Box Office: Suicide Squad’ Drops Big, But Remains #1 as ‘Sausage Party’ Eats Up the Box Office

Despite Squad‘s large, to-be-expected second weekend drop, the film pulled in more than enough to hold off all newcomers for a second weekend at number one at the box office as it now totals more than $465 million worldwide. Meanwhile, Sony’s R-rated animated comedy Sausage Party scored a strong second place finish. Overall, the top twelve totaled $157.8 million, up 16% from last year. (BOM)

Patty Jenkins Responds To Open Letter Accusing ‘Wonder Woman’ Of Being “a Mess”

The anonymous open letter to the studio’s CEO Kevin Tsujihara from a clearly disgruntled former WB employee detailing how, in the author’s opinion, Warner Bros. has damaged employees lives, laying people off and not holding the senior leadership responsible for the failure of a handful of films. It also made accusations about the upcoming film that the director has gone on record to refute. (IW)

Thomas Gibson Mulls Lawsuit Over His ‘Criminal Minds’ Firing

According to reports, new evidence is emerging and Gibson has hired a legal team to look into a possible wrongful termination suit or something along those lines. Two weeks ago, after an argument between Gibson and writer-producer Virgil Williams escalated, Gibson kicked Williams in the shin, which is what led to his suspension, then dismissal. (UR)

Set Your Calendars: Tribeca Film Festival Sets Its 2017 Dates

The 16th annual festival is set for April 19th through the 30th in New York City. The 2017 edition also will have a new Director of Programming: Cara Cusumano, who has worked on the festival since 2008, has been promoted to oversee the feature film and TV programming. (DH)

‘The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore’ Cancelled by Comedy Central

The staff of the show was told today that the still relatively new Comedy Central series will be ending. The show won’t be given much of a grace period to finish out its run, either, as the last episode of The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore will air on Thursday at 11:30 p.m. ET. (CB)

Geoffrey Rush to Play Albert Einstein in Nat Geo’s First Scripted Series

Newcomer Johnny Flynn will play the younger version of the physicist. The first season of the anthology is based on Walter Isaacson’s critically acclaimed biography of the celebrated scientist, with the pilot to be directed by Imagine’s Ron Howard and marking his first time directing a scripted primetime drama. (LF)

Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg Team with ‘Silicon Valley’ Vet for FX’s ‘Singularity’

Goldberg and Rogen are set to produce Singularity under their Point Grey banner, making this their third recent foray into television. The artificial-intelligence-centric comedy from Silicon Valley writer-producer Sonny Lee, had been given a pilot order from FX. (COL)

‘The LEGO Ninjago Movie’ Keeps Adding Big Names To Its Already Impressive Voice Cast

Olivia Munn and Justin Theroux have boarded the voice cast of the Lego Movie spinoff, joining the previously announced Jackie Chan, Dave Franco, Michael Peña, Abbi Jacobson, Kumail Nanjiani, Zach Woods, and Frank Armisen. Film is due out September 22, 2017. (SF)

Maybe We Get the Movies We Deserve

Steven Spielberg and George Lucas were wrong. The studios aren’t going to implode, crushed by their own faulty strategies, with their top-heavy product dragging them down, but rather rising to previously untold grosses and new records. No, they’re going to continue to thrive, because no matter how badly they treat us, we keep slinking back, asking for more, so that’s what they give us. (TB)

Screenwriters: Meet the Reader — Screenplays. Wait! Wait! Don’t Tell Me! (No, Really – Don’t Tell Me)

Movies are self-contained entities. Their stories unfold continuously from beginning to end without breaks or pauses. Viewers are meant to watch films with their attention focused completely on the screen. They do not have the time nor should they be expected to stop watching the movie while it is unfolding to consult any supplemental material. (SM)

Robert Downey Jr. Developing ‘Perry Mason’ Reboot With Nic Pizzicato For HBO

The True Detective creator may not be involved with season three — which itself is still far from a certainty — but his involvement with the network is far from over. Few concrete details are known about the project, though it looks to be related to the Perry Mason reboot that Downey Jr. was previously developing with Warner Bros. as a feature film for several years. Whatever this project is, it will be a series. (IW)

Jill Soloway Will Produce a Musical-Comedy Series for Amazon Studios

Show is penned by one of Soloway’s Transparent writers, Ethan Kuperberg. Story will follow “a woman’s search for love and self-discovery in Los Angeles,” and the concept was conceived by Kuperberg. As part of a deal Soloway signed with Amazon, the studio will produce original content created through her company, Topple Productions. (VUL)

In What Can Be a Surprise To No One, USA Renews ‘Mr. Robot’ For Season Three

The new season will premiere in 2017, but the number of episodes is still unknown. Mr. Robot’s season-two order was upped from 10 to 12 episodes in June. (LF)

John Krasinski’s Return To TV Becomes Official: Amazon Picks Up His ‘Jack Ryan’ Series

Streaming service has given a 10-episode straight-to-series order to Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, starring Krasinski as the popular CIA hero. The drama, from former Lost duo of co-showrunner Carlton Cuse and writer Graham Roland, landed at Amazon in April with a series commitment and the intention to go straight-to-series. (DH)

Keira Knightley In Talks To Join Live Action ‘Nutcracker’ as Sugar Plum Fairy

Lasse Hallstrom is to direct the project, titled The Nutcracker and the Four Realms, which already has Mackenzie Foy, ballerina Misty Copeland and Morgan Freeman on board. The project comes from Disney, based on the classic ballet by Peter Tchaikovsky and the story by E.T.A. Hoffmann. (THR)

Netflix Wants Another Season Of ‘Last Chance U’

Greg Whiteley will continue as director of the streaming service’s first sports documentary series, a behind-the-scenes look at the world of junior college football. Inspired by a feature article in GQ magazine, show follows elite athletes in tough life circumstances who struggle to find their redemption on a champion junior college football team and hopefully realize their dreams of competing at the next level. (SAA)

