Film and TV Briefing: Friday 20 March 2026
Welcome to this week’s round-up of news, commentary and industry announcements that you may have missed from the past week.
If you are looking for advice in relation to any of the issues mentioned, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
In the news
Full list of 2026 Oscar winners (IndieWire)
Warner Bros. CEO set to receive $700 million payout from Paramount deal (The Guardian)
Oscars viewing figures in US fall to four-year low (The Guardian)
Matt Brittin set to be named BBC director general within days (The Guardian)
Tina Fey to host first ‘SNL UK’ episode (The Hollywood Reporter)
Val Kilmer to be brought back to life with AI for new film (The Guardian)
Michaela Coel to spearhead ‘Bloodsport’ remake (IndieWire)
‘Adolescence’ scoops five categories at Broadcasting Press Guild Awards (Deadline)
‘Lord Of The Flies’ to premiere on Netflix in May (Deadline)
California makes animated and competition shows eligible for tax credits (IndieWire)
Netflix chiefs deny dumbing down plot for viewers on phones (Deadline)
Channel 5 defends Huw Edwards drama (The Guardian)
Features and commentary
Will Warner Bros. deal with Paramount change Hollywood? (The Guardian)
Oscars humour obscures innovation of works it celebrates (The New Yorker)
Why indie film has an architecture problem (IndieWire)
The most anticipated films at Cannes 2026 (The Hollywood Reporter)
Inside China’s booming film industry (The Hollywood Reporter)
Industry announcements
BBC set for permanent charter (Broadcast)
UK Government backpedals on AI copyright proposals following backlash (BBC)
List of Hollywood and media layoffs since 2024 as industry squeezed (Deadline)
Legal updates
BBC asks court to dismiss Donald Trump’s ‘Panorama’ lawsuit (BBC)
Kevin Spacey reaches settlement with sexual assault accusers before trial (The Hollywood Reporter)
