Thompson on Hollywood

CinemaCon: Sony Relies on Low-Risk Sequels, Comedies, and Faithfuls Adam Sandler, Will Smith

Box Office

After seeing several CinemaCon studio presentations in a row, you start to see the retreads coming. The requisite rehash of 2012 hits, adding up to $4.1 billion worldwide, did not reveal that both "The Amazing Spider-Man" and "Men in Black 3" cost too much to return serious profits, or that the global bounty from "Skyfall" was shared with Eon and MGM. As I watched Sony's dog-and-pony show, led off by studio star Adam Sandler trumpeted by Romans in tunics and breastplates, I was checking off a grid.

By Anne Thompson
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April 23, 2013 9:56 PM
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Casting Watch: Dane DeHaan Beats Eddie Redmayne for Harry Osborn Role in 'Amazing Spider-Man 2'

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Dane DeHaan, who starred in "Chronicle" and has had minor roles this year in both "Lincoln" and "Lawless," has been cast as Harry Osborn in "The Amazing Spider-Man 2." DeHaan will take over the role from James Franco in Sam Raimi's first three "Spider Man" films, and joins leads Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone, as well as franchise newcomers Shailene Woodley and Jamie Foxx (who was recently confirmed to play villain Electro).

By Anne Thompson and Beth Hanna
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December 4, 2012 12:00 PM
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Garfield & Webb Back for 'Spider-Man' Sequel, Set for May 2014

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Andrew Garfield and director Marc Webb will return for Columbia Pictures' next installment of "The Amazing Spider-Man," while Emma Stone is currently in talks. The script for the sequel is by Alex Kurtzman & Roberto Orci ("Transformers," "Star Trek") and Jeff Pinkler, based on James Vanderbilt's earlier draft. The film is set for a May 2, 2014 release in 3-D.

By Sophia Savage
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September 28, 2012 3:42 PM
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Ang Lee Replaces Maguire in 'Life of Pi,' as Star Tries to Find Post-'Spider-Man' Mojo

News

When Ang Lee's "Life of Pi" (November 21) opens the New York Film Festival, Tobey Maguire won't be in it. This is not news. Maguire, who is trying to come to terms with his post-"Spider-Man" identity, was replaced last summer by actor Rafe Spall...

By Anne Thompson
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September 5, 2012 4:29 PM
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Weekend Box Office: 'Amazing Spider-Man' Leads Field

Box Office

Sony’s “The Amazing Spider-Man” showed that the venerable Marvel character can still lure moviegoers in large numbers into its web. In its first six days the $230-million franchise reboot of “Spider-Man" with new stars Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone in the leads generated close to $140 million and picked up nearly $65 million during the weekend.

By Brian Fuson
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July 8, 2012 1:00 PM
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8 Things You Want to Know from EW's Summer Preview: 'Dark Knight Rises,' 'Avengers,' 'Huntsman,' 'Magic Mike'

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EW's Summer Preview (out April 13) covers the season's most hyped releases, from "The Dark Knight Rises" (the last of the "Dark Knight triplets"), "The Avengers" ("the 'Taxi Driver' of superhero-team movies") and "The Amazing Spider-Man" to Channing Tatum and Steven Soderbergh's "Magic Mike" and Meryl Streep and Tommy Lee Jones' "Hope Springs." Enjoy a taste of the issue below.

By Sophia Savage
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April 12, 2012 1:44 PM
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Screenwriter James Vanderbilt Is On Fire: 'White House Down,' 'RoboCop,' 'Total Recall,' 'Amazing Spider-Man' & More

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"Zodiac" writer-producer James Vanderbilt is hot. He wrote "The Amazing Spider-Man" (July 3). He is adapting Brit mini-series "Red Riding" for producers Steven Zaillian and Ridley Scott, and shares screenwriting credit on upcoming "Total Recall" and "RoboCop" remakes. This week, his "White House Down" screenplay was picked up by Sony.

By Sophia Savage
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April 3, 2012 4:59 PM
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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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Amazing Spider-Man Comic-Con Thunder Stolen by Ifans Arrest

The big reveal at Sony's Friday The Amazing Spider-Man panel at Comic-Con was the villain of Marc Webb's superhero reboot, The Lizard, played by gifted Welsh actor Rhys Ifans, who is pixellated when in giant Lizard mode. In Hall H the studio screened a clip of Lizard terrorizing two school girls in a school lavatory, breaking up through a toilet. (The LAT made a fuss about Ifans here).

By Anne Thompson
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July 23, 2011 6:30 AM
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The Amazing Spider-Man Trailer Hits on Eve of Comic-Con; Not So Amazing

The Amazing Spider-Man trailer has leaked all over the web just in time for Sony's presentation at Comic-Con and a full year before its July 3, 2012 release. Rather than show us something new, the official version below shows us what's already been done before, but this time with Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone and 3-D. (500) Days of Summer director Marc Webb weaves a seemingly familiar story with new faces. Check out Sam Raimi's 2002 Spider-Man trailer, also below.