Hastings on "Glass Onion" / Paramount TV layoffs / De Niro joins "Zero Day" / "Harry & Meghan" trailer

Plus today's calendar, Apple's "Raising Wild," Disney's new AI de-aging tool, "Tulsa King" renewed, and more

Inside.com Part of   Network December 01, 2022

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Netflix co-CEO and chairman Reed Hastings conceded that he'd been "wrong" about introducing advertising to the platform during an interview at the New York Times' DealBook Summit this week. Hastings told interviewer Andrew Ross Sorkin that, while he had initially resisted ads in favor of a "simpler business model," he's now in favor of the strategy because "we get to offer consumers lower prices." More: Hastings also discussed Netflix's decision to release the "Knives Out" sequel "Glass Onion" to theaters for an exclusive one-week engagement; the film drew an estimated $15 million at the box office over the Thanksgiving weekend. Hastings explained that the goal was not to "build a theatrical business," but to "break through the noise" and build hype for the film ahead of its December 23 Netflix premiere. Netflix lost 1.7 million subscribers in the first half of 2022, but bounced back in the third quarter with a 2.41 million global net gain. Hastings also received widespread attention on social media for praising Elon Musk and his $44 billion takeover of Twitter, calling him "the bravest, most creative person on the planet." VARIETY

Paramount Global will lay off around 30 employees as part of a restructuring of its development team. The Paramount+ scripted originals team has been entirely folded into Paramount TV Studios, with Paramount+ head Jana Helman named overall head of development for the studio. More: Overall, the CBS Studios and Paramount TV Studios development teams will remain intact. Current PTVS SVP of Television Kim Rozenfeld will exit, along with EVP and Head of Production John Lynch. DEADLINE

