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Monday, August 1, 2016
Sunday, July 31, 2016
National Geographic Channel's "MARS" is Global Event Television
National Geographic Channel, Imagine Entertainment and RadicalMedia Redefine Television Storytelling with MARS – an Unprecedented Global Event Series
Executive Produced by Brian Grazer and Ron Howard, MARS Showcases the Dramatic Setbacks and Successes of the Modern Scientific Space Revolution, While Envisioning Humankind’s First Harrowing Attempt to Colonize the Distant Planet
MARS Premieres Globally November 2016
“When the first humans set foot on Mars, the moment will be more significant in terms of technology, philosophy, history and exploration than any that have come before it, all because we will no longer be a one-planet species.” -Stephen Petranek, author of “How We’ll Live on Mars”
WASHINGTON & BEVERLY HILLS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Of all the planets in our solar system, none has captured our collective imagination like Mars — a mysterious, indelible part of the zeitgeist. The quest to send humans to Mars has engaged the top minds in science in a modern-day space race, and it has infiltrated pop culture through blockbusters like Andy Weir’s “The Martian” and through out-of-this-world tweets from astronaut Scott Kelly. Now, National Geographic Channel (NGC), Academy Award- and Emmy-winning producers Brian Grazer, Ron Howard and Michael Rosenberg of Imagine Entertainment; and Academy Award-nominated and Emmy-winning producer Justin Wilkes and Dave O’Connor of RadicalMedia have joined forces to launch viewers farther into outer space than ever before with the global event series MARS.
“If the next president were to get up in the spring of 2017 and announce his or her commitment to send humans to Mars, we could be there by the end of that administration’s second term.”
Premiering on the National Geographic Channel in 171 countries and 45 languages this November 2016, MARS — which is set both in the future and in the present day — will redefine television storytelling by combining feature-film-quality scripted drama and visual effects with best-in-class documentary sequences to drive forward a cohesive, edge-of-your seat story of mankind’s thrilling quest to colonize Mars. This epic six-part global event series tells the inspiring story from the vantage point of a fictitious crewed mission in 2033. For more information, visit www.foxflash.com and www.MakeMarsHome.com.
“Brian [Grazer] and I, along with our friends at Radical, had this ambitious idea, which was to create a documentary about the quest to go to Mars but also bring it to life in a really dramatic and cinematic way,” said Executive Producer Ron Howard. “The offer to the audience will be information meets vivid and experiential filmmaking. Nat Geo’s ambition was high, and we are really honored and thrilled to try and meet that challenge.”
The starting point for this unique storytelling method is the year 2033, and we have embarked on the first crewed mission to MARS. As dramatic scripted elements and feature film-caliber visual effects bring this future world to life, the modern-day quest to reach the red planet is told through documentary vérité and interviews with the present-day scientists and innovators who are leading the research and development of space technology that will make the 2033 mission possible. Executive producers Howard and Grazer hand-selected visionary Mexican filmmaker Everardo Gout (“Days of Grace”) to direct the scripted portions of the series, filmed earlier this year in Budapest and Morocco.
The First Crewed Mission to MARS
MARS envisions the future of space travel funded through a corporate-public partnership of two fictional organizations: the Mars Mission Corporation (MMC), a consortium of aerospace corporations formed in 2022 and headquartered in London that builds and manages the technological hardware for the Mars program, and the International Mars Science Foundation (IMSF), which was created by a coalition of space-faring nations to carry out a mission to Mars.
The scripted portion focuses on Earth’s first crewed mission to MARS aboard the spacecraft Daedalus. Its maiden voyage in 2033 is crewed by a carefully selected international crew of six uniquely qualified astronauts, including American mission commander Ben Sawyer (Ben Cotton), Korean American mission pilot Hana Seung (Jihae), Spanish hydrologist and geochemist Javier Delgado (Alberto Ammann), French mission physician and biochemist Amelie Durand (Clementine Poidatz), Nigerian mechanical engineer and roboticist Robert Foucault (Sammi Rotibi) and Russian exobiologist and geologist Marta Kamen (Anamaria Marinca). Back on Earth, the MMC control team based in London includes Hana Seung’s twin sister, capsule communicator (CAPCOM) Joon Seung (also played by Jihae) and French CEO of the MMC Ed Grann (Olivier Martinez).
Once Daedalus successfully lands on Mars and sets up a preliminary base of operations, British nuclear physicist Leslie Richardson (Cosima Shaw) will lead a Phase 2 settlement team along with her husband, world-renowned experimental botanist Dr. Paul Richardson (John Light).
The production team took painstaking efforts to base the scripted narrative in real-world science. The series writing team worked with an extensive group of experts, both in the public and private sectors, to understand how the science could serve the story. Dr. Robert Braun, an aerospace engineer and professor of space technology at the Georgia Institute of Technology, provided expert consultation on all scientific aspects of the fictional storyline. Dr. Mae Jemison, a former NASA astronaut who holds the distinction of being the first woman of color in space, acted as a space advisor on the series, working closely with the cast to help them hone their portrayals.
In terms of the visual look of the series, production designer Sophie Becher turned to NASA and SpaceX to help inform her designs of the Daedalus spaceship and Olympus Town, the first human colony on Mars as portrayed by the series. Costume designer Daniela Ciancio extensively researched the types of fabrics being created today to make spacesuits lighter, stronger, more flexible and radiation resistant to protect the astronauts of tomorrow. And Framestore, the Academy Award-winning visual effects team behind Gravity, will layer in the final external visuals to complete the look of the series.
VISIONARIES PAVING THE PATH
MARS also showcases an unprecedented collection of interviews with the top scientific minds currently working to overcome the many obstacles that stand in the way of an eventual maiden launch. National Geographic received exclusive access to film Elon Musk (founder of Tesla and SpaceX) and his team at SpaceX mission control as they successfully landed their Falcon 9 reusable rocket on a drone ship off the East Coast of the U.S. this past April.
“The future of humanity is fundamentally going to bifurcate along one of two directions: either we’re going to become a multi-planet species and a spacefaring civilization, or we’re going to be stuck on one planet until some eventual extinction event. In order for me to be excited and inspired about the future, it’s got to be the first option,” says Musk in the series.
MARS truly brings together all of the world’s leading minds in a way never before accomplished — think of the world’s largest TED talk with the most fascinating people on Earth. Those interviewed for the series include:
The quest not only to reach Mars but also to colonize it one day has stirred vigorous debate within the space community. The question is not only “could we?” but also “should we?” Neil DeGrasse Tyson is not convinced that we have to send humans to Mars; he bets it would take less effort and less money to figure out how to survive threats to Earth than to colonize another planet in order to maintain the species: “I think we should visit planets, as you’d visit any place you’ve never been before…. But we evolved on Earth to live on Earth.”
The consensus seems to be forming that humans will eventually make the trip to Mars, but the time table for doing so also remains a point of debate. Robert Zubrin, president of The Mars Society and of Pioneer Astronautics, makes a bold assertion: “If the next president were to get up in the spring of 2017 and announce his or her commitment to send humans to Mars, we could be there by the end of that administration’s second term.”
A GLOBAL EVENT
National Geographic will extend the MARS storytelling in an unprecedented cross-platform effort, including a six-part digital companion prequel series. Before MARS, which will launch prior to the premiere, is an extensive digital virtual-reality experience at www.MakeMarsHome.com. There will also be the MARS Experience installation in New York City this October. Further, MARS will be the November cover story of National Geographic magazine and will be featured in a standalone book, “MARS: Our Future on the Red Planet,” on sale October 25, 2016. The NG Kids Book, “MARS: The Red Planet,” will go on sale September 27, 2016. There will be media and educational materials for kids; a touring NG Live speakers series; and ongoing MARS coverage on nationalgeographic.com.
MARS is produced by Imagine Entertainment and RadicalMedia for NGC. For Imagine Entertainment, Brian Grazer, Ron Howard and Michael Rosenberg are executive producers. For RadicalMedia, Justin Wilkes, Dave O’Connor, Jonathan Silberberg and Jon Kamen are executive producers. For NGC, Robert Palumbo is executive producer; Matt Renner is vice president, production; and Tim Pastore is president, original programming and production.
About National Geographic Channels
The National Geographic Channels (The Channels) form the television and production arm of National Geographic Partners, a joint venture between 21st Century Fox and the National Geographic Society. As a global leader in premium science, adventure and exploration programming, the Channels include: National Geographic Channel (NGC), Nat Geo WILD, Nat Geo People and Nat Geo MUNDO. Additionally, the Channels also run the in-house television production unit, National Geographic Studios. The Channels contribute to the National Geographic Society’s commitment to exploration, conservation and education with entertaining, innovative programming from A-level talent around the world, and with profits that help support the society’s mission. Globally, NGC is available in more than 440 million homes in 171 countries and 45 languages, and Nat Geo WILD is available in 131 countries and 38 languages. National Geographic Partners is also a leader in social media, with a fan base of 250 million people across all of its social pages. NGC contributes over 55 million social media fans globally on Facebook alone. For more information, visit www.natgeotv.com and www.natgeowild.com.
