16 articles
Forecast: 'Spectre' and 'Peanuts' Hope for Strong Second Weekend Holds
2 hours ago | Box Office Mojo | See recent BoxOfficeMojo.com news »
Spectre's $70.4 million opening last weekend was the seventh largest of 2015 and this weekend it faces little to no incoming competition. The week's new wide releases include the Chilean miner drama The 33, the Christmas-themed family feature Love the Coopers and the period, football drama My All American. Not one of these three new wide releases will be threatening the top two spots at the box office, which means the second weekend of Spectre and The Peanuts Movie draw the majority of our attention. Starting with Spectre, the first instinct is to look to Skyfall's second weekend back in 2012. After a monster opening, Skyfall dropped 53.5% in the face of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2's $141 million opening weekend. Quantum of Solace dropped 60% when it faced off, and took second to, the first Twilight film back in 2008. Twilight, however, isn't exactly direct competition. Taking that into consideration, it would suggest those weekend »
- Brad Brevet <mail@boxofficemojo.com>
Paul Thomas Anderson Won't Be Directing Robert Downey Jr.'s ‘Pinocchio’
9 hours ago | The Playlist | See recent The Playlist news »
Earlier this year, overly earnest Paul Thomas Anderson fans were faintly scandalized when word emerged he was writing and might possibly direct Robert Downey Jr.'s long brewing "Pinocchio" movie. Fans wondered how Anderson could go from making a Thomas Pynchon adaptation to a fairy tale movie, but it's not so outside the realm of possibility. Of course, Anderson showed himself to be a fan of Robert Altman's "Popeye," lifting a song for his own "Punch Drunk Love," and in general, his tastes aren't just relegated to the arty. Nonetheless, he won't be doing the gig. Jeff Sneider of The Wrap tweeted last night that Anderson won't be helming "Pinocchio." No word as to why, but I'd guess having more people to answer to in a major studio environment at Warner Bros., for what would be a decidedly more mainstream picture, probably wasn't that enticing. No word yet on »
- Kevin Jagernauth
Entertainment Weekly's new Star Wars: The Force Awakens issue – 10 things we learned
8 hours ago | The Guardian - Film News | See recent The Guardian - Film News news »
Us magazine persuades J.J. Abrams and key cast to open up on female stormtroopers, General Leia and the true nature of Rey’s staff
We may have already seen the final trailer for Star Wars: The Force Awakens, but there are plenty more revelations to come ahead of the film’s release next month. Here are 10 things about J.J. Abrams’s mega-hyped space opera we gleaned from the latest issue of Entertainment Weekly.
Related: Jj Abrams says Star Wars: The Force Awakens will work as standalone movie
Continue reading »
- Ben Child
Tennessee Williams Movie in the Works at Broad Green
8 hours ago | Variety - Film News | See recent Variety - Film News news »
Broad Green Pictures is developing a movie about iconic playwright Tennessee Williams, based on John Lahr’s book “Tennessee Williams: Mad Pilgrimage of the Flesh.”
Williams authored “A Streetcar Named Desire,” “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” “The Glass Menagerie,” “Sweet Bird of Youth” and “The Night of the Iguana.”
The untitled project has not yet been set up with a writer or director. Lauren McCarthy and Shary Shirazi will be overseeing the project for the company.
Williams was born in Mississippi and had an unhappy childhood, dominated by an alcoholic father. He attended the University of Missouri’s Columbia Journalism School before dropping out to work at a shoe factory.
Williams suffered a nervous breakdown at the age of 24. He scored his first success in 1944 with “The Glass Menagerie,” the story of a young man, his disabled sister and their controlling mother, and saw his biggest success in 1947 with “A Streetcar Named Desire. »
- Dave McNary
Bryan Cranston Starring in Drama ‘Wakefield’
11 November 2015 1:18 PM, PST | Variety - Film News | See recent Variety - Film News news »
Bryan Cranston is starring in the drama “Wakefield” with Robin Swicord directing from her own script.
Bonnie Curtis and Julie Lynn are producing through their Mockingbird Pictures banner with Elliot Webb co-producing.
The film is based on a short story of the same name by E.L. Doctorow — which is a retelling of a story by Nathaniel Hawthorne, also called “Wakefield” about a man who unexpectedly leaves his wife for an extended period of time.