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DAILY CALENDAR THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1 GOSSIP GIRL: HBO Max's sequel series, set among members of Manhattan's young and wealthy social elite, returns on Thursday for a second season. Original "Gossip Girl" writer and producer Joshua Safran developed the new series and serves as showrunner; the cast includes Jordan Alexander, Eli Brown, Thomas Doherty, Tavi Gevinson, Emily Alyn Lind, and Grace Duah, and guest star Michelle Trachtenberg. [HBO Max] BRANSON: Four-part docuseries profiling British billionaire and Virgin Group founder Richard Branson from "American Movie" and "Fyre" vet Chris Smith. Branson's interviews for the series were recorded just 16 days before his suborbital flight on board the Virgin Galactic rocket, which made him the first passenger to reach space in his own spacecraft. [HBO Max] SORT OF: Bilal Baig co-created and stars in this Canadian sitcom as Sabi, a non-binary millennial working at an LGBTQ bookstore and cafe, while also dealing with their Pakistani immigrant parents. Season 2 debuted in November on CBC Television in Canada and comes to HBO Max in the US today.  [HBO Max] THE NUTCRACKER: STARRING ELMO & TANGO: Half-hour animated holiday special, based on the classic Tchaikovsky ballet. While hosting a holiday party for all of his friends, Elmo searches for the perfect gift for his beloved puppy, Tango. [HBO Max] A HOLLYWOOD CHRISTMAS: In this meta-holiday rom-com, a successful director of Christmas films (Jessika Van) finds herself in an oddly-familiar situation when a handsome network executive (Josh Swickard) threatens to halt production on her latest project. Missi Pyle, Anissa Borrego, and Riley Dandy co-star. [HBO Max] THE MURDOCHS: EMPIRE OF INFLUENCE: The 7-part investigative docuseries from CNN and The New York Times aired on TV in September and October, and comes to HBO Max on Thursday. The series takes a look at media tycoon Rupert Murdoch's rise to prominence, his outsized influence on global politics, and the ferocious battle over control of his companies by his children. [HBO Max] PARADISE (PARAÍSO): Spanish sci-fi drama series, originally produced for the Movistar+ streaming service, about the mysterious disappearance of three girls from a seaside town in 1992, and the group of classmates who take up the investigation. Season 2 debuts on HBO Max in the US on Thursday. [HBO Max] PGA TOUR: The annual Hero World Challenge golf tournament, hosted by Tiger Woods and benefitting his Tiger Woods Foundation, is part of the PGA Tour schedule but unofficially, and does not award points or money to a player's total. Peacock's coverage begins on Thursday at 1:30 pm ET. [Peacock] HUSH: Debut 8-episode drama series from creator Angela Burt-Murray ("Games People Play") and husband-and-wife showrunner duo Chuck and Bree West ("A Wesley Christmas"). Joyful Drake stars as celebrity relationship fixer Dr. Draya Logan, who invites a group of married women to share a luxury penthouse and collectively explore their secret desires, in hopes of inspiring her next best-seller. Rob Gordon, Caryn Ward Ross, Kevin Savage, Erica Mena, Candiace Dillard Bassett, and TS Madison co-star. [ALLBLK] WICKED CITY: Debut supernatural drama series about a coven of five Black witches who accidentally unleash a powerful dark force while performing a forbidden resurrection spell. Shaquita Smith, Mercedez McDowell, Chantal Maurice, Chanel Mack, and Vanessa Bell Calloway co-star. [ALLBLK] A WOUNDED FAWN: Horror comedy-drama starring Sarah Lind as a museum curator who embarks on a romantic weekend getaway with a charming art broker (Josh Ruben), only to discover that he's secretly a violent serial killer with a number of bizarre fixations. Travis Stevens ("Girl on the Third Floor") co-wrote and directed. [Shudder] TROLL: Fantasy-action film from Norwegian director Roar Uthaug ("Tomb Raider," "The Wave"), in which an ancient mountain troll is awakened by an explosion in the present day, and proceeds to wreak deadly havoc on the surrounding community. Ine Marie Wilmann, Kim Falck, Mads Sjøgård Pettersen, and Gard B. Eidsvold co-star. [Netflix] JOJO'S BIZARRE ADVENTURE: The fifth season of the iconic anime series covers the "Stone Ocean" story arc from the manga, and centers on Jolyne Cujoh (Kira Buckland) escaping an American prison in the year 2011 with help from a magical pendant. The season's final fourteen episodes come to Netflix in the US today. [Netflix] SNIPER: ROGUE MISSION: 2022 direct-to-VOD spinoff of the 1993 action film "Sniper," starring Chad Michael Collins as a CIA rookie and sniper who takes matters into his own hands after discovering a fellow federal agent is involved in a sex trafficking ring. [Netflix] LOVE ISLAND USA: The CBS reality dating competition series -- based on a UK format -- challenges singles to play a series of games while pairing off into couples, with one final duo ultimately taking home a large cash prize. Season 3 aired in 2021 on CBS and hits Netflix today; the first three seasons all come to Hulu as well in the US. The show became a Peacock exclusive for its new fourth season. [Netflix and Hulu] QALA: Hindi-language period musical drama feature from India starring Triptii Dimri as a talented singer in the 1930s struggling to build a career despite her traumatic past and a lack of support from her disapproving mother. Babil Khan, the son of late actor Irrfan Khan, co-stars; Anvita Dutt ("Bulbbul") directed. [Netflix] DEAD END (PEWNEGO RAZU NA KRAJOWEJ JEDYNCE): Debut Polish crime comedy series about a group of strangers who end up sharing a ride in a car owned by a bank robber, who's pursuing them for the stolen money he's accidentally left in the trunk. Juliusz Chrzastowski, Łukasz Garlicki, and Anna Ilczuk co-star. [Netflix] THE MASKED SCAMMER (LE MASQUE): French-language true-crime documentary looking back at the case of an ingenious criminal who manages to steal millions of Euros from members of the social and political elite. [Netflix] I'M GLAD IT'S CHRISTMAS: Musical holiday romance, produced by the Great American Family (GAC) network, starring Jessica Lowndes as an aspiring Broadway singer who agrees to help out with a local theater production. Paul Greene and Gladys Knight co-star. [Hulu] THE GOOD WITCH OF CHRISTMAS: Sequel to the 2021 holiday comedy "Christmas Thieves," combining live-action and animation. Tom Arnold and William Baldwin co-star as former burglars-turned-babysitters who get enlisted by Santa, along with their young charges, to help restore the Christmas Witch's memories and thereby save the holidays. [Hulu] A CHANCE FOR CHRISTMAS: 2021 holiday rom-com, originally produced for the Tubi service, starring Tori Anderson as a social media influencer who gets stuck in a time loop along with the cynical marketing executive (Mykee Selkin) overseeing her latest project. [Hulu] ROLLING INTO CHRISTMAS: Holiday romance about two childhood sweethearts -- who originally bonded over a shared love of roller skating -- picking up where they left off after 15 years apart. Rhyon Nicole Brown and Donny Carrington co-star. [BET+] INSIDE THE BLACK BOX: The interview and discussion series features artists of color from a range of disciplines reflecting on their careers and the impact that race has had on their work and professional success. Joe Morton and Tracey Moore co-host. It's back on Crackle for a second season. [Crackle] BOSÉ: Six-episode Spanish-language musical drama series, based on the life of singer-songwriter Miguel Bosé, with each episode relating the personal story behind a different classic song. José Pastor and Iván Sánchez co-star as Bosé at different periods of his life; the cast also includes Nacho Fresneda, Valeria Solarino, Alicia Borrachero, and Ana Jara. [Paramount+]

