Mrs. Mnuchin, H'wood Player?; Disney-Fox CinemaCon Debut; Showrunner Spending Spree; 'Endgame' Tracking; Inside 'Thrones' Premiere

What's news: A look at the arms race among streamers and production companies in signing showrunners. Plus: Avengers: Endgame eyes a historic opening weekend, Amazon vs. Woody Allen and inside Game of Thrones' final world premiere. — Will Robinson April 04, 2019 What's news: A look at the arms race among streamers and production companies in signing showrunners. Plus: Avengers: Endgame eyes a historic opening weekend, Amazon vs. Woody Allen and inside Game of Thrones' final world premiere. — Will Robinson ^Making a name: Louise Linton, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin's spouse, is trying to remake her image as an entitled Washington wife and focus on her aspirations as an actress and producer, while withstanding Congress' questions into her husband's remaining ties to entertainment and her role in his controversial assets, Kim Masters reports: + Linton's role as Mnuchin's wife — and sometime business partner — has exposed her to the type of attention that she does not relish. "I did not imagine this level of scrutiny, but I understand it is now part of my life," Linton tells THR in a statement. "What is frustrating is to have others question my motivation, my ethics and my history. What I will say is this, I am proud of my life, my career, my work and my husband." + Padding resume & connections: Musician Rick Misisco says Linton told late screenwriter Charles Bohl that she might be able to get Jack Nicholson to appear in one of her films. "She just led the guy on," Misisco says of his friend. "Name-dropping all along. She was using him like he was using her." Eventually, Misisco says, Bohl reproached Linton for overplaying her connection to Nicholson. In a July 2016 email to Bohl, Linton protested that she had made no promises. + Of interest to Dems: The Center for Public Integrity's Carrie Levine notes that while various disclosures indicate that Mnuchin sold his interest in Stormchaser Partners to Linton for between $1 million and $2 million, disclosures that Levine obtained through a records request reveal that Linton's Stormchaser Partners owes Mnuchin an amount in the same range: "How clean of a divestment is this?" [Full story.]( Gigantic 'Endgame' Thunderous opening: Early tracking for Marvel Studios' Avengers: Endgame has it coming in at anywhere from $200-250 million in North America over the April 26-28 weekend, Pamela McClintock reports: + Follow-up act: Avengers: Infinity War opened to $257.6 million on the same weekend in April 2018, marking the biggest North American launch of all time, unadjusted for inflation. When Infinity War first came up on tracking, it was tipped for a debut of $185 million-$225 million. Globally, Infinity War debuted to $640.5 million, also a record. Some box office analysts believe Endgame could open in the $750 million-$800 million range worldwide, thanks to a day and date debut in China. + Record-breaking demand: Interest in Endgame is high, with online websites for AMC Theatres and Fandango becoming clogged with traffic after tickets went on sale Tuesday. Both companies, along with Atom Tickets, are reporting that ticket sales in the first 24 hours are the biggest in history, surpassing previous record holder Star Wars: The Force Awakens. [Full story.]( Elsewhere in film... ► Amazon says it was "justified" terminating Woody Allen film deal. The digital giant — in [tryin]([g to dismiss]( some of the director's claims in a $68 million case — points to Allen's statement of a "witch-hunt atmosphere" on the eve of releasing Wonder Wheel and says the comment during the rise of the #MeToo movement effectively sabotaged promotional efforts for the film. ► Captain Marvel flies past $1 billion globally. The first female-led superhero pic to join the elite club, Captain Marvel [has earned]( $358 million at the domestic box office and $645 million internationally through April 2. ► Jacob Tremblay's Burn Your Maps goes to Vertical Entertainment. The adventure drama, which [also stars]( Vera Farmiga and Virginia Madsen, has a long-awaited 2019 theatrical release planned. ► The Orchard film group unveils new leadership, corporate name. The company behind movies like The Hero and Life, Animated will be called 1091 after its sale to 1091 Media. [Who's in charge?]