• Amazon.com Inc. laid off around 100 employees in its video game divisions including Prime Gaming, Game Growth and the company’s San Diego-based studio in its latest effort to cut costs, according to an internal memo Games Vice President Christoph Hartmann sent to staff that was obtained by Bloomberg. Amazon has struggled to grow in the gaming space since launching its efforts in 2012, and most recently its video game streaming platform Twitch eliminated 400 jobs while Hartmann’s predecessor, Mike Frazzini, left Amazon last year. (Bloomberg)
• Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. plans to open a $200 million production studio in Atlanta, later this year to increase movie and TV show filming in the area where “The Hunger Games” franchise was made. The proposed Lionsgate Studios Atlanta will be set over 40 acres of land and feature 500,000 square feet of production space over 12 sound stages, as well as office space. (The Hollywood Reporter)
• Sirius XM Holdings Inc. Chief Financial Officer Sean Sullivan is stepping down after three years to pursue a role outside of the industry, while Thomas D. Barry, senior vice president and controller of the satellite-radio company since 2009, will replace him. (The Wall Street Journal) Meanwhile, NBCUniversal hired CAA veteran Matt Leaf as Universal Pictures’ executive vice president, head of business affairs, a role in which he will oversee negotiations and deals for the development, production and distribution of projects. (Deadline)

Generative AI & Entertainment: A Special Report

Variety Intelligence

Hollywood Celebrates Donald Trump’s Arrest: ‘No One Is Above the Law’

McKinley Franklin, Variety

After Donald Trump’s arrest on Tuesday, many celebrities took to Twitter to express their joy on the historic moment.

WGA, Hollywood Studios to Resume Contract Talks on Wednesday

Cynthia Littleton, Variety

The WGA and Hollywood’s major employers are set to resume contract talks on Wednesday as the sides aim to make progress in sorting through complicated compensation issues and averting a strike.

Netflix, Transgender Film Center Launch Career Development Lab for Trans and Nonbinary Filmmakers

Abbey White, The Hollywood Reporter

This 12-week career-accelerator fellowship will support eight creators in film and TV with developing the skills and understanding to navigate their careers in entertainment through workshops, site visits and a $10,000 grant.

Percival Everett, Ling Ma among winners of $175,000 prizes

The Associated Press

Percival Everett and Ling Ma, already two of the year’s most honored writers, are among eight winners of the lucrative Windham-Campbell Prize. Each of the recipients, who also include the dramatists Dominique Morisseau and Jasmine Lee-Jones, will be given $175,000.

Oscar Isaac and Rachel Brosnahan to Bring Hansberry Play to Broadway

Michael Paulson, The New York Times

The duo recently starred in a revival of “The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window” at BAM; now the production is moving uptown.

Comedian Bobby Lee faces backlash for resurfaced prostitution comments

Naledi Ushe, USA Today

Bobby Lee is under fire for resurfaced videos of the comedian telling a story three years ago about an encounter with a prostitute in Tijuana, Mexico.

‘Shrek 5’ With Original Cast, Donkey Spinoff With Eddie Murphy and More Teased by Illumination’s Chris Meledandri

Brent Lang and Ethan Shanfeld, Variety

Though no deals are in place, Meledandri said negotiations with the actors are going well.

‘Transformers’ Stars Anthony Ramos and Dominique Fishback to Receive Rising Stars Award at CinemaCon

Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter

The actors will receive their award during the Big Screen Achievement Awards as part of a program that will also honor Zendaya, Christopher Nolan, Emma Thomas and the cast of Adele Lim’s “Joy Ride.”

Chloé Zhao Directing Adaptation of Shakespeare-Era Novel ‘Hamnet’ for Amblin Partners

Adam B. Vary, Variety

Oscar-winning filmmaker Chloé Zhao (“Nomadland”) will direct an adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s acclaimed Shakespeare-era novel “Hamnet” for Amblin Partners.

‘John Wick’ Ana de Armas Spinoff ‘Ballerina’ Sets Summer 2024 Date

Anthony D’Alessandro, Deadline

Lionsgate’s John Wick spinoff The Ballerina will be hitting theaters on June 7, 2024.

Kelvin Harrison Jr. & Murray Bartlett Set For Searchlight’s Rock Opera ‘O’Dessa’ 

Matt Grobar, Deadline

Kelvin Harrison Jr. (“Chevalier”) and Murray Bartlett (“The White Lotus”) have closed deals to star opposite “Stranger Things” breakout Sadie Sink in Searchlight Pictures’ original rock opera O’Dessa from Patti Cake$ filmmaker Geremy Jasper.

Making a splash: A deep dive into the live-action ‘Little Mermaid’ with a new generation’s Ariel

Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly

Halle Bailey, Melissa McCarthy and director Rob Marshall share the tale behind making their underwater musical with a groundbreaking Disney princess.

Robert De Niro Joins Paramount+ Crime Drama ‘Bobby Meritorius’

Lucas Manfredi, The Wrap

The series, which marks the Academy Award-winning actor’s second TV project, comes from Billy Ray and Paramount Television Studios.

Kit Harington Joins Season 3 of ‘Industry’

Diego Peralta, Collider

The “Game of Thrones” actor will play the CEO of Lumi, a green tech energy company.

The Taylor Sheridan Effect Is Impacting Everything from Production Incentives to Headshots

Tony Maglio and Wilson Chapman, IndieWire

The “Yellowstone” expanded universe has changed Paramount’s fortunes, Hollywood headshots, and possibly Texas politics.

Netflix set to release first-ever live reunion special on April 16 with ‘Love is Blind’ cast

Lauren Forristal, TechCrunch

Netflix continues with its livestreams, this time with the “Love is Blind” season 4 cast. This will be the streamer’s first-ever live reunion special in its history. “Love Is Blind: The Live Reunion” will air on April 16 at 8 p.m. ET.

In This ‘Grease’ Prequel Series, Pink Is the Word

Elisabeth Vincentelli, The New York Times

“Rise of the Pink Ladies” describes the origins of the title 1950s girl gang before Rizzo and Frenchy took over, as viewed through a 2020s lens.

Pickleball Slam on ESPN Beats Out MLB, NHL, NBA in TV Ratings Race

Anthony Crupi, Sportico

The inaugural Pickleball Slam went off without a hitch this Sunday, as the much-ballyhooed “fastest-growing sport in the U.S.” put together a top 10 performance in both of the key TV demos.

Webby Award nominations for Harry Styles, Lizzo, Post Malone

Mark Kennedy, The Associated Press

Harry Styles, Post Malone, Lizzo, Doja Cat, Megan Thee Stallion, the cast of “Ted Lasso” and the web series that gave us a kid loving corn are among the nominees for this year’s Webby Awards, recognizing the best internet content and creators.

The Obamas’ Higher Ground Inks Podcast Advertising Deal With Acast

J. Clara Chan, The Hollywood Reporter

Acast will handle ad sales and distribution for the production company’s podcasts.

Jay Shetty’s ‘On Purpose’ Podcast Nabs iHeartMedia Deal

J. Clara Chan, The Hollywood Reporter

The audio company will handle all ad sales for the hit show as part of the iHeartPodcast network.

Who Owns SpongeBob? AI Shakes Hollywood’s Creative Foundation

Jessica Toonkel and Sarah Krouse, The Wall Street Journal

Artificial-intelligence tools raise questions about intellectual-property rights that are under scrutiny by courts and entertainment executives.

Meta rolls out AI-driven brand safety and verification tools

Aaron Baar, Marketing Dive

Meta launched new inventory filters for Facebook and Instagram for advertisers in English- and Spanish-speaking markets, according to information shared by the company.

Pinterest expands its Creator Fund for underrepresented groups to five more countries

Aisha Malik, TechCrunch

Pinterest announced today that it’s expanding its Creator Fund for underrepresented groups to five more countries, including Canada, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and France.

Influencers say Instagram’s creator marketplace is full of low pay rates and lacks traction with brands: ‘Absolute crickets’

Sydney Bradley and Marta Biino, Insider Premium

As Instagram pulls back on creator monetization programs like the Reels Play Bonus and Instagram Affiliate, it continues to push its Creator Marketplace, a tool to connect brands and creators for sponsored content.

Chiefs’ Travis Kelce to host music festival in Kansas City

Jonathan Landrum Jr., The Associated Press

Travis Kelce is living his best life: On the heels of winning the Super Bowl and hosting “Saturday Night Live,” the Kansas City Chiefs superstar tight end will cap his successful string with a music festival this month.

Jonas Brothers Will Take Over Yankee Stadium for One Night Only Concert

Glenn Rowley, Billboard

The pop star siblings will head to the Bronx for the special show later this summer.

Dua Lipa to star as blue-haired mermaid in ‘Barbie’ movie

Kristin Contino, Page Six

Dua Lipa has been announced as the newest Barbie girl, with the star transforming into a mermaid in a promotional image for the upcoming Greta Gerwig “Barbie” movie.