‘Straight Outta Compton’ and Right To the Top Of the Box Office For N.W.A Biopic
F. Gary Gray’s docudrama continued Universal’s incredible year with a $56.1 million opening, the sixth-highest August opening ever. It towered over the competition, with Mission: Impossible — Rogue Nation holding well in its third week at $17 million, and $138 million since opening. The Man From U.N.C.L.E. opened softly in third with $13.5 million, while Fantastic Four continued its rough road with just $8 mil. The Gift scored $6.5 million for fifth. (BO)
A Couple Weeks After It Set a New Global Record, Universal Just Broke Another Domestic One
With Straight Outta Compton winning the weekend with over $50 million at the box office, Universal crossed the $2 billion mark at the North American box office on Saturday, the fastest time that any studio has ever reached that figure. That overtakes the speed record previously held by Warner Bros., which reached $2 billion on Dec. 25th, 2009, and is poised to cross the all-time domestic record — also set by Warner in 2009 when it reached $2.1 billion. (THR)
Disney Confirms What Pretty Much Everyone Already Knew: Colin Trevorrow To Direct ‘Star Wars: Episode IX’
A report first surfaced in July, and this weekend it was confirmed that the Jurassic World director would helm the third film in the latest trilogy. The first film, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, will open December 18th, while Rian Johnson’s Episode VIII will hit theaters in 2017, and Trevorrow’s film is scheduled for a 2019 release. (COL)
No ‘Spider-Man’? No Problem For Marc Webb, Who Sets Up His Next Two Films
The Amazing Spider-Man 1 and 2 helmer has locked as his next film Gifted at Fox Searchlight. The Tom Flynn-scripted drama focuses on a man who sues for custody of his gifted niece. While that film will come first, with production to begin in the fall, there is also movement on The Only Living Boy In New York, the Allan Loeb-scripted film. (DH)
Pixar Announces a Jack and the Beanstalk Movie, To Be Called ‘Gigantic’
Disney announced on Saturday at the studio’s D23 expo that they’re hoping to make the definitive version of the story with the forthcoming film, an animated take helmed by Tangled‘s Nathan Greno, with Frozen song-writing duo Robert and Kristen Anderson-Lopez also on board the project. (VUL)
ABC Studios Is Finally Moving Forward With Its Long In Development ‘Flamingo Kid’ Series
Shingle is in the very early stages of developing a half-hour comedy adaptation of Garry Marshall’s 1984 film, which starred Matt Dillon as a working-class kid who takes a summer job at a tony beach resort to be close to the girl of his dreams. ABC is currently on the hunt for a writer to spearhead the project. (TVL)
Today In Reboot News: NBC Is Looking At an ‘Alf’ Return, Provided Its ‘Coach’ Re-Do Succeeds
NBC Chairman Bob Greenblatt shared the news at the TCA press tour Friday, after discussing what was behind the Craig T. Nelson reboot. During his conversation about the show, he told the audience that the new version of Coach is a father-son story, and then announced, “And if that works, then ALF: The Series is next.” (UR)
NBC Is Also Developing a Series Based On the Hit Movie ‘Red’
Jon Hoeber and Erich Hoeber, who wrote the screenplays for the films, will executive produce the series along with Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Mark Vahradian. Based on the comic book by Warren Ellis and Cully Hammer, the Wildstorm mini-series was adapted into the 2010 film starring Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich, Helen Mirren, and Mary-Louise Parker. It grossed just under $200 million at the global box office, and was followed by a 2013 sequel. (CS)
First Look: ‘Star Wars — Rogue One’
Disney and Lucasfilm have released the first image from Gareth Edwards’ standalone film, a story that takes place prior to the events of Star Wars: A New Hope and follows a band of rebels out to steal plans for the Imperial Death Star. Castmembers include Oscar-nominated Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Ben Mendelsohn, Donnie Yen, Jiang Wen, Forest Whitaker, Mads Mikkelsen, Alan Tudyk and Riz Ahmed. It opens December 16th, 2016. (HV)
Screenwriters: Write, Direct, Repear — Write a Compelling Short Film Script
For the most part, good writing is good writing, and the skills you’re developing to write feature scripts will also apply when you write shorts: a three-act structure (but for shorts, simply think setup, conflict, and resolution); a universal theme; a clear dilemma and stakes; and an active protagonist. But there are challenges specific to writing a great short film that can be overcome by understanding what makes shorts — and the audience for shorts — unique. (SM)