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Tag: netflix

  • Everything Netflix Is Taking Credit for Thanks to the Success of ‘Stranger Things’

    It’s been almost 10 years since Netflix dropped an original series that io9 took an interest in because of its overt riffs on Steven Spielberg and Stephen King. Initially, though, we weren’t sure if it was “io9” enough to cover. Would it actually contain bona fide sci-fi horror elements, or would it just be a fun little show about ’80s kids on their bikes having adventures?

    Obviously, five seasons later, we know that Stranger Things is very much a supernaturally focused series, and it’s become a massive cultural phenomenon that regularly transcends its burnished spot on Netflix’s Top 10. Not only has it launched careers (remember when Winona Ryder and Matthew Modine were the biggest names in the cast?), its popularity has trickled into the realms of music, games, and even food.

    Along with a fresh set of stats trumpeting Stranger Things‘ ever-rising ratings—boosted by its fifth and final season, which drops a fresh trio of episodes this week—Netflix has shared a press release examining the show’s impact beyond its staggering view count. (Though if you’re curious, seasons 1-4 “have garnered more than 1.2B views to date, the most views for any Netflix show”; meanwhile, the first volume of season five “has already reached 102.6M views globally, and all five seasons still remain in the Top 10 this week.”)

    A fun note in the release calls out the show’s most-rewatched scenes, which are Nancy’s possession by Vecna in season four, episode seven (which contains some important details about Vecna’s future plans), and the big “NeverEnding Story” duet between long-distance sweeties Dustin and Suzie in season three, episode eight.

    We already knew Kate Bush’s 1985 song “Running Up That Hill” enjoyed chart-topping success after its repeated use in season four; it’s also already been reused in season five. Another song getting a boost specifically from season five is Diana Ross’ “Upside Down,” which “saw a 1,250% increase in global Gen Z streams.”

    While every other generation waits in terror to see if a full-on disco comeback will follow, there have also been noticeable upticks in streams of Tiffany’s “I Think We’re Alone Now” (because pop stars do know about monsters, Holly!), the Chordettes’ “Mr. Sandman” (already a horror staple thanks to Halloween II), and ABBA’s “Fernando,” which is exactly the right song for a wine mom’s bubble bath before she has to fight a Demogorgon.

    Netflix would also like you to know that “between the debuts of season one in 2016 and season four in 2022, the Dungeons & Dragons universe, which is a favorite of Eddie Munson and the Hellfire Club, saw a meteoric growth of 673%,” a claim that doesn’t mention, as Variety pointed out, that D&D has “made many big strides of its own over the last nine years, including a 2023 feature film, expansions to the game itself, and more,” though that does include some Stranger Things collaborations.

    Netflix’s press release also touts the success of Stranger Things‘ many tie-in releases, including those red-filled Chips Ahoy cookies (the release doesn’t mention Peanut Butter Boppers or, oddly, Eggo waffles), Nike’s subtle-by-comparison Dunk Low sneakers featuring an upside-down logo, books and comics, and the immersive Stranger Things: The Experience.

    As the show winds down (three episodes arrive on Christmas, then the grand finale hits New Year’s Eve), it seems likely that the merch train will continue to chug along for Stranger Things (have you seen the Creel House Lego set?)—and that Netflix will probably break some more viewership records before we see the last of Vecna. No doubt there will be more retro songs resurfaced in the remainder of the season. Plus, that animated spin-off arriving next year will surely also help keep Stranger fever alive.

    Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

    Cheryl Eddy

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  • Warner Bros. Decides Buyer – Los Angeles Business Journal

    Netflix Inc. has forged ahead of Paramount Skydance Corp. in bid for Warner Bros. Discovery Inc.

    Warner Bros. Discovery’s board of directors rejected Paramount’s $108.4 billion hostile takeover bid Dec. 17. The Burbank-based legacy film studio’s board called Paramount’s offer “inadequate” and “illusory” – even said it “poses significant risk” to its shareholders. The board raised questions about Paramount Chief Executive David Ellison and his billionaire father Larry Ellison’s commitment to back the deal. The latest Paramount offer includes a $40.65 billion equity funding, which would come from a revocable trust fund.

    In a letter to shareholders, the board pointed out that assets could be taken out of the “unknown and opaque” trust fund at any point, in which case Warner Bros. Discovery will have no recourse.

    “This offer once again fails to address key concerns that we have consistently communicated to Paramount,” said Samuel A. Di Piazza Jr., chair of the Warner Bros. Discovery board of directors. “We are confident that our merger with Netflix represents superior, more certain value for our shareholders and we look forward to delivering on the compelling benefits of our combination.”

    In the letter, Warner Bros. Discovery board called out the dozens of calls and meetings with Paramount, including four in-person meetings and meals between Warner Bros. Discovery Chief Executive David Zaslav and the Ellisons. Paramount was given “multiple opportunities” to offer a superior proposal but never did.

    “PSKY has consistently misled (Warner Bros. Discovery) shareholders that its proposed transaction has a ‘full backstop’ from the Ellison family. It does not, and never has,” the board wrote.

    Warner Bros. Discovery also raised concerns about the timeline. It could take a year or more to jump over regulatory hurdles, and the time-consuming process could impact business operations. Bloomberg News reported that Paramount is not giving Warner Bros. Discovery enough flexibility to manage its business or its balance sheet.

    Ellison, however, isn’t giving up easily and plans to “move forward” in presenting his offer.

    “Our proposal clearly offers (Warner Bros. Discovery) shareholders superior value and certainty, a clear path to close, and does not leave them with a heavily indebted sub-scale linear business,” Ellison said in a statement. He added that he’s “encouraged by the feedback” his company has received from some Warner Bros. shareholders and this his proposal “is in the best interest of (Warner Bros. Discovery) shareholders, consumers, and the creative industries.”

    Ellison has previously presented six offers to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery. Paramount said the company has refused to engage in any negotiating session or provide mark-ups of transaction documents since the first offer was made in September. Jared Kushner’s investment fund Affinity Partners under A Fin Management also backed out of the deal, CBS News reported.

    “With ​two ​strong competitors ​vying to secure ​the future ​of this ​unique American ​asset, ​Affinity ​has ​decided no longer to pursue ​the opportunity,” said an Affinity spokesperson in a statement. “The dynamics ​of the investment have changed significantly ​since we initially became ​involved ​in October.”

    Netflix’s stock has declined by 0.6% to close at $94 a share Dec. 18 since the announcement, while Warner Bros. Discovery’s dropped by 4% to close at $27.61. Paramount’s stock also dropped by 6% to close at $13.01.

    Ellison has been determined to close the deal since his company issued in September an unsolicited offer to buy Warner Bros. Discovery at $19 a share. That price has since climbed to $30 a share for its entire business in his latest all-cash hostile bid to take the deal from Netflix, and Paramount has indicated that’s not the final price it’s willing to pay.

