Holiday box office showdown kicks off with ‘Sonic 3’ and ‘Mufasa: The Lion King’
The holiday box office race is heating up. Two major contenders, “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” and “Mufasa: The Lion King,” are vying for the holiday crown.
In previews on Thursday, Dec. 19, “Sonic 3” sprinted ahead, earning $6.5 million, the franchise’s best preview performance yet. Meanwhile, “Mufasa” opened with $3.3 million, setting the stage for a weekend showdown.
‘Sonic 3’ speeds ahead
“Sonic the Hedgehog 3” is projected to dominate the domestic box office, with estimates reported by The Hollywood Reporter showing between $60-70 million. The film won’t debut internationally until after the Christmas holiday, but early domestic success suggests it could upset “Mufasa.”
Fan-favorite cast members like Jim Carrey and Idris Elba return, with Keanu Reeves joining as Shadow the Hedgehog. The movie ups the stakes as Sonic and his crew face off against Shadow.
‘Mufasa’ roars with star power
“Mufasa: The Lion King” takes a different route, exploring the backstory of the beloved king. Voiced by Aaron Pierre, young Mufasa navigates life as an orphan striving to rise above his challenges.
Adding to the film’s appeal, Beyoncé and her daughter, Blue Ivy, bring their star power to the cast.
More holiday blockbusters
The holiday season isn’t just about these two heavyweights. Films like “Wicked,” “Moana 2” and “Gladiator 2” are still lighting up theaters. For “Wicked” fans, a singalong version debuts on Christmas Day in 1,000 theaters nationwide.
Billy Bob Thornton reveals why he turned down two major villain roles
When it comes to playing villains, Billy Bob Thornton knows how to deliver a chilling performance. But in real life, the Academy Award winner has been deliberately steering clear of villainous roles, even if it means turning down big paychecks.
In a recent episode of The Playlist’s “Bingeworthy” podcast, Thornton revealed he passed on two major antagonist roles.
Thornton shared that he was approached to play Norman Osborn, also known as the Green Goblin, in Sam Raimi’s “Spider-Man.”
“With the Green Goblin, I didn’t feel like getting up at 4 a.m. for five or six hours of makeup,” he said.
A few years later, Thornton was up for another villain role in “Mission: Impossible III.” However, he declined, citing a concern about being typecast.
“I’m not going to be the bad guy who kills Tom Cruise,” Thornton said on the podcast. “America will hate me, and then the next thing you know, that’s all I’ll have to do from now on.”
Why Thornton avoids villain roles
Thornton believes that audiences remember villains from major films, and while a recent University of Michigan study found viewers often see redeeming qualities in movie villains, Thornton said he prefers roles that keep audiences guessing.
This year, Thornton is showcasing his versatility in Taylor Sheridan’s series “Landman,” which premiered last month. The show has already gained traction, with one clip from a recent episode going viral.
In the scene, Thornton’s character shares with his attorney the oil industry’s role in creating wind turbines.
“Do you have any idea how much diesel they have to burn to mix that much concrete or make that steel?” Thornton’s character says.
New episodes of “Landman” air every Sunday, with the season finale scheduled for Jan. 12.
‘Dirty Dancing,’ ‘Spy Kids’ among 25 films named to National Film Registry
“Dirty Dancing” is among 25 films selected Tuesday, Dec. 17, for the Library of Congress National Film Registry. The 1987 Patrick Swayze hit is joined by a group of films spanning more than 100 years of cinema.
The oldest film added to the registry is “Annabelle Serpentine Dance,” an 1895 silent short. The newest movie is 2010’s Facebook origin story, “The Social Network.”
In a statement, Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden said the films were chosen due to their “cultural, historic or aesthetic importance to preserve the nation’s film heritage.”
The latest additions include several firsts, like 1984’s “Beverly Hills Cop.” It marks Eddie Murphy’s first feature film on the registry. The 1978 film “Up in Smoke” is the first Cheech and Chong film on the registry. “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan” (1982) is the first Star Trek film on the registry.
As for newer releases, two films from this century made the cut: 2001’s “Spy Kids” and Best Picture Oscar-winner “No Country for Old Men” (2007).
