Phoebe Waller-Bridge exits AMAZON's Mr & Mrs Smith series
VENOM 2 moves before BOND in Oct / RIP Michael K Williams / SHANG CHI proves box office vibrancy
Mornin! This is Sean McNulty and here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on TUESDAY September 7, 2021. Happy Rosh Hashanah!
Where Brad Pitt just had to one-up Clooney on the coffee pitchman game… These DE’LONGHI commercials started airing this weekend - the “Brad” on the coffee beans bag at the store was a nice touch 👌.
AND: The Entertainment business is mourning the loss of Michael K Williams at the age of 54. He hadn’t been heard from in a couple of days and was found dead in his Brooklyn apartment yesterday, with the concern of a drug overdose according to the NY POST.
He’s also nominated for a Supporting Actor EMMY for his work on HBO’s “Lovecraft Country”, which would be his 1st win after 5 previous noms if he gets the nod next Sunday. A great loss, he had a big influence on many people in the industry, both on the talent and executive level.
ALSO: Stanley Tucci shared that he had oral cancer about 3 years ago in an interview with VERA Magazine (which… is VIRGIN AMERICA’s magazine apparently 🤷♂️).
His first wife died of cancer in 2009 so he took a unique approach involving a feeding tube vs. high radiation and chemo doses based on the experience of seeing his wife go through those treatments, and he’s now been cancer free since.
📽 THE SILVER SCREEN
Meet the new and improved “Aquaman 2” outfit (it’s a 2 pic post)
though the movie is not coming out til next December
SONY moves “Venom” sequel up 2 weeks to Oct 1
Will now be a week before Bond instead of a week after. You can buy tickets as of tomorrow.
OCTOBER Only In Theaters movie tentpoles are now as follows:
OCT 1: “Venom” sequel (and probably a huge weekend on HBOMAX for “The Sopranos” prequel)
OCT 8: “No Time To Die”
OCT 15: “Halloween Kills”
OCT 22: “Dune” (also HBOMAX)
Original “Venom” took in $80 Million in it’s opening weekend which SONY execs noted is very close to… 👇
BOX OFFICE
(these are 4-day totals)
“Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” : $90 Million ($145 Million globally, incl $13 Million in IMAX)
“Shang”s $75 Million 3-day total is very close to the “Black Widow” $80 Million opening weekend - but during Labor Day Wknd which is usually very quiet for moviegoing. Obviously no additional DISNEY+ $30 rental factor here of course.
Also obviously a new Labor Day weekend record.
“Candyman” : $13 Million ($41 Million US, $50 Million global)
50% weekend 2 drop, not terrible for a horror film with strong competition.
“Free Guy” : $11 Million ($94 Million US, $240 Million globally)
Still only a -33% drop from last weekend.
#1 in China this weekend, now at $56 Million there
“Paw Patrol: The Movie” : $5 Million ($31.5 Million US, $81 Million globally)
“Jungle Cruise” : $5 Million ($107 Million US)
Same -20% drop rate as it had last week, 6 weeks into its release.
ALSO: If inclined for a more detailed play-by-play dive into how the DISNEY - Scarlett Johannson beef evolved… or devolved - Joe Flint at The WSJ talked to some folks (WSJ subscription required).
📺 THE TV SET
Phoebe Waller-Bridge drops out of AMAZON’s “Mr & Mrs Smith” series
Said to be due to creative differences, Donald Glover is still co-starring (and is also a co-creator on the series). Episodes still currently being written with a goal of starting production in early 2022, re-casting underway.... /THR
💻 THE MEDIA BIZ
The EU fined FACEBOOK $266 Million for illegal data sharing
This time for sharing user data from it’s WHATS APP division with other divisions at FACEBOOK without notifying users. Substack won’t let me use the gasp of surprise face here for some reason.
FACEBOOK made $10 Billion in net profits from just April thru June this year. /WSJ
AMAZON The TV Set potentially coming in October
Or at least in time for the Holiday buying season. So basically they’re putting all the sales knowledge they’ve gleaned from selling everyone else’s TV’s into use to promote and sell their own, and compete against those same companies. /Insider
👩💻 NEW TO WATCH:
FX “Impeachment: American Crime Story” - Of course centered on the Bill Clinton sex scandal. Really too bad Trump shut down his blog… episode recaps would have finally raised his numbers. Premieres at 10p
PBS Frontline “America After 9/11” - A look at the security measures and national policy decisions after 9/11. Premieres at 9p
ALSO: General Audience tix for the NY FILM FESTIVAL go on sale today. All info, schedules and links here.
🎥 TRAILER HOUSE
FOCUS FEATURES “Belfast” trailer. Probably the most cheerful trailer I’ve seen for a movie about growing up in Northern Ireland. Semi-autobiographical coming of age movie set in the late 60’s from Kenneth Brannagh, with Jamie Dornan and Judi Dench among the cast. I’m in for this one. Premieres Fri Nov 12 in theaters.
APPLE TV+ “Dickinson” Season 3 teaser. Will be the show’s final season, and Premieres November 5.
🕵️♂️ THE WEEK AHEAD
WED - “Doogie Kameāloha MD” premieres on DISNEY+ 🩺
THU - NFL Season kickoff, and TORONTO FILM FEST kicks off 🏈🎞
FRI - James Wan’s “Malignant” hits theaters and HBOMAX 🔪
SAT - US Open Women’s Tennis finals (Men’s on Sunday) 🎾
AND… some APPLE new phone announcements this week or next. 📱
🎧 PLAYING ME OFF
DRAKE’s new album dropped on Friday which… embarrassingly matches the tattoo on my chest, “Certified Lover Boy” .
DRAKE proved to everyone once again that Canada rules the rap game, as it broke first day streaming records on SPOTIFY (previously held by… his last album), and broke KAN/YE’s record on APPLE MUSIC set just 2 weeks ago.
Listen to the album on Spotify or here’s a tune:
D’oh 🙇♂️
My apologies to Julie McNamara (new head of Studios at SPOTIFY) for confusing her name with my friend Julie Montgomery (👋 Julie). My “the readers are my editor” plan definitely has its flaws.
If you need new tunes:
Email me anytime - just reply to this email, or connect here on LINKED IN.
-Sean McNulty
@theseanmac on TWITTER
@TheWakeupNews on INSTAGRAM
or I’m also here on CLUBHOUSE