    Netflix, on the other hand, offered $27.75 a share for Warner Bros. Studios’ streaming and studio division, totaling $72 billion in equity value. The global networks division would be separated into a publicly traded division named Discovery Global next year. The offer gives Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders $23.25 in cash, $4.5 in shares of Netflix common stock and retained equity in Discovery Global, valued at approximately $3 to $4 per share by analysts. That would put Netflix’s offer just over $30 per share, outbidding Paramount.

    Some Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders have been in talks with the hedge fund Standard General about acquiring all or part of Warner Bros. Discovery’s network assets including CNN, the Financial Times reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

    Many within the industry voiced concerns over the deal, from iconic actors like Jane Fonda to “The Office” producer Mike Schur. Some worried over Netflix’s proposed shortening of the exclusive theatrical release windows, which Co-Chief Executive Ted Sarandos previously criticized as not “consumer friendly.” He has apparently changed his mind.

    “Netflix and Warner Bros. complement each other, and we’re excited to combine our strengths with their theatrical film division, world-class television studio, and the iconic HBO brand, which will continue to focus on prestige television,” Sarandos said in a statement. “We’re also fully committed to releasing Warner Bros. films in theaters, with a traditional window, so audiences everywhere can enjoy them on the big screen.”

    Sarandos and Co-Chief Executive Greg Peters also addressed concerns about “the end of Hollywood” in a memo to Netflix staff, which was filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. “This deal is about growth: Warner Bros. brings businesses and capabilities we don’t have, so there’s no overlap or studio closures,” the two wrote. “We see this as a win for the entertainment industry, not the end of it.”

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  • 2 Beloved Gangster Crime Movies Arrive on Netflix Today

    Netflix has officially added two popular Taiwanese gangster movies to its library. Beginning, fans of the action thriller franchise Gatao will finally be able to stream its first installment from 2015 and 2025’s Gatao: Big Brothers. The latter serves as the latest and fifth entry to the film series.

    “Qing Feng is the top lieutenant under gang boss Yong. Three years ago, his good friend Xiong went to jail for him in the name of brotherhood. Upon his return, Xiong is immediately favored by Yong, which plants a growing rift in his friendship with Qing Feng,” reads the synopsis for Gatao. “Over on the rival gang side, U.S.-educated Michael returns to Taiwan to take over for his late father and applies ruthless business strategies to expand his turf. With his eyes set on a profitable property development project, Michael will stop at nothing to eliminate Yong and take over his turf.”

    “Michael and his right-hand man Scorpion, who find themselves embroiled in their father Ko’s turf war against rival gangs in Taipei, setting off a conflict between old and new generations of gangsters,” reads the description for Gatao: Big Brothers. “The film is the latest installment in the Gatao franchise, following the narrative of a young successor trying to expand his power while navigating the volatile underworld.”

    What do we know about the Gatao franchise?

    The beloved Taiwanese gangster franchise explores the lives and violent struggles of organized crime syndicates in Taiwan. At the moment, it already consists of five movies, including 2015’s Gatao, 2018’s Gatao 2: Rise of the King, 2021’s Gatao: The Last Stray, 2024’s Gatao: Like Father Like Son, and 2025’s Gatao: Big Brothers. Each installment revolves around a new set of characters and a different gangster story.

    The Gatao movies featured appearances from Jack Kao, Sunny Wang, Alien Huang, Wang Shih-Sian, Rexen Cheng Jen-Shuo, Tsai Chen-Nan, Harry Chang, Peng Sun, Tai Bo, Nikki Hsieh, Lung Tien-Hsiang, Jieh-Wen King, Collin Chou, and more. The creative team is led by writer-director Jui-Chih Chiang, the only filmmaker who has consistently worked on all five movies.

    Apart from the 2015 movie and Big Brothers, both The Last Stray and Like Father Like Son are already streaming on Netflix. At the moment, the 2018 sequel is the only one missing from the streaming platform.

    (Source: TMBD)

    Maggie Dela Paz

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  • Go Night Night! Funniest, Wildest & Pettiest Reactions To Brolic Bone-Breaker Anthony Joshua Knocking The Sonic Rings Out Of Jake Pau

    Source: Ed Mulholland/Getty Images for Netflix

    Social media is buzzing over Anthony Joshua KNOCKING OUT Jake Paul in the 6th Round of Netflix’s highly anticipated Jake vs. Joshua: Judgment Day fight that delivered the goods in front of a star-studded crowd at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida.

    Towering over Paul at 6’6″, Joshua–a two-time unified WBO, WBA, and IBF heavyweight World Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist–knocked the Sonic rings out of the MAGA youtuber-turned boxer in a now-viral moment immediately immortalized in boxing history.

    According to reports, Paul suffered a fractured jaw in two places that required surgery, the removal of teeth, and two titanium plates.

    Whew, did he at least pinch Joshua??

    Paul confirmed the ‘double broken jaw’ from his hospital bed, thanking supporters for the love in a post that summed up his miserable night.

    “Just got out of surgery. Everything went smooth,” wrote Paul. “Thanks for all the love. Lots of pain and stiffness. Gotta eat liquids for 7 days.”

    As for Joshua, well, he celebrated the victory like a true gentleman and was nice enough to give his battered opponent props.

    “I wish that I could have knocked him out at the start, but as we saw tonight, Jake has spirit,” he said in a post-game interview.

    “He has some heart. He tried his best, and I take my hat off to him because number one, a lot of fighters haven’t got in the ring with me, and Jake did. And secondly, even when he got knocked down, he kept on trying to get up, and I take my hat off to him.

    So, America, I think you have someone who could potentially, if he still has the heart for it, come back again, dust the dirt off his shoulder, and come again, and maybe sell out this center sometime in 2026.”

    Naturally, the buzzy bout fueled hilarious hysteria (along with every single possible angle of Anthony knocking Jake’s head off) across social media.

    What was your reaction to Anthony Joshua knocking out Jake Paul? Would you want to see Anthony Joshua in a Creed movie? Tell us down below and peep the social media hysteria over Anthony’s jaw-breaking win on the flip.

    [ad_2] Alex Ford
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  • K.O. King! Anthony Joshua Breaks Jake Paul’s Jaw Down Like A Pound, Heavyweight’s Haymaker Pummels Paul Into Alabaster Abyss

    If you’ve been waiting for Jake Paul to finally shut his mouth, it’s now wired shut after Anthony “AJ” Joshua dropped him like a bad habit with a “double broken jaw” for a knockout victory. Social media is in shambles over the infamous instigator’s winning streak finally coming to an end.

