PREVIEW: Kim Masters speaks to writer Tony McNamara, who adapted a 1992 Alasdair Gray novel into the Oscar nominated Yorgos Lanthimos film, Poor Things. Tune in to The Business on March 8th to hear the full interview with McNamara, where he shares how his toddler inspired him to write Emma Stone’s favorite line in the Academy Award nominated screenplay.  

Kim Masters and Matt Belloni examine FuboTV’s $1 billion lawsuit seeking to halt the development of the recently announced Fox, Disney, and Warner Brothers Discovery sports streaming service. They also take a look at Sony’s struggles with live action Marvel films. Plus, Masters speaks to filmmaker and war correspondent Mstyslav Chernov about his documentary, 20 Days in Mariupol. The BAFTA-winning director shares how an Associated Press assignment in war-torn Ukraine turned into a devastating Oscar contender for best documentary. He also talks about the importance of keeping the world’s eyes on the war in Ukraine.

Kim Masters and Matt Belloni examine the latest updates in the Disney proxy vote saga. Also, has peak TV officially ended? The banter partners break down FX chairman John Landgraf’s recent remarks on the current state of television.   Plus, Masters speaks to Oppenheimer writer and director Christopher Nolan and American Prometheus co-author Kai Bird about adapting the film’s Pulitzer Prize winning source material. Bird talks about the 25 years it took to complete the sprawling biography with co-author Martin Sherwin, and Nolan shares how he approached adapting their 700-page book into a summer blockbuster hit.

Kim Masters and Matt Belloni take a look at the big surprises revealed during Disney’s Q1 earnings call. They also dive into the announcement of ESPN, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Fox’s joint sports streaming service set to debut this year. Plus, Masters speaks to writer-director Ed Zwick about his new memoir, Hits, Flops and Other Illusions: My Fortysomething Years in Hollywood. The filmmaker shares lessons learned from his decades-spanning career in the industry, and he reads excerpts from the book, including stories from the making of the 1989 film Glory and how he nearly directed an early iteration of Shakespeare in Love, which he would later end up producing and winning an Oscar for Best Picture.

Kim Masters and Matt Belloni examine media mogul Byron Allen’s offer to acquire Paramount Global. They also take a closer look at the Netflix-WWE deal in the wake of WWE founder Vince McMahon’s resignation following allegations of battery and sex trafficking. Plus, Masters is joined by The Hollywood Reporter’s Executive Awards Editor Scott Feinberg to discuss the frontrunners, surprises, and snubs of the 2024 Academy Awards.

Kim Masters and Matt Belloni examine the latest happenings at Netflix and Jon Stewart’s surprise return to The Daily Show.  Plus, Masters speaks with Matthew Heineman about directing American Symphony. The filmmaker describes the process of documenting musician Jon Batiste and his wife Suleika Jaouad through her battle with leukemia. Heineman also shares how he snuck into the Grammys to film Batiste’s big night, and how he whittled down 1,500 hours of footage into the film that ended up being acquired by Netflix and the Obamas’ production company, Higher Ground.

Kim Masters and Matt Belloni look into the Tom Cruise-Warner Bros. deal and what that means for his projects at Paramount.  Plus, Masters speaks to Jon Batiste about being the subject of American Symphony. The musician explains how the documentary was originally conceived to follow his composition and performance of a symphony, but following his wife’s recurrence of leukemia, the project evolved into an intimate portrait of the couple coping with a life-threatening illness. Batiste shares how director Matthew Heineman spent eight months with the couple, resulting in over 1500 hours of footage, a premiere at Telluride, and distribution by Netflix.

Kim Masters and Matt Belloni take stock of layoffs at Amazon as a result of consolidation and reorganizing across its studios. Eric Deggans speaks to Fargo creator Noah Hawley about the fifth season of his anthology series. The writer and director talks about the challenges of writing 51 hours of television based on the Coen Brothers film of the same name. He also teases his upcoming FX series based on Ridley Scott's Alien franchise.

