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'Miss Peregrine', 'Deepwater Horizon' and 'Masterminds' Close Out September
14 hours ago | Box Office Mojo | See recent BoxOfficeMojo.com news »
When compared to last year, September 2016 has been a bit of a rough and tumble month. While there have been a pair of $30+ million openers, there have also been more than a fair share of disappointments. This weekend closes out the month with two new big budget releases in the form of Tim Burton's Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children and Peter Berg's Deepwater Horizon, both hoping to make a case for their price tag while the long-delayed ensemble comedy Masterminds finally hits theaters after enduring six release date changes over the past 18 months. Overall, the weekend is once again looking to underperform compared to the same weekend last year, which saw The Martian top the box office with $54 million. At the top, Tim Burton returns to work at Fox for the first time since 2001's Planet of the Apes remake and he does so with Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, »
- Brad Brevet <mail@boxofficemojo.com>
Johnny Depp, Daisy Ridley, Judi Dench Among Stars Boarding ‘Murder on the Orient Express’
15 hours ago | Variety - Film News | See recent Variety - Film News news »
Johnny Depp, Daisy Ridley, Judi Dench, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Michael Pena have joined the ensemble for Fox’s adaptation of Agatha Christie’s “Murder on the Orient Express.”
Lucy Boynton, Tom Bateman, Derek Jacobi, and “Hamilton” star Leslie Odom Jr. are also on board. Kenneth Branagh will direct and also star as detective Hercule Poirot. Angelina Jolie was in negotiations in June to join the cast, but has since passed on the remake.
“Christie’s ‘Murder’ is mysterious, compelling and unsettling,” Branagh said. “I’m honored to have this fantastic group of actors bring these dark materials to life for a new audience.”
Production begins this November.
Ridley Scott, Simon Kinberg, Mark Gordon, and Branagh will produce the film. Michael Schaefer, Aditya Sood, and Judy Hofflund will also produce.
Michael Green wrote the screenplay, with Steve Asbell overseeing the production for Fox.
Agatha Christie’s novel, published in 1934, revolves around »
- Variety Staff
AMC's Larkin Malloy Dead at 62
10 hours ago | TVLine.com | See recent TVLine.com news »
Larkin Malloy, who held roles on several soap operas including All My Children, has died. He was 62.
Malloy played AMC‘s Travis from 1987 to 1998. Walt Willey, who portrayed his on-screen brother Jack on the ABC soap, posted on Facebook Thursday that Malloy had died of complications from a recent heart attack.
Willey wrote:
Larkin Malloy welcomed me like a brother when I joined the cast in 1987. We worked together, did appearances together, partied together, vacationed together. He was an “actor’s actor,” spending many years teaching the craft, and a gentleman in the Old World style. We spent many hours together, »
ABC Gives Full-Season Pickups to ‘Designated Survivor,’ ‘Speechless’
14 hours ago | Variety - TV News | See recent Variety - TV News news »
ABC has given full-season pickups to two freshman shows: the Kiefer Sutherland drama “Designated Survivor” and Minnie Driver comedy “Speechless.”
“We’re very proud of the creative excellence in front of and behind the camera, and are thrilled to be giving our audience more episodes,” said ABC Entertainment president Channing Dungey.
Both shows received back-nine orders to bring their total first season episode tallies to 22. “Designated Survivor,” about a cabinet member thrust into the presidency after an attack, hails from Mark Gordon Co. and ABC Studios. “Speechless,” which revolves around a family with a special needs child, is from 20th Century Fox TV and ABC Studios.
“Designated Survivor” is coming off a solid second-week showing in the Wednesday 10 p.m. slot. The premiere averaged 15.3 million viewers and 3.7 rating in adults 18-49 in Nielsen’s L3 ratings. “Speechless” airs in the Wednesday 8:30 p.m. hammock slot between “The Goldbergs” and “Modern Family.” So »
- Cynthia Littleton
Fox Developing Animated Indian Family Comedy From M. Night Shyamalan, ‘Family Guy’ Writer (Exclusive)
17 hours ago | Variety - TV News | See recent Variety - TV News news »
Supernatural horror guru M. Night Shyamalan is taking a stab at comedy.
Fox has bought a script for “Eleven Little Indians,” an animated comedy series, hailing from Shyamalan and scribe Alex Carter, a writer/producer from “Family Guy,” Variety has learned exclusively.
“Eleven Little Indians” examines three branches of a large Indian family — one has achieved the American dream; another has just arrived in the U.S. wide-eyed; and the third has gone off the rails.
Both Shyamalan and Carter will serve as executive producers, along with Ashwin Rajan, who runs Shyamalan’s Blinding Edge Pictures. 20th Century Fox Television is the studio.
