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Jon Chu Returning to Direct ‘Now You See Me 3’ (Exclusive)
19 hours ago | Variety - Film News | See recent Variety - Film News news »
Jon M. Chu is returning to the director’s chair for Lionsgate’s “Now You See Me 3,” Variety has learned exclusively.
The studio struck a deal with Chu nearly two months before it releases his “Now You See Me 2” on June 10 — a signal that it believes the sequel will perform in the same range as the 2013 original, which took in $351.7 million worldwide.
CEO Jon Feltheimer announced nearly a year ago during a conference call with analysts that Lionsgate had already started planning for the third film, but gave no details.
Mark Ruffalo, Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Dave Franco, Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine are reprising their roles for “Now You See Me 2,” while Lizzy Caplan has replaced Isla Fisher and Daniel Radcliffe has joined the cast.
Feltheimer said at the time that Lionsgate believed that “Now You See Me 2” would top the gross for the original »
- Dave McNary
'Jungle Book' Opens with Massive $103 Million, Global Cume Tops $290M
17 April 2016 9:37 AM, PDT | Box Office Mojo | See recent BoxOfficeMojo.com news »
Disney's The Jungle Book delivers the third $100+ million opener of 2016, two more than 2015 had at this point in the year and Captain America: Civil War is just around the corner. The weekend's two other new wide releases saw WB and MGM's Barbershop: The Next Cut finish second while Lionsgate's Criminal settled for a sixth place finish. Altogether, the weekend top twelve finished up 50.2% compared to last year and up 76.6% from last weekend. With an estimated $103.5 million opening, The Jungle Book will be the talk of the town for the next couple weeks. It's an opening number that exceeds all expectations despite the pre-release buzz. Heading into the weekend the film had an impressive 95% rating at RottenTomatoes, a rating that was reflected in audience opinion as opening day moviegoers rewarded it with an "A" CinemaScore. The result is the second largest April opening weekend of all-time behind only last year's Furious 7. »
- Brad Brevet <mail@boxofficemojo.com>
Max Landis: there are ‘no A-list female Asian celebrities’ who could have taken Scarlett Johansson’s Ghost in a Shell role
22 hours ago | The Guardian - Film News | See recent The Guardian - Film News news »
The screenwriter – who is not associated with the anime remake – has weighed into the ‘whitewashing’ debate and said dearth of high-profile Asian stars is result of a ‘broken system’
The Hollywood screenwriter Max Landis has denied defending the casting of Scarlett Johansson in a “whitewashed” remake of the classic Japanese anime Ghost in the Shell.
Landis, writer of films such as Chronicle and American Ultra, took to YouTube on Friday to explain why studios chose Johansson over Asian actors for the part of cyborg policewoman Major Kusanagi in the controversial live action reworking.
Continue reading »
- Ben Child
Fox's New Mutants Movie Just Took Another Huge Step Forward
17 April 2016 10:41 PM, PDT | cinemablend.com | See recent Cinema Blend news »
It's been almost a year since The New Mutants has been announced at 20th Century Fox, with director Josh Boone at the helm. And surprise surprise, an update has hit the internet that spells good news for the developing project, as Boone and co-writer Knate Lee have announced that a draft of their script has been turned in. Check out the cover photo that heralded the big event, below. Cover of a certain script @knatelee and I turned in last night to @simondavidkinberg #newmutants second draft A photo posted by Josh Boone (@joshboonemovies) on Apr 15, 2016 at 7:03am Pdt Josh Boone took to his Instagram profile, with the news that a draft was handed in to producer Simon Kinberg, with that very cover you see in front of you adorning said draft. This is excellent news considering X-Men: Apocalypse will continue to set up the X-Men universe for its later stages, »
Giuseppe Tornatore, David Twohy line up China projects
17 April 2016 9:14 PM, PDT | ScreenDaily | See recent ScreenDaily news »
Italian filmmaker Giuseppe Tornatore and Us writer-director David Twohy are developing projects with China, which were both announced on the first full day of the Beijing International Film Festival (April 16-23).
Tornatore has agreed to make a film for Alibaba Pictures, the filmmaking arm of ecommerce giant Alibaba, which he signed with Alibaba Pictures’ CEO Zhang Qiang at the end of the Bjiff’s Co-production Forum on Sunday.
However, the specific project has not yet been identified and it’s unclear whether it will be made as a co-production under the China-Italy treaty.
Separately, producers Steve Chicorel and Sriram Das announced Us-China co-production Ice Moon Rising – a sci-fi project to be directed by David Twohy who wrote The Fugitive and directed The Chronicles of Riddick and its sequel. Chicorel and Das are in the process of locking down a Chinese co-producer and international sales agent for the film.
