HeyJaredThe Option
The Option is a daily intelligence briefing on the business of Hollywood—not the headlines, but what drives them.Each episode breaks down the deals, power dynamics, and economics that shape film, television, and streaming.
- Indexed episodes, last 90 days
- 58
- Latest publication
- Sep 25, 2026
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- Earliest in this view
- Jul 3, 2026
Latest episodes
Episode 145: ParaBros Merger Hits Court Roadblock (opens the original)
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Block the Merger, LULAC, and a coalition of press-freedom and documentary organizations filed midnight briefs in federal court urging Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin to reject the antitrust settlement covering Paramount's $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. The filings triggered a delay that now puts David Ellison on the edge of a $7 million-per-day ticking fee to WBD shareholders beginning October 1. For anyone with deals, development, or distribution exposure to either studio, th
Episode 144: Paramount Eyes Musk as WBD Close Approaches (opens the original)
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Paramount is reportedly courting Elon Musk as an equity investor in the combined Paramount–Warner Bros. Discovery company, according to Semafor, even as the mega-merger races toward a close expected in roughly two weeks. With a sovereign wealth syndicate led by Saudi Arabia already holding just under 50% of the equity, the ownership structure of the new media giant is shaping up as one of the most consequential — and scrutinized — in entertainment history. For agents, showrunners, executives, an
Episode 143: Netflix Engagement Risk and What Comes Next (opens the original)
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Wells Fargo analyst Steven Cahall downgraded Netflix stock Friday with a note titled "Engagement Risk," citing a measurable slide in the Nielsen Gauge and a slight year-over-year decline in Netflix's top 100 titles. Shares fell nearly 5% in a single session. For agents, showrunners, and producers with active or developing Netflix relationships, the diagnosis matters: Wells Fargo argues that Netflix's investment in video podcasts, creator deals, and gaming may be cannibalizing the prestige script
Episode 142: UTA Partner Josh Katz Exits After 30 Years (opens the original)
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UTA Partner and Motion Picture Talent Agent Josh Katz has exited the agency after a 30-year run, departing voluntarily with no announced next destination. His client list — which includes Emmy winner Rhea Seehorn, Bill Hader, Emerald Fennell, Nicholas Braun, Nick Offerman, and others — makes this one of the more consequential agent departures in recent memory. For studios, showrunners, and producers, the immediate question is who covers these clients at UTA and whether Katz pulls them into a new
Episode 141: MACRO Acquires ALLBLK, Enters Streaming (opens the original)
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Charles D. King's MACRO has acquired ALLBLK from AMC Global Media, marking a major structural shift for one of the entertainment industry's most respected Black-owned production companies. The move gives MACRO direct-to-consumer distribution for the first time — and creates a vertically integrated model where MACRO's own productions can feed a platform MACRO controls. No purchase price was disclosed, but AMC Global Media retains an equity stake and signed a new content licensing agreement, signa
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