Variety

Mike Darnell Exits Fox Broadcasting

Andrew Wallenstein — Fri, 24 May 2013 20:41:29 +0000

Mike Darnell has announced he is exiting Fox Broadcasting, where he has been leading unscripted programming for the past 18 years. In a statement issued Friday, he said he would step down with his contract ending in June. “I’ve been in ‘Reality’ since before it was even called that, and it has truly been an... Read more »

UPDATE: ‘Fast and Furious 6′ Racing Towards $35 Million Friday, $100 Million Four-Day Weekend; ‘Hangover’ and ‘Epic’ Eye $50 Million

Stuart Oldham — Fri, 24 May 2013 20:41:00 +0000

UPDATE: Universal’s “Fast and Furious 6″ is speeding up for approximately $35 million Friday and $100 four-day weekend, according to noon estimates. Warner Bros’ “Hangover Part III” is neck-and-neck with the Fox toon “Epic” for second place with an estimated $50 million for the Memorial Day weekend. ****************************** This Memorial Day weekend may be off... Read more »

‘The Great Gatsby’ Hits $100 Million in the U.S.

Stuart Oldham — Fri, 24 May 2013 20:22:51 +0000

Warner Bros. 3D adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby" has reached the $100 million mark at the U.S. box office after 14 days of release.

Film Reviews: Opening This Week (May 20-24, 2013)

Variety Staff — Fri, 24 May 2013 19:23:52 +0000

A critical digest of the week’s latest U.S. theatrical releases. Where applicable, links to longer reviews have been provided. Fast & Furious 6 Distributor: Universal That increasingly rare Hollywood franchise in which the heroes sport street clothes instead of spandex, Universal’s “Fast and Furious” shifts into sixth gear with few evident signs of engine wear.... Read more »

Nicolas Winding Refn Compares Hollywood Blockbusters to Prostitution (VIDEO)

Stuart Oldham — Fri, 24 May 2013 19:16:46 +0000

Director Nicolas Winding Refn may have worked with the likes of Ryan Gosling and Tom Hardy but don't expect the "Drive" filmmaker to tackle studio blockbusters just yet.

Yahoo Files Bid to Acquire Hulu; Amazon Out of the Running

Andrew Wallenstein — Fri, 24 May 2013 19:16:15 +0000

Yahoo is officially in the running for Hulu. Less than a week after snapping up Tumblr for $1.1 billion, the online giant filed a bid Friday morning to acquire the streaming service, according to sources familiar with the negotiations. SEE ALSO: Yahoo to Pay $1 Billion For Tumblr A rep for Yahoo declined comment. Another... Read more »

Natalie Portman’s ‘Jane Got A Gun’ Heading For U.S. Sale

Dave McNary — Fri, 24 May 2013 18:56:49 +0000

Relativity Media and The Weinstein Co. are in talks for U.S. rights to “Jane Got a Gun,” starring Natalie Portman , Joel Edgerton, Ewan McGregor, Noah Emmerich and Rodrigo Santoro. The deal came together after footage was shown at Cannes this week. The companies had no comment, but an informed source confirmed the talks. CAA... Read more »

‘Needle’ Wins Cannes’ Cinefondation Prize

Pat Saperstein — Fri, 24 May 2013 18:37:56 +0000

“Needle,” from U.S. film student Anahita Ghazvinizadeh, has nabbed the top prize at Cannes’ Cinefondation, whose jury was presided by New Zealand-born multi-hyphenate Jane Campion. Ghazvinizadeh, a student at the School of the Art Insitute of Chicago, won €15,000. As the First Prize winner, Ghazvinizadeh will have the opportunity to present her feature debut at the Festival. “Needle” is a coming-of-age drama centering... Read more »

Review: “Marvel’s Avengers Assemble”

Brian Lowry — Fri, 24 May 2013 18:05:34 +0000

When is an animated kids show a Hulk-sized big deal? When it continues a blockbuster Disney/Marvel movie franchise that has also become the linchpin of ABC’s fall lineup. The synergistic aspects of “Marvel’s Avengers Assemble” — being previewed on boy-oriented cable network Disney XD, in advance of a series date in July — are thus... Read more »

Cannes: ‘Me Myself and Mum’ tops Directors’ Fortnight

Stuart Oldham — Fri, 24 May 2013 18:00:18 +0000

CANNES –Gallic actor-director Guillaume Gallienne’s comic confessional “Me Myself and Mum” topped the 45th Directors’ Fortnight, scooping both its Art Cinema Award and the Society of Dramatic Authors and Composers’ SACD Prize. Announced Friday, the double win, plus a special mention by the SACD jury for Serge Bozon’s “Tip Top,” vindicates the move by Directors’... Read more »