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Bill Murray to Voice Baloo the Bear in ‘The Jungle Book’
5 hours ago | Variety - Film News | See recent Variety - Film News news »
Bill Murray has joined the cast of Disney’s “The Jungle Book” as the voice of Baloo the Bear.
Previously announced cast include Christopher Walken as King Louie, Giancarlo Esposito as Akela, Ben Kingsley and Lupita Nyong’o as Bagheera and Raksha, respectively; Idris Elba as Shere Khan; Scarlett Johansson as Kaa; and newcomer Neel Sethi as Mowgli.
“The Jungle Book” will combine live-action and animation with Jon Favreau directing from a script by Justin Marks. The film will be released in 3D and will be released Oct. 9, 2015.
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- Dave McNary
Lionsgate Sues Pirates Over ‘Expendables 3’ Leaked Internet Copy
14 hours ago | Variety - Film News | See recent Variety - Film News news »
Lionsgate has filed a lawsuit against 10 anonymous individuals the studio alleges were responsible for illegally sharing a high-quality copy of “The Expendables 3″ three weeks before its theatrical debut.
The studio is seeking unspecified monetary damages for contributory copyright infringement, and seeks to block the operators of several cloud-storage and torrent-sharing websites from linking to or distributing the poached copy of the action film.
In addition, Lionsgate’s lawsuit demands that the defendants, identified as John Does 1-10, turn over all digital copies of the film, including hardware like servers that contain pirated copies, and that they be barred from continuing to operate the websites.
According to the lawsuit, Lionsgate became aware on or about July 24 that a digital copy of “Expendables 3″ had been stolen and shared on pirate sites. Since then, there have been more than 2 million downloads of “Expendables 3″ worldwide, according to piracy-tracking firm Excipio.
“Lions Gate is »
- Todd Spangler
‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ Blasts Off With Super $11.2 Million Box Office Thursday Night
14 hours ago | The Wrap | See recent The Wrap news »
Chris Pratt is now a full-fledged movie star, wise-ass talking raccoons and sentient warrior trees are legitimate elements to blockbuster films, and Marvel has another hit with “Guardians of the Galaxy.” The Marvel Studios film, put out by Disney, made $11.2 million in Thursday night showings that started at 7 pm, a huge number for a new franchise. Rave reviews — director James Gunn‘s film currently has a 91 percent on Rotten Tomatoes — a shrewd marketing campaign in an otherwise slumping summer, and its association with the Marvel juggernaut combined to help to lift “Guardians” to its high opening. Also read: How »
- Jordan Zakarin
Ellen Pompeo to Produce ABC Family Drama ‘Debt’
7 hours ago | Variety - TV News | See recent Variety - TV News news »
“Grey’s Anatomy” actress Ellen Pompeo will executive produce an adaptation of Rachel Carey’s 2013 novel “Debt” for ABC Family, Variety has confirmed.
“Debt” tells the story of Lillian, a writer who works as a tutor to pay off her college loans. The book analyzes the dangers of getting into debt — both financial and personal — in a satirical portrait of the 2008 New York financial crisis. The project is set up at ABC Signature, a division of ABC Studios, with a writer yet to be announced.
Pompeo has starred on “Grey’s Anatomy” as Meredith Grey since the show’s premiere in 2005, earning a Golden Globe nomination for the role in 2007. She will appear in season 11 of the soapy medical series, premiering Sept. 25, and has already signed on for a 12th year should the show be renewed.
