14 articles
‘Transformers’ Spinoff ‘Bumblebee’ Finds Director in ‘Kubo and the Two Strings’ Helmer
56 minutes ago | Variety - Film News | See recent Variety - Film News news »
Travis Knight is moving on from stop animation to try his hand at live action as the Laika CEO has been tapped to direct the “Transformers” spinoff “Bumblebee.”
The movie would mark his live-action directorial debut after helming the Oscar-nominated “Kubo and the Two Strings” for Laika last year. Paramount was clearly eyeing someone with an animated background as execs also met with “Lego Batman” director Chris McKay. The studio had no comment.
While plot details are still unknown, the story will focus on the popular character who has appeared in all of Michael Bay’s “Transformers” films.
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Laika Animation Studio, at 10, Is a Model of Innovation
Bay, Lorenzo di Bonaventura, and Steven Spielberg are producing. Christina Hudson penned the script after joining the “Transformers” writers’ room last year, where the studio began fleshing out ideas for other movies contained in the “Transformers” universe, but not necessarily set along the franchise timeline. »
- Justin Kroll
Mark Webber Joins Joaquin Phoenix in Gus Van Sant’s John Callahan Biopic
6 hours ago | Variety - Film News | See recent Variety - Film News news »
“Green Room” actor Mark Webber has joined the cast of Gus Van Sant’s “Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot,” a biopic about quadriplegic cartoonist John Callahan.
Joaquin Phoenix is set to play the film’s lead role. Jonah Hill, Rooney Mara and Jack Black are also on board to star.
Iconoclast and Anonymous Content are producing the film, which is based on Callahan’s autobiography of the same name. The title is taken from one of Callahan’s cartoons, which often touched on taboo topics.
Webber will play Mike, a fellow Vietnam veteran and friend of Phoenix’s character who he meets during his AA meetings.
Callahan became paralyzed following a car accident at the age of 21. He turned to art as a form of therapy, drawing by clutching a pen between his two hands. He died in 2010 at the age of 59.
Charles-Marie Anthonioz, Mourad Belkeddar, »
- Justin Kroll
Box-Office Preview: 'Logan' to Sink Claws Into $65M-Plus U.S. Debut
12 hours ago | The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News | See recent The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News news »
Expect Logan to end the stand-alone Wolverine series in style, as well as mark a superhero start to the March box office.
The 20th Century Fox movie, returning Hugh Jackman in the title role, is projected to gross $65 million or more in North America this weekend, and as much as $100 million overseas, where it is opening in numerous markets, including China.
Logan is the first Wolverine movie to be rated R and is getting the widest release in history for an R-rated title domestically, where it will play in 4,071 theaters. (Fox is the same studio behind the »
- Pamela McClintock
Matt Damon's 'The Great Wall' to Lose $75 Million; Future U.S.-China Productions in Doubt
12 hours ago | The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News | See recent The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News news »
The Great Wall at the domestic box office (it has made $34.8 million in North America) has iced any notion of a significant future for U.S.-China co-productions. The movie likely will end up with losses of more than $75 million, sources say, and Universal Pictures will be on the hook for at least $10 million.
The studio funded about 25 percent of the film's $150 million production budget, the rest coming in equal parts from Legendary Entertainment, China Film Group and Le Vision Pictures. But Universal also covered Wall's global marketing expenses, conservatively estimated at $80 »
- Pamela McClintock,Stephen Galloway
Amazon Nabs 12 More Sundance Films, Extends Festival Program to SXSW, Tribeca, Toronto (Exclusive)
10 hours ago | Variety - Film News | See recent Variety - Film News news »
Amazon, after buying up five films at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival, has snagged exclusive subscription-streaming rights to a dozen more titles from the fest.
The new deals come under the company’s Amazon Video Direct program, which offered a no-haggle offer to filmmakers whose movies were officially screened at Sundance: a cash bonus of up to $100,000 for two-year Svod rights plus streaming royalties.
