Potential new DC chief / "House of the Dragon" renewed / "BioShock" lands director / Paramount+ Louis CK doc

Plus the weekend calendar, Disney+ UK doc slate, NASA Artemis 1 livestream, NBC exiting primetime, and more

Inside.com Part of   Network August 26, 2022

According to The Hollywood Reporter, film executive-turned-producer Dan Lin is in negotiations to take over all film and TV adaptations of DC Comics properties for Warner Bros. Discovery. Lin will likely replace current DC Films chief Walter Hamada. More: The new position will apparently work around WB Pictures heads Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy, HBO chief Casey Bloys, and WB TV chair Channing Dungey, reporting directly to WBD CEO David Zaslav. Lin's new DC oversight role has been compared with the creative leadership of Kevin Feige, who has steered the Marvel Cinematic Universe films and TV shows since the late '00s. Lin previously worked as an executive for Warner Bros. under former President Alan Horn, who remains with the company in an advisory role. He has also produced a number of films, including "Aladdin," "The LEGO Movie," and "It" through his company, Rideback. HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

HBO renewed the "Game of Thrones" spinoff "House of the Dragon" for a second season. The first episode premiered on Sunday, August 21, and set viewership records for the network and streamer. More: To date, the first episode of "House of the Dragon" has been viewed around 20 million times across all platforms. The series is based on George R. R. Martin's book "Fire & Blood," and centers around a conflict within House Targaryen 200 years prior to the action of "Game of Thrones."  Martin co-created the series with Ryan Condal ("Colony"), who serves as showrunner alongside veteran "Game of Thrones" director Miguel Spochnik (who helmed the pilot). DEADLINE

WEEKEND CALENDAR FRIDAY, AUGUST 26 NOPE: Sci-fi thriller from writer/director Jordan Peele, starring Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer as siblings who spot a mysterious object in the skies above their ranch and attempt to document its movements. Steven Yeun, Michael Wincott, and Brandon Perea co-star. [VOD] SEE: The sci-fi fantasy drama is set in a distant, dystopian future in which mankind -- with a few notable exceptions -- has lost the sense of sight. Jason Momoa stars as warrior and tribal leader Baba Voss, who must protect his people against a devastating new sighted weapon; Sylvia Hoeks, Hera Hilmar, Christian Camargo, and Archie Madekwe co-star. The third and final season debuts Friday on Apple TV+. [Apple TV+] ME TIME: Comedy feature from writer/director John Hamburg ("I Love You, Man") starring Kevin Hart as a stay-at-home dad who reconnects with his unpredictable best friend (Mark Wahlberg) for a wild weekend away from his family. Regina Hall, Jimmy O. Yang, and Luis Gerardo Méndez co-star. [Netflix] DRIVE HARD: THE MALOOF WAY: Debut reality series chronicling the life of race car driver and engine mechanic Sammy Maloof and his family of car enthusiasts, gearheads, and stunt drivers. [Netflix] LUDIK: South African crime drama series, starring Arnold Vosloo ("The Mummy") as a family man who maintains a legitimate public image while secretly running a diamond smuggling ring. After a family member is kidnapped, he's forced to expand his criminal empire and risk everything to free them. The series was produced in a combination of English and Afrikaans. [Netflix] SEOUL VIBE: Action film from Korea, set in the days leading up to the 1988 Seoul Olympics, about a group of drivers and mechanics who go undercover to take down a massive money-laundering operation that threatens the entire event. Yoo Ah-in, Go Kyung-pyo, Lee Kyu-hyung, Park Ju-hyun, and Ong Seong-wu co-star; Moon Hyung-sung ("The King's Case Note") directed. [Netflix] LOVING ADULTS (KÆRLIGHED FOR VOKSNE): Danish-language romantic thriller, based on the novel by Anna Ekberg, starring Dar Salim and Sonja Richter as a seemingly perfect couple whose marriage begins to unravel in increasingly dangerous ways following an act of infidelity. Barbara Rothenborg ("White Sand") directed. [Netflix] SAMARITAN: Fantasy drama feature starring Javon Walton as a young boy who comes to the realization that his reclusive neighbor (Sylvester Stallone) is a once-famous vigilante superhero widely believed to have died decades earlier. The film is based on the graphic novels by Bragi Schut, Marc Olivent, and Renzo Podesta. Schut wrote the film adaptation; "Overlord" vet Julius Avery directed. [Amazon] UNTRAPPED: THE STORY OF LIL BABY: Documentary profile of the influential rapper and philanthropist, charting his rise from a disenfranchised West Atlanta neighborhood to international stardom. Karam Gill ("G-Funk") directed. The movie debuted at this year's Tribeca Film Festival. [Amazon] LITTLE DEMON: Aubrey Plaza stars in this debut adult animated comedy series as Laura, who was reluctantly impregnated years before by the Devil (Danny DeVito). Now, she's attempting to raise her daughter, the Anti-Christ (Lucy DeVito), with some semblance of normalcy in suburban Delaware. New episodes premiere Thursdays on FXX and hit Hulu on Fridays. [Hulu] DOC MCSTUFFINS: THE DOC IS 10!: Debut animated special celebrating the 10th anniversary of the landmark educational animated series for preschoolers. Though Disney stopped producing new episodes in 2020, the show -- from creator Chris Nee ("Ada Twist, Scientist") --  remains a favorite among young kids. [Hulu and Disney+] DIARY OF AN OLD HOME: Debut docuseries from Magnolia Network in which the owners and residents of historic properties share their homes' unique backstories and traditions. [Discovery+] WATCHER: 2022 psychological thriller from writer/director Chloe Okuno ("V/H/S/94"). Maika Monroe stars as an American living in Bucharest with her new husband (Karl Glusman) who continually sees a man watching her from across the street, and begins to suspect he may be the mysterious serial killer who's been terrorizing the city. Burn Gorman co-stars. [Shudder] VICTOR AND VALENTINO: Season 3 of the animated series -- which draws influence from Aztec, Olmec, and Maya folklore -- aired on Cartoon Network in 2021 and hits HBO Max today. The action follows two half-brothers as they investigate supernatural incidents in the quiet town of Monte Macabre. [HBO Max] SUNDAY, AUGUST 28 90 DAY FIANCÉ: HAPPILY EVER AFTER?: The "90 Day Fiancé" spinoff series tracks the lives and further adventures of couples who have appeared on the show. Season 7 debuts today on cable's TLC and Discovery+, and features seven returning couples, including Angela & Michael; Elizabeth & Andrei; Ed & Liz; and Kim & Usman. [Discovery+] MARY KAY LETOURNEAU: NOTES ON A SCANDAL: True-crime documentary feature from Investigation Discovery looking back on the case of 34-year-old elementary school teacher Mary Kay Letourneau, who began a sexual relationship with a 12-year-old student in 1997. [Discovery+]