In 2011, the actress launched her own production company, Calamity Jane, selling a script to »
- Sebastian Torrelio
Adam Sandler Calls 8-Year-Old With Leukemia After Blog Post
8 hours ago | The Hollywood Reporter | See recent The Hollywood Reporter news »
Adam Sandler brightened the night of an 8-year-old with leukemia after the boy, his family and a family friend made online pleas for the star to reach out to the sick fan. Sandler had a phone conversation recently with Grady Lynch after the kid posted a video in which he proclaimed that he was Sandler's biggest fan and wanted to have a barbecue with him. Family friend John Kinnear also pleaded for the actor-comedian to get in touch with Lynch (and for readers to help make this happen) in a blog post, which he updated to reveal
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- Hilary Lewis
Marvel Studios President Addresses Lack of Female-Led Movies
11 hours ago | The Hollywood Reporter | See recent The Hollywood Reporter news »
Following fans upset at the apparent removal of the character Janet Van Dyne from next year’s Ant-Man — and the long-term dismay about the lack of a solo movie for Scarlett Johannson’s Black Widow character — Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige has opened up about the possibility of a female-led movie from the studio. “I very much believe in doing it,” he told Comic Book Resources. “I very much believe that it’s unfair to say, ‘People don’t want to see movies with female heroes,’ then list five movies that were not very good, therefore, people didn’t
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- Graeme McMillan
‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ Blows Estimates Away With Possible $95-98 Million Opening Weekend
11 minutes ago | The Wrap | See recent The Wrap news »
Thanks to good word-of-mouth and a healthy marketing push before it, Marvel and Disney have a huge hit on their hands with James Gunn‘s “Guardians of the Galaxy.” Latest estimates have it on track to bring in between $95-98 million over its opening weekend, which could surpass “Captain America: The Winter Soldier's” $95.023 million. Also read: ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ Reviews: Is Chris Pratt's Goofy Space Romp Out of This World? The unusual sci-fi/superhero film was an uncertainty in the blockbuster Marvel Cinematic Universe franchise, but appears to have more than earned its already-greenlit sequel, set for 2017. The film already set. »
- Jason Hughes
Take Me To The Pilots '14: Fox's 'Red Band Society'
43 minutes ago | Hitfix | See recent Hitfix news »
[In case you've Forgotten, and as I will continue to mention each and every one of these posts that I do: This is *not* a review. Pilots change. Sometimes a lot. Often for the better. Sometimes for the worse. But they change. Actual reviews will be coming in September and perhaps October (and maybe midseason in some cases). This is, however, a brief gut reaction to not-for-air pilots. I know some people will be all "These are reviews." If you've read me, you've read my reviews and you know this isn't what they look like.] Show: "Red Band Society" (Fox) The Pitch: "Teens who might have nothing in common otherwise are brought together in group that equalizes them and allows them to support each other... You might remember another recent Fox show like that." "Ah. Ampu-Glee." Quick Response: Yes, Margaret Nagle's "Red Band Society" is based on a format from Spain, but the comparisons to "Glee" are inevitable and unavoidable. And rather than even trying to avoid those associations, Fox and ABC Studios brought in Alfonso Gomez-Rejon to direct and since Gomez-Rejon is basically the in-house director for Ryan Murphy, you get a show that sounds and feels like "Glee" (minus the songs), but also looks and is paced like "Glee" (minus the songs). There's a lot of snarky, reference-based humor, but then there's also a lot of effective earnestness and it helps that so much of the young cast -- Charlie Rowe, Ciara Bravo »
- Daniel Fienberg
Emmy Episode Analysis: Fifth time's the charm for Christine Baranski ('The Good Wife')?'
56 minutes ago | Gold Derby | See recent Gold Derby news »
Christine Baranski ("The Good Wife") has been nominated for five straight years for Best Drama Supporting Actress. This is her 11th Emmy nod in total, after winning for her supporting work on the comedy series "Cybill" back in 1995. She was nominated a further three times for that role, once for a guest role on "Frasier," and then twice more recently for her guest work on "The Big Bang Theory." Is Baranski overdue and poised to upset frontrunner Anna Gunn ("Breaking Bad")? -Break- Exclusive: Emmy episode submissions for 'Louie,' 'The Good Wife,' Jim Parsons, Claire Danes, ... Synopsis: "The Last Call" deals with the immediate aftermath of the shocking death of Will Gardner (Josh Charles). Diane Lockhart (Baranski) has rushed to the hospital after hearing about the tragic news, and grieves over the loss of her partner and best friend. Diane consoles a heartbroken »
Emmy Episode Analysis: Lena Headey ('Game of Thrones') is tragic villain in 'Lion and the Rose'
1 hour ago | Gold Derby | See recent Gold Derby news »
This is Lena Headey's first Best Drama Supporting Actress nomination for her role as Cersei Lannister on "Game of Thrones." Can she upset frontrunner Anna Gunn ("Breaking Bad") and take home an Emmy? -Break- Exclusive video: 'Game of Thrones' star Lena Headey defends controversial sex scene Synopsis: In "The Lion and the Rose," all of King's Landing is preparing for the royal wedding of King Joffrey (Jack Gleeson) and Margaery Tyrell (Natalie Dormer). At the pre-wedding banquet, Joffrey is lavished with gifts, including a Valyrian steel sword that his grandfather, Tywin Lannister (Charles Dance), had forged in a prior episode. Joffrey begins to torment his uncle Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) by contemptuously chopping in half the rare book Tyrion had given to him. At the reception after the wedding ceremony, Lady Olenna (Diana Rigg) reminds Tywin of the debt the crown owes to the Iron Bank of Braavos. »
