Tag: Amazon MGM Studios

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‘Michael’ reclaims top North American box office spot in its 4th weekend

After two weeks trailing “The Devil Wears Prada 2,” the Michael Jackson biopic “Michael” reclaimed the No. 1 spot at the North American box office with $26.1 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday.

The Lionsgate movie is in rarefied territory, having brought in $703.9 million worldwide and counting. It still has a way to go to surpass the current reigning champion of musical biopics: “Bohemian Rhapsody.” The Queen movie grossed over $910.8 million worldwide.

There were also several newcomers in the mix this weekend, including the relationship horror movie “Obsession,” the Guy Ritchie action pic “In the Grey” and the revenge saga “Is God Is,” but the holdovers continued to draw the largest crowds. The power dynamics are poised to shift when “Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu” hits theaters next weekend.

Disney and 20th Century Studios’ “The Devil Wears Prada 2” took second place in its third weekend with $18 million, bringing its domestic total to $175.9 million and worldwide earnings to $546.2 million.

“Obsession” topped the newcomers, exceeding expectations with an estimated $16.1 million from 2,615 theaters. YouTube breakout Curry Barker wrote and directed the thriller in which a hopeless romantic gets more than he bargained for when his crush returns his affections. The film received positive reviews from both critics (94% on Rotten Tomatoes) and audiences (A- CinemaScore). Perhaps more notable is that Barker made the film for $750,000. Focus Features acquired it out of the Toronto International Film Festival last fall for around $15 million.

Lisa Bunnell, president of domestic distribution for Focus Features, attributed some of “Obsession’s” success to audiences craving fresh, original voices at the movies. It’s also getting an infusion by word-of-mouth, with younger audiences making plans to go back with friends. Horror movies don’t often get CinemaScores in the A- range, but “Obsession” is in good company with another recent hit: “Weapons.”

“I’m expecting a really strong holdover,” Bunnell said.

Fourth place at the box office this weekend went to “Mortal Kombat II,” which fell 65% in its second weekend to $13.4 million in domestic ticket sales. Globally, it has made $101.2 million from 80 markets.

Amazon MGM Studios had three movies in the top 10, including “The Sheep Detectives” in fifth place, “Project Hail Mary” in seventh place and “Is God Is” rounding out the top 10.

“The Sheep Detectives” enjoyed a slim 33% drop from its first weekend, taking in an additional $10.2 million and bringing its running total to $30.5 million. “Project Hail Mary,” which is now available to rent or buy at home, brought in another $3.4 million in its ninth weekend in theaters. “Is God Is,” Aleshea Harris’s adaptation of her Obie-winning play about twin sisters ( Kara Young and Mallori Johnson ) on a quest to find and kill their abusive father made $2.2 million in its first weekend in theaters. It has a 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Meanwhile, the action caper “In the Grey,” released by Black Bear, made $3 million from 2,018 locations. Henry Cavill, Jake Gyllenhaal and Eiza González star in the film about a team of elite operatives on an impossible mission. It currently carries a 44% on Rotten Tomatoes and a B CinemaScore.

There were also several high-profile re-releases in theaters this weekend, including “Top Gun” which made $3.1 million, and “Shrek” which earned $1.3 million.

Paul Dergarabedian, head of marketplace trends for Comscore, noted that “Prada,” “Michael” and “Top Gun” all making the top 10 show “nostalgia is on full display.”

“What’s old is new again and audiences clearly love it,” he said. (JapanToday)

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The next James Bond will be ‘an unknown’ British actor, according to a report

Director Denis Villeneuve is on the hunt for a potentially unknown actor to play James Bond next year, according to a new report.

On Wednesday, Sept. 24, Deadline reported that Dune filmmaker Villeneuve, 57, will begin a casting search for the next 007 after he finalizes production on Dune: Part Three with Timothée Chalamet. The outlet reported that Villeneuve and the producers behind the next iteration of the Bond franchise are looking for a “fresh face” to portray the iconic British spy, citing sources.

