Sony Pictures Entertainment Sees Full-Year Profit Fall Without Franchise Film Launches

Jane Fonda is namedropping French director René Clément as the one who tried to sleep with her but who she ultimately turned down.

Sony Pictures has made updates to their domestic release calendar, pushing back the dates for some films by nearly a year. Newly added dates include: “Psycho Pass: Providence” —July 14, 2023 (Limited Release)“My Ex-Friend’s Wedding” —May 10, 2024“Horrorscope” —June 28, 2024 Release dates that have been moved include: “Harold and the Purple Crayon” —Aug. 2, 2024 (previously June 30, 2023)“They Listen” —Aug. 30, 2024 (previously Aug. 25, 2023) The Producers Guild of America has set its awards timeline for the 35th Producers Guild Awards with ceremony set to take place on Feb. 25, 2024, at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles, CA.

“Plead the Fifth,” host Andy Cohen asked the “Monster-in-Law” star who “tried to pick you up once that you turned down.”She recalled exactly who that was: “The French director René Clément.”Clément — who died in 1996 — helmed the 1964 thriller “Joy House,” starring Fonda.“Was it a sloppy pass?” Cohen, 54, wondered.“Well, he wanted to go to bed with me because he said that the character had to have an orgasm in the movie and he needed to see what my orgasms were like,” the Golden Globe winner explained. “But he said it in French and I pretended like I didn’t understand.” The Bravo celebrity rated her experience on the show as “amazing, perfect.”“I have stories for you kid, we don’t have time,” Fonda winked, concluding her coy confession.Elsewhere on the late-night talk show, Fonda admitted that she once went skinny dipping with the late Michael Jackson, noting how “skinny” the “Thriller” singer appeared.

Chris Stapleton was crowned Entertainer of the Year at the 2023 Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards on Thursday night. The Tennessee Whiskey singer won the night's most coveted honour at the awards ceremony, which was held at The Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. It marked the country star's first time winning the prize, and his win qualifies him for the coveted ACM Triple Crown Award, celebrating artists who have won New Female/Male Artist of the Year, Female/Male Artist of the Year, and Entertainer of the Year.

Chris Stapleton took home the coveted Academy of Country Music entertainer of the year honors, while Lainey Wilson was named female artist of the year and Morgan Wallen was male artist of the year at tonight’s 58th annual ACM Awards.

In today’s episode of The Discourse, host Mike DeAngelo gets hypnotized by Robert Rodriguez (“Desperado,” “Sin City,” “The Book of Boba Fett”). The prolific writer/producer/director is currently promoting his latest film, “Hypnotic,” which follows a detective (Ben Affleck) who relentlessly pursues a mystery involving his missing daughter and a secret government program.

EXCLUSIVE: Tom Hiddleston (Thor franchise) and Mark Hamill (Star Wars) are set to star in new Stephen King adaptation The Life Of Chuck, which will be a hot package at the upcoming Cannes market.

When you look at the state of the “Star Wars” franchise, there are two different stories to be told. On the one hand, you have the TV side of things over on Disney+, which seems to be thriving.

Naman Ramachandran Following the success of “Purple Hearts,” Embankment will launch global pre-sales of new romantic movie, “The Upside of Falling Down,” at the Cannes film market. The film is directed by Oran Zegman (“Honor Society”) and stars Antonia Gentry from worldwide hit “Ginny & Georgia” alongside Calam Lynch (“Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power,” the second season of “Bridgerton”). The film is written by Rebekah Crane, based on her own acclaimed novel of the same name, and Kelly Walker. The official synopsis of the film reads thus: “Clementine (Gentry) has lost her memory in an accident and runs away from the hospital with the help of a stranger, Kieran (Lynch) to discover who she is now, before she can reconnect with who she used to be. As she allows herself to free dive into new beginnings, new joys, new loves, and finds the courage to grow into a new version of herself, she begins to fall for this super-cute, charismatic, warm and enigmatic stranger. As Clem puts together the puzzle of her past to find the truth of who she really is, she pieces together returning memories of her past life. Clem and Kieran fall deeply in love, and Clem finds she isn’t the only one with secrets… and when the truth is told, lives are turned upside down…”

mostly positive reception from its Sundance premiere, will launch theatrically on August 4. “Shortcomings,” starring Justin H.