Clive Owen explains his 'Knick' mustache and being 'The David Bowie of a Hospital in 1900'
1 hour ago | Hitfix | See recent Hitfix news »
A couple weeks ago at the TCA press tour, I sat down with Clive Owen and Steven Soderbergh for a 45-minute discussion about their new Cinemax series "The Knick," a medical drama set around New York's Knickerbocker Hospital in 1900. Soderbergh directed the totality of the first season, which focuses on Owen's Dr. John W. Thackery, a visionary surgeon who augments his forward-thinking approach to his profession with additions to cocaine and opium. As you might expect, it's a wide-ranging interview covering the show's journey to Cinemax, the approach to the occasionally harrowing medical rituals of the period, the pressures of doing five two-hour movies consecutively and the decision to use a trippy score by Cliff Martinez. It's a great interview and it'll go up sometime next week, ahead of the show's August 8 premiere on Cinemax. While the full Q&A will be posted, I wanted to whet appetites with a »
- Daniel Fienberg
Dreamworks Animation Hit With Investor Class Action Lawsuit Over Financial Malfeasance
2 hours ago | The Wrap | See recent The Wrap news »
In a document filed on Friday in the U.S. District Court in Central California, Charles Paddock filed a class action lawsuit against DreamWorks Animation Skg, Inc. on behalf of himself and all other shareholders in the publicly-traded company. Also read: DreamWorks Animation Loses Money For the Second Quarter in a Row He alleges that DreamWorks “made false and/or misleading statements, and failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Company's business, operations, prospects and performance.” The suit details the period of time surrounding the film “Turbo,” which was released in the summer of 2013. After it underperformed, the company waited until February. »
- Jason Hughes
Departing Los Angeles Film Festival Programmer Doug Jones Heads East
2 hours ago | Thompson on Hollywood | See recent Thompson on Hollywood news »
Following Los Angeles Film Festival artistic director David Ansen out the door was Film Independent and Laff programming veteran Doug Jones, who swiftly landed a new gig. He's moving to Williamstown, Ma as the new executive director of the Images Cinema, a venerable downtown single-screen theater. In September he replaces Sandra Thomas, who has resigned after 12 years. Jones is looking forward to taking over the renovated art house cinema, which plays first-run indies and foreign films as well as classic repertory cinema, bringing in talent for Q & As. He wants to try some new ideas and programming initiatives. Jones has two decades of experience at film festivals and arts nonprofits. He's currently associate programmer for the Philadelphia Film Festival, and prior to his dozen years at Laff and Film Independent, he was Film and Video Programmer at the San Francisco International Film Festival and San Francisco Film Society, and earned his exhibition. »
- Anne Thompson
Emmy Episode Analysis: Christina Hendricks ('Mad Men') just wants to be loved in 'The Strategy'
2 hours ago | Gold Derby | See recent Gold Derby news »
This is Christina Hendricks's fifth Best Drama Supporting Actress nomination for her role as Joan Harris on "Mad Men." So far, like all of her "Mad Men" co-stars, Hendricks has come up short each year she has been nominated. Can she upset frontrunner Anna Gunn ("Breaking Bad") and finally take home an Emmy? -Break- Exclusive: AMC's Emmy episode submissions for 'Breaking Bad' & 'Mad Men' Synopsis: In "The Strategy," Bob Benson (James Wolk) arranges a Sunday date with Joan and proposes to her in an attempt to conceal his homosexuality and protect his potential new job at Buick. He says that Joan will finally have the companionship and stability she deserves, and that her young son will have a father figure, but Joan kindly rejects the offer, imploring Bob to find real love, which is what she ultimately longs for too. Meanwhile, Pete Campbell (Vincent Kartheiser) visits his daugh. »
Theaters Show Guardians of the Galaxy Fans the Wrong Movie, Over and Over Again: Cue the Tweets!
2 hours ago | E! Online | See recent E! Online news »
Boo! Hiss! Really?! Wtf?! %*$&! Presumably more than popcorn flew when Regal Cinema patrons in Virginia and New Jersey were shown the 2012 fantasy film Rise of the Guardians last night instead of the eagerly anticipated Marvel superhero flick Guardians of the Galaxy, starring Chris Pratt and Zoe Saldana—and the theater somehow just couldn't get it right! According to The Hollywood Reporter, Dean Browell of Virginia—who was in the audience at a screening with his 10-year-old daughter—sat through three rounds of 15-minute previews as the theater staff tried many times to get the correct movie playing. When the Dreamworks animated feature appeared on the big screen »
Gary Goddard Files Declaration Demanding Dismissal in Anonymous Sexual Abuse Case
3 hours ago | The Wrap | See recent The Wrap news »
Gary Goddard has filed a declaration with the U.S District Court for the Central District of California asking that his motion to dismiss in the anonymous sex abuse trial be granted. In the legal documents, he cited that alleged consensual sex with a 16-year-old does not violate U.S. law when it takes place outside of the United States. Also read: Gary Goddard Files Objection to Potential John Doe Lawyer Citing ‘Bad Moral Character’ It is particularly inappropriate as the alleged sexual act took place in England, where 16 is the age of consent. The declaration cites several examples of precedence where it. »
- Jason Hughes
‘Transporter Legacy’ Set for U.S. Release on March 6
3 hours ago | Variety - Film News | See recent Variety - Film News news »
“The Transporter Legacy,” the launch film of EuropaCorp’s action trilogy, will be released in North America on March 6 through newly launched EuropaCorp USA.
