Exclusive: Netflix’s new feature Boss Dan Lin has tapped former DreamWorks Animation and Coyote Vs. Acme producer Chris deFaria to consult for the streamer’s animation department, we hear on very good authority.
Lin and deFaria worked together on the mega success of The Lego Movie when the duo were at Warners. Essentially, what is being sorted at Netflix is how to eventize their animation movies more. The streamer, together with Annapurna, saved the Blue Sky axed Disney LGBTQ+ movie Nimona, a casualty of the Disney-Fox merger; the pic wound up getting an Oscar nomination for Animated Feature.
Animation reports into Lin. Karen Toliver serves as VP of Animated Film.
At Warners deFaria worked as the president of Animation and Innovative Technology. He held that position for four years between 2013 and 2017, which included co-oversight of the studio’s Warner Animation Group. While at Warners, deFaria’s credits included Man of Steel,...
Lin and deFaria worked together on the mega success of The Lego Movie when the duo were at Warners. Essentially, what is being sorted at Netflix is how to eventize their animation movies more. The streamer, together with Annapurna, saved the Blue Sky axed Disney LGBTQ+ movie Nimona, a casualty of the Disney-Fox merger; the pic wound up getting an Oscar nomination for Animated Feature.
Animation reports into Lin. Karen Toliver serves as VP of Animated Film.
At Warners deFaria worked as the president of Animation and Innovative Technology. He held that position for four years between 2013 and 2017, which included co-oversight of the studio’s Warner Animation Group. While at Warners, deFaria’s credits included Man of Steel,...
- 4/25/2024
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
A busy holdover weekend for wide studio releases was led by the trio of Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, Kung Fu Panda 4 and Dune: Part Two. And, in a soaring performance, Hayao Miyazaki’s Oscar winner The Boy and the Heron swooped into China helping the market set a new Qingming holiday record.
Meanwhile, Best Picture Oscar winner Oppenheimer, boosted by its release in Japan, has now become Christopher Nolan’s biggest movie ever at the international box office.
Before we dig into all of that, there was also fresh blood in some overseas areas with Disney/20th Century Studios’ The First Omen debuting to $9.1M from 43 markets (about 76% of the offshore landscape and notably not including France and Germany which go next weekend). This is about as expected. The global bow is $17.5M.
Latin America leans in on horror and the prequel performed best in Mexico where it opened No.
Meanwhile, Best Picture Oscar winner Oppenheimer, boosted by its release in Japan, has now become Christopher Nolan’s biggest movie ever at the international box office.
Before we dig into all of that, there was also fresh blood in some overseas areas with Disney/20th Century Studios’ The First Omen debuting to $9.1M from 43 markets (about 76% of the offshore landscape and notably not including France and Germany which go next weekend). This is about as expected. The global bow is $17.5M.
Latin America leans in on horror and the prequel performed best in Mexico where it opened No.
- 4/7/2024
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
Monday Am: Absence makes the heart grow fonder, and that’s the secret or not-so-secret to success for DreamWorks Animation’s Kung Fu Panda 4, which arrived in theaters eight years after its third chapter.
Similar to Puss in Boots: The Last Wish ($481.7M WW in 2022), the new administration of the animated studio continues to prove they can build out Jeffrey Katzenberg-born franchises without the feature toon architect around. Kung Fu Panda 4, released by Dwa owner Universal, notched a $58M 3-day opening, $8M more than the $50M that tracking was seeing. Since Uni took over Dwa again in recent years, this is the biggest opening for the reteamed partnership post-Fox and post-Paramount, ahead of How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World ($55M in 2019).
Together with the second weekend of Dune: Part Two, the entire marketplace at $138.1M saw its first up weekend for 2024 from 2023 at +15%. Will the trend continue? While it appears there’s some momentum at the spring box office with Gil Kenan’s Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire around the corner, by the time we get to the beginning of April, it will be pretty hard to comp to last year’s Super Mario Bros Movie first weekend, which saw $204.7M for all films.
When the original Kung Fu Panda opened to $60.2M in 2008, the 3D of it all was being pushed. The Jack Black-voiced franchise also brought out a big 18-34 quotient and, despite the fourthquel being years later, that fanboy segment, older and younger, continued to be vibrant for the IP with ages 18-34 accounting for 48% of the audience and 18-24 at 27%.
Uni was in it to win it with this property, and it was a no-brainer for them to take through its NBCUni Symphony program, which markets the movie throughout all verticals of the conglom from Xfinity cable boxes to theme parks. It all started on NBC’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, with a Po balloon flying through the streets of NYC, followed by Black inviting Viola Davis and Awkwafina to the franchise on TikTok in mid-December. The first Kung Fu Panda 4 trailer dropped on December 13, followed by a custom trailer of Po in a desert landscape for Dune: Part Two, all building to 400M views for the fourthquel’s trailers.
Other Symphony stuff included Po dominating on streaming service Peacock with a 20-minute Keep Calm & Po guided-meditation piece, a Po-curated rail and a co-promo with The Traitors — Peacock’s highest-performing unscripted series. Xfinity 10G also had Kung Fu Panda 4 in a custom co-promo for the service.
Spots aired during all five Christmas Day NBA games and both AFC and NFC NFL Championship games in January. Kung Fu Panda 4 dominated the Lunar New Year season with a social blitz, YouTube food influencer collaborations and Awkwafina being grand marshal of San Francisco’s Lunar New Year Parade. There also were three spots that aired on Super Bowl Sunday, during pre-game, post-game and the surprise second overtime in Super Bowl history.
Following the Super Bowl, the campaign leaned further into sports with ads across ESPN, NBC Sports, Fire TV and TikTok, as well as a custom vignette with Black, Anthony Davis and Austin Reaves that ran on ESPN socials and during three linear NBA games along with custom soccer ads for the Liga Mx and Premier League. On digital, the film had a custom sponsorship for Bad Bunny’s Most Wanted Tour launch and also sponsored Quinta Brunson’s Hot Ones episode. “Keep Calm & Po” pause ads launched across Max, Peacock, DirecTV, Kargo and Paramount+ in February. There also were custom vignettes for the pic that aired during The Daily Show, Chopped, Premio Lo Nuestro and Top Chef, and placements on Abbott Elementary, America’s Got Talent, People’s Choice Awards Pre-Show and the premieres for American Idol and The Masked Singer.
There was a Roblox plug with Po interacting with players in a custom game, which became the No. 1 branded experience on the platform and, for the first time in Roblox history, provided 1M free film-themed “emotes.” On TikTok, there was the first-ever branded mission with the duet feature, which received hundreds of submissions from fans showing off their “Skadoosh” moves; influencers Rayna Vallandingham and The Coleman Family participated. Also more than 600K fans on YouTube and social platforms joined Po in a four-hour video of guided meditations and breathing exercises.
Promo partners counted chili oil brand Fly by Jing and Asian-owned beauty brand Tower 28. Po helped commuters find their path through a custom voice collaboration with Waze, and fans were invited to follow Po’s spiritual journey through a feng shui tree collaboration with Karma and Luck. There also was World Wildlife Fund collaboration encouraging families and students to protect pandas through a PSA, in-classroom materials and an in-classroom Zoom with director Mike Mitchell. There was also a big multi-media campaign with Burger King which included kid’s meals.
While not glamourous openings, more product provides extra bucks to exhibition: Blumhouse/Lionsgate’s Imaginary is coming in at $9.9M in third after a $10M-$14M industry projection (pic was cheap at $10M) and Angel Studios’ Cabrini didn’t perform big miracles with $7.1M in fourth.
Saturday Am: Quick update here. Universal/DreamWorks Animation’s Kung Fu Panda 4 is coming in higher with a $19.4M Friday (including previews) and $55M, which is the same amount that How to Train Your Dragon: Hidden World opened to back in 2019. Brand animation always opens big. That’s still the second best stateside start for the Kung Fu Panda franchise. CinemaScore is A-, the same grade as the first movie, but a notch down from the As earned on two and three.
PostTrak audiences gave the fourthquel an 80% positive and 59% definite recommend whilte kids under 12 were 90% positive and a 70% must see. Male skewing at 58% with 67% of the audience between 13-24. 18-24 year olds showed up at a massive 48%. Diversity demos are 44% Latino and Hispanic, 22% Caucasian, 11% Black and 18% Asian. PLFs are accounting for 6% of tickets sales while 3D is driving 17%. West and South are the most vibrant with the highest grossing cinema in the nation for the pic being The Cinemark Tinseltown El Paso TX with a near $40K so far.
Legendary/Warner Bros’ Dune: Part Two earned around $12.3M yesterday for what’s shaping up to be a $44M second weekend, -47%, for a running total of $154.7M. With those two movies leading the pack, it’s shaping up to be a $133.3M weekend, +13% over the same frame a year ago when Scream VI bowed. Wow. It’s been a while since we’ve seen an up weekend.
Lionsgate/Blumhouse’s Imaginary is third with $3.6M yesterday (including previews) at 3,118 theaters for what’s shaping up to be a $9.3M opening. Not shocking to see this movie below its $10M-$14M projection, nor saddled with a C+ CinemaScore and 57% on PostTrak. It is rather slow for a PG-13 horror film and there’s nothing really hip to hook the girls ala M3GAN. But it was cheap to make at $10M. Still more product means depth at the box office.
Demos are 53% women, 62% between 18-34, and 18-24 the biggest quad at 32% and another 20% from 13-17 year olds. Diversity demos are 38% Latino and Hispanic, 35% Caucasian, 17% Black, 6% Asian. The Teddy Bear is stuffed best in East, South and South Central with The Cnmk Tinseltown El Paso the biggest grossing venue with $8K. .
Angel Studio’s Cabrini at 2,840 theaters is also coming in under expectations which isn’t a shock with $3M yesterday and around $8M for the weekend. Though made by the same director of Sound of Freedom, Alejandro Monteverde, there’s nothing in saintly nuns for QAnon and the far right to get excited about. Thank God. Those faith-based who showed up gave the movie an A CinemaScore and 94% PostTrak. Sixty nine percent of the audience are women with the largest demo being 55+ at 49%. Diversity demos are 65% Caucasian, 21% Latino and Hispanic, 4% Black, 6% Asian & 5% NatAm/Other. West is the softest region for Cabrini though the rest of the country is fairly even. The Regal UA King of Prussia in Philly market is the pic’s top grossing theater so far with a near $29K.
Friday Afternoon: As expected, Universal/DreamWorks Animation’s Kung Fu Panda 4 is headed to the second-biggest opening for the franchise with $52M after an $18.4M Friday (including previews) at 4.035 theaters. The original Kung Fu Panda opened to $60.2M in 2008, that Dwa title distributed by Paramount at the time.