‘Mary Poppins Returns’ Gets a Taste Of Bond, With Ben Whishaw Casting

Already set to star Emily Blunt as Poppins, Lin-Manuel Miranda as a lamplighter named Jack, and Meryl Streep as Poppins’ cousin Topsy, Whishaw has joined the cast and will play the grown-up Michael Banks. (CS)

Carrie Preston Becomes the Latest To Join Hot TNT Pilot ‘Claws’

The Good Wife and True Blood star is set for the show, a new pilot from Rashida Jones and Will McCormack’s Le Train Train and Warner Horizon. Preston joins Niecy Nash and Karrueche Tran in the hour-long dramedy, which is set in a South Florida nail salon and said to be in the vein of Desperate Housewives. (WAH)

When Trailers Do More Harm Than Good

When did trailers become such events? It’s gotten to the point where people are complaining about the big budget films they pay to see that ultimately don’t have scenes highlighted in the trailers that got them into the theaters in the first place. (TB)

Online Film School: Gaspar Noé’s Five Lessons On Using Music In Film (and Why Judy Garland Is the Greatest)

The filmmaker’s mass, passionate following doesn’t exist by accident. The filmmaker’s four features, from last year’s Love to perhaps his most popular film Enter the Void, have stunned with their visual beauty and their unique style of filmmaking. Where many filmmakers’ attentions may center on those two elements, Noé also places focus on another tool for immersing the audience: music. (IW)

BRANDED ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

Warner Bros Names Gillian Zhao As Its First Country Manager For China

Zhao will have general oversight of all of Warner Bros’ businesses in China, including theatrical distribution, TV distribution, home entertainment, consumer products, games and emerging distribution technologies. She will work with in-place executives to optimize opportunities to grow WB operations in China. (DH)

A Study Suggests That Most Olympic TV Advertisers Are Also Using Digital

Brands that want to reach followers of the Olympics are going beyond just TV. As consumers increasingly live stream major TV events (and maybe even use second screens while doing so), advertisers are looking to digital and social channels to reach those users. (MD)

Justin Bieber Deletes His Instagram Account

Bieber shut down his account last night, apparently in response to the pop singer receiving a stream of hate-filled comments on his posts of pictures with Sofia Richie. The 22-year-old Canadian singer had 77.8 million followers on the Facebook-owned photo- and video-sharing service before his page went dark, deleting more than 3,700 posts. (VAR)

TOP DEALS

Hip Hop and Golf? How Callaway Is Swinging for Millennials

Who says hip hop and golf don’t mix? Callaway thinks they can, which is why the golf equipment maker is coming out with a new documentary featuring rapper Scarface. The 10-minute film by Vice Sports — which will debut online in September — is an example of how Callaway is using content on unexpected channels to lure players to a game that is suffering from an image that it is not millennial friendly. (AA)

Thomas Jane Plays the ‘World’s Biggest A—hole’ in This Very Surprising Film

Black comedy might not seem like the obvious place to start when encouraging organ donation, but a new campaign from Donate Life from The Martin Agency takes this route and does it brilliantly. (CO)

See Bud Light’s Transgender Ad: ‘Beer Should Have Labels, Not People’

Bud Light’s socially progressive “Bud Light Party” campaign is tackling another hot-button issue: transgender rights. “Gender identity — it’s really a spectrum and we don’t need these labels,” Amy Schumer says in a new spot debuting today. Her campaign co-star Seth Rogen adds: “Beer should have labels, not people.” (AA)

Disney Launches Pro Wrestling Vertical to Offset Stalled Growth at ESPN

Like any wrestler, ESPN is staggering under its own weight, suffering from tough times as subscribers have been departing over the past three years. Partially due to the popularity of ESPN, sports coverage has become ubiquitous. Fans no longer need to turn to the so-called “The Worldwide Leader in Sports” to find their news. (BC)

Which Brands Are Winning On Social Media In Rio? Charts from Sprinklr Show Which Marketing Teams Are Earning Gold

Following the results on platforms during the first week of the games from August 2nd through August 8th, it was noticeable how much more frequently men mentioned brands than women. According to Sprinklr’s data, men accounted for 66.5 percent of all brand mentions on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Google+ and other channels. (AW)

HOT PROJECTS

The Crow (Remake)

Relativity Media’s remake of Alex Proya’s cult classic film.  Jason Momoa will star. Corin Hardy will direct. (SE)

Jack Ryan

Amazon gave a series order to this drama based on the Jack Ryan novel series, written by Tom Clancy. John Krasinski will star as the titular character. The series was conceived by Carlton Cuse (“Bates Motel”) and Graham Roland (“The Returned”) who will executive produce alongside Lindsey Springer of Carlton Cuse Productions (“The Returned”), Michael Bay, Brad Fuller, and Andrew Form of Platinum Dunes (TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES) and Mace Neufeld (JACK RYAN: SHADOW RECRUIT). Amazon Studios, Paramount Television, and Skydance Productions (MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – ROGUE NATION) will produce the series. (SE)

Lady Gaga To Star In ‘A Star Is Born,’ Will Write and Perform Her Own Songs

Following months of speculation, Lady Gaga has officially signed on to star opposite Bradley Cooper in a remake of the film, for which she’ll write and perform original music, it was announced yesterday. Cooper will make his directorial debut with the film, which he’s also producing with Todd Phillips, among others. (ME)

Will Ferrell & John C. Reilly Will Solve Crimes Hilariously As ‘Holmes And Watson’

Co-stars of Talladefa Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby and Step Brothers have signed up to star in the self-explanatory Holmes and Watson. Reilly will be play Watson to Ferrell’s Holmes, in the movie that’s slated to be directed by Etan Cohen, with production gearing up to start after Thanksgiving. (TP)

