Disney TV's Future; Diversity Fuels 'Venom' Haul; Fox's Hope Hicks Mistake?; Kareem on Midterms; New THR Podcast

What's news: Disney details its new TV executive structure after its acquisition of Fox assets. Plus: George Clooney signs an overall deal with Paramount TV, Hope Hicks will lead up New Fox's comms department and a diverse audience drives Venom to $80 million. — Will Robinson [The Hollywood Reporter - Today In Entertainment]( October 09, 2018 What's news: Disney details its new TV executive structure after its acquisition of Fox assets. Plus: George Clooney signs an overall deal with Paramount TV, Hope Hicks will lead up New Fox's comms department and a diverse audience drives Venom to $80 million. — Will Robinson ^Walden, Rice score top roles at Disney: 21st Century Fox president Peter Rice and Fox TV Group chairman Dana Walden are both moving over to Disney with senior roles and expanded purviews on the TV side, Lesley Goldberg reports: + The details: They will each assume control over a portfolio previously managed by Disney’s outgoing TV honcho, Ben Sherwood, though Rice’s collection of assets will be considerably greater post-merger. Sherwood will remain in his current role through the transition period until the deal closes. + Rice's purview: As chairman of Walt Disney Television and co-chair of Disney Media Networks, Rice will oversee all of Disney’s TV efforts save ESPN. That includes ABC, ABC Studios, ABC Owned Television Stations Group, Disney Channels Worldwide, Freeform, 20th Century Fox TV, FX Networks, FX Productions, Fox 21 TV Studios and National Geographic channels. + Walden's set-up: Now serving as chairman of Disney TV Studios and ABC Entertainment, Walden will report to Rice, as she did in her role at Fox. She will continue to oversee 20th Century Fox Television — the studio that she oversaw with longtime collaborator (and, for now, the Fox TV Group’s lone chairman) Gary Newman — as well as ABC Studios. + FX's boosted assets: On the cable side, FX CEO John Landgraf is keeping his fiefdom intact, though he is expected to receive additional financial resources. The latter should help him and his team at FX, FXX and FX Productions better compete with deeper-pocketed rivals from HBO to Netflix. * Turned down more oversight: The highly respected executive could have added to his portfolio, per multiple sources, but is said to have wanted to maintain his role. + Sherwood's exit plan: The executive will depart Disney after the Fox deal officially closes. With its acquisition of Fox assets, Disney is inheriting a roster of executives that created some redundancies on the TV side. [Full story.]( Philipps Goes Late-Night An open book: Busy Philipps — who takes on hosting duties for her E! series Busy Tonight, premiering Oct. 28 — is also releasing a candid memoir where she dishes on a difficult James Franco on the set of Freaks and Geeks, Michael O'Connell reports: + Switching up late-night formula: "We’re talking about how to marry TV with the ways people are consuming it — which is either on their phone at the same time or just straight up watching it on their phone. It feels like a lot of these shows exist in two separate spaces. I’d like it to be more seamless. Hopefully we’ll be allowed to have a little bit of trial and error." + Interview style: "As an actor, I always hate coming up with my own talk show stories. 'You just got back from Greece and something happened with your luggage?' We’re going to stay away from stuff like that. Actor friends of mine have basically said, 'I’ll come on, but let’s just talk how we talk when we hang out.'" + Franco during Freaks and Geeks: "It wasn't even outrageous. At the time, 19 and with my first professional acting job, I was under the impression that this was just the way things were. James and I have talked about it over the years. At one point he apologized to me. I was always acutely aware of my expendability, and so I felt I needed to never complain, always show up on time and not be difficult." [Full interview.]