The daily gossip: Netflix scraps Nancy Meyers' enormously expensive rom-com, Quentin Tarantino's final movie revealed, and more

1. Netflix scraps Nancy Meyers' enormously expensive rom-com after budget dispute

Netflix has a message for Nancy Meyers: Let's just be friends. The streamer has pulled the plug on the next movie from the It's Complicated director after a budget dispute, Deadline reports. The romantic comedy, Paris Paramount, was set to feature a star-studded cast of Scarlett Johansson, Owen Wilson, Penelope Cruz, and Michael Fassbender, and it would have been Meyers' first time directing a movie since 2015's The Intern. But Puck recently reported that after Netflix greenlit the project at an already-massive $130 million budget, Meyers insisted it "would be hard to make the movie for less than $150 million." The streamer reportedly refused her request, and Deadline now reports that "with both sides refusing to budge," Netflix just went ahead and canceled the movie completely. It's unclear if someone else might pick it up, but Netflix presumably now plans to spend this $130 million on 15 different freshman shows that will be canceled five minutes after they debut.

Deadline

2. Quentin Tarantino's final film will reportedly be 'The Movie Critic'

Quentin Tarantino's time in Hollywood — at least as a movie director — is nearing an end. The legendary Pulp Fiction filmmaker is preparing to shoot his alleged final movie this fall, which has the working title of The Movie Critic, according to The Hollywood Reporter and Variety. The film is "set in late 1970s Los Angeles with a female lead at its center," the Reporter says. We don't know much else, though from that description, fans are theorizing the movie may be about, or at least inspired by, Pauline Kael. Tarantino has often discussed his admiration of the late film critic for The New Yorker, citing her as an influence and mentioning her many times in his film criticism book Cinema Speculation. Tarantino has repeatedly claimed he will retire from directing movies after this upcoming film, though he could still direct other things like TV episodes or YouTube compilations of shots of feet.

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The Hollywood Reporter Variety

3. Brooke Shields alleges a powerful Hollywood executive sexually assaulted her

Brooke Shields is ready to share her truth. In the upcoming documentary Brooke Shields: Pretty Baby, the actress reveals she was sexually assaulted by a powerful Hollywood executive more than 30 years ago, when she was in her 20s, according to People. Shields recalled that during this "lowest point of my career," she had dinner with this executive and "thought I was getting a movie, a job." But she alleged that after dinner, he invited her to call a cab from his hotel room, where he assaulted her. "I didn't fight," she said. "I just froze." She continued that she blamed herself at the time, asking, "Why did I go up with him?" Shields explained she never spoke up about this at the time because she thought no one would believe her. "It's taken me a long time to process it," she told People. "I'm more angry now than I was able to be then."

People

4. T-Mobile is buying Ryan Reynolds' Mint for over $1 billion

Don't look now, but Ryan Reynolds may soon be the first star of R.I.P.D. to become a billionaire. T-Mobile has announced it's buying Mint Mobile, the wireless brand that's partially owned by Reynolds, in a deal worth up to $1.35 billion. "I never dreamt I'd own a wireless company and I certainly never dreamt I'd sell it to T-Mobile," Reynolds tweeted. "Life is strange and I'm incredibly proud and grateful." The Deadpool star owns a reported 25 percent stake in Mint that he acquired in 2019. In a video message with Reynolds, T-Mobile CEO Mike Sievert said the company would continue Mint's $15 per month pricing, and Reynolds will also continue in his creative role. "We are so happy T-Mobile beat out an aggressive last-minute bid from my mom, Tammy Reynolds," the actor joked. Reynolds' next venture will be buying Twitter from Elon Musk and charging $10 a month to tweet derisively about Green Lantern.

The Associated Press Variety

5. James Gunn picks James Gunn to direct 'Superman: Legacy'

After careful consideration, James Gunn has selected the perfect person to bring Superman into a new era: James Gunn. The co-CEO of DC Studios has confirmed he will personally direct the upcoming Superman relaunch, Superman: Legacy, slated for 2025. He was already announced as its writer, but it wasn't known if someone else would get behind the camera. The Guardians of the Galaxy director shared the news on Twitter, noting he "initially said no" to making a new Superman film because he "didn't have a way in that felt unique and fun and emotional that gave Superman the dignity he deserved." But he added that less than a year ago, he "saw a way in, in many ways centering around Superman's heritage," though he was still "hesitant to direct." But Gunn's interview for the gig reportedly really impressed himself.

The Hollywood Reporter