The producing partners are also working with director [link=nm »
- lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
Film4, HBO, Sundance Channel warm to Radiator
just now | ScreenDaily | See recent ScreenDaily news »
Exclusive: Film4, HBO, Rialto and Sundance Channel among buyers of comedy-drama executive-produced by Barbara Broccoli and Rachel Weisz.
UK sales outfit Starline Entertainment has inked home entertainment deals on Tom Browne’s debut comedy-drama Radiator about an eccentric couple struggling to cope with the challenges of old age.
Film4 has picked up UK TV rights, while HBO has come on board for Eastern Europe and Krea Icerik (Sinema TV) has picked up for Turkey to broadcast on their Moviemax Festival Channel. Rialto has jumped in for New Zealand and Sundance Channel has secured rights for Middle East and North Africa.
The film, which debuted at the BFI London Film Festival in 2014 and went on to secure nominations at the London Critics’ Awards and Evening Standard Awards, stars the late Richard Johnson (The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas) and Gemma Jones (Last Tango In Halifax ) with Daniel Cerqueira () playing their middle aged son who turns up to try »
- andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman)
Film4, HBO, Sundance warm to Radiator
just now | ScreenDaily | See recent ScreenDaily news »
Exclusive: Film4, HBO, Rialto among buyers of comedy-drama executive-produced by Barbara Broccoli and Rachel Weisz.
UK sales outfit Starline Entertainment has inked home entertainment deals on Tom Browne’s debut comedy-drama Radiator about an eccentric couple struggling to cope with the challenges of old age.
Film4 has picked up UK TV rights, while HBO has come on board for Eastern Europe and Krea Icerik (Sinema TV) has picked up for Turkey to broadcast on their Moviemax Festival Channel. Rialto has jumped in for New Zealand and Sundance Channel has secured rights for Middle East and North Africa.
The film, which debuted at the BFI London Film Festival in 2014 and went on to secure nominations at the London Critics’ Awards and Evening Standard Awards, stars the late Richard Johnson (The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas) and Gemma Jones (Last Tango In Halifax ) with Daniel Cerqueira () playing their middle aged son who turns up to try and bring some order »
- andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman)
Greek Film Centre appoints Electra Venaki as industry challenges mount
4 minutes ago | ScreenDaily | See recent ScreenDaily news »
The Greek Film Centre (Eek) has appointed a female filmmaker for the first time in its history.
The versatile filmmaker Electra Venaki has been appointed director general of the Greek Film Centre (Ekk), marking the first time that a woman has helmed the organisation.
The appointment follows sweeping changes within the organisation last January and the installation of a new board by the Culture minister.
During her 20-year experience in the film industry Venaki specialized in editing and sound design and is known for her close association with the acclaimed late Greek director Alida Dimitriou.
Venaki was in charge of audiovisual production in the Lambrakis Press Group and chief editor of Greek media site in.gr from 1999 to 2005.
Among her immediate tasks will be lobbying for the re-establishment of the special levy on cinema admissions, which was unexpectedly scrapped last August by the government.
The levy was generating between four and eight million Euros for the industry »
- alexisgrivas@yahoo.com (Alexis Grivas)
Moscow's Screen Best Pitch winner now in post-production
8 minutes ago | ScreenDaily | See recent ScreenDaily news »
Andrey Silvestrov’s critique of contemporary Russian media will be released in March.
The Ice Hole (Prorub), Screen International’s first Best Pitch Award winner at last year’s Moscow Business Square, is now in post-production in Moscow.
Speaking during this year’s Berlinale, director Andrey Silvestrov recalled how the film’s shoot “was not easy because we were only supported by private companies and private individuals, our friends.”
The low-budget production was produced by Silvestrov’s new company the League of Experimental Films together with post-production outfit Cosmosfilm who had also given an award to The Ice Hole in Moscow last June.
“The government and large production companies were scared to get involved with us,” Silvestrov said about the comedy, which follows an artist, an oligarch, a Russian president and an alcoholic.
“But I’m pleased that we have not made any compromises and we now have exactly what I wanted,” he continued »
- screen.berlin@googlemail.com (Martin Blaney)
Tel Aviv doc festival to highlight immigration, regional politics
11 minutes ago | ScreenDaily | See recent ScreenDaily news »
Exclusive: A total of 110 films will screen at the festival, including recent Golden Bear-winner Fuocoammare and a selection of Israeli docs.
Topics including immigration and instability in the West Bank region will be highlighted at this year’s Docaviv international documentary festival (May 19-28) in Tel Aviv, Israel.
Among the 2016 programme is Gianfranco Rosi’s Berlin Golden Bear-winning Fuocoammare, Shimon Dotan’s Sundance premiere The Settlers and Sean McAllister’s BAFTA-nominated A Syrian Love Story.
