The Descent 2 Gets a Director
The Descent was one of my favorite films of 2005 (maybe not on my top 10, but probably my top 20). And I’m not a huge horror fan, so for me to like a horror film this much it must have offered something more than the typical slasher flick. And that’s the best way to describe The Descent. Instead of an idiotic cast of OC-star model-looking teens, it starred a group of Women. It had some nice ideas, and some good scares. They’re already working on a sequel, to be called The De2ent, and Fangoria talked to Neil Marshall, who offered up information on the new director.
“I will not be directing The Descent 2, but I will be overseeing every aspect of the production. There’s nothing to oversee yet, though, as the script is currently being written. My Descent editor Jon Harris will make his feature directing debut with the sequel, and I can’t think of a better man for the job.”
No story details were revealed, but I’m sure the studio will probably ruin the idea in an attempt to make it more marketable (OC-like-actors…etc), which is the case with most sequels. And a first time director is usually never a good sign. However, film editors usually become good directors because they know how to shoot for the edit.
Friday Box Office: 3:10 To Yuma w/$5M; Shoot ‘Em Up #5 for Weekend
As expected, 3:10 TO YUMA has won the 3-day weekend. After grabbing just over $5M on Friday, it will likely top $15M for the weekend.
Oscar winner Russell Crowe and Batman Begins star Christian Bale have lassoed the Friday box office crown, and 3:10 TO YUMA (Lionsgate) will ride away with a surprisingly easy 3-day weekend win. The James Mangold-directed remake of the classic Western of the same name grabbed just over $5M on Friday, and appears to be headed for a weekend of $15.15M. If the number holds, 3:10 TO YUMA will have delivered the 2nd-best 3-day opening for a Western in the past 20 years.
TOP 5 OPENING WEEKENDS FOR WESTERNS RELEASED IN THE PAST 20 YEARS
1. Maverick (1990) - $17.2M
2. 3:10 to Yuma - $15.15M (projected)
3. Unforgiven (1992) - $15M
4. Open Range (2003) - $14M
5. The Missing (2003) - $10.8M
Michael Myers, as expected, has no legs. After a $3M take on Friday, the slasher flick HALLOWEEN (MGM/Weinstein) will limp to a meager $8.55M weekend. That’s a huge fall of 72% or so from its opening 3-day (although, to be fair, it was a 4-day weekend which means a very strong Sunday). Still, enough blood will flow for Rob Zombie’s remake/re-invention to hold onto 2nd place for the weekend.
By Monday morning, SUPERBAD (Sony) will have passed the $100M mark. The Judd Apatow-produced comedy generated $2.2M in Friday ticket sales, which should translate to a $7.37M weekend. Meanwhile, Jason Bourne will finish #4 for the 3-day, and THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM (Universal) will have surpassed $210M by the end of the weekend. The Paul Greengrass-directed thriller added $1.7M Friday (#5 for the day), but it should reach an estimated $6.11M for the 3-day.
Rough weekend for the other 2 wide studio releases. SHOOT ‘EM UP (New Line), the super-charged action pic starring Clive Owen and Paul Giamatti, has been crushed by the male-driven 3:10 TO YUMA. It was #4 for the day with about $1.96M, but will finish a disappointing 5th for the 3-day. SHOOT ‘EM UP will wrap up the frame at $5.73M or so. Sony/Screen Gems dumped a misguided comedy called THE BROTHERS SOLOMON on 700 screens, and it may be on DVD by next weekend after a Friday per theatre average of just $271 for $190,000 total. It’s headed for a weekend of a mere $550,000.
Among new limited releases, the Tibetan fantasy film MILAREPA: MAGICIAN (Luminous Velocity) set the pace on Friday with $3,147 on its single screen. We’ll see how it holds through the weekend, but for now, I’m tentatively awarding it the weekend PTA crown with about $11,000. I’m looking for IDP Films’ long-shelved FIERCE PEOPLE to finish the weekend at #2 in PTA at just under $11,000, followed by an $8,000 PTA for THE HUNTING PARTY (MGM/Weinstein) starring Richrd Gere. Thinkfilm’s Sundance-winning doc IN THE SHADOW OF THE MOON from Ron Howard will likely finish 4th with $7,000, and 3:10 to Yuma should round out the top 5.
For the complete story, go to Fantasy Moguls.
All The Boys Love Mandy Lane Delayed
I was actually interested to see All The Boys Love Mandy Lane. My press screening was scheduled for Friday (today by the time you read this), but was canceled just hours before. Why? Apparently the film will no longer be released on July 20th and no new release date has yet been announced. My sources tell me that the film might not even get released on the big screen (this has not been officially confirmed). Jonathan Levine’s slasher flick was actually getting some descent reviews. I wonder what happened. Anyone have any idea?