Univision Spends $135 Million To Purchase Bankrupt Gawker Media

Univision Holdings Inc. is expected to become the new owner of Gawker Media, the online media and blog network currently in bankruptcy. A person familiar with the proceedings said the only other bidder for Gawker, Ziff Davis, withdrew it’s $90 million bid yesterday. The sale to Univision, holder of the leading Spanish-language TV network, will need the approval of a U.S. bankruptcy court judge. (LAT)

‘Sausage Party’ Animators Feud With Nitrogen Studios Over Pay Disputes

According to reports, animators wrote a letter in December to the production company alleging that “unfair pressure tactics” were “used against the team: intimidating staff into working past official studio hours, disciplinary measures utilizing fear tactics that demotivate and cause distress (such as threatening to terminate employment), implying that other departments are working overtime ‘voluntarily’ as a reason to deny compensation.” (IW)

What Has Been Rumored Is Now Confirmed: Ray Fisher’s Cyborg To Appear In ‘The Flash’ Film

Ezra Miller will play the title role in the superhero movie, which is expected to hit theaters a few months after the duo’s first team-up, in Justice League. The capacity of Cyborg in the film is unknown, so it’s possible the appearance could only be a cameo. (CBR)

‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ and ‘Gravity Falls’ Writers to Pen ‘Pokemon’ Movie

Nicole Perlman and Alex Hirsch are in negotiations to write the live-action Pokemon pic for Legendary, based on the upcoming game, Detective Pikachu. The news comes following the announcement that the company landed the rights to the Pokemon franchise after they were shopped around in early July. (VAR)

Disney’s Live-Action Little Mermaid Just Added Two Huge Musical Talents

Alan Menken, the man who scored the original Disney animated hit will be returning, and alongside him will be Hamilton creator, Lin-Manuel Miranda. While details are scarce, the word is that Miranda will supervise the story, though he won’t be writing the film. (CB)

Catherine Zeta-Jones Will Play Olivia de Havilland in Ryan Murphy’s ‘Feud’

Oscar winner joins the show, which focuses on the legendary rivalry between Joan Crawford (Jessica Lange) and Bette Davis (Susan Sarandon) on the set of Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? De Havilland was a close friend of Davis’s, and she starred across from Crawford in 1964’s Hush … Hush, Sweet Charlotte in a role that was originally meant for Davis. (VUL)

Trailer Buzz: ‘Arrival’

Paramount Pictures has released the first full trailer for the upcoming Denis Villeneuve sci-fi flick, starring Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner and Forest Whitaker. The movie will play at the Toronto and Venice Film Festivals before opening in theaters November 11th. (COL)

Screenwriters: ‘Run All Night’

the 107-page screenplay by Brad Ingelsby, script is dated January 3rd, 2012. (FPH)

NYFF: Film Society Announces 2016 Projections Section Lineup

The Film Society of Lincoln Center has announced the complete lineup for the Projections section of the 54th New York Film Festival. Heading into its third year, the annual celebration will take place October 7th through October 9th and include 44 films in 11 programs with 10 world premieres, five North American premieres and 13 U.S. premieres. (IW)

‘Inside Amy Schumer’ Not Over But No Season 5 “In Foreseeable Future”

Amy Schumer’s Comedy Central series is not over, according to the actress/comedian, but the show is on an indefinite hiatus and there is no Season 5 “in the foreseeable future.” Schumer was clarifying her earlier Tweets that suggested the show was ending. Inside Amy Schumer was renewed for a fifth season in January and wrapped Season 4 in June. (DH)

Marvel Reconfigures ‘Runaways’ As Hulu Series

While Marvel has been pretty orderly about their cinematic universe early on, at least one movie fell through the cracks: “Runaways.” However, the movie never got in front of cameras despite a few tentative timelines for filming, and eventually was taken off the slate altogether. Now, Hulu has stepped up and ordered Marvel’s Runaways to series, with the project being shepherded by Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage. (TP)

Billy Crudup to Star Opposite Naomi Watts in Netflix Drama ‘Gypsy’

Picked up to series in January, the project follows the journey of Jean Holloway, a therapist who begins to develop dangerous and intimate relationships with the people in her patients’ lives. Watts will star as Holloway and also be credited as an executive producer. (LF)

Keira Knightley and Alexander Skarsgard Reportedly in Negotiations for WWII Drama ‘The Aftermath’

Fox Searchlight won a bidding war for the rights to Rhidian Brook’s novel and is getting Knightley and Skarsgard to star in the post-World War II tale of “passion and betrayal.” Story centers on a woman who goes to Hamburg with her only surviving son after the shelling has stopped to reunite with her husband, a colonel in the British army, who is tasked with aiding in the rebuilding effort. (VUL)

‘The Hunger’: 20th Century Fox Plans Donner Party Tale

Plans are underway for a film that will tell the true story of North America’s infamous Donner Party expedition with a Walking Dead-style twist. Twentyeth Century Fox has picked up the big screen rights to the upcoming novel by former CIA and Department of Defense intelligence analyst Alma Katsu. Luke Scott, the son of filmmaker Ridley Scott, is attached to adapt and direct. (CS)

Sofia Vergara Gets a Whole Bunch Of Talented Company In Ensemble Comedy ‘The Female Brain’

James Marsden, Lucy Punch and Toby Kebbel have joined the cast of Whitney Cummings’ directorial debut. The film also stars Cecily Strong, Beanie Feldstein, NBA player Blake Griffin, Xosha Roquemore, Chris D’Elia and Deon Cole and Cummings. Cummings is directing from her own script, co-written with Neal Brennan and based on the book by neuropsychiatrist Louann Brizendine. (VAR)

Today In Remake News: ‘Clue’ Remake Heads to Fox with “Action-Adventure” Twist

Twentieth Century Fox has landed the new Clue movie with Josh Feldman producing for Hasbro Studios and Ryan Jones serving as the exec. While it’s still early days, there’s apparently a desire to up the scale of the story with a “worldwide mystery” that has “action-adventure elements.” And, obviously, it’s being envisioned as a franchise-starter with global appeal. (COL)

