Mark Ruffalo's Task
Good morning: In today's edition of The Industry, we look at:
In The Industry News: Paramount, Sony and AMC Networks’ quarterly reports. Disney and HBO’s 2025 releases.
Actor Spotlight: Anne Hathaway’s Renaissance, Rebecca Hall’s torment.
Festivals: AFM’s Bunny-Man. And Sundance Episodic Lab’s killer ultimatum.
Indie Filmmaker Spotlight/International News: From La Cocina to Kazakhstan. U2’s Left Behind.
Let’s go!
Our live event with two-time Oscar nominee Ross Katz (prod: Lost in Translation) on how to make a beautiful film is on Wednesday. Details here:
https://theindustry.co/p/ross-katz-live-event-how-to-make
THE INDUSTRY NEWS
HBO dropped a teaser for their 2025 slate of shows. Included is some new looks at:
The Last of Us (Season 2)
The White Lotus (Season 3)
The Gilded Age (Season 3)
The Righteous Gemstones (Season 4)
Hacks (Season 4)
Duster (new series)
Prod Company: Bad Robot
The Pitt (new medical drama series)
Task (new limited series)
Cast: Mark Ruffalo
The Chair Company (new series)
IT: Welcome to Derry (new IT prequel series based on )
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (new series, set a century before GOT)
Behold the 2025 teaser.
Paramount Global’s Q3 earnings call laid out continued operational challenges with big declines in theatrical and overall revenue:
$1 M net income
Down ↓ 99.7% from $295 M ‘23
$6.73 bn revenue
↓ 6%
$4.3 bn TV/Media revenue
↓ 6%
$108 M theatrical revenue
↓ 71%
Just in case that didn’t catch your eye, the entire business made $1 M off of $6.73 bn revenue.
Paramount streaming was the sunny spot as their DTC division reported a profit:
$1.86 bn DTC revenue
↑ 10%
$1.34 bn Subscription revenue
↑ 7%
$49 M profit
Up from $238 M loss YoY
2nd consecutive profitable quarter
72 M subs
↑ 3.5M
The office of the CEO stated:
“Our DTC segment successfully delivered profitability for the second quarter in a row, improving by more than $1 billion over the past four quarters, and, across the company, we continue to successfully execute non-content cost reductions that will result in $500 million in annual run rate savings.”
Skydance acquired Paramount, and pending any regulatory approval, the deal will close next year. But first, the three CEOs running Paramount will rush to complete their previously announced plans to save $500 M/year, including a 2000-person layoff (15% US workforce) by EOY.
To help with Paramount’s challenges, Skydance CEO David Ellison and financier RedBird Capital are committing $1.5 bn to help Paramount pay down its debt.
Will the tables turn for Paramount? I guess all we can do, is hold our breath.
Sony Pictures Entertainment Q2 results. Plus the delta from last year:
$2.39 bn revenue
↓ 14%
$218 M OIBDA
↓26%
$124 M profit
↓ 39%
Their next quarter should receive a massive boost from Venom 3, which has been doing very well internationally.
AMC Networks Q3 earnings. Plus, the change from last year:
$599.69 M revenue
↓ 5.9%
$41.4 M Profit
↓ 35%
11.8 M subs
↑ 5%
Streaming revenue increased 7%
Despite these challenges, the company generated $54 million in free cash flow and forged continued partnerships with Charter, Netflix and Amazon.
Additionally, AMC acquired BBC America for $42 M. They had previously owned 49.9% as a joint venture with BBC Studios.
Patrick O’Connell, CFO stated:
“We now own 100% of this iconic channel, with full operational control, and look forward to what the future holds.”
BBC Studios’ sale of its remaining stake in BBC America to AMC Networks marks a shift in its U.S. content distribution strategy, aligning with its recent focus on expanding BritBox International as a top destination for British content.
Just one week out from their HIGHLY anticipated sequel, Gladiator II, director Ridley Scott and actor Paul Mescal are joining forces again for The Dog Stars with 20th Century.
