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Disney Sued for Ripping Off Cars Script, Sequel Delayed?

Cars

Jake Mandeville-Anthony, U.K. screenwriter, has just filed an injunction to stop the June 24 release of the highly-anticipated Disney/Pixar sequel, Cars 2. His claim? The uber-company ripped off his script -- Cars was his idea in the first place.

Mandeville-Anthony says he originally submitted a script in the 90s, a three-part screenplay named “Cookie & Co.” and another piece titled “Cars.” His “Cars” contained a sample screenplay, animated car character descriptions, character sketches… even a marketing and merchandising plan. The writer alleges that he submitted his work to Disney and met with Lucasfilm exec Jim Morris in 1993. Morris would go on to join Pixar in 2005. He is now the company’s general manager.

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VIDEO: See the Cars 2 Trailer

Lightning and Mater are back. Owen Wilson and Larry the Cable Guy have reprised their respective voice roles to create Cars 2, the high-octane sequel to the successful animated comedy that revolves around a racecar.

In this new adventure, Lightning must test his engine against the other cars competing in the World Grand Prix. The circuit will take him to Tokyo, London and the Italian Riviera.

If he makes it that far! A new villain adds a new wrinkle to the story that kids are sure to love (and maybe, a few adults too). Watch the entire trailer above.

Cars 2 will zoom into theaters on June 24.

Read More | E! Online

Box Office Breakdown: Weak Showing for Country Strong

Country Strong

Gwyneth Paltrow's appearances on Glee, the Country Music Awards and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon couldn't help her film's performance at the box office.

Country Strong's first week in wide release strummed up less than $10 million over the past three days. The good news? The film only cost approximately $12 million to produce. In comparison, True Grit -- another film in its third week -- finally rode past Little Fockers for a first-place finish.

Meanwhile, Season of the Witch, the only other new entry in the Top Ten, fired up $10.6 million. That was enough to give the Nicolas Cage feature a third place debut.

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Read More | Box Office Mojo

Box Office Breakdown: Coen Brothers Show True Grit

True Grit

Their film didn't top the box office, nor did it have the best per screen average -- but Joel and Ethan Coen still have reason to smile.

, a two-time second-place finisher, has now grossed $86.7 million domestically -- a new record for the writing/directing duo. The Western, which added another $24.4 million to its total this past weekend, has officially surpassed the Coen brothers' previous record. (No Country for Old Men, released in 2007, raised $74.3 million.)

The only other notable item in the Top Ten this week was . The critically-acclaimed film replaced The Tourist in the tenth-place spot and averaged $11,108 per theater.

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Read More | Box Office Mojo

Box Office Breakdown: Big Win for Little Fockers

Little Fockers

A lack of a clear plot apparently meant very little to theatergoers this past weekend.

Little Fockers, which added another $30.8 million in ticket sales ($45.1 million since Wednesday) to the Fockers series, finished in first place after the holiday frame. Although the Ben Stiller/Robert De Niro production failed to top Meet the Fockers’ debut in 2004 ($46.1 million), the comedy did bring in more than the 2000 original. (Meet the Parents opened to $28.6 million.)

Meanwhile, the Jeff Bridges from the past found himself passing the Jeff Bridges from the future. True Grit, costarring Matt Damon and Hailee Steinfeld, roped in $24.9 million – the best number for the Coen brothers to date – and second place. The Western wound up landing just one notch above Tron, Bridges’ current sci-fi entry.

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Read More | Box Office Mojo

Box Office Breakdown: Dawn Treader Sails Past Depp, Jolie

Voyage of the Dawn Treader

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader sailed to a first place finish this weekend despite a lackluster start. The latest C.S. Lewis adaptation – which was produced for an estimated $145 million – earned only $24 million in domestic sales. That figure is $31 million less than Prince Caspian’s debut and approximately $41 million below The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’s premiere.

Landing into second place was The Tourist, which rang in a disappointing $16.5 million. Although the film boasted two big A-list stars (Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie), the thriller turned in Depp’s smallest open for a wide release since 1999’s The Astronaut’s Wife.

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Read More | Box Office Mojo

Box Office Breakdown: Tangled Climbs Above Potter

Tangled duo

You can’t keep a good woman with long locks down.

Despite initially debuting in second place, Tangled reached new heights this week. The Disney feature climbed out of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallow’s shadow to take the box office crown.

Tangled is now the second film this year to move up the ladder to the #1 spot. Another animated featured, How to Train Your Dragon, was the first.

The chart’s only new wide release, The Warrior’s Way, will likely fall out of the Top Ten by Week 2. The actioner starring Jang Dong-gun, Kate Bosworth and Geoffrey Rush started its run in ninth place.

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Tangled Climbs Above Potter

Read More | Box Office Mojo

Box Office Breakdown: Deathly Hallows Avoids Getting Tangled

Tangled

Tangled's tresses weren't quite long enough to get past the Deathly Hallows last weekend.

Despite a $48.8 million debut ($68.7 million since Wednesday), Disney's latest animated feature found itself in a tight race. The film starring Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi landed firmly into second place -- approximately $300,000 shy of two-time winner Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

Burlesque, featuring Christina Aguilera and Cher, rang up $11.9 million in ticket sales and a fourth-place finish. Although that figure isn't exactly something to brag about, it does represent Cher's biggest opening to date.

Promises of nudity couldn't get Love and Other Drugs into the Top 5. The Anne Hathaway/Jake Gyllenhaal movie earned less than $10 million and a sixth place debut. Meanwhile, Faster -- starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Billy Bob Thornton -- grossed $8.5 million for seventh place.

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Read More | Box Office Mojo

In Theaters This Holiday Weekend: November 24, 2010

Here are a few selections in theaters this weekend:

  • Burlesque (PG-13): starring Christina Aguilera, Cher, Kristen Bell, (directed by Steve Antin)
  • Faster (R): starring Dwayne Johnson, Billy Bob Thornton, Maggie Grace (directed by George Tillman, Jr.)
  • Love & Other Drugs (R): starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Anne Hathaway, Judy Greer (directed by Edward Zwick)
  • Tangled (PG): starring Mandy Moore, Zachary Levi, David Schwimmer (directed by Nathan Greno, Byron Howard)

Click to continue reading In Theaters This Holiday Weekend: November 24, 2010


Cinema Scene: Newsies Heading to Broadway, August: Osage County Heading to Theaters

Julia Roberts-Oscar winners Julia Roberts and Meryl Streep may team up for August: Osage County, a big screen version of a Pulitzer Prize-winning play. Playwright Tracy Letts would adapt his own story for the Weinsten production.

-Meanwhile, a Broadway version of Newsies, a 1992 Disney musical starring Christian Bale, is being written by Oscar-winning composer Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast), Harvey Fierstein and Jack Feldman.

-Speaking of musicals, the cast of The Sound of Music will reunite later this month for the first time in 45 years. Christopher Plummer, Julie Andrews and the kids will all appear October 29 on Oprah.

-Brenda Chapman has just been named the first female director in Pixar history. Brave, a movie she will also write, will be released in June 2012. Reese Witherspoon, Emma Thompson, and Julie Walters will all voice characters in the project.


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