Hollywood's LGBTQ Changemakers; 'Kardashians' Legacy; 'See' Renewed Early at Apple; Jacinda Ardern Film Causes Backlash in NZ

[View on web]( [New reader? Subscribe]( June 11, 2021 What's news: KUWTK finally comes to an end and Jeffrey Toobin returns to CNN after his humiliating Zoom masturbation incident Plus: A Bernie Mac biopic is in the works — Abid Rahman Pride 2021: Hollywood’s 10 LGBTQ Changemakers ►Activists, actors, directors, producers, a news anchor, a comedian and a rapper. THR celebrates Pride with a focus on those who pushed progress (and boundaries) by booking jobs previously reserved for cis performers, simply being themselves or, in one case, sliding down a stripper pole into Satan's lap. [The changemakers.]( —"F*** it. I’m in the Land of the Free." British comedian and author Gina Yashere on how moving to America prompted her to come out. The co-creator of CBS' Bob Hearts Abishola talks about her interwoven experiences of racism and homophobia. [The interview.]( —"I got the satisfying film ending I always wanted." Greg Berlanti reflects on making Love, Simon, a film that he says fulfilled "a desire to have characters that represent all of us in movies." [The story.]( —Man-on-man. Special creator Ryan O'Connell applauds TV's new embrace of depicting penetrative male sex onscreen: "It can be painful, pleasurable, awkward, sexy and so not sexy." [The story.]( —"She is problematic." Actress and advocate Angelica Ross on the legacy of Pose and "tone-deaf" Caitlyn Jenner. [The interview.]( Quote of the Day "This was deeply moronic and indefensible" CNN's Jeffrey Toobin stating the obvious after returning to the channel for the first time since the Zoom masturbation incident that got him fired by The New Yorker. [The story.]( KUWTK Held an Unflattering Mirror Up to America ►The end is the beginning. After 20 seasons and 14 years, E!'s reality behemoth Keeping Up With The Kardashians has come to an end. In an excoriating must-read piece THR critic [Lovia Gyarkye]( looks back at the beginnings of the show, its evolution and the ways in which for better or ill (mainly ill) it reflected America: "Watching KUWTK has been like witnessing the story of America unfold — replete with its contradictions, vampiric relationship to Black people, obsession with remaking itself, capitalistic dysfunction and almost comical lack of self-awareness." [The critic's notebook.]( —Kick it! In welcome news, John Legend’s production company, Get Lifted, has partnered with the Bernie Mac estate to make a biopic about the late comedy legend. [The story.]( —Tim Cook is clearly a fan. Apple has handed out an early season three renewal for its Jason Momoa-led future-where-everybody-is-blind-but-still-have-jewelry drama series See. [The story.]( Crunching the Numbers 1.02 Billion Netflix's decision to cancel Jupiter's Legacy is looking stranger by the week after the show racked up 1.02 billion minutes of viewing time for May 10-16, according to Nielsen’s streaming rankings. [The ratings.]( Thank Pod It's Friday ►All the latest content from THR's podcast studio. —TV's Top 5. [Lesley Goldberg]( and [Daniel Fienberg]( break down the latest TV news. In this week's episode the guys discuss the fallout from Chris Harrison leaving The Bachelor, NBC axing critical favorite Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist and Netflix launching an online retail site. Loki head writer (aka showrunner) Michael Waldron drops by for a chat and Dan reviews Lupin Part 2, Betty, Tuca and Bertie and Blindspotting. [Listen here.]( —Awards Chatter. Awards analyst [Scott Feinberg]( talks to the great and the good of Hollywood. In the latest episode, Scott speaks to Tina Fey. The beloved comedy writer, actress and producer reflects on the roots of her interest in comedy; her SNL experience, from Poehler to Palin; and her experiences with series TV, from 30 Rock to her latest projects Girls5Eva and Mr. Mayor. [Listen here.]( —Behind the Screen. Tech editor [Carolyn Giardina]( podcast focused on the filmmaking crafts. In this episode, Carolyn speaks to In the Heights' supervising sound editor and rerecording mixer Lewis Goldstein, production sound mixer Drew Kunin and editor Myron Kerstein. [Listen here.]( Jacinda Ardern Biopic Causes Controversy ►Yesterday, [THR]( details of]( Are Us]( , a film based on the immediate aftermath of the horrific terrorist attack on two Christchurch mosques in March 2019. Written and to be directed by Kiwi Andrew Niccol the film is set to star Rose Byrne as New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. The film is billed as an inspirational story of how Ardern rallied the country behind a message of compassion and unity and pushed a ban on assault rifles in New Zealand. News of the film, however, has caused a backlash in New Zealand, survivors and Muslim associations say they have been "blindsided" and critics are calling it exploitative and another example of "white saviorism." [The controversy.]( —Amazon won't be happy. New Line, which made the Lord of the Rings trilogy and later adapted The Hobbit, has partnered with Warner Bros. Animation to produce an original anime, The War of the Rohirrim, set in Tolkien’s fantasy world. [The story.]( —Grim inevitability. In news that was expected but still thoroughly depressing, China-style movie censorship is coming to Hong Kong, the city once famed for its vibrant independent film industry. [The story.]( In other news.. —Marvel’s She-Hulk [enlists Jameela Jamil as the villain Titiana]( for the upcoming Disney+ series. —Kenya Barris and Jonah Hill have [teamed up for a comedy feature at Netflix.]( —Seth MacFarlane sets [Ted live-action TV prequel at Peacock.]( —TV review: [Starz’s Blindspotting.]( —Tribeca film review: [Roshan Sethi’s directorial debut 7 Days.]( —Tribeca film review: [Laura Fairrie's Lady Boss: The Jackie Collins Story.]( —Aquaman 2 is [titled The Lost Kingdom.]( —HBO Max sets [reality dating series FBoy Island]( from former Bachelor producer. —Tia Williams' bestseller [Seven Days in June is getting the adaptation treatment]( from Will Packer Media and Kinetic Content. —Fox’s drama Our Kind of People has added Emmy winner [Joe Morton to its cast.]( —Star chef [Nancy Silverton to open Mozza in Mexico.]( What else we're reading... —"How One Actress Is Reshaping the Story of Anne Boleyn" [[New York Times]( —"Keeping Up With The Kardashians Ends Not With a Bang But a Whimper" [[Daily Beast]( —"How In the Heights Pulled Off the Big Swimming-Pool Scene" [[Vulture]( —"Why Gemma Chan-Backed Podcast On Murder Of Vincent Chin Was Pulled, And The Storm It Unleashed" [[SCMP]( —"Hear Me Out: Why Ishtar Isn’t A Bad Movie" [[The Guardian]( Today... ... in 1993, Steven Spielberg ushered in a new franchise with the launch of Jurassic Park. The 126-minute "dino-mite" film set fire to the summer box office that year. [THR]( original review.]( Today's birthdays: Anna Sawai (29), Peter Dinklage (52), [Hugh Laurie]( (62), Joshua Jackson (43), Claire Holt (33), Jorja Smith (24), Ivana Baquero (27) 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](