Robert De Niro will produce and star in the limited political thriller series "Zero Day" for Netflix. This marks the actor's first series regular role for television. More: The series was conceived and co-written by "Narcos" and "The Watcher" vet Eric Newman, who has an overall deal with Netflix; journalist Noah Oppenheim also contributed to the scripts. Though no specifics about the storyline were released, Deadline reports that De Niro will play a former US President in the series. De Niro has appeared in a number of films for television, and was recently Emmy nominated for portraying Bernie Madoff in the HBO original film "Wizard of Lies." DEADLINE

Netflix released a trailer for the six-episode reality series "Harry & Meghan," offering the public a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the personal lives of the royal couple. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle produced the show themselves through their company, Archewell. More: The series chronicles the couple's story, beginning with their early courtship and following their decision to step back from their full-time roles as The Duke and Duchess of Sussex. The series comes from "Lost Girls" and "I'll Be Gone in the Dark" vet Liz Garbus, who directed and executive produced. No release date has yet been announced. EW

Erivo and Zellweger Cynthia Erivo will star in the upcoming Apple TV+ thriller series "Raising Wild." The show comes from the MGM studio and executive producer Renée Zellweger. More: Newcomer Amber Alexander created, and is currently working on scripts along with "American Gods" vet Damian Kindler; both are onboard as executive producers. Erivo plays a neuropsychologist who's wanted for fraud, kidnapping, and murder; the series apparently leaves some questions about whether the charges are accurate or the result of a dark conspiracy. Erivo previously appeared in an episode of the Apple TV+ anthology drama series "Roar"; she'll also play Elphaba in the upcoming "Wicked" prequel from Universal. DEADLINE

Disney introduced a new digital aging and de-aging tool that can radically alter an actor's appearance without the need for animators or expensive visual effects work. The AI tools were developed by Disney Research Studios. More: Two years ago, the same Disney team released AI-powered tools that can generate professional-looking face-swap videos. Though a number of aging and de-aging tools are available for still images, moving pictures have proven significantly more challenging for developers. According to a paper from Disney Research Studios, the team first created a database of thousands of randomly generated synthetic faces, then used existing machine learning tools to age and de-age these faces thousands of times, to create a new neural network. GIZMODO

QUICK HITS Great ideas are recession-proof. See how innovators in every industry are turning their ideas into code faster and cheaper with Crowdbotics.* Paramount+ renewed mega-producer Taylor Sheridan's crime comedy-drama series "Tulsa King" for a second season; Sylvester Stallone stars as a New York Mafia capo who relocates to Tulsa, Oklahoma, to form a new crew. YouTube's top trending video of 2022 was a posthumous message from beloved creator Technoblade, while MrBeast's channel saw the largest subscriber jump, with 27 million new followers. The third season of Amazon Prime Video's "Jack Ryan" series -- featuring John Krasinski as author Tom Clancy's iconic CIA analyst character -- debuts on December 21. HBO released a full set of character posters from the upcoming series adaptation of "The Last of Us" video games, debuting on January 15. Actor Val Kilmer was apparently set to reprise his classic role as Madmartigan in the Disney+ "Willow" sequel series, but had to step back due to his ongoing health issues amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The Wall Street Journal reports that Netflix will expand its group of "preview viewers," who get access to original content prior to its international streaming debut and provide feedback to the company; the pool is expected to jump from around 2,000 subscribers to tens of thousands. Netflix dropped the first trailer for Season 4 of the dating competition series "Too Hot to Handle," arriving on December 7. According to "Andor" actor Denise Gough, a season finale scene in which Maarva Andor delivers her own eulogy via hologram originally included an F-bomb, but the phrasing was changed to "Fight the Empire!" at Disney's request. A new Netflix nature documentary from "Last Days in Vietnam" helmer Rory Kennedy and producers Leonardo DiCaprio and Ron Howard looks back at the devastating 2019 Whakaari volcanic eruption, off the coast of New Zealand. During a discussion about his new studio Artists Equity at the New York Times' DealBook Summit, actor Ben Affleck expressed skepticism about Netflix's content strategy, asking "How are we going to make 50 great movies? How is that possible?... You just can't do it." Actor Joseph Mawle, who played the Orc leader Adar on Amazon's "The Rings of Power," will exit the series ahead of its second season; "Peaky Blinders" vet Sam Hazeldine will take over the role of Adar for Season 2. Disney+ entered development on the animated workplace comedy series "Intercats," about a team of felines that produces viral internet cat videos. Disney+'s Australian period drama series "Artful Dodger," based on the Charles Dickens character, added a number of actors to its cast, including "Queen's Gambit" vet Thomas Brodie-Sangster and David Thewlis. HBO Max grabbed the US streaming rights for past seasons of the CBS comedy series "Bob Hearts Abishola" and "Call Me Kat."  Learn how consumers act, think, and what they expect in this special report covering purchasing habits, social media, and more. Get the free report.* *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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