Cranston revealed the casting on a recent interview on “The Howard Stern Radio Show,” explaining that he will play a married Manhattan lawyer who sees a racoon in the attic of his home and winds up staying in the attic for several months due to a nervous breakdown. He also said his character will become romantically involved with a younger woman at some point in the story.
Cranston also said in the interview that filming would »
- Dave McNary
Woody Allen's 'Annie Hall' Voted Funniest Screenplay of All Time
10 hours ago | Rollingstone.com | See recent Rolling Stone news »
Woody Allen's groundbreaking 1977 comedy Annie Hall triumphed over 100 other films – including a handful of the director's other works – to land at Number One on the Writers Guild of America's list of the 101 Funniest Screenplays. The comedy's Allen- and Marshall Brickman-penned script beat out a Top Five that included 1959's Some Like It Hot (Number Two), 1993's Groundhog Day (Three), 1980's Airplane! (Four) and 1982's Tootsie.
In total, Allen placed seven scripts on the 101 Funniest Screenplays list, with Sleeper, Bananas, Take the Money and Run, Love and Death, Manhattan »
Donald Trump Compares Ben Carson to a Child Molester (Video)
10 minutes ago | The Wrap | See recent The Wrap news »
Donald Trump may have just dropped most offensive insult yet against Ben Carson. The real estate developer said Thursday that Carson’s self-described “pathological temper” is incurable, equating it to the sickness of a “child molester.” “It’s in the book that he’s got a pathological temper,” Trump told CNN’s Erin Burnett about the retired neurosurgeon’s autobiography. “That’s a big problem because you don’t cure that … as an example, child molesting. You don’t cure these people. You don’t cure a child molester. There’s no cure for it. Pathological, there’s no cure for that. »
- Itay Hod
Adam Pally, Rosa Salazar Romantic Comedy ‘Night Owls’ Sells to FilmBuff, Orion Releasing
20 minutes ago | The Wrap | See recent The Wrap news »
FilmBuff and Orion Releasing have acquired worldwide rights to director Charles Hood’s romantic comedy “Night Owls,” which was a hit at this year’s SXSW festival, it was announced Thursday. Adam Pally (“Happy Endings”) and Rosa Salazar (“Parenthood”) star alongside Tony Hale (“Veep”), Rob Huebel (“Transparent”) and Peter Krause (“Six Feet Under”). “Night Owls” follows workaholic Kevin (Pally), who goes home with beautiful train-wreck Madeline (Salazar) for a drunken one-night-stand, and is then horrified to discover she’s actually his boss’ jilted ex-mistress. After Madeline takes a bottle of sleeping pills, Kevin is forced to keep her awake all night. »
- Jeff Sneider
Mobster Vincent Asaro Acquitted of All Charges in ‘Goodfellas’ Lufthansa Heist
32 minutes ago | The Wrap | See recent The Wrap news »
Aging mobster Vincent Asaro was acquitted Thursday of charges that he helped plan the iconic 1978 Lufthansa heist which was chronicled in Martin Scorsese‘s 1990 movie “Goodfellas.” A federal jury reached the verdict that surprised even Asaro (pictured celebrating with his lawyers above) when it was read aloud during the racketeering trial at Brooklyn Federal Court on Thursday. Prosecutors argued that Asaro was deeply involved with the gangsters who breached the Lufthansa terminal at JFK airport on Dec. 11, 1978, and emptied a vault of $6 million in cash and jewels. Also Read: Whitey Bulger's Lawyer Rips Johnny Depp's 'Black Mass »
- Debbie Emery
Cynthia Nixon on Her Heartbreaking Turn as Cancer Patient in ‘James White’ (Video)
50 minutes ago | The Wrap | See recent The Wrap news »
Josh Mond‘s directorial debut “James White” will hit theaters on Friday with some awards momentum, as the heartbreaking drama just won the American Independents Audience Award at AFI Fest. The film stars Christopher Abbott as the titular James White, a young New Yorker struggling to take control of his self-destructive behavior in the face of his mother’s battle with cancer. Several weeks ago, Mond, Abbott and co-star Cynthia Nixon sat down with TheWrap to discuss the film, which is based on Mond’s own experience losing a loved one. Also Read: AFI Fest Jury, Audience Award Winners Include 'James White, »
- Jeff Sneider
TV News Roundup: Ariana Grande to Perform at AMAs, Thanksgiving Parade Nabs Justin Bieber
51 minutes ago | Variety - TV News | See recent Variety - TV News news »
Justin Bieber will perform at the Thanksgiving Day Parade on CBS, and Ariana Grande will perform on ABC’s American Music Awards. Plus, here’s a first look at Kristen Bell guest starring on Disney Channel’s “Liv and Maddie” in today’s television news roundup . . .
