Peter Bart: Big Media Honchos Hunt For Ways To Accentuate The Positive In Turbulent Moment

EXCLUSIVE: OneGate Media has picked up worldwide distribution rights for German crime series Asbestos from Pantaleon Films.

In the latest example of corporate synergy, Disney siblings ESPN and Disney Channel are teaming up with the NHL for the NHL Big City Greens Classic, the first-ever live, animated NHL game telecast, featuring the Washington Capitals vs. New York Rangers. ESPN+, Disney Channel, Disney XD and Disney+ will present the live, animated telecast, while the main telecast will be available on ESPN and ESPN+. on March 14 at 7 p.m. EDT.

EXCLUSIVE: Prolific TV director Jessica Lowrey has inked with Range Media Partners for management. The signing comes at a pivotal moment in her career, as she looks to expand into features, while mounting TV pilots.

In his column this week Peter Andre talks his 50th birthday plans and reveals why he will be opting for a family getaway instead of a big party. The dad-of-four also sends his thoughts to the victims of the Turkey and Syria earthquakes and shares his heartbreak over missing mum Nicola Bulley. Sign-up or login below to read his full column.

EXCLUSIVE: Lily Rabe (The Tender Bar), newcomer Chase Infiniti, Nana Mensah (Queen of Glory), Matthew Alan (Monster) and Kingston Rumi Southwick (9 Full Moons) have rounded out the cast of Presumed Innocent, Apple TV+’s upcoming limited series from David E. Kelley, J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot and Warner Bros. TV, where the company is based. They join previously cast Jake Gyllenhaal, who also executive produces, Ruth Negga, Bill Camp, Elizabeth Marvel, Renate Reinsve, Peter Sarsgaard and O-T Fagbenle.

EXCLUSIVE: We’ve been hearing for some time that former Skydance President of Animation and DreamWorks Animation Chief Creative Officer Bill Damaschke is in talks for the top Warner Bros Animation feature position. It’s not a done deal yet, and last we heard both sides were far apart. But it sounds like talks have heated up.

The classic New York vs. Los Angeles tension is playing out on several fronts at the moment, much to the discomfort of those of us who align with both sides.

The Walt Disney Company announced details Thursday of its strategic restructuring, which will, according to an official release, “refocus the organization on creativity, empower creative leaders and ensure they are accountable for all aspects of their businesses globally, and put the company’s streaming business on a path to sustained growth and profitability.” This offers some clarification and insight into the expanded roles of top executives Alan Bergman, Dana Walden and Jimmy Pitaro, first announced during the February 2023 earnings call with CEO Bob Iger on Wednesday. Thursday’s announcement states that, effective immediately, the company will be organized into (and around) three business segments: Disney Entertainment, ESPN and Disney Parks, Experiences and Products (aka DPEP, which was created by Iger in 2018).

Disney Entertainment, the new division run by Dana Walden and Alan Bergman, will oversee the company’s main streaming services including Disney+ as details of the company strategic restructuring emerge.

EXCLUSIVE: LA and London-based management and production company 42 (The Silent Twins) is bolstering its U.S. footprint of managers and producers with the appointment of Peter Dealbert as a manager.

Matt Damon and Ben Affleck are teaming up once again to tell the story of maverick Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro and the creation of the iconic Air Jordan shoe brand. It’s the first time Affleck has directed Damon, a longtime collaborator and friend on features like “Good Will Hunting” and “The Last Duel,” the former of which earned the duo a Best Original Screenplay Oscar.Starring as Vaccaro, Damon leads the film directed by Affleck (who also stars), featuring a script by Alex Convery.

The Hindi adaptation of UK mini-series The Night Manager, based on the John Le Carre novel, is shaping up to be one of the most highly-anticipated shows in a busy Indian web series season. Produced by The Ink Factory and Banijay Asia for Disney+ Hotstar, the show is set to start streaming on February 17.

EXCLUSIVE: Succession‘s Matthew Macfadyen is the newest addition to the cast of the Hitchcockian thriller Holland, Michigan. The Prime Video film from director Mimi Cave (Fresh) will see him star opposite Nicole Kidman and Gael García Bernal.

Earlier today, when the first “Chapter” of DC Studios’ master plan was announced, it was made clear that the upcoming film, “The Flash,” is set to be the official device that will rewrite the universe and clear the playing field for James Gunn and Peter Safran, as they plan the future of the DCU. However, “The Flash” is an interesting film without that end result.

EXCLUSIVE: Peter Smith is leaving MBC Studios after four years as Managing Director.

Some great news for exhibition this morning: Amazon Studios is getting back into the wide theatrical release business with Ben Affleck’s Nike movie Air starring his fellow Good Will Hunting co-Oscar winner Matt Damon. Air will get a global theatrical release on Wed, April 5 this year, heading into the lucrative Easter weekend. This is the first wide theatrical release from Amazon since its Sundance acquisition, Mindy Kaling’s Late Night, which was a wide summer release back in 2019.

EXCLUSIVE: Shooting on Fantastic Friends season two is set to wrap, with more Harry Potter and Game of Thrones alumni featuring.

In Montana’s Big Sky Country, a black cloud hangs over the state’s expansive horizon. It looms above the indigenous residents of the Crow and Northern Cheyenne Reservations and nearby towns in Big Horn County most of all.

“I love [James] Gunn and so there’s gonna be some really cool things, what they’re doing with DC and I definitely will be in more than just one,” said Jason Momoa today at the Sundance Film Festival of his DC universe future.

Netflix stock closed the week at its highest level since last April, rising more than 8% Friday to end at $342.50 after the company reported strong subscriber growth and executed a smooth handoff atop its executive ranks.