About Imagine
Imagine Entertainment was founded in 1986 by Ron Howard and Brian Grazer to create independently produced feature films, television programs and other original programming. Imagine Entertainment has been honored with more than 60 prestigious awards including 10 Academy Awards and 40 Emmy awards. Past productions include Academy Award Best Picture winner ”A Beautiful Mind,” as well as “Apollo 13,” “American Gangster,” “The Da Vinci Code,” “8 Mile,” “Liar, Liar,” “Backdraft” and “Parenthood,” to name a few. Upcoming films include “Inferno,” the third installment of the Dan Brown franchise; “American Made,” starring Tom Cruise; and “The Beatles: 8 Days a Week - The Touring Years,” a documentary about The Beatles. Current television productions include Fox’s “Empire,” “Shots Fired!” and “24: Legacy,” as well as National Geographic Channel’s Breakthrough and Genius series. Past television productions include NBC’s “Parenthood,” NBC’s “Friday Night Lights,” Fox’s “24” and “24: Live Another Day” and Fox’s and Netflix’s “Arrested Development,” as well as HBO’s “From the Earth to the Moon,” for which Howard and Grazer won the Emmy for Outstanding Mini-Series. Ron Howard and Brian Grazer began their collaboration in 1985 with the hit comedies “Night Shift” and “Splash.”
About RadicalMedia
Since 1993, RadicalMedia has produced numerous films and television programs that tell nuanced, multifaceted stories, including the Academy Award-, Emmy- and Grammy-nominated documentary “What Happened, Miss Simone?” directed by Liz Garbus; Academy Award- and Independent Spirit Award-winning documentary “The Fog of War;” Academy Award-nominated documentary, “Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory”; Grammy-winning “Concert for George”; “Under African Skies,” the Emmy award-winning documentary examining the making of the groundbreaking and controversial Paul Simon record “Graceland”; the Ron Howard-helmed Jay-Z documentary, “Made in America”; “The United States vs. James J. Bulger,” Joe Berlinger’s investigative documentary that chronicles the trial of crime boss Whitey Bulger; and the Tony Robbin’s documentary “I Am Not Your Guru” for Netflix. Recent television credits include five seasons of the Emmy-nominated series “Oprah’s Masterclass” for OWN; six seasons of “Iconoclasts” for Sundance Channel; “David Blaine: Real of Magic” for ABC; “Doc and Darryl” and “You Don’t Know Bo” for ESPN’s 30 for 30 series; “Hello World” for Discovery Channel; the Emmy-nominated “Park Bench With Steve Buscemi” for AOL; and the Emmy-winning series “10 Days That Unexpectedly Changed the World” for History Channel.
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Executive Produced by Brian Grazer and Ron Howard, MARS Showcases the Dramatic Setbacks and Successes of the Modern Scientific Space Revolution, While Envisioning Humankind’s First Harrowing Attempt to Colonize the Distant Planet
MARS Premieres Globally November 2016
“When the first humans set foot on Mars, the moment will be more significant in terms of technology, philosophy, history and exploration than any that have come before it, all because we will no longer be a one-planet species.” -Stephen Petranek, author of “How We’ll Live on Mars”
WASHINGTON & BEVERLY HILLS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Of all the planets in our solar system, none has captured our collective imagination like Mars — a mysterious, indelible part of the zeitgeist. The quest to send humans to Mars has engaged the top minds in science in a modern-day space race, and it has infiltrated pop culture through blockbusters like Andy Weir’s “The Martian” and through out-of-this-world tweets from astronaut Scott Kelly. Now, National Geographic Channel (NGC), Academy Award- and Emmy-winning producers Brian Grazer, Ron Howard and Michael Rosenberg of Imagine Entertainment; and Academy Award-nominated and Emmy-winning producer Justin Wilkes and Dave O’Connor of RadicalMedia have joined forces to launch viewers farther into outer space than ever before with the global event series MARS.
“If the next president were to get up in the spring of 2017 and announce his or her commitment to send humans to Mars, we could be there by the end of that administration’s second term.”
Premiering on the National Geographic Channel in 171 countries and 45 languages this November 2016, MARS — which is set both in the future and in the present day — will redefine television storytelling by combining feature-film-quality scripted drama and visual effects with best-in-class documentary sequences to drive forward a cohesive, edge-of-your seat story of mankind’s thrilling quest to colonize Mars. This epic six-part global event series tells the inspiring story from the vantage point of a fictitious crewed mission in 2033. For more information, visit www.foxflash.com and www.MakeMarsHome.com.
“Brian [Grazer] and I, along with our friends at Radical, had this ambitious idea, which was to create a documentary about the quest to go to Mars but also bring it to life in a really dramatic and cinematic way,” said Executive Producer Ron Howard. “The offer to the audience will be information meets vivid and experiential filmmaking. Nat Geo’s ambition was high, and we are really honored and thrilled to try and meet that challenge.”
The starting point for this unique storytelling method is the year 2033, and we have embarked on the first crewed mission to MARS. As dramatic scripted elements and feature film-caliber visual effects bring this future world to life, the modern-day quest to reach the red planet is told through documentary vérité and interviews with the present-day scientists and innovators who are leading the research and development of space technology that will make the 2033 mission possible. Executive producers Howard and Grazer hand-selected visionary Mexican filmmaker Everardo Gout (“Days of Grace”) to direct the scripted portions of the series, filmed earlier this year in Budapest and Morocco.
The First Crewed Mission to MARS
MARS envisions the future of space travel funded through a corporate-public partnership of two fictional organizations: the Mars Mission Corporation (MMC), a consortium of aerospace corporations formed in 2022 and headquartered in London that builds and manages the technological hardware for the Mars program, and the International Mars Science Foundation (IMSF), which was created by a coalition of space-faring nations to carry out a mission to Mars.
The scripted portion focuses on Earth’s first crewed mission to MARS aboard the spacecraft Daedalus. Its maiden voyage in 2033 is crewed by a carefully selected international crew of six uniquely qualified astronauts, including American mission commander Ben Sawyer (Ben Cotton), Korean American mission pilot Hana Seung (Jihae), Spanish hydrologist and geochemist Javier Delgado (Alberto Ammann), French mission physician and biochemist Amelie Durand (Clementine Poidatz), Nigerian mechanical engineer and roboticist Robert Foucault (Sammi Rotibi) and Russian exobiologist and geologist Marta Kamen (Anamaria Marinca). Back on Earth, the MMC control team based in London includes Hana Seung’s twin sister, capsule communicator (CAPCOM) Joon Seung (also played by Jihae) and French CEO of the MMC Ed Grann (Olivier Martinez).
Once Daedalus successfully lands on Mars and sets up a preliminary base of operations, British nuclear physicist Leslie Richardson (Cosima Shaw) will lead a Phase 2 settlement team along with her husband, world-renowned experimental botanist Dr. Paul Richardson (John Light).
The production team took painstaking efforts to base the scripted narrative in real-world science. The series writing team worked with an extensive group of experts, both in the public and private sectors, to understand how the science could serve the story. Dr. Robert Braun, an aerospace engineer and professor of space technology at the Georgia Institute of Technology, provided expert consultation on all scientific aspects of the fictional storyline. Dr. Mae Jemison, a former NASA astronaut who holds the distinction of being the first woman of color in space, acted as a space advisor on the series, working closely with the cast to help them hone their portrayals.
In terms of the visual look of the series, production designer Sophie Becher turned to NASA and SpaceX to help inform her designs of the Daedalus spaceship and Olympus Town, the first human colony on Mars as portrayed by the series. Costume designer Daniela Ciancio extensively researched the types of fabrics being created today to make spacesuits lighter, stronger, more flexible and radiation resistant to protect the astronauts of tomorrow. And Framestore, the Academy Award-winning visual effects team behind Gravity, will layer in the final external visuals to complete the look of the series.
VISIONARIES PAVING THE PATH
MARS also showcases an unprecedented collection of interviews with the top scientific minds currently working to overcome the many obstacles that stand in the way of an eventual maiden launch. National Geographic received exclusive access to film Elon Musk (founder of Tesla and SpaceX) and his team at SpaceX mission control as they successfully landed their Falcon 9 reusable rocket on a drone ship off the East Coast of the U.S. this past April.
“The future of humanity is fundamentally going to bifurcate along one of two directions: either we’re going to become a multi-planet species and a spacefaring civilization, or we’re going to be stuck on one planet until some eventual extinction event. In order for me to be excited and inspired about the future, it’s got to be the first option,” says Musk in the series.
MARS truly brings together all of the world’s leading minds in a way never before accomplished — think of the world’s largest TED talk with the most fascinating people on Earth. Those interviewed for the series include:
- Charles Bolden, NASA administrator; former NASA astronaut
- Peter Diamandis, founder and executive chairman, X-Prize; co-founder and co-chairman, Planetary Resources
- Neil DeGrasse Tyson, director, Hayden Planetarium at The Rose Center for Earth and Space
- David Dinges, professor, department of psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania
- Casey Dreier, director, space policy, Planetary Society
- Ann Druyan, executive producer and writer, Cosmos
- Charles Elachi, retired director, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL); professor emeritus, Caltech
- Jim Green, NASA planetary science division director
- John Grunsfeld, NASA associate administrator, Science Mission Directorate; former NASA astronaut
- Jennifer Heldmann, NASA planetary scientist
- Jedidah Isler, award-winning astrophysicist; emerging Explorer, National Geographic
- Thomas Kalil, deputy director, policy, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy; senior advisor, science, technology and innovation, National Economic Council
- Roger Launius, associate director, collections and curatorial affairs, Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum
- John Logsdon, professor emeritus, political science and international affairs, George Washington University
- James Lovell, former NASA astronaut; commander, Apollo 13 mission
- Elon Musk, CEO and chief technology officer, SpaceX; CEO, Tesla Motors; chairman, SolarCity
- Stephen Petranek, author, “How We’ll Live on Mars”
- Mary Roach, author, “Packing for Mars”
- Jennifer Trosper, Mars 2020 mission manager, JPL
- Andy Weir, author, “The Martian”
- Robert Zubrin, president, The Mars Society; president, Pioneer Astronautics
The quest not only to reach Mars but also to colonize it one day has stirred vigorous debate within the space community. The question is not only “could we?” but also “should we?” Neil DeGrasse Tyson is not convinced that we have to send humans to Mars; he bets it would take less effort and less money to figure out how to survive threats to Earth than to colonize another planet in order to maintain the species: “I think we should visit planets, as you’d visit any place you’ve never been before…. But we evolved on Earth to live on Earth.”