"Hunger Games" and "Constantine" veteran Francis Lawrence will direct Netflix's film adaptation of the "BioShock" video game franchise. Michael Green, whose recent scripts include "The Jungle Cruise" and "Death on the Nile," will write the adaptation. More: Netflix has partnered with "BioShock" publishers Take-Two Interactive and 2K on the film. Lawrence is currently working on the "Hunger Games" prequel "The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes" while Green finishes the "BioShock" script. The "BioShock" games blend horror and science-fiction, and center on protagonists who are exploring the ruins of planned "utopian" communities; it's unclear which specific "BioShock" game will inspire Netflix's film. DEADLINE

The Hollywood Reporter spoke with Paramount Global executive David Nevins about the company's overall streaming strategy and how it plans to counter major players like Netflix and Disney. During his recent keynote at the Edinburgh TV Festival, Nevins mentioned a planned, controversy-stirring documentary about comedian Louis CK and his comeback following allegations of sexual misconduct. More: According to Nevins, Paramount+ and SkyShowtime will roll out across Europe later this year. The executive discussed the importance of cross-promoting content, noting that Showtime's "Yellowjackets" received a boost from the similar-in-tone "Dexter: New Blood," while "Halo" benefitted from debuting on the Paramount+ platform, which was already the home of the "Star Trek" franchise. He indicated that Paramount and Showtime will continue experimenting with release models, putting some shows out all at once while allowing others to grow and build word of mouth over time. During Nevins' keynote, while discussing the CK documentary, he noted that "the social change that #MeToo has brought about is resolved at all" and added that there's "a bit of backlash against #MeToo [over] who has to go away and who’s allowed to come back"; he declined to expand on these thoughts for THR. HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

Reeves Disney+ unveiled a new slate of five unscripted original shows and films from the UK. The list includes "Wagatha Christie," a look back at the tabloid scandals surrounding Coleen Rooney, the wife of soccer star Wayne Rooney. More: The three-part "Wagatha Christie" will relate Rooney's story from her own perspective, and also features interviews with family, friends, and other central figures. Actor Keanu Reeves will narrate and host "Brawn: The One Pound Formula 1 Team," about an underfinanced racing team that took the World Championship -- shocking the F1 world -- in 2009. "In Vogue: The 1990s" will look back on the history of the fashion magazine and its impact on '90s style; editors Anna Wintour and Edward Enninful both participated. Disney+ has committed to creating 60 or more local productions across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa by 2024. HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