Legendary/Warner Bros’ Dune: Part Two has the strength of an Arakis sandworm, holding in at $41M or -50%. It may even be better. That amount gets the Denis Villeneuve feature take of the Frank Herbert novel to $152M by Eod Sunday at 4,074 theaters. Last year thanks to Scream VI, all films made $118M. We might see that same amount for the marketplace again.
Lionsgate/Blumhouse’s $10M production of teddy bear horror film Imaginary is eyeing exactly that in its 3-day, which is fine at 3,118 theaters. Today is $3.2M-$3.8M.
In fourth is Angel Studios’ Cabrini, which I’m told by the distribs’ reps “is not a Catholic-skewing movie.” Go figure, but my mom would be the first one in line. Booked at 2,840 theaters, it’s looking at an estimated $3.6M today and $9M-$9.4M for the weekend.
Fifth goes to Paramount’s Bob Marley: One Love at 2,764 theaters with $1.1M today and a fourth weekend of $4.45M, -40%, for a running total of $89.7M. The movie hits digital on March 19.
Friday Am: Universal/DreamWorks Animation’s Kung Fu Panda 4 grossed $3.8M in Thursday night previews that began at 2 p.m. Thursday, a figure that KOs the preview number of 2019’s How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World ($3M), which stands as the best opening for a Dwa title since Universal acquired the studio. The third pic in the Kung Fu Panda franchise opened to $55M in 2016 after a $17.3M Friday. The outlook for the fourthquel this weekend is north of $50M for the No. 1 spot. Rotten Tomatoes’ audience score of 82% is ahead of the movie’s critical score of 72% fresh.
Other family previews that Kung Fu Panda 4 stepped on were Disney/Pixar’s Elemental and Wonka.
Lionsgate/Blumhouse’s PG-13 horror thriller Imaginary drew $725K from shows that began at 6Pm. That’s a figure in line with Imaginary filmmaker Jeff Wadlow’s 2018 title, Truth or Dare, which posted $750K and went on to $18M, and it’s under 20th Century Studios’ Boogeyman which posted $1.1M and posted a 3-day of $12.3M. Imaginary is expected to open to between $10M-$14M. At 29% on Rotten Tomatoes, it’s clear critics don’t like Teddy Bears.
We’re waiting on the official preview figure for Angel Studios’ Cabrini but we’re hearing it’s around $500K. The pic is expected to do between $5M-$10M.
Meanwhile, Legendary/Warner Bros.’ Dune: Part Two posted $6.4M on Thursday night, -4% from Wednesday, for a week’s take of $111M. In one week, the theatrical release of Dune: Part Two beat the entire domestic run of its 2021 predecessor, Dune, which did $108.8M; that movie’s fortune siphoned by a day-and-date release on HBO Max and theaters, as well as Covid.
Similar to Puss in Boots: The Last Wish ($481.7M WW in 2022), the new administration of the animated studio continues to prove they can build out Jeffrey Katzenberg-born franchises without the feature toon architect around. Kung Fu Panda 4, released by Dwa owner Universal, notched a $58M 3-day opening, $8M more than the $50M that tracking was seeing. Since Uni took over Dwa again in recent years, this is the biggest opening for the reteamed partnership post-Fox and post-Paramount, ahead of How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World ($55M in 2019).
Together with the second weekend of Dune: Part Two, the entire marketplace at $138.1M saw its first up weekend for 2024 from 2023 at +15%. Will the trend continue? While it appears there’s some momentum at the spring box office with Gil Kenan’s Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire around the corner, by the time we get to the beginning of April, it will be pretty hard to comp to last year’s Super Mario Bros Movie first weekend, which saw $204.7M for all films.
When the original Kung Fu Panda opened to $60.2M in 2008, the 3D of it all was being pushed. The Jack Black-voiced franchise also brought out a big 18-34 quotient and, despite the fourthquel being years later, that fanboy segment, older and younger, continued to be vibrant for the IP with ages 18-34 accounting for 48% of the audience and 18-24 at 27%.
Uni was in it to win it with this property, and it was a no-brainer for them to take through its NBCUni Symphony program, which markets the movie throughout all verticals of the conglom from Xfinity cable boxes to theme parks. It all started on NBC’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, with a Po balloon flying through the streets of NYC, followed by Black inviting Viola Davis and Awkwafina to the franchise on TikTok in mid-December. The first Kung Fu Panda 4 trailer dropped on December 13, followed by a custom trailer of Po in a desert landscape for Dune: Part Two, all building to 400M views for the fourthquel’s trailers.
Other Symphony stuff included Po dominating on streaming service Peacock with a 20-minute Keep Calm & Po guided-meditation piece, a Po-curated rail and a co-promo with The Traitors — Peacock’s highest-performing unscripted series. Xfinity 10G also had Kung Fu Panda 4 in a custom co-promo for the service.
Spots aired during all five Christmas Day NBA games and both AFC and NFC NFL Championship games in January. Kung Fu Panda 4 dominated the Lunar New Year season with a social blitz, YouTube food influencer collaborations and Awkwafina being grand marshal of San Francisco’s Lunar New Year Parade. There also were three spots that aired on Super Bowl Sunday, during pre-game, post-game and the surprise second overtime in Super Bowl history.
Following the Super Bowl, the campaign leaned further into sports with ads across ESPN, NBC Sports, Fire TV and TikTok, as well as a custom vignette with Black, Anthony Davis and Austin Reaves that ran on ESPN socials and during three linear NBA games along with custom soccer ads for the Liga Mx and Premier League. On digital, the film had a custom sponsorship for Bad Bunny’s Most Wanted Tour launch and also sponsored Quinta Brunson’s Hot Ones episode. “Keep Calm & Po” pause ads launched across Max, Peacock, DirecTV, Kargo and Paramount+ in February. There also were custom vignettes for the pic that aired during The Daily Show, Chopped, Premio Lo Nuestro and Top Chef, and placements on Abbott Elementary, America’s Got Talent, People’s Choice Awards Pre-Show and the premieres for American Idol and The Masked Singer.
There was a Roblox plug with Po interacting with players in a custom game, which became the No. 1 branded experience on the platform and, for the first time in Roblox history, provided 1M free film-themed “emotes.” On TikTok, there was the first-ever branded mission with the duet feature, which received hundreds of submissions from fans showing off their “Skadoosh” moves; influencers Rayna Vallandingham and The Coleman Family participated. Also more than 600K fans on YouTube and social platforms joined Po in a four-hour video of guided meditations and breathing exercises.
Promo partners counted chili oil brand Fly by Jing and Asian-owned beauty brand Tower 28. Po helped commuters find their path through a custom voice collaboration with Waze, and fans were invited to follow Po’s spiritual journey through a feng shui tree collaboration with Karma and Luck. There also was World Wildlife Fund collaboration encouraging families and students to protect pandas through a PSA, in-classroom materials and an in-classroom Zoom with director Mike Mitchell. There was also a big multi-media campaign with Burger King which included kid’s meals.
While not glamourous openings, more product provides extra bucks to exhibition: Blumhouse/Lionsgate’s Imaginary is coming in at $9.9M in third after a $10M-$14M industry projection (pic was cheap at $10M) and Angel Studios’ Cabrini didn’t perform big miracles with $7.1M in fourth.
Saturday Am: Quick update here. Universal/DreamWorks Animation’s Kung Fu Panda 4 is coming in higher with a $19.4M Friday (including previews) and $55M, which is the same amount that How to Train Your Dragon: Hidden World opened to back in 2019. Brand animation always opens big. That’s still the second best stateside start for the Kung Fu Panda franchise. CinemaScore is A-, the same grade as the first movie, but a notch down from the As earned on two and three.
PostTrak audiences gave the fourthquel an 80% positive and 59% definite recommend whilte kids under 12 were 90% positive and a 70% must see. Male skewing at 58% with 67% of the audience between 13-24. 18-24 year olds showed up at a massive 48%. Diversity demos are 44% Latino and Hispanic, 22% Caucasian, 11% Black and 18% Asian. PLFs are accounting for 6% of tickets sales while 3D is driving 17%. West and South are the most vibrant with the highest grossing cinema in the nation for the pic being The Cinemark Tinseltown El Paso TX with a near $40K so far.
Legendary/Warner Bros’ Dune: Part Two earned around $12.3M yesterday for what’s shaping up to be a $44M second weekend, -47%, for a running total of $154.7M. With those two movies leading the pack, it’s shaping up to be a $133.3M weekend, +13% over the same frame a year ago when Scream VI bowed. Wow. It’s been a while since we’ve seen an up weekend.
Lionsgate/Blumhouse’s Imaginary is third with $3.6M yesterday (including previews) at 3,118 theaters for what’s shaping up to be a $9.3M opening. Not shocking to see this movie below its $10M-$14M projection, nor saddled with a C+ CinemaScore and 57% on PostTrak. It is rather slow for a PG-13 horror film and there’s nothing really hip to hook the girls ala M3GAN. But it was cheap to make at $10M. Still more product means depth at the box office.
Demos are 53% women, 62% between 18-34, and 18-24 the biggest quad at 32% and another 20% from 13-17 year olds. Diversity demos are 38% Latino and Hispanic, 35% Caucasian, 17% Black, 6% Asian. The Teddy Bear is stuffed best in East, South and South Central with The Cnmk Tinseltown El Paso the biggest grossing venue with $8K. .
Angel Studio’s Cabrini at 2,840 theaters is also coming in under expectations which isn’t a shock with $3M yesterday and around $8M for the weekend. Though made by the same director of Sound of Freedom, Alejandro Monteverde, there’s nothing in saintly nuns for QAnon and the far right to get excited about. Thank God. Those faith-based who showed up gave the movie an A CinemaScore and 94% PostTrak. Sixty nine percent of the audience are women with the largest demo being 55+ at 49%. Diversity demos are 65% Caucasian, 21% Latino and Hispanic, 4% Black, 6% Asian & 5% NatAm/Other. West is the softest region for Cabrini though the rest of the country is fairly even. The Regal UA King of Prussia in Philly market is the pic’s top grossing theater so far with a near $29K.
Friday Afternoon: As expected, Universal/DreamWorks Animation’s Kung Fu Panda 4 is headed to the second-biggest opening for the franchise with $52M after an $18.4M Friday (including previews) at 4.035 theaters. The original Kung Fu Panda opened to $60.2M in 2008, that Dwa title distributed by Paramount at the time.
Legendary/Warner Bros’ Dune: Part Two has the strength of an Arakis sandworm, holding in at $41M or -50%. It may even be better. That amount gets the Denis Villeneuve feature take of the Frank Herbert novel to $152M by Eod Sunday at 4,074 theaters. Last year thanks to Scream VI, all films made $118M. We might see that same amount for the marketplace again.
Lionsgate/Blumhouse’s $10M production of teddy bear horror film Imaginary is eyeing exactly that in its 3-day, which is fine at 3,118 theaters. Today is $3.2M-$3.8M.