Eric Deggans speaks to Gary Oldman about starring in Apple TV+’s spy thriller series, Slow Horses. He also talks about the joys of briefly reuniting with Christopher Nolan in Oppenheimer, how he worked around being typecast in over-the-top roles, and why he’s considering stepping away from acting after Slow Horses wraps.  Plus, the Disney proxy fight continues, with CEO Bob Iger gearing up to stave off advances from activist shareholder Nelson Peltz, former Marvel chairman and CEO Ike Perlmutter, and former Disney exec Jay Rasulo. 

What will 2024 hold for Paramount, Warner Bros. Discovery, Disney, Netflix, and mega-agencies CAA and Endeavor?

Hollywood’s messy year: Strikes disrupted show biz, the box office surprised, studios and execs struggled, and streamers started licensing. Kim Masters, Matt Belloni, and Lucas Shaw look into the main Hollywood events of 2023.

Netflix released its first report revealing viewership patterns. Why does it matter? What does the data reveal — and what happens next? Then, Past Lives writer-director Celine Song and producer Christine Vachon discuss Song’s foray into filmmaking, their partnership, and the journey of the awards circuit.

SAG-AFTRA members ratify a three-year contract with studios. Plus, actors promote work post-strike, studios license content, and streamers bundle services. Then, Kim Masters revisits a 2014 conversation with legendary television producer Norman Lear, who died Dec. 5 at the age of 101. The force behind TV shows like All in the Family, Maude, Good Times and Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, among many others, Lear discusses his memoir Even This I Get to Experience, and shares stories about how he got his first job in television and the line that almost caused CBS to pull the plug on All in the Family.

Disney CEO Bob Iger talks about the company’s many struggles, including his succession, selling ABC, and Marvel troubles during the New York Times’ DealBook Summit. Then, we’re taking it to Broadway: Contributor Jeff Lunden speaks to Tony-winning producers Stewart F. Lane and Bonnie Comley about their streaming platform, BroadwayHD. Lunden also talks with Waitress star Sara Bareilles and producer Jessie Nelson about the live capture and theatrical distribution of their hit musical show.

Kim Masters and Matt Belloni discuss what’s shaping up to be a lean holiday box office and what success for movies looks like — and how it’s perceived — when it comes to theatrical versus streaming releases. Then, filmmaker and SAG-AFTRA generative AI advisor Justine Bateman joins to share her concerns over the union's new contract, while Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland explains why it’s the best deal possible.

WBD is looking for a buyer for its Coyote vs. Acme film. Can it find one? Plus, an AI-generated Édith Piaf biopic is in the works at Warner Music. Filmmaker Kristoffer Borgli talks with Kim Masters about his Nicolas Cage-led film, “Dream Scenario,” directing commercials, and how the Norwegian Film Institute unknowingly funded his projects conceived in LA.

SAG-AFTRA reaches a tentative deal with studios after 118 days on strike. Was the deal a win? What is in it? Plus, WBD and Disney earnings news. Legendary sitcom director James Burrows talks with Eric Deggans, NPR TV critic and guest-host on The Business, about the revival of Frasier, his directing career, and whether sitcoms can endure on streaming services.

First, HBO CEO Casey Bloys asked staffers to create fake Twitter accounts to fight critics of the network. What’s all the attention about? Plus, Disney is finally buying Hulu. Actress-comedian Leslie Jones discusses her tell-all memoir, overcoming personal and career obstacles, and her relationship with ‘SNL’ creator, Lorne Michaels.

The actors’ strike forges on as Hollywood reckons with the impact of the Hamas-Israel conflict and streamers raise prices — again. NPR TV Critic Eric Deggans talks with comic-book-author-turned-showrunner Robert Kirkman about the new animated adaptation of his print series Invincible, modernizing the superhero genre, and why he’s not worried about comic book adaptation fatigue.