The festival will open with Babylon Dreamers [pictured], about a group of immigrants from the former Soviet Union who, despite struggling to survive in tough circumstances in Israeli city Ashdod, decide to pursue their dream of entering the International Breakdance Championships.
That film will compete in the festival’s Israeli competition, which offers a prize of $18.5k (70k Ils), alongside 12 other titles including films about arranged marriages in Morocco and Yemen (Child Mother), depression-curing shamans in the Amazon rainforest (The Last Shaman), and three »
Moscow's Screen International Best Pitch winner 'The Ice Hole' now in post-production
12 minutes ago | ScreenDaily | See recent ScreenDaily news »
Andrey Silvestrov’s critique of contemporary Russian media will be released in March.
The Ice Hole (Prorub), Screen International’s first Best Pitch Award at last year’s Moscow Business Square, is now in post-production in Moscow.
Speaking during this year’s Berlinale, director Andrey Silvestrov recalled how the film’s shoot “was not easy because we were only supported by private companies and private individuals, our friends.”
The low-budget production was produced by Silvestrov’s new company the League of Experimental Films together with post-production outfit Cosmosfilm who had also given an award to The Ice Hole in Moscow last June.
“The government and large production companies were scared to get involved with us,” Silvestrov said about the comedy, which follows an artist, an oligarch, a Russian president and an alcoholic.
“But I’m pleased that we have not made any compromises and we now have exactly what I wanted,” he continued »
- screen.berlin@googlemail.com (Martin Blaney)
Is The Jungle Book's Mowgli a superhero?
30 minutes ago | The Guardian - Film News | See recent The Guardian - Film News news »
While the new version of the classic takes steps towards making Mowgli a kind of Tarzan hero figure, it’s ultimately a film about the strength of community
Warning: contains spoilers
In theory, The Jungle Book should be a respite from the never-ending parade of tights-donning do-gooders whooshing across our screens. The original story is based not on Jack Kirby comics, but on Rudyard Kipling’s 1894 collection of stories and on the 1967 Disney animated musical. The latter, especially, treated the adventures of Mowgli the man-cub in the Indian jungle as an opportunity for goofy whimsy and jaunty slapstick; Mowgli himself was more often saved from danger by Bagheera and Baloo than the other way around.
In the new film, Mowgli (Neel Sethi) still gets rescued a time or two. But given all the superfolks on adjacent screens, it’s hard to ignore the ease with which Mowgli’s origin story fits into the superhero narrative. »
- Noah Berlatsky
Ronit Elkabetz, Actress and Filmmaker, Dies at 51
35 minutes ago | Variety - Film News | See recent Variety - Film News news »
Tel Aviv – Ronit Elkabetz, one of the great luminaries of the Israeli film industry, died Tuesday morning after a private battle with cancer. She was 51.
The actress and filmmaker was known equally for her striking dark looks and immense emotional vulnerability onscreen. Her life ended just as her career was at an all-time high: In 2014, Elkabetz’s film “Gett: The Trail of Viviane Amsalem,” which she co-wrote and co-directed alongside her brother Shlomi Elkabetz, was awarded the Israeli Ophir Award for best film, the Jewish State’s equivalent of the Academy Award. “Gett” went on to serve as Israel’s 2014 entry for Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards, and also earned a nomination for Best Foreign Language Film at the 2015 Golden Globes.
“Gett” was the third installment in a trilogy about a woman trapped in an unhappy marriage; the Elkabetz siblings began telling the story of shackled Viviane Amsalem, »
- Debra Kamin
Captain America: Civil War tipped for year's biggest Us opening so far
1 hour ago | The Guardian - Film News | See recent The Guardian - Film News news »
New movie also buoyed by strong reviews, while Avengers director Joss Whedon regrets Age of Ultron comments and signals interest in return to Marvel’s cinematic universe
Superhero epic Captain America: Civil War is on course to post the biggest opening of 2016 at the key Us box office next month, according to experts.
Tracking for the Marvel film, which will see Chris Evans’ Captain America and Robert Downey Jr’s Iron Man emerge on different sides of a high-stakes battle, suggests it will take between $175m (£122m) and $200m on debut. The higher figure would place the Russo brothers’ movie in North America’s top four openings of all time, behind only Star Wars: The Force Awakens ($248m), Jurassic World ($208.8m) and Avengers: Age of Ultron ($207.4m).