( * The allegations: In her forthcoming memoir, This Will Only Hurt a Little, Philipps [remembers]( that the script called for her character, Kim Kelly, to gently nudge Franco's Daniel Desario in the chest. Philipps writes that the scripted gesture caused Franco to get upset, after which he allegedly "threw" the actress to the ground in retaliation. Elsewhere in TV... ► George Clooney inks overall deal with Paramount TV. Clooney and Grant Heslov's Smokehouse Pictures has [moved]( from its previous home at Sonar Entertainment on a two-year, first-look deal with the studio behind their Hulu limited series, Catch-22. ► Netflix plans Albuquerque production hub. With the new venture, the streaming giant will invest $1 billion to [boost]( New Mexico's economy. As part of the plans, the streaming giant is in final negotiations to purchase ABQ Studios, located in Albuquerque’s Mesa Del Sol. The deal marks Netflix’s first purchase of a production studio complex. ► Netflix to adapt UK reality series The Circle. The show is [described]( as an innovative popularity contest and social experiment inspired by the experience of using social media. The Circle will feature players from three different countries, one of which is the United States. ► TNT orders Raised by Wolves sci-fi series to be produced, directed by Ridley Scott. The series will mark the first time American audiences will see an episode of scripted TV directed by Scott. Written by Aaron Guzikowski (Prisoners, Sundance's The Red Road), Raised by Wolves [focuses]( on two androids tasked with raising human children on a mysterious, virgin planet. ► OWN shuffles execs in shake-up. Network president Erik Logan is [departing]( at the end of 2018, and current business and legal affairs topper Tina Perry will fill his void as the network's new general manager. Logan, an avid surfer, leaves TV to serve as the World Surf League's head of content, media and studio. ► The CW orders more scripts from three freshman series. The network announced that it would be [ordering]( five additional scripts for Charmed and All American, as well as three more scripts for Legacies. With the rest of the broadcast networks already in full swing on the 2018-19 season, The CW will kick things off on Tuesday night with the returns of The Flash and Black Lightning. ► Nick Cannon late-night series in the works at Fox. The network has also [signed]( the host of its upcoming game show The Masked Singer to an overall development deal. Movements at CBS... ► CBS reschedules shareholder meeting for Dec. 11. The meeting was originally [scheduled]( for May 17, but CBS canceled it after its board voted in favor of diluting National Amusement's 80 percent voting control to 17 percent. The company then rescheduled the annual meeting for Aug. 10 before canceling that event as well. ► Shameless star Cameron Monaghan says he's leaving, too. Monaghan, who has been a regular as the middle Gallagher sibling Ian since the pilot on the John Wells-produced dramedy, says that the next episode will of season nine will be [his last](. ► Patricia Heaton comedy nabs CBS series commitment. The Everybody Loves Raymond actress will [return]( to the network and star and executive produce the multicamera comedy Carol's Second Act. ► CBS enlists Corden, Barrymore, RuPaul and Faith Hill for World's Best. Corden collaborator Ben Winston also boards as executive producer. The talent competition, set up to be an America's Got Talent rival, [will air]( 10 episodes in 2019. [Quoted:]( "None of us agree at this table on very much when it comes to politics and the world, but we are all sisters here supporting each other. This is what America should be." — Meghan McCain, in her emotional return to The View after the death of her father, Sen. John McCain. ^The miscasting of Hope Hicks: The former White House communications chief will now become executive vp and head of corporate communications for the new Fox once it’s untangled from the current Disney/Fox merger, an effort that chooses sizzle over substance, Stephen Galloway writes: + Changing times: Media companies today are not only trying to figure out the complexities of the internet age but also facing some of the most daunting challenges in their history — from hacking to piracy to diversity to sexism to racism and ageism, along with a fleet of other issues that require enormous sensitivity to shareholders, the public and societal change. Many have turned to Washington hands for help. + Wrong step for New Fox: Hicks' resume doesn’t prepare her to represent a major media corporation at a time of enormous upheaval. Hiring her was a mistake. In selecting her as one of their first key employees, the Murdochs have sent an unfortunate message to the world: that the new Fox is nowhere near as impressive as the old, even if it’s just as politically conservative. [Full essay.]