The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 Still Perched Atop The US Box Office

Those Penguins Of Madagascar waddle in second

This past week, America celebrated Thanksgiving, which usually means slipping into a food coma while relatives squabble on the Thursday before millions brave packed stores and violent fellow shoppers to pick up bargains on Black Friday. The holiday can also act as a boost for Hollywood, as families seek somewhere to sit in darkness and not talk/entertain the kids. So figures can be inflated as films arrive on Wednesday and Thursday, but that didn’t help the new arrivals facing off against The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1.

Despite concerns it was down in earning power compared to the previous franchise entries, the first half of the Mockingjay story still handily won its second weekend, taking in $56.8 million and boosting its US total to $225.6 million. The only wide-release competitor to even come close was DreamWorks Animations’ The Penguins Of Madagascar in second, which managed $25.8 million ($36 million if you add in the days its was on release before the weekend). It’s by far the lowest opening for the series if you count this spin-off as part of the Madagascar world, and points to the Penguins not quite achieving the momentum they needed to carry their own franchise, even if they did score a TV series. It'll be interesting to see whether Universal/Illumination's Minions can succeed outside of the Despicable Me films next year.

Disney’s Big Hero 6 only seemed to take a minor hit from the new cartoon competition, with Baymax and co. slipping one place to third for $18.7 million and $165 million so far, with plenty of international territories left to explore. Interstellar also fell a place, landing in fourth with $15.8 million. New arrival Horrible Bosses 2 could only claim fifth, earning just $15.7 million for the weekend and $23 million across five days, a far cry from the original 2011 film, which took in $28.3 million without the benefit of additional days on release. Don’t expect to see Horrible Bosses 3 shoved into pre-production too quickly assuming it even gets made.

Dumber And Dumber To took damage on the comedy front, down two places to sixth with $8.2 million, while Stephen Hawking biopic The Theory Of Everything expanded its screen count and surged up the charts, making $5 million for a $9.6 million running total. Gone Girl was down to eighth, earning $2.4 million, with Birdman staying in ninth for $1.8 million and St. Vincent sinking to 10th with $1.7 million.

To see Katniss put the hurt on Skipper and the crew in the full chart listings, head to Box Office Mojo.

from Empire News

See Jake Gyllenhaal In The First Southpaw Image

Someone's been hitting the gym...

Jake Gyllenhaal is building a reputation for moulding himself into whatever role he plays. He’s now done a Christian Bale, dropping weight for the spindly Leo Bloom in Nightcrawler before packing on pounds to play boxer Billy Hope in Antoine Fuqua’s Southpaw. The first image of a ripped Gyllenhaal has appeared via Deadline.

According to Fuqua, it was all part of re-defining how people see the actor. “Jake is going to change how people see him,” he says. “I had him training twice a day in the boxing ring, he did two-a-days seven days a week. I pretty much had him with me and my trainer every day. I took him to almost every fight. I had him train at Floyd Mayweather’s gym in Vegas and we watched Floyd’s fights, and the Manny Pacquiao fight. He trained in New York at Church Gym with real fighters. We literally turned him into a beast… I’m confident that this will change how people see Jake, as a leading man.” From a purely visual aesthetic, it seems to have paid off, even if, as Fuqua reports, it apparently led to Gyllenhaal breaking off a relationship to dedicate himself to training.

Southpaw finds Gyllenhaal as the pugilist known as Billy "The Great" Hope, a left-handed fighter who wins a big title but suffers a tragedy shortly after. With his life in tatters he must piece everything back together to regain the respect of his young daughter. Sons Of Anarchy creator Kurt Sutter wrote the original script, though Fuqua brought on Equalizer collaborator Richard Wenk to polish it.

