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New 'Men in Black' Spinoff Gets Same Release Date as 'John Wick 3'

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The "Men in Black" are returning, but they're going to look very different.

Will Smith (Agent J) and Tommy Lee Jones (Agent K) -- who starred in three MIB movies -- are not expected to return for Sony's upcoming spinoff. However, Deadline reports that the untitled film will be set in the same world and build on it.

The writers of "Iron Man," Art Marcum and Matt Holloway, penned a script, and the search is on for a director. Sony has already assigned the "Men in Black" spinoff a release date: May 17, 2019. As fans have noted, that would currently pit it against "John Wick: Chapter 3."

Producer Walter F. Parkes told Deadline, "It's so rare to get to the end of the script and know you're holding a movie in your hands, but Art and Matt have written a spinoff that somehow is true to the core of the MiB world and yet expands the franchise to a fresh new place."

The spinoff is being executive produced by Steven Spielberg ... but he also executive produced the not-exactly-blockbuster "Transformers: The Last Knight," which was also written by "Art and Matt."

Fans aren't sold on this spinoff yet:

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14 Things You Never Knew About Disney's 'The Mighty Ducks'

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Lace up your skates and practice your triple-deke: It's time to celebrate the 25th anniversary of "The Mighty Ducks."

Released a quarter-century ago this week (on October 2, 1992), the Disney film about an underdog team of misfit pee-wee hockey players was no one's idea of a hit movie. Yet the film was a solid hit that revitalized Emilio Estevez's career, launched the careers of several future stars (notably, Joshua Jackson), spawned a pair of sequels and an animated series, and even inspired the creation of a new pro hockey team.

The "Mighty Ducks" trilogy may have been a staple of many childhoods, but there are still some secrets behind the hockey masks.
1. Steve Brill wrote the screenplay on spec when he was an unemployed actor in the 1980s, he told Time in 2014. Brill was an avid ice skater who spent his days at the Culver City rink near his apartment. He was also a fan of both hockey and "The Bad News Bears," which gave him the idea of writing a "Bears"-style sports-underdog movie with pucks instead of baseballs.

2. For the role of coach Gordon Bombay, Brill envisioned casting his roommate, fellow unemployed actor Peter Berg -- who'd ultimately stake his own place in juvenile-sports-movie history by directing the big-screen adaptation of "Friday Night Lights."
3. Disney bought Brill's screenplay, in part because then-CEO Michael Eisner's own kids were pee-wee hockey players. Also, when he was still at Paramount, Eisner had had a hand in shepherding "Bears" to the screen.

4. Like "Bears," Brill's original script was full of off-color humor and grown-up romance. Most of that wasn't going to fly at Disney, and producer Jordan Kerner had Brill revise the screenplay to make it broader and more kid-friendly. Also, Disney wasn't going to cast no-name Berg in the lead adult role, choosing the much better known Emilio Estevez instead.
5. Future "Dawson's Creek" and "The Affair" star Joshua Jackson was not the first choice to play team captain Charlie Conway. The part initially went to Jake Gyllenhaal -- then a movie newbie with only the role of Billy Crystal's little boy in "City Slickers" under his belt -- only to have Gyllenhaal's parents nix his participation because it would have taken too much time away from school. Talking to Howard Stern in 2015, Gyllenhaal recalled them telling him, "'You'll hate us now, but you'll thank us later.' And I do."

6. During their auditions, many of the kid actors lied about their skating skills. Which was okay; Estevez couldn't skate either. The whole cast had to go through several weeks of skating boot camp once they arrived on location in Minnesota.
7. "Mighty Ducks" marked the big-screen debuts of future "Empire" co-star Jussie Smollett (Terry Hall) and Marguerite Moreau (Connie, above), future co-star of the "Wet Hot American Summer" franchise.

8. Kerner recalled that most of the kids behaved professionally, but one boy was something of a bully, with a stage mother who overestimated her son's talents. Finally, Kerner said, he had to fire the kid. Which is how Vincent Larusso, cast in a minor role, moved up into the key part of turncoat player Adam Banks.
9. The character of Hans, the irascible old-timer played by Joss Ackland, was inspired by a similar man, also named Hans, who worked at the Culver City rink. Berg recalled that one day, Brill injured himself on the ice. "Brill said, 'Hans, I think I broke my leg.' And Hans paused and looked at him and said, 'Well, that's your own personal problem' and walked away. I think that was a very formative moment for Brill when he wrote that character."

10. How cold was it in Minnesota? Temperatures supposedly dropped to 55 below, so cold that, when shooting the scene where Gordon kisses Charlie's mom, Estevez and co-star Heidi Kling found themselves frozen together at the lips. Recalled Kerner, "We had to get makeup to grab warm water and put droplets on their lips so they could actually separate,"
11. Ever notice that, among all the teams shown in the film, only the Ducks and their chief rivals, the Hawks, have both their names and their numbers on their jerseys? All the rest of the teams have just numbers.

