International Insider: Cannes Lions Uncaged; CineEurope Review; Tarantino Saves Famous Paris Cinema
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Cannes Lions Uncaged
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Timbaland & Swizz Beatz Reveal All About Deal To Bring Verzuz To Linda Yaccarino At X - Cannes Lions
Musk enters Lions’ den: While we at Deadline know the Côte d’Azur best for the annual film and TV festivals, every year we have boots on the ground at the grand advertising confab Cannes Lions to get the latest from the wider world of entertainment. This year, the big, unexpected headliner was X and Tesla owner and free speech proponent Elon Musk, who zoomed into town for a talk on everything from the potential for global AI disaster to an explanation for why he told advertisers to “go fuck themselves” last year. Caroline Frost navigated one of the longest queues I’ve ever seen for a conference talk — her video footage on our WhatsApp group is quite something — and managed to bag a spot in the Palais des Festivals main hall to hear the human social media catnip talk. On the AI debate, the ‘Musketeer’ said there is a “10 to 20%” chance of an Artificial Intelligence-related global disaster, but cheerfully framed that as, “the glass is 80% full. Look on the bright side.” He didn’t specify what that disaster might look like, but did add: “The most likely outcome is one of abundance, where goods and services are available to anyone… Work would be optional.” This could all lead to an “existential crisis” where AI is better at everything we can do, added the Tesla mogul. Up until the point AI can stand up a half-baked rumor whispered in the corner of a screening room, I think I’ll take my chances Elon. Later in the chat with Mark Read, boss of ad giant WPP, Musk got on to his favorite topic, free speech. Since he’s taken over X, criticism of how he’s allowed virtually anything go — regardless of how hateful or dangerous it might seem — has been relentless. The approach has led to clashes with advertisers over brand safety on the platform, and led to him famously telling them where to go in November last year. As Caroline deftly put it in her report, he was now in the lions’ den, and he used the meeting to qualify his remark, saying it wasn’t intended to “target advertisers as a whole.” Unsurprisingly, however, he won’t be changing X’s course, adding: “If it is a choice between censorship and money, and free speech and losing money, we’re going to pick the second.”
The shape of things to come: Elsewhere during the fest, The Equalizer star Queen Latifah revealed she initially believed Hollywood would reject her due to her look and size. During a chat on how obesity is viewed, the star recalled how entertainment gatekeepers would demand beauty met an ideal of “size two, blue-eyed” femininity. “People are stuck in their mindsets — it’s not just actors, it’s producers, people at studios, people who’ve gone through their own weight loss journeys,” she added. Latifah credited Oprah Winfrey’s openness about her weight, with the chat show superstar launching a special on the subject on Hulu in March. “When I think of her and what she has been through on that journey, I love the idea that someone will not have to ensure the same journey today.” Preach!
Pride of Lions: Caroline’s coverage was as eclectic as the confab itself, with reports on panels featuring everyone from Oscar winner Asif Kapadia, who revealed how making commercials influenced his features, which include Senna, Amy and Diego Maradona. Next, SNL favorite Kenan Thompson discussed how the iconic NBC show is evolving, while rap producers Timbaland and Swizz Beatz explained why they brought their Verzuz webseries to X, in a chat with the platform’s CEO, Linda Yaccarino. The platform formerly known as Twitter really couldn’t be kept out the conversation for long. Discover our full coverage from Cannes Lions here, where you can digest more from the likes of Andie MacDowell, Agnieszka Holland and Chrissy Teigen.
Positive Sense At CineEurope
“People needed this”: The studio execs flooded into Barcelona with a distinct feeling of relief, as Nancy reported from the ground, thanks to the box office success of Pixar’s Inside Out 2. The animated sequel exceeded expectations with a $295M global bow. “People needed this, especially going into CineEurope,” one studio exec told us. The annual conference brings together international (largely European) exhibitors and the Hollywood majors to present what’s on their slate for the coming year and discuss the state of the industry. Steven O’Dell, President of International Theatrical Distribution at Sony, was the first to speak. He said the company is “committed to the industry,” noting its recent acquisition of Alamo Drafthouse and $1.2B deal for anime streamer Crunchyroll. The move to buy Alamo Drafthouse puts Sony, which still has its eye on acquiring Paramount Global, in the exhibition business once again after owning the Loews Theater chain back in the 1990s. During the studio presentation, O’Dell ran down a diverse slate ahead, highlighting a number of titles including Danny Boyle’s upcoming 28 Years Later, Margot Robbie-starrer A Big Bold Beautiful Journey, Darren Aronofsky’s Caught Stealing starring Austin Butler, Taika Waititi’s Klara and the Sun with Jenna Ortega and the live-action Legend of Zelda collaboration with Nintendo.
A warm feeling ‘Inside’ and out: The conference, set against a bright Barcelona sun, ended with Disney taking a victory lap, celebrating Inside Out 2. Disney Head of Global Theatrical Distribution Tony Chambers kicked off the studio’s CineEurope presentation by thanking exhibitors in attendance for their part in the historic start. He noted too that midweek numbers have been “nothing short of phenomenal” with the global total now $380M through Tuesday. The studio went on to rattle through its slate including anticipated titles like Marvel’s Deadpool & Wolverine, Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts*; 20th Century’s Alien: Romulus; and Disney Animation’s Moana 2. The studio also showed off a look at holiday release Mufasa: The Lion King, and behind-the-scenes footage of its live-action take on Snow White starring Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot, which releases in March 2025.
