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Matthew Belloni, Eriq Gardner, Julia Alexander, Kim Masters & Scott Mendelson
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Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday
An essential, insider-friendly Hollywood tip sheet from Matthew Belloni, who spent 14 years in the trenches at The Hollywood Reporter and five before that practicing entertainment law. What I’m Hearing also features veteran Hollywood journalist Kim Masters, as well as a special companion email from Eriq Gardner, focused on entertainment law, and weekly box office analysis from Scott Mendelson.
THE LATEST ARTICLES
Matthew Belloni
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December 9, 2025
How High Will the Ellisons Go?
If Warner Bros. Discovery rejects Paramount’s latest (and very hostile) bid, I’m told that David Ellison will almost certainly offer more. Will Netflix go even higher? Where does it end? Will Trump choose a favorite? The streaming giant has restless shareholders, and Ellison does not.
Matthew Belloni
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December 5, 2025
Is the Netflix-Warners Deal Really Such a Disaster?
Yes, the blockbuster $83 billion acquisition of the Warner Bros. studio and HBO Max would decisively end the streaming wars. And the Ellisons can still blow their lids and go hostile. But amid inevitable consolidation and a likely government challenge, is Ted Sarandos getting his hands on a historic studio definitely the end of Hollywood as we know it?
Matthew Belloni
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November 25, 2025
Will the Ellisons Let Trump Greenlight ‘Rush Hour 4’?
Brett Ratner, the director of three ‘Rush Hour’ films for Warner Bros., was exiled from Hollywood after he was accused of sexual assault. But lately he’s become royalty in Trump world—and with Trump buddy David Ellison trying to acquire WBD, he may have an opportunity to come in from the cold.
Matthew Belloni
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November 25, 2025
Candid Cameron
One of the greatest directors of all time offers a thoughtful assessment of his career evolution (“I was an asshole in the ‘80s”), why Netflix owning Warners would be “a disaster,” the “pure cinema” of performance capture, Bob Iger’s notes on ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash,’ the impact of A.I. on the business, and his friend Elon Musk.
Matthew Belloni
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November 21, 2025
Do We Believe Netflix Loves Movie Theaters Now?
As bids for Warner Bros. Discovery come due and exhibitors prep an antitrust challenge, Ted Sarandos has pledged to play Warners movies in theaters. Is this just a shameless wet kiss to the town and regulators, or another sign of his company’s ability to pivot?
Matthew Belloni
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November 18, 2025
David Ellison Pitches Warners Deal
With bids for the Warner Discovery media empire due soon, the Paramount leaders explained to David Zaslav’s team why their plan is better than others.
Matthew Belloni
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November 14, 2025
Scooter Braun Wanted to Buy OnlyFans
The former Justin Bieber manager was in talks to take over the porn-friendly video platform, but abruptly walked away from the deal.
Matthew Belloni
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November 11, 2025
What Was Brian Roberts Doing in Saudi Arabia?
The Comcast C.E.O., who’s at least nominally in the WBD hunt, was conspicuously absent last week when Hollywood’s elite feted David Zaslav. Was he searching for a deep-pocketed backer?
Matthew Belloni
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October 31, 2025
Taylor Sheridan Burning Questions and Smoking Guns
My recent reveal of the ‘Yellowstone’ creator’s jump from Paramount to NBCUniversal unleashed a torrent of questions, most of which can be answered here.
Matthew Belloni
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October 26, 2025
The David Ellison Resistance Takes Shape
Paramount Skydance is pitching itself as Hollywood’s last hope. Yet as layoffs mount and the WBD mega-merger beckons, a growing alliance of industry people are talking about pushing back.
