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Watch: Terrapins Save Us in ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows’ Trailer
2 hours ago
The second trailer for “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows” has arrived with plenty of loud noise and feel-good brotherhood from the relentlessly upbeat terrapin crime-fighters.
Laura Linney’s character asks at one point, “Who are you — superheroes?” The response: “Just four brothers who love this city.”
The trailer comes two months before Paramount releases the film on June 3. Combat plus wisecracks abound as Raphael, Donatello, Michelangelo, Leonardo and Megan Fox return with Stephen Amell playing vigilante Casey Jones.
“Bringing back the mohawk — good for you,” one of the turtles deadpans to the villain Bebop, who does indeed sport a purple mohawk.
At one point, Raphael lands on the windshield of a jet, prompting a brother to say with a touch of sarcasm, “That went well.”
Dave Green directs and Michael Bay, Andrew Form, Bradley Fuller, Scott Mednick and Galen Walker are producing. Will Arnett, William Fichtner, Brian Tee, »
- Dave McNary
Film Review: ‘Get a Job’
3 hours ago
Hectic but unfunny, “Get a Job” has had a difficult history: It was shot four years ago but sat on the shelf, presumably due to big changes at CBS Films. That means its satire of employment-world anxiety is already somewhat dated, though on the plus side, its various cast members (including then-little-known lead Miles Teller) have since seen their marquee value strengthen. Not much of that will matter, however, as the pic’s strenuously misfired mix of broadly treated social issues and uninspired comedic raunch is being kick-dropped with little fanfare into VOD platforms and scattered theatrical gigs by Lionsgate Premiere. The roll call of familiar on-screen talents should make this a decent home-format seller, though it’s nobody’s finest hour.
The first produced screenplay by Kyle Pennekamp and Scott Turpel may well have seemed bright and busy on paper, but the end result looks all too much like »
- Dennis Harvey
Patricia Richardson Withdraws as Ken Howard’s Replacement as SAG-aftra President
5 hours ago
Update, 4:36 p.m. — Patricia Richardson has declared that she does not want to succeed the late Ken Howard as president of SAG-aftra.
A Change.org petition drive was launched Thursday for Richardson to replace Howard. Richardson received 46% of the vote last August in a spirited electoral challenge to Howard, who died on Wednesday.
But Richardson told Variety that she was not comfortable with taking that course.
“While I really do appreciate the sentiments of the members asking me to run as the next President of SAG-aftra my feeling is that when the members elected Ken Howard they also endorsed his party and their philosophy,” she said.
“Therefore it seems right to me that Gabrielle Carteris, who is our Executive Vice President and current acting President should assume the rest of Ken’s term as President at our upcoming Board meeting. Gabrielle shares Ken’s beliefs and worked closely with him. »
- Dave McNary
‘Batman v Superman’: Negative Reviews Spawn ‘Sad Affleck’ Viral Video
7 hours ago
The Man of Steel might be able to hold his composure in the face of adversity, but the Bat of Gotham? Not so much.
Fans created a video of a distraught Ben Affleck, who plays Batman in “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” after the actor appeared saddened when asked about the film’s unsettling reviews in an interview with Yahoo Movies.
Affleck’s co-star Henry Cavill, who plays Superman, kept the energy high defending “Dawn of Justice” against criticism. During Cavill’s response, Affleck cast his gaze downward and only offered a two-word answer once Cavill finished.
“I agree,” said Affleck, leaning on Cavill’s defense.
YouTube creator Sabconth edited the video interview so Affleck’s sullen expression is accompanied by Simon & Garfunkel’s “Sound of Silence.”
Critics slammed “Dawn of Justice” ahead of its March 25 release.
“When in doubt, [Snyder] simply slings another ingredient into the mix, be it an irradiated monster, »
- Lamarco McClendon
Robert DeNiro Responds to Anti-Vaccination Movie Controversy
7 hours ago
The Tribeca Film Festival is facing serious backlash for including anti-vaccination documentary “Vaxxed: From Cover-up to Catastrophe” from doctor-turned-documentarian Andrew Wakefield into its 2016 lineup.
Wakefield is a fervent believer in the link between vaccination and autism. He has also been the subject of many controversies, including being accused of professional misconduct and falsifying information as early as 1998 in one of his research papers. Wakefield’s bio on the festival’s page for the documentary mentions the research paper and study but not that it was later discredited.
Many called for a response about the festival’s decision. Robert DeNiro, co-founder of the Tribeca Film Festival, defended the choice to include the film, even though he doesn’t endorse the content.
“Grace and I have a child with autism and we believe it is critical that all of the issues surrounding the causes of autism be openly discussed and examined. In »
- Maria Cavassuto
‘Batman v Superman’ Shrugs Off Reviews, Heads for $180 Million Weekend in U.S.
