Hollywood's Socialism Boom; New On-set COVID-19 Protocols Agreed; AMC Theaters Takes Over The Grove and The Americana

[View on web]( [New reader? Subscribe]( July 20, 2021 What's news: The studios and the guilds have come to an agreement on on-set COVID-19 protocols and they finally take vaccines into account. Prince Harry is writing a memoir. Kris Wu, one of China's biggest stars, has been accused of sexual misconduct. Plus: Clerks 3 is a go with all the original cast — [Abid Rahman]( Hollywood's Socialism Boom ►"We’re all part of the same struggle." In the past few years, a new wave of Hollywood leftists seeking transformational change has been growing in number at the L.A. chapter of Democratic Socialists of America, write THR's [Gary Baum]( and [Katie Kilkenny](. Fueled by the success of openly socialist politicians like Sen. Bernie Sanders, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and recently elected L.A. City Councilmember Nithya Raman, as well as justice movements roiling the industry, the chapter has tapped into the frustrations of an idealistic rank and file. With supporters ranging from assistants to power players like Adam McKay, the industry's Democratic Socialists are demanding a fair share for Hollywood workers. [The story](. —Big get for HBO Max. Eyes on the Prize, the landmark docuseries about the civil rights movement that debuted on PBS in 1987, is now streaming on HBO Max. The WarnerMedia outlet will also air a new special, Eyes on the Prize: Hallowed Ground, in August from Anonymous Content’s AC Studios and Oscar-nominated filmmaker Sophia Nahli Allison. [The story.]( —It's official. AMC Theatres is taking over the leases of the cinemas at The Grove shopping complex and The Americana at Brand in Glendale, two of L.A.'s top grossing theaters. [The story](. —A bit of internal news. Patricia Mays is joining THR as executive editor of news. Patricia comes to THR from ESPN and will oversee the ​digital strategy across the brand, including our snazzy recently relaunched website. Welcome Patricia! [The story](. Hollywood Can Mandate Vaccinations on Sets ►The new protocols. Hollywood’s major studios and guilds have come to a tentative, short-term agreement on new on-set COVID-19 protocols, finally taking vaccines into account. In a joint statement, the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) and the industry’s top guilds — including SAG-AFTRA, IATSE, the DGA and the Teamsters — say that they’ve agreed to ease up current protocols for fully vaccinated cast and crew. [The story](. —A superfan service? With the launch of CNN+, CNN is betting that its global reach, iconic brand and interactive features will help differentiate it in marketplace that includes free streaming options from CBS News, ABC News, NBC News and MSNBC, and multiple subscription offerings from Fox News. THR's [Alex Weprin]( looks into what CNN+ means for the long-term prospects and strategy of the organization. [The analysis](. —"Accurate and wholly truthful." Random House announced Monday that Prince Harry will pen an "intimate and heartfelt memoir" that will detail "the definition account of the experiences, adventures, losses and life lessons that have helped shape him." [The story](. —You had me at Tilda Swinton. Los Espookys creator Julio Torres is plotting his film debut. Sources tell THR's [Bryn Sandberg]( that the comedian will write, direct and star in his own A24 comedy. While the film is still in the early stages and the plot is being kept under wraps, Tilda Swinton is attached the star in the project. [The story](. 'Framing Britney Spears' Filmmakers Peel Back Layers of Conservatorship Battle ►Cascade of events. The doc Framing Britney Spears, which chronicles a years-long effort by Britney Spears to be freed from her conservatorship, debuted in February. Since then the #FreeBritney movement has grown beyond her fanbase and become a phenomenon. THR's [Abbey White]( spoke to two of the filmmakers behind Framing Britney Spears, Samantha Stark and Liz Day, about all the new information that has emerged since the doc dropped, their reflections on their work in light of the past few weeks, and how they envision a follow-up to their Emmy-nominated film. [The interview](. —On pause. Following a COVID-related production pause on Bridgeton in the U.K., HBO's Game of Thrones prequel The House of the Dragon has also now paused production in Britain for two days due to coronavirus exposure among the cast and crew. [The story](. —The gang is getting back together. Lionsgate has picked up the worldwide rights to Kevin Smith’s Clerks 3. Smith wrote the script and will direct, with all major castmembers returning, including Jeff Anderson as Randal, Brian O’Halloran as Dante, Jay Mewes as Jay, Smith as Silent Bob, and Rosario Dawson as Becky. [The story.]( —Kris Wu accused. Chinese-Canadian rapper turned actor Kris Wu, one of China’s biggest stars, has been dropped by a slew of major brands after he was accused of luring young girls, including teenagers, into having sex with him. [The story](. Tariq In the Frame for 'Blade' ►Rising talent. Marvel Studios is zeroing in on a director for Blade, which will star Mahershala Ali as the vampire hunter. Pakistan-born American filmmaker Bassam Tariq is in early talks helm the feature project. Tariq directed the rap drama Mogul Mowgli, which he also co-wrote with star Riz Ahmed. [The story](. —The golden touch. Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time, will join the NBC Olympics broadcasting team as a primetime correspondent in Tokyo. Assuming the Games go ahead, Phelps will join Dan Hicks and Rowdy Gaines in the booth for select events of the swimming competition. [The story](. —Settlement. Fox News has settled a harassment and retaliation suit filed by on-air contributor Britt McHenry in late 2019. McHenry initially filed the suit against Fox News and FNC talent George “Tyrus” Murdoch, alleging that Murdoch harassed her. [The story](. —"It just annoyed me." Rosie O’Donnell has finally addressed ruining the ending to Fight Club on her talk show back in October 1999 because she thought the movie was tasteless. [The story](. In other news... —Stephen Amell's wrestling drama [Heels]( extended trailer](. —[Jeff Bezos blasts off]( and the billionaire space race is on. —Games publisher [Tilting Point raises $235m]( to fuel expansions and acquisitions. —Alfre Woodard joins CBC, BET+ civil rights drama [The Porter](. —Andrew Lloyd Webber closes Cinderella in London, [blames U.K. government for "impossible conditions.]( —Byung-hun Lee to produce, star in Netflix YA romance [I Believe In A Thing Called Love](. —Instagram asks court to delete users’ suit over [embed feature](. —Queen Latifah’s Flavor Unit inks [first-look deal with Audible](. —[Twitch taps Christine Weber]( as chief technology officer. —San Sebastian Film Festival unveils [first competition titles](. —Locarno Film Festival adds two titles to [complete lineup](. —Cannes film review: Mathieu Amalric's [Hold Me Tight]( (Serre moi fort). What else we're reading... —"Trump Is a Godsend for Book Publishers. He’s Also a Nightmare." [[New York Magazine]( —"Falling Back in Love With Cannes" [[New York Times]( —"Nicolas Cage Is Ready to Be Taken Seriously Again" [[Vanity Fair]( —"The Controversy Over Anthony Bourdain’s Deepfaked Voice Is A Reminder That Documentaries Aren’t Journalism" [[Washington Post]( —"Daily Show at 25: We Became the News" [[Salon]( Today... ... in 1984, Fox released the R-rated college comedy Revenge of the Nerds. Directed by Jeff Kanew and starring Robert Carradine, Anthony Edwards, Ted McGinley, and Bernie Casey the film spawned three less successful sequels. [The original review](. Today's birthdays: Sandra Oh (50), [Chloe Fineman]( (33), Judy Greer (46), Julianne Hough (33), Simon Rex (47), Omar Epps (48), Josh Holloway (52), John Francis Daley (36), Frank Whaley (58), Dean Winters (57), Gisele Bündchen (41), Scout Willis (30), Naseeruddin Shah (71) 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](