Straight from the set of his new horror/thriller, The Roommate, one-time Twilight vampire Cam Gigandet gave Shock an update about his upcoming turn in the opposite direction: as a vampire-hunting sheriff in an adaptation of the Korean comic book series Priest by Hyung Min-Woo.
"[Shooting is] coming up in August," says Gigandet, "It's a big movie. Paul Bettany and I are fighting vampires. Or creatures. vampire-creatures to be exact... If you wanted to call them something, they'd be vampires. But not in the terms that we think of vampires. They don't like sun and that's kind of the main similarity. Other than that, they don't look like humans. They move differently. When you think of vampires, now people probably think of Twilight. But these aren't like that."
Despite the "non-human" description, Cam's character in the comic is actually half-vampire and the actor went on to say that he hopes (and assumes) that the creatures will still be done with practical effects rather than CGI.
Gigandet further stressed that the film is quite a bit different from the source material, even to the point that he doesn't quite consider it an adaptation.
"I didn't even know it was based on a graphic novel until after I auditioned," he says. "Now, looking at both the script and the comic, they're related, but I don't know if it's based on it entirely. I personally like the script better."
Saturday, June 13, 2009
What We Know About The Inevitable Sequel To The Hangover
Put aside, for a moment, the notion that a comedy like The Hangover really doesn’t need a sequel. The movie has performed spectacularly well, and will likely earn $200m this summer, wo sequel plans that Warner Brothers laid months ago are very likely going to come to fruition. Which means that director Todd Phillips and stars Zach Galifianakis, Ed Helms and Bradley Cooper are already fielding questions about it. What they suggest we can expect from The Hangover 2 is after the jump.
The first bit of ‘we’re making a sequel!’ boilerplate comes from Phillips, by way of MTV. “I’d love to do [a sequel], because I love working with these guys more than anything; this is the most fun I’ve had on the set of a movie,” director Todd Phillips explained. “I have some good ideas floating around of where to take it.” More specifically: “all the usual suspects would be back.” Yeah, we figured.
Galifianakis was a little more honest and forthcoming to Hollywood.com. (Maybe. This is Galifianakis, after all, and I wouldn’t trust anything he says to not be in character in some way.) “I think it’s going to be in a foreign country, and I think it has to be in an exotic place,” he said.
Take all that with a grain of salt, though, based on a statement from Todd Phillips that EW ran today. “I don’t want to put it out there. We’ll get attacked.”
Back to the question of whether a sequel is a good idea. The first was made for about $31m, which has allowed it to be wildly successful. How much more expensive will the follow-up be? Specifically, what price will the three leads command? And when they’re intentionally setting down to do it, can Phillips and co-writer Scot Armstrong capture lightning in a bottle again? Given the winding development of the original, I’m pessimistic; I’d rather see Phillips move on and do something more organic. But that’s not the way the business works, is it?
Editor’s Note: Phillips now tells MTV that they could start shooting the sequel as soon as spring, 2010 and he also confirmed that all of the films central characters will return.
The first bit of ‘we’re making a sequel!’ boilerplate comes from Phillips, by way of MTV. “I’d love to do [a sequel], because I love working with these guys more than anything; this is the most fun I’ve had on the set of a movie,” director Todd Phillips explained. “I have some good ideas floating around of where to take it.” More specifically: “all the usual suspects would be back.” Yeah, we figured.
Galifianakis was a little more honest and forthcoming to Hollywood.com. (Maybe. This is Galifianakis, after all, and I wouldn’t trust anything he says to not be in character in some way.) “I think it’s going to be in a foreign country, and I think it has to be in an exotic place,” he said.
Take all that with a grain of salt, though, based on a statement from Todd Phillips that EW ran today. “I don’t want to put it out there. We’ll get attacked.”
Back to the question of whether a sequel is a good idea. The first was made for about $31m, which has allowed it to be wildly successful. How much more expensive will the follow-up be? Specifically, what price will the three leads command? And when they’re intentionally setting down to do it, can Phillips and co-writer Scot Armstrong capture lightning in a bottle again? Given the winding development of the original, I’m pessimistic; I’d rather see Phillips move on and do something more organic. But that’s not the way the business works, is it?
Editor’s Note: Phillips now tells MTV that they could start shooting the sequel as soon as spring, 2010 and he also confirmed that all of the films central characters will return.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Amy Poehler is the Lunch Lady
Universal has picked up "Lunch Lady," a children's graphic novel series written and illustrated by Jarrett Krosoczka, with Amy Poehler attached to star. The Hollywood Reporter says Poehler will executive produce along with the Gotham Group's Ellen Goldsmith-Vein set to produce.
Sarah Haskins and Emily Halpern are writing the adaptation.
The "Lady" series, the first of which will be unveiled at the end of July by Knopf Books for Young Readers, centers on a mild-mannered school cafeteria server who secretly dishes out helpings of justice as she and her assistant investigate wrongdoings. The books also feature three kids who try to figure out her double life.
The titles include "Lunch Lady and the League of Librarians" and "Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute," both of which are due this summer. "Lunch Lady and the Author Visit Vendetta" is scheduled to be released in December and "Lunch Lady and the Summer Camp Shakedown" is set for summer 2010.
Sarah Haskins and Emily Halpern are writing the adaptation.
The "Lady" series, the first of which will be unveiled at the end of July by Knopf Books for Young Readers, centers on a mild-mannered school cafeteria server who secretly dishes out helpings of justice as she and her assistant investigate wrongdoings. The books also feature three kids who try to figure out her double life.
The titles include "Lunch Lady and the League of Librarians" and "Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute," both of which are due this summer. "Lunch Lady and the Author Visit Vendetta" is scheduled to be released in December and "Lunch Lady and the Summer Camp Shakedown" is set for summer 2010.
My Name Is Earl Is Officially Dead
Twentieth Century Fox, the producers of My Name Is Earl, want to make it clear that the sitcom is officially dead, despite reports of talks with TBS earlier this week.
So they issued the following very specifically worded statement: "Greg Garcia's brilliant My Name is Earl kept America laughing for the past four seasons and certainly deserved to continue for many more. While we had hoped to find a way to produce additional episodes for TBS, in the final analysis we simply could not make the economics work without seriously undermining the artistic integrity of the series. As none of us, Greg included, want the show to go out on anything but a high note, we regret that we must put to rest any speculation that Earl will continue. We are grateful to everyone at TBS for their enthusiasm for the series and wish to offer our heartfelt thanks to the cast and crew of My Name is Earl for their incredible work."
'Nuff said. Post your condolences below.
So they issued the following very specifically worded statement: "Greg Garcia's brilliant My Name is Earl kept America laughing for the past four seasons and certainly deserved to continue for many more. While we had hoped to find a way to produce additional episodes for TBS, in the final analysis we simply could not make the economics work without seriously undermining the artistic integrity of the series. As none of us, Greg included, want the show to go out on anything but a high note, we regret that we must put to rest any speculation that Earl will continue. We are grateful to everyone at TBS for their enthusiasm for the series and wish to offer our heartfelt thanks to the cast and crew of My Name is Earl for their incredible work."