In fourth is Angel Studios’ Cabrini, which I’m told by the distribs’ reps “is not a Catholic-skewing movie.” Go figure, but my mom would be the first one in line. Booked at 2,840 theaters, it’s looking at an estimated $3.6M today and $9M-$9.4M for the weekend.
Fifth goes to Paramount’s Bob Marley: One Love at 2,764 theaters with $1.1M today and a fourth weekend of $4.45M, -40%, for a running total of $89.7M. The movie hits digital on March 19.
Friday Am: Universal/DreamWorks Animation’s Kung Fu Panda 4 grossed $3.8M in Thursday night previews that began at 2 p.m. Thursday, a figure that KOs the preview number of 2019’s How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World ($3M), which stands as the best opening for a Dwa title since Universal acquired the studio. The third pic in the Kung Fu Panda franchise opened to $55M in 2016 after a $17.3M Friday. The outlook for the fourthquel this weekend is north of $50M for the No. 1 spot. Rotten Tomatoes’ audience score of 82% is ahead of the movie’s critical score of 72% fresh.
Other family previews that Kung Fu Panda 4 stepped on were Disney/Pixar’s Elemental and Wonka.
Lionsgate/Blumhouse’s PG-13 horror thriller Imaginary drew $725K from shows that began at 6Pm. That’s a figure in line with Imaginary filmmaker Jeff Wadlow’s 2018 title, Truth or Dare, which posted $750K and went on to $18M, and it’s under 20th Century Studios’ Boogeyman which posted $1.1M and posted a 3-day of $12.3M. Imaginary is expected to open to between $10M-$14M. At 29% on Rotten Tomatoes, it’s clear critics don’t like Teddy Bears.
We’re waiting on the official preview figure for Angel Studios’ Cabrini but we’re hearing it’s around $500K. The pic is expected to do between $5M-$10M.
Meanwhile, Legendary/Warner Bros.’ Dune: Part Two posted $6.4M on Thursday night, -4% from Wednesday, for a week’s take of $111M. In one week, the theatrical release of Dune: Part Two beat the entire domestic run of its 2021 predecessor, Dune, which did $108.8M; that movie’s fortune siphoned by a day-and-date release on HBO Max and theaters, as well as Covid.
- 3/11/2024
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
It looks like “Dune: Part Two” reinvigorated the box office so well last weekend that it had to take a backseat to a perfectly-timed family animated sequel in its second weekend. Read on for the weekend box office report.
DreamWorks Animation and Universal knew that they were likely to have a big hit with the animated sequel “Kung Fu Panda 4,” returning Jack Black to the popular martial arts cartoon character Po, which would benefit from the character’s presence on streaming, as well as from the lack of animated movies in theaters. The mostly positive reviews put “Kung Fu Panda 4” at 70% on Rotten Tomatoes, and being the only animated feature for family audiences allowed it to bring in $19.25 million on Friday, including $3.8 million from Thursday previews. Universal has estimated it winning the weekend quite soundly with $58.3 million in 4,035 theaters, and audiences were generally positive, giving it an “A-” on audience polling site CinemaScore.
DreamWorks Animation and Universal knew that they were likely to have a big hit with the animated sequel “Kung Fu Panda 4,” returning Jack Black to the popular martial arts cartoon character Po, which would benefit from the character’s presence on streaming, as well as from the lack of animated movies in theaters. The mostly positive reviews put “Kung Fu Panda 4” at 70% on Rotten Tomatoes, and being the only animated feature for family audiences allowed it to bring in $19.25 million on Friday, including $3.8 million from Thursday previews. Universal has estimated it winning the weekend quite soundly with $58.3 million in 4,035 theaters, and audiences were generally positive, giving it an “A-” on audience polling site CinemaScore.
- 3/10/2024
- by Edward Douglas
- Gold Derby
“Kung Fu Panda 4” is all about change, which makes sense given the eight-year gap in DreamWorks Animation’s nearly $2 billion comedy-adventure franchise. In the latest sequel, Jack Black’s endearing martial arts panda-turned-Dragon Warrior, Po, assumes the role of spiritual leader and guides Awkwafina’s thieving gray Corsac fox, Zhen, to be his successor. However, he must battle Viola Davis’ The Chameleon, a shapeshifting sorceress lizard and crime lord who copies the kung fu moves of other masters.
Director Mike Mitchell, who came to “Kung Fu Panda” from “Shrek” and “Trolls” (although he contributed to the franchise), wanted to lean into the spirit of the first film while drawing parallels between Po and The Chameleon. “Whenever I work on a franchise, I always go back to that first movie,” he told IndieWire. “That’s my favorite one, and the thing that I loved about Po is he is so underestimated.
Director Mike Mitchell, who came to “Kung Fu Panda” from “Shrek” and “Trolls” (although he contributed to the franchise), wanted to lean into the spirit of the first film while drawing parallels between Po and The Chameleon. “Whenever I work on a franchise, I always go back to that first movie,” he told IndieWire. “That’s my favorite one, and the thing that I loved about Po is he is so underestimated.
- 3/9/2024
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
You can’t keep the Dragon Warrior down; Kung Fu Panda 4 is off to a promising start at the box office as it has grossed $3.8 million in Thursday night previews. Not bad, Po. Not bad at all.
The box office projections for Kung Fu Panda 4 are shaping up to be the second-best opening weekend of the entire franchise with $52 million. That would help it take the number one spot from Dune: Part Two, which is expected to take in $41 million. The Thursday night preview number is also the best opening for a Dreamworks Animation title since How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World, which opened to a $3 million preview take. Speaking of Dune: Part Two, the acclaimed sequel will finish the week with a domestic take of $111 million, putting it over the first movie’s entire domestic run of $108.8 million.
Related Awesome Art We’ve Found Around The Net: Dragon Ball,...
The box office projections for Kung Fu Panda 4 are shaping up to be the second-best opening weekend of the entire franchise with $52 million. That would help it take the number one spot from Dune: Part Two, which is expected to take in $41 million. The Thursday night preview number is also the best opening for a Dreamworks Animation title since How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World, which opened to a $3 million preview take. Speaking of Dune: Part Two, the acclaimed sequel will finish the week with a domestic take of $111 million, putting it over the first movie’s entire domestic run of $108.8 million.
Related Awesome Art We’ve Found Around The Net: Dragon Ball,...
- 3/8/2024
- by Kevin Fraser
- JoBlo.com
Zack Snyder’s braggadocio reaches new heights as the director argues to Joe Rogan that his movie Rebel Moon did better in theaters than Barbie.
“According to him, Netflix’s whole distribution model is so ‘crazy’ that he thinks more people have probably seen his movie Rebel Moon—Part One: A Child Of Fire than Barbie (when it was in theaters)—due to Netflix’s ubiquity and the fact that you can just throw something on without having to go out to a theater and buy a separate ticket. That seems completely absurd…”
Read more at The A.V. Club
Kung Fu Panda 4 set records for a DreamWorks Animation preview, which bodes well for its opening weekend.
“Universal/DreamWorks Animation’s Kung Fu Panda 4 grossed $3.8M in Thursday night previews that began at 2Pm yesterday, a figure that KOs the preview figure of How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World...
“According to him, Netflix’s whole distribution model is so ‘crazy’ that he thinks more people have probably seen his movie Rebel Moon—Part One: A Child Of Fire than Barbie (when it was in theaters)—due to Netflix’s ubiquity and the fact that you can just throw something on without having to go out to a theater and buy a separate ticket. That seems completely absurd…”
Read more at The A.V. Club
Kung Fu Panda 4 set records for a DreamWorks Animation preview, which bodes well for its opening weekend.
“Universal/DreamWorks Animation’s Kung Fu Panda 4 grossed $3.8M in Thursday night previews that began at 2Pm yesterday, a figure that KOs the preview figure of How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World...
- 3/8/2024
- by Michael Ahr
- Den of Geek
The thawing of the winter box office continues this weekend with Universal/DreamWorks Animation’s Kung Fu Panda 4 which is bound to see the franchise’s second highest domestic opening at $50M+ at 3,900 theaters after the original 2008 movie ($60.2M). But that’s not all, it’s also the second biggest start for a Dwa title after Universal acquired the label from its 20th Century Fox distribution deal; the biggest during Universal’s 2.0 with Dwa being How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World which debuted to $55M in March 2019. Kung Fu Panda 4 is skewing among males and females under 25. Previews start Thursday at 2Pm. No Rt review rating yet.
Legendary Entertainment/Warner Bros’ Dune: Part Two keeps humming with $8.1M yesterday off bargain Tuesdays, +12% over Monday, for a running total through five days of $98M. The Zendaya-Timothee Chalamet-Austin Butler-Josh Brolin-...
Legendary Entertainment/Warner Bros’ Dune: Part Two keeps humming with $8.1M yesterday off bargain Tuesdays, +12% over Monday, for a running total through five days of $98M. The Zendaya-Timothee Chalamet-Austin Butler-Josh Brolin-...
- 3/6/2024
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
“Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” has everything you could ask for from an animated Oscar contender, including sterling reviews, stellar box office and a proven awards track record. There’s one potential hitch, though: it’s a sequel. In the history of Best Animated Feature at the Oscars, only two sequels have ever won, and they were both from the “Toy Story” franchise: “Toy Story 3” (2010) and “Toy Story 4” (2019). Can “Across the Spider-Verse” achieve the same rare feat?
SEEWhat just missed making Oscar’s Best Picture line-up: ‘The Color Purple,’ ‘Air,’ ‘Across the Spider-Verse’ … ? [Poll]
The following 12 sequels have been nominated for Best Animated Feature, with the only two winners highlighted in gold:
2004: “Shrek 2”
2010: “Toy Story 3”
2011: “Kung Fu Panda 2”
2011: “Puss in Boots”
2013: “Despicable Me 2”
2014: “How to Train Your Dragon 2”
2018: “Incredibles 2”
2018: “Ralph Breaks the Internet”
2019: “Toy Story 4...
SEEWhat just missed making Oscar’s Best Picture line-up: ‘The Color Purple,’ ‘Air,’ ‘Across the Spider-Verse’ … ? [Poll]
The following 12 sequels have been nominated for Best Animated Feature, with the only two winners highlighted in gold:
2004: “Shrek 2”
2010: “Toy Story 3”
2011: “Kung Fu Panda 2”
2011: “Puss in Boots”
2013: “Despicable Me 2”
2014: “How to Train Your Dragon 2”
2018: “Incredibles 2”
2018: “Ralph Breaks the Internet”
2019: “Toy Story 4...
- 1/31/2024
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
The live-action How to Train Your Dragon movie began shooting last week, and there have been a few new additions to the cast.
Julian Dennison (Deadpool 2), Gabriel Howell (Bodies), Bronwyn James (Masters of the Air), and Harry Trevaldwyn (The Bubble) have joined the cast of How to Train Your Dragon as Fishlegs, Snotlout, Ruffnut, and Tuffnut, respectively. In the original animated movie, Fishlegs was voiced by Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Snotlout was voiced by Jonah Hill, Ruffnut was voiced by Kristen Wiig, and Tuffnut was voiced by T.J. Miller.
