What to know
Deadpool and Wolverine eyes $200M+ opening weekend… Early tracking is saying it could go as high as $240M, and that’s domestic! This is just insane considering how poor the box office has been recently — not to mention the fact that this movie is R-rated. The current record holder for biggest R-rated debut is the original Deadpool with $132.4M. Deadline seems skeptical that Deadpool 3 is going to go as high as the tracking suggests, but I wouldn’t be surprised. It feels like the movie event of the year a la Barbenheimer last year. But that’s not the only good news at the House of Mouse today… 😮
Inside Out 2 sees year-best $13M Thursday night, could make $100M+ this weekend… Pixar is so back. If it breaks $100M domestic it will be the first movie of 2024 to do so. And I bet it will because the reviews are very strong (like old school Pixar strong) and it’s going to have a ton of positive word of mouth. You can watch my spoiler-free review below, but in short, I liked it a lot. 🧠
Disney casts newcomer Catherine Laga’aia as live-action Moana… Laga’aia is a 17-year-old Australian native of Samoan descent. She’s only been in one thing prior to this, 3 episodes of the Amazon drama series The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart. Which is apparently a real show with Sigourney Weaver, but the first I heard of it was from Laga’aia’s IMDB page. For what it’s worth, Auli’i Cravalho was also an unknown when she was cast as the voice of Moana. For live action, Disney needed to find a talented young performer of Pacific Island heritage — there aren’t many household names like that, so it makes sense that it’s someone new. 🌺
Marvel’s Blade movie loses its second director… This movie is absolutely doomed. The movie was first announced back in 2019 and has gone through 6 writers! It’s technically still slated for a November 2025 release, but absolutely no way that actually happens. Especially considering Mahershala Ali, its intended star, will be shooting the upcoming Jurassic movie for the next few months. 🧛🏾
The Fall Guy could lose up to $60M… Could be worse, it could have lost over $200M like The Marvels. Meanwhile Emily Blunt is circling the lead role in Spielberg’s upcoming alien blockbuster, to which I say — when will Hollywood learn that Emily Blunt isn’t much a box office draw? I like her as a performer, but I don’t think she gets people to the theaters. 💸
Sony Pictures buys Alamo Drafthouse… It’s been nearly a century since a studio owned a movie theater chain (the government outlawed it back in the day, but it recently became legal again). Maybe this is the start of movie theaters being more competitive (and lowering prices?) — or is that too much to wish for? 🎟️
Netflix to air live hot dog eating contest between Joey Chestnut and Takeru Kobayashi on Labor Day… When I expected Netflix to get into live sports, this not what I had in mind. 🌭
House of the Dragon renewed for season 3, 10,000 Ships spinoff back in development… The Game of Thrones franchise rolls on. 🐲
Miles Teller remaking An Officer and a Gentleman at Paramount… Sure, why not. Drift off those Top Gun Maverick vibes. 🪖
Mare of Easttown season 2 in early discussions at HBO… Wawa hoagies for everyone. 🚔
Paddington in Peru gets a trailer… With extra marmalade. 🐻
What’s new
Presumed Innocent — June 12 | Apple TV+ drama series | Ⓜ️ 65
Inside Out 2 — June 14 | Pixar film in theaters | Ⓜ️ 74
Tony Awards — June 16 | Broadway award show on CBS/Paramount+
Returning: Bridgerton s3 part 2, The Boys s4, House of the Dragon s2