This week, Kim Masters talks with Benny Safdie about The Smashing Machine, his first solo feature since parting ways with his longtime creative partner (and brother) Josh. He recalls the immediate spark he felt when Dwayne Johnson approached him to play UFC fighter Mark Kerr, and why the story fits his ongoing fascination with characters who don’t quite win. He also reflects on his biggest lessons gleaned while working as an actor for luminary filmmakers like Paul Thomas Anderson and Christopher Nolan.
Speaking of Anderson, the director just scored a career high opening weekend with One Battle After Another. The film has earned universal acclaim among critics and an “A” CinemaScore, but with a reported budget of $140–160 million Warner Bros. faces a steep climb to profitability. After a run of surprise hits at the studio, does One Battle After Another carry more value as an awards contender and an “auteur-friendly” statement piece for CEO David Zaslav? Kim Masters and her partner in banter Matt Belloni investigate.
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Mike Figgis on chronicling the chaos of ‘Megalopolis’
This week, Kim Masters talks to director Mike Figgis about Megadoc, his fly-on-the-wall chronicle of Francis Ford Coppola's self-financed $160 million dream project, Megalopolis. Figgis captures Coppola’s battles on set, including the turmoil that followed when the director’s improvisational style collided with the art department’s meticulous planning — a story Masters covered with her former colleagues at The Hollywood Reporter. Figgis was there to immortalize it all as it unfolded.
Plus, Jimmy Kimmel’s return to late-night (in most markets) was greeted with strong ratings and warm audience reactions. But behind the scenes, the decision to put him on indefinite leave has become another headache for Bob Iger. The Disney CEO, already navigating a difficult chapter, now faces questions about whether the move could leave a lasting mark on his legacy. Kim Masters and her partner in Banter Matt Belloni weigh in on the fallout — including what it might mean for his heir-apparent Dana Walden.
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How affiliate pressure and FCC rhetoric put Kimmel on ice
ABC has indefinitely suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live! following pressure from Nexstar and Sinclair, which own affiliated stations across the country. The move comes after Kimmel’s recent monologue about the assassination of Charlie Kirk prompted FCC Chairman Brendan Carr to issue a warning to Disney regarding the late-night host’s presence on ABC. What’s next for Kimmel and how has the industry responded to the suspension? Kim Masters and Matt Belloni break down the unfolding story.
Plus, we revisit Masters’s conversation with recent Emmy-winner Matt Wolf, director of Pee-wee as Himself. The HBO documentary draws from more than 40 hours of interviews with the late actor Paul Reubens, and Wolf explains how his interest in overlooked artists and forgotten stories led to his portrait of the man behind Pee-wee Herman. He also talks about the actor’s struggle with his sexuality and reveals why HBO pushed for a two-part series to tell the late actor’s story.
The 77th annual Emmy Awards will air this Sunday night (Sept. 14) on CBS and Paramount+ — hosted by a first-timer, comedian Nate Bargatze. Kim Masters is joined by Scott Feinberg, Executive Awards Editor for The Hollywood Reporter, and they’re making predictions.
Plus, money wins? Masters and her partner in Banter Matt Belloni unpack the latest Murdoch family lawsuit… And the increasing possibility of a Paramount Skydance purchase of Warner Bros. Discovery.
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Runway founder Cristóbal Valenzuela wants Hollywood to embrace AI
At 84, veteran mogul John Malone is still a power broker, hinting at “further consolidation in the media industry” following a recent sit down with David Ellison. Should we be on the lookout for a Warner–Paramount merger? Meanwhile in Vegas, the Sphere’s $100 million Wizard of Oz reimagining leans on AI to expand the visuals and even slip in cameos of David Zaslav and James Dolan. The Directors Guild did not take kindly to the stunt. Partners in Banter Kim Masters and Matt Belloni pull back the curtain on the Sphere's Emerald City sideshow.
Plus, Masters speaks with Runway co-founder Cristóbal Valenzuela about the role of artificial intelligence in Hollywood. The Chilean-born developer acknowledges that AI may lead to some job losses, but he argues it will ultimately benefit filmmakers. He explains why studios including Lionsgate, Netflix, and Disney are already using Runway’s tools. Plus, he compares the current backlash against AI to the upheaval that followed the introduction of sound in film.
Lively banter about entertainment industry news and in-depth interviews with directors, producers, writers and actors, hosted by award-winning journalist Kim Masters of The Hollywood Reporter.
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