AGP Executive Report

US Media Merger: The DOJ has cleared Paramount Skydance’s $110B purchase of Warner Bros. Discovery with no conditions, saying it’s unlikely to harm competition or consumers—though state probes, including California, are still looming. Hollywood Production: Matt Reeves’ The Batman Part II has officially started filming, with the director sharing a first shot. Spielberg Spotlight: Disclosure Day is back in the conversation as Spielberg’s sci-fi returns to theaters, with rankings and reviews circling the release. Streaming Watch: Sunny Deol and Akshaye Khanna reunite in Netflix’s Ikka, streaming from July 10. Box Office Pulse (India): Kangana Ranaut’s Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata opens to about ₹1 crore net, while Imtiaz Ali’s Main Vaapas Aaunga lands around ₹1.15 crore net on Day 1. Festival & Tech: Shanghai Film Festival pushes an AI-and-tech push, and The Decisive Moment closes the event. Obituary: Gene Shalit, the Today show’s pun-loving film critic, dies at 100.

US Studio Deal Watch: The U.S. Justice Department cleared Paramount Skydance’s $110bn acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, with reports saying approval came without divestitures or remedies—setting up a fresh fight as states like California weigh challenges. DC on the Move: Filming has started on The Batman Part II, and a new report claims Sebastian Stan may not be playing Harvey Dent/Two-Face—shaking up expectations for the sequel’s villain lineup. Spielberg in Numbers: Disclosure Day spent about $34M filming in New Jersey, using 23 days and 1,800+ crew across multiple counties. AI Debate, Up Close: I Am Frankelda directors Roy and Arturo Ambriz say AI won’t replace their storytelling, while Dreams of Violets faces backlash as a near-glitch-free “first fully AI-generated” festival feature. Box Office Buzz (K-Zombies): Korean hit Colony keeps sprinting through admissions milestones, fueled by genre fandom and director Yeon Sang-ho’s track record. Streaming Picks: Peacock’s weekend list spotlights Spielberg’s The Fabelmans and the Fast & Furious franchise. Local Screen Life: Downtown Macon, Georgia, gets a new movie shoot with planned closures near Historic Terminal Station. Community Cinema: Germantown, plus other towns, are rolling out free outdoor screenings like Zootopia 2 for summer nights.

Netflix Expansion: Netflix is developing a “Hit Man” series based on the 2024 Glen Powell/Richard Linklater feature, with Stephen Falk writing and Powell/Linklater executive producing. Spielberg Buzz: “Disclosure Day” keeps sparking debate, with reviews calling it a big, classic Spielberg-style alien-and-misinformation spectacle. Horror Comedy Returns: “Scary Movie 6” is climbing in North America and is also getting mixed reviews for feeling underdeveloped despite the franchise’s comeback energy. DC Universe: Jason Momoa says he’ll only do a solo “Lobo” movie if it stays R-rated, pushing back on softening the character. Warner Bros Adaptation: Maggie Gyllenhaal is set to direct Warner Bros’ adaptation of Rachel Kushner’s “Creation Lake,” with her also producing. Box Office Watch: “Drishyam 3” continues a strong run, nearing ₹237 crore worldwide as its theatrical momentum slows. Local Cinema & Community: Armenia’s Ucom launches “uPlay Cinema” subscription access, while New York’s Sleepy Hollow Cinema hits $200,000+ fundraising early to reopen a historic theater. Festival Spotlight: The Follow Your Heart Film Festival wraps its New York edition at AMC Empire 25, honoring independent filmmakers from 90+ countries.

Streaming & Release Dates: Ali Hazelwood’s Reylo fanfic romance The Love Hypothesis gets a Prime Video drop on Sept. 23, with Claire Scanlon directing and Tom Bateman starring alongside Lili Reinhart. Horror on Shudder: Find Your Friends lands on the streamer as an uneven, toxic-men chase thriller that leans hard into danger for women. Pixar Buzz: Toy Story 5 opens June 19, with Pixar’s behind-the-scenes spotlight and Tom Hanks/Tim Allen teasing the film’s emotional beats. Box Office Watch: Obsession keeps surprising with strong “legs,” topping major hits on day 25. New TV Adaptation: Netflix is developing Hit Man as a series, with Stephen Falk writing and Glen Powell/Richard Linklater executive producing. DCU Update: Jason Momoa teases a possible R-rated Lobo solo spin-off after Supergirl. Indie Distribution: Pixel Comet launches as a creator-first platform for independent films, letting audiences watch, rent, or buy worldwide. Local Screenings: Wausau’s Movies in the Park is canceled tonight due to rain, with remaining dates still planned.

