Netflix Chief Reed Hastings Among Americans Blacklisted by Russia

Todd Spangler NY Digital EditorNetflix has made no secret that it would rely on third-party partners to roll into the ad-supported VOD space. Now word has emerged that Google and NBCUniversal are the top contenders to potentially land a coveted deal with the streamer to sell and serve ads for Netflix’s lower-cost plan with ads.Google and Comcast’s NBCU are both pursuing an exclusive pact with Netflix for the forthcoming ad-supported streaming package, the Wall Street Journal reported this week, citing anonymous sources.

Naman Ramachandran Popular shows “Squid Game,” “Succession,” “Sex Education” and “Landscapers” are among the nominees at the Edinburgh TV Festival’s annual TV awards, which will take place as an in-person event on Aug. 25.“Sherlock” producer Sue Vertue serves as this year’s jury President and stand-up comedian and writer Sophie Duker as awards host.Nominees in the acting categories include Jodie Comer in “Help,” Lesley Manville in “I Am Maria,” Letitia Wright in “I Am Danielle,” Maxine Peake in “Anne,” Sharlene Whyte in “Stephen” and Stephen Graham in “Time.”BBC, Channel 4, Sky and Netflix have the most nominations. Channel of the Year nominees are BBC One, BBC Two, BBC Three, Channel 4, Channel 5 and ITV.

“The Dragon Master is here.” So proclaims Jack Black’s Po the Panda in the official trailer for Netflix/DreamWorks Animation’s new animated series Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight.

Nicole Kidman, Zac Efron and Joey King have boarded an untitled romantic comedy for Netflix that Richard LaGravanese will direct.Netflix’s logline for the film reads “A surprising romance kicks off comic consequences for a young woman, her mother and her movie  star boss as they face the complications of love, sex, and identity.”LaGravanese, director of “Behind the Candelabra,” “PS I Love You,” “The Last Five Years” and “Freedom Writers” co-wrote the script with Carrie Solomon, who is also working on Margot Robbie’s “Ocean’s 11” prequel for Warner Bros.Producers include Joe Roth, Jeff Kirschenbaum and Alyssa Altman for Roth/Kirschenbaum Films, which worked on Netflix’s “Hustle” starring Adam Sandller Roth/Kirschenbaum Films is also working on “The Gray Man” starring Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans.Kidman has recently starred as Lucille Ball in “Being the Ricardos” (2021) as well as Hulu’s “Nine Perfect Strangers.” Efron most recently appeared in “Firestarter” (2022) and will appear in “The Greatest Beer Run Ever” to release later this year.King starred in “The Kissing Booth” trilogy of films for netflix, and she will appear in “The Princess” for Hulu and 20th Century Studios July 1 as well as “Bullet Train” Aug.

Netflix has renewed “Lincoln Lawyer” for a second season, the streamer’s head of global television Bela Bajaria announced Tuesday at the Banff World Media Festival.Dailyn Rodriguez of “Queen of the South” joins the legal drama as co-showrunner and executive producer with Ted Humphrey, who developed the show with David E. Kelley.The 10-episode second season will be based on the fourth book in Michael Connelly’s “Lincoln Lawyer” series, “The Fifth Witness.”Since its May 13 launch, “Lincoln Lawyer” has ranked high on Netflix’s Global Top 10 and the Top 10 most-watched TV series in the U.S.

Netflix has set an all-star ensemble for its new untitled romcom as sources tell Deadline Nicole Kidman, Zac Efron and Joey King are set to star in the pic, with Behind The Candelabra writer Richard LaGravenese directing. LaGravenese co-wrote the script with Carrie Solomon while Joe Roth, Jeff Kirschenbaum and Alyssa Altman producing for Roth/Kirschenbaum Films.

Sci-fi thriller Spiderhead lands on Netflix this week and sees Marvel's Chris Hemsworth star in the dystopian film.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“The Lincoln Lawyer” series has been renewed for Season 2 at Netflix.The series adaptation of the book series by Michael Connelly debuted its first season back in May. The first season consisted of 10 episodes and was based on the book “The Brass Verdict.” Season 2 will also be 10 episodes and will be based on the book “The Fifth Witness.”It was also announced that Dailyn Rodriguez will board the show in its second season in the role of co-showrunner and executive producer.

Disney+ will generate $1.8 billion in U.S. ad revenue by 2025 from its forthcoming ad-supported streaming tier, with Netflix coming in at $1.2 billion, Wall Street analyst Michael Nathanson estimates in a new report.

Peter Debruge Chief Film CriticThere is only one way to escape from Spiderhead in sly postmodern scamp George Saunders’ all-but-unfilmable short story “Escape from Spiderhead,” and it rhymes with skip-to-my-lou-icide. Unlike print fiction, where pretty much anything goes, movies that feature acts of self-harm must be very careful, since audiences have been known to emulate those same acts. Right up front, Netflix warns viewers of its woefully wrongheaded adaptation that the movie features such behavior.

The England soccer team’s wives and girlfriends could be heading to Netflix. It’s understood the streamer is in early stage discussions with All3Media-owned Optomen TV over a reality series that will shoot during the World Cup in Qatar later this year.

Jack Grealish's long-term girlfriend is reportedly among a group of WAGs set to appear in a new Netflix series. Sasha Attwood, 26, is currently one of the most high-profile partners of England players.

Emily Longeretta Jenna Ortega has Christina Ricci’s stamp of approval. The “Scream” star is set to play Wednesday Addams — a role Ricci famously played in the 90s movies — in Netflix’s upcoming Addams Family series, “Wednesday.”On Saturday night, Ricci shared with Variety what it was like stepping back into the Addams Family world.“It’s super fun.

Bob Saget wasn't something that was taken away from us, he was something that was given to us. ' That was the salute from Jim Carrey, 60, in a trailer for a new Netflix special honoring the late comedian, Dirty Daddy: The Bob Saget Tribute.  After the funny man died in January, his friends, including The Mask star, along with John Stamos, Chris Rock, Paul Rodriguez and many others, gathered together at The Comedy Store in Los Angeles to pay tribute.

Bob Saget‘s wife, Kelly Rizzo, beautifully pays homage to the late comedian in the upcoming Netflix special “Dirty Daddy: The Bob Saget Tribute”.

Bob Saget's closest friends are coming together to pay tribute to the late comedian following his tragic death in January.In the trailer for , released Wednesday, the funnyman is celebrated by fellow comedians Jim Carrey, Chris Rock, Jeffrey Ross and countless others in the comedy world, as well as by his close friend and  co-star, John Stamos, John Mayer, and Saget's wife, Kelly Rizzo, who not only looked back fondly on Saget's storied life and career but marveled at the great friend he was to each and every one of them.«Now Bob wasn't something that was taken away from us, he was something that was given to us,» Carrey says at the start of the trailer for the tribute, which was filmed at The Comedy Store in Los Angeles in front of a packed club filled with Saget's friends and family and comedy fans.That sentiment rang true for everyone who knew Saget, with countless celebs coming forward following his death to share what a great friend he was to them.«I hope everybody here either had Bob as a friend like that, or someday has a friend like Bob,» Ross shares. «Everyone of us up here swear that we were his best friend,» comedian Paul Rodriguez echoes before landing a subtle crack at America's favorite dad, «I think that's the mark of a liar.»While everyone in attendance was sure to pay tribute to Saget, the trailer is aptly filled with lots of laughs at Saget's expense, and each other's.«I wanna read my last text from Bob,» Stamos begins. «It says, 'I love you so much.