Box Office Update: The "Thief" Robs A "Snitch"

The Melissa McCarthy/Jason Bateman comedy Identity Thief is once again in the top spot--after losing to Bruce Willis' return as John McClane in A Good Day To Die Hard last week. This time it was tough guy Dwayne Johnson and his actioner Snitch that had to sweat it out only to come up short..

Pamela McClintock of THR:

Melissa McCarthy's Identity Thief reclaimed the top spot at the domestic box office in its third weekend, narrowly besting Dwayne Johnson's new action-thriller Snitch with $14.1 million and pushing the Universal comedy's total to $93.7 million.

Snitch, produced and financed by Exclusive Media and Participant, opened to $13 million during an overall soft weekend for moviegoing. Sunday's Oscar ceremony was only part of the reason as revenue tumbled more than 22 percent from the same weekend last year, when Act of Valor opened to north of $24 million.

Exclusive Media and Participant likely wanted Snitch to do more, though the movie opened respectably ahead of several high-profile action pics that bombed in recent weeks, including Arnold Schwarzenegger's The Last Stand and Sylvester Stallone's Bullet to the Head. It also bested the $8 million opening of Johnson's Faster in 2008.

Lionsgate acquired domestic rights to Snitch for roughly $2.5 million. The film, costing a relatively modest $22 million to $25 million to produce, received a B CinemaScore and middling reviews.

Directed by Ric Roman Waugh, Snitch stars Johnson as a father who agrees to become an undercover informant and infiltrate a drug cartel after his son is wrongly charged with drug distribution. The PG-13 action-thriller also stars Susan Sarandon, Benjamin Bratt, Barry Pepper and Jon Bernthal.

A Frontline documentary about how changes to U.S. federal drug policy encourage prisoners to rat on their cronies provided the original inspiration for Snitch.

Coming in No. 3 after Identity Thief and Snitch was the animated Escape From Planet Earth, which moved up the chart in its second outing, grossing $11 million for a domestic total of $35.1 million. The Weinstein Co. is distributing the film.

The adaptation of Nicholas Sparks' romantic drama Safe Haven placed No. 4, falling 50 percent in its second weekend to gross $10.6 million for a domestic total of $48.1 million.

Last weekend, Identity Thief -- the top-grossing film of 2013 -- ceded the No. 1 spot to Bruce Willis starrer A Good Day to Die Hard.

Die Hard tumbled 60 percent in its second weekend, grossing $10 million to come in No. 5. From 20th Century Fox, the movie's domestic total through Sunday is $51.8 million.

Microbudgeted horror pic Dark Skies, the weekend's other new entry, placed No. 6 with $8.9 million.

Dimension Films released Dark Skies, about a couple trying to save their children from an alien presence. Keri Russell, Josh Hamilton and Dakota Goyo star, with Jason Blum, Couper Samuelson and Jeannette Brill producing. Scott Stewart wrote and directed Dark Skies, which cost $3.5 million.

Below are estimates for the top 10 films of Feb. 22-24 weekend at the domestic box office.

1. Identity Thief, 3/3,222, Universal, $14.1 million, $93.7 million

2. Snitch, 1/2,511, Lionsgate, $13 million

3. Escape From Planet Earth, 2/3,353, The Weinstein Co, $11 million, $35.1 million

4. Safe Haven, 2/3,223, Relativity, $10.6 million, $48.1 million

5. A Good Day to Die Hard, 2/3,553, Fox, $10 million, $51.8 million

6. Dark Skies, 1/2,313, The Weinstein Co., $8.9 million

7. *Silver Linings Playbook, 15/2,012, The Weinstein Co., $6.1 million, $107.5 million

8. Warm Bodies, 4/2,644, Summit, $4.8 million, $58.2 million

9. Beautiful Creatures, 2/2,950, Warner Bros., $3.4 million, $16.4 million

10. Side Effects, 3/2,070, Open Road, $3.5 million, $25.3 million

Next Up: Nicholas Hoult is Jack the Giant Slayer in director Bryan Singer's super-sized epic fantasy; Miles Teller, Skylar Astin and Justin Chon celebrate being 21 And Over; And the nightmare continues in The Last Exorcism Part II while And Ed Harris, Julian Adams and David Duchovny encounter a Phantom.

Breaking Dawn Part II Big Razzie Winner

The Golden Raspberry Award Foundation celebrating the year's worst films have handed out their honors for 2012.

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2 won 7 of the 11 categories in which it was nominated.

That's My Boy and Battleship each won an award for acting as well.

