Tag: HollywoodReporter

Governor Gavin Newsom is concerned about the antitrust lawsuit filed by 12 state attorneys general led by California against Paramount‘s $111 billion takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery, and what it will mean for the entertainment industry, according to The Wall Street Journal.

In a Friday report, sources told the WSJ that Newsom has said if the merger is blocked due to the lawsuit, state employment will suffer. The outlet also notes that “Newsom’s office has encouraged Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office, which has independent authority to file such suits, to find a resolution out of court.”

Reps for Newsom and Bonta declined the WSJ‘s requests for comment; The Hollywood Reporter also reached out to California’s governor for comment.

On July 13, the states filed a lawsuit alleging that the merger would combine two of Hollywood’s top five studios, which would lead to higher prices, less movies in theaters and a decrease in the variety and quality of content. “There is no debate here: This merger will snuff out competition, drive up prices, diminish content quality, and produce fewer movies and shows each year,” said California Attorney General Rob Bonta at a press conference at the time.

The filing of the suit led to a temporary pause on the merger, ruled by U.S. District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín on July 20; that temporary restraining order was subsequently extended on July 23. One day later, Paramount agreed to hold off on the acquisition until the court makes a decision of whether or not the deal violates antitrust laws.

In a court document filed on July 24, Paramount said they will not consummate the acquisition until June 2027 or five days after the court issues a ruling on the case, whichever is earlier.

Alongside California, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon and Washington are involved in the suit.

While organizations including Cinema United has shown support for the suit and actors Benedict Cumberbatch, Alan Cumming and Benedict Wong called on the U.K. to block the Paramount–Warner Bros. merger, Newsom is not the only democratic power player to reportedly push for a settlement.

On Monday, Ari Emanuel, WME executive chairman and CEO of TKO, wrote an op-ed for the WSJ in support of Paramount’s acquisition of Warner Bros.

“When government officials manipulate markets to reach political outcomes, antitrust stops protecting competition and starts threatening it,” Emanuel wrote. “The attorneys general should drop this case and get back to enforcing the laws as they are written. Let Hollywood creatives get back to trying to rip each other’s heads off at the box office, in streaming, online and everywhere else we compete. It’s what we’re best at.”

Marvel‘s Wonder Man star Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is speaking out after the Disney+ series was un-renewed.

The streamer picked up the series for a second season in March before reversing course and canceling the renewal on Thursday. The decision came as a surprise after Wonder Man had a solid debut on Disney+ in late January, drawing 618 million minutes of viewing time during its premiere week, according to Nielsen’s streaming ratings. While the show fell out of the top 10 original streaming titles after that, it continued to earn positive reviews from critics and audiences. Abdul-Mateen also received an Emmy nomination for his performance of the title character.

Following the cancellation, Abdul-Mateen took to Instagram to share his reaction.

“Word just dropped that Wonder Man won’t be coming back,” he wrote in the caption. “That’s life, right? Everything will shake out.”

The Candyman actor continued, “I wanted to say thank you to everybody who WATCHED the show, ENJOYED the show, and SHARED that they enjoyed the show in some way or other. The show worked. And that’s my favorite thing about it. I could see it on the faces of the Youtube Reactors (because I watched along with y’all this time. Shoutout to y’all) and I can see in the messages I get saying how the show reminded some of you not to give up, and I feel it in the genuine love shared when I bump into some of you all during the day. So, thinking of you all today. I’m glad we got to be a part of something cool.”

He concluded his post: “Thank you for watching… And uhh… See you at the EMMYS.”

Abdul-Mateen is nominated for best actor in a comedy series alongside Steve Carell (Rooster), Matthew Rhys (Widow’s Bay), Jason Segel (Shrinking) and Martin Short (Only Murders in the Building).

Wonder Man co-creators Destin Daniel Cretton (Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) and Andrew Guest had also been set to return for a second season. They executive produce alongside Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Jonathan Schwartz and Brad Winderbaum, head of Marvel Television and Marvel Animation. Guest also served as showrunner, while Cretton directed several episodes.

Ben Kingsley, X Mayo, Demetrius Grosse, Zlatko Burić, Arian Moayed, Olivia Thirlby, Dan Donohue and Kameron J. Meadows rounded out the cast.

