AGP Executive Report

Paramount-Warner Bros. Merger: A federal judge approved a settlement that clears the final antitrust hurdle for Paramount Skydance’s $110B takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery, with a five-year consent decree and deal conditions including film-release minimums and spending commitments. Leadership Shake-Up: As the merger moves toward closing (expected Oct. 6), Paramount named Mattel CEO Ynon Kreiz as co-CEO alongside David Ellison, signaling a major integration push. CBFC Cuts: Anne Hathaway and Dakota Johnson’s thriller Verity heads to Indian theaters Oct. 2 after the CBFC demanded cuts, including trimming intimate visuals. Horror Watchlist: Spooky Season is in full swing with fresh 2026 horror picks like Obsession and Backrooms highlighted for streaming. Festival Spotlight: Middleburg Film Festival will close with Apple’s Being Heumann, while La Bola Negra and Behemoth! land spotlight screenings. Streaming Buzz: A new Marvel animated special, Spidey and the Avengers: Halloween Team-Up!, has entered Disney+’s worldwide Top 10. SCP Foundation Split: NEON announced its own 2027 SCP Foundation anthology, creating a rare “two SCP movies” moment after A24’s V/H/S: SCP plans.

Paramount–Warner Bros. Merger: A U.S. federal judge approved the antitrust settlement tied to Paramount’s $111B Warner Bros. Discovery takeover, clearing the last major legal hurdle and putting a close date on the calendar (expected Oct. 6), after states including California reached terms over fears of reduced competition in movies and TV. Industry Power Move: Paramount Skydance says the combined studio will commit to producing dozens of films in the first years of the deal, while Mattel CEO Ynon Kreiz is set to become co-CEO of the merged company. Big Screen Dates: Warner Bros. confirmed “Game of Thrones” prequel movie “Aegon’s Conquest” for summer 2029, with Owen Harris directing and Beau Willimon writing. Box Office Watch: India’s “The Paradise” crossed Rs 100 crore in its first week, while “The Vvaan: Force of the Forrest” is nearing Rs 50 crore domestically. Streaming & Releases: October 2026 viewing guides highlight “The Diplomat” S4, “The Terminal List” S2, and “VisionQuest,” plus spooky-season picks like “Carrie.” Local Cinema Buzz: ScreenX expands in Australia with new Event Cinemas locations in Macquarie and Shellharbour. Fact-Check: Biman Bangladesh Airlines says claims that Tanvir Mokammel’s “Lalsalu” and “Chitra Nodir Pare” were banned are misleading; the films were temporarily removed for routine IFE rotation.

Oscar Buzz (Philippines): Rafael Manuel’s “Filipiñana” is back in local cinemas for a fourth week after Sundance recognition, continuing its Oscar campaign as the Philippines’ official Best International Feature entry for the 99th Academy Awards. Thriller Spotlight: “Verity” keeps landing mixed reactions, with reviews noting the film’s faster pace compared to Colleen Hoover’s novel and its uneasy mansion-manuscript setup starring Dakota Johnson and Anne Hathaway. Animation/TV Watch: Peacock sets “Ted: The Animated Series” for Dec. 17, 2026, picking up 12 years after the films with Seth MacFarlane and Mark Wahlberg returning. Tech Meets Cinema: Maxon adds native support for Claude, ChatGPT and Codex inside Cinema 4D via MCP, aiming to automate repetitive 3D workflows. Global Film Events: EUROCINE 2026 brings 14 contemporary European titles to the Dominican Republic starting Oct. 26, while Oman announces its European Film Festival (Oct. 11–18) in Muscat. Big Franchise Updates: Rumors swirl around “The Simpsons Movie 2” with a possible space-time wormhole plot and working title ideas, as “Avengers: Secret Wars” filming is reportedly pushed to November 2026. Action/Genre News: Zach Cregger’s “Resident Evil” continues to draw debate over its comedy-horror balance, even as it performs strongly.

Box Office Watch: Nani’s The Paradise hit a sharp Monday slowdown, adding about Rs 4.62 crore net on Day 5 to sit near Rs 96.72 crore India net after five days, while The Vvaan: Force of the Forrest steadied with Rs 6 crore on Day 5 (Rs 44.85 crore net, Rs 53.45 crore gross India; Rs 57.95 crore worldwide). Festival & Awards: Pingyao International Film Festival crowned China’s Final Payment (Best Film) and Congo Boy (Best Film in Roberto Rossellini Awards). Industry Policy: New Zealand Film Commission will end its Core Funding Programme when contracts expire on 30 June 2027. Big Franchise News: Game of Thrones: Aegon’s Conquest is set for a June 1, 2029 theatrical release. Hollywood Buzz: Tom Cruise’s Digger premiered in Westwood ahead of its Friday release. Local Culture: Aesthetica Film Festival returns to York Nov 4–8, 2026 with 300+ films and industry events.