For Shyamalan, the project marks a break into comedy. Largely known for supernatural films, such as “The Sixth Sense,” “Signs” and “The Village,” one of his first screenplays was the family comedy “Stuart Little.” In more recent years, Shyamalan has turned to television, and “Eleven Little Indians” is his second Fox project, following »
- Elizabeth Wagmeister
Michael Shannon Joins Benedict Cumberbatch in ‘The Current War’
15 hours ago | Variety - Film News | See recent Variety - Film News news »
Michael Shannon is in negotiations to play Thomas Westinghouse in the Weinstein Co.’s “The Current War.”
Benedict Cumberbatch is already on board to play Thomas Edison with “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl” director Alfonso Gomez-Rejon set to direct.
The movie takes place in the late 1880s and revolves around power titans Edison and Westinghouse’s battle over the supply of electricity. Edison championed the use of a direct current for electric power distribution over an alternating current, which was backed by several European companies and Westinghouse Electric.
The pic is one of two films centered on this rivalry with Black Bear Pictures developing “The Last Days of Night” starring Eddie Redmayne as the lawyer caught in the middle of the patent battle that ensued following Edison’s discovery of the electrical current.
TWC will finance and distribute the film.
Timur Bekmambetov, who was originally eyed to direct the movie, »
- Justin Kroll
Jennifer Hudson Joins U.K. Version of ‘The Voice’ as Coach
21 hours ago | Variety - TV News | See recent Variety - TV News news »
Oscar- and Grammy-winning singer-actress Jennifer Hudson is to serve as a coach on the U.K. version of singing competition show “The Voice.” She will be joined by Tom Jones, Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale and will.i.am of The Black Eyed Peas on the show, which will air on ITV after the network snatched the British rights from the BBC.
Hudson and Rossdale will be making their debuts on the show while both Jones and will.i.am have previously served as coaches. Jones was a coach on the first four seasons of the U.K. version of the show, while will.i.am has appeared on every season.
Hudson first found fame on “American Idol,” after which her self-titled debut album sold 1.1 million copies. Her performing credits include singing at President Obama’s inauguration, Super Bowl Xlvii and the Academy Awards, where she won best supporting actress for her role as Effie in the movie »
- Leo Barraclough
Rachel Weisz to Produce and Star in Adaptation of Naomi Alderman Novel ‘Disobedience’ (Exclusive)
17 hours ago | Variety - Film News | See recent Variety - Film News news »
Following the opening of her new drama “Denial,” Rachel Weisz is set to star and produce an adaptation of the Naomi Alderman novel “Disobedience.”
Weisz will produce alongside Ed Guiney, who will produce through his Element Films shingle, Frida Torresblanco, who will produce through her banner Braven Films and Film 4. Sebastian Lelio direct the film based on a script he co-wrote with Rebecca Lenkiewicz.
In the original book, the story follows young woman who returns to her Orthodox Jewish home after learning about the death of her estranged father. She causes an upheaval in the quiet community when she rekindles a repressed love with her best friend – a woman now married to her cousin.
Weisz has previously produced the pic “Radiator.”
Weisz has been very active in 2016 with starring roles in “The Light Between Oceans,” which opened last month, and “Denial” which also stars Timothy Spall.
The actress recently wrapped »
- Justin Kroll
Jay Z Signs TV and Film First-Look Deal With Weinstein Company
19 hours ago | Variety - Film News | See recent Variety - Film News news »
The Weinstein Company has signed a two-year overall deal with Shawn “Jay Z” Carter to produce TV and film projects, the studio announced Thursday.
According to the announcement, there are already projects in the works that will be announced in the following weeks.
“I’m excited to tell stories from real life prophets, whom through their struggles have changed the world for the better, and others whose stories are filled with fantasy and delight,” Jay Z commented. “I’m already passionate about what we currently have in the pipeline and I’m looking forward to discovering others.”
Jay Z’s recent film involvement includes a producer credit on the 2014 “Annie” remake, Chris Rock’s “Top Five” and Baz Luhrmann’s “The Great Gatsby.”
The deal was negotiated by David Glasser, and Sarah Sobel, exec VP of business and legal affairs, on behalf of TWC.
»
- Seth Kelley
HBO Sets Cast for ‘Mogadishu, Minnesota’ Pilot
17 hours ago | Variety - TV News | See recent Variety - TV News news »
HBO has set the cast for its drama pilot “Mogadishu, Minnesota,” which hails from executive producer Kathryn Bigelow and writer K’naan Warsame, Variety has learned.
The large ensemble features nine series regulars, mostly made up of newcomers. Among the cast is “American Crime” star Elvis Nolasco, Ethiopian supermodel Liya Kebede and Somali-born British stand-up comedian Prince Abdi.
