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Tom Cruise made a rare public outing with his son Connor for a 'Mission Impossible' event in New York

• Tom Cruise and his son Connor made a rare public appearance together in New York on Saturday.
• The two were photographed on their way to an event for Cruise's new "Mission Impossible" film.
• Cruise shares two children with ex Nicole Kidman: 28-year-old Connor, and 30-year-old Isabella.

Tom Cruise made a rare public appearance with his son Connor in New York on Saturday, and Cruise's older sister also tagged along for the outing. 

According to Entertainment Tonight's Jackie Willis , Cruise, Connor, and Cruise's sister Lee Mapother were photographed heading to an event at the AMC movie theater in Times Square on Saturday. The event was reportedly to promote Cruise's new film "Mission Impossible — Dead Reckoning." 

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Photos obtained by Entertainment Tonight show Cruise in a black collared shirt, dark-wash jeans, and sunglasses, while Connor was seen in a gray polo, jeans, and sneakers. 

Cruise shares Connor, 28, with his ex-wife Nicole Kidman. The couple, who were married from 1990 to 2001 , also adopted 30-year-old Isabella.

Isabella and Connor have both kept a lower profile in recent years, but Connor and Cruise were spotted at a Los Angeles Dodgers game in 2013. 

Like their father, both Connor and Isabella are Scientologists , at least according to a 2018 interview Kidman did with Australian magazine Who. 

"They have made choices to be Scientologists, and, as a mother, it's my job to love them," Kidman said in the interview . "And I am an example of that tolerance and that's what I believe — that no matter what your child does, the child has love and the child has to know there is available love and I'm open here."

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Connor Cruise: Tom Cruise's 'incredibly loyal' and 'very well-liked' son lives a low key life

L OS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Tom Cruise , the Hollywood superstar, is said to have an unwavering pillar of support in his son, Connor Cruise.

Corner was the second child adopted during Cruise's marriage to Nicole Kidman on January 17, 1995, shortly after his birth after Bella Kidman Cruise, now 31, who was adopted on December  22, 1992.

Connor, now 29, leads a quiet life in Florida. Despite his low-profile lifestyle, he often accompanies his father on promotional tours worldwide, reflecting his "incredible loyalty" to his father, reports Daily Mail.

Connor Cruise's  life away from the limelight

Connor reportedly chose to live with Tom following his parents' divorce in 2001. Raised in the Church of Scientology, Connor and his sister, Bella, maintain a close relationship with their father.

However, their relationship with their mother, Nicole Kidman, appears strained as they have not been seen in public with her since 2007.

Connor lives in Clearwater, Florida, within a Scientology community, dedicating much of his time to fishing.

"Connor has a pretty simple life in Clearwater," a source told People in 2018, adding "He lives in his own home in a Scientology community. His life is deep-sea fishing. He has a lot of friends and seems very well-liked."

Tom Cruise's son Corner Cruise has a passion for fishing and love for music

Connor's Instagram account gives a glimpse into his life where he occasionally posts pictures of his impressive catches.

He also runs a separate account dedicated to his barbecuing business, Connor's Meatshack.

An avid deep-sea fisherman, Connor attributes this passion to his travels with his parents during childhood.

"We used to go fishing a lot when I was a little kid," he told People in 2016. "I was blessed to travel the world as a young kid and now I'm traveling the world working," he added.

Connor Cruise's close bond with Tom Cruise and sister Bella Cruise 

Despite his modest lifestyle in Florida, Connor remains incredibly close to his father, Tom, and has been spotted in public with the Hollywood titan as recently as last summer.

In July 2023, Connor was seen alongside his aunt, Tom Cruise's sister Lee Ann, supporting him in New York during the promotional tour for the latest 'Mission Impossible' film.

He also maintains a close relationship with his sister Bella who lives in London with her IT manager husband.

As for his relationship with his mother, Nicole Kidman, Connor appears not to interact with her in public and does not follow her on Instagram.

It has previously been reported that, although Kidman and Cruise were awarded joint custody of the children in their divorce settlement, Connor and Bella chose to live with their father and remain members of Scientology.

Nicole Kidman's Life Time achievement award and absence of adopted children 

Nicole Kidman received a Lifetime Achievement Award on April 27, from the American Film Institute.

Kidman was accomplished by her husband, Keith Urban, and their daughters -- Sunday Rose, 15, and Faith Margaret, 13 -- in a rare red carpet appearance at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.

Expressing her excitement she told ET, that she was happy to be joined by her girls, who "are old enough now to be able to come and know what this is" and also called them "loves of her life."  However, Bella and Corner did not attend it.

Connor tied the knot with his Italian partner, Silvia Zanchi, in a Scientology ceremony in 2019, with his mother conspicuously missing from the event.

While Bella expressed appreciation for her mother's Instagram post about the gong by liking it, Connor did not publicly recognize his mother's achievement.

Despite reported rifts, Nicole has expressed her unconditional love for Connor and Bella, even though they've chosen to be Scientologists. "I know 150 percent that I would give up my life for my children because it's what my purpose is," she told The Hollywood Reporter in 2018.

"They have made choices to be Scientologists and as a mother, it's my job to love them," she said. 

Is the Church of Scientology the reason for Nicole Kidman being distant from her elder children?

The church of Scientology may be the reason for the distance between Nicole and her older children as Daily Mail noted. 

It cited ex-Scientology member Leah Remini's book 'Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology' which claims that Nicole was labeled a "suppressive person" by the church after leaving.

Also noting, Ron Miscavige, father of Scientology leader David, has spoken about the "toxic" policy of "disconnection" within the church.

When Connor got married in a Scientology ceremony, Nicole was notably absent due to her status as a "suppressive person."

Connor himself has denied any rift with his mother, noting their strong bond. In Connor's words, "I don't care what people say. I know that me and mum are solid. I love her a lot. My family means everything," he said in 2014.

Inside Connor Cruise's Life Today

Tom Cruise's children with ex Nicole Kidman, Isabella and Connor Cruise, have led a relatively quiet(er) life ever since Tom's daughter with Katie Holmes, Suri Cruise , came along. Adopted by Cruise and Kidman respectively in 1992 and 1995, per Page Six , Isabella and Connor were frequently seen by the erstwhile couple's side during their 11-year marriage .

Ever since June 2006, when Kidman married country crooner Keith Urban, however, the "Nine Perfect Strangers" star has not been photographed with either of her eldest two children, per Australia's Now To Love . (She also shares daughters Faith and Sunday with Urban.) That may have something to do with Connor and Isabella — now ages 26 and 28, respectively — staying with their father Tom after their parents' divorce in 2001 (via News.com.au ). As Kidman clarified to the Aussie news outlet, the kids remaining with Tom "was their choice." She added, I'd love them to live with us, but what can you do?" 

Nonetheless, Kidman appears up-to-date on Isabella's current affairs, as she resides in England with husband Max Parker. In 2019, Kidman gave  Vanity Fair in 2019 some insight into how "Bella" was navigating married life across the pond. "Bella lives just outside London. You know, she really feels more English," Kidman mused, noting that her daughter's first exposure to England came as a child when the family filmed such classics as Stanley Kubrick's 1999 "Eyes Wide Shut" and the first "Mission Impossible" installment.

With Bella enjoying wedded bliss far removed from Hollywood, what is younger brother Connor up to these days? 

Connor Cruise spends most of his time in the water

While Isabella Cruise, daughter to Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise, has lived in London since 2017 with husband Max Parker, per the Daily Mail , her younger bro, Connor Cruise, has been residing in Clearwater, Florida, developing a passion for deep-sea fishing and deejaying gigs. The location is opportune for Connor, as it not only boasts the perfect fisherman's waters, but also the headquarters for the Church of Scientology (of which Connor is a member, per  People ).

