Hollywood’s 100 Most Powerful Women in 2024

Pamela Abdy

CO-CHAIR & CEO, WARNER BROS. MOTION PICTURE GROUP

The primary movie that Abdy and her co-chair, Michael De Luca, can take full credit score for since their transfer to WBD, September’s Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, exceeded all expectations with a $451 million world gross and, extra shockingly, a heat important reception to a sequel no one thought they wished. Elsewhere, Abdy efficiently revived one dormant franchise, Wonka ($634 million), whereas one other is heading for hibernation. Todd Phillips’ mirthless musical, Joker: Folie à Deux, hit all of the mistaken notes — although it already was within the works by Abdy’s 2022 arrival.

My most performed tune of 2024 “Something by Sabrina Carpenter. My daughter controls the automotive music.”

Fictional character I most determine with nowadays “Tess McGill (from Working Woman)”

Lauren Anderson

HEAD OF BRAND AND CONTENT INNOVATION, AMAZON MGM STUDIOS

Freevee will not be becoming a member of us within the new 12 months, however business breaks are as large a precedence at Amazon as ever (Prime subscriptions defaulted to ad-supported in 2024), and Anderson now runs inventive advert operations throughout the portfolio. She was integral to the model’s first upfront presentation in Might, which trotted out Reese Witherspoon and Will Ferrell, whereas her unscripted workforce has been on a tear of high-profile bookings, most notably inserting hosts Travis Kelce on Are You Smarter Than a Celeb? and Colin Jost on Pop Tradition Jeopardy!

My 2025 Hollywood prediction “The continued decline of looking. Prospects’ first cease for leisure might quickly turn out to be their solely cease.”

Lucia Aniello & Jen Statsky

WRITER-PRODUCERS, HACKS

Two-thirds of the showrunning trio behind Hacks — the third, Paul W. Downs, is a person, however he’s married to Aniello, so we’ll let it slide — these scribes scored the largest coup on the 2024 Emmys, topping odds-on favourite The Bear for finest comedy. Quick-tracking season 4 of their Jean Good collection for a 2025 return, Statsky additionally scored a kind of more and more elusive general offers in her transfer to Warner Bros. TV Group, the place she, Aniello and Downs simply offered scorching bundle Kansas Metropolis Star to HBO.

Fictional character I most determine with nowadays
Statsky: “Eeyore.”

Nonetheless ready on a name from …
Aniello: “Julia Louis-Dreyfus.”

My trick to staying calm proper now
Statsky: “Solely giving myself 9 hours of day by day display screen time.”

My skilled crush
Aniello: “Julia Louis-Dreyfus.”

Jennifer Aniston

ACTOR & PRODUCER, ECHO FILMS

The perennial Emmy nominee simply wrapped filming on the fourth season of the Apple TV+ hit The Morning Present, the place she is also an govt producer. Her Echo Movies banner raised eyebrows within the spring with information of growth on a 9 to five reboot from author Diablo Cody. Off digicam, the lady behind “The Rachel” continues to broaden the model footprint of hair-care line LolaVie and revealed the kids’s e book Clydeo Takes a Chew Out of Life.

My trick to staying calm proper now “Turning off social media and the information has been extraordinarily useful.”

My 2025 Hollywood prediction “Anora wins an Oscar.”

Sarah Aubrey, Amy Gravitt, Francesca Orsi & Nina Rosenstein

HEAD OF ORIGINAL CONTENT, MAX; EXEC VP AND HEAD OF COMEDY, HBO; EXEC VP AND HEAD OF DRAMA, HBO; EXEC VP PROGRAMMING, HBO

Boss Casey Bloys could also be eager to concentrate on 2025 after the strikes delayed a lot of HBO’s slate, however the previous calendar 12 months introduced no scarcity of impactful efforts. Orsi reinvigorated True Detective with the Jodie Foster-starring Evening Nation (whereas prepping the returns of The White Lotus and The Final of Us); Gravitt launched the ultimate season of Curb Your Enthusiasm; and Rosenstein delivered three of the 12 months’s buzziest comedy specials (Nikki Glaser: Sometime You’ll Die, Ramy Youssef: Extra Emotions and Alex Edelman: Only for Us) and Conan O’Brien’s Conan Should Go. At Max, Aubrey has that aforementioned Hacks win to brag about on high of the launch of The Penguin.

Hollywood’s takeaway from Trump’s re-election ought to be …
Gravitt: “Our viewers won’t share our political opinions, and specializing in the place we disagree has landed us right here.”

Fictional character I most determine with nowadays
Orsi: “Girl Chook’s mother. Elevating a teenage lady is difficult!”

My skilled crush
Rosenstein: “Conan, as a result of who doesn’t?”

Bela Bajaria

CHIEF CONTENT OFFICER, NETFLIX

Overseeing all movie and TV output on the nation’s (and the planet’s) dominant streamer, she manages an annual content material spend of $17 billion, leads groups in 27 international locations and has seen her programming drive a 16 p.c development in households (600-plus million) since final 12 months. This 12 months noticed collection like Bridgerton season three and Idiot Me As soon as dominate all streaming originals, whereas the breakout Child Reindeer swept the restricted race on the Emmys, and the platform’s most watched unique of all time, Squid Sport, lastly returns Dec. 26. Subsequent, the deal for WWE programming she brokered in January begins to bear fruit in 2025.

My trick to staying calm proper now “Going outdoors, with my espresso, early within the morning — nature and morning solar.”

My most performed tune of 2024 “Hanumankind’s ‘Massive Dawgs.’”

Betsy Beers & Shonda Rhimes

PRODUCERS, SHONDALAND

Now delivering at the very least one gargantuan launch a 12 months for Netflix, Rhimes’ firm (that includes her inventive accomplice, Beers) noticed season three of Bridgerton rapidly crack the streamer’s high 10 all-time most watched originals checklist — with 786.1 million hours watched, for a collection whole of two billion. Subsequent up is White Home homicide thriller The Residence, starring Uzo Aduba, because the ABC drama Gray’s Anatomy (now in its twenty first season) retains going. And going.

Frances Berwick

CHAIR, NBCUNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT

She could also be down a couple of cable nets because of her firm’s latest SpinCo for USA, Syfy and E!, however Berwick retains a dominion that features programming and technique for the No. 1 community throughout TV (NBC), Peacock (which streams the ascendant Traitors) and her previous stomping floor, Bravo. The cable community of messy yacht staffers and messier housewives stays too profitable for NBCU to let out with its former siblings.

My most performed tune of 2024 ” ‘Please Please Please,’ by Sabrina Carpenter.”

Nonetheless ready on a name from … “Coqodaq.” (Coqodaq is an unique Resy reserving in New York’s Flatiron district.)

Beyoncé

SINGER & FILMMAKER

Following her Renaissance World Tour with a genre-breaking nation album (Cowboy Carter), Beyoncé added one other 11 mentions to her tally as essentially the most nominated artist in Grammy historical past. She subsequent rings within the holidays with a coup of a halftime present throughout Netflix’s first-ever NFL recreation this Christmas, the largest check but for the streamer’s reside technique. No person desires a buffering Beyoncé.

Michelle Bohan, Stephanie Ritz & Sarah Self

SENIOR PARTNERS, WME

Bohan noticed offers for Jesse Eisenberg (A Actual Ache) and Amy Adams (Nightbitch) come to fruition after Emma Stone, a shopper she shares with Self, gained her second Oscar and launched extra movie (I Noticed the TV Glow) and TV (Fantasmas) underneath her Fruit Tree banner. Self additionally noticed Selena Gomez rating her first Emmy nomination for performing in Solely Murders within the Constructing and get Oscar buzz for Emilia Pérez. Ritz shopper Robert Pattinson simply signed on to reunite with Christopher Nolan, whereas she’s making Brett Goldstein a bona fide main man with a task reverse Jennifer Lopez within the rom-com Workplace Romance.

My trick to staying calm proper now
Bohan: “Remedy.” Self: “Sizzling yoga.”

Fictional character I most determine with nowadays
Ritz: “Sisyphus.”

Robbie Brenner

PRESIDENT, MATTEL FILMS

Since Barbie proved the toy-to-theatrical pipeline is a viable mannequin, the Mattel Movies head has been capable of capitalize on years of growth. The long-gestating Masters of the Universe is lastly in preproduction at Amazon with a 2026 theatrical launch, and Matchbox is a go at Apple, with John Cena set to star. And whereas a Barbie sequel remains to be a way off (if a chance in any respect), all the pieces in Mattel’s deep toy chest is in play. Even Uno!

Nonetheless ready on a name from … “My future self.”

Barbara Broccoli

CO-OWNER, EON PRODUCTIONS

If Broccoli and her sibling Michael Wilson — who collectively maintain the keys to the James Bond kingdom — have settled on who will play the following 007, the world has but to search out out. Within the meantime, she’s utilizing her producing acumen to convey the John Carney musical Sing Avenue from off-Broadway to London and hoping to duplicate the success she had with Carney’s As soon as.

