Showbiz Sandbox 375: The Seedy Side of Show Business is Revealed in “Walking Dead” Lawsuit

Six years after AMC fired Frank Darabont from “The Walking Dead,” the hit TV series he created and oversaw, details about why he was axed are emerging during a lawsuit filed by the filmmaker over profit participation. Citing unprofessional and erratic behavior AMC provided profanity filled emails Darabont sent to producers and executives during his tenure as showrunner. This has lead to many in Hollywood asking whether Darabont’s behavior was out of line or if he was simply trying to defend his show?

The lawsuit itself hinges on Darabont’s deal and whether the revenue AMC earns from “The Walking Dead” is significantly lower because the network is making deals with itself at a significantly reduced cost per episode. This is not the first self-dealing lawsuit to be filed by a creative in Hollywood, but given the $280 million being sought, its outcome could affect how the business operates in the future.

Meanwhile, under pressure from the Chinese government, the Dalian Wanda Group says it will no longer seek to acquire international entertainment properties, causing AMC Theatres, one of its own subsidiaries, to publicly distance itself, and leaving Hollywood wondering if funding from China might be drying up.

Of course, we also cover the week’s top entertainment news including how Amazon will start to distribute its own movies theatrically, Hulu gets nostalgic and Daniel Craig is set to return as James Bond in the next 007 movie.

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comScore Announces Official Worldwide Box Office Results for Weekend of July 30, 2017
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/comscore-announces-official-worldwide-box-office-results-for-weekend-of-july-30-2017-300496360.html

China Box Office: ‘Wolf Warriors 2’ Tops Global Rankings With $127 Million Debut
http://variety.com/2017/film/asia/china-wolf-warriors-2-tops-global-box-office-1202510593/

AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc. Comments on Recent Media Reports
https://celluloidjunkie.com/wire/amc-entertainment-holdings-inc-comments-on-recent-media-reports/

Wanda Boss Signals Retreat From Hollywood Dealmaking
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/wanda-boss-signals-retreat-hollywood-dealmaking-1024144

IMAX Is Moving Away From 3-D: ‘Consumers Have Shown a Strong Preference’
http://www.thewrap.com/imax-moving-away-3d-consumers-shown-strong-preference/

Justin Bieber Banned From China Over His “Bad Behavior”
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/justin-bieber-banned-china-his-bad-behavior-1023218

Justin Bieber Pulls the Plug on Final Leg of His Purpose Tour
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-entertainment-news-updates-july-justin-bieber-pulls-the-plug-on-final-1500923845-htmlstory.html

The Unwomanly Face of War by Svetlana Alexievich
http://bookfilter.com/2016/10/31/the-unwomanly-face-of-war/

The Half-Drowned King by Linnea Hartsuyker
http://bookfilter.com/2016/10/12/the-half-drowned-king/

Man Booker Longlist Features Arundhati Roy and Colson Whitehead
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/27/books/man-booker-prize-2017-longlist.html

Amazon Moves Into Self-Distribution With Woody Allen’s ‘Wonder Wheel’
http://variety.com/2017/film/markets-festivals/amazon-self-distribution-woody-allen-wonder-wheel-1202508413/

Quincy Jones Awarded $9.4M in Michael Jackson Royalty Trial
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/quincy-jones-awarded-94m-michael-jackson-royalty-trial-1024660

Pandora Shuts Down in Australia and New Zealand after 5 Years
https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/pandora-shuts-australia-new-zealand-5-years/

Diversity Concerns Prompt ‘Great Comet’ Casting Shakeup
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/27/theater/mandy-patinkin-oak-onaodowan-great-comet.html

Don’t Cheer Mandy Patinkin Leaving ‘Great Comet’ Just Yet
http://nypost.com/2017/07/29/dont-cheer-mandy-patinkin-leaving-great-comet-just-yet/

MSNBC Scores Another Big Ratings Feat
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/msnbc-scores-big-ratings-feat-1024014

P&G Cuts More Than $100 Million in ‘Largely Ineffective’ Digital Ads
https://www.wsj.com/articles/p-g-cuts-more-than-100-million-in-largely-ineffective-digital-ads-1501191104

Google’s new program to track shoppers sparks a federal privacy complaint
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2017/07/30/googles-new-program-to-track-shoppers-sparks-a-federal-privacy-complaint/

Hulu Resurrects ABC’s TGIF Block With Massive SVOD Deal
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/hulu-abc-tgif-shows-svod-deal-1024853

Despacito Breaks Global Streaming Record
http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-40642701

Amazon Is Now The 3rd Biggest Music Subscription Service
https://musicindustryblog.wordpress.com/2017/07/14/amazon-is-now-the-3rd-biggest-music-subscription-service/

I Don’t Want to Watch Slavery Fan Fiction
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/25/opinion/hbo-confederate-slavery-civil-war.html

Adele Leaves Performance Rights Organization BMI for SESAC
http://variety.com/2017/music/news/adele-leaves-bmi-for-sesac-performance-rights-1202510093/

Daniel Craig Is Coming Back as James Bond in 2019
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/24/movies/daniel-craig-is-coming-back-as-james-bond-in-2019.html

Ryan Seacrest Returning to Host ‘American Idol’ Revival
http://variety.com/2017/music/news/ryan-seacrest-hosting-american-idol-revival-1202501251/

Katy Perry to Host, Perform at 2017 VMAs
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/katy-perry-host-perform-at-2017-vmas-1024770

HBO Networks Hit by Cyber Attack, ‘Ballers’ and ‘Room 104’ Episodes Leaked Online
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/hbo-networks-hit-by-cyber-attack-1025397

George Clooney Lashes Out at Paparazzi Photos of Twins
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/george-clooney-lashes-at-paparazzi-photos-twins-1024969

North American Comics Market Hits $1.085 Billion in 2016
https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/comics/article/74233-north-american-comics-market-hits-1-085-billion-in-2016.html

‘Walking Dead’ Lawsuit Spills Obscene Emails and Tales of Greed Over TV’s Billion-Dollar Hit
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/walking-dead-lawsuit-spills-obscene-emails-tales-greed-tvs-billion-dollar-hit-1020061

Jeanne Moreau, Legendary French Actress, Dies at 89
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/jeanne-moreau-dead-legendary-french-actress-dies-at-89-1025323

Jeanne Moreau, Star of Jules et Jim, Dies Aged 89
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/jul/31/jeanne-moreau-star-of-jules-et-jim-dies-aged-89

Sam Shepard, Actor and Pulitzer-Winning Playwright, Is Dead at 73
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/31/theater/sam-shepard-dead.html

Chester Bennington, Linkin Park Singer, Dead at 41
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/chester-bennington-linkin-park-singer-dead-at-41-w493387

Marty Sklar, Legendary Disney Imagineer, Dies at 83
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/marty-sklar-legendary-disney-imagineer-dies-at-83-1024930

Getting To Know Marty Sklar, A Man Who Shaped Disney Theme Parks
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-et-hc-marty-sklar-20170728-story.html

June Foray, Voice of ‘Bullwinkle Show’s’ Natasha and Rocky, Dies at 99
http://variety.com/2017/tv/people-news/june-foray-dead-dies-rocky-natasha-bullwinkle-1202508180/