A quick scan of Connor's Instagram page shows the 26-year-old frequently flaunting his epic catches of the sea, quipping in a mid-August birthday Instagram Story to friend Jack Vasilaros (per the Daily Mail), "Happy birthday @hookedforlife! Cheers to another year slaying monsters around the globe." (The two are proudly propping up an enormous piscine catch together in the Story.)

As for Connor's DJ endeavors, they seemed to have at least temporarily been put on the backburner. With his  Instagram suggesting his last spinster gig was in August 2016, a People source revealed that while Connor "still deejays ... he has really become a big fishing guy" who's "content with living a quieter life." That quiet also includes "Connor's Meatshack," an Instagram account  curated to showcase Connor's love of meats and grilling said meats. Having also acted in high-profile flicks like Will Smith's 2008 "Seven Pounds" and the 2012 reboot of "Red Dawn," Connor truly appears to be a jack of all trades. 

Has Connor Cruise been in touch with Nicole Kidman?

Despite rumors to the contrary, both mother Nicole Kidman and son Connor Cruise seem to be on stable ground these days. Per Little Things , Connor and sister Isabella Cruise are Scientologists like their father Tom Cruise, while Kidman was reportedly deemed a "SP," or "Suppressive Person," by the Church. Many wondered if this had caused a wedge between Kidman and her oldest kids. Leah Remini, an ex-Scientologist, alleged in her 2015 memoir "Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology" that Isabella had told her in 2006 she wasn't in touch with Kidman, snarking, "Not if I can help it, she's a f**king SP," while Connor "just looked out the window" (via  Now To Love ). 

Tom denied that Kidman was blocked from seeing Connor and Isabella, telling Oprah Winfrey in 2008 (via  Reuters ), "We share custody. Whenever." Kidman affirmed this in 2018 to  Who , sharing, "They have made choices to be Scientologists ... It's our job as a parent to always offer unconditional love." The "Big Little Lies" actor did confess to The Sun in September 2019 (via Honey ) that her relationship with Connor and Isabella entailed "peaks and valleys," asserting that "motherhood is about the journey ... whether you are an adopting mother or a birth mother."

For his part (as of 2014), Connor told Woman's Day Australia (via E! News ) that he and Kidman were copacetic. "I love my mum. I don't care what people say, I know that me and Mum are solid," he said. That's great to hear!

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Connor Cruise won first place with his fishing team at the 2022 Sarasota Slam last weekend. He smiled as he held the winning check for “Top Fish” alongside his teammates.

Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman ‘s son donned a monochromatic striped camouflage hoodie with a fisherman’s logo, hood pulled up with a baseball cap underneath, and he had reflective sunglasses on to protect his eyes against the water. His shoes were the Adidas Ultraboost, an iconic style amidst athletes and non-athletes alike.

In this particular fishing tournament, Cruise exhibited peak performance as the fish he caught tipped the scales at 301 pounds. The Warsaw Grouper was reeled out of the water to a shocking gasp amidst the crowd, as the fish dangled on the line above the deck.

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Connor Cruise Returns To Instagram With New Pic 3 Days After Sister Isabella Shares Rare Selfie

Connor Cruise made an unexpected return to social media on Aug. 28, just days after his sister Isabella posted a selfie! The 25-year-old appeared to be boating in Clearwater, FL.

Connor Cruise , 25, has returned to Instagram after a three month hiatus! The son of Tom Cruise , 58, and Nicole Kidman , 53, posted a rare photo to his account on Friday, Aug. 28 as he appeared to go boating. “Another day gone,” he captioned the snap, which included a glimpse of his blue shorts and flip flop clad feet resting against the deck. The 25-year-old captured a picturesque sunset in the photo, clearly enjoying a gorgeous summer day on the water.

View this post on Instagram Another day gone A post shared by Connor Cruise (@theconnorcruise) on Aug 28, 2020 at 4:46pm PDT

Connor’s latest photo comes just three days after Isabella made her return to the social media platform. Showing off her sleek short haircut, Isabella’s full face could be seen in the rare Aug. 25 selfie. “All that glitters is gold.. oh wait, it’s just another Instagram filter,” the UK-based artist joked in her caption. Both Isabella and Connor were adopted by Tom and Nicole, who married in 1989 after meeting on the set of Days of Thunder .

View this post on Instagram All that glitters is gold.. oh wait, it’s just another Instagram filter A post shared by Bella Kidman Cruise (@bellakidmancruise) on Aug 25, 2020 at 12:14pm PDT

The couple split after 12 years of marriage in 2001, and Tom went on to marry Katie Holmes , 41, who he shares daughter Suri Cruise , 14, with. Connor and Isabella also have two sisters through mom Nicole, who welcomed daughters Sunday Rose , 12, and  Faith Margaret , 9, with husband Keith Urban , 52. The family grew again when Connor’s sister Isabella married British I.T. consultant Max Parker in 2015. While mom Nicole didn’t attend the wedding, she met her son-in-law the following year.

Connor tagged the location of his latest photo as Clearwater, Florida, which is best know as the hub city for the Church of Scientology — which he and his sister Isabella , 27, are both followers of through their dad. Mom Nicole said back in 2019 to The Sun , “[Isabella and Connor] have made choices to be Scientologists. It’s our job as a parent to always offer unconditional love.” She added, “It’s not about anything else other than, ‘I’m here to love and support you’.” His followers appeared to be loving the vacation-ready photo, commenting “what a beautiful day” and “that view is SO gorgeous” in the comments.

Connor Cruise: What to Know About Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman's Son

Connor Antony Cruise is the child of two of the biggest stars in the world right now, yet many [...]

By Michael Hein - February 16, 2021 05:35 pm EST

Connor Antony Cruise is the child of two of the biggest stars in the world right now, yet many fans are getting to know him for the first time. Now 26 years old, Connor tends to shy away from the spotlight in spite of his influential parents. Still, fans can glean a lot from his Instagram feed and sources close to his family over the years.

Connor was born on Jan. 17, 1995, and adopted by Cruise and Kidman when he was one month old. He was the second of their adopted children, following older sister Isabella Jane Cruise in 1992. For the remainder of their marriage, Cruise and Kidman's children lived relatively private lives , and they stayed out of the spotlight as much as possible even when Cruise and Kidman split in 2001.

The custody arrangement between Cruise and Kidman was never very clear to the public, but there were rumors of tension between Kidman and her adopted son. By contrast, Connor and Cruise have often been spotted in public together, apparently happy and sharing some common interests.

Connor has dabbled in acting and has also made a name for himself as a DJ. These days, however, he seems to be keeping to himself, and pursuing his love of fishing all around the Caribbean. Here is a look at what fans know about Connor Cruise.

Cloistered Rumors

A report by The New York Post in 2006 claimed that Connor and Isabella Cruise grew up in their parents' home in Manhattan, while a report by Hollywood Life claims that Connor grew up in Los Angeles, California. HL also reports that Connor was homeschooled and that he "didn't set foot outside his father's mansion until he was 10." This last claim is unsubstantiated.

'Seven Pounds'

Connor's first big step into the public eye came in 2008, when he appeared in the movie Seven Pounds . He was 13 years old at the time of filming, and played a younger version of Will Smith 's character Ben. Connor co-starred with Rosario Dawson and Woody Harrelson on the movie as well.

Connor's second and only other film role was in Red Dawn in 2012. He played Daryl Jenkins, co-starring with Chris Hemsworth, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Josh Peck, Josh Hutcherson, Adrianne Palicki and Isabel Lucas, among others. Since then Connor has been out of the movie industry, though it is not clear if that is by choice.

