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Will Ferrell on ‘Daddy’s Home’ Co-Star Mark Wahlberg: We’re the Perfect Combination
2 hours ago
Will Ferrell has made a successful career out of tickling people’s funny bones. From “Elf,” “Anchorman,” “Talladega Nights,” “Blades of Glory” and “Old School,” the comedian has generated nearly $2 billion at the box office. Now, with his latest comedy “Daddy’s Home” and his memorable surprise appearance on “Saturday Night Live” as George W. Bush on Dec. 12, Ferrell says he still loves to make people laugh and will never tire of doing comedies.
“Getting to do comedy is such a unique thing, because I can work on something that has a positive impact on people’s lives,” Ferrell told Variety at the “Daddy’s Home” premiere at New York’s AMC Loews Lincoln Square theater on Sunday. “There are the movies that are immediately big hits, [which is] obviously nice, but even the ones that didn’t work initially at the box office still have a life for years beyond. I »
- Paul Chi
‘Star Wars’ Box Office Holds the Key to a Record-Breaking 2015
2 hours ago
It all comes down to “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.”
At the beginning of the year, exhibitors, studio executives, and box office analysts publicly predicted that 2015 would be the biggest in history. In particular, they projected that for the first time, domestic ticket sales would eclipse $11 billion.
But with less than three weeks left to go before New Year’s day, it appears increasingly unlikely the business will hit that mark. In fact, it may not even be a record year unless other holiday releases besides “Star Wars” such as “Concussion” and “The Revenant” are embraced by audiences.
“It’s going to be pretty tough to surpass $11 billion,” said Eric Handler, an analyst with Mkm Partners. “We still have a shot at a record number, but $11 billion looks overly optimistic.”
As it stands, domestic ticket sales hover just over $10 billion. That’s a 4% improvement on last year’s numbers, but »
- Brent Lang
Oscar Tally: 305 Films Eligible for 2015
2 hours ago
There are 305 feature films eligible for the 2015 Academy Awards, a drop from last year but a jump from two years ago.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences announced the tally on Monday. Last year, there were 323 films eligible; in 2013, it was 289.
To be eligible for 88th Academy Awards consideration, a feature films must open in a commercial theater in Los Angeles County by midnight, Dec. 31, and begin a minimum run of seven consecutive days.
The Academy dictates that a feature-length motion picture must have a running time of more than 40 minutes and must have been exhibited theatrically on 35mm or 70mm film, or in a qualifying digital format. A film is ineligible if its first public exhibition/distribution is not as a theatrical motion picture release; in other words, a film-festival debut is Ok, but a launch online isn’t.
The “Reminder List of Productions Eligible for the 88th »
- Tim Gray
‘Fifty Shades of Grey’s’ Sam Taylor-Johnson to Direct Ted Kennedy Thriller
2 hours ago
After deciding not to return to direct the “Fifty Shades of Grey” sequel, Sam Taylor-Johnson has found her next project in a film just named to the 2015 Black List.
Taylor-Johnson is in talks to direct the Ted Kennedy political thriller “Chappaquiddick,” sources tell Variety.
Mark Ciardi is producing the pic. The script, written by Taylor Allen and Andrew Logan, tells the true story of what is described as the most dramatic week of Senator Ted Kennedy’s life. Kennedy was famously involved in a tragic car accident in 1969 that resulted in the death of former campaign worker Mary Jo Kopechne, thwarting his political career.
Apex Entertainment developed the script with Dmg Entertainment and is fully financing the project through its newly launched Apex Capital film fund. Casting is underway with shooting set to begin in spring.
The film marks the first project Taylor-Johnson has boarded following the massive success of »
- Justin Kroll
Tom Hiddleston Gives a Tour in ‘High-Rise’ First Trailer
3 hours ago
“Ever wanted something more? Ever thought there could be a better way to live, free from the shackles of the old, tired world?”
If so, Tom Hiddleston has just what you’re looking for: the high-rise — equipped with 40 floors of luxury apartments. The actor’s character, Dr. Robert Laing, offers a tour of the development in the first trailer for the upcoming film “High-Rise.”
