The Apatow-verse still hasn’t dealt with sequels as of yet, but it’s bound to happen eventually. Yesterday Judd Apatow appeared on the Funny or Die Writer’s Room and talked about topics ranging from his first project and living with Adam Sandler, to potential sequels for films he’s directed or produced. In regards to the latter, he offered up some info on the potential for Superbad and Pineapple Express sequels.
Apatow seemed pretty confident that Superbad 2 probably won’t happen anytime soon, despite how much he’s begged Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg. He says “they don’t want to ruin it”, and that “it’s a gem of a movie, and they don’t want a crappy second.” He goes on to say that there’s a little talk of a Pineapple Express sequel, and that we’d “have a better shot at seeing that.”
While I had fun with Superbad, I’d personally much rather see any film in the Pineapple Express universe—if only to see James Franco reprise his role. Superbad’s story seemed fairly well contained, whereas Pineapple Express could potentially continue as a series of stoner adventures a la Cheech and Chong.
Apatow also makes quick mention of Get Him to the Greek, the spin-off film from Forgetting Sarah Marshall. The film is the closest thing the Apatow-verse has gotten to a sequel (he calls it a “sideways sequel”). He says “It’s sort of like My Favorite Year on heroin”.
To a degree, I much prefer the fact that the Apatow films (both directed and produced) have each been somewhat different. I appreciate that they’d rather move on to new and original ideas instead of trying to create an endless franchise. This is a philsophy I wish formerly-great comedians like Eddie Murphy and Steve Martin could follow as well.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo Reunite For Another Vacation
Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo will be reprising their roles as Clark and Ellen Griswold from the National Lampoon’s Vacation movies, but not for another big screen sequel (not yet, at least…).
You might recall that last month we told you that New Line/Warner Bros had signed Wedding Crashers and Fred Claus director David Dobkin to produce and possibly direct a new film in the National Lampoon’s Vacation series which would follow Rusty Griswold, the son of Clark Griswold, who is now a father in his own right and takes his family on a, you guessed it, road trip vacation. Although New Line/WB hopes to sign Chase and D’Angelo to return as grandparents in the new film, no deals are in place.
So if not the big screen, when, where and why?
The Griswolds will be reuniting insead for an advertising campaign to be launched during the 2010 Superbowl. The television spot is for HomeAway vacation rentals (a natural fit) and according to US Weekly, will also feature an exact replica of the film’s iconic Wagon Queen Family Truckster. We’ll post the commercial once it comes online, but I’m sure you’ll see it first on February 7th 2010 during the big game.
As for the developing Vacation sequel/reboot… we’ve heard a screenwriter has yet to be hired for the project. If anyone hears anything, please let us know.
You might recall that last month we told you that New Line/Warner Bros had signed Wedding Crashers and Fred Claus director David Dobkin to produce and possibly direct a new film in the National Lampoon’s Vacation series which would follow Rusty Griswold, the son of Clark Griswold, who is now a father in his own right and takes his family on a, you guessed it, road trip vacation. Although New Line/WB hopes to sign Chase and D’Angelo to return as grandparents in the new film, no deals are in place.
So if not the big screen, when, where and why?
The Griswolds will be reuniting insead for an advertising campaign to be launched during the 2010 Superbowl. The television spot is for HomeAway vacation rentals (a natural fit) and according to US Weekly, will also feature an exact replica of the film’s iconic Wagon Queen Family Truckster. We’ll post the commercial once it comes online, but I’m sure you’ll see it first on February 7th 2010 during the big game.
As for the developing Vacation sequel/reboot… we’ve heard a screenwriter has yet to be hired for the project. If anyone hears anything, please let us know.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
ABC Sets Lost Premiere Date
First the island moved; now Lost is moving to a new night. The sixth and final season of the ABC series is scheduled for a two-hour premiere Tuesday, Feb. 2, at 9/8c, TVGuide.com has confirmed.
Last season, the Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse-produced drama held the Wednesday night slot; during Season 4, it ran on Thursday nights.
ABC also announced the regular cast members for Season 6, including Naveen Andrews, Nestor Carbonell, Emile de Ravin, Michael Emerson, Jeff Fahey, Matthew Fox, Jorge Garcia, Josh Holloway, Daniel Dae Kim, Yunjin Kim, Ken Leung, Evangeline Lilly, Terry O'Quinn and Zuleikha Robinson.
V star Elizabeth Mitchell is missing from the list, but she has been flying to Hawaii often to shoot guest stints for the show.
Last season, the Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse-produced drama held the Wednesday night slot; during Season 4, it ran on Thursday nights.
ABC also announced the regular cast members for Season 6, including Naveen Andrews, Nestor Carbonell, Emile de Ravin, Michael Emerson, Jeff Fahey, Matthew Fox, Jorge Garcia, Josh Holloway, Daniel Dae Kim, Yunjin Kim, Ken Leung, Evangeline Lilly, Terry O'Quinn and Zuleikha Robinson.
V star Elizabeth Mitchell is missing from the list, but she has been flying to Hawaii often to shoot guest stints for the show.
NBC's Chuck Returning on Jan. 10
NBC's Chuck is returning on Sunday, Jan., 10, at 9/8c with back-to-back episodes. The spy series will then move to Monday nights at 8/9c beginning Jan. 11, TVGuide.com has confirmed.
When the show returns, Chuck (Zachary Levi) is dealing with his transformation into the Intersect 2.0. In his quest to become an actual agent, the nerdy spook must keep his emotions in check to protect the ones he loves.
Season 3 boasts guests including Angie Harmon, Brandon Routh, Robert Patrick, Kristin Kreuk, Armand Assante, Steve Austin and Vinne Jones.
Yes, Chuck is pushing Heroes into the 9/8c timeslot, but not without a sweet parting gift. On Jan. 4, Heroes will air a special two-hour episode.
When the show returns, Chuck (Zachary Levi) is dealing with his transformation into the Intersect 2.0. In his quest to become an actual agent, the nerdy spook must keep his emotions in check to protect the ones he loves.
Season 3 boasts guests including Angie Harmon, Brandon Routh, Robert Patrick, Kristin Kreuk, Armand Assante, Steve Austin and Vinne Jones.
Yes, Chuck is pushing Heroes into the 9/8c timeslot, but not without a sweet parting gift. On Jan. 4, Heroes will air a special two-hour episode.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Iverson, Grizzlies part ways after tumultuous start
The saga of Allen Iverson and the Memphis Grizzlies lasted less than two months. Monday, the two sides agreed to release the 34-year-old from his one-year contract, meaning Iverson will become a free agent when he clears waivers.
Iverson, who'd signed a $3.5 million contract in September, had been away from the team for the past 10 days, taking a leave of absence from the team to deal with what both he and the team called a private family matter. But it also was crystal clear that Iverson was not going to abide by the team's decision that he come off the bench instead of start, and that meant a long-term relationship between the two was ultimately going to be impossible.
"I'm sorry it didnt work out," Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley said by telephone in confirming the agreement, first reported by the Memphis Commercial Appeal. "We had our problems but he also has personal problems. We just couldn't put it together. The people of Memphis are doing to be disturbed and I'm disturbed, because I was really looking forward to it. But that happens in this business sometimes."
Heisley insisted several times that he wasn't angry with Iverson, who only played in three regular season games for Memphis, averaging 12.3 points, after suffering a torn hamstring early in training camp that caused him to miss the whole preseason. Once he came back, Coach Lionel Hollins had chosen to go with Mike Conley as his starter at the point, and preferred Iverson come off the bench. Iverson chafed at that potential role, and said that he had never discussed his place in the rotation with Hollins during his absence.
His third and last game with Memphis was Nov. 6 in Los Angeles against the Lakers. The next day, he requested and was granted a leave of absence, saying he had to attend to a family matter. Heisley met several times with Iverson, his longtime business manager, Gary Moore, as well as his agent, Leon Rose. Heisley spoke with Rose as late as Monday morning trying to reach an accommodation before the team decided to agree to the release.
"He said he had a personal problem and came in to talk to me about that," Heisley said. "I said 'go back and take whatever time you need, and when you're ready you can come back'...I feel like he's being honest with me. I think he respects me. I've leveled with him all down the line. I've always understood that it was going to be very difficult for Allen. He wants to start. He is a player who has a reputation.
"We made it clear that he would have to earn time because we've moved down the road. He wasn't angry about that. He was disappointed. I don't want you to think I'm not deeply disappointed. I am. But in no way am I going to put it on Allen. If he hadn't been injured during training camp it may have been different, because he would have had a chance to prove that he deserved to play more minutes."
Heisley said his "biggest sorrow" is that fans in Memphis didn't see Iverson play. "They were really looking forward to it, and I'm sure I'm going to get a lot of heat for that," he said. He also insisted that the team's signing of veteran point guard Jamaal Tinsley this weekend was completely unrelated to the Iverson issue. He said that if Iverson had come back, the team hoped to play him more at shooting guard, with Tinsley playing the point. Tinsley has been out of basketball for more than a year, after being told by the Indiana Pacers in the spring of 2008 not to return to the team and to stay away from the Pacers' practice facilities while they tried to trade him.
Indiana spent all of last season trying to make a deal, before finally agreeing to settle on the final two years and $14.7 million on his contract, buying him out for more than $10 million.
