Bob Odenkirk Stable After Heart Attack; Netflix Makes COVID Vaccinations Mandatory; LeBron, Drake Producing Hockey Doc; Jennifer Garner Inks Netflix Deal

[View on web]( [New reader? Subscribe]( July 29, 2021 What's news: Bob Odenkirk's reps confirmed that the actor suffered a heart attack on Tuesday and is recovering. The first trailer for Will Smith's King Richard has dropped and, well, it's huh, emotional. Sony studio boss Tom Rothman has extended his contract and taken on the CEO title. Plus: Delroy Lindo will play Mr. Nancy in Amazon's adaptation of Neil Gaiman's Anansi Boys. — [Abid Rahman]( Bob Odenkirk Stable After Heart Attack ►The latest. National treasure Bob Odenkirk is in stable condition at a New Mexico hospital Wednesday, a day after suffering a heart attack while in production on the sixth and final season of AMC’s Better Call Saul. "We can confirm Bob is in stable condition after experiencing a heart-related incident," reps for the actor said in a statement to THR. "He and his family would like to express gratitude for the incredible doctors and nurses looking after him, as well as his cast, crew and producers who have stayed by his side. The Odenkirks would also like to thank everyone for the outpouring of well wishes and ask for their privacy at this time as Bob works on his recovery." [The story.]( —Mandatory. Netflix is making COVID-19 vaccinations mandatory on its U.S. productions, at least in Zone A, the part of the set with actors. The move makes the streamer the first major studio to institute a blanket vaccination policy. [The story.]( —Worrying signs. Disney's Jungle Cruise opens in theaters across the globe this weekend amid growing concerns over the COVID-19 delta variant. The Dwayne Johnson-Emily Blunt film, is tracking to open in the $25 million to $30 million range domestically and $40 million-plus overseas. [The box office preview](. —NHL's racial reckoning. NBA superstar LeBron James, rapper Drake and entrepreneur Maverick Carter are set to executive produce Black Ice, a feature documentary that will explore anti-Black racism in hockey, including in the NHL with its paltry number of Black players. [The story.]( Quote of the Month "He's going to be ok." Bob Odenkirk's son Nate tweeted on Wednesday to update friends, family and fans about his father's health following news of the Better Call Saul star's hospitalization. James Gunn's 'The Suicide Squad' ►"Second time's the charm." THR's John DeFore reviews DC's The Suicide Squad, James Gunn's take on the anti-heroes that largely ignores David Ayer's critical dud from 2016. "Not only does it find the nastily enjoyable vibe that eluded its predecessor, but it also tells a story worth following." [The review.]( —Yes Jen! Jennifer Garner has entered into a new partnership with Netflix that will see the actress star in and produce feature films for the streamer. Under the deal, Garner is set to produce the sequel to her Netflix family film Yes Day. [The story.]( —Continued growth. Facebook’s ad revenue increased 56 percent year over year for a total of $28.58b in Q2 of this year, according to earnings reported on Wednesday. The social media company’s daily and monthly active users increased by 7 percent for a total of 1.9b and 2.9b users, respectively. [The results.]( —Subs and streaming up. Universal Music Group’s earnings for the first half of 2021 surged ahead of the music major’s planned September stock market debut. Recorded music revenues grew by 20 percent as subscription and streaming revenue gained 24.7 percent and physical sales rebounded 40.1 percent. [The results.]( —Stability. Sony studio chairman Tom Rothman has extended his contract and added CEO to his title. His duties will remain the same. [The story.]( 'FBoy Island' Near the 'Outer Banks' ►This Week in TV. THR's [Rick Porter]( runs down the TV premieres, returns and specials over the next seven days. Things to look out for over the coming week include more Olympics! There's also a new season of Outer Banks on Netflix, a revival of VH1's Behind the Music, a new HBO talk show with Bob Costas, the debut of HBO Max’s dating show FBoy Island and animated royal show The Prince. [The full guide.]