The teaser acts as an advertisement for the fictional Royal Architects’ building in London. The closed-off community includes an onsite supermarket, school and doctors’ offices. But there’s trouble brewing at the center of the seemingly perfect complex. The film documents the outbreak of class warfare and the abandonment of all social order following a series of power outages at the building.
The thriller, which debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival, is directed by Ben Wheatley and based on J.G. Ballard’s 1975 novel. “High-Rise” also stars Sienna Miller, »
- Maane Khatchatourian
‘Contempt of Court’ Movie About 1906 Lynching in the Works
4 hours ago
Jonah M. Hirsch’s Fixed Point Films is developing a movie about the 1906 lynching of a black man in Tennessee and the landmark legal battle that followed, Variety has learned exclusively.
The banner, in a low six-figure deal, has acquired rights to Mark Curriden and Leroy Phillips, Jr.’s book “Contempt of Court: The Turn-of-the-Century Lynching That Launched a Hundred Years of Federalism.” Hirsch will produce and Stuart Stout’s Mfwh Productions will executive produce.
The victim, Ed Johnson, was murdered in his home town of Chattanooga, Tenn., after being sentenced to death for the alleged rape of a white woman. Johnsons’s court-appointed attorneys decided not to appeal the ruling, but two local black attorneys — Noah Parden and Styles Hutchins — took up the case, going first to federal court and then to the Supreme Court to argue that Johnson’s constitutional rights had been violated.
Parden traveled to Washington, »
- Dave McNary
Jennifer Lawrence Pay Gap Essay Hot Topic at ‘Joy’ Premiere
4 hours ago
Jennifer Lawrence‘s “Joy” co-stars praised the actress’ recent editorial calling for Hollywood to close the gender pay gap during the film’s red carpet premiere on Sunday.
“For her to come out and be so eloquent for all of us, that really meant a lot to me,” said Virginia Madsen. “I was so proud of her for that. It doesn’t mean I’m going to get equal pay, but God damn it she should get equal pay.”
Elisabeth Röhm said she was pleased that Lawrence was using her influence to fight on behalf of equal opportunity.
“She’s a hundred percent right and I support her completely and I support all of my female colleagues,” she said. “We’re a significant part of the workforce and the arts and I believe in equality all across the board, whether it comes to marriage or pay.”
While Bradley Cooper pledged his support, »
- Brent Lang
‘Son of Sofia,’ ‘Disco Boy’ Win Prizes At Les Arcs Fest
4 hours ago
Elina Psykou’s “Son of Sofia” and Giacomo Abbruzzese’s “Disco Boy” won prizes at the 7th edition of Les Arcs film festival’s coproduction village.
“Disco Boy,” which is produced by Juliette Sol’s Stromboli Films – the company behind Michel Franco’s competition pic “Chronic” — nabbed the Arte prize for best project.
Described as a contemporary movie with a political undertone, “Disco Boy” centers around a war veteran who changes identity and becomes a dancer in Paris.
“I could not make a film as a French director would. But I could make a film as a foreigner about foreigners. Finding what defines people when they are the contrary that we know about them. The moments when they are between two situations, two places,” said Abbruzzese, whose credits include “Stella Maris,” “This is The Way,” “Fireworks” and “Archipel.”
Currently in development, “Disco Boy” has an Italian co-producer on board, Dugong Films. »
- Elsa Keslassy
Berlin’s Studio Babelsberg Invests $13.2 Million in Backlot Set, Starts Construction (Exclusive)
4 hours ago
London — Berlin production facility Studio Babelsberg, which is the home of the most recent season of “Homeland” and the next instalment in the “Bourne” franchise, is to invest Euros 12 million ($13.2 million) in an extensive new backlot set, with construction due to start Tuesday. The first production to use the new set in May will be Tom Tykwer’s TV series “Babylon Berlin,” which will be Germany’s biggest-budget TV production ever.
