Stakes are never higher in Hollywood than they are during the summer, when the industry harvests yet another annual multi-billion-dollar crop of blockbuster entertainment. But while studio execs, producers, directors and numerous other contributors behind the camera sweat out their opening weekends, a cluster of actors this summer find themselves facing uniquely ambitious new stages in their own careers -- and box office is only part of it. Who has the most at risk in the weeks and months ahead, and how should they proceed? Movieline had a look.
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This would kinda count as a spoiler if you didn't remember that late in 2009, Samuel L. Jackson signed a deal with Marvel to appear in nine films, including The Avengers, Iron Man 3 and Captain America: First Avenger. As such, click ahead to see Jackson and Chris Evans on the set of Captain America in New York over the weekend, thus confirming what you already knew.
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What better way to kick off the summer than with the hero whose mighty hammer is set to swing down and launch the biggest movie season of the year? Movieline spoke with Thor himself, Chris Hemsworth -- Australian actor, costume-ripper, and onetime Verge designee -- about his career-changing turn as Marvel Studios' God of Thunder, how he's currently preparing to resume the role in Joss Whedon's upcoming Avengers film -- or films -- and more. By Odin's beard, dive in!
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Also in this Monday edition of The Broadsheet: Shane Black may write Iron Man 3 after all... Cameron Crowe's Pearl Jam documentary will hit theaters soon enough... and more ahead.
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As Easter is celebrated the world over, what better way to mark the holiest holiday in Christianity than to note four new in-the-works movies that are sure to cause dissent and controversy amongst the faithful? Soul sister site Deadline examined the increasing power of the religious filmgoer and picked out a quartet of flicks that are sure to be dubbed sacrilegious by some. Throw another crucifix in the urine bucket and take a look!
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Over at Movieline sister site Deadline, Nikki Finke's got a whopper of an interview with Simon Cowell, who revealed to her his proposed line-up of judges for the U.S. version of the British reality contest series The X Factor. Will reuniting with fellow American Idol judge Paula Abdul draw in the ratings? Bigger question: Who is Cheryl Cole?
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Leaving school? What would Hermione Granger think? Emma Brown announced that she is temporarily leaving Brown University to concentrate on promoting Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, and not, as some outlets had divined, because she was being teased by the fellow students. No word when or if she would be returning to Brown or transferring to a different university. As an alumnus, I say come to Columbia, Emma! We had Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Anna Paquin and Jake Gyllenhaal and would mind a little magic in the matriculating mix! [US Weekly]
The brightly-plumaged birds of paradise edged out the mad black woman as Rio took the top spot again, with Madea's Big Happy Family following close behind at number two. The olde-timey circus of R. Pattz and Reese Witherspoon's Water For Elephants pulled into number three while the wild tabbies of African Cats settled into sixth place. Your weekend receipts are here.
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In a fascinating peek into the sausage factory that is the new Jason Bourne-less Bourne series, Vulture is reporting that Jeremy Renner's recent casting as the new heir apparent to Jason Bourne came about not because of some great desire for Renner but as part of a grand compromise between director Tony Gilroy and Universal. It seems like Renner wasn't so much the bowl of porridge that was just right, but the bowl of porridge that was least objectionable.
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June 8th creeps ever closer and with it comes Super 8, one of the most anticipated movie of the summer (at least one of my most anticipated). To help whet our 80s-born appetites, Paramount has released two new stills showing the kids of Super 8 both pre and post alien encounters. Can you caption the look of wonderment on their faces, or, failing that, pick out which one will be doing a quarter up in the clink in 10 years?
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Somewhere over the rainbow...some sh*t's about to go down. As Sam Raimi puts the gears in motion for his edgy, adult prequel to the Wizard of Oz, the be-suited director is drawing a line in the sand for Disney execs. Raimi is insisting that two-time Academy Award winner Hilary Swank play an elder witch in Oz, the Great and the Powerful, while the studio is demanding that Michelle Williams fill the role. Witch fight!
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The high-flying birds of Rio stayed aloft in first place again, winning the Friday night box office crow, while Madea's Family managed a rather soft second place opening night. The animal family of Water For Elephants notched a third place opening while the awwwww.... so cute! kitties of African Cats strode in at fifth place. Your Friday box office is here.
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You can bet you have if you've been checking in regularly this week at Movieline. And if you haven't? No worries! That's what the Week in Review is for -- a handy launching pad for catching up on all you might have missed in the build-up to Easter weekend. Speaking of which, drop in over the days ahead for all of weekend editor Dixon Gaines delicious holiday treats as well as more on-the-scene coverage from the Tribeca Film Festival. Have a great weekend!
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With only two weeks to go until the epic fantasy adventure Thor barrels into theaters to ring in the summer movie season, Paramount/Marvel Studios have unleashed an array of new images for your perusal. Among them, closer looks at Asgard's finest gods and goddesses, including Rene Russo as Frigga and Jaimie Alexander as Thor's childhood gal pal, Sif. After the jump, dive into the gallery for over 35 images from Thor -- including, ahem, a full shot of Chris Hemsworth sans shirt. Who needs shirts, anyway? Shirts are for puny humans!
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