Weekly Entertainment & Movie News

[FH]

Director McG Officially Off of Superman
Source: Coming Soon!
The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed the rumors that director McG is no longer attached to the next installment of Warner Bros. Pictures' Superman.

A WB spokesperson told the trade that the studio and the director have amicably parted ways. The primary reason given was the inability of the two parties to agree over a budget. Casting also was an issue. Part of the conflict between the director and the studio was the shooting location. McG favored a New York shoot, while the studio favored Australia.

The studio is now on the lookout for a new director. McG's departure also does not tie the studio to the script, which was written by Alias creator J.J. Abrams.

[FH]

Universal to Distribute Inside Deep Throat
Source: Coming Soon!
Universal Pictures has agreed to distribute Inside Deep Throat, a celebrity-studded, sexually graphic documentary produced by Brian Grazer, reports Variety.

Directed by Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato, the film examines the cultural impact of the 1972 porn classic starring Linda Lovelace and reveals how anti-porn crusaders ended up enriching Mafia enforcers.

Inside Deep Throat is expected to reach theaters unrated in early 2005.

[FH]

Spidey 2 Stuck on Top
Source: E!
Spider-Man has out-slung his latest nemesis, Anchorman.

Spider-Man 2 stuck on top of the box-office charts for the second consecutive weekend, netting an estimated $46 million from Friday to Sunday. That was only a 48 percent drop-off from its three-day haul amid last weekend's elongated July 4 holiday.


The Spidey sequel's total gross after 12 days is $257.2 million, about 20 percent higher than the original Spider-Man in the same number of days in 2002.

With the arachnid-friendly flick maintaining its grip on the multiplexes, two new films dueled for runner-up honors: Will Ferrell's local news spoof Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy and Jerry Bruckheimer's pumped-up spin on King Arthur

This just in: It wasn't even close. Ferrell's send-up of TV journalism circa the mid-'70s tuned in about $28 million in business, nearly twice as much as Arthur, which managed $15.1 million in third.

The weekend's only other notable newbie, the 'tween comedy Sleepover, was a complete snooze, zzz-ing in 10th with just $4.2 million.

Spider-Man 2 continued to perform superheroic feats in all the key box-office stats. The Sony film unspooled in 4,166 sites this weekend--14 more than last--and averaged an amazing $11,042 per.

DreamWorks's PG-13 Anchorman, which costars Christina Applegate as foil to Ferrell's testosterone-addled telejournalist, was broadcast to 3,091 sites, where it averaged $9,059.

"That's a really good number," says Paul Dergarabedian, president of box-office tracker Exhibitor Relations, considering Spidey-2 is "cutting into everyone's audience."

Ferrell's best ever opener was last Christmas' Elf, which debuted with $31.1 million in November on its way to $173.3 million, but Anchorman's debut is considerably stronger than the ex-SNLer's other movie last year, Old School, which kicked off with $17.4 million in February 2003.

King Arthur, which Disney had try to promote as having Pirates of the Caribbean-type appeal, debuted at 3,086 sites, where it only averaged $4,911.

That can't be considered a good omen for the future of the oft-told British tale, which officially opened Wednesday. While Arthur does costar Pirates' Keira Knightley, the adventure lacks both the Disney ride recognition factor and the enlivening presence of Johnny Depp, both major aspects in the success of last summer's hey-ho-me-hearties hit. Clive Owen, who plays the fabled king, apparently isn't generating the same sparks. Disney is hopeful the movie will have bigger impact overseas.

In the more-bad-news-for-Mickey category, Michael Moore's controversial Bush-bashing documentary Fahrenheit 9/11 had a higher per-screen average than Arthur--$5,470--earning another $11 million in fourth place. Playing at 2,011 screens, 286 more than on last weekend, the documentary dropped only 32 percent. Fahrenheit has cooked up $80.1 million in three weeks, despite some chains in the Midwest refusing to show it."Everybody's astounded," says Dergarabedian.

"It's very gratifying," says Steve Rothenberg, executive vice president of theatrical distribution for Lions Gate, which teamed with IFC Films to release Moore's hot doc iafter Disney dumped it. "Our research tells us that people are recommending it to their friends."

Rothenberg says the release would continue to expand next weekend but "very selectively." "It will have playability throughout the summer" at art-house and high-end theaters, he says, but "clearly what we don't know yet is how long it will play in the multiplexes."

Meanwhile, MGM is clearly embarrassed by Sleepover, which stars Spy Kids' Alexa Vega as a junior high graduate on a curfew-breaking scavenge hunt. In what's never a good sign, the PG film wasn't screened for critics before opening at 2,207 sites. The lack of buzz hurt; it averaged only $1,903.

On the flipside, Metallica: Some Kind of Monster had the highest per-screen average in limited release. The unrated IFC Films release, chronicling the hard-rocking heroes, head-banged its way to $15,000 at three sites for $45,000.

The weekend's other new, limited-release doc, Sony Pictures Classics PG-13 surf-soaked Riding Giants, averaged $5,385 average at 26 sites for a total of $140,000.

Overall, Degarabedain says business was "very solid" considering this weekend was slotted between the spectacular success of Spidey 2's Fourth of July fireworks and next weekend's would-be blockbuster, Will Smith's futuristic thriller I, Robot, opening Friday.

The top 12 films grossed an estimated $137.7 million, down 13 percent from last weekend's huge haul, but still a slight tick up over this time last year, when Pirates of the Caribbean first swung from the yardarm.

Final figures are due Monday; meantime here are the estimates for the top 10:

1. Spider-Man 2, $46 million
2. Anchorman, $28 million
3. King Arthur, $15.1 million
4. Fahrenheit 9/11, $11 million
5. The Notebook, $6.52 million
6. White Chicks, $6.5 million
7. Dodgeball: A True Underdog's Story, $5.4 million
8. The Terminal, $5 million
9. Shrek 2, $4.5 million
10. Sleepover, $4.2 million

[FH]

Batman Begins Sequel Talk, Casting Call & More
Source: Superhero Hype!
Though it is a bit early to put much into this, Moviehole chatted with actor Lachy Hulme who says his name is being tossed around for a young Joker in the Batman Begins sequel.

Lachy ["The Matrix Revolutions"] would love to play the role, but stresses that he hasn't been made an offer yet. "I got the heads up from my LA manager that WB have been kicking my pitiful name around for the Joker role in the Begins sequel. It is a role that I would desperately love, but it's way too early for internet rumours to be flying", he says.

[FH]

STAR TREK XI: The Romulans, the Romulans!
But will anyone care that the Romulans are in it?
Source: Cinescape
While speaking with Star Trek Communicator, TREK producers Rick Berman and Brannon Braga revealed more hints about the direction they want to see STAR TREK XI take.

According to the magazine, the two creators want the next STAR TREK feature to be a prequel film set before the adventures of Kirk and company in THE ORIGINAL SERIES. That would lead fans to imagine that the duo are talking about making an ENTERPRISE feature film; not so, says Berman and Braga, who claim that their movie idea doesn't involve ENTERPRISE in any way. Instead, one of the notions is to show the Romulan Wars, the conflict between the Federation and the Romulan Star Empire that was first mentioned in the ORIGINAL SERIES episode "Balance of Terror".


According to the franchise's canon, the Federation and Romulans had an intense space war before ever meeting face-to-face. The end of the war saw the formation of the Neutral Zone, the region of space that acts as a buffer between the two interstellar empires. TOS established the creation of the Neutral Zone in 2160, which is only six years away from the events presently show in ENTERPRISE (currently set in 2154.)


One thing that hasn't been mentioned is whether a new TREK movie would reunite any of the previous cast members from the earlier films or television series, or if an entirely new cast of space travellers would be hired.

[FH]

Singer to helm Superman?
Source: Moviehole
IGN Filmforce are reporting that McG's job as Director of "Superman" isn't as stable as the trades are making out. More importantly, they report that Bryan Singer ["X-Men"] has met with the studio to talk about taking over.

Warner Brothers president and chief operating officer Alan Horn met Singer over dinner to talk about the potential position.

"Our scooper claims that Singer has not said yes ...but is considering it. How such a move will affect Singer's other projects currently in the works - including X-Men 3 and Logan's Run - remains to be seen. Superman is slated to begin filming this fall in Australia.

"By the way, there was a rumor the other day that British actor Henry Cavill, a longtime contender to play the Man of Steel, would probably star in Logan's Run instead. Logan's Run is being made by Warner Brothers so perhaps something can be worked out."

[FH]

No Men in Black 3 for Will Smith
Source: Moviehole
It sounds like we might have seen the last of our alien-hunting MIB's for a while.

Will Smith - whilst on the promotional trail for his "I, Robot" - told Moviehole that a "Men in Black 3" is unlikely at this stage, if only because he's realised there's better genre films to be made than sequels to the Men in Black series.

"I feel like I, Robot really raises the bar for me for that genre, so there has to be those other levels. Not that you can't have fun, but there is something about I, Robot………", explains Smith.

Next up, Smith lends his voice to the animated tale "Shark Tale" and the comedy "The Last First Kiss".

[FH]

Stone making Basic Instinct 2 after all
Source: Moviehole
Stone is going to star in a "Basic Instinct 2" after all.

Stone was suing producers for $19 million over the collapse of the sequel, but said yesterday a settlement had been reached.

Now, the film is back on - but with Shazza laying down the rules before she drops her gown and picks up the ice-pick again. She wants her clothes and jewellery from the film, presidential hotel suites, three nannies, two assistants, a maid and a 24-hour bodyguard.

Michael Douglas won't be back for the sequel.

[FH]

Indy 4 Still Alive?
Source: DarkHorizons
A while back it was announced that a fourth "Indiana Jones" project was dead. Frank Darabont who had been working on the script for ages got approval from most - bar George Lucas, and that non-commital officially seemed to sink the project (unofficially there was more than that but can't be disclosed).

Well, now Darabont is fanning the flames again. In an interview with IGN Filmforce during a press event for "The Bourne Supremacy", Marshall says that the project is still very much alive, despite continual delays and rumors that the parties involved have given up - "Indiana Jones IV is still in the writing stages; it's still a live project and Mr. Lucas is working on the script at this time". So is Lucas writing it himself? "No. There is a writer on the project... I won't go there".

It's been revealed that the reason Lucas rejected Darabont's draft was that "the character-driven story needed a faster pace". No comment was made on Net rumours that "Pirates of the Caribbean" scribe Stuart Beattie is working on a draft.

Thus the big question now is when can we expect more movement on the project? "Well I think that, obviously, we don't want to do this movie unless it's going to be great. There's only the downside of it if we perceive it as something we all don't feel is worthy. Now we're working on that last third. We'll all get our schedules together again but it's not gonna be for another year or so"

[FH]

Paramount Making Ten Commandments a 3rd Time
Source: Coming Soon!
Paramount Pictures is contemplating remounting The Ten Commandments for the third time, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Mark Gordon is on board to produce, and screenwriter Charles Randolph is about to meet with the studio about writing the biblical epic.

Released in 1923, the first Cecil B. DeMille film was a silent, mixed black-and-white footage with early Technicolor film and featured Theodore Roberts and Charles de Rochefort. DeMille revisited the epic as a 1956 feature starring Charlton Heston, Yul Brynner and Anne Baxter. That film was nominated for seven Academy Awards including best picture.

The trade says Gordon and Randolph are believed to be interested in fashioning a serious, research-based treatment of the subject.

[FH]

Adam Sandler Reveals The Longest Yard Cast
Source: Coming Soon!
MTV spoke to Adam Sandler who revealed new cast additions for his upcoming Paramount film, The Longest Yard, featuring Chris Rock, Burt Reynolds, and James Cromwell.

In what is likely to be the smallest backfield former NFL linebackers Brian Bosworth and Bill Romanowski have ever faced, Nelly will play the running back to Sandler's quarterback in the remake. He'll also record a song for the film. Sandler's team of inmates, who take on a team of prison guards, will have an NFL star of their own in former Dallas Cowboys receiver Michael Irvin, as well as a few wrestlers.