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Lego has unveiled its first-ever The X-Files set, arriving Aug. 1 for Lego Insiders (Lego’s free-to-join membership program) or Aug. 4 for the general public. The collectible recreates Fox Mulder’s basement office alongside an alien arrival scene in the surrounding woods. It also includes eight minifigures: Fox Mulder, Dana Scully, Walter Skinner, Mr. X, Alex Krycek, Carl Busch, the Flukeman and a gray alien.

1,478-Piece set

‘The X-Files’ Lego Set

Pre-Order

The X-Files Lego office is packed with references longtime viewers will recognize.

At 1,478 pieces, the build lands in the upper-mid range for Lego Ideas releases, making it a substantial display model without reaching the size of the company’s largest collector sets. Created by a fan designer, the project won Lego Ideas’ ’90s Nostalgia Challenge after receiving strong community support before being selected for production.

The set includes case files, investigative equipment and the iconic “I Want to Believe” poster hanging on the wall. A removable desk section allows builders to take a closer look at the interior, while minifigures can be attached to recreate memorable moments from the series.

Led by David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson, The X-Files became one of television’s defining sci-fi dramas during its original run from 1993 to 2002 before returning for two additional revival seasons in 2016 and 2018. A new Ryan Coogler reboot is currently in development for Hulu.

The completed Lego display measures more than 12 inches tall and is designed with adult collectors in mind. Builders can also use the Lego Builder app to zoom in, rotate the model in 3D and follow step-by-step digital instructions throughout the building process.

Lego Insiders members can purchase the set ahead of its wider release through the company’s free-to-join early-access program. While supplies last, qualifying purchases will also include the exclusive Scully’s Lab promotional gift, giving fans an additional mini build inspired by the FBI agent’s forensic workspace.

Cinema buffs of the world, get ready! The leopard is about to be on the loose again! Attendees of the 79th edition of the Locarno Film Festival in the Italian part of Switzerland will get to spot the famous symbol and mascot of the annual celebration of cinema, and its gold or yellow and black colors, on all sorts of posters and bunting, on festival merchandise and on street and shop decorations all over town. In other words: Locarno will be covered in leopard print.

Fans of the festival will, similar to a big cat, be on the hunt for new and old cinematic gems in the lineup put together by artistic director Giona A. Nazzaro and his team for Locarno79.

Of course, the Pardo d’Oro, or Golden Leopard, the top prize at Locarno, and other Leopard awards will be coveted prey for filmmakers throughout the festival program. Before the juries decide the 2026 winners at the end of Locarno79, which runs Aug. 5-15, organizers will also bestow Leopard honors upon various big names.

Director James Gray, for example, will receive the Career Leopard, or Pardo alla Carriera. Director Darren Aronofsky will be honored with the Honorary Leopard (Pardo d’Onore), while Belgian-born actress Virginie Efira will be the recipient of the Leopard Club Award. And Zoe Saldaña will be awarded a Special Leopard. 

In other words, as is Locarno tradition, the leopard will be all over town throughout the annual showcase of cinema in all its forms.

That has been the case since the fest introduced the leopard as its signature animal in 1968, when its top award was officially renamed the Golden Leopard, which also ensured that it could be distinguished from Venice’s Golden Lion and Rotterdam’s Tiger.

Did you know that there is an actual leopard that is the current public face of the Locarno festival? After the same leopard served as its face since 2008, the team traveled to the Cotswolds in England in 2023 to meet Bagheera, the real-life leopard who has represented the Swiss fest on the world stage since 2024.

Michele Jannuzzi of Jannuzzi Smith was the creative director, with wildlife photographer Tim Flach handling the shoot that captured still photos and the animal’s movements for the festival’s pre-film trailers.

The leopard can even be seen on banners, posters and walls behind press conferences, at times making it seem as if it was taking a bite out of cinema history – or roaring at famous or up-and-coming actors, directors and other creatives. Just check out the photo with Willem Dafoe from the 2025 edition of the fest above.

Of course, the leopard is also a symbol, for example for the Locarno festival’s adventurous approach to cinema. “The leopard is different from a lion, in the sense that it’s a bit faster, it’s leaner, and it inhabits the feline kingdom in a very specific way,” Nazzaro tells THR.