The modular set, which will have the name Neue Berliner Strasse, will contain four streets in different architectural styles, and will be complete in the spring. The set will be able to double for streets in New York, London, Berlin and Paris, according to Michael Duewel, managing director of the art department at Babelsberg. It is being built on an area of more than 161,000 square feet adjacent to Babelsberg in Potsdam, on the edge of Berlin.
Carl Woebcken, CEO of Studio Babelsberg, »
- Leo Barraclough
‘Hateful Eight’ 70mm Roadshow Set for 100 Theaters in 44 Markets (Exclusive)
5 hours ago
While the limited nature of the 70mm roadshow roll-out of Quentin Tarantino’s “The Hateful Eight” has been cut in half, the engagement will still run for two weeks (overlapping the nationwide digital release on Dec. 31) and will screen in 100 venues in 44 markets, Variety has learned.
The markets include New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Dallas, San Francisco, Boston, Atlanta, Washington DC, Houston, Detroit, Phoenix, Seattle, Tampa, Minneapolis, Denver, Miami, Cleveland, Orlando, Sacramento, St. Louis, Portland, Pittsburgh, Milwaukee, Charlotte, Raleigh-Durham, Baltimore, San Diego, Nashville, Kansas City, San Antonio, West Palm Beach, Birmingham, Las Vegas, Albuquerque, Oklahoma City, Austin, New Orleans, Providence, Knoxville, Santa Barbara, Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver.
Tarantino and cast members will be touring the country making surprise appearances in select cities at 70mm roadshow showings.
This marks the widest 70mm release in 20 years.
Also, starting today, moviegoers can purchase tickets for the 70mm roadshow showings at tickets.thehatefuleight.com. »
- Kristopher Tapley
Film Review: ‘Under Milk Wood’
5 hours ago
Pastoral bawdy is not, perhaps, the most persuasive mode of drama for a modern audience, but it is nevertheless the milieu into which viewers are plunged for the majority of “Under Milk Wood,” Kevin Allen’s cinematic reimagining of Dylan Thomas’ multi-character radio play. Thomas fans with an appetite for endless scenes of hearty romping featuring regrettably song-prone villagers will have little cause for complaint, but commercial potential will be otherwise restricted beyond the film’s home turf. (Its U.K. release in October, meanwhile, was confined to a single screen.) The film reps a reunion for Swansea-based Allen and his “Twin Town” star, Rhys Ifans — an element of likewise limited appeal outside Wales. The submission of a simultaneously (and identically) shot Welsh translation as Blighty’s bid for the foreign-language film Oscar belies the pic’s minor status as a local curiosity.
Dramatizing Thomas’ posthumously performed and published “play »
- Catherine Bray
Black List 2015 Topped by Michael Jackson Chimp Script, Features JFK Drama
5 hours ago
The 2015 Black List, consisting of Hollywood’s top unproduced screenplays, was announced by Reese Witherspoon, Channing Tatum, Catherine Hardwicke, Damon Lindelof, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, and other actors, producers, directors and writers via YouTube videos on Monday.
The screenplays were revealed on the Black List’s Twitter and YouTube accounts throughout the morning. This year’s 11th edition consists of 81 scripts. “Selma” director Ava DuVernay announced the very first project, Ridgeway Wilson and Chloe Castellón’s “An African Western.”
Isaac Adamson’s story about Michael Jackson’s chimp, “Bubbles,” led the list with 44 votes. Samuel V. Franco and Evan Kilgore’s “Mayday 109” script about President John F. Kennedy’s World War II days also made the list.
Black List scripts — “Slumdog Millionaire,” “The King’s Speech” and “Argo” — have gone on to win three best picture Oscars in recent years. This year’s award season contenders, “The Revenant,” “Spotlight »
- Maane Khatchatourian
‘Star Trek Beyond’ First Trailer Debuts Online
6 hours ago
The “Star Trek Beyond” trailer debuted online on Monday. Paramount released the first official teaser after a German version leaked earlier in the day.
