Month: March 2026

The proposed merger between Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery will have subscribers to Paramount+ and HBO Max seeing those platforms merge into a single direct-to-consumer service.

Paramount CEO David Ellison outlined the plan during a Monday investor call, saying, “As we said, we do plan to put the two services together, which today gives us a little over 200 million direct to consumer subscribers.” He added that the combined scale would strengthen the company’s ability to compete with dominant streaming rivals.

Ellison noted that Paramount is already consolidating Paramount+, Pluto TV and BET+ onto one shared technology platform, with completion expected by mid-2026. He indicated the same strategy would likely apply to HBO Max if the deal closes, emphasizing that expanded content and improved tech capabilities would help the company rival the industry’s largest players.

While the platforms may combine, Ellison stressed that the HBO brand itself would retain creative autonomy under CEO Casey Bloys, whose contract runs through 2027. “Casey and his team do absolutely a remarkable job at HBO,” Ellison said. “Our viewpoint is HBO should stay HBO. They built a phenomenal brand. They are a leader in the space, and we just want them to continue doing more of it. But by bringing the platforms together, all of our content will be able to reach even a broader audience than we can do standalone.” Details about pricing, branding or whether HBO Max would function as a standalone section within the new service have not yet been disclosed.

The merger follows a competitive bidding process. Netflix had previously pursued Warner Bros. Discovery’s assets, but ultimately stepped aside after Paramount increased its offer. Warner Bros. Discovery’s board deemed Paramount’s proposal the superior bid, clearing the path for the planned combination — pending regulatory review.

If approved, the unified platform would immediately rank among the largest streaming services globally, with more than 200 million subscribers, positioning Paramount and HBO to compete more directly with streaming heavyweights.

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The next chapter of ‘Peaky Blinders’ is officially headed to the big screen. The feature film, titled Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, will arrive in select theaters on March 6, 2026, before launching worldwide on Netflix on March 20.

A social post announced: “Academy Award winner Cillian Murphy returns as the legendary gypsy gangster Tommy Shelby in ‘Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man.’ In select theaters March 6 and on Netflix March 20.”

Directed by Tom Harper and written by series creator Steven Knight, the film continues the story following the show’s 2022 finale. Set in Birmingham in 1940 during World War II, the movie brings Tommy Shelby back from self-imposed exile for what’s described as an “epic continuation” of the saga. The official synopsis states: “Birmingham, 1940. Amidst the chaos of WWII, Tommy Shelby is driven back from a self-imposed exile to face his most destructive reckoning yet. With the future of the family and the country at stake, Tommy must face his own demons, and choose whether to confront his legacy, or burn it to the ground.”

Murphy reprises his BAFTA-winning role after portraying Tommy from 2013 to 2022. Joining him are Rebecca Ferguson, Tim Roth, Sophie Rundle, Barry Keoghan, Stephen Graham and Jay Lycurgo, along with returning cast members Ned Dennehy, Packy Lee and Ian Peck.

A newly released trailer shows Tommy returning home to find his son overseeing the remnants of his former criminal empire, alongside younger men who appear unfamiliar with the Shelby legacy. A teaser poster features Murphy’s bloodied Tommy on horseback, partially hidden beneath his signature cap against a misty backdrop.

The original Peaky Blinders debuted on BBC Two in 2013 before expanding globally via Netflix. The drama later moved to BBC One and earned a BAFTA for Best Drama Series. The story initially spanned 1919 to 1933.

Looking ahead, two additional six-episode sequel series have been ordered by Netflix and the BBC, set to begin in 1953 and follow the events of the film. Knight and Murphy will serve as executive producers.  In addition, the film’s soundtrack is also rolling out, with the single “Puppet” available now and the full album scheduled for release March 20, the same day the movie begins streaming.

See the trailer for Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man: HERE.

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The 32nd annual Actor Awards — the ceremony formerly known as the Screen Actors Guild Awards — were held on Sunday, streamed live on Netflix from Los Angeles’ Shrine Auditorium and hosted by returning emcee Kristen Bell.

‘Sinners’ emerged as the night’s biggest surprise winner, capturing Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture and throwing fresh suspense into the final stretch before the 98th Academy Awards. The Actor Awards are widely seen as a key predictor of Oscar momentum, which is what makes the victory for writer-director Ryan Coogler’s blues-infused vampire epic so significant. The film had been trailing behind Paul Thomas Anderson’s ‘One Battle After Another,’ which dominated much of awards season with wins at major ceremonies including the Golden Globes, BAFTAs, and guild awards.

With the win, Coogler made history as the first director to guide two films to the guild’s top ensemble honor, following his 2019 triumph for Black Panther. Accepting the ensemble prize, cast member Delroy Lindo told the crowd, “From the bottom of our hearts, to the bottom of your hearts, thank you so much for everything.”

The night brought another surprise when Michael B. Jordan claimed Best Male Actor for his dual performance in Sinners, beating out frontrunner Timothée Chalamet and fellow nominee Leonardo DiCaprio. A visibly stunned Jordan admitted, “I wasn’t expecting this at all,” before adding with a grin, “Yeah, man, this is pretty cool.”

Meanwhile, Jessie Buckley continued her strong awards-season run, winning Best Female Actor for Hamnet. Supporting honors went to Sean Penn for One Battle After Another and Amy Madigan for Weapons.

On the television side, Catherine O’Hara received a posthumous win for Best Female Actor in a Comedy Series for her role as a studio executive in The Studio. Co-creator and co-star Seth Rogen accepted on her behalf, remembering her generosity and creative brilliance.

The Studio also won Best Comedy Series Ensemble, while Rogen picked up Best Male Actor in a Comedy Series. In drama categories, The Pitt won ensemble honors, and Noah Wyle took Best Male Actor. Keri Russell earned Best Female Actor in a Drama Series for The Diplomat.

The night also celebrated Hollywood icon Harrison Ford, who received the SAG-AFTRA Life Achievement Award, presented with affectionate wit by Woody Harrelson. Reflecting on his decades-long career, Ford quipped, “I’m in a room with actors, many of whom are here because they’ve been nominated to receive a prize for their amazing work, while I’m here to receive a prize for being alive.” Calling the moment “the half point” of his journey, he grew emotional, later adding, “I’m indeed a lucky guy,” and expressing gratitude for a career that has continued to challenge and fulfill him.

For the full list of 2026 Actor Awards winners, head HERE.

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