Nicole Brown

PRESIDENT, TRISTAR PICTURES

Brown has the liberty to tackle each big-budget occasion pics and smaller fare — similar to this 12 months’s Right here, a quiet drama reuniting Robert Zemeckis together with his Forrest Gump stars Tom Hanks and Robin Wright. Upcoming movies embrace the Issa Rae-produced buddy comedy Certainly one of Them Days, starring Keke Palmer and SZA, a reimagining of Clue, and a high-pressure adaptation of Guys and Dolls that stage-to-screen king Rob Marshall is about to direct.

Fictional character I most determine with nowadays “All the emotions from Inside Out 2.”

Quinta Brunson

ACTOR, WRITER & PRODUCER

With Abbott Elementary in a strong groove of strong rankings, uncommon cultural relevance for a broadcast sitcom and continued Emmy love, the comedian power is lastly able to broaden her horizons. She simply set the function Par for the Course at Common. A comedy, naturally, it finds her starring alongside Stephanie Hsu along with writing and producing the challenge along with her Abbott colleague Justin Tan.

My most performed tune of 2024 ” ‘Let Her Cook dinner,’ by GloRilla.”

My skilled crush “Ryan Coogler”

Karey Burke, Gina Balian, Ayo Davis, Tara Duncan , Courteney Monroe & Simran Sethi

PRESIDENT, 20TH TELEVISION; PRESIDENT, FX ENTERTAINMENT; PRESIDENT, DISNEY BRANDED TELEVISION; PRESIDENT, ONYX COLLECTIVE; PRESIDENT, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC CONTENT; PRESIDENT OF SCRIPTED, HULU & ABC ENTERTAINMENT

It takes a village at Disney TV, and that village is dominated by girls. These six (six!) execs assist populate the sprawling TV portfolio that fills its father or mother firm’s programming coffers: from Balian’s epic run at FX (Shogun, The Bear, Say Nothing, The English Trainer) and Monroe’s newest Oscar-nominated Nat Geo effort (Bobi Wine: The Folks’s President), to Duncan’s buzzy Natasha Rothwell challenge (​​Tips on how to Die Alone) for Hulu and Davis’ YA smash Percy Jackson and the Olympians at Disney+. Burke’s twentieth TV was answerable for 24 returning collection and 20 new ones since THR‘s final checklist, together with fall’s onslaught of Ryan Murphy content material (Grotesquerie, Physician Odyssey, American Sports activities Story), whereas Sethi gained oversight of scripted programming of Hulu Originals and ABC Leisure.

Fictional character I most determine with nowadays
Burke: “Leslie Knope (Parks and Recreation), season two particularly!”
Sethi: “Murphy Brown daily.”
Duncan: “Jane Craig (Broadcast Information).”

If I have been a person with this job …
Balian: “I’d be Nick Grad.”

My trick to staying calm proper now
Davis: “Channeling my vitality into significant motion and connection.”

Nonetheless ready on a name from …
Monroe: “Good Morning America, with a proposal to hitch as a number.”

Kathryn Busby

HEAD OF PROGRAMMING, STARZ

As her platform appears to be like to formally separate from father or mother firm Lionsgate, Busby continues to construct on franchises like Energy, Outlander (again after a prolonged break) and even among the community’s older titles. A sequel collection to Spartacus, which ended again in 2013, simply started manufacturing in New Zealand.

My skilled crush “Wire Jefferson.”

My 2025 Hollywood prediction “Tv reveals and movies that break by means of due to authenticity, not due to price range.”

Kelly Campbell

PRESIDENT, PEACOCK

Her streamer should still be working at a loss, however with growing income (thanks, Olympics!) and a subscriber bounce to 36 million, Peacock is seemingly heading in the right direction. It is also, as evidenced by the father or mother firm’s cable divorce, nonetheless a high NBCU precedence. Latest highlights embrace that NFL Wild Card playoff recreation (27 million viewers, then a file for livestreaming), an Emmy win for The Traitors (sorry, RuPaul!) and the promise of an upcoming reboot of The Workplace — which nobody is allowed to name a reboot of The Workplace.

Nonetheless ready on a name from … “Oprah. A lady can dream.”

My 2025 Hollywood prediction “Extra bundling, extra mixing and blurring of the traces — and extra of the Kelce household.”

Daria Cercek

CO-PRESIDENT, PARAMOUNT MOTION PICTURE GROUP

For all of the discuss of a moviegoing apocalypse, Cercek and Paramount fared properly this 12 months: The January sleeper hit Imply Women (the movie musical primarily based on the stage musical primarily based on the film primarily based on a self-help e book) might have initially been meant for streaming, nevertheless it ended up grossing greater than $100 million globally; Bob Marley: One Love hit $181 million; and A Quiet Place: Day One scored a franchise-best home opening ($52 million that finally was $262 million worldwide) regardless of being a derivative. The 12 months ends on one other excessive notice: an auspicious launch for Gladiator II.

Fictional character I most determine with nowadays “Sonic the Hedgehog’s frenetic pacing is talking to me lately (plug!).”

My trick to staying calm proper now Individuals are calm proper now?

Margie Cohn

PRESIDENT, DREAMWORKS ANIMATION

Now that Jennifer Lee has departed Walt Disney Animation, Cohn is among the few girls on the high of an animation studio. And that’s clearly the place she belongs. DreamWorks had certainly one of its finest years in latest reminiscence, with the unique animation The Wild Robotic a important and business success ($300 million worldwide) and the newest Kung Fu Panda movie touchdown $550 million. She’ll subsequent revisit Shrek, with the fifth movie within the franchise dated for 2026.

My most performed tune of 2024 “Chappell Roan’s ‘Sizzling to Go!’ Unimaginable earworm.”

Hollywood’s takeaway from Trump’s re- election ought to be … “Get to know the viewers. They’re sending clear messages.”

Alex Cooper

PODCASTER & CO-FOUNDER, TRENDING MEDIA CO.

Since her Barstool beginnings, Cooper has transcended the label of mere podcaster — although Name Her Daddy did simply earn her a $125 million, three-year settlement with SiriusXM. She’s simply essentially the most highly effective girl within the medium, one motive why she was enlisted by NBCUniversal to usher in younger viewers to the Olympics with Peacock watch events. As she turns extra consideration to Hollywood, she and her husband, producer Matt Kaplan, are constructing out and staffing up their Gen Z-targeted Trending Media Co.

My trick to staying calm proper now “If it’s not edibles, it’s sinking into any mattress with my Kindle and lots of snacks.”

Hollywood’s takeaway from Trump’s re- election ought to be … “We shouldn’t cease the dialog surrounding girls’s rights.”

Maha Dakhil, Tiffany Ward & Ida Ziniti

AGENTS, CAA

Dakhil saved her checklist of heavy-hitters (Tom Cruise, Reese Witherspoon and Mindy Kaling amongst them) busy this 12 months, although Denis Villeneuve’s $711 million-grossing Dune: Half Two was a excessive level. Ward, who helped put collectively Solely Murders within the Constructing and The Penguin, signed Lisa Pleasure and her Kilter Movies. As for Ziniti, after shopper Wire Jefferson took the Oscar for tailored screenplay, she brokered strikes for Barbie stars Ryan Gosling, who launched his manufacturing firm Normal Admission, and Margot Robbie and her LuckyChap productions (My Previous Ass and the upcoming Emerald Fennell-directed Wuthering Heights). Each Dakhil and Ward have been named managing administrators at CAA, whereas Ziniti joined the company board.

My trick to staying calm proper now
Dakhil: “Listening to the elders.”
Ward: “Energy coaching.”
Ziniti: “Tea, sauna, yoga and a very good ole original work grind.”

My most performed tune of 2024
Dakhil: “It’s a Chappell Roan 12 months.”
Ward: ” ‘Issues Behind Issues Behind’ Issues by Bon Iver.”
Ziniti: ” ‘Child Beluga,’ the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles theme tune and different preschool bangers.”

Marissa Devins, Blair Kohan & Rena Ronson

AGENTS, UTA

Devins added Child Reindeer breakout Richard Gadd this 12 months (forward of his Netflix deal), becoming a member of a roster that features Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Tomb Raider) and Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson (Yellowjackets). Kohan’s offers have been too numbered to get into, however the eight-figure pact for Paul Rudd to star within the Anaconda reboot and promoting the Colleen Hoover novel Reminders of Him to Common weren’t too shabby. As for Ronson, the unbiased movie head offered the breakout Sundance doc Will & Harper to Netflix and helped construction the financing for the Chris Pratt Cannes pitch Approach of the Warrior Child earlier than it offered to Skydance and Apple for a cool $85 million.

Hollywood’s takeaway from Trump’s re-election ought to be …
Devins: “Seems like we’re gonna want much more comedies!”
Ronson: “Hopefully the streamers and studios don’t draw back from our truth-to-power tales, as we all know these movies can form tradition.”

My skilled crush
Kohan: “At all times Sherry Lansing.”

If I have been a person with this job … 
Devins: “I’d be taller … with a extra smart shoe assortment.”

