Thompson on Hollywood

MGM Grabs Vidgame Franchise 'Tomb Raider'

News

In the Hollywood studios' neverending quest for brand name franchises, MGM has acquired feature film rights to the updated vidgame missions "Tomb Raider," about a daredevil archaeologist on a series of globe-trotting quests. MGM, which owns some rights to "The Hobbit" and James Bond franchises, will reboot the new action adventure based on the Lara Croft video game franchise in partnership with GK Films.

By Anne Thompson
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March 27, 2013 4:09 PM
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Trailer Watch: Joss Whedon's "Cabin in the Woods" Finally Hits Screens in April

Video

The new trailer for Joss Whedon's horror-thriller "The Cabin in the Woods" dropped this week, giving a glimpse into the sci fi scribe's take on the classic friends-trapped-in-the-woods horror plotline.

By Jacob Combs
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December 12, 2011 3:56 PM
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Box Office Scandal: Circuit Dealing Pervades Small Towns, Flagship vs. Century Theatres

In a David vs. Goliath face-off, indie-owned Flagship Theaters recently won an appeal in its crusade against Cinemark’s Century Theatres. Does the age-old practice of circuit dealing — an unethical way for chain exhibitors to muscle studios — still persist? Anthony D’Alessandro digs further into this taboo topic: What is circuit dealing, exactly? It’s a predatory film booking practice whereby multiplex chains strong-arm studios for product in a specific market. If a studio decides to book with the competition in a given community, usually a Mom-and-Pop venue, then the exhibitor will threaten to bar that film (or future films) from playing the entire chain.

By Anthony D'Alessandro
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September 27, 2011 11:38 AM
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Exec Watch: Jashni Legendary President, Stratton MGM Financial Officer, Universal's Fogelson Renews

Six-year Legendary Entertainment veteran production exec Jon Jashni is moving up: he's now the company's new president. He will continue as Legendary’s chief creative officer, reporting to Legendary Chairman and CEO Thomas Tull. Jashni has long had a creative role in Legendary Pictures film development and production, including The Hangover series, Ben Affleck's The Town, Zack Snyder's 300, The Watchmen and Sucker Punch, 3-D Clash of the Titans and the upcoming Pacific Rim (Guillermo del Toro), Paradise Lost (Alex Proyas) and Seventh Son (Sergei Bodrov).

By Anne Thompson
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September 20, 2011 6:21 AM
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The Late Great John Calley: Businessman with Soul of Artist, Life Saver

Longtime Hollywood producer and studio executive John Calley has died after a long illness. He was 81. While at Warner Bros. in the 1970s (as production chief, president, and vice chairman), the controversial and groundbreaking movies Calley supervised included Alan Pakula's All the President's Men, Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange, William Friedkin's The Exorcist and Don Siegel's Dirty Hairy.

By Anne Thompson and Sophia Savage
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September 13, 2011 9:47 AM
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Judy Garland Plays Lincoln Center: 31 Musicals In All, Complete with Wizard of Oz Sing-along

When it comes to celebrating Judy Garland’s birthday, the requisite song and blow-out-your-candles-now dance just doesn’t quite cut it.

By Jacob Combs
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June 12, 2011 3:40 AM
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Possibilities: Witherspoon's Wedding Rom-Com, Aronofsky's Noah Epic, Poltergeist Eyes Lindsay-Abaire

- Reese Witherspoon may have redeemed herself at the MTV Movie Awards for How Do You Know by calling out Hollywood starlets and their poor self-marketing skills, but now she's producing a possible starring vehicle that is yet another wedding-themed rom-com, Who Invited Her?, at DreamWorks. Seriously, women will still buy movie tickets even if no one gets married at the end. Promise.

By Sophia Savage
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June 8, 2011 10:04 AM
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Khanna Joins MGM as President of TV and Digital

Going forward, executives in charge of Television and Digital--such as new MGM Television Group and Digital president Roma Khanna--will have vital roles to play. MGM co-chairs Roger Birnbaum and Gary Barber signed the ex-president of Universal Networks International & Digital Initiatives. Khanna will supervise all TV sales, production, acquisitions, licensing, content creation and digital initiatives for MGM worldwide, overseeing all franchises and partnerships, and will look for new franchises and content through the MGM library.

By Anne Thompson
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June 8, 2011 5:58 AM
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The Hobbit Pics Get Official Titles and Release Dates

As is his wont, filmmaker Peter Jackson has posted news on The Hobbit's Facebook page of the two-parter's release dates --December 14, 2012 for Part One of the J.R.R. Tolkien classic prequel to The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and December 13, 2013 for Part Two.

By Anne Thompson
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May 31, 2011 12:44 PM
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Sony Launches Dragon Tattoo Red Band Teaser Trailers, Review, Plummer Talks Mara as Salander

It may seem early for Sony to be releasing two teaser trailers of David Fincher's American version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, starring Rooney Mara and Daniel Craig. The red band version launched overseas, starting in Sweden (where the film is set and was filmed) and France, and then widens to other countries, including the U.S. this weekend. The green band version goes out wide in theaters and online on Thursday, June 2. One trailer was attached to one exhibitor's print of The Hangover Part II.