PGA Presidents Detail Priorities; Podcasting's Blurry Future; Amazon's 'Medusa' Finds Director; 'Mandalorian' S3 Review, Interviews

[View on web]( [New reader? Subscribe]( March 02, 2023 What's news: Will Smith returns to an awards stage for the first time since the 2022 Oscars. Fox renews Dan Harmon's Krapopolis for a third season before airing a single episode. Robert De Niro sets his first lead TV role with Netflix's Zero Day. TikTok faces the increasing prospect of a national ban. Kristen Bell lands a Netflix comedy series from Steven Levitan. — [Ryan Gajewski]( PGA Presidents Outline Priorities Amid "Tough" Climate ►"It's an incredibly tough time in the business for producers." This marks a pivotal moment for Stephanie Allain and Donald De Line, who just oversaw their first Producers Guild of America Awards as presidents. THR's [Katie Kilkenny]( chats with the pair about the challenges, as well as opportunities, they foresee in their two-year term — and how they feel about rumors of a potential strike in 2023. [The interview.]( —The measure was forced through by Republicans. TikTok is one step closer to being effectively banned on mobile devices in the U.S., though an outright prohibition still faces significant hurdles. A House committee voted along party lines to advance a bill to block U.S. activity on the popular Chinese-owned video app used by more than 100 million Americans. [The story.]( —"This project is an incredibly irreverent family comedy." Krapopolis is back for a third season — before its first one has even premiered. Dan Harmon's animated Fox comedy has been renewed for season three, the network announced at London Screenings. The Emmy winner's newest project will make its series debut during the 2023-24 season. [The story.]( —You talkin' about TV? Robert De Niro is officially set to make his debut as the lead of a TV series. Netflix has given a series order to Zero Day, a six-episode conspiracy thriller that will star the two-time Oscar winner. The limited series, which courted De Niro late last year, comes from Narcos showrunner Eric Newman, former NBC News president Noah Oppenheim and New York Times writer Michael S. Schmidt. [The story.]( The Blurry Future of Podcasting ►"If we're only going to cater to the now, then where are we?" For the top podcasters and executives who gathered at the recent Hot Pod Summit, there was plenty of uncertainty surrounding monetization and new formats as the market matures. THR's [J. Clara Chan]( interviewed creators and studio brass about the difficulties of turning a profit and the move toward new formats, namely audiobooks. [The story.]( —In another good place. Kristen Bell is returning to Netflix to topline a new comedy series. The Frozen and The Good Place actress will star in an untitled show from creator Erin Foster (Barely Famous) and executive producer Steven Levitan (Modern Family) about a relationship between an agnostic woman and a rabbi. [The story.]( —She has entered the building. Priscilla Presley has signed on to voice herself in Netflix's adult animated action-comedy series Agent Elvis. She joins Matthew McConaughey, who is set to voice the role of Elvis Presley, her late husband. Kaitlin Olson, Johnny Knoxville, Niecy Nash, Tom Kenny and Don Cheadle will also lend their voices to the animated spy series. [The story.]( —"Tackling challenging subjects with insight." Will Smith returned to the awards season circuit to accept the Beacon Award at the African American Film Critics Association Awards. His prize for Emancipation marked the Oscar winner's first in-person acceptance speech at an awards show since he slapped Chris Rock onstage at the 2022 Academy Awards. [The story.]( Nicole Kassell, Nicole Perlman Tackling Amazon's 'Medusa' ►Just a heads-up. THR's [Borys Kit]( has the scoop on Nicole Kassell, an Emmy winner for her work on HBO's Watchmen, landing the gig to helm Medusa, an action-adventure project about the Greek mythological character that is in development at Amazon Studios. Nicole Perlman, known for her Marvel Studios writing, penned the script that reimagines what audiences may know about everybody's favorite Gorgon, who has snakes for hair and whose stare turns ordinary people into stone. [The story.]( —A big day. Move over, The Last of Us — there's a new biological threat sprouting to annihilate mankind. Johan Renck, who directed the acclaimed HBO series Chernobyl, is attached to helm The Day of the Triffids, an adaptation of the classic British science-fiction novel by John Wyndham. Amazon Studios picked up the rights to the 1951 post-apocalyptic book. [The story.]