News for 4/3/2007


Weekend Boxoffice

"Glory" be to skating kings of comedy

By Gregg Kilday
The Hollywood Reporter


The icemen cometh at the North American box office last weekend as Will Ferrell and Jon Leder, outfitted as a comically paired figure skating team, took home the gold.

Continuing Ferrell's current hot streak, "Blades of Glory," a DreamWorks production released through Paramount Pictures, copped the top spot, pulling in $33.01 million for the three days beginning March 30, according to final data issued Monday.

It wasn't Ferrell's biggest opening ever. That stat belongs to last summer's "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby," which bowed to $47 million. But the "Blades" opening registered higher than both "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy" ($28.4 million) and "Elf" ($31.1 million).

Disney's animated "Meet the Robinsons" took a solid second place with its opening haul of $25.12 million. The family-friendly adventure displayed its most moxie in the theaters showing the 3-D version of the film, taking in $7.1 million from the 581 screens on which it played.

Miramax Films' "The Lookout" didn't quite reach wide-release status -- it opened in 955 theaters. And it didn't quite make the top 10 either, settling for 11th place. Writer Scott Frank's directorial debut -- a heist film starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt -- took in just over $2.02 million.

The weekend as a whole saw a decline in business from the comparable weekend in 2006, when 20th Century Fox's "Ice Age: The Meltdown" warmed up the box office with a commanding $68 million. Over this past weekend, the 104 films tracked by the Hollywood Reporter collectively grossed $127.4 million. That represented a 10% drop from the parallel weekend in 2006, which drew in $142.1 million.

Among the weekend's holdovers, Warner Bros. Pictures' "300" demonstrated its muscle. The Spartan tale fell just 42% from the previous weekend as it took in another $11.43 million, bringing its domestic gross-to-date to $179.94 million and putting it on track to crest the $200 million mark.

Disney's road comedy "Wild Hogs" tooled along the open road. Slipping one place to No. 5, it grabbed $8.66 million, bringing its purse to $135.63 million.

Warners' animated "TMNT," the previous weekend's top grosser, fell to fourth place, picking up $9.23 million to bring its tally to $38.50 million.

Paramount Pictures' thriller "Shooter," starring Mark Wahlberg, fell three places to No. 6. It picked off $8.36 million. Its 10-day gross stands at $27.58 million.

"TMNT" and "Shooter" both showed more staying power than the other sophomore entries like Fox Atomic's "The Hills Have Eyes II," Sony Pictures' "Reign Over Me" and New Line's "The Last Mimzy," which slumped to eighth, ninth and 10th place, respectively.

Meanwhile, in limited release, Fox Searchlight's "The Namesake," from director Mira Nair, added 120 theaters, bringing its theater count to 237. It consequently moved up three places to No. 12 with $1.55 million, which brings its balance to date to $4.61 million.



Fox Wants Forest in 'Night'

It sounds like the Oscar winner will play another bad, bad man


Newly minted Oscar winner Forest Whitaker is in negotiations to appear opposite Keanu Reeves in Fox Searchlight's "The Night Watchman."

According to the industry trade papers, David Ayer ("Harsh Times") will begin directing the James Ellroy-scripted procedural on May 21. That's already nearly a month later than the studio was hoping to begin production, but that's par for the course on a film that has attracted and baffled an assortment of A-list directors including David Fincher, Spike Lee and Oliver Stone.

Actually, the film sounds like a good match for Ayer, who also wrote "Training Day." Reeves plays a long-time LAPD cop who has a life epiphany and begins to question some of the tactics he's used over the years. He goes head-to-head with his longtime mentor (Whitaker) over the blowback from the death of a fellow officer.

Whitaker filled his trophy cases with honors for his work in "The Last King of Scotland." The "Ghost Dog" star has "Vantage Point" and "Winged Creatures" on tap, as well as a vocal turn in "Where the Wild Things Are."



Washington Can't Escape 'Journal'

Oscar winner would produce and star in Iraq pic


Escape Artists has snagged the rights to "Journal for Jordan" as a starring and producing vehicle for Denzel Washington.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, "Journal for Jordan" was spurred by a January New York Times essay by Dana Canedy. In the essay, Canedy talked about the 200-page journal written by her husband, 1st Sgt. Charles Monroe King. The journal was intended to impart words of wisdom to his son, who was born after King began a tour of duty in the Middle East. King was killed in Baghdad in October.

