ITV

Category: Hollywood

  • Paul Greengrass to helm ‘The trial of Chicago 7’

    Paul Greengrass to helm ‘The trial of Chicago 7’

    MUMBAI: Paul Greengrass is in final talks to direct the movie written by Aaron Sorkin, creator of the Newsroom, the movie is based on the trial of seven people who were charged with conspiracy and inciting to riot during the Chicago protests of 1968’s Democratic national Convention.

     

    DreamWorks will be funding development while Disney will be distributing the movie. Sorkin had signed a three project deal with DreamWorks in 2007.

     

    The project which has been in the doldrums since long, Steven Spielberg’s name was once attached to it. Due to the delay, he left, after which the contenders were Greengrass and Ben Stiller.

     

    Greengrass’ next movie is Captain Phillips. He is represented by CAA.

  • Hollywood BO expects three tentpoles to gross over $50 million over the weekend

    Hollywood BO expects three tentpoles to gross over $50 million over the weekend

    MUMBAI: Hollywood box office seems to be glistening bright with the industry expecting the three tentpoles raking in over $50 million over the weekend. Leading amongst the three is Pixar‘s 3D toon prequelMonsters University with an opening of $25 to $28 million on Friday. While sources predict the animated flick to gross over $75 million, it is certain to be Pixar‘s second highest opening ever, even bigger than Cars and outsellingBrave, but behind Toy Story 3.Monster University is currently playing in 4,004 screens across 35 territories.

    Placing No. 2 is Paramount and Skydance Productions‘ World Z which is looking smart at $20 million Friday and $50 mn – $55 mn over the weekend. This comes as a relief to the studio after all that pre-release bad buzz for Brad Pitt‘s zombie picture. Brad‘s zombies are crawling across 3,607 theatres world-wide.

    Following closely is the last week‘s top opener Man of Steel with $17 million – $19 million. The ner Bros‘ and Legendary Pictures‘ red capped superhero soared across 4,207 screens with a world-wide collection of over $200 million in its first week and is expected to gross over $50 million over this weekend too.

    Astonished by the performances, Hollywood executives comment that there‘s never been a 3-day weekend with 3 different movies doing $50 million domestic box office. Their statistics show only one original movie a year opening over $50 million since originals play better than franchises on account of people discovering them over the coming weeks.

  • Keanu Reeves plays a samurai in ‘Ronin 47’

    Keanu Reeves plays a samurai in ‘Ronin 47’

    MUMBAI: The movie by Universal will have Reeves playing a Japanese warrior. Four posters for the movie have been released showing the samurai with a sword. The movie is due to be released on Christmas this year.

     

    Based on a true account of the 47 Ronin, the film directed by Carl Rinsch, will have fantastical elements like sorcery and witchcraft. The posters that are out are labelled as ‘outcast, warrior, freak and witch’.

     

    Hiroyuki Sanada (The Wolverine), Kou Shibasaki, Tadanobu Asano (Thor) and Rinko Kikuchi (Pacific Rim) also star in the flick

     

  • Leonardo DiCaprio and Dennis Lehane to team up once again on ‘Travis McGee’

    Leonardo DiCaprio and Dennis Lehane to team up once again on ‘Travis McGee’

    MUMBAI: Leonardo Dicaprio is re-teaming with 'Shutter Island' writer Dennis Lehane. The Hollywood writer will write the screenplay for DiCaprio's crime picture 'Travis McGee', based on John D. MacDonald's 1964 book 'The Deep Blue Good-by' according to The Hollywood Reporter.

    The mystery novel was the first of a 21 book series focusing on the character Travis McGee, a self-described ''salvage consultant''. The film – to be developed by DiCaprio's Appian Way company – is seen by backers 20th Century Fox as a potential franchise.

    The screenplay will be the second book Lehane has adapted after 'Shutter Island' – which also starred DiCaprio. This will be the first film project Lehane has worked on which is not a direct adaptation of his own work.

    Lehane has also enjoyed Hollywood success with his previous novels, with both 'Mystic River' and 'Gone, Baby, Gone' adapted into films.

    His novel 'Live by Night' is also reportedly being prepared to hit soon on big screens.

  • Oscar makes rule change for animation

    Oscar makes rule change for animation

    MUMBAI: The board of governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has approved rule changes for the 86th Oscars. The most significant change affects the Animated Feature Film category.

    In this category, the new rule designates a maximum of two award recipients, one of whom must have a producer credit. The director and/or key creative individual shall continue to be a recipient, and in the circumstance of a two-person team with shared and equal director credit, a third statuette may be awarded.

