Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Movies released the first teaser trailer for “The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants” on 9 July, confirming that the CG-animated feature will open exclusively in U.S. cinemas on 19 December 2025.

The story follows SpongeBob on a deep-sea quest to prove his bravery to Mr. Krabs by pursuing the ghost pirate Flying Dutchman, now voiced by Mark Hamill. Long-time series actors Tom Kenny, Bill Fagerbakke, Rodger Bumpass, Clancy Brown, Carolyn Lawrence and Mr. Lawrence reprise their roles, while George Lopez, rapper Ice Spice, Arturo Castro, Sherry Cola and Regina Hall join the voice cast. Derek Drymon, a veteran writer on the original series, makes his feature directorial debut from a screenplay by Pam Brady and Matt Lieberman.

“Search for SquarePants” is the fourth SpongeBob theatrical installment and the franchise’s first wide cinema release since 2015’s “Sponge Out of Water,” which opened to $55 million domestically. Produced by Lisa Stewart, Pam Brady and Aaron Dem, the new film carries a PG rating for rude humor, mild language and thematic elements.

CBS has set a 90-minute premiere for “Big Brother” Season 27 on July 10 at 8 p.m. Eastern, returning the long-running reality franchise to prime time for its 25th anniversary year. Host Julie Chen Moonves is back to welcome 16 new contestants into a redesigned set dubbed “Hotel Mystère,” part of this season’s overarching theme, “A Summer of Mystery.”

The network is also holding back one major twist: a 17th “Mystery Houseguest” whose identity will be revealed during the season. Additional curveballs include a masked visitor, a secret accomplice and the revival of last year’s AI-powered game feature, now rebranded the “BB Blockbuster.”

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Paramount Global has paid President Donald Trump $16 million to settle a lawsuit accusing CBS’s “60 Minutes” of deceptively editing an October 2024 interview with then–Vice President Kamala Harris in a way that misled voters ahead of the presidential election. Trump had initially sought up to $20 billion in damages. Under the agreement, Paramount avoids issuing an apology but will begin releasing full transcripts of presidential-candidate interviews after they air.

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CBS’s summer reality franchise “Big Brother” reaches its 25-year milestone this week, marking a quarter-century since the series premiered on 5 July 2000. Over 27 regular seasons, the show has broadcast more than 800 episodes, generated three celebrity editions and a streaming spin-off, and helped cement the network’s dominance in unscripted programming during the US summer schedule.

To commemorate the anniversary, host Julie Chen Moonves selected her 25 most memorable moments for a retrospective published on 5 July. Entertainment outlets compiled additional rankings and oral histories that revisit headline-making episodes such as surprise evictions, on-air birthdays and the Season 8 funeral twist. The tributes underscore the programme’s cultural imprint and steady ratings draw despite fierce competition from newer reality formats.

While CBS has not yet announced details for a 28th season, producers have indicated that the franchise will continue its annual run, supported by a loyal fan base and the broadcaster’s multi-platform distribution on linear TV and Paramount+.

Paramount Global and former President Donald Trump are in advanced negotiations to settle a $20 billion lawsuit related to a '60 Minutes' report. A mediator has proposed a $20 million settlement offer. Recent reports indicate that Paramount is expected to pay Trump approximately $16 million to resolve the case. The settlement has drawn criticism from prominent CBS figures, including former CBS News anchor Dan Rather, who described the deal as a 'sell-out to extortion' and a 'sad day for journalism.' CBS correspondent John Dickerson also expressed concerns that the settlement undermines the network's ability to hold power accountable.

The lawsuit and its resolution have sparked debate about media coverage of Trump and the use of legal strategies to challenge media organizations. Despite Paramount's denial of public service announcements or advertising as part of the deal, Trump has claimed the settlement could be around $35 million. The situation has prompted condemnation from current and former CBS News employees.

Comedy Central has postponed the debut of “South Park” Season 27 by two weeks, moving the animated staple’s first episode from 9 July to 23 July. The network gave no formal reason, but the shift comes as parent company Paramount Global finalises its merger with Skydance, a deal that has complicated streaming-rights negotiations for the long-running series.

Following the change, Comedy Central also rescheduled the second season of Andy Samberg and Neil Campbell’s “Digman!”—originally slated to follow “South Park” on 9 July—to 23 July at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT, preserving its position directly behind the flagship program.

