04-21-2026 Daily Edition

April 21, 2026 Print ‘Project Hail Mary’: How Ryan Gosling’s Box Office Hit and Marketing Marvel Made Amazon MGM the Surprise Studio Star of CinemaCon Theaters were dubious a year ago as to Amazon MGM Studios’ commitment to theatrical. This year, the mood was far different amid the jaw-dropping box office success of 'Project Hail Mary' following a marketing feat of galactic proportion that Gosling played a lead role in shaping. Ryan Gosling, an integral part of the marketing campaign for 'Project Hail Mary' thanking theaters April 15 in Las Vegas. David Becker/Getty Images for CinemaCon A year ago, Ryan Gosling — coming off his role as Ken in 2023’s Barbie — turned up in Las Vegas for Amazon MGM Studios ‘ first official presentation at CinemaCon , sharing footage of Project Hail Mary , a film adaptation of Andy Weir’s novel about a geeky and but witty high-school teacher who finds himself hurtling through space on a mission to stop the sun from dimming and destroying life everywhere. Along the way, he meets a craggy alien he names “Rocky.” The dream team behind the sleeper hit movie — as of April 19, it had already passed up the entire domestic runs of Dune: Part II and Gravity with more than $285 million in domestic sales and nearly $600 million globally — includes directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, screenwriter Drew Goddard, who adapted Weir’s The Martian for Fox, Amazon MGM’s film head Courtenay Valenti, who had spent years at Warner Bros ., and Amazon Studios’ head of global marketing Sue Kroll, also a Warners’ alum. With the drastic consolidation facing the Hollywood studio system, virtually all of the chatter heading into this year’s CinemaCon was focused on David Ellison’s audacious bid to buy Warner Bros. Discovery after he had barely been anointed the new owner of Paramount in August 2025. (Warner Bros. is leaps and bounds ahead of Paramount in terms of the scope of its slate after Paramount suffered from years of financial neglect.) But it was instead Amazon MGM that turned into a surprise studio star of CinemaCon, including when Gosling, the conquering hero, made a surprise appearance alongside Lord and Miler to thank theater owners for supporting Hail Mary . Gosling handed a bouquet of flowers and a thank-you card to a woman in the audience to pass around. Ryan Gosling and Project Hail Mary filmmakers Chris Miller and Phil Lord thank theater owners at CinemaCon 2026. Ethan Miller/Getty Images “In fact, tonight Amazon is doing more than talking about their commitment to theatrical – they’re honoring it by extending the exclusive theatrical window for Project Hail Mary ,” he said. “This is something that was important to all of us as filmmakers, too.” He had already more than endeared himself to theater owners going into the convention. A month ago, Gosling made another surprise appearance, this time at a Saturday viewing of Project Hail Mary in New York City where he said Hollywood must stop blaming cinema operators and do a better job of making movies people want to see. The comments went viral, in another testament to his marketing instincts. While the Disney, Universal and Warners presentations were widely praised, insiders lauded Amazon MGM as it becomes a full-fledged major studio. “The fact that Amazon MGM showed up for the second year in a row is great news for the industry,” says one studio chief. The headlines generated by Gosling’s appearance at CinemaCon have already paid off. Part of Hail Mary ‘s extended run included bringing the film back to Imax screens. After CinemaCon wrapped on April 16, over the April 17-19 weekend, Hail Mary fell only 15 percent in its fifth weekend, earning an estimated $20.4 million for a domestic cume of $285 million and a staggering $573.1 million globally. It was expected to fall at least 20 percent over the weekend, and even that would have been good. “As I say to our team constantly, our ambition for theatrical film is in the top half of the first inning. Project Hail Mary is just the beginning. While some of our competitors have dipped their toes in and out of the theatrical waters, for us, this isn’t a test or an experiment. Our commitment to release at least 15 films every year into your theaters is on schedule,” Mike Hopkins , head of Prime Video & Amazon MGM Studios told exhibitors at CinemaCon. “And to support that commitment, we are building an international distribution organization – one we hope to have up and running later this year.” To that end, Amazon has hired Helen Moss, a former longtime international executive at Paramount Pictures. Once the foreign operation is in place, Amazon MGM will become the first new major Hollywood studio in decades (the ability to release a title around the globe without assistance from a third-party is what separates a major from a mini-major, such as Lionsgate). On the other side of the aisle, Kevin Wilson — another veteran studio exec — heads up domestic distribution. Mike Hopkins , head of Prime Video & Amazon MGM Studios, addresses exhibitors at CinemaCon 2026. Greg Doherty/Getty Images for Amazon MGM Studios Hail Mary has been a boon in particular for the domestic box office, which was lagging badly earlier in the year, putting additional pressure on tried-and-true franchises to do all the work in making larger agins, such as The Super Mario Galaxy movie, which opened a few weeks after Hail Mary . Comscore chief box office analyst Paul Dergarabedian says the film and rollout “will be viewed as a textbook example” of how to harness the power of both a legacy studio (MGM) and a modern streamer (Amazon), calling it “a blueprint on how to make these two seemingly opposing worlds be complementary.” That’s not to say that every Amazon release has been a win at the box office. Earlier this year, both Mercy and Crime 101 underperformed. Gosling was a hands-on creative leader and partner throughout the Hail Mary campaign, and observers note it worked because there was an inherent alignment between Gosling’s persona and the film itself. “His humor, intelligence, and understated charisma are embedded in the DNA of the film,” notes one rival studio executive. Touted Kroll from the CinemaCon stage, “We’ve assembled a team with deep, legacy studio experience—many of whom you know well—leaders who have spent their careers launching films theatrically at the highest level. That expertise is now applied with a singular focus: not just releasing films, but championing each one with the care, rigor, and creativity it deserves.” Read on for Hail Mary ‘s marketing tactics, which included press tours to London, Paris and Mexico city, as well as press junkets at science-centric locations such as JPL and Griffith Observatory. The Fox sweater worn by Gosling’s character, Ryland Grace, in Project Hail Mary has become a viral sensation among knitting enthusiasts and is a modified version of a famous vintage Wolf pattern sold by the family owned yarns & crafts company Mary Maxim. Jonathan Olley/Amazon Content Services *Created shareable moments driven by Gosling, including his SNL hosting gig and a La La Land spoof. There was also the “Ryan Gosling Believes in the Hail Mary” viral video series also featured Gosling completing impossible Hail Marys including throwing a football through Randy’s Donuts sign in L.A. (over 10 million views) and nailing a Final Jeopardy question (50 million views) *Gosling recorded a promotional video during the NFL NFC Championship game highlighting the concept of the Hail Mary in sports and life, and made the rounds on numerous talk shows. Movie themed stunts included celebrating an audience full of teachers; a Happy Birthday school band salute to his wife, Eva Mendes, and a Harry Styles’ surprise pop-up (the Styles song “Sign of the Times” is featured in the movie). * Partnered with NASA, sports, faith and family, multicultural, and science/tech communities for screenings, and targeted multicultural engagement anchored by HBCU-focused programming with Spelman College’s speech & debate team. *Integrations across the Super Bowl, NBA All-Star Game, and Winter Olympics, coordinated global light shows in Taipei, Toronto, and Berlin. *Deployed creator initiatives including “Sun is Dying” hoax pranks, fan edit campaigns, and YouTube ads led by Cleo Abram; trailer fan edits and BookTok activations. Apple CEO Tim Cook Will Step Down, John Ternus Named New Leader The change may have a real impact on Hollywood as the tech giant has become a major player through its Apple TV platform. Tim Cook Photo by Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images Apple CEO Tim Cook is stepping aside at the tech giant, shifting to a new role as executive chairman. John Ternus will succeed him as the company’s new CEO. Apple announced the change Monday, with the transition set to take effect Sep. 1. Ternus is senior VP of hardware engineering for Apple. Cook isn’t leaving, of course, Apple says that in his new role he “will assist with certain aspects of the company, including engaging with policymakers around the world.” Art Levinson, currently Apple’s non-executive chairman, will become its lead independent director in connection with the change, and Ternus will also join the board. “It has been the greatest privilege of my life to be the CEO of Apple and to have been trusted to lead such an extraordinary company. I love Apple with all of my being, and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with a team of such ingenious, innovative, creative, and deeply caring people who have been unwavering in their dedication to enriching the lives of our customers and creating the best products and services in the world,” said Cook. The exec added of his successor:“John Ternus has the mind of an engineer, the soul of an innovator, and the heart to lead with integrity