Variety first reported in February that “Game of Thrones” actor Ed Skrein (pictured above) would succeed Jason Statham in the reboot of the “Transporter” franchise. Also starring are Loan Chabanal, Radivoje Bukvic, Gabriella Wright, Anatole Taubman and Tatiana Pajkovic.
The new “Transporter” trilogy is helmed by “Brick Mansion” director Camille Delamarre from a script by Bill Collage and Adam Cooper. Luc Besson’s EuropaCorp is producing with Mark Gao’s Fundamental Films.
The first and second “Transporter” pics, helmed by Louis Leterrier, grossed $43.9 million and $85.1 million worldwide, respectively. The third, directed by Olivier Megaton and handled by Lionsgate, grossed $108.9 million.
The combined budgets totalled less than $95 million.
In the new film, Skrein will play a top driver and mercenary who teams with the leader of a »
- Dave McNary
‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ Orbits $100 Million at Box Office
3 hours ago | Variety - Film News | See recent Variety - Film News news »
The opening day of Marvel-Disney’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” has demolished forecasts — so much so that it may reach the iconic $100 million mark in its first weekend.
Late Friday afternoon estimates placed the new superhero tentpole’s debut at approximately $95 million, the best ever for the month of August, with Friday estimates ranging from $33 million to $40 million.
“Guardians” had originally been pegged to open in the $70 million range.
Disney downplayed its estimates Friday afternoon with a range of $85 million to $95 million but if the intergalactic pic can hit the nine-figure mark, it would be only the second time in 2014 following Paramount’s “Transformers: Age of Extinction” doing so at the end of June. The $100 million mark has been crossed a total of 27 times.
Four other titles have opened above $90 million in 2014 — Marvel-Disney’s “Captain America: The Winter soldier” with $95 million, Warner-Legendary’s “Godzilla” with $93 million, Sony’s “Amazing Spider-Man 2 »
- Dave McNary
Film Review: ‘Behaving Badly’
4 hours ago | Variety - Film News | See recent Variety - Film News news »
Managing to elicit genuine belly laughs while playing a blind teenage cancer patient in this summer’s “The Fault in Our Stars,” 19-year-old Nat Wolff has displayed a precocious knack for wringing humor out of the most unfortunate circumstances. And yet, as Tim Garrick’s barrel-bottom teen sex farce “Behaving Badly” illustrates, even he has his limits. Wolff is hardly alone, however, as a surprisingly deep cast of slumming stars (Selena Gomez, Mary-Louise Parker, Elisabeth Shue, Gary Busey, Jason Lee, and even an uncredited Justin Bieber) all fail to lift this ruthlessly unfunny misfire, which should be quickly relegated to an IMDb trivia question after a brief theatrical bow.
Things start out badly for 17-year-old Rick Stevens (Wolff), who opens the film by discovering he has crabs, only to head downstairs and discover his alcoholic mother (Parker) slumped on the couch, with pill bottles, vodka and various suicide notes strewn all around. »
- Andrew Barker
Jeff Bridges Saluted by Aarp for His End-Hunger Work
4 hours ago | Variety - Film News | See recent Variety - Film News news »
At a Spago luncheon on Friday, the conversation touched upon moviegoing demographics, the new film “The Giver” and the importance of branding — but the key talking point was solutions to hunger.
Aarp threw the event to honor Jeff Bridges, the cover subject of the org’s August/September issue. The story is tied to the Weinstein Co.’s Aug. 15 release of “The Giver,” which Aarp Media Svp-editorial director Myrna Blyth described as being based on a Ya novel but focused on “the wisdom of age.” She also talked about the new alliance between Aarp Foundation’s end-hunger program and No Kid Hungry, which Bridges has been championing for 20 years. The former is focused on needy seniors, while the latter focuses on children; the two have come up with programs to help both.
The actor spoke briefly, thanking Aarp and praising the “Giver” team who were there, including producers Neil Koenigsberg »
- Tim Gray
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