“South Park” creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone blamed the corporate merger for the delay, saying in a statement that the process is disrupting production and distribution plans, even as they continue work on new episodes. Both shows remain exclusive to Comedy Central in the United States.

Amazon has opened an early round of promotions ahead of its four-day Prime Day event, which runs July 8–11, cutting the price of 27 Prime Video channel add-ons to $0.99 a month for a two-month introductory period. The offer represents discounts of as much as 92 percent on services that normally charge up to $12.99 a month and includes Paramount+ Premium with Showtime, Starz, Crunchyroll, Acorn TV and PBS Masterpiece.

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Paramount Global has renamed the ad-free “Paramount+ With Showtime” tier of its flagship streaming service to “Paramount+ Premium,” ending the use of the Showtime label on the platform. The change, communicated to subscribers on 23–24 June, leaves pricing unchanged at $12.99 a month or $119.99 a year. The cheaper, ad-supported Essential plan remains $7.99.

Executives said the rebrand reflects the addition of a limited selection of Showtime series to the Essential tier, while assuring customers that the full Showtime catalogue continues to be available on Premium. The linear cable network will, for now, keep the Paramount+ With Showtime name.

The move echoes a wider industry trend toward simpler branding; Warner Bros. Discovery recently reversed course by reinstating the HBO name on its Max service. To spur subscriber growth after the name change, Paramount+ on 3 July launched a “Summer Sale” that lets new users purchase either plan for $0.99 a month for two months—about 92 % below the regular Premium rate—through 13 July.

Creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone said a pending merger between Paramount Global and Skydance Media is “a s—show” that is “f—king up ‘South Park,’” after Comedy Central pushed the animated comedy’s Season 27 premiere back two weeks to 10 p.m. ET/PT on July 23. The season had been scheduled to begin on July 9, marking the show’s first new batch of episodes since 2023.

Paramount and Skydance reached an agreement last year that would hand control of Paramount Global to David Ellison’s Skydance; the deal faces a July 7 deadline and still requires FCC approval. Parker and Stone said corporate uncertainty tied to the roughly $8 billion transaction has already triggered release-date changes, cancellations and layoffs across Paramount properties, and is now disrupting production and scheduling for their flagship series.

Read more

Paramount Pictures has released the first trailer and poster for “The Running Man,” Edgar Wright’s new adaptation of the 1982 Stephen King novel, confirming a U.S. theatrical debut on November 7, 2025—two weeks earlier than previously scheduled.

The trailer introduces Glen Powell as Ben Richards, an out-of-work father who volunteers for a dystopian game show in which participants, dubbed Runners, must elude professional assassins for 30 days. Success promises a life-changing cash prize that Richards hopes will fund treatment for his gravely ill daughter, while the nation watches the carnage on live television.

Read more

A$AP Rocky appeared to confirm that he and Rihanna are expecting a daughter during a red-carpet interview with Entertainment Tonight at the global premiere of “Smurfs” in Brussels on 28 June. When asked whether the baby was “the girl you’ve been waiting for,” the rapper replied, “It is, man, it is,” before deflecting by holding up a plush Smurfette doll.

The couple already share two sons—RZA, 3, and 22-month-old Riot Rose. Rihanna told the outlet that the new child’s name will continue the family’s “R” naming pattern, while Rocky joked that they aim to build a brood “like the Wayans family.”

Rihanna serves as producer on the Paramount Animation feature and voices Smurfette; the film is scheduled for a 18 July U.S. release. She revealed her third pregnancy at the 2025 Met Gala in May.

Texas State University’s Board of Regents voted unanimously on 30 June to authorize up to $5 million to exit the Sun Belt Conference and accept membership in the Pac-12. Hours later the Pac-12 Board of Directors confirmed the admission, making the Bobcats the league’s ninth overall member and its eighth football-playing school beginning with the 2026-27 season.

The addition restores the Pac-12 to the minimum eight Football Bowl Subdivision programs required by the NCAA to maintain conference status. The rebuilt league—once reduced to two holdovers after the 2023 realignment—now comprises Oregon State, Washington State, Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State, Utah State, Gonzaga (non-football) and Texas State.