'Nuff said. Post your condolences below.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Matthew Fox Tells Us How Lost Ends (and How Season Six Begins)
Good news folks! We found a little birdie to report for us from the 49th Annual Monte Carlo Television, and we'll be getting her exclusive reports all this week direct from the scene, beginning with Matthew Fox (yep, that's this one right here).
Matthew Fox says Lost creators Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse will prove they knew where they were going all along when the show ends in "an incredibly powerful, very sad and beautiful way. I think is going to be pretty awesome."
The only castmember to know what that crazy smoke monster is and how the show ends said, "I think it is going to be very satisfying and cathartic and redemptive and beautiful. I've talked to Damon pretty extensively and every time I talk to him it's sort of surprising how moving it is just to talk about it."
But before we get the very end of our adventure, Fox exclusively reveals to us the beginning of Lost season six...
The sixth season will begin with an examination of what happened after Juliet seemingly detonated the hydrogen bomb. As usual, Fox says, "It's very surprising and probably fairly confusing initially to the audience."
"Like a third of the way in [to the season] I would guess we are going to [settle] in one time frame and it will be very linear—no more flashbacks, nothing. It will be on the island and sort of a final conflict to the end," say Fox.
He assured fans that all the crazy storylines introduced in earlier seasons will be resolved, and said that the conflict between Jack and Locke (Terry O'Quinn) "will come head to head" this season, but wouldn't divulge more than that. When asked what would happen if he did, he said, "Some guys would pull up outside this building in a white van and masks and I'd never be seen again."
Matthew Fox says Lost creators Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse will prove they knew where they were going all along when the show ends in "an incredibly powerful, very sad and beautiful way. I think is going to be pretty awesome."
The only castmember to know what that crazy smoke monster is and how the show ends said, "I think it is going to be very satisfying and cathartic and redemptive and beautiful. I've talked to Damon pretty extensively and every time I talk to him it's sort of surprising how moving it is just to talk about it."
But before we get the very end of our adventure, Fox exclusively reveals to us the beginning of Lost season six...
The sixth season will begin with an examination of what happened after Juliet seemingly detonated the hydrogen bomb. As usual, Fox says, "It's very surprising and probably fairly confusing initially to the audience."
"Like a third of the way in [to the season] I would guess we are going to [settle] in one time frame and it will be very linear—no more flashbacks, nothing. It will be on the island and sort of a final conflict to the end," say Fox.
He assured fans that all the crazy storylines introduced in earlier seasons will be resolved, and said that the conflict between Jack and Locke (Terry O'Quinn) "will come head to head" this season, but wouldn't divulge more than that. When asked what would happen if he did, he said, "Some guys would pull up outside this building in a white van and masks and I'd never be seen again."
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
John Hamburg Talks Little Fockers
More Owen Wilson in comedy sequel, plus news of I Love You, Man 2.
IGN recently caught up with writer/director John Hamburg, and he spilled the beans about forthcoming comedy sequel Little Fockers, as well as a possible follow-up to one of his own movies.
"I'm currently writing Little Fockers, which is the third in the Meet the Parents franchise," he explained. "We're coming up with the story as we speak. Larry Stuckey wrote the original script, and I'm doing my version of it.
"We're catching up with these characters five years later and Pam and Greg have twins so they are dealing with that. And people are dealing with where they're at in their lives, and themes of death and divorce and all these real things that as we get older, we start to think about, but in a really comic way."
Owen Wilson, with Robert De Niro in the original Meet the Parents.
Hamburg added that Owen Wilson will have a much bigger role in the threequel, which is great news as his too-good-to-be-true character Kevin Rawley was a comedic highlight from the first two movies.
We also asked about the potential for a sequel to Hamburg's recent comedy hit I Love You, Man, with the director sounding optimistic. "I do love these characters, so somewhere down the line perhaps. We've batted around a few ideas, but it's way too early.
IGN recently caught up with writer/director John Hamburg, and he spilled the beans about forthcoming comedy sequel Little Fockers, as well as a possible follow-up to one of his own movies.
"I'm currently writing Little Fockers, which is the third in the Meet the Parents franchise," he explained. "We're coming up with the story as we speak. Larry Stuckey wrote the original script, and I'm doing my version of it.
"We're catching up with these characters five years later and Pam and Greg have twins so they are dealing with that. And people are dealing with where they're at in their lives, and themes of death and divorce and all these real things that as we get older, we start to think about, but in a really comic way."
Owen Wilson, with Robert De Niro in the original Meet the Parents.
Hamburg added that Owen Wilson will have a much bigger role in the threequel, which is great news as his too-good-to-be-true character Kevin Rawley was a comedic highlight from the first two movies.
We also asked about the potential for a sequel to Hamburg's recent comedy hit I Love You, Man, with the director sounding optimistic. "I do love these characters, so somewhere down the line perhaps. We've batted around a few ideas, but it's way too early.
JJ Abrams To Produce Mission: Impossible 4
We’ve heard rumblings for a while now that a fourth Mission: Impossible film is in development. Last we heard. Tom Cruise claimed on a Japanese television show that he was “working on the story right now” and has been “thinking about how to stage a big action sequence in downtown Tokyo.” I just assumed that Cruise was talking out of his behind. And there have even been rumors that the fourth film could be a complete reboot.
Well now JJ Abrams confirms to TV Guide that he will be reteaming with Tom Cruise to produce Mission: Impossible 4.
According to Abrams, “Tom and I have come up with a really cool idea we are pursuing.” So it appears there is an actual story idea after all. Has a screenwriter been hired? Not yet. Abrams says that he’s “incredibly honored” that Tom invited him back, and he has not yet committed to return as director.
With the monster hit called Star Trek now unleashed, I wouldn’t expect Abrams to return behidn the camera for another chapter of the action spy franchise. He’s probably looking at bigger and better oppurtunities. I was actually a big fan of Abrams’ M:I-III, and think the drama of the Alias-like flash forward opening is one of the best action film openings of recent years.
Well now JJ Abrams confirms to TV Guide that he will be reteaming with Tom Cruise to produce Mission: Impossible 4.
According to Abrams, “Tom and I have come up with a really cool idea we are pursuing.” So it appears there is an actual story idea after all. Has a screenwriter been hired? Not yet. Abrams says that he’s “incredibly honored” that Tom invited him back, and he has not yet committed to return as director.
With the monster hit called Star Trek now unleashed, I wouldn’t expect Abrams to return behidn the camera for another chapter of the action spy franchise. He’s probably looking at bigger and better oppurtunities. I was actually a big fan of Abrams’ M:I-III, and think the drama of the Alias-like flash forward opening is one of the best action film openings of recent years.
Houston Calls Breaks Up
Message from the Band
After about 6 years, hundreds of shows, a bunch of great tours in 3 continents outside of our own, Houston Calls is calling it a day. Suffice it to say, we didn't come to this decision lightly, and it's one that pains us, even though it's what we've decided is best for us. The continued instability surrounding our band's various situations (finances, finding new members, touring, etc.) has overshadowed what our band has always prioritized: making some alright music and having a great time with our friends - the ones in our van and the ones we meet on the road. To elaborate a little, it's tough packing up your entire life and leaving friends and family for months at a time. It's unstable, it's uncertain, and it's pretty darn unhealthy. It's also, as we're all looking a little to our own futures, unsustainable at this level. The economic realities of living hand to mouth at our ages gets to be a little daunting. And seeing very few open doors for us as a band, we decided that it's best for us to move on.
