Wolverine Takes $87 Million Cut of Box Office
May 4, 2009 by brian
He’s the best there is at what he does, and what he does is kick off the summer box office in grand style. X-Men Origins:Wolverine raked in $87 million over the weekend to of course, earn the no. 1 spot.
Doesn’t look like a leaked copy of the film sans special effects had any impact, unless it was to increase anticipation for the finished product. Bringing in that kind of cash, it’s almost a certainty we’ll see more X-films. As a matter of fact, as long as these things keep making money, X-Men Origins:That Mutant That Was In One Scene in X-Men 2 is not out of the realm of possibility.
Heroes star Ali Larter is turning heads in Obsessed, a thriller that paints her as a psychopath trying to steal Beyonce Knowles’ man. Ali Larter or Beyonce? Only in the movies are men faced with such decisions. Obsessed cost only $20 million but has already pulled in nearly $50 million.
As for our favorite mutant, he will likely only have a one week reign at the top as a little Star Trek movie opens next week. It is a great time to be alive, SFUniverse faithful.
Image: Bauer-Griffin
Plan To See Wolverine? Seen It Already?
April 17, 2009 by brian
Why is Wolverine so popular anyway? Is it because he’s almost indestructible? Maybe it’s the shiny adamantium claws. No, probably the hair. It’s definitely the hair.
For the ladies, it’s probably a little something about Hugh “Sexiest Man Alive” Jackman going feral in fight scenes. It makes perfect sense that ol’ Logan, the reputed best there is at what he does, would be the first X-Man to get a solo film.
I have to say I’m pumped, as much for the event as I am for the film itself. This one is chock full of cameos from numerous mutants including Gambit, who can blow things up by touching them. He’s also one of a handful of heroes from Louisiana. The other notable one being Swamp Thing, who’s kind of a tree.
X-Men Origins:Wolverine will also show us fanboy favorite Emma Frost, who can transform herself into diamond and read minds. There’s The Blob, who can summon and harness gravitational fields and - oh heck, he’s really fat. The Blob got royally screwed on the mutant power scale. Readers, what are your thoughts about Wolverine? We’re assuming, of course, none of our readers would have downloaded that leaked copy we’re not supposed to know anything about.
Pushing Daisies May Continue As Comic
Acclaimed but canceled series Pushing Daisies may follow the path of shows such as Angel that continued their TV plots in comic form.
Series creator Bryan Fuller told Sci Fi Wire he’s talking to Marvel about such a deal. Fuller confirmed the writers’ strike hit his show especially hard. He mentioned that during the 1988 strike TV shows lost an average of 30 percent of their viewers. Last year’s strike cost shows about 20 percent. Fuller said other factors included being off the air for 10 months and the timeslot.
He even said they’d have taken the infamous Friday 9 p.m. slot that almost no one wants. I don’t know, that hasn’t done Dollhouse too many favors. But at least Fuller will get to finish telling the story. Now I’ve got another comic to pick up. Auuagh! Pull list - getting- too heavy! And expensive.
Iron Man 2 Gets Rourke, Johanssen
March 12, 2009 by brian
There are big doings regarding the blockbuster sequel to one of 2008’s surprise hits. Yahoo Movies confirms that Mickey Rourke has signed on to play the villain Whiplash in Iron Man 2. One of the initial sticking points was reportedly a $250,000 offer to Rourke, whose Oscar-nominated turn in The Wrestler has raised his price tag considerably.
Money was also reported to be a problem with Terrence Howard, who played Jim “Rhodey” Rhodes in the first movie. He’ll be replaced by Don Cheadle in the sequel.
I’m assuming Marvel Entertainment opened up the purse strings a little more to get Scarlett Johanssen cast as sexy Russian super spy Black Widow. One of the movies rumored to be in development at Marvel is based on SHIELD, the spy agency that assists Marvel heroes on their missions sometimes.
Ghost Rider 2 Is A Go
January 29, 2009 by brian
This was basically a foregone conclusion once the first film turned a $115 million profit, but Bloody Disgusting reports Columbia Pictures has officially greenlit a Ghost Rider sequel.
BD says Columbia is looking for writers and that Nicolas Cage is on board to reprise his role as the title hero. The first film drew some negative reviews even among comic fans, and Cage’s “Elvis impersonation” take on the character was at the center of that controversy. But basic Hollywood math says $115 mil take= sequel, with no questions really asked.