NASA's upcoming Artemis 1 launch -- the agency's first step in sending manned missions back to the moon -- will be livestreamed on multiple platforms by Felix & Paul Studios. The first test flight has been scheduled for August 29. More: The launch viewing will be available in a 360-degree format on Meta Quest, Facebook 360, and in domes and planetariums worldwide. For viewers with Meta Quest headsets, the livestream will be hosted by retired astronauts Karen Nyberg and Doug Hurley, starting at 7:33 am ET. Artemis 1 will send the Orion space capsule to the moon and back without a human crew onboard, as the first official test of NASA's new Space Launch System (SLS). Artemis 2 will then perform a lunar flyby with a crew of astronauts, while Artemis 3 will include the first manned lunar landing since 1972. DEADLINE

QUICK HITS Consumers want an instant and personalized content experience. Read How a Cloud-Native CMS Makes Content Delivery Faster and Easier.* According to a report in The Wall Street Journal, NBC may stop programming for the 10 pm hour of primetime, turning these slots back over to affiliates and trimming the network's overall footprint by seven hours per week. Oscar winner Joe Pesci signed on for a role in the Peacock comedy series "Bupkis," inspired by the life of star, co-writer and "Saturday Night Live" vet Pete Davidson; Pesci will play Davidson's grandfather, alongside Edie Falco as the comedian's mom. According to Deadline, "WandaVision" director Matt Shakman is in final talks to direct Marvel's hotly-anticipated "Fantastic Four" film. Director Baz Luhrmann's hit Elvis Presley biopic, "Elvis," will begin streaming on HBO Max in September. Snoop Dogg produces and stars in the new educational YouTube kids channel "Doggyland," in which a group of animated singing, dancing, and rapping dogs teach kids social, cognitive, and emotional skills. Discovery+ ordered a six-part docuseries from Octavia Spencer's production company, Orit Entertainment, about the history of the FBI; "Feds" will also air on the company's Investigation Discovery cable network. The next season of Netflix's culinary docuseries "Chef's Table" focuses exclusively on America's obsession with pizza; it arrives on September 7. "Stranger Things" producers 21 Laps are developing a limited series for Netflix based on the Elin Hilderbrand mystery novel "The Perfect Couple"; "Good Girls" vet Jenna Lamia will serve as showrunner. According to Variety, actor Kelli Giddish's exit from "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" was ordered by higher-ups, against her wishes and those of star/producer Mariska Hargitay and showrunner David Graziano. Hulu signed a new deal with independent theatrical distributor Roadside Attractions, and will take the exclusive streaming rights for the company's films over the next several years. Netflix released some new images from "Blockbuster," the upcoming workplace sitcom set at the last Blockbuster Video location in America; Randall Park and Melissa Fumero co-star in the series, which arrives on November 3. Showtime debuted a trailer for "Stand," a documentary biopic about former NBA player and social justice activist Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, who was dropped by the league in the 1990s after refusing to stand at attention during the national anthem. A new teaser offers a brief look at Evan Peters as serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer from Ryan Murphy's upcoming Netflix series about the police investigation into his horrific crimes. Elizabeth Hannah, the daughter of late Remnant Fellowship leader Gwen Shamblin Lara -- the subject of HBO Max's docuseries exposé "The Weigh Down" -- celebrated Warner Bros. Discovery's recent stock drop with her congregation this week, calling it "a big win." "Beverly Hills, 90210" regular Joe E. Tata -- who portrayed Peach Pit owner Nat -- died this week at age 85.  Give business gifts people actually want, without going over budget. Explore our interactive catalog for this year's trends.* *This is sponsored content

Lon Harris is the writer and editor of Inside Streaming and was the very first person to ever write an Inside newsletter. He lives in Los Angeles, California, and also writes about TV and film for Fandom, Screen Junkies, Rotten Tomatoes, Gamma Ray and others. Plus he has a Game of Thrones podcast called "Casterly Talk" and competes on The Movie Trivia Schmoedown as "The Professor." Editor Eduardo Garcia is a writer and editor based in New York. He is the author of "Things You Can Do," an illustrated book about climate action. Bylines in The New York Times, The Guardian, Slate, Scientific American, and others. In one of his previous lives, Eduardo worked as a Reuters correspondent in Latin America for nearly a decade.

767 Bryant St. #203, San Francisco, CA 94107 Copyright © 2022 Inside.com

Did someone forward this email to you? Head over to inside.com to get your very own free subscription! You received this email because you subscribed to Inside Streaming. Click here to unsubscribe from Inside Streaming list or manage your subscriptions.