Jen Salke Latest Celebrity News & Gossip

Who had Amazon supplyingone of Netflix’s biggest original series on their 2022 bingo card?

EXCLUSIVE: Tim Clawson, Head of Worldwide Production and Post at Amazon MGM Studios, is leaving the company after nearly five years.

Selome Hailu After promising a boycott weeks ago, director Doug Liman made a surprise appearance at South by Southwest on Friday to attend the red carpet premiere of his “Road House” remake. The film’s star Jake Gyllenhaal introduced the screening at Austin’s Paramount Theatre, making a point of thanking Amazon executives including Jen Salke.

EXCLUSIVE: Screenings are being set up this week for streamers Amazon Prime, Apple and Netflix to check out and potentially acquire Warner Bros‘ axed Looney Tunes movie Coyote Vs. Acme after the studio’s phone ran off the hook the entire weekend from angry filmmakers and talent reps over their third feature film kill after Batgirl and Scoob Holiday Haunt! The more egregious Hollywood sin here with Coyote vs. Acme is that it’s a finished film, that was intended for a theatrical release, while the other two movies were still in the works.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer The studios told SAG-AFTRA on Saturday that they have made their “last, best and final” offer, as they seek an end to the 114-day actors strike. The offer includes an enhanced residual bonus for high-performing streaming shows. Under the proposal, actors who appear on the most-watched shows on each platform will see their standard streaming residual doubled.

Amazon Studios is launching the Amazon MGM Studios Distribution division, which will oversee licensing of Amazon Original titles and MGM new release and library movies and series such as film franchises “James Bond,” “Rocky “and “Creed,” and series “The Handmaid’s Tale,” “Vikings,” “Fargo” and the upcoming “Hotel Cocaine” from MGM+.  Titles at launch will include television series like “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” “Goliath” and “Hunters” and films like “Coming 2 America, “”Borat Subsequent Moviefilm,” “7500,” “All the Old Knives,” “Bliss,” “I Want You Back,” “The Tender Bar,” “The Tomorrow War,” “The Voyeurs,” and “Without Remorse.” MGM’s storied library houses more than 4,000 film titles, 17,000 TV episodes, including 180 Academy Awards winners and 100 Emmy Awards winners.The division will be helmed by Chris Ottinger, who has led the distribution team at MGM for more than a decade.

Amazon Studios is launching Amazon MGM Studios Distribution.

The power of a wide theatrical release was realized this weekend by streamer Amazon in its pivot back to the big screen with MGM/United Artists Releasing’s Creed III. It easily minted the best opening ever for the Seattle-based parent, as well as for the Rocky franchise, with $58.6M domestic, $100.4M worldwide.

Amazon Studios Boss Jen Salke has finally named former Warner Bros President of Production Courtenay Valenti as Head of Film, Streaming and Theatrical for Amazon Studios and MGM. She will report directly to Salke.

Ben Affleck’s latest directorial effort, “Air,” will get a global theatrical release from Amazon Studios on April 5, ahead of its global streaming premiere on Prime Video.“Air,” from Amazon Studios, Skydance Sports, Mandalay Pictures, and the first project from Affleck and Matt Damon’s Artists Equity, features what is being described as a “first of its kind arrangement” with Amazon Studios distributing the film globally with Warner Bros. Pictures handling international as part of its distribution pact with Amazon’s MGM.The new movie tells the true story of the partnership between Michael Jordan, a then-rookie with grand ambitions, and Nike’s fledging basketball division.

This just in from the No Duh desk: Netflix has ordered a second season of Wednesday.

MGM COO Chris Brearton, who was just named VP, PVS (Prime Video Studios) Corporate Strategy, MGM+ and MGM Alternative, has unveil his team.

Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez walked Prime Video’s red carpet. They enjoyed the premiere screening event of “The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power” at The Culver Studios. In addition to Jeff and Lauren, the event also welcomed the project cast, which arrived at the beautifully constructed Middle-earth-themed red carpet, inspired by some of the character costumes in the show.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaVicky Eguia, a public relations executive at Amazon who helped create Oscar-winning campaigns for “Manchester By the Sea” and “The Salesman,” died Saturday at the age of 48. The cause was cancer, her family said on social media.Eguia most recently served as director of PR, diversity, equity and inclusion and community relations at Amazon.

Back to the ’70s. If the source material is any indication, then Amazon’s upcoming TV series Daisy Jones & The Six will take viewers on a trip to a world of flared pants, arena rock and backstage drama.

A slight executive shift here at Amazon Studios as Movies Co-Head Matt Newman goes to Prime Video’s global Sports group to develop sports docuseries, movies and scripted fare. Julie Rapaport will remain Amazon’s Head of Movies.

The rumor that Amazon is rebranding its free streaming service IMDBtv has been making the rounds for the past six months but the move was given its first public airing with Amazon Studios chief Jen Salke revealing that the service would be renamed “soon”.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterThe race for mayor of Los Angeles has hardly begun, but Karen Bass has already taken a commanding lead among Hollywood donors.Candidates filed their contribution reports on Monday, when showed that Bass has spent much of the last few months winning over the creative community.Donors to her campaign include stars like Jennifer Aniston, Jason Bateman, and Jennifer Garner. They include Hollywood’s most profligate political benefactors, like Jeffrey and Marilyn Katzenberg, J.J. Abrams and Katie McGrath, Alan and Cindy Horn, and Damon and Heidi Lindelof.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterLulu Wang and Dani Melia have signed a first-look television deal with Amazon via their newly formed production company, Local Time.Wang and Melia first worked together on the critically-acclaimed 2019 feature “The Farewell.” Under the deal, Local Time will develop shows from emerging storytellers for Amazon. Wang is currently directing and executive producing the Amazon drama series “Expats,” based on the Janice Y.K.

Lulu Wang, director of Awkwafina comedy drama The Farewell, and producer Dani Melia have launched their own production company and struck a first-look TV deal with Amazon.

Lizzo has signed a deal with Amazon Studios for an exclusive TV series on Prime Video.In a statement, the Grammy award-winning singer said the move is a “dream come true.”“I’m so excited to partner with the amazing team at Amazon,” she said. “Thank you to Jen Salke and the rest of the team for making this dream come true.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterLizzo has signed a first-look television deal with Amazon Studios.Under the deal, the Grammy-winning musician will work with Amazon Studios to create television projects that will premiere exclusively on Amazon Prime Video.“I’m so excited to partner with the amazing team at Amazon,” said Lizzo. “Thank you to Jen Salke and the rest of the team for making this dream come true.

Sony Pictures Television Chairman Mike Hopkins is departing his post at the industry’s largest independent TV studio to oversee Amazon’s video entertainment operations, including Amazon Studios and Prime Video, effective Feb. 24.