Relationship With Kidman

According to Hollywood Life, Kidman told reporters in 2007 that she had a "strained" relationship with Connor. This claim does not appear anywhere else, though in 2018 Kidman did explain why she is generally private about her relationship with her two older children. According to Hello! Magazine , she told the Hollywood Foreign Press Association: "I'm very private about all that," hinting that it had to do with her children's choice to practice Scientology like their father.

"I have to protect all those relationships. I know 150 percent that I would give up my life for my children because it's what my purpose is," Kidman said. "They are adults. They are able to make their own decisions. They have made choices to be Scientologists and as a mother, it's my job to love them. I am an example of that tolerance and that's what I believe – that no matter what your child does, the child has love and the child has to know there is available love and I'm open here."

According to Hollywood Life , Connor has refuted rumors of tension between himself and Kidman, and has said that they are on good terms.

Scientology

As noted above, Connor is a lifelong practitioner of Scientology, having been introduced to the faith by his father at birth. In 2019, sources close to Connor confirmed his church involvement to reporters from PEOPLE , saying: "Connor and Isabella grew up in the church of Scientology, they've been members since they were kids."

The insider said that Connor and Isabella "are completely dedicated scientologists just like Tom," adding: "Connor has been able to remain close with Tom because of Scientology.... Connor lives in Clearwater, [Florida,] which is the church's main hub. He still deejays but he has really become a big fishing guy. He's content with living a quieter life." The source even said that Connor "is in a relationship with a fell Scientologist who also grew up in the religion."

"He lives in his own home in a Scientology community. His life is deep-sea fishing. He has a lot of friends and seems very well-liked," they concluded.

Connor and Tom Cruise have made some public appearances together in recent years — attending sporting events and sometimes movie premieres side by side. The insider told PEOPLE that even these sightings are related to Scientology in some ways. They said: "Tom and Connor stepping out together in London was a big deal. It was the same weekend that Scientology does their annual gathering called the International Association of Scientologists (ASI). Tom has attended numerous times in the past, but this appears to be the first time Connor has gone."

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Connor Cruise (@theconnorcruise)

Finally, these days most fans get their fill of Connor Cruise on Instagram , where he does most of his interacting with the public. His posts have skewed more and more towards deep-sea fishing in recent years, with occasional commentary on sports, selfies with other celebrities and promotions for DJ appearances. Connor made headlines last month with a photo of himself holding a 200-pound yellowfin on deck.

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Connor Cruise

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Connor Cruise (Connor Anthony Kidman Cruise) was born on 17 January, 1995 in Florida, USA, is an Actor. Discover Connor Cruise's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Learn How rich is He in this year and how He spends money? Also learn how He earned most of networth at the age of 26 years old?

We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 17 January. He is a member of famous Actor with the age 28 years old group.

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At 28 years old, Connor Cruise height not available right now. We will update Connor Cruise's Height, weight, Body Measurements, Eye Color, Hair Color, Shoe & Dress size soon as possible.

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He is currently single. He is not dating anyone. We don't have much information about He's past relationship and any previous engaged. According to our Database, He has no children.

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His net worth has been growing significantly in 2022-2023. So, how much is Connor Cruise worth at the age of 28 years old? Connor Cruise’s income source is mostly from being a successful Actor. He is from United States. We have estimated Connor Cruise's net worth , money, salary, income, and assets.

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Connor Cruise was born on January 17, 1995 in Florida, USA as Connor Anthony Kidman Cruise.

Has four siblings: older sister Isabella Jane Kidman Cruise (b. 22 December 1992), younger half-sister Suri Cruise (b. 18 April 2006), and younger half-sister Sunday Rose Kidman Urban (b. 7 July, 2008), and younger half-sister Faith Margaret Kidman Urban (b. 28 December 2010).

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Power Lawyers 2024: Meet Hollywood’s Top 100 Attorneys

They don’t advertise on billboards, but among industry insiders these A-list attorneys are almost as famous (or infamous) as the stars they represent.

By Alison Brower, Editor

Alison Brower, Editor

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Meet the dealmakers and litigators who made the cut for THR ‘s 18th annual list of the entertainment industry’s most powerful legal advocates. These 100 standouts — listed alphabetically along with their practice area, firm and law school alma mater — negotiate the pacts and fight the battles that keep the cameras rolling. 

James Adams  

Schreck Rose 

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My guilty TV pleasure “ Below Deck .”

Michael Auerbach 

Jackoway Austen 

Client David Corenswet nabbed the role of Superman in James Gunn’s reboot; showrunner Graham Wagner went nuclear as co-creator of the Amazon hit Fallout , which is going straight into season two; James Marsden made a deal to return for Sonic 3 ; Mia Goth’s horror trilogy is wrapping up with MaXXXine; and Zach Cregger will finally begin shooting Weapons , his follow-up to Barbarian .

Buzzword I’d banish “Bingeworthy.”

Karl Austen 

“We can make really great deals notwithstanding the environment,” Austen says, and he’s got the evidence to prove it. Clients include Justin Hartley, whose Tracker on CBS became the No. 1 broadcast series and quickly scored a second season, and Dave Bautista, who signed on for three movies and now commands a quote of at least $12.5 million for studio projects. 

Power lunch spot “Polo Lounge.”

Dean Bahat 

Ziffren Brittenham 

How I celebrate a deal “With a Tiger Woods fist pump and yakitori at Nanban-kan.”

John Berlinski 

Bird Marella 

University of Michigan

When Scarlett Johansson had a beef with OpenAI, she called Berlinski (the same lawyer who’d earlier repped her in her Black Widow profit participation suit). Berlinski also was behind The Seelig Group lawsuit against 20th Century Fox films over decisions from parent company Disney to prioritize its streaming platform over theatrical releases, allegedly resulting in hundreds of millions of dollars in losses. 

My guilty TV pleasure “Keith Morrison solving a cold case on Dateline .”

Jeff Bernstein 

Client Margot Robbie had the biggest movie of 2023 ( Barbie , remember?), and she’s been keeping Bernstein busy since. He inked her next acting deal ( A Big Bold Beautiful Journey ) and negotiated an extension of her contract with Chanel and a first-look deal with Warner Bros. Meanwhile, client Carey Mulligan signed on for One for the Money , while Judi Dench locked in a deal with Penguin to pen her memoir, Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent . 

If I were a TV lawyer, I’d be … “Jack McCoy ( Law & Order ).”

Gordon Bobb 

Del Shaw 

My guilty TV pleasure “ Summer House: Martha’s Vineyard .”

Leigh Brecheen 

Brecheen Feldman 

Sandra Day O’Connor

In the past year, Brecheen has negotiated John Oliver’s three-year renewal with Max and closed the deal for a second season of Conan O’Brien Must Go . She also assisted with the sale of a stake of Brad Pitt’s Plan B to Mediawan. Other clients include Nia Long, Mel Gibson and Sharon Stone. Despite the deal climate being hard, “IP is the gift that keeps on giving,” she says. 

Hollywood figure I’d trade places with “Taylor Swift — she is the queen of the universe!”

Andrew Brettler 

Berk Brettler 

Brooklyn Law School

In the past year, Brettler, whose client list runs from Prince Andrew to Armie Hammer, has handled professional crises on behalf of the likes of Justin Roiland, Russell Brand and Colleen Ballinger. He’s especially pleased with how things turned out in the blockbuster gambling scandal involving Dodger superstar Shohei Ohtani. “It helps to have an innocent client,” he says.  

Power lunch spot “Sunset Tower.”

We’ll know the town is back when … “I think it’s back.”

Stephen Clark 

Lichter Grossman 

UC Law San Francisco

Buzzword I’d banish “ ‘Ecosystem’ — though I can’t say that I’ve never used it.”

