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Announcements, events and behind-the-scenes from across Art City's divisions. Like the stories you love and save them for later.

28 Oct 2026Casting

International Ensemble Joins Ritesh Batra's Project, and Heated Rivalry Actor Eyed for Ghost Rider Alongside Ryan Gosling

: Two new feature film casting updates have emerged:

Casting for Ritesh Batra's Film: Actors Saif Ali Khan, Vidya Balan, and Mélanie Laurent have officially joined the cast of director Ritesh Batra's upcoming feature film, highlighting a prominent cross-cultural collaboration between Indian and European cinema.
Ghost Rider Casting Talks: A lead actor from the series Heated Rivalry is currently in talks to join Ryan Gosling in the new Ghost Rider project, though the specific role remains unconfirmed and Marvel Studios has yet to issue an official statement.
Source: Film Casting Trade Reports

Casting

Oct 28, 2026

International Ensemble Joins Ritesh Batra's Project, and Heated Rivalry Actor Eyed for Ghost Rider Alongside Ryan Gosling

: Two new feature film casting updates have emerged: Casting for Ritesh Batra's Film: Actors Saif Ali Khan, Vidya Balan, and Mélanie Laurent have officially joined the cast of director Ritesh Batra's upcoming feature film, highlighting a prominent cross-cultural collaboration between Indian and European cinema. Ghost Rider Casting Talks: A lead actor from the series Heated Rivalry is currently in talks to join Ryan Gosling in the new Ghost Rider project, though the specific role remains unconfirmed and Marvel Studios has yet to issue an official statement. Source: Film Casting Trade Reports

Marketing

Oct 28, 2026

The New Marketing Revolution; AI No Longer Just Creates Ads, It Decides Where to Spend Your Money!

A new shift is happening in the digital advertising market. Until now, most conversations about artificial intelligence in marketing revolved around creating text, images, videos, and creative content. However, Stagwell has taken another step. The company acquired Freestar; an ad-tech company that works with publishers and digital agencies to manage and sell their ad inventory. Over the past ten years, Freestar has helped publishers generate over $1 billion in revenue and works with renowned entities like Boston Globe Media and Fortune Media. Now, Stagwell wants to integrate Freestar's capabilities into its own artificial intelligence media system. This system operates autonomously and via agents; meaning artificial intelligence doesn't just analyze data and offer recommendations, but it can actually be part of the decision-making process and execution of buying ad space. Simply put, artificial intelligence is becoming more involved in answering these questions: Which customer? Which ad placement? Which channel? And how can the ad reach that person in the most efficient way? This is the crucial point of the news. Because the first phase of artificial intelligence in marketing was: «Help me create an ad.» But the new phase is heading towards: «Decide who, where, and how this ad should be shown.» This means artificial intelligence is transitioning from a content creation assistant to a decision-making system. For marketing professionals, this is also a significant shift; because in the future, their capability won't just lie in creating good content, but in the ability to set the objectives, data, rules, and boundaries for these intelligent agents that will take over part of the publishing decisions. Artificial intelligence isn't just changing how ads are created; it's changing how decisions about ads are made.

Music

Oct 28, 2026

Universal Music Group Explores Going Private, and PRS for Music Partners with Soundtrack for Accurate Royalty Distributions

Two major updates have emerged regarding music industry finance and royalty precision: Universal Music Group Private Buyout Talks: On October 26, 2026, Reuters and Bloomberg reported that UMG held preliminary discussions with major private equity firms including Apollo, TPG, and Blackstone regarding a potential take-private transaction, though no formal process or deal has been initiated. PRS for Music Royalty Tracking Upgrade: UK collection society PRS for Music signed a licensing deal with business streaming platform Soundtrack. Starting in December 2026, the deal enables actual-use music reporting across nearly 7,000 commercial venues (retail, hotels, public spaces) to improve royalty allocation accuracy for songwriters and publishers. Source: Reuters / Bloomberg & Digital Music News / PRS for Music

Extraction 3 Wraps Filming, Paramount+ Announces Australian Production, and Long Years Ago Begins Shooting in India

Productions

Oct 28, 2026

Extraction 3 Wraps Filming, Paramount+ Announces Australian Production, and Long Years Ago Begins Shooting in India

Three major film and television production updates have been officially announced: Extraction 3 Wraps Photography: Principal photography on Netflix's Extraction 3, starring Chris Hemsworth, has wrapped in Thailand and moved into post-production. Directed by Sam Hargrave and co-starring Pierce Brosnan and Don Lee, the feature is slated for a 2027 release. Paramount+ Australian Series Announcement: Paramount+ Australia revealed a new project titled Sam Kerr Kicking Goals. Co-produced with Screenwest and Orange Entertainment, production starts in early 2027, bringing over A$5 million in economic impact and creating 130 local jobs. Long Years Ago Begins Filming in Mumbai: Production has kicked off for director Ritesh Batra's period family drama Long Years Ago in Mumbai. The project features an international cast including Mélanie Laurent, Saif Ali Khan, and Vidya Balan, produced by Jio Studios and Good Chaos. Source: Official Press Releases from Netflix, Paramount+, and Production Trades

