Latest news with #Hollywood
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Business
- Yahoo
TV and Film Writing Jobs Grew More Scarce, Even If Earnings Were Up Slightly in 2024
It came as no surprise to anyone when the Writers Guild of America West's 2023 annual financial report showed that television and film writers' earnings and employment had declined the same year that union members waged a 148-day strike against studios and streamers. But one year later, in a work stoppage-free environment, employment dipped further than their strike-era levels, even as earnings slightly rebounded. That's according to the union's 2024 annual financial report, released Friday to members and reviewed by The Hollywood Reporter. More from The Hollywood Reporter Writers Guild East Members Ratify First Union Contract at Story Syndicate (Exclusive) Michele Mulroney Running (Unopposed, for Now) to Lead Writers Guild West Writers Guild East Files Another Unfair Labor Practice Charge Against ITV (Exclusive) The document finds that in 2024 the total number of WGA West members reporting earnings fell 9.4 percent compared with the prior year and 24.3 percent from 2022. At $1.5 billion, members' total earnings rose 12.7 percent compared with 2023, but were still 21 percent below 2022's $1.9 billion. It's the latest sign of Hollywood companies reducing their output in a post-Peak TV, post-strikes world as a more cautious and risk-averse business culture has taken hold. 'We anticipate 2024's numbers to increase in subsequent reports, with late reporting to increase the number of writers employed to a level similar to 2023,' the union's annual report stated. 'Still, it is clear that the number of jobs has declined from peak years, caused by the companies' pullback in number of streaming projects on top of prior declines in linear programming.' The employment declines were steepest in television and digital platforms as well as in news, promotion, informational and interactive programming. Television and digital platform writer employment dropped nearly 11 percent between 2023 and 2024 and 28.5 percent from 2022. The WGA West represents thousands of writers in that category; on a smaller scale, news, promotion, informational and interactive programming writers dropped from 108 in 2022 to 94 in 2023 to 80 in 2024, a decline of nearly 26 percent. In television, writer earnings rose 12.3 percent in 2024 compared with the year prior, but dropped 25 percent when weighed against 2022. In its news and promotion category, earnings dropped 9.3 percent compared with 2023 and 1.1 percent from 2022. Writer employment fared better in theatrical films. The decline in 2024 compared with 2023 was only three percent but 16.2 percent in relation to 2022. The hit to earnings in film compared with two years prior wasn't as stark as in television, either: Earnings rose in 2024 by 14.2 percent in contrast to the year prior and was 9.5 percent lower than the 2022 total. Residuals were also down in 2024 compared with 2023, declining six percent. Still, an increase over a five-year period offered some space for optimism: The reuse payments were up 19.3 percent compared with 2019. The decline in television residuals was 12.4 percent compared with 2023, while in feature film it was 6.4 percent. The WGA West offered members an early peek at their data on television writer declines in April, when the union revealed that during the 2023-2024 season, writer jobs were down 42 percent. 'Writing careers have always been difficult to access and sustain, but the contraction has made it especially challenging,' the union said in an email. 'We are all subject to the decisions of the companies that control this industry, who have pulled back spending on content based on the demands of Wall Street.' Best of The Hollywood Reporter How the Warner Brothers Got Their Film Business Started Meet the World Builders: Hollywood's Top Physical Production Executives of 2023 Men in Blazers, Hollywood's Favorite Soccer Podcast, Aims for a Global Empire
News.com.au
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Outrage as star upstages Sanchez at wedding
Usher amazed in a grey and white suit and bow tie and Tom Brady kept things monochromatic with an all-black ensemble. Picture: Stefano Rellandini / AFP
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘M3GAN 2.0' reviews say the sequel is both too much and not enough