and with honor. He is a visionary whose contributions to Apple over 25 years are already too numerous to count, and he is without question the right person to lead Apple into the future. I could not be more confident in his abilities and his character, and I look forward to working closely with him on this transition and in my new role as executive chairman.” The change may have a real impact on Hollywood: Apple has become a major player through its Apple TV platform, releasing original movies and TV shows and pouring investment into the space. Services like Apple TV have been one of Cook’s focus points, with the company noting that services are now a $100 billion-plus business. Ternus comes from the hardware world, and could have different priorities. That is still to-be-determined. “Tim’s unprecedented and outstanding leadership has transformed Apple into the world’s best company. He’s introduced groundbreaking products and services time and again, and his integrity and values are infused into everything Apple does,” added Levinson. “On behalf of the entire board of directors, we are incredibly grateful for his countless contributions to Apple and the world, and we are thrilled he will now be executive chairman. We believe John is the best possible leader to succeed Tim and as he transitions to CEO we know his love of Apple, his leadership, deep technical knowledge, and relentless focus on creating great products will help lead Apple to an extraordinary future.” “I am profoundly grateful for this opportunity to carry Apple’s mission forward,” said Ternus. “Having spent almost my entire career at Apple, I have been lucky to have worked under Steve Jobs and to have had Tim Cook as my mentor. It has been a privilege to help shape the products and experiences that have changed so much of how we interact with the world and with one another. I am filled with optimism about what we can achieve in the years to come, and I am so happy to know that the most talented people on earth are here at Apple, determined to be part of something bigger than any one of us. I am humbled to step into this role, and I promise to lead with the values and vision that have come to define this special place for half a century.” Cook, of course, succeeded Apple founder Steve Jobs as the company’s CEO in 2011, growing its market cap from $350 billion to $4 trillion, and more than quadrupling its revenue. Could Coachella’s Star-Studded Weekend Two Shift Demand Next Year? Many acts saved their biggest moments for their second shows this year, with Madonna joining Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Rodrigo surprising during Addison Rae’s show and Justin Bieber bringing up Billie Eilish and SZA. Madonna performs with Sabrina Carpenter at Coachella on Friday, April 17, 2026. Kevin Mazur/Getty Images Coachella ’s weekend one attendees may enjoy some more of the buzz for being there first, but at least in 2026, it was weekend two festivalgoers who came away with the bragging rights, as artists stashed many of their most-memorable moments and star-studded cameos for their second performances in the desert this go around. Over the weekend, Olivia Rodrigo came out for Addison Rae’s set to debut her new single “Drop Dead.” PinkPantheress brought out Zara Larsson, Chase Infiniti, Slayyyter and KATSEYE’s Manon during her show. Madonna shocked the crowd for Sabrina Carpenter’s set as the two superstars played several songs including a debut from Madonna’s upcoming Confessions II . Justin Bieber — who brought out Tems, Wizkid and Mk.gee last week — invited Billie Eilish and SZA this past Saturday. And Karol G, whose weekend one set featured Becky G and Cigarettes after Sex, closed out the weekend with surprise appearances from J Balvin and Peso Pluma. It’s a pattern that could shift some perception around Coachella and bring some parity around a festival where much of the attention is typically around weekend one. “Genuinely believe that the combination of Bieber bringing up Billie Eilish and Sabrina bringing up Madonna in two of the coolest full circle moments ever will shift the balance of power at Coachella from Weekend 1 to Weekend 2 next year,” Nathan Hubbard, CEO of music company Firebird and a former head of Ticketmaster, wrote on Threads on Sunday. Eilish with Bieber on Saturday, April 18, 2026 at Coachella. Kevin Mazur/Getty Images Surprise appearances have become all but expected on the Coachella stage, both because of its growing status as a near Super Bowl-level production thanks to its popular YouTube Stream, as well as its proximity to Los Angeles, which has a near-unlimited supply of A-list talent that can drive down for the day to join in for a few songs. Saving the guest performances for weekend two works on several levels. Most obviously, it keeps the sets fresh after starting the whole weekend over again. Between the onslaught of media on site for weekend