News Analysis India

Tag: Netflix

  • Netflix officially renews ‘The Sandman’ for season 2

    By PTI

    LOS ANGELES: “The Sandman”, the live-action adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s popular graphic novel, has been renewed by streaming service Netflix for the second season.

    According to the entertainment website The Hollywood Reporter, news of the renewal leaked earlier on Wednesday via a since-deleted tweet from DC Comics, the publisher of the book. The formal announcement came in the evening.

    Gaiman said he is elated to work with Netflix, Warner Bros, and fellow executive producers Allan Heinberg, and David Goyer, to bring more stories from “The Sandman” books to life.

    “Millions upon millions of people have welcomed and watched and loved The Sandman on Netflix, from established ‘Sandman’ fans to people who were simply curious, and then became obsessed with the Lord of Dreams, his family and their goings-on.”

    There are some astonishing stories waiting for Morpheus and the rest of them (not to mention more members of the Endless Family to meet).

    Yes, it’s true: The Sandman will return to NetflixSays @neilhimself: “There are some astonishing stories waiting for Morpheus and the rest of them…Now it’s time to get back to work. There’s a family meal ahead, after all. And Lucifer is waiting for Morpheus to return to Hell” pic.twitter.com/WKiWp7IDkk
    — The Sandman (@Netflix_Sandman) November 3, 2022
    Nobody is going to be happier about this than ‘The Sandman’ cast and crew: they are the biggest Sandman fans there are. And now it’s time to get back to work. There’s a family meal ahead, after all. And Lucifer is waiting for Morpheus to return to Hell” the author said.

    The 10-episode series follows Tom Sturridge’s Morpheus, the king of dreams, who escapes after being held captive for 105 years and sets out to restore order in his kingdom. A surprise 11th episode followed two weeks after the August 5 release of the debut season.

    “The Sandman” also stars Gwendoline Christie, Vivienne Acheampong, Boyd Holbrook, Charles Dance, Asim Chaudhry, Sanjeev Bhaskar, David Thewlis, Stephen Fry, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Mason Alexander Park and Donna Preston.

    LOS ANGELES: “The Sandman”, the live-action adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s popular graphic novel, has been renewed by streaming service Netflix for the second season.

    According to the entertainment website The Hollywood Reporter, news of the renewal leaked earlier on Wednesday via a since-deleted tweet from DC Comics, the publisher of the book. The formal announcement came in the evening.

    Gaiman said he is elated to work with Netflix, Warner Bros, and fellow executive producers Allan Heinberg, and David Goyer, to bring more stories from “The Sandman” books to life.

    “Millions upon millions of people have welcomed and watched and loved The Sandman on Netflix, from established ‘Sandman’ fans to people who were simply curious, and then became obsessed with the Lord of Dreams, his family and their goings-on.”

    There are some astonishing stories waiting for Morpheus and the rest of them (not to mention more members of the Endless Family to meet).

    Yes, it’s true: The Sandman will return to Netflix
    Says @neilhimself: “There are some astonishing stories waiting for Morpheus and the rest of them…Now it’s time to get back to work. There’s a family meal ahead, after all. And Lucifer is waiting for Morpheus to return to Hell” pic.twitter.com/WKiWp7IDkk
    — The Sandman (@Netflix_Sandman) November 3, 2022
    Nobody is going to be happier about this than ‘The Sandman’ cast and crew: they are the biggest Sandman fans there are. And now it’s time to get back to work. There’s a family meal ahead, after all. And Lucifer is waiting for Morpheus to return to Hell” the author said.

    The 10-episode series follows Tom Sturridge’s Morpheus, the king of dreams, who escapes after being held captive for 105 years and sets out to restore order in his kingdom. A surprise 11th episode followed two weeks after the August 5 release of the debut season.

    “The Sandman” also stars Gwendoline Christie, Vivienne Acheampong, Boyd Holbrook, Charles Dance, Asim Chaudhry, Sanjeev Bhaskar, David Thewlis, Stephen Fry, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Mason Alexander Park and Donna Preston.

  • Netflix adds disclaimer to ‘The Crown’ after anger over story lines

    By AFP

    LONDON: Netflix has added a disclaimer to its hit series “The Crown” after a former British prime minister and acting royalty accused the streaming giant of confusing truth with fiction in its story lines.

    The move came after one episode in the latest series showed the then Prince Charles plotting to oust his mother as monarch.

    The four currently available seasons of the show now appear on Netflix’s website with the words: “Inspired by real events, this fictional dramatization tells the story of Queen Elizabeth II and the political and personal events that shaped her reign.”

    Netflix had consistently resisted calls for it to add a disclaimer. The fifth series which focuses on the 1990s is due to be released on November 9.

    One episode depicts heir to the throne Charles attempting to draw then prime minister John Major into a conspiracy against his mother, which Major slammed as “damaging and malicious” fiction.

    “There was never any discussion between Sir John and the then Prince of Wales about any possible abdication of the late Queen Elizabeth II — nor was such an improbable and improper subject ever raised by the then Prince of Wales (or Sir John),” a statement issued by his office said.

    Veteran actress Judi Dench — who has played the role of Queen Victoria — added her voice to the critics on Wednesday, describing the series as “cruelly unjust” to the royal family.

