🎬 That's Epic!

👋 Good morning! Swifties have their calendars in a knot as Taylor Swift is racing against the clock this weekend. Fresh from playing for fans in Japan on the 10th, she’ll be on a dash to make it to Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas on the 11th. Don’t worry — according to a cheeky tweet from the Japanese embassy, the pop queen should slide into the event with time to spare.

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:

• Epic Games Levels Up

• The Swift Effect Takes the Super Bowl

• Fubo vs. the Giants

• 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 WORLDWIDE

🎮🚀 Epic Games Levels Up Partnerships: Epic Games is making bold moves that could reshape the entertainment landscape. The gaming giant has teamed up with comedian Trevor Noah to produce ‘JokeNite,’ a groundbreaking stand-up comedy special set within the virtual world of Fortnite, showcasing performances from notable comedians — all within the game’s digitally-rendered comedy club. In a separate move, Disney has infused Epic with a $1.5B investment to develop an epic (pun intended) new “games and entertainment universe.” Think Star Wars Jedis battling it out with Marvel heroes, while Pixar’s finest cheer from the sidelines—all in one mega digital playground. Bob Iger, Disney’s CEO, heralds the partnership as a strategic pivot to where younger demographics are spending their media time.

🏈⭐️ The Swift Effect Takes the Super Bowl: The blossoming romance between pop icon Taylor Swift and Kansas City Chiefs’ star Travis Kelce has significantly shifted NFL viewership trends, and is turning ad strategies on their head. Swift's presence, both at games and in the surrounding buzz, has injected a fresh dynamic into the sport's audience composition. With a notable increase in female viewership during the 2023 NFL season—growing by nearly a third compared to 2022—the Swift effect is undeniable. Historically, advertisers have relied on data to choose prime slots during the Super Bowl, but Swift’s potential appearance has thrown conventional wisdom for a loop. This shift has led to a reevaluation of ad placement timing, with the hope that Swift's appearances during the game could amplify engagement for brands lucky enough to land spots in these pivotal moments. Swift and Kelce's high-profile relationship might just be the cherry on top for marketers looking to maximize their Super Bowl investments.

📺🥊 Fubo vs. The Giants: FuboTV, after watching its stock take a nose-dive off a 23% cliff, is pointing fingers at the new Disney-Fox-WBD sports bundle, essentially saying, “This isn’t good for anyone but them.” They didn’t directly use the terms “monopoly” or “antitrust,” but they strongly implied it. Fubo’s worried that the venture has potential to dominate the sports content market, controlling between 60-85% of it. Despite taking a hit and facing giants like YouTube TV, Fubo maintains that its diverse programming and superior user experience set it apart in the crowded streaming landscape.

PRESENTED BY PRIME VIDEO

Have you started watching ‘Expats’ yet? 

If you’re looking for a TV series to keep you glued to your screen, ‘Expats’ might just be your next obsession.

From the creative mind of Lulu Wang, director of ‘The Farewell,’ comes a captivating drama set in the bustling city of Hong Kong. Adapted from the novel ‘The Expatriates’ by Janice Y.K. Lee, ‘Expats’ is a story told with a haunting slow burn, revealing the hidden struggles beneath a facade of privilege.

‘Expats’ centers on Nicole Kidman as Margaret, a landscape architect uprooted to Hong Kong, and Sarayu Blue as Hilary, whose seemingly perfect life masks untold secrets. Together, these characters navigate a year of transformation, heartache, and hidden truths in one of the world's most dynamic cities.

📺 Stream ‘Expats’ episode 4 NOW on Prime Video!

Development 🗒️

• Zac Efron is set to star in the Jody Hill comedy ‘Famous.’ (more)

• Demi Moore and Billy Bob Thornton are set to star in Taylor Sheridan’s upcoming series ‘Landman’ for Paramount+. (more)

• Netflix is partnering with MLB for a docuseries on the Boston Red Sox's 2024 season and a two-part documentary on their 2004 World Series win. (more)

• Harlan Coben and Danny Brocklehurst reunite for 'Lazarus,' an Amazon series with Sam Claflin, Bill Nighy, and Alexandra Roach. (more)

• Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell will star in 'A Big Bold Beautiful Journey,' directed by Kogonada and produced by Imperative Entertainment. (more)

• Warner Bros. secures a deal with Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan for an untitled film following a heated bidding war. (more)

• Celine Song partners with A24 for ‘Materialists,’ a rom-com starring Dakota Johnson, Pedro Pascal, and Chris Evans, following her acclaimed debut ‘Past Lives.’ (more)

• Netflix teams up with Jason Bateman, Will Speck, and Josh Gordon for the comedy 'The Chaperone.’ (more)

• The ‘Moana’ sequel, initially developed as a Disney+ series, is set to release in theaters this Thanksgiving. (more)

• Joel Edgerton and Felicity Jones are to lead ‘Train Dreams,’ a Clint Bentley-directed adaptation of Denis Johnson's novella. (more)

• Bob Odenkirk collaborates again with ‘Nobody’ writer Derek Kolstad on ‘Normal.’ (more)

• HBO is developing a ‘Game of Thrones’ spinoff titled ‘Aegon's Conquest’ with writer Mattson Tomlin. (more)

• Channing Tatum is set to lead in the true crime film ‘Roofman.’ (more)

• Cillian Murphy is set to star in and produce ‘Steve’ for Netflix, marking the official launch of his production company Big Things Films. (more)

• Denzel Washington and Spike Lee are set to reunite for Apple Film ‘High and Low.’ (more)

• National Geographic explores Disney IP collaborations, hinting at potential series like ‘A Real Finding Nemo’ following the launch of ‘A Real Bug’s Life.’ (more)

✅ Renewed & Canceled ❌

• ‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’ is renewed for S2 at Disney+. (more)

• Jason Momoa’s ‘On the Roam’ is renewed for S2 at Max. (more)

• ‘The Traitors’ is renewed for S3 at Peacock. (more)

Business 🤝

• Disney's stock surges as analysts hike price targets following an "epic" quarter, dimming activist investors' criticism. (more)

• ITV secures a groundbreaking deal with Amazon MGM Studios Distribution to stream 25 James Bond films on ITVX and linear channels. (more)

• ESPN is set to launch a standalone streaming service. (more)

• Paramount Pictures extends its first look deal with Ryan Reynolds' Maximum Effort Productions. (more)

Other News 🚨

• Netflix's 'Fool Me Once' leads the Nielsen Streaming Chart, marking a resurgence in streaming originals with nearly 2.4B minutes. (more)

• The Oscars will introduce a Best Casting category starting in 2026. (more)

What to watch this weekend? 👀

🎥 THEATRICAL

• Lisa Frankenstein: Horror comedy starring Cole Sprouse and Kathryn Newton.

• Out of Darkness: Andrew Cumming’s latest horror thriller.

📺 STREAMING

• Lover, Stalker, Killer: (Netflix) True crime doc that delves into a mechanic’s foray into online dating that spirals into a fatal obsession.

• They Called Him Mostly Harmless: (Max) Doc chronicling the two-year quest to ID a hiker found dead in the Everglades.

• Halo S2: (Paramount+) The saga continues in season 2 the sci-fi TV series based on the video game of the same name.

🏈 SPORTS

• Super Bowl LVIII will air live on Sunday, Feb. 11, on CBS, and will stream on Paramount+. Nickelodeon will also air a family-friendly version of the game.