With these 25 films, there are now 900 titles on the registry. The Library of Congress said the public submitted over 6,700 titles for consideration this year. Nominations for 2025 are being accepted through Aug. 15.
In the meantime, Turner Classic Movies will host a television special Wednesday, Dec. 18, for this year’s selections.
Lisa Kudrow raises concerns over use of AI in Tom Hanks’ film ‘Here’
“Friends” alum Lisa Kudrow is speaking out about artificial intelligence in Hollywood, and she’s not holding back. Her criticism centers on Tom Hanks’ new film, “Here,” and the technology driving it.
Directed by Robert Zemeckis, “Here” premiered in October and showcases AI-driven de-aging technology. The film spans decades, using generative AI to make stars Tom Hanks and Robin Wright appear younger.
The tool behind these visuals, Metaphysic Live, seamlessly de-ages actors. Members of Metaphysic’s team have done previous AI work on projects such as “ABBA: Voyage,” the “Star Wars” saga and “Guardians of the Galaxy.”
Lisa Kudrow raises concerns about AI
Kudrow recently shared her thoughts on the “Armchair Expert” podcast. She described “Here” as “an endorsement of AI,” adding, “It’s not like, ‘Oh, it’s going to ruin everything.’ But what will be left for, forget actors, but what about up-and-coming actors?”
Her concern highlights a growing debate about AI’s impact on Hollywood. Many fear the technology could sideline younger actors trying to break into the industry.
A partnership driving AI innovation
Metaphysic Live has partnered with Creative Artists Agency (CAA) to develop generative AI tools for talent. Joanna Popper, CAA’s chief metaverse officer, praised the tools, saying they could “unlock an incredible opportunity for the entertainment industry and beyond.”
Zemeckis stands firmly behind the technology’s role in “Here,” saying, “The film simply wouldn’t work without our actors seamlessly transforming into younger versions of themselves. Metaphysic’s AI tools do exactly that.”
During production, actors could even use a “youth mirror.” This allowed them to see their younger selves in real time, helping them make specific performance choices.
Tom Hanks reflects on AI’s evolution
Hanks has been open about AI’s potential in Hollywood. Speaking on “The Adam Buxton Podcast,” he recalled working on Zemeckis’ 2004 film “The Polar Express.” At that time, motion capture technology laid the groundwork for today’s innovations.
With AI and deepfakes advancing rapidly, Hanks acknowledged the possibility of pitching movies with his younger likeness—even after his death. It’s a controversial prospect that raises questions about the future of filmmaking.
The ongoing AI debate in Hollywood
For Kudrow, this new era of AI raises alarms. While seasoned actors like Hanks can license their likeness, younger performers may face limited opportunities.
The debate continues to grow. Recently, the Writers Guild of America urged major studios to address AI plagiarism concerns –– a story SAN reported on last week.
As AI reshapes filmmaking, Kudrow’s critique reflects an industry wrestling with progress, ethics and the future of creativity.
J.J. Abrams inks new first-look deal with Warner Bros.
Filmmaker J.J. Abrams and Warner Bros. Television are starting a new chapter in their nearly 20-year relationship, according to Deadline. The new agreement follows months of negotiations and could have a major impact on TV and film projects.
Bad Robot, Abrams’ production company, has secured a deal after its previous $250 million agreement in 2019. The 2019 deal came at the height of the peak TV era, when studios were eager to secure big-name creators. However, it didn’t fully meet expectations.
One of Abrams’ most anticipated projects, the sci-fi drama “Demimonde,” was pulled by HBO in 2022 before it could go into production. The ambitious series was canceled due to high production costs, especially after the Warner Bros. Discovery merger that same year.
Another setback came when plans for a “Justice League Dark,” universe, including a “Constantine,” reboot, were scrapped during restructuring at DC Studios.
Despite these setbacks, some of Abrams’ projects made it through development, like docuseries “The Yankees Win.” The HBO Max series, “Duster,” was also green lit early last year.