Robert Darwell 

Sheppard Mullin 

Darwell works with Prime Video on everything from sports to TV overalls. “With them, things move very quickly,” notes the attorney, who moonlights as a documentary filmmaker. He says he sees changes in dealmaking, especially with top talent. Studios and streamers “want to be in business — not just with a name but with a talent that is going to generate projects that will get made.” 

If I were a TV lawyer, I’d be … “[ Suits ’] Harvey Specter, of course.”

Warren Dern 

Sloane Offer 

Southwestern

He helped Rebel Wilson put together Bride Hard , which she’s producing and starring in, while client Paul Feig is shooting the untitled Simple Favor sequel and Gore Verbinski settles back into the director’s chair with Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die . Other clients include Ruben Fleischer, who’s helming the next Now You See Me movie, along with Amy Poehler, Zack Snyder, J.A. Bayona and Drew Pierce, who penned The Fall Guy .

Buzzword I’d banish “I am not sure I like the phrase ‘new normal.’ ”

André Des Rochers 

Granderson Des Rochers 

Buzzword I’d banish “ ‘Leaning in.’ I need to stop saying it myself.”

Ken Deutsch 

Paul Hastings 

Deutsch is a sought-after expert for content companies, investors and A-list talent exploring capital raises and other deals. His clients include Jon Favreau (who signed a deal for a big-screen version of The Mandalorian ), Indian Paintbrush and Charles D. King’s Macro Media. Deutsch also represented Len Blavatnik’s Access Industries in a multipicture co-financing arrangement with A24 that included the recent Civil War .

My guilty TV pleasure “All things Yellowstone .”

Isaac Dunham 

Client John Mulaney hosted, wrote and executive produced the six-night live show Everybody’s in L.A. on Netflix. Dunham also saw client Rachel Brosnahan book the role of Lois Lane in Superman: Legacy and closed a deal for Paul Walter Hauser to star in the Chris Farley feature biopic. 

How I celebrate a deal “Preparing for the next set of issues to negotiate.”

David Eisman 

Skadden 

If I were a TV lawyer, I’d be … “Lionel Hutz. Who doesn’t want to rep the Simpsons?”

Jeff Endlich 

Yorn Levine 

Endlich has a knack for guiding auteurs toward passion projects that also have commercial appeal. Everything Everywhere All at Once filmmakers Daniels (Kwan and Scheinert) are writing their next picture for Universal, while Taika Waititi recently wrapped on the Jenna Ortega starrer Klara and the Sun for Sony. On the TV side, BoJack Horseman creator Raphael Bob-Waksberg inked a deal for a new animated series at Netflix, while Reservation Dogs breakout D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai has signed to star in the Alex Garland feature Warfare .

If I were a TV lawyer, I’d be … “An actor.”

Alan Epstein 

Willkie Farr

Epstein believes things are not as bleak in Hollywood as they may seem. “There’s hope on the horizon. The stock market is a leading indicator, and that gives you a sense of where a lot of smart people think this is going,” he says, adding that interest rates appear to be heading toward a decline. And recent headwinds haven’t stopped him from brokering deals like Ryan Reynolds’ $1.35 billion sale of Mint to T-Mobile. 

Hollywood figure I’d trade places with “John Legend.”

Jamie Feldman 

The most surprising budget line item I’ve fought over “Pole dancing trainer.”

Hansen Jacobson

Fox is “genuinely funny,” says Ted Lasso star Brett Goldstein, who’s shooting the second season of his Apple TV+ series Shrinking , and just reupped his overall deal with Warner Bros. TV. “He’s always pitching to be a writer’s assistant on one of our shows, and I’m like, ‘You can have it, but I need you to do the deals!’ ” Fox also does the deals for a roster that includes Abbott Elementary ’s Tyler James Williams (a client since the actor was just 16), Reacher star Alan Ritchson, Saltburn auteur Emerald Fennell and Fallout co-creator Geneva Robertson-Dworet.

Melissa Fox 

Hansen Jacobson 

Fox represents some of today’s top names in comedy, including Ali Wong (she finalized her deal for a new Netflix special), Tim Robinson, Kate McKinnon, Maya Erskine and Hasan Minhaj as well as SNL players Michael Che, Heidi Gardner, Ego Nwodim and Sarah Sherman.

Buzzword I’d banish “ ‘Flywheel’ — love the concept, hate the word.”

Jeff Frankel  

McKuin Frankel & Whitehead

My guilty TV pleasure “ Buying Beverly Hills .”

Bryan Freedman

Freedman & Taitelman

University of the Pacific, McGeorge

Read THR’s Freedman cover story.

Rob Freeman 

Proskauer  

He’s crafted deals for Warner Bros. Discovery, Cox Communications, NFL Media, Tiger Woods’ TMRW Sports and FanDuel. Plus, Freeman has advised multiple clients on sports betting-related deals. His mentees have gone on to senior positions at HBO, Turner, Hulu, the NBA and MLB. 

Buzzword I’d banish “Synergies.”

My guilty TV pleasure “ Outer Banks .”

Matt Galsor 

Greenberg Glusker 

The canny dealmaker scored a strategic deal with Warner Bros. for Tom Cruise while client Chris Hemsworth entered talks for Amazon movie Crime 101 and signed a producing deal with Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s Artists Equity. Vin Diesel set up a new Riddick movie; J.K. Rowling will exec produce a new Harry Potter series for Max; James Cameron is in production on his next Avatar ; and David Fincher is about to close on his next project.

If I were a TV lawyer, I’d be … “Dan Fielding (from Night Court ). He’s even better than Saul Goodman, I think.”

Jonathan Gardner 

Cohen Gardner 

University of Virginia

Buzzwords I’d banish “It’s a no-brainer.”

Bruce Gellman 

UC Berkeley

He negotiated overall deals for The Diplomat creator Debora Cahn, Locke & Key showrunner Meredith Averill and Mike Daniels (Peacock’s upcoming Fight Night ), while continuing to advise heavy hitters like Dan Fogelman and Jennie Snyder Urman on their overall pacts. He also represented Ilene Chaiken and Tracker creator Ben Winters for development projects.

Power lunch spot “Euro Caffé (owners Mayda and Vartan Kemanjian are the best).”

Gregg Gellman 

Loyola Law School

After client Alex Edelman’s one-man show Just for Us concluded its global tour, Gellman set up a deal for an HBO special. He also lined up a second season of Bookie for Sebastian Maniscalco, while queuing up another special and a just-renewed Netflix series, Tires , for stand-up Shane Gillis, a deal shaped with partner Jared Levine. But his roster isn’t entirely a laughing matter. He also reps Lulu Wang ( Expats ) and Bluey creator Joe Brumm.

How I celebrate closing a deal “I always thought it would be fun to have a giant cowbell in the office to ring. But I just move on to the next deal.”

Rick Genow 

Goodman Genow 

Power lunch spot “The Grill. It’s timeless.”

Bobby Ghajar 

Cooley 

He’s defending Meta against creatives in their seismic IP suit over AI. And so far, he appears to be winning, securing dismissals of most of the creatives’ claims, including their core infringement theory, with the judge calling the writers’ argument “nonsensical.” His other work in the past year included obtaining the dismissal of a trademark infringement lawsuit against Kim Kardashian’s skin-care line. 

My guilty TV pleasure “ Power Slap . It’s like a train wreck I can’t stop watching.”

Lev Ginsburg 

Ginsburg Daniels Kallis 

He negotiated Timothée Chalamet’s deal to play Bob Dylan in James Mangold’s A Complete Unknown for Searchlight. Tom Brady roast standout Nikki Glaser toplined a hit Max stand-up special, Someday You’ll Die , and continues as host and exec producer of FBoy Island spinoff Lovers and Liars . 