Fictional character I most determine with nowadays
Kohan: “Girl Danbury from Bridgerton“
Ronson: “Pamela Adlon’s Sam Fox in Higher Issues.”

Nina Diaz

CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER, SHOWTIME/ MTV STUDIOS, PARAMOUNT NETWORKS

Since including scripted to her slate on the pre-merger Paramount, Diaz has launched political thriller The Company and the Dexter prequel Authentic Sin at Showtime (or Paramount with Showtime … who actually is aware of at this level?) after elevating eyebrows with Emma Stone and Nathan Fielder’s experimental The Curse. Key to her portfolio, Yellowjackets is anticipated to make its long-awaited return in early 2025.

My most performed tune of 2024 ” ‘Not Like Us,’ by Kendrick Lamar.”

My skilled crush “Bela Bajaria, chief content material officer at Netflix. All day, daily. She is the G.O.A.T.!”

Kristin Dolan

CEO, AMC NETWORKS

Taking cost of the storied cable (now streaming) portfolio in 2023, Dolan has leaned into what works: making new iterations of The Strolling Lifeless and inserting them at Netflix for profitable second home windows. Content material licensing lately jumped 31 p.c, serving to the corporate finest earnings expectations because it additionally lastly purchased out the Brits to realize full management of BBC America.

Fictional character I most determine with nowadays … “Kate Wyler, from The Diplomat.”

My trick to staying calm proper now “Spending the weekends cooking.”

Fran Drescher

ACTOR & PRESIDENT, SAG-AFTRA

One 12 months after SAG-AFTRA’s historic actors strike ended, its president isn’t letting up on labor activism. Drescher’s union lately mounted a piece stoppage in opposition to main online game firms (at difficulty, as soon as extra, is the usage of AI in leisure), unionized intimacy coordinators and efficiently advocated for enshrining AI protections for performers into California state regulation. In the meantime, Drescher is about to return to the silver display screen quickly with roles in Josh Safdie’s A24 movie Marty Supreme and Rob Reiner’s Spinal Faucet II.

My trick to staying calm proper now “Arranging flowers. Buddhist knowledge at all times helps. A holy basil complement if all else fails.”

Fictional character I most determine with nowadays “Marvel Lady.”

Channing Dungey

CHAIR, WARNER BROS. TELEVISION GROUP

As if she weren’t already one of the vital highly effective TV execs, Dungey provides oversight of greater than 12 channels in Warner Bros. Discovery’s substantial cable portfolio to her remit in 2025. That’s along with managing an enormous studio output (almost 90 present collection) that’s a pipeline to each company siblings (Max’s The Penguin and the upcoming HBO effort Lanterns) and off-site. Ted Lasso season 4 appears to be a go at Apple TV+, the place WBTV lately planted summer time breakouts Presumed Harmless and Unhealthy Monkey.

Nonetheless ready on a name from … “My childhood crush.”

My 2025 Hollywood prediction “Any prediction made as we speak has a 50-50 shot at accuracy.”

Ava DuVernay

FILMMAKER & FOUNDER, ARRAY

Whereas DuVernay has but to announce her subsequent directorial effort (her final movie was 2023’s Origin), her inventive collective Array continues to cowl {industry} blindspots. Array Crew connects underrepresented below-the-line expertise with jobs, and Array Releasing helps join works from unrepresented filmmakers to audiences — particularly essential as indie movies are having a tougher (learn: almost unattainable) time touchdown distribution out of movie festivals.

Ayo Edebiri

ACTOR, WRITER & DIRECTOR
The breakout star of The Bear has spent the previous few years atop casting want lists, and he or she seems to be choosing and selecting properly. She lately filmed options from administrators Luca Guadagnino (After the Hunt) and James L. Brooks (Ella McCay). When she’s not donning chef’s whites in Chicago, she might be discovered within the recording studio lending her voice to Massive Mouth, Inside Out 2 and Clone Excessive or bringing the home down in the most effective Saturday Evening Dwell sketches of the 12 months. (“Faculty Hypnotist,” google it.)

Jessica Elbaum

PRODUCER, GLORIA SANCHEZ PRODUCTIONS

With Will & Harper proving to be the doc darling of 2024, Elbaum places her producing accomplice Will Ferrell in entrance of the digicam once more come January. That’s when his Reese Witherspoon rom-com You’re Cordially Invited lastly RSVPs on Prime Video. However first, there’s Liz Feldman’s follow-up to Lifeless to Me: The Netflix comedy collection No Good Deed drops Dec. 12 in that selection pre-holiday hall.

My skilled crush “Dolly Parton.” [Editor’s note: Elbaum references Parton in some respect every year. Dolly, please reach out.]

Amy Entelis

EXEC VP, TALENT & CNN ORIGINALS & CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT

At a CNN that’s present process a wave of tumult, Entelis has a relative island of stability — and stays her outlet’s tether to Hollywood. After former CEO Chris Licht sought to slash CNN’s unique programming ambitions, new boss Mark Thompson seeks to reinvigorate them. Entelis has helped launch a U.S. model of the BBC comedy panel collection Have I Bought Information for You, and collection like Eva Longoria: Looking for Spain. And CNN has been producing and buying documentaries, like Tremendous/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story and Carville: Successful Is Every little thing, Silly.

My trick to staying calm proper now “Taking part in the New York Instances‘ Spelling Bee.”

Nonetheless ready on a name from …  “Dolly Parton, so we are able to lastly give her the licensed documentary remedy!”

Emerald Fennell

FILMMAKER

Fennell is among the city’s most in-demand administrators. After her Oscar win for Promising Younger Lady and the feeling of Saltburn — the movie put 2000s tune “Homicide on the Dance Flooring” on the 2024 Billboard charts whereas sullying the repute of bath drains — the filmmaker set off a seismic bidding conflict for her newest. Reteaming with Margot Robbie and her LuckyChap, Fennell will write and direct a Wuthering Heights adaptation starring Euphoria favourite Jacob Elordi.

Elaine Frontain Bryant

EXEC VP & HEAD OF PROGRAMMING, A&E, LIFETIME & LMN

The ever-dependable true-crime style continues to slay throughout Frontain Bryant’s portfolio. Sordidly titled (however extremely watched!) tasks like Casey Anthony’s Mother and father: The Lie Detector Take a look at at A&E, The Jail Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard at Lifetime and the latter’s follow-up, Gypsy Rose: Life After Lockup, all proved to be pay dust for her cable networks in 2024.

My most performed tune of 2024 ” ‘Tennessee Orange,’ by Megan Moroney. Really, her complete album, [Lucky].”

Nonetheless ready on a name from … “Diana Ross, saying she desires Lifetime to do her biography.”

Liz Garbus

FILMMAKER & FOUNDER, STORY SYNDICATE

She could also be holding her directorial efforts more and more centered on Hollywood fare — Hulu’s upcoming Good American Household, starring Ellen Pompeo and Mark Duplass, provides the wild Natalia Grace story a scripted spin — however she’s nonetheless fairly busy on the documentary entrance because of her Story Syndicate shingle. Latest producorial efforts embrace Fanatical: The Catfishing of Tegan and Sara.

My trick to staying calm proper now “Fascinated by historical past. Nothing is everlasting; we now have to maintain preventing for the values we maintain pricey.”

If I have been a person with this job … “I’d be richer.”

Dany Garcia

PRESIDENT, SEVEN BUCKS PRODUCTIONS

A 360-degree businesswoman, Garcia heads Seven Bucks, which she co-founded with former husband Dwayne Johnson. This 12 months that they had Amazon’s much-discussed (if poorly attended) Christmas film Purple One, and a live-action Moana is on the runway with rather more in growth. Garcia’s in depth portfolio consists of vitality drink Zoa, tequila Teremana, an Beneath Armour line and the relaunch of soccer league UFL.

Nonetheless ready on a name from … “Whoopi Goldberg to debate her new All-Girls Sports activities Community.”

My most performed tune of 2024 “Cowboy Carter, the entire album.”

Dede Gardner

PARTNER, PLAN B ENTERTAINMENT

The manufacturing firm Gardner co-runs with Brad Pitt and Jeremy Kleiner delivered a variety of tasks in 2024, together with Paramount’s biopic field workplace hit, Bob Marley: One Love, Netflix’s sci-fi streaming win 3 Physique Downside, Warner Bros.’ $451 million-grossing Beetlejuice sequel and the Amazon important darling Nickel Boys. Subsequent 12 months sees her delivering Bong Joon Ho’s much-anticipated Parasite observe (Mickey 17), Pitt’s F1 and Nia DaCosta’s Hedda Gabler adaptation.

Greta Gerwig

ACTOR & FILMMAKER

After saving Hollywood from a subdued 2023 with Barbie, Gerwig’s $1.45 billion-grossing technicolor ode to the theatrical expertise that earned eight Oscar nominations, the auteur retreated to her inventive bunker, the place she’s hatching a presumably expensive Chronicles of Narnia movie for Netflix. She did briefly reemerge in 2024 to movie husband Noah Baumbach’s untitled, cloaked-in-secrecy function — additionally at Netflix.

