Box Office Actuals May 21-23

It looks like Shrek took an even bigger fall then originally estimated coming in with less the 71 million.

Next week Shrek should be able to hold the number one spot again, with no other family movie competition out right now. Also look for the R rated sequel SexAndTheCity 2 to put up decent numbers in it's opening weekend as well.

1. Shrek Forever After (DreamWorks Animation/Paramount) - $70.8 million

2. Iron Man 2 (Marvel/Paramount) - $26.3 million

3. Robin Hood (Universal) - $18.7 million

4. Letters to Juliet (Summit) - $9 million

5. Just Wright (Fox Searchlight) - $4.2 million

6. MacGruber (Universal) - $4 million

7. Date Night (20th Century Fox) - $2.9 million

8. A Nightmare on Elm Street (New Line/WB) - $2.3 million

9. How to Train Your Dragon (DreamWorks Animation/Paramount) - $1.9 million

10. Kites (Reliance) - $958,673

Check back to TMT on Sunday for this weekends estimates from Jen, and again on Monday for the Actual numbers.

New Films Will Hit Homes in 30 Days?

Somewhat of an update to the previous story I did on the recent FCC ruling that may affect the movie theatre business. As previously reported movie studios are looking at options to bring movies to at home consumers sooner, but how soon had not yet been determined.

In an article published this weekend in the Wall Street Journal they reveal that Major Hollywood studios and one of the country's largest cable operators are in discussions to send movies to people's living-room TVs just weeks after films hit the multiplex, a step that would shake up film distribution.

During a cable industry convention last week, executives from Time Warner Cable Inc. made the first formal pitch to the Hollywood studios for what is known as "home theater on demand." The cable company presented a variety of scenarios. But the main one, which has received early support from some studio executives, would allow consumers to watch a movie at home just 30 days after its theatrical release—far earlier than the usual four months—for roughly $20 to $30 a pop.

That proposal is still being debated and talks are fluid. People close to the matter say that several studios could sign on to a version of it as soon as the fall, making the first movies available on such a system by the end of the year or early 2011.

Among the studios who have reviewed the proposal are Time Warner Inc.'s Warner Bros., Walt Disney Co.'s Disney Studios,General Electric Co.'s Universal Pictures, Sony Corp.'s Sony Pictures, Viacom Inc.'s Paramount Pictures and News Corp.'s Twentieth Century Fox. 

I personally love the experience of going to a theatre. Not to say I don't enjoy watching a movie in the comfort of my own home, but nothing really beats the experience you get from seeing something in the theatre. Whether its in IMAX or the new and growing trend of 3D, you always get the full effect from seeing something on a 50 foot tall screen with stereo sound surround.

Having movies offered at home after only being in release 30 days, will no doubt affect if not destroy the movie theatre business. The price of seeing something in 3D or regular format for that matter has started to spin out of control. Maybe if theatres stop over-inflating their ticket prices, more people will feel obligated to see movies in theatres as opposed to waiting for the pay per view or video release.

How likely is it though that theatres will change their stance on ticket prices. Well if they're facing extinction, I'd say they'll be open to just about any option available, including lowering the price of admission. Either way they'll have to figure something out soon!

New 'Inception' Character Posters

Christopher Nolans highly secretive action thriller Inception hits theatres this July. Slowly they keep releasing new posters and trailers leading up to its release. This newest batch of character posters has to be some of the most bad-ass we've seen yet.

Head over to /Film for the rest of them.

Temuera Morrison Talks Green Lantern

Kellvin Chavez of LatinoReview had the chance to talk to Temura Morrison over the weekend. Morrison is playing Abin Sur, a member of the Green Lantern Corps who is instrumental in Hal Jordan (Ryan Reynolds) becoming the superhero.

He confirmed that he's done filming, and even shared a picture of what he looks like in costume with Chavez. Apparently it looks almost identical to the concept art previously released that people weren't entirely sure was legit.

“That took about 4-5 hours to put on, it was all prosthetic.” Morrsion told Latino Review.

When asked how his shoot with Ryan Reynolds was:

“We did the whole scene together were I give him the ring, our suits are CGI so we had these grey suits with things on them so it was cool and working with Martin Campbell again was great too.”

