“Wicked” is #1 at the box office, but it did not necessarily hit originally projected numbers. The musical is now expected to deliver a $112M opening weekend. It did pick up $50M internationally, so that helps. Meanwhile, “Gladiator II” (#2) arrived with $55M in receipts for its opening weekend, its current totals are at $222M worldwide.
Oscars: ‘Anora' & ‘Conclave' Still the Frontrunners; THR Says ‘September 5' A “Lock" for Best Picture
It’s Thanksgiving and all the films that are potential Best Picture contenders have screened for AMPAS, guild, and select press. Granted, we’re still not entirely sure who the winner will be, that’s still very much up for grabs, but the pretenders are starting to reveal themselves.
Read moreDenzel Washington Bewildered That Ridley Scott Hasn't Won an Oscar: “Doesn't Even Make Sense"
Will Scott’s 29th film, “Gladiator II,” potentially be the one that finally wins him that elusive golden statuette? By the looks of it, probably not, audiences and critics are severely split on it — he’s going to have to likely wait another year.
Read moreJon Watts Says That He Cancelled ‘Wolfs’ Sequel Because Apple Can “No Longer Be Trusted"
Report: ‘Spider-Man 4' Release Delayed to Christmas 2026
The very reliable ViewerAnon, who almost never dishes out wrong intel, is saying that the new release date for “Spider-Man 4” will be Christmas 2026. Makes sense since the last Spidey (“No Way Home”) was also released around Christmas.
Read moreBrad Pitt is Still Shooting Joseph Kosinski's $300M+ ‘F1' [Updated]
The film started production in July 2023 — 15 months later, and they’re still going at it. Brad Pitt was seen shooting extensive scenes this past weekend at the Mexico Grand Prix. Filming is expected to continue into December when the Abu Dhabi race takes place.
Read moreReaders' Thoughts on ‘Wicked'?
It’s “Glicked” weekend. Along with “Gladiator II,” we have John Chu’s ambitiously glossy “Wicked,” now playing in theaters. Chu’s musical earned $28M on Friday and is headed towards a $117M opening weekend. Colossal numbers.
Read moreReaders' Thoughts on ‘Gladiator II'?
As Ridley Scott threatens us with a 4-hour version of his middling “Gladiator II,” the film is now playing in theaters. Scott’s sword and sandals epic earned $16M on Friday — it’s well on its way to a $55M+ weekend.
Read moreThe 10 Highest-Grossing Movies of 2024 Are All Sequels —First Time in Recorded History
The Total Budget for ‘Wicked’ Part 1 & 2 Was $350M
If you were wondering how much “Wicked” might have cost to produce, well, according to Puck, Universal spent more than $350M on the glossy two-part fantasy-musical that’s about to set the box-office ablaze this weekend. It’s easily the studio’s most expensive film ever.
Ridley Scott Says Near 4-Hour ‘Gladiator II' Extended Cut Might Get Released
It was just three weeks ago that Ridley Scott claimed that there wouldn’t be an extended cut of “Gladiator II” because, in his words, he had final cut on the film. I should have never believed him. The guy can’t help it, and he’s now teasing — you guessed it — a 3 hour 40 minute cut of the film.
Read more‘Wolfs' Sequel Canceled at Apple
William H. Macy and Thomas Jane Join Armie Hammer's “Comeback Movie" — Filming Underway
William H. Macy has joined “Frontier Crucible” which already had Armie Hammer and Thomas Jane in the cast. This is being dubbed as Hammer’s “the comeback movie” — he hasn’t acted in anything since his career was derailed three years ago by allegations of abuse.
Read moreBox Office: ‘Wicked' Earns $11M Thursday Previews, ‘Gladiator II' $6M+
‘The Batman: Part II' Delayed? “Nothing Is Close To Being Planned’"
What exactly is going on with Matt Reeves’ “The Batman” sequel? There’s been so many delays on this one that some are starting to wonder if there might be friction between Reeves and DCU boss James Gunn.
Read moreSpike Lee Paid $3M to Head Red Sea Film Festival Jury
The Saudis now have their own film event— the Red Sea Film Festival. This year, Spike Lee is president of the jury, and Puck’s Matt Belloni is reporting that they paid the filmmaker close to $3M to accept the position. Last year, it was president Oliver Stone.
Read moreSony Scrapped ‘Beyond the Spider-Verse' Footage and Rewrote Entire Script
“Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” was this huge commercial and critical success back in the summer of 2023. The sequel ‘Beyond the Spider-Verse’ was initially supposed to be released theatrically in March 2024, but was then abruptly removed from the schedule.
Read moreSamuel L. Jackson to Star in JJ Abrams' Next Film
Martin Scorsese's ‘Home' Lands at Apple Studios
So, it turns out that Martin Scorsese, Kent Jones and Todd Field are very serious in their intentions of adapting author Marilynne Robinson’s acclaimed “Gilead” novels.
Read moreSony Teases Venom in ‘Spider-Man 4'
In a dubiously written press release, Sony Pictures Japan is seemingly teasing a Venom crossover in ‘Spider-Man 4.’ Whether this was done intentionally, or is a glaring error on their part, is still up for debate.
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