🎬 Hollywood vs. Silicon Valley 🥊

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👋 Good morning! NATO is saying "no more" to confusion with that other global alliance. The National Association of Theatre Owners has officially rebranded as "Cinema United." After decades of fielding misdirected calls about international security instead of international box office, theater owners can finally answer their phones without having to explain they don't have nuclear capabilities—just popcorn and projectors.

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:

• Village Roadshow Files for Bankruptcy

• Hollywood vs. Silicon Valley

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

• Video Village: The latest trailers

• Martini Shot 🍸

CLOSEUP
🎬 End credits are rolling for Village Roadshow…

Village Roadshow Entertainment Group, the producer behind blockbuster franchises like ‘The Matrix,’ ‘Joker,’ and ‘Ocean's Eleven,’ filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier this week, marking the potential end of one of Hollywood's last great independent production companies. The company’s balance sheet tells the tale:

• $365M in library value (with an initial bankruptcy auction bidder already lined up)

• $500M-$1B in total liabilities

• $18M in legal fees from their Warner Bros. battle

• $300K monthly overhead burning through cash

So, what killed this 36-year-old powerhouse?

In its filing, Village Roadshow directly blames its "irreparably decimated" relationship with Warner Bros. after WB released ‘The Matrix Resurrections’ simultaneously on Max and in theaters in 2021. The company sued, claiming WB sacrificed box office revenue (where Village would earn profits) to boost streaming numbers (where they had no stake). This legal battle has already cost $18M in fees with no resolution in sight.

A failed expansion: Village Roadshow had thrived for decades as a passive investor with an enviable co-financing deal that let them cherry-pick WB projects. But as WB began souring on the arrangement around 2017, Village Roadshow pivoted to becoming a full studio.

In 2018, Village Roadshow began using library profits to fund original content. Bad timing—their expansion launched just months before COVID shut down productions, followed by the 2023 strikes. The company spent $47.5M on projects that were "either never produced or unprofitable."

The bigger picture: This bankruptcy highlights how industry consolidation is eliminating Hollywood's middle tier. Major studios like WB are now able to leverage vertical integration through their streaming platforms like Max, controlling both content creation and distribution directly to consumers. Independent producers like Village Roadshow have no such relationship with audiences, making them vulnerable as theatrical windows—their primary revenue source—have only gotten smaller.

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CLOSEUP
🥊 Hollywood and Silicon Valley are at odds…

Two of America's most powerful industries are lobbying the White House with competing visions for the future of AI, setting up a high-stakes showdown that President Trump will ultimately referee.

In one corner: Silicon Valley's AI juggernauts seeking unfettered access to creative content. In the other: Hollywood's A-list fighting to protect their intellectual property.

Hollywood’s move:

• Over 400 entertainment powerhouses—including Paul McCartney, Cate Blanchett, and Matrix co-creator Lilly Wachowski—submitted an open letter to the White House just before the March 15 deadline for the AI Action Plan.

• They're asking the government to "uphold existing copyright frameworks" rather than create special exemptions for AI companies.

Meanwhile, tech’s making a parallel play:

• OpenAI and Google filed their own proposals to the White House, pushing for a blanket "fair use" declaration for all copyrighted material used in AI training—essentially a free pass to use any creative content without permission or payment.

• They're warning about Chinese startups like DeepSeek closing the gap, calling free access to creative content "a matter of national security."

Behind the numbers:

• OpenAI (valued at $157B) and Google (worth $2T) argue they shouldn't have to negotiate licenses with creators despite their massive resources

• Hollywood counters that there's "no reason to weaken or eliminate copyright protections... not when AI companies can use our copyrighted material by simply doing what the law requires: negotiating appropriate licenses"

The bigger picture: Both sides are wrapping their arguments in patriotic packaging—tech giants emphasizing national security and beating China, while Hollywood focuses on American jobs and cultural leadership. The outcome could establish precedent for how creativity is valued—or devalued—in the AI era, with each side claiming their approach best serves American interests.

Looking ahead… The White House is reviewing submissions while courts tackle lawsuits like NY Times v. OpenAI that could set precedents. Industry watchers expect initial guidance by mid-summer, but this battle will likely stretch into 2026.

LAST LOOKS
Film Development 🗒️

• Scott Eastwood joins the star-studded cast of Paramount’s Colleen Hoover adaptation ‘Regretting You.’ (more)

• ‘Saw XI’ is stalled due to internal disputes between producers and Lionsgate, despite having a completed script. (more)

• Maika Monroe will star in Universal’s film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestseller ‘Reminders of Him,’ directed by Vanessa Caswill. (more)

• Darren Aronofsky is in talks to direct a new ‘Cujo’ adaptation for Netflix, based on Stephen King’s classic horror novel. (more)

• Daisy Ridley and Alden Ehrenreich will star in ‘The Last Resort,’ a Philippines-set rom-com directed by Donald Petrie. (more)

• Amazon MGM Studios is reimagining ‘The Idolmaker,’ with ‘Eras Tour’ director Sam Wrench making his narrative debut. (more)

• Lili Reinhart will star in and produce ‘Fake Wedding,’ a rom-com for Amazon MGM Studios about two broke singles faking a wedding for cash. (more)

• Colin Farrell is in talks to star as ‘Sgt. Rock’ in Luca Guadagnino’s World War II action film for DC Studios. (more)

• Phoebe Dynevor will star alongside Joseph Gordon-Levitt in ‘Pendulum,’ a psychological thriller produced by Darren Aronofsky. (more)

• ‘Outer Banks’ star Chase Stokes will make his directorial debut with ‘I Told the Sunset About You,’ a romantic thriller for Monarch Media. (more)

• Pamela Anderson joins Ellen Burstyn and Taika Waititi in ‘Place to Be,’ a drama from ‘Pieces of a Woman’ director Kornél Mundruczó. (more)

• IFC Films and Shudder have acquired ‘Forbidden Fruits,’ a horror film starring Lili Reinhart, Lola Tung, and Victoria Pedretti. (more)

TV Development 📺

• Conan O’Brien will return to host the 2026 Oscars. (more)

• MGM+ has ordered ‘The Westies,’ a new crime drama from Chris Brancato about a ruthless Irish gang in 1980s New York. (more)

• FX has ordered a pilot for a ‘Snowfall’ spinoff starring Gail Bean and Isaiah John, set in 1990s Los Angeles post-crack era. (more)

• NBC has ordered a comedy pilot set at a Native American community center from the ‘Rutherford Falls’ team. (more)

Renewed & Canceled ✅ ❌

• ‘Tulsa King’ is renewed for S3 with Dave Erickson as new showrunner. (more)

• ‘House of David’ is renewed at Amazon. (more)

• Max has canceled ‘The Sex Lives of College Girls’ after S3, exploring a new home for S4. (more)

• ‘Solar Opposites’ will conclude with S6 on Hulu this fall. (more)

Business 🤝

• Blink49 Studios has acquired Pier21 Films, expanding its Canadian production reach as founder Laszlo Barna exits with a first-look deal. (more)

• Joan Rater and Tony Phelan have signed a first-look deal with CBS Studios to develop new series. (more)

• David Kramer has been named CEO of UTA, succeeding Jeremy Zimmer, who will transition to executive chairman. (more)

• Aniplex and Crunchyroll have launched Hayate, a new anime production company. (more)

Other News 🚨

• Director Carl Erik Rinsch is charged with fraud for misusing $11M from Netflix on investments and luxury purchases instead of finishing ‘White Horse.’ (more)

• Sick of the news? Join 4M Americans who get clear, unbiased updates from 1440's free newsletter. (more)*

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