Will Kevin James Become a 'King' at the Box Office?

How much of a box office draw is Kevin James?
In 2005, "Hitch" made $177 million in the U.S. But all of the credit -- and probably deservedly so -- went to Will Smith.
In 2007, "I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry" collected $119 million in the U.S. But even though James was the co-star, it was billed -- for all intents and purposes -- as an Adam Sandler movie.
However, in 2009, a comedy with a poor premise, no proven co-star and a terrible name is closing in on $140 million in the U.S. And for this, there can only be one reason: Kevin James.

In what is admittedly a small poll, I have talked to several people who have seen "Paul Blart: Mall Cop" and every one of them told me they went for the same reason: they just like Kevin James.
Next year, the newly-minted box office attraction will attempt to show "Paul Blart" wasn't a fluke with "The Zookeeper." In that flick, the animals at a zoo decide to break their code of silence in order to help their zookeeper gain the attention of one particular woman.
Unless it is absolutely terrible (and really, even if it is), I'm betting "The Zookeeper" will do big business. James in a family-friendly comedy seems like a good recipe for success right about now.

First up for James, however, is a project that has a lot of people talking -- and not all of that talk is positive.
Due out March 10, 2010, is a movie currently referred to officially as "Untitled Adam Sandler Project."
Unofficially, it is being labeled as "that movie with all of the people from 'Saturday Night Live' who used to be funny." Ouch.

Joining Adam Sandler and Kevin James in the lead roles will be Chris Rock, Rob Schneider and David Spade. In the movie, five friends reunite for a Fourth of July holiday weekend 30 years after their high school graduation.
Cameras are set to roll this summer on the movie, which also will feature Salma Hayek and ex-SNLers Maya Rudolph and Colin Quinn.

Honestly, I don't care whether the movie is good, bad or ugly -- I would love to have a piece of it financially. It's going to be a hit.
But, I have read a lot of snide comments about the movie so far, and what's interesting is that if the movie simply featured Adam Sandler and Kevin James, there would be far less insults. It's the inclusion of Rock, Schneider and Spade that have people deriding the movie.

It will be an interesting test to see whether James and Sandler can lift the movie up at the box office or whether Rock, Schneider and Spade will drag it down. At one point, the box office prospects for the SNLers from the early- to mid-'90s looked promising. Since then, however, they have been passed by the Frat Pack (Vince Vaughn, Ben Stiller, Jack Black, the Wilsons, etc.) and then again by the Apatow Crew (Jason Segal, Jonah Hill, Seth Rogen, Paul Rudd, etc.).

For Rock, Schneider and Spade, a big hit next spring could be the career resuscitation they desperately need. Most likely, though, it will be the former star of a different TV show who will benefit en route to becoming a new "King" at the box office.

"Transformers 3 Coming July 2011" = News to Michael Bay

When the news hit 24 hours ago that Paramount and DreamWorks were moving forward with Transformers 3 for a July 2011 release, my partner-in-crime here at Think McFly Think Peter Georgiou remarked, "Yeah and I'd bet dollars to donuts either Bay or Kurtzman and Orci aren't involved given the time-table to get that out!"

Now either Peter has psychic abilities or great minds merely think alike as series-director Michael Bay has come out on his forum crying foul on said news-item:

I said I was taking off a year from Transformers. Paramount made a mistake in dating Transformers 3 - they asked me on the phone - I said yes to July 4 - but for 2012 - whoops! Not 2011!!! That would mean I would have to start prep in September. No way. My brain needs a break from fighting robots.

Michael

Is it possible the studio mistakenly said 2011 instead of 2012? Certainly, but I find that hard to believe. Bay's a pretty savvy guy and knows how to play the game.

It sounds to me like Bay and Paramount/DreamWorks are playing a game of "Chicken!" waiting to see who will flinch first. Then again, maybe I'm reading too much into this.

'Where The Wild Things Are' Poster Arrives, Trailer Is Next

After a long wait, a new movie version of the book "Where The Wild Things Are" is finally a reality.

First up is a brand new teaser poster for the movie, which will be directed, fittingly, by Spike Jonze.

"Where The Wild Things Are" is an adaptation of Maurice Sendak's classic children's story. It is the story of Max -- a disobedient little boy sent to bed without his supper. Max creates his own world inhabited by ferocious wild creatures that crown Max as their ruler.

