Relativity Media has offered Mark Wahlberg the leading role in the upcoming remake of the 1994 film The Crow, based on James O’Barr’s iconic comic series of the same name. Bloody Disgusting reports that he will be playing Eric Draven, a murdered man who rises from the dead to avenge the one who murdered him and his fiancée. Brandon Lee originated this role and sadly died during the making of the film.
For months, word had been going around town on who could tackle the sequel to a film that, while financially successful, was not met with the brightest words from critics and fans alike. Now, Deadline reports a deal is very close to sign Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan, The Wrestler). With the deal all but closed, much of Hollywood has turned their attention to the now directorless Pride & Prejudice & Zombies to be distributed by Lionsgate (who may potentially make a bid to buy MGM). After having lost both David O. Russell (who has returned to the “Uncharted” adaptation) and lead Natalie Portman (who left before Russell), the much talked about adaptation seemed to be headed for developmental hell.
Disney made some waves last year when they bought Marvel for $4 billion, putting the Mouse front and center in the ever growing genre of comic book films. With Marvel having recent success financing their own films (Iron Man followed by The Incredible Hulk being their first), the deal brought together one of the two power players in comics with one of the largest media distribution platforms in the world. Now, Deadline has it that Disney is taking the next steps in capitalizing on their investment, buying away the distribution rights for two upcoming Marvel projects: The Avengers and Iron Man 3 for $115 million.
We PAMers are proud to report a great host of DVD and Blu-ray releases this week. There are many classics being re-released from a range of genres (fantasy, war, musicals, etc…) whilst the new releases include a mix of major releases, indie films and straight-to-DVD offerings.
As most of you are aware, Jackass 3D is far from the first of its kind. Most people are familiar with the name made (in)famous by the MTV show in the early double-ought years. What they may not be as familiar with are the videos that preceded it, put together by the then much younger Bam Margera, Ryan Dunn, Brandon Dicamillo, and Raab Himself starting in 1999. With no budgets, or even quality equipment, they devised stunts some of which are still some of my favorites in the ten years that this jackassery has been going on. The collection is known as CKY, or Camp Kill Yourself.
The refined gentlemen of Jackass 3-D fame revived a normally slow weekend at movie theaters. With the help of trendy 3D media, Johnny Knoxville and his motley crew of idiots cracked $50 million. The previous two installments had opening weekends greater than $20 million and finished with greater than $60 million by the close of their releases. However attendance didn’t match the explosive revenue.
Surcharged 3D tickets accounted for 90 percent of the business, a positive selling point for many movie critics leading into the weekend. The gimmick allowed for the trash auteur to break multiple records including highest grossing October release and highest October opening day. The second sequel also gained in appealing to females; a triumph for a gross-out picture.
Jackass 3D hits theaters Friday to much anticipation, at least on my part. Seems only logical to make a list of my favorite stunts from the first two films in honor of this memorable event, wouldn’t you agree? Please feel free to comment with your own favourites.
