Stuck In Development

Guest Sam Parker joins Carl and Eitan to take them from the sewers of Paris to the top of the Burj Khalifa. They discuss filmmaker Brad Bird and his place in the evolution of franchise filmmaking. The three also dig into how Bird’s influences and animation background shape his films’ visuals and narratives. In news this week, Eitan and Carl skeptically respond to Netflix’s announcement that they w...

A week in, predicting what will happen in 2021 already seems impossible. Eitan and Carl wanted to try anyway. They share their boldest predictions across every Stuck In Development vertical, tracing 2020’s impact on everything from Disneyland’s eventual reopening to visual effects labor reform. One thing is certain: Carl and Eitan will be here all year to make sense of any news story that develops...

Happy New Year, #OakesHive! Carl and Eitan spent the last two weeks relaxing and watching films with loved ones. They caught the month’s two biggest films – Soul and Wonder Woman 1984 – and walked away (from their couches) with many questions. Join the two as they discuss the film’s releases and what they mean for their respective studios.  In news this week, they react to a rumor that Roku i...

Happy Holidays from Stuck in Development! We're off this week, but we'll be back in January 2021. Music: Feather Duster by Silverman Sound Studios – https://www.silvermansound.com

It’s been a long year, but Eitan and Carl found a lot to celebrate. The two recap their favorite films, TV shows and media moments from 2020. In news this week, they dissect a rumored MGM sale, react to Alan Horn’s retirement announcement and spend way too long spiraling down a Mandalorian rabbithole. The main topic starts at 32:10 this week. Music: Feather Duster by Silverman Sound Studios – http...

Did COVID-19 simply accelerate disruptive strategies at AT&T and Disney? As the dust settles from weeks of HBO Max and Disney news, Carl and Eitan check in on the two most aggressive combatants in the streaming wars. They react with both horror and intrigue to Disney’s Investor Day announcements, and they follow multiple tangents through the histories of Disney’s content verticals. They also d...

What does the consolidation of Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster mean for the media world at large? Eitan and Carl take a step into trade publishing to discuss a seismic shift in the industry’s power dynamics. In this episode, they walk through this merger’s potential effects on creators, small businesses, Amazon and Hollywood. This merger also opens up a broader discussion on whether...

In a radical move, Warner Brothers announced that they will release all 2021 films simultaneously in theaters and on HBO Max. Carl and Eitan couldn’t wait, so they paused a production meeting to react in real time to this game-changing news. Follow us on Twitter @stuckindevpod  Music: News Intro Sound by Maximilien – http://soundbible.com/2041-News-Intro.html

Can Warner Brothers turn a profit on direct-to-streaming blockbusters? ….maybe. In a timely episode, Eitan and Carl model hypothetical theatrical and streaming releases for three films: Godzilla vs. Kong, Wonder Woman 1984 and Soul. This discussion showcases the hard path to profitability that streamers face. Though this episode was recorded before the announcement that Warner Bros. would put all...

This Thanksgiving, we give thanks for good audio quality and experienced hosts. Unfortunately, this episode from our archives has neither. Listen to Carl and Eitan’s very first attempt at Stuck in Development. They explore the troubled past and hopeful future of their favorite Disney ride, Splash Mountain. Eitan and Carl will be back next week with a brand new episode. Follow us on Twitter @stucki...

On the heels of another bewildering rumor – Jon Chu’s Lilo and Stitch?  – Eitan and Carl dig into Disney’s “live action remakes.” They trace the history of this zombie subgenre and share their hypothesis for its true purpose: replacing the artificial scarcity of the now-defunct Disney Vault. In the news, they revisit the Wonder Woman 1984 release and discuss director David Fincher’s new...

Will a COVID-19 vaccine actually save media and entertainment companies? Carl and Eitan weigh in on whether the market reaction to Pfizer’s vaccine announcement is rational or just bad speculation. First, they dedicate the bulk of this episode to a busy post-election news week. Topics veer wildly between Netflix’s linear ambitions, Harry Potter franchise-keeping, Apple’s ARM transition and next-ge...

Why does horror hold so much power? As the Halloween moon wanes, Eitan and Carl wax “eloquent” about the power of genre entertainment. From disturbing horror to traumatic childhood films, they use the season as a jumping off point to explore how death and despair onscreen make us more resilient and less afraid. In news this week, they review AMC’s insane Q3 2020 earnings call, comment on Netflix p...