12. "Mighty Ducks" cost a reported $10 million to make. It returned $50.8 million at the North American box office.
13. Between the first and second films of the trilogy, Eisner decided that a pro hockey team fit in with Disney's growing presence in Anaheim, site of the original Disneyland and a little-used sports arena. The night before he met with the rest of the NHL owners to discuss the expansion team, Eisner decided to name the pro franchise after the movie, "and not enough people disagreed with me."

14. Kerner says he and Brill have discussed with Disney the possibility of making a fourth "Ducks," if they can come up with a workable story. Of the prospect of the Ducks returning to the ice, perhaps this time as coaches themselves, Jackson said in 2014: "I feel like a fourth film should happen, and if there was space for any of the original kids that come back and have a role, I would be surprised that anybody didn't want to do it."

What's New on TV, Netflix, Digital, and DVD/Blu-ray This Week: October 2-8

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At a loss for what to watch this week? From new DVDs and Blu-rays, to what's new on Netflix and TV, we've got you covered.

New on DVD and Blu-ray

"A Ghost Story"
October is the perfect time to curl up with this eerily beautiful and profound twist on the "haunted house" movie, starring Rooney Mara and Casey Affleck. The poetic fantasy arrives on DVD and Blu-ray on Tuesday, Oct. 3. Extras include audio commentary with director David Lowery, cinematographer Andrew Droz Palermo, production designer Jade Healy, and composer Daniel Hart; deleted scenes; and the featurettes "A Ghost Story and the Inevitable Passing of Time" and "A Composer's Story."

Check out this exclusive clip from the bonus features, focusing on the chemistry between leads Rooney Mara and Casey Affleck:"Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales"
Grab some rum and watch the fifth "Pirates of the Caribbean" movie when it arrives on 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray on Oct. 3. There are plenty of behind-the-scenes making-of bonus features, plus bloopers, deleted, scenes, and more."Cult of Chucky"
The infamous demonic doll is back on Blu-ray DVD, Digital, and On Demand on October 3. Bonus features include "Inside the Insanity of Cult of Chucky," "Good Guy Gone Bad: The Incarnations of Chucky," and feature commentary with director and writer Don Mancini, and head puppeteer Tony Gardner.

"Loch Ness"
Set in the beautiful, haunting Scotland landscape, this Acorn TV Original Series debuts on DVD and Blu-ray on October 3. Laura Fraser (Lydia of "Breaking Bad") plays a small-town detective thrown into her first murder case. Siobhan Finneran and Don Gilet co-star in the tense crime drama, which includes six episodes, cast interviews, and behind-the-scenes featurettes.

• Redbox: That big red box out front is getting some new titles this week. "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales" will be available this Friday, Oct. 6. On Tuesday, Oct. 3, you can pick up "Cult of Chucky," "The Wizard of Lies," "Lowriders," "Realive," "A Ghost Story," "Goon: Last of the Enforcers," "Bedeviled," and "Gremlin."

New Video on Demand, Rental Streaming, and Digital

"Maudie"
The great Sally Hawkins plays the title role of Maud Lewis in this romantic biopic of the popular Canadian folk artist, co-starring Ethan Hawke. A "bright-eyed, intelligent woman, hunched with crippled hands from arthritis, Maud yearns to be independent from her overly protective family. She answers an advertisement for a housekeeper by a 40-year-old bachelor who owes nothing to anyone. She is a terrible housekeeper and spends most of her time painting. Over time, she wins his heart. When they realize people will actually buy her cards and paintings, he supports and encourages her." Extras include 13 deleted scenes, director commentary, and a special feature called "Inside The Story." Exclusively to iTunes is a documentary called "Telescope: Maud Lewis," featuring interviews with the artist and a photo gallery featuring images from inside Maud's small Nova Scotia home.

Watch this exclusive behind-the-scenes clip with Sally Hawkins talking about what attracted her to the lead role of Maud:"Girls Trip"
Watch four best friends have the adventurous weekend of a lifetime when this hit R-rated comedy debuts on Digital HD October 3. It'll be out on Blu-ray, DVD, and On Demand October 17. Bonus features include deleted scenes, a gag reel, "Planning the Trip," "Outrageous Moments," and "The Essence of NOLA."

"Realive"
This sci-fi film starring Tom Hughes, Charlotte Le Bon, Oona Chaplin, and Barry Ward opened in theaters September 29, and arrives on Digital HD and VOD on October 3. "Marc is diagnosed with a disease and is given a short time to live. Unable to accept his own end, he decides to freeze his body. Sixty years later, in the year 2084, he becomes the first cryogenically frozen man to be revived in history. Marc discovers a startling future, but the biggest surprise is that his past has accompanied him in unexpected ways."