Christina Hendricks (Mad Men, The Neon Demon) has signed on to lead the psychological thriller Reckoner, written and directed by Nissar Modi (Z for Zachariah) in his feature directorial debut.

Selome Hailu Sony Pictures Television has optioned “Is it Hot in Here? (Or Am I Suffering for All Eternity for the Sins I Committed on Earth),” the debut collection of essays from comedian and writer Zach Zimmerman, for TV adaptation. “Is it Hot in Here?” is described as a “memoir-esque exploration of selfhood” chronicling Zimmerman’s journey from being a “straight, meat-eating, Southern Baptist to a queer, vegetarian, atheist socialist,” including stories about them learning to overcome their religious guilt or reminiscing over Tinder dates gone wrong. Published by Chronicle Books, “Is it Hot in Here?” was released on April 18. The option is the second commitment between Sony Pictures Television and Zimmerman, who secured a blind script deal at the studio in 2022.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Without a “Spider-Man” movie during the last financial year, Sony’s pictures division was unable to keep up with previous levels of profitability. Games and network services was another weak spot for Sony Group Corporation.

EXCLUSIVE: Insecure alumna Yvonne Orji has signed a two-year first-look deal with Sony Pictures Television. Under the pact, the Emmy-nominated actress, comedian, writer, author and producer will develop scripted drama and comedy series for cable and streaming. There is a possibility for her to star in any of the projects she develops for the studio.

Sony Pictures Classics on Thursday announced their pickup of worldwide rights (outside of the UK, France, Belgium, Switzerland, Spain, Italy and Latin America) to Strange Way of Life, the buzzy Pedro Almodóvar short, starring Ethan Hawke and Pedro Pascal, which will premiere as an official selection of the 2023 Cannes Film Festival.

Sony Pictures Classics have acquired worldwide rights (excluding the UK, France, Belgium, Switzerland, Spain, Italy, and Latin America) to Pedro Almodóvar’s short film, “Strange Way of Life,” starring Ethan Hawke and Pedro Pascal, the company announced on Thursday. This follows the news that the short will premiere as an official selection at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival.Here is the trailer for the short:It is Almodóvar’s second English-language project after “The Human Voice,” which was also distributed by Sony Pictures Classics.

Pat Saperstein Deputy Editor Sony Pictures Classics has acquired worldwide rights to Pedro Almodóvar’s short Western “Strange Way of Life,” excluding the territories of the U.K., France, Belgium, Switzerland, Spain, Italy and Latin America. Ethan Hawke and Pedro Pascal star in the short that will premiere in official selection at the Cannes Film Festival. The short is now in pre-production and Sony Pictures Classics will release this fall. It’s Almodóvar’s second English-language project after “The Human Voice,” which was also distributed by Sony Pictures Classics. “Strange Way of Life” is produced by Almodóvar’s El Deseo and presented by Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello. It also stars Pedro Casablanc, Manu Ríos, George Steane, José Condessa, Jason Fernández and Sara Sálamo. It’s produced by Agustín Almodóvar, with Esther García as executive producer and Bárbara Peiró, Diego Pajuelo, and Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello as associate producers.

Manori Ravindran Executive Editor of International Sony Pictures Television has appointed Matthew Justice as executive VP and head of U.K. and Europe. In the newly created role, he will report into Wayne Garvie, president of International Productions. Justice will directly manage SPT’s international studio operations and European co-productions business, as well as work closely with SPT International Production’s wholly-owned and joint venture production companies in the region, which includes Bad Wolf, Eleven Films and Left Bank Pictures. Justice most recently served as managing director at ITV Studios-backed Big Talk. He will start at SPT later this year.

Sony Pictures Television has bolstered its international team with the hire of respected UK scripted producer Matthew Justice.

Indian streamer SonyLIV has ordered two new series, social drama Kafas and suspense thriller 36 Days, from production powerhouse Applause Entertainment, along with four returning shows.