“It’s a bit on the fringes, but this way it lives on the fringes of the savanna and the jungle is very central,” he concludes. “It’s also a very elegant animal, and it’s a very quick animal. So the king and the lion are always where they are supposed to be. The leopard goes where it wants.”

The Barbie sequel has hit a roadblock on its way back to Barbieland.

Warner Bros. has until December to reach a deal with the stars of the 2023 film, Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, as well as director and co-writer Greta Gerwig, before the rights revert to Mattel, according to a report from the New York Times.

The studio has been negotiating with the principal talent for months, offering them a share of the profits if the film reaches certain box office milestones. The outlet also claims that Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav declined to approve the proposed deal because he believed it was “too generous.”

The Times went on to report that a Warner Bros. spokesperson disputed that characterization, saying talent representatives declined an offer made in May and have not yet submitted a counteroffer.

“We have a rights deal with Mattel in place and have made a series of big offers to try and finalize deals to make the next Barbie film,” studio co-chairs Pam Abdy and Michael De Luca said in a statement. “Unfortunately, we have been unable to reach an agreement thus far.”

The Hollywood Reporter reached out to Warner Bros. for comment, and they had nothing further to add.

Gerwig and her Barbie co-writer Noah Baumbach have had an idea for Barbie 2 for a couple of years. THR first reported in 2024 that the couple was in the “early stages” of developing a story for the sequel.

Barbie was a massive hit with audiences and critics, grossing $1.5 billion worldwide and earning eight Oscar nominations, winning one for best original song (“What Was I Made For?” by Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell). Upon its release in July 2023, the film also became a cultural phenomenon thanks to its marketing campaign, signature pink aesthetic and simultaneous release with Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, dubbing the name, “Barbenheimer.”

Taylor Sheridan is getting back out in front of the camera.

The creator of Lioness, as well as Landman, Mayor of Kingstown, Tulsa King and Yellowstone and its spinoffs, has a surprise on-camera role in season three of the Paramount+ spy thriller, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

“He’s involved. I mean, he has a role, which is great. And the show’s better for it when he plays a role,” Thad Luckinbill told THR of Sheridan’s balancing acting with writing and producing his many television series. “He’s a great character, and he kills it. So, I love when he comes in and plays with us.”

THR also reached out to Paramount for comment.

While Luckinbill, who plays Kyle McManus, a field-active CIA paramilitary officer and old friend of station chief Joe (Zoe Saldaña), couldn’t say much more about what Sheridan’s role would entail, he did reveal they share scenes together. Sheridan previously appeared as CIA officer Cody Spears in a cameo during season two.

It isn’t unfamiliar territory for Sheridan. Before becoming one of television’s most prolific creators, he appeared in series including Sons of Anarchy and Veronica Mars, in addition to onscreen roles in Yellowstone and 1883.

Whether it’s in front of or behind the camera, Luckinbill said he still gives every part his full attention.

“He’s so real. Whether he’s an actor, writer, director or a producer, he’s still the same guy,” Luckinbill, who co-starred with Sheridan in 2018’s 12 Strong, said. “He’s gonna give you the same opinions, and he cares the same about the product. So it doesn’t really change. He is who he is and you get it. He’s full access.”

Matt Gerald, who plays Army Delta Force operator Cody J, teased that the stakes are “incredibly high, if not the highest yet.”

“It starts with a bang. It’s nonstop throughout the entirety of the season — and it ends with a bang.”

As for the behind-the-scenes training, Gerald explained, “We started with some weapons training with some of our top military class, some of the best coaching forces guys on the planet that we were lucky enough to train with. They put us through some close quarter combat stuff. So shooting a variety of weapons, training, movement stuff, a lot of explosions, breaching doors. We did it all.”

He added, “In a time where there’s a lot of war going on in the world, we’re asking our soldiers to risk life and limb, to be able to get an understanding of the things they do when they go to work every day, it’s highly rewarding.”

Per Paramount+, here’s the official season three logline: “Hidden networks, foreign operatives and personal betrayals collide. Joe (Saldaña) walks the line between duty and home as unseen forces circle her world. Patterns appear where they shouldn’t, names vanish and paths rearrange. Guided by Kaitlyn (Nicole Kidman) and Westfield (Michael Kelly), Joe confronts enemies operating in the shadows, leaving her to reckon with a war that now reaches into every part of her life.”