Every Good Streak Has To End Some Time, Even For Fox Searchlight (Studio Series)

Whether you’re a filmmaker or a distributor, winning a Best Picture trophy doesn’t happen very often. Even rarer is winning two in a row, and yet that’s what Fox Searchlight just did in 2014 and 2015 with 12 Years a Slave and Birdman. Consider, also, that the company has either released a Best Picture nominee or a film that won another major Oscar each year since 2006, and in several years, it has done both. That’s a nice run, but it might very well end in 2016. (TB)

Screenwriters: Anatomy of a Writing a Scene: ‘Defiance’ – Another Exodus

Hollywood first acknowledged the existence of the Nazi death camps in 1961’s Judgment at Nuremberg, meaning there’s been a half-century of opportunity to explore the ramifications of the Hitler regime. And by and large, cinema has muffed it. Of course, the images of the victims behind barbed wire and shuffling toward extinction are indelible and must remain so. But where are all the stories of heroic refugee resistance? Mostly MIA. (SM)

BRANDED ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

Toronto: Cheryl Boone Isaacs, David Glasser, Jonathan Demme Among Speakers at Industry Conference

Fest organizers also announced master classes by Invisible director Doug Liman, Queen of Katwe helmer Mira Nair and Feng Xiagang, often hailed as the Steven Spielberg of China as that country’s top-grossing director.  (THR)

Pivot’s Demise: Death By Skinny Bundle, Millennials Fleeing TV Or No Must-See Programming?

It’s not easy being an indie standalone channel in the era of cord-cutting and “too much TV.” Participant Media learned that the hard way, moving in to pull the plug on its three-year old network Pivot TV, writing off a $200 million initial investment and further tens of millions in costs. (DH)

Jennette McCurdy Pacts with Canvas Media Studios for Series Development Deal

The actress, best known for her roles on the Nickelodeon series “iCarly” and “Sam & Cat,” has signed a development deal with digital production company Canvas Media Studios to develop scripted series that can live across multiple platforms. (TVI)

TOP DEALS

BMW Motorrad featured in ‘Resident Evil: The Final Chapter’

When Milla Jovovich takes up to the final battle against evil in the film, she will rely on the support of BMW Motorrad. The first official trailer for the sixth part of the popular horror series shows a motorcycle designed by BMW, which plays an important role and allows the main hero to reach the depopulated streets of a destroyed world. (BB)

FOX and Rooftop Cinema Club Host Advance Screenings of New Series “Lethal Weapon” and “Pitch”

The Fox network is teaming up with outdoor cinema specialists Rooftop Cinema Club to screen the two pilots during special free advance screening nights in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Los Angeles. (FC)

Dave Matthews Band Coming to TNT in September for the Latest ‘Neighborhood Sessions’ Special in Series Created by State Farm

Filmed earlier this year in the band’s hometown of Charlottesville, Va., portions of the 25th anniversary performance will be presented as part of the ongoing series of music specials. The special will feature powerful stories from the local community profiling some of the people who continue to impact the band members’ lives and music. (FC)

MTV to Simulcast ‘Unlocking the Truth’ True-Crime Series Premiere Free on YouTube, Facebook Live

Cable network is trying a new promotional stunt in a bid to hook audiences on its new docu-series: For the first time, the cabler will live-stream a show on Facebook Live and YouTube at the same time it airs on cable TV. (VAR)

HOT PROJECTS

Ballers

Universal project with LeBron James and Kevin Hart (The Wedding Ringer) attached to star. Malcolm D. Lee (The Best Man Holiday) will direct. To be produced by Brian Grazer (Empire). Screenplay by Kevin Hart, Harry Ratchford, Joey Wells (Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain) and Chris Spencer (Upload with Shaquille O’Neal). (SE)

Strange New Things

Amazon has ordered a pilot for this sci-fi drama series from writer Matt Charman (Bridge of Spies), based on the novel by Michael Faber. Charman executive produces alongside Kevin MacDonald (The Last King of Scotland) and Andy Harries (The Queen) for Left Bank Pictures (Wallander). MacDonald will direct the pilot. (SE)

Philippe Dauman Ousted From Viacom, Ending Nasty Feud With Redstone Family

Anasty protracted war for control of Viacom appeared over last night, with a preliminary legal settlement that forced the ouster of embattled CEO Dauman and reasserted the power of frail patriarch Sumner Redstone. The initial agreement approved by Viacom’s board settles three separate lawsuits and makes COO Thomas Dooley interim chief executive of the conglomerate while also launching a search for a permanent replacement for Dauman. (VAR)

Fox Shake-Up: Paul Hanneman Exiting as Worldwide Marketing, Distribution Head 

The Fox film worldwide president of marketing and distribution is leaving the studio after deciding not to renew his contract. The plan is for the Hanneman to stay in the job until October. His pending departure comes as Stacey Snider takes the reins of the studio from outgoing 20th Century Fox Film chairman-CEO Jim Gianopulos. (THR)

Today In Remake News: Ben Affleck To Tackle ‘Witness For the Prosecution’

While the Oscar winner just recently wrapped Live By Night for Warner Bros, he is in talks to direct and star in the adaptation of Agatha Christie’s short story for Fox. Affleck is set to produce the project alongside Matt Damon, Jennifer Todd and the Agatha Christie estate. Christopher Keyser will pen the script based on the story about a lawyer who represents a man accused of murdering a wealthy widow who named him her sole heir.  (IW)

Jared Leto Becomes the Latest Big Name To Join the ‘Blade Runner’ Sequel

The exact nature of the role remains unclear, but Leto joins Harrison Ford, Ryan Gosling, Robin Wright, and Dave Bautista, among others. The film is being directed by Denis Villeneuve, and will hit theaters October 6th, 2017. (CB)

