Archive for the ‘News Items’ Category

‘Maniac Cop’ prequel planned

Wednesday, April 18th, 2012

Nicolas Winding Refn is reportedly in talks to revive the Maniac Cop series.

The Drive director is on hand to co-produce a prequel to the 1988 horror film in collaboration with original director William Lustig, according to writer Larry Cohen.

“It’s going to be more a prequel than anything else, I am really excited to come back to this world especially since Nick is going to be a part of it,” Cohen told Daily Grindhouse. “Nick has been talking to us about it for a while now and I had an idea that would work so we’re going to do it.”

Cohen went on to say that the prequel will likely maintain the tone of the other entries in the series, and be backed by a larger budget.

Lustig added that the project is yet to be signed, but is “close” to receiving the green light.

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‘Hunger Games’ wins US box office for fourth week

Sunday, April 15th, 2012
Jennifer Lawrence in The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games has topped the US box office for the fourth week in a row.

Despite the premiere of two new highly-anticipated films this weekend, the dystopian drama starring Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson managed to hold the number one spot, earning $21.5 million. It has made over $300 million domestically to date.

The Three Stooges debuted in second place with $17.1 million, while Joss Whedon critical favourite The Cabin in the Woods took third place with $14.8 million.

James Cameron’s rereleased Titanic 3D fell one spot to number four with $11.6 million, and American Reunion had a larger drop from second to fifth place, earning $10.7 million.

Guy Pearce and Maggie Grace’s sci-fi action movie Lockout made a dismal debut at number nine with just $6.25 million.

Other films still holding on to the Top 10 include Tarsem Singh’s Mirror Mirror and Wrath of the Titans, which brought in $7 million and $6.9 million respectively.

Zac Efron’s The Lorax still clings at number ten with $3 million.

The US box office top ten in full (studio estimates):
1. (1) The Hunger Games – $21,500,000
2. (-) The Three Stooges – $17,100,000
3. (-) The Cabin in the Woods – $14,850,000
4. (3) Titanic 3D – $11,625,000
5. (2) American Reunion – $10,700,000
6. (5) Mirror Mirror – $7,000,000
7. (4) Wrath of the Titans – $6,905,000
8. (6) 21 Jump Street – $6,800,000
9. (-) Lockout – $6,250,000
10. (7) Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax – $3,020,000

‘Game of Thrones’ renewed by HBO for third season

Tuesday, April 10th, 2012

Game of Thrones has been renewed for a third season, HBO has confirmed.

The fantasy drama, starring Peter Dinklage and Lena Headey, is currently airing its second season.

HBO president Michael Lombardo said in a statement: “Series creators David Benioff and DB Weiss raised our expectations for the second season – and then surpassed them.

“We are thrilled by all the viewer and media support we’ve received for the series, and can’t wait to see what Dan and David have in store for next season.”

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‘Hunger Games’ tops US box office for third week

Sunday, April 8th, 2012

The Hunger Games has held tight to its top spot in the US box office for the third week running.

While two new films premiered this weekend, including the long-awaited 15th anniversary re-release of Titanic 3D, the big-screen adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ young adult dystopian novel continued its winning streak, taking in $33.5 million in ticket sales.

American Reunion, the latest instalment in the American Pie franchise, came in second place with a strong opening of $21.5 million, while James Cameron’s historical drama Titanic 3D landed in the third place spot with $17.4 million.

Sam Worthington’s Wrath of the Titans fell two spots to number four with $15 million, while Snow White remake Mirror Mirror was also bumped two spots to number five with $11 million.

Other films retaining a place in the Top 10 included Zac Efron’s The Lorax and 21 Jump Street, both of which slipped two spots but still managed to bring in $5 million and $10.2 million respectively.

Salmon Fishing in the Yemen and John Carter also held strong, while Ryan Reynolds and Denzel Washington’s Safe House saw an improvement, moving from number 12 to ten with $581,000.

The US box office top ten in full (studio estimates):
1.
(1) The Hunger Games – $33,500,000
2. (-) American Reunion – $21,500,000
3. (-) Titanic 3D – $17,350,000
4. (2) Wrath of the Titans – $15,010,000
5. (3) Mirror Mirror – $11,000,000
6. (4) 21 Jump Street – $10,200,000
7. (5) Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax – $5,000,000
8. (7) Salmon Fishing in the Yemen – $975,000
9. (6) John Carter – $820,000
10. (12) Safe House – $581, 000

‘The Hunger Games’ tops US box office again with $61m

Sunday, April 1st, 2012
Jennifer Lawrence in The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games has come out on top for the second week in a row at the US box office with $61 million.

Two new films made their theatrical releases this weekend, but failed to knock the adaptation of the Suzanne Collins young adult novel from the number one spot.

Sam Worthington’s Wrath of the Titans, the follow up to 2010’s Clash of the Titans, debuted at second place with $34 million, while Julia Roberts’s Snow White story Mirror Mirror came in third with $19 million.

Last weekend, The Hunger Games debuted with $155 million, making history as the third biggest movie debut of all time.

The 21 Jump Street remake, starring Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill, fell from second place to number four with $15 million, bumping Disney’s big-budget movie John Carter to the number six spot with $2 million.