Television specials:
Justin Bieber will perform at the 2015 Thanksgiving Day Parade on CBS. The musical phenomenon just announced his world tour and will release his album “Purpose” this Friday. The annual parade, which marks the 55th year for CBS this holiday, will be anchored by “Entertainment Tonight” host Kevin Frazier and “The Insider’s” Keltie Knight live from New York City on the morning of Nov. 26.
ABC’s American Music Awards will welcome performer Ariana Grande, who will make her television debut of her new single “Focus” during the show. Hosted by Jennifer Lopez on Nov. 22, the AMAs will also feature performances by 5 Seconds of Summer, »
- Elizabeth Wagmeister
Tracy Morgan in Talks to Play Redd Foxx in Richard Pryor Biopic
51 minutes ago | Variety - Film News | See recent Variety - Film News news »
Tracy Morgan is in talks to play Redd Foxx opposite Mike Epps in the Richard Pryor biopic for the Weinstein Co. with Lee Daniels directing.
“Mr. Foxx, I hope I do you justice!” said Morgan in a statement. “It will be an honor to portray an icon.”
Foxx was best known for raunchy comedy “party albums” in the 1950s and 1960s, and starred for six seasons in the sitcom “Sanford and Son” from 1972 to 1977. Pryor broke into the business in the early 1960s and had become the top stand-up comedian in the business by the early 1970s.
Foxx and Pryor both appeared in Eddie Murphy’s 1989 movie “Harlem Nights.”
Other cast in the untitled Pryor project include Kate Hudson as Pryor’s wife, Taraji P. Henson and Murphy as Pryor’s parents and Oprah Winfrey as Pryor’s grandmother who raised him.
Morgan returned to “Saturday Night Live” as host on Oct. »
- Dave McNary
Now we're excited for 'The Wiz Live!'
1 hour ago | Hitfix | See recent Hitfix news »
It took one preview duet, one song, and two tremendous vocalists to do it, but now we're ready for "The Wiz Live!", NBC's newest live musical, to ease on down to primetime December 3. Check out this very special rendition of "Home" featuring new star Shanice Williams and Broadway's original Dorothy herself, Stephanie Mills. Also in the cast: David Alan Grier (the Cowardly Lion), Queen Latifah (the Wiz), Uzo Aduba (Glinda), Elijah Kelley (Scarecrow), Ne-Yo (Tin Man), and Amber Riley (Addaperle, the Good Witch of the North). And just in case you forgot about television's most legendary performance of "Home" to date, check out this relic. »
- Louis Virtel
Oscar Best Picture smackdown: Pete Hammond (Deadline) vs. Tom O'Neil (Gold Derby)'
1 hour ago | Gold Derby | See recent Gold Derby news »
Deadline Oscar wag Pete Hammond is too sly to be nailed down on his predictions this early in derby season, but he still has strong opinions about our experts' opinions and about which films may or may not be out front for Best Picture. In this first of a series of (often ferocious) videos, Pete and I clash over our views of the experts' rankings. Is "Spotlight" really out front for Best Picture? Is it too ridiculously early to place racetrack odds on still-unseen "The Revenant" and "Joy"? ("No!" I say. "Yes!" Pete roars.) -Break- Check out the experts' Oscar odds here and see how they each rank contenders. Then make your own early predictions now and change them later as often as you wish. If you reap one of the top three scores forecasting nominations, you can win our top contest prizes: $500, $300 or $200 Amazon gift certificates. See contest rules. »
‘Man in the High Castle’ Showrunner Frank Spotnitz Answers ‘Would You Kill Baby Hitler?’