The CEO of Endeavor, Ari Emanuel, attacked rival Bryan Lourd, head of the talent agency CAA, at Bloomberg’s Screentime conference. What’s behind the feud?  Documentarian Ken Burns talks about his latest project, The American Buffalo,  his career, financing projects, and controversies, including a recently surfaced photo of him posing along Clarence Thomas and David Koch.

Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour concert film is out in theaters. Was this a good deal for Swift and AMC? And will this become a trend with other artists? This week on The Business, Kim Masters revisits an interview with Sterlin Harjo, co-creator of the hit comedy series Reservation Dogs on FX.

As the actors’ strike continues, Netflix announces a price hike. What does this mean for subscribers and the streamer?  Then, Oscar-winning costume designer Ruth E. Carter talks about her new book, collaborating with Spike Lee and Steven Spielberg, and the joys and challenges of costume designing for Black Panther.

WGA leaders reached a deal this week with Hollywood studios, ending 148 days of work stoppage. What did they get? Where did they compromise? And will SAG-AFTRA be next? Plus, director Gareth Edwards discusses his new AI-centric film The Creator and its timeliness within our current cultural climate. He also gets real about behind-the-scenes drama on Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

First, Rupert Murdoch has announced that he is stepping down as the head of both Fox Corp. and News Corp. What will this mean for the Murdoch family line of succession? Plus, Warner Brothers Discovery announces a new paid tier to offer live sports coverage on Max. Then, Ladies First executive producer Dream Hampton talks to NPR’s Eric Deggans about why she doesn’t hesitate to call out misogynists by name in her new documentary series spotlighting women in hip-hop. Plus, she gets real about initially not wanting to do the project at all.

First, what lasting damage to the entertainment industry will the extended impasse between striking Hollywood creatives, and the Alliance of Motion Pictures and Television Producers leave in its wake?  Then, in an encore interview, Navalny director Daniel Roher and investigative journalist Christo Grozev discuss how they came to pursue a film about Alexei Navalny, Russian opposition leader. They also talk about the risks they faced to make the Oscar-winning documentary, and the eventual arrest and sentencing of the politician in Russia. 

First, the Walt Disney Co. has pulled all programming from Charter Spectrum in early September. What ripples does this create for Disney, other networks, and the cable industry? Then, Reservation Dogs director Danis Goulet talks about working on the final season of the FX hit, representation in Hollywood, and Taika Waititi’s integral role in creating a platform for Indigenous stories.

First, Warner Bros. CEO David Zaslav hires former New York Times executive Mark Thompson to head CNN. Will Thompson turn the struggling network around? Then, directors Sam Lipman-Stern and Adam Lough talk with NPR TV critic Eric Deggans about their HBO documentary, Telemarketers and share how their work helped investigate fraudulent charitable organizations. They also discuss how the Safdie brothers came on board to executive produce the series, and how HBO came to be at the helm.

First, the AMPTP released its latest offer to the WGA in a press release this week. Will the studio’s move work or backfire? Then, actor, comedian, musician, and producer Steve Martin and co-creator of Only Murders in the Building, John Hoffman, explain how they met and what it took to get this idea from paper onto the screen.

First, Hollywood strikes throttle on, despite recent talks between AMPTP and WGA, complicating industry plans for the season ahead.  What will this mean for upcoming film festivals and fall television?  Then, Jason Blum, founder and CEO of Blumhouse, discusses the latest on the work stoppages, and the (spooky) current state of Hollywood. But it’s not all horror talk with one of our leading experts on the genre — the powerhouse producer has advice on amplifying profitability across the industry.

The 2023 Emmy ceremony has been rescheduled for January 2024. How will it contend with the NFL playoffs? And Disney presents more changes via its latest investor call. Political analyst Bill Kristol joins to break down an FCC petition to deny a Fox Corp. affiliate’s license renewal and his larger role in seeking accountability for the organization.

After months of stagnation, the AMPTP has asked the Writers Guild back to the negotiating table. Is there a deal to be made? Plus, Disney re-hires some familiar faces as consultants. Then, director Sam Pollard discusses his new doc The League, which pairs his love of baseball with his ongoing examination of Black history, and discusses working with producer Questlove and the “uphill climb” of documentary filmmaking. 

