Patty Jenkins will no longer direct Thor 2.
The Monster director signed on to Thor 2 in September after actor Kenneth Branagh turned down the opportunity to helm the sequel.
Deadline reports that Jenkins exited the project due to “creative differences”, though no further details have been revealed.
Jenkins has also worked in television, directing the pilot episode of the US remake of The Killing and episodes of shows such as Entourage and Arrested Development.
Twilight: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 has topped the US box office for a third week in a row.
The penultimate movie in the vampire franchise, starring Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner, took $16.9 million in one of the quietest weekends of the year.
The Muppets – starring Jason Segel and Amy Adams – held steady at two, while Hugo climbed two places to third place.
Arthur Christmas levelled at four, with Happy Feet Two falling two to complete the top five.
There were no new entries inside the top ten, with The Descendants climbing up two spots to this week’s seven.
This week’s US box office top ten (studio estimates):
1. (1) The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 – $16.9 million
2. (2) The Muppets – $11.2 million
3. (5) Hugo – $7.62 million
4. (4) Arthur Christmas – $7.35 million
5. (3) Happy Feet Two – $6 million
6. (6) Jack and Jill – $5.5 million
7. (9) The Descendants – $5.2 million
8. (7) Immortals – $4.39 million
9. (10) Tower Heist – $4.1 million
10. (8) Puss in Boots – $3.05 million
The London Critics’ Circle will award Nicholas Roeg with its top honour in 2012.
The Don’t Look Now director will receive the Dilys Powell Award for excellence in cinema, reports BBC News.
“This award has truly amazed me and certainly caught me a bit left-footed,” the 83-year-old said.
“I’m sure the critics will understand when I say – on looking through and reading some of my old reviews, I’m torn between thanking you and forgiving you.
“But having slept on it, I’ll go with the positive and thank you all and hope that in the countdown for the decision of the Critics’ Circle to give me a tribute, some old mathematical rule applied where two negatives can sometimes make a positive.”
Ken Russell, the British film director, has died at the age of 84.
The director, whose work includes Women in Love, The Devils and Tommy, died peacefully in his sleep in hospital yesterday afternoon (November 27), his son Alex confirmed.
Novelist and broadcaster Norman Lebrecht revealed the news on the Arts Journal blog.
Born in Southampton in 1927, Russell served in both the Royal Air Force and Merchant Navy before moving into directing television documentaries.
He started feature film directing with his 1963 movie French Dressing before making Harry Palmer film Billion Dollar Brain with Michael Caine.
Russell’s 1969 adaptation of DH Lawrence’s Women in Love earned him an Oscar nomination for ‘Best Director’ and won its star Glenda Jackson a ‘Best Actress’ Academy Award.
His 1971 historical drama The Devils, starring Oliver Reed and Vanessa Redgrave, sparked huge controversy for its violent, sexual and religious content and found itself banned in several countries.
The BFI is due to release The Devils on DVD on March 19, 2012 in its original UK ‘X’ certificate form.
Among Russell’s other directing credits include Lisztomania, Altered States and Whore. His last directing job was in 2006 when he oversaw the ‘Girl with Golden Breasts’ segment of horror Trapped Ashes.
Russell is survived by his wife Lisi Tribble and five children from his first marriage to Shirley Russell.
Twilight: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 convincingly held onto its box office lead in Thanksgiving weekend.
The penultimate vampire movie, starring Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner, last week debuted with a huge $139.5 million, the fifth-highest opening in box office history.
The Muppets premiered strongly in second place, while Happy Feet Two fell to third place.
Both Arthur Christmas and Hugo exceeded expectations by finishing fourth and fifth respectively.
3D action thriller Immortal‘s sharp fall continued, from third to seventh, overtaken by Jack and Jill.
US box office top ten for the five-day Thanksgiving weekend (studio estimates):
1. (-) The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 – $62.2 million
2. (-) The Muppets – $42 million
3. (2) Happy Feet Two – $18.5 million
4. (-) Arthur Christmas – $17 million
5. (-) Hugo – $15.3 million
6. (4) Jack and Jill – $14.1 million
7. (3) Immortals – $12.5 million
8. (5) Puss in Boots – $10.3 million
9. (6) Tower Heist – $10.1 million
10. (-) The Descendents – $9.4 million
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 has crushed its competition at the US box office.