Max will be played by the aptly-named Max Records. In various ways, the movie also will make use of the talents of Forest Whitaker, Catherine Keener, Mark Ruffalo, James Gandolfini and Catherine O'Hara.

A full three-minute trailer for the movie is slated to appear before "Monsters vs. Aliens" in two weeks. The trailer will feature music by the band Arcade Fire.

"Where The Wild Things Are" is scheduled to be released Oct. 16.

Superman Limbo: Where Has He Gone?

Bryan Singer’s “Superman Returns” did not meet WB’s projections, the general public’s expectations, or most of the “fanboys” anticipation. The point really can’t be argued because if it did resonate we would already be discussing “Trailer #2” for a film called “Man of Steel” taking flight this July.

Did I enjoy the film? I did. My first go around in theaters I ate up the obsession with trying to recreate the “Donnerverse” because that was the first exposure I had to Superman. Long before I knew he was even a comic book character I was running around in my Superman pajamas enjoying “Superman: The Movie” over and over again on HBO. The problem is fans were ready to say goodbye to the “Donnerverse” a couple of decades ago which is evident by the split this film caused in the fan base and the “shrugging of shoulders” after the general public left the theater. Singer never quite succeeded in continuing the “Donnerverse”, instead creating what is being deemed the “Singerverse”. Many fans consider this version of Superman played by Brandon Routh as a “Bizzaro” version Christopher Reeve’s portrayal, while some have accepted him as the Superman of their generation.

The first time I saw "Superman Returns I watched it and was totally immersed in the film, not really analyzing what I was watching, just watching. By the time I saw it the 2^nd time I had already been subjected to the pros and cons via the many forums across the “inter-webs” so I went in prepared. I wanted to look at this from a different point of view, see it in a different light. I found myself agreeing with some of the cons and I saw the film though somebody else’s eyes.

There were certainly many flaws that I was blinded to on my first viewing and although I still liked the film, I could understand why others didn’t. I became a Superman fan in “limbo” and I think a lot of others are experiencing that same feeling. We’re in limbo, just like the next “Superman Film”.

While the fan base argues on forums and we attempt to sift through rumors and speculation, Superman's suit remains on the hanger. I am going to provide you with some articles that I feel are relevant to look over in order to update you on what has become of another Superman film. After you have had a little while to digest what you have read, I’ll continue my multiple part look into what it is like to be in “Superman Limbo”.

Wall Street Journal: Jeff Robinov

Latino Review: Paul Levitz

Slashfilm: Legendary Pictures

JJ Abrams plans Diamond Heist

Uber producer and "can do no wrong" man JJ Abrams is hooking up again with Paramount for a caper flick based on a real life $100M diamond heist.

Paramount Pictures has purchased film rights to the Wired magazine article "The Untold Story of the World's Biggest Diamond Heist," by Joshua Davis. Writer-producer-director Abrams, through his Bad Robot shingle, will take on the project as a producer and, potentially, as a director.

The article, which will be published in the April issue of Wired, describes the true story of an unprecedented diamond heist in Antwerp, Belgium, and the crew that pulled it off. In early 2003, a small group of Italian thieves miraculously circumvented 10 layers of security to access a vault beneath the Antwerp Diamond Center and make off with a purported $100 million in diamonds, gold and jewelry (the actual value is still a mystery).

Over six years, Davis scored a series of interviews with the ringleader, incarcerated in a Belgian prison, who finally divulged, in French, just how it was done. Davis acquired the subject's life rights in the process.

This sounds failry awesome to me and I am glad to hear JJ is considering directing, I love heist movies but they are very difficult to pull off well. This one seems to have some very intriguing elements to it that should provide the platform for a decent thriller if mined right, the question is if JJ will use an authentric international cast or not.

Pitt and Paramount take on 'The Night Manager'

Another day another novel bought up for adaption, not that I have an issue with this as it's just like an original idea turned into a movie, only it goes through a hardcover and paperback form first. Variety reports that it is Brad Pitt and Paramount on the espionage trail this time.

Paramount Pictures has acquired bigscreen rights to John Le Carre's espionage thriller "The Night Manager."

Brad Pitt's Plan B is producing.

The story centers on the night manager of a European hotel who is recruited by intelligence agents to infiltrate the network of a dangerous international arms dealer.