"I thought there was a good chance he might come back," Heisley said. "But he really did have a personal problem. I don't know what it is and frankly I didn't want to get into it...I guess he just felt rather than try and play, he would step aside. I don't know if somebody's going to pick him up this season. I hope so. Even if he doesn't play for me, I hope he does, because I think he's a fantastic player. I think it's good for Allen and good for the league that he's playing...It just didn't work out. My attitude is I have no ill feelings one way or another. I'm glad he gave us the opportunity to try and make it work."
Iverson came to Memphis after playing most of one season in Detroit, following his trade from the Denver Nuggets to the Pistons early last season. He averaged 17.4 points in 54 games, but had the same issues with the Pistons that he ultimately had with Memphis, saying he would rather retire than come off the bench, as he did late in the season once Richard Hamilton returned from an injury.
The 2001 NBA Most Valuable Player has scored 24,020 regular season points in 13 seasons, led the 76ers to the Finals in 2001 and made nine All-Star teams. He remains one of the league's most popular players, with jersey sales annually among the top 10 players.
Iverson, who'd signed a $3.5 million contract in September, had been away from the team for the past 10 days, taking a leave of absence from the team to deal with what both he and the team called a private family matter. But it also was crystal clear that Iverson was not going to abide by the team's decision that he come off the bench instead of start, and that meant a long-term relationship between the two was ultimately going to be impossible.
"I'm sorry it didnt work out," Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley said by telephone in confirming the agreement, first reported by the Memphis Commercial Appeal. "We had our problems but he also has personal problems. We just couldn't put it together. The people of Memphis are doing to be disturbed and I'm disturbed, because I was really looking forward to it. But that happens in this business sometimes."
Heisley insisted several times that he wasn't angry with Iverson, who only played in three regular season games for Memphis, averaging 12.3 points, after suffering a torn hamstring early in training camp that caused him to miss the whole preseason. Once he came back, Coach Lionel Hollins had chosen to go with Mike Conley as his starter at the point, and preferred Iverson come off the bench. Iverson chafed at that potential role, and said that he had never discussed his place in the rotation with Hollins during his absence.
His third and last game with Memphis was Nov. 6 in Los Angeles against the Lakers. The next day, he requested and was granted a leave of absence, saying he had to attend to a family matter. Heisley met several times with Iverson, his longtime business manager, Gary Moore, as well as his agent, Leon Rose. Heisley spoke with Rose as late as Monday morning trying to reach an accommodation before the team decided to agree to the release.
"He said he had a personal problem and came in to talk to me about that," Heisley said. "I said 'go back and take whatever time you need, and when you're ready you can come back'...I feel like he's being honest with me. I think he respects me. I've leveled with him all down the line. I've always understood that it was going to be very difficult for Allen. He wants to start. He is a player who has a reputation.
"We made it clear that he would have to earn time because we've moved down the road. He wasn't angry about that. He was disappointed. I don't want you to think I'm not deeply disappointed. I am. But in no way am I going to put it on Allen. If he hadn't been injured during training camp it may have been different, because he would have had a chance to prove that he deserved to play more minutes."
Heisley said his "biggest sorrow" is that fans in Memphis didn't see Iverson play. "They were really looking forward to it, and I'm sure I'm going to get a lot of heat for that," he said. He also insisted that the team's signing of veteran point guard Jamaal Tinsley this weekend was completely unrelated to the Iverson issue. He said that if Iverson had come back, the team hoped to play him more at shooting guard, with Tinsley playing the point. Tinsley has been out of basketball for more than a year, after being told by the Indiana Pacers in the spring of 2008 not to return to the team and to stay away from the Pacers' practice facilities while they tried to trade him.
Indiana spent all of last season trying to make a deal, before finally agreeing to settle on the final two years and $14.7 million on his contract, buying him out for more than $10 million.
"I thought there was a good chance he might come back," Heisley said. "But he really did have a personal problem. I don't know what it is and frankly I didn't want to get into it...I guess he just felt rather than try and play, he would step aside. I don't know if somebody's going to pick him up this season. I hope so. Even if he doesn't play for me, I hope he does, because I think he's a fantastic player. I think it's good for Allen and good for the league that he's playing...It just didn't work out. My attitude is I have no ill feelings one way or another. I'm glad he gave us the opportunity to try and make it work."
Iverson came to Memphis after playing most of one season in Detroit, following his trade from the Denver Nuggets to the Pistons early last season. He averaged 17.4 points in 54 games, but had the same issues with the Pistons that he ultimately had with Memphis, saying he would rather retire than come off the bench, as he did late in the season once Richard Hamilton returned from an injury.
