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Picture this: A restaurant in Rome, a chance encounter as table mates sharing space over dinner and an inspired conversation about fashion, art, film, marketing and more. It’s precisely that scene, which unfolded in Italy last April as Amazon MGM Studios head of global marketing Sue Kroll found herself seated across from Loewe creative director Jonathan Anderson at a last-minute dinner ahead of a glitzy Rome red carpet premiere for Luca Guadagnino’s Challengers, released by the studio and featuring costumes by the acclaimed Cfda international designer of the year.

The meeting, meal and chat produced the pictures that have Hollywood buzzing — in a good way — thanks to a surprise collaboration. The veteran top Hollywood executive stars in the Spanish luxury brand’s new spring-summer 2025 pre-collection campaign alongside of the moment stars like The Bear’s Ayo Edebiri, Baby Reindeer breakout Richard Gadd, Queer’s Drew Starkey and The White Lotus...

Amazon MGM Studios global head of awards Debra Birnbaum is departing to take over as editor-in-chief of Penske Media Corporation’s Gold Derby awards prediction platform, the company announced Tuesday. As part of the news, Gold Derby founder and president Tom O’Neil will retire from day-to-day oversight of the site and serve as president emeritus.

In a statement, Pmc chairman/founder/CEO Jay Penske have thanks to O’Neil “for his visionary leadership and tremendous contributions to Gold Derby. Tom created Gold Derby from the ground up and made it an online destination for insightful award predictions and industry analysis. We know that Debra is the ideal person to build upon this legacy as we head into the 25th year of the brand.”

Birnbaum will take over Gold Derby on September 16 — the day after the Primetime Emmys, which will serve as her goodbye to Amazon. At Gold Derby, her oversight...

Gold Derby, the leading awards prediction platform, announced the appointment of Debra Birnbaum to Editor-In-Chief. In her new role, Birnbaum will lead Gold Derby’s coverage and analysis across the expansive awards ecosystem which includes the Oscars, Emmys, Grammys, Golden Globes, and more. She will report into Tom Finn, Executive Vice President & General Manager, Operations, Penske Media Corporation and be based in Los Angeles. She officially begins her new role on September 16. Tom O’Neil, Gold Derby’s Founder and President will step into the role of President Emeritus.

“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Tom O’Neil for his visionary leadership and tremendous contributions to Gold Derby,” said Jay Penske, Chairman, Founder, CEO, Penske Media Corporation. “Tom created Gold Derby from the ground up and made it an online destination for insightful award predictions and industry analysis. We know that Debra is the ideal person to build upon this legacy...

“When you walk on that set, all that hits you is the terror that you’ll never be able to justify your presence there,” says Peter Mullan at the world premiere of season two of Prime Video‘s Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.

The Scottish actor, known for his roles in Trainspotting, Braveheart and Ozark, now playing King Durin III in the fantasy prequel series, aptly summarizes the pressure on this project. With a hefty budget — season one is estimated to have cost around $465 million — expectations are high when it comes to the next installment. Just how high — and how much — are details that showrunners J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay are not willing to delve into.

“What we will say is this: Season one was huge and epic. We think we got even more onscreen in season two,” McKay tells The Hollywood Reporter at London’s BFI Southbank.

Jessica Chastain has been set to receive the 38th American Cinematheque Award, with Oppenheimer producer Charles Roven to claim The Power of Cinema Award in a tribute to be held at The Beverly Hilton on December 6.

Chastain is the latest in a line of American Cinematheque Award honorees, going back to 1986. Helen Mirren claimed the prize in 2023, with Ryan Reynolds, Scarlett Johannsson, Spike Lee, Charlize Theron and Bradley Cooper also landing it in recent years. Established in 2021, the Power of Cinema Award honors an individual or organization whose actions through storytelling have advanced the significance and social relevance of film in today’s modern culture. Past honorees include Kevin Goetz & Screen Engine, Jason Blum & Blumhouse, Participant, Adam Aron/AMC Theatres, Dolby Laboratories, IMAX, Sue Kroll and Jeffrey Katzenberg.

The awards ceremony is an annual fundraiser for the non-profit organization American Cinematheque, which continues its year-round programming at the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica,...

Here’s a look at this week’s biggest premieres, parties and openings in Los Angeles and New York, including events for The Bear, Horizon: An American Saga — Chapter 1 and A Quiet Place: Day One.

Horizon: An American Saga — Chapter 1 premiere

Writer, director and star Kevin Coster debuted the first of his Horizon films in Los Angeles on Monday, alongside co-stars Sienna Miller, Sam Worthington, Jena Malone, Luke Wilson and Jamie Campbell Bower.

Kevin Costner Sienna Miller

MaXXXine premiere

Filmmaker Ti West joined cast members Mia Goth, Elizabeth Debicki, Moses Sumney, Halsey, Lily Collins, Giancarlo Esposito and Kevin Bacon at the MaXXXine premiere in Hollywood on Monday.

Mia Goth and Ti West Elizabeth Debicki, Lily Collins and Halsey

The Bear premiere

Jeremy Allen White, Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Ayo Edebiri joined their co-stars at the Los Angeles premiere of The Bear season three on Tuesday.