( ► Dispute over Mel Gibson's The Professor and the Madman settles. The litigation-plagued film is currently [set to be released]( in May after the conclusion of the action first brought in 2017. -> Wolf of Wall Street, 1MDB corruption trial begins in Malaysia. Former Prime Minister Najib Razak has [gone on trial]( for his role in a scandal that saw billions of stolen funds used to finance luxury properties and Hollywood films. Casting call... ► Stranger Things star David Harbour joins Scarlett Johansson in Marvel's Black Widow. The movie is [casting up]( as it heads towards a June start of production in London and recently added rising actress Florence Pugh to the call sheet. ► T.I. and filmmaker Matty Rich team for thriller Caller 100. The film [marks the feature return]( of filmmaker Rich, who at 19 years old made a splash with his 1991 movie, Straight Out of Brooklyn, after a 25-year sabbatical. ^Disney takes CinemaCon stage: During the House of Mouse's presentation, led by Walt Disney Studios chairman Alan Horn, Disney showed off new footage of The Lion King, Avengers: Endgame, as well as publicly bringing 20th Century Fox into the fold, Pamela McClintock reports: + "It’s a bit of a shock to be here as colleagues," said 20th Century Fox vice chairman Emma Watts in her first public comments since the historic merger closed. "While we may be living through a lot of change, the good news is the formula for good movie and the studio role hasn't changed, and that is a single dedication to filmmakers." [Full story.]( -> What was teased: Endgame footage and X-Men [plans](... The Lion King with character [dialogue](...Pixar [shows off]( beginning of Toy Story 4. Other news from Las Vegas... ► AMC moving ahead with plans for Saudi Arabian movie theaters. "Obviously, we were aware of the headlines of the last six months. It made us think, 'was this the right thing to do?' After a lot of reflection, we [decided to move ahead](," said CEO Adam Aron during an interview with McClintock. -> Saudi Arabia unveils $35 billion cinema investment plans. The investment, [unveiled]( by the General Commission for Audiovisual Media, which issues cinema licenses, will be focussed on the cities of Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah, with the aim of having some 2,500 screens opened in the country over the next five years. ► New partnership aimed at launching 120fps high frame rate filmmaking. The system from Huaxia, Christie and GDC — encompassing production through exhibition — is [expected to be ready]( in time for the opening of Ang Lee's Gemini Man, which is being made in 3D at 120 frames per second. -> Actress Olivia Wilde is taking a backseat from acting as she prepares for the release of her debut directorial feature, Booksmart, about two graduating high schoolers, which already scored a 100 percent Rotten Tomatoes score. She'll be honored today with CinemaCon's breakthrough directing award: "Directing is a powerful discovery for me." [Full interview.]( * Quick hits: Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham [share]( high-octane look at Hobbs & Shaw... Jennifer Hudson [performs]( "Memory" during Cats presentation... Kevin Hart, Tiffany Haddish [preview]( Secret Life of Pets 2. On the festival circuit... ► Quentin Dupieux's Deerskin to open Cannes' Directors' Fortnight. The film, starring Oscar winner Jean Dujardin, [will open]( the sidebar May 15. ► TCM Classic Film Festival to honor Ted Turner on opening night. TCM host Ben Mankiewicz [will interview]( the TCM founder and media mogul in a conversation that touches on how he changed culture and what he learned along the way. ► Sword of Trust, starring Marc Maron, to open Seattle. IFC Films [will release]( Lynn Shelton's film in July. ^Going behind the camera: Material Pictures exec Tobey Maguire, alongside partner Matthew Plouffe, chat about their $14  million Amazon deal, new projects with Amy Adams and Damien Chazelle, and why the former Spider-Man hasn't been onscreen in years, Tatiana Siegel reports: + Making movies outside of studios: "Part of it is about having the ability to be flexible in how we're putting together a movie and who you answer to. And the movies we wanted to make didn't necessarily tick seven boxes on the matrix that worked into a corporate strategy," Plouffe says. "When you have the ability to do it outside the system, that gives you the flexibility and the agility to get where you need to be. Not with 10 executives in the system." [Full interview.]