    Source: Leonardo Fernandez / Getty

    The content creator-turned-sports spectacle could run around the ring at the Kaseya Center in Miami, but he couldn’t hide from the hands of the two-time heavyweight unified boxing champion. During the livestreamed Netflix match, Joshua politely let Jaw-jacking Jake run down the clock for the first four rounds, in an attempt to tire out the 6’6″ giant.

    Instead of exhausting the British bruv, Paul hit the ground more than singles at a strip club with bizarre takedown attempts. He clearly didn’t want any real smoke, but ran out of gas after a few dozen laps around the ring. That might’ve worked with the retired stars he faced in the past, but AJ reminded the world he’s still very much in his prime.

    Instead of throwing off AJ, who won 25 of his 28-4 record by knockout, these stunts only seemed to piss him off more. With a comeback after a 15-month hiatus, the Olympic gold medalist patiently took his time to wear down the social media sensation and drop him in the fourth, fifth, and sixth rounds. Some believed it took too long, but AJ didn’t disappoint in delivering a knuckle sandwich that put Paul on his knees and sent him to the hospital.

    While the former Disney star tried to keep his eye on the prize, his jaw ended up in three pieces and almost in the next zip code.

    Even though AJ enjoyed a decisive comeback victory over the loudmouth menace, he was a class act about his opponent in the post-fight interview. He couldn’t deny that it was his fight to lose, but still gave Paul respect for (partially) standing against him in the ring and continuing to get back up.

    “Jake [did] well while it lasted… I wish that I could have knocked him out at the start, but as we saw tonight, Jake has spirit. He has some heart. He tried his best, and I take my hat off to him because number one, a lot of fighters haven’t got in the ring with me, and Jake did,” AJ said.

    “And secondly, even when he got knocked down, he kept on trying to get up, and I take my hat off to him. So, America, I think you have someone who could potentially, if he still has the heart for it, come back again, dust the dirt off his shoulder, and come again, and maybe sell out this center sometime in 2026,” he continued.

    As for the unbothered underdog, he still had plenty to say on social media. He took to X, formerly Twitter to confirm that his jaw is broken in two places and posted the X-ray evidence, as if the fight photos weren’t proof enough.

    “Double broken jaw. Give me Canelo in 10 days,” Paul wrote.

    Welp, his face may not be intact, but at least his sense of humor still is. And part of Paul not hurting might be his pockets since he’s a cofounder of MVP, the promoter for the event.

    Whether viewers love Jake Paul or love to hate him, this viral fight still makes him a winner of the night (outside the ring). His company, Most Valuable Promotions, “set a new record as the highest-grossing boxing gate in history of the Kaseya Center,” according to Variety. Money isn’t everything, but it should ease some of the pain when he’s sipping his NYE champagne toast through a straw.

    And for those who accuse Paul of everything from disrespecting the sport of boxing and its greatest legends to rigging the fights in his undefeated record, this knockout is a priceless early Christmas gift.

    What do you think of the Anthony Joshua vs. Jake Paul fight?

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  • Where Will Netflix Stock Be in 5 Years?

    • Netflix is largely perceived as a streaming platform.

    • The company is slowly making its way into other categories, including immersive experiences, gaming, and advertising.

    • Netflix is currently trying to acquire Warner Bros. in an effort to bolster its content library and diversify its ecosystem.

    • 10 stocks we like better than Netflix ›

    Prediction Market powered by

    Right now, there is one name that’s completely dominating the headlines in media and entertainment. Naturally, I’m talking about Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX). Netflix is currently in the midst of a heated acquisition bid against Paramount Skydance Corporation for Warner Bros. Discovery‘s (NASDAQ: WBD) film and television studios.

    While the proposed deal is yet to cross the finish line, I see this transaction as a potentially transformative move in Netflix’s pursuit to evolve from a streaming pioneer into a full-blown media service.

    Let’s explore why Warner Bros. is so valuable in the eyes of Netflix and what could be in store over the next several years should the deal come to fruition.

    Image source: Netflix.

    For years, Netflix primarily served as a distribution platform for other networks’ content. However, over the last several years, a number of media outlets have launched their own streaming services in an effort to compete more directly with Netflix.

    While Netflix still offers a variety of licensed shows and movies in its library, the company has shifted its focus on developing original content. So far, this pivot has proved to be quite profitable for Netflix. Exclusive series including Stranger Things, Wednesday, Bridgerton, and The Queen’s Gambit were smash hits around the world.

    The downside of creating original content is that it is both cost-intensive and time consuming. Moreover, a subtle risk is that even after opening up the pocketbook to bring on Hollywood’s best talent, there’s no guarantee the show or movie will be well received.

    This is what makes Warner Bros. such a strategic asset for Netflix. Warner Bros. is home to beloved franchises, including DC Comics, Harry Potter, Looney Tunes, and HBO’s premium cable series which feature Game of Thrones, Succession, The Sopranos, and much more.

    With Warner Bros. tucked into its catalogue, Netflix instantly gains prestige intellectual property (IP) that is treasured by people across all age and gender demographics.

    Bankers at a table working on an acquisition analysis.
    Image source: Getty Images.

    Acquiring Warner Bros. comes with more value than a deeper content library. The IP ecosystem that comes with Warner Bros. opens up new doors for Netflix in the world of theme parks, toys and merchandise, gaming, and more.

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  • Dave Chappelle Announces Surprise Netflix Special Releasing After Jake Paul Fight

    Dave Chappelle is delivering a holiday treat for standup fans by surprise dropping a new Netflix special called “The Unstoppable.”

    Before the main event during the Dec. 18 Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua fight night, Chappelle stopped by the livestream with a short clip to announce the news.

    “I wanted to shout out my hometown, Washington, D.C., and thank everybody that came out in October to support me at that show,” Chappelle said in the video. “I just want you to know that show will be streaming on Netflix tonight after the fight. My new special drops, and I hope you love it. Thank you very much.”

    Chappelle has had a long professional relationship with Netflix. This upcoming program will be his eighth standup special with the streamer, following “The Age of Spin,” “Deep in the Heart of Texas,” “Equanimity,” “The Bird Revelation,” “Sticks & Stones,” “The Closer” and “The Dreamer.” Netflix also released a recorded speech the comedian gave at his alma mater, the Duke Ellington High School of Arts, titled “What’s in a Name?”

    The Paul vs. Joshua fight brought Netflix notables and other celebrities ringside in Miami, including Netflix chief content officer Bela Bajaria, director Benny Safdie, comedians Bert Kreischer and Matt Rife, Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy, singer Shaggy and more. In addition to the main event, earlier matches included Alycia Baumgardner defeating Leila Beaudoin, Anderson Silva defeating Tyron Woodley and Jahmal Harvey defeating Kevin Cervantes.

    As for the fight itself? Joshua ended up the winner by knockout, with Paul lasting six rounds.

    William Earl

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  • How Much Does Jake Paul Earn From His Netflix Fights? His Salary Doubled After His Mike Tyson Win

    Jake Paul is about to make some major bank in his upcoming fight. The YouTuber is set to fight heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua after a couple of delays .

