Future of Entertainment Industry Grim but Not All Hope is Lost
The future of the entertainment industry doesn’t look great, says Deadline. According to a report by market-leading data and analytics firm Ampere Analysis, this year the coronavirus shutdown will delay production of up to 60 percent of scripted titles around the world. Around 10 percent of planned dramas and comedies will most likely be scrapped altogether. The effects of the shutdown will be felt well into 2021.
Fred Black, Senior Analyst from Ampere added: “Initially, we expect delays to cause gaps in scripted TV release schedules, which broadcasters and streaming players will have to fill with other content. However, as delayed productions begin to fill out content gaps in later months, these gaps will begin to close. But this has further ramifications. The knock-on effect of delayed releases is a likely depression of the number of new commissions for some time after the shutdown ends, as commissioners look to fill schedules with delayed projects they have already invested in before signing off new ones.”
But not everything is so bleak. In countries like France and New Zealand, familiar life is gradually, carefully resuming after two months of social distancing and quarantine. Variety says Amazon and Netflix are preparing to restart productions in France. Amazon is currently producing a drama titled Voltaire Mixte about an all-boys high school in the 1960s that starts welcoming girls. Meanwhile, Netflix is working on a contemporary re-telling of adventures of Arsene Lupin, an iconic gentleman thief and a master of disguise played in the film by Omar Sy (The Intouchables). Furthermore, SlashFilm recently reported that shooting of Amazon’s The Lord of the Rings TV series as well as James Cameron’s Avatar sequels (Remember those?) might soon resume in New Zealand.
Ruby Rose Leaving the CW’s Batwoman
Ruby Rose, who plays the titular character in the CW’s TV series Batwoman, will leave the show after this season. Deadline quotes her statement: “This was not a decision I made lightly as I have the utmost respect for the cast, crew and everyone involved with the show in both Vancouver and in Los Angeles.” Despite her leaving, the show will continue, casting another actress in the role of Kate Kane/Batwoman.
News outlets are already speculating about why Rose is leaving the series. According to the sources, this isn’t related to the stunt injury actress sustained during filming of the first season. That injury led to emergency surgery with Rose risking paralysis. It is far more likely, Deadline continues, that doing a 22-episode network drama like Batwoman was simply too demanding – something other actors working in similar shows can confirm. As for Ruby Rose, she primarily established herself in action films like John Wick: Chapter 2, Resident Evil: The Final Chapter, The Meg, and xXx: Return of Xander Cage.
Batwoman premiered in October 2019 and proved popular enough to be renewed this January. The CW is already teasing its next multi-show crossover might be all about Batwoman and Superman. Show’s current season was cut short due to the coronavirus pandemic, but only barely – the network produced all but two episodes of season one.
Halle Berry Cast in Roland Emmerich’s New Disaster Movie
Halle Berry (John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, Kingsman: The Golden Circle) just signed on to play a lead in Roland Emmerich’s next movie, titled Moonfall. According to the Hollywood Reporter, she will portray a former astronaut and current NASA administrator. After a mysterious force knocks the moon out of its orbit sending it on a collision course with Earth, she embarks on one last space mission to save our world. Josh Gad (Beauty and the Beast, Pixels) was also cast as an eccentric scientist. Like with all similar characters in Emmerich’s movies, his warnings about an incoming disaster will be ignored by others until it’s far too late. When you think about it, this sounds pretty much like our own current reality, meaning we all live in a Roland Emmerich movie. Just how depressive is that?
No one familiar with this German filmmaker’s brand of disasterpiece nonsense will be surprised to learn he also co-wrote his killer moon film. He was assisted by Spenser Cohen (Extinction) and Harald Kloser (who previously collaborated with Emmerich on 2012). Lionsgate, who produced Emmerich’s last film Midway, is planning to start shooting Moonfall this fall (coronavirus permitting) with an eye towards a 2021 release date.