"[Eric 'Extreme'] Goldberg, Steve Austin, Kevin Nash — [will face off against the prison guards]," said Sandler. Veteran actress Cloris Leachman will play the secretary for the prison's sadistic warden, played by Cromwell.

David Patrick Kelly is also part of the cast, as is Terry Crews (White Chicks) and William Fichtner (Pearl Harbor).

[FH]

Eliza Dushku Up for Black Cat in Spider-Man 3?
Source: Superhero Hype!
'Kazman' pointed us to News Askew which have posted the following rumor...

An interesting rumor has surfaced that Eliza Dushku, who read for the Mary Jane part in Spidey, might return in the third film as The Black Cat. Just a rumor, folks, but a neat one at that.

Dushku is currently starring in TV series "Tru Calling".

[FH]

Wynter turns invisible for FANTASTIC FOUR?
Actress rumored to have landed the job
Source: Cinescape
With three of the FANTASTIC FOUR's quartet signed, sealed and delivered, all that remains is the announcement as to which actress will play the part of Sue Storm, a.k.a. The Invisible Woman. Names have been swirling around for weeks, but this past weekend the amigos at Fanboy Planet decided to get in on the action and publish a tip they received. If it's real then we've found our Sue.

According to the Planet's scooper, actress Sarah Wynter (24, THE 6th DAY) isn't just up for the role, she's already got it. Wynter's name hasn't been mentioned by any outlet up until now, but if FB's scoop is right, we imagine that an announcement in the trades would be coming sometime this week.

[FH]

NEW DVD RELEASES FOR JULY 13, 2004


• 2LDK (2002)

• The 5th Musketeer (1979)

• 1918 (1985)

• After Image (2001)

• Against the Ropes (widescreen) (2004)

• Against the Ropes (pan-and-scan) (2004)

• Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London (2004)

• The Assassination Bureau (1969)

• The Bourne Identity: Extended Edition (widescreen) (2002)

• The Bourne Identity: Extended Edition (pan-and-scan) (2002)

• Box 507 (La Caja 507) (2002)

• Charles Bukowski: Bukowski at Bellevue

• The Counterfeit Traitor (1962)

• Courtship (1987)

• Danger: Diabolik (1968)

• The Dreamers (NC-17) (2003)

• The Dreamers (R-rated) (2003)

• Everybody Loves Raymond: Season One (5-disc set)

• Evilspeak (1981)

• Farscape 4.5

• Gene Autry: Indian Territory (1950)

• Gene Autry: Texans Never Cry (1951)

• The Golden Age of Jazz: Part 1

• Hercules: The Legendary Journeys: Season Four (9-disc set)

• I Like it Like That (1994)

• Justice League: Starcrossed: The Movie NEW!

• The Legend of Leigh Bowery (2002) NEW!

• The Manchurian Candidate: Special Edition (1962)

• Never Die Alone (2004)

• On Valentine's Day (1986)

• Puppets Who Kill: Season One (2-disc set)

• Roadkill (1989)

• The Soldier's Tale (1984)

• The Spy Who Came in From the Cold (1965)

• Starsky & Hutch: Season Two (5-disc set)

• The Tree of the Wooden Clogs (1978)

• Vacuuming Completely Nude in Paradise (2001)

• What About Your Friends: Weekend Get-Away (2002)

• The Wooden Man's Bride (1994)

Thanks to DVD Journal and The Movie Poop-Shoot

[FH]

NEW COMIC-BOOK RELEASES FOR JULY 14, 2004

PUBLISHER
TITLE, ISSUE NUMBER, PRICE IN U.S. DOLLARS

AC COMICS
Femforce #126, $6.95

ACTIVE IMAGES
Hip Flask Elephantmen #1 (AA), $3.50

AIT/PLANETLAR
Scurvy Dogs #5, $2.95
Ursula GN, $9.95

AMAZE INK (SLAVE LABOR GRAPHICS)
Autumn #1, $2.95
Dr Radium Vol 2 TPB Dr Radium And Gizmos Of Boola Boola, $9.95
Egg Story, $3.95

ARCHIE COMIC PUBLICATIONS
Betty #139, $2.19
Betty & Veronica Digest #149, $2.39
Jugheads Double Digest #105, $3.59
Sabrina Vol 2 #59, $2.19

BROADSWORD COMICS
Tarot Witch Of The Black Rose Vol 2 Px Ltd Ed TPB, $34.99

BUD PLANT
Profili Irving Klaw (adult), AR
Profili Milton Caniff, AR

COMICSONE.COM
Sister Red 2 Vol GN Set, $17.50

COM.X
Last American TPB, $19.99

CPM MANGA
Comic Party Book 2 GN, $9.99
Dark Angel Vol 3 TPB New Ptg, $9.99

DARK HORSE COMICS
Berserk Vol 4 TPB, $13.95
Blade Of The Immortal #91, $3.50
DH Dlx Stationery Gama Go Boy, $4.99
DH Dlx Stationery Gama Go Girl, $4.99
DH Dlx Stationery Pete Fowler #1, $4.99
El Zombo #3 (Of 3), $2.99
Fierce #1 (Of 4), $2.99
Freaks Of The Heartland #4 (Of 6), $2.99
Katsuya Terada Cover Girls Portfolio, $19.99
Kotobukiya Star Wars Anakin Skywalker Model Kit, $94.99
Michael Chabon Presents Adventures O/T Escapist #3, $8.95
Mighty Mouse Vinyl Figure, $17.99

DC COMICS
100 Bullets #51, $2.50
Action Comics #817, $2.50
Aquaman #20, $2.50
Batman Legends Of The Dark Knight #181, $2.50
Batman The Order Of Beasts, $5.95
Bite Club #4 (Of 6), $2.95
Bloodhound #1, $2.95
Books Of Magick Life During Wartime #1, $2.50
Challengers Of The Unknown #2 (Of 6), $2.95
DC Comic Presents Mystery In Space #1, $2.50
Fables #27, $2.50
Fallen Angel #13, $2.95
Gotham Central #21, $2.50
Green Arrow #40, $2.50
Green Lantern Green Arrow Vol 2 TPB, $12.95
Hero #18, $2.50
Identity Crisis #2 (Of 7), $3.95
JLA #101, $2.25
JSA #63, $2.50
Legion #35, $2.50
Mad XL #29, $4.99
Nightwing #95, $2.25
Scooby Doo #86, $2.25
Superman Batman #11, $2.95
Technopriests Vol 1 TPB, $14.95
Teen Titans #13, $2.50
Touch #4, $2.50
Vertigo Corinthian Mini Bust, $45.00
Wonder Woman Down To Earth TPB, $14.95

DEVILS DUE PUBLISHING
GI Joe Frontline #6, $2.95

DREAMWAVE
Transformers War Within Vol 1 Pocket Ed TPB, $12.95

DYNAMIC FORCES
DF Dawn By Texeira Litho, $24.99
DF Gray Area Sgn #1, $19.99
DF Hulk Darkness One Shot Sgn, $19.99
DF Punisher Alex Ross Litho Romita Sgn, $69.99
DF Superman Batman Remarked HC, $89.99
DFE Soulfire Alt Cvr #0, $6.99

EDICIONES LA CUPULA S A
El Vibora #289 (adult), $7.99
Kiss Comix #149 (adult), $7.99

EIGHTH DAY ENTERTAINMENT
Awakenings #1 (Of 6), $2.99

FANFARE/PONENT MON
Mariko Parade GN English Ed, $17.99

FANTAGRAPHICS BOOKS
Eightball #23, $7.00

G T LABS
G T Labs Official Guide To Teleportation Poster, $5.95

HEAVY METAL MAGAZINE
Anita Bomba By Cromwell And Gratien HC #2, $12.95
Universe Of Cromwell HC, $19.95

HK COMICS
Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon Vol 7 GN, $13.95