MCU Buzz: A Marvel insider claims Avengers: Doomsday will be “tons of jokes,” pushing back on earlier rumors that the film would be humorless. Animation Update: Shrek 5 gets a disappointing rumor: Puss in Boots won’t appear, though DreamWorks/Universal haven’t confirmed. Streaming & Releases: Marvel drops a new Disney+ “Countdown to Doomsday” playlist highlighting essential MCU titles; meanwhile, Digger (Tom Cruise) is drawing attention in reviews and coverage, and Gladiator is reportedly resurfacing on Netflix via a major streaming push. Box Office Watch: India’s Hanuman Ansh keeps climbing toward ₹310 crore net by Day 53, while The Vvaan holds steady with a Day 5 update. Local Film Scene: Netflix’s Crew Girl reveals Vancouver Island filming spots, and Yellow Springs Film Festival expands its lineup with Juliette Lewis appearing Sept. 30. Culture & Craft: Dolly Parton’s final Cup of Ambition coffee commercial surfaced, filmed just a month before her passing.

Old Hollywood Spotlight: Sabrina Carpenter is reportedly set to play Ginger Rogers opposite Tom Holland as Fred Astaire in a Fred Astaire biopic directed by Paul King, with Margaret Qualley as Adele Astaire. Narnia Returns: Netflix and Sony announced a Greta Gerwig-directed film adaptation of C.S. Lewis’ The Magician’s Nephew, with IMAX/theatrical release in February 2027 and Netflix in April. Animation Buzz: Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom continues the stop-motion franchise run, while Futurama’s latest season finale aired Sept. 28 with no plans for a 15th season. Box Office Watch: Nani’s The Paradise faces a sharp weekday dip after a huge opening, while Vishal’s Hanuman Ansh shows a steep Day 53 drop but remains a major earner. Global Screen Culture: Kazakh Cinema Days opened in Bishkek, and Singapore’s 37th International Film Festival runs Oct. 21–Nov. 1. Streaming/Anime: Netflix confirmed its October 2026 anime slate, including Ranma 1/2 and Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2. Controversy & Thriller: Primetime’s controversy continues to swirl, and Paging Hezbollah claims newly lifted censorship allows more details on Mossad’s 2024 pager operation.

Streaming Buzz: Anne Hathaway’s sci-fi dinosaur hit The End of Oak Street is outperforming expectations on Fandango’s premium VOD after two weeks. Release Watch: Peacock has set a streaming premiere for Minions & Monsters on Oct. 28, with a big voice cast and bonus featurettes. Franchise Updates: Avengers: Endgame gets another box-office bump via a re-release, while Pirates of the Caribbean star Geoffrey Rush says he’d return for the sixth film if the writing isn’t “too cheesy.” Animation & Digital: Coyote vs. Acme is heading to digital rental and purchase after a tax-loss shelve, and Spirited Away remains easy to find on major platforms (Max in the US, Netflix internationally). Global Film News: Mike Leigh won top prize at San Sebastián for Tender Loving Care. Local Culture: An analog film lab, AJ Film Lab, is opening in Portland, Maine on Oct. 23. DCU Tease: Lanterns season finale trailer promises answers about who killed Hal Jordan.

Box-Office Buzz: Nani’s action drama The Paradise steadied on Day 3, adding about Rs 15.25 crore net to reach Rs 76.40 crore in India, while The Vvaan kept climbing after a weekend surge, hitting Rs 33.25 crore net in three days and Rs 43.15 crore worldwide. Franchise Watch: Star Wars is reportedly rebooting the Skywalker saga with Jon Watts (Spider-Man) directing the first film in a new trilogy. Streaming & Halloween: Peacock is rolling out October’s horror slate, including Friday the 13th-themed content, plus classics and modern scares. Local Cinema Comeback: Nepal’s Jai Santoshi Maa Cinemas reopened in Sandhikharka after 16 years with digital upgrades and daily shows. Festival Spotlight: Haifa’s International Film Festival opened with a tribute to director Avi Nesher and the Israeli premiere of Our Loves. Production News: Kentucky is hosting filming for thriller The Spiral Down. Industry Pressure: India’s AICWA opposed a proposed BMC entertainment tax hike that could sharply raise costs for theatres and workers.

