🎬 They Offered HOW Much?!

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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:

• SAG Partners with Nielsen

• Net Neutrality’s Back

• Sony and Apollo’s $26B Bid

• 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

🎬🌐 Net Neutrality’s Back, Streamers Breathe Easier: Net neutrality is making its grand re-entrance, courtesy of the FCC. As of April 25, broadband behemoths like Comcast and Verizon have to keep their traffic throttling in check, ensuring a smooth streaming experience for all. This means no more creating “internet fast lanes” that could have had Netflix and Hulu viewers staring at buffering icons. Cue the celebrations from binge-watchers everywhere. While the move is aimed at consumer protection, it’s also sparked fierce backlash from ISPs, with a storm of lawsuits anticipated this summer. The FCC’s push for net-neutrality reflects their intent to treat broadband as an essential service (like water and power). On the flip side ISPs argue that it can stifle innovation and investment in network infrastructure, potentially leading to higher consumer costs and a one-size-fits-all approach that limits specialized services. Whether this reboot of net neutrality will stick or get stuck in the courts is anyone’s guess.

🎬🔍 SAG-AFTRA Partners with Nielsen: SAG-AFTRA and Nielsen are joining forces to bring some much-needed clarity to the wild west of streaming metrics. The dynamic duo is rolling out Nielsen's Streaming Content Ratings service, a third-party fact-checker for streaming platforms' performance claims. No more "trust me bro" vibes when it comes to the data that streaming giants like Netflix and Prime Video dish out. This comes after SAG’s recent deal with studios, which included streaming bonuses for hit shows on major platforms. By teaming up with Nielsen, the union is making sure streamers are keeping their promises, and setting a standard for reliable and consistent audience measurement.

🎬💰 Sony and Apollo's $26B Bid: In case you haven’t been following the Paramount M&A saga, the media giant has been exploring potential mergers and acquisitions, with a focus on exclusive negotiations with David Ellison’s Skydance Media. The latest? Sony Pictures and Apollo have crashed the party with a jaw-dropping $26B all-cash offer to take Paramount private. This bombshell landed on Paramount’s desk Wednesday night, days before their exclusive talks with Skydance wrap up today, May 3rd. The Sony-Apollo bid is a premium over Paramount’s current enterprise value, but controlling shareholder Shari Redstone seems to have her heart set on a deal with David Ellison’s Skydance. Paramount's shares skyrocketed 13% on the news. With the clock ticking, the industry is waiting to see if this unexpected offer will sway Paramount’s final decision.

Development 🗒️

• Tyler Perry Studios partners with Asylum Entertainment Group to co-develop and produce unscripted TV content. (more)

• Paul Walter Hauser joins Liam Neeson in the Paramount Pictures reboot of the 'Naked Gun' franchise, set for a summer 2025 release. (more)

• Robin Wright is set to star in and direct Amazon Drama ‘The Girlfriend.’ (more)

• Chris Evans, Anya Taylor-Joy, Salma Hayek, and Brendan Fraser are set to star in ‘Sacrifice.’ (more)

• Drew Barrymore will host a reboot of ‘Hollywood Squares’ on CBS, set to premiere in January. (more)

• Anthony Hopkins is set to star as composer George Frideric Handel In ‘The King Of Covent Garden.’ (more)

• 'Bridgerton' creator Chris Van Dusen is developing a series adaptation of Elle Kennedy's 'Girl Abroad' with A24 and Pacesetter Productions, following a spirited bidding war. (more)

• Nick Jonas and Paul Rudd team up in Jon Carney's new musical comedy 'Power Ballad,' currently filming in Dublin. (more)

• Glenn Close, Jeremy Irons, Henry Winkler, and Don Johnson join Simon Curtis' comedy 'Encore.’ (more)

• Amazon MGM Studios and Mattel set the release date for their live-action 'Masters of the Universe' reboot, directed by Travis Knight, for Jun. 5, 2026. (more)

• CBS has ordered ‘Sheriff Country,’ a spin-off of the drama ‘Fire Country,’ set to debut in the 2025-2026 TV season. (more)

• Marvel’s ‘The Fantastic Four’ adds Paul Walter Hauser. (more)

• Emma Stone and Nathan Fielder partner with A24 on the film adaptation of Ben Mezrich's book about the Carlsen-Niemann chess scandal, securing the rights with a swift seven-figure deal. (more)

• Mike Flanagan is in discussions to direct the upcoming 'Exorcist' film for Blumhouse and Universal Pictures. (more)

• A24 secures the action thriller ‘Onslaught’ directed by Adam Wingard, known for ‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire,’ with production set to begin in Fall 2024. (more)

• Ronda Rousey transitions from script coverage at WME to screenwriting, set to adapt her own biopic for Netflix based on her memoirs ‘My Fight/Your Fight’ and ‘Our Fight.’ (more)

• Janelle Monáe joins Universal’s untitled Pharrell Williams and Michel Gonry project. (more)

• Studiocanal and A24 team up for the revenge thriller 'Huntington,' starring Glen Powell, with Margaret Qualley and Ed Harris joining the cast. (more)

• ‘Cobra Kai’ S6 will be divided into three parts, starting in July, with the series concluding in 2025. (more)

• Amazon MGM is set to adapt Colleen Hoover's romantic thriller novel 'Verity,' with producers Nick Antosca and Alex Hedlund and scriptwriter Hillary Seitz on board. (more)

• Peacock orders a ‘Nope’-inspired docuseries about black cowboys from Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw. (more)

• Ivanna Sakhno joins Allison Williams in the sequel to the horror hit 'M3GAN 2.0,' produced by Atomic Monster and Blumhouse. (more)

• Elizabeth Banks and Jessica Biel will star as estranged sisters in Amazon's new thriller series 'The Better Sister,' adapted from Alafair Burke's novel. (more)

• Amazon Freevee is developing a new medical procedural series, co-written and executive produced by Adam Sussman and Mark Perez. (more)

• Rosamund Pike joins the cast of ‘Now You See Me 3.’ (more)

Business 🤝

• Fubo, Dish, and DirecTV, along with other entities, urge Congress to examine the competitive impacts of a new sports streaming joint venture by Fox, Disney, and Warner Bros. Discovery. (more)

• Byron Allen's Allen Media Group has initiated layoffs across all divisions. (more)

Other News 🚨

• The ‘Knuckles’ miniseries sets a new record on Paramount+ as the most-watched original series during its launch weekend, with over 4M hours viewed. (more)

• ProdPro, in collaboration with IATSE Local 871, launches a new networking platform designed to help Hollywood crew members find work and connect with production opportunities in the post-strike slow recovery. (more)

What to watch this weekend? 👀

🎥 THEATRICAL

• The Fall Guy: Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt-led action comedy.

• Tarot: Horror film based on the novel ‘Horrorscope.’

• I Saw the TV Glow: A24’s new psychological horror-thriller, directed by Jane Schoenbrun and produced by Emma Stone.

📺 STREAMING

• Unfrosted: (Netflix) Jerry Seinfeld’s directorial debut about the origin of Pop-Tarts.

• The Idea of You: (Prime Video) Romcom starring Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine.

• Turtles All the Way Down: (Max) Romantic drama based on the book of the same name by John Green.

• Tattooist of Auschwitz: (Peacock) Historical drama series based on the book of the same name.

• Hacks: (Max) S3 of the HBO comedy drama series.