Welcome to this week’s edition of “Movie News Monday!” (“MNM!”)
What is ‘MNM’ all about?
In case this is your first time here, “Movie News Monday!” (MNM) is the place to visit on Mondays for a quick recap of trending entertainment news! I’ve collected info, rumors, etc from all over just for you to keep you updated on movies being released, actors/actresses in roles, dvd releases to keep a lookout for, which movie won in the box office over the weekend, etc! Are you ready for your weekly update? Here it is!
This Just In!!…
#1- “The Weekend Winner.” Last weekend, 2 wide new releases entered the box office arena and hoped for the top spots. As usual, we all expected the horror movie to take top honors. It did…and disappointed many. The Family was not as lucky this Friday the 13th as its earnings were poor but still placed 2nd. Congratulations, however, to the The Butler as it finally crossed the $100 million mark domestically. The World’s End ended its run in the Top Ten this past weekend…as did Blue Jasmine.
Here are the weekend’s estimated results for Fri, Sept 13-Sun, Sept 15:
- Insidious: Chapter 2 ~$41M
- The Family ~$14.5M
- Riddick ~$7M
- Lee Daniels’ The Butler ~$5.6M
- We’re The Millers ~$5.4M
- Instructions Not Included ~$4.3M
- Planes ~$3.1M
- One Direction: This is Us ~$2.4M
- Elysium ~$2.1M
- Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters ~$1.8M
*Actuals may vary as earnings are updated much later on Monday afternoons. For updates, visit boxofficemojo.com.
Congratulations to Insidious: Chapter 2 (which I’ve nicknamed “Ridicusidious 2″).
What did YOU watch this weekend?
*Those of you who saw this photo last weekend will be relieved to find that Justin Bieber will NOT be in the Batman vs. Superman film with Ben Affleck. WHEW!! (see the story HERE)
#2- “Insidious: Chapter 3 coming.” Insidious 3 on the way. I wish this was a chapter that definitely was closed and remained that way. Insidious scared audiences in 2010 and its ending set up the sequel that released this past weekend. The less than impressive horror movie continuation raked in the dollars along with scathing remarks from critics all over. Observe via ClevverMovies:
Well, while fans may not abandon the franchise, it would appear as if the director James Wan (who also directed this year’s amazing horror flick The Conjuring) has.
First off…Yes, a third chapter is on the way apparently. The press release (you can view it in its entirety HERE) was posted on Collider. Below are a few excerpts from it stating that Leigh Whannell (screenwriter of the first two chapters) will be writing the third installment also.
Entertainment One (eOne), FilmDistrict, and Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions (SPWA) announced today that together they will be developing the third chapter of the micro-budgeted INSIDIOUS film franchise which Leigh Whannell has signed on to write. Whannell has written both INSIDIOUS and INSIDIOUS: CHAPTER 2 which just had a stellar first weekend release in North America debuting to more than $40 million at the box office making it one of the largest horror genre openings ever and one of the biggest openings for a film released in the month of September.
“There is nobody better suited to bring audiences the next chapter of this haunting story than Leigh who has brilliantly written both INSIDIOUS and INSIDIOUS: CHAPTER 2.”
“We are all so grateful for how audiences embraced James Wan and Leigh’s latest film and are excited to see what Leigh has in store for the third chapter.”
Secondly, however, James Wan, director, will not be in the director’s chair. Wan, who in previous interviews has stated that he is “done with the horror genre”, will not return for the 3rd part.
“I’m going to go on record and say I am finished with the horror genre. Conjuring and Insidious 2 are my two last scary movies.”
“I spent the last ten years of my life doing this. It’s time for a change, for goodness sake!…Hollywood puts you in a box. If you do a successful comedy, then you’re known as The Comedy Guy. If you do a successful car chase movie, then you become that guy. So I’m a student of cinema, so I just want to make sure I get the chance to make other kinds of films.”
This may be good news or bad news depending on how you look at it. I’m not surprised at the greenlight for a third chapter. I am, however, disappointed, and yet, I am also proud (?) of Wan. We’ll see what the Saw director does with Fast & Furious 7.
1st image of F&F7 features Vin Diesel and Paul Walker (but no cars)
Are you excited to see more of Insidious? or should that chapter close already??
#3- “J.K. and W.B. return to Potterland“ Author J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter) announced that she is partnering with Warner Bros to develop a new film series (a spin-off if you will) based in the world of Harry Potter. Inspired by Rowling’s Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, this wizardry franchise will also be Rowling’s debut at screenwriting.
Rowling said: “Although it will be set in the worldwide community of witches and wizards where I was so happy for seventeen years, ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’ is neither a prequel nor a sequel to the Harry Potter series, but an extension of the wizarding world,” said Rowling. “The laws and customs of the hidden magical society will be familiar to anyone who has read the Harry Potter books or seen the films, but Newt’s story will start in New York, seventy years before Harry’s gets underway.”
This original story of Rowling’s is something that I am sure will please many of her fans and many fans of the Harry Potter world to begin with. The Harry Potter franchise is, perhaps, the most successful of all time and it looks like WB is ready to give it another run. Look for more news as it develops. (For more on this story, you can also read Empire’s article about it HERE.)
Are you glad for this news?
#4- “Hunger Games hungry for Moore.” Julianne Moore (Carrie) has been confirmed as joining the cast of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Parts 1 and 2. Her role will be that of *possible spoiler…highlight section inside red parentheses to see*: (President Alma Coin- “leader of the rebellion against the Capitol”). An important role in the books that I expect to play an equally important part in the films…the first of which will not release until November 2014.
In the meantime, prepare for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, starring Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Woody Harrelson, Donald Sutherland, Stanley Tucci, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Elizabeth Banks and more. In theaters on November 22, 2013.
What do you think? Are you happy about her addition?
#5- “This Week’s Blu-ray release.” This week, look for the following films on Blu-ray to possibly add to your collection:
World War Z- Fight against zombies and epidemics in this future apocalyptic film starring Brad Pitt and more. Tense at moments and loaded with CGI, this zombie film is no Walking Dead but it is a fun zombie thriller. Worth a watch. Read my full review HERE.
Several other films also release this week. Check it out!
Also releasing:
- Behind the Candelabra
- The Bling Ring
- Drift
- The East
- …and more.
Which will you pick up?
Random reminder: Yes, Fast & Furious 7 is coming out soon…but so is the video game movie Need for Speed, starring Breaking Bad star Aaron Paul. Look for it in 2014.
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Well, that’s it for this round of “Movie News Monday!”
Thanks for reading! Happy Watching!
-T, The Focused Filmographer
up next: ”Time to Vote Tuesday!”