The penultimate instalment in The Twilight Saga, which was met with negative early reviews, posted the fifth highest opening weekend ever, taking in approximately $139.5 million from 4,061 locations.
Only Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2, The Dark Knight, Spider-Man 3, and The Twilight Saga: New Moon have earned more on the opening weekend.
The final instalment of The Twilight Saga will open on November 16, 2012.
Happy Feet Two opened to $22 million, falling short of expectations. The original film opened to $41.5 million in 2006.
3D action thriller Immortals saw a sharp drop in its second week. The Henry Cavill film fell to third place, taking in $12.3 million, which brought its total earnings to $52.9 million.
Meanwhile, Adam Sandler’s Jack and Jill dropped to fourth place, pulling in $12.0 million to bring its total earnings to $41 million.
The animated film Puss in Boots rounded out the top five films, taking in an additional $10.7 million.
This week’s US box office top ten (studio estimates):
1. (-) The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 – $139.5 million
2. (-) Happy Feet Two – $22 million
3. (1) Immortals – $12.3 million
4. (2) Jack and Jill – $12 million
5. (3) Puss in Boots – $10.7 million
6. (4) Tower Heist – $7 million
7. (5) J. Edgar – 5.9 million
8. (6) A Very Harold and Kumar 3D Christmas – $2.9 million
9. (7) In Time – $1.7 million
10. (-) The Descendents – $1.2 million
Steven Soderbergh has reportedly quit as director for the upcoming Man from U.N.C.L.E. adaptation.
The Contagion director had been developing the project with writer Scott Z. Burns since early 2010, but has now dropped out due to disagreements with Warner Bros, according to The Playlist.
Soderbergh is said to have clashed with Warner Bros over the film’s budget and lack of a male lead, after a deal with Bradley Cooper fell through recently.
Channing Tatum was said to be considered for the lead role, but has now reportedly also exited. George Clooney also decided against signing up for the main part of US agent Napoleon Solo.
The director was also displeased with the studio’s lack of concrete plans for the film’s production, with shooting expected to have started in March 2012.
Warner Bros are now reportedly looking to reschedule the project’s filming dates with a new director.
Steven Soderbergh recently downplayed reports that he was planning to retire in the near future.
3D action thriller Immortals has reigned victorious atop the US box office.
Tarsem Singh’s fantasy, starring Henry Cavill, debuted in pole position after taking $32 million over the weekend.
Adam Sandler comedy Jack and Jill had to settle for second place, opening with $26 million.
Puss In Boots was knocked down to third place with $25.5 million, having topped the box office for the last fortnight.
Rounding off the top five films, Clint Eastwood’s J. Edgar, starring Leonardo Di Caprio, managed $11.5 million but was beaten to fourth place by Tower Heist.
This week’s US box office top ten (studio estimates):
1. (-) Immortals – $32 million
2. (-) Jack and Jill – $26 million
3. (1) Puss In Boots – $25.5 million
4. (2) Tower Heist – $13.2 million
5. (-) J. Edgar – $11.5 million
6. (3) A Very Harold and Kumar 3D Christmas – $5.9 million
7. (5) In Time – $4.15 million
8. (4) Paranormal Activity 3 – $3.63 million
9. (6) Footloose – $2.74 million
10. (7) Real Steel – $2 million
The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman has revealed that planning for a third season has begun.
The zombie drama, which stars Andrew Lincoln and Sarah Wayne Callies, was officially picked up for a third run in late October.
“Despite just having gotten the final word on season three, you don’t do a show like this without being mindful of what you’re building towards,” Kirkman told Entertainment Weekly.
“At least once a week in the writers’ room, we spend an hour or two just talking about all the different things that we’re planning on doing in a proposed third season.”
Starz has renewed the Spartacus series for a third season, before the second season has even aired.
The untitled third run is expected to start production in New Zealand early next year, while the second season, called Spartacus: Vengeance, will debut on January 27, 2012 at 10pm (EST).
“There is no denying the impact Spartacus has had in the marketplace with fans across the globe thirsting for the continuation of the epic tale,” Starz Media Managing Director Carmi Zlotnik said. “Vengeance brings unparalleled action and drama to Starz viewers in January.
“We are thrilled to come to an early agreement that allows the writers and talent to get right back to work in preparing for season three.”