Naomie Harris is Angela, the social worker who aids Gyllenhaal and his offspring, while Rachel McAdams is Billy’s wife Maureen, and Forest Whitaker is set as Titus “Tick” Willis, who retired from the ring after losing an eye and trains younger fighters. Fuqua is busy in post-production now to have the film ready for release next year.

from Empire News

New Releases on Netflix - Kite

In this live-action version of the anime cult favorite, a young woman carves a violent path through a dystopian societal landscape to track down the vile flesh peddler responsible for her parents' grisly murders.



from New Releases This Week

New Releases on Netflix - The Hero of Color City

When they aren't working for the kids at preschool, a lively group of crayons enjoys relaxing in their magical home of Color City. But when a wicked villain threatens to destroy their special world, the crayons must band together and take a stand.



from New Releases This Week

New Releases on Netflix - Tammy

Pushed to the limit after losing her job and discovering her husband's been cheating on her, Tammy agrees to flee town with her alcoholic grandmother. Their destination is Niagara Falls, but the journey offers some unexpected pit stops.



from New Releases This Week

New Releases on Netflix - Trailer Park Boys 3: Don't Legalize it

The Trailer Park Boys are back. But these are tough times for Ricky, Julian, and Bubbles, and for everyone in Sunnyvale Trailer Park. Julian is broke. With all his latest money-making plans having failed, he's forced to concoct his greasiest scheme ever. To make it even greasier, he has to do business with his arch-enemy, Cyrus, who's waiting in Montreal to close the dirty deal.



from New Releases This Week

New Releases on Netflix - Maleficent

Turning the classic fairy tale "Sleeping Beauty" on its head, this fantasy drama retells the story from the point of view of evil godmother Maleficent. While defending her homeland from invaders, the young Maleficent is dealt a cruel blow by fate.



from New Releases This Week

New Releases on Netflix - The Congress

Actress Robin Wright plays herself in this surreal drama about a film star who agrees to have her digital image recorded for reuse in future films. Despite the handsome payoff, Robin begins to recognize some unforeseen consequences of the deal.



from New Releases This Week

Go Read a Book, Kid. It Couldn’t Hurt You.

By A. O. Scott



The Babadook (NR)



Opening November 28, 2014



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A Secret Falls From the Family Tree, and a Girl’s Identity Branches Out

By Ben Kenigsberg



Little White Lie ()



Opening November 24, 2014



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Star Wars teaser trailer premieres

The first trailer for Star Wars: The Force Awakens is unveiled online and in US cinemas



from BBC News - Entertainment & Arts

Russia scraps foreign film cap

Proposed plans to cut the number of foreign films shown in Russian cinemas by 50% are shelved by Russia's parliament.



from BBC News - Entertainment & Arts

Kevin Bacon Is Off To A Jungle

For Greg McLean's new survival thriller

No, Kevin Bacon hasn’t reached the point in his career where he’ll go on I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here! and eat bugs. Though he did do those EE and Sky ads… Instead, he’s reuniting with director Greg McLean for Jungle .

Justin Monjo wrote the script for the movie, which was in development with the Spierig brothers before they decided to move on to other projects.

Jungle is loosely based on the true story of adventure-seeker Yossi Ghinsberg, who found himself lost in the Amazon rainforest in Bolivia in 1981, which means lots of alone time for Bacon on location. It’ll make for the second collaboration between Bacon and McLean, who have just worked together on 6 Miranda Drive, a new supernatural thriller for Blumhouse Productions in which a family returns from a holiday at the Grand Canyon with a ghostly presence along for the ride. He’ll also be seen in indie pic Cop Car and Scott Cooper’s Black Mass alongside Johnny Depp.

from Empire News

Exclusive: Colin Trevorrow Talks Jurassic World Trailer

“I’m comfortable going to Crazytown…”

Two days ago, the first Jurassic World trailer burst out of its paddock, sparking fevered analysis of its every shot and line of dialogue. Questions abound. Is the idea of a man-made dinosaur a stroke of genius or B-movie schlock? How is Chris Pratt’s character, Owen, riding a motorcycle alongside velociraptors without having his guts clawed out? And what’s the deal with that natty leather waistcoat?

Colin Trevorrow took time out of his post-production schedule to talk exclusively to Empire. For his full guided tour through the trailer, click here. But if you can’t wait, here are some of his juiciest quotes.