The most surprising budget item I’ve fought over “A streaming platform’s policy against reimbursing its own executives for their subscriptions to that platform.”

Leah Godesky 

O’Melveny 

How I celebrate a win “Reading fiction on a beach.”

Tamerlin Godley 

She reps studios like Warner Bros. Discovery and talent like Adele and the wellness phenom Jay Shetty. Lately, though, she’s been busy with NBCUniversal as it faces labor complaints from its reality stars. She’s also frequently involved in running outside investigations into workplace claims on behalf of corporations. Says Godley, “I tell clients: ‘How we investigate is as important as what we find out.’ ”

Hollywood figure I’d trade places with “Meryl Streep — smart, top of her game, multitalented. Donna Langley — same descriptors!”

Carlos Goodman 

Goodman’s roster of A-list auteurs could fill the Dolby Theatre — and often does. Clients include 2024 Oscar winners Jonathan Glazer ( The Zone of Interest ) and producer David Heyman ( Barbie ). He also reps Challengers helmer Luca Guadagnino, Civil War director Alex Garland, Darren Aronofsky, Steve McQueen and Jeff Nichols ( The Bikeriders ). Goodman also sealed deals for Christian Bale and Jacob Elordi (co-repped with partner Rick Genow) to star in Frankenstein films from, respectively, Guillermo del Toro and Maggie Gyllenhaal. 

We’ll know the town is back when … “I’d say get used to the current state of things for a while.”

Marissa Román Griffith

​​Griffith spent part of 2023 working with Will and Jada Pinkett Smith’s Westbrook to secure a multimillion-dollar loan facility for an episodic series, and with Anonymous Content to refinance a multimillion-dollar senior secured revolving credit facility. She’s also continued to support MRC with its production and financing needs on titles like the Oscar-winning American Fiction and Peacock’s Poker Face .

If I were a TV lawyer, I’d be … “Jane Bingum from Drop Dead Diva .”

Justin Hamill 

Latham & Watkins 

Boston College

While the M&A market is slowly picking up steam amid a high-interest-rate environment, there is one Hollywood deal that was a bona fide blockbuster. The private equity firm Silver Lake inked a $13 billion deal to take longtime Hamill client Endeavor — owner of WME, IMG, and a majority stake in WWE and UFC owner TKO — private. 

My guilty TV pleasure “ Seinfeld reruns.”

Harris Hartman 

My guilty TV pleasure “ Bluey. ”

Shawn Holley 

Kinsella Holley 

When free-agent pitcher Trevor Bauer was accused of sexual assault, he turned to Holley for help. After a lawsuit from the first accuser was resolved without Bauer having to pay to settle the case, Holley helped get prosecutors to bring extortion charges against a second accuser. And although Danny Masterson was found guilty of rape, she may have saved him years in prison by undermining testimony from a former girlfriend, the only victim of the three for which there was no conviction. She also recently was on Sean “Diddy” Combs’ legal team handling lawsuits accusing the artist of sexual assault.

Jeff Hynick 

Hynick advised new A-lister Jenna Ortega in closing a flurry of post- Wednesday deals, including a starring role in Taika Waititi’s Klara and the Sun . Hynick also guides filmmakers Jonathan Entwistle ( Karate Kid ), Parker Finn ( Smile 2 ) and Lee Isaac Chung ( Twisters ), as well as Nicole Kidman and Hannah Waddingham. “Constant change is the new normal,” he says.

Buzzword I’d banish “There is way too much ‘looping’ going on these days.”

Kimberly Jaime 

Hollywood figure I’d trade places with “Greta Gerwig.”

Matthew Johnson 

JSSK  

Johnson’s busiest client, Tyler Perry, renewed his partnership with BET through 2028, and added a multiyear first-look series deal to his partnership with Netflix. Johnson also set up Sam Mendes’ deal with Sony Pictures Entertainment to direct four films about The Beatles for release in 2027. Other clients include Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, Adam McKay and Alfonso Cuarón.

My guilty TV pleasure “Anything involving Vikings.”

Adam Kaller 

Kaller, helped broker the $100 million deal that gave SiriusXM rights to the podcast SmartLess , hosted by Jason Bateman, Will Arnett and Sean Hayes. “That was an extraordinary deal in a crazy depressed market,” he says. He also celebrated the Emmy win of his client Steven Yeun for his role in Beef and the success of Five Nights at Freddy’s , after brokering the deal for client Josh Hutcherson to star in the film.

Hollywood figure I’d trade places with “Bob Iger, but I get to keep my age [57].”

Philip M. Kelly 

Kendall Brill & Kelly 

Power lunch spot “Unfortunately, at my desk. As much as I love a good lunch meeting, most days I simply do not have time.”

Kelly Klaus 

Munger Tolles & Olson 

Klaus defended Disney in a case over allegations the company used a VFX firm’s technology to animate CG characters. While it was found that Disney infringed on IP from Rearden, which sought nearly $1 billion, Klaus slashed the damages to $600,000 by convincing jurors that the company’s tech “played an extraordinarily small role in the enormously complex process” of animation.

My guilty TV pleasure “ Hell’s Kitchen .”

Deborah Klein 

Klein’s marquee clients had huge years in 2023 and 2024. Samuel L. Jackson secured another year of his lucrative deal with Capital One and joined Kevin Hart in Peacock’s Muhammad Ali-centric limited series Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist . Will Ferrell just locked in a new Netflix series alongside Ramy Youssef — which follows the eight-figure deal that Netflix closed on Ferrell’s Sundance documentary Will & Harper . 

Robby Koch 

We’ll know the town is back when … “someone greenlights Nancy Meyers’ new movie.”

Tara Kole 

Kole’s roster is a mix of rising stars (Josh O’Connor,Charles Melton) and Hollywood mainstays (Halle Berry, Angelina Jolie). Kole also helps guide the careers of Zac Efron, who can soon be seen opposite Nicole Kidman in Netflix’s rom-com A Family Affair , as well as Succession ’s Matthew Macfadyen, The Fall Guy producers David Leitch and Kelly McCormick, and Talk to Me directing duo Danny and Michael Philippou.

Power lunch spot “San Vicente Bungalows, even though I’m not actually a member and still have to get the little stickers put on my phone [to block the camera].”

Bianca Levin 

Gang Tyre 

Levin oversaw Regina King’s first-look deal with Netflix, including the Oscar winner’s pact to direct and exec produce the series adaptation of Tom Wolfe’s A Man in Full . Levin brokered Dwayne Johnson’s deals to star in and produce Disney’s live-action version of Moana and A24’s Benny Safdie-directed biopic The Smashing Machine , starring Johnson and Emily Blunt.

If I were a TV lawyer, I’d be … “[ Scandal ’s] Olivia Pope.”

Molly Lens 

Buzzword I’d banish “Disrupters.” 

Jared Levine 

Levine helped shape Shane Gillis’ deal for Tires , the scripted workplace series the comedian financed, created and stars in at Netflix. “There aren’t that many shows where the talent fully finances it,” Levine says. “That’s risky and heady stuff.” He’s also been at work on behalf of Steph Curry’s Unanimous Media, which is producing the animated movie GOAT at Sony and making the show Mr. Throwback at Peacock. 

Buzzword I’d banish “Bandwidth.”

Ryan LeVine 

He’s repped Jacob Tremblay since the actor was 5 years old and helped guide Iain Armitage through seven seasons of Young Sheldon . LeVine steered Sophie Thatcher and Tawny Cypress through renegotiations for season three of Yellowjackets and helped put Fred Hechinger ( The White Lotus ) into four movies due later this year. And he closed Octavia Spencer’s deal to star in and produce a female-assassin buddy comedy series for Amazon that sparked a gnarly bidding war. “It was the biggest deal of her career,” he says. 

