sam mendes

1. HBO has wisely ordered Sam Mendes & Armando Iannucci’s series, The Franchise, following the inner workings of making a super hero movie (Deadline). So, the pitch would be that one season of Entourage where Vinny plays Aquaman, but done well and for smart people?

2. While getting the green light in Saudi Arabia, Barbie will not screen in Kuwait and possibly not in Lebanon either (THR). Claims that it “promotes homosexuality” and “contradicts values of faith and morality” are being cited as well as “diminishing the importance of the family unit”. Well, that’s almost better marketing than the heaps of praise that Barbie has earned and will guarantee a long run in theaters, much longer than probably first projected.

3. Twisted Metal, the adaptation of the armageddon demolition derby/race video game of the same name on Peacock, sets a record for the streamer as their “most binged comedy premiere” (Deadline). That somehow edges out Poker Face?

4. A friendly reminder that the third season of Only Murders in the Building is now streaming on Hulu, complete with Paul Rudd and Meryl Streep.

5. There is a Soviet Era Kung Fu comedy called The Invisible Fight set to premiere at the Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland (Variety). From the sounds of the premise, it’s echoes The Last Samurai, but set with Chinese monks/Kung Fu masters and Soviets and done up as a comedy. Oh, Black Sabbath is playing in the background? Hopefully, this gets U.S. distribution.

6. Day 100 of the strike has come to pass and Bob Iger has mainly learned that he shouldn’t say realistic demands are “unrealistic”.