Jeremy Allen White Jose M. Cervantes,...

Exclusive: Amazon MGM Studios has optioned the film rights to Elizabeth Rose Quinn’s unpublished novel Follow Me, with Adele Lim in negotiations to write and direct. Megha Parekh at Amazon Publishing has also acquired novel rights in a preempt for publication in 2025.

Sue Kroll’s Kroll & Co. are attached to produce the film via the banner’s first-look deal with the studio, along with Lim and Naia Cucukov also negotiating to produce.

Follow Me is a dark thriller described as Heathers meets The Stepford Wives at a mommy influencer retreat in Northern California. It’s a propulsive and witty novel, mixed with the scary social-commentary edge of Black Mirror.

Chelsea Bradshaw and Jessica Pugh are overseeing the project for Kroll & Co.

Deal marks the start of 100 Tigers, a new production company formed by Lim and producer Naia Cucukov. Lim’s work includes Joyride, Crazy Rich Asians, Raya and the Last Dragon,...

Sue Kroll, head of global marketing for Amazon MGM Studios, has worked on the launch of every kind of movie under the sun, from blockbusters such as “Harry Potter” and “The Matrix” franchises to streaming originals such as the recent reboot of “Road House” and the buzzy new rom-com “The Idea of You.”

The discipline of marketing has changed dramatically in recent years, with more digital tools and metrics at her disposal. But one crucial element that hasn’t changed, as Kroll discussed during her keynote conversation at Variety‘s Entertainment Marketing Summit presented by Deloitte, is the need to go with your gut instinct at times on what’s right for a given property.

“You can feel when something feels right,” Kroll said during her April 24 session at the daylong conference held at the Beverly Hilton. At the same time, there’s a feedback loop happening 24/7 around movies and...

Here’s a look at this week’s biggest premieres, parties and openings in Los Angeles and New York, including events for Road House, Shirley, 3 Body Problem and Mary & George.

Immaculate premiere

Sydney Sweeney, who both produced and stars in the Neon horror film, debuted the project alongside director Michael Mohan at Beyond Fest in Los Angeles on March 15.

Michael Mohan and Sydney Sweeney

3 Body Problem special screening

On Sunday, the cast and creators — David Benioff, D.B. Weiss and Alexander Woo — of the new Netflix series attended a special Los Angeles screening of the show, followed by an experiential dinner at Wolvesmouth, which Gold House co-hosted.

David Benioff, Alexander Woo, Jonathan Pryce and D. B. Weiss John Bradley, Benedict Wong and Aaron Paul

Road House premiere

After premiering at SXSW, Jake Gyllenhaal, Conor McGregor, Lukas Gage, Daniela Melchior, Arturo Castro and Darren Barnet brought their film to New York on Tuesday.

Here’s a look at this week’s biggest premieres, parties and openings in Los Angeles and New York, including events for Love Lies Bleeding, Girls5Eva, Kung Fu Panda 4 and Damsel.

Only Murders in the Building FYC screening

Steve Martin, Martin Short, Selena Gomez and Meryl Streep took part in an Emmy FYC screening and Q&a on the Paramount lot on March 1, alongside showrunner John Hoffman and songwriters Benj Pasek and Justin Paul.

Martin Short, Meryl Streep, Benj Pasek, John Hoffman, Selena Gomez, Steve Martin, Jane Lynch and Justin Paul

Damsel premiere

Millie Bobby Brown and Robin Wright walked the carpet on March 1 at the NYC premiere of their new Netflix film. Brown was also supported by fiancé Jake Bongiovi and his parents, Jon Bon Jovi and Dorothea Hurley.

Millie Bobby Brown and Robin Wright Jake Bongiovi, Millie Bobby Brown, Dorothea Hurley and Jon Bon Jovi

Kung Fu Panda 4 premiere

Jack Black,...

It was almost 10 years ago when Warner Bros. Pictures released Edge of Tomorrow, a sci-fi thriller from director Doug Liman (The Bourne Identity) that starred Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt. Edge of Tomorrow was acclaimed at the time of its release as a more intelligent than usual, character-driven and kinetic sci-fi action movie. Yet the studio, producers, and director ended up fighting over the movie’s title before it was even released, a classic Hollywood marketing conundrum that may have hurt the film’s chances.

Cruise plays Maj. William Cage, a public relations officer for the military in a future where Earth is trying to stave off an alien invasion. Forced to accompany troops on a combat mission, Cage is killed—but finds himself reliving the same day over and over again afterward. Desperate to change the outcome, he realizes that his fate is tied to that of the heroic Sgt.

Things are getting rowdy behind the scenes at “Road House.”

On Wednesday, Variety reported that the new “Road House” could have avoided a streaming debut, but before production began Amazon gave “the filmmakers and (star Jake) Gyllenhaal” a choice: $60 million budget and theatrical; $85 million and streaming. They chose the latter.

“The filmmakers” presumably refers to director Doug Liman and producer Joel Silver.

“They all took the money,” a source told Variety.

Amazon declined comment on this story, as did a rep for Liman. Reps for Gyllenhaal and Silver did not immediately respond to IndieWire’s request for comment.