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Belgium turned its capital blue on 28 June as Rihanna—who is producing the new live-action animated musical “Smurfs” and voicing Smurfette—led the film’s world premiere in Brussels. The singer arrived in a sheer Chanel gown alongside partner A$AP Rocky, greeting fans and posing with a life-size Smurfette on the blue carpet at Mont des Arts.

Directed by Chris Miller, the Paramount and Nickelodeon co-production follows a Smurfette-led rescue mission. Cast members Dan Levy and James Corden joined the festivities, which included Smurf-themed events across the city and a costumed Manneken Pis. The movie opens in U.S. cinemas on 18 July.

Rihanna’s appearance, coming during her third pregnancy, capped a busy week that saw the couple sit front-row at Jonathan Anderson’s debut Dior menswear show in Paris. On the Brussels carpet, Rocky joked that the pair plan a large family, while Rihanna quipped that the baby’s sex “could be a Smurfette.”

The Israeli documentary film "We Will Dance Again," which chronicles the Hamas massacre at the Nova music festival on October 7, 2024, has won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Current Affairs Documentary. The film, directed by Yariv Mozer, presents survivor videos, bodycam footage, and firsthand testimonies to depict the tragic events where over 370 people were affected. Among the approximately 3,500 attendees, 364 were murdered and 44 were taken hostage by Hamas terrorists. The documentary has been recognized for giving voice to the survivors and telling the story of the young festivalgoers who encountered unprecedented violence. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated Mozer and the film’s creators, emphasizing the importance of the documentary in sharing Israel’s true story. The film is available for viewing on Paramount Plus.

California lawmakers have approved a substantial expansion of the state's Film and Television Tax Credit Program, increasing the annual funding from $330 million to $750 million. This legislative move, championed by Governor Gavin Newsom and passed by the Democratic-led legislature, aims to revitalize the state's film and television production industry by attracting more projects back to Hollywood and retaining jobs. The increase more than doubles the previous cap and is expected to support between 4,400 and 5,500 production jobs. The program expansion reflects months of lobbying from the entertainment sector and is part of a broader budget agreement that also includes scaling back free health care for undocumented immigrants.

Governor Newsom emphasized that the expansion is driven by a vision to maintain California as the birthplace and ongoing home of film and television production. The tax credit is designed to benefit a wide range of productions, including independent studios, and is projected to generate an estimated $1.1 billion in economic activity for the state. The legislation has been widely supported by industry groups, labor unions, and local government officials, including the mayor of Los Angeles, who highlighted the effort to keep the industry and jobs within the state. The bill was signed into law in early July 2025, marking a significant policy effort to bolster California's entertainment sector amid competition from other U.S. cities and overseas locations.

The Israeli documentary film "We Will Dance Again," which chronicles the Hamas massacre at the Nova music festival on October 7, 2024, has won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Current Affairs Documentary. The film, directed by Yariv Mozer, uses survivor videos, bodycam footage, and firsthand testimonies to depict the tragic event in which over 370 people were killed, 44 were taken hostage, and approximately 3,500 attended the festival. The documentary highlights the stories of young attendees who came to celebrate life but encountered unimaginable violence. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated Mozer and the film's creators, emphasizing the documentary's role in giving voice to survivors and telling Israel’s true story. The film is available for viewing on Paramount Plus. The documentary’s recognition at the Emmy Awards underscores the international attention to the tragedy and the resilience of those affected.

Paramount Pictures has brought Michael Bay back to the franchise he launched in 2007, tapping the director to oversee and likely helm a new live-action "Transformers" film, according to industry reports first published by Puck News. Jordan VanDina, whose credits include the comedy “Binge,” is writing the screenplay.

Bay’s return comes eight years after the director stepped away following 2017’s "Transformers: The Last Knight." The studio is reviving the property amid declining box-office performance for recent installments and faces a 2029 deadline to produce a film in order to retain adaptation rights.

The project is one of at least five "Transformers" titles in the works at Paramount. Additional developments include a separate live-action movie from "Transformers One" director Josh Cooley, a potential "Transformers"–"G.I. Joe" crossover, and two early-stage concepts still under evaluation.

