Gilligan series to Apple / Netflix shifts stand-up deals / Collier exits Fox for Roku / "Reservation Dogs" renewed

Plus the weekend calendar, Imax acquires SSIMWAVE, Funko "Thrones" NFT Pops, "Queen Charlotte" series, and more

Inside.com Part of   Network September 23, 2022

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Apple ordered two seasons of a new drama series from "Breaking Bad" and "Better Call Saul" mastermind Vince Gilligan. The still-untitled project will star Gilligan's "Better Call Saul" collaborator, Rhea Seehorn. More: No plot details were released, but the show has been described as a "blended, grounded genre drama." The new show is apparently not set within the same fictional universe as "Breaking Bad" and "Better Call Saul." According to Deadline, the budget has been set around $13.5-$15 million per episode, which is on the high side for a premium drama, but not approaching the level of Amazon's "Rings of Power" or HBO's "House of the Dragon." Apple executives Zack Van Amburg and Jamie Erlicht previously worked with Gilligan on his "Albuquerque-verse" shows during their tenures as president of Sony Pictures Television. DEADLINE

According to The Wall Street Journal, Netflix is adjusting its licensing and compensation model for stand-up comedy specials. Rather than making a large one-time payment in exchange for the ongoing rights to the special, the streamer is apparently now offering to license comedy shows from comedians for two years. More: While the streamer may have paid a $1 million lump sum for a special in the past, now it may offer something like $200,000 for a two-year license. Following the licensing period, the rights to the show would revert back to the comedian or their production company. A spokesperson for Netflix told WSJ that the change was made "in response to the current market." SEEKING ALPHA

