Sean "Diddy" Combs Sued by Cassie in Suit Claiming Rape, Abuse; ABC Plots Scripted Return; Noah Hawley Talks 'Fargo'; 'Scott Pilgrim Takes Off' Review

[View on web]( [New reader? Subscribe]( November 17, 2023 What's news: Cris Abrego is the new chairman of The Television Academy. The musical Tammy Faye is heading to Broadway. Netflix has renewed Unstable. Peacock has ordered more Love Island USA. Bob Iger has hinted at two more Frozen films. Snoop Dogg says he's quitting smoking. And "Fake Carol" bids farewell. — [Abid Rahman]( Do you have THR's next big story? Confidentially share tips with us at [tips@thr.com](. Sean Combs Sued by Cassie in Suit Claiming Rape, Physical Abuse ►Shocking allegations. Hip hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs has been sued for sexual assault by his former longtime partner, the singer Cassie, who accused him of repeatedly raping and physically abusing her for nearly a decade. In a lawsuit filed Thursday, Cassie, whose real name is Casandra Ventura and was once under Diddy’s label, claims that she was “trapped by Mr. Combs in a cycle of abuse, violence and sex trafficking,” citing multiple incidents in which he allegedly “punched, beat, kicked and stomped” her. [The story.]( —First Latino chair. The Television Academy has elected new leadership, headed by incoming chairman Cris Abrego. The Banijay chairman of the Americas, who has chaired the Television Academy Foundation since 2020, was running unopposed. Abrego succeeds producer Frank Scherma, who has termed out after four years. Additionally, the Television Academy has added the title of CEO to its president Maury McIntyre renewing his contract through 2026. CFO and COO Heather Cochran, and CMO Susan Spencer have extended their contracts through 2025. [The story.]( —A real farewell from "Fake Carol." In a guest column, the pseudonymous mid-level comedy writer behind the viral social media parody account of the AMPTP negotiator Carol Lombardini pens a goodbye to the industry’s dual strikes, and asks moguls: "What was all the suffering for?" [The column.]( It's the Bravo-conomy, Stupid! ►"This is the entertainment industry equivalent to sports fandom." THR's [Mikey O'Connell]( writes that if one was to witness the insanity at BravoCon, one would understand why the Real Housewives ecosystem has remained so successful amid the decline of linear TV. Mikey adds that by ignoring the haters and giving its rabid, advertiser-beloved fans more drama, more content and more ways to part with their cash, the event can only get bigger and extend the Bravo brand further. [The story.]( —Crossing the Atlantic. A musical about televangelist Tammy Faye, featuring music by Elton John, is slated to come to Broadway in the 2024-2025 season. In addition to music by John, the musical, Tammy Faye, features lyrics by Scissor Sisters’ Jake Shears, and a book by James Graham, the playwright of Ink. Rupert Goold, who helmed Ink and King Charles III, directs. The musical comes to Broadway after making its world premiere at London’s Almeida Theatre in fall 2022. [The story.]( —Do not praise the machine. YouTube is releasing Dream Tracks, an AI tool will let users input a brief prompt and select a participating artist. The AI will then create tracks of up to 30 seconds that users can include in a YouTube Shorts video. The tool will initially be available to a select group of creators, with the current roster of participating artists including Alec Benjamin, Charlie Puth, Charli XCX, Demi Lovato, John Legend, Papoose, Sia, T-Pain, and Troye Sivan. [The story.]( —"Please respect my privacy at this time." Snoop Dogg says he's quitting smoking. In an earnest statement posted on Instagram paired with an equally solemn black-and-white photo and signature, the rapper and legendary kush enthusiast claimed he’s giving up the puff. The internet was left wondering if it was a real statement or a joke. Snoop couldn’t immediately be reached for comment. [The story.]( 'Abbott,' 'Grey's' Set Dates as ABC Plots Scripted Return ►Getting back to work. ABC has set return dates for its scripted series, joining CBS in laying out a post-strikes lineup that will see the likes of Abbott Elementary, Grey’s Anatomy and new addition 911 join the schedule in early 2024. The broadcast network will also have a handful of unscripted staples — American Idol, The Bachelor and Judge Steve Harvey — and a 20/20-branded true-crime series from ABC News to round out its midseason slate. [The story.]