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10/30/15 @ 2:39 pm EST
Ask anyone in the hunt for the next batch of James Bond films that are now up for grabs, and this is what you’ll hear, as voiced by one exec whose studio is among those in the chase: “They might not say they’re actively shopping it, but they are certainly making it known their deal is up and they will be.”
The James Bond distribution deal with Sony is done after Spectre bows in the U.S. on November 6. It could stay at Sony or it could head to Warner Bros., or Fox (which handles MGM’s home video), or Universal, and Paramount. Or even Disney, where Bob Iger has shown the wisdom of making big bets can work out in buying out whole companies like Marvel and Lucasfilm for cash and stock.
At a time when studios are hungrier than ever for proven global franchises, James Bond is Hollywood’s longest-running success story. Consider that 50 years after Sean Connery launched the character in 1962’s Dr No, 007’s last outing Skyfall became the series’ biggest grossing film, topping out at $1.1 billion globally. With Daniel Craig and that film’s director Sam Mendes a week away from the U.S. launch of what might be their last Bond film together, there is every expectation that Spectre will chase that high-water gross mark. It already opened briskly overseas.
So it’s not surprising that a hit-starved studio like Warner Bros, or any other major, would covet the franchise. Indeed, a source sighted Warner Bros chief Kevin Tsujihara at the Montage Hotel recently with Gary Barber, the point person at MGM whose job it is to figure out the distribution future of 007 for MGM and Danjaq producers Michael Wilson and Barbara Broccoli. According to our source, the chatter seemed more intense than a meet and greet. It looked like they were throwing around numbers. Not surprisingly, Warner Bros has been oft mentioned as the most aggressive in this hunt.
What’s odd about this is that nobody is saying that Sony hasn’t done a fine job in marketing and releasing the Bond films. But the last deal was made by Amy Pascal, and she is no longer in charge. The new guy in the seat, Tom Rothman, is known from his days running Fox as a tough, bottom-line-minded executive who most feel would walk away from a deal that gave the studio market share at the expense of profit. Indeed, some say that at Pascal’s urging, Sony gave up too much the last time around to keep 007 in the fold.
The Wall Street Journal rifled through those hacked Sony documents and pried out a memo that underscores the troubling risk-reward disparity. According to WSJ, co-financing and marketing and releasing Skyfall brought Sony $57 million on a film that grossed $1.1 billion globally. MGM, in turn, made $175 million, while Danjaq made $109 million. And that doesn’t factor in all the other things Sony gave up and the movies like the 21 Jump Street franchise that MGM was kissed into when the last re-up deal was made. Some would consider the math on this to be on par with the old first-dollar gross deal scenarios which became toxic to studios when owners like Sumner Redstone realized that a star like Tom Cruise had earned way more than $50 million on a Mission: Impossible movie through first-dollar gross participation before Paramount — which financed the whole film –had even recouped its outlay. His generous portion on video pushed that payday to an estimated $80 million.
So much is up in the air right now on 007. First off, the odds are against Craig and Mendes returning for another go, which would mean starting again with a new actor. When Craig recently observed that he would rather “slash his wrists” than do another Bond movie, it certainly echoed loudly around Hollywood, even if those close to him attributed it mostly to the bad idea of putting Craig in front of a journalist right after he completed a time-press and arduous Spectre shoot in which he seriously injured his knee. It would be similar, they said, to asking a woman just out of childbirth how eager she was to have another.
Here’s what we hear. 007 rights gatekeepers Barber, and Wilson and Broccoli, will wait until Spectre plays around the world and accumulates an ungodly global gross that will only strengthen their leverage. And then, early next year, they will make the best deal. If that means bidding farewell to Sony, so be it.
Sony had initially gotten rights to Casino Royale years ago in a deal orchestrated deftly behind the scenes by former Sony Pictures Entertainment CEO John Calley, who revived James Bond while head of United Artists. Because of that, Sony released Casino Royale with a new Bond — Craig — and grossed about $600M worldwide.
When it came time to re-up, Pascal was running the studio and people are still debating whether her zeal to keep Bond led Sony to give up too much. On the plus side, Pascal was invited to have a creative voice in the process over the last few films. Sony co-financed movies that were big hits, and received a distribution fee that some say was capped.