Loose synopsis:
Set in a near future where an unnamed pandemic has decimated American society…
The Normal People actor has a packed schedule ahead, starring on Broadway in Tennessee Williams’ play A Streetcar Named Desire as well as in negotiations to star in the upcoming Bee Gees biopic with Paramount, but Scott is famous for preparing for future projects way in advance so it seems he is trying to lock down Mescal while he still can.
Scott has strong ties to 20th Century Fox going back to films like The Martian (2015) and Prometheus (2012).
His Paramount epic starring Paul Mescal, Gladiator II (trailer), is in theaters everywhere on November 22nd.
Sony Pictures is in development on a feature based on It Had to Be You, the best selling murder turned romance novel from author Eliza Jane Brazier (Good Rich People).
Official Synopsis:
Two contract killers, each with a hit out on the other, must fight their growing attraction as they face off in an epic game of lust and murder across Western Europe.
Platinum Dunes, known for mostly producing horror films like Ouija (2014) and Friday the 13th (2009), is behind the project with Brazier EPing and adapting the script herself.
D23 Brazil, The Official Disney Fan Club, gave us some great first looks:
Mufasa The Lion King:
Prequel to the original films. Aaron Pierre stars, Beyonce reprises her role as Nala.
In theatres: Dec 20th, 2024.
Captain America Brave New World:
Anthony Mackie and Harrison Ford stars, picks up shortly after the Disney+ series Falcon and Winter Soldier. The trailer shows Sam's new flying Captain America suit.
In theatres: February 14, 2026.
Thunderbolts*:
Marvel's maybe a bit late answer to DC's Suicide Squad, a group of A and B plot villains from various Marvel movies and TV shows team up to do, something? David Harbour brings the funny as Red Guardian and Florence Pugh plays his daughter turned assassin. The trailer also shows them being tracked down by Sebastian Stan's Winter Soldier Bucky Barnes.
In theatres: May 2, 2025.
Ice Age 6:
Ray Romano and Queen Latifah announce their return to the franchise in a quick little teaser with no actual footage shown.
In theatres: N/A Now in Production.
Andor Season 2:
Disney showed a behind closed doors look, at their only Disney+ Star Wars show that has climbed in viewership after airing. Andor was supposed to release this month but was delayed because of the writers strike.
Streaming: April 2025.
We don't have a trailer, but just check out this amazing clip from season one. Stellan Skarsgard is a powerhouse.
CAA Lays off 20+ agents. Here are a few, with IMDBPro links:
Client: Martin Freeman
Clients: Jay Pharoah, Dawn Porter
Clients: Octavia Spencer, Andra Day
Clients: Zoe Saldana, Natalie Portman, Sebastian Stan
We hope everyone has a safe landing.
Netflix's offices in Paris and Amsterdam were raided for alleged tax fraud. Netflix asserts they've complied with tax laws but they've also been under active investigation for their tax filings from 2019-2021. We'll keep you updated as the investigation progresses.
Correction:
One bad day: Oops our bad, last week we along various other facets of the internet talked about Barry Keoghan's Joker getting an HBO series much like Colin Firth's Penguin series. Apparently that info was just not true, DCU head James Gunn got on Twitter to shoot down the idea, as he has done many times for other rumors. Better luck next time Barry, hopefully he makes his return in either part 2 or part 3 of the Pattinson film.
THE ACTOR SPOTLIGHT
It wouldn’t be a Christopher Nolan film without a top-tier cast.
While little is known of Nolan’s follow-up to last year’s Best Picture winner, Oppenheimer, actress Anne Hathaway was announced as the newest addition to the already high profile cast:
Tom Holland
Matt Damon
Zendaya (newly announced)
Hathaway has worked with Nolan twice before both as Catwoman in The Dark Knight Rises (2012, fight scenes) and in the groundbreaking time-bending sci-fi film Interstellar (2014, tidal wave scene) with Matthew McConaughey and Matt Damon (Oppenheimer).
