Good morning: In today's edition of The Industry, we look at:
Spaceballs 2 and a French Dracula.
Let’s go!
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The Schwartz is back!
Spaceballs 2, officially greenlit by Amazon MGM last year, now has a bunch of the original cast returning. The original Mel Brooks film was a glorious Star Wars parody:
Yogurt for Yoda, The Schwartz for The Force, and literally combing the desert (still).
Here’s the line-up for the sequel:
Spaceballs 2
Producer/co-star: Mel Brooks (reprising his role as Yogurt)
Original Cast: Bill Pullman (returning as Lone Starr), Rick Moranis (returning as Dark Helmet), Daphne Zuniga (Princess Vespa)
New Cast: Keke Palmer, Lewis Pullman
Star/Producer/Co-writer: Josh Gad (Olaf in Frozen, LeFou in Beauty and the Beast)
Dir: Josh Greenbaum (Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar)
Writer: Benji Samit and Dan Hernandez (LEGO Star Wars, Detective Pikachu)
Brooks recounted why he decided to parody Star Wars:
“I destroyed the Western in Blazing Saddles… But there were not many genres left for me to satirize, so I eagerly attacked science fiction. There was Star Wars, Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica… It was a genre rich with opportunities for devastating satire.”
If Spaceballs (1987) carried some love with its original lampooning, the current climate of Star Wars might be ripe for a bit more of an ass-kicking.
With a controversial sequel series culminating in Rise of Skywalker (2019), one of the worst Star Wars movies ever made, a failed hotel, and the further watering down of the brand through multiple Disney+ show spinoffs, some better than others (not you Andor, you were perfect).
Star Wars does not have the goodwill it once had, but deep down, all fans still want something great from their former favorite franchise. A little bit of ribbing could bring back a bit more of that joy.
And anything that gets people to smile while thinking of Star Wars would be a very welcome change.
Coming in 2027.
For More:
Spaceballs 2 announcement video. With a special message from Mel Brooks at the end.
Spaceballs (1987) trailer. “Tell them to comb the desert. You hear me?!!”
Spaceballs 2: The Search For More Money. Foreshadow clip.
THE INDUSTRY TLDR
Amazon MGM develops God’s Country, a dark comedy series.
Universal develops a film about a fitness icon.
Miramax acquires Ruins, a steamy Athens-set thriller starring Vanessa Kirby and Sebastian Stan.
Genndy Tartakovsky (creator: Dexter’s Lab) will develop Heist Safari for Adult Swim.
Mister Miracle animated series in the works at Warner Bros. Animation.
HBO shuts down some of its linear channels.
IMAX names Heather Morgan as Head of Global Distribution.
Apple’s Being Heumann adds Dylan O’Brien (Twinless).
Ryan Michelle Bathe joins husband Sterling K. Brown in Hulu’s Paradise S2.
The Pitt S2 adds four cast members.
Charliebird wins Best U.S. Narrative at Tribeca.
Luc Besson’s Dracula, starring Caleb Landry Jones, unveils trailer.
Tubi and Kickstarter launch FilmStream Collective to support crowdfunded indies.
Voltage Pictures picks up global rights to The Sicilian.
As Tribeca Film Festival drew to a close, I got to see the Season 3 premiere of The Gilded Age, which features powerhouse performances by Carrie Coon and Taissa Farmiga. I also had a nice chat with Casey Bloys, head of HBO. More to come…
THE INDUSTRY NEWS
Amazon takes a stab at the upperclass: Amazon MGM Studios is developing God’s Country, a dark comedy series created by Rob Lowe's son, John Owen Lowe, and co-showrun with Samir Mehta (Under The Bridge).
The show follows a ruthless real estate tycoon whose plans to gentrify a lakeside town unravel into family drama and dark secrets. The premise even nods to something Shakespearean in its tragedy. To my eye, it almost feels like a Succession of the Heartland.
Chris Pratt (no plans for him to act in it yet) and Adam Londy will be EPs alongside Lowe and Mehta. Currently in pre-production.
Miramax’s Ruins. Miramax has just acquired the rights to Ruins:
Cast/Producers: Vanessa Kirby, Sebastian Stan
Prod Co: Ridley Scott’s Scott Free
Source material author: Amy Taylor (Search History)
Synopsis:
A couple whose affair with a young Greek woman over the course of a summer in Athens threatens to crack their relationship.
