The Playlist

Universal Moves Ahead With FBI Wedding Comedy Starring Steve Carell

By Cain Rodriguez
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February 14, 2013 9:23 AM
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2 Comments

News

Since leading “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” to box-office success, and being the best in the U.S. version of “The Office” for multiple seasons, Steve Carell has had a patchy record on the big screen, ranging from successes like "Date Night" to things no one saw like "Dan In Real Life." With the release of the magician comedy “The Incredible Burt Wonderstone” and “Anchorman: The Legend Continues” later this year, the former 'Office' star may be at the start of a string of hits, and Universal want in.

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William Friedkin Says 'Sorcerer' Finally Getting Digital Transfer, But Won't Be On Criterion

By Charlie Schmidlin
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February 12, 2013 10:01 AM
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2 Comments

News

2012 proved by turns an odd and triumphant year for director William Friedkin, who fashioned Matthew McConaughey's performance in the shockingly good “Killer Joe,” but also was forced into dealing with his troubled past, namely the 1977 suspense drama “Sorcerer.” Legal difficulties and lawsuits surrounding the film have plagued the past 12 months for the filmmaker, but now it appears Friedkin may finally gain some peace with his underseen gem.

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Rebel Wilson Sells Comedy Pitch To Universal That She'll Write & Star In

By Joe Cunningham
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October 10, 2012 10:22 AM
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0 Comments

News

Coming off a great performance in “Pitch Perfect,” which is performing solidly in theaters at the moment, Rebel Wilson’s career looks in pretty great shape. She’s got a lead role in Miguel Arteta’s brewing indie comedy “Unicorn Store,” "Glee" star Chris Colfer’s “Struck By Lightning,” and Michael Bay’s “Pain and Gain” on her upcoming slate, and her self-penned comedy pilot “Super Fun Night” is also in development over at ABC.

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Universal Confirms 'Ted' & 'Bourne' Sequels

By Kevin Jagernauth
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September 13, 2012 2:59 PM
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3 Comments

News

It's simple math folks. "Ted" was the biggest and most surprising comedy smash hit of the summer, hauling in just under $395 million dollars worldwide. Not bad for an R-rated movie not based on a pre-existing property. Hell, those are great numbers any way you slice it. And even though the $180 million or so take for "The Bourne Legacy" puts it at the bottom rung of the franchise, the interest in the character is still there and the quality hasn't dropped off either. So what's next? Sequels, duh.

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'Fast Five' Helmer Justin Lin In Talks With Universal For Former Spike Lee Project 'L.A. Riots'

By Oliver Lyttelton
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August 7, 2012 10:20 AM
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0 Comments

News

A couple of years back, Justin Lin was a director who worked constantly, but was seen as a fairly mid-level guy: his debut "Better Luck Tomorrow" was well regarded critically, but follow-ups like "Annapolis" and his work on the third and fourth "Fast & Furious" movies were much more coolly received. But then came his third turn on the road-racing franchise "Fast Five," and the film was both a monster hit and surprisingly popular with critics -- and so it should have been; it's easily the best of the series, with excellently handled action and a playful spirit, suggesting Lin had finally found his groove.

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'Battleship' Sinks Universal Profits By Over $80 Million

By Kevin Jagernauth
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August 1, 2012 1:37 PM
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2 Comments

News

While studios have been moving toward a model where instead of investing a handful of different movies and a variety of budgets and expectations, they put all their money into a few make-or-break movies per year, the risk of that approach is beginning to be more than apparent. Disney is still wiping the egg off their face from "John Carter," the debacle of a film that they've gone on record as saying lost them $200 million bucks. Oops. And now over an expensive folly over at Universal has also affected the balance sheet.

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Teaser Poster Arrives For Edgar Wright's 'The World's End' As Film Gets Green Light

By Oliver Lyttelton
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July 13, 2012 2:02 PM
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6 Comments

News

Well, we figured it was pretty much a done deal since the last announcement, but good news has arrived on Day 2 of Comic-Con: Universal have officially given the green light to "The World's End," the latest film from director Edgar Wright and co-writer/star Simon Pegg, which will close out their unofficial trilogy that started with "Shaun Of The Dead" and continued with "Hot Fuzz."

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Universal Looks In The Mirror And Decides To Go Ahead With A 'Snow White & The Huntsman' Sequel

By Kevin Jagernauth
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June 7, 2012 10:57 PM
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5 Comments

News

Say it with us now: Franchise! That Universal has keeping crossing their fingers they would get multiple movies out "Snow White & The Huntsman" is absolutely no surprise, and it looks like they're getting their wish.

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Rumor: Angelina Jolie To Direct The Erotic Novel 'Fifty Shades Of Grey' For Universal

By Edward Davis
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June 7, 2012 10:42 PM
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3 Comments

News

"Fifty Shades Of Grey." Even if you haven't read the erotic fiction novel by British author E. L. James, it's inescapable in pop culture references these days and you've likely at least heard jokes about it you probably don't understand yet. Described as a "Twilight"-inspired erotic novel about a about a steamy bondage and S&M relationship between a wealthy Seattle businessman and a virginal young college student, the novel has sold ten million copies worldwide and book rights sold in over 37 countries.

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Weekend Box Office: 'Snow White And The Huntsman' Bucks Poor Tracking Worries, The 'Avengers' Breaks Two More All-Time Records

By Gabe Toro
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June 3, 2012 12:07 PM
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28 Comments

Box Office

Maybe that sequel will happen after all. Very clever, Universal. First, you announce that "Snow White and the Huntsman" is tracking a bit weak, possibly in the low 30s. Then, there's a "leak" that you've backtracked on a sequel since getting David Koepp to pen a follow-up. And now, with reports that 'Huntsman' may have actually connected with the young males they were trying to entice, registering a $55 million opening, there's great rejoicing for the film, particularly in the wake of the absolutely pathetic "Battleship" returns.

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