'Bull' Showrunner Out; HFPA Code of Conduct; Further BBC Diana Interview Fallout

[View on web]( [New reader? Subscribe]( May 22, 2021 What's news: CBS parts ways with Bull showrunner after workplace investigation, the HFPA approves a new code of conduct, appeals court confirms that stars lost millions in Weinstein bankruptcy, Henry Cavill joining Highlander reboot, F9 revs up in China. Plus: Warner Bros. TV group gets new comms chief, and Wanda sells off its stake in AMC Theatres. --Alex Weprin 'Bull' Showrunner Out ►Following a workplace investigation on the CBS drama Bull, showrunner Glenn Gordon Caron has exited the show and his overall deal with CBS Studios has ended, sources tell Maureen Ryan. --The show’s writing staff underwent multiple departures after production wrapped for season five, which aired its finale on May 17. CBS Studios, sources say, launched an investigation regarding those writers’ exits. CBS declined to address questions about the reasons for Caron’s departure, but confirmed that Caron is no longer with Bull. The series, starring Michael Weatherly as jury consultant Dr. Jason Bull, was renewed for a sixth season in April. --Additionally, co-star Freddy Rodriguez, who played Benjamin “Benny” Colón on Bull for more than 100 episodes, is also exiting the show after a workplace investigation. CBS declined to comment on the circumstances surrounding Rodriguez’s departure, but confirmed he will no longer be on the show. A rep for the actor declined to comment. [The story](. HFPA Code of Conduct ►On Thursday, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association “overwhelmingly” approved a new Code of Professional and Ethical Conduct (“more than 90 percent”), the HFPA’s board said in a statement on Friday. --The “overarching, living document” is but one step in the organization’s efforts to get itself back into the good graces of Hollywood following a Feb. 21 Los Angeles Times exposé that revealed that there are currently zero black members of the HFPA, and that the HFPA, a non-profit, has conducted its business and financial affairs in questionable ways. [The story](. ►Appeals court confirms Hollywood stars lost millions in Weinstein bankruptcy. Spyglass Media wins another round — perhaps the final one — over Weinstein's old debts, Eriq Gardner writes. [The story](. +In other legal news: The next wave in litigation over embedded social media posts is a copyright infringement suit against Instagram on behalf of pretty much anyone who has used the app and had their content aggregated elsewhere without permission. [More](. The New 'Highlander'? ►Filmmaker Chad Stahelski’s long-gestating Highlander reboot is getting a jolt. Henry Cavill is in talks to star in the Lionsgate film. It is unknown what character he will play, but it is expected to be one of the film’s two leading roles. [More](. +F9 is putting its pedal to the medal. In a promising start to the summer box office season, the latest Fast & Furious installment blasted off with a huge $59.1 million on its opening day in China, while also doing strong mid-week business in other select markets where it opened this week for an early total of $69.8 million heading into the weekend. [More](. +Also: Teagan Croft, who is best known for her role on HBO Max’s DC Entertainment series Titans, has been tapped to star in family film True Spirit for Netflix. [More](. ►Tim Suter, formerly a top executive at the BBC, has stepped down from the board of British broadcast regulator Ofcom following a damning report into the BBC’s conduct in securing a famous television interview with Diana, Princess of Wales in 1995. Ofcom’s chief executive Dame Melanie Dawes said Friday Suter was stepping down “by mutual agreement…with immediate effect.” --On Saturday, former BBC director general Tony Hall resigned as chairman of the National Gallery. He served as the BBC’s director of news when Bashir got the interview. “I am very sorry for the events of 25 years ago and I believe leadership means taking responsibility,” Hall said in a statement. He added that remaining in his role would be “a distraction.” [More](. Casting roundup: Jeremy Allen White [has been tapped]( to lead the cast of FX’s restaurant comedy pilot The Bear... Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter and rapper Jeremih [is joining]( Starz’ Power universe... In other news... --Warner Bros. TV Group [has a new head of communications](. Longtime NBCUniversal exec vp Rebecca Marks will move to lead the Channing Dungey-led studio, helping to fill a void created by the February departure of senior vp Jeff Tobler. --Mark Ruffalo [will join]( Yorgos Lanthimos’ latest feature Poor Things, joining Emma Stone and Willem Dafoe. --Chinese conglomerate Wanda Group [has sold off]( essentially its entire stake in AMC Theatres, officially exiting the U.S. theatrical exhibition business. --Fox and Friends weekend anchor Jedediah Bila [is leaving]( Fox News Channel. --A judge on Friday said That ’70s Show actor Danny Masterson [must stand trial]( on three counts of rape. --California’s top health official said Friday that the state no longer will require social distancing and [will allow full capacity]( for businesses when the state reopens on June 15. What else we're reading... --The New York Times has the deal tick-tock on the WarnerMedia-Discovery merger, which was sealed in AT&T's offices in Dallas Sunday. [[N.Y. Times]( --"Kathryn Hahn all along" [[Vanity Fair]( --"Say adios to ‘Charlie Bit My Finger’: Viral video to trade YouTube fame for NFT cash" [[L.A. Times]( --"Verizon and T-Mobile are building digital bundles that AT&T hasn’t matched" [[CNBC]( --"America’s rich people could have saved local journalism — and perhaps democracy. They refused." [[Washington Post]( Today's birthdays: Naomi Campbell, 51, Morrissey, 62, Novak Djokovic, 34, Maggie Q, 42. This email was sent to {EMAIL} by Penske Media Corporation. Please add email@email.hollywoodreporter.com to your address book to ensure delivery to your inbox. Visit the [Preferences Center]( to update your profile and customize what email alerts and newsletters you receive. Copyright © 2021 The Hollywood Reporter, a subsidiary of Penske Business Media, LLC. All rights reserved. 11175 Santa Monica Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90025 [View in Browser]( | [Privacy Policy]( | [Your Privacy Rights]( | [Ad Choices]( | [Terms of Use]( | [Unsubscribe](