Nickelodeon's stop-motion animated series "The Tiny Chef Show" has been canceled after three years on air, despite winning an Emmy award. The cancellation was announced in an unconventional and emotional manner through a viral video depicting the titular character, a small green chef, receiving the news via a phone call and breaking into tears while lamenting the show's end. The video, created by the show's creators who learned about the cancellation a month prior, has resonated widely on social media, sparking an outpouring of support and campaigns to revive the series. Fans and supporters have since raised nearly $100,000 in crowdfunding efforts to help save the show. The creators have expressed openness to future possibilities for the character and the series, emphasizing the need for financial backing to continue. The heartfelt announcement and subsequent public reaction have made "The Tiny Chef Show" a notable phenomenon online following its cancellation.

The Television Academy said actors Brenda Song and Harvey Guillén will unveil the nominations for the 77th Emmy Awards on Tuesday, July 15, at 8:30 a.m. Pacific/11:30 a.m. Eastern. The announcement will stream live from the Academy’s Wolf Theatre in North Hollywood, with Academy chair Cris Abrego joining the presenters.

This year the Academy logged 228 submissions across drama, comedy and limited or anthology series, with 600 eligible programs competing in 15 categories. Final-round voting runs Aug. 18–27. Comedian Nate Bargatze will host the main ceremony, set to air live on CBS and stream on Paramount+ on Sept. 14.

The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) has announced five world premieres for its 50th edition in 2025. Among the films debuting are Steven Soderbergh’s "The Christophers," which stars Michaela Coel, Ian McKellen, James Corden, and Jessica Gunning, and follows the children of an artist who hire a forger to complete his unfinished works. Nia DaCosta’s "Hedda," featuring Tessa Thompson, Imogen Poots, Tom Bateman, Nina Hoss, and Nicholas Pinnock, will also premiere; the film centers on a woman trapped in a loveless marriage whose life begins to unravel when a former lover reappears. Other world premieres include Alejandro Amenábar’s "The Captive," Sung-hyun Byun’s "Good News," and Chandler Levack’s "Mile End Kicks." The festival’s CEO, Cameron Bailey, revealed these titles as part of TIFF 2025’s Special Presentations lineup.

Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Movies released the first teaser trailer for “The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants” on 9 July, confirming that the CG-animated feature will open exclusively in U.S. cinemas on 19 December 2025.

The story follows SpongeBob on a deep-sea quest to prove his bravery to Mr. Krabs by pursuing the ghost pirate Flying Dutchman, now voiced by Mark Hamill. Long-time series actors Tom Kenny, Bill Fagerbakke, Rodger Bumpass, Clancy Brown, Carolyn Lawrence and Mr. Lawrence reprise their roles, while George Lopez, rapper Ice Spice, Arturo Castro, Sherry Cola and Regina Hall join the voice cast. Derek Drymon, a veteran writer on the original series, makes his feature directorial debut from a screenplay by Pam Brady and Matt Lieberman.

“Search for SquarePants” is the fourth SpongeBob theatrical installment and the franchise’s first wide cinema release since 2015’s “Sponge Out of Water,” which opened to $55 million domestically. Produced by Lisa Stewart, Pam Brady and Aaron Dem, the new film carries a PG rating for rude humor, mild language and thematic elements.

CBS has set a 90-minute premiere for “Big Brother” Season 27 on July 10 at 8 p.m. Eastern, returning the long-running reality franchise to prime time for its 25th anniversary year. Host Julie Chen Moonves is back to welcome 16 new contestants into a redesigned set dubbed “Hotel Mystère,” part of this season’s overarching theme, “A Summer of Mystery.”

The network is also holding back one major twist: a 17th “Mystery Houseguest” whose identity will be revealed during the season. Additional curveballs include a masked visitor, a secret accomplice and the revival of last year’s AI-powered game feature, now rebranded the “BB Blockbuster.”

Read more

Paramount Global has paid President Donald Trump $16 million to settle a lawsuit accusing CBS’s “60 Minutes” of deceptively editing an October 2024 interview with then–Vice President Kamala Harris in a way that misled voters ahead of the presidential election. Trump had initially sought up to $20 billion in damages. Under the agreement, Paramount avoids issuing an apology but will begin releasing full transcripts of presidential-candidate interviews after they air.

