Brian Lowry

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

Paramount’s 30-Film Fantasy

Apr 3, 2026

David Ellison box office promises for a merged Paramount-WBD are drawing skepticism, raising questions about whether he’s offering genuine commitment or lip service to Hollywood and regulators.

David Simon’s Déjà Vu

Mar 27, 2026

“The Wire” creator talks to Status about the striking parallels between the forces that hobbled newspapers and those now assailing Hollywood, with no clear road map for either.

NBCUniversal’s ‘Access’ Denied

Mar 20, 2026

NBCUniversal’s decision to bail on first-run syndication blindsided “Access Hollywood” staff, reflecting both linear TV’s decline and why Donald Trump’s view of television feels hopelessly dated.

The Oscar Loses Its Voice

Mar 16, 2026

The Academy Awards paid tribute to Rob Reiner, but at a politically fraught moment closed a cautious awards season by steering clear of the outspokenness and activism that defined the director’s career.

The Oscars Go to War

Mar 13, 2026

The attack on Iran brings heightened security and the backdrop of war to an Academy Awards ceremony already defined by tension and uncertainty throughout the industry.

HBO’s Next Cliffhanger

Mar 6, 2026

David Ellison’s plan to combine HBO and Paramount+ have clouded Casey Bloys’ future, and serves as a microcosm of the challenges associated with laying one studio on top of another.

Paramount-WBD’s Human Toll

Feb 27, 2026

As David Ellison moves to take control of Warners, Hollywood is already sounding the alarm on the thousands of jobs set to be eliminated in what insiders tell Status would be “cutting to the bone.”

Paramount’s Reputational Price

Feb 20, 2026

The David Ellison-led studio’s coziness with Donald Trump is making some in Hollywood do the unthinkable—namely, root for Netflix in the WBD chase.

Comcast’s Peacock Problem

Feb 13, 2026

Industry insiders are whispering about what Comcast's Brian Roberts might do next with Peacock—with buzz that it could make a run for Paramount if Ellison's Warner dream sputters.

'Andor' and the Real-World Rebellion

Feb 6, 2026

Series creator Tony Gilroy talks to Status about how his acclaimed Disney+ series became an anti-ICE symbol, and where it might fit in the future of “Star Wars.”

Will Grammys Raise the Volume?

Feb 1, 2026

After a muted Golden Globes, Bruce Springsteen’s protest song “Streets of Minneapolis” and the Grammys could set the tone for an awards season where stars feel compelled to speak out.

‘Melania’s’ Ratner Rehab

Jan 23, 2026

Once a Hollywood pariah over sexual misconduct allegations, Brett Ratner is resurfacing as director of Amazon’s Melania Trump documentary, sending an unmistakable signal in the MAGA era.

Lucasfilm’s Shift in the Force

Jan 16, 2026

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

The Golden Globes’ Zombie Voters

Jan 9, 2026

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”

Hollywood’s Labor Pains

Jan 2, 2026

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.

Hollywood’s International Divide

Dec 29, 2025

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.

Behind Broadcast's Oscars Breakup

Dec 19, 2025

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.

Hollywood’s Saudi Serenade

Dec 12, 2025

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.

Netflix-WBD: Apocalypse Not?

Dec 5, 2025

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.

Zaslav’s Merger Melodrama

Nov 21, 2025

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.

Disney’s Thorny Rose

Nov 14, 2025

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.

Netflix’s Podcasting Play

Nov 7, 2025

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.

Feast or Famine in Hollywood

Oct 31, 2025

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

Hollywood’s Ellison Fear Factor

Oct 24, 2025

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.

TV's Back to the Future Moment

Oct 17, 2025

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.