Why WBD Seeks Streaming Profits; Inside Red Carpet Influencing; Disney Loses Florida Special District; Chris Rock Live Netflix Special Beefs Up

[View on web]( [New reader? Subscribe]( February 28, 2023 What's news: Damian Lewis is returning to Billions. Tom Sizemore remains in a coma with "no further hope," per rep. Shondaland's Netflix mystery series The Residence casts Andre Braugher and Susan Kelechi Watson. Elvis and House of the Dragon are among the Costume Designers Guild Award winners. Ruben Östlund is named Cannes Jury President. — [Ryan Gajewski]( David Zaslav Chases Streaming Profits to Rule Them All ►Cash is king. If the past five years were about chasing Netflix in streaming subscribers, this year begins a pivot in that approach for its rivals: Streaming profits. The David Zaslav-led Warner Bros. Discovery was on the receiving end of a barrage of criticism from Hollywood as it took up to $3.5 billion in content write-downs, not to mention aggressively licensing the Warners library. As THR's [Alex Weprin]( reports, those moves now seem prescient, with almost every other player in the space making similar adjustments. [The analysis.]( —"There is no further hope." Tom Sizemore's family will make an end-of-life decision for the actor who suffered a brain aneurysm from a stroke on Feb. 19, his rep says. The Saving Private Ryan star has been in critical condition and in a coma at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank since he was found at home unconscious. [The story.]( —The minimum basic agreement expires May 1. The Writers Guild of America has issued its pattern of demands, a set of broad priorities that it hopes to tackle in negotiations, to members for its 2023 round of talks. THR's [Katie Kilkenny]( writes that the sprawling, if vague, list of issues to cover — including standardized fees for features premiering theatrically and on streaming platforms, plus greater AI regulation — was sent to members for a vote. [The story.]( —"132 rooms. 157 suspects. One dead body." Netflix has rounded out the ensemble cast of its forthcoming Shondaland White House murder-mystery drama series The Residence. Ordered straight to series last March, the project is described as a thrilling, comedic murder mystery starring Uzo Aduba. Joining the series from exec producers Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers are Andre Braugher, Susan Kelechi Watson, Jason Lee, Ken Marino and more. [The story.]( Behind the Trend of Red Carpet Influencers ►"You want to have the right people there." The hottest red carpet accessory in 2023? The influencer. With the explosion of TikTok, THR's [Kirsten Chuba]( writes that content creators have become mainstays at big premieres and awards shows, popping up at events for all the major studios and streamers as well as at Cannes and the Oscars. Film and TV red carpets in particular have transformed into two-hour-plus events, with portions devoted to influencers and their content. Some creators are paid, some are not. [The story.]( —What's a lost producer credit worth? Director and producer Kevin Shulman was awarded $1.9 million after a jury found that he was cheated out of a producer credit in Manson family murders movie Charlie Says. The decision by the jury in L.A. County, which came after less than a day of deliberations, included $1 million in punitive damages for fraud. [The story.]( —The Axe is back. Damian Lewis is returning to Showtime's Billions for the finance drama's upcoming seventh season. The move marks a reversal for the actor, who exited his position as the show’s co-lead, playing hedge fund billionaire Bobby Axelrod, after season five. [The story.]( Disney Loses Control of Florida Special District ►"There's a new sheriff in town." Gov. Ron DeSantis has assumed control of the board that oversees development at Walt Disney World, seizing leverage over the state's largest employer and retaliating against the entertainment giant for opposing the so-called "Don't Say Gay" law. "Today, the corporate kingdom finally comes to an end," he said Monday at a bill signing ceremony on Disney property. [The story.]( —"I am happy, proud and humbled to be trusted with the honor." Filmmaker Ruben Östlund will head up this year's competition jury for the Cannes International Film Festival. The Swedish director is currently riding high with Triangle of Sadness, which won Cannes' Palme d'Or for best film last year, marking the director's second triumph after his 2017 win for the art world satire The Square. [The story.]( —"2024 will benefit from presidential election year political advertising." Local TV giant Nexstar reported a blockbuster fourth quarter, driven mostly by explosive growth in political advertising. That is especially clear when looking at the company’s core advertising revenue (which does not include political), which was down slightly year-over-year, consistent with the rest of the industry. Nexstar also closed its acquisition of The CW last quarter, which reported a $94 million loss. [The story.]( 'Quantumania' Star Corey Stoll Talks MODOK ►"You're putting so much faith into the hands of the filmmakers to complete your performance." THR's [Brian Davids]( interviews Corey Stoll about his MCU return as MODOK in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Stoll looks back on being cast by Ant-Man's original director, Edgar Wright, and the changes made to the character once Peyton Reed took the reins of the film. [The interview.]( —"An affecting if imperfect domestic drama." THR critic Stephen Farber reviews director Victor Nuñez's Rachel Hendrix. Lori Singer plays a novelist and professor still reeling from her husband's sudden death in this Florida-set character piece. [The review.]( —"Stories have the power to reveal our shared humanity." Writer and activist Malala Yousafzai pens an essay for THR about entertainment's power to unite. The Stranger at the Gate executive producer reflects on the Oscar-nominated doc short's message of shared humanity and forgiveness. [The guest essay.]( Chris Rock's Live Netflix Special Gets Bigger ►Rock and a hard-to-miss event. Netflix is readying for its first-ever live, global streaming event. On March 4, the platform will air its first live stand-up special, Chris Rock: Selective Outrage, along with just-announced live pre- and post-shows. The former, now-titled The Show Before the Show, will stream live that evening at 6:30 p.m. PT, kicking off the night with live commentary from fellow comics and messages from Rock's famous pals, including Amy Schumer and Jerry Seinfeld. [The story.]( In other news... —Paramount CFO: Streaming content [spending could come in below $6B target in 2024]( —Natalie Dormer to [lead South African crime thriller series White Lies]( —Outer Banks star reflects on [saying goodbye to show with "poetic" final episode]( —Courteney Cox fights back tears at [Walk of Fame event with Friends stars Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow]( —Costume Designers Guild Award 2023 [winners include Elvis, Wednesday and House of the Dragon]( What else we're reading... —Kathryn VanArendonk and Jackson McHenry write an oral history of the NBC biblical epic Kings from 2009 that featured Ian McShane and Brian Cox [[Vulture]( —Sarah Bahr asked SAG Awards nominees whether award shows should combine categories for best actor and best actress, and the performers were split on the issue [[NYT]( —Dan Kois examines why a coveted rave review for a restaurant can bring surprising troubles [[Slate]( —Alison Herman compares two different HBO takes on the apocalypse in The Last of Us and Station Eleven [[Ringer]( —Michael Cavna hears from members of the comics industry following Dilbert creator Scott Adams' racist rant [[WaPo]( Today... Today's birthdays: Bernadette Peters (75), Kelly Bishop (79), John Turturro (66), Ali Larter (47), Mercedes Ruehl (75), Amanda Abbington (49), Rae Dawn Chong (62), Alice Kremelberg (33), Geoffrey Arend (45), Rory Cochrane (51), Charles Halford (43), Robert Sean Leonard (54), Sarah Bolger (32) Burny Mattinson, who worked as an animator, director, producer and story artist during a 70-year career as the longest-serving "castmember" in the history of The Walt Disney Co., has died. He was 87. [The obituary.]( Do you have THR's next big story? Confidentially share tips with us at [tips@thr.com](mailto:tips@thr.com?subject=). 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 © 2023 The Hollywood Reporter, a subsidiary of Penske Business Media, LLC. 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