Participant Closing Doors After Two Decades; Studio Was Behind Oscar Best Picture Winners ‘Green Book’ & ‘Spotlight’

Deadline’s Most Valuable Blockbuster tournament is back. While studios during Covid wildly embraced the theatrical day-and-date model when cinemas were closed, they soon realized there’s nothing more profitable than a theatrical release and the downstreams that come with it. If anything, theatrical is the advertisement for a movie’s longevity in subsequent home entertainment windows. Entering the conversation in 2023 were the streamers, such as Apple, who have also realized the necessity of theatrical to eventize their movies. The financial data pulled together here for Deadline’s Most Valuable Blockbuster Tournament is culled by seasoned and trusted sources.

Suzanne Morphew‘s cause of death has finally been confirmed.

Deadline’s Most Valuable Blockbuster tournament is back. While studios during Covid wildly embraced the theatrical day-and-date model when cinemas were closed, they soon realized there’s nothing more profitable than a theatrical release and the downstreams that come with it. If anything, theatrical is the advertisement for a movie’s longevity in subsequent home entertainment windows. Entering the conversation in 2023 were the streamers, such as Apple, who have also realized the necessity of theatrical to eventize their movies. The financial data pulled together here for Deadline’s Most Valuable Blockbuster Tournament is culled by seasoned and trusted sources.

Editors note: Filmmaker and producer Davis Guggenheim directed 2006’s An Inconvenient Truth featuring Al Gore. The film won the Oscar and helped put Jeff Skoll‘s social-impact-driven production company then known as Participant Media on the map, and also sounded an alarm about climate change that has become more pronounced since the film was released. In addition to documentaries, Participant was also responsible for Oscar Best Picture winners Spotlight and Green Book, and Steven Soderbergh’s Contagion, another timely topic. Guggenheim is a co-founder of Concordia Studio and most recently directed and produced Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie, which  won four Emmys including for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special.  He is the only person to direct and produce three distinct films ranking in the top 100 highest-grossing documentaries of all time (An Inconvenient Truth, It Might Get Loud, and Waiting for Superman). Here he penned a guest column for Deadline after learning Participant was shuttering. 

At first, I was shocked by the news that Participant Media was dying. Such an appealing company. Smart. Mindful. Vibrant. Forward-thinking. The producer of intelligent films like Spotlight and Green Book, with a distinctly progressive message.

Matt Donnelly Senior Film Writer End of an era, end of a business model, end of a gravy train, end of the world. There were plenty of mixed emotions this week in response to the closure of Oscar-winning production company Participant, and at the very least the industry has agreed something has come to an end.

Coronation Street star Jude Riordan has shared a sweet message to his former co-star after her exit scenes aired. Savannah Kunyo first arrived in the soap back in 2022 as Eliza, the granddaughter of Stu Carpenter.

The Oscars took place more than a month ago, but former President Donald Trump continues to grouse about its host, Jimmy Kimmel.

Zack Sharf Digital News Director Donald Trump is keeping his Oscars feud with Jimmy Kimmel alive with a new post on Truth Social in which the former president once again slammed Kimmel for being a “horrendous” Academy Awards host. Trump then mixed up Kimmel with this year’s best picture presenter, Al Pacino.

Matt Donnelly Senior Film Writer Participant, the 20-year-old film and television production company whose mission was to inspire social justice and humanitarian action, is shutting down. Founder Jeff Skoll broke the news to a staff of roughly 100 on Tuesday.

The SPFL must call off Dundee vs Rangers after a Tuesday pitch inspection if the Dens Park surface is unplayable, according to Hugh Keevins.

Variety Awards Circuit section is the home for all awards news and related content throughout the year, featuring the following: the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars, Emmys, Grammys and Tony Awards ceremonies, curated by Variety senior awards editor Clayton Davis. The prediction pages reflect the current standings in the race and do not reflect personal preferences for any individual contender.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter Turns out reports of “S.W.A.T’s” cancellation have been greatly exaggerated. CBS has renewed the cop drama for Season 8 despite announcing its seventh season would be its last nearly a year ago. The latest drama marks the second time “S.W.A.T” has technically escaped cancellation, with CBS initially axing the show before announcing it would return for one last run.

Welcome to ElectionLine’s A View From Abroad series, in which we speak with media figures who don’t live in America but keep a close eye on its politics. Every few weeks, these smart observers will provide a unique perspective on what promises to be a fraught and unpredictable campaign for the White House. This week, our interview is with Emily Maitlis and Jon Sopel, the former BBC presenters who now host podcast The News Agents – USA.

If you’re a beauty lover then the chances are that by now you’ve added some form of skincare device to your regular routine. From toning devices and gua shas to light therapy in all its forms, skincare tools have seen a massive rise in popularity over the last few year.

K.J. Yossman Warner Bros. Pictures’ longterm head of physical production Kevin Trehy has exited the company after 21 years, Variety has exclusively learned.

Coronation Street has confirmed that character Nicky Wheatley, played by Kimberly Hart Simpson, will be making a return to the soap after a two-year absence.

Coronation Street has revealed that Nicky Wheatley will be retuning to the cobbles to try and help Daniel Osbourne amid Lauren Bolton's murder probe.

NBC has canceled the reboot of Quantum Leap after just two seasons.

Emily Maitlis has finally spoken out about the Netflix film 'Scoop', which dramatises her headline-making interview with Prince Andrew, but she's made a surprising confession she hasn't actually watched the controversial movie yet. The streaming giant dropped the film on Friday, and it's been getting mixed reactions.The flick stars Gillian Anderson, 55, as Emily, 53, while Rufus Sewell, 56, steps into the shoes of Prince Andrew, 64.