Florida lawmakers unveiled a bill on Monday for state control of a special district set up to let The Walt Disney Co. largely self govern much of the area around Walt Disney World . The bill, expected to be considered during a special session of the state legislature this month, would allow Gov. Ron DeSantis to appoint the five board members of the district. The legislation also would rename the Reedy Creek Improvement District to the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District. The bill also calls for the district to continue honoring outstanding debt and will retain powers of taxation. The board members would be appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate. The bill also prohibits any one who has been a theme park employee, officer or director in the past three years from serving on the board, along with their relatives. The district was created by the legislature in 1967 as Disney prepared to build its theme park on the property. But last year, DeSantis … [Read more...] about Lawmakers Unveil Plan For State Control Of Walt Disney World Special District
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‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ Most Watched Marvel Global Premiere On Disney+; Samba TV Measures 2.1M U.S. Households
Disney is calling their five-time Oscar-nominated Black Panther: Wakanda Forever the most watched Marvel premiere ever on Disney+ on a global basis. Without supplying viewership figures, the company said Monday that the claim is based on hours streamed for the pic over its first five days. The Ryan Coogler-directed sequel, which has amassed $842.3 million at the global box office, dropped February 1 on Disney+ after an 83-day theatrical window. Meanwhile, Samba TV, which measures viewership across a panel of 3 million U.S. smart TVs, says the Live+4D household viewership was 2.1 million. That’s a notable number, tracking 400% ahead of the same frame for Black Adam ‘s 1.5M draw on HBO Max, the same as Disney/Marvel Studio’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and just under that of Thor: Love and Thunder (2.2M). Of the above movies, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever over-indexed by the highest margin among Black households (+44%), Hispanic households … [Read more...] about ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ Most Watched Marvel Global Premiere On Disney+; Samba TV Measures 2.1M U.S. Households
Grammy Awards Ratings Fall To Lowest Results Since 2009 – Update
2ND UPDATE, 10:31 AM: The numbers went down and then they went down even more. With specially ordered ratings now in from CBS, last night’s Grammy Awards took a double-digit blow in the key demo compared with last year’s ceremony. Among adults 18-49, the show, which ran from 8-11:39 PM, was down 14% to an 8.5 rating, and down 11% in viewers with 25.3 million. Both numbers were the lowest results in six years — the 2009 Grammys pulled a 7.4/18 rating and had 19.05 million total viewers. The dip may be in part due to the bite of the competing midseason return of AMC’s The Walking Dead last night. UPDATE, 8:50 AM: With performances from Kristen Wiig lip syncing and dancing along with Sia onstage, Madonna, Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett plus Paul McCartney, Kayne West and Rihanna together, among others, the 57 th annual Grammy Awards packed in a lot of action last night – and gave out some awards too. However, it looks to have taken a hit from 2014. In fast nationals, the show on … [Read more...] about Grammy Awards Ratings Fall To Lowest Results Since 2009 – Update
‘Great Expectations’ Teaser: Olivia Colman’s Miss Havisham Meets Young Pip In Steven Knight’s Dickens Adaptation
Great Expectations , Steven Knight ’s anticipated return to the world of Charles Dickens, has debuted its first teaser trailer (check it out above). The FX / BBC adaptation stars Olivia Colman as Miss Havisham and Fionn Whitehead as Pip along with Tom Sweet as the young Pip. In the brief look at the upcoming limited series, Miss Havisham meets young Pip when he arrives at Satis House for the first time, as she ominously grins, “What a prized creature we have fished from the river.” The limited series is due to air in the spring on BBC One and iPlayer and will stream on Hulu in the U.S. Internationally, it will be available to stream on Star+ in Latin America and on Disney+ under the Star banner at a later date. Great Expectations is the coming-of-age story of Pip, an orphan who yearns for a greater lot in life until a twist of fate introduces him to the mysterious and eccentric Miss Havisham and Estella (Shalom Brune-Franklin), showing him a dark world of … [Read more...] about ‘Great Expectations’ Teaser: Olivia Colman’s Miss Havisham Meets Young Pip In Steven Knight’s Dickens Adaptation
Hollywood’s China Predicament: New Law Restricts U.S. Cooperation On Projects Modified To Appease Beijing
The furor over a Chinese spy balloon that flew over U.S. airspace has further chilled D.C.-Beijing tensions, but the entertainment industry already has been swept up in the heightened atmosphere of American hawkishness. Hollywood studios and producers are poised to get a new level of scrutiny over their dealings with China — reflecting a bipartisan hardline toward Beijing and escalating concerns over its influence. A little publicized provision of a recently passed defense bill restricts the U.S. government from spending funds on movies that, to gain entry into the Chinese marketplace, are altered in the face of Chinese government dictates. The provision in the National Defense Authorization Act , approved in a bipartisan vote of Congress and signed by President Joe Biden in December, is the latest example of an increased focus on China’s role, not just in the entertainment industry but also in sports and social media. While Republicans have led attacks on … [Read more...] about Hollywood’s China Predicament: New Law Restricts U.S. Cooperation On Projects Modified To Appease Beijing