Dean DeBlois, who wrote and directed all three of the animated movies, will return to write, direct, and produce the live-action movie. It was announced last year that Mason Thames (The Black Phone) would star as Hiccup alongside Nico Parker (The Last of Us) as Astrid. Gerard Butler is also set to reprise his role of Stoick the Vast, the character he voiced in the animated movies,...
Julian Dennison (Deadpool 2), Gabriel Howell (Bodies), Bronwyn James (Masters of the Air), and Harry Trevaldwyn (The Bubble) have joined the cast of How to Train Your Dragon as Fishlegs, Snotlout, Ruffnut, and Tuffnut, respectively. In the original animated movie, Fishlegs was voiced by Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Snotlout was voiced by Jonah Hill, Ruffnut was voiced by Kristen Wiig, and Tuffnut was voiced by T.J. Miller.
Dean DeBlois, who wrote and directed all three of the animated movies, will return to write, direct, and produce the live-action movie. It was announced last year that Mason Thames (The Black Phone) would star as Hiccup alongside Nico Parker (The Last of Us) as Astrid. Gerard Butler is also set to reprise his role of Stoick the Vast, the character he voiced in the animated movies,...
- 1/24/2024
- by Kevin Fraser
- JoBlo.com
Dean DeBlois wrote and directed all three of the animated How to Train Your Dragon movies, which were inspired by the series of books by written by Cressida Cowell. Now DeBlois is set to write, direct, and produce a live-action remake of How to Train Your Dragon – and he’s assembling a strong cast for it. Mason Thames (The Black Phone) is set to play Hiccup, with Nico Parker (The Last of Us) as Astrid and Gerard Butler, who voiced Stoick the Vast, the leader of the Viking clan and Hiccup’s father in the animated films, will be reprising the role in live-action. Now The Hollywood Reporter has broken the news that Nick Frost – whose credits include Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, The World’s End, Paul, and Fighting with My Family – has been cast as the Viking character Gobber the Belch, the trusted friend and advisor of Stoick.
- 1/11/2024
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Actor Gerard Butler is set to reprise his role as the burly Viking leader Stoick in the live-action remake of the animated movie ‘How to Train Your Dragon’. He’s the first legacy cast member to make the jump, which will reteam him with Dean DeBlois, who returns to write, direct and produce the newest entry in the popular franchise, reports Entertainment Weekly.
Joining Butler are previously announced stars Mason Thames and Nico Parker, who will star as Hiccup and Astrid. Further casting has yet to be revealed.
As per Entertainment Weekly, the live-action adaptation will be “rooted in stories that are as sweeping as they are intimate” and will “draw audiences deep into DreamWorks Animation’s imaginative lore.”
The first film in the animated franchise was released in 2010, and captivated audiences with the unlikely friendship of an adolescent Viking named Hiccup (voiced by Jay Baruchel) and a fearsome Night...
Joining Butler are previously announced stars Mason Thames and Nico Parker, who will star as Hiccup and Astrid. Further casting has yet to be revealed.
As per Entertainment Weekly, the live-action adaptation will be “rooted in stories that are as sweeping as they are intimate” and will “draw audiences deep into DreamWorks Animation’s imaginative lore.”
The first film in the animated franchise was released in 2010, and captivated audiences with the unlikely friendship of an adolescent Viking named Hiccup (voiced by Jay Baruchel) and a fearsome Night...
- 1/6/2024
- by Agency News Desk
- GlamSham
Gerard Butler is returning to an iconic role and doing so in a new way!
The 54-year-old Olympus Has Fallen actor is set to reprise the role of Stoik the Vast in the live-action adaptation of How to Train Your Dragon, which is expected to premiere in 2025.
This marks the first time that Gerard will bring the character to life since 2019′s How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World. It is also the first time that he’ll provide more than his voice as the previous moves were all animated.
Read more about Gerard Butler’s newest role…
Gerard originated the role in the animated franchise. His first outing as Stoik was in 2010. He returned to the role the following two movies and a handful of shorts.
Deadline confirmed that he was set to return to the project.
News about the live-action addition to the franchise has been slow.
The 54-year-old Olympus Has Fallen actor is set to reprise the role of Stoik the Vast in the live-action adaptation of How to Train Your Dragon, which is expected to premiere in 2025.
This marks the first time that Gerard will bring the character to life since 2019′s How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World. It is also the first time that he’ll provide more than his voice as the previous moves were all animated.
Read more about Gerard Butler’s newest role…
Gerard originated the role in the animated franchise. His first outing as Stoik was in 2010. He returned to the role the following two movies and a handful of shorts.
Deadline confirmed that he was set to return to the project.
News about the live-action addition to the franchise has been slow.
- 1/5/2024
- by Just Jared
- Just Jared
Deadline reports that Gerard Butler will reprise his role of Stoick the Vast for Universal’s upcoming live-action adaptation of How to Train Your Dragon.
We don’t often see actors reprise their animated roles in live-action, but in the case of Gerard Butler, you can certainly understand why Universal wanted him back for their live-action take on the beloved animated franchise. This is going to be fun.
Dean DeBlois, who wrote and directed all three of the animated movies, will return to write, direct, and produce the live-action movie. It was announced last year that Mason Thames (The Black Phone) would star as Hiccup alongside Nico Parker (The Last of Us) as Astrid. Jay Baruchel voiced Hiccup in the animated movie, with America Ferrera voicing Astrid. Gerard Butler was always a highlight in the How to Train Your Dragon trilogy, and I’m sure he’ll do just as...
We don’t often see actors reprise their animated roles in live-action, but in the case of Gerard Butler, you can certainly understand why Universal wanted him back for their live-action take on the beloved animated franchise. This is going to be fun.
Dean DeBlois, who wrote and directed all three of the animated movies, will return to write, direct, and produce the live-action movie. It was announced last year that Mason Thames (The Black Phone) would star as Hiccup alongside Nico Parker (The Last of Us) as Astrid. Jay Baruchel voiced Hiccup in the animated movie, with America Ferrera voicing Astrid. Gerard Butler was always a highlight in the How to Train Your Dragon trilogy, and I’m sure he’ll do just as...
- 1/5/2024
- by Kevin Fraser
- JoBlo.com
While signs are pointing to the SAG-AFTRA strike potentially coming to a close in the near future, the fallout is still pushing the release dates of many projects. Universal and Dreamworks Animations live-action adaptation of How to Train Your Dragon had been set for a March 14, 2025 release, but it was announced today that it has been pushed back to June 13, 2025.
Production on the live-action How to Train Your Dragon movie was expected to begin this summer but obviously wasn’t able to get started due to the strike, so it’s no surprise that the release was pushed. Dean DeBlois, who wrote and directed all three of the animated movies, will return to write, direct, and produce the live-action movie. It was announced earlier this year that Mason Thames (The Black Phone) would star as Hiccup alongside Nico Parker (The Last of Us) as Astrid. Jay Baruchel voiced Hiccup in the animated movie,...
Production on the live-action How to Train Your Dragon movie was expected to begin this summer but obviously wasn’t able to get started due to the strike, so it’s no surprise that the release was pushed. Dean DeBlois, who wrote and directed all three of the animated movies, will return to write, direct, and produce the live-action movie. It was announced earlier this year that Mason Thames (The Black Phone) would star as Hiccup alongside Nico Parker (The Last of Us) as Astrid. Jay Baruchel voiced Hiccup in the animated movie,...
- 11/3/2023
- by Kevin Fraser
- JoBlo.com
Nico Parker and Mason Thomas will star in the live-action adaptation of 'How to Train Your Dragon'.The 'Last of Us' actress will portray Astrid, while the 15-year-old 'Black Phone' actor will play fellow human rider Hiccup in the upcoming movie, The Hollywood Reporter has revealed.According to the outlet, writer and director Dean DeBlois - who also helmed the original films - spent months looking for the right actors who would be able to grow into the roles in the way the characters grow into maturity throughout the series, which saw jumps in age across the three movies to highlight different stages of life.Jay Baruchel and America Ferrera originally voiced Hiccup and Astrid in the animated trilogy.The original 'How To Train Your Dragon' came to screens in 2010 and was a considerable success.The movie introduced Hiccup, a misfit teenager who studies at a...
- 5/31/2023
- by Viki Waters
- Bang Showbiz
It was reported earlier this year that Universal was developing a live-action adaptation of How to Train Your Dragon and the project now has its first two cast members. Per THR, Mason Thames and Nico Parker will play Hiccup and Astrid, respectively, in the live-action How to Train Your Dragon movie.
Mason Thames recently starred in The Black Phone, while Nico Parker played Joel’s (Pedro Pascal) daughter on HBO’s The Last of Us. Jay Baruchel voiced Hiccup in How to Train Your Dragon, with America Ferrera voicing Astrid. The report states that the search for the perfect actors took many months as the production was looking for “actors who could grow into the roles as much as the characters themselves grew into maturity in the movie franchise.” Dean DeBlois, who wrote and directed all three of the animated movies, will return to write, direct, and produce the live-action...
Mason Thames recently starred in The Black Phone, while Nico Parker played Joel’s (Pedro Pascal) daughter on HBO’s The Last of Us. Jay Baruchel voiced Hiccup in How to Train Your Dragon, with America Ferrera voicing Astrid. The report states that the search for the perfect actors took many months as the production was looking for “actors who could grow into the roles as much as the characters themselves grew into maturity in the movie franchise.” Dean DeBlois, who wrote and directed all three of the animated movies, will return to write, direct, and produce the live-action...
- 5/30/2023
- by Kevin Fraser
- JoBlo.com
Paramount will open Nickelodeon’s “Tmnt: Mutant Mayhem” not on Friday, August 6 but on Wednesday, August 4. It’ll still go head-to-head with Jason Statham and Wu Jing’s “The Meg 2: The Trench” opening that Friday. Moreover, it still won’t get any Imax or Plf screens even for those first two days since those auditoriums will be going to Chris Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” or (if circumstances justify it) Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” or Disney’s “The Haunted Mansion.” However, it’s the latest big theatrical release to opt for an extended Wed-Sun weekend instead of a conventional Fri-Sun debut.
Universal’s “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” decided to open two days early and ended up with a $146 million Fri-Sun frame and a $204 million Wed-Sun debut. Does that mean the film might have nabbed the first $200 million animated opening weekend had it opted for a conventional Fri-Sun frame? Perhaps, since...
Universal’s “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” decided to open two days early and ended up with a $146 million Fri-Sun frame and a $204 million Wed-Sun debut. Does that mean the film might have nabbed the first $200 million animated opening weekend had it opted for a conventional Fri-Sun frame? Perhaps, since...