A bigger budget typically means a larger upfront payday for the filmmakers and their star(s). Without a theatrical run, those principals won’t see nearly as much on the back end. The best of both worlds would be getting more upfront money and then turning in such an undeniable blockbuster that...

Hollywood loves a bare-knuckle brawl. And the town got a battle royal with “Road House.”

The reboot of the 1989 cult favorite, which launches on Amazon Prime on March 21, sparked a fierce fight behind the scenes over its release. While studio-filmmaker standoffs are not uncommon, this one featured such subplots as the involvement of a notorious private investigator, a producer given the heave-ho, a cameo from Ari Emanuel and a director going scorched-earth. Even more shocking, some of the embarrassing details began to publicly spill out in recent months, culminating with director Doug Liman promising to boycott the film’s premiere at SXSW on March 8.

Despite the drama, the movie is expected to be one of Amazon Prime’s most-watched films this year. So how did things go wrong?

In November 2021, Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy were running MGM and began negotiating with Liman to direct and Jake Gyllenhaal to star as the tough-guy bouncer,...

In a deal made last week, Amazon MGM Studios has landed Mercy, a package with Chris Pratt attached to star, according to an insider with knowledge. Timur Bekmambetov (“Wanted”) will direct the sci-fi thriller from a script penned by Marco van Belle (“Arthur & Merlin”).

This project comes to Amazon MGM Studios from Academy Award-nominated and Golden Globe Award-winning producer Charles Roven (“American Hustle”), who received a second Academy Award nomination for Best Picture most recently on “Oppenheimer.” Roven will produce Mercy with Atlas Entertainment SVP Robert Amidon as part of the producing team alongside Bekmambetov’s Bezelevs and film producer Majd Nassif.

The film is targeting a spring start-of-production. Set in the near future when capital crime has increased, “Mercy” follows a detective (Pratt) who is accused of a violent crime and forced to prove his innocence.

Amazon MGM Studios will release Mercy in theaters worldwide.

The film is the...

Deadline reports that Chris Pratt is set to star in Mercy, a sci-fi movie package acquired by Amazon MGM Studios which will be directed by Timur Bekmambetov.

Pratt has worked with Amazon on several projects, including The Tomorrow War and The Terminal List, but Mercy will actually serve as a reunion between himself and Bekmambetov. You may have forgotten, as I did, that Pratt made an appearance in Wanted all the way back in 2008 where he found himself getting smashed in the face with a keyboard wielded by James McAvoy.

So, what’s Mercy all about? The movie is “set in the near future when capital crime has increased” and follows “a detective (Pratt] who is accused of a violent crime and forced to prove his innocence.” The script has been penned by Marco Van Belle (Arthur & Merlin) and produced by Charles Roven (Oppenheimer), with production expected to kick off this spring.

Exclusive: Amazon MGM Studios has just landed a big sci-fi film package it is setting a global theatrical release for in Mercy, starring Chris Pratt, directed by Timur Bekmambetov and produced by Oscar-nominated producer Charles Roven. I understand the deal closed in the past week with a spring start of production planned.

The project puts Pratt back in business with Amazon, which acquired his Skydance movie The Tomorrow War from Paramount and turned into a big Prime Video hit during the pandemic. He also has the series The Terminal List on Prime. The movie also reps a reunion for Pratt and Bekmambetov, who both worked on the latter’s 2008 Hollywood directorial debut Wanted, a $342 million-grossing, Oscar-nominated blockbuster based on Mark Millar’s comic book.

Written by Marco van Belle (Arthur & Merlin), Mercy is set in the near future when capital crime has increased. The pic follows a detective (Pratt) who...

If Hollywood executive shuffles were an Oscar category, Scott Stuber would take home the trophy for scene-stealing announcement.

The company’s long-time (at least by entertainment industry standards) film chief revealed on the eve of the Academy Award nominations that he’s departing the streamer to start a new media company. The news wasn’t a total shock; his exit has been rumored for some time and the well-liked executive had been talking to potential financiers about a solo venture, according to a knowledgeable source.

Still, his goodbye leaves one of the most influential jobs in movies open for the taking. This will likely spark a flurry of people who are burnishing their resumes, including former Warner Bros. chairman Toby Emmerich, Paramount’s prior motion picture group president Emma Watts and executive-turned-producer Dan Lin. It’s possible, but less likely, that Paramount’s prior CEO Jim Gianopulos and the recently...

Amazon Prime MGM’s Emerald Fennell gothic romance Saltburn has become a new obsession for Prime Video subscribers, for following its Dec. 22 drop, the movie has easily become one of the streamer’s top 10 worldwide film debuts.

Similar to how the Barry Keoghan-Rosamund Pike-Jacob Elordi-Richard E. Grant and Carey Mulligan ensemble saw an unprecedented hold at the weekend box office post-Thanksgiving, Salburn‘s run on the service reps the highest week-over-week growth for any Prime Video film last year.

Additionally, since its first weekend, Saltburn’s total viewership has grown nearly 4x, fueled by a strong viral marketing campaign and word-of-mouth.

That heat for Saltburn can be witnessed online, one example being SNL’s Chloe Fineman showing off her family’s real-time shock and awe to the movie while watching Keoghan’s Oliver bathtub slurp and graveyard love (viewed by 5.2M) or the Jacob...