( —Update. Paramount Network's megahit Yellowstone will resume production on its final episodes in the late spring of 2024. Earlier this month, Paramount had set a premiere date of November 2024 for the second half of its fifth and final season, which last aired its midseason finale Jan. 6, 2023. The final episodes close the book on the current Dutton family saga. [The story.]( —"Here’s to season two and the many hours of family therapy." Netflix has handed out a second season renewal to Unstable, the family comedy starring Rob and his son John Owen Lowe. Additionally, Victor Fresco is handing over showrunning duties to Andrew Gurland for the second season. Production on the eight-episode second season will begin in L.A. later this month. The news comes after Lowe’s Fox drama, 911: Lone Star, was pushed to the 2024-25 broadcast season following delays as a result of Hollywood’s dual strikes. [The story.]( —No brainer. Max has ordered a fifth season of Harley Quinn, the DC adult animated series centered on the mayhem-loving character. The renewal comes two months after season four wrapped. Kaley Cuoco (who’s also an exec producer) voices the title role in Harley Quinn. Lake Bell, Alan Tudyk, Ron Funches, Tony Hale, Jason Alexander, J.B. Smoove, Briana Cuoco, Giancarlo Esposito, Harvey Guillén, Christopher Meloni and Jacob Tremblay also star. [The story.]( —Sticking around. Peacock has renewed Love Island USA for two additional seasons. The show, which the streamer says is its No. 1 original reality series, follows a group of singles searching for love in a villa, but throughout their stay in a tropical oasis, Islanders face challenges, surprises, “bombshells” and more twists and turns. [The story.]( —Stine time. The run-up to Halloween proved to be a good time to release a new version of Goosebumps. The series based on R.L. Stine’s beloved books broke into the top 10 overall for the week of Oct. 16-22. The show, which streams on both Disney+ and Hulu, racked up 594m minutes of viewing for its second week of release, marking a rare non-Marvel or Star Wars original series entry for Disney+ in Nielsen’s rankings (being available on two platforms helped, as well). [The streaming rankings.]( Spielberg Interviews Scorsese ►"You are the master of our medium, and this is your masterpiece, Marty." THR has the exclusive video on surely the highest-profile Q&A of this awards season, and maybe any. Steven Spielberg posed questions to Martin Scorsese on Tuesday night following a packed screening of Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon — a dynamic that one Academy member likened to “Mozart interviewing Beethoven.” [The video.]( —"Look at what God has done." An emotional Oprah Winfrey and the cast of The Color Purple spoke about the transformative power of the upcoming musical film at its first public screening, getting spiritual as they cited its divine effect on their lives. Stars Fantasia Barrino, Taraji P. Henson, Colman Domingo and Danielle Brooks were all in attendance at the showing at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills on Thursday night. The story. —"A little surprise." Disney CEO Bob Iger gave Frozen fans a strong hint that two sequels of the studio’s animated juggernaut may be in development. Speaking to Good Morning America co-anchors Robin Givens and Michael Strahan from Hong Kong Disneyland on Thursday, where the studio boss is on hand to open a new World of Frozen themed land on Nov. 20, Iger revealed that Frozen III and Frozen IV were in the works. In 2013, the first Frozen film made $1.2b at the global, while 2019's Frozen II earned $1.4b. [The story.]( —"I’m going to concentrate on these other films that I’ve signed on for." Taika Waititi has revealed that he has no plans to return to Marvel’s Thor franchise anytime soon. A fifth film hasn’t been confirmed by the studio, but rumors have made their rounds on social media in recent months. In a new interview, the Kiwi filmmaker said he “wouldn’t know if that’s accurate,” but he knows “that I won’t be involved.” [The story.]