Power lunch spot “Roof garden at The Peninsula.”

Jamie Mandelbaum 

Hollywood figure I’d trade places with “I’m not envious enough of anybody else to trade places. I’m grateful for what I do.” 

Steve Marenberg 

University of Chicago

Marenberg has been at the forefront of defending studios over decisions related to implementing vaccine mandates on set. He defeated a lawsuit from Ingo Rademacher over his dismissal from General Hospital , convincing the court that the actor’s opposition to the COVID vaccine was grounded in his religious beliefs, not concerns over his health or safety. 

My guilty TV pleasure “OId episodes of Boston Legal .”

David Matlof 

Hirsch Wallerstein 

Client Jesse Plemons, who just won best actor in Cannes for his turn in Yorgos Lanthimos’ Kinds of Kindness , is wrapping the Netflix series Zero Day with Robert De Niro and has signed on for Lanthimos’ next film. Maya Rudolph’s season two of Loot finally debuted on Apple TV+ after strike disruptions, while Joseph Kosinski is directing his Formula 1 movie with Brad Pitt and mulling another Top Gun sequel. 

My guilty TV pleasure “ Inside the NBA — while it lasts.”

Joel McKuin 

McKuin Frankel Whitehead

Buzzword I’d banish “ ‘Piece of business,’ as in ‘This is a good piece of business.’ ”

Elizabeth McNamara 

Davis Wright Tremaine 

What is fair use in an era of artificial intelligence? It’s a challenge that McNamara has been grappling with, as her blockbuster case representing the major book publishing houses against the Internet Archive moves through the appellate process. “Whether it be AI or more traditional uses, it is critical that the rights of creators be protected and respected,” she says. 

Buzzword I’d banish “ ‘Let’s interrogate this …’ What’s wrong with, ‘Let’s analyze this’ or ‘Let’s look at this’?”

Devin McRae

Early Sullivan

This year, he counts among his biggest wins a settlement on behalf of William Crabtree, a colorist on the Invincible comic book series who sued Robert Kirkman ( The Walking Dead ) in a clash over copyright co-authorship, just weeks before the trial was set to start. McRae also represents Kurt McLeod, the writer of Copshop , against his former talent manager and producer of the movie in a lawsuit over conflicts of interests and alleged deceit, and Bill Weinstein in a lawsuit against other Verve executives dealing with allegations that he was illegally locked out of the company he founded. 

My guilty TV pleasure “ Gomorrah , The   Equalizer , The Bachelorette .”

John Meigs Jr. 

Meigs closed Issa Rae’s nine-figure overall at HBO/Warner Bros. Discovery, with the multihyphenate writing two new series on top of brand deals for her own line of prosecco, a partnership with Tazo tea and an ad campaign for Target’s delivery service, Shipt. Meigs also worked on Kaley Cuoco’s deal for her pet product line, Oh Norman!, named for Cuoco’s deceased pooch (her production shingle, Yes, Norman, also honors him). Other notable clients include Prentice Penny, Winston Duke and Betty Gilpin.

Power lunch spot “It was Da Pasquale — sadly, it closed when the family moved back to Italy.”

Darrell Miller 

Fox Rothschild 

Miller’s client Taylor Tomlinson became the youngest face of late night as host of CBS’ After Midnight ; he negotiated a seven-figure deal with Netflix for Tomlinson to star in two more stand-up specials at the streamer as well. The attorney also negotiated endorsement pacts for Ludacris ranging from Movado to State Farm and for Angela Bassett to star in Netflix’s Zero Day with Robert De Niro. 

We’ll know the town is back when … “the production start date is announced for the next installment of Fast & Furious. ”

Justin Nelson 

Sussman Godfrey 

Hollywood figure I’d trade places with “David Zaslav — imagine the good you could do from that position.”

Amy Nickin 

Frankfurt Kurnit 

Wayne State University

Nickin closed a deal for Band of Brothers writer Erik Jendresen to co-write the next Mission: Impossible while inking Dahmer ’s Ian Brennan to an overall pact with Netflix, where he is working on a Monster follow-up focused on the Menendez brothers. On the acting side, client Allison Williams is gearing up to exec produce and shoot M3GAN 2.0 , while John Goodman closed a deal to voice star in The Smurfs Movie opposite Rihanna. 

Power lunch spot “Roze Pony in Nashville.”

Robert Offer 

White Lotus showrunner Mike White was among his first clients 30 years ago. He’s picked up quite a few more since, including Ryan Gosling, Paul Giamatti and Will Arnett, whose podcast, SmartLess , with Jason Bateman and Sean Hayes has turned into a nine-figure business. Says Offer, “To see people trying to find outlets for their creativity turn them into huge, huge deals is exciting.” Other clients: Tom Holland, Brie Larson, Benedict Cumberbatch, Gal Gadot and Ewan McGregor.

If I were a TV lawyer, I’d be … “Ally McBeal.”

Rick Offsay 

Power lunch spot “John O’Groats.”

Danny Passman 

Client Nicholas Galitzine scored with Amazon’s The Idea of You and now has two new projects with the streamer: a sequel to Red White and Royal Blue and the Masters of the Universe feature set for 2026, with Galatzine as He-Man. Passman also helped Finneas O’Connell (brother of Billie Eilish, also a Passman client) make a deal to act in Laid , Nahnatchka Khan’s upcoming comedy for Peacock, and signed Ridley Scott to direct a Bee Gees biopic for Paramount.

The most surprising budget line item I’ve fought over “Uber allowances.”

Jodi Peikoff 

Peikoff Mahan 

Cardozo 

She reps Barbie ’s America Ferrera, who will soon be directing I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter , and The Bear ’s Ebon Moss-Bachrach, helping him score a notable raise for seasons three and four and a deal for him to star in the new Fantastic Four franchise.

The most surprising budget line item I’ve fought ove r “Airplane tickets for toddler children to fly with their actor parent in business class — studios are asking them to fly with their nanny in economy.”

Robyn Polashuk 

Covington 

Power lunch spot “I may be dating myself, but I mourn the closing of Craft, which was my go-to location for a decade. Their host spent 40 years in the L.A. dining community and remembered all of his patrons.”

Ken Richman 

Richman recently inked an overall deal at Netflix for Beef creator Lee Sung Jin, who won three Emmys for the limited series. And he’s been helping multiple other clients seal lucrative pacts for the final seasons of their shows, including Elisabeth Moss ( The   Handmaid’s Tale ), Jeff Schaffer ( Curb Your Enthusiasm ), Alec Berg ( Barry ) and Steve Molaro ( Young Sheldon ). 

My guilty TV pleasure “ Survivor . Just finished season 46. Someday I’ll be a contestant.”

George Washington

She negotiated Lin-Manuel Miranda’s deal to write songs for the Disney tentpole Mufasa . In the live stage space, Rose advised client Lorne Michaels on Mean Girls for the West End and the development of Schmigadoon! as a musical. She also negotiated Sara Bareilles’ deal for her upcoming stage musical adaptation of The Interestings , based on the Meg Wolitzer novel and 2016 series. 

Buzzword I’d banish “I hate ‘deep dive.’ Would love to see that go.”

Mathew Rosengart 

Greenberg Traurig 

My guilty TV pleasure “I was obsessed with the final season of Succession .”

Benyamin Ross 

Gibson Dunn & Crutcher 

He’s worked every angle at the bargaining table for top clients like Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs’ Candle Media, Universal Pictures (which he advised on an investment and distribution partnership with Amblin Entertainment), The Chernin Group and Fandango Media.

How I celebrate a deal “A phoneless walk outside.”