Answering fans questioning why Jurassic World is introducing a brand-new, lab-designed dinosaur (which unconfirmed rumours suggest is called the “D-Rex”), Trevorrow says, “There is no shortage of awesome [real] dinosaurs. We could have populated this entire story with new species that haven’t been in any of these movies. But this new creation is what gave me a reason to tell another Jurassic Park story. We have the most awe-inspiring creatures to ever walk the Earth right in front of us, but for some reason that’s not enough. We’re always hungry for the next thing, and those who profit from it are always looking to feed that hunger. The focus groups want something bigger than a T-Rex. And that’s what they get.”{New Jurassic World Stills}

There will, of course, be more than one dinosaur threatening Jurassic World’s guests. Like the mosasaurus, a previously unseen aquatic beast. “The idea came out in one of our first meetings,” says Trevorrow. “I didn’t know if Steven [Spielberg] and Frank [Marshall] had considered an underwater reptile, so I pitched the mosasaurus and went off on the idea.”

And yes, that is a Great White shark the dinosaur is enjoying as a light snack. “I thought it would be cool if we had this massive animal and the park used one of our most fearsome modern predators as food. There could be a whole other facility where they used shark DNA to mass-produce them to feed the bigger beast. It’s a bonkers idea, but I’m comfortable going to Crazytown, because I used to live there when I was a kid.”

The trailer’s final shots suggest the original movie’s primary threat – the raptors - have been tamed and trained, working alongside Owen as allies. Is this a T-800-in-Terminator-2 deal? It’s not so clear-cut, says Trevorrow. “Owen’s relationship with the raptors is complicated. They aren't friends. These animals are nasty and dangerous and they'll bite your head off if you make the wrong move. But there are men and women out there today who have forged tenuous connections with dangerous predators. That's interesting territory to me."

And finally, what of the T-Rex, arguably the franchise’s most iconic beast? Will we see one in Jurassic World? Says Trevorrow: "You bet your ass you will."

Jurassic World is out on June 12.

from Empire News

Dan Gilroy Adapting Storming Las Vegas

Nightcrawler man working on the script for Antoine Fuqua

After spending years as a writer, working on the likes of 2006’s The Fall and The Bourne Legacy, Dan Gilroy has launched himself as a director with the searing Nightcrawler. But for a new job, he’s switching back to just scriptwriting, signing on to adapt John Huddy’s book Storming Las Vegas, which Antoine Fuqua is set to direct.

To give it its full, marquee-straining title, Storming Las Vegas: How a Cuban-Born, Soviet-Trained Commando Took Down The Strip to the Tune of Five World Class Hotels, Three Armoured Cars, and Millions of Dollars, the book follows the rags-to-riches story of Jose Vigoa, who has been described as a modern-day Robin Hood.

Born in Cuba, Vigoa was a Soviet army veteran who arrived in Vegas during the ‘90s, when the casinos were trying to push a cleaner image. He and his gang pulled off a violent, 16-month crime wave that saw him hit some of the biggest casinos and get away with millions. But because the businesses didn’t want word of the crimes to damage their brand, a veteran Vegas police officer was told to track him down and keep the incidents out of the papers.

Fuqua has been attached to the project since 2011 and Gilroy’s script could be the kick he needs to commit to actually directing it.

from Empire News

Natalie Portman In Talks For Steve Jobs Film

Danny Boyle is looking to bolster his cast

The latest attempt to make a biopic of former Apple boss Steve Jobs has seen some ups and downs recently. Despite a proven creative team that includes Aaron Sorkin scripting and Danny Boyle directing, the film has struggled to lock in a leading man and was even put into turnaround by its original studio, Sony. Now, with the backing of Universal, it appears to be back on track and Natalie Portman has entered talks for a role.

Nothing is known about which character she might play, though Deadline reports it’s a major role. Boyle has Michael Fassbender in talks to play Jobs, while Seth Rogen is circling the role of Steve Wozniak, one of Jobs’ key early collaborators and the co-founder of Apple.