one, combined with millions who’d already tuned in to the livestream the previous weekend, it’s easy for the bigger sets to feel a bit old hat by weekend two, especially as the sets don’t deviate too much between weekends. A big surprise guest is perhaps the easiest way to add some novelty back into the show. Then of course, there’s the crowd dynamic. Whether or not it’s warranted, the reputation around Coachella’s first weekend practically is almost as synonymous with influencers and brand activations as it is with music at this point, while weekend two is often looked at as a more casual affair where the music fans actually go. Even if content creators make up a small percentage of the first weekend’s attendees, their presence does become a defining part of the culture for those shows. In saving their marquee moments for weekend two, artists could be looking to make a statement and reward those fans, rather than give it to those who are paid to attend a week prior. As Hubbard wrote: “Combined with all the influencer bs last week, this year it’s clear: W1 is for the brands, W2 is for the fans.” Regardless of why, Coachella is likely welcoming such a trend toward weekend two. The festival only stands to benefit if both weekends are viewed with equal levels of prestige and anticipation, something only made easier if the shows are differentiated and can generate their own unique excitement. Whatever the case, there’s likely plenty of weekend one festivalgoers who may be regretting not going for the second show instead. Whether that would suggest any level of prioritization for W2 next year remains to be seen. At least for now, Coachella confirmed tickets for the 2027 festival will go on sale on May 1. Weekend 2 tickets start at $549, $50 cheaper than ones for weekend one. Patrick Muldoon, ‘Starship Troopers,’ ‘Melrose Place’ and ‘Days of Our Lives’ Actor, Dies at 57 He had two stints as the heartthrob Austin Reed on the long-running NBC soap. Patrick Muldoon Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images Patrick Muldoon , the veteran actor who starred in the cult film Starship Troopers as well as on the TV shows Days of Our Lives and Melrose Place , has died. He was 57. Muldoon died Sunday of a heart attack at the Beverly Hills home he shared with his girlfriend, TMZ reported . Muldoon’s four-decade acting career was peppered with roles that alternated between playing heartthrobs, or cads, and sometimes even caddish heartthrobs. Born in San Pedro, California, on Sept. 27, 1968, Muldoon attended Loyola High School in Los Angeles and then USC, where he studied English and communications, graduating in 1991. He played football in high school and for the Trojans. At college and after graduating he also did some modeling. After being noticed by a talent scout, Muldoon won his first TV part on ABC’s Who’s the Boss? in 1990. He followed that with a brief recurring role on NBC’s popular teen sitcom Saved by the Bell in 1991. His big break came the following year when he won the part of Austin Reed on the long-running NBC soap opera Days of Our Lives . From left: Patrick Muldoon with ‘Melrose Place’ co-star Daphne Zuniga and with ‘Days of Our Lives’ castmate Christie Clark. Everett Collection On Days of Our Lives , Muldoon portrayed the heartthrob Reed, a nice guy who had a long-running fan favorite relationship with Christie Clark’s Carrie. He reprised the role in the Days of Our Lives telefilms Night Sins (1993) and Winter Heat (1994). After a long absence, he returned as Reed from 2011-12. (Austin Peck also played Reed in the 1990s and sporadically in the 2000s and 2010s.) From nice guy Reed, Muldoon moved on to play the rakish criminal Richard Hart on Fox’s popular 1990s primetime soap Melrose Place. He joined the show during the third season in 1995 and was there until his character’s death in season five. From left: Casper Van Dien, Patrick Muldoon and Denise Richards in ‘Starship Troopers.’ Everett Collection Muldoon’s most memorable film role was the cocky pilot Zander Barcalow in Paul Verhoeven’s cult 1997 sci-fi action film Starship Troopers . Zander was the obnoxious rival to Casper Van Dien’s Johnny Rico, and he openly pursued Rico’s girlfriend, Carmen Ibanez (Denise Richards). Securing his place in pop culture, Zander meets an iconic death in the film, yelling at the alien Brain Bug, “One day, someone like me is going to kill you and your whole fucking race !” before he has his brain sucked out. Muldoon’s other film credits included Rupert Wainwright’s Stigmata (1999), John Hough’s Bad Karma (2001) and James Fargo’s Born to Ride (2011), on which he co-starred with Van Dien. On TV, he was a prolific star of telefilms, including the titles Chain of Command (2000), Project Viper (2002) and A Boyfriend for Christmas (2004). Survivors include his partner, Miriam Rothbart, and his sister, Shana Muldoon-Zappa (she’s married to Frank Zappa’s son Ahmet).