The company paid $400,000 total in bonuses for the 12 features from Sundance acquired through the Avd program. The films include “Manifesto,” starring Cate Blanchett (pictured above), in which she inhabits 13 different characters; China-set absurdist comedy “Free and Easy”; Indian sweatshop documentary “Machines”; and writer-director Kristen Tan’s “Pop Aye” dramedy set in Thailand. The movies will be available on Amazon Prime Video later this year.
Amazon is so pleased with the results of the Film Festival Stars program from Sundance that it’s now extending similar offers to this year’s SXSW, »
- Todd Spangler
PwC Accountant Wanted to Perform Sketch at Oscars (Exclusive)
2 hours ago | Variety - Film News | See recent Variety - Film News news »
Unlike most accountants, PriceWaterhouseCoopers’ Brian Cullinan did not want to stay anonymous. He commonly tweeted selfies with celebrities and relished his trips down the red carpet at the last four Academy Awards.
Before he became famous for his involvement in handing over the wrong envelope on Sunday’s telecast, he’d been angling for a spot on the stage, Variety has learned. Cullinan had pitched Oscar producers on doing a comedic sketch involving him and his colleague Martha Ruiz, interacting with host Jimmy Kimmel. Sources said that Cullinan enjoys being in the spotlight and likes the fact that people frequently compare his looks to actor Matt Damon.
But according to two sources with knowledge of the exchange, the idea was shot down.
Representatives from PwC didn’t immediately respond for comment.
In past years, the Oscars accountants were sometimes introduced on TV, with their briefcases in tow, to explain their »
- Ramin Setoodeh and Brent Lang
‘Deadpool 2’ Wants ‘Stranger Things’ Star David Harbour for Cable
3 hours ago | Slash Film | See recent Slash Film news »
It looks like the team behind Deadpool 2 have been just as obsessed with Stranger Things as the rest of us. The superhero sequel is reportedly eyeing star David Harbour to play Cable. Although the time-traveling mutant has yet to appear on the big screen, he has an extensive history with Deadpool in the comics. @slashfilm Hey Peter […]
The post ‘Deadpool 2’ Wants ‘Stranger Things’ Star David Harbour for Cable appeared first on /Film. »
- Angie Han
Dave Chappelle’s Triumphant Return to Stand-Up is Upon Us in New Trailer for Netflix Specials
45 minutes ago | Indiewire | See recent Indiewire news »
“I know, I’ve been gone for a very long time,” remarks Dave Chappelle. It’s been 13 years since his last adventure with a microphone — “Dave Chappelle: For What It’s Worth” — but in this brand new teaser for his upcoming Netflix comedy specials, Chappelle is clearly back.
Read More: Dave Chappelle Will Premiere Three Comedy Specials for Netflix
Both comedy events will premiere on March 21 as part of Chappelle’s lucrative deal with Netflix, direct from Chappelle’s personal vault. The first, “Dave Chappelle: The Age of Spin,” was filmed in 2016 at the Palladium in Los Angeles while “Dave Chappelle: Deep in the Heart of Texas” was filmed at Austin City Limits Live at the Moody Theater in 2015. The third comedy special will be a brand new show produced exclusively for Netflix later this year.
After years of obscurity following his infamous departure from Comedy Central’s “Chappelle’s Show, »
- Juan Diaz
Relativity Hearing On Chapter 7 Postponed For Two Months
47 minutes ago | Deadline | See recent Deadline news »
The town will have to wait another two months to see if the Bankruptcy Court will approve a motion to switch Relativity Media’s Chapter 11 status to a Chapter 7 liquidation. This comes after an investor in the company officially motioned the U.S. Bankruptcy Court earlier this month and less than a year from when Relativity emerged from bankruptcy saying it would be financially stable. As we reported late last year, the company was expected in Chapter 7, which means… »
Jason Statham’s Shark Thriller ‘Meg’ Swims Back Five Months
1 hour ago | Variety - Film News | See recent Variety - Film News news »
Warner Bros. has moved back Jason Statham’s prehistoric giant shark thriller “Meg” to Aug. 10, 2018.
It was previously dated for March 2, 2018, and would have opened against an untitled Fox/Marvel film. The movie will be released in 3D and Imax. “National Treasure” helmer Jon Turteltaub is directing the film with Chinese actress Fan Bingbing co-starring with Jessica McNamee, Ruby Rose, and Rainn Wilson. Shooting began in New Zealand last fall.