As Deadline reported, the next Bond will be male and portrayed by an actor from the United Kingdom, ruling out any recent rumors that American actors have been in consideration for the part. Its sources said Villeneueve’s approach is to cast “an unknown,” potentially in his late 20s or early 30s, which remains in line with what the series’ former producer Barbara Broccoli said as recently as November 2024, before she exited the franchise and handed full control over to Amazon MGM Studios in February.

“Whoever it is, has to look like he could kill you with his bare hands in a trice. From the moment you see him, that has to be readily apparent,” a source told Deadline. The outlet also reported that screenwriter Steven Knight, who is writing the next Bond movie, may be approaching the story by going back to Bond’s origins as a British naval officer before his time at MI6, though the outlet noted that the script is still being written. 

“Every name you’ve heard of, and many you’ve never heard of,” one source told the outlet. “We’ve been flooded. But understand that the casting process has not begun and it won’t until Denis finishes the Dune movie.” 

Villeneuve was announced as the next Bond director back in June; the filmmaker described the franchise as “sacred territory” in a statement at the time. “I intend to honor the tradition and open the path for many new missions to come. This is a massive responsibility, but also, incredibly exciting for me and a huge honor,” he added, in part.

Screenwriter Knight, who is best known for creating the British crime series Peaky Blinders, said in an August BBC Radio interview that he intends to “produce something that’s the same but different and better and stronger and bolder” with the next movie’s script. Knight, 65, said that casting for the lead part remains a “very good question and one I can’t give you the answer to” at that time.

Deadline reported that the next Bond movie currently plans to release in 2028 and film in 2027. Dune: Part Three, Villeneuve’s next movie, is expected to hit theaters Dec. 18, 2026. (People)

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Steven Knight ‘can’t wait’ to write new Bond film

Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight will write the forthcoming James Bond film, Amazon MGM Studios has confirmed.

The movie, which will be directed by Dune’s Denis Villeneuve, is currently in development and being overseen by the studio after long-serving masterminds Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson stood down in February.

Knight told BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast: “It has always been on my bucket list and it’s fantastic to be invited to do it – I can’t wait to get started.

“I’m hoping that, being a Bond fan for so many years, it will be imbued into me and I will be able to produce something that’s the same but different, and better, stronger and bolder,” he added.

However, Knight did not shed any light on which actor might portray 007 in the next film.

Daniel Craig stepped down from the role in 2021 after starring in five Bond films, and there has been much speculation over who will replace him.

British actors Aaron Taylor-Johnson and James Norton have been rumoured as frontrunners for the part, while Irish actor Paul Mescal’s name has also been thrown into the mix.

When asked about it, Knight said: “That is a very, very good question, and one I can’t give you the answer to.”

He did not elaborate as to whether this was because he does not know, or he is not allowed to reveal who it is, or because the decision hasn’t been made yet.

Knight is arguably most well-known for writing the Bafta-winning BBC One drama Peaky Blinders, starring Cillian Murphy, set in the streets of post-World War One Birmingham, which ran for six series and is also being made into a Netflix film.

He was Oscar-nominated in 2004 for Dirty Pretty Things, starring Chiwetel Ejiofor and Audrey Tautou, and wrote and created 2024 BBC One series This Town, set in 70s and 80s Coventry, which won a Royal Television Society award.

His other work also includes 2021’s Spencer, starring Kristen Stewart as Diana, Princess of Wales, which earned her an Oscar nomination.

The most recent Bond film, 2021’s No Time to Die, was written by Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, Cary Joji Fukunaga and Phoebe Waller-Bridge.

Speaking about his selection process for the latest film, Knight said: “I was invited to a meeting with [producer] Amy Pascal, didn’t know what it was about, and very quickly discovered what it was about and became very, very excited and hopeful.

“And then a process is followed where you do some meetings, you discuss some ideas, and then you find out you’ve got it.

“So I found out a while ago but it was announced last night, which is great.”

He agreed it was a “high pressure” job but said “you’ve just got to do what you do, do it as well as you can.”

The latest Bond film is being produced by Pascal and David Heyman, and Hollywood trade publication Variety has suggested it could be released in 2028. (BBC)