Lioness season three premieres Sunday on Paramount+.

After announcing plans earlier this week for FIFA to sell off a stake in the World Cup to private investors, the president of the global soccer governing body, Gianni Infantino, has announced he’s pulling those plans.

“The FIFA Forward Enterprise project was intended to provide a basis for further strengthening our FIFA Member Associations and our sport worldwide, especially in those countries where support is most needed. And more so, as we said from the outset, to do this only if a majority of the FIFA Member Associations were in support and always subject to a consultation process with them, the FIFA Council, the Confederations and wider stakeholders,” Infantino said in a statement on Friday.

“Having listened carefully to all the views, it has become clear that the project has created divisions of a nature that, regardless of the level of support, are no longer in the interest of the objective set out in the first place,” he continued. “Our purpose has always been — and will always be — to unite and improve. As a result, this proposal will not proceed.”

The proposed plan would have consisted of FIFA setting up a new entity, FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), that would bundle soccer associated money-making operations while a significant stake would be sold to private investors. 20 percent of the company would have been sold to Thrive Capital, an invest group run by Joshua Kushner, the brother of President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner.

Backlash was immediate, with European soccer body UEFA saying on Thursday that if the plan went through, it would boycott FIFA events, including the World Cup. Three of the four semi-finalists of the 2026 men’s World Cup hailed from Europe, including this year’s champion, Spain.

Earlier this week, U.K. Prime Minister Andy Burnham released a statement online that read, “football does not belong to investors. It belongs to the people who fill the stands and who stand on the touchline week in, week out, rain or shine. The World Cup is not a product. It is the greatest competition in world sport, and it was never anyone’s to sell. Dress the deal up however you like. Once you have sold a piece of it, you have sold out.”

Infantino’s statement continued, “Moving forward, my intent is to bring all interested parties back together in the coming days and weeks in the spirit of shared interest in our game, and with the objective to continue growing football everywhere, particularly in those countries that mostly need our support.”

Chris Nanos, the sheriff in the Nancy Guthrie kidnapping case, has released a pair of ransom notes initially sent to the CBS affiliate in her home city of Tucson, Arizona. The second of the two notes states that Nancy has “perished.”

The notes “purport to have been written by kidnappers,” the Pima County Sheriff’s Department wrote in a press release timed to the six-month anniversary of Nancy’s disappearance. The first note was sent to KOLD-TV 13 News on Feb. 2; Nancy was last seen alive on Jan. 31.

Addressed directly to Savannah Guthrie, the first ransom note demands $4 million-$6 million (depending on date of deposit) in Bitcoin for her safe release. It says Nancy is “safe but scared.”

“Her life is in your hands,” the first note states. The note’s final line offers two details as proof of its legitimacy: “She had a white smart watch on the floor of the foot of her bed and the white flood light in the backyard was destroyed.”

Nancy Guthrie is the mother of Today show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie. She was 84 years old at the time of her disappearance.

On Feb. 6, a second email sent to the same news outlet’s Tips line states that Nancy has died and “is buried in nature.” The initial deadline for the ransom deposit ($4 million) was Feb. 5; the second deadline ($6 million) was Feb. 9.

The second note reads, in full: “Guthrie Family, We did not fully grasp the seriousness of her physical condition. We never intended to hurt her, that was not our intention. She perished shortly after she was taken. We believe it was heart related. She is buried in nature now. Nothing you could have done could have changed the outcome. We want your family to know this and hope you can all find peace. We are truly sorry.”

Nancy had a serious heart condition and was without her medication. The ransom notes are posted below.

The Pima County Sheriff’s Department says it is sharing the ransom notes now for the first time publicly in hopes that someone in the public recognizes “distinctive patterns of word choice, syntax and phraseology that reflect the writer’s unique linguistic style.”

“They also provide valuable insight into the person’s mindset, motives and the evolution of their tone over time,” the press release continues. “As with the unidentified male depicted in the video, we believe these distinctive linguistic characteristics may be recognizable to someone who knows or has interacted with the notes’ writer. A friend, family member, coworker, classmate or acquaintance may recognize these patterns of expression and possess information that could help identify the individual responsible.”

