DISNEY CONFIRMS ANGELINA JOLIE FOR "MALEFICENT" AND IN TALKS FOR "POPPINS" FILM

Emma Thompson at TIFF 2006

A couple bits of exciting news from Disney! Angelina Jolie as many of us know, is set to star in upcoming Live-Action Fantasy Maleficent, which touches upon the Evil Fairy's origins prior to her cursing Sleeping Beauty. They always say Actors make Films for their Kids. Would it be safe to say that her inspiration for this is the Jolie-Pitt Clan? The Film which is set for release March 14, 2014, will be helmed by Robert Stromberg, Production Designer for Avatar and Alice in Wonderland 3-D. He also will be directing another upcoming Disney Feature, Oz the Great and Powerful (Michelle Williams, James Franco, Mila Kunis).

 Although it still has yet to be confirmed, Variety is reporting that Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson are nearing negotiations to star in Saving Mr. Banks, which centers on Walt Disney's 14-year courting of Author P.L. Travers to write the Script for eventual 1964 Classic, Mary Poppins starring Julie Andrews.  Hanks is said to be playing Walt Disney himself, while Thompson is being eyed for Travers. If this isn't Oscar Bait, I don't know what is!  Sounds brilliant.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)

MOVIE-GOERS GIVEN TOO MANY CHOICES THIS WEEKEND - THE EXPENDABLES DECIDEDLY ON-TOP AGAIN

Vampires Suck 

Movie-goers scratched their heads over what to see this weekend with five films opening domestically. But one can never under-estimate the power of Testosterone as Lionsgate's The Expendables makes it two weeks on-top with $16.5 million, earning $64.9 million.

The Twilight Saga-parodying Vampires Suck from Fox has created a new market of fans in the same vein as the Scary Movie franchise. Opening on Wednesday, the film pulled in a surprising $12.2 million, placing it in second.

Eat Pray Love continues to perform consistently well in third spot with $12 million, earning $47.1 million. The film was made for $60 million and has yet to open overseas, where it is expected to perform well also as Julia Roberts does her promotional rounds.


Lottery Ticket, which I enjoyed, landed in third sport above all expectations, with $11.1 million. The film opened only in 1,973 theatres.

Piranha 3D, which was absolutely amazing, marks yet another weak opening for fumbling The Weinstein Co., which in recent memory had another major studio loss with the musical NINE. The horror-comedy debuts in sixth spot with $10 million. Luckily though, this one was made for $24 million and should earn it back in its Box Office run.