Jonze Responds to Wild Things Clip
Warner Bros. has released a statement by director Spike Jonze that seeks to clarify the nature of a clip from Jonze's upcoming WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE that has recently appeared online.
Category: Films
IMAX Box Office For Spiderwick Encouraging
IMAX Corporation announced today that THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES, a fantasy adventure based on the best-selling series of books, opened well in IMAX theaters over the five-day opening weekend, grossing approximately $1.9 million of the film's $26.8 million total, or 7 percent of the overall box office.
Nineteen of the top twenty locations in North America included an IMAX theater.
Wolverine Adds Reynolds And will.i.am To Cast
Ryan Reynolds, Taylor Kitsch (FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS) and hip-hop artist will.i.am have joined the cast of X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE, VARIETY reports.
Hugh Jackman is reprising his role as Wolverine in the X-MEN spinoff directed by Gavin Hood.
Live Schreiber, Danny Huston and Lynn Collins also will star in the film set to begin filming this month in Australia.
Planet 51 Voice Talents Announced
VARIETY reports that Dwayne Johnson, Jessica Biel, Justin Long and Seann William Scott will provide lead voices in New Line Cinema's PLANET 51.
The film, set for release July 24, 2009, is New Line's first 3D CG animated feature.
Johnson will give his voice to astronaut Chuck Baker, who thinks he's the first to discover Planet 51 only to find it inhabited by green people living an innocent, 1950s-style way of life.
USA Will Air All Indys
USA Network purchased the rights to air not only the newest Indiana Jones flick (INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL), but will air the three prequels before the film's theatrical release in May.
VARIETY reports the deal could cost the network $40 million, depending on CRYSTAL SKULL's (Paramount and Lucasfilm) domestic theatrical revenues.
The three previous Indiana Jones movies, RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK (1981), THE TEMPLE OF DOOM (1984) and THE LAST CRUSADE (1989) will be shown as a marathon to promote CRYSTAL SKULL.
In Films, Visual Effects, Films, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, North America
Star Trek Delayed To 2009
Paramount, in reshuffling their entire release calendar, has moved the debut of STAR TREK from Dec. 25 to May 8, 2009, VARIETY reports.
The studio said the moneymaking potential for the highly anticipated J.J. Abrams flick will be much higher in the summer, where it has no competition yet.
Industrial Light & Magic is doing the vfx for STAR TREK under the supervision of Roger Guyett, and that Paramount is also pushing back THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON from Nov. 26 to Dec.19, with Digital Domain handling the vfx.
Spiderwick On IMAX
THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES will open in IMAX theaters around the world today, as well as in regular 35mm theaters.
The movie, based on a best-selling children's book, has been digitally remastered to better tell the tale of the Grace family adventures at the Spiderwick estate.
Special visual effects are by Industrial Light and Magic, vfx by Tippett Studio.
Panda doesn’t pander
My first reaction to Kung Fu Panda was, (bored, Droopy voice), whoopee, here we go again: hopeless slob (Jack Black, who else?) makes good in spite of himself, done with that trademark DreamWorks unattractive angular character design.
Mea culpa, friends. I just saw a lengthy promo reel for the film hosted by Ol’ Bullet-head himself, Jeff (nyah-nyah Michael, I’m still a player, what are you doing these days?) Katzenberg – and I am blown away. This is going to turn into an Anton Ego review (end of Ratatouille Anton that is), but here we go.
Pop Star Rain In Ninja Assassin
South Korean pop star Rain was cast in the leading role in the Wachowskis NINJA ASSASSIN, VARIETY reports.
Rain, also known by his given name Jung Ji-hoon, has a role in the Wachowskis upcoming SPEED RACER and is re-recording 70s hit KUNG FU FIGHTING for DreamWorks animated KUNG FU PANDA, also due this summer.
NINJA ASSASSIN will be produced by Joel Silver and the Wachowskis, with James McTeigue (V FOR VENDETTA) likely to direct.