The film will be co-financed by Flagship Entertainment; Gravity Pictures, a division of China Media Capital (Cmc); and Warner Bros. Gravity Pictures will distribute the film in China, with Warner Bros. handling the film throughout the rest of the world.
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Jason Statham’s Shark Movie ‘Meg’ Gets 2018 Release Date
Lorenzo Di Bonaventura, Belle Avery, and Colin Wilson are producing. Executive producers are Wei Wayne Jiang, Barrie M. Osborne, Randy Greenberg, and Gerald R. Molen.
The story is based on »
- Dave McNary
‘Wizard of Oz’ Universe-Set Horror Movie in the Works at New Line
1 hour ago | Variety - Film News | See recent Variety - Film News news »
New Line is in early development on a horror film set in the iconic world of L. Frank Baum’s novel “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.”
The studio, a division of Warner Bros., has bought an untitled pitch by screenwriter Mike Van Waes. The project isn’t set up with a producer yet.
“The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” was published in 1900 and adapted into a successful musical in 1902. As with the 1939 movie starring Judy Garland, the story follows a girl named Dorothy in Kansas who lives on the prairie with her Aunt Em, Uncle Henry, and dog. A tornado carries Dorothy and Toto to a magical land to battle the Wicked Witch of the West.
Baum’s story has been adapted numerous times, most recently in Disney’s 2013 fantasy adventure “Oz the Great and Powerful,” starring James Franco.
Along with Blumhouse, New Line has been on a roll over the »
- Dave McNary
Superhero Bits: Ra’s Al Ghul Coming to Gotham, Toby Kebbell Talks Botched Doctor Doom & More
1 hour ago | Slash Film | See recent Slash Film news »
Who’s the latest character confirmed for the fighting roster in Injustice 2? Which Game of Thrones star has been cast as Ra’s Al Ghul in Gotham? What do Avengers: Infinity War extras casting call details tell us about the movie? Which Stranger Things star would like to play Spider-Man at some point? What does Toby […]
The post Superhero Bits: Ra’s Al Ghul Coming to Gotham, Toby Kebbell Talks Botched Doctor Doom & More appeared first on /Film. »
- Ethan Anderton
‘Burning Sands’ Star on Bringing Black Fraternity Hazing to the Screen, Potential Backlash
1 hour ago | Variety - Film News | See recent Variety - Film News news »
Netflix’s newest film “Burning Sands” has yet to debut, but already generated controversy. After a debut at Sundance, the movie will be released to subscribers on March 10.
Starring Trevor Jackson, the drama also taps Trevante Rhodes, Alfre Woodard, Steve Harris, Imani Hakim, and more for an unforgiving look at the secret life of fraternities and the violent hazing rituals that surround them.
Jackson recently spoke to Variety and addressed the strong reaction to the film on social media among predominately African-American Greek fraternities and sororities.
“There definitely will be backlash,” Jackson explained. “I feel like people are so closed-minded at times. Especially a story like this. It’s so intense and so raw. People will think that it’s being told from a certain perspective, but it’s not.” He adds, “It’s not pro fraternity or against fraternities. It’s just a story that’s being told and »
- Ericka Franklin
Travis Knight To Direct ‘Transformers’ Spinoff ‘Bumblebee’ At Paramount
1 hour ago | Deadline | See recent Deadline news »
Exclusive: Bumblebee, the first spinoff of the Transformers franchise based on a popular character in the series, just landed as director Travis Knight, the helmer of the Oscar-nominated stop-motion animated success Kubo And The Two Strings. That film was Knight’s directing debut. Bumblebee would mark his first live-action film. This time, Knight will be taking on a very different project, a big-budget 2018 tentpole for the studio. The screenplay, which emerged from Transf… »
Christine Vachon Calls ‘Still Alice’ ‘The Movie That Is Sending My Daughter to College’
1 hour ago | Indiewire | See recent Indiewire news »
Few enter the world of independent film expecting to get rich, but it doesn’t hurt to do well. In a Screen Daily interview, longtime producer and indie stalwart Christine Vachon says that “Still Alice” is one of the first and only project in Killer Films’ 22-year history to net the production company a profit.
