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Warner Bros Discovery has ditched plans for a 100% merger of streaming services HBO Max and Discovery+ and will continue offering the latter as a stand-alone product. Insiders confirmed the strategic shift with Deadline after it was initially reported by The Wall Street Journal . The WSJ cited unidentified people familiar with the decision, saying they felt Discovery+ subscribers could balk at paying a higher price for a combined service. HBO Max costs $16 a month, or $10 with ads, compared with $7 and $5 for the respective equivalents of Discovery+. Over the past several months, WBD execs have talked of combining the two into a single offering. HBO Max has already been featuring Discovery titles more prominently of late, even though the ultimate fit between prestige HBO fare and Discovery mainstays like 90-Day Fiancé has been questioned both inside and outside of the company. The plan now is to continue to have Discovery+ in the market even as a newly … [Read more...] about Warner Bros Discovery Abandons Plan To Shut Down Discovery+ As Stand-Alone Service As It Moves Ahead With HBO Max Merger

EXCLUSIVE: WME Independent has unveiled the first image of Haley Bennett in the upcoming 19th Century champagne drama Clicquot ahead of launching sales on the title at the European Film Market . Bennett stars in the titular role of Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin Clicquot, who is popularly known in France as the “Grande Dame of Champagne”. This real-life historic figure defied convention to take over her late husband’s fledgling wine business in Reims in 1805 after being widowed at the age of 27. The production, announced on Deadline last year, is based on the 2008 novel The Widow Clicquot: The Story of a Champagne Empire and the Woman Who Ruled It by Tilar J. Mazzeo. Filming took place the French regions of Chablis and Reims last fall. Thomas Napper ( Jawbone) directs from a screenplay by Erin Dignam ( Land, Submergence ) and Christopher Monger ( Temple Grandin ). Other previously announced cast members include Tom Sturridge (DC Comics and … [Read more...] about Haley Bennett First Image In Champagne Drama ‘Clicquot’ Revealed As WME Independent Sets EFM Sales Launch

Baby Blue 's a fast learner ... just one day after saying he'd have to learn to breathe and walk again he got up out of his hospital bed to start the process and take his first steps. TMZ's obtained this video showing the Pretty Ricky rapper on Friday with hospital staff helping him get on his 2 feet and use a walker to stroll down the hallway of the Florida hospital where he's recovering from gunshot injuries. It's clear Baby Blue's not completely out of the woods just yet ... but this vid is a good sign for his recovery. Plus, we're told he's now breathing on his own after he initially needed a ventilator. TMZ broke the story ... Blue was shot in the shoulder area, with the bullet piercing his lung and getting stuck in his back. That prompted him saying he'd have to "learn to breathe & walk again" ... but he also added, "God Got Me." Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media. As we reported, Baby Blue was trying to protect his cousin … [Read more...] about Pretty Ricky’s Baby Blue Walks for First Time Since Being Shot

Getty Ron Jeremy isn't going before a jury to face rape charges, because he's being shipped off to a mental hospital ... where he could spend the rest of his days. The former porn star -- who'd been hit with a 30-count indictment alleging rape, sexual assault and other related crimes -- was committed to a state-run mental hospital in California ... this after being deemed unfit to stand trial. Backgrid A judge signed off on Jeremy's fate last month -- ruling that his cognitive ability was in a state of such decline that he couldn't facilitate his own defense. He can be held for up to two years at the facility ... and there will be periodic checkups to see if his condition improves. The first hearing on his progress is scheduled for early May. As we reported ... during a hearing last month the judge was informed, after a battery of tests Jeremy was diagnosed with dementia. They left the door open to continue … [Read more...] about Ron Jeremy Committed to Mental Hospital, Rape Trial Derailed

EXCLUSIVE : Renowned documentarian Lisa Cortés has entered into a first-look development agreement with the Museum of the City of New York , the goal being to hone documentary IP based on the museum’s exhibitions. News of the deal — initiated by producer Jon Sechrist — follows the Sundance world premiere of Cortés’ latest critically acclaimed feature doc, Little Richard: I Am Everything , which was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize in U.S. Documentary Competition and sold to Magnolia Pictures. Cortés will now look to build a creative pipeline from MCNY’s 100 years of exhibitions to the screen, with plans for projects on food, social justice, music, and more. The first being made under the deal is a docuseries based on Gingerbread NYC: The Great Borough Bake-Off , an exhibition inviting bakers from every borough to design New York City-inspired gingerbread creations. Cortés will develop and produce all projects through her New York-based production company Cortés … [Read more...] about ‘Little Richard: I Am Everything’s Lisa Cortés Strikes First-Look Development Deal With Museum Of The City Of New York