( Latest reviews... ► HBO's Camping. "Who takes Jennifer Garner and makes her a completely unlikable and joyless nag, annoying everyone around her?" Tim Goodman poses. "Lena Dunham and Jenni Konner, coming off their rollicking success with Girls, do just such a thing in HBO's latest comedy, Camping. Wow, does that not work." [Full review.]( About last night... ► Jimmy is closer to Saul than ever in Better Call Saul finale. Co-creator Peter Gould talks to Daniel Fienberg about Jimmy's latest con, Kim's tragedy and whether or not they've discussed an end point with AMC. [Spoilers.]( Digital digest... ► Facebook earns 25 percent of U.S. digital video ad revenue. "Facebook is expected to bring in $6.8 billion in digital video ad revenue this year, up 42% from 2017, according to research firm EMarketer." [[Los Angeles Times](] ► Jessica Biel to star in Limetown podcast adaptation for Facebook. Based on the fictional podcast of the same name, Limetown follows a radio journalist as she [unravels]( the mystery behind the disappearance of more than 300 people at a neuroscience research facility in Tennessee. Honorees... ► Jim Carrey, Emilia Clarke to be honored at Britannia Awards. They are joining previously [announced]( honorees Steve McQueen and Cate Blanchett. Talking points... ► Trump weighs in on Taylor Swift's turn to politics. The president, who has previously [praised]( the singer, said he doesn't like Swift's music as much after she endorsed two Democrats. ► Kanye West to meet with Trump, Jared Kushner at White House. The rapper made headlines when he [gave]( an untelevised pro-Trump speech while a guest on SNL. West is set to visit Washington, D.C. on Thursday. ► Billy Bush reflects on Access Hollywood Trump tape scandal two years later. "These past couple years have been character [building]( to say the least – anxiety attacks, fits of rage, feelings of betrayal and abandonment," he wrote on Instagram, "and I have concluded that I am NOT extraordinary. Terrible things can happen at any moment to ANYONE." ► Richard Linklater directs anti-Ted Cruz political ad. The Boyhood director's spot takes Cruz to task over his obsequious support for Donald Trump. [Watch.]( Coming attractions... ► Trailer: House of Cards trolls Trump's Presidential Alert. "I'm not going to be told what to do anymore — not by you or any man, ever again," says the first female president of the Netflix political thriller, Claire Underwood (Robin Wright), in the final season trailer. [Watch.]( How that brutal Walking Dead ending played out in the comics. The final fatal moments of "A New Beginning" owe origin to the comic books from Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard, Josh Wigler details. [Spoilers.]( Diversity Fuels 'Venom' Haul Future of the box office: During a window with no other superhero competition, Sony's Venom appealed to an ethnically diverse audience of fanboys — more so than most superhero titles — Pamela McClintock reports: + Diverse demo: While Caucasians made up 38 percent of Venom ticket buyers on opening weekend, overall sales were fueled by Hispanics (26 percent), African-Americans (18 percent), Asians (11 percent) and Native American/Other (6 percent), according to those with access to comScore and Screen Engine's PostTrak exit-polling service. * For comparison: The opening weekend breakdown for this summer's Ant-Man and the Wasp, from Disney and Marvel Studios, was comprised of Caucasians (53 percent), Hispanics (19 percent), African-American (15 percent), Asian (8 percent) and Native American/Other (4 percent). + Up next: Venom's early success also bodes well for the studio's animated feature Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, featuring Miles Morales, the Afro-Latino incarnation of Spider-Man, which opens Dec. 14. The next live-action studio superhero film, Warner Bros.' Aquaman, follows in theaters on Dec. 21. [Full analysis.]( Elsewhere in film... ► U.K. tax benefits provide record $10.3B boost to economy, BFI report shows. Production spend on feature film production in the U.K. has doubled since the tax credit program was first introduced in 2007. [Details.]