Continue reading »
- Ben Child
The Golden Globes Just Made A Major Change For Next Year's Ceremony
1 hour ago | cinemablend.com | See recent Cinema Blend news »
Coming out of the Golden Globes race this year, one of the biggest criticisms that made the rounds was the fact that The Martian not only competed for Best Musical or Comedy, it actually won. Of course, knowing Ridley Scott's film, it really seemed more like a drama with comedic overtones, which really should have saw it compete for Best Drama. That distinction is one the Hollywood Foreign Press Association is keen on looking out for in the future, and they've introduced some new rules to make it so. News on these new changes came down from The Hollywood Reporter, as the Hollywood Foreign Press Association has aimed to put an end to a well-known trick in the industry that's seen films such as The Martian and even The Wolf of Wall Street compete as Best Musical or Comedy nominees when the Best Drama field seemed too crowded for »
/Filmcast Ep. 363 – The Jungle Book (Guest: Dana Schwartz from Mental Floss)
2 hours ago | Slash Film | See recent Slash Film news »
David, Devindra, and Jeff discuss AMC’s crazy new (now rescinded) plan to allow texting in theaters, and their reaction to the first image out of ScarJo’s Ghost in the Shell. Also, special guest Dana Schwartz joins us to discuss the place of Avatar in our culture. Be sure to read Dana’s original tweet about this topic, Ebert’s review of Mr. Payback, […]
The post /Filmcast Ep. 363 – The Jungle Book (Guest: Dana Schwartz from Mental Floss) appeared first on /Film. »
- David Chen
Cannes: New Europe secures 'One Week And A Day'; scores France deal
3 hours ago | ScreenDaily | See recent ScreenDaily news »
Exclusive: Black comedy to play in competition at Critics’ Week.
New Europe Film Sales has picked up Asaph Polonsky’s black comedy One Week and a Day and sold all French rights to Sophie Dulac Distribution.
The feature debut of Us-born, Israeli filmmaker Polonsky was yesterday named as a competition title in the Critics’ Week sidebar of the Cannes Film Festival (May 11-22).
Polonsky is an AFI graduate, whose graduation film Samnang was nominated for an Academy Award in 2013.
One Week and a Day tells a story of a grieving father, who finishes a week of mourning for his late son and is urged by his wife to return to their routine. He instead gets high with a young neighbour and sets out to discover there are still things in life worth living for.
The cast of the film includes well-known Israeli actors Shai Avivi and Evgenia Dodina as the married couple and Tomer Kapon as the »
- michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
The Dark Tower Added Jackie Earle Haley In A Role You Might Not Remember
5 hours ago | cinemablend.com | See recent Cinema Blend news »
One of the hottest tickets in Hollywood right now is Nikolej Arcel's adaptation of Stephen King's legendary fantasy series The Dark Tower. With production recently getting underway, the cast list is still being revealed to us, with one of the villains being the latest revelation. London Has Fallen's Jackie Earle Haley has been cast as the menacing Richard Sayre, a humanoid leader of the vampires in the world of gunslinger Roland Deschain. Deadline reported the casting coup that landed Haley as a figure that plays prominently in the last three books of The Dark Tower's saga. Richard Sayre is a "can-toi," or "low man" who has a distinctive look about him. Namely, he has an ever static pool of blood on his forehead. Sayre works for the Sombra Corporation, which in turn reports to the big bad of The Dark Tower universe, the Crimson King. No »
Tribeca Film Review: ‘Elvis & Nixon’
6 hours ago | Variety - Film News | See recent Variety - Film News news »
The King of Rock and Roll requests an audience with the President of the United States in “Elvis & Nixon,” and the resulting interaction could hardly be weirder had little green men turned up on the North Lawn asking, “Take us to your leader.” While its sense of humor takes some gettin’ used to, the sheer spaciness of Liza Johnson’s stranger-than-fiction political satire ultimately proves its greatest asset, simultaneously demystifying two 20th-century icons — one the most powerful, the other the most popular man in the Western world at the time — in a loony Amazon Studios release a little too eccentric to reach the audience it fully deserves.
Normally, the fact that Michael Shannon bears almost no resemblance to Elvis Presley might be an obstacle to a film that pokes fun at the pop star’s desire to be deputized as a “federal agent-at-large” for the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous »
- Peter Debruge
Joss Whedon Was ‘Beaten Down’ by ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’
6 hours ago | Variety - Film News | See recent Variety - Film News news »
In 2012, “The Avengers” closed the Tribeca Film Festival, and four years later, on Monday night, director Joss Whedon sat down with actor Mark Ruffalo, and confessed that “Age of Ultron” really bummed him out.
“I was so beaten down by the process,” Whedon said. “Some of that was conflicting with Marvel, which is inevitable. A lot of it was about my own work, and I was also exhausted.”
Whedon blames himself for the narrative that the project wasn’t perfect, and said he had failed.
“I think that did a disservice to the movie and the studio and to myself,” Whedon said. “It was not the right way to be, because I am very proud of it. The things about it that are wrong frustrate me enormously, and I had probably more of those than I had on the other movies I made. But I also got to make, for the second time, »
- Katie Van Syckle
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