Welcome to this week’s edition of “Movie News Monday!” (“MNM!”)!!
What is ‘MNM’ all about?
In case this is your first time here, “Movie News Monday!” (MNM) is the place to visit every Monday for a quick recap of trending entertainment news! I’ve collected info, rumors, etc from all over just for you to keep you updated on movies being released, actors/actresses in roles, dvd releases to keep a lookout for, which movie won in the box office over the weekend, etc! Are you ready for your weekly update? Here it is!
This Just In!!…
#1- “The Weekend Winner.” Last weekend, 2 wide new releases and 1 limited release that entered the Top Ten of the box office arena. While Fast & Furious 6 still crossed the finish line at #1, the magical heist movie Now You See Me made the #2 spot disappear from view for Will Smith’s After Earth. I have heard next to nothing about the limited release Yei Jawaani Hai Deewani. Did any of you get to see it this weekend?
Here are the weekend’s estimated results for Fri, May 31-Sun, June 2:
- Fast & Furious 6 ~$34.5M
- Now You See Me ~$28M
- After Earth ~$27M
- Star Trek Into Darkness ~$16.4M
- Epic ~$16.4M
- The Hangover Part III ~$15.9M
- Iron Man 3 ~$8M
- The Great Gatsby ~$6M
- Yei Jawaani Hai Deewani ~$1.7M
- Mud ~$1.2M
*Actuals may vary as earnings are updated much later on Monday afternoons. For updates, visit boxofficemojo.com.
Congratulations to Fast & Furious 6 (#1 AND passed $170M total domestic gross).
What did YOU watch this weekend?
Btw, Did you watch last night’s episode of Game of Thrones? The penultimate episode of Season 3?! Oh wow! Want to talk about it? Head over to Lady Sati’s review post and air out all your love/hate in the comment section, but only go if you actually watched the episode.
#2- “Guardians of the Galaxy casting.” Marvel’s Phase 2 is in full effect, with Iron Man 3 currently in theaters and Thor: The Dark World and Captain America: The Winter Soldier just around the corner, comicbook fans have much to be excited about.
Marvel’s curious choice of another team of superheroes getting the movie treatment (Guardians of the Galaxy) is gearing up for the big screen with casting and character rumors. Here’s the latest on who and what to expect for Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy.
- Chris Pratt (Peter Quill/Star-Lord), Dave Bautista (Drax the Destroyer), Zoe Saldana (Gamora), Michael Rooker (Yondu) and Ophelia Lovibond
- Lee Pace (undisclosed villain role)
- Karen Gillan (lead female villain role)
- NEW- Glenn Close (leading member of the Intergalactic Nova Corps)
- NEW- Benecio Del Toro (leading role…possibly Groot or Rocket Raccoon…maybe Thanos??) -the actor has signed a multi-picture deal
While not much is known about the plot of the James Gunn directed film, the August 1, 2014 release is expected to tie in to the Marvel films that will lead to it. For those unfamiliar with the team of heroes, here is a quick description from the pages of Marvel.com
A team of superhuman and extraterrestrial adventurers dedicated to the safeguarding of the Milky Way Galaxy from any force that threatens the security or liberty of its various people.
More on Marvel.com: http://marvel.com/universe/Guardians_of_the_Galaxy#ixzz2VB3FRmQk
Are you intrigued by the casting so far? Look for more as time progresses, but in the meantime, prepare for more Thor and Cap!
Do you prefer GoG over a Justice League movie?
#3- “More on Bond 24?“ The Bond 24 project is starting to shape together as plans for the continuation of the franchise continue to be formulated. You may recall that rumors were flying that director Christopher Nolan was being courted to direct the next installment of the franchise seeing that Skyfall director Sam Mendes would reportedly not be attached to the project (see HERE).
Well…that appears to all no longer be true.
Not only is Nolan apparently NOT going to direct Bond 24, but…are you ready for this?…Sam Mendes is actually expected to return and sit in the director’s chair for both Bond 24 and Bond 25! It’s true. He is VERY likely to return to do the next one, and possibly two, Bond films.
In addition to that, Bond 24 also has a new Bond girl to add to the mix. Penelope Cruz is finally going to be a Bond girl. I say “finally” because she was supposed to have been one for a while now, but always had scheduling conflicts.
Bond 24 begins filming next summer and may release in 2015 or 2016.
What do you think about the possibility of Mendes returning? and of Cruz’s casting?
#4- “Super Man of Steel Photos” Check out some of these high-res photos for June 14th’s DC release Man of Steel. The upcoming relaunch of the Son of Krypton’s movie legacy is exciting many fans. (click on any photo for a fullscreen slideshow…scroll through using the arrow keys)
See more photos (47 in all) HERE.
AND, for those of you who just can’t wait, here is a 13-min featurette for Man of Steel, one that I haven’t watch and cannot guarantee the absence of spoilers. (courtesy CinemaBlend)
Starring Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Michael Shannon, Kevin Costner, Diane Lane, Lawrence Fishburne and many others, and directed by Zach Snyder, get ready for a super movie.
Are you ready for Superman to return?
#5- “This Week’s Blu-ray release.” This week, look for the following films on Blu-ray to possibly add to your collection:
A Good Day to Die Hard- Ah yes! Bruce Willis’ return as John McClane. Only this time he is a cowboy in Japan and his son joins him in chasing down and stopping international terrorist in Jack Bauer fashion. Full of explosions and unimportant characters, this is, simply put, “bubblegum for the brain” that isn’t the worst movie out there. Have fun picking up this one that releases in retail stores this week. Check out my full thoughts in my review for this action film HERE.
Several other films also release this week. Check it out!
Also releasing: Warm Bodies (read my REVIEW), Identity Thief (read my REVIEW), Escape from Planet Earth and more.
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Well, that’s it for this round of “Movie News Monday!”
Thanks for reading! Happy Watching!
-T, The Focused Filmographer
up next: ”Time to Vote Tuesday!”