- 5/23/2023
- by Scott Mendelson
- The Wrap
Dreamworks Animation got some help from Jack Black, Anna Kendrick and Justin Timberlake to highlight its upcoming slate, including Trolls Band Together — a new movie from its Trolls franchise set to open Nov. 17 — and Kung Fu Panda 4, slated for a March 8, 2024 release.
Jack Black — the voice of panda Po — got a hero’s welcome as he took the stage to introduce Kung Fu Panda 4. He described the story for the spring 2024 release via a comedic and dramatic monologue: “Po faces his biggest challenge ever. Will he survive?”
Black shared that Po is set to become the spiritual leader of his Valley of Peace, but also needs a succession plan for his role as the chosen Dragon Warrior. In the story, he also will train a new kung fu practitioner and meets a villain called the Chameleon who can summon villains from the past. “Po has to defeat every one of them,...
Jack Black — the voice of panda Po — got a hero’s welcome as he took the stage to introduce Kung Fu Panda 4. He described the story for the spring 2024 release via a comedic and dramatic monologue: “Po faces his biggest challenge ever. Will he survive?”
Black shared that Po is set to become the spiritual leader of his Valley of Peace, but also needs a succession plan for his role as the chosen Dragon Warrior. In the story, he also will train a new kung fu practitioner and meets a villain called the Chameleon who can summon villains from the past. “Po has to defeat every one of them,...
- 4/27/2023
- by Carolyn Giardina
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Family tentpole scoring more in two days in many territories than others have done in three-day opening weekends.
Universal/Illumination’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie added $27.6m from international markets on Thursday while North America added $26.5m after a mere 16% drop to propel global box office to a mighty $120.7m after two days.
The family animation is forecast by industry sources to soar past $300m globally through Sunday, proving much-needed impetus for a box office crying out for theatrical family features.
Factoring in an estimated $59m in North America on Friday the film stood at $180m globally after three days,...
Universal/Illumination’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie added $27.6m from international markets on Thursday while North America added $26.5m after a mere 16% drop to propel global box office to a mighty $120.7m after two days.
The family animation is forecast by industry sources to soar past $300m globally through Sunday, proving much-needed impetus for a box office crying out for theatrical family features.
Factoring in an estimated $59m in North America on Friday the film stood at $180m globally after three days,...
- 4/7/2023
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Refresh for latest…: Coming out of its second weekend, Disney/Marvel’s Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania has grossed $363.6M globally. Of that, $167.3M is from domestic and $196.3M from the international box office.
The sophomore overseas frame was $46.4M in 52 markets with a slighter drop than in North America, coming in 57% behind last weekend’s bow — which itself was nevertheless lower than projections owing in part to softness in Asia Pacific. It’s not the worst drop for Marvel, but it’s not great either.
The same theories from last weekend’s offshore start continue to apply: Early critical scores dampened wannasee, sci-fi of the Star Wars ilk is a hard sell in some Asian markets and the gap between Marvel movies in China may be a challenge (amid a certain lack of appetite for Hollywood movies there in general). More will be borne out over the coming...
The sophomore overseas frame was $46.4M in 52 markets with a slighter drop than in North America, coming in 57% behind last weekend’s bow — which itself was nevertheless lower than projections owing in part to softness in Asia Pacific. It’s not the worst drop for Marvel, but it’s not great either.
The same theories from last weekend’s offshore start continue to apply: Early critical scores dampened wannasee, sci-fi of the Star Wars ilk is a hard sell in some Asian markets and the gap between Marvel movies in China may be a challenge (amid a certain lack of appetite for Hollywood movies there in general). More will be borne out over the coming...
- 2/26/2023
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
How to Train Your Dragon is the latest animation to get the live action treatment, but the The Hidden World was only released four years ago. How soon is too soon?
What’s the record for the fastest remake? What is the least amount of time in which film studios have conspired to bring almost exactly the same movie back to the big screen? There was the French comic spy thriller La Totale!, which was remade by James Cameron as True Lies only three years later. And it is arguable that Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead II (1987) is just a sillier remake of his own The Evil Dead, from 1981. But generally it takes a couple of decades before Hollywood is ready to hit go on a straight-up rerun of a popular movie.
Why then, are we apparently getting a remake of DreamWorks’ fabulous How to Train Your Dragon only 13 years...
What’s the record for the fastest remake? What is the least amount of time in which film studios have conspired to bring almost exactly the same movie back to the big screen? There was the French comic spy thriller La Totale!, which was remade by James Cameron as True Lies only three years later. And it is arguable that Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead II (1987) is just a sillier remake of his own The Evil Dead, from 1981. But generally it takes a couple of decades before Hollywood is ready to hit go on a straight-up rerun of a popular movie.
Why then, are we apparently getting a remake of DreamWorks’ fabulous How to Train Your Dragon only 13 years...
- 2/17/2023
- by Ben Child
- The Guardian - Film News
A live-action adaptation of ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ is soaring to theaters in 2025.
Dean DeBlois, who wrote and directed the animated trilogy 2010’s ‘How to Train Your Dragon’, 2014’s ‘How to Train Your Dragon 2’ and 2019’s ‘How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World’ – is returning to write and direct the newest entry in the franchise.
It’s slated to release on March 14, 2025, reports ‘Variety’.
The Oscar-nominated ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ takes place in the mythical Viking village of Berk and follows the adventures of a misfit teen named Hiccup who befriends an injured dragon he calls Toothless.
The fantasy series, backed by Universal and DreamWorks and based on the books by Cressida Cowell, has generated more than 1.6 billion worldwide.
Their journeys have taken them beyond the big screen, spawning three TV series – ‘DreamWorks Dragons’, ‘Rescue Riders’ and ‘The Nine Realms’ – as well as theme park rides and the live show,...
Dean DeBlois, who wrote and directed the animated trilogy 2010’s ‘How to Train Your Dragon’, 2014’s ‘How to Train Your Dragon 2’ and 2019’s ‘How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World’ – is returning to write and direct the newest entry in the franchise.
It’s slated to release on March 14, 2025, reports ‘Variety’.
The Oscar-nominated ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ takes place in the mythical Viking village of Berk and follows the adventures of a misfit teen named Hiccup who befriends an injured dragon he calls Toothless.
The fantasy series, backed by Universal and DreamWorks and based on the books by Cressida Cowell, has generated more than 1.6 billion worldwide.
Their journeys have taken them beyond the big screen, spawning three TV series – ‘DreamWorks Dragons’, ‘Rescue Riders’ and ‘The Nine Realms’ – as well as theme park rides and the live show,...
- 2/16/2023
- by News Bureau
- GlamSham
Hiccup (Jay Baruchel) and his Night Fury dragon Toothless lead the Dragon Riders in DreamWorks Animation’s ‘How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World’ (Photo © 2019 DreamWorks Animation)
Universal Pictures is betting fans of the animated How to Train Your Dragon movie franchise will get on board with a live-action film. Academy Award nominee Dean DeBlois, the writer and director of all three How to Train Your Dragon animated films, will make his live-action feature film directorial debut with this new addition to the franchise. DeBlois will also write and produce.
The announcement did not include any casting details, and Universal hasn’t confirmed if Jay Baruchel – the voice of Hiccup – will be involved in the live-action film. The franchise is based on Cressida Cowell’s bestselling books. Three-time Oscar nominee Marc Platt and Emmy winner Adam Siegel join DeBlois as producers.
Universal offered this description of the live-action project:
“For more than a decade,...
Universal Pictures is betting fans of the animated How to Train Your Dragon movie franchise will get on board with a live-action film. Academy Award nominee Dean DeBlois, the writer and director of all three How to Train Your Dragon animated films, will make his live-action feature film directorial debut with this new addition to the franchise. DeBlois will also write and produce.
The announcement did not include any casting details, and Universal hasn’t confirmed if Jay Baruchel – the voice of Hiccup – will be involved in the live-action film. The franchise is based on Cressida Cowell’s bestselling books. Three-time Oscar nominee Marc Platt and Emmy winner Adam Siegel join DeBlois as producers.
Universal offered this description of the live-action project:
“For more than a decade,...
- 2/16/2023
- by Rebecca Murray
- Showbiz Junkies
Dean DeBlois, director of all three animated hits, will also steer the adaptation.
Universal Pictures is to make a live-action feature based on the DreamWorks Animation franchise How to Train Your Dragon, with a March 14, 2025 release date already set.
Dean DeBlois, who has written and directed all three of the animated Dragon films – which are based on based on the best-selling book series by Cressida Cowell - will also write and direct the live-action adaptation. DeBlois, Marc Platt and Adam Siegel will produce.
The original How to Train Your Dragon, about hapless young Viking Hiccup who befriends a dragon in...
Universal Pictures is to make a live-action feature based on the DreamWorks Animation franchise How to Train Your Dragon, with a March 14, 2025 release date already set.
Dean DeBlois, who has written and directed all three of the animated Dragon films – which are based on based on the best-selling book series by Cressida Cowell - will also write and direct the live-action adaptation. DeBlois, Marc Platt and Adam Siegel will produce.
The original How to Train Your Dragon, about hapless young Viking Hiccup who befriends a dragon in...
- 2/16/2023
- by John Hazelton
- ScreenDaily
We haven’t seen the last of How to Train Your Dragon, but this time the animated franchise will be returning as a live-action movie based on the book series by Cressida Cowell.
Deadline reports that Dean DeBlois, who wrote and directed all three of the animated movies, will return to write, direct, and produce the live-action How to Train Your Dragon movie as well. Universal has already set a release date for the project, with the movie set to be released on March 14, 2025. The casting process is already said to be underway.
Related Our 10 Best 3D Films
The first How to Train Your Dragon movie takes place in a mythical Viking village and follows Hiccup (Jay Baruchel), a young Viking who aspires to continue his tribe’s tradition of becoming a dragon slayer. But after finally capturing his first dragon, Toothless, he learns that there is more to the creatures than he had assumed.
Deadline reports that Dean DeBlois, who wrote and directed all three of the animated movies, will return to write, direct, and produce the live-action How to Train Your Dragon movie as well. Universal has already set a release date for the project, with the movie set to be released on March 14, 2025. The casting process is already said to be underway.
Related Our 10 Best 3D Films
The first How to Train Your Dragon movie takes place in a mythical Viking village and follows Hiccup (Jay Baruchel), a young Viking who aspires to continue his tribe’s tradition of becoming a dragon slayer. But after finally capturing his first dragon, Toothless, he learns that there is more to the creatures than he had assumed.
- 2/15/2023
- by Kevin Fraser
- JoBlo.com
Universal Pictures will be releasing a live-action adaptation of DreamWorks’ “How to Train Your Dragon” into theaters on March 14, 2025. Three-time Oscar nominee Dean DeBlois, who co-directed the 2010 blockbuster hit with Chris Sanders, and directed both the sequel in 2014 and the threequel in 2019, will write, direct and produce this live-action offering.