But it was the other concessions granted by Sony that still has tongues wagging. Sony offered up some of its plum projects to be co-financed by MGM. At the time, the sexiest one the studio had was The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. That film, which starred Craig, went into the pot and while the movie didn’t come close to meeting everyone’s out-sized expectations, 21 Jump Street — another film offered up for co-financing — certainly did. MGM got to be part of that hit and its sequel and presumably will be part of the next film that is rumored to meld that series withMen In Black. Sony, in turn, got to co-finance and release some MGM films, including the Robocop remake. Sony is now gearing up for another Dragon Tattooinstallment with The Girl In The Spider’s Web, the book written by David Lagercrantz, who was installed by the rights-holder relatives of the late author Stieg Larsson. Pascal is a producer on that movie, and MGM is expected to be in the mix if the studio wants to be.
The proceeds from these co-fi deals went into into a split pot, but the unsung coup for MGM was that it got to broker almost all of the international TV deals. That studio was still getting back on its feet after being frozen in a bankruptcy, and it’s believed they didn’t have the kind of clout to get as high a price as Sony would have. It also left Sony’s loyal global customers on the outside looking in because MGM was making the deals and had its own list of customers. The prospect of all that led to widespread internal disagreements within Sony divisions over whether the studio should make such a deal, but Pascal won the day.
Two blockbusters and Spectre later, and Pascal is now off producing movies. And the studio will have some serious decisions to make as it formulates how crucial it is to keep James Bond. Many believe that no studio will replicate the horse trading that took place in the last Sony 007 deal. It is an open question whether another studio will find some ground on which they can get the market share bragging rights that come with 007, while not feeling they made a loss leader deal.
If ever MGM was going to get back into the distribution business — it disbanded distribution when it emerged from bankruptcy and has placed big movies like the Ben-Hur and The Magnificent Seven remakes all over town — the 007 franchise would be the one to relaunch. That’s always an option, but more of a long shot than the notion of Craig returning to His Majesty’s Secret Service.
The betting here is that if Sony’s brain trust led by Michael Lynton and Rothman won’t do it, another big studio like Warner Bros — which successfully partnered with MGM on the billion-dollar The Hobbit trilogy — will swallow hard and make the deal. Tsujihara and Barber are tight, and you can bet that Warner Bros will move heaven and earth to make a hit out of MGM’s upcoming Rocky film Creed, the Ryan Coogler-directed film that opens Thanksgiving with Sylvester Stallone and Michael B. Jordan starring. Is it too much to imagine that soon, the most important entries on Tsujihara’s call sheet will be Barber, along with Harry Potter author JK Rowling and James Packer? 09/14/25 @ 1:35 pm EST
Netflix has just unveiled the trailer for Season 4 of The Witcher and set to premiere date to be October 30, 2025. The most significant change this season is the introduction of Liam Hemsworth as Geralt of Rivia, taking over the role from Henry Cavill. The trailer gives us our first glimpse of Hemsworth in action, showcasing his portrayal of the iconic monster hunter. In the teaser, Geralt is seen battling a wraith, a classic monster from the Witcher universe, using his usual mix of swordplay and magic. The storyline for Season 4 picks up after the events of Season 3, with Geralt, Yennefer, and Ciri separated by a raging war and countless enemies. As their paths diverge, they encounter unexpected allies and face new challenges that test their limits. The official synopsis hints at divided paths and the discovery of new allies, setting the stage for an epic journey. In addition to Hemsworth, the cast includes returning favorites such as Anya Chalotra as Yennefer, Freya Allan as Ciri, and Joey Batey as Jaskier. New cast members include Laurence Fishburne as Regis, a mysterious and world-wise barber-surgeon who joins Geralt on his journey. The fourth season will consist of eight episodes, all dropping on October 30. This season is also notable for being the penultimate chapter of the series, with the fifth and final season already in production.  09/14/25 @ 12:59 pm EST