The action-packed trailer opens with the Beastie Boys’ “Sabotage,” which also played in the first movie, before the USS Enterprise is obliterated, leaving Capt. Kirk (Chris Pine) and the rest of the crew to fight for survival on a nearby planet.
“This is where it begins, Captain,” an alien, who may be Idris Elba’s new villain, warns. “This is where the frontier pushes back.”
The trailer offers a first look at Sofia Boutella’s new alien character, as well as other extraterrestrial species, who the gang has to battle.
In one scene, Bones (Karl Urban) and Spock (Zachary Quinto) are cornered by enemy drones.
“Well, at least I won’t die alone,” Bones says before Spock is suddenly beamed to safety. “Well, that’s just typical, »
- Maane Khatchatourian
Picture Tree Picks Up Sundance Entry ‘Mammal’ for International Sales
7 hours ago
London — Picture Tree Intl. has picked up international sales on “Mammal,” which will have its world premiere in the World Dramatic competition section at the Sundance Film Festival.
The film is directed by Rebecca Daly, whose debut feature “The Other Side of Sleep” played in Cannes Directors’ Fortnight in 2011. “Mammal” stars Rachel Griffiths, who was Oscar nominated for “Hilary and Jackie,” and Barry Keoghan, who also appears in upcoming Michael Fassbender movie “Trespass Against Us.” The cast also features “Game of Thrones” thesp Michael McElhatton.
The film centers on Margaret (Griffiths), a separated woman living alone in Dublin. After the death of her son, Margaret is drawn to a homeless youth, Joe (Keoghan). As their mutual reliance grows, they confuse the boundaries between affection and sexual intimacy.
The film is produced by Conor Barry and Macdara Kelleher. The production companies are Fastnet Films (Ireland), Calach Films (Luxembourg), Les Films Fauves »
- Leo Barraclough
Critics’ Choice Award Nominations: Complete List
7 hours ago
The Critics’ Choice Awards announced nominations for the 2016 ceremony on Monday, with “Mad Max: Fury Road” and “Fargo” leading the way.
Hosted by T.J. Miller, the awards will be held on Jan. 17 at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica. It will air simultaneously on A&E, Lifetime and Lmn.
Here are the nominations for the 21st annual Critics’ Choice Awards:
Movie
Best Picture
Actor
Leonardo DiCaprio – The Revenant
Michael Fassbender – Steve Jobs
Eddie Redmayne – The Danish Girl
Actress
Charlotte Rampling – 45 Years
Charlize Theron – Mad Max: Fury Road
Supporting Actor
Mark Rylance – Bridge of Spies
Michael Shannon – 99 Homes »
- Tim Gray
Critics’ Choice Award Nominations Led by ‘Mad Max,’ ‘Fargo’
7 hours ago
The 21st Annual Critics’ Choice Awards announced nominations for the combined 2016 ceremony on Monday and Warner Bros.’ “Mad Max: Fury Road” paced the film race with 13 nominations, while FX’s “Fargo” led TV series noms with eight.
Weinstein Co.’s “Carol,” and two big Fox pics, “The Martian” and “The Revenant,” scored nine noms apiece in voting by the Broadcast Film Critics Assn.
Open Road’s “Spotlight” tallied eight; Paramount’s “The Big Short,” seven; TWC’s “The Hateful Eight,” six; Disney-DreamWorks’ “Bridge of Spies,” Fox Searchlight’s “Brooklyn,” Focus Features’ “The Danish Girl,” Universal’s “Jurassic World,” and Lionsgate’s “Sicario” each earned five; and A24’s “Room” nabbed four.
The Broadcast Film Critics Association is returning to the Critics’ Choice name after splitting the awards into two ceremonies in 2010, and adding movie and TV to the shows’ titles.
Especially in an unpredictable year, pre-Oscar awards are watched closely. »
- Tim Gray
Cruz, Binoche, Darin, Robbins in Goya Running
8 hours ago
Madrid – Penelope Cruz (“Ma ma”), Juliette Binoche (“Nobody Wants the Night”), Ricardo Darin (“Truman”) and Tim Robbins (“A Perfect Day”) all feature among nominations for 2016’s 30th Spanish Academy Goya Awards.
