• Adnan Syed was released from prison after Baltimore judge Melissa Phinn overturned his conviction for the 1999 murder of Hae Min Lee, a case that was the center of the wildly popular true-crime podcast “Serial.” Phinn, who ruled that prosecutors violated their legal obligation to share evidence with Syed that may have helped his defense, ordered Syed to be placed on home detention and wear a GPS monitor, giving prosecutors 30 days to either seek a new trial date or dismiss the case. (The Associated Press)
• Netflix Inc. reportedly wants to charge advertisers around $60 to reach 1,000 viewers on its upcoming ad-supported tier, alongside a $20 million commitment, while Walt Disney Co.’s Disney+ ad-supported Basic plan, set to launch Dec. 8, is seeking a $50 CPM and a $2 million commitment, according to two ad buyers who heard the pitch. Disney declined to comment on the pricing, while Netflix said in a statement that “no decisions have been made.” (Insider Premium)
  
• Tom Cruise, Sandra Bullock and other stars and producers who worked on Paramount Pictures’ films claim they are being cheated out of millions of dollars due to a deal between the studio and cable channel Epix, according to several people familiar with the conversations. While no lawsuits have been filed, the option is reportedly being considered, though representatives of Cruise and Bullock didn’t respond to requests for comment. (Bloomberg)
• The lawsuits from Voltage Pictures and copyright owners against Comcast Corp., Verizon Communications Inc. and AT&T Inc., which alleged the internet providers allowed Voltage films to be pirated, has been dismissed and settled, according to court documents obtained by The Hollywood Reporter. Attorneys representing the production companies declined to comment, while Verizon, AT&T and Comcast didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment. (The Hollywood Reporter)

Why HBO Max Can Stand to Trim Its Movie Catalog Without Losing Its Competitive Edge

The Wrap Pro and Parrot Analytics

Woody Allen Walks Back Claims, Says He Has ‘No Intention of Retiring’

Anna Marie de la Fuente, Variety

After Woody Allen said he intended to not make more movies and dedicate more time to writing, a representative for the director released the following statement: “Woody Allen never said he was retiring, not did he say he was writing another novel. He said he was thinking about not making films as making films that go straight or very quickly to streaming platforms is not so enjoyable for him, as he is a great lover of the cinema experience. Currently, he has no intention of retiring and is very excited to be in Paris shooting his new movie, which will be the 50th.”

Imax CEO Richard Gelfond Inks Contract Extension Through 2025

Caitlin Huston, The Hollywood Reporter

The executive has led the big screen theater company since 2009.

‘Thursday Night Football’ Amazon Debut “A Resounding Success,” Prime Video Sports Boss Jay Marine Says

Dominic Patten, Deadline

“While we’re still waiting for official Nielsen ratings, our measurement shows that the audience numbers exceeded all of our expectations for viewership,” Prime Video’s top sports exec Jay Marine said today in a note to staff on the “resounding success” of the streamer’s official Thursday Night Football kickoff on September 15.

An Anti-E.S.G. Activist Takes on Apple and Disney

Andrew Ross Sorkin et al., The New York Times

A prominent critic of investing that factors in climate and social considerations wants to use shareholder pressure to refocus companies on profits.

‘They Didn’t Wait for Lady Gaga’: Inside the Curse of Lea Michele’s ‘Funny Girl’

EJ Dickson, Rolling Stone

Last week, Lea Michele made her much-ballyhooed debut in “Funny Girl.”

“Don’t Look Up” director McKay gives to climate activists

Kathleen Ronayne, The Associated Press

McKay on Tuesday plans to announce a $4 million donation to the Climate Emergency Fund, an organization dedicated to getting money into the hands of activists engaged in disruptive demonstrations urging swifter, more aggressive climate action.

Inflation Woes Hits Indie Productions Hard

Carole Horst, Variety

As industry mavens alight on the Zurich Film Festival, escalating inflation costs and rising interest rates are hijacking dreams of a post-pandemic recovery and rebirth.

New ‘Shining’ Movie Dead Due to ‘Doctor Sleep’ Bomb, Mike Flanagan Confirms

Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire

Warner Bros. has officially said goodnight to the “Doctor Sleep” sequel. Director Mike Flanagan confirmed on Twitter that his proposed “The Shining” sequel follow-up is indefinitely shelved.

Kevin Smith says ‘Dogma’ is being held hostage by Harvey Weinstein, ‘the devil himself’

Jessica Wang, Entertainment Weekly

According to the “Clerks III” director, the disgraced Miramax producer is the reason why the 1999 religious satire isn’t available to stream or buy anywhere.

Will Box Office Success Help ‘The Woman King,’ ‘Elvis’ and Other Studio Hits Stay in the Oscar Race?

Rebecca Rubin, Variety

It’s been proven time and time again that Academy Award attention has little to do with box office glory.

‘House of the Dragon’ Stars Say Goodbye to HBO’s Biggest Hit

Sean T. Collins, The New York Times

In a joint interview, Milly Alcock and Emily Carey discussed their now-completed stint in the HBO epic. “We were forced to hang on to each other for dear life,” Alcock said.

Chris Redd Is Leaving ‘Saturday Night Live’

Jennifer Zhan, New York magazine

Chris Redd is leaving Saturday Night Live after five seasons on the show. “Being part of SNL has been the experience of a lifetime,” Redd said in a press release confirming his exit.

The CNN Chess Game Begins

Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter 

Four months after joining CNN, CEO Chris Licht begins to reshape the cable news channel, with a Don Lemon-led morning show paving the way for a near-complete overhaul of the network’s lineup.

NBC Universal and Samsung bringing ‘The Tonight Show’ to the metaverse

Webb Wright, The Drum

NBC Universal (NBCU) and Samsung are launching a new marketing and fan engagement push titled ‘Tonight at the Rock – Powered by Samsung Galaxy,’ which will take place in a virtual rendering of Rockefeller Center.

TikTok’s BeReal clone is now available as standalone app outside the U.S.

Sarah Perez, TechCrunch

TikTok over the weekend launched its BeReal clone, TikTok Now, as a standalone mobile app across global markets outside the U.S., largely on iOS. The app offers a similar feature set to the TikTok Now experience being introduced into the U.S. TikTok app, announced last week.

Harry Styles’ ‘As It Was’ Ties for Fourth-Longest Reign in the Billboard Hot 100’s History

Gary Trust, Billboard

Harry Styles‘ “As It Was” adds a 14th week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart. The song’s latest frame at the summit marks another milestone, as it ties for the fourth-longest command in the chart’s 64-year history.

Kanye West Camp Tests Market For His Song Catalog, Seeking 35-Times Gross Profit

Ed Christman, Billboard

Sources estimate how much Ye’s songs are worth — and what his share of a publishing payday could be.