( —"Gorgeously illustrated and moving modern fable." Trevor Noah is readying his next book. THR's [Lacey Rose]( has the scoop on the new project, which hails from publisher One World and is likened to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and The Little Prince. The not-yet-titled book is due out later this fall from the former host of The Daily Show. [The story.]( TV Review: 'The Mandalorian' Season 3 ►"Core pleasures remain the same." THR's [Angie Han]( reviews the third season of Disney+ hit The Mandalorian. Pedro Pascal returns as Din Djarin in the series from the Star Wars universe. [The review.]( —"Overly convoluted, barely comprehensible." THR critic Frank Scheck reviews Guy Ritchie's action comedy Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre. Jason Statham, Aubrey Plaza, Hugh Grant and Josh Hartnett star in the film about a mercenary secret agent on his latest mission. [The review.]( —Grabbing a spot on the couch. The Frasier sequel at Paramount+ is adding a familiar face. Bebe Neuwirth will guest star on the comedy, once again playing Frasier Crane's (Kelsey Grammer) ex-wife, Lilith. With Frasier moving back to Boston in the new series, he reunites with Lilith at a birthday party for their son, Freddy (Jack Cutmore-Scott). [The story.]( Jon Favreau Talks 'The Mandalorian' Season 3 ►"He had to deliver a lot in a few moments." THR's [Sydney Odman]( chats with The Mandalorian creator Jon Favreau about the Disney+ series' return. Favreau, who notes that both Din Djarin and Grogu "were kind of stuck" in the period between seasons two and three, talks about Pedro Pascal's buzzy current moment and the show's crossover with The Book of Boba Fett. [The interview.]( —"It broadens the type of story that people can expect from Star Wars." THR's [Brian Davids]( interviews The Mandalorian executive producer Dave Filoni, who was initially hired by George Lucas and has long been the steward of Lucasfilm animation. Filoni discusses Grogu's future, offers an update on Ahsoka's post-production process and reflects on shadowing Rian Johnson. [The interview.]( —"It's hard to hear these reactions." In an interview for THR, [Hilton Dresden]( talks to Ana de Armas about portraying Marilyn Monroe in Andrew Dominik's Blonde. The best actress Oscar nominee confesses her first reaction to the "shocking" script and addresses the divisive response to Netflix's polarizing biopic. [The interview.]( In other news... —All Quiet on the Western Front, Elvis, Empire of Light cinematographers [discuss their Oscar-nominated work: "The camera had to be dancing"]( —iHeartMedia stock slides as [Wall Street remains wary of advertising headwinds]( —Chris Pine reveals what really happened [with "spit-gate" and explains those Don't Worry Darling memes]( —Vanessa Bryant reaches $29 million [settlement in suit over Kobe Bryant crash photos]( —Jesse Angelo departs Vice Media [to launch new venture]( —Jimmy Pitaro sets ESPN exec team: [Burke Magnus to oversee content, Rosalyn Durant joins to lead rights talks]( What else we're reading... —Farley Elliott talks to S.W.A.T. star Jay Harrington about spending his free time pouring beer and bussing tables at a pizzeria in Santa Monica [[Eater]( —Michael Paulson examines why several Black playwrights have canceled productions of their works due to conditions at the theaters presenting them [[NYT]( —Hugh Morris explores how real-life orchestras can be plagued by serious structural issues akin to the power dynamics depicted in Tár [[Guardian]( —Cloudy about in-flight entertainment? Eric Vilas-Boas interviews Warner Bros. Discovery's president of content sales to ask every question surrounding what plays on the plane [[Vulture]( —Tyler Austin Harper looks at why people can't stop fighting over the politics of the Yellowstone universe [[Slate]( Today... ...in 1965, The Sound of Music held its world premiere in New York. Robert Wise's musical, starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer, went on to win five Oscars including best picture. [The original review.]( Today's birthdays: Daniel Craig (55), Bryce Dallas Howard (42), Becky G (26), Nathalie Emmanuel (34), Rebel Wilson (43), Method Man (52), Jon Bon Jovi (61), Laraine Newman (71), Lee Sun-kyun (48), Maisie Richardson-Sellers (31), John Cullum (93), Danielle Moné Truitt (42), Esther Povitsky (35), Chris Martin (46), Luke Combs (33) 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. 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](