Legendary & Sony Ink Multi-Year Global Theatrical Distribution Pact

Tayla Parx is giving us some Beyonce!!!

Taking a look ahead to 2023, Gower Street Analytics is projecting global box office to hit $29B, repping a 12% gain on 2022 should this year remain on track for approximately $25.8B. The London-based firm estimates 2022 receipts stood at $23.6B as of December 10. 

And so it begins. Thirteen years after the first Avatar arrived in movie theaters, conquered and continued to conquer the global box office as the highest release of all-time with $2.9 billion worldwide, Avatar: The Way of Water, the sequel to the James Cameron directed 3x Oscar winning 3D sci-fi movie arrives with a global outlook of $525M in what is Disney’s widest global release ever at 52K screens, surpassing Avengers: Endgame.

EXCLUSIVE: In Kapital Entertainment’s first foray into features, Aaron Kaplan’s indie studio has received a green light for One Mile and a sequel, starring and produced by Ryan Phillippe. Shot back-to-back, both films will be distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution.

A furious mother has slammed a popular toy store after they refused to take her two-year-old son's pocket money so he could buy his own toy. Emily White recalled the 'disgusting' moment Smyths Toys Superstore knocked her toddler back to pay for his new toy airplane and tea set with the change he had saved up, the Mirror reports.

EXCLUSIVE: Global Screen has unveiled a fresh round of deals for Sky Original animated feature The Amazing Maurice, featuring Hugh Laurie and Emilia Clarke in the voice cast.

On the final weekend before Avatar: The Way of Water dominates screens globally, Disney/Marvel’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever continued to lead the worldwide and international box office. The fifth session for the sequel added $11.8M in 50 overseas markets, lifting the offshore cume to $358M and global to $767.8M.

Time has selected Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky “and the spirit of Ukraine” as its Person of the Year.

Warner Bros Discovery and Amazon have struck a new distribution deal for HBO Max, returning the streaming service to Prime Video Channels.

EXCLUSIVE: New Sony Pictures Television President Katherine Pope has made several hires and promotions as she continues to build her executive team.

Akin to domestic, it was a rather sleepy weekend at the international box office. Disney/Marvel’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever again won the frame, with $20.2M from 50 overseas markets for an offshore total of $339.3M and a global tally of $733M through Sunday.

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Oscar-winning filmmaker Ang Lee has cast his son Mason Lee to play Bruce Lee in a biopic about the legendary martial artist for Sony’s 3000 Pictures.The “Brokeback Mountain” director will helm a script by Dan Futterman (“Capote,” “Foxcatcher”), building on previous versions by Jean Castelli, Alex Law and Mabel Cheung and, most recently Wells Tower.Bruce Lee’s daughter Shannon Lee will produce the film, which is untitled for now, along with Ang Lee, Lawrence Grey of Grey Matter Productions, Ben Everard, and Brian Bell. 3000 Pictures’ Elizabeth Gabler and Marisa Paiva will oversee the project on behalf of the studio.

EXCLUSIVE: Sony’s 3000 Pictures has finalized a deal that will see Oscar winner Ang Lee direct Bruce Lee, a film that will star the filmmaker’s son Mason Lee in the role of the iconic martial artist. Dan Futterman, whose work includes Capote and Foxcatcher, is working on a script that has seen previous versions by Jean Castelli, Alex Law and Mabel Cheung, and, most recently, Wells Tower.

‘Love Island’ Heads To Israel

Jane the Virgin will become a proud young Zulu woman in a South African remake of the romantic comedy-drama format.

Legendary Entertainment and Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group have launched a multiyear worldwide film distribution partnership pursuant to which Sony Pictures will market and distribute Legendary’s new upcoming theatrical film titles, the companies said Monday.Legendary and Sony Pictures are aligned in their ongoing commitment to theatrical distribution as a driver for other “downstream” windows and the theatrical window’s long-term value for films.As part of the pact, Sony Pictures will market and distribute new Legendary theatrical releases worldwide excluding China, where Legendary East will handle all marketing and distribution activities. Sony Pictures will also handle home entertainment and TV distribution for the titles it releases.

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The 2022 Eurimages Co-Production Award will be awarded collectively to all Ukrainian producers in a show of solidarity in a year in which Ukraine’s film and TV industry have been devastated by the Russian invasion.