That being said, it was also a blast. We've met people that we can be proud to call friends, and some people that can only be described as classic characters. We've gotten to release two full length CDs that we are still infinitely proud of; We've met thousands of warm, gracious, and very kind fans - to many of whom we've been ungracious house guests. Words fail here - we can't thank you all strongly or sincerely enough.
Houston Calls has two more shows left. First, we're incredibly excited to be able to play Farewell's CD Release Show at Greene Street, in Greensboro, NC on August 22nd. They're some of our best friends, and we couldn't think of a better band to open for. Secondly, we will be having a final hometown show at School of Rock on August 29th. As all this news is still pretty fresh, more details to be decided and will follow. Thanks for all your continued support over the years.
Love,
Houston Calls
Tom - chittytalk@yahoo.com
Josh
Okie - HCallsOkie@gmail.com
P.S. - One request: don't turn this into a hatefest on Drive-Thru. There's enough negativity burning against a label that took a chance on us way back when and gave us the opportunity to get to where we got.
After about 6 years, hundreds of shows, a bunch of great tours in 3 continents outside of our own, Houston Calls is calling it a day. Suffice it to say, we didn't come to this decision lightly, and it's one that pains us, even though it's what we've decided is best for us. The continued instability surrounding our band's various situations (finances, finding new members, touring, etc.) has overshadowed what our band has always prioritized: making some alright music and having a great time with our friends - the ones in our van and the ones we meet on the road. To elaborate a little, it's tough packing up your entire life and leaving friends and family for months at a time. It's unstable, it's uncertain, and it's pretty darn unhealthy. It's also, as we're all looking a little to our own futures, unsustainable at this level. The economic realities of living hand to mouth at our ages gets to be a little daunting. And seeing very few open doors for us as a band, we decided that it's best for us to move on.
That being said, it was also a blast. We've met people that we can be proud to call friends, and some people that can only be described as classic characters. We've gotten to release two full length CDs that we are still infinitely proud of; We've met thousands of warm, gracious, and very kind fans - to many of whom we've been ungracious house guests. Words fail here - we can't thank you all strongly or sincerely enough.
Houston Calls has two more shows left. First, we're incredibly excited to be able to play Farewell's CD Release Show at Greene Street, in Greensboro, NC on August 22nd. They're some of our best friends, and we couldn't think of a better band to open for. Secondly, we will be having a final hometown show at School of Rock on August 29th. As all this news is still pretty fresh, more details to be decided and will follow. Thanks for all your continued support over the years.
Love,
Houston Calls
Tom - chittytalk@yahoo.com
Josh
Okie - HCallsOkie@gmail.com
P.S. - One request: don't turn this into a hatefest on Drive-Thru. There's enough negativity burning against a label that took a chance on us way back when and gave us the opportunity to get to where we got.
The Roots Ready New Album
Just a little over a year since the release of "Rising Down," Philadelphia's the Roots are working on their eighth studio album, entitled "How I Got Over." The Def Jam release is slated for a summer street date, and while the first single, "I Walk Alone," has not been serviced yet, the legendary hip-hop band shot the accompanying video for it just yesterday (June 10) in New York.
The Roots is currently the house band for the "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon" show, where they have performed with numerous musical guests like Paul Simon, Mos Def, Booker T. Jones and Amadou & Mariam.
The Roots will join opera singer Jessye Norman, jazz singer Nnenna Freelon and the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra Aug. 30 in the West Coast premiere of author/poet Langston Hughes' "Ask Your Mama: 12 Moods for Jazz." First presented in 1961, the revamped version of "Ask Mama" - a collaboration between Norman and Emmy Award-winning composer Laura Karpman - features a score encompassing orchestral music, hip-hop and jazz.
In related news, the second annual Roots Picnic at Philadelphia's Festival Pier took place this past Saturday and included performances by Asher Roth, Busdriver, Black Keys, TV On the Radio and Public Enemy.
"Rising Down" has sold 166,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
The Roots is currently the house band for the "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon" show, where they have performed with numerous musical guests like Paul Simon, Mos Def, Booker T. Jones and Amadou & Mariam.
The Roots will join opera singer Jessye Norman, jazz singer Nnenna Freelon and the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra Aug. 30 in the West Coast premiere of author/poet Langston Hughes' "Ask Your Mama: 12 Moods for Jazz." First presented in 1961, the revamped version of "Ask Mama" - a collaboration between Norman and Emmy Award-winning composer Laura Karpman - features a score encompassing orchestral music, hip-hop and jazz.
In related news, the second annual Roots Picnic at Philadelphia's Festival Pier took place this past Saturday and included performances by Asher Roth, Busdriver, Black Keys, TV On the Radio and Public Enemy.
"Rising Down" has sold 166,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
Rob Cohen Goes Medieval, Drops xXx Sequel
In March it was announced that McG had signed on to develop and possibly direct Medieval, a spec script by Mike Finch & Alex Litvak sold for $800,000 against $1.6 million. But McG has too many other projects on his plate, 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea: Captain Nemo at Disney, a big screen adaptation of the musical Spring Awakening for Warner Bros and possibly fifth Terminator film.
So who is going to take over for McG? Super duper hack director Rob Cohen. You know, the guy who directed The Fast and the Furious, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, Stealth and xXx.
Speaking of xXx, this move also means that Cohen will not be reteaming with Vin Diesel on the previously announced sequel xXx: The Return of Xander Cage. Diesel is free to explore other options.
"It was a tough decision about xXx,” Cohen told Variety. “I talked to Vin over the weekend and said I hoped they would wait, but that if they find another director who’s right for the sequel, I certainly wouldn’t be angry. But I could not let something like this go."
Back to Medieval, McG is still involved as a producer. New Regency is financing the film, which will be distributed through Fox (It would be too easy to make a joke about the recent quality of Fox films and note that Cohen could only contribute to that legacy).
Described as The Dirty Dozen or The Magnificent Seven set in medieval times, the story begins with “a monk, a knight, a samurai, a zulu, an Arab, a gypsy and a viking” in a jail cell together awaiting execution the next morning. A sleazy lawyer arrives and offers them a solution — If the seven of them can infiltrate the King’s castle and steal the crown, they will be set free. GoIntoTheStory described the adventure as a “Medieval Mission Impossible to steal the King’s crown, performing numerous badass slow-motion ass-kickings while evading Indiana Jones-like traps.” Sounds kinda cool, but with Cohen involved, I’ve lost all interest.
So who is going to take over for McG? Super duper hack director Rob Cohen. You know, the guy who directed The Fast and the Furious, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, Stealth and xXx.
Speaking of xXx, this move also means that Cohen will not be reteaming with Vin Diesel on the previously announced sequel xXx: The Return of Xander Cage. Diesel is free to explore other options.
