American premium TV network and flagship of Warner Bros. Discovery
The Royal Shakespeare Company has opened The Mad King, a Game of Thrones prequel, in Stratford-upon-Avon. The 3h45m production brings younger versions of familiar figures to the stage with a 36-strong cast and innovative puppetry. Reviews are mixed on pace and poetry, but the project aims to broaden GoT’s reach beyond devoted fans.
Paramount has signalled willingness to engage with California and other states over the Warner Bros. Discovery merger. The company is preparing for possible relocation if settlement talks fail, while regulators press to block the deal on antitrust grounds. A March trial remains in focus, with ticking fees looming as the company seeks a path forward.
Arnold has eight felonies tied to an alleged February attack in Florida involving pistol-whipping of three men. He was released by the Lions in June and has visited several NFL teams amid ongoing legal proceedings. Bail is set at $1 million.
The HBO series Lanterns has premiered to mixed expectations as creators push a grounded, police‑procedural take on Green Lantern after prior DC Studios releases. The show faces scrutiny over casting shifts and narrative direction, with key characters from the earlier seasons not returning.
U.S. states have filed suit to block Paramount’s $110 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery, asserting it would control about one-third of major movie titles and cable programming. The case has prompted talks of structural remedies, though theaters and other stakeholders seek protections before any approval. A trial is set for March, with ongoing talks in the background.
Actor Mark Ruffalo has urged lawmakers to block Paramount Skydance’s $111 billion merger with Warner Bros Discovery, linking the deal to Oracle’s ties to Israel. Paramount calls the rhetoric antisemitic tropes; George Clooney defends Ruffalo’s right to speak. Over 170 Jewish artists have signed a letter supporting Ruffalo. The merger remains under antitrust scrutiny and on hold as debate intensifies.
The Harry Potter TV series has replaced Nicholas Hoult with Kit Harington to play Gilderoy Lockhart in the second season, adapting The Chamber of Secrets. The change follows scheduling conflicts and comes after fan backlash to Rowling’s involvement. Other cast updates include Paapa Essiedu as Snape and John Lithgow as Dumbledore.
Multiple outlets report new footage from JK Rowling’s Harry Potter series, with Dominic McLaughlin as Harry, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger leading scenes at Hogwarts. The clip previews a larger arc, confirms a second season, and situates the show as a major adaptation for HBO Max.
At TIFF 2026, studios are bypassing fall festivals while markets expand. Major releases skip screenings, while the market and Red Sea Fund-backed projects push Toronto as a hub for sales and international partnerships. TIFF’s evolving role mirrors a broader shift in how studios reach audiences and win awards amid a crowded fall slate.
The Guardian reports a new graphic novel by Melissa Chan and Badiucao imagines a dystopian future where China and the United States are at war in 2035. It foregrounds the experiences of the Chinese-speaking diaspora and argues authoritarianism everywhere is bad, while highlighting risks to journalists and artists who criticise Beijing.
The Television Academy is distributing hundreds of Primetime Emmys across two ceremonies at the Peacock Theater, LA. The Pitt leads drama nominations with up to nine wins possible; Hacks leads comedy nominations. Five categories move to Sunday, boosting star power as guests and rookies contend for top prizes.
The White House has put up arcade-style games on its site to promote policy, including a Tetris-inspired Build the Wall. Tetris Corp denies involvement and says it takes copyright infringement seriously; takedown reports follow as other games remain online.
The Guardian reports a 2002 double murder in Topeka, Kansas, where Dana Chandler was convicted after later reviews and a high-profile investigative push. HBO's A Killer Story follows journalist-led pursuit of new evidence and questions surrounding the verdict, highlighting the role of civic activism and media in reexamining a long-stalled case.
Three deaths at Burning Man this year have intensified scrutiny of the festival’s aging attendee base and safety measures as the event, drawing roughly 70,000 participants, continues to evolve from its countercultural roots.
The HBO Max series will feature a new cast for Harry, Hermione and Ron, with Felton revisiting Draco Malfoy for the stage, and Lox Pratt stepping into the spotlight as the new lead for a modern reboot. Filming combines Broadway and TV talent, as the original cast shares guidance and the new generation steps up.
Paramount Skydance faces antitrust litigation blocking its merger with Warner Bros. Discovery. A California-led legal challenge threatens to push Paramount’s headquarters and thousands of jobs out of California, triggering a potential $10.6–$21.2 billion hit to state output and hundreds of millions in tax losses. The LAEDC warns the move could reshape Hollywood’s economic center.
The writer and actor has welcomed a daughter, announced in a Vogue op-ed. Dunham has long spoken about endometriosis and fertility challenges, including a hysterectomy at 31. The baby’s arrival comes 13 days later than expected and is described with intimate detail of the birth moment.