The 2001 NBA Most Valuable Player has scored 24,020 regular season points in 13 seasons, led the 76ers to the Finals in 2001 and made nine All-Star teams. He remains one of the league's most popular players, with jersey sales annually among the top 10 players.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Emmerich's 2012 Destroys at the Box Office
The ComingSoon.net Box Office Report has been updated with studio estimates for the weekend.
Roland Emmerich kicked off the holiday season in earnest with the biggest single movie weekend box office take since July, as his latest disaster flick 2012 (Sony Pictures), starring John Cusack and Chiwetel Ejiofor, brought in an estimated $65 million over the weekend, making it the seventh-biggest November opener ever. Produced for $200 million, Emmerich's latest simultaneously brought in $160 million outside the United States for a 3-day worldwide gross of $225 million.
In its second weekend, Disney's A Christmas Carol, Robert Zemeckis' animated Charles Dickens adaptation starring Jim Carrey, had a moderate drop of 26% to end up in second place with $22.3 million. It has grossed $63.3 million in ten days playing in regular, IMAX and digital 3D theaters.
Grant Heslov's political comedy The Men Who Stare at Goats (Overture Films), starring George Clooney and Ewan McGregor remained in third place with an estimated $6.2 million and $23.4 million total gross.
Nipping at its heels, Lee Daniels' runaway hit Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire (Lionsgate) expanded into 174 theaters and did well enough to end up in fourth place with $6.1 million, averaging over $35 thousand per site. The indie drama reportedly made for $10 million has grossed $9 million so far with plans to expand even wider over the next two weekends.
Michael Jackson's This Is It (Sony) took its biggest drop, plummeting over 60% to end up in fifth place with $5.1 million and $68.2 million total. The Milla Jovovich thriller The Fourth Kind (Universal) dropped to sixth place with a similar drop to bring in $4.7 million this weekend and $20.5 million total. It remained just ahead of Paramount's Paranormal Activity with $4.6 million, as it crossed the $100 million mark on Friday.
Richard Curtis' seaward musical comedy Pirate Radio (Focus Features) ended up outside the Top 10 at #11 with less than $2.9 million in 882 theaters.
The Top 10 grossed roughly $126 million, which was down 6% from last year when Sony's Quantum of Solace topped the box office with $67.5 million.
Opening in four theaters in New York and L.A., Wes Anderson's animated adaptation of Roald Dahl's Fantastic Mr. Fox (20th Century Fox) brought in $260 thousand, roughly $65k per site, while Oren Moverman's The Messenger (Oscilloscope Labs) brought in $50 thousand in the same number of theaters.
Roland Emmerich kicked off the holiday season in earnest with the biggest single movie weekend box office take since July, as his latest disaster flick 2012 (Sony Pictures), starring John Cusack and Chiwetel Ejiofor, brought in an estimated $65 million over the weekend, making it the seventh-biggest November opener ever. Produced for $200 million, Emmerich's latest simultaneously brought in $160 million outside the United States for a 3-day worldwide gross of $225 million.
In its second weekend, Disney's A Christmas Carol, Robert Zemeckis' animated Charles Dickens adaptation starring Jim Carrey, had a moderate drop of 26% to end up in second place with $22.3 million. It has grossed $63.3 million in ten days playing in regular, IMAX and digital 3D theaters.
Grant Heslov's political comedy The Men Who Stare at Goats (Overture Films), starring George Clooney and Ewan McGregor remained in third place with an estimated $6.2 million and $23.4 million total gross.
Nipping at its heels, Lee Daniels' runaway hit Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire (Lionsgate) expanded into 174 theaters and did well enough to end up in fourth place with $6.1 million, averaging over $35 thousand per site. The indie drama reportedly made for $10 million has grossed $9 million so far with plans to expand even wider over the next two weekends.
Michael Jackson's This Is It (Sony) took its biggest drop, plummeting over 60% to end up in fifth place with $5.1 million and $68.2 million total. The Milla Jovovich thriller The Fourth Kind (Universal) dropped to sixth place with a similar drop to bring in $4.7 million this weekend and $20.5 million total. It remained just ahead of Paramount's Paranormal Activity with $4.6 million, as it crossed the $100 million mark on Friday.
Richard Curtis' seaward musical comedy Pirate Radio (Focus Features) ended up outside the Top 10 at #11 with less than $2.9 million in 882 theaters.
The Top 10 grossed roughly $126 million, which was down 6% from last year when Sony's Quantum of Solace topped the box office with $67.5 million.
Opening in four theaters in New York and L.A., Wes Anderson's animated adaptation of Roald Dahl's Fantastic Mr. Fox (20th Century Fox) brought in $260 thousand, roughly $65k per site, while Oren Moverman's The Messenger (Oscilloscope Labs) brought in $50 thousand in the same number of theaters.
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