China’s ‘Lord of the Rings’ Re-Release Rollout Marred By Chaos, Refunds

Out and about. Armie Hammer, who is currently under investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department, is back in the Cayman Islands after a turbulent few months.

AMC Entertainment CEO Adam Aron was nearly giddy Thursday, quoting Winston Churchill, trying to top him, talking up a box office recovery, the chain’s expanded market share, cash position and hiring plans and millions of new retail investors who have replaced China’s Wanda Group as its core shareholder base.

Armie Hammer is back in the Cayman Islands.The 34-year-old actor was photographed at the tropical location, less than two months after being accused of rape and battery. Hammer has denied all allegations against him.

Chinese box office across the five-day May Day holiday which concluded Wednesday hit a record high of RMB 1.67B ($258M). This is up from the RMB 1.53B grossed during the similar 2019 frame which lasted four days.

Rebecca Davis editorChinese authorities have issued warnings of a new crackdown on entertainment industry financial practices and astronomical star salaries in wake of another high-profile celebrity tax scandal.

Elaine Low Senior TV WriterAmid a spate of anti-Asian hate crimes this past year, the story of Vincent Chin — the 27-year-old Chinese American brutally beaten and killed in 1982 by two former autoworkers, Ronald Ebens and Michael Nitz, who blamed him for the economic downturn in Detroit — has become the focus of renewed interest for the entertainment industry.

Zhang Yimou's spy thriller Cliff Walkers was the best reviewed new release to open over China's lucrative May Day holiday weekend, but it was far from the biggest earner. Youth romance My Love, from Beijing Enlight Pictures, overcame withering reviews to dominate the start of the long holiday frame, earning $65.1 million from Friday to Sunday.

Wanda Film, part of the Dalian Wanda group, has appointed financial advisers in Australia and may be preparing to sell the Hoyts cinema chain, according to local reports.According to the Australian Financial Review newspaper, investment bank Credit Suisse has been appointed by Wanda to find bidders for Hoyts.

Pierce Brosnan is a respected international thief who teams up with a group of modern-day Robin Hoods led by Nick Cannon’s Ringo in “The Misfits”.

Rebecca Davis editorGuy Ritchie’s “Wrath of Man” will debut in China on May 10, three days after its U.S. release.

Rebecca Davis editorPeter Jackson’s “The Return of the King,” the third film in his classic “Lord of the Rings” trilogy,” will hit China on May 14 in remastered 4K.The first two films of the trilogy are already in theaters, having debuted April 16 and April 23, respectively.

Guy Ritchie and Jason Statham's reunion crime flick Wrath of Man is headed to China. The MGM-produced movie will open in the world's largest theatrical market on May 10, three days after its North American opening.

Rebecca Davis editorChinese censors may search content obsessively for what they deem to be objectionable material, but they apparently don’t consider a film’s off-screen controversy quite as closely.At a time when China is booting major films like “Nomadland” or “Monster Hunter” from cinemas for perceived “insults to China,” its authorities have green lit Woody Allen’s troubled “A Rainy Day in New York” for theatrical release in the world’s largest film market.”Although a few of Allen’s films,

Matt Donnelly Senior Film WriterGreg Kinnear has joined the cast of “Sight,” a biopic about pioneering medical entrepreneur Dr. Ming Wang, led by actor Terry Chen.The Open River Entertainment project has commenced a six-week shoot in Vancouver.

Rebecca Davis editorAlthough Chinese New Year 2021 is only two months behind us, new Chinese blockbusters have already begun plotting their takeover of the biggest moviegoing week in the world’s largest film market for 2022.Four Chinese titles have just announced their plans to debut next Feb. 1, the first day of the 2022 lunar new year.

Hong Kong has cultivated a reputation for punching above its weight. Once producing 300 films a year, the small territory hatched global martial arts superstars like Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan, Michelle Yeoh and Donnie Yen.