Gina Rodriguez Inks Overall Deal With 20th Television
EXCLUSIVE : Gina Rodriguez , star and executive producer of Not Dead Yet , has signed an overall deal with 20th Television , the studio behind the new comedy series that premieres Wednesday on ABC. Under the pact, she will develop, direct and executive produce new series across all platforms through her production company I Can & I Will, run by executive Molly Breeskin. Rodriguez and Breeskin will continue to follow the company’s mission statement to create art that tells stories from the unheard and unseen, to discover and expose new talent, and to increase empathy and understanding for all communities. “Gina is a true multi-hyphenate, an extremely talented performer who’s as adept at directing and producing as she is in front of the camera,” said 20th Television president Karey Burke. “She has an incredible eye for IP, an optimistic and uplifting point of view, and a unique ability to spotlight underrepresented voices and stories in a broad and ambitious … [Read more...] about Gina Rodriguez Inks Overall Deal With 20th Television
Evan Rachel Wood, Josh Gad & Anthony Carrigan Set For Murder Mystery ‘The Adults’ From Filmmaker Alex Winter – EFM
Actor-turned-filmmaker Alex Winter ( Showbiz Kids ) has set the murder mystery The Adults , starring Evan Rachel Wood ( Westworld ), Josh Gad ( Avenue 5 ) and Anthony Carrigan ( Barry ), as his next project behind the camera, with plans to also act in the pic. The film penned by novelist Michael M.B. Galvin — who has previously adapted his own works Fat Kid Rules the World and Freak Talks About Sex for the big screen — follows siblings Megan (Wood) and Nathan (Gad), who are barely hanging on in present-day America, like all of us. Their lives are completely upended when they discover a dead body, long buried in their parent’s basement, sending them down a rabbit hole of crime and murder. Winter will produce alongside Scott Kroopf of Many Rivers Productions ( Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure , Limitless ) and Russell Hollander ( Intrusion , Valentine’s Day ), with Connie Tavel ( Confess, Fletch , Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey ) serving … [Read more...] about Evan Rachel Wood, Josh Gad & Anthony Carrigan Set For Murder Mystery ‘The Adults’ From Filmmaker Alex Winter – EFM
‘Billions’ Spinoffs In Works At Showtime; ’Dexter’ Prequel Confirmed
Chris McCarthy has been speaking about a franchise strategy for Showtime since he took over the network a couple of months ago. That strategy will include expanding successful series with multiple spinoffs in the mold of the Yellowstone universe as the premium cable network starts its integration with Paramount+ and getting a new moniker , Paramount+ with Showtime. Deadline has been hearing for awhile about potential Billions offshoots from series co-creators Brian Koppelman and David Levien. Showtime would not confirm the plan but McCarthy did it in an interview with WSJ , revealing that the four projects in the works are spinoffs set in Miami, the self-proclaimed crypto capital, and London, the world’s financial hub, as well as offshoots Millions , about up-and-coming financiers, and Trillions, a soap about the ultra rich. (You can find more details about all four Billions series in development at the bottom of the story.) McCarthy also confirmed that … [Read more...] about ‘Billions’ Spinoffs In Works At Showtime; ’Dexter’ Prequel Confirmed
‘The Backrooms’ Horror Film Based On Viral Shorts By 17-Year-Old Kane Parsons In Works At A24, Atomic Monster, Chernin & 21 Laps
EXCLUSIVE : Over the last year, director and VFX artist Kane Parsons has shot his YouTube following into the stratosphere with the viral success of his mysterious short, “ The Backrooms (Found Footage).” It’s the first in a series of found-footage horror videos which have thus far garnered nearly 100 million views and will now be adapted for the big screen by A24 , Atomic Monster , Chernin Entertainment and 21 Laps. Parsons — who’s just 17 years old — will direct from a script by Roberto Patino ( DMZ ). He’ll just have to wait till his summer vacation. Details as to the plot of the sci-fi horror feature are under wraps. But in the ’90s-set original short (which you can view below), a young filmmaker’s fall into another dimension leaves him wandering through an unsettlingly yellow, empty and labyrinthine office space, which may or may not be home to otherworldly beings. The film’s title and setting draw inspiration from the imagery of a creepypasta (or internet urban … [Read more...] about ‘The Backrooms’ Horror Film Based On Viral Shorts By 17-Year-Old Kane Parsons In Works At A24, Atomic Monster, Chernin & 21 Laps
Save Hundreds With Lifetime Access to the Jillian Michaels Fitness App
TMZ may collect a share of sales or other compensation from links on this page. With everything getting more expensive these days, a lifetime subscription to Jillian Michaels ' fitness app can help you save money and stay healthy while forgoing the gym. With her commitment to helping people become the very best versions of themselves, Michaels has dominated the health and wellness space . Her award-winning app features personalized health and fitness guidance with lifetime access to the entire Jillian Michaels DVD collection of workouts and an Advanced Meal Planner System (AMP) to help you reach the healthy lifestyle you've always aspired to. You can do it , and with Jillian's help, you'll be reaching your health goals without breaking the bank. The app now features audio-only workouts for when you're exercising outside in addition to audio-only meditations to give your mind a workout, too. This deal is only available for new users, who will get access to … [Read more...] about Save Hundreds With Lifetime Access to the Jillian Michaels Fitness App