The “How to Train Your Dragon” trilogy, based on the book series by Cressida Cowell, is one of the artistic milestones of the Katzenberg-founded animation studio, with total global grosses of 1.6 billion and three Best Animated Feature Oscar nominations.
Strong grosses – over 520 million global – for “How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World” in early 2019 as the animated sequels like “The Lego Movie 2” and “The Angry Birds Movie 2” showed that Toothless and Hiccup were marquee characters with some generational nostalgia pull. Puss in Boots is also a marquee character with generational nostalgia appeal, as the Oscar-nominated sequel is...
The “How to Train Your Dragon” trilogy, based on the book series by Cressida Cowell, is one of the artistic milestones of the Katzenberg-founded animation studio, with total global grosses of 1.6 billion and three Best Animated Feature Oscar nominations.
Strong grosses – over 520 million global – for “How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World” in early 2019 as the animated sequels like “The Lego Movie 2” and “The Angry Birds Movie 2” showed that Toothless and Hiccup were marquee characters with some generational nostalgia pull. Puss in Boots is also a marquee character with generational nostalgia appeal, as the Oscar-nominated sequel is...
- 2/15/2023
- by Scott Mendelson
- The Wrap
A live-action adaptation of “How to Train Your Dragon” is soaring to theaters in 2025.
Dean DeBlois, who wrote and directed the animated trilogy — 2010’s “How to Train Your Dragon,” 2014’s “How to Train Your Dragon 2” and 2019’s “How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World” — is returning to write and direct the newest entry in the franchise. It’s slated to release on March 14, 2025.
The Oscar-nominated “How to Train Your Dragon” takes place in the mythical Viking village of Berk and follows the adventures of a misfit teen named Hiccup who befriends an injured dragon he calls Toothless. The fantasy series, backed by Universal and DreamWorks and based on the books by Cressida Cowell, has generated more than 1.6 billion worldwide. Their journeys have taken them beyond the big screen, spawning three TV series — “DreamWorks Dragons,” “Rescue Riders” and “The Nine Realms” — as well as theme park rides and the live show,...
Dean DeBlois, who wrote and directed the animated trilogy — 2010’s “How to Train Your Dragon,” 2014’s “How to Train Your Dragon 2” and 2019’s “How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World” — is returning to write and direct the newest entry in the franchise. It’s slated to release on March 14, 2025.
The Oscar-nominated “How to Train Your Dragon” takes place in the mythical Viking village of Berk and follows the adventures of a misfit teen named Hiccup who befriends an injured dragon he calls Toothless. The fantasy series, backed by Universal and DreamWorks and based on the books by Cressida Cowell, has generated more than 1.6 billion worldwide. Their journeys have taken them beyond the big screen, spawning three TV series — “DreamWorks Dragons,” “Rescue Riders” and “The Nine Realms” — as well as theme park rides and the live show,...
- 2/15/2023
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
Update: James Cameron’s Avatar: The Way of Water has overtaken the filmmaker’s own Titanic at the international box office with an estimated 1.538B through Sunday. That makes it the No. 3 movie of all time abroad, behind the original Avatar and Avengers: Endgame.
Globally, The Way of Water reached 2,174.4M through the 8th weekend, putting Titanic in its sights on a worldwide basis. However, the big boat movie is getting a rerelease this coming week, so rankings will depend on what kind of numbers it generates as the two films likely play tag next session.
Way of Water is currently the No. 4 biggest movie of all time worldwide and added 27.9M overseas this frame for a 36 drop. It remains the No. 1 non-local title in several offshore markets, including France, Germany, Spain, Australia, Japan and Korea.
The Top 5 markets to date are China (240.6M), France (141.5M), Germany (130.7M), Korea (105.5M...
Globally, The Way of Water reached 2,174.4M through the 8th weekend, putting Titanic in its sights on a worldwide basis. However, the big boat movie is getting a rerelease this coming week, so rankings will depend on what kind of numbers it generates as the two films likely play tag next session.
Way of Water is currently the No. 4 biggest movie of all time worldwide and added 27.9M overseas this frame for a 36 drop. It remains the No. 1 non-local title in several offshore markets, including France, Germany, Spain, Australia, Japan and Korea.
The Top 5 markets to date are China (240.6M), France (141.5M), Germany (130.7M), Korea (105.5M...
- 2/5/2023
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: We are hearing from sources that Cattywumpus, the Gore Verbinski-directed animated movie about outer space felines, will be getting shopped around town to other studios.
Verbinski, whose films have grossed 3.76 billion and who won an Oscar in 2012 for the Paramount animated movie Rango, had been working on his latest film at Netflix.
Such is the complex nature of animated film production, where quite often halfway through, stories and plans can pivot. There’s a history of that from movies such as Pixar’s Soul and Dinosaur and DreamWorks Animation’s How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World.
Cattywumpus repped Verbinski’s second animated movie after the Johnny Depp-voiced Western Rango, which grossed 246 million at the worldwide box office.
Netflix, we understand, gave the creative team the option to go shop the movie elsewhere.
Netflix has seen promotions and changeovers in its animation executive suite over the summer.
Verbinski, whose films have grossed 3.76 billion and who won an Oscar in 2012 for the Paramount animated movie Rango, had been working on his latest film at Netflix.
Such is the complex nature of animated film production, where quite often halfway through, stories and plans can pivot. There’s a history of that from movies such as Pixar’s Soul and Dinosaur and DreamWorks Animation’s How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World.
Cattywumpus repped Verbinski’s second animated movie after the Johnny Depp-voiced Western Rango, which grossed 246 million at the worldwide box office.
Netflix, we understand, gave the creative team the option to go shop the movie elsewhere.
Netflix has seen promotions and changeovers in its animation executive suite over the summer.
- 9/1/2022
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Click here to read the full article.
With annual CG confab Siggraph slated to start Monday in Vancouver, DreamWorks Animation announced its intent to release its proprietary renderer, MoonRay, as open-source software later this year.
MoonRay has been used on feature films such as How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World, Croods: A New Age, The Bad Guys and upcoming Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.
“We are thrilled to share with the industry over 10 years of innovation and development on MoonRay’s vectorized, threaded, parallel, and distributed code base,” said Andrew Pearce, Dwa’s vp of global technology. “The appetite for rendering at scale grows each year, and MoonRay is set to meet that need. We expect to see the code base grow stronger with community involvement as DreamWorks continues to demonstrate our commitment to open source”.
MoonRay uses DreamWorks’ distributed computation framework, Arras, also to be included in the open-source code base.
With annual CG confab Siggraph slated to start Monday in Vancouver, DreamWorks Animation announced its intent to release its proprietary renderer, MoonRay, as open-source software later this year.
MoonRay has been used on feature films such as How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World, Croods: A New Age, The Bad Guys and upcoming Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.
“We are thrilled to share with the industry over 10 years of innovation and development on MoonRay’s vectorized, threaded, parallel, and distributed code base,” said Andrew Pearce, Dwa’s vp of global technology. “The appetite for rendering at scale grows each year, and MoonRay is set to meet that need. We expect to see the code base grow stronger with community involvement as DreamWorks continues to demonstrate our commitment to open source”.
MoonRay uses DreamWorks’ distributed computation framework, Arras, also to be included in the open-source code base.
- 8/5/2022
- by Carolyn Giardina
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The past month was the year’s busiest at the box office with three of the year’s top five openers, and the past weekend saw four films gross above 10 million, a feat that surprisingly has not been achieved since last June. Things slow to a crawl this weekend, though, as we are one week out from the Marvel-in-waiting Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness which will kick off the summer box-office season. Though this week’s only new wide release is expected to open soft, there is still juice left to squeeze out of the current slate before the arrival of the first MCU film since Spider-Man: No Way Home. This may be the lowest grossing weekend since February, but a blockbuster packed summer is right around the corner.
The only film going wide this week is the Liam Neeson action-thriller Memory, getting a release by Open Road.
The only film going wide this week is the Liam Neeson action-thriller Memory, getting a release by Open Road.
- 4/28/2022
- by Sam Mendelsohn <mail@boxofficemojo.com>
- Box Office Mojo
April has done a pretty decent job bringing the theatrical box office back to somewhere akin to where it was before the pandemic, although it was greatly helped by “Sonic the Hedgehog 2” and a few surprise hits like “Everything Everywhere All at Once.” We’ve gotten past the midway point of the month, as well as various religious holidays and school spring breaks across the country, which brings us to one of the odder and more varied April weekends in recent memory.
First off, we have the latest animated comedy from DreamWorks Animation, “The Bad Guys,” based on the illustrated children’s book series by Aaron Blabey. It plays on the idea of “bad animals,” wanton criminals led by Wolf, voiced by Oscar winner Sam Rockwell, who are constantly trying to pull off heist jobs until they decide one day to go good. Other animals are voiced by the likes of Marc Maron,...
First off, we have the latest animated comedy from DreamWorks Animation, “The Bad Guys,” based on the illustrated children’s book series by Aaron Blabey. It plays on the idea of “bad animals,” wanton criminals led by Wolf, voiced by Oscar winner Sam Rockwell, who are constantly trying to pull off heist jobs until they decide one day to go good. Other animals are voiced by the likes of Marc Maron,...
- 4/20/2022
- by Edward Douglas
- Gold Derby
The first episode of “Moon Knight” has arrived, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe has somehow gotten stranger.
The series, based on the Marvel Comics run of the same name, follows Steven Grant (Oscar Isaac), a mild-mannered gift-shop employee, who becomes plagued with blackouts and memories of another life. Steven discovers he has dissociative identity disorder and shares a body with mercenary Marc Spector (also Isaac). As Steven/Marc’s enemies converge upon them, they must navigate their complex identities while thrust into a deadly mystery among the powerful gods of Egypt.
Throughout the show’s first episode, there is a voice calling to Steven, and towards the end of the episode we see who it is: the Egyptian god Khonshu. This god bestowed its powers upon Marc to fight evil, but Steven struggles to come to terms with who this is, what these powers are, and what it all means.
The series, based on the Marvel Comics run of the same name, follows Steven Grant (Oscar Isaac), a mild-mannered gift-shop employee, who becomes plagued with blackouts and memories of another life. Steven discovers he has dissociative identity disorder and shares a body with mercenary Marc Spector (also Isaac). As Steven/Marc’s enemies converge upon them, they must navigate their complex identities while thrust into a deadly mystery among the powerful gods of Egypt.
Throughout the show’s first episode, there is a voice calling to Steven, and towards the end of the episode we see who it is: the Egyptian god Khonshu. This god bestowed its powers upon Marc to fight evil, but Steven struggles to come to terms with who this is, what these powers are, and what it all means.