The consensus seems to be forming that humans will eventually make the trip to Mars, but the time table for doing so also remains a point of debate. Robert Zubrin, president of The Mars Society and of Pioneer Astronautics, makes a bold assertion: “If the next president were to get up in the spring of 2017 and announce his or her commitment to send humans to Mars, we could be there by the end of that administration’s second term.”
A GLOBAL EVENT
National Geographic will extend the MARS storytelling in an unprecedented cross-platform effort, including a six-part digital companion prequel series. Before MARS, which will launch prior to the premiere, is an extensive digital virtual-reality experience at www.MakeMarsHome.com. There will also be the MARS Experience installation in New York City this October. Further, MARS will be the November cover story of National Geographic magazine and will be featured in a standalone book, “MARS: Our Future on the Red Planet,” on sale October 25, 2016. The NG Kids Book, “MARS: The Red Planet,” will go on sale September 27, 2016. There will be media and educational materials for kids; a touring NG Live speakers series; and ongoing MARS coverage on nationalgeographic.com.
MARS is produced by Imagine Entertainment and RadicalMedia for NGC. For Imagine Entertainment, Brian Grazer, Ron Howard and Michael Rosenberg are executive producers. For RadicalMedia, Justin Wilkes, Dave O’Connor, Jonathan Silberberg and Jon Kamen are executive producers. For NGC, Robert Palumbo is executive producer; Matt Renner is vice president, production; and Tim Pastore is president, original programming and production.
About National Geographic Channels
The National Geographic Channels (The Channels) form the television and production arm of National Geographic Partners, a joint venture between 21st Century Fox and the National Geographic Society. As a global leader in premium science, adventure and exploration programming, the Channels include: National Geographic Channel (NGC), Nat Geo WILD, Nat Geo People and Nat Geo MUNDO. Additionally, the Channels also run the in-house television production unit, National Geographic Studios. The Channels contribute to the National Geographic Society’s commitment to exploration, conservation and education with entertaining, innovative programming from A-level talent around the world, and with profits that help support the society’s mission. Globally, NGC is available in more than 440 million homes in 171 countries and 45 languages, and Nat Geo WILD is available in 131 countries and 38 languages. National Geographic Partners is also a leader in social media, with a fan base of 250 million people across all of its social pages. NGC contributes over 55 million social media fans globally on Facebook alone. For more information, visit www.natgeotv.com and www.natgeowild.com.
About Imagine
Imagine Entertainment was founded in 1986 by Ron Howard and Brian Grazer to create independently produced feature films, television programs and other original programming. Imagine Entertainment has been honored with more than 60 prestigious awards including 10 Academy Awards and 40 Emmy awards. Past productions include Academy Award Best Picture winner ”A Beautiful Mind,” as well as “Apollo 13,” “American Gangster,” “The Da Vinci Code,” “8 Mile,” “Liar, Liar,” “Backdraft” and “Parenthood,” to name a few. Upcoming films include “Inferno,” the third installment of the Dan Brown franchise; “American Made,” starring Tom Cruise; and “The Beatles: 8 Days a Week - The Touring Years,” a documentary about The Beatles. Current television productions include Fox’s “Empire,” “Shots Fired!” and “24: Legacy,” as well as National Geographic Channel’s Breakthrough and Genius series. Past television productions include NBC’s “Parenthood,” NBC’s “Friday Night Lights,” Fox’s “24” and “24: Live Another Day” and Fox’s and Netflix’s “Arrested Development,” as well as HBO’s “From the Earth to the Moon,” for which Howard and Grazer won the Emmy for Outstanding Mini-Series. Ron Howard and Brian Grazer began their collaboration in 1985 with the hit comedies “Night Shift” and “Splash.”
About RadicalMedia
Since 1993, RadicalMedia has produced numerous films and television programs that tell nuanced, multifaceted stories, including the Academy Award-, Emmy- and Grammy-nominated documentary “What Happened, Miss Simone?” directed by Liz Garbus; Academy Award- and Independent Spirit Award-winning documentary “The Fog of War;” Academy Award-nominated documentary, “Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory”; Grammy-winning “Concert for George”; “Under African Skies,” the Emmy award-winning documentary examining the making of the groundbreaking and controversial Paul Simon record “Graceland”; the Ron Howard-helmed Jay-Z documentary, “Made in America”; “The United States vs. James J. Bulger,” Joe Berlinger’s investigative documentary that chronicles the trial of crime boss Whitey Bulger; and the Tony Robbin’s documentary “I Am Not Your Guru” for Netflix. Recent television credits include five seasons of the Emmy-nominated series “Oprah’s Masterclass” for OWN; six seasons of “Iconoclasts” for Sundance Channel; “David Blaine: Real of Magic” for ABC; “Doc and Darryl” and “You Don’t Know Bo” for ESPN’s 30 for 30 series; “Hello World” for Discovery Channel; the Emmy-nominated “Park Bench With Steve Buscemi” for AOL; and the Emmy-winning series “10 Days That Unexpectedly Changed the World” for History Channel.
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Negromancer News Bits and Bites from July 24th to 31st, 2016 - Update #56
Support Leroy on Patreon.
BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo: The winner of the 7/29 to 7/31/16 weekend box office is "Jason Bourne" with an estimated gross of $60 million.
From Variety: "Jason Bourne" makes a $60 million debut at the box office.
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HARRY POTTER - From TheWrap: The boy wizard is done says J.K. Rowling.
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POLITICS - From YahooNews: Trump asserts that the NFL is on his side because both are against two presidential debates that are the same time as NFL games.
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MOVIES - From CinemaBlend: Will Smith totally starstrck by Batman on set of "Suicide Squad."
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OBIT-COMICS - From MADMagazine: Jack Davis, one of the founders of "Mad Magazine," has died at the age of 91, Wednesday, July 27, 2016.
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MOVIES - From ScreenRant: John Carpenter and his fellow plaintiffs won a lawsuit against French filmmaker, Luc Besson, claiming that Besson's film, "Lockout" was plagiarized from Carpenter's cult 1981 film, Escape from New York.
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POLITICS - From YahooNews: Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump insult Khizr and Ghazala Kahn, the couple who appeared at this past weeks 2016 DNC. Khizr spoke and castigated Trump. the Kahns' son, Humayun was an Army captain and a Muslim who was killed in Iraq in 2004.
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TELEVISION - From TheWrap: "Season 8" will be the final season of HBO's Emmy-winning "Game of Thrones."
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POLITICS - From YahooNews: Women feeling empowered by Hillary Clinton's nomination.
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MOVIES - From Variety: Rising acting talent, Paul Dano, is making his directorial debut with the film, "Wildfire," based on the 1990 Richard Ford novel.
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MOVIES - From HitFix: "Avengers: Infinity War Part 1 and Part II" get title changes. "Avengers: Infinity War Part I" is not just "Avengers: Infinity War."
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MOVIES - From TheWrap: Danny Trejo wants Betty White to be in his next movie.
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POLITICS - From NYPost: Malia Obama, Barack and Michelle's older daughter, skips the DNC and goes to Lollapalooza instead, and conservatives, Obama-haters, and racists freak out.
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SPORTS/CRIME - From YahooSports: Former Boston Red Sox pitcher and World Series champion, Curt Schilling, won't face criminal charges for his video game company scam which cost Rhode Island tax payers $112 million.
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MOVIES - From TheVillageVoice: John Waters' "Multiple Maniacs" (1970) is back.
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MOVIES - From YahooMovies: 30 years of "Stand By Me," so we have an oral history of the film that almost didn't make it into theaters.
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From YahooMovies: Sometimes actors do cosplay, too.
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MOVIES - From Variety: Oprah Winfrey is in final negotiations to appear in the film, "A Wrinkle in Time," which is being directed by Ava DuVernay ("Selma"). Winfrey appeared in "Selma."
From EntertaimentWeekly: 5 things we want to see in Ava DuVernay's "A Wrinkle in Time" adaptation.
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COMICS/FILM - From ThePlaylist: Disney is developing a reboot/sequel of its 1991 film, "The Rocketeer."
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OBIT - From TheWrap: The actor and radio talk show host, Jerry Doyle, has died at the age of 60, Wednesday, July 27, 2017. He was probably best known for his role as "Michael Garibaldi" on the cult TV show, "Babylon 5."
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MUSIC - From YahooMusic: Kanye still pushin' the Taylor Swift message.
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POLITICS - From CNN: President Barack Obama's entire Democratic convention speech at the 2016 DNC.
From CNN: Some GOP are feeling jelly about President Obama's speech.
From YahooTV: People loved First Lady Michelle Obama's DNC sppech, but the designer of her dress is in awe that she chose to wear it.
