Disney changes Hollywood Rules with ‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Disney is flexing its muscles in the marketplace. The studio is not only launching a streaming site to compete with Netflix, but demanding from domestic exhibitors a firm 65 per cent aggregate film rental — the percentage of ticket sales that theaters return to...
“Lord of the Rings” TV series moves forward at Amazon with the streaming service
A “Lord of the Rings” TV series is moving forward at Amazon with the streaming service giving the series a multi-season production commitment, Amazon announced Monday. As Variety exclusively reported, a series adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s world-renowned fantasy...
Disney-Marvel’s “Thor: Ragnarok” tops the $650 million milestone in worldwide grosses
Disney-Marvel’s “Thor: Ragnarok” has topped the $650 million milestone in worldwide grosses in less than three weeks. The weekend saw the third Thor movie dominate the worldwide moviegoing business for a second consecutive weekend. It hit $75.9 million internationally...
‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’ Dominates Social Media Conversations
Disney-Lucasfilm’s “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” dominated social media last week with 110,000 new conversations thanks to interviews with cast members and filmmakers, according to media-measurement firm comScore and its PreAct service. “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” has...
Jimmy Kimmel’s Childhood Comic Book comes to life by J.J. Abrams, Ben Affleck, Jennifer Aniston
J.J. Abrams brought a special present for Jimmy Kimmel as the host celebrated his 50th birthday on Monday’s edition of ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live.” The filmmaker delivered a nearly seven-minute trailer for a “The Terrific Ten,” a superhero flick based on a comic book...
Warner Bros. has moves up “Wonder Woman 2” to Nov. 1, 2019
Warner Bros. has moved up Gal Gadot’s “Wonder Woman 2” six weeks to Nov. 1, 2019, from Dec. 13, 2019. The studio made the announcement Monday. Patty Jenkins is returning to direct. It’s the first title to land on Nov. 1, 2019. The new date also places “Wonder Woman 2”...
Sony Pictures is developing movie based on Spider-Man’s antagonist Morbius, The Living Vampire.
Sony Pictures is developing an untitled movie based on Spider-Man’s antagonist Morbius, The Living Vampire. The project is being written by the scripting team of Burk Sharpless and Matt Sazama, whose feature credits include “Power Rangers,” “Gods of Egypt,” “Dracula...
‘Daddy’s Home 2’ main cast, Mark Wahlberg, John Lithgow , talk Family and Christmas at Premiere
The holidays came early to Los Angeles as fans and cast members descended upon the Regency Village Theater on Sunday afternoon to celebrate the premiere of the new Christmas comedy “Daddy’s Home 2.” “Daddy’s Home 2” revisits “co-dads” Brad Whitaker (Will Ferrell) and...
Russell Crowe, Nicholas Hoult, George MacKay, and Essie Davis will star in “True History of the Kelly Gang,”
Russell Crowe, Nicholas Hoult, George MacKay, and Essie Davis will star in “True History of the Kelly Gang,” with filming planned for March in Australia. Justin Kurzel (“Assassin’s Creed”) will direct from a script by Shaun Grant, based on Peter Carey’s Booker...
“Star Wars: The Last Jedi” dominates social media with 113,000 new conversations
Disney-Lucasfilm’s “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” dominated social media last week with 113,000 new conversations thanks to a new television spot during the World Series, according to media-measurement firm comScore and its PreAct service. The spot aired on Nov. 1 during...
‘Murder on the Orient Express’ movie review
Over the course of his 28-year directing career, Kenneth Branagh has adapted everything from literary classics (Shakespeare’s “Henry V”) to comicbook pulp (putting a distinctive Dutch-angle slant on Marvel’s “Thor”). Now, with “Murder on the Orient Express,” the...
Disney-Marvel’s “Thor: Ragnarok” has topped the international box office with $107.6 million
Disney-Marvel’s “Thor: Ragnarok” has topped the international box office with $107.6 million in 52% of overseas markets, a week ahead of its U.S. release. The U.K. is the top market with $15.8 million, 27% ahead of “Doctor Strange.” It’s the biggest October opening...
“All the Money in the World” starring Kevin Spacey, moves forward with its December
“All the Money in the World” will move forward with its December release despite a sexual assault accusation involving Kevin Spacey. The film is still set to premiere at the AFI Fest on Nov. 16, according to the festival. Spacey plays oil tycoon J. Paul Getty in the...
Allison Williams stars in the horror-thriller “The Perfection”
In today’s film news roundup, Allison Williams will star in the horror-thriller “The Perfection,” “The Last Chinese Chef” moves into development, and the WGA unionizes the staffs of Gothamist and DNAinfo. CASTING Allison Williams will star in the horror-thriller “The...
Blake Lively’s spy thriller “The Rhythm Section” lands a Feb 2019, release date
Blake Lively’s spy thriller “The Rhythm Section” has landed a Feb. 22, 2019, release date from Paramount Pictures. The studio has also dated an untitled Tyler Perry project for April 12, 2019. Paramount bought the rights to “The Rhythm Section” in August with “The...
Zachary Levi will play the DC’s character “Shazam!,”
Zachary Levi will play the title character in New Line and DC Entertainment’s “Shazam!,” sources confirmed to the media The film follows a boy named Billy Batson who can transform into an adult superhero by uttering the magic word “Shazam!” The name is an acronym of...
Hollywood’s Profitable Stars(Most and Least) Revealed
New data claims to name the most popular actor in Hollywood — and it might not be who you expect. According to data compiled by PartyCasino, which analyzed box office numbers from 1980 to 2017 to determine Hollywood’s most and least profitable actors, Emilio Estevez...
Pixar’s ‘Coco Review
Conceived as a vibrant celebration of Mexican culture, writer-director Lee Unkrich’s “Coco” is the 19th feature from Pixar Animation Studios and the first to seriously deal with the deficit of nonwhite characters in its films — so far limited to super-sidekick Frozone...
Disney-Marvel’s “Thor: Ragnarok” dominates social media
Disney-Marvel’s “Thor: Ragnarok” dominated social media last week with a hefty 113,000 new conversations with the release of extended clips and plot details, according to media-measurement firm comScore and its PreAct service. The third Thor movie has now totaled 1.65...
Julia Roberts and Lucas Hedges star as mother and son, family drama, “Ben Is Back,”
Julia Roberts and Lucas Hedges will star as mother and son in the family drama “Ben Is Back,” to be directed by Hedges’ real-life father, Peter Hedges. Lucas Hedges, who was nominated for an Academy Award for his role in “Manchester by the Sea,” will portray a...
Happy Death Day’ leads box office With $26.5 Million
“Happy Death Day” has cause for celebration. The latest from Blumhouse and Universal is leading the box office this weekend with $26.5 million from 3,149 locations. That puts it far ahead of “Blade Runner 2049,” which is skidding to $15.1 million during its second...
The Weinstein Company pushes historical drama “The Current War” to a 2018 release
The Weinstein Company has pulled Benedict Cumberbatch historical drama “The Current War” from its planned Black Friday Nov. 24 release date, shelving the film for an undecided 2018 release since the Harvey Weinstein scandal has soured the market for Weinstein Co....
Taylor Swift filming music video at several locations in London
Taylor Swift was spied filming a music video at several locations in London over the weekend, according to multiple media reports including The Daily Mail. She was filmed on a double-decker bus, in the back of a black cab, on a bike atop the Millennium Bridge and in a...
Marvel’s ‘Black Panther’ full Trailer
The first full action-packed trailer for Marvel’s “Black Panther” is here. In it, Chadwick Boseman’s character, T’Challa, returns to his home where he rules, the fictional African nation of Wakanda. Footage throughout the trailer shows him embodying his superhero...
Studios’ TV Ad Spending topped by ‘The Foreigner’
Ads placed for the thriller had an estimated media value of $4.86 million through Sunday for 1,010 national ad airings across 25 networks. (Spend figures are based on estimates generated from Oct. 2-8. Estimates may be updated after the chart is posted as new...
Full Trailer :‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’
Disney and Lucasfilm unveiled the highly anticipated theatrical trailer for “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” on ESPN’s “Monday Night Football.” The new footage shows Luke Skywalker training Rey to channel the Force, picking up where “The Force Awakens” left off. “I’ve seen...
‘Creed 2’, Starring Michael B. Jordan, will be Directed & Produced by Sylvester Stallone
Stallone announced on Sept. 1 that “Creed 2” would be shooting next year and posted a still of himself and Jordan training, on his Instagram account with the caption “Getting stronger !!! 2018″ and the hashtags #Creed 2 #mgm #fitness #Rocky.
Harvey Weinstein, a powerhouse player to a Hollywood pariah.
Over the course of five days, Harvey Weinstein went from a powerhouse player to a Hollywood pariah. His career is in tatters, and the company he co-founded has been wrested from his control following the Oct. 5 publication of a New York Times exposé featuring multiple...
Leah Remini joins the cast of “Second Act,” romantic comedy, starring Jennifer Lopez.
STXfilms has signed Leah Remini to join the cast of “Second Act,” the upcoming romantic comedy starring Jennifer Lopez. Peter Segal will direct the film, which was developed by STX with Lopez from an idea conceived by Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas and Justin Zackham. Remini...
Sci-fi “Men in Black” spinoff, gets release date.
Sony Pictures is fast-tracking its “Men in Black” spinoff, setting the sci-fi pic to bow on May 17, 2019. Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones will not reprise their roles in the film, which is meant to launch a new franchise with fresh talent involved. Sony had originally...
‘Kingsman 2’ “decimates” International Box Office With $50.5 Million lead
“Kingsman: The Golden Circle” returns to the top of the international and worldwide box office charts. The heist sequel, from Fox, is posting $50.5 million overseas, with a big boost from Korea. Combined with its $17 million at the domestic market, the movie —...
M. Night Shyamalan thriller “Glass,”-Disney joining Universal as a distributor
M. Night Shyamalan has started shooting his thriller “Glass,” with Disney joining Universal as a distributor. The studios announced Monday that Universal will handle domestic distribution, while Buena Vista International is on board for international territories....
Blade Runner 2049 Review
The world as we know it has nearly caught up to the one Ridley Scott imagined when he directed the 2019-set “Blade Runner,” and yet, for all the influence the dystopian cult favorite has had on other sci-fi movies, Scott’s vision of Los Angeles still looks as...
Hugh Hefner, Playboy Founder, Dies at 91
Hugh Hefner created Playboy at his kitchen table in Chicago. The magazine was blamed for (or credited with) setting off a cultural revolution in America, but within a few years Hefner was branded a male chauvinist. He was a proponent of free speech and a champion of...
Warner Bros.’ “Pop-Up” Store set to Open up in New York
The temporary space will feature Looney Tunes, Hanna-Barbera and other familiar animated properties. Next month, New York is going to get more looney with the opening of Get Animated Invasion, a pop-up store running during New York Comic-Con spotlighting Warner Bros'...
‘Flash Gordon’ vs the ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ similarity
Matthew Vaughn, who was developing the comic strip as a future feature, says that James Gunn's Marvel movies beat him to the punch. With Kingsman: The Golden Circle in theaters, director Matthew Vaughn can turn his attention to other projects on his plate — including...
First Trailer for Final Film in ‘Maze Runner ‘Trilogy
The movie hits theaters Jan. 26, 2018. Twentieth Century Fox on Sunday night released the trailer for Maze Runner: The Death Cure, the third and final film in the YA action-adventure franchise.Dylan O'Brien returns as Thomas, who this time leads his group of escaped...
Less of Channing Tatum in ‘Kingsman 2’
Scheduling issues led to one of the signature American characters moving into a noticeably smaller role onscreen. For director Matthew Vaughn's sequel of his 2015 hit Kingsman: The Secret Service, ramping up the star power seemed like its very own spy mission.Joining...
‘Kingsman 2’: Impactful Trilogy Ending
For Matthew Vaughn's second act to Kingsman: The Secret Service, he ramped up the star power with newcomers Julianne Moore, Channing Tatum, Halle Berry, Jeff Bridges, Pedro Pascal and Elton John. The new additions may have even helped push Kingsman: The Golden...
It Sequel set to release in September 2019
Since its launch earlier this month, the film adaptation of Stephen King's book has shattered numerous records. Pennywise the Dancing Clown is getting ready to terrorize audiences all over again.New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. on Monday announced that a sequel to the...
Alicia Vikander Is The New ‘Tomb Raider’
Alicia Vikander is Lara Croft in the new trailer for “Tomb Raider.” “Your father’s gone. You can pick up where he left off,” Croft is told in the first official trailer. “I see so much of him in you.” Following a shipwreck, Croft ends up in enemy territory. “You...
‘John Wick 3’ Set To Release May 2019!
Lionsgate has set a release for the Keanu Reeves action movie “John Wick: Chapter 3.” The film is expected to hit theaters on May 17, 2019 — the first title to land on the date. The franchise has been a success for the studio with a combined $260 million in worldwide...
Brad Pitt’s Sci-Fi Movie ‘Ad Astra’ 2019 Release
Fox has dated Brad Pitt’s science-fiction movie “Ad Astra” for Jan. 11, 2019. It’s the first movie to land on that date. James Gray directed “Ad Astra” from a script he co-wrote with Ethan Gross. Regency Enterprises and Fox produced in association with Bona Film...
‘Blade Runner 2049’ Eyes $40 Million Opening!
“Blade Runner 2049” is tracking to earn at least $40 million during its opening weekend when it hits theaters on Oct. 6, according to early estimates. The science fiction epic is the sequel to 1982’s “Blade Runner,” which has achieved cult classic status since its...
Nicolas Cage In ‘Primal’
Nicolas Cage will star in the independent action movie “Primal” as a big-game hunter. Production is scheduled to start on Oct. 23 in Puerto Rico. The project was unveiled Tuesday at the Toronto Film Festival, where the Exchange is launching international sales....
James Wan To Produce ‘Sweet Tooth’
New Line is expanding its horror empire, securing rights to Dutch filmmaker Nico van den Brink’s short film “Sweet Tooth” and setting up the project as a feature film with the ubiquitous James Wan producing. Van den Brink will direct and have a story by credit in what...
What Made ‘Back To The Future’ So Popular?
Back to the Future almost didn't exist. When Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale were shopping the script for the now-legendary 1985 science fiction comedy to studios, few wanted to go near it. According to Variety, many executives suggested the lighthearted romp would be...
E.T: An Adventure Out Of This World
E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982) is the immensely popular magical fantasy movie myth. Its estimated budget of $10 million was easily recouped when it became one of the box-office champion films of all time. Steven Spielberg's very personal, heartwarming sci-fi...
‘IT’ Came ‘IT’ Saw ‘IT’ Conquered
The New Line and Warner Bros. adaptation of Stephen King’s novel is officially shattering box office records during its opening weekend. The R-rated horror film made a whopping $123.1 million from 4,103 locations, as of Monday morning. On Sunday, the studio gave a...
‘IT’ Sequel?
Following the massive opening weekend for “It,” bringing in $123 million domestically, audiences are already asking what’s next for the planned sequel. Luckily, director Andy Muschietti and producer Barbara Muschietti are up to the task. Here are some questions that...
Stephen King’s ‘Suffer the Little Children’ To Become A Film
Stephen King’s supernatural short story “Suffer the Little Children” is in the works as a movie in the wake of the enormous success of the feature film based on his novel “It.” Sean Carter is writing and directing. Producers are Craig Flores, Nicolas Chartier, and...
Christian Bale Unrecognizable
Christian Bale has gone through some shocking body transformations during his career, including losing 65 pounds and eating only an apple and a can of tuna a day for “The Machinist,” and then bulking up to play the Batman in Christopher Nolan’s trilogy. Bale sat down...
‘IT’ Film Review
There have been so many Stephen King adaptations over the last four decades - many of them bad - that it’s easy to take them for granted. But there is something undeniably appealing about the sensibilities of this prolific author, a visual quality that translates...
‘IT,’ Top Horror Pre-Seller in History!
“It,” the hotly anticipated adaptation of Stephen King’s doorstop of a novel, is shaping up to be a box office monster. The horror film is expected to make $60 million when it debuts on Friday. “It” has shattered records to become the top horror film pre-seller in...
‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’ Tops Social Media Buzz
Three months before its release, Disney-Lucasfilm’s “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” easily topped social media buzz last week with 78,000 new conversations, according to media-measurement firm comScore and its PreAct service. The activity was spurred by the studio...
Toronto’s Changing Face: TIFF
When it comes to the Toronto Intl. Film Festival, can less be more? Artistic director Cameron Baileythinks so, unveiling a leaner TIFF with 41 fewer features than last year (for a still-hefty 255 titles) and two less venues. Yet some top industry attendees say they...
Toronto Film Festival: 12 Hot Titles
The Toronto Film Festival isn’t just an essential stop for Oscar hopefuls. There’s also an active film market that results in plenty of all-night bidding wars. This year, studios and distributors will make the trek across the border, on the hunt for films that can be...
Gary Oldman to Star In ‘Mary’
Gary Oldman is starring in the independent supernatural thriller “Mary” with Tucker Tooley Entertainment and Entertainment One producing and co-financing. Shooting will begin later this month in Alabama with Michael Goi directing from Anthony Jaswinski’s screenplay....
Leonardo DiCaprio To Give the Green Light to The Joker Movie?
Warner Bros. would love to see Leonardo DiCaprio as the Joker in the studio’s planned origin tale, according to sources. But it’s way too early to predict whether the versatile star might be interested, and no offer has been made. The studio’s Joker standalone film,...
10 Best Performances: Christian Bale
In conjunction with the world premiere of Scott Cooper’s western “Hostiles,” actor Christian Bale will receive a tribute to his screen legacy at the Telluride Film Festival this weekend. It’s a rare treat for the Oscar winner, who tends to avoid this kind of thing....
George Clooney About Becoming The President Of The United States: ‘Sounds Like Fun’
VENICE, Italy — George Clooney for president? That was the final question put to the U.S. actor and director during the Venice Film Festival press conference for his dark comedy “Suburbicon.” “Would I like to be the next president? Oh, that sounds like fun,” he said....
Reuniting Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz
“Loving Pablo” — starring Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz, whose last on-screen romantic relationship was in “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” for which Cruz won an Oscar — also marks the reunion of Spanish director Fernando León de Aranoa and Bardem, whose performance in...
William Friedkin Talks About Shooting a Real Exorcism: ‘It Was Terrifying!’
When William Friedkin shot “The Exorcist” in 1973, he had never seen an exorcism, though even at the time he believed in the power of this rite. Decades later, the U.S. director came full circle when he was able to film one close up — involving violent thrashing,...
‘It’ Eyes Huge Early Opening
“It” will float to the top of the box office heap when it hits theaters next month. Initial tracking suggests that the Stephen King adaptation is on pace to open to more than $50 million when it premieres in the U.S. on Sept. 8, 2017. That’s a massive number, one...
Tribute to Tobe Hooper.
The director Tobe Hooper, who died Saturday at 74, will always be remembered for one spectacularly terrifying low-budget horror film, and that’s because it happens to be one of the most uncanny movies ever made. When “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” appeared on the...
‘Justice League Dark’ Gets Script
Gerard Johnstone has been tapped to polish the script to Warner Bros.’ “Justice League Dark” movie, sources tell Variety. Johnstone was one of the handful of directors in the running to helm the film and while the studio has decided to hold off on naming a director,...
‘Thor: Ragnarok’ Leads Social Media Chatter After Mayweather-McGregor Fight
Disney-Marvel’s “Thor: Ragnarok” easily topped social media buzz last week with 57,000 new conversations, according to media-measurement firm ComScore and its PreAct service. The studio released a new poster on Aug. 24, and a new clips of Thor’s fight with Hulk on...
Remembering Jerry Lewis
Jerry Lewis, who died last week at 91, was hardly the first comedian to make people laugh by acting transcendently idiotic. The Marx Brothers took hilarious head-spinning dives into the outer limits of surreal silliness. So did Laurel and Hardy, Abbott and Costello...
Angelina Jolie Leading Talk At Toronto Film Festival
Javier Bardem, Gael García Bernal, Angelina Jolie and Helen Mirren will headline a series of public conversations about their careers as part of this year’s Toronto Film Festival. Many of these actors and filmmakers aren’t just trekking to Canada to take a jaunt down...
‘American Assassin’ Leads Social Media Buzz
Dylan O’Brien’s “American Assassin” easily topped social media buzz last week with 59,000 new conversations, according to media-measurement firm ComScore and its PreAct service. The activity was spurred by the studio holding a social promotion for fans to unlock the...
Christian Bale In ‘Hostiles’
Le Grisbi Productions and Waypoint Entertainment have released the first image from Scott Cooper’s upcoming western “Hostiles,” which is set for an international premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival next month. The film, set in 1892, stars Christian...
Salary Of TV’s Top Talents: A Look At Who Makes What In TV
The explosion of demand for high-end TV series and the emergence of deep-pocketed new buyers such as Netflix and Amazon has been an enormous windfall for marquee talent. Just ask Robert De Niro, or David Letterman, or Katy Perry. Stars with brand names are more in...
Netflix Losing Disney and Pixar Movies
Will Netflix suffer a significant subscriber exodus once Disney movies roll off the service in 2019? According to one Wall Street firm’s analysis: probably not. Disney announced last week that it would not renew the movie-output deal with Netflix for first-run Disney...
‘The Hitman’s Bodyguard’ Tops Studios’ TV Spending
Ads placed for the action comedy film had an estimated media value of $5.75 million through Sunday for 1,199 national ad airings across 34 networks. (Spend figures are based on estimates generated from Aug. 7-13. Estimates may be updated after the chart is posted as...
How Has Netflix Affected Hollywood
For a soft-spoken man, Ted Sarandos makes a lot of thunderous news. Just consider the headlines he’s generated over the last week alone with a succession of game-changing deals. The chief content officer for Netflix stole Shonda Rhimes from ABC, lured retiree David...
8 Actors, Directors, And Comedians On Their Love For Netflix!
Jason Bateman Having had the chance to work with Netflix on two TV shows, “Arrested Development” and “Ozark,” it seems clear that their decisions are based entirely on the merits. Yes, they’ve got the data, but you get the strong sense they would much rather have...
‘Bonnie and Clyde’ 50 Years Later
Fifty years ago today, American movies were born again. That was the day “Bonnie and Clyde,” the lethally disruptive and exciting gangster saga that brought on the implosion of Hollywood — and the reinvention of Hollywood — was released in theaters. The gun-on-the-run...
‘Deadpool 2’ Stunt Driver Passes Away On Set
A stunt person was killed on the set of “Deadpool 2” Monday morning after a trick involving a motorcycle went wrong. The stuntwoman was identified by several outlets as Joi “SJ” Harris, the first female African-American road racer. The sequel to “Deadpool” is filming...
‘Annabelle: Creation’ Screening Conjures Up Major Screams at L.A. Film Festival!
Love of horror movies and screaming pervaded the red carpet Monday night for New Line’s advance screening of “Annabelle: Creation” for the L.A. Film Festival at the Theatre at Ace Hotel. “I love scary movies; I did my first one when I was six in ‘Deliver Us From...
‘Deadpool 2’ Cable
Ryan Reynolds continues to tease “Deadpool 2” photos on social media. On Monday, the actor tweeted out the first official look of Josh Brolin as Cable in the upcoming film. While Brolin teased his makeover in June, this is the first glimpse of his complete...
Watch Jennifer Lawrence In ‘Mother!’
Jennifer Lawrence’s new film “Mother!,” directed by Darren Aronofsky, finally has a full-length trailer. In the trailer, which seems to depart from the tropes of a traditional horror film, Lawrence appears obsessed with a brick wall, which is at one point dripping...
‘The Nut Job 2,’ ‘The Dark Tower’ Top TV Ad Spending
Ads placed for the animated film had an estimated media value of $6.46 million through Sunday for 2,329 national ad airings across 39 networks. (Spend figures are based on estimates generated from July 31 through Aug. 6. Estimates may be updated after the chart is...
Stephen King On What Scares Him
Stephen King will turn 70 in September, yet shows no signs of slowing down. Currently, he has “The Dark Tower” in theaters and “The Mist” on TV. September will see the film adaptation of “It” and a book co-written with his son, Owen King, called “Sleeping Beauties.”...
‘Thor: Ragnorak’ Tops Social Media For Second Week
Disney-Marvel’s “Thor: Ragnarok” dominated social media buzz for the second week in a row with 72,000 new conversations last week, according to media-measurement firm comScore and its PreAct service. The activity stemmed from star Tessa Thompson revealing plot details...
‘Deadpool 2’ Domino
Ryan Reynolds tweeted a first look photo on Monday of “Atlanta” breakout Zazie Beetz as Domino in “Deadpool 2.” “Some people just know how to work a red carpet,” Reynolds captioned the photo of Domino sprawled over Deadpool in front of a fire. The photo recreates one...