( ► Sony pushes back James Gunn horror movie to 2019. BrightBurn, which the filmmaker is producing, moves from Nov. 30 of this year to May 24, 2019. The film will [open opposite]( Disney and Guy Ritchie's live-action Aladdin, as well as Warner Bros.' video game adaptation MineCraft and Fox's Stuber, toplined by Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy star Dave Bautista. ► Malcolm McDowell to play Rupert Murdoch in Fox News movie. McDowell joins Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman and Margot Robbie, who [will play]( Megyn Kelly, Gretchen Carlson and an associated producer, respectively. Annapurna is financing and producing the project, which was written by The Big Short scribe Charles Randolph and will be directed by Jay Roach. ► Michael Pena to star as Mr. Roarke in Fantasy Island. Jeff Wadlow, who [worked]( with Blumhouse on the recent release Truth or Dare, is attached to direct. ► Benedict Cumberbatch's The Current War to get international release. The Weinstein Co. buyer Lantern Entertainment and 13 Films will [distribute]( the Harvey Weinstein-tainted Thomas Edison biopic, and the unreleased horror pic Polaroid. ► Sylvester Stallone's Rambo 5 adds Paz Vega. Last Blood sees Vietnam vet John Rambo [take on]( the Mexican drug cartels. Vega will play Carmen Delgado, a reporter who covers the Mexican drug trade and teams up with Rambo after her younger half-sister is kidnapped. ► 87 countries submit films in Oscars' foreign-language category. That number is down slightly from the record 92 films that were submitted last year. For the first time, Malawi, which submitted Shemu Joyah's The Road to Sunrise, and Niger, which submitted Rahmatou Keita's The Wedding Ring, have entered films. [Details.]( ► Gary Oldman, Jessica Alba, Nicolas Cage and Sofia Vergara titles getting AFM world premieres. At least 64 world premieres will be heading to Santa Monica for the American Film Market, with a total of 300 films set to be showcased. [Details.]( ► Keegan-Michael Key to host MPTF's "Reel Stories, Real Lives." The Motion Picture & Television Fund [teams]( with Key to host the organization's seventh annual event on Nov. 8 at the Directors Guild of America in Hollywood, Chris Gardner reports. [Quoted:]( "I never said #MeToo is a lie. Ever. I was talking about Hollywood and Time’s Up, not #MeToo. Ugh. I’m so tired of erroneous sh*tstorms. #MeToo is about survivors and their experiences, that cannot be taken away." — Rose McGowan, clarifying her remarks from the other day. ^New THR podcast: Hosted by tech editor Carolyn Giardina, Behind the Screen, a new weekly podcast series, launches Tuesday and will turn the spotlight on acclaimed cinematographers, editors, production designers, composers, VFX supervisors and other leading artists who will take listeners behind Hollywood’s most talked-about-award contenders: + First episode: The series debuts with A Star Is Born production sound mixer Steve Morrow, who offers a unique behind-the-scenes look at recording Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper, as well as shooting in live concert venues such as the Stagecoach and Glastonbury Festivals. + Live music challenges: Cooper and Lady Gaga wanted the film to sound as if it was a live concert, which posed some unique challenges. “In Glastonbury, we went in there thinking we had eight minutes to film, but the festival was running late so they only gave us three,” Morrow says. “We wanted to shoot three songs. … We decided to play 30 seconds of each song." [Subscribe]( | [Listen]( Agency shifting... ► Amy Schumer signs with WME in all areas. She has left UTA to unite her business under WME, which had [represented]( her only in touring. Schumer's sister and writing partner, Kim Caramele, and another frequent collaborator, actor/writer/producer Kevin Kane, also are joining her. ► Fran Drescher signs with APA. Her signature voice was most recently heard this summer in Hotel Transylvania 3, where she [reprised]( her role as Frank Stein's wife Eunice. In memoriam... ► RIP Arnold Kopelson. The Oscar-winning producer behind such features as Platoon, Seven and The Fugitive who [pioneered]( the practice of presales in motion pictures died Monday in his Beverly Hills home of natural causes, his wife, Anne Kopelson, said. He was 83. ► Chris Cornell statue unveiled in Seattle. Cornell's 18- and 14-year-old daughters and 12-year-old son unveiled the statue during a ceremony Sunday. [Photo.]( On the festival circuit... ► Mumbai drops two films over sexual misconduct allegations against filmmakers. Actor-director Rajat Kapoor's Kadakh and comedy collective All India Bakchod's Chintu Ka Birthday are [dropped]( from the festival lineup over sexual misconduct allegations against the creators of both films. How New York Comic Con upped the ante for studios. The weekend featured [lengthy looks]( at projects such as Dark Phoenix and Into the Spider-Verse that topped what happened this summer in San Diego, Graeme McMillan writes. 