Entertainment
David Koepp Writing Westworld Remake for Warner Bros.
Ready to return to “Westworld?”
The 1973 sci-fi movie, written and directed by Michael Crichton and set in a robot-filled amusement park, is getting a remake courtesy of screenwriter David Koepp. The project is in development at Warner Bros. and, contrary to an earlier report, a director is not circling.
The original “Westworld” followed visitors of an adult amusement park, in the far-flung future of 1983. Guests of the park, which is themed to the Old West (hence Westworld), interact with humanoid robots and live out their cowboy fantasies. Of course, there is a systemic failure on the part of the park’s operators Delos and the robots start attacking the guests. (It is implied that Delos owns and runs a suite of these parks, including Medieval World.) Yul Brynner memorably played a character known only as the Gunslinger.
A minor box office hit at the time, making $10 million for MGM on a budget of just $1.2 million, it predated not only the upcoming threat of AI (hilariously, a plot point in “Westworld” detailed how the designers couldn’t get the hands on the robots quite right, a problem that still plagues generative AI imagery) and Crichton’s own “Jurassic Park,” a novel that would be released decades later and also involve a high-tech amusement park breaking down and threatening lives. Arrow Video recently released a wonderful deluxe 4K package for the original film that includes illuminating special features.
“Westworld” also inspired a mini-franchise, first with the Crichton-free sequel “Futureworld” in 1976 and then with a short-lived television “Beyond Westworld” in 1980, which took on a more global scope and only lasted for two episodes on CBS (five episodes were originally produced). Crichton was not involved in the series either.
Years later, of course, “Westworld” was resurrected by Lisa Joy and Jonathan Nolan as a prestige HBO series. The first season, which aired in 2016 and starred Evan Rachel Wood, Jeffrey Wright, Ed Harris and Anthony Hopkins, was a huge hit but the subsequent seasons expanded the scale but were increasingly difficult to follow. Still, the show won nine Emmy Awards and received 54 nominations. But after the contentious fourth season aired in 2022, plans for a fifth and final season were abandoned and HBO purged the series from its streaming platform – you can buy them digitally or physical media and that’s the only way to watch “Westworld” from now on.
Koepp, one of the most successful screenwriters in Hollywood history, is coming off the release of “Cold Storage,” a nifty horror comedy that was based on his own novel, and is awaiting the release of “Disclosure Day” next month, his highly anticipated Steven Spielberg UFO movie. “Disclosure Day” opens on June 12. Last year saw the release of two Koepp-penned Steven Soderbergh movies – ghost story “Presence” and spy thriller “Black Bag.”
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Entertainment
Xolo Maridueña to Make Broadway Debut in Buena Vista Social Club
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Entertainment
Margot Robbie and Jason Blum Join Cinema United Council
Margot Robbie and Jason Blum are adding to their resumes.
The actress and producer and the horror producer are joining the Cinema United Filmmaker Leadership Council, “a strategic group of world-class producers and directors united in a single cause to champion the future of cinema worldwide,” according to the official release. They will join council leaders Jerry Bruckheimer and Emma Thomas and charter members Ryan Coogler, Brad Bird, Jason Reitman and Celine Song.
Cinema United, formerly the National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO), is “the world’s largest exhibition trade association representing more than 63,000 movie screens worldwide.”
“We are thrilled and honored to welcome two leaders like Margot and Jason to this influential group,” said Michael O’Leary, president and CEO of Cinema United, a statement. “Margot is a global superstar and the voice of a generation who loves movies on the big screen. Jason is beloved by fans around the world for creating incredible—and scary—experiences in theatres. They are both well-known, fierce advocates of the theatrical experience. I want to thank them both for their commitment, and I look forward to working closely with them to advance this great industry together.”
“It’s an absolute honor to have Margot and Jason join the Filmmaker Leadership Council,” said Bruckheimer. “Their combined impact on this industry is enormous, and I know they will help our efforts immensely.”
