Sky Studios CEO on AI “as a Real Opportunity,” Dual Strikes Impact and a “Particularly Difficult” Year
Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO of Sky Studios, the scripted production arm of Comcast’s European giant Sky, has been busy. The French industry leader has continued to expand her purview since taking over management of Sky Studios (Gangs of London, The Lazarus Project) in September 2021. In February, former CBS News president David Rhodes was named executive […]
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Three Questions With Netflix U.K. Content VP Anne Mensah
Whether Sex Education or a doc lens on Robbie Williams or David Beckham, whether The Crown or Black Mirror — London-based TV veteran Anne Mensah, vp, U.K. content at Netflix, has kept bringing global fans the Brit hits since joining the streamer in 2018. “The future is even stronger,” the former BBC and Sky exec […]
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The 35 Most Powerful Women in International Television
The writers and actors strikes in Hollywood, and the related issues of AI and the disruption of business models brought on by global streaming platforms, have dominated industry discussions this year, overshadowing debates over gender equity, diversity and inclusion. But the progress in those areas continues, noted by groups like the 50:50 Equality Project, a […]
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The MIPCOM Hot List: Buyers Brace for “Fewer, Better, Bigger Shows”
Bye-bye, Peak TV. After more than a decade of unprecedented production growth, the international television industry is bracing for an era of tighter budgets and more bean counting. “Instead of subscriber growth at all costs, now the focus is on production and investment and getting the balance sheet right,” says Cathy Payne, CEO of Banijay […]
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After Taylor Swift, Who Else Could Rock the Box Office Without a Major Studio?
Team Taylor Swift and AMC Theatres caught Hollywood by surprise when doing an end run around the major studios and hiring AMC Theatres to distribute a secret movie chronicling her blockbuster Eras Tour. The concert pic opened to an estimated $95 million to $97 million opening over the Oct. 13-15 weekend in North America, even […]
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‘The Wheel of Time’ Season 3 to Focus on Fourth Book, Will Explore Sea Folk Culture and Aiel Waste
The Wheel of Time‘s third season will primarily focus on the fourth book in the Robert Jordan series and feature the Sea Folk, as well as Tanchico and Rhuidean. During a Sunday morning special screening of the season two finale and Q&A featuring showrunner Rafe Judkins at the Whitby Hotel in New York, Judkins revealed […]
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Cancellations Mount as the Fashion Industry Reacts to Global Conflict
Fall is traditionally the fashion world’s busiest season, but the devastating Israel-Hamas War has changed all that, with a slew of beauty and fashion events being canceled for the upcoming weeks. However, some insiders feel that the industry’s muted response has been a result of companies valuing profits in the increasingly important Middle Eastern market […]
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‘Taylor Swift: Eras Tour’ Enchants With $95M-$97M Box Office Opening in North America
Talk about champagne problems. Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour may have fallen just short of an expected $100 million debut at the domestic box office, but it still did enchanting business. The female-fueled concert film opened to an estimated $95 million to $97 million from 3,850 theaters, thanks to the superstar’s powerful fandom. AMC Theatres, […]
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Netflix Earnings Preview: Analysts Cut Stock Price Targets As Wall Street Resets Expectations
Netflix is expected to post strong subscriber gains when it reports its latest quarterly results on Oct. 18, but you couldn’t tell that from the stock’s performance since the global streamer’s July earnings update, when it added 5.9 million subscribers to total 238.4 million global paid memberships. That is because shares in the streaming giant, […]
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Iranian Director Dariush Mehrjui and Wife Killed in Stabbing Attack (Reports)
Famed Iranian film director Dariush Mehrjui (The Cow, The Pear Tree) was murdered, along with his wife, in a stabbing attack by an unknown assailant at their home in Iran, Iranian state media reported on Sunday. The official IRNA news agency quoted Hossein Fazeli, a judiciary official, as saying that Mehrjhi and his wife, Vahideh […]
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‘Scott Pilgrim Takes Off’ Trailer Teases a Colorful Anime Take on the Battle of the Exes Tale
It’s a battle of the exes like you’ve never seen before in the first full look at Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, the new anime series from Netflix. The two-minute teaser for the show, created for television by executive producers and co-showrunners Bryan Lee O’Malley and BenDavid Grabinski, debuted during New York Comic Con on Saturday. […]
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Pete Davidson’s ‘SNL’ Cold Open Addresses Israel-Hamas War: “Sometimes Comedy Is Really the Only Way Forward Through Tragedy”
For the premiere of its 49th season, Saturday Night Live skipped its regularly scheduled sketch parodying the week’s news. Instead, host Pete Davidson delivered, in a rare staid demeanor, a solemn cold open addressing the Israel-Hamas war. “This week we saw the horrible images and stories from Israel and Gaza. And I know what you’re thinking, who […]
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Mary Lou Retton’s Daughter Says Former Gymnast’s Progress Is “Truly Remarkable” Amid Pneumonia Battle
Mary Lou Retton’s daughter shared an “uplifting” health update Saturday as the former Olympic gymnast continues to battle a rare form of pneumonia in the hospital. Her daughter McKenna Kelley wrote on Instagram, “Mom’s progress is truly remarkable. Prayers have been felt and are being answered. Although she remains in ICU, her path to recovery […]
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Chris Evans Talks “Enjoying Life” With Wife Alba Baptista After Two Wedding Ceremonies
Chris Evans has opened up about tying the knot with actress Alba Baptista last month and how married life has been since. The actor confirmed the news for the first time publicly while on stage Saturday at New York Comic Con, saying, “I got married. It was really, really great.” Evans added that the couple had […]
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Jada Pinkett Smith Reacts to Chris Rock’s Jokes Targeting Her and Will Smith During Comedy Special
Months after Chris Rock’s Chris Rock: Selective Outrage aired on Netflix, Jada Pinkett Smith is sharing her thoughts on the comedy special. In an interview with The New York Times, published online Saturday, Pinkett Smith reacted to Rock mocking her and Will Smith during his special, which came after the infamous Oscars slap. “I remember […]
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Matthew Vaughn Talks ‘Kick-Ass’ Reboot, Why ‘Argylle’s Author Will Become the “J.K. Rowling of Spy Movies” at NYCC
Matthew Vaughn revealed a Kick-Ass reboot in the works, addressed challenges around working in the X-Men universe, and teased his upcoming spy thriller Argylle during his Saturday evening panel at New York Comic Con. Vaughn appeared to talk about his library of work during the 45-minute panel, which ultimately dived into his experiences on several projects […]
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Julia Louis-Dreyfus Seems to Be Clueless About a Potential ‘Seinfeld’ Reunion
Julia Louis-Dreyfus seems to know nothing about a potential Seinfeld reunion. During a recent stand-up show in Boston, Jerry Seinfeld teased a possible reunion of the hit NBC sitcom. When an audience member asked the comedian if he liked Seinfeld‘s ending, he responded, “Well, I have a little secret for you about the ending, but I […]
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Penélope Cruz, Michael Mann on Working With Adam Driver and How ‘Ferrari’ Is Not a Racing Movie
Adam Driver, Penélope Cruz, Shailene Woodley, Michael Mann and more of the cast and crew of Ferrari vroomed their way onto the red carpet on Friday for the closing night of the 61st annual New York Film Festival. The film brings to the big screen a few difficult months of Enzo Ferrari’s (Driver) life, as […]
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