"Paint It Black"
Amber Tamblyn made her feature directorial debut with this film based on the novel by Janet Fitch, following two women from different words drawn together when they lose the man they both loved. Janet McTeer, Alia Shawkat, Rhys Wakefield, Nancy Kwan, Emily Rios, and Alfred Molina star in the drama, which is available on VOD October 3.


TV Worth Watching

"The Gifted" Season 1 (Monday on Fox at 9 p.m.)
THE GIFTED:  L-R: Percy Hynes White, Stephen Moyer, Amy Acker and Natalie Alyn Lind in THE GIFTED premiering this fall on FOX.  ©2017 Fox Broadcasting Co.  Cr:  Frank Ockenfels/FOXThis highly anticipated Marvel/Fox production, connected to the "X-Men" film series, premieres right after the start of "Lucifer" Season 2. Stephen Moyer, Amy Acker, Sean Teale, Jamie Chung, Coby Bell, Emma Dumont, Blair Redford, Natalie Alyn Lind, and Percy Hynes White star in this story of a suburban couple whose lives are changed when they discover their children possess mutant powers. Episode 1, "eXposed" airs October 2: "A hostile government forces a family to go on the run and fights to survive."

"Scandal" Season 7 (Thursday on ABC at 9 p.m.)
The final season of "Scandal" begins this week. Season 7, Episode 1, "Watch Me," is set 100 days into Mellie's presidency. Olivia faces her toughest call yet as she works to avoid an international incident, and Quinn Perkins & Associates struggle to find their first client.

"The Mayor" Season 1 (Tuesday on ABC at 9:30 p.m.)
ABC's new comedy, starring Brandon Micheal Hall and Lea Michele, follows idealistic rapper Courtney Rose, who runs for mayor as a publicity stunt and is stunned to actually gets elected.

"Once Upon a Time" Season 7 (Friday on ABC at 8 p.m.)
Season 7 is the reboot season of "Once," and it airs on a new night. Episode 1, "Hyperion Heights," starts Friday, Oct. 6, following an adult Henry Mills (Andrew J. West) and his daughter Lucy. "Henry encounters a troubled Cinderella in a distant realm and is forced to make difficult choices; Henry's daughter Lucy finds him disillusioned at his home in Seattle and must make him remember his true self to defeat the curse."

New on Netflix

"Skylanders Academy" Season 2 (Netflix Original)
The Skylanders are back to save the realm in Season 2, which arrives on Netflix October 6. The animated family series follows the adventures of Spyro (Justin Long), Eruptor (Jonathan Banks), Stealth Elf (Ashley Tisdale), Jet-Vac (Jonny Rees), Pop Fizz (Bobcat Goldthwait), and their team of young warriors as they travel the vast Skylands universe protecting it from evil-doers. Season 2 finds our heroes seeking answers from the past; Spyro begins a search for information about his ancestors in order to harness and understand his special powers. Meanwhile, Kaos' quest to bring evil rule to the Skylands realms accidentally unleashes a villain more powerful than anything Kaos or the Skylander warriors have ever faced.

Check out this exclusive clip from the new season, introducing new character Sprocket, voiced by actor Grey Griffin:"The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson" (Netflix Original)
Who killed Marsha P. Johnson? Netflix explores the life and death of this icon of the 1960s gay rights movement. "The self-described 'street queen' of NY's gay ghetto founded the Transvestites Action Revolutionaries with fellow luminary Sylvia Rivera. When Johnson's body was found in the Hudson River in 1992, police called it a suicide and didn't investigate. In David France's new documentary, trans activist Victoria Cruz seeks to uncover the truth of her death while celebrating her legacy." Watch the trailer now, and the documentary on Friday, October 6."Bonus Family (Bonusfamiljen)" Season 1 (Netflix Original)
A hit in Sweden, this dramedy is now heading to Netflix as of October 5. Apparently in Sweden they don't say stepdad or stepmom anymore, because of a perceived negative connotation, so they call them "bonus dad" and "bonus mom." This series follows four characters and their extended bonus family."Suburra" (Netflix Original)
"Church. Politics. Crime. Three guys, hungry for money and power, fight to get their piece of Rome." This neo-noir mafia thriller follows the connections between organized crime and politics in Rome in 2011. It's available on Netflix October 6.

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'Lucy 2': Luc Besson Wrote a Script for Sequel in Active Development

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Scarlett Johansson's sci-fi action film "Lucy" made more than $463 million off its $40 million budget, so it's no surprise a sequel is in the works.

Critics and fans were both mixed on the 2014 film, but Variety reports that a follow-up is officially happening with a script from original writer/director Luc Besson.

The update was slipped into a report about Besson's film studio scaling back after record losses, including from "Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets." That 2017 film's huge budget made its $223.2 million box office take considered a bomb. So now the focus will be on more action thrillers and sci-fi films like "The Fifth Element" and "Taken."