She's baaaaaack. Everyone's favorite viral dance craze-creating android goes from villain to (anti)hero in M3GAN 2.0, the follow-up to 2023's breakout horror hit. Once again produced by genre titans Jason Blum and James Wan, the sequel introduces a T-1000 to M3GAN's T-800 — a military-manufactured A.I. powered weapon named AMELIA. Other returning players include Alison Williams as M3GAN's maker, Gemma, and Violet McGraw as her niece, Cady. Director Gerard Johnstone is also back behind the camera for another round. More from Gold Derby Marge lives! Here are 3 other 'Simpsons' characters that returned from the grave - and 3 who stayed dead Fast cars vs. killer dolls: 'F1,' 'M3GAN 2.0' gear up for box-office showdown While the first M3GAN caught a pop culture wave, sequels to surprise successes can sometimes go astray. And the reviews for her upgrade suggest that going bigger didn't necessarily result in a movie that's necessarily better. M3GAN 2.0 currently has a 63 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes and registers at a middling 55 percent on Metacritic. Size definitely doesn't matter to Associated Press critic, Mark Kennedy. "Most of the same team that gave us the refreshing horror-comedy original two years ago have not only gone super-big, but also changed the franchise's genre," he writes, noting that the sequel goes the full-on action spectacle route. "[It] sometimes feels like the moviemakers just threw money at the sequel and tried to ape other franchises by going massive." Like many critics, David Rooney makes the Terminator 2 comparison explicit in his Hollywood Reporter writeup. "The humor is forced to compete with seriously overcomplicated plotting in a sequel that entangles its horror comedy roots with uninspired espionage elements, becoming a convoluted mishmash with shades of Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Mission: Impossible and the Austin Powers franchise," he notes. Rooney's also not a big fan of AMELIA's moves. "Too often, the star attraction takes a back seat to the much less entertaining Amelia, an icy blonde killing machine like so many icy blonde killing machines before her, with none of M3GAN's sardonic wit." Representing the middle ground, Paste's Jesse Hassenger expresses more appreciation for the franchise's genre pivot. "It's a savvy move to introduce Amelia, a killer robot weaponizing the original Megan specs to serve as a potential tool of the military-industrial complex," he writes, praising the "ridiculous fun of seeing Megan suit up for a bunch of unlikely spy missions." But the too-muchness inevitably gets to him as well. "Even with a fair number of sci-fi ideas riffing lightly on mech-suits, neural implants, anti-tech crusading, and the capacity for artificial beings to grow and change, there is no reason for this particular lightweight movie to run two full hours." Still, there are those reviewers who don't regret taking the ride — including The Wrap's Michael Ordoña. "The new movie thankfully avoids pretty much every possible pitfall of a sequel, especially the usual fate of horror follow-ups being merely bigger and bloodier rehashes," he observes. "Of course, bigger isn't always better; but here, bigger is accompanied by different." Best of Gold Derby Tom Cruise movies: 17 greatest films ranked worst to best 'It was wonderful to be on that ride': Christian Slater talks his beloved roles, from cult classics ('Heathers,' 'True Romance') to TV hits ('Mr. Robot,' 'Dexter: Original Sin') 'It almost killed me': Horror maestro Mike Flanagan looks back at career-making hits from 'Gerald's Game' to 'Hill House' to 'Life of Chuck' Click here to read the full article.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Fast cars vs. killer dolls: ‘F1,' ‘M3GAN 2.0' gear up for box-office showdown
Two major films are revving up for big debuts at the box office for the June 27-29 weekend, with Apple Original Films' ambitious Formula One drama F1: The Movie and Universal's campy horror sequel M3GAN 2.0 each eyeing strong openings. F1 is tracking to debut above $30 million in the U.S., with some forecasts suggesting that the film, starring Brad Pitt as a retired Formula One driver mentoring a rookie (Damson Idris), could start as high as $40 million–$45 million domestically and even race toward $50 million–$60 million if momentum builds. Internationally, where Formula One has a massive fan base, Warner Bros., distributing the film for Apple, is hoping for a $75 million-plus haul across 77 markets. Directed by Joseph Kosinski (Top Gun: Maverick) and carrying a hefty $200 million production budget, global success is key for F1 to justify Apple's gamble on theatrical releases. More from Gold Derby Marge lives! Here are 3 other 'Simpsons' characters that returned from the grave - and 3 who stayed dead 'Squid Game' Season 3: Reviews warn of a divisive WTF sprint to the finish line SEE 'F1: The Movie' reviews: Brad Pitt burns rubber with 'macho panache' in a high-octane thrill ride Meanwhile, M3GAN 2.0 — the sequel to Blumhouse and Universal's viral horror hit — looks poised for a softer but still solid $20 million debut in the crowded summer movie season. The original M3GAN, released in January 2023, shocked industry expectations by opening to $30 million and legging out to $95 