    The younger Paul brother faced greats like Tommy Flurry and even the ultimate boxing legend Mike Tyson in record-breaking matches. Paul made it clear money was not his ultimate goal, telling Fox Business in an interview,  “I like the challenge of making the money,” he told the outlet. “And I like the challenge of accomplishing something that I don’t even think that I could even possibly do.”

    Related: See Jake Paul’s Dating History

    Now with a new challenge for his 12-1 reign, how much does he earn from each fight?

    How much does Jake Paul make from Netflix?

    Jake Paul is estimated to be receiving $92 million from his fight with Anthony Joshua on Netflix. The Daily Mail reported that the fight can earn up to $2185 million and will be equally shared among the fighters, no matter who wins.

    How much did Jake Paul make from his Mike Tyson fight on Netflix?

    Despite several technical difficulties during the livestream of Jake Paul and Mike Tyson’s fight, Jake Paul reportedly received $40 million. Tyson received half of that money at $20 million.

    Paul teased his payout at a press conference for the fight on Aug. 18, 2024. “I’m here to make $40 million and knock out a legend,” he said.

    As to what he spent the prize money on, he revealed that he bought a $39 million ranch.

    “It wasn’t like right away after the Tyson fight, but I’ve been wanting to buy a ranch for the past 15 years,” he recalled on The Iced Coffee Room.” It’s kind of been my dream and why I work so hard. I think it’s just I love everything to do with it, hunting, jet skiing, ATVs, fishing, horses, cows, and all that stuff.”

    What is Jake Paul’s net worth?

    Paul has a reported net worth of $100 million. Not too shabby, but still not even close to Logan Paul’s reported net worth, at $150 million.

    Lea Veloso

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  • Netflix is acquiring game avatar maker Ready Player Me

    Netflix is acquiring Estonian startup Ready Player Me, a company creating “cross-game avatar tech” that allows players to bring their digital personas with them to different games, the company’s CEO Timmu Tõke shared in a LinkedIn post. The acquisition is part of Netflix’s new games strategy, which puts an emphasis on approachable multiplayer titles and adaptations of the streaming service’s IP.

    Ready Player Me’s team of around 20 employees will be incorporated into Netflix’s staff, TechCrunch writes, though Tõke is the only one of the startup’s four founders who will continue on after the acquisition. Neither company has shared when the avatar tech will be incorporated into Netflix’s games or what games will support the feature when they do.

    Besides designing its avatar system to be easy for developers to implement in their games, Ready Player Me’s big pitch for their system is using AI to automatically redesign avatars for different games’ art styles and “automatically fit assets to any avatar rig or topology without manual work.”

    Netflix has taken multiple different approaches  to games in the last few years, but lately, the company has actively retreated from AAA development and its more ambitious projects. Other than the premiere of its take on HQ Trivia, Netflix’s last few game announcements of 2025 were focused on a collection of streamable party games, and a partnership with FIFA to release a new soccer sim in 2026. All of those projects could support avatars in one form or another, now Netflix just needs to decide how.

    Ian Carlos Campbell

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  • The ‘Stranger Things’ Makeup and Effects Wizards’ Secrets to Creating Vecna Will Put You Off Your Lunch

    While veggie chips, barbecue chicken, and economy-sized jugs of K-Y Jelly may sound like a shopping list for a very specific adult picnic, these items are also essential ingredients for creating Vecna, the big baddie at the center of Stranger Things, the hit Netflix show lurching eerily through its fifth and final season.

    Barrie Gower, the makeup special effects department head for the show’s fourth and fifth seasons, was largely responsible for developing and executing Vecna’s look, both last season’s initial styling, which required Jamie Campbell Bower to don 25 overlapping pieces of full-body prosthetics in a seven-ish hour process, and what Gower and the team call “Vecna 2.0,” the character’s decidedly crispier and less solid current form, having been set on fire and, oh, blasted out of our dimension in the season 4 finale.

    If Vecna’s tentacle-like vines, which occasionally spew viscous black goo in service of their master, aren’t enough to put you off your lunch, Gower’s comparisons just might.

    “Vecna’s color tone is made up of vegetable chips,” he tells Vanity Fair. “I can see, oh, there’s parsnip, there’s the beetroot, there’s the so and so…we looked at so many beautiful, different things from the animal kingdom. We just reference real life.”

    That grounding in organic materials and the real world is especially helpful because Vecna, like many of the ghoulish characters and effects on the show, is a hybrid creation of Bower’s performance, practical costuming and prosthetics, and CGI. Gower’s team collaborated closely with the visual effects department, led by Betsy Paterson, to synthesize real and fantasy elements to create the horrific world of Stranger Things.

    “There’s a lot of back and forth with Barrie,” Paterson says. “We send them concept art. He sends back sculpts, and it just goes back and forth, and we try to figure out the best way that he can build things that will allow Jamie’s performance to come through, but also give us a really good base to add all the kind of moving detail on top of.”

    Duncan Jarman adds the final touch—a coat of lube—to Jamie Campbell Bower’s Vecna. As Gower recalls, “He would tend to leave a little trail. It would be great seeing execs come on set and go up to Jamie and go to hug him and see him smile, thinking, they’re going to regret that.”Niko Tavernise/Netflix.

    Kase Wickman

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  • ‘Last Samurai Standing’ Renewed for Season 2 at Netflix

    Netflix has greenlit a second season of “Last Samurai Standing,” the Japanese period-action series that has become a global streaming hit since its debut.

    Set during Japan’s Meiji period in the late 19th century, “Last Samurai Standing” follows 292 samurai warriors who gather at Kyoto’s Tenryuji Temple for a deadly competition with a grand prize of 100 billion yen. The story centers on protagonist Shujiro Saga, played by Okada Junichi, who enters the dangerous contest to save his ailing wife and child.

    The battle royale epic climbed to No. 1 on Netflix’s Global Top 10 (Non-English Series) chart and ranked in the Top 10 across 88 countries. In Japan, the series held the No. 1 position for four consecutive weeks, establishing itself as one of the country’s most popular recent releases.

    The show achieved a significant milestone as the first all-Japanese production nominated in the best foreign language series category at the Critics’ Choice Awards.

    Okada serves triple duty on the series as lead actor, producer and action choreographer, working alongside director Fujii Michihito. The production brings together an ensemble cast featuring some of Japan’s most prominent talent, including Yumia Fujisaki, Kaya Kiyohara, Masahiro Higashide, Shota Sometani, Taichi Saotome, Yuya Endo, Yasushi Fuchikami, Jyo Kairi, Takayuki Yamada, Wataru Ichinose, Riho Yoshioka, Kazunari Ninomiya, Hiroshi Tamaki and Hideaki Ito.

