Reese Witherspoon’s production company Hello Sunshine will be purchased by a new firm financed by private-equity company Blackstone. The terms of the deal weren’t announced, but a source told the WSJ the deal values Hello Sunshine at $900 million, with Blackstone spending over $500 million to buy out Hello Sunshine’s outside investors, including AT&T and […]
Film/TV
Reese’s Book Club Announces “Eat the Book” Cooking Series
On February 18, Reese’s Book Club will air the first of four episodes in a new digital series Eat the Book, in which authors of the club’s picks join female chefs to bring a moment in their book to life through cooking a dish. Host Christina Milian will join authors Tembi Locke (From Scratch), Jasmine […]
People, Etc.: Attorney Michael Rudell Dies
Entertainment attorney Michael I. Rudell, 78, died Monday. He was managing partner at Franklin, Weinrib, Rudell & Vassallo, formed over 55 years ago, and represented many prominent authors. Staff recall, “His wicked wit, empathic personality, frustrating punning and extraordinary brilliance made him a star of the entertainment bar as well as the workplace.” Chris Dufault […]
People, Etc.
Annysa Polanco has been promoted to director, diversity, equity & inclusion at Penguin Random House. In the coming year, the company will add “more fully-dedicated positions” in diversity, equity & inclusions roles across the divisions, including a new “board-level DE&I leadership position” that will report directly to PRH US ceo Madeline McIntosh. Polanco will report […]
People, Etc.
Andy Bird will take over as ceo of Pearson, starting October 19. At that point, current ceo John Fallon will continue in the position until then, when he will step down from the board and remain as an advisor through the end of the year. Bird had been chairman of Walt Disney International most recently, […]
Briefs: Strong Opening Sales for Bolton
Simon & Schuster announced Wednesday morning that John Bolton’s THE ROOM WHERE IT HAPPENED: A White House Memoir sold “a total of more than 780,000” units in its first week on sale in the US. Note, however, that the total includes “orders from consumers that are as yet unfulfilled due to extraordinary demand,” which is […]