“Mogadishu, Minnesota” is a family drama that grapples with what it means to be American, among the Somalis of Minneapolis. Somali Canadian rapper/singer Warsame wrote the pilot and will direct. He serves as executive producer, along with with Bigelow and Carolyn Strauss.
The “Mogadishu, Minnesota” pilot will shoot this October in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
See below for the full cast, plus character descriptions:
Ezana Alem will play Sameer, the Somali all-American boy, who is described as a handsome, excellent student who is planning to go away to college with his beautiful girlfriend, Lacy »
- Elizabeth Wagmeister
‘Downton’s’ Joanne Froggatt, Ioan Gruffudd to Star in ‘Liar’ From ‘The Missing’ Creators for ITV, SundanceTV
1 hour ago | Variety - TV News | See recent Variety - TV News news »
Joanne Froggatt, a three-time Emmy nominee for “Downton Abbey,” and Ioan Gruffudd, best known for “Fantastic Four,” will star in a six-part thriller from the creators of Starz’s “The Missing,” Harry and Jack Williams. The show has been greenlit by the U.K. broadcaster ITV and SundanceTV in the U.S. All3Media Intl., which is handling international sales for the show, negotiated the deal with SundanceTV. The miniseries, produced by the Williams brothers’ Two Brothers Pictures, starts shooting in November.
“’Liar’ tells the story of a night that changes the lives of Laura Newell (Froggatt) and Andrew Ellis (Gruffudd) forever,” according to a press statement. “Laura is a smart and dedicated teacher, not long out of a relationship and unsure about getting back on the dating scene. Andrew is a renowned surgeon whose son is a pupil at Laura’s school. An initial attraction leads to a date, but »
- Leo Barraclough
Sundance TV, ITV Partner for ‘Liars,’ Starring Joanne Froggatt, Ioan Gruffudd
1 hour ago | Variety - TV News | See recent Variety - TV News news »
Sundance TV and ITV are teaming up to co-produce “Liars,” a six-part thriller starring Joanne Froggatt and Ioan Gruffudd. The miniseries hails from BAFTA- and Golden Globe-nominated producers and screenwriters Harry and Jack Williams and their company Two Brothers Pictures.
“Liars” stars Froggatt (“Downton Abbey”) and Gruffudd (“Fantastic Four”) as Laura Newell and Andrew Ellis, whose initial attraction leads to a date and to far-reaching consequences for each other and their families.
“‘Liar’ is that rare combination of a thoughtful and emotional exploration of the human condition, and a page turner. The Williams Brothers have created something both relevant and compelling, attributes that the SundanceTV audience respect and embrace,” said Joel Stillerman, president of original programming and development for AMC and SundanceTV.
Harry and Jack Williams (“Fleabag,” “The Missing,” “One of Us”) will executive produce with James Strong, who will serve as lead director. Polly Hill, head of drama for ITV, will »
- Daniel Holloway
Mumbai Festival to Honor China’s Jia Zhangke, India’s Sai Paranjpye
2 hours ago | Variety - Film News | See recent Variety - Film News news »
The 18th Mami Mumbai Film Festival will honor Chinese auteur Jia Zhangke and Indian filmmaker Sai Paranjpye with ‘Excellence in Cinema’ awards.
The festival that runs Oct. 20-27 will open with actor Konkona Sen Sharma’s directorial debut “A Death in the Gunj” that bowed at Toronto and will play in Busan.
Two new gender-based awards have been instituted. In partnership with Oxfam India, the best Indian film on gender equality carries a cash prize of $15,000 (INR1 million.) The best Indian female filmmaker award has a cash prize of $22,500 (Inr 1.5 million.)
Films in the ‘India Gold’ competition strand include Rohit Mittal’s “Autohead,” Manas Mukul Pal’s “Colours of Innocence,” Haoban Paban Kumar’s “Lady of the Lake,” Alankrita Shrivastava’s “Lipstick Under My Burkha,” Sushanshu Saria’s “Loev,” Prithvi Konanur’s “Railway Children,” Saumyananda Sahi’s “Remembering Kurdi,” Shirley Abraham and Amit Madheshiya’s “The Cinema Travellers,” Jaicheng Jai Dohutia’s “The Hidden Corner, »
- Naman Ramachandran
Indian Producers Seek Ban on Pakistani Talent in Political Fallout
3 hours ago | Variety - Film News | See recent Variety - Film News news »
The Indian Motion Picture Producers’ Association (Imppa) has called on its members to stop working with Pakistani talent and technicians until the current political tensions between India and Pakistan ease.
Separately, political party Maharashtra Navnirman Sena has called for all Pakistani artistes to leave India and that their films be banned.
The latest tensions between the neighboring countries stems from the death last week of 18 Indian army soldiers in the disputed territory of Kashmir. The attack was allegedly perpetrated by Pakistan-based terrorists. Indian soldiers have crossed the ‘Line of Control’ to make retaliatory strikes.
