• Lions Gate Entertainment Corp.’s “John Wick: Chapter 4,” starring Keanu Reeves, debuted at the top of the domestic box office with $73.5 million, surpassing industry expectations and is a franchise-best for the “John Wick” films. New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. Pictures’ DC Studios film “Shazam! Fury of the Gods” fell to second place with $9.7 million, dropping 68% from its opening weekend, while Paramount Pictures’ “Scream VI” took the third spot with $8.4 million. (The Associated Press)
• “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” and “Creed III” star Jonathan Majors was arrested and charged with assaulting a woman on Saturday, according to a New York City Police Department spokesperson but Majors denied the allegations through a representative for the actor. (NPR News) The U.S. Army halted its commercials featuring Majors in its “Be All You Can Be” campaign following his arrest and said in a statement that “prudence dictates that we pull our ads until the investigation into these allegations is complete.” (Variety)
• Veteran Marvel Studios executive Victoria Alonso was recently fired from the Walt Disney Co.-owned studio for her involvement as a producer for Amazon.com Inc.’s Academy Award-nominated film “Argentina, 1985,” which was reportedly a breach of her contract that states she cannot work with rival companies, according to multiple sources. A representative for Disney declined to comment, but Alonso rebutted the claims, with her lawyer saying in a statement that the reports were “absolutely ridiculous” and that as a “gay Latina,” Alonso “was silenced” for criticizing the company. (The Hollywood Reporter)

Worth keeping an eye on today:

• The Digiday Publishing Summit starts today and runs Wednesday in Vail, Colo., where media executives will discuss how businesses can recalibrate their growth strategies during a time of economic uncertainty. Steve Raizes, EVP of podcasting and audio at Paramount Global and Ken Ripley, the VP of sales at Scripps Network, are among the featured speakers.

How ‘Sports Twitter’ Is Navigating the Chaotic Elon Musk Era

Morning Consult

Vince McMahon Paid WWE $17.4M for Costs Tied to Misconduct Investigation

Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter

McMahon also agreed to reimburse the company for any additional costs that may arise.

‘Rust’ armorer attempts to block special prosecutor’s appointment

Andrew Hay, Reuters

The armorer charged in the New Mexico shooting death of “Rust” cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on Friday challenged the district attorney’s plan to appoint a new special prosecutor in the case after the last one was forced to resign.

Man suing Gwyneth Paltrow to testify in Utah ski crash trial

Sam Metz, The Associated Press

The man suing Gwyneth Paltrow over a 2016 collision at one of the most upscale ski resorts in North America is expected to take the stand on Monday as the closely watched trial goes into its second week in Utah.

Prince Harry in court for privacy suit against tabloid

Brian Melley, The Associated Press

Prince Harry was in a London court Monday as the lawyer for a group of British tabloids prepared to ask a judge to toss out lawsuits by the prince, Elton John and several other celebrities who allege phone tapping and other invasions of privacy.

Judge rules online archive’s book service violated copyright

Hillel Italie, The Associated Press

A federal judge has sided with four publishers who sued an online archive over its unauthorized scanning of millions of copyrighted works and offering them for free to the public. Judge John G. Koeltl of U.S. District Court in Manhattan ruled that the Internet Archive was producing “derivative” works that required permission of the copyright holder.

Kanye West Claims He Likes Jewish People Again After Viewing Jonah Hill In The Film ’21 Jump Street’

Bruce Haring, Deadline

Kanye West is back on Instagram, and he’s a new man, he claims. His first message proclaimed a new-found love for the Jewish people.

Hollywood’s top Native American producer is a fake, activists claim

Joshua Rhett Miller, New York Post

One of Hollywood’s leading Native American figures is being accused of faking her claims of Cherokee heritage, The Post can reveal.

Reese Witherspoon, agent husband make ‘difficult decision to divorce’

Reuters

Oscar-winning actor and producer Reese Witherspoon and her talent agent husband Jim Toth said on Friday they had made the “difficult decision to divorce.”

Nicholas Lloyd Webber, son of famed composer, dies at 43

The Associated Press

Nicholas Lloyd Webber, the Grammy-nominated composer, record producer and eldest son of Andrew Lloyd Webber, died Saturday in England after a protracted battle with gastric cancer and pneumonia. He was 43.

Hollywood Is Betting on Fear

Robbie Whelan, The Wall Street Journal

A boom in scary movies is here as studios seek to lure audiences back to theaters. Brace yourself for a new brand of horror.

New Adam McKay Movie Project, With Robert Pattinson, Amy Adams, Robert Downey Jr., Hits Hollywood Studios

Mia Galuppo and Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter

Forest Whitaker and Danielle Deadwyler are also attached to the project, titled “Average Height, Average Build.”

Jon Hamm Joins ‘Mean Girls’ Musical

Mia Galuppo, The Hollywood Reporter

Hamm will play Coach Carr in the feature headed to Paramount+.

