and its success comps to early Sacha Baron Cohen

Spanish singer Guitarricadelafuente makes his acting debut in 'La Bola Negra,' but he’s been playing characters for years. He tells Katey Rich how adopting alter egos onstage prepared him for the screen: https://mrf.lu/2br6n

Olivia Colman's unlikely romance brings down the house. Plus: My chat with 'La Bola Negra' breakout Guitarricadelafuente

HBO sets new 'True Detective' cast / PAR sets Francis Lawrence for sci-fi pic / 'DWTS' scores big at ABC

HBO sets new 'True Detective' cast / PAR sets Francis Lawrence for sci-fi pic / 'DWTS' scores big at ABC

Plus: why U.K.'s Channel 5 boss Ben Frow is giving up on Skydance; TV's comedy crisis, in three acts

Hollywood's political money is flowing again. Jon Ossoff is the town's new favorite, Casey Wasserman is backing a Republican, and Nithya Raman is outraising Karen Bass among industry donors. Matthew Frank follows the midterm money: https://mrf.lu/2gBl0

It’s midterms mania as power brokers write checks — and Casey Wasserman crosses party lines against Abdul El-Sayad

Hollywood studios want to protect their IP from AI companies while finding ways to use the technology themselves. Ashley Cullins examines the copyright dilemma, and speaks to an entrepreneur who thinks he has a solution: https://mrf.lu/2gXWm

The ownership obstacle and a potential solve as execs use technology to mint new characters and franchises

WB’s ‘Batman II’ director solve / BLEECKER STREET sold / HULU’s active greenlight button