Animated Clone Wars Coming To Theaters
Lucasfilm Ltd., Warner Bros. Pictures and Turner Broadcasting System Inc. have announced that STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS will not start as the TV series, but as a feature film this August. The feature release will precede the TV series, which will air on Cartoon Network and TNT this fall. Produced by Lucasfilm Animation, STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS will open in North American theaters Friday, Aug. 15. International release dates will be announced soon.
Tolkien Relatives Sue New Line
The Tolkien Trust filed a suit against New Line Cinema for $150 million in compensatory damages in Los Angeles Superior Court Monday.
The trust is a British charity that represents the estate of J.R.R. Tolkien, the author of the LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy, made into some of the most financially successful Hollywood films released in 2001, 2002 and 2003, respectively.
Azaria To Escape From The Smithsonian
Hank Azaria will portray all-powerful Egyptian pharaoh Kah Mun Rah in Fox's NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM 2: ESCAPE FROM THE SMITHSONIAN, joining Ben Stiller in the follow-up to the 2006 hit NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM
Amy Adams and Dick Van Dyke are also set to appear in the sequel, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER.
Shawn Levy will direct, Robert Ben Garant, Thomas Lennon and Scott Frank wrote the script and Levy's 21 Laps Entertainment and 1492 Pictures' Michael Barnathan and Mark Radcliffe will produce.
In Films, Visual Effects, Films, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, South America
G.I. Joe Villain Cast
British actor Chris Eccleston is set to play villain Destro in the big screen adaptation of G.I. JOE, directed by Stephen Sommers with the latest script by Stuart Beattie.
Eccleston has most recently been seen as invisible man Claude on NBC's HEROES.
Ireland native David Murray had been cast in the role, but had to withdraw because of visa problems, reports THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER.
G.I. JOE also stars Channing Tatum, Dennis Quaid and Sienna Miller.
Legal Battle Over Watchmen Ensues
20th Century Fox sued Warner Bros. over the rights to graphic novel WATCHMEN on Friday, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER.
Fox claims it holds the exclusive copyright and contract rights to WATCHMEN, a popular comic written by Alan Moore and illustrated by Dave Gibbons.
A big-screen version starring Jackie Earle Haley, Billy Crudup and Patrick Wilson is set for release by Warners in 2009.
The studio's policy is to not comment on pending litigation, which seeks unspecified damages.
Hell For Ellen Page And Sam Raimi
JUNOs Ellen Page is set to star in Sam Raimis new horror flick DRAG ME TO HELL, reports VARIETY.
DRAG is a return to the genre for Raimi, who directed THE EVIL DEAD and ARMY OF DARKNESS before helming three SPIDER-MAN movies.
Universal Pictures secured the domestic and international rights and will distribute in Germany, Spain and Latin America as well as North America.
Filming for DRAG begins March 17 in Los Angeles.
Speed Racer To Have Mobile Game
Glu Mobile Inc. will publish a mobile game based on this summers expected blockbuster SPEED RACER in late April, they announced Monday.
SPEED RACER, a live-action feature based on anime pioneer Tatsuo Yoshidas television series, stars Emile Hirsch in the title role and Christina Ricci as Speeds girlfriend Trixie.
The mobile game will be the first title Glu will develop through its partnership with Warner Bros. Digital Distribution.
Fool's Gold a Welcome Box Office Entry
FOOL'S GOLD from Warner Bros. opened in the top spot with $21.5M for the weekend ended Feb. 10, 2008. Universal's WELCOME HOME ROSCOE JENKINS followed in second place with a debut of $16.2M. And last week's sensation, Disney's 3-D version of HANNAH MONTANA/MILEY CYRUS: BEST OF BOTH WORLDS CONCERT TOUR, dropped to third with $10.2M for a two-week cume of $53.1M. Following in fourth was Lionsgate's THE EYE (with vfx from Asylum) with $6.5M and $21.4M. Fifth place belonged to Fox Searchlight's Oscar-contending JUNO with $5.6M and a wonderful tally of $117.5M.
