Vol. I · No. 285Everything you need. Nothing you don't.Morning Edition

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The Flamingo · Morning Edition

Tarantino heads to the West End, a Gaza documentary quietly crosses $500K, and John Oliver tells his new bosses he's not changing a thing.

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Tarantino's West End debut 'The Popinjay Cavalier' sets March 2027 opening

Quentin Tarantino's first West End play now has dates. It opens at the Phoenix Theatre on March 18, 2027, with previews from February 23 and a run booked through June 13. Sacha Baron Cohen takes the title role, his West End debut, while he's still starring in Ali G: Who Iz I? The show is a swashbuckling comedy of deception and disguise set in 1830s Europe, from Sony Pictures Entertainment and Sonia Friedman Productions. Tom Pye handles sets and costumes, and Natasha Chivers does lighting. Tickets go on sale Monday from £25 ($33), and the rest of the cast will be announced later.

Why it mattersYou can plan for a rare chance to see a Tarantino production on stage, with tickets starting at £25.

Full story at The Hollywood Reporter →

Gaza documentary 'NAZA' tops $500K without a distributor

NAZA, a self-released documentary on Israel's military operations in Gaza, had a strong second weekend. It expanded to 85 North American locations in 30 cities after opening at New York's IFC Center. It is on track for $378,250 over the four-day weekend, about $4,450 per screen, which should lift its total to roughly $504,074 by Monday. Directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor also worked on the Oscar-winning No Other Land. NAZA won a special jury prize at Venice and holds 100 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. The Israeli-American Council protested outside a Los Angeles screening, and the IDF has called the film distorted. More theaters are coming.

Why it mattersYou get a clear example of an independent, self-distributed film finding an audience while drawing fierce political pushback.

Full story at The Hollywood Reporter →

John Oliver jokes about Skydance ownership on 'Last Week Tonight'

Oliver skipped the Skydance–Warner Bros. Discovery deal the week before, then slipped in a few jokes on Sunday's show. During a segment on generic drug inspections, he quipped that he was getting ahead of any Paramount budget cuts. Later, after a bit about the Liberty Mutual mascot, he welcomed himself to the Skydance family. His punchline: "We're never gonna change!" Skydance also bought Paramount last year, and HBO now sits under the same corporate umbrella. Whether the show's freedom holds up is the real question, and the jokes suggest Oliver is happy to keep poking at it.

Why it mattersYou get an early read on whether HBO's sharpest satirist plans to keep needling his new owners.

Full story at The Hollywood Reporter →

Prime Video lands Princess Diana tapes series for UK and Ireland

Prime Video has taken UK and Ireland rights to the three-part documentary built on Princess Diana's unheard recordings. It will launch there as Diana: Her Secret Confessions, while the original title, Diana Unheard, stays in place for international sales via Cineflix Rights. The producers, Love Monday TV, secured about five hours of audio Diana recorded in 1991 with her friend James Colthurst. Parts of those tapes fed Andrew Morton's 1992 book, and short excerpts have aired before, but this is the full set. Diana talks about Charles, Camilla, Andrew, her sons and her family. The source gives no premiere date.

Why it mattersYou can expect the most closely watched royal documentary of the season, with Diana in her own voice.

Full story at Deadline →

Jackson brothers get their own documentary, launching at MIPCOM

Jackie, Jermaine, Tito and Marlon Jackson are the subjects of a new documentary, made without Michael. Workerbee and Paper Route Studios secured access for a 90-minute film that is also available as a three-part series. Benjamin Hirsch, who directed the Janet Jackson documentary, spent three years on it. It follows the brothers from Gary, Indiana, to global stardom, and covers their father Joe's relentless rehearsals and their mother Katherine's role. It includes the last interview Tito gave before his death in 2024. Mediawan starts international sales at MIPCOM, and the film has no title yet.

Why it mattersYou get the Jackson 5 story told by the four brothers who remain.

Full story at Variety →

ITV Studios shows off new slate at MIPCOM amid sale talk

ITV Studios opened MIPCOM with 11 new formats and a confident message. Exec Ruth Berry said the sale of ITV's broadcast arm to Sky has not affected operations, with the studios staying standalone. Fish On! With Jeremy Wade launches October 20 on Patreon, while Andrea Riseborough stars in First Woman, about the first woman on the moon. The Voice landed its 80th territory in Estonia. Karen Pirie gets a third season, and Line of Duty returns for season seven next year. ITV also picked up Channel 4's Incognito and is launching an Australian drama label with Sara Richardson.

Why it mattersYou get a quick map of what ITV is selling worldwide as its corporate future is reshaped.

Full story at Variety →

Tina Fey reunites '30 Rock' cast at Radio City for 20th anniversary

Tina Fey marked 30 Rock's 20th anniversary with a roughly 100-minute reunion at Radio City Music Hall on Sunday, in front of 6,000 fans. It wasn't streamed or recorded, and Fey asked the audience not to film. The night mixed sketches, a game show hosted by Jack McBrayer, and guests including Conan O'Brien, Tom Hanks, Brian Williams and Jon Hamm. A segment on the show's eerily accurate predictions got big reactions, and a tribute remembered the late Grizz Chapman. Proceeds went to the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. Fey said the cast hadn't rehearsed.

Why it mattersYou get the highlights of a reunion that was deliberately kept off the internet.

Full story at The Hollywood Reporter →

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