Natalie Portman’s Horror Show
Natalie Portman + Jenna Ortega: Macabre Queens
Good morning: In today's edition of The Industry, we look at:
In The Industry News: Natalie Portman + Jenna Ortega. Skydance goes FCC Official. Netflix and Universal and chill.
Actor Spotlight: Teri Garr. Daniel Craig. Ke Huy Quan.
Festivals: Gotham Award Nominations and AFM’s Victorian Psycho.
Indie Filmmaker Spotlight/International News: Barry Levinson’s Assassination, Mickey Keating’s Crooks.
Let’s go!
Our virtual Live Event with Christine Vachon (prod: Past Lives, May December, Boys Don’t Cry) kicks off tonight at 6pm EST. Here are the details:
https://theindustry.co/p/live-event-christine-vachon-on-becoming
THE INDUSTRY NEWS
Natalie Portman and Jenna Ortega are in talks to star in The Gallerist. Here’s the anemic logline:
A desperate gallerist who conspires to sell a dead guy at Art Basel Miami.
This hails from director Cathy Yan (dir: Birds of Prey).
That’s all we know but aesthetically this macabre premise tracks well for Ortega who has made a name for herself, connecting with roles that are sutured to the netherworld (Wednesday, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice). Portman thrives on psychological drama like Black Swan (2010, her highest-grossing non-superhero film with $329 M), and the recent May December (2023).
We’ll keep you updated when this coalesces.
It’s FCC Official. At least on paper, David Ellison will control 100% of Paramount’s voting rights.
An FCC Amendment stated:
“As sole manager of these entities, David Ellison will hold 100 percent of the Ellison Family’s voting interests in NAI and New Paramount, in addition to serving as New Paramount’s Chairman and CEO.”
There had been some talk of Larry Ellison (David’s father, billionaire, and founder of Oracle), who put in the lion share of the capital for Skydance’s purchase of Paramount getting voting rights.
The Skydance merger is pending regulatory approval and is forecasted to close next year.
Q3 numbers have dropped for YouTube. Here’s the latest, with the change from last year:
$8.92 bn ad revenue
↑ 12.1% from last year
9% lower than Netflix’s $9.83 bn
10.6% Total TV Usage (Nielson)
↑ .7% since last Quarter
34% larger share than Netflix
Some believe YouTube poses the biggest existential threat to the streaming companies. YouTube has the largest share of streaming with 2.5B monthly active users (80M paid), user-generated content, premium video channels including Starz, with whom they’ve extended their bundle deal, and ABC, AMC, BBC, Disney, ESPN, Fx, Paramount plus the NFL.
But the streamers are also playing a different game with premium content and using YouTube engagement on trailers to drive people to their platforms.
Netflix and Universal and chill? The companies have extended their licensing agreement for Universal’s animation films under their Illumination and DreamWorks studios, to appear on Netflix roughly 4 months after their theatrical release ends.
Here’s the breakdown:
Starting in 2027, Universal and Focus Features live-action films will appear on Netflix.
Live-action films will stream on Peacock first, move to Netflix for an exclusive 10-month period, then return to Peacock.
Netflix will also license Universal’s full animation and live-action film slate for additional streaming windows.
NBCUniversal Studio Group’s Chairman of Global Distribution, Peter Levinsohn, stated:
“We’re always trying to marry our diverse Film slate and innovative windowing strategy with the right partners, and Netflix’s unparalleled support of our slate allows us to make sure our films are enjoyed in the theater and at home by the broadest possible audience.”
Illumination and DreamWorks typically dominate Netflix’s top 10 animation list, with The Wild Robot expected to hit Netflix May 2025.
Tidbit:
Wazzup!: Paramount and Miramax announced a Scary Movie reboot, reuniting original creators The Wayans Brothers for Scary Movie 6. The Wayans had exited after the second film in 2001 over financial disagreements, with Craig Mazin (creator: Chernobyl, The Last of Us) and director David Zucker later taking over. But it looks like they have stuck up a deal to make their triumphant return.
With the boon of great horror films in the past few years, there will be plenty to spoof:
M3Gan
Smile
Terrifier
Cuckoo
Shooting starts next year. No word yet on if the original cast will be returning. Wazzup?
Netflix is looking to switch things up! Chief Communications Officer Rachel Whetstone and global public policy VP Dean Garfield are leaving the streamer in an effort for the company to streamline the positions into one new role that will oversee both policy and corporate communications. With Garfield having no prior comms experience and Whetstone uninterested in taking over, co-CEO Ted Sarandos looks for a Chief Global Affairs officer to fill the newly formed title.
The streaming giant’s workforce trims and departmental restructuring in recent months have not been as extensive as the cutbacks at the studios.
A new addition to the streamer is former CEO of advertising firm Ampersand, Nicolle Pangis, who was brought on as the new VP of Advertising. Pangis will oversee Netflix’s U.S. and Canada advertising sales, leveraging her extensive management experience in television.
Pangis will be taking over from Peter Naylor, who left Netflix after two years this past summer.
Jake Gyllenhaal will not return for Presumed Innocent, which was renewed at Apple TV+ for Season 2 back in July. The series is said to be going down the anthology route, adapting the novel Dissection of a Murder by Jo Murray, which Apple TV+ and Warner Bros TV have acquired.
Here’s the synopsis:
Leila Reynolds is way out of her depth, but the defendant only wants her – and to make matters worse, her husband is the prosecutor. Soon Leila is fighting to keep her own secrets buried too.
Creator David E. Kelley returns with EPs J.J. Abrams and Gyllenhaal.
THE ACTOR SPOTLIGHT
A comedy legend, the effervescent Teri Garr, has sadly died at age 79 from a twenty-year battle with Multiple Sclerosis. The iconic actress, known for her expressiveness, bubbly persona, and true natural talent as a performer, adding depth to even the silliest of roles, made her a standout in the film community from early on in her career.
The daughter of a Rockette, Garr was a prolific dancer in her early days featured in four Elvis Presley films, including Fun in Acapulco (1963) and Viva Las Vegas (1964). Despite being just feet away from Presley, playing showgirls and go-go dancers was less than satisfying for Garr who would soon see her breakthrough performance in Mel Brooks’ hilarious comedy, Young Frankenstein (1974, put the candle back scene) opposite, a legend in his own right, Gene Wilder.
Her Oscar-nominated role in the satirical rom-com Tootsie (1982, freakout scene), as the good friend turned love interest of Dustin Hoffman’s respected but difficult-to-work-with character in the star-studded Sydney Pollack film was some of her best work. Hoffman wrote in a statement following the news of her passing:
“She was brilliant and singular in all she did, and had a heart of gold. Working with her was one of the great highs, there was no one like her.”
Despite being hilarious, Garr frequently played the level headed predictable character often tasked to rein in the wild men around her, however her performance in Mr. Mom (1983, scene) she was able to play the bold steadfast advertising executive in the rousing family comedy that saw her Caroline Butler gleefully leave her ill equipped and naive husband, played by Michael Keaton, in charge of the kids.
Keaton wrote on his Instagram:
“This is a day I feared and knew was coming. Forget about how great she was as an actress and comedienne, she was a wonderful woman - not just great to work with but great to be around.”
A whole new audience was blessed with Garr’s perfect comedic timing in a role that no other actress would have been right for, portraying Lisa Kudrow’s Phoebe Buffay on Friends. Kudrow explained how she was grateful to have worked with her sharing:
“Teri was a comedic acting genius who was and is a huge influence on me and I know I’m not alone in that.”
Beyond just the movies, or supporting parts on popular sitcoms and variety shows, Garr was named one of the all time greatest guests on David Letterman’s late night show with their interactions always peak comedy and nothing but enjoyable. This clip is just one of many appearances Garr made on Letterman’s couch, with too many good moments to choose from I highly recommend looking up her interviews.
She was intimidatingly charming and universally loved and adored by both audiences and those who knew her, she will be greatly missed leaving behind a legacy of laughter.
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Daniel Craig exposes himself in A24’s Queer.
The film takes us into the world of 1950 Mexico City, that feels part fantasy.