Robert Edwards, who wrote and directed the 2006 political satire "Land of the Blind," has been tapped to adapt. He is a former Nicholls fellow and was an intelligence officer during the Gulf War.

British author Le Carre, who penned "The Spy Who Came in From the Cold," has seen a number of his espionage novels turned into film and TV projects including 2005's "The Constant Gardener." "Night Manager," first published in 1993, is one of Le Carre's longer and more critically lauded works.

Sounds like it could be a pretty nifty thriller, Le Carre's work has not been one Ive delved into but he seems to have a decent respect within the genre, I just wonder if Pitt is going to star given his missus has her own espionage flick 'Salt' on the go right now, the titular role certainly sounds like one that would suit Pitt.

Do You Smell What The Rock Is Cookin'? It's The Watchmen.

Weekend Estimates (Mar. 13 - Mar. 15)

1 Race to Witch Mountain $24,402,214
2 Watchmen $17,817,301
3 The Last House on the Left $14,118,685
4 Taken Fox $6,568,651
5 Tyler Perry's Madea Goes to Jail $5,108,532
6 Slumdog Millionaire $5,002,777
7 Paul Blart: Mall Cop $3,119,151
8 He's Just Not That Into You $2,939,484
9 Coraline $2,718,231
10 Miss March $2,409,156

Effron Talks Johnny Quest

Some weeks back IESB broke the news that WB was penciling in Zac Effron to play an older version of Johnny Quest and tabbing Dwayne Johnson as his sidekick Race Bannon. In the past seven days this story has been confirmed by both Dwayne Johnson in an interview with Moviefone & Zac Effron in an interview with Clint Morris at Moviehole.

Zac Effron

“Yeah, Yeah… it’s a great idea; it’d be very fun”, Efron said.The actor says the project is only in its infantile stage – noting that it’ll take years to put this one together.

“It’s a long, long process. It’s so hard when people start leaking titbits. They’re very, very early on [with it] – not that it won’t happen happen, it’s just early.”Efron continues, “People legitimately said to me today, ‘So Footloose is coming out, right?’ I’m like ‘No. The script is coming out’.”

So a “Jonny Quest” movie is still a couple of years away then?
“Most definitely”, says the amiable actor.

Dwayne Johnson

"Right now we're just still redeveloping, if you will, what that movie will be. That's with myself and Andy [Fickman] and Zac Efron, but it's still in the developmental stage. Zac is my buddy -- I like Zac -- and I think that we would make a great pairing."

To add more fuel to the fire MTV Movies Blog spoke with Dwayne Johnson and "Johnny Quest" once again came up. Johnson confirmed that the approach could involve featuring a younger version of Johnny Quest which would pave the way for Effron in the role.

What is interesting to me is that Effron was also present at the "Watchmen" premiere as a guest of WB along with Brandon Routh, Sam Huntington, and Scott Porter. Is it possible that we just saw Superman, Flash, Johnny Quest, and Jimmy Olsen in the same place at the same time?

Transformers 3 Coming July 2011

It won't hit cinemas for another three months, but it seems all but assured that Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen will be the top-grossing film of Summer 2009.

Apparently, Paramount and DreamWorks seem to think so too.

A third installment of the popular "giant robots that beat the shit outta each other" franchise has been officially announced for a July 1, 2011 release.

No further information was made available such as whether or not actors Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox or series-director Michael Bay would return.

Granted, the actors was already contractually committed to three films and Bay said at the Friday the 13th premiere a few months back that he wasn't against helming another film, but it would have to after taking a year long break.

'Smallville' Plot Thickens

*** SPOILER ALERT ***

From left, Chloe Sullivan (Allison Mack) and Davis Bloome (Sam Witwer) talk in a morgue. Will one -- or both -- of them be back in the morgue after 'Smallville' has had its season finale?

Earlier this month, Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello wrote that two characters are slated to die in the "Smallville" season finale.

Today, Ausiello posted some follow-up information that may shed a little light on who might not be sticking around for next season:

• Smallville
  Number of deaths: 2
  Time frame: Season finale
  The scoop: One of the deceased is a long-running character. The other isn't. One is a man. The other...

 So, at least one of the two characters is male, apparently. Therefore, it can't be Chloe and Tess. It seems to me like it will be Chloe and Davis. Anyone have a different guess?

Oh, and for what it's worth, Ausiello includes a picture of Allison Mack, who plays Chloe, with his article. Is that a clue or a red herring?