"It was a tough decision about xXx,” Cohen told Variety. “I talked to Vin over the weekend and said I hoped they would wait, but that if they find another director who’s right for the sequel, I certainly wouldn’t be angry. But I could not let something like this go."
Back to Medieval, McG is still involved as a producer. New Regency is financing the film, which will be distributed through Fox (It would be too easy to make a joke about the recent quality of Fox films and note that Cohen could only contribute to that legacy).
Described as The Dirty Dozen or The Magnificent Seven set in medieval times, the story begins with “a monk, a knight, a samurai, a zulu, an Arab, a gypsy and a viking” in a jail cell together awaiting execution the next morning. A sleazy lawyer arrives and offers them a solution — If the seven of them can infiltrate the King’s castle and steal the crown, they will be set free. GoIntoTheStory described the adventure as a “Medieval Mission Impossible to steal the King’s crown, performing numerous badass slow-motion ass-kickings while evading Indiana Jones-like traps.” Sounds kinda cool, but with Cohen involved, I’ve lost all interest.
Rumor Mill: The Rock’s Commando Remake? Megan Fox: Vampire Slayer? Bond 23 in Afghanistan?
A couple rumors are circulating the interwebs this week, so I thought I’d put together a small round-up.
First up, JoBlo caught wind of an article in the Australian magazine RCI that claims a remake of the 1980’s Arnold Schwarzenegger action classic Commando is being developed. Another site, Cinefools, has also heard rumblings of a Commando reboot, with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson rumored to star. Hollywood is rebooting all the other Schwarzenegger action films (Predator, Total Recall..etc) so why not Commando? And The Rock has long been compared as the Arnold of the next generation. Some might recall a mini “passing of the torch” in The Rundown. Mark this rumor as possible.
UK Newspaper The Guardian speculates that the 23rd James Bond film will feature “the poppy fields and drug barons of [Afghanistan].” Apparently the screenwriters of the next Bond adventure sought technical advice from the British embassy in Kabul, so its very possible.
A couple weeks ago it was announced that Buffy movie director Fran Rubel Kuzui was developing a new Buffy The Vampire Slayer film without the involvement of Buffy creator Joss Whedon. The movie would be darker, and would follow a new vampire slayer who must step up to protect this new generation. Cinefools has heard that Megan Fox’s name is being thrown around by those inside the production. But honestly, even if true, that doesn’t mean much at this point, especially without a script. Fox has quickly become the top star of her age demo, and is very much in demand. It seems like every other week that Fox’s name is thrown around the rumor mill for some new project (Wonder Woman, Tomb Raider reboot…etc) The fact that Kuzui might be interested in her for the new film doesn’t mean that she’s obtainable. Mark this rumor as highly speculative at this point.
First up, JoBlo caught wind of an article in the Australian magazine RCI that claims a remake of the 1980’s Arnold Schwarzenegger action classic Commando is being developed. Another site, Cinefools, has also heard rumblings of a Commando reboot, with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson rumored to star. Hollywood is rebooting all the other Schwarzenegger action films (Predator, Total Recall..etc) so why not Commando? And The Rock has long been compared as the Arnold of the next generation. Some might recall a mini “passing of the torch” in The Rundown. Mark this rumor as possible.
UK Newspaper The Guardian speculates that the 23rd James Bond film will feature “the poppy fields and drug barons of [Afghanistan].” Apparently the screenwriters of the next Bond adventure sought technical advice from the British embassy in Kabul, so its very possible.
A couple weeks ago it was announced that Buffy movie director Fran Rubel Kuzui was developing a new Buffy The Vampire Slayer film without the involvement of Buffy creator Joss Whedon. The movie would be darker, and would follow a new vampire slayer who must step up to protect this new generation. Cinefools has heard that Megan Fox’s name is being thrown around by those inside the production. But honestly, even if true, that doesn’t mean much at this point, especially without a script. Fox has quickly become the top star of her age demo, and is very much in demand. It seems like every other week that Fox’s name is thrown around the rumor mill for some new project (Wonder Woman, Tomb Raider reboot…etc) The fact that Kuzui might be interested in her for the new film doesn’t mean that she’s obtainable. Mark this rumor as highly speculative at this point.
Comedy Central Orders 26 New Episodes of Futurama
20th Century Fox Television, the animation powerhouse that brought "Family Guy" back from the dead five years ago, has done it again: Matt Groening and David X. Cohen's brilliantly subversive animated sci-fi comedy "Futurama" will return to production on 26 new half-hour episodes more than six years after the series aired its last original episode. The move comes on the heels of the series' blockbuster performance on DVD and on Comedy Central; the announcement was made today by Twentieth Century Fox Television Chairmen Gary Newman and Dana Walden, and David Bernath, senior vice president, programming for Comedy Central.
"Futurama" was a staple of Fox's Sunday night animation block from 1999 to 2003 before ceasing production on original episodes. In June 2006, Comedy Central acquired the rights to the existing 72 episodes of the series, which the channel began airing in January 2008, and four recently-produced extended length "Futurama" adventures: "Bender's Big Score," "The Beast with a Billion Backs," "Bender's Game" and "Into the Wild Green Yonder," which enjoyed enormous success both on Comedy Central and in DVD release. This new deal marks the show's return to episodic series production on original episodes. "Futurama" becomes only the second series in the history of the medium to go back into production based on the strength of its DVD sales and repeat airings on cable.
The new episodes will be available in mid 2010 to be shown on Comedy Central. Twentieth Century Fox Television retains the option to license the original runs of the new episodes to a broadcast network.
"We are excited to continue our relationship with Matt, David and 20th Century Fox TV and to be able to offer Comedy Central viewers the first opportunity to see new episodes of 'Futurama,'" said Bernath. "As evidenced by the strong performance of the extended length epics, there remains a deep and passionate fan base for this intelligent and very funny show that matches perfectly with our audience. It's fantastic that we can add brand-new installments of Leela, Fry and Bender's adventures to our existing library."
Quipped Matt Groening, "We're thrilled 'Futurama' is coming back. We now have only 25,766 episodes to make before we catch up with Bender and Fry in the year 3000." Added David X. Cohen, "We're excited and amazed that the show is coming back, perhaps due to some sort of mysterious time loop. We look forward to working with Comedy Central and 20th Television to make this the best iteration of the loop yet!"
"When we brought back 'Family Guy' several years ago, everyone said that it was a once-in-a-lifetime thing - that canceled series stay canceled and cannot be revived," commented 20th Century Fox TV Chairmen Gary Newman and Dana Walden. "But 'Futurama' was another series that fans simply demanded we bring back, and we couldn't have been happier when Matt and David agreed that there were many more stories yet to tell."
"Futurama" focuses on the life of Philip Fry (Billy West), a 25-year-old pizza delivery boy who accidentally freezes himself on December 31, 1999 and wakes up 1,000 years later with a fresh start at life and a "diverse" new group of friends including Leela (Katey Sagal), a tough but lovely one-eyed alien and Bender (John DiMaggio), a robot who possesses human characteristics and flaws. The series aired for five seasons on Fox (1999 to 2003) earning Emmy® nominations each season while winning three times, including "Outstanding Animated Program" in 2002. It featured guest stars such as Sarah Silverman, Hank Azaria, Bob Odenkirk, Pamela Anderson, Beatrice Arthur, Lucy Liu, Beck and Coolio.