A book based on the journal will be published by Crown and adapted for the big screen by Jonathan Burnham Schwartz ("Reservation Road"). Expect copious heartstrings to be tugged relentlessly.

Escape Artists has a first-look deal with Columbia, which is where "Journal for Jordan" is expected to land.

Most recently seen in "Inside Man" and "Deja Vu," Washington has "American Gangster" coming out this fall.



Details on the 'Grey's Anatomy' Spinoff

Walsh's character may find herself in familiar territory

Maria Elena Fernandez
Los Angeles Times


Wanna hear a secret? No, not the Oprah/Law of Attraction kind. But the juicy, exclusive, behind-the scenes kind, from an insider who offers insight into the much-buzzed about "Grey's Anatomy" spin-off.

ABC and creator Shonda Rhimes have been so hush-hush about the "enhanced" two-hour "Grey's" May episode -- which will introduce a new life for Kate Walsh's Dr. Addison Montgomery -- that during a development presentation with advertisers last week, the cast of the new show was trotted on stage but were not allowed to divulge any details.

So we will:

Following her recent disastrous romantic misfortunes, Addison travels to Santa Monica, Calif., to seek advice from her old medical school pals, Naomi (Merrin Dungey) and Jackson (Taye Diggs) whom she believes have it all: a beautiful teenage daughter, a great marriage and a highly successful health cooperative.

Addison quickly learns that Jackson, also a successful TV health guru, has divorced Naomi. During the visit, Addison also meets the rest of the gang at the cooperative: a widowed alternative medicine doctor, a self-doubting therapist, and a male gynecologist who knows little about women, and realizes she is on familiar ground.

Addison concludes that the personal lives of the people around her may be a mess, but professionally they stand out. (Sounds like those crazy interns, right?) So she decides to leave Seattle Grace behind and join the Oceanside Wellness Group team.

That is, of course, if ABC picks up the series, which is a good bet since the cast -- which also includes Chris Lowell ("Veronica Mars"), Amy Brenneman ("Judging Amy"), Tim Daly ("The Nine") and Paul Adelstein ("Prison Break") -- was already paraded before the people with the big bucks.



Cheadle Gets Kind of Blue for Biopic

Actor's Crescendo shingle as at least five films in development


Don Cheadle will make his feature directing debut on a biopic of Miles Davis, playing the jazz innovator.

The Oscar nominated "Hotel Rwanda" star will also produce the Davis film through Crescendo Prods., the shingle he's formed with Kay Liberman and Lenore Zerman.

The script is being written by Stephen J. Rivele and Chris Wilkinson ("Nixon"). Darryl Porter of Miles Davis Properties will produce, apparently suggesting the involvement of Davis' estate.

Davis, who died in 1991, is considered one of the most influential jazz musicians from World War II on. His seminal recordings include "Sketches of Spain," "Kind of Blue" and the paradigm shifting "Bitches Brew."

Cheadle is being honored at ShoWest as male star of the year and he announced a busy upcoming slate, according to Variety. Crescendo is producing the political thriller "Traitor," the comedy "Quest to Ref" and the dramas "Broken Adonis" and "Marching Powder."

The exact timetable on those projects seems a bit unclear, given Cheadle's always busy slate. The actor has "Reign Over Me," "Ocean's Thirteen" and "Talk to Me" set for release by July.



FOX Sentences 'Prison' To Another Season

Third season will feature new faces and international intrigue


With only two episodes remaining in its second season, "Prison Break" has received an early pick-up from FOX.

The third season renewal for "Prison Break" probably isn't much of surprise, given that the drama has had a solid year, helping FOX win its time period in a variety of key demographics including adults 18-34 and men 18-49, while finishing a consistent second overall 18-49.

The show has averaged 9.1 million viewers per week.

After a first season spent watching Michael Scofield (Wentworth Miller), Lincoln Burroughs (Dominic Purcell) and a group of their convict allies breaking out of jail, "Prison Break" has dedicated its second season to watching those same convicts on the run, being hunted down by a many-tentacled vast government conspiracy.