EXCLUSIVE: Filmmaker, writer and actress Leslie Zemeckis has inked with Buchwald for representation in the directing arena. Zemeckis will film a new role in Here , the Robert Zemeckis adaptation of the Richard McGuire graphic novel starring Tom Hanks and Robin Wright for Miramax. Production on Here is underway on location in London. Zemeckis, an award-winning documentarian and novelist recently received critical acclaim for Grandes Horizontales , an in-depth look at the culture of the courtesan. Among other accolades, Grandes Horizontales won Best Documentary at the London Independent Film Festival and Best Editing and Best Documentary at the Independent Shorts Festival. Her previous directing efforts were Behind the Burly Q, Bound by Flesh , and Mabel, Mabel, Tiger Trainer . In addition, Zemeckis realized success in the book arena with such best-sellers as Behind the Burly Q, Goddess of Love Incarnate and Feuding Fan Dancers . She starred in such … [Read more...] about Filmmaker Leslie Zemeckis Signs With Buchwald

Disney is reorganizing its sprawling businesses under three core segments — Entertainment, ESPN and Parks , Experiences & Products — as CEO Bob Iger moves to restructure the company. The move follows his dismantling of DMED , or Disney Media & Entertainment Distribution, set up by previous CEO Bob Chapek , that wrested control over content decisions by the company’s creative executives. Now we know what the new structure will look like. It’s aimed at returning creative authority to Disney’s “world-class creative team” and its “unparalleled brands and franchises,” he said during a conference call following the company’s first-quarter earnings report. The reorganization is a key element of a transformation that he said also will help rationalize the streaming business for sustained growth and profitability and reducing expenses in a world of increased competition and global economic challenges. The DTC business, except for ESPN+ , will be under … [Read more...] about Disney Reorganizes Into Three Segments, Entertainment, ESPN & Parks

Senator Mitt Romney showed his utter contempt for Congressman George Santos -- telling the lyin' rep from New York his mere presence at the event -- especially where he was sitting -- proves he's shameless. A visibly angry Romney walked into the House Chambers and crossed paths with Santos, who was all smiles. Romney launched, telling Santos, "You don't belong here," adding, "You ought to be embarrassed." Santos seemed a bit taken aback, but shook it off and then tried to glad-hand anyone who would walk by. Santos was one of the first to arrive on the House floor, grabbing a spot near where the President enters the Chamber. Senator Mitt Romney was not going to be subjected to the shenanigans of George Santos without comment. pic.twitter.com/rKuRseSdpe — Symone D. Sanders-Townsend (@SymoneDSanders) February 8, 2023 @SymoneDSanders After Biden's speech, Romney told reporters ... "I didn’t expect that he’d be standing there, trying to … [Read more...] about Mitt Romney Tells George Santos ‘You Don’t Belong Here’ at State Of The Union

CBS has made its first comedy pilot order this season, and it went to the network’s script with the highest-profile talent pairing attached, Damon Wayans and Damon Wayans Jr. Four months after Deadline broke the news of the father-son project being in development at CBS, the multi-camera comedy, co-written by the elder Wayans and former Last Man Standing executive producer Kevin Hench, remains untitled. It centers on a legendary talk radio host and happily divorced “Poppa” (Wayans) who has his point of view challenged at work when a new female co-host is hired, and at home where he finds himself still parenting his adult son (Wayans Jr.), a brilliant dreamer who is trying to pursue his passion while being a responsible father and husband. Wayans, Hench and Wayans Jr. executive produce. CBS Studios, where Wayans Jr.’s Two Shakes Entertainment has been based since its launch, is the studio. Kameron Tarlow, VP Productions, will be overseeing the project for Two Shakes. … [Read more...] about Damon Wayans & Damon Wayans Jr. Father/Son Comedy Gets Pilot Order At CBS

In both a noble gesture toward exhibition after the studio’s Project Popcorn, and in a means to monetize downstream revenues, Warner Bros is taking what was a HBO Max movie, Steven Soderbergh’s Magic Mike’s Last Dance , and putting into 1,500 theatrical locations this weekend. That’s with a thrifty marketing spend. It’s the second movie after New Line’s House Party ($8.8M) for which Warners has reverse-engineered a streaming release for the big screen. Meanwhile, Paramount is building off the heat of James Cameron’s Avatar: The Way of Water with a 25th anniversary 3D reissue of the filmmaker’s Oscar-winning 1997 smash Titanic . There are arguments to be made that either could notch No. 1: Titanic apparently is tracking better than the fall re-issue of Avatar ($10.5M opening) with a shot at double-digit millions in 2,400 theaters and the Channing Tatum-Salma Hayek Pinault threequel also having a potential $10M debut with the chance for more heading into … [Read more...] about ‘Magic Mike’s Last Dance’ & ‘Titanic’ Reissue Having Super Bowl Dance-Off At Box Office – Preview