Thompson on Hollywood

Casting Watch: Lily James Joins Cate Blanchett in Kenneth Branagh's 'Cinderella'

News

24-year old English actress Lily James, who plays Lady Rose MacClare on "Downton Abbey," has been cast as Cinderella in Kenneth Branagh's live-action revamp for Disney.

By Anne Thompson and Ryan Lattanzio
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April 30, 2013 2:48 PM
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'Iron Man 3''s Big Overseas Opening Fans High Stateside Expectations; Why AMC and Regal Wrangled with Disney (VIDEO)

Box Office

Disney/Marvel's "Iron Man 3" opened in 11 territories Wednesday, with a reported $13.2 million gross. That's more than previous series entries and more than the first day for last year's Disney/Marvel smash "The Avengers" in France.

By Tom Brueggemann
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April 25, 2013 9:24 PM
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Why Studios Raid Indies Like 'Ain't Them Bodies Saints' Director David Lowery, Signed to Reinvent Disney's 'Pete's Dragon'

News

David Lowery, director of Sundance's buzzy Western "Ain't Them Bodies Saints," has been tapped by Disney to co-write with his producer Toby Halbrooks a reinvention of the Mouse House's classic family film, "Pete's Dragon." Reportedly it will not be a musical, as the 1977 original is, and at the moment Lowery has only been hired in a writing capacity.

By Anne Thompson and Beth Hanna
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March 20, 2013 1:03 PM
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'Oz' Brings Riches, from Needed Boffo Box Office to Kunis Viral Breakout to Yet Another Sequel (VIDEO)

Box Office

This weekend marks the watershed moment in 2013 when the box office will finally lift some boats around the nation's multiplexes. That's thanks to Disney's "Oz: the Great and Powerful," which is expected to deliver some $80 million, which means that other struggling movies in theaters such as "Jack the Giant Slayer" might actually reap some side benefits.

By Anne Thompson
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March 8, 2013 1:04 PM
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Disney Wants Kenneth Branagh to Take 'Cinderella' to the Ball

News

Actor-directors are in demand right now.

By Beth Hanna
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February 1, 2013 12:49 PM
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Weekend Recap: 'Alice in Wonderland' Sequel, Heroine Complex Short Films, Depp's Don Quixote, What's Next for Refn, Cuaron and Abrams

News

Disney is making moves to follow up "Alice in Wonderland" with a sequel. The 3-D 2010 Tim Burton film, featuring Mia Wasikowska as Alice and Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter, grossed $1 billion worldwide. Variety reports that Disney has brought back scriptwriter Linda Woolverton, who also wrote "Beauty and the Beast" and "The Lion King," to do the job.

By Maggie Lange
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December 10, 2012 12:12 PM
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Disney Leads Annie Award Best Picture Nominees with 'Brave,' 'Frankenweenie' & 'Wreck-It Ralph'

Awards

Nominees for the 40th Annie Awards, recognizing the best in animation, have been announced. Between Pixar and the Walt Disney Studio branches, Disney secured three Best Picture nods for "Brave," "Frankenweenie" and "Wreck-It Ralph." Full list below.

By Beth Hanna
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December 3, 2012 2:04 PM
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Jennifer Lee to Co-Direct Disney's 'Frozen'; Women Helmers Still Minority in Animated Features

News

Disney has tapped Jennifer Lee to co-direct the studio's 53rd animated feature "Frozen" with Chris Buck. Lee contributed to the film's screenplay, and was also a co-writer on old-school-arcade box office hit "Wreck-It Ralph."

By Beth Hanna
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November 29, 2012 2:58 PM
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Saturday Box Office Preview: 'Wreck-It-Ralph' Leads Top Ten, 'Flight' Takes Off

Box Office

"Wreck-It Ralph" started off with a non-holiday Friday gross of over $13 million--huge for an animated film--which is likely to be quadrupled for the weekend. After "Hotel Transylvania" owned October, "Ralph," from Disney Studios, is in position to dominate early November. With Thanksgiving ahead, it looks the crowd pleaser has a chance to be among the top animated releases of the year.

By Tom Brueggemann
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November 3, 2012 3:23 PM
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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.