Stars Align For Spider-Man 4

Posted by Kathleen Kane Categories: Columbia Pictures, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Sequels, Thrillers, Celeb News, Filmmaking, Rumors, Upcoming Releases

After waiting for the will-they-won’t-they with Sam Raimi, Kirsten Dunst, and Tobey Maguire, Columbia Pictures has finally stamped a release date of May 5, 2011 for Spider-Man 4.

Considering that Thor is due out June 17, and The First Avenger: Captain America hits theaters July 22 that same summer, we’ll be in for quite a Marvel-ous theater-going experience three months in a row!

For all of the Sam Raimi fans, it has been revealed that Bruce Campbell has signed on for a major part this time around (in the first three Spidey films, the Evil Dead actor appeared in mere cameos)—quite possibly a villainous role, too.

Filming is expected to begin early next year, but if you can’t wait that long, there are always those Spider-Man comics to pass the time—you know, those things that these blockbusters originated from…

Read More | E! Online

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Spider-Man Writer Announced

Posted by Kathleen Kane Categories: Columbia Pictures, Sony, Action, Adaptation, Romance, Sequels, Scripts, Upcoming Releases

Just as Sony is in the midst of prepping Spider-Man 4 for filming, the studio made little hesitation with Spider-Man 5 and Spider-Man 6 by hiring Zodiac writer James Vanderbilt to pen the scripts.

Vanderbilt isn’t new to the Spider-Man films—he wrote the initial script for Spider-Man 4, which was later revised by Inkheart screenwriter David Lindsay-Abaire (Seabiscuit writer/director Gary Ross is currently revising that script).

Columbia Pictures and Marvel Studios clearly have faith in Vanderbilt, whose ideas director Sam Raimi didn’t necessarily embrace (leading him to rewrite). Nonetheless, he has now been given a second chance with the scripts for the fifth and sixth installations, which are expected to have an interconnected storyline. With that said, executives are planning to use Vanderbilt’s two scripts as a franchise reboot in case Raimi and stars Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst do not return.

While I find it amusing that they’re considering a reboot for the series, I admire that they’re wasting no time in seeing these films made. Let’s just hope that the producers can assure the involvement of the Spidey trio in all of them!

Read More | Variety

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Box Office Breakdown: Hangover Hangs on for Another Win

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, Disney, Paramount, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Animation, Drama, Family, Horror, Remakes, Science Fiction, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists

This is one hangover that’s taking a while to recover from.

For the second week in a row, the must-see comedy of the summer has taken the top spot at the charts. The Hangover, which already had a greenlighted sequel prior to its debut, raked in another $32.7 million over the weekend. The film has now earned over $100 million and given Bradley Cooper his second #1 entry of the year. (His first was February’s He’s Just Not That Into You.)

Sitting in third place this week (right behind Up), was The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, a remake of a 1974 version starring starring Walter Matthau and Robert Shaw. The action thriller, which had Denzel Washington working with director Tony Scott for the fourth time, pulled in a respectable $23.3 million. Meanwhile, Imagine That, Eddie Murphy’s latest stinker, earned $5.5 million in wide release. That gross bests the premiere of Meet Dave by approximately $200,000.

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Read More | Variety

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Box Office Breakdown: The Hangover Rises Above Up

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, Disney, Fox Searchlight, Paramount, Sony, Universal, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Animation, Drama, Family, Horror, Religious, Romance, Science Fiction, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists

Unlike most Mike Tyson fights, The Hangover‘s win was no knockout.

After a back-and-forth battle with Up, Todd Phillips’ film about an eventful bachelor party edged out the animated pic by less than $1 million. Hangover - which features no major stars (unless you count the boxer) - grossed nearly $45 million on its opening weekend. That’s the third best debut for an R-rated comedy ever. (Only Sex and the City and American Pie 2 have done better.)

Meanwhile, a project actually featuring an A-lister became the summer’s first stinker. Land of the Lost, starring Will Ferrell, Anna Friel and Danny McBride, earned a sad $18.8 million over the past three days. Although that amount was good enough for third place, the film cost an estimated $100 million to make.

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: The Hangover Rises Above Up

Read More | Yahoo! Movies

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Box Office Breakdown: Disney/Pixar Flying High with Up

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, Disney, Paramount, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Animation, Drama, Family, Horror, Romance, Science Fiction, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists

The word “Pixar” always seems to generate smiles, and that’s exactly what Up did for Disney.