This new deal could signal a fresh start for both sides. In addition to his current projects, Abrams revealed he has several other projects in development, including the science fiction film “Flowervale Street,” which is slated for release in 2025. He’s also directing his first feature film in years, a mystery movie, with production set to begin in early 2025.
The new two-year deal is a first-look, non-exclusive agreement. This means Warner Bros. has the first opportunity to develop and produce Bad Robot’s new projects. However, if the studio passes, Abrams is free to pitch those projects to other studios. This flexible collaboration could pave the way for more diverse opportunities.
Neither Bad Robot nor Warner Bros. has commented on the details of the new agreement yet. As more information becomes available, it’s clear Abrams’ company isn’t slowing down anytime soon.
Disney’s live-action ‘Snow White’ trailer debuts after years of public critique
Disney released the trailer for its live-action remake of “Snow White” earlier this week. For years, the movie’s development has drawn criticism and continues to spark debates just months before its release.
The film, a reimagining of the 1937 animated classic, dropped its first trailer on Tuesday, Dec. 3. The trailer’s release has reignited long-standing discussions about casting, representation and CGI. It also raises broader questions about how classic stories are updated for modern audiences.
A delayed production
The new “Snow White” is scheduled to hit theaters on March 21, 2025. Production faced delays due to multiple reshoots, though Disney has not disclosed the reasons. While reshoots don’t always spell trouble, the yearlong delay has fueled speculation about potential issues behind the scenes.
Casting debates
Casting for the film drew significant attention. Rachel Zegler, known for her role in West Side Story, took on the lead role. Critics online argued that Zegler, who is of Polish and Colombian descent, doesn’t match the original description of Snow White’s character as having skin “as white as snow.”
Zegler addressed the backlash in an interview with Variety, saying, “At the end of the day, I have a job to do that I’m really excited to do. I get to be a Latina princess.”
CGI and representation
Another point of contention was Disney’s depiction of the seven dwarves. The studio opted for CGI to create the characters, referring to them as “magical creatures” instead of dwarves.
Actor Peter Dinklage, a vocal advocate for representation, criticized the decision on a 2022 podcast. He called the remake “backwards” for continuing the traditional depiction of dwarves living in a cave.
“To avoid reinforcing stereotypes from the original animated film, we are taking a different approach with these seven characters and have been consulting with members of the dwarfism community.”
Disney
Leaked set photos published by Daily Mailfrom July 2023 added to the conversation. The images showed Snow White alongside seven companions of different genders, ethnicities and heights, further highlighting the film’s departure from the original.
Disney originally dismissed the photos as fake, but later backtracked, saying the photos were “not official,” The Daily Beast reported.
The CGI debate
The trailer shifted attention to the film’s visual effects. The enchanted forest and film characters, rendered heavily with CGI, have drawn mixed reactions. Some viewers feel the CGI looks overly artificial, while others argue that strong storytelling could make up for any visual shortcomings.
This isn’t CGI’s first controversy. In 2020, Sonic’s character in “Sonic the Hedgehog 2” faced backlash over its original design. After fan criticism, the filmmakers redesigned Sonic to align more closely with its traditional look.
No singing allowed in AMC Theatres as ‘Wicked’ releases
The wait is over! Fans are heading to theaters for the release of “Wicked.” But AMC Theatres is asking moviegoers to keep their excitement in check. Singing along during the movie is against the rules.
AMC is announcing the no-singing policy in a 30-second advisory playing ahead of the film. It features scenes from “Wicked” and reminds audiences of theater etiquette. It reads, in part: “No talking. No texting. No singing. No wailing. No flirting. And absolutely no name-calling.”
In a statement to the Indianapolis Star, AMC says the policy aims to prevent disruptive behavior. The goal is to ensure everyone enjoys the movie in peace.
This reminder comes after moviegoers made headlines in the Fall of 2023 during the releases of both “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” and “Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé.” Both concert films similarly brought fans to their feet.
Social media reacts
On social media, users are already preparing for what could happen. Some videos show funny reactions to people who might break the no-singing policy.
But for those eager to sing, there’s good news. Variety first reported Universal Pictures will host sing-along screenings of “Wicked” starting Christmas Day. These special showings will take place in 1,000 theaters across North America.