( —Slot secured. Ridley Scott's big-budget historical epic Napoleon has locked down a potentially lucrative release date in China on Dec. 1. Universal’s Oppenheimer proved earlier this year that lengthy runtimes and weighty historical subjects are by no means a dealbreaker for Chinese moviegoers, with the period drama earning $61m. The film will be released in North American theaters on Nov. 22 by Sony Pictures and will stream on Apple TV+ at a later date. [The story.]( —Tokyo shoot planned. THR's [Borys Kit]( has the scoop on Searchlight Pictures nabbing the rights to Rental Family, a comedy-drama that has Beef director Hikari attached to helm. Hikari also co-wrote the script, with Stephen Blahut, for the feature project that will be produced by Eddie Vaisman and Julia Lebedev of Sight Unseen. Hikari, who has been developing the film since 2019, is also producing with Shin Yamaguchi. [The story.]( Noah Hawley on Why 'Fargo' Keeps Calling ►"[FX has] learned that if they just leave me alone, I’ll come up with something." THR's [Lacey Rose]( spoke to prolific writer-director Noah Hawley with FX's Fargo set to return for a fifth season. The auteur discusses returning to his Midwest noir, the stumbles over his Star Trek movie project, his upcoming Alien TV series, rumors of the mid-WGA strike mutiny and his time making 2019's Lucy in the Sky: "I did not have a great experience on that film, unfortunately." [The interview.]( —"This is a big deal." THR's Patrick Brzeski spoke to Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney Experiences, about the opening of Frozen Land at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort. D'Amaro discusses the first and largest Disney attraction dedicated to the blockbuster Frozen franchise that comes amid the company's plans to spend a whopping $60b over the next decade to expand its parks and cruises. [The interview.]( —"It’s all just one big soufflé." THR's [Tyler Coates]( moderates a panel conversation with the creative team behind Apple TV+'s The Morning Show. Showrunner Charlotte Stoudt, director Mimi Leder and more discuss the alchemy behind the drama series starring Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon. [The panel.]( 'The Marvels' Star Talks That Final Scene and 'Ms. Marvel' S2 ►"Suddenly, it felt like I was a part of something much bigger." THR's [Brian Davids]( spoke to rising star Iman Vellani about her new film, The Marvels. Vellani discusses the mid-credit scene’s surprise cameo that she believed was going to feature someone else, and the second season of Disney+ series Ms. Marvel. Warning: Spoilers! [The interview.]( —"All my life, I’ve felt like an outsider." Brian also spoke to Loki star Ke Huy Quan. The Oscar-winner discusses his most difficult scene in Loki’s season two premiere, recalls a life-changing call from Kevin Feige, and the exchange he had with Steven Spielberg after winning the Academy Award. Warning: Spoilers! [The interview.]( —"For years, people just kept posting that trailer and badgering me and guilt-tripping me, and it worked. Shaming the director worked in this case." And for his hat trick, Brian spoke to filmmaker Eli Roth about his new movie, Thanksgiving. Roth discusses how he turned a fake trailer from Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez's 2007 double feature Grindhouse into his best-reviewed movie. [The interview.]( TV Review: 'Scott Pilgrim Takes Off' ►"The third-best version isn't bad." THR's chief TV critic [Dan Fienberg]( reviews Netflix's Scott Pilgrim Takes Off. Bryan Lee O'Malley and BenDavid Grabinski offer a new, and different, retelling of O'Malley's beloved graphic novel in the eight-episode series, featuring the voice cast of Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Satya Bhabha, Kieran Culkin, Chris Evans, Anna Kendrick, Brie Larson, Alison Pill, Aubrey Plaza, Brandon Routh, Jason Schwartzman, Johnny Simmons, Mark Webber, Mae Whitman, and Ellen Wong. [The review.]( —"Will go over well in dorm lounges." THR's Frank Scheck reviews Paul Briganti's Please Don't Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain. The comedy troupe and SNL contributors make their feature-length film debut with this wacky comedy. [The review.]