🎬 They're Back!

👋 Good morning! A showdown is brewing that rivals last year’s ‘Barbenheimer’ frenzy. Earlier this week, Universal Pictures announced that ‘Wicked’ will now hit theaters on November 22—the same day as Ridley Scott’s highly anticipated sequel, ‘Gladiator II.’ The memes are already flying, with fans trying to coin the next big portmanteau.

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:

• Skydance and Sheri Redstone Reach Tentative Deal

• Netflix and Amazon Binge-order Shows

• Fubo Streams the Olympics

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

• Video Village: The latest trailers

• Martini Shot 🍸

🎬💼 Skydance Media and Shari Redstone's National Amusements Inc. have quietly renewed acquisition talks and reached a tentative agreement to acquire Paramount Global. This plot twist comes just weeks after their previous deal fell apart. Here's the lowdown: The deal, now heading to Paramount's special committee for review, includes a 45-day window for Paramount and NAI to shop around for better offers. This clever move might sidestep the need for a common shareholder vote, a sticking point that previously derailed talks. The exact terms aren't clear, but the previous deal was worth a cool $6B. In the 24 hours before this Skydance bombshell dropped, the rumor mill was churning out subplots:

• Barry Diller's IAC was reportedly eyeing a run at NAI. Fun fact: Diller ran Paramount back in the '80s.

• Whispers circulated of a $1.6B sale of BET to a group led by BET exec Scott Mills.

• Warner Bros. Discovery was reportedly exploring a possible streaming partnership with Paramount+.

So, will these side stories fizzle out now that Skydance is back in the picture? It's too early to tell, but one thing's for sure – this corporate soap opera is far from over.

🍿📺 While Hollywood’s been nursing a post-strike hangover, Netflix and Amazon have been binge-ordering new TV shows. These streaming giants have been green-lighting shows faster than you can say "skip intro," with Netflix having its busiest quarter since 2022 and Amazon not far behind. Together, they're now responsible for a solid 53% of new scripted series among major studios. They’re going global too—Netflix is hitting up Britain, Germany, Spain, and South Korea, while Amazon’s all-in on India. Even domestically, they’re boosting orders, outpacing cautious competitors still trimming budgets. More binge-worthy shows for you, and a wake-up call for sleepy competitors.

🏅📺 Fubo is joining forces with NBCUniversal to stream the 2024 Paris Olympics. The streamer plans to give subscribers a front-row seat to all the action without extra fees. Fubo’s flexing its sports muscles even as it’s locked in a legal cage match with Fox, Warner Bros., and Disney over their Venu sports venture. Starting July 24, couch athletes can binge on 5,000+ hours of Olympic action from gymnastics to judo, across NBC’s linear networks and digital platforms. While Fubo’s stock isn’t exactly podium-worthy at $1.31, this deal could be the boost it needs. It not only amps up Fubo’s sports cred but also shows that despite industry squabbles, they’re committed to keeping their subscribers glued to the screen.

Need a gritty crime drama to kickstart your summer? Look no further.

Jeremy Renner is back as Mike McLusky in Taylor Sheridan and Antoine Fuqua's 'Mayor of Kingstown'. As a drug war tears through the city, McLusky faces off against the Russian mob and a dangerous ghost from his past.

👉 Start your free Paramount+ trial today to watch Season 3 NOW. 👀

Development 🗒️

• Richard Gere joins Michael Fassbender and Jeffrey Wright in Showtime’s espionage thriller series ‘The Agency.’ (more)

• Netflix acquires the crime thriller ‘RIP,’ starring Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, directed by Joe Carnahan. (more)

• Magnolia Pictures acquires U.S. rights to sci-fi film ‘Omni Loop,’ starring Mary-Louise Parker and Ayo Edebiri. (more)

• Amazon lands a docuseries and a scripted series about the 2022 University of Idaho murders. (more)

• Daniel Brühl will direct Felix Kammerer in ‘Break,’ a biopic about Nazi-era tennis star Gottfried von Cramm, reuniting the ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ team. (more)

• Lionsgate and 87Eleven Entertainment are developing an English-language remake of the upcoming Indian action film ‘Kill.’ (more)

• Laci Mosley and ABC News Studios are adapting her ‘Scam Goddess’ podcast into a non-fiction TV series, with Mosley as the host. (more)

• ‘3 Body Problem’ breakout star Zine Tseng joins Hero Fiennes Tiffin in Prime Video’s ‘Young Sherlock,’ directed by Guy Ritchie. (more)

• Patrick Brammall will star as a police detective in Apple TV+‘s thriller series ‘The Dispatcher,’ based on Ryan David Jahn’s book. (more)

• Jeremy Irons joins the cast of ‘The Morning Show’ S4. (more)

• Lionsgate sets an Aug. 30 release for Ray Liotta’s final film ‘1992,’ with Snoop Dogg joining as executive producer. (more)

• Julianne Moore, Milly Alcock, Meghann Fahy, Kevin Bacon, and Glenn Howerton will star in the Netflix limited series ‘Sirens,’ a dark comedy executive produced by Margot Robbie’s LuckyChap. (more here and here)

• Lionsgate’s ‘Now You See Me 3’ is set to release in theaters on Nov. 14, 2025, reuniting the original cast and introducing new magicians. (more)

  Business 🤝

• Imagine Entertainment partners Brian Grazer and Ron Howard have enlisted JP Morgan to explore a possible sale or merger of their company. (more)

• Bankrupt Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment replaces CEO Bill Rouhana with Bart Schwartz and installs a new board of directors. (more)

• Candle Media restructures by folding animation into Moonbug and rebranding its live-action division as Candle Studios. (more)

• Miramax appoints Kirby Adams as Head of Physical Production, overseeing all film and TV production management. (more)

Other News 🚨

• Kerasotes Theaters, a 115-year-old family-run chain, has closed its remaining locations, ending a legacy that began in 1909. (more)

• The Berlin Film Festival introduces a new competitive section, Perspectives, for international debut films, replacing the Encounters strand. (more)

• PBS Documentaries launches a subscription channel on Amazon Prime Video in Canada, offering around 1,000 films for CAN$5.99 a month. (more)

• Blumhouse Games reveals a diverse slate of horror titles, including cozy and intense games, aiming to appeal to a wide range of gamers. (more)