SDCC: Christopher Nolan makes Comic-Con debut

Christopher Nolan crashed the party today at San Diego Comic-Con by making his first ever appearance at the event. To go along with his surprise appearance he debuted a new trailer for his upcoming sci-fi film, Interstellar.

Paramount chose not to specify what films they were going to showcase during their panel today, so it's needless to say that the room was pretty empty. Paramount presented a redband trailer for Hot Tub Time Machine 2, The Spongebob Movie: Sponge Out of Water, and Project Almanac. They saved Nolan's appearance, as well as Matthew McConaughey's SDCC debut, until last and surprised those who did attend with the new Interstellar trailer.
We will probably have to wait a week or so to see the trailer publicly, but judging from what people who were lucky enough to see it are saying it was pretty awesome.

Interstellar hits theaters on November 7th.

Paramount at odds with Darren Aronofsky

Darren Aronofsky's biblical epic, Noah, has hit a crossroads with Paramount Pictures. After disappointing test screenings of the film, Paramount is wanting to change the final cut of the film and Aronofsky is not too pro on the idea. He has enjoyed success, including Oscar attention, from films such as Black Swan, The Wrestler, and Requiem for a Dream. However, his independent style is clashing with a company that wants a blockbuster hit at the box office.

Noah had a budget of $130 million and managed to draw an impressive cast including Russell Crowe, Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, Jennifer Connelly, and Anthony Hopkins. Given the subject matter, Paramount chose to do the test screenings with largely religious audiences including a screening in a largely Jewish area in New York, a mostly Christian audience in Arizona, and a control group in Orange County. All three areas reported concerns and troubling responses from the viewers and has prompted the studio to want to change the film. Darren Aronofsky has been unresponsive so far.

At this point there is no telling how this one will end or if Noah will make its planned release date on March 28, 2014.

Paramount eliminates 110 positions; layoffs in marketing, finance, and more

I guess distributing Michael Bay movies has finally taken its toll on Paramount.

The company announced they are eliminating 110 positions from the company including spots in finance, IT, legal, and marketing. This follows previous layoffs Paramount made in 2008 where they reduced their workforce by 7% across the board.
This also follows a rather low income year for the studio. Ironically enough, the biggest hit they had this year was World War Z which brought in over $500 million at the box office. It is joined by flops such as Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters and Pain & Gain. Despite the flops Paramount is expected to end on top with the releases of Nebraska, The Wolf of Wall Street, and Anchorman: The Legend Continues. Marketing is currently working on campaigns for these films, but seeing that the marketing department is suffering layoffs who knows how in depth the campaigns will be.

In addition to Paramount layoffs, NBC announced that NBC Digital will be reducing their workforce by 5%. Not a great time to work in the entertainment industry, I guess.

Star Trek and World War Z get Labor Day re-releases

If you managed to miss World War Z or Star Trek Into Darkness this summer you will have the chance to catch them in theaters once again as Paramount is re-releasing the movies as a double bill over the Labor Day holiday. You can see both movies at one ticket price from August 30th to September 5th. They won't be released in IMAX but you will have the option of 2D or 3D.

The major theater chains carrying the double bill are:

AMC Theatres
Regal Cinemas
Carmike Cinemas
Marcus Theaters

As always, check your local theater listings to see who is going to be participating.



If I remember correctly, World War Z has already had a theatrical re-release so I find this a bit ridiculous. Why they chose to release it for a third time when it's going to be on DVD on September 17th is out of control.

Legendary exits Batman vs. Superman

It has already been announced that Legendary Pictures was ending their partnership with Warner Bros. and will begin partnership with Universal, but they were going to stick with them long enough to co-finance Zack Snyder's Man of Steel sequel, Batman vs. Superman (or Superman vs. Batman). In a change of events... that isn't happening anymore.

Legendary has decided to exit the Superman sequel and give up all their stake in the film in exchange for a portion of Christopher Nolan's upcoming sci-fi film Interstellar. Batman vs. Superman is not scheduled until 2015 while Interstellar hits theaters next year. This is also somewhat of a given as Legendary has partnered with Christopher Nolan for all three Batman films in the Dark Knight trilogy as well as Inception. Interstellar is being co-produced by Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros., so Legendary is probably going to see a hefty payday from this one.

Batman vs. Superman has yet to enter production or announce who will be playing Batman, but the apparent top three is Ryan Gosling (Drive, The Notebook), Josh Brolin (Jonah Hex, Oldboy), and Joe Manganiello (True Blood, Magic Mike). 
Interstellar has already compiled a pretty interstellar (ha ha ha) cast which includes Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Topher Grace, Matthew McConaughey, Michael Caine, Wes Bentley, Ellen Burstyn, John Lithgow, etc.. Production officially began earlier this week and is set for a November 7, 2014 release. 

[UPDATED] Paranormal Activity 5 delayed until 2014

2013 might be the first year since 2009 without a Paranormal Activity film. Sources say that Paramount Pictures is considering delaying the film from October 25, 2013 until an unannounced date in 2014. They are citing uncertainty that the film is exactly what they want. It has been test screened and has received positive numbers, but the studio still isn't positive it's the result they want.
Seeing that it's already mid-July and there is really no word on Paranormal Activity 5, a delay might be in order for that reason alone. Each of the previous movies has been filmed rather quickly but despite the box office numbers, the reception and feedback has steadily been declining along with the releases. If the film is delayed it is likely that most if not all of it will be re-shot. Some are guessing a possible January release, but that isn't confirmed. Either way they need to make up their minds pretty quick.