Carl and Eitan return with the second part of their investigation into what went wrong with Disney’s Star Wars franchise. Disney followed up the record-breaking The Force Awakens by firing 3 directors and releasing 3 films. Two films had troubled productions, and one ignited hatred on certain corners of the internet. Will Eitan be able to convince Carl of Rogue One’s brilliance? Can Carl finally s...

On the day before Quibi (RIP 2020-2020) announced its shutdown, Eitan and Carl opened the virtual Stuck in Development mailbox.  In answering your questions, they double down on their Netflix skepticism, pitch a theme park in Mykonos and sing the praises of a chaotic 2021 Oscar race. In news this week, they chat about Disney+ content advisories and California guidance around theme park reopen...

Should you be bullish or bearish on Netflix? In a streaming-heavy news week, Carl and Eitan chat about Netflix’s evolving content strategy as well as Disney’s plans to focus on digital distribution. They also check in on Quibi’s acquisition prospects. Follow us on Twitter @stuckindevpod  News and main topic conversation are interspersed this week. Music: Feather Duster by Silverman Sound Stud...

As live-action production slows to a crawl, American movie studios are turning toward animation to keep their content stables full. In a spiritual sequel to their very first episode, Eitan and Carl dive into the quirky animation production landscape. By contextualizing the evolution of modern animation, they prove that these companies operate in a small world after all. This week’s news developmen...

What’s the best restroom in Disneyland? Should you go left or right at the fork in Pirates of the Caribbean ? Is Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout! an improvement on the Tower of Terror or an annoying monstrosity? This episode answers these very important Disneyland questions and more. This week, Carl and Eitan finally head back to Disneyland – to a Disneyland state of mind, that is. The...

As the stardust settles on Hollywood’s second- or third- biggest night, Eitan and Carl are joined by guest Kevin Sachs to recap this year’s Emmys. The bulk of this week’s episode is focused on analyzing who won and who should have won, but they also touch on emerging streaming entrant Paramount+ and Microsoft’s acquisition of Bethesda. Discussion also includes the state of televised awards shows,...

Disney’s first attempt at reinvigorating the Star Wars franchise fizzled in 2019 with the muted response toward The Rise of Skywalker and Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland and Disney World . What happened to this storied intellectual property? In the first episode of a 3-part investigation, Carl and Eitan trace the Star Wars saga from its 2012 acquisition by Disney to the successful release of The Force...

Should you pay to see Hollywood’s biggest releases in 6 months? The Labor Day weekend releases of Mulan and Tenet have become flag-bearers for the future of movie releases. Eitan and Carl review the films and their release strategies. First, they spend some time discussing the news of Netflix’s new adaptation of Liu Cixin’s The Three-Body Problem. Follow us on Twitter @stuckindevpod  Music: F...

In their first mailbag episode, Carl and Eitan answer your questions about film development and copyright quirks. They also open up about discovering their love of theme parks and the entertainment business. In the news this week, Carl and Eitan celebrate the life of Chadwick Boseman and check in on Tenet and Mulan. Links: Book: Shooting to Kill: https://bit.ly/3gPdsCl Film: The Last Black Man in...

Epic Games, Apple and Google are weeks into a battle royale over the fate of digital sales platforms. Who will prevail? In news this week, Carl and Eitan discuss the evolution of DC’s superhero programming and a rumor threatening Hulu’s future. For this half-fortnight’s major topic, Carl and Eitan dig into the history of the Apple App Store and draw parallels between Epic’s antitrust fight and the...

The House that Walt Built reported Q3 earnings last week. They weren’t great… or were they? Carl and Eitan walk you through what you need to know. There was too much news to skip straight to Disney, so they begin with discussions of AMC’s reopening, Tenet rapidly-approaching theatrical release, the official end of the Paramount Decrees, and a Quibi Quibi. They next analyze Disney’s Q3 earnings, th...

Are movie theaters dead? In light of AMC and Universal clinging to each other for dear life, Carl and Eitan explore the century-long evolution of the movie industry. From Fantasia to Trolls World Tour , they trace the destruction of Hollywood's ‘Golden Age’ via the Paramount Decrees to the streaming wars and the rise of modern theatre chains. Follow us on Twitter @stuckindevpod Follow Carl on Twit...