| | | | What's news: Shazam 2 fell a steep 68 percent in its second weekend. The Army has pulled an ad campaign featuring Jonathan Majors. Adele has added more shows to her Vegas residency. Your Name filmmaker Makoto Shinkai has another anime hit on his hands after Suzume opened big in China. Liliana Cavani and Tony Leung are set to receive lifetime achievement awards at Venice. — Abid Rahman |
Jonathan Majors Arrested for Alleged Assault ►The latest. Jonathan Majors was arrested Saturday after being accused of assaulting a woman during a domestic dispute, the NYPD said in a statement. On Sunday, Majors' criminal defense lawyer told THR in a statement that the Creed III actor is "completely innocent." Video footage from the vehicle where the incident took place, along with witness testimony and alleged statements from the woman recanting her allegations are among the evidence Major’s attorney noted are being collected. The actor is no longer in police custody. The story.
—"We are deeply concerned by the allegations." The U.S. Army has pulled a Be All You Can Be ad campaign featuring Majors. The Army had already released two ads featuring the Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania actor before his arrest on Saturday. The next round of commercials was slated to arrive in August. The story. |
'Succession': Snook, Macfadyen Break Down S4 Premiere ►"She’s a lot like Logan, and I don’t think Logan’s ever really been happy in romantic love." THR's Rick Porter spoke to Succession stars Sarah Snook and Matthew Macfadyen about the season four premiere of the HBO drama. The stars break down Shiv and Tom's emotional and tragic non-confrontation. Warning: Spoilers! The story.
—The world’s glummest birthday party. ICYMI or want to relive it, Rick recaps the highs and lows of the Succession season premiere. “I think he thought his children would be there; it’s that simple,” Brian Cox says of Logan’s sour mood at the party that opens the episode. Warning: Spoilers! The recap.
—"I don't want to stop sitting weird." Kieran Culkin had a Succession question dropped in his lap while promoting the show on The Tonight Show. Host Jimmy Fallon noted that the actor’s character, Roman Roy, appears to enjoy sitting on chairs in unconventional ways, and that it seems that he doesn't seem to understand the concept of chairs. The story. |
Biden's TikTok Dilemma ►Go after China or pursue social media antitrust claims? THR's Winston Cho writes that after TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew’s congressional testimony didn’t sway lawmakers concerned about ties to Beijing, calls to ban the app are likely to escalate — which could empower social media rivals. The analysis.
—Not all bad. After a 5.7 percent gain in 2022 to a record $315b, U.S. ad revenue will rise 3.4 percent in 2023, down from the previously forecast 3.7 percent, according to analyst Magna. THR's business editor Georg Szalai writes that amid a weaker market, positive signs include retail media networks, ad-supported video streaming and more car ads, per Magna's closely-watched note. The analysis.
—Silver lining. As TV ad revenue slumps overall, THR's Alex Weprin writes that sports advertising is bucking the trend. An unrivaled audience, hardcore fandom and good timing could help some media companies boost their bottom line at a time when the rest of the market is down. The analysis. |
'John Wick 4' Opens to $137M Global ►We want more! John Wick: Chapter 4 slashed up the weekend box office with a huge $73.5m domestic opening from 3,855 theaters after earning glowing reviews and an A CinemaScore from audiences. Globally, it debuted to a resounding $64m from 71 markets for a global start of $137.5m, a series record on all fronts.
THR's Pamela McClintock writes that in North America, the fourth installment in the marquee Lionsgate action franchise easily bested the $56.8m opening of 2019’s John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum. It also marks the studio’s biggest domestic opening of the pandemic era, as well as one of the best so far of 2023.
Shazam 2 fell a steep 68 percent to $9.7m in its second weekend in more bad news for the kid-friendly superhero pic. The film’s 10-day domestic gross through Sunday is $46.3m. Overseas, it pulled in $12.1m from 77 markets for a tepid tally of $56.1m and $102.4m globally. The box office report.
