'Independence Day' at 25: Oral History; The Academy Expands Membership; Union Files Charge Against Chateau Marmont

[View on web]( [New reader? Subscribe]( July 02, 2021 What's news: The long weekend is here and to get you in the holiday mood is a comprehensive oral history of Independence Day. Plus: Meghan McCain is leaving The View and Noah Hawley says he's not going near the Ripley character in his Alien series. All that's left for me to say is I hope you all have a great Fourth of July! — [Abid Rahman]( 'Independence Day': An Oral History ►"You can't actually blow up the White House." As Independence Day turns 25, the cast and crew look back at the battle to cast Will Smith, the concerns over that famous and industry changing Super Bowl ad, and a last-minute reshoot to save the ending. THR's second nicest man [Aaron Couch]( spoke to director Roland Emmerich, writer Dean Devlin and stars Jeff Goldblum, Bill Pullman, Vivica A. Fox, and yes even Randy Quaid about the making, release and legacy of the movie that turned Smith into a global star and birthed one of the most famous speeches in cinema history. This is worth reading for Quaid's input alone. [The oral history](. —What have you done for me lately. After several years of expansion in the aftermath of the #OscarsSoWhite uproar, the Academy returned to a smaller list of invitations for new members, but still plenty of big names including Janet Jackson, Robert Pattinson, Henry Golding, Kenya Barris, Hugh Bonneville, Laverne Cox, Issa Rae and Nathan Lane. [The full list](. —Disney’s insurer sues over production costs. Who will be picking up the tab for the extra cost to make movies and TV shows late in 2020 when state governments eased shutdown orders but infections were surging? That’s the crucial question that will be answered by a big lawsuit filed on Thursday by Fireman’s Fund against Disney. [The story](. —All's not well at the Chateau Marmont. A union’s battle against Hollywood hangout the Chateau Marmont on behalf of laid-off workers is heating up. UNITE HERE Local 11 has filed an unfair labor practices charge with the NLRB against the Andre Balazs-owned hotel. [The story](. —ICYMI. After a years-long investigation, the Manhattan D.A. has filed tax-related criminal charges against the Trump Organization and its chief financial officer, Allen Weisselberg. [The story](. Is 'Loki' Villain Lurking in Mid-Credits Scene? ►Expecting the unexpected. If the online chatter is any indication, many fans have set their sights on Kang the Conqueror being Loki's big bad. With only two episodes of the show left, the question of who is pulling the strings of the TVA remains a mystery just beyond reach. Despite all the Kang talk, [Richard Newby]( posits that the Disney+ series may be going in an even bigger direction. Warning spoilers. [The deep dive](. —"It's not easy being a working mama." Loki star Sophia Di Martino has revealed how a simple costume alteration made her life as a breastfeeding mom that much easier while filming. [The story](. —"Don’t kill yourself, kid!" Black Widow stars Scarlett Johansson and Florence Pugh talk to THR about fighting poses, Samuel L. Jackson's advice and how their kitchen fight scene helped them get to know each other rather quickly. [The interview](. —Not a Ripley story, believe it or not. Noah Hawley has two scripts down on his upcoming Alien TV series for FX and already knows it will not be about Sigourney Weaver’s Ripley, with the show instead exploring themes of inequality. [The story](. —Mr Pink Cinematic Universe. Steve Buscemi has a fascinating theory concerning his Reservoir Dogs character, Mr. Pink and whether he pops up in Pulp Fiction. [The story](. The Tragic End of Polish Actor Witold Zacharewicz ►"He acted beautifully." In the years before World War II, Witold Zacharewicz was a rising star of Polish cinema, famous throughout Europe and wooed by Samuel Goldwyn, writes THR's [Seth Abramovitch](. But when the Nazis occupied Poland, he was sent to Auschwitz for defending his Jewish countrymen: "For him, the choice was easy." [The story](. —After the Gold Rush. Discovery’s top-rated series Gold Rush is getting another spinoff. Gold Rush: Winter’s Fortune will give viewers a look inside the "high-stakes gambles of the gold-mining offseason for the first time ever" and if that description doesn't make you want to watch, nothing will. [The story](. —Rear view. Meghan McCain, the daughter of late former Sen. John McCain and The View's lone conservative panelist, said Thursday that she will be leaving the program later this month. [The story](. —Pilot update. Epic and Promised Land still in contention at ABC as it passes on Triage, National Parks Investigation and Dark Horse, while NBC has passed on its Jim Jefferies comedy. [The story](. Thank Pod It's Friday ►All the latest content from THR's podcast studio. —Behind the Screen. Tech editor [Carolyn Giardina]( podcast focused on the filmmaking crafts. In this episode, Carolyn speaks to We the People creator Chris Nee and directors Jorge Gutierrez, Trisha Gum and Mabel Ye. [Listen here](. —Awards Chatter. Awards analyst [Scott Feinberg]( talks to the great and the good of Hollywood. In the latest episode, Scott speaks to Sarah Paulson. The Ratched star reflects on how her challenging childhood shaped her as a person and an actress, early jobs that were expected to be game-changers but proved not to be and the origins and evolution of her close collaboration with Ryan Murphy. [Listen here](. In other news.. —Film review: Chris Pratt in Amazon's [The Tomorrow War](. —[Creators weigh options]( as Apple, Spotify roll out subscription podcast offerings. —Bruce Springsteen, Jennifer Hudson and Paul Simon to headline [NYC Homecoming concert](. —[Jamie Chung on Lovecraft Country impact]( Dexter revival and Sucker Punch director’s cut. —[Amber Heard reveals she welcomed her first child]( via surrogate. —California sets [date for recall election]( targeting Gavin Newsom. —Keri Russell, Ray Liotta to star in Elizabeth Banks-directed [Cocaine Bear](. —[Blumhouse sues]( Boss Level producers, Hulu over recutting deal. —Princes William and Harry unveil [Princess Diana statue in London](. —[Richard Branson announces trip to space]( ahead of Jeff Bezos. —President Biden to [host World Series champs Los Angeles Dodgers]( White House. What else we're reading... —"There’s One Man to Blame for Bill Cosby’s Release" [[New York Times]( —"Can Paramount+ Build a Streamer Worthy of Its Golden-Era Studio Legacy?" [[Vanity Fair]( —"Sex/Life Is The Worst Show I Have Ever Seen, And I Have Watched All Of Television" [[BuzzFeed]( —"Lady Boss Documentary Recasts Jackie Collins As Feminist Icon" [[BBC]( —"Joe Rogan Is Too Big to Cancel" [[New York Times]( Today... ... in 2004, after a premiere at the Berlin Film Festival months earlier, Warner Bros. brought Before Sunset to the U.S. for its theatrical release. Richard Linklater's film, starring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy, went on to be nominated for an adapted screenplay Oscar at the 77th Academy Awards. [The original review](. Today's birthdays: Margot Robbie (31), Lindsay Lohan (35), Ashley Tisdale (36), [Larry David]( (74), Jerry Hall (65), Samy Naceri (60), Erin Burnett (45), Peter Kay (48), Elizabeth Reaser (46), Owain Yeoman (43) 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](