Variety said Besson's next movie won't be the "Lucy" sequel, it will be a different action thriller with a female lead, written by Besson, and budgeted in the $30 million range. That movie is scheduled to start shooting next month. However, the CEO of Besson's EuropaCorp film company, Marc Shmuger, revealed to shareholders that EuropaCorp is actively developing a sequel to "Lucy," adding only that Besson had already written the script.

So that's all we have for now -- a script, active development, and the knowledge that it isn't the next film on Besson's docket. It's not clear if Johansson already has a deal in place to return, or when she's free to film and promote the sequel. That's all going to have to be hashed out in the next year or so, provided plans don't change.

[Via: CinemaBlend]

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Why 'American Made' Cruised at the Box Office While 'Flatliners' Expired

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At last, we got a real race.

In this weekend's box office competition, "Kingsman: The Golden Circle" was widely expected to win a second time. "IT" was finally expected to slow down in its fourth weekend. And Tom Cruise's new "American Made" was expected to fall short of the others and open around $16 million.

What happened instead was a photo finish, with the three movies estimated to finish within $310,000 of each other. As of Sunday, "IT" had regained the top spot and was due to enjoy its third week at No. 1 with an estimated $17.3 million. "American Made" did slightly better than expected and claimed to have edged past the $17 million mark by just $16,000. Which meant that "Kingsman," with an estimated $17 million even, was just a hair behind in third place. (Of course, all these numbers and positions could change when actual weekend tallies are released on Monday.)

That's pretty exciting, especially since there was another wide release, "Flatliners," that underperformed its already modest predictions and debuted in fifth place with just an estimated $6.7 million.

How did we end up with a nearly three-way tie at the top of the chart involving one new release while the other new release flatlined? Here are some of the factors at play.

1. Star Power

Tom Cruise is a curious case. He was king of the box office for two decades, and while he still sells well overseas, his movies outside the "Mission: Impossible" franchise open poorly at home. The dismal domestic performance of his "The Mummy" this summer is why no one expected much from "American Made." Plus, while Cruise is usually tireless in promoting his films, he didn't do much to plug this one, since he's been busy working on a sixth "M:I" installment.

Still, he's a bigger draw than "Flatliners" stars Diego Luna and Ellen Page, or any of the many well-known stars in "Kingsman," or any of the unknowns in "IT." (He's not bigger, however, than "IT" author Stephen King.)

2. Age

Cruise supposedly poisoned his own well 12 years ago with his advocacy of Scientology and his antics while he was courting Katie Holmes, but all that may be too long ago for today's young moviegoers to remember. They simply may not care about Cruise because he's a 55-year-old action star whose biggest hits are now nostalgia pieces.

Then again, nostalgia may explain why older viewers haven't yet abandoned him. Cinemascore reported that only 9 percent of "American Made" viewers were under 25 (PostTrak had the figure at 18 percent). Still, put Cruise in the cockpit of a 1980s airplane, and memories of "Top Gun" will send older viewers (especially older men, who made up nearly half the audience for "American Made") to the ticket window.

The nostalgia factor backfired with "Flatliners." The movie was ostensibly a sequel to the 1990 movie of the same name, but only Kiefer Sutherland from that film returned, and there was no indication that he was playing the same character. The cast was clearly meant to appeal to younger viewers, but those viewers weren't even born yet when the first film came out. Besides, the original wasn't so beloved that older viewers would have been eager to see a sequel. So who was the new "Flatliners" for?

3.Timing

If you have a crowd-pleasing horror smash like "IT" still in theaters, why would you go see "Flatliners"? Maybe Sony thought the three weeks between their releases was enough time so that "Flatliners" would be safe? Guess not.

As for "American Made," it's coming out just one week after spy thriller "Kingsman" and two weeks after similarly titled international thriller "American Assassin." (By the way, if you're wondering where all the teen and young-adult moviegoers were, it was at those films and "IT.")

3. Screen Count

"American Made" and "American Assassin" are playing at an almost identical number of theaters (3,024 vs. 3,020), but the newer film averaged $5,627 per screen, better than any other wide-release film this weekend, while "Assassin" earned just $1,101 per screen. (It totaled an estimated $3.3 million, good for seventh place.) So "American Made," which is playing on about 900 fewer screens than "IT" and 1,000 fewer than "Kingsman," could have beaten both of them if it had been playing in just 53 more theaters.

4. Execution

"American Made" also tops all other current nationwide releases with its Rotten Tomatoes score. Its 87 percent fresh rating indicates overwhelmingly positive reviews. To the extent that the older viewers "American Made" targeted still care what critics say, that score must have given the movie a boost.

Horror movies are usually critic-proof, but when a movie gets a rare 0 score at RT, even horror fans have to take notice. Sony must have known critics wouldn't like "Flatliners," as the studio declined to screen it for them in advance (a common marketing tactic for horror movies), but it also didn't preview the movie for audiences on Thursday night. Between that omen and the unanimously bad reviews, savvy horror fans had to have guessed that "Flatliners" would be DOA.

