The Big Screen Bulletin 11.21.11: The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Tops Box Office!

Posted by Steve Gustafson on 11.21.2011

News on Joss Whedon breaking down The Avengers, the new Expendables 2 poster creating buzz, new set pictures from Spider-Man, Arrested Development returning, a new Friday being in the works, a look at Leonardo DiCaprio on the set of The Great Gatsby and more!

Welcome to the Big Screen Bulletin! My name is Steve Gustafson and this is where we hit the big movie news from the weekend and anything else going on in the world of Hollywood!

Get your celebrity and hot girl fix with the ORIGINAL The Hollywood 5 & 1! Not for the faint of heart! This week: Halle Berry battles Angelina Jolie and Rhian Sugden takes on Kate Upton in Vs, Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore are done, Kendra Wilkinson gives Lindsay Lohan advice, Kat Von D spills details about Jesse James, Tyler Perry defends Kim Kardashian, Lauren Pope is your "& 1" Model of the Week and more!

Do you enjoy the 5 & 1 format? Of course you do! Check this out. First up is the NEWEST member to the 5 & 1 club...Stewart Lange with his The MMA 5 & 1! Next is The Music 5 & 1 by Jeremy Thomas. Bringing up the rear is The Wrestling 5 & 1 by Greg De Marco. Check it out! I hear rumors that the GAMES section is going to give the 5 & 1 format another go! Keep your eyes peeled! Could the POLITICS section be far behind?

Check out my exclusive interview with Ian Edelman, creator of the HBO hit series How to Make it in America!


While at Exxxotica I was able to chat with the adorable Lexi Belle! When asked to pick one of her favorite films she's been in, she happened to pick one of MY favorites...well, I'll let Lexi tell you about that!

Another Exxxotica exclusive! The hardest working woman on the planet, Nina Mercedez spoke with me. Yes, she's beautiful and smart...and intimidating! But she's on top of the game, balancing a heavy load!




THIS POSTER WILL NOT BE CONTAINED!
Plenty of warnings to go along with this poster. Women have been told not to look directly at it out of fear of causing pregnancy. Men are warned not to stare due to bouts of fear, anxiety, and loss of bladder control.

Expendables 2 opens on Aug. 17, 2012.




QUESTION OF THE WEEK!
After a voting process over the past two days, Empire has revealed two different covers to their upcoming issue, featuring brand-new shots of Batman (Christian Bale) and Bane (Tom Hardy) from The Dark Knight Rises.

I've been holding off to see the Bane mask in action before I made a judgement but I still have a huge question mark over it.

My question: What are your thoughts on Bane's mask?



VOTE BELOW!


CRAZIEST CASTING RUMOR OF THE WEEK!
This project is starting to heat up! Amanda Seyfried and Peter Sarsgaard recently replaced Kate Hudson and James Franco in Lovelace, another biopic about infamous porn star Linda Lovelace. Now according to The Associated Press reports that Sharon Stone will play Lovelace's mother in the film that will chronicle Lovelace's place in adult film history as the star of Deep Throat, one of the highest-grossing independent films of all-time which just happened to become the most well known porn film ever. I'm very interested in seeing how this plays out on the big screen.




YOUGOTTABEKIDDINME!
I know this is more TV news but since it was rumored to be a movie at some point I'm making an exception! I'm still trying to wrap my head around this. Announced for a likely return this past October, the fan-favorite television series Arrested Development is officially back and will arrive on Netflix in 2013. Official details are as follows:

In a landmark deal, all new episodes of the Emmy Award-winning comedy series "Arrested Development" will be coming exclusively to Netflix for its U.S. members to watch instantly, beginning in 2013.

For the first time in their histories, Twentieth Century Fox Television and Imagine Television will produce original first-run entertainment content for the world's leading internet subscription service, bringing back the acclaimed series to production on all new episodes five years after its cancellation.

One of Time Magazine's "100 Best TV Shows of All-TIME," the tale of the formerly wealthy, deeply eccentric Bluth clan aired for three seasons, 2003-2006, on Fox and was honored with the Emmy award for Outstanding Comedy Series after its first season on the air.

"Arrested Development is one of the finest American comedies in TV history and its return through Netflix is a perfect example of how we are working closely with studios and networks to provide consumers with entertainment they love," said Ted Sarandos, Netflix Chief Content Officer.

"We also pride ourselves on breaking the rules at this studio, and after bringing back two canceled series – 'Family Guy' and 'Futurama'—to enormous success, we are bullish on the prospects for this brilliant series. We can't wait to get back to work with Mitch, Ron and Brian on bringing the Bluths back to America's living rooms," they added.

Said Imagine Entertainment co-founders Ron Howard and Brian Grazer, "Of all the projects we've been involved with over the years, we probably get more questions about Mitch Hurtwitz's brilliant 'Arrested Development' than any other– everyone, ourselves included, seems to feel like the Bluths left the party a bit too soon. Bringing a series back from cancellation almost never happens, but then, 'Arrested' always was about as unconventional as they get, so it seems totally appropriate that this show that broke the mold is smashing it to pieces once again."

Added Howard, "After a long hiatus, I'm dying to finally get back to the narrator's microphone...'It's Arrested...Development.'"

The Emmy-winning comedy had its final broadcast on February 10, 2006 and concerned Michael Bluth (Jason Bateman) and his eccentric family comprised of his son George Michael (Michael Cera), his father George Bluth Sr. (Jeffrey Tambor), his mother Lucille (Jessica Walter), his brothers George Oscar Bluth II (Will Arnett), Buster Bluth (Tony Hale) and sister Lindsay Funke (Portia de Rossi), and Lindsay's husband Tobias (David Cross) and their daughter Maeby (Alia Shawkat).

"Arrested Development" is a production of Imagine Television and 20th Century Fox Television. Ron Howard, Brian Grazer and Mitch Hurwitz are executive producers.

Will the return be able to live up to the original?




Let's get into the REAL news!




Whedon Assemble!
This one is PACKED! Yahoo's Movie Talk posted an interview with director Joss Whedon, and it features quite a few quotes about Avengers, specifically, about crafting a few of the characters for the film, including how Iron Man/Tony Stark has progressed, updating Captain America, and how Nick Fury fits into everything too.

One area he touches on is how much he's working with Mark Ruffalo to craft Bruce Banner into someone who is already the Hulk, and not just a fresh face. I've tried to edit it down to a managable level. Here's some of Whedon's best quotes about a few various characters from The Avengers:

On Iron Man/Tony Stark: "I think the conversations were largely about 'Where is Tony now?' Like, 'Who is he now? Where is he [going] from Iron Man 2 towards Iron Man 3?' He is such a well-delineated character, so it was really a question of, 'What do we want to stress and what do we want to say? We have said that, we have done that, so let's not go there.' He felt a sort of isolated man who is—even though there is an element of that, just because that's sort of what any team movie is about. He didn't want to be the sort of just, 'I am totally wrapped up in one thing and I am not thinking about everybody else.' He didn't want to be the tortured lonely man, which I totally get. And it was easy to make him as delightful and gregarious as he can be and still go, well, there is a piece missing and it's the piece that makes him an Avenger."

On Captain America: "I love a straightforward character. I am the guy who loves Cyclops on the X-Men, because he is square. [Captain America] is a little square, and he is aware that he is a little square, and he is aware that the world is a beat ahead of him, or in his case, 70 beats. I think that's very disarming and very charming. I relate to that guy. I also don't know who the popular singers are right now, so he is actually really easy for me to write. There were some lines where [Chris] would be like, 'Okay, now I just sound like an idiot.' And in context, I was like, 'Yeah, actually, now that it's all laid out that is a bit much.' But he is very aware of his dignity, but at the same time understood why I wanted to find the humor in somebody who was so out of touch."

On Bruce Banner/Hulk: "Yeah, he and I did the most character work of anyone, because we really were starting fresh, but we were starting with something that had been embodied several times. And both of us agreed upfront that the template for who we wanted this guy to be in his life was Bill Bixby, the TV [show character] who was busy helping other people. That was more interesting to us than the Banner in the first two movies who was always fixated on curing himself. We spent a lot of time talking about what makes us Hulk out, the nature of anger, how it feels.

On SHIELD's Nick Fury: "He is not going to be talking about his childhood, and you do want to keep a certain mystery. Also—and this is something that I was very pleased that Marvel actually mandated—they were very interested in keeping him, not just in the sort of a mystery of how the organization operates, but a real moral gray area where you really have to decide, 'is Nick Fury the most manipulative guy in the world? Is he a good guy? Is he completely Machiavellian or is it a bit of both?' And that was really fun to tweak."

Does this make you more or less excited for the The Avengers?




Day After Thursday!
A fourth Friday movie is on the way. The news initially came from Ice Cube himself, who tweeted on Wednesday that he and New Line were working on a deal for a fourth film, and has now been confirmed by Deadline. He'll be writing, producing, and starring in the film.

TMZ reports that Chris Tucker is also in talks to return. Tucker hasn't been a part of the franchise since the first Friday; he was replaced in the next two films by by Mike Epps. Tucker also hasn't been in a film in four years, and has expressed reservations about scripts that include drug use or excessive swearing.

Light it up or does this idea stink like bong water?




Scarlet Spider?
The cast and crew of The Amazing Spider-Man returned to New York this week and were photographed by The Daily Mail.