Amazon Studios is vehemently denying it considered using artificial intelligence to complete its upcoming “Road House” sequel starring Jake Gyllenhaal.

Variety on Thursday reported that film producer Joel Silver was pulled from “Road House” and another upcoming Amazon movie, “Play Dirty,” over accusations he had berated MGM marketing head Sue Kroll and the relatively new Amazon film head Courtenay Valenti.

Individuals identified only as “sources close to Silver” told Variety a different story: Silver was penalized by the studio for “raising concerns about Amazon wanting to use AI to finish ‘Road House’ production during the strike,” they say.

When reached, Amazon did not issue a statement — but a rep strongly denied to IndieWire that the studio wanted to use AI. The rep says only there is not an “ounce” of truth to the claim. Production on “Road House” wrapped in October 2022, and additional shooting took place for two days in...

Variety has reported that Joel Silver has been fired from several projects being developed for Amazon, including Jake Gyllenhaal’s Road House remake and Mark Wahlberg’s Play Dirty. The once-iconic producer was behind some of the biggest movies of the ’80s and ’90s, including Commando, Lethal Weapon, Predator, and Die Hard, but he hasn’t been quite as prolific in recent years.

According to Variety’s sources, Joel Silver was fired for being verbally abusive to two female executives, including Amazon Studios’ Head of Marketing Sue Kroll and Amazon’s Head of Film, Streaming and Theatrical Courtenay Valenti. However, other sources say that Amazon is “retaliating against the producer after he pushed back on the studio’s calls to use artificial intelligence to finish a movie during the strike.“

Related Road House: Jake Gyllenhaal films UFC scenes for the action film remake

Another Amazon source says that Joel...

For the past few years, Joel Silver has kept a relatively low profile, his most recent credit on the little-seen “SuperFly” remake of 2018. Still, the hard-charging producer behind some of the biggest hits of the ’80s and ’90s was attempting to mount a comeback. And his prospects looked promising with a series of feature film and TV projects at Amazon that were based on Donald E. Westlake’s Parker noir crime novels.

Alas, the Silver comeback has hit a snag. Sources say Amazon has fired the polarizing Hollywood figure from at least two films — one starring Mark Wahlberg, the other Jake Gyllenhaal — for being verbally abusive to two female executives. But sources close to Silver say Amazon is retaliating against the producer after he pushed back on the studio’s calls to use artificial intelligence to finish a movie during the strike. Amid the chaos, Silver’s longtime friend Robert Downey Jr....

Venice Film Festival head Alberto Barbera spoke with Deadline soon after revealing his latest stellar lineup, including movies from David Fincher, Michael Mann, Bradley Cooper, Pablo Larrain, Sofia Coppola, Yorgos Lanthimos and Ava DuVernay.

Despite the challenge of two Hollywood strikes, the 80th edition of the world’s oldest film festival is shaping up to be a memorable occasion, full of talking points and discoveries.

The festival was dealt a blow last week when MGM and Amazon pulled Zendaya starrer Challengers from its opening-night slot due to the strike. But that wasn’t the cue for a studio and streamer exodus. Instead, Barbera said today that Challengers was the only movie to pull out of the festival.

Related: Venice Is Still Hopeful That Its Red Carpet Will Be Full Of Stars If Movies Such As ‘Ferrari’, ‘Priscilla’ & More Are Granted SAG-AFTRA Interim Agreements

Here’s our chat about the...

Venice Film Festival artistic director Alberto Barbera is in a good mood after Tuesday’s lineup announcement managed to stave off the impact of the SAG-AFTRA strike, something which could have been “devastating” to the event, he says. In the end, the only U.S. film that skipped the Lido is Luca Guadagnino’s Zendaya-starrer “Challengers,” which Barbera says was against Guadagnino’s wishes.

And though it remains to be seen how many U.S. stars will make the trek, Barbera, in a conversation with Variety, vows that the Venice red carpet won’t be bare. Below, he also addresses showing films by controversial directors Roman Polanski and Woody Allen at this year’s edition of the festival.

Did you see the possible impact of the actors’ strike coming?

Not before it was officially called. The day after it was called, conversations started about the negative repercussions it could have on festivals.

“Can you believe it took 75 years to nominate a woman as the president of the Cannes Film Festival?” Iris Knobloch asks, reflecting on her 2022 appointment as the fest’s top executive.

Known for her strong will, the chic, charismatic German is used to being a rare woman in power — she essayed various roles at the top of WarnerMedia in Europe for 25 years, where she cultivated relationships with such Hollywood players as Warner Bros. Discovery consultant and former Disney chief Alan Horn, filmmakers Christopher Nolan and Todd Phillips, Amazon Studios and MGM film head Courtenay Valenti and Amazon Studios marketing chief Sue Kroll.

“I love to point out that each time a woman comes into light, it’s a small step for men and a big leap for the other half of humankind,” she says.

Sitting in the festival’s Paris offices, Knobloch describes her Cannes role as the “legal and...

Integration of MGM film group and Amazon Studios is now complete,

Kevin Wilson has been named head of theatrical distribution at MGM and Amazon Original Movies, marking the completed integration of the two film groups, it has emerged at CinemaCon.