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POLITICS - From CNN: Bradley Cooper was at the 2016 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, and now, some Republicans are angry. Why? Read on...
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TELEVISION - From PopSugar: 6 teaser photos from "American Horror Story" Season 6.
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TELEVISION - From PopSugar: The Netflix reboot of the "Gilmore Girls," which is called "Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life" has a premiere date: November 25, 2016.
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MOVIES - From YahooCelebrity: Kim Ledger talks about the tragic death of his son, Heath Ledger.
From YahooMovies: Jared Leto will play "The Joker" in the upcoming "Suicide Squad." He talks about playing the character after Heath Ledger, who played the Joker in "The Dark Knight," and won a posthumous Oscar for his performance.
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CRIME - From YahooNews: In 1981, John Hinkley shot and injured President Ronald Reagan and 3 others, during an assassination attempt on Reagan. He will be freed by August 5th, 2016 from a government psychiatric hospital.
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MOVIES - From IndieWire: Charlie Hunnam, the lead in "Pacific Rim," will not return for the sequel. He's not enough of a star for this to be considered a big lost. There must be at least 20 young white actors of his age and talent and overblown status that could take Hunnam's place.
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HARRY POTTER - From YahooMovies: What critics are saying about the stage play, "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child."
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CELEBRITY - From YahooCelebrity: Eddie Murphy, his current girlfriend (Paige Butcher), and ex-wife (Nicole Murphy), make nice on the red carpet.
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OBIT - From TMZ: The website is reporting that Youree Harris, best known as the iconic TV psychic, "Miss Cleo," has died at the age of 53, after a battle with cancer.
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POLITICS - From RSN: Michael Moore has five reasons Donald Trump will win the presidency.
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COMICS - From Variety: Kiersey Clemons (a breakout in "Dope") is in talks to star as "Iris West" in Warner Bros. and DC Comics' "Flash" movie next to Ezra Miller as "Flash." Rick Famumiya, the director of "Dope," is directing "Flash."
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COMIC-CON - From Refinery29: Zendaya to play a character named "Michelle" in "Spider-Man: Homecoming."
From BusinessInsider: The lead villain in "Spider-Man: Homecoming" is "Vulture."
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POLITICS - From YahooNews: First Lady Michelle Obama delivers a soaring powerful speech at the 2016 Democratic National Convention.
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CULTURE - From YahooSports: After years of relative silence, Michael Jordan is speaking out on the issues of police shootings and police shooting people. Cop killers buy sneakers, too, eh, Mike?
---------------
COMIC-CON - From BleedingCool: The links to 300 Bleeding Cool articles on the 2016 San Diego Comic-Con International in one place.
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BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo: The winner of the 7/22 to 7/24/2016 weekend box office is "Star Trek Beyond" with an estimated take of $59.6 million.
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SDCC-COMICS-FILM - From YahooNews: It did not take much convincing for Michael Rooker to appear in blue makeup for a Marvel Studios panel discussion "Guardians of the Galaxy 2."
--------------
SDCC-COMICS-FILM - From LATimes: Ben Affleck confirmed as director of standalone "Batman" film.
---------------
SDCC-TV - From YahooTV: The Comic-Con trailer for "Sherlock Holmes" Season 4 shocks viewers.
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POLITICS - From NYT: Donald Trump, Jr. has said that his father, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, would turn over foreign and domestic affairs to his vice-president, if Trump were be elected president...
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SDCC-COMICS-FILM - From Variety: Marvel vs. DC - comic book movies at Comic-Con.
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SDCC-COMICS-FILM - From YahooMovies: Comic-Con debuts a new trailer for "LEGO Batman."
---------------
SDCC-COMICS-FILM - From YahooMovies: A new, longer "Doctor Strange" trailer debuts at Comic-Con.
---------------
SDCC-COMICS-FILM - From YahooMovies: Oscar-winner Brie Larson ("Room") officially announced as Marvel Studios' "Captain Marvel." Her solo film arrives in 2019.
-- Also, Danai Gurira, "Michonne" of "The Walking Dead," was introduced as the latest member of the "Black Panther" squad.
---------------
TRAILERS:
From BleedingCool: The trailer for Zhang Yimou's "The Great Wall" with Matt Damon.
From YouTube: Teaser trailer for "xXx: The Return of Xander Cage," due in January 2017.
From YahooMovies: First teaser trailer for "T2: Trainspotting," the sequel to the film, "Trainspotting."
COMICS - From YahooMovies: First full "Wonder Woman" trailer, which debuted at San Diego Comic-Con International 2016.
COMICS - From YahooMovies: Warner Bros. unleashes footage from its "Justice League" movie.
MOVIES - From YahooMovies: King Kong is massive in "King: Skull Island."
BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo: The winner of the 7/29 to 7/31/16 weekend box office is "Jason Bourne" with an estimated gross of $60 million.
From Variety: "Jason Bourne" makes a $60 million debut at the box office.
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HARRY POTTER - From TheWrap: The boy wizard is done says J.K. Rowling.
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POLITICS - From YahooNews: Trump asserts that the NFL is on his side because both are against two presidential debates that are the same time as NFL games.
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MOVIES - From CinemaBlend: Will Smith totally starstrck by Batman on set of "Suicide Squad."
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OBIT-COMICS - From MADMagazine: Jack Davis, one of the founders of "Mad Magazine," has died at the age of 91, Wednesday, July 27, 2016.
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MOVIES - From ScreenRant: John Carpenter and his fellow plaintiffs won a lawsuit against French filmmaker, Luc Besson, claiming that Besson's film, "Lockout" was plagiarized from Carpenter's cult 1981 film, Escape from New York.
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POLITICS - From YahooNews: Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump insult Khizr and Ghazala Kahn, the couple who appeared at this past weeks 2016 DNC. Khizr spoke and castigated Trump. the Kahns' son, Humayun was an Army captain and a Muslim who was killed in Iraq in 2004.
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TELEVISION - From TheWrap: "Season 8" will be the final season of HBO's Emmy-winning "Game of Thrones."
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POLITICS - From YahooNews: Women feeling empowered by Hillary Clinton's nomination.
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MOVIES - From Variety: Rising acting talent, Paul Dano, is making his directorial debut with the film, "Wildfire," based on the 1990 Richard Ford novel.
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MOVIES - From HitFix: "Avengers: Infinity War Part 1 and Part II" get title changes. "Avengers: Infinity War Part I" is not just "Avengers: Infinity War."
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MOVIES - From TheWrap: Danny Trejo wants Betty White to be in his next movie.
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POLITICS - From NYPost: Malia Obama, Barack and Michelle's older daughter, skips the DNC and goes to Lollapalooza instead, and conservatives, Obama-haters, and racists freak out.
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SPORTS/CRIME - From YahooSports: Former Boston Red Sox pitcher and World Series champion, Curt Schilling, won't face criminal charges for his video game company scam which cost Rhode Island tax payers $112 million.
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MOVIES - From TheVillageVoice: John Waters' "Multiple Maniacs" (1970) is back.
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MOVIES - From YahooMovies: 30 years of "Stand By Me," so we have an oral history of the film that almost didn't make it into theaters.
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From YahooMovies: Sometimes actors do cosplay, too.
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MOVIES - From Variety: Oprah Winfrey is in final negotiations to appear in the film, "A Wrinkle in Time," which is being directed by Ava DuVernay ("Selma"). Winfrey appeared in "Selma."
From EntertaimentWeekly: 5 things we want to see in Ava DuVernay's "A Wrinkle in Time" adaptation.
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COMICS/FILM - From ThePlaylist: Disney is developing a reboot/sequel of its 1991 film, "The Rocketeer."
----------------
OBIT - From TheWrap: The actor and radio talk show host, Jerry Doyle, has died at the age of 60, Wednesday, July 27, 2017. He was probably best known for his role as "Michael Garibaldi" on the cult TV show, "Babylon 5."
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MUSIC - From YahooMusic: Kanye still pushin' the Taylor Swift message.
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POLITICS - From CNN: President Barack Obama's entire Democratic convention speech at the 2016 DNC.
From CNN: Some GOP are feeling jelly about President Obama's speech.
From YahooTV: People loved First Lady Michelle Obama's DNC sppech, but the designer of her dress is in awe that she chose to wear it.
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POLITICS - From CNN: Bradley Cooper was at the 2016 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, and now, some Republicans are angry. Why? Read on...
---------------
TELEVISION - From PopSugar: 6 teaser photos from "American Horror Story" Season 6.
---------------
TELEVISION - From PopSugar: The Netflix reboot of the "Gilmore Girls," which is called "Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life" has a premiere date: November 25, 2016.
----------------
MOVIES - From YahooCelebrity: Kim Ledger talks about the tragic death of his son, Heath Ledger.
From YahooMovies: Jared Leto will play "The Joker" in the upcoming "Suicide Squad." He talks about playing the character after Heath Ledger, who played the Joker in "The Dark Knight," and won a posthumous Oscar for his performance.
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CRIME - From YahooNews: In 1981, John Hinkley shot and injured President Ronald Reagan and 3 others, during an assassination attempt on Reagan. He will be freed by August 5th, 2016 from a government psychiatric hospital.
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MOVIES - From IndieWire: Charlie Hunnam, the lead in "Pacific Rim," will not return for the sequel. He's not enough of a star for this to be considered a big lost. There must be at least 20 young white actors of his age and talent and overblown status that could take Hunnam's place.
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HARRY POTTER - From YahooMovies: What critics are saying about the stage play, "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child."