    Previously announced rules changes for the 86th Academy Awards include allowing members to see the nominated documentary shorts and foreign language films either at a theatrical screening or on DVD. Prior to the final round of voting, the Academy will provide members with DVDs of the nominated films in five categories: Foreign Language Film, Documentary Feature, Documentary Short Subject, Animated Short Film, and Live Action Short Film.

    Other adjustments to the rules include standard date and other routine changes.

    Rules are reviewed annually by individual branch and category committees. The awards rules committee then evaluates all proposed changes before presenting its recommendations to the Academy's board of governors for approval.

    Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of this year will be presented on 2 March, 2014, at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood and Highland Center and televised on Star Movies and in the US on ABC. The presentation will also be televised live in more than 225 countries worldwide.

  • Angry Birds takes flight with a film

    Angry Birds takes flight with a film

    MUMBAI: The popular video game 'Angry Birds' will make the transition to the big screen with a film. Rovio Entertainment has announced that comedy writer Jon Vitti will write the screenplay for the upcoming animated 3D film. Additionally, veteran producer Catherine Winder is joining the production team that includes producer John Cohen and executive producer David Maisel. The movie is slated for a 1 July 2016 release and will to be distributed worldwide by Sony Pictures.

    Rovio Entertainment CEO Mikael Hed said, "I'm very excited that Jon and Catherine have joined us, bringing with them their vast expertise. I'm confident we are building the right team to deliver an amazing movie experience to our fans"

    Cohen said, "I'm thrilled to have Jon and Catherine joining the project. Jon is one of the funniest writers I know, and we're looking forward to working with him to bring the birds and pigs to life on the big screen. Catherine is a fantastic producer, with over 20 years of film and television experience, and I'm very excited to have her as a part of our filmmaking team"

    Angry Birds is one of the world's biggest entertainment franchises, starting in 2009 with the original mobile game that remains the number one paid app of all time. Angry Birds has expanded rapidly into entertainment, publishing, and licensing to become a beloved international brand.

    The upcoming movie marks Rovio's first foray into feature films, although fans have already been introduced to the Angry Birds world with the weekly 'Angry Birds' Toons animated series. Rovio launched the series in March through its Angry Birds apps, as well as on select video-on-demand channel providers, Smart TVs, connected devices, and on select TV networks around the world. Paving the way for a full-length feature film, Angry Birds Toons has been a massive success for Rovio clocking in over 150 million views from the Angry Birds apps alone within the first six weeks.

  • Rovio’s angry birds feature film nests at Sony pictures entertainment

    NEW DELHI: Sony Pictures Entertainment has won the exclusive worldwide distribution rights to the much anticipated Angry Birds animated film, making it one of the most high-profile deals of the year.

    The 3D film is being developed, produced, and financed by Rovio Entertainment and will be released worldwide by Sony Pictures on 1 July 2016. Several major studios pursued the global film rights in recent weeks, with Sony Pictures Entertainment emerging as the winner.

    Sony Pictures Entertainment chairman and CEO Michael Lynton, Sony Pictures Entertainment co-chairman Amy Pascal and Rovio Entertainment CEO Mikael Hed jointly announced their partnership today. John Cohen and David Maisel – producer of Despicable Me and executive producer of Iron Man, respectively – are both on board for the new Angry Birds feature film. Cohen will serve as producer and Maisel is executive producer.

    Commenting on the announcement, Mikael Hed said, “Sony impressed us with their great attitude, determination, and professionalism. They convinced us that we have found the right partners and team to help us market and distribute our first motion picture. Michael, Amy, Jeff Blake, Sony’s marketing and distribution head, and their teams will be the best possible collaborators as we get set to take our franchise to the next level.”

    Lynton and Pascal said, “Every studio in town would love to add Angry Birds to their slate. There are few titles out there that bring this kind of excitement, brand awareness and built-in audience to the table. We’re thrilled to be distributing this film and we hope this is just the beginning of what will be a long relationship with Rovio as we look for ways to work on future projects together.”

    David Maisel and John Cohen said, “We are very excited to join with Sony Pictures in presenting this movie to the world in 2016 and we will have many more announcements as we begin production in the coming months.”

    Angry Birds is one of the world’s biggest entertainment franchises, starting in 2009 with the original mobile game that remains the number one paid app of all time. Angry Birds has expanded rapidly into entertainment, publishing, and licensing to become a beloved international brand.

