The Business

And just like that, Josh D'Amaro’s first week as CEO of The Walt Disney Company proved challenging, to say the least. From a brewing Bachelorette scandal to the abrupt cancellation of Sora by OpenAI, and fresh turmoil at Epic Games amid layoffs, Matt Belloni and Lucas Shaw unpack the challenges facing Disney’s new chief.

Plus, we revisit our conversation with Daryl Hannah, who joined Masters last year to discuss her Neil Young concert film Coastal, which had a limited theatrical run in 2025. Hannah reflects on her years of acting and activism, pursued alongside figures like Willie Nelson, Joan Baez, and… Robert F. Kennedy Jr. She also recounts a painful experience with Harvey Weinstein during the Kill Bill press tour, and reveals what prompted her to proclaim “Slava Ukraini” at last year’s Academy Awards.

This week, Kim talks to Diane Becker and Ted Tremper about The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist. The producers discuss how they managed to land big names in machine learning, including the CEOs of OpenAI and Anthropic. Becker and Tremper also explain how they nearly got Elon Musk—until, surprisingly, he ghosted. They also share how they kept their brains from melting while tackling a subject as overwhelming as AI.

Plus, Masters and Matt Belloni break down the first week of Disney’s new CEO, Josh D’Amaro, who outlined his goals for the company in a memo to employees, emphasizing creative storytelling and the embrace of new technology. Meanwhile, the banter partners examine Wall Street’s negative reaction to the Paramount–Warner Bros. merger and why California Attorney General Rob Bonta has vowed to scrutinize David Ellison’s acquisition of the legacy studio.

This week, Kim talks with Tilly Norwood creator Eline Van der Velden, who defends her controversial synthetic character. Van der Velden argues that Tilly Norwood is simply another character, an extension of herself, not so different from others she’s created during her years as an actress. The Particle6 Productions co-founder explains why she believes entertainment built with generative AI will find a place in the industry and predicts that more agents will follow CAA’s lead in signing synthetic characters.

Plus, Kim Masters and Matt Belloni discuss Ben Affleck’s investment in AI through his company Interpositive, which he sold to Netflix in a deal that could reach $600 million. The banter partners also address Live Nation’s ticketing practices, including a lawsuit with evidence of employees joking about price gouging fans — comments that later prompted the company to distance itself from those involved.

This week, Kim talks with SAG-AFTRA president Sean Astin about stepping into the job during a tumultuous year for Hollywood. His early tenure has already included an FCC clash involving Jimmy Kimmel, the arrival of synthetic “performers,” and some wonky legal maneuvering from OpenAI. Astin discusses the most pressing issues facing the union as bargaining is underway, including wages and working conditions as well as the challenges posed by AI companies scraping copyrighted material.

Plus, David Ellison has unveiled plans to merge Paramount+ and HBO Max into a single streaming platform. Kim Masters and Matt Belloni dig into the proposal – which comes with about $80 billion in debt and the strong likelihood of layoffs – and the familiar promise that “synergies” in tech, ad sales and platforms will do the heavy lifting. They also examine how the shake-up may affect HBO leadership, the uncertain future of CNN, and how Donald Trump’s influence could complicate an already fraught moment for media companies.

This week, Kim sits down with Brazilian writer-director Kleber Mendonça Filho to discuss his Oscar-nominated political thriller The Secret Agent. A former film critic, Mendonça explains why he still reads every review of his work. He also reflects on the backlash that followed his 2016 Cannes red carpet protest against Brazil’s leadership and the fallout that complicated the Oscar hopes for Aquarius. Plus, a special guest drops in for a brief chat.

Meanwhile, in an unexpected turn of events, Netflix has dropped out of the Warner Bros. bidding war, leaving Paramount as the winner. Masters and Matt Belloni dive into the streamer’s decision to bow out, what could lie ahead for Warner Bros. and its news networks, and the legal hoops Paramount may expect with the Department of Justice.

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