    “I’m pleased to see that ‘Last Samurai Standing’ has reached global audiences and has been confirmed for a second season,” Okada said. “I’m excited to get back into this wild world and once again charge into battle with the production team. We hope to make the next season even more energetic and action-packed.”

    Fujii added: “I’m very pleased and relieved that ‘Last Samurai Standing’ has been such a big hit outside Japan. I’m also honored to say that the series has officially been greenlit for a second season. There’s no doubt that Season 2 will be even bigger and better than the first.”

    The series is based on Imamura Shogo’s “Ikusagami” novel series, which won the 166th Naoki Prize in 2021. Directors Yamaguchi Kento and Yamamoto Toru join Fujii on the project, with Oshida Kosuke serving as producer.

    Naman Ramachandran

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  • Will Smith’s Superman-Like Movie Is Leaving Netflix Soon 

    A 2008 superhero film directed by Peter Berg and starring Will Smith is scheduled to leave Netflix at the beginning of January. As its streaming window comes to a close, Hancock is drawing renewed attention for its portrayal of a powerful hero.

    Here are all the details on the Sony Pictures film and its upcoming departure from Netflix.

    Will Smith-led Hancock will be leaving Netflix in January

    Hancock, the 2008 superhero film starring Will Smith, is set to leave Netflix in January, marking the end of its current streaming run on the platform. The movie will no longer be available after January 1. This gives viewers a short window to watch or rewatch the film.

    Directed by Peter Berg, the film follows John Hancock, a superpowered figure. His public image has deteriorated due to his reckless behavior and alcohol abuse. He repeatedly saves lives across Los Angeles. However, the extensive collateral damage left behind during his rescues has made him widely disliked.

    The story takes a turn when Hancock rescues public relations consultant Ray Embrey from an oncoming train. Grateful for his life, Ray becomes determined to restore Hancock’s reputation as a legitimate hero. The story expands as Hancock becomes involved with Ray’s family.

    Alongside Smith, the cast features Charlize Theron as Mary Embrey, Jason Bateman as Ray Embrey, Jae Head as Aaron Embrey, and Eddie Marsan as Kenneth Parker Jr.

    Hancock proved to be a major commercial success, grossing approximately $629.4 million worldwide against a reported $150 million production budget. According to Box Office Mojo, it earned more than $227 million domestically and over $401 million internationally.

    Despite its financial success, the film’s critical reception was mixed. It has a 42% score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 6.4 rating on IMDB. Will Smith notably won a BET award for his performance in the film.

    Disheeta Maheshwari

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  • Greg & Ted’s Excellent WBD Adventure With Studio Lot Tour, David Zaslav As Their Guide; Check Out The Photos

    Wasting no time checking out their potential new home away from home, Netflix‘s bosses Greg Peters and Ted Sarandos made a most awesome visit to the Warner Bros Discovery studio lot today with David Zaslav as tour guide.

    In a series of photos released late Wednesday by WBD, the Netflix co-CEOs practically announced “we are Greg and Ted and we are your future,” to paraphrase that killer quip from Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure. If not going full on Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter from the 1989 metalhead comedy, Sarandos and Peters did look a lot like guys about to get the keys to their new digs.

    Getting some very touristy shots in with Zas in front of the WB water tower, between the sound stages and chatting with the troops, the near matching white kicks wearing executives’ appearance in Burbank had all the hallmarks of a big staged F.U. to WBD bid rivals David Ellison and Paramount.

    Coming on the very day that the WBD board unsurprisingly rejected Paramount’s $108 billion hostile takeover bid for the the whole company to stick with Netflix’s December 4 sealed $83 billion offer for the studios and streaming assets, the afternoon visit and the images were a flex meant to be felt all the way down at Par’s Melrose lot.

    Neither WBD nor Netflix had a comment about the Hump Day get together. However, the images did come with a caption of “today, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav welcomed Netflix Co-CEOs Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters to the historic Warner Bros. Studio lot in Burbank to meet with leaders across the company.”

    In point of fact, Sarandos and Peters met around 400 members of WBD’s leadership (some of whom are going to be very very very well compensated if the deal between the iconic studio and the streamer goes through) in the lot’s Ross Theate. Hosted and, to some degree, MC’d by Zas, the co-CEO asked and took questions from the crowd. In the conversation, Sarandos and Peters offered assurances that they were interested in growing the business and had no interested in shuttering theatrical release — which WB has scheduled out until 2029 right now.

    Really though it was a lot of optics for a corporate buddy movie that just over two months ago, Peters openly scoffed at and almost everyone in town thought was a de facto done deal for David Ellison and his second richest man on the planet and Donald Trump whisperer Larry Ellison.

    Look at the smiles on their faces, look at the hope in their eyes …it’s just looking all wine, blue blazers and roses.

    Of course, even with the WBD board’s latest no thanks to Paramount and recommendations to shareholders to say the same, David Ellison still wants his second studio. No matter that Zas and gang have thrown serious shade on the Ellisons’ backstop promises and money on the table, everyone expects David and his father are going throw more money at WBD to get it before the January 8, 2026 deadline they set.

    While all that plays out, can we get some consensus here on if Greg Peters’ really is the Bill to Sarandos’ Ted? Asking for a friend…

    (L-R) Keanu Reeves & Alex Winter at 1991’s Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey Hollywood Premiere (Photo by Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)

    Dominic Patten

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  • ‘Sean Combs: The Reckoning’ Director Alexandria Stapleton Wasn’t Expecting That Controversial Footage

    Though Stapleton wouldn’t directly address the ongoing disagreement during our conversation, she does say that when she started work on the series, “I never, in a million years, thought that [footage] was going to fall into my lap.” Instead, she prepared a treatment that explored the allegations against Combs chronologically, from rumors around his alleged role in the slayings of Tupac Shakur and Christopher George Latore Wallace, better known as The Notorious B.I.G., to multiple allegations of sexual assault. (Combs has denied any responsibility in the deaths of Shakur and Wallace, and has never been charged in those cases. He also has denied all allegations of sexual assault.)

    As opposed to being a Jinx-like self-indictment, the found footage helps to illustrate how Combs approached the increasing tide of accusations, and how seriously—or not—he took them. At times, he can be seen performing as if he’s on a reality show; at other points, it appears he’s forgotten the cameras are there. “Those are things that I think you have to see in order to understand the type of person that you’re dealing with,” Stapleton says. “There’s intention behind how he moves. And in his defense, there should be, if you have your life on the line at that level.”

    Toward the series’s end, we are reminded that in criminal court, Combs has been convicted of only two prostitution-related offenses, and was acquitted of the most serious charges against him. Jurors in the New York case “didn’t necessarily think that he was a good guy,” Stapleton says, “but they couldn’t connect the dots” when it came to more consequential criminal behavior. He remains incarcerated at Federal Correctional Institution Fort Dix, New Jersey, serving a 50-month sentence. His anticipated release date is June 4, 2028.