Doorbell videos of the suspected kidnapper were released to the public on Feb. 10.

Warner Music Group COO and CFO Armin Zerza is stepping down from his role, the company announced on Friday, noting that the executive has decided to leave for “personal reasons.” Warner Records COO Tom Corson will replace Zerza WMG’s as COO, and the company is starting a search for its next CFO.

Zerza “will remain available to the company through the end of the fiscal year to ensure a seamless transition,” WMG said.

Louis Dickler, WMG’s SVP, Global Controller and Chief Accounting Officer will serve as interim CFO while the company looks for a replacement.

It’s a sudden departure for Zerza given that he joined the record company just over a year ago in April of 2025, and he was given the joint role as COO as well just over two months ago. Zerza’s successor will be WMG’s fourth CEO since 2023. Longtime CFO Eric Levin retired in 2023, succeeded by former ESPN and Disney executive Bryan Castellani before Zerza’s appointment in 2025.

“Armin has been an instrumental leader and member of the executive team during a crucial period of growth and transformation,” WMG CEO Robert Kyncl said in a statement. “We thank Armin for his outstanding business and financial leadership and enduring contributions to WMG, and we wish him all the best.”

Corson, meanwhile, is one of the most respected record executives in the music industry. Before joining Warner, he was the president and COO of RCA Music Group. With Warner Records CEO Aaron Bay-Schuck, the duo led a respected turnaround for the storied label, garnering a reputation in the record business for a strong artist development system with stars like Zach Bryan, Benson Boone and Sombr. With Corson moving to the corporate posting, following the transitional period, Bay-Schuck will helm Warner Records alone.

“It’s an honor to step into this role during such a transformative era for both our company and the industry at large,” Corson said in a statement. “A huge thanks to Robert for the opportunity, as well as to Aaron and the Warner Records team for the unforgettable run. I’m looking forward to building on our momentum, turbocharging operations, and creating even more impactful opportunities for our incredible artists and songwriters worldwide.”

As Kyncl said of Corson’s appointment: Tom is one of the most dynamic, respected, and effective executives in the music business, and a fierce champion of talent. Together with Aaron, he’s helped architect Warner Records’ resurgence, and we’ll leverage his vision, disciplined execution, and deep experience across the entire company as we continue to deliver for our artists and songwriters while achieving our top and bottom line goals.”

Less than a month after celebrating the most commercially successful World Cup in history, the boss of FIFA is in the hot seat.

Gianni Infantino, president of the global soccer governing body, is under fire from in and outside FIFA over his controversial plan to sell off a stake in the World Cup to private investors.

Soccer governing bodies in Europe and the Americas have come out against the proposal, which would see FIFA transfer its commercial operations to a new entity, FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), and sell 20 percent of the company to Thrive Capital, an invest group run by Joshua Kushner, the brother of Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner.

European soccer body UEFA on Thursday said it would boycott FIFA events, including the World Cup, if the plan went through. Concacaf, the association which represents national soccer associations across the Americans and the Caribbean, including the United States, has also voted to reject the deal.

On Friday, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), without directly rejecting the FIFA proposal, issued a statement of solidarity with UEFA and Concacaf. The plan has provoked “unprecedented divisions” between FIFA members, the AFC said in a statement, and “cannot realistically” achieve “the necessary broad consensus and unity” needed to go forward.

The united opposition should mean the end of Infantino’s deal. Together, the UEFA, Concacaf and the AFC account for 143 of FIFA’s 211 members, more than enough to sink the proposal.

For the first time since he was elected president of FIFA in 2016, Infantino himself looks under threat.

In its statement, the Asian Football Confederation called on FIFA to undertake “an urgent review of its governance and decision-making framework.”

On Friday Carlos Cordeiro, one of Infantino’s senior advisors, resigned in protest over the controversial plan, calling it “a bad deal” that would “mortgage football’s future.”

U.K. Prime Minister Andy Burnham, a passionate soccer fan, has called out Infantino directly, saying Friday he was “the wrong man” to lead FIFA.

Before this scandal, Infantino looked certain to win a fourth term as FIFA president. He was running unopposed in elections, to be held in March, 2027. Now, North American soccer chief Victor Montagliani is looking to challenge him, according to media reports.