So, you got a free subscription to Apple+ TV with your new phone, you’ve binged all of Ted Lasso, and you’re wondering, now what? Well, we have good news for you: WeCrashed, the prestige drama take on Adam and Rebekah Neumann and the whole WeWork phenomenon, will be streaming from 18 March, and the first trailer is out in the world.
Starring the 21st century Anne Hathaway as Rebekah and everybody’s fifth favourite live-action Joker, Jared Leto, as Adam, together with a quality supporting cast that includes America Ferrara and O-T Fagbenle, it promises to be one of 2022’s must-watch shows, at least in our merry little industry.
According to Apple, the series is “inspired by actual events — and the love story at the centre of it all”.
Its official blurb adds: “WeWork grew from a single co-working space into a global brand worth $47bn in under a decade. Then, in less than a year, its value plummeted. What happened?” That certainly seems to be the question gripping Hollywood, as this dramatised version follows last year’s documentary, WeWork: Or the Making and Breaking of a $47bn Unicorn.
Diary has high hopes WeCrashed will help us through the long, painful wait for Succession season four. After all, it has glass boardrooms, helicopters, private jets, even an ill-judged rap. (“When I say We, you say Work.” No, really.) There is no swearing in the trailer, but with all those billions on the line, we’re sure someone will go full Logan Roy at some point. Build your own excitement for the show at: www.apple.com/tv-pr/originals/wecrashed
Floorless placemaking
You can find inspiration in the strangest of places. A few weeks back, Carter Jonas partner Neal Allcock was ripping up the underlay in his in-laws’ house and discovered a copy of The Times from 1980. His eye was caught by an advert aimed at wooing businesses and residents to Peterborough. Under the heading “Isn’t this what Britain needs?” the ad announced: “If Britain’s export record matched Peterborough’s, the nation’s problems would be over,” adding: “Companies that move here grow over 15 times faster than the national average.” This got Allcock thinking about the UK’s new town initiative – Peterborough had been designated a new town in the 1960s. Could a similar initiative be what the country needs now to tackle its housing crisis? You can read his thoughts on page 31 – and see the ad.
From bad to ’verse
After EG’s foray into the weird world of the metaverse last week – not least the essential Q&A at www.egi.co.uk/news/everything-you-wanted-to-know-about-the-metaverse-but-were-afraid-to-ask – Diary thinks it has just about got its head around buying virtual land. After all, it doesn’t seem so very different to buying real land, does it? Just don’t say that to Janine Yorio, boss of Republic Realm and the brains behind the biggest metaverse land deal so far.
“Actually, I wish it wasn’t called metaverse real estate,” the real estate veteran confides. “We only call it metaverse real estate because it’s an easy way for people to understand something that’s otherwise very obtuse.”
Oh, right. But what about the land, the focus on location, the non-fungible-ness? The tenants?
“Oh, that’s all true,” she adds. “But it’s also about video gaming and e-commerce.”
And the main problem? Property people muscling in.
“They think that because it’s called real estate they ought to be there,” Yorio says. “And worse yet, that they actually know things about it.” Ouch.
“We need a new name to describe this new thing,” she says, looking expectant.
Not really real estate? Unreal estate? Digiland? Cryptoproperty? She looks singularly unimpressed. Anyone out there got a better suggestion?
French lessons for BoJo?
Diary can’t help but wonder if the prime minister will be making an appearance at MIPIM this year? Back when he was London mayor, Boris Johnson was often seen cruising the Croisette, looking for a work event to take part in.
So far there has been no news from Number 10, almost as if they have other things to worry about. But it might be in Johnson’s interest to make an appearance. After all, former French president Francois Hollande will be giving the keynote.
Now, Hollande and Johnson may not see eye-to-eye politically, but otherwise they have a lot in common – a certain way with the ladies, at least one illegitimate offspring, a witty way with words, a plunging approval rating while in office. And, being a good Frenchman, Hollande would certainly understand the need for wine and cheese at a work event.
Perhaps he would have some sympathy for a political career ruined by a party – although it was his own Socialist Party in Hollande’s case. In the end, it was an affair that largely did for the French politician: C’est un peu le chien mord l’homme, n’est-ce pas?
Contact diary@eg.co.uk