NBC Buys ‘Blackmail’ Drama From Aaron Paul & Sonntag Brothers

Project centers on a young married couple who, after suffering a life-changing incident, decide to get back at the man responsible by threatening to reveal his infidelity to his fiancée. But when things turn out to be more sinister than the couple originally thought, a dark game of cat-and-mouse sets them on the path to knowing what it means to be a real-life power couple. Paul will produce via his Lucid Road shingle alongside writers John and Thomas Sonntag. (DH)

‘The Lost Boys’ TV Show in Development from ‘Veronica Mars’ Creator Rob Thomas

The CW has landed a series adaptation of the 1987 cult film from Thomas, Gulfstream TV, and Warner Bros. Television. A re-imagining of Joel Schumacher‘s film, Thomas’ spin on the series has huge plans for a seven-season run that explores what it means to be immortal, spanning 70 years, with each season chronicling a decade. (COL)

Ellen Page and Kate Mara Will Embark on a Forbidden Romance for the Drama ‘Mercy’

Actresses will play embattled love interests in the drama, which will be directed by Israeli filmmaker Tali Shalom Ezer. Page will play Lucy, a woman whose dad is on death row and who gets romantically entangled with Mara’s character, Mercy. (VUL)

Taylor Kitsch Joins Dylan O’Brien in ‘American Assassin’

CBS Films and Lionsgate announced that Kitsch is joining O’Brien and Academy Award-nominee Michael Keaton in the adaptation of Vince Flynn’s massive bestseller. Acclaimed filmmaker Michael Cuesta will direct the thriller from a screenplay by Stephen Schiff. Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Nick Wechsler are producing. (CS)

‘Ben-Hur’ Begs the Question — When Is a Remake Actually Worth Remaking?

If we’ve learned anything this summer, it’s that forcing unwanted sequels or remakes on an indifferent audience leads to a lousy box office. It’s possible we’re seeing, too, that just because an older movie has a pedigree, that doesn’t mean the same audience wants to see a newer, likely lesser version of it. (TB)

Screenwriters: ‘Battlefield Earth’

The screenplay by Corey Mandell, labeled first draft and dated October, 1998. (HL)

Weekend Box Office Wrap-up: August 21, 2016

Pulling off the three-peat is Suicide Squad, which made $20.7 million in its third weekend. To date, David Ayer’s DC Extended Universe installment has grossed $262.2 million domestically and $572.6 million worldwide. (SR)

‘Mission: Impossible 6′ Delayed Due To Reported Pay Dispute

Pre-production had already begun on the the sixth film in the franchise, but work has now been temporarily halted. (EMP)

Charlie Hunnam, Lea Seydoux To Lead New Sci-Fi Film From Director Drake Doremus

The director behind Like Crazy is putting together his next project: Charlie Hunnam and Lea Seydoux are set to lead the cast of the untitled picture, for which story details are being kept under wraps. (COLL)

Sonia Braga Playing Julia Roberts’ Mother In ‘Wonder’

Sonia Braga has joined Julia Roberts and Jacob Tremblay in Wonder, Lionsgate’s adaptation of the R.J. Palacio YA novel, now in production in Vancouver. (THR)

Paramount Taps Peter Giannascoli To Co-Run Domestic Marketing

Peter Giannascoli has been named co-President of Domestic Marketing at Paramount Pictures and will run the department jointly with Rebecca Mall, who was hired last month from Google as part of a restructuring at the studio. (DH)

A Lesson Of The ‘Ben-Hur’ Debacle: Movie Stars Still Matter

Perhaps the filmmakers and executives needed a movie star. Jack Huston, with his handsome but slightly wimpy blue-eyed smiley okay-ness, was not enough. (VAR)

The Fall Entertainment Generator: 306 Things To Watch, Hear, See And Do

McG Inks Overall Deal With 20th Century Fox Television

Director-producer McG has signed an overall deal with 20th Century Fox TV. Under the multi-year pact, McG will develop, direct and produce projects for the studio through his Wonderland Sound & Vision production company. (DH)

WME Buys Literary Agency RWSG

WME has acquired the literary agency Rabineau Wachter Sanford & Gillett. RWSG principals Sylvie Rabineau and Jill Holwager Gillett will be joining the agency as co-heads of WME’s Book to Film/TV division. (THR)

Black Label Media Acquires Emily Giffin’s ‘First Comes Love’

Black Label Media has acquired the rights to New York Times bestselling author Emily Giffin’s First Comes Love. The book, which was released on June 28 by Random House and debuted at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. (VAR)

Netflix Announces Stoller And Delbanco’s ‘Friends from College’

‘Jim Gaffigan Show’ Cancelled At TV Land

The TV Land sitcom, which wrapped its second season on Sunday, will not return for Season 3, Gaffigan announced on social media. (TVL)

‘Mating’: Craig Johnson To Helm Showtime Comedy Pilot Starring Taran Killam

The Skeleton Twins helmer Craig Johnson has signed on to direct and executive produce Showtime’s half-hour comedy pilot Mating from Jason Katims and Stu Zicherman. (DH)

Variety Announces 10 Actors To Watch For 2016

Variety is pleased to announce its annual list of 10 Actors to Watch, an honor the publication has bestowed since 1998. (VAR)

Trailer Buzz: ‘Kidnap’

Halle Berry’s stars in the new movie about her character’s race to rescue her abducted son. (COLL)

Toronto Adds Mark Wahlberg Conversation, Mireille Enos-Starrer ‘Katie Says Goodbye’ To Lineup

Chinese star Zhang Ziyi also will participate in a conversation as the festival added 35 films by first- and second-time directors, more docs and virtual reality exhibits. (THR)

‘Florence Foster Jenkins’ To Open Tokyo Festival

The Tokyo International Film Festival will open with Stephen Frears’ Florence Foster Jenkins. Stars Meryl Streep and Hugh Grant will be present for the opening night screening at the festival’s 29th edition. (VAR)

‘Zombieland’ Director Ruben Fleischer Attached To ‘Cops’ Movie

Zombieland director Ruben Fleischer is attached to an adaptation of the Fox reality TV series Cops. (COLL)