- 3/30/2022
- by Adam Chitwood
- The Wrap
Sunday Am Writethru: after Saturday post Before a big tentpole comes into the marketplace, there’s typically a lull at the box office. But it’s an even bigger lull when the major studios don’t have any new wide entries. Everyone is waiting for Warner Bros. The Batman next weekend, and many sources tell me it’s bound easily for a $100M+ opening, in fact $115M+, and the advance ticket sales are there to prove that.
This despite the 3-hour running time, and from what I hear (I haven’t seen it yet) is a more noir, detective story by director Matt Reeves than Christopher Nolan’s previous Dark Knight action-infused movies. iSpot shows Warner Bros. having already spent $28M+ in US TV spots (that’s even a big number from that data agency’s Pov) across such shows as the Winter Olympics, NFL, Good Morning America, NBA games and Big Brother: Celebrity Edition.
This despite the 3-hour running time, and from what I hear (I haven’t seen it yet) is a more noir, detective story by director Matt Reeves than Christopher Nolan’s previous Dark Knight action-infused movies. iSpot shows Warner Bros. having already spent $28M+ in US TV spots (that’s even a big number from that data agency’s Pov) across such shows as the Winter Olympics, NFL, Good Morning America, NBA games and Big Brother: Celebrity Edition.
- 2/27/2022
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Spire Animation Studios has hired a pair of Pixar alums for key roles, with Ricky Nierva joining as Production Designer and Michal Makarewicz now serving as Head of Character Animation.
In their time at Spire, Nierva and Makarewicz will work closely with Creative Directors, Animation and Story Shawn Krause and Michael Surrey, Creative Directors of Development, Ted Mathot and Karen Disher, story artist Sharon Bridgeman and co-founder and Cco Brad Lewis, first turning their attention to the studio’s first animated feature Trouble that it’s developing with Danny McBride’s Rough House Pictures, as previously announced.
“We couldn’t be more excited to be working with Ricky and Michal,” said Lewis and co-founder P.J. Gunsagar in a joint statement. “Both bring a wealth of creative experience from working at Pixar on many of the studio’s most beloved movies.
In their time at Spire, Nierva and Makarewicz will work closely with Creative Directors, Animation and Story Shawn Krause and Michael Surrey, Creative Directors of Development, Ted Mathot and Karen Disher, story artist Sharon Bridgeman and co-founder and Cco Brad Lewis, first turning their attention to the studio’s first animated feature Trouble that it’s developing with Danny McBride’s Rough House Pictures, as previously announced.
“We couldn’t be more excited to be working with Ricky and Michal,” said Lewis and co-founder P.J. Gunsagar in a joint statement. “Both bring a wealth of creative experience from working at Pixar on many of the studio’s most beloved movies.
- 2/24/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
“The Boss Baby: Family Business” director Tom McGrath will be the keynote speaker at the 22nd View Conference, which will be held from Oct. 17-22 in Turin, Italy.
The DreamWorks Animation feature is the sixth film McGrath has made with the studio. He is the co-writer and co-director of the “Madagascar” movies, and he directed Dwa’s “Megamind” in 2010. He was nominated for an Academy Award in 2017 for “The Boss Baby.” His films have generated nearly $3 billion at the box office worldwide.
The View Conference gathers together some of the top professionals in the areas of animation, visual effects, computer graphics, games, interactive and immersive media, virtual production and more for a week of keynote addresses, talks, presentations and workshops. Early bird ticket prices are available now through Aug. 31 at the View Conference website.
Other speakers from the world of animation include “Wolfwalkers” director Tomm Moore; Kris Pearn, director of...
The DreamWorks Animation feature is the sixth film McGrath has made with the studio. He is the co-writer and co-director of the “Madagascar” movies, and he directed Dwa’s “Megamind” in 2010. He was nominated for an Academy Award in 2017 for “The Boss Baby.” His films have generated nearly $3 billion at the box office worldwide.
The View Conference gathers together some of the top professionals in the areas of animation, visual effects, computer graphics, games, interactive and immersive media, virtual production and more for a week of keynote addresses, talks, presentations and workshops. Early bird ticket prices are available now through Aug. 31 at the View Conference website.
Other speakers from the world of animation include “Wolfwalkers” director Tomm Moore; Kris Pearn, director of...
- 7/29/2021
- by Terry Flores
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Danny McBride’s Rough House Pictures is partnering with Spire Animation Studios to develop the animated feature, Trouble.
Pic centers on Jax, a 13-year-old who gets in trouble with his family, and is swept into a parallel reality known as the World of Trouble. Embarking on a whimsical adventure, within this bizarre and fantastic world of chaotic adolescence, he makes new friends, reflects on his character and learns the value of self-forgiveness, all while trying to figure out how to get out of trouble, and get back home.
McBride and Spire Animation Studios Cco Brad Lewis created the original story for Trouble, with Kevin Barnett and Chris Pappas writing the script. The film will be executive produced by Spire’s P.J. Gunsagar, along with Rough House Pictures’ Brandon James. Casting announcements have yet to be made.
Pic centers on Jax, a 13-year-old who gets in trouble with his family, and is swept into a parallel reality known as the World of Trouble. Embarking on a whimsical adventure, within this bizarre and fantastic world of chaotic adolescence, he makes new friends, reflects on his character and learns the value of self-forgiveness, all while trying to figure out how to get out of trouble, and get back home.
McBride and Spire Animation Studios Cco Brad Lewis created the original story for Trouble, with Kevin Barnett and Chris Pappas writing the script. The film will be executive produced by Spire’s P.J. Gunsagar, along with Rough House Pictures’ Brandon James. Casting announcements have yet to be made.
- 3/29/2021
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
It didn’t take long for history to repeat itself.
We’re not just talking about the second 2nd weekend No. 1 hold for a Liam Neeson Open Road release during the pandemic, specifically The Marksman which earned $2.03M, -35% for a running total of $6.09M. But how the major studios ran for the hills again, just like they did after the release of Tenet, pushing their Q1 titles after seeing the bluesy Christmas results of Wonder Woman 1984 and News of the World.
Yes, as we told you, this was to be expected in Q1 given how the virus is lingering despite the deployment of the current vaccine. There’s an interesting article in this morning’s New York Times about how many more infections we’re bound to get, even with the vaccine, should the country decide to relax restrictions. Already with the vaccine, scientists at Columbia University estimate that...
We’re not just talking about the second 2nd weekend No. 1 hold for a Liam Neeson Open Road release during the pandemic, specifically The Marksman which earned $2.03M, -35% for a running total of $6.09M. But how the major studios ran for the hills again, just like they did after the release of Tenet, pushing their Q1 titles after seeing the bluesy Christmas results of Wonder Woman 1984 and News of the World.
Yes, as we told you, this was to be expected in Q1 given how the virus is lingering despite the deployment of the current vaccine. There’s an interesting article in this morning’s New York Times about how many more infections we’re bound to get, even with the vaccine, should the country decide to relax restrictions. Already with the vaccine, scientists at Columbia University estimate that...
- 1/24/2021
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Universal Filmed Entertainment Group is extending its new approach to theatrical windows to Cinemark theaters, as a multi-year agreement between the studio and Cinemark Holdings, Inc. has just been announced. The Cinemark deal follows in the footsteps of Universal’s deal with AMC that was announced in July.
Per an official statement on behalf of Universal and Cinemark: “The agreement includes at least three full weekends (17 days) of theatrical exclusivity for all Universal Pictures and Focus Features theatrical releases, at which time the studio will have the option to make its titles available across premium video on demand (PVOD) platforms. Under the terms of the deal, any title that opens to $50 million or more, including many franchise titles, will play exclusively in theaters for at least five full weekends (31 days) before the title may become available on PVOD.”
Sources close to Universal say the theatrical-pvod window based on opening weekend...
Per an official statement on behalf of Universal and Cinemark: “The agreement includes at least three full weekends (17 days) of theatrical exclusivity for all Universal Pictures and Focus Features theatrical releases, at which time the studio will have the option to make its titles available across premium video on demand (PVOD) platforms. Under the terms of the deal, any title that opens to $50 million or more, including many franchise titles, will play exclusively in theaters for at least five full weekends (31 days) before the title may become available on PVOD.”
Sources close to Universal say the theatrical-pvod window based on opening weekend...
- 11/16/2020
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
Exclusive: Jim Gallagher will be leaving his post at Warner Bros as Executive Vice President of Marketing Animation and Family films as part of the ongoing restructuring at WarnerMedia. The former Walt Disney Co marketing president, who was head of Theatrical Marketing at DreamWorks Animation before moving to Warner Bros 18 months ago, will exit in February.
In his post as EVP Marketing, Animation and Family, Gallagher worked on such film successes as Scoob!, a film that had been teed up with a global marketing launch to open at $55 million U.S. or more, when the pandemic shut everything down. The film pivoted to PVOD and had strong results.
In his previous stints, Gallagher at DreamWorks Animation oversaw the launch of the Trolls franchise, the global campaign on Boss Baby and How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World, which became the biggest launch in that franchise. At Disney, the successes...
In his post as EVP Marketing, Animation and Family, Gallagher worked on such film successes as Scoob!, a film that had been teed up with a global marketing launch to open at $55 million U.S. or more, when the pandemic shut everything down. The film pivoted to PVOD and had strong results.
In his previous stints, Gallagher at DreamWorks Animation oversaw the launch of the Trolls franchise, the global campaign on Boss Baby and How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World, which became the biggest launch in that franchise. At Disney, the successes...
- 11/11/2020
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
Veteran Hollywood executive Terry Curtin has joined Solstice Studios as executive vice president of communications.
Curtin, who has previously held top jobs at Disney, Universal and Fox, will report directly to Vincent Bruzzese, head of marketing and strategy at the upstart studio. All of film publicity and corporate communications will fall on her desk.
Curtin replaces Elissa Greer, who is transitioning to a consultant role.
“Terry is a world-class executive who is respected across the industry,” Bruzzese said. “We’re fortunate to have her join the company on a full-time basis. Terry and Elissa worked extremely well together and delivered an excellent publicity and promotion campaign for ‘Unhinged,’ under difficult circumstances: launching the first new movie back in U.S. theaters this summer was no easy task. I look forward to their teaming up to achieve similarly striking results on ‘Good Joe Bell.’”
Curtin last oversaw a boutique consulting agency,...
Curtin, who has previously held top jobs at Disney, Universal and Fox, will report directly to Vincent Bruzzese, head of marketing and strategy at the upstart studio. All of film publicity and corporate communications will fall on her desk.
Curtin replaces Elissa Greer, who is transitioning to a consultant role.
“Terry is a world-class executive who is respected across the industry,” Bruzzese said. “We’re fortunate to have her join the company on a full-time basis. Terry and Elissa worked extremely well together and delivered an excellent publicity and promotion campaign for ‘Unhinged,’ under difficult circumstances: launching the first new movie back in U.S. theaters this summer was no easy task. I look forward to their teaming up to achieve similarly striking results on ‘Good Joe Bell.’”