Read More: Metrograph & IndieCollect Announce World Premiere of ‘Gems Unseen,’ Featuring Early Films From Todd Haynes & Christine Vachon
It seems to have been quite the profit, however: “‘Still Alice’ is the movie that is sending my daughter to college,” Vachon tells Screen Daily from the Glasgow Film Festival. “It was a big success and an honest company. It’s done very, very well for us.” Vachon co-founded Killer Films with Pamela Koffler in 1995 and has worked extensively with Todd Haynes, among many others. Among her productions to receive critical praise but little in the way »
- Michael Nordine
Jon Turteltaub’s Great White Shark Movie ‘Meg’ Swims Into Late Summer 2018
1 hour ago | Deadline | See recent Deadline news »
Warner Bros’ Meg was originally set for March 2 of next year but is now moving back to August 10, 2018, to be be released in 3D and Imax. The movie is based on Steve Alten’s bestselling novel about Navy deep-sea submersible pilot Jonas Taylor, who once came in contact with the Carcharodon megalodon apex predator, a 70-foot, 60,000-pound Great White Shark with hundreds of 7-inch serrated teeth. Jonas barely escaped, but must prove to the world that Meg still exists. On its… »
Playback: James Mangold on a Hard-r ‘Logan’ and Wolverine’s Western DNA
1 hour ago | Variety - Film News | See recent Variety - Film News news »
Welcome to “Playback,” a Variety podcast.
On today’s season finale, Jenelle Riley and I try to make sense of one of the wildest closes to an Oscars ceremony in history. The Academy had plenty of surprises up its sleeve throughout the crafts categories, and the apparent runaway train for “La La Land” wasn’t a runaway train at all as “Moonlight” made monumental history with the best picture victory. We chew on the fallout with another Oscar season in the books.
Later on (22:02) I’m talking to “Logan” director James Mangold, whose fresh but somber spin on the popular Wolverine character hits theaters tomorrow with a bloody rage.
For more, listen to the latest episode of “Playback” below. Please keep in mind there are Spoilers from the film in the conversation. “Playback” will be taking a break for a few weeks, but be sure to check back after »
- Kristopher Tapley
‘Fargo’ Season 3 Teaser: Another Brutal, Bloody, and Funny Winter in Minnesota
1 hour ago | Slash Film | See recent Slash Film news »
Fargo returns to FX in about a month and a half on April 19th. Last week we got a 15-second teaser that was pure Fargo — ominous but hilarious — showing a big inflatable Santa Claus deflate as a violent brawl occurs off-screen. The latest tease for season three reminds us of the irresistible winters in Minnesota. […]
The post ‘Fargo’ Season 3 Teaser: Another Brutal, Bloody, and Funny Winter in Minnesota appeared first on /Film. »
- Jack Giroux
Peter Bart: Hollywood Has Appetite For China’s Big Bucks, But At What Cost?
1 hour ago | Deadline | See recent Deadline news »
Try this as a filmgoing exercise: Watch Moonlight and The Great Wall back to back. One is a poignant indie message about race and poverty, the other is a testament to Chinese power. Here's my reason for citing these films: Many well-informed people worry that Hollywood's courtship of China's big bucks could result in a gradual surrender of its creative freedom. "Hollywood already is allowing China to determine which movies get made," says Robert Daly, the savvy director… »
‘The Deuce’ Photos: James Franco and James Franco Star in David Simon’s New HBO Show
2 hours ago | Slash Film | See recent Slash Film news »
David Simon‘s (The Wire) new HBO series, The Deuce, shows the rise of the porn industry in the 1970s. There to experience its beginning? Twins played by James Franco (The Disaster Artist), who not only played two roles but directed two episodes. He stars what Simon calls a “story about human beings and “a critique of market capitalism.” Below, […]
The post ‘The Deuce’ Photos: James Franco and James Franco Star in David Simon’s New HBO Show appeared first on /Film. »
- Jack Giroux
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