Welcome back to IN THE PLACE, our weekly newsletter with the latest news and analysis on the biggest stories in Hollywood.
On today’s show: The endless twists and turns in the Warner Bros. bid. Discovery, some uninvited guests at the “Scream 7” premiere, riding a gun with a stunt driver Dee Bryant, and recommendations for this week.
Got tips (on how Netflix will use the $82.7 billion in savings from the Warner Bros. deal or how to style my hair like Carolyn Bessette Kennedy)? You can find me at rebecca.keegan@nbcuni.com or on Signal at thatrebecca.82.
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FROM TUDUM TO WOMP
If it was a battle over who would own Warner Bros. Discovery was a hit, and we’re in Episode 7 now – and we’re screaming for a plot twist. The latest cliff-hanger, which saw Netflix unleash a bidding war on Paramount late Thursday, had Hollywood and the media world reeling.
And while the entertainment industry may have initially scoffed at Netflix, it’s far from happy about the possibility of a behemoth for the Ellison family.
“We are saying goodbye to one bad business,” said one entertainment industry lawyer. “Hello, another one.”
Any industry consolidation is greeted as an ominous prospect, but Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos‘ offensive in recent weeks has converted many Hollywood skeptics to his side.
There was growing hope for Warner Bros. frustrated about the Netflix deal. And the sources of two different talent agencies told me that Sarandos had productive discussions with the agents in which, he promised, among other things, that the broadcasting giant would allow the division of the combined company to do the project. Sarandos reiterated her longstanding media pitch, saying the Netflix deal would result in fewer layoffs than the Paramount one and promised to keep the traditional theater windows for Warner Bros. films.
As of 4 pm ET Thursday, when Sarandos was spotted arriving for a meeting with White House staff, Netflix was apparently in the WBD game. But something changed – and quickly. At 6pm Netflix issued a statement calling the deal “no longer financially attractive.”
Democrats in Washington quickly jumped into the news, with Sen. Elizabeth WarrenD-Mass., asking, “What did Trump officials tell the CEO of Netflix today at the White House? A handful of Trump-aligned billionaires are trying to control what you watch and charge you whatever price they want.”
Whether it was a regulatory dispute that scuttled the deal or, as Netflix’s statement suggests, financial prudence, the radio’s stock price rose in response and stomachs in the entertainment and media industry fell.
The mood is especially funereal at WBD-owned CNN, where employees are watching the changes at Paramount-owned CBS News under the CEO. David Ellisonnew editor-in-chief, Barry Weiss, with a watchful eye. As one air anchor told a colleague, Chloe Melas“We were all hoping Netflix would win.” One employee said, “No one wants to work for the Ellisons, and if Bari is going to run CNN, expect people to leave.”
One executive told Chloe, “We’re all worried about what this means. Are we going to lose our jobs?”
If the Justice Department approves the Paramount deal, Ellison’s next hurdles will be regulators in Europe and states like California, where the Attorney General. Rob Bonta He vowed to be “strong” in his review.
In the post to X, actor Mark Ruffalo called on state AGs to “get it together” and said the deal “will lower wages, and lower product quality for consumers. There are plenty of agents in Hollywood who can tell you how much past mergers and acquisitions have hurt their clients and business.”
The opinion of many in the industry is frustrated that Warner Bros. needs to regroup at all, just four years after being acquired by Discovery under CEO. David Zaslav. Zaslav stands to gain hundreds of millions of dollars if the Paramount deal closes.
At a WBD town hall on Friday, Zaslav acknowledged the difficulty of the process but told employees that, “they are the envy of everyone in this business,” two sources on the call confirmed.
One thing is clear: Everyone in Hollywood is sitting in Section 8.
BIKES IN SPACE
Ghostface masked actors lurk near the DJ booth. A blood-red cake stabbed with a butcher’s knife on the dessert table. The original “final girl”. Neve Campbell welcoming guests. The premiere of “Scream 7” on Wednesday had everything a 30-year-old fan could want. Well, almost anything.
Among the protesters outside the Paramount lot, a key figure in the franchise was absent from the lavish event: the actor Melissa Barrera. Carrying signs that read “Stand Up for Free Speech” and “Cancel Matters,” activists told me they are boycotting the film because of the 2023 star’s shooting.
Spyglass Media Group, the production company behind “Scream,” parted ways with Barrera after comments he made on Instagram about the Israel-Hamas war appeared to echo an antisemitic trope about Jewish people.