    The Oscar-winning thespian, also the intelligence chief “M” in recent James Bond movies, berated Netflix in a letter to The Times newspaper and demanded the addition of a disclaimer.

    Previous storylines that have prompted criticism include one in which the late Prince Philip, the queen’s husband, is blamed by his father for causing his sister’s death.

    Royal biographer William Shawcross last week told AFP the series was filled with “lies and half-truths”, and that Philip had been “incredibly upset” by the unfactual storyline.

    A spokeswoman last week defended the show as a “fictional dramatisation, imagining what could have happened behind closed doors”. Netflix was not immediately available for comment Friday.

    LONDON: Netflix has added a disclaimer to its hit series “The Crown” after a former British prime minister and acting royalty accused the streaming giant of confusing truth with fiction in its story lines.

    The move came after one episode in the latest series showed the then Prince Charles plotting to oust his mother as monarch.

    The four currently available seasons of the show now appear on Netflix’s website with the words: “Inspired by real events, this fictional dramatization tells the story of Queen Elizabeth II and the political and personal events that shaped her reign.”

    Netflix had consistently resisted calls for it to add a disclaimer. The fifth series which focuses on the 1990s is due to be released on November 9.

    One episode depicts heir to the throne Charles attempting to draw then prime minister John Major into a conspiracy against his mother, which Major slammed as “damaging and malicious” fiction.

    “There was never any discussion between Sir John and the then Prince of Wales about any possible abdication of the late Queen Elizabeth II — nor was such an improbable and improper subject ever raised by the then Prince of Wales (or Sir John),” a statement issued by his office said.

    Veteran actress Judi Dench — who has played the role of Queen Victoria — added her voice to the critics on Wednesday, describing the series as “cruelly unjust” to the royal family.

    The Oscar-winning thespian, also the intelligence chief “M” in recent James Bond movies, berated Netflix in a letter to The Times newspaper and demanded the addition of a disclaimer.

    Previous storylines that have prompted criticism include one in which the late Prince Philip, the queen’s husband, is blamed by his father for causing his sister’s death.

    Royal biographer William Shawcross last week told AFP the series was filled with “lies and half-truths”, and that Philip had been “incredibly upset” by the unfactual storyline.

    A spokeswoman last week defended the show as a “fictional dramatisation, imagining what could have happened behind closed doors”. Netflix was not immediately available for comment Friday.

  • INTERVIEW | Ani is insanely relatable: Mila Kunis on her ‘Luckiest Girl Alive’ character

    Express News Service

    Mila Kunis talks about playing Ani in her latest Netflix release ‘Luckiest Girl Alive’, and how she unwinds post emotionally draining shoots.

    What was it about this film that got you interested as an actor and a producer?

    I loved the book (of the same name by Jessica Knoll) and then the script came to me and it was so good. We just worked on the ending a little bit, but I couldn’t wait to get involved from an acting point of view. I trusted Mike (director Mike Barker), but I was also excited to be part of the process on both sides of the camera.

    How did you connect with this character who seems to have it all, but is secretly struggling with something terrible in her past?

    I think Ani is all of us. We all have a version of ourselves that we put forward and an internal dialogue that we never say out loud. The story works so well because Ani (played by Kunis) is insanely relatable to everybody, regardless of gender. There is no human that doesn’t have two versions of themselves. There is just something inside of our brains that we are constantly battling with, whether we listen to it or not. This is a story that explores and exposes that.

    What aspect of playing two sides of Ani did you enjoy the most?

    I loved the inner dialogue and how you not only get to hear it but see it too. It’s like a conversation she is having within herself, as a whole other person that is dying to get out, but she won’t allow it.  

    Did this story make you think about moments from your own past that may have had an effecton your life?

    We all have our own individual stories, but there is always a reason for everything that happens. In Ani’s case, it’s an accident. It moulds who she becomes, but doesn’t define who she is. That is a specific difference I hope people realise. We all have something that happened to us, which brought us where we are today, but that isn’t necessarily who we are.

    How did you go about preparing for this role?

    I learned a lot from a film  I did before with Glenn Close called Four Good Days, where I played a drug addict. I realised that experiences can have long-lasting effects, but you can’t just be that one thing. Understanding trauma started there for me. The other thing this movie tackles is how quickly, as a society, we put labels on people just because those terms are convenient for us. That idea of survivor versus victim was something I was curious about.

    WATCH |

    Given the fact you are a famous actor, many would say you must have it all. What do you say to that?

    I do think I’m fortunate, but there are a lot of things wrong with me. I have a very healthy relationship with my career, but who I am and what I do are two very different things. I never felt like I needed to put on a persona in order to protect myself as Ani does. I also never had to get on social media. I don’t know what happened, but I never had the obsessive-compulsive desire to see what people say about me all the time.

    How important is family when you are working on a project as heavy and emotional as this one? 

    My family is the truth. I don’t ask anything of my kids other than to be their awesome selves. I happen to have an incredible partner who is fully aware of what my job entails and what I might come home as. So as far as unwinding from this goes, he made sure that he had a glass of wine waiting for me the second I got home. He made dinner and if I got home super late, he would have a plate in the microwave.