Straight Arrow News has reached out to AMC for further comment and is awaiting a response.
Mattel apologizes for ‘Wicked’ dolls packaging linking to porn site
Mattel may be hoping for a little magic this week to help make a packaging problem on its “Wicked” dolls go away. The toy company has apologized for a misprint on boxes of its collection for the upcoming feature film based on the hit Broadway musical.
The dolls’ packaging was supposed to show the URL of WickedMovie.com, which takes customers to a website dedicated to the movie. Instead, a misprint led the packaging to show a similar, incorrect URL for an adult film website, leading to customers posting about the typo on social media.
Mattel said in a statement to Straight Arrow News on Monday, Nov. 11:
Mattel was made aware of a misprint on the packaging of the Mattel Wicked collection dolls, primarily sold in the U.S., which intended to direct consumers to the official WickedMovie.com landing page. We deeply regret this unfortunate error and are taking immediate action to remedy this. Parents are advised that the misprinted, incorrect website is not appropriate for children. Consumers who already have the product are advised to discard the product packaging or obscure the link and may contact Mattel Customer Service for further information.
Mattel statement
As of Monday morning, the entire toy line was removed from Amazon, Target and Walmart’s websites. It is not known when the toys will be made available again with the corrected packaging and the link to the pornographic website changed.
However, the dolls were still available on Kohl’s site as of Monday at 10 a.m. Central Time.
The movie “Wicked,” which stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo as the witches of Oz, opens in theaters Nov. 22. By then “Wicked” fans are hoping the dolls will be back on shelves — as they will no doubt be a “popular” item this holiday season.
Harris, Trump look to win the West with 4 days until Election Day
As the presidential campaign heads into the final weekend, former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris swing through the western U.S. to sway undecided voters. And crews in Spain search for survivors after a year’s worth of rain fell in just hours. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Friday, Nov. 1, 2024.
Harris, Trump look to win the West with days until Election Day
With just four days to go until Election Day and more than 65 million ballots already cast, the candidates are making their final stops on the campaign trail. On Thursday, Oct. 31, both nominees visited the western United States to make their case.
Republican nominee former President Donald Trump spoke at campaign events in New Mexico, Nevada and Arizona, while Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris held rallies in Arizona and Nevada.
At an event in Glendale, Arizona with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, Trump repeated his stance of there being “an enemy within” the United States — a comment Harris has criticized in her speeches.
“If you have a smart president, somebody that knows what’s happening, you’re going to be fine,” Trump said, “But we do have an enemy from within. We have some very bad people, and those people are also very dangerous. They would like to take down our country. They’d like to have our country be a nice communist country or a fascist in any way they can, and we have to be careful of that.”
In Henderson, Nevada, Trump said Harris would not be able to handle the presidency, calling her “a child” when it comes to understanding the economy. He also announced former presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. would be working on “health and women’s health” if he’s reelected.
While in Reno, Nevada, Harris continued her warnings to supporters about another Trump presidency, calling trump “increasingly unstable” and “obsessed with revenge.”
“In less than 90 days, either he or I will be sitting in the Oval Office, and listen, here’s what we can imagine, right, we’ve all seen on TV — you’ve seen the Oval Office — just visually imagine what that day will be,” Harris said. “Because, if elected, Donald Trump on day one would walk into that office with an enemies list. When I am elected, I will walk in with a to-do list on behalf of you.”
The vice president told the crowd that people are “exhausted with Trump’s rhetoric.” She also appealed to female voters, criticizing Trump’s comments that he would “protect women” saying, “Trump does not respect the freedom of women.”
Harris’ Nevada rally was interrupted by protesters at times, but the vice president said it was “OK” and “we’re fighting for the right to be heard.”
Friday, Nov. 1, both candidates will hold rallies in Milwaukee, Wisconsin as the final weekend of the 2024 election cycle begins.
‘Avengers,’ LeBron endorse Harris; Jake Paul backs Trump
Some famous faces put their names behind their pick for president on Thursday. Members of the cast of Marvel’s “Avengers” film franchise assembled to show their support for Vice President Harris while YouTube star Jake Paul backed former president Trump.
