Disney at upfronts / "Full Metal Jacket" Prime Video poster / Riz Ahmed Amazon series / Animation+ launch

Plus today's calendar, "Inside Out" spinoff series, "Simone Biles Rising" trailer, RIP Donald Sutherland, "Night Manager" stars return, and more

Inside Streaming For June 20, 2024

Hello readers and thanks for opening today's issue. We are making some technical and organizational changes behind the scenes at Inside. Some of the newsletters have been paused entirely, but I requested that we keep Streaming going during construction. I just hate to leave you all in the lurch. However, the process has not been entirely smooth. For many of you, Inside Streaming deliveries this week have been sporadic or unreliable, and you may have even missed an issue along the way. (This was a particular problem yesterday, so I have included both the Wednesday and Thursday streaming calendar, in case you missed it.) We sincerely apologize for the mix-ups. I'm hopeful that today, we have things back on track, and newsletters will once again arrive in a steady and timely fashion. Thanks for reading! Lon p/lon-harris

1 According to Variety, Disney is grabbing a disproportionate share of ad dollars during this year's relatively lean upfront market, putting pressure on and even angering some rivals. Variety reports that Disney has been offering discounts in order to sell out its available ad stock, cutting the rates it charges to reach 1,000 viewers (known as a CPM). More: Variety reports that Disney has been selling some ad space at a 10%-15% discount. This is in turn forcing other companies to offer competitive rates, driving prices down across the digital media industry. The addition of advertising to Amazon Prime Video has also created a vast amount of new inventory for media buyers, which has also served to drive down prices.

2 Amazon said it will replace altered promotional artwork for the Stanley Kubrick film "Full Metal Jacket" on Prime Video. A version of the movie's poster featured on its Prime Video detail page removed the words "Born to Kill" from Private Joker's helmet, sparking controversy. More: In the film, Private Joker (played by Matthew Modine) notes that he wears the phrase along with a peace symbol on his helmet, as a commentary about "the duality of man." According to Deadline, Warner Bros. -- the studio that released and distributes "Full Metal Jacket" -- had formally requested that Amazon use original artwork and marketing materials for the film. The altered artwork was only featured on the film's "Detail Page" on Prime Video; the thumbnail still used the original poster.

