Film and TV Briefing: Friday 7 March 2025
Welcome to this week’s round-up of news, commentary and industry announcements that you may have missed from the past week. If you are looking for advice in relation to any of the issues mentioned, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
In the news
Oscars 2025 – the winners in full (BBC)
ITV ‘keeping all options open’ amid speculation over ITV Studios deal (The Independent)
Oscars viewership reaches five-year high of 19.69 million (IndieWire)
Morgan Freeman leads tributes to Gene Hackman at Oscars (BBC)
‘Dungeons & Dragons’ directors to write film about Monopoly (The Hollywood Reporter)
Netflix cancels ‘The Recruit’ after two series (Deadline)
ITV acquires Apple TV+ drama ‘Suspicion’ for streaming platform (Broadcast)
Working Title boss warns AI plans pose ‘existential threat’ to creative industries (The Financial Times)
Barack Obama politely declined Ben Stiller’s request for him to star in ‘Severance’ (Variety)
Robert Downey Jr. researching for Doctor Doom role, says Joe Russo (The Hollywood Reporter)
‘Hundreds Of Beavers’ brings in $1 million at box office on budget of $150,000 (IndieWire)
Rick Hoffman to reprise role as Louis Litt for ‘Suits LA’ spin-off (The Hollywood Reporter)
Features and commentary
Inside the spectacular collapse of VFX firm Technicolor (Deadline)
‘James Bond’ writer on 007’s future with Amazon (The Guardian)
How ‘Oscar narratives’ ate this year’s Oscars (Variety)
Can visual effects breakthrough reanimate UK film industry? (The Guardian)
Industry announcements
ITV Studios enjoys record profit despite fall in revenue (Broadcast)
‘Divergent’ producer launches AI film and TV studio (The Hollywood Reporter)
Resources
Tax and benefits overhaul could boost financial security for freelancers, report finds (Directors UK)
Second funding round opens for Reel Impact initiative (Film and TV Charity)
Legal updates
Alec Baldwin to face deposition in lawsuit over ‘Rust’ shooting (The Hollywood Reporter)