Conventions can be great places to get quotes on the latest movies and shows in production. Zanda Gubecka of FeatureFirst.Net used their time at the OZ Comic Con in Brisbane this year to chat up actor Con O’Neill about all things DC. While Con is a distinguished actor with a long list of credits, the two roles he may be best known for right now are Chief Mackenzie Bock in the Batman Epic Crime Saga and as Izzy Hands on Our Flag Means Death. He first spoke about David Jenkins, the creator of OFMD and who is attached as the showrunner for the upcoming Booster Gold series, praising the writer as a kind man and a creative who the world so desperately needs. O’Neill said Jenkins is the type of guy that likes writing and developing nuanced stories that understand the human experience by promoting positivity. Similar to how the actor saw the newest Superman movie, praising it for its portrayal of the titular character and the promotion of kindness. He also had a message to those who call out that portrayal as wrong, saying “There are people who think Superman shouldn’t be kind like that. F*** those people.” Then moving over to his role in The Batman and The Penguin and where he’d like to see Bock go, O’Neill joked, “I love Bock. Matt Reeves and Matt Reeves’ mind is unquestionably one of the most extraordinary places I’ve been invited into. So wherever I thought or think Bock should be, it isn’t going to be what Bock will be. So I’d just go by the genius of Matt Reeves. I mean… the man is a fucking genius. If you haven’t seen Matt Reeves’ other films… Watch them! They’re fucking awesome.”  09/13/25 @ 1:15 pm EST
Eric Kripke, the creator and showrunner of the hit series " The Boys," recently shared an exciting update about the highly anticipated spin-off, " The Boys: Mexico." In a recent interview, Kripke revealed that the pilot for " The Boys: Mexico" is currently in development and described the project as "super fun" with a "totally different tone" compared to the original series. Kripke emphasized that while the new spin-off will exist within the same universe as " The Boys," it will offer a unique perspective and style. He praised the involvement of executive producers Gael García Bernal and Diego Luna, noting that they are deeply engaged with the project. The script for the pilot, penned by Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer, is reportedly "good," and Kripke expressed confidence in its potential. " The Boys: Mexico" was first announced in 2023, and the series is expected to film in Mexico, though specific plot details remain under wraps. Bernal and Luna, who are longtime friends and collaborators, may also appear in the series, albeit in smaller roles. This new spin-off is part of a broader expansion of " The Boys" universe, which includes other projects like " Gen V," " Vought Rising," and the animated series " The Boys Presents: Diabolical”. With " The Boys" preparing to wrap up its fifth and final season in 2026, " The Boys: Mexico" represents a significant step in continuing the franchise's legacy and exploring new narratives within its satirical superhero world. 
09/13/25 @ 12:38 pm EST
Sean Astin, the beloved actor known for his roles in " The Lord of the Rings," " Stranger Things," and " Rudy," has been elected as the new president of SAG-AFTRA, the union representing approximately 160,000 actors, announcers, broadcast journalists, dancers, DJs, program hosts, recording artists, and other entertainment and media professionals . Astin, who is the son of the late Academy Award-winning actress Patty Duke, succeeds Fran Drescher, who served as the union's president for four years . Astin's election marks a significant moment for the union, as he received an overwhelming 79% of the vote, defeating his opponent, Chuck Slavin . Michelle Hurd, known for her roles in " Ash vs. Evil Dead," " Blindspot," and " Star Trek: Picard," was elected as the union's secretary-treasurer . In his acceptance speech, Astin expressed his gratitude to the members for their support and emphasized the importance of optimism and creativity as the union navigates through challenging times . He also acknowledged the legacy of his mother, Patty Duke, who served as the president of the Screen Actors Guild from 1985 to 1988 . Astin's election comes at a critical time for SAG-AFTRA, as the union prepares for upcoming contract negotiations with the major studios. The industry is facing numerous challenges, including the impact of artificial intelligence on performers' work, streaming residuals, and the increasing costs of healthcare . Astin's leadership and experience on various negotiating committees will be crucial in addressing these issues and advocating for the rights and interests of the union's members . With his extensive career in Hollywood and strong union ties, Astin is well-positioned to lead SAG-AFTRA into a future defined by confidence, progress, and fierce advocacy . His election is a testament to the trust and support he has garnered from the union's members, and his commitment to representing their interests and ensuring their voices are heard .  ...