But it’s not the bright colors of an Almodovar film but the psychological realm of director Luca Guadagnino, who captured the portrait a man who is disembodied.
Craig has an odd desperation for connection. Almost an addiction to it that turns his attention to a young expatriate naval officer. His obsession is a sickness that drives his need for companionship and a journey at the end of the film that gets… well you’ll just have to watch the trailer.
The performance is being touted as a career-best of Craig, and I agree, although I would have loved to see his early 90s portrayal of Joe Pitt (a closeted queer man) in Angels in America. Here’s a still of a very young Craig in that performance. Here’s another great theater performance of Craig playing a villain:
https://theindustry.co/p/bond-plays-villain
Queer is releasing on November 27th.
Alpha Gang (dir: The Zellner Brothers: Sasquatch Sunset), has found it’s alien crew:
Channing Tatum
Dave Bautista
Steven Yeun (Beef)
Zoë Kravitz (The Batman)
Léa Seydoux (The Beast)
Riley Keough (Sasquatch Sunset)
Their leader is is Cate Blanchett, who is ready to conquer the Earth.
Here’s the official synopsis:
Alien leader Alpha One and her crew disguise themselves as an armed and dangerous 1950s leather-clad biker gang to invade Earth. Their conquest plan derails when they experience the most toxic, contagious human disease of all: emotion.
We couldn’t be more excited to see how this alien gang gels. Mk2 is launching international sales at AFM.
Tidbits:
Ke Huy Quan stars in Fairytale in New York, a Lionsgate action thriller by Jalmari Helander. Set on Christmas Eve, Quan plays a cab driver fighting criminals to retrieve his son’s gift. It's been great to see Quan's rise since his return to Hollywood and winning his Oscar for Everything Everywhere All At Once. It's been great seeing these vehicle films tailor made for him and his unique mix of humor, charm, and martial arts.
Case in point, his upcoming Love Hurts trailer is here.
FESTIVALS
Gotham Award Nominations:
Best Feature
Anora (Sean Baker) Neon
Babygirl (Halina Reijn) A24
Challengers (Luca Guadagnino) Amazon MGM Studios
A Different Man (Aaron Schimberg) A24
Nickel Boys (RaMell Ross) Orion Pictures/Amazon MGM Studios
Outstanding Lead Performance
Pamela Anderson, The Last Showgirl (Roadside Attractions)
Adrien Brody, The Brutalist (A24)
Colman Domingo, Sing Sing (A24)
Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Hard Truths (Bleecker Street)
Nicole Kidman, Babygirl (A24)
Keith Kupferer, Ghostlight (IFC Films)
Mikey Madison, Anora (NEON)
Demi Moore, The Substance (MUBI)
Saoirse Ronan, Outrun (Sony Pictures Classics)
Justice Smith, I Saw the TV Glow (A24)
Best Screenplay
Between the Temples, Nathan Silver, C. Mason Wells (Sony Pictures Classics)
Evil Does Not Exist, Ryûsuke Hamaguchi (Sideshow and Janus Films)
Femme, Sam H. Freeman, Ng Choon Ping (Utopia)
His Three Daughters, Azazel Jacobs (Netflix)
Janet Planet, Annie Baker (A24)
Anora (trailer) - leads with four nominations:
Best Feature
Best Director
Outstanding Lead Performance (Mikey Madison)
Outstanding Supporting Performance (Yura Borisov)
The winners of the awards will be announced on December 2nd at a ceremony at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City.
Full list here.
American Film Market (AFM) is kicking off next week. Here are three new projects:
Cast: Margaret Qualley
Dir: Zachary Wigon (Sanctuary, starring Qualley)
Prod: Dan Kagan (Longlegs)
Financier/International Sales Rep: Anton
Domestic Sales: Anton, UTA Independent Film Group and CAA Media Finance
Synopsis: In 1858, psychopathic governess Winifred Notty (Qualley) arrives at isolated Ensor House to teach the children. As employees mysteriously vanish, the owners grow suspicious of her true motives hidden beneath her disturbing nature.
The shoot is set for March 2025.