“For me, the magic of cinema starts with the cinema itself,” Robbie said. “Storytelling in this format can be incredibly powerful, and I truly believe movie theatres are essential to our art form. I couldn’t be more grateful and excited to be able to work with such a powerful group of creatives to continue to drive the theatrical experience forward.”
Blum added in a statement, “Movie theaters are where fans are made. Bold, creative voices are bringing young audiences back to the movies, and that’s exciting. Turning moviegoing into a habit takes all of us, and this Council gives us a way to do that together.”
The Filmmaker Leadership Council “brings together some of the world’s most influential movie creators to work alongside Cinema United to provide vital feedback and recommendations on the most pressing issues facing theatrical exhibition today—including consolidation, sustainable windows, the promotion and marketing of the cinematic experience, and highlighting innovation and technology.”
Members of the Council meet quarterly to discuss key priorities and upcoming initiatives. Serving as Executive Director of the Filmmaker Leadership Council is Greg Foster, industry veteran and senior consultant for Cinema United.
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movies
Margot Robbie & Jason Blum Join Cinema United’s Filmmaker Leadership Council
Oscar nominees Margot Robbie and producer Jason Blum have boarded exhibition trade org Cinema United‘s Filmmaker Leadership Council, a strategic group of producers and directors united in a single cause to champion the future of theatrical worldwide. The duo join council leaders Jerry Bruckheimer and Emma Thomas, and charter members Ryan Coogler, Brad Bird, Jason Reitman, and Celine Song.
The Filmmaker Leadership Council provides feedback and recommendations on pressing issues facing exhibition today—including consolidation, windows, the promotion and marketing of the cinematic experience, and highlighting innovation and technology. The Council meets quarterly. Former Imax exec Greg Foster is the Council’s Executive Director and a senior consultant for Cinema United.
“We are thrilled and honored to welcome two leaders like Margot and Jason to this influential group,” said Michael O’Leary, President and CEO of Cinema United. “Margot is a global superstar and the voice of a generation who loves movies on the big screen. Jason is beloved by fans around the world for creating incredible—and scary—experiences in theatres. They are both well-known, fierce advocates of the theatrical experience. I want to thank them both for their commitment, and I look forward to working closely with them to advance this great industry together.”
“It’s an absolute honor to have Margot and Jason join the Filmmaker Leadership Council,” said Council Chair Bruckheimer. “Their combined impact on this industry is enormous, and I know they will help our efforts immensely.”
“For me, the magic of cinema starts with the cinema itself,” Robbie said. “Storytelling in this format can be incredibly powerful, and I truly believe movie theatres are essential to our art form. I couldn’t be more grateful and excited to be able to work with such a powerful group of creatives to continue to drive the theatrical experience forward.”
Blum added, “Movie theaters are where fans are made. Bold, creative voices are bringing young audiences back to the movies, and that’s exciting. Turning moviegoing into a habit takes all of us, and this Council gives us a way to do that together.”
This week, Blum will speak to members of exhibition as part of a live conversation at Cinema United’s annual Fall Summit gathering in Los Angeles.
Robbie is a 3x Oscar nominated actress and producer. She starred in Warner Bros’ highest grossing movie ever, Barbie, which made over $1.4 billion worldwide. She stared earlier this year in Warner Bros/MRC’s feature take of classic novel Wuthering Heights. She next stars and produces Warners’ Ocean’s prequel which is shooting in Monaco under the direction of Bradley Cooper who also stars.
Three-time Oscar nominee Blum leads Blumhouse Atomic Monster. Blumhouse has a first-look deal with Universal Pictures and has produced the highly-profitable Paranormal Activity, The Purge, Insidious, and Sinister franchises which have grossed more than $1.2 billion worldwide on combined budgets under $40 million. This past summer Blumhouse Atomic Monster had two movies which grossed over $900M combined on very low budgets: A24’s highest grossing movie ever Backrooms and Focus Features’ highest grossing movie ever, Obsession.
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