Final Emmy Predictions: 'Hacks' Is Under Attack From 'Widow’s Bay,' But HBO May Get the Last Laugh

Welcome back, everyone, and thanks for sticking around. I know it’s a somber day today, with it being the 25th anniversary of 9/11, which I wrote about in yesterday’s newsletter.

It’s a tough day for a lot of people, and if anyone needs to talk, I’m available. It’s the least I can do after so many of you reached out this week with words of support, which I truly appreciated.

This weekend, I plan to cozy up with a good book and a screener for the new Ethan Hawke-Russell Crowe movie The Weight, which is higher on my list than the new Paul Greengrass movie The Uprising, now in theaters with mixed reviews. The latter film stars Andrew Garfield, who was aboard a plane full of industry peeps that had to make an emergency landing this week. Thank god everyone is alright…

I just wish I could say the same for The Human Centipede director Tom Six, who gave THR’s Gustavo Turner what he calls “the final interview” of his life as he succumbs to the pain of MS. I spent an afternoon with Six once, and I found his last words to be inspiring, as he goes off on the woke scolds who have become enemies of art. Who am I to argue with a dying man? Six came out of nowhere to make an indelible impression in the genre community, and I hope his final days are as comfortable as possible.

Sandra Bullock is looking comfortable at the box office, which is poised to have a new champ this weekend. WB’s Practical Magic 2 is looking at a $40 million weekend despite some rough reviews, but hey, that’s the power of Sandy, who has been dutifully playing the PR game in support of the sequel.

Speaking of PR games, though the Paramount-WB circus continues, there may be an end in sight, as California AG Rob Bonta has agreed to sit down and discuss a settlement with David Ellison’s lawyers next month. Again, I predict Paramount will prevail, no matter how much Netflix is posturing otherwise. The streamer announced this week that it will report box office, which is the latest step in Netflix’s not-so-secret quest to make its previously sworn enemy — movie theaters — part of its business strategy, as I wrote months ago when I saw the writing on the wall.

Elsewhere, there’s a report making the rounds about WB taking a “pause” on development of a planned Wonder Woman movie, which is plausible, due to both the pending Paramount-Skydance deal and Supergirl’s underperformance at the box office.

However, I wonder if it’s less a “pause” than a recalibration of sorts…

I still think there’s a way to make a Wonder Woman movie for a responsible number, and I think the answer is right there in the title. Whoever directs this movie needs to balance “wonder” with what makes this character distinctly feminine.

This movie needs to explore sisterhood and depict a world where women have each other’s backs. Who needs Mr. Terrific and Guy Gardner when you’ve got Mom on your side? This is a movie that needs to be grounded and show how the women in our lives — our mothers, sisters, wives, etc. — are the true superheroes. Because that theme is universal, and this version of Wonder Woman can’t simply be a variation on what we’ve seen before; it demands a unique take.

By the way, Being Heumann premiered at TIFF last night to warm, respectful reviews from critics, and its protagonist, Judy Heumann (played by real-life wheelchair user Ruth Madeley), is exactly the kind of character who should be backing up Wonder Woman, should she require her own version of a Justice Gang.

In a way, Heumann is Wonder Woman herself, for strength comes in many different shapes and sizes.

It’s not always about punching a villain through a building. Sometimes it’s about just getting out of bed in the morning, or facing a world that doesn’t want you in it and makes no accommodations for your existence.

I can’t wait to see Being Heumann this November, and regardless of when we see Wonder Woman’s next solo movie, I hope DC strives to think outside of the box, as there are real-life heroes among us, and Wonder Woman’s true power is one we all share — the ability to make a difference.

Anyway, the Emmy Awards are Monday evening, and the show will honor this year’s difference makers in the world of television.

Despite being known as a film guy, I watch as much TV as anyone, if not more, as I’m someone who is drawn to stories, regardless of the medium. I’m still reading books, people! I’m ancient.

As someone who ingests a fair amount of television each year, I have my thoughts about who is deserving and who isn’t, and for the most part, Emmy voters get things right. I’ve just never been that invested in the Emmys, because you get the same statue as a lead that you do for a seven-minute guest appearance.

There are just too many awards, too many categories, too many nominees, and, let’s face it, voters only watch a very narrow swath of shows, because they have busy lives. That’s how you get four or five nominees from the same show in one category — most voters watch the same shows they’re being told to watch, either by the trades, the almighty algorithm, or FYC consultants bombarding them with links and mailers.

Nonetheless, I am sharing my Final Emmy Predictions with my premium subscribers, just in case they want to head to Kalshi and place some bets — excuse me, make some predictions.

Have a great weekend, everyone, and may your favorite NFL team fare better than mine did in Week 1!

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