Morgan Wallen On 'SNL', Films To Be Excited For From CinemaCon, And A Look At Seth Rogen's "The Studio"

Happy Friday y’all!

In this week’s TFL, we’re covering:

• Morgan Wallen’s abrupt SNL exit and his trek back to “God’s Country”

• Recapping CinemaCon and a slate of films to be excited for

• A closer look at Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg’s brilliant new series “The Studio”

• A killer new “Good Noise” playlist featuring 30 new songs you need to hear from this week

• A round-up of this week’s new trailer drops

• Plenty of tidbits across the entertainment industry going on and in the works!

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Thank you for being here - now let’s get into it!

—Stephen Frost

🎵 How Morgan Wallen Got To “God’s Country” And Capitalized On It

If there's one thing Last Night singer Morgan Wallen understands, it’s how to connect with his fans—and how to capitalize on a moment.

ICYMI: Over the weekend, Wallen stirred up headlines following his appearance on Saturday Night Live—and not for his performance. During the traditional “Good Nights” segment with host Mikey Madison, Wallen gave a brief hug and then visibly walked off stage while cameras were still rolling. Normally, the host and musical guest stick around to celebrate the show’s wrap with the cast. Wallen didn’t follow that playbook.

Shortly after, he posted a cryptic Instagram Story from his private jet with the caption: “Get me to God’s country.” The combination of the abrupt exit and the dramatic caption had fans—and media—speculating about what went down behind the scenes.

Here’s where it gets interesting: Within days, Wallen launched a full-blown merch line built around that very caption. The drop includes two trucker hats and a T-shirt, all branded with “Get Me To God’s Country” in designs riffing on vintage beer logos. Whether it was a spur-of-the-moment decision or a savvy premeditated move, Wallen turned a mysterious moment into a brand play almost overnight.

So, what can artists and creatives take away from this? There’s no public word yet on how the merch is selling, but if history is any indicator, Wallen’s fans show up for him—scandals and all. After weathering previous controversies in 2021, his base has proven to be loyal, vocal, and deeply engaged.

The lesson here? If the moment aligns with your brand—and your audience is dialed in—leaning into the conversation might just be worth it.

🍿 A Glimpse At CinemaCon 2025 And 9 Films To Be Excited For

CinemaCon 2025, the largest and most important gathering for the worldwide motion picture theater industry, wrapped up last week—and the message from studios was loud and clear: the theatrical experience is back, and it’s here to stay a little longer.​

During the convention, AMC Entertainment CEO Adam Aron announced that three major studios have agreed to uphold a minimum 45-day exclusive theatrical window before releasing films to streaming platforms. This commitment aims to bolster the longevity of films in theaters and encourage audiences to return to the big screen, countering the recent trend of shortened release windows that conditioned viewers to expect quick streaming availability.​

Beyond windowing strategies, CinemaCon also served as a hype machine for what’s coming next. From superhero returns to legendary musician biopics and franchise revivals, here are 9 major projects that caught our attention at this year’s convention:​

🕷️ Spider-Man: Brand New Day
Sony officially unveiled the title of the fourth installment in the MCU’s Spider-Man saga, signaling a fresh chapter for Tom Holland’s Peter Parker.

🕸️ Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse
Originally delayed indefinitely, Sony Pictures Animation shared first-look images from the long-awaited third chapter in the Spider-Verse trilogy, now slated for 2027.

🎸 The Beatles Biopics
Arguably the most ambitious announcement of the week: four interconnected Beatles biopics, each told from a different band member’s perspective. Sam Mendes will direct the full series, with Paul Mescal (McCartney), Harris Dickinson (Lennon), Barry Keoghan (Starr), and Joseph Quinn (Harrison) leading what’s shaping up to be a generational cinematic event.

🎥 John Wick: Chapter 5
The Baba Yaga isn’t done yet. Lionsgate confirmed a fifth John Wick film is officially in development, keeping Keanu Reeves' franchise alive after Chapter 4’s box office and critical success.

🎤 Deliver Me From Nowhere
The Bear’s Jeremy Allen White was on hand to debut the trailer for the Bruce Springsteen biopic set to release later this fall, in which he plays The Boss himself.

🐉 How to Train Your Dragon 2 (Live-Action)
Universal screened the upcoming live-action remake of HTTYD, and response was strong enough that the studio has already greenlit a sequel—two months before the first film even hits theaters. The dragons are flying high.

💚 Wicked: Part Two – For Good
Following up on one of this year’s most anticipated musicals, Universal shared a brand-new poster ahead of its Thanksgiving 2025 release date.

🏃 The Running Man
Fresh off wrapping production, Edgar Wright and Glen Powell previewed footage from their reimagining of The Running Man.

🌊 Avatar: The Last Airbender—Fire and Ash
Disney offered a sneak peek into James Cameron’s upcoming Avatar sequel, Fire and Ash. While plot details are still under wraps, the studio is promising even more immersive worldbuilding, character drama, and—of course—visual spectacle.

📺 Seth Rogen’s Brilliant New Satire Series Shines a Hilarious Light on Hollywood Execs

Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg have delivered some of pop culture’s most iconic comedies since Superbad in 2007. Now, the duo returns with The Studio—a sharp, darkly funny satire that skewers the absurdity of modern-day Hollywood. Co-written, co-directed, and executive produced by Rogen and Goldberg, the series might be their most ambitious swing yet.

Set inside the fictional Continental Studios, Rogen stars as Matt Remick, a newly crowned studio head who’s equal parts movie nerd and people-pleaser. He’s desperate to be adored by the creatives he hires—an ambition that clashes hilariously with the harsh realities of studio politics. Alongside his executive team, Matt tries to keep big-budget filmmaking alive in an industry run by corporate overlords and brand synergy.

After previewing the first three episodes, here’s why The Studio already feels like a must-watch:

• It’s one-take chaos—and it works. Each episode is crafted to feel like a continuous “oner,” with the second episode shot entirely in one take. The result is a stressful, high-energy rhythm that perfectly captures the pressure cooker of a film set—especially when the in-show movie being filmed is also a one-take.

• It’s packed with familiar faces. Rogen and Goldberg bring back a host of collaborators, including Anthony Mackie (The Night Before), Charlize Theron (Long Shot), and a mini Neighbors reunion with Ike Barinholtz, Dave Franco, and director Nick Stoller. The cameos add extra charm without feeling forced.

• It goes all-in on Hollywood’s IP obsession. In the first episode, the studio greenlights a Kool-Aid cinematic universe—yes, really—offering a pitch-perfect jab at the industry’s love affair with branded content.

With more episodes on the way and plenty of Hollywood absurdity left to explore, The Studio is shaping up to be a sharp, hilarious, and surprisingly heartfelt look at the art—and chaos—of making movies. Here’s hoping it gets a second season.

That’s it for this week folks. Let me know if you have any feedback or comments on what’d you like to see in this newsletter, feel free to reply to me on this email.

We’ll see you back again next Friday & have a great weekend!

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