He even revealed they already have plans to make sequels.

“You know there are making sequels right?” Morrison said. “They want me to come back in the sequel. They want to show you my backend story for the next movie. They want to show you how I become part of Green Lantern Corps.”

It's nice to hear something out of DC other then Batman that's getting more then one film. Green Lantern looks to be the start of a slew of successful DC franchises coming in the future. I've never personally read the comics, but I'm excited to see the live action adaption. I enjoyed Green Lantern First Flight, and the idea alone sounds very cool.

Green Lantern hits theaters everywhere June 17, 2011.

Fox Hires "Hit Man 2" Director

It looks like Fox has plans to return to the video game adaption Hit Man. The original Hitman grossed $100 million worldwide on a $30 million budget.

Deadline reports, 20th Century Fox has Spanish helmer Daniel Benmayor in the crosshairs to direct Hitman 2. Will original star Timothy Olyphant return? That is unclear at this point, but Benmayor will make his Hollywood debut on the sequel to the film based on the Eidos videogame about a master assassin. Fox is planning a fall production start.

I'm told there is an option on Olyphant, but it's unclear if he will shave his head and return as the killer.

I never played the Hit Man game, and when I first saw the trailers for the big screen adaption I wasn't impressed. But when I actually saw it not expecting much from it, I was pleasantly surprised. The movie was actually a solid action film, and Olyphant was one bad motherfucker playing Agent 47, the worlds most feared assassin.

I'm definitely down for another one, but only if Olyphant is back in the title role.

As of recently He's been doing a great job as the trigger-happy lawman Raylan Givens in Justified, the FX series based on the Elmore Leonard novels. If he were to come back to Hit Man for a fall production, I'm thinking this would set the schedule back for the Justified Second season assuming it gets renewed.

Weekend Box Office: May 21-23

Courtesy of Box Office Mojo:

1. Shrek Forever After - $71.2 million

2. Iron Man 2 - $26.6 million

3. Robin Hood - $18.7 million

4. Letters to Juliet - $9.1 million

5. Just Wright - $4.2 million

6. MacGruber - $4.1 million

7. Date Night - $2.8 million

8. A Nightmare on Elm Street - $2.2 million

9. How to Train Your Dragon - $1.8 million

10. Kites - $1 million

As predicted, the fourth and final installment of Shrek ruled the box office this weekend, although it fell far short of Shrek the Third's $121 opening in 2007.  Tickets sold for IMAX/3D showings accounted for about 7% of the total weekend ticket sales...although news stories circulating on Friday about a supposed "error" that had AMC theaters raising ticket prices to $20 at the IMAX showings in New York (it was later corrected) probably didn't help get families to the IMAX shows this weekend.

There is some good news for Shrek:  it's one of the only family-friendly movies in theaters now, and it did get an excellent "A" Cinemascore rating from theatergoers (up from just a "B+" from the previous film), so it should have a few strong weekends until Toy Story 3 arrives next month.  While it won't be released overseas in most territories until after the World Cup, it did break box office records in Russia, where it opened to $20 million. 

Iron Man 2 dropped by almost half from last weekend, although it continues to do well, with another $26 million to bring its domestic take to $251 million in just over two weeks.  Its worldwide gross now stands at $506 million

After a lackluster first weekend, Robin Hood dropped by 48% this weekend, bringing its domestic total to $66.1 million.  It's still performing much better overseas, where it has grossed $125 million.  However, with an estimated budget of $200 million, it's unlikely we'll get the sequel that looked quite promising at the end of this film.

The romantic drama Letters to Juliet held up well, finishing the weekend with $9.1 million.  The comedy Just Wright rounded out the top five with another $4.2 million.

This weekend's other new wide release, MacGruber, looks likely to have a box office life shorter than the Saturday Night Live skit that it was based on.  Coming in with a barely noticable $4.1 million, it is the worst opening weekend for a film based on an SNL sketch, and the lowest wide-release for a movie this year.  Ouch.

Date Night and A Nightmare on Elm Street continue to perform well enough to remain in the top 10, and How to Train Your Dragon seems to finally be fading now that Shrek has taken over most of the 3D theaters.

