Film and TV Briefing: Friday 28 February 2025

In the news

Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa found dead at home (BBC)

Film industry figures speak out over UK government’s AI proposals (Screen Daily)

‘Baby Reindeer’ production company signs first-look deal with Phoebe Waller-Bridge outfit (Deadline)

BBC announces cast for new Richard Gadd drama ‘Half Man’ (Royal Television Society)

‘Buffy The Vampire Slayer’ star Michelle Trachtenberg dies aged 39 (The Guardian)

Warner Bros. and Sony join forces on studio in Las Vegas (Variety)

Release date set for Guy Ritchie Paramount+ series ‘MobLand’ (Deadline)

Expansion of Pinewood Studios to be reviewed (BBC)

Mike Leigh and Ken Loach among signatories to letter backing BBC Gaza documentary (Screen Daily)

California introduces bills to boost film and TV tax credits (The Hollywood Reporter)

‘James Bond’ producers rejected Christopher Nolan over demand for final cut (The Independent)

Features and commentary

How will the 2025 Oscars deal with Trump 2.0? (The Hollywood Reporter)

Amazon gains new asset in form of 007 – but copyright clock is ticking (The Economist)

All 96 Best Picture winners at the Oscars – ranked (IndieWire)

Industry announcements

BBC content chief Charlotte Moore to join Sony Pictures Television (Broadcast)

European Investment Fund commits £20 million for TV and film productions (Broadcast)

BFI announces winners of 2025 Future Film Festival Awards (BFI)

Resources

TV and film companies urge UK government to protect creative assets from Generative AI models (Pact)

Women in Film and TV launches 2025 career mentoring scheme (WFTV)

How HETV Skills Fund is helping screen workforce prepare for new technologies (ScreenSkills)

Legal updates

Variety loses attempt to dismiss defamation claim from Francis Ford Coppola (The Hollywood Reporter)