Actors Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Mark Ruffalo and others gathered together in a social media video supporting Harris. NBA superstar LeBron James also backed Harris in a post on X saying, “When I think about my kids and my family and how they will grow up, the choice is clear to me. Vote Kamala Harris.”
Social media influencer turned boxer Jake Paul put his endorsement behind the Republican nominee. In a video posted to his YouTube channel, Paul laid out his reasons and asked his followers to do their own research.
“Regardless of your emotion, I’m just presenting you with facts,” he said. “Do I think Donald Trump is a perfect human being? No. I don’t think anybody on this planet is a perfect human being, myself included. To be frank, I’m not concerned with Donald Trump’s ‘character flaws’ or what he’s done in the past. What I’m concerned with is how good a president is he, because that is his job and that’s what’s going to affect the people of this nation.”
Why I Am Not Suspending My Campaign Let me be clear: Despite the immense pressures and intense assaults on my campaign and character, I intend to hold the torch and finish this race – to and after November 5th! The escalating corruption of the US political system and the… pic.twitter.com/CQrcOTX9vi
West accused the Pennsylvania secretary of state of improperly keeping him off the ballot for not filing all the required paperwork. The state’s top court agreed with the secretary of state, but a federal judge said while it does seem like Pennsylvania’s rules make it harder for third-party candidates to get on the ballot, it’s too close to Election Day to re-print ballots and re-test election machines without increasing the risk of error.
Flash floods claimed the lives of at least 158 people, with 155 deaths confirmed in the eastern Valencia region alone. Spain’s minister for territorial policy said Thursday dozens of people are still missing but they don’t have an exact number of how many.
Army specialist charged in female soldier’s murder at Missouri base
Her body was found in a dumpster at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri last week. Rancy, who’s with the 5th Engineer Battalion, is also charged with obstruction.
The Department of Army Criminal Investigation Division, which is the primary federal law enforcement agency of the United States Army, is overseeing the probe.
The department has not specified a motive for the killing. It is also unclear if Rancy and Roque knew each other.
OpenAI adds search and summary function to ChatGPT
Google has some new competition. OpenAI has added a search function to its artificial intelligence bot ChatGPT.
Paying subscribers are now able to activate a mode on ChatGPT that makes it respond to queries by searching the internet for the latest information and summarizing what it finds. The search capabilities are powered by Microsoft’s Bing search engine and will draw information from articles by publishers OpenAI has deals with, including The Wall Street Journal owner News Corp. and the Associated Press.
While this function is only for paying subscribers for now, OpenAI said it plans to bring search to all users eventually.
Robert Downey Jr. will sue executives if they recreate him with AI
Robert Downey Jr. is the latest star to make it clear he doesn’t want his likeness recreated by artificial intelligence. On a recent episode of the “On With Kara Swisher” podcast, the actor said he would sue all executives who allow an AI created version of him.
When he talked about his role as Iron Man, Downey Jr. said that while he doesn’t think Marvel executives would ever recreate his portrayal of Tony Stark, he would sue if they tried – even after he dies.
“I am not worried about them hijacking my character’s soul because there’s like three or four guys and gals who make all the decisions there anyway and they would never do that to me, with or without me,” Downey Jr. said.
Swisher added that new executives would likely do it.
“Well, you’re right,” Downey Jr. said. “I would like to here state that I intend to sue all future executives just on spec.”
“You’ll be dead,” Swisher responded.
Downey replied, “But my law firm will still be very active.”
Last year, the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists led a strike over the same issue. Those strikes lasted four months.
SAG-AFTRA ultimately signed a deal requiring productions to get the informed consent of actors whose digital replicas are used.
A spokesperson for SAG-AFTRA said Downey Jr. can deny use of any digital replica in movies. This is because of California’s new law prohibiting the unauthorized replication of a dead performer’s likeness without prior consent.
Downey Jr.’s latest project is a broadway production titled “McNeal,” which is about the way AI is disrupting the world of literature and addresses questions about how AI is impacting creativity.