Barbie and Oppenheimer have proven to be massively successful at the box office, but where does that leave the comparatively underwhelming performance of Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One and other tentpole hopefuls? Then, The Horror of Dolores Roach Executive Producer Gloria Calderón Kellett talks to NPR TV critic Eric Deggans about the challenges of making a screen adaptation of a hit podcast. She also explains the significant impact of residuals throughout her career, and why she thinks writers need a better deal in the streaming age.

On the strike lines, rhetoric from studios and guilds makes it difficult to reach a resolution, while Disney’s CEO digs in. Plus, Netflix and streaming services face growth challenges.  Then, Emmy-nominated VFX specialist and AI expert Mike Seymour talks about the various ways Hollywood has benefited from AI. He discusses the risks of human misuse of the technology and the need for regulation, and explains how AI can be harnessed — and in some cases, already is — to help rather than hurt creatives. 

The Business analyzes SAG-AFTRA’s strike, which will effectively shut down Hollywood at an already perilous time. Plus, Bob Iger announces a contract extension until 2026, and the summer box office heats up.

Amazon CEO Andy Jassy asks for detailed budgets of all the biggest shows made by its Hollywood studios. Why now? Plus, another polemic involving David Zaslav. Oscar-nominated screenwriter and director Billy Ray talks with Kim Masters about the guilds' battle surrounding AI, its limitations and dangers in the workplace, and whether it can really take over the WBD CEO’s job. 

Following the decision to fire top execs at Warner Bros. Discovery’s TCM, WB’s CEO David Zaslav feels the blowback and is forced to reverse the channel’s course. Plus, Netflix’s union busting tactics, exposed. Kim Masters and Matt Belloni discuss.  Plus, diving into her debut book ‘Burn It Down,’ journalist Maureen Ryan dispels myths about Hollywood, exposes industry misconducts and coverups, and offers fixes.

To pay debt, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav is licensing HBO original series to Netflix, and fires the head of TCM. Meanwhile, Disney/Pixar’s “Elemental” underperforms at the box office. Kim Masters and Matt Belloni break down what it all means and the potential impacts. NPR contributor and guest interviewer Jeff Lunden talks to music supervisor Randall Poster about his career in film and television, his work with Martin Scorsese over the years, his long relationship with Wes Anderson, and why finding the right music for a project is a deeply collaborative process.

A summer banter: Will the season bring the big box office returns studios are hoping for? Plus, Disney pushes back franchise releases, and The Golden Globes undergoes another massive change. Kim Masters and Matt Belloni break it down. Then, as the 2023 Emmy Awards voting begins — with nominations announced July 12 — Masters and Scott Feinberg, The Hollywood Reporter’s Executive Director of Awards Coverage, talk about the award show’s recent voting changes, and Feinberg gives a special preview of what to expect.

CNN CEO Chris Licht is out from the network following a damning article in The Atlantic reporting his “alienating” behavior towards his staff. Was he a bad match for the job?   Then, Kim Masters speaks to legendary actress, singer, writer, and comedian Carol Burnett about her sprawling career in entertainment, her close relationship with friend and mentor Lucille Ball, how she created her long running CBS variety show, and why she says working with "Better Call Saul" creator Vince Gilligan was one of the greatest experiences she’s ever had.

While the WGA strike continues in the U.S., many writer-directors, actors were off promoting their films at Cannes. Did that weaken the WGA effort?  Then, former National Association of Theatre Owners CEO John Fithian speaks about the industry navigating the pandemic, and why he is optimistic about its future. 

As week three of the writer’s strike continues, other unions and guilds show solidarity while studios cut costs to see quarter stock increase. Plus, we revisit our long pre-strike conversation with Tony McNamara, whose viciously satirical series “The Great” has just returned for its third season on Hulu. McNamara talks about his fascination with Catherine the Great, working with Hulu, and how he transported a world he originally created for the theater stage to the small screen.

