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Dan Loeb's Third Point takes new stake in Disney

Daniel Loeb's Third Point has taken a new stake in Disney, according to a letter obtained by CNBC's David Faber. In a letter to Disney CEO Bob Chapek, Loeb urged the entertainment company to integrate streamer Hulu directly into the Disney+ direct-to-consumer platform. Comcast has an agreement to sell its 33% stake in Hulu to Disney in two years. Loeb said Disney should "make every attempt" to acquire Comcast's remaining minority stake before the 2024 deadline. He had held a stake for two years from 2020 to early 2022, pushing Disney to ramp up its streaming services.

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Jamie Foxx to play Mike Tyson in boxer's take on his life

Foxx will play the boxing great in the project that also counts Foxx and filmmaker Martin Scorsese as producers. (Photos by Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP, left, and Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)LOS ANGELES – Mike Tyson is getting in the TV drama ring against himself. On the heels of Hulu's announcement of a Tyson miniseries to be made without his involvement, the boxing great said he's producing a limited series starring Jamie Foxx. Filmmaker Martin Scorsese and Foxx also are among the producers. Last month, Hulu said it had ordered the eight-episode series “Iron Mike,” saying it would explore the “the wild, tragic and controversial life and career” of a polarizing athlete.

Critics amused by fun, flare from movie studios during awards seasons

The movie awards experience can be crazy for those nominated. Netflix even sent a nice folder, featuring a sheet of music from the “Mank” soundtrack, signed by the composers. Ad“The United States vs. Billie Holiday” tells the story of the acclaimed singer, known for wearing a gardenia in her hair, so the studio shipped fragrance oil diffusers with the scent of Tahitian gardenia. In “Palm Springs,” Andy Samberg drinks a lot of “Akupara” beer, so Hulu shipped a four-pack of specially-created brewskis to critics. “Borat” star Sacha Baron Cohen not only made a direct appeal for awards consideration, but also did a public service, sending out some personal protective equipment.

Hulu sets Mike Tyson miniseries, but the boxer punches back

FILE - In this Aug. 2, 2019, file photo, Mike Tyson attends a celebrity golf tournament in Dana Point, Calif. Hulu on Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, announced it has ordered Iron Mike, a limited series about the life of boxing great Mike Tyson. (Photo by Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP, File)LOS ANGELES – Hulu announced it has ordered a limited series dramatizing the life of boxing great Mike Tyson, who quickly slammed the production as “cultural misappropriation.”In a press release Thursday, Hulu said “Iron Mike” will explore “the wild, tragic and controversial life and career” of a polarizing athlete. Tyson, who is not involved in the project, criticized Hulu on social media, saying the series smacked of insensitivity. “Hulu’s announcement to do an unauthorized mini-series of the Tyson story without compensation, although unfortunate, isn’t surprising,” Tyson said in an Instagram post. The eight-episode “Iron Mike” is from the makers of “I, Tonya,” the 2017 movie that starred Margot Robbie as ice skater Tonya Harding.

Hillary Clinton and Louise Penny co-writing mystery novel

FILE - Former secretary of state Hillary Clinton attends the premiere of the Hulu documentary "Hillary" in New York on March 4, 2020. Clinton is teaming up with her friend Louise Penny on the novel State of Terror, out Oct. 12, 2021. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)NEW YORK – One of the world's better known fans of mystery novels, Hillary Rodham Clinton, is now writing one. “Writing a thriller with Louise is a dream come true," Clinton, who has expressed admiration for Penny and other mystery writers in the past, said in a statement Tuesday. Hillary Clinton, secretary of state during Barack Obama's first term, has written a handful of nonfiction works.

New this week: Billie Eilish, Billie Holiday and Superman

This combination photo shows promotional art for Billie Eilish: The World's a Little Blurry, a documentary debuting Friday on Apple TV+, from left, The United States vs. Billie Holiday," premiering Friday on Hulu and Superman & Lois," a new series premiering Tuesday on The CW. (AppleTV+/Hulu/The CW via AP)Here’s a collection curated by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists of what’s arriving on TV, streaming services and music platforms this week. Ad— Based on Johann Hari’s 2015 book, “Chasing the Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs,” Lee Daniels' “The United States vs. Billie Holiday” chronicles the legendary jazz singer's addiction and activism. Andra Day, who's nominated for a Golden Globe, plays Holiday in the biopic, which premieres Friday on Hulu. ET at the Amazon Music Twitch channel and will feature music from the group’s new album, “Life Rolls On,” released on Feb. 12.

Disney unveils plans to stream a galaxy of new series, films

NEW YORK – The Walt Disney Co.’s streaming plans shifted into hyper speed Thursday, as the studio unveiled a galaxy’s worth of new streaming offerings including plans for 10 “Star Wars” series spinoffs and 10 Marvel series that will debut on Disney+. But Disney also kept its biggest films — including Marvel's “Black Widow," Pixar's “Luca,” a “Lion King” prequel — on course for theatrical release. Jenkins becomes the first woman to direct a “Star Wars” film. Among the “Star Wars” series are two spinoffs of “The Mandalorian,” set during the series' timeline: “Rangers of the New Republic” and “Ahsoka,” with Rosario Dawson. Seven Disney films topped $1 billion worldwide.

Greta Thunberg on 2 very surreal years of protest and fame

This image released by Hulu shows activist Greta Thunberg, center, in a scene from the documentary "I Am Greta." (Hulu via AP)NEW YORK – In the first days of Greta Thunberg’s solitary sidewalk protest outside Swedish Parliament in August 2018, most walk right past her. I think: Oh, I was so young and naive back then — which is quite funny,” says Thunberg, recalling her first days of protest in an interview. “I don’t really like the title of the film, ‘I Am Greta.’ It makes it seem like I take myself very seriously,” says Thunberg. Asked how she felt watching news clips of Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin deriding her in the film, Thunberg laughs.

New this week: 'I Am Greta,' Chris Stapleton & CMA Awards

This image released by Hulu shows activist Greta Thunberg, center, in a scene from the documentary "I Am Greta" the story of Thunberg, the teenage Swedish schoolgirl who is leading the global school strike for action on climate change. (Hulu via AP)Here’s a collection curated by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists of what’s arriving on TV, streaming services and music platforms this week. MOVIES— When Greta Thunberg began protesting outside Swedish Parliament two years ago, it only took days for director Nathan Grossman to start trailing her in her mission to prod government leaders on the climate crisis. “I Am Greta,” which premieres Friday on Hulu, documents the enormous movement fueled by Thunberg’s one-person school strike, and a few very surreal years for the Swedish teenager. — After releasing two chart-topping albums in 2017, superstar country singer-songwriter Chris Stapleton is back with a new collection of songs coming out Friday.

'Bad Hair' movie explores Black women and hairstyle messages

(Tobin Yellan/Hulu via AP)LOS ANGELES – Several scenes in the film “Bad Hair” were so horrifying that some cast members initially second-guessed their own use of hair weave or extensions. The dark comedy horror is “only a film," they say, but the story’s underlying messages of harmful hair weave and false beauty standards for Black women had a lasting effect. Ultimately, she discovers that her newly installed hair is possessed, taking over her body and causing harm to others. A weave is a popular method where hair wefts are sewn onto braided hair and styled in any manner. He said the writing process started with talking to some of his closest friends who are Black women.