A legacy in film and media under constant evolution
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.
David Robert Mitchell has released The End of Oak Street, a 1982‑set sci‑fi horror that transports a suburban neighbourhood into a dinosaur‑infested prehistoric landscape. Critics have praised Anne Hathaway’s performance and the film’s technical craft, but they have criticised its uneven tone, derivative Spielberg pastiche and an undercutting finale. Reviews started publishing 12 August 2026.
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.
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.
Warner Bros. has announced a new Harry Potter flagship shop at 134-140 Oxford Street in The Ribbon, London. The store will span over 21,000 sq ft across two floors and open on November 4, featuring immersive Diagon Alley-inspired spaces, a Knight Bus, a Ukrainian Ironbelly Dragon, and The Leaky Cauldron with Butterbeer. It will be the second UK Harry Potter retail destination after King's Cross.
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.
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.
Multiple sources report President Trump is calling for a federal production incentive to spur U.S. film and TV production, arguing it will bring jobs back to America. The idea has drawn support from SAG-AFTRA, IATSE, the Teamsters and lawmakers, as California expands film incentives to remain competitive.
A Clark County jury has found Duane “Keffe D” Davis guilty of first‑degree murder with a deadly weapon in the 1996 Las Vegas killing of Tupac Shakur. Davis, 63, has said he will appeal. Sentencing is set for October 13.
The Looney Tunes film has opened in cinemas after Warner Bros. canceled a 2023 release to claim a tax write-off. Independent reports the film earned $15.5 million over its first weekend, while Rotten Tomatoes shows a 95% Fresh rating. Ars Technica notes a positive reception despite Warner Bros.’ past decision, and The Independent highlights a debate around the studio’s handling of the project.
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 Bills will stage a dual anthem ceremony with both Canada and U.S. national anthems before their season opener, reflecting ongoing tensions in U.S.-Canada trade. Barenaked Ladies will sing O Canada and Auliʻi Cravalho will perform the Star-Spangled Banner as Buffalo hosts Detroit at Highmark Stadium.
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.
Box-office results show film reboots and sequels are drawing big crowds, led by Practical Magic 2 and a wave of retro IP. Critics debate whether nostalgia or social-media dynamics power these trends as audiences seek simpler, pre-digital worlds.
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.
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.
The film Digger has sparked a fierce debate about climate satire and audience fatigue. Despite a star-studded cast led by Tom Cruise, critics are divided, with some praising bold experiments in storytelling and others criticizing tone and pacing. Early box office shows a global haul of around $20 million on a reported budget of $125 million, signaling a potential catastrophic performance.
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.
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.
Eric Bauza has died at his home at 46, his family says, with the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner confirming hypertensive cardiovascular disease as the cause. Bauza has built a 20-year career voicing famous Looney Tunes characters and other animated roles, earning three Emmy Awards. The industry mourns a versatile talent who helped shape modern animation’s voice legacy.
Sherri Crichton’s claim that The Pitt is an unauthorized ER reboot has cleared a hurdle as a three-judge panel says clear similarities to ER justify letting the case go to a Los Angeles jury. The panel dismissed some defendants but kept the core claim alive, setting the stage for a 2027 verdict.