Wilson succeeds his former colleague Erik Lomis, the industry veteran who oversaw distribution at MGM and died last month. He will oversee and execute US theatrical distribution strategy reporting to Courteney Valenti, head of film, streaming and theatrical, Amazon Studios & MGM, who announced the promotion in an internal memo.

Wilson will work closely with Sue Kroll, head of marketing, Amazon & MGM Studios,...

Longtime film distribution executive Kevin Wilson has been named head of theatrical distribution for Amazon Studios and MGM.

News of Wilson’s promotion was shared in a memo to staff from Courtenay Valenti, Amazon Studios and MGM’s head of film, streaming and theatrical.

“We are at a very dynamic and exciting time now that the integration of the MGM film group and Amazon Studios is complete,” Valenti wrote, announcing that the studios’ theatrical distribution groups have officially been combined “into one unified team.”

Wilson steps into the role following the death of Erik Lomis, who served as MGM’s head of theatrical distribution amid the studio’s acquisition by Amazon. Lomis died in March at 64.

“Erik Lomis’ passing was a tremendously sad moment and profound loss for all who knew and worked with him,” Valenti wrote. “But we are very fortunate that Kevin Wilson, Erik’s partner and colleague of many years,...

Kevin Wilson has officially been named Head of Theatrical Distribution for Amazon Studios and MGM as the parent company combines labels into one theatrical distribution group.

The news comes in the wake of the death of the previous Amazon-mgm distribution boss, Erik Lomis, who was the subject of a heartfelt remembrance Tuesday at CinemaCon by several including Chris Aronson; former MGM Motion Picture bosses Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy, now at Warner Bros; and as Warner Bros Domestic Distribution chief Jeff Goldstein.

Recently, Amazon’s pivot back to theatrical saw the $272 million global success of Creed III and the current $69M global gross for Ben Affleck’s dramedy Air, about how Nike nabbed Michael Jordan to make the Air Jordan sneaker. Wilson is a longtime lieutenant of Lomis and is a distribution vet who has handled 100 films that in total grossed more that $7 billion stateside.

Related: CinemaCon 2023 – Deadline’s...

Expect the box office to be in full bloom this weekend.

Illumination and Universal’s Nintendo video game adaptation The Super Mario Bros. Movie has every chance of becoming the first blockbuster of 2023, if tracking is any indication. Not only is the PG pic whipping up interest among families, it is appealing to the generations of adults who grew up playing Nintendo’s wildly popular Mario games (or those who still play).

The movie opens Wednesday in order to take advantage of spring holidays and is looking at a five-day debut of $125 million or more in North America, and well north of $200 million worldwide. And many are already predicting a robust run, versusit being front-loaded.

In mid-February, Marvel and Disney’s Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania debuted to $120.4 million over the four-day Presidents’ Day weekend, but fell off steeply. To date, the movie’s worldwide gross is a disappointing $472.9 million,...

The American Cinematheque is bringing on Jason Blum, Nicole Brown, Charles D. King, and Scott Stuber as the newest members of its board of directors.

“Each brings a unique perspective and appreciation of film culture and exhibition as the AC continues to expand its programming and community engagement,” stated American Cinematheque Chairman Rick Nicita.

Blum founded Blumhouse, a multimedia film and TV company regarded as the driving force in horror that recently entered the video game business. He’s on the Board of The Public Theater, Sundance Institute, Vassar College, and the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.

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Brown is the president of TriStar Pictures where she oversees all film development and production for the specialty label at Sony Pictures. In 2022 she was honored with the Entertainment Trailblazer Award by The Blackhouse Foundation. Brown serves...

The American Cinematheque is beefing up its board of directors with the addition of four Hollywood heavyweights.

Joining the ranks, in alphabetical order, are producer Jason Blum, TriStar Pictures president Nicole Brown, MacRo chief Charles D. King and Netflix film chairman Scott Stuber. American Cinematheque chairman Rick Nicita said the organization is “excited and honored” to welcome the four execs. “Each brings a unique perspective and appreciation of film culture and exhibition as the AC continues to expand its programming and community engagement,” he added.

Blum is a three-time Oscar-nominated, two-time Emmy winning and a three-time Peabody Award-winning producer. He founded and steers Blumhouse, a multimedia film and TV production company that is best known for horror. Blum serves on the boards of the Public Theater, Sundance Institute, Vassar College and the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.

Brown runs Sony’s TriStar Pictures where she oversees all film development and production for the specialty label.

Reese Witherspoon played it cool when asked by THR at the Daisy Jones & The Six premiere to reveal what kind of creative notes she offered to the team behind her company Hello Sunshine’s high-profile adaptation of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s best-selling novel.

“I had some notes,” she said with a smile at the show’s premiere on Feb. 23, before reluctantly revealing a few tidbits, specifically about the show’s faux documentary scenes that feature the performers sitting down for their first interviews 20 years after the band’s final performance. “But they were the same notes as the rest of the creative team — about wanting to make sure that the documentary scenes felt as potent as the live footage.”

That’s all Witherspoon was willing to divulge. Instead, she turned her attention to compliments. “These people know exactly what they’re doing, they really didn’t need anything from me.