Over the weekend, the Cannes Film Festival opener generated $68.1 million, over $40 million more than its nearest competitor. The movie - which was also offered in 3D - also bested last year’s Wall-E (by $5 million) and had Pixar’s 3rd-best debut. (The Incredibles opened to $70.5 million in 2004; Finding Nemo grossed $70.3 million in 2003.)

Friday’s other new wide release, Drag Me to Hell, scared up only $15.8 million for a 4th place finish. Although it originally looked as if the horror film would surpass Terminator Salvation, the final numbers were $8 million below Sunday’s projections.

Another noteworthy mention: Star Trek officially crossed the $200 million mark after only four weeks in release. The Paramount feature is now the first movie of the year to reach that achievement.

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Disney/Pixar Flying High with Up

Read More | Variety

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In Theaters This Weekend: May 29, 2009

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Disney, IFC Films, Universal, Yari Film Group Releasing, Adventure, Animation, Documentary, Family, Foreign, Horror, Independent, Comedy, Lists, New Releases

Here are some possible suggestions for your upcoming weekend:

• Drag Me to Hell (PG-13): starring Alison Lohman, Justin Long, Lorna Raver (directed by Sam Raimi)
• Up (PG): starring Ed Asner, Christopher Plummer, Jordan Nagai (directed by Pete Docter, Bob Peterson)
• The Brothers Bloom** (PG-13): starring Adrien Brody, Mark Ruffalo, Rachel Weisz (directed by Rian Johnson)

Click to continue reading In Theaters This Weekend: May 29, 2009

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Sequel News: Spider-Man 4, Center of the Earth and More

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: New Line, Paramount, Sony, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Drama, Science Fiction, Sequels, Upcoming Releases

Journey to the Center of the Earth: Last year’s 3-D hit has spawned a second installment from New Line. The original film, which was based on a Jules Verne novel, earned over $100 million domestically ($140 internationally) after its release last July. Both Brendan Fraser (Prof. Trevor Anderson) and Josh Hutcherson (Sean Anderson) are expected to reprise their roles in the sequel.

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Read More | E! Online

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Sequel News: Hulk, Wall Street, Evil Dead and More

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, New Line, Universal, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Drama, Horror, Musicals, Period, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers, Casting, Celeb News, Rumors, Scripts, Upcoming Releases

Here’s the latest scoop on the sequel buzz spreading across Hollywood:

Hairspray: Earlier this summer, New Line announced plans to produce a Hairspray follow. Unfortunately, the studio - which has already asked John Waters to write a treatment - may have a major casting issue to deal with. In a recent interview with Australia’s Sunday Herald Sun, John Travolta said he wasn’t looking forward to putting Edna Turnblad’s fat suit back on. “I think once is enough. I did it and I did it well but I’m not a big sequel guy,” the Look Who’s Talking Too star claimed. No other stars from the original cast have yet been confirmed for the new musical.

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Read More | MTV Movies

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Is Maguire Gearing Up for Two Spidey Sequels?

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Columbia Pictures, Sony, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Sequels, Casting, Celeb News, Rumors

Had you asked me last year whether I saw another Spider-Man in Tobey Maguire‘s future, I would have easily said “No.” Thank goodness, I didn’t put any money down on that.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, the chances of Maguire of participating in two more sequels are actually quite strong. Maguire and director Sam Raimi are reportedly very close to sealing new deals with Columbia Pictures.

This news comes months after a premiere date was announced by the studio. Back in June, producer Laura Ziskin said she would like to see a fourth installment in theaters on Memorial Day 2011.

Assuming casting is determined soon, Columbia may opt to schedule back-to-back productions as early as fall 2009.

Read More | Hollywood Reporter

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Bruce Campbell Gives Evil Dead Fans Hope

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Horror, Sequels, Comedy, Rumors

At last months Comic-Con, Sam Raimi told MTV that the chances of seeing another Evil Dead installment was very good.

“If the financing ever fell in place right. But first, I’d have to work on the script with my brother [Ivan Raimi]. And that’s something I’m hoping to find the time to do.”

But even if the busy director (Spider-Man) found time to craft another one for the “few weirdoes” out there, would Bruce Campbell even be interested? I mean, it’s already been 15 years since Ash faced off against the dead in Army of Darkness.

Click to continue reading Bruce Campbell Gives Evil Dead Fans Hope

Read More | MTV

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