With the 33rd annual Golden Raspberry Awards ceremony in the books the season is complete save for the Oscars this evening.

Here are the Razzie Winners

Worst Picture
*WINNER The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part II

Worst Director
*WINNER Bill Condon - The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part II

Worst Actress
*WINNER Kristen Stewart - The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part II / Snow White and the Huntsman

Worst Actor
*WINNER Adam Sandler - That's My Boy

Worst Supporting Actress
*WINNER Rihanna - Battleship

Worst Supporting Actor
*WINNER Taylor Lautner - The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part II

Worst Screen Ensemble
*WINNER The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part II

Worst Screenplay
*WINNER That's My Boy

Worst Remake, Rip-Off, or Sequel
*WINNER The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part II

Worst Screen Couple
*WINNER Mackenzie Foy and Taylor Lautner in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part II
Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part II

Hathaway Will Sing Again In "Song One"

British tabby The Daily Mail reports that Anne Hathaway has joined the cast of the musical "Song One" which includes a song especially written for her to sing.

Hathaway stars as an archaeologist returning to the US following a dig in Morocco where her brother is injured. She soon falls for her brother’s favorite musician, a rock star (British singer-actor Johnny Flynn).

Kate Barker-Froyland is writing the script from which she will direct.

Johnathan Rice and Jenny Lewis are writing songs for Flynn to perform, but one track will be reserved for Hathaway.

Anne's husband Adam Shulman will produce the pic. She is of course belting out a few songs for director Tom Hooper's adaptation of Les Miserables in theaters now.

Production hopes to begin later this year

Cap 2 Is A "Political Thriller"

Marvel Studio chief Kevin Feige says that the upcoming sequel "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" is more akin to a political thriller than the historical fantasy adventure that the first movie was. Asked by Variety  about comic book movie adaptations in general, Feige says:

"If it is a fad, it's one that lasts 30 to 40 years, as the Western did, because each one is so different. There's an opportunity to graft almost sub-genres onto them. Our first Captain America film was a World War II picture, and the next is a political thriller. They all have their own textures and patinas, and that's what is exciting about it."

The story is expected to follow the acclaimed comic storyline The Winter Soldier in which Captain America's (Chris Evans) sidekick Bucky (Sebastian Stan) is resurrected as a brainwashed super-assassin known as the Winter Solider. The tale also follows that Peggy's (played by Hayley Atwell in Captain America: The First Avenger) niece Sharon (Revenge star Emily VanCamp) meets Cap.

Anthony Mackie is poised to play Harlem crime fighter Falcon, one of mainstream comics' first black superheroes. Falcon, aka. Sam Wilson, can telepathically talk to birds and has a suit that allows him to fly and enhances his strength. Scarlett Johansson will also show up as Black Widow in the film. How big a role she'll play is also unknown. Cobie Smulders will reprise her role of Maria Hill. She joins her boss in The Avengers co-star Samuel L. Jackson for the film. Frank Grillo ("The Grey," "Warrior") will play the villain Crossbones in the sequel. Toby Jones, has confirmed to Hey U Guys that he will reprise the role of the villain Armin Zola

Joe Russo and Anthony Russo will direct the sequel, using a script by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely.

Production is starting come March in Cleveland.

The sequel will hit theaters April 4, 2014.

Vaughn Will Produce The FF Redux

"X-Men: First Class" and "Kick-Ass" director Matthew Vaughn has signed on to produce the "Fantastic Four" reboot says Heat Vision.

"Chronicle" director Josh Trank is set to helm. Jeremy Slater was hired to pen a new script draft about four individuals who gained superpowers after exposure to cosmic rays during a scientific mission to outer space.

Michael Green ("Green Lantern") wrote the previous draft

The first Fantastic Four in 2005 and its sequel 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer in 2007--both helmed by Tim Story--grossed $620 million despite awful reviews (I liked em both!). Fox wants to restore some credibility and quality to the property, that is currently targeting a Spring 2015 release.

Comic creator and Fox's Creative Consultant on their Marvel superhero films Mark Millar tweeted Friday: "Just off the phone with Fox and some excellent news -- Matthew Vaughn is producing Josh Trank's Fantastic Four reboot"

Smit-McPhee Gets Up @ "Dawn" To Play With "Apes"

Young Aussie actor Kodi Smit-McPhee ("Let Me In," "The Road") has landed a leading role in "Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes" says Deadline.

