Courtesy of SonyDisney has set a massive movie licensing pact with for the U.S. that promises to bring Spider-Man and other Marvel properties to starting with Sony’s 2022 release slate.The wide-ranging deal, which runs through Sony’s 2026 theatrical slate, also calls for Sony titles to run across Disney’s array of streaming and linear platforms, making it unprecedented in scope as it covers Disney Plus, Hulu, FX Networks, ABC, Disney Channels and Freeform. It also includes a significant number of library titles that will be spread among various outlets. Hulu will gain access to what Disney...…Courtesy of SonyDisney has set a massive movie licensing pact with for the U.S. that promises to bring Spider-Man and other Marvel properties to starting with Sony’s 2022 release slate.The wide-ranging deal, which runs through Sony’s 2026 theatrical slate, also calls for Sony titles to run across Disney’s array of streaming and linear platforms, making it unprecedented in scope as it covers Disney Plus, Hulu, FX Networks, ABC, Disney Channels and Freeform. It also includes a significant number of library titles that will be spread among various outlets. Hulu will gain access to what Disney...WW…

, a veteran reporter who tirelessly covered the film and labor beats at Variety for more than 20 years, died Saturday in Pasadena, Calif. He was 69.McNary suffered a stroke and had been hospitalized since Dec. 19, according to his wife, Sharon McNary, veteran journalist and KPCC-FM infrastructure correspondent.McNary had a more than 40-year career in journalism, much of it spent as an entertainment industry business reporter. He worked for UPI, the Los Angeles Daily News, Pasadena Star-News and others before joining Variety in late 1999.He was a prolific reporter who filed dozens of stories...…, a veteran reporter who tirelessly covered the film and labor beats at Variety for more than 20 years, died Saturday in Pasadena, Calif. He was 69.McNary suffered a stroke and had been hospitalized since Dec. 19, according to his wife, Sharon McNary, veteran journalist and KPCC-FM infrastructure correspondent.McNary had a more than 40-year career in journalism, much of it spent as an entertainment industry business reporter. He worked for UPI, the Los Angeles Daily News, Pasadena Star-News and others before joining Variety in late 1999.He was a prolific reporter who filed dozens of stories...WW…

Boston-bred executive built an industry giant with the acquisitions of Viacom, Paramount Pictures and CBS Corp., a towering figure in media who built his father’s drive-in theater business into an empire that included Viacom, and CBS Corp., only to see his legacy tarnished in his final years by corporate battles and sordid allegations by former girlfriends, died Aug. 11 at his home in Los Angeles. He was 97.National Amusements, the Redstone family’s private holding company that controls what is now , confirmed that Redstone died Tuesday afternoon. After years of public battles with family...…Boston-bred executive built an industry giant with the acquisitions of Viacom, Paramount Pictures and CBS Corp., a towering figure in media who built his father’s drive-in theater business into an empire that included Viacom, and CBS Corp., only to see his legacy tarnished in his final years by corporate battles and sordid allegations by former girlfriends, died Aug. 11 at his home in Los Angeles. He was 97.National Amusements, the Redstone family’s private holding company that controls what is now , confirmed that Redstone died Tuesday afternoon. After years of public battles with family...WW…

is getting the year off to a strong start, beating Wall Street’s expectations for the quarter that encompassed the company’s giant leap into the new era of direct-to-consumer business operations.Disney Plus delivered an impressive 26.5 million subscribers, starting from Nov. 12 through year’s end. The Mouse’s earnings per share and revenue numbers for its fiscal first quarter (ended Dec. 28) met or topped analysts consensus opinions, indicating that the company is on strong footing even as it pours billions of dollars to support the growing suite of streaming platforms.The Disney Plus...…is getting the year off to a strong start, beating Wall Street’s expectations for the quarter that encompassed the company’s giant leap into the new era of direct-to-consumer business operations.Disney Plus delivered an impressive 26.5 million subscribers, starting from Nov. 12 through year’s end. The Mouse’s earnings per share and revenue numbers for its fiscal first quarter (ended Dec. 28) met or topped analysts consensus opinions, indicating that the company is on strong footing even as it pours billions of dollars to support the growing suite of streaming platforms.The Disney Plus...WW…

