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| Hello again and thanks for opening today's Inside Streaming news brief. When news that "A Simple Plan 2" was happening, and that it would debut as a Prime Video exclusive, hit social media yesterday, I saw a lot of surprised reactions. After all, the first film was modestly budgeted and then went on to success at the global box office. Why wouldn't you also open the follow-up theatrically? But it's worth remembering that Amazon and Netflix have a keen, specific interest in seeing movie theaters fail. While most of their major media and entertainment rivals -- NBCUniversal, Disney, Paramount, etc. -- desperately need the revenue from movie theaters to remain afloat, Netflix and Amazon only stand to benefit if/when theaters go out of business. Fewer movie theaters mean more people renting movies on Amazon, or staying home to watch Netflix. Plus the high-profile A-list actors and filmmakers who would otherwise be pursuing big-ticket theatrical projects are now forced to take on smaller deals to produce streaming originals instead. Win-win. Lon
p/lon-harris | |
| 1 | | S&P Global downgraded Paramount's debt rating to "junk." The credit-rating agency cited the company's cash flow challenges relative to its significant debt, and predicted Paramount's flow-to-debt ratio will remain below 10% through the end of 2025. More: - S&P's ratings adjustment argues that the chronic issues facing linear television, along with neccessary continued investments in streaming content and technology, will continue to plague Paramount moving forward.
- Paramount declined to comment on the adjustment.
- According to Wells Fargo analyst Steven Cahill, the downgrade will likely make Paramount Global an even more favorable target for acquisition.
- Last week, private equity firm Apollo Global Management offered $11 billion to acquire Paramount's film and TV studios, but not its network and cable TV businesses.
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| 2 | | Netflix released a trailer for the Jerry Seinfeld comedy feature "Unfrosted: The Pop-Tart Story." Seinfeld co-wrote the script, directed and stars in the film, which is loosely based on the real origin story of the popular Kellogg's toaster pastries. More: - Starring alongside Seinfeld are Melissa McCarthy, Jim Gaffigan, and Amy Schumer.
- The film also features brief appearances by a number of celebrities, including Bill Burr, Dan Levy, Christian Slater, James Marsden, and Hugh Grant, who portrays Tony the Tiger voice actor Thurl Ravenscroft.
- This is the second feature that Seinfeld has starred in and co-written, after 2007's animated "Bee Movie"; he also produced and appeared in the 2002 documentary "Comedian."
- "Unfrosted" hits Netflix on May 3.
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| 3 | | DAILY CALENDAR THURSDAY, MARCH 28 WE WERE THE LUCKY ONES: Limited historical drama series, based on the novel by Georgia Hunter, which itself was inspired by a true story. Following WWII, the survivors of a large Polish Jewish family search for one another and attempt to reunite. The cast includes Joey King, Logan Lerman, Henry Lloyd-Hughes, Amit Rahav, Hadas Yaron, Lior Ashkenazi, and Robin Weigert. "The Morning Show" vet Erica Lipez created the series. [Hulu] SPY X FAMILY: The anime series from Wit Studio follows a master spy who creates a fake family -- including a telepathic daughter, an assassin wife, and a psychic dog -- as the ultimate cover. Season 2 premiered last year on TV; the dubbed version hits Hulu today. [Hulu] SECRETS OF PENTHOUSE: Four-part 2023 docuseries from A&E charting the life story of publisher Bob Guccione, who became one of the wealthiest Americans after challenging Playboy's empire with his own adult magazine, Penthouse. [Hulu] BEYOND THE HEADLINES: THE SERIES: True crime docuseries, produced for the Lifetime network, about devastating crimes that occurred within families. Ana Garcia hosts. Season 1 aired last year on cable and hits Hulu today. [Hulu] TO KILL A STEPFATHER: 2023 mystery-drama feature, produced for the Lifetime network, starring Alex Camacho as a young woman whose mother is arrested for her stepfather's murder, prompting her to investigate the crime herself. [Hulu] AMERICAN RUST: BROKEN JUSTICE: The crime drama series "American Rust" -- based on the novel by Philipp Meyer -- returns for a second season with a new subtitle. Jeff Daniels stars as a police chief in a rural Pennsylvania town who faces tough choices when his girlfriend (Maura Tierney) is accused of murder. The series originally debuted on Showtime; both seasons are now streaming on Prime Video. [Prime Video] THE BAXTERS: Debut family drama series, based on author Karen Kingsbury's "Redemption" novels, starring Roma Downey and Ted McGinley as Elizabeth and John Baxter. The show follows the Baxters and their adult children as their faith helps guide them through lifes highs and lows. Ali Cobrin, Josh Plasse, Masey McLain, Jake Allyn, and Cassidy Gifford co-star. [Prime Video] HOPE ON THE STREET: Six episode Korean docuseries profiling BTS member J-Hope, with a focus on his roots in street dancing. The series includes segments in which J-Hope and his former instructor, Boogaloo Kin, meet up with other dancers and perform on the streets of Osaka, Seoul, Paris, New York, and Gwangju. [Prime Video] BAD DINOSAURS: Debut animated series for young kids following the upds and downs of a Tyrannosaurus family living in a zany prehistoric wilderness. [Netflix] RONJA THE ROBBER'S DAUGHTER (RONJA RÖVARDOTTER): Debut Swedish fantasy adventure series for the whole family, based on the classic children's book by Astrid Lindgren. It's about a young girl (Kerstin Linden) growing up in a Medieval Scandinavian fortress that's surrounded by a mysterious, enchanted forest. [Netflix] THE TRAITORS AUSTRALIA: The Australian "Traitors" spinoff returned for a second season last year, which hits Peacock in the US today. Contestants stay in a luxury hotel and work together to identify the traitors in their midst, in order to secure a grand prize for themselves. Rodger Corser hosts. [Peacock] | | | |
| 4 | | Amazon MGM Studios greenlit a sequel to the 2018 mystery-comedy "A Simple Plan." Director Paul Feig, screenwriter Jessica Sharzer, and stars Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively will all return for "A Simple Plan 2," which will premiere exclusively on Prime Video. More: - In the new film, Stephanie (Kendrick) and Emily (Lively) head to the Italian island of Capri for a wedding, only to stumble into a fresh murder mystery.