Specific details for the third season are vague, though as the second finale approaches on Monday, April 2, certain possibilities are coming into focus. Michael and Lincoln reached Panama during last week's episode, but just as freedom seemed like a real possibility, Michael ditched his brother and headed off to Panama City in search of the nefarious T-Bag (Robert Knepper), setting the stage for international intrigue.

"Prison Break" is expected to continue shooting in the Dallas area next season with second unit work in Florida and Louisiana.



News for 3/13/2007


LaBute & Kutcher Boarding Lakeview Terrace

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

Neil LaBute is in talks to direct and Ashton Kutcher is in talks to co-star in Screen Gems' thriller Lakeview Terrace, says The Hollywood Reporter.

Samuel L. Jackson and Kerry Washington already have boarded the project, which centers on an LAPD officer (Jackson) who will stop at nothing to force out the interracial couple that recently moved in next door. Kutcher would play Washington's spouse.

David Loughery wrote the screenplay, and Howard Korder has been hired to pen a rewrite. Shooting will begin in June in Los Angeles.

Will Smith and James Lassiter are producing through their Sony-based Overbrook Entertainment. Loughery and Jeff Graup are executive producing.



Disney first: black princess in animated film

‘The Frog Princess’ will be set in New Orleans, scored by Randy Newman

MSNBC News Services


NEW ORLEANS - The Walt Disney Co. has started production on an animated musical fairy tale called “The Frog Princess,” which will be set in New Orleans and feature the Walt Disney Studio’s first black princess.

The film, set for release in 2009, also is the first hand-drawn film Disney has committed to since pledging last month to return to the traditional animation that made it a worldwide brand.

“The Frog Princess,” a musical scored by composer Randy Newman, is “an American fairy tale” starring a girl named Maddy who lives in the French Quarter in New Orleans, said John Lasseter, chief creative director for Disney and Pixar Animation Studios.

Disney did not provide details of the plot, but the company showed shareholders preliminary drawings from the movie. Newman and a jazz band played a song from the movie’s score.

Maddy joins eight other Disney princess characters, who have generated $3 billion in global retail sales since 1999. Disney Princesses is the fastest-growing brand for the company’s Consumer Products division.

Disney introduced its first non-white animated heroine in 1992's “Aladdin”: a Middle Eastern character named Jasmine. Three years later an American Indian princess appeared in “Pocahontas.”

The creation of the Chinese heroine from “Mulan” came in 1998. Other Disney princesses are the main characters from “Cinderella,” “Sleeping Beauty,” “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” “Beauty and the Beast” and “The Little Mermaid.”

Disney aggregated the eight characters in 1999 under the banner Disney Princesses and has rolled out toys, books, clothing, furniture and other merchandise aimed at girls ages 3 to 8.

Disney chief executive Robert Iger said the company wanted to show its support for New Orleans, only partially rebuilt 18 months after it was flooded by Hurricane Katrina, by holding its annual meeting and setting its newest animated film in the city.

“The film’s New Orleans setting and strong princess character give the film lots of excitement and texture,” Walt Disney Studios chairman Dick Cook said.

John Musker and Ron Clements, who co-directed “The Little Mermaid,” “Aladdin” and “Hercules” will co-direct the movie. The pair also wrote the story for the film.



Pilots: FOX Resurrects 'Heroes,' 'Anatomy' Stars

Burton and Cypress join Guaty, Punch and others in FOX pilots


Tawny Cypress and Kate Burton may not have futures on "Heroes" and "Grey's Anatomy," but both actresses have landed FOX pilot gigs.

According to the industry trade papers, Burton, Emmy nominated for her work as Meredith's ailing mom on "Grey's," will play a judge in FOX's "Supreme Courtships," about the lives and loves of supreme court judges and their randy clerks. Kurtwood Smith was previously announced as another judge.

Camille Guaty, who has done time on both ABC's "The Nine" and FOX's "Prison Break" this season, has also been added to fellow clerks Shane West, Zachary Knighton, Leslie Odom Jr. and Bridget Regan.

Meanwhile, according to Variety, Cypress (Simone on "Heroes") will appear in the New Orleans buddy cop drama "K-Ville" along with Cole Hauser and Anthony Anderson. Also new to that pilot is John Carroll Lynch ("Fargo," "Zodiac").



