The Ankler
@theankler.com
Hollywood’s insider newsletter. Don’t eat lunch in this town without it. theankler.com | http://instagram.com/theankler
Katey Rich asked all her past Prestige Junkie podcast guests one simple question: What's the best thing that happened to Hollywood this year? For @theblcklst.bsky.social @franklinleonard.bsky.social, the triumph of 'Sinners' was an obvious choice prestigejunkieafterparty.substack.com/p/what-was-t...
January 2, 2026 at 7:37 PM
Katey Rich asked all her past Prestige Junkie podcast guests one simple question: What's the best thing that happened to Hollywood this year? For @theblcklst.bsky.social @franklinleonard.bsky.social, the triumph of 'Sinners' was an obvious choice prestigejunkieafterparty.substack.com/p/what-was-t...
Audiences draw a clearer line on AI than Hollywood might expect. Polling shows broad acceptance for AI in VFX, subtitles, and editing, but strong resistance when it comes to acting, writing, and vocals. Daniel Parris breaks down where tolerance ends: theankler.com/p/how-much-a...
January 2, 2026 at 7:21 PM
Audiences draw a clearer line on AI than Hollywood might expect. Polling shows broad acceptance for AI in VFX, subtitles, and editing, but strong resistance when it comes to acting, writing, and vocals. Daniel Parris breaks down where tolerance ends: theankler.com/p/how-much-a...
From franchise extensions to expensive originals, the 2026 TV slate reveals what streamers are still willing to gamble on and what they’re inching away from. @snoodit.bsky.social breaks down 20 buzzy new series carrying real business stakes theankler.com/p/what-makes...
December 31, 2025 at 7:49 PM
From franchise extensions to expensive originals, the 2026 TV slate reveals what streamers are still willing to gamble on and what they’re inching away from. @snoodit.bsky.social breaks down 20 buzzy new series carrying real business stakes theankler.com/p/what-makes...
The case for ‘Heated Rivalry’ as an Emmy contender runs straight into a rule problem. Katey Rich breaks down how the HBO Max and Crave hit found its audience, delivered a defining episode, and still might miss the race
theankler.com/p/i-think-he...
theankler.com/p/i-think-he...
December 22, 2025 at 8:11 PM
The case for ‘Heated Rivalry’ as an Emmy contender runs straight into a rule problem. Katey Rich breaks down how the HBO Max and Crave hit found its audience, delivered a defining episode, and still might miss the race
theankler.com/p/i-think-he...
theankler.com/p/i-think-he...
In Series Business @elainelow.bsky.social gathers candid predictions for Hollywood in 2026, including fears about AI, frustration with consolidation, and hard-earned advice for surviving a reshaped industry theankler.com/p/hollywood-...
December 22, 2025 at 6:21 PM
In Series Business @elainelow.bsky.social gathers candid predictions for Hollywood in 2026, including fears about AI, frustration with consolidation, and hard-earned advice for surviving a reshaped industry theankler.com/p/hollywood-...
Holiday parties can feel brutal when you’re out of work. They can also help you land what’s next. Lacey Leone McLaughlin lays out how to talk about job loss, show up confidently, and use this season to build forward theankler.com/p/hollywood-...
December 16, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Holiday parties can feel brutal when you’re out of work. They can also help you land what’s next. Lacey Leone McLaughlin lays out how to talk about job loss, show up confidently, and use this season to build forward theankler.com/p/hollywood-...
Hollywood is changing faster than film schools can update their syllabi. @elainelow.bsky.social reports on professors rewriting courses around AI, vertical storytelling, and the creator economy as traditional career paths collapse
theankler.com/p/hollywoods...
theankler.com/p/hollywoods...
December 15, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Hollywood is changing faster than film schools can update their syllabi. @elainelow.bsky.social reports on professors rewriting courses around AI, vertical storytelling, and the creator economy as traditional career paths collapse
theankler.com/p/hollywoods...
theankler.com/p/hollywoods...
The deaths of Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner arrived amid a weekend already defined by violence and fear. @richardrushfield.bsky.social writes through the shock and the grief to see what this moment says about the world we’re in theankler.com/p/rob-reiner...
December 15, 2025 at 4:37 PM
The deaths of Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner arrived amid a weekend already defined by violence and fear. @richardrushfield.bsky.social writes through the shock and the grief to see what this moment says about the world we’re in theankler.com/p/rob-reiner...
SCOOP: A pending Netflix-iHeartMedia deal would shift roughly 20 video podcasts off YouTube and onto Netflix, according to sources. @natjarv.bsky.social breaks down the agreement and how video podcasts are reshaping the platform hierarchy theankler.com/p/scoop-netf...