Readers (particularly those of you that saw the first film) what’s your take? Should there be a Ghost Rider sequel? Is Nicolas Cage the right actor to play the ultimate “Hell’s Angel?”
Image: Bauer-Griffin
Marvel Announces Avengers Cartoon
October 8, 2008 by brian
Today at Marvel.com,the company announced the production of a new animated series, “The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.” Film Roman, the company that produces The Simpsons and King of the Hill, is already at work on a 26-episode first season. The new series is expected to hit the air in 2011. It won’t be alone as 2009 brings a plethora of Marvel animated action including Nicktoons Wolverine and the X-Men and Iron Man: Armored Adventures, as well as Marvel Super Hero Squad and The Black Panther.
Marvel’s plan here is obvious as it’s moving to get an Avengers live action movie into theaters in 2011 too. The cartoon will feature a very fan friendly Avengers lineup including Iron Man, Hulk and Captain America. Don’t worry longtime Avengers fans, team stalwarts Thor, Giant Man and Wasp are on hand too. Fox tried an Avengers cartoon in 1999 but it didn’t feature the “Big Three” of Cap, Iron Man and Thor and was thus very short-lived.
Iron Man Laps Speed Racer
May 11, 2008 by brian
According to numbers provided by Nielsen, Marvel Comics’ Iron Man has made $177 million in 10 days. It raked in $50 million this past weekend to remain atop the box office charts.
Warner Bros. Speed Racer, which at one time was thought a potential rival for Iron Man, stalled into second place with $20 million. Critics mostly panned this Wachowski Bros. adaptation of the popular anime. Its price tag is rumored to be well over $100 million with millions more spent on marketing. Warner can’t be happy with this abysmal opening, Racer just barely edging out romcom What Happens In Vegas. Warner execs are already confirming there’s not much chance they’ll recoup their money on this one.
Tony Stark will face some heavy hitters in the battle for his lofty perch the next two weeks. The Chronicles of Narnia:Prince Caspian opens May 16 while Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is coming May 22.
© 2008 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Iron Man is Solid Gold at the Box Office
May 5, 2008 by brian
The Grand Theft Auto IV release wasn’t a factor, nor was any other film in theatres as Marvel’s Iron Man repulsor blasted his way to a $100 million weekend.
The first movie from Marvel Studios tallied $104.3 million including Thursday night previews. It was the fourth-best opening in that weekend’s history and the second highest non-sequel opening behind Spider-Man.
This film’s explosive opening catapults the lesser known Iron Man into the same stratosphere with heroes like Spidey, Batman and Superman. The movie enjoyed almost universal good press, a rarity for comic-book fare. Paramount’s exit polling said the audience was 65 percent male and 55 percent over age 25.
With that kind of opening, a minimum of two sequels is pretty much a given.
Images: Paramount Pictures 2008
Paramount Confirms Iron Man Coming Early
April 29, 2008 by brian
Image details: Iron Man - Photocall served by picapp.com
Summer tentpole flick Iron Man will get an early start on the box office action, debuting on 2,000 screens May 1 at 8 p.m. That early limited release will bring the weekend numbers down, but Marvel and Paramount think they’ll make much of that money back if positive word-of-mouth holds up.
They hope to see Friday and Saturday numbers spike as those early viewers go tell it on the Marvel mountain. Of course, if the diehard audience doesn’t like it that measure could backfire. This one is huge not just because it’s the first summer blockbuster out of the gate, but because it is Marvel’s first movie as a standalone studio. With good word coming from critics, who are often harsh on comic book material, most experts expect $70 million or more from the Robert Downey Jr. vehicle.
Early Iron Man Buzz Is Very Positive
Image details: Iron Man - Premiere served by picapp.com
Reviews from early screenings of Marvel’s summer blockbuster Iron Man have been glowing so far. Robert Downey Jr. reportedly makes all the right moves as the eccentric but brilliant billionaire.
“Marvel - ous,” The Hollywood Reporter says. “The space flights and acrobatics over Los Angeles evoke Spider-Man,” they go on. “Yet the whole package is distinctly its own, a tale originated in the ’60s cleverly and logically transposed into today’s world.”
SFUniverse will have reviews of the film, video game and the new Invincible Iron Man monthly comic as part of our Tony Stark’s Best Summer Ever coverage. Is this franchise going to fly high enough to shake off the dreaded Grand Theft Auto IV launch? We’ll also be keeping you updated on films like the new Indiana Jones sequel, Hancock and Wanted among others. It’s going to be a fun summer to be a sci-fi fan.