    We have heard that you like to unwind by watching reality TV. Your favourites?

    All the ‘Bachelor’ shows and also ‘The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills’.

    Having lived the life of the ‘luckiest girl alive’, what would you tell your younger self if you could go back?

    I’m just grateful that something in my life prevented me from getting into that kind of situation.

    Asia Features

    Mila Kunis talks about playing Ani in her latest Netflix release ‘Luckiest Girl Alive’, and how she unwinds post emotionally draining shoots.

    What was it about this film that got you interested as an actor and a producer?

    I loved the book (of the same name by Jessica Knoll) and then the script came to me and it was so good. We just worked on the ending a little bit, but I couldn’t wait to get involved from an acting point of view. I trusted Mike (director Mike Barker), but I was also excited to be part of the process on both sides of the camera.

    How did you connect with this character who seems to have it all, but is secretly struggling with something terrible in her past?

    I think Ani is all of us. We all have a version of ourselves that we put forward and an internal dialogue that we never say out loud. The story works so well because Ani (played by Kunis) is insanely relatable to everybody, regardless of gender. There is no human that doesn’t have two versions of themselves. There is just something inside of our brains that we are constantly battling with, whether we listen to it or not. This is a story that explores and exposes that.

    What aspect of playing two sides of Ani did you enjoy the most?

    I loved the inner dialogue and how you not only get to hear it but see it too. It’s like a conversation she is having within herself, as a whole other person that is dying to get out, but she won’t allow it.  

    Did this story make you think about moments from your own past that may have had an effect
    on your life?

    We all have our own individual stories, but there is always a reason for everything that happens. In Ani’s case, it’s an accident. It moulds who she becomes, but doesn’t define who she is. That is a specific difference I hope people realise. We all have something that happened to us, which brought us where we are today, but that isn’t necessarily who we are.

    How did you go about preparing for this role?

    I learned a lot from a film  I did before with Glenn Close called Four Good Days, where I played a drug addict. I realised that experiences can have long-lasting effects, but you can’t just be that one thing. Understanding trauma started there for me. The other thing this movie tackles is how quickly, as a society, we put labels on people just because those terms are convenient for us. That idea of survivor versus victim was something I was curious about.

    WATCH |

    Given the fact you are a famous actor, many would say you must have it all. What do you say to that?

    I do think I’m fortunate, but there are a lot of things wrong with me. I have a very healthy relationship with my career, but who I am and what I do are two very different things. I never felt like I needed to put on a persona in order to protect myself as Ani does. I also never had to get on social media. I don’t know what happened, but I never had the obsessive-compulsive desire to see what people say about me all the time.

    How important is family when you are working on a project as heavy and emotional as this one?
     

    My family is the truth. I don’t ask anything of my kids other than to be their awesome selves. I happen to have an incredible partner who is fully aware of what my job entails and what I might come home as. So as far as unwinding from this goes, he made sure that he had a glass of wine waiting for me the second I got home. He made dinner and if I got home super late, he would have a plate in the microwave.

    We have heard that you like to unwind by watching reality TV. Your favourites?

    All the ‘Bachelor’ shows and also ‘The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills’.

    Having lived the life of the ‘luckiest girl alive’, what would you tell your younger self if you could go back?

    I’m just grateful that something in my life prevented me from getting into that kind of situation.

    Asia Features

  • Train to Busan director to develop new Netflix series

    By Express News Service

    South Korean director Yeon Sang-ho, known for internationally acclaimed films like Train to Busan and Peninsula, is developing a new series for Netflix. The series follows a young woman who inherits a family land following the death of her relatives. She soon gets caught up in the middle of mysterious events and uncovers strange secrets about her family.

    The series, reportedly involving a lot of Korean family traditions, is titled The Bequeathed. Yeon Sang-ho recently helmed a Korean show for Netflix titled Parasyte: The Grey, he also made South Korea’s first superhero film titled Psychokinesis.

    Apart from directing the series, Sang-Ho will also write episodes for the show. The cast of the series includes Park Hee-soon, Kim Hyun-Joo, and Park Byung-Eun. The series will be co-produced by WowPoint and RedPeter Films. Due to rising demands for South Korean films and related pop culture, Netflix is planning to release the series globally. 

    The series is set to have Zombies, with villagers turning into Zombies due to a mysterious infection. Due to the presence of Zombies, it was speculated that the series could be connected to the director’s earlier Zombie film Train to Busan. However, the makers are tight-lipped about any connection to the film. 

    South Korean director Yeon Sang-ho, known for internationally acclaimed films like Train to Busan and Peninsula, is developing a new series for Netflix. The series follows a young woman who inherits a family land following the death of her relatives. She soon gets caught up in the middle of mysterious events and uncovers strange secrets about her family.

    The series, reportedly involving a lot of Korean family traditions, is titled The Bequeathed. Yeon Sang-ho recently helmed a Korean show for Netflix titled Parasyte: The Grey, he also made South Korea’s first superhero film titled Psychokinesis.

    Apart from directing the series, Sang-Ho will also write episodes for the show. The cast of the series includes Park Hee-soon, Kim Hyun-Joo, and Park Byung-Eun. The series will be co-produced by WowPoint and RedPeter Films. Due to rising demands for South Korean films and related pop culture, Netflix is planning to release the series globally. 