Star Wars: Lucasfilm is reportedly tapping Jon Watts (Skeleton Crew, Spider-Man) to direct the first installment of a new Skywalker Saga trilogy, with Simon Kinberg writing and Daisy Ridley’s Rey said to be in the mix. Box Office Buzz: Nani’s The Paradise keeps climbing despite early negative reviews, adding Rs 15.25 crore nett on Day 3 (Rs 76.40 crore net in three days). Streaming Watch: Stephen King publicly backs Apple TV+ thriller Last Seen, praising it as “fantastic” while noting unsettling resolution concerns. Franchise Spotlight: Godzilla Minus Zero is generating Best Picture chatter after NYFF buzz, with Takashi Yamazaki playing down expectations but admitting hope. Controversy & Reality: Chris Hansen’s Primetime faces fact-check scrutiny over what’s real vs dramatized in the story behind his To Catch a Predator era. Global Film News: Bangladesh selects Mejbaur Rahman Sumon’s Roid as its Oscar submission for International Feature. Industry/Community: Kolkata’s Satyajit Ray Film Institute sees clashes after students object to an RSS-affiliated group event.

Star Wars: Jon Watts (Spider-Man) is set to direct the first movie in Disney/Lucasfilm’s new Skywalker-saga trilogy, with Simon Kinberg writing; details are still murky but it’s positioned as the next chapter. Box Office (India): Nani’s action drama The Paradise crossed ₹75 crore in India after a sharp second-day dip, while Vvaan: Force of the Forrest jumped 37.5% on Saturday to near ₹19 crore net in two days. Kaiju Buzz: Godzilla Minus Zero earned rave early reviews ahead of its U.S. Nov. 6 GKIDS release, with critics praising Yamazaki’s emotional stakes alongside monster mayhem. Streaming Deal: Denzel Washington’s The Great Debaters lands on Tubi Oct. 1, giving the underrated historical drama a fresh free audience. Local Cinema Culture: A report spotlights India’s single-screen theatres surviving tough economics by leaning on community and tradition. Nollywood Record: Nigeria’s Black Market set a Guinness World Record for the largest audience gathering for a movie screening in Lagos.

Box-Office Reality Check: Priyadarshan says he’s done pairing with Akshay Kumar for serious films after Haiwaan underperformed, arguing audiences only buy their comedy chemistry. Streaming & Horror Buzz: Johnny Depp’s Edward Scissorhands lands on streaming Oct. 1, while Peacock adds supernatural horror Bagman today and 28 Weeks Later heads to free streaming for Halloween. Trailer Watch: Robert Eggers’ medieval folk-horror Werwulf drops a second trailer timed to the full moon, plus an alternate-reality game for fans. New Releases on the Radar: Ranbir Kapoor’s first look in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Love & War teases a Jan. 21, 2027 theatrical run. Global Industry Notes: Vietnam moves to rein in online short-film distribution, and Kerala’s IDSFFK gets clearance for 24 more withheld documentaries/shorts.

Film Industry Losses & Legacy: Malaysia mourns late Tan Sri L. Krishnan, credited with shaping the Malay film golden era after his death at 104. Global Releases & Local Screens: Bournemouth University-backed student feature “Epic: First Semester” lands a global premiere, while Lighthouse’s BFI-supported Family Cinema season returns with £5.50 tickets and new titles. Box Office Watch: Sidharth Malhotra and Tamannaah Bhatia’s “Vvan: Force of the Forrest” opens with Rs 8 crore net Day 1; Nani’s “The Paradise” keeps momentum with Rs 98.5 crore worldwide after two days. Festival Buzz: The New York Film Festival kicks off with “Paper Tiger” and big-name premieres, and Fantastic Fest highlights genre standouts like “Beware Boiúna.” Streaming/Distribution Moves: “NAZA” will be available for free online after its theatrical run, with The Guardian backing the move. Corporate/Business: Warner Bros. Discovery plans to delist Euro notes from Nasdaq as the Paramount Skydance deal nears. Community & Culture: A “Dolly Day” screening launches Louisiana’s Year of Dolly campaign.