The film will continue the action from last year's Rise of the Planet of the Apes. Set 15 years later and human society contiues collapsing after a viral outbreak and the highly intelligent simians now free, the story will follow the apes on their path to emerge as society’s new rulers.

"Rise" helmer Rupert Wyatt chose not to return reportedly due to the fact that the director wasn't comfortable with making the May 23rd 2014 release date the studio had announced. "Cloverfield" director Matt Reeves takes over.

Star James Franco may not be back--recently cast Zero Dark Thirty actor Jason Clarke also stars in a role that is as yet unknown

Mark Bomback ("Live Free or Die Hard," "Unstoppable") is set to rework Amanda Silver and Rick Jaffa's script. Bombeck is expected to turn in something more suited to the new director's style. This is Deja Vu On 'Rise' Silver & Jaffa wrote the initial script and then Bomback did an uncredited script rewrite.

"Contagion" scribe Scott Z. Burns took a crack at the "Dawn" script as well

Peter Chernin and Dylan Clark will produce.

It's hoped that production starts by Spring

Downton Abbey's Goddard To Direct "The Blunderer"

Andy Goddard will direct an adaptation of author Patricia Highsmith's 1954 novel "The Blunderer" says THR.

The story follows the young, successful and handsome Walter Stackhouse, who seems to have it all until his wife’s body is found at the bottom of a cliff. Under suspicion, he must flee from the murderer and the cops.

This was Highsmith's third novel following "Strangers On A Train" and "The Price Of Salt". It was followed very soon after by "The Talented Mr Ripley".

Susan Boyd penned the adapted script after she and her novelist/screenwriter husband William Boyd optioned the book.

Ted Hope and Christine Vachon will produce.

Rio 2 Voice Cast Announced

Jesse Eisenberg, Anne Hathaway, Jamie Foxx, Jemaine Clement, will.i.am, Tracy Morgan, George Lopez, Leslie Mann, Rodrigo Santoro, Bebel Gilberto, and Jake T. Austin are all set to return for the animated sequel Rio 2 says  THR.

Joining them this time out Andy Garcia, Bruno Mars, Kristin Chenoweth, Rita Moreno, Amandla Stenberg, Rachel Crow, Pierce Gagnon, and Natalie Morales. Details on their roles were not revealed.

The story has Blu, Jewel and their three kids living the perfect domesticated life in Rio. When Jewel decides the kids need to learn to live like real birds, she insists the family venture into the Amazon. As Blu tries to fit in with his new neighbors, he worries he may lose Jewel and the kids to the call of the wild.

Writer/director Carlos Saldanha will be back doing his thing

The film will open in late March of next year

A Sequel Eyed For "Jack Reacher"?

Paramount Pictures might be looking into making a sequel to the Tom Cruise actioner "Jack Reacher after all says Deadline.

The $60 million dollar adaptation of author Lee Child's Jack Reacher book One Shot has made $80 million domestically, and has performed even better overseas making an additional $125 million on top of that. The reviews for 'Reacher' were solid, but not spectacular.

The suits are said to figuring out the sequel's direction and they will most likely try to keep the budget around the same as the first.

With nineteen Reacher books already completed, most of which tell stand alone stories (or could easily be adapted to reflect that), there's plenty of pre-written sequels for them to consider.

Straight No Chaser Gets A Biopic [w/video]

The Vow's Michael Sucsy is attached to helm a is attached to helm a biopic about a cappella group Straight No Chaser says .THR

The group was formed in 1996 and consists of ten Indiana University students. The group played played in such noteworthy places like Wrigley Field and Carnegie Hall, but the members disbanded in 1998.

Years later, in 2006, a video of a 1998 performance was uploaded to YouTube and went viral. The group not only got back together, but quickly signed a five-album deal.

Jack Amiel and Michael Begler will write the script.

Michael Sugar, music executive Craig Kallman and Bard Dorros are producing the film.

Here they are putting their unique spin on some famous movie theme songs

Fox 2000 Bids For Sparks' "Longest Ride" & Wins

Fox 2000 is nearing a deal to pick up the film rights to author Nicholas Sparks' next novel "The Longest Ride" says Deadline.

The book, set to be published in September, deals with two intertwining love stories. The first deals with a snowbound elderly man who reminisces about the life he and his late love led in their younger years just after World War II. The pair became renowned art collectors and she died of a stroke. The second charts the blossoming romance between a young art history major and a handsome bull rider. A strange occurrence allows the two generations of lovers to save each other.