Movies that could be affected include Karan Johar’s “Ae Dil Hai Mushkil,” due a Diwali holiday frame release in October. It stars Aishwarya Rai and Ranbir Kapoor alongside Pakistani heartthrob Fawad Khan (“Kapoor & Sons”.) Further out, “Dear Zindagi,” which stars Pakistan’s Ali Zafar alongside India’s Shah Rukh Khan, is due a November release. »
- Naman Ramachandran
Michael Ovitz Apologizes For "Unbridled Ambition": "I Was Myopic In My Drive"
3 hours ago | The Hollywood Reporter | See recent The Hollywood Reporter news »
Anyone expecting fireworks in the public reunion of former CAA chairman Michael Ovitz and his one-time partner Ron Meyer would have been sorely disappointed Thursday night at the Directors Guild of America in Los Angeles, where the two men spoke about their relationship and the company they built, as well as the issues that drove them apart. But Ovitz, 69, who has not had a major involvement in the entertainment business since he was forced out as president of the Walt Disney Co. in 1997, less than two years after exiting CAA, extended multiple olive branches to Meyer, 72, now
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- Stephen Galloway
Joe Biden Blasts Donald Trump’s ‘Lack of Sensibilities’ on ‘Tonight Show’ (Video)
4 hours ago | The Wrap | See recent The Wrap news »
Vice President Joe Biden hopped into the guest’s chair on “Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” on Thursday night and took aim at Gop presidential nominee Donald Trump. Days after Trump’s first presidential debate with Hillary Clinton, Biden opined, “I’ve never seen anybody who knew as few facts” as Trump. But what really irked Biden about Trump, the vice president said, was his “lack of sensibilities.” Also Read: Hollywood Republicans Feel Under Siege in 'Toxic' Anti-Trump Industry “The way he talks about, well, you know, ‘I was rooting for the housing market to fail because that’s business …’ That’s not business, »
- Tim Kenneally
10 All-Time Best Super Bowl Halftime Shows (Videos)
4 hours ago | The Wrap | See recent The Wrap news »
A look back at the 10 all-time best Super Bowl halftime shows. 10. Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake (2004) Ah, yes. Maybe this isn’t the best, but it was definitely among the most memorable. Janet and Justin were doing a rendition of “Rock Your Body” that was absolutely smoking… until the smoke turned into a PTC wildfire. In hindsight, the wardrobe malfunction might have saved this show. Does anyone even remember that Nelly, Diddy, and Kid Rock also performed that night? 9. Diana Ross (1996) The halftime show went through some growing pains in the 1990s, but Diana Ross’ soulful performance at Super »
- Jeremy Fuster
‘How to Get Away With Murder’ Fans React With Frustration, Elation Over Survivor Reveal
6 hours ago | The Wrap | See recent The Wrap news »
Spoiler alert: Do not read any further if you don’t want to know what happened during the Sept. 29, 2016 episode of “How to Get Away With Murder.” After being teased with a cliffhanger death on last week’s episode, “How to Get Away With Murder” fans at least received some partial answers during the latest episode. But that failed to pacify many viewers, who reacted with frustration that they would likely have to wait much longer to be fully enlightened. On the season premiere of the Shonda Rhimes series last week, fans were shocked by an episode-ending cliffhanger, when, in a. »
- Tim Kenneally
See John Malkovich Play Disturbing Frank Booth from 'Blue Velvet'
6 hours ago | Rollingstone.com | See recent Rolling Stone news »
"Fuck! What you looking at? Don't you look at me, fuck!," John Malkovich threatens in a new clip for the weeklong vignette series Playing Lynch. In the latest installment, the actor takes on the role of the antagonist Frank Booth from David Lynch's psychosexual thriller, Blue Velvet.
The clip is the latest of Malkovich's starring roles for Playing Lynch, which is a project where people can donate to see the various scenes Malkovich has filmed from Lynch's repertoire. The proceeds benefit David Lynch Foundation, which seeks to help sufferers »
Viacom to Make $1.3 Billion Debt Offering
7 hours ago | The Wrap | See recent The Wrap news »
Media giant Viacom announced Thursday that it has agreed to make a debt offering totaling $1.3 billion. The company has agreed to sell $400 million in aggregate principal amount of 2.250% senior notes due 2022 at a price equal to 99.692% of the principal amount thereof (the “2022 Senior Notes”). The company will also sell $900 million in aggregate principal amount of 3.450% senior notes due 2026 at a price equal to 99.481% of the principal amount thereof (the “2026 Senior Notes” and, together with the 2022 Senior Notes, the “Senior Notes”). The sale of the senior notes is expected to »
- Tim Kenneally
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