Archive for March, 2012

‘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.

(more…)

‘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.

(more…)

‘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.

(more…)

’21 Jump Street’ wins US box office with $35 million

Sunday, March 18th, 2012
21 Jump Street Jonah Hill

The comedy adaptation of the popular ’80s cop show stars Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum as

two bumbling police officers who go undercover in a high school to bust a drug ring.

The film’s debut at number one beat out last week’s champion The Lorax, which falls to second place with $22.8 million.

The animated movie, which features voice work from Zac Efron, Betty White and Taylor Swift, has so far grossed over $158 million in the US.

Disney’s sci-fi epic John Carter slipped one spot to number three, raking in just $13.5 million, while Will Ferrell’s new Spanish language release Casa De Mi Padre debuted at ninth place with $2.2 million in earnings.

Reese Witherspoon’s spy comedy This Means War is still holding on to the top ten, dropping one spot from last week to number ten and earning $2.1 million, while Journey 2: The Mysterious Island leaps up to number eight, bringing in a further $2.46 million.

The US box office top ten in full (studio estimates):
1. (-) 21 Jump Street – $35,000,000
2. (1) Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax – $22,800,000
3. (2) John Carter – $13,515,000
4. (3) Project X – $4,005,000
5. (6) A Thousand Words – $3,750,000
6. (4) Act of Valor – $3,678,000
7. (7) Safe House – $2,800,000
8. (10) Journey 2: The Mysterious Island – $2,460,000
9. (-) Casa De Mi Padre – $2,200,000
10. (9) This Means War – $2,125,000

‘Leprechaun’ reboot in the works at Lionsgate

Friday, March 16th, 2012

Leprechaun is to be rebooted by Lionsgate.

The original horror series, which spanned six films between 1993 and 2003, starred Warwick Davis as the evil creature of folk law.

Lionsgate is reviving the franchise in conjunction with WWE Studios as part of a two-film deal between the two firms. They previously collaborated on See No Evil, starring wrestler Kane, and The Condemned with Steve Austin.

“We’ve been looking for ways to continue our relationship with Lionsgate,” WWE’s Michael Luisi told Variety. “We saw Leprechaun as the perfect opportunity to take a well-known franchise and put a modern-day spin on it.

“This is a property we believe our audience will respond to, and we continue to look for ways to surprise and engage them.”

(more…)

Clint Eastwood’s family for new E! reality series

Wednesday, March 14th, 2012

Clint Eastwood’s family are to star in a new E! reality series.

The legendary actor and director’s wife Dina Eastwood will be the main focus of Mrs. Eastwood and Company, which will premiere in May.

His two daughters Francesca, 18, and Morgan, 15 will also appear, while the 81-year-old will only make sporadic cameos.

“Nothing is more important to me than family – no matter how you define that,” Dina Eastwood told E! News.

(more…)

Bear Grylls dropped by Discovery in US

Tuesday, March 13th, 2012
Bear Grylls at the TV premiere for Bear Grylls: Born Survivor, London

Bear Grylls has been dropped from future projects with Discovery in the US.

The survival presenter’s relationship with the network has come to an end after he was unable to commit to two unannounced series, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Grylls launched Man vs. Wild on the channel in 2006, with its latest sixth season finishing in August last year.

“Due to a continuing contractual dispute with Bear Grylls, Discovery has terminated all current productions with him,” a spokesperson confirmed.

(more…)

‘Dr Seuss’ The Lorax’ retains US box office lead

Sunday, March 11th, 2012
The Lorax

Dr Seuss’ The Lorax has won the US box office for the second week running, topping the chart with a $39 milionweekend gross.

Its opening weekend claimed $70.7 million, taking the total gross up to $121.9 million.

The animated movie, featuring the voices of Taylor Swift and Zac Efron, managed to beat off competition from Disney’s new offering John Carter, which debuted with only $30.6 million.

Based on Tarzan creator Edgar Rice Burroughs’s tales of the adventurer, $250 million was spent on the film.

Other new entries came in the form of horror motion picture Silent House, starring Elizabeth Olsen, and comedy A Thousand Words, starring Eddie Murphy.

Olsen’s feature raked in $7 million, claiming the fourth position, and Murphy’s tale, based around a Bodhi tree, earned $6.35 million, taking sixth place.

The US box office top ten in full (studio estimates):
1.
(1) Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax – $39,100,000
2. (-) John Carter – $30,603,000
3. (2) Project X – $20,775,000
4. (-) Silent House – $7,010,000
5. (3) Act of Valor – $7,000,000
6. (-) A Thousand Words – $6,350,000
7. (4) Safe House – $5,000,000
8. (7) The Vow – $4,000,000
9. (8) This Means War – $3,750,000
10. (6) Journey 2: The Mysterious Island – $3,685,000