5. The Season

Curiously, the same production company, Cross Creek, helped finance both of this weekend's new wide releases. Maybe Cross Creek saw them as smart counter-programming to each other, with little overlap between their likely audiences (older and male vs. younger and female). Maybe the timing is a coincidence of distribution over which Cross Creek had no control.

Still, neither movie on its own was enough to drum up much interest in theatrical moviegoing this weekend. The total domestic box office for all movies this weekend was about $90.6 million, making this the third lowest-grossing weekend of 2017 to date. It also makes the bigger box office totals of the last three weeks, driven by "IT" and "Kingsman," look more like a brief reversal in the long slump that began in July than a permanent upswing. (Who knows, the pendulum could swing back again when "Blade Runner 2049" opens next weekend, but otherwise, October doesn't look like a strong sales month.)

The fact is, audiences need a good reason to get off the couch and spend big bucks on movie tickets and popcorn. Right now, the best reason to do that is still that creepy clown in the sewer.

'SNL': Ryan Gosling Has a 3-Minute Tantrum About 'Avatar' Font & It's Oscar-Worthy

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Host Ryan Gosling laughed through so many sketches in the "Saturday Night Live" premiere, but he stayed intensely focused for this brilliant pre-taped bit on the awful font of "Avatar."

SNL launched its 43rd season on September 30, and one of the final sketches of the night was "Papyrus." It followed the manic obsession of Gosling's character with the idea that James Cameron could've used any font he wanted for the highest-grossing film of all time, and he chose ... Papyrus:Dammit, the man can commit.

SNL guest stars are eligible for Emmys, not Oscars, but that right there was an Oscar-worthy performance. And it was relatable for anyone who has spent years obsessing over a niche detail no one else cares about.

According to Vanity Fair, the sketch writer was Julio Torres, and he basically tweeted the entire concept in May:

"Avatar" came out in 2009, but -- as Gosling's character just discovered -- a bunch of sequels are coming. They just started production, and the four films will reportedly cost $1 billion to make.

Check out more videos from the SNL premiere. Gal Gadot and Sam Smith are next on October 7.

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'Marshall' Premiere Cancelled After Las Vegas Shooting

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The Hollywood premiere of the Thurgood Marshall biopic "Marshall," which was slated to take place on Monday night, has been cancelled in the wake of the Las Vegas shooting.

In a statement from Open Road Films, organizers of the event said they were forgoing the typical red carpet premiere out of respect for those who lost their lives, and to honor a "day of national mourning." Instead, the distributor will host a private screening of the film for cast and crew.

Here's the full statement from Open Road Films:

"On this day of national mourning, we have decided to cancel tonight's scheduled red carpet premiere of 'Marshall.' Instead, tonight's event will be a private screening of the film for the cast, filmmakers and invited guests. Our thoughts are with the the victims of the tragedy in Las Vegas, their families and all of those affected."

At least 58 people were killed and more than 400 were injured on Sunday night when a gunman opened fire on a concert crowd outside of the Mandalay Bay casino in Las Vegas. Country star Jason Aldean was performing at the time.

"Marshall," which stars Chadwick Boseman in the titular role, tells the story of Supreme Court justice Thurgood Marshall, chronicling his days as a young trial attorney. The film, which also stars Josh Gad, Kate Hudson, and Sterling K. Brown, opens on October 13.

[via: Variety]

A 'First Wives Club' TV Reboot Is in the Works

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First Wives Club Beete Midler Goldie Hawn And Diane KeatonThe "First Wives Club" is getting a second chance on television: Another rebooted version of the hit '90s comedy is being developed as a TV series.

Deadline reports that Tracy Oliver, who co-wrote the recent box office smash "Girls Trip," is penning a half-hour comedy pilot based on the original 1996 film for the Paramount Network (currently Spike, which will be rebranded in January). The flick featured the titular trio (played by Goldie Hawn, Bette Midler, and Diane Keaton) banding together after their marriages end, and taking some revenge on their awful exes along the way.

According to the trade, Oliver's new version will follow a similar storyline, and will also be based in the original film's New York City setting. This is a separate project, however, from another "First Wives Club" reboot that was in the works last year, starring Alyson Hannigan, Vanessa Lachey, and Megan Hilty, which was in development at TV Land. The network ultimately passed on that project (which shot a pilot), though the rights to the concept were scooped up by sister station Spike/Paramount.

No word yet on who is being courted for this new project, though we think Oliver should start with her "Girls Trip" stars. Stay tuned.

[via: Deadline]


Tom Petty, Legendary Musician and Soundtrack Icon, Reportedly Near Death After Heart Attack (UPDATED)

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KAABOO Del MarUPDATE #2: News outlets are now saying that Tom Petty is still alive, after reports earlier in the day on Monday indicated that the legendary musician had died.