7 hours ago
A slew of downbeat reviews are having no impact on “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” with the Warner Bros. tentpole heading for a $180 million opening weekend in the U.S., early estimates showed Friday.
The Good Friday opening day number is likely to wind up between $78 million and $83 million at 4,242 sites — which translates to $165 million to $180 million for the weekend. The Friday number included an impressive $27.7 million from its Thursday night shows.
Should “Batman v Superman” come in at $180 million, it would be the fifth highest domestic opening weekend of all time. It’s already smashed the record for highest Thursday preshow for an Easter Weekend, set last year by “Furious 7” with $15.8 million on its way to a Good Friday launch of $67.4 million and a $147.2 million opening weekend.
The superhero match-up stars Henry Cavill as Superman and Ben Affleck as Batman and the film carries a whopping $250 million price tag. »
- Dave McNary
‘Limitless’ Actor Joins Boston Marathon Drama
7 hours ago
James Colby has been cast as Boston Police Commissioner Billy Evans in Boston Marathon bombing drama “Patriots Day,” Variety has learned exclusively.
Colby (“Limitless,” “Jessica Jones”) joins Mark Wahlberg, John Goodman, J.K. Simmons, Jimmy O. Yang and Vincent Curatola in the cast.
The film will be directed by Peter Berg (“Deepwater Horizon”) and produced by Scott Stuber, Mark Wahlberg, Hutch Parker, Dylan Clark, Stephen Levinson, Dorothy Aufiero and Michael Radutzky.
The film chronicles the events surrounding the 2013 Boston Marathon Bombing. At the time, Evans was the Superintendent In Charge of The Bureau of Field Services for the Boston Police Department, working alongside then Police Commissioner Ed Davis — who’s portrayed by Goodman — on the investigation and manhunt. Evans had been running the marathon when the bombs went off.
Davis left the post several months later to become a consultant. Evans was sworn in as the Boston Commissioner in early 2014.
Curatola »
- Dave McNary
Ethan Hawke on Remembering Philip Seymour Hoffman and Learning to Sing for Chet Baker Biopic
8 hours ago
Ethan Hawke studied for months to portray jazz musician Chet Baker in the drama “Born to Be Blue,” which opens today. He took lessons in playing the trumpet and singing, talked to some of Baker’s 1950s band mates and watched hours of YouTube videos. But this isn’t just another conventional biopic. The film, directed by Robert Budreau, takes liberties from its source — including a fictionalization of the time Baker almost played himself in a movie — to reimagine the struggles of a celebrated performer and drug addict. Hawke spoke to Variety about the project.
People are calling this one of your best performances.
It’s definitely one of the most challenging.
Why?
You have an incredibly mysterious and enigmatic person that’s very difficult to make sense out of. Then you have to try to capture somebody who has a unique relationship to music. And then there’s the music. »
- Ramin Setoodeh
Film Review: ‘Mapplethorpe: Look at the Pictures’
9 hours ago
It’s a sure sign of an artist’s impact — at least for those with the privilege of tasting success during their lifetimes — that wealthy patrons will pay enormous sums to have their portraits done. At a certain point in Robert Mapplethorpe’s career, such commissions came to dominate the kinky/controversial photographer’s schedule — and in a fair and just universe, documentary filmmakers Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato would probably be rolling in similar offers. No one does a livelier job of exposing the interior world of complex personalities than the World of Wonder duo, whose “Mapplethorpe: Look at the Pictures” achieves entertaining profundity without shying away from the inherently profane nature of their subject’s identity.
If anything, and in keeping with their “Inside Deep Throat” chutzpah, the directors dive head-first into the controversy, opening with — and adopting as subtitle — the challenge levied by conservative senator Jesse Helms, »
- Peter Debruge
Dick Cook Still Charting a Vast China Strategy
9 hours ago
Using your brand as the host of a big conference in China does not necessarily mean that you have made it in to Chinese film industry. In the case of former Disney chief Dick Cook, it appears to mean that he is on the way.
Cook, his Dick Cook Studios, and a clutch of Middle Kingdom allies this week put their names to the China-u.S. Motion Picture Summit. It was a bridge-building film conference graced by the likes of Paul Haggis, Alfonso Cuaron, animation great Don Hahn, top Chinese director Lu Chuan and Desen Media producer Ann An, as well as senior Chinese government figures.
All in all, it was a massive display of kudos. Though quite who was doing who a favor remains unclear.
And Cook is unwilling or unable to give precise answers about strategy, the timetable or how many movies Dcs intends to produce.
Cook says »
- Patrick Frater
Vincent Curatola Joins Mark Wahlberg’s Boston Marathon Bombing Pic ‘Patriots Day’
9 hours ago
“The Sopranos” star Vincent Curatola has joined the cast of Boston Marathon bombing movie “Patriots Day” and will portray longtime Boston Mayor Thomas Menino.