( —Fancy Mr. Nancy. Amazon and Neil Gaiman have found their new Mr. Nancy/Anansi. Delroy Lindo has landed the coveted lead role in the streamer’s straight-to-series adaptation of Gaiman’s 2005 fantasy novel Anansi Boys. [The story.]( —Arrest made. The Corona Police Department on Wednesday announced that an arrest had been made in the deadly Monday night Forever Purge screening shooting at the Regal Edwards Corona Crossings & RPX moviehouse. [The story](. —Get ready to tear up. Will Smith returns to the big screen playing Richard Williams, the ultra-ambitious and inspirational father to tennis legends Venus and Serena Williams in the first trailer for King Richard. [The story.]( —Ride or die. Tiffany Haddish and Oscar nominee LaKeith Stanfield are in negotiations to star in Haunted Mansion, Disney’s family adventure spookfest based on one of the company’s signature rides. [The story.]( ♫ Casa Bonita! Casa Bonita! ♫ ►"We want to make it right and make it amazing." Trey Parker and Matt Stone are attempting to become the new owners of Casa Bonita, Cartman's beloved Colorado restaurant with the arcade, cave and waterfall with cliff divers as featured on their show South Park (yeah it's real). "We want to buy Casa Bonita and treat it right. I feel like it was neglected even before the pandemic," Parker told THR. [The story.]( —"Why should we have to leave?" Black TikTok creators are grappling with how far they should take the dance "strike," to draw attention to the ways Black creators are overlooked. Yet some think a full strike, refusing to post or leaving the app entirely, would put them at another disadvantage with influencer peers. [The story.]( —TIFF gala screenings. Toronto Film Festival has added world premieres of The Good House, starring Kevin Kline and Sigourney Weaver, and the U.K. comedy Silent Night, led by Keira Knightley and Lily-Rose Depp, to its gala lineup at Roy Thomson Hall. [The story](. —More is more. iHeartMedia has reached a multiyear podcast deal with the NBA that will result in more than 20 podcasts over the next four years. [The story](. In other news... —[CBS taps Jon Koa]( to head comedy development. —[DeWanda Wise to star alongside Shailene Woodley]( in Showtime’s Three Women. —Jason Sudeikis on how Foo Fighters song "My Hero" [influenced Ted Lasso season 2](. —LFG producer Abby Greensfelder wants more thorough [storytelling for women](. —Charles Barkley says COVID-19 vaccinations should be [mandatory for all pro athletes](. —How [Sunday in the Park With George]( almost became a movie starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Meryl Streep. —Ashley Greene, Shawn Ashmore’s [Aftermath lands at Quiver for digital](. —How Old star [Aaron Pierre crafted mid-sized sedan]( with M. Night Shyamalan. —[Dusty Hill]( ZZ Top bassist, dies at 72. —Susan Sarandon on Ride the Eagle message: "Stop taking yourself so seriously." —[Maria Zuckerman promoted]( to Topic Studios president. —[Gray Television’s $925m regional station buy]( approved by Justice Dept., with divestitures. —Cinemark CEO Mark Zoradi to [retire at end of year](. —[Lollapalooza to require vaccination card]( or negative covid test within last 3 days. —People’s Choice Awards [expand to NBC](. What else we're reading... —"Welcome to Gawker" [[Gawker]( —"The Cosby Ruling: Some Legal Analysts Dispute the Court’s Reasoning" [[New York Times]( —"Simone Biles: What Are The Twisties In Gymnastics?" [[BBC]( —"Blizzard Employees Walk Out Over Company’s Handling of Discrimination, Sexual Harassment Suit" [[Washington Post]( —"The Secret to I Think You Should Leave? Old Guys." [[The Ringer]( Today... ... in in 2016, STX released the R-rated comedy Bad Moms starring Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell and Kathryn Hahn as burnt-out soccer moms looking for a good time. The raunchy comedy, from the writers of The Hangover, made $184 million at the global box office. [The original review.]( Today's birthdays: Ken Burns (68), Miki Ishikawa (30), [Wil Wheaton]( (49), Stephen Dorff (48), Tony Sirico (79), Josh Radnor (47), Alexandra Paul (58), Mike Starr (71), Tim Gunn (68), Sanjay Dutt (62), Rachel Miner (41), Leslie Easterbrook (72) 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. 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