According to TMZ, Petty's family had taken him off of life support at a California hospital on Monday, following the singer's do not resuscitate order, and he was not expected to live throughout the day. Several outlets, including CBS News and Variety, later reported that the singer had died, but then reversed those claims after the Los Angeles Police Department denied it had confirmed the singer's passing.

Now, an Instagram account that reportedly belongs to Petty's daughter, Annakim Violette, is also stating that the singer is still alive. The photos posted by the account indicate that Annakim is at Petty's bedside now, and she has been sharing lots of memories of her father. She's also railed against the premature reports of her father's death.

We'll provide further updates on Petty's situation as it becomes available. Here's hoping for the best for the singer and his family.

UPDATE #1: There are conflicting reports about whether or not Tom Petty has actually passed away.

While TMZ was the first to report that Petty suffered a heart attack and was taken off of life support, the site is now saying that news reports about Petty's death are inaccurate. According to the site, an LAPD source reportedly told CBS News that Petty had passed away, but the LAPD is now refuting that statement. According to TMZ, Petty is still alive, but "is not expected to live much longer."

Variety, however, says a source has confirmed Petty's passing, and is sticking with its original story. We'll update this post as more information becomes available. Our original report is below.

ORIGINAL REPORT:

Tom Petty, the legendary musician whose sound helped define the classic rock genre, and who lent his tunes to countless film and TV soundtracks, has died. He was 66.

TMZ was the first to report that Petty was rushed to a local hospital on Sunday night after suffering a heart attack at his Malibu home. He was later pulled off of life support, and died on Monday afternoon.

Petty, a Florida native, rose to fame in the '70s with his band The Heartbreakers, and scored numerous hits with and without the group, including "An American Girl," "Free Fallin'," and "I Won't Back Down," to name just a few. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002, and was the subject of the documentary "Runnin' Down a Dream" in 2007, which was directed by Oscar nominee Peter Bogdanovich.

Petty was also a member of the supergroup The Traveling Wilburys, which included fellow legends George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison, and Jeff Lynne. He had just come off of a 40th anniversary tour with The Heartbreakers, which wrapped on September 25.

His music also appeared in numerous films and television shows, scoring key moments in classics like "Jerry Maguire" and "The Silence of the Lambs," and TV favorites like "The Sopranos" and "Parks and Recreation." Petty also acted in a handful of projects, including playing himself "It's Garry Shandling's Show" and "The Larry Sanders Show," and voicing Lucky Kleinschmidt on "King of the Hill."

Petty is survived by his wife, Dana York Petty, and two daughters from his first marriage.

Is Thandie Newton Getting a Bigger Role in the Han Solo Movie?

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Most of Ron Howard's cryptic photos from the set of the Han Solo movie haven't told us much, but he just shared a photo of Thandie Newton along with the news that she returned to film "some key new scenes."

Either those scenes are replacing old ones, or these are additional scenes that means she'll have a more prominent role in the standalone "Star Wars" film -- and perhaps a bigger presence in the franchise overall.

Speculation is high that she's playing Rae Sloane, an admiral in the Imperial Navy and commander of the Star Destroyer Vigilance. She does appear to be in uniform in this photo, with Howard possibly covering up a military patch on her arm.

Newton was cast in February, a few months before Howard signed on to replace fired co-directing team Lord and Miller. In reworking the film, Howard added Paul Bettany and eliminated the character played by Michael K. Williams, who was unable for reshoots.

The still untitled Han Solo movie, which stars Alden Ehrenreich as the cocky young smuggler, is set to open May 25, 2018.

[Via Cinemablend, Twitter]

Fandoms Collide in First Photo From 'Chaos Walking'

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Daisy Ridley shared a photo on Facebook of her and Tom Holland on the set of "Chaos Walking," with the caption "WHAAAAT!?"

Yep, it's Peter Parker and Rey in a movie together, which yielded the expected jokes:

The movie, which is being directed by Doug Liman, is based on the sci-fi YA series where all living creatures can hear each other's thoughts. Which is a skill not even Jedis (or daughters of Jedis, ahem) can claim.

The movie costars Mads Mikkelsen, Demián Bichir, Nick Jonas, and David Oyelowo and is set to hit theaters March 1, 2019.

If you look at all your movies as combos of genre characters, then Ridley's next movie "Murder on the Orient Express" puts her in the company of Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp), Green Goblin (Willem Dafoe), and Catwoman (Michelle Pfeiffer).

'Blade Runner 2049' Red Carpet Canceled After Las Vegas Shooting

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In the wake of the mass shooting in Las Vegas, there will be no red carpet at tomorrow's Hollywood premiere of "Blade Runner 2049," Deadline reports.

Warner Bros. Pictures, Sony Pictures, and Alcon Entertainment issued the following statement today: "In light of the tragic events of last night, Warner Bros. Pictures, Sony Pictures and Alcon Entertainment are cancelling the red carpet for tomorrow's screening of 'Blade Runner 2049.' We join the rest of the country in sending heartfelt thoughts and prayers to all those affected by this tragedy."