Smith Sinks Teeth Into 'Cooked'
Actor-producer adapts another inspiring story


The former Fresh Prince really likes the rags-to-riches stories.

Fresh from his starring role in "The Pursuit of Happyness," Will Smith is looking to produce another film based on a real-life person who turned lemons into lemonade. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Smith is planning on adapting Jeff Henderson's memoir "Cooked: From the Streets to the Stove, From Cocaine to Foie Gras" for the big screen.

"Cooked" revolves around the redemption of Chef Jeff, an ex-con/crack cocaine dealer who learned gourmet cooking when he was serving his prison sentence. From there, he became the executive chef at the Cafe Bellagio in Las Vegas.

Columbia Pictures optioned the book. The trades says that its not yet clear if Smith will also star, probably because Henderson is not African American, unlike Chris Gardner, the man Smith portrayed in "Happyness."

"Happyness" earned Smith a best actor Oscar nomination and earned nearly $288 million worldwide. He is currently filming the vampire flick, "I Am Legend," due out by the end of the year.



Black leads still absent from network dramas

By Nellie Andreeva
The Hollywood Reporter


Dramas with single male leads are as popular as ever, but none of the leads went to a black actor this pilot season.

That is not surprising given the fact that there hasn't been a successful drama series with a black lead. There have been a number of attempts through the years, including three with James Earl Jones: "Paris," "Gabriel's Fire" and "Under One Roof." More recently, UPN's "Kevin Hill" and ABC's "Day Break" starred Taye Diggs. USA Network tried a new spin on "Kojak" with Ving Rhames as the lillipop-loving detective, while on the opposite side of the law, Andre Braugher led a crew of criminals on FX's "Thief," for which he won an Emmy. A few years ago, Braugher toplined another critically praised but short-lived series, ABC's medical drama "Gideon's Crossing."

When asked at the Emmys about what he wants to do next, Braugher said, "I want to be on a hit." So far, joining an ensemble cast has proven to be the best way for black actors to get on hit dramas -- almost every big series on the air has a black cast member, including Isaiah Washington on "Grey's Anatomy," Omar Epps on "House" and Gary Dourdan on "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation." Diggs is taking that route this development season as a co-star of the potential "Grey's" spinoff. Rhames also has joined an ensemble cast, that of ABC's pilot "Football Wives."

"There is a feeling that the vast majority of the audience is not black, and having a black lead dominating the show makes most viewers feel shut out since they don't work with an African-American in a dominant position in their daily life," TV historian Tim Brooks says.

It will be interesting to see if Sen. Barack Obama (news, bio, voting record)'s ascent into the public eye as a strong presidential candidate will change that perception.

One place where blacks are widely accepted in high-ranking positions is the Army, with popular commanders like Gen. Colin Powell. That might have helped CBS' successful military drama "The Unit," whose ensemble cast is led by Dennis Haysbert.

Things are even harder for drama series with all-black casts. CBS was the only broadcast network to attempt that with the short-lived medical drama "City of Angels." Family drama "Soul Food" did well but on a much smaller scale on pay-cable channel Showtime.

David Simon, creator of HBO's acclaimed "The Wire," has acknowledged that having a largely black cast has hindered the urban drama's chances for commercial success. "There is a certain portion of the audience that will change the channel," he said in July. "Not in any grandly venal, racist way, but there are a lot of people that are going to look and see that many black faces looking back at them, and they're going to say, 'This is not my story."'

Audiences have had no problem embracing comedy series with black leading men, but dramas offer a very different dynamic.

"In comedy, you are laughing with them and at them, it's not something that you relate to," Brooks says. "Most dramas are in some way relatable to your life, whether it is about families or cops, something you see every day."

Ironically, the most-watched miniseries ever is the slavery saga "Roots." But for series, it's about "characters you want in your home on a weekly basis. It's a very intimate casual viewing experience, and you tend not to invite somebody into your home who you wouldn't mix with socially," Brooks says.

It has been a long wait for a hit black-themed drama to hit the air, but another minority group might go there first.

Latinos, who overtook blacks as the largest minority in the U.S. in 2003, have a good chance at landing their first drama series on commercial broadcast TV this year with CBS' untitled family drama pilot featuring an predominantly Latino cast, including leading man Jimmy Smits.