‘Hateful Eight’ Pirated Screener Traced Back to Top Hollywood Executive
A copy mailed to Alcon Entertainment co-CEO Andrew Kosove was uploaded to file-sharing sites as the FBI probes a damaging leak of the Quentin Tarantino film. Although it is likely that Kosove is a victim in this leak rather than the perpetrator. (THR)
‘Top Gear’ Heads Off Road, Picking Two Unknowns to Host Series with Chris Evans
Two virtually unknown presenters, a German racing driver and a motoring journalist, have been picked to be Chris Evans’ sidekicks on the new season of Top Gear. It comes after the series is rebranding after several hosts left earlier this year. (TG)
Happy Holidays Indeed as Beatles Catalog to Stream on 9 Different Sites Beginning Xmas Eve
The Beatles, who have long withheld their legendary catalog from streaming services, will finally offer up their discography to Apple Music, Spotify, Tidal and more starting December 24th at 12:01 a.m. local times around the globe. (RS)
Disney in Talks to Sell Millennial Channel Fusion to Univision
Fusion was launched in 2013 as an English language digital and cable network aimed at the fast-growing population of second generation Latinos, but switched focus shortly and broadened its target market to all millennials. Univision is now in negotiations to take over the ownership and operation of Fusion. (CNBC)
Sonar Ent. Finds Treasure Trove of Interesting Material in Florida Based Novel for New Series
A blackly comic crime drama, Florida Roadkill is based on an ongoing series of novels by Tampa-based author Dorsey, which chronicle the violent and bizarre adventures of a charismatic criminal named Serge Storms. (DL)
Will ‘Star Wars’ Beat ‘Avatar’s’ Box Office Record to Take the Top Spot of All Time?
Leading box office analyst reveals insight as to whether Star Wars: The Force Awakens could wind up passing Avatar as the top worldwide grosser of all time. (VAR)
Two More Chinese Entertainment Execs “Go Missing”- Presumed Held by Government
Two top mainland Chinese executives at financially troubled Hong Kong animation studio Imagi International, producer of the 2007 hit TNMT, are missing. When Chinese companies announce they have “lost contact” with their leadership, the individuals are typically presumed detained by authorities. (THR)
‘Star War’s Made $243 Million in Packaged Goods Alone in 2015
In true Disney style, the box office is only one place the studio cashes in on its mega franchise. With the release of The Force Awakens, a new Nielsen analysis explores the sales figures behind the franchise over the past few years, focusing on Star Wars-related discs, books, and consumer packaged goods. (NL)
Behind the Fastest Growing Celebrity Gossip Website Disrupting the Industry- The Shade Room
Since its launch two years ago, The Shade Room has quickly gained readers thanks to its quick-hit, bottom-up approach to black celebrity gossip. The Shade Room was the first to launch on Instagram with a social media spin: It actually did detective work on Instagram to figure out who was dating whom, who had broken up, who was in a fight. (BF)
Screenwriters: Spreading Cheer with the ‘Elf’ Script
Elf is the story about one of Santa’s elves who learns of his true identity as a human and goes to New York City to meet his biological father, spreading Christmas cheer in a world of cynics as he goes. (DS)