    At present, Combs also faces over 70 civil claims, some of which may stretch back to the 56-year-old’s days as a student at Howard University. But though Stapleton left a massive amount of footage on the cutting room floor, she seems reluctant about returning for a possible The Reckoning 2. “I would have no interest in doing it for gratuitous reasons, or to feed the appetite of people wanting more,” she says. The documentarian is already gearing up to premiere her next project, The Brittney Griner Story, at the Sundance Film Festival in January.

    That said, Stapleton does believe that Combs will continue to provide fodder for reporters and documentarians for years to come. “I definitely think this is the beginning. He has dozens upon dozens upon dozens upon dozens of civil suits to get through. We’ll see how this all continues to take shape.”

    Eve Batey

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  • Warner Bros. Sends Strong Message to Shareholders About Rival Paramount Offer

    Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) just fired back at Paramount’s hostile takeover bid. The company encouraged its shareholders in a letter to reject the offer, arguing its deal with Netflix represents “superior” value for shareholders.

    Netflix announced on December 5 its $72 billion agreement to acquire WBD’s entertainment studios after it splits from Discovery Global under the title Warner Bros. A few days later, Paramount issued a $77.9 billion tender offer, alleging its bid would deliver greater value to shareholders.

    Some shareholders have already expressed a preference for Paramount’s offer, according to CNN. Now, WBD is doubling down in its opposition to the company.

    “The PSKY offer provides inadequate values and imposes numerous, significant risks and costs on WBD,” WBD wrote in the letter. “The Board continues to unanimously recommend the Netflix merger, and that you reject the PSKY offer and not tender your shares.”

    Paramount’s Financial Arrangement

    WBD’s primary concern is whether Paramount represents good value, noting the company receives significant financial backing from the royal families of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi, even as CEO David Ellison and his father, Oracle billionaire Larry, took over the company in August. 

    According to CNN, Paramount said it has “air tight financing” and that suggesting otherwise is “absurd.” 

    In response to Paramount’s claims that its bid has full backstop from the Ellison family, WBD said in the letter that “It does not, and never has,” and said Paramount has “consistently misled” WBD shareholders. 

    Ava Levinson

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  • Warner Bros. Discovery rejects Paramount Skydance’s hostile bid, saying Netflix’s offer is superior

    Warner Bros. Discovery on Wednesday urged shareholders to reject Paramount Skydance’s $108.4 billion hostile bid, arguing that it created “significant risks and costs” for the company and that Netflix’s prior offer provides better value.

    The move follows competing bids for Warner Bros. Discovery, whose storied film library includes classics like “Casablanca” and the “Harry Potter” film series. Netflix agreed on December 5 to buy a part of Warner Bros. in a deal valued at $82.7 billion, while Paramount Skydance followed on Dec. 8 with an all-cash $30 per share for the entirety of the media conglomerate.

    Netflix agreed to buy Warner Bros.’s HBO as well as its streaming and studios business, including HBO Max and Warner Bros. Television, for $27.75 a share. 

    In making the bid for all of Warner Bros. Discovery, Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison described it as a “superior all-cash offer.” Ellison said that combining the assets of Warner Bros. Discovery with Paramount Skydance (the parent of CBS News) would face an easier path through the government regulatory process.

    A spokesperson for Paramount Skydance didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. 

    In recommending that shareholders reject Paramount Skydance’s bid, Warner Bros. Discovery said its board concluded the two offers pose an equal regulatory risk. Warner Bros. Discovery also said its analysis found that Netflix’s offer, which includes cash and Netflix stock, is superior. 

    It also raised concerns about Paramount Skydance’s $40.65 billion equity commitment, for which Warner Bros. Discovery said “there is no Ellison family commitment of any kind.” David Ellison’s father, Oracle CEO Larry Ellison, is the world’s fifth-richest person, with a net worth of $243 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

    Warner Bros. Discovery’s recommendation comes shortly after one of Paramount Skydance’s financial partners in the deal, Affinity Partners, said it had dropped out of the hostile bid. Affinity is the private equity firm founded by President Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner. 

    An Affinity spokesperson told CBS News that, while it continued to believe in the “strong strategic rationale” for Paramount Skydance’s offer, it had decided to pull back because “the dynamics of the investment have changed significantly since we initially became involved in October.”

    In a letter sent to shareholders, Warner Bros. Discovery’s board said it believed Netflix’s finances are also in better shape, with a stronger credit rating and a larger market capitalization.

    “The Netflix merger is fully backed by a public company with a market cap in excess of $400 billion with an investment grade balance sheet,” the letter stated. 

    Paramount Skydance’s credit rating is “at or only a notch above ‘junk’ status from the two leading rating agencies,” while its market valuation stands at $15 billion, Warner Bros. Discovery added.

    Warner Bros. Discovery also expressed concern about Paramount Skydance’s plan to use a revocable trust to provide debt financing as part of its offer.

    “The assets and liabilities of the trust are not publicly disclosed and are subject to change,” its shareholder letter stated. “As the name indicates, revocable trusts typically have provisions allowing for assets to be moved at any time.”

    While Wednesday’s letter to shareholders means Paramount’s is not the offer favored by Warner Bros.’ board, shareholders can still decide to tender their shares in favor of Paramount’s offer for the entire company,  including cable assets such as CNN, Discovery and TNT.

    Edited by

    Alain Sherter

    The Associated Press

    contributed to this report.

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  • Canal+ Boss Celebrates Netflix For “Convincing France To Pay” For Television As Ted Sarandos Reaffirms Commitment To Theatrical Post Warner Deal

    Ted Sarandos made a surprise appearance at last night’s Canal+ content showcase. Having been showered with praise for the streamer’s impact in France, he shed more light on Netflix‘s plans for Warner Bros.’s theatrical releasing if that deal goes through.

    Maxime Saada, Canal+ Chair and CEO, who has been a consistent supporter of Netflix’s management and strategy, said the streamer had been “very good” for his company. Netflix launched in France in September 14 to a hostile audience who culturally were more inclined to watch free-TV channels or go to the cinema.

    “Before you showed up, we had approximately 30% of French people willing to pay [to watch] TV,” said Saada. “Netflix showed up in France with your proposition and user experience, and you convinced the French to pay, and now the penetration of paid television is 75%. You have basically doubled the market size in France, so thank you for that.”

    Sarandos responded that Netflix knew it “had to make television worth paying for” and “good enough that consumers would be glad to pay for it.”

    Theatrical commitment

    Sarandos was asked about the rationale for buying Warner Bros. for $83B, and he chose to respond by outlining where Netflix lacked as an entertainment operation and once again confirming Netflix’s commitment to releasing studio movies in the cinema.