Nolan has an immense ability to draw out a range of Hathaway’s skills both as a masterful physical performer, completely in charge of her domain (The Dark Knight Rises) to her deepest insecurities as when she’s literally crushed by the gravitational weight of inadequacy (Interstellar). The latter being a persona perfected at the start of her career as in the adorable Disney series The Princess Diaries (makeover scene) and The Devil Wears Prada.
Hathaway has had a great 2024 starring opposite Jessica Chastain in the creepy thriller Mother’s Instinct (trailer) as well as setting record breaking numbers for Amazon with the book to film adaptation The Idea of You (trailer) with 50 M viewers in its first two weeks.
The Inception director’s and Hathaway’s reunion has (of course) an IMAX release date set for July 17th, 2026.
The face of a genre, Tony Todd, a prolific actor who has over 200 credits throughout his legendary career has passed from a longtime illness at age 69.
What really put Todd’s name on the map was his chilling performance in Candyman (1992, trailer), as the titular demon, a phantom killer with a terrifying hook for a hand who after being so wronged in his life is summoned by anyone who says his name five times in front of a mirror. He reprised his infamous role in the 2021 reboot (trailer) and fourth film of the franchise.
His Oscar-nominated Candyman costar Virginia Madsen wrote on Instagram:
“The great actor Tony Todd has left us and now is an angel. As he was in life.”
Todd’s status as horror royalty would follow him appearing in movies like Night of the Living Dead (1990, scene), The Crow (1994), and 2006’s Hatchet.
He is famously known as William Bludworth, a mortician and fan favorite character to come out of the widely loved Final Destination (scene) series. He is credited to having already filmed the sixth installment in the supernatural horror franchise, Final Destination: Bloodlines, expected to premiere sometime next year.
On top of countless films, voice work in both animated projects and video games, Todd has extensive experience on TV appearing in shows like:
Night Court
Matlock
The X-Files
Beverly Hills 90210
Star Trek: The Next Generation
The Flash
The Young and the Restless
and many many more.
His good friend and manager of 30 years Jeffrey Goldberg said in a statement:
“Those who knew him will remember his warm laugh, generous spirit, and his dedication to his craft. Whether on stage, on screen, or in personal conversations, Tony brought an unyielding honesty that resonated deeply with his friends, family, and fans.”
Both the passionate horror community and the industry as a whole will greatly miss Tony Todd.
Rebecca Hall is at her best when she is tormented. In the new BBC Series, The Listeners, Hall will play a popular teacher whose life goes off-kilter when she hears a mysterious low humming noise. Despite going to doctors, the source is not evident.
The teaser has some great heightened moments, although at times, the editing tilts it to melodrama.
Hall excels at playing characters that suffer immensely. This is demonstrated in the chillingly constructed Resurrection (2022), in which she is tormented by Tim Roth (trailer). Hall’s long take is one of the most frightening monologues in cinema.
She’s also magnetic in Christine (2016) as she plays the spiralling real-life reporter who killed herself on live tv (Trailer).
BBC’s The Listeners will release on November 19th.
If you’re looking to watch another film where a well-known actress hears strange sounds, check out the soulfully sublime Memoria (2021) starring Tilda Swinton.
Tidbit:
Daniel Zolghadri is in talks to star in The Temple, a sci-fi horror film by Yonah Lewis and Calvin Thomas. The story follows an orphaned millionaire seeking his parents' ghosts with a scientist's help. Produced by Babe Nation Films, Zolghadri's recent credits include Funny Pages (trailer) and A24's upcoming Y2K.
FESTIVALS
American Film Market (AFM) closed out yesterday. Here are some deals that closed:
Cast: Colin Farrell, Ben Stiller
Dir/Wri: Andrew Haigh (All of Us Strangers)
Prod Company: Village Roadshow
UK/Ireland Buyer: Lionsgate UK
Synopsis:
The timely story of the unlikely friendship between notorious literary titan Norman Mailer and his protégé, Jack Henry Abbott.