Nikki Glaser

ACTOR, COMIC, HOST & WRITER

Tom Brady might have proved too delicate to be on the receiving finish of a roast, however Netflix’s high-profile sendup of the quarterback turned trying-really-hard commentator was nothing to remorse for this comedian. Glaser, lengthy a profitable touring comic with a slew of specials and TV gigs, appeared to coast simply outdoors the zeitgeist till her scene-stealing look on the Might particular. She’s been on a roll ever since. Six days later, she dropped Nikki Glaser: Sometime You’ll Die on Max, now essentially the most watched unique stand-up particular within the streamer’s historical past. In August, the Golden Globes introduced she’ll host the 2025 telecast — a transfer that can hopefully erase Jo Koy’s 2024 gig from our collective reminiscence.

Fictional character I most determine with nowadays “I haven’t seen it but, however primarily based on what I’ve heard, I believe I’m like Demi Moore’s character in The Substance proper earlier than she takes it.”

Nonetheless ready on a name from … “My boyfriend. He’s out of city. I instructed him by way of textual content final evening that I used to be depressed. He requested if I wished to speak on the cellphone, however I stated ‘no’ so he didn’t name me. What I actually wished him to do was name anyway. How dare he respect my boundaries! Can’t he learn the reality behind my defensive lies?!”

My skilled crush “Everybody concerned with English Trainer on FX. I haven’t been this excited a couple of TV comedy since Veep.”

Dana Goldberg

CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER, SKYDANCE MEDIA

The M&A tea leaves have but to disclose what’s in retailer for creatives on both facet of 2025’s Skydance-Paramount marriage, however Goldberg’s monitor file of style on the David Ellison outfit bodes effectively. She helped Skydance turn out to be the one unbiased studio to occupy the No. 1 slot on two streamers over the identical weekend with movie The Household Plan (Apple TV+) and Reacher (Prime Video). Highlights on her crowded runway, many already talked about in different entries, embrace an action-comedy collection starring Octavia Spencer and Hannah Waddingham (for Prime, which gained a bidding conflict) and the function Mayday, starring Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh, for Apple.

Hollywood’s takeaway from Trump’s re- election ought to be … “Polling, schmolling.”

My 2025 Hollywood prediction “We cease speaking in regards to the loss of life of theatrical.”

Kira Goldberg & Hannah Minghella

VP FILM, NETFLIX; HEAD OF FEATURE ANIMATION AND LIVE-ACTION FAMILY FILM, NETFLIX

The 2 highest-ranking girls behind Netflix’s moneyed film slate, Minghella and Goldberg maintain outsize affect as studio execs. Upcoming options from Minghella, who heads function animation and household movies, and Goldberg, who’s dealing with thrillers and dramas, embrace the Charlize Theron survival film Apex, the Remarkably Shiny Creatures adaptation — , “That Octopus Guide” — and Greta Gerwig’s Chronicles of Narnia movie. Goldberg additionally was behind 2024 world hits like Kevin Hart’s Raise and the Laura Dern starrer Lonely Planet.

My 2025 Hollywood prediction
Goldberg: “A renewed emphasis on unique tales and likewise hopefully Titanic 2.”
Minghella: “It will likely be unpredictable!”

Nonetheless ready on a name from …
Goldberg: “Lin Manuel Miranda to schedule the Rainbow Room dinner he owes me for dropping a guess. Pay your money owed, LMM!”

Fictional character I most determine with nowadays
Minghella: “I’ll resist the urge to call a protagonist from a dystopian novel and as a substitute decide Pleasure from Inside Out 2.”

Selena Gomez

ACTOR, SINGER & PRODUCER

Is there any area by which Gomez can’t thrive? Kicking off the 12 months with an underrated banger (justice for “Love On!”), the newly minted Uncommon Magnificence billionaire earned Emmy nominations for starring in and producing Solely Murders within the Constructing, delivered a star-packed fourth season and appeared within the toast of Cannes, Emilia Pérez, alongside Karla Sofía Gascón and Zoe Saldaña. This 12 months’s THR Fairness in Leisure Award honoree, her Uncommon Influence Fund mobilizes $100 million for elevated entry to youth psychological well being providers and schooling around the globe.

Salma Hayek Pinault

ACTOR & PRODUCER

At present in manufacturing on Sacrifice, an motion journey comedy by which she stars alongside Anya Taylor-Pleasure and Chris Evans, Hayek continues to construct an already spectacular résumé as a producer. Her serialized adaptation of Like Water for Chocolate for HBO is presently intoxicating critics. It’s additionally been a 12 months since husband François-Henri Pinault’s funding agency, Artémis, bought a majority stake in CAA — an influence play for the actress, as effectively, already one of many company’s high shoppers.

If I have been a person with this job … “I’d be myself, simply with a penis and making extra money.”

My skilled crush “Anthony Hopkins.”

Nonetheless ready on a name from … “Christopher Nolan.” [Editor’s note: Chris, pick up the phone.]

Cindy Holland

ADVISER, SKYDANCE

It’s nonetheless not fully clear what Holland’s position will probably be as she helps David Ellison navigate the Paramount deal — or what position there may be for her when the merger mud settles — however in tapping the lady largely credited with making Netflix a status outlet (earlier than her sudden 2020 exit), the scion is actually sending a sign to the inventive neighborhood.

My skilled crush “I can not, and won’t, select between Natasha Lyonne and Brit Marling.”

My most performed tune of 2024 “No matter occurs to be on the ‘Chill’ station.”

Colleen Hoover

AUTHOR & PRODUCER

After the Hoover adaptation It Ends With Us turned one of many largest field workplace successes of 2024 — with $148 million domestically and one other $200 million internationally — the writer’s works turned a scorching commodity in Hollywood. Almost each studio wished a bit, with Amazon backing Verity, starring Anne Hathaway, and a assured Common setting Reminders of Him for a 2026 launch date regardless of it not but having a solid. Hoover is heading into Gillian Flynn and Liane Moriarty territory.

Jinny Howe & Tracey Pakosta

VP DRAMA SERIES, NETFLIX; VP COMEDY SERIES, NETFLIX

Overseeing the streamer’s most impactful general offers (Shondaland and the Duffer brothers), Howe dropped Bridgerton season three, Ryan Murphy’s Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, bonkers Nicole Kidman car The Good Couple and Emmy darling Ripley all prior to now 9 months. Pakosta, who launched watercooler favourite No person Desires This, stays instrumental in Netflix’s offscreen comedy push with Netflix Is a Joke: The Competition (242 reveals, together with John Mulaney’s blissful All people’s in L.A., over 12 wild days). Her workforce stays the largest purchaser of specials, with Ali Wong, Hannah Gadsby, Ellen DeGeneres, Dave Chappelle and Joe Rogan (a person who has no place on this difficulty) all dropping new hours.

My trick to staying calm proper now
Howe: “Planning household holidays and daydreaming about unique getaways with pals.”
Pakosta: “Häagen-Dazs Vanilla Swiss Almond ice cream.”

Nonetheless ready on a name from …
Howe: “Sofia Coppola.”
Pakosta: “The highschool attendance workplace.”

Pearlena Igbokwe

CHAIR, UNIVERSAL STUDIO GROUP

Overseeing NBCU’s 4 TV-focused studios (Common Tv, UCP, Common Tv Different Studio and Common Worldwide Studios), Igbokwe has spent her 4 years atop the group rising income, collection output (100-plus airing globally) and is answerable for 5 of the highest 10 scripted collection on broadcast — most of them from TV’s largest cop fanatic who isn’t on the Fox Information payroll, Dick Wolf. However Mr. Wolf is an outlier if you take a look at Igbokwe’s female-dominant expertise secure, which has offers with Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Debra Martin Chase, Nahnatchka Khan, Jenna Bush Hager and Mariska Hargitay.

Fictional character I most determine with nowadays “Lucy Ricardo, attempting to wrap all of the items of chocolate earlier than they go by on the conveyor belt and being pressured to stuff some in my mouth and purse so I don’t sluggish something down. Is {that a} clear sufficient image?”

My trick to staying calm proper now “Specializing in the duty in entrance of me and tuning out all the opposite noise. It really works each professionally and personally.”

Nina Jacobson

PRODUCER, COLOR FORCE

Jacobson’s manufacturing firm with longtime accomplice Brad Simpson didn’t slack these previous 12 months, launching new collection Clipped for FX on Hulu, franchise potential American Sports activities Story with Ryan Murphy at FX and the difference of Patrick Radden Keefe’s Say Nothing at Hulu. On the movie entrance, a brand new function in writer Suzanne Collins’ Starvation Video games franchise was introduced in June and there are rumblings that the long-delayed Loopy Wealthy Asians sequel might quickly begin transferring ahead.

Mindy Kaling

ACTOR, WRITER & PRODUCER

Kaling could be very a lot in writing mode in the intervening time — most lately penning the return of The Intercourse Lives of Faculty Women and placing the ending touches on the Kate Hudson NBA comedy Operating Level for Netflix. It must also be famous that, in an period when promoting comedies is almost unattainable, the Warner Bros.-set producer had a number of bidders for her single-camera ensemble piece Murray Hill. Hulu gained with a script-to-series dedication. (She additionally simply boarded the live-action brief Anuja as a producer, a boon to the Oscar hopeful.)

