WB kills nearly done, $90M DC movie
And Jake G to remake Swayze classic
What to know
Warner Bros. Discovery kills nearly finished, $90M Batgirl movie… WTF? Despite being almost done and costing $90 million, WBD is scrapping the DC picture starring In The Heights’ Leslie Grace. It won’t be putting the movie out on HBO Max or in theaters. This is shocking to say the least, but apparently “the movie simply did not work,” and the new management (Zaslav) are “committed to making DC titles big theatrical” events. I don’t understand how you can just sink $90M like that and not even release it on streaming. I just feel bad for Grace and all of the talent involved. It also sucks that were being deprived of a Latina actress playing a major super hero. 😱
FX’s John Landgraf believes TV will finally peak this year… Landgraf, aka “the Mayor of Television,” once predicted the number of adult scripted shows would peak in 2018 or ‘19. He was way off, but he’s calling his shot once again, saying 2022 will be the peak. Through June, 357 shows premiered, that’s up 16% compared to 2021. Why is TV peaking now? Landgraf points to the COVID bottleneck — but I’ll add the streaming arms race. Uncertain economic futures could indeed lead to a drop off in content. Ask anyone you know and they’ll say there’s too much TV, perhaps we’re due for a break .📺
Showtime cancels The First Lady… Case in point, Showtime’s movie-star led anthology series is one and done. Expect the post-peak TV era to include fewer splashy (read: expensive) series like this — especially ones that aren’t tied to a recognizable IP. 🇺🇸
Jake Gyllenhaal to star in Roadhouse feature remake for Amazon… Which I guess counts as “recognizable IP?” I’m going to blame Tom Cruise and Top Gun: Maverick for this. 💪
Atlanta’s final season kicks off Sept. 15, new trailer drops… After that it’s going to live in France under a new name. 🍑
London production of Heathers: The Musical to stream free on The Roku Channel… I don’t know what Roku’s strategy is, but I like it! 🇬🇧
Everybody Hates Chris animated reboot a go at Paramount+ and Comedy Central… Slaps not included. ✍🏾
Daniels sign 5-year deal at Universal… These guys are doing everything everywhere all at once. 💰
What’s new
Industry s2 — Aug 1 | HBO drama series | 🍅
Reservation Dogs s2 — Aug 3 | FX/Hulu comedy series | 🍅
Lightyear — Aug 3 | Pixar movie now on Disney+ | 🍅 75%
The Sandman — Aug 5 | Netflix fantasy series | 🍅
Thirteen Lives — Aug 5 | Amazon drama film | 🍅 87%
Bullet Train — Aug 5 | Action film in theaters | 🍅 60%
What to watch
Jon Bernthal is a tour de force in HBO’s We Own This City. Despite not getting nominated for an Emmy, Bernthal’s turn as corrupt Baltimore officer Wayne Jenkins is one of, if not the, best performance you’ll see on TV this year. It is the reason to watch this show. Through nuanced, studied, and careful choices, Bernthal takes a dishonest and unethical person, who in case files reads like a monster, and creates a three-dimensional man. The result is not a redemption, Wayne Jenkins is far beyond that, but instead a fuller image of how corrupt systems corrupt wholly and how those within, who choose to behave without moral, can wreak real havoc. Bernthal accepts and excels in an acting challenge so few would be willing to take. The part is emblematic of Bernthal’s exciting career trajectory. It seemed after The Walking Dead and Punisher, the actor might use his rugged leading-man aura to follow a more populist path. DC surely must have come calling? Instead, he is leaning into the path of a character actor, one who subverts his own appearance to dig into meatier, more difficult roles.
As for the rest of We Own This City, David Simon and George Pelecanos turned out a thorough and well-made, if journalistic, mosaic of policing in Baltimore in the 2010s. While specific to one city, it reveals much about the current state of America. Like all Simon and Pelecanos projects, the cast rolls deep, but Wunmi Mosaku and Josh Charles deserve special recognition. If you liked The Wire, you should absolutely add this to your list. It’s essentially a spiritual sequel. If you prefer the more lyrical side of Simon and Pelecanos (Treme, The Deuce), you might find We Own This City a bit sober. If this is your TV sweet spot, also check out Simon’s 2015 HBO miniseries Show Me a Hero, which was a similar star vehicle for Oscar Isaac.
For all past ‘what to watch’ recommendations, see the full list here!