    Angry Birds has been praised for its great value and simple, casual gameplay. Players use a slingshot to launch birds at green pigs in an attempt to get their eggs back, with the game setting the model for what is possible in terms of game development and commercial success. To date, the Angry Birds and Bad Piggies games have been downloaded more than 1.7 billion times across platforms and versions.

    The upcoming movie marks Rovio Entertainment’s first foray into feature films, although fans have already been introduced to the Angry Birds world with the weekly Angry Birds Toons animated series. Rovio launched the series in March through its Angry Birds apps as well as on select video-on-demand channel providers, Smart TVs, connected devices, and on select TV networks around the world. Paving the way for a full-length feature film, Angry Birds Toons has been a massive success for Rovio clocking in over 150 million views from the Angry Birds apps alone within the first six weeks.

    While known for distributing world renowned motion picture franchises such as Spider-Man, Sony Pictures has been building a strong reputation in contemporary animation through its house production unit, Sony Pictures Animation, and hit films including Hotel Transylvania, The Smurfs, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Surf’s Up, Open Season, and Aardman’s Arthur Christmas and The Pirates! Band of Misfits.

  • Iron Man 3 to open in India, a week before its US release

    Iron Man 3 to open in India, a week before its US release

    MUMBAI: Iron Man 3 with Robert Downey Jr as industrialist Tony Stark aka Iron Man will hit Indian screens on 26 April, a week before it releases in the United States.

    The third film in the series will see Stark embark on a journey of revenge as his world is reduced to rubble by a malevolent enemy. As he fights his way back, Stark discovers the answer to the question that has secretly haunted him: does the man make the suit or does the suit make the man?

    The film also has Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce, Rebecca Hall, Stephanie Szostak, James Badge Dale with Jon Favreau and Ben Kingsley, and has been directed by Shane Black.
    The film is based on Marvel‘s iconic Super Hero Iron Man, who first appeared on the pages of Tales of Suspense (#39) in 1963 and had his solo comic book debut with The Invincible Iron Man (#1) in May of 1968.

  • Chris Cornell to perform title song for new Bond film

    Chris Cornell to perform title song for new Bond film

    MUMBAI: Film producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, MGM and Sony Pictures Entertainment have announced that Chris Cornell will perform the main title song You Know My Name for the new James Bond adventure Casino Royale.

    Cornell is the singer/songwriter behind Soundgarden, Audioslave and Temple of the Dog and has written the song in collaboration with Bond composer David Arnold.

    Daniel Craig stars as the new “007” in Casino Royale directed by Martin Campbell. The film will be released worldwide by Columbia Pictures on 17 November 2006.

    Cornell’s upcoming release with Audioslave marks the 11th album of his career. He has also enjoyed success with the groups Soundgarden and Temple of the Dog, as well as his own critically acclaimed solo album in 1999 Euphoria Morning. In addition, he has collaborated with such groups as Alice in Chains and made contributions to other soundtracks.

    Columbia Pictures president, worldwide music Lia Vollack says, “I’ve always loved Chris’ work, both as a writer and as an artist, and had hoped someday to find the right film to inspire him. His music is both soulful and tough. It was the perfect complement to Daniel Craig and Casino Royale.”

    Cornell joins such distinguished performers as Madonna, Sheryl Crow, Paul McCartney & Wings, Carly Simon, Shirley Bassey, Tom Jones, Tina Turner, Gladys Knight, Sheena Easton, Duran Duran and Garbage who have performed title songs for previous James Bond adventures.

    Cornell will be among the select few who have both written and performed an ‘007’ title song (others include McCartney and Wings, Crow and Madonna).

  • ‘Superman Returns’ first week earnings cross $100 million in the US

    ‘Superman Returns’ first week earnings cross $100 million in the US

    MUMBAI: The return of one of the most popular comic book characters Superman in the movie Superman Returns proved to be a bonanza for Warner at the US box office.

    The film has earned $108 million domestically in its first seven days, and more than $20 million from 11 overseas markets in its opening weekend. In India, it was the second highest opening weekend ever for a Hollywood film.

    Warner Bros president domestic distribution Dan Fellman says, “We’ve enjoyed an outstanding response to this film — from exit polls to critics, and where it counts the most: at the box office.

    “Few titles in motion picture history have generated more than $100 million in its first week of release. At Warner Bros., they include the four Harry Potter films and The Matrix: Reloaded.”

    The latest edition of the Man of Steel franchise opened in the number one spot in each of the overseas markets in which opened, including India, Korea, Australia, New Zealand, The Philippines, Thailand and Taiwan.

    In the Philippines, Superman Returns had the second biggest weekend of all time. In Indonesia, it was the industry’s all-time highest opening weekend.