My trick to staying calm proper now “On-line purchasing. I memorize bank card numbers sooner than traces.”

My skilled crush “Greta Gerwig, and it’s not skilled.”

If I have been a person with this job … “I’d be doing what I’m doing now but additionally discovering time to complain about fantasy soccer.”

Fictional character I most determine with nowadays “I’m Baron Harkonen. I’m merciless but additionally simply wish to take a scorching bathtub.”

Theresa Kang

CEO, BLUE MARBLE PICTURES

Within the 4 years since Kang left her life as an agent to launch her personal manufacturing firm and administration agency, she’s discovered success with a string of status tasks — notably the difference of the Min Jin Lee novel Pachinko, which lately aired its second season at Apple TV+, and the upcoming ​​HBO effort Darkish Locations. She maintains a shopper checklist that features Lena Waithe, Gillian Flynn and Alfonso Cuarón, who simply dropped his first collection, Cate Blanchett’s Disclaimer, at Apple TV+.

My trick to staying calm proper now “Studying one thing new. Proper now taking Spanish classes.”

My skilled crush “Steve Golin, to this present day.”

Kim Kardashian

ACTOR & PRODUCER

After conquering actuality TV, style and shapewear over the previous 15 years — whereas dabbling in felony justice work — Kardashian now has her sights set on a extra conventional Hollywood pastime: performing. The star will observe up her onscreen work in American Horror Story: Delicate with a second Ryan Murphy collection, the authorized drama All’s Truthful, that Kardashian is govt producing; she additionally is about to star within the Netflix comedy The Fifth Wheel, from Paula Pell and Janine Brito.

Lisa Katz

PRESIDENT, SCRIPTED CONTENT, NBCUNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT

The client for each NBC and Peacock, this former drama head has positioned Poker Face, Struggle Evening, Ted and the lately renewed The Day of the Jackal on the streamer whereas giving her broadcast community some uncommon non-Dick Wolf fare in Discovered, Irrational and, an organization precedence, the comedy St. Denis Medical. She additionally gave the greenlight to Greg Daniels’ upcoming sitcom “set on this planet of The Workplace” — which you actually can not name a reboot, all proper?

My trick to staying calm proper now “Yoga and Duolingo”

My 2025 Hollywood prediction “Fewer networks however extra episodes (with commercials).”

Kathleen Kennedy

PRESIDENT, LUCASFILM

Regardless of stop-and-starts on options and uneven success on streaming collection, Kennedy, who sits on the inventive helm of Hollywood’s largest non-Marvel IP, is forging ahead into that galaxy far, distant. Jon Favreau is working the primary Star Wars function in a number of years, The Mandalorian & Grogu, and a second season of Andor (thought of the perfect of the episodic choices) will return in 2025. It additionally was lately introduced that Simon Kinberg will write and produce a brand new trilogy — however we’ve heard that line earlier than.

Paula Kerger

CEO, PBS

PBS stays one of the vital very important programmers in America, even when it doesn’t scream horny — effectively, at the very least not since Downton Abbey — and it will not be the largest purchaser. However, as a public media-averse Trump administration quickly returns to the White Home, the longest-serving chief in its historical past will once more should battle to make sure that PBS’ instructional and children programming stays on 300-plus unbiased stations, many servicing rural properties with out broadband web.

My 2025 Hollywood prediction “Accelerating change and disruption.”

Fictional character I most determine with nowadays “Jo March. From the time I used to be a woman I’ve at all times liked that she is wise, relentless, and outspoken, at all times pushing in opposition to what’s often anticipated of ladies.”

Aleen Keshishian

CEO, LIGHTHOUSE MANAGEMENT + MEDIA

One of the crucial profitable manager-producers in Hollywood, Keshishian put shopper Selena Gomez in Emilia Pérez, received Gwyneth Paltrow to return to performing reverse Timothée Chalamet in Josh Safdie’s Marty, produced Olivia Rodrigo: GUTS World Tour for Netflix and helped arrange Black Rabbit at Netflix for Jason Bateman to star in, direct and produce. She’s additionally received Jennifer Aniston, Paul Rudd and Mark Ruffalo, however who’s counting?

My trick to staying calm proper now “Astro Burger drive-through.”

Nicole Kidman

ACTOR & PRODUCER, BLOSSOM FILMS

If haven’t but learn Kidman’s function interview, go on to this web page. Don’t cross go. Don’t accumulate $200.

Nicole King & Stacy O’Neil

CO-FOUNDERS, LINDEN ENTERTAINMENT

Alongside third accomplice JoAnne Colonna, King and O’Neil have grown their administration and manufacturing enterprise in spades, with King notably main Jennifer Garner’s profitable entrepreneurial efforts and O’Neil, repping Vin Diesel and producing Marielle Heller’s Nightbitch with Bond Group Leisure, which she co-founded with shopper Amy Adams. In June, Linden Productions’ enterprise Stereophonic took 5 Tony Awards, together with finest play.

Nonetheless ready on a name from …
King: “Ina Garten.”
O’Neil: “Bruce Springsteen.”

Fictional character I most determine with nowadays
King: “My daughters say a cross between Buzz Mild 12 months and Highway Runner, with a sprinkle of Maleficent.”
O’Neil:”Nancy Drew — I’ve teenage twins so I’m at all times attempting to resolve the thriller of what’s actually occurring.”

Deborah Klein, Tara Kole, Gretchen Rush & Nina Shaw

ATTORNEYS

Klein negotiated one of many solely issues we find out about Avengers 5, that Paul Rudd will probably be on board, after seeing Vince Vaughn star in Unhealthy Monkey and inserting Samuel L. Jackson in Struggle Evening and The Piano Lesson. Kole received Josh O’Connor to star in Kelly Reichardt’s subsequent movie The Mastermind and set Charles Melton’s deal to seem within the subsequent installment of Beef. Main offers for Rush embrace Jennifer Lawrence starring in and producing the Lynne Ramsay thriller Die, My Love, and renewing Ellen Pompeo’s eternally profitable Gray’s Anatomy gig, whereas Shaw noticed success for Lupita Nyong’o (A Quiet Place: Day One and The Wild Robotic).

My 2025 Hollywood prediction
Kole: “FAST TV will proceed to blow up.”

My most performed tune of 2024
Rush: ” ‘Certainly one of Your Women,’ by Troye Sivan.”

Veronika Kwan Vandenberg

PRESIDENT OF DISTRIBUTION, UNIVERSAL PICTURES INTERNATIONAL

The city’s solely feminine distribution exec on a greenlight committee helped the studio usurp Disney and turn out to be No. 1 in world market share in 2023 — thanks largely to the efficiency of Oppenheimer. Not not like the reigning finest image Oscar winner, this Thanksgiving’s Depraved isn’t an apparent promote abroad — but the latter is off to a powerful begin internationally ($97 million by means of Dec. 1).

My trick to staying calm proper now “An ice bathtub.”

Donna Langley

CHAIR, NBCUNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT AND STUDIOS

Annually, Hollywood’s high feminine movie govt coalesces extra sway at her media conglomerate — which, within the wake of spinning off its cable enterprise, promoted Langley to guide greenlight selections, company-wide, throughout TV, streaming and movie. As for her movie output, her group retains a 21 p.c share of the home market, pulled $5 billion on the world field workplace prior to now 12 months, earned a 2024 finest image Oscar (and 6 others) for Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer and kicked off the vacation film rush with $359.9 million (and counting) globally for Depraved.

My trick to staying calm proper now “Specializing in the issues I can management and the methods I can present up for these round me.”

Jennifer Lawrence

ACTOR & PRODUCER, EXCELLENT CADAVER

One of many few minted film stars of her technology, Lawrence is redoubling her producing efforts by way of Glorious Cadaver, throwing her weight behind abortion doc Zurawski v Texas and Bread and Roses, about girls in Afghanistan underneath the rule of the Taliban. Subsequent up is producing and starring in Die, My Love. Then the well-documented Actual Housewives obsessive is mixing enterprise and pleasure, producing an A24 homicide thriller impressed by the Bravo franchise.

My trick to staying calm proper now “Avoiding cable information.”

My skilled crush “Saoirse Ronan. She’s extraordinarily gifted and makes daring selections.”

Miky Lee

VICE CHAIR, CJ GROUP

The deep-pocked tastemaker continues to make increasingly English-language content material because the stateside face of her South Korean conglomerate. As a producer, Lee delivered new seasons of Snowpiercer and The Massive Door Prize in 2024 and has Yorgos Lanthimos’ directorial effort Bugonia, starring — who else? — Emma Stone, on deck for 2025, simply in time for awards season.