---------------
CELEBRITY - From YahooCelebrity: Eddie Murphy, his current girlfriend (Paige Butcher), and ex-wife (Nicole Murphy), make nice on the red carpet.
---------------
OBIT - From TMZ: The website is reporting that Youree Harris, best known as the iconic TV psychic, "Miss Cleo," has died at the age of 53, after a battle with cancer.
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POLITICS - From RSN: Michael Moore has five reasons Donald Trump will win the presidency.
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COMICS - From Variety: Kiersey Clemons (a breakout in "Dope") is in talks to star as "Iris West" in Warner Bros. and DC Comics' "Flash" movie next to Ezra Miller as "Flash." Rick Famumiya, the director of "Dope," is directing "Flash."
---------------
COMIC-CON - From Refinery29: Zendaya to play a character named "Michelle" in "Spider-Man: Homecoming."
From BusinessInsider: The lead villain in "Spider-Man: Homecoming" is "Vulture."
---------------
POLITICS - From YahooNews: First Lady Michelle Obama delivers a soaring powerful speech at the 2016 Democratic National Convention.
---------------
CULTURE - From YahooSports: After years of relative silence, Michael Jordan is speaking out on the issues of police shootings and police shooting people. Cop killers buy sneakers, too, eh, Mike?
---------------
COMIC-CON - From BleedingCool: The links to 300 Bleeding Cool articles on the 2016 San Diego Comic-Con International in one place.
---------------
BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo: The winner of the 7/22 to 7/24/2016 weekend box office is "Star Trek Beyond" with an estimated take of $59.6 million.
---------------
SDCC-COMICS-FILM - From YahooNews: It did not take much convincing for Michael Rooker to appear in blue makeup for a Marvel Studios panel discussion "Guardians of the Galaxy 2."
--------------
SDCC-COMICS-FILM - From LATimes: Ben Affleck confirmed as director of standalone "Batman" film.
---------------
SDCC-TV - From YahooTV: The Comic-Con trailer for "Sherlock Holmes" Season 4 shocks viewers.
---------------
POLITICS - From NYT: Donald Trump, Jr. has said that his father, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, would turn over foreign and domestic affairs to his vice-president, if Trump were be elected president...
---------------
SDCC-COMICS-FILM - From Variety: Marvel vs. DC - comic book movies at Comic-Con.
---------------
SDCC-COMICS-FILM - From YahooMovies: Comic-Con debuts a new trailer for "LEGO Batman."
---------------
SDCC-COMICS-FILM - From YahooMovies: A new, longer "Doctor Strange" trailer debuts at Comic-Con.
---------------
SDCC-COMICS-FILM - From YahooMovies: Oscar-winner Brie Larson ("Room") officially announced as Marvel Studios' "Captain Marvel." Her solo film arrives in 2019.
-- Also, Danai Gurira, "Michonne" of "The Walking Dead," was introduced as the latest member of the "Black Panther" squad.
---------------
TRAILERS:
From BleedingCool: The trailer for Zhang Yimou's "The Great Wall" with Matt Damon.
From YouTube: Teaser trailer for "xXx: The Return of Xander Cage," due in January 2017.
From YahooMovies: First teaser trailer for "T2: Trainspotting," the sequel to the film, "Trainspotting."
COMICS - From YahooMovies: First full "Wonder Woman" trailer, which debuted at San Diego Comic-Con International 2016.
COMICS - From YahooMovies: Warner Bros. unleashes footage from its "Justice League" movie.
MOVIES - From YahooMovies: King Kong is massive in "King: Skull Island."
Music from "Suicide Squad" Arrives August 8th
Suicide Squad Original Motion Picture Score
Exciting new Album with music from the film features the score by Academy Award-winning composer Steven Price
BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--WaterTower Music announced the August 8, 2016 release of the Suicide Squad: Original Motion Picture Score, which features the music of British composer Steven Price (“Gravity,” “Fury”). Price has laid the musical foundation for writer/director David Ayer’s feature film “Suicide Squad,” which opens worldwide in 3D, and in 2D, and in select IMAX 3D theaters beginning August 5, 2016.
“David's film invited me to find a way to bring all of these incredible misfit outsiders together as a united force, with a thematic score that goes from moments of quiet emotion to huge action sequences”
Price, whose score for 2013’s “Gravity” was awarded the Academy Award for Best Original Score, was tasked with navigating musically the colorful storyline of an assembled team of the world’s most dangerous Super-Villains and the emotional highs and lows they experience on an impossible mission.
“David's film invited me to find a way to bring all of these incredible misfit outsiders together as a united force, with a thematic score that goes from moments of quiet emotion to huge action sequences,” explains Price. “The character's themes interact and develop as the film progresses, and we witness the birth of the Suicide Squad. The score was a huge challenge, but a fantastic amount of fun to write!”
"WaterTower Music is proud to be releasing this score,” explained label head Jason Linn. “We’re honored to have the opportunity to work again with our friend - and Academy Award-winning composer - Steven Price."
The Suicide Squad: Original Motion Picture Score will be available August 8, and can be preordered now at iTunes and Amazon. The track list is as follows:
1. Task Force X
2. Arkham Asylum
3. I'm Going To Figure This Out
4. You Make My Teeth Hurt
5. I Want To Assemble A Task Force
6. Brother Our Time Has Come
7. A Serial Killer Who Takes Credit Cards
8. A Killer App
9. That’s How I Cut and Run
10. We Got A Job To Do
11. You Die We Die
12. Harley and Joker
13. This Bird Is Baked
14. Hey Craziness
15. You Need a Miracle
16. Diablo’s Story
17. The Squad
18. Are We Friends Or Are We Foes?
19. She’s Behind You
20. One Bullet Is All I Need
21. I Thought I’d Killed You
22. The Worst Of The Worst
23. June Moone *
24. Did That Tickle? *
25. You Know The Rules Hotness *
26. Enchantress In The War Room *
27. Introducing Diablo and Croc *
28. Task Force X Activated *
29. Can Everyone See This Trippy Stuff? *
30. I Promised My Friends *
* Available on digital configurations only
About “Suicide Squad”
From writer/director David Ayer comes “Suicide Squad,” starring Will Smith, Jared Leto, Margot Robbie, Joel Kinnaman and Viola Davis. Based on the characters from DC, the film also stars Jai Courtney, Jay Hernandez, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Ike Barinholtz, Scott Eastwood, Cara Delevingne, Adam Beach, and Karen Fukuhara. It is produced by Charles Roven and Richard Suckle, with Zack Snyder, Deborah Snyder, Colin Wilson and Geoff Johns serving as executive producers. Warner Bros. Pictures presents, an Atlas Entertainment production, a film by David Ayer, “Suicide Squad.” The film will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company. The film opens worldwide in 3D, and in 2D, and in select IMAX 3D theaters August 5, 2016. “Suicide Squad” is rated PG-13 by the MPAA for sequences of violence and action throughout, disturbing behavior, suggestive content and language. www.suicidesquad.com
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Exciting new Album with music from the film features the score by Academy Award-winning composer Steven Price
BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--WaterTower Music announced the August 8, 2016 release of the Suicide Squad: Original Motion Picture Score, which features the music of British composer Steven Price (“Gravity,” “Fury”). Price has laid the musical foundation for writer/director David Ayer’s feature film “Suicide Squad,” which opens worldwide in 3D, and in 2D, and in select IMAX 3D theaters beginning August 5, 2016.
“David's film invited me to find a way to bring all of these incredible misfit outsiders together as a united force, with a thematic score that goes from moments of quiet emotion to huge action sequences”
Price, whose score for 2013’s “Gravity” was awarded the Academy Award for Best Original Score, was tasked with navigating musically the colorful storyline of an assembled team of the world’s most dangerous Super-Villains and the emotional highs and lows they experience on an impossible mission.
“David's film invited me to find a way to bring all of these incredible misfit outsiders together as a united force, with a thematic score that goes from moments of quiet emotion to huge action sequences,” explains Price. “The character's themes interact and develop as the film progresses, and we witness the birth of the Suicide Squad. The score was a huge challenge, but a fantastic amount of fun to write!”
"WaterTower Music is proud to be releasing this score,” explained label head Jason Linn. “We’re honored to have the opportunity to work again with our friend - and Academy Award-winning composer - Steven Price."
