No. 1Theatre
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.
No. 2Box office
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.
No. 3Late night
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.
No. 4Streaming
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 →
No. 5Documentary
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.
No. 6TV business
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 →
No. 7Reunion
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.