The Hunger Games Lures The Masses For DVD Sale; James Gunn To Direct Marvel's Guardians Of The Galaxy: Biz Break

Also in Monday morning's round-up of news briefs, Cosmopolis lead a weekend of specialty release titles in the box office. Samuel L. Jackson is joining an upcoming Spike Lee project. And remembering Gregory Peck's widow who has passed away.

Huge Crowds to Buy Hunger Games DVD
Fans turned out in droves for the weekend release of The Hunger Games DVD. Cast members made appearances at select Walmarts in various cities, signing DVDs and Blu-rays, Deadline reports.

Cronenberg's Cosmopolis Strong in Deubt, Robot & Frank Solid: Specialty Box Office
Cosmopolis launched its run in the U.S. and qualified as a master of the specialty universe – at least this weekend. After a blitz of media coverage worthy of a studio blockbuster, the David Cronenberg-directed, Robert Pattinson-starrer averaged a fairly impressive $24K-plus in three locations Stateside, Deadline reports.

Samuel L. Jackson Boards Spike Lee's Oldboy
After a 21 year gap, Jackson will play a small but important part in Lee's adaptation of the second part of Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook's trilogy Oldboy. He'll play a man who is tortured by the film's hero, played by Josh Brolin in a key revenge scene, the Playlist reports via The Los Angeles Times.

James Gunn Eyes Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy
Gunn is Marvel Studios' choice to direct its upcoming space superhero saga Guardians of the Galaxy. The official log line for the film says it is centered on a "U.S. pilot who ends up in space in the middle of a universal conflict and goes on the run with futuristic ex-cons who have something everyone wants," THR reports.

Gregory Peck's Widow Dies at 80
Veronique Passani, widow of Oscar-winning actor Gregory Peck, died of heart failure at her home in Los Angeles. Born in Paris, Passani met the actor when he was traveling to star in Roman Holiday and interviewed him for French paper, France Soir, THR reports.