Big Love Actress Onto Jennifer's Body
BIG LOVE's Amanda Seyfried, who also appeared in MEAN GIRLS, has joined the JUNO team of Diablo Cody and Jason Reitman's JENNIFER'S BODY, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. Seyfried will play Needy, the frumpy best friend of cheerleader Jennifer (Megan Fox, TRANSFORMERS), who must stop her best friend when the popular girl is possessed by a demon and begins to devour the boys in town.
Karyn Kusama is helming the Fox Atomic horror-comedy. Reitman and his Hard C partner Dan Dubiecki, alongside Mason Novick, are the producers.
Thurman Nannies Eloise in Paris
Uma Thurman will play Nanny in the live-action adaptation of the children's novel ELOISE IN PARIS, reports VARIETY. A search is still going on for a young actress to play the title character.
Director Charles Shyer adapted the novel, written by Kay Thompson and illustrated by Hillary Knight, along with his daughter Hallie Meyers-Shyer and Larry Spencer. Handmade Films is producing the movie, which the studio hopes will be the first in a series. It's already developing ELOISE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD.
Amy Adams Historic for Museum 2
Amy Adams is in talks to join the cast of 20th Century Fox's NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM 2, reports VARIETY. The new edition will see Ben Stiller's character from the first film packing up artifacts from the Museum of Natural History and moving them to the Smithsonian. Adams is in line to play an unnamed historical figure who falls for Stiller's security guard Larry.
Hannah Montana Rocks Box Office in Disney Digital 3-D
Disneys 3-D film offering of the hot HANNAH MONTANA/MILEY CYRUS: BEST OF BOTH WORLDS CONCERT TOUR played to a record-breaking $31.1M for a Super Bowl weekend for the period ended Feb. 3, 2008. The BEST OF BOTH WORLDS concert film did so well, in fact, that Disney has extended its theatrical run. Debuting in second place, meanwhile, was Lionsgates THE EYE (with vfx from Asylum) with $12.4M. Holding third was Foxs 27 DRESSES with $8.5M for a cume of $57.2M. Foxs MEET THE SPARTANS followed in fourth with $7.3M for a tally of $28.5M.
Pushing Daisies Actress Finds Land of the Lost
PUSHING DAISIES actress Anna Friel has secured the starring role opposite Will Ferrell in Universal Pictures' big screen adaptation of LAND OF THE LOST, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. Friel will portray Ferrell's love interest.
Brad Silberling is directing the redux of the '70s live-action kids show. In the film, Ferrel plays a dishonored paleontologist who is transported to a prehistoric world.
Universal Finds New Wolfman Helmer
Universal Pictures has hired Joe Johnston, helmer of JURASSIC PARK III and THE ROCKETEER, to step into the empty director's chair on WOLFMAN, after the original director, Mark Romanek, left the project last week, reports VARIETY. Production is set to begin in London in March. Romanek left the project suddenly over budgetary issues.
Asterix 3 Rules Europe
France's most expensive VFX extravaganza ASTERIX AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES ruled the European box office in its opening weekend, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. The film grossed approximately $25 million on nearly 6,000 screens across nine territories.
The Pathe-distributed film brought in $17 million in France alone. For Germany, the film took home $3 million on 500 screens, while 75 Austrian theaters added $675,000 to the cume. The third film in the ASTERIX series played on only three screens in the U.K., earning $4,000.
Freddy Actor Englund to Direct Vij
Robert Englund, famous for crafting iconic movie monster Freddy Kruger, will helm the gothic fantasy feature THE VIJ, VARIETY reports. Englund, Christopher Lee and Olga Schuvalova will star.
Based on a Nikolai Gogol novel, the story follows a young priest who is swayed by an evil genie to commit murder and lust over an old witch, who has secrets of her own. The young priest has yet to be cast.
In Films, Visual Effects, Films, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Europe, North America
