What to know
Timothée Chalamet just pulled off a box office feat not seen since John Travolta in the late 70s… It’s time to face the music: Timothée Chalamet is a bona fide movie star. This might shock you as most of his films have been indie dramas and he’s never even played a super hero. But according to Indiewire, he just broke a record no other actor has achieved in 45 years. With Wonka and Dune Part II, Timmy has led the top two highest grossing movies of the last 8 months. Indiewire was unable to find a single actor to have pulled that off since John Travolta did it in 78 and 79 with Grease and Saturday Night Fever. That said, Indiewire was careful to point out that being the LEAD actor on a live-action film were two important distinctions here. So Brie Larson for example who was the lead of Captain Marvel, but relegated to a supporting role in Endgame wouldn’t count. Wonka grossed $628 million worldwide, while Dune Part II is around $500 million worldwide and is still going strong. In both cases, Chalamet had the help of some really strong IP, but if you’ve seen these movies, you can attest to his star power and his ability to play parts ranging from tragic desert prophet to goofy singing candy maker. 💰
DC Studios making live-action Teen Titans movie… Makes sense as this superhero team has been immensely popular across a number of animated series in recent years. I bet DC will capture a young audience (teens and Gen-Z) when it hits theaters. Ana Nogueira has been tapped to write the film, after penning the upcoming Supergirl film for DC as well. So I guess they’re happy with her work. 💥
Decaying digital files have some Hollywood insiders worried… You’d think with movies now in digital formats, saving them forever wouldn’t be as much of an issue as it was with celluloid (which literally breaks down) — but digital files can decay, be corrupted, or become outdated too. So the industry has work to do to maintain and archive films for all time, but also this article serves as a nice reminder to consumers to back up and maintain their own digital records. 🗂️
Bill Hader to topline animated Cat in the Hat… That sounds about right, but check out the rest of the cast: Quinta Brunson, Bowen Yang, Xochitl Gomez, Matt Berry, and Paula Pell. That’s quite the ensemble. 🙀
Mr. Beast to give out $5 million on new Amazon show, biggest reality show prize in TV history… Nothing about that surprises me. The dude has built his brand on extravagance and money spending. 💵
Denis Villeneuve will never release Dune 2 deleted scenes… He says “when they’re dead, they’re dead.” Gotta admire that commitment. ❌
Early reactions to Alex Garland’s Civil War are pretty positive… Looks like it’s going to be a good April at the movies. 👍
Roger Corman remaking and expanding Little Shop franchise… Though it doesn’t sound like it’s going to be a musical. 🪴
Ariana Grande’s 98-year-old grandmother makes history as oldest artist to ever make the Hot 100… Very impressive. 👏
New Star Wars series The Acolyte coming June 4… It’s been a minute since we had a new Star Wars show. ✨
Wish finally coming to Disney+ on April 3… Tell the toddler in your life. 🐭
Truman Show director Peter Weir officially retires… Bummer, but he’s earned it. ⌚️
What’s new
Palm Royale — Mar 20 | Apple TV+ dramedy series | Ⓜ️ 62
X-Men ‘97 — Mar 20 | Disney+ animated Marvel series | Ⓜ️
3 Body Problem — Mar 21 | Netflix sci fi series | Ⓜ️ 69
Road House — Mar 21 | Amazon drama film | Ⓜ️ 60
Shirley — Mar 22 | Netflix biopic film | Ⓜ️ 62
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire — Mar 22 | Sci fi action comedy in theaters | Ⓜ️
Problemista — Mar 22 | Surreal indie comedy in theaters | Ⓜ️ 70
Returning: Top Chef s21