3 DAILY CALENDAR WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19 BLACK BARBIE: Documentary from filmmaker Lagueria Davis, tracing the history of the Black Barbie doll, first released by Mattel in 1980, and profiling the three women who made the concept a reality. (One of them, Beulah Mae Mitchell, is the filmmaker's aunt.) Shonda Rhimes and her frequent collaborator Betsy Beers executive produced. [Netflix] DEXTER: The full run of Showtime's crime drama "Dexter" -- starring Michael C. Hall as a forensic analyst for the Miami PD who moonlights as a vigilante serial killer -- comes to Netflix today for the first time. The series is based on novels by Jeff Lindsay, and co-stars Jennifer Carpenter, David Zayas, and James Remar. [Netflix] KLEKS ACADEMY (AKADEMIA PANA KLEKSA): Fantasy adventure from Poland for the whole family, starring Antonina Litwiniak as a teenage girl who attends a magical school in an alternate fairy tale reality and learns more about her family's history and darkest secrets. [Netflix] LOVE IS BLIND: BRAZIL: The reality dating series -- a spinoff of the US "Love is Blind" -- features couples getting to know one another, and occasionally even getting engaged, before meeting face-to-face. Season 4, subtitled "A New Chance," includes participants who are divorced, separated, or had a failed engagement. Camila Queiroz and Klebber Toledo co-host. [Netflix] INHERITANCE (SPADEK): 2024 comedy-drama feature from Poland, starring Jan Peszek as an eccentric inventor and game show host who dies and forces his potential beneficiaries to compete in a string of puzzles and challenges for a shot at his fortune. Maciej Stuhr, Joanna Trzepiecinska and Mateusz Król co-star; Sylwester Jakimow directs. [Netflix] CESAR MILLAN: BETTER HUMAN, BETTER DOG: The Nat Geo Wild reality series finds pet expert Millan traveling across America to help frustrated caretakers develop better relationships with their animal friends. Season 4 premiered earlier this year on cable and his Diseny's streamers today. [Hulu and Disney+] WICKED TUNA: The Nat Geo reality series features commercial tuna fishermen based in Gloucester, Massachusetts, and follows along as they compete to see who can bring in the most profitable hauls. Season 13 comes to Hulu and Disney+ today. [Hulu and Disney+] TO CATCH A SMUGGLER: The National Geographic reality series follows along as Homeland Security officials attempt to halt the flow of contraband through America's border crossings, airports, and other points of entry. 8 fresh Season 7 episodes hit Hulu and Disney+ today. [Hulu and Disney+] MEET SPIDEY AND HIS AMAZING FRIENDS: Collection of animated shorts for young kids, produced for Disney Channel, featuring characters from "Spidey and His Amazing Friends." 5 new episodes come to Disney+ today. [Disney+] NICK CANNON PRESENTS: FUTURE SUPERSTARS: The VH1 reality series features Cannon mentoring young recording artists whose careers are on the verge of taking off, including Connor Finnerty, AJ Boogie, YM Collier, Cameron J. Wright, and Rahja Fuller. Season 1 aired last year on cable and hits Paramount+ today. [Paramount+] THE CHALLENGE: The MTV reality competition series features veterans of other reality shows facing off in strenuous physical activities for a shot at a $500,000 prize. TJ Lavin hosts. Season 39 aired last year on cable and comes to streaming today. [Paramount+] CRIMES GONE VIRAL: The Investigation Discovery clip series features footage of shocking incidents that went viral on social media. It's back for a fifth season. [Max] THURSDAY, JUNE 20 FEDERER: TWELVE FINAL DAYS: 2024 documentary feature chronicling the final 12 days in Roger Federer's professional tennis career, culminating in the 2022 Laver Cup. It debuted last week at the Tribeca Film Festival. Asif Kapadia ("Amy") and Joe Sabia ("73 Questions") directed. [Prime Video] AMERICA'S SWEETHEARTS: DALLAS COWBOYS CHEERLEADERS: Seven-episode docuseries from "Cheer" and "Last Chance U" vet Greg Whiteley, taking a behind-the-scenes look at the lives of Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders from auditions and training camp through the NFL season. [Netflix] THE ACCIDENTAL TWINS: Spanish-language documentary about a remarkable case from Colombia, in which two sets of identical twins were switched at birth. Alessandro Angulo ("Tonada al Viento") directs. [Netflix] SLAVE PLAY. NOT A MOVIE. A PLAY. Documentary feature from HBO and Jeremy O. Harris, featuring footage of him workshopping his controversial Broadway hit "Slave Play" with actors at New York's William Esper Studio, and discussing some of the same issues that would later stir debate about the production itself. [Max] PERFECT WIFE: THE MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE OF SHERRI PAPINI: True-crime docuseries about the infamous 2016 kidnapping hoax, in which a married California woman claimed to have been abducted for several weeks, while actually staying at the home of an ex-boyfriend. Michael Beach Nichols ("Op Docs") and Erin Lee Carr ("Stormy") direct episodes and executive produced. [Hulu] STEELTOWN MURDERS: Four-part scripted true-crime drama series from the UK, originally produced for BBC One. Philip Glenister and Steffan Rhodri co-star as present-day detectives in Wales using modern technology to re-open an unsolved serial killer case from the 1970s. [Sundance Now / AMC+] MEGAMIND RULES! The DreamWorks animated series follows up the original "Megamind" film along with this year's movie reboot "Megamind vs. The Doom Syndicate," and features the former supervillain learning how to become a hero. It's back with some fresh Season 1 episodes. [Peacock]

4 Amazon ordered a new Prime Video comedy series from creator, writer, and star Riz Ahmed. He'll play Shah Latif, a struggling actor who finds himself thrust into a "trippy conspriacy" just as his career is finally about to take off. More: Ahmed will serve as showrunner on the series alongside "Modern Family" vet Ben Karlin. The actor has an overall first-look deal with Amazon through his company, Left Handed. Ahmed won an Emmy for his role in the HBO series "The Night Of," and an Oscar in 2022 for his live-action short film "The Long Goodbye"; he was Oscar-nominated in 2021 for the indie drama "The Sound of Metal."

