Thompson on Hollywood

Weekend Box Office: Super 8 Pulls $38 Million, Beats X-Men: First Class for Number One Slot

As Paramount labored to both downplay expectations and build up word-of-mouth via advance sneaks, Super 8 exceeded box office predictions and got off to a strong start. Anthony D'Alessandro reports:Super 8’s projector bulbs burned brighter than expected as Paramount’s sci-fi drama bested its lowest box office estimates by 52% for a wondrous weekend estimate of $38 million. Concern that J.J. Abrams’ cinematic love letter to Steven Spielberg would bow to dismal results provoked Paramount to hammer the film’s critical acclaim into gold by unspooling the film on Thursday at 300-plus sites (including 239 IMAX hubs) via a Twitter promotion. One couldn't expect record grosses from a limited release: thus Thursday’s $1 million take amounted to cherries on Paramount’s sundae.

By Anthony D'Alessandro
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June 12, 2011 4:52 AM
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Dueling Snow Whites: Relativity's Grimm vs. Universal's Huntsman, The Casts So Far

UPDATE: One point for Relativity's untitled Snow White! Finally, some good news for the film comes in the form of Sean Bean. He will play the King whose kingdom is destroyed by the Evil Queen (Julia Roberts). Relativity is now touting this as a family-friendly Snow White, since they already know Universal's Snow White and the Huntsman is going to outdo them in the creative edge department. The film is currently shooting in Montreal.

By Sophia Savage
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May 27, 2011 11:40 AM
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Relativity Moves Up Untitled Snow White Ahead of Universal's Snow White and the Huntsman

In a dangerous game of chicken between dueling Snow White projects, Relativity Media is moving up Tarsem Singh's untitled Snow White film to March 16 from June 29, 2012, jumping ahead of Universal, which had pushed forward its $160 million Snow White and the Huntsman, directed by Rupert Sanders and starring Charlize Theron, Kristen Stewart and Chris Hemsworth, to June 1 from December 2012. Neither film is even under way as yet.

By Anne Thompson
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May 24, 2011 8:19 AM
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Cannes: Weinstein Chases Wettest County in New Indie Landscape

The leopard does not change its spots. Harvey Weinstein's TWC may be back on top, with streamlined financing and a $400-million worldwide Oscar-winner (that King's Speech take is not all TWC's, of course), but that doesn't help the man to curtail his voracious appetites.

By Anne Thompson
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May 16, 2011 3:16 AM
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Relativity Dates House on the End of the Street, Starring Jennifer Lawrence

Relativity Media has picked an opening date for its thriller pick-up House at the End of the Street, starring Jennifer Lawrence, Elisabeth Shue and Max Theriot. The film will open wide on February 3, 2012. Mark Tonderai directs and David Loucka's script about a teenager (Lawrence) who moves with her mom (Shue) to a new town and learns that their home is next door to the site of a double murder. She makes friends with the massacre's sole survivor (Thieriot).

By Anne Thompson
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April 22, 2011 6:32 AM
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Relativity Acquires House at the End of the Street, Starring Jennifer Lawrence

Continuing its buying spree, new distrib on the block Relativity has acquired horror film House at the End of the Street for stateside release in 2012. The film follows a just-moved-in teen (Jennifer Lawrence) who discovers that she and her mother (Elisabeth Shue) live across the street from the site of a double murder; they befriend the surviving son (Max Thieriot) who still lives there. Word is, House at the End of the Street hopes to be to Psycho what Shia LaBeouf’s 2007 Disturbia was to Rear Window. Glenn Basner's FilmNation Entertainment, which produced and reps the film around the world, closed the deal for U.S. rights well ahead of Cannes.

By Anne Thompson
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April 14, 2011 8:59 AM
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Director Watch: Jackson on The Hobbit's 48 FPS, Cooper's Out of the Furnace, Jones Eyes Wolverine

- Crazy Heart writer-producer-director Scott Cooper (pictured in Vanity Fair with his film's Oscar-winning star, Jeff Bridges) will write and direct Out of the Furnace for Relativity. The film will be based on Brad Ingelsby's script, The Low Dweller, in which an ex-con -- just out of prison -- seeks revenge for his brother's death. Relativity production president Tucker Tooley states: "Scott Cooper drew raw emotion from the story and inspired amazing performances from his actors in Crazy Heart. We are excited for him to shepherd this project." Relativity will share producing credits with Appian Way and Scott Free with Energy Entertainment.

By Sophia Savage
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April 12, 2011 5:23 AM
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The Crow Reboot Lands Director

Relativity Media and producer Edward R. Pressman have hired Juan Carlos Fresnadillo to direct their remake of Alex Proyas's 1994's The Crow for a fall production start. The original starred Brandon Lee, who died in tragic set accident involving a prop gun loaded with blanks.

By Anne Thompson
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April 7, 2011 11:58 AM
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Relativity to Hire New Marketing and Distribution Head to Sell Summer Slate

The departure of Relativity Media marketing and distribution chief Peter Adee June 1 after ten months is a typical "blame the messenger" move. In other words, it's age-old industry practice to scapegoat marketing heads when movies aren't working. Adee came in when Relativity acquired Overture's distribution and marketing infrastructure and staff of 43. The MGM and Universal marketing vet knows his stuff. That said, the LAT's use of the word "outspoken" speaks volumes. Part of Adee's job was to figure out how to get along with Relativity's "outspoken" CEO, Ryan Kavanaugh (pictured).

By Anne Thompson
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April 4, 2011 3:46 AM
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Relativity Finds Prince Armie Hammer for Snow White

Someday Snow White's prince will come, and it looks like it's The Social Network's Armie Hammer. Relativity has cast Hammer as Prince Andrew Alcott in its untitled adventure Snow White, a contemporary retelling of the Brothers Grimm fairy tale to be directed by Tarsem Singh (Immortals, The Cell). Hammer joins Julia Roberts as the evil Queen. Saoirse Ronan is in talks for the title role.