Cast: Guy Pearce, Hannah Waddingham (Ted Lasso)
Dir: Matt Chambers (The Bike Thief)
Sales Rep: Bankside Films (Your Monster, Talk to Me)
Synopsis: Leonard, a once-famous singer now performing at a modest hotel in the Canary Islands, meets Shirley, and they connect instantly. However, Shirley's husband is a dangerous man, plunging their blossoming romance into chaos and violence.
Retreat (IMDBPro link)
Featuring an all-deaf cast and director/writer
Sales Rep: XYZ Films
Synopsis: In an isolated deaf community, Matt's idyllic world cracks when Eva arrives, making him question his identity and the costs of maintaining his supposedly utopian society.
Kind of reminds me of now (sadly) forgotten Sundance/Cannes film The Tribe (2014), which was a hyper-violent Ukrainian sign language film (trailer).
INDIE FILMMAKER SPOTLIGHT
From the director behind Best Picture winner, Rain Man, Barry Levinson’s new cast for his upcoming historical thriller, Assassination, is overflowing with A list talent. The part murder mystery, part film noir is led by Jessica Chastain, Brendan Fraser, Bryan Cranston, and Al Pacino with production set to begin early 2025 in Boston.
Official Logline:
The fateful murder of John F. Kennedy re-imagining his death as a hit ordered by Chicago kingpin Sam Giancana as payback for JFK’s attempt to undermine the mob after they helped get him elected.
Levinson who in recent years has stuck primarily to the TV producing game (Dopesick), his new film will center on Dorothy Kilgallen (played by Chastain) who not only was one of the first female crime reporters in America, but was among the first to suspect Lee Harvey Oswald did not act alone.
Levinson stated:
“She was the only woman to ever cover the JFK case. With back-channel sources to the Warren Commission, she started putting pieces together that no one else did. She died under very suspicious circumstances, but it was never investigated.”
The controversial but talented filmmaker David Mamet who hasn’t worked on a feature film since his underrated sports movie, Red Belt (2008) is behind the script, joined by There Will be Blood (2007) and Punch Drunk-Love (2002) cinematographer Robert Elswitt.
The Bugsy (1991) director was extremely reliable in the 80s and 90s, putting out high quality and highly acclaimed films, and with the team assembled for his forthcoming crime drama, Assassination could definitely be a movie to look out for.
Levinson’s next film, Alto Knights, with Robert De Niro is in post-production expected to go straight to streaming next spring.
Darling director Mickey Keating shares the first look at his upcoming crime drama, Crooks.
Official Logline:
Two small-time crooks rob a mob-run poker game in Chicago. Things immediately go wrong, resulting in a high-stakes adventure through the Midwest.
Keating shared:
“This film is a highly stylized celebration of aesthetics ranging from noir to heist to western. I think anyone familiar with my work will see this as a natural progression from my previous films.”
The indie filmmaker’s last dip in the crime genre was one of his most popular and breakthrough films, Carnage Park (trailer), a brutal and unpredictable hostage story that is remembered for its memorable screening at the 2016 Midnight Section at Sundance.
Having just wrapped production in Chicago, Crooks is currently looking for distribution.
Tidbit:
Director Mohamed Diab’s (Marvel’s Moon Knight) film Lion, starring Mohamed Ramadan, is a 1850s Egypt-set epic inspired by Spartacus and Braveheart, addressing slavery themes. The ensemble cast includes Aly Kassem and Razane Jammal. Lion launches in 2025.
Making a movie is Child's Play: Chucky, the iconic killer doll from Child’s Play, celebrates his horror legacy with Doc of Chucky, a Shudder exclusive releasing Friday. The film delves into Chucky’s enduring impact and teases the future of the franchise (trailer).
Hungary’s 30% tax incentive has been extended through 2030. This is vital for film productions. Many, like Dune, Maria and The Brutalist that have all leveraged the reduced production costs and high tax incentive to actualize their distinct visions.
ON THIS DAY
1938. A radio broadcast of H. G. Wells The War of the Worlds, narrated by Orson Welles, allegedly causes a mass panic.
See you tomorrow!
Written by Gabriel Miller, Spencer Carter, and Madelyn Menapace.
Editor: Gabriel Miller.
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