Meg LeFauve

WRITER

With a story-by screenplay credit score, LeFauve was a key driver (and solely outstanding girl) on the workforce that executed Inside Out 2. Having collected a joyful bounty of virtually $1.7 billion, the film set information by changing into not simply the highest-grossing film of the 12 months, but additionally the highest-grossing animated film of all time and the eighth-highest-grossing film in historical past. When it hit Disney+, it generated 30.5 million views in its first 5 days, making it the highest movie performer on the streaming service. That’s lots of superlatives.

My trick to staying calm proper now “If I look calm, I’m pretending. Proper now, Nervousness is absolutely on the controls, however Pleasure is correct there beside her — I simply should breathe and search for the wonder in my life.”

Blake Full of life

ACTOR & PRODUCER

Full of life car It Ends With Us stuffed the proverbial watercooler on a number of fronts, most notably luring feminine audiences in droves and scoring almost $350 million on the world field workplace this summer time. It’s a best-case situation for her producorial debut, as she used the expansive press tour to push her budding companies (glowing soda firm Betty Buzz, alcohol operation Betty Booze, hair-care line Blake Brown). Subsequent up on the performing entrance: The sequel to A Easy Favor.

My most performed tune of 2024 “Child Shark, Dance Remix. I’ve a 1-year-old. It’s heaven — and likewise musical hell.”

My 2025 Hollywood prediction “Extra movies by girls, for ladies, about girls, being greenlit and made. Girls present as much as the theaters for feminine genres, though Hollywood seemingly forgot that for some time. Girls are fairly actually kicking ass in male genres — however once we give girls roles exploring the feminine expertise in feminine genres, we’ll are available in droves to see it. And never alone. They carry pals, different genders and present up and reward a studio with repeated viewings. Make it nice. Make it human. Make it emotional. And other people will come.”

Eva Longoria

ACTOR & FILMMAKER

She could also be residing between Spain and Mexico nowadays, however Longoria isn’t any much less a Hollywood power, showing in Land of Girls after which Solely Murders within the Constructing (as herself enjoying Selena Gomez’s character, Mabel). The producer has a slew of Spanish-language content material in manufacturing and growth, and, a 12 months out from co-founding Hyphenate Media Group alongside longtime pal Cris Abrego, the chief inventive officer introduced powerhouse writer-director-producer Gloria Calderón Kellett in home.

If I have been a person with this job … “I most likely wouldn’t multitask as effectively.”

My skilled crush “Ricky Martin.”

Jennifer Lopez

ACTOR, SINGER & PRODUCER

Hear, no one’s saying Lopez had a marquee 12 months. Fairly the alternative. Idea album and companion movie This Is Me … Now was a raffle that simply didn’t repay, she canceled a summer time tour, and her private life occupied an outsized quantity of tabloid consideration. However Netflix film Atlas pulled in 77 million viewers, prompting the streamer to purchase her rom-com with Brett Goldstein. Her efficiency in TIFF sports activities drama Unstoppable earned constructive evaluations. And he or she’s been fairly candid in regards to the bumps alongside the best way. Actual ones get well fast.

Kristie Macosko Krieger

PRODUCER, AMBLIN PARTNERS

Prepping Steven Spielberg’s subsequent directorial enterprise, an untitled occasion pic for Common, Macosko Krieger and all concerned are staying mum in regards to the storyline, however most indicators level to it being his first tentpole manufacturing since 2018’s Prepared Participant One. Krieger has been Spielberg’s go-to producer for years, and this subsequent collaboration has already assembled fairly the solid, together with Josh O’Connor, Emily Blunt, Colman Domingo, Colin Firth and Eve Hewson.

My most performed tune of 2024 ” ‘Not My Fault,’ by Reneé Rapp and Megan Thee Stallion.”

My skilled crush “Donna Langley. Her capacity to handle expertise, together with executives and a large portfolio is like watching a masterclass in management.”

Alana Mayo & Julie Rapaport

HEAD, ORION PICTURES; HEAD OF FILM, DEVELOPMENT &PRODUCTION, AMAZON MGM STUDIOS

Between motion film Highway Home and Anne Hathaway rom-dram The Concept of You, there isn’t a denying Amazon movie slate’s stellar 12 months (minus the Purple One field workplace, in fact). Rapaport shepherded the remake starring Jake Gyllenhaal, with it changing into the streamer’s most watched unique function movie ever. As for Mayo, her Orion studio label adopted the Oscar-winning American Fiction with this 12 months’s Nickel Boys and has Nia DaCosta’s Hedda Gabler film within the can.

My 2025 Hollywood prediction
Mayo: “All the scary traits will doubtless proceed, however artists will proceed to create distinctive and stunning movies and reveals.”
Rapaport: “We lean into the reality that Hollywood thrives on surprises. Even once we assume we’ve cracked the code, it’s the surprising that usually captures hearts and defines the 12 months. These moments remind us why this enterprise remains to be magic and why taking dangers is nice for audiences and nice for this enterprise.

Ramsey Naito

PRESIDENT OF ANIMATION, PARAMOUNT AND NICKELODEON

Naito’s division builds new studio franchises (see: PAW Patrol films) and revives different IP that has lengthy been useless weight. The latter was the case with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, when 2023 breakout function Mutant Mayhem begat each a sequel film and Paramount+ collection. Elsewhere, Paramount’s widespread Avatar: The Final Airbender animated collection is getting the film remedy, with a derivative function set for 2026.

My most performed tune of 2024 ” ‘To You,’ by Willow Smith — and composed by my son, Antonio Mollura!”

Lauren Neustadter & Reese Witherspoon

PRESIDENT OF FILM AND TV, HELLO SUNSHINE; ACTOR, PRODUCER & FOUNDER, HELLO SUNSHINE

It was a busy 12 months of filming and dealing for Witherspoon’s prolific shingle. Whereas taking pictures the newest season of The Morning Present, whose third installment noticed her Emmy-nominated for performing and producing, she set a Legally Blonde prequel collection at Amazon and dropped a couple of unscripted tasks on numerous streamers (The Pasta Queen lastly received her personal present!). With Neustadter guiding inventive, the duo will kick off 2025 with function comedy You’re Cordially Invited.

Nonetheless ready on a name from …
Witherspoon: “Greta Gerwig. I’m obtainable for something and all the pieces that she desires to create.”

Fictional character I most determine with nowadays
Neustadter: “Bluey’s mother, Chilli.”
Witherspoon: “Proper now I’m channeling Elle Woods — she has a reasonably undefeatable spirit.”

My skilled crush
Neustadter: “Celeste Ng. Her writing strikes me past phrases.”

Michelle Obama

CO-FOUNDER, HIGHER GROUND

There’s been some govt roulette on the former first woman’s manufacturing firm, however the output hasn’t flagged — or been remotely predictable. Larger Floor adopted thriller Go away the World Behind with a quiet darkish comedy about true-crime podcasts (Bodkin) and a sports activities doc collection that includes LeBron James (Beginning 5). Final 12 months’s acclaimed documentary function American Symphony was simply nominated for 2 Grammys.

Jenna Ortega

ACTOR & PRODUCER

For individuals who thought Ortega was possibly only a fad after the cheap success of the Scream reboot and phenomenon that was Wednesday, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice doubtless silenced any remaining skeptics. Not solely did she convey the profitable sequel into the twenty first century, her A-list co-stars spent the press tour singing her praises. Wednesday season two, which sees her earn a producer credit score, is on deck for 2025 — as is Taika Waititi’s adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro’s Klara and the Solar, by which she’ll star.

Mary Father or mother

CHAIR, WORLDWIDE PRODUCTION, LEGENDARY

The steward of Hollywood’s largest monster films (Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire) and sci-fi franchises (Dune), Father or mother’s 2024 field workplace haul is effectively over $1 billion. After the primary Dune movie was thrown a curveball with a day-and-date launch underneath Warners’ then-streaming technique, the producer helped information Dune: Half Two to $714 million in world ticket gross sales earlier this 12 months, with the movie an enormous awards contender. The primary movie in regards to the deeply widespread recreation Minecraft, starring Jason Momoa, Jack Black and Danielle Brooks, is subsequent on the calendar.

If I have been a person with this job … “I’d by no means should verify a bag.”

My 2025 Hollywood prediction “Concern will most likely nonetheless be too prevalent, sadly.”

Amy Pascal

PRODUCER, PASCAL PICTURES

Pascal is the lady behind Spider-Man and, even with field workplace disappointments like Venom: The Final Dance, she retains churning out hits just like the animated Spider-Verse movies and Tom Holland’s live-action collection. The producer, who additionally dropped Challengers and Goodrich earlier this 12 months, quickly companions with Christopher Lord and Phil Miller and Noah Baumbach and Greta Gerwig on their respective subsequent tasks.

My skilled crush “Martha Stewart.”

Fictional character I most determine with nowadays “Margo Channing.”

Cynthia Pett

CO-CEO, BRILLSTEIN ENTERTAINMENT PARTNERS

Amongst Pett’s many purchasers and their new tasks — Brad Pitt (Wolfs), Bond hopeful Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Kraven the Hunter), Charlie Hunnam (Ryan Murphy’s Monsters), Elizabeth Olsen (His Three Daughters), Kyle Chandler (Lanterns) — one of the vital thrilling may be Eve Hewson and the strategic strikes holding the actress busy. Bono’s daughter is changing into a bona fide star — sparring with Nicole Kidman in Netflix’s The Good Couple, starring in a second season of Sharon Horgan’s Unhealthy Sisters and reserving that upcoming Spielberg flick.