Spielberg & Bond: Steven Spielberg says he was “consistently turned down” when he tried to direct a 007 movie, even offering to let producers use his “five-note” music deal—then pivoted to Indiana Jones. Bollywood Romance/Partition: Imtiaz Ali’s Main Vaapas Aaunga returns with a love story across eras, anchored by Naseeruddin Shah’s dementia-stricken character and the pre-Partition romance that Partition tears apart. New Horror Launch: Vir Das unveils the cast for his found-footage psychological horror Baara Number, with Sheeba Chaddha, Arunoday Singh, Ahsaas Channa and Atul Kulkarni. Hollywood Casting: Oliver Stone’s White Lies adds Michael Douglas and Willem Dafoe, with Josh Hartnett and others, as Stone wraps principal photography. Community Cinema: San Francisco’s Alamo Drafthouse New Mission is renamed the Christopher Nolan Cinema, while Calexico hosts a Dive-In Movie Night for Lilo & Stitch. Global Streaming Deal: Ucom launches uPlay Cinema, bundling hundreds of movies into a single monthly TV subscription. Local Film Loss: India mourns Tamil legend Bharathiraja, with state funeral rites in Theni. International Film: Cannes Classics revives Idrissa Ouedraogo’s restored 4K Tilaï. Box Office/Streaming: Mortal Kombat II hits digital PVOD after a modest theatrical run.

Disney’s Moana Live-Action: The final trailer is out for Dwayne Johnson’s Moana, promising a more faithful, charm-forward take ahead of the July 10, 2026 theater release. Spielberg’s Disclosure Day: Reviews are mostly glowing, but box-office projections point to a softer opening as the alien thriller expands from Thursday previews. Horror Momentum: Evil Dead Burn lands an R rating for bloody violence and gore, while Neon’s Leviticus (June 19) keeps building buzz with near-perfect early praise. Batman Part II Update: Colin Farrell says production on The Batman sequel starts in about a week, with him set to spend several weeks on set. Streaming/Creator Power: YouTube-fueled hits Backrooms and Obsession are reshaping theatrical demand, with studios now competing against audience-built discovery. Industry Legal Drama: Paramount alleges Netflix is running a “scorched-earth” campaign to derail the Warner Bros. merger. Tamil Cinema Loss: Tributes continue after Bharathiraja’s death at 84, remembered for reshaping rural Tamil storytelling.

Box-Office & Streaming Buzz: Disney’s Frozen soundtrack hits RIAA Diamond status (10M units) as Frozen 3 eyes a 2027 release. Teaser Watch: YRF’s spy action Alpha drops a near-two-minute teaser starring Alia Bhatt and co-leads Bobby Deol, Anil Kapoor, and Sharvari ahead of a July 3, 2026 theatrical run. Industry Power Play: The U.S. is preparing an antitrust lawsuit to block David Ellison/Paramount’s Warner Bros takeover, while the UK competition watchdog opens a review of the $110B deal. Major Loss in Film: Tamil cinema legend Bharathiraja dies at 84; tributes pour in from Rajinikanth and others, with retrospectives spotlighting how he took Tamil stories out of studios and into rural realism. Local Production Spotlight: A Scranton-area team plans to film Arachnophilia using local sites and community involvement. Controversy: Kanye West faces a lawsuit alleging abuse during a 2010 music video shoot.

European Industry Spotlight: Les Arcs Film Festival names Spain its country of honour for December, with an Industry Village and a Coproduction Village call now open for European projects. Talent Pipeline: EFP’s Future Frames returns to Karlovy Vary (July 3-11) to spotlight 10 emerging European directors, with new partner Allwyn backing the next wave. Regional Cinema Buzz: Tulu film Kajja ramps up with a trailer plus the “Tulunada Mann” video song, while Wencita Dias is highlighted ahead of the June 11 theatre release. Box Office Shock: A new report claims 2026’s Desert Warrior is the biggest box office flop ever—$742k worldwide on a $150m budget—largely unnoticed. Global Streaming Moment: Jennifer Lopez’s Office Romance tops Netflix’s movie charts with 20.9M views in its opening weekend. Major Deal Watch: Britain’s CMA formally starts its review of Paramount Skydance’s $110B Warner Bros. Discovery takeover. Franchise Milestone: Super Mario: Galactic Cinema becomes the first 2026 film to cross $1B worldwide. New Releases/Teasers: Gus Van Sant is in talks for a Nicholas Galitzine-led project, and Vin Diesel teases a possible Groot-focused MCU spin-off.

