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Jan212025 by cineverseNo Comments

Josh Gad Says He Was Denied a Role in ‘Avatar’ Because He Looked Like a ‘Tall Overweight Smurf’ As a Na’vi

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By Jack Dunn According To The variety Josh Gad almost landed a role in the 2009 sci-fi epic “Avatar,” but he didn’t quite have the physical archetype James Cameron was looking for. In his new memoir, “In Gad We Trust,” the “Frozen” actor recalls while desperate to find a reprieve from starring in “The 25th Annual Putman County Spelling Bee” on Broadway, he went out to audition for other TV and film roles. And “one of the first things” he tried out for was a “new James Cameron movie called ‘Avatar.'” “I put myself on tape and shortly thereafter got a call that Cameron wanted to fly me to Los Angeles for a final callback at his Lightstorm production offices,” he said. If cast, Gad would’ve played “the role of Jake Sully’s (Sam Worthington) best friend and translator t...

Jan202025 by cineverseNo Comments

China Box Office: ‘Octopus With Broken Arms’ Retains Top Spot, ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’ Stays in Fifth Place as Business Remains Dull

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By Naman Ramachandran According To The variety The Chinese box office continued to be dominated by “Octopus With Broken Arms,” which held its top spot. The crime thriller earned RMB 60.8 million ($8.4 million) over the Jan. 17–19 weekend, bringing its cumulative total to $111.4 million, according to Artisan Gateway. Directed by Jacky Gan, the film remains a steady performer and has solidified its position as the year’s first breakout success. “Honey Money Phony,” released by Maoyan Pictures, climbed to second place with $5.2 million, pushing its cumulative gross to $50.4 million. Directed by Su Biao, the comedy about financial deception continues to attract audiences as it enters its fourth week of release. “Big World,” last week’s second-place finisher, slipped to third, earni...

Jan202025 by cineverseNo Comments

Paul,’ About a Submissive House Cleaner, and ‘Sirens Call,’ About the Merfolk Subculture, Picked Up by Syndicado Ahead of Berlinale Premieres (EXCLUSIVE)

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By Leo Barraclough According To The variety Syndicado Film Sales has boarded two films selected for Berlinale: “Paul” by Denis Côté, which has its world premiere in the Panorama Dokumente section, and “Sirens Call” by Miri Ian Gossing and Lina Sieckmann, which is part of the Forum lineup. Côté’s documentary focuses on Paul, who suffers from depression and social anxiety. He seeks safety by doing housework for dominant women, becoming the submissive “Cleaning Simp Paul.” By sharing his gently eccentric routines on social media, he combats his loneliness. Filmed from a candid, nonjudgmental perspective, “Paul” is a portrait of an eccentric but endearing person who delivers a fresh take on our quest for well-being. The producers are Hany Ouichou and Karine Bélanger of Co...

Jan202025 by cineverseNo Comments

Mufasa’ Keeps Crown as Keke Palmer’s ‘One of Them Days’ Beats ‘Wolf Man’ in Box Office Surprise

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By Rebecca Rubin According To The variety Heading into the long weekend, Universal’s “Wolf Man” reboot was projected to climb to No. 1 on domestic box office charts. Yet Sony’s “One of Them Days,” an R-rated buddy comedy starring Keke Palmer and SZA, may have the last laugh. “One of Them Days” opened at No. 2 on the higher end of expectations with $11.6 million from 2,675 North American venues over the weekend and an estimated $14 million through the extended Martin Luther King Jr. holiday frame. Against a trim $14 million budget, the well-reviewed funny film is shaping up to be a major commercial win for Sony. Meanwhile “Wolf Man” debuted below forecasts, in third place with $10.5 million from 3,354 theaters over the weekend and an estimated $12 million through the holiday...

Jan192025 by cineverseNo Comments

Why Would Warner Bros. Fire Its Marketing Chief Ahead of Its Riskiest Movie Slate in Years?

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By Rebecca Rubin According To The variety According To The variety On Jan. 7, Warner Bros. worldwide marketing chief Josh Goldstine was called into the office of his bosses, studio chiefs Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy, at the end of the day to find out that he was being let go after four years at the company. His three year-contract was renewed in early 2024, so Goldstine’s dismissal came as a surprise to many on the Burbank lot, given that he played a key role in promoting successes that range from “The Batman” and “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” to “Barbie” and “Wonka.” Goldstine’s firing was publicized the following day, at the height of the devastating Los Angeles wildfires, which some found to be in poor taste, though knowledgable individuals chalked up the timing to an u...

Jan192025 by cineverseNo Comments

Frasier’ Revival Not Moving Forward, CBS Studios Shopping for New Home After Two Seasons on Paramount+

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By Emily Longeretta According To The variety After two seasons on Paramount+, the “Frasier” revival will not be moving forward, Variety has learned. CBS Studios will shop the series, which debuted in October 2023, around to other platforms. The series, led by and executive produced by Kelsey Grammer, is a revival of the original series “Frasier,” a spinoff of “Cheers,” which aired for 11 seasons from 1993 to 2004, and won 37 Primetime Emmys. The first season of the revival didn’t take home any statues but did land three nominations. Despite being produced by CBS Studios, it doesn’t seem likely the revival would go to CBS, as they already have multiple comedies, including “The Neighborhood,” “Poppa’s House,” “George & Mandy’s First Marriage,” “Ghosts” and the&nbs...

Jan192025 by cineverseNo Comments

After L.A. Fires, Bringing Production Back Has Become More Urgent Than Ever

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By Gene Maddaus, Katcy Stephan According To The variety Survive till 2025, they said. They didn’t say what would come next. A week into the new year, wildfires devastated Pacific Palisades, Malibu and Altadena, causing an estimated $250 billion in damage. For the entertainment industry, they also disrupted production schedules, destroyed filming locations and left many workers without homes. “This is absolutely a setback,” says Colleen Bell, the executive director of the California Film Commission. “I’m sure there are some people in the entertainment sector who feel like this might be the last straw.” L.A. film workers were already struggling to recover from the pandemic, two strikes and a sharp decline in production volume. People are worried that the industry as we know it...

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