Brian Lowry

Brian Lowry is a media columnist and critic who has worked for Variety, the Los Angeles Times and CNN. Email: [email protected]

Lucasfilm’s Shift in the Force

Longtime “Star Wars” chief Kathleen Kennedy is stepping aside, but Dave Filoni and Lynwen Brennan inherit the Disney jewel in an era of toxicity that, trying to serve various masters, could be as tough to navigate as an asteroid field

Jan 16, 2026

The Golden Globes’ Zombie Voters

The Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. is still seeking answers about its Penske deal, but amid a litigation threat, they’re no longer welcome at the “Party of the Year”

Jan 9, 2026

Hollywood’s Labor Pains

The actors’ union and Hollywood studios are set to kick off talks on a new contract earlier than usual, aiming to head off a repeat of the crippling 2023 strikes that brought the industry to a halt—but both sides are preparing for a difficult fight.

Jan 2, 2026

Hollywood’s International Divide

The “Avatar” and “Zootopia” sequels have provided welcome signs of life for a U.S. film industry that’s losing ground vis-a-vis global box office that it desperately needs.

Dec 29, 2025

Behind Broadcast's Oscars Breakup

The Oscars are leaving ABC for YouTube as broadcast audiences shrink and streaming grows, exposing the gap between Hollywood’s future and Trump’s nostalgic view of TV.

Dec 19, 2025

Hollywood’s Saudi Serenade

With its backing of Paramount’s WBD bid and Vision 2030 plan, Saudi Arabia wants to establish a major foothold in media. But in Hollywood, buyer and seller should beware.

Dec 12, 2025

Netflix-WBD: Apocalypse Not?

Anti-competitive concerns about the leading streamer acquiring the venerable studio are well founded, but it might be the least bad of several unattractive alternatives.

Dec 5, 2025

Zaslav’s Merger Melodrama

The Warner Bros. Discovery chief has become a lightning rod for controversy, but as he seeks to navigate the sales process, questions loom on whether he’ll stay in the picture.

Nov 21, 2025

Disney’s Thorny Rose

For Bob Iger’s successor (or successors), Hollywood in transition and political pressures could take some of the bloom off filling his shoes, and make a case for co-chiefs.

Nov 14, 2025

Netflix’s Podcasting Play

The streamer is quietly plotting a major push into podcasting as it looks to take on its chief living-room rival, YouTube—and Status has learned details of what to expect at launch.

Nov 7, 2025

Feast or Famine in Hollywood

Juxtaposing big-money deals and rights fees with painful layoffs paints a picture of an industry that even more than usual feels broken into haves and have-nots

Oct 31, 2025

Hollywood’s Ellison Fear Factor

An Ellison family takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery could have profound consequences for the entertainment industry—and Donald Trump appears to be putting his thumb on the scale.

Oct 24, 2025

TV's Back to the Future Moment

From Apple and CNN dropping their “+” to Netflix embracing traditional TV formats, the streaming revolution now looks less like a reinvention and more like a rerun.

Oct 17, 2025

Hollywood’s Critical Crossroads

From political pressure to A.I. to streaming, the entertainment industry is under assault and facing wrenching changes, with implications that don't end at Sunset Blvd.

Oct 10, 2025