Sorkin’s script adapts Walter Isaacson’s bestselling authorised biography of the man, and focuses on three big moments in Jobs’ corporate life: the launch of the Mac; NeXT (which was introduced after he was removed from the company); and the iPod, launched after his triumphant return. Boyle wants to start shooting next year.

Portman is editing her directorial debut, A Tale Of Love And Darkness and has several films on the way including Jane Got A Gun and Terrence Malick’s Knight Of Cups.

from Empire News

The Independence Day Sequel Is Greenlit

Fox makes it officially official

It’s been vapourware. It’s been in various stages of development. It’s been two movies set to shoot back to back. It’s seen writers come and go. And, most recently, it scored a 2016 release date. But even that wasn’t enough to make 20th Century Fox officially hit the “go” button on the Independence Day sequel. Now, though, the green light is flashing and the cameras should be rolling in May.

Roland Emmerich, who has long been the champion of more alien invasion action, has surprisingly not already signed a deal to direct, but given what he’s said about the film in the past months, that’s merely a formality. According to Deadline, the studio will start locking in a cast as soon as Emmerich’s officially on board and it will only be a single film: the double-shot option is not going forward for now. Also not present? Will Smith, who has long since apparently past on appearing. Could he be tempted to relent? It’s not impossible, but don’t count on Captain Steven Hiller showing up.

No mention is made of what the plot will be but the script, currently credited to Carter Blanchard, will likely involve the alien race from the first film arriving at Earth somewhat angered over their comrades’ defeat and humanity scrambling to make use of the technology it has managed to retro engineer from the creatures’ ships.

Whatever happens, the film is scheduled to hit US cinemas on June 24, 2016, and will then arrive here on July 1. That seems like an awfully tight schedule on which to make an effects-heavy film…

from Empire News

First Trailers For Unfinished Business

Vince Vaughn's European work trip

Vince Vaughn’s last collaboration with writer/director Ken Scott, a remake of his Canadian comedy Starbuck into Delivery Man, didn’t exactly set the world alight. So he’ll be hoping for better things with this new team-up, Unfinished Business, which has just put out its first trailer in NSFW Red Band format (below) and the less naughty Green Band variant that is at the bottom of the page.

Vaughn plays Dan, who was unceremoniously sacked by his boss, played by Sienna Miller. Cut to a year later and he’s started his own small business. Now, on the verge of sealing a crucial deal, Dan is travelling to Europe with his two employees, played by Tom Wilkinson and Dave Franco to make the final presentation.

Yet when he arrives, he discovers that Miller is also moving in on the deal, and has already been sweet-talking the clients, including James Marsden and Nick Frost. So Dan must go all out to impress, leading to some insane situations. {Unfinished Business Poster}

This one could go either way – and may live or die on its characters. The supporting cast is solid, so we’ll have to wait and see. Unfinished Business makes its way over here on March 6.

from Empire News

New Poster For Peanuts

Dream big

Usually, the poster for a new film arrives before the trailer, but in Charlie Brown’s world, nothing quite goes to plan. So with the latest Peanuts Movie promo already out there (and sitting at the bottom of the page for your visual enjoyment), here’s the new one-sheet image, timed to celebrate the birthday of Peanuts creator Charles M. Schulz. {Peanuts Poster}

Few concrete plot details are about for this one, save that it will, as seems traditional, feature poor ol’ Charlie Brown trying desperately to find something he thinks he needs, only to discover that he’s wrong. And, of course, there will also be a chance to see his loyal hound Snoopy take a flight of fantasy, flitting around Europe in a clash with his old bête noire, The Red Baron.

We’re promised that despite a CG upgrade, the spirit and feeling of the classic Peanuts cartoons we’ve come to know and love, and which are still shown, particularly in the States, as holiday stalwarts. {Peanuts Stills}

The Peanuts Movie will be out here on December 21, 2015, and currently bears the slightly unwieldy title Snoopy And Charlie Brown: The Peanuts Movie.

from Empire News