The Suicide Squad: Original Motion Picture Score will be available August 8, and can be preordered now at iTunes and Amazon. The track list is as follows:
1. Task Force X
2. Arkham Asylum
3. I'm Going To Figure This Out
4. You Make My Teeth Hurt
5. I Want To Assemble A Task Force
6. Brother Our Time Has Come
7. A Serial Killer Who Takes Credit Cards
8. A Killer App
9. That’s How I Cut and Run
10. We Got A Job To Do
11. You Die We Die
12. Harley and Joker
13. This Bird Is Baked
14. Hey Craziness
15. You Need a Miracle
16. Diablo’s Story
17. The Squad
18. Are We Friends Or Are We Foes?
19. She’s Behind You
20. One Bullet Is All I Need
21. I Thought I’d Killed You
22. The Worst Of The Worst
23. June Moone *
24. Did That Tickle? *
25. You Know The Rules Hotness *
26. Enchantress In The War Room *
27. Introducing Diablo and Croc *
28. Task Force X Activated *
29. Can Everyone See This Trippy Stuff? *
30. I Promised My Friends *
* Available on digital configurations only
About “Suicide Squad”
From writer/director David Ayer comes “Suicide Squad,” starring Will Smith, Jared Leto, Margot Robbie, Joel Kinnaman and Viola Davis. Based on the characters from DC, the film also stars Jai Courtney, Jay Hernandez, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Ike Barinholtz, Scott Eastwood, Cara Delevingne, Adam Beach, and Karen Fukuhara. It is produced by Charles Roven and Richard Suckle, with Zack Snyder, Deborah Snyder, Colin Wilson and Geoff Johns serving as executive producers. Warner Bros. Pictures presents, an Atlas Entertainment production, a film by David Ayer, “Suicide Squad.” The film will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company. The film opens worldwide in 3D, and in 2D, and in select IMAX 3D theaters August 5, 2016. “Suicide Squad” is rated PG-13 by the MPAA for sequences of violence and action throughout, disturbing behavior, suggestive content and language. www.suicidesquad.com
---------------------
Saturday, July 30, 2016
New "xXx: The Return of Xander Cage" Trailer is Triple Popular
“xXx: THE RETURN OF XANDER CAGE” TRAILER RECEIVED MORE THAN 100 MILLION
ONLINE VIEWS IN ITS FIRST WEEK, THE FASTEST FOR ANY PARAMOUNT PICTURES FILM
HOLLYWOOD, CA – The new trailer for Paramount Pictures and Revolution Studios’ “xXx: THE RETURN OF XANDER CAGE” generated more than 100 million views across Facebook and YouTube in its first week of release, the fastest to reach that number for any Paramount Pictures film. The trailer, which offers fans a sneak peek at Vin Diesel reprising his iconic role as an extreme athlete-turned-superspy, debuted online July 19, 2016. “xXx: THE RETURN OF XANDER CAGE” opens in theaters January 20, 2017.
The third explosive chapter of the blockbuster franchise that redefined the spy thriller finds extreme athlete turned government operative Xander Cage (Vin Diesel) coming out of self-imposed exile and on a collision course with deadly alpha warrior Xiang and his team in a race to recover a sinister and seemingly unstoppable weapon known as Pandora’s Box. Recruiting an all-new group of thrill-seeking cohorts, Xander finds himself enmeshed in a deadly conspiracy that points to collusion at the highest levels of world governments. Packed with the series’ signature deadpan wit and bad-ass attitude, “xXx: THE RETURN OF XANDER CAGE” will raise the bar on extreme action with some of the most mind-blowing stunts to ever be caught on film.
The film is directed by D.J. Caruso and produced by Joe Roth, Jeff Kirschenbaum, Vin Diesel and Samantha Vincent.
View the trailer here.
About Paramount Pictures Corporation
Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, is a unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. Paramount controls a collection of some of the most powerful brands in filmed entertainment, including Paramount Pictures, Paramount Animation, Paramount Television, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, Insurge Pictures, MTV Films, and Nickelodeon Movies. PPC operations also include Paramount Home Media Distribution, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., and Paramount Studio Group.
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ONLINE VIEWS IN ITS FIRST WEEK, THE FASTEST FOR ANY PARAMOUNT PICTURES FILM
HOLLYWOOD, CA – The new trailer for Paramount Pictures and Revolution Studios’ “xXx: THE RETURN OF XANDER CAGE” generated more than 100 million views across Facebook and YouTube in its first week of release, the fastest to reach that number for any Paramount Pictures film. The trailer, which offers fans a sneak peek at Vin Diesel reprising his iconic role as an extreme athlete-turned-superspy, debuted online July 19, 2016. “xXx: THE RETURN OF XANDER CAGE” opens in theaters January 20, 2017.
The third explosive chapter of the blockbuster franchise that redefined the spy thriller finds extreme athlete turned government operative Xander Cage (Vin Diesel) coming out of self-imposed exile and on a collision course with deadly alpha warrior Xiang and his team in a race to recover a sinister and seemingly unstoppable weapon known as Pandora’s Box. Recruiting an all-new group of thrill-seeking cohorts, Xander finds himself enmeshed in a deadly conspiracy that points to collusion at the highest levels of world governments. Packed with the series’ signature deadpan wit and bad-ass attitude, “xXx: THE RETURN OF XANDER CAGE” will raise the bar on extreme action with some of the most mind-blowing stunts to ever be caught on film.
The film is directed by D.J. Caruso and produced by Joe Roth, Jeff Kirschenbaum, Vin Diesel and Samantha Vincent.
View the trailer here.
About Paramount Pictures Corporation
Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, is a unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. Paramount controls a collection of some of the most powerful brands in filmed entertainment, including Paramount Pictures, Paramount Animation, Paramount Television, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, Insurge Pictures, MTV Films, and Nickelodeon Movies. PPC operations also include Paramount Home Media Distribution, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., and Paramount Studio Group.
---------------------
National Geographic Channel Announces Scripted Series, "The Long Road Home"
National Geographic Channel Greenlights Global Scripted Event Series Based on Martha Raddatz’s New York Times Best-Seller, The Long Road Home
Produced by Mike Medavoy and Jason Clark, Critically Acclaimed Screenwriter Mikko Alanne (“The 33”) Is Adapting Epic Story of Survival for Television
WASHINGTON & LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--National Geographic Channel executive vice president and head of global scripted programming and development Carolyn Bernstein announced ahead of its TCA session that the network has picked up the global scripted miniseries The Long Road Home, based on the New York Times best-seller from Martha Raddatz. First announced as a development deal in November, the network has officially greenlit the eight-hour event series with executive producers Mike Medavoy, Jason Clark, Benjamin Anderson and Edward McGurn. Screenwriter Mikko Alanne (“The 33”) is adapting and also executive producing this epic story of survival for television. Production will begin in early 2017 and is slated to air later in the year in 440 million homes in 171 countries and in 45 languages.
“Act of Valor, the award-winning thriller “Cabin in the Woods”
Hailed by critics as “a masterpiece of literary nonfiction that rivals any war-related classic that has preceded it” and “a truly great book about men, women and raw courage,” The Long Road Home will relive a heroic fight for survival during the Iraq War when the First Cavalry Division from Fort Hood, Texas, was ferociously ambushed on April 4, 2004, in Sadr City, Baghdad — a day that came to be known in military annals as “Black Sunday.”
The event series will cut between the soldiers on the ground and the homefront in Texas, where their wives and families await news for 48 hellish hours, expecting the worst. The incident, which took place 11 months after President George W. Bush’s “Mission Accomplished” speech, changed the American military’s view of Iraq from a peacekeeping mission to a fight against domestic insurgents.
“With The Long Road Home, we’re going to tell the inspiring story of the selfless heroism and bravery of U.S. soldiers in extraordinary and terrifying circumstances. We’re also going to shine a light on the sisterhood formed by their wives on the homefront as they rally around each other awaiting news of their husbands’ fates,” said Bernstein. “We are so pleased to partner with Mike Medavoy, a producer with a remarkable list of credits, including some of cinema’s most iconic military dramas, along with Jason Clark, president of Seth MacFarlane’s Fuzzy Door Productions, and Mikko Alanne to bring the universal and timeless story of these courageous warriors and their equally courageous wives to Nat Geo.”
“By partnering with National Geographic and Jason, and with Mikko as our skillful storyteller, we hope to tell a visceral story of courage and survival,” said Medavoy. “We’re going to tap into the global audience that only National Geographic can provide to tell the dramatic story of the inspiring and unforgettable events of ‘Black Sunday.’”
“Chronicling every moment of this unexpected day, we are not only capturing a remarkable story of bravery and survival of these soldiers and revealing the anguish of their families at home, but also showing the triumph of the human spirit against incalculable odds,” said Clark.
“Writing about this battle, which came so suddenly for the soldiers who had just days before been in the embrace of their loved ones, has been the most profound experience I have had as a journalist. The courage I witnessed, the heartache and the survival of spirit both on the battlefield and the homefront, is something I wanted to share with as many people as possible,” said Raddatz. “I am thrilled that National Geographic, along with this incredible team of producers, is going to expand the audience for this epic tale of heroism and sacrifice. These soldiers and their families could not be in better hands.”
“The Long Road Home is an unforgettable account of extraordinary courage before impossible odds, but also a universal and timeless story of men and women facing war for the first time in their lives. This series truly illuminates what sacrifice and bravery mean to our nation’s military families,” said Alanne.
“It’s a privilege to be producing such an important and meaningful event in our recent history,” said Anderson. “By telling this story, we can honor the brave men and women who live a life of service for our country, as well as the families that stand by them while they do it.”
“This is a story about bravery, brotherhood and the heroic sacrifices we ask our armed forces and their families to make in our name. Through the prism of this one battle, our goal with The Long Road Home is to portray the totality of the experience of war, from both sides of the struggle, in a way that only a large-canvas, eight-hour format can afford,” said McGurn, who worked with Alanne on “The 33” as a producer and has been working with him on this project.
Alanne is repped by CAA and Media Talent Group. Mike Medavoy, Benjamin Anderson and Edward McGurn are with Gang Tyre Ramer Brown. Jason Clark is repped by Jackoway Tyerman Wertheimer Austen Mandelbaum Morris & Klein.
About The Long Road Home
The First Cavalry Division came under surprise attack in Sadr City on April 4, 2004 — now known as “Black Sunday.” On the homefront, over 7,000 miles away, their families awaited the news for 48 hellish hours — expecting the worst. ABC News Chief Global Affairs Correspondent Martha Raddatz shares remarkable tales of heroism, hope and heartbreak.
