The Town with Matthew Belloni

Lucas Shaw, a Bloomberg reporter specializing in movie industry trends, joins to dissect the pivotal films set for release in 2025 and their impact on major studios. They tackle Hollywood's box office struggles and the financial hurdles facing giants like Disney and Universal. Additionally, the duo discusses the superhero genre’s volatility, the excitement around an innovative collaboration featuring creators of South Park and Kendrick Lamar, and the strategic importance of Sony’s sequel to '28 Days Later'. Shaw also hints at what’s next for the Bourne franchise.

Julia Alexander, a media correspondent at Puck specializing in streaming video analysis, joins to discuss Apple’s identity crisis in Hollywood. They dive into the challenges Apple faces in the streaming market, highlighting hits like ‘Severance’ but also subscriber retention issues. The conversation critiques Apple’s cautious content strategy, debating the balance between prestige and popularity. They also touch on the future of the James Bond franchise, speculating on potential directors and the importance of strong creative leadership.

Matt is joined by Axios senior media reporter and CNN analyst Sara Fischer to talk about the unexpected uncertainty in Hollywood under Donald Trump 2.0, and how the current administration's actions could affect every corner of the entertainment business (02:12). Matt finishes the show with two opening weekend box office predictions for ‘Snow White’ and ‘Alto Knights’ (24:40).For a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, ‘What I’m Hearing ...,’ click here.Email us your thoughts! thetown@spotify.comHost: Matt BelloniGuest: Sara FischerProducers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie LopezTheme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lucas Shaw, a Bloomberg reporter known for his keen insights into Hollywood, joins to discuss hot industry topics. They delve into how Hollywood is aligning its content with Trump's audience and the rapid exit of movies like 'Mickey 17' from theaters, which poses risks for the box office. Shaw and the host share thoughts on Warner Bros.' struggles in the current landscape, arguing it’s in a precarious position. Meanwhile, they also highlight the quiet success of Apple TV+ as it's emerging as a formidable player in streaming.

Matt is joined by entertainment lawyer and litigator Bryan Freedman to discuss the key legal issues surrounding actor Justin Baldoni’s lawsuits against ‘It Ends With Us’ costar Blake Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, her PR team, and ‘The New York Times,’ as well as Blake Lively’s lawsuit against Baldoni. Matt questions Bryan about the non-disparaging agreement between Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively, the issue of regulating behavior on set, and the growing influence social media has in the PR world (03:12).For a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, ‘What I’m Hearing ...,’ click here.Email us your thoughts! thetown@spotify.comHost: Matt BelloniGuest: Bryan FreedmanProducers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie LopezTheme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lucas Shaw, a Bloomberg reporter specializing in media and entertainment, joins to dissect Netflix's $18 billion content strategy. They dive into the success of mid-budget films over high-budget franchises and explore the potential of unscripted content like true crime and reality shows. The conversation highlights Netflix’s struggles with live events and considers innovative strategies, including podcasting and international shows. Shaw also touches on Amazon’s ambitious theatrical plans, revealing a competitive landscape of streaming and cinematic experiences.

Pouya Shahbazian, Founder and CEO of Staircase Studios AI, shares his vision of revolutionizing film production using AI technology. He discusses how his studio plans to deliver high-quality movies for under $500,000, emphasizing a unique talent-driven approach. The conversation highlights AI's transformative potential in storytelling and the evolving dynamics of film production. They also delve into the implications for filmmakers and the industry's future, along with a cheeky prediction about Meghan Markle's new TV venture.

Brian Fuhrer, Senior VP of Product Strategy at Nielsen, demystifies ratings amid a changing media landscape. He explains how Nielsen tracks viewing habits, including out-of-home viewing, and unveils surprising Oscars ratings metrics. The conversation dives into how streaming is drawing younger audiences and highlights the most influential shows captivating this demographic. Plus, Fuhrer shares insights on the evolving dynamics of data collection and how major events are affected by audience shifts.

Hernan Lopez, founder of Owl & Co and Wondery, shares insights into the rapidly evolving streaming landscape. He discusses why YouTube outpaces Netflix in viewer consumption while Netflix leads in revenue, and how more viewers are choosing to watch YouTube on TV screens. The conversation highlights shifting strategies in media economics and the massive impact of YouTube on traditional TV. Matt also dives into entertaining predictions about the upcoming Academy Awards, offering a glimpse of Hollywood's future.

Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to react to last night's Academy Awards, what it was like inside the building, and list their under-the-radar winners and losers from Hollywood's biggest night (02:09). Then, Matt and Lucas are joined by NEON CEO Tom Quinn to discuss their big night winning five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, for the film ‘Anora’ (20:54). Tom talks about how they campaign their movies on such a small budget, how much a win impacts the film economically, and why indie films are succeeding more at the Oscars.For a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, ‘What I’m Hearing ...,’ click here.Email us your thoughts! thetown@spotify.comHost: Matt BelloniGuest: Lucas ShawProducers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie LopezTheme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices