WEEKEND BOX OFFICE ESTIMATES
Saw II (Lions Gate) $30.5 million - opening weekend
Legend of Zorro (Sony) $16.5 million - opening weekend
Prime (Universal) $6.4 million - opening weekend
Dreamer (DreamWorks) $6.3 million - 2 wk total $17.5m
Wallace & Gromit (DreamWorks) $4.4 million - 4 wk total $49.8m
The Weather Man (Paramount) $4.2 million - opening weekend
Doom (Universal) $4.1 million - 2 wk total $22.8m
North Country (Warner Bros.) $3.7 million - 2 wk total $12.2m
The Fog (Sony/Revolution) $3.3 million - 3 wk total $25.5m
Flightplan (Buena Vista) $2.6 million - 6 wk total $81.2m
-- BOX OFFICE MOJO
Anchor2IDW UNLEASHES THE MASTERS OF HORROR IN DECEMBER
PRESS RELEASE
IDW Publishing announced today that it will create a 12 part series of limited edition comic books based on the highly-anticipated new Masters of Horror anthology series, premiering tonight on Showtime. Thirteen of the greatest minds of the horror genre have gathered to tell their darkest dreams in their own unique styles in the new series of one-hour films, produced by IDT Entertainment, Industry Entertainment and Nice Guy Productions. Each film is a stand-alone exercise in terror from the likes of master-directors Don Coscarelli, John Carpenter, John Landis, Mick Garris, and many others. IDW will present a year-long exploration of these chilling tales, beginning in December with the release of the first book in the series.
Up first is “Incident On and Off a Mountain Road,” based on an original short story by Joe R. Lansdale and adapted for the Masters of Horror series by Don Coscarelli (Phantasm) & Stephen Romano. The tale will be adapted for a two part comic by IDW’s Editor-in-Chief Chris Ryall (Shaun of the Dead) and Jeremy Haun (Desperadoes: Banners of Gold). The first two issues of the series will feature special painted covers from Masters of Horror conceptual artist Caniglia, as well as a chilling photo cover taken directly from each episode.
In “Incident On and Off a Mountain Road,” Ellen, a seemingly defenseless young woman, is lost in the woods and comes into contact with the deformed, demented serial killer Moonface. But Ellen isn’t as helpless or innocent as she initially seems.
Issues three and four will adapt H.P. Lovecraft’s “Dreams in the Witch House,” written by Ivan Brandon (NYC Mech), illustrated by Dennis Calero, and based on the teleplay by Dennis Paoli & Stuart Gordon, as directed Stuart Gordon. Ben Templesmith will provide covers for this two-parter. Future two-issue arcs will tackle episodes by Landis, Carpenter, and others.
Masters of Horror #1, a full-color, 32-page comic book, will be released in December 2005.
-- IDWPUBLISHING.COM
DONNER WORKING ON SUPERMAN II DVD
Superman Homepage reports that, according to DreamWatch magazine, Richard Donner has been hired to work on a Special Edition DVD of Superman II. Donner was removed from the film after having already directed most scenes.
-- SUPERHEROHYPE.COM
MORE VIDEO GAME CENSORSHIP?
Senator Alex Diaz de la Portilla (R-Miami) has introduced a bill in the Florida State Senate to ban sales/rentals of violent video games to minors unaccompanied by an adult. If this is sounding like a regular occurrence, it is just inside of a month since California Governor Schwarzenegger signed a bill banning the sale/rental of violent video games to minors into law in California. Subsequent to Schwazenegger's signing the law, the Entertainment Software Association responded by filed a law-suit against the state to have the law tossed out, claiming the law violated First amendment rights. As it has in other states where such legislation has been introduced, you can expect the ESA to respond similarly, with Gail Markels, SVP/General Counsel, ESA releasing a statement in which she said, "The Senator's [Fla] proposal is clearly unconstitutional."
-- CYNOPSIS
Anchor5TAKEI COMES OUT OF THE CLOSET
George Takei, best known as Capt. Hikaru Sulu in the Star Trek movies, has told the Los Angeles gay/lesbian magazine Frontiers that he is gay. Takei, a Los Angeles-based actor who is also a community activist, made the revelation in an interview published this week.
"It's not really coming out, which suggests opening a door and stepping through," Takei, 68, told the magazine. "It's more like a long, long walk through what began as a narrow corridor that starts to widen. And then some doors are open, and light comes in, and there are skylights, and it widens."
Takei said that he has been in a relationship for 18 years with a man he identifies as "Brad," but that this is the first time he's spoken publicly about his homosexuality. He also admitted that he continues to have problems with his family as a result of being gay.
"I've not had a good experience with one sibling," Takei said. "And I won't be specific, because it's still a problem. My mother, initially, had some adjustments to make, but she got to like Brad very much. She got Alzheimer's, and it got very difficult for her, so we moved her in with us. Brad was wonderful. He was a saint. It's very difficult when you're dealing with someone with Alzheimer's. And some of the stages were ... horrific. And Brad helped throughout that. She was with us for the last four years of her life. And I owe so much to him."
-- SCIFI WIRE
ANIME ON IFC
Rainbow Media has acquired Japanese digital anime action/adventure series Samurai 7 (26 x 30min.) and will air the series on two of its outlets, IFC and VOOM HD Network's channel Animania HD. Samurai 7 is based on filmmaker Akira Kurosawa's classic movie The Seven Samurai made in 1954. However, this version is set in the future and adds a sci-fi twist. Animania HD will host the US HD premiere of Samurai 7 on Wednesday, March 1, 2006 at 9p. It will then be followed by the series broadcast debut as part of IFC's weekly movie event, Samurai Saturdays featuring Asian martial-arts-themed movies, on March 19, 2006 at 1130p. While Animania HD airs cartoons targeted to all ages, Samurai 7 is targeted to teens/young adults P16-24. The Samurai 7 series was licensed by FUNimation Entertainment, co-produced by Japanese anime studio Gonzo Digimation in partnership with Media International Corporation, and directed by Toshifumi Takizawa. VOOM HD Networks is a package of HDTV channels from Rainbow Media that include movies, sports, music, travel, fashion, arts, cartoons, and news, which are currently available to subscribers of DISH Network.
-- CYNOPSIS
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