In a wide-open field, it is Lorca classic adaptation “The Bride,” the second and breakout feature of Paula Ortiz shot in exteriors in an imposing Cappadoccia in Turkey, that will compete for most categories – 12 – followed by Isabel Coixet’s Berlin opener “Nobody Wants the Night” (9).
A Fortissimo films pick-up just prior to San Sebastian, where it world premiered in fest’s Zabaltegi sidebar, before segueing to Sitges and competing at Tallinn, “The Bride’s” Goya nomination sweep builds on an upbeat critical reaction is Spain (“A re-reading of limitless almost overwhelming pictorial beauty,” wrote El Periodico; international reactions were slightly more guarded) and some B.O. impact at home, title playing in Spain’s Top Ten for the first two weeks of wider release. »
- John Hopewell and Emilio Mayorga
‘Dope’s’ Kiersey Clemons Starring in Teen Comedy ‘Little Bitches’
8 hours ago
“Dope” actor Kiersey Clemons is starring in the independent teen comedy-drama “Little Bitches,” Variety has learned exclusively.
Clemons appears on the current season of Amazon’s “Transparent” as Bianca and was on CBS’s recently canceled “Extant.” She just wrapped Universal’s “Neighbors 2,” which opens May 20.
“Little Bitches” is currently shooting in Los Angeles with Nick Kreiss directing from his own script. Producers are Scott Aversano and Will Shapiro.
The story follows two best friends trying to reconnect with a former friend before an end-of-senior-year party at which they had all planned to open their college acceptance letters at the same time.
Kreiss’ directing credits include multiple episodes of “Punk’d.”
Clemons is represented by UTA, Starr Andreeff at Mjmg and Eddie Galan at Mach 1 Management.
»
- Dave McNary
Warner Bros. U.K. Publicity Chief Jayne Trotman Steps Down
9 hours ago
London — Jayne Trotman is stepping down as executive director of publicity at Warner Bros U.K. after 18 years with the studio.
“Jayne has made a significant contribution to Warner Bros.’ theatrical success, heading up Warner Bros’ publicity team,” Warner Bros. said in a statement. “For Warner Bros. U.K., she has led over 400 film publicity campaigns across print, broadcast, social media and red-carpet premiere events.”
Successes include campaigns for Warner Bros.’ top 20 highest grossing films — including “The Matrix,” “I Am Legend,” “The Dark Knight,” “The Hobbit,” “The Hangover” and the Harry Potter franchise, from the very first press release through to the finale in London’s Trafalgar Square.
As U.K. group publicity director, she integrated publicity activity across theatrical, home entertainment and consumer products for Warner Bros.’ key franchises, and has run WB awards campaigns with her team, including BAFTA wins for “Argo,” “Gravity,” and, most recently, “The Lego Movie. »
- Leo Barraclough
Japan Box Office: ‘Orange’ Peels Away From Competition
9 hours ago
Tokyo – “Orange,” a teen fantasy drama about a high school girl who receives a letter from her future self and falls for a boy she knows is about to die, peeled away from the competition to top the Japanese box office for the Dec. 12-13 weekend.
Opening on 303 screens with Toho distributing, the film earned $2.58 million from 262,000 admissions. Starring Tao Tsuchiya, the lead actress in the hit Nhk morning drama “Mare,” the film is expected to finish with $15 million.
Bowing at number three was “Nagasaki: Memories of My Son,” veteran director Yoji Yamada’s fantasy drama about a woman (Sayuri Yoshinaga) living in Nakasaki in 1948 who reunites with the ghost of her son (Kazunaru Ninomiya), dead three years from the atomic bombing. Distributed by Shochiku and based on a 1994 play by Hisashi Inoue, the film is projected to surpass the $10 million take of Yamada’s last film “The Little House. »
- Mark Schilling
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