"Futurama," created by Matt Groening and developed by Groening and David X. Cohen, is produced by Twentieth Century Fox Television, with Rough Draft Studios, Inc. contributing the animation.
"Futurama" was a staple of Fox's Sunday night animation block from 1999 to 2003 before ceasing production on original episodes. In June 2006, Comedy Central acquired the rights to the existing 72 episodes of the series, which the channel began airing in January 2008, and four recently-produced extended length "Futurama" adventures: "Bender's Big Score," "The Beast with a Billion Backs," "Bender's Game" and "Into the Wild Green Yonder," which enjoyed enormous success both on Comedy Central and in DVD release. This new deal marks the show's return to episodic series production on original episodes. "Futurama" becomes only the second series in the history of the medium to go back into production based on the strength of its DVD sales and repeat airings on cable.
The new episodes will be available in mid 2010 to be shown on Comedy Central. Twentieth Century Fox Television retains the option to license the original runs of the new episodes to a broadcast network.
"We are excited to continue our relationship with Matt, David and 20th Century Fox TV and to be able to offer Comedy Central viewers the first opportunity to see new episodes of 'Futurama,'" said Bernath. "As evidenced by the strong performance of the extended length epics, there remains a deep and passionate fan base for this intelligent and very funny show that matches perfectly with our audience. It's fantastic that we can add brand-new installments of Leela, Fry and Bender's adventures to our existing library."
Quipped Matt Groening, "We're thrilled 'Futurama' is coming back. We now have only 25,766 episodes to make before we catch up with Bender and Fry in the year 3000." Added David X. Cohen, "We're excited and amazed that the show is coming back, perhaps due to some sort of mysterious time loop. We look forward to working with Comedy Central and 20th Television to make this the best iteration of the loop yet!"
"When we brought back 'Family Guy' several years ago, everyone said that it was a once-in-a-lifetime thing - that canceled series stay canceled and cannot be revived," commented 20th Century Fox TV Chairmen Gary Newman and Dana Walden. "But 'Futurama' was another series that fans simply demanded we bring back, and we couldn't have been happier when Matt and David agreed that there were many more stories yet to tell."
"Futurama" focuses on the life of Philip Fry (Billy West), a 25-year-old pizza delivery boy who accidentally freezes himself on December 31, 1999 and wakes up 1,000 years later with a fresh start at life and a "diverse" new group of friends including Leela (Katey Sagal), a tough but lovely one-eyed alien and Bender (John DiMaggio), a robot who possesses human characteristics and flaws. The series aired for five seasons on Fox (1999 to 2003) earning Emmy® nominations each season while winning three times, including "Outstanding Animated Program" in 2002. It featured guest stars such as Sarah Silverman, Hank Azaria, Bob Odenkirk, Pamela Anderson, Beatrice Arthur, Lucy Liu, Beck and Coolio.
"Futurama," created by Matt Groening and developed by Groening and David X. Cohen, is produced by Twentieth Century Fox Television, with Rough Draft Studios, Inc. contributing the animation.
ABC Announces Fall Premiere Dates
ABC announced the following premiere dates for the 2009-10 season today. Additional premieres will be announced at a later date. All times listed are ET.
Saturday, September 5
8:00-11:30 p.m. "Saturday Night Football"
Friday, September 11
10:00-11:00 p.m. "20/20"
Monday, September 21
8:00-10:00 p.m. "Dancing with the Stars"
10:00-11:00 p.m. "Castle"
Tuesday, September 22
8:00-10:00 p.m. "Dancing with the Stars" (special two-hour episode)
10:00-11:00 p.m. "The Forgotten"
Wednesday, September 23
8:00-9:00 p.m. "Dancing with the Stars the Results Show" (special day and time)
9:00-9:30 p.m. "Modern Family"
9:30-10:00 p.m. "Cougar Town"
Thursday, September 24
8:00-9:00 p.m. "FlashForward"
9:00-10:00 p.m. "Grey's Anatomy"
Sunday, September 27
7:00-9:00 p.m. "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" (two-hour season premiere)
9:00-10:00 p.m. "Desperate Housewives"
Tuesday, September 29
8:00-9:00 p.m. "Shark Tank"
9:00-10:00 p.m. "Dancing with the Stars the Results Show" (regular day & time period premiere)
Wednesday, September 30
8:00-8:30 p.m. "Hank"
8:30-9:00 p.m. "The Middle"
Sunday, October 4
7:00-8:00 p.m. "America's Funniest Home Videos"
8:00-9:00 p.m. "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" (regular time period premiere)
Friday, October 9
8:00-10:00 p.m. "Ugly Betty" (two-hour season premiere)
Friday, October 16
8:00-9:00 p.m. "Supernanny"
9:00-10:00 p.m. "Ugly Betty" (regular time period premiere)
Saturday, September 5
8:00-11:30 p.m. "Saturday Night Football"
Friday, September 11
10:00-11:00 p.m. "20/20"
Monday, September 21
8:00-10:00 p.m. "Dancing with the Stars"
10:00-11:00 p.m. "Castle"
Tuesday, September 22
8:00-10:00 p.m. "Dancing with the Stars" (special two-hour episode)
10:00-11:00 p.m. "The Forgotten"
Wednesday, September 23
8:00-9:00 p.m. "Dancing with the Stars the Results Show" (special day and time)
9:00-9:30 p.m. "Modern Family"
9:30-10:00 p.m. "Cougar Town"
Thursday, September 24
8:00-9:00 p.m. "FlashForward"
9:00-10:00 p.m. "Grey's Anatomy"
Sunday, September 27
7:00-9:00 p.m. "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" (two-hour season premiere)
9:00-10:00 p.m. "Desperate Housewives"
Tuesday, September 29
8:00-9:00 p.m. "Shark Tank"
9:00-10:00 p.m. "Dancing with the Stars the Results Show" (regular day & time period premiere)
Wednesday, September 30
8:00-8:30 p.m. "Hank"
8:30-9:00 p.m. "The Middle"
Sunday, October 4
7:00-8:00 p.m. "America's Funniest Home Videos"
8:00-9:00 p.m. "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" (regular time period premiere)
Friday, October 9
8:00-10:00 p.m. "Ugly Betty" (two-hour season premiere)
Friday, October 16
8:00-9:00 p.m. "Supernanny"
9:00-10:00 p.m. "Ugly Betty" (regular time period premiere)
TBS May Pick Up My Name Is Earl
Twentieth Century Fox TV is in talks with TBS about a possible 13-episode pickup of "My Name Is Earl." TBS already carries "Earl" reruns.
The talks for new episodes are said to be in the very preliminary stages, and it's far from certain that a deal will be reached, reports Variety.
Previously there were reports that the Fox network might pick up the project from its sibling studio.
The talks for new episodes are said to be in the very preliminary stages, and it's far from certain that a deal will be reached, reports Variety.