Alicia Silverstone Joins Colin Farrell, Nicole Kidman In ‘Killing Of A Sacred Deer’

Yorgos Lanthimos’ The Killing Of A Sacred Deer is a re-team for the helmer with star Colin Farrell. Nicole Kidman also leads the cast. Alicia Silverstone has now joined the lineup. (DH)

Branded Entertainment News

AI, VR, Diversity, Partnerships: The Themes of 2016

The creative discussions and debuts at Cannes Lions have yielded a few key lessons for brands, influencers and advertisers. (BC)

How MTV Is Working With Influencers And Brands For The VMAs

Viacom and MTV have recruited social influencers to create content surrounding the upcoming Video Music Awards — and have gotten show sponsors in on the action as well. (DD)

Top Deals

NBC’s ‘The Voice’ To Run Snapchat Competition Adjacent To TV Show

NBC will launch The Voice on Snapchat, a five-episode series that will crown its own victor on September 19th. (TF)

Fullscreen’s ‘Girls Night In’ Stars Share Their Screens Using New Live.me Feature

Live.me, a mobile-first streaming video service, has announced a number of updates, including the launch of a screen-sharing feature called Beam that is being put to use during Fullscreen’s Girls Night In tour. (TF)

Red Robin Teams Up With ‘Tarzan’ For Promotional Deal

Red Robin offers a free Legend of Tarzan movie with $25 Red Robin gift card purchase. (LRC)

Puma, Pro-Keds and Other Brands Make ‘The Get Down’ Authentic

Pro-Keds manufactured 10,000 pairs of period-correct sneakers and Converse provided original designs and colors from the era. Puma also jumped on board to ensure Shaolin’s suede Puma Clydes circa 1977 were accurate. (FAS)

The Roots & Stella Artois

The beer brand has plenty of flavors and tasting notes to explore, and is doing just that with a music video by The Roots that highlights the beer’s flavors. (AW)

‘Don’t Breath’ Launches Campaign via Snapchat

Sony Pictures Entertainment has run the first immersive, 360-degree video ad on Snapchat for home-invasion thriller Don’t Breathe ahead of its theatrical bow next week. (VAR)

Hot Projects

Our Souls At Night

Netflix’s romance feature starring Robert Redford and Jane Fonda and based on the novel Our Souls at Night written by Kent Haruf. The script was adapted by Scott Neustadter and Michael H Weber and the film will be directed by Ritesh Batra and produced by Redford and Finola Dwyer. (SE)

Mating

Showtime gave a pilot order to this single-camera comedy written by Stuart Zicherman who will executive produce alongside Jason Katims and Michelle Lee of True Jack Productions. Taran Killam will star. (SE)

Stacey Snider To Take Over As Fox Film Chief Sooner Than Expected

Snider will take over as chairman and chief executive of 20th Century Fox Film on Sept. 1. She had originally been expected to assume Gianopulos’ duties in June 2017 after his current contract expires. (LAT)

DreamWorks Animation’s ‘Croods 2’ Gets Rewrite With Hageman Brothers

Kevin and Dan Hageman have just been hired by DreamWorks Animation to rewrite The Croods 2, the sequel to studio’s 2013 film that grossed $587.2M worldwide. (DH)

UTA Agent Jon Huddle Departs To Start Management Firm

Fourth Wall Management’s launch clients include Jonathan Goldstein, John Francis Daley, Evan Spiliotopoulos and Rob Lieber. (THR)

Biel, Schiff, Tennie Join Reiner’s ‘Shock and Awe’

Jessica Biel and newcomer Luke Tennie have joined The West Wing alum Richard Schiff to join Rob Reiner’s upcoming Shock and Awe at Acacia Filmed Entertainment and Voltage Films. (DAR)

U.K. Startup Catalyst Developing YA Novel ‘Cuckoo Song’ As TV Miniseries

Francis Hardinge’s award-winning bestseller set in 1920s England will be adapted into a four-part series. (THR)

STX Enters Virtual Reality With Purchase Of Surreal, Inc.

Robert Simonds’ STX Entertainment is going from the big screen to virtual reality with its acquisition of Surreal Inc., a VR company that will become a division of the studio. (WRAP)

AFI Cancels ‘Birth of a Nation’ Screening, Nate Parker Q&A

The American Film Institute has canceled its Friday screening of Birth of a Nation, which was to be followed by a Q&A with filmmaker and star Nate Parker, whose 1999 rape case has put the filmmaker and distributor Fox Searchlight on the defensive this past week. (VAR)

‘Fuller House’ Recasting 2 Key Roles

The Netflix comedy is currently casting the roles of Nelson Burkhard (D.J.’s rich ex-boyfriend, originally played by Jason Marsden) and Kathy Santoni (D.J.’s high school frenemy, originally played by Anne Marie McEvoy). (TVL)

Trailer Buzz: ‘La La Land’

Watch the new trailer below featuring Emma Stone performing the song “Audition.” (IW)

Fox Nabs Buddy Drama Loosely Based On ‘I Spy’

A hot action drama from House creator David Shore, Charlie’s Angels director McG and John Davis’ Davis Entertainment, has landed at Fox with a put pilot commitment. (DH)

Neil Burger To Direct Bryan Cranston And Kevin Hart In ‘Intouchables’

Branded Entertainment News

Oscar Contender Starring Dev Patel And Rooney Mara Was Also A 2013 Google Maps Ad

Watch the trailer for Lion, based on the story of Saroo Brierley, who also told his inspiring tale in a 2013 Google ad. (FCC)

Amazon Tests One-Click Product Placement

In Japan, Amazon has teamed up with entertainment company Yoshimoto Kogyo to insert product placements into an Amazon Prime Video TV show exploring Japanese cuisine. (RW)

Top Deals

Honey Bunches Of Oats & ‘Jane The Virgin’

The brand has an integration deal with The CW’s Jane the Virgin. Starting Sept. 5, the show’s main character will give recaps of Season 2 in branded video vignettes that also incorporate the cereal’s “Everything” messaging. (MP)