Wyck Godfrey and Marty Bowen will produce with Sparks and Theresa Park, the same arrangement worked out for the Sparks adaptation "Safe Haven" currently in theaters.

Fox 2000 beat out Warner Bros. and Relativity Media for the screen rights in a deal said to be worth $5 million upfront, a consistent price for Sparks based films.

The goal is to have the film ready for release Valentine’s Day weekend in 2015.

Adam & Drew Together For 3rd Rom Com?

Adam Sandler is attached to an untitled rom-com in which he may reunite with Drew Barrymore for the female lead says Variety.

The story centers on a couple who, after a disastrous blind date, find themselves stuck together with their kids from a previous marriage.

Ivan Menchell and Clare Sera wrote the script.

Mike Karz’s gonna produce the pic.

A director search is underway where production hopes to kick off in May.

This would mark the third film that Adam and Drew made following The Wedding Singer and 50 First Dates.

Sandler had been attached to the comedy Western, "The Ridiculous 6," but that film has been pushed.

Jordan Spends "The Last 5 Years" With Kendrick

Tony Award nominee Jeremy Jordan has won the male lead in a film adaptation of Jason Robert Brown's off-Broadway musical "The Last 5 Years" says Deadline.

Jordan will play Jamie, a rising novelist who is in a relationship with a struggling actress named Cathy (Anna Kendrick).

What makes this oft told tale unique is that the two character's stories unfold in opposite directions- his in chronological order starting with their first meeting, hers in reverse order starting with their divorce.

Richard Lagravenese will call action from his own adapted script and will produce the film with Lauren Versel, Kurt Deutsch, and Janet Brenner.

Ólafur Darri Ólafsson Cares For The "Tombstones"

Ólafur Darri Ólafsson has joined the cast of the thriller "A Walk Among the Tombstones" says Variety.

Based on the novel by author Lawrence Block, the story follows ex-NYPD officer (Liam Neeson) turned private investigator Matthew Scudder who is hired to find the kidnapped wife of a drug dealer. He soon finds out the perpetrators have done this before, resulting in several murders.

Olafsson will portray a groundskeeper at a cemetery unknowingly embroiled in a killer's violent plans.

Downton Abbey's Dan Stevens Boyd Holbrook ("The Host") and Ruth Wilson also star.

Scott Frank wrote the adapted script from which he will direct.

Michael Shamberg, Stacey Sher, and Danny DeVito are producing.

Production begins later this month in New York.

Hennie Set For Ratner's "Hercules"

Norwegian actor Aksel Hennie will join Brett Ratner's upcoming "Hercules: The Thracian Wars" says Heat Vision.

An adaptation of the Steve Moore penned comic, the story follows Hercules (Dwayne Johnson) years after he carried out his twelve tasks and has turned his back on the Gods. He discovers a higher calling as he defends the mythical Mount Olympus from an evil army. He and six friends have become mercenaries who've been hired by the King of Thrace to train his men into becoming an army every bit as ruthless as they are.

Hennie is set to play a mad warrior named Tydeus.

Ryan Condal and Evan Spiliotopoulos penned the adapted script.

Roger Birnbaum, Gary Barber, Jonathan Glickman, Peter Berg, Sarah Aubrey and Barry Levine will produce.

The film is currently slated for an August 8th 2014 release.

Marsden VS Ferrell For "Anchorman 2"

James Marsden is set to join the cast of the comedy sequel "Anchorman: The Legend Continues" says Deadline.

The story deals with the birth of 24-hour news channels and its impact on the San Diego news team.

Marsden will play a rival anchor and nemesis to Will Ferrell’s Ron Burgundy in the sequel. 

Original Anchorman cast members Paul Rudd, Steve Carell Christina Applegate and David Koechner are set to come back.  It was recently announced that comedy actress Kristen Wiig (Bridesmaids) will also be joining the cast. Terence Stamp was also reported to be wanted for a "Rupert Murdoch-type" role in the follow-up.

Adam McKay is back to direct and he and Ferrell penned the script for the film.

Judd Apatow will produce the picture.

Production is due to begin next month in Atlanta, with a December 20th 2013 release date being eyed.

Kitsch Goes Bad As He Takes "Exit 147"

Taylor Kitsch ("John Carter," "Battleship") is attached to star in the thriller "Exit 147" says Bloody Disgusting.

The story follows a man driving across the desert at night who is arrested by a small town sheriff (Kitsch) and held captive as part of his own sadistic game.

Julian Jarrold ("Red Riding: In the Year of Our Lord 1974") is attached to direct from a script by Travis Milloy ("Pandorum").