“Wild Life” directors Jimmy Chin and his wife Chai Vasarhelyi discuss mortality, making the film, and its uncanny parallels with their own lives.  Plus, guest host Matt Belloni of Puck News speaks with Lucas Shaw, head of entertainment at Bloomberg, about the stakes for streamers and striking writers at the 2023 Upfronts in New York this week.

Director Allen Hughes discusses his five-part FX documentary series “Dear Mama: The Saga of Afeni and Tupac Shakur,” his relationship with the late rapper, and why examining the life story of Tupac’s mother, Afeni Shakur was integral to the documentary series.  Plus, after a dismal Q1 earnings report, Paramount’s shares fell 30%. It shut MTV News and cut 25% of its network staff. Will the company break?

“Tiny Beautiful Things” series creator and showrunner Liz Tigelaar and author Cheryl Strayed discuss the kismet of their collaboration and adapting the acclaimed book into a Hulu limited series. First — you might have heard — the Writers Guild of America is on strike. How will other guilds react? And when and how could the strike end?

Scandals! Legal duels! Ousters! Looming strikes! Even by Hollywood standards, this week’s industry news has been fit for, well, Hollywood. To make sense of it all, The Business presents a special spring Megabanter in which host Kim Masters teams up with Banter compatriot and Puck News founder Matt Belloni and Bloomberg entertainment and media head Lucas Shaw to break down some of the biggest Hollywood stories of 2023 so far — from a misconduct shakeup at NBCUniversal and Disney’s tête-à-tête with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to Tucker Carlson’s Fox departure  and the latest on the impending writers’ strikes. 

This week, The Business revisits a conversation with actor Aubrey Plaza and director John Patton Ford about their film “Emily the Criminal.” When Plaza’s colleague handed her the script for the drama thriller, she was immediately struck by it. “It was just one of those scripts that I started to read, and I just flew through it,” she says. “It's so readable and fun … it has this momentum that propels you forward.” While Plaza had found her next great project, Ford explains why it took 12 years to write the story. With Plaza, they discuss the struggles of making “Emily The Criminal” and independent movies in general, and the film’s unexpected success. First, Kim Masters and Matt Belloni look into how the Writers Guild of America has voted to authorize strike, while Netflix details its plans for a crackdown on password sharing in the United States, and Fox News and Dominion reach a settlement. 

This week, The Business revists a conversation with the creators of “Marcel the Shell With Shoes On.” After almost an eight-year hiatus, actor Jenny Slate and director Dean Fleischer-Camp are bringing their lovable Marcel the Shell back to life. This time audiences will see the seashell with two pink shoes and one plastic eye, who babbles insightful and funny life-observations, in the stop-motion, feature-length mockumentary, “Marcel the Shell With Shoes On.”

Steven Yeun discusses his fears in taking “Minari,” why he and his “Beef” co-star broke out in hives after production wrapped, and how Netflix’s offer for the series was too good to turn down. First, Amazon Studios’ lack of vision, and unlimited resources sets up a brandless streaming service. Does Amazon care about the bang that they're getting for their buck?

This week, The Business revisits a conversation with Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson, co-creators and co-executive producers of the series “Yellowjackets,” just out with its second season on Showtime. 

“Daisy Jones & The Six” co-writer and co-creator Scott Neustadter talks about his early career, writing book adaptations, and the making of the sprawling rock ‘n’ roll limited series for Amazon. First, Kim Masters and Matt Belloni look into Disney’s announcement of a LGBTQ+ summit in Florida in September. Is Disney’s CEO Bob Iger clapping back at Governor Ron DeSantis?

New York Times Presents’ reporters and producers Rachel Abrams and Liz Day discuss “Sin Eater: The Crimes of Anthony Pellicano” two-part documentary on FX and Hulu. They explain the infamous Hollywood private investigator’s rise and fall, his 15-year sentence for illegal wiretapping and other crimes, campaigns of intimidation, and how almost all of his powerful clients walked away unscathed.