    The series is set to have Zombies, with villagers turning into Zombies due to a mysterious infection. Due to the presence of Zombies, it was speculated that the series could be connected to the director’s earlier Zombie film Train to Busan. However, the makers are tight-lipped about any connection to the film. 

  • LaKeith Stanfield, Omar Sy join Jeymes Samuel’s Book of Clarence

    By Express News Service

    LaKeith Stanfield and Omar Sy are set to star in filmmaker Jeymes Samuel’s next film, titled The Book of Clarence. The filmmaker recently helmed The Harder They Fall, which is streaming on Netflix. 

    Though the plot details have been kept under wraps, The Book of Clarence is said to be set during the bible era with Stanfield playing the titular character of Clarence. The Book of Clarence will be written by Samuel, and the project is backed by James Lassiter, Shawn Carter and Tendo Nagenda.

    Stanfield, who is famous for his role in the superhit FX show, Atlanta, will next star in Apple TV+ series, The Changeling. Apart from this series, Stanfield will also be part of Disney’s The Haunted Mansion.French actor Sy is best known for starring in blockbusters such as The Intouchables, Jurassic World, and X-Men: Days of Future Past. 

    Sy was catapulted to global fame with his presence in the hit Netflix series, Lupin. The actor is now looking forward to the third season of Netflix’s most-watched non-English series.  

    LaKeith Stanfield and Omar Sy are set to star in filmmaker Jeymes Samuel’s next film, titled The Book of Clarence. The filmmaker recently helmed The Harder They Fall, which is streaming on Netflix. 

    Though the plot details have been kept under wraps, The Book of Clarence is said to be set during the bible era with Stanfield playing the titular character of Clarence. The Book of Clarence will be written by Samuel, and the project is backed by James Lassiter, Shawn Carter and Tendo Nagenda.

    Stanfield, who is famous for his role in the superhit FX show, Atlanta, will next star in Apple TV+ series, The Changeling. Apart from this series, Stanfield will also be part of Disney’s The Haunted Mansion.
    French actor Sy is best known for starring in blockbusters such as The Intouchables, Jurassic World, and X-Men: Days of Future Past. 

    Sy was catapulted to global fame with his presence in the hit Netflix series, Lupin. The actor is now looking forward to the third season of Netflix’s most-watched non-English series. 
     

  • Adam Sandler, Safdie Brothers reuniting for new movie

    By PTI

    LOS ANGELES: Hollywood star Adam Sandler and filmmaker duo Josh and Benny Safdie are reuniting for a follow-up to their 2019 critical hit ‘Uncut Gems.’

    According to entertainment news outlet Variety, Netflix has come aboard to produce and distribute the project.

    The details of the new movie have been kept under wraps but the team plans to shoot it in 2023.

    Sandler told Vanity Fair in a recent interview that the new movie will be just as intense as ‘Uncut Gems.’

    “Once that Safdie Brothers movie starts — and I love those guys, I know we’re going to dedicate ourselves into working our asses off and making sure it’s as good as it can be, and I know that takes a lot of time.

    “I see how hard (Josh and Benny Safdie) work, and just like when I’m working on my comedies with my friends, it means a lot to us.

    Every joke means a lot. The Safdie boys, every word means a lot to them, and every frame of the movie means a lot.

    So I don’t want to walk through anything. I care about it, and I respect those guys so much,” Sandler had said.

    ‘Uncut Gems,’ which generated strong Oscar buzz for Sandler when it was released in 2019, featured the actor as a jewellery store owner and gambler, who must find a way to pay off his debts before it’s too late.

    LOS ANGELES: Hollywood star Adam Sandler and filmmaker duo Josh and Benny Safdie are reuniting for a follow-up to their 2019 critical hit ‘Uncut Gems.’

    According to entertainment news outlet Variety, Netflix has come aboard to produce and distribute the project.

    The details of the new movie have been kept under wraps but the team plans to shoot it in 2023.

    Sandler told Vanity Fair in a recent interview that the new movie will be just as intense as ‘Uncut Gems.’

    “Once that Safdie Brothers movie starts — and I love those guys, I know we’re going to dedicate ourselves into working our asses off and making sure it’s as good as it can be, and I know that takes a lot of time.

    “I see how hard (Josh and Benny Safdie) work, and just like when I’m working on my comedies with my friends, it means a lot to us.

    Every joke means a lot. The Safdie boys, every word means a lot to them, and every frame of the movie means a lot.

    So I don’t want to walk through anything. I care about it, and I respect those guys so much,” Sandler had said.

    ‘Uncut Gems,’ which generated strong Oscar buzz for Sandler when it was released in 2019, featured the actor as a jewellery store owner and gambler, who must find a way to pay off his debts before it’s too late.

  • ‘Schitt’s Creek’ fame Dan Levy to make feature-length debut 

    By Express News Service

    Four-time Emmy winner and Schitt’s Creek co-creator Dan Levy will be making his directorial debut in films with Netflix’s upcoming Good Grief.

    Dan will be writing and starring in the film alongside Ruth Negga, Himesh Patel, Luke Evans, Celia Imrie, Arnaud Valois, David Bradley, and Jamael Westman.