Nonetheless ready on a name from … “Robert Plant.”

My most performed tune of 2024 “Teddy Swims’ ‘Lose Management’”

Katherine Pope

PRESIDENT, SONY PICTURES TELEVISION STUDIOS

In her second 12 months at Sony, Pope now oversees greater than 40 productions for the platform-agnostic studio — essentially the most spectacular of the 12 months most likely being The Boys. The fourth run of Eric Kripke’s satire outpaced the earlier three to rank as Amazon’s fourth-most-watched season of all time. When not signing new expertise offers with Ron Moore, Kumail Nanjiani, Gail Berman and extra, she and her studio have been wrapping up manufacturing on the extremely anticipated return of HBO’s The Final of Us.

Nonetheless ready on a name from … “Doesn’t everybody simply textual content now?”

My 2025 Hollywood prediction “Consolidation of platforms, continued stress on windowing, fewer large-scale disruptions, stronger hits by means of fewer collection general.”

Issa Rae

ACTOR, WRITER & PRODUCER

She could also be and not using a TV collection for the primary time in over eight years, however she is nothing if not busy talking reality to energy within the wake of Hollywood’s flagging DEI efforts. Her Hoorae Media is behind Keke Palmer and SZA’s upcoming film Certainly one of Them Days, along with this previous 12 months’s brief Grief Retreat, whereas President Barbie returns in entrance of the digicam within the subsequent batch of Black Mirror episodes.

If I have been a person with this job … “I’d be doing romantic comedies.”

Hollywood’s takeaway from Trump’s re- election ought to be … “Your public endorsements don’t assist.”

Shari Redstone

CHAIR, PARAMOUNT GLOBAL

For the controlling shareholder of Paramount International, by way of Nationwide Amusements, 2024 was about legacy. She lower a deal to promote her household’s leisure firm to a different family-owned enterprise, David Ellison’s Skydance, in a guess that the brand new possession would maintain the corporate based by her father alive and effectively. Redstone herself has been spending extra of her time as a vocal opponent to the rise in hate speech and antisemitism, one thing deeply private to her.

Hollywood’s takeaway from Trump’s re-election ought to be … “The necessity for media organizations to take accountability to create content material that educates and informs audiences and to report the information with objectivity, specializing in the info, giving the context and modeling civil discourse and accountability.”

My trick to staying calm proper now “Taking longs walks and baking numerous decadent snacks and deserts for my household and pals.”

Amy Reisenbach

PRESIDENT, CBS ENTERTAINMENT

Speak about a comeback story. It’s been years since a broadcast channel had a real hit on its arms, however that’s precisely what Reisenbach delivered within the second TV season of her making. The Matlock reboot (with a twist!) starring Kathy Bates pulled 16 million viewers in its first month of airing, 23 million if you happen to rely encore airings. It’s earned a second season and will very effectively see Bates within the Emmy dialog.

My trick to staying calm proper now “Watching The Nice British Baking Present.”

Fictional character I most determine with nowadays “Lucy, Charlie Brown or Snoopy … actually relies on the day.”

Rihanna

SINGER & ENTREPRENEUR

We’re going to put Rihanna on this checklist till she releases that ninth album — or Los Angeles slides into the ocean, no matter comes first. At the very least music’s slumbering titan and sweetness magnate nonetheless has pores and skin within the leisure recreation. Her deal to voice Smurfette within the upcoming Smurfs Film comes with a co-producer credit score. Pay her what you owe her.

Margot Robbie

ACTOR & PRODUCER, LUCKYCHAP

A 12 months after the Barbie second, Robbie’s sought-after LuckyChap manufacturing banner — which has a powerful monitor file of discovering and cultivating feminine administrators — launched Megan Park’s critically adored My Previous Ass (90 p.c recent on Rotten Tomatoes) by way of Amazon. She is producing and starring as Catherine in Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights adaptation, which precipitated a bidding frenzy between studios earlier this 12 months. Warners Bros. landed the function after committing to a worldwide theatrical launch. Oh, and he or she simply had her first baby. Mazel tov, Margot.

Zoe Saldaña

ACTOR & PRODUCER, CINESTAR

Now not confined by inexperienced or blue make-up and CGI, at the very least for the second, Saldaña has been on one ever since she shared that finest actress win at Cannes along with her Emilia Pérez co-stars. She’s thought of a frontrunner within the supporting actress race this Oscar season, and there could also be Emmy campaigning on its heels. Saldaña stars in and produces (underneath the banner she runs along with her sisters) Taylor Sheridan drama Lioness with — let’s simply point out her once more for enjoyable — Nicole Kidman.

My trick to staying calm proper now “Spending time with household, doing lots of meditational respiratory, and tackling my to-do checklist.”

My most performed tune of 2024 ” ‘Birds of a Feather,’ by Billie Eilish.”

Jennifer Salke

HEAD OF AMAZON MGM STUDIOS

Amazon’s high inventive govt loved a very robust begin to the 12 months — launching her studio’s second-most-watched collection up to now in Fallout, additionally a important darling and shock Emmy power with 17 nominations. She adopted that with the studio’s most watched function ever in Jake Gyllenhaal’s raucous Highway Home reboot, which reached 80 million viewers worldwide throughout its first eight weeks on Prime Video. Different powerhouse titles embrace the second installment of the expensive Rings of Energy and the Anne Hathaway hit rom-dram The Concept of You.

My trick to staying calm proper now “Making as a lot time as doable for laughter and reference to these I like — youngsters, household and cherished pals. These bonds will outlast and outweigh all our skilled endeavors.“

My 2025 Hollywood prediction “I hope to see much more embracing of unique concepts. This inherently will increase the dangers however the rewards might be the sweetest.”

Jen Sargent

CEO, WONDERY

Because the lead on Amazon’s premier podcast studio and community, Sargent has not been shy about shelling out large cash for large expertise — shopping for New Heights With Jason and Travis Kelce and Dax Shepard’s Armchair Knowledgeable in latest months for a respective $100 and $80 million. Podcasting shouldn’t be for the faint of coronary heart.

My trick to staying calm proper now “Discovering solace in my capacity to keep away from vacation music, at the very least for another week … proper?”

My most performed tune of 2024 “‘Panic Change’ by the Silversun Pickups, which is driving my husband loopy having to listen to it a thousand instances.”

Leslie Siebert

CO-PRESIDENT, GERSH

The primary woman of Gersh noticed Angela Bassett earn an honorary Oscar and win her first Emmy whereas signing an unprecedented deal for the 9-1-1 star and EP to remain on as one of many highest-paid actresses in tv historical past. Longtime shopper Kyle Chandler returns to TV because the lead of HBO’s Lanterns and White Lotus season two breakout Sabrina Impacciatore scored a coup in reserving the co-lead in Greg Daniels’ reboot of The Workplace. Let’s simply name it what it’s.

Fictional character I most determine with nowadays “Gerri Kellman in Succession.”

Nonetheless ready on a name from … “Mary Vernieu.”

Sandra Stern

VICE CHAIR, LIONSGATE TV GROUP

This dealmaker extraordinaire continues to assist lead her studio’s TV enterprise in sustaining its standing as certainly one of foremost unbiased suppliers of premium scripted collection to broadcast, cable, SVOD, AVOD and FAST channels. (You may’t argue with that many acronyms.) Output stays aggressive, bolstered by the CBS comedy flagship Ghosts, amongst over 100 reveals spanning greater than 50 platforms.

Nonetheless ready on a name from … “The French embassy.”

My skilled crush “Invoice Maher.”

Emma Stone

ACTOR & PRODUCER, FRUIT TREE

Stone kicked off the 12 months with one other finest actress Oscar for her work in Yorgos Lanthimos’ Poor Issues, which she additionally govt produced. Her banner with husband Dave McCary, Fruit Tree, is rapidly cementing a repute for adventurous style and robust expertise relationships (see: HBO’s Fantasmas and Showtime’s The Curse). The corporate lately inked a first-look movie take care of Common after a 12 months of critically acclaimed options together with horror movie I Noticed the TV Glow and Oscar hopeful A Actual Ache.

Meryl Streep

ACTOR

Essentially the most lauded actor of her technology, Streep can do no matter she desires on this city. And proper now, she desires to seem on Solely Murders within the Constructing along with her pal Martin Quick and tease us with all this speak about a Satan Wears Prada sequel.

Anjali Sud

CEO, TUBI

Assuming management in 2023, Sud has taken essentially the most watched free TV and film streaming service in America and elevated its market share in methods some luddites might not have observed. In August, Tubi accounted for 1.8 p.c of whole TV viewing within the U.S. The clout of reaching 81 million energetic month-to-month customers has allowed her to court docket expertise for higher-profile unique content material — nabbing Lauren Graham for its first in-house scripted collection, comedy The Z-Suite.