In a statement at the time, the company said it “has zero tolerance for anti-Semitism or hate speech of any kind, including false references to genocide, ethnic cleansing, Holocaust misrepresentation or anything that crosses the line into hate speech.”
In response, Barrera, who played Sam Carpenter in two “Scream” films, criticized lawlessness and Islamophobia, but said he would continue to speak out when he felt compelled. His supporters say he deserved better.
“We love this film. We love this law, but what we are saying is that it is wrong to deport someone for speaking out against the killing of people,” Nino Testasaid one of the editors. “We cannot accept the evaluation of Spyglass or its distributor, Paramount.” Representatives for Spyglass and Paramount did not respond to requests for comment.
Despite the public backlash, “Scream 7” still seems poised to be a hit, largely due to the eagerness of Campbell’s fans and the director. Kevin Williamsonwho wrote the screenplay for the original “Scream.” The film is expected to open to over $40 million at the domestic box office this weekend.
On Wednesday night, in what many interpreted as Barrera agreeing to boycott, the actor shared an Instagram story that simply said, “I see you,” with a heart emoji.
BEEP BEEP
Good news for Hollywood stunt drivers! I, at least, am not here for your business.
This week, I learned how to drift from a successful stunt performer Dee Bryantwhich has doubled for boys Angela Bassett (“9-1-1”), Kerry Washington (“Shadow Force”) and Regina King (“American Crime”). Although it was fun to navigate the 500-horsepower Mustang Dark Horse deliberately trying to lose traction, and it was clear that the most important stunt I should try is to cover 101 in an hour of running.
Bryant, on the other hand, represents a Hollywood craft that’s over a century old and has just found its work. Historically, actors wanted to maintain the illusion of their performances and daredevils and stunt performers were instructed to keep their profiles low. But in 2028, the Oscars will eliminate the stunt design category.
“We were the red stepchild in this business, and we’re always taught to hide our faces, to hide who we are,” said Bryant, as we chatted about the smell of burning rubber. “Seems like, it’s nice to finally be able to say, ‘Give us our flowers.'”
Bryant, who owns 16 motorcycles and a boat, has done all kinds of stunts, including chasing a speedboat like Washington in the much-anticipated “Shadow Force.” the rest stunt awards this year.
But he also said he’s seen production activity decline in LA after a series of shocks to the entertainment industry, from Covid to union strikes. The next potential threat on the horizon is AI.
“We’ve been fighting for CGI for years, which took a lot of work,” said Bryant. “But now AI is like CGI on crack. It’s scary. I’m not sure what the future holds.”
Fortunately, Bryant is good at directing his way out of jams. If you want to see him try to teach me some of those tricks, check out our video on the NBC News app, behind the subscriber paywall.
The HYPE
Why get your recommendations from an algorithm when you can get them from a music icon, Producers Guild president and fellow NBC News cinephile?
Songwriter Diane Warrenwho was nominated for his 17th Oscar this year for the original song “Dear Me,” by Kesha in the documentary “Diane Warren: Relentless,” she watched the “Oscar movies, ‘Heated Rivalry’ and ‘Hacks.’
President of the Producers Guild of America Stephanie Allain you are listening Dear Newton reading “Jane Eyre” at Audible for Newton’s “wonderful acting” and watching “The Pitt” because it “makes me feel more connected to my body and to the brave people who save lives and face death with dignity.”
Again We are Hamedy, NBC News’ culture and trends editor, has been watching FX and Hulu’s “Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette,” which he says makes him jealous of people who lived in ’90s New York. (And are you a fan? Check Chloe Melas a fun story on the show).
CONVERSATION
“My tics are not intentional, they are not a choice and they do not reflect my values.” – Tourette’s activist John Davidson in an interview with Variety following the fallout from the BAFTAs, where one of his cues included a racial slur while Michael B. Jordan again Delroy Lindo they were on stage.
“Hear me right: I understand, and it’s adorable, and you’re breaking my heart. — The “Daily Show” host This is Jon Stewart’s place hot take on Punch the monkey, the latest animal the internet has fallen in love with.
“In the midst of witnessing other people’s journeys for 25 years, I have been quietly preparing my own.” — “Survivor” is the host Jeff Probst to “The White Lotus” creator/“Survivor” alum Mike White in Interview magazine.
That wraps up — see you next week!