The power of a wide theatrical release was realized this weekend by streamer Amazon in its pivot back to the big screen with MGM/United Artists Releasing’s Creed III. It easily minted the best opening ever for the Seattle-based parent, as well as for the Rocky franchise, with $58.6M domestic, $100.4M worldwide.

While Amazon has snapped up some tentpole movies during the pandemic for the service — i.e. Paramount’s Coming 2 America and Skydance’s The Tomorrow War — Creed III repped a big commitment by them for the big screen following their $8.45 billion purchase of MGM back in May 2021.

Talk about downstream revenues here: Creed III was made for $75M before P&a, and is easily poised to profit. Kudos to Prime Video and Amazon Studios SVP Mike Hopkins and Amazon Studios Head Jen Salke for keeping in place MGM’s distribution boss Erik Lomis and theatrical marketing apparatus of Gerry Rich,...

Veteran Hollywood movie executive Courtenay Valenti has closed a deal to take on the role of head of film, streaming and theatrical, for Amazon Studios and MGM as the e-commerce giant expands its footprint in the movie space. Talk of her pending hire was first reported at the end of January, and caps months of speculation as to who would take the job now that Amazon owns MGM.

Valenti will report directly to Amazon and MGM Studios chief Jennifer Salke. She begins March 1.

“Our strategy now encompasses an expanded investment in film, including a robust theatrical plan and growing streaming program, in order to bring even more movies to film lovers all over the world. A key part of this strategy has been taking a focused and deliberate approach to ensure we have the right people in place to execute our creative vision,” Salke wrote in memo to staff Tuesday.

Here’s a look at this week’s biggest premieres, parties and openings in Los Angeles and New York, including red carpets for Daisy Jones and the Six, Cocaine Bear, Party Down and Bel-Air.

Cocaine Bear premiere

Elizabeth Banks debuted her latest project on Tuesday in L.A., alongside producers Phil Lord and Chris Miller and stars Keri Russell, Alden Ehrenreich, O’Shea Jackson Jr., Margo Martindale and Jesse Tyler Ferguson.

Aditya Sood, Elizabeth Banks, Christopher Miller and Phil Lord Keri Russell and Jesse Tyler Ferguson Alden Ehrenreich

Party Down premiere

Thirteen years after the workplace comedy came to a close, Ken Marino, Martin Starr, Jane Lynch, Megan Mullally and Ryan Hansen attended the premiere for the show’s third season in L.A. on Wednesday, with new castmembers Jennifer Garner, James Marsden, Zoë Chao and Tyrel Jackson Williams.

Executive vp of original programming at Starz Karen Bailey, Martin Starr, president...

On the biggest sports day of the year, fans are getting another look at what may end up being the year’s biggest sports movie. Just a week after releasing the first trailer for “Air,” Ben Affleck’s new drama about Nike’s attempt to sign Michael Jordan to an endorsement deal, Amazon Studios debuted a new 60-second spot in a commercial that aired during Super Bowl Lvii. The company reportedly spent 7 million on the airtime, which many have interpreted as yet another vote of confidence in the film’s quality.

“Air” marks Ben Affleck’s first film as a director since 2016’s “Live by Night.” In addition to directing, he also stars alongside Matt Damon, Viola Davis, Jason Bateman, and Marlon Wayans. It is the first film produced through Affleck and Damon’s new production company, Artists Equity. The film is set to receive the widest theatrical release of...

Mumbai, Feb 10 (Ians) The Ben Affleck directorial ‘Air’ brings to light the game-changing partnership between a then rookie Michael Jordan and Nike’s fledgling basketball division which revolutionised the world of sports and contemporary culture with the Air Jordan brand. The film is set to have a direct-to-digital release in India.

The moving story follows the career-defining gamble of an unconventional team with everything on the line, the uncompromising vision of a mother who knows the worth of her son’s immense talent, and the basketball phenom who would become the greatest of all time.

The film sees Matt Damon playing the maverick Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro and Affleck stepping into the shoes of Nike co-founder Phil Knight.

Talking about the film, Ben Affleck said: “Matt and I are very excited for audiences to see Air and proud that it’s the first release from Artists Equity. The movie was...

Air directed by Ben Affleck, the first project from Affleck and Matt Damon’s Artists Equity, will premiere this year on Prime Video. “Ben, Matt, and this all-star cast have delivered a fantastic film that will move, inspire, and entertain audiences around the globe,” said Jennifer Salke, Head of Amazon and MGM Studios. “With Ben’s incredible direction, the film delivers a nostalgic look back at a culture-defining moment that absolutely lends itself to a global theatrical event.”

Said director Ben Affleck, “Matt and I are very excited for audiences to see Air and proud that it’s the first release from Artists Equity. The movie was an extraordinary experience where we had the honour of working with some of the best cast and crew in the business, all of whom brought passion, persistence, and creativity to a collective effort at recreating a remarkable and aspirational story. I appreciate and...

Ben Affleck and Matt Damon are back together again for Affleck’s latest directorial effort “Air.” The film, which Amazon will release in theaters nationwide starting in April before it bows on the streaming service later this year, received its thrilling first trailer on Thursday ahead of the 2023 Super Bowl.