Box Office Buzz: “Scary Movie 6” roared to a $55M opening and topped charts, with audience reviews leaning nostalgic and fun even as critics stay cooler. Franchise Watch: Lisa Kudrow and Mira Sorvino have begun production on the “Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion” sequel, set for Hulu. Casting & Production: Jason Momoa has exited Sony/PlayStation’s “Helldivers” movie, leaving Justin Lin’s 2027 release date intact while a new lead search starts. New Releases: “Lag Ja Gale,” starring Tiger Shroff, Janhvi Kapoor and Lakshya, is reportedly aiming for a May 14, 2027 theatrical release. Festivals & Talent: EFP’s “Future Frames” program returns to Karlovy Vary with 10 young European filmmakers, while UDST’s GAAD film festival spotlighted inclusion and accessibility. Industry Business: Elysian Film Group Distribution is entering insolvency, even as its production arm continues trading.

Box Office Shock: Paramount’s “Scary Movie” roared to the weekend top with $55M and a franchise-best $105M+ global opening, outpacing “Masters of the Universe” as horror keeps dominating. Franchise Watch: A24’s “Backrooms” hit $212M worldwide, while Focus Features’ “Obsession” is now its biggest ever at $224M+—and Ari Aster teased a “Hereditary” prequel is written, just not “the right time.” Streaming Shift: Netflix film chief Dan Lin says the streamer won’t work with filmmakers who insist on theatrical-first plans, signaling a tougher stance on OTT vs theaters. Industry Politics: Hollywood workers protested the proposed $110B Paramount-Warner merger, while U.S. states are preparing to sue to block it. Production Updates: “The Last of Us” Season 3 isn’t canceled—filming in Vancouver is on a planned World Cup hiatus. New Releases & Buzz: Ridley Scott is set to direct Hugh Jackman in “Treasure Island,” and “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” set photos suggest more UK reshoots.

Box Office Shockwave: Focus Features’ horror-romance Obsession keeps climbing, now $224.7M worldwide and Focus’s biggest-ever hit, with a standout fourth weekend hold. Franchise Parody Mania: Scary Movie 6 roars to a $105.5M global opening and tops multiple charts, beating Masters of the Universe. Superman Set Buzz: Leaks suggest Superman: Man of Tomorrow will deliver a bruising Lex Luthor rematch, with armor and heavy damage in the fight. OTT Watchlist: Streaming roundups highlight what people binged most this week, plus Karuppu landing on Prime Video June 12 just 28 days after theaters. Controversy & Casting Talk: The Peddi debate over women’s portrayal keeps sparking backlash and pushback from actors and filmmakers. Industry Power Play: US states plan to sue to block the Paramount–Warner Bros. Discovery deal. Human Rights at Cannes: Norway’s group praises Palme d’Or winner Fjord and urges more films on Barnevernet cases. Local News, Big Impact: A BEST bus crash near Plaza Cinema in Dadar leaves one dead and three injured.

Box Office Shock: “Scary Movie” roared to a franchise-best $55M domestic opening and $105.5M worldwide, beating “Masters of the Universe” and proving horror-comedy still hits hard. Streaming Strategy: Paramount’s new 45-day theatrical-to-streaming window is set to extend the run for the reboot, with “Scary Movie” likely to follow the faster PVOD playbook. Horror Crowd-Pleasers: Gen Z is flocking to YouTuber-turned-filmmaker horror “Obsession” and “Backrooms,” keeping the summer theater mix unpredictable. Global Milestone: “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” became the first 2026 release to cross $1B worldwide, adding another win for Nintendo adaptations. Industry Tensions: Hollywood workers protested the Paramount-Skydance bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, warning about consolidation and creative squeeze. International Film News: Iran’s court upheld Jafar Panahi’s one-year jail sentence and travel ban. Festival Spotlight: Nigeria’s AI Film Festival returns for 2026, pushing ethical AI filmmaking across Africa. Local Film Wins: North Texas teens and Columbia Area Career Center students earned national recognition for digital cinema production.