National Geographic Channels
The National Geographic Channels (The Channels) form the television and production arm of National Geographic Partners, a joint venture between 21st Century Fox and the National Geographic Society. As a global leader in premium science, adventure and exploration programming, the Channels include: National Geographic Channel (NGC), Nat Geo WILD, Nat Geo People and Nat Geo MUNDO. Additionally, the Channels also run the in-house television production unit, National Geographic Studios. The Channels contribute to the National Geographic Society’s commitment to exploration, conservation and education with entertaining, innovative programming from A-level talent around the world, and with profits that help support the society’s mission. Globally, NGC is available in more than 440 million homes in 171 countries and 45 languages, and Nat Geo WILD is available in 131 countries and 38 languages. National Geographic Partners is also a leader in social media, with a fan base of 250 million people across all of its social pages. NGC contributes over 55 million social media fans globally on Facebook alone. For more information, visit www.natgeotv.com and www.natgeowild.com.
About Mike Medavoy
For the past 50 years, Mike Medavoy has brought quality films to audiences around the world under the labels of United Artist, Orion, Tristar and Phoenix Pictures. Medavoy has established a reputation for consistently developing first-rate projects with some of Hollywood’s top creative talent.
With over 321 films as a producer and studio head to his credit, Medavoy has collaborated with sought-after director talents such as Martin Scorsese, David Fincher, Darren Aronofsky, Oliver Stone, Milos Forman, Andy Davis, Bryan Singer and Terrence Malick, as well as some of the industry’s biggest stars, including Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert Downey Jr., Sean Penn, Arnold Schwarzenegger, John Travolta, Ben Kingsley, Kate Winslet, John Cusack, Jude Law, Renee Zellwegger, Kirsten Dunst, Michelle Williams, Edward Norton, Samuel L. Jackson, Robin Williams, Shia LaBeouf, Jake Gyllenhaal, Ewan McGregor, Mark Ruffalo, Sigourney Weaver, Jennifer Lopez, Anthony Hopkins, Jamie Foxx, Eva Mendes, Adrien Brody, Woody Harrelson, Nick Nolte, Ian McKellen, Barbra Streisand and Jeff Bridges.
Today, he works closely with two young and talented producers in Benjamin Anderson and Edward McGurn, who are both executive producing The Long Road Home with him and Jason Clark.
About Mikko Alanne
Mikko Alanne is a screenwriter and producer based in Los Angeles. Alanne and Medavoy most recently collaborated on the Chilean miner rescue drama “The 33,” released by Warner Bros. and Alcon Entertainment. Previous to his work as a screenwriter, Alanne was a historical content supervisor for Steven Spielberg’s Survivors of the Shoah Visual History Foundation, now the USC Shoah Foundation Institute.
About Jason Clark
Jason Clark has established a reputation as an innovative producer in the world of live-action and CGI feature films and television, working with a remarkable community of esteemed directors, writers and artists to bring stories and characters to life. He was recently named president of production of Seth MacFarlane’s Fuzzy Door shingle, where he oversees all areas of production and development for its current film and television slate. Alongside MacFarlane, Clark worked on the comedy hits “Ted,” “Ted 2” and “A Million Ways to Die in the West.” In addition, he executive produced “Mr. Peabody & Sherman” for Dreamworks, the military drama “Act of Valor, the award-winning thriller “Cabin in the Woods,” the biographical sports film “42” and the stereoscopic 3-D film “Monster House,” which went on to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. For television, Clark served as co-executive producer on Fox and National Geographic’s award-winning series “Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey,” which garnered him a PGA Award for Outstanding Producer of Non-Fiction Television. The show also went on to receive four Primetime Emmy awards, a Peabody Award, two Critics Choice Television Awards, a Television Critics Association Award and nominations for a WGA Award and 13 Primetime Emmy awards, including Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series. Up next, Clark will serve as an executive producer on MacFarlane’s new live-action comedic drama series on Fox.
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Produced by Mike Medavoy and Jason Clark, Critically Acclaimed Screenwriter Mikko Alanne (“The 33”) Is Adapting Epic Story of Survival for Television
WASHINGTON & LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--National Geographic Channel executive vice president and head of global scripted programming and development Carolyn Bernstein announced ahead of its TCA session that the network has picked up the global scripted miniseries The Long Road Home, based on the New York Times best-seller from Martha Raddatz. First announced as a development deal in November, the network has officially greenlit the eight-hour event series with executive producers Mike Medavoy, Jason Clark, Benjamin Anderson and Edward McGurn. Screenwriter Mikko Alanne (“The 33”) is adapting and also executive producing this epic story of survival for television. Production will begin in early 2017 and is slated to air later in the year in 440 million homes in 171 countries and in 45 languages.
“Act of Valor, the award-winning thriller “Cabin in the Woods”
Hailed by critics as “a masterpiece of literary nonfiction that rivals any war-related classic that has preceded it” and “a truly great book about men, women and raw courage,” The Long Road Home will relive a heroic fight for survival during the Iraq War when the First Cavalry Division from Fort Hood, Texas, was ferociously ambushed on April 4, 2004, in Sadr City, Baghdad — a day that came to be known in military annals as “Black Sunday.”
The event series will cut between the soldiers on the ground and the homefront in Texas, where their wives and families await news for 48 hellish hours, expecting the worst. The incident, which took place 11 months after President George W. Bush’s “Mission Accomplished” speech, changed the American military’s view of Iraq from a peacekeeping mission to a fight against domestic insurgents.
“With The Long Road Home, we’re going to tell the inspiring story of the selfless heroism and bravery of U.S. soldiers in extraordinary and terrifying circumstances. We’re also going to shine a light on the sisterhood formed by their wives on the homefront as they rally around each other awaiting news of their husbands’ fates,” said Bernstein. “We are so pleased to partner with Mike Medavoy, a producer with a remarkable list of credits, including some of cinema’s most iconic military dramas, along with Jason Clark, president of Seth MacFarlane’s Fuzzy Door Productions, and Mikko Alanne to bring the universal and timeless story of these courageous warriors and their equally courageous wives to Nat Geo.”
“By partnering with National Geographic and Jason, and with Mikko as our skillful storyteller, we hope to tell a visceral story of courage and survival,” said Medavoy. “We’re going to tap into the global audience that only National Geographic can provide to tell the dramatic story of the inspiring and unforgettable events of ‘Black Sunday.’”
“Chronicling every moment of this unexpected day, we are not only capturing a remarkable story of bravery and survival of these soldiers and revealing the anguish of their families at home, but also showing the triumph of the human spirit against incalculable odds,” said Clark.
“Writing about this battle, which came so suddenly for the soldiers who had just days before been in the embrace of their loved ones, has been the most profound experience I have had as a journalist. The courage I witnessed, the heartache and the survival of spirit both on the battlefield and the homefront, is something I wanted to share with as many people as possible,” said Raddatz. “I am thrilled that National Geographic, along with this incredible team of producers, is going to expand the audience for this epic tale of heroism and sacrifice. These soldiers and their families could not be in better hands.”
“The Long Road Home is an unforgettable account of extraordinary courage before impossible odds, but also a universal and timeless story of men and women facing war for the first time in their lives. This series truly illuminates what sacrifice and bravery mean to our nation’s military families,” said Alanne.
“It’s a privilege to be producing such an important and meaningful event in our recent history,” said Anderson. “By telling this story, we can honor the brave men and women who live a life of service for our country, as well as the families that stand by them while they do it.”
“This is a story about bravery, brotherhood and the heroic sacrifices we ask our armed forces and their families to make in our name. Through the prism of this one battle, our goal with The Long Road Home is to portray the totality of the experience of war, from both sides of the struggle, in a way that only a large-canvas, eight-hour format can afford,” said McGurn, who worked with Alanne on “The 33” as a producer and has been working with him on this project.
Alanne is repped by CAA and Media Talent Group. Mike Medavoy, Benjamin Anderson and Edward McGurn are with Gang Tyre Ramer Brown. Jason Clark is repped by Jackoway Tyerman Wertheimer Austen Mandelbaum Morris & Klein.
About The Long Road Home
The First Cavalry Division came under surprise attack in Sadr City on April 4, 2004 — now known as “Black Sunday.” On the homefront, over 7,000 miles away, their families awaited the news for 48 hellish hours — expecting the worst. ABC News Chief Global Affairs Correspondent Martha Raddatz shares remarkable tales of heroism, hope and heartbreak.
National Geographic Channels
The National Geographic Channels (The Channels) form the television and production arm of National Geographic Partners, a joint venture between 21st Century Fox and the National Geographic Society. As a global leader in premium science, adventure and exploration programming, the Channels include: National Geographic Channel (NGC), Nat Geo WILD, Nat Geo People and Nat Geo MUNDO. Additionally, the Channels also run the in-house television production unit, National Geographic Studios. The Channels contribute to the National Geographic Society’s commitment to exploration, conservation and education with entertaining, innovative programming from A-level talent around the world, and with profits that help support the society’s mission. Globally, NGC is available in more than 440 million homes in 171 countries and 45 languages, and Nat Geo WILD is available in 131 countries and 38 languages. National Geographic Partners is also a leader in social media, with a fan base of 250 million people across all of its social pages. NGC contributes over 55 million social media fans globally on Facebook alone. For more information, visit www.natgeotv.com and www.natgeowild.com.