Either way, I personally think this is about money and not about them "second guessing." Horror films released in January have become quite profitable so it would make sense for them to try and capitalize on the time frame and move away from the overwhelming Halloween season. Also bear in mind that this October we will have Carrie and Oldboy that it will have to compete with. Early January is pretty vacant so they probably see it as an opportunity to get the post-Halloween crowds back in the theaters in January like they did with Texas Chainsaw 3D and The Devil Inside.
I'm also not expecting much anyway. Paranormal Activity isn't a great franchise. The plot is weird, the characters are lousy, and they aren't scary. I think people are starting to realize they suck.

UPDATE [7/17]: Paramount officially announced they have pushed Paranormal Activity 5 to January 3, 2014. It will compete with Fox's horror film Devil's Due. Paramount has filled the October 25th spot with Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa.

#ParanormalActivity5

Warner Bros. gives up rights to gain Interstellar

Warner Bros. has given up the rights to the Friday the 13th franchise along with certain rights to South Park in order to snag Christopher Nolan's upcoming film Interstellar. The studio made the move to gain most of the profit and promotion from Paramount Pictures, the studio currently making the film with Nolan. This now means a future Friday the 13th film and a portion of a future South Park film will be co-financed by the two studios. It also includes that Paramount will co-finance an unannounced future Warner Bros. project. My guess is the project will either be Justice League or a new Batman movie.

Now... let's be clear that future South Park and Friday the 13th films are not currently in production or real planning stages. Warner Bros. put Jason Vorhees on the back burner due to the fact that PG-13 horror movies are kind of popular right now so they don't want to rock the boat with an R-rated horror release. It also has something to do with the fact that Paramount had some sort of property claim on both of these as well. Now that they are back to Paramount new movies for both are pretty likely to be pushed forward.

J.J. Abrams claims Paramount would not release a non-3D movie

J.J. Abrams is now responding to the longstanding irritation with the fact that Star Trek Into Darkness, the sequel to 2009's Star Trek, will be released in 3D.
Abrams claims that in order for the movie to be made he had to agree the film would be in 3D because Paramount Pictures wouldn't release a non-3D movie. Originally Abrams said he would prefer to not do 3D but it was announced shortly after that Star Trek Into Darkness would be filmed in 2D and post-converted to 3D.

"The studio said, ‘You have to make it in 3D if you’re going to make it, for economic reasons.’ But my feeling was I didn’t like 3D. So the idea of doing Star Trek in 3D was ridiculous. But that was very helpful in some ways, because it let us work with stereographers and the 3D crew in a way that didn’t assume we just loved 3D."

Stuff like this will lead to the further spiral of Hollywood, imo. The artists don't even have the freedom to create anymore.

Paranormal Activity 5 will arrive in 2013

Yes, yes I know... another one.
Paramount announced the release of a fifth installment of the Paranormal Activity franchise. The fifth film is set for release on October 25, 2013. No details as far as directors or cast have been released, but Oren Peli and Jason Blum will once again return to produce.

I just want this franchise to end. It's run its course already, imo.

Paramount pushes World War Z to 2013

It seems as though the zombie push has gotten Hollywood a little tired as well. The upcoming adaptation of the book World War Z has been pushed to June 21, 2013. The original date was supposed to be December 21, 2012. Apparently the production was recalled to do re-shoots in Budapest so Paramount opted to release another movie, One Shot, on the December date.

Oh well. I wasn't jumping up and down for World War Z to begin with so I can handle waiting 6 more months.


http://screenrant.com/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-release-date-world-war-z-one-shot-sandy-159160/

GI Joe: Retaliation moved to March 2013

Yes, we were supposed to get the upcoming sequel to GI Joe: Rise of the Cobra in about a month, on June 29th, but Paramount Pictures has other plans for the film. It was announced that GI Joe: Retaliation has been pulled and rescheduled for a release date 9 months from now on March 29, 2013.

Why the move? To add 3D.

A studio executive at Paramount stated that they have pulled the movie to add 3D because they have seen the effect it has on the box office numbers and hope the addition will increase their foreign box office success. Although the 3D allure is seeming to have died down a bit here in the US (thank God) it is still quite popular and thriving overseas.

http://www.deadline.com/2012/05/g-i-joe-retaliation-moving-to-march-2012-to-add-3d-for-bigger-foreign-box-office/


Personally, I think this is a dumb move. There are quite a few major movies coming out that are not in 3D. One of them being Snow White and the Huntsman. Not to mention the major success of The Hunger Games and that wasn't in 3D. I think they are basing this on the success of The Avengers and nothing more. After making a big deal about a Super Bowl ad and releasing trailers paired with Battleship and The Avengers I wonder if this will bite them in the ass. It's not like a bunch of people have been dying to see GI Joe: Retaliation anyway... were they?

The Avengers will be on DVD in September

The DVD/Blu-Ray release date for The Avengers has been set for September 25th. It will three different release options; there will be a 4-disc Blu-Ray combo pack (3D Blu-Ray, Blu-Ray, DVD, Digital Copy), a regular 2-disc Blu-Ray combo pack (Blu-Ray and DVD), and a regular old school DVD. I would assume the 2-disc Blu-Ray and the DVD will also come with a digital copy, but you never know. If they don't that is really shitty on Paramount's part.

With this news I think I will skip seeing The Avengers for a third time. It will be on Blu-Ray 5 days before my birthday. I think I can handle that.