Box Office Breakdown: Apes Fend Off Help

Posted by Robin Paulson Categories: 20th Century Fox, Buena Vista, New Line, Paramount, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Animation, Drama, Family, Remakes, Romance, Science Fiction, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers, Box Office, New Releases,

Despite the great reviews of Viola Davis' performance and Emma Stone's general adorable-ness, The Help fell a little short at the box office this weekend behind Rise of the Planet of the Apes, which makes it top at the box office for its second consecutive week.

The sci-fi reboot took in $27.8 million while the sixties period piece came close behind at $26 million in its first week. The fifth installment of the Final Destination series, Final Destination 5, made third place at $18 million and The Smurfs fell down to fourth place from its second place spot last week with $13.7 million. Lastly, the pizza boy comedy starring Jesse Eisenberg and Danny McBride, 30 Minutes or Less, managed to debut in fifth place at $13.3 million.

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Read More | Box Office Mojo

First Look: The Smurfs Teaser Trailer

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Columbia Pictures, Sony, Adaptation, Adventure, Animation, Remakes, Comedy, Trailers, Upcoming Releases, Videos,

Not sure if Sony can successfully pull off a live-action/CG version of The Smurfs? Well, neither am I. But I’m not the type of person who would make snap judgments about a film or anything…

The good thing about this teaser trailer? It features an intro by - wait for it - (human) actor Neil Patrick Harris. The bad thing? It ends with some funny-looking blue guys. (And where the heck is Smurfette?)

Like what you see? Then prepare to get Smurf’d on July 29, 2011.

Read More | E! Online

Getting Into Character: Hank Azaria in The Smurfs

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Sony, Adaptation, Adventure, Animation, Family, Comedy, Casting, Celeb News, Upcoming Releases,

If an animated princess and squirrel can land on the streets of New York in Enchanted, why can’t little blue guys with white hats and pants?

In the upcoming live-action/CG version of The Smurfs, the famous cartoon characters - along with Smurfette - find themselves in the big city after being pursued by Gargamel (Hank Azaria).

Neil Patrick Harris and Jayma Mays will play human characters in the 3D-film while Katy Perry (Smurfette), George Lopez (Grouchy Smurf), Alan Cumming (Gutsy Smurf), Fred Armisen (Brainy Smurf) and Jonathan Winters (Papa Smurf) will handle just a small portion of the Smurf voicing duties.

The Sony production will open on August 3, 2011.

Read More | ComingSoon.Net

Casting Corner: Liam Hemsworth, Sigourney Weaver and More

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Disney, Sony, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Animation, Drama, Family, Horror, Independent, Romance, Comedy, Casting, Celeb News, Upcoming Releases,

Here’s a quick look at some of the casting announcements made recently:

Sigourney Weaver: She’s already taken on ghosts, aliens and Saturday Night Live—so now it’s time for Weaver to tackle her latest challenge: vampires. In Amy Heckerling’s Vamps, Weaver will actually reign as the queen over two young vampires (Alicia Silverstone and Krysten Ritter) who, unfortunately, find love - and potential mortality - while enjoying New York’s nightlife. Shooting may begin next month.

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Natalie Portman Fears The Smurfs

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Celebrity Gossip,

When The Smurfs hits theaters next year, there will be one person staying far away: Natalie Portman.

The 28-year-old actress recently admitted she has feared the miniature blue-skinned cartoon characters - first created by Belgian comics magazine Le Journal de Spirou in 1958 - since she saw the animated series as a child.

“I remember as a kid being really scared of The Smurfs. Because that bad guy, the wizard Gargamel, was so terrifying. I was scared of a lot of cartoons. I’m kind of wussy like that,” Portman said in Interview magazine.

Despite her fear of certain animated programs, Natalie does have some happier memories of her childhood. The Brothers star loves reminiscing about the toys she played with. “I was like a total cliched 80’s child. I had Barbies, obviously, as well as My Little Ponies and Cabbage Patch Kids, but I used to destroy them. I used to draw all over their faces and cut off their hair.”

Read More | Interview

Remake News: Hong Kong Phooey, The Smurfs and More

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Columbia Pictures, Paramount, Sony, Action, Adaptation, Animation, Family, Remakes, Comedy, Scripts, Upcoming Releases, Videos,

Hong Kong Phooey: There’s nothing audiences love more than talking dogs, so why not have them fight crime as well? Alex Zamm (Inspector Gadget 2) has been tapped to direct a live-action/animated version of the classic Hanna-Barbera cartoon. In the original TV program, Scatman Crothers voiced the kung fu fighting title character. When Hong Kong Phooey wasn’t cleaning up a police station as a janitor, he was fighting crime on the streets. The series first debuted in 1974.

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