'Bachelor' at the Ballot Box Misplaced trust: Don't just blame Donald Trump for the current anti-intellectual threat to democracy, blame reality TV as voters "go with their hearts" instead of relying on research or reason, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar writes: + Instructive pop culture: Reality television is deep in that fight, throwing elbows and eye gouges to America's ideals by dismissing with such evangelical zeal the Age of Reason's 200-year-old premise that "knowledge is power" in favor of the much easier and more socially harmful "go with your heart" (aka "go with your gut"). * Inner voice leads astray: "Going with my gut" is like saying, "I'll jump off this cliff because my gut says the water below is deep enough." Reality shows perpetuate the childish idea that we have innate superpowers when it comes to detecting sincere love matches — which explains the U.S.' high divorce and adultery rates — or making political decisions. + Socially ingrained: The "truthiness" that Stephen Colbert once satirized is now so ingrained in our culture that many voters no longer feel the necessity to rely on verifiable facts to choose their candidates. They have been unburdened from what was once their patriotic duty of examining a candidate's record and the veracity of their statements to choose who would be best for the job. [Full essay.]( What else we're reading... — "Stan Lee Breaks His Silence." Mark Ebner visits the Marvel icon: "Today, Lee’s hearing is almost shot, his breathing labored, and his voice frequently fails him. He’d rather be reclining in his comfy chair—gazing out across his swimming pool at the canyon view, reminiscing about times with his beloved late wife Joan." [[The Daily Beast](] — "Helena Bonham Carter: ‘Standing Up to Harvey Wasn’t Easy.'" Simon Hattenstone interviews: "I found the way he treated certain people chilling – without any kind of respect. There were many times I disagreed with the way he behaved, and I don’t mean sexually." [[The Guardian](] — "Rebooting Forgotten TV Shows Is a Great Idea." Kathryn VanArendonk contests: "Hollywood should be rebooting odd misfires, ideas that gelled too late in the game, great premises that were stuck with terrible titles, and well-conceived shows that were sent into the battle of network scheduling as sacrificial lambs against a competing network’s powerhouse series." [[Vulture](] — "Does A Star Is Born Hate Pop Music?" Rob Harvilla explores: "As a collection of songs, the soundtrack is delightful. As an argument about love or art or genre or pure self-expression or stardom, it is hella confusing. But the confusion might be an essential part of the delight." [[The Ringer](] — "Banksy Wasn’t Critiquing Capitalism, He Was Taking Part In It." Priscilla Frank writes: "Banksy’s prank prompted mischief in an environment known for its upper-crustiness, lighting a trick candle in a musty room. At the very least, he made people gasp and laugh, which, given the news cycle of last week, was a charitable act indeed." [[HuffPost](] What else we're watching... + "John Goodman reveals difficulty after Roseanne departure." [[Jimmy Kimmel](] + "Anthony Anderson will graduate from Howard with his son in 2022." [[Tonight Show](] + "Carol Anderson on why Republicans often aim to disenfranchise voters of color." [[Daily Show](] From the archives... + On Oct. 9, 1986, Joan Rivers entered the late-night game as she hosted The Late Show on then-new Fox. It only endured for two seasons, but it was a live wire of an experiment: "The set is larger, or at least more open, allowing room for slickly lighted production numbers. ... The studio audience, at least as sampled in the first two shows, is considerably more frenetic [than The Tonight Show]." [[New York Times](] Today's birthdays: Bella Hadid, 22, Brandon Routh, 39, Chris O'Dowd, 39, Jason Butler Harner, 48, Steve McQueen, 49, Guillermo del Toro, 54, Scott Bakula, 64, Tony Shalhoub, 65. Follow The News Is this email not displaying correctly? [View it in your browser.]( ©2018 The Hollywood Reporter. 5700 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036 All rights reserved. [Unsubscribe]( | [Manage Preferences]( | [Privacy Policy]( | [Terms of Use]( October 9, 2018