1 hour ago | The Wrap | See recent The Wrap news »
Amazon’s new drama “The Man in the High Castle,” based on the novel by Philip K. Dick, imagines a world in which Germany and Japan won World War II and split the U.S. down the middle. In October the New York Times on Twitter asked readers to imagine whether they, with the power of time travel, would kill baby Hitler — a question that has this week been mulled by everyone from Ben Carson (no) to Jeb Bush (yes) to Stephen Colbert (no). So how does “High Castle” executive producer and showrunner Frank Spotnitz come down on the baby Hitler question? »
- Daniel Holloway
David Hasselhoff Is Dead: ‘Baywatch’ Star Changes His Name (Video)
1 hour ago | The Wrap | See recent The Wrap news »
Say goodbye to David Hasselhoff — and say hello to David Hoff. We think. The former “Baywatch” star dropped a bombshell on Thursday, claiming to have shortened his name to the much zippier David Hoff. “Big news today and a massive relief for me,” the actor wrote on his Twitter account. “I hope everyone can understand… it feels great!” Also Read: David Hasselhoff's 'Knight Rider' Kitt Car Can Be Yours for $300,000 He included a link to a video in which he declared, “I’ve been wanting to drop the ‘Hassel’ from my life for years. Now, I have made it official. »
- Tim Kenneally
‘Iraqi Odyssey’ Director on Why His Personal Journey Mirrors So Many Others in the Middle East
1 hour ago | The Wrap | See recent The Wrap news »
When filmmaker Samir first decided to make “Iraqi Odyssey,” he had no idea the movie about his family would be representative of so many others in the Middle East. “Lebanese and even Iranians said, ‘this is our story, our family,'” acclaimed director Samir explained after TheWrap’s screening of his film at the iPic in Westwood Wednesday. “I was like, ‘Ok, this is not my family anymore, this is everybody.'” The film, Switzerland’s official entry for the 2015 Academy Awards, follows Samir’s family as it migrates from Iraq, over more than half a century, to countries across the globe. »
- Beatrice Verhoeven
‘The Social Network’ Star Abhi Sinha Cast in James Wan’s ‘Conjuring 2’ (Exclusive)
1 hour ago | The Wrap | See recent The Wrap news »
Abhi Sinha has been cast in the role of Harry Whitmark in “The Conjuring 2,” TheWrap has learned. In the sequel to 2013’s “The Conjuring,” starring Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson, Sinha’s character will assist Maurice (Simon McBurney) and Anita (Franka Potente), two paranormal investigators who work alongside the Warren’s, in their research. Sinha is best known for his roles as Vikram in 2010’s “The Social Network” and Daniels in “Blackhat” alongside Chris Hemsworth and Viola Davis. He also starred on TV series like “Rizzoli & Isles,” “Greek,” “Bones” and “Scorpion.” Also Read: Warner Bros. Sued by 'The Conjuring' Homeowners Over Scary Fan. »
- Beatrice Verhoeven
‘American Horror Story: Hotel’ Cast on Sex Scenes, Lady Gaga and Future Seasons
1 hour ago | Variety - TV News | See recent Variety - TV News news »
From murder to ghosts to vampires, the cast of “American Horror Story: Hotel” has faced plenty of scary subjects. But a sex scene with Lady Gaga? That’s a whole new brand of fear.
“Being in a sexual situation with the Countess, having to sign a nudity waiver about how it was going to go, that was the scariest [moment],” laughed Angela Bassett, whose character, Ramona, had a romantic relationship with Lady Gaga’s the Countess.
The cast of FX’s horror anthology spoke to reporters on the set of the show Wednesday, talking about their real-life fears and shooting this particular dark — and sexy — season of “American Horror Story.” And they all have different ways of dealing with all of that.
Bassett, for instance, said Gaga told her to feel at ease for their steamy scene, and they’re even able to joke about it now. In fact, Bassett revealed »
- Alex Stedman
Great White Frontman to Apologize for Deadly 2003 Nightclub Fire in New Documentary (Audio)
1 hour ago | The Wrap | See recent The Wrap news »
Great White front man Jack Russell is ready to apologize for the 2003 Rhode Island nightclub fire that killed 100 people, and he plans to do so in a new documentary. “I’ve wanted to get out and talk about this, from my perspective, but when all the legal stuff was going down my lawyer said, ‘Don’t ever say you’re sorry, because that’s going to imply guilt,” Russell said of the tragedy in an interview with the Portland, Oregon, radio station 105.9 The Brew last week. Russell said that the documentary was his chance to apologize for the fire, which he went. »
- Reid Nakamura
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