Previously there were reports that the Fox network might pick up the project from its sibling studio.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Weekly Ratings: 5/20 – 5/25
Saturday & Sunday Ratings: Conan's Tonight Show, MTV Movie Awards and More
Some recent ratings highlights:
• The premiere of The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien delivered the best numbers (a 7.1/17 rating) for a Monday Tonight Show in more than four years, and the seventh-highest Monday overnights for Tonight since Jay Leno took over as host in 1992.
Compared to his final Late Night broadcast, Conan's audience was up 173 percent. (Read Mickey O'Connor's "snap judgement" of Conan's Tonight Show.)
• The 2009 MTV Movie Awards averaged 5.3 million total viewers, a year-to-year increase of 73 percent and the show's biggest audience since 2004.
• On Saturday night, Harper's Island held steady at 3.85 mil, and Pushing Daisies returned to an audience of 2.35 mil.
Monday & Tuesday Ratings: I'm a Celebrity, Jon & Kate, SVU Finale and More
Some more recent ratings highlights:
• Monday's two-hour premiere of NBC's I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here! averaged 6.35 million viewers, edging out The Bachelorette (6.34 mil) in both total audience and the demos. I'm a Celebrity then dropped 14 percent (to 5.5 mil) on Tuesday.
• Among finales, Medium wrapped up its NBC run with an audience of 7.38 mil, dipping 370K week-to-week. (This fall: Fridays on CBS!) According to Jim on Tuesday had its last laughs before an audience of 4.1 mil, while SVU's season-ender copped 11.37 mil.
• On Tuesday, Fox's Mental (5.04 mil) slipped 13 percent from its premiere.
• Conan O'Brien's second outing as Tonight Show host dropped 30 percent from his debut, Still, NBC notes, it was Tonight's best Tuesday rating in more than two years and Conan handily bested Letterman by 67 percent.
• TLC's Jon & Kate Plus 8 was minus 42 percent of its season-premiere audience, averaging 5.7 million viewers on Monday.
• The Sunday conclusion of Lifetime's Maneater miniseries drew 3 million viewers and gave the cabler its best demos delivery of the year.
Wednesday Ratings: Law & Order Rises, the Non-Celebrities Fall
8 pm/ET
ABC's Wipeout (8.37 million total viewers) once again squeaked past the first half of So You Think You Can Dance, though the Fox series topped the demos and averaged 8.76 mil over its two-hour run. I'm a Celebrity drew 4.78 million, down 13 percent from the night prior and off a full 25 percent from its Monday premiere.
9 pm
Night two of NBC's Inside the Obama White House special drew nearly 9 mil, besting a Criminal Minds repeat. ABC's The Goode Family (averaging 2.67 mil across two episodes) got worse, plunging 32 percent from its premiere. Surviving Suburbia returns to the 9:30 slot next week.
10 pm
Law & Order's 19th season finale copped 8.8 mil, up 31 percent from its last fresh episode. Lagging far, far behind a CSI: NY repeat, The Unusuals dropped 25 percent to hit a new all-time low of 2.94 mil.
Thursday Ratings: Game 1 of NBA Finals Shoots and Scores for ABC
8 pm/ET
ABC's coverage of Game 1 of the NBA Finals — which was kicked off by a Jimmy Kimmel special — topped every hour and was the night's most watched program, averaging 9.4 million viewers from 8 to 11 pm. In the 8 o'clock hour, I'm a Celebrity placed fourth (behind repeats of Bones and CBS comedies) with 5.18 mil. That is, however, an 8 percent gain from the night prior. Speidi wants to take credit for the bump, I am sure.
9 pm
So You Think You Can Dance's reveal of the Top 20 bested a CSI repeat by drawing 8.2 mil, but dipped 10 percent week-to-week. The premiere of NBC's The Listener placed fourth with 5.25 mil.
10 pm
A second episode of The Listener drew 5.34 mil, lagging far behind basketball and a Mentalist repeat.
Some recent ratings highlights:
• The premiere of The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien delivered the best numbers (a 7.1/17 rating) for a Monday Tonight Show in more than four years, and the seventh-highest Monday overnights for Tonight since Jay Leno took over as host in 1992.
Compared to his final Late Night broadcast, Conan's audience was up 173 percent. (Read Mickey O'Connor's "snap judgement" of Conan's Tonight Show.)
• The 2009 MTV Movie Awards averaged 5.3 million total viewers, a year-to-year increase of 73 percent and the show's biggest audience since 2004.
• On Saturday night, Harper's Island held steady at 3.85 mil, and Pushing Daisies returned to an audience of 2.35 mil.
Monday & Tuesday Ratings: I'm a Celebrity, Jon & Kate, SVU Finale and More
Some more recent ratings highlights:
• Monday's two-hour premiere of NBC's I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here! averaged 6.35 million viewers, edging out The Bachelorette (6.34 mil) in both total audience and the demos. I'm a Celebrity then dropped 14 percent (to 5.5 mil) on Tuesday.
• Among finales, Medium wrapped up its NBC run with an audience of 7.38 mil, dipping 370K week-to-week. (This fall: Fridays on CBS!) According to Jim on Tuesday had its last laughs before an audience of 4.1 mil, while SVU's season-ender copped 11.37 mil.
• On Tuesday, Fox's Mental (5.04 mil) slipped 13 percent from its premiere.
• Conan O'Brien's second outing as Tonight Show host dropped 30 percent from his debut, Still, NBC notes, it was Tonight's best Tuesday rating in more than two years and Conan handily bested Letterman by 67 percent.
• TLC's Jon & Kate Plus 8 was minus 42 percent of its season-premiere audience, averaging 5.7 million viewers on Monday.
• The Sunday conclusion of Lifetime's Maneater miniseries drew 3 million viewers and gave the cabler its best demos delivery of the year.
Wednesday Ratings: Law & Order Rises, the Non-Celebrities Fall
8 pm/ET
ABC's Wipeout (8.37 million total viewers) once again squeaked past the first half of So You Think You Can Dance, though the Fox series topped the demos and averaged 8.76 mil over its two-hour run. I'm a Celebrity drew 4.78 million, down 13 percent from the night prior and off a full 25 percent from its Monday premiere.
9 pm
Night two of NBC's Inside the Obama White House special drew nearly 9 mil, besting a Criminal Minds repeat. ABC's The Goode Family (averaging 2.67 mil across two episodes) got worse, plunging 32 percent from its premiere. Surviving Suburbia returns to the 9:30 slot next week.
10 pm
Law & Order's 19th season finale copped 8.8 mil, up 31 percent from its last fresh episode. Lagging far, far behind a CSI: NY repeat, The Unusuals dropped 25 percent to hit a new all-time low of 2.94 mil.
Thursday Ratings: Game 1 of NBA Finals Shoots and Scores for ABC
8 pm/ET
ABC's coverage of Game 1 of the NBA Finals — which was kicked off by a Jimmy Kimmel special — topped every hour and was the night's most watched program, averaging 9.4 million viewers from 8 to 11 pm. In the 8 o'clock hour, I'm a Celebrity placed fourth (behind repeats of Bones and CBS comedies) with 5.18 mil. That is, however, an 8 percent gain from the night prior. Speidi wants to take credit for the bump, I am sure.