Gretchen Rush 

Rush had a hand in major releases in the past year, from David Benioff and Dan Weiss’ 3 Body Problem to Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon , as well as Kerry Washington’s memoir, T hicker Than Water .After signing The Last of Us co-creator Craig Mazin last spring, she negotiated his new HBO deal.

How I celebrate a deal “Eight-ounce filet mignon and a glass of Rioja.”

Faiza Saeed 

Cravath  

She advised Disney in one of the most high-profile legal battles of the past year when activist investor Nelson Peltz attempted a proxy fight, facing off against CEO Bob Iger and his board. “It is an iconic company that is critical to an industry that is in a pretty pivotal period, and that is a rewarding assignment because the stakes are high,” Saeed says. 

Michael Schenkman 

Two of his longest-standing clients — Christopher Nolan and Emma Thomas, who’ve been with him for 25 years — swept the Oscars this year with Oppenheimer . Schenkman also reps Chuck Roven, a producer on the film (who got his own Oscar) and Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy. He handled Javier Bardem’s deal to star in Joseph Kosinski’s Formula 1 movie. 

How I celebrate closing a deal “Pickleball and cocktails at the JC [Jonathan Club].”

Nina Shaw 

Shaw has lived through many strike cycles but felt a shift during the 2023 walkouts. “I’ve never seen such lack of understanding for artistic contribution, for the thing that makes something magic” she says. Still, clients like Quinta Brunson and Ayo Edebiri continue to command respect.

We’ll know the town is back when … “the gift bags come back!”

Lawrence Shire 

Grubman Shire 

Shire helped set up Apple TV+’s New England Patriots docuseries The Dynasty ; LeBron James’ deals with Nike; Robert De Niro’s projects (including his first TV series, Zero Day , for Netflix); Spike Lee’s deals (like his A24 and Apple film High and Low with Denzel Washington); and David Letterman’s projects, such as the fifth season of his Netflix talk series My Next Guest Needs No Introduction . 

Power lunch spot “Central Park.”

P.J. Shapiro 

Shapiro reps such A-listers as Selena Gomez, John Cena and Mindy Kaling, but it’s two-time Oscar winner Emma Stone who’s standing out lately. The actress reunited with her Poor Things director Yorgos Lanthimos in Kinds of Kindness , the movie Cannes couldn’t stop talking about, and is in negotiations to star in and produce a rom-com for Universal Pictures (with her husband and producing partner, Dave McCary, eyeing the director gig). 

My guilty TV pleasure “ Too Hot to Handle .”

Scott Sholder 

Cowan DeBaets 

The fate of thousands of Authors Guild members whose works were allegedly scraped to train a human-mimicking chatbot rests, in part, with Sholder, who has helped the trade group file a class action against OpenAI. Considered among the leading cases against the Sam Altman-led firm, the lawsuit might land at the Supreme Court. 

My guilty TV pleasure “ Bluey is at the top of the list.”

Gregory Slewett 

Glen Powell, Michael B. Jordan, Florence Pugh, Josh O’Connor, Donald Glover … his client list goes on and on. There’s also husband-and-wife team Zach Baylin and Kate Susman, who wrote the upcoming Netflix limited series Black Rabbit , and Vanessa Kirby, whose production company got its first film, a Kirby vehicle titled The Night Always Comes , produced this year. 

Jason Sloane 

Sloane works with Hugh Jackman, who stars opposite firm client Ryan Reynolds in this summer’s Deadpool & Wolverine . “Super excited that they’re teamed up,” Sloane says of the high-stakes Marvel tentpole. He also represents Anne Hathaway, Chris Pratt, Mark Wahlberg and Sebastian Stan, with the latter getting buzz at Cannes for his role as Donald Trump in the debate-stirring film The Apprentice . 

My guilty TV pleasure “ Jeopardy! ”

Mitch Smelkinson 

You can thank Smelkinson — and 60 billion minutes of viewing on Netflix and Peacock — for the growing Suits universe. He reps the show’s creator, Aaron Korsh, who’ll soon be launching Suits: L.A . Smelkinson also did the Forgive and Forget deal with 20th Century/ABC, marking client and Modern Family actor Ty Burrell’s return to series TV. Oscar Isaac, who is playing the lead in Guillermo del Toro’s Netflix epic Frankenstein , and Take Me Out ’s Jesse Ferguson also are clients. 

Buzzword I’d banish “Best-and-final.”

Cheryl Snow 

My guilty TV pleasure “Rewatching episodes of Sex and the City .”

Orin Snyder 

Gibson Dunn 

Snyder defended Bob Dylan against sexual abuse allegations stemming from 1965 (the case was dismissed with prejudice) and won a dismissal for Lady Gaga of a lawsuit filed by a woman involved in the 2021 kidnapping of the pop star’s dogs (he also advised Gaga in connection with a threatened copyright infringement claim against the Oscar-winning song “Shallow” from A Star Is Born ). And Snyder continues to defend AMC Network in multiyear litigation over profits from The Walking Dead .

Hollywood figure I’d trade places with “Charlie Chaplin.”

Christopher Spicer 

Over the past year, he’s worked with Comerica Bank on the funding of Guy Ritchie’s two most recent films for Black Bear, advised AGC Studios on the financing of the upcoming mega-TV show Those About to Die , worked with XYZ Films on recent festival favorites Skywalkers and BlackBerry and advised Fifth Season on financing and distribution. 

My guilty TV pleasure “ Bluey , and I feel no guilt whatsoever.”

Alex Spiro 

Quinn Emanuel 

Matthew Syrkin 

He represented Madison Square Garden Corp. in developing its futuristic MSG Sphere entertainment venues, including the game-changing Las Vegas theater christened by U2. Syrkin also helped SkyShowtime, the streaming joint venture of Comcast and Paramount Global, structure and negotiate deals as it rolled out in 22 European markets. Fluent in Spanish, Mandarin Chinese and Japanese, Syrkin boasts an A-list culture-entertainment-tech roster from Roku to Sotheby’s.

Hollywood figure I’d trade places with “Godzilla.”

Matthew Thompson 

Sidley Austin 

Thompson is a legal strategist for Matt Damon, Ben Affleck and the Gersh agency. He’s also repped such major record labels as Warner Music Group and negotiated for Dwayne Johnson to join Ari Emanuel’s TKO Group board and gain full ownership of “The Rock” trademark from the WWE. That deal was personal; the name came from the star’s father, Hall of Famer Rocky Johnson, who was the WWE’s first Black wrestling champion.

Buzzword I’d banish “Synergistic.”

Marc Toberoff 

Toberoff & Associates

Columbia Law

We’ll know the town is back when … “we stop asking that question and acknowledge the industry’s new paradigms.” 

Fred Toczek 

Felker Toczek 

He’s helping client Seth Rogen expand his TV slate to include writing and EP-ing the industry-centric The Studio for Apple TV+. He also reps Anya Taylor-Joy, Bill Hader (soon to star in The Cat in the Hat ) and a slew of younger talents, like Angel Reese (pivoting her college basketball stardom into the WNBA as a member of the Chicago Sky).

Buzzword I’d banish “ ‘Best and final,’ as there’s always room for more.”

Darren Trattner 

He negotiated the sale of Scott Cooper’s Bruce Springsteen project and worked on Brian Tyree Henry’s deal for Transformers One and Giancarlo Esposito’s deals for Megalopolis and AMC’s Parish . Matt Smith, Sigourney Weaver, Caitríona Balfe and Hiro Murai are among his other clients. 

How I celebrate a deal “Who has time to celebrate?”

Seth Traxler 

Kirkland & Ellis 

Northwestern

How I celebrate closing a deal “Play some basketball.”