Based on a script by Alex Convery and inspired by actual events, “Air” is about the early stages of Nike’s relationship with basketball legend Michael Jordan. Here’s the official synopsis from Amazon: “‘Air’ reveals the unbelievable game-changing partnership between a then-rookie Michael Jordan and Nike’s fledgling basketball division which revolutionized the world of sports and contemporary culture with the Air Jordan brand. This moving story follows the career-defining gamble of an unconventional team with everything on the line, the uncompromising vision of a mother who knows the worth of her son’s immense talent, and the basketball...

Amazon is about to shake things up in the theatrical world.

The studio is poised to give its Ben Affleck-Matt Damon drama “Air” an unprecedented theatrical release for a streaming service. Sources say Amazon will release the film, which centers on real-life shoe salesman Sonny Vaccaro and how he led Nike in its pursuit of basketball phenom Michael Jordan, on 3,000-plus screens domestically. In addition, Amazon is planning an exclusive theatrical window that’s comparable to or even longer than those from major studios. The film debuts in cinemas worldwide on April 5. After its exclusive theatrical run, the Affleck-helmed film will launch on Prime Video.

“It’s a really big swing,” says one source familiar with the release plan. “It’s going to put a lot of pressure on Netflix and Apple to follow suit on their big films and how they release them.”

The aggressive bet on...

Los Angeles, Jan 24 (Ians) Hollywood star Ben Affleck’s next directorial effort ‘Air’, about the birth of the Air Jordan brand and the partnership between Nike and a rookie Michael Jordan, has set an April 5 global theatrical release date, before it heads to streaming platform Prime Video.

The film is the first project from Affleck and Matt Damon’s Artists Equity, in collaboration with Amazon Studios, Skydance Sports and Mandalay Pictures, reports ‘Variety’.

The starry cast includes Damon as Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro, Affleck as Nike co-founder Phil Knight, Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser, Chris Messina as David Falk, Matthew Maher as Peter Moore, Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, Chris Tucker as Howard White, Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan, Gustaf Skarsgard as Horst Dassler and Julius Tennon as James Jordan

Alex Convery wrote ‘Air’, which is produced by David Ellison, Jesse Sisgold, Jon Weinbach, Affleck, Damon, Madison Ainley, Jeff Robinov,...

Hollywood star Ben Affleck’s next directorial effort ‘Air’, about the birth of the Air Jordan brand and the partnership between Nike and a rookie Michael Jordan, has set an April 5 global theatrical release date, before it heads to streaming platform Prime Video.

The film is the first project from Affleck and Matt Damon’s Artists Equity, in collaboration with Amazon Studios, Skydance Sports and Mandalay Pictures, reports ‘Variety’.

The starry cast includes Damon as Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro, Affleck as Nike co-founder Phil Knight, Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser, Chris Messina as David Falk, Matthew Maher as Peter Moore, Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, Chris Tucker as Howard White, Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan, Gustaf Skarsgard as Horst Dassler and Julius Tennon as James Jordan

Alex Convery wrote ‘Air’, which is produced by David Ellison, Jesse Sisgold, Jon Weinbach, Affleck, Damon, Madison Ainley, Jeff Robinov, Peter Guber and Jason Michael Berman.

Ben Affleck’s Nike film “Air” will officially be a slamdunk in theaters.

Directed by Oscar winner Affleck, “Air” captures the unbelievable game-changing partnership between a then-rookie Michael Jordan and Nike’s fledgling basketball division that revolutionized the world of sports and contemporary culture with the Air Jordan brand, per an official synopsis. This moving story follows the career-defining gamble of an unconventional team with everything on the line, the uncompromising vision of a mother who knows the worth of her son’s immense talent, and the basketball phenom who would become the greatest of all time.

“Air” is the first project from Affleck and longtime collaborator Matt Damon’s Artists Equity production banner. The film will have a wide global theatrical release April 5, 2023, in advance of its premiere in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide on Prime Video. The theatrical deal is the first kind of arrangement for Amazon Studios,...

Ben Affleck’s latest directorial effort, “Air,” will get a global theatrical release from Amazon Studios on April 5, ahead of its global streaming premiere on Prime Video.

“Air,” from Amazon Studios, Skydance Sports, Mandalay Pictures, and the first project from Affleck and Matt Damon’s Artists Equity, features what is being described as a “first of its kind arrangement” with Amazon Studios distributing the film globally with Warner Bros. Pictures handling international as part of its distribution pact with Amazon’s MGM.

The new movie tells the true story of the partnership between Michael Jordan, a then-rookie with grand ambitions, and Nike’s fledging basketball division. Charting the creation of the Air Jordan brand, whose legacy still impacts popular culture today, “Air” will portray the greatest basketball player of all time in his earliest days and the drive that made him such a force of nature (on and off the...

Ben Affleck’s upcoming sports drama Air — starring the filmmaker-actor opposite Matt Damon — will open in theaters across the globe April 5 in advance of its debut on Amazon’s Prime Video.

The sports marketing drama about Nike’s game-changing early days is backed by Amazon Studios, Skydance Sports and Mandalay Pictures. It’s also the first project from Affleck and Matt Damon’s Artists Equity.

