What to know
WB is “deleting” Coyote vs. ACME after failing to find a buyer… Except actually what it sounds like is, WB had high demands and a high price ($80 million) and none of the buyers wanted to cough up the money. And WB didn’t want to negotiate, instead seeing a $40 million tax write-down as the most lucrative option. This is such a bummer for all the artists who worked on the film and sadly, it probably won’t be the last we hear of something like this happening. 👎
Beyoncé announces country-inspired new album in Verizon Super Bowl ad… Here let me sum up every Super Bowl 58 commercial for you: Mildly comic premise based on a big celebrity cameo, and then throw in one smaller other celebrity cameo for good measure. Even Bey herself was not immune to this for some reason, despite positioning her really forced Verizon ad as a vehicle for announcing a new album. We live in post modern hell. 🏈
Prey director Dan Trachtenberg expanding Predator franchise with Badlands… Prey is such a good movie, so this is really great news. While that one took place hundreds of years in the past, this next one is set in the future — but will also have a female lead. Let’s keep on an eye on this project for sure. Hopefully it lands in theaters, rather than straight to Hulu like Prey. 👏
Ben Wang to star in new Karate Kid movie… Hollywood is hilarious, man. In November, Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan announced a “global casting call” for the new Karate Kid, making it seem like the role was anyone’s for the taking. Then today they’ve announced Ben Wang as lead. I like Wang, but he just starred in a Disney+ show and had a small part in Mean Girls. He’s not some unknown. Don’t hype up some worldwide casting call if you’re just going to announce someone who was probably on the studio shortlist anyway. 🤔
Peacock to air Chinese adaptation of the Three-Body Problem ahead of Netflix’s version… We’ve got a parallel release on our hands! Though I bet Peacock’s won’t hurt Netflix’s all that much. 🍿
Kate McKinnon wrote a book for middle schoolers… The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science. Nice to see a celebrity book that isn’t a children’s bedtime book for one. 📕
Here are all the movie trailers we got last night… Wicked and Deadpool and Wolverine did not disappoint. Twisters on the other hand looks kind of bad? 🎞️
Colin Jost will headline the White House Correspondents Dinner… But will Michael Che be writing him any special jokes? I hope so. 🇺🇸
Christopher Nolan won the DGA’s top award over the weekend… Meaning that he’ll probably have a good showing on Oscar night. 💣
Poor Things will be available on VOD Feb 27… If you still need to check your Oscar boxes. 💡
Disney paid $75 million for the streaming rights to Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour film… I don’t know, seems worth it. 😮
Star Wars: The Phantom Menace is returning to theaters… Now this is a re-release. ✨
FX boss says total number of scripted series fell by 14% in 2023… RIP Peak TV. 🪦
What’s new
Madame Web — Feb 14 | Superhero film in theaters | Ⓜ️
Bob Marley: One Love — Feb 14 | Music biopic in theaters | Ⓜ️ 43
The New Look — Feb 14 | Historical drama series on Apple | Ⓜ️
The Vince Staples Show — Feb 15 | Comedy series on Netflix | Ⓜ️
Returning: Love Is Blind s6, Life & Beth s2