American film studio; flagship Paramount Skydance subsidiary
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.
Netflix has announced deals to add short-form video from publishers including BuzzFeed Studios, Condé Nast, Hearst, People, Tastemade and Penske Media brands. The licensed clips and ongoing short series will roll out August 3 in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, with runtimes from two to 20+ minutes.
Recent reporting shows internal strife across several local stations, including layoffs and staff friction at WTWO Terre Haute and exchanges surrounding WTWO meteorologist Alex Kerkhove, alongside leadership shifts at CBS News and Bari Weiss’s 60 Minutes overhaul. New signings and management tactics have emerged as networks reorganize after personnel upheavals.
Tomi Adeyemi has shared on TikTok that filming for a Paramount adaptation of her novel was marked by severe distress. She says she left the set “hyperventilating and sobbing,” with witnesses present, and that she has faced ongoing antagonism behind the scenes. The author is not planning to discuss further details publicly.
The United States and its regional partners are pressing for freedom of navigation as ASEAN nations accelerate talks on a code of conduct. China asserts its claims over disputed waters while continuing coast guard and military activity near Huangyan Island and other flashpoints. Philippines vows to push back against Beijing’s moves, citing recent missile tests and maritime postures.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day has opened with a record domestic debut, while The Odyssey leads the global box office, underscoring a year of mega releases. The industry is buoyed by premium formats and high ticket prices, even as overall audiences lag behind pre-pandemic levels.
Paramount’s proposed merger with Warner Bros. Discovery has been paused amid a flurry of antitrust challenges from U.S. states and industry groups. CEO David Ellison has publicly defended the deal, arguing independence for CNN and CBS News, and detailing commitments to keep production flowing if the deal proceeds.
Cyberattacks targeting water systems in multiple states have been linked by security researchers to Iran‑affiliated groups. Officials warn the threat is ongoing and could widen, with misleading claims about responsibility surfacing in political discourse.
Phoebe Bridgers’s Lost Weekend chronicles personal loss and public life, blending Americana with electronic textures. The album addresses her father’s death, a high-profile breakup, and a year of upheaval, while underscoring her status as a leading songwriter.
The Guardian reports on John Croft’s experiences at Bletchley Park during World War II, including his roles in the Testery and Newmanry, the breaking of Lorenz ciphers, and interactions with MI6 and Philby. It outlines his career from Oxford recruitment to Park Lane postings and his views on key figures.
The UK has cleared Paramount’s proposed takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery, subject to legally binding commitments to preserve Channel 5’s independence and the UK’s editorial boundaries. The CMA and DCMS say the deal will not lessen competition and will protect UK content; a US antitrust challenge remains pending.
Netflix has placed an actor inside a furnished billboard on Sunset Boulevard to promote The Last House, a sci‑fi horror directed by Louis Leterrier. The stunt runs from Thursday to Saturday as the film debuts, with the living room replica drawing attention to the movie’s premise of a family trapped with dwindling resources.
CBS Evening News has seen ratings improve with a substitute anchor, Matt Gutman, delivering best performance in 17 weeks as Tony Dokoupil recovers from fluctuations in viewership. Independent confirms Gutman’s temporary boost, while The Guardian notes ongoing challenges for Bari Weiss’s leadership and 60 Minutes changes amid a broader network transition.
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.
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 Guardian reports on multiple cultural releases this week, including new sci-fi and horror films, a romcom, and live events across the UK. The pieces highlight a mix of big-name talent and emerging artists, with festival announcements and gallery shows in major cities.
Fall 2: Deadpoint continues the cliff-edge survival premise of the 2022 thriller Fall, relocating to a Thai mountain with two young leads facing new hazards after a rockslide. While the tension remains effective in spots, the sequel leans on a familiar formula and melodramatic twists, delivering thrills that sometimes feel outweighing the logic.
Drivers have expressed interest in cameo roles for the Days of Thunder sequel, with filming set to begin next year. Tom Cruise has engaged with drivers at Daytona and networked with writers, while Hendrick Motorsports could be involved again and Jeff Gordon has pushed for the project.
The Guardians report on how Star Trek’s utopian roots collide with today’s political divisions and the franchise’s evolving status in a polarized media landscape.
Star Trek’s 60th anniversary is marred by debate over inclusivity and the franchise’s future. Multiple outlets report on cancellation of a Paramount+ series, with actors defending the franchise’s progressive values while critics question its current direction. Readers are watching closely as sponsors and fans weigh the franchise’s next moves.
Oracle founder Larry Ellison has canceled a plan to sell up to 50 million Oracle shares, a move disclosed in regulatory filings. The reversal follows a plan announced in June to sell stock under a 10b5-1 trading plan, which is now scrapped. Oracle’s push into AI infrastructure has coincided with rising debt and reduced cash flow, contributing to a stock decline this year.
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.
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.
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.
Skydance has closed its landmark merger, uniting Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery to form a media powerhouse. The deal brings HBO Max, Paramount+, CNN, CBS News, and iconic film titles under one umbrella, with Ellison and Kreiz leading the new group. The integration plan and pricing strategy remain uncertain as the company outlines its faster path to scale.
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.
Netflix has appointed Peter Rice to replace Bela Bajaria as Chief Content Officer, as the company seeks to accelerate growth and diversify its slate. The move follows recent layoffs and ongoing concerns about engagement, with Rice bringing experience from Disney and Fox to oversee global content, including live sports and events.
Christiane Amanpour has announced she is separating from CNN, with plans to end her Amanpour programs next year and graduate to new projects. Her exit comes as CNN enters a new era under Skydance, following Paramount’s completion of the Warner Bros. Discovery merger. Amanpour will continue her podcast, The Ex Files.
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.