No word on the release date, but the sales agent MK2 has sold to 17 other territories.
Plus, these two films have sold “extensively”, but details have not been made public:
Cast: Anthony Ramos and Ben Mendelsohn
Synopsis: A man's harrowing journey through the forgotten tunnels beneath New York City leads him to a dark, depraved underworld where he must fight for survival.
Cast: Uma Thurman, Phoebe Dynevor and Anthony Hopkins
Synopsis: Set in the mystic, brooding landscape of Cornwall, England, where Danni, housekeeper at Manderville Hall, owned by widower Lord DeWithers who falls prey to the glance of a young and beautiful visitor, the novelist Daphne Du Maurier.
Here’s another fun project that launched:
Cast: Mike Tyson, Bella Thorne & James Franco
Producer: Andrea Iervolino (Ferrari)
Sales Rep: The Motus Studios
Synopsis:
The BUNNY- MAN is a multimillionaire, famous rapper, anonymous, he wears a bunny mask. He had the perfect life once upon a time, but now he is a super hero hunting the culprits whose actions led to his sisters suicide.
This is being set up to be Italy’s first superhero franchise.
Sundance Institute Announces 2024 Episodic Lab Fellows. Seven projects were selected. Here’s two that peaked my interest
Plain Sight
Creator: Missy Malek
Synopsis:
It’s 1999 — a group of disabled 16-year-old friends from the violent housing estates of Ladbroke Grove can no longer kid themselves about the life prospects available to them. They decide to form a gang and become the best drug dealers in the area. What could go wrong?
Missy Malek starred opposite Ian Mckellen in Hamlet and The Cherry Orchard and is currently making her Broadway debut in Romeo + Juliet.
Best Friend
Creator: Kevin Yang
Synopsis:
This half-hour darkly comedic thriller follows a young man as he returns to his hometown to give his estranged childhood best friend a gift in the form of an unusual ultimatum: rekindle their friendship, or die.
Kevin Yang worked on the Apple TV+ series Hello Tomorrow and Little America, and his work placed in the Disney Writing Program and the Academy Nicholl Fellowships.
I can personally vouch for Kevin. He’s a stand-up guy.
Here’s a full list of all the Sundance projects.
INDIE FILMMAKER SPOTLIGHT / INTERNATIONAL NEWS
From La Cocina to Kazakhstan. Newly launched indie distributor Willa, who currently has the Rooney Mara film La Cocina in theaters just picked up global rights to Kazakhstan’s Oscar entry Bauryna Salu. The film premiered at San Sebastian.
Synopsis:
Following an old nomadic tradition 'bauryna salu', a boy Yersultan, was given after his birth to be raised by his grandmother. When he turns twelve, his grandmother dies and he has to move back with his family which he barely knows.
Elizabeth Woodward, Willa CEO, stated:
“It resonates deeply with our commitment to amplifying culturally rich, socially important stories. Askhat Kuchinchirekov’s story of Yersultan’s journey through the tradition of ‘bauryna salu’ transcends borders, enriching the global dialogue on family, loss, identity and tradition”
They plan to release theatrically and on streaming next year. Check out the trailer.
For more info on Willa’s La Cocina, watch our interview with the director:
https://theindustry.co/p/ep-003-alonso-ruizpalacios-interview
A heart-thrashing documentary, Left Behind, shows how dyslexia cripples children's ability to learn to read, which in turn can put them in danger of going to prion later in life.
Here’s the trailer with some wonderfully visceral animation about isolation in schools.
Larry Mullen (drummer/co-founder: U2) serves as producer and has composed some original songs.
Abramorama picked up North American theatrical distribution.
The film debuts on January 17th, 2025, at NYC’s QUAD Cinema before expanding.
ON THIS DAY
1994. Interview with a Vampire starring Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt and Christian Slater is released.
See you tomorrow!
Written by Gabriel Miller, Spencer Carter, and Madelyn Menapace.
Editor: Gabriel Miller.
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