Netflix reports box office figures for the first time with La Bola Negra release

Distribution

Oct 28, 2026

Netflix reports box office figures for the first time with La Bola Negra release

The streaming service posted a four-screen opening weekend gross of $277,500 for the Cannes-awarded Spanish drama ahead of planned box office reporting on further major cinema titles. Netflix has published theatrical grosses for the first time in company history, revealing that Spanish-language period drama La Bola Negra collected $277,500 across four cinemas in New York and Los Angeles during its opening weekend. The limited release generated an average of $69,375 per screen following its cinema premiere on October 16. Directed by Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi, known collectively as Los Javis, the film features an ensemble cast led by Penélope Cruz and Glenn Close alongside Guitarricadelafuente, Miguel Bernardeau, Carlos González, and Milo Quifes. Partially inspired by unfinished writings from poet Federico García Lorca, the plot spans three distinct timelines set in 1932, 1937, and 2017 to explore identity and repression among gay men across generations in Spain. The feature was mounted on a reported production budget between $15m and $17m, with Netflix acquiring US rights for approximately $5m after the Cannes Film Festival, where Calvo and Ambrossi won the Best Director prize. Under the current schedule, the title will stream globally on December 2, granting it an extended run in cinemas before arriving on the platform. The disclosure marks an operational departure for Netflix, which has historically declined to share ticket sales while limiting theatrical windows. The company reportedly intends to report box office figures for select upcoming cinematic releases, including David Fincher's The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth, Danny Boyle's Ink, Peter Berg's The Mosquito Bowl, Greta Gerwig's Narnia: The Magician's Nephew, and an animated adaptation of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Source: tribune.com.pk

Charli XCX Lands Cameo in What Happens at Night, and Sam Nivola & Nico Parker Join Grandgear

Casting

Oct 27, 2026

Charli XCX Lands Cameo in What Happens at Night, and Sam Nivola & Nico Parker Join Grandgear

Two new film casting announcements have surfaced in production trades: Casting for What Happens at Night: Musician Charli XCX has landed a cameo role in the gothic feature What Happens at Night, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence (role details and release date remain unannounced). Casting for Grandgear: Actors Sam Nivola and Nico Parker have joined the upcoming film project Grandgear, associated with director Takashi Yamazaki and planned for a 2028 release. Source: Official Film Casting Trade Reports

UK and Ireland theatrical release calendar details major 2025 studio dates

Distribution

Oct 27, 2026

UK and Ireland theatrical release calendar details major 2025 studio dates

Updated theatrical schedules outline competitive box office windows across 2025 as major Hollywood studios align tentpole rollouts alongside independent titles and event cinema. The theatrical calendar across the UK and Ireland has laid out major film dates for 2025, detailing wide releases from Hollywood studios alongside specialized distributor titles. According to an updated tracking schedule compiled by Screen Daily, the year features key studio franchise launches, including Disney titles such as Captain America: Brave New World, Lilo & Stitch, and The Fantastic Four: First Steps, alongside Warner Bros. rollouts of Mickey 17, A Minecraft Movie, and Superman. The summer corridor is set to deliver high-profile theatrical competition with Universal launching Jurassic World Rebirth in early July, followed by Sony releasing 28 Years Later and I Know What You Did Last Summer, while Paramount fields Mission Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part Two and Smurfs. Specialty and independent players have secured substantial space throughout the calendar, with Curzon, Mubi, Studiocanal, and Altitude dating releases alongside theatrical platforms from EFD and Black Bear, highlighted by upcoming autumn debuts like Universal's Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale and Bugonia. The territory's slate also demonstrates continued exhibition demand for event cinema and catalog programming, with Trafalgar booking music and stage events including BTS concerts and Royal Opera House broadcasts, alongside repertory screenings from Park Circus and the BFI. Source: Screen Daily

Music

Oct 27, 2026

US Board Rules on Phono V Discovery, and Musixmatch Acquires Music Reports

Two major updates have emerged regarding copyright regulation and music rights management: Copyright Royalty Board Ruling: The US CRB has granted streaming platforms including Spotify and Apple access to confidential financial documents and analyses related to the Phono V proceeding (which sets mechanical royalty rates for songwriters from 2028 to 2032), subject to strict confidentiality. Musixmatch Acquires Music Reports: On October 19, 2026, Musixmatch announced its first-ever acquisition by purchasing US-based Music Reports. The deal brings proprietary systems like Songdex and Blokur under Musixmatch's umbrella to streamline song data, rights ownership, and royalty distribution in the streaming and AI era. Source: Digital Music News / Copyright Royalty Board & Music Business Worldwide / The Music Ninja

