The Ankler

When was the last time a Netflix film or show captured the zeitgeist? Richard Rushfield returns to Ankler Agenda to discuss the state of Netflix and how its film new film chief (or chiefs!) may have a tough road ahead. Full episode mrf.lu/2XlqN

Netflix hasn’t produced another non-English hit on the scale of ‘Squid Game’ in five years. Manori Ravindran reports on why some producers blame its programming strategy, and what Peter Rice could do about it mrf.lu/2XKff

Why did Netflix embark on one of the most dramatic executive shakeups in Hollywood history? Take a look at the data to see how Netflix got here, who’s gaining ground, and how the ultimate disruptor streamer is getting disrupted mrf.lu/2XH41

Skydance is weighing which sports rights to cut as a pricier NFL deal looms. Lesley Goldberg reports on the potential casualties and the opportunities for rival media companies mrf.lu/2XvQv

In 'Being Heumann' Ruth Madeley portrays disability rights activist Judy Heumann amid the 1977 sit-in that helped change America. She tells Katey Rich why capturing the joy of the disabled community was essential to the film: mrf.lu/2XgrQ

Richard Rushfield was the only one to predict Dan Lin would run Netflix Film in 2024, before Netflix had even approached him. Now he's betting his reputation on another prediction: who Peter Rice should hire to succeed Lin mrf.lu/2Xrn2

“Newsletters are cooked,” says Taylor Lorenz, who has lost a third of her paid subscribers recently. Natalie Jarvey speaks with Substack's Hamish McKenzie, Beehiiv's Tyler Denk and top writers about the now-tough newsletter business mrf.lu/2XCVy

Hollywood spends millions chasing Oscar votes, but are campaigns targeting the wrong people? Katey Rich reveals four charts from researcher Stephen Follows that challenge the award strategy playbook mrf.lu/2XCd3

Prime Video is streaming AI-generated TV, Netflix is using Ben Affleck's AI tools, and Antonio Banderas is betting on AI for a historical epic. Erik Barmack examines three approaches to Hollywood's AI future: mrf.lu/2XRC3

Former 'Grey’s Anatomy' writer Jamie Denbo is airing what happened behind the scenes of Elisabeth Finch’s cancer hoax in a one-woman show. She tells Lesley Goldberg about the revelations and why she’s not holding back: mrf.lu/2X12h

Microdramas promised to revive Hollywood production. Now, apps are shutting down, platforms are spending heavily to chase viewers and AI slop is flooding the market. Elaine Low assesses the microdrama reckoning: mrf.lu/2HWkq

Could John Turturro land his first Oscar nomination? Sony Pictures Classics' Tom Bernard tells Katey Rich why campaigning matters, how the Oscars have changed and what it takes to get a movie noticed: mrf.lu/2HBfV

Could 'You Can See Everything' make Oscar history in best picture but get snubbed for best documentary? Katey Rich examines the Academy's complicated relationship with popular docs and what might get nominated instead: mrf.lu/2vKF8

Bell Media's Sean Cohan tells Richard Rushfield why the company bet on the steamy gay hockey romance 'Heated Rivalry' and how taking creative risks paid off with a global hit on Crave and HBO Max mrf.lu/2vn4L

Bela Bajaria, Cindy Holland and Pam Abdy are among Hollywood's powerful women losing top jobs, with men taking their place. Lesley Goldberg speaks with female executives about why women are losing ground in the C-suite mrf.lu/2vWKQ

Who does Kathy Griffin look up to in Hollywood, what should aspiring comedians watch, and what's her dream project? Richard Rushfield visited her Malibu home to go deep into her career, seven years in exile and comeback. mrf.lu/2vyxQ

Hollywood's production slump has created an unlikely new revenue stream: $100,000 to $300,000 bar and bat mitzvahs on studio backlots and soundstages, complete with custom sets and luxury swag. Degen Pener reports: mrf.lu/2vHzJ

Nathan Fielder's 'You Can See Everything' is a box office phenomenon, but could its success hurt its Oscar chances? And what would get nominated instead? Our Prestige Junkie Pundits weigh in on the documentary race: anklerpundits.com