Thrilling: The biggest buzz out of the studio presentations, however, came from Donna Langley’s Universal Pictures. The studio presented a 30-film slate with first-looks at the upcoming two-part musical Wicked and a surprise peak at a scene from the Michael Jackson biopic, Michael. The clip was based around the making of the iconic “Thriller” music video and is said to have positively wowed the audience. Michael producer Graham King presented the five-minute viewing and said the seven-years-in-the-making film had just wrapped, with director Antoine Fuqua currently in LA editing. “Unpacking the life of the King of Pop has been a daunting task,” said King. The Bohemian Rhapsody producer added, “There are biopics — and then there’s Michael Jackson.” He noted there will be more than 30 songs in the movie. Jackson’s nephew, Jaafar Jackson, leads the ensemble as Michael, with Colman Domingo, Nia Long, Miles Teller, Laura Harrier and Juliano Krue Valdi among others in key roles. Lionsgate is distributing domestically and in Japan, with Universal set to handle all other international territories. Pic is slated for release worldwide on April 18, 2025. More from Nancy at CineEurope here and the International Box Office here.
Tarantino’s Dinero Saves Famous Paris Cinema
A Hollywood ending: There’s something magic about great indie cinemas, and something equally dreadful when their futures are threatened. Happily, the future of La Clef, nestled on a quiet street near Paris’ busy fifth arrondissement, is now secure after none other than Quentin Tarantino made a series of what were described to Deadline as “major” cash donations alongside two other anonymous patrons. The classic cinema had been facing its end after Caisse d’Epargne banking group put it on the market. With Tarantino’s donations — along with 5,000 individual contributions from the likes of David Lynch, Wang Bing and Leos Carax accounting for about a quarter of the required cash — the activist group that had occupied the space since 2019 was able to raise the €2M ($2.1M) needed to purchase the building, save the venue from closure and keep it community-run. Fascinatingly, Tarantino’s donation was the result of an impromptu meeting between the Pulp Fiction director and members of the La Clef collective at the Cannes Film Festival. Tarantino is known as a long-standing supporter of physical cinema spaces, buying the embattled New Beverly Cinema in 2014 and the Vista Theatre on Sunset Boulevard in 2021. Read Zac’s heartwarming report about how Big Cinema can help Little Cinema, complete with its Hollywood ending, here.
BBC’s Israel-Gaza Coverage In Spotlight
A mood so fraught: Jake dropped an important read yesterday, diving deep into the internal turmoil at the BBC, over how it is approaching its coverage of the Israel-Gaza crisis. Since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7 last year, killing over 1,200 people, and Israel subsequently launched its brutal ongoing military operations in Gaza, the temperature has risen around the world and anger abounds. Our investigation forensically explores how that fury, sadness and fear is manifesting at the BBC. The mood is so fraught, Jake reports, that its reputation among Jewish and Muslim viewers may never fully recover. Jake examines the input of former BBC TV controller Danny Cohen and Fulwell 73 partner Leo Pearlman, while speaking to several unnamed Jewish and Muslim employees to explain how even the smallest engagement with the subject often ends in acrimony. Jake also explores whether there is support for competing accusations of bias within the BBC’s coverage, and reveals the existence of a bitter employment dispute, tense meetings and what insiders call “egregious” letters sent to management. An essential read for those attempting to make sense of the devastating conflict in the Middle East.
From Bollywood To Hollywood
DNEG boss speaks out: DNEG CEO Namit Malhotra rarely gives interviews, but he sat down with Hannah Abraham recently to talk everything from winning seven Oscars for VFX works on the likes of Dune and Interstellar to the U.S. strikes and a controversial employee ‘loan scheme’ brought in last year. As one of the few players to truly bridge the Hollywood to Bollywood divide, his insights tell us plenty about how global entrepreneurialism works in the entertainment game. He also discusses DNEG’s move into executive production on the likes of The Garfield Movie and Those About to Die, and updates on the much-anticipated Indian blockbuster Ramayana. Read on.
The Essentials
🌶️ Hot One: David Tennant, Jonathan Pryce, Naomi Ackie and more are joining Netflix and Amblin’s feature The Thursday Murder Club.
🌶️ Also Hot: Nordic noir architect Piv Bernth is making a decidedly lighter comedy-drama series set in a shopping mall.
🌶️ More heat: Riz Ahmed will create, produce and star in a comedy series about a struggling actor for Prime Video.
🥧 Tasty pastry: French singer-songwriter Amir Haddad will star in a TF1 remake of Israeli romcom series The Baker and the Beauty.
👐 “Hands off: Netflix’s EMEA boss, Larry Tanz, said his Los Gatos bosses give him plenty of creative freedom.
👨🏻 FAST lane: Mr Bean is launching a FAST channel in 29 territories.
🔥 Hot Spots: Diana went deep-dive into Toronto’s production sector.
🌏 Globie: Thai film How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies is our Global Breakout this week.
🏅 Feted: Karlovy Vary will honor Viggo Mortensen, Clive Owen and Daniel Brühl.
🏆 Gongs: British drama The Gathering was among the big winners at the Monte-Carlo TV Festival’s Golden Nymph Awards.
🎞️ New fest: Plans are underway to launch Montreal Critics Week in January 2025.
🎥 Trailer: For Saudi stand-up and actor Fahad Albutairi’s family vacation comedy Al Eid Eiden.
Zac Ntim contributed to this week’s Insider
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