    The upcoming film is backed by Dan Levy, Megan Zehmer’s Not A Real Production Company banner, Stacey Snider, Kate Fenske, and Debra Hayward.

    According to Netflix, the synopsis of Good Grief reads, “Marc Dreyfus chose to distract himself from the loss of his mom with a comfortable marriage. But when his husband also dies, unexpectedly, Marc is forced to finally confront the grief he’s tried so hard to avoid, sending him and his two closest friends on a Parisian weekend of self-discovery.”

    Dan Levy said, “Good Grief is a cautionary tale about friendship and loss and all the mess that comes with it when the truth is something you’ve evaded for most of your life. It’s funny, it’s bittersweet, and it’s a project that has helped me work through my own grief. And I hope it does the same for other people as well.”

    Good Grief marks the first project under Levy’s Not A Real Production Company and Netflix’s creative partnership.

    (This story originally appeared on Cinema Express)

    Four-time Emmy winner and Schitt’s Creek co-creator Dan Levy will be making his directorial debut in films with Netflix’s upcoming Good Grief.

    Dan will be writing and starring in the film alongside Ruth Negga, Himesh Patel, Luke Evans, Celia Imrie, Arnaud Valois, David Bradley, and Jamael Westman.

    The upcoming film is backed by Dan Levy, Megan Zehmer’s Not A Real Production Company banner, Stacey Snider, Kate Fenske, and Debra Hayward.

    According to Netflix, the synopsis of Good Grief reads, “Marc Dreyfus chose to distract himself from the loss of his mom with a comfortable marriage. But when his husband also dies, unexpectedly, Marc is forced to finally confront the grief he’s tried so hard to avoid, sending him and his two closest friends on a Parisian weekend of self-discovery.”

    Dan Levy said, “Good Grief is a cautionary tale about friendship and loss and all the mess that comes with it when the truth is something you’ve evaded for most of your life. It’s funny, it’s bittersweet, and it’s a project that has helped me work through my own grief. And I hope it does the same for other people as well.”

    Good Grief marks the first project under Levy’s Not A Real Production Company and Netflix’s creative partnership.

    (This story originally appeared on Cinema Express)

  • Netflix subscriber numbers re-ignite after chilly start to year

    By AFP

    SAN FRANCISCO: Netflix on Tuesday reported that it gained more than 2 million subscribers in the recent quarter, calming investor fears that the streaming giant was losing paying customers.

    The company said it ended the third quarter with slightly more than 223 million subscribers worldwide, up some 2.4 million, after seeing subscriber ranks ebb during the first half of the year.

    Netflix shares shot up more than 14 per cent in after-hours trading to $275 on the earnings news.

    “Well, thank God we’re done with shrinking quarters,” Netflix co-chief executive said during an earnings call.

    “We’re back to the positivity; we’ve got to pick up the momentum.” The turn-around in subscriber growth comes as Netflix is poised to debut a subscription option subsidized by ads in November across a dozen countries.

    The new “Basic with Ads” subscriptions will be priced at $6.99 in the United States — three dollars less than a no-ads basic option, Netflix chief operating officer Greg Peters said in a briefing.

    “The timing is great because we really are at this pivotal moment in the entertainment industry and evolution of that industry,” Peters said.

    “Now streaming has surpassed both broadcast and cable for total TV time in the United States.”

    Netflix is working with Microsoft on its ad-supported tier, and teams at both companies will likely need to be bulked up to handle the huge demand by advertisers, Peters said.

    ALSO READ | Netflix defends ‘The Crown’ after ex-PM lambasts ‘malicious nonsense’

    “We’re turning some folks away right now because we just don’t have the marketing capacity to serve everyone,” Peters said

    After having shunned advertising since it started its streaming service, Netflix acquiesced as competition in the market intensifies and as consumers recoil from soaring inflation.

    Rival streaming platform Disney+ is to launch ad-subsidized subscriptions in December.

    With the launch of cheaper, ad-supported subscriptions, Netflix and Disney+ are expected to bite into the revenue of traditional television channels.

    “In directly acknowledging competition and using advertising, Netflix is adapting to the streaming landscape’s new normal,” said Insider Intelligence principal analyst Ross Benes.

    ‘Covid ‘logjam’

    Netflix expects to add another 4.5 million subscribers in the final quarter of this year. “Although international growth continues, the US video streaming market is hitting its ceiling for subscribers,” said Third Bridge analyst Jamie Lumley.

    “After periods of rapid expansion and extraordinary spending, Netflix, Disney and their competitive set will soon be forced to focus on improving margins and cutting back on content spending.”

    Netflix said in a letter to shareholders that it believes its competitors have been losing money as they invest heavily to win audiences.

    ALSO READ | Thallumaala team calls out Netflix for subtitles issue

    Netflix reported a quarterly profit of $1.4 billion on revenue of $7.9 billion — a net income slightly less than in the same period a year ago when it brought in more money.

    Netflix plans to hold steady with spending some $17 billion a year on content, said co-chief executive Ted Sarandos.

    “I feel better and better about that $17 billion of content spend, because what we have to do is be better at getting more impact per billion dollars spent than anybody else,” Serranos said.

    “Big shows that folks engaged with and talk about drive a lot of growth.”