Curtin last oversaw a boutique consulting agency,...
- 9/24/2020
- by Matt Donnelly
- Variety Film + TV
Solstice Studios has hired Terry Curtin, an industry veteran who has held top film communications jobs at Disney, Universal and Fox, as its EVP of Communications, it was announced Thursday.
Curtin will report to Vincent Bruzzese, head of marketing and strategy, and she will oversee the newly launched distributor’s film publicity and promotion and its corporate communications.
Curtin will replace Elissa Greer in the role, who will segue into the role of lead communications consultant on “Good Joe Bell,” which Solstice recently acquired out of Toronto for $20 million.
“Terry is a world-class executive who is respected across the industry,” Bruzzese said in a statement. “We’re fortunate to have her join the company on a full-time basis. Terry and Elissa worked extremely well together and delivered an excellent publicity and promotion campaign for Unhinged, under difficult circumstances: launching the first new movie back in U.S. theaters this summer was no easy task.
Curtin will report to Vincent Bruzzese, head of marketing and strategy, and she will oversee the newly launched distributor’s film publicity and promotion and its corporate communications.
Curtin will replace Elissa Greer in the role, who will segue into the role of lead communications consultant on “Good Joe Bell,” which Solstice recently acquired out of Toronto for $20 million.
“Terry is a world-class executive who is respected across the industry,” Bruzzese said in a statement. “We’re fortunate to have her join the company on a full-time basis. Terry and Elissa worked extremely well together and delivered an excellent publicity and promotion campaign for Unhinged, under difficult circumstances: launching the first new movie back in U.S. theaters this summer was no easy task.
- 9/24/2020
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Newly-launched Spire Animation Studios, co-founded by veteran animation producer Brad Lewis (Ratatouille; How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World) and industry entrepreneur P.J. Gunsagar, revealed development of its first computer-animated feature, a original contemporary musical titled Century Goddess.
The studio is backed by Connect Ventures, an investment partnership between CAA and venture capital firm New Enterprise Associates. CAA talent is not part of the deal, but Lewis, the studio’s chief creative officer, sees the access to its talent as an advantage.
Century Goddess has a female protagonist, Tara, described as a powerful young woman who is revealed to be a once-in-a-century ...
The studio is backed by Connect Ventures, an investment partnership between CAA and venture capital firm New Enterprise Associates. CAA talent is not part of the deal, but Lewis, the studio’s chief creative officer, sees the access to its talent as an advantage.
Century Goddess has a female protagonist, Tara, described as a powerful young woman who is revealed to be a once-in-a-century ...
- 9/24/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Newly-launched Spire Animation Studios, co-founded by veteran animation producer Brad Lewis (Ratatouille; How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World) and industry entrepreneur P.J. Gunsagar, revealed development of its first computer-animated feature, a original contemporary musical titled Century Goddess.
The studio is backed by Connect Ventures, an investment partnership between CAA and venture capital firm New Enterprise Associates. CAA talent is not part of the deal, but Lewis, the studio’s chief creative officer, admits it “doesn’t hurt” to have access to its talent.
Century Goddess has a female protagonist, Tara, described as a powerful young woman who is revealed to ...
The studio is backed by Connect Ventures, an investment partnership between CAA and venture capital firm New Enterprise Associates. CAA talent is not part of the deal, but Lewis, the studio’s chief creative officer, admits it “doesn’t hurt” to have access to its talent.
Century Goddess has a female protagonist, Tara, described as a powerful young woman who is revealed to ...
- 9/24/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The fantasy of animation often draws inspiration from realism of life. British author Cressida Cowell would vouch for the fact.
Children's author Cowell wrote the popular "How To Train Your Dragon" series of 12 books, which have already inspired three successful animation hits in Hollywood. Cowell says her fantasy imagination reflects realities of her childhood.
"The series is based on a true story," Cowell told Ians when asked about the starting point of the idea behind the story.
"I grew up in London because my dad's job was in London. He was a businessman, and he lived in a house (around) a garden in central London. He was an environmentalist and every year from when I was a baby we would go to this uninhabited island off the West Coast of Scotland.
"There was nothing on the island, no houses, no roads, no electricity and we were just camping. It was...
Children's author Cowell wrote the popular "How To Train Your Dragon" series of 12 books, which have already inspired three successful animation hits in Hollywood. Cowell says her fantasy imagination reflects realities of her childhood.
"The series is based on a true story," Cowell told Ians when asked about the starting point of the idea behind the story.
"I grew up in London because my dad's job was in London. He was a businessman, and he lived in a house (around) a garden in central London. He was an environmentalist and every year from when I was a baby we would go to this uninhabited island off the West Coast of Scotland.
"There was nothing on the island, no houses, no roads, no electricity and we were just camping. It was...
- 9/19/2020
- by Glamsham Editorial
- GlamSham
The Savannah College of Art and Design has announced that the 23rd edition of the Scad Savannah Film Festival will take place in an all-virtual format this year from Oct. 24-31.
During the week-long online event, programming will include live film premieres, spotlights, competitions, events, Q&As and forums, including the Docs to Watch and Wonder Women series.
Georgia’s Scad Savannah Film Festival is the largest university-run film festival in the U.S. and has become a well-known stop on the way to the Academy Awards, having screened more than 125 Oscar-nominated films. The festival has also been instrumental in connecting Scad students with leading professionals in their fields of study, which include performing arts, film and television, dramatic writing, production design, sound design and visual effects.
At the 2020 Academy Awards, 230 Scad alumni and current students were commended for their contributions to 21 nominated films such as “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,...
During the week-long online event, programming will include live film premieres, spotlights, competitions, events, Q&As and forums, including the Docs to Watch and Wonder Women series.
Georgia’s Scad Savannah Film Festival is the largest university-run film festival in the U.S. and has become a well-known stop on the way to the Academy Awards, having screened more than 125 Oscar-nominated films. The festival has also been instrumental in connecting Scad students with leading professionals in their fields of study, which include performing arts, film and television, dramatic writing, production design, sound design and visual effects.
At the 2020 Academy Awards, 230 Scad alumni and current students were commended for their contributions to 21 nominated films such as “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,...
- 8/18/2020
- by Ellise Shafer
- Variety Film + TV
Cate Blanchett’s topical immigration-focused series “Stateless” is nearing release and Netflix has debuted the trailer for the upcoming limited series.
Here’s the series’ synopsis, per Netflix: “Stateless” is a powerful and timely series about four strangers whose lives collide at an immigration detention center in the middle of the Australian desert — an airline hostess (Yvonne Strahovski) on the run from a dangerous cult, an Afghan refugee (Fayssal Bazzi) and his family fleeing persecution, a young father (Jai Courtney) escaping a dead-end job, and a bureaucrat (Asher Keddie) running out of time to contain a national scandal.
Though the series, which premieres on Netflix on July 8, has yet to land in America, has already aired on Australian public broadcaster ABC in March. Netflix acquired the global rights to the series in February. The show was seven years in the making for Blanchett, who also serves as an ambassador for...
Here’s the series’ synopsis, per Netflix: “Stateless” is a powerful and timely series about four strangers whose lives collide at an immigration detention center in the middle of the Australian desert — an airline hostess (Yvonne Strahovski) on the run from a dangerous cult, an Afghan refugee (Fayssal Bazzi) and his family fleeing persecution, a young father (Jai Courtney) escaping a dead-end job, and a bureaucrat (Asher Keddie) running out of time to contain a national scandal.
Though the series, which premieres on Netflix on July 8, has yet to land in America, has already aired on Australian public broadcaster ABC in March. Netflix acquired the global rights to the series in February. The show was seven years in the making for Blanchett, who also serves as an ambassador for...
- 6/25/2020
- by Tyler Hersko
- Indiewire
Cate Blanchett’s topical immigration-focused series “Stateless” is nearing release and Netflix has debuted the trailer for the upcoming limited series.
Here’s the series’ synopsis, per Netflix: “Stateless” is a powerful and timely series about four strangers whose lives collide at an immigration detention center in the middle of the Australian desert — an airline hostess (Yvonne Strahovski) on the run from a dangerous cult, an Afghan refugee (Fayssal Bazzi) and his family fleeing persecution, a young father (Jai Courtney) escaping a dead-end job, and a bureaucrat (Asher Keddie) running out of time to contain a national scandal.
Though the series, which premieres on Netflix on July 8, has yet to land in America, has already aired on Australian public broadcaster ABC in March. Netflix acquired the global rights to the series in February. The show was seven years in the making for Blanchett, who also serves as an ambassador for...
Here’s the series’ synopsis, per Netflix: “Stateless” is a powerful and timely series about four strangers whose lives collide at an immigration detention center in the middle of the Australian desert — an airline hostess (Yvonne Strahovski) on the run from a dangerous cult, an Afghan refugee (Fayssal Bazzi) and his family fleeing persecution, a young father (Jai Courtney) escaping a dead-end job, and a bureaucrat (Asher Keddie) running out of time to contain a national scandal.
Though the series, which premieres on Netflix on July 8, has yet to land in America, has already aired on Australian public broadcaster ABC in March. Netflix acquired the global rights to the series in February. The show was seven years in the making for Blanchett, who also serves as an ambassador for...
- 6/25/2020
- by Tyler Hersko
- Thompson on Hollywood
CAA and venture firm New Enterprise Associates have formed Connect Ventures, a partnership whose first investment is going to Spire Animation Studios, a new outfit co-founded by Ratatouille producer Brad Lewis.
Connect Ventures aims to combine CAA’s resources across entertainment and sports with Nea’s established technology practice. One of the world’s largest venture firms, Nea has funded companies like Snap and Uber, and its current $3.6 billion Nea 17 fund is backing emerging companies like Masterclass and Goop. The new outfit plans to target early-stage, consumer-facing businesses, and executives say they will have an initial focus on “supporting and enhancing a post-covid-19 environment,” according to a press release.
“Connect Ventures is uniquely positioned to identify and support the most innovative entrepreneurs, helping accelerate the growth of their businesses by providing access to the expertise, knowledge, and relationships of both CAA and Nea,” CAA president Richard Lovett said. “Connect Ventures...
Connect Ventures aims to combine CAA’s resources across entertainment and sports with Nea’s established technology practice. One of the world’s largest venture firms, Nea has funded companies like Snap and Uber, and its current $3.6 billion Nea 17 fund is backing emerging companies like Masterclass and Goop. The new outfit plans to target early-stage, consumer-facing businesses, and executives say they will have an initial focus on “supporting and enhancing a post-covid-19 environment,” according to a press release.
“Connect Ventures is uniquely positioned to identify and support the most innovative entrepreneurs, helping accelerate the growth of their businesses by providing access to the expertise, knowledge, and relationships of both CAA and Nea,” CAA president Richard Lovett said. “Connect Ventures...
- 6/24/2020
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
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