Not a lot of great films recently in the romance thriller genre, other than perhaps Babygirl and Fairplay. And this one seems to hit the right notes. I’m getting some Swimming Pool/Talented Mr. Ripley vibes.
Tidbits:
Universal Pictures is in development on a new project inspired by the life of fitness icon and high-profile trainer Jake Steinfeld. From beloved producer Frank Marshall (Indiana Jones franchise). With a career spanning almost fifty years, Steinfeld completely changed the fitness industry, acting as a prominent figure in the health and wellness space for many years.
Dexter’s Laboratory creator Genndy Tartakovsky is developing Heist Safari for Adult Swim, an animated action-comedy about three frog brothers robbing a bank. Announced at Annecy, Tartakovsky also promoted his R-rated Netflix film Fixed.
Adding to Gunn's ever-increasing DC Slate, Warner Bros. Animation is developing a Mister Miracle animated series with Tom King as showrunner, adapting his Eisner-winning comic. Mister Miracle is a hugely powerful deity in the series, and the comic explores his existential crisis.
Warner Bros. Discovery’s long-term issuer default rating has been downgraded by Moody's to BB+, indicating that it is no longer investment grade, following the announcement of a company-wide split. Just days ago, they were downgraded by S&P to BB, i.e., the 2nd-highest junk bond status.
In a streamlining effort, WBD has shut down a few linear channels:
HBO Family
Cinemax’s (ThrillerMax, MovieMax, and OuterMax)
Three-time Emmy winner and L.A. Law co-creator Terry Louise Fisher has passed at 79. She gave up a career in entertainment law to begin pursuing writing full time, eventually working for the famous CBS police procedural Cagney & Lacey for seven seasons back in 1983.
Starz has ordered Fightland, a British boxing crime drama produced by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson. The eight-episode series will follow a disgraced boxing champion seeking revenge. Jackson has been trying for years to join Hollywood. A couple of years ago, he underwent extensive tattoo removal to improve his chances of acting.
IMAX names Heather Morgan as new Head of Global Distribution, replacing Craig Dehmel, who held the position for over nine years. Former CCO of Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas, Morgan, will oversee curation for the company’s expansive theatrical releases around the world.
Renewals:
Paramount+’s Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (for the final Season 5)
PBS Masterpiece‘s The Forsyte Saga (for Season 2)
Trailers:
Netflix’s In Your Dreams
Animated Cast: Craig Robinson, Cristin Milioti
Release date: Nov 14
Netflix’s The Diplomat (Season 3)
Cast: Keri Russell, Rufus Sewell, Bradley Whitford, Allison Janney
Release date: Fall 2025
UTA’s Board of Directors adds Jens Grede (CEO: Skimms).
THE ACTOR SPOTLIGHT
Enzo Staiola, who played the boy in Bicycle Thieves (1948), has passed away at 85.
Staiola, discovered on the streets of Rome, had the face of a child, but the demeanor of a man who lived 100 years. Through the film, his little heart was broken with such honest conviction that it is considered the definitive Italian Neo-Realist film (trailer).
Dichen Lachman (Severance) joins Jessica Chastain and Jay Duplass in Rob Savage’s supernatural horror film based on the book Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman. Produced by Atomic Monster/Blumhouse, the film follows a young girl haunted by “Other Mommy”. Lachman was an amazing and complicated character in Severance that sadly is a spoiler territory to get into, but her character brought a whole spectrum of mystery.
Dylan O’Brien joins Mark Ruffalo in the Apple Original Film Being Heumann from CODA director Siân Heder, based on Judy Heumann's bestselling memoir. He will play Evan White, one of the few reporters covering the San Francisco disability rights protests. He has a unique ability to play self-righteous yet good-humored (Twinless).
Ryan Michelle Bathe will be joining her real-life husband, Sterling K Brown, as a guest star on his show Paradise S2. Known for her wide-ranging TV career in shows like The First Wives Club, This is Us, and Boston Legal. The second season on Hulu will arrive in 2026. Original Trailer.
Iconic improvisation comic and actor Beans Morocco (aka Dan Barrows) has died aged 90. From the Police Academy Franchise, to Mel Brooks’ Blazing Saddles (1974), to Robert Zemeckis’ Used Cars (1980), Morocco had a once-in-a-lifetime career (scenes).