‘Ice Age: Collision Course’ Got Largest Promotional Push In Its Franchise History

The fifth installment of one of Fox’s most lucrative franchises got the largest promotional push for the IP in its 14-year history. (DH)

Jeff Goldblum Goes Full Max Headroom For Apartments.com

The newest Apartments.com ad featuring Jeff Goldblum as “Bradley Bellflower,” who has traded in rooftop BBQing with Weezy for a strange imitation of ultimate ’80s TV fad Max Headroom. (FCC)

‘Kidnap’ Trailer Stars Halle Berry And A Chrysler Town & Country

The trailer for the upcoming child abduction thriller Kidnap seems like it’s setting up for a memorable relationship between movie star and automobile. And in this case, the star is Halle Berry and the car is a Chrysler Town & Country. (NW)

Hot Projects

Little Evil

Netflix’s horror comedy feature written Eli Craig who will also direct the film. The project will be produced by Scott Stuber and Nicholas David Nesbitt of Bluegrass Films and Jason Michael Berman. (SE)

Intouchables (Remake)

Bryan Cranston and Kevin Hart are attached to star in The Weinstein Company’s remake of the French box office success about a quadriplegic and his ex-con caregiver. Neil Burger will direct. (SE)

Sam Mendes In Talks To Helm Live-Action ‘James And The Giant Peach’ For Disney

Sam Mendes is in early talks to develop and direct a live-action adaptation of James and the Giant Peach with Brooklyn and An Education scribe Nick Hornby attached to write the screenplay. (COLL)

Demi Moore Ready To ‘Rock That Body’ For Sony Comedy

Demi Moore has joined the cast of Rock That Body, Sony Pictures’ R-rated comedy starring Scarlett Johansson, Kate McKinnon, Jillian Bell, Ilana Glazer and Zoe Kravitz. (DH)

Elizabeth Olsen Set To Star In ‘Kodachrome’

The Avengers: Age of Ultron star joins Ed Harris and Jason Sudeikis in the upcoming road trip drama set around the last shop in the U.S. to develop Kodachrome film. (THR)

Sarah Paulson In Talks To Join ‘Ocean’s Eight’

Sarah Paulson is in negotiations to join “Ocean’s Eight,” the all-female spinoff of “Ocean’s Eleven.” Paulson would join Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Rihanna, Helena Bonham Carter, Mindy Kaling, and Awkwafina. (VAR)

Why A24 Picked Up Gus Van Sant’s Critical Dud ‘The Sea of Trees’

The drama starring Matthew McConaughey hits both theaters and video-on-demand on August 26. (IW)

Vincent D’Onofrio And Dean Norris Set For ‘Death Wish’ Reboot

A Horror Movie Finally Beat ‘Suicide Squad’ For The Weekend Box Office

Don’t Breathe, a twisty story of a group of teenage delinquents who pick the wrong house to burglarize, dominated the late summer box office, debuting to a potent $26.1 million and topping charts. (FOR)

2016 MTV VMAs: See The Full Winners List

Beyonce headed into the 2016 MTV VMAs as the most nominated artist, with 11 noms. “Hello” supersta Adele was second with 8 possible tries at the coveted Moonman. (MTV)

Will Smith’s Overbrook Taps Screenwriter To Adapt Modern Counterfeiter Story

Michael Ross will adapt the story of Albert Talton who counterfieted over $7 million on supplies purchased from Staples. (THR)

Joe And Anthony Russo In Talks To Form Major Entity With China-Based Huayi Brothers

Joe and Anthony Russo are in negotiations to strike a substantial production partnership with China-based Huayi Brothers Media Corporation. (DH)

Alison Brie To Star In Netflix Wrestling Comedy ‘GLOW’ From Jenji Kohan

The Netflix series marks the in-demand actress’ latest TV role since Community and BoJack Horseman. (THR)

ABC Nabs ‘Doomsday’ Drama From Carol Mendelsohn

ABC has landed Doomsday, a thriller drama from producer Carol Mendelsohn (CSI), writers Mark Bianculli & VJ Boyd (Justified) and Sony TV. (DH)

Noah’s Ark Gets Modern-Day Reboot From Robert Zemeckis And NBC

NBC is developing a high-concept drama titled The Ark, which takes Noah to space. (IW)

‘Mother’s Day’ Writer Anya Kochoff Romano To Make Directorial Debut On ‘Camp Pow Wow’

Anya Kochoff Romano, the screenwriter of Mother’s Day and Monster-in-Law, will make her directorial debut on the ensemble comedy Camp Pow Wow. (VAR)

The Interesting Thing About This Year’s Box Office Numbers

The domestic gross numbers might actually be better this year, they don’t reflect the much more important factor of profitability. This summer might very well have some impressive domestic grosses, but it’s a pretty major money loser for most of the companies involved. (TB)

ABC Nabs ‘Start Up’ Comedy Starring & Directed By Zach Braff As Put Pilot

Scrubs star Zach Braff is returning to series television and to ABC as the star of Start Up, a single-camera comedy, which has received a put pilot commitment. (DH)

‘Pretty Little Liars’ Ending With Season 7

Executive producer Marlene King confirmed that the Freeform drama’s current seventh season will also be its last. (TVL)

‘A Monster Calls’ Moves To Awards-Friendly Holiday Date

Toronto, Telluride and Venice Film Fests Promise Riches After Cruel Summer

The big fall festivals feature a slate of intriguing offerings, from the much buzzed-about gay drama Moonlight to new works by Oliver Stone and Clint Eastwood and an original musical starring Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling. (THR)

Matt Bomer To Star As A Transgender Woman Opposite John Carroll Lynch In ‘Anything’

Matt Bomer, of USA’s White Collar,  to star in Tim McNeil’s drama Anything. (VUL)

‘Doctor Who’ Actor David Tennant To Star In Drama ‘Bad Samaritan’

