Variety

In 2018, the last year before the streaming wars began in earnest, soundstage space totaled 17 million square feet across six of the top production regions. Now, it’s more than 29 million square feet, according to a recent FilmLA study. But all this growth is bumping up against the reality of a bust cycle. https://lnkd.in/guDWmiCZ

“Speed” stars Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock are getting back together for a romantic thriller in development at Amazon MGM Studios. https://lnkd.in/g75BrrYs

There’s been increased attention over the past year on “microdramas,” i.e. scripted series with episodes that last just a few minutes each and are filmed for mobile’s vertical screens. After dominating in China — where revenue from microdramas outpaced the country’s box office in 2024 — the video apps behind these shows have expanded into international markets, the U.S. chief among them. But microdramas’ stateside growth may end up unintentionally stunted. https://lnkd.in/gsfc_qSs

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Amber Mundinger, global director of creative engagement at L-Acoustics, and Cam pose for photos at Variety's Power of Women Nashville presented by Lifetime.

Variety Intelligence Platform's new special report tackles the video game industry and its complex relationship with internal and external IP. https://lnkd.in/gfmBJWbM

At the San Luis Obispo International Film Festival and SLO Film Center, Jay Duplass discusses "conscious uncoupling" from his creative partner and brother Mark Duplass for "The Baltimorons" https://bit.ly/4cSvGRY

China Widener, Deloitte vice chair and U.S. technology, media and telecommunications industry leader, and Gayle Troberman, executive marketing advisor for iHeartMedia, talked about the challenges of sifting through huge volumes of data to develop effective marketing messages at Variety's Entertainment Marketing Summit. Watch the full conversation: bit.ly/42Y9269

Anthony Michael Hall has joined Netflix’s “Wednesday” for Season 2 in an undisclosed role. The casting marks a reunion between Hall and “Wednesday” executive producer and director Tim Burton, who Hall previously worked with on the 1990 classic “Edward Scissorhands.” https://lnkd.in/gNQYqTkd

Mega video game publisher Electronic Arts (EA) has canceled its upcoming “Titanfall” franchise video game and laid off more than 300 of its employees. https://lnkd.in/gRk-_kBe