Steve Warren 

Clients Benicio del Toro and Leonardo DiCaprio will co-star in Paul Thomas Anderson’s next film — after del Toro finishes work on Wes Anderson’s The Phoenician Scheme . Warren also negotiated the deal for Colin Farrell to star in A Big Bold Beautiful Journey alongside Margot Robbie, on top of Farrell’s series roles on Apple TV+’s Sugar and Max’s Penguin . 

Buzzword I’d banish “Tranche.”

David Weber 

Longtime client Ryan Reynolds headlines the summer’s most anticipated tentpole,  Deadpool & Wolverine , and Joaquin Phoenix is starring in Todd Phillips’ Joker sequel and Ari Aster’s A24 Western Eddington . Weber also represents recent Oscar winner Cillian Murphy as well as Austin Butler, who stars opposite Tom Hardy and Jodie Comer in Jeff Nichols’ The Bikeriders this summer and is attached to lead Darren Aronofsky’s adaptation of Charlie Huston’s crime thriller Caught Stealing for Sony.

If I were a TV lawyer, I’d be … “[ The Addams Family ’s] Gomez Addams; John Astin version circa mid-1960s.”

Todd Weinstein 

Weinstein Senior 

California Western

Power lunch spot “Depending on the day, Joe’s Pizza or the Polo Lounge.”

Shelby Weiser

Sloane Offer

“Shelby looks out for her clients on more than just a professional basis,” says Simu Liu, recalling how Weiser recently spent an entire day helping the Canadian actor cut through some immigration red tape (hardly a commissionable deal). The Barbie actor will next star in and executive produce (alongside James Wan) a techno-thriller series for Peacock, and he’s also racked up significant brand deals (Cheetos, Tiffany, Cadillac, McDonald’s). Client Daisy Ridley will be back for more Star Wars , and Mahershala Ali will be boarding the next Jurassic World and toplining Marvel’s Blade … someday: “That deal was in 2019, and they still haven’t shot it, which is pretty much the craziest thing in my professional experience,” Weiser says. 

Douglas Wigdor 

Wigdor 

Catholic University

He’s filed suits against Harvey Weinstein, Sean Combs, James Dolan and Jimmy Iovine, among others. Of Combs’ legal troubles, he says, “I strongly suspect this is just the beginning in holding Mr. Combs and others in the music industry accountable for abusing the power they hold.” 

Beth Wilkinson

Wilkinson Stekloff 

Wilkinson led the charge in securing one of the most significant defense verdicts of the year when a federal judge ruled that Microsoft’s merger with Activision didn’t violate antitrust laws. In the bet-the-company litigation, Wilkinson, also a lead lawyer for the NFL in a $20 billion antitrust trial over Sunday Ticket, built the tech giant’s defense on arguments that the merger would increase competition because Microsoft would be able to challenge Sony’s dominance.  “Companies are seeing that you can win against the FTC,” she told THR in September.

Susan Zuckerman Williams 

She represented New Line on the recent release of The Watchers , as well as the rights holders of The Strangers trilogy, the first film of which was just released by Lionsgate. Other high-profile clients include MUFG Bank on debt financing for the Gersh agency and Banc of California in connection with a multimillion-dollar credit facility to a music distribution company.

If I were a TV lawyer, I’d be … “[ Scandal ’s] Olivia Pope, because there are many days where my main job is crisis management!”

Sophia Yen 

Manatt 

Boston University

My guilty TV pleasure “Catching up on Simpsons (I’m currently on season 29).”

Kevin Yorn 

He’s made deals for Scarlett Johansson (for the next Jurassic World ), Matthew McConaughey (headlining Paul Greengrass’ The Lost Bus ), Jonah Hill (directing Outcome for Apple, with Keanu Reeves and Cameron Diaz set to star) and Zoe Saldaña (starting her second season of Taylor Sheridan’s Lioness after scoring a shared best actress prize for Emilia Pérez at Cannes). He’s also seen Alix Earle and Hailey Bieber boom in the brand space.

My guilty TV pleasure “ Perry Mason , the original series from the ’50s, ’60s.”

Julian Zajfen 

Ziffren Brittenham

Speaking of that Jurassic World sequel, Zajfen client Gareth Edwards will be directing. Meanwhile, Mark Mylod, who made The Menu , has renewed his overall with HBO, where he’s helming the first two episodes of The Last of Us ’ sophomore season. 

My guilty TV pleasure “Old Top Gear episodes.”

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‘Vanderpump Rules’ EP Alex Baskin Denies Cast Claims of Interference, Addresses Future of the Show 

By Kate Aurthur

Kate Aurthur

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“I think that was a pretty dramatic, heightened account of what happened.”

That’s something that Alex Baskin — the boss of Bravo’s “ Vanderpump Rules ” — said at Variety ’s TV FYC Fest, during a panel called “Reality Producers Tell All.” He was refuting recent claims made by “Vanderpump Rules” cast member Scheana Shay, who has said of late that during production on the show’s 11th season last summer, Baskin made a veiled threat to the cast about canceling the show if it didn’t improve.

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In saying that, Shay was trying to offer an explanation for why she and Lala Kent seemed to turn on their friend Ariana Madix — instead, favoring Madix’s ex-partner Tom Sandoval — as the season went on. These developments culminated in the show’s May 7 finale, when Madix walked out of the season-ending party rather than be subjected to a tearful (without actual tears!) Sandoval performance of an apology. Afterward, Kent blew up after Madix’s departure, and broke the fourth wall on camera, saying “for Ariana to walk out this way is just such a slap in the face,” before accusing Madix of thinking she’s both God and Beyoncé.

On the panel, Baskin offered an account of this midseason meeting.

“We did get the entire cast together, and we thought we had hit a point in the season where I actually think that they were impacted by what was happening on social media,” he said. “We basically were telling them to drown out the noise, and to make the show that they had made over the previous 10 seasons — and that didn’t mean we asked them to manufacture anything.”

“It didn’t mean that we gave them any specific talking points,” he continued. “It just meant that we had made a show that worked because it was everybody rowing in the same direction, and reacting to each other. And we’ve gotten away from that. So we thought that we had to intervene in that sense.”

But restarting a brand-new season in the aftermath of the Scandoval proved to be difficult. In early May, Bravo confirmed that “Vanderpump Rules” is “on pause” — to use the network’s parlance for taking a break.

Baskin said “we’ll have a clearer picture a few months from now” about “Vanderpump Rules,” because “it was such an intense experience in such a compressed timeframe.”

“I think we will do an analysis of what else we need to consider for the show — and that’s who returns, and what the complexion of the cast looks like,” Baskin said. “I think everybody needs a little bit of time to live their lives, and then we can pick back up on them in a different spot.”

“ The Valley ,” Bravo’s “Vanderpump Rules” spinoff led by Jax Taylor, Brittany Cartwright, Kristen Doute and cast members new to the Bravoverse, is definitely not on pause, having had the highest-rated premiere of a new Bravo show in 10 years. Its successful first season that concluded earlier this week.

“We go into production very shortly, and I’m excited about that, because obviously all chaos is broken out in their lives,” Baskin said, referring to the now-exploded marriages of Cartwright and Taylor and Jesse and Michelle Lally.

Despite the pending future awkwardness of estranged couples interacting, the cast of “The Valley” will not be deterred.

“Everyone is coming back, which is great!” Baskin said. “We’re very excited to pick up with everyone in a different place, and see what happens.”

Elsewhere on the “Reality Producers Tell All” panel were Tom Campbell, the executive producer of “RuPaul’s Drag Race;” Isabel San Vargas, president of production and operations at Propagate Content, and an executive producer of “The GOAT;” Jen Darrow, an executive producer of “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives,” and the senior VP of programming and production at Citizen Pictures; and Courtney White, president, Butternut Media.

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