By Jason Apuzzo. • Toy Story 3 easily won the weekend box office contest with a huge $109 million haul, although perhaps more shocking was the pitiful $5 million for Jonah Hex. Does this finally spell the end of movies based around a guy’s melted face? Incredible Melting Man reboot likely doomed.
• The first production stills from The Green Hornet have been released, and the trailer will apparently be out tomorrow. I might actually see this one, although the casting of Seth Rogan is so awful as to be almost stupefying. In related news, a Hong Kong biopic about the early years of Bruce Lee is apparently moving forward, starring Aarif Lee (no relation). No U.S. release as yet announced. LFM endorses Bruce Lee nostalgia.
• LA Times conspiracy theory: TLC new channel for Red Staters, with channel featuring new Sarah Palin show. Channel reportedly aiming to be an “antidote to Bravo.” Does that include Bravo’s ratings? Lots of people who aren’t left wing like Bravo, too, which is why that channel is doing such boffo business. Memo to TLC: get ratings first, talk smack second.
• The LA Times reports today from ActionFest, a new film festival in North Carolina focusing on action – and featuring a special appearance by Chuck Norris. As one of Chuck’s many former students, all the best to Chuck as he hits 70 this year … [Already?] My favorite movie of Chuck’s is still Lone Wolf McQuade.
• If somebody gave you this pitch, would you believe it: “Think Willy Wonka, The Matrix, and Avatar all rolled into one.” Apparently Warner Brothers did. I love LA.
• Oliver Stone’s new ass-kissing documentary on Latin American dictators, South of the Border, has tanked … in Hugo Chavez’ Venezuela. How great is this? I’m praying they open Wall Street 2 in Venezuela too, so maybe Stone’s career will finally be over.
• Backlash building against highly non-Egyptian Angelina Jolie playing Cleopatra in (possible) biopic. Can you imagine if they actually shot this film in Egypt? She’d need her sunblock set at SPF 30,000.
• Actress Rose McGowan took time to visit wounded soldiers recently at at Walter Reed Medical Center. “To say these wounded warriors are inspirational doesn’t even begin to cover it,” McGowan said on Twitter. “So grateful to them.” I’m grateful to her for the opening scene of Planet Terror.
• Val Kilmer’s trash-talking against New Mexico is finally catching up with him as he applies for permits for his new bed-and-breakfast. Or are people just angry over MacGruber?
• Megan Fox is eager to play her “dream role,” a Native American lesbian superhero. Major cat fight ahead with Michelle Rodriguez.
• AND IN TODAY’S MOST IMPORTANT NEWS … actress Amanda Bynes announces her retirement from acting at the ripe old age of 24. Is this a career flameout, or is she just prepping for a role in Logan’s Run?
And that’s what’s happening today in the wonderful world of Hollywood.
Posted on June 21st, 2010 at 12:57pm.
In the LA Times article linked to above, it mentions that Action Fest is held in Asheville, North Carolina (not South Carolina).
Thanks for the correction, Phil.
Amanda Bynes retiring at age 24 is really strange. Of course, maybe this just means she can stage a big “come back” all the sooner. Still, I like her Herve Leger bandage dress. it is very 1980s.
Seth Rogan as the Green Hornet has got to be the worst casting ever.
$arah Palin sure is raking it in after quitting as governor of Alaska. $arah Palin has made upward of $12 million from her book and TV deals. Sure is profitable nowadays to be $arah Palin.
What a dream come true that would be to see the career of Oliver Stone, over! With the exception of Michael Moore is there anyone in America that’s done more to twist, damage and create outright lies regarding recent American history? Sadly, most Americans get their historical narrative from these snake oil artists.
Couldn’t agree more with the comment about the choice of Seth Rogan to play the Green Hornet. I’m willing to be proven wrong, but this seems like it could be an all time classic example of miscasting.
Is it just me, or isn’t it kind of racist in this day and age to have a stereotypical Asian sidekick in the Green Hornet remake?
And I agree with everyone’s comments about the terrible miscasting of Seth Rogan. This definitely goes in the “what were they thinking?” category.