    Peters noted hits such as “Stranger Things” and “Extraordinary Attorney Woo” and pending releases of keenly anticipated films such as “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery.”

    Netflix is also working to smooth out the show release rhythm that was disrupted by the pandemic, according to executives.

    “Covid got a lot of content jammed up,” Sarandos said. “It will take several years to completely unwind the Covid logjam.”

    SAN FRANCISCO: Netflix on Tuesday reported that it gained more than 2 million subscribers in the recent quarter, calming investor fears that the streaming giant was losing paying customers.

    The company said it ended the third quarter with slightly more than 223 million subscribers worldwide, up some 2.4 million, after seeing subscriber ranks ebb during the first half of the year.

    Netflix shares shot up more than 14 per cent in after-hours trading to $275 on the earnings news.

    “Well, thank God we’re done with shrinking quarters,” Netflix co-chief executive said during an earnings call.

    “We’re back to the positivity; we’ve got to pick up the momentum.” The turn-around in subscriber growth comes as Netflix is poised to debut a subscription option subsidized by ads in November across a dozen countries.

    The new “Basic with Ads” subscriptions will be priced at $6.99 in the United States — three dollars less than a no-ads basic option, Netflix chief operating officer Greg Peters said in a briefing.

    “The timing is great because we really are at this pivotal moment in the entertainment industry and evolution of that industry,” Peters said.

    “Now streaming has surpassed both broadcast and cable for total TV time in the United States.”

    Netflix is working with Microsoft on its ad-supported tier, and teams at both companies will likely need to be bulked up to handle the huge demand by advertisers, Peters said.

    ALSO READ | Netflix defends ‘The Crown’ after ex-PM lambasts ‘malicious nonsense’

    “We’re turning some folks away right now because we just don’t have the marketing capacity to serve everyone,” Peters said

    After having shunned advertising since it started its streaming service, Netflix acquiesced as competition in the market intensifies and as consumers recoil from soaring inflation.

    Rival streaming platform Disney+ is to launch ad-subsidized subscriptions in December.

    With the launch of cheaper, ad-supported subscriptions, Netflix and Disney+ are expected to bite into the revenue of traditional television channels.

    “In directly acknowledging competition and using advertising, Netflix is adapting to the streaming landscape’s new normal,” said Insider Intelligence principal analyst Ross Benes.

    ‘Covid ‘logjam’

    Netflix expects to add another 4.5 million subscribers in the final quarter of this year. “Although international growth continues, the US video streaming market is hitting its ceiling for subscribers,” said Third Bridge analyst Jamie Lumley.

    “After periods of rapid expansion and extraordinary spending, Netflix, Disney and their competitive set will soon be forced to focus on improving margins and cutting back on content spending.”

    Netflix said in a letter to shareholders that it believes its competitors have been losing money as they invest heavily to win audiences.

    ALSO READ | Thallumaala team calls out Netflix for subtitles issue

    Netflix reported a quarterly profit of $1.4 billion on revenue of $7.9 billion — a net income slightly less than in the same period a year ago when it brought in more money.

    Netflix plans to hold steady with spending some $17 billion a year on content, said co-chief executive Ted Sarandos.

    “I feel better and better about that $17 billion of content spend, because what we have to do is be better at getting more impact per billion dollars spent than anybody else,” Serranos said.

    “Big shows that folks engaged with and talk about drive a lot of growth.”

    Peters noted hits such as “Stranger Things” and “Extraordinary Attorney Woo” and pending releases of keenly anticipated films such as “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery.”

    Netflix is also working to smooth out the show release rhythm that was disrupted by the pandemic, according to executives.

    “Covid got a lot of content jammed up,” Sarandos said. “It will take several years to completely unwind the Covid logjam.”

  • Netflix defends ‘The Crown’ after ex-PM lambasts ‘malicious nonsense’

    By AFP

    LONDON: Netflix on Monday defended its latest series of “The Crown” after former British prime minister John Major lashed out at a storyline showing King Charles plotting to oust the late queen.

    Major’s tenure as prime minister from 1990-1997 covered a turbulent period for the royals that included the divorce of Charles and his wife Princess Diana.

    But reported scenes in the fifth series — defended by streaming giant Netflix as a “fictionalised dramatisation” — have incensed the former premier.

    In one scene, heir to the throne Charles attempts to draw Major into a conspiracy to force the abdication of his mother Queen Elizabeth II.

    A statement issued by Major’s office castigated Netflix for the scenes describing them as “damaging and malicious fiction”.

    “There was never any discussion between Sir John and the then Prince of Wales about any possible abdication of the late Queen Elizabeth II — nor was such an improbable and improper subject ever raised by the then Prince of Wales (or Sir John),” it added.

    “The Crown” has been wildly successful but has also faced criticism over its fictional story lines.

    In one episode from series two, the queen’s late husband Prince Philip is blamed by his own father for the death of one of his sisters in an air crash.

    His father tells him that his sister had only been making the journey to the UK that ended in her death because Philip’s bad behaviour meant he was banned from visiting her in Germany.

    “You are the reason we are all here, burying my favourite child,” his father Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark tells him at her funeral.

