Strictly Business

On today’s episode, Chris Carter of “The X-Files” fame explains to Variety ’s Michael Schneider how he got the chance to do a director’s cut of his 2008 “The X-Files: I Want to Believe” feature film. The new cut debuted Aug. 14 on Hulu and Disney+ outside the U.S. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s episode, documentarian Leslie Iwerks dives into the world of “Disney Worldbuilding,” a study of how creative visions are brought to life as IRL experiences at Disney parks and other locations. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Luminate's Andrew Wallenstein speaks with retired athletes Blake Griffin and Ryan Kalil. Since moving on from their playing days in NBA and NFL, the two have headed the  production company Mortal Media. And now, they're adding a few more jobs to their resumes: co-owners of a Mexican-league football team, and co-stars of the unscripted series "We Are Osos" that bows Aug. 3...

On today's episode, Variety's Todd Spangler analyzes the latest moves in Paramount Skydance's quest to close its deal to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery for $110 billion. And Dodger great Orel Hershiser talks baseball, broadcasting, business and faith as he prepares to receive his Hollywood Walk of Fame star on Aug. 13 for his work as a sportscaster. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informat...

On today's episode, Variety' s Todd Spangler analyzes the latest moves in Paramount Skydance's quest to close its deal to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery for $110 billion. And Dodger great Orel Hershiser talks baseball, broadcasting, business and faith as he prepares to receive his Hollywood Walk of Fame star on Aug. 13 for his work as a sportscaster. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informa...

On today's episode, in our Box Office segment, Variety' s Rebecca Rubin reports that the good news keeps on coming for the movie biz as "Spider Man: Brand New Day" soars in weekend two and "The Odyssey" becomes Christopher Nolan's highest-grossing film. Most important, the summer tally to date has already reached the $4 billion benchmark that was the norm pre-COVID. See omnystudio.com/listener for...

On today's episode, in our Box Office segment, Variety' s Rebecca Rubin reports that the good news keeps on coming for the movie biz as "Spider Man: Brand New Day" soars in weekend two and "The Odyssey" becomes Christopher Nolan's highest-grossing film. Most important, the summer tally to date has already reached the $4 billion benchmark that was the norm pre-COVID. See omnystudio.com/listener for...

On today's episode of Variety 's "Strictly Business," Matt Strauss, chairman of NBCUniversal Media Group, details the evolution of the Peacock streamer and his view of the "the great re-bundling" that is underway for streaming media. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s episode, Variety ’s Corbin Bolies reports from Las Vegas where he is covering the AI4 conference with a slew of top leaders and true believers. The excitement around generative AI is still as hot as the temperature in Sin City, but the polarizing effect of the technology is evident as well, Bolies reports. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.c...

On today’s episode, Variety 's Todd Spangler offers an update on where things stand for Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger process now that a judge has set a March trial start date for the antitrust case brought by 12 state attorneys general and the Writers Guild of America. “I think he feels like he’s been misunderstood,” Spangler says of Paramount Skydance CEO David...

On today’s episode, Journey Gunderson, executive director of the National Comedy Center in Jamestown, N.Y. – Lucille Ball’s hometown -- explains why it’s important to have an institution devoted to the study of comedy. Jamestown will be abuzz with laughs as the center hosts the annual Lucille Ball Comedy Festival Aug. 7-9 headlined by Jerry Seinfeld, Bert Kreischer and Seth...

On today’s episode, Variety ’s box office expert Rebecca Rubin breaks down an astounding weekend at global turnstiles with the debut of Sony Pictures’ “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” and weekend three of Universal Pictures’ “The Odyssey.” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The global live music business is enjoying a busy summer touring season, defying ticket-price sensitivity concerns. Andrew Wallenstein, chief insights officer at Luminate, discusses the company's new "Live Music 2026" special report with its author, Luminate analyst Robert Steiner. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s episode, Colleen Bell, director of the California State Film Commission, discusses her wins in her role as the Golden State’s film chief and the hurdles that remain to restore a high volume of TV and film lensing activity in Hollywood's backyard. Bell says the past few years have been a “seminal moment” for the entertainment industry in California. “People...

On today’s episode, Madison Wells chief Gigi Pritzker and newly appointed president and chief content officer Dan Steinman discuss how the well-positioned indie navigates the ups and downs of a transforming marketplace. “We have to be smarter,” Pritzker says. “Even inexpensive movies are expensive,” says Steinman. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. S...

On today’s episode, in our Cover Story segment, Variety ’s Angelique Jackson details the time she spent with multihyphenate superstar Travis Scott, who comes off a record-setting music tour with a high-profile role in the movie of the moment, Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey.” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...

On today's episode, country music superstar Reba McEntire discusses celebrating her golden anniversary in music with a series of EP releases that pair a newly recorded song with several vintage tunes. McEntire also weighs in on how she’s navigated a turbulent TV marketplace to get her NBC comedy “Happy’s Place” to a third season. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy info...

On today’s episode, “Scary Movie” director Michael Tiddes explains how he came to be trusted with the revival of Shawn and Marlon Wayans’ beloved horror comedy franchise. And Tiddes details the extras in the extended director's cut that bowed today on PVOD platforms. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s episode, in our box office segment, Variety ’s Rebecca Rubin breaks down the spectacular $264 million worldwide opening for Universal Pictures’ “The Odyssey.” It couldn’t have come at a better time for Imax, the large-format exhibitor that delivered more than 50% of the opening weekend receipts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See...

On today’s episode, Jon Miller, CEO of Integrated Media, offers perspective on what it’s like to be part of a mega-bucks merger that represents an enormous bet on the future. He examines the flurry of deals that are pending, and how the varied motives of the biggest players in media are driving the sector. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener...

On today’s episode, in our Cover Story segment, Variety ’s Brent Lang details the comprehensive report that he delivered with Rebecca Rubin on the summer box office rebound, and what Hollywood and exhibitors must do to keep it going. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s episode, as part of Variety ’s ongoing series celebrating NBC’s centennial , we revisit the history of NBC’s “Must See TV” branding campaign that came to define the network’s dominance in the 1990s. Jennifer Storms, NBCUniversal’s chief marketing officer for television and streaming, explains how that sturdy foundation helps them reach mul...

On today’s episode, Variety ’s Gene Maddaus explains the legal rationale behind the lawsuit filed July 13 by 12 state attorneys general to block the Paramount-Warner Bros. takeover. And Columbia University Law School professor Eric Talley breaks down the power the AGs have to wield and why they will use the pressure of litigation to demand concessions from Paramount. See omnystudio.com...

On today’s episode, in our Box Office segment, Variety 's Rebecca Rubin unpacks what went wrong with Disney’s “Moana” live-action remake. And Jon Erwin, the filmmaker behind “Young Washington,” explains how his Wonder Project banner is making indie theatrical films work as a business. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/l...

On today's episode, Luminate analyst Tyler Aquilina details his report, "Hollywood Exodus," on the production crisis in L.A. in a conversation with host Andrew Wallenstein. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.