( Musical notes... ► Britney Spears checks into mental health facility amid dad's health struggles. The pop star [resurfaced]( Wednesday on Instagram to let fans know she's taking some "me time," three weeks after her dad, Jamie Spears, had another surgery to combat issues from his colon rupturing late last year. ► iHeartMedia files for IPO. The company [filed]( for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in March 2018 and in January had its plan approved. ► Cardi B, Drake, Post Malone lead Billboard Music Awards noms. The "I Like It" rapper, who made history this year as the only solo female rapper to win the best rap album Grammy, will compete for the top artist prize against Drake, Ariana Grande, Post Malone and Travis Scott. [All the nods.]( From the stage... ► Phenomenal life of Maya Angelou aims for Broadway. Producers are [aiming]( for a 2021 premiere for Phenomenal Woman: An Evening With Maya Angelou. No director is attached at this stage. Another year older... -> Doris Day, in rare interview, talks turning 97, her animal foundation and Rock Hudson. The actress, whose last public appearance was 30 years ago, talks exclusively to Laurie Brookins about her quiet life and the lasting impact of her films: "The common thread seems to be that [my films are uplifting](." Disney faces gender discrimination lawsuit. Brooks Barnes reports on the suit, which claims "that Disney discriminates against female workers by paying them less than their male counterparts. The complaint, filed on behalf of two employees at Walt Disney Studios, LaRonda Rasmussen and Karen Moore, asks for back pay, lost benefits and other compensation." [[The New York Times](] Enjoy reading this? Six days a week, look for Today in Entertainment in your inbox to stay up-to-date on the industry. Sign up for this newsletter (and others) at [THR.com/Newsletters](. Showrunner Spending Spree Ante up: Rank-and-file scribes may be struggling, but at the other end of the spectrum, superstar talents like Shonda Rhimes and Greg Berlanti are commanding more money than ever (with J.J. Abrams on deck for as much as half a billion dollars), Lesley Goldberg reports: + Caste system: The most sought-after writers and producers are also the most versatile — those who have the ability to juggle multiple series and groom the next generation of showrunners (Rhimes, Westworld's Jonah Nolan). The second tier, which has seen considerable activity and financial growth so far this year, consists of hitmakers who limit their workload to one show at a time (Better Call Saul's Vince Gilligan, Modern Family's Steve Levitan). The big bucks, however, have not trickled down to the third tier of overalls, which consists of longtime writers fresh off hit shows (The Big Bang Theory's Maria Ferrari). + What goes up... : "I've seen this wave before and I've also watched it wane — we're at another peak now, and I'm fairly sure we will see it cycle back down again," says ABC Entertainment president Karey Burke. Her new boss, Dana Walden, announced four new overall deals with 20th TV in the first week since the Disney deal brought Fox's Lee Daniels (Empire) and Kurt Sutter (Mayans M.C.) into the fold. Still, adds Burke, "Our studios and all our suppliers are feeling the pressure." [Full story.]( -> Are TV packaging fees illegal? An attorney argues yes: Aaron Craig, a business litigator who does not represent either side of the WGA fight against talent agents, says reps are [violating]( their fiduciary duty to clients. Elsewhere in TV... ► Felicity Huffman, Lori Loughlin appear in court for college admissions scandal. The actresses were arrested among 50 others [accused]( of cheating the collegiate system in order for their children to be admitted into upper-echelon universities. Neither entered pleas. ► CBS misses internal deadline to find new CEO. Alex Sherman reports: "If CBS can't find a slam dunk candidate, it increases the chances that interim CEO Joe Ianniello could be named the full-time chief -- at least until a merger is consummated." [[CNBC](] ► CBS This Morning co-host Bianna Golodryga officially leaving CBS News. Golodryga's addition to the show was made by CBS News president David Rhodes, who [recently made way]( for