AP News reports on major literary prize announcements and new books, including a debut that has earned critical attention, a forthcoming memoir, and winners and longlists across fiction, nonfiction, poetry, translation and youth categories. The timelines stretch from nominations this week to ceremonies in November.
Concrete remains the defining material of modernity, with a booming market of about $1.4 trillion per year. Its production dominates global cement use and sand demand, powering infrastructure yet contributing to climate change and coastal erosion. A Bloomberg analysis highlights the magnitude and implications of this material across economies and ecosystems.
Bloomberg reports a settlement could come this weekend or Monday, with Warner Bros. shares rising 8.6%. Paramount asserts no transfer of control, the Ellison family retains majority voting interests.
Paramount has settled a multi-state antitrust suit over its $110 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery, agreeing to distribute a set number of films annually and to safeguard CBS News and CNN’s editorial independence. The deal clears a major hurdle but integration and staffing questions remain as regulators, executives, and staff brace for the next phase.
Taylor Swift has released a deluxe edition of The Life of a Showgirl, titled The Encore, adding four new songs. The move follows mixed reviews of Showgirl and signals Swift’s continuing prolific output as she expands her catalog with fresh material after the original release.
Twelve state attorneys general have reached a settlement with Paramount Skydance that has cleared the way for its merger with Warner Bros. The deal has required independent editorial boards for CNN and CBS, a commitment to release at least 30 theatrical films a year and a $30m penalty if that output target is missed. Critics and media advocates have condemned the concessions.
David Ellison has closed the roughly $110 billion merger that combines Paramount and Warner Bros. into a single company rebranded Skydance. The deal has folded HBO Max and Paramount+ together under one owner, brought CBS and CNN into the same corporate roof, and left the new firm carrying heavy debt while promising film release minimums and editorial safeguards.
Prime Video will stream the Emmys worldwide for free starting 2027, ending the rotating broadcast wheel that previously moved the ceremony among ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC. The six-year deal makes Prime Video the ceremony’s permanent home, with no Prime subscription required for viewers in more than 240 countries.
Skydance has completed its $111 billion merger, uniting Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros. Discovery under one umbrella and creating a media giant that also includes CNN, CBS News, HBO Max and Paramount+. The deal promises a future of unified streaming, cost savings, and potential job impacts across film and news divisions.
A BBC Business profile and BBC News interviews reveal a 17-year-old actor from Burnham-on-Crouch is joining the cast of the upcoming Harry Potter series as Dobby in season 2. The teen has balanced schooling with a rising acting career, including a Bafta-winning performance and recent roles in Slow Horses and various projects.
HBO confirms a limited five-episode revival of Girls with Lena Dunham and most of the core cast returning. Production starts in 2027; Adam Driver’s participation is not confirmed. Judd Apatow will return as executive producer.
Netflix has announced a major round of job cuts, affecting its product, tech, legal and human-resources teams. The company says it remains on track to meet its full-year forecast, with around 16,000 employees at year-end and renewed emphasis on high-impact areas amid a competitive streaming landscape.
Netflix has announced significant leadership changes and a major round of layoffs as it grapples with slowing engagement and fierce competition. The company has replaced Bela Bajaria with Peter Rice and is restructuring its film unit, while still pursuing a streaming-first strategy and exploring limited theatrical windows for certain titles.
Crystal Lake expands Friday the 13th lore by focusing on Pamela Voorhees’s backstory and Jason’s drowning timeline shift. Critics note strong central performance by Linda Cardellini but uneven pacing and tonal shifts.
The documentary on Elon Musk has seen shifting release plans as studios negotiate distribution. TikTok has suspended an associated account over political content, while HBO’s airing remains in question as Universal reassesses international rights.
A new documentary about Elizabeth Holmes, You Can See Everything, has opened strongly, blending true-crime tension with media ethics. Viewers are exploring Holmes’s claims, her relationship with Billy Evans, and the documentary’s approach to truth as Fielder and Oppenheim shape two connected films.
The Guardian, Business Insider UK and The Guardian have covered the avant-garde documentary You Can See Everything, which follows Elizabeth Holmes before her 11-year fraud sentence. The film juxtaposes a tense interview dynamic with a broader meditation on truth and manipulation in the age of media spectacle.
Skydance has secured equity injections as Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery merge under its banner. Elon Musk’s roughly $1 billion investment deepens ties with Larry Ellison’s family as the new media empire targets at least $6 billion in annual cost savings amid a heavy debt load.
Adam Brody’s Genocide remark has sparked a backlash around Nobody Wants This; Tovah Feldshuh and Erin Foster push back, while Netflix season 3 continues streaming. The debate centers on Israel, antisemitism, and on-screen Jewish identity.
A roundup of new and notable cultural events features a slate of film, theatre and art exhibitions as audiences respond to changing tastes. The Guardian and other outlets highlight new releases, performances and exhibitions, underscoring a moment of experimentation and renewed public engagement.