Multiple cast additions:
Nicolas Winding Refn's (Drive) newest film, the Neon feature Her Private Hell, casts five actors to join its leads Sophie Thatcher and Charles Melton:
Dougray Scott (Crime)
Diego Calva (Babylon)
Aoi Yamada (Perfect Days)
Shioli Kutsuna (Deadpool & Wolverine)
Hidetoshi Nishijima (Drive My Car)
Production is currently underway.
HBO Max’s hit med drama The Pitt has added four to its cast for its second season:
Charles Baker (Breaking Bad)
Irene Choi (Insatiable)
Laëtitia Hollard (Trauma)
Lucas Iversen (Shakespeare Theatre Co.’s Frankenstein)
Season 2 will feature a time jump and take place entirely over Fourth of July weekend.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power announces three new casting adds for its season 3:
Andrew Richardson (The Independent) - series regular
Zubin Varla (Andor) - Recurring
Adam Young (The Possession) - Recurring
Rings of Power season 3 premieres August 2026.
FESTIVALS
Tribeca Festival 2025 Award winners.
Best U.S. Narrative Feature +
Best Performance in a U.S. Narrative Feature
Charliebird
Dir: Libby Ewing
Star: Gabriela Ochoa Perez
Synopsis:
Centers on a devoted music therapist at a children’s hospital in Texas. And, Charlie, the rebellious teen patient assigned to work with her, forms an unexpected bond.
Full list of winners here: https://theindustry.co/p/tribeca-2025-winners
INDIE FILMMAKER SPOTLIGHT
Luc Besson’s Dracula film has a trailer. It has a darkness to it that seems to pervade most of the French big-budget adaptations of classic fairy tales (See: Beauty and the Beast). In lieu of Hollywood special effects, everything gets a little darker, a little more romantic, and a little bit more stylized.
For the trailer, plus a full breakdown on Besson’s film and insight into the star (and his new muse) Caleb Landry Jones: https://theindustry.co/p/caleb-landry-jones-dracula
Tidbits:
Tubi and Kickstarter have launched the FilmStream Collective to fund and distribute indie films. The initiative will support 10 near-finished projects via Kickstarter, with selected films premiering on Tubi. More crowdfunded titles will follow, expanding Tubi’s original slate and promoting new indie creators.
Former BET exec Marvin Neil and indie financier Kevin Weisberg have launched Inaugural Entertainment. The LA based studio’s debut feature is Whippin’ the Work, a heartfelt drama from director Allen Maldonado (Heels) expected to get a theatrical release next year.
One final David Lynch project? The script for Lynch’s unproduced series, Unrecorded Night, may be published posthumously by his daughter. Said to be very much in the vein of Mulholland Drive.
Went Up the Hill is like a Cronenberg film without the body horror. The sophomore film of Samuel Van Grinsven, it sees a son and his deceased mother’s wife, Vicky Krieps (Phantom Thread), form a tenuous bond. The trailer pulls us in like an understated drama, then devolves into psychological horror.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
SkyShowtime has acquired All In, a Dutch-Belgian summer comedy series full of holiday mayhem. The show follows a Dutch and Flemish family spending their summer at a Spanish all-inclusive resort when their vacation spirals into a hilarious competition. Belgian director Luk Wyns (Crimi Clowns) is attached to All In, set to premiere on the streamer next year.
Warner Bros. Animation and Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe are developing Hit Squad, based on an adult puppet show by Thunderbirds creator Gerry Anderson. It will use an old stop motion tech from the 1960s called Supermarionation.
BBC is developing a Doctor Who animated preschool series aimed at young audiences. It will feature time-travel adventures and lean into slight educational elements.
From Swedish director Amir Chamdin, The Sicilian has picked up worldwide rights from Voltage Pictures (Knock Knock). The action thriller is led by Iain Glen (Game of Thrones) and Megan Fox. Set to film throughout Italy this fall.
ON THIS DAY
1962. Lolita is released.
Written by Gabriel Miller, Spencer Carter, and Madelyn Menapace.
Editor: Gabriel Miller.
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So much info in this. Excited to see what happens with Spaceballs and loved the Bicycle Thief clip.