Box Office: ‘Star Wars: Rogue One’ Debuts With Over $290 Million Worldwide, ‘Collateral Beauty’ Struggles
Disney and Lucasfilm’s project top-lined the fourth largest December three-day weekend ever, delivering the third largest opening of 2016. Fellow new wide release, New Line’s Beauty, didn’t fare quite so well, though La La Land continued to impress following last weekend’s strong limited debut as it expanded into 200 theaters this weekend. (BOM)
The Critics Weigh In: New Poll Reveals the Best Films and Performances of the Year
Moonlight has been a critical favorite for months, but this may be its biggest endorsement yet: Barry Jenkins’ decade-spanning portrait of a young black man growing up in Miami dominated IndieWire’s 2016 Critics Poll, winning five of the 10 categories in which it was eligible. (IW)
As the Oscar Visual Effects Race Heats Up, ‘Rogue One’ and ‘Jungle Book’ Both Advance
Ten films will advance in this year’s race, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced. Five are from Disney: The Jungle Book, Rogue One, The BFG and a pair of Marvel titles, Captain America: Civil War and Doctor Strange. Also notable is the inclusion of Kubo and the Two Strings — as the last animated film to be nominated in the VFX category was 1993’s stop-motion The Nightmare Before Christmas. (BTS)
Sylvester Stallone Will Not Be Running the NEA For Donald Trump
Three-time Oscar nominee is “flattered” by the consideration, but has suggested he will not be taking a top National Endowment for the Arts post in the new administration. Word emerged last week that the Oscar nominee was being eyed for a big role at the NEA. Late Sunday, he released a statement through his publicist saying he believed he, “could be more effective by bringing national attention” to the plight of veterans. (DH)
Joel McHale Lands Coveted People’s Choice Awards Host Spot
McHale, the star of the CBS comedy the Great Indoors, will host the film, music, television and digital awards ceremony, which will be broadcast live, on Wednesday, January 18th, 2017, on CBS. (VAR)
In What Should Be a Surprise To No One, Showtime Has Renewed ‘Shameless’ For Season Eight
Prior to the renewal, the show’s producer, Warner Bros., and its lead actress, Emmy Rossum, were involved in a standoff that involved her demanding a higher salary than her TV dad, William H. Macy, to make up for years of being underpaid. Last week, she alluded to an end to the dispute (with her seemingly on the winning side) and announced that she’d be back to work in May. (VUL)
Trailer Buzz, Part One: ‘John Wick, Chapter Two’
Lionsgate has released the newest look at the upcoming sequel to the surprise 2014 smash hit action film. Starring Keanu Reeves, once again in the title role, as well as John Leguizamo, Lance Reddick, Bridget Moynahan, Ian McShane, Laurence Fishburne, Ruby Rose, Common, Peter Stormare, and Riccardo Scamarcio, it hits theaters February 10th, 2017. (COL)
Trailer Buzz, Part Two: ‘The Good Fight’
CBS has released the first look at its The Good Wife spinoff, starring Christine Baranaski, Cush Jumbo, and Rose Leslie. It premieres on the network’s online network, CBS All Access, on February 19th, 2017. (HP)
On the Importance of Year-End Script Lists
It’s exceedingly interesting how, with the release of these year-end lists, these things get put together, and what they mean to those who end up on them. Not just the writers, mind you, but also the reps and the companies that employ them, all of whom find their careers and fortunes impacted by their inclusion. (TB)
Screenwriters — Breaking and Entering: Your Writing Routine – Make An Action Plan Now!
The holidays are about to hit! By the time you get back to the keyboard, you may feel rusty. Make an action plan now to get back to writing in the New Year. (SM)