December 13, 2025 at 12:34 AM
SCOOP: A pending Netflix-iHeartMedia deal would shift roughly 20 video podcasts off YouTube and onto Netflix, according to sources. @natjarv.bsky.social breaks down the agreement and how video podcasts are reshaping the platform hierarchy theankler.com/p/scoop-netf...
Disney has licensed hundreds of its characters to OpenAI and invested $1B in the company. Erik Barmack explains why Bob Iger is making this move now, how it gives OpenAI access to century-old IP, and what it means for every other studio theankler.com/p/when-micke...
December 11, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Disney has licensed hundreds of its characters to OpenAI and invested $1B in the company. Erik Barmack explains why Bob Iger is making this move now, how it gives OpenAI access to century-old IP, and what it means for every other studio theankler.com/p/when-micke...
Disney’s ‘Tron: Ares’ flopped, but many one- and two-screen theaters still had to play it for 14 days. Matthew Frank reports on how rigid studio terms, tight windows and merger fears are hitting rural exhibitors hardest theankler.com/p/small-town...
December 10, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Disney’s ‘Tron: Ares’ flopped, but many one- and two-screen theaters still had to play it for 14 days. Matthew Frank reports on how rigid studio terms, tight windows and merger fears are hitting rural exhibitors hardest theankler.com/p/small-town...
Golden Globes voters embraced the stars and the songs from ‘Wicked: For Good’ but left it out of best musical or comedy. @kateyrich.bsky.social explains why the sequel may have catching up to do, plus more Golden Globe nomination takeaways theankler.com/p/golden-glo...
December 8, 2025 at 8:19 PM
Golden Globes voters embraced the stars and the songs from ‘Wicked: For Good’ but left it out of best musical or comedy. @kateyrich.bsky.social explains why the sequel may have catching up to do, plus more Golden Globe nomination takeaways theankler.com/p/golden-glo...
TODAY: @wgawest.bsky.social president Michele Mulroney joins @elainelow.bsky.social at 12 P.M. PT on Substack Live to break down what a Netflix — or Paramount — acquisition of WBD would mean for the industry theankler.com/p/today-wga-...
December 8, 2025 at 7:16 PM
TODAY: @wgawest.bsky.social president Michele Mulroney joins @elainelow.bsky.social at 12 P.M. PT on Substack Live to break down what a Netflix — or Paramount — acquisition of WBD would mean for the industry theankler.com/p/today-wga-...
A Netflix–WBD tie-up has agents bracing for a new ice age in development. @elainelow.bsky.social gathered what reps are telling clients, where they see risk, and where they see opportunity
theankler.com/p/not-good-a...
theankler.com/p/not-good-a...
December 8, 2025 at 5:25 PM
A Netflix–WBD tie-up has agents bracing for a new ice age in development. @elainelow.bsky.social gathered what reps are telling clients, where they see risk, and where they see opportunity
theankler.com/p/not-good-a...
theankler.com/p/not-good-a...
Jane Fonda writes in an exclusive op-ed that the stakes of the Warner Bros. Discovery sale reach far beyond one company. Consolidation could reshape who gets heard, who gets hired, and who gets silenced. Her message to Hollywood: speak now theankler.com/p/jane-fonda...
December 4, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Jane Fonda writes in an exclusive op-ed that the stakes of the Warner Bros. Discovery sale reach far beyond one company. Consolidation could reshape who gets heard, who gets hired, and who gets silenced. Her message to Hollywood: speak now theankler.com/p/jane-fonda...
Richard Rushfield pulled a decade of box office data and found a pattern studios can’t ignore. The biggest North American hits are earning a shrinking share of their money overseas, and the trend line is pointing one way: down. Read the column: theankler.com/p/one-chart-...
December 2, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Richard Rushfield pulled a decade of box office data and found a pattern studios can’t ignore. The biggest North American hits are earning a shrinking share of their money overseas, and the trend line is pointing one way: down. Read the column: theankler.com/p/one-chart-...
Director Chloé Zhao tells @kateyrich.bsky.social about building her creative mindset, from studying psychology and Greek mysticism to embracing a “volcanic” phase of ideas. She explains how that sparked her vision for 'Hamnet' and its transcendent finale: theankler.com/p/chloe-zhao...
November 25, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Director Chloé Zhao tells @kateyrich.bsky.social about building her creative mindset, from studying psychology and Greek mysticism to embracing a “volcanic” phase of ideas. She explains how that sparked her vision for 'Hamnet' and its transcendent finale: theankler.com/p/chloe-zhao...