    ‘Terribly dishonest’

    Writer William Shawcross, who wrote a biography of the late queen’s mother, on Monday called “The Crown” “an odious series, filled with lies and half-truths”.

    In a letter published in The Daily Telegraph newspaper, he accused Netflix and writer Peter Morgan of a campaign to destroy the monarchy “by lies”.

    Shawcross told AFP the royal family were unique in that unlike other prominent families they were not in a position to sue.

    He said it made them “sitting ducks for someone like Morgan who detests them and has a political agenda”.

    He said the story line about Philip’s sister was totally factually incorrect and that “Philip was incredibly upset by it”.

    “The two people who have been most abused in the series are Prince Philip and… King Charles,” he said, adding that Morgan steered clear of targeting the queen for such treatment because of her popularity.

    “It (‘The Crown’) is very clever. It is full of lies but they are disguised in lace and velvet. There is no real disclaimer it is terribly dishonest…. disgraceful,” he said.

    Health warning needed?

    “The Crown” rejected the criticism, insisting that the series “has always been presented as a drama based on historical events”.

    “Series five is a fictional dramatisation, imagining what could have happened behind closed doors during a significant decade for the royal family –- one that has already been scrutinised and well-documented by journalists, biographers and historians,” a spokeswoman told the PA news agency on Monday.

    Netflix suspended filming of the drama last month “as a mark of respect” following the death of Elizabeth at the age of 96.

    The monarch famously vowed on her 21st birthday to serve her country “my whole life”, meaning that her son Charles only acceded to the thone at the age of 73.

    The fourth season, which depicted the ill-fated marriage of Charles and Diana, last year swept the Emmys, winning best outstanding drama series as well as a host of acting awards for its stars including Gillian Anderson, Olivia Colman and Josh O’Connor.

    But the series also prompted Britain’s then Culture Minister Oliver Dowden to say in 2020 he planned to write to Netflix and request that a “health warning” be displayed before “The Crown” so viewers were aware it was a work of fiction.

    The new series, which will launch on November 9, features recast roles with Dominic West starring as Charles, while Elizabeth Debicki plays Diana and Imelda Staunton the queen.

    LONDON: Netflix on Monday defended its latest series of “The Crown” after former British prime minister John Major lashed out at a storyline showing King Charles plotting to oust the late queen.

    Major’s tenure as prime minister from 1990-1997 covered a turbulent period for the royals that included the divorce of Charles and his wife Princess Diana.

    But reported scenes in the fifth series — defended by streaming giant Netflix as a “fictionalised dramatisation” — have incensed the former premier.

    In one scene, heir to the throne Charles attempts to draw Major into a conspiracy to force the abdication of his mother Queen Elizabeth II.

    A statement issued by Major’s office castigated Netflix for the scenes describing them as “damaging and malicious fiction”.

    “There was never any discussion between Sir John and the then Prince of Wales about any possible abdication of the late Queen Elizabeth II — nor was such an improbable and improper subject ever raised by the then Prince of Wales (or Sir John),” it added.

    “The Crown” has been wildly successful but has also faced criticism over its fictional story lines.

    In one episode from series two, the queen’s late husband Prince Philip is blamed by his own father for the death of one of his sisters in an air crash.

    His father tells him that his sister had only been making the journey to the UK that ended in her death because Philip’s bad behaviour meant he was banned from visiting her in Germany.

    “You are the reason we are all here, burying my favourite child,” his father Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark tells him at her funeral.

    ‘Terribly dishonest’

    Writer William Shawcross, who wrote a biography of the late queen’s mother, on Monday called “The Crown” “an odious series, filled with lies and half-truths”.

    In a letter published in The Daily Telegraph newspaper, he accused Netflix and writer Peter Morgan of a campaign to destroy the monarchy “by lies”.

    Shawcross told AFP the royal family were unique in that unlike other prominent families they were not in a position to sue.

    He said it made them “sitting ducks for someone like Morgan who detests them and has a political agenda”.

    He said the story line about Philip’s sister was totally factually incorrect and that “Philip was incredibly upset by it”.

    “The two people who have been most abused in the series are Prince Philip and… King Charles,” he said, adding that Morgan steered clear of targeting the queen for such treatment because of her popularity.

    “It (‘The Crown’) is very clever. It is full of lies but they are disguised in lace and velvet. There is no real disclaimer it is terribly dishonest…. disgraceful,” he said.

    Health warning needed?

    “The Crown” rejected the criticism, insisting that the series “has always been presented as a drama based on historical events”.

    “Series five is a fictional dramatisation, imagining what could have happened behind closed doors during a significant decade for the royal family –- one that has already been scrutinised and well-documented by journalists, biographers and historians,” a spokeswoman told the PA news agency on Monday.

    Netflix suspended filming of the drama last month “as a mark of respect” following the death of Elizabeth at the age of 96.

    The monarch famously vowed on her 21st birthday to serve her country “my whole life”, meaning that her son Charles only acceded to the thone at the age of 73.

    The fourth season, which depicted the ill-fated marriage of Charles and Diana, last year swept the Emmys, winning best outstanding drama series as well as a host of acting awards for its stars including Gillian Anderson, Olivia Colman and Josh O’Connor.