Zac Efron and Taylor Swift’s Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax rounds out the top five with $8 million.

Salmon Fishing in the Yemen saw a huge improvement as it went from number 16 to one of the top ten films this weekend with $1.274 million.

The film, which stars Ewan McGregor and Emily Blunt, tells the story of fisheries expert Fred Jones (McGregor), who introduces salmon into the waterways of Yemen for the purposes of sport fishing.

The US box office top ten in full (studio estimates):
1. (1) The Hunger Games – $61,100,000
2. (-) Wrath of the Titans – $34,200,000
3. (-) Mirror Mirror – $19,000,000
4. (2) 21 Jump Street – $15,000,000
5. (3) Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax – $8,000,000
6. (4) John Carter – $2,005,000
7. (16) Salmon Fishing in the Yemen – $1,274,000
8. (5) Act of Valor – $1,006,000
9. (6) A Thousand Words – $915,000
10. (10) Journey 2: The Mysterious Island – $835,000

‘Revenge of Chucky’ in the works, says Brad Dourif

Thursday, March 29th, 2012

Revenge of Chucky is in the works, according to Brad Dourif.

The actor, who supplies the voice of the titular killer doll, said that a new entry in the horror series is in development alongside the proposed Child’s Play remake.

Moviehole reports that Dourif is attached to both projects, but is yet to see a script for either. Revenge of Chucky is described as a “spinoff” involving the character’s immediate family, while the remake will be a darker retelling of the original Child’s Play.

Don Mancini and David Kirschner, who worked on several entries in the series, have been planning the remake for some time. MGM pledged financial backing to the project last year, but there have been no developments since.

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‘The Hunger Games’ wins US box office with $155m

Sunday, March 25th, 2012
Jennifer Lawrence in The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games has topped the US box office with $155 million.

The movie, based on the best-selling book by Suzanne Collins, has made history by earning the third biggest movie debut of all time, and the highest debut for any movie opening outside of summer.

It stars Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen, a young girl who must fight to the death on live television in a dystopian version of the future. It also features Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Lenny Kravitz, Woody Harrelson and Elizabeth Banks.

The debut knocked out the hit Channing Tatum comedy 21 Jump Street, which fell to number two on the list, making $21.3 million.

Also still hanging on to the top spots are The Lorax in third place with $13.1 million, and the sci-fi adventure John Carter, coming in at number four with a little over $5 million.

John Carter, which stars Taylor Kitsch, Willem Dafoe and Dominic West, has proven to be a major flop for Disney, which has lost $200 million in the investment.

An even less stellar performance came from the anti-abortion movie October Baby, which debuted at number 8, earning $1.7 million.

Making $1.3 million, the Dwayne Johnson family adventure Journey 2: The Mysterious Island rounds out the top ten.

The US box office top ten in full (studio estimates):
1.
(-) The Hunger Games – $155,000,000
2. (1) 21 Jump Street – $21,300,000
3. (2) Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax – $13,100,000
4. (3) John Carter – $5,014,000
5. (5) Act of Valor – $2,062,000
6. (4) Project X – $1,950,000
7. (6) A Thousand Words – $1,925,000
8. (-) October Baby – $1,718,000
9. (7) Safe House – $1,400,000
10. (8) Journey 2: The Mysterious Island – $1,373,000

Vinnie Jones joins Stallone, Schwarzenegger in ‘The Tomb’

Sunday, March 25th, 2012

Vinnie Jones has signed up to star in the upcoming action blockbuster The Tomb.

Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger will lead the project, which centres on a prison expert (Stallone) who gets trapped in a lock-up that he designed.

Earlier this week, Jones hinted that he may be joining the film, saying: “I might have a film coming up with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sly Stallone. Those boys are knocking on a bit.

“At least I’ll be prepared if the action scenes get a bit too heavy for them.”

However, he has now confirmed his involvement, telling The Sun: “Start filming April 19 in New Orleans. Biggest blockbuster of next summer – $120 million budget (£80 million).

“It’s about three cons in prison looking to bust out.”

Person of Interest actor Jim Caviezel also recently signed up for the project.

Melissa Leo joins Tom Cruise’s ‘Oblivion’

Saturday, March 24th, 2012
Oscar Winners Melissa Leo

Melissa Leo has joined the cast of the upcoming futuristic thriller Oblivion, it has been reported.

The film centers on a veteran soldier sent to a distant planet where he must destroy an alien race, who begins to question the morality of his mission. It stars Tom Cruise, Morgan Freeman and Andrea Riseborough.

Deadline reports that Leo has joined the movie, which is already filming in Baton Rouge. It is unknown what role she will be playing.

The 51-year-old actress will be seen next opposite Denzel Washington in the thriller Flight.

She is also currently filming the third season of the hit HBO drama Treme.

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‘Hangover III’, ‘300’ prequel, ‘Pacific Rim’ given release dates

Thursday, March 22nd, 2012

Warner Bros has announced official release dates for some of its upcoming projects.

The Hangover III will be released in cinemas in the US for Memorial Day weekend on May 24, 2013.

Prequel 300: The Battle of Artemisia will also see a summer release on August 2, 2013.

Guillermo del Toro project Pacific Rim has also been pushed back from May 10 to July 12, 2013.

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