    “It’s hard to imagine we’ve only been doing original programming for 12 years,” he said. “We’ve been moving very fast, building a library as fast as we can. We have made everything we have greenlit so it’s not a very deep development pool. Our library only extends back a decade whereas Warner Bros. stretches back a hundred years. They know a lot about things we haven’t ever done like theatrical distribution.

    “Our intentions when we buy Warner Bros. will be to continue to release Warner Bros, studio movies in theaters with the traditional windows. Those movies will flow through the Canal+ output deal. We never got into it before because we never owned a theatrical distribution mechanism. We were monetizing movies through our own subscription because that’s how we were growing the business the fastest.”

    In France, theatrical releasing rules are complex, with Netflix and Canal+ among those whio have sought to reduce long windows that hold theatrical movies back from TV screens. Currently, Netflix has to wait 15 months before it can stream films in the country.

    Saada questioned whether Netflix would continue its relationship with Canal+ post the Warner deal, which he described as “80% partners and maybe 20% competitors” – particularly in terms of sports rights.

    Sarandos responded that Netflix would only compete for “eventized” and “specialized” sports such as the upcoming Anthony Joshua vs Jake Paul boxing match or Christmas Day American football. “Our primary mission is film and television,” said Sarandos. “I don’t see us flipping from 80-20 to 20-80.”

    Netflix is battling out to acquire Warner with Paramount also interested via a hostile takeover bid. The Financial Times reported this morning that Warner is set to rebuff Paramount’s offer.

    Jesse Whittock

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  • Making sense of the risky Netflix-Warner Bros. deal | TechCrunch

    Whether or not Netflix’s $82.6 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. goes through, the deal encapsulates a fraught moment for Hollywood, as the entertainment business is increasingly overshadowed by tech giants.

    On the latest episode of the Equity podcast, Kirsten Korosec and I discussed the deal’s implications, both for Netflix and the larger Hollywood ecosystem. Kirsten noted that it’s just the latest move bringing more consolidation to the media business, and she wondered whether it’s “too big a risk” for Netflix.

    Meanwhile, I discussed a call with Netflix executives where Wall Street analysts also seemed to be struggling to wrap their heads around the deal. And then of course there’s Paramount’s competing hostile bid — whatever happens, Warner Bros.’ days as a standalone company seem to be numbered.

    You can read an edited preview of our conversation below.

    Kirsten: I remember when Netflix was just a little baby startup and I got their [DVDs] in the mail. Here they are, all grown up, bidding for a legacy company. Did that run through your head when you saw the news?

    Anthony: Certainly symbolically, it’s this moment where the upstart has eaten Hollywood. There’ve been all these articles, even before this deal, saying, “Netflix is eating Hollywood, Netflix is transforming Hollywood.” Regardless of whether or not this deal ends up going through, Netflix will have transformed Hollywood, but this seems like the biggest — both symbolically but also substantively — one of the most dramatic things that can happen. 

    Then there are all these other questions about: Will Netflix get regulatory approval? Will Paramount’s hostile bid succeed?

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    What jumped out to you is you were catching up on it, Kirsten?

    Kirsten: Well, the first thing was I was like, can there be any more consolidation in this market? I mean, that was the big one for me, because if memory serves, Warner Bros. already went through like this consolidation with Discovery, right? So here we are again. There’s been so much consolidation that I have lost track of all of that.

    But the second thought was what I immediately thought, what I kicked [off our discussion] with, which is really thinking about how Netflix [has grown], and there have been these dips in the road along its way, where the headlines have been about how it’s struggling, and will it remain relevant, and how can it do that? If they’re successful in the actual deal, [it would] potentially reflect [that] they have made it.

    But then again, they have to execute on [running] an even bigger company than ever before. And so I guess my third thought on this is: Should they be buying this? Is this what it takes for them to expand? Is it a risk for them to take on so much? Why not just stay as they are? And I don’t know if you agree with me on that one. Is it too big of a risk? 

    Anthony: I can see how it makes sense for Netflix. It’s a way to take a [content] library that is already quite large, and they’ve obviously had some very successful TV shows — less so on the movie side — [but] potentially, they just become so much stronger on the content side.

    [And] they’re suddenly now involved in all these other businesses, although the question is to what extent are they going to invest in things like the theatrical business, theme parks, making TV shows for other streaming services and networks, which are all businesses that Warner Bros is in, and Netflix says it will continue to support. But we’ll see to what extent that’s true.

    So it seems like something that can really benefit Netflix in some ways, but, at the same time, it does seem like this is a huge risk. If you go and look at the analyst call that Netflix’s executives did after announcing the deal, you can see that the analysts are wrestling with it and wondering “Okay, I can see that this grows your business, but does it grow your business [so much that it’s] worth an $82 billion deal?”

    And then of course, beyond the Netflix perspective, you have everybody else in Hollywood. There are all these maybe accurately hyperbolic headlines about: Is this the end of Hollywood? Is this the end of the movie theater business? All the unions are basically saying either, “This deal should be blocked” or “We’re very, very, very worried about this deal.” The theater owners are saying that

    And so I think there’s A) Is this a good deal for Netflix? And B) is this a good deal for the entertainment business? I don’t have a good answer for either, [but] I think it’s more likely to be a good deal for Netflix than it is to be a good deal for the entertainment business.

    Though again, part of what to keep in mind as people weigh those options or think about possible outcomes here, is that because of the way that Paramount has forced Warner Bros. to consider these acquisition offers, it seems unlikely that Warner Bros. is going to be able to continue as an independent company — which, if you’re not a fan of media consolidation, that is disappointing.

    Anthony Ha

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  • Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs videographer addresses how Netflix got docuseries video – National | Globalnews.ca

    Sean “Diddy” Combs’ personal videographer has addressed how he alleges Netflix and 50 Cent obtained the behind-the-scenes footage of Combs for the docuseries Sean Combs: The Reckoning, which unpacks the allegations behind the rapper and his Bad Boy Entertainment empire.

    The videographer, Michael Oberlies, is alleging that the footage was released by a freelancer who was hired to fill in for him while he was out of state for a few days.

    “For over two years we have been working on a project profiling Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs,” Oberlies said in a statement to Rolling Stone. “The footage in question was not released by me or anyone authorized to handle Sean Combs’ materials; it was by a third party who covered for me for three days while I was out of state. This incident had nothing to do with any fee dispute or contract issue.

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    “The actions of the parties involved reflect the lack of integrity every storyteller should uphold. Taking footage intended for our project to advance a narrative that was not our own is both unethical and unacceptable.”

    The footage Oberlies is referencing features clips of Combs in his New York City hotel room days before his September 2024 arrest, when he was indicted on federal sex trafficking and racketeering charges that accused him of hitting and abusing women for over a decade and presiding over an empire of sexual crimes.