Jeff Goldblum Confirms Role in ‘Wicked’ Movie Musical, Talks “Very Good” Witches Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande

Carly Thomas, The Hollywood Reporter

The “Jurassic Park” actor also recalled a moment he “found myself tearing up” while on the set of the Jon M. Chu-directed film.

Neon Acquires Domestic Rights To Anne Hathaway Sundance Movie ‘Eileen’

Anthony D’Alessandro, Deadline

Neon has taken the North American rights to the Anne Hathaway-starring Sundance Film Festival premiere “Eileen,” from director William Oldroyd (“Lady Macbeth”). The distributor is eyeing a fall theatrical release.

Lady Gaga’s Harley Quinn Costume Revealed in ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ Set Photos

J. Kim Murphy, Variety

What’s funnier than one clown? How about two? Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker is going to have some criminal company for “Folie à Deux,” with Lady Gaga joining the sequel for a role reported to be a spin on the Batman villain Harley Quinn.

‘Arrested Development’: Netflix Gains Exclusive Streaming Rights to All Seasons

J. Clara Chan, The Hollywood Reporter

The five-season show was previously set to leave the streamer earlier this month due to the expiration of a licensing deal.

Horse Dies on Amazon’s ‘The Rings of Power’ Set, PETA Calls for Use of CGI Animals

James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter

A production horse died of cardiac arrest during rehearsals for Prime Video’s “Lord of the Rings” series.

‘You’ Renewed by Netflix for Fifth and Final Season

Kate Arthur, Variety

On Friday, Netflix announced that “You” — its hit thriller starring Penn Badgley as the prolific serial killer Joe Goldberg — has been renewed for a fifth and final season.

Grey’s Anatomy Renewed for Season 20 at ABC, Names New Showrunner

Dave Nemetz, TVLine

Grey’s Anatomy still has a pulse: ABC has renewed the hit medical drama for Season 20, TVLine has learned. In addition, the network announced that executive producer Meg Marinis will take the reins as showrunner next season, replacing the departing Krista Vernoff.

ABC Cancels Janelle James-Hosted Game Show ‘Final Straw’ After 1 Season

Michael Ausiello, TVLine

The “Final Straw” has collapsed in on itself: ABC has cancelled the Jenga-esque game show after one season, TVLine has learned.

The TV Advertising Market Is Slumping, But Sports Ads Are Booming

Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter

An unrivaled audience, hardcore fandom and good timing could help some media companies boost their bottom line at a time when the rest of the market is down.

‘So infuriating’: TikTokers are fuming over potential ban

Amanda Silberling, TechCrunch

In the aftermath of TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew’s brutal five hour Congressional hearing on Thursday, TikToker and disinformation researcher Abbie Richards summed up what so many creators were thinking: “It’s actually remarkable how much less Congress knows about social media than the average person,” Richards told TechCrunch.

Elon Musk Values Twitter at $20 Billion

Kate Conger and Ryan Mac, The New York Times

The billionaire bought the social media company for $44 billion in October and took it private.

Fortnite Takes a Page From Roblox to Let Players Create Their Own Games

Cecilia D’Anastasio, Bloomberg

In 2022, 4.2 million people made their own games using Roblox’s game development tools and earned their own in-game currency, according to the company’s annual report.

Morgan Wallen’s ‘One Thing at a Time’ Notches Third Week at No. 1 on Billboard 200

Keith Caulfield, Billboard

Morgan Wallen’s “One Thing at a Time” notches a third straight week at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart (dated April 1).

Childish Gambino Beats Rapper’s Copyright Lawsuit Over ‘This Is America’: ‘Entirely Different’

Bill Donahue, Billboard

After pointing out key lyrical differences, a federal judge said simply: “No more airtime is needed to resolve this case.”

Drake fans are the latest to hit Ticketmaster with a lawsuit following ‘It’s All A Blur’ tour sale

Jordan Hart, Insider

Tickets for Canadian rapper Drake’s “It’s All a Blur” tour, his first in four years, caused a frenzy online as fans rushed to secure seats last Friday during the general public release.

Adele extends Las Vegas residency, plans concert film

The Associated Press

Adele announced Sunday that she’s extending her Las Vegas residency with 34 more dates between June and November and also plans to release a concert film.

Kelly Clarkson Details New Album ‘Chemistry’

Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone

Kelly Clarkson said she is dropping a new album soon and music from it even sooner. The singer and daytime show host shared details about the LP, which is called “Chemistry,” on Sunday via Instagram.

Queen and Adam Lambert to bring Rhapsody Tour back to North America

Alicia Powell, Reuters

British rockers Queen and U.S. singer Adam Lambert are heading out on the road again, bringing their updated and expanded Rhapsody Tour back to North America after four years.

Jay-Z Is Now a $2.5 Billion Business, Man

Jem Aswad, Variety

Jay-Z’s net worth has soared to $2.5 billion, according to a new Forbes report published Friday.