There will still be a screening for filmmakers, cast and invited guests, according to Deadline, but there's no official word if the planned after party is also canceled. The premiere was to be held tonight at the Dolby Theatre on Hollywood Blvd. followed by a party behind the El Capitan Theatre across the street. The movie opens this Friday, October 6.

Warner Bros. earlier announced they were also canceling the red carpet premiere of the Thurgood Marshall biopic, "Marshall." That screening will go on as well, just sans the glitz and media coverage of a usual Hollywood premiere.

Several shows in Las Vegas have been canceled, including tonight's Penn and Teller performance, according to ET. There's no word yet if acts set to perform later this week, such as Jennifer Lopez and John Fogerty will also cancel, per ET.

However, Celine Dion's rep confirmed she will go on with her schedule show this week, according to Us Weekly.

Joaquin Phoenix Is Out of the Running for 2017 Oscar Race

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Joaquin Phoenix's award-winning film "You Were Never Really Here" won't be competing at the next Oscars.

Deadline reports that the neo-noir that earned Phoenix Best Actor at this year's Cannes Festival, has been bumped to February 2018, which means it's out of this year's Oscar race.

The movie, directed by Lynne Ramsay, also won Best Screenplay at Cannes. It's based on the crime novel by Jonathan Ames, about a Gulf War vet-turned-assassin who goes to some dark places to find a senator's missing daughter. While critics praised Phoenix's performance, they also called the movie, which has been widely compared to "Taxi Driver," "a brutal, punishing watch" and "grimly violent."

The movie is from Amazon Studios, which scored two Oscars last year with "Manchester By the Sea."

The Scottish director's previous films include "We Need to Talk About Kevin," "Ratcatcher," and "Morvern Callar."

Tom Petty Confirmed Dead, Fellow Musicians Mourn and Pay Tribute

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KAABOO Del MarTom Petty has died, his manager confirmed.

After conflicting reports about his status yesterday, Tony Dimitriades, the longtime manager of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, released a statement via news outlets and social media:

Petty was found Sunday in full cardiac arrest at his home in Malibu and rushed to the hospital. After doctors found no sign of brain activity, he was taken off life support.

"It's shocking, crushing news," friend and former bandmate Bob Dylan said in a statement. "I thought the world of Tom. He was a great performer, full of the light, a friend, and I'll never forget him."

Other musicians took to Twitter to pay tribute and mourn:

And of course, let's never forget this amazing performance of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" by Petty, Prince, and others:

Jared Leto to Star in Hugh Hefner Biopic

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Amazon Original Series 'American Playboy: The Hugh Hefner Story' Premiere EventJared Leto, Playboy.

The Oscar-winning actor is set to star as Hugh Hefner in Brett Ratner's planned biopic, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The Playboy mogul died last week at the age of 91

"Jared is an old friend," Ratner said. "When he heard I got the rights to Hef's story, he told me, 'I want to play him. I want to understand him.' And I really believe Jared can do it. He's one of the great actors of today."

The director even invited Leto to the famed Playboy Mansion for the premiere of Amazon's documentary series "American Playboy: The Hugh Hefner Story." But due to Hefner's failing health, Leto was unable to meet the controversial icon.

Ratner isn't worried. "There's enough footage on Hef out there that Jared will be able to get as much information as he wants," he said.

The project has been in development for almost a decade, with a period of time when the late Jerry Weintraub held the rights. Now, Ratner has them back and has a big vision: "My goal is to do the motion picture as an event."


Delightful New 'Paddington 2' Trailer Will Brighten Your Day

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Once again, Paddington Bear is here to make our day a bit brighter.

A trailer for "Paddington 2," a sequel to the 2014 film, brings back the beloved bear for more adventures. Ben Whishaw returns to voice the titular character, who decides to work odd jobs to earn money to buy a special pop-up book for Aunt Lucy.

But things go awry when a washed-up actor (Hugh Grant) discovers that the book is worth a lot of money. He steals it, but Paddington is accused of the crime, and the bear and his friends have to team up to exonerate him and get that book back.

The sequel seems to have the same gentle humor and madcap antics as the first (Grant looks game to wear a bunch of zany disguises). Sally Hawkins, Imelda Staunton, Brendan Gleeson, Hugh Bonneville, Julie Walters, Jim Broadbent, and Peter Capaldi also star.

"Paddington 2" opens in theaters January 12, 2018.

First Look at Felicity Jones as Ruth Bader Ginsburg in Biopic

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US-OSCARS-ARRIVALSRBG in the house! Felicity Jones is transforming from rogue to Ruth.

The "Rogue One" and "Theory of Everything" actress is starring as a young Ruth Bader Ginsburg in the upcoming biopic "On the Basis of Sex." The movie follows Ginsburg as a talented young lawyer who teams up with her husband Marty (Armie Hammer) to bring a groundbreaking gender discrimination case before the Supreme Court.