9 pm
So You Think You Can Dance's reveal of the Top 20 bested a CSI repeat by drawing 8.2 mil, but dipped 10 percent week-to-week. The premiere of NBC's The Listener placed fourth with 5.25 mil.
10 pm
A second episode of The Listener drew 5.34 mil, lagging far behind basketball and a Mentalist repeat.
Scream 4 is Not a Remake, But The First Chapter Of A New Trilogy
Last week it was reported that Courtney Cox Arquette and David Arquette have been approached about reprising their roles as Gale Weathers and Dwight “Dewey” Riley for a fourth Scream movie. It was originally rumored that the film would be a complete reboot, but with returning characters, it seems more like a proper sequel.We now have further clarification from screenwriter Kevin Williamson and director Wes Craven.
Someone claiming to be Williamson (not confirmed, but appears to be legit) cleared up the confusion on Twitter: “It is not a remake. Scream 4. The first chapter of a new trilogy.” And now director/producer Wes Craven clears up the details in an interview with Digital Spy.
Bob Weinstein (The Weinstein Company co-chairman) has talked to me, he’s interested in me directing it. I had a brief conversation with Kevin [Williamson], I know that Kevin is writing. What I’ve said to Bob is I’m not closed to it, I’m not open to it, I’ll be perfectly happy to read a script and tell him what I think. That’s where it’s at and I’m not expecting a script until August. I don’t know what the premise is or anything.
Craven also echos something Williamson stated on Twitter, “Remember, it’s not just Scream 4, it’s Scream 5 and 6.’ So I guess he has a trilogy in mind.” And the horror director also confirmed Cox and Arquette’s involvement, but claims that “everyone else will be new.” So don’t expect series star Neve Campbell to return as Sidney Prescott.
Someone claiming to be Williamson (not confirmed, but appears to be legit) cleared up the confusion on Twitter: “It is not a remake. Scream 4. The first chapter of a new trilogy.” And now director/producer Wes Craven clears up the details in an interview with Digital Spy.
Bob Weinstein (The Weinstein Company co-chairman) has talked to me, he’s interested in me directing it. I had a brief conversation with Kevin [Williamson], I know that Kevin is writing. What I’ve said to Bob is I’m not closed to it, I’m not open to it, I’ll be perfectly happy to read a script and tell him what I think. That’s where it’s at and I’m not expecting a script until August. I don’t know what the premise is or anything.
Craven also echos something Williamson stated on Twitter, “Remember, it’s not just Scream 4, it’s Scream 5 and 6.’ So I guess he has a trilogy in mind.” And the horror director also confirmed Cox and Arquette’s involvement, but claims that “everyone else will be new.” So don’t expect series star Neve Campbell to return as Sidney Prescott.
Pixar Confirms Monsters Inc Sequel
At the licensing fair in Las Vegas, Disney/Pixar revealed to buyers behind closed doors that they have yet another sequel in the works. Despite what Brad Bird said on stage at WonderCon two years ago, Pixar is now in the sequel business. Cars 2, Toy Story 3, and now Monsters Inc 2. According to Jim Hill, buyers who attended these limited preview sessions were sworn to secrecy by Disney officials, but several have confirmed that Pete Docter will be following up Up with a sequel to Monsters, Inc.
A Monsters Inc sequel has been rumored for some time now. At Comic-Con 2008, director Pete Docter responded to an audience question about the prospects of a sequel by admitting that “We’ve thought about it… We’ve got a couple ideas.” And now that it is quasi-confirmed, when should we expect to return to Monstropolis? Pixar has announced all their films up until 2012, so could a Monsters Inc sequel be in store for 2013?
Pixar fansite The Pixar Blog started receiving strange searches this past January for variations of “‘monsters 2013 pixar”. The interesting thing about the searches is that they were coming from inside Pixar, from the Pixar.com domain. I know, circumstantial at best. But now that we know a sequel is definitely in the works, it seems a bit more likely that it’s being groomed for a 2013 release.
Pixar has a great record with sequels so far. Toy Story 2 is one of the best reviewed movies of all time according to Rotten Tomatoes. Truth is, I wouldn’t mind seeing a sequel to Monsters, Inc. Docter’s return says a lot for the project, and definitely is a vote of confidence from the original creative team. The only other Pixar film I’m remotely interested in seeing sequalized is The Incredibles. But with Brad Bird trying to get his live-action adaptation of 1906 off the ground, that isn’t likely to happen in the next four or five years, at very least.
A Monsters Inc sequel has been rumored for some time now. At Comic-Con 2008, director Pete Docter responded to an audience question about the prospects of a sequel by admitting that “We’ve thought about it… We’ve got a couple ideas.” And now that it is quasi-confirmed, when should we expect to return to Monstropolis? Pixar has announced all their films up until 2012, so could a Monsters Inc sequel be in store for 2013?
Pixar fansite The Pixar Blog started receiving strange searches this past January for variations of “‘monsters 2013 pixar”. The interesting thing about the searches is that they were coming from inside Pixar, from the Pixar.com domain. I know, circumstantial at best. But now that we know a sequel is definitely in the works, it seems a bit more likely that it’s being groomed for a 2013 release.
Pixar has a great record with sequels so far. Toy Story 2 is one of the best reviewed movies of all time according to Rotten Tomatoes. Truth is, I wouldn’t mind seeing a sequel to Monsters, Inc. Docter’s return says a lot for the project, and definitely is a vote of confidence from the original creative team. The only other Pixar film I’m remotely interested in seeing sequalized is The Incredibles. But with Brad Bird trying to get his live-action adaptation of 1906 off the ground, that isn’t likely to happen in the next four or five years, at very least.
Jay-Z To Release 'Blueprint 3' On Sept. 11
Jay-Z will release his "Blueprint 3" album on Sept. 11 on Roc Nation with distribution through Atlantic Records, numerous sources have confirmed. A formal announcement is expected Sunday on New York radio station Hot 97 and at the station's massive Summer Jam concert in New Jersey at Giants Stadium.
Sam Crespo, VP of Rap Promotions at Atlantic Records who goes by the twitter name TheCrespo, first confirmed the news in a Twitter posting yesterday afternoon. The post was removed hours later. A MissInfo.tv blog posting also revealed the details but was subsequently removed.
Last week, Hits Daily Double reported that Sean "Diddy" Combs had allegedly spoken with Jay-Z and persuaded him to sign to Warner Music Group, joining former Island Def Jam colleagues Lyor Cohen and Kevin Liles. The site also alleged this was a one-off deal just for this recording.
Meanwhile, Billboard.com reported that Roc Nation was going over to Sony through Epic, and sources close to the negotiations are still standing by their version. "Roc Nation will still be coming to Epic. It will still be a distribution deal," a source tells Billboard.com.
Just last month, Jay-Z confirmed his departure from longtime label home Def Jam. His split from the Universal Music Group-owned label reportedly came with a $5 million price tag, but left the rap artist and label executive in control of his future master recordings. Jay-Z's eleven solo records (including the live "Unplugged" album) and collaborations with Linkin Park and R. Kelly have sold more than 29 million units according to Nielsen SoundScan.