Tribeca Buzz: Madonna brought “Confessions II” to life at Tribeca, calling the visualizer “really about connection” as the short debuts July 3. Practical-Effects Hype: Matt Damon says Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” is his hardest film because Nolan shoots “everything real,” with no green screen—an IMAX 70mm push that’s already sparking debate. Summer Movie Spotlight: A local guide highlights what to watch this summer, including “Pride” and “The Talented Mr. Ripley,” plus a “The Odyssey” release rundown. Box Office Watch (India): “Peddi” keeps climbing toward Rs 200 crore worldwide amid controversy, while “Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai” posts steady gains and “Bandar” struggles to break out despite a small Day 2 jump. Franchise Fun: “Scary Movie 6” opens big in North America with a $24.7M Friday, beating its own franchise record. Community Cinema: Becky’s Drive-In in Lehigh Valley marks 80 years, celebrating decades of family movie nights. Industry Tension: Exhibitors continue pushing for a revenue-sharing fix as the Paramount–Warner Bros merger faces mounting opposition.

Box Office Buzz: “Scary Movie” is tracking for a big domestic No. 1 debut (about $52.7M weekend after $23.5M previews), while A24’s breakout “Backrooms” keeps steam (roughly $117.1M domestic by Friday) and “Masters of the Universe” faces a tougher climb (around $31M estimates). Franchise & Casting: The He-Man movie’s post-credits tease She-Ra and a new villain setup, and “Scary Movie 6” leans hard on Wayans-style topical parody. Music Meets Film: Madonna’s “Confessions II” short premiered at Tribeca with a no-phones crowd, plus she’s set to release the film on YouTube. Viral Locations: Fans are flocking to a North Hollywood restaurant booth featured in “Obsession,” turning a single scene into a real-world photo stop. Production Updates: “Mayor of Kingstown” begins filming in Cumberland, Maryland, with local officials pitching the state’s film-friendly ecosystem. Industry Watch: US states are preparing a lawsuit to block the Paramount–Warner Bros. merger.

Wim Wenders: The director is pulling his 1975 film “Wrong Move” from distribution after actress Nastassja Kinski raised concerns about a topless scene involving her at age 13. Advocacy Film: In the Philippines, Lawrence Roxas and Ejay Falcon are making “Behind The Smile” to tackle rising HIV cases in Oriental Mindoro, aiming especially at youth prevention. Industry Access: Manitoba’s African Movie Festival launches the Black Actors Foundry program, offering training, portfolios, and networking for Black performers. Controversy & Fixes: “Peddi” director Buchi Babu Sana apologizes over backlash tied to Janhvi Kapoor’s portrayal and says changes are coming. Box Office Watch: “Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai” keeps early momentum, while Anurag Kashyap’s “Bandar” opens weakly and struggles to build. Streaming & Releases: Netflix rolls out new thrillers this week; “Peddi” digital rights are reportedly headed to Netflix mid-July after its full theatrical run. Animation News: Disney confirms “Ice Age: Boiling Point” for Feb. 5, 2027, with the original voice cast expected back. Festival/Global: Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Film Festival GM Shivani Pandya Malhotra steps down after growing the event into a major MENA market. Music Video: Muse releases an Almaty-shot video ahead of its June 26 album “The Wow! Signal.” Quick Pop Culture: June 6 marks the first drive-in movie theater opening in 1933.

Box Office & Reviews: “Scary Movie 6” is back in theaters with a wave of harsh takes, while “Masters of the Universe” is getting mixed early reactions as Nicholas Galitzine and Camila Mendes promote the reboot. Franchise Updates: Warner Bros’ “The Batman 2” has officially started filming in the UK, with Robert Pattinson returning and a 2027 release date set. Streaming Buzz: Netflix’s June slate spotlights “Office Romance,” and “Toy Story 5” is confirmed as the franchise’s first PG entry, with Taylor Swift song secrecy reportedly handled via a decoy film. Industry & Legal: US states including California and New York are preparing to sue to block Paramount Skydance’s Warner Bros Discovery takeover. Community Cinema: Free outdoor screenings keep rolling—“Movie in the Park” in Beaumont (Smurfs) and other local movie-night events. Culture & Causes: Bangladesh’s climate film festival urged using movies to boost environmental awareness, and a Merck Foundation initiative backed “Rays of Hope” to raise childhood cancer awareness.