million domestically ($180 million worldwide) on a mere $12 million budget, fueled by its viral TikTok dance routines. This time, the PG-13 killer doll movie returns with upgraded thrills and escapist stakes, as the titular AI is rebuilt to stop a humanoid robot aiming for world domination. With a modest $25 million budget, M3GAN 2.0 doesn't need a blockbuster showing to turn a profit. SEE 'M3GAN 2.0' reviews say the sequel is both too much and not enough F1 is expected to dominate the domestic charts, propelled by Pitt's star power, Kosinski's storytelling expertise, and Formula One's global popularity (Lewis Hamilton even serves as a producer). While F1 seems geared to attract older male audiences, M3GAN 2.0 is strongest with younger women and remains a social media sensation. Both films will face heavy competition as Universal's Jurassic World: Rebirth roars into cinemas on July 2, along with holdover hits like Disney/Pixar's Elio and Sony's 28 Years Later. Gold Derby readers predict that F1: The Movie will win the June 27-29 weekend with between $25 million and $50 million domestically. M3GAN 2.0 is the runner-up selection of our oddsmakers. : Director: Joseph KosinskiDistributor: Apple Original Films/Warner Bros.A Formula One driver comes out of retirement to mentor and team up with a younger driver. The action-packed sports drama, starring Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, and Javier Bardem, has a running time of two hours, 35 minutes, and is rated PG-13. F1: The Movie is certified "fresh" with a 84 percent score per the aggregated critic reviews at Rotten Tomatoes; "generally favorbale" reviews compiled by Metacritic resulted in an overall score of 68 percent. Director: Gerard JohnstoneDistributor: Universal PicturesTwo years after M3GAN's rampage, her creator, Gemma, resorts to resurrecting her infamous creation in order to take down Amelia, the military-grade weapon who was built by a defense contractor who stole M3GAN's underlying tech. The horror sci-fi thriller, starring Allison Williams, Amie Donald, and the voice of Jenna Davis, has a running time of two hours, and is rated PG-13. M3GAN 2.0 is certified "rotten" with a 59 percent score per the aggregated critic reviews at Rotten Tomatoes; "mixed" reviews compiled by Metacritic resulted in an overall score of 54 percent. After strong test audience reactions and early previews, F1 is poised to dominate the box office with a projected opening of over $40 million. M3GAN 2.0 is expected to scare up enough fans for a strong second-place debut, bringing in over $20 million. Meanwhile, Universal's How to Train Your Dragon remains steady in its third week, giving the killer doll some competition as it eyes $20 million as well. The live-action remake has already amassed an impressive $200 million domestically and $376 million worldwide. Rounding out the top five, Disney/Pixar's Elio and Sony's 28 Years Later are set to continue their box office battle from last week. Though the horror sequel took the lead in their initial matchup, the animated family movie is projected to have more staying power, edging out 28 Years Later with both films aiming for $13 million this weekend. Here are Gold Derby's predictions box-office rankings for the top five: 1. F1: The Movie2. M3GAN 2.03. How to Train Your Dragon4. Elio5. 28 Years Later Do you agree or disagree with those rankings? Make your predictions right now — it's fun and easy! Join the box-office discussion in our forums. Best of Gold Derby Everything to know about 'The Batman 2': Returning cast, script finalized Tom Cruise movies: 17 greatest films ranked worst to best 'It was wonderful to be on that ride': Christian Slater talks his beloved roles, from cult classics ('Heathers,' 'True Romance') to TV hits ('Mr. Robot,' 'Dexter: Original Sin') Click here to read the full article.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Everything to know about ‘The Batman 2': Returning cast, script finalized
Director Matt Reeves' version of The Batman hit theaters in 2022 and jump-started the post-COVID box office with a dynamic $369 million domestic and $772 million worldwide. Critics were enraptured by Robert Pattinson's darker, grittier, noir-style caped crusader, giving the DC Studios movie an 85 percent on Rotten Tomatoes and a 72 score on Metacritic — not too shabby for a comic-book character who's been skulking around Gotham City since 1939. With every successful blockbuster comes the inevitable sequel announcement, and The Batman was no different. But ever since being green-lit by Warner Bros., the follow-up has been hampered with production hiccups and delayed at least a year on the release schedule. Read on for everything to know about The Batman 2. More from Gold Derby 'F1: The Movie' - Instant Oscar predictions The Emmys have one last chance to make things right with 'The Comeback' Mere months after The Batman was released in March 2022, the sequel was officially announced at CinemaCon in April 2022. Pattinson would return as reclusive billionaire Bruce Wayne who fought crime as the gruff-voiced Batman, while Reeves would write (with Mattson Tomlin) and direct the new movie. "Matt took one of our most iconic and beloved superheroes and delivered a fresh vision," then-Warner Bros. studio boss Toby Emmerich said. 