Read more

CBS’s summer reality franchise “Big Brother” reaches its 25-year milestone this week, marking a quarter-century since the series premiered on 5 July 2000. Over 27 regular seasons, the show has broadcast more than 800 episodes, generated three celebrity editions and a streaming spin-off, and helped cement the network’s dominance in unscripted programming during the US summer schedule.

To commemorate the anniversary, host Julie Chen Moonves selected her 25 most memorable moments for a retrospective published on 5 July. Entertainment outlets compiled additional rankings and oral histories that revisit headline-making episodes such as surprise evictions, on-air birthdays and the Season 8 funeral twist. The tributes underscore the programme’s cultural imprint and steady ratings draw despite fierce competition from newer reality formats.

While CBS has not yet announced details for a 28th season, producers have indicated that the franchise will continue its annual run, supported by a loyal fan base and the broadcaster’s multi-platform distribution on linear TV and Paramount+.

Paramount Global and former President Donald Trump are in advanced negotiations to settle a $20 billion lawsuit related to a '60 Minutes' report. A mediator has proposed a $20 million settlement offer. Recent reports indicate that Paramount is expected to pay Trump approximately $16 million to resolve the case. The settlement has drawn criticism from prominent CBS figures, including former CBS News anchor Dan Rather, who described the deal as a 'sell-out to extortion' and a 'sad day for journalism.' CBS correspondent John Dickerson also expressed concerns that the settlement undermines the network's ability to hold power accountable.

The lawsuit and its resolution have sparked debate about media coverage of Trump and the use of legal strategies to challenge media organizations. Despite Paramount's denial of public service announcements or advertising as part of the deal, Trump has claimed the settlement could be around $35 million. The situation has prompted condemnation from current and former CBS News employees.

Comedy Central has postponed the debut of “South Park” Season 27 by two weeks, moving the animated staple’s first episode from 9 July to 23 July. The network gave no formal reason, but the shift comes as parent company Paramount Global finalises its merger with Skydance, a deal that has complicated streaming-rights negotiations for the long-running series.

Following the change, Comedy Central also rescheduled the second season of Andy Samberg and Neil Campbell’s “Digman!”—originally slated to follow “South Park” on 9 July—to 23 July at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT, preserving its position directly behind the flagship program.

“South Park” creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone blamed the corporate merger for the delay, saying in a statement that the process is disrupting production and distribution plans, even as they continue work on new episodes. Both shows remain exclusive to Comedy Central in the United States.

Amazon has opened an early round of promotions ahead of its four-day Prime Day event, which runs July 8–11, cutting the price of 27 Prime Video channel add-ons to $0.99 a month for a two-month introductory period. The offer represents discounts of as much as 92 percent on services that normally charge up to $12.99 a month and includes Paramount+ Premium with Showtime, Starz, Crunchyroll, Acorn TV and PBS Masterpiece.

Read more

Paramount Global has renamed the ad-free “Paramount+ With Showtime” tier of its flagship streaming service to “Paramount+ Premium,” ending the use of the Showtime label on the platform. The change, communicated to subscribers on 23–24 June, leaves pricing unchanged at $12.99 a month or $119.99 a year. The cheaper, ad-supported Essential plan remains $7.99.

Executives said the rebrand reflects the addition of a limited selection of Showtime series to the Essential tier, while assuring customers that the full Showtime catalogue continues to be available on Premium. The linear cable network will, for now, keep the Paramount+ With Showtime name.

The move echoes a wider industry trend toward simpler branding; Warner Bros. Discovery recently reversed course by reinstating the HBO name on its Max service. To spur subscriber growth after the name change, Paramount+ on 3 July launched a “Summer Sale” that lets new users purchase either plan for $0.99 a month for two months—about 92 % below the regular Premium rate—through 13 July.

Creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone said a pending merger between Paramount Global and Skydance Media is “a s—show” that is “f—king up ‘South Park,’” after Comedy Central pushed the animated comedy’s Season 27 premiere back two weeks to 10 p.m. ET/PT on July 23. The season had been scheduled to begin on July 9, marking the show’s first new batch of episodes since 2023.

