First Pass

73 stories from 8 sources

Entertainment shifts toward franchise discipline and eventized releases

Day’s Recap

Supporting Articles

Netflix removed Dan Lin as its head of film during a broader workforce reduction that also affected senior content executives and Lin’s deputy, Doug Belgrad. The account examines the restructuring and addresses reports of tension between Lin and Greta Gerwig over the streamer’s ‘Narnia’ project.

8:31 PMVariety

Netflix is restructuring its film operation as the company cuts 1,000 jobs and removes film chief Dan Lin and chief creative officer Bela Bajaria. New leadership will take over as the streamer recalibrates its movie strategy.

2:40 PMPolygon

A24’s “You Can See Everything,” directed by Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim, follows Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes before and after her imprisonment. The documentary is mounting an Oscar campaign across Best Picture, Supporting Actress and other categories, challenging conventional awards positioning.

7:20 PMVariety

A24’s Elizabeth Holmes documentary from Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim earned $15 million across 855 theaters. That gives it the second-largest documentary opening on record, behind only “Fahrenheit 9/11.”

12:54 PMFortune

Apu has returned to “The Simpsons” after nearly a decade away from Springfield. A South Asian actor now voices the character, replacing the white actor whose performance had drawn criticism over its racial stereotyping.

8:39 PMNew York Times Arts

Capcom’s new “Street Fighter” film opened to $31 million domestically, setting a new box office record for the fighting game franchise.

5:31 PMPolygon

Other Developments

A curated list of other prominent stories from this day.

In her forthcoming memoir, Judi Dench reflects on the backlash to the 2019 film adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical, in which she played Old Deuteronomy. She describes the result as a waste of Lloyd Webber’s goodwill and talent despite its high-profile cast.

10:53 PMVariety

Daisy Edgar-Jones used Dolly Parton’s music as part of her preparation for a new adaptation of Jane Austen’s ‘Sense and Sensibility.’ Her approach reflects the challenge of honoring a familiar literary work while giving the performance a distinct contemporary identity.

10:24 PMVariety

A guest column remembers Richard Riehle as a generous, dependable performer whose career included ‘Office Space’ and many smaller roles across film and television. It presents him as an actor valued not only for his screen presence but also for his willingness to support productions at every level.

10:00 PMVariety

Ann Hornaday, a longtime film critic for The Washington Post, died at 66 after a battle with glioblastoma. She spent more than two decades at the paper and became a Pulitzer Prize finalist during a career focused on film criticism and cultural commentary.

9:26 PMVariety

Tim O’Donnell, a writer and director whose sitcom credits included “Growing Pains,” “Dave’s World” and “Phil of the Future,” has died at 77. He died at his home in Glendale, California, after a three-year battle with bladder cancer.

7:56 PMVariety

Tom Rhys Harries and Naomi Ackie, stars of the upcoming ‘Clayface,’ recalled watching ‘Batman: The Animated Series’ growing up in the United Kingdom. They also praised Ron Perlman’s performance as the villain in the animated series.

7:10 PMIGN

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