Film Legacy: Malaysian cinema pioneer Tan Sri L. Krishnan has died at 104 in Chiang Mai, with tributes highlighting his role in shaping early Malay film and launching talents like P. Ramlee and Rosnani Jamil. Local Release Buzz: Nani’s The Paradise hits theaters with strong openings but mixed reviews; he responds to criticism and discusses family viewing limits. Cult Comeback: Richard Kelly’s Donnie Darko returns to UK cinemas for its 25th anniversary in 4K, with a new intro from Kelly. Festival Spotlight: China’s 10th Pingyao Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon International Film Festival opens with a restored 4K Spring in a Small Town and a 50-film, global lineup. MCU Tie-In: Avengers: Endgame: Encore is back with extra footage and a preview that directly tees up Avengers: Doomsday. Horror Culture: The Academy Museum opens The Horror Show exhibition, featuring horror history and Freddy Krueger actor Robert Englund. Industry/Legal: A push for a US federal film tax credit and cinema support continues as lawmakers introduce new incentives.

Box Office Buzz: Nani’s Telugu action drama The Paradise opened to Rs 34.65 cr net on Day 1, while Hanuman Ansh keeps roaring past Rs 377 cr worldwide and is inching toward the Rs 400 cr mark. Horror & Pop Culture: The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures extends its Horror Show exhibition opening Sept. 26, with spooky screenings running through fall. UK Cinema Spotlight: Dorset’s Sense and Sensibility uses Parnham Park’s lake for a key scene, adding to the region’s growing film-location cachet. Festival Watch: Singapore’s SGIFF kicks off with The Assassin(s) and honors Aamir Khan with a Screen Icon Award; meanwhile, the Delta Egyptian Theater launches a local film festival spotlighting Western Slope filmmakers. Industry & Policy: California lawmakers back new film/TV tax credit support for post-production jobs, while the Paramount-Warner Bros merger saga continues in court. Streaming & Games: Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil reboot is getting buzz, and Gundam fans get a late-October 2026 video-game anniversary livestream to look forward to.

Video-Game Horror Revival: Zach Cregger’s “Resident Evil” review says the franchise finally hits—bringing fresh ideas back to survival-horror roots. Gaza Documentary Spotlight: Yuval Abraham’s “NAZA” (anti-Israel, Gaza-focused) has sparked backlash and now will stream for free on The Guardian’s site after its theatrical run; Abraham also says he fears he may not be able to return to Israel. Bollywood Loss: Veteran actor Mushtaq Khan dies at 56 after a lung-cancer relapse. Indian Box Office Buzz: “The Paradise” (Nani) gets mixed reviews—critics call the story chaotic and emotionally distant, despite strong action and star power. TV Production Update: “The Chosen” wraps filming on its final Season 7 in North Texas. New Audio Odyssey: Andy Serkis joins Audible’s sci-fi “Odysseus Rising,” a fresh take on Homer launching Feb. 25, 2027. DC Animation Casting: “Dynamic Duo” casts Mason Thames and Logan Kim as the two Robins; release pushed to Sept. 22, 2028. Hollywood Merger Fight: The Paramount–Warner Bros. Discovery deal faces fresh legal pushback as opponents ask a judge to tighten the schedule to formally object to a proposed settlement. Tech + Film Culture: Meta removes a critical smart-glasses video, while it also continues rolling out VR cinema experiences.

Paramount-Warner Bros. Merger: A federal judge is set to hold a Thursday hearing on a proposed settlement between Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery and state attorneys general, including California’s Rob Bonta, as the Writers Guild weighs in after the states’ antitrust challenge. Release Date Shuffle: Warner Bros. pushes back its animated Batman spin-off “Dynamic Duo” to Sept. 22, 2028, and delays “Gremlins 3” to Oct. 6, 2028. Box Office Watch: Telugu star Nani’s “The Paradise” posts strong advance buzz ahead of its Sept. 24 opening, while “VIBE” continues its six-day run with modest gains. Festival Spotlight: TIFF highlights Black cinema across its lineup, and Houston’s BIFA Film Festival returns Oct. 3-4 with Roots & Culture programming. Tech Meets Movies: Meta unveils $1,299 VR Glasses (spring 2027) and ILM announces National Geographic: Beyond plus Disney Immersive Cinema experiences for the device. Controversy & Culture: Maharashtra’s FDA chief reiterates “influence is not immunity” after President Murmu’s appeal to stop harmful product endorsements by film stars. Local Screenings: Community events keep rolling—from climate-themed film discussions in Settle to free “Movies in the Park” Barbie nights.