🎬 New SAG Deal

👋 Good morning! Ever clicked "Agree" on a streaming service's terms without reading? (Let's be real, who hasn't?) Well, that innocent click might come back to haunt you. A man is suing Disney World after his wife tragically died from an allergic reaction at a restaurant on their property. Plot twist: Disney's lawyers are claiming he can't sue—all because he has a Disney+ subscription. That's right—apparently, by clicking "Agree" on that Disney+ sign-up (you know, the one you definitely read word-for-word), you've waived your right to sue the Walt Disney Company... for anything, even stuff that happens at their parks.

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. If you're reading this email because a friend hooked you up, don't fret—just press here to join the party. 📧 

🎞 Here’s what’s on the reel today:

• SAG’s New Deal

• Creator Economy Hits Hollywood

• Tubi on the Rise

• 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

🎬🗣️ SAG-AFTRA just inked a deal with AI startup Narrativ, allowing actors to ethically license their voices for digital ads. This isn't your grandma's VoiceOver gig—it's AI cloning with a conscience. The 160,000 SAG members can now opt into a marketplace where they set preferences, negotiate fees, and approve scripts on a project-by-project basis before their AI-generated voices are used in commercial content. It's not just about the paycheck—each AI-generated spot contributes to actors' pension and health benefits. While some stars might stick to traditional booths, this deal opens new revenue streams and sets industry standards for AI use. Just a year after AI concerns fueled the actors' strike, SAG-AFTRA is pioneering a path where human talent and AI can coexist.

📽️🧸 Digital creators are coming for Hollywood, and 12-year-old Ryan Kaji is leading the charge. This YouTube wunderkind turned unboxing toys into a 9-figure empire, amassing a staggering 83B lifetime views across his ‘Ryan's World’ channels. Now, he's making history as one of the first digital creators to secure a theatrical feature. Today, Aug. 16, ‘Ryan's World the Movie: Titan Universe Adventure’ debuts in 2,100 theaters nationwide, produced on a lean sub-$10M budget. This live-action/animated hybrid is a litmus test for the creator economy's theatrical potential. Success could open floodgates for YouTubers eyeing box office glory, while underperformance might give studios pause. In an era where TikTokers are the new teen idols, ‘Ryan's World’ could redefine entertainment industry pipelines and push the boundaries of digital-to-traditional media crossover.

📺📈 Tubi's meteoric rise is turning heads in Hollywood. The once-ignored, Fox-owned FAST has tripled its user base in four years, now rivaling Disney+ in viewing time and surpassing Peacock, Max, and Paramount+. By June 2024, Tubi captured 2% of all TV viewing. While subscription giants wrestle with password sharing and churn, Tubi's free model and vast 200,000+ title library are resonating widely, especially with diverse audiences. Though not yet profitable, Tubi's revenue hit an estimated $900M last year. Its success, alongside other FASTs, may be contributing to traditional media stock declines, as paid streaming growth stagnates. Tubi's smart TV integration and potential for paid tiers position it as a potential disruptive force. As Tubi expands into originals and international markets, it's challenging fundamental assumptions about content value and viewer preferences, potentially reshaping Hollywood's entire streaming strategy.

16 Emmy® Nominations
Including
Outstanding Drama Series
Outstanding Writing — Francesca Sloane & Donald Glover
Outstanding Directing — Hiro Murai
Outstanding Lead Actor — Donald Glover
Outstanding Lead Actress — Maya Erskine

"Brilliant." — THE TIMES

"Everything is layered in truth, whether it’s an awkward first meeting, honest conversations, irresistible lust, or the kind of heart-puncturing fights that only happen when you know a person inside out." — AV CLUB

MR. & MRS. SMITH is available for Television Academy members at ConsiderAmazon.com

Development 🗒️

• Matthew Fox is set to star in ‘The Assassin,’ a new drama series in development at Max, based on Tom Wood’s bestselling novels. (more)

• Matt Smith and Liev Schreiber have joined Darren Aronofsky’s crime thriller ‘Caught Stealing’ for Sony. (more)

• Nicolas Cage will portray NFL legend John Madden in a biopic directed by David O. Russell, with Amazon MGM producing and distributing the film. (more)

• Stellan Skarsgård, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, and Elle Fanning join Renate Reinsve in Joachim Trier’s ‘Sentimental Value.’ (more)

• Camila Mendes is set to play Teela in the upcoming live-action ‘Masters of the Universe’ film from Amazon MGM and Mattel. (more)

• Prime Video orders ‘Secret Level,’ an animated video game anthology series from ‘Love, Death & Robots’ creator Tim Miller. (more)

• Mark Wahlberg’s Unrealistic Ideas is producing a documentary on the rise and fall of BlackBerry. (more)

• Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell’s film ‘A Big Bold Beautiful Journey,’ directed by Kogonada, is set for a Mother’s Day 2025 release. (more)

✅ Renewed & Canceled ❌

• ‘The Traitors’ is renewed for S5 and S6 at Peacock. (more)

• ‘The Gentlemen’ is renewed for S2 at Netflix. (more)

Business 🤝

• Kim Kardashian signs a first-look deal with 20th TV, teaming with Kenya Barris and La La Anthony for a new Hulu comedy series. (more)

• Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer extends his contract for five more years, securing his role through July 2029 with a base salary of $1.5M. (more)

Other News 🚨

• ‘The Boys’ set a new Nielsen streaming record with 1.33B viewing minutes after its S4 finale, marking the first time the Prime Video series topped the streaming charts. (more)

• Peacock extends its hit commentary series ‘Gold Zone’ and multiview feature to cover the Paris 2024 Paralympics. (more)

• Marvel Studios fired ‘X-Men ’97’ creator Beau DeMayo after an investigation uncovered “egregious” behavior. (more)

• Love this newsletter? Discover more incredible—and totally free—newsletters that our readers can’t get enough of. (more)

What to watch this weekend? 👀

🎥 THEATRICAL

• Alien: Romulus: Seventh installment in the ‘Alien’ franchise, directed by Fede Álvarez and starring Cailee Spaeny.

• Skincare: Elizabeth Banks stars in this dramedy with Lewis Pullman and Luis Gerardo Méndez.

📺 STREAMING

• The Union: (Netflix) Spy action-comedy starring Mark Wahlberg and Halle Berry.

• Bel-Air: (Peacock) S3 of the dramatic reimagining of ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.’

• Emily in Paris: (Netflix) S4 of the romantic comedy-drama series starring Lily Collins.

• Bad Monkey: (Apple TV+) Dark comedy-drama series starring Vince Vaughn, based on Carl Hiaasen’s novel of the same name.

• American Murder: Laci Peterson: (Netflix) New true crime doc on the murder of Laci Peterson.

• Worst Ex Ever: (Netflix) True crime docuseries spinoff of Netflix’s ‘Worst Roommate Ever.’

• Untold: The Murder of Air McNair: (Netflix) True crime doc on the rise of NFL quarterback Steve McNair and his murder in 2009.

🔮 BOX OFFICE PREVIEW

‘Alien: Romulus’ is set to burst onto the scene with a projected $40-55M domestic debut, potentially reaching $75M globally. Meanwhile, ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ continues its heroic run in its fourth week, eyeing a $30-35M haul.

Don't count out ‘It Ends With Us’—last week's surprise hit could give Deadpool a run for its money. Sony's romantic drama shocked with a $50M domestic/$80M global opening last weekend. It's been outpacing ‘Deadpool’ in weekday grosses and is projected to land in the $25-30M range this weekend, potentially nabbing the #2 spot.