Film
Steven Spielberg Had the Two Highest-Grossing Films in the US Last Weekend
Some movie theaters across the US have begun the process of reopening, face masks required. However, as new titles, like Christopher Nolan’s Tenet, aren’t out until the end of July, cinemas are opting to screen old summer classics as a way to lure back potential moviegoers. It made for a big weekend for Steven Spielberg. The legendary director found himself with both the first and second highest-grossing movies of the weekend in the form of Jurassic Park and Jaws, notes The Hollywood Reporter. Spielberg’s 1993 Jurassic Park earned an estimated $517,642 from 230 locations. Following close behind was Jaws, Spielberg’s 1975 hit, which brought in $516,366 from 187 locations. A handful of Spielberg’s other movies also raked in a sizable amount this past weekend, including E.T. Th...
Animorphs Film Adaptation in the Works
Animorphs, the popular ’90s children’s book series by K.A. Applegate, has a plot that’s as engrossing as its legendary book covers. The sci-fi collection follows five teenagers — Jake, Marco, Cassie, Rachel, and Tobias — who can morph into any animal they touch, a secret ability that helps them fight in an ongoing alien invasion. Now, seemingly unprompted, Scholastic Entertainment has announced they’re teaming up with Erik Feig’s Picturestart to adapt those Animorphs books into a feature film, according The Hollywood Reporter. Animorphs will be a live-action movie co-developed by Scholastic and Picturestart. Scholastic Entertainment’s Iole Lucchese and Caitlin Friedman will co-produce alongside Picturestart’s Feig and Lucy Kitada. Development of the script will be handled by Scholastic’s F...
AMC Theatres to Reopen in July, Won’t Require Face Masks to Avoid “Political Controversy”
Update – June 19th: AMC has reversed course and will require movie-goers to wear face masks. Bankruptcy be damned: Like Cinemark and Regal Cinemas earlier this week, AMC Theatres has now announced that they, too, will begin reopening their theaters across America beginning in July. Face mask, anyone? According to The Hollywood Reporter, the world’s largest theater chain will open 450 of its US locations on July 15th followed by the remaining 150 on July 24th, all in anticipation of Disney’s Mulan and Warner Bros.’ Tenet. “After a painful almost four-month hiatus due to the coronavirus, we are delighted to announce that movies are coming back to the big screen at AMC. Our next 100 years of making smiles happen officially begin at approximately 450 theaters across the Uni...
Ansel Elgort Denies Sexual Assault Allegations
Ansel Elgort has denied allegations that he sexually assaulted a teenage girl in 2014. Earlier this week, a Twitter user named Gabby accused the actor of assaulting her when she was 17 years old. Gabby claimed Elgort, who was 20 years old at the time, initially solicited nude photos from her via social media. They later met in person and had sex. However, after Gabby asked to stop, she said Elgort ignored her. “Instead of asking me if I wanted to stop having sex knowing it was my first time and I was sobbing in pain and I didn’t want to do it the only words that came out of his mouth were, ‘We need to break you in.’ I WASNT there in that moment mentally. I dissociated myself and just felt like my mind was gone and I was in shock,” Gabby wrote. “I couldn’t leave, I was only 5’2″ and 98 poun...
Mark Hamill Has a Secret Cameo in The Mandalorian as a Cantina Droid
Eagle-eyed Star Wars fans love to boast that they could spot Mark Hamill anywhere thanks to the wide range of voice and acting roles he’s accumulated over the years. That’s not always true though. The Luke Skywalker actor made his coolest secret cameo yet last year that nobody noticed: he was a droid in the fifth episode of The Mandalorian. During the finale of Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian, a behind-the-scenes docuseries about the making of the smash hit Disney Plus show, it was revealed that Hamill appeared in the series as the cantina bartender in Episode 5, reports Deadline. The droid — named EV-9D9, according to creator Jon Favreau — was uncredited and Hamill masked his voice for the role. In the scene, the Mandalorian walks into the cantina and approaches the bartender to ask about...
R.I.P. Ian Holm, Alien and Lord of the Rings Star Dies at 88
Ian Holm, iconic British actor who starred in Alien, The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Chariots of Fire, and countless other productions, has died of Parkinson’s disease. He was 88. His agent confirmed the news Friday morning (June 19th) in a statement to The Guardian: “It is with great sadness that the actor Sir Ian Holm CBE passed away this morning at the age of 88. He died peacefully in hospital, with his family and carer. Charming, kind and ferociously talented, we will miss him hugely.” Born in Goodmayes, England on September 12th, 1931, Holm found a start in acting after his dentist, of all people, introduced him to Henry Baynton, a renowned Shakespearean actor who mentored the young thespian. Baynton’s guidance helped Holm secure admission into the Royal Academy of Drama...
AMC Theatres Reverses Decision, Will Require Moviegoers to Wear Masks
AMC Theatres has reversed a previous policy decision and will now require customer to wear masks in their cinemas upon reopening. (We may have some suggestions for that.) In plans revealed on Thursday, AMC announced it would open 450 of its US locations on July 15th, with the remaining 150 following on July 24th. While there were a number of precautions addressed to help reduce the spread of coronavirus — reducing capacities to 30%, increasing sanitation procedures, and limiting concessions — masks were only made a requirement for “theatre associates.” Speaking with Variety about the reopening rollout, AMC CEO Adam Aron said the company felt “it might be counterproductive if we forced mask wearing on those people who believe strongly that it is no necessary.” He added that he expected “the...
Into the Wild Bus Removed From Alaska Wilderness Due to Safety Concerns
Authorities in Alaska have removed the abandoned bus made famous by the book Into the Wild and movie of the same name. According to The Associated Press, Alaska Natural Resources Commissioner Corri Feige cited safety concerns as the reason for the bus’ removal. At least two people have died attempting to reach the bus, while scores of others needed to be rescued by the Coast Guard. The 1940s-era bus had been used by a construction company to house employees during work on an access road in the area and was abandoned when the work was finished in 1961, The Associated Press explains. It later become a natural monument of sorts in the wake of Christopher McCandless’ tragic death in 1992. McCandless, a 24-year-old native of Virginia, sought refuge in the bus after becoming stranded on the...
Regal Cinemas Announce Coronavirus Guidelines for Reopening Next Month
Regal Cinemas have announced arbitrary new safety guidelines to facilitate crowds of people packing together amidst the coronavirus pandemic. America’s second-largest movie theater chain will reopen July 10th. Taken together, the newly-announced rules have all the charm and capriciousness of a trip through airport security. Regal Cinemas has implemented a suite of regulations to stop surface-to-person transmission of COVID-19, even though the CDC thinks that’s relatively rare. And despite the fact that mask wearing is the single best precaution people can take — scientists think it might be more important than social distancing — Regal is deferring to local regulations around masks, and won’t force employees or customers to wear them in states where it isn’t required. But if the novel coro...
The Cast of Ghostbusters Reunite for Josh Gad’s YouTube Show: Watch
Since the start of lockdown, Josh Gad’s YouTube series Reunited Apart has digitally brought together casts of classic cinema like Goonies and Back to the Future. On the latest episode, the team behind Ghostbusters were the ones to answer the Zoom call. Besides the ever-resistant Rick Moranis, all the films’ surviving stars were present: Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, Sigourney Weaver, and Annie Potts. Director Ivan Reitman was also present, as was his son, Jason Reitman, who is helming the upcoming sequel to the original franchise, Ghostbusters: Afterlife. There were also a number of surprise guests, including William Atherton (Walter Peck), and actors with bit parts like Steven Tash and Jennifer Runyon (the students Murray’s Peter Venk...
Oscars 2021 Moved to April, Eligibility Window Extended
Due to the continued uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, the 2021 Oscars have been postponed two months. Originally set to take place on February 28th, Hollywood’s Biggest Night will now occur on April 25th, 2021. Additionally, the Academy has extended the eligibility period for nominated films by two months. The window for qualifying films now spans from January 1st 2020 to February 28th, 2021, with a general submission deadline set for January 15th 2021, according to Variety. The Academy plans to return to a standard January to December eligibility period next year. Previously, the Academy made substantial, unprecedented adjustments to the eligibility rules this past April in response to the outbreak. One of those allows for digital screenings, altering the long-standi...
Star Wars Celebration Canceled Due to Coronavirus Pandemic
This year’s edition of Star Wars Celebration has been canceled due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. This marks the first time in Celebration history that the event won’t be held as planned, notes The Hollywood Reporter. Understandably, organizers fear COVID-19 would spread rapidly amongst attendees if it were held indoor as planned. “At Star Wars Celebration, the health and safety of our fans, attendees, exhibitors, guests and staff is always our number one priority,” organizers said in a statement. “Due to the global impact of the COVID-19 virus and in speaking with local and state authorities on the latest public health guidelines related to indoor conventions, we have made the decision to cancel Star Wars celebration for 2020.” Star Wars Celebration was originally scheduled to...