5 The free ad-supported streaming channel Animation+, focused on animated comedy for adults, launched in the US and Canada this week. For now, the service is exclusively available via the Samsung TV Plus platform. More: Most of the content is licensed from YouTube creators, including Explosm Studios ("Cyanide and Happiness"), Jarrad Wright ("The Big Lez Official"), David Firth ("Salad Fingers"), Drue and Myles Langlois ("Dudes of Hazmat"), and Ross Bollinger ("Pencilmation"). Owners Streaming Ink Media is run by digital media veterans Evan Weiss and John Fitzpatrick; Weiss was the manager of early YouTube senastion Lucas "Fred Figglehorn" Cruikshank. Comedy Central vet Doug Herzog is on board as an advisor. The company also plans to develop it own original content, including half-hour series and features; the plan is to eventually launch a premium subscription service to compliment the free channel.

6 In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Pixar's chief creative officer Pete Docter discussed an "Inside Out" spinoff series coming to Disney+ next year. The studio's feature sequel, "Inside Out 2," made $154.2 million at the domestic box office in its first weekend this summer, the second-best opening ever for any American animated film. More: "Inside Out 2" has made $295 million worldwide to date. The films are set inside the mind of now-teenager Riley, among characters who reflect her various emotional states (such as Joy, Sadness, and Disgust). Docter suggests the show -- which focuses on dreams and how they are developed and manufactured within Riley's mind -- will likely premiere in the spring.

7 Netflix released a trailer for the four-part documentary profile "Simone Biles Rising." The series follows the Olympic gymnast as she trains and prepares for her professional comeback at the 2024 Summer Games in Paris. More: Biles withdrew from some events at the 2020 Games in Tokyo, due to issues with her mental health. The series chronicles her preparations to return to the US Gymnastics Team, along with her 2023 marriage to NFL safety Jonathan Owens. The series hits Netflix on July 17, just nine days before the Paris Olympics opening ceremonies.

8 QUICK HITS Iconic Hollywood actor Donald Sutherland -- whose extensive filmography features classics like "M*A*S*H," "Ordinary People," "Invasion of the Body Snatchers," "Animal House," and "The Hunger Games" -- died on Thursday at age 88, following a long illness. A number of original "Night Manager" co-stars will reprise their roles for the show's upcoming second season, including Olivia Colman, Alistair Petrie, Douglas Hodge, Michael Nardone, and Noah Jupe; the new episodes will air on BBC One in the UK and on Amazon Prime Video globally. Max dropped another teaser for the DC Comics adaptation "The Penguin," spun off from Matt Reeves' 2022 film "The Batman" and starring Colin Farrell as the iconic Gotham City crime lord; the series arrives in September. IGN got a sneak peek at John Woo's upcoming remake of his own 1989 action classic "The Killer," hitting Peacock on August 23; Nathalie Emmanuel stars in the new take as an infamous Parisian assassin who puts her own life in jeopardy after refusing an assignment. 79-year-old "Saturday Night Live" creator and showrunner Lorne Michaels addressed rumors of his retirement with The New York Times, saying "I'm going to do it as long as I feel I can do it, but I rely on other people and always have." Apple dropped a trailer for the comedy-drama series "Land of Women," starring Eva Longoria (who also produced) as an affluent New Yorker who flees to Spain with her daughter from "dangerous criminals"; the series arrives on June 26. The latest project from "French Exit" filmmaker Azazel Jacobs -- the family drama feature "His Three Daughters" -- his Netflix on September 20, after a limited run in theaters; Carrie Coon, Natasha Lyonne, and Elizabeth Olsen co-star as estranged sisters who reunite to care for their dying father. "Train to Busan" and "Parasyte: The Grey" vet Yeon Sang-ho will adapt his own internet comic, "Revelations," into a feature for Netflix; Oscar-winning filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón will executive produce. The dark sci-fi comedy series "Resident Alien" will jump from Syfy to USA Network for its fourth season; the show, starring Alan Tudyk as an extraterrestrial hiding out amongst the residents of a small Colorado town, will remain available to stream on Peacock and Netflix.

Lon Harris Writer 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." This newsletter was edited by Lon Harris

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