My 2025 Hollywood prediction “Area of interest would be the new core. Much less monoculture, extra numerous fandoms and personalised viewing.”

My most performed tune of 2024 “Chappell Roan’s ‘Sizzling to Go!’ It’s my work hype tune.”

Sydney Sweeney

ACTOR & PRODUCER

Ever since that double Emmy nomination 12 months for Euphoria and The White Lotus, Sweeney has been deeply in demand — following field workplace hit (and everyone’s favourite airplane watch) Anybody however You with starring roles in Immaculate and Ron Howard’s Eden. No want to say Madame Internet. The producer and grasp marketer — she positive can slay a press tour ­­—­ is anticipated to return to the Euphoria set in January earlier than filming Paul Feig’s The Housemaid reverse Amanda Seyfried, and Sweeney has additionally already wrapped her biopic of Christy Martin.

My skilled crush “Jennifer Coolidge.”

If I have been a person with this job … “I’d be a trillionaire and doubtless run my very own studio.”

Nonetheless ready on a name from … “The Oregon Duck.”

Taylor Swift

SINGER, SONGWRITER & FILMMAKER

The Eras Tour, the highest-grossing live performance endeavor of all time, wraps its globe-dominating, two-year run in Vancouver a mere 4 days after these phrases seem in print — and it’s not clear how the world may look within the post-Eras period. This billionaire constantly has dominated the cultural dialog throughout this era, notably incomes her fourth album of the 12 months Grammy in February (for Midnights) and changing into the artist with essentially the most wins in that class within the course of. She shoots for No. 5 on the Recording Academy’s subsequent fete with The Tortured Poets Division.

Charlize Theron

ACTOR & PRODUCER

Guess she’s not so bitter about not having the ability to reprise Furiosa now. Theron didn’t seem onscreen this 12 months, occupied with some non-Hollywood ventures just like the philanthropic Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Mission and her new The Six Compound youngsters’s dance studio in Los Angeles, however she’s booked and busy. The Previous Guard 2 is within the can, heist flick Two for the Cash (alongside Daniel Craig) and Netflix thriller Apex (with Taron Egerton) are each within the works, and he or she simply joined Christopher Nolan’s newest.

Taylor Tomlinson

COMIC & TV HOST

She’s not simply one of many highest-grossing touring comics working as we speak or the one girl in late evening — Tomlinson is enjoying round with that almost all stagnant of codecs within the dreariest daypart. CBS’ After Midnight, which premiered in January, is neither a regular chat present nor a retread of the previous Comedy Central present it borrowed its title and normal premise from. Tomlinson has made the panel present her personal, introduced in new viewers and earned a no brainer renewal.

My trick to staying calm proper now “Sleeping, staying knowledgeable and holding good folks round me.”

My most performed tune of 2024 “Whoever doesn’t say ‘Espresso’ is mendacity.”

Christine Vachon

PRODUCER, KILLER FILMS

The doyenne of indie filmmaking lately had the heart to face as much as Joaquin Phoenix when the actor dropped out of Todd Haynes’ homosexual romance film 5 days earlier than taking pictures was to start. In going off, Vachon drew consideration to the truth that the whims of sure energy gamers in Hollywood can depart a whole bunch out of labor on little discover. It wasn’t all Norma Rae, although. Her Killer Movies’ put out Sebastian Stan’s Sundance darling A Totally different Man with A24 in September.

My trick to staying calm proper now “Plenty of Rose and the occasional martini.”

If I have been a person with this job … “I’d be explaining movie producing to a lady far more skilled than me.”

My 2025 Hollywood prediction “Within the wake of the pandemic and the strikes, it will likely be a banner 12 months for amount and high quality in movies and can sign an extra resurgence in theatrical movie going. Or the alternative.”

Courtenay Valenti

HEAD OF THEATRICAL AND STREAMING FILM, AMAZON MGM STUDIOS

Within the two years since Amazon courted the Warner Bros. veteran to be Jen Salke’s high movie exec, Valenti’s vitality and talent to construct a studio-level slate is on full show — overseeing tasks together with Nickel Boys, Challengers, Saltburn, The Beekeeper, My Previous Ass, I Am: Celine Dion and Zoë Kravitz’s directorial debut Blink Twice. Up subsequent: boxing drama The Fireplace Inside and You’re Cordially Invited, a film lots of this 12 months’s honorees have their fingers on.

My 2025 Hollywood prediction “It harkens again to the good William Goldman, who stated, ‘Not one individual in your entire movement image discipline is aware of for a certainty what’s going to work. Each day trip it’s a guess and, if you happen to’re fortunate, an informed one.’ “

Dana Walden

CO-CHAIR, DISNEY ENTERTAINMENT

Nonetheless a high contender within the ceaseless Bob Iger succession debate, Walden actually added some feathers to her cap this 12 months — 183 of them, to be actual. That was Disney TV’s file Emmy nominations haul, made extra spectacular by the 60 wins that blew everybody else out of the water (HBwhO?) on the backs of FX’s Shogun and The Bear. Awards or no, Walden’s fiefdom produces greater than 4,500 hours of unique programming yearly — bucking the narrative of industry-wide contraction with sheer quantity.

Kerry Washington

ACTOR & PRODUCER, SIMPSON STREET

Washington lately wrapped filming on Rian Johnson’s newest Knives Out thriller, Wake Up Lifeless Man, however you gained’t have to attend one other 12 months to see her on Netflix. Her World Battle II drama The Six Triple Eight hits the streamer Dec. 20 after a quick theatrical run that kicks off Dec. 6. Washington has been producing extra underneath her Simpson Avenue banner, together with documentary Daughters, Hulu procedural Affordable Doubt and her personal late comedy car UnPrisoned.

If I have been a person with this job … “[I’d be] in search of methods to make use of my privilege to profit those that want it most.”

Nonetheless ready on a name from … “I select to make calls relatively than look ahead to them.”

Erin Westerman

CO-PRESIDENT, LIONSGATE MOTION PICTURE GROUP

The exec oversees a slate stuffed with unique swings, a rarity within the present studio system. And whereas not all are house runs (see: Borderlands), the Lionsgate calendar runs the gamut from faith-based (The Greatest Christmas Pageant Ever) to Man Ritchie-directed motion flicks (Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare). In fact, Westerman does command management of a number of profitable franchises like John Wick, Starvation Video games and Now You See Me, all with new installments on their technique to theaters.

My trick to staying calm proper now “Seeing the Eras Tour. Eight instances.”

My 2025 Hollywood prediction “We’ll relearn that younger folks lead tradition and we must always make extra theatrical films for them.”

Oprah Winfrey

CEO, OWN & HARPO PRODUCTIONS

The media mogul stays in a league of her personal as one of many few people TV networks belief to clarify large subjects, evidenced by primetime specials this 12 months on the surging use of weight-loss medication and the typically complicated difficulty of synthetic intelligence. She additionally has her cable channel, now a provider to streamer Max, a movie shingle (2023’s The Colour Purple) and her performing profession. She performs Mary McLeod Bethune in Tyler Perry’s historic drama The Six Triple Eight (out Dec. 6).

Alexis Martin Woodall

PRESIDENT, RYAN MURPHY PRODUCTIONS

The highest-ranking girl within the Ryan Murphy machine — a literal machine, they launched six new reveals in 10 days this fall — has lengthy been an govt producer over his sprawling roster. Most lately, she’s joined the repertory’s secure of administrators. After testing the waters with an American Horror Story one-off in 2023, Woodall helmed three episodes of Grotesquerie for FX.

My skilled crush “Halina Reijn. Our bodies Our bodies Our bodies was so stunning to me. It’s type of an ideal movie. I’m ready with bated breath for Babygirl … She tells my type of tales.”

Fictional character I most determine with nowadays “Miss Piggy. Daring, stunning, adventurous, a lil’ unbalanced with some gentle rage points however actually nice garments.”

Janet Yang

PRESIDENT, ACADEMY OF MOTION PICTURE ARTS AND SCIENCES

Re-elected to her third time period atop the movie group in August, the producer can now dedicate her consideration to the 97th Academy Awards telecast. And it lastly has a number! ABC and the Academy tapped Conan O’Brien in November after a protracted search that finally led to the beloved comedian making his first journey to the Oscar stage.

If I have been a person with this job … “I’d be working fewer hours.”

My 2025 Hollywood prediction “Plenty of soul-searching.”

Zendaya

ACTOR

The 28-year-old noticed her long-wrapped tasks Dune: Half Two and Challengers lastly get their post-strike bows earlier in 2024. By her personal admission, she’d been cooling her heels for some time, however she simply boarded Christopher Nolan’s subsequent challenge, becoming a member of Matt Damon and Anne Hathaway in addition to boyfriend and Spider-Man co-star Tom Holland. At present filming The Drama with Robert Pattinson, she’ll then head again to Euphoria — a gig that’s already gained Hollywood’s most ascendant A-lister two Emmys.

This story appeared within the Dec. 4 difficulty of The Hollywood Reporter journal. Click on right here to subscribe.