Susan Zirinsky, a longtime network veteran who is said to be in the midst of several major decisions about programming talent. ► Mark Burnett, MGM TV launch global unscripted formats business. The Survivor creator [reteams]( with C. Scot Cru and Patrice Choghi to focus on new unscripted content for sale worldwide. ► Netflix renews Ricky Gervais' After Life. The scripted comedy [will return]( for another batch of six episodes in 2020. ► Younger staying put at TV Land for season six. The series had been [slated to move]( to Viacom's Paramount Network, but the change will keep TV Land in the scripted originals business. ► HBO relocates West Coast base to Culver City from Santa Monica. The network's new offices will be a [five-story office building]( designed by Ehrlich Yanai Rhee Chaney Architects, which is part of the 5.2-acre mega project called Ivy Project on Venice Boulevard. Casting call... ► Rosie O'Donnell, Melissa Leo join Mark Ruffalo in HBO's I Know This Much Is True. The cast of the limited series will [also feature]( Archie Panjabi, Imogen Poots, Juliette Lewis and Kathryn Hahn. ► Jason Alexander to voice cartoon mouse in Fox pilot. The actor will [play opposite]( a live-action Thomas Lennon in Richard Lovely. ► Lupita Nyong'o to narrate Discovery Channel wildlife series Serengeti. The show, debuting later this year, [hails from]( American Idol creator Simon Fuller and wildlife filmmaker John Downer. ► Creepshow star Adrienne Barbeau joins series reboot. Giancarlo Esposito and Tobin Bell will [also star]( in the first episode of Shudder's horror anthology based on the 1982 film. [Quoted:]( "I realized just recently that I'm in a state where I never dreamed I'd be. I'm a widow, I'm an orphan and I'm an empty nester and that just hit me like a ton of bricks. For the first time in my life, I have the time and the means to go and do anything I want to do." — Kathie Lee Gifford, on leaving Today. ^As Europe goes to war with tech giants, will artists benefit?: While some see new copyright legislation as a first step toward redistributing power to content creators, others believe the proposals may make YouTube and Facebook even stronger, Scott Roxborough reports: + Helping creators: David Kavanagh, who represents the Federation of Screenwriters in Europe, sees the law as the first step toward a rebalance of power between European creators and traditional gatekeepers — be they broadcasters, studios or platforms. Now, the vast majority of European creatives are freelancers signed to buyout contracts who get zero backend remuneration for their work, no matter how successful it is. + Unintended consequences?: "The supporters of the law, who think this will limit the powers of the big platforms, are wrong," says Evan Engstrom, executive director of tech advocacy group Engine. "They are the only ones who will be able to comply with these regulations. So the law will only make them stronger." [Full story.]( -> Netflix unveils new projects, plans for growth in Spain at production hub inauguration: CEO Reed Hastings, in Madrid for the inauguration, called the new hub evidence that Netflix was “[investing for the long term](," Jennifer Green reports. Digital digest... ► Mark Zuckerberg: Facebook has "learned a lot" since 2016 election. In an interview with ABC News, Zuckerberg shared his thoughts on the spread of misinformation via the social media platform — and also defended Facebook's actions after recent terror attacks were livestreamed. [Watch.]( Ratings notes... ► This Is Us finale improves. The NBC drama [ticked up]( a little bit in adults 18-49 to a 1.8 rating to close its third season. The finale's 8.05 million viewers were the most for the show since Jan. 22, a span of seven episodes. From the Live Feed... ► How the You're the Worst series finale put a new spin on happily ever after. Creator Stephen Falk and stars Aya Cash, Chris Geere and Kether Donohue talk with Lesley Goldberg about the legacy the FXX critical darling leaves behind. [Spoilers.]( Latest reviews... ► PBS' Les Miserables. "[The miniseries] represents a substantive commitment and yet still feels hours short of an ideal and full [Victor Marie] Hugo adaptation," Daniel Fienberg considers. "It's still effective as melodrama and far more nourishing as a character-driven drama than any telling of the story in recent memory." [Full review.]