Sam Crespo, VP of Rap Promotions at Atlantic Records who goes by the twitter name TheCrespo, first confirmed the news in a Twitter posting yesterday afternoon. The post was removed hours later. A MissInfo.tv blog posting also revealed the details but was subsequently removed.
Last week, Hits Daily Double reported that Sean "Diddy" Combs had allegedly spoken with Jay-Z and persuaded him to sign to Warner Music Group, joining former Island Def Jam colleagues Lyor Cohen and Kevin Liles. The site also alleged this was a one-off deal just for this recording.
Meanwhile, Billboard.com reported that Roc Nation was going over to Sony through Epic, and sources close to the negotiations are still standing by their version. "Roc Nation will still be coming to Epic. It will still be a distribution deal," a source tells Billboard.com.
Just last month, Jay-Z confirmed his departure from longtime label home Def Jam. His split from the Universal Music Group-owned label reportedly came with a $5 million price tag, but left the rap artist and label executive in control of his future master recordings. Jay-Z's eleven solo records (including the live "Unplugged" album) and collaborations with Linkin Park and R. Kelly have sold more than 29 million units according to Nielsen SoundScan.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Up Hangs Around, Holding Off The Hangover
The ComingSoon.net Box Office Report has been updated with studio estimates for the weekend.
Last week, it seemed like it would be a close race between two new comedies, Todd Phillips' R-Rated The Hangover (Warner Bros.) and Will Ferrell's take on the Saturday morning show Land of the Lost (Universal), but that ended up being a non-event.
Instead, this weekend became about whether Phillips' breakout comedy hit could in fact dethrone last week's #1 movie, the Pixar Animation/Disney animated hit Up, which dropped just 35% in its second weekend and just squeaked out a victory with roughly $44.2 million in its second weekend, bringing its total gross to $137.3 million in ten days.
With great buzz among a wide variety of audiences going into the weekend, The Hangover (Warner Bros.) kicked off the weekend grossing $16.5 million on Friday in 3,269 theaters, then dropped a little on Saturday to end the weekend with an estimated $43.3 million, averaging over $13 thousand per venue. It is the third biggest opening for an R-rated comedy, surpassing the opening weekend of past summer R-Rated comedy hits There's Something About Mary, Superbad, Knocked Up and Wedding Crashers.
Meanwhile, the attempt to bring Land of the Lost (Universal) to the screen was marred by overwhelmingly negative reviews and a confused marketing campaign that made it look like a movie suitable for kids despite its PG-13 rating. That and the fact that many of Will Ferrell's older fans opted for The Hangover led to a disappointing opening weekend of $19.5 million in 300 more theaters than the competing comedy, averaging $5.5 thousand per site.
Ben Stiller's comedy sequel Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (20th Century Fox) held up decently in its third weekend despite the comedy competition, dropping just 39% to add another $14.6 million to its total of $127.3 million.
J.J. Abrams' Star Trek (Paramount) stayed in fifth place with $8.4 million, a minor 33% drop from last weekend, its total box office of $222 million putting it well ahead as the top grossing movie of 2009.
Dropping three spots to sixth place, McG's Terminator Salvation (Warner Bros.) added another $8.1 million in its third weekend to cross the $100 million mark with $105.5 million.
Sam Raimi's Drag Me to Hell (Universal) dropped 54% in its second weekend, pulling in $7.3 million for eighth place with a total of $28.5 million.
The Ron Howard adaptation of Dan Brown's Angels & Demons (Sony), starring Tom Hanks, dropped to 8th place with $6.5 million and a four-weekend total of $116 million.
The only other new movie in wide release, the return of Nia (My Big Fat Greek Wedding) Vardalos in the Fox Searchlight comedy My Life in Ruins didn't stand much of a chance against the other two comedies. It opened with $3.2 million in 1,164 theaters for ninth place.
The Top 10 grossed an estimated $157.3 million, down 8% from the same June opening weekend last year when DreamWorks Animation's Kung Fu Panda won the weekend over Adam Sandler's You Don't Mess with the Zohan, $60 million to $38 million.
In limited release, Sam Mendes' new road comedy Away We Go (Focus Features) scored $143 thousand in four theaters in New York and L.A., averaging $35 thousand per venue.
Last week, it seemed like it would be a close race between two new comedies, Todd Phillips' R-Rated The Hangover (Warner Bros.) and Will Ferrell's take on the Saturday morning show Land of the Lost (Universal), but that ended up being a non-event.
Instead, this weekend became about whether Phillips' breakout comedy hit could in fact dethrone last week's #1 movie, the Pixar Animation/Disney animated hit Up, which dropped just 35% in its second weekend and just squeaked out a victory with roughly $44.2 million in its second weekend, bringing its total gross to $137.3 million in ten days.
With great buzz among a wide variety of audiences going into the weekend, The Hangover (Warner Bros.) kicked off the weekend grossing $16.5 million on Friday in 3,269 theaters, then dropped a little on Saturday to end the weekend with an estimated $43.3 million, averaging over $13 thousand per venue. It is the third biggest opening for an R-rated comedy, surpassing the opening weekend of past summer R-Rated comedy hits There's Something About Mary, Superbad, Knocked Up and Wedding Crashers.
Meanwhile, the attempt to bring Land of the Lost (Universal) to the screen was marred by overwhelmingly negative reviews and a confused marketing campaign that made it look like a movie suitable for kids despite its PG-13 rating. That and the fact that many of Will Ferrell's older fans opted for The Hangover led to a disappointing opening weekend of $19.5 million in 300 more theaters than the competing comedy, averaging $5.5 thousand per site.
Ben Stiller's comedy sequel Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (20th Century Fox) held up decently in its third weekend despite the comedy competition, dropping just 39% to add another $14.6 million to its total of $127.3 million.
J.J. Abrams' Star Trek (Paramount) stayed in fifth place with $8.4 million, a minor 33% drop from last weekend, its total box office of $222 million putting it well ahead as the top grossing movie of 2009.
Dropping three spots to sixth place, McG's Terminator Salvation (Warner Bros.) added another $8.1 million in its third weekend to cross the $100 million mark with $105.5 million.
Sam Raimi's Drag Me to Hell (Universal) dropped 54% in its second weekend, pulling in $7.3 million for eighth place with a total of $28.5 million.
The Ron Howard adaptation of Dan Brown's Angels & Demons (Sony), starring Tom Hanks, dropped to 8th place with $6.5 million and a four-weekend total of $116 million.
The only other new movie in wide release, the return of Nia (My Big Fat Greek Wedding) Vardalos in the Fox Searchlight comedy My Life in Ruins didn't stand much of a chance against the other two comedies. It opened with $3.2 million in 1,164 theaters for ninth place.
The Top 10 grossed an estimated $157.3 million, down 8% from the same June opening weekend last year when DreamWorks Animation's Kung Fu Panda won the weekend over Adam Sandler's You Don't Mess with the Zohan, $60 million to $38 million.
In limited release, Sam Mendes' new road comedy Away We Go (Focus Features) scored $143 thousand in four theaters in New York and L.A., averaging $35 thousand per venue.
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