    The footage featured in the Netflix docuseries, produced by 50 Cent, shares conversations with Combs’ legal team about how to navigate the case.

    “We have to find somebody that’ll work with us. Whether they’re from this country or from another country, it could be somebody that has the dirtiest of dirtiest dirty business of media and propaganda,” Combs told his lawyer Marc Agnifilo on the phone, before adding, “We’re losing.”

    In another scene, Combs meets fans in Harlem, where he later says he needs hand sanitizer because he was “out in the streets amongst the people.”

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    “The amount of people that actually I’m coming in contact with, that’s what I have to do,” he said while asking the people around him for hand sanitizer. “It’s time to cleanse, I got to go under the water, water got to be boiling hot, put some peroxide in that.”

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    Click to play video: 'Sean “Diddy” Combs claims new Netflix doc uses “stolen footage” depicting days leading up to his arrest'


    Sean “Diddy” Combs claims new Netflix doc uses “stolen footage” depicting days leading up to his arrest




    A day before the docuseries was released on Netflix, a representative for Combs issued a statement, calling it a “shameful hit piece.”

    “Today’s GMA (Good Morning America) teaser confirms that Netflix relied on stolen footage that was never authorized for release. As Netflix and CEO Ted Sarandos know, Mr. Combs has been amassing footage since he was 19 to tell his own story, in his own way. It is fundamentally unfair, and illegal, for Netflix to misappropriate that work,” the Dec. 1 statement read.

    Combs’ rep said Netflix was “plainly desperate to sensationalize every minute of Mr. Combs’s life, without regard for truth, in order to capitalize on a never-ending media frenzy.”

    “If Netflix cared about truth or about Mr. Combs’s legal rights, it would not be ripping private footage out of context – including conversations with his lawyers that were never intended for public viewing. No rights in that material were ever transferred to Netflix or any third party,” the statement said.

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    “No rights in that material were ever transferred to Netflix or any third party,” the statement continued. “It is equally staggering that Netflix handed creative control to Curtis ’50 Cent’ Jackson — a longtime adversary with a personal vendetta who has spent too much time slandering Mr. Combs.”

    Trending Now

    In a statement provided to Netflix’s official news website, Tudum, Sean Combs: The Reckoning director Alexandria Stapleton said the behind-the-scenes footage “came to us.”

    “We obtained the footage legally and have the necessary rights. One thing about Sean Combs is that he’s always filming himself, and it’s been an obsession throughout the decades,” Stapleton said.

    She also claimed that the docuseries team “reached out to Sean Combs’ legal team for an interview and comment multiple times, but did not hear back.”


    Click to play video: 'Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs not guilty of racketeering, sex trafficking in split verdict'


    Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs not guilty of racketeering, sex trafficking in split verdict




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    In a second statement to Deadline from a Netflix spokesperson, the streamer doubled down, saying, “The footage of Combs leading up to his indictment and arrest were legally obtained. This is not a hit piece or an act of retribution. Curtis Jackson is an executive producer but does not have creative control. No one was paid to participate.”

    50 Cent insisted the docuseries isn’t part of a “personal vendetta” to take Combs down.

    “I’m not doing this as some personal mission. I’m telling a story no one else is telling because I don’t have the fear that others feel towards him. I’m not afraid at all,” he told Us Weekly in an interview on Tuesday.

    When asked how he acquired the footage filmed before Combs’ arrest, 50 Cent said, “A journalist would ask that, but a journalist would also say, ‘I’m going to keep my sources secure.’”

    Combs is currently serving 50 months in prison after a New York jury found him guilty on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution while acquitting him of the most serious charges of racketeering and sex trafficking.

    The 56-year-old disgraced hip-hop mogul was originally scheduled to get out of prison on May 8, 2028, but the date has now been changed to June 4, 2028, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ online database.

    © 2025 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

    Katie Scott

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  • Director Carl Rinsch found guilty of scamming $11M from Netflix – National | Globalnews.ca

    47 Ronin director Carl Erik Rinsch has been found guilty of defrauding Netflix out of $11 million for a show that never materialized, while he used the money for lavish purchases, including a Ferrari, several Rolls-Royces and luxury bedding, the U.S. attorney’s office in Manhattan said.

    Rinsch was found guilty following a one-week trial. He was convicted of one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering — each carrying a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York announced on Thursday.

    He was also found guilty of five counts of engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

    The director began filming White Horse around 2017, which follows a scientist who creates a human-like species that turns against its creators, according to the indictment.

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    Prosecutors said Netflix had initially paid Rinsch about $44 million between 2018 and 2019 for an unfinished sci-fi series, and then sent another $11 million around March 6, 2020, after he said he needed additional funding to wrap up the production.

    Instead of putting the money toward the show, Rinsch transferred the cash into a “number of different bank accounts before consolidating them in a personal brokerage account,” according to prosecutors.

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    Rinsch then used those funds to make a number of personal and speculative purchases. He made a series of failed investments, losing around half of the $11 million in a couple of months, prosecutors said.


    Click to play video: 'Netflix to buy Warner Bros. film & streaming business for US$72B'


    Netflix to buy Warner Bros. film & streaming business for US$72B


    He then put the remaining funds into the cryptocurrency market and “on personal expenses and luxury items, including at least $1.7 million on credit card bills; at least $3.3 million on furniture, antiques, and mattresses; at least $387,000 on a Swiss watch; and at least $2.4 million on five Rolls Royces and a red Ferrari,” according to prosecutors.

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    “Carl Erik Rinsch took $11 million meant for a TV show and gambled it on speculative stock options and crypto transactions,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Today’s conviction shows that when someone steals from investors, we will follow the money and hold them accountable.”

    Trending Now

    In a statement to The New York Times, Rinsch’s lawyer, Benjamin Zeman, said he disagreed with the verdict.


    “I fear that this could set a dangerous precedent for artists who become embroiled in contractual and creative disputes with their benefactors, in this case, one of the largest media companies in the world, finding themselves indicted by the federal government for fraud,” Zeman said.

    Netflix said they had no comment when contacted by Global News about Rinsch’s conviction.

    Rinsch was charged in March “for engaging in a scheme to defraud a subscription video on-demand streaming service” after failing to complete the production of White Horse.

    “Carl Erik Rinsch orchestrated a scheme to steal millions by soliciting a large investment from a video streaming service, claiming that money would be used to finance a television show that he was creating. But that was fiction. Rinsch instead allegedly used the funds on personal expenses and investments, including highly speculative options and cryptocurrency trading,” acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky said in March.

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    “Rinsch’s arrest is a reminder that this Office and our partners at the FBI remain vigilant in the fight against fraud and will bring those who cheat and steal to justice,” Podolsky added.

    A sentencing hearing for Rinsch has been set for April 17, 2026.

    —With files from The Associated Press

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    © 2025 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

    Katie Scott

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