Cordkillers 611: Tiny Dramas, Giant Numbers
Microdramas continue exploding in popularity while studios unveil a packed slate of trailers, adaptations, and franchise revivals. Meanwhile, Peacock finally turns a profit, Roku raises hardware prices, and the Paramount–Warner merger inches through the legal process.
Supply Run
Microdramas are becoming a major streaming force. New research shows viewership has increased 28-fold in two years, with romance dominating the genre, younger audiences flocking to the format, and the global market expected to reach $4 billion outside China.
https://deadline.com/2026/07/microdrama-report-holywater-audience-younger-male-1237001059/
Search Party
Blade Runner 2099 premieres November 25 on Prime Video.
https://deadline.com/2026/07/blade-runner-2099-premiere-date-trailer-1237002595/
The Rings of Power Season 3 arrives November 11, focusing on the War of the Elves and Sauron as he forges the One Ring.
https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/lord-of-the-rings-rings-of-power-season-3-trailer-1236625486/
Universal has acquired film rights to ten classic Atari games, including Asteroids , Centipede , Missile Command , and Pong .
https://www.engadget.com/2222033/universal-secures-rights-for-film-adaptation-of-10-atari-games/
Tom Holland is preparing for the Fred Astaire biopic by rehearsing the legendary dancer’s routines himself.
https://variety.com/2026/film/global/tom-holland-fred-astaire-biopic-own-dancing-1236818951/
DC’s Clayface gets a body-horror inspired first trailer ahead of its October 23 release.
https://arstechnica.com/culture/2026/07/clayface-trailer-leans-into-the-body-horror/
Spaceballs: The New One arrives April 23, 2027, with Josh Gad calling it a love letter to John Candy.
https://deadline.com/2026/07/spaceballs-the-new-one-comic-con-marvel-1237003091/
Matchbox stars John Cena, Jessica Biel, and Sam Richardson in a spy adventure coming to Apple TV+ on October 9.
https://variety.com/2026/film/news/matchbox-trailer-john-cena-toy-cars-apple-1236645191/
Futurama returns August 3 with two new episodes, plus three extended specials beginning in 2027.
https://deadline.com/2026/07/futurama-new-extended-episodes-season-14-trailer-1237003526/
Bob’s Burgers will release a Disney+ holiday short later this year.
https://deadline.com/2026/07/bobs-burgers-holiday-short-hulu-1237003074/
Ryan Gosling is reportedly set to play Ghost Rider in a new Marvel film targeting 2028.
https://deadline.com/2026/07/bobs-burgers-holiday-short-hulu-1237003074/
Netflix is hosting a live darts event starring teenage sensation Luke Littler on October 30.
https://deadline.com/2026/07/netflix-luke-littler-live-darts-event-october-30-1237004269/
Buried Treasure
Brian:
More Pitt
,
Mr. Jambo
,
Avatar: Aang
trailer
Tom:
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
Amos:
The Odyssey
in 4DX
Scanning the Horizon
Peacock reached 48 million subscribers and posted its first profitable quarter, driven by sports and Love Island USA .
https://deadline.com/2026/07/comcast-q2-earnings-peacock-subscribers-1237000945/
YouTube ad revenue grew 13% year over year, while NBCUniversal announced Peacock will be included with YouTube Premium beginning in 2027.
https://deadline.com/2026/07/youtube-ad-revenue-rises-q2-2026-alphabet-billion-1237000530/
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/27/nbcuniversal-youtube-peacock-premium-subscribers.html
The Paramount–Warner Bros. merger faces a lengthy legal road ahead after both sides agreed to delay closing until after the antitrust trial.
https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/paramount-warner-bros-merger-postpone-antitrust-trial-1236820601/
The European Union approved the Paramount–Warner merger, provided Paramount ends its business relationship with Universal in Europe.
https://www.engadget.com/2221157/eu-gives-paramount-warner-bros-acquisition-the-go-ahead/
Sony will reopen the iconic Cinerama Dome, while the neighboring former ArcLight theater becomes an Alamo Drafthouse.
https://deadline.com/2026/07/cinerama-dome-reopening-date-sony-1237000247/
Roku is significantly increasing prices across its streaming hardware lineup.
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/07/roku-raises-streaming-stick-prices-by-up-to-60-percent/
Toy Story 5 has surpassed $1 billion worldwide, becoming the year’s highest-grossing film.
https://variety.com/2026/film/box-office/toy-story-5-billion-dollar-box-office-1236818437/
Chatter
Nicky recommends
The Ark
, returning for a new season on Syfy.
Daniel imagines AI agents that automatically subscribe to streaming services for live sports and cancel them when the event ends.
Toby explains HBO’s staggered release of
Rick and Morty
episodes and asks why Tom and Brian prefer Trakt-compatible apps over the official Trakt app.