EXCLUSIVE: HBO Max is not moving forward with half-hour family comedy pilot Camp Friends (working title).
07.02.2022 - 21:19 / variety.com
Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterVillage Roadshow sued Warner Bros. on Monday, alleging that the studio sabotaged the theatrical release of “The Matrix Resurrections” in order to drive subscribers to HBO Max.Village Roadshow has a longstanding co-financing arrangement with the studio, which has included films like the “Matrix” trilogy, “Joker,” and the “Oceans” series.
The suit alleges that Warner Bros. unilaterally decided to release the latest “Matrix” installment simultaneously in theaters and on HBO Max, with no notice to Village Roadshow.“The Matrix Resurrections” has grossed just $148 million at the box office to date — a fraction of the gross reaped by the three earlier films.
The suit accuses Warner Bros. of deliberately harming the film’s box office to prop up HBO Max, at the expense of the future viability of the franchise.
“WB’s strategy not only ensured that ‘The Matrix Resurrections’ would be a bust at the box office, but it also inflicted serious harm to the entire ‘Matrix’ franchise,” the suit alleges. “There can be no doubt that the abysmal theatrical box office sales figures from ‘The Matrix Resurrections’ dilute the value of this tent pole franchise as a film’s lack of profitability generally prevents studios from investing in additional sequels and derivative films in the near term.”The suit also states that — due to the poor box office results — Village Roadshow cannot make its contractually obligated payment to Warner Bros., putting the company at risk of losing its rights to the film.The suit alleges that Warner Bros.
EXCLUSIVE: HBO Max is not moving forward with half-hour family comedy pilot Camp Friends (working title).
Just as Discovery’s acquisition of WarnerMedia is entering the final stretch, HBO/HBO Max is living up to its status as one of the most prized assets in the proposed deal.
Joe Otterson TV ReporterSteve Yockey has signed a multi-year overall deal with Warner Bros. Television, Variety has learned.Yockey is best known for creating the critically-acclaimed HBO Max series “The Flight Attendant” starring Kaley Cuoco, which is produced by WBTV.
explosive debut season, has been renewed for season 2 by HBO Max. The news comes ahead of the season 1 finale, which debuts on Thursday. The series created by James Gunn and starring John Cena will see the duo reuniting once again after first working together on.
UPDATE: HBO Max has officially announced Season 2 of “Peacemaker,” so it is now confirmed. The original post follows… As “Peacemaker” wraps up its first season on HBO Max, it seems like only a matter of time before we get official word about Season 2.
Adam B. Vary Senior Entertainment WriterThe DC Comics adaptation “Peacemaker” has been renewed for Season 2 on HBO Max, executive producer James Gunn and star John Cena announced on Wednesday.The announcement comes the day before the Season 1 finale of the show, which continues the story of Cena’s titular costume vigilante from Gunn’s 2021 feature film “The Suicide Squad.” Danielle Brooks, Freddie Stroma, Chukwudi Iwuji, Jennifer Holland, and Steve Agee played the members of the motley crew of operatives tasked to help Peacemaker repel an alien invasion.Gunn wrote all eight episodes of the first season, and directed five, along with Jody HIll, Rosemary Rodriguez, and Brad Anderson.
As “Peacemaker” wraps up its first season on HBO Max, it seems like only a matter of time before we get official word about Season 2. James Gunn, even before the series began airing, hinted that he would like to do more episodes.
Ahead of Peacemaker‘s Season 1 finale tomorrow, HBO and HBO Max’s Chief Content Officer Casey Bloys hinted that a second season of James Gunn’s Suicide Squad spinoff series is in the offing.
EXCLUSIVE: HBO Max has opted not to renew animated comedy series The Prince for a second season.
Love Life already has secured its place in HBO Max history as WarnerMedia streamer’s first original scripted series, which premiered at launch on May 27, 2020.
What’s next on Taika Waititi’s list of Hollywood conquests? Besides the imminent release of “Thor: Love And Thunder” this July, it’s plundering the high seas with fellow New Zealander Rhys Darby. READ MORE: The 70 Most Anticipated TV Shows & Mini-Series Of 2022 The pair teams up as the short-lived real-life pirate duo of Stede Bonnet and Blackbeard in “Our Flag Means Death” on HBO Max this March.
Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterWarner Bros. argues in new court filings that it never agreed to an exclusively theatrical release for “The Matrix Resurrections,” and that Village Roadshow still owes $112.5 million in production expenses on the project.The studio is responding to a lawsuit filed last week, in which Village Roadshow alleged that Warner Bros. had breached its co-financing agreement by releasing the film simultaneously on HBO Max.
HBO and HBO Max are gearing up for a must-see spring TV schedule, with a number of new, star-studded series slated to premiere in the next few months. During the Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour, the networks shared new images for the biographical series , an adaptation of the popular true-crime docuseries; the series adaptation of David Simon's return to Baltimore with and more.Get your first look at what's to come:Starring Colin Firth as Michael Peterson, is the anticipated limited series recounting the events surrounding the suspicious death of his wife, Kathleen Peterson (Toni Collette).
The Wonder Twins are getting activated. Yep, remember DC’s The Wonder Twins created for the 1970s Saturday morning cartoon “The Super Friends”? Well, they’re getting their own movie.
EXCLUSIVE: Warner Bros is sick and tired of having streaming sand kicked in its face.
It’s hard to think of other professional basketball teams that measure up to the Showtime Lakers era. NBA dynasties such as the Chicago Bulls led by Michael Jordan had a predecessor with Magic Johnson and the Lakers.
It’s hard to think of other professional basketball teams that measure up to the Showtime Lakers era. NBA dynasties such as the Chicago Bulls led by Michael Jordan had a predecessor with Magic Johnson and the Lakers.
HBO Max has commissioned a second season of Álex de Iglesia and Jorge Guerricaechevarría’s mystery horror 30 Coins.
Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterThe widow of Ol’ Dirty Bastard sued Wu-Tang Clan Productions on Tuesday, alleging that the late rapper’s estate is owed at least $1 million in unpaid royalties.ODB, whose legal name was Russell Tyrone Jones, was a founding member of the Wu-Tang Clan, the rap group that catapulted to stardom in the early 1990s. He died of a drug overdose in 2004 at the age of 35.His widow, Icelene Jones, alleges in the lawsuit that Wu-Tang Clan Productions did not pay royalties to the estate from 2011 until July 2021, when it sent a check for $130,000.
The Matrix Resurrections‘ production company Village Roadshow is suing Warner Bros. over the hybrid release of the film.Lana Wachowski’s long-awaited sequel was released in both cinemas and on streaming service HBO Max, as with all of Warner Bros’ other 2021 titles.However, Village Roadshow have now claimed the decision “destroyed any box office chances”, according to The Guardian.“WB’s strategy not only ensured that The Matrix Resurrections would be a bust at the box office, but it also inflicted serious harm to the entire Matrix franchise,” the Village Roadshow lawsuit claims.“There can be no doubt that the abysmal theatrical box office sales figures from The Matrix Resurrections dilute the value of this tent pole franchise as a film’s lack of profitability generally prevents studios from investing in additional sequels and derivative films in the near term.”The film made $37million at the US box office and $153million worldwide, though the budget was around $190million.