Final ‘Hobbit’ Opens Strong, Sony Promises To Distribute ‘The Interview,’ BitTorrent Asks To Do It, While Theater Owners Angry At Sony

‘The Hobbit’ Goes Out Strong, Clears $90 Million For Its Five Day Opening

The third and, one would think, final Hobbit film takes the top spot, over Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb and Sony’s Annie remake, which came in at $17.3 million and $16.3 million, respectively. (BO)

Take That, Terrorists! Sony Promises That ‘The Interview’ “Will Be Distributed” …

Studio lawyer David Boies appeared on NBC's Meet the Press yesterday, where he said that the studio still plans to release the movie, it just doesn’t quite know how or when. The point is, the movie will, at some point, see the light of day. (THR)

While BitTorrent Begs Sony To Let It Do the Dirty Work …

The file-sharing protocol penned a public letter, urging Sony to release The Interview on their Bundle platform and denouncing the opinion that the film should be made available through piracy sites. (IW)

And the Theater Owners Who Refused To Show the Film Are Angry At Sony For Blaming Them

According to several theater owners, exhibitors believe that they are being made the scapegoat for the cancellation when many of them only wanted the film’s premiere to be delayed or modified. (VAR)

Now That ‘Selma’ Is Finally Hitting Theaters, Ava DuVerney Already Has Her Next Project In Mind

And, no surprise, it will be in television. The director is developing a cable show that will run eight-to-ten episodes and, focus on the “black experience in America.” She plans to direct the entire run herself, though no word on which network will carry it. (SAA)

Add David Schwimmer To the Cast Of Ryan Muprhy’s ‘American Crime Story’

The Friends star signs on to the limited series dramatizing the O.J. Simpson case, and will play Robert Kardashian. He joins Cuba Gooding Jr. and Sarah Paulson in the show, which will air on FX. (UR)

Meanwhile, Michael Pitt Won’t Be Returning To ‘Hannibal,’ But His Character Will

The psychopathic rich kid Mason Verger, who was fed pieces of his own face by the title psychopath in last season’s finale, was originated on the show by Pitt, but will now be played by Joe Anderson. (VUL)

One More Year-End List You Might Not Have Been Expecting: The Best In Ads

With so many lists from so many sources, covering the best and worst in movies, TV, books, music, video games and everything else, why not the best in ads, too? So, for those so inlcined, here you go. (FCC)

Trailer Buzz: ‘True Story’

The new trailer for the, yes, based-on-a-true-story tale of journalist Michael Finkel (Jonah Hill), who must find redemption by facing down a murder suspect who had stolen his identity (James Franco). The film debuts next month at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival. (EMP)

Screenwriters: The Hero’s Role In Screenwriting

Which one do women want in movies? A Rescuing Male who saves them? Or a kick-ass independent heroine? Let us tiptoe gently into a touchy screenwriting topic. (MO)