Kitsch has two films due for release this year--the biopic Lone Survivor is currently in post-production and filming is under way on The Grand Seduction, a comedy co-starring Brendan Gleeson. As a huge Kitsch fan from his time as Riggins on the TV Series Friday Night Lights I know he's up to the challenge that "Exit" brings

Turtle Power Heals Rift Between Bay And Fox

It sees as though Michael Bay and Megan Fox are friends again.

THR says that Meg will star as April O’Neil, the journalist character and female lead in the upcoming live-action "Ninja Turtles" reboot at Paramount.

Bay broke the the news on his site, saying: "TMNT: we are bringing Megan Fox back into the family" Fox and Bay reportedly reconciled over a series of recent meetings after a very pulic fued that led to Fox beibg fired from "Transformers: Dark of the Moon"

Casting is currently underway and last week actors, mostly relative unknowns, were being tested for the four mo-cap turtle roles.

Jonathan Liebesman is directing from a script by Kevin Eastman, Josh Appelbaum and Andre Nemec.

Brad Fuller Andrew Form, Galen Walker and Scott Mednick would co-produce with Bay

The pic was delayed over script issues--originally slated for release in December 2013 it is now targeting a May 2014 release.

Arclight & Ben 10 Adaptations Get New Writers

Universal Pictures and Imagine Entertainment are joining forces on a film adaptation of author Josin L. McQuein's forthcoming young adult sci-fi novel "Arclight" says Heat Vision.

Matthew Sand ("Ninja Assassin") is set adapt the script for the post-apocalyptic future story in which humanity's remnants live in an outpost protected by a wall of light named Arclight. Outside is The Dark, a void filled with lethal creatures known as the Fade. A lone and amnesiac teenage girl stumbles out of the darkness, and could hold the key to humanity's survival.

Brian Grazer and Pouya Shabazian are set to produce.

The book is due to be released in April.

Meanwhile, THR also reports that Ryan Engle has come aboard to rewrite Albert Torres' screenplayfor the film adaptation of the Cartoon Network animated TV series called Ben 10.

The series centers on young Ben Tennyson, who discovers a watch that allows him to transform in to ten different alien monsters with super powers.

Joel Silver, Andrew Rona and Steve Richards are producing.

Box Office Preview: A Snitch Tries To Beat A Rat

Oscar weekend 2013 sees just 2 new films take to the cineplex as man of action Dwayne Johnson turns Snitch (reviews) to protect his son Rafi Gavron; Keri Russell and Josh Hamilton live under some Dark Skies (reviews) for the latest horror flick.

Pamela McClintock of THR:

More action invades the domestic box office this weekend as Dwayne Johnson's Snitch opens, hoping to beat Melissa McCarthy's Identity Thief for the top spot on the chart.

Summit Entertainment is projecting a $10 million to $12 million opening for Snitch, but the pic could easily overperform if there is a strong African-American and Hispanic turnout.

Directed by Ric Roman Waugh, Snitch stars Johnson as a father who agrees to become an undercover informant and infiltrate a drug cartel after his son is wrongly charged with drug distribution. The action-thriller, rated PG-13, also stars Susan Sarandon, Benjamin Bratt, Barry Pepper and Jon Bernthal.

Johnson has become a strong box-office draw and has two upcoming movies after Snitch, G.I. Joe: Retaliation and Pain & Gain.

In marketing Snitch, Summit targeted Johnson's core fans as well as action followers via a targeted media buy that included football, basketball, NASCAR and wrestling.

From Universal and also starring Jason Bateman, Identity Thief continues to overperform as it heads into its third weekend. The comedy nearly beat A Good to Day to Die Hard last weekend and should gross $11 million to $12 million this weekend. Identity Thief's domestic gross through Wednesday was $78.1 million.

Die Hard, with Bruce Willis reprising the role of John McClane, will remain in the upper reaches of the chart as well. The 20th Century film's domestic gross through Wednesday as $40.5 million.

New horror entry Dark Skies is expected to open in the $8 million to $9 million range. Dimension Films is releasing the film about a couple trying to save their children from an alien presence. Keri Russell, Josh Hamilton and Dakota Goyo star, with Jason Blum, Couper Samuelson and Jeannette Brill producing.

Scott Stewart wrote and directed Dark Skies.

Traffic at the multiplex and art house will slow considerably on Sunday because of the Academy Awards ceremony, although top nominees could enjoy a final burst on Friday and Saturday as moviegoers rush to catch up on films still playing.