movies
Paramount-WBD Deal Gets Strong Endorsement From Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer
Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer went to bat Thursday for Paramount CEO David Ellison and the company’s hung-up merger with Warner Bros. Discovery.
“Uncertainty is the worst thing for our business, and uncertainty and delay is not good for anybody,” the exec said in response to a Wall Street analyst’s question during Lionsgate’s quarterly earnings call. “I’m in favor of this transaction, but most importantly, I’m in favor of certainty and I’m getting all of the delay out of it.”
The $110 billion mega-deal breezed through regulatory review before hitting a major barrier in July, when the Writers Guild of America and 12 state attorneys general filed an antitrust lawsuit. Following a judge’s initial rulings siding with the plaintiffs, a full trial has now been scheduled for next March. The months-long delay, barring a settlement, has added to industry angst given how rapidly the marketplace keeps changing due to tech and audience shifts.
Feltheimer joins fellow deal supporters TKO CEO Ari Emanuel and the CEOs of major theater chains AMC and Regal, who have recently made public comments on it. On the other side, a number of A-listers have added their names to an anti-merger petition that has drawn more than 5,000 signatures, citing fears about potential layoffs and sensitivity around combining two major studios.
The Lionsgate exec added a personal endorsement of Ellison along with addressing the importance of the deal on a broader industry level.
“We know David Ellison well,” he said. “We did his first series, Manhattan, some years ago, I can tell you that I was super impressed with him. He loves content. I have no reason not to believe that he will be investing very heavily in content, whether it’s a 30-film slate or whether it’s at a bolstered Paramount+.”
Feltheimer said he has held recent discussions with the companies about potential film co-financing opportunities. Also, as a supplier to Netflix and other major streamers, he sees the potential boost to Paramount+ as a draw.
“For us, a better-financed streamer, a competitive streamer, would be better for us, better for us in terms of original programming, better for us in terms of selling library,” he said.
Doing more business with a bulked-up Paramount “would be good for us, and would be good for the industry,” Feltheimer added. “Overall, the more movies that are in the marketplace – while it’s competitive – is good. As you know, the rising tide lifts all boats.”
>
movies
Morgan Freeman Will Accept Mediocre Script If They ‘Pay You Enough’
Even if a script isn’t that good, Morgan Freeman said he’ll still say yes if “they’re going to pay you enough.”
During a recent interview with The New York Times, the legendary actor got candid about how he chooses the projects he wants to take on, especially six decades into his career.
“If somebody offers you a job, it’s very nice if they’re offering you also an exciting script, but in reality, two or three things come into play,” Freeman shared. “What are they going to pay you? If they’re going to pay you enough, then you overlook some of the glitches in the script that happen to be there.”
“Sometimes you can mention things that are in the script that don’t quite work out for you and by and large, that gets worked out,” he added.
Freeman already has a long list of accomplishments, most notably his Academy Award win for best supporting actor for Million Dollar Baby, in addition to four other Oscar nominations across his career. He’s also known for his roles in Invictus, The Dark Knight, Se7en and Driving Miss Daisy, among many others.
But even at 89, Freeman has no plans of retiring from the industry or slowing down. “I’m like Clint Eastwood on that: Don’t let the old man in,” he said. “So, keep working. If you can get out of bed and don’t fall down when you do it, then you just count your blessings and keep moving. So, I’ll work as long as I can — as long as somebody says, ‘Do you want to do this part?’”
As for whether he has any other dream roles that he has yet to take on, Freeman quipped, “No. I’m pushing 90 now. So, the roles that I wished I had been able to play, Denzel Washington will play.”
Freeman most recently returned for Lioness season three, which premiered on Paramount+ earlier this week.
>
movies
‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ Box Office: Biggest First Week Ever
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is still catching new records as the Tom Holland-led movie continues its impressive start at the box office.
Sony Pictures announced Thursday that director Destin Daniel Cretton‘s film has landed the highest-grossing first week in domestic box office history. It has surpassed $500 million in North America in its first seven days, becoming the fastest film to reach that half-billion milestone by supplanting Avengers: Endgame, which hit the threshold in eight days after opening in April 2019.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day has notched records at a head-spinning pace, which includes scoring the best-ever domestic box office sums for a Monday and a Tuesday. Brand New Day became the second-fastest feature to cross the billion-dollar mark globally when Sony announced Tuesday morning that it reached the threshold in six days, bested only by Endgame.
Over the weekend, Brand New Day was in a neck-and-neck battle with Endgame for the biggest domestic opening weekend ever. On Monday morning, Sony confirmed that Spidey had indeed prevailed to claim the crown with $360 million, surpassing Endgame’s $357.1 million domestic start, although the latter’s $1.2 billion global launch still held the record for its worldwide opening weekend.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day also set records for the biggest Thursday previews and top Friday domestic sum, along with giving Sony its best-ever opening weekend. Hailing from producers Marvel Studios and Amy Pascal, it carries a $225 million production budget.
Zendaya, Sadie Sink, Jacob Batalon, Jon Bernthal and Mark Ruffalo also star in the new movie from Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings filmmaker Cretton. It sees Marvel Comics’ signature hero enduring a lonely existence without his loved ones before an invisible enemy tracks him down.
During a conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, Sony Pictures chief Tom Rothman noted that audience interest in stars Holland and Zendaya does not appear to be a passing trend.
“They’re not popular because they’re popular,” the exec emphasized. “They’re popular because they’re talented, and they deserve their popularity. They’re lovely, decent, grounded, good-valued people, and they work really hard. So they’ve earned every ounce of their success.”
Sony projects that Brand New Day will continue attracting audiences in the coming weeks as the summer starts winding down. Its second weekend will encounter fresh competition from such wide releases as One Night Only, Super Troopers 3 and Ice Cream Man.
>
movies
Joan Jett Cancels Tour Dates Amid Surgery Recovery
Joan Jett is taking a break from the road as she heals from a recent orthopedic surgery for a fractured vertebrae.
On Wednesday, the Blackhearts frontwoman’s team announced that Jett will not be able to perform her upcoming September tour dates in Costa Mesa, California and Louisville, Kentucky.
“Following a recent injury, Joan Jett has undergone orthopedic surgery on a fractured vertebrae and will begin the necessary healing process,” said Jett’s team in a statement, according to People. “In close consultation with her doctors, Joan will not be able to perform at her forthcoming September scheduled shows in Costa Mesa, CA on September 5th and in Louisville, KY on September 24th.
“While Joan hates to disappoint fans, she will be taking this time to focus on physical therapy and healing. She’s looking forward to delivering tremendous concerts for many years to come,” the statement added.
Last month, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts wrapped up their first headlining U.K. tour in 16 years, before returning to the states for their scheduled stops next month at the Orange County Fair in California and the Bourbon & Beyond Festival in Kentucky.
>
-
movies3 months agoSearch For Canadian TV Actor Stewart McLean Now Homicide Investigation
-
Fashion9 years agoThese ’90s fashion trends are making a comeback in 2017
-
Fashion9 years agoAccording to Dior Couture, this taboo fashion accessory is back
-
Fashion9 years agoModel Jocelyn Chew’s Instagram is the best vacation you’ve ever had
-
Fashion9 years agoYour comprehensive guide to this fall’s biggest trends
-
Fashion9 years ago9 Celebrities who have spoken out about being photoshopped
-
Fashion9 years agoEmily Ratajkowski channels back-to-school style
-
Fashion9 years agoA photo diary of the nightlife scene from LA To Ibiza
