Thompson on Hollywood

May the Rights Be With You: Which Studios Own Which Franchise Characters?

News

In the wake of Disney's major purchase of LucasFilm for $4.05 billion, EW asks the pertinent question: Which studios own which major franchise characters? Disney's Robert Iger made clear during a conference call after the announcement that he'd rather pay through the nose for an established brand than risk creating anything new. He's making the smart bet that longtime Spielberg producer Kathleen Kennedy, president of LucasFilm, will be able to take consultant Lucas's blueprint for new "Star Wars" episodes and reinvent the series with fresh writers and directors. ("The Empire Strikes Back," directed by Irvin Kershner, is widely considered the best of the saga.)

By Anne Thompson and Beth Hanna
|
November 1, 2012 1:44 PM
|
4 Comments

More:

Chastain, Cooper, Jackman & Kushner talk 'Zero Dark Thirty,' 'Les Mis,' 'Silver Linings' & 'Lincoln' in EW's Holiday Preview

News

In EW's Holiday Movie Preview, actors from several hot titles speak out on their roles, including Jessica Chastain on the mysterious "Zero Dark Thirty," Bradley Cooper in the feel-good festival favorite "Silver Linings Playbook," Daniel Day-Lewis' method acting during "Lincoln" and Hugh Jackman on why the epic "Les Miserables" is still relevant.

By Sophia Savage
|
November 1, 2012 1:26 PM
|
0 Comments

More:

New Poster for 'Oz: The Great and Powerful' Reveals Wicked Witch -- Kunis or Weisz?

News

A new poster for Sam Raimi's "Oz: The Great and Powerful," with the green-skinned Wicked Witch of the West making a full-body appearance, asks the question: Who plays the notorious Witch -- Mila Kunis or Rachel Weisz?

By Beth Hanna
|
November 1, 2012 12:54 PM
|
0 Comments

More:

Casting Watch: Cumberbatch To Play Beatles Manager Brian Epstein, Helmed by 'Sherlock' Director Paul McGuigan

News

Benedict Cumberbatch has signed on to play Brian Epstein in a biopic about the Beatles' longtime manager. Paul McGuigan, who's directed Cumberbatch in a number of "Sherlock" episodes, will helm the Epstein project.

By Beth Hanna
|
November 1, 2012 12:40 PM
|
0 Comments

More:

Drafthouse Picks Up Harrowing Genocide Reenactment Doc 'The Act of Killing'

News

Drafthouse Films has acquired US rights to Joshua Oppenheimer's breakout Danish doc "The Act of Killing." The film, described by Errol Morris as "a non-fiction film unlike anything else," is a series of portraits of Indonesian death squad leaders, challenged to reenact their real-life mass killings in whatever cinematic form they desire...

By Beth Hanna
|
October 31, 2012 1:49 PM
|
0 Comments

More:

Why Scott Foundas Ditched Lincoln Center Programming to Go Back Where He Belongs UPDATED

News

Three years ago, when Scott Foundas left the Village Voice Media's LA Weekly to join the Film Society of Lincoln Center as associate programmer, I was disheartened. Why? Because he is one of the most gifted critics of his generation. I took Foundas leaving his clear avocation as a sign of the continuing decline of film criticism.

By Anne Thompson
|
October 31, 2012 1:44 PM
|
4 Comments

More:

Disney Empire Strikes Back: As George Lucas Moves On, Disney Picks Up His Bay Area Lucasfilm for $4.05 Billion

News

Walt Disney Co. has made a major purchase-- following its earlier acquisition of Pixar and Marvel Entertainment-- by scooping up George Lucas's Bay Area LucasFilm for $4.05 billion. This means that Disney and its theme parks will now own future rights to Lucas's "Star Wars" franchise--in all its myriad forms.

By Anne Thompson
|
October 30, 2012 5:11 PM
|
2 Comments

More:

Hollywood Reporter Leads Press Club's Entertainment Awards with 28 Nominations; Indiewire's Jay Fernandez Nominated Writer

News

The Hollywood Reporter leads the L.A. Press Club's 2012 National Entertainment Journalism Awards with 28 nominations. One of the features nominated was co-authored by Indiewire's own senior writer and news editor, Jay A. Fernandez.

By Beth Hanna
|
October 30, 2012 2:15 PM
|
0 Comments

More:

Roundup: Hurricane Sandy Takes NY, NJ and Social Media By Storm

News

Hurricane Sandy is ravaging the Northeast, with New York and New Jersey being declared disaster areas amidst casualties, a massive power outage, six-alarm fires and flooded public transportation. Meanwhile, as lives, homes and daily routines are severely affected, the social media landscape has also been taken by storm. Below, a web roundup of all things Sandy.

By Beth Hanna
|
October 30, 2012 1:33 PM
|
1 Comment

More:

Ex-Disney Studio Chief Rich Ross Joins Elisabeth Murdoch's Shine America

News

Having moved up through the Disney ranks to head of Disney Channels Worldwide and then a short tenure running the Disney Studio, Rich Ross is now taking over chairman Elisabeth Murdoch's TV and production company Shine America as CEO, reports Variety.