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WEEKEND CALENDAR FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 BLONDE: Psychological drama film from writer/director Andrew Dominik ("The Assassination of Jesse James..."), based on the 2000 novel by author Joyce Carol Oates and featuring Ana de Armas as a fictionalized take on screen icon Marilyn Monroe. Adrien Brody, Bobby Cannavale, Xavier Samuel, and Julianne Nicholson co-star. This is the first film rated NC-17 to be released by a major US streaming service. It premiered at the Venice International Film Festival. [Netflix] A JAZZMAN'S BLUES: Romantic drama feature from writer/director Tyler Perry (based on the first screenplay he ever completed) in which a murder investigation in the Deep South ultimately reveals a decades-spanning story of forbidden love and deceit. Joshua Boone, Solea Pfeiffer, Amirah Vann, Austin Scott, and Ryan Eggold co-star. [Netflix] LOU: 2022 action-thriller from director Anna Foerster ("Underworld: Blood Wars") and producer J.J. Abrams. When her daughter is kidnapped during a violent storm, a terrified mother (Jurnee Smollett) joins forces with the mysterious badass (Allison Janney) living next door to get her back. Logan Marshall-Green co-stars. [Netflix] POKÉMON: THE ARCEUS CHRONICLES: Four-episode animated series, spun off from "Pokémon Journeys: The Series," and setting up the new Nintendo Switch game "Pokémon Legends: Arceus." The story finds Ash and Pikachu confronting a powerful new threat in the Sinnoh region. [Netflix] ATHENA: Social drama feature from France, inspired by Ancient Greek tragedies, about three siblings dealing with the recent death of their brother in an altercation with police. As the brothers argue about what to do next, a youth protest in their community threatens to descend into mass violence. Music video vet Romain Gavras directed the film and co-wrote the script with "Les Miserables" vet Ladj Ly and Elias Belkeddar; it debuted at the Venice Film Festival. [Netflix] THE GIRLS AT THE BACK (LAS DE LA ÚLTIMA FILA): Comedy-drama series from Spain about a group of five women in their 30s who meet up each year for a vacation together. One particular getaway proves radically different after one member of the group announces she's been diagnosed with cancer. Maria Rodríguez Soto, Itsaso Arana, Mariona Terés, and Javier Rey co-star. [Netflix] JAMTARA – SABKA NUMBER AYEGA: The crime drama series from India returns on Friday to Netflix for a second season. The story concerns a group of small-time scammers that comes to the attention of a corrupt politician who wants in on their schemes. [Netflix] SIDNEY: Documentary profiling legendary actor, filmmaker and activist Sidney Poitier, with a dual focus on his trailblazing Hollywood career and his contributions to the Civil Rights Movement. The film features insights from Denzel Washington, Morgan Freeman, Halle Berry, Robert Redford, Spike Lee, Barbra Streisand and others, and was produced in collaboration with the Poitier family. Oprah Winfrey produced; Reginald Hudlin directed. [Apple TV+] ON THE COME UP: Drama from first-time feature director Sanaa Lathan, based on the novel by Angie Thomas. Jamila Gray stars as Bri, a 16-year-old who's determined to follow in her late father's footsteps and become a legendary rapper. Lathan co-stars along with Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Method Man, and Mike Epps. The film premiered at this year's TIFF. [Paramount+] WHO'S TALKING TO CHRIS WALLACE?: Debut CNN interview series, originally produced for the now-defunct CNN+ streaming service, featuring the news anchor in conversation with key figures from the worlds of sports, politics, media, and entertainment. Wallace's initial line-up of guests includes Tyler Perry, Shania Twain, James Patterson, and Alex Rodriguez. [HBO Max] NORMAN LEAR: 100 YEARS OF MUSIC AND LAUGHTER: Primetime ABC special celebrating legendary TV producer Norman Lear's 100th birthday, featuring appearances by George Clooney, Jennifer Aniston, Jimmy Kimmel, Amy Poehler, Laverne Cox, Tom Hanks, Jay Pharoah, Rob Reiner, George Wallace, Octavia Spencer, and others. The special aired Thursday night on ABC and hits Hulu on Friday. [Hulu] SPOOKED: SCOTLAND: Paranormal reality series in which American medium Chris Fleming and UK TV personality Gail Porter investigate supposedly haunted locations across Scotland along with an expert team of investigators. [Discovery+] SECTION 8: 2022 action-thriller starring Ryan Kwanten as an ex-soldier, imprisoned for seeking revenge against the men who murdered his family, who earns early release by joining a covert and mysterious government agency. Mickey Rourke, Dermot Mulroney, Scott Adkins, and Dolph Lundgren co-star. [AMC+] MEMORY: 2022 action-thriller from "Casino Royale" and "Goldeneye" director Martin Campbell, based on the novel "De Zaak Alzheimer" by Jef Geeraerts. Liam Neeson stars as a hitman with early-onset dementia who's forced to go on the run after declining a contract. Guy Pearce, Monica Bellucci, and Ray Stevenson co-star. [Amazon] SEPTEMBER MORNINGS (MANHÃS DE SETEMBRO): Drama series from Brazil starring singer Liniker as Cassandra, a transgender woman who leaves her hometown and moves to São Paulo to start a new life, only to re-encounter the estranged son she never knew she had. Season 2 comes to Prime Video in the US on Friday. [Amazon] SAVING GIRAFFES: THE LONG JOURNEY HOME: Nature docuseries from the UK following a group of environmentalists and veterinarians attempting to save a herd of rare giraffes in Kenya's Rift Valley that have been stranded by unprecedented flooding. [Disney+] SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 SHARK TANK: The ABC reality series features entrepreneurs presenting their business and product ideas to a panel of wealthy "sharks," who then decide whether or not to make an investment. Season 14 debuted Friday night on TV and hits Hulu today. The six main sharks are Mark Cuban, Daymond John, Kevin O'Leary, Robert Herjavec, Barbara Corcoran, and Lori Greiner; Season 14 guests include Gwyneth Paltrow, Tony Xu, Emma Grede, Peter Jones, Daniel Lubetzky, and Kendra Scott. [Hulu] DINNER IN AMERICA: Coming-of-age dark comedy film from writer, director, and editor Adam Rehmeier, about the unconventional relationship that forms between a burned-out punk rock singer (Kyle Gallner) and an awkward, obsessed fan (Emily Skeggs). Griffin Gluck, Pat Healy, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Lea Thompson, and Hannah Marks co-star. [Hulu] DYNASTY: The fifth and final season of the CW soap opera series -- a reboot of the 1980s original -- wrapped up its TV run last week. All Season 5 episodes hit Netflix today. Elizabeth Gillies, Daniella Alonso, Elaine Hendrix, Rafael de la Fuente, Grant Show, and Sam Underwood co-star. [Netflix] SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 THE CIRCUS: INSIDE THE GREATEST POLITICAL SHOW ON EARTH: The political docuseries returns for a seventh season on Sunday night, focusing on the upcoming 2022 midterm elections. John Heilemann, Mark McKinnon, and Jennifer Palmieri return as hosts and correspondents. [Showtime]

Fox Entertainment CEO Charlie Collier announced his exit from the company this week. Collier will join Roku Media as its new president in October. More: Collier will oversee advertising and digital content for Roku, and will take a leadership role globally in Roku Media. This means he'll also take control of content decisions for The Roku Channel. Collier's time at Fox came largely after the sale of 21st Century Fox assets to Disney; during his tenure, he launched celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay's Studio Ramsay Global and acquired Bento Box Entertainment and MarVista. DEADLINE

