Thompson on Hollywood

'Iron Man 3' Director Shane Black Set to Direct Comic Book Adaptation 'Doc Savage'

News

'Iron Man 3' writer/director Shane Black has a new project in the works. He has just closed a deal with Sony to direct "Doc Savage." Black co-wrote the screenplay with Anthony Bagarozzi and Charles Mondry based on the hero of pulp novels, films and comic books who first appeared in 1933.

By Ryan Lattanzio
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May 8, 2013 1:13 PM
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'Django Unchained' Will Show in China: Tarantino Agrees to SARFT Demand for More Cuts

News

Hollywood sees dollar signs when they look at China. It's the land of new opportunity. But navigating with this burgeoning market has its hazards. The main issue is one that will never be resolved, not on the creative co-production side and not at the distribution end either. And that is SARFT, the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, the government censorship entity which is set up to protect its citizens.

By Anne Thompson
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April 26, 2013 2:45 PM
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Sony Chairman Amy Pascal Addresses Hollywood's Depiction of Gay Characters: "We Can Do Better. We Have To."

News

As the Supreme Court hears merits and demerits today of the Proposition 8 gay marriage ban, a full transcript of Sony chairman Amy Pascal's remarks at the March 21 fundraiser gala for the LA Gay and Lesbian Center has been released to the Huffington Post. In her speech, Pascal specifically addresses Hollywood's depiction of gay characters, and the progress that still needs to be made: "I'm talking about kids who are gay and I'm talking about kids who aren't gay. One group needs affirmation and the other group needs education. And, if I'm being honest, neither of those issues are high on any movie studio or TV network's agenda."

By Beth Hanna
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March 26, 2013 1:24 PM
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Sony Stakes Awards Season on Real Stories, Books David O. Russell's Abscam Movie Starring Cooper and Lawrence for December

News

Next year's Oscar titles are lining up like planes at La Guardia. At Sony alone are a batch of movies inspired by true stories: Paul Greengrass’ Somali pirates adventure "Captain Phillips," starring Tom Hanks (October 11); producer-director-star George Clooney’s fact-based World War II art retrieval thriller "The Monuments Men," starring Matt Damon, Cate Blanchett, Bill Murray, John Goodman, and Jean Dujardin (December 18); and Bennett Miller’s still undated John DuPont murder mystery "Foxcatcher," starring Steve Carell, Channing Tatum, Mark Ruffalo, and Sienna Miller. Sure to be in the awards conversation, David O. Russell’s untitled Abscam movie, his follow-up to "Silver Linings Playbook," which reunites his "Silver Linings" stars Bradley Cooper and Oscar-winner Jennifer Lawrence as well as Christian Bale, who won a supporting actor Oscar for "The Fighter," is set to open limited on awards-friendly December 13 2013 in advance of a wide Christmas Day release.

By Anne Thompson
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March 13, 2013 3:14 PM
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Whither M. Night Shyamalan's Name in New 'After Earth' Trailer?

Video

One notable thing about the new trailer for "After Earth" (June 7), starring look-alike father-son duo Jaden and Will Smith, is the absence of director M. Night Shyamalan's name. Following the disastrously reviewed, 3-D retrofitted "The Last Airbender," not to mention "The Lady in the Water" and "The Happening," Sony is choosing not to remind audiences of Shyamalan's involvement in the movie. Does this mean that Shyamalan is an actual negative as a selling tool? On some level, Sony might as well make "After Earth" an Alan Smithee film.

By Beth Hanna
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March 8, 2013 2:11 PM
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A Tale Two Steve Jobs Biopics: One's Indie, the Other Isn't

Festivals

Ashton Kutcher-starrer "jOBS," which will close the Sundance Film Festival in January, is the first of two Steve Jobs biopics. Below, here's what we know about the two projects, besides the fact that one is indie and the other--still being written by "The Social Network," "Newsroom" and "Moneyball" scribe Aaron Sorkin--isn't.

By Beth Hanna
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December 4, 2012 3:51 PM
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'Lawrence of Arabia' 50th Anniversary 4K Restoration Hits Theaters October 4

News

On October 4, "Lawrence of Arabia" will celebrate fifty years with this Sony Pictures' Colorworks restoration by playing at over six hundred theaters throughout the country. Special matinee screenings will include an introduction from star Omar Sharif...

By Sophia Savage
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September 26, 2012 3:57 PM
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Immersed in Movies: Back to Basics with 'Hotel Transylvania'

Features

It turns out that Genndy Tartakovsky's hand-drawn vision for "Hotel Transylvania" was just what this troubled movie needed. The monster mash about letting go of your children and learning to live with humans (echoing Pixar's "Monsters, Inc." and "Finding Nemo") might be light on story, but...

By Bill Desowitz
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September 20, 2012 11:53 AM
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Sony Lands Sorkin for Steve Jobs Biopic

News

Following up on their successful collaboration on David Fincher's "The Social Network," Sony and producer Scott Rudin are bringing on Oscar-winning screenwriter Aaron Sorkin to adapt Walter Isaacson's Steve Jobs' bestselling biography. The project is being produced by Rudin, Mark Gordon and Guymon Casady.

By Anne Thompson
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May 16, 2012 2:11 AM
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Sony and Universal Hawk Summer and Holiday Slates, from 'Spider-Man' and 'Total Recall' to 'Battleship' and 'Bourne'

Box Office

Which of the six studio presentations at CinemaCon were represented by their chairmen? One could argue that the ones who most wanted to be identified with their slates, to OWN them if you will, were the ones who showed up.