    But the series also prompted Britain’s then Culture Minister Oliver Dowden to say in 2020 he planned to write to Netflix and request that a “health warning” be displayed before “The Crown” so viewers were aware it was a work of fiction.

    The new series, which will launch on November 9, features recast roles with Dominic West starring as Charles, while Elizabeth Debicki plays Diana and Imelda Staunton the queen.

  • ‘My Best Friend’s Exorcism’ review: Back to the ‘80s

    Express News Service

    Damon Thomas is a fan of horror, and his filmography clearly corroborates his love for the genre. His directorial credits include numerous horror shows like Penny Dreadful, Lightfields, Crooked House, and Riveria. His latest film, the Prime Video original, My Best Friend’s Exorcism, is right up his alley. “I have also done Dracula for Netflix, which shares a similar tonality. So yes, I am a fan of horror comedies,” Damon says. 

    Sharing that he enjoys both serious horror and horror comedies, Thomas says, “I can’t pick just one of them. However, I stay away from slasher films; they are not my thing. I am more into psychological horror films. It’s all about building the mood up to something huge. One of my all-time favourite horror films is Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining (1980), which, I believe, has stood the test of time.” The filmmaker also acknowledges the influence of William Friedkin’s The Exorcist (1973) on the horror genre. “The Exorcist is a benchmark and films about exorcism are invariably judged by the standards set by the classic. The Exorcist presented the rule book for all things exorcism in cinema.”

    An adaptation of Grady Hendrix’s 2016 novel by the same name, My Best Friend’s Exorcism follows two close friends, Abby Rivers (Elsie Fisher) and Gretchen Lang (Amiah Miller), and mishaps that occur when the latter gets possessed by a demonic spirit. The film majorly relies on its ‘80s milieu to set itself apart from contemporary exorcism films. It is a choice that works in favour of the film’s flavour, both visually and tonally. The filmmaker shares a strong connection with that era. “That was my decade,” he says, smiling. “I love films set in the past.

    As someone who grew up in that period, it is a huge nostalgic trip for me. We often think of the ‘80s as simpler times; there were no internet and mobile phones. We weren’t exposed to cynical views. Now, one can be exposed to 400 cynical views in a day. In a way, the world was smaller. If you had to meet someone, you would call them up, put the phone down and go to meet them. There was no sense of immediacy, to say. One had to rely on their parents, television and encyclopedias for information,” the filmmaker adds.

    The film also pays a beautiful and humorous homage to the ‘80s cinema with an outro text summarising the arcs of all the primary characters, played to the classic ‘Karma Chameleon’ by Culture Club and one can sense that the music choice clearly emanates from the filmmaker’s love for the music from the ‘80s. “I love the music from that period. Also, if you liked a band back in the day, it was almost impossible to find out more about them. Watching particular shows on television was the only way to learn more about them. Yes, those were simpler times, indeed,” the filmmaker concludes.

    Damon Thomas is a fan of horror, and his filmography clearly corroborates his love for the genre. His directorial credits include numerous horror shows like Penny Dreadful, Lightfields, Crooked House, and Riveria. His latest film, the Prime Video original, My Best Friend’s Exorcism, is right up his alley. “I have also done Dracula for Netflix, which shares a similar tonality. So yes, I am a fan of horror comedies,” Damon says. 

    Sharing that he enjoys both serious horror and horror comedies, Thomas says, “I can’t pick just one of them. However, I stay away from slasher films; they are not my thing. I am more into psychological horror films. It’s all about building the mood up to something huge. One of my all-time favourite horror films is Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining (1980), which, I believe, has stood the test of time.” The filmmaker also acknowledges the influence of William Friedkin’s The Exorcist (1973) on the horror genre. “The Exorcist is a benchmark and films about exorcism are invariably judged by the standards set by the classic. The Exorcist presented the rule book for all things exorcism in cinema.”

    An adaptation of Grady Hendrix’s 2016 novel by the same name, My Best Friend’s Exorcism follows two close friends, Abby Rivers (Elsie Fisher) and Gretchen Lang (Amiah Miller), and mishaps that occur when the latter gets possessed by a demonic spirit. The film majorly relies on its ‘80s milieu to set itself apart from contemporary exorcism films. It is a choice that works in favour of the film’s flavour, both visually and tonally. The filmmaker shares a strong connection with that era. “That was my decade,” he says, smiling. “I love films set in the past.

    As someone who grew up in that period, it is a huge nostalgic trip for me. We often think of the ‘80s as simpler times; there were no internet and mobile phones. We weren’t exposed to cynical views. Now, one can be exposed to 400 cynical views in a day. In a way, the world was smaller. If you had to meet someone, you would call them up, put the phone down and go to meet them. There was no sense of immediacy, to say. One had to rely on their parents, television and encyclopedias for information,” the filmmaker adds.

    The film also pays a beautiful and humorous homage to the ‘80s cinema with an outro text summarising the arcs of all the primary characters, played to the classic ‘Karma Chameleon’ by Culture Club and one can sense that the music choice clearly emanates from the filmmaker’s love for the music from the ‘80s. “I love the music from that period. Also, if you liked a band back in the day, it was almost impossible to find out more about them. Watching particular shows on television was the only way to learn more about them. Yes, those were simpler times, indeed,” the filmmaker concludes.