🎬 Game On or Game Over?

👋 Good morning! Last night, Darth Vader took over the Empire State Building, marking the launch of the "March to May the 4th" campaign. Hayden Christensen, a.k.a. Anakin Skywalker, led the charge, flipping the switch to bathe the iconic tower in Sith-red light.

Welcome aboard the Dailies. As you sip your morning brew, we’ll get you caught up with the fast-paced world of Hollywood - no need to chase down a newsstand, we’ve got everything you need right here.

🎞 Here’s what’s on the reel today:

• Apple’s Empire on Trial

• Apollo Aims High for Paramount

• Game On or Game Over?

• Last Looks 👀: Bite-sized scoops on developing stories/projects

• Release Radar: What to watch this weekend

• Video Village 📀

• Martini Shot 🍸

But first, it’s Friday, so let’s take a look at what people were watching this week… 👀

TOP STREAMED THIS WEEK

🍎👨‍⚖️ Apple's Empire on Trial: The U.S. Department of Justice is taking on Apple, and it might just be a lucky break for the company’s competitors in the streaming space. Ever since Apple entered the entertainment industry in 2019 with Apple TV+ and an internal studio, their strategy has been similar to Amazon’s Prime Video: use the entertainment platform to boost its core product sales, especially the iPhone. Backed by 16 states and DC, the DOJ accuses Apple of monopolizing the smartphone market, leveraging its dominance to gain an edge in entertainment and beyond. However, this aggressive legal stance has faced its own criticism, with some arguing that it may stifle innovation, disrupt the tech ecosystem, and hamper more meaningful laws that would better help consumers. If the DOJ succeeds in its efforts, this could spell good news for Apple's rivals in the streaming world, potentially breaking down the barriers that have given Apple a leg up in the past.

🎬💰 Apollo Aims High for Paramount: Apollo Global Management has tossed an $11B offer into Paramount Global's lap, eyeing its coveted film and TV studios. This bold move surpasses the company's pre-announcement market value, sending stocks into a Wednesday whirlwind. Yet, Paramount's chief, Shari Redstone, isn't biting, seemingly holding out for a more lucrative deal, possibly with Skydance's David Ellison as a contender. Apollo's hefty bid doesn't include some of Paramount's biggest parts, like the streaming service Paramount+ or any of its cable networks—they’re just interested in the film and TV studios and their IP. This has left experts arguing over whether Apollo is getting a deal or playing a smarter, long-term game. Meanwhile, there's also whispers of breaking down Paramount Global into smaller segments or units and selling these pieces separately to different buyers.

🎬🎮 Game On or Game Over? SAG-AFTRA is locking horns with the video game industry, pushing for better protections against generative AI misuse in voice-over work. Despite the union’s effort to avoid a strike, the gaming industry’s resistance might force actors to down tools again. At the heart of the dispute is the call for equitable AI safeguards, echoing the actors' recent TV and film studio negotiations. Union boss Duncan Crabtree-Ireland hints that Hollywood's intertwined interests with gaming could be a lever for change, especially as studios eye video game IPs for lucrative adaptations. Meanwhile, workers in the video game industry are considering forming unions to improve their work conditions, aligning with SAG’s fight for fairer industry standards.

Development 🗒️

• See-Saw Films and Michael Ende Productions are set to reboot 'The Neverending Story' as a live-action film series. (more)

• A 'The Sims' movie is in development with Margot Robbie’s LuckyChap, Vertigo, and 'Loki' director Kate Herron on board. (more)

• 'The Boondock Saints' franchise is set to expand with Norman Reedus and Sean Patrick Flanery returning. (more)

• Cillian Murphy will reprise his role in the 'Peaky Blinders' movie, set during WWII and starting production in September. (more)

• Mark Duplass joins Ellen Pompeo in Hulu's limited series 'Orphan.' (more)

• ABC orders Ryan Murphy's new series 'Dr. Odyssey,' starring Joshua Jackson. (more)

• Paramount+ launches 'Ark: The Animated Series,' featuring stars like Michelle Yeoh and Vin Diesel, continuing its investment in video game adaptations. (more)

• David Schwimmer stars in S2 of Disney+'s 'Goosebumps.’ (more)

• 'Nine Perfect Strangers' returns for S2 on Hulu with Nicole Kidman and adds stars Henry Golding, Mark Strong, and Lena Olin to the cast. (more)

• Kyle Schmid is cast as Mike Franks in the 'NCIS' prequel series 'Origins,' exploring the early days of the NCIS team. (more)

• Paramount acquires John Swetnam's action-comedy spec script 'Ballistic.' (more)

• Maggie Q will star as Detective Renée Ballard in Prime Video's new 'Bosch' spinoff. (more)

• 'Narcos' creator Chris Brancato is developing a 'Peaky Blinders'-style series about Irish gangs in 1970s New York for MGM+. (more)

• Paramount+ and France Télévisions unveil Jean Dujardin as Zorro in their upcoming series. (more)

• BBC acquires 'Suits,' boosting its drama lineup with the popular American legal series. (more)

• Pete Davidson's 'Bupkis' on Peacock will not return for S2, despite its initial renewal. (more)

✅ Renewed & Canceled ❌

• ‘The Way Home’ is renewed for S3 by Hallmark Channel. (more)

• ‘Skymed’ is renewed for S3 at Paramount+. (more)

• ‘Law & Order’ and ‘Law & Order: SVU’ are renewed at NBC. (more)

• NBC renews 'Chicago Med,' 'Chicago Fire,' and 'Chicago P.D.' for the 2024-25 season. (more)

Business 🤝

• ISS supports Nelson Peltz in Disney's proxy fight, marking a significant setback for the company's current board. (more)

• Disney partners with Google and The Trade Desk, launching DRAX to revolutionize ad sales on Hulu and Disney+, making ad slots more accessible and streamlining the connection between advertisers and viewers. (more)

Other News 🚨

• The Cinematographers Guild and Art Directors Guild have reached tentative deals on specific issues with studios, while other IATSE locals continue negotiations. (more here and here)

• MAX will launch in Europe on May 21. (more)

• Georgia Senate committee revises bill, effectively nullifying cap on film and TV production tax credits, favoring major studios and complicating legislative process as deadline looms. (more)

What to watch this weekend? 👀

🎥 THEATRICAL

• Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire: Latest in the ‘Ghostbusters’ franchise.

• Immaculate: Sydney Sweeney-led psychological horror film.

📺 STREAMING

• 3 Body Problem: (Netflix) Sci-fi TV series created by David Benioff, D. B. Weiss, and Alexander Woo.

• The Beautiful Game: (Netflix) Sports drama starring Bill Nighy and Micheal Ward.

• X-Men ‘97: (Disney+) Revival of the acclaimed 1992 television program ‘X-Men: The Animated Series.’