Menino, who died in 2014, was in his fifth term and 20th year in office when terrorists attacked at the 2013 marathon.
Lionsgate and CBS Films have given an awards-season release date of Dec. 21 to the film, which stars Mark Wahlberg.
The movie will be directed by Peter Berg (“Lone Survivor”) and written by Matt Charman (“Bridge of Spies”) based on former Boston Police commissioner Ed Davis’ account of the events. Wahlberg, Scott Stuber, Hutch Parker, Dylan Clark, Dorothy Aufiero, Stephen Levinson and Michael Radutzky are producing the pic, which begins shooting this month in Boston.
J.K. Simmons recently joined the cast as Sergeant Jeffrey Pugliese of the Watertown Police Department. Four days after the 2013 bombing, the off-duty officer jumped fences and went through backyards to flank bombing suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev. »
- Dave McNary
Conservative Group, Filmmakers at Odds Over Movie Ratings in France
10 hours ago
For decades, France has given the world iconic films that deal frankly with sexual themes: “And God Created Woman,” “Belle de Jour,” “Betty Blue” and “Blue Is the Warmest Color.” But as in more puritanical nations, like the U.S., France is seeing the rise of socially conservative groups that are challenging the country’s traditionally permissive view on sex in movies, leading to an uproar in the film community while the government explores revamping its film ratings system.
Activist group Promouvoir, led by Andre Bonnet, who is affiliated with far-right politicians, has clashed repeatedly with France’s classification board, a government body regulated by the National Film Board (Cnc). The board comprises guild representatives, parents, psychologists and various organizations dedicated to protecting families and children. It recommends certificates for films in four categories: all audiences; -12, which prohibits a film to viewers under 12 years of age; -16; and - »
- Elsa Keslassy
Hollywood v Sean Parker: The Case for Home Movie Services (Opinion)
10 hours ago
In the wake of the news that entrepreneur Sean Parker and former SFX Entertainment executive Prem Akkaraju have teamed up to launch Screening Room, a startup that offers new film releases in the home for $50, a number of major filmmakers have spoken out against the proposal, which was first reported by Variety.
Filmmakers including James Cameron, Christopher Nolan, Roland Emmerich and M. Night Shyamalan have lined up against the plan, while Screening Room’s all-star lineup of backers includes Steven Spielberg, J.J. Abrams, Peter Jackson, Martin Scorsese and Ron Howard.
But as I read the various critiques, offered via statements and tweets (it’s unclear if detractors have heard Parker and Akkaraju’s pitch themselves), I kept getting hung up on one particular assertion. “Jim [Cameron] and I are committed to the sanctity of the in-theater experience,” producer Jon Landau said. “The movie-going experience is something to fight for,” M. Night Shyamalan added. »
- Kristopher Tapley
International Star You Should Know: Birgitte Hjort Sorensen
10 hours ago
Birgitte Hjort Sorensen broke through playing TV newswoman Katrine Fonsmark in 2010’s hit series “Borgen,” and although it was a Danish-language show, it proved to be her Hollywood calling card. “It was one of my first roles after graduating from college, and it also attracted huge audiences overseas,” the 34-year-old Sorensen says.
Record Pace: Her talent for singing and dancing — and her fluent English — helped her land a role in “Pitch Perfect 2,” and she can been seen in the Martin Scorsese/Mick Jagger 1970s music-business drama “Vinyl” on HBO as Andy Warhol acolyte Ingrid. It’s a part she says presents a different challenge. “On ‘Borgen’ I knew we were doing 20 episodes; I knew my character arc,” she says. “But on ‘Vinyl,’ I knew very little about the plot. … Ultimately I just knew I was in good hands.”
Stage & Screen: The actress has starred on stage in London — playing »
- Elsa Keslassy
‘Out in the Dark’ Director Michael Mayer Tapped for ‘Tu, Mio’ Adaptation
10 hours ago
“Machete” writer Álvaro Rodriguez and “Out in the Dark” director Michael Mayer are attached for a movie version of Erri De Luca’s Italian bestseller “Tu, mio” (“You, mine”), Variety has learned exclusively.
Paola Porrini Bisson and Oh!pen Productions are producing. Rodriguez and Mayer are adapting De Luca’s 1998 novel.
The book is set in post-war Italy and tells of a teenage boy who falls for an older woman with a dark secret. De Luca, whose “The Weight of the Butterfly” is in development with Dean Zanuck, was at the center of a free-speech trial in Italy for most of last year.
Bisson previously produced the Tribeca winner “The Nightshift Belongs to the Stars,” “A Musical Imprinting” and “Trees That Walk,” all penned by De Luca.