Paramount and Skydance reached an agreement last year that would hand control of Paramount Global to David Ellison’s Skydance; the deal faces a July 7 deadline and still requires FCC approval. Parker and Stone said corporate uncertainty tied to the roughly $8 billion transaction has already triggered release-date changes, cancellations and layoffs across Paramount properties, and is now disrupting production and scheduling for their flagship series.

Read more

Paramount Pictures has released the first trailer and poster for “The Running Man,” Edgar Wright’s new adaptation of the 1982 Stephen King novel, confirming a U.S. theatrical debut on November 7, 2025—two weeks earlier than previously scheduled.

The trailer introduces Glen Powell as Ben Richards, an out-of-work father who volunteers for a dystopian game show in which participants, dubbed Runners, must elude professional assassins for 30 days. Success promises a life-changing cash prize that Richards hopes will fund treatment for his gravely ill daughter, while the nation watches the carnage on live television.

Read more

A$AP Rocky appeared to confirm that he and Rihanna are expecting a daughter during a red-carpet interview with Entertainment Tonight at the global premiere of “Smurfs” in Brussels on 28 June. When asked whether the baby was “the girl you’ve been waiting for,” the rapper replied, “It is, man, it is,” before deflecting by holding up a plush Smurfette doll.

The couple already share two sons—RZA, 3, and 22-month-old Riot Rose. Rihanna told the outlet that the new child’s name will continue the family’s “R” naming pattern, while Rocky joked that they aim to build a brood “like the Wayans family.”

Rihanna serves as producer on the Paramount Animation feature and voices Smurfette; the film is scheduled for a 18 July U.S. release. She revealed her third pregnancy at the 2025 Met Gala in May.

Texas State University’s Board of Regents voted unanimously on 30 June to authorize up to $5 million to exit the Sun Belt Conference and accept membership in the Pac-12. Hours later the Pac-12 Board of Directors confirmed the admission, making the Bobcats the league’s ninth overall member and its eighth football-playing school beginning with the 2026-27 season.

The addition restores the Pac-12 to the minimum eight Football Bowl Subdivision programs required by the NCAA to maintain conference status. The rebuilt league—once reduced to two holdovers after the 2023 realignment—now comprises Oregon State, Washington State, Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State, Utah State, Gonzaga (non-football) and Texas State.

Read more

Belgium turned its capital blue on 28 June as Rihanna—who is producing the new live-action animated musical “Smurfs” and voicing Smurfette—led the film’s world premiere in Brussels. The singer arrived in a sheer Chanel gown alongside partner A$AP Rocky, greeting fans and posing with a life-size Smurfette on the blue carpet at Mont des Arts.

Directed by Chris Miller, the Paramount and Nickelodeon co-production follows a Smurfette-led rescue mission. Cast members Dan Levy and James Corden joined the festivities, which included Smurf-themed events across the city and a costumed Manneken Pis. The movie opens in U.S. cinemas on 18 July.

Rihanna’s appearance, coming during her third pregnancy, capped a busy week that saw the couple sit front-row at Jonathan Anderson’s debut Dior menswear show in Paris. On the Brussels carpet, Rocky joked that the pair plan a large family, while Rihanna quipped that the baby’s sex “could be a Smurfette.”

The Israeli documentary film "We Will Dance Again," which chronicles the Hamas massacre at the Nova music festival on October 7, 2024, has won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Current Affairs Documentary. The film, directed by Yariv Mozer, presents survivor videos, bodycam footage, and firsthand testimonies to depict the tragic events where over 370 people were affected. Among the approximately 3,500 attendees, 364 were murdered and 44 were taken hostage by Hamas terrorists. The documentary has been recognized for giving voice to the survivors and telling the story of the young festivalgoers who encountered unprecedented violence. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated Mozer and the film’s creators, emphasizing the importance of the documentary in sharing Israel’s true story. The film is available for viewing on Paramount Plus.

California lawmakers have approved a substantial expansion of the state's Film and Television Tax Credit Program, increasing the annual funding from $330 million to $750 million. This legislative move, championed by Governor Gavin Newsom and passed by the Democratic-led legislature, aims to revitalize the state's film and television production industry by attracting more projects back to Hollywood and retaining jobs. The increase more than doubles the previous cap and is expected to support between 4,400 and 5,500 production jobs. The program expansion reflects months of lobbying from the entertainment sector and is part of a broader budget agreement that also includes scaling back free health care for undocumented immigrants.

