Matt is joined by Eugene Hernandez, director of the Sundance Film Festival, to discuss the last year in Park City, the decision to leave Utah, and what we can expect in Boulder, Colorado. Later, they share some of their favorite stories from their time at the festival over the years (01:30). Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the biggest acquisition at Sundance this year (25:38). For a 20 percent discount on Matt?s Hollywood insider newsletter, ?What I?m Hearing ...,? ???????????????????????????????????????????????click here???????????????????????????????????????????????. Email us your thoughts! [email protected]????????????????????????????????????? Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Eugene Hernandez Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt is joined by Bloomberg?s Lucas Shaw to conduct the fourth annual box office draft. Matt and Lucas each draft seven blockbuster movies set to be released in 2026 with the goal of making the most money possible against the production budget. Plus, an added twist that allows each person to saddle the other's team with a movie they believe will flop. Follow along with Matt and Lucas here! For a 20 percent discount on Matt?s Hollywood insider newsletter, ?What I?m Hearing ...,? ??????????????????????????????????????????????click here??????????????????????????????????????????????. Email us your thoughts! [email protected]???????????????????????????????????? Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Lucas Shaw Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt is joined by national executive director and chief negotiator for SAG-AFTRA Duncan Crabtree-Ireland to discuss the union's upcoming negotiations with the AMPTP, the possibility of another strike, what he wants to achieve in this negotiation, why they are starting their negotiations before other guilds, the state of AI disruptions, and what the actors actually want in their new CBA (01:21). Matt finishes the show with an updated prediction on who will win the bidding for Warner Bros. Discovery (33:06). For a 20 percent discount on Matt?s Hollywood insider newsletter, ?What I?m Hearing ...,? ???????????????????????????????????????????????click here???????????????????????????????????????????????. Email us your thoughts! [email protected]????????????????????????????????????? Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Duncan Crabtree-Ireland Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt is joined by Jared Bush, the writer and codirector of Zootopia 2 and chief creative officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios, to discuss the smash-hit sequel, its incredible success in China, the state of original animated films in theaters, AI and other challenges facing the animation industry, incorporating adult humor into animated films, the plans for a third and fourth 'Frozen,' and more (02:00). Matt finishes the show with an opening weekend box office prediction for '28 Years Later: The Bone Temple' (31:49). For a 20 percent discount on Matt?s Hollywood insider newsletter, ?What I?m Hearing ...,? ??????????????????????????????????????????????click here??????????????????????????????????????????????. Email us your thoughts! [email protected]???????????????????????????????????? Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Jared Bush Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt is joined by Bloomberg?s Lucas Shaw to react to Sunday's Golden Globe Awards, including the cringiest corporate moments and the studios and streamers that overperformed. Then, they discuss the latest move in the ongoing Warner Bros. Discovery saga, with Paramount filing a lawsuit seeking to force Warner to release more information about its merger agreement with Netflix, and their plan to launch a proxy fight (01:56). Matt finishes the show with a prediction about a few heavily favored Oscar contenders (26:44). For a 20 percent discount on Matt?s Hollywood insider newsletter, ?What I?m Hearing ...,? ?????????????????????????????????????????????click here?????????????????????????????????????????????. Email us your thoughts! [email protected]??????????????????????????????????? Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Lucas Shaw Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt is joined by Jeff Sagansky?a longtime investor, executive, and producer?to discuss the current media landscape and how things are trending as we begin 2026. Jeff previews the M&A deal market for this year, makes the case for Warner Bros. surviving without a merger, shares what it?s like to be a producer in Hollywood right now, discusses the dark age of talent profit-sharing, and explains what investors appear most interested in this year (01:50). Matt then finishes the show with an opening weekend box office prediction for ?Greenland 2: Migration? and ?Primate? (30:31). For a 20 percent discount on Matt?s Hollywood insider newsletter, ?What I?m Hearing ...,? ??????????????????????????????????????????????click here??????????????????????????????????????????????. Email us your thoughts! [email protected]???????????????????????????????????? Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Jeff Sagansky Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt is joined by Puck contributor and box office guru Scott Mendelson to recap the year in moviegoing, give his take on the general disappointment in domestic box office performance, and hand out awards like Surprise Hit of the Year, Surprise Miss, and the Great Legs Award. He also checks in on the state of superhero movies and the horror genre and gives final grades to each studio (01:38). Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the 2026 Golden Globes (38:58). For a 20 percent discount on Matt?s Hollywood insider newsletter, ?What I?m Hearing ...,? ?????????????????????????????????????????????click here?????????????????????????????????????????????. Email us your thoughts! [email protected]??????????????????????????????????? Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Scott Mendelson Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt is joined by Bloomberg?s Lucas Shaw to ask their most burning questions for Hollywood in 2026, including whether another strike is imminent, how NFL rights negotiations will affect the shows and movies made for streaming, what types of movies David Ellison will make as the head of a major studio, whether Universal can unseat Disney as the box office champion for the first time in over a decade, and much more (01:34). For a 20 percent discount on Matt?s Hollywood insider newsletter, ?What I?m Hearing ...,? ????????????????????????????????????????????click here????????????????????????????????????????????. Email us your thoughts! [email protected]?????????????????????????????????? Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Lucas Shaw Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt is joined by Puck media correspondent Julia Alexander to recap the year in streaming, and hand out awards for Streamer of the Year, Most Disappointing Streamer, Show of the Year, Biggest Surprise Hit, and highlight the most interesting trends in streaming (01:48). Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the 'Stranger Things' finale in theaters (28:45). For a 20 percent discount on Matt?s Hollywood insider newsletter, ?What I?m Hearing ...,? ????????????????????????????????????????????click here????????????????????????????????????????????. Email us your thoughts! [email protected]?????????????????????????????????? Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Julia Alexander Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt is joined by Bloomberg?s Lucas Shaw to discuss the big Christmas weekend at the box office, including the big ?Marty Supreme? win and Sydney Sweeney?s box office bounce. Then they dive into Lucas?s recent Bloomberg survey polling 700 industry experts to answer the biggest burning questions around town, including who will end up owning Warner Bros., who will be the CEO of Disney in 2027, where you should sell your movie, and who is the worst CEO in media (01:42). Matt finishes the show with a prediction about whether we will get ?Avatar 4? (25:00). For a 20 percent discount on Matt?s Hollywood insider newsletter, ?What I?m Hearing ...,? ???????????????????????????????????????????click here???????????????????????????????????????????. Email us your thoughts! [email protected]????????????????????????????????? Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Lucas Shaw Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In Part 2 of podcasting's biggest night, Matt and Bloomberg?s Lucas Shaw hand out the Executive Fail of the Year Award; the Savviest PR Move Award; the Mea Culpa I Was Wrong Award; the Suck It Haters, I Was Right Award; and the Biggest Self-Inflicted Wound Award. Then they declare which executive and talent won 2025 (00:07). Matt finishes the show with an opening weekend box office prediction for ?Marty Supreme? and ?Anaconda? (34:57). For a 20 percent discount on Matt?s Hollywood insider newsletter, ?What I?m Hearing ...,? ???????????????????????????????????????????click here???????????????????????????????????????????. Email us your thoughts! [email protected]????????????????????????????????? Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Lucas Shaw Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It?s podcasting?s most exclusive event of the year: the fourth annual Townies! Join Matt and Bloomberg?s Lucas Shaw as they recap the year in Hollywood with exciting and hilarious categories like Biggest Flex, Most Destructive Behind-the-Scenes Drama, Most Baffling Success, Most Annoying Media Narrative, Deal of the Year, and much more in Part 1 of this year's Townies. For a 20 percent discount on Matt?s Hollywood insider newsletter, ?What I?m Hearing ...,? ??????????????????????????????????????????click here??????????????????????????????????????????. Email us your thoughts! [email protected]???????????????????????????????? Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Lucas Shaw Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt is joined by Gerry Cardinale, founder and managing partner of RedBird Capital, to discuss Paramount?s bid for Warner Bros., why their bid is superior to Netflix?s bid, Larry Ellison and the Middle East's involvement, whether they will look to raise their bid, and what the next steps will be (02:33). Matt finishes the show with an opening weekend box office prediction for ?Avatar: Fire and Ash' (29:44). For a 20 percent discount on Matt?s Hollywood insider newsletter, ?What I?m Hearing ...,? ????????????????????????????????????????????click here????????????????????????????????????????????. Email us your thoughts! [email protected]?????????????????????????????????? Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Gerry Cardinale Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt is joined by United States Senator Elizabeth Warren to discuss what should happen to Warner Bros., why it should not go to Netflix or Paramount Skydance, whether Democrats and Republicans could unite to block this sale, and how Hollywood should fight to survive in the era of big tech consolidation (02:08). Matt finishes the show reacting to the Oscars moving exclusively to YouTube in 2029 (25:29). For a 20 percent discount on Matt?s Hollywood insider newsletter, ?What I?m Hearing ...,? ???????????????????????????????????????????click here???????????????????????????????????????????.Email us your thoughts! [email protected]????????????????????????????????? Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Senator Elizabeth Warren Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie LopezTheme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt is joined by Bloomberg?s Lucas Shaw to discuss Disney entering a licensing agreement with Sora and investing $1 billion in OpenAI. The deal allows OpenAI to use characters from Disney?s deep pocket of popular IP in its Sora AI video generator. They break down the details of the deal, why Disney did it, how CEO Bob Iger handled the announcement, whether other companies will follow suit, and what this means for the long-term tension between Hollywood and AI (03:12). Matt finishes the show with a prediction about Timothée Chalamet?s press tour and Oscar chances (26:25). For a 20 percent discount on Matt?s Hollywood insider newsletter, ?What I?m Hearing ...,? ?????????????????????????????????????????click here?????????????????????????????????????????. Email us your thoughts! [email protected]??????????????????????????????? Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Lucas Shaw Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt is joined by casting director Tiffany Little Canfield (?Wicked?) to discuss casting major franchise roles that draw thousands of auditions like Elphaba and Glinda in ?Wicked,? the challenges of casting stars vs. unknowns, misconceptions about the casting process and how it has changed, Hollywood?s lack of young movie stars, the new achievement in casting Oscar, the best auditions she has ever seen, and other challenges of the casting process (02:06). Matt finishes the show with an opening weekend box office prediction for ?Ella McCay? (29:04). For a 20 percent discount on Matt?s Hollywood insider newsletter, ?What I?m Hearing ...,? ??????????????????????????????????????????click here??????????????????????????????????????????. Email us your thoughts! [email protected]???????????????????????????????? Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Tiffany Little Canfield Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt is joined by Peter Supino from Wolfe Research to discuss Paramount launching a hostile takeover of Warner Bros., days after they agreed to a deal with Netflix. Peter maps out the differences in each bid and makes the case for and against each bidder. They also talk about the latest comments by David Ellison, Ted Sarandos, and Donald Trump, where the financials are coming from for Paramount-Skydance, and ultimately who has the upper hand (02:27). Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the 2026 Golden Globes (27:30).For a 20 percent discount on Matt?s Hollywood insider newsletter, ?What I?m Hearing ...,? ?????????????????????????????????????????click here?????????????????????????????????????????. Email us your thoughts! [email protected]??????????????????????????????? Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Peter Supino Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt is joined by Bloomberg?s Lucas Shaw to break down every angle of Netflix agreeing to buy the Warner Bros. film and streaming business. They dig into why Netflix made this deal, why David Ellison and Paramount lost out, the threat to moviemaking and movie theaters, what will happen to HBO Max, and possible roadblocks that could prevent this deal from going through. For a 20 percent discount on Matt?s Hollywood insider newsletter, ?What I?m Hearing ...,? ????????????????????????????????????????click here????????????????????????????????????????. Email us your thoughts! [email protected]?????????????????????????????? Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Lucas Shaw Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt is joined by Stephen Galloway, the dean of Chapman University?s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts, to discuss the state of film school education in 2025, how it has evolved, and the increasingly high tuition costs (02:22) Matt finishes the show by predicting whether 'Rush Hour 4' will actually get made (27:09). For a 20 percent discount on Matt?s Hollywood insider newsletter, ?What I?m Hearing ...,? ?????????????????????????????????????????click here?????????????????????????????????????????. Email us your thoughts! [email protected]??????????????????????????????? Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Stephen Galloway Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt is joined by Nielsen Global Media executive Brian Fuhrer to discuss why NFL ratings seem to be setting new viewership records all the time, how sports-ratings measurements have changed, why these numbers are so important for sports leagues, and which leagues are growing the fastest (02:35). Matt finishes the show with an opening weekend box office prediction for ?Five Nights at Freddy's 2? (26:35). For a 20 percent discount on Matt?s Hollywood insider newsletter, ?What I?m Hearing ...,? ????????????????????????????????????????click here????????????????????????????????????????. Email us your thoughts! [email protected]?????????????????????????????? Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Brian Fuhrer Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt is joined by Bloomberg's Lucas Shaw to discuss Lucas?s recent report that Netflix would continue to release Warner Bros. movies in theaters if it were to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery. They talk about whether they actually believe Netflix, how theatrical movies at Netflix would work, and possible conditions that could accompany a Netflix?Warner Bros. Discovery deal (03:07). Lucas sticks around to give an update on the 2025 box office draft and discuss the big opening weekend for ?Zootopia 2? (28:59). For a 20 percent discount on Matt?s Hollywood insider newsletter, ?What I?m Hearing ...,? ???????????????????????????????????????click here???????????????????????????????????????. Email us your thoughts! [email protected]????????????????????????????? Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Lucas Shaw Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Live from Los Angeles, Matt is joined by director Chloe Zhao ('Hamnet') to discuss what she learned from Steven Spielberg producing her movie, how she developed her visual style, directing a Marvel movie, casting ?Hamnet?, the COVID Oscars, and her plans to work in anime (00:41). Matt finishes the show with an opening weekend box office prediction for ?Zootopia 2? (21:45). For a 20 percent discount on Matt?s Hollywood insider newsletter, ?What I?m Hearing ...,? ??????????????????????????????????????click here??????????????????????????????????????. Email us your thoughts! [email protected]???????????????????????????? Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Chloe Zhao Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In part two, Matt and director James Cameron talk about how much ?Avatar? really costs to produce, whether he has plans for a fourth and fifth movie, his relationship with Disney and Bob Iger, what COVID and streaming did to the industry, who should buy Warner Bros. (and why it?s definitely not Netflix), why 3D never took off, the Sphere, aliens, his director hang-out sessions, and much more. For a 20 percent discount on Matt?s Hollywood insider newsletter, ?What I?m Hearing ...,? ?????????????????????????????????????click here?????????????????????????????????????. Email us your thoughts! [email protected]??????????????????????????? Host: Matt Belloni Guest: James Cameron Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt and director James Cameron sit down for a wide-ranging conversation on the misconceptions about the filmmaking of the 'Avatar' franchise, how it landed at Fox/Disney, why Jim prefers using performance capture technology, the cost of CGI, the threat of AI in Hollywood, his relationship with Elon Musk, whether Jim agrees that he is a ?difficult? director, his deep-sea explorations, and more. For a 20 percent discount on Matt?s Hollywood insider newsletter, ?What I?m Hearing ...,? ?????????????????????????????????????click here?????????????????????????????????????. Email us your thoughts! [email protected]??????????????????????????? Host: Matt Belloni Guest: James Cameron Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt is joined by Tom Freston, former CEO of Viacom and MTV Networks, to discuss why legacy companies missed the boat with YouTube in the early aughts, the similarities YouTube from the aughts shares with the AI boom of today, why MTV died, and whether it can be revived (02:13). Matt finishes the show with a prediction on the hottest story in town: Parmigiano Reggiano signing with UTA (25:57). For a 20 percent discount on Matt?s Hollywood insider newsletter, ?What I?m Hearing ...,? ????????????????????????????????????click here????????????????????????????????????. Email us your thoughts! [email protected]?????????????????????????? Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Tom Freston Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt is joined by Jonathan Kanter, a lawyer who served as Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice from 2021 to 2024, to look at the looming Warner Bros. Discovery sale from an antitrust perspective, highlight the biggest antitrust issues for each potential bidder (Paramount, Comcast, Netflix), whether consolidation is necessary to compete with Big Tech, the government?s influence over this merger, and the perilous state of existence for media companies in 2025 (02:28). For a 20 percent discount on Matt?s Hollywood insider newsletter, ?What I?m Hearing ...,? ???????????????????????????????????click here???????????????????????????????????. Email us your thoughts! [email protected]????????????????????????? Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Jonathan Kanter Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt is joined by Bloomberg?s Lucas Shaw to investigate a historically bad fall season at the box office by highlighting which issues are actually real and which are insignificant. They look at larger industry-wide trends, like the shortening of theatrical windows and the rise of streaming, as well as smaller, more recent developments like releasing independent movies wide rather than platforming them. They discuss whether the "movie-star problem" excuse is overblown or legitimate, as well as if this could simply be explained by judging the actual quality of the films themselves (02:33). Matt finishes the show with an Academy Awards prediction after attending the premiere of Netflix?s ?Jay Kelly? (25:54). For a 20 percent discount on Matt?s Hollywood insider newsletter, ?What I?m Hearing ...,? ??????????????????????????????????click here??????????????????????????????????. Email us your thoughts! [email protected]???????????????????????? Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Lucas Shaw Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt is joined by Rahul Purini, the president of Crunchyroll, to discuss the anime boom both globally and in America, the rise of global streaming services and its role in spreading anime and manga content, and what is it about the anime content itself that appeals to audiences (03:49). Matt finishes the show with an opening weekend box office prediction for ?The Running Man? and ?Now You See Me: Now You Don?t' (24:08). For a 20 percent discount on Matt?s Hollywood insider newsletter, ?What I?m Hearing ...,? ?????????????????????????????????click here?????????????????????????????????. Email us your thoughts! [email protected]??????????????????????? Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Rahul Purini Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt is joined by Tubi CEO Anjali Sud to discuss how Tubi reached profitability, its push to bring in original creators, the growth of ad-supported streaming, how the FAST landscape is evolving, and why everyone is competing with YouTube (01:55). Later, Matt discusses a few details about the upcoming Michael Jackson biopic, ?Michael,? and gives an early prediction for how the movie will perform and whether there will be a sequel (26:20). For a 20 percent discount on Matt?s Hollywood insider newsletter, ?What I?m Hearing ...,? ????????????????????????????????click here????????????????????????????????. Email us your thoughts! [email protected]?????????????????????? Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Anjali Sud Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt is joined by Bloomberg?s Lucas Shaw to discuss the ongoing dispute between YouTube and Disney, which has resulted in the removal of ESPN and other Disney properties from YouTube TV for the past week. They break down why this dispute is different from others that have come before it, focusing on the leverage a tech company like Google has over traditional cable operators. Later, they touch on the recent Warner Bros. Discovery earnings report and give an update on the state of the company's sale (03:04). Matt finishes the show with a prediction about Ryan Murphy?s newest TV show, ?All?s Fair? (22:08). For a 20 percent discount on Matt?s Hollywood insider newsletter, ?What I?m Hearing ...,? ???????????????????????????????click here???????????????????????????????. Email us your thoughts! [email protected]????????????????????? Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Lucas Shaw Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt opens up the mailbag for another Town Hall and answers listener questions about Disney turning down a Steven Soderbergh?penned 'Star Wars' script, the possibility of Netflix and Comcast splitting Warner Bros. Discovery, whether Netflix will ever release movies in theaters, who the best home for Warner Bros. is from the perspective of the talent community, and what will happen to 'The Challenge' and other MTV properties under David Ellison. For a 20 percent discount on Matt?s Hollywood insider newsletter, ?What I?m Hearing ...,? ????????????????????????????????click here????????????????????????????????. Email us your thoughts! [email protected]?????????????????????? Host: Matt Belloni Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt is joined by Bloomberg?s Lucas Shaw to draft which movie franchises they would most want to start a movie studio with in 2025. They each select five franchises, as well as one TV franchise, and make the case for why they are best suited to succeed over the next 10-20 years. For a 20 percent discount on Matt?s Hollywood insider newsletter, ?What I?m Hearing ...,? ??????????????????????????????click here??????????????????????????????. Email us your thoughts! [email protected]???????????????????? Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Lucas Shaw Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt is joined by Andrew Ross Sorkin ('Squawk Box,' The New York Times) to discuss how the tech boom has affected Hollywood and what new power players like David Ellison really want with the media industry. They also discuss the potential impact of the AI bubble bursting, whether the Middle East will ever make a big splash in Hollywood, and whether there is a case for consolidation in media (02:11). Matt finishes the show with a prediction about horror movies on streaming (28:08). For a 20 percent discount on Matt?s Hollywood insider newsletter, ?What I?m Hearing ...,? ???????????????????????????????click here???????????????????????????????. Email us your thoughts! [email protected]????????????????????? Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Andrew Ross Sorkin Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt is joined by Teddy Schwarzman, the founder of Black Bear Pictures, to discuss the challenges and strategies behind an independent production company launching its own distribution division. They talk about the risk of making big bets on small movies in theaters, how the industry has evolved, and whether Teddy sees A24 and Neon as competitors (02:46). Matt finishes the show with an opening weekend box office prediction for Yorgos Lanthimos?s new film, ?Bugonia? (26:54). For a 20 percent discount on Matt?s Hollywood insider newsletter, ?What I?m Hearing ...,? ??????????????????????????????click here??????????????????????????????. Email us your thoughts! [email protected]???????????????????? Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Teddy Schwarzman Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt is joined by Bloomberg?s Lucas Shaw to discuss Matt?s report that Taylor Sheridan will be leaving Paramount to join NBCU starting in 2029. They break down the details of the deal, whether this should be considered savvy or desperate for NBCU and Peacock, how big of a risk this is, and whether this portends a larger splash coming from NBCU (02:40). Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the future of Jon Stewart and 'The Daily Show' (25:55). For a 20 percent discount on Matt?s Hollywood insider newsletter, ?What I?m Hearing ...,? ?????????????????????????????click here?????????????????????????????. Email us your thoughts! [email protected]??????????????????? Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Lucas Shaw Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt is joined by film data analyst Stephen Follows to dig into one of Hollywood?s most ridiculous phenomenons, the film festival standing ovation. Stephen gathered over 500 reported standing ovations across five of the world?s biggest film festivals to see whether the length of applause tells us anything meaningful about a film?s future (02:26). Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the 25 shows eligible for Best Podcast at the Golden Globes (25:53). For a 20 percent discount on Matt?s Hollywood insider newsletter, ?What I?m Hearing ...,? ??????????????????????????????click here??????????????????????????????. Email us your thoughts! [email protected]???????????????????? Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Stephen Follows Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt is joined by Peter Supino, a managing director and senior analyst at Wolfe Research, to unpack the deal market for Warner Bros. Discovery, running through each potential bidder, who makes the most sense, and what a merger would look like in each scenario (03:13). Matt finishes the show with an opening weekend box office prediction for ?Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere? (30:45). For a 20 percent discount on Matt?s Hollywood insider newsletter, ?What I?m Hearing ...,? ?????????????????????????????click here?????????????????????????????. Email us your thoughts! [email protected]??????????????????? Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Peter Supino Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt is joined by Bloomberg?s Lucas Shaw to discuss Netflix diving into the podcast business by striking a deal to stream a group of original podcasts from Spotify and The Ringer. They break down what this signals for the future of Netflix, the likelihood that people will watch podcasts on Netflix, and what?s in it for Spotify. Later, they touch on AMC and Netflix agreeing to rerelease ?KPop Demon Hunters? in theaters from October 31 through November 2, then dive into whether this marks the beginning of a new era for Netflix and theatrical releases (03:01). Matt finishes the show with a prediction about Formula One rights moving to Apple TV (27:34). For a 20 percent discount on Matt?s Hollywood insider newsletter, ?What I?m Hearing ...,? ????????????????????????????click here????????????????????????????. Email us your thoughts! [email protected]?????????????????? Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Lucas Shaw Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt is joined by Edward Saatchi, the CEO of a startup called Fable, to discuss his new product, Showrunner, which is backed by Amazon and bills itself as the ?Netflix of AI.? The app allows users to create their own licensed versions of their favorite TV shows using AI. Edward explains why he feels this is the proper way to use AI in Hollywood, how the app will make money and pay artists, the guardrails to ensure this is used properly, and how Hollywood studios feel about this (02:39). Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the MLB playoffs (28:36). For a 20 percent discount on Matt?s Hollywood insider newsletter, ?What I?m Hearing ...,? ?????????????????????????????click here?????????????????????????????. Email us your thoughts! [email protected]??????????????????? Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Edward Saatchi Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt is joined by Apple senior vice president of services Eddy Cue to discuss all things Apple in Hollywood, including the latest momentum for the studio after big hits like ?Severance,? ?The Studio,? and ?F1?; the business model of the streaming service; whether the company would ever bolster its library by acquiring a studio; its interest in sports rights; its commitment to releasing movies theatrically; and whether Apple is serious about sticking around in Hollywood for the long term (03:44). Matt finishes the show with an opening-weekend box office prediction for ?The Black Phone 2? (35:59). For a 20 percent discount on Matt?s Hollywood insider newsletter, ?What I?m Hearing ...,? ????????????????????????????click here????????????????????????????. Email us your thoughts! [email protected]?????????????????? Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Eddy CueProducers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Live from Bloomberg?s Screentime event in L.A., Matt and Lucas Shaw make the case to buy or sell various entities across the entertainment industry, including the Rock, Comcast, Louis C.K., the Sora 2 freak-out, Glen Powell, Marvel, and more! For a 20 percent discount on Matt?s Hollywood insider newsletter, ?What I?m Hearing ...,? ???????????????????????????click here???????????????????????????. Email us your thoughts! [email protected]????????????????? Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Lucas Shaw Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In Part 2 of Matt?s conversation with WME executive chairman and TKO CEO Ari Emanuel and TKO president Mark Shapiro, they discuss how the NFL's next rights negotiations will influence the entertainment industry, how the UFC ended up with Paramount and why it almost went to Netflix, and Ari?s relationship with the Rock, David Ellison, and Donald Trump (01:35). For a 20 percent discount on Matt?s Hollywood insider newsletter, ?What I?m Hearing ...,? ????????????????????????????click here????????????????????????????. Email us your thoughts! [email protected]????????????????? Host: Matt Belloni Guests: Ari Emanuel and Mark Shapiro Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt is joined by WME and TKOs Ari Emanuel and Mark Shapiro to discuss their new company, Mari. They talk about why they are betting on live experiences, the possibility of the four-day work week changing the way we live, the state of the talent business, and how we should be thinking about AI in Hollywood (03:33). Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the possibility of Netflix buying Warner Bros. (23:12). For a 20 percent discount on Matt?s Hollywood insider newsletter, ?What I?m Hearing ...,? ???????????????????????????click here???????????????????????????. Email us your thoughts! [email protected]???????????????? Host: Matt Belloni Guests: Ari Emanuel and Mark Shapiro Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt is joined by Semafor cofounder Ben Smith to discuss what to expect from CBS News in the David Ellison and Bari Weiss era. Ellison, the new owner of Paramount, has tasked 41-year-old Weiss to run its news division and also acquired her company The Free Press for $150 million. Matt and Ben talk about why David Ellison brought Weiss in, how she could influence CBS News, and what power a broadcast news brand even has in 2025 (03:32). Matt finishes the show with an opening weekend box office prediction for ?Tron: Ares? (25:54). For a 20 percent discount on Matt?s Hollywood insider newsletter, ?What I?m Hearing ...,? ??????????????????????????click here??????????????????????????. Email us your thoughts! [email protected]???????????????? Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Ben Smith Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt and Bloomberg?s Lucas Shaw use the disappointing box office performance for A24?s sports drama ?The Smashing Machine? with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson to examine the current state of A24, the difficulty of living up to its sky-high valuation, and the natural life cycle of a growing indie movie studio (03:04). Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the new cast of 'SNL' (25:20). For a 20 percent discount on Matt?s Hollywood insider newsletter, ?What I?m Hearing ...,? ?????????????????????????click here?????????????????????????. Email us your thoughts! [email protected]??????????????? Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Lucas Shaw Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt is joined by SAG-AFTRA national executive director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland to discuss OpenAI?s new app, Sora 2, an AI video tool and video-sharing app, and the problems it presents for Hollywood. They discuss how this product can threaten the legitimacy of image and likeness rights and infringe on intellectual property and why Hollywood isn't suing OpenAI immediately. They dive into what is allowed to be used to train AI models vs. what is allowed to be posted on apps like Sora, the opt-in vs. opt-out system, how actors can protect themselves, and what's really at stake here (03:15). They also discuss Tilly Norwood, the so-called ?AI actress? that sparked outrage over the last week (28:23). For a 20 percent discount on Matt?s Hollywood insider newsletter, ?What I?m Hearing ...,? ??????????????????????????click here??????????????????????????. Email us your thoughts! [email protected]???????????????? Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Duncan Crabtree-Ireland Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt is joined by Entertainment 360 literary manager/producer Geoff Shaevitz to discuss why spec-script sales have taken off in Hollywood over the past year. Geoff speculates on what kick-started this trend, why buyers are moving away from fully packaged deals, which genres are selling, which studios are buying, and whether the original-script boom is here to stay (02:50). Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the opening weekend box offices for ?Taylor Swift: The Official Release Party of a Showgirl? and ?The Smashing Machine? (25:15). For a 20 percent discount on Matt?s Hollywood insider newsletter, ?What I?m Hearing ...,? ?????????????????????????click here?????????????????????????. Email us your thoughts! [email protected]??????????????? Host: Matt BelloniGuest: Geoff Shaevitz Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt is joined by Bloomberg?s Lucas Shaw to discuss the weekend box office performance of ?One Battle After Another?: Was the film a flop or a hit? With Warner Bros.' film slate done for the year, Matt and Lucas discuss the studio's performance this year and how it could affect chiefs Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy, as well as the studio as a whole, amid a potential sale to David Ellison (02:58). They also discuss President Trump?s renewed threats of imposing tariffs on films made outside the United States (22:59). Matt finishes the show with a prediction on what will happen with AI actress Tilly Norwood (25:26). For a 20 percent discount on Matt?s Hollywood insider newsletter, ?What I?m Hearing ...,? ????????????????????????click here????????????????????????. Email us your thoughts! [email protected]?????????????? Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Lucas Shaw Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt is joined by Scott Purdy, a media strategy leader at KPMG, to discuss their illuminating new study outlining how much the major networks are spending on content and, more importantly, where. They discuss why these companies need to start spending their money differently and how user-generated content might soon become more powerful than the traditional content models (02:36). Matt finishes the show with an opening weekend box office prediction for Paul Thomas Anderson?s newest film, ?One Battle After Another? (25:28). For a 20 percent discount on Matt?s Hollywood insider newsletter, ?What I?m Hearing ...,? ?????????????????????????click here?????????????????????????. Email us your thoughts! [email protected]??????????????? Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Scott Purdy Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt is joined by Puck?s Eriq Gardner to discuss the return of ?Jimmy Kimmel Live!? and unpack what could happen next. They talk about why Brendan Carr and the FCC may not be as powerful as they might seem, whether affiliate stations can preempt ?Jimmy Kimmel Live!? indefinitely, and whether Disney could leverage its power by withholding its most valuable content?like the NFL and college football?from these affiliate networks (02:47). Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the postponement of the Apple TV+ show ?The Savant? (25:43). For a 20 percent discount on Matt?s Hollywood insider newsletter, ?What I?m Hearing ...,? ????????????????????????click here????????????????????????. Email us your thoughts! [email protected]?????????????? Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Eriq Gardner Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices