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Category: Hollywood

  • 3-D re-release of Jurassic Park gets huge opening in China

    3-D re-release of Jurassic Park gets huge opening in China

    NEW DELHI: Steven Spielberg’s 1993 dinosaur spectacular Jurassic Park had a huge opening when it was released in its first 3-D version in China this week.

     

    The film made $6.64 million on its first day in cinemas.

     

    Though the film has been broadcast on television and is widely available on home video formats, this is the first time Jurassic Park has been given a wide theatrical release in China.

     

    The opening is significantly stronger than that of doomsday thriller 2012 (2009) which made $14.7 million in its first six days. The 3-D re-release of Titanic (1997) broke opening records in April 2012, grossing $76.3 million in its first six days.

     

    With 12 per cent of screening slots, Pacific Rim dropped 35 per cent early this week, taking $1.08 million. With 18 per cent of screenings, Dante Lam’s Unbeatable grossed $1.14 million for a total of $11.9 million after five days.

  • Steve Jobs doc released following ‘Jobs’ this month

    Steve Jobs doc released following ‘Jobs’ this month

    MUMBAI: With Jobs starring Ashton Kutcher released in cinema’s this month, there has been a surge of interest in Steve Jobs’ life as people seek to understand what made one of the most revered creative entrepreneurs of the 20th century tick.

     

    Having experienced success with their recent release William and Kate: A Royal Arrival, Electric Sky has acquired another Future Sight Entertainments doc, Steve Jobs: His Story. The doc will include insight from the people who knew him best; his close friends, family and colleagues at Apple and Pixar.

     

    Electric Sky already have early interest having released a promo screener last week and the doc includes contributions from Apple and Pixar heavyweights; John Lasseter, Tim Allen, Tim Cook, John Sculley and Steve Wozniak. Further big names to share their thoughts about Jobs include Ashton Kutcher, Owen Wilson, Bill Gates and Tom Hanks.

     

    Steve Jobs: His Story, will be available to deliver very soon to coincide with the continued international release of the movie later this year.

  • Fandango acquires Quantum Rewards, now #1 in movie ticket promotions

    Fandango acquires Quantum Rewards, now #1 in movie ticket promotions

    MUMBAI: Fandango announced late Tuesday that it has bought movie promotions rival Quantum Rewards, the number one provider of ticketing promotions and owner of Hollywood Movie Money.

    Fandango’s own movie promotions arm was number two prior to the sale agreement. The NBCUniversal-owned ticketing giant will now zoom to number one in movie promos and gift cards with Quantum added to the fold. The deal is expected to close by third quarter of 2013.

    Quantum’s Hollywood Movie Money currency, used worldwide in 28 countries, will now be accepted through Fandango’s website and apps which get over 41 million visitors monthly. The union also boosts Fandango’s movie ticket promotions reach to over 95 per cent of US theaters as well as international markets.

  • Paramount bundling World War Z and Star Trek Into Darkness as double feature

    Paramount bundling World War Z and Star Trek Into Darkness as double feature

    MUMBAI: The studio plans to squeeze more life out of its undead hit and space sequel. Paramount and a clutch of exhibitors are going back to the future for a week with an old-fashioned double feature of summer tentpoles World War Z and Star Trek Into Darkness starting Friday.

     

    The twin bill screens in 3D or 2D through 5 September in select AMC, Regal, Carmike, Marcus and other theaters for the price of a single ticket. It’s the second stunt playdates for Brad Pitt’s zombie flick – third if you count a late-add IMAX run – following its $50 “Mega Ticket” deal that included an advance screening, a home video copy of the film, 3D glasses, a poster and popcorn. With more than $526 million worldwide, WWZ is Pitt’s highest-grossing film ever. J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek Into Darkness has banked $458.7 million worldwide and spawned another sequel.

  • Chadwick Boseman to play James Brown

    Chadwick Boseman to play James Brown

    MUMBAI: Universal Pictures has roped in Boseman to play the iconic character. Boseman was recently seen in 42. The biopic is being director by The Help’s Tate Taylor while Imagine Entertainment’s Brian Grazer is producing with Mick Jagger.

     

    The film will be a co-production between Jagged Films, based on a screenplay by Jez Butterworth & John-Henry Butterworth. Grazer and Jagger will produce along with Jagger’s Victoria Pearman and Imagine’s Erica Huggins.

     

    The story is about a young boy who rises from extreme poverty and violence to be The Godfather of Soul, one of the most influential and successful black artists in History.

  • Tina Fey and Amy Poehler may return to host the Golden Globes

    Tina Fey and Amy Poehler may return to host the Golden Globes

    MUMBAI: After successfully hosting the Golden Globes this year, the duo has been asked to come back for a second time. The comedy stars had received good reception at their first stint. They had agreed to just appear once as hosts but their success has made NBC and Golden Globes request them to be back.

     

    However, there hasn’t been any formal communication as yet and the duo seems to be very busy with their respective projects. Fey has two high profile comedy shows under her belt after receiving some huge buzz for 30 Rock. Poehler is the star producer of NBC’s Parks and Recreation.

     

    Prior to 2010, the Globes did not have any host and even now it is not too heavy on them either. More conversations are set to begin next month as it has to be finalised by November, before announcing nominees in December.

     

    Fey and Poehler drew 19.7 million viewers last year that moved up by 17 per cent from the previous year as well as recording as one of the most watched Globes ever.

  • Hollywood attorney Irwin Russell dies at 87

    Hollywood attorney Irwin Russell dies at 87

    MUMBAI: Entertainment attorney Irwin Russell, who represented industry notables including Michael Eisner, Jim Henson, David Wolper and Theodor Geisel (Dr. Seuss), passed away on 23 August from complications related to Leukemia. He was 87.

     

    “Irwin Russell was a brilliant lawyer, an insightful executive, an eloquent writer and, in all things, a true gentleman,” said Eisner, the former CEO of The Walt Disney Company, in a statement. “He represented me for 40 years, including my tenures at ABC, Paramount, Disney and, until the day he died, at Tornante.”

     

    Eisner added: “He was able to write – and get all parties to agree to – a one-page deal, something unheard of in American business. Ethics, doing it right and being fair were embedded in his DNA. This is a deep loss for all of us.”

     

    Born in 1926, Russell arrived in Los Angeles in 1971 after experience serving on the National Wage Stabilization Board in Washington, DC and working in private practice in New York City. He was involved in the takeover of the Walt Disney Company in 1984 and served on the Disney board.

     

    Among the many industry deals he is credited with, Russell helped bring the Muppets to Sesame Street and Candid Camera to television. The lawyer is survived by his wife, Suzanne. A memorial is set for September.

  • Universal’s ‘Despicable Me 2? crosses $800mn worldwide

    Universal’s ‘Despicable Me 2? crosses $800mn worldwide

    MUMBAI: Universal Pictures’ Despicable Me 2 continues to rake it in around the globe. The animated sequel surpassed the $800 million mark with Friday’s estimated domestic grosses of $349.9 million and $451.4 million international bringing the worldwide take to $801.3 million.

     

    The Universal and Illumination Entertainment pic has opened at No.1 in 45 territories and is the second highest grossing pic of 2013 worldwide behind Iron Man 3. Domestically it’s No.2 and internationally only third behind Iron Man 3 and Fast & Furious 6.

     

    Last month NBCUniversal chief Steve Burke declared Despicable Me 2 the studios’ most profitable film in history; it’s also Uni’s second highest grosser of all time worldwide behind Jurassic Park.

  • BBC One film to star Dame Judi Dench, Dustin Hoffman

    BBC One film to star Dame Judi Dench, Dustin Hoffman

    MUMBAI: Dame Judi Dench and Dustin Hoffman have been lined up to lead the cast of Roald Dahl’s Esio Trot, a 90-minute movie for Endor Productions and BBC One that is slated to begin filming next year in London.

    Roald Dahl’s Esio Trot revolves around Mr Hoppy, a retired bachelor who has a crush on his neighbor, Mrs Silver. The production, based on a children’s book, is being adapted by Richard Curtis and Paul Mayhew-Archer. It will be distributed by Red Arrow International.

    BBC One controller Charlotte Moore remarked: “It’s an honor to have Dame Judi Dench and Dustin Hoffman starring in this wonderful new adaptation. It’s absolutely stellar casting for one of the nation’s favorite children’s classics.”

    BBC controller for drama commissioning Ben Stephenson said: “An amazing cast and production team have come together to dramatise Roald Dahl’s wonderful, evergreen story. This film is a class act with a roll call of talent that only the BBC could assemble.”

    Producer Hilary Bevan Jones added: “To bring together two of the world’s favorite actors in Dame Judi and Dustin is a dream come true. Richard and Paul have captured the magic of Roald Dahl’s wonderful tale and I am thrilled that Dearbhla [Walsh] is to direct it.”

  • Scott Cooper replacing Ben Affleck as director of Stephen King’s ‘The Stand’

    Scott Cooper replacing Ben Affleck as director of Stephen King’s ‘The Stand’

    MUMBAI: Warner Bros has set Scott Cooper to re-write and direct The Stand, the seminal post-apocalyptic Stephen King novel. That means that while the studio has roped in Ben Affleck as its new Caped Crusader for Batman vs Superman, Affleck has withdrawn from The Stand. He had been set in late 2011 to write the script and helm the project. Affleck is busy directing and starring in his scripted adaptation of Dennis Lehane’s Live By Night for Warner Bros.

    Warner Bros is teamed on the project with CBS Films, which is co-producing and co-presenting and possibly financing the project together. Dave Kajganich scribed the first draft. Published in 1978, the mammoth novel covered a biological apocalyptic disaster that decimated the population. The survivors then had to try and piece together a new form of humanity and it became a good vs evil struggle, with elements of the supernatural thrown in for good measure. King was at his best, both in creating depictions of the demise of civilization and in the arcs of characters good and bad who became important in a new order.

    Roy Lee and Mosaic are producing for Warners and Jon Berg is the studio exec. Cooper is currently developing Creek with Leonardo DiCaprio, and his next film, Out Of The Furnace, is set to release 6 December. That one was produced by Appian Way and Scott Free. Cooper, the actor-turned-filmmaker who made his breakthrough with the Jeff Bridges-starrer Crazy Heart, is represented by CAA and attorney Darren Trattner.