Filming has begun on the movie and Participant Media has released the first image of Jones as the now-Supreme Court Justice.

Mimi Leder is directing from a script written by Ginsburg's nephew, Daniel Stiepleman.

"Our story of Ruth Bader Ginsburg resonates with me on so many levels — from the inspiring partnership she found in her marriage, to overcoming adversity as a woman and discovering the strength of her own voice, to her empathetic commitment to those in need of a voice no matter their gender, race, status or religious beliefs," Leder said.

"In these tumultuous times, stories like this speak to the heart of humanity and remind us what it means to lead with love and compassion as the way forward."

Justin Theroux, Kathy Bates, Sam Waterston, and Stephen Root also star in the movie, which will be released sometime next year in conjunction with Ginsburg's 25th anniversary on the Supreme Court.

This 'Mean Girls' Day, the Cast Is Raising Money for Las Vegas Shooting Victims

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'Mean Girls' New York PremiereToday is October 3, a day that "Mean Girls" fans celebrate in honor of the moment in the 2004 flick when Cady Heron (Lindsay Lohan) informs Aaron Samuels (Jonathan Bennett) of the date. But while the occasion is typically marked with a barrage of quotes and GIFs from the film, some members of the "Mean Girls" cast are hoping that this year, the unofficial holiday can mean a little bit more.

In a video message shared on Go Fund Me, Lacey Chabert (who played Gretchen Weiners), Amanda Seyfried (who played Karen Smith), Daniel Franzese (who played Damien), and Bennett teamed up to announce that they were collecting donations to the National Compassion Fund -- an offshoot of the National Center for Victims of Crime -- to benefit victims of Sunday night's deadly shooting in Las Vegas. The actors urge "Mean Girls" fans to give just $3 to the cause, in the hopes of raising $300,000 for those affected by the tragedy.

"We want to turn the attention to those who need it," Bennett explains in the video of the reasoning behind using the October 3 holiday for fundraising.

"We know fetch is never gonna happen," Chabert adds, using her character's favorite new slang term, "but we can make this happen."

As of press time, the campaign had raised more than $16,000. Be grool and check it out at GoFundMe.com/October3.

'Unbreakable' Sequel 'Glass' Is Now Filming: See M. Night Shyamalan's First Set Photo

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Samuel L Jackson Stars As Elijah Price An Eccentric Who Offers A Supernatural ExplanatiM. Night Shyamalan‏ has back-to-school jitters on the set of "Glass," a film "seventeen years in the making."

Spoilers ahead: Stop reading if you aren't up-to-date on Shyamalan's most recent film.

The director tweeted to fans he was "nervous and excited" to get started on the film, which is both a sequel to his 2000 movie "Unbreakable" with Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson, *and* a follow-up to his 2016 hit "Split" with James McAvoy and Anya Taylor-Joy.

"Split" ended with a surprise appearance from Bruce Willis as David Dunn, revealing "Split" was set in the same universe as "Unbreakable." In "Unbreakable," Jackson's character had the nickname Mr. Glass. The follow-up, "Glass," brings in Dunn and Glass, along with McAvoy's Kevin Wendle Crumb and Taylor-Joy's Casey Cooke. Sarah Paulson has also joined the joint sequel.

Fans are only a wee bit ecstatic to see "Glass," and Shyamalan sounded just as excited in his build-up to Monday's first day of filming:


Fans were thrilled to see that first set photo:
"Glass" is currently scheduled for release on January 18, 2019.

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Tina Fey Gives Out Cheese Fries in Honor of 'Mean Girls' Day

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'Mean Girls' On Broadway CelebrationHow fetch! In honor of "Mean Girls" Day -- a.k.a. October 3, the date that Cady (Lindsay Lohan) helpfully supplies to Aaron (Jonathan Bennett) in the 2004 flick -- Tina Fey passed out free cheese fries to fans.

As Entertainment Weekly reports, the surprise giveaway took place outside the August Wilson Theater in New York City, where the upcoming Broadway musical adaptation of the movie is set to debut next year. Fans who lined up to purchase advance tickets on Tuesday were greeted with free pairs of pink "Mean Girls"-branded sunglasses, as well as a mysterious pink food truck emblazoned with one of Regina George's (Rachel McAdams) lines from the film: "Whatever, I'm getting cheese fries."

Fans who hoped to score some of Regina's favorite weight loss snack were then treated to a surprise appearance from Fey herself, who suddenly showed up and began dishing out the tasty treat. The comedian -- who wrote the film, and also penned the book for the stage show -- quipped to the crowd, "I'm like the Evita of cheese fries!"

The musical's cast later joined in on the cheese fries festivities, too. We're disappointed we couldn't sit with them ourselves, but we're looking forward to the show's debut anyway.

Tickets for "Mean Girls" are on sale now. The show begins previews in March.

[via: Entertainment Weekly, Mean Girls Broadway/Twitter]

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