( Around town... ► Beverly Hills Hotel owner deactivates social media pages as boycott grows. Dorchester Collection announces it has suspended social media pages for its properties following [abuse directed]( at employees "for whom we have a duty of care," as the boycott gains steam with the aid of A-listers Ellen DeGeneres and George Clooney. * DeGeneres backs Beverly Hills Hotel boycott as Brunei anti-gay law goes into effect. The talk show host [went public]( with her renewed support of the Brunei-owned hotel boycott. "Raise your voices now. Spread the word. Rise up," she urged. HBO readies Game of Thrones studio tour. The show's former studios in Northern Island, where Winterfell and Castle Black scenes were filmed, will open its doors in spring of 2020. [[The New York Times](] 'Game of Thrones' Premiere Winter is here: For a few New York minutes, Manhattan played the role of Westeros to honor the final season of Game of Thrones. Josh Wigler walks through what went down at the HBO drama's final world premiere: + There was certainly something in the air: a massive replica of the Iron Throne, towering over Rockefeller Center — a much deadlier totem than the Christmas tree that lights up the area in December. "Winter is here," as they say. The grandeur of the Manhattan spectacle wasn't lost on the cast, either. + How it changed TV: "One of the great legacies of this show will be the institutional knowledge we've gained from doing it," HBO programming chief Casey Bloys says. "Now, any creator who walks in our door and says, 'I have this insane idea, and this is what I want to do,' we don't say, 'Oh, we don't know how to do that.' We'll say, 'Here are five different ways you can do that.' That's really, really meaningful for us." [Event recap]( | [Red carpet gallery]( -> Goodman: Thrones will rank as one of TV's all-time dramas: When all is said and done, HBO's fantasy saga will do what most genre series have never done — be considered [among the all-time best](. What else we're reading... — "Will Game of Thrones Ever Really Be Over? Unlikely." Jeremy Egner explores the show's tail — Casey Bloys: "The universe is too rich not to try. But on the other hand, I also don’t want to do it just to do it." [[The New York Times](] — "Media Companies Take a Big Gamble on Apple." Edmund Lee chats with publishers: "There’s a sense among Manhattan’s media ranks that any deal with Silicon Valley amounts to a fool’s bargain. Now, by necessity, magazines, newspapers and websites have learned to be promiscuous tradesmen to stop relying on one revenue source." [[The New York Times](] — "For Some Rock Pioneers, Warner Music Treats Streaming Royalties as Charity." Eriq Gardner reports: "What may be downright shocking for some of these older recording artists is finding out there might be not be any contractual entitlement to streaming royalties whatsoever. Or at least that's the position now being taken by Warner Bros. Records in an ongoing lawsuit." [[THR](] — "Tracy Morgan and Tiffany Haddish on Brooklyn and The Last O.G." Sonia Saraiya goes to the borough — Morgan: "When you see all these trucks and stuff, this isn’t just what we bring here. We bring hope. Especially in my community. They see me, Tiffany, and Cedric, and Allen. And they say, ‘Wow, if they can do it, I could do it.’” [[Vanity Fair](]] — "Welcome to the Age of Pop ‘Plagiarism’." Craig Jenkins details: "In 2019, the ways in which music is borrowed is more subversive. That’s because the job of a pop star is different than what it used to be." [[Vulture](] Last night, on late night... + "John Lithgow shares his Trump-based poems." [[Late Show](] + "Jimmy visits his childhood home in the middle of the night." [[Jimmy Kimmel](] + "Woody Harrelson's Elvis impression got him into acting." [[Late Late Show](] + "Chris Hayes' great social media day after Tucker Carlson attacks." [[Late Night](] Today's birthdays: Amanda Righetti, 36, Natasha Lyonne, 40, James Roday, 43, Barry Pepper, 49, Robert Downey Jr., 54, David Cross, 55, Hugo Weaving, 59, Lorraine Toussaint, 59, David E. Kelley, 63, Craig T. Nelson, 75. Follow The News Is this email not displaying correctly? [View it in your browser.]( ©2019 The Hollywood Reporter. 5700 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036 All rights reserved. [Unsubscribe]( | [Manage Preferences]( | [Privacy Policy]( | [Terms of Use]( April 4, 2019