Jonwo

I think The BFG or Tarzan is more likely to move to that slot.

Maybe MinaTakla expects this to be the Minions of the awards contenders.

Transformers as a live action film made a lot of sense considering how popular it was as a toy franchise and as various TV series. It probably would have been made a lot earlier but the technology to realise it was still in its infancy.

Pirates was a risk, it was a $140m movie based on a theme park ride and a genre which had been dead for years starring an actor who was known for cult films rather than blockbusters. Jurassic Park was a risk but everyone in Hollywood wanted the film rights before it was even released as a book so they clearly saw the film potential. Was Batman a risk? I would imagine while nobody thought it was end up outgrossing Indiana Jones and Ghostbusters II, it had one of the biggest names at the time, Jack Nicholson as the Joker in it and based on an iconic comic book character.

Warner Bros is doing the same with The Lego Movie 2 and I'm assuming the spinoffs as Village Roadshow isn't coming back to co-finance and produce the sequel and BvS Legendary isn't involved because they financed Interstellar with Paramount and Warner Bros. The selling off of overseas rights is common practice for Lionsgate, Summit, Studiocanal etc it allows them to recoup the budget but they don't benefit if it's a huge hit. New Line ended up being folded into WB because The Golden Compass which did very well OS but poorly domestically they didn't benefit from the OS success because they sold the OS rights to local distributors

I suppose companies like Legendary, Skydance, Ratpac are similar to Broadway producers whose only involvement is investing in the project, in the past financiers/investors were silent partners with no say in the creative process but as costs go up, the only way to get people to finance is to put their name above the title or in the credits and let them go to the premiere and the award ceremony as a bonus. I wouldn't be surprised if Universal doesn't have Legendary co-finance JW2

Is it just me or have they redesigned the trolls? I'm not keen on the logo either. Considering it's opening on the same day as Doctor Strange and three weeks before Moana, I'm not sure if it's going be a hit, Trolls haven't been in fashion for a long time

Disney has wanted a sequel as early as the 80s but given the original is so beloved, a new film has an uphill struggle. Since Julie Andrews no longer can sing, I do wonder who they'll get to play Mary and if you'd be able to have Bert or even the Banks children as adults

Good strategy by Universal given how empty the 23rd October was, I guess this means that The Walk and Bridge of Spies will have better OW. Is Jem and the Holograms staying put or moving?

Legend already at £2.5m already, guess it has a shot at £5m for the five day opening.

Steve Jobs doesn't really count either, that was developed by Sony before being picked up by Universal. I just think they should be careful and not try and overstretch themselves.

Universal doesn't really need PR, it's Legendary who are desperate for a franchise and all the films that have been successful for them were either owned or developed by the studio, Legendary just financed some of it, everything else has flopped. Tull needs to look at what happened to Relativity and stick with financing and not try and become a mini major

Tinker Tailor while well known and quite good wasn't isn't as appealing as the Krays and Tom Hardy on paper. Same with The Imitation Game, I doubt it'll have the legs that Gone Girl and Wolf of Wall Street had but £15m+ wouldn't surprise me Studiocanal and eOne do seem to be the go to studio for British films as well as Pathe, it'll be interesting how Suffragette does in a months time

£4.5m for an 18 rated film in September would be impressive. Studiocanal do well with British films so it's no surprise they've done it again with Legend.

I'm surprised to learn Universal didn't own King Kong, I assume they'll get compensation from Legendary or perhaps be a co-producer on the film. I wonder if it'll keep its current release date, perhaps WB could move it to summer either June 23rd and have Wonder Woman move to Spring 2017 or August

$100m WW maybe but not domestic. The Theory of Everything which was a easier sell couldn't do it and with so much competition this Winter, I can't see it

Surely it would still be able to make its release date even if it was delayed by a few months. I'm sure Universal would just replace it with Pitch Perfect 3 if it does move again and TBH they're likely only distributing it or paying very little of the costs, its Legendary that will be more affected August 11th would be best so there is breathing room from Spider-Man and the Nolan film, I personally think March 31st would be best

I reckon it'll be a close call with Legend and Maze Runner since the latter is lower rated and 3D but Legend had an extra day. Everest has its IMAX and PLF run this weekend before its wide launch next week, it should do well but the weekend after has pretty much no big releases which will help its legs.

It's not that I don't think it'll do well, it will but I think $300m is unlikely especially with so many films that feature talking animals before it opens.

I'm impressed that Mary Poppins despite being over 50 years old still is pulling respectable sales.

I wonder how many times they've updated really old actors' obituaries. Kirk Douglas' for example was probably written back in the 50s or 60s or maybe even earlier given he's nearly 100

Many people thought HTTYD2 would do $300m but it ended up doing $177m, I think people are getting carrying away due to how great Illumination has done with DM and Minions. A $150-200m domestic gross would still be good for Pets since the budget will be $75m.

I think Heads of states get their obituary already written and updated every year or so. I think broadcasters rehearse the death of say The Queen so that they're prepared for when it does happen.

Things is, it's one of many animated talking animals films in 2016 and I think that may work against it.

DM was well received though and didn't really have family competition since both The Sorcerers Apprentice and Legends of the Guardians both bombed, Pets isn't so lucky as it faces Ice Age, Petes Dragon and Kobo and the Two Strings as well as Ghostbusters, BFG, Bourne and Suicide Squad. I personally think Universal moving Pets from a fairly cushy February slot to July was not a good move.