Plans for a global theatrical rollout are significant in signaling that Amazon is willing to give a movie a traditional release in cinemas. Amazon will handle Air in North America, while Warner Bros. International has overseas duties per its distribution pact with MGM. The film’s release date on Prime hasn’t yet been announced.

“Ben, Matt and this all-star cast have delivered a fantastic film that will move, inspire and entertain audiences around the globe,” Jennifer Salke, head of Amazon and MGM Studios, said in a statement.

Some great news for exhibition Monday morning: Amazon Studios is getting back into the wide theatrical-release business with Ben Affleck’s Nike movie Air, starring his fellow Good Will Hunting co-Oscar winner Matt Damon.

Air will get a global theatrical release on Wednesday, April 5, heading into the lucrative Easter weekend. This is the first wide theatrical release from Amazon since its Sundance acquisition, Mindy Kaling’s Late Night, which had a wide summer release in 2019.

I hear Air will have a longer theatrical window than Amazon Studios’ recent limited theatrical releases, before hitting Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories. It truly is a first-of-its-kind arrangement for the studio as Amazon will distribute the film globally, with Warner Bros. Pictures handling international as part of its distribution pact with Amazon’s MGM. Amazon Studios only had U.S. on Late Night, not global rights.

Air reveals the unbelievable game-changing...

Ben Affleck’s next directorial effort “Air,” about the birth of the Air Jordan brand and the partnership between Nike and a rookie Michael Jordan, has set an April 5 global theatrical release date, before it heads to Prime Video.

The film is the first project from Affleck and Matt Damon’s Artists Equity, in collaboration with Amazon Studios, Skydance Sports and Mandalay Pictures.

The starry cast includes Damon as Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro, Affleck as Nike co-founder Phil Knight, Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser, Chris Messina as David Falk, Matthew Maher as Peter Moore, Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, Chris Tucker as Howard White, Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan, Gustaf Skarsgård as Horst Dassler and Julius Tennon as James Jordan

Alex Convery wrote “Air,” which is produced by David Ellison, Jesse Sisgold, Jon Weinbach, Affleck, Damon, Madison Ainley, Jeff Robinov, Peter Guber and Jason Michael Berman. Executive producers include Dana Goldberg,...

Amazon’s future in streaming video has come into greater focus in 2022 with the acquisitions of Thursday Night Football and MGM and the debut of Lotr: The Rings Of Power. Now, the onetime bookseller is headed into 2023 without the original architect of its expansion into TV and film via Prime Video, Jeff Blackburn.

His retirement, announced on Friday, capped a month of a series of executive moves that laid out Amazon’s plans for the next stage of its evolution as an entertainment brand.

Blackburn, a 25-year Amazon veteran, most recently had served as SVP of Global Media & Entertainment, overseeing all entertainment businesses, including Prime Video and Amazon Studios, Music, Podcasts/Wondery, Audible, Games and Twitch, for the past 18 months. Blackburn, a well-liked executive within Amazon and in the Hollywood community, originally took what was supposed to be a one-year sabbatical in mid-2019. Some of his plans for travel...

Amazon Studios boss Jennifer Salke will now also oversee MGM, effective immediately.

Alongside her duties as head of Amazon Studios, Salke will also oversee MGM Scripted television and film, as well as creative marketing and distribution. Assisting her will be Chris Brearton, who will now serve as vice president, Pvs corporate strategy, overseeing the streaming servince MGM+ (formerly Epix) and MGM Alternative Television.

“I wanted to say how proud I am to be named the head of Amazon and MGM Studios,” Salk said in a memo to employees. “It is a privilege to lead a team of such immensely talented people. We have such an exciting opportunity ahead of us as we continue to build out our best-in-class studios and entertain even more people all over the world.”

Salke also announced a new leadership structure at MGM after Monday’s exit of TV group chairman Mark Burnett (MGM’s movie...

It’s official – Jennifer Salke, Head of Amazon Studios, will also oversee MGM, the venerable film and TV studio, which was acquired by Amazon earlier this year for 8.5 billion. Additionally, MGM’s COO Chris Brearton will take on a new role, VP, Pvs Corporate Strategy, MGM+ and MGM Alternative Television. Mike Hopkins, SVP, Prime Video and Amazon Studios, just made the announcement internally in a memo. (You can read it under the post.)

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“Jen’s outstanding reputation in the creative community has earned her the respect of Hollywood’s top talent throughout the industry,...

Amazon has settled on a new corporate structure for its expanded content operations, putting most of MGM under Amazon Studios chief Jennifer Salke while also promoting MGM veteran Chris Brearton.

Salke will oversee all aspects of scripted TV and film, distribution and marketing for MGM. Brearton will oversee MGM’s unscripted TV, the MGM+ streaming service and he will also hold the role of VP of corporate strategy for Prime Video and Studios. Salke and Brearton both report to Mike Hopkins, senior VP of Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Studios and MGM.

The moves were expected after months of speculation regarding how MGM would be integrated into the Amazon orbit. Hopkins confirmed the new hierarchy in a memo to staffers late Tuesday.

“Jen’s outstanding reputation in the creative community has earned her the respect of Hollywood’s top talent throughout the industry,” Hopkins wrote. “With Jen now having oversight of...