Also in Tuesday afternoon's round-up of news briefs, the AMPAS, the organization behind the annual Oscar ceremony adds new members to its Board of Governors and re-elects others including Tom Hanks. New York's Museum of Modern Art long-time senior film curator sets retirement; Entertainment One takes rights to Daniel Radcliffe rom-com; PJ Byrne joins Scorsese pic and a lead role for a Sundance breakout actor.
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Just when it looked like we might dodge a movie based on Ouija (which even McG had the good taste and common sense to abandon at Paramount), along came Universal to pluck the Hasbro property out of turnaround like a dusky Goodwill relic. And now, with a release date looming, the studio has handed the project off to a new team that will get it in shape for 2013. But wait — it gets better.
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Also in Tuesday morning's round-up of news briefs, do young people care about older movies, or is it just about what's happening now? Universal is moving forward with a revamp of its Universal City in L.A. And remembering Bill Asher, director of classic TV shows including I Love Lucy and the "beach blanket" movies of the '60s.
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Also in Monday afternoon's round up of news. Tribeca Institute names its recipients for its $150K Gucci Tribeca Documentary Fund, Liza Burnett Fefferman and Heath Shapiro take up exec positions at RADiUS-TWC, Wally Pfister to spearhead Kodak chats at Los Angeles Film Festival, Universal COO begins his road to retirement and Sony eyes Tonka toys.
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Also in Wednesday afternoon's quick news roundup, The Hobbit is set to premiere in Down Under later this year, Paul Rudd and Emile Hirsch complete a "secret" indie and Captain America 2 appears to have found its directors. Also up is news on a network starring Asian Americans and Universal chief Ron Meyer heads to UCLA festivities.
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Also in Friday morning's briefs round up, Edinburgh and NY Asian Film Festival set their lineups with Disney's Brave headed to Scotland, Kick-Ass alum bid for a return to the sequel, while Universal torpedoes a rival Battleship.
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Another Monday morning, and thus another look at what carnage The Avengers has wrought at the weekend box office. And while things aren't as bad as they may look at first for Battleship and the rest of the competition, they're not what you'd call pretty. Your Weekend Receipts are here.
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Universal's going back to the well, this time bringing Star Trek/Transformers/Cowboys & Aliens writers Alex Kurtzman and Bob Orci along to re-envision two horror properties of the not-so-distant past: "Kurtzman and Orci’s K/O Paper Products will develop and produce a modern reimagining of Universal library titles including The Mummy, alongside producer Sean Daniel and writer Jon Spaihts. The pair will also develop and produce Universal’s reimagined Van Helsing, with Tom Cruise attached to star in and produce the film." Oh, I'm sure it'll all work out just fine. Right, Ron? [Deadline]
It's not every day that a studio turns 100. As such, Universal is making the most of its centennial with a host of events including the recent Tribeca Film Festival shout out to the the company courtesy of Robert DeNiro and Judd Apatow. But today, April 30, is the big day itself, and to kick off the first day of its second century, the company released "100 fun facts" from its history.
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Well, not free free, but still: Hollywood superproducer Joel Silver is looking for a new studio home for his Silver Pictures operation, with which Warner Bros. will officially part ways at the end of 2012. The separation marks the close of a 25-year relationship that yielded blockbuster franchises from Lethal Weapon to The Matrix to Sherlock Holmes — and more than a few shouting matches, outstanding loans and other troubling legacies.
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A Twins sequel? With ex-movie star Eddie Murphy? Haha, very funny. What, what: "Universal and Montecito Picture Co. are hoping to develop a doozy of a follow-up to the 1988 hit comedy that starred Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito that would reunite the two stars. But wait, there’s a twist: In the new scenario, Eddie Murphy would act as a third brother. Titled Triplets, the story would see Schwarzenegger and DeVito as brothers Julius and Vincent, conceived experimentally, who discover they have third sibling." [THR]
A Twins sequel? With ex-movie star Eddie Murphy? Haha, very funny. What, what: "Universal and Montecito Picture Co. are hoping to develop a doozy of a follow-up to the 1988 hit comedy that starred Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito that would reunite the two stars. But wait, there’s a twist: In the new scenario, Eddie Murphy would act as a third brother. Titled Triplets, the story would see Schwarzenegger and DeVito as brothers Julius and Vincent, conceived experimentally, who discover they have third sibling." [THR]
"Highlights of Battleship partnerships include (in alphabetical order): CHEVRON EXTRAMILE — Chevron’s ExtraMile convenience stores will feature a Battleship instant-win game that will be promoted via radio, in-store game cards, as well as online with banner ads at Chevronextramile.com. In-store signage will include pump toppers, pump posters, door decals, counter cards and employee buttons." [Deadline]
It may be indicative of Snow White and the Huntsman director Rupert Sanders’ fearlessness – or his newness, this being his feature debut – that, after presenting much-anticipated footage to fans yesterday at WonderCon, he nonchalantly dropped the vivid phrase “dwarf gangbangs” into a discussion about his dark (and yes, likely PG-13) allegorical fairytale actioner. (Now that’s how you get the attention of a certain demographic.) For the record, there are no such scenarios in June's action-packed SWATH, but there were many more revelations and key insights to be had into Sanders’ take on the age-old tale, which stars Twilight’s Kristen Stewart and debuts two months after that other Snow White movie dances into theaters.
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Here's just the Easter treat for that special child in your life whom you totally hate: "'We've captured the delightfulness of this hilarious hit family comedy in two great-tasting, egg-shaped treats,' explains Ron Rupocinski, Krispy Kreme Corporate Chef. 'They're a fun and colorful way for your family to celebrate the arrival of spring and the Blu-ray™ and DVD release of HOP.'" Reportedly, neither taste like Russell Brand, so there's that. [PRNewswire]