‘The Dark Tower’ Journey To The Big Screen
With millions of loyal readers and a fantastical setting, Stephen King’s “The Dark Tower” book series has tantalized Hollywood. The movie business is always on the prowl for the next “Lord of the Rings” or “Harry Potter.” King’s novels, about a mysterious gunslinger...
The Changing View Of Police In Films And TV
Even for a journalist like Wesley Lowery, who’s chronicled the real-life killings and raw trauma that police shootings across America have left in their wake, the unyielding depiction in Kathryn Bigelow’s new film “Detroit” of the terror inflicted by three white...
‘Super Size Me 2’ Among The Films At TIFF
The Toronto International Film Festival will premiere James Franco’s comedy-drama “The Disaster Artist” as part of its Midnight Madness section of genre titles. “The Disaster Artist” screened in March as a work in progress at South by Southwest, where it received a...
New James Bond Set For 2019
James Bond will be back in action in 2019, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Eon Productions said Monday. The 25th film about the legendary super-spy will hit theaters on Nov. 8, 2019. There’s no word yet on whether or not Daniel Craig will be asking for his martinis shaken,...
Toronto Film Festival Lineup
Films by Joe Wright, Angelina Jolie, Darren Aronofsky, George Clooney, and Alexander Payne will hit the Toronto International Film Festival, hoping to build buzz as they head into a crowded awards season. Jolie will be on hand with “First They Killed My Father,” a...
‘The Emoji Movie’ Goes Past TV Ad Spending
Ads placed for the animated film had an estimated media value of $5.8 million through Sunday for 1,497 national ad airings across 37 networks. (Spend figures are based on estimates generated from July 17-23. Estimates may be updated after the chart is posted as new...
Wonder Woman 2 Has 2019 Release Date
Warner Bros. has set Gal Gadot’s “Wonder Woman 2” for release on Dec. 13, 2019. The studio made the announcement early Tuesday evening. “Wonder Woman,” directed by Patty Jenkins, has been an outsize hit for the studio with $389 million in domestic grosses after 53...
COMIC-CON 2017: WHO WON AND WHO LOST
By Peter Borovilos Chief Brand innovation strategist After four dizzying days of film and TV panels and activations, San Diego Comic-Con 2017 is officially in the books. As cosplayers put their Rey and Jon Snow costumes back into storage, fanboys everywhere begin to...
With ‘War for the Planet of the Apes,’ Matt Reeves Created A Massive Hit
Before he took the helm of the “Planet of the Apes” franchise in 2014, Matt Reeves had no intention of ever directing a studio blockbuster. In fact, he figured he had a foolproof plan for getting himself out of any potential tentpole assignment: Insist on doing the...
Renee Zellweger, Joins Sarah Jessica Parker Romantic Drama ‘Best Day of My Life’
Renee Zellweger, Common, Isabella Rossellini, Simon Baker, Taylor Kinney, and Gus Birney have joined the cast of Sarah Jessica Parker’s romantic drama “Best Day of My Life.” Andrea Iervolino and Monika Bacardi’s Ambi Group is producing. Parker portrays a jazz vocalist...
Charlize Theron On Going Bisexual!
To make “Atomic Blonde,” Charlize Theron tried to break the rules for a female-led action movie. Her British super agent Lorraine bruises badly — which is a taboo when it comes to women in high-octane blockbusters — and she doesn’t fall for her horn-dog male colleague...
Charlize Theron Got Ripped, Bruised (and Naked!)
Playing an ass-kicking international spy can’t be easy, but Charlize Theron really suffered for her craft in “Atomic Blonde.” She twisted her knee, bruised her ribs and had to undergo extensive dental surgery, because she clenched down so hard on her jaw she cracked...
‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’ Swings into Massive $117 Million Opening
Spider-Man is officially a box office overachiever. As of Sunday morning, the latest cinematic depiction of the webbed-hero, “Spider-Man: Homecoming,” is looking at a $117 million opening from 4,348 locations. $10.6 million of the domestic total came from 392 Imax...
Harry Potter Celebrates 20 Years; Here Are The Best Book Plotlines and Scenes Left Out of the Movies
Exactly 20 years ago, J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” hit bookshelves, marking the birth of a massive franchise, both in literature and on the big screen. The films are lauded by fans by being largely faithful to Rowling’s beloved books, but...