Governor Newsom emphasized that the expansion is driven by a vision to maintain California as the birthplace and ongoing home of film and television production. The tax credit is designed to benefit a wide range of productions, including independent studios, and is projected to generate an estimated $1.1 billion in economic activity for the state. The legislation has been widely supported by industry groups, labor unions, and local government officials, including the mayor of Los Angeles, who highlighted the effort to keep the industry and jobs within the state. The bill was signed into law in early July 2025, marking a significant policy effort to bolster California's entertainment sector amid competition from other U.S. cities and overseas locations.

The Israeli documentary film "We Will Dance Again," which chronicles the Hamas massacre at the Nova music festival on October 7, 2024, has won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Current Affairs Documentary. The film, directed by Yariv Mozer, uses survivor videos, bodycam footage, and firsthand testimonies to depict the tragic event in which over 370 people were killed, 44 were taken hostage, and approximately 3,500 attended the festival. The documentary highlights the stories of young attendees who came to celebrate life but encountered unimaginable violence. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated Mozer and the film's creators, emphasizing the documentary's role in giving voice to survivors and telling Israel’s true story. The film is available for viewing on Paramount Plus. The documentary’s recognition at the Emmy Awards underscores the international attention to the tragedy and the resilience of those affected.

Paramount Pictures has brought Michael Bay back to the franchise he launched in 2007, tapping the director to oversee and likely helm a new live-action "Transformers" film, according to industry reports first published by Puck News. Jordan VanDina, whose credits include the comedy “Binge,” is writing the screenplay.

Bay’s return comes eight years after the director stepped away following 2017’s "Transformers: The Last Knight." The studio is reviving the property amid declining box-office performance for recent installments and faces a 2029 deadline to produce a film in order to retain adaptation rights.

The project is one of at least five "Transformers" titles in the works at Paramount. Additional developments include a separate live-action movie from "Transformers One" director Josh Cooley, a potential "Transformers"–"G.I. Joe" crossover, and two early-stage concepts still under evaluation.

Nickelodeon's stop-motion animated series "The Tiny Chef Show" has been canceled after three years on air, despite winning an Emmy award. The cancellation was announced in an unconventional and emotional manner through a viral video depicting the titular character, a small green chef, receiving the news via a phone call and breaking into tears while lamenting the show's end. The video, created by the show's creators who learned about the cancellation a month prior, has resonated widely on social media, sparking an outpouring of support and campaigns to revive the series. Fans and supporters have since raised nearly $100,000 in crowdfunding efforts to help save the show. The creators have expressed openness to future possibilities for the character and the series, emphasizing the need for financial backing to continue. The heartfelt announcement and subsequent public reaction have made "The Tiny Chef Show" a notable phenomenon online following its cancellation.

The Television Academy said actors Brenda Song and Harvey Guillén will unveil the nominations for the 77th Emmy Awards on Tuesday, July 15, at 8:30 a.m. Pacific/11:30 a.m. Eastern. The announcement will stream live from the Academy’s Wolf Theatre in North Hollywood, with Academy chair Cris Abrego joining the presenters.

This year the Academy logged 228 submissions across drama, comedy and limited or anthology series, with 600 eligible programs competing in 15 categories. Final-round voting runs Aug. 18–27. Comedian Nate Bargatze will host the main ceremony, set to air live on CBS and stream on Paramount+ on Sept. 14.

The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) has announced five world premieres for its 50th edition in 2025. Among the films debuting are Steven Soderbergh’s "The Christophers," which stars Michaela Coel, Ian McKellen, James Corden, and Jessica Gunning, and follows the children of an artist who hire a forger to complete his unfinished works. Nia DaCosta’s "Hedda," featuring Tessa Thompson, Imogen Poots, Tom Bateman, Nina Hoss, and Nicholas Pinnock, will also premiere; the film centers on a woman trapped in a loveless marriage whose life begins to unravel when a former lover reappears. Other world premieres include Alejandro Amenábar’s "The Captive," Sung-hyun Byun’s "Good News," and Chandler Levack’s "Mile End Kicks." The festival’s CEO, Cameron Bailey, revealed these titles as part of TIFF 2025’s Special Presentations lineup.