'Landman' Cast Raises, Paramount-WBD Clears EU, World Cup Breaks TV Records, 'Project Hail Mary' Heads to Streaming, YouTube Meets Hollywood (June 29–July 3, 2026)

In this week's Friday Five, the original cast of “Landman” secures rare mid-run salary renegotiations ahead of Season 3, reflecting the show's status as Paramount+'s biggest hit (Deadline), Paramount submits concessions to the European Commission — agreeing to exit its Universal distribution joint venture — to clear its $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery (The Hollywood Reporter), Fox's 2026 World Cup coverage more than doubles its 2022 audience, with the USMNT's win over Paraguay setting the record for the most-watched World Cup telecast in English-language US history (The Hollywood Reporter), “Project Hail Mary” heads to Prime Video following a 105-day theatrical window, one of the longest studio commitments to exclusive theatrical exhibition in years (Deadline), and Markiplier's Hollywood journey — six months after his self-distributed film “Iron Lung” grossed $50 million worldwide — offers a window into how YouTube-born films are reshaping where studios look for talent and IP (IndieWire), alongside other key developments shaping the entertainment industry.

Resources:

• Story 1 — Deadline / Landman

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• Story 2 — The Hollywood Reporter / Paramount-WBD EU

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/paramount-to-exit-uip-to-win-eu-approval-for-warner-merger-1236634547/

• Story 3 — The Hollywood Reporter / World Cup Ratings https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/fox-world-cup-2026-pregame-show-ratings-1236632412/

• Story 4 — Deadline / Project Hail Mary

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• Story 5 — IndieWire / Markiplier

features/interviews/markiplier-hollywood-indie-film-youtube-loyalty-1235202783/