Mayer’s first feature, “Out in the Dark,” had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival and went on to play over 125 film festivals. »
- Dave McNary
‘Batman v Superman’ Hits $65 Million Internationally in Early Showings
10 hours ago
Update, 12:53 p.m. Pdt – Warner Bros.’ “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” has hit an impressive $65.2 million at 19,700 screens in 39 territories in its first launches in international markets.
Early estimates from China showed an opening $21.2 million, setting a new Warner Bros. record and dominating with a 75% market share.
“Batman v Superman” opened in Mexico on Thursday with $5.8 million at 3,800 screens, which includes record-breaking midnight shows, for an 88% share of the top five films. It’s the biggest opening day for a Warner Bros. title and the second-biggest of all time.
Brazil also set a Warner Bros. record for best opening day with $3.5 million at 1,331 screens with previews, accounting for 73% of the top five films.
Germany debuted with $2.8 million on 1,015 screens for the biggest opening of 2016 and top opening ever for a superhero film in the market.
Australia generated a $2.5 million launch day from 594 screens with over 70% of the top five films. »
- Dave McNary
‘Zootopia,’ ‘Star Wars’ Push Disney to $1 Billion at International Box Office for 2016
11 hours ago
Propelled by “Zootopia” and “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” Disney is crossing the $1 billion mark at 2016’s international box office on Friday.
It’s the earliest that Disney has ever reached the milestone. “Zootopia” has hit $415.9 million so far in its international release, while “The Force Awakens” took in about $447 million this year from foreign markets after grossing $680 million during the last two weeks of 2015.
“Zootopia” has also totaled $217.4 million in the U.S., leading the box office for three weekends.
“Zootopia” is now the second-largest movie ever in Russia, behind only “Avatar,” with $26.5 million. In China, the animated comedy has brought in $184.7 million and is Disney’s second-highest grossing release in that market behind “Avengers: Age of Ultron.”
France is the third highest international market with $26 million, followed by Germany with $19.1 million, South Korea with $18.7 million, Mexico with $15.8 million and Spain with $12.5 million.
“Zootopia” is launching in the U. »
- Dave McNary
Poll: Which Actors Were the Best Batman and Superman?
11 hours ago
This weekend, Ben Affleck takes the Batman reins as the new Dark Knight, and Henry Cavill reprises his role as the Man of Steel in “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.”
But the current Batman and Superman have plenty of predecessors. Over the past decades, a handful of actors have portrayed the iconic comic-book characters, each with their own spin.
While some prefer Christian Bale’s brooding bat in “The Dark Knight” Christopher Nolan trilogy, many are partial to the Adam West days in the ’60s ABC series. Meanwhile, plenty of fans see the late Christopher Reeve as the quintessential Superman, and others see Cavill as the perfect Man of Steel after his 2013 debut.
Who do you prefer? Cast your vote below! (Note: Affleck has been left off the poll, as many audiences have not seen “Batman v Superman” yet.)
Along with Affleck and Cavill, “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice »
- Variety Staff
Box Office: ‘Batman v Superman’ Flies Off With Massive $27.7 Million on Thursday
12 hours ago
Warner Bros.’ “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” has flown off with an impressive $27.7 million on Thursday night.
“Batman v Superman” smashed the record for highest Thursday preshow for an Easter Weekend, set last year by “Furious 7” with $15.8 million on its way to a Good Friday launch of $67.4 million and a $147.2 million opening weekend.
The preview total for “Batman v Superman” includes $3.6 million in Imax shows. The superhero match-up stars Henry Cavill as Superman and Ben Affleck as Batman and the film carries a whopping $250 million price tag.
“Batman v Superman” is expected to generate as much as $150 million this weekend when it hits 4,242 screens domestically, and more than $300 million globally when it rolls out across more than 60 major territories including China, the world’s second biggest market for film. The tentpole took flight internationally on Wednesday with $7 million on roughly 5,900 theaters.
Disney’s “Star Wars: The Force Awakens »
- Dave McNary
MGM Adds $300 Million to Share Buyback
12 hours ago
The board of directors of privately-held MGM Holdings Inc. has authorized an addition of $300 million to its share repurchase plan.
MGM, home to the “James Bond” franchise, said Friday that since inception of the plan in 2011, it has repurchased over 26 million shares. That’s 33% of the originally issued shares of common stock for approximately $1.1 billion.
MGM emerged from a prepackaged bankruptcy in 2010 and named Spyglass partners Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum as the Co-Chairs and Co-CEOs of the studio. Barber became the sole chairman and CEO of MGM in 2012 with Birnbaum becoming a producer.
“I am very pleased with the board’s authorization to increase our buyback program by $300 million,” Barber said in a statement on Friday. “We remain focused on driving stockholder value and believe that these future repurchases will be accretive to earnings, a good use of our capital, and will be executed opportunistically while maintaining a very strong and flexible balance sheet. »
- Dave McNary
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