The Ellison Empire Strikes Back: Paramount Goes Hostile
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 Serandos, 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! thetown@spotify.com 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
9 Dec 36min
Netflix Buys Warner Bros. Emergency Pod!!!
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! thetown@spotify.com 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
6 Dec 41min
Is Film School Still Worth It? With a Top Dean.
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! thetown@spotify.com 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
5 Dec 35min
Why the NFL (and Everything Else) Keeps Breaking Ratings Records
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! thetown@spotify.com 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
4 Dec 32min
Would Netflix Really Embrace Theaters to Buy Warner Bros.?
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! thetown@spotify.com 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
2 Dec 37min
Commercial Vs. Arthouse, Going Marvel, and Notes From Spielberg With ‘Hamnet’ Director Chloé Zhao
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! thetown@spotify.com 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
28 Nov 30min
Part 2: James Cameron on ‘Avatar 4’ and ‘5,’ Movie Biz Fears, 3D, Netflix, and Aliens
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! thetown@spotify.com 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
24 Nov 37min
Part 1: James Cameron on Avatar Misconceptions, AI’s Skynet Moment, and His Elon Musk Friendship
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! thetown@spotify.com 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
24 Nov 39min