09/07/25 @ 1:37 pm EST
The first three episodes of Peacemaker season two has led to a lot of speculation about the “Best Dimension Ever” as Chris Smith calls it and just what might be the big twist coming up later in the season. And while we are not getting into the spoiler game, we thought it would be helpful to explain what everyone is talking about. So possibly spoilers if everyone is guessing right. Leave now if you don’t want to know. Still here? Okay. In DC Comics’ multiverse, few alternate Earths are as haunting and politically charged as Earth-X. First introduced in Justice League of America #107 (1973), Earth-X imagines a world where Nazi Germany won World War II, plunging the planet into a totalitarian nightmare. Earth-X is a parallel universe within DC’s Pre-Crisis Multiverse. Unlike Earth-One or Earth-Two, Earth-X is defined by its alternate historical trajectory: the Axis powers emerged victorious in WWII, and the Nazi regime continues to dominate global affairs well into the 20th century. Some of the unique things about the dimension is that there were no native superheroes originally existed on Earth-X. The planet’s defenders are immigrants from Earth-Two, led by the patriotic spirit Uncle Sam. The world is locked in a perpetual struggle between fascist control and scattered resistance movements. To combat the oppressive regime, Uncle Sam formed the Freedom Fighters, a ragtag team of heroes from other Earths who chose to stay and fight that includes: The Ray, Phantom Lady, Black Condor, Doll Man, Human Bomb, and Red Bee. Doll Man was mentioned in season one of Peacemaker. These characters came from DC’s acquisition of Quality Comics similar to how Peacemaker was part of DC’s acquisition of Charlton Comics. If this is the direction James Gunn is going in season two, and the clues so far do point in this general direction, this would not be the first time we’ve seen Earth X represented in live action. The Arrowverse did a crossover event called Crisis on Earth-X which introduced us to variations of characters like Green Arrow and Supergirl and brought the Ray to television screens. While this remains to be just speculation, the reality that Peacemaker is visiting does have a few oddities to it that are leading fans to this idea including how Chris along with his dad and brother are revered when Auggie was an over-the-top racist in the main DCU. And then if you look closely when Chris is in that reality you’ll notice an extreme lack of diversity among the background actors where Gunn is known for the opposite in his other projects. While this may not end up being Earth-X, it does feel like Gunn is setting up a twist that will pull the rug out from under Peacemaker.  ... 09/07/25 @ 1:09 pm EST
The first night of the 2025 Creative Arts Emmy Awards lit up the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles with a celebration of television’s behind-the-scenes brilliance and standout guest performances. While the Primetime Emmys are still a week away, this precursor event honored the artisans, designers, and guest stars who bring depth and texture to the small screen. Here’s a breakdown of the biggest winners and standout moments from Night One: 1. The Studio (Apple TV+) – 9 Wins Apple TV+’s satirical drama The Studio dominated the evening, taking home nine trophies. Among its accolades: <!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]--> Outstanding Contemporary Costumes for a Series <!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]--> Production Design for a Narrative Contemporary Program <!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]--> Guest Actor in a Drama Series – Bryan Cranston 2. The Penguin (HBO) – 8 Wins HBO’s gritty crime drama The Penguin followed closely with eight awards, showcasing its technical prowess: <!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]--> Contemporary Makeup (Non-Prosthetic) <!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]--> Prosthetic Makeup <!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]--> Contemporary Costumes for a Limited Series <!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]--> Hairstyling <!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]--> Sound Editing and Mixing <!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]--> Special Visual Effects 3. Severance (Apple TV+) – 6 Wins The psychological thriller Severance continued its critical streak: <!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]--> Production Design <!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]--> Guest Actress in a Drama Series – Merritt Wever 4. Arcane (Netflix) – 4 Wins The animated series Arcane impressed with: <!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]--> Outstanding Animated Program <!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]--> Character Voice-Over Performance – Julie Andrews <!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]--> Background and Color Design Notable Guest Acting Wins <!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]--> Bryan Cranston ( The Studio) – Guest Actor in a Drama Series <!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]--> Julianne Nicholson ( Hacks) – Guest Actress in a Comedy Series <!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]--> Shawn Hatosy ( The Pitt) – Guest Actor in a Comedy Series <!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]--> Merritt Wever ( Severance) – Guest Actress in a Drama Series Craft and Design Highlights <!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]--> Bridgerton dazzled with a win for Outstanding Period Costumes <!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]--> House of the Dragon earned recognition for Fantasy/Sci-Fi Makeup <!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]--> Andor took home awards for Costumes, Production Design, and Picture Editing With Night Two set to continue the celebration of television’s finest in writing, casting, and editing, the Creative Arts Emmys have already set a high bar. And with The Studio, The Penguin, and Severance leading the charge, the Primetime Emmys promise a thrilling showdown.  ... 09/06/25 @ 1:40 pm EST
The DC Universe is expanding rapidly, and with James Gunn’s announcement of Man of Tomorrow—the next chapter in the Superman Saga—fans are dissecting every social media breadcrumb for clues. One of the most intriguing reactions came from Lanterns star Aaron Pierre, whose subtle comment has ignited speculation that his portrayal of John Stewart may leap from HBO Max to the big screen. James Gunn revealed Man of Tomorrow will hit theaters on July 9, 2027, featuring returning stars David Corenswet as Superman and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor. Though Gunn clarified it’s not a direct sequel to Superman (2025), the film is expected to be a major ensemble piece, continuing the “Superman Saga” with a broader Justice Gang presence. Aaron Pierre, who is set to debut as John Stewart in HBO’s Lanterns next year, responded to Gunn’s Instagram post with a simple but tantalizing comment: “Yes, indeed!”. While brief, the timing and context of the comment—especially as a reply to Hawkgirl actress Isabela Merced’s “See you soon”—suggest Pierre may be hinting at his involvement in Man of Tomorrow. Fans immediately latched onto the exchange, interpreting it as a soft confirmation that Stewart will join Superman, Hawkgirl, and potentially other Justice Gang members in the upcoming film. Given Stewart’s prominence in DC lore and his longstanding partnership with Superman in animated series like Justice League Unlimited, the move would make narrative sense. Pierre’s portrayal of John Stewart is already generating buzz ahead of Lanterns, where he stars opposite Kyle Chandler’s Hal Jordan and Nathan Fillion’s Guy Gardner. Stewart is expected to be the emotional anchor of the series, and many believe he’s being positioned as the DCU’s flagship Green Lantern. Pierre’s comment joins a wave of social media teases from other cast members. Isabela Merced, Rachel Brosnahan, and Skyler Gisondo have all hinted at their return, while rumors swirl around appearances by Supergirl, Peacemaker, and even Lobo. Though Gunn has yet to confirm Pierre’s involvement, the director has stated that Man of Tomorrow will feature “a group of characters we’ve already met”—a description that fits Stewart perfectly.  ... 09/06/25 @ 1:31 pm EST
Marvel fans have been buzzing for weeks, dissecting every cryptic post and offhand comment from Ryan Reynolds in hopes of confirming Deadpool’s involvement in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday. Now, Reynolds has finally addressed the rumors—and in true Deadpool fashion, he’s left us with more questions than answers. It all began with a seemingly innocuous Instagram post: Reynolds shared an image of the Avengers logo spray-painted with a red “A,” igniting speculation that Deadpool would join the MCU’s biggest ensemble since Endgame. The timing was suspicious—just weeks after Marvel unveiled the Doomsday cast, notably without Reynolds’ name. During a press tour for his new documentary John Candy: I Like Me, Reynolds was asked point-blank about his involvement in Avengers: Doomsday. His response? “There’s four [John Candy Easter eggs] that I’ve got in there. Of course, I’ve written them all at home in my PJs, and nobody’s seen ’em nor have I stepped foot on set. But, yeah, that’s about as far as I’ll go on that one.” It’s a classic Reynolds dodge—playful, vague, and just enough to keep fans guessing. In a separate interview, Reynolds clarified that the red “A” logo wasn’t a tease for Doomsday, but rather a variant flag design from Deadpool & Wolverine that didn’t make the final cut. He explained: “That was just a flag. I came across it and thought, ‘Oh yeah, I loved that flag. The red and black vibe.’” Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige has hinted that not all cast members have been revealed, leaving the door wide open for Reynolds to make a surprise appearance. While Reynolds remains coy, insiders suggest that even if Deadpool doesn’t appear in Doomsday, he may play a pivotal role in Avengers: Secret Wars, the Phase 6 finale. With a solo X-Men project reportedly in development, the Merc with a Mouth isn’t going anywhere.  ... 08/31/25 @ 1:37 pm EST
It’s a weird weekend at the box office as Weapons returns to first place on its fourth weekend with $12.4M for the four-day stretch. A re-release of the classic Jaws takes second with $9.8M while the two new releases Caught Stealing ($9.5M) and Roses ($8M) take third and fifth respectively. Also on it’s fourth weekend, Freakier Friday pulls in $8.3M for fourth place. The big summer superhero films are hanging on with the Fantastic Four making $6M for seventh place and Superman swooping up another $3.28M even though it has already been released on home consumption. Not quite breaking into the top ten is the Toxic Avengers finally getting a theatrical release and earning $2.2 million over the holiday weekend.  08/31/25 @ 1:12 pm EST
With the new season of Peacemaker underway, DC fans have been wondering about the announced series set to focus on Amanda Waller, former head of ARGUS and Taskforce X. While on-line scoopers have called the series dead, co-head of DC Studios, James Gunn says that Viola Davis lead series is still in the works. The writer/director of Superman told People, “We’re working on it, so we’ll see what happens. Some things have moved faster than others. Waller’s not been the fastest. But I can’t wait to see Viola put on their Waller pants again.” The series was originally planned to run prior to the second season of Peacemaker, but Gunn has admitted that Waller has been a difficult series to crack and that he wrote the second season of Peacemaker quickly, which is why it came out first. The most recent update had Christal Henry from Watchmen and Doom Patrol creator Jeremy Carver on board to write the series, but those announcements were made a few years back.  |