'Matt Reeves, Rob Pattinson, and the entire team will be taking audiences back to Gotham with The Batman 2." Besides Pattinson, three other cast members from The Batman were in talks for the sequel. Jeffrey Wright (Gotham Police Commissioner James "Jim" Gordon) told Deadline, "I haven't read the script yet, but that's the plan," referring to his eventual return. Andy Serkis (butler Alfred Pennyworth) revealed at 2024's ACE Superhero Comic Con, "I loved working with Rob Pattinson, and I really look forward to playing Alfred once more." Serkis later added, "[Reeves] told me the story of The Batman 2, and I was so excited for it." And Reeves confirmed that Colin Farrell's Oz Cobb, aka the Penguin, would come back during a 2024 Comic-Con panel for the HBO spin-off show The Penguin. Initially, the sequel was set to begin principal photography in November 2023, according to ScreenRant, but it was pushed back because of the dual Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA strikes. In February 2025, Pattinson told Deadline that The Batman 2 would start shooting "at the end of the year," which puts production in late fall or early winter 2025. "Everything feels so long ago, because COVID just erased three years," the actor said. Pattinson didn't give away the storyline, though he did tease that the plot is "cool." According to Production Weekly, principal photography will take place at Warner Bros. Studios in Leavesden, England, the same studio that was used for portions of The Batman. In April 2025, yet another delay was hinted at, this one involving Pattinson's potential casting in Dune: Part Three. Deadline reported that Dune franchise director Denis Villeneuve had his eyes on Pattinson as "a new addition to the all-star ensemble" for the upcoming third film. While sources close to the project declined to comment, Deadline's Justin Kroll wrote on X that since Dune: Part Three "will shoot this summer," the actor "could shoot in reasonable time and have it not affect Batman 2, whenever that goes into production." In other words, online rumors suggesting that Pattinson's involvement in Dune 3 means that The Batman 2 will be canceled are flat-out wrong. After originally securing a theatrical release date of Oct. 2, 2026, The Batman 2 was pushed back a full year to Oct. 1, 2027, to give it more time to prep and film. Now, an untitled Alejandro González Iñárritu and Tom Cruise movie will take that 2026 calendar date instead, per The Hollywood Reporter. "Matt is committed to making the best film he possibly can, and no one can accurately guess exactly how long a script will take to write," DC Studios co-chief James Gunn said in December 2024 about the yearlong holdup. "Once there is a finished script, there is around two years for pre-production, shooting, and post-production on big films." In January 2023, the sequel was initially titled The Batman: Part II. But that didn't last long, as it was officially untitled as of December 2024, because Reeves was still writing the script. The new title has yet to be announced. Note that previous Batman movie sequels within the DC universe did not include numbers in their titles, and were instead called Batman Returns (1992), Batman Forever (1995), Batman & Robin (1997), The Dark Knight (2008), and The Dark Knight Rises (2012). On June 27, 2025, Reeves and Tomlin posted the blurred-out title page of the Batman 2 script on Instagram along with the caption, "Partners in Crime (Fighters)," plus three bat emojis. Variety confirmed that this meant the script was, indeed, finished. Pattinson follows in a long line of Batman actors who've appeared on the big screen, including Lewis Wilson (1943), Robert Lowery (1949), Adam West (1966), Michael Keaton (1989-92), Val Kilmer (1995), George Clooney (1997), Christian Bale (2005-12), and Ben Affleck (2016-21). Scroll through our gallery below of all of the modern-day Batman movies ranked. SIGN UP for Gold Derby's free newsletter with latest predictions Best of Gold Derby Tom Cruise movies: 17 greatest films ranked worst to best 'It was wonderful to be on that ride': Christian Slater talks his beloved roles, from cult classics ('Heathers,' 'True Romance') to TV hits ('Mr. Robot,' 'Dexter: Original Sin') 'It almost killed me': Horror maestro Mike Flanagan looks back at career-making hits from 'Gerald's Game' to 'Hill House' to 'Life of Chuck' Click here to read the full article.