Andrew Garfield's Peter Parker was seen in both his civilian clothes and wearing an alternate version of his webheaded alter-ego's costume (potentially an early version like in Sam Raimi's original motion picture take on the franchise). Rhys Ifans' Curt Connors was also seen with what appears to be a recently-regrown right arm.

Directed by Marc Webb, The Amazing Spider-Man also stars Emma Stone, Denis Leary, Campbell Scott, Irrfan Khan, Martin Sheen, and Sally Field. It opens in 3D and 2D theaters on July 3, 2012.








Roaring!
New photos of Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, and Carey Mulligan on the set of director Baz Luhrmann's The Great Gatsby are making the rounds on the interweb. The movie filmed in Sydney Centennial Park in Sydney, Australia on November 18 and it looks like they've nailed the look of the classic!

The Great Gatsby follows Fitzgerald-like, would-be writer Nick Carraway as he leaves the Midwest and comes to New York City in the spring of 1922, an era of loosening morals, glittering jazz and bootleg kings. Chasing his own American Dream, Nick lands next door to a mysterious, party-giving millionaire, Jay Gatsby, and across the bay from his cousin, Daisy, and her philandering, blue-blooded husband, Tom Buchanan. It is thus that Nick is drawn into the captivating world of the super rich, their illusions, loves and deceits. As Nick bears witness, within and without the world he inhabits, he pens a tale of impossible love, incorruptible dreams and high-octane tragedy, and holds a mirror to our own modern times and struggles.

I'm a huge fan of the book and expect this to be a worthy companion!






A SMASH Hit?
Heaven forbid I encroach on the GAME sections feet but since this is in the works to be a movie, I can throw it out there. THR is reporting that New Line Cinema has started developing an adaptation of the video game Rampage, the one where you take control of a gigantic monster and destroy buildings in a city while the military shoots you down. John Rickard, who's worked on A Nightmare on Elm Street, Horrible Bosses, Final Dest. 5, and Bryan Singer's Jack the Giant Killer, is producing and meeting with writers to develop a story for the film.

I think I suggested this years ago in a Top 5 list. This could be an awesome movie with the right script and budget.




Trailer Talk
Walt Disney Pictures has released several clips from The Muppets, opening in theaters on Wednesday, November 23rd. What's it about? Read on!

On vacation in Los Angeles, Walter, the world's biggest Muppet fan, and his friends Gary (Jason Segel) and Mary (Amy Adams) from Smalltown, USA, discover the nefarious plan of oilman Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) to raze the Muppet Theater and drill for the oil recently discovered beneath the Muppets' former stomping grounds. To stage The Greatest Muppet Telethon Ever and raise the $10 million needed to save the theater, Walter, Mary and Gary help Kermit reunite the Muppets, who have all gone their separate ways: Fozzie now performs with a Reno casino tribute band called the Moopets, Miss Piggy is a plus-size fashion editor at Vogue Paris, Animal is in a Santa Barbara clinic for anger management, and Gonzo is a high-powered plumbing magnate. With secret, signature, celebrity cameos, "The Muppets" hits the big screen Nov. 23, 2011.

What do you think?






1. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 $139.5 million ($139.5 million total)
2. Happy Feet Two $22.0 million ($22.0 million total)
3. Immortals $12.3 million ($53.0 million total)
4. Jack & Jill $12.0 million ($41.0 million total)
5. Puss in Boots $10.7 million ($122.3 million total) Read the review!
6. Tower Heist $7.0 million ($53.4 million total)
7. J. Edgar $5.9 million ($20.7 million total) Read the review!
8. A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas $2.9 million ($28.3 million total) Read the review!
9. In Time $1.7 million ($33.4 million total) Read the review!
10. The Descendants $1.2 million ($1.3 million total)


Box Office Survey!
Instead of me just repeating what you can see, how about we ask some questions about the weekend box office? Answer in the comments and NO CHEATING!

* SOUND OFF! Why do you HATE/LOVE Twilight?

* Will Happy Feet improve over Thanksgiving weekend or be buried by The Muppets?

* Are you shocked Jack & Jill made $12 million in its second weekend? I am.?


Before I say GOODBYE!
I would be remiss if I didn't mention some of the other OUTSTANDING articles on www.411mania.com. You would be doing yourself a disservice if you didn't peep around the site. I always get my daily habit of reading. Here's a small sample!

*****Top 5 Least Scary Movie Monsters by Trevor Snyder and Company
*****Ten Deep: The Top Ten Scandal Movies by Mike Gorman
*****A Bloody Good Time by Joseph Lee.
*****Two Tivos to Paradise by Al Norton
*****Fact or Fiction by Ben Piper This week: Tony Farinella and Jason Chamberlain debate!


Playboy has been kind enough to release me on the lovely Playmates. Here's some interviews to keep you entertained!

Miss January
Miss February
Miss March
Miss April
Miss July
Miss August
Miss September
Miss October


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That's all the time I have, I'll see you next week!