—Another huge hit. Anime maestro Makoto Shinkai’s latest feature Suzume shot to the top of China’s theatrical box office over the weekend, earning a strong $50m, the biggest start for a non-Chinese film this year. THR's Patrick Brzeski writes that the performance underscores the growing potency of Japanese anime in China’s huge movie market at a time when Hollywood superhero fare has been fizzling. The China box office report. |
How 'Pooh' Slasher Film May Have Tipped HK Towards Greater Censorship ►Sticky situation. Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey, a microbudget U.K. slasher film that went viral and scored theatrical distribution across the globe, was yanked from more than 30 cinemas ahead of its Hong Kong and Macau release. THR's Alex Ritman and Patrick Brzeski write the abrupt decision to pull the film was all because of an old meme comparing China's President Xi Jinping to Pooh Bear. The story.
—"Playing to 4,000 people for 34 dates is not enough, and I know that." Adele officially announced new dates as part of her residency run at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace. The new run of Weekend With Adele shows will feature 34 performances that officially begin June 16 and end Nov. 4. The story.
—Richly deserved. Liliana Cavani, one of the key directors of the New Italian Cinema movement and recognized internationally for The Night Porter, and Tony Leung Chiu-wai, the acclaimed Hong Kong actor known for his numerous collaborations with Wong Kar-wai, are set to receive Golden Lions for Lifetime Achievement at this year’s Venice Film Festival. The story.
—"If they can’t avoid exploiting animals for their art, they should find a new medium." A tragedy has occurred on the set of Amazon’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power: A production horse perished during rehearsals for a season 2 scene. The horse died on March 21 of cardiac arrest, the studio confirmed. The animal rights organization PETA issued a statement calling on the show to "stop lording over animals" and called on Hollywood to use CGI instead of live animals whenever possible. The story.
—"I am shattered." Andrew Lloyd Webber’s eldest son, Nick Lloyd Webber, has died following an 18-month-long battle with gastric cancer. He was 43. The legendary theatrical composer announced the news Saturday, stating that his son had died earlier that day in England. On Thursday, Lloyd Webber posted to Instagram that Nick had been checked into hospice care after he was diagnosed with pneumonia due to his cancer. The story. |
TV: 'Great Expectations' ►"Grimmer and grittier, but to what end?" THR's Angie Han review FX/Hulu's Great Expectations. Olivia Colman stars as Miss Havisham alongside Fionn Whitehead as Pip in a gritty version of the Charles Dickens classic from Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight. The review.
In other news...
—Lady Gaga debuts Harley Quinn look in Joker sequel set photos
—Ariana Grande shares behind-the-scenes look with Cynthia Erivo from Wicked set
—Daniel Radcliffe and girlfriend Erin Darke expecting their first child
—Reese Witherspoon, husband Jim Toth announce divorce
—Palihouse West Hollywood Hotel reopens, but not in West Hollywood
—MSCHF’s big red boots follow-up is a backward-forward sneaker
What else we're reading...
—With Succession back and highlighting media dynasties once more, Mark Milian looks at why there aren't similar family businesses in tech [Bloomberg]
—With a TikTok ban a very real possibility in the coming months, Brian Contreras talks to TikTokers who don't seem overly concerned about losing their livelihoods [LAT]
—John Mullan looks at why Charles Dickens' work still endures on page, stage and screen [Guardian]
—Ian Carlos Campbell laments that the universal remote is the streaming age's most tragic casualty [Inverse]
—Jon Kamp and Dan Frosch have a bleak but important report on fentanyl leading to a surge in deaths among the homeless [WSJ]
Today...
...in 1992, 20th Century Fox unveiled White Men Can’t Jump, starring Woody Harrelson and Wesley Snipes, in theaters. The original review.
Today's birthdays: Mariah Carey (54), Halle Bailey (23), Quentin Tarantino (60), Ram Charan (38), Fergie (48), Nathan Fillion (52), Holliday Grainger (35), Elizabeth Mitchell (53), Sophie Nélisse (23), Brenda Song (35), Pauley Perrette (54), Michael York (81), Kevin Corrigan (54), Talisa Soto (56), Stephen Dillane (66), Caroline Williams (66), Austin Pendleton (83), Romesh Ranganathan (45), Jonathan Entwistle (39), Bonnie Gordon (37), Amelia Crouch (19) |
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