Lionsgate Secures $100M Funding Partnership, Skydance Initiates Cost-Cutting Measures, and Netflix Begins Filming The Whisper of Fire in Spain

Productions

Oct 27, 2026

Lionsgate Secures $100M Funding Partnership, Skydance Initiates Cost-Cutting Measures, and Netflix Begins Filming The Whisper of Fire in Spain

Three major updates have emerged across film finance, studio management, and television production: Lionsgate's $100M Partnership: Lionsgate has announced a new $100 million partnership with SP Media (led by Steven Paul) to fund and produce independent films, with Lionsgate retaining distribution rights and majority control. Skydance Cost-Cutting Program: Following its massive acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery for $110 billion, Skydance has launched a $6 billion, three-year cost-reduction program featuring voluntary exit packages for its workforce and a mandatory 5-day in-office work policy. Production Begins on The Whisper of Fire: Netflix has kicked off shooting for a new 4-episode crime-thriller series The Whisper of Fire in Madrid and Tenerife. Based on Javier Castillo's novel, the project is produced by Atípica Producciones and stars Inma Cuesta. Source: Official Studio & Platform Press Releases

Usage Alone Isn't Enough; Why Can Only 15% of Marketers Prove the ROI of AI?

Marketing

Oct 27, 2026

Usage Alone Isn't Enough; Why Can Only 15% of Marketers Prove the ROI of AI?

«The marketing challenge is no longer whether or not to use Artificial Intelligence, but rather: How do we prove that our use of AI has created real value for our business?» Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer just a futuristic technology for marketers; it has become an inseparable part of their daily workflow. According to Nielsen’s Annual Marketing Report for 2026, 98% of marketers are actively using AI. Its applications range from data analysis and performance measurement to creative production, media planning, and predictive forecasting. However, alongside this sky-high adoption rate, there is another metric that makes the story much more intriguing: Only 15% of marketers can actually tie the costs of their AI-driven discovery and implementation to a measurable Return on Investment (ROI). Nielsen’s data reveals that nearly 68% of marketers use AI for measurement and analytics, over three-fifths use it for creative production and media optimization, and 57% use it for predictive forecasting. This signifies that AI is rapidly infiltrating the entire marketing value chain. What is the critical lesson for marketers? The lesson is clear: Simply using Artificial Intelligence is no longer a "Competitive Advantage" on its own. When almost everyone (98%) is using AI, the true differentiator between brands lies in who can use this technology better, smarter, and with more measurable results. In the first phase, everyone’s primary concern was: «How do we use AI?» Now, we are entering the next, more crucial phase, where the central question is: «How do we prove that AI actually creates value and drives profit?»

Nigeria partners with China Film Administration on licensing and anti-piracy

Distribution

Oct 26, 2026

Nigeria partners with China Film Administration on licensing and anti-piracy

The cross-border initiative between the NFVCB and China Film Administration establishes shared classification standards while delivering digital archiving technology transfer to Nigerian regulators. Nigeria’s National Film and Video Censors Board has launched a bilateral regulatory initiative alongside the China Film Administration to curb unauthorized distribution and streamline content licensing. Under the agreement, the two bodies will establish mutual co-classification standards and facilitate technological transfer to support digital archiving infrastructure for Nigerian film authorities. Source: leadership.ng

Actors Sought for Neo-Noir Romance Project and Feature-Length Horror-Action Film

Casting

Oct 26, 2026

Actors Sought for Neo-Noir Romance Project and Feature-Length Horror-Action Film

Two new casting calls have been issued for upcoming film projects: Neo-Noir Romance Short: A 6-minute neo-noir romantic project is seeking two actors aged 20–45 for the roles of Nin and Leo (local residency and participation eligibility must be verified). Horror-Action Feature: A feature-length horror-action film is casting Canadian female actors aged 18–30 for the lead role, with principal photography scheduled for November 2–9. Source: Official Casting Calls & Production Trade Announcements

$41M Lawsuit Filed Against Anthropic, and AFM Launches Human Made, Human Paid Campaign

Music

Oct 26, 2026

$41M Lawsuit Filed Against Anthropic, and AFM Launches Human Made, Human Paid Campaign

Two key updates have emerged regarding copyright litigation and artist representation in the AI era: $41 Million Lawsuit Against Anthropic: On October 23, 2026, rights holders for 274 Elvis Presley songs filed a federal lawsuit seeking up to $41 million in damages ($150,000 per song) against Anthropic for using song lyrics in AI model training without authorization. AFM's AI Rights Campaign: The American Federation of Musicians (AFM) launched its Human Made, Human Paid campaign, advocating for musician consent, credit, and fair compensation in AI licensing deals as record labor contract talks resume on November 3, 2026. Source: Los Angeles Times / Pitchfork & AFM Official Announcement

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