Weekly News - 11 August 2013

11 August 2013

As the last remaining weeks remain of the Summer Blockbuster season, Sony Pictures Elysium opens strong is the US - taking just over $30M during the weekend. Its Matt Damon's first big-budget blockbuster since The Bourne Ultimatum trilogy in 2007 - Director Neill Blomkamp's Sci-Fi epic has stunning visuals with IMAX theaters selling out sets. Sony will hope to capitalize on Matt Damon's previous action-hero outings to bring the studio inline with the films $100M plus productions costs.

Further releases include, We're the Millers, Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters, and Disney Pixar's Planes proving well for the holiday family market. Staying with Disney its now official, the biggest summer flop of 2013 is The Lone Ranger with cinema bookings falling, and the film only managing to so far take just under $87M dollars at the US Box Office. Disney's jaw-dropping $250M in production costs will be an up hill battle to re-cope. Last year the major studio had to admit of its failings of their high-buget flop John Carter seeing one of their Senior Executives resigning from Disney.

In other news, Mel Gibson has been announced in the ever expanding cast roster in the forthcoming The Expendables 3 2014 - there's no official word whether he's playing a good guy or villain, however, with changes to the script currently being reworked, official synopsis should be available towards the end of the year, Harrison Ford is also currently linked to the cast.

In international news, Film4 Frightfest opens in London's Leicester Sq 22nd - 26th August 2013 - with this year hosting an impressive lineup of films for horror fans. The Dead 2: India and comedy-horror Stalled set to be fan favorites within the lineup. Other films screening at Frightfest include V/H/S 2, Painless and For Elisa. For full listings: Film4 Frightfest Lineup
Opening in the UK this week sees the release of Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa, starring comedic actor Steve Coogan - receiving great reviews from critics, and produced with a modest budget, Alpha Papa could be one of the UK summer hits of summer 2013
Lastly, as Kick-Ass 2 sets to open in UK theaters next week, a public snub as broken out between Hollywood star Jim Carrey and the films director Jeff Wadlow. Carrey now wishes not to support the film, due to its ultra violent content. Carrey stars in the upcoming film as Colonel Stars and Stripes as a custom vigilante who teams up with Kick-Ass and Hit Girl. Its thought the actor has made the protest following last years shooting at Sandy Hook School, which became one of the worst shootings in US history.