IDW PUBLISHING
Wake The Dead TPB, $19.99

IMAGE COMICS
Battle Of The Planets Thundercats Campbell Cvrs Set, $9.99
Battle Of The Planets Thundercats Ross Cvrs Set, $9.99
Noble Causes Extended Family One Shot #2, $7.95
Rex Mundi #11, $2.95
Witchblade Blood Oath One Shot, $4.99

LOST IN THE DARK PRESS
Video #1 (Of 6), $2.95

MARVEL COMICS
Avengers #500 Poster, $5.95
Captain America #29, $2.99
District X #3, $2.99
Exiles Vol 7 A Blink In Time TPB, $19.99
Guardians #1, $2.99
Identity Disc #2 (Of 5), $2.99
Incredible Hulk #74, $2.25
Iron Fist #5, $2.99
Iron Man #86, $2.99
Marvel Knights 4 #7, $2.99
Marvel Knights Spider-Man #4, $2.99
Pulse #4, $2.99
She Hulk #5, $2.99
Spider-Man Son Of The Goblin TPB, $15.99
The Punisher #9, $2.99
Thor Son Of Asgard #6 (Of 6), $2.99
Ultimate X-Men #49, $2.25

MOONSTONE
Cisco Kid #3 (Of 3), $2.95

MVCREATIONS
Masters Of The Universe Vol 2 Ltd HC, $39.95
Masters Of The Universe Vol 3 #4, $2.95
Rob Zombie Spook Show Intl #9, $2.95

ONI PRESS
Love Fights #11, $2.99

PENNY FARTHING PRESS
Victorian #24, $2.95

REBELLION
2000 AD #1393, $3.75
2000 AD #1394, $3.75

REED PRESS
Silly Daddy GN, $16.95

SERVE MAN PRESS
Runners #4 Bad Goods (Of 5), $2.95

TCZ STUDIO
Celestial Zone Vol 2 #12 (Of 12), $9.50

TERRA MAJOR
Horns Of Hattin GN, $15.00

THE NORM PUBLISHING
The Norm Magazine #4, $4.95

TITAN
Comic Creators On Spider-Man (resolicited), $16.95

TOHAN CORPORATION
Animage Jun 2004, $11.99
Dengeki Hobby Jul 2004, $15.99
Newtype Jun 2004, $10.99
Pa Pi Po Jun 2004 (adult), $8.99

TOKYOPOP
Battle Royale Vol 8 GN (Of 11), $9.99

VIZ
Basara Vol 7 TPB, $9.95
Nausicaa Of Valley Of Wind Vol 6 TPB 2nd Ed, $9.95
One Piece Vol 4 TPB, $7.95
Prince Of Tennis Vol 2 GN, $7.95
Ranma 1/2 Vol 27 TPB, $9.95
Vagabond Vol 13 TPB, $9.95

WIZARD ENTERTAINMENT
Toyfare Batman She-Ra Cvr #85, $4.99
Toyfare Marvel Legends 7 Cvr #85, $4.99

magazines
Alter Ego #38, $5.95
Animation Magazine Aug 2004, $5.95
Bite Me Magazine #16, $6.95
Cinefantastique 36 #4, $7.99
Comic Shop News #891, AR
Cult Times Special #30, $9.99
From The Tomb #13, $5.95
High Adventure #77, $7.95
Locus #522, $5.95
Maxim Presents Blender Aug 04, $3.99
Maxim Sp Stuff For Men Aug04, $4.99
Redeye Magazine #2, $5.00
Sfx #119, $8.25
Star Trek Communicator #151, $6.95
Toy Shop #337, $4.99
Ultimate DVD #55, $7.99
Undefeated Magazine #7, $5.99

books
How To Create Virtual Beauties TPB, $19.95
Live From New York TPB, $30.99
More 100% Jackie Chan TPB, $17.95
Ray Bradbury Cats Pajamas HC, $24.95
Resident Evil Genesis MMPB (resolicited), $6.99
Superilluman TPB, $31.99
Terre Di Nessuno TPB, $27.99
Ultimate Barbie Doll Book TPB, $24.99
William Friedkin Films Of Aberration Obsession Reality TPB, $19.95