Now that the gravity of a growing pandemic has settled in and people are looking to safeguard their health and their livelihoods, the entertainment industry is grappling with three essential questions: How painful will the toll of shutdowns be on the industry’s lowest-paid workers? How high will the financial losses climb? And how will the business handle the unprecedented domino effect on Hollywood’s traditional calendar? The avalanche of hasty cancellations and delays to events and premieres that fuel the industry’s engines of commerce will spread the impact of the COVID-19 catastrophe...…Now that the gravity of a growing pandemic has settled in and people are looking to safeguard their health and their livelihoods, the entertainment industry is grappling with three essential questions: How painful will the toll of shutdowns be on the industry’s lowest-paid workers? How high will the financial losses climb? And how will the business handle the unprecedented domino effect on Hollywood’s traditional calendar? The avalanche of hasty cancellations and delays to events and premieres that fuel the industry’s engines of commerce will spread the impact of the COVID-19 catastrophe...WW…

The Walt Co. will start the process of putting some employees on furlough status as of April 19 given that there is “no clear indication” when its theme parks and related businesses will be able to reopen because of the pandemic.Disney said in a statement that furloughed employees will still retain their full healthcare benefits during the furlough period, with all premiums paid by the company.Disney did not specify the number or types of employees that will be furloughed. It’s expected to include most of the workers at Disneyland and Walt Disney World, which remain shuttered indefinitely....…The Walt Co. will start the process of putting some employees on furlough status as of April 19 given that there is “no clear indication” when its theme parks and related businesses will be able to reopen because of the pandemic.Disney said in a statement that furloughed employees will still retain their full healthcare benefits during the furlough period, with all premiums paid by the company.Disney did not specify the number or types of employees that will be furloughed. It’s expected to include most of the workers at Disneyland and Walt Disney World, which remain shuttered indefinitely....WW…

is expected to implement a significant number of layoffs of agents and other staff as early as next week.Rumors about the downsizing process and the agents that will be let go have been swirling in virtual circles for days, contributing to a feeling of angst and uncertainty among many WME insiders. WME heavyweights have been trying to help find new opportunities — including as talent managers or executives at production entities — for some of those likely affected.The impending cuts have been spurred by the shock of the coronavirus lockdown, which has hammered virtually every aspect of the...…is expected to implement a significant number of layoffs of agents and other staff as early as next week.Rumors about the downsizing process and the agents that will be let go have been swirling in virtual circles for days, contributing to a feeling of angst and uncertainty among many WME insiders. WME heavyweights have been trying to help find new opportunities — including as talent managers or executives at production entities — for some of those likely affected.The impending cuts have been spurred by the shock of the coronavirus lockdown, which has hammered virtually every aspect of the...WW…

The entertainment industry’s efforts to develop safety protocols for restarting production is predictably becoming a brawl among the major studios and Hollywood unions that has delayed the presentation of the industry’s back-to-work plan to state and local officials. , jumpstarting production amid the pandemic will be .The industry task force that was assembled last month to address the safety issues has generated a 30-page draft of a white paper that is designed to convince governmental officials to give Hollywood the greenlight to resume production. A copy of that draft is believed to...…The entertainment industry’s efforts to develop safety protocols for restarting production is predictably becoming a brawl among the major studios and Hollywood unions that has delayed the presentation of the industry’s back-to-work plan to state and local officials. , jumpstarting production amid the pandemic will be .The industry task force that was assembled last month to address the safety issues has generated a 30-page draft of a white paper that is designed to convince governmental officials to give Hollywood the greenlight to resume production. A copy of that draft is believed to...WW…

plans to revive the much-praised “Tuca & Bertie,” greenlighting a second season of the animated series that debuted last year on Netflix.Adult Swim has ordered 10 episodes of the adult series that revolves around two birds who are best friends and live the same apartment building. The sophomore season is targeted to premiere next year.The series hails from creator and executive producer Lisa Hanawalt and Michael Eisner’s Tornante Co. Tiffany Haddish and Ali Wong lead the voice cast that also includes Steven Yuen.“I’ve been a fan of Adult Swim shows since my teens, so I’m thrilled to...…plans to revive the much-praised “Tuca & Bertie,” greenlighting a second season of the animated series that debuted last year on Netflix.Adult Swim has ordered 10 episodes of the adult series that revolves around two birds who are best friends and live the same apartment building. The sophomore season is targeted to premiere next year.The series hails from creator and executive producer Lisa Hanawalt and Michael Eisner’s Tornante Co. Tiffany Haddish and Ali Wong lead the voice cast that also includes Steven Yuen.“I’ve been a fan of Adult Swim shows since my teens, so I’m thrilled to...WW…