Major horror movie goes day+date
Major horror movie goes day+date
And an update on the 'Community' movie
What to know
Halloween Ends going day-and-date on Peacock and theaters… This news has got to sting for the major theater chains. Horror is one of the few genres still doing reliable business at multiplexes, so anything that will cut into those profits could be a problem for the AMCs and Regals of the world. That said, Peacock only has 13 million paid subscribers (Ends won’t be offered on Peacock’s free tier) so who knows what kind of dent this simultaneous release will even make in the theatrical profits. To me, this is another example of Universal doing everything it can to get people to subscribe to Peacock. 🦚
Movie theaters want Knives Out 2. Does Netflix care?… Speaking of exhibitors getting the short shrift, the major chains—who are desperate for big titles—reportedly have sour grapes over Netflix withholding Knives Out 2. But make no mistake, theirs are crocodile tears. I’m old enough to remember when the exhibitors failed to reach a deal with Netflix because the streamer wanted shorter exclusivity windows. Maybe the big movie content drought will finally give Netflix the leverage it needs. 🔪
Dan Harmon says Community movie is a matter of when, not if… Let this be a lesson to TV creators, if you want your show to get six seasons and a movie all you have to do is repeat it over and over until The Prophecy secrets itself into existence. Harmon says the movie has been outlined and is being pitched around town. 👏
Another Planet of the Apes is coming… It’s been 5 years, so I guess we’re due? While Matt Reeves and Andy Serkis are not returning, it is a continuation of the last three films. 🐒
Independent Film Spirit Awards acting categories go gender-neutral… If anyone is going to take award season into the future, it’s the Independent Spirit awards. 🏆
Netflix gives subscribers its own version of Ellen’s Heads Up mobile game… So prepare to give clues like: He’s slimy! He hates Kate Bush! He murders people! 🙃
House of the Dragon becomes HBO biggest premiere ever with 10 million viewers… As if WBD ever had anything to worry about. 😮
Aubrey Plaza joins Francis Ford Coppola’s self-funded passion project Megalopolis… Another step on her way to big things. 🎬
Curb Your Enthusiasm renewed for season 12… If there is any justice, it will get 10 million and 1 viewers. 🎺
Avatar will return to Disney+ before sequel’s release… Sivako! 🐭
Paul Rudd joining Only Murders in the Building season 3… How very suspect. 🧐
What’s new
The End Is Nye — Aug 25 | Peacock doc series | 🍅
Little Demon — Aug 25 | FXX/Hulu animated series | 🍅
Three Thousand Years of Longing — Aug 26 | Fantasy film in theaters | 🍅 67%
Breaking — Aug 26 | Drama film in theaters | 🍅 79%
What to watch
TV Trailer: Reboot — Sept 20 on Hulu
Created by Steve Levitan, starring Keegan-Michael Key, Judy Greer, Johnny Knoxville, Paul Reiser, Rachel Bloom, Calum Worthy, and Krista Marie Yu.
Can you lampoon network sitcoms while also making one? Reboot might be on Hulu, but this trailer certainly feels like a 2010s network sitcom. Maybe that’s because it hails from Steve Levitan (Modern Family, Just Shoot Me). His pedigree makes him the perfect person to do a backstage comedy — I just worry his sensibility won’t be biting enough. (Which is why I’m glad Armando Iannucci is also making a Hollywood satire.) And then there’s the bit where the trailer mocks diversity in writers’ rooms. That’s a huge red flag to me. Let’s focus on some of the positives here though, namely the cast. It’s absolutely stacked with people who should be able to elevate even the corniest material. If Levitan can give them the same fast-paced, sprawling scripts he provided to the Modern Family cast, this could be a huge winner. And if nothing else, it’s another piece of the Paul Reiserssaince.
For all past ‘what to watch’ recommendations, see the full list here!