About Mike Medavoy
For the past 50 years, Mike Medavoy has brought quality films to audiences around the world under the labels of United Artist, Orion, Tristar and Phoenix Pictures. Medavoy has established a reputation for consistently developing first-rate projects with some of Hollywood’s top creative talent.
With over 321 films as a producer and studio head to his credit, Medavoy has collaborated with sought-after director talents such as Martin Scorsese, David Fincher, Darren Aronofsky, Oliver Stone, Milos Forman, Andy Davis, Bryan Singer and Terrence Malick, as well as some of the industry’s biggest stars, including Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert Downey Jr., Sean Penn, Arnold Schwarzenegger, John Travolta, Ben Kingsley, Kate Winslet, John Cusack, Jude Law, Renee Zellwegger, Kirsten Dunst, Michelle Williams, Edward Norton, Samuel L. Jackson, Robin Williams, Shia LaBeouf, Jake Gyllenhaal, Ewan McGregor, Mark Ruffalo, Sigourney Weaver, Jennifer Lopez, Anthony Hopkins, Jamie Foxx, Eva Mendes, Adrien Brody, Woody Harrelson, Nick Nolte, Ian McKellen, Barbra Streisand and Jeff Bridges.
Today, he works closely with two young and talented producers in Benjamin Anderson and Edward McGurn, who are both executive producing The Long Road Home with him and Jason Clark.
About Mikko Alanne
Mikko Alanne is a screenwriter and producer based in Los Angeles. Alanne and Medavoy most recently collaborated on the Chilean miner rescue drama “The 33,” released by Warner Bros. and Alcon Entertainment. Previous to his work as a screenwriter, Alanne was a historical content supervisor for Steven Spielberg’s Survivors of the Shoah Visual History Foundation, now the USC Shoah Foundation Institute.
About Jason Clark
Jason Clark has established a reputation as an innovative producer in the world of live-action and CGI feature films and television, working with a remarkable community of esteemed directors, writers and artists to bring stories and characters to life. He was recently named president of production of Seth MacFarlane’s Fuzzy Door shingle, where he oversees all areas of production and development for its current film and television slate. Alongside MacFarlane, Clark worked on the comedy hits “Ted,” “Ted 2” and “A Million Ways to Die in the West.” In addition, he executive produced “Mr. Peabody & Sherman” for Dreamworks, the military drama “Act of Valor, the award-winning thriller “Cabin in the Woods,” the biographical sports film “42” and the stereoscopic 3-D film “Monster House,” which went on to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. For television, Clark served as co-executive producer on Fox and National Geographic’s award-winning series “Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey,” which garnered him a PGA Award for Outstanding Producer of Non-Fiction Television. The show also went on to receive four Primetime Emmy awards, a Peabody Award, two Critics Choice Television Awards, a Television Critics Association Award and nominations for a WGA Award and 13 Primetime Emmy awards, including Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series. Up next, Clark will serve as an executive producer on MacFarlane’s new live-action comedic drama series on Fox.
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"Central Intelligence" Doing Smart Box Office Worldwide
“Central Intelligence” Scores $200 Million at Global Box Office
Dwayne Johnson/Kevin Hart Starrer is Year’s Highest-Grossing Action Comedy Worldwide
BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--“Central Intelligence,” the new film from director Rawson Marshall Thurber that pairs fan favorites Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart, crosses the $200 million mark at the global box office today, making it the highest-earning action comedy of 2016, to date, worldwide.
“With their impeccable comedic timing, Dwayne and Kevin have proven to be the driving force behind ‘Central Intelligence’s’ global success. We are thrilled to continue our relationship with such incredible talent and filmmakers, and that our partnership with New Line and Warner Bros. on this film has been so successful.”
“Central Intelligence,” from New Line Cinema, Universal Pictures and Warner Bros. Pictures, made its June 17th, 2016 North American debut with an impressive opening weekend total of $35.5 million. Propelled by enthusiastic word-of-mouth, an A- Cinema Score and the star power of Johnson and Hart, it has gone on to a record-setting domestic run, with a current estimate of $125.6 million.
The film is also enjoying robust international returns at an estimated $75.9 million, bringing it to a cumulative worldwide box office total of more than $200 million, with additional territories yet to open.
Veronika Kwan Vandenberg, President of Worldwide Distribution for Warner Bros. Pictures, stated: “We knew audiences would respond to the unbeatable chemistry of Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart in this fun, action-packed comedy. ‘Central Intelligence’ plays big and delivers across a wide demographic. Congratulations to our partners at New Line and Universal, to director Rawson Marshall Thurber, and to all the talented people behind this worldwide hit.”
Said Duncan Clark, President of Universal Pictures International, “With their impeccable comedic timing, Dwayne and Kevin have proven to be the driving force behind ‘Central Intelligence’s’ global success. We are thrilled to continue our relationship with such incredible talent and filmmakers, and that our partnership with New Line and Warner Bros. on this film has been so successful.”
“Central Intelligence” follows a one-time bullied geek, Bob (Johnson), who grew up to be a lethal CIA agent, coming home for his high school reunion. Claiming to be on a top-secret case, Bob enlists the help of former “big man on campus” Calvin (Hart), now an accountant who misses his glory days. But before the staid numbers-cruncher realizes what he’s getting into, it’s too late to get out, as his increasingly unpredictable new friend drags him through a world of shoot-outs, double-crosses and espionage that could get them both killed in more ways than Calvin can count.
The film also stars Amy Ryan, Aaron Paul and Danielle Nicolet.
“Central Intelligence” is directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber, from a screenplay by Ike Barinholtz & David Stassen and Rawson Marshall Thurber; story by Ike Barinholtz & David Stassen. It is produced by Scott Stuber, Peter Principato, Paul Young and Michael Fottrell, with executive producers Toby Emmerich, Richard Brener, Samuel J. Brown, Michael Disco and Ed Helms. The creative filmmaking team includes director of photography Barry Peterson, production designer Stephen Lineweaver, editors Mike Sale and Brian Olds, and costume designer Carol Ramsey. The music is by Theodore Shapiro and Ludwig Göransson.
New Line Cinema and Universal Pictures present, a Bluegrass Films/Principato Young Entertainment Production, a Rawson Marshall Thurber Film, “Central Intelligence.” It will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.
This film is rated PG-13 for crude and suggestive humor, some nudity, action violence and brief strong language.
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Dwayne Johnson/Kevin Hart Starrer is Year’s Highest-Grossing Action Comedy Worldwide
BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--“Central Intelligence,” the new film from director Rawson Marshall Thurber that pairs fan favorites Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart, crosses the $200 million mark at the global box office today, making it the highest-earning action comedy of 2016, to date, worldwide.
“With their impeccable comedic timing, Dwayne and Kevin have proven to be the driving force behind ‘Central Intelligence’s’ global success. We are thrilled to continue our relationship with such incredible talent and filmmakers, and that our partnership with New Line and Warner Bros. on this film has been so successful.”
“Central Intelligence,” from New Line Cinema, Universal Pictures and Warner Bros. Pictures, made its June 17th, 2016 North American debut with an impressive opening weekend total of $35.5 million. Propelled by enthusiastic word-of-mouth, an A- Cinema Score and the star power of Johnson and Hart, it has gone on to a record-setting domestic run, with a current estimate of $125.6 million.
The film is also enjoying robust international returns at an estimated $75.9 million, bringing it to a cumulative worldwide box office total of more than $200 million, with additional territories yet to open.
Veronika Kwan Vandenberg, President of Worldwide Distribution for Warner Bros. Pictures, stated: “We knew audiences would respond to the unbeatable chemistry of Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart in this fun, action-packed comedy. ‘Central Intelligence’ plays big and delivers across a wide demographic. Congratulations to our partners at New Line and Universal, to director Rawson Marshall Thurber, and to all the talented people behind this worldwide hit.”
Said Duncan Clark, President of Universal Pictures International, “With their impeccable comedic timing, Dwayne and Kevin have proven to be the driving force behind ‘Central Intelligence’s’ global success. We are thrilled to continue our relationship with such incredible talent and filmmakers, and that our partnership with New Line and Warner Bros. on this film has been so successful.”
“Central Intelligence” follows a one-time bullied geek, Bob (Johnson), who grew up to be a lethal CIA agent, coming home for his high school reunion. Claiming to be on a top-secret case, Bob enlists the help of former “big man on campus” Calvin (Hart), now an accountant who misses his glory days. But before the staid numbers-cruncher realizes what he’s getting into, it’s too late to get out, as his increasingly unpredictable new friend drags him through a world of shoot-outs, double-crosses and espionage that could get them both killed in more ways than Calvin can count.
The film also stars Amy Ryan, Aaron Paul and Danielle Nicolet.
“Central Intelligence” is directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber, from a screenplay by Ike Barinholtz & David Stassen and Rawson Marshall Thurber; story by Ike Barinholtz & David Stassen. It is produced by Scott Stuber, Peter Principato, Paul Young and Michael Fottrell, with executive producers Toby Emmerich, Richard Brener, Samuel J. Brown, Michael Disco and Ed Helms. The creative filmmaking team includes director of photography Barry Peterson, production designer Stephen Lineweaver, editors Mike Sale and Brian Olds, and costume designer Carol Ramsey. The music is by Theodore Shapiro and Ludwig Göransson.
New Line Cinema and Universal Pictures present, a Bluegrass Films/Principato Young Entertainment Production, a Rawson Marshall Thurber Film, “Central Intelligence.” It will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.
This film is rated PG-13 for crude and suggestive humor, some nudity, action violence and brief strong language.
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