( —"A welcome addition to the body-horror genre." THR's [Lovia Gyarkye]( reviews Amanda Nell Eu's Tiger Stripes. The Cannes Critics' Week prize-winning, also Malaysia's Oscar entry, feature follows three middle-schoolers whose bodily changes are accompanied by creepy happenings. [The review.]( Thank Pod It's Friday ► All the latest content from THR's podcast studio. —TV's Top 5. THR's [Lesley Goldberg]( and [Dan Fienberg]( break down the latest TV news. This week's episode begins with the TV headlines including news on Matlock, Spartacus, Pappa’s House, 911: Lone Star and new show from Jon Hamm and Shawn Ryan. There's a segment on the shows ending their long runs including CBS’ Young Sheldon and Paramount+ drama SEAL Team and another segment on the week's big cancellations such as Netflix's Shadow and Bone. Rolling Stone critic Alan Sepinwall drops by to discuss his book, Welcome to The O.C.: The Oral History. And Dan reviews Netflix’s The Crown and Scott Pilgrim, FX/Hulu’s A Murder at the End of the World, Apple’s Monarch: Legacy of Monsters and FX’s Fargo. [Listen here.]( —Awards Chatter. THR's executive awards editor Scott Feinberg talks to the great and the good of Hollywood. In this live episode, Scott sat down with a panel of writers including A. Scott Berg, Cameron Crowe, Nancy Griffin, Aljean Harmetz, Leonard Maltin, Kim Masters, Dennis McDougal, James Andrew Miller, Eddie Muller, John Pierson, George Stevens Jr., Michael Tolkin, Christine Vachon, Mark A. Vieira and Sam Wasson to discuss THR's list of the 100 greatest film books of all time. [Listen here.]( In other news... —Clive Owen [plays notorious detective in Monsieur Spade crime drama trailer]( —The Omen prequel First Omen [shares first look, sets release date]( —Sydney Sweeney, Glen Powell [agree to a fiery fake relationship in Anyone But You trailer]( —Seth MacFarlane’s [Ted prequel series releases trailer, premiere date]( —DeWanda Wise is [terrorized by sinister stuffed bear in Imaginary trailer]( —David Letterman [returning to CBS’ Late Show — as a guest]( —Mattel taps [Michelle Mendelovitz as head of television studios]( —[Ken Squier]( legendary NASCAR broadcaster, dies at 88 What else we're reading... —In his review of Matt Singer's joint biography Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel & Ebert Changed Movies Forever, Richard Brody considers the influence of the two giants of film criticism [[New Yorker]( —Charlotte Klein reports on the tumult inside the New York Times after journalist Jazmine Hughes’s resignation over signing a Gaza letter [[VF]( —Rafaela Bassili reflects on Sofia Coppola’s subversive search for truth in Priscilla [[NYT]( —Jamie Mackay looks into why Italy's far right has embraced The Lord of the Rings and how it has become a key part of the culture wars in the country [[Guardian]( —Here's your Friday list: "The Selling Sunset season 7 power rankings" [[Vulture]( Today... ...in 1978, the Star Wars Holiday Special hit television screens with a holiday special. Airing on CBS, the two-hour special featured the main cast and introduced the character of Boba Fett, but was universally panned. [The original review.]( Today's birthdays: Martin Scorsese (81), Danny DeVito (79), [Rachel McAdams]( (45), RuPaul (63), Lorne Michaels (79), Tom Ellis (🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿45), Leslie Bibb (49), Sophie Marceau (57), Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio (65), Stephen Root (72), Zoë Bell (45), Dylan Walsh (60), Lauren Hutton (80), Roland Joffé (78), David Ramsey (52), Viva Bianca (40), Diane Neal (47), Harry Lloyd (40), Leonard Roberts (51), William R. Moses (64), Jon Cor (39), Kara Hayward (25), Evelyne Brochu (41), Shadi Mar'i (29), Raquel Castro (29), Azita Ghanizada (44), Daisy Fuentes (57), Kerry Godliman (50), Rob Mayes (39), Justin Cooper (35), Kelly Ward (67), Patrick McHale (40), Rocsi Diaz (42), James Warwick (76) Dex Carvey, the son of Dana Carvey, died Wednesday night of an “accidental drug overdose,” the former Saturday Night Live star and his wife announced. He was 32. [The obituary.]( This email was sent to {EMAIL} by The Hollywood Reporter. 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. The Hollywood Reporter is a part of Penske Media Corporation. © 2023 The Hollywood Reporter, 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](