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FX renewed the comedy-drama series "Reservation Dogs" for a third season. The show streams exclusively on Hulu; Season 2 concludes on September 28. More: The third season is expected to debut sometime in 2023. "Reservation Dogs," from co-creators Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi, centers on four Native American teens living on a reservation in Oklahoma. D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Devery Jacobs, Paulina Alexis, and Lane Factor co-star; the supporting cast includes Elva Guerra, Dallas Goldtooth, and Zahn McClarnon. Along with the main ensemble, the show's entire writing and directing staff are Indigenous. VARIETY

Imax -- the exhibition company known for its large theater screens -- acquired the Canadian tech startup SSIMWAVE, which optimizes video quality and user experience across streaming platforms. Imax will pay $18.5 million in cash and $2.5 million in stock as part of the deal, with $4 million in additional payouts if operating goals are met. More: According to Imax CEO Richard Gelfond, the acquisition will ensure consistent levels of quality as the company expands into new platfoms, beyond the giant screen theatrical market. SIMMWAVE's artificially intelligent software recognizes the device or platform on which a viewer is streaming content, then uses proprietary technology -- based on user preference data -- to determine optimal quality settings. The technology can be applied to a range of content and platforms, including gaming and even augmented and virtual reality. HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

Toymaker Funko added "Game of Thrones" designs to its Digital Pop! non-fungible token (NFT) line-up. Virtual collectibles are available for the characters Arya Stark, The Hound, Jon Snow, Jaqen H'ghar, Daenerys Targaryen, and Jamie Lannister. More: The Digital Pop! figures are designed to resemble Funko's real-world vinyl toys. The "Game of Thrones" collection will go on sale on the Droppp.io NFT platform on October 4; standard packs of 5 figures sell for $9.99, while premium packs featuring 15 are selling for $29.99. The first sale is limited to 31,250 of each pack, with a total of 625,000 available NFTs. VARIETY

QUICK HITS 97% of companies are pursuing a multicloud strategy. Here are six steps for a successful cloud migration experience.* Netflix debuted a first image from the upcoming "Bridgerton" prequel series "Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story," starring India Amarteifio as a young version of the show's monarch; the new show focuses on her engagement and marriage to King George (Corey Mylchreest). "Evil" vet Katja Herbers joined the cast of Peacock's "Mrs. Davis," from co-writer and executive producer Damon Lindelof ("Watchmen," "Lost"); the series stars Betty Gilpin as a nun who's clashing with an all-powerful artificial intelligence. "Selena" and "Walking Dead" vet Christian Serratos took a lead role in the HBO Max drama pilot "More"; the series centers around a tight-knit family of Latina Instagram influencers. Hulu released a trailer for "Rosaline," a period romantic comedy inspired by the Shakespearean supporting character, who in this version continues pursuing Romeo even after he's left her for Juliet; Kaitlyn Dever stars. Amazon dropped a trailer for the sci-fi horror series "The Devil's Hour," reuniting former "Doctor Who" showrunner Steven Moffat and star Peter Capaldi; the six-episode series hits Prime Video in the US on October 28. Season 2 of "The White Lotus" -- set at a luxury resort in Sicily -- arrives on October 30. Netflix released a trailer for the fourth season of the animated fantasy series "The Dragon Prince," which jumps ahead two years in time from the end of Season 3; the new episodes debut in November. Actor Jon Hamm reportedly gave back 60% of his salary from the new mystery-comedy film "Confess, Fletch" to finance three extra days of filming; the Miramax film is now playing in theaters and on video-on-demand, and hits Showtime next week. "Game of Thrones" vet Jerome Flynn -- he played the sellsword Bronn on the fantasy drama -- joined the cast of Taylor Sheridan's next "Yellowstone" prequel series, "1923," alongside Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren. Season 2 of HBO's "The Vow" docuseries -- an exploration of the controversial NXIVM organization and its disgraced founder, Keith Raniere -- debuts on October 17; the new episodes feature Raniere's co-founder Nancy Salzman, who didn't appear in Season 1. Amazon Freevee signed a two-year deal to stream sermons from megachurch preacher and author Bishop T.D. Jakes, along with on-demand access to 300 hours of his content. The Danish Producers' Association and the Danish performers' guild, known as Create Denmark, are in the midst of a standoff with a number of US streamers -- including Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+, and Amazon -- over local rights and fee agreements; no new content has been produced by any of these companies in Denmark since January. Author Neil Gaiman explained on Twitter that one potential reason Netflix had not yet renewed the series based on his "Sandman" comics is that fans are "spreading it out, letting episodes sink in before watching the next" rather than binging Season 1 all at once. Netflix chief accounting officer Ken Barker resigned from the streamer after just three months; in a security filing, Netflix noted that Barker was exiting for personal reasons and not as the result of any disagreement with the company. *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.

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