🎬 Will SAG Ratify New Deal? 👀

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🎞 Here’s what’s on the reel today:

• Apple & Paramount’s Team-up

• SAG Deal’s Narrowing Margins

• Disney’s Dividend Comeback

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

• Video Village: The latest trailers

• Martini Shot 🍸

PLUS, stick around ‘til the end of the email to see how you can win a FREE 1-year subscription to the Criterion Collection. 👇

But first, let’s take a look at what happened at the box office this past weekend!

LAST WEEKEND’S
🎟️ BOX OFFICE BREAKDOWN 🎟️

1. 🎤 Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé: Tops with $21M, $27.4M globally. Outperforms post-Thanksgiving releases but doesn't beat other concert docs.

2. 🏹 The Hunger Games: Songbirds and Snakes: Third week fetches $14.5M, totaling $121.2M; steadier than previous Hunger Games sequels.

3. 🐉 Godzilla Minus One: Grabs $11M in debut; 2023's highest foreign film opening in the U.S.

4. 🎵 Trolls Band Together: Scores $7.6M, $160.6M globally; trails behind the original but still shines.

5. 🌟 Wish: Dips to $7.4M, $81.6M globally; struggles compared to previous Disney Thanksgiving releases.

6. 🎭 Napoleon: Drops -65% to $7.1M, but hits $136.6M globally.

7. 🐅 Animal: Impressive $6.1M opening, second-highest domestic Bollywood debut.

8. ⏰ The Shift: Faith-based sci-fi opens with $4.35M, moderately successful among its genre.

9. 🤫 Silent Night: Quiet start with $3M.

10. 🦃 Thanksgiving: Falls -62% to $2.6M post-holiday; total $28.3M, sequel announced for 2025.

🎬💃 Apple & Paramount’s Team-up: Apple and Paramount are considering a strategic alliance by bundling their services, Paramount+ and Apple TV+. As the audience's patience and wallets stretch thin in a crowded digital arena, streaming services are reinventing their approach. Apple and Paramount’s strategy aims to address subscription fatigue and subscriber churn by promising a unified, value-packed offering for consumers.

These team-ups are becoming the new normal—a response to the growing realization that not every streaming service can be a solo star. Think Hulu and Disney+, and Verizon’s package of MAX and Netflix. If the trend continues, we might see a Hollywood where streaming platforms become like the mega-malls of digital content—fewer, but more powerful, streaming giants, who offer a wider range of content under one digital roof. Variety, affordability, and user experience would be the key attractions.

🎭🤖 SAG Deal’s Narrowing Margins: Tomorrow, Dec. 5th is the deadline for SAG-AFTRA's vote on their new deal with Hollywood studios. As it nears, it's becoming clear that a sweeping approval is unlikely. The heart of the hesitation? AI protections. Members have voiced concerns, both online and in Q&A sessions, arguing the 129-page agreement doesn't adequately shield actors in the AI era. While the contract needs a simple majority to pass, the discord within the union, especially around AI's role in acting, suggests a tight vote. This contrasts starkly with the Writers Guild of America, where members gave a resounding 99% approval for their contract post-strike.

🌟📈 Disney’s Dividend Comeback: After putting a pause on dividend payouts during the COVID-19 pandemic chaos, the Disney is ready to dish out $0.30 per share to its shareholders. This move, which applies to shareholders of record as of December 11, marks a significant shift from the tough times when Disney had to close theme parks and halt productions. Back in 2020, activist investor Dan Loeb suggested dumping the dividend to boost Disney+'s content budget. Disney took that advice, and it paid off big time in streaming success. The return to dividend payments, a significant drop from the pre-pandemic $0.88 per share, is more than just a financial move. It's Disney signaling to the world (and particularly shareholders and CEO Bob Iger) that it's back on stable ground and ready for growth.

Development 🗒️

• ‘Thanksgiving 2’ is in the works with Eli Roth returning. (more)

• Eddie Huang is directing a documentary about Vice Media's dramatic rise and bankruptcy, drawing on his experience hosting ‘Huang's World’ on Vice. (more)

• Michelle Williams will star in and produce FX’s new limited series ‘Dying for Sex.’ (more)

• Warner Bros., Amazon, and Netflix are in a bidding war for ‘Calamity Hustle,’ an action-comedy featuring Ryan Reynolds and Channing Tatum. (more)

• Apple Original Films announces ‘Girls State,’ a documentary by Jesse Moss and Amanda McBaine, exploring the political experiences of 500 teenage girls in Missouri. (more)

• Jamie Lee and Nikki Glaser are set to star and executive produce ‘Unsettling,’ a new comedy in development for Prime Video. (more)

• Peacock has acquired U.S. rights to ‘We Dare to Dream,’ which focuses on the refugee Olympic team at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, with backing from Angelina Jolie and John Legend. (more)

• ‘Virgin River’ S6, expected to begin production in spring 2024, with no series conclusion in sight. (more)

• Vertical acquires North American rights to Nicola Peltz Beckham's directorial debut ‘Lola.’ (more)

• HBO Films is developing ‘The Fabulist,’ a movie about George Santos' controversial political career and fabricated background. (more)

• Nicolas Cage's sequel to ‘Lord of War’ is set to begin filming in Morocco in Mar. 2024. (more)

• A ‘This is Spinal Tap’ sequel featuring Paul McCartney and Elton John is in the works. (more)

✅ Renewed & Canceled ❌

• ‘Swagger’ is cancelled after S2 at Apple. (more)

• ‘Bob Hearts Abishola’ will end after S5 at CBS. (more)

• ‘Found’ and ‘Irrational’ are renewed for S2 at NBC. (more)

• ‘Reacher’ is renewed for S3 at Amazon. (more)

• ‘Central Park’ is cancelled after S3 at Apple TV+. (more)

Business 🤝

• Fox's ad-supported streaming service Tubi appoints former Endeavor executive David Salmon as head of international, aiming to expand its footprint in the UK and Europe. (more)

• Vox Media lays off roughly 4% of its workforce. (more)

• Entertainment One is cutting 10% of its workforce ahead of a $500 million deal to be acquired by Lionsgate. (more)

• Plan B Entertainment launches a new micro-budget film finance initiative. (more)

Other News 🚨

• The Cinerama Dome in LA will reopen Q2 of 2025. (more)

• Amazon has fired producer Joel Silver from two films citing verbal abuse towards female executives. (more)