🎬 Development Hell

👋 Good morning! Netflix is getting into the popcorn game. Teaming up with Popcorn Indiana, they’re launching “Netflix: Now Popping” snacks at Walmart. This tasty move takes a page right out of AMC’s playbook, and is part of Netflix’s broader strategy to expand beyond streaming, joining their pop-up shops and interactive experiences. 🍿

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:

• MoviePass is Back

• ‘Blade’ Reboot in Development Hell

• Coppola Foots the Marketing Bill

• 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 IN THE US

🍿📈 MoviePass is back in action! The subscription service that once had cinephiles swooning (and accountants sweating) just scored a new equity investment from Comcast’s Forecast Labs. This cash infusion will be used to reel in new subscribers. After its 2020 bankruptcy saga, MoviePass pulled off a Hollywood-worthy comeback, turning a profit in 2023. Now, armed with AI smarts and led by original co-founder Stacy Spikes, the company is ready for its close-up. Instead of offering unlimited movies, it now uses a credit system: users get a certain number of credits per month, which they can spend based on factors like movie title, showtime, and day of the week. MoviePass is also developing a “cinematic marketplace” to facilitate direct interactions between studios, theaters, and movie buffs, aiming to enhance marketing opportunities and drive theater traffic. This investment marks a fresh start for the company that's looking to disrupt the theater-going experience... again.

🎬🧛‍♂️ Marvel Studios’ ‘Blade’ reboot is bleeding out in development hell. This passion project of Mahershala Ali’s has been going nowhere since 2019. Two directors have already walked out — the latest one, Yann Demange, left due to creative frustrations. Ali’s hands-on approach, picking directors and writers, has reportedly led to multiple script rewrites. Writers who've taken a stab include:

• Stacy Osei-Kuffour: Known for ‘Watchmen’

• Beau DeMayo: Creator of ‘X-Men ’97’

• Nic Pizzolatto: Creator of ‘True Detective’

• Michael Starrbury: Known for ‘When They See Us’

• Michael Green: Known for ‘Logan’ and ‘Blade Runner 2049’

• Eric Pearson: Known for ‘Thor: Ragnarok,’ ‘Black Widow,’ and ‘Fantastic Four’

And they still haven’t landed on a vision they’re happy with. It’s unclear how many millions have been thrown at development, but it’s not looking like the cash train is stopping any time soon… On top of pandemic delays and strikes, the movie’s been hampered by Disney’s big push into streaming. That’s forced Marvel to churn out content quickly, prioritizing quantity over quality.

🎬💸 Francis Ford Coppola’s $120M epic, ‘Megalopolis,’ finally secured a distribution deal with Lionsgate. The catch? Coppola is footing the marketing bill himself, which could reach up to $20M. The deal leans more towards a home release with a limited theatrical run rather than a blockbuster launch. Yet, Lionsgate sees value in continuing their collaboration with the legendary director. Adding to the fun, Lionsgate now has to find someone to play the real-life reporter who will interact with Adam Driver’s character, breaking the fourth wall at screenings. With the film set to drop on September 27, all eyes are on whether Megalopolis will hit it big or flop hard.

Development 🗒️

• Mark Wahlberg and Paul Walter Hauser star in Peter Farrelly’s Amazon MGM action comedy ‘Balls Up.’ (more)

• Steven Spielberg’s Amblin is set to produce an adaptation of Percival Everett’s ‘James’ for Universal, with Taika Waititi in early talks to direct. (more)

• Patrick Dempsey joins the cast of ‘Dexter: Original Sin’ as a series regular. (more)

• Blumhouse expands the ‘M3GAN’ universe with the erotic thriller ‘Soulm8te,’ set for release on Jan. 2, 2026. (more)

• Jonathan Majors to star in Martin Villeneuve’s supernatural revenge thriller ‘Merciless,’ filming in late 2024. (more)

• Vertical acquires U.S. rights to the adventure comedy ‘Bookworm,’ starring Elijah Wood and Nell Fisher. (more)

• Riz Ahmed and Ben Karlin team up for an Amazon comedy series about a struggling actor on the brink of a breakthrough. (more)

• Olivia Colman, Noah Jupe, and more cast members return for S2 of ‘The Night Manager,’ set to air on BBC One and Amazon Prime Video. (more)

• Kevin Costner is not returning to ‘Yellowstone.’ (more)

• ‘Yellowstone’ sets a November premiere for final episodes. (more)

• Alicia Vikander and Michael Fassbender are set to reunite on screen in the upcoming thriller ‘Hope.’(more)

• Matt Lopez joins CBS’s ‘Sheriff Country’ as showrunner and executive producer, with the series set to debut in the 2025-26 season. (more)

Deals 🤝

• Alan Cumming signs a first-look deal with NBCUniversal following the success of Peacock’s reality hit ‘The Traitors.’ (more)

• Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij sign a multi-year deal with Sister to develop and produce TV and film projects. (more)

• ‘American Sniper’ screenwriter Jason Hall signs a multiyear overall writing deal with Amazon MGM Studios. (more)

Business 📋

• Canal+ boosts its stake in Asian streamer Viu to 36.8%, with an option to increase to a majority 51% stake. (more)

• Lionsgate inks a multi-year deal with DirecTV to bring five streaming channels, including MovieSphere and Ebony TV, to its platform. (more)

Other News 🚨

• Academy CEO Bill Kramer discusses the possibility of gender-neutral acting categories for the Academy Awards. (more)

• A new UTA study reveals 81% of creatives see AI as beneficial to their work, though 71% emphasize the need for regulation. (more)

• Boulder, Colorado, emerges as a strong contender to host the Sundance Film Festival starting in 2027. (more)

• Over 400 members of the WGA, DGA, and SAG-AFTRA, including Maggie Gyllenhaal and Ryan Coogler, urge the AMPTP to reach a fair deal with IATSE ahead of their contract expiration. (more)

• ‘The Boys’ S4 premiere viewership is up 21% from S3, ranking among Prime Video’s top 5 most-viewed TV seasons. (more)

What to watch this weekend? 👀

🎥 THEATRICAL

• The Bikeriders: Jeff Nichols’ crime drama about a motorcycle club, starring Austin Butler, Michael Shannon, Tom Hardy, and more.

• The Exorcism: Russell Crowe and Sam Worthington star in this supernatural horror film.

• I Am: Celine Dion: Music doc on the life and career of Céline Dion, and her battle with stiff-person syndrome.

📺 STREAMING

• Trigger Warning: (Netflix) Jessica Alba plays a skilled Special Forces commando in this action thriller.

• Perfect Wife: The Mysterious Disappearance of Sherri Papini: (Hulu) Documentary on the Sherri Papini kidnapping hoax.

• America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: (Netflix) Documentary on the dancers and directors behind the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.

🔮 ‘Inside Out 2’ is expected to top the box office again this weekend with an estimated $75-$85M, maintaining its strong performance from last week. Meanwhile, ‘Bad Boys: Ride or Die’ should continue to hold steady, aiming for $12-$18M as it enters its third week. Newcomer ‘The Bikeriders’ is forecasted to make a modest debut, with projections in the $7-$12M range.