AWARDS HEADLINES
Awards 2016: Leonardo DiCaprio on How the “Will to Survive” and the “Triumph of the Human Spirit” Shines Through ‘The Revenant’
A sit down with Leonardo DiCaprio as he discusses why he signed on to The Revenant. “It was only when Alejandro came on board and made this screenplay his own and really became attached to this material, this epic journey of survival.” (SSN)
Oscar Nominated Director of ‘The Big Short’, Adam McKay, Reveals His “Big Discovery” and Why Evolving His Style is Always a Must
Adam McKay might not be the first guy you’d think of to direct a movie like The Big Short, but he’ll be the first to admit that. He dismissed the idea after hearing the rights were taken. When the project came back around again, and he threw his hat in the ring, and everyone is sure glad he did. (SSN)
Prime Cuts: Two Original Song Performances Sliced From Oscar Broadcast
The Oscar-nominated songs “Manta Ray,” from the documentary “Racing Extinction,” and “Simple Song #3,” from Paolo Sorrentino’s “Youth,” will not be performed on the 88th Academy Awards. Read on for the reason. (VAR)
OTHER HEADLINES
SSN Box Office Trending Report for 2/19/16: ‘Deadpool’ Continues Killer Streak, ‘Kung Fu Panda 3′ Still Kicking It
You can’t keep a good merc down, as everyone’s new favorite superhero, Deadpool, will continue his killer streak this weekend. Kung Fu Panda 3 is also still hanging tough. (SSN)
On the Set for 2/19/16: Rian Johnson Rolls Cameras on ‘Star Wars: Episode VIII’, Chris Pratt & Zoe Saldana Start ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2’
In addition to another Star Wars that starts shooting, cameras have also started rolling on Fifty Shades Darker starring Dakota Johnson, Jamie Dornan and new addition Kim Basinger. (SSN)
Remembering Harper Lee: A Life Shaped By A Towering Text
To Kill a Mockingbird Author Harper Lee died at the age of 89 in her hometown of Monroeville, Ala., on Friday morning — yet it’s clear that her legacy will live on much longer than that, through her characters and the readers who have embraced them for decades. (NPR)
Who’s the Boss? Tony Danza Will Make a Return to TV with ‘Sebastian’
Tony Danza, The former star of Taxi and Who’s the Boss has signed on to star in Greg Garcia’s family comedy Sebastian. The NBC multicam stars comedian Sebastian Maniscalco as a guy whose old-school values, instilled by his opinionated Italian father to be played by Danza. (THR)
Jennifer Aniston and Jason Bateman to Attend ‘Office Christmas Party’
Jennifer Aniston, Jason Bateman, TJ Miller and Kate McKinnon will star in Office Christmas Party, a holiday comedy from DreamWorks Pictures. Will Speck and Josh Gordon (Blades of Glory) are directing the ensemble project that was first set up as a pitch by the duo in 2010. (THR)
Trailer Buzz: Oscar Nominated Short ‘Claude Lanzmann: Spectres Of The Shoah’
Here’s the trailer for Claude Lanzmann: Spectres Of The Shoah, a nominee for the best short-form documentary Oscar that also will have its debut on HBO on May 2. (DL)
Screenplay: ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’
In honor of author Harper Lee, here’s the final screenplay for the 1962 film, To Kill a Mockingbird, based on her novel. That film went on to win three Oscars with one that went to screenwriter Horton Foote. (MS)