It's a Little Gold Men reunion! @jowrotethis.bsky.social and @kateyrich.bsky.social consider Timothée Chalamet's innovative awards strategy which may be shaped by not wanting a head-to-head with Leonardo DiCaprio. Watch Katey's full chat with Joanna, Mike Hogan & @rilaws.bsky.social: bit.ly/4ikAoLe
November 21, 2025 at 10:09 PM
It's a Little Gold Men reunion! @jowrotethis.bsky.social and @kateyrich.bsky.social consider Timothée Chalamet's innovative awards strategy which may be shaped by not wanting a head-to-head with Leonardo DiCaprio. Watch Katey's full chat with Joanna, Mike Hogan & @rilaws.bsky.social: bit.ly/4ikAoLe
Our Prestige Junkie Pundits think the best director race is basically set at the top, with Paul Thomas Anderson and Chloé Zhao appearing on 96 percent of ballots. The real suspense: who will claim the fifth spot
prestigejunkieafterparty.substack.com/p/reunion-my...
prestigejunkieafterparty.substack.com/p/reunion-my...
November 21, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Our Prestige Junkie Pundits think the best director race is basically set at the top, with Paul Thomas Anderson and Chloé Zhao appearing on 96 percent of ballots. The real suspense: who will claim the fifth spot
prestigejunkieafterparty.substack.com/p/reunion-my...
prestigejunkieafterparty.substack.com/p/reunion-my...
SCOOP: Stephen Schwartz tells @robledonne.bsky.social that he and Winnie Holzman are already developing a new Wicked project. It isn’t a sequel to Glinda and Elphaba’s story but a separate idea that expands Oz in a new direction: theankler.com/p/more-oz-wi...
November 21, 2025 at 6:38 PM
SCOOP: Stephen Schwartz tells @robledonne.bsky.social that he and Winnie Holzman are already developing a new Wicked project. It isn’t a sequel to Glinda and Elphaba’s story but a separate idea that expands Oz in a new direction: theankler.com/p/more-oz-wi...
Gen Z is the audience Hollywood depends on, yet 65 percent of their viewing is older library shows. @whitneyfriedlander.com speaks with showrunners and executives about why new 20-something comedies rarely break through and how creators are trying to reach them theankler.com/p/gen-z-is-h...
November 20, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Gen Z is the audience Hollywood depends on, yet 65 percent of their viewing is older library shows. @whitneyfriedlander.com speaks with showrunners and executives about why new 20-something comedies rarely break through and how creators are trying to reach them theankler.com/p/gen-z-is-h...
With Warner Bros. bids due today, Richard Rushfield breaks down how Trump’s favor, Ellison’s attendance at the MBS state dinner, Wall Street’s doubts about Netflix, and talk of Saudi involvement shape one of the biggest studio sales in years: theankler.com/p/trump-noos...
November 20, 2025 at 7:37 PM
With Warner Bros. bids due today, Richard Rushfield breaks down how Trump’s favor, Ellison’s attendance at the MBS state dinner, Wall Street’s doubts about Netflix, and talk of Saudi involvement shape one of the biggest studio sales in years: theankler.com/p/trump-noos...
The Ellisons bet big on Trump. Richard Rushfield tracks the fallout as layoffs, the Warners bid, and Epstein revelations collide with fresh political shifts. Early murmurs in town suggest the cost of that alliance may rise: theankler.com/p/the-elliso...
November 18, 2025 at 8:09 PM
The Ellisons bet big on Trump. Richard Rushfield tracks the fallout as layoffs, the Warners bid, and Epstein revelations collide with fresh political shifts. Early murmurs in town suggest the cost of that alliance may rise: theankler.com/p/the-elliso...
Adult animation is one of the few parts of TV with real buyer interest. @elainelow.bsky.social speaks with agents and insiders about Netflix’s global push, Warner Bros.’ aggressive DC plans, Amazon’s expanding slate, and Fox’s search for a longer format series theankler.com/p/adult-anim...
November 17, 2025 at 10:55 PM
Adult animation is one of the few parts of TV with real buyer interest. @elainelow.bsky.social speaks with agents and insiders about Netflix’s global push, Warner Bros.’ aggressive DC plans, Amazon’s expanding slate, and Fox’s search for a longer format series theankler.com/p/adult-anim...
SCOOP: Hulu spent $100M on Kim Kardashian’s 'All’s Fair', paying its five leads an average of $350K per episode. Critics called it “a crime against television.” Viewers made it Hulu’s biggest launch in three years. @snoodit.bsky.social reports: theankler.com/p/100-millio...
November 12, 2025 at 7:56 PM
SCOOP: Hulu spent $100M on Kim Kardashian’s 'All’s Fair', paying its five leads an average of $350K per episode. Critics called it “a crime against television.” Viewers made it Hulu’s biggest launch in three years. @snoodit.bsky.social reports: theankler.com/p/100-millio...