- The film is a co-production between Amazon MGM and original studio Lionsgate.
- In addition to the two leads, Henry Golding, Andrew Rannells, Bashir Salahuddin, Joshua Satine, Ian Ho, and Kelly McCormack are also expected to return for the follow-up.
- The original "A SImple Plan" earned $97 million at the global box office.
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| 5 | | Netflix acquired the sci-fi action film "War Machine" from the Lionsgate studio. The film comes from "The Hitman's Bodyguard" vet Patrick Hughes, who co-wrote the script with James Beaufort and plans to direct. More: - "Reacher" breakout Alan Ritchson stars as a member of a team of Army Ranger recruits who encounter a real-world threat during their training and selection process.
- Ritchson has a full schedule; he's currently shooting the action-comedy feature "Playdate," will soon move on to Season 3 of Amazon's "Reacher," and also has major roles in the 11th "Fast and Furious" film and Guy Ritchie's WWII adventure "The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare."
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| 6 | | HBO's follow-up to the classic true-crime docuseries "The Jinx" debuts on April 21. Both "Jinx" series revolve around the late Robert Durst, a wealthy real estate heir who was found guilty of killing his friend Susan Berman, and was a suspect in two other murders. More: - Durst was arrested for Berman's 2000 murder following the release of the original "Jinx" series; he was ultimately convicted of the crime in 2020.
- Durst was also suspected in the 1982 disappearance of his wife Kathleen McCormack Durst and the 2001 slaying of his neighbor, Morris Black.
- Both "Jinx" series come from filmmaker Andrew Jarecki, who also made the scripted 2010 drama feature "All Good Things," starring Ryan Gosling as Durst and Kirsten Dunst as Kathleen McCormack.
- The new six-episode series is based on prison calls with Durst following his conviction, as well as new interviews with key witnesses and recently-uncovered documents.
- Durst died in prison in 2022 at age 78.
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| 7 | | "Sex and the City" and "Emily in Paris" mastermind Darren Star signed a multi-year deal to develop shows for Universal Television. Star's previous home was at Paramount; he'll continue to work on Paramount and Netflix's "Emily in Paris," which is currently shooting is fourth season. More: - This is one of the first major talent deals for NBCUniversal since its internal restructuring last year, which put Donna Langley atop the company's film and TV divisions.
- According to Deadline, Langley and Unviersal Studio Group chairman Pearlena Igbokwe plan to focus on expanding their roster of talent through big deals with notable creators.
- Star will produce and develop new shows for Universal's networks and streamers, along with outside buyers.
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| 8 | | Amazon's livestreaming platform Twitch once again updated its policy regarding nudity on streams. Starting on March 29, creators are banned from streaming content "that focuses on intimate body parts for a prolonged period of time." More: - According to an X post from Twitch Support, the update was made in response to "emerging behaviors" on the platform.
- Specifically, Gizmodo suggests it's a reaction to the trend known as "butt streaming," in which creators project video games or other images on to their breasts or buttocks to get around anti-nudity rules.
- This is the fourth Twitch policy change regarding nudity since December; this week, Twitch CEO Dan Clancy suggested that the company is open to the possibility of "artistic nudity" returning to the platform.
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- "Mayor of Kingstown" returns to Paramount+ for a third season on June 2 in the US and Canada; this is star Jeremy Renner's first screen performance since his near-fatal snowplow accident in early 2023.
- A new study from Self Financial found that Apple TV+'s content is the highest-rated on IMDb of any major subscription streaming service.
- Sarah Hyland will exit Peacock's reality competition series "Love Island USA" after two seasons as host, due to a scheduling conflict.
- Netflix grabbed the family drama series "Birthright" from "Black Cake" vet Marissa Jo Cerar following a bidding war with other networks and streamers; the series centers on a journalist who inherits one of America's largest and most profitable liquor companies.
- HBO released another trailer for the 7-episode limited series "The Sympathizer" from filmmaker Park Chan-wook; the series, based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Viet Thanh Nguyen, arrives on April 14.
- Late night host and podcaster Bill Maher announced Club Random Studios, a new podcast network that will feature his shows along with content from Sage Steele, Kevin Garnett, Billy Corgan, Fred Durst, and others.
- Netflix dropped a teaser for "Crazy Good," the latest stand-up special from comedian and "Chappelle's Show" co-creator Neil Brennan.
- Season 2 of the horror anthology series "Them," subtitled "The Scare," hits Amazon Prime Video on April 25.
- During an appearance on the "They Like to Watch" podcast, "Doctor Who" showrunner Russell T. Davis said the sci-fi franchise needed to move over to Disney+, as the BBC is "undoubtedly on its way out in some shape or form."
- Keith Urban will serve as "mega mentor" for "The Voice" Season 25, currently airing on NBC.
- Four actors joined the cast of Prime Video's "Harlem" ahead of its third season, including Kofi Siriboe, Logan Browning, Robin Givens, and Gail Bean.
- All six original cast members will return for Bravo's "Real Housewives of New York City" reboot, including relatively recent addition Jenna Lyons.
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 | 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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