The limited-release Bollywood film Kites debuted in 10th place, earning just over $1 million at only 208 theaters.

Check back with Mitch once the actual numbers come in tomorrow!

WB Hires MacGyver Screenwriter

Just as “MacGruber” hits theaters, the TV show that inspired the parody is making strides in its journey to the big screen.

New Line, which is developing the “MacGyver” movie, has tapped Jason Richman to pen the script.

“MacGyver,” of course, is the adventure series that ran from 1985-92 on ABC and starred Richard Dean Anderson as a resourceful secret agent who uses ingenious, science-inspired trickery to escape danger.

As New Line put “MacGyver” into development in March, Relativity quickly put together its parody, getting a cast in front of cameras last summer and fall.

If hiring Richman is any indication, New Line plans to make “MacGyver” straight-faced but still keep it fun. The WME-repped writer did uncredited work on “Black Hawk Down” and “Rush Hour 3,” wrote the Chris Rock-Anthony Hopkins action comedy “Bad Company” and worked on a draft of “Beverly Hills Cop 4.”

Raffaella De Laurentiis is producing “MacGyver” through her Raffaella Prods. along with Martha De Laurentiis and series creator Lee Zlotoff. Dino De Laurentiis is executive producing.

I seriously doubt I'll bother to see the ridiculous looking spoof coming out this weekend or the actual big screen adaption of the original character. I saw the show during it's run in the late 80's, and if you didn't already, don't bother looking for it you're not missing anything, trust me.

The A-Team First Clip

 20th Century Fox has released the first clip from The A-Team which you can watch using the player below! Opening in theaters on June 11, the Joe Carnahan-directed action adventure stars Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper, Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, Sharlto Copley, Jessica Biel, Patrick Wilson and Gerald McRane.

The big screen adaptation follows the exciting and daring exploits of a colorful team of former Special Forces soldiers who were set up for a crime they did not commit. Going "rogue," they utilize their unique talents to try and clear their names and find the true culprit.

One thing that's very obvious just from the clip, is this will be a lot better then the recently released and aptly named The Losers, which follows roughly the same plot line.

SCRE4M Casting News

HeatVision  reports, Dimension is taking the first steps to casting “Scream 4,” which is heading toward a July start date.

Lake Bell is in negotiations to join the franchise, and offers are out to “Twilight” actress Ashley Greene, “Heroes” star Hayden Panettiere and Rory Culkin (“Twelve”) for key starring roles.

“Scream 4” reunites Wes Craven with Kevin Williamson, who kicked off a horror- movie revival with his “Scream” script in 1996. The story brings back original cast members Neve Campbell, David Arquette and Courteney Cox, though the new flick is seen as a passing of the baton to a new generation of slasher victims, with Williamson already under contract to write a fifth installment.

If deals are concluded, Greene would play Campbell’s cousin Jill, essentially the heroine of the movie, and Panettiere would play her best friend, a nerdy film geek. Culkin would play a potential love interest for Jill.

Bell is negotiating to play a police officer who knew Sidney (Campbell) from high school.

Casting is proceeding slowly because Craven and Dimension are not sending the script to agencies in order to protect its secrecy. With only character descriptions, actors are having a difficult time deciding whether certain roles are for them. Reps for the actors declined comment.

I have to admit when it was first announced we'd be getting a Scream 4, I wasn't blown away. Then came the news that Wes Craven along with the original core cast members would be returning. The excitement started to build. Now we get more casting news, and the fact that the script itself is being held to secrecy, which would lead me to believe it must be a lot better then it's predecessor Scream 3.

Scream 4 is set for release on April 15, 2011.

New Inception Tv Spot

Christopher Nolan's anticipated sci-fi action-thriller Inception is still almost two months away but the promotion has begun in earnest over the past few weeks. Adding to the three previous TV spots, Warner Bros. UK has deputed the World Exclusive 60 second British TV Spot for the movie over on their YouTube site. 

I can't help but think this looks like The Matrix on steroids, but with much better actors, not that I'm complaining. After Nolan did Batman Begins he gave us The Prestige, which was "meh", but nothing special. Now in between The Dark Knight and Batman 3 we'll get this, I'd say its a huge step up.