British actor David Tennant, known for his role as the Tenth Doctor in Doctor Who, will star as a thief in the drama Bad Samaritan for Dean Devlin’s Electric Entertainment. (VAR)

Warner Bros, Anne Hathaway & Gail Berman Spark To Jenny Mollen Book ‘Live Fast Die Hot’

Warner Bros has acquired rights to Live Fast Die Hot by bestselling author Jenny Mollen. Anne Hathaway has come attached to star in a film based on the author’s experiences, and Gail Berman will produce with Hathaway. (DH)

James Franco, Jack Reynor, Zoe Kravitz To Star In Sci-Fi Thriller ‘Kin’

Dennis Quaid also is attached to the film that Jonathan and Josh Baker will direct. (THR)

Warner Bros.’ ‘Age of Shadows’ Picked As Korea’s Oscar Contender

Kim Ji-woon’s Age of Shadows, Warner Bros.’ first Korean-language production, has been selected as South Korea’s contender for the foreign-language Academy Award race. (VAR)

Warren Beatty’s ‘Rules Don’t Apply’ Set To Open AFI Fest

World premiere of Howard Hughes biopic will screen at opening night gala on Nov. 10. (WRAP)

‘Let The Right One’ In Getting TNT Adaptation From ‘Teen Wolf’ TV Series Creator

TNT has ordered a pilot based on the vampire novel Let the Right One In. Teen Wolf creator Jeff Davis is leading development and penning the script. (IGN)

Marilyn Monroe Biopic ‘Blonde’ Will Happen With Director Andrew Dominik & Netflix

Dominik confirmed that Blonde will be his next film and that Netflix will be footing the bill with plans to release it in theaters in a limited run and on the streaming service in the near future.  (COLL)

‘The Miniaturist’ Is Coming To Television

BBC One has announced plans to adapt the popular, critically acclaimed period-thriller The Miniaturist for television. (VUL)

Austin Film Festival Lines Up Writers Conference, Packs In A-List Talent From Film and TV

Besides honoring Paul Feig and Nancy Meyers this year, the Austin Film Festival has lined up a number of A-list talent from both film and TV for its inaugural Playwriting Track. (DH)

Branded Entertainment News

How Can Advertising Invent New Ways To Connect With Young Creatives?

J. Walter Thompson worldwide chief creative officer Matt Eastwood outlines the challenge of finding the next generation of ad talent. (FCC)

How Late Night Shows Make Money Off Of Viral Sketches

Late night programs have figured out alternative ways to bring in revenue, including creating videos with viral potential for millions of millions of viewers and making money by integrating brands. (CB)

Top Deals

Josh Brolin Reads Walt Whitman’s “Song Of The Open Road” In Enigmatic New Volvo Ad

“Road to Inspiration” campaign for Volvo’s new S90 luxury sedan, inspired by the poetry of Walt Whitman. (FCC)

New FOX Series ‘Pitch’ And The Los Angeles Dodgers

Miracle-Gro Partners With Tiny House Nation

The Graham family with our partner Miracle-Gro mobilizes their veggie garden just in time for summer. (FB)

Hot Projects

Life Of The Party

New Line Cinema brings us this comedy starring Melissa McCarthy, Maya Rudolph, and Gillian Jacobs. It will be produced by Will Ferrell’s Gary Sanchez Productions and directed by Ben Falcone. (SE)

Lazer Team 2

YouTube Red’s comedy feature sequel to Lazer Team which originally streamed on YouTube Red in January 2016. Burnie Burns, Gavin Free, and Michael Jones will reprise their starring roles and the film will be produced by Burns and Matt Hullum. The project will be produced by Fullscreen Media and Rooster Teeth. (SE)

Taylor Kitsch To Play David Koresh In Weinstein Co. Limited Series ‘Waco’

Michael Shannon will play lead FBI negotiator Gary Noesner, while Ludacris is being eyed to portray Branch Davidian member Wayne Martin. (THR)

Kerry Washington Developing Female LAPD Drama ‘Patrol’ At ABC

ABC is developing a new drama with one of the networks most trusted stars, Kerry Washington. The project marks the first to fall under Washington’s new overall deal with ABC.(VAR)

‘Ghosted’: Pilot Being Developed For Craig Robinson And Adam Scott’s ‘Comedic Sort of X-Files’

Fox is developing a pilot for Ghosted; Craig Robinson and Adam Scott will star in the potential new series. (IW)

Josh Hartnett In Talks To Star In Indie ‘A Moment To Remember’

Penny Dreadful star Josh Hartnett is in talks to star in A Moment to Remember, an indie drama to be directed by Ben Lewin (The Sessions). Lewin penned the screenplay with Susannah Grant. (DH)

Steve Carell, Bryan Cranston, Laurence Fishburne To Star In Richard Linklater’s Next Movie

Linklater’s long-gestating project is a sequel to 1973’s Jack Nicholson classic The Last Detail. (THR)

‘Jumanji’ Casts ‘Guardians Of The Galaxy’s’ Karen Gillan

After a long search, Jumanji has cast Karen Gillan as the female lead. (SR)

Marvel Developing ‘New Warriors’ Comedy Series

Marvel and ABC Studios are developing a New Warriors comedy series that would put the spotlight on little-known comic book heroine Squirrel Girl. (TVL)

Trailer Buzz: ‘ In Dubious Battle’

A debut trailer for James Franco’s adaptation of the John Steinbeck novel In Dubious Battle has landed online. Scripted by Matt Rager, the film stars Nat Wolff, Robert Duvall, Vincent D’Onofrio, Selena Gomez, Ed Harris, Bryan Cranston, Sam Shepard, Analeigh Tipton, Danny McBride, Josh Hutcherson, Zach Braff, and Franco. (COLL)

Screenwriters: Lessons From The Best And Worst Super Hero Films

Ray Morton discusses what lessons the best and worst films in the genre have to teach us about writing a super-script. (SM)